WEBVTT 1 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:22.827 Good morning and welcome, it's good to see everyone again. 2 00:00:22.837 --> 00:00:38.139 We are continuing our study of the two witnesses, and today we're looking at another aspect that we haven't really looked at before, 3 00:00:38.149 --> 00:00:43.820 and that is regarding the angel of the covenant. 4 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:46.027 Now, 5 00:00:46.037 --> 00:00:55.853 the covenant relates back to the sanctuary in the wilderness when Moses received 6 00:00:55.863 --> 00:01:05.670 the instruction to build the sanctuary so that God could dwell with the people. 7 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:13.879 One of the items of furniture was the Ark of the Covenant. 8 00:01:13.889 --> 00:01:17.806 That's what this is relating to. 9 00:01:17.816 --> 00:01:34.810 The angel of the covenant is referring to one of the angels that was formed in representation on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. 10 00:01:35.250 --> 00:01:45.162 So let's just look at that passage in Exodus chapter 25, where it describes how they were to construct that mercy seat. 11 00:01:45.172 --> 00:01:45.338 ". 12 00:01:45.348 --> 00:01:45.432 . 13 00:01:45.442 --> 00:01:45.525 . 14 00:01:45.535 --> 00:01:49.366 and thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold. 15 00:01:49.376 --> 00:01:57.239 Two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof." 16 00:01:59.150 --> 00:02:12.149 Looking something kind of like this, the mercy seat is this lid to the Ark, and part of the mercy seat, as we will read, 17 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:16.699 includes these two angels on either side. 18 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:18.126 It says, ". 19 00:02:18.136 --> 00:02:18.216 . 20 00:02:18.226 --> 00:02:18.307 . 21 00:02:18.317 --> 00:02:21.137 and thou shalt make two cherubims," 22 00:02:21.147 --> 00:02:23.081 those are the angels, ". 23 00:02:23.091 --> 00:02:23.171 . 24 00:02:23.181 --> 00:02:23.262 . 25 00:02:23.272 --> 00:02:32.405 of gold of beaten work shalt thou make them in the two ends of the mercy seat, and make one cherub on the one end, 26 00:02:32.415 --> 00:02:35.530 and the other cherub on the other end. 27 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:43.174 Even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 28 00:02:43.184 --> 00:02:52.629 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and 29 00:02:52.639 --> 00:03:01.620 their faces shall look one to another toward the mercy seat, shall the faces of the cherubims be." 30 00:03:02.430 --> 00:03:12.300 So these cherubims, or angels, they are stretching out their wings to cover the mercy seat. 31 00:03:12.650 --> 00:03:20.203 That's part of their role, and we'll see later on a description of the covering cherub. 32 00:03:20.213 --> 00:03:26.030 It's talking about that aspect of their covering of the mercy seat. 33 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:26.213 ". 34 00:03:26.223 --> 00:03:26.310 . 35 00:03:26.320 --> 00:03:26.407 . 36 00:03:26.417 --> 00:03:37.009 and thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the Ark, and in the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee." 37 00:03:37.019 --> 00:03:39.389 That's the Ten Commandments. 38 00:03:39.389 --> 00:03:53.131 The two tables of stone were put inside the Ark, and then that was covered with the lid, this golden mercy seat, 39 00:03:53.141 --> 00:03:57.548 with its two angels on either side. 40 00:03:57.558 --> 00:04:10.066 So this is, in representation, the throne of God, with the two witnesses on either side of the throne, 41 00:04:10.076 --> 00:04:16.319 and in the middle was where God himself would sit. 42 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:32.519 And because he didn't sit as a person, but he was a light, they call it the Shekinah glory, that would rest above the Ark. 43 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:36.861 And in fact, even outside the tabernacle, 44 00:04:36.871 --> 00:04:45.929 the people would see the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire rising above the Ark of the Covenant, 45 00:04:45.939 --> 00:04:50.149 in that area of the tabernacle on the outside. 46 00:04:50.149 --> 00:04:59.870 So the people had a visual, they had visual evidence of God's presence with them. 47 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:12.230 So when we look in the heavens, we see this same thing being represented in the sign of the Son of Man. 48 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:25.999 And we've seen this before, where there are the ten constellations that are touched by the loop part of the sign, 49 00:05:26.009 --> 00:05:30.019 not counting this part back here, 50 00:05:30.029 --> 00:05:34.156 but it touches ten constellations, 51 00:05:34.166 --> 00:05:39.949 and each one represents a different commandment. 52 00:05:40.629 --> 00:05:47.984 The symbolism connects with different parts of the commandments, or different commandments. 53 00:05:47.994 --> 00:05:57.519 For example, the fourth commandment is the commandment about time, the Sabbath, and so that relates to the Horologium. 54 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:12.818 And those are the two tables of stone in the heavens that were put inside the Ark of the Covenant. 55 00:06:12.828 --> 00:06:24.876 And so the paths of the comments represent the Ark itself, with the commandments inside the Ark. 56 00:06:24.886 --> 00:06:32.019 And then on either side of the Ark are the two witnesses. 57 00:06:32.569 --> 00:06:42.018 One is here in Orion, and the other one is on this end, the Horologium. 58 00:06:42.028 --> 00:06:51.077 We'll talk more later about why it is also part of the commandments. 59 00:06:51.087 --> 00:07:00.250 And at the same time, it doubles as the covering cherub on that side. 60 00:07:01.990 --> 00:07:18.753 But in Revelation chapter 11, where it talks about the two witnesses, it mentions this aspect of their being olive trees. 61 00:07:18.763 --> 00:07:32.756 It says, these are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 62 00:07:32.766 --> 00:07:38.149 That refers to the vision of Zechariah. 63 00:07:39.069 --> 00:07:47.990 In Zechariah chapter 4, verse 14, he says, then said he, these are the two anointed ones. 64 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.806 They were anointed with oil. 65 00:07:50.816 --> 00:07:56.810 And so that corresponds with the olive trees on either side. 66 00:07:57.149 --> 00:08:07.051 The two cherubim were anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 67 00:08:07.061 --> 00:08:16.709 They stand on either side of the throne of God, the Lord of the whole earth. 68 00:08:16.719 --> 00:08:27.870 So when they are called anointed ones, what that means is they're dedicated for service. 69 00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:40.197 In ancient times, they would anoint the kings and the priests for serving in that capacity. 70 00:08:40.207 --> 00:08:44.345 And that's what this is referring to. 71 00:08:44.355 --> 00:08:51.269 These two cherubim were anointed for their particular service. 72 00:08:53.330 --> 00:08:58.985 The question is, what kind of service did they do? 73 00:08:58.995 --> 00:09:03.509 What was expected of these two cherubim? 74 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:15.187 And that's where the prophecy of Malachi gives us some instruction. 75 00:09:15.197 --> 00:09:23.285 In Malachi chapter 3, it says, behold, I will send my messenger. 76 00:09:23.295 --> 00:09:32.879 Now the word messenger is the same word in the Hebrew as the word for angel. 77 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:37.508 So an angel is the same as a messenger. 78 00:09:37.518 --> 00:09:41.838 And these cherubim are just a type of angel. 79 00:09:41.848 --> 00:09:52.529 And so when he's saying here in this passage, I will send my messenger, he's speaking of one of those angels. 80 00:09:52.529 --> 00:09:58.173 In fact, some translations use the word angel there instead. 81 00:09:58.183 --> 00:10:01.852 And he shall prepare the way before me. 82 00:10:01.862 --> 00:10:04.570 So this is the Lord speaking. 83 00:10:04.570 --> 00:10:11.828 And he says, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. 84 00:10:11.838 --> 00:10:23.809 And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger, the angel of the covenant, whom ye delight in. 85 00:10:23.819 --> 00:10:28.230 Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. 86 00:10:28.750 --> 00:10:36.031 So there's two people being, or two angels being referenced here. 87 00:10:36.041 --> 00:10:40.074 First, we have the Lord's messenger. 88 00:10:40.084 --> 00:10:45.889 He shall prepare the way before me, before the Lord. 89 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:53.144 And then there's the Lord himself. 90 00:10:53.154 --> 00:11:00.621 He is called the messenger of the covenant. 91 00:11:00.631 --> 00:11:11.029 So Jesus, the son of God, is one of these covering cherubim. 92 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:19.708 He is on one side, and on the other side is his messenger. 93 00:11:19.718 --> 00:11:31.311 This is now looking in the heavenly realm, where we're talking about the throne of God. 94 00:11:31.321 --> 00:11:39.429 There's the father, and then his son, Jesus, on the one side. 95 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:49.698 He's the messenger of the covenant, and his messenger is on the other side. 96 00:11:49.708 --> 00:12:03.417 The prophecy continues, and it gives us a better understanding of the application of this verse, because it says, 97 00:12:03.427 --> 00:12:07.784 he shall prepare the way before me. 98 00:12:07.794 --> 00:12:11.797 Now, who does that bring to mind? 99 00:12:11.807 --> 00:12:13.840 John the Baptist. 100 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:20.335 John the Baptist came preparing the way for Jesus. 101 00:12:20.345 --> 00:12:22.511 That was his role. 102 00:12:22.521 --> 00:12:33.570 And therefore, it says of him, he came in the spirit and power of Elijah as God's messenger. 103 00:12:33.570 --> 00:12:38.129 And we'll talk a little bit more about that as well. 104 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:45.241 But the prophecy continues, and it says, but who may abide the day of his coming? 105 00:12:45.251 --> 00:12:48.583 And who shall stand when he appeareth? 106 00:12:48.593 --> 00:12:53.503 For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap. 107 00:12:53.513 --> 00:12:58.120 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. 108 00:12:58.809 --> 00:13:05.378 And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver. 109 00:13:05.388 --> 00:13:11.592 It's talking about that hot furnace, like we've talked about before. 110 00:13:11.602 --> 00:13:17.330 That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 111 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:29.115 So, he's coming to purify his people in a priestly office, because it's talking about the sons of Levi. 112 00:13:29.125 --> 00:13:38.553 They were the priests, and that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. 113 00:13:38.563 --> 00:13:51.399 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 114 00:13:51.789 --> 00:13:59.781 And I will come near to you to judgment, and will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, 115 00:13:59.791 --> 00:14:01.662 and against false swearers, 116 00:14:01.672 --> 00:14:05.557 and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, 117 00:14:05.567 --> 00:14:06.296 the widow, 118 00:14:06.306 --> 00:14:07.639 and the fatherless, 119 00:14:07.649 --> 00:14:10.929 and that turn aside the stranger from his right. 120 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:16.778 And fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. 121 00:14:16.788 --> 00:14:22.250 And then he says, for I am the Lord, Yahweh. 122 00:14:23.210 --> 00:14:24.630 I change not. 123 00:14:24.640 --> 00:14:29.556 Therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 124 00:14:29.566 --> 00:14:35.684 So, first of all, what does this tell us about the time? 125 00:14:35.694 --> 00:14:39.955 Is this talking about his first coming? 126 00:14:39.965 --> 00:14:46.480 It seems to be more connected with his second coming, right? 127 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:54.897 It's talking about who can abide the day of his coming, and that when he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver, 128 00:14:54.907 --> 00:14:56.964 purifying the sons of Levi, 129 00:14:56.974 --> 00:14:59.179 that's referring to our time. 130 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:03.170 That's what he is doing now. 131 00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:09.712 But it doesn't mean that it doesn't apply to the first coming. 132 00:15:09.722 --> 00:15:24.351 We'll see that later, where Jesus himself connects this prophecy with John the Baptist, that he was the one who prepared the way for Jesus, 133 00:15:24.361 --> 00:15:25.719 the Messiah, 134 00:15:25.729 --> 00:15:27.929 in his first coming. 135 00:15:28.870 --> 00:15:44.030 But it also relates to his second coming, because in reality, Jesus, when he came the first time, he could have, 136 00:15:44.040 --> 00:15:48.633 had circumstances been different, 137 00:15:48.643 --> 00:15:54.860 he could have finished his work at that time. 138 00:15:55.759 --> 00:16:13.758 If his people accepted him, and they received his testimony, and believed that he had come to cleanse the nation and to be their Messiah, 139 00:16:13.768 --> 00:16:20.720 they would have changed the whole course of history. 140 00:16:20.730 --> 00:16:35.960 Anyway, this prophecy applies both to Jesus' time when he was on earth, and to our time now, just before his coming. 141 00:16:37.970 --> 00:16:41.737 But what does this last verse mean? 142 00:16:41.747 --> 00:16:46.914 He says, For I am Yahweh the Lord, I change not. 143 00:16:46.924 --> 00:16:53.705 And then he says, Therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 144 00:16:53.715 --> 00:17:04.880 In the past, when I read that, it always seemed like, why is that the consequence of God's not changing? 145 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:11.183 Why is it that because God doesn't change, we're not consumed? 146 00:17:11.193 --> 00:17:13.029 It didn't seem to fit. 147 00:17:16.250 --> 00:17:24.584 Yeah, the sons of Jacob, the people of Israel, the children of Israel. 148 00:17:24.594 --> 00:17:33.523 And after last week's message, I think we can understand this more clearly. 149 00:17:33.533 --> 00:17:45.299 Because when he says, I change not, that's when he swears his oath, and he doesn't go back on that. 150 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:52.094 He doesn't change, even though his people have forsaken him. 151 00:17:52.104 --> 00:18:02.512 And it's because he doesn't change that his mercy is available to us, and we're not consumed. 152 00:18:02.522 --> 00:18:05.299 It goes back to his name. 153 00:18:05.910 --> 00:18:11.116 And that's why he says, For I am the Lord, I am Yahweh. 154 00:18:11.126 --> 00:18:17.564 That's these four Hebrew letters written in the ancient script here. 155 00:18:17.574 --> 00:18:20.109 First is the yod, the hand. 156 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:35.301 And we see that, as we've talked about once before, the hand as that comet pointing to Orion, him swearing the oath. 157 00:18:35.311 --> 00:18:47.713 That's what the yod means, in connection with the hay pointing to the spirit, yod, hay, and then the vav. 158 00:18:47.723 --> 00:18:50.676 What does that represent? 159 00:18:50.686 --> 00:18:54.200 It's the tent peg or the nail. 160 00:18:54.910 --> 00:19:04.402 And in the setting of the cross, it points to the other comet that goes to the cross. 161 00:19:04.412 --> 00:19:12.006 And so you have in his very name, the oath, he swears with his hand. 162 00:19:12.016 --> 00:19:18.920 And that he will not change, though he be nailed to the cross. 163 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:23.326 So, I am Yahweh. 164 00:19:23.336 --> 00:19:29.336 I swear to my own hurt and change not. 165 00:19:29.346 --> 00:19:36.589 Therefore, the sons of Jacob are not consumed. 166 00:19:38.490 --> 00:19:49.544 So, when we look again at that prophecy, Behold, I will send my messenger. 167 00:19:49.554 --> 00:19:54.783 What is the role of that messenger? 168 00:19:54.793 --> 00:20:08.536 We have Christ on one side, who has committed to the covenant to give his blood when needed. 169 00:20:08.546 --> 00:20:15.089 And on the other side, he has his messenger. 170 00:20:17.130 --> 00:20:27.359 Now, there are a couple of prophecies in the Bible that relate to the position of that messenger. 171 00:20:27.369 --> 00:20:30.849 And we're going to look at those. 172 00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:37.799 The first one being in Isaiah chapter 14, beginning with verse 12. 173 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:46.223 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? 174 00:20:46.233 --> 00:20:51.117 Lucifer was the original covering cherub. 175 00:20:51.127 --> 00:20:54.700 He was the original messenger. 176 00:20:54.710 --> 00:21:01.470 The name Lucifer is a Latin form that means light bearer. 177 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:07.500 But the Hebrew word is the morning star. 178 00:21:07.510 --> 00:21:10.604 It means the morning star. 179 00:21:10.614 --> 00:21:18.329 It refers to Venus that comes up in the morning just before dawn. 180 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:27.320 So, he says, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, morning star, son of the morning? 181 00:21:27.330 --> 00:21:33.123 How art thou cut down to the ground which did weaken the nations? 182 00:21:33.133 --> 00:21:37.480 And here we see that definition from the Strongs. 183 00:21:38.869 --> 00:21:52.436 And just to illustrate, in the early morning, just before sunrise, when the sky is brightening up a little bit there at that time, 184 00:21:52.446 --> 00:22:04.333 you can see Venus still brightly shining when all the other stars are fading away into the brightness of the sun. 185 00:22:04.343 --> 00:22:11.430 And so, Venus in this way, it illustrates that preparing of the way. 186 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:16.554 First, Venus comes up and then comes the sun. 187 00:22:16.564 --> 00:22:24.622 First, the little light, if you will, and then the glory of Christ himself. 188 00:22:24.632 --> 00:22:25.150 Amen. 189 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:36.679 In Isaiah, he continues, For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven. 190 00:22:36.689 --> 00:22:40.188 This is describing how Lucifer fell. 191 00:22:40.198 --> 00:22:44.650 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. 192 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:48.611 Where are the stars of God? 193 00:22:48.621 --> 00:22:50.748 Where is his throne? 194 00:22:50.758 --> 00:22:58.095 In Orion, those are the stars of Orion, the stars that represent God. 195 00:22:58.105 --> 00:23:03.529 I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation. 196 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:07.539 Here is the mount of the congregation. 197 00:23:07.589 --> 00:23:14.630 That's where the seven churches, God's people, are represented. 198 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:29.281 In the sides or far reaches of the north, he wants to have dominion over all of the creation, even to the far reaches of the earth. 199 00:23:29.291 --> 00:23:41.230 And then he says, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, like Orion above the clouds of the comets. 200 00:23:41.569 --> 00:23:44.930 I will be like the most high. 201 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:50.850 So these were the thoughts of Lucifer when he fell. 202 00:23:50.860 --> 00:24:06.605 That's the pride that he had that led him to fall from that position of being the light bearer, being the one who would prepare the way, 203 00:24:06.615 --> 00:24:11.700 who would signal the way for Jesus to come. 204 00:24:15.170 --> 00:24:20.284 Another prophecy is in Ezekiel, chapter 28. 205 00:24:20.294 --> 00:24:33.020 And these prophecies are given in, well, it says, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus. 206 00:24:33.030 --> 00:24:37.529 So it's directed to the king of Tyrus. 207 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:44.313 But you can tell from the language that it serves a dual purpose. 208 00:24:44.323 --> 00:24:50.764 Yes, there was an ancient application to that particular king. 209 00:24:50.774 --> 00:24:59.170 But as we continue, you'll see it also very clearly connects to Satan or Lucifer. 210 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:10.300 And say unto him, thus said the Lord God, thou sealest up the sun full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 211 00:25:10.310 --> 00:25:14.428 Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God. 212 00:25:14.438 --> 00:25:19.420 The king of Tyre wasn't in Eden, but the devil was. 213 00:25:20.349 --> 00:25:23.950 Every precious stone was thy covering. 214 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:26.707 And then it lists the stones. 215 00:25:26.717 --> 00:25:39.210 And I think it's interesting how many it lists because it says sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, 216 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.535 the sapphire, 217 00:25:40.545 --> 00:25:41.765 the emerald, 218 00:25:41.775 --> 00:25:43.563 and the carbuncle, 219 00:25:43.573 --> 00:25:44.509 and gold. 220 00:25:44.950 --> 00:25:51.229 Ten different stones that are listed as his covering. 221 00:25:51.239 --> 00:25:55.622 These are precious stones, gemstones. 222 00:25:55.632 --> 00:25:58.930 They're colorful, beautiful. 223 00:25:59.450 --> 00:26:05.035 It says every precious stone was thy covering. 224 00:26:05.045 --> 00:26:09.052 And they were his beauty as well. 225 00:26:09.062 --> 00:26:22.040 And when we see 10 stones and we know the 10 constellations representing the 10 commandments as a covering, 226 00:26:22.050 --> 00:26:26.650 the commandments serve as a covering. 227 00:26:26.650 --> 00:26:29.269 They're the righteousness. 228 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:38.850 For us, it's the righteousness of Christ because he kept the law and we take his righteousness. 229 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:46.799 But originally, all of God's creation had the law in their heart to begin with. 230 00:26:47.470 --> 00:26:55.282 And so, it was their beauty, their righteousness as well. 231 00:26:55.292 --> 00:27:01.323 But we'll see that it caused him to stumble. 232 00:27:01.333 --> 00:27:15.019 There we have the 10 commandments in that part of the sign corresponding to those 10 beautiful gems. 233 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:24.920 The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 234 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:41.468 Now, tabrets are like a tambourine, a musical instrument, and they would often ornament them so that they would be more beautiful. 235 00:27:41.478 --> 00:27:52.900 And the pipes is actually a word that refers to the ring in which the gemstone would be fixed. 236 00:27:54.210 --> 00:28:04.087 And so, it's referring to that aspect of holding those gemstones that were his covering. 237 00:28:04.097 --> 00:28:13.525 And so, you can kind of imagine that ring there with each gemstone fixed into place. 238 00:28:13.535 --> 00:28:16.769 Thou art the anointed cherub. 239 00:28:17.029 --> 00:28:24.656 So, here we see it's describing very clearly, not the king of Tyre, 240 00:28:24.666 --> 00:28:38.430 but Lucifer when he was the covering cherub at the throne of God with the gemstones of the commandments as his covering. 241 00:28:38.990 --> 00:28:43.147 It was that covering that Adam and Eve lost when they sinned. 242 00:28:43.157 --> 00:28:46.759 They broke the commandments and then they were naked. 243 00:28:47.230 --> 00:28:54.174 They lost that spiritual beauty of the law of God as their righteousness. 244 00:28:54.184 --> 00:28:59.511 So, he's described as the anointed cherub that covereth. 245 00:28:59.521 --> 00:29:01.690 And I have set thee so. 246 00:29:02.529 --> 00:29:06.390 Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God. 247 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:13.542 Again, the reference to the sign of the Son of Man with the people of God. 248 00:29:13.552 --> 00:29:19.710 Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 249 00:29:20.230 --> 00:29:24.668 Walking up and down like we saw last week. 250 00:29:24.678 --> 00:29:29.540 In the midst, here it says the stones of fire. 251 00:29:29.550 --> 00:29:44.009 And I think we can, having connected the stones with the commandments, the fire also suggests the heavenly setting with all of the stars. 252 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:50.392 Yeah, the spirits like fire as well. 253 00:29:50.402 --> 00:29:58.414 That may fit in the heavenly realm, what it's pointing to. 254 00:29:58.424 --> 00:30:13.599 And here, with the 10 commandments, we see that the covering cherub is identified with the fourth commandment. 255 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:18.440 Now, what is special about the fourth commandment? 256 00:30:18.450 --> 00:30:21.548 It points to God as the creator. 257 00:30:21.558 --> 00:30:26.302 That's a good point because it's looking outward. 258 00:30:26.312 --> 00:30:31.509 It's the commandment that says, remember your creator. 259 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:39.639 But it's also the commandment that has God's seal. 260 00:30:39.649 --> 00:30:53.539 So, here we see with the Sabbath commandment as though it were a seal on the head of the anointed one on that side. 261 00:30:53.549 --> 00:30:59.690 So, we have Orion on this side representing Christ. 262 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:09.230 And then the anointed one on that side sealed with God's seal in the Sabbath. 263 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:19.218 It has the three parts of the seal, sealed with the image of God, the number of God, 264 00:31:19.228 --> 00:31:28.839 and the Sabbath itself representing the seal of the Holy Spirit in the forehead. 265 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:39.694 So, I think that is why we see that commandment in particular, not just any of the commandments, 266 00:31:39.704 --> 00:31:44.390 but the seal on the anointed cherub on that side. 267 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:50.085 So, continuing on in the prophecy, he says, 268 00:31:50.095 --> 00:32:00.827 thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created till iniquity was found in thee. 269 00:32:00.837 --> 00:32:07.347 So, this covering cherub, Lucifer, was the first one to sin. 270 00:32:07.357 --> 00:32:10.809 And he is the originator of sin. 271 00:32:11.109 --> 00:32:12.508 It came from him. 272 00:32:12.518 --> 00:32:15.807 And then it describes how that happened. 273 00:32:15.817 --> 00:32:25.420 It says, by the multitude of thy merchandise, they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned. 274 00:32:26.329 --> 00:32:33.651 Therefore, I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God. 275 00:32:33.661 --> 00:32:42.202 Again, the mountain of God and the Horologium representing this anointed one. 276 00:32:42.212 --> 00:32:53.839 It also represents the wrath of God— this aspect of being cast out as profane out of the mountain of God. 277 00:32:54.349 --> 00:33:01.364 But first, I want to point out this with the merchandise. 278 00:33:01.374 --> 00:33:12.202 Merchandising is convincing, being a salesperson, convincing somebody to buy your wares. 279 00:33:12.212 --> 00:33:14.900 But it involves trade. 280 00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:17.622 It's about trade. 281 00:33:17.632 --> 00:33:22.289 And we'll see that a little bit more as we continue. 282 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:30.339 He says, and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 283 00:33:31.150 --> 00:33:33.940 Thine heart was lifted up. 284 00:33:33.950 --> 00:33:34.379 Why? 285 00:33:34.389 --> 00:33:36.751 Because of thy beauty. 286 00:33:36.761 --> 00:33:39.200 Now that's interesting. 287 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:43.675 What did the beauty point to? 288 00:33:43.685 --> 00:33:45.667 The Ten Commandments. 289 00:33:45.677 --> 00:33:54.356 So his heart was lifted up because, we'll just say for now, because of the Ten Commandments. 290 00:33:54.366 --> 00:33:59.619 And we'll look at that a little more detail in a second. 291 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:06.423 Thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness. 292 00:34:06.433 --> 00:34:09.640 I will cast thee to the ground. 293 00:34:09.650 --> 00:34:15.320 I will lay thee before kings that they may behold thee. 294 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:25.870 So by reason of his brightness, you know, Venus is the brightest star. 295 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:32.517 And by reason of thy brightness, he corrupted his wisdom. 296 00:34:32.527 --> 00:34:45.199 And of course, being represented in the Horologium, we see then this connection to the wisdom, the knowledge. 297 00:34:45.989 --> 00:35:06.492 And in fact, we, if we turn this around, we've seen that before in the lamp of the wise, whose light is burning brightly at the Horologium, 298 00:35:06.502 --> 00:35:10.769 giving that message of time. 299 00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:19.729 So this angel has brightness, but he corrupted his wisdom. 300 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:25.570 And his beauty made his heart lifted up. 301 00:35:25.650 --> 00:35:27.686 So what happened? 302 00:35:27.696 --> 00:35:39.314 How does the law, the Ten Commandments, his beauty, how did that make his heart become lifted up? 303 00:35:39.324 --> 00:35:44.474 How does his brightness corrupt his wisdom? 304 00:35:44.484 --> 00:35:46.849 How did that happen? 305 00:35:48.420 --> 00:36:01.031 What had to happen first in order for those things to have a corrupting influence? 306 00:36:01.041 --> 00:36:02.272 Exactly. 307 00:36:02.282 --> 00:36:19.046 He was, his attention necessarily had to be on himself because his heart was lifted up because of his beauty. 308 00:36:19.056 --> 00:36:24.409 That means he saw it as his beauty. 309 00:36:25.750 --> 00:36:40.708 He was covered in these beautiful gemstones, of course, figurative language, but referring to the righteousness, and he saw it as his own. 310 00:36:40.718 --> 00:36:43.862 It became self-righteousness. 311 00:36:43.872 --> 00:36:50.789 It was no longer that he was looking across at the mercy of God. 312 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:59.584 He wasn't looking to see Jesus, but he began to look at himself. 313 00:36:59.594 --> 00:37:03.481 And he said, this is my beauty. 314 00:37:03.491 --> 00:37:06.230 This is my brightness. 315 00:37:06.710 --> 00:37:15.852 Whereas the reality, Venus is a bright star, but where does it get its light? 316 00:37:15.862 --> 00:37:18.592 It's 100% from the sun. 317 00:37:18.602 --> 00:37:24.183 It just reflects the light of the sun brightly. 318 00:37:24.193 --> 00:37:28.199 And the oil comes from the Father. 319 00:37:28.590 --> 00:37:32.230 So his brightness is not his own. 320 00:37:32.240 --> 00:37:45.477 Yes, if we look back here, we can see that the heart is represented at this part of the sign, his heart being lifted up. 321 00:37:45.487 --> 00:37:57.269 And there he wanted, like we read in Isaiah, he wanted to take the place of the most high, being lifted up. 322 00:37:57.789 --> 00:38:04.724 And when you're lifted up, you see things from a different perspective. 323 00:38:04.734 --> 00:38:17.326 I remember when I was young, when I became a teenager, I had grown significantly from the time when I had been in a grade school, 324 00:38:17.336 --> 00:38:20.840 and I had the idea to go and visit. 325 00:38:21.869 --> 00:38:31.929 And when I went back to this school where I had been several years before when I was still small, everything seemed so little. 326 00:38:34.130 --> 00:38:41.532 I was looking around, and it just felt like it was so much smaller than when I remembered it as a child. 327 00:38:41.542 --> 00:38:49.219 As a child, when I was in the school, I didn't think about it, of course, but everything seems a lot bigger. 328 00:38:49.389 --> 00:39:00.269 But then as I grew, and I came back, now the ceiling is lower, and everything feels so much more cramped and smaller in comparison. 329 00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:06.674 And so your perspective changes when you're lifted up. 330 00:39:06.684 --> 00:39:19.807 No longer are you like a child looking up to the others around you, but you're high and lifted up looking down instead. 331 00:39:19.817 --> 00:39:24.980 So, we see that it was a change of perspective. 332 00:39:25.940 --> 00:39:30.527 He began to see the merit in himself. 333 00:39:30.538 --> 00:39:46.657 He took those things that came from God, the righteousness, the brightness of the light from the throne, and he said, that's mine. 334 00:39:46.668 --> 00:39:50.739 And it became self-righteousness. 335 00:39:51.170 --> 00:40:03.764 And so, it's a very real danger that we all have the closer we come to Christ because he's the bright light, 336 00:40:03.774 --> 00:40:11.110 and when we're in his presence and we're reflecting his light, 337 00:40:11.120 --> 00:40:18.574 we have to be sure that we don't start to look at that and say, 338 00:40:18.584 --> 00:40:20.090 that's mine. 339 00:40:21.389 --> 00:40:35.199 We have many amazing revelations that God has given us in the heavens, but we should never take glory from that because that glory, 340 00:40:35.209 --> 00:40:39.099 that brightness belongs to the Lord. 341 00:40:39.789 --> 00:40:43.450 And so, we have to look up, as it were, 342 00:40:43.460 --> 00:40:55.369 like a little child and recognize that these are blessings from God and not our own intelligence that discovered these things. 343 00:40:55.809 --> 00:41:07.561 Because if the Holy Spirit didn't provide it, no matter how intelligent or how diligently we apply ourselves to studying these things, 344 00:41:07.571 --> 00:41:09.139 it wouldn't come. 345 00:41:09.679 --> 00:41:16.480 It's a revelation, and that's why it's called the revelation of Jesus Christ. 346 00:41:16.490 --> 00:41:24.429 It's because it's his gift, his brightness, his revelation, and his righteousness as well. 347 00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:42.085 Finishing off the prophecy here, it says, Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries, or holy things, by the multitude of thine iniquities, 348 00:41:42.095 --> 00:41:45.375 by the iniquity of thy traffic, 349 00:41:45.385 --> 00:41:46.300 that is, 350 00:41:46.310 --> 00:41:47.226 trading. 351 00:41:47.236 --> 00:41:50.937 Back to this theme of merchandising. 352 00:41:50.947 --> 00:41:55.039 When one trades, you exchange something. 353 00:41:55.909 --> 00:42:00.119 You give something and you get something back in return, right? 354 00:42:01.070 --> 00:42:12.230 Whether it's bartering something, as they often did in ancient times where you would give one item and get a different item in exchange. 355 00:42:12.699 --> 00:42:23.079 Or using money, paying money and getting something in return, there's always that exchange, and that's called trafficking or trading. 356 00:42:25.630 --> 00:42:37.087 But let me ask, if you are a candle or a lamp, do you make an exchange? 357 00:42:37.097 --> 00:42:42.100 Or is it only giving the light? 358 00:42:42.110 --> 00:42:45.014 It's only one way. 359 00:42:45.024 --> 00:42:58.550 The light is only going out, and it's not a traffic, it's not a trading transaction. 360 00:42:59.019 --> 00:43:03.831 It's simply the light being given. 361 00:43:03.841 --> 00:43:22.098 And so, with this idea of trading, we see that there's something added, and that something is coming back to the covering cherub. 362 00:43:22.108 --> 00:43:38.079 Instead of just giving the light that he sees, instead of reflecting it out to others, he is doing a transaction. 363 00:43:38.550 --> 00:43:41.750 He's taking something for himself. 364 00:43:41.760 --> 00:43:45.807 Some of that glory he's taking for himself. 365 00:43:45.817 --> 00:43:52.114 So, in this symbolism of the merchandising, trading back and forth, 366 00:43:52.124 --> 00:43:59.352 we see self-exaltation taking part in that glory that doesn't belong to him, 367 00:43:59.362 --> 00:44:00.949 but only to God. 368 00:44:04.030 --> 00:44:10.116 Therefore, will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee. 369 00:44:10.126 --> 00:44:20.370 Remember, he's represented in the Horologium, and there's the fire from the midst of him, that light. 370 00:44:20.380 --> 00:44:31.619 It shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, in the sight of all them that behold thee. 371 00:44:33.219 --> 00:44:36.774 Now, that's an interesting verse. 372 00:44:36.784 --> 00:44:43.787 I won't dwell long on that, but let's read this last verse first. 373 00:44:43.797 --> 00:44:51.210 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee. 374 00:44:51.909 --> 00:45:01.009 Thou shalt be a terror or an alarm, and never shalt thou be anymore. 375 00:45:01.019 --> 00:45:08.513 Now, this is one verse that is clear about Satan's fate. 376 00:45:08.523 --> 00:45:24.829 He fell from his position as the covering cherub, and it says that this fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee. 377 00:45:26.690 --> 00:45:44.596 Many people have this concept of the lake of fire as an eternally burning fire that never consumes, but even of Satan, it says, 378 00:45:44.606 --> 00:45:47.698 it shall devour thee. 379 00:45:47.708 --> 00:45:54.053 It will consume thee and bring thee to ashes. 380 00:45:54.063 --> 00:45:56.440 Ashes don't burn. 381 00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:05.481 They're what's left, and so this is talking about an annihilation, the complete end of Satan. 382 00:46:05.491 --> 00:46:07.280 Never shalt thou be. 383 00:46:07.280 --> 00:46:20.402 You won't exist anymore, and I think that's quite concrete language and very difficult to explain away as in some other form, 384 00:46:20.412 --> 00:46:27.435 because it's very clear that this passage relates indeed to Satan, 385 00:46:27.445 --> 00:46:31.110 to Lucifer as the covering cherub. 386 00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:41.348 So I just wanted to mention that because many people don't understand that aspect. 387 00:46:41.358 --> 00:46:52.770 God is a devouring fire, not a fire that just burns and burns and burns but doesn't ever devour. 388 00:46:52.780 --> 00:47:02.389 So the question is, when Lucifer fell from this position, did it leave a vacancy? 389 00:47:02.900 --> 00:47:12.534 Is there now only one cherub at the Ark of the Covenant or what happened there? 390 00:47:12.544 --> 00:47:20.949 And this is where Jesus weighs in on the matter and sheds some light. 391 00:47:23.010 --> 00:47:33.173 And in Matthew 11, verse 9, he says, But what went ye out for to see, speaking of John the Baptist? 392 00:47:33.183 --> 00:47:34.210 A prophet? 393 00:47:34.220 --> 00:47:38.820 Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 394 00:47:39.340 --> 00:47:41.231 What is he referring to? 395 00:47:41.241 --> 00:47:52.030 He continues, for this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 396 00:47:52.389 --> 00:48:01.388 So this is what I mentioned before, where Jesus is confirming that the prophecy of Malachi, 397 00:48:01.398 --> 00:48:06.531 where he speaks of his messenger preparing the way, 398 00:48:06.541 --> 00:48:10.190 he applies that to John the Baptist. 399 00:48:10.900 --> 00:48:20.450 But it's clear also that it applies at the end of time when Jesus comes the second time. 400 00:48:20.460 --> 00:48:33.918 And Jesus also confirms that John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, but that Elijah would also come again. 401 00:48:33.928 --> 00:48:37.489 We talked about that once before. 402 00:48:38.659 --> 00:48:44.407 And so that confirms this twice coming of the messenger. 403 00:48:44.417 --> 00:48:53.859 First, the messenger came in the form of John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elijah. 404 00:48:53.869 --> 00:48:57.750 Now we can understand what that means. 405 00:48:58.440 --> 00:49:03.600 Where does that spirit and power of Elijah come from? 406 00:49:03.610 --> 00:49:05.850 What does it represent? 407 00:49:05.860 --> 00:49:13.630 It's the authority that comes from the throne of God, from this covering cherub. 408 00:49:14.599 --> 00:49:25.657 He is the one who is as the spirit of Elijah that was given to John the Baptist and 409 00:49:25.667 --> 00:49:36.181 is given again in our day preparing the way for the second coming of the Lord. 410 00:49:36.191 --> 00:49:46.440 In Luke it says, and he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias. 411 00:49:46.440 --> 00:49:47.211 That is, 412 00:49:47.221 --> 00:49:55.456 John the Baptist should go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the 413 00:49:55.466 --> 00:50:03.692 hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. 414 00:50:03.702 --> 00:50:16.800 So that's a reference again to the covering cherubim being covered with the stones of fire, the 10 commandments in their spiritual form. 415 00:50:17.980 --> 00:50:28.480 The disobedient, turning the disobedient back to the wisdom represented in the horologium of the just. 416 00:50:29.179 --> 00:50:38.845 Also, like we saw last week, pointing to the horologium to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 417 00:50:38.855 --> 00:50:42.289 So that is part of that preparation. 418 00:50:43.239 --> 00:50:57.302 It's turning the disobedient back to the law of God, not in the concrete sense of the literal tables of stone like they had in Israel, 419 00:50:57.312 --> 00:51:02.969 but turning to the law as being written in the heart. 420 00:51:03.199 --> 00:51:09.465 That's the spiritual law written in the heart. 421 00:51:09.475 --> 00:51:25.809 That's the genetics of our Father written in our very flesh, as it were, and coming back also to the wisdom of the just. 422 00:51:28.239 --> 00:51:41.797 So John the Baptist had that role in the days of the New Testament, and a different John, as I mentioned once before, 423 00:51:41.807 --> 00:51:44.809 has that role in our day. 424 00:51:45.579 --> 00:51:46.883 That is, 425 00:51:46.893 --> 00:52:08.883 the John that came in the spirit and power of Elijah today to prepare the way in this same way of bringing the people back to the law, 426 00:52:08.893 --> 00:52:15.401 showing how these things are fulfilled, 427 00:52:15.411 --> 00:52:23.224 how the heavens reveal the character of Christ. 428 00:52:23.234 --> 00:52:27.949 It's simply a matter of fact. 429 00:52:30.139 --> 00:52:41.389 You can explore and search all around, and you will find there are people and ministries who point to the heavens, 430 00:52:41.399 --> 00:52:45.238 and they teach good things from there, 431 00:52:45.248 --> 00:52:53.329 but there is a unique character to the message that is coming from this ministry. 432 00:52:54.940 --> 00:53:11.723 Because it comes with this authority from the throne of God, from the covering cherub that turns the people, the disobedient, 433 00:53:11.733 --> 00:53:16.019 back to the wisdom of the just. 434 00:53:17.550 --> 00:53:30.489 And the founder of this ministry was named John in connection also with John the Baptist and the Apostle John as well, 435 00:53:30.499 --> 00:53:36.519 like it is mentioned in Revelation 1 at the beginning. 436 00:53:37.409 --> 00:53:45.970 The revelation of Jesus Christ, so his revealing, which God gave unto him, unto Jesus, 437 00:53:45.980 --> 00:53:52.539 to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. 438 00:53:52.549 --> 00:53:58.909 And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. 439 00:53:59.559 --> 00:54:03.334 So we see where it's coming from. 440 00:54:03.344 --> 00:54:15.230 The revelation is coming from God, from the Father, which he gave unto Jesus, to show unto his servants. 441 00:54:15.500 --> 00:54:20.594 So it's this cascading effect from the Father to the Son, 442 00:54:20.604 --> 00:54:27.796 from the Son to his servants who are the angels because Jesus sent and signified 443 00:54:27.806 --> 00:54:34.090 it in the symbols of the revelation by his angel to his servant John. 444 00:54:34.090 --> 00:54:41.832 So then the angel gives it to John the Revelator, or the Apostle John. 445 00:54:41.842 --> 00:54:52.449 So we see that progression from the Father to the Son, from the Son to his messenger, his angel. 446 00:54:53.079 --> 00:55:01.542 That's who it's referring to here, that angel on the other side of the throne. 447 00:55:01.552 --> 00:55:08.159 And then the angel came to John and presented the revelation. 448 00:55:08.699 --> 00:55:12.149 So that's the sequence. 449 00:55:12.159 --> 00:55:27.009 And it's not a coincidence that the leader of this movement is also named John in that relationship 450 00:55:27.019 --> 00:55:41.559 because it's here where we see the entire revelation unfolded and truly revealed in the heavens. 451 00:55:41.570 --> 00:55:50.099 There's no other ministry that has that complete package. 452 00:55:50.420 --> 00:56:04.561 There are good things here and there, but they don't all fit together in one package like what God has given to us through this process. 453 00:56:04.571 --> 00:56:09.354 And Jesus said, Ye are the light of the world. 454 00:56:09.364 --> 00:56:13.920 A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 455 00:56:14.530 --> 00:56:25.300 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 456 00:56:27.469 --> 00:56:39.651 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 457 00:56:39.661 --> 00:56:49.909 So Jesus is pointing out how this one-way flow should work, going from the Father and the light. 458 00:56:50.170 --> 00:57:01.956 He says, your light, that light that is given to us, we let it shine to others, that they may see our good works, 459 00:57:01.966 --> 00:57:05.920 which is the righteousness of Christ, 460 00:57:05.930 --> 00:57:08.215 the Ten Commandments. 461 00:57:08.225 --> 00:57:21.880 They're lived in our life, they're in our life, in our being, part of who we are, our character, and then give glory to the Father. 462 00:57:22.360 --> 00:57:29.053 Not to us, we don't take the glory, but the Father gets the glory. 463 00:57:29.063 --> 00:57:33.820 And this is contrasted with Lucifer's approach. 464 00:57:34.639 --> 00:57:45.582 And we see that very well when we look in the story of the temptation, when Jesus was in the wilderness and Satan came and tempted him. 465 00:57:45.592 --> 00:57:48.346 And the third time it says, again, 466 00:57:48.356 --> 00:57:58.469 the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. 467 00:57:59.269 --> 00:58:08.809 And then he saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 468 00:58:09.280 --> 00:58:19.559 So there we see that exchange, that merchandising, again, that Lucifer is known for. 469 00:58:19.569 --> 00:58:25.687 I give you all this glory and you give me worship. 470 00:58:25.697 --> 00:58:28.369 He wanted the worship. 471 00:58:29.829 --> 00:58:33.322 And this is how he himself lived. 472 00:58:33.332 --> 00:58:35.343 That's how he fell. 473 00:58:35.353 --> 00:58:38.635 He wanted a part of that glory. 474 00:58:38.645 --> 00:58:42.667 And so he offers a part of that glory. 475 00:58:42.677 --> 00:58:46.130 He says, here's all the kingdoms. 476 00:58:46.340 --> 00:58:51.753 I give you a lot of glory in all of these kingdoms of the earth, all of their glory. 477 00:58:51.763 --> 00:58:54.727 He didn't show them the slums of the kingdoms. 478 00:58:54.737 --> 00:58:57.360 He showed them the glory of the kingdoms. 479 00:58:57.909 --> 00:59:08.608 And he said, I'll give you all of these things if you will fall down and worship me. 480 00:59:08.618 --> 00:59:21.732 But this same principle, though we would never in our sophisticated age fall down and worship somebody, 481 00:59:21.742 --> 00:59:30.772 yet we might be tempted to take part in the glory that belongs to God, 482 00:59:30.782 --> 00:59:36.119 in the worship that belongs to God alone. 483 00:59:38.130 --> 00:59:46.900 Notice how this angel that gave the revelation to the apostle John interacted with him. 484 00:59:47.929 --> 00:59:50.840 This is now at the end of the revelation. 485 00:59:50.850 --> 00:59:54.612 He's so overwhelmed with everything that he has seen. 486 00:59:54.622 --> 00:59:58.719 And he says, and I, John, saw these things and heard them. 487 00:59:59.829 --> 01:00:06.309 And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, which showed me these things. 488 01:00:06.820 --> 01:00:17.300 So you can see he's just so overwhelmed with all of this that he saw that he falls down and he is bowing down at the angel, 489 01:00:17.310 --> 01:00:20.879 at the feet of this angel who showed him, 490 01:00:20.889 --> 01:00:21.731 which is, 491 01:00:21.741 --> 01:00:22.669 as we saw, 492 01:00:22.679 --> 01:00:29.059 the covering cherub who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah to reveal. 493 01:00:30.510 --> 01:00:42.961 And then said he unto me, that is this angel, see thou do it not for I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren, the prophets and of them, 494 01:00:42.971 --> 01:00:46.275 which keep the sayings of this book, 495 01:00:46.285 --> 01:00:47.440 worship God. 496 01:00:48.269 --> 01:00:56.378 So he makes it clear that the worship is to go to God alone. 497 01:00:56.388 --> 01:01:00.037 So how do we worship today? 498 01:01:00.047 --> 01:01:17.346 Because, and I don't mean consciously when we come to a worship service, but how does Satan subtly trick us into giving worship? 499 01:01:17.356 --> 01:01:20.300 Do you have any ideas? 500 01:01:21.320 --> 01:01:30.128 What is an example of how someone might worship somebody else today? 501 01:01:30.138 --> 01:01:40.760 They're not going to fall down at somebody's feet like John did at the angel, but. 502 01:01:40.770 --> 01:01:40.900 . 503 01:01:40.910 --> 01:01:41.039 . 504 01:01:41.049 --> 01:01:52.150 Okay, that is a more literal aspect, adoring the idols in the churches or the temples. 505 01:01:57.110 --> 01:02:05.435 Okay, if something is too important in your life, you give it too much attention, right? 506 01:02:05.445 --> 01:02:10.449 You pay too much attention to these things or people. 507 01:02:11.659 --> 01:02:31.331 So for example, if somebody gives a wonderful presentation or does a great act, and then you say, oh wow, you know, you give them adoration. 508 01:02:31.341 --> 01:02:36.389 That adoration is a form of worship. 509 01:02:38.920 --> 01:02:56.016 And that's one way where we see a very prominent means of worship in our society today, through the adoration of sports figures, 510 01:02:56.026 --> 01:02:58.955 of Hollywood figures, 511 01:02:58.965 --> 01:03:00.424 musicians. 512 01:03:00.434 --> 01:03:01.760 Thank you. 513 01:03:02.400 --> 01:03:16.902 Even the pastors and priests, anybody that you look up to in a way that is not treating them as a fellow servant, 514 01:03:16.912 --> 01:03:23.704 but you put too much emphasis on how great they are, 515 01:03:23.714 --> 01:03:28.453 too much adoration on a mere mortal, 516 01:03:28.463 --> 01:03:30.249 a mere human. 517 01:03:30.259 --> 01:03:31.789 Worship God. 518 01:03:32.179 --> 01:03:37.036 It's to God that we give our adoration. 519 01:03:37.046 --> 01:03:49.239 Another class of people that we adore in a perhaps more subtle way even are the so-called experts. 520 01:03:49.349 --> 01:04:03.170 We surrender our own judgment to the doctors and other people, scientists, that we think they have all the great knowledge. 521 01:04:03.329 --> 01:04:05.438 Oh, you wonderful scientist. 522 01:04:05.448 --> 01:04:15.990 We have this picture in our minds of the scientist at the chalkboard with all these math equations, and we just look at that and go, oh wow, 523 01:04:16.000 --> 01:04:17.722 you're so intelligent. 524 01:04:17.732 --> 01:04:20.800 That's far beyond anything I can imagine. 525 01:04:21.139 --> 01:04:24.892 And it's similar with the doctors. 526 01:04:24.902 --> 01:04:39.134 We look at them as though they're wonder workers, and we give too much emphasis on those abilities that are good, they're useful, 527 01:04:39.144 --> 01:04:41.782 they're gifts from God, 528 01:04:41.792 --> 01:04:47.739 and we ought to direct our praise and worship to God. 529 01:04:48.139 --> 01:05:02.000 So the throne of God is flanked by these two anointed ones who have a particular mission. 530 01:05:02.880 --> 01:05:07.437 Jesus was anointed for his mission on earth. 531 01:05:07.447 --> 01:05:14.170 He came to the earth and ministered salvation to the whole world. 532 01:05:15.230 --> 01:05:25.305 And the other covering cherub was also sent to the world, and that's in the form of Elijah, 533 01:05:25.315 --> 01:05:32.059 John the Baptist who came in the spirit and power of Elijah. 534 01:05:32.489 --> 01:05:39.144 And those in the last day who come in the spirit and power of Elijah, 535 01:05:39.154 --> 01:05:51.969 who receive this message and turn their lives and hearts to the Lord and give him the praise and the worship that he alone deserves. 536 01:05:52.369 --> 01:06:01.460 Because he is the creator of all things, including the cherubim themselves. 537 01:06:02.530 --> 01:06:11.152 And it is his law that sits at the foundation of the throne. 538 01:06:11.162 --> 01:06:25.246 The law is described as a stone, and even in the spiritual sense it's described as stones of fire. 539 01:06:25.256 --> 01:06:34.289 And the stone can be used in two ways, as Jesus illustrated it. 540 01:06:34.440 --> 01:06:39.483 God sits on the stone, on the law. 541 01:06:39.493 --> 01:06:45.130 He sits on that foundation of the law. 542 01:06:45.140 --> 01:06:59.812 But when that law is broken, then it's reversed, and then we're under the law until we find Christ, 543 01:06:59.822 --> 01:07:06.630 and he reverses that just like we saw before. 544 01:07:06.630 --> 01:07:22.581 Instead of the wrath, he brings us to the, we can see it here, he brings us back to life from being under the penalty of the law. 545 01:07:22.591 --> 01:07:31.865 And so we want to be not under the law, but with the law as our foundation. 546 01:07:31.875 --> 01:07:43.849 Just like it's the foundation of God's throne, it should also be the foundation of our character. 547 01:07:45.500 --> 01:07:52.039 So with that, I think that wraps up our study of the two witnesses. 548 01:07:52.049 --> 01:08:05.122 This was the last aspect, I mean there's always many more things that you can explore, but the last major aspect of the two witnesses, 549 01:08:05.132 --> 01:08:06.000 I think, 550 01:08:06.010 --> 01:08:12.440 were these two anointed ones on either side of the throne of God. 551 01:08:13.210 --> 01:08:20.720 One, Jesus, our example, and he's the one that we give our praise and honor to. 552 01:08:21.949 --> 01:08:27.939 And ultimately, that's what this battle is all about. 553 01:08:27.949 --> 01:08:32.017 It's about understanding who is who. 554 01:08:32.027 --> 01:08:33.044 Is it we? 555 01:08:33.054 --> 01:08:38.591 Do we do right to receive any part of that glory? 556 01:08:38.601 --> 01:08:40.296 Or is it Jesus? 557 01:08:40.306 --> 01:08:43.760 You know, Jesus is very humble. 558 01:08:44.850 --> 01:08:51.407 He takes the form of an angel, and they're both described equally. 559 01:08:51.417 --> 01:08:56.583 They were formed in the sanctuary on the mercy seat. 560 01:08:56.593 --> 01:09:03.229 When they formed them out of gold, they were made to look the same. 561 01:09:04.949 --> 01:09:10.843 But one is the son of God, and the other one is created. 562 01:09:10.853 --> 01:09:16.537 And we must always recognize and remember our creator. 563 01:09:16.547 --> 01:09:24.210 Remember that we are just like little children looking up to our creator. 564 01:09:24.840 --> 01:09:26.824 He is the Lord. 565 01:09:26.834 --> 01:09:33.844 He is the one who changes not, and he is our example. 566 01:09:33.854 --> 01:09:40.579 And so with that, let's stand for a word of prayer. 567 01:09:41.210 --> 01:09:55.393 Dear Heavenly Father, as we've gone through this study of the two witnesses in the various aspects that they are presented in your word, 568 01:09:55.403 --> 01:10:01.859 it's really amazing to see how much you pack into that story. 569 01:10:03.619 --> 01:10:14.278 And how much it shows us about you, about your throne, and about your people, your people, your kingdom, 570 01:10:14.288 --> 01:10:19.300 and how we are called to reflect your character. 571 01:10:21.310 --> 01:10:35.203 You've shown us your character, how you have sworn and change not, though it cost your life, the life of your son, 572 01:10:35.213 --> 01:10:42.272 and that was a sacrifice for you as much as for your son. 573 01:10:42.282 --> 01:10:44.710 And so we thank you. 574 01:10:45.130 --> 01:10:59.529 We praise you for this incredible message of hope and encouragement, of mercy, and yet also of justice. 575 01:11:00.979 --> 01:11:13.816 We thank you for every aspect of your character, and we ask that you will write that character in our hearts, 576 01:11:13.826 --> 01:11:21.353 that we may reflect your light and be as a light set on a hill, 577 01:11:21.363 --> 01:11:25.121 shining out like a bright city, 578 01:11:25.131 --> 01:11:28.890 shining out to the whole world. 579 01:11:28.890 --> 01:11:44.226 So that the world may look at your people and see something very remarkable, that they may see a difference, that they may see you, 580 01:11:44.236 --> 01:11:48.090 because your character is in us. 581 01:11:48.979 --> 01:12:00.246 That is our desire and our prayer, and we ask these things in the name of he who was wounded for us, 582 01:12:00.256 --> 01:12:07.569 who took the nail in his hands from the foundation of the world, 583 01:12:07.579 --> 01:12:12.301 knowing in advance what it would require, 584 01:12:12.311 --> 01:12:14.779 and yet not changing. 585 01:12:16.100 --> 01:12:17.845 We thank you, Father. 586 01:12:17.855 --> 01:12:19.518 We praise your name. 587 01:12:19.528 --> 01:12:24.329 We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Alnitak of Orion. 588 01:12:25.350 --> 01:12:25.856 Amen. 589 01:12:25.866 --> 01:12:30.409 Thank you, and we'll see you again next week.