1 00:00:01,220 --> 00:00:03,340 Shall we turn again in the book of 2 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:08,040 Zechariah tonight, and reading our lesson tonight beginning 3 00:00:08,040 --> 00:00:09,900 in chapter five. 4 00:00:10,940 --> 00:00:14,900 Chapter five of the book of Zechariah, and 5 00:00:14,900 --> 00:00:18,380 reading the whole chapter of eleven verses. 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,680 The prophet writes and declares, Then I turned 7 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,420 and lifted up mine eye, and looked, and 8 00:00:27,420 --> 00:00:29,140 behold, a flying roe. 9 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,720 And he said unto me, What seest thou? 10 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,740 And I answered, I see a flying roe, 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,080 the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the 12 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,020 breadth thereof ten cubits. 13 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:47,380 Then said he unto me, This is the 14 00:00:47,380 --> 00:00:50,000 curse that goeth forth over the face of 15 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:50,820 the whole earth. 16 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,000 For every one that stealeth shall be cut 17 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,840 off as on this side according to it, 18 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,700 and every one that sweareth shall be cut 19 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:06,360 off as on that side according to it. 20 00:01:07,220 --> 00:01:09,940 I will bring it forth, saith the Lord 21 00:01:09,940 --> 00:01:13,420 of hosts, and it shall enter into the 22 00:01:13,420 --> 00:01:17,340 house of the thief, and into the house 23 00:01:17,340 --> 00:01:20,420 of him that sweareth falsely by my name. 24 00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:23,900 And it shall remain in the midst of 25 00:01:23,900 --> 00:01:27,400 his house, and shall consume it with the 26 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,360 timber thereof, and the stones thereof. 27 00:01:32,500 --> 00:01:34,760 Then the angel that talked with me went 28 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,240 forth and said unto me, Lift up now 29 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,580 thine eye, and see what is this that 30 00:01:41,580 --> 00:01:42,400 goeth forth. 31 00:01:43,260 --> 00:01:45,140 And I said, What is it? 32 00:01:45,940 --> 00:01:49,120 And he said, This is an ephah that 33 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:50,120 goeth forth. 34 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:56,000 He said, Moreover, this is their resemblance throughout 35 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:57,840 all the earth. 36 00:01:58,860 --> 00:02:01,680 And behold, there was lifted up a talented 37 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:06,240 lad, and this is a woman that sitteth 38 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:07,919 in the midst of the ephah. 39 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,620 And he said, This is wickedness. 40 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,780 And he cast it into the midst of 41 00:02:15,780 --> 00:02:19,560 the ephah, and he cast the weight of 42 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,900 the lad upon the mouth thereof. 43 00:02:23,460 --> 00:02:26,020 Then lifted I up mine eyes and looked, 44 00:02:27,140 --> 00:02:32,340 and behold, there came out two women, and 45 00:02:32,340 --> 00:02:35,460 the wind was in their wings, for they 46 00:02:35,460 --> 00:02:37,640 had wings like the wings of a star. 47 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:41,840 They lifted up the ephah between the earth 48 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:42,460 and the heaven. 49 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,460 Then said I to the angel that talked 50 00:02:45,460 --> 00:02:49,240 with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 51 00:02:50,140 --> 00:02:53,540 And he said unto me, To build it 52 00:02:53,540 --> 00:02:56,700 an house in the land of Shinar, and 53 00:02:56,700 --> 00:03:00,820 it shall be established and set thereupon their 54 00:03:00,820 --> 00:03:01,660 own base. 55 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,720 May God bless the reading and the hearing 56 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:05,560 of his word. 57 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,800 Humbly, but dependent upon the Holy Spirit, we 58 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,840 look to the guidance and the teaching of 59 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,340 the Spirit for our mutual blessing and edification 60 00:03:16,340 --> 00:03:18,560 from the scripture that we have read. 61 00:03:19,740 --> 00:03:22,180 Just a brief summary of what we have 62 00:03:22,180 --> 00:03:25,780 already been covering in this wonderful book, The 63 00:03:25,780 --> 00:03:27,520 Prophecy of Zechariah. 64 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,680 The section from which we have read our 65 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,480 lesson tonight is taken from the second division 66 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:35,700 of the great book. 67 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,720 That division beginning as we have stated in 68 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,540 chapter one, verse seven, and going down to 69 00:03:43,540 --> 00:03:45,260 the end of chapter six. 70 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,940 It is a series of night visions. 71 00:03:50,220 --> 00:03:53,780 Eight visions that were given to the prophet 72 00:03:53,780 --> 00:03:55,580 Zechariah in one night. 73 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:00,500 We have already noticed in the earlier visions 74 00:04:00,500 --> 00:04:04,920 the revelation of what God will yet do 75 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,100 for the glory and the blessing and the 76 00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:10,700 restoration of his people Israel, the city of 77 00:04:10,700 --> 00:04:15,380 Jerusalem, and the reestablishing of the divine testimony 78 00:04:15,380 --> 00:04:17,959 to the glory of God upon the earth. 79 00:04:18,740 --> 00:04:21,620 We particularly have the joy this morning of 80 00:04:21,620 --> 00:04:25,700 seeing in chapter four the wonderful fact that 81 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:31,940 Israel will in consummation shine in its testimony 82 00:04:31,940 --> 00:04:34,700 of the nation upon the earth to the 83 00:04:34,700 --> 00:04:35,800 glory of God. 84 00:04:36,580 --> 00:04:39,860 We found Israel in that glory likened to 85 00:04:39,860 --> 00:04:45,420 the golden lampstand, and the shining out by 86 00:04:45,420 --> 00:04:48,060 the power and the presence and the fullness 87 00:04:48,060 --> 00:04:51,200 of the Spirit of God in that coming 88 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:55,060 day of Israel's glory through all the earth 89 00:04:55,060 --> 00:04:57,680 for the glory and honor of Jehovah. 90 00:04:58,900 --> 00:05:01,000 We come to a chapter, as we shall 91 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,640 also on tomorrow, which brings the closing visions 92 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:09,020 of three that remain in relation to something 93 00:05:09,020 --> 00:05:11,060 far different than what we have covered. 94 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,520 What we have seen in the earlier visions 95 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:20,320 have certainly been messages of consolation, of encouragement, 96 00:05:21,020 --> 00:05:24,740 telling how God will rid the nation of 97 00:05:24,740 --> 00:05:28,960 their sin and defilement, and then set them 98 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,760 for the millennial reign of their Messiah, the 99 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:34,020 Lord Jesus Christ. 100 00:05:34,940 --> 00:05:39,980 But before the blessings of that millennial glory 101 00:05:39,980 --> 00:05:45,380 can ever commence, it will necessitate that the 102 00:05:45,380 --> 00:05:49,220 Lord will also cleanse the land as well 103 00:05:49,220 --> 00:05:54,580 as the people from everything that defiles or 104 00:05:54,580 --> 00:05:58,320 makes an abomination or make us a lie 105 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,900 in relation to Israel. 106 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,380 What we read tonight and shall in the 107 00:06:04,380 --> 00:06:08,660 morning is the importance of a dark episode 108 00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:12,680 which unfolds in these two visions and the 109 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:13,480 one on tomorrow. 110 00:06:15,020 --> 00:06:18,860 For we have noted in chapter three that 111 00:06:18,860 --> 00:06:23,540 God will deal in grace with his beloved 112 00:06:23,540 --> 00:06:28,220 people who are in repentance in that coming 113 00:06:28,220 --> 00:06:29,500 day turning to him. 114 00:06:30,860 --> 00:06:33,860 But we must confess God is not only 115 00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:37,200 the God of grace, God is not only 116 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,680 the God of love, but our God is 117 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:41,740 the God of judgment. 118 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,100 Our God is not only a loving God, 119 00:06:46,780 --> 00:06:49,740 but our God is a holy God. 120 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:54,420 And our God, though he deals in matchless 121 00:06:54,420 --> 00:06:59,520 grace, must also unfold his true character in 122 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,880 relation to the defilement of sin and in 123 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:05,420 relation to Israel. 124 00:07:06,660 --> 00:07:10,780 These visions that we have before us tell 125 00:07:10,780 --> 00:07:13,620 that though God will deal in grace with 126 00:07:13,620 --> 00:07:17,640 the repentant part of Israel, he must and 127 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:22,400 he will deal in judgment with the unrepentant 128 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:23,360 part of Israel. 129 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:25,880 Now may I repeat that? 130 00:07:26,860 --> 00:07:29,620 For it is very clear in the teaching 131 00:07:29,620 --> 00:07:32,780 of the word of God, he not only 132 00:07:32,780 --> 00:07:37,760 will deal in grace and love and mercy 133 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:42,920 and forgiveness with those who repent in the 134 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:47,380 nations in that future day, but he will 135 00:07:47,380 --> 00:07:52,140 a necessity deal in judgment with the unrepentant 136 00:07:52,140 --> 00:07:53,080 part of the people. 137 00:07:54,060 --> 00:07:56,980 The visions that lie before us in this 138 00:07:56,980 --> 00:08:02,020 chapter reveal that he will deal in divine 139 00:08:02,020 --> 00:08:07,580 judgment and retribution with the unrepentant part of 140 00:08:07,580 --> 00:08:08,160 the nation. 141 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,480 And those who will persist in wickedness will 142 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,320 be judged, for our God is a God 143 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:20,020 of judgment as well as a God of 144 00:08:20,020 --> 00:08:20,600 grace. 145 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:24,200 There are those that magnify the love of 146 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,840 God at the expense of denying the judgment 147 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:29,600 of God. 148 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:32,600 But our God is holy. 149 00:08:33,659 --> 00:08:35,740 Our God is a consuming fire. 150 00:08:36,250 --> 00:08:38,580 It is a fearful thing to fall into 151 00:08:38,580 --> 00:08:41,419 the hands of the living God, wrote the 152 00:08:41,419 --> 00:08:42,520 writers of the Hebrews. 153 00:08:43,300 --> 00:08:47,960 And again and again, the scriptures bring out 154 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,020 not only the love and the grace of 155 00:08:50,020 --> 00:08:54,260 God, but also the judgment of God upon 156 00:08:54,260 --> 00:08:55,920 unrepentant sinners. 157 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,280 Now if his grace is rejected, then his 158 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,600 judgment must and will be known. 159 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:06,540 And I believe if you will keep the 160 00:09:06,540 --> 00:09:10,900 application of this chapter to the unrepentant part 161 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:16,000 of Israel, you will recognize that God will 162 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 deal with the unrepentant portion of his earthly 163 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:23,380 people to their destruction and to their final 164 00:09:23,380 --> 00:09:23,900 judgment. 165 00:09:23,900 --> 00:09:26,400 Now that is true in all the world. 166 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:28,940 That is true with all people. 167 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:32,460 Those who reject the grace of our God 168 00:09:32,460 --> 00:09:37,020 must of necessity submit themselves in the day 169 00:09:37,020 --> 00:09:40,080 of judgment to his divine retribution. 170 00:09:41,420 --> 00:09:44,260 Now what we have are two visions in 171 00:09:44,260 --> 00:09:44,820 the chapter. 172 00:09:45,420 --> 00:09:48,460 The vision of the flying roll, and then 173 00:09:48,460 --> 00:09:51,680 the latter part, the vision of the ephah. 174 00:09:52,420 --> 00:09:54,460 We open the chapter by reading of the 175 00:09:54,460 --> 00:09:55,360 flying roll. 176 00:09:56,300 --> 00:09:58,840 Then I turned and lifted up my eyes 177 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:03,820 and looked, and behold, a flying roll. 178 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,160 And this is a message of deep and 179 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,580 great importance that is coming from the living 180 00:10:11,580 --> 00:10:12,080 God. 181 00:10:12,940 --> 00:10:15,600 And there are some facts regarding this flying 182 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,480 roll that are certainly interesting. 183 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,600 First, the position of it. 184 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:24,000 Second, the size of it. 185 00:10:24,740 --> 00:10:28,140 And third, the message it contains. 186 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,420 And then fourth, the ultimate result of it. 187 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:34,100 Let me repeat it. 188 00:10:34,260 --> 00:10:36,040 First, the position. 189 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:39,600 And note the position is, it is a 190 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:40,860 flying roll. 191 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,720 Now because of this description of the roll 192 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:50,960 being a flying one, it denotes the rapidity 193 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:55,100 and the sudden approach of its execution. 194 00:10:55,540 --> 00:10:57,580 Now please may I repeat that. 195 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:03,140 It denotes the rapidity and the suddenness of 196 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:03,960 its execution. 197 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,060 But beloved, may I state, you that are 198 00:11:08,060 --> 00:11:10,840 familiar with the word of God, and you 199 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,900 that are familiar with the events of the 200 00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:17,680 future, will acknowledge that the day, the great 201 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:20,640 day of the Lord, the great day of 202 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:25,360 his wrath, is coming very suddenly, and will 203 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:30,940 be rapidly upon the human race at the 204 00:11:30,940 --> 00:11:33,960 coming again of our Lord Jesus, when he 205 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,200 shall come and appear in great glory and 206 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:36,640 power. 207 00:11:38,180 --> 00:11:41,440 And may I emphasize that I fully believe 208 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,340 with earnestness of soul, the world is near 209 00:11:45,340 --> 00:11:47,780 that sudden day of divine judgment. 210 00:11:49,790 --> 00:11:53,230 And in the context of our prophecy, relating 211 00:11:53,230 --> 00:11:58,690 primarily to Israel, the nation of Israel is 212 00:11:58,690 --> 00:12:02,290 also nearer to the day of that judgment, 213 00:12:02,670 --> 00:12:06,670 when the visitation of God upon the nation 214 00:12:06,670 --> 00:12:10,790 for their accumulated sins will be visited in 215 00:12:10,790 --> 00:12:15,150 the day of his wrath, upon the unrepentant 216 00:12:15,150 --> 00:12:16,130 part of the people. 217 00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:19,270 And then note the size of it. 218 00:12:19,830 --> 00:12:22,210 As you look in verse two, he said 219 00:12:22,210 --> 00:12:23,750 unto me, what seest thou? 220 00:12:23,850 --> 00:12:26,230 And I answered, I see a flying rose. 221 00:12:26,910 --> 00:12:30,890 The length thereof is twenty cubits, the breadth 222 00:12:30,890 --> 00:12:33,410 thereof ten cubits. 223 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,840 It is uniquely the size of the holy 224 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,220 place in the tabernacle, or in the temple. 225 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,360 Twenty cubits by ten cubits. 226 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,640 It is the size, the exact size, of 227 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,100 Solomon's porch in the day of his temple. 228 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,260 And it indicates, because of its reference to 229 00:12:56,260 --> 00:12:59,620 the size, that is the size of the 230 00:12:59,620 --> 00:13:04,060 holy place, it indicates the source of the 231 00:13:04,060 --> 00:13:11,260 impending judgment will emanate out of the holy 232 00:13:11,260 --> 00:13:15,160 place in accordance to the measure of God's 233 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:15,560 holiness. 234 00:13:18,140 --> 00:13:21,780 My beloved, may I say, the world has 235 00:13:21,780 --> 00:13:26,360 never seen at large the pouring out of 236 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,200 the fury and the wrath of a holy 237 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:28,800 God. 238 00:13:30,380 --> 00:13:32,220 But when you and I read the book 239 00:13:32,220 --> 00:13:35,580 of the Revelation, and when particularly we come 240 00:13:35,580 --> 00:13:39,100 to the confirmation of the judgments, following the 241 00:13:39,100 --> 00:13:43,100 seal judgments, the trumpet judgments, and then the 242 00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:47,180 final outpouring of the fury of the wrath 243 00:13:47,180 --> 00:13:52,200 of God, when you read Revelation 15 and 244 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:56,820 chapter 16, the pouring out of the final 245 00:13:56,820 --> 00:14:02,420 wrath of God upon the unrepentant, godless world, 246 00:14:02,940 --> 00:14:06,220 that wrath comes right out of the holy 247 00:14:06,220 --> 00:14:07,260 place in heaven above. 248 00:14:10,340 --> 00:14:13,280 Likewise, in the primary teaching of our chapter, 249 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:18,520 the divine wrath of Jehovah shall be meted 250 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:23,300 out as from his holy presence upon the 251 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:25,600 unrepentant part of his people. 252 00:14:26,780 --> 00:14:28,900 We can apply it to the whole world 253 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:31,740 in that coming day of the Lord, but 254 00:14:31,740 --> 00:14:35,360 in its primary message of Zechariah, it is 255 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,260 in relation to Israel. 256 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,280 Then note the message it has as we 257 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,980 go to verse three, Then said he unto 258 00:14:43,980 --> 00:14:48,160 me, This is the curse that goeth forth 259 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,880 over the face of the whole earth, or 260 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,540 the whole land, as some translate it, for 261 00:14:54,540 --> 00:14:59,540 every one that stealeth shall be cut off, 262 00:14:59,580 --> 00:15:02,860 as in this sign according to it, and 263 00:15:02,860 --> 00:15:07,140 every one that sweareth shall be cut off, 264 00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:10,460 as on that sign according to it. 265 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,740 There are two particular sins that are named 266 00:15:15,740 --> 00:15:18,720 in relation to this judgment, and the message 267 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:19,880 of the final robe. 268 00:15:20,900 --> 00:15:24,760 One sin is the sin of theft, the 269 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:29,480 other is the sin of perjury, stealing, lying, 270 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:35,340 and particularly the sin of theft and perjury 271 00:15:35,340 --> 00:15:41,420 predominates in the judgment, as thus the visitation 272 00:15:41,420 --> 00:15:44,620 of God's wrath will be upon his earthly 273 00:15:44,620 --> 00:15:45,040 people. 274 00:15:45,260 --> 00:15:47,380 And may I say, if it can be 275 00:15:47,380 --> 00:15:50,640 literal in verse three, if it is over 276 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,320 the face of the whole earth, there is 277 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,340 no reason to relegate it alone to Israel, 278 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,600 though it is particularly against Israel and God's 279 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,860 judgment upon the unrepentant part. 280 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:10,900 But the whole earth predominates with moral sins 281 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:14,180 that stand out at the end of the 282 00:16:14,180 --> 00:16:14,540 age. 283 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:16,220 May I go with you to the book 284 00:16:16,220 --> 00:16:17,460 of Revelation, please? 285 00:16:17,580 --> 00:16:18,320 Chapter nine. 286 00:16:18,940 --> 00:16:21,860 I'd like to bring out what is a 287 00:16:21,860 --> 00:16:24,840 most important thought in the ninth chapter of 288 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,660 the book of the Revelation, which applies not 289 00:16:28,660 --> 00:16:32,020 merely to Israel, but entirely to the whole 290 00:16:32,020 --> 00:16:32,360 earth. 291 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,520 As we read in chapter nine, let me 292 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:36,980 begin at verse twenty-one. 293 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,880 Following one of the greatest pouring out of 294 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,660 judgments, and that is the sixth seal judgment, 295 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,280 or the sixth trumpet judgment, rather, we have 296 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,860 in verse twenty-one these words, and I 297 00:16:51,860 --> 00:16:53,580 wish you to note them carefully. 298 00:16:54,340 --> 00:17:00,080 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of 299 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:07,300 their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of 300 00:17:07,300 --> 00:17:08,880 their thanks. 301 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:12,339 Now, here in relation to the whole world 302 00:17:12,339 --> 00:17:17,200 is the predominance of four great moral sins. 303 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:19,720 They predominate today. 304 00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:24,980 You have the multiplicity of murders, and we 305 00:17:24,980 --> 00:17:25,540 know that. 306 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,520 You have what follows, if translated in your 307 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,960 authorized version by the word sorcery, or witchcraft, 308 00:17:34,780 --> 00:17:38,820 which is the Greek word pharmakia, and which 309 00:17:38,820 --> 00:17:41,320 means the administering of drugs. 310 00:17:42,580 --> 00:17:46,580 The illicit administering of drugs. 311 00:17:47,940 --> 00:17:52,260 And beloved, in one decade, you and I 312 00:17:52,260 --> 00:17:56,280 have seen this grow to an enormous size, 313 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:00,360 and constantly increasing in the last day. 314 00:18:01,140 --> 00:18:09,060 Coupled with it, fornication, promiscuous licentiousness in sexual 315 00:18:09,060 --> 00:18:10,820 relationships in the world today. 316 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:17,520 Predominating and accompanying these tests, they are the 317 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,900 predominant sins that prevail at the end of 318 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:22,560 the age. 319 00:18:23,780 --> 00:18:27,400 Now, in relation to Israel, there is the 320 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,200 predominance of theft and perjury. 321 00:18:30,460 --> 00:18:34,800 And may I point out, these are two 322 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,100 sins against that are found recorded in the 323 00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:40,700 great decalogue, the Law of Moses. 324 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,500 Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not lie. 325 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,480 My beloved, may I say, I say it 326 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:55,780 humbly, but in Israel and the history of 327 00:18:55,780 --> 00:18:59,500 the nation, there has been a predominance of 328 00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:00,200 those sins. 329 00:19:02,140 --> 00:19:05,740 They have sworn, they have perjured themselves, often 330 00:19:05,740 --> 00:19:07,180 even in the name of Jehovah. 331 00:19:10,410 --> 00:19:12,410 But oh God, he's going to bring the 332 00:19:12,410 --> 00:19:17,550 culmination of those national sins to judgment in 333 00:19:17,550 --> 00:19:19,450 relation to we lusty people. 334 00:19:20,250 --> 00:19:21,730 And I want you to notice, you read 335 00:19:21,730 --> 00:19:25,290 please, or the end of verse three, let 336 00:19:25,290 --> 00:19:25,770 me read. 337 00:19:26,850 --> 00:19:29,810 Everyone that sweareth shall be cut up, or 338 00:19:29,810 --> 00:19:31,950 everyone that stealeth shall be cut up. 339 00:19:32,630 --> 00:19:36,830 Everyone that sweareth shall be cut up. 340 00:19:37,710 --> 00:19:40,590 And God says, I will bring it forth, 341 00:19:40,870 --> 00:19:42,030 saith the Lord of hosts. 342 00:19:42,730 --> 00:19:45,970 It shall enter into the house of the 343 00:19:45,970 --> 00:19:49,930 thief, into the house of him that sweareth 344 00:19:49,930 --> 00:19:52,030 falsely by my name. 345 00:19:52,510 --> 00:19:54,390 And it shall remain in the midst of 346 00:19:54,390 --> 00:19:58,210 his house, and shall consume it with the 347 00:19:58,210 --> 00:20:02,650 timber thereon, and the stones thereon. 348 00:20:03,350 --> 00:20:08,050 Oh, how we can recognize that very similarly, 349 00:20:08,250 --> 00:20:10,630 as you may read in Leviticus chapter fourteen, 350 00:20:11,410 --> 00:20:14,570 here is a house that is full of 351 00:20:14,570 --> 00:20:15,170 leprosy. 352 00:20:15,950 --> 00:20:19,890 And the leprosy must be judged, and the 353 00:20:19,890 --> 00:20:24,690 house becomes rotten, and comes under the judgment 354 00:20:24,690 --> 00:20:25,610 of God. 355 00:20:26,710 --> 00:20:30,290 Oh beloved, may I still qualify my statement? 356 00:20:31,030 --> 00:20:34,670 It is the unrepentant part of Israel. 357 00:20:36,150 --> 00:20:38,310 I think that we could safely assume, and 358 00:20:38,310 --> 00:20:39,950 we shall see it in a later chapter, 359 00:20:40,730 --> 00:20:44,670 at the end of chapter twelve, or yes, 360 00:20:44,810 --> 00:20:48,030 by chapter twelve or thirteen, you will find 361 00:20:48,030 --> 00:20:52,690 that possibly only one-third of the nation 362 00:20:52,690 --> 00:20:56,210 of Israel comes through the fire of the 363 00:20:56,210 --> 00:21:00,410 great tribulation to be the redeemed remnant to 364 00:21:00,410 --> 00:21:01,250 enter the kingdom. 365 00:21:01,770 --> 00:21:03,930 And two-thirds are cut off. 366 00:21:05,210 --> 00:21:07,630 One of the solemn facts in relation to 367 00:21:07,630 --> 00:21:12,470 Israel today is the fact the majority will 368 00:21:12,470 --> 00:21:13,910 be cut off in judgment. 369 00:21:16,990 --> 00:21:18,890 Well, you can think of the statement of 370 00:21:18,890 --> 00:21:20,950 the Lord Jesus in relation to the whole 371 00:21:20,950 --> 00:21:26,890 world, when he said long ago, straight is 372 00:21:26,890 --> 00:21:30,070 the gate, narrow is the way that leadeth 373 00:21:30,070 --> 00:21:33,330 unto life, and few there be that find 374 00:21:33,330 --> 00:21:33,670 it. 375 00:21:34,890 --> 00:21:38,030 But broad is the road that leadeth to 376 00:21:38,030 --> 00:21:42,350 destruction, and many there be which go in 377 00:21:42,350 --> 00:21:43,130 thereat. 378 00:21:44,390 --> 00:21:48,330 It is a solemn fact that there seems 379 00:21:48,330 --> 00:21:50,990 to be the majority on the road to 380 00:21:50,990 --> 00:21:51,630 destruction. 381 00:21:54,850 --> 00:21:58,130 And when one sees the return of the 382 00:21:58,130 --> 00:22:03,050 exiles to their land today, we wonder how 383 00:22:03,050 --> 00:22:07,790 many of them will come through the fiery 384 00:22:07,790 --> 00:22:12,710 trials that lie before them, and the visitation 385 00:22:12,710 --> 00:22:16,710 of God's judgment in that soon coming day. 386 00:22:18,110 --> 00:22:22,190 O beloved, don't forget, our God is a 387 00:22:22,190 --> 00:22:26,770 holy God, and our God will judge the 388 00:22:26,770 --> 00:22:31,910 guilt of the nation's sin, as indicated in 389 00:22:31,910 --> 00:22:37,450 this vision, and bring to judgment and conclusion 390 00:22:37,450 --> 00:22:42,430 the inevitable reward of their sins. 391 00:22:43,230 --> 00:22:45,090 And that's true for the whole world. 392 00:22:46,250 --> 00:22:48,670 Now let's go to the second vision, in 393 00:22:48,670 --> 00:22:49,250 the chapter. 394 00:22:49,850 --> 00:22:52,970 For in the second vision, we find that 395 00:22:52,970 --> 00:22:55,550 God will not only judge the guilt of 396 00:22:55,550 --> 00:23:00,030 their sin, but he will also judge the 397 00:23:00,030 --> 00:23:04,510 sin itself, as indicated in this vision before 398 00:23:04,510 --> 00:23:07,110 us, the vision of the ephod. 399 00:23:07,750 --> 00:23:10,130 Then the angel that talked with me went 400 00:23:10,130 --> 00:23:13,710 forth, and said unto me, Lift up now 401 00:23:13,710 --> 00:23:17,530 thine eyes, and see what is this that 402 00:23:17,530 --> 00:23:18,210 goeth forth. 403 00:23:18,290 --> 00:23:19,630 And I said, What is this? 404 00:23:20,310 --> 00:23:24,250 And he said, This is an ephod that 405 00:23:24,250 --> 00:23:25,430 goeth forth. 406 00:23:26,170 --> 00:23:29,270 He said, Moreover, this is their resemblance, their 407 00:23:29,270 --> 00:23:32,250 appearance, through all the earth. 408 00:23:33,610 --> 00:23:35,750 The going forth of an ephod. 409 00:23:36,310 --> 00:23:40,590 Now an ephod was the largest measure of 410 00:23:40,590 --> 00:23:44,430 dry weight used amongst the Jews. 411 00:23:45,990 --> 00:23:50,190 And here we can recognize this large measure 412 00:23:50,190 --> 00:23:53,310 of weight that is used in the vision, 413 00:23:54,030 --> 00:23:58,910 could certainly indicate the full measure of Israel's 414 00:23:58,910 --> 00:23:59,290 sins. 415 00:24:00,810 --> 00:24:04,810 You know, may I say it reverently, one 416 00:24:04,810 --> 00:24:09,230 of the hardest things for a Jew to 417 00:24:09,230 --> 00:24:13,330 believe is the enormity of the nation's sins 418 00:24:13,330 --> 00:24:14,570 against Jehovah. 419 00:24:15,490 --> 00:24:17,330 Will you go with me to 2 Chronicles 420 00:24:17,330 --> 00:24:18,710 chapter 36 please. 421 00:24:19,470 --> 00:24:22,250 We mentioned it the other evening, and I'd 422 00:24:22,250 --> 00:24:23,890 like to turn to it and read the 423 00:24:23,890 --> 00:24:29,890 words, before the Babylonian captivity, concerning what God 424 00:24:29,890 --> 00:24:32,950 declared regarding the sins of the nation. 425 00:24:33,330 --> 00:24:35,530 The last chapter in the second book of 426 00:24:35,530 --> 00:24:38,530 Chronicles, chapter 36. 427 00:24:39,190 --> 00:24:42,190 Let me begin reading at verse 14, and 428 00:24:42,190 --> 00:24:45,350 read if I may through verse 16. 429 00:24:46,390 --> 00:24:49,730 For the enormity of the sins of his 430 00:24:49,730 --> 00:24:52,990 earthly people cannot and neither should they be 431 00:24:52,990 --> 00:24:53,670 minimized. 432 00:24:54,450 --> 00:24:56,090 Listen to the word of God as he 433 00:24:56,090 --> 00:25:01,130 writes, Moreover, all the chiefs of the priests 434 00:25:02,170 --> 00:25:07,350 and the people transgressed very much after all 435 00:25:07,350 --> 00:25:11,770 the abominations of the heathen, and polluted the 436 00:25:11,770 --> 00:25:15,210 house of the Lord, which he had hallowed 437 00:25:15,210 --> 00:25:16,310 in Jerusalem. 438 00:25:17,410 --> 00:25:20,470 And the Lord God of their fathers sent 439 00:25:20,470 --> 00:25:25,650 to them by his messengers, rising up the 440 00:25:25,650 --> 00:25:30,030 times and sending, because he had compassion upon 441 00:25:30,030 --> 00:25:33,070 his people and on his dwelling place. 442 00:25:33,250 --> 00:25:39,270 But they not the messengers of God, they 443 00:25:39,270 --> 00:25:47,350 despised his words, they misused his prophets, until 444 00:25:47,350 --> 00:25:51,230 the wrath of Jehovah arose against his people, 445 00:25:51,910 --> 00:25:55,630 till there was no remedy. 446 00:25:56,730 --> 00:25:59,130 And then what follows is his judgment at 447 00:25:59,130 --> 00:26:00,730 the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. 448 00:26:01,610 --> 00:26:05,330 O beloved, let us not minimize, and neither 449 00:26:05,330 --> 00:26:08,770 will God minimize the extent of the sin 450 00:26:08,770 --> 00:26:11,130 of the nation in that coming day. 451 00:26:11,370 --> 00:26:14,350 May I go even further, to remind your 452 00:26:14,350 --> 00:26:17,930 hearts, they have not only despised his word, 453 00:26:18,330 --> 00:26:21,250 they have not only despised his messengers of 454 00:26:21,250 --> 00:26:25,990 prophets, but they despised his beloved son when 455 00:26:25,990 --> 00:26:29,650 he came to the earth, and slew the 456 00:26:29,650 --> 00:26:31,990 one who was the Prince of Light, their 457 00:26:31,990 --> 00:26:33,030 very Redeemer. 458 00:26:34,050 --> 00:26:36,010 And also when you come at the end 459 00:26:36,010 --> 00:26:40,110 of the book of the Acts, Paul consummates 460 00:26:40,110 --> 00:26:43,110 his testimony of Israel as having in the 461 00:26:43,110 --> 00:26:47,410 words of Isaiah, despised his Holy Spirit. 462 00:26:47,410 --> 00:26:53,250 And my beloved, may I say solemnly, the 463 00:26:53,250 --> 00:26:58,170 guilt of Israel's sin as a nation, will 464 00:26:58,170 --> 00:27:00,830 yet be faced as a nation. 465 00:27:01,810 --> 00:27:05,490 The repentant part will find forgiveness. 466 00:27:06,210 --> 00:27:10,810 The unrepentant, there's nothing left but judgment. 467 00:27:11,810 --> 00:27:14,770 And that same analogy can be given to 468 00:27:14,770 --> 00:27:15,570 the whole world. 469 00:27:17,700 --> 00:27:20,300 Now my beloved, may I say, insert this 470 00:27:20,300 --> 00:27:24,980 fact, if you are not saved, may I 471 00:27:24,980 --> 00:27:28,440 remind you of the words of Paul, as 472 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:32,720 he said in Acts 13, through this man 473 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:36,180 Christ is preached unto you the forgiveness of 474 00:27:36,180 --> 00:27:41,020 sins, and all the beliefs are justified from 475 00:27:41,020 --> 00:27:44,480 all things, by which you could never be 476 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,540 justified, from which you could never be justified 477 00:27:47,540 --> 00:27:48,760 by the law of Moses. 478 00:27:49,180 --> 00:27:50,240 But beware! 479 00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:52,420 Beware! 480 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:54,240 Beware! 481 00:27:55,660 --> 00:27:59,860 And despite that, that offer of mercy lets 482 00:27:59,860 --> 00:28:00,500 you perish. 483 00:28:03,420 --> 00:28:05,460 Our God is a consuming fire. 484 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,560 I listened to a program last week. 485 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,200 My eye caught the message of it, as 486 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:17,200 it was advertised. 487 00:28:18,620 --> 00:28:20,560 Is atheism a religion? 488 00:28:21,980 --> 00:28:24,380 I listened to the words of that woman, 489 00:28:24,540 --> 00:28:28,440 Mrs. Murray, and as I listened to what 490 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,200 she had to say concerning the Lord Jesus 491 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:36,340 Christ, and called him a despicable character, that 492 00:28:36,340 --> 00:28:38,960 he would ever consign men to a place 493 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,800 where there would be weeping and wailing and 494 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:43,140 gnashing of teeth. 495 00:28:45,140 --> 00:28:48,060 And my beloved, let us not fail to 496 00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:51,340 realize, though our God is a God of 497 00:28:51,340 --> 00:28:55,060 love, of which he knows nothing, yet our 498 00:28:55,060 --> 00:28:56,940 God is a consuming fire. 499 00:28:58,740 --> 00:29:03,180 And I indeed tremble to realize what such 500 00:29:03,180 --> 00:29:04,920 a woman and many others are facing. 501 00:29:05,860 --> 00:29:08,140 But oh beloved, if tonight you're here without 502 00:29:08,140 --> 00:29:11,300 the Lord Jesus, may I plead with you 503 00:29:11,300 --> 00:29:15,040 to realize the day of judgment is inevitable. 504 00:29:15,980 --> 00:29:18,820 There is only one inevitable alternative. 505 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:20,000 Listen to the words. 506 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,280 The wages of sin is what? 507 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:23,000 Death. 508 00:29:25,130 --> 00:29:26,450 Eternal death. 509 00:29:26,990 --> 00:29:30,910 But the gift of eternal life, the gift 510 00:29:30,910 --> 00:29:33,670 of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ 511 00:29:33,670 --> 00:29:34,450 our Lord. 512 00:29:35,170 --> 00:29:38,330 You either have the gift, or you take 513 00:29:38,330 --> 00:29:38,830 the wages. 514 00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:46,000 And thank God I received the gift, and 515 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:47,840 I hope you all have too. 516 00:29:50,910 --> 00:29:53,070 And when the prophet saw the vision of 517 00:29:53,070 --> 00:29:57,570 the ephod, that largest measure of weight, oh 518 00:29:57,570 --> 00:30:01,090 perhaps it would indeed suggest that the weight 519 00:30:01,090 --> 00:30:05,590 of Israel's sin had undoubtedly come to its 520 00:30:05,590 --> 00:30:06,210 full measure. 521 00:30:06,470 --> 00:30:09,410 And one thing is sure, that in relation 522 00:30:09,410 --> 00:30:14,890 to the whole world, the world's sin will 523 00:30:14,890 --> 00:30:16,850 have come to its full measure in that 524 00:30:16,850 --> 00:30:18,310 day of the Lord. 525 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:23,400 Oh beloved, what a terrible day lies before 526 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:23,880 the world. 527 00:30:24,580 --> 00:30:26,640 What a terrible day before many of the 528 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:27,520 people of Israel. 529 00:30:28,500 --> 00:30:31,720 Now note, the prophet goes on to say 530 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:35,120 in verse 7, there was lifted up a 531 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:36,600 talent of lead. 532 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,700 And a talent of lead, now here is 533 00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:40,180 a weight. 534 00:30:40,980 --> 00:30:43,280 One of the weightiest pieces in Israel. 535 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:48,920 A talent weighed about 115 to 125 pounds 536 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,040 in weight, according to the time of Israel's 537 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:52,420 history. 538 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:54,040 It varied between them. 539 00:30:54,700 --> 00:30:59,480 And this is a woman that sitteth in 540 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:02,500 the midst of the ephod. 541 00:31:02,780 --> 00:31:06,040 And he said, this is wickedness. 542 00:31:06,260 --> 00:31:08,380 And he cast it in the midst of 543 00:31:08,380 --> 00:31:10,900 the ephod, and he cast a weight of 544 00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:14,160 lead upon the mouth thereof. 545 00:31:15,260 --> 00:31:19,660 A circular mass of lead holding in the 546 00:31:19,660 --> 00:31:21,300 contents of the ephod. 547 00:31:21,460 --> 00:31:25,320 Now note what the ephod represented, as typified 548 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:27,280 by the woman in the midst of it. 549 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:31,280 Wickedness, wickedness, wickedness. 550 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,120 Beloved, may I propel the truth of this 551 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,640 message to the closing days of this age. 552 00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:43,220 For again, this may have been true, partially 553 00:31:43,220 --> 00:31:46,520 true, in the days of Zechariah concerning Israel, 554 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:48,540 as well as the preceding vision. 555 00:31:48,860 --> 00:31:51,360 The sin of theft, the sin of perjury. 556 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,280 But don't translate these to the end of 557 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:54,800 the age. 558 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:57,400 And you will find at the end of 559 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:02,600 the age, that wickedness will be consummated in 560 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:03,360 its fullness. 561 00:32:03,820 --> 00:32:06,540 Go into 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, please. 562 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,320 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. 563 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:11,640 I want you to note the weight of 564 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,140 lead, as suggested by the spirit of God 565 00:32:15,140 --> 00:32:17,340 in the letter of 2 Thessalonians. 566 00:32:17,940 --> 00:32:21,100 Let me read in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, 567 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,760 and may I begin, if you please, at 568 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:24,500 verse 1. 569 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,800 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. 570 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,860 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming 571 00:32:31,860 --> 00:32:35,160 of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering 572 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,440 together unto him, that ye be not soon 573 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:42,120 shaken in mind, or be troubled neither by 574 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:45,800 spirit nor by word, nor by letter as 575 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:48,280 from mouth, that the day of the Lord, 576 00:32:48,580 --> 00:32:51,520 which is the right translation, is at hand. 577 00:32:52,020 --> 00:32:55,860 Let no man deceive you by any means, 578 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:58,880 for that day shall not come, except there 579 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:03,340 come a falling, or the falling away, the 580 00:33:03,340 --> 00:33:06,880 apostasy first, and that man of sin be 581 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:11,060 revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and 582 00:33:11,060 --> 00:33:14,800 exalts himself above all that is called God, 583 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,880 or that is worshipped, so that he as 584 00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:23,900 God sitteth in the temple of God, showing 585 00:33:23,900 --> 00:33:25,920 himself that he is God. 586 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,260 Remember ye not that when I was yet 587 00:33:29,260 --> 00:33:32,400 with you, I told you these things? 588 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:34,720 Now may I point out, what we have 589 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:39,420 read describes the consolation of wickedness at the 590 00:33:39,420 --> 00:33:43,800 close of the age, as represented and embodied 591 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:45,280 in this man of sin. 592 00:33:46,780 --> 00:33:48,920 The man of sin! 593 00:33:50,220 --> 00:33:51,900 But then go on and read with me, 594 00:33:51,900 --> 00:33:53,200 verse six and seven. 595 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:55,880 I want you to see the talent of 596 00:33:55,880 --> 00:34:02,540 lead that restrains the final manifestation of this 597 00:34:02,540 --> 00:34:06,000 wicked one, and wickedness is represented in him. 598 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:12,560 Now ye know what withholdeth, what restraineth that 599 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:15,560 he might be revealed in his time, for 600 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:20,120 the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only 601 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:24,100 he who now letteth, or hindereth, will hinder 602 00:34:24,100 --> 00:34:27,679 until he be taken out of the way. 603 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:31,219 My beloved is in the vision of the 604 00:34:31,219 --> 00:34:31,639 ephah. 605 00:34:32,159 --> 00:34:35,780 There is a restraining influence to the final, 606 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:40,380 full manifestation of apostasy and wickedness at the 607 00:34:40,380 --> 00:34:41,159 end of the age. 608 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:46,540 But when that restrainer is removed, by the 609 00:34:46,540 --> 00:34:49,340 taking out of the world undoubtedly of the 610 00:34:49,340 --> 00:34:51,780 church, by the spirit to meet the Lord 611 00:34:51,780 --> 00:34:55,480 in the air, then, verse eight, then shall 612 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:58,660 that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord 613 00:34:58,660 --> 00:35:00,740 shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, 614 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:04,000 and shall destroy with the brightness of his 615 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:04,380 coming. 616 00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:06,960 Now let's go back to our chapter and 617 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:11,100 connect it in Zechariah chapter five, and let 618 00:35:11,100 --> 00:35:13,060 us see what happens in verse nine. 619 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:16,900 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, 620 00:35:17,460 --> 00:35:22,560 and behold, there came out two women, and 621 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,820 the wind was in their wings. 622 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:30,380 Women, that certainly are the embodiment of iniquity, 623 00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:36,540 and undoubtedly, as we find the expression, they 624 00:35:36,540 --> 00:35:39,500 come out like the wind in their wings, 625 00:35:39,780 --> 00:35:42,980 and they had the wings like the wings 626 00:35:42,980 --> 00:35:43,840 of a stork. 627 00:35:44,140 --> 00:35:47,080 And if you know your Bible sufficiently, the 628 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:50,600 Old Testament declares in the Pentateuch, the stork 629 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:52,400 was an unclean bird. 630 00:35:53,380 --> 00:35:57,280 And when you find a woman associated with 631 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,060 wickedness, you have that which is unclean. 632 00:36:02,940 --> 00:36:05,460 And how we can recognize, please let me 633 00:36:05,460 --> 00:36:07,800 repeat what the Lord Jesus said in chapter 634 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:10,440 two of the book of the Revelation, as 635 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:14,240 he spoke of that wicked woman Jezebel, as 636 00:36:14,240 --> 00:36:16,640 he speaks in chapter seventeen in the vision 637 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:20,260 to John, of that wicked woman Babylon, the 638 00:36:20,260 --> 00:36:22,500 great mother of harlots. 639 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:30,300 My beloved, may I say this, you and 640 00:36:30,300 --> 00:36:34,480 I have no conception of the rapidity of 641 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:38,920 the lawlessness and wickedness that will continue after 642 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,100 the rapture of the church. 643 00:36:42,470 --> 00:36:44,530 I never thought I'd live to see such 644 00:36:44,530 --> 00:36:46,130 wickedness as exists today. 645 00:36:47,510 --> 00:36:51,490 But may I say again, when the retrainer 646 00:36:51,490 --> 00:36:55,990 is removed, the two women come out of 647 00:36:55,990 --> 00:36:59,930 the heathen, and with the wings of the 648 00:36:59,930 --> 00:37:04,810 wind, they do their diabolical work rapidly at 649 00:37:04,810 --> 00:37:05,930 the end of the age. 650 00:37:05,930 --> 00:37:10,670 And the apostate state comes to its final 651 00:37:10,670 --> 00:37:13,930 fulfillment, and its final accomplishment. 652 00:37:15,210 --> 00:37:19,970 You know, the apostasy's bad enough now, but 653 00:37:19,970 --> 00:37:22,190 how terrible it's going to be later. 654 00:37:26,210 --> 00:37:28,990 I'm glad the Lord's coming for his people, 655 00:37:30,980 --> 00:37:32,460 to take us on. 656 00:37:32,500 --> 00:37:34,920 Oh, please let me state as we wait 657 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:36,400 in second Thessalonians. 658 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,860 You and I will not be living on 659 00:37:40,860 --> 00:37:43,860 the earth, if believers now, living on the 660 00:37:43,860 --> 00:37:48,060 earth, during that terrible, great and terrible day 661 00:37:48,060 --> 00:37:48,860 of the Lord. 662 00:37:50,860 --> 00:37:53,500 And that wicked one will not be revealed 663 00:37:53,500 --> 00:37:56,600 until you and I have come to glory. 664 00:37:56,960 --> 00:37:57,500 Hallelujah! 665 00:37:57,860 --> 00:37:59,000 I'm glad I'm going to leave. 666 00:38:03,130 --> 00:38:05,650 You know, I don't know anything better than 667 00:38:05,650 --> 00:38:06,990 to get out of this world. 668 00:38:06,990 --> 00:38:07,570 What? 669 00:38:07,810 --> 00:38:08,230 Yes. 670 00:38:11,180 --> 00:38:13,300 Especially when you know you're going to glory. 671 00:38:16,700 --> 00:38:18,860 The world is the best place I know 672 00:38:18,860 --> 00:38:19,780 to get out of. 673 00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:24,320 And the longer I live in this world, 674 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:26,780 the less I feel like living longer in 675 00:38:26,780 --> 00:38:27,040 it. 676 00:38:29,590 --> 00:38:30,710 The way it's going. 677 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:35,520 Oh my beloved, you know it's wonderful to 678 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:38,400 see the glory that lies before us, even 679 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:39,400 before Israel. 680 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:44,300 But let's face the practical issue, that as 681 00:38:44,300 --> 00:38:47,400 far as the ungodly and the unrepentant part 682 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,160 of the world, is divine wrath and judgment. 683 00:38:52,410 --> 00:38:54,910 Now let's look and see what happens to 684 00:38:54,910 --> 00:38:57,710 the women as they carry the ephah. 685 00:38:58,230 --> 00:39:00,410 They had wings like the wings of a 686 00:39:00,410 --> 00:39:04,310 storm, and they lifted up the ephah between 687 00:39:04,310 --> 00:39:06,030 the earth and heaven. 688 00:39:07,770 --> 00:39:10,070 And then the prophet says to the angel 689 00:39:10,070 --> 00:39:12,510 that talked with him, Whither do these go 690 00:39:12,510 --> 00:39:14,050 that bear the ephah? 691 00:39:14,730 --> 00:39:17,430 He said unto me, to build it an 692 00:39:17,430 --> 00:39:20,570 house in the land of Shina. 693 00:39:21,570 --> 00:39:24,550 And it shall be established, and it shall 694 00:39:24,550 --> 00:39:27,910 be set there upon their own base. 695 00:39:29,470 --> 00:39:31,130 Beloved, may I say two things. 696 00:39:32,170 --> 00:39:37,750 The two women could certainly indicate and represent 697 00:39:37,750 --> 00:39:42,810 apostate Judaism as well as apostate Christianity. 698 00:39:43,950 --> 00:39:45,750 Go with me to 1 John chapter 2 699 00:39:45,750 --> 00:39:46,190 please. 700 00:39:46,910 --> 00:39:49,230 The first epistle of John chapter 2. 701 00:39:50,230 --> 00:39:54,410 Note these words that John writes in chapter 702 00:39:54,410 --> 00:39:56,410 2 of his first epistle. 703 00:39:57,210 --> 00:40:00,890 May I read these words of verse 22. 704 00:40:02,610 --> 00:40:05,270 Who is a liar, but he that denieth 705 00:40:05,270 --> 00:40:06,910 that Jesus is the Christ. 706 00:40:07,430 --> 00:40:11,950 He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and 707 00:40:11,950 --> 00:40:12,430 the Son. 708 00:40:13,910 --> 00:40:15,530 Now I want you to know something. 709 00:40:16,230 --> 00:40:18,650 If you'll read the preceding section of this 710 00:40:18,650 --> 00:40:22,750 chapter, this portion, you'll find John telling the 711 00:40:22,750 --> 00:40:25,050 young believers of his day there were many 712 00:40:25,050 --> 00:40:28,270 Antichrists, many Antichrists in the world. 713 00:40:28,930 --> 00:40:32,570 But here he refers to the Antichrist. 714 00:40:33,370 --> 00:40:37,090 And when you look at verse 22, that 715 00:40:37,090 --> 00:40:44,880 Antichrist denieth Judaism, that Jesus is the Christ. 716 00:40:46,450 --> 00:40:50,610 My, you speak to an unbelieving Jew. 717 00:40:51,430 --> 00:40:54,870 You try again to acknowledge that Jesus is 718 00:40:54,870 --> 00:40:55,590 Messiah. 719 00:40:57,010 --> 00:40:58,470 You have a great difficulty. 720 00:40:59,810 --> 00:41:02,470 Only the Spirit of God can remove the 721 00:41:02,470 --> 00:41:07,530 scales of blindness and reveal the Messiah to 722 00:41:07,530 --> 00:41:08,130 a Judane. 723 00:41:08,690 --> 00:41:10,410 And thank God he's able. 724 00:41:11,550 --> 00:41:15,750 But the majority are blinded to the reality 725 00:41:15,750 --> 00:41:18,070 that their Messiah was none other than the 726 00:41:18,070 --> 00:41:18,450 Christ. 727 00:41:19,730 --> 00:41:23,250 And my beloved, at the end time, the 728 00:41:23,250 --> 00:41:26,990 Antichrist will deny that Jesus is the Christ, 729 00:41:26,990 --> 00:41:29,970 as he claims himself to be the Christ. 730 00:41:32,390 --> 00:41:36,750 But he not only denieth Judaism, but he 731 00:41:36,750 --> 00:41:38,090 denieth Christianity. 732 00:41:38,730 --> 00:41:42,370 And Christianity is the denial of the Father 733 00:41:42,370 --> 00:41:43,990 and the Son. 734 00:41:47,720 --> 00:41:49,500 And may I say, as you see the 735 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:52,720 two women lifting the ephah, and they settle 736 00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:55,660 it down on the plain of Shina, may 737 00:41:55,660 --> 00:41:58,100 I go back very briefly to remind you 738 00:41:58,100 --> 00:42:02,280 that the very first mention of Shina is 739 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:07,380 in relation to Nimrod, who is the founder, 740 00:42:07,580 --> 00:42:10,100 the first one who built Babylon. 741 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:17,540 And that great system of Babylon as a 742 00:42:17,540 --> 00:42:21,640 religious system from which, without doubt throughout all 743 00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:28,200 history, from which idolatry has sprung, began in 744 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:28,560 Babylon. 745 00:42:29,620 --> 00:42:34,060 And the figurative expression is, God says, I'm 746 00:42:34,060 --> 00:42:37,340 going to bring it back where it started, 747 00:42:38,340 --> 00:42:41,100 at its base and judge it. 748 00:42:42,220 --> 00:42:44,020 And all I want to do, and time 749 00:42:44,020 --> 00:42:46,600 doesn't permit going into it in detail, for 750 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:47,960 we couldn't do it tonight. 751 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:55,140 You read Revelation chapter seventeen and eighteen, and 752 00:42:55,140 --> 00:42:58,820 in those two chapters of Revelation seventeen and 753 00:42:58,820 --> 00:43:04,620 eighteen, you will find that the greatest sin 754 00:43:04,620 --> 00:43:08,740 in Israel of old, which was idolatry, will 755 00:43:08,740 --> 00:43:12,440 come to its subtle abode at the place 756 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:17,600 of its inception, and be judged as mystical 757 00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:22,320 Babylon, the mother of harlots, is seen in 758 00:43:22,320 --> 00:43:23,360 that coming day. 759 00:43:25,180 --> 00:43:28,920 Oh beloved, may I say, when you, when 760 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:30,820 you think of what is going on today, 761 00:43:30,940 --> 00:43:36,760 the ecumenical movement of today, beloved, frankly, the 762 00:43:36,760 --> 00:43:41,460 whole ecumenical movement is going ultimately to come 763 00:43:41,460 --> 00:43:45,740 to its own base, where it began in 764 00:43:45,740 --> 00:43:47,320 the history of mankind. 765 00:43:48,820 --> 00:43:54,720 Nimrod the Great, Babylon, where he established his 766 00:43:54,720 --> 00:43:56,420 city and his kingdom. 767 00:43:57,560 --> 00:44:01,240 And thus you see it consummated in Revelation 768 00:44:01,240 --> 00:44:06,640 seventeen and eighteen, as thus the religious system 769 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:12,400 of idolatry, whether it's apostate Judaism, which will 770 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:16,220 worship the image of the beast, or whether 771 00:44:16,220 --> 00:44:19,660 it's apostate Christendom, for they'll all bow down 772 00:44:19,660 --> 00:44:25,480 to that, except those who will be the 773 00:44:25,480 --> 00:44:26,580 lords in that day. 774 00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:31,900 And the judgment of it will be poured 775 00:44:31,900 --> 00:44:34,460 out from a holy God about to destroy 776 00:44:34,460 --> 00:44:35,360 it completely. 777 00:44:37,060 --> 00:44:39,420 You know, Israel has never been an idolatrous 778 00:44:39,420 --> 00:44:42,100 nation since they went into Babylonian captivity. 779 00:44:44,420 --> 00:44:47,820 But their greatest idolatry of the nation is 780 00:44:47,820 --> 00:44:48,500 yet to come. 781 00:44:51,050 --> 00:44:53,770 Let me read Matthew 24 verse 15 with 782 00:44:53,770 --> 00:44:54,050 you. 783 00:44:54,930 --> 00:44:56,750 The words of the Lord Jesus, if you 784 00:44:56,750 --> 00:44:57,230 please. 785 00:44:58,630 --> 00:45:01,490 The greatest sin in Israel of all was 786 00:45:01,490 --> 00:45:02,710 idolatry. 787 00:45:03,710 --> 00:45:08,050 The consummating sin of Israel will yet be 788 00:45:08,050 --> 00:45:09,030 idolatry. 789 00:45:09,390 --> 00:45:12,450 Listen to the words that our Lord Jesus 790 00:45:12,450 --> 00:45:15,250 said in Matthew 24 and verse 15. 791 00:45:16,110 --> 00:45:21,790 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of 792 00:45:21,790 --> 00:45:22,690 desolation. 793 00:45:23,610 --> 00:45:28,750 Abomination is always linked with idolatry in its 794 00:45:28,750 --> 00:45:29,110 meaning. 795 00:45:30,310 --> 00:45:34,250 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of 796 00:45:34,250 --> 00:45:40,090 desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing 797 00:45:40,090 --> 00:45:43,630 in the holy place, then flee. 798 00:45:45,950 --> 00:45:48,130 And my beloved, though the house has been 799 00:45:48,130 --> 00:45:52,370 cleansed of idolatry, yet the spirit of idolatry 800 00:45:52,370 --> 00:45:57,370 is to return back and bring the nation 801 00:45:57,370 --> 00:46:00,550 under the fierce judgment of God. 802 00:46:01,070 --> 00:46:04,970 Let's conclude our chapter in Zechariah and recognize 803 00:46:04,970 --> 00:46:10,990 that He sent unto me to build in 804 00:46:10,990 --> 00:46:14,530 a house in the land of Shina, and 805 00:46:14,530 --> 00:46:16,970 it shall be established, it will be placed 806 00:46:16,970 --> 00:46:21,730 there, and set there upon her own base. 807 00:46:23,150 --> 00:46:27,370 And God will bring a final judgment, not 808 00:46:27,370 --> 00:46:30,230 only on the sins of the people, but 809 00:46:30,230 --> 00:46:34,090 also as we have seen, He will judge 810 00:46:34,090 --> 00:46:39,050 the sin itself as it consummates in the 811 00:46:39,050 --> 00:46:43,030 worst form of idolatry the nation has ever 812 00:46:43,030 --> 00:46:43,510 known. 813 00:46:44,410 --> 00:46:47,470 The worship of the beast and his image 814 00:46:47,470 --> 00:46:48,730 in that coming day. 815 00:46:50,610 --> 00:46:54,230 O beloved, what we must say, God is 816 00:46:54,230 --> 00:46:58,910 a God of judgment, and the unrepentant section 817 00:46:58,910 --> 00:47:03,010 of Israel will be visited with his judgment 818 00:47:03,010 --> 00:47:05,810 in that coming day. 819 00:47:06,830 --> 00:47:11,210 Where one can say humbly but gratefully, how 820 00:47:11,210 --> 00:47:15,850 thou could think so well of me, and 821 00:47:15,850 --> 00:47:19,930 be the God thou art, is darkness to 822 00:47:19,930 --> 00:47:24,190 my intellect, but sunshine to my heart. 823 00:47:27,170 --> 00:47:30,730 Thank God that those of us who were 824 00:47:30,730 --> 00:47:34,670 saved have been awakened from the wrath to 825 00:47:34,670 --> 00:47:39,030 come, and to flee from it, from coming 826 00:47:39,030 --> 00:47:43,560 judgment to Christ for safety. 827 00:47:44,620 --> 00:47:48,440 My beloved, may I ask, if God declares 828 00:47:48,440 --> 00:47:51,620 what He will do with Israel, may I 829 00:47:51,620 --> 00:47:53,560 ask the question, what will He do with 830 00:47:53,560 --> 00:47:53,840 you? 831 00:47:55,980 --> 00:47:59,720 Flee from the judgment to come, and find 832 00:47:59,720 --> 00:48:04,500 your safety in the Lord Jesus Christ, shall 833 00:48:04,500 --> 00:48:05,160 we pray. 834 00:48:06,180 --> 00:48:11,670 Blessed Father, it's difficult to speak of thy 835 00:48:11,670 --> 00:48:15,610 strange work of judgment, but thou art a 836 00:48:15,610 --> 00:48:17,730 God of righteousness and holiness. 837 00:48:18,890 --> 00:48:22,630 Holiness becometh thy house forever, wrote the psalmist. 838 00:48:23,710 --> 00:48:26,810 Thou art too pure an eyes to behold 839 00:48:26,810 --> 00:48:29,830 iniquity, and to tolerate evil. 840 00:48:31,010 --> 00:48:34,210 And our Father, we know that at Calvary 841 00:48:34,210 --> 00:48:39,770 we see the manifestation of not only thy 842 00:48:39,770 --> 00:48:43,650 love and thy grace, we see the manifestation 843 00:48:43,650 --> 00:48:44,930 of thy holiness. 844 00:48:46,310 --> 00:48:50,730 That thou shouldest place upon that sinless sufferer, 845 00:48:51,630 --> 00:48:54,430 the sin and the guilt of a whole 846 00:48:54,430 --> 00:48:59,330 world, and that upon him the guilt and 847 00:48:59,330 --> 00:49:01,950 the judgment of sin should ever be placed. 848 00:49:02,910 --> 00:49:06,090 Lord, we read thy love and thy grace 849 00:49:06,090 --> 00:49:09,910 there, but we also read thy holiness. 850 00:49:10,870 --> 00:49:13,930 For the fires of judgment fell upon that 851 00:49:13,930 --> 00:49:19,890 blessed sin offering, when he gave himself for 852 00:49:19,890 --> 00:49:20,830 our sins. 853 00:49:21,970 --> 00:49:25,890 Now Father, if there's any unbelieving sinner in 854 00:49:25,890 --> 00:49:29,390 our midst, we pray that the Holy Spirit 855 00:49:29,390 --> 00:49:33,310 will convince them they need the sacrificial value 856 00:49:33,310 --> 00:49:34,850 of that precious blood. 857 00:49:35,640 --> 00:49:38,770 And as we sang in our opening of 858 00:49:38,770 --> 00:49:41,750 the service, would you be free from the 859 00:49:41,750 --> 00:49:42,970 burden of sin? 860 00:49:44,030 --> 00:49:47,870 There's power in the blood of the Lamb. 861 00:49:48,910 --> 00:49:52,550 We pray tonight, if there's a soul that 862 00:49:52,550 --> 00:49:55,130 has the sword of divine wrath and judgment 863 00:49:55,130 --> 00:49:59,190 hanging over it, that soul will now flee 864 00:49:59,190 --> 00:50:04,650 to the Lord Jesus for salvation and safety 865 00:50:04,650 --> 00:50:05,190 forever. 866 00:50:06,410 --> 00:50:11,410 Otherwise, they will bear the judgment through a 867 00:50:11,410 --> 00:50:12,690 never-ending eternity. 868 00:50:14,110 --> 00:50:17,290 Lord, we pray for thine earthly people. 869 00:50:18,570 --> 00:50:20,570 We know, Lord, they're back in the land, 870 00:50:20,710 --> 00:50:22,170 many of them in unbelief. 871 00:50:23,310 --> 00:50:25,650 Lord, wilt thou not open the eyes of 872 00:50:25,650 --> 00:50:31,830 many today to see their Messiah was the 873 00:50:31,830 --> 00:50:36,890 one who died at Calvary, whom they ignorantly 874 00:50:36,890 --> 00:50:38,910 and willfully crucified? 875 00:50:40,170 --> 00:50:43,930 And may many be brought to him before 876 00:50:43,930 --> 00:50:48,450 those awful days of tribulation come. 877 00:50:49,310 --> 00:50:53,810 Hear our prayer and sanctify thy truth and 878 00:50:53,810 --> 00:50:56,120 its solemnity to all of our hearts. 879 00:50:56,120 --> 00:50:59,500 We ask it in our Savior's name and 880 00:50:59,500 --> 00:51:02,560 we ask it for his honor and glory. 881 00:51:03,840 --> 00:51:04,060 Amen.