"The Eyes of the Lord (Zechariah's Vision)" - Pastor Stephen Bohr

shall we bow our heads for prayer our father in heaven this day we are going to study a very solemn subject and so it is with reverence and with awe that we open your holy word we ask father that uh you will help us to understand how the universe functions how the godhead functions so that we can come to a realization that we're not alone in this world but we have all of heaven struggling and fighting to give us the victory we thank you father for hearing our prayer and for answering for we ask it in the precious name of jesus amen theologians when they speak about god and about the attributes of god more specifically they have a tendency to speak of two different kinds of characteristics or attributes of god the first set of attributes are called the communicable attributes among those are the attributes that god can share with us or that we share with god such as love goodness kindness justice etc but theologians also speak about the incommunicable attributes of god these are attributes such as the eternity of god the omnipotence of god the omniscience of god and the omnipresence of god now the next two times that we're going to meet we are going to study one of those so-called incommunicable attributes we're going to discuss the attribute which is known as the omni presence of god and in the process we're also going to study the omniscience of god because we're going to find that these two attributes omnipresence and omniscience are actually very closely related now most christians believe that god is personally present everywhere in other words there is no place where god is not present physically and personally but as we begin our study today i want to say that i do not believe that god is personally present everywhere all throughout the universe now this might sound like heresy but i'll ask that you bear with me stick with me we're going to examine the biblical evidence and we're going to find that god is omnipresent that is he is present everywhere but not in the way in which we have traditionally believed not personally but he is present everywhere in another sense now what led me on the road to studying this particular subject is a series of texts find in scripture where certain acts are attributed to god and then as i went to read from the spirit of prophecy i discovered that the spirit of prophecy what god does it attributes it to the angels interesting that time and again things that in the bible are attributed to god the spirit of prophecy attributes to the angels and by the way i hope you'll bear with me because some people say well i don't know what the spirit of prophecy is and i don't really believe or accept the spirit of prophecy i'm going to show you later on in our study that really it's not only the spirit of prophecy which does this but also scripture repeatedly attributes acts to god which really were performed according to scripture itself by the angels now i want to begin by dealing with several of these examples that we find in scripture and then i want to read a statement from the spirit of prophecy the first is found in genesis chapter four and verses six and seven this is the conversation that god entertained with cain notice genesis chapter four and verses 6 and 7. so the lord said to cain why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen if you do well will you not be accepted and if you do not do well sin lies at the door and its desire is for you but you should rule over it do you notice here that these words are spoken by the lord now allow me to read you a very interesting statement that we find in the book the story of redemption page 53. listen to this god condescends to send an angel to cain to converse with him the angel inquires of him the reason of his anger and informs him that if he does well and follows the directions god has given he will accept him and respect his offering genesis attributes it directly to the lord it is the lord who is speaking but according to story of redemption it is the angel who is the spokesman for the lord now we all know that the bible says that enoch was translated to heaven by god let's notice that in genesis chapter 5 and verse 24 genesis chapter 5 and verse 24. it says this and enoch walked with god and he was not for god took him who took enoch god took enoch but now notice this interesting statement that we find in the book the spirit of prophecy volume 1 page 63 the author says this god would not permit enoch to die as other men but sent his angels to take him to heaven without seeing death so genesis says god took him in the book spirit of prophecy volume 1 it says that god sent angels to take him now we're going to find several biblical examples of this too but i want to set the stage by noticing what scripture says and what the spirit of prophecy says about what scripture says now let's talk about the closing of the door of the ark go with me to genesis chapter 7 and verse 16. genesis chapter 7 and verse 16. i'm sure you know who closed the door of the ark let's read about it it says there so those that entered male and female of all flesh went in as god commanded him and the lord shut him in who shut noah and his family in the lord shut him in in the book story of redemption page 68 we find this interesting statement by ellen white about who closed the door of the ark she agrees with what genesis says god had closed the door the only entrance and shut noah in and the ungodly out he alone that is gone alone could open the door that's page 68. interestingly enough in patriarchs and prophets page 99 she seems to say something different in story of redemption she says very clearly that the door was shut by the lord and only god could open the door but in patriots and prophets page 99 we find this interesting statement notwithstanding the solemn scenes which they had witnessed that is the people outside the ark the beasts and the birds entering the ark and the angel of god closing the door they still continued their sport and revelry even making a jest of these signal manifestations of god's power now is the author speaking out of both sides of her mouth in one book she says that it was the lord who shut the door in this statement she says that they had seen an angel descend from heaven and close the door did she forget what she had written before i don't think so in fact i know that she didn't now let's talk about the tower of babel genesis chapter 11 and verses 7 and 8. genesis chapter 11 and verses 7 and 8. the builders of the tower have gone quite a ways in their enterprise and i want you to notice what god says he's going to do it says there in verse 7 god is speaking come let us go down and there confuse their language that they may not understand one another's speech so the lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth and they ceased building the city who was it that confused their language the lord who was it that scattered them over all the earth the lord now notice this very interesting statement in the book the story of redemption page 73 it says there speaking about this episode they had built their tower to a lofty height when the lord sent two angels to confound them in their work the lord confounded them according to genesis here the author says god sent to angels to confound them in their work she continues saying men had been appointed for the purpose of receiving word from the workmen at the top of the tower calling for material for their work which the first would communicate to the second and he to the third until the word reached those upon the ground as the word was passing from one to another in its descent this is very important now we're going to come back to it later the angels confounded their language who confused the languages at babel by the way this is the first reference in the bible to the gift of tongues because they were known languages languages of the world it was not gibberish two angels confused their languages and gave them the gift of tongues according to this statement now what about the tenth plague which fell upon egypt well let's notice exodus chapter 12 exodus chapter 12 and let's read verse 12 and then we'll also read verse 29 exodus 12 verse 12 and 29 verse 12 says this god is speaking for i will pass through the land of egypt on that night and will strike all the firstborn in the land of egypt who is going to strike the firstborn the lord both man and beast and against all the gods of egypt i will execute judgment i am the lord notice verse 29 and it came to pass at midnight that the lord struck all the firstborn in the land of egypt from the firstborn of pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of the livestock once again according to scripture this plague the tenth plague particularly although the others were also sent by the same means was actually sent by the lord but now notice this statement from desire of ages page 51 desire of ages page 51 that the israelites might be spared they were directed to place upon their doorposts the blood of a slain lamb every house was to be marked now notice this that when the angel came on his mission of death he might pass over the homes of the israelites so the lord did it but this statement says that god sent his what his angel by the way this should not surprise us because the book of revelation says that god at the end of time during the tribulation is going to pour out his wrath but god's wrath is poured out by seven angels so the plagues in egypt were poured out by god but actually an angel did it in the book of revelation god pours out his wrath but it is the angels who are actually executing what god is saying now let's go also to exodus 14 verses 24 and 25 this is the crossing of the red sea you remember that the wheels of the chariots of pharaoh fell off the chariots now who did this notice exodus 14 verses 24 and 25. now it came to pass in the morning watch that the lord looked down upon the army of the egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and he troubled the army of the egyptians and he took off their chariot wheels so that they drove them with difficulty and the egyptians said let us flee from the face of israel for the lord fights for them against the egyptians who knocked the wheels off the chariots several times were told that the lord did this but now notice this very interesting statement in story of redemption page 124 the egyptians dared to venture in the path god had prepared for his people and angels of god went through their host and removed their chariot wheels who removed the chariot wheels angels of god removed the chariot wheels now what about the destruction of jericho you remember when the walls of jericho fell who demolished the walls of jericho well let's notice joshua chapter 6 and verse 16 joshua chapter 6 and verse 16. it says explicitly here that the walls of jericho were knocked over by the lord it says this in verse 16. and the seventh time it happened when the priests blew their trumpets that joshua said to the people shout for the lord has given you the city who gave them the city the lord did now notice this interesting statement from testimonies for the church volume 3 page 264. the author says this but the captain of the lord's host came himself from heaven to lead the armies of heaven in the attack upon the city angels of god laid hold of the massive walls and brought them to the ground once again angels of god laid hold of the massive walls and brought them to the ground now let's move a little further ahead in biblical history let's talk about the burial of moses who buried moses well let's go to the book of deuteronomy chapter 34 deuteronomy chapter 34 and let's read verse 6. deuteronomy 34 and verse 6. it says there this and he buried him the context indicated indicates that it's the lord notice verse 5 so moses a servant of the lord died there in the land of moab according to the word of the lord and he buried him that is the lord buried him in a valley in the land of moab opposite beth pior but no one knows his grave to this day so according to this text moses was buried by the lord but now notice this interesting statement from patriots and prophets page 478 but angels of god buried the body of his faithful servant and watched over the lonely grave angels actually buried moses even though we're told in scripture that god was the one who buried moses now let me ask you who sent the manna from heaven well let's go to the book of john chapter 6 john chapter 6 and verse 32 john 6 and verse 32. let's see who sent the manna it says there in verse 32 the following then jesus said to them most assuredly i say to you moses did not give you the bread from heaven but my father gives you the true bread from heaven who gave the manna the father in heaven gave the manna and yet it's interesting that psalm 78 and i'm not going to look up the verses you can just write them down psalm 78 verses 24 and 25 tell us very clearly that manna was angel's food that was the true angel food now i want you to notice patriarchs and prophets page 297 why was the manna called angels food i mean the bible says that the father sent the manna why was it called then angel's food on that page 297 we find this statement in the words of the psalmist god gave them of the corn of heaven she's quoting psalm 78 man did eat angel's food that is food provided for them by the angels so the father reigned manna from heaven but actually it was the angels who as emissaries of god reigned the manna upon the earth now let's go to first chronicles chapter 28 and verses 11 to 13 and we'll also read verse 19. first chronicles chapter 28 it's speaking about uh the plan of this of the sanctuary you remember that god gave the plans to david but he actually had solomon built the temple now notice chapter 28 of first chronicles and let's read verses 11 to 13 and there's some very important details in this passage then david gave his son solomon the plans for the vestibule its houses its treasuries its upper chambers its inner chambers and the place of the mercy seat and the plans for all that he had now notice this that he had by whom by the spirit who gave the plans to david the spirit very important of the courts of the house of the lord of all the chambers all around of the treasuries of the house of god and of the treasuries for the dedicated things and now let's jump down to verse 19 verse 19. all this said david the lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me all the works of these plans who gave david the plans to the hebrew temple in one text it says it was the spirit in the other verse 19 it says it was whom it was the lord now this is interesting it gets even more complicated notice what we find in the seventh-day adventist bible commentary this is a quotation from ellen white volume three page one thousand one hundred and twenty eight and one thousand one hundred and twenty nine this is what she says the lord through his angel instructed david and gave him a pattern of the house which solomon should build for him an angel was commissioned to stand by david while he was writing out for the benefit of solomon the important directions in regard to the arrangements of the house what an interesting statement one text says it was the lord another text says it was the spirit and in this quotation we find that it was the angel by the way we're going to find a biblical example of this in a little while in the book of revelation very clearly we're talking about the way in which god operates the universe there is a chain of command in the universe in other words everybody occupying his or her place and that includes human beings by the way that's where the chain becomes broken sometimes by the way who took elijah to heaven well let's read about it let's go to uh the second book of kings chapter 2 and we'll read verse 3 and then we'll read verse 11. second kings chapter 2 and verse 3 and then we will read verse 11. it says there in chapter 2 and verse 3 the following now the sons of the prophets who were at bethel came out to elisha and said to him do you know that the lord will take away your master from over you today and he said yes i know keep silent so who was going to take elijah that day the lord but now go with me to verse 11 verse 11. and i want you to remember this because we're going to come back to it a little bit later on it says in verse 11 then it happened as they continued on and talked that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them and elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven so one text says that the lord took him and another says that a chariot of fire with horses took him to heaven now let's look at a few examples from the new testament in fact what we'll do is we'll look at one example from the gospels and then we'll look at two or three examples from the book acts of the apostles let me ask you who was it that resurrected jesus well go with me to the book of acts chapter 2 and verse 24 acts chapter 2 and verse 24. there were told who it was that resurrected jesus it says there in verse 24 speaking about the lord whom god raised up who raised up jesus god did having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be held by it however we all know that two angels came down from heaven when jesus resurrected allow me to read you a very interesting statement about what happened when the angels came down this is early writings pages 181 and 182. one of the angelic hosts who had witnessed the scene of christ's humiliation and was watching his resting place joined the angel from heaven and together they came down to the sepulcher one of the angels laid hold of the great stone and rolled it away from the door of the sepulcher and seated himself upon it the other entered the tomb and unbound the napkin from the head of jesus now notice this then the angel from heaven with a voice that caused the earth to quake cried out thou son of god thy father calls thee come forth who called forth jesus out of the tomb the angel that came from heaven and then she finishes the statement by saying death could hold dominion over him no longer jesus arose from the dead a triumphant conqueror you say now wait a minute how could an angel resurrect somebody do angels have resurrecting power yes when god delegates that power to them let me ask you in scripture were there any human beings who resurrected other human beings of course we all know elijah he resurrected the widow's son he actually went in and laid on him and breathed into him and he resurrected he said rise we know that the apostle paul got long-winded one night typical preacher right and a young man fell out of a window probably a second story and died and the but says that that paul resurrected this young man it's not that paul it's not that the angel uh had omnipotent power but god delegated the power to those individuals for the resurrection the interesting thing is that god the father did not call jesus out of the tomb he sent an angel to call jesus out of the tomb now let's give some examples from the book acts of the apostles let's talk first of all about gamaliel have you ever heard about gamaliel gamalio was a very wise man that belonged to the jewish sanhedrin and when they wanted to kill the apostles he said not so fast actually who had spoken to gamaliel and given him wisdom the bible says that it was the lord that gave him wisdom actually was the holy spirit because acts of the apostles should really be called the acts of the holy spirit i want you to notice what we find concerning this experience in the book spiritual gifts volume 1 page 85. then were those murderers enraged they wished to im imbrue their hands in blood again by slaying the apostles they were planning to do this how to do this now notice this when an angel from god was sent to gamaliel to move upon his heart let me ask you who is it that moves upon hearts according to the bible the holy spirit that's right so it says when an angel from god was sent to gamaliel to move upon his heart to counsel the chief priests and rulers said gamaliel refrain from these men and let them alone for if this council of this work be of men it will come to naught but if it be of god you cannot overthrow it lest haply we be found even to fight against god the evil angels were moving the priests and elders to put the apostles to death but god sent his angel to prevent it by raising up a voice in favor of the disciples in their own ranks interesting that what the bible attributes to the holy spirit in this statement we find that it is actually performed by an angel now let's talk about ananias he's the individual who met saul of tarsus when he came to the city of damascus and i want you to notice what we find in the book of acts chapter 9 acts chapter 9 and we'll read verses 10 through 16. acts 9 and verse 10. it says this now there was a certain disciple at damascus named ananias and to him the lord said in a vision ananias and he said here i am lord who's speaking to ananias the lord is okay verse 11. so the lord said to him arise and go to the street called straight and inquire at the house of judas for one called saul of tarsus for behold he is praying and in a vision he has seen a man named ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight then ananias answered lord speaking to the lord right lord i have heard from many about this man how much harm he has done to your saints in jerusalem and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name whose name jesus who's speaking here it's jesus verse 15 but the lord said to him go for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before gentiles kings and the children of god for i will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake who is it that's speaking here jesus is speaking but now i want you to notice testimonies for the church volume 3 pages 4 30 and 4 31 angel is sent to ananias directing him to go to a certain house where saul is praying to be instructed in what he is to do next who is sent an angel saul's pride is gone a little before he was self-confident thinking he was engaged in a good work for which he should receive a reward but all is now changed he is bowed down and humbled to the dust in penitence and shame and his supplications are fervent for pardon said the lord now notice this said the lord through his angel to ananias wow was jesus at this point in heaven hello so is jesus present everywhere in his human form no so what does he do he sends an angel that's right said the lord through his angel to ananias behold he prayeth the angel informed the servant of god that he had revealed to saul in a vision a man named ananias coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight ananias can scarcely credit the words of the angel and repeats what he has heard of saul's bitter persecution of the saints at jerusalem but the command to ananias is imperative go thy way for he is a chosen vessel vessel unto me to bear my name before the gentiles and kings and the children of israel ananias was obedient to the direction of the angel how interesting god the father speaks and the angel is his emissary the holy spirit speaks the angel is his emissary jesus speaks the angel is his emissary we've noticed that all three are involved in the process of sending angels what scripture attributes to god is really performed by whom is really performed by an angel now allow me to give you another example from the the book uh acts of the apostles this was really interesting you remember when philip met the ethiopian eunuch now this is interesting go with me to the gospel to the book of acts chapter 8 acts chapter 8 and i want you to notice verse 26 obviously we can't read all of these verses i'd like to read the whole passage but we don't have time we're going to read verse 26 then verse 29 and finally verse 39. it says in verse 26 and the angel of the lord spake unto philip saying arise and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from jerusalem and to gaza which is desert and so he goes down and you continue reading the story and he joins the ethiopian and begins explaining to these ethiopians the passage of isaiah chapter 53 now notice verse 29. then the spirit said unto philip now wait a minute who was speaking here the angel right now it says then the spirit said unto philip go near and join thyself to this chariot and so he joins him on his chariot he explains isaiah 53 and then he baptizes him and then i want you to notice in verse 39 what happens and when they were come up out of the water the spirit of the lord caught away philip that the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing who was speaking in this episode it begins by saying that the angel spoke then it says that the spirit spoke and finally it says that he was caught away how by the spirit now that's interesting now allow me to read you another passage from acts of the apostles page 107 the book by ellen white where she says that it was actually angels that were sent notice this ethiopian was a man of good standing and of wide influence god saw that when converted he would give others the light he had received and would exert a strong influence in favor of the gospel listen to this angels of god were attending this seeker for light who was enlightening this fellow angels of god and now notice this and he was being drawn to the savior who draws us to the savior the holy spirit that's right she continues saying by the ministration of the holy spirit she said angels of god then she says the holy spirit by the ministration of the holy spirit the lord brought him into touch with one who could lead him to the light but we read in the book of acts that it was the angel that led him that led philip to him so how does the spirit accomplish his purpose according to this passage he accomplishes his his mission through the instrumentality of what of an angel by the way allow me to explain a little bit what scripture means when it says that he was caught away by the spirit let's notice and we only have time to read one statement uh that's found in revelation chapter 21 and verses 9 and 10. revelation chapter 21 and verses 9 and 10. when an individual is caught away in the spirit who actually is catching him away big very important question notice verses 9 and 10. then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me saying come i will show you the bride the lamb's wife who is who is saying this the angel right now notice verse 10 and he carried me away how in the spirit who carried him away in the spirit the angel so who's doing it is it the spirit or is it the angel it is the spirit through the angel it continues saying verse 10 and he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city the holy jerusalem descending out of heaven from god by the way do you know that uh ellen white had this very same experience she was caught away as we'll notice a little bit later also to faraway places uh by the angel she was actually caught away in the spirit now what am i saying by giving you all of these examples the fact is that in the heavenly kingdom there is order the father operates or works through his son the son works or operates through the holy spirit the holy spirit works or operates through the angels and the final link of the chain is that the angels attempt to work through human beings what i'm saying is that the godhead is not personally present everywhere they actually remain in communication with all of god's creation through the ministration of the angelic host in other words what i'm saying is that god is omnipresent through the ministration of his angels now some of you might get nervous with that definition so let me qualify what i'm saying actually god does not need to personally be present everywhere to know what's happening everywhere how many of you believe that god knows the end from the beginning that the holy spirit knows the end from the beginning does the holy spirit know now what's happening in china and what's happening in the united states every city every individual every place of course he does he knows the end from the beginning his infinite mind knows everything that's happening simultaneously in the universe so does he need to be physically present personally present everywhere in the universe no in other words what i'm saying is that he is omnipresent through his infinite knowledge through his omniscience and then he physically comes in contact with his creation through the ministration of what through the ministration of the holy angels now you know very well that jesus taught us to pray and he taught us to pray in this way father our father which art everywhere that's the that's the revised boar version it doesn't say our father which art everywhere jesus said that we're supposed to pray what our father which art where in heaven now let's notice turn with me to first kings chapter eight first kings chapter eight i want you to notice some very interesting details here first kings chapter eight and i want to begin by reading verse 26 first kings 8 and verse 26. here is where uh solomon is praying at the dedication of the temple and he says and now i pray o god of israel let your word come true which you have spoken to your servant david my father but will god indeed dwell on the earth behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you how much less this temple which i have built in other words he's saying your presence is what everywhere does that mean that his presence is personally everywhere let's continue reading yet regard the prayer of your servant and his supplication oh lord my god and listen to the cry and the prayer which your servant is praying before you today that your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day how is it that god is going to be present at the temple through his what through his eyes let's continue verse 29 that your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day and toward the place of which you said my name shall be there that you may hear the prayer which your servant makes toward this place and now comes the key verse and may you hear the supplication of your servant and of your people israel when they pray toward this place here everywhere it says here in heaven your dwelling place and when you hear forgive where does god dwell in heaven correct but is he present in the temple on earth while he is personally in heaven absolutely how is he present on earth he's present on earth through his infinite what his infinite knowledge in other words he is omnipresent through his omniscience now go with me to jeremiah chapter 23 and verses 23 and 24. jeremiah chapter 23 and verses 23 and 24. this is a well-known passage uh let's read it again it says there in jeremiah 23 and verse 23 the following am i a god near at hand says the lord and not a god afar off verse 24 is critically important can anyone hide himself in secret places so i shall not see him says the lord is this emphasizing that god is present personally everywhere is this saying that god is present everywhere no it's saying that god what god sees everything everywhere you can't hide from him because he can see you because he knows all now in our next next lecture we're going to take a look at psalm 139 you know some people say what do you do with psalm 139 where it says you know if i go to heaven you're there if i hide in this place you're there we're going to read it carefully that chat that chapter or that psalm 139 is not really talking about the omnipresence of god we're going to find that it really is talking about the omniscience of god the infinite knowledge of god is what it's talking about now what am i saying what i'm saying is that the holy spirit is the general of the heavenly hosts he sits in the command and control center of the universe and the angels are his foot soldiers and in the central command the holy spirit knows everything that is happening simultaneously in the whole world even though he is located in that place he is present everywhere because he knows everything in other words he is omnipresent through his omniscience the spirit remains in communication in other words with god's creation through his infinite knowledge now allow me to read you a very interesting statement from desire of ages page 352 where this is brought out clearly desire of ages 352 god's people are to content with supernatural forces but they are assured of supernatural help all the intelligences of heaven are in this army does god have an army yes all the heavenly intelligences all the intelligences of heaven are in his army and now notice and more than angels are in his ranks the holy spirit now here comes the key portion the holy spirit the representative of the captain of the lord's host who is the captain of the lord's host jesus what is the holy spirit she says the holy spirit the representative of the captain of the lord's host comes down to direct the battle how does he direct the battle according to what we've studied through what through the angelic hosts she continues saying our infirmities may be many our sins and mistakes grievous but the grace of god is for all who seek it with contrition the power of omnipotence is enlisted in behalf of those who trust god now do you remember what we studied our last time we took a look at ezekiel chapter one do you have this picture clearly revealed there did we find god the father in ezekiel chapter one yes he's the one seated on the throne the almighty did we find jesus in the vision of ezekiel 1 and ezekiel 10. the hands under the wings did we see the spirit in this vision yes it says that the spirit was in the living creatures in other words the father the son and the holy spirit through the four living creatures which actually direct the heavenly host are moving the wheels of human history this is a chain of command the father is the absolute ruler jesus is the captain of the lord's host and his general is the holy spirit and the foot soldiers are whom are the angels we haven't given enough credit to the importance of what the angelic host does we're surrounded by millions of angels folks god is ready to empty heaven before letting one of his children fall if they place themselves in his hands now allow me to share with you some biblical examples of how what the bible attributes to the holy spirit actually it's an angel who is doing it let me ask you who inspired the bible do you know who inspired the bible i'll just mention the verse second peter chapter 1 verses 20 and 21 it says that holy men of old spake as they were what as they were inspired by the holy spirit but the question is how did the holy spirit inspire the bible did he come down directly and whisper into the ear of the prophet this is what you're supposed to write no how did the holy spirit impart the information through an angel you say now where does the bible say such a thing go with me to revelation chapter one revelation chapter 1 and i want to read here verses 1 and 2 revelation chapter 1 verses 1 and 2. there's a chain of command it says the revelation of jesus christ which god gave him who gave to who god gave to whom to jesus to show his servants the things which must surely take place by the way is the holy spirit involved here he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches so the spirit is speaking but who does this spirit speak through continue saying verse 1 the revelation of jesus christ which god gave him to show his servants things which must shortly take place and he sent and signify it by his angel to his servant john notice father son holy spirit angel john churches very clearly in revelation one one through three we find this process that we've been talking about by the way ellen white went through this same process do you know that who imparted the information to ellen white when she was writing that was the holy spirit her writings are inspired but the information was imparted by an angel he was a foot soldier of the holy spirit notice early writings page 32 ellen white says i saw an angel flying swiftly to me he quickly carried me from the earth to the holy city some people say wow that's weird it's not weird isn't that what the angel did with john in revelation 21 that we read a few moments ago he was caught away in the spirit so what's the problem it's the same process i saw an angel flying swiftly to me he quickly carried me from the earth to the holy city in the city i saw a temple which i entered i passed through a door before i came to the first veil the veil was raised and i passed into the holy place here i saw the altar of incense the candlestick with seven lamps and the table on which was the show bread after viewing the glory of the holy jesus raised the second bell and i passed into the holy of holies so how was ellen white caught away in the spirit through the ministration of an angel just like john was according to the book of revelation now go with me to the book of zechariah zechariah the next to last book of the old testament zechariah chapter 4 zechariah chapter four very important concepts that we find here and this is probably the last thing that we're going to be able to cover in our lecture today we'll pick up on this uh topic that we're studying tomorrow notice zechariah chapter 4 and let's read verse 2. and he said to me what do you see so i said i am looking and there is a lamp stand of solid gold with a ball on top of it and understands seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps so what does he see a candelabra right with seven branches now what do those seven branches represent according to revelation represent the seven churches yes but who testifies to the seven churches the holy spirit right and the angel because he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches but it's really the angel of the church that is speaking now i want you to notice verse six here comes an explanation of the meaning so he answered and said to me this is the word of the lord towards the rubble not by might nor by power but by what by my spirit says the lord of hosts so what is the meaning of the candelabra the seven branch candelabra it symbolizes what the holy spirit of god but revelation says that the seven branch candelabra represents the angels to what to the seven churches so you have an interchangeability between the candlesticks the angels and the holy spirit now notice verse 10 here's where it gets very interesting verse 10 for who has despised the day of small things for these seven rejoice to see the plum line in the hand of the rubble what are these seven they are the what the eyes of the lord which scanned to and fro throughout the earth what are these seven angels so to speak or these seven lamps they represent the what the eyes of the lord in other words the angels are the eyes of the lord that scan the earth by the way who is it that writes our works in the books of heaven and observes what we're doing and takes the report to heaven and write these things in in the books it is the what it is the angels god is doing it through the ministration of the angels allow me to read you a couple of statements in closing one of them is found in the book testimonies to ministers page 510 here she's explaining about zechariah chapter four from the two olive trees the golden oil was emptied through golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick and thence into the golden lamps that gave light to the sanctuary now she's going to explain what it means so from the holy ones that stand in god's presence who are those the holy ones that stand in god's presence the angels so from the holy ones that stand in god's presence his spirit is imparted to human instrumentalities that are consecrated to his service who imparts the holy spirit to the instruments those who stand in the presence of lord the angels she continues saying the mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate light and power to god's people it is to receive blessing for us that they stand in god's presence as the olive trees empty themselves into the golden pipes so the heavenly messengers seek to communicate all that they receive from god the whole heavenly treasure awaits our demand and reception and as we receive the blessing we in our turn are to impart it thus it is that the holy lamps are fed and the church becomes a light bearer to the world you see the process that is taking place here see god doesn't do things directly god accomplishes his work through christ through the spirit through the ministration of the angels and through committed human beings to his will now on our topic our next topic we're going to take some several other examples and we're going to talk more specifically about what happened on the day of pentecost fascinating material i hope to see you here you

Channel: Aaron

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Id: OxV8-vBm4vE

Length: 57min 14sec (3434 seconds)

Published: Fri May 14 2021