All right. Last time that we were here,
I ended with Genesis chapter 35 and verse 20. So now turn back to Genesis chapter
35 and I'll read just a few verses from the last part of that chapter. Not all of them, but just a few
verses. Genesis chapter 35 and verse 21. And Israel journeyed and spread
his tent beyond the tower of Edar. And it came to pass, and
remember that phrase that we've seen several times throughout
our looking at Genesis. And it came to pass when Israel
dwelt in that land. The physical piece of property did not change Israel or his sons at all. It came to pass when Israel dwelt
in that land that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's
concubine. And Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were 12. You see that? The sons of Leah,
Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi and Judah. These are not in chronological
order as they were born. They're given by the women by
which they were born. The sons of Leah, their names
were Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon and Levi and Judah,
and Issachar and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel, she only
had two, Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's
handmaid, Dan and Naphtali. And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's
handmaid, Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob.
which were born to him in Pedanaran. When I first read this sometime
back, and it is a part of, it's not the whole reason, but it's
a part of what brought me to the book of Genesis to start
with. When I read this, I thought, what a strange union of facts. It's a strange union of facts.
And for the most part, The details are not dealt with. Think of
it, Israel journeyed, Israel dwelt, Reuben lay. Israel heard. 12 sons of Jacob. You think about that? Isn't that
odd? Isn't that odd? I wondered about this for some
time. Of course I then went and thought we'll just go to the
first book of Genesis and just start in a manner of speaking
working our way through you always have to start at the beginning.
Because God hath from the beginning ordained what the end will be.
And if you miss the beginning, you will have a hard time at
best comprehending everything else that transpires throughout
time to get to the end. Moreover, if you miss the beginning,
you will be confused about things that are transpiring in time
all the way to the end. Because what God ordained to
bring to pass in the end is dealt with in the beginning. In the beginning. Think of it,
that strange union of facts. Israel journeyed, Israel dwelt,
this is a glorious thing. He's now called Israel. And he
comes back into the land. He's coming back to see his father. Before his father dies. And by
all we can see, it wasn't long before his father died. So Israel
journeyed, Israel dwelt. What a glorious time this must
have been. Remember, Laban's been dealt
with. He's in the background. Esau's dealt with and in such
a manner that both Jacob or Israel and Esau buried
their father together. Together. And then the light
turned on. And then the light turned on.
I'm not going into details about that, but the light turned on.
Israel heard. Israel heard. And by all account,
from the book of God, basically Israel said I have to just let
it lay where it lay. Because what can I do about it?
Had someone ask me one time, all the details don't matter,
but some things had happened between he and a couple other
persons, and he said, well should I say anything? And I thought
for a few minutes. One of the rare times I think
before I say. And I said, I asked this question
of this young man, this was many years ago. Does what you plan
to say, is it really going to change anything for the better? Can you guarantee yourself and
the others involved that what you're going to say will change
things for the better? If not, keep your mouth shut. Now that's not my message. The
light went on, Israel heard. And then it says, 12 sons of
who? Jacob. Now weren't they the 12
sons of Israel? Yes, yes. They were the 12 sons
of Israel. But it's Jacob heard, or Israel
heard. But then it says 12 sons of Jacob.
Jacob I don't even I should not even have to explain that to
anybody here Because if you don't get that you don't know God yet,
and I'm not being mean I'm just stating a fact Here's my title
for this morning, it is just the title it's Somewhat you might
say found in the text the sons of Jacob were 12 The sons of Jacob were 12. And
you see the fallen state of mankind. The corruption of mankind by
nature. The sin and the sins of mankind
by nature. And let me explain that because
there may be some who may get this in a broadcast that don't
understand what I'm getting at. When I talk about sin, I'm talking
about what we are by nature. When I sleep and don't even have
a dream, my sleep before God is sin. Because I am a sinner
by nature. But sins is what I do because
of who I am. Let me define this. Most in our
day and age think of sins and even sin, sadly, as all sorts
of immoral things. And it is. And it is. Sexual sins, immoral sins, unethical sins,
whatever they might be. They're all called sins, but
they're also religious sins. A person can be a very moral
person. and still have countless thousands
of sins counted against them because they worship God in a
way that's not true. There is the sin of heresy, which
is my own personal opinion. That's what heresy is. We get
the word opinion from the word heresy, the old Greek word. It's
opinion. Heresy is this, human opinion.
I have found myself saying, and I have heard others say to me,
I've had them say to me, what my opinion is, or I think this,
it doesn't matter what we think. It does not matter. When we say,
I think this, if our thoughts are not bound up and captivated
by the truth of God's holy inspired word, then it's called heresy. heresy Well, I just don't agree
with the preacher. I think this Then you're wrong
You're wrong, even if the preacher is wrong TOO Now you hear us that no matter
how much I'm a error it does not justify your error The only
truth is this book right here So I say that the fallen state,
the corruption, the sin and the sins, and some sins are very
moral. I mean, our Lord said about self-righteousness that it was highly esteemed among
men, and it is. And he said these words about
it. It is an abomination. That's the same word he used
about homosexuality. It is an abomination in God's
sight. So the fallen state, the corruption,
the depravity of mankind, even of those chosen by God, is never
glossed over in the scripture. Is it? Now in our text, Reuben's
sin may not be dealt with, but it's dealt with later. It's dealt
with later. Especially when Jacob came down
to bless his sons, Reuben lost a lot for that one night flame. Go over, read it. I would encourage
you, even if you've done it, read the rest of Genesis. We'll
be dealing with that, God willing. It's never glossed over, even
that great king of Israel, a man that the book says, yea, God
says in his book, he's a man after my own heart. And I'm paraphrasing
David, but he says it in Psalm 51, verse five, if you wish to
look at it later, he said, I was born in sin, shapen in iniquity. When my mama and daddy conceived
me, I was conceived a sinner in God's sight. He goes on to
say in chapter 58, or the 58th Psalm, verse three, that the
wicked, and that's you and I by nature. He's not talking about all those
heathen out there. The wicked are estranged from
the womb. They go forth speaking lies as
soon as they be born. Our corruption is never glossed
over in scripture. But thanks be unto God, the Apostle
Paul wrote these words. And he wrote these words actually
quoting King David from the Psalms, from one of the Psalms. Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord will not impute sin. I want to be that blessed man. I love you. I care about you. But I can't, and Joe's already
dealt with, I can't do that for you. I can't even do that for
myself. But I'll tell you this, I hope
I am that blessed man. Even if none of the rest of you
are. Do you understand what I'm saying?
And I would hope to God that it's so personal to you that
you'd say the same thing about me. Think about this, I've just read
this one little snapshot of history, and it's kind of an expanded
snapshot. It talks about the 12 sons and
who their mothers were, right? Kind of an expanded, but it's
a snapshot. And a snapshot of odd happenings
all joined together. And in the next chapter, you
find about the generations of Esau, who was Edom. And listen
to me. then the book of Genesis explodes. Explodes in one of the greatest
manifold chapters of the person and work of Jesus Christ that's
at most one of the most exhaustive types and examples that God ever
gives in his holy book of the Lord Jesus Christ and that is
the account of the life of one man, one of these sons, Joseph. Joseph. Now God willing, we will
begin to look at Joseph, but we're gonna look at Joseph later,
because remember, the title, the sons of Jacob were what?
12. I know most people want me to,
was all the sons saved? I have no idea. And if you think
that your answer, agree with me or not agree with me, settles
the question, then you have no idea either. Because it ain't about those
12 boys. It's about you before God. By yourself, as just yourself. And it's about me before God,
by myself, as myself. Because you can't go into glory
on my coattails, and I can't go into glory on your coattails. Mom and daddy don't matter when
it comes to this issue. Grandpa or grandma don't matter
when it comes to this issue. The folks that gather at Sovereign
Grace Chapel don't matter when it comes to this issue. It's
not, well, we believe at chapel. That may be appropriate in some
cases. But the real question is, what
and who do I believe? Henry Mahan mentioned this years
ago and it struck me like a brick hammer. He said, our Lord Jesus
Christ chose 12 direct disciples, known as apostles, instead of
one of them was an apostate. One of them was an apostate.
And then he made this statement, you think you got any better
odds? And I know he was saying that to, you think you got any
better odds? That's a little scary to think
about, ain't it? Huh? Ain't that scary to think about?
He had 12 and one of them was an apostate, a devil he calls
it, didn't he? And I look at this small group of people and
I said, whoa, is it I? Do you hear me? Is it I? And then Penny and I, we hear
someone we care deeply about and a lot of troubles. I'm not
worried about my soul. And don't even speak of the glories
and the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mason, that saddens my
soul. So you remember the title. Remember,
this is going to explode. When you get to Joseph, I'm gonna
give you just one tidbit. Do you know we are never pointed
out one fault of Joseph's? The sons of Jacob were 12. Joseph is included as one of
those sons of who? Not Israel, who? Jacob. David, right, Joseph was as fallen
as his 11 brothers were. But the amazing thing is when
you go through the book of Genesis, this book don't even point out
one fault. Isn't that amazing? Mason, he
had him. Gary told ya, he had him. But there's a greater purpose
for us being given the account of Joseph here. Because God Almighty, even from
the beginning, had his heart and mind set on one Joseph. He, like Jacob, he loves this
son more than all the other sons. No, I can't preach on Joseph
this morning. Gotta wait. You remember the
title? The sons of Jacob were 12. But I want you to consider
my subject. Here's my subject. Who is Israel? There's a question. This is what's
been on my heart for three or four years now. And I've been
trying to hit it here and hit it here and hit it here. Who
is Israel? Is Israel Jacob only? Is Israel
Jacob only? No. All throughout this book
it even calls his 12 sons. Not just the sons of Israel,
but sometimes it calls them what? Israel. But we're so depraved that we
think when we got it in one spot, but we understand it in every
other spot. Now hear me now this morning.
Bless God they open our hearts and minds this morning to hear
thus saith God. Not to pick out any one passage
and say, I've got this under wraps. Who is Israel? Jacob only? No. His 12 sons? Are they Israel only? No. As I've already stated, I can't
prove to you that all 12 of the sons of Israel, even Jacob, were
true Israelites. By a work of God. I can't prove
it. As a matter of fact, you go and
look at some of the blessings that Jacob gave. I'm not gonna argue that with
people. He goes, you know what, I can't know about them. I worry
about myself, let alone trying to think I know about them 12
boys. Start being honest with, people argue, was King Saul really
saved or not? Worry about yourself, quit worrying
about King Saul. Set your heart and mind on yourself,
quit worrying about somebody else. Got four things, we'll spend
most of our time on the fourth one. and time's already going
by. Number one, what does the scripture say in direct language?
I'm not gonna go back and read it. The Apostle Paul calls his
kinsmen according to the flesh. He said, I have great heaviness
and continual sorrow for my kinsmen according to the, who are Israelites? Is that what he says? That's
exactly what he says. Who are Israelites? But then
in just the next couple phrases, he says these words. They are
not all Israel, which are of Israel. So you could be an Israelite,
and still not be an Israelite. Isn't that what he's saying there? That's not confusing when you
look at all he says. Just because you're born of a
Jewish or a Hebrew or an Israelite mommy and daddy, I don't mean
you're an Israelite indeed. You hear me? That's what Paul
said. As a matter of fact, from the
beginning, the second time we hear the gospel preached, and
it's actually preached by God himself, first was to Adam and
Eve in the garden. The second time we hear God preaching
the gospel was to Abram. Genesis 12, the last part of
verse three, it says, and then thee shall all all the families
of the earth be blessed. And then Paul in the New Testament,
knowing the light of this truth by the spirit of God says, God
was even talking about the Gentiles back then. You know what he says? That's the first thing. What
does scripture say in direct language? Here's it, just because
you're an Israelite in the flesh doesn't mean you're an Israelite
spiritually. Number two. Who are the Hebrews? Who are the Jews? The Apostle
Paul, and I can't summarize, I wanna read this one to you.
Galatians chapter three, and just listen to a couple things
that he says to the church at Galatia. Galatians chapter three,
he says in verse six, even as Abraham believed God, and it
was accounted to him for righteousness, know ye therefore that they which
are of Faith. Do you see that? They which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture foreseeing
that God would justify the heathen. It's all about the Gentiles through
faith. Preach before the gospel unto Abraham saying, in thee
shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith,
are blessed with faithful Abraham. But then he goes on in what we
have as chapter three and gives even more clear details so that
there is no misunderstanding. Verse 25, but after that faith
is come, we're no longer under the schoolmaster. And that's
his main thrust of what he's talking about. But I'm not talking
about that right now. Look, for ye are all the children
of God. Now remember that, because here's
where it comes down to. There's a lot of people, there
are a lot of people that boast about being the children of Abraham.
But we'll see later on, our Lord narrowed it down to already the
children of God. That's the question. For you're all the children of
God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you. Now that's
another way of saying for every one of you. For every one of
you, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek. You see it? There's neither bond nor free. There is neither male nor female. For ye are all one in Christ
Jesus. And if ye be Christ. Now he says
it again. Then are ye what? Then are ye
Abraham's seed. And heirs according to the promise. Who are true Israelites. who
are true Israelites. Look back again at Romans chapter
seven. And remember, like I said, don't
think that the New Testament writers or Old Testament writers
said, all right, here's the one word we're always gonna use.
When we use this one word, you always gotta think this one way.
Because it don't work like that. It don't work like that. Look
at, I'll give you an example, Romans 11. I say then, hath God
cast away his people? God forbid. But then he qualifies
exactly what he's talking about. For I also am an Israelite of
the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. I was born an Israelite,
that's what he's saying. After the flesh, I'm a full-blooded,
true Israelite. But look, but look, God hath
not cast away his people, which he foreknew. I'm here to say,
Paul, this book's clear. God did not foreknow every Israelite. God hath not cast away his people
which he foreknew. What ye not, what the scripture
saith of Elias, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel,
saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, dig down thine
altars, now I'm left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith
the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself. This
among all these physical, natural Israelites. I have reserved to
myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of
Baal. Even so then at this present
time also there is a remnant according to the election of
grace. And if by grace, then it is no
more of works. Otherwise, grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then it's no more grace. Otherwise, work
is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained
that which he seeketh for. And that's not the Israelites,
that's Israel. But the election hath obtained
it. And everybody else was what?
Blinded. Blinded. Now, Joe, you talk about
Israelites there. Natural Israelites. But as he's
already said, the precedent is this. They are not all Israel,
which are of Israel. As a matter of fact, in verses
25 and 26 of chapter 11, you can find out that Paul says,
when the last Gentile is saved, I am paraphrasing, verse 25,
and so all Israel shall be saved. That's the next phrase. You see,
someone says, well, that's talking just about those natural Israelites. Granted, I will give you that.
But here's what you either fail to or refuse to bow to. In chapter
11, he tells a bunch of believing Gentiles that some unbelieving
Jews have been broken off. Now God's able to graft them
back in again, that's his business. But they've been broken off and
you've been grafted in. And you partake of the root and
the fatness of the olive tree. David Wright, that means I am
a part of Israel. I'm a part of Israel. I am that
Israel God determined to save. If I'm in Christ, I am that Israel
God determined to save before the world began. Who are the true Israelites?
They are God's elect. But remember, election itself,
election itself isn't salvation. We've heard One person I think
of in particular, their constant phrase, I don't know if I'm one
of the elect or not, or I want to know if I'm one of the elect
or not. You're playing in la-la land. God's not gonna show you
the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world. He ain't gonna do it. That book will not be opened
until that final day when it's supposed to be opened. God wrote the names in that book
and closed it up, and I am persuaded sealed, we could argue about
that, sealed it before the foundation of the world. And it will not
be opened until six seals, or no, seven seals are peeled off
that book. But be that as it may, The point
is this, John the Apostle concurs with Paul. By two inspired proofs. Here's the fourth one, we'll
deal mostly with this. John the Apostle concurs with Paul by
two inspired proofs. One is by precedent, the other
is by prophecy. The precedent is this, and you
know it well. John chapter one, verse 10, 11,
12, and 13. He made the world. He made everything that's in
the world. He came into the world, and his own received him not.
Who was his own? What's the meaning there? His
own were Jewish people, Israelites by nature, Hebrews by nature,
and his own received him not, but to as many as received him,
as many as. And by what I can study, Joe,
most people feel that was written well after Pentecost, that is
the book of John. But be as it may, even if it
wasn't, Mason, John is clear, okay? But as many as received
him, to them gave he power, that is both ability and right. Power
to become the sons of God which were born. And what's the first
one? What's the precedent? Not of
blood. So your ancestry in Israel or
your lack of it. does not matter. But then he goes on, not of blood,
nor the will of the flesh, it ain't up to your evil, wicked,
corrupt heart. Nor the will of man, it ain't
up to any other fallen son or daughter of Adam. They're born
how? They're born of God. Now here is his second proof,
and it is by divine inspiration, Revelation chapter seven. I would
encourage you to turn there if you have your Bible. I gotta move through this. Revelation
chapter seven, I will read just the first few verses and then
I will comment on things in some of the others. Revelation chapter
seven, verse one. And after these things, this
is not, this is not chronological statements. If you will notice,
go back and look, chapter six, you start to see what? Seals
being opened. He opens the sixth seal in the
latter part of chapter six, okay? When he starts in chapter seven,
we're still under what? The sixth seal, correct? Go back and look at it, you'll
see. The seventh seal isn't opened until chapter eight, verse one,
right? Okay, so the things that correlate
with each seal opened. See, most people, they get the
revelation, and I used to do it, I was brought up in it. Joe,
it was a part of my psyche, and it was difficult, yea, impossible
to get away from until God turns the light on. And after these
things. I saw four angels standing on
the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the
earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the
sea, nor on any tree. Now, did you look at the last,
what actually happens when the seal first is opened? There are
men and women who cry out to the rocks, and the mountains
fall on us, cause the wrath of the Lamb is come. So now John
is given what after this, not chronologically, but here's something
I'm gonna give you now that I've given it, the wrath of the Lamb
is coming. And men and women will know it when it starts to
happen. I'm not here to argue about when
that is or how long it's gonna last, all that. A lot of people
will tell you, here's this or here's that, it's not in. They
talk about the great tribulation of seven years. Seven is all
throughout this book, and not once does it mention seven years
of tribulation. that I'll say something to you.
Don't read into the book what's not there, where the context
is. Deal with it in its own context.
Now you see what I'm saying? After this, here's these angels.
They're holding back the wind. Why? Because wrath's coming.
It says in chapter six that the stars shall fall from heaven.
There's a fig tree that's shaking and timely, drops its figs. Joe,
something's gonna happen. Cataclysmic! Men and women's
gonna know it. Ah, but something's gotta happen
before that wrath comes. Now let's read on. And I saw
another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of
the living God. Let me tell you, there is only
one angel or messenger or servant that has the seal of the living
God. You know who that angel is? It is Jesus Christ, folks. This whole book is the revelation,
not of Saint John the Divine. It's the revelation of Jesus
Christ. And he cried with a loud voice
to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and
the sea. You see it? This wrath is coming,
Mason. And one of the days, that restraint
that God's got will be pulled back out of the way. And these
angels will pour out the wrath of the Lamb. But look. Hurt not,
saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till
we've sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And
I heard the number of them which were sealed. And there were sealed
140 and 4,000. And then look at this next phrase.
Of all the tribes of the children of Israel. See that, you read
it? Remember, we've also, look, John
concurs with Paul. He's already given it by precedent.
Being born spiritually is to be born of God. It has nothing
to do with blood or flesh or man's will. Now, that's established. Are you like me? Do you begin
to read verses five through eight? and then just skim over it after
the first couple things. And the tribe of Juba received
12,000, or the tribe of Ruden. And it just keeps on going. So
you kinda just go over it real quick and read over it. You ever
done that? Oh, you read it. But did you really read it? Did
you really stop? Because I'm gonna make a statement
now. If you think this is talking about the physical 12 tribes,
you're dead wrong. because it ain't the physical,
fleshly 12 tribes. Read who they are. Read who they are. Now some,
you know, the naysayers, well, John really fouled up here. They
say, I mean, you read some of the people, you know, these apostate
men who think they're believers and they write their commentary.
John really fouled up here, Mason. No, he didn't foul up. Why did
they think he fouled up? because Dan and Ephraim ain't
even mentioned. Ephraim wasn't even one of the
12 sons. Ephraim was a son of Joseph. But yet Manassas is included,
who was a son of Joseph, but he wasn't even one of the 12
original sons. Have you ever looked at that?
Have you ever considered that? Is this just there to fill up
space? Is this like the dispensation
to say, well, and there's all kinds of variant, I don't wanna
go into, here's 144,000 Jews sent to preach the gospel of
the kingdom during the 70 years tribulation. My question is,
where's that at in that book right here? Start reading the
book of the Revelation and show me where that's at. True or not,
it's not there. And one, then you're gonna leave
out Dan and Ephraim. Mason is having any hope in that
time to come. Because they're not mentioned
here. Now consider this. Don't just skim over any part
of God's word. It's all there for a reason. Remember, this is all the sixth
seal. Even when he says again in verse
nine, after this, this is not chronological. It's prophetic. Now he's going to explain who
these 144,000 people are. And somebody says, that's just
an opinion. Well, let's look at it. Remember, here's part
two, don't skim over anything. Because if you do, I skimmed
over that for Lord knows how long. You read the first couple,
you see they're all alike, so you just go right over them.
You don't realize there's two very important names left out
here. Why? There's a reason. And there's
another name brought in, Joseph. Joseph was never a tribe, was
he? And yet this says, of all the
tribes of the children of Israel. That is right, because that's
what the book says. But this wasn't all the fleshly tribes
of Israel. Am I right or wrong in that?
It's right. Now no matter whether we agree
on any of that, if you don't agree on that, you're just fighting
against what this says right here. You're just fighting against
it. Now think about this. The great
day of the Lamb's wrath cannot come until what? These servants. A particular absolute number. Now someone says, but it's 12,000. Did you know? I want you to go
back and look at it. I'm not going to read them all. The number
12 in all of its forms, whether it's 12, 1200, 12,000, whatever
it might be, the number 12 denotes totality. totality, the whole
lot, the whole kit and caboodle. When God uses the number 12,
he said, that's the whole thing. That's what it is. And you go
back and look at Genesis chapter four, verse four. It'll be on
tape, you get it. Look at Genesis chapter 17, verse
20. We've already been, look at some,
mention them, and look at Genesis chapter 25 and verse 16, and
then look at our text, Genesis chapter 35, verse 22. Ishmael
had how many sons? How many sons did Ishmael have?
Did you read it? Do you remember? 10, 11, 12. How many years were people in
captivity to Chalcedomer, the one who attacked and took away
Lot and his family? How many? How many years were
they in bondage? 10, 11, 12. And on the 13th year, they rebelled. Do you see the totality? Why
were they under this bondage for 12 years? Because God's will
prove a point. You see, nothing in the book
of God is without meaning. The number 12 denotes totality. Now notice, the fourth thing,
the servant sealed. What does a servant do? What does a servant do? They
serve. Isn't that simple? David, I'm
not asking for hard questions to hard answers. What does a
servant do? They serve. Verse three, hurt
not the earth due to the seed of the trees till the seal of
the servants of our God in their four heads and in verse 15, therefore
are they before the throne of God and they? serve him, and
this is all still under what? The sixth seal. Now folks, don't
let any of your upbringing, if you were brought up in dispensationalism,
stick your mind in an error that turns you away from the truth
of God in Christ Jesus. The tribes of Israel. And as John writes it, all the
tribes of Israel will be sealed in their foreheads. They will
be. And this ain't something God's
gonna stamp or tattoo on your head. What's the forehead stand
for? What is in the forefront of your
mind? We don't even know what that
seal is until we read this. And after this I'll be held in
low a great multitude. Now it's an exact number. But
what does it say? Which no man can number. The 12,000 signifies God's absolute,
it is an exact number down to the T. But it's such a massive
number all together that you and I couldn't sit down and start
counting them. And look, and after this I beheld and lo, a
great multitude which no man could number of all nations and
kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before
the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands,
and they are worshiping who in verse 10? God and the Lamb. God and the Lamb. Not that, well,
the temple's gonna be rebuilt and bless God, we get to start
having sacrifices again. I was taught all this junk, folks.
That's what I was taught. Now maybe you weren't taught
that, but I was. And Roy Jr., it's hard to get rid of out of
your head. It's hard to get rid of out of your head. And what
do these people do? And look at what it says. And
one of the elders, verse 13, answered, saying unto me, what
are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came
they? And I said to him, sir, they'll know us. Well, John didn't.
I guarantee you when John first started seeing this, and he's
starting to write down, he's thinking, where's Dan? Don't
you think, Mason? Where's Dan? Where's Ephraim? But the Spirit of God said, no,
you write these names. Yes or no? That's the lead. John
had to be thinking, this ain't right. This ain't right. Where's Dan? Where's Ephraim? Look, and he
said unto me, sir, thou knowest, and I said unto him, sir, thou
knowest, and he said unto me, these are they which came out
of great tribulation, and here's the seal, and have washed their
robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. And what's in the forefront?
What's right up here? What is God stamped on your forehead? The lamb and his blood. Mason,
you can't get away from it. Goes everywhere you look, even
if you look the wrong way, Joe, at times. What you still will
have on your forehead, the lamb and his blood. The lamb and his
blood. And Mac, you can't get away from
it if he's sealed you with it. You just cannot. This is not Jacob or Israel's
physical seed, nor can it be. Right? It can't be the physical
12 tribes because it ain't the physical 12 tribes. I mean, that's
simple. That's simple, but here's the
thing. Think about it. Why no Dan? I thought about this for
months as I started to read through Genesis. I thought, Walter, don't
try to answer that yet. Go to Genesis and start working
your way through it. Go to Genesis chapter one. Start,
what's the first thing? This earth was created and it
was dark. And God said, let there be light.
And there wasn't even a moon or stars or sun yet. And God
said, let there be light. Where did that light come from?
That was the light of God himself, Jesus Christ the Lord. That's
what lit this universe up in the beginning. And you go on
through it. Why no Dan? Why no Dan? Because Dan's name means judgment. There ain't no judgment in these
12 tribes. Do you get it? There ain't no,
that judgment's already been taken care of in the blood of
the lamb. And there ain't no Ephraim. Why
no Ephraim? You know what Ephraim's name
means? Dual fruit. This shoots in the head, this
idea, well God's got a physical Israel and a spiritual Israel.
He does. But the only blessings in Christ
are for spiritual Israel. That's it. There is no dual fruit. God don't have two peoples. One
he's gonna bless through one of these days, again, giving
them a temple, letting them offer sacrifices. No, those sacrifices
are done! They're done! If anybody starts
offering them again, they're gonna be in error. They're gonna
be, I'm not saying they won't start offering them again. I'm
just saying they'll be in error. I won't say there won't be a
temple built again, but whoever's worshiping in that temple, if
they're not worshiping Jesus Christ, they're in error. You see what I'm saying? Joe,
I still don't know what all's gonna still happen. And I can't
place it all together like most people think they can. There's
no Dan, there's no Ephraim, but bless God, who's put at the top
of the list of these 12 tribes? Not Reuben. Remember, Reuben
was the first one. But he showed his corruption
from the get-go. Did he not? But who's brought
up to the front, Joe? Of the tribe of Judah were sealed
12,000. He wasn't even born first, he
was the fourth born. Why Judah? Because the lamb came
from Judah. And why is Joseph included when
he wasn't even one of the original 12 tribes? Because Joseph equals
Jesus Christ. He's the greatest, most expanded
picture of Jesus Christ in all the Old Testament. His whole
life is a picture of Jesus Christ. That's why he's included, Joe.
You see, most of the time, this stuff's not hard to understand.
If you just look at the beginnings. If you just look at the precedence.
If you look at what stands out most with God. And now, go back,
and I'll read this and close it, just mention a couple things.
Chapter 37, of course remember, you go through who all the sons
of Esau are, Edom, and look, chapter 37. And Jacob dwelt in
the land. where his father was a stranger
in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of
Jacob. Joseph being 17 years old, when he was what? Right
from the get-go, we start talking about this guy named Joseph.
It was feeding the flock with his brethren. And the lad was
with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilph. They weren't
even the true wives of Jacob. But guess who he was with? He
was with the two lowlifes. The two concubines, if you will. I gotta stop, you bear with me,
I gotta stop and give you this a minute. And I don't mean to
be flippant or disrespectful. We had George H.W. Bush just die. And he had family
members that miss him. So don't get me wrong, don't
think I'm mocking. Don't think I'm mocking. This world is so
caught up in this political correctness that if you just try to speak
the truth, they think you're mocking, they claim you're mocking.
I'm not mocking. Some of the news people were
talking with the rector of the Episcopal Church in Texas where
George 41 was a member. Of course, they were talking
about how great George was. That's what men do. I understand
that. Oh, do you remember what he did? You remember what she did? Hope
to God we don't start doing that, don't you? I hope when I die,
y'all, boy, he's the greatest preacher that ever walked. We
had Earl, he's gone. We had Walter, he's gone. Now
we got Joe. He'll go. You understand, I'm not making
fun. This rector said this. We had to bring a friend to church
week. So George HW, George 41 brought
a friend to church. You know who it was? Margaret
Thatcher. The talking head said, well,
you can't top that. And my first thought was, yeah,
old George could have. If he'd have walked out there
on the streets of Houston and found one of them old whores.
Walked out there on the streets of Houston and found one of those
old drug heads. walked down the streets of Houston and found
one of those old drunks laying up under a bridge, and David
Wright got that man and took him to church with him, he could
have topped Margaret Thatcher a thousand times. Well, this
message has been so long, that part will probably never go on
TV, but be that as it may, do you understand what I'm saying?
Don't get the wrong thoughts in your head. Go back and look
at what it says, verse three. I didn't read all of two, but
that's fine. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children,
and that's where all the rub starts. When we say that Jesus
Christ is everything to God, and you will get nothing in the
way of blessings from God outside of Jesus Christ, even his own
kin will hate him for it. Do you hear what I'm saying?
That's the way it starts out, that's the way it's always started
out. So then, let me just close. Those saved by Christ, they are
God's Israel. When the end all comes, Paul
tells us when the end all comes, and God's got the sheep over
here and the goats over here, all of those people who were
sheep, that's God's Israel. That's God's Israel. Because
our Lord put it this way, when he seen Nathaniel, what did he
say to Nathaniel? Behold, an Israelite, and what's
that next word? Indeed. There were hundreds of
Israelites walking back and forth. He said, behold, an Israelite
indeed. And then you go back and look
at our Lord's words in John chapter eight. They kept, we're Abraham's
seed. Abraham's our father. He said,
I know Abraham's your father. And I know you're Abraham's seed.
He said, but if you were the children of Abraham, you'd do
the works of Abraham. And then he goes on to say, in
verse 42, if God were your father, because finally he quit, he wasn't
playing with them, but he quit even talking to them by their
own silly language. He said, if God were your father,
you'd love me. Because I proceeded forth from
the father. True Israel are those who love
Christ. And that's what it boils down to. Let's sing, what was
it, I didn't turn the page? 263, now we haven't sung this
one in a long time.