Well we are looking
forward to another service
00:00:48.05\00:00:51.98
to prepare your hearts
for the coming of the Lord
00:00:52.18\00:00:54.65
because we believe
Jesus is coming soon.
00:00:54.85\00:00:57.13
We do. Amen. And
we sing about it.
00:00:57.33\00:01:00.06
We pray about it.
We preach the message.
00:01:00.27\00:01:03.00
And we believe it
with all of our hearts
00:01:03.30\00:01:06.36
that He is coming
back very, very soon.
00:01:06.56\00:01:10.49
And you know something?
The world is starting to
00:01:10.79\00:01:12.33
get that message.
00:01:12.37\00:01:13.45
A hundred and some
odd... fifty years ago
00:01:13.49\00:01:17.06
there was only one small group
proclaiming that Christ was
00:01:17.26\00:01:20.36
coming again soon.
00:01:20.46\00:01:22.06
Now you will hear it - maybe
different variations of it -
00:01:22.36\00:01:26.17
but you hear that
He is coming back.
00:01:26.37\00:01:30.40
And we believe that
God wants us to understand
00:01:30.70\00:01:33.75
how He's coming back, understand
that He IS coming back,
00:01:33.95\00:01:37.86
that we are living
in the time of the end.
00:01:38.06\00:01:40.61
He does caution us that no
one knows the day nor the hour.
00:01:40.81\00:01:44.77
So if anybody's
predicting that, be careful
00:01:44.98\00:01:48.21
about following
that kind of teaching.
00:01:48.31\00:01:49.87
But the Bible is very clear
00:01:50.08\00:01:52.50
about the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:01:52.70\00:01:55.20
Amen. It surely is.
And it gives us the hope.
00:01:55.50\00:01:58.94
I mean, without the second
coming there's really no hope,
00:01:59.15\00:02:01.74
right? Because a
Creator God... He created us,
00:02:01.84\00:02:04.82
made a place for us,
made a plan of salvation,
00:02:05.02\00:02:07.81
prepared a home.
And without any of that
00:02:08.01\00:02:10.71
where would we go when we
die? Now we have something
00:02:10.91\00:02:13.13
to look for: to live and
reign and rule with our Heavenly
00:02:13.34\00:02:15.52
Father forever and
ever. God is good, isn't He?
00:02:15.62\00:02:18.41
God is good all the time, right?
00:02:18.71\00:02:21.09
We had a theme song scheduled
but right before we came out
00:02:21.39\00:02:24.45
here... John, you missed this.
00:02:24.65\00:02:26.16
Right before we came out
maybe when Tim is through...
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We'll have you say a little
prayer if you would. Sure.
00:02:29.12\00:02:32.39
But instead of the
theme song tonight...
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Tim Parton... of course,
we're so thrilled that he's here
00:02:34.44\00:02:36.47
and part of the 3ABN team, but
what a lot of folk don't know
00:02:36.67\00:02:39.71
Tim also sings. So I walked
over and held a microphone
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and he just sang a song
that just put chill bumps.
00:02:43.07\00:02:45.52
I don't know about
you... but just God is good.
00:02:45.72\00:02:47.74
So, Tim, I'm going to
walk over here with the mic
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and maybe you could
sing this song for us.
00:02:50.11\00:02:52.53
Lately I've been looking back
00:02:59.49\00:03:02.14
along this winding road
00:03:02.54\00:03:06.11
to the old familiar markers
00:03:06.31\00:03:09.75
and all the
mercies I have known.
00:03:10.05\00:03:13.54
I know it may sound simple
00:03:14.43\00:03:18.12
but it's more than a cliché.
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For there's no
better way to tell You
00:03:21.60\00:03:26.57
than to say:
00:03:26.87\00:03:30.37
"God's been good
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in my life,
00:03:36.36\00:03:39.34
and I feel blessed
beyond my wildest dreams
00:03:39.64\00:03:44.63
when I go to sleep each night.
00:03:44.93\00:03:47.64
And though I've had
my share of hard times
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I wouldn't
change them if I could.
00:03:53.10\00:03:56.47
For through it all...
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God's been good. "
00:04:00.82\00:04:05.66
You see, God has been my Father,
00:04:05.97\00:04:09.28
my Savior, and my Friend.
00:04:09.59\00:04:12.99
And His love was my beginning
00:04:13.30\00:04:17.24
and His love will be my end.
00:04:17.54\00:04:21.18
Now I could spend
forever trying to tell You
00:04:21.48\00:04:27.03
everything He is
00:04:27.24\00:04:32.53
but the best way
that I can say it
00:04:32.84\00:04:38.43
is simply this:
00:04:38.73\00:04:42.58
"God's been good
00:04:42.88\00:04:48.83
in my life,
00:04:49.13\00:04:52.04
and I feel so blessed
00:04:52.54\00:04:55.79
beyond my wildest dreams
00:04:56.00\00:04:58.95
when I go to sleep each night.
00:04:59.26\00:05:02.42
And though I've had
my share of hard times
00:05:02.82\00:05:07.69
I wouldn't
change them if I could.
00:05:07.99\00:05:11.78
For through it all...
00:05:12.08\00:05:18.06
God's been
00:05:21.06\00:05:24.90
good. "
00:05:25.20\00:05:31.14
Amen. Beautiful,
beautiful. Thank you.
00:05:35.02\00:05:37.67
That's it right there.
00:05:37.97\00:05:39.93
That was wonderful.
Thank you very much, Tim.
00:05:40.23\00:05:44.04
You blessed us.
You really, really did.
00:05:44.34\00:05:46.63
Well this is a
night of blessing.
00:05:46.93\00:05:48.94
We've had a day of blessing.
00:05:49.14\00:05:50.64
We had a fantastic
message to start the day
00:05:50.84\00:05:53.86
by Brenda Walsh. And then
Pastor Mark Finley came along
00:05:54.07\00:05:57.84
and led us into a prayer
time with the Holy Spirit.
00:05:58.04\00:06:01.94
And then we heard from
Pastor Charles Bradford.
00:06:02.15\00:06:06.85
Message about the
good man being lost,
00:06:07.15\00:06:10.83
the bad man being saved.
00:06:11.03\00:06:12.70
Great message!
00:06:13.00\00:06:14.35
And we are looking forward.
00:06:14.66\00:06:15.87
And then Shelley
Quinn in the afternoon.
00:06:15.97\00:06:18.07
Wow, Shelley! I
really appreciated that.
00:06:18.27\00:06:20.54
That was a
fantastic message on grace.
00:06:20.74\00:06:23.82
It really was.
00:06:24.13\00:06:25.82
I'm glad that you predicted
rain because it was sun shiny
00:06:26.12\00:06:29.29
and beautiful today.
He told us last night,
00:06:29.49\00:06:32.13
didn't he, if he
predicted rain it'd be sunshine.
00:06:32.33\00:06:34.86
But it was clouding up
about 5:30 and I thought
00:06:34.96\00:06:37.68
"Wow, I've got a few more
minutes here to be right. "
00:06:37.88\00:06:40.39
You did good; you did good.
00:06:42.46\00:06:44.25
But you know so many times
you predict just the opposite
00:06:44.45\00:06:47.62
of what you really want.
00:06:47.83\00:06:49.06
And the Lord couldn't
have given us a better day
00:06:49.27\00:06:51.50
than He did today.
It was really beautiful.
00:06:51.60\00:06:54.83
It was a day for getting
dressed quickly and getting back
00:06:55.13\00:06:58.49
to the meeting.
Oh, I tell you...
00:06:58.59\00:07:01.66
That was amazing. I
tell you, Brother John
00:07:01.86\00:07:05.20
he made a quick trip...
Should I tell them real quick?
00:07:05.40\00:07:09.98
Tell them real quick, John.
You know what? Elder Bradford
00:07:10.01\00:07:12.46
was preaching such a good
message and I thought: "A man
00:07:12.56\00:07:14.97
with such caliber doesn't need
me to sit around and listen.
00:07:15.17\00:07:18.51
I'm going to go
home and get comfortable,
00:07:18.61\00:07:20.65
take my suit off, get
ready to cut my grass.
00:07:20.85\00:07:22.98
And I was sitting down
listening to Elder Bradford
00:07:23.18\00:07:25.90
and about 13
minutes out he said:
00:07:26.10\00:07:28.04
"As I begin to say
my final words... "
00:07:28.24\00:07:31.28
And I thought: "He's
going to end before the time
00:07:31.48\00:07:34.08
and no one's there to go
ahead and come to the stage
00:07:34.28\00:07:37.00
if he does. " That's
right. And the Holy Spirit...
00:07:37.20\00:07:39.09
Because see John
had brought him on
00:07:39.29\00:07:40.48
and it's the responsibility of
the person that brings them on
00:07:40.68\00:07:44.24
to stay around... to stay
around and to be the one that
00:07:44.44\00:07:47.27
wraps up. And...
And I got in my car...
00:07:47.47\00:07:51.35
The Holy Spirit kicked
me when I was on my couch.
00:07:51.55\00:07:53.59
Ran into my room. Jumped
into my suit like a fireman.
00:07:53.99\00:07:57.83
Grabbed my belt which
I thought was my tie -
00:07:58.03\00:08:00.06
yeah - and I thank the
Lord we don't have any police
00:08:00.27\00:08:03.46
in Thompsonville.
00:08:03.56\00:08:05.23
Oh boy... you were
somewhere between law and grace.
00:08:06.22\00:08:09.38
That's right... right!
00:08:09.68\00:08:11.39
You would have been all
mixed up in Shelley's message
00:08:11.69\00:08:14.47
this afternoon I guarantee you.
00:08:14.57\00:08:17.16
Well, but you made
it, and... That's right.
00:08:17.46\00:08:19.46
And it was right on time.
You know, it doesn't matter:
00:08:19.66\00:08:23.66
if you're on
time, you're on time.
00:08:23.87\00:08:25.64
So you did make it.
00:08:25.94\00:08:27.75
We just love
our whole team here.
00:08:28.06\00:08:30.21
I said last night. People
say: 'You fellows seem to like
00:08:30.51\00:08:33.55
each other. " We do! If
you've ever worked somewhere
00:08:33.66\00:08:37.40
where people
didn't like each other,
00:08:37.60\00:08:39.75
you know how important
it is to work where they do.
00:08:39.96\00:08:42.47
And it's...
It's a real blessing.
00:08:42.77\00:08:45.37
It really is a great blessing.
00:08:45.67\00:08:48.40
Well, when Jim came here...
I'll tell you quickly this:
00:08:48.60\00:08:50.68
when Jim came I said: "I wonder
if he'll like living in this -
00:08:50.88\00:08:53.92
he's from Dallas, you
know - this little area?
00:08:54.12\00:08:55.77
The town here is 600;
West Frankfort is about 9,000.
00:08:55.97\00:08:59.10
So I said: "Now
what you need to do
00:08:59.30\00:09:01.14
to really fit in if you
want to fit in this area -
00:09:01.34\00:09:03.66
West Frankfort Redbirds" - I
said: "You need a red truck. "
00:09:03.86\00:09:06.36
I just happened
to have one for sale.
00:09:06.57\00:09:08.49
I said: "You need a...
you need a red pickup. "
00:09:08.59\00:09:10.98
And he bought it,
literally. He bought what I said
00:09:11.18\00:09:13.22
and bought the truck.
And now he drives around
00:09:13.42\00:09:15.73
and everybody thinks he's a
local 'cause he's representing
00:09:15.94\00:09:18.27
the West Frankfort
Redbirds. That's right.
00:09:18.37\00:09:20.02
And if you have a red
truck around here, you're in.
00:09:20.05\00:09:23.56
People wave at
you with a red truck.
00:09:23.86\00:09:25.50
I tried a white
truck first. Didn't work.
00:09:26.66\00:09:28.57
Well the St.
Louis Cardinals, see?
00:09:28.77\00:09:30.05
We root most of us here
for the St. Louis Cardinals
00:09:30.25\00:09:32.18
plus now the West
Frankfort Redbirds.
00:09:32.38\00:09:34.70
So you're in. All right. Well,
if that's bein' in, I'm in!
00:09:35.00\00:09:39.71
Well, the message
tonight from Elder Bradford is
00:09:41.78\00:09:44.66
"We Are Identified. "
00:09:44.86\00:09:47.19
And he needs no introduction.
00:09:47.49\00:09:50.74
He's been the president of
the North American Division.
00:09:51.04\00:09:54.65
Preached all over this country.
00:09:54.95\00:09:57.36
Almost everybody here has
listened to Elder Bradford
00:09:57.67\00:10:01.34
and I'm sure a great
number of you out there
00:10:01.54\00:10:04.52
watching by television
and listening by radio
00:10:04.72\00:10:07.48
have heard him preach before.
00:10:07.68\00:10:10.12
But he is a man of God
00:10:10.42\00:10:12.92
and we are so happy that he is
here and is our speaker tonight.
00:10:13.22\00:10:18.86
John, would you lead us in
prayer before Reggie and Ladye
00:10:19.16\00:10:22.20
come? Reggie and Ladye... what
are they going to sing for us,
00:10:22.30\00:10:25.30
Danny? I think
it's He Lifts Me Up. OK.
00:10:25.40\00:10:28.46
You Raise Me Up. It's a
beautiful song, incredible song.
00:10:28.66\00:10:32.30
All right. And they do only
what Reggie and Ladye can do
00:10:32.60\00:10:35.02
with the anointing
of the Holy Spirit.
00:10:35.22\00:10:37.03
You know we'll be blessed.
Right. OK. Well let's pray.
00:10:37.33\00:10:39.36
Gracious Father in
heaven, we just heard
00:10:40.57\00:10:42.36
in such wonderful
and melodious tones
00:10:42.56\00:10:45.36
that God's been good.
00:10:45.56\00:10:48.11
Lord, it's the goodness of
God that leads us to repentance.
00:10:48.41\00:10:51.66
It's not Your law;
it's not Your rebuke.
00:10:51.96\00:10:57.12
But Father we stand back
in the midst of all of those
00:10:57.42\00:11:00.24
necessities and see that
truly it is the goodness of God.
00:11:00.44\00:11:03.29
Tonight, Lord, we
invite Your Holy Spirit
00:11:03.59\00:11:06.50
to continue to
tabernacle with us
00:11:06.70\00:11:08.42
for we are so in need of a
constant filling from on high.
00:11:08.72\00:11:12.92
And we pray tonight
as Elder Bradford comes
00:11:13.22\00:11:15.96
and speaks from the Word
that You will fill him again.
00:11:16.16\00:11:18.66
Lord, we know that
experience is a great teacher,
00:11:18.86\00:11:23.35
but a man who has walked
with God throughout his ministry
00:11:23.65\00:11:26.15
has come to be the vessel
through which You bless us.
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.58
And do not disappoint, Lord.
00:11:29.68\00:11:31.58
And in the process of him
blessing us, bless him also.
00:11:31.68\00:11:35.05
Also, anoint Reggie and Ladye
Love as they sing this song
00:11:35.35\00:11:38.13
tonight about Jesus, and may we
be raised up into His presence.
00:11:38.23\00:11:41.53
In Jesus' name
we pray, Amen. Amen.
00:11:41.83\00:11:45.78
When I am down
00:12:11.10\00:12:14.59
and, oh my soul so weary;
00:12:14.89\00:12:17.92
When troubles come
00:12:18.02\00:12:22.26
and my heart burdened be;
00:12:22.66\00:12:27.40
Then, I am still
00:12:27.60\00:12:32.04
and wait here in the silence,
00:12:32.34\00:12:35.99
Until you come
00:12:36.39\00:12:39.36
and sit awhile with me.
00:12:39.66\00:12:44.18
You raise me up, so I
00:12:44.48\00:12:50.04
can stand on mountains;
00:12:50.24\00:12:52.99
You raise me up,
00:12:54.18\00:12:57.21
to walk on stormy seas;
00:12:57.41\00:13:01.87
and I am strong,
00:13:02.91\00:13:07.46
when I am on your shoulders;
00:13:07.56\00:13:11.58
You raise me up...
00:13:13.38\00:13:15.89
to more than I can be.
00:13:17.04\00:13:22.97
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh.
00:13:39.89\00:13:45.86
You raise me up,
00:13:55.63\00:13:58.87
so I can stand on mountains;
00:13:59.17\00:14:03.26
You raise me up,
00:14:03.66\00:14:06.84
to walk on stormy seas;
00:14:06.94\00:14:11.00
And I... I am strong,
00:14:11.20\00:14:15.57
when I am on your shoulders;
00:14:15.77\00:14:20.02
You raise me up...
00:14:21.57\00:14:23.38
to more than I can be.
00:14:23.68\00:14:29.66
There is no life -
00:14:32.34\00:14:36.67
no life without its hunger;
00:14:36.97\00:14:41.10
Each restless heart
00:14:41.40\00:14:43.95
beats so imperfectly;
00:14:44.25\00:14:49.04
But then you come
00:14:49.34\00:14:52.45
and I am filled with wonder,
00:14:52.75\00:14:57.61
Sometimes, I think
00:14:58.11\00:15:00.79
I glimpse eternity.
00:15:00.99\00:15:04.88
You raise me up,
00:15:05.08\00:15:08.67
so I can stand on mountains;
00:15:08.87\00:15:13.46
You raise me up,
00:15:13.76\00:15:17.07
to walk on stormy seas;
00:15:17.27\00:15:21.06
And I am strong,
00:15:21.36\00:15:24.08
when I am on your shoulders;
00:15:24.28\00:15:30.22
You raise me up...
00:15:31.01\00:15:34.49
to more than I can be.
00:15:35.73\00:15:41.00
You raise me up...
00:15:41.80\00:15:47.74
to more than I can
00:15:48.04\00:15:53.71
be.
00:15:57.62\00:16:03.53
Amen.
00:16:09.92\00:16:12.20
A blessed Sabbath to you.
00:16:21.81\00:16:23.91
Amen.
00:16:24.01\00:16:25.25
All twenty-four hours. Amen.
00:16:25.55\00:16:28.22
And we'll not break
any one of those hours.
00:16:29.41\00:16:32.42
We want to be in close
communion with our Savior
00:16:33.71\00:16:37.30
over this weekend and
especially on the sacred hours.
00:16:38.00\00:16:43.95
We are here by
God's grace. Amen.
00:16:44.25\00:16:47.80
He has certainly
protected and guided us.
00:16:47.93\00:16:50.55
The old preachers used
to say when they looked over
00:16:51.84\00:16:53.99
an audience like yours...
00:16:54.19\00:16:56.37
They would say: "We
see no visible signs
00:16:56.57\00:17:00.04
of God's displeasure here. "
00:17:00.14\00:17:02.73
No visible signs. All of
you looking well and healthy.
00:17:03.92\00:17:07.87
Attentive, and ready to worship
your Lord and study His Word.
00:17:08.89\00:17:14.53
We Are Identified.
00:17:16.12\00:17:18.16
We can't hide it.
00:17:18.46\00:17:20.42
The apostle Peter tried to
hide it one day, didn't he?
00:17:21.79\00:17:25.36
He used the
language of the street,
00:17:25.56\00:17:28.57
but nobody believed it
because his speech betrayed him.
00:17:30.10\00:17:33.87
This message...
this last message
00:17:36.16\00:17:39.25
for a dying world,
as we use the phrase...
00:17:39.46\00:17:42.60
does something to a person
00:17:42.90\00:17:45.56
which distinguishes her or him.
00:17:45.86\00:17:50.87
It distinguishes a person.
00:17:51.17\00:17:54.11
Uh, you even learn a
new lingo, don't you?
00:17:55.59\00:17:59.36
Since I've been in this truth -
00:17:59.66\00:18:02.12
only the redeemed know
what that means, you know? -
00:18:02.42\00:18:05.98
and when we're
called to witness for Christ
00:18:06.18\00:18:11.01
those words that we
have studied together
00:18:11.22\00:18:14.55
come alive to us, and
the Holy Spirit brings them
00:18:14.76\00:18:19.60
to our lips. And we
speak what we have seen.
00:18:19.80\00:18:25.13
We testify what we have heard.
00:18:25.43\00:18:29.37
Now we're still talking
about God's end-time people.
00:18:29.67\00:18:34.44
They appear on time.
00:18:34.74\00:18:38.07
God has set these...
what do we call them?
00:18:39.50\00:18:44.51
We spoke about it today.
00:18:46.06\00:18:48.07
Periods of
time... dispensations.
00:18:48.37\00:18:51.13
He has set these dispensations.
00:18:51.23\00:18:54.11
He has marked time off.
00:18:54.41\00:18:58.69
He shows us that one
period leads to another.
00:19:00.05\00:19:05.89
Then comes the final
time in which we live.
00:19:06.19\00:19:08.91
So we are not really hidden.
00:19:10.36\00:19:12.82
We're here.
00:19:13.12\00:19:15.17
We have not put up any
false signs on our churches.
00:19:15.47\00:19:19.13
We have not denied
who we are... I hope.
00:19:20.61\00:19:24.55
We have endeavored
to let our light shine.
00:19:25.76\00:19:29.61
We are a people
zealous of good works.
00:19:29.81\00:19:33.94
We're trying to do
something to lift humanity.
00:19:35.25\00:19:39.09
We're doing our best.
00:19:40.32\00:19:43.12
And what did
Paul say? Paul said,
00:19:43.32\00:19:46.74
II Timothy 2:19 he said:
00:19:47.04\00:19:51.02
"Nevertheless, the foundation
of God standeth sure. "
00:19:51.52\00:19:56.99
Aren't you happy you're
standing on solid ground?
00:19:58.28\00:20:01.31
Amen.
00:20:01.61\00:20:02.88
Great friend of
mine lost his dear wife.
00:20:03.18\00:20:06.62
She stepped off a bus
and a truck ran over her.
00:20:06.82\00:20:09.45
Prime of life.
00:20:09.95\00:20:12.07
I called him to
bring a little comfort.
00:20:12.37\00:20:15.83
One knows not
really what to say.
00:20:15.93\00:20:18.04
And he helped me out.
He picked it up. He said:
00:20:19.23\00:20:21.13
"Brad, I tell you: it
is tough... a dark time. "
00:20:21.33\00:20:24.87
But he said: "I
remember one of those stories
00:20:25.07\00:20:27.31
from Shakespeare or
someone over in Europe,
00:20:27.51\00:20:29.58
one of those writers
in England who had a man
00:20:29.79\00:20:33.86
falling in a big pond.
00:20:34.06\00:20:37.10
And he was
missing for a little bit.
00:20:37.50\00:20:40.04
And then up he came, you
know, spouting and coughing
00:20:40.34\00:20:45.37
and saying: 'I have touched
bottom and it's solid! ' "
00:20:45.57\00:20:48.89
And so we have
touched bottom; it's solid.
00:20:51.41\00:20:54.16
Oh yes, this message is solid!
00:20:54.36\00:20:57.18
Amen. Philadelphia lawyers can't
find anything wrong with it.
00:20:57.49\00:21:02.10
Amen. It has
been vetted as we say.
00:21:02.30\00:21:05.92
It has been examined;
it has been sought out.
00:21:06.22\00:21:09.27
Our pioneers toiled
upward in the night.
00:21:09.47\00:21:13.28
Sometimes they disagreed.
00:21:13.31\00:21:16.43
Sometimes they studied all night
00:21:16.63\00:21:19.71
and they prayed, and in the
morning light broke through.
00:21:19.91\00:21:23.79
Plank after plank was
laid in the foundation.
00:21:24.29\00:21:29.80
Now don't you move a block.
00:21:30.00\00:21:32.03
Don't you stir a pin.
00:21:32.33\00:21:33.88
Let the foundation stand.
00:21:34.18\00:21:37.04
Having the seal... the
Lord knoweth them that are His.
00:21:37.34\00:21:42.14
"And let everyone that
names the name of Christ
00:21:42.34\00:21:46.05
depart from iniquity. "
00:21:46.25\00:21:48.59
Talking about identifying...
identification of a people.
00:21:48.89\00:21:53.94
Well you know,
over in Revelation
00:21:54.24\00:21:56.58
we have something
that adds to our identity.
00:21:56.78\00:21:59.91
The 7th chapter of Revelation
00:22:00.21\00:22:03.06
where the brethren preach
all the time. And it says:
00:22:03.16\00:22:05.93
"And I saw after these
things four angels standing on
00:22:06.13\00:22:09.41
the four corners of the earth
holding the four winds of strife
00:22:09.61\00:22:13.02
that the wind should
not blow on the earth
00:22:14.93\00:22:16.85
nor on the sea nor on any tree.
00:22:17.05\00:22:19.57
And I saw another
angel ascending from the East
00:22:19.78\00:22:23.35
having the seal
of the living God.
00:22:23.55\00:22:25.79
And he cried with a loud voice
00:22:26.09\00:22:29.25
to the four angels to whom
it was given to hurt the earth
00:22:29.45\00:22:32.50
and the sea
saying: 'Hurt not the earth
00:22:32.71\00:22:35.05
neither the sea nor the trees
00:22:35.25\00:22:37.29
till we have sealed
the servants of our God
00:22:37.49\00:22:41.90
in their foreheads. ' "
00:22:42.10\00:22:44.25
A sealing message, isn't it?
00:22:44.35\00:22:46.42
And by the way, Ellen
White said something about
00:22:46.92\00:22:51.43
that sealing message.
I tried to jot that down.
00:22:51.63\00:22:55.58
She said: "This seal is a
settling in to the truth. "
00:22:55.88\00:23:01.60
Amen.
00:23:01.90\00:23:03.27
I read it: "Just as
soon as the people of God
00:23:03.57\00:23:07.66
are sealed in
their foreheads... "
00:23:07.86\00:23:10.53
Then a little parentheses,
it is not any seal or mark
00:23:10.73\00:23:15.98
that can be seen
00:23:16.18\00:23:17.70
but a settling in to the truth
00:23:18.20\00:23:21.63
both
intellectually and spiritually
00:23:22.41\00:23:25.60
so they cannot be moved. Amen!
00:23:25.80\00:23:29.56
And she says: "Just
as soon as God's people
00:23:30.20\00:23:33.48
are sealed and prepared
for the shaking it will come.
00:23:33.68\00:23:37.80
Indeed it has already begun.
00:23:38.72\00:23:40.99
The judgments of God
are now upon the land
00:23:41.29\00:23:44.94
to give us warning that
we may know what is coming. "
00:23:45.14\00:23:49.90
Now we are distinctive.
00:23:50.40\00:23:53.98
We can't hide it.
00:23:54.28\00:23:55.82
We can't lose our
identity with the crowd
00:23:56.12\00:24:01.20
in the hoi poi of the
crowd of people around us.
00:24:01.40\00:24:06.19
We can't help but stand out.
00:24:06.42\00:24:08.48
You're on a job, aren't you?
00:24:08.78\00:24:11.35
Everybody's
cussing and swearing, hmmm?
00:24:11.66\00:24:14.22
All kinds of
things are going on there.
00:24:14.52\00:24:17.96
I had a brother-in-law,
he's passed away now,
00:24:18.26\00:24:21.63
He worked... he was really
in a labor union way back.
00:24:21.84\00:24:26.88
And it was one
of those tough ones.
00:24:28.32\00:24:30.75
Card carriers... bad boys.
00:24:31.05\00:24:35.26
There he was, the only
little Seventh-day Adventist
00:24:35.56\00:24:38.04
around there. He was little
but he weighed about 240 lbs.
00:24:38.14\00:24:42.06
And so they
noticed he was different.
00:24:42.26\00:24:45.13
So they came to
the meeting one night.
00:24:45.23\00:24:46.57
They were electing
officers. Now this something...
00:24:46.77\00:24:49.80
Don't tell the
brethren about this.
00:24:50.00\00:24:51.51
He... he stood there
and some of them grabbed him
00:24:51.71\00:24:55.62
and said: "You're the only... "
00:24:55.82\00:24:59.25
They gave him another word,
you know, little adjectives
00:24:59.85\00:25:02.85
to it... "You're the
only one in the bunch that
00:25:03.05\00:25:05.32
we can trust. Here, you be
the president of our union. "
00:25:05.52\00:25:10.25
I don't know the rest of
it. I can't tell you all of it.
00:25:10.55\00:25:13.30
You can put your own
end to it if you want to.
00:25:13.50\00:25:15.96
But the point I'm trying to make
is that they looked at the man
00:25:16.17\00:25:19.84
and they saw
something in him. Amen.
00:25:20.04\00:25:21.75
They saw that he was different.
00:25:22.25\00:25:23.99
Distinctive. Now you
know what Peter calls it.
00:25:24.29\00:25:28.17
Peter said something about
us. People like to grin about it
00:25:28.37\00:25:31.45
and laugh and
make fun of us and say:
00:25:31.65\00:25:34.23
"Yes, you are a peculiar
people. " And Peter said
00:25:34.43\00:25:37.89
something like this. He said:
00:25:37.90\00:25:39.17
"You're a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood,
00:25:39.37\00:25:41.78
a holy nation, a peculiar people
00:25:41.98\00:25:44.08
that you should show
forth the praises of Him who
00:25:44.38\00:25:47.62
hath called you out of darkness
into the marvelous light. "
00:25:47.82\00:25:50.69
Now peculiar doesn't
mean queer and strange.
00:25:50.99\00:25:56.91
Uh, someone gave me a
little word from Martin Marty.
00:25:57.21\00:26:01.70
He's a great church theologian
up there in Chicago...
00:26:01.90\00:26:05.23
University of Chicago. And he
says... this is what Marty says.
00:26:05.43\00:26:08.64
He's writing a
foreword in a book written by
00:26:08.84\00:26:11.66
an Adventist author.
00:26:11.86\00:26:12.87
So Dr. Marty, the greatest
of historians in his class,
00:26:13.07\00:26:16.35
he writes and he
says about Adventists:
00:26:16.55\00:26:19.27
"Peculiar means
distinctive. " Amen!
00:26:19.47\00:26:23.40
That's one of our,
you know... not enemies,
00:26:23.44\00:26:26.43
but one of our friendly critics.
00:26:26.63\00:26:28.40
"And Adventists
certainly are that. "
00:26:28.70\00:26:31.24
He says: "Peculiar
also means unusual...
00:26:31.54\00:26:35.90
maybe eccentric or
odd, and most outsiders
00:26:36.10\00:26:40.57
to Adventism looking
in from their own margins
00:26:40.77\00:26:44.56
have classified
it and do classify
00:26:44.76\00:26:48.45
peculiar in that sense. "
00:26:48.65\00:26:50.61
Difference...
there is a difference.
00:26:50.91\00:26:54.55
And Elder Gilley and I
were just talking about this
00:26:54.85\00:26:58.59
word I am trying
to speak here tonight.
00:26:58.89\00:27:01.18
We... I said to him:
00:27:01.38\00:27:03.14
"They claim we don't
know who Adventists are.
00:27:03.34\00:27:05.49
We don't know
anything about you. "
00:27:05.69\00:27:07.77
Now let me give
you a little test.
00:27:08.07\00:27:10.74
No, I'm not going
to tell you to do this.
00:27:11.04\00:27:12.89
But if you make a big mistake
00:27:13.10\00:27:17.07
and you are found
eating a huge pork chop,
00:27:17.27\00:27:20.93
your neighbor will say: "Oh,
I didn't think you ate that! "
00:27:21.92\00:27:24.93
But he doesn't know you.
00:27:25.23\00:27:27.10
Don't let him fool you.
00:27:27.40\00:27:29.85
He's watching you all the time.
00:27:30.15\00:27:32.64
Watching you all the time.
00:27:32.94\00:27:34.62
Now of course we all believe
that the most notable mark
00:27:34.92\00:27:38.79
of distinction on us as a people
00:27:38.99\00:27:43.30
is the Sabbath. The
Sabbath keeps us in sync.
00:27:43.50\00:27:49.15
I learn all these
words from my children
00:27:49.46\00:27:52.38
and young people.
Keeps us in sync with God.
00:27:52.68\00:27:58.05
I heard an old
evangelist say years ago
00:27:58.15\00:28:01.82
that God is a
great symphony conductor.
00:28:02.03\00:28:06.49
And He conducts His universe
00:28:06.89\00:28:10.95
on 6/7 time.
00:28:11.15\00:28:13.97
Now I don't know if
there's really any such time
00:28:14.27\00:28:16.85
by musicians, but I'm going
to tell you musicians something
00:28:17.05\00:28:20.00
here tonight: God does have
a time with which He directs
00:28:20.20\00:28:24.79
the universe and that
time, I say, is 6/7 time.
00:28:24.99\00:28:29.38
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, rest.
00:28:29.68\00:28:35.40
Huh? I'll say it again:
00:28:37.22\00:28:38.98
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, rest.
00:28:39.08\00:28:44.56
And so I'm happy... I
don't want to talk too loud.
00:28:44.87\00:28:48.32
You know, people
tell me "Brother Bradford,
00:28:48.42\00:28:49.84
you preach too loud. "
Well I want to get it down
00:28:49.94\00:28:51.82
a little bit...
another two or three decibels.
00:28:52.02\00:28:54.92
But I'm happy... I'm so happy
00:28:56.03\00:28:58.80
to be a part of a
people who are in sync with God
00:28:59.11\00:29:02.92
and who know 6/7 time. Amen!
00:29:03.12\00:29:07.07
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, rest.
00:29:07.20\00:29:11.07
And doesn't that keep
us marching to the drum
00:29:11.37\00:29:14.52
of another drummer up
yonder? He keeps us in time.
00:29:14.72\00:29:19.88
Well, Ellen White says, and
by the way, I'll read the text.
00:29:21.79\00:29:24.66
I'll read the text first.
00:29:24.86\00:29:26.13
Ellen White... After this
text I'll read Ellen White.
00:29:26.33\00:29:29.17
But the text is Ezekiel 20.
00:29:29.47\00:29:33.74
That's great stuff in
Ezekiel 20 and in verse 12.
00:29:35.65\00:29:39.41
Also 20:20 also.
00:29:39.61\00:29:41.63
He says...
Ezekiel: "Moreover also
00:29:41.93\00:29:45.41
I gave them My Sabbaths
00:29:45.61\00:29:49.04
to be a sign between Me and them
00:29:49.34\00:29:52.46
that they might know
00:29:52.57\00:29:55.32
that I am the Lord
that sanctifies them. "
00:29:55.52\00:29:57.89
Amen.
00:29:58.19\00:29:59.25
It's the way He knows
us and the way we know Him
00:29:59.45\00:30:01.96
is the Sabbath.
00:30:03.09\00:30:04.34
Then he goes on to say,
this man Ezekiel goes on to say:
00:30:04.64\00:30:08.42
"And hallow My Sabbaths. "
00:30:08.65\00:30:11.43
"Hallow My
Sabbaths... " this is verse 20.
00:30:11.63\00:30:14.93
And verse 20
goes on and it says:
00:30:15.14\00:30:17.17
"Hallow My Sabbaths
and they shall be a sign
00:30:17.37\00:30:20.34
between Me and you
00:30:20.54\00:30:22.74
that ye may know that I
am the Lord your God. " Amen!
00:30:22.94\00:30:27.41
So it's a common
sign between us and Him.
00:30:27.71\00:30:30.48
It identifies us.
00:30:30.88\00:30:33.05
As a little tyke living
in New Rochelle, New York,
00:30:33.35\00:30:36.82
my father was a
pastor at the church there
00:30:38.22\00:30:40.90
back in the 30's,
00:30:41.10\00:30:43.99
I was a little tyke
00:30:44.30\00:30:46.25
and our friend, the
minister, lived next door.
00:30:46.45\00:30:50.41
When he wanted to
kid me a little bit,
00:30:50.71\00:30:55.22
he wanted to make a
little fun of me, he said:
00:30:55.43\00:30:57.67
"You are keeping Saturday
and you think it's Sunday. "
00:30:57.87\00:31:03.00
Now I remember this.
This is many, many years ago.
00:31:04.76\00:31:07.01
And I said: "No! " You know
how a little Adventist kid is.
00:31:07.21\00:31:10.36
He said: "No. " I
said: "No, you are keeping
00:31:10.46\00:31:13.63
Sunday and think
it's the Sabbath. "
00:31:13.83\00:31:16.00
He said: "Well young man... "
00:31:17.56\00:31:20.22
He got on me then, you know.
I was a little too impudent
00:31:20.42\00:31:22.72
for him, and I
challenged him even more.
00:31:22.92\00:31:25.69
I said: "You show
me in the Bible. "
00:31:25.89\00:31:27.56
He said: "I can show
you in the Bible... "
00:31:27.77\00:31:29.43
but he never has.
00:31:29.64\00:31:31.47
Now here... this is what I
wanted to read from Sr. White.
00:31:33.82\00:31:36.77
She says: "I saw
that the holy Sabbath
00:31:36.97\00:31:42.20
is and will be the separating
wall between the true Israel
00:31:42.40\00:31:47.89
of God and unbelievers
00:31:47.99\00:31:49.82
and that the Sabbath
is the great question
00:31:50.02\00:31:53.87
to unite the hearts
of God's dear children. "
00:31:55.20\00:31:57.93
Waiting saints. "I
saw that God had children
00:31:58.13\00:32:03.72
who do not keep the Sabbath.
00:32:05.29\00:32:07.36
They have not
rejected the light upon it
00:32:09.07\00:32:12.40
and at the commencement
00:32:12.70\00:32:16.18
of the time of trouble
00:32:16.38\00:32:19.05
we were filled
with the Holy Ghost
00:32:19.26\00:32:22.08
as we went forth and proclaimed
the Sabbath more fully. "
00:32:22.28\00:32:26.63
I have latched onto that word
00:32:28.90\00:32:32.21
because we are on the eve
of a great time of trouble.
00:32:32.41\00:32:37.90
We've already had our
little times of trouble.
00:32:38.20\00:32:41.67
We're getting ready for
the great fourth-quarter
00:32:41.87\00:32:44.98
time of trouble.
00:32:45.18\00:32:47.14
And we must proclaim, under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
00:32:47.44\00:32:51.87
more fully
00:32:53.44\00:32:55.36
this great gem that
God has given us so freely
00:32:55.56\00:33:00.91
for our own benefit
and for our identification.
00:33:01.21\00:33:06.43
So please, ma'am, sir,
00:33:06.73\00:33:08.75
don't do one thing
to hide this Sabbath.
00:33:08.95\00:33:11.98
Of course, you
have to be discreet.
00:33:13.40\00:33:15.73
I was up at
Graysville the other day.
00:33:15.93\00:33:18.24
Graysville, Tennessee.
00:33:18.44\00:33:19.74
Graysville had a sanitarium,
a little mountain sanitarium.
00:33:19.84\00:33:24.47
Had a little school there.
00:33:24.67\00:33:26.62
It preceded Southern
Adventist University.
00:33:26.82\00:33:29.69
Ellen White used
to visit Graysville.
00:33:30.09\00:33:32.53
Read the Testimonies,
you can hear her say
00:33:32.74\00:33:34.50
"We were at Graysville. "
00:33:34.70\00:33:36.53
But at Graysville we had
some early Adventists there
00:33:36.74\00:33:40.97
who believed in
proclaiming the Sabbath.
00:33:41.17\00:33:43.12
In fact, when the
blue laws were passed
00:33:43.42\00:33:47.29
and they said "no
working on Sunday"
00:33:47.49\00:33:50.43
some of our
people were so defiant
00:33:50.63\00:33:53.43
they went out and started
washing, hanging up clothes,
00:33:53.46\00:33:56.55
and working in
the garden on Sunday.
00:33:56.75\00:33:59.15
And do you know? Several of
their young men were arrested
00:33:59.35\00:34:03.07
and put in prison.
00:34:03.28\00:34:04.85
Now they may have
been a little, you know,
00:34:05.25\00:34:08.03
they might not have
been as "cool" as you are,
00:34:08.43\00:34:12.57
but nobody can argue
when people keep the Sabbath
00:34:12.97\00:34:18.16
with their whole heart.
00:34:18.36\00:34:19.77
Ellen White had to say
to them: "Now, be careful.
00:34:20.07\00:34:22.74
You don't want to
work too much on Sunday.
00:34:22.85\00:34:25.00
You give Bible studies
then... that's the work you do.
00:34:25.30\00:34:28.13
And visit the churches...
preach for the churches. "
00:34:28.43\00:34:31.32
I love to preach in
the churches of my brethren
00:34:31.53\00:34:34.66
in other denominations.
00:34:34.86\00:34:37.22
And you know? They
treat me fine sometimes.
00:34:37.52\00:34:39.76
They even give
me a gift at times.
00:34:39.96\00:34:42.29
When I preach I don't refuse it.
00:34:42.39\00:34:44.27
I don't want to insult them.
00:34:44.37\00:34:45.94
I accept it and put
it in the Sabbath School.
00:34:45.97\00:34:49.19
But at any rate, we
have something here.
00:34:49.39\00:34:52.21
It will stand fast.
00:34:52.51\00:34:54.44
And if we lose
that distinctive mark,
00:34:54.64\00:34:59.07
we will be confused.
00:34:59.27\00:35:01.83
And I started to tell
you: the angels won't know you
00:35:02.13\00:35:05.64
when they come back
00:35:05.75\00:35:07.42
because the seal will
not be fully upon you.
00:35:07.72\00:35:11.20
It's a settling into the truth.
00:35:11.50\00:35:13.36
It's a complete dependence
upon our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:35:13.66\00:35:18.94
You know we are often
confused with Mormons?
00:35:19.14\00:35:22.34
I'm not mad at Mormons.
00:35:22.64\00:35:25.56
I'm so happy that
I've grown up a little bit.
00:35:25.86\00:35:29.45
You should have
seen me 40 years ago.
00:35:29.65\00:35:32.90
I was a tyrant on everybody.
00:35:34.12\00:35:36.36
I tell you, brethren, I
put that Word of God on them,
00:35:36.86\00:35:41.07
I burned them.
00:35:41.28\00:35:42.55
I talked about 'em bad.
00:35:42.85\00:35:45.51
I was zealous...
without knowledge.
00:35:45.82\00:35:50.47
But we are often mixed
up with Jehovah's Witnesses
00:35:52.04\00:35:56.56
and Mormons.
00:35:56.59\00:35:57.89
I had a gentleman friend
and his wife in Springhill
00:35:58.50\00:36:01.30
where we retired...
Springhill, Florida.
00:36:01.50\00:36:04.59
We studied the Bible together.
00:36:04.79\00:36:06.00
We went out for walks together.
00:36:06.20\00:36:08.77
And I forced him, I
almost took him by the collar
00:36:08.97\00:36:12.25
and brought him to our
church two or three times.
00:36:12.45\00:36:14.25
He enjoyed it.
00:36:14.45\00:36:15.71
He was there. He had studied
for the priesthood and so forth
00:36:15.91\00:36:18.19
and so on. And after
all my study with this man
00:36:18.39\00:36:21.77
he was: "Oh, yes. You're
the Mormons, aren't you? "
00:36:22.07\00:36:25.77
"The Jehovah's Witnesses? "
00:36:25.97\00:36:27.51
Once or twice I
got mad with him.
00:36:27.71\00:36:29.32
And I said: "I can't do that. "
00:36:29.62\00:36:32.23
And so I had to mask my,
you know... "ignorance. "
00:36:32.43\00:36:37.32
And we continued to
be friends. Do you know
00:36:37.62\00:36:41.59
that gentleman and his
wife I believe were preparing
00:36:41.79\00:36:44.99
for joining this church because
everybody treated them so nice
00:36:45.19\00:36:49.83
but they both died
within a month of each other.
00:36:50.13\00:36:53.45
That's only in the Lord's hands.
00:36:53.75\00:36:56.67
And now here I want to
ask you... I want to look...
00:36:56.97\00:37:01.26
I want you to look
with me and help me here.
00:37:01.46\00:37:03.76
Uh, surveys
that our people do...
00:37:04.06\00:37:07.38
We have people doing surveys.
00:37:07.58\00:37:09.61
Now I was in the
North American Division.
00:37:10.01\00:37:12.75
I had to work with all
these very brilliant people.
00:37:13.05\00:37:16.28
And they were
brilliant! Fine people.
00:37:16.58\00:37:20.01
They wanted to know how
the public... what the public
00:37:20.22\00:37:23.48
thinks of us.
00:37:23.68\00:37:25.30
Uh, what do you call
these things in politics? Polls.
00:37:25.60\00:37:29.82
They took a poll,
00:37:30.32\00:37:32.28
and only a small
percentage of people
00:37:32.48\00:37:36.48
even admitted they had heard
the name Seventh-day Adventist.
00:37:36.68\00:37:41.88
Now, don't let 'em fool you.
00:37:43.45\00:37:45.72
Don't let 'em fool you.
00:37:46.88\00:37:47.93
They may know more
than they let you know
00:37:48.13\00:37:51.07
and in a certain time
they may bring it out.
00:37:51.47\00:37:54.05
So I don't
believe all these surveys.
00:37:54.25\00:37:57.15
Generally speaking, when the
Seventh-day Adventist movement
00:37:57.45\00:38:02.18
was growing up in New England -
00:38:02.38\00:38:05.32
hmmm, up in New England -
00:38:05.52\00:38:07.47
and people were
studying and coming together
00:38:07.77\00:38:11.89
and they were rejoicing in
the light that came to them
00:38:11.92\00:38:15.29
through the Word of God,
the religious establishment -
00:38:15.49\00:38:19.07
they were up there
with Harvard and Yale
00:38:19.17\00:38:21.12
and all those
great universities -
00:38:21.32\00:38:23.82
and they ignored us.
00:38:24.02\00:38:26.56
Paid us no
attention, generally speaking.
00:38:26.86\00:38:32.26
But Ellen White
said - listen to this:
00:38:32.56\00:38:35.37
"Our people have been
regarded as too insignificant
00:38:35.57\00:38:40.59
to be worthy of notice... "
00:38:40.79\00:38:42.38
Well hear what Sr. White says:
00:38:43.81\00:38:46.03
"but a change will come. "
00:38:46.23\00:38:48.33
Did you hear what I said?
00:38:48.63\00:38:50.64
"A change will come.
The Christian world is now
00:38:50.84\00:38:55.23
making movements
which will necessarily bring
00:38:55.43\00:38:59.03
commandment-keeping
people into prominence. "
00:38:59.23\00:39:02.45
Testimonies volume 5 page 546.
00:39:02.75\00:39:07.53
Well, go on back to Isaiah.
00:39:07.83\00:39:09.82
We always have to go back
to Isaiah, the gospel prophet.
00:39:10.03\00:39:13.66
And Isaiah says
in the 66th chapter
00:39:13.79\00:39:16.64
and verse 8 he says:
00:39:16.84\00:39:18.44
"Who hath heard such a thing?
00:39:18.65\00:39:21.21
Who hath seen such things?
00:39:21.41\00:39:23.81
Shall the earth be made
to bring forth in one day
00:39:24.01\00:39:27.08
or shall a
nation be born at once?
00:39:27.28\00:39:29.84
For as soon as Zion travails
00:39:30.04\00:39:33.89
she brought
forth her children. "
00:39:34.09\00:39:36.84
When we are ready... I'm talking
a little earthly talk now...
00:39:37.15\00:39:42.79
when we are ready
for the main bout,
00:39:42.99\00:39:45.42
when we are ready for
our international debut,
00:39:46.87\00:39:51.20
the Lord will set it up Himself.
00:39:51.50\00:39:56.33
He says in Romans 9:28:
00:39:58.45\00:40:00.88
"He will finish the work and
cut it short in righteousness. "
00:40:01.08\00:40:06.66
Because a short work will
the Lord make upon the earth.
00:40:07.84\00:40:11.61
I wrote a little book some
years ago called Sabbath Roots:
00:40:11.81\00:40:16.68
the African Connection
00:40:16.91\00:40:18.80
taking off on Ellen White's
statements in Great Controversy
00:40:19.10\00:40:22.09
page 63 and 577 about
the Sabbath in Africa.
00:40:22.19\00:40:25.86
Well, it was circulated around.
00:40:26.16\00:40:28.53
We sent 6,000 copies
of it to African pastors.
00:40:28.73\00:40:31.37
And it was on display at one of
the big theological conventions.
00:40:31.57\00:40:36.93
And people passed by, and we
had an Adventist table there.
00:40:37.23\00:40:42.61
And my book was
there on the table there.
00:40:42.71\00:40:45.85
And one young theologian
looked at it and said:
00:40:46.05\00:40:48.69
"I'm interested in that. "
00:40:48.79\00:40:50.04
And so they hooked me
up with this young man
00:40:50.24\00:40:53.40
on the Internet. You
see, you are laughing.
00:40:53.60\00:40:57.78
I must rebuke you.
00:40:57.98\00:41:00.64
You laughed at me when I talked
about being computer elite.
00:41:00.84\00:41:05.03
You laughed at me.
00:41:06.73\00:41:08.26
"Oh, that old man
doesn't know anything. "
00:41:08.36\00:41:10.26
And you're just
about right. But anyway...
00:41:10.46\00:41:12.36
Anyway, they put me on
e-mail with this young man
00:41:13.81\00:41:17.76
and we e-mailed back and forth.
00:41:17.96\00:41:20.73
One Friday he
e-mailed me and said:
00:41:21.03\00:41:24.05
"Do Seventh-day Adventists
use e-mail on Sabbath? "
00:41:24.25\00:41:27.15
Well that was
just a little bit...
00:41:27.45\00:41:30.94
After while this scholar said:
00:41:31.14\00:41:34.38
"I am a Sabbath keeper. " Amen!
00:41:34.58\00:41:39.36
He's at the great
theological seminary.
00:41:39.64\00:41:42.69
He wrote a book on
New Testament survey
00:41:42.99\00:41:47.58
and it sold 400,000 copies.
00:41:47.78\00:41:51.69
His name is related to
some of the greatest scholars
00:41:52.19\00:41:56.27
in the world. He's a
little humble fellow.
00:41:56.38\00:41:58.99
He's not
boasting about anything.
00:41:59.29\00:42:01.84
He's a prayerful person.
00:42:02.04\00:42:03.94
He has a little tinge
of charismatic stuff in him
00:42:04.14\00:42:08.54
but he said: "Yes, I
am a Sabbath keeper. "
00:42:08.74\00:42:11.82
I said: "How can you do that?
00:42:12.03\00:42:13.69
How can you say that? "
00:42:13.89\00:42:15.35
He said: "It's in
the Bible, isn't it? "
00:42:15.55\00:42:18.02
Now you don't
know... I heard somebody say
00:42:19.32\00:42:25.01
"I have 7,000 who have not
bowed their knees to Baal. "
00:42:25.14\00:42:30.74
And you don't
know and I don't know.
00:42:31.05\00:42:34.00
And Ellen White
said: "Let no man attempt
00:42:34.20\00:42:37.17
to number Israel. "
00:42:37.38\00:42:38.89
She said: "The only thing
you need is a heart of flesh
00:42:40.58\00:42:43.12
that will reach out
and cry over the people
00:42:43.32\00:42:46.38
who don't know this truth yet. "
00:42:46.58\00:42:48.65
Who have heard such a
thing? He can do it in a day.
00:42:50.38\00:42:53.46
He'll do it in a moment.
00:42:53.76\00:42:55.92
He said: "I will cut it
short in righteousness. "
00:42:56.22\00:43:00.27
Now, we cry. We
are not well known,
00:43:00.57\00:43:03.43
but you know God can make you
well known overnight, can't He?
00:43:03.74\00:43:08.03
And by the way, it may
be that He doesn't want us
00:43:08.23\00:43:11.62
to be too well known right now.
00:43:11.83\00:43:13.49
Hidden a little bit, you know?
00:43:15.99\00:43:17.62
But when the time comes...
00:43:18.12\00:43:20.02
The rabbis had a statement
that they used to make.
00:43:20.22\00:43:26.06
"If Israel kept the
whole law for one day,
00:43:26.36\00:43:30.50
Messiah would come. "
00:43:30.73\00:43:32.45
If Israel kept the
whole law for one day.
00:43:34.05\00:43:37.63
I want to call your
attention now to Israel
00:43:37.93\00:43:41.62
as they came out of captivity.
00:43:41.82\00:43:44.13
They were in
captivity... You know,
00:43:44.43\00:43:47.13
it was pre- and
post. Pre-captivity,
00:43:47.33\00:43:51.26
pre-exile, Israel
was aping the world.
00:43:51.46\00:43:56.12
They wanted to do
everything their neighbors did
00:43:56.52\00:43:59.73
in the nations around them.
They wanted a king, didn't they?
00:43:59.93\00:44:02.50
Huh? They wanted
to be just like them.
00:44:02.70\00:44:05.98
And when they came to
see Hezekiah, what'd he do?
00:44:06.18\00:44:09.09
He showed them everything he had
in his house to impress them.
00:44:09.29\00:44:13.67
They came back and took
it, too. Didn't they? Later.
00:44:13.97\00:44:16.02
But there they
were before the exile.
00:44:16.22\00:44:19.29
They wanted to be just like
the heathen nations around them.
00:44:19.49\00:44:23.21
Now they were there 70 years,
00:44:23.41\00:44:26.10
and when they came out, you
would think they would be cured.
00:44:26.30\00:44:29.91
They were in a certain sense.
00:44:30.31\00:44:32.54
But they swung the pendulum
from one extreme to the other.
00:44:32.84\00:44:37.24
I had an old
preacher that used to tell me:
00:44:37.54\00:44:39.91
"Son, stay in the
middle of the stream.
00:44:40.11\00:44:44.20
Avoid the extreme. "
00:44:44.50\00:44:47.22
And when they got back to
Israel, they settled down.
00:44:47.52\00:44:52.94
The prophet said: "Woe to you
who are settled on your leas. "
00:44:53.14\00:44:58.55
They were in the
message like we are, huh?
00:45:00.12\00:45:03.02
They were enjoying themselves.
00:45:03.32\00:45:06.12
They had good
Sabbath School lessons.
00:45:06.42\00:45:09.68
They had preachers.
They had music and organs
00:45:09.71\00:45:12.55
and all the rest of that
but they were settled down.
00:45:12.75\00:45:16.02
They were enjoying everything.
00:45:16.32\00:45:19.42
They didn't want anything
to disturb their smooth and
00:45:19.72\00:45:24.56
calm sailing on the sea of life.
00:45:24.76\00:45:27.98
Am I preaching to you right now?
00:45:28.28\00:45:30.41
Are you listening
to what I have to say?
00:45:30.71\00:45:32.69
They had their televisions.
They had their fine homes.
00:45:32.89\00:45:36.54
They had nice furniture.
00:45:36.74\00:45:38.78
And by the way, when
you accept this message
00:45:38.98\00:45:41.04
the Lord does bless
you also financially.
00:45:41.24\00:45:43.41
I'm going to deny that
you were hurt all that bad.
00:45:43.61\00:45:46.71
When you came in, you may
have had a little something
00:45:47.01\00:45:49.91
but the Lord blessed
what you had terrifically.
00:45:50.11\00:45:54.29
And when you teach a
person to render his tithe
00:45:54.52\00:45:58.19
you know you make
that person a financier.
00:45:58.39\00:46:03.28
He begins... she begins to take
better care of the 9/10, huh?
00:46:03.58\00:46:08.64
And the Lord
multiples that. And I've never
00:46:08.94\00:46:11.80
seen the righteous forsaken
00:46:12.00\00:46:15.06
or seen begging bread.
00:46:15.36\00:46:17.74
I told you that we came through
the greatest of depressions
00:46:18.04\00:46:21.48
and the Lord blessed us
and we never missed a meal.
00:46:21.78\00:46:26.48
My father retired
early because of illness.
00:46:27.97\00:46:30.99
He was a sick man.
00:46:31.19\00:46:32.38
He tried to preach and he
couldn't finish it hardly.
00:46:32.58\00:46:35.33
We had to take and put him
in the bed and all of that.
00:46:35.43\00:46:37.66
So the brethren said:
"Bro. Bradford, take time off.
00:46:37.87\00:46:39.97
We'll put you on
sick retirement. "
00:46:40.17\00:46:42.44
And we moved into a
little country place
00:46:42.65\00:46:44.71
up in New Jersey
called Mizpah, New Jersey.
00:46:44.91\00:46:47.70
We got a little house there
00:46:48.00\00:46:49.36
and my dad and
mother were there with us.
00:46:49.56\00:46:53.34
And the grandchildren came along
00:46:53.54\00:46:55.48
and we just had
a marvelous time.
00:46:55.68\00:46:57.16
But we didn't know a
thing about the country.
00:46:57.36\00:46:59.33
We didn't even have a stove.
00:46:59.54\00:47:01.46
We came out of the
city of Philadelphia.
00:47:01.76\00:47:04.12
Who has wood
stoves in Philadelphia?
00:47:04.22\00:47:05.88
Or a coal stove? We didn't
have a thing that we needed
00:47:06.08\00:47:09.09
and we had no garden
yet. We moved down there
00:47:09.29\00:47:12.48
but we had nothing at
all. And my poor little dad
00:47:12.68\00:47:15.78
he had very little money because
the brethren didn't send him
00:47:15.98\00:47:18.66
money on time. It got mixed up
some kind of way... the check.
00:47:18.86\00:47:22.34
And there we were
having fear and trembling.
00:47:22.54\00:47:26.23
But we didn't need to
have fear and trembling.
00:47:26.53\00:47:29.03
We were
destitute... hardly had a dime.
00:47:29.23\00:47:31.89
My dear little mother
went to the grocery and said:
00:47:32.09\00:47:35.64
"Please, sir, give us a
little, you know, credit. "
00:47:35.84\00:47:39.30
He said: "Well,
lady, madam, " he says:
00:47:39.61\00:47:41.83
"people who have
bills can't pay them. "
00:47:42.03\00:47:44.18
But do you know, before
mom got out of that store
00:47:45.45\00:47:48.65
he said: "Madam, come back.
00:47:48.85\00:47:50.15
I'm going to give you
five dollars a week. "
00:47:50.35\00:47:52.32
Now you think that's nothing,
but $5 a week in the 1930's
00:47:52.62\00:47:56.55
could feed a while army
almost, you know, in those days.
00:47:56.75\00:48:01.07
And then a man came
and knocked at our door.
00:48:01.20\00:48:03.56
He said: "I notice you've just
come here from the big city.
00:48:03.76\00:48:06.51
and I don't want to
embarrass you or insult you. "
00:48:06.71\00:48:09.42
But he said "I have a stove
that I won't need any more.
00:48:09.62\00:48:12.62
You can take it. "
And then another one -
00:48:12.92\00:48:15.85
just like Job in reverse,
one came after the other.
00:48:16.05\00:48:18.56
Another one came and
he said: "You know what?
00:48:18.76\00:48:20.52
I have a garden and I've
got to go back to the city.
00:48:20.72\00:48:22.90
I will not be able
to harvest that garden.
00:48:23.10\00:48:25.02
Would you take care of
it? It'll all be yours. "
00:48:25.22\00:48:27.31
Are you
listening to me out there?
00:48:27.51\00:48:29.20
I've never seen
the righteous forsaken.
00:48:29.40\00:48:30.81
And then after
that another right away.
00:48:31.01\00:48:33.17
My brother and my
sister older than I
00:48:33.37\00:48:35.32
could drive the
car, and so they drove.
00:48:35.53\00:48:37.47
Sometimes they only had a
teaspoonful of gas and it would
00:48:37.57\00:48:39.97
keep it going on fumes,
you know. And there they were
00:48:40.07\00:48:42.42
working, picking tomatoes and so
forth and so on in south Jersey.
00:48:42.52\00:48:46.47
And one day coming
back from their work
00:48:46.67\00:48:49.21
they saw a laundry bag
in the middle of the road.
00:48:49.41\00:48:53.22
What is it? They
jumped out and looked at it.
00:48:54.78\00:48:57.87
When they untied it, it
was a bag full of bread.
00:48:58.07\00:49:03.04
Not one loaf of white bread...
00:49:03.24\00:49:06.31
all rye, whole wheat,
00:49:06.61\00:49:11.94
etc. And none of it
had any cover on it.
00:49:12.14\00:49:17.12
It was bread that...
"bread shall be given you
00:49:17.43\00:49:20.81
and your water shall be sure. "
00:49:21.11\00:49:23.37
We never lost a meal. Amen.
00:49:23.67\00:49:27.93
I began my ministry in a
very poor poor conference
00:49:28.37\00:49:32.26
in a poor poor time.
They were struggling along.
00:49:32.36\00:49:36.14
Hard to pay the workers.
00:49:36.35\00:49:38.61
I don't know how me made it.
00:49:38.91\00:49:40.45
My poor little wife could
make something out of nothing.
00:49:40.65\00:49:43.49
She would get in
there and stir and stir.
00:49:43.79\00:49:45.96
And when she got
through and put it on the plate
00:49:46.16\00:49:48.47
you would have thought I
was in the greatest restaurant
00:49:48.67\00:49:51.00
in New York City.
00:49:51.20\00:49:52.89
Never seen the
righteous forsaken
00:49:53.19\00:49:55.43
nor seen begging bread.
00:49:55.73\00:49:58.28
Now these people
after the captivity
00:49:58.78\00:50:02.01
they just settled down.
00:50:02.04\00:50:03.93
Now I wrote a
little note to myself
00:50:04.23\00:50:06.06
and I said,
writing this note to myself
00:50:06.26\00:50:08.67
that they came back from Babylon
00:50:08.87\00:50:11.32
but they still had the smell
of Babylon in their garments.
00:50:11.42\00:50:15.36
Like cigarette smoke. You
can't get rid of it, can you?
00:50:16.65\00:50:19.31
You just need a new
garment, don't you friend?
00:50:19.51\00:50:21.61
We're often, my friends,
trembling and weeping and crying
00:50:21.92\00:50:25.80
about hard times. But I
can tell you, my friend,
00:50:26.00\00:50:29.19
I can tell you that
the Lord has proved Himself
00:50:29.29\00:50:32.46
over and over again to be
sufficient for all our needs.
00:50:32.67\00:50:36.50
Amen.
00:50:36.81\00:50:38.03
You can worry about something
else but don't worry about God
00:50:38.33\00:50:41.29
taking care of you.
00:50:41.49\00:50:43.45
Well, in the book of
Malachi... What book did I say?
00:50:43.75\00:50:47.13
In the book of Malachi
00:50:47.44\00:50:50.19
the Lord is
speaking to these people.
00:50:50.39\00:50:53.23
They came back;
He's speaking to them.
00:50:53.43\00:50:55.67
He's having a
conversation with them.
00:50:55.97\00:50:58.40
They're talking to God.
00:50:58.61\00:51:00.39
And you know what they're
saying in this conversation?
00:51:00.69\00:51:02.55
They're saying to Him: "Oh Lord,
00:51:02.75\00:51:04.73
we're back here, but
does it pay to serve God? "
00:51:04.93\00:51:09.56
Now is that an echo?
00:51:10.77\00:51:13.82
Some of us say: "It
doesn't make much difference. "
00:51:15.31\00:51:19.15
Do you know there is a different
spirit in the church today?
00:51:19.45\00:51:22.92
There is not so much
great opposition to truth.
00:51:23.32\00:51:27.87
Nobody's fighting.
I don't think no one,
00:51:28.07\00:51:30.57
but most are not fighting
a heavy theological battle.
00:51:30.77\00:51:34.02
They're not
fighting and getting mad
00:51:34.32\00:51:35.88
and pulling out guns
and all the rest of that.
00:51:36.09\00:51:38.28
But what's happening
today? They just don't care.
00:51:38.48\00:51:40.89
All right, I'm talking to you.
00:51:42.17\00:51:44.11
If you're
listening, give me your ear.
00:51:44.31\00:51:46.49
Amen. They don't
care. They don't have enough
00:51:46.79\00:51:49.79
to fight against
anything that happens.
00:51:49.99\00:51:52.70
They've got what they
want almost and they don't need
00:51:52.90\00:51:56.42
to get into it. And most say
00:51:56.52\00:51:57.75
"I don't like
to rock the boat. "
00:51:57.85\00:51:59.69
They don't want to be into
any theological controversies.
00:51:59.89\00:52:02.53
Dr. Fritz Guy out there told me
00:52:02.83\00:52:06.17
or he said in a
meeting and I picked it up.
00:52:06.37\00:52:08.17
He said: "Some years
ago when college students
00:52:08.37\00:52:11.41
would leave the
message they would leave angry.
00:52:11.62\00:52:14.31
They would leave
the church altogether,
00:52:14.51\00:52:17.49
and they many of
them never belonged to any
00:52:17.52\00:52:21.60
religious organization and some
denied the existence of God. "
00:52:21.70\00:52:26.48
But he said: "Today
00:52:28.01\00:52:29.54
these same students...
they leave the church
00:52:29.74\00:52:32.19
but they're not
angry with anybody.
00:52:32.39\00:52:34.60
And they go and
join another church. "
00:52:34.90\00:52:37.23
I don't want to say the wrong
thing; don't want to be mean
00:52:37.53\00:52:40.77
but I want to be truthful.
00:52:40.97\00:52:42.41
One of our dear brothers
who was a fine - we thought -
00:52:42.61\00:52:46.81
young man in ministry. He
said: "Well I've been looking
00:52:47.01\00:52:49.88
at the Catholic church. I
think I can go join there too. "
00:52:49.99\00:52:52.37
He never fought; he
never got mad or anything.
00:52:52.88\00:52:56.57
And I see here something in
Israel's post-exilic experience
00:52:56.81\00:53:02.34
after they came from captivity
00:53:02.54\00:53:04.45
I see here how
that they grew LAZY.
00:53:04.61\00:53:09.44
Doing nothing. Oh I'm so
sorry that I must preach here
00:53:12.48\00:53:18.38
tonight. The Lord
is loosening my tongue
00:53:18.48\00:53:22.63
so I can speak tonight.
00:53:22.93\00:53:25.78
You are encouraging me because
you believe what I am saying.
00:53:25.99\00:53:29.58
But in so many of our churches
as Sr. White used to say
00:53:29.68\00:53:33.08
they are coming and going
just like a door on its hinges.
00:53:33.28\00:53:36.84
They're not giving
any real thought to it.
00:53:38.17\00:53:40.28
If they do go to church
00:53:40.38\00:53:41.75
they are just there and looking
and not paying much attention.
00:53:41.95\00:53:45.76
Thinking about the ball game
00:53:45.96\00:53:48.38
or work or my
romantic escapades or whatever.
00:53:48.58\00:53:53.85
All of that comes to
them. And they are polite
00:53:54.15\00:53:56.48
and all the rest
of that but you know:
00:53:56.68\00:53:58.73
I heard an old Baptist
preacher preach a sermon.
00:53:58.93\00:54:00.99
He said: "When the
eagle stirs her nest. "
00:54:01.19\00:54:04.34
The little eaglets are
there. They're just eating...
00:54:05.90\00:54:08.49
taking it down. And
finally mama eagle says:
00:54:08.69\00:54:11.91
"time for you to
get out of here. "
00:54:12.12\00:54:13.27
And so she stirs the nest.
00:54:13.67\00:54:16.07
She takes up a little
eaglet and throws it out!
00:54:16.17\00:54:18.19
You've heard
about it, haven't you?
00:54:18.39\00:54:20.40
Throws that little
eaglet out and it's scrambling.
00:54:20.80\00:54:23.36
And as they come to...
she will scoop them up.
00:54:23.56\00:54:25.97
But finally they
will learn how to fly.
00:54:26.17\00:54:28.83
Somebody needs to
get in our churches
00:54:29.03\00:54:32.08
and let the eagle stir the nest.
00:54:32.28\00:54:34.71
And some of us need to
be thrown out on our own.
00:54:35.01\00:54:37.69
Some of us need to
face hard times and trials
00:54:37.89\00:54:41.32
and be driven to
our knees and we'll say:
00:54:41.62\00:54:43.85
"Oh Lord, help me! "
00:54:43.96\00:54:45.14
And He said: "I've been
waiting to hear you say that
00:54:45.34\00:54:47.02
all your life. " Amen.
00:54:47.12\00:54:49.11
Now I hope that's not too hard.
00:54:49.41\00:54:51.59
I don't want to be
difficult with people
00:54:51.89\00:54:54.51
but these are the last days
00:54:54.81\00:54:57.20
and we are
God's end-time people.
00:54:57.50\00:55:01.15
And so we go over to
Revelation, and by the way
00:55:01.25\00:55:04.50
in Malachi the people said:
00:55:04.70\00:55:06.40
"Well does it
pay to serve God? "
00:55:06.60\00:55:08.72
He said: "Our neighbors don't
think about God and they're
00:55:08.92\00:55:11.90
blessed... we think. "
00:55:12.10\00:55:14.09
Read it. Go through
that and read it carefully:
00:55:14.39\00:55:18.66
the conversation
between God and His people.
00:55:18.96\00:55:21.79
And some of them said:
"Well, they don't have any
00:55:21.99\00:55:24.17
problems like we have.
00:55:24.37\00:55:26.42
They are doing OK. They
are paying no attention to God
00:55:26.72\00:55:30.31
but it seems as if
everything is OK with them. "
00:55:30.52\00:55:33.97
But now I call you to attention.
00:55:34.37\00:55:37.10
You, Seventh-day
Adventist member,
00:55:37.40\00:55:41.25
are God's boots on the ground.
00:55:41.45\00:55:44.60
Nobody heard what I said.
00:55:44.91\00:55:47.19
God's boots on the ground.
00:55:47.59\00:55:51.04
He puts you there as sentry.
00:55:51.24\00:55:54.20
He puts you there
as a foot soldier.
00:55:54.50\00:55:57.01
He puts you there in the Army,
the Air Force, or the Marines
00:55:57.21\00:56:00.54
or the Navy. He put you
there and He gave you an armor.
00:56:00.74\00:56:04.69
Paul said put
the whole armor on.
00:56:04.89\00:56:07.15
This is no play time.
00:56:07.35\00:56:08.93
This is no time
for prolonged infancy.
00:56:09.13\00:56:12.15
That's what he
says in Ephesians.
00:56:12.25\00:56:13.66
You shouldn't be
babies all your life.
00:56:13.86\00:56:15.82
We should grow in grace!
00:56:16.02\00:56:18.82
Daddy used to... Daddy...
Oh, I'm through here already.
00:56:19.12\00:56:22.46
Daddy... Daddy... Listen,
let me say this very quickly.
00:56:22.76\00:56:25.94
Daddy used to take his
son and mark him on the wall.
00:56:26.14\00:56:29.24
You did that,
Daddy, as your son grew.
00:56:29.44\00:56:30.67
He's growing and growing.
Finally the son turned to Daddy
00:56:30.88\00:56:34.08
and he said: "Daddy,
how much have you grown? "
00:56:34.28\00:56:37.83
Huh? How much have you grown?
00:56:38.43\00:56:41.68
So I am examining my life today.
00:56:41.88\00:56:44.02
How much have I grown?
00:56:44.22\00:56:46.84
And finally, I am
off now but you are here.
00:56:47.14\00:56:51.06
Finally the young artist decided
00:56:51.80\00:56:57.75
as his graduation project
00:56:57.95\00:57:01.58
to paint a picture of Jesus.
00:57:01.78\00:57:04.57
The old master
said: "Go ahead. "
00:57:06.02\00:57:07.96
Finally the young
man said: "I'm through. "
00:57:09.11\00:57:10.99
The old master took the
picture that he'd painted
00:57:11.30\00:57:14.77
and studied it.
Seemed nice to everybody.
00:57:14.98\00:57:17.62
He studied it. The next
morning the young artist
00:57:17.65\00:57:21.78
said to the old
master: "How did you like it? "
00:57:21.98\00:57:24.39
He said, listen to me, he said:
00:57:24.69\00:57:28.20
"If you loved Him more, you
would have painted Him better. "
00:57:28.40\00:57:33.09
So I say to you here today
00:57:33.59\00:57:37.86
and tonight:
"If I loved Him more
00:57:38.16\00:57:42.17
I would have
modeled Him better. "
00:57:42.37\00:57:46.31