Participants: Steven Grabiner
Series Code: 12ASIC
Program Code: 12ASIC000014
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00:20 Our next guest this morning is Barry Mosier.
00:23 He is the Treasurer of Congo Frontline Missions. 00:27 Barry, it was just four years ago 00:29 that you were here at ASI 00:30 sharing the miraculous experience 00:33 that you had surviving a plane crash. 00:37 Well, most people after a traumatic experience like that 00:43 would be ready to go home and instead you and your family 00:47 found yourselves right back in the mission field. Why? 00:51 Well, you know after that plane crash 00:54 that killed 47 people, and I think 00:56 a picture will come up on the screen of that crash. 00:59 But after that plane crash, we knew that we are only alive 01:02 because God had more work for us to do, 01:04 and we wanted to be in the middle 01:08 of God's plan for our lives for sure. 01:11 You know it's intimidating really to think 01:13 of moving to the Congo at that time, 01:17 because five million people had died 01:18 in that country during the war 01:20 and there was another white family 01:23 within 300 miles of Kisangani 01:25 where my son Keith had started a mission station 01:28 called Congo Frontline Missions 01:30 and wanted us to join him in that work there 01:32 and no other missionaries would return to that area. 01:36 But anyway we wanted to be right doing what God wanted us to do. 01:43 And so we moved to Kisangani which is a city 01:46 of about a million people along the Congo River. 01:49 It's a very dark area about 14 million people 01:52 completely unreached with the Adventist truths 01:55 and helped him get the program started there 02:00 with the evangelism training school. 02:02 That was the foundation of what we wanted to do 02:04 is to train layman to wins souls for Christ. 02:07 And we bought some land but we needed buildings. 02:10 So, you started this school out in the middle of nowhere? 02:13 How did that come about? 02:15 Well, you know, I just want to say 02:16 thank you so much to our ASI family 02:19 and also Garwin McNeilus for sending us 02:22 the whole container of one day structures 02:25 that were specially designed and we built our campus. 02:28 You can see the picture on the screen 02:30 of our campus there in Kisangani. 02:33 And today we have trained about 300 layman 02:38 to do church planting and soul winning 02:42 and they have gone out as church planters in dark areas. 02:46 We've also done with more training 02:49 in other parts of Democratic Republic of Congo 02:52 and also with funds from ASI we had. 02:56 So it's just been a blessing. 02:59 You know, we hired about 60 of those people 03:02 who were trained to plant churches 03:05 and they have gone out working for us 03:08 in about 250 miles in each direction from Kisangani. 03:12 And the Lord has blessed that work so much 03:15 in the last four years since we started that work. 03:18 So, so far we have got not only 60 churches 03:22 that we have planted out in the bush, 03:25 but also we have built 36 one day churches 03:27 and we have baptized today over 2,500 people, 03:31 so we just praise be to God. 03:32 Amen, Now, you know when you are out there, 03:35 we all know that when we are out there on the frontlines, 03:37 we are going to encounter some opposition from the enemy. 03:40 Can you share with us some experiences? 03:43 Well, witchcraft is probably one of the biggest challenges 03:46 that our church planters faced from day to day. 03:48 And I want to tell you about the Zobi Lemo, 03:50 one of our church planters. 03:52 He was out in a village with his family of five and the-- 03:56 nobody would study the Bible with him 03:59 because all of the witches just hated him. 04:01 He was not cooperating with them 04:04 as many as the other churches do 04:06 and so they threatened him with death. 04:10 One day he came out of his home 04:12 and all around his home on the ground 04:15 was poured a trail of blood encircling his home. 04:19 And he wondered what is this and when he investigated, 04:21 he found out that all the witches 04:22 had pulled the resources 04:24 with the head witch doctor in the village 04:28 and put a terrible curse on their family 04:30 that if they did not leave within seven days, 04:33 one or all of their family would be dead. 04:37 And the people don't fear these witches for nothing, 04:39 this stuff really happens, the devil is working there. 04:42 Well, anyway to make a long story short, 04:45 they did not leave, they fast and prayed that week. 04:48 There is no pastor or conference to call there, 04:50 out there alone just them and the Lord. 04:53 And they prayed that week, fasted. 04:55 At the end of the week when the villagers came 04:57 to count the bodies at their house, 04:59 they were all still alive and well 05:01 but that very night the son of head witch doctor died. 05:06 And that broke the spell of witchcraft in that village. 05:09 We have since baptized over 30 people in that village. 05:14 And it was all because of one family's faith, 05:17 willing to take some risks 05:19 in the God that answers prayers. Praise God. 05:22 Now I understand you are also involved 05:23 in a number of other activities. 05:25 What else you do in the reach out? 05:27 Well, we have translated some things 05:29 into the local languages there 05:30 and thanks to Light Bearers Ministry, 05:32 we have a whole container of Bible studies 05:35 that we distribute freely throughout that area. 05:38 And you know my son Keith had a dream 05:41 to start a radio station there in Kisangani. 05:44 As I said, it's a million people tremendous opportunity. 05:48 Adventist World Radio partnered with us 05:50 and we started that radio station. 05:52 I can still remember some of our other young team members there, 05:55 Elisha VandeVoort, Nathan Rittenour. 05:57 We gave them a pile of steel and said we need a radio tower. 06:01 And you know, these guys can do anything, 06:03 I am just proud of them, they are my heroes. 06:05 We have a tower now that's 100 feet in the air, 06:09 a good tower and that signal is being broadcast. 06:12 We started broadcasting just last November. 06:15 And after three months of broadcasting 24x7 06:19 in three different languages, the government sent an inspector 06:23 to kind of do a survey of that whole area 06:25 at the radio work that was going on, 06:28 and there were ten other radio stations in that city. 06:31 And they told us it's really amazing 06:33 after three months your radio station 06:35 is the number one radio station in this entire region 06:38 and that includes a listening audience 06:40 of well over two million people, 06:42 so we are just thrilled with the blessings of God. 06:45 Praise the Lord. 06:46 Now I understand there are still 06:47 some primitive tribes there in the Congo, 06:49 have you reached out to any of these groups? 06:52 Well, you will see a picture on the screen of the pygmy people 06:57 and my son Keith and Tammy there with them. 07:02 And they are very shy tribe, very suspicious of outsiders. 07:09 You would be too. 07:11 Until 60 years ago, they were cannibalized 07:13 by the other tribes in their area. 07:16 And anyway they were hunters roving through the forest 07:20 and there is about a million of them in the Congo. 07:23 Well, anyway the war logging 07:27 has kind of decimated their existence 07:31 and they just become kind of 07:33 the poorest of the poor in that whole area. 07:36 Well, we took over a work 07:38 that was started by an Adventist Korean man 07:42 and right now we have a six church planters 07:47 working in 30 different pygmy villages 07:51 and we've started five primary schools for their children. 07:55 And we are just thrilled with the blessings 07:58 that the Lord has given to us through that work 08:01 in seeing the hundreds of pygmies 08:02 who have been baptized so far. 08:04 Amen, can you just tell us one more quick story? 08:08 Well, I can, you know, just a year ago Pat, 08:12 I was in the home of a witch doctor in the village of Bawi, 08:17 I was doing evangelist meetings 08:19 and I was pleading with him to accept Christ in his life. 08:23 And he said, I've been to churches three times. 08:27 I want to give my life to Jesus, I want to get rid of-- 08:30 I don't want to work for the devil. 08:31 And he said, three times same thing every time, 08:34 I go there they pray for me 08:36 and the devils leave me when they pray, 08:39 but then they start beating on their drums 08:40 and dancing and singing 08:42 and the devils all come right back in every single time. 08:45 And he said how powerful is your God? 08:48 If your church prays for me, will the demon stay out for ever 08:51 and I said, absolutely monu. 08:54 And you know they have never troubled him 08:55 since the day of his baptism. 08:57 I just say praise God. Amen. 08:59 And I hope you will pray for our young team. 09:00 I have returned to America now for my daughter's education. 09:05 But I hope you will pray for our young team 09:07 who is taking the gospel to the jungles 09:10 of that difficult area in the Congo, 09:13 word has not reached before. Praise the Lord. 09:15 In two seconds tell us how people 09:17 can get in touch with you and find out more. 09:20 We are in booth 427 and our website, 09:23 come see me there, our website is congofrontlinemissions.org. 09:27 Check us out. Thank you so much for your prayers. 09:29 It is just a privilege on behalf of the world church 09:34 to thank ASI and church members 09:38 in so many places around the world 09:40 for the tremendous effort in New Beginnings. 09:44 New Beginnings has helped so many people find truth in Jesus. 09:50 In fact New Beginnings is based upon God's word. 09:55 I want to tell you brothers and sisters, 09:58 one of the greatest challenges we are going to have 09:59 in the near future is that people will try to someway, 10:04 in someway deconstruct the Bible 10:09 to bring about a confusion on what the Bible says 10:14 on distracting us into different areas of focus, 10:18 so that the Bible is not read and presented. 10:21 And New Beginnings brings the kind of emphasis, 10:24 not only to the public but to the presenter 10:28 of what the word of God says. 10:31 So I'm delighted in especially this new emphasis 10:34 in electronic advances that are being made right now 10:39 to really bring about the easiest way 10:43 in which to bring the word of God to people. 10:46 And I just wanted to share with you 10:48 one quotation from Testimonies volume 9, page 116. 10:54 "The work of God in this earth can never be finished 10:59 until the men and women comprising our church membership 11:03 rally to the work, and unite their efforts 11:06 with those of ministers and church officers." 11:09 New beginnings and this new beginning 11:12 of New Beginnings can do just that. 11:14 I thank God for this wonderful opportunity 11:17 and thank you to ASI. 11:20 We have this opportunity, 11:22 this privilege of being able to tell others 11:24 about our soon coming Lord and Savior. 11:26 And 12 years ago we are very generous 11:28 and helped facilitate and help fund this project. 11:32 Today in our offering we are going to talk about this project 11:35 and this is going to be one of the parts of our offering. 11:39 So as we think about equipping lay people to be training 11:42 and telling others about Jesus' soon return 11:45 and them and those lay people being able to tell others 11:49 about the soon coming of Jesus 11:51 and they tell others about the soon coming of Jesus 11:53 and they tell others about it. 11:55 It won't be long until we can all go home. Thank you. 12:26 Remember the Sabbath To keep it Holy 12:36 Honor the day That our Lord commands us 12:44 To cease our toiling And we obey 12:55 That we may know Him And learn His patient ways 13:10 Keeping the Sabbath holy In all our days 13:27 So enter His temple with high thanksgiving 13:37 Worship the Lord And fill up this house 13:46 With your voices ringing Let them be heard 13:56 For we adore Him And lift our hearts in praise 14:11 Keeping the Sabbath holy In all our days 14:29 Remember the Sabbath To keep it holy 14:37 Honor the day Honor the day 14:43 That our Lord commands us To cease our toiling 14:51 And we obey And we obey 14:57 That we may know Him And learn His patient ways 15:11 Keeping the Sabbath holy In all our days. 15:38 Good evening ASI family. 15:41 I trust that you had a blessed week. 15:44 Here we're at our last meeting from the opening night, 15:48 where Brother Frank shared with us 15:50 that it's time to be about our father's business 15:53 taking us into the heavenly sanctuary 15:56 throughout all the meeting this week 15:58 I think we had a rich blessing, amen. 16:01 I know that I have been richly blessed 16:02 by hearing the variety of speakers. 16:04 Would say some of the seminars have been great. 16:07 So it's a rich blessing for us to be together tonight. 16:11 And I would like to invite you that claiming the promise of God 16:14 that as He has blessed us throughout the entire convention 16:17 He is going to bless us again. 16:19 So I invite you to bow your heads with me as we pray. 16:25 Heavenly Father, as the Sabbath draws to a close, 16:30 as we begin to enter into another week 16:33 as this ASI Convention draws to a close. 16:36 We once again come before You 16:39 realizing in a small measure our great need 16:43 and yet confident that You will supply that need. 16:48 As we open Your scriptures one more time tonight, 16:50 we invite Your Spirit to speak to our hearts 16:55 and again we claim the promise that 16:57 because You've blessed us in the past, 17:00 we know that You will give us a rich blessing now, 17:03 in the precious name of Jesus, amen. 17:09 All week long, again our theme has been, it's time to what? 17:14 Be about our father's business, that's right. 17:17 And what I like to study with you this evening 17:20 is what from my prospective the conclusion 17:24 of God's business in this universe 17:27 and from the inception of sin into this universe, 17:32 it's been God's business 17:34 to clarify the issues in the Great Controversy, 17:39 from the origination of sin in the divine councils in heaven. 17:44 However long that was passed 17:47 before the creation of this world, 17:49 Satan has been trying to obscure and misrepresent who God is. 17:57 Satan has laid charges before the heavenly universe, 18:00 before the council that meets in heaven, 18:02 over God's rule, over God's justice, 18:05 over God's mercy, over who God is. 18:10 And from that time it is been the father's business 18:14 to clarify the issues in the Great Controversy. 18:18 And so tonight I would like to study with you 18:20 the conclusion of those issues 18:22 and many of the texts we look at. 18:24 I believe it will be familiar to many in this crowd 18:27 and yet they are full of importance for us. 18:31 And so I would like to invite to you tonight 18:32 to turn with me to the Book of Revelation. 18:37 I have a special place in my experience 18:41 and interest in the Book of Revelation. 18:43 I grew up in a Jewish home, 18:46 did not grow up as a Christian religion, 18:48 didn't know very much about Christianity growing up. 18:51 And when I was around 17 years of age, 18:53 I guess it was just 17. 18:55 I decided that I was going to 18:56 hitchhike across the United States. 18:58 I went with two friends of mine 19:00 and somehow in my backpack was a Bible 19:05 and it was a Bible that in the back of the Bible 19:07 had an annotation of the different books in the Bible 19:11 and so it described the Hebrews scriptures 19:14 which I was acquainted with. 19:16 But then there were little summaries 19:18 of the New Testament books of which I was not acquainted. 19:23 And I remember thumbing 19:24 through that annotation in the back 19:27 and reading what it is said about the Book of Revelation, 19:31 It said you know, mysterious book, 19:33 very hard to be understood, great perplexity 19:38 and so I thought to myself 19:39 in my young 17 years of age arrogance, 19:43 I'm going to read the Book of Revelation and understand it. 19:46 And so I proceeded to open the Book of Revelation 19:49 as I was hitchhiking from New York to California. 19:54 And somewhere as I started opening the book, 19:55 I turned to the first page, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, 19:58 I'm not sure what that means. 20:00 Talking about the things that must take place, 20:03 must shortly come to passing. 20:05 Then I started moving in and there were beasts and dragons 20:10 and lamb and a lion and it was really way perplexing. 20:17 And so I closed the Book of Revelation, 20:18 I decided I'd start reading the gospels 20:20 which was probably a good decision 20:22 for me to begin at the beginning 20:26 but since that time and since my conversion 20:29 I've had an interest in the Book of Revelation. 20:31 And those of you that have studied the Book of Revelation 20:34 and in audience like this, I am sure that many who have, 20:37 you realize that it's full of symbols and illusions. 20:42 But I would like to look at a verse with you this evening 20:44 that to me is one of the most perplexing verses in the book. 20:50 It's one of the most thought provoking 20:53 verses in the Book of Revelation. 20:56 One of the most enigmatic verses in the Book of Revelation, 21:00 and it's found in Revelation 20. 21:03 The symbolism is not so perplexing 21:05 but the meaning certainly draws our attention. 21:09 So if you have your Bibles whether paper or electronic 21:13 turn with me to Revelation 20, 21:17 the end of the Book of Revelation 21:19 and as you are turning, just like to share a concern 21:24 that I have that as we read Revelation, 21:27 sometimes we become so focused in trying to discern 21:34 the meaning behind every symbol, 21:38 that we miss the meaning of the book. 21:41 In other words sometimes 21:42 we don't see the forest for the trees 21:46 and the purpose of the Book of Revelation 21:49 is to give us a deeper religious experience 21:54 and so as we read Revelation and it's important for us 21:57 to certainly understand the historicist context 22:00 and the interpretation that makes 22:02 the Seventh-day Adventist Church what it is. 22:04 But, beyond that or fuller than that or in a harmony with that 22:09 or however the right way to say that is. 22:12 The Book of Revelation needs to transform our experience. 22:16 It needs to reach our hearts. So, Revelation 20. 22:22 Before we read Chapter 20 perhaps should set the set-- 22:26 excuse me the context, the setting of Revelation 20, 22:29 it's the end of the book and it's the final climax. 22:33 Revelation 19 describes the return of Jesus Christ. 22:37 Let's look at Revelation 19:11 first Revelation 19:11. 22:43 It says, "And I saw heaven opened, 22:46 and behold a white horse, and he who sat on it 22:51 has a special name, what is that name everyone? 22:54 Faithful and true, who is that? That is Jesus Christ. 22:59 He is the faithful and true witness. 23:01 He is the one who we can depend on what He says, amen. 23:05 He is the faithful representation of who God is. 23:10 And the great controversy, 23:12 time to be about our father's business, 23:14 time to bring the great controversy to a close 23:20 by the revelation of who God is. 23:23 Jesus is the faithful and true witness. 23:26 He is faithful and true. 23:27 And then it goes on to say continuing in verse 11. 23:31 "And in righteousness he judges and wages war." 23:39 War is a major theme in the Book of Revelation. 23:42 There is a conflict in Revelation, 23:44 from the beginning of the book to the end of the book, 23:47 there is a controversy over who rules 23:50 that's evidenced by one of the major, 23:54 I don't want to say prop, one of the major objects 23:58 in the Book of Revelation which is the throne. 24:02 It towers all throughout the entire book of Revelation. 24:05 And the throne, God has a thrown, 24:07 24 elders have their throne. 24:09 You and I, if we are faithful, we will sit on the throne. 24:12 The redeem sit on a throne 24:13 but who else has a throne 24:15 in the Book of Revelation? Satan does. 24:18 Chapter 2 in King James it's called Satan's seat, 24:22 Revelation 13 the dragon gives his seat in the King James, 24:26 that's the same word, throne, he gives it to the beast. 24:29 Satan has a throne and the throne 24:31 in the Book of Revelation is contested territory. 24:35 Satan is vying for the rulership of this world 24:39 and he does it through deception. 24:42 But, how does Jesus wage war? 24:45 What does the text say of Revelation 19: 11? 24:47 He wages war how? In righteousness. 24:53 He wages war in righteousness. 24:55 In the book Mount of Blessings, page 18 24:57 Ellen White tells us that righteousness is love, 25:01 the very light and life of God. 25:05 Everything that Jesus does is a manifestation of God's love. 25:10 And he wages war in righteousness. 25:14 In the 60's and 70's when I grew up, 25:16 there was a slogan that said, don't make war, 25:19 make some of you are old enough to remember. 25:22 Don't make war, make love, when Jesus wages war in love. 25:29 How can that be? 25:31 Again Satan is trying to deceive us. 25:33 Satan is trying to paint the character of God 25:36 with his own--the strokes of his own character. 25:38 He is trying to misrepresent who God is 25:41 and the war is really over the concept 25:45 of who is worthy to rule the universe. 25:49 Is God really trustworthy? Can you really depend on Him? 25:56 Is He really pure unblemished love? 26:01 Is, does everything that God does, 26:04 is every action of God is it really pure unadulterated love? 26:11 Is it? Amen, it is. 26:14 And it's time for us to be about our father's business 26:17 and reveal that love to the world. 26:20 Now the power of deception is very strong. 26:23 Recently I came across a book, some of you might have heard 26:27 about this in the news recently. 26:29 It's called Escape from Camp 14 and it's a story of a young man 26:34 who was raised in a prison camp in North Korea. 26:38 His name is Shin Dong-hyuk, 26:41 I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly. 26:43 His parents were thrown into this prison camp 26:46 before they met one another for some political crimes 26:49 against the state of North Korea 26:51 and on for good behavior they were allowed 26:54 to marry in the prison camp. 26:56 The marriage entail spending five days a year together, 27:01 in one of those five day periods 27:03 his older brother and himself were conceived 27:06 and the deception in the prison camp was so strong 27:11 that the force of the totalitarian state 27:15 just drilled into everybody's mind, 27:17 don't trust anyone, don't try to escape, 27:21 we are your protectors. 27:24 And the deception was so powerful 27:28 that if you were to hear anyone talking about escape 27:30 from this prison camp, you were to turn them in. 27:33 Well, as Shin grew older, 27:36 one day he came to visit his mother and his older brother. 27:39 And his mother and his older brother 27:40 were talking about escape. 27:44 Dutifully he turned them in. 27:47 He had been so deceived 27:50 about what was right and what was wrong 27:52 that he went to the authorities and said 27:54 my mother and my brother are planning to escape. 27:58 The authorities then took him 27:59 and tortured him for four more days 28:02 to make sure that he had no more hidden secrets. 28:06 After that his mother and his brother were taken 28:09 and they were shot, put to death 28:11 and as Shin stood there and watched 28:13 his mother and his brother being put to death 28:16 whom he had betrayed, 28:18 the only thing he felt in his heart 28:20 was anger against them. 28:25 The state had so perpetuated a deception 28:29 that even the closest bonds of a mother and her son 28:32 were completely torn upside down. 28:35 Brothers and sisters, this world is a camp 14. 28:39 And Satan is doing everything he can 28:43 to totally turn upside down our perceptions 28:48 of right and wrong, goodness and truth. 28:52 I'm thankful that Jesus judges and makes you all in what? 28:57 In righteousness. 29:00 Well, Revelation 19 continues, there is this battle that comes 29:03 and the beast and the false prophet are taken, 29:05 those are two of Satan's embraceries in this world. 29:08 They are captured, they are destroyed 29:10 as Revelation 19 unfolds. 29:12 Let's turn to Revelation 20 29:16 Revelation 20 starting in verse 1. 29:18 "Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, 29:20 holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 29:24 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, 29:27 who is the devil and Satan, 29:30 and he bound him for a thousand years." 29:32 Verse 3, notice the verbs in the verse. 29:36 Notice the verbs in the verse. 29:39 "And he threw him into the abyss, 29:41 and shut it and he sealed it over him, 29:45 so that he would not deceive the nations any longer." 29:52 Somebody should have said amen. 29:55 Satan is thrown into the pit. He is shut in and he is sealed. 30:00 We would say in our English vocabulary, 30:03 signed, sealed and delivered. 30:06 He is locked down. He is done. 30:11 And if you and I were in some corner 30:13 we can watch this after one side 30:15 there would go up a great charismatic hallelujah from us. 30:20 As Satan was bound throughout the Book of Revelation. 30:25 He has been the antagonist. He is waging war. 30:28 He is doing everything he can to disrupt 30:31 to place his throne above God, 30:32 to over throw who God is. 30:35 And God's business is been to unfold his character. 30:39 Now Satan is taken, 30:41 he is in the abyss metaphorically speaking. 30:44 He is bound. There is nothing Satan can do. 30:47 Praise God. 30:49 I want that to take place, don't you? 30:53 Now, this is where for me 30:57 the most perplexing part of the Revelation is. 31:01 The verse continues Revelation 20. 31:07 After these things, 20:3, the last part of the verse. 31:11 "After these things what happened?" 31:16 Revelation 23, "After these things 31:19 he must be released from his prison." 31:26 Notice it does not say, he will escape 31:28 or he shall be released, he is going to find the way out. 31:32 The word is he must be set free. 31:36 The four little-- excuse me, the four letter English word 31:40 translates a three letter Greek word 31:42 which indicates a divine necessity. 31:46 The Seventh-day Adventist Bible commentary 31:49 says that this represents a moral and ethical necessity. 31:55 And so as we're reading through the Book of Revelation 31:57 and we're coming to the end and Satan is bounded 31:59 and he is thrown into the pit and the wicked are destroyed. 32:03 All of a sudden, he must be set free. 32:07 And the question arises, why must he be set free? 32:11 And scholars have struggled with this. 32:13 R.H. Charles, a very well know Revelation scholar 32:17 from the early 1900s. 32:18 His answer to this was, 32:20 well, John just got tired at this point 32:22 and so he wanted to end the book 32:24 and so he did it in kind of a sloppy way. 32:26 I don't think that's true. 32:29 I think John wrote exactly what he was intending to write. 32:31 That as you are moving through the story 32:34 of the unfolding of the great controversy, 32:36 the father's business God clearing himself 32:38 and we've come almost to the very end, 32:40 it's not quite over. 32:44 Something else must be shown. Satan must be set free. 32:51 The moral and ethical imperative 32:53 are the issues in the great controversy. 32:56 And you think would by this time 32:58 that the entire universe would be 32:59 very clear to what's going on, 33:01 but my brothers and sisters that's not yet so. 33:05 Some things must still be demonstrated. 33:10 And as Revaluation continues, we know that at this time 33:13 Jesus has come in Revelation 19. 33:16 The wicked have been destroyed at the end of Revelation 19. 33:19 Other Bible verses tell us that God's people 33:21 have been ascended raise with Christ. 33:24 And for thousand years 33:25 God's people are in haven, judging and ruling. 33:29 Revelation 20:3 and 4 tell us that. 33:33 But at the end of the thousand years, 33:36 there is still some issues, there are still some issues 33:40 in the great controversy that need to be cleared up. 33:44 The father's business has not yet come to a full completion. 33:50 Revelation 25 tells us at the end of the thousand years, 33:53 the wicked will be brought back to life. 33:54 The rest of the dead did not live again 33:56 until the thousand years were finished. 33:58 Let's turn to Revelation 20 and look in verse 7. 34:06 "When the thousand years are finished, they are completed, 34:09 Satan will be released from his prison." 34:11 Verse 8, "And will come out to deceive the nations, 34:14 that's those who have been resurrected 34:16 in the second resurrection, 34:18 which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog." 34:21 Notice what his purpose is. 34:25 Revelation 20 tells us what is his intention? 34:29 To gather them together for what? 34:33 Battle, the war is continuing. 34:36 Incidentally the King James and most translation say, 34:39 to gather them together for battle. 34:42 The Greek actually has the definite article 34:44 before the word battle, indicating this is the battle, 34:49 this is the climatic battle in the war. 34:53 In a moment heaven and hell will come face to face. 34:58 He has gathered them together for the battle, 35:02 the final struggle in the great controversy, 35:06 the final culmination of God's business in this world. 35:15 "The number of them is like the sand of the seashore, 35:17 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth 35:19 and they surrounded the camp of the saints the holy city." 35:23 John kind of collapses and then telescopes 35:26 certain images in this portion of Revelation. 35:30 He kind of gives us an overview in Revelation 8, 35:34 excuse me, Revelation 20:7-10 35:36 and he talks about the holy city being surrounded 35:39 by the wicked and the fire coming down. 35:41 And then he goes back 35:42 and he gives us more detail in verse 11. 35:48 I want you to just image if you will. 35:51 What this scene is going to be like. 35:55 Revelation 20, Satan's been bound for 1000 years 36:00 finally the holy city comes down, 36:01 God's people have been with him for a 1000 years. 36:04 And that city comes down 36:05 and God's people watch Jesus resurrect the wicked. 36:11 What an amazing scene that's going to be. 36:14 Individuals from Cain all the way on 36:15 down to the last individual did I raise back up, 36:18 not in a beautiful form like they were raised back up. 36:21 And then they are in the city 36:23 and Satan is now free to continue his work of deception 36:27 and he goes to gather everyone together for this final battle 36:30 and God's people are in the city, 36:32 Jesus bring them back into the city 36:33 closes the gates of the city. 36:38 And you and I are going to be there. 36:45 Question is where we are going to be? 36:48 Now could you imaging being in the city, 36:50 wouldn't that be exciting? 36:52 I mean we're going to be hugging and embracing 36:55 and do a dancing, did I say that 36:57 and you know, enthusiastic 37:00 and just thrilled to be in the city. 37:07 You, happened to be outside the city. 37:09 Satan goes out in his final attempt 37:11 and he stirs up the wicked 37:13 and he says, you know, we can take the city 37:14 and you are familiar with this passage of scripture 37:17 and the entire host of Satan's angels and Satan 37:22 and generals throughout history 37:23 they've marshaled up against the city, 37:25 coming up against the city 37:27 and then Revelation 20:11, Revelation 20:11. 37:34 "And then I saw a great white throne 37:37 and Him who sat upon it, 37:40 from whose presence earth and heaven have fled away, 37:45 and there was no more place for them." 37:48 And then I saw this great white throne 37:50 and Him who sat on it, 37:51 it's the only place in the Book of Revelation 37:53 that throne is called great and white. 37:55 Great in its immensity and its magnitude, 37:58 white in its purity and holiness. 38:01 And up above the city is raised up that throne 38:04 on which the final coronation of Jesus Christ takes place. 38:10 And as the wicked are marching up against the city 38:13 with Satan at their head, inspiring them 38:14 with his deception that throne is lifted up. 38:19 Now, the throne in the Book of Revelation 38:21 I would argue is synonymous with the ark 38:24 and that ark had a mercy seat, 38:27 the place of justice and mercy met one another. 38:31 And where did justice and mercy meet in earth's history? 38:35 It met at the cross. 38:37 That's why Ellen White tells us in the book Great Controversy, 38:39 on page 666, That above the throne 38:43 was lifted up the cross and all that vast host 38:47 as they are marching up to the city, 38:49 they see the cross, they see the crucifixion, 38:52 they see the fall of Adam, they see the history of sin, 38:54 but the primary thing they see is the cross of Jesus Christ. 39:00 And heaven and hell are meeting face to face 39:02 because outside the city, you have full unbridle deception 39:06 and self interest and self motivation 39:09 and in the city you have full and unbridle self sacrifice. 39:15 And hell has no chance in that battle. 39:19 The powers and kingdoms of this world don't stand a chance 39:22 before the self sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. 39:26 And you and I need to understand 39:28 and realize in our dealings with one another 39:30 that power manipulation and control, 39:33 that's not way of the cross, but humility, 39:37 self sacrifice, that is where real power is. 39:43 That is who God is. 39:46 The most powerful being in the universe displays His power, 39:53 to being willing to be crucified. 39:56 To take our suffering, our curse, our separation 39:59 and not just for each one of us but for every person 40:01 that will be there on that day. 40:05 The wicked are raised up from their first death 40:08 to show that really they didn't have to die a second death. 40:11 Christ died for them. 40:14 Every person could have been in the city 40:16 if they had only responded to the love displayed at Calvary. 40:20 The Desire of the Ages, page 58 tells us 40:22 that in the judgment every soul will realize 40:25 how they have rejected truth 40:28 and the cross and all its bearing will be seen. 40:33 What a powerful thought. 40:35 God's business, it's time to be about our father's business 40:38 which is bringing the great controversy to a close, 40:40 its understanding how God rules in this world. 40:44 God conquers through self sacrifice. 40:49 That's how you and I conquer as well, 40:51 to willingness, to give all to Jesus Christ. 40:55 To allow that love displayed at the cross 40:57 and unparalleled love which overthrows all power 41:00 in this world to allow it to transform our lives. 41:06 Now, my point this evening is this. 41:09 Everyone of us will be there on that day. 41:15 We will remember this night. We will remember this convention 41:21 and whether the things that have been spoken to us this week 41:25 have put us in the path of righteousness 41:28 or we've turned away 41:31 and move to the path of destruction. 41:35 But not only will everyone of us be here, 41:38 everyone who hears this message at sometime, 41:40 not only will everyone of us be there 41:42 but every person you have ever met in your life will be there. 41:50 Person that cleans your hotel room, 41:53 the person that you cut off in line while you are driving, 41:56 the person that you haven't forgiven, 41:58 the person that you have grudge against. 42:02 The person that believes differently than you do 42:04 on women's organization will be there. 42:10 Where will they be? 42:12 It's our duty brothers and sisters 42:15 to make sure they are in the city. 42:19 Review and Herald June 6th 2000, 42:25 excuse me, 2000 June 5th 1900, Ellen White write this. 42:31 "A soul hurt is often a soul destroyed. 42:35 Let those who have light and privileges 42:37 remember that their position of trust 42:39 makes them responsible for souls. 42:41 They will have to meet again around the great white throne, 42:46 the souls whom they have driven from Christ 42:49 bruised and wounded to death.' 42:52 A soul hurt is often a soul lost. 42:56 We need to be about our father's business 42:57 and clarifying God's name and God's character 43:00 in the great controversy by the revelation of who God is. 43:06 C. S. Lewis writes in his book, The Weight of Glory 43:08 that we never meet a common person, 43:11 every person we meet has a destiny, an eternal density. 43:17 Are we helping them along the way 43:21 or do we at times hinder them in their path. 43:26 When Shin was in the concentration camp 43:28 that prison camp in Korea. 43:30 One day a man was brought in a middle aged man 43:33 who had more experience with the outside world. 43:36 He knew about China, he knew about cows and chicken 43:39 things that Shin had never seen and he approached Shin 43:41 and they started talking about escape. 43:44 This time Shin listened and he thought 43:46 well, may be we should escape 43:48 and so one day they are on the northern part 43:50 of the concentration camps, their prison camp, 43:52 and they decided now was their time to escape 43:55 and as they were trying to make their way through the wires, 43:58 the man that was going first, the elderly, the older man 44:01 he hits some electrified wires 44:04 and he was electrocuted, he died. 44:07 And Shin thought to himself I have got to escape. 44:11 And so over the body of this man who had just died, 44:15 he crawled his dead body 44:17 insulating him from the electricity 44:19 and made his way out into the North Korean countryside 44:22 eventually made his way to China and finally to South Korea. 44:25 And now he works with an organization 44:27 trying to raise awareness of conditions, 44:30 and I understand that he has become a Christian as well. 44:35 His escape was facilitated from Camp 14 44:40 over the body of a dead man. 44:43 Our escape from Camp 14 in this world 44:46 comes through the cross of Jesus Christ, 44:49 through the love of our Savior and Redeemer 44:52 who gave Himself for us, who revealed what God is like. 44:56 Brothers and sisters, its not just an imaginary story. 44:59 One day earth and heaven are going to pass away 45:04 and the one total object of affection 45:07 and attention throughout eternity 45:10 is going to be the cross of Christ. 45:13 Shouldn't we be about our father's business? 45:15 Shouldn't that cross and the character displayed 45:19 there be the object of our great attention now? |
Revised 2014-12-17