Well this is a
beautiful Sabbath Day
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here in southern Illinois
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and we have already been
blessed with a wonderful message
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at 9 AM with Shelley Quinn
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and then the music program
Love Rules! that we have just
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really enjoyed. And Danny,
I just feel the optimism and
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the response of the people
so positive to that message
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in music. I was watching their
faces as they were watching
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the screen - yes - on that
and I could tell that it was
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hitting a chord with them.
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That these are tools, and how
important is our responsibility
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to make sure our
young people are equipped
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with everything that we...
all the tools we can give them
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to help them learn about
Jesus and His great love.
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Amen. Well you know
we mentioned last night
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the number of networks
that we have. Of course, we have
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3ABN, 3ABN Latino. We
have 3ABN Dare to Dream.
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We have 3ABN
Proclaim; 3ABN International;
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3ABN Russian channel;
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and then the Sonbeam
channel on the Internet.
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And so we just keep
spreading the gospel.
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I'm missing one... I know I am.
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Mollie's trying to mouth
it to me; I can't read lips!
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Camille learned that years ago.
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I am not a lip reader.
If I ever lose my hearing,
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I'll be in
trouble because it's...
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Well Danny, we're just so
thankful that God has given us
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another tool for
reaching people with the gospel.
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And we saw what
happened with the Pillars music.
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It went around the
world. It was just unbelievable!
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I've been in countries
around the... I was in London
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and we went to a
church and they were singing
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I Have Fixed My
Mind On Another Time.
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Chile and South America
and Europe - around the world -
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they're singing these songs.
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And we believe that
this is going to happen
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with the young people
in many different languages
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on this project. We really do.
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We believe that God is
using all of these means
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to spread the gospel.
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Well listen, we want to ask you
at home and those of you that
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are here to be a very
special part of helping support
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this ministry at
this particular time.
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As I mentioned, I
wrote a letter out.
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Summer came early this year.
You know, we didn't have much
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of a winter, did we? No.
And we always have a difficult
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time financially in the summer
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but we didn't expect that it
would follow with the weather.
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And two months prior to when we
normally start running a little
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short we started running short.
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So we have made an appeal.
You have been responding.
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We praise God for that.
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In this difficult economy
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we believe that we must
continue to preach the message
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with power. We
must not cut back.
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The pen of inspiration
tells us that that work which we
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have not done in easy times
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we'll have to do in
more difficult times.
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And I've thought
about that, Danny.
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I've thought: "Wow, we should
have preached more when...
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when things weren't
quite so difficult. "
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But God wants us to do it now
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and He will sustain us.
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Well Jim, when you look
at what's being accomplished
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by so few...
And I praise God for
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Jim and Camille... for
him coming. Jim is a great
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businessman. He's also
a great spiritual leader.
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And I don't say this
to embarrass him or to...
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but I want you to know that
Jim has made cuts everywhere
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he can to save money.
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To literally... He has... I
mean done an incredible job.
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Brian... we're
thankful for Brian,
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for Mollie, for
the Ad-Com Group.
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For everybody getting together
saying "Where can we cut down
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on spending and yet not
cut down on getting the gospel
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to the world? " You see,
that's the important thing.
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Jesus said "Go ye...
" So we've never been
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here as a maintenance
organization just maintaining.
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So we believe that
we have to go forward,
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so by faith
that's why we've done it.
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We continue. When a
need arises for Russia
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now for the Sonbeam
channel, for Dare to Dream...
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What an incredible network,
and thank you Dr. Yvonne Lewis.
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She's here today.
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Her father had been sick so
she missed the first couple days
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and for Bro. Hodge.
We're praying for you.
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If you're watching today,
God bless you in recovery.
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But Dr. Lewis is here,
and what an incredible job
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that she has done
with Dare to Dream Network.
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Reaching the needs of
inner city people - young people
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especially - without
compromising the message.
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Now that's an
incredibly hard task
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if you know
about inner city life.
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And yet the Lord
brought Yvonne Lewis here
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and so we
couldn't say "no" to this.
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Jim, you couldn't say
"no. " No, absolutely not.
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And yet you knew that our
finances didn't really show it.
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Folks, it's been an absolute
miracle. All the new programming
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that she has put together
in the last 6 or 8 months.
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And some of you are
watching Dare to Dream.
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You're seeing that. I
had a lady yesterday...
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Anybody watching Dare to Dream?
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Yeah, and... All
right. Quite a few of you.
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You can get it on the Internet;
also on what is it? G-19?
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Yes. And on the
Internet. So tune in to 3ABN
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and click on Dare to
Dream. Watch this great program.
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That's right.
Because it is unique.
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And I will say this: Yvonne
Lewis is one of the hardest-
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working people I've ever known.
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She does it with grace and ease.
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You don't see her, but
she gets to that office
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early... You know,
before noon anyway.
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I mean I'm just teasing, but
she doesn't leave till midnight.
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She is really a
hard-working person.
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And when we go by there
she's constantly working.
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By the way, when she's taping
she's here at 6 o'clock in the
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morning if she needs
to be. I'm just teasing.
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Well now what we're saying
is, see we could have said
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"no. " Jim could have
said "no" to this opportunity
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of Dare to Dream, but he didn't.
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Because we're depending
on the Holy Spirit to impress
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each of you to maybe do more
than you've ever done before.
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So we're asking you
- those of you at home
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and those of you here today -
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we mentioned last night
we kind of don't like to just
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take up an offering
because that offering plate gets
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one dollars and five dollars
without really thinking about...
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I've been there in a position...
Sometimes I'm there and they
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pass an offering. And I
reach in and give a dollar
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or five dollars... maybe not
even aware of what the offering
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is about. But that's what you
do when you when you're there,
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right? But we're asking you
to pray and ask the Holy Spirit
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what He would have you to do.
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Maybe there's
something you have in your hand
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that you say: "You know what?
Lord, I'm going to dedicate
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this. " Today maybe
you want to write a check.
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If you're not ready
this morning, think about it.
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You can hand it... Are
these mine? That's mine.
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Oh! Oh, OK... OK.
You just inspired me.
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OK... all right. On that truck?
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That's the pick-up. You
gave it to me? To the Lord.
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Oh! I thought you were
giving me the keys to the...
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So why did you give me
the keys to your truck?
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No, I know what he did.
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Jim's selling... He has
a beautiful truck and he's
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selling it and he's
going to give 50% of that...
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I'm giving 100%. I'm
giving the keys right now. OK.
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He gave it to the
Lord and gave me the keys!
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That's a pretty good deal.
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So... Well I don't want
it back, it's too tempting.
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Yeah, but I will tell
you... I'll tell you this:
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that the Lord is
coming, folks. It requires
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sacrifice that we haven't
done in the past years it does
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require in order to get
this message out. So this is
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exactly... And you only
had that just a few months.
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It's a beautiful truck. Yeah.
He feels guilty for driving
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a nice truck and I hope...
Are you trying to get that
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to rub off on me? Oh, no no.
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I have another vehicle though.
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See? And so if you
have another vehicle
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you don't need... I
didn't need a second vehicle.
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No, I understand. I appreciate
that... what you're doing.
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And what we're saying
today seriously: many of you
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may have something
that you want to donate.
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And 3ABN... we've
never needed it worse.
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You know that we don't do
praise-a-thons and beg-a-thons
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but from time to time
we make our needs known.
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And this is one of those times.
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This summertime our operating
budget has been down so low
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we really haven't known how
we were going to pay things.
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And we don't say this...
You know we don't stand up
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and do this very often. But
I think people after 25 years
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they think you're
an institution. Yeah.
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And a lot of people believe
when they give to the church -
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the Adventist church
takes up a donation for media...
00:09:06.92\00:09:09.73
People say: "Oh I give to 3ABN
when they take up an Adventist
00:09:09.93\00:09:13.22
media at our church we give. "
00:09:13.32\00:09:15.25
Well 3ABN is not
included in that. No.
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And rightfully so. We shouldn't
be. We're not... That's right.
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We're an independent
supporting ministry 501c3.
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But just so that you all
know: the only money that
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comes to 3ABN is what
you give directly to us.
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So we're asking
you to think about it.
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You to write a check as
the Holy Spirit impresses you.
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Not only now, but if
you're not a monthly giver
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if maybe you could
give something a month.
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Whether it's $5, $50,
$100. The big gifts are great
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but what keeps us
going is the smaller gifts.
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$25... $50. Jim asked
some people to send in $61.
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I had a birthday the other day
and I didn't believe they would
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and some people actually did
send in $61 for the birthday.
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He said: "I wished
you was 71. " Yeah, right.
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So... You look 75. I thought...
00:10:01.28\00:10:04.90
Next year he's going to
ask for $76 because I looked 75
00:10:05.10\00:10:08.60
last year. Right
and so... Well listen,
00:10:08.70\00:10:11.23
we just love the Lord and we
want to be a part of His work.
00:10:11.43\00:10:14.36
Have a prayer for us,
Danny. Would you? All right.
00:10:14.76\00:10:16.96
Lord, we thank you for
Your blessings and Your love
00:10:17.16\00:10:19.28
and we thank you
that You are the leader.
00:10:19.38\00:10:22.43
You have directed
3ABN into existence.
00:10:22.63\00:10:25.31
You have seen us before
the foundations of the world
00:10:25.41\00:10:27.82
and you saw all the
people that would join together
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that care enough to take
this gospel of the kingdom
00:10:30.37\00:10:33.01
into all the world. And I
pray that You will impress
00:10:33.11\00:10:35.74
each of us today what we
should do in doing our part
00:10:35.94\00:10:39.29
to take this gospel into
all the world by giving of our
00:10:39.49\00:10:42.31
finances. Not only our time and
our prayers but our finances.
00:10:42.41\00:10:45.72
So we pray that You will bless
this offering today worldwide.
00:10:45.83\00:10:48.70
In Jesus' name I
pray, Amen. Amen.
00:10:48.90\00:10:51.84
Those of you at home, you
can mail your checks where you
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usually do here at P.O.
Box 220, West Frankfort.
00:10:54.57\00:10:58.28
Or you can go on the website
and click where it says donate
00:10:58.48\00:11:02.25
and you can donate by
credit card immediately
00:11:02.45\00:11:05.51
and we'll receive
that credit immediately.
00:11:05.71\00:11:08.26
Right now... Go ahead. I
think we have Pastor C.A. Murray
00:11:08.46\00:11:11.63
coming out. He's going to
sing during the offertory.
00:11:11.83\00:11:13.91
I'd better make sure the
truck runs out here... so...
00:11:14.11\00:11:17.28
It's a nice
Cadillac truck by the way.
00:11:17.68\00:11:21.80
He lifts my burden
00:11:39.98\00:11:45.04
whenever I'm down.
00:11:45.34\00:11:49.79
He gives me joy
00:11:50.19\00:11:54.37
when I'm wearing a frown.
00:11:54.67\00:11:58.71
He is my hope
00:11:59.48\00:12:03.35
in the midst of despair.
00:12:03.65\00:12:08.17
And He... He is my comfort
00:12:08.47\00:12:13.02
for He's always there.
00:12:13.22\00:12:19.13
So I sing
00:12:23.62\00:12:26.57
not because I feel like singing.
00:12:26.88\00:12:32.44
And I praise Him
00:12:32.85\00:12:36.16
though the end I may not see.
00:12:36.46\00:12:42.45
For whenever
00:12:42.85\00:12:45.20
I lift the name of Jesus
00:12:45.40\00:12:49.85
Jesus reaches down
00:12:50.16\00:12:54.91
and He lifts me.
00:12:55.11\00:13:01.05
He is the music
00:13:06.72\00:13:10.16
that makes my heart glad.
00:13:10.56\00:13:15.42
He whispers peace
00:13:15.72\00:13:20.00
whenever I'm sad.
00:13:20.21\00:13:24.18
He is the sunshine
00:13:24.88\00:13:28.59
that brightens my day.
00:13:28.89\00:13:33.30
And He... He is the lighthouse
00:13:33.50\00:13:38.16
to show me the way.
00:13:38.36\00:13:43.58
So I sing
00:13:43.98\00:13:47.67
not because I feel like singing.
00:13:47.97\00:13:53.19
And I praise Him
00:13:53.59\00:13:56.97
though the end I may not see.
00:13:57.27\00:14:03.17
For whenever
00:14:03.84\00:14:05.75
I lift the name of Jesus
00:14:05.95\00:14:10.40
Jesus reaches down
00:14:10.80\00:14:15.40
and He lifts me.
00:14:15.70\00:14:21.18
So I sing
00:14:21.39\00:14:24.15
not because I feel like singing.
00:14:24.55\00:14:29.88
And I praise Him
00:14:30.28\00:14:33.86
though the end I may not see.
00:14:34.06\00:14:40.00
For whenever
00:14:40.50\00:14:42.64
I lift the name of Jesus
00:14:42.84\00:14:47.29
Jesus reaches down,
00:14:47.39\00:14:52.17
turns me around
00:14:52.37\00:14:54.57
and He plants my
feet on higher ground...
00:14:54.87\00:15:00.53
He reaches down
00:15:01.58\00:15:05.78
and He
00:15:06.29\00:15:10.37
lifts me.
00:15:10.77\00:15:16.71
Amen.
00:15:25.73\00:15:28.28
Amen... thank you.
00:15:28.68\00:15:29.97
Our speaker this
morning needs no introduction.
00:15:32.70\00:15:36.56
Stephen Bohr has
spoken here many, many times.
00:15:36.86\00:15:40.16
You know him from 3ABN.
00:15:40.46\00:15:42.85
You know him as
President of Secrets Unsealed.
00:15:42.95\00:15:46.51
And this morning he
will bring us a message
00:15:46.91\00:15:50.96
entitled:
Daniel, the Book Theme.
00:15:51.06\00:15:55.35
And we will look at the
theme of the book of Daniel.
00:15:55.55\00:15:59.02
Good morning. Good morning.
Happy Sabbath to you all.
00:16:09.45\00:16:14.18
Happy Sabbath. No
better place to be today.
00:16:14.48\00:16:17.69
Amen.
00:16:17.89\00:16:19.06
Our time is limited so I'm
going to synthesize a few things
00:16:20.20\00:16:24.70
that I had
intended on presenting.
00:16:24.80\00:16:28.26
We're going to actually speak
about the historical portions
00:16:30.09\00:16:34.32
of the book of Daniel.
00:16:34.42\00:16:36.82
That's Daniel 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
00:16:37.27\00:16:41.38
However, before we
do let's bow our heads
00:16:41.68\00:16:45.05
and ask for the Lord's blessing.
00:16:45.25\00:16:47.34
Our Father and our God,
00:16:47.64\00:16:49.78
how wonderful it is
to be in this place.
00:16:50.08\00:16:54.32
So many of Your family
members gathered together
00:16:54.62\00:16:57.95
from so many places to
render You the honor and glory
00:16:58.15\00:17:02.43
and praise that You deserve.
00:17:02.53\00:17:04.26
And also to hear
Your voice speaking to us
00:17:04.46\00:17:07.49
through the ministry of
the Holy Spirit in the Word.
00:17:07.70\00:17:10.61
We ask, Father, that as we study
00:17:10.91\00:17:13.46
Your Holy Spirit will
be present in this place.
00:17:13.67\00:17:17.03
Give us clarity of thought
00:17:17.23\00:17:19.79
and willingness of heart
to receive the seed of truth
00:17:19.99\00:17:24.67
that You have for us...
not only those gathered here
00:17:24.88\00:17:28.60
but those who are
watching all over the world.
00:17:28.80\00:17:31.80
We thank you, Father, for
the privilege of approaching
00:17:32.10\00:17:35.11
Your throne in prayer,
and thank you for hearing us.
00:17:35.31\00:17:38.16
For we ask it in
Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.
00:17:38.26\00:17:43.14
The books of
Daniel and Revelation
00:17:44.03\00:17:46.75
are saturated with
symbolic terminology.
00:17:46.95\00:17:51.46
They have metallic men,
00:17:53.08\00:17:55.75
savage beasts,
domestic sanctuary animals,
00:17:56.05\00:18:01.42
mysterious horns that speak,
00:18:01.62\00:18:04.86
strange actions like
eating a book and having it be
00:18:05.06\00:18:10.55
sweet in your mouth
and bitter in your stomach,
00:18:10.75\00:18:13.47
mysterious numbers.
In order to understand
00:18:13.77\00:18:19.30
the meaning of these symbols
00:18:19.50\00:18:21.91
we have to decipher them
or we have to decode them.
00:18:22.11\00:18:26.47
Because these portions
of Daniel and Revelation
00:18:26.67\00:18:31.65
are dealing in symbols
00:18:31.86\00:18:34.43
and symbols must be interpreted.
00:18:34.63\00:18:37.27
In contrast to the
apocalyptic sections
00:18:37.57\00:18:41.69
of the books of
Daniel and Revelation,
00:18:41.89\00:18:44.33
and particularly
Daniel in this case,
00:18:44.54\00:18:46.76
the historical chapters
of Daniel are just simple,
00:18:48.59\00:18:54.40
up-front, easy to
understand stories.
00:18:54.53\00:18:59.87
They do not
contain symbols directly.
00:19:00.17\00:19:04.01
They are just a matter-of-fact
story of things that occurred
00:19:04.21\00:19:09.63
in the period of the Babylonian
and the Medo-Persian empires.
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As I mentioned, these
stories are straight-forward
00:19:15.69\00:19:18.94
and easy to understand.
00:19:19.14\00:19:21.47
For example, what child
cannot understand the story
00:19:21.77\00:19:26.35
of the 3 young men that were
thrown into the fiery furnace?
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Very easy to understand.
00:19:30.28\00:19:32.81
What child cannot
understand the story of Daniel
00:19:33.02\00:19:36.77
who was cast
into the lion's den?
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Once again, straight-forward,
simple to understand.
00:19:39.05\00:19:43.39
These stories were
meant to speak to people
00:19:43.69\00:19:47.87
in all times and in all places.
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And they do not apparently have
to be decoded or deciphered.
00:19:51.22\00:19:56.65
However, the stories in the
first half of the book of Daniel
00:19:56.95\00:20:02.91
have a deeper dimension
00:20:03.31\00:20:07.04
than just being simple,
mere stories that took place
00:20:07.34\00:20:13.25
once upon a time. These
stories really illustrate
00:20:13.35\00:20:18.13
in narrative form the
symbolic apocalyptic portions
00:20:18.33\00:20:24.24
of the book of Daniel.
00:20:24.54\00:20:26.26
In other words, these stories
actually decode in simple,
00:20:26.66\00:20:31.95
matter-of-fact language
the symbols that we find
00:20:32.15\00:20:35.95
in the apocalyptic
portions of the book of Daniel.
00:20:36.16\00:20:39.33
Now the stories in the book
of Daniel and the apocalyptic
00:20:40.73\00:20:45.42
portions in Daniel must
be interpreted differently.
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The apocalyptic portions
like Daniel 2 and Daniel 7
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and Daniel 8 through 12
we must use the principle
00:20:54.37\00:20:58.40
of historicism
to interpret them.
00:20:58.60\00:21:01.04
They began in the
days when the prophet wrote
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and they are fulfilled in
the course of history without
00:21:04.74\00:21:07.91
interruption until Jesus
sets up His everlasting kingdom.
00:21:08.01\00:21:11.74
In other words, the
apocalyptic portions of Daniel
00:21:12.05\00:21:16.20
have only one application.
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They do not have
multiple fulfillments
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because they basically present
the history from the time
00:21:22.69\00:21:27.86
of Daniel till the setting
up of the everlasting kingdom...
00:21:28.06\00:21:31.11
every event in its
proper order in between.
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One application - the
historicist application of
00:21:35.33\00:21:38.67
prophecy. The stories in Daniel
00:21:38.77\00:21:41.78
require that we use a different
method of interpretation
00:21:42.08\00:21:46.87
because the stories are
really types of end-time events.
00:21:47.07\00:21:51.57
In other words, these stories
in a literal and local way
00:21:51.77\00:21:57.23
actually point forward to
world-wide and spiritual events.
00:21:57.43\00:22:02.28
In other words, to the
historical chapters of Daniel
00:22:02.48\00:22:05.65
we must apply
the law of typology.
00:22:05.85\00:22:09.00
What once happened
literally and locally
00:22:09.20\00:22:12.31
will happen once
again on a global scale
00:22:12.51\00:22:16.04
and spiritually with
God's spiritual people.
00:22:16.24\00:22:20.43
Now time will allow us only
to take a look at two chapters
00:22:21.83\00:22:25.85
in the historical
section of Daniel.
00:22:26.05\00:22:28.45
The first chapter that I
would like us to take a look at
00:22:28.75\00:22:31.91
is Daniel chapter 3.
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And the second
chapter that I would like us
00:22:34.51\00:22:36.67
to dedicate
time to is chapter 6.
00:22:36.87\00:22:39.78
So we're going to look
at chapter 3 and chapter 6.
00:22:39.98\00:22:43.00
You know, if we had the
time I would show you that every
00:22:43.30\00:22:47.13
single one of the
historical chapters is a type.
00:22:47.23\00:22:50.29
Chapter 1 is actually
the introduction to the book.
00:22:50.49\00:22:54.42
And as you examine this
chapter the character of Daniel
00:22:54.62\00:22:58.32
and his friends foreshadows
the character that God's people
00:22:58.42\00:23:02.00
will have at the end of time.
00:23:02.10\00:23:03.11
Daniel 3 and 6
we're going to study.
00:23:03.51\00:23:06.00
Daniel chapter 4 has a
definite end-time application
00:23:06.20\00:23:10.55
to the kings of the earth.
It teaches them tremendous
00:23:10.75\00:23:13.34
lessons about why they govern
and the principles that they
00:23:13.54\00:23:17.86
need to apply in government.
00:23:18.06\00:23:20.02
Chapter 5 is in the foreground
00:23:20.22\00:23:23.95
of Revelation 16 and 17.
The drying up of the Euphrates
00:23:24.15\00:23:28.34
and the fall of Babylon
is told in Daniel chapter 5.
00:23:28.44\00:23:32.23
Each one of these chapters
in the historical section
00:23:32.53\00:23:35.97
of Daniel really is a historical
type of end-time events
00:23:36.07\00:23:40.61
that will take place
on a much larger scale.
00:23:40.81\00:23:43.79
So let's take a
look at Daniel chapter 3.
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This story actually
prefigures and foreshadows
00:23:47.88\00:23:52.33
the crisis that is described
in Revelation chapter 13
00:23:52.53\00:23:57.24
and verses 11 through 18.
00:23:57.34\00:23:59.85
These two passages - Daniel
3 and Revelation 13:11-18-
00:24:00.15\00:24:05.66
have many, many common elements.
00:24:05.86\00:24:08.49
And I would like to draw
several parallels between them.
00:24:08.69\00:24:12.29
First of all,
in Daniel chapter 3
00:24:12.59\00:24:16.10
we have a conflict
between the religion of Babylon
00:24:16.30\00:24:20.84
and the religion of Israel...
the religion of the Hebrews.
00:24:21.04\00:24:25.84
The theme in the
book of Revelation is also
00:24:26.04\00:24:29.25
the conflict or the controversy
00:24:29.45\00:24:32.27
between God's
people - spiritual Israel -
00:24:32.47\00:24:35.72
and the harlot Babylon who
is mentioned in Revelation 17.
00:24:35.92\00:24:41.14
Interestingly enough, in
Daniel chapter 2 as you know
00:24:42.16\00:24:46.49
God showed Nebuchadnezzar
how history would transpire
00:24:46.59\00:24:50.83
in that great image
that had different metals.
00:24:51.03\00:24:54.07
But after God
showed Nebuchadnezzar
00:24:54.27\00:24:57.65
how the kingdoms would occur
in the history of the world
00:24:57.85\00:25:02.02
Nebuchadnezzar
was unhappy with that.
00:25:02.22\00:25:04.23
And so in Daniel
chapter 3 we find Nebuchadnezzar
00:25:04.43\00:25:08.06
making an image fully
and completely of gold.
00:25:08.26\00:25:11.47
Now there's more
here than meets the eye.
00:25:11.67\00:25:14.20
It involves more
than false worship.
00:25:14.21\00:25:16.99
Actually what Nebuchadnezzar
is saying to God in His face
00:25:17.19\00:25:21.94
he is saying: "History
is not going to transpire
00:25:22.14\00:25:25.88
as You say. History
will transpire as I say. "
00:25:26.08\00:25:30.49
In other words, Nebuchadnezzar
is attempting to change
00:25:30.69\00:25:35.00
the prophetic scenario of how
00:25:35.20\00:25:38.26
prophetic history will develop.
00:25:38.46\00:25:41.90
Let me ask you: has
the Christian world today
00:25:42.10\00:25:45.38
changed how end-time
events will transpire?
00:25:45.58\00:25:50.39
Has spiritual Babylon done that?
00:25:50.60\00:25:52.95
Yes... by introducing
methods such as futurism
00:25:53.15\00:25:58.43
and preterism, people
misunderstand how prophecy
00:25:58.63\00:26:03.77
is truly going to be
fulfilled in the end time.
00:26:03.97\00:26:07.53
Because God's scenario
of prophecy has been changed
00:26:07.73\00:26:11.94
or has been shifted.
00:26:12.14\00:26:13.98
Both in Revelation 13
00:26:14.38\00:26:17.88
and in Daniel
chapter 3 we have a beast.
00:26:18.08\00:26:22.96
As you remember, Nebuchadnezzar
for 7 years lived as a beast.
00:26:23.16\00:26:28.11
In Revelation chapter 13
you have the mention of a beast.
00:26:28.41\00:26:33.90
In Daniel chapter 3 you
have the beast raising an image
00:26:34.24\00:26:40.20
and in Revelation
chapter 13 we also have a beast
00:26:40.40\00:26:45.03
who raises an image.
00:26:45.23\00:26:47.18
In both Daniel 3 and
in Revelation chapter 13
00:26:47.38\00:26:50.90
we have an emphasis on
mystical or mysterious numbers.
00:26:51.10\00:26:55.59
In Daniel chapter 3 we
have an image that is 60x6.
00:26:55.79\00:27:01.62
In Revelation chapter 13 we
have the number of the beast
00:27:01.82\00:27:06.20
which is 666.
00:27:06.40\00:27:08.29
We have no time really
to show the relationship
00:27:08.49\00:27:11.58
between these two numbers.
00:27:11.78\00:27:13.01
There is a very close relation-
ship between 60x6 and 666.
00:27:13.21\00:27:18.71
Both numbers are
related to the sun.
00:27:18.91\00:27:21.66
In fact, Nebuchadnezzar
when he raised that image
00:27:21.97\00:27:25.15
it was in honor of
the sun god Marduk.
00:27:25.36\00:27:27.85
In antiquity gold was
connected with the sun.
00:27:28.05\00:27:31.70
In fact it was called
"the dew of the sun. "
00:27:31.90\00:27:34.14
In other words, the
reason why the image was of gold
00:27:34.34\00:27:36.96
was because the people
were actually worshiping the sun
00:27:37.17\00:27:40.66
god Marduk... whose
number, by the way, is 666.
00:27:40.76\00:27:45.49
In both chapters
the issue is worship.
00:27:45.69\00:27:50.40
In fact, in both chapters
00:27:50.61\00:27:53.10
there is a
universal call to worship.
00:27:53.30\00:27:55.67
Nebuchadnezzar says: "All ye
nations, tongues, and peoples:
00:27:55.87\00:28:00.35
when you hear the
instruments play you shall
00:28:00.55\00:28:03.12
worship the image. "
Revelation also speaks about
00:28:03.22\00:28:06.40
nations, tongues, and
peoples in the end time.
00:28:06.60\00:28:10.01
Revelation
chapter 17 and verse 15.
00:28:10.21\00:28:13.24
In both chapters
you have a death decree
00:28:13.45\00:28:16.54
against those who will not
worship the image of the beast.
00:28:16.74\00:28:21.49
In both chapters you
have an insignificant remnant
00:28:21.72\00:28:25.95
that refuses to
worship the image of the beast
00:28:26.15\00:28:29.96
and therefore they become
subject of the death decree.
00:28:30.16\00:28:34.11
We have this remnant
that refuses to worship...
00:28:34.31\00:28:38.97
even on pain of death.
They would rather be obedient
00:28:39.18\00:28:42.60
to God and die than be
disobedient to God and live.
00:28:42.80\00:28:47.67
In both stories
you have a shaking.
00:28:47.97\00:28:51.59
You know, there were many
Hebrews that were taken to
00:28:51.80\00:28:54.50
Babylon. Many of them were
taught in the school of Babylon.
00:28:54.60\00:28:58.28
And yet when push came to shove
00:28:58.48\00:29:01.63
there were only 3 young men.
We don't know where Daniel was.
00:29:01.83\00:29:05.71
But there were only three
young men that stood there
00:29:05.91\00:29:09.37
in the valley of Dura and
refused to worship the image
00:29:09.57\00:29:13.67
of the beast so to speak.
00:29:13.87\00:29:15.50
In Daniel chapter 3
the issue of conflict
00:29:15.80\00:29:20.62
is worship and also
the commandments of God.
00:29:20.82\00:29:23.54
You see, the young men
could not worship the image
00:29:23.74\00:29:26.83
because the Bible says
"You shall have no other gods
00:29:26.93\00:29:29.21
before Me. "
They could not worship
00:29:29.31\00:29:31.60
for the reason that the Bible
says that we're not supposed to
00:29:31.80\00:29:34.88
worship any graven image.
00:29:34.98\00:29:36.58
They would not bring
disrepute upon the name of God
00:29:36.78\00:29:40.93
by kneeling before
that image. And furthermore
00:29:41.13\00:29:44.58
they would have
dishonored their Creator
00:29:44.79\00:29:47.90
by worshiping that
image that had been raised up.
00:29:48.10\00:29:51.94
In other words, the
issue is primarily concerning
00:29:52.15\00:29:54.95
the first table of the law...
the first four commandments
00:29:55.15\00:29:58.52
of God's law... that
define what worship is.
00:29:58.62\00:30:03.12
In both Daniel 3
and Revelation 13
00:30:04.42\00:30:07.40
those who come up with
the idea of building the image
00:30:07.60\00:30:12.12
and commanding people
to worship on pain of death
00:30:12.32\00:30:15.17
it was not Nebuchadnezzar.
00:30:15.47\00:30:17.69
It was actually the Chaldeans...
the religious leaders
00:30:17.89\00:30:21.33
who instigated the
king - the civil power -
00:30:21.53\00:30:24.20
to raise the image and
command everyone to worship.
00:30:24.40\00:30:27.63
In the end time, it
will be the religious leaders
00:30:27.83\00:30:31.13
who will instigate the
civil powers of the world.
00:30:31.33\00:30:35.21
If you read
Revelation chapter 17
00:30:35.41\00:30:37.22
where it says that the harlot
representing an apostate church
00:30:37.42\00:30:40.92
will fornicate with
the kings of the earth.
00:30:41.13\00:30:43.65
The idea will not
come from the civil rulers.
00:30:43.85\00:30:47.29
The idea will come from the
church trying or attempting to
00:30:47.49\00:30:51.48
influence the state.
00:30:51.68\00:30:53.57
The wrath of Nebuchadnezzar
will be reflected in the end
00:30:53.67\00:30:57.28
time against those who
keep the commandments of God.
00:30:57.38\00:30:59.85
The Bible says in
Revelation 12 verse 17
00:31:00.05\00:31:02.43
that the dragon was
enraged with the woman
00:31:02.63\00:31:05.27
and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed:
00:31:05.47\00:31:08.07
those who keep the
command- ments of God
00:31:08.27\00:31:11.36
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:31:11.56\00:31:13.45
In fact, Ellen White
describes the body language
00:31:13.75\00:31:17.22
of Nebuchadnezzar.
You know, when he stated:
00:31:17.42\00:31:19.77
"And what God shall be able
to deliver you from my hands? "
00:31:19.98\00:31:23.29
She states: "With
hand stretched upward
00:31:23.49\00:31:27.26
in defiance he
said these words. "
00:31:27.46\00:31:29.61
Signs of the Times, May 6, 1897.
00:31:29.81\00:31:32.71
She also saw in vision
the face of Nebuchadnezzar
00:31:32.92\00:31:37.28
when he said these words.
00:31:37.48\00:31:39.13
She says: "Satanic
attributes made his countenance
00:31:39.33\00:31:43.77
appear as the
countenance of a demon. "
00:31:43.97\00:31:47.89
Does that bring to mind
Revelation 12 and verse 17
00:31:49.24\00:31:52.95
where it says that the dragon
"was enraged with the woman, "
00:31:53.15\00:31:56.32
primarily against those who
keep the commandments of God?
00:31:56.52\00:32:00.97
In Daniel chapter
3 we actually find
00:32:02.35\00:32:05.55
the king, by instigation
of the religious leaders,
00:32:05.75\00:32:09.73
establishing a
religious observance.
00:32:09.93\00:32:13.37
In other words, the king
is establishing religion.
00:32:13.67\00:32:17.30
Does that bring to mind
something that we have in our
00:32:17.50\00:32:21.43
United States constitution?
00:32:21.53\00:32:23.40
The first amendment
to the constitution says
00:32:23.70\00:32:26.38
that Congress shall make no law
00:32:26.58\00:32:29.36
respecting what? The
establishment of religion.
00:32:29.57\00:32:33.29
Here you have the religious
leaders influencing the king
00:32:33.49\00:32:37.02
to establish a religious
observance and command everyone
00:32:37.22\00:32:41.11
to worship the image.
00:32:41.31\00:32:43.60
In other words, this
would be today a violation
00:32:43.80\00:32:47.31
of the first amendment -
the first clause of the first
00:32:47.51\00:32:51.08
amendment - to the constitution
of the United States.
00:32:51.18\00:32:55.16
The church through the state
00:32:55.40\00:32:58.21
establishing an observance
that has to do with worship.
00:32:58.41\00:33:04.14
In both of these chapters
- Daniel 3 and Revelation 13-
00:33:05.26\00:33:09.39
we have a terrible
time of trouble that ensues
00:33:09.59\00:33:13.32
where the faith of God's
remnant is severely tested.
00:33:13.52\00:33:18.88
In Daniel chapter 3
the furnace is heated
00:33:19.08\00:33:22.22
seven times
greater than ever before.
00:33:22.32\00:33:24.58
I don't think that Nebuchad-
nezzar had a thermometer.
00:33:24.78\00:33:27.04
I believe that it says
that he heated the furnace
00:33:27.34\00:33:30.29
as hot as it could be heated.
00:33:30.49\00:33:32.44
Complete and total heat.
00:33:32.64\00:33:34.59
In the book of Revelation
God's people will live during
00:33:34.79\00:33:37.65
the worst and most intense
period in the history of the
00:33:37.85\00:33:40.67
world when the seven
last plagues will fall
00:33:40.77\00:33:44.24
upon the earth.
00:33:44.34\00:33:45.68
The Bible tells us
that these three young men
00:33:45.88\00:33:48.87
preferred to die rather
than to be disobedient to God.
00:33:49.07\00:33:53.37
And they were thrown
into a fiery furnace.
00:33:53.57\00:33:56.17
I'd like to read you a
statement from Great Controversy
00:33:56.37\00:33:58.98
page 621 where Ellen White
connects the furnace experience
00:33:59.09\00:34:03.40
with what will happen in
the end time with God's people.
00:34:03.60\00:34:06.01
Speaking about those who
will go through that severe time
00:34:06.31\00:34:09.06
of trouble in the future
she says: "Their affliction
00:34:09.26\00:34:11.75
is great. The flames of
the furnace seem about to
00:34:11.85\00:34:16.07
consume them. But the
refiner will bring them forth
00:34:16.17\00:34:20.65
as gold tried in the fire.
00:34:20.85\00:34:22.90
God's love for His children
during the period of their
00:34:23.10\00:34:26.13
severest trial is as
strong and tender as in the days
00:34:26.23\00:34:30.39
of their sunniest prosperity.
00:34:30.49\00:34:32.14
But it is needful for them
to be placed in the furnace
00:34:32.34\00:34:35.38
of fire. " Notice
the allusion to Daniel 3.
00:34:35.58\00:34:37.74
"In the furnace of fire their
earthliness must be consumed
00:34:37.94\00:34:41.96
that the image of Christ
may be perfectly reflected. "
00:34:42.16\00:34:46.98
Now I remember when I was
growing up... When I was a kid
00:34:48.62\00:34:53.29
my parents and my Sabbath
School teachers would tell me
00:34:53.45\00:34:56.90
"You know, you
need to be a Daniel.
00:34:57.11\00:35:00.55
You need to be like Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego... "
00:35:00.75\00:35:04.60
as if they were the
important figures in the story.
00:35:04.80\00:35:09.69
You see, the central
focus of Daniel chapter 3
00:35:10.09\00:35:14.23
is not on the faith
of the three young men
00:35:14.43\00:35:17.98
but on the faithfulness
of Jesus Christ. Amen.
00:35:18.18\00:35:21.34
In fact, there's something very
interesting in Daniel chapter 3.
00:35:21.48\00:35:24.73
Do you know that
the word deliver is used
00:35:24.93\00:35:28.19
in this chapter four
times? The word deliver.
00:35:28.39\00:35:33.92
Now remember that word because
we're going to come back to it.
00:35:34.16\00:35:36.40
Let me tell you
which are the four times.
00:35:36.60\00:35:38.61
In verse 15 Nebuchadnezzar
asks: "And what God
00:35:38.81\00:35:43.19
will be able to
deliver you from my hand? "
00:35:43.29\00:35:46.02
In Daniel chapter 3 and verse 17
00:35:46.25\00:35:49.10
the three young Hebrews
say: "The God whom we serve
00:35:49.30\00:35:52.59
is able to deliver us
and He will deliver us
00:35:52.79\00:35:57.95
from your hand. "
00:35:58.15\00:35:59.57
And then in chapter 3 and
verse 28 after they're delivered
00:35:59.77\00:36:03.20
Nebuchadnezzar
says: "God sent His angel
00:36:03.40\00:36:06.48
to deliver His
servants who trusted in Him. "
00:36:06.68\00:36:10.55
The central theme
of Daniel chapter 3
00:36:10.86\00:36:13.91
is the deliverance of
God's people from their enemies.
00:36:14.11\00:36:19.81
Now we're going to
discuss this word deliver
00:36:21.75\00:36:24.18
a little bit later on
in our study this morning.
00:36:24.28\00:36:26.50
This word is used only in
two other chapters in Daniel.
00:36:26.70\00:36:31.61
It's used in Daniel 6
00:36:31.85\00:36:34.46
and it's used in
Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1.
00:36:34.76\00:36:38.34
Which tells us that
there is a link between
00:36:38.54\00:36:42.74
Daniel 3, Daniel 6,
and Daniel 11 and 12...
00:36:42.94\00:36:48.19
particularly the last
few verses of Daniel 11.
00:36:48.39\00:36:51.92
As we study the stories
of Daniel 3 and Daniel 6
00:36:52.22\00:36:58.13
we see what the issues
will be in the end time.
00:36:58.47\00:37:03.46
The issues are not the
oil of the Middle East.
00:37:03.70\00:37:07.77
The issue is not the
Muslims vs. the Jews.
00:37:08.81\00:37:14.76
The issue is not
the West vs. the East.
00:37:15.06\00:37:19.73
The issue is worship
00:37:19.83\00:37:23.42
and obedience to
God's commandments.
00:37:23.62\00:37:27.02
So these stories help us under-
stand what the issues will be
00:37:28.35\00:37:31.66
in the end-time conflict.
00:37:31.86\00:37:34.15
You know, this morning I was
interested as I was listening to
00:37:34.45\00:37:37.23
Shelley speak
about the covenant.
00:37:37.43\00:37:39.58
You know, Daniel chapter 3
00:37:39.88\00:37:43.35
has a strong emphasis
on the covenant even though
00:37:43.55\00:37:46.38
the word
covenant is not mentioned.
00:37:46.48\00:37:48.76
You see, these three young
men had a covenant relationship
00:37:48.96\00:37:52.42
with the Lord. And the Lord
said: "If you have a covenant
00:37:52.62\00:37:56.56
relationship with
Me, I can guarantee
00:37:56.66\00:37:59.11
that I will protect you. "
00:37:59.21\00:38:00.48
In fact, Jesus -
as a loving husband -
00:38:00.68\00:38:04.57
protected His wife so to speak.
00:38:04.77\00:38:07.83
Jesus as the faithful
Shepherd protected His sheep.
00:38:08.13\00:38:12.31
Jesus as the head of
the body protected His body.
00:38:12.61\00:38:16.51
Jesus as the sovereign
King protected His subjects.
00:38:16.71\00:38:22.02
Now let me express
an important principle
00:38:23.45\00:38:25.62
as we study this story.
Do you see that this story
00:38:25.72\00:38:27.95
foreshadows the end times?
00:38:28.15\00:38:29.41
I mean it's as
subtle as a freight train.
00:38:29.61\00:38:32.40
I mean it's very, very clear
the parallels are striking.
00:38:32.70\00:38:36.38
Now let me express this to
you: very important principle.
00:38:36.58\00:38:39.20
I'm speaking now
about Daniel chapter 3.
00:38:40.93\00:38:43.32
Literal Israel was literally
captive in literal Babylon.
00:38:44.45\00:38:48.41
The literal king
behaved like a literal beast,
00:38:48.61\00:38:51.69
set up a literal
image in a literal valley
00:38:51.72\00:38:54.52
commanding
everyone to literally bow
00:38:54.72\00:38:57.14
and literally
worship the literal image.
00:38:57.34\00:38:59.66
A remnant of literal
Jews refused to literally bow
00:38:59.86\00:39:02.97
before the literal image
and therefore they were thrown
00:39:03.17\00:39:05.75
into a literal fiery furnace
00:39:05.95\00:39:08.34
and were delivered
from the literal flames
00:39:08.54\00:39:10.53
by Christ who literally
came into the fiery furnace.
00:39:10.73\00:39:13.68
But all of these
literal things become symbolic.
00:39:17.15\00:39:20.77
We no longer have a
literal beast in the future.
00:39:21.83\00:39:24.91
It's not a literal statue
00:39:25.21\00:39:27.48
that is raised up
in a literal valley.
00:39:27.68\00:39:31.20
The affliction of God's
people will not be in a literal
00:39:31.50\00:39:34.93
furnace. The furnace is
symbolic; the beast is symbolic;
00:39:35.03\00:39:39.74
the image is symbolic...
but the issues are the same.
00:39:39.94\00:39:43.28
The issues will be
worship and obedience...
00:39:43.48\00:39:46.42
covenant obedience to God.
00:39:46.62\00:39:48.54
Ellen White in Manuscript
Releases volume 14 and page 91
00:39:48.74\00:39:54.06
connected what
happened in the valley of Dura
00:39:54.26\00:39:58.08
with God's seventh-day
Sabbath in the end time.
00:39:58.28\00:40:00.81
There's a connection.
00:40:01.11\00:40:03.00
You know, why do we worship God?
00:40:04.53\00:40:06.78
Because He's the Creator.
00:40:08.40\00:40:10.48
And what sign has He
given us that He is the Creator?
00:40:10.68\00:40:13.77
The Sabbath.
00:40:14.07\00:40:15.90
You can't disconnect
the Sabbath from worship
00:40:16.10\00:40:19.17
because the Sabbath is
the sign of allegiance to God,
00:40:19.37\00:40:23.68
the Creator
according to scripture.
00:40:23.88\00:40:25.92
This is what she says:
00:40:26.23\00:40:27.88
"An idol Sabbath has been set up
00:40:28.08\00:40:32.13
as the golden image was
set up in the plains of Dura.
00:40:32.33\00:40:36.18
And as Nebuchadnezzar, the
king of Babylon, issued a decree
00:40:36.48\00:40:41.06
that all who would not bow down
and worship the image should be
00:40:41.16\00:40:44.75
killed, so a
proclamation will be made
00:40:44.85\00:40:48.01
that all who will not
reverence the Sunday institution
00:40:48.21\00:40:51.85
will be punished with
imprisonment and death. "
00:40:52.05\00:40:54.92
Did you notice how she
connects the two stories?
00:40:55.22\00:40:57.65
And you say: "But Pastor Bohr,
00:40:57.85\00:40:59.83
there's no relationship between
worshiping a literal image
00:41:00.03\00:41:03.89
and worshiping on a certain
day that God did not create
00:41:03.99\00:41:07.41
as the day of worship. "
00:41:07.51\00:41:08.61
Is it the same thing to worship
the sun which they were doing
00:41:09.01\00:41:13.17
as they worshiped
the image as it would be
00:41:13.37\00:41:15.15
to worship on
the day of the sun?
00:41:15.36\00:41:16.78
People say: "It's
not the same thing. "
00:41:16.99\00:41:18.30
Let's think about it...
00:41:18.60\00:41:20.15
and I'll be explicit.
00:41:20.25\00:41:22.38
Who created the sun?
00:41:22.68\00:41:24.52
God.
00:41:25.02\00:41:26.50
Did He create
it for worship? No.
00:41:26.70\00:41:29.00
So what happens if you
make it an object of worship?
00:41:29.14\00:41:31.78
It's called idolatry.
00:41:32.08\00:41:34.66
Now let me ask you: who made
the first day of the week? God.
00:41:34.96\00:41:38.40
Did He make it for worship? No.
00:41:38.55\00:41:40.65
So what happens if you convert
it into a day of worship?
00:41:40.78\00:41:43.41
It's idolatry.
00:41:44.63\00:41:45.92
It doesn't matter if it
is an object or an image
00:41:46.12\00:41:50.93
or a day. Anything
that man creates for worship
00:41:51.13\00:41:55.51
that God did not make
for worship is idolatry.
00:41:55.71\00:41:59.33
That is the connection
that we have in these stories.
00:41:59.53\00:42:03.96
Now we must move
to Daniel chapter 6.
00:42:04.19\00:42:06.28
Man that clock is the
greatest enemy in the world.
00:42:06.48\00:42:08.51
You know, for a preacher...
00:42:08.91\00:42:11.06
we just wish that
the sun would stand still
00:42:11.26\00:42:14.72
as in the days of Joshua.
00:42:15.22\00:42:17.15
But it doesn't
happen... it's relentless.
00:42:17.26\00:42:19.15
Let's go to Daniel chapter 6.
00:42:19.36\00:42:21.31
Actually in Daniel chapter 6
Daniel - like the 3 young men -
00:42:21.51\00:42:26.43
is a symbol of
God's end-time generation.
00:42:26.63\00:42:30.72
Let me give you several
characteristics about Daniel.
00:42:30.92\00:42:33.64
It says in Daniel chapter
6 that he was full of the
00:42:34.04\00:42:38.10
Holy Spirit. Are God's
people going to be full of the
00:42:38.20\00:42:40.81
Holy Spirit at the end time?
00:42:40.91\00:42:42.09
God is going to pour out
His Spirit without measure
00:42:42.29\00:42:44.84
in the latter rain and
God's people will be full
00:42:45.04\00:42:47.63
of the Spirit.
Daniel was a man of prayer.
00:42:47.73\00:42:50.60
His prayer life was more
important than his own life...
00:42:50.80\00:42:54.58
his own physical life.
00:42:54.78\00:42:55.91
Will God's people in the
end time be a people of prayer?
00:42:56.11\00:42:59.18
Absolutely!
00:42:59.38\00:43:00.69
Daniel had a passion to under-
stand the 2,300-day prophecy.
00:43:00.89\00:43:05.85
We're going to talk
about that this evening
00:43:06.25\00:43:08.32
in the last in this series.
00:43:08.52\00:43:10.12
Are God's end-time
people particularly interested
00:43:10.32\00:43:13.41
in understanding
the 2,300-day prophecy
00:43:13.61\00:43:16.58
as it applies to us today?
00:43:16.78\00:43:18.40
Absolutely! Daniel was faithful
in his secular duties...
00:43:18.60\00:43:22.93
in his everyday duties.
00:43:22.96\00:43:24.99
In fact we know this
because his enemies said
00:43:25.19\00:43:28.52
"there's no fault in the way
in which Daniel carries forward
00:43:28.72\00:43:32.13
his everyday,
common, secular duties.
00:43:32.33\00:43:34.54
We can't find anything
wrong in the way that he deals
00:43:34.74\00:43:37.61
with his everyday affairs. "
00:43:37.82\00:43:39.63
In Daniel chapter 6
and verse 4 we find this.
00:43:39.83\00:43:43.05
Daniel chapter 6 and verse
4. It says: "So the governors
00:43:43.28\00:43:46.54
and satraps sought to
find some charge against Daniel
00:43:46.74\00:43:50.54
concerning the kingdom
00:43:50.74\00:43:51.99
but they could
find no charge or fault
00:43:52.19\00:43:55.46
because he was
faithful nor was there any
00:43:55.66\00:43:59.80
error or fault found in him. "
00:43:59.90\00:44:02.94
Will that characterize
God's end-time people?
00:44:03.24\00:44:05.55
Is it also necessary
for us to be faithful in our
00:44:05.76\00:44:08.71
everyday secular
duties? Absolutely!
00:44:08.81\00:44:11.80
Because if we don't then
the enemies of God's people
00:44:12.00\00:44:15.51
will have reason to accuse
God's people in the end time.
00:44:15.61\00:44:18.57
So where did the
enemies of Daniel have to find
00:44:18.87\00:44:22.63
something against him?
Notice Daniel chapter 6
00:44:22.73\00:44:25.78
and verse 5. It explicitly
tells us that they tried to
00:44:25.88\00:44:29.78
find fault with his
religious convictions
00:44:29.88\00:44:32.52
and his religious practices.
00:44:32.73\00:44:34.24
It says there:
"Then these men said:
00:44:34.44\00:44:37.44
'We shall not find any
charge against this Daniel
00:44:37.64\00:44:42.59
unless we find it against
him concerning... ' What?
00:44:42.79\00:44:46.71
'concerning the
law of His God. ' "
00:44:46.91\00:44:51.17
What is the conflict
over in Daniel chapter 6?
00:44:51.37\00:44:55.15
It is over the law of
God vs. the laws of men
00:44:55.45\00:44:59.40
and Daniel's right to worship
his God and pray to his God
00:44:59.60\00:45:04.54
according to the
dictates of his conscience.
00:45:04.74\00:45:06.91
Now listen carefully: the second
clause of the first amendment
00:45:07.11\00:45:10.23
to the constitution...
the first clause says
00:45:10.43\00:45:13.27
"Congress shall make no law
respecting the establishment
00:45:13.47\00:45:16.88
of religion" but
the second clause says
00:45:16.98\00:45:19.09
"nor forbidding the
free exercise thereof. "
00:45:19.30\00:45:21.63
This story
illustrates the second clause.
00:45:21.83\00:45:25.00
What happens when the second
clause of the U.S. constitution
00:45:25.10\00:45:27.91
is violated... because
King Darius or Darius as people
00:45:28.11\00:45:32.37
call him... King Darius
was not establishing religion,
00:45:32.57\00:45:36.23
he was forbidding the
free exercise of religion.
00:45:36.43\00:45:38.86
He was saying that
you could not pray.
00:45:39.06\00:45:41.47
And Daniel says: "No,
Nebuchadnezzar could not
00:45:41.67\00:45:44.46
establish religion and you
cannot forbid the free exercise
00:45:44.56\00:45:47.46
of religion. " And so Daniel
insisted on praying to his God.
00:45:47.56\00:45:51.21
Once again we
have a faithful remnant
00:45:51.51\00:45:54.39
who chooses to worship God
00:45:54.59\00:45:56.54
and chooses to
keep His commandments.
00:45:56.74\00:45:58.93
And life is not as important
as being faithful to God.
00:45:59.13\00:46:02.92
He refused to obey
this religious decree.
00:46:03.12\00:46:07.20
And by the way, in both
stories you have the civil power
00:46:07.23\00:46:10.15
enforcing a religious decree
00:46:10.35\00:46:13.03
because his
advisers told him to do it.
00:46:13.23\00:46:17.29
In the book of Revelation
the dangerous powers for God's
00:46:18.15\00:46:21.24
people are not the
civil powers of the world.
00:46:21.34\00:46:23.49
The Romans were no
risk to Jesus Christ.
00:46:23.79\00:46:27.17
It was the church acting upon
Pilate, the state at that time,
00:46:27.37\00:46:32.53
that led to the
death of Jesus Christ.
00:46:32.73\00:46:34.48
And the same thing happened
during the period of the
00:46:34.68\00:46:38.15
1,260 years.
00:46:38.25\00:46:40.43
A death decree was
uttered along with this law
00:46:42.94\00:46:46.78
forbidding
worship of the true God.
00:46:46.98\00:46:50.50
The law was
written and it was signed
00:46:50.70\00:46:55.60
and a death decree
was connected with it.
00:46:55.90\00:46:59.26
It's interesting to notice
- I emphasize this point -
00:46:59.66\00:47:03.13
that this decree was actually
given by authority of the king
00:47:03.33\00:47:07.69
but it was the
religious advisers who actually
00:47:07.89\00:47:11.37
instigated him to do it.
00:47:11.57\00:47:13.46
And the king was
totally deceived.
00:47:13.66\00:47:16.00
What happened when the
king woke up and discovered that
00:47:16.20\00:47:19.39
he had been deceived?
00:47:19.49\00:47:21.26
Well... the
princes became cat food.
00:47:21.66\00:47:26.96
Isn't that right? Absolutely!
00:47:30.22\00:47:33.77
Let me ask you: in the end
time are the kings of the earth
00:47:34.07\00:47:36.85
going to discover that the
religious systems have deceived
00:47:37.05\00:47:40.25
them into giving
decrees against God's people?
00:47:40.35\00:47:42.67
Revelation
chapter 17 verse 16 says
00:47:42.87\00:47:45.21
that the kings
will hate the harlot!
00:47:45.42\00:47:48.16
In other words, they
will hate the apostate church
00:47:48.46\00:47:51.41
and they will turn on her.
00:47:51.61\00:47:53.75
Do we have in Daniel 6
a great tribulation that
00:47:53.95\00:47:57.24
Daniel went through? Absolutely!
00:47:57.44\00:47:59.54
Do you think that
his faith was tested?
00:47:59.78\00:48:01.84
No doubt whatsoever about
it. He knew the lions were there
00:48:02.04\00:48:05.34
and he knew that
the lions were hungry.
00:48:05.54\00:48:07.65
And yet in spite of
this fact Daniel said:
00:48:08.72\00:48:12.07
"I have a covenant
relationship with the Lord.
00:48:12.27\00:48:14.46
He has promised that
if I am faithful to Him
00:48:14.76\00:48:17.56
He'll come through and He'll
deliver me from the lions. "
00:48:17.76\00:48:21.06
Once again the word
deliver that was used four times
00:48:21.56\00:48:25.28
in Daniel 3 is used
five times in Daniel 6.
00:48:25.38\00:48:29.00
This connects the two
chapters and then at the end
00:48:30.03\00:48:32.76
we're going to go to
chapter 12 where you have
00:48:32.96\00:48:35.34
the final fulfillment
of what is foreshadowed
00:48:35.48\00:48:37.90
in these two stories.
00:48:38.11\00:48:39.35
Notice in Daniel
chapter 6 and verse 14
00:48:39.55\00:48:42.77
it says that Darius labored
till the going down of the sun
00:48:42.78\00:48:47.26
to deliver Daniel.
00:48:47.46\00:48:49.55
You know the
king... this is interesting.
00:48:49.95\00:48:52.14
The king exercised his
authority. He thought he was
00:48:52.34\00:48:54.76
great. He was exercising
authority by giving the decree.
00:48:54.96\00:48:57.93
And then he wasn't very
free because he couldn't change
00:48:58.13\00:49:01.33
his decree. That means
that his power was not absolute.
00:49:01.43\00:49:04.90
And so he did everything
until sundown to deliver Daniel.
00:49:05.20\00:49:08.74
Not able to.
00:49:09.14\00:49:11.04
So in chapter 6 and verse
16 the king says to Daniel:
00:49:11.34\00:49:16.42
"May the God whom you
serve continually deliver you...
00:49:16.62\00:49:21.54
because I can't. "
00:49:21.74\00:49:23.26
In verse 20 when Daniel's been
thrown into the lion's den -
00:49:23.56\00:49:29.40
and I'm sure that he petted the
lions while he was in there...
00:49:29.61\00:49:32.21
all night -
00:49:32.41\00:49:34.00
they behaved just
like little kitty cats.
00:49:34.30\00:49:36.79
The next morning Darius
who has not slept at all...
00:49:37.09\00:49:40.63
You know, he has these
dark shadows under his eyes
00:49:41.92\00:49:44.91
and he's all depressed. He
comes to the entrance and he
00:49:45.11\00:49:47.48
says in verse 20:
"Has the God whom you serve
00:49:47.58\00:49:51.10
continually... " that's
a key word... "continually
00:49:51.30\00:49:54.19
been able to deliver you? "
00:49:54.39\00:49:56.34
There you have the
word deliver again.
00:49:56.54\00:49:57.96
In verse 27 after
Daniel is delivered
00:49:58.16\00:50:03.25
the king says that
"God delivers and rescues.
00:50:03.45\00:50:08.40
He works signs and
wonders and has delivered Daniel
00:50:08.61\00:50:13.32
from the power of the lion. "
00:50:13.52\00:50:15.42
What lion? What is the central
theme of Daniel chapter 6?
00:50:15.62\00:50:19.80
Deliverance!
00:50:20.00\00:50:22.34
What is the central
theme of Daniel chapter 3?
00:50:22.64\00:50:25.13
Deliverance! Folks, we
have trying times ahead for us.
00:50:25.43\00:50:29.40
There is going to be a time
of trouble such as never has
00:50:29.70\00:50:32.51
existed in the
history of the world.
00:50:32.61\00:50:34.21
It will involve worship; it
will involve obedience to God...
00:50:34.41\00:50:37.63
a covenant
relationship with Him.
00:50:37.73\00:50:39.37
And when the trying times come
00:50:39.67\00:50:41.79
we need to
understand... we need to KNOW
00:50:41.99\00:50:44.65
that if we are in a covenant
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:50:44.85\00:50:47.45
He will come through and
He will protect His people.
00:50:47.65\00:50:50.97
Amen.
00:50:51.17\00:50:52.48
You know, God could have
simply skipped these stories.
00:50:52.68\00:50:56.07
And He could have said: "You
know, when you're going through
00:50:56.27\00:50:59.41
the end-time
crisis I'll be with you. "
00:50:59.51\00:51:02.46
But God left these
stories because He says:
00:51:03.48\00:51:05.67
"If I did it once, what makes
you think I won't do it again? "
00:51:05.87\00:51:10.08
Amen! In other words, He
left these stories as types,
00:51:10.28\00:51:13.69
as illustrations, as symbols
00:51:13.72\00:51:16.73
of what will
transpire in the future.
00:51:16.93\00:51:19.23
The stories do have
a second fulfillment.
00:51:19.43\00:51:22.00
The chain prophecies do not
00:51:22.21\00:51:24.50
because they... we apply
to them the historicist way
00:51:24.70\00:51:29.23
of interpreting Bible prophecy.
00:51:29.43\00:51:31.57
Of course, the deliverance
of Daniel is spectacular.
00:51:31.97\00:51:35.19
And you don't think
the lions were hungry?
00:51:36.53\00:51:39.27
The Bible says - and by
the way, did you notice?
00:51:39.58\00:51:42.75
Once again it's the
enemies of Daniel who died.
00:51:42.96\00:51:45.45
Who died when the three
young men were thrown into the
00:51:45.75\00:51:49.22
fiery furnace? The
ones that threw them in.
00:51:49.25\00:51:51.47
In the days of Esther...
this is a recurring theme
00:51:52.79\00:51:55.45
in scripture. In
the days of Esther
00:51:55.65\00:51:58.06
who hung on the gallows?
00:51:58.26\00:52:00.54
The one who
prepared the gallows.
00:52:00.74\00:52:03.03
In the book of Revelation
do the kings destroy God's
00:52:03.23\00:52:07.00
people? No. They
destroy the harlot
00:52:07.10\00:52:10.95
who prepared the plot.
00:52:11.15\00:52:12.46
In other words, God
has given us these stories
00:52:12.66\00:52:14.88
to comfort us - comfort
us - and to give us assurance
00:52:15.08\00:52:18.08
in the end time.
Now listen folks:
00:52:18.28\00:52:20.57
the only other place that the
word deliver is found in Daniel
00:52:22.16\00:52:25.35
is in Daniel 11:41.
00:52:25.55\00:52:27.50
And I'm not going to go
into that because we have
00:52:28.00\00:52:30.90
a study on Daniel 11 a
little bit later on today.
00:52:31.00\00:52:33.45
But in Daniel
chapter 11 it speaks about
00:52:33.75\00:52:36.77
certain groups that escape the
power of the king of the north.
00:52:36.97\00:52:42.93
The king of the north represents
the same as the little horn,
00:52:43.13\00:52:45.86
the beast, the harlot,
the abomination of desolation,
00:52:46.07\00:52:48.21
and the man of sin. They're
all symbolic of the same system
00:52:48.41\00:52:51.25
at the end of time.
00:52:51.45\00:52:52.53
And though it's translated
"these shall escape from his
00:52:52.83\00:52:55.72
hand" really it's
the same Hebrew word
00:52:55.82\00:52:58.85
"these shall be
delivered from his hand. "
00:52:59.05\00:53:01.07
It represents those who belong
to every church where God has
00:53:01.27\00:53:04.87
true children who will escape
before the destruction comes.
00:53:04.97\00:53:10.09
Will escape from the
power that will oppress
00:53:10.29\00:53:13.12
and persecute God's
people at the end of time.
00:53:13.32\00:53:15.38
Then of course it says
that the king of the north
00:53:15.68\00:53:18.43
sets up the tents of his palace
00:53:18.63\00:53:20.54
between the seas and
the glorious holy mountain
00:53:20.74\00:53:23.46
to deliver a final death
blow against God's people.
00:53:23.66\00:53:27.42
Then you have the last
reference to the word deliver
00:53:28.51\00:53:31.23
in the book of Daniel...
Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1.
00:53:31.44\00:53:33.86
It says: "At that time... "
And now we're dealing not with
00:53:34.06\00:53:37.36
Daniel's day... we're
dealing with the end of time.
00:53:37.46\00:53:40.23
That which was foreshadowed
in Daniel 3 and Daniel 6
00:53:40.26\00:53:43.96
will now be described in
Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1.
00:53:44.16\00:53:47.17
"At that time
Michael shall stand up. "
00:53:47.37\00:53:50.32
Who is Michael?
00:53:50.62\00:53:52.21
Jesus Christ.
00:53:52.61\00:53:54.15
What does that mean
that He's going to stand up?
00:53:54.35\00:53:56.73
Actually it means
that probation will close.
00:53:56.93\00:53:59.61
And when He stands up He
stands up to defend what?
00:54:01.53\00:54:05.91
"Who stands in favor of
the children of His people. "
00:54:06.11\00:54:10.08
But then notice it says:
"And there shall be a... " What?
00:54:10.28\00:54:14.24
"There shall be a time of
trouble such as never was. "
00:54:14.44\00:54:18.48
Did that happen in Daniel 6?
00:54:18.68\00:54:21.59
Did that happen
in Daniel chapter 3?
00:54:21.89\00:54:24.48
Absolutely! But then it says
00:54:24.68\00:54:27.45
that at the end of
the time of trouble
00:54:29.32\00:54:31.71
God's people will be what?
God's people will be delivered,
00:54:32.99\00:54:37.81
every one who is
found written in the book.
00:54:38.02\00:54:42.26
You see, folks, these
stories of Daniel 3 and Daniel 6
00:54:43.27\00:54:48.92
are a living
historical illustration
00:54:49.12\00:54:51.79
of the deliverance of
God's people at the end of time.
00:54:51.99\00:54:54.83
They teach what
the issues will be.
00:54:55.03\00:54:58.34
They teach that
there will be a remnant.
00:54:58.54\00:55:00.36
There will be a death decree.
00:55:00.56\00:55:01.90
The issue will be worship
and the observance of God's
00:55:02.10\00:55:04.50
commandments. There will
be a severe time of trouble.
00:55:04.60\00:55:07.09
But the glorious truth
is that in the midst of that
00:55:07.40\00:55:10.98
terrible time of
trouble such as never has been,
00:55:11.19\00:55:13.66
during the period when the
7 last plagues are falling,
00:55:13.96\00:55:17.15
so to speak the furnace is
heated seven times than ever
00:55:17.35\00:55:20.31
before Daniel chapter
12 and verse 1 tells us
00:55:20.41\00:55:24.53
that God's people
will be delivered...
00:55:24.73\00:55:27.87
every one who is
found written in the book.
00:55:28.07\00:55:31.63
Incidentally, if it
says every one who is found
00:55:31.84\00:55:36.86
written in the book then their
names must have been written
00:55:37.06\00:55:40.36
in the book before this.
00:55:40.46\00:55:42.34
Which indicates that there
was a judgment that took place
00:55:43.58\00:55:46.36
before where God wrote
their names in the book.
00:55:46.46\00:55:50.60
I'd like to end
by reading a verse
00:55:51.73\00:55:54.08
that has been a comfort to me.
00:55:54.28\00:55:57.21
I know it's been
a comfort to many
00:55:57.41\00:55:59.11
throughout the course of the
history since it was written.
00:55:59.31\00:56:02.84
It's in that beautiful Psalm
00:56:03.15\00:56:06.39
that many have
memorized... Psalm 23.
00:56:06.59\00:56:10.34
The Psalmist says:
00:56:11.73\00:56:13.29
"Yea though I walk
00:56:13.50\00:56:16.70
through the valley
of the shadow of death
00:56:17.00\00:56:20.11
I will fear no evil... "
00:56:20.41\00:56:23.57
Then what does it say?
00:56:23.77\00:56:25.87
"for Thou art with me.
00:56:26.17\00:56:29.62
Thy rod and Thy staff
00:56:29.65\00:56:33.41
they comfort me. "
00:56:33.61\00:56:35.49
We need to be
studying the promises of God.
00:56:35.79\00:56:39.33
We need to be committing
those promises to memory
00:56:39.53\00:56:42.38
because we will need
to quote those verses
00:56:42.58\00:56:46.27
to ourselves and to
those we come in contact with.
00:56:46.47\00:56:50.20
Because ultimately God
will have the last word.
00:56:50.50\00:56:54.14
You know, if you
look at the book of Daniel
00:56:54.44\00:56:56.34
the central theme really is that
God will have the last word.
00:56:56.54\00:57:00.60
He will set up an everlasting
kingdom with His people,
00:57:00.80\00:57:04.40
a kingdom that shall
never be destroyed. Amen!
00:57:04.54\00:57:09.43
I pray to God that we will
be members of that kingdom.
00:57:09.56\00:57:12.55
Let us pray.
00:57:12.75\00:57:15.01
Father in heaven,
00:57:15.41\00:57:17.67
we thank you for giving us
these stories from the past.
00:57:17.97\00:57:23.34
We thank you that
through them we are able to see
00:57:23.55\00:57:27.23
clearly what will
happen in the future.
00:57:27.43\00:57:31.11