If there is one thing that
Seventh-day Adventists believe.
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If there is one thing
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that is even
encapsulated in their name,
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it is concerning the
advent, the appearing,
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the second coming of Jesus.
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And today, we're gonna
be discussing that topic
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which I think is near and
dear to each of our hearts.
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And years ago numerous times
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from the prophetic pen
and voice of Ellen White,
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the church was told
that Christ could come
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and Christ could come
and Christ could come.
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So today, what we want to do
is talk about that second coming
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and we're gonna really
look at three basic categories
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and we're gonna look at
this in three basic sections.
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And in between we're
gonna have some lovely music
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that focuses on
the second coming.
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The first section,
we're gonna be talking about
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why are we still
talking about the second coming?
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Why has Jesus not yet come?
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That's section number one.
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Then we're gonna
look at another section.
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What in the world indicates
that God is on the move
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that Jesus is about to return.
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We'll look at some
signs in the world,
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some signs in the church.
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And then our final
section, we'll be looking at
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what can Seventh-day
Adventists church members,
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ASI members do to
hasten Christ coming.
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What kind of things can we do?
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Now in facilitating this,
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I want to thank all of
you for or many of you--
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it almost seems like all
of you the number of questions
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that came in for
sending in your questions.
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There are more questions
than we'll be able to answer.
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But what I did as the moderator
was trying collate those
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and then got together with our
Seventh-day Adventists up here,
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there are seven of us.
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And we discussed the questions
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and then we, we kind of
grouped them in categories.
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So you might have like an
amalgamation of your questions,
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it might be, that's my question,
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but it maybe smashed together
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with three others
that were similar.
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So if it sounds
like your question,
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don't get up
and start screaming.
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But it probably is a similar
type of question to the others.
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Well, let's just bow our heads
before we begin this discussion
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and meet our guests
and then begin to talk.
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Father in heaven,
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Lord, the very fact that
we are here discussing this,
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as has been mentioned already
today in the divine service
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and even before is
somewhat of a rebuke to us.
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And we do long to see You come.
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And we-- while we enjoy ASI
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as it is a piece of heaven,
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we would rather be
having ASI in heaven.
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So bless us today as
we talk and as we discuss
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and may Your Holy Spirit do
something for us individually.
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May this be something
very personal for each of us
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that we could even
have a recommitment renewal
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and revival during this
time, in Christ name we pray.
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Amen.
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Our panelists are Elder Finley,
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assistant to the president
of the General Conference
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and for many
years, an evangelist.
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I first met him
when I was 9 years old,
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but he doesn't
probably remember that.
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And then Andi Hunsaker,
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she is a physician at
Harvard in the women's hospital
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where she is in charge
of neuro-imaging department
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and so she's gonna take
an inside look at things
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with us today.
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And then we have our
General Conference President,
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Elder Tedd Wilson,
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who has served
the church for years,
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I still remember his father
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coming to my
home as a little boy
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and he always
remembered my name,
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no matter what I looked
like or what I had been into.
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And then Elder C.D Brooks,
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wasn't it a blessing
to have him with us today
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for the divine service.
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And former field secretary
of the General Conference
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still has an office there,
if you want to get mail to him,
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just send it to
the General Conference,
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C.D Brooks.
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And we're glad he is with us.
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Then, Elder Reid, who
is now serving with WAR,
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World Radio,
Adventist World Radio
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in development for many years
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was dealing with
financial issues,
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has written a number of
books on the end time as well.
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We're glad that he is with us.
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And then Attorney, Lewis Walton,
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a tax attorney in LA I believe.
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And for many years
has also served the church
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on the camp meeting circuit
and through writing books
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that have provoked a lot
of thought on this subject.
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Well, let's get
started, I want to lay some
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ground rules for my panelists
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and that is we
want short questions
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that are also complete.
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I mean, short answers
that are also complete.
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I know that's kind
of almost impossible.
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But as succinct as you can
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because we want to
cover more material.
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And then also
the second thing is
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I'm gonna be trying
to give each one of you
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a time to respond to questions.
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So I may call out
one of you individually
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to answer a question.
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And then if you
don't really feel like
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answering that question,
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you can always pass
that off to the others, okay?
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All right, so let's begin.
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Why are we still
talking about the second coming?
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Why have we not
yet seen Jesus come?
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That's our first section.
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And there was a question
that came in under that section
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that I kind of put there
and I want to address this to
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the doctor from Harvard.
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We're told in the Bible
in the Spirit of Prophecy,
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this is a question that came in.
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That the gospel was
given to the whole world
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by the early church
in the first generation
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after Christ, says that in
Colossians in number of versus.
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And then Ellen White
agrees the truth of the gospel
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which has come to you as
it is also in all the world,
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and was preached
to every creature.
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Typically, we're told
that finishing the work
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is to make sure that everyone
hears the gospel message
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and then Jesus will come.
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But if that already happened,
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if every
creature already heard it
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2000 years ago,
what was lacking?
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Must there be more
finishing the work?
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Is there something more
than just message propagation
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and distribution?
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I think I know why Don
has asked me that question,
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because I know exactly
where that question came from.
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I want to thank my great husband
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for that question.
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But there is a really
nice quote that I like.
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Certainly, the gospel,
the Bible does say that
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in several passages
and Ellen White agrees.
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But I think that there
are certain things that
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the Lord is waiting for.
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And I just want to read
a quote from Ellen White
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that says that Christ
is waiting for His portrait
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to be painted in
each of His disciples.
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And I think that
to the extent that
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that portrait is not
painted, He is waiting.
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And so I think that
message propagation is one thing
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but He wants to actually
see Himself represented in us.
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We're told in Revelation 18:1
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that the earth will be
lightened with His glory.
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And I don't think
that He wants to come back
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to a dimly lit world.
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Anyone else want to add to that?
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Following up.
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Okay, Elder Reid.
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It's interesting that we
all talk about Matthew 24:14
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when the gospel's
preached in all the world.
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Well, as you
mentioned it was preached
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in all the world
in the first century.
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But Jesus told us
two things to look for.
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One is conditions
and the other one is
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the great prophetic timeline
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and when commenting
on 2nd Thessalonians 2:3,
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Ellen White said you know,
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the coming will not take
place till the falling away
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and the men of sin
revealed and so on.
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She says that that's
the 1,260 year period,
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ended in 1798
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and she said the
second coming of Christ
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could not take
place before that time.
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That's Great Controversy
356, and it's interesting that
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from that time on
we've had the great awakening
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in the advent
movement and so on,
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which makes it
very, very relevant
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and prophetic in fulfillment.
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Elder Finley?
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The unique contribution
that Seventh-day Adventists
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have to make to Christendom
is an understanding of the Bible
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through the Great
Controversy theme.
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And as I look at the context
of the Great Controversy,
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Satan challenged
the government of God.
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Satan said that God
was of indicative judge,
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He was a wrathful tyrant,
that He was self centered.
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In the entire panorama
of the plan of salvation
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in the coming of Christ
to the earth the first time
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was to reveal the
love and grace of God.
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And we know what
God is like by seeing
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what Jesus was like.
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In the context of
that Great Controversy,
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although Jesus
demonstrated clearly
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what the father was like.
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The Bible says
in Mark Chapter 4,
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that the harvest
will be fully ripe.
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So God will
reveal through His people
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to a waiting world,
to the watching universe,
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God's marvelous love.
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And why hasn't Jesus come?
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It is not simply that the gospel
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has not been
preached to the world.
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It is that all of
heaven and the entire universe
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are waiting in a sin
filled world for God to--
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God's love to be
revealed through His people
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as a contrast to selfishness.
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So in the context of
the Great Controversy,
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God has this longing desire
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to reveal Himself
through His people.
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Let's move on to
the next question.
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And I want to direct
this to, Attorney Walton,
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because you and I were
talking about this as well
00:11:09.97\00:11:12.49
and, there were a number
of questions that came in
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that were giving
various statements
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from the pen of inspiration
concerning various times
00:11:19.47\00:11:23.01
where Ellen White
said, He's coming.
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In fact some of
the statements said.
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Some of the
people even standing here
00:11:27.30\00:11:28.97
will be food for worms
and I've always noticed that
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when I was a young man,
I said, man that's intense.
00:11:32.68\00:11:35.95
And so all of these
different statements,
00:11:35.98\00:11:38.28
can you shed any light
on those statements for us?
00:11:38.31\00:11:42.50
Let me quickly speak to
the issue of food for worms
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if my mike is on.
00:11:45.98\00:11:48.34
And that is, that
was in the context
00:11:48.37\00:11:50.25
of the great
revival that took place
00:11:50.28\00:11:51.86
in the church in the
1850's when everybody,
00:11:51.89\00:11:55.02
nearly everybody
expected the Lord would come
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as a result of that.
00:11:57.52\00:11:58.74
It was conditional prophecy.
00:11:58.77\00:12:00.71
Ellen white said
her angel said that.
00:12:00.74\00:12:03.86
She didn't say she
got that from the Lord.
00:12:03.89\00:12:06.28
There was a period of
time of about 34 months
00:12:06.31\00:12:09.57
in which after
that period was over
00:12:09.60\00:12:11.76
Ellen White said the Lord
has given the Laodicean message,
00:12:11.79\00:12:15.03
time to do its work,
revive and reform Adventism
00:12:15.06\00:12:18.38
and bring on the second coming.
00:12:18.41\00:12:20.02
The second coming
could have happened
00:12:20.05\00:12:21.82
before the Civil
War, according to her.
00:12:21.85\00:12:25.40
Now the question here--
00:12:25.43\00:12:27.13
First of all, let
me, let me give the,
00:12:27.16\00:12:29.02
paint the silver
side of the cloud first.
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I am convinced that
if the spirit of ASI
00:12:31.53\00:12:36.25
were shared by every
member of this church,
00:12:36.28\00:12:38.74
we would not be
here this morning.
00:12:38.77\00:12:41.21
We would be now looking
back on the sea of glass,
00:12:41.24\00:12:44.41
the welcome home supper,
00:12:44.44\00:12:45.95
we would be hard
at work in the cosmos.
00:12:45.98\00:12:48.88
The spirit in this group
00:12:48.91\00:12:51.36
if it infected the entire church
00:12:51.39\00:12:55.78
with this delightful
excitement and commitment
00:12:55.81\00:12:59.66
could finish the work of God.
00:12:59.69\00:13:01.18
There is enough horsepower
in this room to get it done
00:13:01.21\00:13:04.46
and one of our mission
fields is inside the church
00:13:04.49\00:13:06.89
as well as outside the church.
00:13:06.92\00:13:09.11
To the issue though
of, why are we still here?
00:13:09.14\00:13:12.69
Ellen White in 1883 said,
00:13:12.72\00:13:15.02
Christ could have come ere this.
00:13:15.05\00:13:18.41
1890, she said it all
again, had the purpose of God
00:13:18.44\00:13:21.53
been carried out by His people,
00:13:21.56\00:13:23.08
Christ would ere this have come.
00:13:23.11\00:13:26.38
8 more years went
by, now she is Australia.
00:13:26.41\00:13:30.68
She says if God's people had
the love of Christ in the heart
00:13:30.71\00:13:34.25
a thousand doors of
usefulness would be open,
00:13:34.28\00:13:37.26
Christ would have
come to the earth ere this.
00:13:37.29\00:13:40.64
Now where am I going with this?
00:13:40.67\00:13:43.29
3 years later in 1901, she
repeats that same statement
00:13:43.32\00:13:48.41
but now something ominous
is creeping into her language,
00:13:48.44\00:13:52.55
when she also adds,
00:13:52.58\00:13:54.25
we may have to
remain here in this world
00:13:54.28\00:13:56.37
because of
insubordination many more years.
00:13:56.40\00:13:59.72
Then goes on to
say, but for Christ sake
00:13:59.75\00:14:01.95
don't blame heaven for that.
00:14:01.98\00:14:03.50
It's not heaven's plan.
00:14:03.53\00:14:06.11
And the question
that I want to pose to us
00:14:06.14\00:14:08.42
and answer to that issue is
how could we be insubordinate?
00:14:08.45\00:14:14.40
And might I
suggest a good way to do it
00:14:14.43\00:14:16.46
would be to lose
sight of our mission.
00:14:16.49\00:14:18.40
What are our operational
orders in this world?
00:14:18.43\00:14:21.10
Why are we here?
00:14:21.13\00:14:22.52
Volume 9 says
the most solemn truth
00:14:22.55\00:14:25.50
ever entrusted to
mortals have been given to us
00:14:25.53\00:14:28.35
to proclaim to the world.
00:14:28.38\00:14:31.37
That's why we're here.
00:14:31.40\00:14:32.78
How could we be insubordinate?
00:14:32.81\00:14:34.98
We could preach that
message without acting
00:14:35.01\00:14:38.38
as if we really believe it.
00:14:38.41\00:14:41.65
How could we do that?
00:14:41.68\00:14:43.37
One way would
be to let Hollywood
00:14:43.40\00:14:45.89
into the heart of our homes.
00:14:45.92\00:14:48.30
Through the
kind of entertainment
00:14:48.33\00:14:50.18
that drifts us
away from the commitment
00:14:50.21\00:14:53.20
we still say we believe.
00:14:53.23\00:14:56.17
May I respectfully suggest
that is the single best method
00:14:56.20\00:15:00.68
we could use to lose our youth?
00:15:00.71\00:15:03.82
Which will then lead us to
00:15:03.85\00:15:05.28
a second level
of insubordination
00:15:05.31\00:15:07.51
and that would be
disrespect our youth
00:15:07.54\00:15:09.95
and treat them as if they
are an inconvenient age group
00:15:09.98\00:15:14.04
whose only real
function is to be entertained.
00:15:14.07\00:15:18.30
Now ladies and gentlemen,
we have seen exhibit A
00:15:18.33\00:15:21.05
here at ASI
that our young people
00:15:21.08\00:15:23.04
can do more than that.
00:15:23.07\00:15:27.11
May I also
suggest that that means
00:15:27.14\00:15:30.42
we should have a
very acute interest
00:15:30.45\00:15:32.77
in the quality of our
educational institutions?
00:15:32.80\00:15:36.89
Do our kids come
back from their schooling
00:15:36.92\00:15:40.33
solid in the
word of God, convinced
00:15:40.36\00:15:42.86
and more able
than ever to explain
00:15:42.89\00:15:45.58
and believe our doctrines
including even stuff like
00:15:45.61\00:15:49.20
how we got to be on this earth?
00:15:49.23\00:15:52.70
So number two, we could be
insubordinate by drifting away,
00:15:52.73\00:15:57.08
allowing a world
that is not centered
00:15:57.11\00:16:02.42
on the second
coming to influence.
00:16:02.45\00:16:05.57
Finally, number three,
we could be insubordinate
00:16:05.60\00:16:09.17
by forgetting the vital fact
00:16:09.20\00:16:11.69
that this church
is a world church
00:16:11.72\00:16:14.55
and we need to act
like a world church.
00:16:14.58\00:16:17.75
And this church
every division of it,
00:16:17.78\00:16:20.66
every conference, every union
00:16:20.69\00:16:22.27
should speak with one voice
00:16:22.30\00:16:26.14
and follow a
common plan toward home.
00:16:26.17\00:16:30.70
Thank you for that short,
00:16:30.73\00:16:35.42
succinct and
definitely complete answer.
00:16:35.45\00:16:38.81
Yeah, well, he said attorney
when he asked the question.
00:16:38.84\00:16:41.34
You asked for it.
00:16:41.37\00:16:46.65
I didn't want you
to sue me for my taxes.
00:16:46.68\00:16:50.85
Okay, I have a--
00:16:50.88\00:16:52.58
I have a
question for Elder Brooks.
00:16:52.61\00:16:55.16
Okay, I know you all
want to add on to that
00:16:55.19\00:16:57.55
and maybe I should
defer to the wisdom
00:16:57.58\00:16:59.95
but let me see if you
can work with this question
00:16:59.98\00:17:03.11
directed to Elder Brooks.
00:17:03.14\00:17:05.03
The disciples were at
one accord in the upper room
00:17:05.06\00:17:07.30
before the Holy
Spirit was poured out.
00:17:07.33\00:17:10.45
The General Conference is
currently calling for prayer,
00:17:10.48\00:17:13.32
for revival, for reformation.
00:17:13.35\00:17:15.40
But there are many
factions within Adventism.
00:17:15.43\00:17:19.90
What efforts have
been made in reaching out
00:17:19.93\00:17:22.88
to reconcile with them?
00:17:22.91\00:17:25.14
Is there a way we
can have the Lord come
00:17:25.17\00:17:28.51
when we are so
disunified, Elder Brooks?
00:17:28.54\00:17:32.75
I have a perspective
that's probably unique with me.
00:17:32.78\00:17:38.00
The question came in about 1844
00:17:38.03\00:17:41.02
and the great disappointment
I can understand it.
00:17:41.05\00:17:44.21
Because in 1844,
my people were slaves
00:17:44.24\00:17:48.92
under the most inhumane system
ever recorded about in history.
00:17:48.95\00:17:54.65
I had no idea, when
I learnt these things
00:17:54.68\00:17:57.62
that people thought
Christ should have come.
00:17:57.65\00:17:59.32
He wasn't coming and take
anybody anywhere without us.
00:17:59.35\00:18:04.24
That's right. Amen.
00:18:04.27\00:18:06.50
That's one perspective.
00:18:12.33\00:18:16.29
Ellen White says
there never was a time.
00:18:16.32\00:18:19.66
There never was a
time when the truth
00:18:19.69\00:18:21.44
should not have been presented
with a sense of urgency,
00:18:21.47\00:18:25.26
I almost got it right.
00:18:25.29\00:18:27.90
Paul and the
apostles wrote about time.
00:18:27.93\00:18:30.09
They said, it's
our time in their day.
00:18:30.12\00:18:33.21
And the Lord had
to clear Paul's mind
00:18:33.24\00:18:35.27
by giving him visions of the--
00:18:35.30\00:18:38.36
what he just
mentioned 1,260 year period.
00:18:38.39\00:18:41.22
All of these
things had to transpire.
00:18:41.25\00:18:43.07
So he had to project beyond that
00:18:43.10\00:18:45.44
and I really think
it's best that we don't know
00:18:45.47\00:18:49.38
the day and the
hour that God determined
00:18:49.41\00:18:52.24
and of course, that's
enough to make it best.
00:18:52.27\00:18:54.83
We don't know
the day or the hour.
00:18:54.86\00:18:56.94
But I know that
Jesus is coming soon.
00:18:56.97\00:18:59.87
The signs that are
fulfilling all around us,
00:18:59.90\00:19:03.02
speak to us in a
way as never before.
00:19:03.05\00:19:06.04
I saw a
meteorologist on television
00:19:06.07\00:19:09.80
following one of these
capricious acts of nature
00:19:09.83\00:19:13.55
and he was called
in right on camera,
00:19:13.58\00:19:16.68
that's the man who studied
the science of meteorology.
00:19:16.71\00:19:19.66
That's the man who
got his degree in it.
00:19:19.69\00:19:21.73
That's the man who
does it professionally
00:19:21.76\00:19:24.17
and they ask
him what's going on,
00:19:24.20\00:19:27.13
these unusual things?
00:19:27.16\00:19:30.08
And he looked blankly
into the camera and said,
00:19:30.11\00:19:33.34
"I don't know."
00:19:33.37\00:19:36.35
And the truth
is he doesn't know.
00:19:36.38\00:19:38.67
But we're seeing things now,
00:19:38.70\00:19:40.30
that we're not
supposed to grab an idea
00:19:40.33\00:19:42.00
and run with it as
though we have the last word.
00:19:42.03\00:19:45.34
I believe in the
organization of the church.
00:19:45.37\00:19:47.75
I believe in leadership.
00:19:47.78\00:19:49.13
I believe that when men study
something in these councils
00:19:49.16\00:19:52.74
and come out
with recommendations,
00:19:52.77\00:19:54.65
they are the best
that these men can produce.
00:19:54.68\00:19:57.65
And I support them and I'm
willing to go along with that.
00:19:57.68\00:20:01.72
You're not going to
find our leaders willfully
00:20:01.75\00:20:05.04
giving wrong advice.
00:20:05.07\00:20:08.24
The Lord should
have come ere this.
00:20:08.27\00:20:10.82
But aren't we glad He didn't?
00:20:10.85\00:20:13.45
We have an
opportunity of being with Christ
00:20:13.48\00:20:16.44
in the kingdom.
00:20:16.47\00:20:18.94
We couldn't have had
that if He had come in 1888
00:20:18.97\00:20:22.39
and other suggested times.
00:20:22.42\00:20:26.13
Thank you, Elder.
00:20:26.16\00:20:27.23
You-- You answered a lot of
my other questions too here,
00:20:27.26\00:20:29.36
so now I don't know what to do.
00:20:29.39\00:20:31.05
But let me come back to the
one that I think that you still,
00:20:31.08\00:20:33.51
we still could deal
with and I'm gonna open up
00:20:33.54\00:20:35.96
to the rest of
the panel and that is
00:20:35.99\00:20:38.12
if, you know, we saw
unity in the upper room
00:20:38.15\00:20:41.33
and that brought the Holy Spirit
00:20:41.36\00:20:42.66
and we don't see unity now.
00:20:42.69\00:20:44.40
Can Jesus come
without unity is the question?
00:20:44.43\00:20:48.89
And I think the
doctor is gonna help
00:20:48.92\00:20:52.10
look in the inside of that.
00:20:52.13\00:20:54.34
Well, my favorite passages
in scripture I think is John 17.
00:20:54.37\00:20:59.68
I always ask myself if
I were gonna be executed
00:20:59.71\00:21:03.37
facing immediate
execution what would I pray for?
00:21:03.40\00:21:08.23
And Jesus Christ
prayed for unity.
00:21:08.26\00:21:10.00
But there is a text in
John 17 that I want to look at.
00:21:10.03\00:21:14.24
John 17: 24 and then verse 26.
00:21:14.27\00:21:21.14
He continues-- First of
all, He prays for himself,
00:21:21.17\00:21:23.46
then He prays for His disciples.
00:21:23.49\00:21:25.68
Then He prays for all believers
00:21:25.71\00:21:26.99
and He says,
Father, this is verse 24,
00:21:27.02\00:21:30.22
"Father I desire that
they also whom you gave me,
00:21:30.25\00:21:35.04
may be with me where I am.
00:21:35.07\00:21:37.10
That they may
be behold my glory,
00:21:37.13\00:21:38.36
that's my character,
00:21:38.39\00:21:39.71
which you have
given me for you love me
00:21:39.74\00:21:42.06
before the
foundation of the world."
00:21:42.09\00:21:44.62
Often times I
think we look at that
00:21:44.65\00:21:46.72
with me where I am
as being in heaven.
00:21:46.75\00:21:50.69
But I think with
him means I'm with you,
00:21:50.72\00:21:53.10
I'm on the same page.
00:21:53.13\00:21:55.08
So I think if Jesus Christ
praying for unity among us
00:21:55.11\00:21:59.12
and not only that
that we're on the same page
00:21:59.15\00:22:01.29
with His heart, then
I think unity is huge.
00:22:01.32\00:22:04.99
Amen. Okay.
00:22:05.02\00:22:07.81
Elder Finley, one
lifeline for you here.
00:22:07.84\00:22:13.94
Recently in my study
of the Sabbath school,
00:22:13.97\00:22:16.70
for the Sabbath school
lessons and the research
00:22:16.73\00:22:18.68
that I did in
preparing for this series
00:22:18.71\00:22:20.39
on Revival and Reformation.
00:22:20.42\00:22:22.36
I reread the Book
of Acts numerous times
00:22:22.39\00:22:25.37
asking myself the very
question that was raised.
00:22:25.40\00:22:28.18
What are elements of
unity in the Book of Acts?
00:22:28.21\00:22:31.52
Obviously, Peter's
dispositional traits
00:22:31.55\00:22:34.38
were different than
Thomas' dispositional traits
00:22:34.41\00:22:37.03
and they were different than
John's dispositional traits.
00:22:37.06\00:22:40.00
So unity is not everybody
having the same personality
00:22:40.03\00:22:43.22
or the same
dispositional traits,
00:22:43.25\00:22:45.34
neither is it
everybody eating the same
00:22:45.37\00:22:47.34
or dressing the same
or liking the same foods.
00:22:47.37\00:22:50.03
Unity and uniformity are
two very different things.
00:22:50.06\00:22:53.41
Uniformity has to do with an
external, something external.
00:22:53.44\00:22:57.91
Unity has to do
with something internal.
00:22:57.94\00:22:59.90
If you look at the Book of Acts,
00:22:59.93\00:23:01.31
there are four
basic elements of unity.
00:23:01.34\00:23:05.21
Commitment to a common Christ.
00:23:05.24\00:23:07.89
In the Book of Acts,
the disciples were sold out
00:23:07.92\00:23:11.48
for Jesus Christ.
00:23:11.51\00:23:12.60
They were totally
committed to Jesus.
00:23:12.63\00:23:14.29
They were
passionate about Jesus.
00:23:14.32\00:23:16.05
Second, they were committed
to a common prophetic message.
00:23:16.08\00:23:20.61
Jesus was the
fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
00:23:20.64\00:23:23.94
Doctrine played a
major role in unifying them.
00:23:23.97\00:23:26.95
Thirdly, they were
committed to a common mission.
00:23:26.98\00:23:29.67
They were passionate
about reaching the world.
00:23:29.70\00:23:32.21
And fourthly,
they were committed
00:23:32.24\00:23:34.40
to a structure of
church governance.
00:23:34.43\00:23:37.75
You had the Jerusalem council.
00:23:37.78\00:23:39.74
You had a system of leadership.
00:23:39.77\00:23:42.28
Those elements bring unity,
commitment to a common Christ,
00:23:42.31\00:23:46.22
commitment to a
prophetic Adventist message,
00:23:46.25\00:23:49.24
commitment to a mission
and commitment to a church
00:23:49.27\00:23:52.61
that God has
divinely raised up at end time
00:23:52.64\00:23:55.29
to proclaim a
message to reach the world.
00:23:55.32\00:23:57.55
Amen. Amen.
00:23:57.58\00:23:59.33
I want to get to a
couple other questions here
00:23:59.36\00:24:01.07
and thank you
for that, panelists.
00:24:01.10\00:24:05.00
I'm gonna direct
this one to Elder Wilson.
00:24:05.03\00:24:08.46
What if anything
Elder Wilson does Isaiah 58
00:24:08.49\00:24:12.93
have to do with
the second coming?
00:24:12.96\00:24:17.93
I have a lot of other comments,
00:24:17.96\00:24:19.73
I'm gonna try and
squeeze them in other times.
00:24:19.76\00:24:21.95
But 58 Isaiah,
absolutely critical to the way
00:24:21.98\00:24:28.61
in which people are
supposed to relate to others
00:24:28.64\00:24:32.31
showing Christ
character and His ministry.
00:24:32.34\00:24:36.74
You know, when
Christ went to the temple,
00:24:36.77\00:24:39.34
He read from Isaiah,
He read from scripture
00:24:39.37\00:24:45.18
and it's recorded for
us in Luke 4:18 and 19.
00:24:45.21\00:24:49.63
It is the way in which we relate
00:24:49.66\00:24:51.88
and this is one of
the very major ways
00:24:51.91\00:24:54.29
in which we are
hoping mission to the cities
00:24:54.32\00:24:57.56
is going to work, that people
are going to church members
00:24:57.59\00:25:01.21
be able to show
the character of Jesus
00:25:01.24\00:25:04.68
in a very powerful way as they
reflect the fruit of the spirit
00:25:04.71\00:25:10.43
and Christ character.
00:25:10.46\00:25:12.39
So Isaiah 58
and an understanding
00:25:12.42\00:25:15.42
of how we relate to
people and that in reality
00:25:15.45\00:25:18.74
our ministry is to affect others
00:25:18.77\00:25:21.29
is going to play
an incredible part.
00:25:21.32\00:25:23.67
We use the term
medical missionary work
00:25:23.70\00:25:25.88
which is
comprehensive health ministry,
00:25:25.91\00:25:28.83
whatever term we
would like to use
00:25:28.86\00:25:30.87
and we're told that
it will be the last work
00:25:30.90\00:25:35.12
that we will be able to do.
00:25:35.15\00:25:37.45
When we will not be able to hold
00:25:37.48\00:25:39.23
public evangelistic meetings,
00:25:39.26\00:25:41.01
beautiful
convocations like this,
00:25:41.04\00:25:43.13
we will be able to
do medical ministry,
00:25:43.16\00:25:45.59
medical missionary work and
it is the work of every member,
00:25:45.62\00:25:49.20
not just health professionals.
00:25:49.23\00:25:51.16
So I think the Lord is
preparing His people now
00:25:51.19\00:25:54.12
for us to understand
00:25:54.15\00:25:55.75
how that can fit
into mission to the cities
00:25:55.78\00:25:58.97
and many ways in which
truly the second coming
00:25:59.00\00:26:03.46
can be preceded by a
reflection of Christ character.
00:26:03.49\00:26:08.07
Amen.
00:26:08.10\00:26:10.06
Okay, another
question and let's see
00:26:10.09\00:26:12.96
I have not directed one
specifically to Elder Reid yet,
00:26:12.99\00:26:16.75
so let me direct this to him.
00:26:16.78\00:26:18.87
Could the reason be--
00:26:18.90\00:26:21.11
this is a question that came in,
00:26:21.14\00:26:22.36
could there be--
the reason be that
00:26:22.39\00:26:24.20
for Christ not coming.
00:26:24.23\00:26:26.39
Could it be the same as
why He did not return in 1844
00:26:26.42\00:26:29.76
and then again after 1888?
00:26:29.79\00:26:34.13
Is the reason that we
have not seen Him come
00:26:34.16\00:26:36.99
is because He-- we
have not responded to His
00:26:37.02\00:26:40.05
third angel's message in verity?
00:26:40.08\00:26:44.54
Well, that's a good question.
00:26:44.57\00:26:45.87
She says the third
angel's message in verity
00:26:45.90\00:26:49.23
is justification by
faith and I'm glad to say
00:26:49.26\00:26:52.89
and to observe that
we're seeing more about that
00:26:52.92\00:26:55.46
in our church everyday.
00:26:55.49\00:26:57.31
More of our preachers
are preaching about it.
00:26:57.34\00:26:58.99
More of our people
are experiencing it.
00:26:59.02\00:27:01.11
And another interesting
factor about this and--
00:27:01.14\00:27:05.81
this is the work
of the Holy Spirit
00:27:05.84\00:27:07.33
in our lives of course
and the amazing thing about it
00:27:07.36\00:27:09.41
we accept God's
justification for us.
00:27:09.44\00:27:12.34
But I found this
interesting statement
00:27:12.37\00:27:13.88
when I was teaching stewardship.
00:27:13.91\00:27:15.93
And that is, one of the reason
there is such a great dearth
00:27:15.96\00:27:19.32
of the Spirit of God,
which is the transforming agent
00:27:19.35\00:27:22.31
when Ellen White talks about
what happened to Nicodemus,
00:27:22.34\00:27:24.83
no one sees the hands that
lifts the burden and so on,
00:27:24.86\00:27:27.28
when the Spirit of God comes.
00:27:27.31\00:27:28.71
One of the reasons
is that we, she says
00:27:28.74\00:27:31.56
there's such a great
dearth of the Spirit of God
00:27:31.59\00:27:34.04
is that so many are robbing God.
00:27:34.07\00:27:37.82
And I don't really
expect that we could receive
00:27:37.85\00:27:40.36
the Spirit of God
while we are robbing Him.
00:27:40.39\00:27:42.88
That's what I think
about that particular topic.
00:27:42.91\00:27:45.87
And of course the Holy
Spirit's role is to transform us
00:27:45.90\00:27:49.65
to do the finishing
touches on our character
00:27:49.68\00:27:51.87
and give us the
power to finish the work
00:27:51.90\00:27:53.84
and we all want that.
00:27:53.87\00:27:55.10
So I'm encouraging faithfulness.
00:27:55.13\00:27:58.38
Amen.
00:27:58.41\00:27:59.82
Another question that I want to
just throw out to each of you,
00:27:59.85\00:28:02.31
you know, we hear a lot
about-- and we even heard it
00:28:02.34\00:28:05.62
in answers from
the panel today that
00:28:05.65\00:28:08.23
what needs to happen is
that we need to perfectly
00:28:08.26\00:28:10.87
reflect the character of Christ.
00:28:10.90\00:28:12.19
And of course
that's the statement.
00:28:12.22\00:28:13.96
It's not just something
we're hearing from the panel.
00:28:13.99\00:28:16.87
Then-- but then some will say,
00:28:16.90\00:28:19.13
well, if you
preach that too much,
00:28:19.16\00:28:22.16
people will talk
about being perfect
00:28:22.19\00:28:24.72
and they will get
into perfectionism
00:28:24.75\00:28:26.88
and there'll be a
problem with that.
00:28:26.91\00:28:28.31
Then others talk
about what we need to do is
00:28:28.34\00:28:30.49
point out the
problems in the church
00:28:30.52\00:28:32.35
and show the sin and what not
00:28:32.38\00:28:34.42
and then if we said
enough then he'll have to come
00:28:34.45\00:28:39.17
and step in with wrath.
00:28:39.20\00:28:40.88
And then others say, you know,
what we really need to do is
00:28:40.91\00:28:44.46
create as many
devices as possible
00:28:44.49\00:28:47.71
to get the message out
as quickly as possible.
00:28:47.74\00:28:49.81
And we need to work on
the mission of the church
00:28:49.84\00:28:52.33
and there is always this
tension between these three.
00:28:52.36\00:28:56.23
Which one of them is right?
00:28:56.26\00:28:57.87
How should we relate to these
seemingly conflicting views
00:28:57.90\00:29:04.48
concerning the second coming?
00:29:04.51\00:29:08.66
The second coming
has to be rooted in your
00:29:08.69\00:29:10.43
own personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:29:10.46\00:29:13.35
Christ has to be central
in everything that you do
00:29:13.38\00:29:17.16
and think about.
00:29:17.19\00:29:18.91
I don't-- I find it difficult
for in my own understanding
00:29:18.94\00:29:23.96
how people cope without
the hope of the second coming.
00:29:23.99\00:29:29.59
It's absolutely
something that just animates me
00:29:29.62\00:29:33.34
and I'm just so
excited about it.
00:29:33.37\00:29:35.93
But I think the sense
of urgency in understanding
00:29:35.96\00:29:41.56
what time in which
we're living is something
00:29:41.59\00:29:45.27
which has to be
paramount as we try to recapture
00:29:45.30\00:29:49.68
an understanding of
the Great Controversy theme
00:29:49.71\00:29:52.43
and how God is
intending to use His people
00:29:52.46\00:29:55.30
at the very end of time.
00:29:55.33\00:29:56.36
And as I travel extensively
all around the world,
00:29:56.39\00:29:59.87
I try to emphasize strongly
00:29:59.90\00:30:02.94
the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:30:02.97\00:30:04.86
In fact, every sermon
that we preach, somehow,
00:30:04.89\00:30:09.18
someway ought to
have in of that element
00:30:09.21\00:30:12.68
of a sense of urgency
of Jesus' second coming.
00:30:12.71\00:30:16.36
And I'm hoping that
more and more people
00:30:16.39\00:30:18.80
will gain that understanding.
00:30:18.83\00:30:20.91
But, you know, this
whole sense of urgency aspect
00:30:20.94\00:30:24.17
and how you fit
that in with the mission
00:30:24.20\00:30:26.48
and how you live
your life and all of that.
00:30:26.51\00:30:29.18
It's an age old problem,
I mean 2 Peter 3 tells us
00:30:29.21\00:30:33.60
exactly that people
are going to be scoffing,
00:30:33.63\00:30:36.36
pointing questions.
00:30:36.39\00:30:38.04
Where is His coming?
00:30:38.07\00:30:39.50
And then the Lord
says, he is not slack
00:30:39.53\00:30:41.73
concerning His promise
and then He says in verse 12,
00:30:41.76\00:30:45.12
"Looking for and hastening
the coming of the day of God."
00:30:45.15\00:30:49.31
So I think
somehow we've to recapture
00:30:49.34\00:30:52.02
that we are
Seventh-day Adventists.
00:30:52.05\00:30:56.41
Thank you. We
need to go to a break.
00:30:56.44\00:30:57.83
How many of you want
to listen to some music
00:30:57.86\00:30:59.80
about the second coming.
00:30:59.83\00:31:01.55
And let's hear that number now.
00:31:01.58\00:31:04.83
When the King
returns to claim His own
00:31:19.85\00:31:27.26
And we see the Son of Man
00:31:27.29\00:31:33.16
When the Earth
shakes like a rolling stone
00:31:33.19\00:31:39.57
Who shall be able to stand?
00:31:39.60\00:31:46.81
Think about it.
00:31:46.84\00:31:49.22
When all the islands disappear
00:31:49.25\00:31:55.79
And the sea turns to dry land
00:31:55.82\00:32:01.12
When all
confidence gives way to fear
00:32:01.15\00:32:07.81
Who shall be able to stand?
00:32:07.84\00:32:13.91
Are your hands clean?
00:32:13.94\00:32:17.21
Is your heart pure?
00:32:17.24\00:32:20.08
Are you faithful
to all His commands?
00:32:20.11\00:32:25.15
Are you one with Him?
00:32:25.18\00:32:28.29
Are you freed from sin?
00:32:28.32\00:32:31.58
Are you washed
00:32:31.61\00:32:33.15
In the blood of the Lamb?
00:32:33.18\00:32:39.74
At the trumpet sound
00:32:39.77\00:32:44.27
Will you be found
00:32:44.30\00:32:48.44
Ready and able to stand?
00:32:48.47\00:32:54.16
Who shall be able to stand?
00:32:54.19\00:32:58.78
Listen.
00:33:02.43\00:33:03.84
Who will endure
His all consuming fire?
00:33:03.87\00:33:10.17
Only the righteous can
00:33:10.20\00:33:15.29
For righteousness is
what our God requires
00:33:15.32\00:33:22.68
Who shall be able to stand?
00:33:22.71\00:33:28.92
Are your hands clean?
00:33:28.95\00:33:32.04
Is your heart pure?
00:33:32.07\00:33:36.32
Are you faithful
to all His commands?
00:33:36.35\00:33:40.38
Are you one with Him?
00:33:40.41\00:33:43.18
Are you freed from sin?
00:33:43.21\00:33:46.28
Are you washed in
the blood of the Lamb?
00:33:46.31\00:33:53.48
At the trumpet sound
00:33:57.41\00:34:02.41
Will you be found ready
00:34:02.44\00:34:07.28
And able to stand?
00:34:07.31\00:34:12.81
Who shall be able to stand?
00:34:12.84\00:34:19.02
Will you be able
00:34:19.05\00:34:25.27
To stand?
00:34:25.30\00:34:29.90
Who shall be able
00:34:40.62\00:34:46.07
To stand?
00:34:46.10\00:34:52.62
God bless you.
00:34:52.65\00:34:53.77
Who shall be able to stand?
00:34:53.80\00:34:56.25
Thank you so much for
that wonderful number.
00:34:56.28\00:35:01.27
If you just joined
us, we are talking about
00:35:01.30\00:35:03.15
the second coming.
00:35:03.18\00:35:04.27
Why are we
still talking about it
00:35:04.30\00:35:05.91
as the Adventist church?
00:35:05.94\00:35:07.92
And why is there a delay?
00:35:07.95\00:35:09.74
In our last exchange we
heard a lot of fascinating
00:35:09.77\00:35:13.88
and very helpful things.
00:35:13.91\00:35:15.70
And the last question I'd asked
00:35:15.73\00:35:18.36
and our General
Conference president
00:35:18.39\00:35:20.59
had responded was to
this tension between,
00:35:20.62\00:35:24.76
you know, character
and being like Jesus,
00:35:24.79\00:35:28.95
and some people would
say if we focus on that
00:35:28.98\00:35:31.55
can lead to self
doubt and perfectionism.
00:35:31.58\00:35:35.43
And then also
this idea of the sin,
00:35:35.46\00:35:38.59
pointing out the sin,
00:35:38.62\00:35:40.17
the idea that the wrath
of God would be poured out
00:35:40.20\00:35:43.40
and He would step in
as He did in the flood
00:35:43.43\00:35:45.46
or when the Amorites, their
sin reached a certain level
00:35:45.49\00:35:51.06
and then also missionary work,
00:35:51.09\00:35:52.56
may be focusing
on missionary work
00:35:52.59\00:35:55.00
and just before we came
back, Mark Finley nudged me
00:35:55.03\00:35:58.32
and said I really want
to say something about that,
00:35:58.35\00:36:00.97
so go ahead.
00:36:01.00\00:36:03.54
Thank you for
letting the elderly spokesman
00:36:03.57\00:36:07.09
with Brother Brooks,
the two of us, you know,
00:36:07.12\00:36:09.09
we've been around for few years.
00:36:09.12\00:36:13.77
The promises of the
Bible focused on who God is
00:36:13.80\00:36:18.87
not on who we are.
00:36:18.90\00:36:21.00
So when you look
at three promises,
00:36:21.03\00:36:24.07
simple promises, Hebrews 12:2
00:36:24.10\00:36:28.73
"Looking unto the Jesus
00:36:28.76\00:36:30.67
the author and
finisher of our faith."
00:36:30.70\00:36:34.01
Jesus began a good work
in us and He'll finish it.
00:36:34.04\00:36:37.92
Philippians 1:6.
00:36:37.95\00:36:39.62
"Being confident
of this very thing,
00:36:39.65\00:36:42.69
He Jesus that began a good
work in you will finish it."
00:36:42.72\00:36:46.79
So righteousness by faith
is not sinning by presumption.
00:36:46.82\00:36:53.21
Righteousness by
faith, it grasps everything
00:36:53.24\00:36:56.53
that Christ has
done for me on the cross,
00:36:56.56\00:36:59.94
everything that
Jesus is doing for me
00:36:59.97\00:37:02.70
in heaven on sanctuary
00:37:02.73\00:37:04.49
and everything that He
will do for me in the future.
00:37:04.52\00:37:09.02
That's why in 1
John 3:1-2 it says,
00:37:09.05\00:37:14.91
"Behold, what manner of love
00:37:14.94\00:37:17.31
the Father has bestowed upon us,
00:37:17.34\00:37:19.85
that we should be
called the children of God."
00:37:19.88\00:37:22.64
Verse 2.
00:37:22.67\00:37:23.90
"Beloved, now are we
the children of God."
00:37:23.93\00:37:26.98
When you and I come to Christ,
00:37:27.01\00:37:29.08
when we understand His grace,
00:37:29.11\00:37:30.81
when we are justified through
that redemption on the cross,
00:37:30.84\00:37:35.04
we now are the children of God.
00:37:35.07\00:37:37.42
But look at the
rest of the text.
00:37:37.45\00:37:39.22
"It has not yet been
revealed what we shall be
00:37:39.25\00:37:43.45
but we know that
when He is revealed,
00:37:43.48\00:37:47.09
we shall be like Him, for
we shall see Him as He is."
00:37:47.12\00:37:53.41
The child who is in first
grade of elementary school
00:37:53.44\00:37:58.01
is just as much in
school as the child
00:37:58.04\00:38:02.26
who is getting ready to
graduate in the eighth grade.
00:38:02.29\00:38:06.07
When we come to Jesus,
we are children of God.
00:38:06.10\00:38:10.17
And if we are committed
to Him and stay with Him,
00:38:10.20\00:38:13.71
He will finish
the job in our lives.
00:38:13.74\00:38:17.20
I thank God that I can trust Him
00:38:17.23\00:38:20.43
that He will finish in
my life what He has started
00:38:20.46\00:38:24.34
and through me reveal His
loving character to the world
00:38:24.37\00:38:28.61
as I focus on what He
can do, not on what I can do.
00:38:28.64\00:38:34.85
Thank you for that.
00:38:34.88\00:38:36.93
I know I want to
get into my next section
00:38:36.96\00:38:38.61
so I'm going to allow you,
Attorney Walton, 15 seconds.
00:38:38.64\00:38:44.73
Five of which
you've already used up.
00:38:44.76\00:38:49.24
I think Elder
Finley put that so well.
00:38:49.27\00:38:51.24
You know, the term is
righteousness by faith
00:38:51.27\00:38:53.38
not excuses by faith.
00:38:53.41\00:38:55.83
Why is it
important at the end of time?
00:38:55.86\00:38:57.47
Because you've got a whole
7 billion people in this world
00:38:57.50\00:39:00.80
about to face an issue where
it's life or death decisions.
00:39:00.83\00:39:06.19
And the only
example they may see that
00:39:06.22\00:39:08.08
the gospel really
works is in your life,
00:39:08.11\00:39:10.69
it's an issue of due process
they deserve that for you.
00:39:10.72\00:39:15.43
Thank you, your honor.
00:39:15.46\00:39:16.58
Oh, go ahead. Thank you.
00:39:16.61\00:39:17.84
You know, I actually
got absolution from Mark
00:39:17.87\00:39:20.29
to able to speak so, you
know, and I'm glad that...
00:39:20.32\00:39:25.92
I'm glad that Mark
uncovered the elephant
00:39:25.95\00:39:28.17
in the living room.
00:39:28.20\00:39:29.36
Someone mentioned
1888, Pastor Brooks you did,
00:39:29.39\00:39:32.18
you mentioned 1888.
00:39:32.21\00:39:34.07
You know that's something
in our history that sustain
00:39:34.10\00:39:36.52
under church's history.
00:39:36.55\00:39:38.64
And you know, there was
not a come to Jesus moment
00:39:38.67\00:39:41.36
after that time.
00:39:41.39\00:39:43.06
And Elder Wilson
read a text in 2 Peter 3
00:39:43.09\00:39:47.55
but only quoted
part of the text,
00:39:47.58\00:39:49.25
2 Peter 3:9 it says,
00:39:49.28\00:39:51.95
"The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise,
00:39:51.98\00:39:54.50
as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering to us,
00:39:54.53\00:39:57.89
not willing that
any should perish,
00:39:57.92\00:39:59.40
but that all should
come to repentance."
00:39:59.43\00:40:01.30
Typically we use that as
people that have not heard.
00:40:01.33\00:40:04.50
I think that
text is for all of us.
00:40:04.53\00:40:07.69
You know, when Moses was
recounting for the people
00:40:07.72\00:40:11.51
in Deuteronomy 8
00:40:11.54\00:40:13.48
how they failed to cross
over all the bad things they did
00:40:13.51\00:40:16.35
that prevented the Lord
from letting them go through,
00:40:16.38\00:40:19.25
Those were not the people
that were present at that time.
00:40:19.28\00:40:22.97
And so this
talks about repentance
00:40:23.00\00:40:24.88
and I believe that we as
a church, we as leadership,
00:40:24.91\00:40:27.83
anybody's
leadership we as members
00:40:27.86\00:40:30.11
really have to
grapple with that stain on
00:40:30.14\00:40:32.63
denominational history
and repent of rejecting
00:40:32.66\00:40:36.79
what the Lord sent as
the most precious message
00:40:36.82\00:40:40.35
to our church.
00:40:40.38\00:40:41.59
And I think once we do that,
00:40:41.62\00:40:43.89
there will be
showers of blessing.
00:40:43.92\00:40:47.25
Amen. Okay.
00:40:47.28\00:40:50.78
Let's move to our
second section now
00:40:50.81\00:40:52.95
which is that question.
00:40:52.98\00:40:56.27
What in the
world and in the church
00:40:56.30\00:40:59.35
indicate that
God is on the move?
00:40:59.38\00:41:01.41
What are some signs
of His second coming?
00:41:01.44\00:41:07.78
One of the
questions that came in
00:41:07.81\00:41:09.21
that kind of set this up.
00:41:09.24\00:41:11.18
Someone wrote in.
00:41:11.21\00:41:12.24
We are told in the
Great Controversy that
00:41:12.27\00:41:14.01
"A backsliding
church close their eyes
00:41:14.04\00:41:18.37
to the signs of the times."
00:41:18.40\00:41:21.84
So we don't want
to-- How many of you agree
00:41:21.87\00:41:23.96
we don't want to
be backsliding church.
00:41:23.99\00:41:26.28
We want to know what some
of the signs of the times are.
00:41:26.31\00:41:29.02
And we have a panel here
00:41:29.05\00:41:30.48
that literally
has traveled the world
00:41:30.51\00:41:33.58
and thought
about the second coming
00:41:33.61\00:41:36.70
in our message in
many different ways.
00:41:36.73\00:41:39.15
Some of them know
about the economy and taxes.
00:41:39.18\00:41:43.30
Some of them know about
politics to some extend.
00:41:43.33\00:41:48.36
And some of them,
you know, can comment on
00:41:48.39\00:41:50.63
other trends in the world.
00:41:50.66\00:41:53.81
So let's talks
about the world first.
00:41:53.84\00:41:55.86
And then we'll
move to the church.
00:41:55.89\00:41:57.48
And I'll open up to anybody.
00:41:57.51\00:41:58.74
What are some signs that you see
00:41:58.77\00:42:01.42
from your
travels around the world
00:42:01.45\00:42:04.79
that indicate that
Christ is coming soon?
00:42:04.82\00:42:08.76
One thing that's interesting
is most of us would agree that
00:42:12.86\00:42:15.54
it seems the
world is coming unglued.
00:42:15.57\00:42:17.48
I mean things are
not like they used to be.
00:42:17.51\00:42:20.12
It's quite incredible
that you think of the economy
00:42:20.15\00:42:23.31
of the Unites
States for example.
00:42:23.34\00:42:25.58
Purportedly they are most
prosperous nation in the world.
00:42:25.61\00:42:28.54
And our country is
$17 trillion in debt
00:42:28.57\00:42:31.21
has a massive unemployment.
00:42:31.24\00:42:33.10
The student loan rate
now is beyond $1 trillion
00:42:33.13\00:42:37.07
the outstanding amount.
00:42:37.10\00:42:38.61
It is so big and so precarious
that Senator Tom Harkin
00:42:38.64\00:42:43.67
on the floor of the
Senate recently said,
00:42:43.70\00:42:45.40
"It could be the tipping point
00:42:45.43\00:42:47.04
for the next
recession in America."
00:42:47.07\00:42:49.25
Most of you are likely
aware that there is another
00:42:49.28\00:42:52.00
150 billion in private
loans but the 1 trillion is
00:42:52.03\00:42:56.38
this portion of
the student loans
00:42:56.41\00:42:59.59
that are government backed
00:42:59.62\00:43:01.09
and of course since
a number of years ago
00:43:01.12\00:43:03.14
students would
go through on loans
00:43:03.17\00:43:04.55
and then
bankrupt after graduation.
00:43:04.58\00:43:06.85
You can't bankrupt on anymore.
00:43:06.88\00:43:08.72
When you have all these
loans, you pay it off or die
00:43:08.75\00:43:10.88
and this is incredible
00:43:10.91\00:43:12.25
because there are
whole cities in America
00:43:12.28\00:43:14.40
that have already
filed for bankruptcy
00:43:14.43\00:43:16.54
or in the process
like Detroit Stock
00:43:16.57\00:43:18.66
in California and so on.
00:43:18.69\00:43:20.31
And this is an
unusual time for our nation
00:43:20.34\00:43:23.54
and to borrow money to
fix the problems we've had.
00:43:23.57\00:43:27.24
Most of us are well aware
00:43:27.27\00:43:28.46
that's not
gonna fix the problem,
00:43:28.49\00:43:29.90
so we are in precarious time.
00:43:29.93\00:43:31.96
But something amazing is that
in spite of all these problems,
00:43:31.99\00:43:35.71
God's people are
still supporting His work
00:43:35.74\00:43:37.79
in a strong way and I'm
really glad to see that.
00:43:37.82\00:43:40.93
Amen.
00:43:40.96\00:43:42.04
So you, as you told me once
on the mountain in Colorado.
00:43:42.07\00:43:47.24
"Do your giving
while it's living,
00:43:47.27\00:43:48.80
so you're
knowing where it's going.
00:43:48.83\00:43:50.55
Get your money into the work."
00:43:50.58\00:43:52.39
Is that what you told me?
00:43:52.42\00:43:53.58
Yeah, there's one
other interesting thing
00:43:53.61\00:43:55.08
that I might mention and that is
00:43:55.11\00:43:56.98
when I did the research
for the book Sunday's Coming,
00:43:57.01\00:43:59.82
I decided that I
would study all these Bible
00:43:59.85\00:44:02.71
and Spirit of Prophecy
have to say about Sunday,
00:44:02.74\00:44:04.33
so of course the
Bible doesn't or weren't
00:44:04.36\00:44:06.40
mentioned the word Sunday
in the English translations.
00:44:06.43\00:44:08.63
But Ellen White does
mention it 1,895 times
00:44:08.66\00:44:14.29
so I printed them all off
00:44:14.32\00:44:15.38
which is about
four rims of paper
00:44:15.41\00:44:17.33
and studied them through
00:44:17.36\00:44:18.46
and looked only
at the relevant ones.
00:44:18.49\00:44:21.17
I took out all the duplicates.
00:44:21.20\00:44:22.82
I got down to about 120
original relevant statements
00:44:22.85\00:44:26.36
that Ellen White makes.
00:44:26.39\00:44:27.66
And she says the
agitation for Sunday
00:44:27.69\00:44:30.76
will come about as a result of
00:44:30.79\00:44:32.73
either one of
these three things.
00:44:32.76\00:44:34.76
Either a financial
crisis in American,
00:44:34.79\00:44:37.23
a natural
disaster or a moral crisis.
00:44:37.26\00:44:42.60
Now you think about
all of these things.
00:44:42.63\00:44:44.55
Every one of them
are evident right now.
00:44:44.58\00:44:46.81
Are you aware that
since June 26th of this year,
00:44:46.84\00:44:50.35
just about 6 weeks ago, now
00:44:50.38\00:44:53.09
because of the US
Supreme Court decisions
00:44:53.12\00:44:55.47
30% of Americans
live in jurisdictions
00:44:55.50\00:44:58.73
where gay marriage
is legal and encouraged.
00:44:58.76\00:45:02.25
This is the United States.
00:45:02.28\00:45:03.89
Welcome to the end times.
00:45:03.92\00:45:05.90
Elder Wilson?
00:45:05.93\00:45:06.99
Yeah, I think
Pastor Reid has emphasized
00:45:07.02\00:45:10.66
certainly economic situation,
00:45:10.69\00:45:14.08
politically when you
look around the world,
00:45:14.11\00:45:16.47
there are situations
00:45:16.50\00:45:17.87
politicians simply
cannot handle today.
00:45:17.90\00:45:20.26
Things are falling apart.
00:45:20.29\00:45:22.78
From an ecumenical standpoint,
00:45:22.81\00:45:24.47
we're seeing movements
that are directing activities
00:45:24.50\00:45:29.64
towards the restriction
of religious freedom,
00:45:29.67\00:45:32.66
but I would that say that
00:45:32.69\00:45:33.72
one of the most
glaring things is
00:45:33.75\00:45:35.26
what Pastor Reid mentioned
00:45:35.29\00:45:37.40
and that is the
area of social change
00:45:37.43\00:45:40.53
that has happened so
quickly in a number of places
00:45:40.56\00:45:43.68
around the world,
same sex marriage,
00:45:43.71\00:45:46.25
homosexuality
acceptance, all of this,
00:45:46.28\00:45:48.79
which is a direct
rebuke against the word of God.
00:45:48.82\00:45:53.14
Now, we need to be certainly
understanding and caring,
00:45:53.17\00:45:57.91
every person have challenge,
00:45:57.94\00:46:00.11
we are all sinners at
the foot of the cross.
00:46:00.14\00:46:02.04
But there is a
solution for the sin problem
00:46:02.07\00:46:05.08
and that is
coalition with Jesus Christ.
00:46:05.11\00:46:07.80
And so I think
these social developments
00:46:07.83\00:46:12.55
are a very
powerful understanding
00:46:12.58\00:46:15.16
that we are coming
to a very critical time
00:46:15.19\00:46:17.48
in earth's history.
00:46:17.51\00:46:18.90
Okay, we've
talked about the economy.
00:46:18.93\00:46:20.36
We've talked about politics.
00:46:20.39\00:46:22.83
Pastor Finley, is there anything
00:46:22.86\00:46:24.64
that's not
evident to the common eye
00:46:24.67\00:46:27.31
as you've been thinking
00:46:27.34\00:46:28.37
and you're talking to
lots of groups around the world
00:46:28.40\00:46:30.77
and you're saying
men, you know, I see this
00:46:30.80\00:46:33.17
but other people may not see it.
00:46:33.20\00:46:34.81
Is there some
anything like that?
00:46:34.84\00:46:38.90
There is one
item that really lets,
00:46:38.93\00:46:42.60
at least indicates to me that
00:46:42.63\00:46:44.26
we're on the verge
of the kingdom of God.
00:46:44.29\00:46:46.16
There's a statement
in Great Controversy
00:46:46.19\00:46:47.50
that I'll quote.
00:46:47.53\00:46:48.56
It says, "Before
the final visitation of
00:46:48.59\00:46:50.04
God's judgments upon the earth,
00:46:50.07\00:46:51.92
there will be among
the people of the God,
00:46:51.95\00:46:53.58
revival of primitive godliness."
00:46:53.61\00:46:55.75
Satan desires
to hinder this work
00:46:55.78\00:46:58.03
and before the time shall come,
he will endeavor to prevent it
00:46:58.06\00:47:01.75
"by introducing a counterfeit."
00:47:01.78\00:47:04.66
In those churches that he
can bring under his guise,
00:47:04.69\00:47:08.10
he will introduce
false religious awakening.
00:47:08.13\00:47:13.20
So before the final
visitation of God's judgments,
00:47:13.23\00:47:16.79
that's the seven last plagues,
there will be a revival,
00:47:16.82\00:47:19.28
the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit will take place
00:47:19.31\00:47:21.68
and the Latter Rain
and Loud Cry will be given.
00:47:21.71\00:47:24.16
But before that there
will be a false revival.
00:47:24.19\00:47:27.66
Could it be that in a generation
00:47:27.69\00:47:31.23
that wants instant solutions
00:47:31.26\00:47:33.95
that the devil
is going to palm off
00:47:33.98\00:47:35.60
a counterfeit style of
religion based on so called
00:47:35.63\00:47:39.73
Holy Ghost movement.
00:47:39.76\00:47:41.55
Where there will be
false tongue's movement?
00:47:41.58\00:47:43.59
Will Pentecostal churches
and other charismatic churches
00:47:43.62\00:47:46.32
and contemporary
worship style churches
00:47:46.35\00:47:48.43
with the new music
introduced to them,
00:47:48.46\00:47:50.84
sweep thousands off their feet
00:47:50.87\00:47:54.07
with a
emotional form of religion
00:47:54.10\00:47:57.64
rather than a
religion, a spiritual experience
00:47:57.67\00:48:01.40
that leads to
studying God's word,
00:48:01.43\00:48:03.86
that leads to the needs,
00:48:03.89\00:48:05.28
that leads to a
heart filled desire
00:48:05.31\00:48:07.20
for character change
00:48:07.23\00:48:08.62
and that leads to
reflect the image of Jesus.
00:48:08.65\00:48:12.39
Could we be seeing in the growth
00:48:12.42\00:48:15.88
of many
churches in America today
00:48:15.91\00:48:18.89
a movement that really borders
00:48:18.92\00:48:23.34
on an emotional
form of religion,
00:48:23.37\00:48:25.80
an instant form of religion,
00:48:25.83\00:48:27.54
so I observe not only
what's going on in the world,
00:48:27.57\00:48:30.91
but what is going on in
some protestant churches
00:48:30.94\00:48:34.21
that passes off for religion
and passes off spirituality.
00:48:34.24\00:48:38.32
And I think we
should be acutely aware
00:48:38.35\00:48:41.13
of not only the
signs in the world
00:48:41.16\00:48:44.26
but the signs in churches
00:48:44.29\00:48:46.14
which can substitute
for a genuine spirituality.
00:48:46.17\00:48:52.71
Anything else?
00:48:52.74\00:48:53.84
Thank you for that
and that's kind of a segue
00:48:53.87\00:48:55.83
that goes from the
world to the church.
00:48:55.86\00:48:58.63
But anything else
that we see in the world
00:48:58.66\00:49:00.99
and I see Elder
Brooks waving at me,
00:49:01.02\00:49:03.33
I don't think as a friend,
00:49:03.36\00:49:04.39
but because he
has something to say.
00:49:04.42\00:49:07.34
Just a comment.
00:49:07.37\00:49:09.44
The Bible says the Lord
knows those who are his,
00:49:09.47\00:49:12.94
that we must not
underestimate the power and work
00:49:12.97\00:49:16.08
and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
00:49:16.11\00:49:18.27
Something is going to happen.
00:49:18.30\00:49:20.97
Ellen White says,
"Thousands will leave
00:49:21.00\00:49:23.01
and join the enemy."
00:49:23.04\00:49:25.53
But when they
do, other thousands
00:49:25.56\00:49:27.69
will come in to
take their places
00:49:27.72\00:49:30.63
and the ranks of the Lord's army
00:49:30.66\00:49:32.68
will not be diminished.
00:49:32.71\00:49:34.99
I live with this hope. I
live with these promises.
00:49:35.02\00:49:39.03
I don't know when
the Lord will come.
00:49:39.06\00:49:40.80
I believe with all my
heart, He is coming soon.
00:49:40.83\00:49:44.96
But I don't worry
about those things
00:49:44.99\00:49:46.96
that He has revealed to us.
00:49:46.99\00:49:48.89
And you don't have to be a
philosopher to go to heaven.
00:49:48.92\00:49:52.99
Bible says when Jesus
spoke the common people
00:49:53.02\00:49:56.08
heard Him gladly.
00:49:56.11\00:49:58.24
We don't have to have all
these trappings of wisdom.
00:49:58.27\00:50:02.40
Wisdom is the word of God.
00:50:02.43\00:50:04.41
And when it
becomes a part of our lives
00:50:04.44\00:50:06.73
and a part of our thinking,
00:50:06.76\00:50:08.66
we're on a different
track than most everybody else.
00:50:08.69\00:50:11.54