In today's troubled world
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people are
wondering where we are headed?
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Revelation Today
presents the answers.
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Bible prophecy reveals
what the future holds in store.
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Revelation Today.
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Good evening, everyone.
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I'm John Bradshaw from
It Is Written television.
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Now, I would love to be
with you personally tonight,
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but instead I'm going to
be joining you each night
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via that wonder
we call technology.
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Tonight's presentation is
Our Day in Bible Prophecy.
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What do the
prophecies of the Bible tell us
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about where we are
in the stream of time?
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Now for the longest time
people have been predicting
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the end of all things
and the return of Jesus,
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but can we know
just where we are?
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Jesus once said
that no man knows
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the day or the
hour of His return,
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so let's go to the Bible tonight
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as we'll do every night
during Revelation Today.
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I know you'll be
especially blessed
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by tonight's presentation.
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So please welcome
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the presenter of
Revelation Today,
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Ron Halvorsen.
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When I come to a first audience,
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you know, I'm a little nervous.
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You are-- You're
wondering who is this guy?
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Come on.
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You're wondering, who is he?
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And-- I'm like the
mother who had seven kids.
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I don't know if
you've heard about her
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but she was going to the store
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and her seven
kids were in circle
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and were looking in the
circle and they were transfixed.
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Now if you have
two or three kids,
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you can understand this.
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I mean, seven kids in a
circle and they're not moving.
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So she went to the
store and she came back
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they were in the same place.
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And so mother came up
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and looked over the
shoulders of the kids
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and in the middle of the
circle was bunch of baby skunks.
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Now mom didn't know what to do.
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Come on.
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So she finally said, kids run
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and they each grabbed a skunk
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and they ran, you know.
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You know great problem
today is we don't know.
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You know we're from
all different churches,
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all different backgrounds
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and yet we want to come together
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in one spirit, don't we?
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We want to come in
the Spirit of Jesus
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and so I want to reach in
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and I don't know
what we're going to grab,
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but we're going to grab
from the word of God, okay?
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That will be our text.
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Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
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Let's seek the
presence of the Holy Spirit
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as we open God's word tonight.
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Gracious Father, I
pray now for the Holy Spirit
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to come amidst us.
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We want clear
understanding of the word.
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We're so tired of
all these explanations
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and all these scenarios.
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We want to hear
what you said to John.
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We want to see what John saw
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and we'll give You the honor
and praise and glory as always,
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in the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord, amen.
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Before I take you to
the Book of Revelation,
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I want you to look
at a painting with me.
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Now the first time
I saw this painting,
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I thought it
depicted hopelessness.
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Take a look at it.
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I mean there is a
woman with her head bent over
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in despair.
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She's clothed in rags
and dirty and she's bandaged.
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She's been wounded
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and blood is seeping
through the bandages.
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There her feet
are cut and bruised
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and there's she's sitting
on top of a world that's muddy
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and dark and the
world seems foreboding.
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I mean, when I read
the name of the title
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that the artist
gave to the painting,
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by the way his
name was George Watts
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and he gave it to the
British Museum in 1897.
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When I read the title
he said, This Is Hope.
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Look at that painting.
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That's hope?
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I mean I thought
it was hopelessness,
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but no this is
the picture of hope.
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What hope?
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A woman sitting
on top of the world,
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despondent, dirty, sick.
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She's holding a
harp in her hand.
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Do you notice the harp?
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Every string is broken,
but one string, one string.
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And so I said,
well, was this man crazy?
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Hope? And then I saw it.
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I got a closer
look and I saw her.
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There it is, it's a
picture of a music note.
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A note rising upward to heaven.
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One single note.
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And what it was
saying is hope is above us,
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hope is outside of
us, hope is from heaven.
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And then I understood
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what the artist
was trying to say.
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I think what God
is trying to tell us
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is that there is hope.
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Does your life seem desperate?
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Come on now, I mean,
does your future look bleak?
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Does your heart ache for hope?
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I mean, then this
series is just for you
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because the
message of Revelation
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will bring you the
hope that you long for.
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I mean, this is a
book full of hope.
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Think of it, while
you're sitting here,
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no matter how
optimistic you are,
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down deep in
your heart, you know,
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there's something
wrong with our world, right?
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I mean, our world cares
more about bombs for the enemy
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than it does
bread for the hungry.
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I mean our world is concerned
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more about the
color of your skin
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than about the
content of your character.
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I mean, it cares more
about what Hollywood says
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than what heaven says
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and that brings us
to our subject tonight
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"Our Day in the Life of
Bible Prophecy: End Time Signs."
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Perhaps you heard about
the man on the Brooklyn bridge
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and he was about to take
a dive into the East River.
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A patrolman driving
from Brooklyn to Manhattan
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saw the man up on
the super structure
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and he said to himself,
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the man's going
to commit suicide,
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he's going to jump.
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He pulled his patrol car over.
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He jumped out and
he ran towards the man
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and said don't jump, don't jump.
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The man said stay back.
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I'm going to jump.
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Life is not worth living.
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And the policeman said,
oh no, life is worth living.
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He says give me 10 minutes
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to tell you why
life is worth living
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and I'll give you
10 minutes to tell me
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why life is not worth living.
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After the 10 minutes
then you can decide to jump.
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And so there's
the boy from Brooklyn,
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I mean a patrolman from Brooklyn
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with a Brooklyn accent.
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I've lost mine but
anyway, a Brooklyn accent,
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rough old Brooklyn...
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and he's trying
to-- he's trying to
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describe the world eloquently.
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He's trying to show the
world as being beautiful
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and sunsets and sun rising
with a heavy Brooklyn accent
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and he talks about family
and he talks about children
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and he talks about your job
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and he goes on and on and on
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about the
beautiful things in life
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and there are many.
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And after 10 minutes
it was the man's turn
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and he said I lost my
job, I lost my family.
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He said, I was mugged twice.
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He said, I live in my
car on Atlantic Avenue
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and he went on and on and on
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and told about his terrible life
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and how terrible it was
and finally after 10 minutes
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they took hands
and both men jumped.
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Come on, now
that's about the situation
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you find yourself
in today, isn't it?
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I mean no matter
how optimistic you are,
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I mean you're going to jump.
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That's a fact.
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That's a fact.
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You see the Book of Revelation
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describes a world
that's in collision course.
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You see here is a
world out of control.
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He speaks of antichrist
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and he talks
about beastly religion
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and he talks about confusion
and counterfeit and Babylon
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and lies that seem to be truth
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and how we're
caught up into this.
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And it's all here
right in this book.
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I mean the symbols are graphic
in the Book of Revelation
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and John writing he says this,
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"And I saw when the
Lamb opened one of the seals,
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and he opens the
seals and he says,
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I heard, as it were
the noise of thunder.
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It's God trying
to get our attention.
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It's thunder and one
of the four beasts saying,
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Come and see.
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And I saw, and
behold a white horse."
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And he goes on to
describe this in symbolic terms.
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"And he that sat
upon him had a bow,
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and he had a crown
was given unto him:
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and he went forth
conquering and to conquer.
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And when he had
opened the second seal,
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I heard the second beast say.
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And there went out
another horse that was red:
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and power was given
to him that sat thereon
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to take peace from the earth,
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and that they
should kill one another:
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and there was given
unto him a great sword."
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What a
description. He goes on...
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"And when he had
opened the third seal,
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I heard the third
beast say, Come and see.
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And I beheld,
and lo a black horse,
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he that sat on him
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had a pair of
balances in his hand."
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And what was he
doing? He was balancing.
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"And I heard a
voice in the midst of
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the four beasts say,
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A measure of wheat for a penny,
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and three measures
of barley for a penny,
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and see that you hurt
not the oil nor the wine.
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And when he had
opened the fourth seal,
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I heard the voice of
the fourth beast say,
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Come and see.
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And I looked, and
behold a pale horse:
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and his name that
sat on him was Death."
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And he goes on John.
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"And Hell
followed after with him.
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And power was given unto them
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over the fourth
part of the earth,
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to kill with sword, war,
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and the part of the
earth it says with hunger,
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and then a part of the
earth with death itself,
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and the beasts of
the nations of the earth
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came together in war."
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What a description?
00:10:02.96\00:10:05.15
John there on
the isle of Patmos.
00:10:05.18\00:10:07.59
John there because of his faith.
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He's imprisoned.
00:10:09.62\00:10:11.77
You see they could lock him up
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but they could
not lock up his soul.
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They could put him in chains
00:10:15.89\00:10:17.01
but they could not
chain up his heart.
00:10:17.04\00:10:19.17
And the old man
John, almost 100 years old,
00:10:19.20\00:10:21.46
on the Alcatraz
of the Middle East.
00:10:21.49\00:10:24.30
Here he is on Patmos and
there he catches the vision
00:10:24.33\00:10:27.42
and he sees the horses
galloping across the stage,
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the stage of human events.
00:10:29.97\00:10:31.52
The tempo of evil is
increasing here in Revelation.
00:10:31.55\00:10:34.55
Passions are rising here
in the Book of Revelation.
00:10:34.58\00:10:37.66
I mean evil men and seducers
in the Book of Revelation
00:10:37.69\00:10:40.98
and they're defying authority
and they're inventers of evil
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and the world is
doomed, damned and crushed
00:10:44.56\00:10:46.78
and bound for hell.
00:10:46.81\00:10:49.91
That's bad news.
00:10:49.94\00:10:53.09
But there is good
news amidst the bad
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and that is a lamb slain
00:10:57.27\00:11:02.08
from the
foundations of the earth.
00:11:02.11\00:11:04.04
Can you say amen here.
00:11:04.07\00:11:05.57
A lamb slain, the Lamb
of God, Jesus Christ, amen.
00:11:05.60\00:11:09.40
There is hope. There's a Savior.
00:11:09.43\00:11:12.29
A Savior can help us
get out of this mess.
00:11:12.32\00:11:15.24
That's what he
says in Revelation.
00:11:15.27\00:11:16.80
He says John
you're in prison now,
00:11:16.83\00:11:18.81
but I'm going to set you free.
00:11:18.84\00:11:20.31
He says there's no
prison that can hold you.
00:11:20.34\00:11:22.55
Let me tell you
Christian friend,
00:11:22.58\00:11:24.17
let me tell you who searches,
00:11:24.20\00:11:25.91
let me tell you tonight,
00:11:25.94\00:11:27.13
there's nothing can hold
you once God releases you.
00:11:27.16\00:11:30.88
Once God sets
you free. I tell you.
00:11:30.91\00:11:34.06
And here he
describes not only the Savior
00:11:34.09\00:11:36.75
but he describes a coming
King and that King is the Lamb
00:11:36.78\00:11:43.35
that was slain from the
foundation of the earth,
00:11:43.38\00:11:48.41
the coming King.
00:11:48.44\00:11:50.26
Now the symbols of
Revelation are very graphic.
00:11:50.29\00:11:52.84
I mean, there
are three judgments
00:11:52.87\00:11:54.21
here in Revelation.
00:11:54.24\00:11:55.27
They're the seal judgments,
00:11:55.30\00:11:56.83
I mean, there are
the trumpet judgments
00:11:56.86\00:11:58.91
and there are
the vial judgments.
00:11:58.94\00:12:00.77
You see the earth is
under the judgment of God
00:12:00.80\00:12:03.89
and he opens the seals
so we can see the rider
00:12:03.92\00:12:06.81
and the rider is none
other on the white horse
00:12:06.84\00:12:09.20
than Jesus Christ.
00:12:09.23\00:12:10.48
Come and see the earth
He says, it's ruined by man.
00:12:10.51\00:12:14.35
I put them in a garden.
00:12:14.38\00:12:15.64
They turned it
into a wilderness.
00:12:15.67\00:12:17.21
I come now to the wilderness
00:12:17.24\00:12:18.92
to turn it back into a garden.
00:12:18.95\00:12:23.93
War is everywhere and bloodshed.
00:12:23.96\00:12:26.90
Social upheaval.
00:12:26.93\00:12:29.24
Not a pretty picture, friend.
00:12:29.27\00:12:30.76
Listen to me. It's
not a pretty picture.
00:12:30.79\00:12:32.58
Voices clambering
for our attention.
00:12:32.61\00:12:34.57
I mean, voices
trying desperately
00:12:34.60\00:12:36.20
to catch our attention
00:12:36.23\00:12:37.83
to communicate
some dire message to us.
00:12:37.86\00:12:40.27
I mean, with all
this how can a person live
00:12:40.30\00:12:42.64
in today's world with
its problems and concerns
00:12:42.67\00:12:45.49
and yet look forward
confidently towards the future?
00:12:45.52\00:12:48.75
Where are we in the
grand scheme of things
00:12:48.78\00:12:51.03
in the prophetic vision of God?
00:12:51.06\00:12:53.45
What a day in Bible prophecy?
00:12:53.48\00:12:55.98
Where are we?
00:12:56.01\00:12:57.59
Listen to me, friend,
00:12:57.62\00:12:58.65
you're hearing
voices everywhere.
00:12:58.68\00:13:02.15
I mean, every time you
turn on your television...
00:13:02.18\00:13:04.01
Do you realize you have
5000 media impressions a day
00:13:04.04\00:13:08.82
if you're an
average television viewer?
00:13:08.85\00:13:10.81
They're trying to
sell you everything
00:13:10.84\00:13:12.36
from soap to shoes to drink.
00:13:12.39\00:13:15.70
We've got smart phones
and Twitter and Facebook
00:13:15.73\00:13:18.60
and iPads and we have texting.
00:13:18.63\00:13:22.60
Hey, when I was a teenager
I had five words to say.
00:13:22.63\00:13:26.91
Where do they get
all these words to say?
00:13:26.94\00:13:29.25
You know I'm
trying to figure this out.
00:13:29.28\00:13:31.78
But God's frontline method of
00:13:31.81\00:13:33.43
getting a
communication off to you,
00:13:33.46\00:13:35.55
getting a message out
for you is the word of God.
00:13:35.58\00:13:38.58
It's the Bible
and the Bible only.
00:13:38.61\00:13:40.73
If you would
spend time in the Bible,
00:13:40.76\00:13:42.52
you would know the way
00:13:42.55\00:13:43.78
and you would know the truth
and you would know the life
00:13:43.81\00:13:46.35
and you would be on your way
00:13:46.38\00:13:47.81
as a pilgrim to
the kingdom of God.
00:13:47.84\00:13:51.36
It's all there in the word.
00:13:51.39\00:13:54.69
I mean, war in Afghanistan
and listen, look around.
00:13:54.72\00:13:57.65
I mean it's
depressing, isn't it?
00:13:57.68\00:13:59.75
I mean we have Africa.
00:13:59.78\00:14:01.35
We have tribal war.
00:14:01.38\00:14:02.69
We have Egypt. We have Syria.
00:14:02.72\00:14:04.32
We have civil war.
00:14:04.35\00:14:05.38
And you know Luke
looked down the scan of time
00:14:05.41\00:14:07.80
and through
prophetic eyes he said...
00:14:07.83\00:14:09.39
"Men's hearts
failing them for fear."
00:14:09.42\00:14:11.94
What a description
of the 21st century...
00:14:11.97\00:14:14.40
"For looking after those things
00:14:14.43\00:14:15.57
which are coming upon the earth:
00:14:15.60\00:14:17.37
for the powers of
heaven shall be shaken."
00:14:17.40\00:14:19.53
If I had time tonight,
00:14:19.56\00:14:20.59
I'd show you the
powers of heaven.
00:14:20.62\00:14:22.88
It refers to the
split of the atom
00:14:22.91\00:14:26.20
and since the
atom bomb and mushroom
00:14:26.23\00:14:27.84
cloud out in bomb hangs over us,
00:14:27.87\00:14:30.02
we have been living under fear.
00:14:30.05\00:14:32.53
We have been living in fear.
00:14:32.56\00:14:36.29
It's not a bright picture.
00:14:36.32\00:14:38.23
Reminds me of what
happened in an urban hospital
00:14:38.26\00:14:40.56
some time ago.
00:14:40.59\00:14:42.65
Someone put under the window
of the nursery these words.
00:14:42.68\00:14:47.54
Research shows
00:14:47.57\00:14:49.66
that the first 5
minutes of life can be risky.
00:14:49.69\00:14:53.77
My great grand
baby, she was premature.
00:14:53.80\00:14:57.75
They had her hooked
up and we didn't know
00:14:57.78\00:14:59.75
if she'd live or die.
00:14:59.78\00:15:00.85
I mean it's risky.
00:15:00.88\00:15:02.57
Thank God she came out of
it and she's a happy beautiful,
00:15:02.60\00:15:06.19
beautiful, beautiful,
beautiful little girl.
00:15:06.22\00:15:08.58
You can imagine.
00:15:08.61\00:15:09.65
She looks like
her great grandfather.
00:15:09.68\00:15:13.14
But a nurse later on
wrote under that sign this word.
00:15:13.17\00:15:17.41
She said the last 5
minutes ain't so hot either.
00:15:17.44\00:15:23.21
Come on now.
00:15:23.24\00:15:24.28
I find myself somewhere
00:15:24.31\00:15:25.43
between the first 5
minutes and the last 5 minutes
00:15:25.46\00:15:27.98
and if prophecy is
true, and I know it is,
00:15:28.01\00:15:30.29
then I think we're
closer to the last five minutes
00:15:30.32\00:15:32.84
than the first five minutes.
00:15:32.87\00:15:34.05
Can you say amen here tonight?
00:15:34.08\00:15:35.62
Can you give God glory tonight?
00:15:35.65\00:15:38.75
We're crammed
between the first 5 minutes
00:15:38.78\00:15:40.86
and the last 5
minutes of civilization.
00:15:40.89\00:15:45.75
It's late.
00:15:45.78\00:15:47.56
You heard about the
husband and wife old people
00:15:47.59\00:15:50.65
that were trying to get to sleep
00:15:50.68\00:15:52.43
and grandma fell asleep
first and she's snoring away
00:15:52.46\00:15:55.95
and grandpa, he's
trying to get to sleep,
00:15:55.98\00:15:58.73
and the old grandfather
clock is ticking away.
00:15:58.76\00:16:03.41
Ten o'clock,
boom, 11 o'clock, boom,
00:16:03.44\00:16:06.90
12 o'clock,
boom, 1 o'clock, boom,
00:16:06.93\00:16:13.03
13, boom, 14, boom, 15.
00:16:13.06\00:16:17.45
Finally the old
lady turned over and said
00:16:17.48\00:16:19.13
honey what time is it?
00:16:19.16\00:16:20.69
He said it's later
than it's ever been before.
00:16:20.72\00:16:23.18
And I want to tell
you according to scripture
00:16:23.21\00:16:25.54
it's later than
it's ever been before.
00:16:25.57\00:16:29.29
Doomsday sayers everywhere today
00:16:33.37\00:16:35.44
are making dire
predictions about the future.
00:16:35.47\00:16:38.86
The fear of
terrorism, the fear of violence,
00:16:38.89\00:16:41.64
fear for family.
00:16:41.67\00:16:43.91
Good news, nothing but good news
00:16:43.94\00:16:46.21
for the people of God.
00:16:46.24\00:16:47.64
Nothing but good news
00:16:47.67\00:16:48.81
for the
believer in Jesus Christ,
00:16:48.84\00:16:50.44
nothing but good news for those
00:16:50.47\00:16:52.15
who adhere to the word of God
00:16:52.18\00:16:53.56
and are fully
directed by the word of God
00:16:53.59\00:16:55.50
and fully
wanting to work and walk
00:16:55.53\00:16:58.35
and live in the word of God.
00:16:58.38\00:17:00.19
There's no greater hope.
00:17:00.22\00:17:01.65
I tell you He
overcomes our fear.
00:17:01.68\00:17:05.85
Hear from the old
man of Patmos, John.
00:17:05.88\00:17:07.76
His pen is dipped in
the red blood ink of Calvary
00:17:07.79\00:17:09.92
and he drops
and found faith like
00:17:09.95\00:17:11.63
golden pollen from
stems of shaken lilies
00:17:11.66\00:17:14.17
to sweeten the
lives of men in every age.
00:17:14.20\00:17:16.14
The old man writes from Patmos
00:17:16.17\00:17:18.34
and he writes
about his Redeemer.
00:17:18.37\00:17:21.37
He writes about hope.
00:17:21.40\00:17:24.19
And the
Revelation speaks about hope.
00:17:24.22\00:17:27.00
And I want you to
call your family to prayer
00:17:27.03\00:17:29.21
and know that "A
thousand will fall at your side,
00:17:29.24\00:17:31.91
and ten thousand
at your right hand,
00:17:31.94\00:17:33.99
but it will not come
nigh thee nor thy dwelling."
00:17:34.02\00:17:36.13
That's the protection of God.
00:17:36.16\00:17:40.69
So Revelation is a book of hope.
00:17:40.72\00:17:43.25
I want to share 5
specific signs with you tonight
00:17:43.28\00:17:46.73
that show you where you are
in the scheme of God's plan.
00:17:46.76\00:17:49.18
All right, 5.
00:17:49.21\00:17:51.10
There are many but I
want to just take 5 signs
00:17:51.13\00:17:54.56
and we're going to look at them
in the light of Bible prophecy
00:17:54.59\00:17:56.93
and just see that
I'm not making this up.
00:17:56.96\00:17:59.52
I want you to see,
there's a clear word of God,
00:17:59.55\00:18:01.50
it comes right from Him,
and I want you to notice.
00:18:01.53\00:18:03.85
There are 5 specific
signs about end time.
00:18:03.88\00:18:06.58
First of all, sign
in the religious world,
00:18:06.61\00:18:09.19
signs in the political world,
00:18:09.22\00:18:11.25
signs in the ecological world,
00:18:11.28\00:18:13.35
signs in the social world
00:18:13.38\00:18:15.04
and finally signs in
the economical world.
00:18:15.07\00:18:19.21
I want you to see these
signs as God describes them.
00:18:19.24\00:18:21.87
Come back with me to a mountain.
00:18:21.90\00:18:24.15
Jesus is sitting
there with His disciples
00:18:24.18\00:18:26.75
and there as He's sitting there
the disciples come unto Him.
00:18:26.78\00:18:28.97
Listen to their words
because this is the word
00:18:29.00\00:18:31.72
the disciples of the
21st century should say,
00:18:31.75\00:18:34.05
"And as he sat upon
the Mount of Olives,
00:18:34.08\00:18:36.69
the disciples came
unto him privately, saying,
00:18:36.72\00:18:39.20
'Tell us, when
shall these things be?
00:18:39.23\00:18:41.46
What shall be
the sign of thy what?
00:18:41.49\00:18:45.16
Coming."
00:18:45.19\00:18:46.22
' There are two
things about this text.
00:18:46.25\00:18:48.12
First of all, it says
the signs of your coming
00:18:48.15\00:18:51.68
and then he says that
with the signs of your coming
00:18:51.71\00:18:54.62
comes the end of the world.
00:18:54.65\00:18:57.14
Two things: The signs,
00:18:57.17\00:18:59.26
He's coming
back the second time.
00:18:59.29\00:19:01.22
Now the first time He
came, He came as a babe
00:19:01.25\00:19:03.82
wrapped in swaddling
clothes lying in a manger.
00:19:03.85\00:19:06.61
The second time He comes,
00:19:06.64\00:19:08.03
wrapped in a cloud of
glory through Orion's band.
00:19:08.06\00:19:11.41
Listen, the first time He came,
00:19:11.44\00:19:13.34
He came through a mother's womb.
00:19:13.37\00:19:15.59
The second time He
comes in the cloud of heaven.
00:19:15.62\00:19:18.77
The first time He
came, listen to me,
00:19:18.80\00:19:20.70
first time He
came as a little babe;
00:19:20.73\00:19:22.81
the second time He comes as
00:19:22.84\00:19:24.11
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
00:19:24.14\00:19:26.13
We look forward to
the return of Jesus Christ
00:19:26.16\00:19:28.52
because the
disciples wanted to know,
00:19:28.55\00:19:30.73
surely you who are a
disciple, a modern disciple,
00:19:30.76\00:19:34.03
you should be, want to know.
00:19:34.06\00:19:37.47
Amen. You want to know.
00:19:37.50\00:19:39.48
And so Jesus
says here about that.
00:19:39.51\00:19:43.99
Some years ago, I
read a 5th volume of a book
00:19:44.02\00:19:46.59
written by Arnold Toynbee
00:19:46.62\00:19:48.37
and he wrote a
history of civilization
00:19:48.40\00:19:50.19
and in the 5th
volume he called it,
00:19:50.22\00:19:52.22
The
Disintegration of Civilization.
00:19:52.25\00:19:54.34
He gave 6 unmistakable
00:19:54.37\00:19:56.42
evidences for the disintegration
00:19:56.45\00:19:58.10
and collapse of the
world's civilizations.
00:19:58.13\00:20:00.29
And what was
astounding as I read it,
00:20:00.32\00:20:03.82
it closely corresponded
00:20:03.85\00:20:07.45
with the five evidences
that Jesus gave to His disciples
00:20:07.48\00:20:10.17
there on the mount,
the mount called Olivet.
00:20:10.20\00:20:13.44
By the way, in Matthew 24,
00:20:13.47\00:20:15.38
if you ever want to know
about the signs of the times,
00:20:15.41\00:20:17.11
you don't have
to be a theologian.
00:20:17.14\00:20:18.86
It's in the 24th
chapter of Matthew and the 25th.
00:20:18.89\00:20:23.28
And there in the 24th chapter
there is a 94-verse resume
00:20:23.31\00:20:26.93
about the return of
Christ and the kingdom of God.
00:20:26.96\00:20:29.30
Read it. It would be exciting.
00:20:29.33\00:20:31.15
And there he tells
us about the signs,
00:20:31.18\00:20:33.47
the signs of the times.
00:20:33.50\00:20:35.07
Now we're going
to look at scripture
00:20:35.10\00:20:36.54
because all scripture is
given by inspiration of God.
00:20:36.57\00:20:38.99
It's profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction,
00:20:39.02\00:20:41.89
for instruction in righteousness
00:20:41.92\00:20:43.74
that men of God may be perfect,
00:20:43.77\00:20:45.61
thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.
00:20:45.64\00:20:47.51
You can't pick and choose.
00:20:47.54\00:20:52.21
Well, I like that one.
00:20:52.24\00:20:56.34
Well, Brother Halvorsen,
I love the New Testament.
00:20:56.37\00:20:59.97
The New Testament finds
00:21:00.00\00:21:01.04
its foundation in
the Old Testament.
00:21:01.07\00:21:05.77
So we can't pick and choose
00:21:05.80\00:21:06.83
and say, well,
I like those texts
00:21:06.86\00:21:07.89
but I don't like that text.
00:21:07.92\00:21:09.42
Well, preacher I like
what you said last night
00:21:09.45\00:21:11.89
but you sure said
something tonight I don't like.
00:21:11.92\00:21:17.02
If I was going to be
in a popularity contest,
00:21:17.05\00:21:19.90
I'd do something different,
00:21:19.93\00:21:21.17
but I have to be
faithful to the word of God.
00:21:21.20\00:21:23.97
It's for doctrine,
reproof, correction,
00:21:24.00\00:21:25.99
instruction in righteousness
00:21:26.02\00:21:27.53
that men of God may be perfect
00:21:27.56\00:21:28.81
thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.
00:21:28.84\00:21:30.39
It's amazing to
me that Jesus Christ
00:21:30.42\00:21:32.96
when He talks about it,
00:21:32.99\00:21:34.02
thoroughly
furnished unto all good works
00:21:34.05\00:21:36.61
that is Jesus sat
upon the Mount of Olives,
00:21:36.64\00:21:38.62
the disciples keep telling
us when shall these things be,
00:21:38.65\00:21:40.98
what shall be a
sign of thy coming
00:21:41.01\00:21:42.60
and of the end of the
world and then he tells us
00:21:42.63\00:21:46.37
that it would be in
the religious world,
00:21:46.40\00:21:47.88
it would begin in the church.
00:21:47.91\00:21:49.28
Can you imagine that?
00:21:49.31\00:21:50.75
Religion around the
world is in a chaotic state.
00:21:50.78\00:21:54.54
It's the fulfillment
of the words of prophecy
00:21:54.57\00:21:56.20
in this book.
00:21:56.23\00:21:57.27
"Many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ,
00:21:57.30\00:21:59.89
and shall deceive many."
00:21:59.92\00:22:01.88
He starts there at deception.
00:22:01.91\00:22:04.05
He describes it in verse 11,
00:22:04.08\00:22:06.44
"And many false
prophets shall rise,
00:22:06.47\00:22:08.50
and come, and
deceive many deception."
00:22:08.53\00:22:12.13
Again and again,
deception, deception.
00:22:12.16\00:22:15.28
Well, how can I be
kept from deception?
00:22:15.31\00:22:17.11
There are so many voices.
00:22:17.14\00:22:18.51
The word of God.
00:22:18.54\00:22:20.28
Compare to the word of God.
00:22:20.31\00:22:22.29
"And there shall
arise false Christs,
00:22:22.32\00:22:23.73
and false prophets,
and shall shew great signs
00:22:23.76\00:22:26.26
and wonders, in so much that,
00:22:26.29\00:22:27.83
if it were possible, it
would deceive the very elect."
00:22:27.86\00:22:31.91
I mean the master
plot is in the church.
00:22:31.94\00:22:34.88
I mean they are
parleying for the most money.
00:22:34.91\00:22:36.92
Come on.
00:22:36.95\00:22:39.37
The biggest
building, the most members,
00:22:39.40\00:22:44.52
the most TV stations,
the most radio programs.
00:22:44.55\00:22:49.15
It begins in honesty
and ends in dishonesty.
00:22:49.18\00:22:52.59
They get a messiah complex.
00:22:52.62\00:22:54.73
And that's why He said
there'd be false prophets
00:22:54.76\00:22:56.69
in the last days.
00:22:56.72\00:22:57.76
Revelation 13:14.
00:22:57.79\00:22:59.52
"Deceiveth them
that dwell on the earth
00:22:59.55\00:23:01.21
by the means of those miracles
00:23:01.24\00:23:02.59
which he had power to do
in the sight of the beast."
00:23:02.62\00:23:04.63
In fact God says in Matthew,
He says there will come a day
00:23:04.66\00:23:07.71
when you'll say Lord have
we not prophesied in Your name,
00:23:07.74\00:23:10.59
have we not cast
out devils in Your name?
00:23:10.62\00:23:12.72
Haven't we done
these wonderful things?
00:23:12.75\00:23:14.63
And Jesus says
depart from me ye workers...
00:23:14.66\00:23:17.47
It's not how high you jump.
00:23:17.50\00:23:19.85
It's how straight you are.
00:23:19.88\00:23:21.61
It all began
back there in history,
00:23:27.90\00:23:31.23
"Saying to them
that dwell on earth,
00:23:31.26\00:23:32.53
and they shall make
an image of the beast,
00:23:32.56\00:23:34.80
which had the wound by
a sword, and did live."
00:23:34.83\00:23:36.98
I'm going to show you
what that beast-like power was.
00:23:37.01\00:23:40.07
And it came out of the church.
00:23:40.10\00:23:42.40
I want you to look
at this. False messiahs.
00:23:42.43\00:23:45.49
Look so nice.
00:23:45.52\00:23:47.33
"And Jesus answered and said,
00:23:47.36\00:23:49.23
Take heed that
no man deceive you.
00:23:49.26\00:23:50.73
For many shall come in
my name, saying, I am what?
00:23:50.76\00:23:53.09
Christ.
00:23:53.12\00:23:54.17
And shall what? Deceive many."
00:23:54.20\00:23:57.55
And the Bible
tells us that plainly.
00:23:57.58\00:23:59.52
Now early false messiahs.
00:23:59.55\00:24:01.66
There came first
of all Judah Maccabee.
00:24:01.69\00:24:04.36
That was 165 B.C
claimed to be the messiah.
00:24:04.39\00:24:08.26
Then there came Simon,
Herod the Great's Slave
00:24:08.29\00:24:11.00
and then there
came Theudas in 45 A.D.
00:24:11.03\00:24:14.38
And then we come
up to modern times.
00:24:14.41\00:24:15.72
I mean the false
prophets and false messiahs.
00:24:15.75\00:24:18.28
There was Jim Jones
and there was David Berg,
00:24:18.31\00:24:20.76
and then there came Sun Moon,
00:24:20.79\00:24:22.22
and then there came, Krishna
00:24:22.25\00:24:23.72
and then there came Maharaj Ji
00:24:23.75\00:24:25.48
and there came David Koresh
00:24:25.51\00:24:26.97
who called
himself the sinful Christ.
00:24:27.00\00:24:29.07
Can you imagine that?
00:24:29.10\00:24:31.01
My Lord was pure.
00:24:31.04\00:24:33.68
Not defiled by sin.
00:24:33.71\00:24:36.12
The false
prophets, false messiahs,
00:24:36.15\00:24:38.37
they come upon the
scene of human events,
00:24:38.40\00:24:40.04
Heaven's Gate and lesser cults.
00:24:40.07\00:24:42.55
There's a
struggle going on today
00:24:42.58\00:24:44.05
between Islam and Christianity.
00:24:44.08\00:24:47.20
Christians are nervous.
00:24:47.23\00:24:49.10
When you consider
Islam is growing faster
00:24:49.13\00:24:51.02
than Christianity for
the first time in history.
00:24:51.05\00:24:54.45
Now I know you like
pretty little sermons,
00:24:54.48\00:24:56.46
come on, with bubbling brooks
00:24:56.49\00:24:59.21
and positive
attitudes and pop psychology.
00:24:59.24\00:25:02.83
But I want to tell
you friend, get serious
00:25:02.86\00:25:06.42
because we're living in
serious times, serious times.
00:25:06.45\00:25:10.51
Psychics are having a heyday
and the Bible tells us that
00:25:10.54\00:25:15.64
"There would be
spirits of devils,
00:25:15.67\00:25:17.08
working miracles, which go forth
00:25:17.11\00:25:18.48
unto the kings of the
earth and the whole world,
00:25:18.51\00:25:20.34
to gather them to the day
of the battle of God Almighty."
00:25:20.37\00:25:22.66
That is the battle of Armageddon
00:25:22.69\00:25:24.41
and psychics
are having a payday.
00:25:24.44\00:25:26.26
False predictions.
00:25:26.29\00:25:27.80
The Bible is the only
safe book that you can trust.
00:25:27.83\00:25:32.58
It all leads to
reign of antichrist.
00:25:32.61\00:25:34.55
Tribulation, the
churches, deliverance,
00:25:34.58\00:25:36.28
return of Christ
in our generation.
00:25:36.31\00:25:39.18
Now, listen to a
prophetic passage.
00:25:39.21\00:25:41.33
Revelation 16, "I saw
three unclean spirits..."
00:25:41.36\00:25:43.59
Now remember symbols,
00:25:43.62\00:25:44.88
"frogs come out of
the mouth of the dragon,
00:25:44.91\00:25:46.94
and out of the
mouth of the beast,
00:25:46.97\00:25:48.66
and out of the mouth
of the false prophet."
00:25:48.69\00:25:50.24
You see there's
the trinity of evil.
00:25:50.27\00:25:51.94
We have the trinity of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
00:25:51.97\00:25:54.08
The trinity of good.
00:25:54.11\00:25:55.31
Now, we have
the trinity of evil.
00:25:55.34\00:25:56.71
You see evil is
always after good.
00:25:56.74\00:25:58.92
And here comes
the trinity of evil
00:25:58.95\00:26:00.40
and he says there is a
beast, pagan Christianity,
00:26:00.43\00:26:03.60
paganism went into Christianity,
00:26:03.63\00:26:06.01
then there came Satan, dragon,
00:26:06.04\00:26:07.71
spiritism and all that.
00:26:07.74\00:26:09.22
I mean, poured
in psychic phenomena
00:26:09.25\00:26:11.95
and then false prophet,
eastern religions and later.
00:26:11.98\00:26:15.26
I'll say more
about that another night.
00:26:15.29\00:26:17.68
Even some
Christians have been deceived
00:26:17.71\00:26:19.03
by the counterfeit revival.
00:26:19.06\00:26:20.95
The Bible is being questioned,
00:26:20.98\00:26:22.11
did you know that
in seminaries today?
00:26:22.14\00:26:25.24
They're trying
to alter the Bible,
00:26:25.27\00:26:27.28
rewrite the Bible.
00:26:27.31\00:26:29.10
I mean, if we
can't trust the Bible,
00:26:29.13\00:26:31.03
who can we trust?
00:26:31.06\00:26:33.14
But secondly, we
look at not only the signs
00:26:33.17\00:26:35.08
in the religious world,
00:26:35.11\00:26:36.54
we look at those
prophetic symbols, the beast
00:26:36.57\00:26:38.91
and we look at the dragon
00:26:38.94\00:26:40.17
and we look at
the false prophet,
00:26:40.20\00:26:41.80
but then we look at
the political scene.
00:26:41.83\00:26:44.08
Listen, friend,
00:26:44.11\00:26:45.17
"And ye shall hear of
wars and rumours of wars:
00:26:45.20\00:26:47.23
see that ye be not troubled:
00:26:47.26\00:26:48.35
for all these
things must come to pass,
00:26:48.38\00:26:50.61
but the end is not yet.
00:26:50.64\00:26:53.25
For nation shall
rise against nation,
00:26:53.28\00:26:56.02
and kingdom against kingdom."
00:26:56.05\00:26:58.59
It says that when these
wars are universal, he says,
00:26:58.62\00:27:00.58
then lift up your head, look up.
00:27:00.61\00:27:02.49
You say we've had
wars for all history.
00:27:02.52\00:27:04.20
That's right.
00:27:04.23\00:27:05.26
We had 30-day wars 30-year wars,
00:27:05.29\00:27:08.73
100-year wars.
00:27:08.76\00:27:11.35
Now, we have 30-day
wars, we have six-day wars.
00:27:11.38\00:27:15.75
I mean, now we
have atomic bombs.
00:27:15.78\00:27:18.41
You see we have enough bombs
00:27:18.44\00:27:20.57
to destroy every
living person on earth
00:27:20.60\00:27:24.14
and the only
thing that will be left
00:27:24.17\00:27:25.66
will be cockroaches.
00:27:25.69\00:27:28.10
They have a bomb
now that blows up babies
00:27:28.13\00:27:30.58
but leaves buildings.
00:27:30.61\00:27:33.88
What kind of insanity is that?
00:27:33.91\00:27:35.52
Politically we see a world
00:27:35.55\00:27:36.98
that's living at
the very edge of a war
00:27:37.01\00:27:39.71
called the war of Armageddon,
00:27:39.74\00:27:41.24
called the final war of history
and we're about to enter it.
00:27:41.27\00:27:45.51
You say, we've had wars
00:27:45.54\00:27:46.60
ever since the
beginning of time.
00:27:46.63\00:27:47.98
True, but listen as
we go into this tonight.
00:27:48.01\00:27:51.53
Look at the graves.
00:27:51.56\00:27:53.37
The International
Red Cross estimates
00:27:53.40\00:27:55.24
there have been
100 million people
00:27:55.27\00:27:56.97
being killed during the wars
00:27:57.00\00:27:58.18
during the 20th century.
00:27:58.21\00:28:00.30
Did you get me?
00:28:00.33\00:28:01.53
A 100 million people.
00:28:01.56\00:28:05.50
24 million people
died in World War I,
00:28:05.53\00:28:09.22
60 million people
died in World War II.
00:28:09.25\00:28:12.63
Listen wars and rumors of wars.
00:28:12.66\00:28:15.84
We could talk more about that.
00:28:15.87\00:28:17.22
There had been 150 wars
since World War II ended.
00:28:17.25\00:28:20.66
23 million people
have perished in conflict
00:28:20.69\00:28:24.28
since World War II.
00:28:24.31\00:28:25.63
Just think since
the fall of Berlin Wall,
00:28:25.66\00:28:27.84
50 million people have
been forced from their homes.
00:28:27.87\00:28:32.86
Nation shall rise against nation
00:28:32.89\00:28:34.89
and the original Greek
says tribe against tribe
00:28:34.92\00:28:38.23
and if you go with me to Africa
00:28:38.26\00:28:39.85
as I have been to
Africa, tribe against tribe.
00:28:39.88\00:28:44.45
Tribal war and all this leads
00:28:44.48\00:28:50.25
to end time, to end time.
00:28:50.28\00:28:53.48
The United Nations have
met 81 times in 18 months
00:28:53.51\00:28:56.77
to resolve the problem of war
00:28:56.80\00:28:58.32
and not one single
problem was solved.
00:28:58.35\00:29:00.87
Do you realize that $4 trillion
00:29:00.90\00:29:02.72
was spent on arms and defense
00:29:02.75\00:29:06.21
and that's enough
money to clothe and feed
00:29:06.24\00:29:07.84
the entire world for a year?
00:29:07.87\00:29:10.26
Don't be disillusioned
by our political leaders
00:29:10.29\00:29:13.39
and I don't care what you
are, Republican and Democrat.
00:29:13.42\00:29:15.48
Two things I don't
argue, religion and politics.
00:29:15.51\00:29:18.71
But listen to me, dishonesty
come on in high places.
00:29:18.74\00:29:21.43
You know that.
00:29:21.46\00:29:22.53
Doesn't it bother you?
00:29:22.56\00:29:25.02
I mean fraud, lies, immorality,
00:29:25.05\00:29:29.75
running rampant
through the political scene.
00:29:29.78\00:29:33.67
I mean, there was Watergate,
00:29:33.70\00:29:34.92
and Contra
affair and White Water
00:29:34.95\00:29:36.41
and Trooper
gate and Zipper gate.
00:29:36.44\00:29:37.89
I could go on.
00:29:37.92\00:29:38.95
There's the IRS
and I could go on.
00:29:38.98\00:29:41.48
And the Syrian dictator
who gassed his own people.
00:29:41.51\00:29:46.38
But there are signs
also in the ecological world.
00:29:46.41\00:29:48.99
The Bible says that we
would see signs in nature.
00:29:49.02\00:29:51.64
"And there shall be
famines, and pestilences,
00:29:51.67\00:29:53.25
and earthquakes,
in divers places."
00:29:53.28\00:29:55.11
How can God be
clearer than that?
00:29:55.14\00:29:56.86
He talks about
ecological problem
00:29:56.89\00:29:58.66
in the world.
00:29:58.69\00:29:59.83
And, mommy, I'm hungry.
00:29:59.86\00:30:01.79
I have seen the hungry.
00:30:01.82\00:30:04.17
Terrible scene. I
mean, famine is a fact.
00:30:04.20\00:30:08.72
925 million hungry
people in our world."
00:30:08.75\00:30:12.75
India: 638 million
and they're malnourished.
00:30:12.78\00:30:15.69
I've been all over India.
00:30:15.72\00:30:17.89
Terrible scene. What a picture.
00:30:17.92\00:30:20.53
India, Bangladesh, Africa.
00:30:20.56\00:30:22.84
Listen he says all these things.
00:30:22.87\00:30:24.16
In fact, if the farmer
did not spray insecticides
00:30:24.19\00:30:27.98
12 times during
the growing season,
00:30:28.01\00:30:30.43
we wouldn't have food.
00:30:30.46\00:30:33.13
And all this 27
million diagnosed
00:30:33.16\00:30:36.49
with heart disease.
00:30:36.52\00:30:38.09
1.5 million cancer cases.
00:30:38.12\00:30:40.66
600,000 cancer deaths.
00:30:40.69\00:30:44.01
And you know what's amazing.
00:30:44.04\00:30:45.36
We Americans, this is amazing.
00:30:45.39\00:30:47.76
Listen, it takes 56
million gallons of water
00:30:47.79\00:30:51.97
to sustain one
American for a life time.
00:30:52.00\00:30:56.62
37,000 gallons of gasoline.
00:30:56.65\00:31:00.02
One citizen for a lifetime.
00:31:00.05\00:31:03.09
Five-and-half tons of meat.
00:31:03.12\00:31:04.70
Boy, that's a
lot of cholesterol.
00:31:04.73\00:31:08.79
Five-and-half tons of wheat,
one citizen for a lifetime,
00:31:08.82\00:31:12.28
nine tons of milk and cream.
00:31:12.31\00:31:14.67
This is our country
00:31:14.70\00:31:16.54
while thousands and millions
around the world are dying.
00:31:16.57\00:31:19.84
I could talk
about the ozone layer.
00:31:19.87\00:31:22.59
I could talk
about those Americans
00:31:22.62\00:31:24.19
26 millions have diabetes,
00:31:24.22\00:31:27.32
AIDS kills 1 person
every 15 seconds in our world.
00:31:27.35\00:31:31.15
SARS, Ebola, Mad
Cow, Bird Flu on and on.
00:31:31.18\00:31:34.44
I mean what about the seas.
They're polluting our waters.
00:31:34.47\00:31:38.55
Oil spills.
00:31:38.58\00:31:39.69
The west coast, I
mean, polluting our waters.
00:31:39.72\00:31:42.51
In New York City they
send the barges out every day
00:31:42.54\00:31:45.05
out into the ocean
to drop our garbage
00:31:45.08\00:31:47.06
and it floats
around in the ocean.
00:31:47.09\00:31:48.85
We're destroying our planet.
00:31:48.88\00:31:50.93
If Jesus doesn't intervene soon,
00:31:50.96\00:31:53.08
we will kill ourselves.
00:31:53.11\00:31:57.15
Look around the
world, fish are dying.
00:31:57.18\00:32:01.15
Do you realize a
major earthquake,
00:32:01.18\00:32:02.64
he talks about these earthquakes
00:32:02.67\00:32:04.05
in divers places,"
and different places.
00:32:04.08\00:32:05.91
Listen to me, around the world
00:32:05.94\00:32:07.61
look at the earthquakes,
bursting out around the world.
00:32:07.64\00:32:11.24
It's everywhere.
00:32:11.27\00:32:12.98
Do you realize there are
over 30,000 more earthquakes
00:32:13.01\00:32:16.22
in the 20th century than
in all the previous centuries
00:32:16.25\00:32:18.69
for 5,000 years?
00:32:18.72\00:32:20.34
The earth would
tremble like a drunk man,
00:32:20.37\00:32:22.00
he describes it in one place.
00:32:22.03\00:32:23.42
But let's look
at the social signs.
00:32:23.45\00:32:25.28
Something's wrong with
the ethics and morality
00:32:25.31\00:32:27.41
of our nation.
00:32:27.44\00:32:29.04
You don't have to
be a religious man,
00:32:29.07\00:32:31.55
a theologian or religious woman.
00:32:31.58\00:32:33.95
I mean, look at it. A
murder every 22 minutes.
00:32:33.98\00:32:39.04
Rape every 4 minutes.
00:32:39.07\00:32:42.00
A robbery every 26 seconds.
00:32:42.03\00:32:45.94
Look at this social world.
00:32:45.97\00:32:47.36
"But as the days of Noah were,
00:32:47.39\00:32:48.50
so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be."
00:32:48.53\00:32:50.18
So here on one side
we have the complacent,
00:32:50.21\00:32:52.38
eating, drinking,
marrying, give in marriage.
00:32:52.41\00:32:54.48
Ah yeah it's...
00:32:54.51\00:32:56.52
And then on the other
side we have all this violence.
00:32:56.55\00:32:59.97
I mean, this
violence, robbery everywhere,
00:33:00.00\00:33:03.32
"This know also,
that in the last days
00:33:03.35\00:33:04.47
perilous times shall come.
00:33:04.50\00:33:05.82
For men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous,
00:33:05.85\00:33:08.19
boasters, proud, blasphemers"
he goes on to describe it.
00:33:08.22\00:33:12.09
He says, crime levels
remain at historical high.
00:33:12.12\00:33:15.04
And "disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy,
00:33:15.07\00:33:20.34
without natural
affection one for another."
00:33:20.37\00:33:22.43
Come on now,
"trucebreakers, false accusers,
00:33:22.46\00:33:25.13
incontinent, fierce, despisers
of those that are good."
00:33:25.16\00:33:27.98
Have you noticed that?
00:33:28.01\00:33:30.15
Try to stand for
a moral principle
00:33:30.18\00:33:33.13
and see how they feel about you.
00:33:33.16\00:33:37.20
I mean this is
here, this is the sign.
00:33:37.23\00:33:40.82
I mean, I believe Jesus is
coming soon, don't you say?
00:33:40.85\00:33:43.27
Wave your hand,
let him know that.
00:33:43.30\00:33:46.05
The people in
Charlotte, North Carolina.
00:33:46.08\00:33:48.36
I mean, it's
dangerous out there.
00:33:48.39\00:33:49.55
My nephew who is a policeman,
00:33:49.58\00:33:50.85
one of the finest in
New York, nice young man.
00:33:50.88\00:33:53.56
His wife, he has
a wife and child.
00:33:53.59\00:33:55.72
He's a triathlon runner
and so one night he said
00:33:55.75\00:33:58.16
I'm going to go run
around the track a little bit.
00:33:58.19\00:34:00.62
I'll be home before
dark. He never showed up.
00:34:00.65\00:34:02.36
His wife went to look for him.
00:34:02.39\00:34:03.70
Found him dead on the track.
00:34:03.73\00:34:06.01
Someone had shot him dead.
00:34:06.04\00:34:07.80
His wife was pregnant for twins.
00:34:07.83\00:34:10.02
She gave birth two weeks
later to two beautiful girls.
00:34:10.05\00:34:12.85
They've never seen their father.
00:34:12.88\00:34:14.40
Listen to me, and why
did he kill my nephew Jimmy?
00:34:14.43\00:34:20.00
For no better reason
than he looked at a movie,
00:34:20.03\00:34:22.20
Natural Born Killers
00:34:22.23\00:34:24.86
and he thought,
well, that's a thrill kill,
00:34:24.89\00:34:27.28
that's the thrill.
00:34:27.31\00:34:28.34
He wanted a thrill.
00:34:28.37\00:34:31.42
And ruined the life
of those little babies.
00:34:31.45\00:34:34.94
You talk about the
social problems in America.
00:34:34.97\00:34:37.89
Listen to me, In God we
trust stamped upon our coins
00:34:37.92\00:34:40.31
but not written in our hearts.
00:34:40.34\00:34:43.74
Not written in our hearts.
00:34:43.77\00:34:45.23
But that's not only New York.
00:34:45.26\00:34:47.03
I mean, this is your city.
00:34:47.06\00:34:48.37
Let me show you
something about your city.
00:34:48.40\00:34:50.17
Police arrest suspect serial...
00:34:50.20\00:34:51.86
I just looked back to a
few since I've been in town.
00:34:51.89\00:34:54.48
I mean, from your newspaper.
00:34:54.51\00:34:55.78
I mean, man shot to
death in southwest Charlotte.
00:34:55.81\00:34:58.71
Police ID person
of interest in attempt
00:34:58.74\00:35:00.62
of child abduction.
00:35:00.65\00:35:01.77
I mean, this is your city.
00:35:01.80\00:35:02.95
I mean this is the Queen City.
00:35:02.98\00:35:05.89
Charlotte police found
more than 100 violations DWI.
00:35:05.92\00:35:09.41
That's in your city.
00:35:09.44\00:35:11.37
I mean, three in custody
00:35:11.40\00:35:12.71
after
officer-involved shooting chase.
00:35:12.74\00:35:14.80
Three dead including gunman
in North Carolina shooting.
00:35:14.83\00:35:17.53
I mean, I could go on.
00:35:17.56\00:35:18.76
Charlotte
Mecklenburg Police Department
00:35:18.79\00:35:20.98
seeks a person of
interest in homicide.
00:35:21.01\00:35:22.81
I mean, this is your city.
00:35:22.84\00:35:24.08
High school quarter back
charged with selling pot.
00:35:24.11\00:35:26.43
I mean Charlotte swimming coach
00:35:26.46\00:35:27.98
charged with sexual misconduct.
00:35:28.01\00:35:29.67
I mean, this is your city.
00:35:29.70\00:35:31.10
This is every city in America.
00:35:31.13\00:35:35.56
I think about
Columbine. Listen to me.
00:35:35.59\00:35:39.81
What about
Virginia Tech massacre?
00:35:39.84\00:35:42.41
What about that thing
that happened in Norway?
00:35:42.44\00:35:45.23
A country that has
the least amount of crime
00:35:45.26\00:35:47.55
and look what happened.
00:35:47.58\00:35:49.22
It's not safe anywhere, is it?
00:35:49.25\00:35:50.67
Come on now.
00:35:50.70\00:35:51.96
It's not safe
anywhere in our world.
00:35:51.99\00:35:54.73
Hey by the way,
this is your city
00:35:54.76\00:35:58.57
and that's the crime.
00:35:58.60\00:36:00.25
The red are
crimes against people.
00:36:00.28\00:36:02.92
I'm staying out of
those neighborhoods.
00:36:02.95\00:36:05.18
I do most of my
work in the inner cities
00:36:05.21\00:36:06.81
across America at East LA.
00:36:06.84\00:36:08.97
San Bernardino,
Brooklyn, New York, Harlem.
00:36:09.00\00:36:11.70
I mean, that's where
I've done my ministry
00:36:11.73\00:36:13.04
for 30-some years and
it's dangerous out there.
00:36:13.07\00:36:15.63
Let me tell you. I'm
not reading this in a book.
00:36:15.66\00:36:18.50
I haven't learned
this in a seminary.
00:36:18.53\00:36:20.45
I've learned it
out on the street
00:36:20.48\00:36:21.75
when I ministered to the Hippies
00:36:21.78\00:36:23.64
and the Yippies and the Wagumps
00:36:23.67\00:36:24.84
and the Freebee
Gypsies and the gangs MS13
00:36:24.87\00:36:28.85
and gangs like the
Crips and the Bloods.
00:36:28.88\00:36:31.64
Hey, I mean, this is real.
00:36:31.67\00:36:34.37
Your city is covered with it.
00:36:34.40\00:36:37.09
I think Jesus Christ
needs to come, don't you friend?
00:36:37.12\00:36:39.44
Come on now, don't you
think the Lord should come.
00:36:39.47\00:36:41.55
I mean, if He doesn't
come, we'll kill ourselves.
00:36:41.58\00:36:43.81
We'll destroy ourselves.
00:36:43.84\00:36:46.69
But not only that,
00:36:46.72\00:36:48.19
let's look at the economic sign.
00:36:48.22\00:36:51.24
James 5 tells us about
the economy in the last days.
00:36:51.27\00:36:54.60
"Go to now, ye rich men,
weep and howl for your miseries
00:36:54.63\00:36:57.13
that shall come upon you.
00:36:57.16\00:36:58.45
Your riches shall be
corrupted or worthless,
00:36:58.48\00:37:01.42
and your
garments are motheaten."
00:37:01.45\00:37:03.13
That means its...
you buy a suite lately,
00:37:03.16\00:37:05.57
how long it
lasts I mean, he says,
00:37:05.60\00:37:07.54
"your gold, your silver
is cankered, it's worthless.
00:37:07.57\00:37:10.18
He says and the rust
of them, it's like rust,
00:37:10.21\00:37:12.45
and shall be a
witness against you,
00:37:12.48\00:37:14.58
and shall eat
your flesh with fire.
00:37:14.61\00:37:16.69
Ye have heaped treasure
together for the last days.
00:37:16.72\00:37:18.79
Behold, the hire of the laborers
00:37:18.82\00:37:20.82
who have reaped
down your fields,
00:37:20.85\00:37:23.70
Ye have lived in pleasure.'
00:37:23.73\00:37:25.32
' Come on, this is not my word.
00:37:25.35\00:37:27.22
"And been wanton, ye
have nourished your hearts,
00:37:27.25\00:37:29.21
as in a day of slaughter.
00:37:29.24\00:37:30.32
Ye have condemned
and killed the just;
00:37:30.35\00:37:31.93
and he doth not resist you."
00:37:31.96\00:37:34.31
You talk about the
problems of the economy.
00:37:34.34\00:37:37.67
Do you realize this friend?
00:37:37.70\00:37:39.00
We spend $20 billion in
entertainment in America,
00:37:39.03\00:37:41.82
20 billion.
00:37:41.85\00:37:44.15
We spend 70 billion
on gambling in America.
00:37:44.18\00:37:48.94
We spend 28 billion
on alcohol in America.
00:37:48.97\00:37:53.38
We spend $8
billion on the church.
00:37:53.41\00:37:56.65
The economy.
00:37:56.68\00:37:57.71
We talk about 16
trillion dollar debt.
00:37:57.74\00:37:59.90
Now I don't know. My
mama was a real economist.
00:37:59.93\00:38:02.52
You know, when you
grow up in the ghetto,
00:38:02.55\00:38:03.58
you have to be an economist.
00:38:03.61\00:38:04.72
Come on.
00:38:04.75\00:38:06.04
When you grow up
poor you have to be.
00:38:06.07\00:38:07.64
My mama used to say
00:38:07.67\00:38:08.83
if you have 5
bucks kid, don't spend 6.
00:38:08.86\00:38:13.30
That's pretty good, huh?
00:38:13.33\00:38:15.06
I wish the
government would hear that.
00:38:15.09\00:38:16.57
Come on now.
00:38:16.60\00:38:17.64
I mean, I wish the
government would hear that.
00:38:17.67\00:38:19.42
If you have 5, don't spend 6.
00:38:19.45\00:38:22.82
My mother was an economist.
00:38:22.85\00:38:25.05
I mean if you placed
all the economists together,
00:38:25.08\00:38:27.05
they'd all point in
a different direction.
00:38:27.08\00:38:28.70
Come on. Here's the facts.
00:38:28.73\00:38:32.36
The average family in America
from Jet Works from January 1
00:38:32.39\00:38:36.55
to the middle of May
for government for tax debt.
00:38:36.58\00:38:41.28
Since 1960 on to almost 2000
00:38:41.31\00:38:43.81
the tax burden on
two-parent families
00:38:43.84\00:38:45.70
with four children
increased 224 percent.
00:38:45.73\00:38:49.74
In the same period of
time there was a 600 percent
00:38:49.77\00:38:51.91
increase of Social Security Tax.
00:38:51.94\00:38:55.12
Everybody is talking
about a wonderful economy, phew.
00:38:55.15\00:39:00.73
Wait till they retire.
00:39:00.76\00:39:03.76
They raise your
electricity. Come on now.
00:39:03.79\00:39:06.10
They don't raise much here.
00:39:06.13\00:39:09.13
And you're sinking, aren't you?
00:39:09.16\00:39:11.31
Do you know that most Americans
00:39:11.34\00:39:12.73
are three
months from bankruptcy?
00:39:12.76\00:39:15.11
Credit card debt.
Jesus Christ has to come.
00:39:15.14\00:39:18.70
But you don't have
to be an economist.
00:39:18.73\00:39:20.00
Have you been to the
grocery store lately?
00:39:20.03\00:39:22.83
My wife goes on Thursday.
I try to get out of town.
00:39:22.86\00:39:27.75
She's from Venus, I'm from Mars.
00:39:27.78\00:39:31.22
My wife caught me one day.
00:39:31.25\00:39:32.91
She said let's go
shopping. I said yes honey.
00:39:32.94\00:39:34.96
I'm married 56 years
so I know when to say yes.
00:39:34.99\00:39:39.51
And so I went shopping.
00:39:39.54\00:39:40.61
But you know, if you see me
00:39:40.64\00:39:42.72
in a grocery store in Charlotte,
00:39:42.75\00:39:44.41
stay out of my way
because I move with that cart.
00:39:44.44\00:39:51.39
And I memorize
where everything is.
00:39:51.42\00:39:53.18
My wife says string beans.
00:39:53.21\00:39:55.32
I run boo, boo, boom, four
cans and she says oh no wait.
00:39:55.35\00:39:59.02
Stop how many ounces.
00:39:59.05\00:40:00.49
I said you said
green beans not ounces.
00:40:00.52\00:40:02.60
And no she says no.
00:40:02.63\00:40:04.13
And so there I was all
afternoon ounces, money,
00:40:04.16\00:40:06.71
ounces come one.
00:40:06.74\00:40:08.24
Then you get to that counter
and that woman has that stare.
00:40:08.27\00:40:12.69
Huh? $2.10.
00:40:12.72\00:40:17.12
A computer voice.
00:40:17.15\00:40:20.88
$5.4.
00:40:20.91\00:40:23.26
At the end this
string of paper is coming out
00:40:23.29\00:40:25.79
and dangling around your feet
00:40:25.82\00:40:27.54
and wrapping around
you like a snake and...
00:40:27.57\00:40:31.77
$143 and you pick
it up in both arms
00:40:31.80\00:40:34.66
and walk out of the store.
00:40:34.69\00:40:36.24
I mean, you don't
have to be an economist.
00:40:36.27\00:40:42.46
And the Bible
says that's a sign,
00:40:42.49\00:40:46.50
that's a sign when
you see those things.
00:40:46.53\00:40:50.50
You know, five
specific signs, Religious World,
00:40:50.53\00:40:55.12
the Political World,
the Ecological World,
00:40:55.15\00:40:58.17
and in the what?
00:40:58.20\00:40:59.63
Social World and in the
signs in the Economical World.
00:40:59.66\00:41:03.49
I was in Detroit,
Michigan preaching for God,
00:41:03.52\00:41:05.58
teaching a seminar in
the inner city in Detroit.
00:41:05.61\00:41:09.11
And they're wonderful people,
00:41:09.14\00:41:11.43
wonderful people
in that poor city.
00:41:11.46\00:41:14.39
Lot of poor people
are suffering here.
00:41:14.42\00:41:17.77
And this little lady
was coming to my meetings
00:41:17.80\00:41:19.43
and I looked and
I saw her coming.
00:41:19.46\00:41:21.04
She always sat up
front and, you know,
00:41:21.07\00:41:24.96
I just had to talk to her
00:41:24.99\00:41:27.38
and so I went over and
talked to her one night
00:41:27.41\00:41:28.95
and she was so
friendly and lovely.
00:41:28.98\00:41:30.63
And she was
coming with her nephew.
00:41:30.66\00:41:32.36
Her nephew would bring her in.
00:41:32.39\00:41:33.75
And then one
night he didn't show up
00:41:33.78\00:41:35.60
and she didn't show
up and the next night
00:41:35.63\00:41:37.58
he didn't show up
and she didn't show up.
00:41:37.61\00:41:39.61
And finally about the
fifth night he showed up
00:41:39.64\00:41:43.13
and I said, well,
where is your sweet aunt?
00:41:43.16\00:41:44.99
He says, she's
been murdered. Murdered?
00:41:45.02\00:41:48.43
He said yeah. I
took her shopping.
00:41:48.46\00:41:50.91
She got $8 worth of groceries
and she ran up the stairs
00:41:50.94\00:41:54.00
because I kept the car running
00:41:54.03\00:41:55.67
and I was going to take her
for a ride out in the country.
00:41:55.70\00:41:57.82
She didn't come
back, she didn't come back
00:41:57.85\00:41:59.74
so I went in and I found her.
00:41:59.77\00:42:02.05
They slaughtered her
for $8 worth of groceries.
00:42:02.08\00:42:07.03
Jesus needs to
come. I want him to come.
00:42:07.06\00:42:10.24
But the whole crux
of this message is this.
00:42:10.27\00:42:14.01
Jesus says,
"Therefore be ye also ready:
00:42:14.04\00:42:19.28
for in such an
hour as ye think not
00:42:19.31\00:42:22.48
the Son of man cometh."
00:42:22.51\00:42:24.64
The whole part of
the prophecy is here.
00:42:24.67\00:42:29.66
Be ye ready. Be ready.
00:42:29.69\00:42:33.19
Readiness, readiness,
that's the important thing.
00:42:33.22\00:42:37.36
Some years ago I was
taking a trip to California.
00:42:37.39\00:42:39.45
I had this
preaching, teaching a seminar
00:42:39.48\00:42:41.41
and I had two teenagers.
00:42:41.44\00:42:43.27
My Diane and my Ronnie.
00:42:43.30\00:42:45.21
And you know how
it is when you go
00:42:45.24\00:42:46.51
and you leave
the teenagers home.
00:42:46.54\00:42:47.92
The 10 commandments become 250.
00:42:47.95\00:42:50.01
You know how it is.
00:42:50.04\00:42:51.90
And you put it not in granite
00:42:51.93\00:42:53.18
but you put it
on the refrigerator.
00:42:53.21\00:42:56.37
And I said to my son, he
was the oldest by two years.
00:42:56.40\00:42:59.31
I said, son since
you're the oldest,
00:42:59.34\00:43:00.76
shows you how dumb I am,
00:43:00.79\00:43:01.90
I said, son, you're the oldest,
I want you to be in charge.
00:43:01.93\00:43:06.44
When I got out of the
house he was like Hitler.
00:43:06.47\00:43:10.27
My poor daughter had to
move into her friend's house.
00:43:10.30\00:43:16.18
When I was gone I said, son,
00:43:16.21\00:43:17.24
I'm going to be back
on Thursday, be ready.
00:43:17.27\00:43:20.15
Flew out to
California, my wife and I,
00:43:20.18\00:43:22.43
and I was at the seminar
and I noticed in the seminar
00:43:22.46\00:43:25.52
writing that I was
going to finish on Wednesday.
00:43:25.55\00:43:28.71
And I said to my wife, I
said honey this is great.
00:43:28.74\00:43:33.53
We could go home a day
early and surprise the kids.
00:43:33.56\00:43:40.63
Shows you who's
smart in this family.
00:43:40.66\00:43:42.55
She says I don't know
if that's a good idea.
00:43:42.58\00:43:44.15
I said, oh, no honey,
I think it's brilliant.
00:43:44.18\00:43:47.52
I said, and so we
changed our tickets.
00:43:47.55\00:43:49.58
In those days you
could change your ticket.
00:43:49.61\00:43:51.27
We flew into Dallas, Texas.
00:43:51.30\00:43:52.75
I was a university
pastor and just out of Dallas
00:43:52.78\00:43:56.49
and so I called the
deacon of the church.
00:43:56.52\00:43:59.43
I said, deacon,
we're at the airport,
00:43:59.46\00:44:01.34
I don't know why
I was whispering.
00:44:01.37\00:44:02.95
We're in the airport in Dallas.
00:44:02.98\00:44:05.09
Would you come and pick us up.
00:44:05.12\00:44:06.18
He said what about
your son. I said, oh no.
00:44:06.21\00:44:08.28
We're supposed to come tomorrow.
00:44:08.31\00:44:09.53
I'm going to surprise him.
00:44:09.56\00:44:11.83
And there was silence
for the space of a half hour.
00:44:11.86\00:44:16.09
So he said, all right pastor.
00:44:16.12\00:44:17.16
He came out and 40 minutes later
00:44:17.19\00:44:18.50
he picked us up and drove us
into this little college town,
00:44:18.53\00:44:20.94
Christian college town.
00:44:20.97\00:44:22.61
And the people had said
their prayers and gone to bed.
00:44:22.64\00:44:25.64
You know, ho, it was the
New Jerusalem here on earth
00:44:25.67\00:44:28.66
but any way I
figured me being their pastor
00:44:28.69\00:44:31.28
they should be saints.
00:44:31.31\00:44:34.51
So I pulled up at our house.
00:44:34.54\00:44:38.31
The lights were out.
00:44:38.34\00:44:41.06
I said look honey
they take care after me.
00:44:41.09\00:44:46.45
She says I don't know
00:44:46.48\00:44:47.94
if this is a very good idea.
00:44:47.97\00:44:54.54
I said, oh, honey, I
think it's a great idea.
00:44:54.57\00:44:56.85
She said ring the doorbell.
00:44:56.88\00:44:58.26
I said no, no,
let's surprise them.
00:44:58.29\00:45:02.99
You get the drift, don't you?
00:45:03.02\00:45:06.13
And so I opened
the door and crept in
00:45:06.16\00:45:08.02
and flipped on the lighting,
00:45:08.05\00:45:09.08
it was to my
living room and looked in.
00:45:09.11\00:45:10.68
It couldn't have
been my living room.
00:45:10.71\00:45:13.42
I mean I couldn't
even see my couch.
00:45:13.45\00:45:16.61
I mean underwear and shirt
and footballs and basketballs
00:45:16.64\00:45:20.58
and I mean,
dirty socks everywhere.
00:45:20.61\00:45:23.66
I mean, come
on. That's my couch.
00:45:23.69\00:45:29.62
And then I went
into the kitchen.
00:45:29.65\00:45:35.44
Turned on the light.
00:45:35.47\00:45:36.50
The dishes were
piled to the ceiling.
00:45:36.53\00:45:38.47
I couldn't believe that
they would use so many dishes
00:45:38.50\00:45:41.25
for peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches.
00:45:41.28\00:45:46.89
There was a
hand mark everywhere,
00:45:46.92\00:45:48.38
you know, and my kids.
00:45:48.41\00:45:50.76
So I walked down the
hallway to my boy's room,
00:45:50.79\00:45:56.94
to my boy's room.
00:45:56.97\00:46:00.18
And I opened the door
quietly, flipped on the light
00:46:00.21\00:46:06.21
and my boy sat up
rubbing sleep from his eyes.
00:46:06.24\00:46:08.64
He says dad, you're
supposed to come tomorrow.
00:46:08.67\00:46:14.04
I said be ye ready!
00:46:14.07\00:46:16.31
Be ye ready!
00:46:21.84\00:46:25.41
It may be at dawn,
it may be at night,
00:46:25.44\00:46:29.91
it may be in
mid-day, it may be tonight
00:46:29.94\00:46:34.57
because you see
00:46:34.60\00:46:37.07
he's only a heartbeat away.
00:46:37.10\00:46:44.03
I was invited to give a lecture
at an Ivy League Seminary,
00:46:44.06\00:46:48.96
you know, those
high church seminary.
00:46:48.99\00:46:50.98
You had to walk up a
ladder to get to the pulpit.
00:46:51.01\00:46:55.21
You know, it's one of
those Ivy League places.
00:46:55.24\00:46:59.14
I felt a little
uncomfortable you know,
00:46:59.17\00:47:01.44
I'm just a boy from Brooklyn
00:47:01.47\00:47:02.65
and only by the grace
of God I do what I do.
00:47:02.68\00:47:05.79
And when I got
saved I had a 98 IQ.
00:47:05.82\00:47:11.86
Now that I'm saved I have a 99.
00:47:11.89\00:47:13.42
Hey look, don't worry about it.
00:47:13.45\00:47:16.65
It's not what you're
born, it's what you're reborn.
00:47:16.68\00:47:21.83
It's what you're reborn.
00:47:21.86\00:47:23.21
Anyway I said I'll go and do it.
00:47:23.24\00:47:25.27
And I love to talk about faith
00:47:25.30\00:47:27.30
and about those
great themes of the Bible
00:47:27.33\00:47:29.38
and what I
believe as a Christian
00:47:29.41\00:47:31.16
and the great themes
of what the Bible says.
00:47:31.19\00:47:33.04
I stood up and I talked
about those great themes.
00:47:33.07\00:47:36.14
I talked about this
God who is omnipotent.
00:47:36.17\00:47:38.94
This God who is
omniscient, everywhere.
00:47:38.97\00:47:41.23
You can't run from Him.
00:47:41.26\00:47:42.74
Hey, don't you understand
why God made a round world?
00:47:42.77\00:47:46.13
Because the farther
you run away from home,
00:47:46.16\00:47:48.26
the closer you
come back to home.
00:47:48.29\00:47:54.33
I talked about
this omnipotent God
00:47:54.36\00:47:57.19
that moved upon space
00:47:57.22\00:47:59.75
and I talked
about the creator God
00:47:59.78\00:48:01.26
which I believe in.
00:48:01.29\00:48:04.01
And I talked
about this creator God
00:48:04.04\00:48:05.61
and how this creator God,
His Son Came into this world.
00:48:05.64\00:48:08.44
I talked about the
gospel, the good news.
00:48:08.47\00:48:10.30
Salvation is a free gift.
00:48:10.33\00:48:11.54
You don't earn it
nor do you deserve it.
00:48:11.57\00:48:14.69
I mean, I was bold
00:48:14.72\00:48:18.19
in this Ivy League Seminary
00:48:18.22\00:48:23.95
and I talked about the
birth, the incarnation of Jesus.
00:48:23.98\00:48:28.59
You see there are three
great themes in the scripture
00:48:28.62\00:48:32.28
the New Testament,
the incarnation, the crib,
00:48:32.31\00:48:35.56
the cross and the coming.
00:48:35.59\00:48:38.85
And I spoke about
the second coming.
00:48:38.88\00:48:40.43
I finished with
the second coming.
00:48:40.46\00:48:42.04
I said I believe in
the visible, audible,
00:48:42.07\00:48:43.79
literal return of Christ
to the earth the second time
00:48:43.82\00:48:46.08
and he's coming
soon and I ended it.
00:48:46.11\00:48:48.36
That's a good place to end.
00:48:48.39\00:48:50.79
And then it was
question and answer period.
00:48:50.82\00:48:52.53
I'm great at questions.
00:48:52.56\00:48:54.29
It's the answers I
have problems with.
00:48:54.32\00:48:56.23
Ask my teachers.
00:48:56.26\00:48:59.45
And so it's question and answer.
00:48:59.48\00:49:00.51
One man raised his
hand. He was back in the back.
00:49:00.54\00:49:02.86
He was their theologian.
00:49:02.89\00:49:04.73
I mean he got up and he
introduced himself as Dr.
00:49:04.76\00:49:07.77
so and so, with PhD, DDT.
00:49:07.80\00:49:14.10
He really impressed
me, and he said young man,
00:49:14.13\00:49:18.81
that could be
00:49:18.84\00:49:20.54
and all the students are
looking at their favorite...
00:49:20.57\00:49:22.95
That could be one
thousand years from now.
00:49:22.98\00:49:28.33
I said, mister, I wasn't
going to call him doctor,
00:49:28.36\00:49:32.07
I said mister put
your hand on your heart.
00:49:32.10\00:49:37.14
For you it's not a
thousand years from now,
00:49:37.17\00:49:39.32
be ye therefore ready.
00:49:39.35\00:49:42.73
And I want to tell
you what Jesus told you.
00:49:42.76\00:49:46.58
The whole crux
of the whole matter.
00:49:46.61\00:49:49.05
If you see the signs
in the religious world
00:49:49.08\00:49:51.42
and understand
them and interpret them,
00:49:51.45\00:49:53.07
if you understand
the political scene
00:49:53.10\00:49:54.91
and be able to
interpret it from prophecy.
00:49:54.94\00:49:57.00
If you understand
the ecological scene
00:49:57.03\00:50:00.50
and the social scene
and the economic scene,
00:50:00.53\00:50:03.38
but you don't understand
00:50:03.41\00:50:05.07
that it's all for the
purpose of preparing the people
00:50:05.10\00:50:07.91
for the return of Christ
to the earth a second time.
00:50:07.94\00:50:10.55
That's why I say you
need to be a pilgrim,
00:50:10.58\00:50:16.39
a pilgrim in this
world loving and serving
00:50:16.42\00:50:22.90
and living for
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:50:22.93\00:50:27.80
Father, God,
which art in heaven,
00:50:27.83\00:50:29.34
I thank you for tonight.
00:50:29.37\00:50:31.19
It's a beautiful
night in a beautiful city.
00:50:31.22\00:50:35.48
But, Lord, we look for a city
00:50:35.51\00:50:36.72
whose builder and maker is God.
00:50:36.75\00:50:40.35
We look for a world
where there will be no illness
00:50:40.38\00:50:43.03
or sickness or pain
or suffering or death.
00:50:43.06\00:50:46.95
We look for a city whose
builder and maker is God.
00:50:46.98\00:50:52.15
And God we pray to You right now
00:50:52.18\00:50:53.62
because You're the God
that can wipe away our tears.
00:50:53.65\00:50:57.81
You're a God that
can come and comfort us
00:50:57.84\00:51:00.99
and a God that
come and deliver us.
00:51:01.02\00:51:04.24
And so now we pray
00:51:04.27\00:51:06.93
that you would
touch the lives of those
00:51:06.96\00:51:08.21
who have come to
this place tonight.
00:51:08.24\00:51:11.74
May your Holy
Spirit be real to them.
00:51:11.77\00:51:15.85
And may they leave this place
00:51:15.88\00:51:18.92
knowing and trusting
God for His miracles.
00:51:18.95\00:51:25.23
I pray in the name of
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
00:51:25.26\00:51:29.11
Amen and amen.
00:51:29.14\00:51:32.03
Time for today's Bible question
00:51:54.38\00:51:56.15
and thanks for
submitting Bible questions to us
00:51:56.18\00:51:57.90
here at It Is Written.
00:51:57.93\00:51:59.41
How can a person really
believe the Bible is true?
00:51:59.44\00:52:04.06
It was written years ago,
it's been copied so many times,
00:52:04.09\00:52:06.94
it was written by a
lot of different people
00:52:06.97\00:52:08.67
and those people wrote
different parts of the Bible
00:52:08.70\00:52:11.79
at different times.
00:52:11.82\00:52:13.85
Help me believe the
Bible is believable.
00:52:13.88\00:52:17.28
Great question. Thank you.
00:52:17.31\00:52:18.80
I'll do my best.
You know what's funny?
00:52:18.83\00:52:21.91
There are historical books
that not many people question
00:52:21.94\00:52:25.36
when it comes to authenticity.
00:52:25.39\00:52:27.55
Let me explain this a bit.
00:52:27.58\00:52:29.07
An historian named Tacitus
00:52:29.10\00:52:30.93
wrote The Annals
of Imperial Rome.
00:52:30.96\00:52:33.15
Few people question its
accuracy or its veracity,
00:52:33.18\00:52:36.57
even though what's
available to us today
00:52:36.60\00:52:38.04
comes from a
copy, not the original,
00:52:38.07\00:52:40.27
and that copy doesn't nearly
date back to the original.
00:52:40.30\00:52:43.30
Now, I'm not knocking Tacitus
00:52:43.33\00:52:45.29
and the Annals of Imperial Rome.
00:52:45.32\00:52:47.35
I'm just pointing out that
00:52:47.38\00:52:48.41
there's a bit of
a double standard
00:52:48.44\00:52:49.82
when it comes to considering
the accuracy of the Bible.
00:52:49.85\00:52:53.62
Now there are several
reasons you can trust the Bible.
00:52:53.65\00:52:55.62
I'll name just a few.
Historically it stands up.
00:52:55.65\00:52:58.84
Luke, who wrote Luke
and the Book of Acts,
00:52:58.87\00:53:01.62
is a very accurate historian,
00:53:01.65\00:53:03.72
and the historical
details found in what he wrote
00:53:03.75\00:53:06.01
stand the test of
thorough scrutiny.
00:53:06.04\00:53:09.58
Archaeology has validated
the Bible again and again.
00:53:09.61\00:53:13.02
On numerous
occasions it's been said that
00:53:13.05\00:53:15.01
portions of the
Bible couldn't be trusted
00:53:15.04\00:53:17.02
because they
couldn't be validated
00:53:17.05\00:53:18.95
by the archaeological record.
00:53:18.98\00:53:20.98
But again and
again archaeologists
00:53:21.01\00:53:24.00
have found records of
cities or other evidences
00:53:24.03\00:53:28.29
that show that Bible
record was accurate after all.
00:53:28.32\00:53:31.84
It's happened many, many times.
00:53:31.87\00:53:33.89
Then there are the manuscripts.
00:53:33.92\00:53:35.75
There are
hundreds of old manuscripts
00:53:35.78\00:53:37.81
or portions of
manuscripts that show us that
00:53:37.84\00:53:40.83
what has come down to
us today is consistent
00:53:40.86\00:53:43.58
with what was written hundreds
and hundreds of years ago.
00:53:43.61\00:53:47.03
The Dead Sea Scrolls,
00:53:47.06\00:53:48.67
discovered in the
late 1940s and early 1950s
00:53:48.70\00:53:51.58
are compelling evidence
that the Bible is legitimate.
00:53:51.61\00:53:54.56
They date back as far back
as before the time of Christ,
00:53:54.59\00:53:58.81
and they show us that
the Bible we read today is
00:53:58.84\00:54:00.84
fundamentally the
same as what was written
00:54:00.87\00:54:02.97
way back then.
00:54:03.00\00:54:04.53
Now the 'differences
that exist in manuscripts
00:54:04.56\00:54:07.13
are generally so small that
they're practically irrelevant.
00:54:07.16\00:54:11.30
You don't find a
manuscript where Jesus says
00:54:11.33\00:54:13.49
He is not the Son of God,
00:54:13.52\00:54:15.05
or where Christ is
teaching something bizarre.
00:54:15.08\00:54:18.41
And consider prophecy.
00:54:18.44\00:54:20.27
Many prophecies of the
Bible have been fulfilled
00:54:20.30\00:54:23.47
and this demonstrates,
I think, conclusively
00:54:23.50\00:54:25.62
that the Bible can be trusted.
00:54:25.65\00:54:27.69
When you've got predictions
made that name a king
00:54:27.72\00:54:30.95
before he is born or that name
a certain invader or conqueror
00:54:30.98\00:54:35.36
before he is born and
then these things come to pass.
00:54:35.39\00:54:38.67
When you've got
all these prophecies
00:54:38.70\00:54:40.31
about Jesus coming to the world,
00:54:40.34\00:54:41.82
one saying He
would be crucified,
00:54:41.85\00:54:43.50
another saying not a
bone would be broken,
00:54:43.53\00:54:45.63
another saying He
would be born in Bethlehem,
00:54:45.66\00:54:47.77
another saying He
would die in dishonor,
00:54:47.80\00:54:49.59
another saying
He would be rejected
00:54:49.62\00:54:51.73
by the ones He came
to save, and on and on...
00:54:51.76\00:54:55.63
You've got a real
problem if you want to argue
00:54:55.66\00:54:57.94
against the
inspiration of the Bible.
00:54:57.97\00:55:00.60
What are you going to
do with all that evidence?
00:55:00.63\00:55:03.93
But you know what?
00:55:03.96\00:55:05.37
At the end of the day we
accept the Bible by faith.
00:55:05.40\00:55:09.00
The Bible's critics do
raise fair questions at times.
00:55:09.03\00:55:11.95
Some questions
aren't very easy to answer,
00:55:11.98\00:55:14.42
especially to
everybody's satisfaction.
00:55:14.45\00:55:17.12
But there is enough clear,
what I would call evidence
00:55:17.15\00:55:21.09
for us to know that the
Bible really is the word of God.
00:55:21.12\00:55:24.56
You can accept it by faith.
00:55:24.59\00:55:26.17
Not blind faith, but
reasonable, studied faith.
00:55:26.20\00:55:30.41
There are many,
many good reasons
00:55:30.44\00:55:32.25
to trust the Bible.
00:55:32.28\00:55:33.31
So many, I'm not
sure how somebody
00:55:33.34\00:55:36.40
can really be confident
in rejecting the Bible.
00:55:36.43\00:55:40.85
If there's a
question you'd like answered,
00:55:40.88\00:55:42.36
please send it to
me at itiswritten.com.
00:55:42.39\00:55:44.83
I'll do my very best
00:55:44.86\00:55:46.57
to get your Bible
question answered.
00:55:46.60\00:55:48.37
Eyes for India is
giving sight to the blind
00:56:16.90\00:56:20.48
and you can be a part of this
amazing work that God is doing.
00:56:20.51\00:56:24.19
15 million blind
people live in India,
00:56:24.22\00:56:26.83
more than any other
country in the world.
00:56:26.86\00:56:29.05
And many of the blind
in India could see again,
00:56:29.08\00:56:32.15
if only they could have
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00:56:32.18\00:56:35.37
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00:56:35.40\00:56:38.34
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00:56:38.37\00:56:41.35
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00:56:41.38\00:56:45.03
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00:56:45.06\00:56:48.14
Here's all you need to do.
00:56:48.17\00:56:49.49
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00:56:49.52\00:56:52.86
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00:56:52.89\00:56:56.55
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00:56:56.58\00:56:59.70
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00:56:59.73\00:57:03.20
You'll also find
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00:57:03.23\00:57:05.98
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00:57:06.01\00:57:07.99