It was my
second year in college,
00:00:13.88\00:00:18.11
I was 20 years old,
00:00:18.15\00:00:19.48
and I had decided to
go overseas to experience
00:00:19.51\00:00:24.85
a dream that I had to
study in Europe for a year,
00:00:24.89\00:00:28.79
learning the language that
I had grown up with as a boy.
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Bogenhofen was a
small school in Austria.
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There are no kangaroos
in Austria, it's Europe.
00:00:36.97\00:00:40.50
And we had a great experience
there those first months
00:00:40.54\00:00:44.01
since I was
studying and learning
00:00:44.04\00:00:45.57
and it was a wonderful
small school environment
00:00:45.61\00:00:49.24
coming from a large
university Adventist University
00:00:49.28\00:00:52.61
to a school of
about a 150 students,
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it was a family.
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One thing I
didn't enjoy very much
00:00:57.92\00:01:00.02
and that was the cold.
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It was one of those
wet fall experiences
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where you basically
have this constant drizzle
00:01:05.46\00:01:09.83
and rain and this kind
of wet cold that penetrates
00:01:09.86\00:01:13.34
no matter what kind of
clothing you're wearing
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down to the very bone,
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and I remember I could
count may be on two hands
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how many days of sunshine
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I had seen that particular fall.
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And now it was
November, and one day,
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while I was in the dinning room,
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my father called,
and I went to the phone
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and after some
small talk, he said,
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"You know, Michael," he says,
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"Your mother and
I have been talking
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and we're going down to
Florida again this year,
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down to Key Largo
for our vacation time.
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We do have done this
every year for many years
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and we were wondering
if you want to join us.
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The relatives are all
gonna be there together,
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there's gonna be about 40 of us,
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camping on the Gulf of
Mexico, and you know how it is.
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And I looked outside
and it was drizzling again.
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I thought about
those blue ashore waters,
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I thought about my cousins
00:02:00.52\00:02:01.85
and I went surfing
across the Gulf of Mexico,
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I thought of our
scuba diving adventures
00:02:04.89\00:02:07.42
in Pennekamp State Park.
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I thought about all of
the things that we did,
00:02:09.39\00:02:12.29
even Santa Claus
coming on the back
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of a pickup truck on the beach.
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I thought of beach volleyball,
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I thought of the things we did
when we were there at the beach
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during our Christmas
holidays for two weeks,
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and my dad said, "Look, I
want you to make the decision."
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And I explained to my father
that I was actually planning
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on staying in Europe that year.
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I was planning on
spending the Christmas time
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with my uncle Kurtz,
who is a pastor in Germany
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and my cousin Bettina,
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who was a student
with me at Bogenhofen,
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and my dad said,
"Well, there's no pressure,
00:02:41.76\00:02:44.89
it's your
decision, you're an adult,
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now you need to make
these decisions on your own.
00:02:46.53\00:02:48.33
But what I will do,
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I will go to the
travel agent this morning,
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I will look at possible flights
00:02:51.77\00:02:53.54
because it's very
late in this discussion,
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and I will call you
back in three hours,
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and when I call you back,
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you need to
have made a decision,
00:03:00.21\00:03:01.54
because we need to
act on this right away."
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I remember after lunch
going to Bettina's room,
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my cousin's room.
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I had permission from
the girls' dean to go there
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because I was her cousin.
00:03:13.42\00:03:15.59
And I told her
about the phone call
00:03:15.62\00:03:18.73
and I said, "You know,
I don't know what to do,
00:03:18.76\00:03:20.50
I mean we have these plans
to go to your house and now...
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I don't know, it's a simple
decision whether to go home
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or whether to stay
here for Christmas."
00:03:27.37\00:03:28.97
And Bettina
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caught me off guard,
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she says, "Michael,
have you prayed about it?"
00:03:33.61\00:03:36.48
I felt a little guilty
00:03:36.51\00:03:37.85
because I was a
theology student second year
00:03:37.88\00:03:39.88
and she was a
high school student
00:03:39.91\00:03:41.25
and I hadn't thought
about praying about it.
00:03:41.28\00:03:44.59
So I said, "No, I
haven't done that yet."
00:03:44.62\00:03:47.26
She says, "Well, maybe
we should do it right now."
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And I said, "Sure."
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And so we knelt down
in that dorm room her
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and her roommate Katrina,
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kind of strange
Bettina and Katrina but anyway,
00:04:00.20\00:04:03.47
and I, we knelt down in
that dorm room and we prayed
00:04:03.51\00:04:06.57
over what seemed like
a very simple decision.
00:04:06.61\00:04:11.28
The plan that
afternoon was to take them
00:04:11.31\00:04:13.21
into town in my car.
00:04:13.25\00:04:14.58
I was kind of the
taxi of the school,
00:04:14.62\00:04:16.58
because I had a car.
00:04:16.62\00:04:18.32
And they wanted
to do some shopping
00:04:18.35\00:04:19.69
so we went into the
city of Braunau in Austria,
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and as they shopped,
I wandered the streets.
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I went to my
favorite sports store
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where all the latest skiing
equipment was available and,
00:04:28.73\00:04:31.57
but I didn't look at the skis,
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I kept thinking about
that phone call at 3 o'clock.
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I kept thinking about
what I was going to say.
00:04:34.64\00:04:36.27
I kept thinking
about all the things
00:04:36.30\00:04:38.44
that I would have to
deal with when that call came,
00:04:38.47\00:04:41.18
and I kept praying all afternoon
00:04:41.21\00:04:43.78
and asking the
Lord for guidance.
00:04:43.81\00:04:45.35
And I can tell you something,
00:04:45.38\00:04:46.92
it didn't work the
way it sometimes works.
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I didn't have any
handwriting appear
00:04:50.45\00:04:52.55
on one of the
store front windows.
00:04:52.59\00:04:55.46
There was no lightning
flash that came out of the sky
00:04:55.49\00:04:58.36
that told me or
showed me which way to go.
00:04:58.39\00:05:01.70
There was no
clear voice that said,
00:05:01.73\00:05:04.97
this is what you should do.
00:05:05.00\00:05:07.40
But I can tell you
this, as I continued to pray,
00:05:07.44\00:05:11.67
every time I thought
about going home for Christmas
00:05:11.71\00:05:14.44
that is back to
the United States
00:05:14.48\00:05:15.84
and to Florida.
00:05:15.88\00:05:17.58
I felt uneasy and every
time I've thought about staying,
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I felt a certain
peace in my heart,
00:05:21.88\00:05:24.72
and as the afternoon continued,
00:05:24.75\00:05:26.96
those feelings that sense
strengthened on both sides,
00:05:26.99\00:05:33.13
and so 15 minutes
before the phone call,
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I made up my mind
that I was going to stay.
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The phone rang, my father
was on the phone and he says.
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"Michael, I'm so excited I just
got back from the travel agency
00:05:40.74\00:05:44.41
from Ruth and,
and we found a flight.
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It's going to go
from Frankfurt to London,
00:05:47.91\00:05:50.21
London to New
York, New York to Miami,
00:05:50.25\00:05:52.55
we'll pick you up
in Miami, two hours,
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you'll be down on Key Largo
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a beautiful
island south of Florida."
00:05:55.62\00:05:58.35
And you know what he says,
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"Even your grandmother
is coming this year."
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She's never been
to Florida before.
00:06:02.89\00:06:06.46
"Oh, by the way
what was your decision?"
00:06:06.49\00:06:10.60
I looked out the window
and it was drizzling again.
00:06:10.63\00:06:15.50
My resolve was fading fast.
00:06:15.54\00:06:18.61
There was silence on
the phone and my dad said,
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"Oh, by the way your
mother and I made a decision.
00:06:20.38\00:06:22.24
We're paying for the flight,
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you don't have to
worry about a thing."
00:06:23.68\00:06:25.05
I said, "Dad, I've been
praying about it all day,
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I don't know how to
explain this to you,
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but I really feel
like I should stay."
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There was silence
on the phone again.
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''Your mother will
be very disappointed."
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I know.
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"Well, listen the
booking will hold for 72 hours,
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I didn't purchase anything,
it will hold for 72 hours.
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If you change
your mind, call me back
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and we'll buy the
ticket, but it's your decision."
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Hung up the phone, I
didn't call him back.
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Two weeks later, the
rain had turned to snow
00:07:03.22\00:07:05.72
and we were in a
winter wonderland
00:07:05.75\00:07:08.69
driving through
Bavaria up into Germany
00:07:08.72\00:07:12.63
where my uncle was a pastor.
00:07:12.66\00:07:15.00
It was
beautiful, snow-laden trees,
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it just felt like Christmas
was supposed to feel in Germany.
00:07:18.13\00:07:20.84
I'd only spent one
Christmas before in Germany,
00:07:20.87\00:07:23.00
when I was a child
in the black forest
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with my grandparents.
00:07:24.67\00:07:27.81
And that's why I was
really looking forward to this.
00:07:27.84\00:07:30.28
Christmas trees in Germany are
not like Christmas trees here
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they're real.
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And the lights on the
Christmas tree are not
00:07:37.19\00:07:39.72
the kind you buy at Wal-Mart,
00:07:39.75\00:07:41.76
they're real candles
with real fire on them.
00:07:41.79\00:07:45.23
I don't know
what firemen do there,
00:07:45.26\00:07:46.70
but Christmas Eve
but that's what they do.
00:07:46.73\00:07:49.76
The Christmas trees don't go up,
00:07:49.80\00:07:53.03
they don't go up in August,
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they go up in on Christmas Eve.
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When the Christ child
comes as tradition has it
00:08:00.21\00:08:02.91
in that part of the world,
00:08:02.94\00:08:04.28
when the Christ child
comes and brings everything.
00:08:04.31\00:08:08.85
So I was looking
forward to this special time,
00:08:08.88\00:08:10.72
and sure enough
the tree was there,
00:08:10.75\00:08:12.69
the meal was there.
00:08:12.72\00:08:14.09
We were soon around the
tree and exchanging gifts
00:08:14.12\00:08:17.29
when the telephone rang.
00:08:17.33\00:08:19.59
My father was on
the phone and he said,
00:08:19.63\00:08:22.10
"Michael, you need
to talk to someone."
00:08:22.13\00:08:24.67
And I think that was probably
the most expensive phone call
00:08:24.70\00:08:27.17
that my father had
ever had or I had ever had.
00:08:27.20\00:08:30.04
I think I talked to all 40
relatives in those few minutes,
00:08:30.07\00:08:33.58
maybe it was an
hour, I can't remember.
00:08:33.61\00:08:35.21
That was by the way
00:08:35.24\00:08:36.58
when a phone call
overseas was $4 a minute.
00:08:36.61\00:08:40.38
Probably was the same price
as my ticket would have been.
00:08:40.42\00:08:45.35
Finally, my dad
got back on the phone
00:08:45.39\00:08:47.12
and he said
these words, he says,
00:08:47.16\00:08:48.49
"Michael, I'm so glad
you didn't come this year."
00:08:48.52\00:08:50.36
"I'm sorry Dad,
you don't miss me?"
00:08:54.43\00:08:58.60
"No, Michael" he
says, "It's not that,
00:08:58.63\00:09:02.47
I had you booked
on Pan Am Flight 103
00:09:02.50\00:09:04.87
that crashed in
Lockerbie Scotland last week."
00:09:04.91\00:09:07.18
My mind went back to the drive
from Bogenhofen to Germany.
00:09:11.15\00:09:15.32
The newscast that
came over the radio
00:09:15.35\00:09:17.35
as we were driving up,
00:09:17.39\00:09:19.22
747 had taken off
from London, Heathrow.
00:09:19.25\00:09:24.39
And while it was still ascending
00:09:24.43\00:09:26.49
to its cruising altitude
00:09:26.53\00:09:30.17
something happened.
00:09:30.20\00:09:32.43
It had blown up 189 people
00:09:32.47\00:09:37.37
on board had been killed.
00:09:37.41\00:09:40.48
People in the city of
Lockerbie that the plane crashed
00:09:40.51\00:09:43.58
into a few of them
had been killed as well.
00:09:43.61\00:09:46.98
Everyone on board was lost.
00:09:47.02\00:09:50.22
The tree blurred in front of me,
00:09:50.25\00:09:52.65
the lights
blurred in front of me.
00:09:52.69\00:09:54.02
I simply handed
the phone to my uncle
00:09:54.06\00:09:57.16
as the impact of that
moment began to settle in.
00:09:57.19\00:10:01.00
And the next few months as I
wrestled with huge questions.
00:10:04.10\00:10:10.04
I can tell you that I
don't have all the answers
00:10:10.07\00:10:13.38
still today to
those questions but...
00:10:13.41\00:10:15.84
As I kept thinking back on
that afternoon between 12 and 3
00:10:15.88\00:10:20.92
when I was praying about
00:10:20.95\00:10:22.28
a simple decision
to go home or not.
00:10:22.32\00:10:25.32
My mind kept going
back again and again
00:10:25.35\00:10:27.56
to the three of us
kneeling in that dormitory room
00:10:27.59\00:10:29.86
at Bogenhofen and
asking the Lord for direction.
00:10:29.89\00:10:35.20
It was a crisis in my
life unlike I had ever faced.
00:10:35.23\00:10:38.43
The disciples,
00:10:41.87\00:10:45.67
as Jesus hung on the cross
00:10:45.71\00:10:50.25
must have faced a
similar identity crisis.
00:10:50.28\00:10:55.55
It was a moment that the
entire universe was witnessing,
00:10:55.58\00:10:58.69
the entire
universe, the created world
00:10:58.72\00:11:01.26
were focused on that moment
in history as the Son of God
00:11:01.29\00:11:05.69
hung suspended
between heaven and earth.
00:11:05.73\00:11:09.03
The mystery of unbridled
love was being poured out
00:11:09.06\00:11:12.53
on a broken and
fallen and undeserving race.
00:11:12.57\00:11:17.51
Scripture had predicted
this day again and again
00:11:17.54\00:11:21.11
from the first verses
of the Book of Genesis
00:11:21.14\00:11:24.85
in Genesis 3:15,
00:11:24.88\00:11:26.31
when the promise was
given to Adam and Eve
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.02
all the way down
through the prophets
00:11:29.05\00:11:30.89
of the Old Testament,
00:11:30.92\00:11:33.12
with detail and with precision
this moment was predicted
00:11:33.15\00:11:37.76
through the sacrificial
system as lambs were brought
00:11:37.79\00:11:40.86
into the heavenly,
into the sanctuary.
00:11:40.90\00:11:43.06
This moment was crystallized
in the mind of Hebrews
00:11:43.10\00:11:48.27
and people who had
studied it for centuries.
00:11:48.30\00:11:52.41
The moment had finally come
00:11:55.68\00:11:58.55
in the fullness of time.
00:11:58.58\00:12:00.02
Nearly 2000 years have passed
from that since that moment
00:12:03.12\00:12:07.39
of crisis and triumph.
00:12:07.42\00:12:08.99
And today, we are entering
into that time in history
00:12:09.02\00:12:13.86
when the fullness
of time has come again.
00:12:13.90\00:12:16.20
Jesus is coming soon.
00:12:16.23\00:12:19.33
What happened at
the cross was a prelude
00:12:19.37\00:12:22.54
to the ultimate
triumph of what would happen
00:12:22.57\00:12:25.17
at the end of time.
00:12:25.21\00:12:27.68
The time is fast
approaching is even at the door
00:12:27.71\00:12:30.05
when Jesus will
return victorious
00:12:30.08\00:12:31.91
in the clouds of
heaven to take us home
00:12:31.95\00:12:33.98
and we are
certainly living once again
00:12:34.02\00:12:36.25
in the fullness of time.
00:12:36.28\00:12:38.85
The appending crisis at
this time in earth's history,
00:12:38.89\00:12:43.49
our time will be unprecedented.
00:12:43.53\00:12:48.36
The pressures upon God's people
will be focused and relentless,
00:12:48.40\00:12:53.23
and deliberate.
00:12:53.27\00:12:54.60
How will we be able to
stand faithful during this time?
00:12:54.64\00:12:58.84
How will the Seventh-day
Adventist Church that has been
00:12:58.87\00:13:01.21
given a unique and
distinct Three Angels' Message
00:13:01.24\00:13:04.71
be able to proclaim that message
00:13:04.75\00:13:06.82
faithfully through the
vicissitudes of theological
00:13:06.85\00:13:10.79
controversies and discussions
through all of the things
00:13:10.82\00:13:14.42
and challenges that will arise
from within and from without.
00:13:14.46\00:13:17.73
How will we be able to
move forward to meet Jesus
00:13:17.76\00:13:21.73
when He comes?
00:13:21.76\00:13:24.60
This morning during
the study time together.
00:13:24.63\00:13:28.10
I want to focus on two
episodes in Christ's life.
00:13:28.14\00:13:33.04
That we might
understand how he faced
00:13:33.07\00:13:36.68
two of the most
critical moments,
00:13:36.71\00:13:39.25
crisis moments, identity moments
00:13:39.28\00:13:43.18
in his time here on earth.
00:13:43.22\00:13:46.79
We have learned so much
already in this conference.
00:13:46.82\00:13:50.63
And it's been a
blessing, hasn't it?
00:13:50.66\00:13:52.43
Amen.
00:13:52.46\00:13:54.46
The first is found in Luke
4, I invite you to turn there.
00:13:54.50\00:14:00.17
We find the temptation of Jesus
00:14:00.20\00:14:02.97
referred to several
times in the gospels.
00:14:03.00\00:14:06.14
But here in Luke, at the
very beginning of his ministry
00:14:06.17\00:14:09.04
after his baptism
in the Jordan River,
00:14:09.08\00:14:10.58
Jesus went into the wilderness
for 40 days and nights.
00:14:10.61\00:14:14.45
We're told in the
Spirit of Prophecy
00:14:14.48\00:14:16.15
that this was a
time of soul searching
00:14:16.18\00:14:18.52
and prayer and
communion with His Father,
00:14:18.55\00:14:20.76
a time when He
knew after His baptism
00:14:20.79\00:14:23.79
that His ministry
was about to begin
00:14:23.83\00:14:25.66
and Jesus needed to
focus on those things
00:14:25.69\00:14:28.06
that mattered
most, 40 days and nights,
00:14:28.10\00:14:31.33
no food, no water.
00:14:31.37\00:14:32.93
Jesus spent in that wilderness.
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.10
I've been in that wilderness,
I've been in that desolation.
00:14:35.14\00:14:38.17
It's more desolate than
00:14:38.21\00:14:39.54
the Sonoran
Desert here in Arizona.
00:14:39.57\00:14:43.28
There He walked,
and knelt, and prayed.
00:14:43.31\00:14:49.38
And after those
40 days and nights
00:14:49.42\00:14:51.19
when He was at
His weakest moment,
00:14:51.22\00:14:53.76
Satan approaches Him
with three temptations.
00:14:53.79\00:14:58.63
They cover every temptation
that you and I will ever face.
00:14:58.66\00:15:03.77
The first
temptation was appetite.
00:15:03.80\00:15:07.54
Jesus responds and says,
00:15:07.57\00:15:09.97
"It is written man shall
not live by bread alone."
00:15:10.01\00:15:16.38
The passage which
Jesus is quoting from is
00:15:16.41\00:15:18.45
Deuteronomy 8:3,
and it continues.
00:15:18.48\00:15:21.95
"But man lives by
every word that proceeds
00:15:21.98\00:15:24.89
from the mouth of God."
00:15:24.92\00:15:28.22
Jesus points back
to the Living Word.
00:15:28.26\00:15:30.29
And in His second
temptation when Satan comes now
00:15:30.33\00:15:33.03
with his own
quote from scripture,
00:15:33.06\00:15:35.66
"Christ is offered
dominion of the world's kingdoms
00:15:35.70\00:15:38.13
and glory and worldly honor."
00:15:38.17\00:15:41.77
Jesus responds, "It is written,
00:15:41.80\00:15:44.77
'You shall worship the Lord,
your God, and serve him only."
00:15:44.81\00:15:49.88
' The end time crisis
will be a crisis of worship.
00:15:49.91\00:15:53.72
Who we worship?
00:15:53.75\00:15:55.15
When we worship?
00:15:55.18\00:15:56.85
And yes, even how we worship?
00:15:56.89\00:16:01.32
Christ reminds us that
true worship is focused on God,
00:16:01.36\00:16:04.09
not on anyone else.
00:16:04.13\00:16:06.09
Finally, during
Satan's last temptation
00:16:06.13\00:16:08.53
for the love of display.
00:16:08.56\00:16:12.53
Jesus responds, "It is said,
00:16:12.57\00:16:14.60
'You shall not put the
Lord your God to the test.'
00:16:14.64\00:16:19.14
With each statement
Jesus responds with scripture,
00:16:19.17\00:16:22.04
"It is written."
00:16:22.08\00:16:23.75
Notice, Jesus did not
say, "It was written."
00:16:23.78\00:16:26.78
He did not say,
"It will be written."
00:16:26.82\00:16:28.92
He did not say, "On my
authority I say to you."
00:16:28.95\00:16:33.82
No, instead He
uses the present tense
00:16:33.86\00:16:35.82
because you see the Word of
God is the Living Word of God.
00:16:35.86\00:16:40.90
It was not spoken
for some distant culture,
00:16:40.93\00:16:43.43
some distant group of Israelites
00:16:43.47\00:16:45.67
coming out of bondage
from Egypt in the past.
00:16:45.70\00:16:48.50
It was not meant only
for future generations.
00:16:48.54\00:16:50.77
No, it is the Living Word of God
00:16:50.81\00:16:52.31
and it is authoritative
for every generation.
00:16:52.34\00:16:56.28
It is present truth for Moses,
00:16:56.31\00:16:58.15
and it is
present truth for Christ,
00:16:58.18\00:16:59.58
and it is present
truth for us today.
00:16:59.61\00:17:02.02
The Bible and the Bible only
was Christ's method of defense
00:17:02.05\00:17:07.02
against the most vicious
attacks from the adversary.
00:17:07.06\00:17:10.83
Jesus was God, but His defense,
00:17:10.86\00:17:14.56
in His defense He
submitted to the Word of God.
00:17:14.60\00:17:17.97
It was not opinion,
00:17:18.00\00:17:19.70
it was not an
elaborate convoluted argument.
00:17:19.73\00:17:22.40
It was not with words
of personal animosity.
00:17:22.44\00:17:25.44
It was with the simple
declarative words of scripture,
00:17:25.47\00:17:29.51
for Christ scripture
had the greatest authority,
00:17:29.54\00:17:32.88
the greatest power
when He was powerless.
00:17:32.91\00:17:38.25
Over the centuries
of Christian history,
00:17:38.29\00:17:40.06
the same power
of the Word of God
00:17:40.09\00:17:41.52
has sparked the
greatest reformations
00:17:41.56\00:17:43.56
and revivals the
world has ever known.
00:17:43.59\00:17:46.29
The greatest
Protestant Reformation
00:17:46.33\00:17:49.10
came as the result of the Bible
being translated by Wycliffe
00:17:49.13\00:17:52.23
and Luther and
others into the language
00:17:52.27\00:17:54.24
of the peoples of Europe.
00:17:54.27\00:17:56.54
The writings influenced
Hus and Jerome in Bohemia.
00:17:56.57\00:17:59.67
For the first
time, kings and princes,
00:17:59.71\00:18:01.68
commoners and children
could read the Word of God.
00:18:01.71\00:18:05.01
They could read for
themselves the truths
00:18:05.05\00:18:06.68
of righteousness by faith.
00:18:06.72\00:18:08.32
The Bible which had been hidden
and suppressed for centuries
00:18:08.35\00:18:11.29
provided an incredible new light
00:18:11.32\00:18:13.12
that penetrated the Dark Ages.
00:18:13.15\00:18:16.32
Three distinct principles
of biblical interpretation
00:18:16.36\00:18:20.00
came out of that
intense Bible study
00:18:20.03\00:18:23.20
as these people
for the first time
00:18:23.23\00:18:25.20
again wrestled
with the Word of God.
00:18:25.23\00:18:27.54
The first one was, "Sola
Scriptura" the Bible alone.
00:18:27.57\00:18:32.01
Catholicism had long
upheld her traditions
00:18:32.04\00:18:34.31
and teachings of the
church beside the Bible
00:18:34.34\00:18:36.61
and with time they
superseded the Bible.
00:18:36.64\00:18:42.32
The Protestant Reformation
00:18:42.35\00:18:43.99
called people back to the Bible.
00:18:44.02\00:18:46.89
The Bible alone was to decide
matters of life and faith.
00:18:46.92\00:18:50.19
The Bible is the inspired
Word of God called for a people
00:18:50.23\00:18:53.83
to be obedient
to the law of God.
00:18:53.86\00:18:57.20
Paul writes, "All
scripture is inspired by God
00:18:57.23\00:19:00.94
and profitable for teaching
for reproof for corrections
00:19:00.97\00:19:04.17
for training in righteousness."
00:19:04.21\00:19:05.84
2 Timothy 3:16.
00:19:05.87\00:19:09.34
The second principle that
the Protestant Reformation
00:19:09.38\00:19:13.78
came up with and should
still be practiced by us today
00:19:13.82\00:19:17.49
is that scripture
is its own interpreter.
00:19:17.52\00:19:21.12
Not every person is
his own interpreter.
00:19:21.16\00:19:24.63
The Bible is to be
interpreted from within itself.
00:19:24.66\00:19:28.30
The Old and New Testament
shed light on each other,
00:19:28.33\00:19:32.00
fulfill one another,
00:19:32.03\00:19:33.74
one biblical
passage helps unlock
00:19:33.77\00:19:35.84
another biblical passage.
00:19:35.87\00:19:37.21
The biblical writers
themselves employed this method
00:19:37.24\00:19:40.24
again and again
throughout scripture.
00:19:40.28\00:19:42.71
Daniel studies his contemporary.
00:19:42.74\00:19:45.45
Jeremiah who is
back in Jerusalem
00:19:45.48\00:19:47.78
and based on his writings
00:19:47.82\00:19:50.22
discovers that the
close of that time of exile,
00:19:50.25\00:19:54.39
that 70 year period
is coming to an end.
00:19:54.42\00:19:57.09
And he prays to God for
himself and for his people
00:19:57.13\00:20:00.70
and reformation and repentance.
00:20:00.73\00:20:02.93
Paul makes biblical
arguments based on quotations
00:20:02.96\00:20:05.83
and direct references to
the first chapters of Genesis
00:20:05.87\00:20:08.60
and many other
books in the Bible.
00:20:08.64\00:20:10.97
Peter in this
theme text for GYC.
00:20:11.01\00:20:13.88
This year refers back to Isaiah
00:20:13.91\00:20:17.91
and the prophecy
concerning the Messiah
00:20:17.95\00:20:20.38
and sees that
fulfilled in Jesus Christ
00:20:20.42\00:20:23.02
in the New Testament.
00:20:23.05\00:20:24.69
One inspired
writer after another
00:20:24.72\00:20:26.62
under the guidance
of the same Holy Spirit
00:20:26.65\00:20:28.86
provides clarity based on
earlier Biblical teachings.
00:20:28.89\00:20:33.06
Scripture does not
contradict scripture.
00:20:33.09\00:20:36.33
Amen.
00:20:36.36\00:20:38.83
For how can the Holy
Spirit contradict himself.
00:20:38.87\00:20:42.57
Jesus clearly
states in John 10:35,
00:20:42.60\00:20:46.31
''Scripture cannot be broken."
00:20:46.34\00:20:49.51
There is unity in
the diversity of times
00:20:49.54\00:20:52.15
places and
inspired writers who wrote
00:20:52.18\00:20:54.22
as the same Holy
Spirit guided them.
00:20:54.25\00:20:58.25
With this principle,
difficult or obscure passages
00:20:58.29\00:21:02.09
must be
interpreted from the basis
00:21:02.12\00:21:03.59
of less obscure passages
00:21:03.63\00:21:05.49
as we come together as
you study the Word of God.
00:21:05.53\00:21:08.56
Study everything that
is to be said about a topic
00:21:08.60\00:21:12.13
within the Word of God.
00:21:12.17\00:21:13.64
Don't leave anything out.
00:21:13.67\00:21:15.00
We have
concordances for that reason.
00:21:15.04\00:21:18.94
Don't study a subject
and use different subjects
00:21:18.97\00:21:21.71
that are unrelated, otherwise
there will be confusion
00:21:21.74\00:21:24.41
and misinterpretation,
misapplication.
00:21:24.45\00:21:29.48
By viewing all
passages on the same subject
00:21:29.52\00:21:31.99
from every side,
00:21:32.02\00:21:33.36
the interpreter
can expect to arrive
00:21:33.39\00:21:35.56
with the guidance
of the same Holy Spirit
00:21:35.59\00:21:39.89
at the biblical meaning.
00:21:39.93\00:21:42.53
One should not be able to take
all passages on a particular...
00:21:42.56\00:21:45.23
"One should be able
to take all passages
00:21:45.27\00:21:46.87
on a particular
subject from different times
00:21:46.90\00:21:49.54
and different
locations and different writers
00:21:49.57\00:21:52.17
and varied circumstances
00:21:52.21\00:21:53.68
because all of
scripture is inspired by God."
00:21:53.71\00:21:58.08
By viewing all passages
on the same from every side,
00:21:58.11\00:22:01.78
we can arrive at truth.
00:22:01.82\00:22:04.42
On the road to Emmaus
00:22:04.45\00:22:08.46
after the huge crisis
that the disciples faced,
00:22:08.49\00:22:14.33
Jesus applied this
principle of scripture
00:22:14.36\00:22:17.00
as its own interpreter.
00:22:17.03\00:22:19.20
Luke 24:27 tells us
00:22:19.23\00:22:21.00
and beginning at
Moses and all the prophets,
00:22:21.04\00:22:22.64
he expounded to them
in all the scriptures
00:22:22.67\00:22:24.84
the things concerning himself.
00:22:24.87\00:22:26.37
Notice that Jesus
again at this moment
00:22:26.41\00:22:28.64
of the great crisis for
the future of the church
00:22:28.68\00:22:31.31
expound, explains, and describes
00:22:31.35\00:22:33.28
how the scripture from
the beginning to the end
00:22:33.31\00:22:37.49
reflected Him and
His mission and message.
00:22:37.52\00:22:43.56
Jesus again relies on
the authority of scripture
00:22:43.59\00:22:47.73
as He describes
to those disciples,
00:22:47.76\00:22:52.00
what really His
message and mission was.
00:22:52.03\00:22:55.87
Number three, the
plain meaning of scripture.
00:22:55.90\00:23:01.08
There is always a
temptation to try to find
00:23:01.11\00:23:03.38
something innovative.
00:23:03.41\00:23:05.65
We're living in the last days
00:23:05.68\00:23:07.02
and the scriptures have been
interpreted for a long time.
00:23:07.05\00:23:11.45
This church has been in
existence for over 150 years,
00:23:11.49\00:23:16.69
and sometimes it seems to me
00:23:16.73\00:23:18.59
that there are
people in our church
00:23:18.63\00:23:19.96
that are getting tired
of the same old message,
00:23:20.00\00:23:22.63
and they want
something innovative and new.
00:23:22.66\00:23:26.00
But, brothers and sisters,
00:23:26.03\00:23:27.37
this is not the
time for innovation.
00:23:27.40\00:23:30.91
This is the time to
stand with the Bible
00:23:30.94\00:23:33.38
and the Bible only.
00:23:33.41\00:23:34.74
Amen.
00:23:34.78\00:23:36.88
There is always a
temptation to think of something
00:23:36.91\00:23:40.45
that no one else
has thought of before,
00:23:40.48\00:23:42.62
but the study of
scripture is not focused on us,
00:23:42.65\00:23:45.35
it is focused on
God and His will.
00:23:45.39\00:23:49.06
For that reason, it
is always safest to go
00:23:49.09\00:23:51.46
with the plain meaning
00:23:51.49\00:23:53.26
or the most obvious
meaning of the passage
00:23:53.29\00:23:55.70
to argue for a
translation of a word
00:23:55.73\00:23:58.20
based on some obscure thing
00:23:58.23\00:24:00.44
that no other
translation of the Bible
00:24:00.47\00:24:03.20
seems to support is to
cause confusion among each other
00:24:03.24\00:24:08.18
as we read our Bibles together.
00:24:08.21\00:24:10.28
In Selected
Messages volume 2, verse 52,
00:24:15.88\00:24:18.35
Ellen White, has these words,
00:24:18.39\00:24:20.69
"Those who do not
accept the Word of God."
00:24:20.72\00:24:23.19
Just as it reads,
"Will be snared in his trap."
00:24:23.22\00:24:29.26
And the context
tells us that Satan's trap.
00:24:29.30\00:24:33.94
"When we read the Bible,
we look not for the complex,
00:24:33.97\00:24:38.14
but we look for the
plain meaning of scripture
00:24:38.17\00:24:40.18
that is the same
time simple and profound."
00:24:40.21\00:24:45.78
Jesus was simple in His
words to the common people
00:24:45.81\00:24:49.42
that He reached out to.
00:24:49.45\00:24:52.52
Children should be
able to read the Bible
00:24:52.55\00:24:55.29
and understand the gospel.
00:24:55.32\00:24:59.39
In fact, sometimes
00:24:59.43\00:25:01.56
they surprise us
with their insights.
00:25:01.60\00:25:04.60
Young people here at GYC.
00:25:04.63\00:25:07.57
You should be able
to open the Word of God
00:25:07.60\00:25:09.67
and come up with the teachings
of what Christ has inspired
00:25:09.70\00:25:15.38
through the Old
and New Testaments.
00:25:15.41\00:25:17.85
And find new meaning to life.
00:25:17.88\00:25:20.88
Number three, the
sufficiency of scripture.
00:25:20.92\00:25:24.49
There is a subtle
teaching today that presupposes
00:25:24.52\00:25:26.89
that we move beyond the Bible
00:25:26.92\00:25:28.26
in order to be relevant to
our modern experience or culture
00:25:28.29\00:25:32.03
this view argues and it is
found in Christianity without
00:25:32.06\00:25:36.87
and it is found sometimes
even within our movement.
00:25:36.90\00:25:41.47
The view argues that
the Holy Spirit continues
00:25:41.50\00:25:44.04
to guide the
church to make decisions
00:25:44.07\00:25:45.97
or take positions
that go beyond the Bible
00:25:46.01\00:25:50.01
and may even
contradict the Bible.
00:25:50.05\00:25:53.82
This is called in some
circles progressive revelation,
00:25:53.85\00:25:58.45
and by other
scholars who have come up
00:25:58.49\00:26:00.92
with newer terminology today,
00:26:00.96\00:26:02.96
a trajectory hermeneutic,
a trajectory that is hinted
00:26:02.99\00:26:06.86
at by the writers of the Bible,
00:26:06.90\00:26:08.23
but that is really coming into
fruition today in the church.
00:26:08.26\00:26:13.64
It holds that the
Christ in the Bible writers
00:26:13.67\00:26:16.00
were bound by
circumstances in time
00:26:16.04\00:26:18.57
and could not go beyond
the confines of their culture.
00:26:18.61\00:26:22.61
Since the Holy Spirit is
at work today they argue,
00:26:22.64\00:26:25.75
the Holy Spirit
continues to guide the church.
00:26:25.78\00:26:30.75
And that is true, but
the model of church authority
00:26:30.79\00:26:35.32
over scripture authority
is not a Protestant principle,
00:26:35.36\00:26:39.16
it's a Roman Catholic principle.
00:26:39.19\00:26:42.16
Jesus said in John 16:13,
00:26:42.20\00:26:44.20
"When he the
Spirit of truth has come,
00:26:44.23\00:26:46.00
He will guide you
into all the truth
00:26:46.03\00:26:47.37
for he will speak
on his own authority,
00:26:47.40\00:26:49.00
he will not speak
on his own authority,
00:26:49.04\00:26:51.64
but whatever he
hears he will speak
00:26:51.67\00:26:53.94
and he will tell
you things to come.
00:26:53.98\00:26:56.68
Like Christ who submitted
himself to the Word of God,
00:26:56.71\00:26:59.75
the Holy Spirit will not
move beyond this authority."
00:26:59.78\00:27:04.19
Ellen White has this powerful
council in Great Controversy,
00:27:04.22\00:27:08.32
Roman numeral page IX.
00:27:08.36\00:27:12.06
"The spirit was not given,
nor can it ever be bestowed
00:27:12.09\00:27:17.17
to supersede the Bible.
00:27:17.20\00:27:21.14
For the
scriptures explicitly state
00:27:21.17\00:27:23.37
that the Word of
God is the standard
00:27:23.41\00:27:26.44
by which all teaching and
experience must be tested.
00:27:26.47\00:27:32.41
Today, we must
continue to hold to the concept
00:27:32.45\00:27:34.95
of the sufficiency of scripture.
00:27:34.98\00:27:36.69
Isaiah 8:20 says,
00:27:36.72\00:27:38.49
"To the law and to the testimony
00:27:38.52\00:27:41.92
if they do not speak
according to this word,
00:27:41.96\00:27:44.06
it is because there
is no light in them."
00:27:44.09\00:27:45.99
By the word, the word law there,
00:27:46.03\00:27:48.10
torah is an all
encompassing word
00:27:48.13\00:27:50.43
that refers to the
teaching of scripture.
00:27:50.47\00:27:53.34
Everything must be
tested by the Word of God.
00:27:53.37\00:27:56.27
This means that
the Bible is sufficient
00:27:56.30\00:27:58.04
and
authoritative in all matters.
00:27:58.07\00:28:00.34
It is foundational
for every discipline
00:28:00.38\00:28:02.58
whether biology, psychology,
00:28:02.61\00:28:04.71
anthropology and
yes, even theology.
00:28:04.75\00:28:08.78
To move beyond
scripture is to move
00:28:08.82\00:28:10.55
beyond the example of Christ,
00:28:10.59\00:28:12.92
the author and
finisher of our faith.
00:28:12.95\00:28:17.33
The final principle of
Protestant interpretation
00:28:17.36\00:28:21.33
and we could list
some others as well.
00:28:21.36\00:28:23.87
We don't have time today,
00:28:23.90\00:28:26.07
is the prophetic
principle of historicism.
00:28:26.10\00:28:30.17
The Reformers were
great students of prophecy
00:28:30.21\00:28:33.38
and the historicist's
method of interpretation
00:28:33.41\00:28:36.04
was the great basis of
their study and writing.
00:28:36.08\00:28:38.95
Historicism is the method
of prophetic interpretation
00:28:38.98\00:28:41.65
practiced by the
prophets of the Bible.
00:28:41.68\00:28:44.12
Prophecy is fulfilled
over the course of history
00:28:44.15\00:28:47.36
and is
inextricably bound with history.
00:28:47.39\00:28:51.79
Thus when we study
the prophecy of Daniel
00:28:51.83\00:28:53.80
in Daniel 2 of this great image
00:28:53.83\00:28:55.80
that
Nebuchadnezzar dreams about.
00:28:55.83\00:28:57.77
And we see Babylon, Medo-Persia,
00:28:57.80\00:28:59.63
Greece and Rome and
the break up of Rome
00:28:59.67\00:29:01.94
into the countries of Europe
00:29:01.97\00:29:04.14
and down to the very end of time
00:29:04.17\00:29:06.47
when the rock
cut out without hand,
00:29:06.51\00:29:08.51
comes down and
crushes and establish
00:29:08.54\00:29:10.71
is a kingdom that
will last forever.
00:29:10.75\00:29:13.28
As he looks down
through the purview of history,
00:29:13.31\00:29:16.42
we see that the sequence
of these empires are exactly
00:29:16.45\00:29:21.26
as described in the Bible.
00:29:21.29\00:29:23.53
Daniel 7, 8, 9 further expand on
00:29:23.56\00:29:25.73
certain aspects of this history.
00:29:25.76\00:29:27.23
The Book of
Revelation continues that.
00:29:27.26\00:29:29.63
And Ellen White
tells us these two books
00:29:29.66\00:29:31.53
need to be studied
today as never before.
00:29:31.57\00:29:36.67
We find internal
fulfillment in scripture
00:29:36.71\00:29:40.64
as Assyria and Babylon
is predicted by the prophets
00:29:40.68\00:29:43.51
to destroy Israel
and Judah respectively.
00:29:43.55\00:29:46.31
And we see its fulfillment
within scripture itself.
00:29:46.35\00:29:50.95
As an archaeologist, I have
excavated many sites in Israel.
00:29:50.99\00:29:55.76
And I have seen the destruction
levels of these predictions
00:29:55.79\00:30:00.90
that are made in scripture.
00:30:00.93\00:30:03.26
This summer at
the site of Lachish,
00:30:03.30\00:30:05.07
we excavated the Assyrian
destruction of Sennacherib,
00:30:05.10\00:30:10.97
and we also
excavated the Babylonian
00:30:11.01\00:30:14.84
destruction by Nebuchadnezzar
00:30:14.88\00:30:16.85
just before he
went into Jerusalem
00:30:16.88\00:30:20.38
to destroy the temple.
00:30:20.42\00:30:23.69
These things,
these prophetic points
00:30:23.72\00:30:30.06
today have the
tendency to become spiritualized
00:30:30.09\00:30:33.43
and idealized in
modern interpretation,
00:30:33.46\00:30:38.07
or there is a
temptation in our circles today
00:30:38.10\00:30:43.81
to have many
multiple fulfillments
00:30:43.84\00:30:46.98
for some of these prophecies.
00:30:47.01\00:30:49.91
We need to be careful, careful
00:30:49.94\00:30:53.82
that in the
search for innovation
00:30:53.85\00:30:57.05
and acceptance in the
scholarly world around us,
00:30:57.09\00:31:00.36
we don't lose sight of
the prophetic historicist's
00:31:00.39\00:31:03.63
interpretation of prophecy
that has made and galvanized
00:31:03.66\00:31:07.10
the Seventh-day Adventist
Church to be what it is today.
00:31:07.13\00:31:09.63
Amen.
00:31:09.66\00:31:12.80
But with the rise of
modernism and post-modernism,
00:31:12.83\00:31:15.70
the Bible is the
basis for history,
00:31:15.74\00:31:17.21
and prophecy has come
under increasing attack,
00:31:17.24\00:31:19.97
and the resulting
tenants of historical criticism
00:31:20.01\00:31:22.44
places man's autonomous reason,
00:31:22.48\00:31:24.65
man's autonomous experience
and philosophical naturalism
00:31:24.68\00:31:28.18
above the script of the Bible.
00:31:28.22\00:31:30.02
A secular scientific worldview
has become the main way
00:31:30.05\00:31:34.26
in which scripture is
interpreted at universities
00:31:34.29\00:31:37.33
and seminaries
across this country
00:31:37.36\00:31:39.69
outside of our church, and yes,
00:31:39.73\00:31:41.43
it is even
impacting our church as well.
00:31:41.46\00:31:43.63
But what does it do
for the definition of Jesus
00:31:47.04\00:31:49.80
and His mission and message.
00:31:49.84\00:31:53.34
What would we know about
Jesus outside of the Bible?
00:31:53.38\00:31:59.78
The Bible defines who Jesus is.
00:31:59.81\00:32:03.69
The Bible defines what He did.
00:32:03.72\00:32:09.59
If you say, there is no literal
00:32:09.62\00:32:11.36
six day creation
at the beginning.
00:32:11.39\00:32:13.96
What do you do with
John 1:1-3 which states,
00:32:14.00\00:32:18.00
"In the beginning was the
word and the word was with God
00:32:18.03\00:32:20.54
and the word was God.
00:32:20.57\00:32:22.50
All things were
created through Him."
00:32:22.54\00:32:25.97
Ephesians 3:9 says,
00:32:26.01\00:32:27.58
"God who created all
things by Jesus Christ."
00:32:27.61\00:32:31.15
Hebrews 1:1, 2,
00:32:31.18\00:32:32.61
"God has in these
last days spoken on to us
00:32:32.65\00:32:34.78
by His Son, by whom
also he made the worlds."
00:32:34.82\00:32:37.95
Colossians 1:16-17,
00:32:37.99\00:32:40.29
"For by Him all
things were created
00:32:40.32\00:32:42.52
that are in
Heaven and are in earth.
00:32:42.56\00:32:45.09
All things were created by Him
and by Him all things consist."
00:32:45.13\00:32:50.77
By rejecting the
biblical view of creation,
00:32:50.80\00:32:53.97
you change the Bible's
definition of who Jesus is.
00:32:54.00\00:32:57.67
If you conclude that
Isaiah was not a prophet
00:33:00.81\00:33:03.08
who had the power
through the Holy Spirit
00:33:03.11\00:33:04.71
to foretell the future,
through the prophetic gift.
00:33:04.75\00:33:08.42
Then what do you do
with the account of Jesus
00:33:08.45\00:33:10.52
who stands up to read Isaiah
00:33:10.55\00:33:12.75
in his home
synagogue in Nazareth.
00:33:12.79\00:33:15.59
The people have seen this
boy growing up in their midst
00:33:15.62\00:33:18.39
and suddenly
Jesus is reading to them
00:33:18.43\00:33:20.63
from the Word of God and saying,
00:33:20.66\00:33:22.03
"This has been
fulfilled in your hearing."
00:33:22.06\00:33:25.73
They knew what He
was talking about,
00:33:25.77\00:33:27.37
they tried to
kill Him afterwards.
00:33:27.40\00:33:29.07
If David did not exist and
this is a real issue today,
00:33:33.34\00:33:36.85
that I'm
involved with personally.
00:33:36.88\00:33:41.22
There are
scholars today who said,
00:33:41.25\00:33:42.58
David and Solomon are not
historical figures at all.
00:33:42.62\00:33:47.46
But how does that
work then with Jerusalem,
00:33:47.49\00:33:49.59
which is the oldest
capital in the world
00:33:49.62\00:33:51.73
going back 3000 years.
00:33:51.76\00:33:53.56
Who established Jerusalem?
00:33:53.60\00:33:56.26
What do you do with the Psalms
that are still read as liturgy
00:33:56.30\00:34:01.40
in synagogues and in
churches around the world?
00:34:01.44\00:34:05.91
What do you do with the
defeat of the Philistines?
00:34:05.94\00:34:10.11
And what do you do with Solomon
00:34:10.15\00:34:11.48
and the building
of the great temple?
00:34:11.51\00:34:13.05
Because there would be no
Solomon if there was no David.
00:34:13.08\00:34:16.55
Most importantly
what do you do with David
00:34:16.58\00:34:20.96
as the
progenitor of the Messiah,
00:34:20.99\00:34:22.59
for it is
through the line of David
00:34:22.62\00:34:24.03
that Jesus is promised?
00:34:24.06\00:34:27.20
What do you do with the
last chapter of Revelation
00:34:27.23\00:34:29.46
when Jesus Himself
proclaims I am the Son of David?
00:34:29.50\00:34:32.93
History and prophecy are
inextricably bound together.
00:34:36.04\00:34:41.04
And both of those elements
that have made us who we are,
00:34:41.08\00:34:46.15
are under increasing
attack in the world today.
00:34:46.18\00:34:52.15
By removing history,
00:34:52.19\00:34:53.52
the power of the
Bible becomes neutralized.
00:34:53.56\00:34:55.86
The Word of God has
become the words of men.
00:34:55.89\00:34:59.13
By removing the
God who acts in history
00:34:59.16\00:35:01.33
through His Son Jesus Christ,
00:35:01.36\00:35:02.83
we destroyed not
only the prophetic word
00:35:02.86\00:35:05.03
but we removed the historical
reality of who Jesus is.
00:35:05.07\00:35:09.70
The resulting
relativism of postmodernism,
00:35:09.74\00:35:12.47
tolerance for all
ideas and cultures
00:35:12.51\00:35:14.48
and the loss of a compass
of morals has left society
00:35:14.51\00:35:18.15
without any direction at all.
00:35:18.18\00:35:21.52
And today's mantra, the
goal is ultimate freedom
00:35:21.55\00:35:24.29
but it is Jesus who
declares ultimate freedom
00:35:24.32\00:35:27.06
through belief in Him.
00:35:27.09\00:35:29.99
As an anthropologist,
I was trained here
00:35:30.03\00:35:32.26
at the University
of Arizona in Tucson.
00:35:32.29\00:35:35.26
We studied the life ways,
00:35:35.30\00:35:37.40
the beliefs and the practices
of different people groups.
00:35:37.43\00:35:40.87
It was drilled into us that
00:35:40.90\00:35:42.24
there is no
privileged culture or society.
00:35:42.27\00:35:45.21
Cultural relativism meant
that we must come together
00:35:45.24\00:35:49.04
and accept one another's
ideas as equally valid and true
00:35:49.08\00:35:52.15
even though they might
be diametrically opposed.
00:35:52.18\00:35:56.08
Societies that
greeted people were considered
00:35:56.12\00:35:58.99
as equally valid as
societies that ate people.
00:35:59.02\00:36:03.43
In fact, the
work of missionaries
00:36:03.46\00:36:04.89
was of particular annoyance
in the field of anthropology.
00:36:04.93\00:36:08.50
Comments like this are common.
00:36:08.53\00:36:10.73
Missionaries have no right to go
00:36:10.77\00:36:12.30
and then try to
change people's life ways.
00:36:12.33\00:36:14.80
We must appreciate these groups
00:36:14.84\00:36:16.40
and study them and
leave them as they are.
00:36:16.44\00:36:20.58
But that is not what Jesus did.
00:36:20.61\00:36:23.55
He did not come into
this world to study it
00:36:23.58\00:36:25.65
and leave us as we are.
00:36:25.68\00:36:28.25
Jesus came into this world
to seek and to save the lost.
00:36:28.28\00:36:31.69
Amen.
00:36:31.72\00:36:33.05
And no matter what
culture you belong to,
00:36:33.09\00:36:34.52
no matter what
race you belong to,
00:36:34.56\00:36:35.96
no matter what
language you speak.
00:36:35.99\00:36:39.13
Jesus came and died for you.
00:36:39.16\00:36:41.63
Amen.
00:36:41.66\00:36:44.33
Jesus was rather
exclusive when he said,
00:36:44.37\00:36:46.63
"I am the way, the
truth and the life.
00:36:46.67\00:36:49.90
No one comes to the
Father except through me."
00:36:49.94\00:36:54.08
The problem with cultural
tolerance is that it places
00:36:54.11\00:36:56.64
culture above the
Bible and the law of God.
00:36:56.68\00:36:59.81
Today if we label
something as culture,
00:36:59.85\00:37:01.88
it is almost reverenced.
00:37:01.92\00:37:04.05
Art is culture and
the museums have lines
00:37:04.09\00:37:08.62
of people
trying to get into them
00:37:08.66\00:37:10.09
when the churches in our
western world stand empty.
00:37:10.13\00:37:14.63
Culture has the norm for
determining the life of people
00:37:14.66\00:37:17.27
and also our values,
but this begs the question,
00:37:17.30\00:37:19.73
which culture of the world's
00:37:19.77\00:37:21.27
6,500 language
groups and cultures.
00:37:21.30\00:37:24.54
Which culture takes precedence?
00:37:24.57\00:37:26.31
Message.
00:37:26.34\00:37:29.44
Is that my culture?
00:37:29.48\00:37:30.81
Is it your culture?
00:37:30.85\00:37:32.21
Is it a hybrid culture?
00:37:32.25\00:37:34.78
Are our modern
cultures today really superior
00:37:34.82\00:37:37.29
to the cultures of the past?
00:37:37.32\00:37:39.02
I study the cultures of the past
00:37:39.05\00:37:40.59
and I have to
differ, I don't think so.
00:37:40.62\00:37:44.33
Have we been
evolving into super humans?
00:37:44.36\00:37:47.96
Why?
00:37:48.00\00:37:49.40
Why do we think that because
we have technology today?
00:37:49.43\00:37:54.17
The Middle Ages were
known as the Dark Ages,
00:37:54.20\00:37:56.30
because the Word of God was
kept hidden from the people.
00:37:56.34\00:37:59.14
But today in the wake
of the fastest technologies
00:37:59.17\00:38:01.48
ever invented in human
history and with data overload,
00:38:01.51\00:38:04.21
our world has been swept
again into a deepening darkness.
00:38:04.25\00:38:09.72
You see, we have access
to the Bible as never before,
00:38:09.75\00:38:12.45
we can download them on
our Kindles and on our phones.
00:38:12.49\00:38:15.52
We can download them as apps.
00:38:15.56\00:38:17.36
We have them in
every room of our house.
00:38:17.39\00:38:19.29
We even have them in
our hotel rooms here at GYC.
00:38:19.33\00:38:23.06
Yet with all of this comes
such monumental distraction.
00:38:27.54\00:38:32.37
Daniel predicted
that in the last days,
00:38:32.41\00:38:34.24
men will run to and fro
and knowledge shall crease.
00:38:34.28\00:38:36.78
The exponential increase
in knowledge is so frenetic
00:38:36.81\00:38:39.75
that none of us
can keep up with it
00:38:39.78\00:38:41.52
and we are
desperately trying every day
00:38:41.55\00:38:43.92
to keep up with the
flood of emails and texts
00:38:43.95\00:38:46.32
and everything else.
00:38:46.35\00:38:48.86
Last month, I
was in New York City
00:38:48.89\00:38:50.29
at the Metropolitan Museum,
this country's finest museum.
00:38:50.33\00:38:54.30
And what did I see on
display along with mummies
00:38:54.33\00:38:56.26
and Egyptian
temple, a statue of Hadrian,
00:38:56.30\00:38:59.37
the Roman emperor, and yes,
00:38:59.40\00:39:01.87
even an
inscription that mentions David
00:39:01.90\00:39:03.91
for the first time
outside of history.
00:39:03.94\00:39:05.54
What did I see there?
00:39:05.57\00:39:08.31
I saw the first video game
00:39:08.34\00:39:10.81
Atari Pac-Man invented in 1978.
00:39:10.85\00:39:16.72
It was the first video
game I remember playing.
00:39:16.75\00:39:19.35
I don't play video
games anymore by the way.
00:39:19.39\00:39:22.39
There's no time for that.
00:39:22.42\00:39:23.79
Amen.
00:39:23.83\00:39:25.69
Preach.
00:39:25.73\00:39:27.06
Preach.
00:39:27.10\00:39:28.43
Now this video game is
in an archaeological museum,
00:39:28.46\00:39:31.43
does that tell you how
fast our culture is changing?
00:39:31.47\00:39:34.24
Yes.
00:39:34.27\00:39:36.54
I want to ask you a question
today and it's a question
00:39:36.57\00:39:38.91
that I ask myself, because
it is endemic for all of us.
00:39:38.94\00:39:42.48
It affects all of us.
00:39:42.51\00:39:43.85
If we spend so many hours
texting, tweeting, emailing,
00:39:43.88\00:39:47.18
Facebook and checking likes
Instagram and Connected 24/7.
00:39:47.22\00:39:51.25
Are we really
more connected today
00:39:51.29\00:39:53.62
than we've been in the past?
00:39:53.66\00:39:54.99
Is it possible
that we spend less time
00:39:59.16\00:40:01.80
on those things
that matter most?
00:40:01.83\00:40:05.60
Is the Bible still
interesting for us today?
00:40:05.63\00:40:09.94
Is it still
relevant for us today?
00:40:09.97\00:40:13.88
Are we spending enough
time in the Word of God?
00:40:13.91\00:40:17.41
Are we spending
enough time with family?
00:40:17.45\00:40:19.28
Are we spending
enough time on those things
00:40:19.31\00:40:21.18
that matter most to the church?
00:40:21.22\00:40:23.05
Are we working for the church?
00:40:23.08\00:40:26.89
Could it be that we
are under the impression
00:40:26.92\00:40:28.52
that we are
connected but in reality
00:40:28.56\00:40:30.19
we are less
connected with each other
00:40:30.23\00:40:32.16
and with God than
ever before in history.
00:40:32.19\00:40:36.97
Sociologists are worried.
00:40:37.00\00:40:39.67
Neurologists are writing books.
00:40:39.70\00:40:42.74
I have one at home
entitled The New Brain.
00:40:42.77\00:40:45.24
Studies have been
published that show us that
00:40:45.27\00:40:47.08
these technologies in the
media are rewiring our brains,
00:40:47.11\00:40:50.65
physically altering
our neural pathways,
00:40:50.68\00:40:53.35
shrinking the frontal
lobe where spiritual decisions
00:40:53.38\00:40:56.75
and moral decisions are made.
00:40:56.79\00:40:59.09
We have become
numb to human suffering,
00:40:59.12\00:41:01.52
numb to spiritual realities,
00:41:01.56\00:41:03.66
clothed with an increasing
obsession with ourselves.
00:41:03.69\00:41:09.16
But we think our
culture is advanced,
00:41:09.20\00:41:11.33
because we have technologies.
00:41:11.37\00:41:14.40
The Bible gives us a
very different picture.
00:41:14.44\00:41:17.14
The Bible tells us that
when humanity was created
00:41:17.17\00:41:19.97
at the beginning,
00:41:20.01\00:41:21.71
it was created perfect
00:41:21.74\00:41:23.88
and we were created
in the image of God.
00:41:23.91\00:41:27.65
The Bible tells us
that humanity after the fall
00:41:27.68\00:41:30.85
in the entrance of sin has been
00:41:30.89\00:41:32.22
degenerating physically
and mentally ever since.
00:41:32.25\00:41:35.96
What does this
imply about us today?
00:41:35.99\00:41:39.49
Should we at the end
of earth's history begin
00:41:39.53\00:41:41.50
changing the
teaching of God's word?
00:41:41.53\00:41:44.93
Relativizing God's word
00:41:44.97\00:41:47.54
based on the increasing
dysfunction in modern culture.
00:41:47.57\00:41:52.24
The grass withers, the
flower fades says Isaiah,
00:41:52.27\00:41:55.01
but the word of
our God stands forever.
00:41:55.04\00:41:57.48
Amen.
00:41:57.51\00:41:58.85
Culture changes,
culture is fluid,
00:41:58.88\00:42:02.52
culture is unshifting sand.
00:42:02.55\00:42:06.96
Look at the reversal
in government legislation
00:42:06.99\00:42:09.36
on marriage in this country
alone in the last ten years.
00:42:09.39\00:42:14.46
What does this
imply for us today?
00:42:14.50\00:42:19.13
What are we thinking about?
00:42:19.17\00:42:21.60
Is it coincidence that
marriage and homosexuality
00:42:21.64\00:42:25.47
and gender issues
are so contested today?
00:42:25.51\00:42:27.84
Is it coincidence
that evolutionary theory
00:42:27.88\00:42:30.21
has even become mainstream
in major Protestant Churches?
00:42:30.25\00:42:33.72
Is it coincidence that
the seventh-day Sabbath
00:42:33.75\00:42:36.02
has been largely abandoned
by 98 percent of Christianity?
00:42:36.05\00:42:40.02
Are or are these signs predicted
00:42:40.06\00:42:42.92
in the prophetic word of God?
00:42:42.96\00:42:45.63
Revelation 14:6-7 says,
00:42:45.66\00:42:47.93
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven
00:42:47.96\00:42:50.13
having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those
00:42:50.17\00:42:53.44
who dwell on the
earth, to every nation,
00:42:53.47\00:42:55.40
tribe and tongue, and people."
00:42:55.44\00:42:58.67
The gospel is a
universal gospel.
00:42:58.71\00:43:00.88
It is not based on
culture, it is above culture.
00:43:00.91\00:43:03.65
Saying with a loud voice,
00:43:03.68\00:43:05.01
"Fear God and give glory to Him,
00:43:05.05\00:43:07.18
for the hour of
his judgment has come.
00:43:07.22\00:43:10.12
And worship Him
who made the heavens,
00:43:10.15\00:43:12.92
the earth, the sea
00:43:12.95\00:43:14.42
and of the
springs of living water."
00:43:14.46\00:43:17.03
This is a direct quotation
from the fourth commandment
00:43:17.06\00:43:19.56
by the way, it
points back to creation.
00:43:19.59\00:43:22.13
My friends, it is the
very fabric of God's creation
00:43:22.16\00:43:24.73
in Genesis 1 and 2.
00:43:24.77\00:43:26.27
Marriage between
a man and a woman
00:43:26.30\00:43:27.87
as the basis of
family and culture.
00:43:27.90\00:43:31.57
Seventh day
communion with our Lord
00:43:31.61\00:43:33.48
and Savior Jesus
Christ that is our fabric
00:43:33.51\00:43:35.74
of our relationship with Him.
00:43:35.78\00:43:37.78
And our belief that
Jesus Christ is the creator
00:43:37.81\00:43:40.68
and will recreate us
00:43:40.72\00:43:42.05
when He comes again
in the clouds of glory.
00:43:42.08\00:43:44.15
Amen.
00:43:44.19\00:43:45.52
The Three Angels'
Messages are more relevant today
00:43:45.55\00:43:48.16
than they have ever
been in earth's history.
00:43:48.19\00:43:51.73
We come to the last
crisis in the life of Christ.
00:43:51.76\00:43:55.60
The powerful prayer
of Jesus in John 17:1-19,
00:43:55.63\00:43:59.07
I can't read it all today,
00:43:59.10\00:44:00.80
but I'm going
to read some of it.
00:44:00.84\00:44:02.17
Just before he
endured the cross,
00:44:02.20\00:44:03.94
Jesus prayed this
prayer for his disciples,
00:44:03.97\00:44:06.24
because he knew what
they would be going through.
00:44:06.27\00:44:08.88
And I believe that prayer
is still as valid for us today
00:44:08.91\00:44:11.95
as disciples of
Jesus as they were
00:44:11.98\00:44:13.98
for the disciples
in the first century.
00:44:14.02\00:44:18.29
Verse 1 John 17,
00:44:18.32\00:44:21.79
"Father, the hour has come.
00:44:21.82\00:44:26.46
Glorify Your Son,
00:44:26.49\00:44:29.26
that Your Son
also may glorify You,
00:44:29.30\00:44:33.17
as You have given Him
authority over all flesh,
00:44:33.20\00:44:36.40
that He should give eternal life
00:44:36.44\00:44:37.91
to as many as
You have given Him.
00:44:37.94\00:44:40.88
And this is eternal
life, that they may know You,
00:44:40.91\00:44:44.95
the only true God,
00:44:44.98\00:44:48.45
and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent.
00:44:48.48\00:44:51.89
I have glorified
You on the earth.
00:44:51.92\00:44:53.62
I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do.
00:44:53.66\00:44:56.16
And now, O Father, glorify
Me together with Yourself,
00:44:56.19\00:45:00.40
with the glory which I had
with You before the world was."
00:45:00.43\00:45:06.37
Verse 14,
00:45:06.40\00:45:09.24
"I have given them Your word,
00:45:09.27\00:45:13.71
and the world has hated them
00:45:13.74\00:45:16.04
because they are
not of the world,
00:45:16.08\00:45:18.61
just as I am not of the world.
00:45:18.65\00:45:20.52
I do not pray that You should
take them out of the world,
00:45:20.55\00:45:23.15
but that You should
keep them from the evil one.
00:45:23.18\00:45:25.75
They are not of the world,
just as I am not of the world.
00:45:25.79\00:45:28.66
Sanctify them by Your truth.
00:45:28.69\00:45:31.49
Your word is truth.
00:45:31.53\00:45:34.46
As You sent Me into the world,
00:45:34.50\00:45:36.16
I also have sent
them into the world.
00:45:36.20\00:45:38.30
And for their
sakes I sanctify Myself,
00:45:38.33\00:45:41.47
that they also might be
sanctified in your truth."
00:45:41.50\00:45:48.21
Commenting
specifically on this prayer,
00:45:48.24\00:45:51.11
Ellen White has these words
in Historical Sketches, 197,
00:45:51.15\00:45:57.55
"It is the duty of every one
00:45:57.59\00:45:59.95
to search the
scriptures for himself.
00:45:59.99\00:46:03.16
We cannot accept the
assertions of men as infallible
00:46:03.19\00:46:07.03
to those who oppose and
denounce our faith we say,
00:46:07.06\00:46:09.80
"Show us from the
Bible that we are in error."
00:46:09.83\00:46:13.87
God's word is to
judge us in the last day.
00:46:13.90\00:46:18.07
And we want to know
what saith the scripture.
00:46:18.11\00:46:21.44
We are regarded with
jealousy and bitterness
00:46:21.48\00:46:23.48
because we will
not accept as evidence
00:46:23.51\00:46:25.21
the assertions of men
00:46:25.25\00:46:26.58
and the testimony of the fathers
00:46:26.61\00:46:27.95
but we cannot
purchase peace and unity
00:46:27.98\00:46:32.39
by sacrificing the truth."
00:46:32.42\00:46:34.59
Amen.
00:46:34.62\00:46:35.96
"The conflict may be long
and painful but at any cost,
00:46:35.99\00:46:40.10
we must hold
fast the Word of God,
00:46:40.13\00:46:43.57
the Bible and the Bible only
00:46:43.60\00:46:46.10
must be our watchword."
00:46:46.13\00:46:50.81
Christ has given us His word.
00:46:50.84\00:46:54.11
What has built Christ's
church over the centuries
00:46:54.14\00:46:56.34
what has sustained God's church.
00:46:56.38\00:46:57.85
What has preserved God's church
is the Living Word of God.
00:46:57.88\00:47:03.69
As we enter, if we enter into
00:47:03.72\00:47:07.06
a different method of
interpreting the Bible.
00:47:07.09\00:47:10.93
That introduces human reason,
human experience and culture
00:47:10.96\00:47:16.16
as the norm above scripture,
we will no longer be united.
00:47:16.20\00:47:21.10
We will have theological
and cultural pluralism
00:47:21.14\00:47:24.64
and the result will be
disunity but most importantly,
00:47:24.67\00:47:28.64
we will be
sacrificing the truth.
00:47:28.68\00:47:30.48
That summer
00:47:35.15\00:47:38.32
after Pan Am Flight 103.
00:47:38.35\00:47:42.32
I needed to earn some money.
00:47:42.36\00:47:44.26
I was a college
student after all.
00:47:44.29\00:47:47.43
And I decided to
work in Switzerland,
00:47:47.46\00:47:50.10
where I heard you
could make three times
00:47:50.13\00:47:51.60
as much money as
working construction back home.
00:47:51.63\00:47:56.81
So I went to the
capital of Switzerland, Bern.
00:47:56.84\00:48:00.51
And got a job in one of the most
00:48:00.54\00:48:01.91
prestigious five star
hotels next to Parliament.
00:48:01.94\00:48:04.48
I was looking forward to it
00:48:08.28\00:48:09.62
because my friends
were going to be there,
00:48:09.65\00:48:10.99
but my friends deserted me,
00:48:11.02\00:48:12.39
they went to
this Youth Congress.
00:48:12.42\00:48:15.56
Praise the Lord
for Youth Congresses.
00:48:15.59\00:48:17.73
Amen.
00:48:17.76\00:48:19.89
They went to a Youth
Congress in Barcelona,
00:48:19.93\00:48:21.90
it left me alone
in a strange city
00:48:21.93\00:48:23.90
in a strange
place with a new job.
00:48:23.93\00:48:25.90
I knew no one.
00:48:25.93\00:48:27.27
In all that year,
those questions had been
00:48:30.07\00:48:32.44
resurfacing and
resurfacing and resurfacing.
00:48:32.47\00:48:35.81
And I had put them
aside and put them aside.
00:48:35.84\00:48:38.85
Many of my friends who
had grown up in the church
00:48:38.88\00:48:40.72
were facing a crisis of
faith and they raised questions
00:48:40.75\00:48:43.52
and they asked
me those questions,
00:48:43.55\00:48:44.92
after all I was
a theology student.
00:48:44.95\00:48:47.82
But I didn't have any answers.
00:48:47.86\00:48:52.69
But most
importantly and deep in my heart
00:48:52.73\00:48:54.83
was that lingering question.
00:48:54.86\00:48:58.00
Why was I not on
Pan Am Flight 103?
00:48:58.03\00:49:02.90
What did God want from me
in this new lease on life?
00:49:02.94\00:49:08.64
And so, during those two weeks,
00:49:08.68\00:49:12.98
I opened the Word of God.
00:49:13.01\00:49:17.35
I studied as I had
never studied the word before.
00:49:17.39\00:49:20.42
There was an intensity,
there was a deep longing,
00:49:20.46\00:49:23.29
a need to know.
00:49:23.32\00:49:24.83
I needed to know
answers to those questions.
00:49:28.50\00:49:31.33
It had come to a point where
I could no longer put it off.
00:49:31.37\00:49:34.37
You know I want to
say something here today
00:49:34.40\00:49:36.44
that is extremely important,
00:49:36.47\00:49:37.81
it is not wrong
to ask questions.
00:49:37.84\00:49:40.81
Amen.
00:49:40.84\00:49:42.24
It is not wrong, God
has put in us this desire
00:49:42.28\00:49:45.61
to know this curiosity,
this, this longing to know Him.
00:49:45.65\00:49:50.59
And if we do not ask questions,
00:49:50.62\00:49:53.46
if we do not wrestle with God,
00:49:53.49\00:49:58.66
God will not display
Himself in the same way
00:49:58.69\00:50:01.33
that He can when
we wrestle with Him.
00:50:01.36\00:50:05.17
It's not time, it's
not wrong to search.
00:50:05.20\00:50:09.20
But, my friends, we
live in a society today
00:50:09.24\00:50:12.24
where it's very
popular to search,
00:50:12.27\00:50:14.08
and to search, and
to search, and to search
00:50:14.11\00:50:17.05
and to say, I am
searching but in this culture,
00:50:17.08\00:50:20.28
it is very unpopular
to ever find an answer.
00:50:20.32\00:50:23.75
And I would submit to you today,
00:50:23.79\00:50:28.12
that the answer is
in the Word of God.
00:50:28.16\00:50:29.89
Amen.
00:50:29.92\00:50:31.53
As I studied the Word of God,
I devoured the New Testament.
00:50:31.56\00:50:35.10
And then I picked
up a little red book
00:50:35.13\00:50:37.50
that one of my
friends had left with me,
00:50:37.53\00:50:40.60
it was entitled
"The Great Controversy."
00:50:40.64\00:50:42.77
Amen.
00:50:42.80\00:50:44.14
Last year at GYC, we handed out
00:50:44.17\00:50:45.67
thousands of Great Controversies
00:50:45.71\00:50:47.91
in the community
and to attendees.
00:50:47.94\00:50:50.98
And I hope that
some of you took time
00:50:51.01\00:50:53.28
as I did this year to
reread that book again.
00:50:53.31\00:50:57.29
I read it for the first time
00:50:57.32\00:50:58.95
there in that dorm
room in Bern, Switzerland
00:50:58.99\00:51:01.72
at the University of Bern.
00:51:01.76\00:51:03.93
And I could not put it down.
00:51:03.96\00:51:06.86
I began to read it
from cover to cover,
00:51:06.90\00:51:10.17
it was incredible,
because that year I had spent.
00:51:10.20\00:51:13.07
I had put 45,000
kilometers on my car.
00:51:13.10\00:51:18.24
I had traveled all over Europe.
00:51:18.27\00:51:19.81
Europe is not a large place
00:51:19.84\00:51:21.21
but 45,000
kilometers in one year.
00:51:21.24\00:51:23.31
I had traveled all over Europe,
00:51:23.35\00:51:24.81
multiple trips
to various places,
00:51:24.85\00:51:27.52
I had studied less
German than I was supposed to,
00:51:27.55\00:51:29.58
but I had traveled well.
00:51:29.62\00:51:32.75
I had sat in the
church where John Hus
00:51:32.79\00:51:34.89
preached the message
of Reformation in Prague.
00:51:34.92\00:51:39.13
I had stood in the room
in where Luther translated
00:51:39.16\00:51:42.26
the New Testament
into the German vernacular.
00:51:42.30\00:51:44.40
I gazed out the
window of the palace
00:51:44.43\00:51:46.43
where a Protestant
threw out a Catholic
00:51:46.47\00:51:48.50
and started the 30 years war.
00:51:48.54\00:51:51.47
I was reading, through history
that prophetically came alive.
00:51:51.51\00:51:56.54
For the first
time in my adult life,
00:51:56.58\00:51:58.91
I understood that I was part
of a legacy of men and women
00:51:58.95\00:52:03.32
who have given up their lives
for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
00:52:03.35\00:52:07.66
and for the Living Word of God.
00:52:07.69\00:52:12.99
I realize that I was part
of a much larger conflict.
00:52:13.03\00:52:17.20
A cosmic conflict, a conflict
which centered on this planet,
00:52:17.23\00:52:20.54
and on the
character, and justice of God.
00:52:20.57\00:52:23.10
And, friends,
it no longer matter
00:52:23.14\00:52:24.84
that I was being
trained to be a third generation
00:52:24.87\00:52:26.98
Seventh-day Adventist minister,
00:52:27.01\00:52:28.38
because I realized in
those weeks and months
00:52:28.41\00:52:31.98
as I studied that
there is no such thing
00:52:32.01\00:52:34.05
as a third generation
Seventh-day Adventist minister.
00:52:34.08\00:52:37.12
All of us must
become first generation
00:52:37.15\00:52:39.42
Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:52:39.45\00:52:41.46
Amen.
00:52:41.49\00:52:45.16
You know, what the
most exciting thing was,
00:52:45.19\00:52:46.83
the most thrilling
experience of all of this.
00:52:46.86\00:52:49.76
As I studied,
00:52:49.80\00:52:53.07
my questions were answered.
00:52:53.10\00:52:54.70
Those questions,
those precious answers,
00:52:58.01\00:53:01.18
those precious answers that came
00:53:01.21\00:53:02.58
in the early
hours of the morning,
00:53:02.61\00:53:03.98
and the late hours of the night.
00:53:04.01\00:53:06.08
Every moment, I
stopped driving my car to work,
00:53:06.11\00:53:08.58
I took public transportation
so I could read my Bible
00:53:08.62\00:53:11.62
and the Spirit of
Prophecy on the bus.
00:53:11.65\00:53:14.59
Every break I had at the hotel,
00:53:14.62\00:53:16.36
I was down in the
bowels of the hotel studying.
00:53:16.39\00:53:19.49
Every moment I could get,
I was devouring God's word
00:53:19.53\00:53:23.90
and trying to understand.
00:53:23.93\00:53:26.57
And you know what?
00:53:26.60\00:53:28.27
The answers to those questions.
00:53:28.30\00:53:30.31
Praise the
Lord, were the answers
00:53:30.34\00:53:31.87
that I had received
growing up in this great
00:53:31.91\00:53:33.88
and wonderful movement,
00:53:33.91\00:53:35.68
the Seventh-day
Adventist Church.
00:53:35.71\00:53:37.05
But now for the first
time, they were not the answers
00:53:37.08\00:53:39.41
that my parents had given me
00:53:39.45\00:53:40.78
or that my teachers had given me
00:53:40.82\00:53:42.15
or my wonderful youth
pastors have given me.
00:53:42.18\00:53:44.35
No, they were
questions that had been answered
00:53:44.39\00:53:47.29
by the Living Word of God
00:53:47.32\00:53:48.66
that had become
the Word of God for me.
00:53:48.69\00:53:51.86
They were my answers.
00:53:51.89\00:53:53.53
Jesus Christ became
real and tangible in my life.
00:53:53.56\00:53:57.07
I fell in love
that summer with Jesus.
00:53:57.10\00:53:59.53
Everyone of us here today,
00:54:03.91\00:54:06.54
needs to have that
kind of experience.
00:54:06.57\00:54:08.48
For Jacob, it was an
all night wrestling match
00:54:12.18\00:54:14.58
with the Almighty.
00:54:14.62\00:54:17.05
For Isaiah, it was the
touch of coal upon his lips
00:54:17.09\00:54:20.62
as he saw the Lord
high and lifted up.
00:54:20.66\00:54:24.99
For Saul, it was a blinding
lights on the Damascus road.
00:54:25.03\00:54:30.63
For me, when I
was 20 years of age,
00:54:30.67\00:54:33.84
it was Pan Am Flight 103.
00:54:33.87\00:54:37.74
What will it be for
you, my friend, today?
00:54:37.77\00:54:39.91
In Great Controversy, page
595, in that powerful chapter
00:54:43.31\00:54:47.62
where Ellen White
00:54:47.65\00:54:49.88
writes about scripture
being our only safeguard
00:54:49.92\00:54:53.72
in the end times
in which we live.
00:54:53.76\00:54:55.29
She says this,
00:54:55.32\00:54:57.13
"But God will have a
people upon the earth
00:54:57.16\00:54:59.79
to maintain the
Bible and the Bible only,
00:54:59.83\00:55:03.03
as the standard of all doctrines
00:55:03.06\00:55:05.13
and the basis of all reforms.
00:55:05.17\00:55:08.20
We need reformation,
we need revival today.
00:55:08.24\00:55:10.41
It's the Bible
that will bring about
00:55:10.44\00:55:12.07
and prayer and supplication,
00:55:12.11\00:55:14.51
the opinions of learned
men, the deductions of science,
00:55:14.54\00:55:17.18
the creeds or decisions
of Ecclesiastical councils.
00:55:17.21\00:55:20.42
As numerous and
discordant as are the churches
00:55:20.45\00:55:23.49
which they represent
the voice of the majority.
00:55:23.52\00:55:28.02
Not one of nor all of these
should be regarded as evidence
00:55:28.06\00:55:31.79
for or against any
point of religious faith.
00:55:31.83\00:55:35.63
Before accepting
any doctrine or precept,
00:55:35.66\00:55:39.97
we should demand a plain thus
saith the Lord in its support.
00:55:40.00\00:55:45.37
If there is no
plain thus saith the Lord,
00:55:45.41\00:55:49.01
friends, let's not go there.
00:55:49.04\00:55:51.51
Let's be careful.
00:55:51.55\00:55:52.88
That night, that
darkening afternoon
00:55:57.29\00:56:03.83
as Christ was suspended between
heaven and earth on the cross.
00:56:03.86\00:56:09.60
His disciples had
fled most of them.
00:56:09.63\00:56:16.20
He was all alone.
00:56:16.24\00:56:17.57
He felt alone.
00:56:22.11\00:56:24.68
"My God, My God why
have You forsaken Me."
00:56:24.71\00:56:29.42
And yet, He was not alone.
00:56:29.45\00:56:33.25
In that darkness, there
was one penetrating light
00:56:33.29\00:56:38.16
that gave the Savior
hope and encouragement
00:56:38.19\00:56:40.70
that all had not been lost.
00:56:40.73\00:56:44.50
On either side
of Him were two men
00:56:44.53\00:56:48.44
hanging on crosses as well.
00:56:48.47\00:56:50.91
One had scorned and
rejected the Savior.
00:56:50.94\00:56:55.44
The other one had seen
00:56:55.48\00:56:59.88
how Jesus reacted to the cross.
00:56:59.91\00:57:03.49
How Jesus calmly
accepted the penalty
00:57:03.52\00:57:09.69
of something that He did not do.
00:57:09.72\00:57:11.99
And that man was
moved and asked God
00:57:15.46\00:57:19.97
whether he might not
see Him in His Kingdom.
00:57:20.00\00:57:25.07
Those three
crosses represent for us
00:57:25.11\00:57:28.54
something very important today.
00:57:28.58\00:57:32.08
Christ stands at the center.
00:57:32.11\00:57:33.88
He divides history for evermore.
00:57:33.92\00:57:37.35
We still reckon
history as B.C. and A.D.
00:57:37.39\00:57:39.65
Christ is there at the center.
00:57:39.69\00:57:41.89
But there is only
one question today.
00:57:41.92\00:57:44.69
One question.
00:57:44.73\00:57:47.66
Do you accept Jesus
as revealed in His Word
00:57:47.70\00:57:52.37
as the way, the
truth, and the life?
00:57:52.40\00:57:56.34
Do you remain
faithful to scripture
00:57:56.37\00:57:58.37
as He remained
faithful to scripture
00:57:58.41\00:58:01.68
to fulfill all the things
that have been said of Him
00:58:01.71\00:58:04.18
so that you and
I might have life?
00:58:04.21\00:58:07.52
There were no 50 decisions
that could have been made,
00:58:07.55\00:58:10.65
there were no glaze
that day in the darkness.
00:58:10.69\00:58:14.79
There was a simple decision;
00:58:14.82\00:58:19.16
will you remember
me in your Kingdom?
00:58:19.19\00:58:22.86
Will you submit to
Jesus Christ and to His word?
00:58:22.90\00:58:27.37
That question is
still for us today.
00:58:27.40\00:58:30.77
And I want you to
ask, I want to ask you
00:58:30.81\00:58:33.64
if you want to be one
of those men and women
00:58:33.68\00:58:36.44
who will stand by
the Bible and the Bible
00:58:36.48\00:58:38.31
only as we face
the greatest crisis
00:58:38.35\00:58:40.35
this earth has ever faced.
00:58:40.38\00:58:42.62
We don't know what
the future holds but,
00:58:42.65\00:58:45.52
it will be the greatest
crisis and it's happening.
00:58:45.55\00:58:49.32
It's already happening today.
00:58:49.36\00:58:52.39
If you want to be
one of those people,
00:58:52.43\00:58:53.76
I want to invite you to stand.
00:58:53.80\00:58:56.16
Stand on the living Word of God
00:58:56.20\00:58:59.67
that will remain
forever, let's pray.
00:58:59.70\00:59:01.57
Heavenly Father, we thank You,
00:59:01.60\00:59:04.14
we thank You for
the Living Word of God.
00:59:04.17\00:59:07.34
We thank You for Jesus
Christ the Word incarnates
00:59:07.38\00:59:11.25
that came to reveal
God's truth in human form.
00:59:11.28\00:59:17.29
He knows what we
are going through,
00:59:17.32\00:59:19.49
He experienced the temptations,
00:59:19.52\00:59:21.89
He experienced all
that we experienced today.
00:59:21.92\00:59:25.83
There is nothing
that He went through,
00:59:25.86\00:59:29.70
nothing more
that we can go through
00:59:29.73\00:59:31.40
that He did not go through.
00:59:31.43\00:59:33.80
So today, Christ,
00:59:33.84\00:59:36.24
in the name of Christ,
00:59:36.27\00:59:37.87
we ask that we
would remain faithful,
00:59:37.91\00:59:41.84
faithful to the
promises of Your word.
00:59:41.88\00:59:43.98