Hello and welcome to
3ABN's 2014 Spring Camp Meeting.
00:00:38.82\00:00:43.77
This is another one
of our big-themed events
00:00:44.17\00:00:46.91
and the whole weekend we are
talking about the second coming
00:00:47.01\00:00:51.14
of Jesus Christ. I can't
think of anything more important
00:00:51.24\00:00:54.97
to talk about.
And we're very excited
00:00:55.17\00:00:58.26
to have all of you here.
And I just want to say to you
00:00:58.37\00:01:01.71
good morning. And we are
just hopeful that you are ready.
00:01:01.91\00:01:05.52
I know you had your
cups filled yesterday,
00:01:05.62\00:01:08.90
but we're hopeful that
you've got a little more room
00:01:09.20\00:01:11.96
'cause we've got a
lot more that's coming.
00:01:12.16\00:01:14.25
This morning we are
going to have James Rafferty
00:01:14.65\00:01:17.48
as our speaker. And James
is the speaker and co-director
00:01:17.68\00:01:21.97
of Light Bearers Ministry.
00:01:22.17\00:01:24.10
I'll bet you all
are familiar with him.
00:01:24.30\00:01:26.09
Have you seen their new
program that James and Ty
00:01:26.29\00:01:28.92
and the ministry is
doing called Table Talk?
00:01:29.02\00:01:31.64
It is one of the
favorites for most people.
00:01:32.14\00:01:35.03
We get lots of
wonderful comments on that.
00:01:35.23\00:01:37.70
James also has a
program on Books of the Book.
00:01:38.00\00:01:42.16
But James early on
recognized the call
00:01:42.46\00:01:46.32
of God on his life
to go out and preach
00:01:46.52\00:01:50.41
the good news of
Christ crucified, of the risen
00:01:50.61\00:01:54.89
and exalted Savior.
00:01:54.99\00:01:56.95
And he has had the opportunity
- I'm going to read this -
00:01:57.25\00:02:00.21
he has been sharing the
incomparable love of Jesus
00:02:00.41\00:02:03.93
in Africa, Asia, Europe,
the Middle East, Australia,
00:02:04.23\00:02:08.40
and all over America.
00:02:08.50\00:02:10.90
And in addition to his preaching
00:02:11.20\00:02:13.92
he also does seminars on the
books of Daniel and Revelation.
00:02:14.12\00:02:19.40
So we're very very
excited. His message today
00:02:19.70\00:02:23.11
will be The Apparent Delay.
00:02:23.31\00:02:26.14
But first we're going
to have Celestine Barry
00:02:26.54\00:02:29.53
and her husband Michael come.
00:02:29.73\00:02:31.97
Michael is so talented on
the piano, and Celestine is
00:02:32.27\00:02:37.38
an anointed singer. And
she's going to be singing
00:02:37.52\00:02:39.95
The Power of the Cross.
00:02:40.15\00:02:42.17
Oh to see the dawn
00:03:23.97\00:03:28.54
of the darkest day
00:03:28.84\00:03:33.22
Christ on the road to
00:03:34.02\00:03:38.38
Calvary
00:03:38.68\00:03:42.50
tried by sinful men,
00:03:43.00\00:03:47.12
torn and beaten then
00:03:48.12\00:03:52.28
nailed to a cross of wood
00:03:52.68\00:03:58.63
This the pow'r
00:04:00.78\00:04:04.52
of the cross
00:04:04.92\00:04:08.02
Christ became
00:04:09.38\00:04:13.47
sin for us
00:04:14.11\00:04:17.15
took the blame,
00:04:18.33\00:04:22.40
bore the wrath
00:04:22.80\00:04:25.01
we stand forgiven
00:04:25.31\00:04:28.53
at the cross
00:04:28.74\00:04:32.39
Oh, to see the pain
00:04:41.37\00:04:45.45
written on Your face
00:04:45.85\00:04:49.86
bearing the awesome
00:04:50.26\00:04:54.55
weight of sin
00:04:54.85\00:04:58.12
every bitter thought,
00:04:58.42\00:05:02.79
every evil deed
00:05:03.57\00:05:07.36
crowning Your bloodstained brow
00:05:07.76\00:05:13.67
This the pow'r
00:05:15.23\00:05:19.58
of the cross
00:05:19.88\00:05:22.50
Christ became
00:05:23.75\00:05:28.17
sin for us
00:05:28.37\00:05:31.27
took the blame,
00:05:32.30\00:05:36.53
bore the wrath
00:05:36.93\00:05:38.87
we stand forgiven
00:05:39.07\00:05:42.17
at the cross
00:05:42.37\00:05:46.20
Now the daylight flees
00:05:57.13\00:06:01.19
Now the ground beneath
00:06:01.95\00:06:05.72
quakes as its Maker
00:06:06.66\00:06:10.70
bows His head
00:06:11.00\00:06:14.46
curtain torn in two
00:06:15.25\00:06:18.84
dead are raised to life
00:06:19.59\00:06:23.59
"finished"
00:06:23.89\00:06:25.54
the victory cry
00:06:25.74\00:06:30.60
This the pow'r
00:06:31.00\00:06:35.02
of the cross
00:06:35.12\00:06:38.16
Christ became
00:06:39.39\00:06:42.91
sin for us
00:06:43.56\00:06:46.46
took the blame,
00:06:47.53\00:06:51.47
bore the wrath
00:06:51.87\00:06:53.75
we stand forgiven
00:06:54.05\00:06:56.94
at that cross
00:06:57.14\00:07:00.70
Oh, to see my name
00:07:09.40\00:07:12.94
written in the wounds
00:07:13.35\00:07:16.89
for through Your suffering
00:07:17.19\00:07:21.14
I am free
00:07:21.54\00:07:25.07
death is crushed to death
00:07:25.56\00:07:29.11
life is mine to live
00:07:29.64\00:07:33.03
won through Your selfless love
00:07:33.62\00:07:39.57
This the pow'r
00:07:40.69\00:07:44.59
of the cross
00:07:45.19\00:07:48.00
Son of God
00:07:48.91\00:07:52.42
slain for us
00:07:52.82\00:07:56.34
what a love,
00:07:56.91\00:08:00.44
what a cost
00:08:00.85\00:08:02.86
We stand forgiven at
00:08:03.16\00:08:08.37
the cross...
00:08:09.98\00:08:15.21
at the cross.
00:08:17.78\00:08:22.90
Amen.
00:08:24.78\00:08:26.31
Amen.
00:08:35.53\00:08:37.98
I'm assuming that you're
clapping because I'm here...
00:08:42.80\00:08:46.98
not because of anything else.
00:08:47.59\00:08:50.20
But you understand that
it's important for a preacher
00:08:51.77\00:08:54.54
to have a good
illustration for his sermon...
00:08:54.64\00:08:58.22
especially one that is somewhat
relaxing to the audience
00:09:03.72\00:09:07.78
and gets us ready
for... Let's open our Bibles
00:09:07.98\00:09:10.81
to II Peter
chapter 3 as we begin.
00:09:10.91\00:09:13.91
I've heard some very good
reports about Camp Meeting
00:09:14.05\00:09:16.64
so far, and I'm very blessed
to be part of this opportunity
00:09:16.84\00:09:22.48
to look into one of
the most fundamental
00:09:22.68\00:09:26.65
truths of the
Bible: the second coming.
00:09:26.85\00:09:28.68
And of course, my
presentation this morning -
00:09:28.88\00:09:31.60
the time that we're going
to be spending this morning
00:09:31.70\00:09:33.99
in the Word of God - has
to do with the apparent delay.
00:09:34.10\00:09:36.26
And there's different ways that
you can interpret that title.
00:09:37.17\00:09:40.72
I didn't choose the
title... it was given to me.
00:09:40.92\00:09:43.16
But one of the ways that
we can understand that title
00:09:43.36\00:09:46.52
is the apparent delay.
It's not really a delay,
00:09:46.72\00:09:49.63
it's just an apparent delay.
00:09:49.83\00:09:50.94
And I think that that's
part of what I'm going to try to
00:09:51.73\00:09:55.39
emphasize here as we look
into these Bible verses that
00:09:55.49\00:09:58.94
talk about the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:09:59.04\00:10:00.89
Because I believe that
God's purposes know no haste
00:10:01.39\00:10:05.76
and no delay.
00:10:05.96\00:10:08.77
Those are His purposes.
00:10:09.07\00:10:10.67
And so we need to ask the
question in the context of that:
00:10:10.97\00:10:13.05
what are His purposes
00:10:13.25\00:10:15.15
as they relate to the
second coming of Jesus Christ?
00:10:15.35\00:10:18.84
I'd like to just pause
for another moment and have
00:10:19.04\00:10:20.93
another word of prayer
with you as we open God's Word.
00:10:21.03\00:10:23.45
Father, we're just
thankful this morning
00:10:23.58\00:10:25.10
for the
opportunity to open Your Word.
00:10:25.30\00:10:27.60
We want to pause and just
ask for the blessing of Your
00:10:27.90\00:10:29.69
Holy Spirit. You have promised
that to us, each one of us
00:10:29.79\00:10:32.56
individually and perhaps
even more so to us collectively
00:10:32.67\00:10:37.04
as we draw
together and seek to study.
00:10:37.24\00:10:41.66
Father, we just want to
pray that our hearts, our minds
00:10:42.74\00:10:45.62
will be in tune with heaven.
00:10:45.82\00:10:47.11
That we will give Your
Holy Spirit an opportunity
00:10:47.41\00:10:49.88
to teach us. I pray
personally and individually
00:10:49.98\00:10:53.26
that You will
cleanse my heart, my thoughts
00:10:53.36\00:10:56.48
that I will be a channel
just to communicate Your truth,
00:10:56.62\00:10:59.35
Your Word. And I pray these
things in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:10:59.45\00:11:03.53
II Peter chapter 3
beginning with verse 1:
00:11:04.03\00:11:08.05
"This second epistle,
beloved, I now write unto you
00:11:08.28\00:11:11.23
in both which I
stir up your pure minds
00:11:11.43\00:11:14.30
by way of remembrance.
00:11:14.60\00:11:16.20
That ye... " verse 2...
"may be mindful of the words
00:11:16.50\00:11:20.36
which were spoken
before by the holy prophets
00:11:20.56\00:11:23.37
and the
commandment of us, the apostles
00:11:23.57\00:11:27.23
of the Lord and Savior. "
00:11:27.43\00:11:29.60
Verse 3... II Peter 3:
00:11:29.80\00:11:32.93
"Knowing this first that there
shall come in the last days... "
00:11:33.23\00:11:38.29
Do you believe we're
living in the last days? Amen!
00:11:38.53\00:11:41.55
So we're going to now
find out what the Bible says
00:11:41.96\00:11:45.00
is going to come in the last
days that would be an indication
00:11:45.20\00:11:47.94
or confirmation that
we're living in the last days.
00:11:48.04\00:11:49.98
The first word here that we
read is that there will come
00:11:50.28\00:11:54.07
in the last days "scoffers
00:11:54.17\00:11:56.31
walking after their own lusts
00:11:58.07\00:12:00.32
and saying... " verse 4...
00:12:00.62\00:12:03.57
"where is the
promise of His coming?
00:12:03.77\00:12:07.06
For since the
fathers fell asleep
00:12:07.36\00:12:09.88
all things continue as
they were from the beginning
00:12:10.18\00:12:14.13
of the creation. "
00:12:14.33\00:12:16.34
Where is the
promise of His coming?
00:12:17.14\00:12:19.46
And it indicates in
this verse and in the context
00:12:19.76\00:12:23.27
of this second epistle of Peter
00:12:23.67\00:12:26.64
it indicates that
these people are somewhat
00:12:26.85\00:12:31.63
believers or
Christians or followers
00:12:31.83\00:12:35.09
because they're
calling it a promise.
00:12:35.19\00:12:37.98
And in the context of
this Peter warns about
00:12:38.28\00:12:40.60
those who are
departing from the faith.
00:12:40.80\00:12:43.40
Who are turning from the
holy commandment once delivered
00:12:44.34\00:12:47.54
unto them. Who have
known the Lord but have
00:12:47.64\00:12:50.16
turned away from the
power of His salvation.
00:12:50.46\00:12:53.57
From the grace of God.
That's the context of II Peter.
00:12:53.87\00:12:56.07
And then he goes on to
say this, verse 5: "For this
00:12:57.10\00:12:59.62
they willingly are ignorant of
00:12:59.82\00:13:03.05
that by the Word of
God the heavens were of old
00:13:03.35\00:13:06.86
and the earth standing out
of the water and in the water. "
00:13:07.06\00:13:09.67
And I would just want to
summarize there that they're
00:13:09.87\00:13:11.52
willingly ignorant of
this one thing, and that is
00:13:11.63\00:13:14.22
the Word of God.
00:13:14.25\00:13:16.00
The Word of God.
That's going to be our focus
00:13:16.30\00:13:18.35
for understanding
the apparent delay.
00:13:18.75\00:13:20.69
There are a number of
prophecies in the Bible
00:13:20.80\00:13:23.78
that talk about or predict
or point to the second coming
00:13:23.98\00:13:27.43
of Jesus Christ. It seems as
though every writer of the Bible
00:13:27.53\00:13:30.50
has a little something to
give us about the second coming
00:13:30.60\00:13:34.04
of Jesus. I think
we're very familiar, perhaps,
00:13:34.14\00:13:36.65
with the book of Revelation.
00:13:36.85\00:13:38.73
That is the inspired
writings that were given to John
00:13:39.03\00:13:42.35
about the second
coming of Jesus Christ...
00:13:42.65\00:13:45.05
about prophecy
and end-time events.
00:13:45.15\00:13:47.07
But John was not the only
apostle, not the only disciple
00:13:47.48\00:13:51.67
that wrote about
the second coming.
00:13:51.87\00:13:53.62
Matthew had a whole chapter
in Matthew 24 about the second
00:13:53.92\00:13:56.62
coming of Jesus. Mark
also had a whole chapter
00:13:56.72\00:13:59.85
that was designated in Mark 13.
00:13:59.96\00:14:01.98
And Luke wasn't
left out of the picture.
00:14:02.18\00:14:04.36
He had an entire
chapter in Luke 21.
00:14:04.56\00:14:06.57
And we find Paul
talking about the second coming
00:14:07.08\00:14:11.23
in II Thessalonians chapter 2.
00:14:11.63\00:14:13.99
And each one of these
writers was inspired to give us
00:14:14.29\00:14:18.28
a little something that
helps us to answer the question
00:14:18.41\00:14:21.90
why the apparent delay.
00:14:22.10\00:14:23.96
The one I want to look at
first... because we're actually
00:14:24.96\00:14:27.03
going to conclude with
II Peter... is found in
00:14:27.13\00:14:29.06
Matthew 24. And it's not
going to be much different
00:14:29.16\00:14:32.08
from Mark 13 or from Luke 21.
00:14:32.28\00:14:35.74
All of these eschatological
00:14:36.89\00:14:41.00
or end-time event
chapters are very similar.
00:14:41.10\00:14:44.65
Some of them have a
little bit of detail that isn't
00:14:44.85\00:14:46.78
in the other, but
we'll look at Matthew 24
00:14:46.88\00:14:48.70
just to understand this
one reason or this one point
00:14:49.00\00:14:51.71
that's being
made here in Matthew.
00:14:51.81\00:14:53.55
You may be familiar
with the fact that Matthew 24
00:14:54.59\00:14:57.61
gives us a layout of
events that were to take place
00:14:57.71\00:15:00.83
prior to the destruction
of Jerusalem and then repeated
00:15:01.03\00:15:05.55
prior to the second
coming of Jesus Christ
00:15:05.95\00:15:08.44
at the end of the world. It's
what we call a dual prophecy.
00:15:08.55\00:15:12.37
Now we don't see that in Daniel;
we don't see that in Revelation.
00:15:12.77\00:15:15.75
It's unique to Matthew
and Mark 13 and Luke 21.
00:15:15.85\00:15:19.29
Because the disciples asked
Jesus: "What will be the end
00:15:19.69\00:15:22.45
of these things? " The temple,
where not one stone would be
00:15:22.55\00:15:26.02
left upon another...
"and the sign of Your coming
00:15:26.12\00:15:29.27
and the end of the world? "
And so Jesus mixes the events.
00:15:29.37\00:15:32.64
Mixes the signs that
lead to both of the events.
00:15:32.84\00:15:35.50
He mixes them together,
and so when we read Matthew 24
00:15:35.60\00:15:38.36
we see... we know...
that all of these signs
00:15:38.46\00:15:41.22
in the first few verses leading
up to verse 14 and onward
00:15:41.42\00:15:45.29
all of them were fulfilled
just before the destruction
00:15:45.49\00:15:48.62
of Jerusalem and
they will be repeated
00:15:48.72\00:15:52.33
just before the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:15:52.63\00:15:54.82
But there's one sign
that I want you to look at
00:15:55.22\00:15:56.79
with me specifically, and
this sign is found in verse 14.
00:15:56.99\00:16:02.07
It answers the
question more directly:
00:16:02.37\00:16:04.01
Why the apparent delay?
00:16:04.31\00:16:06.83
Verse 14: "And this gospel
of the kingdom shall be preached
00:16:07.13\00:16:11.62
in all the world for a
witness unto all nations
00:16:11.82\00:16:15.84
and then shall... "
What? "the end come. "
00:16:16.04\00:16:18.89
Why the apparent delay?
Because according to Matthew 24
00:16:19.19\00:16:22.26
and verse 14 the gospel hasn't
been preached in all the world
00:16:22.36\00:16:26.08
for a witness unto all nations.
00:16:26.49\00:16:30.81
If you were to take all
of the signs in Matthew 24
00:16:31.63\00:16:34.15
and put them on
one side of a scale...
00:16:34.25\00:16:35.74
The wars and rumors of
wars... we've seen that.
00:16:36.14\00:16:38.45
Nation rising against nation.
00:16:38.66\00:16:40.52
Famines, pestilence, natural
disasters like earthquakes
00:16:40.92\00:16:43.66
in different places... If you
were to put all of those signs
00:16:43.76\00:16:46.17
on one side of the scale
and you would put one sign -
00:16:46.20\00:16:50.03
the one sign in
Matthew 24 and verse 14,
00:16:50.23\00:16:52.73
the gospel being preached
as a witness to all nations -
00:16:53.03\00:16:55.55
on the other side of the scale,
00:16:55.75\00:16:56.94
you know what would
happen to that scale?
00:16:57.24\00:16:58.72
It would tip this way.
00:16:59.12\00:17:01.09
Because this one sign
in Matthew 24 and verse 14
00:17:01.49\00:17:04.90
outweighs all the others.
00:17:05.10\00:17:06.42
All of these other signs can be
fulfilled, but if this one sign
00:17:07.58\00:17:10.91
isn't fulfilled... guess what?
00:17:11.01\00:17:12.93
Jesus is not coming.
00:17:13.23\00:17:15.64
Why? We're going to see this
more when we look at II Peter -
00:17:16.79\00:17:22.06
when we go back to II
Peter - but I'll just tell you
00:17:22.26\00:17:24.38
that one of the reasons why
- probably the most important
00:17:24.49\00:17:26.51
reason why - is
because God doesn't want anyone
00:17:26.61\00:17:31.77
to be lost. Amen. He
wants every single person
00:17:31.97\00:17:37.63
possible to be in heaven,
00:17:37.73\00:17:39.88
and therefore it is vital that
the gospel goes to every nation
00:17:40.08\00:17:44.28
before Jesus returns so
everyone has an opportunity.
00:17:44.78\00:17:47.47
Now Paul says that in his
day the gospel was preached
00:17:47.67\00:17:49.96
to every creature under heaven.
00:17:50.06\00:17:51.20
It is possible.
00:17:51.99\00:17:53.63
And sometimes we think:
"Well, you know, statistically
00:17:54.03\00:17:57.91
it doesn't look like
it's going to happen. "
00:17:58.21\00:18:00.32
Well the Bible is
not based on man's
00:18:00.82\00:18:05.54
statistics, is it?
00:18:06.82\00:18:09.45
I don't even want to hear
about how long it would take
00:18:10.99\00:18:13.88
at our present rate
to reach every country
00:18:14.08\00:18:16.03
and to reach every person
and to reach every kindred
00:18:16.13\00:18:17.70
and nation. I don't
even want to hear about that.
00:18:17.80\00:18:19.91
Twelve men didn't base
their preaching on that
00:18:20.21\00:18:23.22
when they took the
gospel to the entire world.
00:18:23.62\00:18:25.73
Of course it was not just
the 12 but those whom God called
00:18:26.03\00:18:29.83
through them. And we ought
not to base our thinking on that
00:18:29.93\00:18:34.30
either... because God can
finish this up just like that.
00:18:34.40\00:18:37.65
Amen. So what is the context
of Matthew 24 and verse 14?
00:18:37.95\00:18:42.97
What is it that's
causing the delay?
00:18:43.07\00:18:45.01
Well I want you to look with me
in the context of these verses
00:18:45.22\00:18:47.92
just go back a little
bit to verse 9. It says:
00:18:48.22\00:18:51.20
"Then... " And that word then
infers what's gone before...
00:18:51.40\00:18:53.97
Then when all of these
wars and rumors of wars
00:18:54.07\00:18:57.52
and all this pestilence
and famine and earthquake,
00:18:57.62\00:19:00.03
all these natural disasters...
when they increase with
00:19:00.13\00:19:02.38
intensity and frequency
like a woman in birth pains -
00:19:02.49\00:19:06.13
a woman giving
birth to a child -
00:19:06.34\00:19:08.22
more intense and more frequent,
more intense and more frequent.
00:19:08.42\00:19:10.38
Have we seen that taking place?
00:19:10.41\00:19:11.86
I was a little nervous
about traveling out here.
00:19:12.17\00:19:14.80
I was in Maryland at the
General Conference just before
00:19:15.00\00:19:17.09
I came out here, and I was
checking the weather reports.
00:19:17.19\00:19:20.98
And I heard about this extreme
weather and what was taking
00:19:23.97\00:19:26.52
place in the Midwest,
and I thought: "I wonder
00:19:26.62\00:19:28.50
if that's going to be in
Illinois? I wonder if I really
00:19:28.61\00:19:30.52
should be going out there? I
wonder, I wonder, I wonder. "
00:19:30.62\00:19:32.59
And I thought: "No, this
is a divine appointment. "
00:19:32.99\00:19:35.48
Just like I thought when I
was driving here this morning.
00:19:35.68\00:19:37.60
This is a divine appointment,
and God is going to get me there
00:19:38.99\00:19:41.16
on time. In fact,
Shelley told me, she said:
00:19:41.26\00:19:42.91
"Now there's construction
on the freeway and there's
00:19:43.01\00:19:45.34
construction in West Frankfort,
and there's construction
00:19:45.44\00:19:48.32
on the last part of the
highway there coming through.
00:19:48.42\00:19:50.41
And sometimes we have to
wait 10 minutes and sometimes
00:19:50.51\00:19:52.06
you have to wait 15 minutes.
00:19:52.16\00:19:53.26
Did you get delayed in
any of that construction? "
00:19:53.46\00:19:54.94
I said: "No, God took
me right through it all. "
00:19:55.05\00:19:56.67
Amen!
00:19:56.97\00:19:58.35
I don't know if they
were taking a lunch break
00:19:58.65\00:20:00.36
or they just hadn't shown up yet
00:20:00.56\00:20:01.85
or what was going on
but I just went "pshht"
00:20:02.05\00:20:03.82
straight through. Amen.
00:20:04.02\00:20:06.20
And I believe that this
is a divine appointment.
00:20:06.44\00:20:08.41
In fact, it was really
interesting because on the way
00:20:08.51\00:20:09.92
over here God was
giving me part of the sermon.
00:20:10.02\00:20:11.69
He was saying: "OK James, I
know you've got it all prepared
00:20:11.89\00:20:13.48
but I'd like you to
digress just a little bit.
00:20:13.68\00:20:15.26
I want you to share this
and this and this and this. "
00:20:15.36\00:20:17.05
And I said: "OK, OK, OK, OK. "
00:20:17.25\00:20:18.54
And I was ready for Dee
to call me and say: "James,
00:20:18.84\00:20:21.19
you're too late. We
found someone else to preach. "
00:20:21.39\00:20:23.03
And I was going to say:
"That's not possible because
00:20:23.23\00:20:25.17
God has given me a
message so I can't not preach...
00:20:25.27\00:20:29.36
so just sing another
song and I'll be there. "
00:20:30.62\00:20:32.66
And this is the
message: the message is -
00:20:34.11\00:20:36.40
'cause I was going to spend
the whole time in II Peter 3-
00:20:36.60\00:20:38.74
that the context of
Matthew 24 and verse 14
00:20:39.86\00:20:43.17
is a time when "you
are hated of all nations
00:20:43.37\00:20:46.39
for My name's sake.
00:20:46.69\00:20:48.06
Then shall they deliver
you up to be afflicted... "
00:20:48.36\00:20:49.98
verse 9 says...
"and they shall kill you
00:20:50.18\00:20:51.71
and you will be hated of all
nations for My name's sake. "
00:20:51.91\00:20:53.84
Not only that, but "then in that
time... " verse 10... "many will
00:20:53.94\00:20:57.38
be offended and
shall betray one another
00:20:57.48\00:20:59.99
and hate one another. "
00:21:00.19\00:21:01.84
The church will look
like it's about to fall.
00:21:01.94\00:21:03.45
It doesn't fall.
00:21:03.55\00:21:04.81
Company after
company is going to go out.
00:21:05.90\00:21:08.03
Our test will be to
gather warmth from the coldness
00:21:08.33\00:21:10.90
of others. "Many false
prophets... " verse 11...
00:21:11.00\00:21:16.97
"will rise and
shall deceive many.
00:21:17.07\00:21:18.89
And because iniquity
shall abound... " verse 12...
00:21:19.29\00:21:21.45
"the love of many will wax cold.
00:21:21.65\00:21:23.86
But he that endures until
the end the same shall be saved.
00:21:24.17\00:21:26.86
And this gospel will be
preached as a witness. "
00:21:27.16\00:21:30.11
That's the context.
00:21:30.41\00:21:31.94
The context is not the
present time. Not the ease and
00:21:32.14\00:21:35.54
prosperity that the
church is experiencing right now
00:21:35.64\00:21:38.05
where we send out missionaries,
you know, on these little
00:21:38.25\00:21:40.52
ten-day visits and these
two-week visits and these
00:21:40.62\00:21:42.55
three-week visits
to India and to Africa.
00:21:42.65\00:21:44.93
You know, we
struggle and we wrestle with
00:21:45.23\00:21:47.96
living in these different con-
ditions, but we're all doing it
00:21:48.16\00:21:51.33
for the Lord and
it's really a good thing.
00:21:51.44\00:21:52.87
And it's a blessing to us
and it's a blessing to others.
00:21:52.97\00:21:54.62
That's all good, but the
time we're talking about here
00:21:54.82\00:21:59.90
is the time when
that becomes the reality
00:22:00.10\00:22:02.01
that never ends.
00:22:02.22\00:22:04.06
When there's no more cushy bed
and there's no more luxury car
00:22:04.46\00:22:07.82
and there's no
more clean, nice clothes
00:22:08.02\00:22:09.88
and there's no more adulations
and applause and kudos
00:22:10.08\00:22:13.26
because you went out
there to India and you braved it
00:22:13.29\00:22:16.44
for a few weeks and
you won souls to Jesus.
00:22:16.54\00:22:18.81
Well people hate you because
you're preaching the gospel...
00:22:18.91\00:22:20.97
they don't love you. They don't
like what you're doing at all.
00:22:21.07\00:22:23.86
When it looks like
the church has vanished.
00:22:24.26\00:22:26.75
When we don't have
anyone to pat us on the shoulder
00:22:27.05\00:22:30.53
and say "Good job! "
00:22:32.91\00:22:34.58
When we're just
doing it because of Him
00:22:34.88\00:22:39.23
and our focus is on Jesus.
Are we ready for this time?
00:22:39.53\00:22:44.20
I have to say
honestly that I'm not.
00:22:47.69\00:22:49.28
It's very difficult for me
to be in a situation where I
00:22:49.38\00:22:52.05
don't have nice accommodations,
especially at my age.
00:22:52.15\00:22:54.80
I know this
audience thinks that's funny.
00:23:01.37\00:23:06.16
And by the way, just so you know
00:23:06.29\00:23:10.63
don't tell him
that I told you this
00:23:11.78\00:23:14.22
but today is Ty's birthday.
00:23:14.62\00:23:17.79
I'm 51
00:23:22.58\00:23:24.49
and I can't tell you how old
he is, 'cause he wouldn't like
00:23:27.14\00:23:29.78
me to tell you that, but
today Ty and I are the same age.
00:23:29.88\00:23:35.54
What?
00:23:36.74\00:23:38.34
Now I'll be 52 in a month,
so we are only the same age
00:23:44.34\00:23:47.87
for about a month.
00:23:48.07\00:23:49.65
I've been preaching for 30 years
00:23:53.18\00:23:55.91
and I feel... I FEEL
different than I used to feel
00:23:56.41\00:24:00.99
when I was a kid. And if
you think I still look young
00:24:01.09\00:24:03.40
you can only imagine
what people used to think
00:24:03.50\00:24:06.79
30 years ago when
I got up to preach.
00:24:06.99\00:24:08.81
Like: "What's that
kid doing up there? "
00:24:09.01\00:24:10.78
But I know that I'm not ready.
00:24:16.68\00:24:18.75
I am reminded of that
when I'm inconvenienced.
00:24:19.25\00:24:22.70
I am reminded of that
when I have a difficult time
00:24:23.00\00:24:26.61
because I'm not appreciated
as I think I should be.
00:24:26.81\00:24:29.52
Hatred of the world?
00:24:30.65\00:24:33.50
Love waxing cold?
00:24:34.00\00:24:35.62
Nobody appreciating...
everyone opposing?
00:24:36.12\00:24:39.42
Being considered by the world
as a terrorist of some kind?
00:24:39.92\00:24:44.51
The enemy of everyone
00:24:45.11\00:24:47.58
and being able to
preach the gospel as a witness?
00:24:47.88\00:24:50.43
Having a love
that doesn't wax cold?
00:24:50.73\00:24:52.62
Why the apparent delay?
00:24:53.71\00:24:55.61
Well you know
why and I know why.
00:24:55.91\00:24:57.18
We know in our heart of hearts.
We know when we look in the
00:24:58.39\00:25:00.29
mirror... we know when we
face the reality of who we are
00:25:00.39\00:25:02.30
we know why the apparent delay.
00:25:02.40\00:25:03.93
Because this one sign
outweighs all the others
00:25:04.43\00:25:06.80
and we're not ready.
00:25:08.13\00:25:09.89
God is so
merciful, isn't He? Amen!
00:25:11.10\00:25:13.33
We talk about all the
signs that are taking place
00:25:13.47\00:25:15.36
in the world. We know
it's becoming more intense
00:25:15.46\00:25:19.01
and more intense and more
frequent and more frequent.
00:25:19.11\00:25:21.60
And somehow we want to be ready.
00:25:22.31\00:25:26.51
We want to be motivated.
00:25:26.81\00:25:28.46
But none of that is
really going to motivate us...
00:25:28.76\00:25:31.13
at least not as we
need to be motivated.
00:25:31.54\00:25:35.69
Paul talks about in
II Corinthians 5 verse 14
00:25:35.89\00:25:38.86
the only thing that
actually can motivate us,
00:25:38.96\00:25:40.52
and he says it's
the love of Christ.
00:25:40.72\00:25:42.55
The love of Christ
compels us or motivates us.
00:25:42.85\00:25:46.55
That and only that can
take us through because
00:25:46.85\00:25:49.55
it's that love that will
not grow cold, will not wax cold
00:25:49.75\00:25:53.55
when the whole world hates us.
00:25:53.85\00:25:56.39
Why the apparent delay?
Well II Peter was written
00:25:58.34\00:26:00.98
back in the
day... 2,000 years ago.
00:26:01.18\00:26:02.93
And Paul in II Thessalonians
tells us about this apparent
00:26:03.13\00:26:07.61
delay and why this
apparent delay would be.
00:26:07.71\00:26:10.60
He talks here in II
Thessalonians chapter 2
00:26:10.90\00:26:13.71
about the second
coming of Jesus. He says:
00:26:13.91\00:26:15.87
"Now we beseech you brethren
by the coming of our Lord
00:26:16.07\00:26:19.07
Jesus Christ and by our
gathering together unto Him
00:26:19.17\00:26:21.86
that ye be not
soon shaken in mind... "
00:26:22.06\00:26:25.51
Verse 2... II
Thessalonians chapter 2:
00:26:27.52\00:26:29.91
"or troubled, neither by
spirit nor by word nor by letter
00:26:30.11\00:26:35.11
as from us as that the
day of Christ is at hand. "
00:26:35.21\00:26:39.28
Don't be troubled about this;
don't be shaken about this.
00:26:39.38\00:26:41.84
But the Thessalonians were
shaken, they were troubled.
00:26:43.43\00:26:46.24
They struggled to
understand what was going on.
00:26:46.44\00:26:50.07
Paul had written them an epistle
00:26:50.31\00:26:53.38
that seemed to indicate in
chapter 4 that some of them
00:26:53.98\00:26:58.01
would be remaining
until the coming of Jesus.
00:26:58.21\00:27:01.19
Some had fallen
asleep and some would remain.
00:27:01.49\00:27:03.11
Those of us who remain
will be caught up with them
00:27:03.31\00:27:06.44
in the air to meet the Lord.
00:27:06.64\00:27:08.01
And then we're
wondering why? why? why?
00:27:08.87\00:27:10.97
And I'm thinking that
these words in this situation
00:27:11.17\00:27:13.41
are so applicable to
us... some of us who may be
00:27:13.51\00:27:16.49
second, third, fourth, or
fifth generation Adventists.
00:27:16.69\00:27:20.33
Why the delay? Why the
delay? Why the apparent delay?
00:27:21.41\00:27:24.81
And Paul says: "Well wait
a minute. Don't be shaken;
00:27:25.01\00:27:26.89
don't be troubled in spirit. "
00:27:26.99\00:27:28.43
"Let no man deceive you
by any means for that day
00:27:28.64\00:27:31.36
shall not come except
there be a falling away first
00:27:31.46\00:27:35.04
and that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition. "
00:27:35.34\00:27:38.34
Now we could spend a
lot of time on these verses.
00:27:39.74\00:27:41.67
We're not going to because
we really need to get back
00:27:41.77\00:27:43.66
to II Peter chapter 3. But just
in passing, we need to recognize
00:27:43.76\00:27:48.35
that this man of sin lines
up with Daniel's prophecies,
00:27:48.56\00:27:54.54
specifically Daniel chapter 7,
00:27:54.74\00:27:56.59
and Revelation's prophecies,
00:27:56.80\00:27:58.42
specifically
Revelation chapter 13.
00:27:58.52\00:28:00.49
And we know that from Paul's
time until the time of the end
00:28:01.57\00:28:06.12
this power
ruled for 1,260 years.
00:28:06.33\00:28:09.46
And we also know that a wound
was inflicted which was to be
00:28:10.86\00:28:14.62
healed and he was to
be restored to power.
00:28:14.72\00:28:17.96
And we see that taking
place right now more and more.
00:28:18.26\00:28:21.11
A deadly wound
takes some time to heal.
00:28:21.35\00:28:24.36
And it is point by
point steadily increasing
00:28:25.60\00:28:29.80
in the healing process.
00:28:30.10\00:28:32.10
So Paul tells us instructively
that there are these prophecies
00:28:32.40\00:28:37.06
that are to be fulfilled.
There are these time prophecies
00:28:37.16\00:28:39.98
leading to certain events
that are going to transpire
00:28:40.18\00:28:42.98
in relation to
this man of sin power
00:28:43.08\00:28:45.42
that is going to be re-
established in the earth
00:28:45.62\00:28:47.78
in the end of time.
00:28:47.88\00:28:49.35
So it's not just about us...
it's also about Bible prophecy.
00:28:49.85\00:28:53.87
But in the context of both
of those there's a conflict
00:28:54.37\00:28:57.58
taking place. Because one of the
things that this power is doing
00:28:57.68\00:29:01.74
is in concert with a
couple of other powers
00:29:02.04\00:29:07.98
on planet earth.
It's seeking to undermine
00:29:08.18\00:29:11.80
the message of the
everlasting gospel.
00:29:12.00\00:29:14.08
To block it if you will.
00:29:14.28\00:29:15.85
To hinder it; to stop it.
00:29:16.15\00:29:18.64
This power does it in many ways.
00:29:21.03\00:29:22.71
It sets up counterfeits
00:29:22.92\00:29:24.63
or it works through the world
to get our minds distracted
00:29:25.91\00:29:29.52
and focused on other
things other than Jesus Christ.
00:29:29.72\00:29:32.65
It would, in fact, enjoy
it if we would just focus on
00:29:33.86\00:29:37.32
this power, talk
about this power,
00:29:37.42\00:29:39.42
identify this power.
00:29:39.62\00:29:41.38
Spend all of our time
just directing people to the
00:29:41.69\00:29:46.69
wonder of this power.
00:29:46.89\00:29:48.51
Because it says the world
will wonder after this power.
00:29:48.81\00:29:50.63
And in the process
know everything about this -
00:29:51.03\00:29:55.50
code name Babylon -
00:29:55.81\00:29:58.15
and lose sight of Jesus.
00:29:58.45\00:30:01.02
That's why it's so
important for us to recognize
00:30:03.38\00:30:05.38
that when Matthew
24:14 is fulfilled
00:30:05.58\00:30:08.92
in the context of
Revelation it takes first place.
00:30:09.12\00:30:12.86
We see this in two ways.
00:30:14.13\00:30:16.01
In Revelation chapter 14 and
verse 6 the everlasting gospel -
00:30:16.31\00:30:20.75
Matthew 24 verse 14- is
preached to every nation,
00:30:20.95\00:30:23.76
kindred, tongue, and
people with what kind of voice?
00:30:23.86\00:30:26.19
A LOUD voice.
00:30:26.50\00:30:28.18
In Revelation
chapter 14 and verse 8
00:30:29.30\00:30:32.13
the second angel's
message follows and announces
00:30:32.33\00:30:35.47
the fall of Babylon
in what kind of voice?
00:30:35.57\00:30:37.63
No... read the text.
00:30:38.65\00:30:42.57
There's no loud voice.
00:30:42.87\00:30:44.63
The first angel is
given in a loud voice...
00:30:46.16\00:30:49.68
the first angel's message.
The second angel's message
00:30:49.88\00:30:51.77
doesn't have the loud voice.
00:30:51.97\00:30:53.72
There's no loud voice on
the second angel's message.
00:30:54.22\00:30:56.31
The fall of Babylon is
not given with a loud voice
00:30:56.41\00:30:58.44
because the fall of Babylon
doesn't take the precedence
00:30:58.75\00:31:02.07
of a loud
voice... the gospel does!
00:31:02.27\00:31:05.14
Preach the gospel
with a loud voice.
00:31:06.33\00:31:08.26
And then the second reason
is because the first angel
00:31:09.51\00:31:12.58
goes first...
not the second angel.
00:31:12.78\00:31:16.97
We do not preach the fall
of Babylon with a loud voice.
00:31:17.38\00:31:20.47
We preach the
gospel with a loud voice.
00:31:20.68\00:31:22.23
And we preach the gospel first
because the gospel is the only
00:31:22.53\00:31:25.64
thing that can
bring Babylon down. Amen!
00:31:25.84\00:31:28.75
The second angel is
waiting for the first angel.
00:31:28.88\00:31:31.27
The second angel is
waiting for the first angel
00:31:31.57\00:31:34.67
to preach the
everlasting gospel.
00:31:34.77\00:31:36.14
"Preach that everlasting
gospel with a loud voice
00:31:37.19\00:31:39.95
and I'll follow you and I will
announce the fall of Babylon. "
00:31:40.15\00:31:43.17
Because Babylon will fall when
the gospel is preached. Amen!
00:31:43.48\00:31:47.34
We could spend a lot of
time focusing on Babylon
00:31:48.15\00:31:50.53
and we can never bring it down.
00:31:50.73\00:31:52.02
Because it is so
intricate and so detailed
00:31:52.22\00:31:54.05
we'll never be able to figure
out everything about Babylon.
00:31:54.15\00:31:56.17
But if we will focus on the
gospel, the everlasting gospel,
00:31:56.47\00:31:59.51
and preach that with a loud
voice, IT will bring Babylon
00:31:59.71\00:32:02.70
down. Guaranteed. Amen.
00:32:02.80\00:32:05.57
And so in II Peter
we have this powerful
00:32:07.84\00:32:12.53
admonition and I love it.
00:32:12.73\00:32:15.22
Because it's reminding us
that there's only one thing
00:32:15.52\00:32:19.17
that we are ignorant of in
the context of understanding
00:32:19.37\00:32:23.88
the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:32:24.02\00:32:25.59
Willingly ignorant
of the Word of God...
00:32:25.89\00:32:29.98
which to me is powerful.
00:32:30.28\00:32:32.85
Thirty years ago I accepted
Jesus Christ as my Savior.
00:32:33.15\00:32:35.48
Many of you know that I
was not a Seventh-day Adventist
00:32:35.88\00:32:38.71
at that point. I had
been raised a Catholic
00:32:38.91\00:32:41.25
and I accepted Christ and was
not affiliated with any church
00:32:41.56\00:32:44.46
but began attending the
Calvary Chapel church because
00:32:44.66\00:32:47.25
the person who introduced
me to the sinner's prayer
00:32:47.35\00:32:51.12
was going to Calvary Chapel.
00:32:51.32\00:32:52.63
Shortly after that I was also
attending a Pentecostal church.
00:32:53.62\00:32:56.46
Going to both of these churches,
00:32:56.66\00:32:58.89
one on Sunday and one on
Wednesday with the youth group,
00:32:59.09\00:33:01.38
I was introduced to
Adventism through my sister
00:33:01.68\00:33:05.51
who was
studying with Adventists.
00:33:05.75\00:33:07.27
And immediately she
began to share with me
00:33:07.68\00:33:10.92
some of the unique
teachings of Adventists
00:33:11.12\00:33:14.01
like the idea of
going to church on Saturday
00:33:14.31\00:33:17.02
instead of Sunday.
00:33:17.32\00:33:19.13
My concern led me to
study with Adventists
00:33:19.53\00:33:22.99
to get my sister
out of the church.
00:33:23.29\00:33:25.96
Not to get in the
church but to get out.
00:33:28.12\00:33:30.37
My mother was also concerned
being a Roman Catholic,
00:33:30.87\00:33:33.81
Irish, that my
sister was joining a cult.
00:33:34.32\00:33:38.37
In her mind anything that wasn't
Roman Catholic was a cult.
00:33:38.57\00:33:40.77
And so I as her brother -
my mother was living in England
00:33:41.07\00:33:43.58
at the time - it was my duty
to get her out of this church.
00:33:43.68\00:33:46.08
And I did everything
I could to get her out.
00:33:46.28\00:33:47.56
With my mother's help.
With help from my friends
00:33:47.66\00:33:50.06
in the Pentecostal church and
my friends in Calvary Chapel.
00:33:50.16\00:33:52.48
With everything on my
side to get my sister out
00:33:53.39\00:33:58.78
except for
this... the Word of God.
00:33:58.98\00:34:03.46
With all of those motives
tending to pull my sister out
00:34:05.17\00:34:08.93
of the Adventist church
there was only one thing
00:34:09.03\00:34:11.35
that was working to put
me in the Adventist church...
00:34:11.45\00:34:14.08
and that was the
Word of God. Amen!
00:34:14.28\00:34:16.90
For this one thing they
are willingly ignorant of.
00:34:17.04\00:34:19.85
Willingly in the
sense that they know better.
00:34:20.25\00:34:22.91
They ought to know better.
00:34:23.21\00:34:24.47
And that is the power of
the Word of God... the creative
00:34:24.87\00:34:28.42
power of the Word of God
00:34:28.62\00:34:30.03
to create in us a clean heart.
00:34:30.33\00:34:32.41
To renew in us a right spirit.
00:34:32.61\00:34:34.90
To convert us
from the inside out.
00:34:35.10\00:34:36.57
And you may say: "Well,
I've fallen, Well I've failed.
00:34:36.88\00:34:39.02
Well I've been an Adventist;
I just haven't lived up to... "
00:34:39.22\00:34:41.54
Stop focusing on yourself
- Amen - for just a moment
00:34:41.94\00:34:46.43
and get your focus
back on the Word of God.
00:34:46.64\00:34:49.33
I recently watched a video
00:34:52.40\00:34:54.51
of a young runner by the
name of Heather Dorniden.
00:34:54.81\00:35:00.45
She was running in a
600-meter relay in 2008
00:35:00.85\00:35:06.53
at a Big Ten Conference
track meet for Minnesota.
00:35:06.87\00:35:12.26
She was a favorite to win. There
were four runners in the race.
00:35:12.60\00:35:14.86
One was her fellow
teammate and two others.
00:35:14.96\00:35:17.31
And as they went around
the lap - the first lap -
00:35:17.61\00:35:20.71
the runner behind her -
she was in first place -
00:35:22.10\00:35:24.84
caught her heel and
immediately she went down.
00:35:25.14\00:35:29.42
She fell hard... cut her face.
00:35:31.75\00:35:35.17
But in an instant
she popped up again.
00:35:36.20\00:35:39.34
Back on her feet.
00:35:39.64\00:35:41.09
Now she was well behind
the runners in front of her
00:35:41.39\00:35:44.87
who had not lost their pace.
00:35:45.07\00:35:46.47
They were way
ahead, but as she jumped up
00:35:46.77\00:35:50.36
she picked up her
pace and she began to run
00:35:50.56\00:35:52.88
and run and run.
00:35:53.28\00:35:55.70
And in a short time she
caught up with the last person.
00:35:56.10\00:35:58.93
As they were coming around
the corner for the last stretch
00:35:59.24\00:36:02.31
she caught up
with the second person,
00:36:02.61\00:36:04.11
and as they came to the finish
line she passed the first person
00:36:04.41\00:36:09.20
and won the race.
00:36:09.30\00:36:10.74
Now it would have
been something for her
00:36:11.14\00:36:13.61
if she would have
just won the race.
00:36:13.91\00:36:16.35
Just if she would have won
that would have been amazing.
00:36:16.65\00:36:19.27
Just to win the race.
00:36:19.67\00:36:21.35
But the fact that she
fell and still won the race...
00:36:21.65\00:36:25.55
now that is
something else. Amen!
00:36:27.21\00:36:29.71
Don't focus on the falling...
don't focus on the failure.
00:36:30.80\00:36:34.58
Don't focus on
what you haven't done.
00:36:34.78\00:36:36.83
Get your focus on Jesus,
the Author and the Finisher.
00:36:37.14\00:36:39.78
"Run with patience the
race that is set before you
00:36:40.08\00:36:42.38
looking unto Jesus, the
Author and the Finisher. "
00:36:42.58\00:36:46.29
Amen! And what will
happen then will be greater.
00:36:46.59\00:36:50.60
Amen! Just like
it was for Heather.
00:36:50.80\00:36:53.89
An inspiration for us all.
00:36:54.29\00:36:57.03
"A just man falls... "
Proverbs 24 verse 16...
00:36:57.53\00:37:00.68
"seven times and
rises up again. "
00:37:00.88\00:37:03.99
It's not in the falling...
it's in the rising! Amen!
00:37:04.09\00:37:06.91
And when you fall beneath
the billows of this world
00:37:07.14\00:37:10.89
reach out that hand for
Jesus and say: "Lord, save me
00:37:11.09\00:37:15.25
or I perish. " And He
will be there for you.
00:37:15.35\00:37:17.69
Amen. Don't be ignorant of
the power of the Word of God.
00:37:17.89\00:37:22.76
"Whereby the world that then
was, being overflowed with water
00:37:25.17\00:37:28.42
perished. But the heavens
and the earth... " verse 7...
00:37:28.52\00:37:30.84
"which are now by the
same Word are kept in store
00:37:31.04\00:37:33.21
reserved unto fire
against the day of judgment
00:37:33.41\00:37:36.97
and perdition of ungodly men.
00:37:37.07\00:37:38.43
But beloved... " verse 8...
00:37:38.64\00:37:41.44
"be not ignorant
of this one thing. "
00:37:42.76\00:37:45.22
And here is where
we're just going to
00:37:45.42\00:37:47.90
finish up our focus
on the apparent delay.
00:37:48.10\00:37:52.13
We're just going to spend
the rest of our time right here
00:37:52.33\00:37:54.20
in these next
few verses primarily.
00:37:54.40\00:37:57.50
"Beloved, be not
ignorant of this one thing. "
00:37:57.83\00:38:02.34
Now before we finish that verse
00:38:02.64\00:38:04.48
though some of
you may have already
00:38:04.68\00:38:06.08
I want to ask a question
that will help us to understand
00:38:06.38\00:38:09.20
what follows. "Be not
ignorant of this one thing. "
00:38:09.31\00:38:12.18
What is that? What is
the implication there?
00:38:12.38\00:38:14.97
Wouldn't it be that
there's something that we could
00:38:16.22\00:38:19.47
possibly be ignorant of.
Something that isn't in the
00:38:19.67\00:38:22.58
forefront of our brain?
Something that we don't think
00:38:22.68\00:38:24.38
about often? Something
that Peter has a burden for?
00:38:24.48\00:38:28.17
"I want you to remember this;
I don't want you to forget this.
00:38:28.28\00:38:31.30
Don't be ignorant of
this; don't not know this. "
00:38:31.40\00:38:33.47
"Know this. Understand
it. Let it be in the forefront
00:38:33.77\00:38:36.38
of your brain. This
is really important;
00:38:36.48\00:38:38.44
this is really significant.
00:38:38.54\00:38:39.73
I'm talking here
about Bible prophecy. "
00:38:39.93\00:38:42.28
Context of II Peter?
More sure word of prophecy
00:38:42.49\00:38:44.85
where you do well
that you take heed.
00:38:45.15\00:38:46.83
That's I Peter chapter 1.
00:38:46.86\00:38:48.43
Context of II Peter...
Excuse me, II Peter chapter 1.
00:38:49.36\00:38:52.89
Context of II
Peter? Present truth.
00:38:53.09\00:38:55.22
This is present truth.
The only place in the Bible
00:38:55.62\00:38:58.22
that present truth is
ever mentioned is II Peter
00:38:58.42\00:39:01.15
chapter 1 and verse 12.
00:39:01.35\00:39:03.34
"Wherefore I will not be
negligent to put you always
00:39:03.64\00:39:05.80
in remembrance of
these things so you know them
00:39:05.90\00:39:08.09
and be established
in the present truth. "
00:39:08.19\00:39:10.14
By the way, the context
of what we need to remember
00:39:10.54\00:39:12.43
is God's love and forgiveness.
00:39:12.53\00:39:14.55
And the context again
following it is Bible prophecy.
00:39:14.85\00:39:17.42
Don't be negligent of
this; don't be ignorant of this.
00:39:17.73\00:39:21.10
What is following is HUGE.
00:39:21.40\00:39:23.31
It's big; it's
important and significant.
00:39:23.42\00:39:25.97
Are you ready for it now?
00:39:26.27\00:39:27.88
Are you ready
for it now? Yes! OK.
00:39:34.39\00:39:36.42
"Be not ignorant of this
one thing: that one day is with
00:39:37.84\00:39:40.37
the Lord as a thousand years
00:39:40.47\00:39:41.60
and a thousand
years is as one day. "
00:39:41.80\00:39:43.75
There it is.
00:39:44.15\00:39:45.32
That's it.
00:39:49.28\00:39:50.62
I don't know how that
fits into Bible prophecy.
00:39:52.19\00:39:54.63
I know a day for a year
prophetic time, but I'm not sure
00:39:54.83\00:39:57.78
how this... where
this fits. How this applies
00:39:57.88\00:40:00.24
and how significant it is
in our prophetic timelines.
00:40:00.44\00:40:05.97
But it is important
because Peter said it was.
00:40:06.20\00:40:08.37
I don't know how it helps us to
understand the apparent delay.
00:40:08.77\00:40:12.98
I don't even know if anyone
ever preaches on this verse.
00:40:13.48\00:40:16.82
If you've ever heard
a sermon on this verse?
00:40:17.02\00:40:19.74
But for some reason Peter
is telling us that this verse
00:40:20.04\00:40:23.38
is very significant.
Don't be ignorant of it.
00:40:23.48\00:40:26.79
That with the Lord one
day is like a thousand years
00:40:28.66\00:40:32.50
and a thousand
years is as a day.
00:40:32.70\00:40:34.37
We're all familiar with
the different time zones
00:40:37.33\00:40:41.09
in the United States, aren't we?
00:40:41.29\00:40:42.61
We have Eastern Standard
Time and Central, Pacific Time
00:40:43.21\00:40:48.02
or Standard Time and
Pacific Standard Time.
00:40:48.22\00:40:52.12
I live in Pacific Standard Time
and so I have a difficult time
00:40:52.32\00:40:54.86
when I get over to
Eastern Standard Time or Central
00:40:54.96\00:40:56.81
Standard Time or
Australian Standard Time...
00:40:56.91\00:40:59.22
when I'm way off kilter.
00:41:00.38\00:41:02.53
But have you ever heard of
the time zone that could be
00:41:03.81\00:41:07.62
characterized as
Eternal Standard Time?
00:41:07.72\00:41:10.75
Eternal Standard Time.
00:41:13.13\00:41:14.92
Peter is telling us here that in
eternity when you live forever,
00:41:15.89\00:41:19.71
when there's never
any end to anything,
00:41:19.91\00:41:22.20
when it just goes on
and on and on and on,
00:41:22.30\00:41:25.14
when a million years
turns into a billion years
00:41:25.34\00:41:27.37
turns into a trillion years
turns into a nonillion years
00:41:27.48\00:41:29.69
turns into a zillion
years turns into a googolplex,
00:41:29.89\00:41:32.01
and then eternity is
just beginning, in that time
00:41:32.22\00:41:35.64
a thousand years goes by
and it's just like one day
00:41:35.94\00:41:40.95
in that time. Don't
be ignorant of this.
00:41:42.04\00:41:44.05
You think that Jesus has
been gone for a long time
00:41:44.35\00:41:47.54
but you're not living in
eternity, you're living on this
00:41:49.80\00:41:51.88
earth. And when I was a kid
00:41:51.98\00:41:56.22
it took a long time
to get to double digits.
00:41:56.72\00:41:59.57
And it seemed like it'd
take even longer to get to be
00:42:02.77\00:42:05.69
16 years old and
get my driver's license.
00:42:05.79\00:42:08.01
And from there to 18 was
just like taking eternity.
00:42:08.41\00:42:11.14
And then to 21. Oh man, the days
were just going by so slowly.
00:42:11.34\00:42:16.16
And then once I got to
21 vr voom voom voom voom.
00:42:16.36\00:42:18.33
Here I am 51 years old!
Just like it was yesterday.
00:42:18.74\00:42:22.45
Nothing to it.
00:42:22.69\00:42:24.75
"Ahhh, " some of you say.
"Oh to be 51 again, " right?
00:42:26.53\00:42:30.01
BUT that is insignificant.
00:42:32.78\00:42:36.43
When you get into eternity
a thousand years goes by
00:42:37.03\00:42:41.43
and it's like one
day... twenty-four hours.
00:42:41.53\00:42:43.18
Which means if you think
about it, if we could live for
00:42:43.48\00:42:45.63
a hundred years...
let's just say we could...
00:42:45.74\00:42:49.16
We exercise; we
eat our vege-dogs;
00:42:49.46\00:42:53.14
we drink our soy milk.
I like rice milk, but...
00:42:53.34\00:42:55.93
And we get to
100 years, 100 years,
00:42:56.23\00:42:59.13
in eternal time 100 years
based on 24 hours = 1,000 years
00:42:59.34\00:43:04.99
would be equivalent
to 2 hours and 24 minutes
00:43:05.09\00:43:09.42
in eternal time. Two
hours and 24 minutes.
00:43:09.92\00:43:12.70
So let's just say
we're all granted 100 years.
00:43:16.63\00:43:18.95
Some of us have an hour left.
00:43:19.45\00:43:22.27
Half an hour left.
00:43:23.90\00:43:25.96
Some of us have a
couple hours left.
00:43:26.27\00:43:27.85
But 2.4 hours in
the context of eternity.
00:43:28.35\00:43:33.00
Don't be ignorant of
this; don't be ignorant of this.
00:43:33.24\00:43:35.79
When Jesus says repeatedly
in the book of Revelation
00:43:36.13\00:43:39.38
"Behold I come
quickly; behold I come quickly"
00:43:39.58\00:43:41.92
we say: "Wow! What
did He mean by that? "
00:43:42.12\00:43:45.66
Well He meant what He said, but
He was speaking in eternal time.
00:43:45.96\00:43:49.49
Peter is talking about
the second coming here.
00:43:49.79\00:43:52.13
He's talking
about the second coming.
00:43:52.43\00:43:53.46
This isn't taken out of context.
00:43:53.73\00:43:55.68
He's saying: "Listen!
Don't be ignorant of this.
00:43:55.88\00:43:58.53
Remember this.
With God in heaven
00:43:58.73\00:44:02.34
a thousand years is like a day.
00:44:02.64\00:44:04.99
So Jesus didn't say:
"I'll be back in 2,000 years. "
00:44:05.29\00:44:07.40
He said: "I'll
be back in two days!
00:44:07.50\00:44:10.63
Two days. I'll be back in
two days. I'm coming quickly.
00:44:10.93\00:44:12.77
I'll be back in
a couple of days. "
00:44:13.17\00:44:14.94
The Bible admonishes us we
need to sit in heavenly places
00:44:15.24\00:44:19.51
with Christ Jesus. We need to
think about this from heavenly
00:44:19.71\00:44:22.08
realities. God's purposes
know no haste and no delay.
00:44:22.18\00:44:26.65
So when I was a
brand new Christian
00:44:27.86\00:44:30.85
and accepted Christ as my Savior
00:44:31.05\00:44:33.10
and then became a
Seventh-day Adventist
00:44:33.40\00:44:36.63
what else can you do if
you're going to follow this?
00:44:36.83\00:44:39.20
What else could I do?
I was in love with Jesus.
00:44:39.51\00:44:41.61
He had forgiven me
for all of my sins.
00:44:41.81\00:44:43.03
I accepted Him as
my personal Savior
00:44:43.14\00:44:44.67
and then I was confronted with
the truth and the reality of the
00:44:44.87\00:44:46.74
Sabbath which I
though was always Sunday
00:44:46.84\00:44:48.82
but then the Bible showed me
verse after verse after verse
00:44:49.02\00:44:51.42
and there it was
time and time again
00:44:51.62\00:44:53.45
in the Bible clear in prophecy,
example in Christ's life...
00:44:53.65\00:44:57.52
In every way, shape,
and form there it was.
00:44:57.72\00:44:59.91
And then that final verse where
Jesus said: "If you love Me... "
00:45:00.11\00:45:02.69
All right - "keep
My commandments. "
00:45:03.00\00:45:04.94
I said: "Well I
love Jesus! - Amen! -
00:45:05.05\00:45:07.36
"Because He first
loved me. " Praise the Lord!
00:45:07.56\00:45:10.60
So it just wasn't even an issue.
00:45:10.80\00:45:12.30
And I remember the first
time I got up in front of that
00:45:13.70\00:45:15.63
Adventist congregation I was
giving my testimony and sharing.
00:45:15.73\00:45:18.56
And this was my
verse: II Peter 3 verse 9.
00:45:20.04\00:45:22.94
This was my
verse. This was THE verse
00:45:23.04\00:45:25.34
that God gave to me 30
years ago as a new believer
00:45:25.64\00:45:30.05
in His second coming.
00:45:30.29\00:45:31.72
"The Lord is not slack
00:45:32.02\00:45:35.33
concerning His promise
as some men count slackness
00:45:35.53\00:45:39.88
but is longsuffering
to usward, not willing
00:45:41.33\00:45:46.50
that ANY should perish but that
ALL should come to repentance. "
00:45:46.80\00:45:51.54
Will all come to repentance? No.
00:45:51.84\00:45:54.42
Unfortunately they won't...
and it will break His heart.
00:45:54.92\00:45:59.45
He will wipe away our tears;
who will wipe away His tears?
00:45:59.88\00:46:04.60
There will be an empty space
in His heart for all eternity
00:46:06.11\00:46:08.98
because He has graven us
upon the palms of His hands.
00:46:09.38\00:46:12.87
He is not slack
concerning His promise.
00:46:16.96\00:46:19.58
And I remember
telling the congregation
00:46:19.88\00:46:21.87
in Spokane, WA, in 1984
00:46:22.17\00:46:25.06
"This is the verse
that God shared with me.
00:46:26.73\00:46:28.76
He's been waiting for me. "
00:46:28.96\00:46:30.46
And I'm so glad He
waited for me. Amen!
00:46:30.86\00:46:33.61
Brand new believer.
So glad He waited for me.
00:46:34.74\00:46:37.14
There are
thousands, yea, maybe millions
00:46:37.54\00:46:41.69
that God is waiting for
00:46:41.89\00:46:44.45
that are going to be so
thankful for this verse.
00:46:44.75\00:46:47.19
That are going to be so
thankful for the longsuffering
00:46:47.39\00:46:49.82
of God. Amen!
00:46:49.92\00:46:52.60
They're waiting...
and God is waiting.
00:46:53.10\00:46:57.53
What is He looking for?
00:46:59.82\00:47:01.74
Well according to Matthew
24 He's looking for a people
00:47:02.44\00:47:05.26
who keep their focus on Jesus,
00:47:07.87\00:47:10.01
who spend all of their
time directing their attention
00:47:10.51\00:47:15.22
to Him. According
to Revelation 14 they
00:47:15.42\00:47:19.44
"follow the Lamb
wherever He goes. "
00:47:19.54\00:47:23.55
I long by the spirit of
God to be part of that people.
00:47:26.02\00:47:30.39
My flesh doesn't long for it.
00:47:30.69\00:47:32.28
My flesh pulls me
in other directions,
00:47:32.48\00:47:34.39
but the Spirit of God is
willing though my flesh is weak.
00:47:34.59\00:47:39.29
I want to be
part of that people.
00:47:39.59\00:47:41.92
And I know as I follow
Jesus He's going to direct me
00:47:42.12\00:47:44.93
to witness and share and
do the things that He wants me
00:47:45.13\00:47:48.48
to do and live the way
that He wants me to live.
00:47:48.58\00:47:50.44
But my needs... the vital
key for success in my experience
00:47:50.65\00:47:56.09
is to keep my focus on Jesus.
And Satan does everything he can
00:47:56.29\00:47:59.30
to sever that connection.
00:47:59.40\00:48:01.42
To break up... to pull
me away from that focus.
00:48:01.62\00:48:04.44
Because he knows that
when we have that focus
00:48:06.63\00:48:09.88
and we see the heart of
God we recognize His longing
00:48:10.09\00:48:14.06
for the world. That
we will be... verse 11...
00:48:14.16\00:48:20.11
"Seeing then that all
these things shall be dissolved
00:48:20.41\00:48:24.42
what manner of
persons ought you to be
00:48:24.72\00:48:26.51
in all holy
conversation and godliness?
00:48:26.61\00:48:29.27
Looking for and hastening
unto... " - or hastening the day
00:48:29.67\00:48:34.84
as the Greek actually says -
00:48:36.26\00:48:38.15
"hastening the coming of the
day of God wherein the heavens
00:48:40.27\00:48:44.98
being on fire shall be dissolved
and the elements shall melt
00:48:45.18\00:48:48.59
with fervent heat.
00:48:48.83\00:48:49.86
Nevertheless, we according
to His promise... " verse 13...
00:48:50.15\00:48:52.42
"look for a new
heavens and a new earth
00:48:52.62\00:48:55.08
wherein dwells
righteousness. " Amen!
00:48:55.39\00:49:00.27
I've got one of
these new contraptions.
00:49:02.54\00:49:06.05
It's new for me. You know,
at my age you have a hard time
00:49:06.55\00:49:09.02
adapting to stuff like
this. Amen. But it works.
00:49:09.12\00:49:13.57
It works, and I like
it from time to time.
00:49:14.10\00:49:17.92
It becomes handy.
My Bible is wearing out
00:49:18.22\00:49:21.35
and I'm very loathe to
exchange it. I've had this Bible
00:49:21.55\00:49:24.75
for 30 years and
I've got it all marked up.
00:49:24.95\00:49:27.55
But more than that, I
know where the verses are.
00:49:27.75\00:49:30.64
I may not know the
chapter and the verse
00:49:32.14\00:49:36.88
but I know where they are.
00:49:36.98\00:49:38.50
It's the left side of the
page... it's the top part.
00:49:38.90\00:49:41.35
I know where they are.
00:49:41.55\00:49:43.45
And I can't find
another Bible just like this one
00:49:43.85\00:49:47.54
that has the
verses in the same place.
00:49:47.84\00:49:49.93
So I am loathe to
give it up at my age
00:49:50.13\00:49:51.73
'cause I know where they are
00:49:52.23\00:49:53.80
and I want to be
familiar with my Bible.
00:49:54.00\00:49:56.02
And the thing that I
recognize in this context
00:49:56.52\00:50:01.38
is that when, verse 10:
"the day of the Lord comes... "
00:50:01.59\00:50:05.93
And it's going to come
as a thief in the night.
00:50:06.13\00:50:08.84
That's what it says here.
It says: "The day of the Lord
00:50:09.15\00:50:10.97
will come as a
thief in the night. "
00:50:11.27\00:50:13.20
But it doesn't say that
the Lord will come as a thief
00:50:15.07\00:50:18.32
in the night. The
verse doesn't say that.
00:50:18.42\00:50:21.20
It says the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night.
00:50:21.80\00:50:24.52
But the Lord's not coming as
a thief, 'cause when He comes
00:50:24.83\00:50:26.64
we're going to know
it. Amen! But the day...
00:50:26.74\00:50:29.32
That day is going to be a
surprise to a lot of people.
00:50:29.72\00:50:32.76
But in that day the
heavens are going to pass away
00:50:33.26\00:50:37.09
with great noise and the
elements are going to melt
00:50:37.29\00:50:39.11
with fervent heat
and the earth also.
00:50:39.21\00:50:40.52
And the works that are therein
are going to be burned up.
00:50:40.72\00:50:42.84
God is longsuffering with us
because He knows what the day
00:50:43.24\00:50:45.73
of the Lord is going to bring.
00:50:45.83\00:50:47.33
As W. W. Prescott said
in his sermons in Armidale,
00:50:49.38\00:50:52.64
Australia, in 1895:
"In that day God's people
00:50:54.99\00:50:59.96
cry unto Him for deliverance,
00:51:00.17\00:51:02.01
but He seems to put off
the day of delivering them
00:51:02.41\00:51:06.44
because we shall
have come to that time
00:51:06.64\00:51:10.13
when the deliverance of
God's people means the death
00:51:10.43\00:51:14.90
of our adversaries. The
deliverance of God's people
00:51:15.10\00:51:18.91
from their foes can only
be followed by the coming
00:51:19.01\00:51:21.17
of the Lord Jesus and the
destruction of their enemies.
00:51:21.27\00:51:23.67
God is slow to pour out
His wrath upon those who have
00:51:24.17\00:51:28.20
rejected Him and He seems almost
to have deserted His people.
00:51:28.31\00:51:33.37
But God will avenge His own
elect which cry day and night
00:51:33.57\00:51:38.18
unto Him though He
bear long with them. "
00:51:38.38\00:51:42.23
Do you understand
what he's saying here?
00:51:44.49\00:51:46.46
There is in God's heart
this struggle that He has.
00:51:46.96\00:51:52.42
He loves His people; He
wants to deliver His people.
00:51:52.65\00:51:54.76
But He knows delivering us means
00:51:54.96\00:51:57.29
the end of our enemies.
00:51:57.49\00:52:00.97
His children. Children of
wrath but children nonetheless.
00:52:01.27\00:52:07.24
You know how that is,
don't you parents? Grandparents?
00:52:08.08\00:52:10.37
You know how that is
00:52:10.87\00:52:12.52
to have a wandering son
or daughter or granddaughter.
00:52:12.82\00:52:15.44
Someone that you
love... adopted or real.
00:52:15.84\00:52:18.33
Connected... biological...
you know how that is
00:52:18.64\00:52:23.53
to be concerned for their
future, for their eternity.
00:52:24.04\00:52:28.29
For wanting to do anything
and everything to reach them.
00:52:28.79\00:52:31.76
For wanting time to
stand still so it doesn't come
00:52:31.96\00:52:35.36
to an end. That's
the heart of God! Amen!
00:52:35.49\00:52:39.37
And yet we're told
- and we know this -
00:52:39.61\00:52:42.33
that there is coming a
day when Jesus will say
00:52:42.53\00:52:44.78
"It's finished... it's done. "
00:52:45.18\00:52:47.28
But He will only say that
because if He looks out upon
00:52:47.68\00:52:51.05
this world He can say: "He
that is holy will be holy still.
00:52:51.25\00:52:56.55
And he that is righteous
will be righteous still.
00:52:56.65\00:52:58.19
And he that is filthy
will be filthy still; and he
00:52:58.39\00:52:59.87
that is unrighteous
will be unrighteous still.
00:52:59.97\00:53:01.68
Nothing will make a difference.
00:53:01.98\00:53:03.37
Not another year, not
another month, not another week,
00:53:03.68\00:53:05.77
not another day,
not another moment.
00:53:05.97\00:53:08.40
Everyone has made a
decision for or against Me.
00:53:08.50\00:53:11.40
It's time to close it up.
00:53:11.70\00:53:13.38
There's no reason for sin
and pain and evil and suffering
00:53:14.20\00:53:17.12
to continue on. I
need to close this up. "
00:53:17.23\00:53:20.30
But that can only
come when this gospel
00:53:20.70\00:53:23.71
we're told in Revelation
18 lightens the whole earth
00:53:24.02\00:53:26.86
with the glory of God.
00:53:26.96\00:53:28.20
With the character of
God, with the heart of God,
00:53:28.50\00:53:30.06
with who He is, with how
He feels about all of us.
00:53:30.16\00:53:34.17
O Thou that from eternity
upon Thy wounded heart has
00:53:34.41\00:53:39.33
worn each pang and cry of misery
00:53:39.43\00:53:41.44
wherewith our
human hearts are torn.
00:53:41.64\00:53:44.04
Thy love upon the grievous cross
00:53:44.24\00:53:46.57
the flow, the
beacon light of time
00:53:46.77\00:53:49.21
forever sharing pain and loss
00:53:49.42\00:53:52.00
with every man in every clime.
00:53:52.20\00:53:54.58
How vast, how
vast Thy sacrifice!
00:53:54.88\00:53:57.33
As ages come and ages go
00:53:57.63\00:54:00.07
still waiting till it
shall suffice to draw the last
00:54:00.27\00:54:05.15
cold heart and slow.
00:54:05.45\00:54:09.12
That's why the delay.
00:54:10.31\00:54:11.76
God is longsuffering toward us.
00:54:12.26\00:54:16.29
He is not willing
that any would perish.
00:54:16.59\00:54:19.50
He wants everyone - all
- to come to repentance.
00:54:19.70\00:54:23.45
So we could sum it up this way.
00:54:24.44\00:54:28.15
We could say from a
Biblical perspective
00:54:28.55\00:54:32.17
that God has been
waiting and is waiting
00:54:32.48\00:54:36.81
because - number one
- there are developments
00:54:37.11\00:54:41.21
that need to take
place in Bible prophecy.
00:54:41.41\00:54:43.89
Always have been.
00:54:44.29\00:54:45.68
And as we follow the
projection of Bible prophecy,
00:54:46.08\00:54:49.04
we follow the
timelines of Bible prophecy,
00:54:49.14\00:54:50.77
we follow the fulfillment
of Bible prophecy we know
00:54:50.88\00:54:52.85
why it is we're still here.
00:54:52.95\00:54:54.88
Number two: God
is waiting for us.
00:54:55.38\00:55:00.99
He wants us to be ready.
00:55:01.29\00:55:03.11
He wants us to be prepared
00:55:03.61\00:55:05.83
to be His
witnesses... to share His truth.
00:55:06.03\00:55:07.96
Number three:
00:55:09.06\00:55:10.68
God is reluctant
00:55:11.63\00:55:15.73
to destroy even
the children of wrath.
00:55:15.93\00:55:18.49
He longs for them to be saved.
00:55:18.90\00:55:20.58
He longs for one more
sinner... one more person
00:55:20.98\00:55:24.53
to accept Jesus Christ
as their personal Savior.
00:55:25.82\00:55:29.60
To believe in the gift
that has been given to them
00:55:29.74\00:55:31.61
in Jesus Christ. And
then to sum it all up:
00:55:31.71\00:55:35.34
we must remember...
we must not be ignorant
00:55:35.74\00:55:40.03
of this one thing:
00:55:40.33\00:55:41.89
with God in eternal time
00:55:42.19\00:55:45.29
a day? Like a thousand years.
00:55:45.69\00:55:48.48
A thousand
years? It's like a day.
00:55:48.78\00:55:51.14
It's an apparent delay
but Jesus is coming quickly.
00:55:51.44\00:55:54.96
And in eternity, when I am
a thousand and 51 years old,
00:55:55.36\00:56:00.44
when I am a
million and 51 years old,
00:56:00.84\00:56:03.88
when I am a
billion and 51 years old,
00:56:04.08\00:56:06.50
when I am a
decillion and 51 years old,
00:56:06.70\00:56:08.73
when I am a
googolplex and 51 years old
00:56:09.03\00:56:11.47
I'm going to look back on
this earth and I'm going to say:
00:56:11.67\00:56:13.54
"Wow! A week of sin and
evil and pain and misery.
00:56:13.74\00:56:18.90
Six thousand years... six days.
00:56:21.95\00:56:25.98
A week of sin
and pain and misery.
00:56:27.21\00:56:30.80
Don't even
remember it; it's forgotten.
00:56:31.10\00:56:34.40
Not even worthy to be compared
with the glory that shall be
00:56:35.50\00:56:37.78
revealed in us. "
Let's pray together.
00:56:37.88\00:56:40.91
Father in heaven, we
want to thank you this morning
00:56:41.11\00:56:43.53
for helping us to understand
00:56:43.94\00:56:45.81
the reasons for
the apparent delay.
00:56:45.92\00:56:47.90
For reminding us not to be
ignorant of this one truth,
00:56:48.30\00:56:50.65
this one reality: that
You are indeed coming quickly
00:56:50.75\00:56:54.45
and that You are reluctant
to punish those who have
00:56:54.75\00:56:57.87
rejected You. To give
them the ultimate consequence
00:56:57.97\00:57:01.66
of what they are
choosing... death.
00:57:01.86\00:57:05.31
That You are longsuffering
to usward, not willing that any
00:57:05.74\00:57:08.76
would perish but that
all would come to repentance
00:57:08.87\00:57:11.00
and that You want to
use us... Your people...
00:57:11.40\00:57:13.55
as a witness in a
time when love waxes cold
00:57:13.75\00:57:18.13
and hatred prevails toward us
00:57:18.34\00:57:21.85
and that we're now in the
quarry... the testing time.
00:57:22.09\00:57:25.45
Not just loose,
idle rocks in the quarry
00:57:26.05\00:57:28.31
but rocks that feel the
hammer and the chisel...
00:57:28.42\00:57:31.78