Welcome to 3ABN Spring Camp Meeting 2017, 00:00:14.08\00:00:19.05 Exposing The Counterfeit. 00:00:19.08\00:00:20.72 Hello, and welcome to Spring Camp Meeting 2017. 00:00:25.72\00:00:29.46 Thank you so much for joining us 00:00:29.49\00:00:31.66 via the television, 00:00:31.69\00:00:33.23 can't forget radio, maybe even the internet. 00:00:33.26\00:00:35.50 But thank you for joining us. 00:00:35.53\00:00:36.90 Have you been blessed? I know I have. 00:00:36.93\00:00:39.03 Boy, do you hear the audience here? 00:00:39.07\00:00:40.40 I didn't even ask them yet. 00:00:40.47\00:00:41.80 Have you guys been blessed? 00:00:41.84\00:00:43.17 Yes. Wow. 00:00:43.20\00:00:45.04 I have too. 00:00:45.07\00:00:46.41 And, you know, the days are long in a good way. 00:00:46.44\00:00:50.48 And the nights are short in a good way, I guess, 00:00:50.51\00:00:53.11 I don't know. 00:00:53.15\00:00:54.48 I end up being tired in the day but that's okay 00:00:54.52\00:00:56.28 because it's a great thing. 00:00:56.32\00:00:57.65 And, you know, we just appreciate each one of you 00:00:57.69\00:00:59.05 being here and our live audience here at 3ABN. 00:00:59.09\00:01:02.52 But thank you for joining us. 00:01:02.56\00:01:03.93 I know, I wish that each one of you could join us 00:01:03.96\00:01:05.96 but I know sometimes you can't. 00:01:05.99\00:01:07.30 But thank you for joining us via the air waves. 00:01:07.40\00:01:08.83 It's always a blessing. 00:01:08.86\00:01:10.23 You know, my dad and I like to backpack. 00:01:10.27\00:01:13.34 And when we're backpacking in Kentucky a few weeks ago, 00:01:13.40\00:01:17.37 and we ate our lunch on the log of cedar, 00:01:17.41\00:01:22.48 you know, sandwiches and stuff on the log. 00:01:22.51\00:01:24.11 We took our packs off because we were tired. 00:01:24.15\00:01:26.88 And after we had packed up all of our stuff, 00:01:26.92\00:01:29.92 I noticed on the log this little thing 00:01:29.95\00:01:32.45 just crawling along, you know what it was? 00:01:32.49\00:01:34.86 There's a little ant. I heard somebody say that. 00:01:34.89\00:01:36.46 There's a little ant. 00:01:36.49\00:01:37.83 And do you know what he was carrying? 00:01:37.86\00:01:39.59 Part of my lunch. 00:01:39.63\00:01:42.50 It was just a little crumb that I left from a granola bar 00:01:42.53\00:01:44.23 or something. 00:01:44.27\00:01:45.60 But do you know the lesson I'd learnt from that? 00:01:45.63\00:01:47.70 The little ant wasn't just sitting there eating the crumb. 00:01:47.74\00:01:51.11 You know what he was doing? 00:01:51.14\00:01:53.94 He was carrying along. 00:01:54.01\00:01:55.48 So I can just imagine 00:01:55.51\00:01:56.88 he's carrying it to his little ant family. 00:01:56.91\00:01:59.45 And they were all going to share this together. 00:01:59.48\00:02:01.15 And I think the thing with camping is, you know, 00:02:01.18\00:02:03.08 we get spiritually fed here. 00:02:03.12\00:02:04.82 But the key is we take back those morsels, right? 00:02:04.85\00:02:08.52 Amen. 00:02:08.56\00:02:09.89 And share them with our families wherever they are, 00:02:09.92\00:02:11.66 whether they are Seventh-day Adventist, 00:02:11.69\00:02:13.09 Christian or even just someone you've never met before 00:02:13.13\00:02:15.60 or seen before but maybe in Walmart 00:02:15.63\00:02:17.53 or something, that's the key. 00:02:17.57\00:02:19.67 And as we share, we'll grow, right, spiritually. 00:02:19.70\00:02:23.14 And so with camping imparts a spiritual high, isn't it? 00:02:23.17\00:02:25.91 But we have to make sure that we go and share 00:02:25.94\00:02:28.01 what Jesus says, give into us 00:02:28.04\00:02:29.68 through all these wonderful speakers. 00:02:29.71\00:02:31.78 And this morning we have 00:02:31.81\00:02:33.58 evangelist, speaker, director, Steven Wohlberg. 00:02:33.62\00:02:36.65 How many of you are familiar with Steven Wohlberg? 00:02:36.69\00:02:38.42 Oh, yeah, me too. 00:02:38.45\00:02:40.26 And they have a little studio up toward the Canadian border 00:02:40.32\00:02:44.66 in the state of Idaho. 00:02:44.69\00:02:46.36 I've never been there, but he tells me it's beautiful. 00:02:46.39\00:02:49.06 He has two children, Seth who is 12, Abbey 9, 00:02:49.10\00:02:53.50 and of course, his wife, Kristin. 00:02:53.57\00:02:55.47 And I ask Pastor Steve, I said, 00:02:55.50\00:02:57.04 "So what's the purpose of White Horse Media?" 00:02:57.07\00:02:59.87 Which is what he's speaker, director of. 00:02:59.91\00:03:01.34 And I like this. 00:03:01.38\00:03:02.71 He said, "Its purpose is to prepare others 00:03:02.74\00:03:05.61 for Christ's soon return." 00:03:05.65\00:03:08.08 Well, isn't that great? 00:03:08.12\00:03:09.45 Hopefully all of us... 00:03:09.48\00:03:10.82 That's our mission to hasten Christ's soon return. 00:03:10.89\00:03:12.85 Before he comes and speaks 00:03:12.89\00:03:14.26 we have some music by Celestine Barry 00:03:14.29\00:03:17.33 and her daughter Farrah. 00:03:17.36\00:03:19.23 And the song that they are going to be sharing with us is, 00:03:19.26\00:03:21.23 "Lift up your hands". 00:03:21.26\00:03:22.60 We appreciate both of them very much. 00:03:22.63\00:03:24.50 Farrah and her mother, they are members of our 00:03:24.53\00:03:26.80 local Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 00:03:26.84\00:03:28.54 our local family here. 00:03:28.57\00:03:29.90 But thank you so much for sharing. 00:03:29.97\00:03:31.31 After the music, the next voice you'll hear 00:03:31.34\00:03:33.17 will be Pastor Steve Wohlberg. 00:03:33.21\00:03:35.04 Life is not all that bad 00:04:00.64\00:04:06.31 My friend 00:04:06.34\00:04:09.78 Hmmm 00:04:09.81\00:04:12.38 If you believe in yourself 00:04:12.41\00:04:15.45 If you believe there's Someone 00:04:15.48\00:04:19.39 Who walks through life with you 00:04:19.42\00:04:23.26 You'll never be alone 00:04:23.29\00:04:28.56 Just learn to reach out 00:04:28.60\00:04:31.67 And open your heart 00:04:31.70\00:04:35.50 Lift up your hands to God 00:04:35.54\00:04:40.64 And He'll show you the way 00:04:40.68\00:04:47.72 And He said, "Cast your burdens upon Me 00:04:47.75\00:04:54.16 Those who are heavily laden 00:04:54.22\00:05:00.56 Come to Me, all of you who are tired 00:05:00.63\00:05:05.23 Of carrying heavy load 00:05:05.27\00:05:11.17 For the yoke I will give you is easy 00:05:11.21\00:05:16.98 And my burden is light 00:05:17.05\00:05:23.22 Come to Me 00:05:23.25\00:05:26.99 And I will give you rest 00:05:27.06\00:05:33.16 When you feel the world 00:05:36.63\00:05:40.60 Is tumblin' down on you 00:05:40.64\00:05:47.81 And you have no one 00:05:47.84\00:05:49.74 No one that you can hold on to 00:05:49.78\00:05:57.49 Just face the rising sun 00:05:57.55\00:06:02.26 And you'll see hope 00:06:02.29\00:06:04.89 And there's no need to run 00:06:04.93\00:06:09.33 Lift up your hands to God 00:06:09.36\00:06:13.84 And He'll make you feel all right 00:06:13.87\00:06:20.91 And He said, "Cast your burdens upon Me 00:06:20.98\00:06:27.22 Those who are heavily laden 00:06:27.25\00:06:33.59 Come to Me, all of you who are tired 00:06:33.66\00:06:38.36 Of carrying heavy load 00:06:38.39\00:06:44.17 For the yoke I will give you is easy 00:06:44.23\00:06:49.80 And my burden is light 00:06:49.84\00:06:56.11 Come to Me 00:06:56.14\00:06:59.55 And I will give you rest 00:06:59.58\00:07:07.09 And He said, Cast your burdens upon Me 00:07:07.12\00:07:13.63 Those who are heavily laden 00:07:13.66\00:07:19.53 Come to Me 00:07:19.57\00:07:21.40 All of you who are tired 00:07:21.44\00:07:24.61 Of carrying heavy load 00:07:24.64\00:07:30.55 For the yoke I will give you is easy 00:07:30.58\00:07:35.98 And my burden is light 00:07:36.02\00:07:42.22 Come to Me 00:07:42.26\00:07:46.49 And I will give you 00:07:46.53\00:07:52.43 Rest 00:07:52.47\00:07:58.24 I'll give you rest 00:07:58.27\00:08:04.35 Thank you. 00:08:17.66\00:08:18.99 All right. Hello, 3ABN. 00:08:23.47\00:08:25.83 Hello. 00:08:25.87\00:08:27.24 3ABN family. It's great to be here. 00:08:27.27\00:08:29.57 What a blessing and an honor and a privilege. 00:08:29.60\00:08:32.61 Greg mentioned the little ant who took his food 00:08:32.64\00:08:35.51 when he was backpacking and brought it to his family. 00:08:35.54\00:08:38.31 And as he mentioned, I'm a family man. 00:08:38.35\00:08:40.22 And maybe I'll look at the camera, 00:08:40.25\00:08:42.98 and hello, Seth, hello, Abbey, 00:08:43.02\00:08:45.59 hello, Kristin, if you're watching. 00:08:45.62\00:08:47.66 From North Idaho, hello from dad. 00:08:47.69\00:08:50.96 God is good. Yeah. 00:08:50.99\00:08:53.06 I want to thank James Rafferty 00:08:53.09\00:08:54.56 for filling in for me this morning. 00:08:54.56\00:08:57.53 I had some travel woes yesterday. 00:08:57.57\00:08:59.87 I was supposed to speak at 9:30 today. 00:08:59.90\00:09:01.90 But we had some delayed flights, 00:09:01.94\00:09:05.74 and anyway, it wasn't my doing 00:09:05.77\00:09:08.98 but it was weather and the airlines 00:09:09.01\00:09:10.88 and got into St. Louis last night 00:09:10.91\00:09:15.35 at around midnight, 00:09:15.38\00:09:16.72 the car rental place was closed. 00:09:16.75\00:09:20.02 But we knew that in advance and so somebody from... 00:09:20.09\00:09:22.66 Bob from 3ABN came and pick me up 00:09:22.69\00:09:24.66 and got me to the hotel somewhere around two. 00:09:24.69\00:09:29.33 And I just needed a little more time 00:09:29.36\00:09:31.10 to just get myself organized. 00:09:31.13\00:09:33.94 And my good friend, James Rafferty 00:09:33.97\00:09:36.04 decided to switch with me. 00:09:36.07\00:09:37.41 So that was a blessing. 00:09:37.44\00:09:40.28 A big blessing. 00:09:40.31\00:09:42.01 So again, it's great to be here. 00:09:42.04\00:09:43.78 If you have a Bible, 00:09:43.85\00:09:45.48 I invite you to open up to the Book of Matthew 16. 00:09:45.51\00:09:52.29 And you can see my talk behind me. 00:09:52.32\00:09:55.19 It's Peter the rock upon which the church was built. 00:09:55.22\00:09:58.89 I'll make a confession. 00:09:58.93\00:10:00.30 This is the first time I've spoken on this subject. 00:10:00.33\00:10:03.26 So I'm definitely gonna be relying heavily on the Lord. 00:10:03.33\00:10:06.80 I've written a little pocketbook on this topic 00:10:06.84\00:10:09.47 that's just coming out. 00:10:09.50\00:10:10.87 It's called "Is God's Church Built on Peter?" 00:10:10.91\00:10:13.34 I'll talk more about this as we go along. 00:10:13.38\00:10:17.05 This is a big subject, bigger than appears on the surface. 00:10:17.11\00:10:22.62 And so we need to pray. 00:10:22.65\00:10:25.19 I know that the devil doesn't want me 00:10:25.22\00:10:27.42 to give me this presentation 00:10:27.46\00:10:28.79 but praise Jesus Christ that the Lord 00:10:28.82\00:10:31.76 is stronger than the devil. 00:10:31.79\00:10:33.13 Amen. 00:10:33.16\00:10:34.46 We always need to remember that, don't we? 00:10:34.50\00:10:35.83 Amen. 00:10:35.86\00:10:37.20 In the middle of the trials and the struggles of life. 00:10:37.23\00:10:39.77 And as we get closer to the Lord's coming, 00:10:39.80\00:10:41.40 I tell you things are going to get even more intense. 00:10:41.44\00:10:44.17 But Jesus is very powerful. 00:10:44.24\00:10:46.71 All power is given to Him in heaven and on earth. 00:10:46.74\00:10:49.88 And what a wonderful day it will be 00:10:49.91\00:10:52.48 when He finally returns 00:10:52.51\00:10:53.95 and His face is shining like the sun. 00:10:53.98\00:10:56.45 Hallelujah. 00:10:56.48\00:10:57.82 So I like to kneel before we start. 00:10:57.85\00:11:00.06 We've got a lot to do. 00:11:00.09\00:11:01.46 So just bow your heads and let's pray. 00:11:01.49\00:11:06.16 Dear Father in heaven, this is Your time. 00:11:06.19\00:11:08.26 Thank You for bringing me here safely, 00:11:08.30\00:11:10.03 in spite of my delayed flights. 00:11:10.07\00:11:12.23 Here I am. 00:11:12.27\00:11:13.60 And we pray for Your blessing, for the Holy Spirit, 00:11:13.64\00:11:16.71 for Your power to anoint this message 00:11:16.77\00:11:19.94 and to open all of our hearts 00:11:19.97\00:11:21.81 that we will see Jesus as our savior. 00:11:21.84\00:11:25.85 Please help me. 00:11:25.88\00:11:28.42 I'm just flesh and blood. 00:11:28.45\00:11:30.45 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:11:30.49\00:11:32.95 Amen. 00:11:32.99\00:11:34.49 Amen. Okay. 00:11:34.52\00:11:37.19 Is Peter the rock upon which the church is built? 00:11:37.23\00:11:42.46 The Roman Catholic Church is the oldest, 00:11:42.50\00:11:46.50 it is the largest, it is the wealthiest, 00:11:46.53\00:11:50.07 and it is the most politically active, 00:11:50.14\00:11:52.84 and the most powerful church on planet earth right now 00:11:52.87\00:11:56.24 with approximately 1.29 billion members. 00:11:56.28\00:12:01.92 This moment as we all know, 00:12:01.95\00:12:03.28 the leader of the Roman church is Pope Francis. 00:12:03.32\00:12:07.36 In 2013, Time Magazine selected Pope Francis 00:12:07.39\00:12:10.86 as its person of the year. 00:12:10.93\00:12:13.29 In June of 2015, 00:12:13.33\00:12:15.06 the Vatican released his encyclical on climate change 00:12:15.10\00:12:18.80 which is now guiding government leaders, 00:12:18.83\00:12:21.70 politicians, environment, environmentalists, 00:12:21.74\00:12:24.17 and scientists around the globe. 00:12:24.21\00:12:27.34 In September of 2015, 00:12:27.38\00:12:28.71 Pope Francis addressed the United States Congress, 00:12:28.74\00:12:32.55 a joint session of Congress. 00:12:32.58\00:12:33.98 He also spoke before the United Nations 00:12:34.02\00:12:36.05 and in Philadelphia. 00:12:36.08\00:12:38.09 He is often referred to even by media 00:12:38.12\00:12:41.22 as the "Holy Father" and as "His holiness." 00:12:41.26\00:12:44.63 I'm sure you've heard those phrases that are often used. 00:12:44.66\00:12:48.76 It's amazing to discover that Pope Francis 00:12:48.80\00:12:52.50 has now become the most popular person 00:12:52.53\00:12:58.01 on planet earth 00:12:58.04\00:13:00.68 above any other politician, 00:13:00.71\00:13:02.74 talk show host, musician or sports hero. 00:13:02.78\00:13:06.15 Wow. 00:13:06.18\00:13:07.52 Can you imagine being the most popular human on the planet? 00:13:07.55\00:13:12.19 That's a lot of... 00:13:12.22\00:13:15.19 That's just a lot to deal with for anybody. 00:13:15.22\00:13:18.53 On May 24, President Trump met with Pope Francis 00:13:18.56\00:13:22.80 during his overseas tour to Saudi Arabia, 00:13:22.83\00:13:27.20 he met with the Palestinians, 00:13:27.24\00:13:29.34 he met with the Israelis, he met with Muslim leadership, 00:13:29.37\00:13:31.67 and then he went to the Vatican. 00:13:31.71\00:13:33.88 And he met with the pope 00:13:33.94\00:13:35.88 in his apostolic palace in Rome. 00:13:35.91\00:13:38.75 One news commentator describing that meeting 00:13:38.78\00:13:43.49 said that it was between possibly 00:13:43.55\00:13:46.65 the two most powerful men 00:13:46.72\00:13:50.39 in the world. 00:13:50.43\00:13:54.00 Shortly thereafter, President Trump's wife Melania 00:13:54.03\00:13:58.53 after meeting with the Trump, 00:13:58.57\00:13:59.90 she decided to go public with the fact 00:14:00.04\00:14:02.74 that she is a Roman Catholic. 00:14:02.77\00:14:04.87 And this was reported by news agencies 00:14:04.91\00:14:07.68 around the world. 00:14:07.71\00:14:09.04 It's very interesting 00:14:09.08\00:14:10.45 that President Trump is a Presbyterian, 00:14:10.48\00:14:13.21 his wife is Catholic, 00:14:13.25\00:14:14.75 his daughter Ivanka is Jewish. 00:14:14.78\00:14:17.62 She keeps the Sabbath. 00:14:17.65\00:14:19.05 And in his circle of advisers, 00:14:19.09\00:14:21.22 he also has Dr. Ben Carson who is a Seventh-day Adventist. 00:14:21.26\00:14:25.66 So that's quite a group. 00:14:25.69\00:14:28.60 And it's just going to be very interesting to see 00:14:28.63\00:14:30.33 how all of this plays out in the days ahead. 00:14:30.37\00:14:34.24 I don't think any of us know which decisions, 00:14:34.27\00:14:37.07 you know, individuals are going to make 00:14:37.11\00:14:38.91 during the final events. 00:14:38.94\00:14:40.28 None of us know. 00:14:40.34\00:14:41.68 And for the record, I want to make it very clear 00:14:41.71\00:14:44.28 that nothing that I say in this talk 00:14:44.31\00:14:46.78 is designed to be any kind of an attack 00:14:46.82\00:14:50.15 upon individual Catholic people. 00:14:50.19\00:14:52.92 That's for sure. 00:14:52.95\00:14:54.52 There are many, many, many, many 00:14:54.56\00:14:57.03 sincere godly Roman Catholics 00:14:57.09\00:14:59.96 who are gonna be in the Kingdom of God. 00:15:00.06\00:15:01.76 I believe that with all my heart. 00:15:01.80\00:15:03.87 God loves us all. 00:15:03.90\00:15:06.07 And personally, I believe He loves the pope too. 00:15:06.10\00:15:09.67 Now I know some people would question that 00:15:09.70\00:15:11.41 but I don't. 00:15:11.44\00:15:12.77 I believe that He loves him and He loves everybody. 00:15:12.81\00:15:15.34 He loves everybody. 00:15:15.38\00:15:17.55 The big issue that we're gonna explore today 00:15:17.58\00:15:19.48 has to do with the issue of truth 00:15:19.51\00:15:21.92 and the issue of counterfeit 00:15:21.95\00:15:24.02 which is what this whole Spring Camp Meeting 00:15:24.09\00:15:25.75 is all about, right? 00:15:25.79\00:15:27.16 Have you been enjoying this camp meeting? 00:15:27.19\00:15:28.52 Yeah. It's pretty exciting. 00:15:28.56\00:15:29.96 Yeah. Pretty exciting. 00:15:30.03\00:15:31.93 A Fox News article that was published May 24, 2017 00:15:31.96\00:15:37.27 referring to President Trump's meeting with Pope Francis 00:15:37.33\00:15:41.97 referred and I'll quote to Francis's quote, 00:15:42.00\00:15:45.51 "2013 elevation 00:15:45.54\00:15:49.38 to the throne of Peter." 00:15:49.41\00:15:53.28 That was right in Fox News. 00:15:53.31\00:15:56.95 His elevation to the throne of Peter 00:15:56.99\00:16:00.52 when he became pope. 00:16:00.59\00:16:03.96 It's amazing to realize that Pope Francis's global influence 00:16:03.99\00:16:10.70 and his global authority 00:16:10.77\00:16:14.40 as the most popular person on planet earth 00:16:14.44\00:16:18.27 who meets with the president of the United States. 00:16:18.31\00:16:20.81 Vatican has diplomatic relations 00:16:20.88\00:16:22.54 with approximately 180 countries 00:16:22.58\00:16:25.18 around the world 00:16:25.21\00:16:27.62 that his influence and his mystique 00:16:27.65\00:16:33.56 as the quote, 00:16:33.59\00:16:34.92 "Holy Father and as His Holiness" 00:16:34.96\00:16:38.89 is rooted in the Roman Catholic churches 00:16:38.93\00:16:42.93 interpretation of primarily 00:16:42.96\00:16:46.60 one Bible verse. 00:16:46.63\00:16:50.37 One Bible text which is Matthew 16:18. 00:16:50.41\00:16:56.75 Matthew 16:18 00:16:56.81\00:17:00.35 where Jesus Christ said these words. 00:17:00.38\00:17:03.28 He said, "I also say to you that you are Peter." 00:17:03.32\00:17:07.89 He was talking to Peter. 00:17:07.92\00:17:10.06 "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church 00:17:10.09\00:17:14.73 and the gates of Hades or hell shall not prevail against it." 00:17:14.76\00:17:20.77 These are the words of Jesus. 00:17:20.84\00:17:22.50 Now the Roman Catholic Church interprets this verse 00:17:22.54\00:17:27.18 to mean that Peter is the rock 00:17:27.21\00:17:31.15 upon which the church is built, 00:17:31.18\00:17:33.82 God's church is built. 00:17:33.85\00:17:35.18 And this comes from official Catholic sources 00:17:35.22\00:17:37.85 from their 1994 Catholic Catechism, 00:17:37.89\00:17:41.09 so this is no secret that they believe that 00:17:41.12\00:17:44.33 when Jesus was here on earth with His 12 disciples 00:17:44.36\00:17:47.50 that He made Peter the rock and the head of His church. 00:17:47.60\00:17:54.20 He made Peter the first pope. 00:17:54.24\00:17:58.11 And He gave Peter tremendous spiritual authority. 00:17:58.14\00:18:02.78 He gave him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:18:02.81\00:18:05.95 And that this authority 00:18:05.98\00:18:08.12 according to the Roman Church's interpretation of this text 00:18:08.15\00:18:11.02 and the verse after it, 00:18:11.05\00:18:12.72 this authority is transferable from Peter to the bishops 00:18:12.75\00:18:19.06 and the leaders of Rome 00:18:19.09\00:18:20.63 to the popes of Rome down throughout Christian history, 00:18:20.66\00:18:25.60 all the way down to the current Pope Francis. 00:18:25.63\00:18:29.67 That's why Fox News said that Pope Francis 00:18:29.70\00:18:32.91 was elevated in 2013 to the throne of Peter. 00:18:32.94\00:18:39.28 So that's the idea. 00:18:39.31\00:18:41.25 That's the concept. 00:18:41.28\00:18:42.62 Now the question that we are going to ask today, 00:18:42.65\00:18:45.22 and we're going to look at from our Bible 00:18:45.25\00:18:47.06 is this interpretation of this passage correct. 00:18:47.09\00:18:51.76 Is the Roman Catholic view 00:18:51.79\00:18:54.00 which is shared by over a billion people on this planet, 00:18:54.10\00:18:58.20 sincere people, godly people, 00:18:58.23\00:19:00.47 is this really right 00:19:00.50\00:19:02.94 or is it possible that this is a counterfeit? 00:19:02.97\00:19:08.98 That's what this camp meeting is all about, right? 00:19:09.01\00:19:11.35 Truth or counterfeit. 00:19:11.38\00:19:12.88 Exposing the counterfeit. 00:19:12.91\00:19:14.65 If it is true, then when Pope Francis speaks, 00:19:14.68\00:19:19.12 we should all listen. 00:19:19.15\00:19:21.82 If it's not true, 00:19:21.86\00:19:24.63 then somebody needs to enlighten him 00:19:24.66\00:19:30.97 and others as to the facts. 00:19:31.00\00:19:33.84 So that's the issue. 00:19:33.87\00:19:35.20 So let's go to Matthew 16 00:19:35.24\00:19:36.57 and let's take a look at our Bibles. 00:19:36.60\00:19:38.77 Matthew 16. 00:19:38.81\00:19:41.71 The whole context is in verses 13 to 20. 00:19:41.74\00:19:46.55 So let's take a look at the Word of God. 00:19:46.58\00:19:50.22 See what the Bible says. Sound good? 00:19:50.29\00:19:52.05 Yes. 00:19:52.09\00:19:54.36 See how big this issue is. 00:19:54.39\00:19:56.49 It's very big. 00:19:56.52\00:19:59.59 Verse 13. 00:19:59.63\00:20:01.53 The Bible says, then, I'm sorry, it says, 00:20:01.56\00:20:04.77 "When Jesus came into the region 00:20:04.80\00:20:06.90 of Caesarea Philippi," 00:20:06.94\00:20:09.57 which was a region northwest of Jerusalem, 00:20:09.60\00:20:14.58 He was with His disciples and He said to them, He said, 00:20:14.61\00:20:17.81 "He asked his disciples," and He said, 00:20:17.85\00:20:20.32 he asked them a question. 00:20:20.38\00:20:22.15 He said, "Who do men say that I the son of man am?" 00:20:22.18\00:20:28.72 That was the question that Jesus asked His disciple. 00:20:28.76\00:20:30.89 Now point number one. 00:20:30.93\00:20:32.26 Notice carefully that this question reveals 00:20:32.29\00:20:36.90 that the issue that Jesus is raising 00:20:36.93\00:20:40.37 is His own identity, right? 00:20:40.40\00:20:43.64 He's asking His disciples, "Who do men... 00:20:43.67\00:20:46.61 What are you hearing from others? 00:20:46.64\00:20:49.18 Who do they think that I am? 00:20:49.21\00:20:53.55 And we don't know exactly which disciple said what. 00:20:53.58\00:20:56.92 But in verse 14, so they said, "Some say, John the Baptist, 00:20:56.95\00:21:02.76 some Elijah, and others Jeremiah 00:21:02.79\00:21:05.73 or one of the prophets. 00:21:05.76\00:21:07.50 That's what men are saying about you, Jesus." 00:21:07.50\00:21:10.63 That's what the disciple said. 00:21:10.67\00:21:12.40 Now in the next verse, Jesus gets a little more pointed 00:21:12.43\00:21:15.84 and then He said to them, 00:21:15.87\00:21:18.24 "But who do you say that I am?" 00:21:18.27\00:21:24.61 And that's a big question 00:21:24.65\00:21:25.98 and once again I want you to realize 00:21:26.01\00:21:28.52 that the focus of Jesus at this point 00:21:28.55\00:21:31.25 is on his own identity. 00:21:31.29\00:21:33.66 It's who is He? 00:21:33.72\00:21:35.22 Who do the disciples think that He is? 00:21:35.26\00:21:38.43 And let me ask you who do you think that Jesus is. 00:21:38.46\00:21:44.00 This question has eternal consequences 00:21:44.03\00:21:48.00 for each one of us. 00:21:48.04\00:21:49.70 What do we believe about Jesus Christ Himself? 00:21:49.74\00:21:54.11 Big, big, big question for the whole world 00:21:54.14\00:21:57.28 to contemplate. 00:21:57.31\00:21:58.71 Who really is Jesus? 00:21:58.75\00:22:02.42 Well, in verse 16, 00:22:02.45\00:22:06.65 Peter gives an answer. 00:22:06.69\00:22:10.23 Simon Peter answered and he said, 00:22:10.26\00:22:13.06 and this is a wonderful answer. 00:22:13.09\00:22:16.87 It's the truth not a counterfeit. 00:22:16.93\00:22:20.64 Simon Peter answered and he said, "You are" who? 00:22:20.70\00:22:26.98 "You are the Christ, 00:22:27.04\00:22:29.38 the Son of the living God." 00:22:29.41\00:22:34.12 Wow. 00:22:34.18\00:22:36.38 That's a marvelous answer. 00:22:36.42\00:22:38.05 And Peter was telling the truth. 00:22:38.09\00:22:40.52 And in fact, when you read the next verse, 00:22:40.56\00:22:43.06 we discover that Peter really couldn't take credit 00:22:43.09\00:22:47.30 for giving Jesus the right answer. 00:22:47.36\00:22:50.80 That this was not anything 00:22:50.83\00:22:52.20 that he should boast about that he should, 00:22:52.23\00:22:54.84 you know, pat himself on the back about 00:22:54.87\00:22:57.37 and think that he was special about 00:22:57.44\00:22:59.11 because in the very next verse, 00:22:59.14\00:23:01.84 Jesus answered and said to him, He said, "Blessed are you, 00:23:01.88\00:23:06.92 Simon Barjona, son of Jonah, 00:23:06.95\00:23:09.55 for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you 00:23:09.58\00:23:14.66 but My Father who is in heaven." 00:23:14.69\00:23:18.99 Isn't that tremendous? 00:23:19.03\00:23:21.00 Jesus said, Peter, you've given me an answer 00:23:21.03\00:23:24.67 that is an answer that comes from God. 00:23:24.70\00:23:29.90 It's a revelation that comes from my father 00:23:29.97\00:23:34.51 in heaven through you. 00:23:34.54\00:23:36.41 It's not just your flesh, 00:23:36.44\00:23:38.91 your weak sinful human mortal flesh 00:23:38.95\00:23:45.79 that has taught you this. 00:23:45.82\00:23:47.82 It's my Father, it's God Himself. 00:23:47.86\00:23:52.09 And these are revelations that we need, wouldn't you agree? 00:23:52.13\00:23:55.83 We cannot afford to trust human flesh. 00:23:55.86\00:24:00.77 Flesh and blood. 00:24:00.84\00:24:03.00 Flesh and blood is weak. 00:24:03.04\00:24:07.51 Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God 00:24:07.58\00:24:11.38 and we get that knowledge through revelation. 00:24:11.41\00:24:16.02 Through revelation from the Holy Spirit and from God. 00:24:16.05\00:24:20.56 Now in the next verse, verse 18, 00:24:20.59\00:24:23.93 here we get to the key controversial text. 00:24:23.96\00:24:27.60 Verse 18, Jesus said, 00:24:27.66\00:24:29.63 "And I also say to you and now with you as Peter," 00:24:29.66\00:24:33.90 He is talking to Peter, 00:24:33.94\00:24:35.30 "That you are Peter 00:24:35.34\00:24:39.21 and on this rock I will build My church 00:24:39.24\00:24:45.28 and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." 00:24:45.31\00:24:52.09 Now here is the issue. 00:24:52.12\00:24:55.26 Here is the core issue upon which the authority, 00:24:55.29\00:24:59.56 the spiritual authority of Pope Francis rises or falls. 00:24:59.59\00:25:05.70 It's either upheld or it collapses. 00:25:05.73\00:25:10.14 And it's based on the core issue 00:25:10.21\00:25:13.48 of who really is the rock. 00:25:13.51\00:25:17.35 Is the rock Peter? 00:25:17.38\00:25:19.18 Did Jesus Christ build His church on Peter? 00:25:19.21\00:25:21.85 Is the authority that Jesus gave to Peter 00:25:21.88\00:25:24.89 transferred down throughout history 00:25:24.92\00:25:27.16 through Roman popes to the present Pope Francis? 00:25:27.19\00:25:30.93 Or is the rock, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? 00:25:30.96\00:25:37.53 Who is the rock? 00:25:37.57\00:25:39.83 Well, let's start out by just looking a little closer 00:25:39.87\00:25:43.71 at the sentence structure. 00:25:43.77\00:25:47.78 Verse 18, Jesus said, 00:25:47.81\00:25:50.15 "I say to you that you are Peter 00:25:50.21\00:25:53.48 and on this rock..." 00:25:53.52\00:25:55.72 Now notice, Jesus did not say, I say to you that you are Peter 00:25:55.75\00:26:00.89 and on you I will build My church. 00:26:00.92\00:26:04.56 Jesus did not say that. 00:26:04.59\00:26:07.76 He did not say on you I will build My church. 00:26:07.76\00:26:10.90 He said on, "On this rock I will build My church." 00:26:10.97\00:26:16.34 And as we look at this more carefully, 00:26:16.37\00:26:19.41 His statement on this rock 00:26:19.44\00:26:21.51 implies something separate from Peter. 00:26:21.54\00:26:25.18 He said, you are Peter and on this rock, 00:26:25.21\00:26:28.75 I will build my church. 00:26:28.78\00:26:30.69 Now the Greek word for Peter, 00:26:30.72\00:26:33.36 the New Testament was originally written in Greek. 00:26:33.39\00:26:36.02 The original Greek word for Peter is Petros. 00:26:36.06\00:26:42.23 And the word for rock is a different Greek word 00:26:42.26\00:26:44.90 and it's Petra, Petros, Peter, Petra, rock. 00:26:44.93\00:26:49.97 And if you look at Strong's Concordance, 00:26:50.01\00:26:52.77 this is how these Greek words are defined. 00:26:52.81\00:26:56.31 Petros is defined for Peter is defined as a stone or pebble 00:26:56.34\00:27:02.12 such as a small rock found along a pathway. 00:27:02.15\00:27:05.99 Petra means "A huge mass of rock, 00:27:06.02\00:27:11.93 a bolder such as a projecting cliff." 00:27:11.96\00:27:16.53 And you can see that 00:27:16.56\00:27:18.10 in the name of the city of Petra. 00:27:18.13\00:27:21.04 Ever heard of the city of Petra? 00:27:21.07\00:27:22.50 It's a city in the Middle East 00:27:22.54\00:27:24.37 that comes out of a massive outcrop of rock. 00:27:24.41\00:27:29.18 The city of Petra, Petra means massive, 00:27:29.21\00:27:33.11 immovable outcrop of rock. 00:27:33.15\00:27:37.29 So we have Jesus saying, you are Peter, 00:27:37.32\00:27:40.56 Petros meaning a pebble, and on this rock Petra, 00:27:40.59\00:27:46.70 I will built My church. 00:27:46.73\00:27:48.90 Now Roman Catholic theologians have definite answers 00:27:48.93\00:27:54.44 to that line of reasoning. 00:27:54.47\00:27:57.17 Roman Catholic theologians 00:27:57.21\00:27:58.54 and this is right on many websites, 00:27:58.57\00:28:00.34 many statements. 00:28:00.41\00:28:01.74 What their response to this, 00:28:01.78\00:28:03.71 this distinction between Peter and the rock is this. 00:28:03.78\00:28:07.65 They'll say, "Yes, it's true that the Greek words 00:28:07.68\00:28:12.19 Petros and Petra are different." 00:28:12.22\00:28:15.56 They'll acknowledge that but then they will say, 00:28:15.59\00:28:20.23 "But Jesus, when He was here, 00:28:20.26\00:28:25.87 He spoke Aramaic, 00:28:25.90\00:28:30.61 and in Aramaic 00:28:30.64\00:28:33.98 the word for Peter is Kepha. 00:28:34.01\00:28:38.48 And the word for rock is Kepha. 00:28:38.51\00:28:42.52 And so Catholics would interpret this to mean, 00:28:42.55\00:28:45.42 since Jesus spoke Aramaic 00:28:45.45\00:28:47.36 what He really spoke was you are Kepha 00:28:47.39\00:28:51.79 and on this Kepha, I will build My church. 00:28:51.83\00:28:56.16 And their conclusion is that Peter is the rock 00:28:56.20\00:29:00.60 based on the Aramaic argument. 00:29:00.67\00:29:04.77 Now here is my response to the Aramaic argument. 00:29:04.81\00:29:09.21 My response is yes, Jesus probably did speak Aramaic 00:29:09.24\00:29:14.25 when He was here. 00:29:14.28\00:29:17.05 We know that He also spoke Hebrew. 00:29:17.12\00:29:19.35 We know that from Acts 26:14, where He spoke to Paul, 00:29:19.39\00:29:23.26 the Bible says in the Hebrew language. 00:29:23.29\00:29:27.30 He probably spoke Latin 00:29:27.36\00:29:29.50 which was the main Roman language 00:29:29.53\00:29:31.20 and when Jesus was alone with Pontius Pilate 00:29:31.23\00:29:33.94 and they had a conversation. 00:29:33.97\00:29:35.60 Jesus probably spoke Latin to him. 00:29:35.64\00:29:37.71 He probably spoke Greek as well 00:29:37.74\00:29:40.28 which was a very common language 00:29:40.31\00:29:41.64 in the Roman Empire. 00:29:41.68\00:29:43.55 When Jesus at that time... 00:29:43.58\00:29:44.91 When Jesus died, if you remember, 00:29:44.95\00:29:46.61 there was a sign that was placed over His head. 00:29:46.65\00:29:49.32 Do you remember that? 00:29:49.35\00:29:50.89 Pilate had that sign put up there. 00:29:50.92\00:29:53.39 This is from John 19:19 and 20. 00:29:53.46\00:29:56.93 And it says that this was written in the Hebrew, 00:29:56.96\00:30:01.06 and the Greek, and the Latin that this is Jesus of Nazareth, 00:30:01.10\00:30:06.80 the King of the Jews. 00:30:06.84\00:30:09.34 So you've got Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 00:30:09.37\00:30:11.61 It's interesting that Pilate didn't put Aramaic 00:30:11.64\00:30:14.28 on there as well. 00:30:14.31\00:30:16.28 I don't know why but he didn't. 00:30:16.31\00:30:18.85 So the question is 00:30:18.88\00:30:20.22 what language was Jesus speaking 00:30:20.28\00:30:23.85 when He spoke to the disciples when He said, you are Peter. 00:30:23.89\00:30:28.46 What language? 00:30:28.49\00:30:30.99 Do you want to know the truth? 00:30:31.03\00:30:33.09 Yes. I'll tell you the truth. 00:30:33.13\00:30:36.36 The truth is that we don't know 00:30:36.40\00:30:39.10 because we weren't there. 00:30:39.13\00:30:40.67 Nobody really knows 00:30:45.77\00:30:49.14 because nobody now living was there. 00:30:49.18\00:30:53.45 But here is something that we do know 00:30:53.48\00:30:56.18 that we know for sure. 00:30:56.22\00:30:58.45 And that is that the New Testament text 00:30:58.49\00:31:04.63 was originally written in Greek. 00:31:04.66\00:31:08.53 We know that and we also know from 2 Timothy 3:16 00:31:08.56\00:31:14.47 that it is the text, 00:31:14.50\00:31:16.87 it is the scripture that is inspired by God. 00:31:16.91\00:31:22.01 2 Timothy 3:16 says, 00:31:22.04\00:31:23.81 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God 00:31:23.85\00:31:28.12 and is profitable for doctrine, reproof or correction, 00:31:28.15\00:31:30.85 and for instruction and righteousness." 00:31:30.89\00:31:32.59 So we shouldn't build our case 00:31:32.62\00:31:35.52 on what language Jesus may or may not have spoken 00:31:35.56\00:31:40.06 because we don't know. 00:31:40.10\00:31:42.23 We should build our case 00:31:42.26\00:31:46.17 on the Word of the Lord, 00:31:46.20\00:31:50.04 the Word of God. 00:31:50.07\00:31:51.67 Jesus Christ always followed the scripture. 00:31:51.71\00:31:56.61 And we do know that the scripture 00:31:56.68\00:31:59.08 makes a distinction between Petros, 00:31:59.11\00:32:03.49 pebble and Petra, boulder. 00:32:03.52\00:32:07.29 We know that the text makes that distinction. 00:32:07.36\00:32:09.82 And Jesus always followed scripture. 00:32:09.86\00:32:12.73 He was very, very careful 00:32:12.76\00:32:14.10 in everything He did to follow the Word. 00:32:14.20\00:32:16.50 In the same book of Matthew, 00:32:16.53\00:32:18.77 if we go back 12 chapters earlier, 00:32:18.80\00:32:21.57 when Jesus was in the wilderness, 00:32:21.60\00:32:24.51 fighting with the devil, not with fists, 00:32:24.54\00:32:27.74 but He was in a conflict, 00:32:27.78\00:32:29.78 a fierce conflict with the enemy of souls. 00:32:29.81\00:32:34.18 And Jesus resisted Satan's infernal temptations. 00:32:34.22\00:32:39.45 And He resisted it how? What did He say? 00:32:39.49\00:32:42.72 He said, it is written, Matthew 4:4, 00:32:42.76\00:32:48.40 "It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone 00:32:48.43\00:32:51.20 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." 00:32:51.23\00:32:55.54 Jesus upheld, it is written, He upheld the text, 00:32:55.57\00:32:59.31 He upheld the scripture as inspired by God. 00:32:59.34\00:33:03.35 Now what does the scripture outside of Matthew 16:18, 00:33:03.38\00:33:08.05 what does the scripture say about the rock? 00:33:08.08\00:33:12.42 Who is the rock according to the Bible? 00:33:12.45\00:33:16.96 Psalms 18:2. 00:33:17.03\00:33:21.40 Psalms 18:2. 00:33:21.43\00:33:25.90 David tells us 00:33:25.93\00:33:30.31 who the rock is in Psalms 18:2. 00:33:30.37\00:33:37.31 He said, "The Lord is my rock 00:33:37.35\00:33:43.49 and my fortress, 00:33:43.55\00:33:44.89 and my deliverer, my God, my strength 00:33:44.92\00:33:48.29 in whom I will trust." 00:33:48.32\00:33:50.79 We can trust the Lord, the rock. 00:33:50.83\00:33:54.20 Now turn to Isaiah 44. 00:33:54.23\00:33:56.36 This is a very powerful text. 00:33:56.40\00:34:00.44 Isaiah 44:18. 00:34:00.47\00:34:06.34 No, verse 8. 00:34:06.37\00:34:12.38 Isaiah 44:8. 00:34:12.41\00:34:14.35 This is God talking here. 00:34:14.38\00:34:18.05 He says, the Lord says, "Do not fear nor be afraid. 00:34:18.09\00:34:21.96 Have I not told you from that time and declared it, 00:34:21.99\00:34:26.80 you are My witnesses." 00:34:26.83\00:34:30.07 His people are to witness to Him 00:34:30.13\00:34:33.60 and notice what He says about Himself. 00:34:33.64\00:34:35.74 "You are My witnesses. 00:34:35.77\00:34:37.47 Is there a God besides Me?" 00:34:37.51\00:34:41.68 Indeed, there is no other what? 00:34:41.71\00:34:47.38 There is no other rock, no other. 00:34:47.42\00:34:53.25 I know not one. 00:34:53.32\00:34:56.83 So here the Lord is talking about Himself. 00:34:56.89\00:34:59.13 He says you're My witnesses to this fact. 00:34:59.16\00:35:01.40 He says there is no other rock but Me. 00:35:01.43\00:35:05.70 And God says, I don't know of any other. 00:35:05.73\00:35:09.70 It's just Me. It's Me alone. 00:35:09.74\00:35:12.64 Now think about this. 00:35:12.67\00:35:14.18 If Jesus when He spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:18 and said, 00:35:14.21\00:35:19.75 "I say to you that you are Peter and on this rock, 00:35:19.78\00:35:23.39 I will build My church." 00:35:23.42\00:35:25.75 If Jesus meant that Peter was now the rock, 00:35:25.79\00:35:31.56 then Jesus Christ would be denying the Word of God. 00:35:31.59\00:35:37.57 He'd be denying the scripture. 00:35:37.60\00:35:39.63 He'd be denying what is written. 00:35:39.67\00:35:43.91 And if He denies the scripture and denies the Word of God, 00:35:43.97\00:35:48.48 then He would be committing a sin. 00:35:48.51\00:35:51.55 And if Jesus committed a sin, 00:35:51.58\00:35:53.82 then His perfect life is marred. 00:35:53.88\00:35:58.19 And then guess what? 00:35:58.22\00:36:00.29 Guess what the ramifications 00:36:00.32\00:36:03.56 and the consequences of that would be to you, 00:36:03.59\00:36:07.40 to me, to every Roman Catholic, 00:36:07.46\00:36:10.27 to every Protestant, to every Baptist, 00:36:10.30\00:36:14.14 to every Jew, 00:36:14.17\00:36:18.04 to everybody all over the world, 00:36:18.07\00:36:22.01 the consequence whether people believe in Jesus or not? 00:36:22.04\00:36:26.41 The consequences would mean 00:36:26.45\00:36:28.65 that the entire plan of salvation 00:36:28.68\00:36:32.75 has fallen apart. 00:36:32.79\00:36:35.36 And that nobody has any hope 00:36:35.39\00:36:39.16 even if people don't believe in Jesus, 00:36:39.19\00:36:40.96 hopefully, they can become believers in Jesus. 00:36:41.00\00:36:44.03 But if that was true, if Jesus was denying the Word, 00:36:44.07\00:36:47.84 then there would be no hope for anybody 00:36:47.87\00:36:50.51 according to the scripture. 00:36:50.57\00:36:53.68 But we know that according to the scripture, 00:36:53.74\00:36:56.01 that's not the case. 00:36:56.04\00:36:58.01 Let's go back to Matthew 16. 00:36:58.05\00:37:00.55 According to the scripture, there is only one rock. 00:37:00.58\00:37:04.55 And according to the scripture, 00:37:04.59\00:37:06.25 Jesus Christ lived a perfect life. 00:37:06.29\00:37:10.76 He never said anything contrary to God's Word. 00:37:10.79\00:37:14.20 He was never wrong. He never made a mistake. 00:37:14.23\00:37:17.27 And at the end of His life, 00:37:17.30\00:37:18.97 He gave His life on a cruel cross 00:37:19.00\00:37:21.80 for the sins of the whole world. 00:37:21.84\00:37:24.37 So as the Bible says, 00:37:24.41\00:37:26.51 He is the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. 00:37:26.54\00:37:31.45 And as James mentioned earlier, we have life, 00:37:31.48\00:37:35.48 all of us have life because of the sacrifice of Christ. 00:37:35.52\00:37:41.72 Now when you go back to Matthew 16, 00:37:41.76\00:37:43.93 it's very clear that the entire context 00:37:43.96\00:37:48.20 of these verses and of verse 18 and 19, 00:37:48.23\00:37:52.77 the whole context is the identity of who? 00:37:52.80\00:37:58.14 It's Jesus, right. 00:37:58.17\00:37:59.61 Jesus said, who do men say that I am? 00:37:59.64\00:38:02.18 Who do you say that I am? 00:38:02.21\00:38:04.21 Peter gave the right answer. 00:38:04.28\00:38:05.98 And Jesus said, Peter, you are blessed. 00:38:06.01\00:38:09.45 You're blessed. 00:38:09.48\00:38:11.15 You didn't get that right answer 00:38:11.19\00:38:12.95 from your own weak flesh and blood. 00:38:12.99\00:38:15.29 This answer has come from God. 00:38:15.32\00:38:18.09 It's come from My Father, it's a revelation through you 00:38:18.13\00:38:23.60 and it is the truth. 00:38:23.67\00:38:26.87 Think about it. 00:38:26.94\00:38:29.20 Why would Jesus Christ, 00:38:29.24\00:38:32.44 the Son of the living God 00:38:32.47\00:38:36.75 shift gears in Matthew 16:18 00:38:36.78\00:38:40.45 and decide that He's gonna build 00:38:40.52\00:38:43.25 His entire church 00:38:43.28\00:38:46.86 on a man that's not Him, 00:38:46.89\00:38:50.63 on a weak, frail, 00:38:50.66\00:38:52.73 erring, sinful, fallen, mortal man. 00:38:52.76\00:38:59.13 Why would Jesus do that? 00:38:59.17\00:39:02.54 It doesn't make any sense that Jesus would do that. 00:39:02.57\00:39:07.54 And if you look back at the text, Jesus said, 00:39:07.61\00:39:10.28 "On this rock, I will build My church 00:39:10.31\00:39:12.55 and the gates of Hades 00:39:12.58\00:39:14.62 or hell shall not prevail against it." 00:39:14.65\00:39:19.92 Shall not prevail against My church. 00:39:19.95\00:39:23.46 Isn't that a great text? 00:39:23.49\00:39:26.49 Is our church under fire? 00:39:26.53\00:39:28.10 Yes. 00:39:28.13\00:39:30.00 Is God's church under attack today? 00:39:30.07\00:39:32.53 Yes. 00:39:32.57\00:39:34.54 Is God's church going down? 00:39:34.57\00:39:36.47 No. 00:39:36.50\00:39:38.64 Does God's church have a foundation? 00:39:38.67\00:39:40.88 Yes. 00:39:40.91\00:39:43.45 Are the gates of hell waging war 00:39:43.48\00:39:46.92 against the people of God today? 00:39:46.95\00:39:48.95 Yes. No doubt. 00:39:48.98\00:39:51.42 And where is our trust? 00:39:51.45\00:39:53.36 Is it in flesh and blood? 00:39:53.39\00:39:55.92 No. Are we trusting in man? 00:39:55.96\00:39:58.26 No. 00:39:58.29\00:40:00.40 You know, there is a bigger issue here, isn't there? 00:40:00.43\00:40:03.23 There is the Peter issue, there is the Catholic issue, 00:40:03.26\00:40:06.43 and then there is your issue, and then there is my issue, 00:40:06.47\00:40:10.27 and there is the church issue. 00:40:10.31\00:40:12.47 This is a huge, huge issue. 00:40:12.51\00:40:15.18 And Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail 00:40:15.21\00:40:19.98 against His church that is built on the rock. 00:40:20.02\00:40:24.69 Amen. That is built on the rock. 00:40:24.72\00:40:26.59 Now, the gates of hell did prevail sometimes, 00:40:26.62\00:40:31.43 numerous times against Peter. 00:40:31.46\00:40:35.50 Did, in fact if you go down, we don't have really time 00:40:35.53\00:40:38.07 to read this whole thing right now. 00:40:38.10\00:40:39.57 But in verses 21 to 23, 00:40:39.60\00:40:42.67 Jesus right after this told His disciples, 00:40:42.70\00:40:45.21 He was going to Jerusalem to die. 00:40:45.24\00:40:47.74 And then Peter who may have been 00:40:47.78\00:40:49.81 feeling a little self-exalted 00:40:49.84\00:40:51.38 because he gave the right answer, 00:40:51.41\00:40:54.82 then told Jesus in verse 22, he said no, 00:40:54.85\00:40:59.85 he began to rebuke the Lord. 00:40:59.89\00:41:01.72 Lord, you're not going to Jerusalem to die. 00:41:01.76\00:41:04.49 We're gonna defend you. 00:41:04.53\00:41:05.86 What if Jesus wouldn't have gone to Jerusalem to die, 00:41:05.89\00:41:08.66 the whole plan of salvation would have collapsed. 00:41:08.70\00:41:13.00 And what did Jesus say? 00:41:13.03\00:41:14.54 He turned and He said to who? 00:41:14.57\00:41:16.60 Peter. He said to Peter. 00:41:16.67\00:41:21.24 He said, get behind Me, Satan, 00:41:21.28\00:41:27.22 you're an offense to Me, 00:41:27.28\00:41:30.35 for you are not mindful of the things of God 00:41:30.39\00:41:34.32 but of the things of men. 00:41:34.36\00:41:37.39 So Peter at this point was not acting very rock-like. 00:41:37.43\00:41:42.56 That's for sure. 00:41:42.60\00:41:44.30 He actually became a mouthpiece for the devil 00:41:44.33\00:41:49.84 because he was following his own selfish ways 00:41:49.87\00:41:54.28 and he couldn't imagine 00:41:54.31\00:41:55.94 that his master would end up on a cross outside Jerusalem. 00:41:55.98\00:42:00.92 So he tried to prevent Jesus from doing this 00:42:00.95\00:42:04.39 and he became a mouthpiece for the devil. 00:42:04.42\00:42:08.62 In Matthew 26:74, we know that Peter ended up 00:42:08.66\00:42:13.03 denying the Lord three times 00:42:13.06\00:42:15.33 before the rooster crowed three times. 00:42:15.36\00:42:17.43 He denied Him three times. Right? 00:42:17.47\00:42:22.64 And then he went out and he wept bitterly 00:42:22.67\00:42:25.51 because the Holy Spirit convicted him 00:42:25.54\00:42:27.14 of what he had done. 00:42:27.18\00:42:28.51 He had denied the Lord. 00:42:28.54\00:42:33.82 But thankfully, Jesus is very good and very patient, 00:42:33.88\00:42:40.56 and very forgiving 00:42:40.62\00:42:42.59 and very kind, and very merciful. 00:42:42.62\00:42:45.73 And the Lord forgave Peter for his sin. 00:42:45.76\00:42:50.00 And he continued to work in his life 00:42:50.03\00:42:52.37 and to change his life. 00:42:52.40\00:42:53.97 And on the day of Pentecost, 00:42:54.00\00:42:55.90 the Holy Spirit came down with power 00:42:55.94\00:42:58.17 and used Peter to lift up the cross, 00:42:58.21\00:43:01.94 to lift up the cross. 00:43:01.98\00:43:03.35 Peter had learnt his lesson. 00:43:03.38\00:43:07.55 The Bible is very clear 00:43:07.62\00:43:13.76 and from Isaiah 44:8, 00:43:13.79\00:43:17.26 and there are other verses that there is only one rock. 00:43:17.33\00:43:22.50 There is only one rock. 00:43:22.53\00:43:24.03 And that is the rock of ages. 00:43:24.07\00:43:26.90 And the rock of ages 00:43:26.94\00:43:28.80 is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:43:28.84\00:43:33.98 He is the Christ. 00:43:34.04\00:43:36.24 He is the Son of the living God. 00:43:36.28\00:43:40.88 Nobody else is like Him. 00:43:40.92\00:43:44.05 Nobody else is like Him. 00:43:44.09\00:43:45.92 And as we move into stormy times 00:43:45.95\00:43:49.36 and into struggles 00:43:49.39\00:43:51.13 where the devil is turning everything loose 00:43:51.16\00:43:54.40 against God's church, 00:43:54.46\00:43:57.00 we need to know where the rock is 00:43:57.03\00:43:59.80 upon which we stand. 00:43:59.83\00:44:01.74 Amen. Amen. Are you with me? 00:44:01.77\00:44:03.91 We cannot afford to trust in flesh and blood. 00:44:03.94\00:44:08.11 In 1 Corinthians 10:4, 00:44:08.14\00:44:11.41 Paul talks about the rock. 00:44:11.45\00:44:15.68 And if you recall who he says the rock is. 00:44:15.72\00:44:20.66 1 Corinthians 10:4, 00:44:20.69\00:44:22.42 he talked about the Israelites traveling in the wilderness 00:44:22.46\00:44:26.26 and about the rock that they drank from. 00:44:26.29\00:44:32.07 And in 1 Corinthians 10:4, 00:44:32.10\00:44:35.70 Paul looking back through the enlightenment 00:44:35.74\00:44:38.94 of the Holy Spirit. 00:44:38.97\00:44:40.68 He said, "They drank from that spiritual drink," 00:44:40.74\00:44:43.61 the same spiritual drink. 00:44:43.65\00:44:44.98 "They drank of that spiritual rock 00:44:45.01\00:44:47.28 that followed them." 00:44:47.32\00:44:48.65 And that rock was who? 00:44:48.68\00:44:50.35 Christ. It was Christ. That's right. 00:44:50.39\00:44:52.39 And guess what Greek word Paul used for rock 00:44:52.42\00:44:57.13 in 1 Corinthians 10:4. 00:44:57.19\00:45:00.96 It was Petra. 00:45:01.00\00:45:03.80 Same Greek word that Matthew used in Matthew 16:18. 00:45:03.87\00:45:09.60 Petra, an immovable, 00:45:09.64\00:45:12.21 massive boulder that cannot be shaken. 00:45:12.24\00:45:17.08 In 1 Peter 2:8, 00:45:17.15\00:45:20.42 Peter also himself talked about the rock. 00:45:20.45\00:45:26.35 1 Peter 2:8 00:45:26.39\00:45:31.29 and I'll show you what he said. 00:45:31.33\00:45:33.29 He is quoting the Old Testament. 00:45:33.33\00:45:35.16 And he talks about a stone of stumbling 00:45:42.04\00:45:45.54 and a rock of offence. 00:45:45.57\00:45:49.24 And who is that rock? 00:45:49.28\00:45:51.51 It's very clear from the scripture. 00:45:51.55\00:45:54.28 Verse 4 says, "Coming to Him, 00:45:54.32\00:45:55.95 to Jesus as to a living stone indeed rejected by man 00:45:55.98\00:46:00.19 but chosen by God as precious." 00:46:00.22\00:46:03.56 And it is the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:46:03.59\00:46:04.93 And guess what word Peter used in verse 8 for rock? 00:46:04.96\00:46:09.50 Guess what Greek word? 00:46:09.53\00:46:12.40 Petra, meaning a massive outcrop of rock, a boulder. 00:46:12.43\00:46:19.37 Now let's go back to Matthew 16. 00:46:19.41\00:46:21.01 I can see my time is moving. 00:46:21.04\00:46:22.58 I've got about 11 minutes left until I am done. 00:46:22.61\00:46:27.55 So I've got a lot of things to share with you 00:46:27.62\00:46:29.85 and I don't really have time to go into all the details. 00:46:29.88\00:46:34.16 This little book, "Is God's church built on Peter" 00:46:34.19\00:46:37.56 has scriptures, background, history, quotations. 00:46:37.63\00:46:41.73 And it is loaded with information. 00:46:41.76\00:46:44.03 So I'm just gonna give you just a few of the highlights. 00:46:44.07\00:46:48.20 In verse 19 Jesus said, 00:46:48.24\00:46:52.14 "I will give to you" referring to Peter, 00:46:52.17\00:46:55.18 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven 00:46:55.21\00:46:58.98 and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven 00:46:59.01\00:47:01.32 and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 00:47:01.35\00:47:07.09 Now, the Catholic Church believes 00:47:07.12\00:47:10.26 that Peter exclusively 00:47:10.29\00:47:12.69 was given the keys of the kingdom 00:47:12.73\00:47:14.56 and that those keys have been transferred 00:47:14.56\00:47:18.97 from Peter to the bishops of Rome, 00:47:19.00\00:47:20.97 to the popes of Rome down throughout history 00:47:21.00\00:47:24.01 and that Pope Francis himself has the keys. 00:47:24.04\00:47:26.98 When you compare this verse with Matthew 18:18, 00:47:27.01\00:47:32.28 Jesus is talking to all the disciples 00:47:32.31\00:47:35.58 and He uses the same language to all of them. 00:47:35.62\00:47:39.55 He says, "Assuredly, I say to you, 00:47:39.59\00:47:41.96 whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven 00:47:41.99\00:47:44.79 and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 00:47:44.83\00:47:47.76 Same words in Matthew 16:19, He addressed Peter. 00:47:47.76\00:47:54.57 In Matthew 18:18, He used the same words 00:47:54.60\00:47:58.71 not just for Peter but for all of the disciples. 00:47:58.74\00:48:02.98 What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? 00:48:03.01\00:48:07.35 What are those keys? 00:48:07.38\00:48:10.62 Again, I don't have time to go into a lot of text 00:48:10.65\00:48:12.72 but if you look at John 6:63, 00:48:12.75\00:48:19.53 Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you, 00:48:19.56\00:48:26.47 these words are spirit and they are life." 00:48:26.50\00:48:30.31 In this little book, "Is God's church built on Peter", 00:48:30.34\00:48:32.74 I have other scriptures in here 00:48:32.77\00:48:34.28 that builds a case solidly that the keys of the kingdom 00:48:34.31\00:48:38.65 are none other than the words 00:48:38.68\00:48:40.72 of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 00:48:40.75\00:48:43.72 Jesus' words open and close heaven. 00:48:43.79\00:48:46.49 Jesus' words can raise the dead to life. 00:48:46.52\00:48:49.56 Jesus' words can change our hearts. 00:48:49.59\00:48:53.26 Jesus' words are powerful. 00:48:53.29\00:48:55.40 And I have learnt through a lot of trials, 00:48:55.43\00:48:59.17 and ups and downs, 00:48:59.20\00:49:00.60 and ins and outs of being a Christian 00:49:00.67\00:49:02.24 and being a Seventh-day Adventist minister, 00:49:02.27\00:49:04.34 I have learned, 00:49:04.37\00:49:05.71 the Lord has taught me a big lesson. 00:49:05.74\00:49:09.08 And that lesson is that I cannot afford 00:49:09.11\00:49:11.58 to trust in flesh and blood. 00:49:11.61\00:49:14.05 I cannot afford to trust in the things of men. 00:49:14.08\00:49:17.35 I cannot afford to trust in the sayings of men, 00:49:17.42\00:49:20.49 the ways of men, the opinions of men, 00:49:20.52\00:49:22.79 the theories of men, 00:49:22.82\00:49:24.46 the teachings of men, the interpretations of men, 00:49:24.49\00:49:27.46 ultimately, my hope must be built on Jesus Christ 00:49:27.50\00:49:32.07 and on His own Words, His words. 00:49:32.10\00:49:36.14 It was Jesus who said, I give to you the keys, 00:49:36.17\00:49:39.54 those were His own words that He was speaking. 00:49:39.57\00:49:42.04 His words are powerful. 00:49:42.08\00:49:44.48 His words open the gates of paradise. 00:49:44.51\00:49:50.69 I'm hoping that this little book, 00:49:50.72\00:49:52.05 "Is God's church built on Peter", 00:49:52.09\00:49:53.66 that this will be a missionary book 00:49:53.69\00:49:56.83 to reach some 00:49:56.86\00:49:59.13 of the 1.29 billion Roman Catholics 00:49:59.16\00:50:05.63 in this world who are very sincere, 00:50:05.67\00:50:08.64 who are very honest, who are, many of them are very godly, 00:50:08.67\00:50:11.97 and who need a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:50:12.01\00:50:16.31 For the 3ABN audience, 00:50:16.34\00:50:17.75 this book is available from 3ABN. 00:50:17.78\00:50:20.08 It just came out. 00:50:20.12\00:50:21.88 It is now actually in the process 00:50:21.92\00:50:23.79 of being translated into Italian. 00:50:23.85\00:50:26.42 So that it can be given out freely in Rome. 00:50:26.45\00:50:28.56 And I'm hoping that somebody 00:50:33.66\00:50:35.06 will give this to Melania Trump. 00:50:35.10\00:50:38.77 And maybe even give it to Pope Francis. 00:50:38.80\00:50:42.80 You know, there's a lot of people out there 00:50:42.84\00:50:44.17 that are very sincere, 00:50:44.24\00:50:45.87 that are searching, that need more light. 00:50:45.91\00:50:49.41 In fact, we all need the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:50:49.44\00:50:53.68 I need Him. You need Him. 00:50:53.75\00:50:55.82 Everyone needs Him. 00:50:55.85\00:50:57.69 If you go back to Matthew 16... 00:50:57.72\00:51:00.16 after verse 19, verse 20 says, 00:51:06.39\00:51:09.93 right after He finished His words, Jesus says, 00:51:09.96\00:51:13.34 "Then He commanded His disciples 00:51:13.40\00:51:15.17 that they should tell no one that He 00:51:15.20\00:51:21.41 was Jesus the Christ." 00:51:21.44\00:51:24.48 So it starts with the question of who He is, what men say, 00:51:24.51\00:51:28.82 what the disciple say, then it goes to the rock, 00:51:28.85\00:51:31.49 and then it concludes with the statement 00:51:31.52\00:51:34.69 that He is Jesus the Christ. 00:51:34.72\00:51:36.36 He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:51:36.39\00:51:38.23 Now Jesus told His disciples at that time 00:51:38.26\00:51:40.26 not to spread it around because at that time, 00:51:40.30\00:51:43.16 He didn't want to create a lot of opposition 00:51:43.20\00:51:45.50 from Pharisees unnecessarily. 00:51:45.53\00:51:49.34 By that time, where people should keep it quiet is over. 00:51:49.37\00:51:55.84 Now we need to know. 00:51:55.88\00:51:58.21 We all need to know. 00:51:58.25\00:52:00.42 You need to know. I need to know. 00:52:00.45\00:52:02.02 The world needs to know that Jesus is the Christ, 00:52:02.05\00:52:05.45 the Son of the living God. 00:52:05.49\00:52:07.06 And He is the rock of our salvation. 00:52:07.09\00:52:09.49 He is the only hope that we have. 00:52:09.52\00:52:12.03 And He is a solid rock. 00:52:12.06\00:52:14.00 And His words, His own words 00:52:14.10\00:52:17.70 and the text what is written is a power 00:52:17.73\00:52:22.74 that opens the doors of eternity. 00:52:22.77\00:52:26.17 We all need Jesus. 00:52:26.21\00:52:30.05 I need Him so much. 00:52:30.11\00:52:31.88 Let me just share with you a quick quote 00:52:31.91\00:52:33.58 from the 1994 Roman Catholic Catechism... 00:52:33.62\00:52:37.29 referring to Peter, this is what it says. 00:52:41.09\00:52:46.70 This is 1994 official Roman Catholic Catechism section 8, 00:52:46.76\00:52:51.67 82, says The Pope, 00:52:51.70\00:52:54.70 the Bishop of Rome and Peter successor, 00:52:54.74\00:52:59.37 Peter successor as pastor of the entire church 00:52:59.41\00:53:03.65 has full supreme and universal power 00:53:03.68\00:53:09.35 over the whole church. 00:53:09.38\00:53:12.19 A power which he can always exercise unhindered. 00:53:12.22\00:53:18.76 Wow. 00:53:18.79\00:53:21.56 Does the pope have universal power 00:53:21.60\00:53:24.47 over the whole church? 00:53:24.50\00:53:25.83 A power which he can exercise unhindered 00:53:25.87\00:53:27.60 which is full and supreme? 00:53:27.64\00:53:30.07 Is that true or is that a counterfeit? 00:53:30.11\00:53:32.91 Counterfeit. 00:53:32.94\00:53:34.28 I'll tell you, based on the Word of God, 00:53:34.31\00:53:36.18 Jesus Christ alone 00:53:36.21\00:53:38.51 has full supreme authority over His church. 00:53:38.55\00:53:42.18 Amen. 00:53:42.22\00:53:43.55 It's only Jesus Christ and His word, the Word of God. 00:53:43.59\00:53:48.89 And He wants to have that authority over your life. 00:53:48.92\00:53:53.06 He wants to have that authority over my life. 00:53:53.09\00:53:57.10 Giving Jesus full and total authority over our lives, 00:53:57.13\00:54:01.80 this is the key to gaining the kingdom of heaven. 00:54:01.84\00:54:07.31 This is the key to standing in the storm. 00:54:07.38\00:54:12.01 This is the key to going through 00:54:12.05\00:54:15.22 the closing hours of human history. 00:54:15.25\00:54:19.39 This is the key that we need. 00:54:19.42\00:54:21.76 Peter, every Roman Catholic, every Protestant, 00:54:21.79\00:54:24.76 every Presbyterian, every Jew, every Seventh-day Adventist, 00:54:24.79\00:54:29.30 all republicans, all democrats, atheists, witches, agnostics, 00:54:29.33\00:54:34.74 everybody in this world 00:54:34.77\00:54:37.57 has the same basic human nature. 00:54:37.61\00:54:41.24 We all have basic flesh and blood. 00:54:41.28\00:54:47.22 And the only way to get the victory 00:54:47.28\00:54:49.45 over the basic human nature 00:54:49.48\00:54:53.05 that we all have which really, you know, 00:54:53.09\00:54:55.12 goes back to Lucifer is self-exalting, exalting self, 00:54:55.16\00:55:00.53 making individual men 00:55:00.56\00:55:03.50 to be more important than God. 00:55:03.57\00:55:08.17 The only way to get the victory over this 00:55:08.20\00:55:12.74 is through full surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:55:12.77\00:55:18.01 We all need that. 00:55:18.05\00:55:19.61 I need that every day. 00:55:19.65\00:55:22.32 The entire Roman Catholic structure 00:55:22.35\00:55:26.12 that says that Peter was the first pope, 00:55:26.15\00:55:28.79 and that Pope Francis now sits upon the throne of Peter 00:55:28.82\00:55:34.76 based on the Word of God. 00:55:34.83\00:55:37.67 It is a counterfeit. 00:55:37.70\00:55:40.30 It is not the truth. 00:55:40.34\00:55:42.10 And don't miss this point. 00:55:42.14\00:55:44.17 When any one of our human natures 00:55:44.21\00:55:46.84 following the example of Peter 00:55:46.88\00:55:48.61 when he told Jesus not to go to Jerusalem 00:55:48.64\00:55:50.81 and die and when he became a mouthpiece for the devil, 00:55:50.85\00:55:54.95 when any one of our natures chooses to follow self 00:55:54.98\00:55:58.92 above Jesus Christ and His word, 00:55:58.95\00:56:03.99 then we have become counterfeit Christians. 00:56:04.06\00:56:09.43 Wow. It can happen to anyone of us. 00:56:09.46\00:56:12.63 It can happen to all of us. 00:56:12.67\00:56:16.14 Jesus is the rock of ages. 00:56:16.17\00:56:20.41 I'd like to close. 00:56:20.48\00:56:21.81 I see I've got one minute left on my clock here. 00:56:21.84\00:56:25.05 I want to close with a poem. 00:56:25.08\00:56:27.98 It's actually a hymn. 00:56:28.02\00:56:29.35 Many of us know this hymn. 00:56:29.38\00:56:30.72 It's called "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' 00:56:30.79\00:56:33.86 blood and righteousness", written by Edward Mote in 1834. 00:56:33.89\00:56:39.93 "My hope is built on nothing less 00:56:40.00\00:56:43.03 than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 00:56:43.06\00:56:45.00 I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 00:56:45.03\00:56:47.87 but wholly lean on Jesus' name. 00:56:47.90\00:56:50.57 On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. 00:56:50.61\00:56:53.24 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:56:53.27\00:56:55.74 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:56:55.78\00:56:59.11 When darkness veils His lovely face, 00:56:59.15\00:57:01.28 I rest on His unchanging grace. 00:57:01.32\00:57:03.72 In every high and stormy gale, 00:57:03.75\00:57:05.39 my anchor holds within the veil. 00:57:05.42\00:57:07.39 On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. 00:57:07.42\00:57:09.62 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:57:09.66\00:57:11.53 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:57:11.56\00:57:16.13 When he shall come with trumpet sound 00:57:16.16\00:57:18.50 oh, may I then in him be found. 00:57:18.53\00:57:20.64 Dressed in his righteousness alone, 00:57:20.67\00:57:22.60 faultless to stand before his throne. 00:57:22.64\00:57:25.24 On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. 00:57:25.27\00:57:27.58 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:57:27.61\00:57:29.54 All other ground is sinking sand. 00:57:29.58\00:57:33.15