male announcer: This
presentation is brought to you
00:00:02.36\00:00:03.70
by the friends of the
Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:00:03.83\00:00:06.50
Doug Batchelor: Many legends and
stories from around the world
00:00:09.14\00:00:11.57
talk about flying dragons, and
some may even contain a kernel
00:00:11.61\00:00:15.84
of truth.
00:00:15.88\00:00:17.18
Paleontologists have discovered
the fossilized bones of giant
00:00:17.21\00:00:21.15
flying reptiles called
pterosaurs or winged lizards.
00:00:21.18\00:00:24.72
They've got long, thin beaks,
bony crests on their head.
00:00:25.25\00:00:28.66
The largest pterosaurs weighed
over 500 pounds and had a
00:00:28.69\00:00:32.43
wingspan of nearly 40 feet.
00:00:32.46\00:00:34.20
It's like a
small Cessna airplane.
00:00:34.56\00:00:36.10
Pterosaurs had necks that were
up to 10 feet long and the legs
00:00:36.80\00:00:40.27
up to 7 feet long.
00:00:40.30\00:00:41.67
To someone watching from the
ground, the legs trailing behind
00:00:42.10\00:00:45.37
the flying pterosaur might
have looked like a flying dragon
00:00:45.41\00:00:48.38
with a pointed tail.
00:00:48.41\00:00:49.78
Some pterosaurs may
have even survived the flood.
00:00:50.05\00:00:52.85
In the 5th century BC, the Greek
historian Herodotus wrote about
00:00:53.38\00:00:57.32
winged serpents in Arabia.
00:00:57.35\00:00:59.15
Friends, we know of at least
one dragon that exists today.
00:01:00.06\00:01:03.93
The dragon is also
known as the devil.
00:01:04.46\00:01:06.46
While some people think
he's just a religious legend,
00:01:07.20\00:01:10.53
scripture insists that he
is very real and determined to
00:01:10.57\00:01:14.44
deceive as many as possible.
00:01:14.47\00:01:15.90
So, join me today as we take
a closer look at this enemy, the
00:01:15.94\00:01:19.51
one the Bible reveals to be the
notorious dragon of Revelation.
00:01:19.54\00:01:23.48
Doug: Now, as we always do, we
use Bible stories to understand
00:01:27.92\00:01:32.42
these theological
teachings of the Gospel, and
00:01:32.65\00:01:36.26
tonight is no exception.
00:01:36.29\00:01:37.63
We're going to look at a story
that you find in the book of
00:01:37.66\00:01:39.56
second Samuel chapter
14 dealing with Absalom.
00:01:39.59\00:01:43.90
Absalom, his name, it
means peace of the father.
00:01:44.67\00:01:48.10
We've learned shalom means
peace, Abba means father or
00:01:48.40\00:01:51.84
papa, and so he was one of
the favorite sons of King David.
00:01:51.87\00:01:57.18
And Bible tells us that he
was handsome, he goes to great
00:01:57.91\00:02:02.98
lengths to say that from the
sole of his foot to the crown of
00:02:03.02\00:02:06.65
his head there was no blemish in
him, and it talks about how he
00:02:06.69\00:02:11.13
had this long, luxuriant hair
that would grow so much every
00:02:11.16\00:02:14.36
year that he would
even--they'd weigh it.
00:02:14.36\00:02:17.33
He had, like, five
pounds of hair a year, you can
00:02:17.63\00:02:20.00
imagine that.
00:02:20.04\00:02:21.37
Obviously, I
didn't get his genes.
00:02:21.40\00:02:22.94
I found that, theologically,
hair gets men into trouble in
00:02:24.64\00:02:27.31
the Bible.
00:02:27.34\00:02:28.64
Look what happened to Samson.
00:02:28.68\00:02:30.05
Anyway, there's a scripture that
says, "Go up thou bald head."
00:02:30.75\00:02:33.92
That offers me hope.
00:02:34.12\00:02:35.45
That's true.
00:02:36.02\00:02:37.39
Anyway, so he had this long hair
and he wanted to be king, he's
00:02:37.85\00:02:42.96
very--David didn't give him,
maybe, enough discipline, and he
00:02:42.99\00:02:47.03
was a little pampered prince in
the palace of King David during
00:02:47.10\00:02:50.63
the glory days, got everything
he wanted, everyone kind of
00:02:50.67\00:02:53.47
adored him, and he became very
self consumed and very proud.
00:02:53.50\00:02:59.51
Now, he had an older brother
named Amnon that was really next
00:03:01.78\00:03:04.21
in line to be king.
00:03:04.25\00:03:05.58
When Amnon mistreated Absalom's
sister, Absalom had his brother
00:03:06.78\00:03:10.79
killed, and then he fled
the kingdom for a little while.
00:03:10.82\00:03:14.36
Eventually, he wormed his
way back into the favor of his
00:03:14.39\00:03:16.49
father, back into the kingdom,
and then after that point,
00:03:16.52\00:03:19.83
Absalom would go and he began
to exalt himself in the kingdom.
00:03:20.50\00:03:24.97
It actually says he got 50 men
and horses to ride before him
00:03:25.00\00:03:29.10
and say, "Here comes
Prince Absalom," and everybody
00:03:29.14\00:03:31.27
everywhere he went,
it was like a parade.
00:03:31.31\00:03:33.04
He was a
superstar in the kingdom.
00:03:33.27\00:03:34.98
He was in all the tabloids,
I suppose, because of his good
00:03:35.91\00:03:38.25
looks, and then when people came
to King David and they needed to
00:03:38.28\00:03:42.18
have some judgment issue
resolved, Absalom would meet
00:03:42.22\00:03:45.42
them at the gate before they
got to the king and say, "What's
00:03:45.45\00:03:47.96
your problem?
00:03:47.99\00:03:49.32
Oh, yeah that makes good sense.
00:03:49.36\00:03:50.89
I'm with you.
00:03:51.09\00:03:52.39
If I was king, I
would judge in your favor."
00:03:52.43\00:03:55.53
And he started to do what some
of the politicians do where he
00:03:56.60\00:04:00.54
blew sunshine at everybody and
tried to make everyone feel they
00:04:00.57\00:04:04.37
were so wonderful, and he would
embrace those that came to the
00:04:04.41\00:04:07.54
king for judgment, and the Bible
tells us, you can read in 2
00:04:07.58\00:04:10.91
Samuel 15, he did this probably
for a couple of years, "he stole
00:04:10.95\00:04:15.42
the hearts of
the men of Israel."
00:04:15.45\00:04:17.72
Now, you steal something
that doesn't belong to you.
00:04:17.75\00:04:20.22
He took the allegiance of the
people that they should have had
00:04:20.69\00:04:23.22
for the king from David, who was
a good king, and they took it,
00:04:23.26\00:04:28.26
and he stole it for himself.
00:04:28.30\00:04:29.63
Finally, when he realized that
he had more support than David,
00:04:29.66\00:04:32.00
it broke into an open rebellion.
00:04:32.40\00:04:34.37
Absalom got some of the leaders
and the generals and the people
00:04:35.50\00:04:39.24
to support him.
00:04:39.27\00:04:40.61
They blew the trumpet, said,
"Absalom is king in Hebron," and
00:04:40.64\00:04:44.01
then as he was making his way
to Jerusalem, a messenger told
00:04:44.05\00:04:46.48
David, "Absalom is
trying to steal the kingdom."
00:04:46.51\00:04:49.38
David said, "Look, he's going
to destroy the city," and David
00:04:49.92\00:04:52.02
took some of his soldiers and
his family, they fled Jerusalem.
00:04:52.05\00:04:54.69
Bible says David went up
the Mount of Olives weeping.
00:04:55.06\00:04:57.39
Do you know Jesus went up the
Mount of Olives weeping also?
00:04:57.89\00:05:00.26
Wept over Jerusalem.
00:05:00.56\00:05:01.86
Finally, they engaged in battle,
and, you know, like Alexander
00:05:02.53\00:05:08.54
the Great, you read in the
Bible David never lost a battle.
00:05:08.77\00:05:13.24
The Bible talks about David
fighting with the Philistines
00:05:13.74\00:05:16.34
like Goliath, Ammonites,
Edomites, Moabites, Syrians,
00:05:16.38\00:05:20.88
Egyptians, he
never ever lost a battle.
00:05:20.92\00:05:23.85
So, it's not smart to
go to battle against David.
00:05:24.09\00:05:25.95
And David's smaller group of
soldiers, they routed Israel and
00:05:27.16\00:05:31.73
those who followed Absalom,
and as they were retreating, the
00:05:31.76\00:05:34.86
Bible tells us that Absalom on
his mule, he was riding through
00:05:34.93\00:05:38.83
the woods, and he looked back to
see if he was being gained upon,
00:05:38.87\00:05:42.90
and his head got stuck in a low
branch, in the fork of a branch
00:05:43.27\00:05:47.64
of an oak tree, calls it a
terebinth tree, and the mule
00:05:47.68\00:05:50.61
went out from under him, and he
was left hanging between heaven
00:05:50.65\00:05:54.32
and earth.
00:05:54.35\00:05:55.68
You can read this
here in 2 Samuel 18.
00:05:55.72\00:05:57.05
"The mule went under the thick
boughs of a great terebinth
00:05:57.79\00:06:00.62
tree, and his head caught
in the terebinth," probably his
00:06:00.66\00:06:02.92
hair got wrapped up,
all that beautiful hair.
00:06:02.96\00:06:04.69
See, I told you, it
gets you in trouble.
00:06:04.73\00:06:06.06
So, he was left hanging
between heaven and earth.
00:06:07.10\00:06:09.63
Now, before I go any farther,
here you've got a picture of a
00:06:10.13\00:06:15.10
son of David hanging from a
tree between heaven and earth.
00:06:15.14\00:06:19.51
Do you find that
picture in the New Testament?
00:06:19.77\00:06:21.34
And then when Joab the general
saw him there, and he--the
00:06:23.48\00:06:26.11
general Joab fought with David,
and he thought "This young
00:06:26.15\00:06:29.05
spoiled brat has caused all
this death in the kingdom," even
00:06:30.52\00:06:34.06
though David wanted everyone to
show Absalom mercy, Joab said,
00:06:34.09\00:06:37.23
"He's just going to cause more
problems," and he took three
00:06:37.26\00:06:39.89
darts and pierced his heart, and
like the nails in the hands and
00:06:39.93\00:06:45.00
feet of Jesus.
00:06:45.03\00:06:46.33
See, Jesus became
sin for you and me.
00:06:46.37\00:06:48.07
Jesus took the
evil for you and me.
00:06:48.30\00:06:51.01
But the rebellion of Absalom is
an allegory for something that
00:06:52.11\00:06:56.64
happened in heaven.
00:06:56.68\00:06:58.08
Our study tonight is on the
Prince of Pride, and let's look
00:06:58.11\00:07:02.98
at the story from the lesson
in our--from the questions we're
00:07:03.02\00:07:07.09
going to see in our lesson
today, and I think we're going
00:07:07.12\00:07:08.89
to learn a lot from that.
00:07:08.92\00:07:10.23
First question, what was the
name of the rebellious Prince in
00:07:10.26\00:07:13.60
Heaven, and why did he rebel?
00:07:13.63\00:07:15.86
You can read here in Isaiah
Chapter 14, verse 12, "How you
00:07:16.60\00:07:21.07
are fallen from heaven, O,"
what's that name, "Lucifer, son
00:07:21.10\00:07:26.21
of the morning!"
00:07:26.24\00:07:27.54
Nothing wrong with that
name, that was the first name.
00:07:27.58\00:07:29.14
Lucifer means light bearer, and
he may have lived millions or
00:07:29.48\00:07:35.45
billions of years before he
finally rebelled, we don't know,
00:07:35.98\00:07:38.52
but he was the
highest of God's angels.
00:07:38.72\00:07:41.06
What caused his problems?
00:07:41.99\00:07:43.29
It says, "You have said
in your heart, I will be like
00:07:43.32\00:07:46.76
the most high."
00:07:46.80\00:07:48.06
So now, if you have your Bible
and you turn to the book of
00:07:48.10\00:07:50.00
Isaiah chapter 14, start
with verse, oh, 12, "How you are
00:07:50.03\00:07:55.34
fallen from heaven, O
Lucifer, son of the morning!
00:07:55.37\00:07:57.67
How you are cut down to
the ground, you who weakened
00:07:57.91\00:08:00.14
the nations!
00:08:00.18\00:08:01.61
For you said in your heart," he
didn't betray it openly first,
00:08:01.64\00:08:05.85
"'I will ascend into heaven.
00:08:05.88\00:08:07.25
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God.'"
00:08:07.52\00:08:11.19
Stars are often used to describe
angels, and the Bible tells us
00:08:11.45\00:08:14.62
that in Revelation.
00:08:14.66\00:08:15.99
"I will also sit," meaning
enthroned, "on the mount of
00:08:16.46\00:08:19.16
the congregation."
00:08:19.19\00:08:20.50
They'll all worship me.
00:08:20.53\00:08:21.83
"'On the farthest sides of the
north,'" that means the highest
00:08:22.16\00:08:24.40
place, "'I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds.
00:08:24.43\00:08:27.57
I will be like the Most High.'
00:08:27.77\00:08:29.57
Yet you will be
brought down to Sheol.
00:08:30.31\00:08:32.61
To the lowest
depths of the Pit."
00:08:32.64\00:08:34.54
So, here you've got this
very powerful, not just very
00:08:35.38\00:08:38.25
powerful, the most powerful
angel of God, and he begins to
00:08:38.28\00:08:44.15
think, "God is getting all the
worship, Jesus has the power to
00:08:44.19\00:08:48.46
create, why don't I
have the power to create?"
00:08:48.49\00:08:50.26
And even though the other angels
adored Lucifer, and he probably
00:08:51.06\00:08:53.73
led the Heavenly choir, Bible
alludes to his musical ability,
00:08:53.76\00:08:57.80
he began to resent that he
didn't have ultimate power.
00:08:58.30\00:09:01.04
It says, "Your heart," this
is now Ezekiel 28, the prophet
00:09:02.00\00:09:05.27
there tells us, "Your
heart was lifted up because of
00:09:05.31\00:09:07.91
your beauty.
00:09:07.94\00:09:09.38
You corrupted your wisdom
for the sake of your splendor."
00:09:09.41\00:09:12.61
You know, sometimes if a person
is very intelligent and they're
00:09:13.25\00:09:15.88
good looking, then they can get
a lot of praise from people, and
00:09:15.92\00:09:18.95
with praise, you get pride.
00:09:18.99\00:09:21.96
Pride, you start wanting more
and more attention and more and
00:09:22.96\00:09:25.39
more power, and that's what
happened to Lucifer, began to
00:09:25.43\00:09:28.63
resent that he was not God.
00:09:28.66\00:09:30.17
He wanted the top job, and he
started resenting that, and he
00:09:30.93\00:09:35.24
thought, if I can get all the
angels to join me, my power and
00:09:35.27\00:09:38.81
all the power of the angels, we
could overthrow God, and I could
00:09:38.84\00:09:41.31
be God.
00:09:41.34\00:09:42.68
Well, to you and me right now
that sounds like a ridiculous
00:09:43.88\00:09:46.55
idea, that the creation could
somehow overthrow the Creator.
00:09:46.58\00:09:49.38
Now, when He, when God knew that
Lucifer was first beginning to
00:09:49.98\00:09:54.36
become preoccupied with His
power and His wisdom and His
00:09:54.39\00:09:57.49
beauty and think that I could be
God, God could've said, "Look,
00:09:57.53\00:10:01.66
he's going to be a troublemaker,
I'm going to snap My fingers.
00:10:01.70\00:10:04.30
I'm going to blink, and he
is going to just disappear."
00:10:04.33\00:10:08.34
God could do that.
00:10:09.14\00:10:10.47
God is all powerful.
00:10:10.51\00:10:11.81
One of the definitions of
God is He's omnipotent, He's all
00:10:11.84\00:10:13.94
powerful, but what would the
other angels think if God had
00:10:13.98\00:10:18.11
said, "Lucifer, you
shouldn't be questioning Me.
00:10:18.15\00:10:20.75
Poof, there you go.
Anyone else got questions?"
00:10:20.78\00:10:23.02
The other angels would go, "Oh,
maybe Lucifer is right, but we
00:10:24.69\00:10:28.16
better not say anything."
00:10:28.19\00:10:29.52
They would have doubted the
goodness of God if God had just
00:10:29.56\00:10:32.59
snuffed him out when
he started his rebellion.
00:10:32.63\00:10:35.13
And it says,
"Because of your beauty.
00:10:36.90\00:10:40.00
You corrupted your wisdom
for the sake of your splendor."
00:10:40.30\00:10:43.41
He had this this glory, this
beauty, like Absalom, went to
00:10:43.44\00:10:48.98
his head.
00:10:49.01\00:10:50.35
And I heard a pastor say
one time there's four kinds
00:10:50.55\00:10:52.41
of people.
00:10:52.45\00:10:53.82
You got people who are beautiful
on the inside, but they might be
00:10:54.25\00:10:58.92
average, most of us are
pretty average on the outside.
00:10:58.95\00:11:02.46
And even though they might
just be, you know, normal on the
00:11:03.53\00:11:06.56
outside, because they're
beautiful on the inside, they've
00:11:06.59\00:11:10.53
got a winning disposition and a
quick smile, and people want to
00:11:10.57\00:11:12.93
be with them, and
they're good listeners.
00:11:12.97\00:11:15.30
Everybody wants somebody
like that, and people love those
00:11:15.34\00:11:17.64
people, they're beautiful
people, but they might be homely
00:11:17.67\00:11:21.81
on the outside.
00:11:21.84\00:11:23.21
Then you've got people who are
beautiful on the outside, but
00:11:23.24\00:11:28.12
they're proud on the inside.
00:11:28.15\00:11:29.52
I knew this one girl, and
she spent all of her spare time
00:11:30.75\00:11:33.82
reading Glamour magazine, and
she was a very attractive young
00:11:33.86\00:11:36.73
lady, but she knew it, and she
was always looking at herself,
00:11:36.76\00:11:40.73
always pulling out a mirror.
00:11:40.76\00:11:42.03
She could not walk by a glass
window without checking herself
00:11:42.06\00:11:45.13
out, and her friends used
to tease her, because she was
00:11:45.17\00:11:47.74
obviously pretty preoccupied
with her appearance, and guys
00:11:47.77\00:11:50.91
wanted to date her, but
they didn't want to marry her.
00:11:50.94\00:11:52.74
It's kind of like those two guys
who were sitting in church one
00:11:54.68\00:11:56.81
day and in walks this man
with a very beautiful wife.
00:11:56.85\00:12:01.48
And they kind of all
turned around and looked, and he
00:12:03.02\00:12:05.09
elbowed his friend, and he said,
"That guy's wife always looks
00:12:05.12\00:12:07.26
like a million dollars."
00:12:07.29\00:12:08.92
He said, "Yeah, it's costing
him a million dollars a month to
00:12:09.29\00:12:11.46
keep her looking that way too."
00:12:11.49\00:12:12.86
So then you got the people who
are, you know, they're beautiful
00:12:15.03\00:12:17.20
on the outside, but they're
kind of selfish on the inside.
00:12:17.23\00:12:19.43
Then you got a very rare
individual that is beautiful on
00:12:20.17\00:12:24.94
the outside and they're
beautiful on the inside.
00:12:24.97\00:12:27.51
The Bible says a beautiful woman
without discretion is like a
00:12:28.18\00:12:30.75
jewel of gold in a pig's nose.
00:12:30.78\00:12:32.75
Did you know that?
00:12:33.45\00:12:34.78
That's what Solomon said.
00:12:34.82\00:12:36.12
So, if you've got a person who
is beautiful on the outside, but
00:12:36.15\00:12:39.59
they don't have the beauty on
the inside, it's kind of wasted.
00:12:39.62\00:12:42.32
But what you really want is
that woman you find in Proverbs
00:12:42.36\00:12:45.19
chapter 31, she's a beautiful
woman and she's a beautiful
00:12:45.23\00:12:48.96
wife, the beautiful woman,
person, and same thing with men,
00:12:49.00\00:12:52.67
of course.
00:12:52.70\00:12:54.04
And then the fourth category we
don't want to talk about, that
00:12:54.30\00:12:56.97
would be the
ugly-ugly, inside and out.
00:12:57.01\00:13:01.51
But Lucifer started
out beautiful-beautiful.
00:13:02.81\00:13:06.75
God made him beautiful, but
he made himself ugly, and that's
00:13:07.38\00:13:11.49
what people need to understand.
00:13:11.52\00:13:13.09
Question number two, one of the
biggest questions of the night,
00:13:13.12\00:13:15.69
did God make a devil or
a defective angel when He
00:13:15.96\00:13:20.30
created Lucifer?
00:13:20.33\00:13:21.63
Well, what does the Bible say?
00:13:22.76\00:13:24.10
"You were perfect in your ways
from the day you were created."
00:13:24.60\00:13:28.70
It tells us he
wasn't born, he's created.
00:13:28.74\00:13:30.57
You were perfect, "Until
iniquity was found in you," and
00:13:30.94\00:13:34.54
some of you might be arguing,
no, no, Doug, you can't have it
00:13:34.58\00:13:37.15
both ways.
00:13:37.18\00:13:38.51
God cannot be all knowing and
all powerful and not know that
00:13:38.55\00:13:40.15
there was something
defective about Lucifer.
00:13:40.18\00:13:41.88
I mean, didn't God know
that he would ultimately go bad?
00:13:42.22\00:13:44.69
Yes, He did.
00:13:44.72\00:13:46.05
Then why did He make him?
00:13:46.49\00:13:47.82
Cause us all these problems?
00:13:48.26\00:13:49.89
God needed to demonstrate what
was the truth all along, that He
00:13:50.53\00:13:54.46
makes His intelligent creatures
perfectly free, because you
00:13:54.50\00:13:58.07
cannot love
unless you're truly free.
00:13:58.10\00:14:00.80
Doug: Don't go
anywhere, friends.
00:14:02.20\00:14:03.54
We're coming back in
just a moment to complete
00:14:03.57\00:14:05.21
today's presentation.
00:14:05.24\00:14:06.57
Have you ever wondered before if
God is loving, if God is good,
00:14:07.11\00:14:11.28
why would He make a devil?
00:14:11.58\00:14:12.95
Well, we have a special study
guide we'd like to send you for
00:14:13.21\00:14:15.58
free by the same title,
"Did God Create a Devil?"
00:14:15.62\00:14:18.75
In this beautifully illustrated
and scripture-filled resource,
00:14:19.22\00:14:22.62
we'll address the very important
questions regarding the origin
00:14:22.66\00:14:25.99
of evil.
00:14:26.03\00:14:27.30
Where did the devil come from?
00:14:27.36\00:14:28.66
Why did Lucifer rebel?
00:14:28.70\00:14:30.30
How did he turn
into Satan and the devil?
00:14:30.53\00:14:32.53
And more importantly,
how can you have victory over
00:14:32.83\00:14:35.30
his temptations?
00:14:35.34\00:14:36.57
To get your free copy, call the
phone number on your screen and
00:14:36.60\00:14:39.67
ask for offer number 107
or visit the web address.
00:14:39.71\00:14:43.14
And after you read this
incredible resource, make sure
00:14:43.58\00:14:46.08
and share it with a friend.
00:14:46.11\00:14:47.48
Well, let's get back now to
today's presentation and learn
00:14:47.82\00:14:50.49
some more amazing
facts from the Word of God.
00:14:50.52\00:14:52.59
Doug: Now, a way that I'd
like to illustrate this is I'm
00:14:54.12\00:14:57.23
workin' on an app.
00:14:57.26\00:14:58.59
You didn't know that
I do my own programming.
00:14:59.53\00:15:01.40
And how many of you want love?
00:15:02.86\00:15:05.73
Show of hands?
00:15:06.03\00:15:07.37
C'mon, some of
you say-- [grumbling]
00:15:08.17\00:15:11.61
Of course you want love.
00:15:11.64\00:15:12.94
I like to be liked, don't you?
00:15:12.97\00:15:14.34
I mean, compared
with the other option.
00:15:14.71\00:15:17.01
I mean, who wants to be hated?
00:15:17.05\00:15:18.35
I'd rather be
liked than hated, so.
00:15:18.38\00:15:19.75
And we all like affirmation
and appreciation and love and
00:15:20.88\00:15:24.12
affection, I as much as others.
00:15:24.15\00:15:28.06
And so, I've developed
this new app to help improve
00:15:28.66\00:15:31.66
our self-esteem.
00:15:31.69\00:15:33.06
smartphone: Good evening, Doug.
00:15:36.63\00:15:37.97
Doug: Good evening, smartphone.
00:15:38.30\00:15:39.63
smartphone: I want to
tell you something, Doug.
00:15:39.67\00:15:41.34
Doug: We're all listening.
00:15:41.37\00:15:42.70
smartphone: I want to
tell you how much I love you.
00:15:42.74\00:15:45.34
It's because you're
just, well, you're so lovable.
00:15:46.21\00:15:48.84
Everything about you is
adorable, and you're just
00:15:49.34\00:15:53.31
so intelligent.
00:15:53.35\00:15:54.68
You're brilliant and
you're smart and you're so
00:15:55.02\00:15:58.19
good looking.
00:15:58.22\00:15:59.55
It's just absolutely stunning.
00:15:59.59\00:16:01.22
You have the strength of Samson,
you have the wisdom of Solomon,
00:16:01.76\00:16:05.26
and the courage of Elijah all
wrapped up in one of the most
00:16:05.29\00:16:08.16
absolutely remarkable--that's
why I love you, Doug.
00:16:09.20\00:16:12.50
I love you, I love you, I love
you, I love you, I love you.
00:16:12.93\00:16:16.07
Roses are red, violets
are blue, and I love you.
00:16:16.10\00:16:17.81
I love you, Doug.
00:16:17.84\00:16:19.21
Doug: Oh, I feel so
much better already.
00:16:19.71\00:16:21.34
Don't you think this'll sell?
00:16:22.01\00:16:23.38
I've got love now.
00:16:25.58\00:16:26.95
Do you think it
really makes me feel better?
00:16:30.12\00:16:31.72
Why?
00:16:32.72\00:16:34.06
I program it to
say all those things.
00:16:34.26\00:16:36.46
Even though they're true, I'm
the one who made it say all that
00:16:36.73\00:16:40.70
stuff, so it
doesn't really love me.
00:16:40.73\00:16:42.86
Smartphone doesn't love me,
it's a piece of electronics.
00:16:42.90\00:16:45.23
Does God want robots? No.
00:16:45.53\00:16:49.64
If God had made us robots
that say, "I love you, God.
00:16:49.67\00:16:51.91
I love you, God. I love you.
00:16:51.94\00:16:53.24
I praise you, Lord, I praise--"
00:16:53.27\00:16:54.58
If you're not really choosing
to do it, it's not love.
00:16:54.61\00:16:57.45
Forced love is not love.
00:16:57.48\00:17:00.25
Forced love is
sometimes called rape.
00:17:00.28\00:17:01.65
It's got to be freely given,
and so if God had made only
00:17:03.18\00:17:08.66
creatures that would love
Him, it stops being real love.
00:17:08.69\00:17:11.39
God made creatures free with
the ability to make independent
00:17:12.43\00:17:16.16
choices, and Lucifer said,
"I think I love myself more."
00:17:16.20\00:17:22.17
And that's when
everything went bad.
00:17:23.17\00:17:24.67
See, God originally designed us
where our greatest fulfillment
00:17:25.64\00:17:28.74
comes from expressing
love away from ourselves.
00:17:28.78\00:17:32.61
Something was going wrong inside
Lucifer because he just began to
00:17:33.28\00:17:37.09
think about himself more than
God, resent that God was getting
00:17:37.12\00:17:40.82
more power and had more power
and was receiving more adoration
00:17:40.86\00:17:44.63
than him, and the compass needle
flipped around, and it started
00:17:44.66\00:17:49.43
pointing inward, and that's
when you begin to self destruct.
00:17:49.46\00:17:53.47
That's what happened to
the human race, selfishness.
00:17:53.70\00:17:55.90
It's what happened to Lucifer.
00:17:56.17\00:17:57.47
What finally happened?
00:17:57.51\00:17:58.84
Well, Lucifer began to circulate
among the angels, and when he
00:17:58.87\00:18:02.11
realized he could not be God,
he thought, well, I'll get the
00:18:02.14\00:18:04.81
other angels to support me.
00:18:04.85\00:18:06.18
Don't underestimate his
power, how clever he is, and how
00:18:06.45\00:18:09.75
persuasive he is, because
the Bible says he was able to
00:18:09.78\00:18:12.42
persuade a third of the angels
to believe him and to follow him
00:18:12.92\00:18:16.83
in his rebellion.
00:18:16.86\00:18:18.23
"And a war broke out in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought
00:18:18.96\00:18:23.40
with the dragon,"
who's the dragon represent?
00:18:23.43\00:18:26.27
He represents Satan.
00:18:27.97\00:18:29.30
"Michael and his angels fought
with the dragon: and the dragon
00:18:30.27\00:18:32.84
and his angels fought."
00:18:32.87\00:18:34.24
You read about this in
Revelation, I told you this is a
00:18:34.54\00:18:36.41
prophecy seminar, and all this
is going to play into prophesy.
00:18:36.44\00:18:39.08
The devil is mentioned quite
a bit in the book of Revelation.
00:18:39.75\00:18:42.98
What powerful beings work
under the devil's command?
00:18:44.55\00:18:47.52
Well, we sort of
just alluded to that.
00:18:48.26\00:18:50.36
You can read here in Revelation
12, verse 4, "His tail drew a
00:18:50.76\00:18:55.63
third of the stars of heaven
and threw them to the earth."
00:18:55.66\00:18:59.47
Who are these stars
that were following Lucifer?
00:18:59.50\00:19:02.97
They're angels also.
00:19:04.11\00:19:05.41
You can look at Revelation
chapter 12, verse 9, "He was
00:19:05.44\00:19:08.38
cast to the Earth, and his
angels were cast with him."
00:19:08.41\00:19:11.71
So, most of the time when we
say, "Well, the devil tempted me
00:19:11.75\00:19:16.55
or the devil made me do this,"
of course, the devil doesn't
00:19:16.58\00:19:18.52
make you do anything
unless you're demon possessed.
00:19:18.55\00:19:20.62
I think it was Flip Wilson used
to always say, "The devil made
00:19:21.22\00:19:23.59
me do it."
00:19:23.63\00:19:24.96
You can't always blame the
devil, and, first of all, the
00:19:24.99\00:19:26.90
devil is not omnipotent.
00:19:26.93\00:19:28.66
He doesn't know everything, he
can't read minds and hearts, but
00:19:28.70\00:19:31.33
the devil has fallen angels,
his minions, probably millions
00:19:31.37\00:19:35.54
of them.
00:19:35.57\00:19:36.87
One third of the angels in
heaven, and if God has guardian
00:19:36.91\00:19:40.44
angels for every person and
there are billions of people in
00:19:40.48\00:19:42.54
the world today, do you know
the Bible actually gives us the
00:19:42.58\00:19:45.35
highest number that is found in
Greek, it applies to the angels
00:19:45.38\00:19:48.72
of God, 10,000 times 10,000
and thousands of thousands.
00:19:48.75\00:19:54.22
Tries to describe this
innumerable company of angels,
00:19:54.26\00:19:57.86
they're described as coming
in a cloud when Jesus returns.
00:19:58.19\00:20:01.26
So, God's got a lot of angels,
but one third of them followed
00:20:01.50\00:20:05.30
Lucifer in his rebellion.
00:20:05.33\00:20:06.67
He kept saying, you
know, "God's not fair.
00:20:07.34\00:20:09.04
We should have more freedom.
00:20:09.24\00:20:10.54
We don't need
God's laws to govern us.
00:20:10.57\00:20:11.87
We should make our own.
00:20:11.91\00:20:13.24
We should have the power of God
to create, have our own worlds,"
00:20:13.27\00:20:15.74
and as he began to plant those
desires in his heart and the
00:20:15.78\00:20:19.25
hearts of the other angels--by
the way, what did he tell Adam
00:20:19.28\00:20:21.98
and Eve?
00:20:22.02\00:20:23.32
If you eat this
fruit, you'll be like God.
00:20:23.35\00:20:25.09
That's what he wanted.
00:20:25.39\00:20:26.79
He began to plant his desires in
the hearts of the other angels,
00:20:26.82\00:20:30.63
and they followed
him in his rebellion.
00:20:30.66\00:20:32.13
Ultimately, they were cast to
the earth because there was only
00:20:32.73\00:20:36.10
on earth that Satan found
another race of creatures made
00:20:36.13\00:20:41.34
in God's image that
followed him instead of God.
00:20:41.37\00:20:45.07
God said, "Do
not eat of the tree."
00:20:46.41\00:20:48.08
The Word of God said,
"Do not eat of the tree."
00:20:48.11\00:20:49.81
Lucifer said, "Go
ahead, eat of the tree.
00:20:50.71\00:20:52.38
You'll be like God."
00:20:52.88\00:20:54.25
Adam and Eve had to make
a decision, who do we obey?
00:20:54.58\00:20:56.99
When they chose to obey Lucifer
instead of God, Paul says in
00:20:57.52\00:21:01.69
Romans chapter 6, "Whoever
you obey, that's whose servant
00:21:01.72\00:21:04.66
you are."
00:21:04.69\00:21:06.03
The dominion of the world that
Adam had received was handed
00:21:06.06\00:21:08.73
over to the devil, and even
Jesus calls the devil the prince
00:21:08.76\00:21:12.20
of this world.
00:21:12.23\00:21:13.57
So, the prince of this world
comes and he has nothing in me.
00:21:13.80\00:21:16.14
That's why the devil said
to Jesus, if you fall down and
00:21:17.91\00:21:20.18
worship me, you don't
need to die for this world.
00:21:20.21\00:21:21.78
I'll give it to you.
00:21:21.81\00:21:23.31
He claims the
dominion of this world.
00:21:23.35\00:21:25.25
When the devil meets God in some
heavenly meeting and God says,
00:21:26.15\00:21:29.22
"Where did you come from?"
00:21:29.25\00:21:30.59
God knew, but He's asking
for the sake of others, said, "I
00:21:30.62\00:21:32.52
came from the earth, from
walking up and down and to and
00:21:32.55\00:21:35.12
fro in it.
00:21:35.16\00:21:36.49
It's my territory."
00:21:36.52\00:21:37.83
So, people say why is there
all this evil in the world?
00:21:37.86\00:21:39.53
It's because our first parents
made a decision not to follow
00:21:39.56\00:21:44.33
God, and God--He
allows things to play out.
00:21:44.37\00:21:47.74
You know, we live in a
country where we get to elect
00:21:48.80\00:21:51.14
our leaders.
00:21:51.17\00:21:52.51
And what we elect, we experience
for the next four years.
00:21:52.77\00:21:56.14
Good or bad, does--I'm
not advocating any party, just
00:21:56.88\00:22:00.98
you're going to live with the
consequences of your choices,
00:22:01.32\00:22:03.79
and that's what's happening
in the world right now is we are
00:22:04.02\00:22:07.56
living out the consequences
of the choices that were made by
00:22:07.59\00:22:10.16
our first parents.
00:22:10.19\00:22:11.49
But it's going to
come to an end soon.
00:22:11.53\00:22:12.89
God just wanted the whole world
to see what is the result of
00:22:13.16\00:22:16.46
following the
devil's government.
00:22:16.50\00:22:18.07
The devil said, if I was
in charge, we'd be happier in
00:22:18.47\00:22:20.90
the universe.
00:22:20.94\00:22:22.24
God said, all right, you found
a world that's listening to you,
00:22:22.27\00:22:24.17
let's see how that goes.
00:22:24.57\00:22:25.94
And if Jesus had not come to our
world to intervene--that's why
00:22:26.61\00:22:29.58
we pray.
00:22:29.61\00:22:30.95
See, if we don't pray,
the devil's really in control
00:22:30.98\00:22:33.52
of things.
00:22:33.55\00:22:34.88
It's just the mercy of God
that intervenes to protect.
00:22:34.92\00:22:37.22
Otherwise, he'd
exterminate the whole planet.
00:22:37.85\00:22:39.75
You know, I like
science, and black holes are
00:22:41.19\00:22:43.49
kind of fascinating.
00:22:43.53\00:22:44.86
It's a collapsed star, and
they've pretty much proven the
00:22:46.56\00:22:50.03
existence of these black holes,
and the density of matter in a
00:22:50.07\00:22:55.00
black hole is so incredibly
powerful that, you know, matter
00:22:55.04\00:22:59.44
creates gravitational pull, the
gravitational pull of a black
00:22:59.47\00:23:02.01
hole is so incredible that
light, which travels 186,000
00:23:02.04\00:23:06.18
miles per second,
cannot even escape.
00:23:06.21\00:23:07.98
It just sucks in, and the
devil is like a black hole.
00:23:09.52\00:23:13.42
Everything is about me, me, me,
and people who follow the devil
00:23:13.99\00:23:18.73
in the world, they've
got the same attitude.
00:23:18.76\00:23:20.23
All of their thoughts
are, how will this affect me?
00:23:20.90\00:23:22.66
What's in it for me?
00:23:22.70\00:23:24.03
Jesus, on the other hand,
everything Jesus did was love.
00:23:25.23\00:23:28.30
What's the great command?
00:23:28.94\00:23:30.34
Love the Lord, love
your neighbor as yourself.
00:23:30.74\00:23:33.84
See, with the
devil, it's you first;
00:23:34.21\00:23:36.51
everything else is secondary.
00:23:36.54\00:23:38.11
With God, it's God first, it's
others first, and then it's you.
00:23:38.15\00:23:42.55
The devil is the polar opposite
of God when it comes to values.
00:23:42.58\00:23:46.05
The plan of salvation, you're
born again, and instead of being
00:23:46.49\00:23:49.32
controlled by selfishness,
you're now controlled by love.
00:23:49.36\00:23:52.86
It changes your life.
00:23:53.83\00:23:55.20
The polarities reverse, so
now you think about others, you
00:23:55.23\00:23:58.53
love because Jesus loves others.
00:23:58.83\00:24:00.74
Now, before I go any farther,
when David finally learned that
00:24:01.77\00:24:04.91
Absalom had died hanging in
a tree, pierced, you know, when
00:24:04.94\00:24:10.95
Absalom was running, you
remember he was caught by the
00:24:11.31\00:24:14.55
hair and he was hanging in the
tree, and Joab and his soldiers
00:24:14.58\00:24:17.99
executed him, and that hearkens
to another son of David that
00:24:18.02\00:24:24.03
died hanging into a tree, in
a tree between heaven and earth
00:24:24.79\00:24:28.53
that was pierced.
00:24:28.90\00:24:30.27
And it says, "When David heard
this, he was deeply moved."
00:24:31.43\00:24:34.44
And, years ago, Karen and
I got word that while we were
00:24:35.70\00:24:39.04
overseas, one of our children
died in a construction accident.
00:24:39.07\00:24:42.41
And I can't tell you--I would
not wish that grief on any human
00:24:43.81\00:24:49.82
to know that suddenly,
unexpectedly, a beautiful son
00:24:51.35\00:24:55.29
has died and you
didn't get to say goodbye.
00:24:55.32\00:24:58.63
Just heartbreaking.
00:24:59.33\00:25:00.76
And David had such
high hopes for Absalom.
00:25:01.40\00:25:04.90
Says, he went and he said, oh,
he was much moved, and he went
00:25:05.97\00:25:10.24
over the gate, and he wept,
and everybody could hear him
00:25:10.27\00:25:12.07
weeping, and he said, "O, my
son, Absalom, my son, my son.
00:25:12.11\00:25:17.41
If only I had
died in your place.
00:25:18.15\00:25:19.85
O Absalom, my son, my son!"
00:25:19.88\00:25:23.05
And where else do
you find that phrase?
00:25:23.89\00:25:25.19
God so loved the world He
gave His only begotten Son.
00:25:25.22\00:25:28.56
Jesus, who is a son of David,
died for you and me that we
00:25:29.39\00:25:34.30
might be saved from
sin and from the Devil.
00:25:34.36\00:25:37.60
The Bible says, "Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth and the
00:25:38.77\00:25:41.44
sea, for the devil has come down
having great wrath because he
00:25:41.47\00:25:44.91
knows his time is short."
00:25:44.94\00:25:46.27
Question is, friends, do
you know the time is short?
00:25:46.61\00:25:48.54
We're living in right near the
end of time and soon everybody's
00:25:49.28\00:25:52.51
going to have to make a
decision one way or the other.
00:25:52.55\00:25:54.32
Don't wait.
00:25:54.35\00:25:55.68
1 John 4:4, "You are of
God, little children, and you've
00:25:56.32\00:26:00.82
overcome them, because He who is
in you is greater than he who is
00:26:00.86\00:26:04.63
in the world."
00:26:04.66\00:26:05.96
Don't say how it's going
to be hard to follow the Lord.
00:26:05.99\00:26:08.03
Life's hard.
00:26:08.06\00:26:09.36
It's a lot easier following
Jesus than following the devil.
00:26:09.40\00:26:11.70
It's easier being on your way to
the promised land than being a
00:26:12.10\00:26:14.57
slave back in
Egypt, can you say amen?
00:26:14.60\00:26:16.50
So, will you make that decision
to turn your eyes towards Jesus?
00:26:18.41\00:26:22.88
announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing
00:26:27.42\00:26:29.32
free resource.
00:26:29.75\00:26:31.12
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:26:31.15\00:26:33.42
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:26:33.46\00:26:35.96
mobile device.
00:26:35.99\00:26:37.33
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:26:37.36\00:26:40.53
the keyword on your screen to
40544 or visit the web address
00:26:40.56\00:26:45.17
shown on your screen, and
be sure to select the digital
00:26:45.20\00:26:48.27
download option
on the request page.
00:26:48.30\00:26:50.11
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:26:50.34\00:26:53.68
"Amazing Facts" wherever
and whenever you want, and most
00:26:53.71\00:26:57.35
important, to
share it with others.
00:26:57.38\00:26:59.45
announcer: "Go into all the
world and preach the gospel to
00:27:01.58\00:27:04.75
every creature."
00:27:04.79\00:27:06.12
Through radio, television,
print, evangelistic events, and
00:27:06.35\00:27:09.62
the internet, Amazing Facts
International is heeding the
00:27:09.66\00:27:12.73
call of Jesus to
go into all the world.
00:27:12.76\00:27:15.73
Millions of individuals in over
150 countries have been blessed
00:27:16.16\00:27:20.24
by the Word of God.
00:27:20.27\00:27:21.67
Amazing Facts has spawned new
spheres of influence in India,
00:27:21.70\00:27:25.14
Africa, China, and Indonesia.
00:27:25.17\00:27:27.24
With each new country come
hundreds of translated booklets,
00:27:27.68\00:27:30.68
study guides, and video
presentations produced in each
00:27:30.71\00:27:33.72
region for the
people of that region.
00:27:33.75\00:27:35.68
Armed with these precious
truths, gospel workers are
00:27:36.05\00:27:38.99
empowered to spread bright
rays of light on every path
00:27:39.02\00:27:42.22
they travel.
00:27:42.26\00:27:43.56
Please visit
reachtheworld.amazingfacts.org
00:27:43.59\00:27:46.96
to learn more about Amazing
Facts International and how you
00:27:47.00\00:27:50.10
can participate in this
exciting, soul winning ministry.
00:27:50.13\00:27:53.17
That website again is
reachtheworld.amazingfacts.org.
00:27:53.54\00:27:58.01
Thank you for your support.
00:27:58.04\00:27:59.47
announcer: Don't forget to
request today's free offer.
00:28:05.31\00:28:07.28
It's sure to be a blessing.
00:28:07.32\00:28:08.68
And thank you for your continued
support as we take the gospel of
00:28:09.12\00:28:12.52
Jesus Christ to the world.
00:28:12.55\00:28:14.19
We hope you'll join us next week
as we delve deep into the Word
00:28:14.49\00:28:17.93
of God to explore
more amazing facts.
00:28:17.96\00:28:20.96
announcer: This presentation was
brought to you by the friends of
00:28:24.70\00:28:27.24
the Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:28:27.27\00:28:28.87