Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: AFP
Program Code: AFP000090
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00:03 AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY.
00:08 >> COMING UP NEXT ON "AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS." 00:11 >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW TO JOIN 00:13 A CHURCH, YOU MUST DO IT BASED UPON WHAT ARE THE DOCTRINES 00:17 OF THE CHURCH? WHAT DO THEY TEACH? 00:24 >> FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN 00:27 DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 00:30 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST 00:33 TELEVISION BROADCASTS. WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK 00:37 AND ENJOY THIS EDITION OF "AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS." 00:52 >> TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA TRY AND FIND OUT WHO THE RIGHT WOMAN IS, 00:56 THAT'S OUR STUDY AND THAT'S OUR STORACLE TONIGHT DEALING 00:59 WITH THE STORY OF KING SOLOMON AND HIS WISDOM IN MAKING 01:04 A DIFFICULT JUDGMENT CALL. YOU REMEMBER, NO DOUBT, 01:08 THAT WHEN SOLOMON FIRST RECEIVED THE KINGDOM, 01:12 HE ASKED GOD FOR WISDOM. AND THAT WISDOM WAS EVIDENT, 01:18 ESPECIALLY IN THE JUDGMENTS HE RENDERED. 01:20 THERE WAS ONE SPECIFICALLY DIFFICULT CASE OF TWO WOMEN 01:25 WHO LIVED TOGETHER IN A HOME, THEY BOTH HAD BABY BOYS 01:28 ABOUT THE SAME TIME AND WHILE THE CHILDREN WERE INFANTS, ONE 01:32 OF THE LADIES DURING THE NIGHT ACCIDENTLY SMOTHERED HER CHILD. 01:38 SHE WOKE UP AND SAW THE STILL, COLD, FORM OF THE BABY AND AFTER 01:43 SHE RECOVERED FROM HER SHOCK, SHE NOTICED THAT HER COMPANION'S 01:45 LITTLE BABY WAS STILL COOING AND ALIVE AND SHE FELT SO GUILTY 01:49 FOR HER NEGLECT, SHE GENTLY WENT OVER AND TOOK THE LIVING BABY 01:53 AND REPLACED IT WITH THE COLD FORM OF THE DEAD BABY. 01:57 HER ROOMMATE WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS GONNA NURSE 02:00 THE BABY AND SAW THAT IT WAS DEAD AND BEGAN TO CRY AND 02:02 THEN REALIZED THIS ISN'T MY BABY. 02:04 YOU KNOW WHEN THEY'RE REAL LITTLE, IT'S SOMETIMES HARD. 02:06 THEY ALL LOOK LIKE RAISINS WHEN THEY'RE REAL LITTLE, 02:08 THEN THEY START TO TAKE ON MORE CHARACTERISTIC. 02:11 WELL, THERE WAS A MAJOR DISPUTE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD BECAUSE 02:14 SHE SAID, "THIS ISN'T MINE, THAT'S MY BABY." 02:16 "NO, THAT'S MY BABY, THAT'S YOUR BABY." 02:19 AND THE DIFFICULT CASES WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE KING. 02:22 AND SO AS THIS CASE WAS PRESENTED TO THE KING, ALL OF 02:24 HIS COUNSELORS WERE GATHERED AROUND TO SEE HOW SOLOMON 02:27 WAS GOING TO RESOLVE THIS COMPLICATED PROBLEM. 02:32 AND HE THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, SOLOMON WAS AN EXPERT AT HUMAN 02:35 NATURE AND HE SAID VERY SIMPLE, "YOU SAY THAT THE LIVING BABY 02:39 IS YOURS AND YOU SAY THE LIVING BABY IS YOURS, THERE'S ONLY ONE 02:42 LIVING BABY, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO DIVIDE IT." 02:45 HE CALLED FOR HIS SOLDIER WHO CAME OVER, GAVE THE KING 02:49 A DOUBLE TAKE, ARE YOU SERIOUS? THE KING NODDED. 02:52 HE PULLED OUT HIS SWORD, HELD UP THE BABY, GOT READY 02:54 TO WHACK THE BABY IN TWO. AS HE WAS ABOUT TO DO IT, ONE OF 02:57 THE WOMEN SAID, "NO, PLEASE GIVE HER THE BABY, 03:01 SPARE THE BABY'S LIFE." AND THE OTHER WOMAN SAID 03:03 OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS THE ONLY FAIR TO DO, GO AHEAD, CUT IT IN HALF. 03:07 SOLOMON SAID GIVE THE BABY TO THE WOMAN WHO'S WILLING TO 03:10 SACRIFICE IT RATHER THAN SEE IT DIE, THAT'S THE MOTHER. 03:15 NOW WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT ABOUT 03:18 HOW TO FIND OUT THE TRUE WOMAN. REVELATION DEPICTS TWO WOMEN, 03:24 ONE IS TRUE, ONE IS COUNTERFEIT. AND LIKE THAT SOLDIER WE NEED 03:28 TO USE THE SWORD TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN 03:31 THE GENUINE AND THE IMPOSTER. THE BIBLE TELLS US 03:35 "AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD." 03:38 THAT WILL NEED TO BE OUR GUIDE TONIGHT. 03:41 SO LET'S GO TO QUESTION NUMBER ONE OF OUR LESSON DEALING 03:45 WITH THIS BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO WOMEN. 03:49 QUESTION NUMBER ONE, "HOW DOES REVELATION 03:51 PICTURE GOD'S TRUE CHURCH?" REVELATION 12, AND YOU CAN READ 03:57 VERSES 1, 2, 5. IT SAYS THERE WAS A WOMAN 04:01 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN, AND THE MOON UNDER HER FEET, AND 04:05 UPON HER HEAD A CROWN OF TWELVE STARS: AND SHE BEING WITH CHILD 04:11 CRIED, TRAVAILING IN BIRTH, AND PAINED TO BE DELIVERED." 04:15 WANT TO READ ON A LITTLE FURTHER. 04:17 "AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH A MAN CHILD, WHO WAS TO RULE ALL 04:20 NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON: AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP 04:24 TO GOD, AND TO HIS THRONE." NOW WHO IS THIS WOMAN? 04:30 ONE THING WE DISCOVER RIGHT OFF, YOU CAN TELL WHO THE WOMEN ARE 04:34 IN REVELATION BY WHAT THEY WEAR. CLOTHING IN THE BIBLE IS 04:39 DESCRIPTIVE OF CHARACTER. THIS WOMAN IS WEARING THE SUN. 04:44 SHE'S WEARING LIGHT. SHE'S STANDING ON THE MOON. 04:47 SHE'S GOT A CROWN OF STARS ABOVE HER HEAD. SHE IS WEARING THE 04:51 LIGHT THAT GOD MADE. NOW WHEN YOU READ REVELATION, 04:54 IT SAYS THE LORD MADE THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE STARS. 04:57 THERE'S ALL KIND OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT WE'VE GOT HERE IN THIS 05:00 AUDITORIUM AND YOU WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD, BUT THE LIGHT 05:03 THAT GOD MADE IS THE SUN, MOON AND STARS. 05:05 GOD SAYS TO THE CHURCH, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AND YOU 05:09 ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD." SHE'S STANDING ON THE MOON. 05:12 THAT'S A SYMBOL OF THE LIGHT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT WAS 05:16 REFLECTING THE REALITY THAT WOULD COME WHEN JESUS ARRIVED 05:20 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. SHE'S WEARING THE NEW TESTAMENT, 05:23 THE LIGHT OF CHRIST, THE SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHO ARISES 05:25 WITH HEALING IN HIS WINGS. MALACHI 4, GOT 12 STARS 05:30 ABOVE HER HEAD. ABOVE THE HEAD REPRESENTS 05:32 AUTHORITY IN THE BIBLE, 12 APOSTLES LEADING THE CHURCH. 05:36 IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, YOU HAD THE 12 PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL, 05:39 YOU HAD THE 12 JUDGES THAT YOU FIND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, 05:42 12 REPRESENTS THE LEADERSHIP. SO HERE YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF 05:46 GOD'S CHURCH, THE SUN, THE MOON, THE STARS, THERE'S LIGHT 05:49 AND SHE'S WAITING TO GIVE BIRTH TO A BABY. 05:52 IT SAYS SHE'S TRAVAILING, READY TO GIVE BIRTH. 05:57 QUESTION NUMBER TWO, "WHO IS THE GREAT RED DRAGON, 06:01 AND WHAT DOES HE TRY TO DO?" 06:02 REMEMBER TO SAY THE ANSWERS OUT LOUD, EVEN YOU AT HOME WATCHING 06:05 IN YOUR RESPECTIVE CHURCHES AND HERE. 06:07 HERE WE GO, "AND THAT GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, 06:11 THAT OLD SERPENT, CALLED THE DEVIL, AND SATAN." 06:15 SO WE KNOW WHO THE DRAGON IS. NOW THE DRAGON, THE DEVIL, 06:18 HE DOESN'T USUALLY PLOP DOWN ON THE GROUND LOOKING LIKE A DEVIL. 06:21 HE OPERATES THROUGH EXISTING POWERS, GOVERNMENTS. 06:25 YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE DEVIL TRIED TO DESTROY JESUS AS A BABY 06:28 USING THE ROMAN POWER. WHAT POWER? 06:31 THE ROMAN EMPIRE, HE TRIED TO USE IT. 06:33 IT WAS ROMAN SOLDIERS THAT WENT AFTER THE BABIES IN BETHLEHEM. 06:37 IT WAS ROMAN SOLDIERS THAT WHIPPED CHRIST AND ROMAN 06:40 SOLDIERS THAT CRUCIFIED HIM AND PIERCED HIS SIDE. 06:43 IT WAS ROMAN SOLDIERS THAT ALSO HELPED PERSECUTE PAUL IN SOME OF 06:46 THE EARLY CHURCH AND IMPRISONED THEM AND SO THE DEVIL USES 06:50 THESE POLITICAL POWERS. FURTHERMORE IT SAYS, "THE DRAGON 06:53 STOOD BEFORE THE WOMAN WHICH WAS READY TO BE DELIVERED, 06:56 FOR TO DEVOUR HER CHILD AS SOON AS IT WAS BORN." 07:00 NOT ONLY DID THE ROMAN SOLDIERS GO INTO BETHLEHEM TO KILL ALL 07:04 THE BABIES, THE DEVIL KNEW THE MESSIAH WAS COMING, HE WANTED TO 07:07 STOP HIM IN HIS INFANCY WHILE HE WAS WEAK AND DEFENSELESS. 07:11 BUT YOU KNOW I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE OLD TESTAMENT, 07:13 YOU'LL ALSO FIND OUT THE DEVIL DID THE SAME THING 07:15 DURING THE TIME OF MOSES. YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE PHARAOH 07:18 KNEW A GREAT DELIVER WAS COMING. THE DEVIL, 07:21 HE DIDN'T KNOW ALL THINGS. THE BIBLE WASN'T WRITTEN YET. 07:23 MOSES WROTE IN THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS. 07:25 HE WAS WONDERING IF GOD WOULD BECOME A MAN DURING THE TIME OF 07:29 THE EXODUS, HE WANTED TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. 07:31 HE HAD ALL THOUGH BABY BOYS THROWN TO THE CROCODILES 07:34 IN THE NILE RIVER, BUT GOD, IN THE SAME WAY HE 07:36 DELIVERED MOSES, HE DELIVERED CHRIST. 07:39 NOW THIS WOMAN REPRESENTS THE CHURCH, GOD'S CHURCH. 07:43 SOME HAVE SAID, AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, 07:46 THAT THE WOMAN HERE IN REVELATION 12 IS MARY. 07:49 YOU KEEP READING ON AND IT'S NOT MARY. 07:51 IT SAYS THAT SHE'S GIVEN WINGS AND SHE'S PERSECUTED AND SHE 07:53 FLEES INTO THE WILDERNESS AND IT TELLS WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD. 07:57 WHAT DOES A WOMAN REPRESENT IN PROPHECY? 07:59 "I'VE LIKENED THE DAUGHTER OF ZION UNTO A DELICATE 08:02 AND COMELY WOMAN. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES 08:04 AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH." JOHN, WHEN HE WROTE HIS LETTERS, 08:07 HE SAID FROM THE ELECT--FROM YOUR SISTER UNTO THE ELECT LADY. 08:11 THIS LANGUAGE OF A WOMAN AS A CHURCH IS ALL THROUGH 08:14 THE BIBLE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT VERY CLEARLY. 08:17 QUESTION NUMBER THREE, "WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SATAN 08:20 FAILS TO DESTROY JESUS?" IT SAYS REVELATION 12:5, 08:24 "AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP UNTO GOD, AND TO HIS THRONE." 08:29 WE KNOW CHRIST ASCENDED TO HEAVEN. 08:31 NOW THE DEVIL DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO VENT HIS DIABOLICAL 08:36 FURY ON CHRIST IN PERSON. BUT WHEN JESUS ASCENDED UP TO 08:39 THE FATHER, NOW HOW DOES THE DEVIL HURT JESUS? 08:43 THIS IS QUESTION NUMBER FOUR, IT SAYS, "AFTER JESUS WAS 08:47 CAUGHT UP TO HEAVEN, WHAT DID SATAN DO TO THE CHURCH?" 08:51 ANSWER, REVELATION 12:13, "WHEN THE DRAGON SAW THAT HE WAS 08:55 CAST TO THE EARTH, HE PERSECUTED THE WOMAN WHICH BROUGHT FORTH 09:00 THE MAN CHILD." NOW WE FOUND OUT WHO THE WOMAN 09:02 IS, IS THERE ANY DOUBT ABOUT WHO THE MAN CHILD IS? 09:05 DOES EVERYONE HERE KNOW THAT THAT IS JESUS? OKAY. 09:08 WHY DOES THE DEVIL PERSECUTE GOD'S PEOPLE? 09:13 WELL, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY. 09:16 WHEN YOU WANT TO HURT SOMEBODY, IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THEM, GET TO 09:20 THAT WHICH IS PRECIOUS TO THEM. AND NOW LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE 09:24 HISTORY HERE. THE DEVIL'S FIRST PLAN 09:27 IN ATTACKING THE CHURCH WAS DESTROY IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. 09:31 FOR THE FIRST 200 OR 300 YEARS OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA, HE SOUGHT 09:34 TO DEBILITATE THE CHURCH THROUGH JUST EXTERMINATION. 09:38 CHRISTIANS WERE TOLD IF THEY DID NOT MAKE OFFERINGS AND PRAY TO 09:42 THE VARIOUS ROMAN DEITIES THAT THEY WOULD BE TORTURED, 09:45 IMPRISONED, KILLED. YOU'VE HEARD THE STORIES ABOUT 09:47 HOW THE CHRISTIANS WERE THROWN TO THE LIONS IN THE COLISEUM. 09:50 I EVEN HEARD JUST ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL, I WAS WATCHING ABOUT 09:54 ROME LAST NIGHT. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT. 09:56 I LIKE HISTORY. 09:57 HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD TAKE THE CHRISTIANS 09:59 AND PUT THEM INSIDE THE SKINS, BLOODY SKINS OF ANIMALS 10:02 AND THROW THEM IN THE ARENA TO BE TORN APART BY WILD DOGS. 10:05 AND NERO USED TO SMEAR THE BODIES OF CHRISTIANS WITH PITCH 10:08 AND IGNITE THEM TO LIGHT HIS GARDENS AT NIGHT. 10:12 THEY USED TO TEAR THEM LIMB FROM LIMB WITH WILD HORSES. 10:15 YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION IN ENGLISH, "WILD HORSES 10:17 COULDN'T KEEP ME AWAY." THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES FROM. 10:20 AND SO FIRST HE TRIED TO GET RID OF THEM ALL BY EXTERMINATING 10:23 THEM, BUT THE MORE THEY PERSECUTED THE CHRISTIANS, 10:25 THE MORE THE CHURCH GREW BECAUSE ALL THESE PAGANS 10:28 IN THE COLISEUM, SAW THESE CHRISTIANS DYING WITH 10:31 PEACE AND A CALM AND A SERENITY AND THEY THOUGHT, 10:34 "THEY'D GOT SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE." 10:37 AND THEY'D GO SEARCH OUT THE CHRISTIANS AND SAY, 10:38 "WHY ARE YOU FOLKS SO HAPPY? WHY ARE YOU SO CONTENT?" 10:40 'CAUSE THE PAGANS WERE CONSTANTLY LIVING IN FEAR, 10:43 AFRAID OF THE GODS AND AFRAID OF DEATH. 10:45 THE CHRISTIANS HAD PEACE, EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEATH. 10:48 THERE WAS A POWER THAT THEY HAD. 10:50 AND SO THE CHURCH CONTINUED TO GROW. 10:52 ONE OF THE GREAT CHURCH FATHERS SAID, "THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS 10:54 IS SEED FOR THE GOSPEL, IT JUST SPROUTS UP." 10:57 IT'S LIKE TRYING TO GET RID OF WEEDS BY MOWING THEM 10:59 AND THEY JUST KEEP GROWING. SO THE DEVIL WENT TO PLAN-B. 11:03 IF HE CANNOT DESTROY THE CHURCH FROM THE OUTSIDE 11:06 BY ANNIHILATION, BY GENOCIDE, DESTROY THEM 11:11 FROM THE INSIDE BY EROSION. THEN ALONG CAME CONSTANTINE, 11:17 CONSTANTINE, I'VE HEARD IT PRODUCED BOTH WAYS. 11:19 THE ROMAN EMPEROR, THE GREAT, AND HE LEGALIZED CHRISTIANITY 11:23 BECAUSE THE NEEDED THE SUPPORT OF THE SPREADING CHRISTIAN 11:25 CHURCH TO WELD THE EMPIRE TOGETHER. 11:28 THERE WAS A CIVIL WAR DURING HIS DAYS. 11:30 IT WAS A POLITICAL MOVE. HE CLAIMED BEFORE A BATTLE THAT 11:33 HE HAD A VISION HE WAS SUPPOSED TO NOW FIGHT UNDER THE SIGN OF 11:35 THE CROSS AND HE ORDERED HIS ARMY TO MARCH THROUGH THE TIBER 11:40 RIVER IN ROME AND HE SAID, "NOW YOU'RE ALL CHRISTIANS." 11:42 ALL THESE ROMAN SOLDIERS WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER DRY PAGANS 11:46 AND THEY CAME UP WET PAGANS AND THEY BROUGHT ALL THIS PAGANISM 11:50 INTO THE CHURCH. AND THEY SAID TO THEIR RELIGIOUS 11:54 LEADERS, THEY SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN TOLD WE'RE 11:56 CHRISTIANS NOW AND I'VE GOT MY GODS. 11:58 WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ALL MY IDOLS?" 12:00 AND THE GENUINE CHRISTIANS SAID, "YOU CAN'T PRAY TO IDOLS 12:02 ANYMORE." AND THEY SAID, "WHAT? WE DON'T WANT TO BE CHRISTIANS." 12:05 AND THEN SOME OF THE CHRISTIANS BEGAN TO COMPROMISE. 12:08 THEY SAID, "LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE A FEW COMPROMISES 12:10 AND THINK OF ALL THE PAGANS THAT WILL JOIN THE CHURCH. 12:12 THEY'LL STOP PERSECUTING US." IT WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE 12:16 BUT SOME OF THEM WHO WANTED TO HAVE INFLUENCE WITH CONSTANTINE, 12:19 WHO--CONSTANTINE, INCIDENTALLY, EVEN THOUGH HE PROFESSED 12:22 CHRISTIANITY, HE CONTINUED TO WORSHIP THE ROMAN GODS 12:25 AND APOLLO RIGHT UP UNTIL BEFORE HIS DEATH. 12:28 HE WAS NOT BAPTIZED UNTIL HE WAS GRAVELY ILL JUST BEFORE HE DIED, 12:32 UP TO THEN IT WAS A POLITICAL MOVE. 12:34 AND SO THEY TOOK ALL THESE STATUES THEY HAD THROUGHOUT 12:37 ROME OF JUPITER AND APOLLO AND MERCURY AND ZEUS AND DIANA 12:43 AND THEY NAMED THEM PETER, JAMES, JOHN, PAUL AND MARY. 12:47 THAT'S THE TRUTH. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE 12:49 I'M OVERSIMPLIFYING, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH. 12:51 I'VE HEARD THAT THE STATUE OF SAINT PETER IN ST. PETER'S 12:55 BASILICA IN ROME EXISTED BEFORE SAINT PETER WAS BORN. 12:58 IT USED TO BE THE STATUE OF JUPITER IN THE TEMPLE OF JUPITER 13:02 AND IT WAS MOVED. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THAT? 13:04 INTERESTING. CHANGE THE NAME. 13:06 WHY DO YOU THINK, YOU EVER LOOK AT THAT STATUE? 13:09 PETER'S GOT A HORN COMING OUT OF HIS HEAD. 13:11 WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT IN THE BIBLE? 13:14 IF THEY WERE GONNA MAKE THE STATUE OF PETER BIBLICALLY, 13:16 THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FOOT IN THE MOUTH BECAUSE PETER WAS 13:18 ALWAYS PUTTING HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH, IF YOU READ 13:20 THE NEW TESTAMENT, NOT A HORN OUT OF THE HEAD. 13:24 AND SO ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THIS PAGANISM CAME INTO THE CHURCH 13:27 AND THE CHURCH BECAME POLITICALLY CORRECT, BUT THE 13:30 GENUINE CHRISTIANS WHO WANTED TO GO BY THE BIBLE, 13:32 THEY NOW BECAME PERSONA NON GRATIS. 13:35 THEY WERE PERSECUTED AND ONCE AGAIN, AT THIS POINT, 13:39 THE CHRISTIANS, THE GENUINE CHRISTIANS WERE PUT IN CHAINS. 13:42 THOSE WHO SPOKE AGAINST THIS POPULAR RELIGIOUS POLITICAL 13:46 INSTITUTION, THEY EITHER WERE PERSECUTED, PUT IN PRISON, 13:50 EXECUTED OR THEY HAD TO FLEE UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS. 13:53 NUMBER FIVE, "WHERE DID THE WOMAN GO DURING THIS TERRIFYING 13:57 PERIOD OF PERSECUTION? AND HOW LONG DID IT LAST?" 14:01 ANSWER NUMBER FIVE, IT SAYS IN REVELATION 12:6, "AND THE WOMAN 14:05 FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS, WHERE SHE HATH A PLACE PREPARED OF 14:11 GOD, THAT THEY SHOULD FEED HER THERE A THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED 14:14 AND THREESCORE DAYS." NOW THAT PERIOD, 14:17 1,200 AND THREESCORE DAYS THAT REPRESENTS THIS TIME 14:21 PERIOD WHERE FOR 1,260 YEARS, THE CHURCH FROM 538 TO 1798 14:29 HAD TO FLEE INTO THE WILDERNESS, THE CHURCH WENT UNDERGROUND. 14:32 DON'T YOU THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 14:34 THERE WAS A WICKED QUEEN NAMED JEZEBEL, A PAGAN QUEEN 14:37 WHO MARRIED THE KING OF ISRAEL, THE GOVERNMENT. 14:39 AND SHE MANIPULATED THE KING OF ISRAEL TO PERSECUTE GOD'S PEOPLE 14:42 LIKE ELIJAH AND ELIJAH HAD TO FLEE INTO THE WILDERNESS FOR 14:46 1,260 DAYS, LITERAL DAYS, WHERE HE WAS FED BY RAVENS AND ANGELS, 14:53 ISN'T THAT RIGHT? HE FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS. 14:55 WHEN GOD LED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OUT OF SLAVERY INTO 14:58 THE WILDERNESS TO SAVE THEM FROM THEIR PERSECUTORS, 15:01 DID HE FEED THEM IN THE WILDERNESS? 15:03 ARE YOU AWARE THAT NOT ONLY WAS THERE THIS TIME PERIOD DURING 15:06 THE DARK AGES WHEN GOD'S CHURCH FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS AND GOD 15:10 FED THEM BUT DURING THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES IN THE TIME OF 15:13 TROUBLE, I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL FEED HIS PEOPLE WHO THEN AGAIN 15:17 MUST FLEE INTO THE WILDERNESS. JESUS SAID, "WHEN YOU SEE 15:19 THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, STAND IN THE HOLY PLACE. 15:22 LET THOSE THAT BE IN JUDEA, FLEE INTO THE MOUNTAINS." 15:26 THOSE IN SACRAMENTO, FLEE INTO THE SIERRAS. 15:29 THOSE IN MANHATTAN, WHAT'S THE NEAREST? ADIRONDACKS. 15:33 HEY, EVEN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IS CLOSER--YOU GOT A LONG-- 15:36 YOU'RE GONNA BE IN A TRAFFIC JAM. 15:39 BUT GOD PROMISES THAT OUR BREAD AND OUR WATER WILL BE SURE 15:42 DURING THAT TIME, AMEN? WE MAY HAVE TO FLEE INTO 15:44 THE WILDERNESS. HE SAYS, "DO NOT EVEN GO BACK 15:46 FOR YOUR JACKET TO YOUR HOUSE." NUMBER SIX, OH, WAIT, DID I GIVE 15:51 THE SECOND PART OF THAT? OH YES, NOW THAT TIME PERIOD 15:55 WAS FROM 538. WHAT HAPPENED IN 538? 15:58 JUSTINIAN, THE ROMAN EMPEROR MADE THE BISHOP OF ROME, 16:02 OR WHAT WE CALL THE POPE, THE SUPREME RULER OF THE CHURCH. 16:04 HE GAVE HIM AND AN ARMY TO CORRECT HERETICS, IN OTHER 16:07 WORDS, TO IMPRISON AND PERSECUTE AND KILL THOSE WHO DID 16:10 NOT COOPERATE WITH THIS NEW GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION. 16:14 HE MADE ROME THE NEW CAPITAL FOR THE CHURCH WHERE IT FORMALLY 16:17 HAD BEEN IN JERUSALEM. THEN IN 1798, THEY HAD BASICALLY 16:21 UNINTERRUPTED CONTROL FROM THE 10 DIVISIONS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 16:25 UNTIL 1798, WHEN BERTHIER ROMAN--NAPOLEON'S, GENERAL 16:30 RATHER, TOOK THE POPE CAPTIVE. THEY RECEIVED A DEADLY WOUND. 16:34 THEY LOST THEIR POWER TEMPORARILY, BUT THAT WOUND 16:36 HAS BEEN HEALED SINCE THEN. NOW QUESTION NUMBER SIX, WE'RE 16:40 TRYING TO IDENTIFY GOD'S CHURCH, RIGHT? 16:44 "WHAT ARE TWO OTHER IDENTIFYING MARKS FOR GOD'S TRUE CHURCH?" 16:48 REVELATION 12:17, "AND THE DRAGON WAS WROTH 16:51 WITH THE WOMAN--" WHAT DOES WROTH MEAN? INFURIATED. 16:56 AND WENT TO MAKE--FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE IN DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER 16:59 OR NOT THIS IS THE RIGHT CHURCH, THIS OUGHT TO BE 17:01 THE FINAL CLUE. AS SOON AS YOU KNOW THE DEVIL'S 17:04 MAD AT HER, SHE'S DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, AMEN? 17:07 SO THIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH OR THE DEVIL WOULDN'T BE MAD 17:09 AT HER. IF YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING 17:11 TO MAKE THE DEVIL MAD, THEN YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT. 17:15 THE BIBLE SAYS ALL THAT LIVE GODLY WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION. 17:19 WE'VE RECEIVED SOME REPORTS FROM SOME OF OUR SITES IN AFRICA. 17:24 THE GROUPS WHO ARE HEARING THESE MESSAGES, DID YOU KNOW THAT 17:26 SOME OF THE PASTORS HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED SINCE WE STARTED THIS 17:29 SERIES BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'RE PRESENTING TO THE PEOPLE? 17:31 PERSECUTION, ALREADY, RIGHT NOW AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE 17:35 OF PREACHING THE MESSAGE. THE DRAGON WAS WROTH WITH 17:38 THE WOMAN AND HE GOES TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REMNANT OF HER SEED 17:42 WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY 17:46 OF JESUS. GOD'S PEOPLE WILL HAVE 17:50 THE TESTIMONY, THAT MEANS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. 17:53 READ REVELATION 19:10, THE ANGEL SAID THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS 17:57 THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY, AND THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD IS THE LAW. 18:02 THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS, THE WORD OF GOD IS HOW WE'RE GOING 18:06 TO FIND WHO THE TRUE CHURCH IS. NOW FRIENDS, I'M GONNA JUST 18:09 BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU, TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT WHY 18:13 THERE'S SO MANY CHURCHES AND HOW DO WE DISCOVER THE TRUE CHURCH. 18:16 I HEARD A STORY ABOUT A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN. 18:19 YOU KNOW KAREN AN I SPENT SOME TIME IN RUSSIA AND I REMEMBER 18:21 SHOPPING THERE AND THE SHELVES WERE SO SPARSE. 18:25 ONE OF OUR FRIENDS SAID, "LET ME TAKE YOU TO THE SUPERMARKET." 18:27 AND WE WENT TO THEIR MARKET AND THERE WAS LIKE 12 ITEMS IN THEIR 18:30 SUPERMARKET, AND THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT ALL EMBARRASSED. 18:34 THEY SAID, "HEY GOOD, TODAY WE'VE GOT MILK. 18:36 TODAY THERE'S CHEESE." YOU KNOW THEY WERE REALLY 18:38 STRUGGLING BACK THEN. WELL, I HEARD A STORY ABOUT 18:41 A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN WHO IMMIGRATED TO THE U.S. 18:43 AND HE BECAME NATURALIZED AND HE SAID, 18:44 "YOU KNOW I WANT TO FIT IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. 18:46 WHAT DO YOU AMERICANS EAT FOR BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING?" 18:49 AND HIS BUDDY SAID, "WELL, WE TYPICALLY EAT CEREAL." 18:52 OKAY, SO HE WENT TO THE NEAREST MEGA SUPERMARKET AND HE SAID, 18:57 "SHOW ME WHERE YOUR CEREAL IS. I'D LIKE TO BUY A BOX." 19:00 AND THE SUPERMARKET ATTENDANT DIRECTED HIM TO AN AISLE LONGER 19:03 THAN AN AIRPORT TERMINAL AND THERE ON EITHER SIDE WAS THIS 19:08 ROW AND ROW AND SHELF AND SHELF OF ALL DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS OF 19:12 CEREAL, AND THERE WAS CEREAL FOR CHILDREN AND THERE WAS 19:16 HEALTH CEREAL AND THERE'S CEREAL FOR OLD FOLKS AND CEREAL 19:19 WITH PRIZES INSIDE AND BIG BOXES AND LITTLE BOXES AND 19:23 YOU JUST NAME IT. THERE WAS JUST A THOUSAND 19:25 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CEREAL. AND HE JUST GOT DAZZLED TRYING 19:28 TO KNOW, "HOW DO I PICK A BOX OF CEREAL?" 19:30 AND HE WAS LOOKING AT THE COVERS. 19:31 OH, THIS ONE'S GOT A PRIZE INSIDE AND THIS ONE'S GOT 19:33 A CARTOON ON THE COVER AND THIS ONE'S GOT COCOA BITS IN IT. 19:37 HOW DO YOU PICK IT? SO HE THREW A FEW BOXES IN AND 19:40 WENT HOME AND WAS THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED BECAUSE HE DID NOT 19:43 READ THE INGREDIENTS. SOME PEOPLE PICK THEIR CHURCHES 19:48 THE SAME WAY THEY SHOP FOR TOMATO SAUCE, THEY JUST LOOK AT 19:53 THE OUTER LABEL BUT THEY DON'T READ THE INGREDIENTS. 19:56 IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW TO JOIN A CHURCH, YOU 19:59 MUST DO IT BASED UPON WHAT ARE THE DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH, 20:04 WHAT DO THEY TEACH? YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY 20:06 PEOPLE YOU ASK THEM, WHAT DOES YOUR CHURCH TEACH? 20:09 THEY ARE NO IDEA. MY CHURCH, WHAT DO WE BELIEVE? 20:12 "WE BELIEVE JUST LIKE MY PASTOR." 20:17 WELL, WHAT DOES YOUR PASTOR BELIEVE? 20:18 "WELL, HE BELIEVES LIKE I DO." WELL, WHAT DO YOU AND YOUR 20:21 PASTOR BELIEVE? "WE BELIEVE THE SAME THING." 20:24 JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE. 20:27 PEOPLE GO "WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? LET ME ASK MY WIFE, 20:29 I'M NOT SURE. WE GO TO THIS CHURCH." 20:31 AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED. I DON'T MEAN TO BE OFFENSIVE. 20:33 DO YOU REALIZE THAT THERE ARE, THEY'RE PROBABLY ABOUT 15, 20:36 20 DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH? 20:38 BAPTIST CHURCH HAS BEEN DIVIDED MANY TIMES AND I HAVE PREACHED 20:41 THESE MESSAGES IN BAPTIST CHURCHES AND HAD FOLKS 20:44 APPROACH ME AND SAY, "WE'RE NOT UNDER THE LAW. 20:45 WE DON'T KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ANYMORE." 20:47 AND I SAID, IS THAT WHAT YOUR CHURCH TEACHES? 20:49 "YES, I'M SURE IT IS." I SAID, LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT 20:51 YOUR CHURCH TEACHES, AND I OPEN UP THE FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS OF 20:54 THEIR CHURCH AND IT SAYS RIGHT THERE, THEY KEEP 20:56 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND THEY'RE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT 20:57 THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEIR CHURCH TEACHES. 21:00 YOU'D BE SURPRISED IN THE OFFICIAL WRITINGS OF MANY 21:02 DENOMINATIONS, THEY'RE CLOSER TO THE BIBLE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK 21:05 BUT THE PEOPLE NO LONGER AND THE PREACHERS NO LONGER 21:07 PREACH THE TRUTH. YOU'D BE AMAZED. 21:11 AND SO SOME PEOPLE, THEY'RE GOING UP AND DOWN THE AISLES, 21:14 JUST BLINDLY LOOKING AT THE COCOA PUFFS, LOOKING AT 21:19 THE CARTOONS ON THE COVER AND THEY'RE NOT LOOKING 21:20 AT THE INGREDIENTS. WELL, YOU MUST DECIDE BASED ON 21:23 THE INGREDIENTS. NOW THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND 21:25 BAD PEOPLE IN MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES, AM I RIGHT? 21:28 WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW THE MAIN REASON THAT PEOPLE 21:30 PICK A CHURCH? TEN MAIN REASONS, APPROXIMATELY. 21:34 "IT'S THE CHURCH CLOSE TO MY HOUSE." 21:36 THAT'S WHY THEY GO. "IT'S THE CHURCH WHERE 21:38 MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS GONE." WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE? 21:42 "I DON'T KNOW BUT WE'VE ALWAYS GONE THERE." 21:45 THEY THINK THE PASTOR'S GOOD LOOKING. 21:49 WE KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CRITERIA AT THIS SEMINAR, RIGHT? 21:55 I KNOW YOU'RE HERE 'CAUSE YOU LOVE THE WORD, 21:57 I'VE GOT A MIRROR. THEY LIKE THE MUSIC PROGRAM. 22:02 NOW DO WE ALL LIKE A GOOD MUSIC PROGRAM? 22:05 IS THAT THE REASON TO JOIN A CHURCH? NO. 22:07 THEY'VE GOT A GOOD CHILDREN'S PROGRAM. 22:10 HOW MANY OF US WANT TO HAVE A CHURCH WITH A GOOD CHILDREN'S 22:12 PROGRAM, MRS. BATCHELOR? AMEN, BUT THAT'S NOT THE REASON 22:16 TO JOIN THE CHURCH, IS IT? YOU KNOW SOME PEOPLE PICK 22:19 THE CHURCH BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE STRUCTURE. 22:21 THEY SAY, "I'M GOING TO THAT CHURCH." WHY? 22:23 "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING." WHAT DO THEY TEACH? 22:25 "HAVEN'T THE FOGGIEST, BUT LOOK AT THE LABEL." 22:28 PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE, DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY BELIEVE. 22:31 SOME PEOPLE PICK A CHURCH BECAUSE IT'S WHERE ALL 22:33 THE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE GO. YOU KNOW I UNDERSTAND IN 22:36 WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT WHEN PRESIDENT AND 22:38 MRS. CLINTON ATTEND THEIR RESPECTIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, THEY 22:41 GET A MUCH BIGGER ATTENDANCE THAT SUNDAY 'CAUSE THEY WANT 22:45 TO BE THERE WITH ALL THE PRESTIGIOUS. 22:46 "YES, I WAS IN CHURCH TODAY WITH BILL." 22:50 AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PASTOR OF ONE OF THESE CHURCHES GETS 22:53 PHONE CALLS ALL WEEK LONG THAT SAY, "IS THE PRESIDENT GOING 22:56 TO BE HERE?" AND THE PASTOR SAYS, 22:58 "WELL, I DON'T KNOW BUT THE LORD'S GONNA BE HERE. 23:01 WE THINK THAT WILL DEMAND A GOOD ATTENDANCE." 23:04 THESE ARE THE REASONS PEOPLE PICK A CHURCH. 23:06 THERE'S ONLY ONE GOOD REASON TO PICK A CHURCH. 23:09 YOU MIGHT GO TO A CHURCH WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE CRABBY 23:11 AND CANTANKEROUS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A NICE BUILDING AND 23:14 THE CHOIR SOUNDS LIKE FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOO, BUT IF THEIR 23:19 FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS ARE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, IF THEY'RE 23:22 BUILDING ON THE ROCK OF CHRIST'S WORD, THAT IS GOD'S CHURCH, 23:26 AMEN? AND YOU'RE GONNA FIND GOOD 23:28 AND BAD PEOPLE IN EVERY CHURCH, AM I RIGHT? 23:31 >> STAY TUNED. 23:32 WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THESE IMPORTANT MESSAGES. 23:39 >> HOW TO FIND OUT THE TRUE WOMAN, REVELATION 23:42 DEPICTS TWO WOMEN. 23:45 >> YOU KNOW WHY THIS MESSAGE IS IMPORTANT? 23:46 EVERYBODY HERE, EVERYBODY WATCHING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, 23:49 YOU ARE GOING TO BE MARRIED TO ONE OF THOSE TWO WOMEN. 23:53 >> YOU ARE GOING TO EITHER BE PART OF GOD'S BRIDE, THE TRUE 23:56 CHURCH, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD OR YOU'RE GONNA BE PART OF 23:58 BABYLON AND HER DAUGHTERS. 24:00 WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. 24:03 >> IF YOU STUDY YOUR BIBLE, YOU'LL COME TO THESE 24:05 CONCLUSIONS. IT'S IN THE BIBLE, FRIENDS. 24:09 >> FIND OUT WHAT THE CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT. 24:11 TOP SCHOLARS AND THEOLOGIANS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY COME 24:14 TOGETHER TO REVEAL THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE BOOK OF 24:17 REVELATION. WITH POWERFUL REINACTMENTS AND INCREDIBLE 24:21 VISUAL EFFECTS, THIS 95-MINUTE MASTERPIECE BRINGS TO LIFE THE 24:25 BOOK OF REVELATION LIKE NEVER BEFORE. REVELATION IS NO LONGER 24:29 A MYSTERY. GET YOUR COPY TODAY. VISIT ITUNES OR AFBOOKSTORE.COM. 25:22 >> MOMMY, DADDY HELP ME! 25:27 >> NO, I DON'T THINK SO. YOU DIDN'T DO VERY WELL ON YOUR 25:29 REPORT CARD THIS LAST QUARTER SO...NO. 25:33 >> YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PULLING YOUR WEIGHT AROUND HERE LATELY. 25:35 YOU WANT HELP? WELL, I WANTED HELP WITH THE DISHES LAST NIGHT. 25:39 HELP YOURSELF. >> HUH? 25:42 >> HONEY, DID YOU BRING THE MARSHMALLOWS? 26:12 >> WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF GOD AND SPOKEN WITH HIS VOICE - 26:19 SOME WORDS WILL NEVER FADE. 26:30 >> GET PASTOR DOUG BATCHELOR'S 12-PART SERMON SERIES ON THE 26:34 TEN COMMANDMENTS BY CALLING 800-538-7275 26:38 OR VISIT 'AFBOOKSTORE.COM'. 26:43 >> IF YOU'VE MISSED ANY OF OUR AMAZING FACTS PROGRAMS, 26:45 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT 'AMAZINGFACTS.ORG'. 26:47 THERE YOU'LL FIND AN ARCHIVE OF ALL OUR TELEVISION AND RADIO 26:50 PROGRAMS INCLUDING 'AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS'. 26:53 >> ONE LOCATION. SO MANY POSSIBILITIES. 26:55 AMAZINGFACTS.ORG 27:03 >> HI FRIENDS, THE BOOK OF REVELATION PORTRAYS A MIGHTY 27:07 TEAM OF SPECIAL FORCES THAT HAVE A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP 27:10 WITH JESUS. 27:11 AS I FIRST STARTED TO STUDY THE 144,000, EVERYTHING SEEMED 27:15 SO CRYPTIC BUT OVER TIME, GOD CLEARLY OPENED MY UNDERSTANDING 27:19 ABOUT THIS SUBJECT AND HE CAN DO THE SAME FOR YOU. 27:22 WE'D LIKE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THIS IMPORTANT END-TIME 27:25 PROPHECY, SO WE'VE PREPARED A SPECIAL GIFT THAT WE'D LIKE 27:28 TO SEND YOU ABSOLUTELY FREE. IT'S A POCKETBOOK ENTITLED 27:31 "SPIRITUAL ISRAEL." TO GET YOUR OWN COPY, CALL THE 27:35 TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND ASK FOR OFFER #174 OR, 27:40 IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN SIMPLY WRITE US AT AMAZING FACTS, 27:42 OFFER NUMBER 174, P.O. BOX 1058, ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95678. 27:50 WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS EDITION 27:53 OF "AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS." 'TIL WE MEET AGAIN, 27:56 REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JESUS, JOHN 8:32, "YOU SHALL KNOW 28:00 THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE." 28:04 >> THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 28:07 THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OFFER. 28:08 JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO 28:11 NOTE THE OFFER NUMBER WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST. 28:14 YOU MAY ALSO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT AMAZINGFACTS.ORG. 28:23 >> THIS PRESENTATION WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF THE 28:25 AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY. |
Revised 2015-07-16