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Series Code: AFP
Program Code: AFP000155A
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01:00 THIS PRESENTATION ISROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF THE
01:03 AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY. 01:05 (MUSIC) 01:11 >>THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES IN THE WORLD 01:14 TODAY THAT ALL CLAIM TO HAVE THE TRUTH. 01:17 I THINK EVERYBODY HERE WILL AGREE THAT THERE ARE MANY 01:20 CHURCHES THAT HAVE MANY GOOD THINGS TO OFFER, BUT I THINK WE 01:22 WOULD ALSO AGREE THAT THEY CAN'T ALL BE DOCTRINALLY RIGHT AND YET 01:28 SO DIFFERENT. 01:32 >>FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO 01:34 SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 01:37 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST TELEVISION 01:41 BROADCASTS. WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND 01:44 ENJOY THIS EDITION OF AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS . 01:53 >>AS IS OUR CUSTOM, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH A LITTLE AMAZING 01:55 FACT. BACK IN 1875 A SHIP CALLED THE 02:00 HUDSON WAS ILING IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC - THE FAR NORTH 02:04 ATLANTIC - AND THERE THEY FOUND, DRIFTING AMONG THE ICEBERGS, A 02:08 DERELICT SHIP. IT WAS CALLED THE OCTAVIUS . 02:12 THEY WERE AMAZED THAT THIS SHIP WAS STILL MANNED BY A CREW THAT 02:18 WERE ALL FROZEN IN POSITION. SOME PEOPLE WERE STILL STANDING 02:21 IN POSITION, OTHERS WERE FROZEN IN THEIR HAMMOCKS. 02:25 THE CAPTAIN WAS AT HIS DESK WITH THE PEN IN HAND, MAKING HIS LAST 02:30 ENTRY IN THE LOG BOOK. ON EXAMINING THE LOG BOOK THEY 02:35 WERE ABLE TO PIECE TOGETHER THE STORY. 02:36 THEY HAD TRIED, AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO THE ORIENT, 02:41 BEFORE THE SUMMER ENDED, TO MAKE WHAT WAS THEN A VERY PRECARIOUS 02:46 NORTHWEST PASSAGE. THEY WERE TRAPPED IN THE ICE AND 02:49 THEY SURVIVED AS WELL AS THEY COULD UNTIL FINALLY THEY WERE 02:54 OVERCOME BY A BLAST OF VERY COLD WEATHER THAT CAME THROUGH - JUST 02:58 KIND OF FROZE THEM IN POSITION. AND THEN THE SHIP HAD DRIFTED 13 03:04 YEARS WITH THE FLOW OF THE ICE, ACROSS THE ARCTIC, UNTIL IT WAS 03:10 EXPELLED ON THE EAST IN THE ATLANTIC. 03:15 AND THE MEN WERE STILL IN THAT SAME POSITION. 03:18 I HEARD SOMEONE, REFERRING TO THIS STORY ONE TIME, SAYING, 03:23 'EVERYBODY WAS STRANGELY AT THEIR POSTS, BUT NO ONE HAD ANY 03:28 LIFE.' KIND OF LIKE A LOT OF CHURCHES IN THE WORLD TODAY. 03:33 LET'S FACE IT, I THINK WE'VE ALL WONDERED SOMETIME, 'WHAT 03:36 HAPPENED TO THE POWER AND THE LIFE OF THE EARLY CHURCH, WHERE 03:40 EVERYONE IS JUST MOTIVATED AND THRILLED BY THE ENERGY OF LOVE, 03:43 TO SHARE THE GOSPEL? THERE'S AN URGENCY, THERE'S A VITALITY. 03:47 YOU KNOW, OUR STORY TONIGHT IS GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT. 03:51 OUR LESSON IS CALLED THE WOMAN OF TRUTH AND IT'S BASED ON A 03:54 STORY IN 1 KINGS 3, VERSES 16 THROUGH 28. 03:58 YOU REMEMBER, SOLOMON WAS GIVEN SUPERNATURAL WISDOM. 04:02 AND A BIG TEST HE HAD EARLY ON IN HIS REIGN THAT THE COURT 04:06 SCRIBES PUT DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING STORY: THERE 04:11 WERE TWO WOMEN, THEY LIVED ALONE - SINGLE WOMEN - THEY BOTH HAD 04:16 BABIES ABOUT THE SAME TIME. AND THEN, WHILE THE CHILDREN 04:21 WERE STILL IN YOUNG INFANCY, DURING THE NIGHT, ONE OF THE 04:25 MOTHERS ACCIDENTALLY OVERLAID HER CHILD AND SMOTHERED IT. 04:30 SHE WOKE UP EARLY AND SAW THAT HER BABY WAS COLD. 04:35 HER ROOMMATE - SHE SAW HER BABY THERE - SHE WAS SO ASHAMED AND 04:39 OVERWHELMED WITH GRIEF THAT HER BABY HAD DIED, SO SHE THOUGHT, 04:42 'I'M GOING TO SWAP BABIES.' SO SHE TOOK HER DEAD SON, LAID IT 04:48 WHERE THE LIVING CHILD WAS, TOOK THE LIVING CHILD, PUT IT TO HER 04:52 BREAST, AND WENT TO SLEEP. WHEN THE OTHER LADY WOKE UP TO 04:54 NURSE HER CHILD SHE SAID, 'THIS ISN'T MY BABY. 04:57 THIS IS YOUR BABY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY BABY?' 05:01 SHE SAID, 'THIS IS MY BABY. THAT'S YOUR BABY.' NO WITNESSES. 05:05 NO DNA TESTS. SO NOW THEY STOOD BEFORE SOLOMON. 05:09 HE'S GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE REAL MOTHER IS. 05:12 SO HE PONDERS THE SITUATION FOR A MOMENT. 05:15 UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING ABOUT HUMAN NATURE, HE SAYS TO THE TWO 05:19 MOTHERS, HE SAID, 'WELL, YOU BOTH SAY THAT THE LIVING SON IS 05:23 YOURS AND THE DEAD SON BELONGS TO THE OTHER. 05:26 SINCE THERE'S ONLY ONE LIVING SON - THERE'S TWO OF YOU - THE 05:28 ONLY JUST THING TO DO IS DIVIDE IT.' HE CALLS FOR HIS SOLDER. 05:31 HE SAYS, 'DRAW YOUR SWORD. DIVIDE THE BABY. 05:33 GIVE THEM EACH A HALF.' AND THEN THE REAL MOTHER FELL DOWN BEFORE 05:35 THE KING. SHE SAID, 'PLEASE DO NOT SLAY THE CHILD. 05:38 LET HER HAVE IT.' AND THE OTHER ONE SAID, 'NO, THE ONLY FAIR 05:40 THING TO DO IS DIVIDE THE BABY.' (LAUGHTER) RIGHT AWAY SOLOMON 05:44 KNEW WHICH ONE WAS THE REAL MOTHER. 05:46 WHEN THEY DREW THE SWORD, THEY KNEW THE TRUTH. 05:49 NOW WHAT DOES A WOMAN REPRESENT IN BIBLE ANALOGIES? 05:52 >>CHURCH. >>HERE YOU'VE GOT TWO WOMEN 05:54 FIGHTING OVER A BABY BOY. ONE IS THE TRUE MOTHER - SHE'S 05:59 THE WOMAN OF TRUTH - AND THE OTHER ONE IS A COUNTERFEIT 06:03 CLAIMING THE SON, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY HERS. 06:06 DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE SON - WILLING TO HAVE HIM DIE. 06:08 SHE'S MORE INTERESTED IN HER REPUTATION THAN THE BABY. 06:12 AND IT WAS WHEN THE SWORD WAS PULLED OUT - WHAT DOES A SWORD 06:16 REPRESENT? >>WORD OF GOD. 06:18 >>'THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY 06:20 TWO-EDGED SWORD. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT 06:23 CHURCHES IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT ALL CLAIM TO HAVE THE TRUTH. 06:27 I THINK EVERYBODY HERE WILL AGREE THAT THERE ARE MANY 06:30 CHURCHES THAT HAVE MANY GOOD THINGS TO OFFER, BUT I THINK 06:32 WE'D ALSO AGREE THAT THEY CAN'T ALL BE DOCTRINALLY RIGHT AND YET 06:38 SO DIFFERENT. DOES GOD HAVE A TRUTH? 06:42 DOES HE HAVE A PEOPLE? NOW I BELIEVE HE DOES. 06:48 AND WHEN HE COMES BACK, WHILE THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS IN 06:51 MANY CHURCHES TODAY, WE'VE ALREADY LEARNED YOU CAN HAVE THE 06:54 SEAL OF GOD; YOU CAN HAVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST - AND WE NEED 06:57 TO KNOW WHAT THAT TRUTH IS. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT 06:59 THAT VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. BASED ON THE BIBLE, HOW DO YOU 07:02 PICK A CHURCH? HOW DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? 07:05 ALRIGHT NOW, JUST TO SET THE STAGE, TAKE YOUR BIBLES AND 07:08 LET'S GO TO REVELATION 12. 07:10 I'M GOING TO READ A FEW VERSES AND THIS WILL BE - WE'RE GOING 07:13 TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN. 07:15 THIS'LL BE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR STUDY. 07:17 REVELATION 12, VERSE 1, IT SAYS, "NOW A GREAT SIGN APPEARED IN 07:22 HEAVEN: A WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN, WITH THE MOON UNDER HER 07:27 FEET, AND ON HER HEAD A GARLAND OF TWELVE STARS. 07:31 THEN BEING WITH CHILD, SHE CRIED IN LABOR AND IN PAIN TO GIVE 07:35 BIRTH. AND ANOTHER SIGN APPEARED IN 07:38 HEAVEN: BEHOLD, A GREAT, FIERY RED DRAGON HAVING SEVEN HEADS 07:42 AND TEN HORNS, AND SEVEN DIADEMS (OR CROWNS) ON HIS HEADS." 07:47 AND IF YOU LOOK IN VERSE 4 IT SAYS, "HIS TAIL" - 07:50 THE TAIL OF THE DRAGON - "DREW A THIRD OF 07:52 THE STARS OF HEAVEN AND THREW THEM TO THE EARTH." 07:54 THOSE STARS ARE THE DEMONS THAT FOLLOWED SATAN - THE FALLEN 07:57 ANGELS THAT FOLLOWED HIM AND BECAME DEMONS - "AND THE DRAGON 08:01 STOOD BEFORE THE WOMAN WHO WAS READY TO GIVE BIRTH, TO DEVOUR 08:04 HER CHILD AS SOON AS IT WAS BORN." 08:07 NOW, IN GENESIS, DID GOD SAY TO EVE AND ADAM THAT THERE'D BE 08:12 ENMITY - GENESIS 3:15 - "BETWEEN YOUR SEED" - YOUR DESCENDANTS - 08:17 "AND THE SEED OF THE DRAGON"? AND NOW YOU GET TO THE LAST BOOK 08:21 OF THE BIBLE - REVELATION - AND YOU FIND THIS CONTINUING BATTLE 08:24 BETWEEN THE WOMAN AND THE SEED OF THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON. 08:28 AND SO, THAT SEED OF THE WOMAN IS JESUS AND HE WANTS TO DEVOUR 08:34 THE CHILD AS SOON AS IT IS BORN. VERSE 5, "SHE BORE A MALE CHILD 08:38 WHO WAS TO RULE ALL NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON." 08:41 WHO IS THAT? IT'S CHRIST. 08:43 "AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP TO GOD AND HIS THRONE. 08:46 THEN THE WOMAN FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS WHERE SHE HAD A PLACE 08:49 PREPARED BY GOD, THAT THEY SHOULD FEED HER THERE ONE 08:52 THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DAYS." 08:55 SO THIS IS THE MAIN PASSAGE WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER IN OUR 08:57 LESSON TONIGHT. AND SO, WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, 09:01 WHY DON'T WE GO TO QUESTION #1: HOW DOES REVELATION PICTURE 09:04 GOD'S TRUE CHURCH? WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF 09:08 THE CRITERIA ABOUT HOW DO YOU PICK A CHURCH? 09:10 HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY, IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD'S PEOPLE? 09:13 IT SAYS IN REVELATION 12, VERSES 1, 2 AND 5, "THERE I SAW A" - 09:18 WHAT? "A WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE 09:20 SUN...MOON UNDER HER FEET...UPON HER HEAD A CROWN OF TWELVE 09:24 STARS." SO JOHN HAS THIS VISION. 09:27 THIS IS A PURE WOMAN, CLOTHED WITH LIGHT. 09:29 JESUS SAID TO THE CHURCH, 'YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 09:32 LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD 09:34 WORKS.' IT'S THROUGH LETTING OUR LIGHT SHINE - THE DEEDS OF 09:37 CHRIST IN US - THAT OTHERS ARE DRAWN. 09:39 AND THEN IT GOES ON AND SAYS SHE'S NOT JUST STANDING ON THE 09:41 MOON AND CLOTHED WITH THE SUN, SHE'S EXPECTING - INTERESTING, 09:46 BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HER HUSBAND. 09:48 WAS THERE A VIRGIN BIRTH CONNECTED WITH CHRIST? 09:51 NOW, SOME SAY THIS WOMAN IS MARY. 09:56 NO, MARY IS A TYPE OF THIS WOMAN. 10:00 BUT AS YOU READ ON, YOU FIND THAT THIS WOMAN REPRESENTS GOD'S 10:02 PEOPLE. AND AS YOU READ ON, YOU REALIZE 10:05 IT CAN'T BE MARY - IT DOESN'T EVER SAY MARY FLED INTO THE 10:07 WILDERNESS CHASED BY THE DRAGON WHO TRIED TO SWALLOW HER WITH A 10:10 FLOOD FOR 1,260 YEARS. IT'S NOT MARY, BUT MARY IS A 10:14 TYPE OF THE CHURCH AND SHE WAS A PURE WOMAN THAT WAS CHOSEN TO BE 10:17 - TO BRING FORTH, OR INTRODUCE CHRIST TO THE WORLD. 10:21 AND THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH - IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - THE OLD 10:25 TESTAMENT HAD A CHURCH TOO, YOU KNOW? 10:26 IT JUST MEANS - THE CHURCH MEANS 'GATHERING' - WAS TO INTRODUCE 10:29 CHRIST TO THE WORLD. AND IT SAYS, "SHE BROUGHT FORTH 10:32 A MALE CHILD WHO WAS TO RULE ALL NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON." 10:36 THAT WAS CONSIDERED A SIGN OF STRENGTH, OF DISCIPLINE, OF 10:39 POWER - HIS SCEPTER - AND THEN HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP - HE 10:43 ASCENDED - TO GOD AND HIS THRONE. 10:47 SO THIS WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST. 10:50 QUESTION #2: WHO IS THE GREAT RED DRAGON AND WHAT DOES HE NEXT 10:55 TRY TO DO IN THE SCRIPTURES WE JUST READ? 10:58 REVELATION 12:9 - DO WE HAVE TO GUESS WHO THE DRAGON IS? 11:01 IT TELLS US LATER IN THE SAME CHAPTER. 11:03 "SO THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, THAT SERPENT OF OLD, CALLED 11:08 THE DEVIL AND SATAN" - HE'S GOT FOUR TITLES THERE - DRAGON, 11:11 DEVIL, SERPENT, SATAN. WE KNOW WHO IT IS, IT'S THE ARCH 11:16 FIEND, THE CHIEF VILLAIN, THE DEVIL, PRINCE OF DARKNESS - HE 11:22 GOES BY MANY NAMES. HE'S THE SOURCE OF ALL EVIL. 11:24 WHAT HE HATES MOST IS THAT CHRIST WOULD COME INTO THE 11:28 WORLD. NOT ONLY DID THE DEVIL TRY TO DESTROY JESUS WHEN HE 11:31 CAME THROUGH THE ROMAN POWER, THE DEVIL THOUGHT THAT A 11:35 MESSIAH WAS COMING IN EGYPT. WHEN MOSES WAS BORN HE TRIED TO 11:40 DESTROY ALL THE BABY BOYS AGAIN - JUST THE BABY BOYS. 11:42 AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT DURING THE TIME OF KING DAVID - OR 11:46 AFTER KING DAVID - WHEN ATHALIAH BECAME QUEEN, SHE TRIED TO 11:49 DESTROY ALL THE ROYAL SEED AND EXECUTED ALL THE KING'S SONS. 11:52 REVELATION 12, VERSE 4, "AND THE DRAGON STOOD BEFORE THE WOMAN 11:57 WHO WAS READY TO GIVE BIRTH, TO DEVOUR HER CHILD AS SOON AS IT 12:01 WAS BORN." BEFORE JESUS GREW UP AND GOT HIS 12:03 WITS - WHILE HE WAS AS WEAK AND VULNERABLE AS HE COULD BE - HE 12:06 WANTED TO DESTROY CHRIST AND STOP HIS MINISTRY. 12:10 QUESTION #3: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SATAN FAILS TO DESTROY JESUS? 12:15 REVELATION 12, "AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP TO GOD AND HIS 12:22 THRONE." YOU CAN READ ABOUT THAT IN ACTS CHAPTER 1. 12:24 IT'S ALSO AT THE END OF THE GOSPELS. 12:26 IT TELLS US THAT CHRIST ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN WHILE THEY WATCHED. 12:30 AFTER JESUS WAS CAUGHT UP TO HEAVEN, WHAT DID SATAN DO TO THE 12:35 CHURCH? REVELATION 12:13, "NOW WHEN THE 12:38 DRAGON SAW THAT HE HAD BEEN CAST TO THE EARTH, HE PERSECUTED THE 12:42 WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE MALE CHILD." 12:45 NOW LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE EARLY AGES OF THE CHURCH. 12:49 WHEN THE DEVIL SAW HOW, AFTER PENTECOST, THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS 12:52 POURED OUT, THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. 12:55 THE DISCIPLES WENT EVERYWHERE PREACHING. 12:56 THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES. I MEAN, THE EARLY CHURCH. 12:59 SO THE DEVIL, HE THOUGHT, 'I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE LAWS.' FIRST 13:02 HE TRIED TO EXTERMINATE THEM. HE DID IT THROUGH THE JEWS. 13:05 REMEMBER, PAUL WAS OUT KILLING CHRISTIANS AND ARRESTING THEM. 13:07 THEN HE DID IT THROUGH THE ROMANS - NERO KILLED PETER. 13:10 THE FIRST GREAT PERSECUTION FROM ROME WAS UNDER NERO. 13:13 CLAUDIUS TOLD THEM TO LEAVE ROME, BUT THEY WEREN'T BEING 13:16 KILLED. NERO, AFTER ROME BURNED, HE BLAMED THE CHRISTIANS. 13:19 HE KILLED PAUL. HE KILLED PETER AND MANY OTHERS. 13:22 AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A SERIES OF CAESARS UNTIL ABOUT 313 A.D. 13:28 - HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS - THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW - IT MAY HAVE 13:32 EVEN REACHED INTO A MILLION - CHRISTIANS DIED. 13:35 THE PAGANS, WHO WERE WATCHING THESE CHRISTIANS DIE WITH SUCH 13:37 CALM AND PEACE, THEY THOUGHT, 'WOW, WHAT DO THEY HAVE? 13:42 WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF PEACE. 13:43 WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF BELIEF.' 13:45 SO THE CHURCH EXPLODED BECAUSE THE CHRISTIANS HAD HOPE. 13:48 IT'S LIKE TERTULLIAN, THE EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHER, HE SAID, "THE 13:53 BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS SEED FOR THE GOSPEL." 13:57 THE MORE THEY TRIED TO KILL THEM, THE MORE IT SPREAD. 13:59 SO THE DEVIL SAID, 'LOOK, THIS ISN'T WORKING.' PLAN A FOR THE 14:03 DEVIL WAS GET RID OF CHRISTIANITY THROUGH 14:05 ANNIHILATION, BUT THE MORE HE MOWED THEM DOWN, THE MORE THEY 14:08 CAME UP. AND SO THE DEVIL, HE SAID, 'I'M 14:10 GOING TO PLAN B.' PLAN B WAS SO GOOD THERE HAS NEVER BEEN 14:15 A PLAN C. PLAN B WAS, 'I'LL LEGALIZE IT. 14:18 I'LL MAKE IT EASY TO BE A CHRISTIAN AND I'LL JOIN THE 14:22 CHURCH AND I'LL HAVE ALL MY REPRESENTATIVES JOIN THE CHURCH 14:27 AND WE'LL JUST DILUTE IT AND WATER IT DOWN WITH PAGANISTIC 14:30 TEACHINGS SO THEY LOSE THEIR POWER. 14:31 AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID. AND HE'S STILL DOING IT TODAY. 14:37 AND THE DEVIL DOESN'T MIND PEOPLE - MATTER OF FACT, HE'D 14:39 JUST AS SOON PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH. 14:41 WHEN THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE THE TRUTH AND THEY'RE NOT TOTALLY 14:43 SOLD OUT FOR CHRIST, THEY GET JUST ENOUGH CHRISTIANITY TO 14:46 INOCULATE THEM AGAINST CATCHING THE REAL THING. 14:50 JESUS SAID IT'S NOT EVERYONE THAT SAYS, 'LORD, LORD', THAT'S 14:53 GOING TO ENTER THE KINGDOM, BUT HE THAT DOES THE WILL OF MY 14:57 FATHER IN HEAVEN. BY THE WAY, THE WILL OF GOD IS 15:00 CERTAINLY - AT LEA - THE LAW OF GOD, RIGHT? 15:03 SO THERE'S A LOT OF COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY AND THE DEVIL LOVES 15:07 THAT. BEST WAY TO HIDE A DIAMOND IS TO 15:09 SURROUND IT WITH BROKEN GLASS. AND ALL THESE PAGANS BEGAN TO 15:13 POUR INTO THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH NOW, INSTEAD OF BEING A 15:16 RELIGION THAT WAS LED BY THE HEART, IT BECAME THE STATE 15:18 RELIGION, AND THEY STARTED FORCING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE. 15:22 AND THEN CAME A GREAT TIME OF PERSECUTION. 15:25 SOME OF THE PERSECUTION NOW CAME FROM THE OFFICIAL CHURCH AGAINST 15:29 REAL BIBLE CHRISTIANS THAT DID NOT WANT TO COMPROMISE WITH 15:32 PAGANISM. WHERE DID THE WOMAN GO DURING 15:35 THIS TERRIFYING PERIOD OF PERSECUTION AND HOW LONG DID IT 15:39 LAST? REVELATION 12, VERSE 16 - HERE 15:43 YOU GO - "THE WOMAN FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS" WHERE SHE HAD A 15:48 PLACE PREPARED OF GOD THAT THEY SHOULD FEED HER THERE A THOUSAND 15:52 TWO HUNDRED AND THREE SCORE" - ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND 15:55 SIXTY IS WHAT THAT MEANS - "DAYS." 15:58 AND WE'VE LEARNED WHAT THE STARTING PERIOD WAS. 16:00 WITH THE OFFICIAL MOVEMENT OF JUSTINIAN - KING THE CAPITOL 16:04 TO CONSTANTINOPLE - HE MADE THE BISHOP OF ROME, LATER KNOWN AS 16:08 THE POPE - THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH AND THAT STARTED IN 538. 16:12 FROM THEN UNTIL 1798, WHEN NAPOLEON'S GENERAL ARRESTED THE 16:17 POPE AND THEY SORT OF LOST THEIR UNINTERRUPTED POWER, THERE WAS 16:21 EXACTLY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY YEARS WHERE THE CHURCH 16:25 WAS DOING A LOT OF PERSECUTING OF ANYBODY THAT WENT AGAINST 16:29 THEIR TEACHINGS. BY THE WAY, THE BIBLES WERE 16:31 LARGELY REMOVED FROM PEOPLE. DO YOU KNOW IT WAS ILLEGAL, FOR 16:35 OVER A THOUSAND YEARS, FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THE BIBLE IN THE 16:38 VERNACULAR OF THE PEOPLE? IT WAS IN LATIN. 16:41 MOST OF THE PEOPLE COULDN'T READ LATIN. 16:43 IT WAS SORT OF THE DEAD ROMAN RELIGION. 16:45 AND SO, IF YOU WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAID, YOU HAD TO 16:48 ASK THE PRIEST, WHICH MADE IT VERY CONVENIENT FOR THE PRIEST 16:50 TO SAY, 'IF YOU WANT ME TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS, IT'S GOING TO 16:53 COST THIS MUCH TODAY.' DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY CALLED THIS 16:55 PERIOD THE DARK AGES? BECAUSE THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO 16:57 MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. 16:59 DO THOSE WORDS SOUND FAMILIAR? AND YOU TAKE AWAY THE BIBLE, YOU 17:02 TAKE AWAY THE LIGHT AND PEOPLE WERE IN GREAT DARKNESS. 17:05 THEY THOUGHT YOU DIED AND YOU WENT RIGHT TO HEAVEN OR HELL OR 17:07 PURGATORY OR LIMBO AND YOU BURNED FOREVER AND EVER - BEFORE 17:09 THERE WAS A JUDGMENT, BEFORE THE RESURRECTION. 17:12 THERE WAS SO MUCH CONFUSION THE CHURCH HAS NEVER FULLY RECOVERED 17:16 FROM ALL OF THAT. WHAT ARE TWO OTHER IDENTIFYING 17:20 MARKS OF GOD'S TRUE CHURCH? REVELATION 12:17, IT SAYS, "AND 17:25 THE DRAGON WAS WROTH WITH THE WOMAN, AND WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH 17:29 THE REMNANT OF HER SEED, WHICH" - DO WHAT? 17:33 - "KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS 17:38 CHRIST." THE BIBLE SAYS THE TESTIMONY OF 17:40 JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY TELLING US THAT THEY HAVE THE 17:44 LAW AND THE PROPHETS, THAT'S THE WORD OF GOD. 17:46 GOD'S CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS IS GOING TO RETURN TO THE FAITH 17:49 THAT WAS ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS OF THE LAW AND THE 17:51 PROPHETS. SO, IF GOD HAS A CHURCH OUT 17:56 THERE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIND IT? 17:58 SOME PEOPLE PICK A CHURCH - A LOT OF PEOPLE - BECAUSE IT'S THE 18:00 CHURCH THEIR FAMILY WENT TO. THEY GREW UP IN IT. 18:04 'WHY DO YOU GO TO YOUR CHURCH?' 'IT'S CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. 18:07 IT'S IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S CONVENIENT.' SOME PEOPLE, 18:12 THEY LIKE THE LOOK OF THE BUILDING. 18:14 'WHY DO YOU GO TO YOUR CHURCH?' 'THE MUSIC. 18:17 NO CHURCH HAS MUSIC LIKE OUR CHURCH.' 'WHY DO YOU GO TO YOUR 18:21 CHURCH?' 'THEY'VE GOT CHILDCARE AND I GET TO SIT THERE AND 18:24 LISTEN TO THE SERMON WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE KIDS.' 18:26 (LAUGHTER) 'THEY'VE GOT A GREAT CHILDREN'S PROGRAM. THEY COME 18:29 BACK, THEY DO ALL THESE CRAFTS, AND HAVE SO MUCH FUN. 18:31 IT'S GREAT FOR FAMILIES.' 'THEY'VE GOT DIVORCE RECOVERY.' 18:35 'THEY'VE GOT A 12-STEP PROGRAM.' 'THEY'VE GOT A BAKING PROGRAM.' 18:38 'THEY'VE GOT ALL THESE' - 'THAT'S WHAT - THAT'S ALL NICE, 18:41 BUT WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?' 'NOT SURE, BUT BOY CAN THEY HAVE 18:43 A BAKE SALE.' 'WHY DO YOU GO TO YOUR CHURCH?' 18:47 'POT LUCK EVERY WEEK.' (LAUGHTER) 'WHAT DO THEY 18:54 BELIEVE?' 'DOESN'T MATTER. 18:56 GOOD POTATO SALAD.' 'SO WHY DO YOU GO TO YOUR CHURCH?' 19:03 'IT'S WHERE THE PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE GO.' 'WHY DO YOU GO TO 19:08 THAT CHURCH?' 'BECAUSE THE PASTOR IS 19:13 CHARISMATIC. WOW, DO THEY PUT ON A SHOW.' 19:16 SOME ACTUALLY GO BECAUSE THE PASTOR IS GOOD LOOKING. 19:19 WHICH IS, I'M SURE, WHY YOU'RE ALL HERE RIGHT NOW. 19:24 (LAUGHTER) WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING? 19:26 (MORE LAUGHTER) NOW I'M TEASING A LITTLE BIT, BUT HE'D BE - IT'S 19:31 REALLY - WHEN PEOPLE EXAMINE THE REASONS THEY GO TO A CHURCH, 19:34 IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR CHURCH 19:36 STANDS FOR; AND WHEN THEY DIG A LITTLE BIT THEY SAY, 'IS THAT 19:41 WHAT WE BELIEVE? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.' BUT, YOU 19:43 KNOW, BIBLICALLY, THERE'S ONLY ONE REASON TO JOIN A CHURCH. 19:47 THE ONLY BIBLICAL REASON TO JOIN A CHURCH IS WHAT ARE THE 19:51 FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS OF THAT CHURCH? 19:55 WHEN YOU'RE PICKING A CHURCH, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS 19:58 THIS IS THE VEHICLE OF MY FAITH THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO HELP 20:02 ME REACH ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST. YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR 20:06 CHURCH STANDS FOR BECAUSE YOU ARE, TO SOME EXTENT, RESPONSIBLE 20:08 - AT LEAST BY YOUR ATTENDANCE AND YOUR OFFERINGS - OF 20:12 UNDERWRITING THAT TEACHING. IF THE FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS IN 20:16 THAT CHURCH ARE THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, THAT'S WHERE YOU 20:19 SHOULD GO. >>AMEN. 20:21 >>QUESTION #7: HOW DID JESUS SAY THAT WE DEMONSTRATE OUR LOVE TO 20:24 HIM? HE SAID, 'IF YOU LOVE ME, HONK YOUR HORN.' RIGHT? 20:29 JOHN 14:15 - YOU'VE SEEN THAT BUMPER STICKER BEFORE - "IF YOU 20:32 LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." THAT'S VERY SIMPLE. 20:38 AND AGAIN, IT SAYS - 1 JOHN 5:3 - FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, 20:41 THAT WE KEEP THE THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN 20:45 THEREIN - A BLESSING IS PROMISED ON YOU. 20:47 QUESTION #8: WHAT THREE ANGELIC MESSAGES WILL GOD'S END-TIME 20:52 CHURCH BE PREACHING? THEY'LL BE SHARING THIS MESSAGE 20:54 OF REVELATION 14, "FEAR GOD AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM; FOR THE HOUR 20:57 OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME." WE ARE LIVING NEAR THE END; 21:00 THERE'S AN AGE OF JUDGMENT GOI ON. WE NEED TO PREPARE. 21:04 AND IT GOES ON TO SAY, "AND WORSHIP HIM THAT MADE HEAVEN, 21:09 AND EARTH, AND THE SEA, AND THE FOUNTAINS OF WATERS." 21:11 AND WE'VE LEARNED THAT LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY DRAWN RIGHT FROM THE 21:14 FOURTH COMMANDMENT OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, DEALING WITH THE 21:17 SABBATH. IT'S TALKING ABOUT RETURNING TO 21:19 THE WORSHIP - BIBLICAL WORSHIP - OF GOD. 21:23 ANSWER B: "AND THERE FOLLOWED ANOTHER ANGEL, SAYING, BABYLON 21:26 IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN, THAT GREAT CITY, BECAUSE SHE MADE ALL 21:33 NATIONS DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION." 21:36 AND IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT ANCIENT BABYLON BECAUSE THE 21:39 PROPHECIES IN ISAIAH 13 SAID THAT THAT FELL. 21:42 THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE - REVELATION - THIS IS REVELATION 21:45 14, VERSES 9 AND 10, "AND THE THIRD ANGEL FOLLOWED THEM, 21:49 SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, IF ANY MAN WORSHIPS THE BEAST AND HIS 21:54 IMAGE, AND RECEIVES HIS MARK IN HIS FOREHEAD, OR IN HIS HAND, 22:01 THE SAME SHALL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD." 22:04 GOD WANTS A MESSAGE TO GO TO THE WORLD OF REVIVAL - OF RETURNING 22:07 TO HIS WORD - OF BEING AWARE OF THE COUNTERFEIT THAT'S OUT 22:10 THERE. QUESTION #9: TO WHOM WILL GOD'S 22:14 CHURCH PREACH THESE MESSAGES IN THE LAST DAYS? 22:18 REVELATION CHAPTER 14, VERSE 6, "...HAVING THE EVERLASTING 22:22 GOSPEL TO PREACH UNTO THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH, AND TO EVERY 22:27 NATION, AND KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE." 22:30 THAT TELLS US IT'S GOING TO BE A GLOBAL MOVEMENT. 22:33 QUESTION #10: WHAT SPECIFICATIONS HAS GOD GIVEN, IN 22:38 HIS WORD, TO HELP US POSITIVELY IDENTIFY HIS END-TIME CHURCH? 22:44 NOW THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU HERE AND SO 22:46 WE'LL GO FROM LIKE A THROUGH E IN THE ANSWERS - AND YOU'VE GOT 22:49 THAT IN YOUR LESSON. A. IT TELLS US THAT THIS CHURCH 22:52 POWER IS GOING TO APPEAR AND DO ITS VISIBLE WORK AFTER IT 22:56 EMERGES FROM THIS WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE. 22:59 REMEMBER, THERE'S 538 TO 1798, SO THERE'S THIS NEW COUNTRY THAT 23:04 RISES UP AFTER 1798. DO YOU KNOW WHY AMERICA WAS 23:07 FOUNDED? IT WASN'T, LARGELY, PIONEERS. 23:11 IT WAS PILGRIMS THAT WERE FLEEING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN 23:15 EUROPE, LOOKING FOR A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD PRACTICE AND 23:18 PREACH THE WORD OF GOD WITH FREEDOM. 23:20 THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. B. - AND THE MOVEMENT IS GOING TO 23:26 BE SPOTTED ABOUT THE SAME TIME - B. IT WILL TEACH THE SAME TRUTHS 23:30 THE APOSTLES TAUGHT AND ALL OF ITS TEACHINGS WILL AGREE WITH 23:33 THE BIBLE. IT MUST BE A BIBLICALLY-BASED 23:35 CHURCH. ANSWER C: IT WILL KEEP THE TEN 23:39 COMMANDMENTS INCLUDING THE BIBLE SABBATH. 23:41 AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PASTORS AND CHURCHES SAY 23:44 NOW, 'WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS BECAUSE WE'RE 23:47 NOT UNDER THE LAW, WE'RE UNDER GRACE.' AND YOU GO, 23:49 'WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN? 23:50 DOES IT MEAN WE'RE NOW FREE TO BREAK THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?' 23:54 THEY USUALLY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS EXCEPT 23:57 FOR ONE COMMANDMENT. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT? 23:59 IT WILL HAVE THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. 24:01 WE HAVE A LESSON COMING ON THAT, BUT THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE 24:04 ALL THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, INCLUDING THE SPIRIT OF 24:07 PROPHECY, THAT ARE GUIDING THE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS. 24:10 ANSWER E: IT WILL PROCLAIM GOD'S THREE END-TIME MESSAGES WITH A 24:15 LOUD VOICE - THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO BE GOING WITH STRENGTH 24:18 AROUND THE WORLD. AND I MIGHT ADD, RIGHT NOW, IF 24:21 YOU DON'T MIND MY SAYING SO, OUR CHURCH - THE SEVENTH-DAY 24:25 ADVENTIST CHURCH - PROBABLY HAS MORE MEDIA MINISTRIES THAN ANY 24:30 DENOMINATION I KNOW OF, THAT ARE GOING BY SATELLITE AND INTERNET 24:34 AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT IS CERTAINLY A LOUD VOICE. 24:38 IT TELLS US THAT THIS MOVEMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE A LOCAL 24:41 COMMUNITY CONGREGATION, IT IS GOING TO BE A WORLD-WIDE 24:43 MOVEMENT. OUT OF THE 218 COUNTRIES IN THE 24:48 WORLD, THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS ARE IN MORE COUNTRIES 24:52 THAN IN ANY OTHER DENOMINATION. 24:56 G. IT WILL TEACH THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL, WHICH IS SALVATION 25:00 THROUGH CHRIST ANE - SALVATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST. 25:03 QUESTION #11: JESUS GIVES US THESE SEVEN PROPHETIC 25:06 IDENTIFICATION POINTS AND HE SAYS 'GO FIND MY CHURCH.' WHAT 25:11 DOES HE PROMISE WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE SEARCH? 25:14 JESUS SAYS IN LUKE 11, VERSE 9, "SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND." 25:21 SO WHERE DO YOU DO YOUR SEARCHING? 25:22 IN THE WORD. QUESTION #12: HOW MANY CHURCH 25:27 ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD WILL FIT THESE SEVEN POINTS? 25:30 EPHESIANS - JESUS SAYS IN EPHESIANS 4, VERSE 5, 25:34 "ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM." WHAT IS THE CRITERIA 25:40 THAT IS TO UNITE US? ONE THING - TRUTH - ABSOLUTE TRUTH. AND THE 25:46 WORD OF GOD IS THAT SWORD THAT IS GOING TO HELP US KNOW. 25:49 YOU KNOW, JESUS SAID, 'SEEK AND YOU'LL FIND.' THERE ARE MANY 25:54 DENOMINATIONS THAT CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS. 25:57 DOES THAT MAKE THEM GOD'S CHURCH? 26:00 YOU KNOW, JESUS TELLS US, 'MANY SHEEP I HAVE WHICH ARE NOT OF 26:03 THIS FOLD. THEM ALSO I MUST CALL' - JOHN 26:07 CHAPTER 10 - 'AND THERE WILL BE ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD.' HOW 26:11 MANY FOLDS WHEN CHRIST COMES BACK? 26:12 >>ONE. >>ONE. 26:14 >>STAY TUNED. PASTOR DOUG WILL BE RIGHT BACK 26:16 WITH THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL FREE OFFER. 26:21 >>ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT LIES AHEAD IN HUMAN HISTORY OR WHAT 26:24 RECENT WORLD EVENTS ARE HARBINGERS OF THE END? 26:27 ARE YOU READY FOR THE COMING CRISIS? 26:29 LANDMARKS OF PROPHECY OFFERS CLEAR ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST 26:32 PRESSING QUESTIONS. PRESENTED BY PASTOR DOUG 26:35 BATCHELOR, LANDMARKS OF PROPHECY IS A CONTEMPORARY VIDEO BIBLE 26:38 STUDY ADVENTURE DESIGNED FOR TODAY'S AUDIENCES. 26:42 PRESENTING THE LANDMARK THEMES OF THE BIBLE IN A BRIGHT AND 26:45 COMPELLING WAY, HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE BETTER AND 26:47 GIVING YOU KNOWLEDGE TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE. 26:51 LANDMARKS OF PROPHECY CONTAINS OVER 30 HOURS OF EXCITING VIDEO 26:54 PRESENTATIONS ON SIX DVDS, PLUS BONUS QUESTION AND ANSWER 26:58 SESSIONS, GIVING YOU KEEN INSIGHT INTO WHAT LIES NEXT IN 27:00 HUMAN HISTORY. IF YOU'D LIKE PRACTICAL TOOLS TO 27:04 HELP YOU THRIVE AND SURVIVE IN THE HERE AND NOW, GET 27:07 LANDMARKS OF PROPHECY . START YOUR EPIC BIBLE STUDY 27:10 ADVENTURE WITH LANDMARKS OF PROPHECY TODAY BY CALLING 27:14 877-585-1212 OR BY VISITING AFBOOKSTORE.COM . 27:21 >>TOGETHER WE HAVE SPREAD THE GOSPEL MUCH FARTHER THAN EVER 27:25 BEFORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 27:31 (MUSIC) >>WE SEE PEOPLE AROUND US EVERY DAY - ON TV, THE RADIO, 27:38 THE INTERNET - ALL PROCLAIMING THEY HAVE FOUND THE TRUTH. 27:42 EVEN IF YOU NARROW THE CHOICES DOWN JUST TO CHRISTIANITY, THERE 27:45 ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND 27:48 DENOMINATIONS ALL CLAIMING TO BE THAT SPECIAL ONE. 27:51 EACH CARRIES THEIR OWN SPIN ON BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION, FAITH, 27:55 AND PRACTICE. HOW CAN WE FIND THE TRUE CHURCH? 27:58 SHOULD WE JUST LIST ALL THE CHURCHES ON A BOARD AND THROW 28:02 DARTS TO PICK ONE? WELL IT TURNS OUT, IN THE 28:05 PROPHETIC BOOK OF REVELATION, THERE IS A DIVINE CHECKLIST TO 28:08 HELP US IDENTIFY GOD'S END-TIME CHURCH. 28:12 WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN OUR STUDY GUIDE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST . 28:16 IN IT, WE ANALYZE THE LAST-DAY PROPHECIES ABOUT GOD'S END-TIME 28:19 CHURCH AND LOOK AT THE PROMINENT CHARACTERISTICS. 28:23 YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED BY THE ANSWERS. 28:25 PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT AMAZINGFACTS.ORG OR CALL THE 28:29 TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR THE FREE OFFER ON THE SCREEN. 28:32 IT'S OFFER #133. IF YOU'D LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS 28:36 OFFER IMMEDIATELY AS AN E-BOOK, YOU CAN SIMPLY USE YOUR SMART 28:39 PHONE AND TEXT THE WORD REMNANT TO 99000. 28:45 AMAZING FACTS - STRAIGHT TALK WITH STRAIGHT TRUTH. 29:01 >>THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK'S 29:03 SPECIAL FREE OFFER. THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION. 29:06 JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO 29:10 NOTE THE OFFER NUMBER WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST. 29:22 >>THIS PRESENTATION WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF THE 29:24 AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY. |
Revised 2015-09-22