Participants: Pr. Mark Fox
Series Code: AMP
Program Code: AMP000003A
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00:04 We are racing towards the global crisis at the close.
00:09 God is going to set up His kingdom on Earth. 00:13 Preparation for the tribulation and the translation 00:18 is to develop a character like Jesus Christ. 00:21 To reach every hamlet, every village, every man, 00:24 every child, every person in India, 00:27 every person in South America, 00:28 must hear these Three Angels' messages. 00:34 These are stories that illustrate 00:37 the kind of fabric of character and perseverance 00:39 that we need to go through the tribulation 00:42 just as certainly as they did. 00:44 The Bible makes it very clear, 00:45 we are living in an unusual hour. 00:48 The last grains of sand are trickling through 00:50 the hour glass of time 00:52 and the door probation is about to swing shut. 01:00 Well, tonight we are going to visit 01:02 the hottest spot on earth. 01:06 You know I come from Dallas, Texas. 01:08 I thought that was the hottest place on earth, 01:11 but the Middle East, that is the hot spot 01:14 in more ways than one. 01:16 Will the Middle East conflict erupt 01:19 into World War III? 01:22 Why are all eyes on Israel tonight? 01:27 What is at the core of the constant fighting 01:31 between the Arabs and the Jews? 01:34 Why so much blood? 01:37 Well, let us explore 01:40 the truth behind the turmoil in the Middle East. 01:44 Would you agree, the news will, 01:47 night by night give you many times a biased version? 01:52 How many agree, God has something 01:53 to say about what's going on? 01:56 After decades of living under oppressive dictatorships, 02:00 popular revolts have broken out among the people 02:04 of the Arab world and they have spread rapidly, 02:08 quickly from Tunisia to Egypt and across the region. 02:14 President Obama says, 02:16 about Gaddafi's reign and regime. 02:20 The future now is in, the what? 02:22 The future of Libya is in the hands of its people. 02:26 We know that, for example, 02:29 there was the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. 02:33 Here is a picture that's worth a thousand words 02:37 of the million march there in Egypt, 02:42 and here is an Egyptian soldier joining the protestors 02:46 in celebration of Mubarak's downfall, 02:49 and they're in Cairo. 02:51 And here you see other protesters. 02:54 And demonstrators now are standing 02:56 on an army vehicle there in Cairo, 02:59 and the sign read, 03:01 "Leave, you tyrant. Down with Mubarak." 03:04 Well, guess what? 03:05 This oppressive, as some would have esteem him, 03:09 a dictator, has been toppled. 03:12 And here you see a picture 03:13 of Day of Anger, marchers in street. 03:16 The people want to over throw the regime. 03:19 And that is exactly what has unfolded in the news. 03:22 The main head quarters 03:23 of the National Democratic Party, 03:25 after being set on fire during the 2011 Egyptian protests. 03:30 And here are Cairo protestors praying, Muslims praying. 03:34 Here is the day of anger riot police closing in. 03:38 So what sparked the Egyptian protest? 03:42 Police brutality, state of emergency laws, 03:45 lack of free elections and freedom of speech, 03:47 uncontrollable corruption, high unemployment, 03:50 sound familiar, food price inflation, sound familiar, 03:54 low minimum wage, sound familiar. 03:57 And so think about it. 03:59 Netanyahu and Mubarak checking their watches back in 2010. 04:05 And Mubarak had a role and reign from 1981 to 2011. 04:10 So we're talking about Gaddafi, that ruled for 42 years. 04:17 And as far as I can tell, toppled. 04:20 Mubarak ruled many, many, many, many years as well, toppled. 04:24 Would you agree, there is a lot of changes 04:26 that are taking place in the Middle East? 04:29 Protestors, they're marching in Cairo, 04:32 as of January 29, there were over 300 dead, 04:35 over 2000 wounded, and what about Syria? 04:38 Where hundreds and hundreds have died. 04:42 And so there are very few moments, Barack Obama said, 04:46 "There are very few moments in our lives, where we have 04:49 the privilege to witness history taking place. 04:53 This is one of those moments. This is one of those times. 04:56 The people of Egypt have spoken. 04:59 Their voices have been heard, 05:01 and Egypt will never be the same." 05:05 Talk about stupendous, changes. 05:07 All right, I don't have time to go into detail 05:11 about all of comprehensive look and all of the changes 05:14 that are taking place with rapid fire, 05:17 but I will tell you this. 05:19 One word, I personally believe that sums up 05:23 the current situation, the explosive situation 05:27 in the Middle East, 05:28 that the massive uprisings, the popular uprisings. 05:32 I believe there is one word, suspense. 05:36 Would you agree the big question now is, 05:38 okay now what? 05:40 What's next? Is it all gonna calm down? 05:42 Is democracy gonna rule? 05:44 Are we all gonna lay down our arms? 05:47 Or will the conflict be recycled? 05:50 And so, the end I believe, is not near. 05:53 I do believe it's here, because the Bible says 05:57 says in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5. 05:59 Take your Bible and turn with me 06:01 to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5. 06:04 "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, 06:06 you have no need that I should write to you. 06:09 For you, yourselves know perfectly well 06:11 that the day of the Lord, 06:13 so comes as a thief in the night." 06:15 Well the Lord will come as a thief in the night, 06:17 but the events leading up to His coming 06:20 will also take place, I believe, 06:22 unexpectedly by an overwhelming surprise 06:25 as a thief in the night. 06:28 "For when they say," 06:30 when this is the prevailing sentiment. 06:33 "When they say peace and safety, then" 06:38 what kind of destruction, comes out of nowhere? 06:42 "Sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains 06:45 upon a pregnant women and they shall not escape." 06:49 And so we know that the United States of America, 06:52 is Israel's strongest supporter. 06:55 Is that true? It is. 06:56 And I don't know about you, but I have a special love 07:00 in my heart for Israel. 07:01 Does anybody have a special love 07:03 for the Jews today? 07:05 I have a special love in my heart for Jews today. 07:09 And America loves Israel and prays 07:12 for the peace of Israel. 07:15 So what's next? What's gonna happen? 07:18 What's in the horizon? 07:20 Well, we know for sure 07:22 that there is war in the Middle East. 07:24 And there is lots of oil in the Middle East. 07:28 No wonder, we have a vested interest there. 07:31 Did you know, for example, 07:33 that the United States of America consumes 07:38 86 million barrels per day, all right. 07:44 Eighty six million barrels per day 07:47 and, I'm sorry that's in all, and did you know 07:51 that Saudi Arabia 07:54 has 264.3 billions of barrels, 08:00 that they rank number one of oil 08:04 and these are the big producers. 08:06 And then Iran, then Iraq, then Kuwait, 08:09 then the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela 08:13 and then Russia and then Libya. 08:16 The United States, well, we're number 11 there. 08:19 Eleventh. 08:20 There is lots of oil in the Middle East, 08:22 there's lots of political unrest in Israel. 08:26 There are strong opposing religious beliefs 08:28 and practices in the Middle East. 08:31 Do you see what's all being mixed 08:33 and mingled together in this, in this stew? 08:36 What do you have here? 08:38 You've got, you've got oil 08:40 can you say standard of living. 08:42 You've got oil, in addition to that you've got, 08:46 you've got a very inhospitable place 08:50 where they have a lot of weapons. 08:52 Israel has a, a weapon of mass destruction, 08:54 nuclear wherewithal 08:57 Okay, so you've got, in addition to that 08:59 you've got a clash of religions, 09:02 put that all together and you have an explosive powder keg, 09:08 just waiting to explode. 09:09 There is political tension among the nations, 09:13 but it is showcased 09:16 very strongly there in the Middle East. 09:18 Now Israel wants peace and security for all sides. 09:22 Israel has peace with Egypt and Jordan 09:25 and longs for peace with all of its surrounding neighbors. 09:29 So there are tensions that are mounting 09:32 between Iran and Israel. 09:36 Let me tell you what's going on. 09:37 There is hatred from Iraq. 09:40 That now, that should not come by a surprise. 09:42 That it is a fact. 09:44 And Iran's regime is a growing threat to the world, 09:48 as it supports terrorism. 09:51 And is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, all right? 09:55 So that is a concern. 09:57 A matter of fact the, 09:59 the leader of Iran has said this, 10:02 that he wants Israel quote, "Wiped off the map", 10:07 or, "Vanish from the pages of time," a translation. 10:11 And so recently a former Israeli President, Peres 10:16 called on the United Nations 10:17 to peacefully prevent a nuclear Iran. 10:22 That is a grave concern and a potential grim reality. 10:27 And so Iran is developing enriched uranium 10:31 and long range missiles, aren't they? 10:34 Now "Tehran," Peres said, "combines long range missiles 10:38 and short range minds. 10:40 It is pregnant with tragedies," all right? 10:44 Now the leader of Iran said this, 10:47 "if countries in the region continue to support Israel 10:51 they will be burned by the wrath 10:53 of the nations," all right? 10:56 So he is calling for the destruction 10:59 of the state of Israel. 11:01 Is that a concern? 11:02 Would you agree, if this mad dictator, 11:05 if this madman, if this nation of Iran 11:10 gets a nuclear weapon, it will create instability 11:13 around the entire world 11:16 and could usher in World War III. 11:19 Iran, Peres said, 11:22 "Is a danger to the entire world." 11:25 Peres told the gathering of world leaders 11:27 on the second day 11:28 of the United Nations a while back. 11:30 So I have a big looming question, 11:33 will nuclear weapons be used in the near future? 11:36 Now we can only speculate. 11:39 I can only tell you that the Bible says 11:41 "there would be wars" and what? 11:44 "Rumors of wars." In Matthew 24: 6 and 7. 11:48 And then in Revelation 11:18, it tells us in the last days 11:52 that mankind would have the potential 11:55 to destroy civilization as we know it, 11:58 because the Lord would come 12:00 and "destroy those who destroy the earth." 12:02 Revelation 11:19. 12:04 Revelation 11:18 says that, "The nations were angry 12:08 and thy wrath is come." 12:10 So will there ever be peace in the Middle East? 12:15 Well Israel is surrounded, as I say, 12:19 by some hostile Islamic nations. 12:24 And the big question then is, what is the future of Israel? 12:29 And how could this impact the world? 12:31 Will Israel be able to defend itself 12:35 successfully in the future? 12:37 Yes, she has nuclear wherewithal, 12:40 but is this enough? 12:43 Oh, how the Christian world is praying for Israel. 12:48 Is that true? And so what is at the core? 12:52 What is that the core 12:54 of the raging conflict in the Middle East? 12:59 Let us investigate the answer to this pivotal question. 13:03 Let's do it. 13:04 There is hatred and intolerance 13:07 between the Jews and the Muslims. 13:09 I mean, just the seething, smoldering 13:13 hatred between the two. 13:14 It is a clash. 13:17 It is a clash of religions. Okay? 13:21 So, in addition to that, Islam is one of the largest 13:24 and fastest growing religions in the world. 13:27 Did you know that? How many knew that? 13:29 Well, let me tell you some more. 13:31 Over one billion Muslims in the world today. 13:35 Number one, God loves Muslims. 13:40 God loves Jews, God loves Christians. 13:43 But I'm here to tell you I believe the Bible 13:46 and the Bible exposes false teaching. 13:49 And the Bible says Jesus said that in the last days 13:51 there would be false Christs and false prophets. 13:54 And so, over one billion Muslims in the world today, 13:59 60 out of 184 countries in the world 14:01 are in the world are now part of the house of this Islam. 14:05 And so Islam dominates the Middle East. 14:09 Here you see a picture of Muslims gathering together 14:14 during the most holy season of the year 14:17 in their most holy places there in Mecca. 14:21 Islam is already the fastest growing religion in Europe? 14:27 Did you know that? 14:29 Furthermore, it is estimated that there are seven million 14:32 Americans that are Muslim. 14:37 And there are over one thousand mosques 14:41 and Islamic centers in the United States. 14:46 No wonder, Time Magazine had a front cover, 14:49 blockbuster, controversial front page cover story, 14:55 entitled, is America. 14:57 Islamophobic? 14:59 Basically, it's about the conflict 15:02 or the controversial hot-heated debate 15:05 about whether they should put a mosque 15:08 there at Ground Zero 15:09 where the two twin towers came down, 15:12 because of extreme Muslim fundamentalists. 15:18 And so I don't know who came up with the idea, 15:22 but I would agree, agree that's touching a wrong nerve in 15:25 the United States of America, understatement. 15:28 And so all I know though, is that, 15:32 is that former Present Bush said, 15:35 "This nation is at war with radical Islamic fascists," 15:41 all right? 15:42 And so furthermore, we were attacked 15:44 by radical Islamic terrorists 15:47 before and it could happen again. 15:49 How many remember 9/11? 15:52 Do you remember where you were? 15:54 How many remember where you were? 15:55 Of course, you do. 15:57 Well, I will tell you on September 10th. 16:00 We were doing a seminar just like this in New York City, 16:05 the day before the attack. 16:08 We were doing a seminar and we had a day off. 16:12 Our day off was September 11th. 16:16 And so we decided to go home where we lived 16:20 in the Pocono's of Pennsylvania, 16:21 there in the mountains. 16:23 And we were snarled in traffic 16:26 trying to get on to the George Washington Bridge, 16:29 that crosses the Hudson there and goes into New Jersey, 16:34 and just two-hour drive to home. 16:36 But traffic was just stopped. 16:40 And so I commented to my wife 16:42 as we were going at a snail's pace, 16:44 I said, "Honey, can you imagine if there was a crisis 16:49 in New York City, nobody would be able to leave." 16:53 Fast-forward it's the next morning, 16:56 and I thought, let me get up and see what, 16:58 you know, it's our day off, 17:00 let me see what the weather's going to be like. 17:02 I don't remember what the weather was, 17:03 I can't even remember if I made it to the weather channel, 17:05 but I saw what you saw, CNN coverage. 17:09 I could not, I was actually trembling. 17:12 I was actually trembling 17:14 were you like me, anybody like me? 17:15 You know, I was trembling and my wife was trembling. 17:19 For several reasons we were trembling. 17:23 My wife's mother worked 17:26 just in the shadow of those twin towers. 17:30 And I remember, I remember watching 17:33 when my wife was trying to get a hold of her mother, 17:35 could not reach her all day until 6 o'clock in the evening. 17:39 And she had a horrific story, but let me tell you something, 17:43 when I, when I was sitting there trembling, 17:46 I went for my Bible. 17:49 How many agree it's good to have your Bible around? 17:52 And I just, I just, you know, 17:55 kind of opened my Bible and I read the verse Matthew 24. 18:00 Matthew 24:44. 18:03 "Therefore, Jesus said you will also be ready 18:06 for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." 18:09 How many agree? This just came out of nowhere. 18:11 I mean those planes just came out of nowhere. 18:16 And finally, when we talked 18:20 to my wife's mother, 18:22 she related the horrific nightmarish story. 18:28 She was aboard the subway below 18:33 and just prior to the Twin Towers 18:37 they let her out, they let all the people out 18:40 and there was some type of announcement 18:42 over the speakers, but you know, 18:44 how that it was seemed warble. 18:46 She didn't seem to really hear it clearly, 18:48 and she came up the stairs and she saw everybody 18:51 looking up at the Twin Tower. 18:52 She looked up, she couldn't believe her eyes. 18:55 And she literally, along with the crowd 18:57 had to run for their lives. 18:59 With the debris and everything, and that, 19:01 and that billowing smoke and toxic smoke, 19:05 death inducing smoke and so forth 19:08 and debris came rushing towards them. 19:10 They were literally running for their lives. 19:13 And they made it to the water 19:15 and there I guess, overlooking, looking to Brooklyn. 19:20 And lo and behold, when they make it to the water's edge, 19:23 then upcoming another way was another wave of debris 19:28 smoke and so forth said, keep running. 19:31 She said, "Mark, I didn't know if I was going to make it." 19:34 And many didn't make it. 19:37 But how many like me, 19:39 as you viewed this incredible footage, 19:42 this incredible live breaking news event, 19:47 how many knew like me, 19:49 the world will never be the same? 19:52 It's a paradigm shift, changing the course of history, 19:57 we have now gone into an era 20:00 known as the war on terror. 20:04 Sudden changes are about to catch the world by surprise. 20:08 Amazing Bible prophecies are fast fulfilling. 20:12 Do ancient prophecies predict a sudden economic collapse? 20:15 Will the Middle East crisis erupt into World War III? 20:19 Are we living on the eve of Armageddon? 20:21 How will the final moves of the antichrist affect you? 20:24 What is the future of 20:26 the United States of America? 20:27 How will natural disasters usher in the mark of the beast? 20:32 Now you can watch the entire Amazing Prophecies series 20:36 of 32 hope filled messages on DVD. 20:39 Don't guess about the future, know the future. 20:43 The complete set of DVDs 20:45 is available for a gift of $60 or more. 20:48 Call us at 1-855-336-FREE. 20:52 Or you can send a check or money order 20:54 to Forever Free Ministries, 20:56 2001 Munro Park, Corinth, Texas, 76208. 21:01 You can also visit us online at foreverfreeminitries.com. 21:07 Would you agree, nobody is claiming, 21:10 "We won the war on terror. It's all over?" 21:13 Would you agree, I think, 21:14 in many respects we've only just begun? 21:19 And so beloved, I believe with all my heart 21:23 that there is a growing threat 21:25 of radical Islamic Fundamentalism. 21:29 That's what took down the twin towers. 21:34 Radical Islam is a doctrine of death. 21:37 Their highest honor is to die for Allah. 21:42 They call Jews and Christians infidels. 21:45 Mohammad said that our demands that quote, 21:48 "Whoever relinquishes his faith, kill him." 21:54 The women of radical Islam have no freedom, 21:57 cannot drive a car, can not hold a public job. 22:01 These are irrefutable facts. 22:05 Islam calls Jewish people apes and pigs. 22:09 They believe that Christians incur Allah's wrath. 22:15 Mecca, Islam is the religion that was developed 22:18 by the teachings of Mohammed 22:20 who was a citizen of the city of Mecca in Arabia, 22:23 in the seventh century. 22:25 Mecca, look at this picture. 22:29 Millions and millions of millions. 22:31 Would you agree, 22:33 if all of the Muslims unite, 22:36 and they want to get something done, 22:38 it will make the news? 22:40 And it will impact the world. 22:42 Jesus warned that there would be false prophets 22:46 that would deceive many. 22:47 I believe Mohammed is a false prophet 22:51 that is impacting the world. 22:54 And so Islam's second most holiest shrine 22:58 brings us to Jerusalem. 23:01 Jerusalem, here is a picture I've actually been there, 23:04 been in there, the Dome of the Rock. 23:06 Jerusalem. 23:08 Jerusalem is known as the city of peace 23:16 City of Shalom. 23:19 Jerusalem, the city of peace. 23:22 Talk about irony, talk about a dichotomy, 23:25 talk about a paradox. 23:27 We're talking about a city that has no peace. 23:31 So, there is no peace 23:35 without the Prince of Peace. 23:40 All eyes are on Israel. 23:42 Praying for peace, but there is no peace. 23:45 Longing for peace, there is no peace. 23:48 So what is this land? Why is it so coveted? 23:53 Home of the world's great religious faiths 23:56 Judaism, Islam and Christianity, 23:59 all have a vested interest in this prized real estate. 24:03 We call it the Holy Land, Canaan's land, 24:06 Promised Land and don't forget we call it 24:08 the Land flowing with milk and honey. 24:10 That sounds like ice cream. 24:13 All right, didn't get that, all right, never mind. 24:17 Think about, you know, in real estate 24:19 they say location-- What do they say? 24:22 Location, location, location. 24:25 Well, this is prized real estate. 24:30 And we're talking about a little, 24:32 a little strip of land. 24:34 100 to 150 miles north to south right, all right? 24:38 There you go. 35 to 60 miles east to west, all right? 24:42 There you go. 24:44 Slightly larger than the state of Vermont. 24:47 We're talking a relatively small piece of land 24:50 and yet this land, Luke 21:24, 24:53 would be "trodden down of the Gentiles." 24:57 It would be trodden down by the Romans, 24:59 the Turks, the Muslims, the Crusaders, the British. 25:03 Jerusalem has been captured, only 26 times. 25:08 It's been destroyed at least five times. 25:12 Talk about a checkered history. 25:15 Come with me though, to Mount Moriah. 25:17 Inside the present walled city. 25:19 The old city of Jerusalem overshadowed 25:20 by the Mount of Olives. 25:22 Now the Mount of Olives is not, you know, these are not 25:24 like the Rocky Mountains, but, 25:27 but nevertheless, you do have 25:30 a strategic panorama view or vista 25:34 of the old city of Jerusalem 25:38 right there in front of you. 25:39 It is breathtaking. 25:41 The center of attention for Muslims, Jews and Christians. 25:45 But I have a question, this is the pivotal question. 25:49 Why is the Temple mount specifically, 25:52 so spiritually significant to them? 25:56 Why? 25:58 The Israelis consider it supremely sacred, 26:01 because why? 26:02 Their ancestors worshipped here in a sanctuary 26:06 that was built by King Solomon. 26:10 And so, 600 years though, before Christ, 26:14 the Babylonians under the leadership 26:16 of King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed that temple. 26:22 The Temple of Solomon. 26:23 Solomon's temple, destroyed. 26:26 The second temple the Persian king Cyrus, 26:29 allow the Jews to return from Babylon 26:33 to Jerusalem to do, what? 26:35 To rebuild Solomon's Temple. 26:38 That was a miracle. 26:39 It was divine providence of God. 26:42 So, Herod's Temple, 26:46 he built it to win favor with his subjects. 26:50 He built it, I believe to impress the Roman world. 26:53 Architecture can speak very loudly. 26:56 And it was completed around 62 A.D. 27:01 Now, this third Temple was the grandest. 27:06 Now keep in mind, it was really, it was really 27:10 the second temple with the renovations. 27:15 You could call it the third temple 27:16 or you could call it a second temple 27:18 with the extensive renovations. 27:21 Twice as high as Solomon's Temple. 27:25 Impressive, imposing, 27:28 just an extraordinary architectural splendor, 27:32 covered with so much gold that it was a dazzling sight 27:35 in the bright sun. 27:38 I mean, it was stunning. 27:39 And so on one occasion, while the disciples were 27:44 looking at the temple from the Mount of Olives, 27:49 and they were seeing it shimmering glimmer 27:51 under the Middle Eastern Sun, 27:53 they drew Jesus attention to it. 27:58 And Jesus responded by making a startling prediction. 28:03 Matthew 24:1. 28:06 "Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple 28:09 and his disciples came up to show Him 28:11 the buildings of the temple. 28:13 And Jesus said to them, 28:15 'Do you not see all these things 28:16 assuredly I say to you,'" as He is pointing to the temple, 28:20 "Not one stone should be left here upon another, 28:24 that shall not be thrown down." 28:25 Now that was a bombshell. 28:30 Their dreams and aspirations, all swirled around 28:35 or hovered around that icon 28:39 of the capital of God's people, 28:42 the city of Jerusalem with its temple. 28:47 So Jesus made a dire prediction, 28:51 in less than 40 years, the Temple would be, what? 28:55 It would be destroyed. 28:57 Now they thought that, that must be the end of the world. 29:00 Well, it was not. 29:03 Jesus wept over the imminent 29:06 complete destruction of Jerusalem. 29:08 He wept about it. 29:10 He wept over it. 29:11 He wept, because he knew there would be a massacre. 29:15 He knew that there would be carnage. 29:17 He knew that there would be death in the air. 29:21 He knew that blood would spill on those stones. 29:26 And he wept. 29:28 Now why? 29:30 Why would it be destroyed? 29:33 Why? 29:35 Oh, here's the key. Matthew 23:37. 29:39 Jesus said, while he was 29:43 swaying back and forth on that donkey, 29:47 overlooking the city, 29:50 while his frame seem to tremble 29:54 with a cracking voice and the broken heart, 29:58 from his pale quivering lips came these words, 30:02 "Oh Jerusalem, 30:04 Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets." 30:09 Those are messengers. 30:10 They didn't like the message, get rid of the messenger. 30:14 "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets 30:17 and stones those who are sent to her! 30:21 How often I wanted to gather your children together 30:24 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 30:27 but you are not willing." 30:29 Doesn't that break your heart? 30:31 Doesn't that break your heart, 30:32 because you see His heart broken? 30:35 By the way, when we don't accept 30:38 any portion of the message that God gives to us, 30:41 would you agree, it does break His heart? 30:43 Would you agree God does still have feelings? 30:47 How many still have feelings? 30:49 And we are made after the image of God. 30:51 We all have feelings. 30:53 God has feelings. 30:54 How many want to make God feel welcomed tonight by saying, 30:58 "Lord, whatever is in your word we want it." 30:59 Can you say amen to that? 31:01 And so I want to notice here beloved, 31:04 Jesus said categorically, 31:08 "See! Your house is left to you," what? 31:12 Empty, desolate, meaningless. 31:16 Wow. 31:18 Incredible words. 31:22 Matthew 23:38. 31:25 Did you know about a year 31:28 before of the destruction of Jerusalem, 31:31 some real eerie, mysterious, ominous, 31:36 omens things happened? 31:40 One of which, 31:42 there was a star in the shape of a sword 31:47 that appeared in the sky, over Jerusalem there, 31:52 and it was visible for about a year. 31:56 Incredible. How many agree, God will give signs, warning? 32:01 Our God is a loving God. 32:03 He warns us that we might be saved. Can you say, amen? 32:06 Would you agree, this word is filled with warnings? 32:11 Oh, come on now. 32:13 How many are parents? 32:17 You give your kids warnings, 32:18 "do not cross the street," warning! 32:22 "You could get hurt, unless you cross 32:25 with mommy and daddy holding our hand," right? 32:28 Boy, you should see me at Wal-Mart, 32:31 where is Jordan, my five year old. 32:33 Okay, hold her hand, hold her hand. 32:36 Caleb, he's 10, you know, I tell him to be careful. 32:38 Don't, don't get too close to the car, you know, 32:40 give a little distance, if they do back up, 32:42 you know, give them a little. 32:44 How many are like me, you know? Okay, watch out here. 32:46 Okay, warning here, warning there. 32:47 You do that out of love. 32:50 Matter of fact, 32:52 you can't buy anything these days, 32:54 any gadgetry or any appliance at home 32:56 or anything these days without a warning label on them. 32:59 I mean, even if you have something that's, that's not 33:02 dangerous to play with really needs no warning 33:05 then it's wrapped in plastic that says, "Warning! 33:07 Don't get choked on this." 33:09 Warnings in your way of life, 33:12 and if you refuse to listen to the warnings 33:15 according the word of God, you're gonna belost. 33:18 In the Book of Revelation has end time warnings, 33:23 and God is trying to get our attention. 33:26 And he's trying to tell us, 33:29 "Get close to me before it's too late. 33:32 Fall in love with me before it's too late. 33:35 Come to the cross, the blood, the blood 33:40 will save you before it's too late." 33:42 How many agree, very soon it will be too late? 33:44 But it's not yet too late. 33:46 I want to notice though, that it would be too late 33:49 for Jerusalem. 33:51 Luke 19:41. 33:53 Now as it drew near He saw the city and wept over it 33:59 saying, "If you had known even you, 34:03 especially in your day," 34:05 listen to this, "Especially in this, your day." 34:09 Would you agree, Jesus said, 34:11 "If all you had known, your time." 34:13 Why do you think night by night, I always begin 34:16 with Psalms 102:13. 34:19 That says the set time is come. 34:21 How many agree, God has you in a season? 34:25 How many agree, there are different seasons in your life? 34:28 Right? 34:30 Don't miss your season, don't miss your time. 34:32 This is a time for God to do 34:34 something special in your lives. 34:36 Would you agree, understanding our day 34:38 in the light of Bible prophecy, 34:40 that's, that's a favor of God? 34:42 And you don't want to miss your day of opportunity. 34:45 I want to notice here, this is powerful. 34:48 He said, "If you had known, 34:50 even you especially in this, your day 34:55 the things that make for your peace." 35:01 Peace. 35:05 But now they are hidden from your eyes. 35:09 How many agree, 35:11 if we recognize our time, 35:14 that thi is our time, this is our time 35:16 to get close to Jesus. 35:17 This is our time to study his word like never before. 35:20 Would you agree? 35:22 This will be our time of peace. 35:24 How many would like more peace in your life, 35:25 more peace in your heart? 35:27 Has everything to knowing the day of your visitation? 35:29 I want to notice your, listen carefully listen, 35:32 "For days will come upon you, 35:36 when your enemies will build an embankment around you," 35:39 that's called a siege, 35:40 "surrounded," notice here, 35:42 "Surround you and close you in on every side 35:45 and level you and your children within you." 35:48 Come on, now Moms and Dads, 35:49 nothing is more important to you, 35:52 number one, God, then what? 35:54 Your children. 35:56 And Jesus cares for children. 35:58 How many agree, Jesus love the little children? 36:03 But moms and dads can affect the future of their children. 36:10 And your children within you to the ground 36:12 and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, 36:15 because you did not know the time 36:18 of your visitation 36:20 Would you agree? These are also prophetic words for us. 36:23 We got to know the time. 36:25 Do you know, I'm going to tell you 36:26 ahead of time, you're ready? 36:27 I'm just gonna give you a little teaser here about, 36:29 about what you going to learn more of. 36:31 We are living in the sealing time. 36:34 We're living in the judgment hour. 36:38 We're living in a time of the early 36:41 in preparation for the latter rain. 36:44 All right. 36:46 I want you to notice here. 36:47 The time of your visitation. 36:51 "The destruction of Jerusalem," 36:53 look at versus 20 and 21 Chapter 21, 36:56 go there, 21:20 and 21. 37:00 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies," a siege, 37:04 "then know that its desolation is eminent." 37:07 It is near. 37:09 "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." 37:12 Wait the minute. 37:14 How can you leave a city 37:16 that is under a death embrace? 37:20 How do you evacuate a city 37:22 that is under such a tight siege? 37:27 How do you leave a city 37:29 that is surrounded by spiraling soldiers? 37:36 Jesus must have known something. 37:40 I want you to notice here. 37:43 Look at here. 37:45 When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, 37:47 then know that the desolation is near. 37:50 Then let those who were in Judea flee to the mountains. 37:53 In other words, when you see that siege taken place, 37:56 when you see the first, what? 37:58 Window of opportunity, 38:02 leave evacuate, get out of there, exit. 38:06 "Let those who are in the midst of there, depart. 38:09 And let not those who are in the country enter her." 38:13 So the Bible makes it very clear 38:16 that prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, 38:20 there would be a siege. 38:22 There would be a siege. 38:25 Cestius, Roman General Cestius, 38:30 came with his troops, marched his troops there, 38:34 he had closed in on Jerusalem, the prized city. 38:38 Laid a serious siege upon the city. 38:41 It was-- It seemed to be his for the taking 38:43 as he just perched there, like vultures just waiting. 38:49 Mysteriously, suddenly he lifted the siege 38:53 and retreated with his troops. 38:55 And the euphoric Jewish Zealots, 39:00 chased after the retreating Roman soldiers, 39:03 killed many of them, 39:05 and in their temporary false security, 39:10 they struck a coin that said, 39:13 "In the first year of Liberty, it was a false security. 39:18 It wouldn't last long," 39:22 because just a couple years later what happened? 39:28 In 70 A.D, Roman General, Titus came down, 39:33 laid siege upon the city, 39:36 and this time he didn't leave 39:38 until the city was leveled to the ground. 39:44 Roman Cestius was just the first part of the siege. 39:50 But there was that little window of opportunity 39:54 to evacuate, to get out, to exit. 39:57 And so a set time of God's favor would pass quickly. 40:03 You see, if you know prophecy, if you know the prophecy, 40:08 you know what to do and when you're to do it. 40:14 Keep that in mind when we get into the issues 40:19 about the mark of the beast. Flee to the mountains. 40:24 Jesus said, "flee of the mountains." 40:26 70,000, so here, you know what happened? 40:30 Those who believe, this is powerful. 40:32 Those who believed in, what? 40:36 Jesus said the prophecy that he gave 40:38 "those who believe the words of Jesus." 40:41 They got out of there. They fled to the mountains. 40:45 And they're life was preserved. 40:49 You see, 70,000 Roman troops surrounded 40:52 Jerusalem and laid siege to the city. 40:54 And the siege lasted for months. 40:59 The second temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D.70. 41:04 Indeed, one million Jews perished. 41:08 Now General Titus, General Titus said, 41:13 "do not torch the temple." 41:16 But because some of the, the Jews retreated 41:19 into the inner precincts of the temple, 41:23 some of his soldiers just threw the torch in there 41:27 and the cedar aligned walls 41:29 or the gold lain walls of cedar, 41:32 caught fire and the gold began to melt. 41:36 And the temple went up into an inferno, 41:38 and one million Jews perished. 41:42 All I can say is, not one believer who believed 41:45 the prophesying and got out of there lost their life. 41:48 It pays to know Bible prophecy. This is no trivial pursuit. 41:52 This is no extracurricular activity 41:54 you're doing here tonight. 41:55 You are learning the truth 41:57 for this final hour of earth's history. 42:01 And so, that's why you can go to Rome, I've been there. 42:05 You can go to Rome, 42:06 and you can see the arch of Titus 42:08 with the seven branch candlestick, 42:10 because the Jews, 42:12 the Jewish people scattered all over the world. 42:17 The Bible predicted it. It happened. 42:20 Now God's favor was upon those who knew 42:23 when their time was to flee. 42:28 And so think about it. 42:32 The Jews were not ready 42:33 for Jesus' first coming, were they? 42:37 God's people were not ready. 42:40 The church was not ready for the first coming. 42:42 I've got a question for you. 42:44 Are people today ready for the next coming of Christ? 42:47 There's the first coming 42:48 and then there's the second coming. 42:50 Are most people ready? 42:51 The Bible says, "The church," Matthew 25. "Is sleeping." 42:55 Like the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane. 42:58 And so, Jesus told us, 43:00 "Discern the signs of the times." 43:02 Would you agree, he gave, he gave God's people. 43:05 He gave them signs 43:07 of the destruction of Jerusalem. 43:09 He gave them signs for their day. 43:11 And he's given signs for our day. 43:13 They didn't discern them, how many are determined 43:15 by the grace of God, through the power of God, 43:19 through study of scriptures, through prayer to God, 43:22 will discern the times? 43:24 Can you say amen? 43:25 You will discern and you will interpret them, all right. 43:28 Jesus predicted there's gonna be wars 43:30 and rumors of wars. 43:31 He wants us to know. 43:32 Have a pulse on what's going on in the world. 43:35 And then fast forward, 43:37 in the context of wars and rumors of wars, 43:39 the twentieth century was the bloodiest. 43:42 Millions, and millions, and millions of people, 43:46 multiplied millions of people died 43:47 in World War I in World War II. 43:51 Millions of Jews perished during World War II. 43:56 Six million Jews, lost their lives 44:01 under the Nazi regime, 44:04 because of Hitler's dictatorship. 44:07 But then, in 1948. 44:11 How many of you remember seeing those grim images 44:14 of those skeletons of people that were just barely 44:17 hanging onto a thread of live? 44:19 Those grim images there 44:21 that were in these Nazi camps, these holocaust camps. 44:26 Well, those, then the heart of the world, 44:30 the sympathies of the world went, 44:32 went out to these, and rightly so to these oppressed people. 44:36 Then in one 1948, the Jewish people returned to Palestine 44:40 to form their new independent government. 44:43 Talk about an amazing turn of events 44:46 to go from the death camps 44:48 to now forging out their own independent government. 44:53 Amazing. David Ben-Gurion, see the picture here, 44:57 first Prime Minister of Israel, 44:59 publicly pronouncing their declaration 45:01 of the state of Israel, May 14, 1948. 45:06 The world was amazed and many were happy 45:11 that now they could have their own little strip of land. 45:15 But there would be a lot of hostilities 45:19 around them and a lot of fighting. 45:21 In the six day war, 1967, 45:24 they recaptured the prized city of Jerusalem 45:26 in just six days. 45:29 And here is a picture of paratroopers 45:31 that Jerusalem's Western Wall, shortly after its capture. 45:36 Now in light of all that's been said tonight, 45:41 the Israelis believe that God gave them back Jerusalem, 45:45 in order to rebuild the temple. 45:48 It would be known as the, really the third temple. 45:52 So after Temple services resume, 45:54 this is what they believe, 45:56 the Messiah will come and set up His glorious kingdom 45:59 according to their scenario. 46:02 And a rebuilt temple 46:04 would fulfill the dreams and aspirations 46:06 of Jewish people around the globe. 46:10 Why the delay? 46:13 Come on, get on with it, 46:14 build the temple and get the services 46:16 going and why aren't you just move forward. 46:19 Why not-- 46:20 why the stalled progress? Why the delay? 46:24 What is preventing these aspirations from being realized 46:28 by the Jews? 46:30 Here's the upshot. 46:31 Muslim occupation and opposition. 46:38 The Temple Mount is under Muslim control. 46:42 The Dome of the rock remains one of Islam's 46:44 holiest shrines in the entire world. 46:49 Muslims believe this is an inside-- 46:51 Is a picture inside the dome of the rock 46:53 and there is a massive rock there. 46:55 Muslims believe Mohammad received 46:58 their ultimate source of authority on Mount Moriah. 47:02 And furthermore, they believe 47:06 the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and gave him 47:08 the words of the Koran. 47:12 And so here they are, here are the Jews 47:16 the soldier armed with a machine gun, 47:19 praying, fighting for peace. 47:25 And as you go there to the Old City of Jerusalem, 47:30 and you see the walls, 47:33 you can see it's a war torn zone. 47:37 I want you to notice here, 47:39 there is a silent witness on the, these walls. 47:43 What is it? Bullet holes. It says it all. 47:49 And there's the Wailing Wall. There's the Wailing Wall. 47:56 Wailing Wall is a portion of the western wall 47:58 of Herod's Temple was preserved by the Romans 48:01 when they destroyed the city in 70 A.D to show 48:03 how formidable they were. 48:05 This fragment of wall is revered 48:07 by the Jews and called the Wailing Wall. 48:09 It is about 50 yards long and 60 feet high. 48:12 One stone is a whopping 16 and a half feet long 48:16 and 13 feet wide. 48:18 Here the Jews gather to wail the loss of their temple. 48:22 Many people will scribble out their prayers and crumple up 48:25 a piece of paper, stuff it in the crevices 48:27 there at the Wailing Wall, as they pray for their needs, 48:32 and for peace in the Middle East. 48:34 So what was God's original plan 48:40 for His people, Israel? 48:43 Watch. 48:44 God's ideal plan for Israel, 48:46 number one, inherit the land of Canaan. 48:50 Number two, "blossom and bud, and fill the face 48:53 of the world with His fruit." 48:55 Number three, "Jerusalem becomes 48:56 God's throne and all nations "gathered unto it." 49:00 There's more. 49:01 Temple in Jerusalem would be 49:02 "called the House of Prayer for all people." 49:04 There's more. 49:06 "All the nations of the Earth 49:07 which shall hear of all the good 49:08 that I do unto them shall fear and tremble" 49:11 " before them and be afraid of them. 49:13 There is more. 49:15 Any nation which refused to serve Israel 49:17 would be turned into a wasteland. 49:19 There's more. Unparalleled prosperity. 49:22 There's more, superior health, superior intellect, 49:25 international fame. 49:26 Would you agree these were grandiose, 49:28 these were powerful 49:30 remarkable plans that God had for Israel. 49:36 But there's something that many Christians overlook. 49:42 Now as Paul Harvey, would say, 49:45 now for the rest of the story. 49:49 In Deuteronomy 28. 49:53 You have a litany, a list of blessings pronounce 50:01 upon Israel, and it's all premised by a little word, 50:05 two letters, guess what that word is? 50:08 "If" blessings if you obey, blessings if you obey, 50:14 blessings if you obey. 50:16 And after a long list of blessings, premise, 50:19 conditional "if" they would obey. 50:24 Followed by that was a long list of curses 50:31 if they would disobey. 50:34 So would you agree, everything was conditional? 50:38 God had a plan, but it was conditional. 50:43 Now think about it. 50:45 Have they have been reaping the blessings or the curses? 50:48 I'll let you be the judge of that. 50:51 You say, well, they got the land over there. 50:55 Is there peace over there? 50:59 No peace. 51:02 Would you agree, this was not God's idea? 51:05 This was not God's plan? 51:07 Anything that goes on in the Middle East, 51:09 they can talk peace but all it is, is a band-aid. 51:14 There is no peace for those who reject the Prince of Peace. 51:19 And there is a lesson, booked for us all. 51:23 It applies to every one of us. 51:25 There's no peace, unless 51:28 we give our heart to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. 51:32 And so there's conflict and fear, 51:35 when we do not follow Jesus in our heart 51:38 and seek to obey him, 51:40 there's this conflict in fear in our heart. 51:42 But I'm so glad, the Bible makes a very clear, 51:45 "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." 51:48 1 John 4:4. 51:49 "This is the victory that overcometh the world, 51:51 even our faith," 51:52 1 John 5:4. 51:54 "We can go on conquering and to conquer," Romans 8:37. 51:58 "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," 52:00 Hebrews 13:5 and 6. 52:02 How many agree, you may not be armed with weapons? 52:04 But the weapons of our warfare are the word, 52:07 is a word of God, faith in Jesus Christ, amen. 52:10 Because the Bible says, "Perfect love casts out fear." 52:15 1 John 4:18. 52:18 "God is not given us the spirit of fear, 52:20 but of love, and of power and of a sound mind." 52:22 2 Timothy 1:7. 52:24 How many love the Word of God tonight? Amen. 52:26 And so all of these, these familiar photos, 52:31 seem to just be turn out to be photo ops. 52:34 Here is Clinton. You know. And there's Arafat. 52:38 And you know shaking the hands, Israeli leader, 52:43 and the Arab leader or the, you know, the leader 52:46 there in the Middle East, the Palestinian 52:48 leader,former leader. 52:49 And here they are shaking hands, 52:50 but there's no peace. 52:52 And so you can see all of the different-- 52:55 there is President Carter, you know, 52:57 they try to get peace, but there's no peace. 52:59 Here is Barack Obama, welcoming 53:01 Shimon Peres in the Oval Office. 53:04 And so would you like to know how to reach Jewish people? 53:07 Would you like to know how to reach 53:08 unbelievers and skeptics and scoffers? 53:10 Would you like to know how? 53:12 First of all you must take them to the garden tomb 53:15 and ask them where is Jesus? 53:17 He is a risen Savior. 53:19 Furthermore, there were 500 eyewitnesses 53:23 that Jesus Christ was now living. 53:27 500 eye witnesses. 53:31 Jesus fulfilled over 40 Messianic prophecies. 53:37 When he would be born? Where he would be born? 53:39 When he would be baptized? 53:41 When he would die? How he would die? 53:46 How much money would be given to his betrayer? 53:51 And on and on. 53:53 And so beloved, would you agree, 53:56 there must have been a reason 53:57 why Israel, why the Jews rejected Jesus? 54:00 You know why they rejected him? 54:03 Because he didn't liberate them from the Roman rule. 54:08 They wanted a political Messiah. 54:12 They wanted a glorious kingdom where their children 54:16 would not know any more pain or suffering. 54:18 They wanted it now and if he couldn't give it to them 54:20 right then and there, not interested. 54:23 But Jesus wanted to show them first, you must be delivered 54:28 from the occupation of the devil. 54:31 First, you must be freed from the tyranny of sin. 54:35 Then you can appreciate 54:36 later on, I'll give you the political freedom, 54:39 but that's not what's gonna come first. 54:40 Isn't that the way it is today, where people are thinking 54:44 that the government will save them? 54:47 They want to political Messiah, are you listening tonight? 54:50 They want to political Messiah. 54:52 I'm here to tell you, all you need is Jesus. 54:55 Jesus is your peacemaker. 54:58 Jesus is your Prince of Peace. Do you have peace tonight? 55:02 You can have that peace. You can and that peace. 55:05 Did you know that you are now true Israeli? 55:10 Listen to what the Bible says. 55:11 Listen to what the Bible says, 55:13 "He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 55:15 nor circumcision that which is outward 55:17 in the flesh, but he is a Jew who is just one inwardly 55:20 and circumcision is that of the heart, 55:22 in the spirit, not in the letter, 55:23 whose praise is not for men but from God." 55:26 Have you given your heart to Jesus? You're true Jew. 55:30 Ethnic Jews, according to the Word of God, listen. 55:34 The Bible says, it's not enough to have ethnicity, 55:36 you've got to have a born-again experience 55:39 to be a true Jew in the New Testament, 55:42 estimation of things. 55:45 So God's people are comprised of converted Jews 55:48 and converted Gentiles, His people. 55:52 Romans 2:28-29. 55:54 "Therefore, know that only those who are of faith 55:57 are sons of Abraham." 55:59 Faith in Jesus. 56:01 That's why the Bible says, "If you are of Christ, 56:03 hat you have Abraham's seed in heirs 56:05 according to the promise." 56:06 Galatians 3:29. That's Galatians 3:7. 56:09 What does the Bible say? 56:10 "Therefore I say to you the kingdom of God 56:12 will be taken from you, 56:13 and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it." 56:16 Jesus said, the kingdom is gonna be taken from you, 56:19 and given to a people that were not my people. 56:23 Matthew 21:43. 56:25 So who is the holy nation? 56:26 We need to draw to a close, who is the holy nation now? 56:29 You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 56:32 a holy nation, His own special people. 56:36 You didn't know how special you were. 56:39 You are His holy nation. 56:42 "You are a royal priesthood," His own special people, 56:45 "that you may proclaim 56:47 the praise of him who called you out of darkness 56:49 into His marvelous light, who once were not a people." 56:54 But now in Christ. 56:56 "Now the people of God who had not obtain mercy, 57:00 but now have obtained mercy." 57:02 My beloved, you shall inherit the promises of Abraham. 57:06 You can look forward to the New Jerusalem. 57:10 "I, John, saw the new Jerusalem coming down from God 57:13 adorned as a bride for her husband." 57:16 I'm here to tell you, 57:18 you're gonna be in that New Jerusalem. 57:19 I'm not looking forward to rebuild Jerusalem. 57:22 I'm looking forward to the New Jerusalem 57:24 and you and I can be in it. 57:26 Bible makes it very clear when you give your heart to Jesus, 57:30 very soon Jesus is gonna come. 57:33 We're gonna go home to be with the Lord 57:34 and we will be in that New Jerusalem. 57:38 Although sudden and alarming changes are sweeping 57:41 across the globe, you in your family 57:43 can be prepared to face the future with confidence. 57:47 The completion set of Amazing Prophecies on DVD 57:50 are available for a gift of $60 or more. 57:53 Call us at 1-855-336-FREE. 57:58 Or send your check or money order 58:00 to Forever Free Ministries, 58:02 2001 Munro Park, Corinth, Texas, 76208. 58:09 If you would like to have Mark Fox 58:10 hold an Amazing Prophecies' 58:12 seminar or a Marriage seminar weekend in your church, 58:15 contact us today. 58:17 markfox @foreverfreeministries.org. |
Revised 2015-12-03