Participants: Mark Fox
Series Code: AMP
Program Code: AMP000021A
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00:04 We are racing towards the global crises at the close.
00:09 God is going to set up His kingdom on earth. 00:13 Preparation for the tribulation and the translation 00:17 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 angles' 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 vas 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 00:50 through the hourglass of time 00:52 and the door probation is about the swing shot. 01:00 As we continue with Amazing Prophecies, 01:03 a seminar in this edition, in this presentation, 01:07 it's entitled, "When American enforces the" what, everyone? 01:11 "The mark of the beast!" 01:14 Come with me to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 01:17 Philadelphia is one of the largest cities 01:20 in the United States of America and has such rich history. 01:24 How many have been to Independence Hall, 01:27 where the US constitution was signed and so forth? 01:31 And so there also in Philadelphia 01:35 have the Philadelphia Phillies. 01:37 Well, I don't follow sports 01:39 but I wanted to bring this to your attention. 01:43 With a long history, 01:44 America's favorite past time sport was baseball. 01:49 There used to be a law against playing 01:53 organized baseball on Sunday. 01:58 Now for the rest of the story. 02:01 There was a fight for Sunday baseball in Philadelphia 02:07 and guess who won? 02:09 Baseball. 02:10 And so major league baseball was played legally 02:16 in the city on Sunday beginning in April 1934. 02:20 Baseball men hailed the end of repressive Blue Laws 02:26 and expected some financial relief for organized baseball 02:31 from the worse effects of the depression. 02:34 So they were using it in more ways than one. 02:38 Well, what's interesting is that there have been 02:41 Sunday Blue Laws from the infancy 02:45 at the formative stages of this country of ours. 02:50 Sunday closing laws, or Blue Laws, 02:53 have a long checkered history. 02:56 In the United States, Blue Laws date back to colonial times. 03:01 A matter of fact, in the colony of Virginia in 1610, 03:04 we read as follows. 03:06 These were the laws 03:08 with a little bit of teeth in them. 03:11 Every man and woman shall repair in the morning 03:14 to the divine service and sermons preached 03:17 upon the Sabbath day, they're referring to Sunday, 03:20 and in the afternoon to divine service and catechising, 03:23 notice here, and catechising, 03:25 upon pain for the first fault to lose their provision 03:30 and the allowance of the whole week following, 03:33 for the second, to lose the said allowance 03:35 and also be whipt. 03:38 I'm just reading. 03:39 And for the third, in fraction or offense, to suffer death. 03:45 Well, there you have it. A colony of Virginia 1610. 03:50 Well, the United States Supreme Court 03:52 has ruled that Sunday laws are not 03:56 unconstitutional or discriminatory. 03:59 This opens the way for all of the present confused, 04:03 contradictory local state laws to be replaced 04:07 by a national Sunday law or a national law 04:10 that will standardize the enforcement 04:12 of Sunday all over America. 04:16 Well, guess what? 04:18 Time magazine story was entitled, 04:22 "Will the recession doom the last Sunday Blue Laws?" 04:28 In Arkansas, we read this. 04:31 Arkansas eliminates Blue Law 04:34 that banned Sunday alcohol sales. 04:38 Arkansas became the 36th state to repeal its Blue Law banning 04:44 Sunday liquor sales at package (liquor) stores, 04:47 according to the Distilled Spirits Council, 04:51 which called the state's decision 04:53 a sign of things to come across the south as legislators 04:59 continue looking for ways to raise revenue 05:02 without raising taxes in this sour economy. 05:06 March 4, 2009. 05:09 So what's the point? 05:10 It seems that we're very, very lax about Blue Laws, 05:17 even though many states still have 05:20 on their books these repressive Blue Laws, 05:25 but they pretty much have become antiquated, 05:28 they're just collecting dust and that's all. 05:31 You know, I'm from Texas and Texas, 05:33 you know, as I like to say we do everything big in Texas, 05:36 that doesn't mean 05:37 we do everything smart in Texas. 05:38 But anyway, Texas Sunday Blue Laws, 05:41 beverages of 20 percent alcohol content or higher 05:45 are prohibited from sale on Sunday with the exception 05:48 of establishments that sell food. 05:51 I mean, we got it down to a science in Texas. 05:53 Liquor stores closed statewide on Sundays. 05:57 Beer and wine may be purchased 05:59 at any open store until 1 a.m. Sunday. 06:04 You can only buy beer and wine afternoon Sunday. 06:07 The rest of the week it may be purchased as early as 8 a.m. 06:12 I mean, we got this down to details. 06:14 And so could there be though a national Sunday Law 06:19 in the near future? 06:21 Right now, if you look at all this jargon 06:24 and you look at how things have just become so lax 06:27 in regard to Sunday Blue Laws, you would say, 06:30 "Not anytime soon." 06:32 Well, wait a minute. I have a book here. 06:36 It's entitled, "Future Cast," by researcher, 06:41 renowned researcher, George Bana. 06:45 Go head, go online, do a Google, go on his website. 06:49 He is one of the most preeminent, 06:52 one of the most renowned and respected researchers 06:57 of today and he's just come out 06:59 with this monumental landmark book entitled, 07:04 "Future Cast, with today's trends," 07:07 I'm sorry, "What today's trends mean for tomorrow's world." 07:12 Extensive new research on how our behaviors, 07:16 attitudes and beliefs are shaping our future 07:21 and what we can do about it. 07:23 And then back cover, 07:25 new information on the trends that are shaping our world. 07:29 Everybody say, "Trends." 07:31 Watch this, "And are about" notice, 07:36 "new information on the trends that are shaping our world 07:38 and are about to change our life." 07:42 Everybody say, "Change." 07:45 "Our world is changing at a pace beyond anything 07:52 ever seen in history." 07:55 Let me repeat that. 07:57 "Our world is changing at a pace beyond anything 08:01 ever seen in history. 08:05 But where will all these cultural shifts lead? 08:11 What's in store for our government, 08:15 economy, families and churches? 08:21 We need accurate information that will give us a real sense 08:24 of what's happening now and what's about to happen 08:27 in key areas of our lives including family life, 08:30 technology, media and entertainment, 08:32 attitudes and values, religious beliefs and behavior." 08:37 I believe with all my heart that he's right on 08:40 that there are some cultural shifts taking place. 08:44 I believe, if there's one thing 08:46 we learn from recent trends, 08:49 number one, expect big changes. 08:53 Number two, expect many of those big changes 08:57 to happen overnight, unexpectedly. 09:02 Put it all together, this tells you the news 09:07 before the news tells you. 09:10 This is the Word of God 09:12 and our God does not guess about the future. 09:16 God knows the future. 09:20 And so we go to the book of Revelation. 09:23 Go to the book of Revelation. 09:25 Revelation Chapter 3. Revelation Chapter 3. 09:30 Revelation Chapter 3, looking there at verse 10. 09:34 What does the Bible forecast? 09:37 Looking there at Revelation 3:10, 09:42 words are in red, Jesus speaking, 09:44 "Because you've kept My command to persevere, 09:47 I also would keep you 09:48 from the hour of trial or tribulation, 09:49 which will come upon the whole world, 09:51 to test those who dwell on the earth." 09:55 Now take your Bible and turn with me to Exodus 20:20. 10:02 How many want to have 20/20 vision? 10:06 How many remember when you used to have it? 10:10 All right, Exodus 20:20. 10:13 Context, Ten Commandments. Context, Ten Commandments. 10:19 Verse 20, 10:21 after the Ten Commandments are given, verse 20. 10:26 "And Moses said to the people, 10:30 'Do not fear, for God has come to,'" what? 10:35 "'Test you and that his fear may be before you 10:40 so that you may not sin.'" 10:43 So the Bible makes it very clear 10:45 that, that the Ten Commandments were given to test us 10:50 and to reveal if there's any sin in our life. 10:54 The word of God and the law of God is like a mirror 10:57 that reveals any sin in your life. 11:00 The Bible says that the word of God is alive 11:03 and it pierces through every fiber of our being 11:06 and exposes even the motives of our heart. 11:10 Hebrews 4:12. 11:12 The Bible calls the law of God the mirror, a mirror. 11:16 James 1:23-25. 11:18 You look in a mirror and you can see 11:20 if there is an oil smudge in your forehead. 11:23 Somebody can tell you, 11:24 "You have a ugly mark in your forehead." 11:26 You might get offended 11:27 until you go on the mirror and discover they were right. 11:31 Now I want you to notice something. 11:33 God tests us for our good. 11:38 And tests came before sin came into this world. 11:45 Adam and Eve were tested 11:47 whether they would eat the piece of fruit, 11:50 we don't know what kind of variety it was, 11:52 but all I know is they were tested to see, 11:54 would they go against contrary to God's express will? 11:58 Would they violate their conscience? 12:00 Would they make the wrong fatal choice 12:03 and would they eat from the fruit 12:06 that was forbidden? 12:07 It was test of love. 12:10 Then God later on gave the Ten Commandments. 12:13 Down through history, from Genesis to Revelation, 12:18 the Bible records how God, 12:20 out of love, tests what's in our heart. 12:24 Number one, it's for our good. 12:26 Number two, we don't even know our own heart... 12:31 unless God reveals it to us, because sin blinds us. 12:38 So we can't see what's wrong with us. 12:43 Sin blinds and binds. 12:48 So therefore we need to be 12:50 tested to see are we in the faith. 12:52 The Bible says, Bible says, 12:54 "Examine yourself to see if you're in the faith." 12:57 2 Corinthians 13:5. 12:59 David said in Psalms 139:23, 24, 13:03 he said there, "Search me, O God. 13:07 See if there's any wicked way, evil way in me." 13:10 So I want you to notice here, Exodus 20:6, 13:16 "But showing mercy to thousands to those who love Me 13:18 and keep My commandments." 13:21 Do you see that? 13:22 Love Me and keep My commandments. 13:25 That's the test. 13:26 Verse 20 talks about God's come down to test you 13:29 and the Lord Himself wrote down 13:31 that these commandments will reveal if you love Me. 13:35 Now go to John Chapter 14. 13:37 John Chapter 14 and looking there at verse 15. 13:43 "If you love Me, keep most of My Commandments." 13:47 Whoops, I messed up. 13:49 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 13:54 Now that would include the Ten Commandments, 13:56 but would you agree 13:57 that would include all of the Bible? 13:58 Would you agree it's all the commands of God? 14:01 But it's primarily, I believe, 14:02 speaking about the Ten Commandments. 14:04 But notice here, "And I will pray the Father, 14:08 and He will give you another helper, 14:11 a comforter that he may abide with you forever." 14:13 What is Jesus saying? 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments 14:17 and I'll give you help to love Me and keep My commandments." 14:23 "Without Me you can do nothing." 14:24 John 15:5. 14:26 In other words, you cannot even love God in your own strength. 14:29 Why? 14:30 Because our heart is at enmity, 14:32 hostile towards God in the natural state. 14:36 The flesh could not please God. 14:38 That's why the Holy Spirit must rule to put down 14:41 the flesh continually every day. 14:43 So I want you to notice, don't miss this, 14:45 if you love Jesus, you will keep His commandments. 14:49 But you can't keep His commandments 14:51 in your own strength. 14:52 Nobody can, nobody can. 14:54 "We've all fall short of the glory of God." 14:56 Romans 3:23. 14:58 But the Bible makes it very clear, 15:00 we must seek to obey them, 15:02 number one, not to earn salvation, 15:05 but because we have salvation by grace, through faith. 15:11 And number two, we keep them because we love Him 15:15 and He empowers us with love in our-- 15:19 we love Him because He first loved us. 15:21 1 John 4:19. 15:22 "So His love compels us," 2 Corinthians 5:14. 15:26 And so the Bible-- Listen, don't miss this. 15:28 Don't miss this. 15:30 I'm going somewhere with this, with God's help. 15:32 We're called to keep His commandments 15:35 because we love Him, but we cannot love Him 15:38 and keep His commandments 15:40 without the Helper, the Holy Spirit. 15:42 You've got to connect verse 15 and 16 together. 15:47 Draw a circle around verse 15 and 16, 15:49 at least in your mind. 15:51 Wrap your arms around this, listen carefully. 15:54 "If you love Me, keep My commandments 15:57 and I'll help you to do it." 15:59 Now would you agree to that? 16:00 Do you recognize a good deal when you hear one? 16:04 This is a gift. 16:07 It's part of salvation, justification, 16:11 sanctification, glorification, all is a gift. 16:15 Now go with me to Revelation Chapter 12. 16:17 Revelation Chapter 12. 16:21 If you love Me, keep My commandments 16:24 and that will be tested. 16:27 Always has, always will. Love to God is tested. 16:32 How many of you are married? 16:35 I'm gonna ask you this, 16:36 have you ever had a test of love in your marriage? 16:40 How many of you had many tests? 16:43 Say my spouse keeps... 16:44 All right, anyway, all right, notice here, Revelation 12:17, 16:49 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, 16:51 and he went to make war 16:52 with the rest of her offspring." 16:54 Would you agree? That produces tests. 16:57 When you're under attack, 16:58 that tests the fabric of your faith 17:01 and your endurance 17:02 and that never give up mentality. 17:05 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, 17:07 and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, 17:10 the remnant," got messages coming up on that, 17:12 "who keep the commandments of God 17:14 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 17:17 So the Bible makes it very clear, 17:18 God will have a people 17:20 that are seeking to love God at any cost. 17:25 To obey God at any price. 17:27 To obey their conscience and the dictates 17:30 of their conscience and the unction 17:32 and the conviction of the Holy Spirit 17:34 no matter what is politically correct, 17:36 no matter what the world says, 17:38 no matter what the amount of persecution. 17:40 Jesus said, "Count the cost." 17:45 So my Bible tells me, there will be a showdown test, 17:48 because the devil does not want us to obey. 17:52 He doesn't care what we profess as long as we don't posses. 17:58 He doesn't care about the external. 18:02 He cares about the internal. 18:06 That's why a true Christian is one in the heart, 18:10 in the manifest with the fruit. 18:13 So could there be a National Sunday Law 18:15 that will test our faith and love to Jesus 18:21 and His commandments? 18:23 I'm gonna say it again, God will test us. 18:27 We read it in Revelation 3:10, "The test is coming." 18:30 Exodus 20:20, "God's come down to test you." 18:33 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 18:35 All right, now listen. 18:37 Listen how things can change overnight. 18:40 In 1888 Senator Blair of New Hampshire 18:45 issued a bill in the United States Senate 18:47 for a National Sunday Law. 18:50 You can Google it and see what's there in history. 18:54 It did not pass that time because they believed 18:58 it was a violation of the Bill of Rights, 19:02 the constitution that it would be-- 19:07 it would break the laws of the land of keeping 19:11 church and state separated and so it did not pass. 19:16 However, fast forward, Time magazine, 19:21 Thunder on the Right, The Growth of Fundamentalism. 19:24 This was a little bit ago. 19:27 All Americans would do well to petition the President 19:30 and the congress to make a federal law, 19:32 and amendment to the constitution if need be, 19:36 to establish the Sabbath, referring to Sunday they are, 19:41 as a National Day of Rest. 19:46 Now what would cause the average American to say, 19:52 "We have to have this?" 19:55 I don't believe, I don't believe 19:59 that the average American right now would say, 20:01 "I want this." 20:03 No, too, too inconvenient. 20:06 Many people have to work on Sunday 20:08 or they don't work on Sunday 20:10 but they do want to go to the mall 20:11 and they do want to go about their business and so forth 20:14 and go grocery shopping 20:15 and go to the flea market and so forth. 20:17 So they really don't want this inconvenience. 20:22 What would cause a paradigm shift? 20:26 Changes can happen overnight. 20:30 Changes are predicted to happen overnight. 20:35 Like birth pangs upon a pregnant woman, 20:38 contractions that come suddenly. 20:42 Oh, they were told they would come. 20:44 But boom! They come. 20:46 It happened with greater frequency and intensity. 20:49 You can expect final events to take place in this fashion. 20:54 And so what would cause Americans to say, 20:58 "We need this," and they become very urgent about it? 21:02 Natural and manmade disasters. 21:08 Because when there's a rash, a string, 21:14 a cluster of natural disasters that cripple the economy, 21:20 let me tell you something, people will get attention 21:22 and then they're gonna start interviewing religious leaders, 21:25 as they usually do, 21:27 "What do you think we should do? 21:28 What do you think we should do?" 21:29 "Well, my church of 40,000 members believes 21:33 that we need to have a National Sunday Law 21:35 because we need to get back to church 21:37 and we need to, we need to have everybody honor this day, 21:41 because we're breaking the Sabbath." 21:44 Question. 21:47 Is Sabbath Sunday? 21:52 Or is the Sabbath, as the commandments stipulated, 21:55 on the seventh day of the week? 21:58 So we have two issues here. 22:01 Number one, which day is the Sabbath? 22:04 Secondly, should a day of worship 22:09 be enforced upon all Americans? 22:12 Those are two important issues. But we must make a distinction. 22:17 So you can see how overnight, 22:20 you can think of all sorts of scenarios 22:22 how this could unfold with rapidity 22:25 and we will explore that. 22:27 This is just part one and we'll have 22:29 another part two on a subsequent night. 22:32 But I want you to notice with me, 22:34 in 1998, I was holding a crusade in Toronto, Canada 22:39 and I remember being there 22:42 and getting this absolutely shocking, 22:47 stunning encyclical letter that was publicized 22:54 in the press by the former Pope, 22:58 John Paul II entitled, 23:03 "Dies Domini, the Lord's day." 23:07 Christians will naturally strive to ensure 23:10 that civil legislation, laws of the land, 23:16 respects their duty to keep Sunday holy. 23:20 So the Pope has gone on record, globally, 23:25 as urging governments to keep 23:30 and respect Sunday as a day of rest. 23:35 Could it be that this will become legislation 23:39 in the land of the free and the brave 23:41 and the torch of freedom will fall? 23:46 Are all pointing, our world events, 23:48 I believe they're all pointing 23:50 toward a final crisis of prophetic proportions. 23:53 Are we racing toward the mark of the beast 23:56 and is that related to, what some would like, 23:59 this National Sunday Law? 24:02 Sound the alarm in Zion. 24:04 Do not worship the beast, the Roman Papal System 24:08 or you will receive the mark of the Roman Papal System. 24:13 Revelation 14, verses 9 and 10, the Bible says, 24:20 "Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, 24:23 'If anyone worships the beast,'" 24:25 the beast is, as the Protestant reformers believe, 24:28 the Roman Papal System. 24:31 "'If anyone worships the beast and his image 24:35 and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 24:38 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God 24:41 which is poured out full strength 24:43 into the cup of His indignation. 24:45 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 24:47 in the presence of the holy angels 24:48 and in the presence of the lamb.'" 24:50 Look at verse 12, in contrast. 24:52 Here is the patience of the saints. 24:55 Here are those that keep the commandments of God 24:57 and the faith of Jesus. 24:58 Every single person on planet earth 25:01 is going to be polarized into one of those groups. 25:06 Only two camps, two sides, two groups. 25:10 Those who keep the commandments of God 25:13 unchanged and those who go along with manmade revisions, 25:19 modifications, changes in God's law 25:22 which ends up giving mankind a counterfeit law 25:26 that clashes with the law of God. 25:28 Could it be that the beast 25:30 has tampered with the heaven's constitution 25:33 and has ended up affecting the US? 25:37 Will it end up affecting the US constitution? 25:43 And so I want you to notice here as we continue. 25:46 "Beware of the mark of the beast." 25:49 Revelation 13:16, 17. 25:53 "He causes all but small and great, 25:55 rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark 25:57 on the right hand or on their foreheads 25:59 and that no one may buy or sell," 26:01 economic boycott, "except one who has the mark 26:04 or the name of the beast or the number of his name." 26:07 You can be digitally disabled overnight. 26:11 Would you agree, information about you is out there? 26:15 How many have ever gotten on the internet? 26:17 No, not even getting on the internet. 26:20 How many have filled out any form? 26:24 Let me tell you something. 26:26 How do you think these different 26:29 corporations and businesses 26:31 know how to send you different things? 26:34 "Oh, how do they know I like that?" 26:38 Your buying pattern. 26:41 Your personal, financial information, it's out there. 26:46 It's out there. 26:48 And I'm not saying we should all, 26:49 you know, become hermits and go in a cave somewhere. 26:52 I'm not saying that. 26:54 I'm not saying we should go around, 26:55 you know, paranoid all the time. 26:57 No, I'm not saying that. 26:59 But I'm just giving you a heads-up 27:01 that it is very, very easy to control buying and selling 27:05 by the government today 27:07 and it's very, very easy to monitor 27:10 who's going along with a particular law, 27:13 even if it's a religious law, 27:15 a National Sunday Law and who is not. 27:18 Now keep in mind, the Bible says, 27:20 "The mark of the beast will be enforced." 27:23 The mark is a mark of its authority and power 27:28 in religious matters. 27:29 Now follow along very carefully. 27:33 The final events will catch the world by surprise. 27:38 The mark of the beast, 27:40 a mark of the authority of the Roman Papal System 27:43 will be made to look acceptable, 27:46 appealing and even downright Christian. 27:50 It will be popular. It will be popular. 27:53 A National Sunday Law will become popular. 27:59 Right now, no, no, no, no thanks. 28:01 No, thanks. But it will come. 28:04 Showdown test is coming. 28:07 Everyone will either displease man or displease God. 28:12 You've heard it said, 28:13 "You can't please everybody all of the time." 28:16 And so listen, if you worship the beast, 28:19 you get the mark of the beast. 28:21 You get seven last plagues and quite frankly, 28:23 you go to hell fire. 28:25 That's not my opinion. 28:27 If it's in the Bible we want it. 28:29 If it's not in the Bible, we don't want it. 28:32 So if you receive the seal of God, 28:34 the antithesis of the mark of the beast, 28:37 if you receive the seal of God 28:39 and refuse the mark of the beast, 28:41 then they'll say, "You cannot buy or sell," 28:43 and will threaten you with the death decree. 28:46 So either you have God mad at you 28:48 or man mad at you and the government mad at you 28:52 and your neighbors mad at you, your job mad at you, 28:57 the whole world mad at you. 29:00 So you got to make a decision who's your master. 29:03 The Bible says, "Jesus said, 29:05 'You cannot serve two masters.'" 29:08 Mathew Chapter 6. 29:10 I believe it's-- okay, 29:13 I can't think of the verse. 29:15 Revelation 3:10, "The global test is coming. 29:21 The global test is coming." 29:24 Should we guess what is the mark of the beast 29:28 when it's a life and death issue? 29:29 This is not-- This is not blind guess work 29:32 we're interested in or idle speculation. 29:34 We got to know categorically what it is. 29:37 So who are the two primary 29:39 movers and shakers in end events? 29:43 I'll tell you who they are. 29:45 They are the two beasts in Revelation 13, 29:51 United States of America, but first Roman Papal power. 29:57 Both these powers are global. Both these powers dominate. 30:03 Both these powers have a history. 30:09 And follow along carefully. 30:11 What does a beast symbolize in Bible prophecy? 30:16 In Daniel Chapter 7, we discovered 30:19 that the Bible says that a beast in the context 30:24 of symbolic Bible prophecy equals a kingdom, 30:29 political and/or religious in nature and scope. 30:34 In Daniel Chapter 7 in this prophetic landscape, 30:39 four distinct strange beasts emerge 30:44 from the tumultuous waters 30:45 representing a succession of four world empires. 30:48 All right? 30:49 So four beasts representing four world empires. 30:53 And that is according to Daniel 7:23, 30:56 a beast equals a kingdom. 30:59 "Thus he said, 'The fourth beast shall be 31:01 a fourth kingdom on earth.'" 31:03 Daniel 7:23. 31:05 Kingdoms/nations represented by beasts. 31:08 Now the first beast of Revelation 13, 31:12 the protestant reformers, I believe, 31:15 were correct in their analysis and their assumption 31:19 and conclusion as they evaluated 31:21 the characteristics of Revelation 13's beast. 31:26 It would be a Roman power or kingdom or nation. 31:32 The Vatican or the Papal System has its capital in Rome. 31:37 It would be a system of worship, 31:39 so is the Roman Papal System. 31:42 It would be a blaspheming power. 31:45 This system claims that you need 31:47 to confess your sins to a priest. 31:49 It would be a persecuting power. 31:51 Fifty million people lost their lives 31:54 because of the Papal power. 31:57 It would reign during the dark ages, 32:00 1260 years the Papal System had a reign of terror. 32:05 It would receive a deadly wound, 32:07 when the Papal power, 32:09 when the Pope went into captivity 32:11 at the order of Napoleon when they captured the Pope. 32:15 That deadly wound would be healed. 32:17 Watch your evening news and see if the Papal power 32:21 has had a resurgence or not. 32:23 All right? 32:24 So all roads lead to Papal Rome. 32:28 Well, who are the two beasts in Revelation 13? 32:30 The first beast, the Papacy. 32:32 The second beast, the United States of America. 32:35 Well, I don't expect you to believe that 32:38 unless we verify it from scripture. 32:41 Everybody say, "Scripture." 32:44 What is the mark of the beast? 32:46 We know who the beast is, it's the Roman Papal System. 32:50 So it shouldn't be too difficult to ascertain 32:55 what is the mark of beast. 32:58 "Sunday is our mark of authority. 33:03 The church is above the Bible, 33:06 and this transference of Sabbath observance 33:08 is proof of that fact," 33:10 Catholic record, September 1, 1923. 33:13 What are they asserting? 33:15 They're saying, "Sunday, 33:17 the fact that we changed this the day of worship, 33:20 the primary day of worship and the solemnity 33:23 from Saturday to Sunday, 33:24 the fact that we changed it and it's not in the Bible, 33:29 this is the proof that it's a sign of our authority 33:32 that God gave us authority that we can change the law. 33:36 God said we could do it. 33:38 Oh, it's not in the Bible but we have the authority." 33:41 Of course now, now what they're doing 33:44 is trying to come up with all sorts of scriptures. 33:46 But here is their candid admission, all right? 33:51 "Sunday is our mark of authority." 33:54 They changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. 33:58 So those who keep the commandments of God 34:00 do not receive the mark of the beast. 34:03 We read there in Revelation 14 34:07 right after it warns about the mark of the beast, 34:10 it says in contrast, "Here are they 34:12 that keep the commandments of God." 34:14 What is it saying? 34:16 Those who keep the commandments of God 34:18 and the faith of Jesus and have endurance, 34:20 they do not go along with what came down 34:25 through the centuries from the Roman Papal System, 34:28 namely a counterfeit law of God. 34:34 The Catholic Church has dropped. 34:36 And by the way, I believe there's gonna be 34:38 many Catholics in heaven, many protestants in heaven 34:41 if they believe Jesus Christ alone can save them. 34:47 Now listen carefully, listen carefully. 34:51 My Bible tells me that the pivotal central issues 34:55 in the last day revolve around whose commandments 34:58 are you gonna keep, God's or the changed commandments 35:01 that came passing down through the centuries 35:04 from the Roman Papal power? 35:06 And the issue, are you gonna worship the creator 35:08 or worship the beast? 35:09 So those who keep the commandments of God 35:11 do not receive the mark of the beast. 35:13 So shouldn't you examine your life 35:15 and religious behavior and your religious worship 35:18 to make sure you're in alignment 35:20 with the law of God, the word of God? 35:23 And so listen, the seal of God is in His Ten Commandment law. 35:29 A seal has three essential elements: 35:31 name, title and territory. 35:33 Well, which of the Ten Commandments 35:35 contains all three essential elements? 35:38 The fourth commandment. 35:39 Name, "The Lord your God." 35:42 Title, "Him that made, Creator." 35:44 Territory, "Heaven and earth 35:46 and the sea and all that is in them." 35:47 Exodus 20:8-11. 35:49 The Sabbath is the seal of the living God. 35:53 "The Sabbath is a sign between Me and you." 35:57 Ezekiel 20:12, 20. 36:01 If you receive the Seal of God, 36:03 you will not receive the mark of the beast. 36:08 Is that gospel? 36:11 How many are interested in avoiding 36:12 the mark of the beast? 36:15 No one has the mark of the beast. 36:17 Mark, are you saying that people 36:19 who keep Sunday have the mark of the beast? 36:21 No! 36:24 Are you saying that all these people out here 36:25 that keep Sunday are gonna be lost? 36:27 No! 36:31 My Bible tells me that soon 36:35 Sunday observance will be enforced. 36:40 And that came from the Roman Papal System, 36:43 it's a mark of their authority and when it's enforced, 36:46 the National Sunday Law, and people 36:49 who know better go along with it 36:52 or they've been deceived into doing it. 36:55 That's a different scenario. That's a different situation. 37:00 You see, at times of ignorance, God winks at us. 37:02 Acts 17:30. 37:04 "But therefore to him who knows to do good 37:07 and does not do it, to him it is sin." 37:11 James 4:17. 37:14 So no one has the mark of the beast 37:16 until it is enforced. 37:18 Aren't you glad that God is longsuffering? 37:21 Not willing that any should perish, 37:22 but that all should come to repentance. 37:24 2 Peter 3:9. My God is longsuffering. 37:31 Come on now, you've all tried his patience a time or two. 37:35 How many are glad that you're still around, 37:37 still have a shot? 37:39 So no one has the mark of the beast 37:41 until it is enforced. 37:43 But it's coming because changes can happen fast. 37:48 Would you agree? Come on now. 37:51 American society, Americans are very, very fickle. 37:59 One day they like this person for president, 38:02 the next day it's the exact opposite. 38:05 One day they want this 38:07 and one day they don't want this. 38:09 I mean, they can change overnight. 38:11 Let me tell you something, right now no, 38:12 we're not interested in National Sunday Law. 38:14 Overnight, it's gonna happen. 38:18 Now if the antichrist beast is the Roman Papal power, 38:22 then the mark of the beast must have something to do 38:25 with the Roman Papal power. 38:28 It's all a power struggle. 38:31 Would you agree that power struggle started 38:33 and originated in heaven? 38:35 Revelation 12 makes it clear that that the Lord 38:39 and the devil fought and the devil lost 38:43 and one-third of the celestial host 38:45 along with the fallen angel were kicked out of heaven. 38:48 Revelation 12:7-9. 38:52 So we know he has not changed, 38:55 but neither has God. 38:59 "I, the Lord, I change not." Malachi 3:6. 39:02 Jesus Christ is saying, "Yesterday, today and forever," 39:05 Hebrews 13:8. 39:06 He has not changed His law, never will. 39:10 And so it has to do with power. It has to do with power. 39:15 It must be sign of its power, of its power. 39:20 Now if the seal is a sign of God's authority and power 39:24 then the mark of the beast is a sign of the claimed 39:26 authority and power of the Roman Papal System. 39:30 It's a sign of power. 39:33 God says, "The Sabbath is a sign 39:35 that I have made you and I can remake you 39:39 and I can make you whole and sanctify you." 39:43 And the Papacy says, 39:44 "Sunday is the sign of our authority." 39:50 Now most people, most people-- 39:54 All right, look at me, most people 39:57 who keep Sunday do not keep it to honor the Papal System. 40:04 They keep it to honor the risen savior 40:09 and God accepts them just the way they are. 40:15 But God never said he wanted us 40:19 to keep Sunday in honor of the resurrection. 40:22 It sounds great. 40:23 Remember the tree 40:25 of the knowledge of good and evil? 40:27 That's how the devil operates. 40:28 He makes us good with a little tank of false teaching. 40:34 How many want the whole truth and nothing but the truth? 40:38 I'm giving you nothing but the truth. 40:40 There is no scripture that says that the Sabbath 40:44 or the holiness of the Sabbath has been 40:47 transferred to any other day. 40:51 There's no scripture that says that Sunday 40:53 is the Lord's Day, it's not there. 40:56 I repeat, God takes people just the way they are, 41:00 but the truth shall set you free 41:03 when you know it and you show it, John 8:32. 41:07 Now listen carefully, God's seal versus the Papacy's mark. 41:15 Now listen, the Bible predicted that the Roman Papal System 41:19 would change the Ten Commandments, 41:23 specifically the Sabbath. 41:26 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, 41:29 shall persecute the saints of the Most High 41:31 and shall intend to-- uh-oh, 41:33 there's that deadly word, 41:35 change, alter, modify times and law. 41:41 It's talking about the law of the Most High, 41:43 the Ten Commandments. 41:44 And which one refers to time? 41:46 The Sabbath commandment 41:48 is the only one that relates to time. 41:51 "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy 41:59 by not working on that day." 42:01 Exodus 20:8-11. 42:03 Isn't it interesting that the commandment 42:07 that begins with the word remember 42:10 is the most forgotten commandment 42:14 and the most forgotten day. 42:18 But in the last days, 42:21 first angels flying over planet earth saying, 42:24 "Come back to worshiping the Creator 42:27 and those who are preaching it." 42:28 Revelation 14:12. 42:30 "They keep the commandments of God 42:32 and they have the faith in Jesus." 42:35 Connect. 42:36 Worship the Creator, keep His commandments, 42:40 faith of Jesus requires endurance. 42:42 It's all right there. Revelation 14. 42:46 There is a war against the fourth commandment of God. 42:51 I do not understand why anybody would want to argue 42:57 with the idea that God wants you take the full day 43:02 with Him and He wants it to be on His day. 43:05 Why isn't that one of the best things 43:07 that you could do to strengthen 43:10 your relationship with your savior Jesus Christ? 43:14 This is not works righteousness. 43:17 This is not works righteousness. 43:19 You know, it's interesting, 43:20 the reasoning sometimes that you hear. 43:22 You can ask a person, "All right, 43:25 let's go to the Ten Commandments 43:26 and let's have a little checklist 43:29 and you check which ones you think we ought to keep." 43:32 Have no other gods before me. Well, of course. 43:38 Don't make images. 43:40 Don't bow down to them. Of course, check. 43:44 Don't take His name in vain, of course. 43:46 Let's drop down to the fifth commandment. 43:48 Honor your father, mother, check. 43:50 Don't kill, check. 43:52 Don't commit adultery and don't steal. 43:58 Don't bear false witness. Don't covet. 44:01 And they say, "Check, check, check, check." 44:05 Now I want you to think about that. 44:08 Then you go to the fourth commandment. 44:10 "Oh, we're not under the law. 44:14 We don't need to keep the law. 44:15 You're bringing me into bondage." 44:19 You've just checked nine and now all of a sudden 44:23 you don't want anything to do with it. 44:30 There is a war against the fourth commandment of God. 44:35 Sunday observance is based on manmade tradition 44:39 and not upon God's truth. 44:41 Mark, are saying we can't go to church on Sunday? 44:44 Look, the apostles went to church, 44:46 early on, every single day. 44:49 If you want to go to church on Sunday, fine. 44:52 But your primary day of worship should be the seventh day 44:56 of the week and then you have to ask yourself the question, 45:02 how should I feel about those who tell me it doesn't matter? 45:08 Sunday observance is based on manmade tradition 45:11 and not upon God's truth. 45:13 And we're even gonna keep the Sabbath in heaven, 45:16 Isaiah 66:22, 23. 45:20 "If you keep your foot 45:22 from trampling on My Sabbath Day... " 45:24 Isaiah 58:13. 45:26 So who changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? 45:29 God didn't change them. Jesus didn't change them. 45:32 The apostles didn't change them. 45:34 The Roman Catholic Church changed them. 45:36 If God did not change 45:38 the Seventh Day Sabbath to Sunday 45:40 then we should be willing to change from not keeping it. 45:43 Ah, let me run that by you again. 45:46 If God did not change 45:48 the Seventh Day Sabbath to Sunday 45:50 then we should be willing to change from not keeping it. 45:55 Change is good if you believe it. 45:59 Make a decision to change from keeping Sunday 46:03 in order to keep that which God never changed. 46:10 But I am too old to change. 46:15 Sarah: "I'm too old to get pregnant," 46:18 and she laughed. 46:19 And then she became pregnant at 90. 46:23 Never too old to change. 46:28 Better make final last minutes changes. 46:34 Get ready for glory. 46:35 Where you're gonna keep the Sabbath. 46:38 Change to keep the day that God did not change. 46:43 Come on, let's say that together. 46:44 Change to keep the day that God did not change. 46:49 Remember my offer last night? 46:52 Five thousand dollars if you can find a scripture 46:55 that supports the idea that the first day of the week 46:58 is now the Lord's day. 46:59 You should not keep the seventh day, 47:01 that is no longer sacred. 47:06 Make a decision to honor the true Lord's day 47:09 even if it requires a change in your life. 47:12 Besides, John the Revelator said in Revelation 1:10, 47:16 read it together with me. 47:17 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day." 47:23 And people will say, "Well, that's Sunday." 47:25 Well, you could say that. 47:28 Reminds me of Abraham Lincoln 47:31 who was cross-examining a woman in Illinois 47:36 when he was practicing law 47:38 in the courtroom there and he said, "Ma'am, tell me. 47:41 Let's suppose you have a cow 47:43 and you call the cow's tail a leg. 47:46 How many legs would it have?" 47:49 She said, "Well, if you're calling the tail a leg, 47:53 well, then it would have five legs." 47:55 "Wrong!" snapped Abraham Lincoln. 47:58 "Just because you call that tail a leg, 48:01 it doesn't make it a leg." 48:04 Wise Abe. 48:06 And just because millions call Sunday the Lord's Day 48:10 does not make it the Lord's Day 48:13 unless you can prove it from the scriptures. 48:16 The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 48:20 "Prove all things." 48:26 The Son of man is Lord also, of this Sabbath. 48:33 New Testament. 48:35 Jesus said He is Lord of the Sabbath. 48:37 If He is Lord of the Sabbath, 48:38 who does the Sabbath belong to? 48:40 The Lord. The Sabbath is the Lord's Day. 48:43 What is God's number? 48:46 Throughout the Bible, 48:48 His special number is number seven. 48:51 Mark 2:28. 48:53 That's the number that God uses in a very significant way. 48:56 Now Sunday observance is a counterfeit 48:59 of the seventh day Sabbath. 49:02 Sunday is the admitted mark 49:04 of authority of the Papal power. 49:07 Would the Papacy be 49:08 in favor of a National Sunday Law in America? 49:11 Yes or no? Yes. 49:14 So listen to me. 49:16 Here it is, Dies Domini, Pope John Paul II. 49:21 "In this matter, my predecessor Pope Leo XIII, 49:24 in his Encyclical Rerum spoke of Sunday rest 49:27 as the worker's right 49:28 which the state must guarantee." 49:31 State guaranteeing Sunday rest, 49:33 that sounds like laws 49:38 regard to Sunday, Sunday Laws. 49:42 Are you ready for stronger proof 49:43 that the counterfeit Sabbath 49:45 or Sunday sacredness is the mark of the beast? 49:48 Look at these parallels. 49:50 Daniel 7 and Revelation 13. 49:52 You got a lion, lion. Bear, bear. 49:54 Leopard, leopard. 49:56 Creature with 10 horns, creature with 10 horns. 49:58 Speaks great words against God. Speaks blasphemies. 50:01 1260 years. 1260 years. 50:04 Changes the law of God including the Sabbath. 50:06 Mark of the beast. 50:09 I gave you a handout about that. 50:12 What is the future 50:13 of the United States of America? 50:15 What is America's future that has mothered democracies, 50:19 modeled freedom, fostered international communications 50:23 and is the sole remaining superpower 50:26 and the most influential nation today? 50:28 The whole world looks 50:30 to the United States of America today. 50:33 How will the United States, 50:34 the most powerful nation on earth, 50:36 influence the entire world? 50:38 Will the United States enforce the mark of the beast? 50:41 Will the United States enforce a National Sunday Law? 50:44 The United States of America will be the first nation, 50:49 the engine to the train of nations 50:52 to enforce the mark of the beast, 50:54 a National Sunday Law. 50:56 So don't be surprised when it happens 50:58 because the United States of America 51:01 is in Bible prophecy. 51:03 Here it is. 51:05 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 51:08 and he had two horns like a lamb 51:10 and spoke like a dragon." 51:11 Revelation 13:11. 51:14 Where does it, this beast, arise? 51:17 Now Revelation 13:1-10, 51:20 that's the first beast, the Papal power. 51:23 No guess work about that. 51:25 Second beast makes its debut in verse 11. 51:29 So where does it arise? Where does it arise? 51:35 It arises from the earth. It arises from the earth. 51:39 What does the symbol of symbol of water 51:41 represent in Bible Prophecy? 51:43 "The waters which you saw are peoples, 51:45 multitudes, nations, and tongues." 51:47 Revelation 17:15. 51:49 So this new beast, in contrast to all the other beasts 51:53 that came up out of the water in Daniel 7 51:55 and even the first beast came up out of the water, 51:57 Revelation 13 that is in a populated area. 52:00 You've heard the expression, sea of faces or sea of people. 52:05 This new beast comes up out of the earth 52:08 or an unpopulated area. 52:12 When does this beast arise? When does this power arise? 52:16 This is fascinating, listen. 52:19 Verse 10 is the verse that precedes the introduction 52:23 of the United States of America, 52:24 the second beast. 52:26 So we have a time frame. 52:27 "He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity." 52:31 Well, think about it with me. 52:34 When did the Pope go into captivity? 52:36 In the year, everybody yell it out, 1798. 52:41 The church lost its power 52:42 to the French government in 1798. 52:45 Now the Bible makes it very clear 52:47 that the Roman Papal System 52:49 would have a reign of terror for 1260 years. 52:53 makes it clear, 1260 years. 52:56 Forty-two months times 30 days 53:00 in a biblical month equals 1260 days 53:05 and in Bible prophecy, 53:07 one prophetic day equals what, class? 53:10 One year, Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34 says so. 53:15 The Pope got unprecedented power in 538 AD 53:21 when he was given authority by a Roman decree 53:23 to be the corrector of heretics, 53:25 ushering in the dark ages. 53:27 Lost its power in 1798, temporarily, 53:31 because it would have a comeback. 53:33 Revelation 13:5, 53:34 "The deadly wound would be ltimately healed." 53:36 So the deadly wound was inflicted in 1798, 53:40 exactly 1260 years from 538 AD. 53:44 Question. 53:46 Was America rising to prominence and power 53:50 at the time when the Papacy was losing its power? 53:56 You want some proof of that? 53:58 Around 1798, right around that time frame, 54:01 1775, Battle for Independence. 54:04 1776, Declaration of Independence. 54:07 1787, Constitution. 54:10 1789, 1st president George Washington. 54:13 1790, Supreme Court. 54:15 1791, Bill of Rights. I rest my case. 54:19 So how does this power arise? 54:21 It would arise gradually. Not just in one night. 54:25 Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith. 54:27 "Emerging amid the silence of the earth, 54:29 adding daily to its power and strength." 54:32 It was gradual. 54:33 The birth of our nation was miraculous. 54:36 I believe that you can see the divine providence of God 54:41 in the rise of America. 54:43 America: an amazing story. 54:47 How many are thankful 54:48 for the United States of America? 54:51 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 54:54 and he had two horns like a lamb." 54:56 Revelation 13:11. So it's not a beast of prey. 55:00 Two horns like a lamb. Does this picture scare you? 55:03 Are you gonna have nightmares after this picture? 55:06 No. 55:08 How many can handle a picture of sheep 55:09 before you go to bed? 55:11 I mean, come on now, we're called to count them. 55:15 So what's not to love? 55:16 So this nation, the second beast 55:21 has horns like a lamb. 55:25 It would seek to be harmless and freedom loving. 55:30 There are no crowns 55:31 on the horns of the second beast. 55:33 The first beast has crowns. 55:36 Crowns indicate kingly authority. 55:39 The lack of crowns indicates freedom. 55:43 Now horns are a symbol of power. 55:45 You don't believe me? 55:46 Watch Animal Planet and see 55:48 which one wins the girl's attention. 55:50 It's the one with the big horns. 55:53 They indicate that this second beast derives 55:56 its power from political and religious freedom, 56:01 freedom of church and state. 56:04 So this lamb-like beast would arise around 1798. 56:07 Arise in a relatively unpopulated area. 56:10 It would be a young nation. It would be no-crowned head. 56:13 No kingly authority. 56:15 A church without a Pope and a state without a king. 56:19 What is the only nation that fits this description? 56:24 The United States of America is in Bible prophecy. 56:31 How many find that absolutely amazing? 56:35 Now listen carefully. 56:39 We have seen here, 56:41 these last number of presentations 56:42 that the first beast represents the Roman Papal System. 56:47 Protestant reformers were correct. 56:49 By the way, whatever happened to Protestantism? 56:54 Now Protestants are saying, 56:55 "No, no, no, no, no the Papacy is not the antichrist. 56:59 No, no, no, the antichrist is in the distant future 57:02 and don't worry, we won't even be here." 57:07 Now listen carefully. 57:10 Not only did we identify the first beast, 57:13 we have now identified the second beast. 57:16 We have identified what is the seal of God, 57:18 we have identified what is the mark of the beast. 57:21 The now lingering question is, 57:23 how will it all be enforced? 57:27 How does the Bible say 57:29 that there's going to be a National Sunday Law? 57:32 How many can see the foundation has been set? 57:36 But we need to wait for another presentation 57:39 until we can take time to deal with this 57:44 in a methodical, systematic way. 57:48 Although sudden and alarming changes 57:50 are sweeping across the globe, 57:52 you and your family can be prepared 57:54 to face the future with confidence. 57:56 The complete set of Amazing Prophecies on DVD 58:00 are available for a gift of $60 or more. 58:03 Call us at 1-855-336-Free 58:08 or you can send your check or money order 58:09 to Forever Free Ministries, 2001 Munro Park, 58:14 Corinth, Texas, 76208. |
Revised 2015-09-17