Well we are on a roll
at Anchor Bible school.
00:00:15.43\00:00:19.70
We're moving along real fine.
00:00:20.34\00:00:22.43
We are dealing with
principle number seven.
00:00:22.86\00:00:25.76
And so I hope that everything
that we've been studying
00:00:26.42\00:00:30.00
has been a blessing, and
that it's going to help us
00:00:30.03\00:00:33.10
in our personal
study of Scripture.
00:00:33.13\00:00:34.95
Now in the next hour we are
going to study the topic titled,
00:00:35.29\00:00:39.96
The Sun God and the Number 666.
00:00:39.99\00:00:44.25
We're going to do a
comparison between Daniel 3
00:00:44.51\00:00:47.80
and Revelation 13.
00:00:47.83\00:00:49.38
And we're going to see
that Jesus is not only a
00:00:49.82\00:00:52.80
spiritual deliverer from
sin, but at the end of time
00:00:52.83\00:00:56.91
Jesus will have to be
a deliverer, a physical
00:00:56.94\00:01:00.02
literal deliverer, from death.
00:01:00.12\00:01:02.66
Because God's people will
be under the sentence of death.
00:01:02.76\00:01:06.67
So we're going to follow
this material very closely.
00:01:07.04\00:01:10.36
And I know that you
all have this material.
00:01:10.63\00:01:13.44
So let's go to it.
00:01:13.67\00:01:15.73
The Sun God and the Number 666.
00:01:15.76\00:01:21.37
Now we all know about the
dream that King Nebuchadnezzar
00:01:22.51\00:01:27.64
received in Daniel chapter 2.
00:01:27.67\00:01:29.68
He received the
dream of the golden head,
00:01:30.12\00:01:32.62
of the breast and arms of
silver, the belly of bronze,
00:01:32.75\00:01:35.12
the legs of iron, the
feet of iron and clay;
00:01:35.15\00:01:37.82
the stone that hit the
feet and broke the image
00:01:37.85\00:01:40.85
into smithereens; and then the
stone became a great mountain.
00:01:40.88\00:01:44.57
In this dream, God
was showing Nebuchadnezzar
00:01:44.93\00:01:48.14
the future, not only of
his kingdom, He was showing him
00:01:48.87\00:01:51.65
the future of
the world, basically.
00:01:51.68\00:01:54.18
And when God did
this, Nebuchadnezzar was not
00:01:54.71\00:01:57.98
a happy camper.
00:01:58.01\00:01:59.28
Because he believed that Babylon
was going to exist forever.
00:01:59.54\00:02:02.77
And so by the advice
of his religious advisors,
00:02:03.49\00:02:07.32
he decided that he would
build an image just like the one
00:02:07.78\00:02:11.11
that he had seen in his
dream, but with one difference.
00:02:11.14\00:02:14.54
And that is, that instead
of having different metals,
00:02:14.74\00:02:17.81
the image would be
totally and completely of gold.
00:02:18.01\00:02:21.22
And so he built this gigantic
image that is referred to
00:02:21.90\00:02:26.55
in Daniel chapter 3.
00:02:26.58\00:02:28.18
It was a direct act of rebellion
on the part of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:02:28.31\00:02:33.16
He was saying, "You say
that my kingdom is only going to
00:02:33.19\00:02:36.35
be the head of gold.
00:02:36.38\00:02:37.41
Well I have news for you.
00:02:37.44\00:02:38.84
My kingdom is all of gold,
and it will exist forever."
00:02:38.87\00:02:42.57
The two chapters are
linked by certain words.
00:02:43.91\00:02:47.23
The word, "gold," is used
in both of these chapters.
00:02:47.61\00:02:51.24
The word, "image," is
identical in both chapters.
00:02:51.47\00:02:54.76
And the expression, "set up,"
that is used in both of these
00:02:54.86\00:02:59.75
chapters is identical as well.
00:02:59.78\00:03:02.61
You remember that in chapter
2, God said that He would set up
00:03:02.64\00:03:06.02
a kingdom that
would never be destroyed.
00:03:06.05\00:03:07.99
So Nebuchadnezzar
sets up this gigantic image
00:03:08.02\00:03:10.95
saying that it's not
going to be in that way.
00:03:10.98\00:03:13.49
Now the first thing that
we want to take a look at
00:03:13.91\00:03:16.16
is the Old Testament type.
00:03:16.19\00:03:17.76
The Old Testament story
becomes the foundation for
00:03:18.36\00:03:22.77
the New Testament application.
00:03:22.80\00:03:24.33
Just like we've been studying.
00:03:24.36\00:03:25.76
You know, we took
a look at the rock,
00:03:26.04\00:03:28.56
and we took a look at the manna.
00:03:29.18\00:03:31.13
And we noticed that these Old
Testament types are fulfilled
00:03:31.23\00:03:34.77
on a broader scale
in the New Testament.
00:03:34.80\00:03:37.18
The same is true with the
story of Daniel chapter 3.
00:03:37.21\00:03:40.94
What was the ruling
power in Daniel chapter 3?
00:03:41.22\00:03:45.13
It was Babylon.
00:03:45.68\00:03:46.96
You can notice this
in Daniel 3 verse 1.
00:03:47.06\00:03:49.34
I'm not going to read
all of the verses because
00:03:49.37\00:03:51.34
we don't have the time to do so.
00:03:51.37\00:03:53.39
And God's people at this
time were captive in Babylon.
00:03:53.71\00:03:57.62
This is known as, The
Seventy Year Captivity.
00:03:58.09\00:04:00.64
Have you ever head of
The Seventy Year Captivity?
00:04:00.67\00:04:02.67
So the ruling power is
Babylon, and God's people are in
00:04:02.82\00:04:06.84
captivity in Babylon.
00:04:06.87\00:04:08.55
You can read that in
Jeremiah 51 and verse 45.
00:04:08.58\00:04:12.12
Now we all know
that Nebuchadnezzar
00:04:12.60\00:04:14.25
for a while lived
like a beast, didn't he.
00:04:14.28\00:04:16.45
He thought he was a
beast, he acted like a beast,
00:04:16.75\00:04:19.22
and he ate grass like an ox.
00:04:19.25\00:04:22.17
You know, he became a vegan.
00:04:22.90\00:04:24.59
And perhaps that, you
know, he became a vegan,
00:04:26.26\00:04:29.42
and that helped give
him clarity of thought.
00:04:29.45\00:04:31.33
Because he came out of that
at the end of the seven years.
00:04:31.36\00:04:33.70
I'm not making any theological
application to that, by the way.
00:04:34.29\00:04:37.73
But he went and he
acted like a beast.
00:04:37.95\00:04:41.84
And he grew big nails.
00:04:42.43\00:04:44.60
And his hair grew like
the feathers of an eagle,
00:04:44.81\00:04:47.52
the Bible says.
00:04:47.55\00:04:48.58
And he thought
that he was a beast.
00:04:48.61\00:04:50.42
And then Nebuchadnezzar,
the beast so to speak,
00:04:50.71\00:04:54.94
raised up what?
00:04:55.19\00:04:56.73
He raised up an image.
00:04:56.98\00:04:58.75
And he commanded
everyone to worship the image
00:04:59.24\00:05:02.92
that he had raised up.
00:05:02.95\00:05:04.42
And he said, "Anyone who
does not worship this image
00:05:04.68\00:05:08.86
that I have
raised up here in Babylon
00:05:08.89\00:05:11.43
will be..." What?
00:05:11.53\00:05:12.93
"...will be killed."
00:05:12.96\00:05:14.70
Now let's study a little
bit about this particular image
00:05:15.27\00:05:19.84
in Daniel chapter 3.
00:05:19.87\00:05:21.22
If what Herodotus, the Greek
historian, has to say is true,
00:05:21.97\00:05:28.77
the image weighed
800 talents of gold.
00:05:29.36\00:05:33.73
Which would be
equivalent to 30 tons of gold.
00:05:34.20\00:05:36.95
That is a lot of gold.
00:05:37.15\00:05:39.13
Now there's a few details that
we need to take into account
00:05:39.68\00:05:43.51
when we discuss
the dimensions and the
00:05:43.54\00:05:46.44
composition of this image.
00:05:46.47\00:05:48.06
First of all, we know
that the sexagesimal system
00:05:48.28\00:05:51.74
of numeration
originated in Babylon.
00:05:52.08\00:05:54.79
You say, "What is
the sexagesimal system?"
00:05:54.89\00:05:58.14
It's the system
based on the number 6.
00:05:58.17\00:06:00.81
You know, like for
example we have 60 seconds.
00:06:01.00\00:06:04.00
We have 60 minutes.
00:06:04.03\00:06:05.44
We have 24 hours.
00:06:05.47\00:06:07.24
We have 360 days.
00:06:07.27\00:06:09.18
We have 360 degrees
that reflect the circle,
00:06:09.21\00:06:13.80
the entire circle of space.
00:06:13.83\00:06:15.45
All of that sexagesimal system
comes from ancient Babylon.
00:06:15.65\00:06:20.03
Now, the Babylonians
divided the universe into
00:06:20.33\00:06:26.48
360 degrees of space.
00:06:26.51\00:06:31.08
And they divided
the year into 360 days.
00:06:31.44\00:06:37.10
So in other words,
the whole circle of space
00:06:37.13\00:06:40.38
was 360 degrees.
00:06:40.41\00:06:42.13
And the whole cycle of
time of the year was 360 days.
00:06:42.33\00:06:47.69
Now it's interesting that
the Babylonians, what they did,
00:06:47.88\00:06:51.10
is that they would place one
god of their pantheon to rule
00:06:51.28\00:06:56.29
over ten degrees of space
and over ten days of time.
00:06:56.32\00:07:00.49
And so the 36 gods of
the pantheon each ruled
00:07:00.99\00:07:04.72
over ten days and ten degrees.
00:07:04.75\00:07:06.95
And of course,
36 times 10 is what?
00:07:06.98\00:07:10.78
Is 360.
00:07:10.81\00:07:12.17
So these gods
basically ruled over all time
00:07:12.20\00:07:16.16
and over all space.
00:07:16.19\00:07:18.72
Now the sum total of
the numbers 1 through 36
00:07:19.31\00:07:23.66
is very interesting.
00:07:23.98\00:07:25.52
If you add 1 plus 2
plus 3 plus 4 plus 5,
00:07:25.72\00:07:29.83
all the way up to the
number 36, the result is 666.
00:07:29.86\00:07:36.30
And so when the Babylonians
placed one god to rule
00:07:36.59\00:07:41.01
over ten degrees of space
and over ten days of time,
00:07:41.04\00:07:44.12
and all 36 gods ruled
over all space and all time,
00:07:44.32\00:07:47.97
the summary number in
which all of the 36 gods
00:07:48.18\00:07:53.02
were contained
was the number 666.
00:07:53.05\00:07:57.92
Now there was one god that
was not included among the 36.
00:07:58.31\00:08:02.75
He was the great
god above all gods.
00:08:02.89\00:08:05.82
His name was Marduk.
00:08:06.28\00:08:08.65
And his number was 666.
00:08:09.00\00:08:12.01
Because he was the
ruler over all of the gods.
00:08:12.04\00:08:15.29
And through them he
was ruler over all time
00:08:15.56\00:08:18.60
and over all space.
00:08:18.63\00:08:21.17
Now the Babylonian priestly
system had an interesting
00:08:21.51\00:08:25.35
way of expressing this idea
of Marduk, whose number is 666,
00:08:25.38\00:08:31.24
ruling over the 36 gods; each
ruling over ten degrees of space
00:08:31.34\00:08:36.31
and ten days of
time, representing the fact
00:08:36.34\00:08:38.98
that they ruled over
all space and over all time.
00:08:39.01\00:08:42.42
The priests of Babylon
used amulets or medallions
00:08:43.54\00:08:49.30
on a chain around their necks.
00:08:49.51\00:08:51.52
And I have pictures of
these that I can show you.
00:08:51.55\00:08:53.76
The medallions
were made of pure gold.
00:08:54.17\00:08:57.34
Because gold is
the color of the sun.
00:08:57.67\00:08:59.91
In fact, the ancients
called gold, the dew of the sun.
00:09:00.50\00:09:04.58
Because in a pre-scientific
society, they believed
00:09:04.61\00:09:07.19
that gold had
dripped down from the sun.
00:09:07.22\00:09:10.45
It's no coincidence
that in Isaiah 14 verse 4
00:09:11.06\00:09:15.57
Babylon is called
the golden kingdom,
00:09:15.60\00:09:19.00
and that in Daniel 2 the
symbol for Babylon is gold.
00:09:19.62\00:09:23.88
Because gold is
the color of Babylon.
00:09:24.72\00:09:28.20
And the sun god is the god
Marduk, whose number is 666,
00:09:28.62\00:09:33.60
and he is the summary number
of the numbers 1 through 36.
00:09:33.85\00:09:38.10
He rules over all the pantheon
that rules over all space
00:09:38.13\00:09:42.65
and over all time.
00:09:42.68\00:09:44.08
Now it's interesting to notice
that these amulets were round.
00:09:44.29\00:09:47.82
What shape is the sun?
00:09:48.72\00:09:50.32
The sun is round.
00:09:50.78\00:09:52.05
And they were made of gold,
which is the color of the sun.
00:09:52.08\00:09:55.32
Now in the middle of these
amulets there was a square,
00:09:55.84\00:10:01.03
a large square.
00:10:01.79\00:10:02.95
And inside that large
square were 36 smaller squares
00:10:02.98\00:10:07.32
with the numbers 1 through
36, never repeated, within those
00:10:07.59\00:10:13.44
smaller squares
within that large square.
00:10:13.47\00:10:17.84
In other words, you have
the 36 gods of the pantheon
00:10:18.24\00:10:22.57
in Babylon represented by this
square with 36 smaller squares
00:10:22.86\00:10:27.82
in the middle or
inside that larger square.
00:10:27.92\00:10:31.55
The interesting thing is that
underneath this large square
00:10:32.06\00:10:37.66
with the 36
squares, frequently you find
00:10:37.69\00:10:41.60
the number 666,
which is the summary number
00:10:42.46\00:10:47.63
of all of the 36 numbers
that appear in the squares.
00:10:47.66\00:10:50.90
Now if you look at the
obverse side of the medallion,
00:10:50.93\00:10:54.66
because it not only had
one side, it had also some
00:10:54.69\00:10:58.42
information on the obverse
side or on the opposite side,
00:10:58.45\00:11:02.13
many times what you find
is a raging lion with wings.
00:11:02.42\00:11:07.83
And the raging lion,
of course, is yellow.
00:11:08.29\00:11:11.05
And his mane forms
the rays of the sun.
00:11:11.68\00:11:15.86
Have you ever seen a
lion when he's infuriated?
00:11:16.17\00:11:19.41
His mane stands up and
his face looks like the sun.
00:11:19.66\00:11:24.03
And so it's interesting that in
00:11:24.49\00:11:26.46
Daniel chapter
7 you have a lion.
00:11:26.50\00:11:28.47
And what does the lion have?
00:11:28.50\00:11:30.09
The lion has wings.
00:11:30.45\00:11:32.34
And so Daniel is speaking within
the context that he lives in.
00:11:32.55\00:11:37.66
Nebuchadnezzar would have
easily identified with what
00:11:37.69\00:11:40.96
Daniel was presenting
from the dream that he had.
00:11:40.99\00:11:44.75
Now there's
more information too.
00:11:45.18\00:11:47.22
And that is, that
the sign of the zodiac...
00:11:47.57\00:11:52.55
Which by the way,
the signs of the zodiac
00:11:52.58\00:11:54.57
come from ancient Babylon.
00:11:54.60\00:11:56.07
The sign of the zodiac that
rules over the hottest period
00:11:56.36\00:12:00.18
of the year is Leo the
lion, from July 23 to August 22.
00:12:00.21\00:12:07.02
Very interesting.
00:12:07.31\00:12:08.62
Why would you have Leo the lion
governing during this period?
00:12:08.65\00:12:12.49
Simply because it is the
hottest period of the year.
00:12:12.68\00:12:16.47
It's when the sun
shines the brightest.
00:12:16.50\00:12:19.55
Is there any
relationship between the sun
00:12:20.01\00:12:22.44
and ancient Babylon?
00:12:22.47\00:12:23.84
You better believe there is.
00:12:24.04\00:12:25.60
Now, the Romans acquired
much of their religious system
00:12:25.94\00:12:32.22
from ancient Babylon.
00:12:32.25\00:12:33.47
But they established a
different number system.
00:12:33.83\00:12:36.61
They established that
all of the numbers would be
00:12:37.75\00:12:40.44
written with six specific
letters of the alphabet.
00:12:40.47\00:12:44.50
And you say, "No,
there's actually seven."
00:12:45.65\00:12:47.47
There's an I, there's a V,
there's an X, there's an L,
00:12:47.57\00:12:53.55
there's a D, and there's an M.
00:12:53.80\00:12:56.23
There's a C,
that's a hundred, yes.
00:12:56.33\00:12:57.61
And then there's an M.
00:12:57.64\00:12:59.02
But the M did not exist in
the original numerical system.
00:12:59.83\00:13:03.05
It was added
during the middle ages.
00:13:03.15\00:13:05.60
The way in which it was written
before that was that they would
00:13:06.10\00:13:09.27
place two D's side by side.
00:13:09.30\00:13:12.20
In other words, the Romans
only established a number system
00:13:12.64\00:13:16.88
with six
characters from the alphabet.
00:13:16.91\00:13:20.79
And lo and behold, if
you add those six numbers,
00:13:21.19\00:13:25.18
1 plus 5 plus 10
plus 50 plus 100 plus 500,
00:13:25.28\00:13:30.87
the total is 666.
00:13:30.90\00:13:34.72
So basically what I'm
saying is that this image that
00:13:36.14\00:13:39.17
Nebuchadnezzar
raised up of pure gold,
00:13:39.20\00:13:42.52
whose dimensions is 60 by 6...
00:13:43.05\00:13:46.59
Do you know how much 60 by 6 is?
00:13:48.26\00:13:50.46
360.
00:13:51.18\00:13:53.12
Was actually a solar
symbol in ancient Babylon.
00:13:53.42\00:13:57.02
It was an image in
honor of Marduk, the sun god.
00:13:57.19\00:14:00.81
So whoever worshipped the
image would be worshipping what?
00:14:00.84\00:14:04.23
Would be worshipping the
sun god, whose number is 666.
00:14:04.45\00:14:10.76
Now what was the primary
issue involved in this conflict
00:14:11.43\00:14:16.57
in the valley of Dura?
00:14:16.88\00:14:18.31
Clearly, the issue
has to do with what?
00:14:19.12\00:14:22.18
With worship.
00:14:22.43\00:14:23.72
That is the central issue.
00:14:23.75\00:14:25.81
It has to do with worship.
00:14:25.84\00:14:26.98
In fact, the word,
"worship," in Daniel chapter 3
00:14:27.01\00:14:29.81
is used ten times.
00:14:29.84\00:14:32.25
And you have it
in your material.
00:14:32.35\00:14:33.88
It's used in verses 5
through 7, verses 10 through 12,
00:14:33.91\00:14:37.48
verse 14, verse 15,
verse 18, and verse 28.
00:14:37.51\00:14:41.20
Almost ad nauseam is
the word, "worship," used
00:14:41.23\00:14:44.81
in the chapters,
repeated over and over again.
00:14:44.84\00:14:47.12
Because the
issue is over worship.
00:14:47.15\00:14:49.04
Will you worship the image,
who represents the sun god,
00:14:49.14\00:14:55.05
whose number is
666, or will you worship
00:14:55.08\00:14:59.03
God the Creator.
00:14:59.24\00:15:00.92
That is the big issue
in the valley of Dura.
00:15:00.95\00:15:03.52
Is the law of God also involved?
00:15:04.18\00:15:06.89
Of course it is.
00:15:07.24\00:15:08.39
Which table of the law is
particularly involved here?
00:15:08.42\00:15:11.84
It is the first
table of the law.
00:15:12.42\00:15:14.28
Would it be having other
gods before God if the young men
00:15:14.79\00:15:18.64
had bowed to worship the image?
00:15:18.67\00:15:20.68
Of course.
00:15:20.71\00:15:21.74
Does the second
commandment forbid them from
00:15:21.92\00:15:24.22
worshipping idols?
00:15:24.25\00:15:25.67
Absolutely.
00:15:25.78\00:15:26.86
Does the fourth commandment
say only to honor the Creator?
00:15:26.89\00:15:29.99
Absolutely.
00:15:30.02\00:15:31.05
This trial had to do with
the first table of the law.
00:15:31.11\00:15:34.45
It had to do with worship.
00:15:34.48\00:15:36.00
It had to do with
the commandments of God
00:15:36.03\00:15:39.45
verses the commandments of men.
00:15:39.48\00:15:41.81
Now is the Sabbath
involved indirectly?
00:15:42.60\00:15:45.14
Of course it is.
00:15:45.34\00:15:46.52
We worship the
Creator, we worship God
00:15:46.76\00:15:49.25
because He's what?
00:15:49.28\00:15:50.42
The Creator.
00:15:50.45\00:15:51.54
And what is the
sign of the Creator?
00:15:51.74\00:15:54.49
The sign of the
Creator is the holy Sabbath.
00:15:54.59\00:15:57.32
So the primary issue
is an issue of worship.
00:15:57.58\00:16:01.25
And also an issue having to
do with whether the commandments
00:16:01.28\00:16:04.85
of God would be obeyed
or the commandments of men;
00:16:04.88\00:16:07.99
the commandment that
was given by the king.
00:16:08.02\00:16:10.65
Was there a union
of church and state
00:16:11.02\00:16:14.70
in the valley of Dura?
00:16:14.73\00:16:16.09
Yes there was.
00:16:16.35\00:16:17.59
Let's go to Daniel chapter 3, we
will read a few of these verses.
00:16:17.62\00:16:20.65
Daniel chapter 3,
and let's read verse 2.
00:16:20.68\00:16:24.14
Daniel 3 and verse 2.
00:16:24.17\00:16:25.57
This is the king, and
he's making a religious decree.
00:16:25.60\00:16:28.57
It says there,
"And King Nebuchadnezzar
00:16:29.30\00:16:31.14
sent word to gather together
the satraps, the administrators,
00:16:31.17\00:16:35.18
the governors, the counselors,
the treasurers, the judges,
00:16:35.21\00:16:38.79
the magistrates, and all the
officials of the provinces..."
00:16:38.82\00:16:42.79
Are these all
political positions?
00:16:42.82\00:16:44.58
Yes they are.
00:16:44.81\00:16:45.96
"...to come to the
dedication of the image which
00:16:45.99\00:16:48.65
King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."
00:16:48.68\00:16:51.32
So all of the administrators
of the kingdom of Babylon
00:16:51.53\00:16:55.29
are called to the
dedication of this image
00:16:55.32\00:16:58.98
and to worship this image.
00:16:59.01\00:17:00.60
And incidentally,
they're presented in order of
00:17:00.70\00:17:02.87
rank in this verse.
00:17:02.90\00:17:04.18
We don't have time to
go into all of the ranks of
00:17:04.21\00:17:07.86
civil officials in Babylon.
00:17:08.38\00:17:11.05
But they're all in order.
00:17:11.08\00:17:12.49
So this is a case of
the civil power enforcing
00:17:12.87\00:17:16.61
a religious decree or
establishing religion.
00:17:16.64\00:17:19.83
To refuse to worship
was considered treason
00:17:20.16\00:17:23.69
against the civil power.
00:17:23.72\00:17:25.31
Daniel 3 and 6
are illustrations,
00:17:25.94\00:17:29.72
this is important,
of the establishment
00:17:29.75\00:17:31.97
and free exercise
clauses of the first amendment
00:17:32.00\00:17:34.90
to the Constitution
of the United States.
00:17:34.93\00:17:36.95
You say, "How is that?"
00:17:37.45\00:17:38.75
Let me ask you, was
Nebuchadnezzar the king?
00:17:39.17\00:17:41.89
Yes.
00:17:41.92\00:17:42.95
Was he establishing
a religious observance?
00:17:42.98\00:17:45.90
Yes, he was
establishing religion.
00:17:46.10\00:17:48.18
And everybody had to
worship the way he said.
00:17:48.21\00:17:50.51
What does the first clause of
the first amendment have to say?
00:17:51.26\00:17:54.62
"Congress shall make
no law respecting the
00:17:54.65\00:17:57.24
establishment of religion..."
00:17:57.34\00:17:59.14
But Daniel 6, which
we're not going to study,
00:17:59.93\00:18:02.30
Daniel and the lion's
den, that command by the king
00:18:02.33\00:18:06.83
violated the second
clause of the first amendment.
00:18:06.93\00:18:10.05
"...nor forbidding the
free exercise thereof."
00:18:10.41\00:18:13.03
Because in Daniel 6, the king
is not establishing religion.
00:18:13.31\00:18:16.20
He's forbidding the
free exercise of religion,
00:18:16.30\00:18:18.77
saying you can't
pray in this certain way.
00:18:19.02\00:18:21.38
And so you see in
these stories of Daniel 3
00:18:21.79\00:18:24.68
what happens when the
United States will violate
00:18:24.91\00:18:29.16
the first amendment
by establishing religious
00:18:29.19\00:18:31.80
observances and by forbidding
the free exercise of religion.
00:18:31.83\00:18:35.41
People will then
lose the third clause,
00:18:35.44\00:18:37.67
which is full civil rights.
00:18:37.70\00:18:39.63
So let's go back here then.
00:18:40.50\00:18:41.87
There was a union
of church and state.
00:18:41.90\00:18:44.22
Was this decree universal, as
far as that time was concerned?
00:18:44.41\00:18:49.96
Absolutely.
00:18:49.99\00:18:51.02
Notice what we find in verse 4.
00:18:51.05\00:18:53.65
Daniel chapter 3 and verse 4.
00:18:53.68\00:18:55.43
"Then a herald cried aloud,
'To you it is commanded...'"
00:18:55.46\00:18:59.30
Notice the terminology.
00:18:59.33\00:19:00.61
"...O peoples,
nations, and languages,
00:19:00.64\00:19:05.69
that at the time you
hear the sound of the
00:19:05.72\00:19:08.49
horn, flute, harp, lyre,
and psaltery, in symphony
00:19:08.52\00:19:11.82
with all kinds of music,
you shall fall down and worship
00:19:11.85\00:19:15.25
the gold image that King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up."
00:19:15.28\00:19:18.03
So you'll notice here that the
decree of worship was universal.
00:19:18.06\00:19:22.11
It included all the political
leaders and it included
00:19:22.14\00:19:25.41
the multitudes, the
nations, and the tongues.
00:19:25.44\00:19:28.46
Does that sound familiar
when you connect it with
00:19:28.49\00:19:30.61
Revelation, that terminology?
00:19:30.64\00:19:32.21
Absolutely.
00:19:32.55\00:19:33.84
Did music play a
vital role in this conflict
00:19:34.80\00:19:39.31
in the valley of Dura?
00:19:39.34\00:19:40.80
Do you think music is
going to have any role to play
00:19:41.42\00:19:43.66
in the end time as well?
00:19:43.69\00:19:45.00
We're going to make an
application of all this.
00:19:45.44\00:19:47.29
We're just studying
the historical type now.
00:19:47.32\00:19:50.09
Now was a death
decree given against those
00:19:50.68\00:19:53.70
who did not worship the
image of the beast, so to speak?
00:19:53.73\00:19:58.33
There was a death decree.
00:19:58.56\00:19:59.94
In fact notice Daniel chapter
3, Daniel chapter 3 and verse 6.
00:20:00.32\00:20:05.85
Here it comes
through very clearly.
00:20:05.88\00:20:07.51
"And whoever does not fall
down and worship shall be cast
00:20:07.68\00:20:11.91
immediately into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace."
00:20:11.94\00:20:16.27
And that is repeated
in verse 11, in verse 15,
00:20:16.30\00:20:19.46
and in verse 19 once again.
00:20:19.49\00:20:21.43
There was a death decree against
those who did not worship the
00:20:21.46\00:20:25.34
image in honor of the
sun god, whose number is 666.
00:20:25.37\00:20:29.33
Was there a faithful
but insignificant remnant
00:20:30.80\00:20:33.04
who refused to worship?
00:20:33.07\00:20:34.80
Were they in the majority?
00:20:35.38\00:20:36.80
No, they were in the minority.
00:20:37.56\00:20:39.30
Notice verse 12,
Daniel chapter 3 verse 12.
00:20:39.67\00:20:42.95
"There are certain Jews whom
you have set over the affairs
00:20:43.39\00:20:47.52
of the province of Babylon;
00:20:47.55\00:20:48.85
Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
00:20:48.88\00:20:50.40
These men, O king, have
not paid due regard to you.
00:20:50.43\00:20:53.39
They do not serve your gods..."
00:20:53.42\00:20:55.49
Ah, so was this image set up
in honor of the gods of Babylon?
00:20:56.15\00:21:02.06
Absolutely.
00:21:02.27\00:21:03.34
"They do not serve
your gods or..." What?
00:21:03.37\00:21:05.65
"...or worship the gold
image which you have set up."
00:21:05.68\00:21:09.20
There was a faithful remnant.
00:21:09.23\00:21:11.73
And of course, they were
the only ones resisting the
00:21:12.91\00:21:16.08
supremacy of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:21:16.11\00:21:18.36
If they could be wiped
from the face of the earth,
00:21:18.69\00:21:21.50
the triumph of Nebuchadnezzar
would be complete.
00:21:21.53\00:21:25.43
Now who were the instigators?
00:21:26.52\00:21:28.86
Who were the instigators
who accused the three young men
00:21:28.89\00:21:32.66
to the civil power?
00:21:32.69\00:21:33.96
It was the religious
leaders of Babylon that accused
00:21:34.50\00:21:37.20
them to the king.
00:21:37.23\00:21:38.38
Notice Daniel chapter 3
and verses 9 through 12.
00:21:38.69\00:21:43.53
Daniel chapter 3 verse 9.
00:21:43.80\00:21:45.71
It says, "They
spoke and said..."
00:21:46.07\00:21:47.85
And these are the wise
men of Babylon, so called.
00:21:47.88\00:21:51.72
"They spoke and said
to King Nebuchadnezzar,
00:21:51.91\00:21:54.06
'O king, live forever.
00:21:54.09\00:21:55.18
You, O king, have made a
decree that everyone who hears
00:21:55.21\00:21:57.58
the sound of the horn,
flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery,
00:21:57.61\00:22:00.45
in symphony with all
kinds of music, shall fall down
00:22:00.48\00:22:02.94
and worship the gold
image; and whoever does not
00:22:02.97\00:22:05.06
fall down and worship shall
be cast into the midst of a
00:22:05.09\00:22:08.21
burning fiery furnace.
00:22:08.24\00:22:09.65
There are certain Jews
whom you set over the affairs
00:22:09.75\00:22:12.85
of the province of
Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach,
00:22:12.88\00:22:14.95
and Abed-Nego; these
men, O king, have not paid
00:22:14.98\00:22:17.55
due regard to you.
00:22:17.58\00:22:18.67
They do not serve your
gods or worship the gold image
00:22:18.70\00:22:21.28
which you have set up.'"
00:22:21.31\00:22:22.51
So who are the
accusers of the remnant?
00:22:23.73\00:22:26.28
The religious leaders.
00:22:26.58\00:22:28.03
In other words, the
church is appealing to the state
00:22:28.37\00:22:31.17
and saying, "You
have to eradicate
00:22:31.20\00:22:33.51
these three young men."
00:22:33.54\00:22:35.37
Now was there a
shaking in the valley of Dura?
00:22:35.69\00:22:38.37
Do you think those were
the only three Jews there?
00:22:38.82\00:22:41.66
Absolutely not.
00:22:42.13\00:22:43.37
When Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel
and his three friends captive
00:22:43.61\00:22:47.38
to Babylon, he left King
Zedekiah to rule in Jerusalem.
00:22:47.41\00:22:52.24
You remember that?
00:22:52.50\00:22:53.65
He left Zedekiah
to rule in Jerusalem.
00:22:53.75\00:22:56.05
Now we know
something very interesting.
00:22:56.68\00:22:58.33
I don't know this for absolute
certain, but we do know this,
00:22:58.36\00:23:01.53
that King Zedekiah, in 594
BC, made a trip to Babylon.
00:23:01.81\00:23:07.80
It is inconceivable
that Zedekiah would not have
00:23:08.65\00:23:11.66
gone to the dedication of
the image, because everyone
00:23:11.69\00:23:14.72
was required to
be present there.
00:23:14.75\00:23:16.77
Is it just possible that
the trip in 594 BC was for the
00:23:16.80\00:23:21.74
dedication of the image?
00:23:21.77\00:23:23.07
There's a possibility.
00:23:23.10\00:23:24.46
Furthermore, there
were other Hebrew worthies
00:23:24.65\00:23:26.76
that were taken to Babylon.
00:23:26.79\00:23:27.98
They were taught in
the schools of Babylon,
00:23:28.01\00:23:29.91
and they had positions
in the kingdom, didn't they?
00:23:29.94\00:23:32.65
Where were they in
the time of crisis?
00:23:32.75\00:23:35.03
Undoubtedly, they
bowed before the image
00:23:35.23\00:23:38.35
that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
00:23:38.38\00:23:40.08
There were only
three faithful young men.
00:23:40.18\00:23:43.86
Now Nebuchadnezzar attempted
to entice and intimidate
00:23:44.97\00:23:49.21
the remnant who kept
the commandments of God
00:23:49.24\00:23:51.98
and worshipped only Him.
00:23:52.01\00:23:53.66
And the king took three
steps, if you read the story.
00:23:53.89\00:23:57.42
First of all, he tried to
get the men to worship the image
00:23:57.52\00:24:01.69
by fascination.
00:24:01.72\00:24:03.48
That is the
impressive worship scene.
00:24:04.41\00:24:06.34
You can imagine what
it must have been like.
00:24:06.37\00:24:08.42
Do you know how
much 60 times 6 is?
00:24:09.52\00:24:13.14
I mean, that's a huge image.
00:24:13.95\00:24:16.73
And so everybody is
there to worship this image.
00:24:17.27\00:24:20.94
And all of the
dignitaries are there.
00:24:20.97\00:24:22.91
And it's just an
impressive scene with a band,
00:24:22.94\00:24:26.60
with the best music.
00:24:26.63\00:24:27.93
And so the devil,
through Nebuchadnezzar,
00:24:29.30\00:24:31.89
tries to fascinate the young
men into worshipping the image.
00:24:32.64\00:24:36.03
The second thing that he uses
is intimidation and threats.
00:24:36.65\00:24:40.27
He says, "If you
don't worship this image,
00:24:40.52\00:24:42.51
you can be thrown
into the fiery furnace."
00:24:42.54\00:24:45.38
And when
intimidation did not work,
00:24:45.85\00:24:48.09
what was the final solution?
00:24:48.67\00:24:50.48
The final solution
was to execute them.
00:24:50.51\00:24:53.56
So he uses three methods.
00:24:54.14\00:24:55.56
First of all, fascination
by the glory of the scene.
00:24:55.59\00:24:58.05
Secondly,
intimidation and threats.
00:24:58.25\00:25:00.79
And in the third place, throwing
them into the fiery furnace
00:25:00.82\00:25:04.55
to eradicate them.
00:25:04.58\00:25:06.07
Ellen White makes
an insightful remark
00:25:06.51\00:25:09.32
about
Nebuchadnezzar's body language
00:25:10.27\00:25:12.56
when the young men said that
they were not going to worship.
00:25:12.59\00:25:15.11
She states that after the
king threatened to throw the
00:25:15.36\00:25:18.72
young men into the furnace,
"with hand stretched upward
00:25:18.75\00:25:23.11
in defiance, he
boastfully declared,
00:25:23.14\00:25:26.66
'And what God shall
be able to deliver you
00:25:26.69\00:25:29.96
from my hands?'"
00:25:29.99\00:25:31.47
In fact, she says that
his face looked like the face
00:25:32.07\00:25:35.00
of a demon.
00:25:35.03\00:25:36.74
And you have these
three young men alone
00:25:38.22\00:25:41.66
in the valley of Dura
saying, "We will not worship.
00:25:41.86\00:25:45.76
We will not break
God's holy commandments."
00:25:45.96\00:25:49.88
Wow, loyal to God,
because they had a covenant
00:25:50.35\00:25:53.87
relationship with Jesus.
00:25:53.90\00:25:56.08
Here the covenant,
"I will be their God,
00:25:56.15\00:25:59.04
and they shall be My people."
00:25:59.30\00:26:00.58
That's the covenant formula.
00:26:00.61\00:26:02.18
And so when
Nebuchadnezzar threatens them,
00:26:02.61\00:26:04.56
and he tries to
fascinate them with the scene,
00:26:04.66\00:26:07.09
we find that the three young
men have an answer for the king.
00:26:08.03\00:26:10.64
It's found in
verses 16 through 18.
00:26:10.67\00:26:13.22
Verses 16 through 18.
00:26:13.25\00:26:15.09
"Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-Nego answered
00:26:16.01\00:26:18.04
and said to the
king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar,
00:26:18.07\00:26:21.18
we have no need to
answer you in this matter.
00:26:21.45\00:26:23.88
If that is the case,
our God whom we serve
00:26:24.26\00:26:28.55
is able to deliver us..."
00:26:28.58\00:26:30.52
That word, "deliver," is a
key word in the book of Daniel.
00:26:30.55\00:26:33.24
Do you know it only appears
in Daniel 3, and Daniel 6,
00:26:33.39\00:26:36.45
and in Daniel 11.
00:26:36.48\00:26:38.17
Which means that
they are connected.
00:26:39.54\00:26:41.63
And so verse 17 says,
"If that is the case, our God
00:26:42.33\00:26:45.24
whom we serve is able to
deliver us from the burning
00:26:45.27\00:26:47.97
fiery furnace, and He
will deliver us from your hand.
00:26:48.00\00:26:51.01
But if not..."
00:26:51.04\00:26:52.26
Do they serve God for
the loaves and the fishes?
00:26:53.48\00:26:56.14
No.
00:26:56.56\00:26:57.60
They're willing to
serve Him even if God
00:26:57.87\00:26:59.61
doesn't come through.
00:26:59.64\00:27:00.78
"But if not, let it be known
to you, O king, that we do not
00:27:00.81\00:27:05.50
serve your gods..."
00:27:05.53\00:27:06.60
See, the image was
a sign that they were
00:27:06.63\00:27:08.96
serving the gods of Babylon.
00:27:08.99\00:27:10.71
And the great god
was the sun god Marduk.
00:27:10.74\00:27:13.49
"...nor will we worship the gold
image which you have set up."
00:27:13.54\00:27:18.78
Period.
00:27:18.81\00:27:19.86
What was the
reaction of the king?
00:27:20.98\00:27:22.48
Hmmm, notice verse 19.
00:27:23.26\00:27:25.34
"Then Nebuchadnezzar
was full of fury..."
00:27:25.44\00:27:28.28
Does that sound familiar?
00:27:28.67\00:27:30.01
"Then the dragon was..." What?
00:27:30.43\00:27:32.29
"...enraged with the
woman, and went to make war
00:27:32.39\00:27:35.79
with the remnant of her seed."
00:27:35.82\00:27:37.14
So it says, "Then
Nebuchadnezzar was
00:27:37.17\00:27:38.75
full of fury, and the
expression on his face..." What?
00:27:38.78\00:27:43.33
"...on his face
changed toward Shadrach,
00:27:43.64\00:27:47.12
Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
00:27:47.15\00:27:48.43
He spoke and commanded that they
heat the furnace seven times
00:27:48.64\00:27:52.33
more than it
was usually heated."
00:27:52.36\00:27:55.43
And you have this
statement by Ellen White
00:27:55.53\00:27:57.89
in, Bible
Commentary, volume 4, page 1169,
00:27:57.92\00:28:01.19
where she says, "Satanic
attributes made his countenance
00:28:01.22\00:28:05.28
appear as the
countenance of a demon."
00:28:05.31\00:28:09.67
Wow, that's amazing.
00:28:10.34\00:28:12.08
You see, the
problem is, Nebuchadnezzar
00:28:13.21\00:28:14.88
made the same mistake that
Pharaoh made at the Red Sea.
00:28:14.91\00:28:17.58
He assumed that he was
fighting these three young men
00:28:18.02\00:28:22.64
when he was really
fighting against the Lord.
00:28:22.67\00:28:24.46
Pharaoh didn't realize
that by fighting against Israel
00:28:25.08\00:28:27.56
he was fighting
against the Lord of Israel
00:28:27.59\00:28:29.60
in the person of His people.
00:28:29.63\00:28:31.56
This is why Moses had said
at the edge of the Red Sea,
00:28:32.13\00:28:35.51
"Stand still and see
the salvation of the Lord."
00:28:35.54\00:28:39.23
In fighting the people of
the Lord, the king was fighting
00:28:39.73\00:28:43.63
against the Lord of the people.
00:28:43.66\00:28:45.41
Did a time of trouble
ensue for the three young men?
00:28:47.01\00:28:49.83
Ooh, terrible time of trouble.
00:28:50.23\00:28:52.33
The young men faced the beast,
his image, and the civil rulers
00:28:53.41\00:28:59.66
without flinching.
00:28:59.69\00:29:01.30
I'm sure that it was a
severe test for them to think
00:29:01.88\00:29:04.54
about being thrown
into the fiery furnace.
00:29:04.64\00:29:08.11
And yet, their loyalty to God
was stronger than life itself.
00:29:08.69\00:29:13.54
And of course, we
just read that the king
00:29:14.12\00:29:16.65
heated the furnace seven
times hotter than ever before.
00:29:16.68\00:29:20.45
And by the way, I
don't think Nebuchadnezzar
00:29:20.48\00:29:22.02
had a thermometer.
00:29:22.05\00:29:23.33
I don't think
thermometers existed back then.
00:29:24.06\00:29:26.25
What it means, the number
seven, means that he heated the
00:29:26.28\00:29:29.64
kiln as hot as it would be.
00:29:29.67\00:29:32.29
To its maximum
heat, in other words.
00:29:32.32\00:29:35.23
Did the young men go
through the tribulation?
00:29:36.22\00:29:38.67
They most certainly did.
00:29:39.18\00:29:40.30
In fact, Ellen White says
that they claimed the promise
00:29:40.33\00:29:42.47
of Isaiah 43 verse 2,
of going through the fire
00:29:42.50\00:29:45.56
and not being burned.
00:29:45.59\00:29:46.79
They claimed that promise that
already existed at that time.
00:29:47.02\00:29:50.60
And so now you come to
the climax of the story.
00:29:50.63\00:29:53.11
You know, in our
Sabbath school we say,
00:29:53.14\00:29:54.56
"We need to
dare to be a Daniel."
00:29:54.66\00:29:57.03
We should dare to be
like Shadrach, Meshach,
00:29:58.31\00:30:00.97
and Abed-Nego.
00:30:01.00\00:30:02.05
And I'm not saying that's bad.
00:30:02.09\00:30:03.70
But you know what?
00:30:03.73\00:30:04.76
We make the heroes out of
those who are not the heroes.
00:30:04.79\00:30:07.69
Because if it had
not been for Jesus,
00:30:09.45\00:30:12.31
they would have been cooked.
00:30:12.34\00:30:13.91
The hero of this story
are not the three young men.
00:30:15.73\00:30:19.14
The hero of this story is none
other than Jesus Christ Himself.
00:30:19.76\00:30:25.03
He delivers, not only from
the spiritual malady of sin,
00:30:25.32\00:30:29.11
He will deliver His
people from literal death
00:30:29.14\00:30:32.11
in the time of
trouble when the wicked come
00:30:32.14\00:30:34.58
against God's people.
00:30:34.61\00:30:35.97
Notice Daniel chapter 3.
00:30:36.61\00:30:38.70
Daniel chapter 3, and let's
read beginning with verse 15.
00:30:39.21\00:30:45.52
Daniel chapter 3, we
already read verse 15.
00:30:45.55\00:30:49.53
Let's go down to
verse, let's see, verse 21.
00:30:49.56\00:30:54.40
"Then these men were bound
in their coats, their trousers,
00:30:54.60\00:30:58.45
their turbans, and their
other garments, and were cast
00:30:58.48\00:31:02.91
into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace.
00:31:02.94\00:31:05.72
Therefore, because the
king's command was urgent,
00:31:05.97\00:31:08.74
and the furnace exceedingly hot,
the flame of the fire killed
00:31:08.97\00:31:13.02
those men who took up Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego."
00:31:13.05\00:31:16.05
In other words, those who threw
them in were slain by the fire.
00:31:16.15\00:31:19.20
"And these three men; Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego,
00:31:19.85\00:31:22.80
fell down bound into the midst
of the burning fiery furnace."
00:31:22.83\00:31:26.63
And now comes the
climax of the story.
00:31:28.01\00:31:30.12
"Then King
Nebuchadnezzar was astonished;
00:31:31.34\00:31:33.64
and he rose in haste and
spoke, saying to his counselors,
00:31:34.63\00:31:38.15
'Did we not cast three men bound
into the midst of the fire?'
00:31:38.25\00:31:42.78
They answered and said
to the king, 'True, O king.'
00:31:44.11\00:31:47.06
'Look,' he answered,
'I see four men loose...'"
00:31:47.46\00:31:51.50
See, the ropes had been burnt.
00:31:51.66\00:31:53.78
The only thing that was burnt.
00:31:54.31\00:31:55.82
"I see four men loose, walking
in the midst of the fire;
00:31:56.97\00:32:01.14
and they are not hurt,
and the form of the fourth
00:32:01.17\00:32:04.47
is like the Son of God."
00:32:04.50\00:32:06.39
Some people say, "How
did Nebuchadnezzar know
00:32:08.35\00:32:09.95
what the Son of
God looked like?"
00:32:09.98\00:32:11.44
Ellen White says it's because
Daniel had explained to him
00:32:11.47\00:32:13.98
before what He looked like.
00:32:14.01\00:32:15.48
So he knew what the
Son of God looked like.
00:32:16.33\00:32:18.26
And by the way, at this point
Jesus was the Angel of the Lord.
00:32:18.29\00:32:21.86
Let's notice verse 25.
00:32:23.25\00:32:24.44
You'll see it very clearly.
00:32:24.47\00:32:25.76
It says, "the Son of God," in
verse 25, but notice verse 28.
00:32:26.00\00:32:29.97
It says,
"Nebuchadnezzar spoke saying,
00:32:30.44\00:32:32.17
'Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego,
00:32:32.20\00:32:34.75
who sent His Angel
00:32:34.78\00:32:36.78
and delivered His
servants who trusted in Him.'"
00:32:37.98\00:32:40.34
So who was it, the
Son of God or the Angel?
00:32:40.39\00:32:42.47
The Son of God is the Angel of
the Lord in the Old Testament.
00:32:42.53\00:32:47.90
He is Michael the
Archangel, if you please.
00:32:49.36\00:32:52.66
And so they were delivered.
00:32:53.40\00:32:54.47
Now, there's a key
word in Daniel chapter 3.
00:32:54.50\00:32:56.93
It's used four times.
00:32:56.96\00:32:58.28
It's the word, "deliver."
00:32:58.31\00:33:00.62
It's used in verse 15, verse
17, verse 28, and verse 29.
00:33:00.72\00:33:06.60
It is a key word.
00:33:06.63\00:33:08.03
Who is able to deliver?
00:33:08.16\00:33:10.38
Jesus is able to deliver
from this crisis that took place
00:33:10.73\00:33:16.03
in the valley of Dura.
00:33:16.06\00:33:17.22
Now the question is, is
this the end of the story?
00:33:17.84\00:33:21.23
Absolutely not.
00:33:21.97\00:33:23.12
This story is going to be
repeated on a global scale.
00:33:23.39\00:33:26.67
Notice the
principles of interpretation
00:33:27.36\00:33:29.23
at the bottom of your page.
00:33:29.26\00:33:30.93
Literal Israel was literally
captive in literal Babylon.
00:33:31.07\00:33:34.64
The literal king
behaved like a literal beast,
00:33:34.67\00:33:36.98
set up a literal
image, commanding everyone
00:33:37.01\00:33:39.13
literally to bow and worship.
00:33:39.16\00:33:40.81
Literal Jews
refused to literally bow.
00:33:40.84\00:33:43.45
And therefore, they were thrown
into a literal fiery furnace,
00:33:43.48\00:33:46.61
and are delivered
from the literal flames.
00:33:46.64\00:33:49.28
This story will be repeated
once more, but on a what?
00:33:50.71\00:33:55.54
But on a global scale.
00:33:55.64\00:33:59.01
Now let's make the application.
00:33:59.74\00:34:01.39
What will be the
power, according to the book
00:34:02.04\00:34:03.97
of Revelation, that
will be ruling the world
00:34:04.00\00:34:05.99
before Jesus comes?
00:34:06.19\00:34:08.04
It is Babylon.
00:34:08.58\00:34:09.76
The harlot is called Babylon.
00:34:11.11\00:34:12.77
And she's seated on many waters;
on the multitudes, nations,
00:34:13.48\00:34:16.75
tongues, and peoples.
00:34:16.78\00:34:17.81
You can read it in
Revelation 17 verses 1 and 2,
00:34:17.84\00:34:21.24
and also verse 5.
00:34:21.59\00:34:24.06
Will God's people once
again be captive in Babylon?
00:34:24.77\00:34:28.23
Absolutely.
00:34:28.53\00:34:29.74
Will there be a
call for them to come out
00:34:30.27\00:34:32.86
just like in the Old Testament?
00:34:32.96\00:34:34.36
Absolutely.
00:34:34.39\00:34:35.42
Revelation chapter 18 verse
4, "Come out of her, My people,
00:34:35.45\00:34:39.45
that you do not
partake in her sins
00:34:39.66\00:34:41.52
or receive her plagues."
00:34:41.55\00:34:43.80
Will there be a global
power who is called the beast
00:34:44.51\00:34:47.55
in Revelation 13?
00:34:47.58\00:34:48.94
See, I'm not even
reading the verses because
00:34:49.68\00:34:51.49
you know these verses.
00:34:51.52\00:34:52.82
Revelation
chapter 13 verses 1 and 2
00:34:53.13\00:34:55.59
speak about a beast
that comes from the sea.
00:34:55.62\00:34:58.58
Will this beast have
an image made of itself?
00:34:58.82\00:35:02.04
Absolutely.
00:35:02.21\00:35:03.24
It's known as the
image of the beast.
00:35:03.27\00:35:05.84
Will it have a mark that has
some relationship to the sun?
00:35:06.07\00:35:11.16
Will this mark be imposed by
force like in the Old Testament?
00:35:11.80\00:35:16.34
Absolutely.
00:35:16.37\00:35:17.40
The mark of the beast is clearly
opposite to the seal of God.
00:35:17.92\00:35:21.28
When the seventh day
Sabbath becomes the final test
00:35:21.76\00:35:24.75
for the world, the seal of God
will be the observance of the
00:35:24.78\00:35:28.14
Sabbath, and the mark of
the beast will be the observance
00:35:28.17\00:35:31.69
of Sunday.
00:35:31.72\00:35:32.89
Does this involve worship?
00:35:32.92\00:35:34.40
Yes.
00:35:34.60\00:35:35.63
If you keep the
Sabbath, it is a sign that
00:35:35.71\00:35:38.16
you worship God the Creator.
00:35:38.19\00:35:40.34
If you worship on
Sunday, it's a sign that you are
00:35:40.68\00:35:43.87
worshipping the power
that claimed to create Sunday
00:35:43.90\00:35:47.35
as a day of worship.
00:35:47.38\00:35:48.63
So it's not the issue
of one day verses another,
00:35:48.79\00:35:51.42
it's the issue of who you
are honoring through the day
00:35:51.45\00:35:55.27
that you are keeping.
00:35:55.30\00:35:56.50
You are either
keeping Sabbath as a sign that
00:35:57.49\00:35:59.86
you worship the true
God, or you're keeping Sunday
00:35:59.89\00:36:02.70
in honor of the power
that claims to have changed
00:36:02.73\00:36:06.12
God's law from
Sabbath to Sunday.
00:36:06.15\00:36:08.89
In contrast to those who
worship the beast and his image
00:36:10.08\00:36:12.84
will be those who
worship the Creator.
00:36:13.09\00:36:15.00
This is the reason
why Revelation 14 verse 7
00:36:15.30\00:36:18.17
calls upon the world
to worship the Creator.
00:36:18.81\00:36:21.66
See, the first angel's message
says worship the Creator,
00:36:21.80\00:36:24.38
and the third angel's message
says don't worship the beast.
00:36:24.41\00:36:27.20
And worshipping the Creator
involves Sabbath observance.
00:36:28.06\00:36:31.40
Because we worship the Creator.
00:36:31.43\00:36:32.96
And the sign of the
Creator is the Sabbath.
00:36:33.36\00:36:36.19
Notice the
connection that Ellen White made
00:36:36.29\00:36:38.31
between these two stories.
00:36:38.34\00:36:39.94
Volume 14 of
Manuscript Releases, page 91.
00:36:40.83\00:36:43.82
She says, "An idol
sabbath has been set up..."
00:36:43.85\00:36:48.20
Why is it an idol sabbath?
00:36:49.72\00:36:51.59
Because it was
created by man for worship.
00:36:52.46\00:36:54.97
Anything that man
makes for worship is an idol.
00:36:55.67\00:36:58.67
It can be a day or
it can be an object.
00:36:59.17\00:37:01.26
So she says, "An idol
sabbath has been set up
00:37:02.45\00:37:04.67
as the golden image was
set up in the plains of Dura."
00:37:04.77\00:37:07.59
There she's making the
typological connection.
00:37:07.62\00:37:10.25
"And as Nebuchadnezzar,
the king of Babylon,
00:37:10.68\00:37:12.94
issued a decree that
all who would not bow down
00:37:12.97\00:37:16.00
and worship this image should
be killed, so a proclamation
00:37:16.03\00:37:19.88
will be made that all
who will not reverence the
00:37:19.91\00:37:22.84
Sunday institution
will be punished with
00:37:22.87\00:37:25.88
imprisonment and..." What?
00:37:26.42\00:37:28.68
"...with
imprisonment and death."
00:37:28.71\00:37:30.74
Does the beast bear any
relationship to the number 666?
00:37:30.84\00:37:36.44
You know that the
number of the beast is 666.
00:37:37.32\00:37:41.10
And so there you have a
relationship, a connection,
00:37:41.57\00:37:44.12
of the number in
Daniel 3 with the number
00:37:44.15\00:37:47.16
in Revelation chapter 13.
00:37:47.19\00:37:49.02
Now somebody might say, "Pastor,
is it really the same to worship
00:37:49.24\00:37:52.92
the sun as it is to
worship on the day of the sun?"
00:37:52.95\00:37:56.16
And I answer, "In
principle, yes it's the same."
00:37:57.10\00:38:00.12
Let me put it this way.
00:38:00.59\00:38:01.90
Who created the sun?
00:38:02.27\00:38:07.90
God did.
00:38:08.72\00:38:09.86
Did He create it for worship?
00:38:10.24\00:38:12.02
So what happens if you convert
it into an object of worship?
00:38:12.64\00:38:15.66
What is that called?
00:38:15.69\00:38:16.81
Idolatry.
00:38:17.07\00:38:18.18
Who created the
first day of the week?
00:38:18.28\00:38:20.27
Did He create it for worship?
00:38:21.01\00:38:22.50
So what happens if you
make it a day of worship?
00:38:22.96\00:38:25.32
That's idolatry.
00:38:25.89\00:38:27.06
It doesn't matter
whether it's an object or a day.
00:38:27.21\00:38:30.14
Anything that man makes
for worship that God did not
00:38:30.46\00:38:34.50
create for worship is idolatry.
00:38:34.53\00:38:36.40
And so that's why
Ellen White can call Sunday
00:38:36.94\00:38:40.10
the idol sabbath, and she can
connect it to the golden image
00:38:40.13\00:38:44.39
in the valley of Dura.
00:38:44.42\00:38:45.78
Ellen White, in volume 7 of
the Bible Commentary, page 976,
00:38:46.35\00:38:50.97
says, "History will be repeated.
00:38:51.00\00:38:53.09
False religion will be exalted.
00:38:53.65\00:38:55.76
The first day of the
week, a common working day,
00:38:55.99\00:38:59.71
possessing no sanctity whatever,
will be set up as was the
00:38:59.74\00:39:04.42
image at Babylon.
00:39:04.45\00:39:05.99
All nations and tongues
and peoples will be commanded
00:39:06.20\00:39:09.01
to worship this
spurious sabbath.
00:39:09.04\00:39:11.16
This is Satan's plan
to make of no account
00:39:11.41\00:39:14.18
the day instituted by
God and given to the world
00:39:14.28\00:39:17.47
as a memorial of creation."
00:39:17.50\00:39:19.53
Is the conflict at the end
of time a conflict over worship?
00:39:19.83\00:39:24.00
You read Revelation 13,
folks, read Revelation 13
00:39:24.35\00:39:28.30
the entire
chapter, time and again
00:39:28.33\00:39:30.86
the word, "worship," appears.
00:39:30.89\00:39:32.41
Revelation 13 verse 4,
verse 8, verse 12, verse 15,
00:39:32.44\00:39:36.98
and then chapter 14 verse 7
and verse 9 refer to worship.
00:39:37.01\00:39:41.57
The end time
conflict will be over worship.
00:39:41.60\00:39:44.47
Will it also involve
the commandments of God?
00:39:44.50\00:39:46.97
Yes, because when
you deal with worship,
00:39:47.98\00:39:49.87
you're dealing
with the commandments.
00:39:49.90\00:39:51.08
Because the
first four commandments
00:39:51.18\00:39:52.75
have to do with worship.
00:39:52.78\00:39:54.14
That's why Revelation chapter
12 and verse 17 says that,
00:39:54.54\00:39:58.41
"The dragon was
enraged with the woman
00:39:58.44\00:40:00.68
and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed."
00:40:00.71\00:40:03.39
And why is the dragon enraged?
00:40:03.42\00:40:05.44
Because there's
a group that what?
00:40:05.71\00:40:07.54
That keep the
commandments of God.
00:40:07.57\00:40:10.81
Will there be a union of church
and state at the end of time?
00:40:11.14\00:40:13.95
Babylon with the
civil powers. Yes.
00:40:14.64\00:40:17.41
The harlot fornicates
with the kings of the earth.
00:40:17.44\00:40:20.42
And the
harlot's name is Babylon.
00:40:20.45\00:40:22.58
Notice this statement from,
Great Controversy, page 607.
00:40:22.93\00:40:26.34
"The church appeals to
the strong arm of civil power,
00:40:26.75\00:40:30.59
and in this work
papists and Protestants unite.
00:40:31.45\00:40:35.40
As the movement for
Sunday enforcement becomes more
00:40:36.05\00:40:39.62
bold and decided, the
law will be invoked against
00:40:39.65\00:40:43.39
commandment keepers.
00:40:43.42\00:40:44.87
They will be threatened
with fines and imprisonment,
00:40:45.07\00:40:48.49
and some will be
offered positions of influence,
00:40:48.52\00:40:51.59
and other rewards and
advantages, as inducements
00:40:51.62\00:40:55.40
to renounce their faith.
00:40:55.43\00:40:56.97
But their steadfast answer is,
'Show us from the word of God
00:40:57.07\00:41:01.44
our error;' the same
plea that was made by
00:41:01.47\00:41:04.58
Luther under
similar circumstances."
00:41:04.61\00:41:07.67
Great Controversy,
page 592, she also states,
00:41:08.30\00:41:12.35
"The dignitaries of
church and and state will unite
00:41:12.66\00:41:15.09
to bribe,
persuade, or compel..."
00:41:15.20\00:41:17.78
Remember what
Nebuchadnezzar did?
00:41:17.81\00:41:19.39
"...all classes
to honor the Sunday.
00:41:19.67\00:41:22.06
The lack of divine
authority will be supplied
00:41:22.74\00:41:25.58
by oppressive enactments.
00:41:25.61\00:41:28.18
Political corruption is
destroying love of justice
00:41:28.21\00:41:30.69
and regard for truth;
and even in free America,
00:41:30.72\00:41:34.10
rulers and legislators, in
order to secure public favor,
00:41:34.13\00:41:38.44
will yield to the popular
demand for a law enforcing
00:41:38.47\00:41:42.49
Sunday observance.
00:41:42.52\00:41:43.73
Liberty of conscience, which
has cost so great a sacrifice,
00:41:43.76\00:41:47.93
will no longer be respected.
00:41:47.96\00:41:50.21
In the soon coming conflict
we shall see exemplified
00:41:50.24\00:41:54.28
the prophet's words, 'The
dragon was wroth with the woman,
00:41:54.31\00:41:57.38
and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed,
00:41:57.48\00:42:00.19
which keep the commandments
of God, and have the
00:42:00.22\00:42:02.68
testimony of Jesus Christ.'"
00:42:02.71\00:42:05.10
Will there be a
union of church and state?
00:42:05.49\00:42:07.72
Yes, Revelation 17 says
so, and the spirit of prophecy
00:42:07.75\00:42:11.51
confirms this in the
book, Great Controversy.
00:42:11.54\00:42:14.50
Will a death decree be
uttered against God's people?
00:42:14.60\00:42:18.38
Yes.
00:42:18.45\00:42:19.48
Revelation
chapter 13 and verse 15.
00:42:19.51\00:42:22.51
Revelation
chapter 13 and verse 15
00:42:22.84\00:42:25.14
refers to this death decree.
00:42:25.24\00:42:27.60
Whoever does not worship
the image will be killed.
00:42:28.26\00:42:30.42
It says there in
verse 15 of Revelation 13,
00:42:30.45\00:42:33.62
"He was granted power
to give breath to the image
00:42:33.65\00:42:36.57
of the beast, that the image
of the beast should both speak
00:42:36.60\00:42:39.93
and cause as many as
would not worship the image
00:42:40.02\00:42:44.33
of the beast to be..." What?
00:42:44.36\00:42:46.14
"...to be killed."
00:42:46.17\00:42:47.22
Was there a death decree
in the Old Testament against
00:42:47.33\00:42:49.33
those who did not worship
the image of the beast? Yes.
00:42:49.36\00:42:52.08
Is that going to happen
at the end of time? Yes.
00:42:52.11\00:42:54.46
Is it going to be a literal
image, a great big statue? No.
00:42:54.49\00:42:58.35
Is this going to be a literal
beast, like Nebuchadnezzar
00:42:58.45\00:43:00.66
acted like a literal beast?
00:43:00.69\00:43:02.35
Is it going to be a
literal furnace, a kiln?
00:43:02.45\00:43:04.82
Absolutely not.
00:43:04.87\00:43:05.97
In the end time, it's fulfilled
spiritually and globally.
00:43:06.07\00:43:10.65
In other words, the
valley of Dura is universalized,
00:43:10.87\00:43:14.32
it is
globalized, in the end time.
00:43:14.35\00:43:16.61
The remnant is not
only three individuals,
00:43:16.64\00:43:18.89
it will be a whole people
gathered all over the world.
00:43:18.92\00:43:22.76
Notice Great
Controversy, page 615.
00:43:22.79\00:43:25.48
This is an argument
based on John 11:51.
00:43:26.70\00:43:28.95
Do you remember when
Caiaphas said it's necessary
00:43:28.98\00:43:31.46
for one man to die and
not that the nation perish?
00:43:31.49\00:43:34.12
Ellen White says that argument
is going to be used again
00:43:34.28\00:43:36.53
to save the United States
of America from disappearing.
00:43:37.02\00:43:40.91
She says, "This
argument will appear conclusive;
00:43:41.45\00:43:44.00
and a decree will
finally be issued against those
00:43:44.37\00:43:47.82
who hallow the Sabbath
of the fourth commandment,
00:43:47.85\00:43:49.78
denouncing them as deserving
of the severest punishment
00:43:49.81\00:43:53.34
and giving the people
liberty, after a certain time,
00:43:53.37\00:43:56.48
to put them to death.
00:43:56.51\00:43:58.52
Romanism in the Old World
and apostate Protestantism
00:43:59.27\00:44:02.55
in the New will pursue a
similar course toward those
00:44:02.58\00:44:05.84
who honor all
the divine precepts."
00:44:05.87\00:44:08.24
She also says on page
604 of, Great Controversy,
00:44:08.89\00:44:11.60
"Fearful is the issue to which
the world is to be brought.
00:44:11.80\00:44:14.61
The powers of earth,
uniting to war against the
00:44:14.64\00:44:17.35
commandments of God, will
decree that, 'all, both small
00:44:17.38\00:44:20.25
and great, rich and
poor, free and bond,'
00:44:20.28\00:44:22.36
shall conform to the customs
of the church by the observance
00:44:22.46\00:44:26.37
of the false sabbath.
00:44:26.40\00:44:27.70
All who refuse compliance will
be visited with civil penalties,
00:44:27.73\00:44:32.82
and it will finally
be declared that they
00:44:32.92\00:44:35.50
are deserving of death."
00:44:35.53\00:44:37.37
Will this be a universal decree?
00:44:37.40\00:44:39.25
It most certainly
will be a universal decree.
00:44:40.67\00:44:43.28
It says it will go to the whole
earth, to the entire world.
00:44:43.31\00:44:46.56
"The whole world
wondered after the beast,"
00:44:46.90\00:44:49.27
is what
Revelation chapter 13 says.
00:44:49.35\00:44:52.46
In fact, Great Controversy,
615, confirms what we find in
00:44:52.78\00:44:57.05
Revelation 13
and verses 15 and 16.
00:44:57.08\00:45:00.21
Ellen White says, "As
the Sabbath has become the
00:45:00.24\00:45:02.72
special point of controversy
throughout Christendom,
00:45:02.75\00:45:05.37
and religious and secular
authorities have combined
00:45:05.61\00:45:08.38
to enforce the
observance of the Sunday,
00:45:08.41\00:45:10.39
the persistent refusal
of a small minority to yield
00:45:10.56\00:45:14.43
to the popular demand
will make them objects
00:45:14.46\00:45:17.39
of universal execration."
00:45:17.42\00:45:19.94
Universal execration.
00:45:19.97\00:45:22.07
In fact, Ellen White says
that when the United States
00:45:22.26\00:45:25.02
imposes a Sunday law,
every country on the globe
00:45:25.05\00:45:29.53
will be led to
follow its example.
00:45:29.63\00:45:32.35
Every country on the globe will
be led to follow its example.
00:45:32.61\00:45:36.56
Don't ask me how
it's going to happen,
00:45:36.59\00:45:38.05
but it is going to happen.
00:45:38.08\00:45:39.38
We can be
absolutely certain of that.
00:45:39.41\00:45:41.68
How it's going to
happen in the Muslim countries,
00:45:41.96\00:45:44.19
well God knows.
00:45:44.22\00:45:46.09
You know, how was the
Berlin wall going to fall?
00:45:46.33\00:45:49.02
Nobody even believed
that it could happen.
00:45:49.21\00:45:51.29
And it happened
overnight almost.
00:45:51.43\00:45:54.14
So the final
movements will be rapid ones.
00:45:54.17\00:45:56.76
And these things will occur.
00:45:56.79\00:45:58.49
Will music and external
display play a significant
00:45:59.00\00:46:02.95
role in the end time?
00:46:02.98\00:46:04.22
Absolutely.
00:46:04.47\00:46:05.50
Notice this statement
that Ellen White makes
00:46:05.92\00:46:08.86
concerning the music of
the Roman Catholic Church.
00:46:08.89\00:46:11.24
Did you watch the
funeral of John Paul II?
00:46:11.27\00:46:13.81
You could not help but be awed.
00:46:14.44\00:46:16.63
In fact, I heard somebody call
on the radio, a talk show host,
00:46:17.45\00:46:20.96
and said, "Man, when I
see this on television,
00:46:20.99\00:46:24.30
all this majestic music and
the vestments and everything,"
00:46:24.33\00:46:26.86
he said, "I'm a Protestant, but
I'm going to become a Catholic."
00:46:26.89\00:46:29.70
Great
Controversy, 566 through 567.
00:46:31.71\00:46:34.20
Because notice what Ellen White
says about Roman Catholicism.
00:46:34.23\00:46:37.58
It's not something
that is unattractive.
00:46:37.68\00:46:41.06
It has ceremonial, it
has pomp and circumstance.
00:46:41.59\00:46:44.56
It's attractive.
00:46:44.59\00:46:46.11
Listen to what she says.
00:46:46.21\00:46:47.53
"Many Protestants suppose
that the Catholic religion
00:46:48.07\00:46:50.94
is unattractive and
that its worship is a dull,
00:46:50.97\00:46:54.50
meaningless round of ceremony.
00:46:54.60\00:46:57.11
Here they mistake.
00:46:57.41\00:46:58.80
While Romanism is based
upon deception, it is not
00:46:58.97\00:47:02.84
a coarse and clumsy imposture.
00:47:02.87\00:47:05.50
The religious service
of the Roman Church is a
00:47:05.78\00:47:07.98
most impressive ceremonial.
00:47:08.01\00:47:09.92
Its gorgeous display and solemn
rites fascinate the senses
00:47:10.24\00:47:14.72
of the people and
silence the voice of reason
00:47:14.75\00:47:17.41
and of conscience.
00:47:17.44\00:47:18.74
The eye is charmed.
00:47:19.53\00:47:21.30
Magnificent churches, imposing
processions, golden altars,
00:47:21.50\00:47:25.28
jeweled shrines, choice
paintings, and exquisite
00:47:25.31\00:47:28.40
sculpture appeal
to the love of beauty.
00:47:28.43\00:47:31.11
The ear also is captivated.
00:47:31.36\00:47:33.17
The music is unsurpassed.
00:47:33.20\00:47:34.91
The rich notes of the deep-toned
organ, blending with the
00:47:34.94\00:47:38.32
melody of many voices as it
swells through the lofty domes
00:47:38.35\00:47:42.32
and pillared aisles of her
grand cathedrals, cannot fail
00:47:42.35\00:47:46.58
to impress the mind
with awe and reverence.
00:47:46.61\00:47:49.87
The outward splendor, pomp,
and ceremony, that only mocks
00:47:50.26\00:47:54.55
the longings of the
sin-sick soul, is an evidence
00:47:54.58\00:47:57.63
of inward corruption.
00:47:57.66\00:47:59.26
The religion of Christ
needs not such attractions
00:47:59.46\00:48:01.75
to recommend it.
00:48:01.78\00:48:02.81
In the light shining from
the cross, true Christianity
00:48:02.91\00:48:06.37
appears so pure and lovely
that no external decorations
00:48:06.40\00:48:11.02
can enhance its worth.
00:48:11.05\00:48:12.67
It is the beauty of holiness,
a meek and quiet spirit,
00:48:12.70\00:48:15.96
which is of value with God."
00:48:15.99\00:48:18.89
So are people going to be
wowed by the spectacular beauty
00:48:21.10\00:48:27.42
and pomp of a system,
just like in the valley of Dura
00:48:27.45\00:48:30.50
with the music and
with the external things?
00:48:30.53\00:48:33.27
Absolutely.
00:48:33.30\00:48:34.33
Now you know, Ellen White once
visited the cathedral in Milan.
00:48:34.98\00:48:38.47
I was just there last year.
00:48:38.69\00:48:40.44
I was very interested to visit
the cathedral, it's incredible.
00:48:40.95\00:48:43.65
It took about
600 years to build.
00:48:43.68\00:48:45.75
It's just
unbelievably beautiful.
00:48:46.33\00:48:48.58
And Ellen White wanted to
visit it, and she did visit it.
00:48:48.89\00:48:51.48
And she wrote that she
was very impressed by it.
00:48:51.77\00:48:54.62
But then she summarized
her experience by saying
00:48:55.06\00:48:58.07
that it was just one
vast pile of extravagance.
00:48:58.27\00:49:02.21
So at first she was impressed.
00:49:03.59\00:49:05.46
But at the end, she
says it's just one vast pile
00:49:05.49\00:49:08.90
of extravagance.
00:49:08.93\00:49:10.52
Will God have a
faithful remnant that will stand
00:49:10.81\00:49:14.24
in this crisis in the end time?
00:49:14.27\00:49:16.01
Absolutely.
00:49:16.07\00:49:17.35
"Here is the
patience of the saints;
00:49:17.38\00:49:19.81
here are they who keep
the commandments of God
00:49:20.01\00:49:22.97
and the faith of Jesus."
00:49:23.00\00:49:26.08
In fact, in
Revelation chapter 15,
00:49:26.28\00:49:29.29
if you go with me
there, Revelation chapter 15
00:49:29.32\00:49:32.13
and verses 2 through 4, you're
going to find a group that is
00:49:32.23\00:49:35.52
victorious over the
beast, his image, and his mark,
00:49:35.55\00:49:38.12
and the number of his name.
00:49:38.15\00:49:39.60
It says in verse 2, "And I saw
something like a sea of glass
00:49:39.80\00:49:43.11
mingled with fire, and
those who have the..." What?
00:49:43.14\00:49:46.38
"...the victory over
the beast, over his image,
00:49:46.48\00:49:49.73
and over his mark, and
over the number of his name,
00:49:49.76\00:49:52.44
standing on the sea of
glass, having harps of God.
00:49:52.47\00:49:56.04
They sing the song of
Moses, the servant of God,
00:49:56.14\00:49:58.92
and the song of
the Lamb, saying,
00:49:58.95\00:50:02.34
'Great and marvelous are
Your works, Lord God Almighty!
00:50:02.37\00:50:05.36
Just and true are Your
ways, O King of the saints!
00:50:05.39\00:50:08.64
Who shall not fear You, O
Lord, and glorify Your name?
00:50:08.67\00:50:11.20
For You alone are holy.
00:50:11.23\00:50:13.08
For all nations shall
come and worship before You,
00:50:13.11\00:50:15.52
for Your judgments
have been manifested.'"
00:50:15.55\00:50:18.09
So God will have a group that
is victorious over the beast,
00:50:18.12\00:50:21.83
over his image, over his mark,
and over the number of his name.
00:50:21.86\00:50:26.60
Praise the Lord for that.
00:50:26.89\00:50:28.87
Will there be a
shaking at the end of time?
00:50:30.12\00:50:32.92
Will most of God's
people, when crunch time comes,
00:50:33.42\00:50:36.46
bow before the
image of the beast?
00:50:36.56\00:50:39.31
Absolutely.
00:50:39.36\00:50:40.52
Matthew chapter 24 says
that when this crisis comes,
00:50:40.95\00:50:44.04
the love of many will grow cold.
00:50:44.67\00:50:47.31
And many will become scandalized
at the name of Jesus,
00:50:47.34\00:50:51.45
and they will forsake
the armies of the Lord.
00:50:51.48\00:50:55.90
Now Ellen White, in
harmony with the Bible,
00:50:56.12\00:50:59.00
had this to say, she
said, "To stand in defense of
00:50:59.15\00:51:02.09
the truth and righteousness when
the majority forsakes us..."
00:51:02.12\00:51:05.45
When the what?
00:51:05.48\00:51:06.51
"...when the majority forsakes
us, to fight the battles
00:51:06.98\00:51:10.22
of the Lord when champions
are few, this will be our test.
00:51:10.25\00:51:13.99
At this time we must
gather warmth from the coldness
00:51:14.10\00:51:16.67
of others, courage
from their cowardice,
00:51:16.70\00:51:19.36
and loyalty from their treason.
00:51:19.39\00:51:21.23
The nation will be on
the side of the great rebel."
00:51:21.44\00:51:24.79
And in the next quotation,
she says, "A large class
00:51:24.82\00:51:27.82
who profess faith in the
third angel's message..."
00:51:28.02\00:51:30.94
In other words, they were
once Adventists, believers.
00:51:30.97\00:51:33.23
"...but has not been sanctified
through obedience to the truth,
00:51:33.43\00:51:36.44
abandon their position and join
the ranks of the opposition."
00:51:36.47\00:51:40.90
Who will be particularly guilty
in accusing the people of God?
00:51:40.93\00:51:44.06
It will be the
religious leaders.
00:51:45.85\00:51:47.67
Just like in the valley of Dura.
00:51:48.12\00:51:49.81
You say, "Now
where does it say that?"
00:51:50.23\00:51:51.98
Well let's read the second
statement here that we have
00:51:52.39\00:51:54.54
in our material.
00:51:54.57\00:51:55.70
"As the controversy
extends into new fields,
00:51:55.73\00:51:58.22
and the minds of the
people are called to God's
00:51:58.26\00:52:00.43
down trodden
law, Satan is astir.
00:52:00.46\00:52:03.43
The power attending the
message will only madden
00:52:03.73\00:52:06.54
those who oppose it.
00:52:06.57\00:52:07.75
The clergy will put forth
almost super human efforts
00:52:07.78\00:52:12.09
to shut away the light, lest it
should shine upon their flocks.
00:52:12.12\00:52:15.96
By every means at their command,
they will endeavor to suppress
00:52:15.99\00:52:19.62
the discussion of
these vital questions."
00:52:19.65\00:52:23.36
Will Satan be filled
with rage like Nebuchadnezzar
00:52:24.75\00:52:27.37
was filled with rage?
00:52:27.40\00:52:28.91
Absolutely.
00:52:29.42\00:52:30.57
In fact, if you
read Revelation 13
00:52:30.60\00:52:33.49
and verses 3 and 4, a
similar question will be asked
00:52:33.52\00:52:37.38
in the end time as was
asked in the valley of Dura
00:52:37.41\00:52:41.12
by King Nebuchadnezzar.
00:52:41.15\00:52:42.62
Revelation chapter 13,
and I'm going to read verse 3
00:52:42.65\00:52:46.17
and verse 4.
00:52:46.20\00:52:47.39
It says there, "And I saw one
of his heads as if it had been
00:52:47.49\00:52:50.40
mortally wounded, and
his deadly wound was healed.
00:52:50.43\00:52:53.04
And all the world
marveled and followed the beast.
00:52:53.07\00:52:55.65
So they worshiped the dragon
who gave authority to the beast;
00:52:55.68\00:52:58.37
and they worshiped
the beast, saying..."
00:52:58.40\00:53:00.14
Now here's the same question.
00:53:00.17\00:53:01.51
"Who is like the beast?
00:53:01.54\00:53:03.75
And who is able to
make war with him?"
00:53:03.78\00:53:06.73
And what is the answer?
00:53:07.79\00:53:09.28
God says, "I will."
00:53:09.31\00:53:11.71
And of course, God
will be victorious.
00:53:13.06\00:53:16.78
Will God's people go through
a severe time of trouble?
00:53:16.81\00:53:19.72
Absolutely.
00:53:20.18\00:53:21.34
The worst time of trouble
in the history of the world.
00:53:21.37\00:53:24.88
There will not be a time
of trouble such as that one.
00:53:25.07\00:53:27.67
There has not been,
and there will not be.
00:53:27.70\00:53:30.13
And God's people will go
through the furnace of fire.
00:53:30.61\00:53:34.16
Notice what the
fiery furnace represents.
00:53:34.48\00:53:36.89
Great Controversy, page 621.
00:53:37.19\00:53:39.98
Great Controversy, 621.
00:53:40.37\00:53:42.35
Ellen White says,
speaking about the remnant,
00:53:42.84\00:53:44.99
"Their affliction is
great, the flames of the furnace
00:53:45.09\00:53:49.67
seem about to consume
them; but the Refiner will bring
00:53:49.70\00:53:54.49
them forth as gold
tried in the fire."
00:53:54.52\00:53:57.30
See, she uses the
symbolism of the furnace for the
00:53:57.96\00:54:00.85
trial of God's people.
00:54:00.88\00:54:02.17
She says, "God's love for
His children during the period
00:54:02.44\00:54:04.97
of their severest trial is
as strong and tender as in the
00:54:05.00\00:54:08.16
days of their
sunniest prosperity.
00:54:08.19\00:54:10.19
But it is needful for
them to be placed..." Where?
00:54:10.36\00:54:13.88
"...in the furnace of fire.
00:54:13.91\00:54:16.07
Their earthliness must
be consumed, that the image
00:54:16.38\00:54:19.76
of Christ may be
perfectly reflected."
00:54:19.79\00:54:23.23
Folks, Jesus Christ
will personally intervene
00:54:24.18\00:54:28.25
to deliver His people.
00:54:28.28\00:54:29.72
"At the time Michael shall
stand up, that great Prince
00:54:29.82\00:54:33.33
that stands watch over
the children of your people.
00:54:33.36\00:54:35.71
And there will be a time
of trouble, such as there
00:54:35.81\00:54:38.50
never was since
there was a nation.
00:54:38.53\00:54:40.33
But at that time
your people shall be..."
00:54:40.36\00:54:42.48
What? What's the key word?
00:54:42.51\00:54:43.76
"...your people shall
be delivered, everyone
00:54:43.79\00:54:46.50
who is found
written in the book."
00:54:46.53\00:54:48.79
God will deliver His people.
00:54:48.92\00:54:51.59
Jesus will personally intervene.
00:54:51.62\00:54:54.32
What will God demand?
00:54:55.00\00:54:56.61
God will demand
absolute unswerving loyalty.
00:54:56.64\00:55:02.07
And when do we
form this loyalty?
00:55:02.64\00:55:04.88
When the crisis comes
you say, "Okay, emergency."
00:55:05.08\00:55:07.73
No, it has to be now that
we have to form this covenant
00:55:08.25\00:55:12.79
relationship with Christ.
00:55:12.82\00:55:14.10
And we can be sure that if
we form a covenant with Jesus,
00:55:14.13\00:55:17.30
Jesus is going to protect us.
00:55:17.33\00:55:20.18
And even if we should die,
because some people will die
00:55:20.85\00:55:23.72
in the little time of trouble
before the close of probation,
00:55:23.75\00:55:26.24
no sweat.
00:55:26.46\00:55:27.68
Because Jesus is going
to resurrect those people
00:55:28.09\00:55:30.31
in a special resurrection.
00:55:30.34\00:55:31.81
So it's just a
little moment of rest.
00:55:32.35\00:55:34.47
That's all.
00:55:34.50\00:55:35.53
But Jesus is still
going to fulfill His covenant
00:55:35.56\00:55:37.94
with His people.
00:55:37.97\00:55:39.00
He is still going to
resurrect them, and they are
00:55:39.03\00:55:41.26
still going to live with
Jesus throughout the ceaseless
00:55:41.29\00:55:43.54
ages of eternity.
00:55:43.57\00:55:44.95
Notice this last
statement, Prophets and Kings,
00:55:45.87\00:55:47.94
page 512 and 513, as we close.
00:55:47.97\00:55:51.21
"The season of
distress before God's people
00:55:51.61\00:55:54.73
will call for a
faith that will not falter.
00:55:54.92\00:55:58.44
His children must make it
manifest that He is the only
00:55:58.96\00:56:03.12
object of their worship,
and that no consideration,
00:56:03.15\00:56:07.19
not even that of life
itself, can induce them to make
00:56:07.22\00:56:12.27
the least
concession to false worship.
00:56:12.30\00:56:14.85
To the loyal heart
the commands of sinful,
00:56:15.24\00:56:18.28
finite men will
sink into insignificance
00:56:18.31\00:56:21.81
beside the word
of the eternal God.
00:56:21.84\00:56:25.25
Truth will be obeyed though
the result be imprisonment,
00:56:25.45\00:56:30.33
or exile, or death."
00:56:30.36\00:56:33.92
That's the kind of faith that
God's people are going to need.
00:56:34.76\00:56:38.23
And incidentally, do you
know that Ellen White calls
00:56:39.02\00:56:41.60
Sunday, the idol
sabbath, time and again
00:56:41.81\00:56:44.79
in her writings.
00:56:44.82\00:56:46.02
Because it is a sabbath
made in the shape by man.
00:56:46.84\00:56:51.32
It's not made
for worship by God.
00:56:51.41\00:56:54.28
Let me just read
one of these statements.
00:56:55.15\00:56:57.13
It's found in
ninth Testimonies, 211.
00:56:57.44\00:56:59.74
She says, "The Sabbath
question is one that will demand
00:56:59.77\00:57:02.09
great care and
wisdom in its presentation.
00:57:02.12\00:57:04.41
Much of the grace and
power of God will be needed
00:57:04.51\00:57:07.33
to cast down the idol that
has been erected in the shape of
00:57:07.36\00:57:11.01
the false sabbath."
00:57:11.04\00:57:12.23
Interesting.
00:57:12.84\00:57:14.04
It's a man made
sabbath for worship.
00:57:14.78\00:57:17.39
That's what makes it idolatry.
00:57:17.67\00:57:19.39
Like the sun was a man
made object for worship.
00:57:20.61\00:57:23.84
That is also idolatry.
00:57:23.87\00:57:25.28
It doesn't
matter if it's the sun
00:57:25.31\00:57:27.16
or if it's the day of the sun.
00:57:27.19\00:57:28.90
If it's made by man for
worship, that is idolatry.
00:57:28.93\00:57:32.78
But God has made His holy
Sabbath for His people to keep.
00:57:32.81\00:57:37.20
And it will be
the sign of loyalty
00:57:37.48\00:57:39.74
of the people of God to Him.
00:57:40.05\00:57:41.75
And they will say, "We'd rather
die than not spend that time
00:57:42.02\00:57:45.76
with our Lord and Savior Jesus."
00:57:45.87\00:57:47.82