From Arcadia, California,
The Carter report presents,
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The Living Word
around the world.
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Hello, friend, I'm John Carter,
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with a very special
message just for you.
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I believe that God
has called you and me
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to tell the world
about the Lord Jesus Christ.
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You know, friend,
when I turn in my Bible
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to Revelation Chapter 14,
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I read there of a worldwide
proclamation of the gospel
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in the setting of
some very amazing truths.
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And that is why the
Carter Report right now
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is working in
China isn't that amazing?
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Also in India,
we're telecasting in India
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and very shortly,
we're going to Africa.
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And when we go to
Africa the message of Christ
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is going to be
telecast right across
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that great continent
and millions of people
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are going to have an opportunity
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to come to the
knowledge of Christ.
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I am asking today for
your help and your partnership.
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I want you to
write to me, please.
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And I want you to support us
in this worldwide evangelism.
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And when you do so,
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I want to send you
two DVD's, two DVD's.
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One is about how to survive
the coming financial meltdown
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and the second one is
about the health crisis
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that is just about
blowing America apart,
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but it concerns my
friends, also in Australia.
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So please, support
us in this great work
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and when you support us,
I'll send you these two DVD's.
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Write to me John
Carter, P.O Box 1900,
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Thousand Oaks,
California, 91358.
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In Australia,
write to me at Terrigal.
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Support us in this
great outreach to the world,
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let Christ be known and
may God richly bless you.
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Write to me please, today.
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It's lovely to be
here this morning with you.
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And John and
Beverly Carter have asked me
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to pass on their regards to you,
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both here in this congregation
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and also to the
people watching over 3ABN,
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different parts of the world.
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You know, it's a thrill to
be able to come here and preach.
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This church is a
missionary church.
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This church has spawned
I believe 60 congregations
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in different parts of the world
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and has been the backbone
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you might say
for 25,000 baptisms.
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I wish we had more
churches like this.
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It's very, very important
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that we do not
loose sight of the fact
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that we are a missionary church.
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And John and Beverly, I
saw them week before last,
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asked me to make sure
I pass on their regards.
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They'll be back
here in a couple of weeks
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and allow me to be back
here again with you too.
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Australia is a great place
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but they think America
is greater, they tell me.
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I didn't argue,
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we're both great
aren't we, both countries?
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You know, I'm preaching today
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on "Revelation As A War Scroll."
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That might be a funny title
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but Revelation
really is a call to war.
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There is an army,
there is a battle.
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All war is
terrible. It really is.
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I have never had
to fight in a war.
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I did my national
service that was bad enough.
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But my father fought in a war
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and he came home a broken man.
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He was more like a grandfather.
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His health was
broken, coughing at night.
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He was blown up with a
shell and they patched him up
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and sent him back
to the frontline again.
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My brother lied about his
age, he was much older than me
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and he went to war and
his nerves were shattered too.
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War is a terrible
thing, the consequences of war.
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You know Jesus said
we will always have wars.
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He said it will
be like birth pains
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coming upon a woman.
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It's gonna become
more and more severe,
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more and more intense.
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Wars, famines, earthquakes,
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Jesus said it was
always going to be like this.
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But you know
that word Armageddon
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seems to standout a little bit.
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Hollywood has given its
own image of Armageddon.
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But it isn't
really the biblical image.
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The biblical image
is something far wide
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or something far more important.
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Many people today look
across to the Middle East.
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And they see over there,
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the map of the
Middle East and they say,
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here is where that
last battle will be fought,
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right there in the Middle East.
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And they believe that
the armies of the world
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will meet in that plain just
about to Jerusalem, Easter Land
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and the armies will
meet in this great battle
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will be the
battle of Armageddon,
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and that is a
popular view for all eyes
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are looking across to
Israel as being the place
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where this will happen.
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But really if
we go to our Bible,
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we do get a
different image of Armageddon
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to what many people would think.
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Let's have a look in
Revelation Chapter 16,
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because that's the
only place in the Bible
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where the word
Armageddon really does appear.
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And as we go through Revelation,
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John the revelator
guided by the Holy Spirit
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does give us clues
as to what he is saying.
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And we've prepared
for our new series,
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Revelation,
Hope/Meaning/Purpose,
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we've actually
prepared, John, Paul, and I,
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a guide post article,
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which you can
download off the internet
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and it will show
you where at times
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John the Revelator
guided by the Holy Spirit
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gives you clues as
to what he is intending
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you should understand.
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And those clues are guide post,
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we've written a whole
article on guide posts.
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The Revelation 16:12.
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Says, "The sixth
angel poured out his bowl
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on the great river Euphrates,
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and its water was
dried up to prepare the way
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for the kings from the east.
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Then I saw three impure
spirits that looked like frogs,
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they came out of
the mouth of the dragon,
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out of the mouth of the beast
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and out of the mouth
of the false prophet.
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For they are spirits of
demons perform miraculous signs,
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they go out to the
kings of the whole world,
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to gather them for the battle
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on the great
day of God Almighty.
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Behold, I come like a thief!
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Blessed is he who stays awake
and keeps his clothes with him,
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so that he may not go
naked and be shamefully exposed.
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Then they gathered the
kings together to the place
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that in Hebrew was
called Armageddon."
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You know, there is no place
in the world called Armageddon,
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it never has been, supply
upon two words Mount Megiddo.
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That Megiddo was
only like a little hill
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where you have a city on it.
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There is a hill
a mountain near by
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and may be that's
the Carmel outrange
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is perhaps what has in
mind, here John has in mind.
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You can read more about it
in our series on Armageddon,
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we have one on Armageddon.
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But whatever John is saying,
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it is very clear
here in verse 15,
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what he intends
for us to understand,
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because verse
15 is the key verse
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to help us to understand
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that this battle is not a battle
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with tanks and guns
and nuclear weapons.
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There is something
far wider, more vital,
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more important which comes
closer to home to you and I
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than what is happening in
some of the part of the world.
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"Behold, I come like a thief!
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Blessed is he who stays awake
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and keeps his
garments with him."
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You know, he is
not talking about
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going to sleep in my sermon.
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I could say blessed is he
who stays awake and listen.
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It is really saying here,
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remain
spiritually alive and alert.
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Watch out Christian,
you who do know Christ now,
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could be deceived
by miraculous signs
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and wonders being done,
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performed by
evil demonic forces.
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And these could cause you
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to loose your hold upon Christ
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for the battle is far
wider, far more embracing.
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Comes closer to you and I,
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than just some mere battle
in one part of this world.
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And this should
keep us on track.
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Whatever is being
actually said here,
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in this statement
here it is something to do
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with your
relationship to Christ.
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And I believe with the heart
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of the whole thing
is this, the gospel.
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Everything
revolves around the gospel.
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For when we open our
Bibles to Revelation 1:1
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and you probably hardly need
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to open your Bibles
to either Revelation 1:1.
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It says, it is
the Revelation of who?
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All right, we need
to keep that in mind.
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Whatever this
book is telling us,
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it is the
Revelation of Jesus Christ
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and we are understanding
this book correctly.
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It's Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Then we know, we
are understanding
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the message that this
book was supposed to give us.
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It is not talking
about mere nations
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and mere
political guns and battles.
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Whatever we are understanding
about this whole book,
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all the prophetic
parts of this book
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it is the
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Something covered to
this now revealed in the way
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we wouldn't have
understood before.
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So this should
help to keep us on track
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to make sure we
are understanding
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the prophecies of this
book, it's a revealing of Jesus.
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And if Jesus is not
in any interpretation
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then something is wrong.
00:09:45.23\00:09:47.53
We are learning
more about Jesus.
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We should understand Him better.
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We should learn how
to keep our hold upon Him
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by staying
spiritually live and alert,
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for that is where you and I
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fight our daily
battle, isn't it?
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Every day to keep
your hold upon Jesus.
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Yeah, it's beautiful to
know that when we come to Him
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we receive the
gift of righteousness
00:10:07.17\00:10:08.95
the moment we believe.
00:10:08.98\00:10:10.23
That's the good news, isn't it?
00:10:10.26\00:10:12.09
Jesus died for us.
00:10:12.12\00:10:15.06
He is our substitute
and He conquered the grave,
00:10:15.09\00:10:19.03
He lives in Heaven above now
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and because He lives we
will live for eternity as well.
00:10:20.94\00:10:24.63
That's what the
Bible is all about.
00:10:24.66\00:10:26.46
That's what the Book
of Revelation majors in.
00:10:26.49\00:10:29.89
But when the Book
of Revelation talks,
00:10:29.92\00:10:32.38
it uses the
experiences of Israel
00:10:32.41\00:10:34.53
in Old Testament
times to illustrate
00:10:34.56\00:10:36.82
what is happening to the church.
00:10:36.85\00:10:39.18
And I know Pastor Carter,
00:10:39.21\00:10:40.40
has shared this
with you in the past
00:10:40.43\00:10:42.66
because I have heard him.
00:10:42.69\00:10:44.50
I have watched one of
his television programs.
00:10:44.53\00:10:47.13
The book Revelation talks about
00:10:47.16\00:10:49.84
the experiences of
Israel in Old Testament times.
00:10:49.87\00:10:53.74
The language of
Israel from the Old Testament
00:10:53.77\00:10:56.29
to explain what is happening
to the Christian church.
00:10:56.32\00:10:59.49
It talks about Jezebel,
00:10:59.52\00:11:01.70
but you say why is
Jezebel got to mentioned?
00:11:01.73\00:11:04.85
Why does river
Euphrates got to mentioned?
00:11:04.88\00:11:07.65
Who is this Babylon
spoke off in Revelation?
00:11:07.68\00:11:10.70
Not that old city in Iraq,
00:11:10.73\00:11:13.25
there is a spiritual Babylon
00:11:13.28\00:11:14.73
at the end of
time, false religion.
00:11:14.76\00:11:17.69
False religion gathers together
00:11:17.72\00:11:20.07
all through
demotic forces to make war
00:11:20.10\00:11:22.65
against God's
people at the end of time.
00:11:22.68\00:11:25.30
The Bible
majors in this concept.
00:11:25.33\00:11:28.05
You see, there is a bigger
battle going on in Revelation,
00:11:28.08\00:11:31.32
in this world and in
my life and your life,
00:11:31.35\00:11:34.97
and many would think.
00:11:35.00\00:11:36.21
Have a look at
Revelation Chapter 12.
00:11:36.24\00:11:39.28
And hear it we come
back to the big battle,
00:11:39.31\00:11:41.19
the battle that matters
more than anything else.
00:11:41.22\00:11:45.45
Revelation
Chapter 12, talks here,
00:11:45.48\00:11:47.47
it says here "And
there was war in heaven"
00:11:47.50\00:11:52.57
Revelation 12:7.
00:11:52.60\00:11:55.12
"Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon,
00:11:55.15\00:11:57.71
and the dragon and
his angels fought back.
00:11:57.74\00:12:01.00
But he was not strong enough,
00:12:01.03\00:12:03.00
and they lost
their place in heaven.
00:12:03.03\00:12:05.52
The great
dragon was hurled down,
00:12:05.55\00:12:07.39
that ancient serpent
called the devil, or Satan,
00:12:07.42\00:12:10.05
who leads the
whole world astray.
00:12:10.08\00:12:12.33
He was hurled to the
earth, and his angels with him.
00:12:12.36\00:12:16.14
Then I heard a loud
voice in heaven say,
00:12:16.17\00:12:19.23
'Now have come the
salvation and the power
00:12:19.26\00:12:21.82
and the kingdom of our God,
00:12:21.85\00:12:23.27
and the authority of his Christ.
00:12:23.30\00:12:25.33
For the accuser of our brothers,
00:12:25.36\00:12:26.79
who accuses them
before our God day and night
00:12:26.82\00:12:29.26
has been hurled down.
00:12:29.29\00:12:31.42
They overcame him by
the blood of the Lamb
00:12:31.45\00:12:35.59
and by the word
of their testimony,
00:12:35.62\00:12:38.16
they did not love
their lives so much
00:12:38.19\00:12:40.36
as to shrink from death.'"
00:12:40.39\00:12:43.35
You know, this is a
very, very important battle
00:12:43.38\00:12:45.45
we're talking of
today, a crucial battle.
00:12:45.48\00:12:48.88
War in heaven.
00:12:48.91\00:12:50.43
This angel said, I
will be like the most high.
00:12:50.46\00:12:54.43
The issue was an
issue over worship.
00:12:54.46\00:12:58.03
And this creature created by God
00:12:58.06\00:13:00.31
tried to replace
the Creator himself.
00:13:00.34\00:13:03.11
But he couldn't win.
00:13:03.14\00:13:04.34
You can never win
against the Creator.
00:13:04.37\00:13:06.41
But why would you want to fight?
00:13:06.44\00:13:08.28
He loves us far more
than we love our children.
00:13:08.31\00:13:11.10
More than a
husband loves his wife.
00:13:11.13\00:13:12.79
He loved us enough to
come and die on Calvary.
00:13:12.82\00:13:15.22
Why would you want
to rebel and fight?
00:13:15.25\00:13:18.58
Well, God is a God of love.
00:13:18.61\00:13:22.93
And this world we
have to believe God
00:13:22.96\00:13:25.48
and trust Him and serve Him
00:13:25.51\00:13:27.43
and sometimes our lives
can be like, just like Job.
00:13:27.46\00:13:31.12
We don't understand
00:13:31.15\00:13:32.18
why my life is going like it is.
00:13:32.21\00:13:34.26
I've tried to do what is right
but someone's things go wrong.
00:13:34.29\00:13:37.45
But God is to be trusted.
00:13:37.48\00:13:41.17
Can we trust God?
00:13:41.20\00:13:42.98
There is a great
controversy theme
00:13:43.01\00:13:44.65
which we know and
understand very well,
00:13:44.68\00:13:47.26
a war between Christ and Satan.
00:13:47.29\00:13:50.14
And God allows
this world to go on.
00:13:50.17\00:13:52.54
It is not enough that
God be loving and fair,
00:13:52.57\00:13:55.23
He must also appear that way.
00:13:55.26\00:13:57.79
And you and I
will never be happy
00:13:57.82\00:13:59.31
until we can trust God.
00:13:59.34\00:14:00.71
How do you like
to live in heaven,
00:14:00.74\00:14:01.95
thinking that God can
have bad moods and bad days?
00:14:01.98\00:14:05.77
Think of what
He could do to you.
00:14:05.80\00:14:08.87
Where would you
take your complaint?
00:14:08.90\00:14:12.78
We have to believe
that God is trust worthy.
00:14:12.81\00:14:15.58
And mean while we
live by faith in this world
00:14:15.61\00:14:17.74
where a lot of things
just do not make sense.
00:14:17.77\00:14:21.18
They do not make sense.
00:14:21.21\00:14:23.54
But like Job, we trust in God.
00:14:23.57\00:14:26.77
You know, the real battle
00:14:26.80\00:14:28.73
is like the cold
war many respects.
00:14:28.76\00:14:31.31
I remember when I
went to Russia in the 70's
00:14:31.34\00:14:35.19
and I went to Russia
and they were so proud
00:14:35.22\00:14:37.57
of what they had
achieved through the revolution
00:14:37.60\00:14:39.92
and what communism had brought.
00:14:39.95\00:14:41.72
And they had
these tall buildings,
00:14:41.75\00:14:43.73
this great tower, we
have the worlds tallest tower.
00:14:43.76\00:14:46.93
We have the biggest
swimming holes outdoors.
00:14:46.96\00:14:50.28
We can send
rocket ships into space.
00:14:50.31\00:14:53.60
Every time they won
an Olympic gold medal
00:14:53.63\00:14:56.13
they were saying that
we have the best system.
00:14:56.16\00:14:58.97
This is what the world needs.
It was a cold war, wasn't it?
00:14:59.00\00:15:02.59
I'm glad it didn't
explode into a nuclear war.
00:15:02.62\00:15:06.24
But it was a cold war.
00:15:06.27\00:15:07.97
They didn't show
you the places where,
00:15:08.00\00:15:10.29
their only approved spots
that you could actually go to.
00:15:10.32\00:15:13.37
But with many respects,
00:15:13.40\00:15:14.96
what is
happening in this universe
00:15:14.99\00:15:16.46
is like a cold
war, many respects
00:15:16.49\00:15:19.03
because the Creator himself
00:15:19.06\00:15:20.85
was challenged by
this creature, this angel.
00:15:20.88\00:15:24.03
And this angel with other angels
00:15:24.06\00:15:26.17
was cast out of the heaven.
00:15:26.20\00:15:27.75
And that war that
began back in heaven
00:15:27.78\00:15:29.92
is carried on in this earth.
00:15:29.95\00:15:33.15
And that is the war
that is far more embracing
00:15:33.18\00:15:36.57
and more
significant than any other war
00:15:36.60\00:15:39.07
that has been
fought or will be fought.
00:15:39.10\00:15:41.24
Jesus said there will
be wars and rumors of wars
00:15:41.27\00:15:43.47
but the end is not
yet, that always be wars.
00:15:43.50\00:15:47.63
But this one, this one
is very wide embracing.
00:15:47.66\00:15:51.70
But then the devil in
chapter 17 has problems
00:15:51.73\00:15:54.36
because God's
people are trusting in Him.
00:15:54.39\00:15:58.21
Notice there are two
ways how the saints overcome.
00:15:58.24\00:16:02.58
Have a look in Revelation
Chapter 12 and see this.
00:16:02.61\00:16:05.62
They overcome, one,
00:16:05.65\00:16:08.42
by the blood of the Lamb.
00:16:08.45\00:16:14.47
Isn't that good news?
00:16:14.50\00:16:17.16
They overcome by
the blood of the Lamb.
00:16:17.19\00:16:21.46
You know, it's not
hard to join an army
00:16:21.49\00:16:23.89
if the victory is sure or
even the victory is being won.
00:16:23.92\00:16:27.81
When Jesus died on
Calvary, He won the victory.
00:16:27.84\00:16:31.84
Satan was exposed for
what he has really like.
00:16:31.87\00:16:36.52
You can never trust
him. He is a deceiver.
00:16:36.55\00:16:39.47
He was cast out of heaven.
00:16:39.50\00:16:41.45
And the blood of the Lamb
00:16:41.48\00:16:42.60
will cleanse you
and I from all sin.
00:16:42.63\00:16:44.30
You don't have to worry
about, what happened yesterday.
00:16:44.33\00:16:47.05
The only thing that
God is worried about is,
00:16:47.08\00:16:48.88
what is your present
attitude towards Him?
00:16:48.91\00:16:51.28
God doesn't hold
your past against you,
00:16:51.31\00:16:53.49
bring it back against you.
00:16:53.52\00:16:55.48
God gives you full,
complete forgiveness.
00:16:55.51\00:16:59.08
Hey, we are on the winning side.
00:16:59.11\00:17:00.94
Jesus defeated all
these powers of evil.
00:17:00.97\00:17:03.90
But notice what the
text goes on to say too.
00:17:03.93\00:17:06.77
And it says here,
another way they overcome,
00:17:06.80\00:17:10.31
the word of...
00:17:10.34\00:17:15.46
their testimony.
00:17:15.49\00:17:19.92
The word of their testimony.
00:17:23.08\00:17:25.66
These are the ways,
00:17:25.69\00:17:26.83
my handwriting
isn't as good as John.
00:17:26.86\00:17:31.07
A little girl in
the front seat said,
00:17:31.10\00:17:32.63
when I was running
an evangelistic program,
00:17:32.66\00:17:34.28
I don't know why Mr. Bradford
00:17:34.31\00:17:35.52
is always apologizing
about his handwriting.
00:17:35.55\00:17:37.59
He can do it better than I can.
00:17:37.62\00:17:39.27
She hadn't even started school.
00:17:39.30\00:17:43.06
That's a nicest
thing I've ever had said.
00:17:43.09\00:17:46.32
But these are the points
00:17:46.35\00:17:47.43
I wonder anchor in
our minds this morning.
00:17:47.46\00:17:50.06
The blood of the Lamb.
The word of their testimony.
00:17:50.09\00:17:53.74
Okay, and she could have said
00:17:53.77\00:17:56.27
that grand Bradford needs
to spell little better too.
00:17:56.30\00:17:58.61
Now I have taken "I" in there.
00:17:58.64\00:18:00.28
And you were too polite
to tell me, weren't you?
00:18:00.31\00:18:02.49
You are gracious.
00:18:02.52\00:18:04.28
All right, so these ate the ways
00:18:04.31\00:18:07.27
in which God's people overcome.
00:18:07.30\00:18:10.03
Saved by grace.
00:18:10.06\00:18:11.93
But there is also a
witness we have as well.
00:18:11.96\00:18:15.11
And we are a
vital part of this war
00:18:15.14\00:18:17.11
that is actually going on.
00:18:17.14\00:18:18.60
And all for the centuries
00:18:18.63\00:18:20.00
people have overcome
by the blood of the Lamb,
00:18:20.03\00:18:22.07
received full free
forgiveness to sin.
00:18:22.10\00:18:24.77
But people also have borne
their testimony by the life
00:18:24.80\00:18:28.01
that they live they
are actually saying,
00:18:28.04\00:18:30.58
we believe that God is
right and Satan is wrong.
00:18:30.61\00:18:34.20
And that's why we
are called in Revelation,
00:18:34.23\00:18:36.27
kings and priests.
00:18:36.30\00:18:38.44
We are a witness to
the fact that God is right
00:18:38.47\00:18:42.69
and Lucifer is wrong.
00:18:42.72\00:18:44.25
And every time you and I
sacrifice to follow Christ
00:18:44.28\00:18:47.16
and we don't sacrifice much.
00:18:47.19\00:18:49.20
Compared to what
the creator went through
00:18:49.23\00:18:50.98
we don't sacrifice much, do we?
00:18:51.01\00:18:52.86
We don't give up much.
00:18:52.89\00:18:54.48
But every time we
do stand for Christ,
00:18:54.51\00:18:57.47
we are giving the
word of our testimony
00:18:57.50\00:19:00.04
and we are saying that we are,
00:19:00.07\00:19:01.66
well either, the God is
right, Lucifer is wrong.
00:19:01.69\00:19:04.72
And that's a very
powerful thing in this battle.
00:19:04.75\00:19:08.73
So we are kings and
priests to live and reign
00:19:08.76\00:19:10.72
with Christ for eternity.
00:19:10.75\00:19:12.30
But the devil now comes
up for one last great flea.
00:19:12.33\00:19:16.01
One last great attempt.
00:19:16.04\00:19:17.90
Have a look at Revelation 12:17,
00:19:17.93\00:19:22.01
"Then the dragon was
enraged at the woman"
00:19:22.04\00:19:25.10
that's the church
"and went to make war
00:19:25.13\00:19:28.13
against the rest
of her offspring,
00:19:28.16\00:19:30.78
those who obey
God's commandments
00:19:30.81\00:19:33.25
and hold to the
testimony of Jesus."
00:19:33.28\00:19:36.00
Here the devil now
is marshaling his forces
00:19:36.03\00:19:39.77
for one final effort.
00:19:39.80\00:19:42.98
And if he is going to go down,
00:19:43.01\00:19:44.33
he is going to bring
down as many as he can.
00:19:44.36\00:19:45.93
He knows his time is short.
00:19:45.96\00:19:48.06
But he gets satisfaction
00:19:48.09\00:19:49.74
from bringing
others down with him.
00:19:49.77\00:19:52.10
And now we are going
to look at what happens
00:19:52.13\00:19:53.98
as we go to revelation
00:19:54.01\00:19:55.54
and there is
what we call chiasm.
00:19:55.57\00:19:58.21
Now this chiasm
really is the way
00:19:58.24\00:20:00.01
the book
Revelation instructs him.
00:20:00.04\00:20:01.80
Don't worry about the
Word but this chiasm here,
00:20:01.83\00:20:05.45
which you will see on the board,
00:20:05.48\00:20:07.00
right at the center
there is a synopsis of the war,
00:20:07.03\00:20:11.36
Revelation 12 to 14.
00:20:11.39\00:20:13.25
Now when you and I write a book,
00:20:13.28\00:20:15.38
we so to go
through chronologically,
00:20:15.41\00:20:17.17
Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday.
00:20:17.20\00:20:19.83
And when do all our
movies have big shoot ups?
00:20:19.86\00:20:22.74
All the big dramatic action
happens at the end, doesn't it?
00:20:22.77\00:20:25.46
That's where all our books go.
00:20:25.49\00:20:27.71
In the biblical literature
00:20:27.74\00:20:29.52
you'll find your prophetic books
00:20:29.55\00:20:30.88
and sometimes your Psalms
00:20:30.91\00:20:32.18
and even
individual chapters and verses
00:20:32.21\00:20:34.91
have what we call a chiasm
00:20:34.94\00:20:36.51
where the center
fort comes through.
00:20:36.54\00:20:40.20
You don't count
the number of words,
00:20:40.23\00:20:41.65
you look at the fort, the ideas.
00:20:41.68\00:20:43.90
And this helps us to
decode Revelation significantly.
00:20:43.93\00:20:47.42
So when we're
talking about chiasm,
00:20:47.45\00:20:49.12
we're saying you got A,
00:20:49.15\00:20:50.73
A at each side and
B, C, D in the center.
00:20:50.76\00:20:56.36
And the center
fort of the chiasm
00:20:56.39\00:20:59.52
is the main purpose of
what Revelation is all about.
00:20:59.55\00:21:03.91
And right at the
center in chapters 12 to 14,
00:21:03.94\00:21:07.40
we have a final
crisis over worship,
00:21:07.43\00:21:10.78
the issue that began
back in the courts of heaven.
00:21:10.81\00:21:13.43
I will be like the Most High,
00:21:13.46\00:21:15.51
the same issue in
the Garden of Eden
00:21:15.54\00:21:18.84
when you trust
God the same issue
00:21:18.87\00:21:21.22
of Cain and Abel
over how will you worship
00:21:21.25\00:21:23.90
it's also the big issue
00:21:23.93\00:21:25.67
which comes up for
one last great conflict
00:21:25.70\00:21:28.73
in Revelation Chapter 13.
00:21:28.76\00:21:31.06
Will we worship God,
the Creator or the creature?
00:21:31.09\00:21:36.62
And we find in the
center of the storm,
00:21:36.65\00:21:38.39
we have on one side the Creator
00:21:38.42\00:21:40.16
and the other side
a counterfeit trinity,
00:21:40.19\00:21:42.26
the dragon, the beast
and the false prophet.
00:21:42.29\00:21:44.79
And a clue to how this
battle is being fought,
00:21:44.82\00:21:47.53
we find in
Revelation 14:12, a clue.
00:21:47.56\00:21:53.26
It says in Revelation 14:12.
00:21:53.29\00:21:57.36
Of those who are faithful God,
00:21:57.39\00:21:59.53
"This calls for
patient endurance
00:21:59.56\00:22:01.91
on the part of the saints
00:22:01.94\00:22:03.79
who obey God commandments
and remain faithful to Jesus."
00:22:03.82\00:22:08.36
Evidently in the
Commandments of God
00:22:08.39\00:22:10.75
do play a prominent
part in how this final,
00:22:10.78\00:22:14.87
you might say effort to
bring down the church is fought.
00:22:14.90\00:22:18.79
The Commandments of God,
00:22:18.82\00:22:20.32
we find the devil
goes off to make war
00:22:20.35\00:22:22.85
against the rest of her
offspring or the remnant,
00:22:22.88\00:22:25.13
those remain loyal to God,
00:22:25.16\00:22:27.25
who keep the
Commandments of God.
00:22:27.28\00:22:29.76
And then later on
God says, here they are,
00:22:29.79\00:22:32.19
they have the
patience of the saints,
00:22:32.22\00:22:33.92
they are keeping
the Commandments of God.
00:22:33.95\00:22:36.65
So here are some
clues to give us an idea
00:22:36.68\00:22:39.87
that this conflict is
going to involve worship.
00:22:39.90\00:22:43.52
It is going to involve
the Commandments of God.
00:22:43.55\00:22:46.84
And when we look at
those Ten Commandments
00:22:46.87\00:22:48.79
we find the Ten
Commandments here
00:22:48.82\00:22:50.96
and not mentioned by
name in the book Revelation.
00:22:50.99\00:22:54.65
The Ten
Commandments are not called,
00:22:54.68\00:22:56.73
that even called the law.
00:22:56.76\00:22:59.02
But John does
give us other clues
00:22:59.05\00:23:01.15
as to how we
move into the chiasm
00:23:01.18\00:23:03.63
we to see the
Lord of God is coming
00:23:03.66\00:23:05.59
as a very prominent feature
as a response to the gospel.
00:23:05.62\00:23:09.95
You overcome by
the blood of the Lamb.
00:23:09.98\00:23:12.20
Salvation is a free gift.
00:23:12.23\00:23:13.83
But there is a
testimony you give
00:23:13.86\00:23:15.59
when you receive Jesus
00:23:15.62\00:23:17.46
and that is obedience
to the Commandments of God.
00:23:17.49\00:23:20.16
And God says, My people
will keep My commandments then.
00:23:20.19\00:23:24.14
They have the patience
and the fortitude of saints.
00:23:24.17\00:23:27.71
Now as we move into the chiasm,
00:23:27.74\00:23:29.99
before we get to the very center
00:23:30.02\00:23:31.63
you might say at the
storm in Revelation 11:19
00:23:31.66\00:23:35.28
we have a dramatic scene.
00:23:35.31\00:23:37.66
I would like to have a
PowerPoint done one day,
00:23:37.69\00:23:41.04
which would really
picture Revelation 19
00:23:41.07\00:23:43.46
in a dramatic way.
00:23:43.49\00:23:45.22
Says here revelation 11:19,
00:23:45.25\00:23:48.00
"Then God's temple
in heaven was opened,
00:23:48.03\00:23:50.65
and within his temple
was seen ark of his covenant.
00:23:50.68\00:23:54.10
And there came
flashes of lightings,
00:23:54.13\00:23:56.58
rumblings, peals of thunder,
00:23:56.61\00:23:58.49
an earthquake and
a great hailstorm."
00:23:58.52\00:24:01.36
Many respects
that resembles Sinai
00:24:01.39\00:24:04.63
and it is connected to Sinai.
00:24:04.66\00:24:06.77
When God gave
the Ten Commandments
00:24:06.80\00:24:08.66
and people who
know their Old Testament
00:24:08.69\00:24:12.08
and the people to whom this book
00:24:12.11\00:24:13.43
was first written obviously
knew their Old Testament.
00:24:13.46\00:24:17.18
The readers and the hearers,
00:24:17.21\00:24:18.50
knew it very well
indeed so much so that John,
00:24:18.53\00:24:21.23
guided by the
Holy Spirit can refer
00:24:21.26\00:24:23.23
to times and places and
events with a word or phrase
00:24:23.26\00:24:27.47
and the people himself
will have look back and said,
00:24:27.50\00:24:30.16
now we know what
he is talking about.
00:24:30.19\00:24:31.98
Today we don't
know our Old Testament
00:24:32.01\00:24:33.87
well enough
sometimes to click in.
00:24:33.90\00:24:36.11
But before we go to
the center of the chiasm,
00:24:36.14\00:24:38.74
here is a guide post,
00:24:38.77\00:24:40.31
where God says now
something momentous is about,
00:24:40.34\00:24:43.72
momentous is about to happen.
00:24:43.75\00:24:45.57
We are going to enter
the hub core here now.
00:24:45.60\00:24:47.80
But here is a
little flash picture ahead
00:24:47.83\00:24:50.75
to keep you on track.
00:24:50.78\00:24:53.00
The Ark of the Covenant is open.
00:24:53.03\00:24:55.78
Now would you take your Bibles
00:24:55.81\00:24:57.21
and turn with me Exodus 34.
00:24:57.24\00:24:59.69
In Exodus Chapter 34, Exodus 34
00:24:59.72\00:25:04.80
this is where a persons mind
00:25:04.83\00:25:07.16
who knew their Old
Testament would go back to.
00:25:07.19\00:25:10.23
Moses came down
from the mountain.
00:25:10.26\00:25:13.17
When Moses came
down from the mountain
00:25:13.20\00:25:14.95
it says in verses 27-29
00:25:14.98\00:25:18.72
what he had in his hand
00:25:18.75\00:25:20.14
and notice the
terms that he used.
00:25:20.17\00:25:22.93
In exodus 34:27,
00:25:22.96\00:25:27.99
"Then the Lord said to
Moses, 'Write down these words,
00:25:28.02\00:25:31.48
in accordance with these words
that I have made a covenant,
00:25:31.51\00:25:35.37
a covenant with
you and with Israel.'
00:25:35.40\00:25:38.10
Moses was there with the
Lord forty days and forty nights
00:25:38.13\00:25:41.30
without eating
bread or drinking water.
00:25:41.33\00:25:44.18
And he wrote on the tablets
the words of the covenant,
00:25:44.21\00:25:48.07
the Ten Commandments.
00:25:48.10\00:25:50.07
When Moses came
down from Mount Sinai
00:25:50.10\00:25:52.49
with the two tablets of
the Testimony in his hands,
00:25:52.52\00:25:56.33
he was not aware
that his face was radiant
00:25:56.36\00:25:59.33
because he had
spoken with the Lord."
00:25:59.36\00:26:01.62
Now this is
very, very important.
00:26:01.65\00:26:03.94
These, these terms, these terms,
00:26:03.97\00:26:07.78
Ten Commandments,
Covenant, Testimony,
00:26:07.81\00:26:13.28
are all talking
about the same thing.
00:26:13.31\00:26:16.69
Ten Commandments,
00:26:16.72\00:26:18.14
Moses came down with
a two tablets of stone,
00:26:18.17\00:26:20.78
the Ten Commandments.
00:26:20.81\00:26:22.34
He had in his hand the
Testimony, the Covenant.
00:26:22.37\00:26:27.34
And so when we find the temple
of God is opened in heaven,
00:26:27.37\00:26:31.85
the Ark of the Covenant is seen.
00:26:31.88\00:26:34.80
It is another way as saying
ark of the Ten Commandments.
00:26:34.83\00:26:39.90
And this is a clue,
00:26:39.93\00:26:41.24
before we head to
the center of that storm,
00:26:41.27\00:26:43.81
that controversy over worship
God gives us a flash picture,
00:26:43.84\00:26:47.57
a thunder and lightning,
00:26:47.60\00:26:48.87
the ark of the Ten
Commandments to seen.
00:26:48.90\00:26:52.85
But it is also
true that we come out
00:26:52.88\00:26:54.48
the other side in
chapter 15 and verse 5,
00:26:54.51\00:26:58.06
Revelation 15:5,
00:26:58.09\00:27:00.34
it's almost like we
could draw an arrow in
00:27:00.37\00:27:02.65
and an arrow out pointing back.
00:27:02.68\00:27:04.82
Make sure you have
us clear understanding
00:27:04.85\00:27:07.49
of what this is happening
00:27:07.52\00:27:09.10
in the center of
this storm over worship.
00:27:09.13\00:27:11.90
In Revelation
15:5, it says here,
00:27:11.93\00:27:17.21
"After this I looked
and in heaven the temple,
00:27:17.24\00:27:20.90
that is, the
tabernacle of the testimony"
00:27:20.93\00:27:23.66
and what is the testimony?
00:27:23.69\00:27:25.86
Ten Commandments.
00:27:25.89\00:27:27.82
And so on either
side of this chiasm,
00:27:27.85\00:27:31.20
before we see the
storm God is pointing forward
00:27:31.23\00:27:34.21
and He is pointing back.
00:27:34.24\00:27:35.98
The Lord of God,
the Ten Commandments
00:27:36.01\00:27:38.11
are not mentioned by name
but the Ark of the Covenant,
00:27:38.14\00:27:41.79
the Tabernacle of the Testimony
00:27:41.82\00:27:43.65
are mentioned and John
is giving us these clues
00:27:43.68\00:27:46.64
as to what we
should be understanding
00:27:46.67\00:27:48.69
as we read it through.
00:27:48.72\00:27:50.29
Now if you come across
to Revelation Chapter 13
00:27:50.32\00:27:52.72
and we look at the
Ten Commandments now.
00:27:52.75\00:27:55.93
And as we look at
the Ten Commandments
00:27:55.96\00:27:57.49
and these two tablets of stone,
00:27:57.52\00:27:59.42
we say to ourselves now,
what commandments are in mind.
00:27:59.45\00:28:04.53
We have seen the
dragon is rough with the woman
00:28:04.56\00:28:07.18
and went off to make war,
00:28:07.21\00:28:08.24
the rendered her sea which
keep the Commandments of God.
00:28:08.27\00:28:10.99
We have also seen that
those who are faithful to God
00:28:11.02\00:28:13.39
have the patience of the saints
00:28:13.42\00:28:15.44
and they keep the
Commandments of God.
00:28:15.47\00:28:17.45
And people will wonder now,
00:28:17.48\00:28:19.14
what commandments are in focus?
00:28:19.17\00:28:21.97
Well Revelation Chapter 13,
00:28:22.00\00:28:23.76
you may like to
look for sometime
00:28:23.79\00:28:25.30
and you'll say to yourself,
00:28:25.33\00:28:26.69
this word worship comes
again and again, doesn't it?
00:28:26.72\00:28:30.52
They worshiped the dragon,
they worshiped the beast,
00:28:30.55\00:28:34.14
they worshiped the image.
00:28:34.17\00:28:35.83
And the word worship,
00:28:35.86\00:28:36.89
you may want to color
it in your Bible sometime
00:28:36.92\00:28:39.34
because Revelation 13
is talking about worship.
00:28:39.37\00:28:42.62
And which
commandments of the two tables
00:28:42.65\00:28:45.45
of stone deal with worship?
00:28:45.48\00:28:48.57
And when you
look at the conflict
00:28:48.60\00:28:49.90
at the end of time in chapter 13
00:28:49.93\00:28:53.27
I don't think
people get into trouble
00:28:53.30\00:28:54.90
because they honor
their father and mother.
00:28:54.93\00:28:58.73
Or don't steal
their neighbors wife.
00:28:58.76\00:29:02.04
They are getting into trouble
because of how they worship.
00:29:02.07\00:29:06.25
And let's look at
our next point here too,
00:29:06.28\00:29:09.24
as we look at
these commandments here
00:29:09.27\00:29:11.62
and we look at the four actions
00:29:11.65\00:29:13.17
as they come through this
image of counterfeit worship.
00:29:13.20\00:29:16.47
And he who can go
for Revelation Chapter 13
00:29:16.50\00:29:18.99
and you can
actually see commandments
00:29:19.02\00:29:20.72
one, two, three,
four are mentioned.
00:29:20.75\00:29:23.81
In this respect
they worshiped dragon,
00:29:23.84\00:29:26.10
what commandment
are they breaking?
00:29:26.13\00:29:28.02
The first.
00:29:28.05\00:29:29.70
They worship the image,
00:29:29.73\00:29:31.21
what commandment
are they breaking?
00:29:31.24\00:29:33.14
Second.
00:29:33.17\00:29:34.39
The beast blast
things in the name of God?
00:29:34.42\00:29:37.01
Third.
00:29:37.04\00:29:38.35
But there is also
a mark of the beast
00:29:38.38\00:29:42.48
which is a counterfeit
of the Seventh-day Sabbath.
00:29:42.51\00:29:46.85
Now what I'm
going to share with you,
00:29:46.88\00:29:48.32
I'm very much indebted
00:29:48.35\00:29:49.50
to a student at
Avondale College,
00:29:49.53\00:29:51.15
who graduated
just a few years ago.
00:29:51.18\00:29:53.81
Anthony McPherson.
00:29:53.84\00:29:56.27
He wrote an article for
Andrew's seminary studies
00:29:56.30\00:30:00.21
and after I made a
presentation to the pastors
00:30:00.24\00:30:02.63
in this
conference about new seminar.
00:30:02.66\00:30:04.86
He said, I've something I
would like to share with you.
00:30:04.89\00:30:07.92
And he sent me a
copy of the article.
00:30:07.95\00:30:10.14
And this young man
has seen something's
00:30:10.17\00:30:12.74
that I don't believe
anyone else has ever seen.
00:30:12.77\00:30:15.74
So much of what I'm
going to share with you now
00:30:15.77\00:30:17.70
comes from this
young man and Jon Paulien,
00:30:17.73\00:30:20.51
the degrees of this man,
00:30:20.54\00:30:21.61
he had been close to
at himself Jon Paulien,
00:30:21.64\00:30:23.89
but this young man
went a little step further.
00:30:23.92\00:30:26.83
And showing that the
anti mark of the beast.
00:30:26.86\00:30:29.98
When it's
expressed in Revelation 13,
00:30:30.01\00:30:33.82
is a direct trust
against the Seventh-day Sabbath
00:30:33.85\00:30:37.78
in the very way it's worth it.
00:30:37.81\00:30:39.64
So let's just
have a look at this now
00:30:39.67\00:30:41.33
as we see how it is
that the mark of the beast
00:30:41.36\00:30:44.15
is actually expressed
00:30:44.18\00:30:45.43
in anti
Seventh-day Sabbath imagery.
00:30:45.46\00:30:48.68
We find first of all that
00:30:48.71\00:30:49.86
there are sign
commandments in the Bible.
00:30:49.89\00:30:52.58
There are sign commandments.
00:30:52.61\00:30:53.67
If you take your Bible,
look at Deuteronomy Chapter 6,
00:30:53.70\00:30:57.67
Deuteronomy Chapter 6.
00:30:57.70\00:31:02.34
In Deuteronomy Chapter 6
00:31:02.37\00:31:03.60
it says here in verses 6-8
about these sign commandments.
00:31:03.63\00:31:09.20
And this has been the
giving of the Lord again,
00:31:09.23\00:31:11.18
the Ten Commandments
have been given again.
00:31:11.21\00:31:14.09
And in Deuteronomy Chapter
6, it says here in verse 6,
00:31:14.12\00:31:20.63
"These commandments
that I give you today
00:31:20.66\00:31:22.47
are to be upon your hearts.
00:31:22.50\00:31:24.11
Impress them on your children.
00:31:24.14\00:31:26.01
Talk about them
when you sit at home,
00:31:26.04\00:31:27.86
when you walk along the road,
00:31:27.89\00:31:29.39
when you lie
down, when you get up.
00:31:29.42\00:31:31.42
Tie them as
symbols on your hands,
00:31:31.45\00:31:35.29
bind them on your foreheads.
00:31:35.32\00:31:37.72
Write them on your doorframes
of your houses and your gates."
00:31:37.75\00:31:41.93
So these commandments
00:31:41.96\00:31:43.20
and the Ten
Commandments certainly in mind
00:31:43.23\00:31:45.50
because they are just been
given again before this time.
00:31:45.53\00:31:48.35
God says, I want them in
your heart and in your mind.
00:31:48.38\00:31:51.27
So the mark of the beast
00:31:51.30\00:31:52.37
we find actually comes on
the hand and the forehead.
00:31:52.40\00:31:56.93
The seal of God as an opposite
can only be upon the forehead.
00:31:56.96\00:32:01.36
It's with your mind
that you worship God.
00:32:01.39\00:32:04.14
And we will look
now a few more points
00:32:04.17\00:32:06.54
where we find that
these sign commandments
00:32:06.57\00:32:08.97
actually is
focusing now on the Sabbath.
00:32:09.00\00:32:11.65
So let's have
our next picture here
00:32:11.68\00:32:13.25
which shows the mark of
the beast is anti-Sabbath.
00:32:13.28\00:32:18.26
Involves remembering the beast
00:32:18.29\00:32:20.12
has identity sign of
obedience in worship.
00:32:20.15\00:32:23.62
We are, when we keep
the Seventh-day Sabbath
00:32:23.65\00:32:25.79
remembering God as Creator
00:32:25.82\00:32:28.06
is expressed as
being on the right hand
00:32:28.09\00:32:30.33
or the forehead.
00:32:30.36\00:32:31.78
Those who have it
receive protection
00:32:31.81\00:32:34.41
and will be able to buy and sell
00:32:34.44\00:32:36.59
and the crisis
comes at chapter 13.
00:32:36.62\00:32:39.45
If you can-- there of course,
00:32:39.48\00:32:40.66
if you keep the
Seventh-day Sabbath you choose,
00:32:40.69\00:32:43.64
not to buy and sell.
00:32:43.67\00:32:45.70
Those who have it will
never have rest, day or night.
00:32:45.73\00:32:50.01
But if you keep
the Seventh-day Sabbath
00:32:50.04\00:32:51.82
you could only keep it
00:32:51.85\00:32:52.92
if you're resting
in Jesus, can't you?
00:32:52.95\00:32:54.72
It's a beautiful
response of the gospel.
00:32:54.75\00:32:57.21
This is not legalism,
00:32:57.24\00:32:58.73
this is worshiping God
00:32:58.76\00:32:59.88
with all your
heart and soul and mind.
00:32:59.91\00:33:02.03
Christianity is a
romance, loving God
00:33:02.06\00:33:04.69
and choosing to serve Him
00:33:04.72\00:33:06.39
and bearing your
testimony for Jesus.
00:33:06.42\00:33:08.97
And you can only keep
the Seventh-day Sabbath
00:33:09.00\00:33:11.53
if you first of all
have that rest in Jesus.
00:33:11.56\00:33:14.70
And so let's look
at our next one too
00:33:14.73\00:33:16.54
which brings up this point.
00:33:16.57\00:33:19.04
The mark of the beast is
anti-Seventh-day Sabbath.
00:33:19.07\00:33:21.84
It has the name and
number of the creator.
00:33:21.87\00:33:25.34
Not be able to buy or sell.
00:33:25.37\00:33:27.74
Well, keep the Sabbath
you choose not to work.
00:33:27.77\00:33:31.25
But notice how
everybody is included.
00:33:31.28\00:33:34.61
As far as the mark of
the beast is concerned
00:33:34.64\00:33:36.71
He commands all of
us small and great,
00:33:36.74\00:33:38.58
rich and bond
free and bond everyone.
00:33:38.61\00:33:41.56
The Seventh-day
Sabbath comes not to the person
00:33:41.59\00:33:44.42
who runs the house not
only but your maid servant,
00:33:44.45\00:33:46.87
your man servant, your cattle.
00:33:46.90\00:33:49.12
You know, there is a
very strong correlation there
00:33:49.15\00:33:51.36
between the two.
00:33:51.39\00:33:52.62
And so there's no wonder
00:33:52.65\00:33:53.77
when God gives His answer
for the three angel's messages
00:33:53.80\00:33:57.71
to what has
happening in chapter 13.
00:33:57.74\00:34:00.28
He does so in Revelation 14,
00:34:00.31\00:34:02.54
with these three
angel's messages.
00:34:02.57\00:34:04.63
There is a crisis in chapter 13
00:34:04.66\00:34:08.02
but when God gives His answer
00:34:08.05\00:34:09.64
to this with three
angels' messages in chapter 14,
00:34:09.67\00:34:13.68
it says here, Revelation 14:6,
00:34:13.71\00:34:18.23
"Then I saw another
angel flying in midair,
00:34:18.26\00:34:21.19
he had the
eternal gospel to proclaim
00:34:21.22\00:34:23.50
to those who live on the earth,
00:34:23.53\00:34:25.45
to every nation,
tribe, language and people.
00:34:25.48\00:34:28.33
He said in a loud voice,
'Fear God and give Him glory,
00:34:28.36\00:34:32.99
because the hour of
His judgment has come.'
00:34:33.02\00:34:35.78
Worship Him who
made the heavens,
00:34:35.81\00:34:37.70
the earth, the sea
and the springs of water."
00:34:37.73\00:34:41.31
You know, here is a call,
00:34:41.34\00:34:44.22
at the sunset
hour of earth's history
00:34:44.25\00:34:47.23
to worship God as Creator,
00:34:47.26\00:34:49.66
the one who made
heaven and earth,
00:34:49.69\00:34:51.39
the sea and the
fountains of water.
00:34:51.42\00:34:54.09
Now if we know
our Old Testament,
00:34:54.12\00:34:57.79
John the revelator
guided by the Holy Spirit
00:34:57.82\00:35:00.15
refers to the Old Testament.
00:35:00.18\00:35:02.44
Names of
people, names of places,
00:35:02.47\00:35:05.93
he puts them in here and there.
00:35:05.96\00:35:07.88
The most you ever get is
a string of words together.
00:35:07.91\00:35:11.75
Jon Paulien, did his
actual doctoral studies
00:35:11.78\00:35:14.49
in how the John the Revelator
uses the Old Testament.
00:35:14.52\00:35:18.84
And the strongest
you'll ever get is,
00:35:18.87\00:35:21.26
he never tells you book,
00:35:21.29\00:35:22.36
chapter and verse
of the Old Testament,
00:35:22.39\00:35:23.86
he assumes you know that.
00:35:23.89\00:35:25.36
He will take a
string of words together,
00:35:25.39\00:35:27.52
that's a strong
elusion or statement
00:35:27.55\00:35:30.67
he ever gets from
the Old Testament.
00:35:30.70\00:35:32.83
And those who know
their Bible worship Him
00:35:32.86\00:35:35.35
who made the heaven, the earth,
00:35:35.38\00:35:37.03
the sea and the
fountains of waters.
00:35:37.06\00:35:40.22
Your mind goes straight
back to the fourth commandment.
00:35:40.25\00:35:44.52
Why do we keep the Sabbath?
00:35:44.55\00:35:46.58
God is the Creator
who made the heavens,
00:35:46.61\00:35:48.76
the earth and the springs
and the fountains of water.
00:35:48.79\00:35:51.87
Jon Paulien, has a
whole presentation,
00:35:51.90\00:35:54.08
he made in a
Jerusalem Bible conference
00:35:54.11\00:35:56.06
some years ago, I attended.
00:35:56.09\00:35:57.86
The Sabbath in
the Book of Revelation
00:35:57.89\00:36:00.50
and he builds a
very powerful case
00:36:00.53\00:36:03.01
that the wording of
the first angels message
00:36:03.04\00:36:04.96
is coming right out of
the Sabbath commandment.
00:36:04.99\00:36:07.72
And what's more, he
makes this point too,
00:36:07.75\00:36:09.70
if you read his
books you've seen this.
00:36:09.73\00:36:13.18
There is a center of the Book
of Revelation in that chiasm.
00:36:13.21\00:36:16.91
The war over
worship chapters 12-14
00:36:16.94\00:36:20.25
but if you want to go
to the center of center,
00:36:20.28\00:36:22.50
the center of center is
a three angels messages.
00:36:22.53\00:36:27.22
But if you want to go to
the center of center of center,
00:36:27.25\00:36:31.74
worship Him, who
made heaven and earth,
00:36:31.77\00:36:35.36
the sea and the
fountains of water.
00:36:35.39\00:36:38.09
If you want to go to the hub
00:36:38.12\00:36:39.88
of what
Revelation is calling for.
00:36:39.91\00:36:42.18
There is a war over
worship, who you'll worship?
00:36:42.21\00:36:44.75
How you'll worship?
When you'll worship?
00:36:44.78\00:36:46.92
Does the world
need to hear a message
00:36:46.95\00:36:48.72
to call God Creator
and worship Him as Creator?
00:36:48.75\00:36:53.13
It does.
00:36:53.16\00:36:54.71
And here is a message
00:36:54.74\00:36:55.78
at the sunset hour
of earth's history,
00:36:55.81\00:36:58.69
a message to go to the world,
00:36:58.72\00:37:01.11
to call people to
worship the Creator.
00:37:01.14\00:37:05.43
And this brings the world
00:37:05.46\00:37:06.64
to one last great
final struggle and test.
00:37:06.67\00:37:10.80
The test of true religion
in a very confused world
00:37:10.83\00:37:15.40
is they overcame Him
by the blood of the Lamb
00:37:15.43\00:37:20.65
and the word of their testimony.
00:37:20.68\00:37:23.03
And all for the centuries
00:37:23.06\00:37:24.48
they've been young men and women
00:37:24.51\00:37:25.69
and all the
people male and female
00:37:25.72\00:37:28.41
have all put
their trust in Jesus
00:37:28.44\00:37:30.31
and the blood of the Lamb.
00:37:30.34\00:37:31.76
They have reached out by
faith and that trust in Him.
00:37:31.79\00:37:34.28
But when they've done this
00:37:34.31\00:37:35.34
there's been a price to pay too.
00:37:35.37\00:37:37.38
And many of them
have loved not their lives
00:37:37.41\00:37:39.27
for not just to
shrink from death.
00:37:39.30\00:37:41.97
And one day many
people in this world
00:37:42.00\00:37:43.99
will put through the same test.
00:37:44.02\00:37:45.94
They love their lives
00:37:45.97\00:37:47.71
not so much as to
shrink from death.
00:37:47.74\00:37:49.98
But the struggle is
going on in this world
00:37:50.01\00:37:52.53
and God has a message,
00:37:52.56\00:37:53.85
a final message
to go to the world,
00:37:53.88\00:37:56.21
the three angel's messages.
00:37:56.24\00:37:57.81
It preaches the true gospel.
00:37:57.84\00:37:59.77
It calls people to
worship God as Creator.
00:37:59.80\00:38:02.23
It warns against Babylon
00:38:02.26\00:38:04.20
and it calls
people to a contest over
00:38:04.23\00:38:06.55
which will be the true religion.
00:38:06.58\00:38:09.56
This is Armageddon.
00:38:09.59\00:38:11.64
But this time the fire
falls on the wrong altar.
00:38:11.67\00:38:15.79
It's a call like
Elijah on Mount Carmel
00:38:15.82\00:38:18.11
when the fire
came down from heaven.
00:38:18.14\00:38:19.94
But this time this fire
is counterfeited for signs,
00:38:19.97\00:38:23.33
wonders and miracles
and the world is deceived.
00:38:23.36\00:38:26.54
And church and
state come together again.
00:38:26.57\00:38:29.19
You know, you and
I are very privileged
00:38:29.22\00:38:31.09
to live in
countries that know freedom.
00:38:31.12\00:38:34.16
Very few people who have lived
00:38:34.19\00:38:35.65
through human
history have had the freedom
00:38:35.68\00:38:37.29
we enjoy and we seem
to think this is the know.
00:38:37.32\00:38:40.64
This is better moment in history
00:38:40.67\00:38:42.85
and soon the world will return
to how it's always has been.
00:38:42.88\00:38:47.75
Church and
state united together,
00:38:47.78\00:38:49.73
religion and enforcement
of religion, the end.
00:38:49.76\00:38:53.45
But there is a battle going on
00:38:53.48\00:38:54.84
which is far bigger,
far broader, far wider
00:38:54.87\00:38:57.74
than merely one
nation fighting another.
00:38:57.77\00:39:00.65
A war that began in heaven
is carried on in this earth,
00:39:00.68\00:39:04.43
and you and I have a part in it.
00:39:04.46\00:39:07.10
I like you to look with me now
00:39:07.13\00:39:08.44
to the Creators army
Revelation Chapter 7.
00:39:08.47\00:39:13.25
This is a language
of battle military.
00:39:13.28\00:39:16.90
In Revelation Chapter 7
00:39:16.93\00:39:18.38
we have God's
soldiers you might say,
00:39:18.41\00:39:20.80
soldiers for Christ.
00:39:20.83\00:39:23.02
And they pictured here
in Revelation Chapter 7
00:39:23.05\00:39:26.01
as a people who are
numbered as a 144,000.
00:39:26.04\00:39:30.98
And they are all the
different tribes are here.
00:39:31.01\00:39:34.83
And it says here, in
Revelation Chapter 7,
00:39:34.86\00:39:37.99
"That I heard the number
of those who were sealed,
00:39:38.02\00:39:40.55
144,000 from all
the tribes of Israel."
00:39:40.58\00:39:45.16
Now you know, I did not
believe it's a literal number,
00:39:45.19\00:39:48.58
I believe this is another way
00:39:48.61\00:39:49.76
that John the revelator
is describing the church,
00:39:49.79\00:39:52.06
the followers of Jesus.
00:39:52.09\00:39:53.62
They are sealed
in their forehead,
00:39:53.65\00:39:55.59
as supposed to
getting the mark of the beast
00:39:55.62\00:39:57.78
in the right
hand or the forehead.
00:39:57.81\00:39:59.13
These are the people
00:39:59.16\00:40:00.21
who lived for to see Jesus come.
00:40:00.24\00:40:02.26
They go for that
final conflict over worship,
00:40:02.29\00:40:04.76
who, how and
when you'll worship.
00:40:04.79\00:40:06.50
And they are heavenly
warriors in this sense
00:40:06.53\00:40:09.67
that they are the Creators army.
00:40:09.70\00:40:11.42
They are bearing
witness to Jesus.
00:40:11.45\00:40:13.53
Now John the
revelator has a habit of,
00:40:13.56\00:40:16.06
he gives you a literally
clues as to what he is saying.
00:40:16.09\00:40:19.41
He hears and then
he turns and he sees.
00:40:19.44\00:40:23.34
He hears the number but
when he turns and he sees,
00:40:23.37\00:40:27.30
he sees in verse
9 a great multitude
00:40:27.33\00:40:30.83
that no one could number.
00:40:30.86\00:40:33.53
Now this is happening
all the time in Revelation.
00:40:33.56\00:40:37.89
In chapter 5, he
has told he hears
00:40:37.92\00:40:41.38
to look and see behold the
line of the tribe of Judah.
00:40:41.41\00:40:46.01
But when he turns and
sees, what does he see?
00:40:46.04\00:40:49.39
Not a lion, a lamb.
00:40:49.42\00:40:52.48
Jesus is the
lion and he is a lamb.
00:40:52.51\00:40:55.29
In chapter 1, he hears
about the voice of a trumpet,
00:40:55.32\00:40:58.82
when he turns doesn't
see a trumpet, he sees Jesus.
00:40:58.85\00:41:02.99
In chapter 21, I will
show you the bride of the Lamb.
00:41:03.02\00:41:08.13
He turns and he
looks and he sees a city.
00:41:08.16\00:41:11.40
This is happening
all through Revelation.
00:41:11.43\00:41:13.49
So he hears the number
of these people 144,000
00:41:13.52\00:41:17.17
from all the different tribes.
00:41:17.20\00:41:18.41
This is another way of
talking about the church.
00:41:18.44\00:41:20.70
We spiritually
belong to a tribe.
00:41:20.73\00:41:22.90
It's a fascinating study.
00:41:22.93\00:41:24.54
All the gates of
the New Jerusalem
00:41:24.57\00:41:26.16
have a tribes name on them.
00:41:26.19\00:41:28.21
But when he
looks he sees in here,
00:41:28.24\00:41:30.24
in Revelation 7:9,
00:41:30.27\00:41:33.37
"A great multitude
that no one could number
00:41:33.40\00:41:35.73
from every nation,
tribe, people, language."
00:41:35.76\00:41:38.93
Well that's
encouraging, isn't that?
00:41:38.96\00:41:41.03
If there is a 144,000 literal
00:41:41.06\00:41:43.15
I would be
discouraged, wouldn't you?
00:41:43.18\00:41:44.86
I will be
looking around I'll say,
00:41:44.89\00:41:46.00
you are a better
Christian than me
00:41:46.03\00:41:47.18
and may be a few Americans
00:41:47.21\00:41:49.95
and America might
make it number wise
00:41:49.98\00:41:51.82
and but Australia you can
get one representative here.
00:41:51.85\00:41:55.50
Sure the New
Zeeland would miss out.
00:41:55.53\00:41:58.17
I don't know.
00:41:58.20\00:42:00.66
But to think that
144,000 only were faithful
00:42:00.69\00:42:04.38
to Christ at the end that
would be tragic, wouldn't it?
00:42:04.41\00:42:07.61
But these are people who
have seal in their forehead
00:42:07.64\00:42:10.40
but notice these people--
00:42:10.43\00:42:12.02
you know, I'm so
thrilled Jon says
00:42:12.05\00:42:13.67
at the end there will
be just so many of them,
00:42:13.70\00:42:15.85
you aren't be
able to count them.
00:42:15.88\00:42:17.74
And God is not concerned about
whether you are male or female,
00:42:17.77\00:42:21.48
you are all one in
Christ, aren't you?
00:42:21.51\00:42:23.85
If you are
Christ you are Abraham C
00:42:23.88\00:42:26.04
and A is
according to the promise.
00:42:26.07\00:42:27.50
We are spiritual Israel.
00:42:27.53\00:42:28.96
So here is spiritual
Israel the church lined up
00:42:28.99\00:42:31.88
like an army in
battle formation.
00:42:31.91\00:42:34.61
But they are also
described as a great multitude
00:42:34.64\00:42:36.76
that no one could number.
00:42:36.79\00:42:38.29
Verse 14, Revelation 7:14,
00:42:38.32\00:42:41.08
tells us more about this people.
00:42:41.11\00:42:43.50
"These are they who have come
out of the great tribulation,
00:42:43.53\00:42:46.98
they have washed their robes
00:42:47.01\00:42:48.38
and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb.
00:42:48.41\00:42:52.30
Therefore, 'they are
before the throne of God
00:42:52.33\00:42:54.23
and serve Him day and
night in His temple.'"
00:42:54.26\00:42:56.73
Now you read on
the next few verses.
00:42:56.76\00:42:58.40
"The sun will not beat
on them the scorching heat."
00:42:58.43\00:43:01.80
This is the
language of the plagues.
00:43:01.83\00:43:03.98
They've been
through the plagues.
00:43:04.01\00:43:05.92
They've been faithful to God
00:43:05.95\00:43:08.11
and no longer will I
ever have to endure that.
00:43:08.14\00:43:10.68
You know, the interesting thing
00:43:10.71\00:43:11.78
is that God brings His
people through tribulation.
00:43:11.81\00:43:15.44
The popular concept in much
of the Christian world today
00:43:15.47\00:43:18.27
is believe in Jesus now
00:43:18.30\00:43:19.70
and you will
escape the tribulation.
00:43:19.73\00:43:21.54
You'll be rapture to heaven.
00:43:21.57\00:43:22.86
This not what the
scripture is saying.
00:43:22.89\00:43:25.48
The scripture is
saying be faithful to Christ.
00:43:25.51\00:43:29.31
They overcame Him by
the blood of the Lamb
00:43:29.34\00:43:32.03
and by the word
of their testimony.
00:43:32.06\00:43:34.42
They love not
their lives so much
00:43:34.45\00:43:36.08
as to shrink from death.
00:43:36.11\00:43:37.16
God brings His people through,
00:43:37.19\00:43:38.73
He gives them
strength to endure.
00:43:38.76\00:43:41.74
They don't
escape the tribulation,
00:43:41.77\00:43:43.53
they come through it.
00:43:43.56\00:43:44.83
And they'll be so many people
who'll be faithful to Christ,
00:43:44.86\00:43:48.32
who will not worship
the beast and its image.
00:43:48.35\00:43:51.68
Some will loose their lives,
the others will remain alive.
00:43:51.71\00:43:56.07
But these people
who come through,
00:43:56.10\00:43:57.60
we see them again in chapter 14.
00:43:57.63\00:44:00.97
Chapter 14, Revelation 14.
00:44:01.00\00:44:05.84
And here they
are in Revelation 14
00:44:05.87\00:44:07.79
and they are standing on
Mount Zion with the lamb.
00:44:07.82\00:44:11.80
You know there are
144,000 and it's almost like
00:44:11.83\00:44:14.82
as if they are military
formation, like an army.
00:44:14.85\00:44:18.64
They have not come near women,
00:44:18.67\00:44:20.51
this is David's troops before
they go into battle would,
00:44:20.54\00:44:23.43
troops with an
Old Testament times
00:44:23.46\00:44:24.87
would not go near women
before they went into battle.
00:44:24.90\00:44:28.04
And first chronicles 27,
00:44:28.07\00:44:30.59
David divided his
army into 12 divisions.
00:44:30.62\00:44:33.71
Each serving for
a month at a time,
00:44:33.74\00:44:36.22
each tribe provided 12
battalions of 1,000 men.
00:44:36.25\00:44:39.73
This is Old Testament language.
00:44:39.76\00:44:42.25
Here are God's people,
00:44:42.28\00:44:43.48
who have seal
in their foreheads.
00:44:43.51\00:44:45.17
In reality a great multitude
that no one can number.
00:44:45.20\00:44:48.59
But they're
described in military language
00:44:48.62\00:44:50.86
they are heavenly
warriors for Christ.
00:44:50.89\00:44:53.85
They have born their
testimony for Christ.
00:44:53.88\00:44:56.38
They had overcome by
the blood of the Lamb
00:44:56.41\00:44:59.50
and by the word
of their testimony.
00:44:59.53\00:45:01.01
Now come
through the tribulation.
00:45:01.04\00:45:02.95
But this is military
language used once again.
00:45:02.98\00:45:07.59
You know, when I realize
this it really transformed
00:45:07.62\00:45:10.80
how I live my
Christian life each day.
00:45:10.83\00:45:14.23
What I do each day does matter
00:45:14.26\00:45:17.55
as I bear my
testimony for Jesus.
00:45:17.58\00:45:20.41
Look at Revelation
17:14, here's the imagery again.
00:45:20.44\00:45:26.18
And I want you to
follow very, very closely
00:45:26.21\00:45:28.25
what I'm going to say now.
00:45:28.28\00:45:29.72
If you don't follow it closely
you may misunderstand me.
00:45:29.75\00:45:34.94
Revelation 17:14,
talking about Armageddon again.
00:45:34.97\00:45:40.73
The second half of Revelation
00:45:40.76\00:45:42.49
is majoring in
the end time conflict
00:45:42.52\00:45:44.84
and it goes back
and recapitulates.
00:45:44.87\00:45:47.20
It says about these powers,
these wicked evil powers.
00:45:47.23\00:45:51.10
"They will make
war against the Lamb,
00:45:51.13\00:45:53.64
but the Lamb will overcome them
00:45:53.67\00:45:56.23
he is Lord of
lords and King of kings
00:45:56.26\00:45:59.07
and with him will be his called,
00:45:59.10\00:46:03.89
chosen and faithful followers."
00:46:03.92\00:46:07.91
When Jesus goes to
war He will overcome,
00:46:07.94\00:46:11.48
and who is with Him?
00:46:11.51\00:46:13.38
His followers.
00:46:13.41\00:46:14.75
Keep that in mind as we look now
00:46:14.78\00:46:16.28
at Revelation and chapter 19.
00:46:16.31\00:46:19.90
For here we have two harvests
of actually being produced.
00:46:19.93\00:46:23.39
The three
angel's messages produce
00:46:23.42\00:46:25.07
two harvests at the end of time.
00:46:25.10\00:46:26.74
One who are faithful to God
and one who rebel against Him.
00:46:26.77\00:46:31.19
There is a harvest of the grain,
00:46:31.22\00:46:33.46
there is a harvest of the wine.
00:46:33.49\00:46:36.39
But those who are
faithful to Christ
00:46:36.42\00:46:38.05
are pictured here much
different sorts of imagery.
00:46:38.08\00:46:41.42
So here we have Revelation
19, the coming of Jesus.
00:46:41.45\00:46:44.89
And it says in Revelation 19:11,
00:46:44.92\00:46:48.09
"I saw heaven standing open
00:46:48.12\00:46:49.98
and there before
me was a white horse,
00:46:50.01\00:46:51.84
whose rider is
called faithful and true.
00:46:51.87\00:46:54.62
With justice he
judges and makes war,
00:46:54.65\00:46:57.06
his eyes are like blazing fire,
00:46:57.09\00:46:59.33
and on his head are many crowns.
00:46:59.36\00:47:01.81
He has a name written on him
00:47:01.84\00:47:03.14
that no one
knows but he himself.
00:47:03.17\00:47:05.59
He is dressed in a
robe dipped in blood,
00:47:05.62\00:47:07.89
his name is the word of God.
00:47:07.92\00:47:09.96
The armies of
heaven were following him,
00:47:09.99\00:47:11.72
riding on white horses
and dresses in fine linen,
00:47:11.75\00:47:14.56
white and clean.
00:47:14.59\00:47:16.16
Out of his mouth
comes a sharp sword
00:47:16.19\00:47:18.35
with which to
strike down the nations.
00:47:18.38\00:47:20.62
'He will rule them
with an iron scepter.'"
00:47:20.65\00:47:23.88
So let's look at Jesus
now, coming in the heavens.
00:47:23.91\00:47:26.84
And it says here, He
leads the armies of heaven.
00:47:26.87\00:47:30.01
Now literally when Jesus comes,
00:47:30.04\00:47:32.84
He comes with His angels.
00:47:32.87\00:47:34.58
I don't want you
to miss this point.
00:47:34.61\00:47:37.02
Jesus said He will
come with His angels,
00:47:37.05\00:47:39.40
He will resurrect the dead,
00:47:39.43\00:47:40.59
He will destroy
wickedness when He comes.
00:47:40.62\00:47:43.58
But symbolically
here in Revelation
00:47:43.61\00:47:46.90
when He comes to fight
this battle of Armageddon
00:47:46.93\00:47:50.60
He has with Him
an army from heaven,
00:47:50.63\00:47:53.36
an army of heaven.
00:47:53.39\00:47:54.69
And it says here,
00:47:54.72\00:47:55.80
they are clothed
in white fine linen,
00:47:55.83\00:47:59.60
white and clean.
00:47:59.63\00:48:01.19
These are His
heavenly warriors you might say
00:48:01.22\00:48:03.82
or His warriors
going to battle with Him.
00:48:03.85\00:48:06.40
Who are these
people, who come with Him?
00:48:06.43\00:48:08.88
They cloth in white linen
00:48:08.91\00:48:11.54
and this is in
symbolic language,
00:48:11.57\00:48:13.34
we must not forget
it's only symbolic.
00:48:13.37\00:48:15.29
Literally when Jesus comes,
00:48:15.32\00:48:16.70
He comes with His
angels to gather up His people.
00:48:16.73\00:48:19.99
But John the revelator can use
00:48:20.02\00:48:21.49
this different form of symbolism
00:48:21.52\00:48:23.03
to describe what is happening.
00:48:23.06\00:48:24.63
Come back to
chapter 19 and verse 7.
00:48:24.66\00:48:28.74
"Let us be glad and
rejoice in giving glory!
00:48:28.77\00:48:31.08
For the wedding
of the Lamb has come,
00:48:31.11\00:48:32.69
his bride has
made herself ready."
00:48:32.72\00:48:35.06
Who is the bride? Church.
00:48:35.09\00:48:37.93
"Fine linen, bright,
clean was given her to wear."
00:48:37.96\00:48:43.46
Fine linen stands
00:48:43.49\00:48:44.93
for the righteous
acts of the saints.
00:48:44.96\00:48:47.91
You know, this is not legalism.
00:48:47.94\00:48:49.55
You overcome by
the blood of the Lamb
00:48:49.58\00:48:51.17
and you bear your testimony.
00:48:51.20\00:48:52.65
But any testimony we
give is by the grace of God.
00:48:52.68\00:48:55.55
God helps us and empowers us
00:48:55.58\00:48:57.24
and motivates us
through His spirit.
00:48:57.27\00:48:59.41
Fine linen is given her to wear.
00:48:59.44\00:49:01.81
This is the
deans of God's people.
00:49:01.84\00:49:03.92
And so in the
language of Armageddon,
00:49:03.95\00:49:06.80
this is what is been
spoken of as Armageddon.
00:49:06.83\00:49:09.43
This is the battle spoken of,
00:49:09.46\00:49:11.33
because later on Jesus
goes to war against the dragon,
00:49:11.36\00:49:13.90
the beast, and the false prophet
00:49:13.93\00:49:15.16
in the rest of the
chapter, and overcomes them.
00:49:15.19\00:49:18.21
But how was this battle fought?
00:49:18.24\00:49:20.55
The saints are clothed
in their righteous acts.
00:49:20.58\00:49:24.30
Jesus takes their righteous acts
00:49:24.33\00:49:26.97
and He uses them in this battle.
00:49:27.00\00:49:30.32
That's interesting, isn't that?
00:49:30.35\00:49:32.35
Every time you
and I do something
00:49:32.38\00:49:35.31
to sacrifice for
Christ, deny ourselves,
00:49:35.34\00:49:39.41
take up our cross to follow
Him out of gratitude and love
00:49:39.44\00:49:42.37
because He died
for us on Calvary
00:49:42.40\00:49:44.52
and motive is
always love to Jesus.
00:49:44.55\00:49:47.14
We don't earn
salvation, that's a free gift.
00:49:47.17\00:49:49.61
We respond, we
respond with loving deeds.
00:49:49.64\00:49:53.30
But Jesus takes these acts
and He uses them in the war.
00:49:53.33\00:49:58.68
So you and I
have a part to play.
00:49:58.71\00:50:01.01
The way we live our daily
life is all part of Armageddon.
00:50:01.04\00:50:04.42
Notice out of His
mouth comes a sharp sword,
00:50:04.45\00:50:09.29
this is a cold war,
00:50:09.32\00:50:10.82
this is not tanks
and guns and battles.
00:50:10.85\00:50:13.46
This is a concept of who
are you going to worship,
00:50:13.49\00:50:15.97
the creature or the Creator?
00:50:16.00\00:50:18.69
"Out of his mouth
comes a sharp sword
00:50:18.72\00:50:21.13
with which he will
smite the nations."
00:50:21.16\00:50:23.50
And you and I are
heavenly warriors in this sense.
00:50:23.53\00:50:26.82
It does make a difference
in how we live our life.
00:50:26.85\00:50:30.34
They overcame Him by
the blood of the Lamb
00:50:30.37\00:50:32.69
and by the word
of their testimony.
00:50:32.72\00:50:35.20
And they love not
their lives so much
00:50:35.23\00:50:37.12
as to shrink from death.
00:50:37.15\00:50:39.63
When I realized this I thought
what I do each day does matter.
00:50:39.66\00:50:44.06
How I live my
Christian life, it does matter.
00:50:44.09\00:50:48.47
Every time I do
something to Christ out of love,
00:50:48.50\00:50:52.94
Jesus can say of me
as He can say of you
00:50:52.97\00:50:56.28
as He said of Job.
00:50:56.31\00:50:58.09
All right, they
don't understand,
00:50:58.12\00:50:59.89
they have lost
something's in life,
00:50:59.92\00:51:02.09
but see they still trust me.
00:51:02.12\00:51:04.45
God is trust worthy, isn't He?
00:51:04.48\00:51:07.54
Life can often be a puzzle.
00:51:07.57\00:51:09.31
Why does God remain partly
revealed and partly hidden?
00:51:09.34\00:51:14.04
And why is it so often when
you wanted to do what is right,
00:51:14.07\00:51:16.44
you often pay a price and
you can think it's unfair.
00:51:16.47\00:51:19.61
And evils that
people seem to prosper
00:51:19.64\00:51:22.52
and wicked good
people seem to suffer.
00:51:22.55\00:51:25.25
We just trust God, don't we?
00:51:25.28\00:51:27.23
We trust in God.
00:51:27.26\00:51:28.65
And God will say at
that final generation,
00:51:28.68\00:51:30.94
oh, the whole world
seems to be against them.
00:51:30.97\00:51:34.22
Here are they that keep
the Commandments of God,
00:51:34.25\00:51:36.14
they trust me.
00:51:36.17\00:51:37.67
And they are
bearing their testimony.
00:51:37.70\00:51:39.76
So Armageddon is
closer than we think.
00:51:39.79\00:51:43.56
We live our lives
and God is so proud of us
00:51:43.59\00:51:48.06
when we faithfully follow Him.
00:51:48.09\00:51:50.95
They overcame Him by
the blood of the Lamb.
00:51:50.98\00:51:52.66
Think of what
Jesus has done for us.
00:51:52.69\00:51:55.31
Just think of how much
00:51:55.34\00:51:56.72
He suffered and died on Calvary.
00:51:56.75\00:51:59.38
If He went through all that
00:51:59.41\00:52:00.59
and we ought to be
motivated to serve Him
00:52:00.62\00:52:03.04
and I'm casting my vote
00:52:03.07\00:52:04.37
on the side of the
Creator, aren't you?
00:52:04.40\00:52:06.70
I want to be
part of that battle.
00:52:06.73\00:52:08.73
I want to say Lord,
I am gonna serve you,
00:52:08.76\00:52:11.48
no matter what the price,
and what people will think.
00:52:11.51\00:52:15.43
Let's just bow
our heads in prayer.
00:52:15.46\00:52:18.74
Our Father in heaven,
00:52:18.77\00:52:19.83
we are thankful for
Your goodness to us.
00:52:19.86\00:52:22.08
We're thankful that Jesus,
00:52:22.11\00:52:23.50
the Lamb of God
came into this world
00:52:23.53\00:52:25.98
and suffered and died
that we by believing in Him
00:52:26.01\00:52:30.55
can have eternal life right now.
00:52:30.58\00:52:34.03
We're thankful that
those who come to Jesus,
00:52:34.06\00:52:36.26
He has promised He
will no ways turn away.
00:52:36.29\00:52:39.41
And we're told
that when we come to Him
00:52:39.44\00:52:41.12
no one can pluck
us out of His hand.
00:52:41.15\00:52:43.71
We're secure in Jesus.
00:52:43.74\00:52:46.37
But we can lose our covering,
00:52:46.40\00:52:49.76
we can for
carelessness, neglect.
00:52:49.79\00:52:52.68
Oh Lord, there are
warnings in the scripture
00:52:52.71\00:52:54.58
for those to stay
spiritually alive and alert
00:52:54.61\00:52:57.90
unless they lose their covering.
00:52:57.93\00:52:59.88
The great battle,
we're facing in our lives now
00:52:59.91\00:53:02.90
is to keep our hold upon Jesus,
00:53:02.93\00:53:04.72
to keep trusting, to
keep our hand in His hand.
00:53:04.75\00:53:09.33
Oh Lord, bless every
person here at this time
00:53:09.36\00:53:11.51
and those who are
watching on the telecast.
00:53:11.54\00:53:14.13
Encourage them to
know that God loves them
00:53:14.16\00:53:16.74
and God cares of them.
00:53:16.77\00:53:18.55
The blood of the Lamb,
00:53:18.58\00:53:19.65
was shed that
they might live forever
00:53:19.68\00:53:22.26
and anyone can
come to Him at this time
00:53:22.29\00:53:24.23
and believe in Him and have
eternal life as a free gift.
00:53:24.26\00:53:29.89
Lord, we have
received this free gift
00:53:29.92\00:53:31.91
and we thank You
and praise You for it.
00:53:31.94\00:53:33.73
May our lives indeed
be used in testimony,
00:53:33.76\00:53:37.24
that we worship the
Creator and Him alone.
00:53:37.27\00:53:40.11
Bless us and encourage us
00:53:40.14\00:53:41.97
as we continue to
encourage each other.
00:53:42.00\00:53:44.48
We pray in Jesus name, amen.
00:53:44.51\00:53:47.75
I had a dream
00:53:58.69\00:54:00.81
It was so real
I couldn't take it
00:54:00.84\00:54:04.41
I was walking down Via Dolorosa
00:54:04.44\00:54:07.56
I was back in Old Jerusalem
00:54:07.59\00:54:10.22
Was loud and dusty
00:54:10.25\00:54:11.56
There were crowds
of people following Him
00:54:11.59\00:54:15.42
And then He turned around
00:54:15.45\00:54:19.72
He turned around
00:54:19.75\00:54:23.12
He turned around
and He looked at me
00:54:23.15\00:54:27.42
And He gently called my name
00:54:27.45\00:54:30.93
And He said follow Me
00:54:30.96\00:54:38.60
Come with Me on this road
00:54:38.63\00:54:42.72
He said follow Me
00:54:42.75\00:54:48.02
I need you here beside Me
00:54:48.05\00:54:52.38
He said follow Me
00:54:52.41\00:54:58.43
Come with Me on this road
00:54:58.46\00:55:02.55
He said follow Me
00:55:02.58\00:55:07.76
My love and peace will guide you
00:55:07.79\00:55:14.28
I was afraid
00:55:14.31\00:55:16.87
So afraid I wouldn't make it
00:55:16.90\00:55:19.70
So afraid to go
00:55:19.73\00:55:21.64
All the way up to Calvary
00:55:21.67\00:55:24.79
I went to back
in the 21st century
00:55:24.82\00:55:28.93
I had a job, I had a
home, responsibilities
00:55:28.96\00:55:33.98
What about my friends and family
00:55:34.01\00:55:37.43
But then He turned around
00:55:37.46\00:55:42.74
He turned around
00:55:42.77\00:55:46.95
He turned around
and He looked at me
00:55:46.98\00:55:51.10
And He gently called my name
00:55:51.13\00:55:54.73
And He said follow Me
00:55:54.76\00:56:02.36
Come with Me on this road
00:56:02.39\00:56:06.49
He said follow Me
00:56:06.52\00:56:11.75
I need you here beside Me
00:56:11.78\00:56:15.81
He said follow Me
00:56:15.84\00:56:21.60
Come with Me on this road
00:56:21.63\00:56:25.44
He said follow Me
00:56:25.47\00:56:30.43
My love and peace will guide you
00:56:30.46\00:56:35.76
So I followed on
00:56:35.79\00:56:39.65
I followed in His foot steps
00:56:39.68\00:56:43.49
I followed in the
way that He left for Me
00:56:43.52\00:56:46.93
To the strength of
His love for all eternity
00:56:46.96\00:56:51.96
Then suddenly the
fears came back to me
00:56:51.99\00:56:56.11
What if I made it
all the way up that hill
00:56:56.14\00:56:59.12
And I actually saw Him
00:56:59.15\00:57:03.23
I actually saw Him
00:57:03.26\00:57:07.42
I actually saw
Him dying on the cross
00:57:07.45\00:57:11.55
I actually saw
Him dying for my sins
00:57:11.58\00:57:19.43
I could never,
never turn back go again
00:57:19.46\00:57:25.48
And He said follow Me
00:57:25.51\00:57:33.02
Come with Me on this road
00:57:33.05\00:57:37.50
He said follow me
00:57:37.53\00:57:43.14
I need you here beside Me
00:57:43.17\00:57:47.38
He said follow Me
00:57:47.41\00:57:53.37
Come with Me on this road
00:57:53.40\00:57:57.44
He said follow Me
00:57:57.47\00:57:59.56