I want to begin by
asking you a question.
00:00:09.40\00:00:12.17
How many of you have
ever been to Walmart?
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Can I see your hands?
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Of course, almost everybody.
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Then you know that
Walmart is one of those stores
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that is open 24 hours
a day, seven days a week,
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and you can go in
and out of that store
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as much as you want.
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There are no restrictions.
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There are no limitations.
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If you want to shop at 3
o'clock in the afternoon,
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you can.
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If you want to shop at
3 o'clock in the morning,
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you can do it.
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Nobody will stop you.
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But how many of you have
ever been to a Sam's Club?
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Can I see your hands?
00:00:49.74\00:00:51.41
Then you know Sam's Club
operates a little differently,
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doesn't it?
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You are not permitted
free access to their warehouse.
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You cannot go in
and out as you please
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because in order to
get into that store,
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what must you have?
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A membership card and
that card identifies you
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as a member of
that organization.
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Without that card,
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you cannot make any
financial transactions
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in that store.
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Did you know
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the Book of Revelation says
something similar will happen
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in the last days?
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Now, Walmart and Sam's Club,
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there's no
sinister scheme behind that.
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That's pretty innocent.
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But the Book of
Revelation tells us
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that there will be
one great final crisis
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that comes upon this
earth in the last days.
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And in that great crisis,
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it will divide this world
into two groups of people.
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There will be those
who worship the beast
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and there will be
those who worship God.
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On one hand, there will be those
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who keep the
commandments of men,
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and there will be those
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who follow the
commandments of God.
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Those who worship the
beast and receive his mark
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will be
permitted to buy and sell,
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live a normal life
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and they will not be persecuted.
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Those who resist the
beast and choose to follow God
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will not be
able to buy and sell,
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they will not be able
to live a normal life,
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and the Bible says
they will face persecution.
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That is a serious
subject, because at that time,
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the issue will
be front and center.
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Every living
person will have to choose
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if they're going
to follow God or not.
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At that time,
00:02:51.67\00:02:53.30
there will be no
straddling the fence.
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There will be no indecision.
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There will be no middle ground.
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Each person will have to choose.
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And the Book of
Revelation tells us,
00:03:05.51\00:03:07.98
the subject centers around
00:03:08.02\00:03:11.02
the idea of worship.
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So with that background in mind,
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when it comes to
the mark of the beast,
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people seem to have a
lot of different ideas
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and theories.
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Some of them are
rather wild and crazy.
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Some people think,
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"Is the mark of the beast
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a government
identification number,
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like your social security card?"
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Others wonder,
"Well, is it the bar code
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that I would
find on the products
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at the grocery store?"
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Others think, "Well,
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maybe it's the
number on a credit card."
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And then some
people have the idea
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that the number
666 will be visibly
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and literally
stamp upon the forehead.
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Now that is highly
unlikely because Revelation
00:03:53.53\00:03:56.16
as we have learned is
very much a symbolic book.
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When it talks about
666 being on the forehead,
00:04:01.27\00:04:05.07
the forehand is
the seat of our minds.
00:04:05.11\00:04:08.14
It is where we make decisions.
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That is where you
and I are going to decide
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whether we worship the
beast or whether we worship God.
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Whether we choose
to follow man's law,
00:04:16.65\00:04:19.29
or whether we
choose to follow God's law.
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The decision happens here
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and then it's
carried out in a sense
00:04:24.93\00:04:26.90
in our hands in our life.
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So with that
background from the scriptures,
00:04:29.80\00:04:33.10
and from the Word of God,
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let's go into the most
popular chapter in Revelation
00:04:35.24\00:04:39.64
that talks about
the mark of the beast.
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Take your Bibles,
00:04:43.18\00:04:44.51
and let's go to
Revelation Chapter 14.
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Now, what book are we going to?
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Well, that
shouldn't surprise us.
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What Chapter? Chapter 14.
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The Bible says,
00:04:54.56\00:04:56.83
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
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having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those
00:05:02.33\00:05:06.23
who dwell on the
earth, to every nation,
00:05:06.27\00:05:09.00
tribe, tongue, and people.
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Saying with a loud voice,
00:05:12.31\00:05:14.31
'Fear God and give glory to Him,
00:05:14.34\00:05:17.45
for the hour of
His judgment," what?
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"Has come.
00:05:20.38\00:05:21.72
And worship Him
00:05:21.75\00:05:23.59
who made the
heaven and the earth,
00:05:23.62\00:05:26.22
the sea and the
springs of water.'"
00:05:26.25\00:05:30.23
Now, let's stop there.
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This message of the first angel
00:05:32.23\00:05:34.10
which we already
studied, is telling the world
00:05:34.13\00:05:37.90
that the hour of
His judgment is come,
00:05:37.93\00:05:39.77
Jesus is coming soon.
00:05:39.80\00:05:42.50
But at the end of that message,
00:05:42.54\00:05:45.14
the first angel
is directing people
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to worship God as the creator,
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to give our allegiance
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to the One who created
the heavens, the earth,
00:05:53.28\00:05:55.32
the sea, and the
springs of water.
00:05:55.35\00:05:58.32
So the first angel's
message is worship God.
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But then comes a
second and a third angel.
00:06:02.99\00:06:07.63
Now we'll study
00:06:07.66\00:06:09.00
the second angel's
message a little bit later.
00:06:09.03\00:06:11.23
I want you to notice
what the third angel says
00:06:11.27\00:06:14.84
in this
progression of messengers.
00:06:14.87\00:06:18.14
Revelation 14:9,
00:06:18.17\00:06:20.11
the Bible says,
00:06:20.14\00:06:22.31
"Then a third
angel followed them,
00:06:22.34\00:06:25.05
saying with a loud voice,
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'If anyone worships
the beast and his image,
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and receives his
mark on his forehead,
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or on his hand,
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he himself shall also drink
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of the wine of
the wrath of God.'"
00:06:39.59\00:06:43.20
Now, how many of us would agree
00:06:43.23\00:06:44.57
that's a pretty serious warning,
00:06:44.60\00:06:45.93
what do you think?
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That's about as strong of
the language as God gives.
00:06:47.34\00:06:50.64
He says, if we worship
the beast, or his image,
00:06:50.67\00:06:55.18
we will drink the
full wrath of God.
00:06:55.21\00:06:59.61
Now I want you to notice,
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the first angel
says worship God.
00:07:01.02\00:07:03.75
But the third angel says
00:07:03.79\00:07:05.12
there's going to be
another group of people
00:07:05.15\00:07:06.65
who do what?
00:07:06.69\00:07:08.52
They worship the beast.
00:07:08.56\00:07:11.26
So already you see
00:07:11.29\00:07:12.79
that the mark of the beast issue
00:07:12.83\00:07:14.66
is centering around worship.
00:07:14.70\00:07:17.30
One group worships the beast.
00:07:17.33\00:07:19.67
One group chooses to worship God
00:07:19.70\00:07:22.40
as the Creator.
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That's not my interpretation,
that's not yours.
00:07:24.07\00:07:27.44
That comes
straight from the Bible
00:07:27.48\00:07:29.68
and from Revelation alone.
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Two groups who are
deciding who they worship,
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it's either the
beast or it's the Creator.
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And I want you to notice,
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right after God
warns us about the beast,
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He then describes
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what His people will
be doing during that time.
00:07:46.53\00:07:50.37
Revelation
14:12, the Bible says,
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"Here is the
patience of the saints,
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here are those who do," what?
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"Keep the commandments of God
00:08:00.11\00:08:02.94
and have the faith of Jesus."
00:08:02.98\00:08:06.25
So you see
Revelation is contrasting
00:08:06.28\00:08:08.58
these two groups,
00:08:08.62\00:08:09.95
while one is
worshiping the beast
00:08:09.98\00:08:11.95
and following man's
laws and man's commandments,
00:08:11.99\00:08:15.42
there's another
group who is worshiping God
00:08:15.46\00:08:18.43
and keeping His commandments.
00:08:18.46\00:08:21.43
So just these three
verses from Revelation
00:08:21.46\00:08:24.60
is showing us
something very important.
00:08:24.63\00:08:27.40
Whatever the
mark of the beast is,
00:08:27.44\00:08:30.54
it is something that
revolves around worship,
00:08:30.57\00:08:34.08
and something
that revolves around
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keeping the commandments of God.
00:08:36.48\00:08:39.88
If that makes
sense, can you say amen?
00:08:39.91\00:08:42.22
Did I make that up?
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Did you make that up?
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Did that come
straight from Revelation
00:08:45.52\00:08:47.79
and Revelation alone?
00:08:47.82\00:08:49.42
See, those are two big clues.
00:08:49.46\00:08:51.53
Whatever the
mark of the beast is,
00:08:51.56\00:08:53.46
it's something to do
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with who you're
going to worship,
00:08:54.86\00:08:56.50
and it has something to do
with the commandments of God.
00:08:56.53\00:09:02.14
So with that background,
00:09:02.17\00:09:04.81
then we need to
answer the question.
00:09:04.84\00:09:08.04
Who is the beast?
00:09:08.08\00:09:10.31
Because before I know
what the mark of the beast is,
00:09:10.35\00:09:14.72
logic tells me I have
to know who the beast is.
00:09:14.75\00:09:18.89
Now we took
Friday night over an hour
00:09:18.92\00:09:21.26
to study that subject.
00:09:21.29\00:09:23.02
So if you were
not here Friday night,
00:09:23.06\00:09:25.49
it may be that what
I say may startle you,
00:09:25.53\00:09:28.06
so make sure that
you get the handout.
00:09:28.10\00:09:30.27
But when we took an
hour to study Daniel 7,
00:09:30.30\00:09:34.00
and Revelation 13,
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we saw very
clearly from the Bible
00:09:36.14\00:09:39.17
that it identifies papal Rome
00:09:39.21\00:09:42.58
and the Vatican City as
the beast of Revelation 13,
00:09:42.61\00:09:47.55
the little horn
of Daniel Chapter 7.
00:09:47.58\00:09:51.85
Now having said that,
00:09:51.89\00:09:53.22
just in case you
weren't here on Friday night,
00:09:53.25\00:09:55.62
please understand.
00:09:55.66\00:09:57.03
God doesn't say that
to hurt or offend anybody,
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and neither do I.
00:10:01.23\00:10:02.86
God was warning His
people about a power
00:10:02.90\00:10:06.03
that would rise
in the Middle Ages,
00:10:06.07\00:10:08.67
a power where church and
state would come together
00:10:08.70\00:10:12.37
and become a persecuting power,
00:10:12.41\00:10:14.98
a kingdom that would take
the Bible away from the people
00:10:15.01\00:10:18.78
and seek to distort truth.
00:10:18.81\00:10:20.75
See, it was a power
00:10:20.78\00:10:22.22
that taught man to
look to human authority
00:10:22.25\00:10:25.25
and to look to religious leaders
00:10:25.29\00:10:27.26
and the cross of Christ
00:10:27.29\00:10:29.22
and Jesus' sacrifice was
completely lost sight of.
00:10:29.26\00:10:34.13
God is not condemning individual
00:10:34.16\00:10:36.30
or Catholic people
today, can you say amen?
00:10:36.33\00:10:39.13
Because they had nothing to do
00:10:39.17\00:10:41.07
with what
happened all the way back
00:10:41.10\00:10:43.20
in the Middle Ages.
00:10:43.24\00:10:44.57
But God is telling us
00:10:44.61\00:10:46.84
that the beast rose
in those Middle Ages
00:10:46.88\00:10:49.48
and He wanted His people to know
00:10:49.51\00:10:51.55
what was going to happen,
00:10:51.58\00:10:53.31
because during that time
God's saints had to choose
00:10:53.35\00:10:57.59
between following
the commandments of men
00:10:57.62\00:11:00.52
and between following
the commandments of God.
00:11:00.56\00:11:04.99
And see,
Revelation is telling us
00:11:05.03\00:11:07.80
at some point in
the great final crisis,
00:11:07.83\00:11:11.80
history will repeat itself.
00:11:11.83\00:11:15.94
And we'll get to
that very shortly.
00:11:15.97\00:11:18.24
So if papal Rome is the beast,
00:11:18.27\00:11:22.38
then what in the world
is the mark of the beast?
00:11:22.41\00:11:25.51
Because
remember, whatever it is,
00:11:25.55\00:11:28.62
it has something
to do with worship,
00:11:28.65\00:11:32.02
and something to do
with the commandments of God.
00:11:32.05\00:11:37.46
I'm going to show
you some papal quotes
00:11:37.49\00:11:40.50
that have the potential
to absolutely change our life
00:11:40.53\00:11:45.60
and open our eyes.
00:11:45.63\00:11:47.34
Now these are some
very sensitive quotes,
00:11:47.37\00:11:50.41
but I have to bring them out
00:11:50.44\00:11:52.71
so that we can gain
a clear understanding
00:11:52.74\00:11:55.11
of what
Revelation is referring to.
00:11:55.14\00:11:59.51
From the St. Catherine,
a Catholic Church Sentinel,
00:11:59.55\00:12:02.98
Rome speaks these words,
00:12:03.02\00:12:06.79
"Perhaps the boldest thing,
the most revolutionary change
00:12:06.82\00:12:10.73
the Church ever did
happened in the first century.
00:12:10.76\00:12:14.66
The holy day, the
Sabbath was changed
00:12:14.70\00:12:18.73
from Saturday to Sunday,
00:12:18.77\00:12:21.40
not from any directions
noted in the Scriptures,
00:12:21.44\00:12:24.84
but from the churches
sense of its own power."
00:12:24.87\00:12:29.54
Now we have to
stop there for a minute.
00:12:29.58\00:12:31.85
Notice what Rome is telling us.
00:12:31.88\00:12:34.68
The boldest thing
that was ever done
00:12:34.72\00:12:37.55
by the church,
00:12:37.59\00:12:38.92
at least the middle aged church.
00:12:38.95\00:12:40.76
The most revolutionary thing
00:12:40.79\00:12:42.92
was the changing
of God's Sabbath day.
00:12:42.96\00:12:47.23
And notice they say,
00:12:47.26\00:12:48.83
it was not from any
direction of Scripture,
00:12:48.86\00:12:53.84
but from the churches
sense of its own power.
00:12:53.87\00:12:59.67
And then the
quote goes on to say,
00:12:59.71\00:13:01.28
you're not going to
believe the rest of this quote,
00:13:01.31\00:13:02.88
you're going to
think that I made this up.
00:13:02.91\00:13:04.31
But really, I am simply
quoting what was written.
00:13:04.35\00:13:07.38
The rest of the quote says,
00:13:07.42\00:13:09.48
"People who think
00:13:09.52\00:13:10.85
that the Scriptures
should be the sole authority
00:13:10.89\00:13:14.32
should logically
become Seventh-day Adventists
00:13:14.36\00:13:17.49
and keep Saturday holy."
00:13:17.53\00:13:20.40
Now, again, I didn't write that.
00:13:20.43\00:13:21.76
I'm only quoting
what they themselves said.
00:13:21.80\00:13:24.67
So you notice the
issue that's brought up here?
00:13:24.70\00:13:27.90
Am I willing to accept
00:13:27.94\00:13:30.41
that man's law can be
placed above God's law?
00:13:30.44\00:13:35.74
Am I willing to accept a change
00:13:35.78\00:13:39.68
where the church uses
its own sense of power
00:13:39.71\00:13:43.69
to override what God says?
00:13:43.72\00:13:46.96
Am I willing to
accept that man's authority
00:13:46.99\00:13:50.99
can be placed
above God's authority?
00:13:51.03\00:13:54.63
And you notice what's in
the center of this issue?
00:13:54.66\00:13:58.63
It's the Sabbath.
00:13:58.67\00:14:00.64
The true Sabbath of the Bible.
00:14:00.67\00:14:03.47
Remember what Revelation said?
00:14:03.51\00:14:05.54
The mark of the beast
issue has to do with worship,
00:14:05.57\00:14:09.88
and it has to do with, what?
00:14:09.91\00:14:12.41
The commandments of God.
00:14:12.45\00:14:15.08
The Sabbath
touches both of them.
00:14:15.12\00:14:18.69
It has to do with
worshiping God as the Creator,
00:14:18.72\00:14:21.86
and it's found in the very heart
00:14:21.89\00:14:24.99
of God's law.
00:14:25.03\00:14:27.20
And the power,
00:14:27.23\00:14:28.83
which Revelation
identifies as the beast
00:14:28.86\00:14:32.47
is the very power that claims
to have changed the Sabbath
00:14:32.50\00:14:36.97
and change God's law.
00:14:37.01\00:14:40.34
Now, brothers and sisters,
00:14:40.38\00:14:41.71
that may be a
hard pill to swallow,
00:14:41.74\00:14:43.24
I understand,
00:14:43.28\00:14:45.01
but it ought to waken us up
00:14:45.05\00:14:47.78
and help us to see the Sabbath
in a very different light.
00:14:47.82\00:14:53.72
In the Catholic
Record, September 1, 1923,
00:14:53.76\00:14:58.46
this was written,
00:14:58.49\00:14:59.96
and the phrase just shocked me.
00:15:00.00\00:15:03.00
Rome writes,
"Sunday is our," what?
00:15:03.03\00:15:08.84
"Mark of
authority." And then notice.
00:15:08.87\00:15:11.37
That's not my choice of words.
00:15:11.41\00:15:13.71
That's Rome's words.
00:15:13.74\00:15:15.78
It's interesting
the phrase that is used,
00:15:15.81\00:15:18.45
"Sunday is our
mark of authority.
00:15:18.48\00:15:22.95
The church is above the Bible,
00:15:22.98\00:15:25.35
and this transference
of Sabbath observance
00:15:25.39\00:15:28.62
is proof of this fact."
00:15:28.66\00:15:31.93
Now, let's stop and
pause here for a second.
00:15:31.96\00:15:35.16
What Rome is saying is this.
00:15:35.20\00:15:38.37
Sunday worship shows
00:15:38.40\00:15:40.67
that we have power and authority
00:15:40.70\00:15:43.27
over the Christian world.
00:15:43.30\00:15:45.34
You see, the
church is above the Bible.
00:15:45.37\00:15:48.38
And this is proven
00:15:48.41\00:15:49.74
because almost every
other Protestant church
00:15:49.78\00:15:53.11
ignores what the Bible
says about the Sabbath,
00:15:53.15\00:15:56.69
and goes right along with Rome
and with the beast's authority.
00:15:56.72\00:16:01.66
And as a result,
that's why they are saying,
00:16:01.69\00:16:04.16
"See, Sunday is our mark.
00:16:04.19\00:16:06.29
Sunday is proof
00:16:06.33\00:16:07.66
that we have religious
authority around the world."
00:16:07.70\00:16:10.77
Because even though Sunday
is found nowhere in the Bible,
00:16:10.80\00:16:15.20
even though it comes from
trying to change God's law,
00:16:15.24\00:16:19.41
almost all the
religious Christian world
00:16:19.44\00:16:24.25
follows it,
00:16:24.28\00:16:26.21
almost all the religious world
ignores what the Bible says,
00:16:26.25\00:16:31.05
ignores God's law
00:16:31.09\00:16:33.36
and goes along
with the authority
00:16:33.39\00:16:36.73
of the beast.
00:16:36.76\00:16:39.29
See, Revelation wasn't joking.
00:16:39.33\00:16:42.33
When John wrote,
00:16:42.36\00:16:44.47
all the world wonders after
00:16:44.50\00:16:48.27
and follows the beast.
00:16:48.30\00:16:52.64
If we were to paraphrase
what Rome is saying here,
00:16:52.67\00:16:56.68
we could say this,
00:16:56.71\00:16:58.61
"The papacy claims
00:16:58.65\00:17:00.02
that the change of
the Sabbath was her act.
00:17:00.05\00:17:03.42
This act of her power
00:17:03.45\00:17:06.55
and authority in
religious matters
00:17:06.59\00:17:08.86
because much of
the Christian world
00:17:08.89\00:17:10.99
honors Rome Sunday
00:17:11.03\00:17:12.79
and ignores the Bible Sabbath."
00:17:12.83\00:17:17.53
Do you start to see the issue?
00:17:17.57\00:17:20.30
The Sabbath is
God's mark of authority.
00:17:20.34\00:17:24.67
It's God's seal.
00:17:24.71\00:17:27.24
It points to Him as
the Creator of the world,
00:17:27.28\00:17:30.61
the highest
authority in the universe.
00:17:30.65\00:17:33.92
But Rome says,
00:17:33.95\00:17:36.12
"Sunday is our
mark of authority.
00:17:36.15\00:17:39.32
It's our mark that has
been put above the Bible,
00:17:39.35\00:17:43.02
that has been
put above God's law
00:17:43.06\00:17:45.36
and because the rest
of the Christian world
00:17:45.39\00:17:47.60
goes right along with it,
00:17:47.63\00:17:50.00
it is our mark of authority."
00:17:50.03\00:17:55.30
Folks, that ought to
really get our attention.
00:17:55.34\00:17:59.31
If Rome is the beast,
00:17:59.34\00:18:01.94
what is the one issue
that has to do with worship,
00:18:01.98\00:18:07.15
that has to do with
the commandments of God,
00:18:07.18\00:18:10.92
where the religious world
ignores what the Bible says
00:18:10.95\00:18:14.96
and does what the beast says?
00:18:14.99\00:18:19.53
See the idea that
antichrist is one man
00:18:19.56\00:18:22.86
who rise at the end of time,
00:18:22.90\00:18:26.13
that was invented by
Rome in the Middle Ages,
00:18:26.17\00:18:28.97
so that the real
issue could be covered up.
00:18:29.00\00:18:33.68
See, this is why some people
00:18:33.71\00:18:35.04
don't want to study
the Book of Revelation.
00:18:35.08\00:18:37.58
And if I may
dare to be so honest,
00:18:37.61\00:18:39.48
this is why sometimes
we prefer popular theories
00:18:39.51\00:18:42.88
that we find written in novels,
00:18:42.92\00:18:45.09
or movies, or a series of books,
00:18:45.12\00:18:47.66
because it covers up
what the real issue is,
00:18:47.69\00:18:50.59
worship and the
commandments of God.
00:18:50.63\00:18:54.46
I mean, Revelation
clearly said two groups,
00:18:54.50\00:18:57.10
you're going to
worship the beast
00:18:57.13\00:18:58.83
or you're going to
worship the Creator.
00:18:58.87\00:19:00.70
It's either man's
law or it's God's law.
00:19:00.74\00:19:04.01
The Sabbath touches
both of those issues.
00:19:04.04\00:19:08.38
Remember, we
read in Daniel 7:25,
00:19:12.45\00:19:15.48
that the little horn
would think to change
00:19:15.52\00:19:18.72
God's times and God's laws.
00:19:18.75\00:19:22.39
And even Daniel 8:12 said that
00:19:22.42\00:19:25.39
he would cast the
truth down to the ground,
00:19:25.43\00:19:28.83
and he did all
this and he prospered.
00:19:28.86\00:19:34.14
Now realize that it's
shocking, it's eye opening
00:19:34.17\00:19:36.67
when you first put the
prophecies of Revelation
00:19:36.71\00:19:40.54
together with papal quotes,
00:19:40.58\00:19:44.35
and what's happened in history.
00:19:44.38\00:19:47.65
Now, it's true that
we can ask the question,
00:19:47.68\00:19:51.39
"Pastor Dave,
does it really matter?
00:19:51.42\00:19:54.56
I mean, the Sabbath and Sunday,
00:19:54.59\00:19:57.46
I mean, it's just two
different days on the surface.
00:19:57.49\00:20:00.20
Who really cares?"
00:20:00.23\00:20:03.13
I want to do an
illustration for you
00:20:03.16\00:20:05.57
that I hope will bring
this into a different light
00:20:05.60\00:20:09.90
'cause this is a heavy subject.
00:20:09.94\00:20:11.77
So we're going to have
some fun doing the illustration.
00:20:11.81\00:20:14.24
Is that okay?
00:20:14.28\00:20:15.78
I want you to pretend something.
00:20:15.81\00:20:18.05
Over here I have
something in the pulpit.
00:20:18.08\00:20:20.08
What do you know?
00:20:20.12\00:20:21.62
Oh, dear, I have
three different washcloths.
00:20:21.65\00:20:25.62
What am I going to do with that?
00:20:25.65\00:20:28.32
Well, as I get them out, I
notice, what color is this?
00:20:28.36\00:20:32.79
You know what?
00:20:32.83\00:20:34.16
I'm a crazy sort of person.
00:20:34.20\00:20:35.76
I just do not
like the color red.
00:20:35.80\00:20:38.63
It's just too
bold. It's too vivid.
00:20:38.67\00:20:41.64
I don't know who
ever invented this color,
00:20:41.67\00:20:43.30
but I do not like it.
00:20:43.34\00:20:44.97
And to show my
disgust for the color red,
00:20:45.01\00:20:47.28
I'm just going to
throw it down on the ground.
00:20:47.31\00:20:49.24
I'm going to step on
it and trample upon it,
00:20:49.28\00:20:51.55
and I'm going to
kick it off the stage.
00:20:51.58\00:20:54.45
Does that bother anybody?
00:20:54.48\00:20:56.58
Oh, you think
I'm a little weird,
00:20:56.62\00:20:57.95
but it doesn't bother you.
00:20:57.99\00:20:59.62
That's good. But you know what?
00:20:59.65\00:21:01.82
Red is not the
only color I don't like.
00:21:01.86\00:21:05.96
Over here is another one.
00:21:05.99\00:21:08.86
What color is this? White.
00:21:08.90\00:21:10.63
You know what?
00:21:10.67\00:21:12.00
I don't like white.
00:21:12.03\00:21:13.77
This is like the most
boring color ever invented.
00:21:13.80\00:21:16.84
There's nothing about it
that strikes the imagination,
00:21:16.87\00:21:19.71
and to show my
disgust for the color white,
00:21:19.74\00:21:21.94
I'm throwing it on the ground.
00:21:21.98\00:21:23.41
I'm going to step on it
and tramp on in front of you,
00:21:23.45\00:21:26.11
and I'm going to
kick it off the stage.
00:21:26.15\00:21:28.98
Does that bother anybody?
00:21:29.02\00:21:30.69
Okay, you still think I'm weird,
00:21:30.72\00:21:32.05
but it doesn't bother you.
00:21:32.09\00:21:34.09
Do you know what?
00:21:34.12\00:21:35.46
There's another
color I don't like.
00:21:35.49\00:21:38.16
What color is this? Blue.
00:21:38.19\00:21:40.16
Blue.
00:21:40.20\00:21:41.53
I don't like this one either.
00:21:41.56\00:21:43.30
I don't know why man
invents such ugly colors.
00:21:43.33\00:21:47.27
And to show you
how much I detest blue,
00:21:47.30\00:21:50.24
I'm going to
throw it on the ground,
00:21:50.27\00:21:51.84
I'm going to tramp on it,
00:21:51.87\00:21:53.21
step on it in front of
you, kick it off the ground.
00:21:53.24\00:21:57.18
Do you still love me?
00:21:57.21\00:21:59.05
You may not understand,
00:21:59.08\00:22:00.42
well, if he
wants to step on cloth,
00:22:00.45\00:22:01.78
that's fine with me,
00:22:01.82\00:22:03.15
but that
doesn't outrage anybody.
00:22:03.18\00:22:05.05
I can't help it
00:22:05.09\00:22:06.96
that I do not like red,
00:22:06.99\00:22:09.82
or white, or blue.
00:22:09.86\00:22:13.83
They're just not colors
00:22:13.86\00:22:17.47
that make me feel very good.
00:22:17.50\00:22:23.14
Red,
00:22:23.17\00:22:25.84
white,
00:22:25.87\00:22:28.54
and blue.
00:22:28.58\00:22:31.81
Would that bother you? Yeah.
00:22:31.85\00:22:34.55
Now notice I didn't
let it touch the ground.
00:22:34.58\00:22:35.92
Can you say amen?
00:22:35.95\00:22:37.29
I didn't step on it.
This was just an illustration.
00:22:37.32\00:22:40.06
I'm thankful to be an American.
00:22:40.09\00:22:42.06
We may have problems,
00:22:42.09\00:22:43.43
but there's still no
other country in the world
00:22:43.46\00:22:45.29
that I would rather live.
00:22:45.33\00:22:47.23
But here's the point.
00:22:47.26\00:22:49.00
I just spent
the last few minutes
00:22:49.03\00:22:51.40
stepping all over red,
white and blue on those cloths
00:22:51.43\00:22:55.70
and you said nothing.
00:22:55.74\00:22:57.51
But when I turned
to the American flag,
00:22:57.54\00:22:59.97
the very same colors,
00:23:00.01\00:23:02.98
I got a reaction
out of the audience.
00:23:03.01\00:23:05.08
Now you tell me,
what's the difference?
00:23:05.11\00:23:10.72
It's what they represent.
00:23:10.75\00:23:14.49
Washcloths represent nothing.
00:23:14.52\00:23:18.16
The American flag does.
00:23:18.19\00:23:21.33
This represents
life, liberty, freedom
00:23:21.36\00:23:25.53
and the pursuit of happiness.
00:23:25.57\00:23:27.07
Can you say amen?
00:23:27.10\00:23:28.44
This represents men and women
who have laid down their lives
00:23:28.47\00:23:31.97
for religious and
political freedom.
00:23:32.01\00:23:35.28
What's the difference?
00:23:35.31\00:23:36.64
It's what's behind
each of these things,
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.11
not what's on the surface.
00:23:39.15\00:23:40.48
Their colors
were exactly the same,
00:23:40.52\00:23:42.75
but you did not like it
00:23:42.78\00:23:44.12
when I acted like I
would step on this one.
00:23:44.15\00:23:48.96
The same thing is true
00:23:48.99\00:23:50.79
with a Sabbath and Sunday issue.
00:23:50.83\00:23:54.00
On the surface,
00:23:54.03\00:23:55.53
it might just seem
like it's about two days.
00:23:55.56\00:23:59.57
But the deeper issue is,
00:23:59.60\00:24:02.87
Sabbath is God's
mark of authority.
00:24:02.90\00:24:08.08
Sunday is the
beast mark of authority.
00:24:08.11\00:24:12.65
Sabbath is about upholding
the commandments of God.
00:24:12.68\00:24:17.52
Sunday is about honoring
the commandments of men.
00:24:17.55\00:24:22.29
The Sabbath is
about acknowledging God
00:24:22.32\00:24:25.13
as the highest
authority in this world.
00:24:25.16\00:24:29.06
Sunday is about
acknowledging man's authority.
00:24:29.10\00:24:34.90
When you understand the issues,
00:24:34.94\00:24:38.37
it makes a difference.
00:24:38.41\00:24:42.14
And that's why
Revelation brings it out.
00:24:42.18\00:24:45.01
It's about worship,
00:24:45.05\00:24:46.88
it's about the
commandments of God,
00:24:46.92\00:24:49.62
and it's about whose authority
00:24:49.65\00:24:51.72
that we are going to follow.
00:24:51.75\00:24:56.39
Now you may say, "Pastor Dave,
00:24:56.42\00:24:58.99
this really bothers me."
00:24:59.03\00:25:01.23
And I can understand that.
00:25:01.26\00:25:03.30
You may say, "Much of my
life I've been honoring Sunday.
00:25:03.33\00:25:06.94
I didn't know
about the Bible Sabbath,
00:25:06.97\00:25:09.10
am I lost?
00:25:09.14\00:25:10.47
Is God angry with me?"
00:25:10.51\00:25:13.04
No, my friends.
00:25:13.07\00:25:15.14
God expects us to live up
to the light that we know.
00:25:15.18\00:25:20.02
In the past, you may
not have known that light.
00:25:20.05\00:25:23.55
But that's why God brings
us to a study of His Word.
00:25:23.59\00:25:27.29
That's why
sometimes He brings us
00:25:27.32\00:25:28.69
to seminars like these,
00:25:28.72\00:25:30.23
so that we can
open the scriptures
00:25:30.26\00:25:31.99
and we see truth.
00:25:32.03\00:25:33.36
We see light that
we didn't know before.
00:25:33.40\00:25:35.80
God doesn't blame you
00:25:35.83\00:25:37.17
if you didn't have
that light in the past.
00:25:37.20\00:25:39.80
But now that you have the light,
00:25:39.83\00:25:41.77
Jesus says, "When
you see the light,
00:25:41.80\00:25:44.31
walk in the light,
00:25:44.34\00:25:45.67
when you know the
truth, live the truth."
00:25:45.71\00:25:48.48
Can you say amen? Amen.
00:25:48.51\00:25:49.84
Remember what James 4:17 says,
00:25:49.88\00:25:52.08
"To him who knows the good
he should do and doesn't do it,
00:25:52.11\00:25:55.62
to him it is sin."
00:25:55.65\00:25:58.22
If he knows the
good he should do,
00:25:58.25\00:26:00.69
you didn't know in
the past, but we know now.
00:26:00.72\00:26:04.09
God wants to give us a blessing.
00:26:04.13\00:26:07.90
You know,
sometimes people ask me,
00:26:07.93\00:26:10.50
and it's a very
sincere question.
00:26:10.53\00:26:13.70
And they say, "Pastor Dave,
00:26:13.74\00:26:17.37
what about all
those people in the past
00:26:17.41\00:26:20.58
that didn't know about
Sabbath from centuries ago.
00:26:20.61\00:26:26.51
And sometimes that
even comes close to home.
00:26:26.55\00:26:30.19
What about my parents?
00:26:30.22\00:26:32.35
My grandparents?
00:26:32.39\00:26:34.69
Are you saying they're lost?"
00:26:34.72\00:26:37.53
Certainly not.
00:26:37.56\00:26:39.73
It goes back to the issue.
00:26:39.76\00:26:41.13
God wants us to live
up to what we do know.
00:26:41.16\00:26:44.70
Back in the Middle Ages,
00:26:44.73\00:26:46.07
people like Jan
Hus and Martin Luther,
00:26:46.10\00:26:48.30
they may not have
known about the Sabbath.
00:26:48.34\00:26:50.71
See, in the Dark Ages, you
notice something about God.
00:26:50.74\00:26:55.18
He never reveals
truth all at once.
00:26:55.21\00:26:57.51
Did you know that?
00:26:57.55\00:26:58.88
He always reveals
it one step at a time.
00:26:58.91\00:27:02.12
Jan Hus, people
like Martin Luther,
00:27:02.15\00:27:04.75
they weren't ready
for the Sabbath yet.
00:27:04.79\00:27:06.82
They were still having to teach
00:27:06.86\00:27:08.32
that the Bible is
the highest authority
00:27:08.36\00:27:10.43
and not the church,
until that could be settled
00:27:10.46\00:27:12.99
they couldn't go
to anything else.
00:27:13.03\00:27:15.33
See, if God would
give us all the truth,
00:27:15.36\00:27:19.13
all at the same time,
00:27:19.17\00:27:21.04
we would not be
able to handle it.
00:27:21.07\00:27:23.14
Like last night, when I got
up in the middle of the night,
00:27:23.17\00:27:25.27
probably 3
o'clock in the morning.
00:27:25.31\00:27:27.41
You go to the bathroom
00:27:27.44\00:27:28.78
and you try to walk
across your pitch black bedroom,
00:27:28.81\00:27:32.61
and you go into the bathroom
00:27:32.65\00:27:33.98
and all of a sudden you
turn on those bright lights,
00:27:34.02\00:27:35.82
what happens?
00:27:35.85\00:27:37.65
You're blind and
you recoil back from it.
00:27:37.69\00:27:40.09
You know, you're like,
"Oh, man, I can't stand that."
00:27:40.12\00:27:42.59
It takes a while.
00:27:42.62\00:27:44.66
That's the way it is
sometimes with truth.
00:27:44.69\00:27:48.20
Jesus said to His disciples,
00:27:48.23\00:27:50.43
"There are many things
I have yet to tell you.
00:27:50.47\00:27:53.84
But you are not yet
able to bear them all."
00:27:53.87\00:27:56.97
He reveals truth
one step at a time.
00:27:57.01\00:28:00.31
We're going to see
that a little bit later
00:28:00.34\00:28:01.68
in the seminar.
00:28:01.71\00:28:03.04
And so people in the
past they may not have known.
00:28:03.08\00:28:06.25
My parents, my grandparents,
00:28:06.28\00:28:08.48
they may have been
doing the best they could
00:28:08.52\00:28:10.95
living up to the truth
that they were aware of.
00:28:10.99\00:28:13.92
And God honors
and understands that.
00:28:13.96\00:28:17.79
But when we know the truth,
00:28:17.83\00:28:20.40
God wants us to
follow that truth
00:28:20.43\00:28:23.33
and to be able to
receive its blessings.
00:28:23.37\00:28:27.44
Now, the next
question we sometimes have is,
00:28:27.47\00:28:31.84
"Pastor,
00:28:31.87\00:28:33.71
there are so few people
that know about the Sabbath.
00:28:33.74\00:28:37.91
I mean, the majority
know nothing about it.
00:28:37.95\00:28:41.58
I mean, they love God
but Sunday's in their life,
00:28:41.62\00:28:44.32
they don't realize
the deep issues behind it.
00:28:44.35\00:28:47.06
How are they
going to know about it?"
00:28:47.09\00:28:50.33
Two ways.
00:28:50.36\00:28:52.23
You know what the first way is?
00:28:52.26\00:28:54.93
You.
00:28:54.96\00:28:57.07
The first way is you and I,
00:28:57.10\00:28:59.53
because we have an opportunity
to witness and to share
00:28:59.57\00:29:03.57
these beautiful
truths with other people.
00:29:03.61\00:29:06.17
Can you say amen? Amen.
00:29:06.21\00:29:08.08
The second way is
through Bible prophecy.
00:29:08.11\00:29:12.78
You say, "What do you mean?"
00:29:12.81\00:29:14.88
Remember,
00:29:14.92\00:29:16.99
Revelation told us
00:29:17.02\00:29:19.92
that in the last great crisis,
00:29:19.95\00:29:25.03
the mark of the beast
issue is about worship
00:29:25.06\00:29:28.10
and the commandments of God.
00:29:28.13\00:29:30.90
If Rome is the beast
00:29:30.93\00:29:33.94
and the mark of the
beast is Sunday worship
00:29:33.97\00:29:36.27
and authority.
00:29:36.30\00:29:38.84
That means that
in that final crisis,
00:29:38.87\00:29:41.64
the Sabbath Sunday issue
is going to take center stage,
00:29:41.68\00:29:47.28
that the issue between
man's law and God's law
00:29:47.32\00:29:51.45
will no longer be something
00:29:51.49\00:29:53.22
that is obscure in a
dark alley somewhere.
00:29:53.25\00:29:56.42
It will be right
there in the forefront
00:29:56.46\00:29:59.23
because right
Revelation says at that time,
00:29:59.26\00:30:01.63
everyone is going to
have to make a decision.
00:30:01.66\00:30:07.60
I want to
transition now and take you
00:30:07.64\00:30:10.94
to one of the most
powerful prophecies
00:30:10.97\00:30:14.61
in the Book of Revelation.
00:30:14.64\00:30:17.05
I want us to go
back to Revelation 13.
00:30:17.08\00:30:21.22
Turn there in your
Bibles, Revelation 13:11.
00:30:21.25\00:30:27.19
Now we've been in Revelation 13.
00:30:27.22\00:30:30.16
The first part of this
chapter, verses 1 through 10,
00:30:30.19\00:30:34.13
tells us about the first
beast, which we know to be Rome.
00:30:34.16\00:30:39.60
But in the second
half of that chapter,
00:30:39.63\00:30:43.97
Revelation says a
second beast rises
00:30:44.01\00:30:48.78
and partners
with the first beast.
00:30:48.81\00:30:53.58
And so the question
it brings to our mind is,
00:30:53.62\00:30:57.49
"Does the Bible mention
00:30:57.52\00:30:59.32
the United States
anywhere in prophecy?"
00:30:59.35\00:31:03.99
See, God doesn't
mention every nation
00:31:04.03\00:31:06.33
that's ever existed.
00:31:06.36\00:31:08.20
He only mentions those nations
00:31:08.23\00:31:10.17
that have played a
significant role in His plan
00:31:10.20\00:31:13.44
or have dramatically affected
His people throughout history.
00:31:13.47\00:31:16.91
That's why He
mentions, you know, Babylon,
00:31:16.94\00:31:19.01
He symbolizes Medo-Persia,
and Greece, and Rome,
00:31:19.04\00:31:22.31
and Assyria, and
things like that.
00:31:22.34\00:31:25.08
But if the United States
is one of the dominant players
00:31:25.11\00:31:28.12
in the end times,
00:31:28.15\00:31:30.05
is it mentioned or symbolized
anywhere in Bible prophecy?
00:31:30.09\00:31:35.62
Wouldn't it be strange
00:31:35.66\00:31:37.73
for God to raise
up a powerful nation
00:31:37.76\00:31:40.70
that has freedom and democracy,
00:31:40.73\00:31:43.87
and never mentioned
it in end time prophecy?
00:31:43.90\00:31:48.87
Let's start
reading in Revelation 13
00:31:48.90\00:31:51.57
and try to figure out
00:31:51.61\00:31:52.94
who or what is
this second beast?
00:31:52.97\00:31:57.68
The Bible says,
00:31:57.71\00:32:00.32
"Then I saw another beast
00:32:00.35\00:32:03.35
coming up out of the earth,
00:32:03.39\00:32:06.42
and he had two
horns like a," what?
00:32:06.45\00:32:09.42
"Lamb, but spoke like a dragon.
00:32:09.46\00:32:13.63
And he exercises
00:32:13.66\00:32:15.16
all the authority
of the first beast
00:32:15.20\00:32:17.47
in his presence,
00:32:17.50\00:32:18.83
and causes the earth
00:32:18.87\00:32:20.34
and those who dwell in it
to worship the first beast,
00:32:20.37\00:32:24.04
whose deadly wound was healed.
00:32:24.07\00:32:26.74
He performs great signs,
00:32:26.78\00:32:28.94
so that he even makes
fire come down from heaven
00:32:28.98\00:32:32.25
on the earth in
the sight of men.
00:32:32.28\00:32:34.48
And he deceives those
00:32:34.52\00:32:35.95
who dwell on the
earth by those signs
00:32:35.98\00:32:38.39
which he was granted to
do in the sight of the beast,
00:32:38.42\00:32:41.96
telling those who dwell on
the earth to make a," what?
00:32:41.99\00:32:46.03
"Image to the beast
00:32:46.06\00:32:47.73
who was wounded by
the sword and lived."
00:32:47.76\00:32:51.07
Verse 15,
00:32:51.10\00:32:52.50
"He was granted
power to give breath
00:32:52.53\00:32:55.40
to the image of the beast,
00:32:55.44\00:32:57.21
that the image of the
beast should both speak
00:32:57.24\00:33:00.58
and cause as many
as would not worship
00:33:00.61\00:33:03.75
the image of the
beast to be," what?
00:33:03.78\00:33:06.18
"Killed.
00:33:06.21\00:33:07.55
And he causes all,"
now notice that word,
00:33:07.58\00:33:10.75
"he causes all,
both small and great,
00:33:10.79\00:33:14.72
rich and poor, free and slave,
00:33:14.76\00:33:17.99
to receive a mark
on their right hand
00:33:18.03\00:33:21.06
or on their foreheads,
00:33:21.10\00:33:22.96
and that no one may buy or sell,
00:33:23.00\00:33:25.93
except one who has the
mark or the name of the beast
00:33:25.97\00:33:30.97
or the number of his name."
00:33:31.01\00:33:35.71
That's quite a
description, isn't it?
00:33:35.74\00:33:38.55
It's almost a little scary.
00:33:38.58\00:33:40.82
Let's put a little
summary on the screen
00:33:40.85\00:33:43.62
as to what the activities
of this second beast is.
00:33:43.65\00:33:47.39
First, a second
beast rises to power,
00:33:47.42\00:33:50.96
and Revelation
says, will be like a lamb.
00:33:50.99\00:33:53.86
This beast will
eventually speak like a dragon,
00:33:53.90\00:33:57.40
and will do something
00:33:57.43\00:33:59.07
that causes people to
follow the first beast,
00:33:59.10\00:34:01.80
which we know to be Rome.
00:34:01.84\00:34:03.91
The second beast will set
up an image to the first beast
00:34:03.94\00:34:07.08
and make that image speak,
00:34:07.11\00:34:09.38
and it will force
people to worship the image
00:34:09.41\00:34:12.48
and those who do receive a mark.
00:34:12.51\00:34:16.62
You say, "Wow!"
00:34:16.65\00:34:18.42
So what does all that mean?
00:34:18.45\00:34:21.59
Let's go back now.
00:34:21.62\00:34:24.16
And let's look at
it verse by verse,
00:34:24.19\00:34:27.00
and point by point.
00:34:27.03\00:34:29.43
Verse 11, said,
and John describes,
00:34:29.46\00:34:32.67
"Then I saw a beast
coming up out of the earth."
00:34:32.70\00:34:38.37
So the first
question we need to answer is,
00:34:38.41\00:34:41.84
what does a beast
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:34:41.88\00:34:46.68
And see, we've
already studied that,
00:34:46.72\00:34:48.55
we already know a
beast represents a kingdom,
00:34:48.58\00:34:52.29
not a person.
00:34:52.32\00:34:53.66
We saw that in Daniel,
we saw that in Revelation.
00:34:53.69\00:34:56.02
So whatever the second beast is,
00:34:56.06\00:34:58.33
it is a nation or a
kingdom that's rising to power.
00:34:58.36\00:35:02.03
If that makes
sense, can you say amen?
00:35:02.06\00:35:03.97
So we know that much.
00:35:04.00\00:35:06.13
But then the
question comes, well,
00:35:06.17\00:35:08.30
where does this power arise?
00:35:08.34\00:35:11.97
Well, there's a few clues.
00:35:12.01\00:35:14.38
If you go back to verse 1,
00:35:14.41\00:35:16.85
when it talks
about the first beast,
00:35:16.88\00:35:19.91
could you tell me
00:35:19.95\00:35:21.82
where does the first
beast rise up out of?
00:35:21.85\00:35:26.49
The sea or the waters,
00:35:26.52\00:35:27.86
that's the first
beast symbolizing Rome.
00:35:27.89\00:35:30.26
What did we learn that
seas or waters represent
00:35:30.29\00:35:34.13
in biblical prophecy?
00:35:34.16\00:35:36.30
Multitudes of people.
00:35:36.33\00:35:37.83
Remember we got that
from Revelation 7:15,
00:35:37.87\00:35:40.94
where the Bible says,
00:35:40.97\00:35:42.60
"The waters which
you saw are peoples,
00:35:42.64\00:35:45.07
multitude, nations and tongues."
00:35:45.11\00:35:48.14
By the way,
that's Revelation 17:15,
00:35:48.18\00:35:49.94
not 7:15.
00:35:49.98\00:35:51.88
The waters' is
multitudes of people.
00:35:51.91\00:35:54.22
So that first beast, Rome,
00:35:54.25\00:35:56.65
rises up in a
populated area of the world.
00:35:56.69\00:36:01.06
But it says the second beast
rises out of where in verse 11,
00:36:01.09\00:36:06.23
will you tell me?
00:36:06.26\00:36:07.66
Out of the earth.
00:36:07.70\00:36:09.16
That is the very
opposite of waters.
00:36:09.20\00:36:12.20
So if waters
represent populated areas,
00:36:12.23\00:36:16.74
what do you think
earth would represent?
00:36:16.77\00:36:20.01
Sparsely populated area.
00:36:20.04\00:36:22.94
In other words, this new beast
that comes up out of the earth
00:36:22.98\00:36:27.78
represents a nation
that will rise to power
00:36:27.82\00:36:31.45
in a sparsely populated area,
00:36:31.49\00:36:34.19
an area where
there is not many people.
00:36:34.22\00:36:38.89
That's a big clue
00:36:38.93\00:36:41.26
thus far.
00:36:41.30\00:36:44.03
What it's telling us,
00:36:44.07\00:36:45.83
this is not the rise of an
already established nation.
00:36:45.87\00:36:50.84
This is the rise to
power of a new nation
00:36:50.87\00:36:56.04
in a new part of the world
00:36:56.08\00:36:58.48
where there's not many people.
00:36:58.51\00:37:03.49
Are you putting
the concepts together?
00:37:03.52\00:37:07.02
Let's keep going.
00:37:07.06\00:37:10.06
When does this
power or nation rise?
00:37:10.09\00:37:14.93
Clearly,
Revelation is telling us
00:37:14.96\00:37:17.23
that the second beast rises
00:37:17.27\00:37:19.43
after the first
beast loses its power.
00:37:19.47\00:37:22.97
If you read Revelation 13
00:37:23.00\00:37:25.91
and you go to
verse 9 or verse 10,
00:37:25.94\00:37:28.71
it talks about
00:37:28.74\00:37:30.08
how the first beast
would go into captivity.
00:37:30.11\00:37:33.58
At that point,
00:37:33.62\00:37:35.15
the second beast begins to rise.
00:37:35.18\00:37:38.59
Well, we've already learned
00:37:38.62\00:37:39.95
that if the first beast is Rome,
00:37:39.99\00:37:42.79
Revelation said they would rule
for 42 months or 1260 years.
00:37:42.82\00:37:48.03
History tells us
00:37:48.06\00:37:50.00
the papal government
was abolished in what year,
00:37:50.03\00:37:52.93
can you tell me from the screen?
00:37:52.97\00:37:55.07
1798.
00:37:55.10\00:37:56.44
From 538 to 1798
00:37:56.47\00:37:59.24
church and state were
united in a persecuting power.
00:37:59.27\00:38:03.31
And in the French Revolution,
00:38:03.35\00:38:05.28
Napoleon abolished
the papal government,
00:38:05.31\00:38:08.12
took the pope of
that time off the throne
00:38:08.15\00:38:11.05
where he died in exile.
00:38:11.09\00:38:12.59
That happened in 1798.
00:38:12.62\00:38:14.52
The first beast
goes into captivity.
00:38:14.56\00:38:18.19
If the second beast is
rising around that time,
00:38:18.23\00:38:22.03
that means this new nation,
00:38:22.06\00:38:25.63
in an unpopulated
part of the world,
00:38:25.67\00:38:29.04
will be rising to
power and dominance
00:38:29.07\00:38:32.07
somewhere around 1798
00:38:32.11\00:38:36.04
when the first
beast goes into captivity.
00:38:36.08\00:38:40.85
If you're with me so
far, can you say amen?
00:38:40.88\00:38:44.09
Let's keep going.
00:38:44.12\00:38:45.45
How does this power arise?
00:38:45.49\00:38:47.76
How does this
second beast come to power?
00:38:47.79\00:38:51.43
Well, notice,
00:38:51.46\00:38:53.43
Revelation 13:11 said
00:38:53.46\00:38:55.73
that this beast has
two horns like a, what?
00:38:55.76\00:38:59.20
Lamb.
00:38:59.23\00:39:00.57
Now how many of you have
ever lived or been on a farm,
00:39:00.60\00:39:02.40
can I see your hands?
00:39:02.44\00:39:03.94
Then you tell me,
00:39:03.97\00:39:05.31
what is the nature
or character of a lamb?
00:39:05.34\00:39:10.45
Yeah, they're docile.
They are gentle creatures.
00:39:10.48\00:39:13.72
They are not like a goat who
if you turn your back on them,
00:39:13.75\00:39:17.09
they are liable to
butt you and be aggressive.
00:39:17.12\00:39:20.52
A lamb is gentle.
00:39:20.56\00:39:23.19
This new nation in the beginning
00:39:23.22\00:39:27.26
is described as
being gentle as a lamb.
00:39:27.30\00:39:33.23
I want you to keep that in mind.
00:39:33.27\00:39:36.04
Revelation 13 also tells us,
00:39:36.07\00:39:38.37
there were no crowns
00:39:38.41\00:39:39.91
on the horns of
this second beast.
00:39:39.94\00:39:42.58
You say, well, why
is that significant?
00:39:42.61\00:39:45.41
When we studied
about the first beast
00:39:45.45\00:39:47.55
in Revelation 13, Rome,
00:39:47.58\00:39:50.55
it had 10 horns
and there were crowns
00:39:50.59\00:39:52.82
on each of those horns.
00:39:52.85\00:39:55.72
Crowns indicate
kingly authority,
00:39:55.76\00:39:59.69
kingly monarchy,
00:39:59.73\00:40:01.70
power centered in either
one or just a few people.
00:40:01.73\00:40:06.90
The second beast,
00:40:06.94\00:40:08.90
this new nation
doesn't have any crowns.
00:40:08.94\00:40:14.64
That tells us
00:40:14.68\00:40:16.01
the absence of
crowns indicates freedom
00:40:16.04\00:40:20.12
that it's going to be a
different form of government.
00:40:20.15\00:40:22.95
It's not going to
be kingly authority,
00:40:22.98\00:40:25.72
but there will be
a sense of freedom
00:40:25.75\00:40:27.76
and democracy not
centered in just a few people.
00:40:27.79\00:40:32.33
There's something
different about this new nation.
00:40:32.36\00:40:36.40
So this is what
we've learned so far.
00:40:36.43\00:40:38.47
This second lamb like
beast arises around 1798,
00:40:38.50\00:40:44.27
arises in a relatively
unpopulated area of the world.
00:40:44.31\00:40:48.94
It has no crowns on its
horns indicating freedom,
00:40:48.98\00:40:52.35
no kingly monarchy.
00:40:52.38\00:40:54.62
It would be a
young or a new nation
00:40:54.65\00:40:57.72
and it would rise to a
position of worldwide power
00:40:57.75\00:41:02.02
and influence.
00:41:02.06\00:41:03.96
Now let me ask you
all five of those points,
00:41:03.99\00:41:06.39
did they come from the Bible
and the Bible alone, yes or no?
00:41:06.43\00:41:09.70
They did.
00:41:09.73\00:41:11.67
And the truth is
there is only one nation
00:41:11.70\00:41:14.77
that fits every
one of those points.
00:41:14.80\00:41:19.14
It is the United
States of America.
00:41:19.17\00:41:24.01
See, this nation was
part of God's great plan.
00:41:24.05\00:41:28.92
I want you to think about this.
00:41:28.95\00:41:31.15
In 1798,
00:41:31.19\00:41:33.69
as the period of
persecution was ending,
00:41:33.72\00:41:37.69
as Roman
domination came to a close,
00:41:37.73\00:41:41.56
God used this nation to
be formed in the new world
00:41:41.60\00:41:46.47
that would offer religious
and political freedom to all.
00:41:46.50\00:41:51.54
It would have a constitution
00:41:51.57\00:41:53.91
that guaranteed the
separation of church and state.
00:41:53.94\00:41:57.65
It guaranteed religious liberty
that people could worship
00:41:57.68\00:42:01.78
according to the dictates
of their own conscience.
00:42:01.82\00:42:05.92
To you and I, that's old news.
00:42:05.95\00:42:08.42
But back around 1798,
00:42:08.46\00:42:10.93
as this nation
was gaining power,
00:42:10.96\00:42:13.03
they had just
come out of 1260 years
00:42:13.06\00:42:16.36
of papal persecution.
00:42:16.40\00:42:19.03
And as a result,
people flocked to America.
00:42:19.07\00:42:24.37
See, God used this
nation to offer freedom.
00:42:24.41\00:42:29.24
Because you see,
part of God's plan
00:42:29.28\00:42:32.08
is He wanted to
restore Bible truth again.
00:42:32.11\00:42:36.18
And it's really hard to do that
00:42:36.22\00:42:38.82
when church and
state are united,
00:42:38.85\00:42:42.49
and there is a persecuting power
00:42:42.52\00:42:44.76
dominating the world.
00:42:44.79\00:42:47.20
So God used the United
States to offer freedom,
00:42:47.23\00:42:51.40
to be an example to the world
00:42:51.43\00:42:53.34
of what religious
liberty should be like.
00:42:53.37\00:42:57.34
I want to show you the poem
00:42:57.37\00:42:58.77
that is written at the
base of the Statue of Liberty.
00:42:58.81\00:43:02.41
How many people have ever
been to the Statue of Liberty,
00:43:02.44\00:43:04.55
could I see your hands?
00:43:04.58\00:43:05.91
Okay, I've never had
the privilege to go there,
00:43:05.95\00:43:08.02
but this poem is on
its base and I'm quoting,
00:43:08.05\00:43:12.35
"Keep ancient
lands your storied pomp!'
00:43:12.39\00:43:15.46
Cries she with silent lips.
00:43:15.49\00:43:17.86
'Give me your tired, your poor,
00:43:17.89\00:43:20.33
your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free.
00:43:20.36\00:43:23.47
The wretched refuse
of your teeming shore,
00:43:23.50\00:43:26.37
send these, the
homeless tempest-tost to me,
00:43:26.40\00:43:30.04
I lift my lamp
beside the golden door!"
00:43:30.07\00:43:35.18
America was part of God's plan.
00:43:35.21\00:43:39.65
People could worship in freedom,
00:43:39.68\00:43:43.08
and they could follow the
Bible and the Bible alone,
00:43:43.12\00:43:46.49
if they chose to.
00:43:46.52\00:43:48.19
No legislation of religion.
00:43:48.22\00:43:51.59
One could follow
their convictions in freedom
00:43:51.63\00:43:55.40
and without persecution.
00:43:55.43\00:43:57.33
You see, God
definitely blessed America.
00:43:57.37\00:44:02.60
Amen.
00:44:02.64\00:44:04.71
But you know,
00:44:04.74\00:44:07.28
there's a part of this
prophecy that bothers me.
00:44:07.31\00:44:12.35
Because the prophecy says,
it will not always be this way.
00:44:12.38\00:44:17.12
Remember what it
said in verse 11?
00:44:17.15\00:44:20.42
"Then I saw a beast
coming up out of the earth,
00:44:20.46\00:44:25.59
and he had two horns like a lamb
00:44:25.63\00:44:29.53
and he spoke like a," what?
00:44:29.56\00:44:32.17
"Dragon."
00:44:32.20\00:44:34.70
The prophecy is telling us
00:44:34.74\00:44:36.27
that something
is going to change
00:44:36.30\00:44:38.77
in the character
of the second beast.
00:44:38.81\00:44:42.18
That something
is going to change
00:44:42.21\00:44:44.51
in the character of America.
00:44:44.55\00:44:47.95
Because the beast
goes from being lamb like
00:44:47.98\00:44:52.85
to being dragon like.
00:44:52.89\00:44:55.49
That somewhere along the way,
00:44:55.52\00:44:58.13
Revelation is giving us the hint
00:44:58.16\00:45:01.76
that there may not
always be religious liberty,
00:45:01.80\00:45:06.00
that there may not
always be the freedom
00:45:06.03\00:45:08.24
that we have now.
00:45:08.27\00:45:11.07
And if we're honest,
00:45:11.11\00:45:13.68
we can already see
some of those things
00:45:13.71\00:45:15.91
starting to take
place in this country
00:45:15.94\00:45:19.11
in the last few years,
00:45:19.15\00:45:21.38
as certain personal freedoms
00:45:21.42\00:45:23.59
are slowly being taken away.
00:45:23.62\00:45:28.36
The second beast will
speak like a dragon, it says.
00:45:28.39\00:45:32.03
The prophecy goes on to say,
00:45:32.06\00:45:34.86
"And he exercises
00:45:34.90\00:45:36.63
all the authority
of the first beast
00:45:36.67\00:45:39.17
in his presence,
00:45:39.20\00:45:40.67
and he causes the earth
00:45:40.70\00:45:42.20
and those who dwell in it
to worship the first beast,
00:45:42.24\00:45:45.87
whose deadly wound was healed."
00:45:45.91\00:45:48.98
Oh, wait a minute,
little time out here.
00:45:49.01\00:45:52.61
It says the second beast
becomes like the first beast,
00:45:52.65\00:45:57.15
causes people to
worship the first beast.
00:45:57.19\00:46:00.96
See, Revelation is telling us
00:46:00.99\00:46:03.09
that this second
beast will begin to exercise
00:46:03.12\00:46:06.36
the authority of papal Rome.
00:46:06.39\00:46:09.96
How did papal Rome
get their authority?
00:46:10.00\00:46:13.74
Through a
combination of church and state.
00:46:13.77\00:46:18.47
There was no religious liberty.
00:46:18.51\00:46:24.48
And the Bible is hinting
00:46:24.51\00:46:27.15
that's going to happen again.
00:46:27.18\00:46:30.19
Because when
church and state unite,
00:46:30.22\00:46:33.86
freedom of conscience is gone,
00:46:33.89\00:46:36.76
religious liberty is gone,
00:46:36.79\00:46:39.79
and the minority are always,
00:46:39.83\00:46:42.66
always persecuted.
00:46:42.70\00:46:46.43
That's what
happened in papal Rome.
00:46:46.47\00:46:49.70
The Bible says that's
what will eventually happen
00:46:49.74\00:46:52.27
with the second beast,
00:46:52.31\00:46:54.64
who begins to
speak like a dragon
00:46:54.68\00:46:58.21
and act like the first beast.
00:46:58.25\00:47:01.88
I have to admit,
00:47:01.92\00:47:04.02
it's a little
unsettling to think about,
00:47:04.05\00:47:06.52
isn't it?
00:47:06.55\00:47:08.82
Prophecy goes on.
00:47:08.86\00:47:11.19
See, we may wonder
and say to ourselves,
00:47:11.23\00:47:14.03
"No way, this could
never happen in America."
00:47:14.06\00:47:18.00
A hundred years ago,
00:47:18.03\00:47:19.37
people would laugh at
this prophecy and say,
00:47:19.40\00:47:21.54
"There's no way
that's what it can mean.
00:47:21.57\00:47:23.14
It's impossible."
00:47:23.17\00:47:26.27
What if we're honest?
00:47:26.31\00:47:29.34
In the last 20 to 30 years,
00:47:29.38\00:47:33.35
it's become a lot more possible.
00:47:33.38\00:47:36.22
I want you to notice
what William Rehnquist,
00:47:36.25\00:47:38.79
the chief justice, or
one of the chief justices
00:47:38.82\00:47:41.02
of the Supreme Court said.
00:47:41.06\00:47:43.73
He said, "The wall of separation
00:47:43.76\00:47:45.59
between church and state
is a metaphor based on," what?
00:47:45.63\00:47:50.73
"Bad history."
00:47:50.77\00:47:53.00
One of the Supreme
Court justices is saying
00:47:53.03\00:47:56.30
that the separation of
church and state should not be,
00:47:56.34\00:47:59.27
it's a bad thing
based on bad history.
00:47:59.31\00:48:05.05
In the St. Louis
Dispatch, 20 some years ago,
00:48:05.08\00:48:08.68
when they were talking
about the Bill of Rights,
00:48:08.72\00:48:10.39
this article was written,
00:48:10.42\00:48:13.49
"As the second
century of the Bill of Rights
00:48:13.52\00:48:16.12
draws to a close,
00:48:16.16\00:48:18.83
the Supreme Court is redefining
00:48:18.86\00:48:21.76
what religious liberty
will mean in the third century.
00:48:21.80\00:48:26.94
Broadly, the
court's new approach
00:48:26.97\00:48:29.10
helps conventional religions
00:48:29.14\00:48:31.47
while hurting
unconventional ones."
00:48:31.51\00:48:34.64
Did you catch that?
00:48:34.68\00:48:36.44
The Supreme Court is redefining
00:48:36.48\00:48:39.35
what religious liberty will be.
00:48:39.38\00:48:44.45
See, this isn't as farfetched
as we sometimes may think.
00:48:44.49\00:48:47.56
Do you know that
right now in this country,
00:48:47.59\00:48:50.33
there are people
calling for the constitution
00:48:50.36\00:48:53.70
to be changed.
00:48:53.73\00:48:55.96
There are religious
groups strongly advocating
00:48:56.00\00:48:59.70
that the separation of church
and state should be broken down
00:48:59.73\00:49:03.30
and that religion
should be legislated,
00:49:03.34\00:49:06.44
so that this country
can come back to God?
00:49:06.47\00:49:10.18
Organizations like
the Christian Coalition,
00:49:10.21\00:49:13.78
Religious Right,
00:49:13.82\00:49:15.55
and famous
preachers like Pat Robertson,
00:49:15.58\00:49:18.25
and all want to see that happen.
00:49:18.29\00:49:21.52
The prophecy goes on to
say in Revelation 13:14,
00:49:21.56\00:49:25.89
"Telling those
who dwell on the earth
00:49:25.93\00:49:28.16
to make an image to the beast
00:49:28.20\00:49:30.47
who was wounded by
the sword and lived."
00:49:30.50\00:49:33.03
That's talking about
the first beast, Rome.
00:49:33.07\00:49:35.64
It goes on and says,
00:49:35.67\00:49:37.01
"He was granted power
00:49:37.04\00:49:38.84
to give breath to
the image of the beast,
00:49:38.87\00:49:41.48
that the image of the
beast should both speak
00:49:41.51\00:49:44.65
and cause as many
as would not worship
00:49:44.68\00:49:47.62
the image of the
beast to be killed."
00:49:47.65\00:49:51.15
Let's pause here a second.
00:49:51.19\00:49:54.26
The second beast will make
an image to the first beast.
00:49:54.29\00:49:59.93
America will make an image
00:49:59.96\00:50:04.57
to Rome.
00:50:04.60\00:50:07.00
Symbolically speaking,
well, what does that mean?
00:50:07.04\00:50:10.84
An image is a
likeness of something.
00:50:10.87\00:50:14.28
You know, the Bible
says that in the beginning,
00:50:14.31\00:50:15.88
we were created
in the image of God,
00:50:15.91\00:50:17.88
we were to have some
characteristics of God
00:50:17.91\00:50:20.12
before sin entered.
00:50:20.15\00:50:22.82
The second beast will become
00:50:22.85\00:50:25.89
or even make an
image of the first beast,
00:50:25.92\00:50:28.12
a likeness of Rome.
00:50:28.16\00:50:31.69
In other words, America
00:50:31.73\00:50:34.16
will begin to look like Rome,
00:50:34.20\00:50:37.83
that church and
state will unite and begin
00:50:37.87\00:50:41.40
to enforce religious practices.
00:50:41.44\00:50:46.68
Let me show you a
quote from Pat Robertson,
00:50:46.71\00:50:49.78
who wrote a book advocating
"The New World Order."
00:50:49.81\00:50:53.95
In his book he writes,
00:50:53.98\00:50:56.55
"The next obligation
00:50:56.58\00:50:58.45
that a citizen of God's
world order owes is to himself.
00:50:58.49\00:51:02.89
'Remember the Sabbath day
to keep it holy' is a command
00:51:02.92\00:51:07.40
for the personal
benefit of each citizen.
00:51:07.43\00:51:10.80
Higher civilizations
rise when people can rest
00:51:10.83\00:51:14.17
and draw inspiration from God.
00:51:14.20\00:51:17.14
Laws in America that
mandated a day of rest,"
00:51:17.17\00:51:21.58
he's speaking about Sunday laws,
00:51:21.61\00:51:23.75
"have been nullified
00:51:23.78\00:51:25.61
as a violation of the separation
00:51:25.65\00:51:28.18
of church and state,"
00:51:28.22\00:51:30.15
and then notice what he says,
00:51:30.19\00:51:32.15
"as an outright insult to God
00:51:32.19\00:51:36.49
and His plan."
00:51:36.52\00:51:38.39
Now did you catch that?
00:51:38.43\00:51:40.46
He is saying the fact
00:51:40.50\00:51:42.93
that the Sunday laws had
been nullified in some places
00:51:42.96\00:51:47.44
because it violates
00:51:47.47\00:51:48.97
the separation
of church and state.
00:51:49.00\00:51:50.74
He says that's an
outright insult to God.
00:51:50.77\00:51:55.24
Because what many religious
leaders are advocating today
00:51:55.28\00:52:00.62
is to do away with
separation of church and state
00:52:00.65\00:52:03.75
and have Sunday laws
that bring people back to God.
00:52:03.79\00:52:09.42
See, why would religious
leaders want to do that?
00:52:09.46\00:52:13.33
Because they're scared.
00:52:13.36\00:52:15.36
They see what's happening
in this world and this country.
00:52:15.40\00:52:19.47
So do you and I.
00:52:19.50\00:52:20.97
The social problems,
the drugs, the immorality,
00:52:21.00\00:52:24.81
the uncertainty, rising
crime, natural disasters,
00:52:24.84\00:52:29.21
society falling
apart, things like 9/11.
00:52:29.24\00:52:33.78
They see how religion has been
taken away from this country.
00:52:33.82\00:52:37.35
God has been taken
out of the schools,
00:52:37.39\00:52:40.39
and many are
saying all the horrors
00:52:40.42\00:52:42.56
that are
happening to this country,
00:52:42.59\00:52:44.36
all those problems,
God's curses upon America,
00:52:44.39\00:52:48.36
because they have
turned away from God's law.
00:52:48.40\00:52:51.53
They've turned away
from His principles.
00:52:51.57\00:52:54.90
They're no longer
the Christian nation
00:52:54.94\00:52:56.81
they once were
00:52:56.84\00:52:58.17
when they were
formed in the beginning.
00:52:58.21\00:52:59.87
That's what many
religious leaders are saying.
00:52:59.91\00:53:02.94
And so in order to
bring revival to America
00:53:02.98\00:53:08.12
and in order to
bring America back to God,
00:53:08.15\00:53:11.75
they are suggesting Sunday laws.
00:53:11.79\00:53:15.06
And the only way that can happen
00:53:15.09\00:53:17.89
is if the
separation of church and state
00:53:17.93\00:53:21.06
is broken down.
00:53:21.10\00:53:24.03
Now, I think we can all agree.
00:53:24.07\00:53:26.50
Does this country
need revival, yes or no?
00:53:26.53\00:53:29.67
Indeed it does.
00:53:29.70\00:53:31.31
These problems exist.
00:53:31.34\00:53:33.88
Indeed we have turned away
from our Christian principles.
00:53:33.91\00:53:38.31
But, folks, we
have to understand,
00:53:38.35\00:53:41.22
you cannot legislate revival.
00:53:41.25\00:53:45.99
Revival doesn't start
in the Halls of the Senate.
00:53:46.02\00:53:50.83
Revival doesn't start
00:53:50.86\00:53:52.23
in the House of Representatives.
00:53:52.26\00:53:54.80
Spiritual revival doesn't
come from the White House,
00:53:54.83\00:53:58.50
or the Supreme Court,
or even the United Nations.
00:53:58.53\00:54:02.80
God tells us where
true revival comes from.
00:54:02.84\00:54:07.41
2 Chronicles
7:14, the Bible says,
00:54:07.44\00:54:10.81
"If My people
00:54:10.85\00:54:12.91
who are called by My
name will humble themselves,
00:54:12.95\00:54:16.75
and pray and seek My face,
00:54:16.79\00:54:19.79
and turn from their wicked ways,
00:54:19.82\00:54:21.99
then I will hear from heaven
00:54:22.02\00:54:24.66
and will forgive their
sin and heal their land."
00:54:24.69\00:54:30.30
Where does true revival start?
00:54:30.33\00:54:33.37
It starts right here,
in your heart and in mine.
00:54:33.40\00:54:38.34
It can't be forced.
00:54:38.37\00:54:40.31
It can't be coerced.
00:54:40.34\00:54:42.24
It can't be legislated.
00:54:42.28\00:54:44.15
God never works that way.
00:54:44.18\00:54:47.12
We should never
reach for revival
00:54:47.15\00:54:49.82
at the cost of
freedom and religious liberty
00:54:49.85\00:54:52.92
'cause God has never done so.
00:54:52.95\00:54:55.82
True revival is
when I get on my knees.
00:54:55.86\00:55:00.33
True revival is when I
surrender my heart to God
00:55:00.36\00:55:03.80
and I read His Word and I pray
00:55:03.83\00:55:06.20
and I choose to follow
Him above everything else.
00:55:06.23\00:55:10.54
And whatever
separates me from God,
00:55:10.57\00:55:12.37
I say, "Lord
Jesus, take it away."
00:55:12.41\00:55:14.41
God says, when we do that,
00:55:14.44\00:55:16.91
He will forgive our sin,
00:55:16.95\00:55:18.71
and He will heal our land.
00:55:18.75\00:55:23.59
See, doing it
through Sunday laws
00:55:23.62\00:55:27.66
is actually playing right
into the hand of the beast,
00:55:27.69\00:55:31.13
bringing church
and state together,
00:55:31.16\00:55:34.30
trying to legislate morality.
00:55:34.33\00:55:37.90
And when that happens,
the man will have to choose
00:55:37.93\00:55:41.74
between the Sunday of the beast
00:55:41.77\00:55:45.44
or the Sabbath of the Lord.
00:55:45.47\00:55:49.28
See, that's what
happened with Rome.
00:55:49.31\00:55:52.18
Constantine created one
of the first Sunday laws
00:55:52.21\00:55:55.48
in those early centuries.
00:55:55.52\00:55:58.19
"On the venerable Day of the Sun
00:55:58.22\00:56:00.59
let the magistrates and people
residing in the cities rest,
00:56:00.62\00:56:04.56
let all the shops be closed."
00:56:04.59\00:56:07.43
And even all the way back
then people had to choose,
00:56:07.46\00:56:10.43
whose authority
they're going to follow,
00:56:10.47\00:56:13.34
man's authority
00:56:13.37\00:56:16.24
or God's authority?
00:56:16.27\00:56:19.47
Revelation says
when it happens here,
00:56:19.51\00:56:23.41
in the future,
00:56:23.45\00:56:25.65
the final issue will
center around worship.
00:56:25.68\00:56:30.15
It will center around
the commandments of God.
00:56:30.19\00:56:34.16
And the Sabbath touches both.
00:56:34.19\00:56:36.69
It's about worship.
00:56:36.73\00:56:38.89
It's about God's law.
00:56:38.93\00:56:41.50
It's about whose
authority am I going to follow.
00:56:41.53\00:56:47.47
That's why in Revelation 14:12,
00:56:47.50\00:56:49.77
after God talks
about the three angels,
00:56:49.80\00:56:52.97
God says,
00:56:53.01\00:56:54.94
"Here are the
patience of the saints,
00:56:54.98\00:56:59.08
here are they who keep
the commandments of God
00:56:59.11\00:57:03.79
and have the faith of Jesus."
00:57:03.82\00:57:07.39
'Cause they're worshiping
00:57:07.42\00:57:08.76
the Creator of heaven and earth.
00:57:08.79\00:57:10.89
They've chosen not to follow
the authority of the beast.
00:57:10.93\00:57:16.87
I know it's a tough message,
00:57:16.90\00:57:19.87
but that's the underlying issue.
00:57:19.90\00:57:22.74
God's mark of
authority is the Sabbath.
00:57:22.77\00:57:26.78
Rome's mark is the Sunday.
00:57:26.81\00:57:31.71
So where does
that leave me and you?
00:57:31.75\00:57:35.15
And, brothers and
sisters, in the last days,
00:57:35.18\00:57:37.55
God will again
00:57:37.59\00:57:39.05
invite His
people to take a stand.
00:57:39.09\00:57:43.79
And that might mean
standing in the minority.
00:57:43.83\00:57:48.36
It might mean
00:57:48.40\00:57:50.13
even standing alone.
00:57:50.17\00:57:55.20
The prospect of
standing alone is a scary thing.
00:57:55.24\00:58:00.14
But you know,
when you follow Jesus,
00:58:00.18\00:58:03.11
you're never alone.
00:58:03.14\00:58:05.11
Because Jesus says,
"Lo, I am with you always,
00:58:05.15\00:58:10.15
even to the end of the age."
00:58:10.19\00:58:13.25
See, when you stand with Jesus,
you have peace in your heart.
00:58:13.29\00:58:18.06
When you stand with Jesus,
00:58:18.09\00:58:19.43
you have the assurance
that you're on the right side.
00:58:19.46\00:58:23.26
When you stand with Jesus,
00:58:23.30\00:58:25.33
you can have the confidence
00:58:25.37\00:58:26.70
that His presence
is always with you.
00:58:26.74\00:58:29.90