Participants: Jason Sliger
Series Code: FC
Program Code: FC000209
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00:30 We like to welcome you once again to another Faith Chapel.
00:33 My name is Jason Sliger. 00:35 I'm an evangelist with Amazing Facts Ministries 00:37 and today we have a very exciting subject 00:39 that we're gonna be taking to look at, 00:41 entitled "The End Time Issue." 00:43 Today we're looking at a subject 00:45 that's going to be dealing with the end times 00:46 and what's gonna be taking place 00:48 before Christ comes back. 00:49 You know, end time events are very fascinating. 00:51 I find them very interesting 00:53 and something that I like to share with other people 00:55 because the Bible is so full of end time issues 00:58 and what's gonna be taking place 00:59 before Christ comes back. 01:00 And you know in the short time 01:01 that we have we really don't have time 01:03 to cover all the aspects it just would be impossible. 01:06 But today my desire is to just take a look at one aspect, 01:09 just to kind of get a tip off of the iceberg 01:11 in our study together, today. 01:13 For our first Bible text I would like to go 01:15 to Matthew 24:21, 22, 01:19 Matthew 24:21, 22 the Bible tells us here. 01:21 Notice the wording here. 01:22 "For then shall be great tribulation, 01:25 such as was not since the beginning of the world 01:27 to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 01:31 And except those days should be shortened, 01:34 there should no flesh be saved, 01:36 but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." 01:41 The Bible tells us here 01:43 that there is going to be a time of great tribulation. 01:46 That there's going to be time of great trial 01:48 a great time of difficulty before Jesus comes back. 01:50 If you've never read Matthew Chapter 24 01:53 you'll understand that 01:54 the disciples came to Jesus in verse 3 01:56 and they asked Him a question. 01:57 They said "Jesus, what will be the signs 01:59 right before thy second coming 02:00 and before the end of the world." 02:01 And then Jesus goes on He gives a commentary 02:03 throughout the rest of Matthew Chapter 24 02:05 on what are going to be the signs 02:07 right before Jesus comes back. 02:09 And one of the things that Jesus says 02:10 about this time period is that there is going to be a time 02:13 of what the Bible defines as great tribulation. 02:17 Now when I look at this passage of scripture 02:19 and I ask myself a question-- 02:22 how can I make it through this time of great tribulation? 02:25 But not only how can I make it 02:26 through this time of great tribulation 02:27 but what are gonna be some of the issues 02:29 that surround this time of great tribulation? 02:30 We ask these two questions. 02:32 First question is, what are the issues 02:35 that surround the great tribulation? 02:36 What is going to be taking place during this time 02:38 of when Jesus talked about the great tribulation? 02:41 And then the second question is, 02:42 how can I make it through this time of great tribulation? 02:44 These are two questions that we're going to try 02:46 to find answers to today in our Bible study. 02:48 So to question number one, 02:50 what are the issues that surround the great tribulation 02:53 we turn our Bibles over to Revelation Chapter 13 02:56 and we are going to read verse 11. 02:59 Revelation 13 03:00 and we're going to read verse 11, 03:02 the Bible says this. 03:03 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth 03:07 and he had two horns like a lamb, 03:09 and he spake as a dragon." 03:12 Now let me just kind of explain 03:13 to you little bit of the context that 03:14 we are working here in Revelation 13. 03:16 There are two beasts in Revelation 13 03:18 and Revelation 13:1,2, 3 03:20 there's this beast that comes up 03:21 the Bible says out of the water. 03:22 And then in Revelation 13:11 03:24 it says there's another beast that comes up out of the earth. 03:26 Now a beast in Bible prophecy is oftentimes 03:28 represented as a kingdom in Daniel 7:17, 23 03:33 the Bible tells us that a beast represents a kingdom. 03:36 So when we see these beasts in Bible prophecy 03:39 we can understand that the rising up of the beast 03:42 is arising up of a kingdom. 03:44 So what we have here in verse 11 of Revelation 13 03:47 is arising up of a kingdom, arising up of a nation. 03:49 Now my interest is not to identify 03:52 what this kingdom is. 03:55 What we're going to do is we're going to be taking a look 03:56 and see what is surrounding this kingdom. 03:58 Now we understand that 03:59 Revelation is dealing with the end times 04:01 and what's gonna be taking place before Christ comes back. 04:03 And as we understand who this beast is 04:05 we'll realize that this beast is right before 04:08 Christ comes back. 04:09 Now we're gonna continue on 04:10 we see that there's a beast rising up here in verse 11 04:13 now we're going to go 04:14 to verse 14 of Revelation Chapter 13, 04:17 verse 14 the Bible says this. 04:19 "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth 04:21 by those means of those miracles 04:23 which he had power to do in the sight of the beast 04:25 saying to them that dwell on the earth, 04:28 that they should make an image to the beast, 04:32 which had the wound by a sword, and did live." 04:35 Now this beast that had a wound by sword and did lived 04:38 is the first beast of Revelation Chapter 13 04:40 you can see that if you take a look at yourself. 04:42 The first beast here the Bible says had a wound 04:45 and that the second beast is going to make 04:46 what the Bible defines in image to that first beast. 04:49 Now keep this in mind 04:50 because we're going to be taking to look 04:51 at another story in the Bible 04:53 that's gonna help us understand these end time issues 04:55 and how we can make it through. 04:57 So what we have so far is we have a beast rising up. 04:59 This beast is going to make an image to the first beast 05:02 and then the Bible goes on in verse 15 05:03 and it tells us this in Revelation 13:15 05:07 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, 05:10 that the image of the beast should both speak, 05:12 and cause that as many as would not worship 05:15 the image of the beast should be killed." 05:18 Now notice what the Bible is telling us here. 05:20 The Bible is saying that this second beast 05:23 is going to set up an image 05:25 that it's gonna cause people to worship it 05:27 not only is it gonna cause them to worship it 05:29 but if they do not worship it they will be killed. 05:33 They will be killed if they do not worship 05:35 this image to the beast. 05:36 Now we're gonna see that there's another scenario 05:38 identical to this when we go to Daniel the 3rd chapter. 05:42 But I just want to restate 05:43 what we have looked that so far. 05:44 We see a beast rising up, 05:46 this beast sets up an image through the first beast, 05:48 it causes the world-- 05:49 causes people to worship that beast 05:51 or giving homage to it-- 05:53 a religious aspect of worshipping it. 05:55 And if they do not worship that beast 05:57 the Bible says that they would be killed. 05:59 Verse 16 of Revelation 13, it tells us this. 06:03 "And he causeth all" now notice that word "all" 06:05 A-L-L. 06:06 "He causeth all, both small and great, 06:07 rich and poor, free and bond, 06:09 to receive a mark in their right hand, 06:11 or in their foreheads." 06:13 The Bible tells us that this beast 06:16 is going to cause the world everybody it says 06:19 it causeth all both small and great, 06:20 rich and poor, free and bond to worship this beast 06:23 and if they do not worship this beast 06:25 the Bible goes on it tells us 06:26 that if they do not worship it that they would be killed. 06:30 Now my desire again is not to identify 06:33 what this mark of the beast is 06:34 and all that kind of stuff that's surrounding here 06:36 at Revelation Chapter 13. 06:38 I'm just wanting to look at some of the issues 06:40 that surround this second beast of Revelation 13. 06:43 So what we have is this 06:44 we're gonna summarize it real quick 06:45 and then we're going to jump into our next passage. 06:47 We have a kingdom rising up, 06:48 this kingdom sets up an image to the first beast. 06:51 After it sets up an image to the beast 06:53 it causes the world and it says 06:54 it causeth all both small and great, 06:56 rich and poor, free and bond to worship this beast 06:59 or this image to the beast. 07:01 And if they do not worship it 07:03 the Bible says that they would annihilated, 07:04 that they would be killed, that they would be destroyed. 07:07 Now if find that very interesting here 07:08 in the later times that this is taking place 07:11 because the Bible tells us in Daniel Chapter 3 07:14 that this very same scenario took place 07:17 way back in Daniels time. 07:18 What do we see friends, 07:19 we see a simple illustration here 07:22 of how history simply just repeats itself. 07:24 So if we could study the Bible 07:26 and see how things would dealt with back in the old times, 07:28 back in that historical time 07:30 and see what took place during that time 07:32 it would give us a clue, it give us an idea 07:34 of what is gonna be taking place 07:36 right before Jesus comes back. 07:38 Now, now that we have looked at some of the issues 07:40 that surround the end times 07:42 and what's gonna be taking place 07:43 around this time of great tribulation 07:46 I want to connect it with another passage of scripture 07:49 that's going to give us vital information 07:51 on how we can make it through this time of great tribulation. 07:54 Are you ready? 07:55 Let's go in our Bibles now to Daniel the 3rd chapter 07:58 and we're going to be looking at Daniel Chapter 3 08:00 and we're going to look at verse 1. 08:02 Daniel 3:1 the Bible says this 08:05 "Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, 08:08 whose height was threescore cubits, 08:10 and the breadth thereof six cubits, 08:12 he set it up in the plain of Dura, 08:15 in the providence of Babylon." 08:17 Now what we have here is King Nebuchadnezzar 08:19 the Bible says he set up an image of gold. 08:21 Now who is King Nebuchadnezzar? 08:22 King Nebuchadnezzar is a king 08:24 over the providence of Babylon 08:25 you can see that very clearly from Daniel the first chapter. 08:28 He is the king over the kingdom of Babylon 08:31 and Bible says in Daniel Chapter 3 08:32 that Nebuchadnezzar sets up this image this image of gold. 08:35 He sets up an image. 08:36 Now what do we see here we see something repeating 08:39 that we looked at already in Revelation Chapter 13. 08:41 We see another kingdom rising up 08:44 and it setting up an image. 08:46 Now we've seen another kingdom in Revelation Chapter 13 08:48 rising up and setting up an image. 08:50 Now let's go on and see 08:51 what else the Bible says in Daniel Chapter 3 08:53 and we're gonna look at verse 4. 08:54 Daniel 3:4 it says this. 08:56 "Then an herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, 08:58 O people, nations, and languages." 09:02 Now we're gonna pause there and look at this Bible passage. 09:04 The Bible says here that 09:05 there is an herald that raised up. 09:06 Now in verse 2 and 3 09:08 you will see that there is 09:09 a gather together in Daniel 3:2-3, 09:12 they were gathered together all the princess, 09:13 the governors, the captains all the mighty 09:15 men of the providence of Babylon 09:17 there was a gathering together of vast assembly 09:20 of all of the important people 09:21 and might I add everybody during that time 09:25 of the providence of Babylon. 09:26 Now you have to understand during the time 09:28 of this kingdom this kingdom of Babylon 09:30 this was the most powerful kingdom 09:32 of the then known world. 09:33 It was the ruling nation it was the nation 09:36 that everybody looked up to during that time. 09:38 It was the most powerful kingdom of its era. 09:41 And the Bible says that 09:42 they were gathering together the people. 09:43 There was a herald that cried aloud to the people, 09:46 multitudes, nations and those people 09:48 that were gathered together there in the plain of Dura 09:50 and it goes on in verse 5 09:52 and the Bible says this in verse 5. 09:55 "That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, 09:58 flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, 10:02 and all kinds of musick, ye fall down 10:05 and worship the golden image 10:09 that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up." 10:13 Friends, what do we see here? 10:14 We see here that there is herald that cried aloud. 10:16 He was crying to the people that lived during that time, 10:19 those people that were there in the plain of Dura 10:21 and he said when you hear the sound of the music, 10:23 when you here the flute, the cornet the harp, 10:25 the sackbut, psaltery, the dulcimer 10:26 and all kinds of music when you hear 10:28 the music being played you are to fall down 10:31 and worship that golden image. 10:32 Now are you seeing something repeating here 10:34 that we already looked at in Revelation Chapter 13? 10:37 We have a kingdom rising up, 10:38 setting up an image, calling to everybody 10:41 it's a big thing calling to the world, 10:43 calling to the then known world to come 10:46 and to worship that golden image. 10:48 Now let's go on and continue in our story 10:50 and look at verse 6 of Daniel 3:6. 10:53 The Bible says this. 10:54 "And whoso falleth not down 10:56 and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast 11:00 into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." 11:04 The Bible tells us here 11:07 that there is a same identical scenario taking place 11:11 in Daniel the 3rd chapter 11:12 that's gonna take place in the end of this world. 11:14 The Bible says that the same thing 11:15 that took place in Daniel Chapter 3 11:17 is gonna take place again in Revelation Chapter 13 11:20 down in the end of the world during the time 11:21 of what the Bible calls the great tribulation. 11:23 And friends, if we study Daniel Chapter 3 11:25 if we look at the scenario that surrounds Daniel Chapter 3 11:28 it will give us the ability to make it 11:30 through what the Bible calls this time of great tribulation 11:32 which is gonna take place 11:34 during the time of Revelation Chapter 13. 11:35 So what do we see? 11:36 We see something repeating here 11:37 the same thing that repeated in Revelation 13. 11:40 A kingdom arises up, it sets up an image, 11:42 it calls to the people of that nation 11:45 or the then known world and says 11:47 that you are to worship this golden image 11:49 that Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 11:51 Then not only are they to worship it 11:52 but if they do not fall down and worship it 11:54 they will be annihilated. 11:56 They will be killed, they will be destroyed the Bible says. 11:59 The same thing identical to what happened 12:01 in Daniel Chapter 3 12:03 is gonna take place again in the end of the world. 12:05 And if we again if we look at the story 12:07 and what happened to some of the people 12:08 during this time it will give us the ability, 12:11 it will give us the strength to make it 12:12 through this time of great tribulation. 12:14 Now before we go into our second question 12:16 I just want to state two points 12:17 that are very important for us to understand that 12:19 this issue during the time of great tribulation. 12:22 The first point is this, in Daniel 3:1 12:24 the Bible tells us that Nebuchadnezzar, 12:26 King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image. 12:28 Now you have to understand the context 12:29 that we're working in. 12:30 In Daniel Chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, 12:33 a dream of an image and this dream 12:35 and this image had different element of metal. 12:38 It had head of gold, chest and arms of silver, 12:39 belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, 12:40 feet of iron and clay and Daniel God's prophet 12:44 came to Nebuchadnezzar told him what he dreamt 12:46 not only told him what he dreamt 12:47 but also told him the interpretation 12:49 of what all of these things meant. 12:51 And in Daniel Chapter 2, 12:52 Daniel tells king Nebuchadnezzar 12:54 he says king, you are the head of Gold. 12:58 He tells king Nebuchadnezzar 12:59 that the first of his part of dream represented him. 13:02 And I'm sure King Nebuchadnezzar 13:03 he probably felt pretty good 13:04 when Daniel said you're head of gold. 13:06 Yes, I'm the head, I'm gold, I'm the best element of metal 13:09 but then Daniel goes on and he says 13:12 after thee shall arise another nation inferior to thee 13:15 represented by the chest and arms of silver. 13:17 And I'm sure at that point 13:18 Nebuchadnezzar probably scolded Daniel 13:20 because he thought that the kingdom of Babylon 13:23 will never pass away. 13:24 It would go on throughout the ages 13:26 it would never pass away 13:27 it would be the best nation for the rest of this world 13:30 throughout the future 13:32 and throughout the rest of everybody's life 13:34 that Babylon would stand as thee nation 13:36 that everybody would look at. 13:38 But Daniel said no, no, no, that's not what God says, 13:40 God says there's going to be another nation 13:42 that arises that it will be inferior to thee 13:44 but this nation is going to come. 13:45 And then what we do is 13:46 we turn over to Daniel Chapter 3 13:48 and we find out that contrary to what God said 13:51 Nebuchadnezzar sets up an image of gold 13:53 that is totally made out of that element 13:55 that represents his nation or the kingdom of Babylon. 13:57 What was Nebuchadnezzar doing here? 13:59 He was sending out a message to those people 14:01 who heard the interpretation of Daniel's interpretation 14:04 or God's interpretation of this image 14:06 that Nebuchadnezzar saw in Daniel Chapter 2. 14:10 He is sending out a message and he is saying listen 14:12 Babylon is not going to fall, 14:13 Babylon is going to stand forever 14:15 and this is represented by that golden image 14:17 that I have set up. 14:18 What do we see in this scenario is this, 14:21 during the end times right before Jesus comes back 14:23 there is going to be a twisting off the truth. 14:27 You see the truth of the matter was 14:29 Babylon was not gonna last forever, 14:30 Babylon was going to fall. 14:31 But there is a twisting of truth here 14:33 and Nebuchadnezzar says no, 14:34 Babylon is going to stand forever. 14:36 So what we see during the end times 14:37 there is going to be a twisting of truth. 14:39 A twisting of what God says is truth and what I might say 14:42 there's going to be a twisting of God's word. 14:44 People that are going to say things 14:45 about the Word of God that are not true 14:46 and friends, we need to be students of the Word of God. 14:48 We need to go by the Bible and the Bible alone. 14:52 What is the second thing that we see in this scenario 14:55 as we're looking at it here in Daniel Chapter 3? 14:58 What we see is that there is enforced worship of an image. 15:00 There's enforced worship of this image 15:02 and you know what the Bible tells us 15:03 in Exodus Chapter 20 15:05 where the Ten Commandments are recorded 15:06 the Bible says, that we are not to fall down 15:09 and worship graven images. 15:10 That we are not to worship images of gold and of wood 15:12 and of metal and of rock and whatever it may be 15:15 we're not to worship golden images 15:17 but we are to worship the Lord God 15:19 and Him only are we to serve the Bible tells us. 15:22 So what we see during the end times 15:24 is not only is that going to be a twisting of truth 15:26 but there is going to be enforced worship 15:28 that's gonna make people go contrary 15:30 to the Word of God. 15:31 There's gonna be enforced image worship 15:33 instead of worshipping the Lord God and Him only. 15:36 And friends, the Bible tells us that if we worship that image, 15:39 if we worship the image down in the end of this world 15:41 that we will receive the mark of the beast 15:43 and the Bible says in Revelation Chapter 14 15:46 that those who worship that image 15:48 that receive that mark 15:49 that they will receive the wine of the wrath of God. 15:51 So we don't want to receive the wrath of God. 15:53 We want to receive the blessings of God. 15:54 And so what we are going to do now 15:55 is we're gonna answer question number two. 15:57 Question number two was, 15:58 how can I make it through this time of great tribulation? 16:01 How can I make it through this time of great difficulty? 16:03 Friends, this is a question that I want to find the answer 16:06 and I'm sure that's the answer that you want to find as well. 16:09 Now we continue in this story and we think about it this. 16:12 As we continue in our story 16:14 we find out that there were three Hebrew young men, 16:17 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 16:18 They were friends of Daniel. 16:19 They were there on the plain of Dura on that day. 16:21 And as that proclamation went out 16:23 that when you hear the sound of the music 16:25 that all those different types of music 16:27 that you are to fall down and worship that golden image 16:29 that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. 16:31 Now they were Hebrews they had been thought 16:33 the truth of our God's word, 16:34 they have been taught the Ten Commandments 16:36 that we are not to worship graven images. 16:38 And so when they were on the plain of Dura 16:40 they were placed in a situation 16:41 where they have to make a decision. 16:42 Am I gonna obey God or am I gonna man. 16:44 And interestingly enough my friends, 16:46 when you look at the Books of Daniel and Revelation 16:48 you see this thing recurring over and over and over again. 16:51 Worship to God, worship to man, worship to God, worship the man 16:53 and we have to make the decision today 16:55 am I going to stand for God 16:57 or am I going to stand on man side. 16:59 And friends, I pray today and I pray everyday 17:01 that God will find a faithful group of people in this world 17:05 that will obey God rather than man. 17:07 And so these young men 17:08 they were placed into this decision 17:09 am I going to fall down and worship this image 17:12 or am I going to stay to faithful to God. 17:13 And you know what it happened 17:14 when that music started playing that beautiful Babylonian music 17:17 I'm sure it was beautiful 17:18 and it probably was all inspiring that music 17:20 and it made somebody want to worship that image. 17:23 I'm sure when they heard that music my friends, 17:26 they were thinking in their minds 17:27 and they made a decision I'm gonna stay faithful to God. 17:30 I'm gonna stand for what's right. 17:32 I'm gonna obey God rather than man. 17:34 And as that music began to play 17:35 and the people bow down like a wave of the sea 17:38 and they bow their heads and worship that image of gold 17:41 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 17:43 the Bible says they stood faithful. 17:45 They stood up in the midst 17:47 of all those compromising people of the age. 17:49 And friends, God wants to go with people 17:51 that will stand firm on His side. 17:55 We go on with the story. 17:56 There is some people that saw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 17:59 they weren't bowing down 18:00 and they go and tell King Nebuchadnezzar 18:01 listen, there's some, there's some people 18:02 that are not worshipping the image. 18:04 King Nebuchadnezzar calls them in. 18:05 He gives them a second chance 18:06 and I want to read to you from the Bible 18:08 what Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say 18:10 to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:16-18, 18:15 Daniel 3:16-18 the Bible says this. 18:17 "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 18:19 answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, 18:22 we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 18:26 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us 18:31 from the burning fiery furnace, 18:33 and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18:37 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, 18:40 that we will not serve thy gods, 18:43 nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." 18:48 Friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 18:50 they stood up before king Nebuchadnezzar 18:53 fearless of what he might do. 18:54 They said listen king, 18:55 you may throw us into the burning fiery furnace, 18:57 you may torture us, you may kill us, 18:59 you can take our life 19:00 but we will not worship that golden image 19:04 that you has set up. 19:05 Friends, what is it that is going to get us 19:07 through this time of great tribulation? 19:09 What is the key element that gives us the power 19:11 to make it through that great time of difficulty? 19:14 Let me tell you what it is. 19:15 What it is its faithfulness to God's word, 19:18 that's what's gonna make us 19:19 get through that time of great tribulation. 19:21 Faithfulness to God's word, obedience to God's word 19:23 and listen friends, we can obey God's word 19:26 we can't be faithful to God's word 19:27 unless we study God's word. 19:29 And so as students of the word as students of God's truth 19:32 friends, as we study the Bible obedience to through that word 19:36 is what is going to give us the strength 19:38 to stand up in that last day 19:40 when the world is compromising and bowing down before that 19:45 that prophetic image there in Revelation Chapter 13. 19:48 What is going to give us the strength to stand my friends, 19:51 is faithfulness to the Word of God. 19:53 Knowing God's word, knowing what's gonna take place 19:55 in the end of the world 19:56 that God will take care of this people 19:58 just like it took care of Shadrach, 20:00 Meshach, and Abednego, 20:01 God will take care of his end time people 20:04 living right before Jesus comes back. 20:07 What happened, the king was furious. 20:10 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were rebellion against him. 20:12 And he had a statement that he had to make. 20:14 So he took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 20:16 he bound them up and he said 20:20 "make the furnace seven times hotter than usual 20:23 and cast these men into that burning fiery furnace. 20:26 I want you to throw these men in that fiery furnace 20:28 and I want to show them 20:29 that I'm the ruler there is no other God. 20:32 My image of gold is thee God and there God is in adequate 20:35 and unable to save them." 20:38 So King Nebuchadnezzar he binds up 20:40 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 20:41 he binds them up and gets the strongest guards 20:44 and he throws them into the midst 20:45 of the burning fiery furnace and what does the king see. 20:49 Notice what the Bible says in Daniel 3:24, 25, 20:53 Daniel 3:24, 25 the Bible says this. 20:56 "Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished." 21:00 He was astonished, it says. 21:01 "And rose up in haste, and spake, 21:04 and said unto his counselors, 21:06 did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? 21:10 They answered and they said unto the king, True, O king. 21:13 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men." 21:16 Not three but four. 21:17 "Loose, walking in the midst of the fire, 21:20 and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth 21:23 is like the Son of God." 21:25 You see Nebuchadnezzar 21:27 he looked into that burning fiery furnace 21:29 and he wanted to see 21:30 he was looking and they were pride. 21:32 You see I'm gonna get rid of these guys. 21:33 They're gonna be destroyed, they're gonna be annihilated, 21:35 they're gonna be burnt up, 21:36 they're gonna be cast into that fire of furnace 21:38 and he looks into that fiery furnace 21:40 from his Babylonian throne with all the pride 21:43 that he has as a Babylonian ruler 21:46 and he sees four people in that fiery furnace. 21:48 He sees four people walking around 21:50 I mean, not only are they walking around 21:51 but the Bible says that they are loose and unharmed. 21:54 Now think about it can men truly walk 21:56 in the midst of the burning fiery furnace? 21:57 No we cannot. 21:58 We will be annihilated, 22:00 we would be destroyed by the fire 22:01 but the Bible tells us 22:03 that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 22:04 that they were they were kept in safety 22:07 because listen to me now this is important 22:10 because of their faithfulness to God, 22:12 God was faithful to them. 22:13 Do you see the connection here 22:15 because of their faithfulness to God, 22:16 God said they're faithful to me 22:18 I'm going to be faithful to them. 22:19 And friends, God has given us a promise 22:21 and you can read it on your own time 22:23 in Psalms Chapter 91 22:24 that during the time of tribulation 22:26 during the time of great difficulty 22:28 during the time when plaques are pour out 22:30 to destroy the wicked people God will keep his people safe. 22:33 The Bible says that no plaque will come not thy dwelling. 22:35 The Bible says the bread shall be given them, 22:38 the water shall be sure 22:39 God will keep His people 22:40 as a go through this time of great difficulty 22:43 He will be faithful to them 22:44 just like He was faithful 22:46 to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 22:47 Now think with me if you would 22:50 what if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had compromised. 22:53 What if they've compromised and they said well 22:56 we won't worship the image. 22:58 We just act like we're tying our sandal. 22:59 I'll just act like I'm itching my ankle. 23:01 I will just act like 23:02 I'm looking at something 23:03 that's interesting on the ground 23:04 when everybody just happens 23:05 to fall down and worship this image. 23:07 I will just make it look like it 23:08 but I will worship the image I actually worship God. 23:10 I will be praying to the God in heaven as I do this. 23:12 Now what would have happened if they would have compromised? 23:14 There are few things that would have happened. 23:15 The first thing is this. 23:17 They would have been disobeyed God's commandments. 23:18 That's the first thing and I believe 23:19 that's the most important thing. 23:21 They would have been disobedient to God's law. 23:22 The second thing is this they would have missed out 23:25 on being in the presence of God. 23:27 Can you imagine that 23:28 being in the midst of the burning fiery furnace 23:30 being in the midst of that trial that difficulty 23:33 being in the midst of that trial 23:34 they were there with the presence 23:36 in the presence of God himself? 23:38 They would have missed out on that 23:39 if they would have compromised. 23:41 Next thing is that they would have missed out 23:43 on being an effective witness to King Nebuchadnezzar 23:46 and all of the rest of the providence of Babylon. 23:48 They would have missed out on that 23:50 very important opportunity to be a witness to the people 23:53 that lived during that time. 23:55 They wouldn't have been an proper witness 23:56 and the last thing 23:59 is they would have missed out on being 24:00 part of one of the most powerful miracles 24:02 that are recorded in the Bible. 24:04 They wouldn't have been part of that miracle 24:06 of walking in the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24:08 Friends, I want you to ask you a question. 24:10 If you were there on the plain of Dura that day 24:13 and you've seen that beautiful golden image 24:15 that Nebuchadnezzar had set up 24:17 and then you've heard all of that music playing 24:20 that beautiful Babylonian music 24:23 and you've seen that vast assembly around you 24:26 falling down and worshipping that image 24:28 what would you have done? 24:29 Would you have worshiped that image? 24:31 Would you have fallen down and given homage to that image? 24:34 Would you have loved your life 24:36 more than obedience to the Word of God? 24:38 Friends, think about this 24:40 because I believe how will respond it 24:43 during the time of Daniel Chapter 3 24:45 is how you'll respond in the end of this world. 24:48 You see friends, God is looking for people. 24:51 He's is looking for a group of people 24:52 that will be faithful to Him, 24:53 that will be faithful to His commandments, 24:55 that will be faithful to what He has asked us to do. 24:58 And friends, I don't know about you 24:59 but I would rather be faithful to God 25:02 then disobedient to God. 25:03 I would rather obey Him and lose my life 25:06 than be disobedient to Him 25:08 and save my life here in this earth for a short time. 25:11 Friends, I ask you the question what would have done 25:12 if you were there in the plain of Dura? 25:14 You heard that music playing would you have fallen down 25:16 or would you have continued to stand firm and worship God? 25:22 The story goes on and it tells us 25:24 that as a result of Shadrach, Meshach, 25:26 and Abednego standing for what was right 25:29 that he was actually converted over to the truth. 25:31 He was a witness to Nebuchadnezzar. 25:33 And friends, I believe that if we stand for what is right 25:35 we can be a witness to those around us. 25:38 I want to go to Revelation Chapter 7 25:40 and really quickly here and verse 1-3, 25:42 Revelation 7:1-3 it says this 25:44 "And after these things I saw 25:46 four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, 25:48 holding the four winds of the earth, 25:50 that the wind should not blow on the earth, 25:52 nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 25:55 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, 25:58 having the seal of the living God 25:59 and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, 26:02 to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 26:05 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea." 26:08 Listen to this now. 26:10 "Nor the trees, till we have sealed 26:13 the servants of our God in their foreheads." 26:17 The Bible tells us that God has a seal 26:19 He wants to place on His people. 26:21 That God has a seal He wants to give to His people. 26:23 And friends, I ask you the question 26:25 do you want to receive the mark of the beast 26:26 or do you want to receive the seal of the living God? 26:28 Now we don't, we don't even have to understand exactly 26:31 what the mark of the beast and is the seal of the God is 26:33 to make this decision we want to receive God's seal. 26:36 We want to be loyal to God. 26:37 We want to receive what God wants to give to us 26:39 not what the world wants to give to us. 26:40 Let me share with you a promise enclosing here. 26:42 the Bible tells us this. 26:46 "And I saw as it were 26:50 a sea of glass mingled with fire 26:52 and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, 26:55 and over his image, and over his mark, 26:57 and over the number of his name, 27:00 stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." 27:03 Friends, the Bible tells us here 27:05 that there will be a group of people 27:07 that receives victory over this beast, 27:10 over this beast that is forcing them 27:12 to worship against God's will. 27:15 Friends, I want to be part of that group of people. 27:18 I want to give my life completely over to God 27:20 and say God I want to be part of that group of people 27:23 that receives victory over the beast. 27:25 That receives victory over the things in this world 27:27 over the people in this world, over the trials in this world. 27:30 Friends, do you want to be part of that group of people? 27:32 Do you want to see inside of your heart today 27:34 as you sit in your home, God, I want to be part 27:36 of that group of people that receives victory. 27:38 I want to be Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 27:40 I want to be a modern day 27:41 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 27:43 I want to fully dedicate my life over to You. 27:45 If that's Your desire I would just ask 27:47 that you will pray and say God, 27:49 please, give me the victory. 27:51 May God bless you in your question to over come. |
Revised 2014-12-17