A science fiction
story that was written
00:00:27.24\00:00:29.45
some years ago tells of a
very, very intriguing idea.
00:00:29.46\00:00:35.28
An editor
invented a printing press
00:00:35.29\00:00:38.68
and using Einstein's
theories of time and space
00:00:38.69\00:00:42.91
he invented this printing press
00:00:42.92\00:00:44.47
that instead of
printing the news
00:00:44.48\00:00:46.29
that happened in
the last 24 hours,
00:00:46.30\00:00:49.76
invented a printing press
00:00:49.77\00:00:50.87
that was going to tell the news
00:00:50.88\00:00:52.24
that was going to
happen in the next 24 hours.
00:00:52.25\00:00:56.43
And so this frantic
editor as this printing press
00:00:56.44\00:00:59.56
began to print and tell things
00:00:59.57\00:01:01.56
that were going to
happen in the next 24 hours.
00:01:01.57\00:01:03.85
This frantic editor
tried to warn people
00:01:03.86\00:01:06.26
who were
involved in car accidents
00:01:06.27\00:01:08.31
and other tragedies
00:01:08.32\00:01:10.54
and things that were
terrible in their lives.
00:01:10.55\00:01:13.30
He tried to tell them
about it before it happened.
00:01:13.31\00:01:15.70
But they wouldn't listen to him.
00:01:15.71\00:01:16.69
And they thought
he had gone crank.
00:01:16.70\00:01:18.90
And finally in desperation
he destroyed the printing press.
00:01:18.91\00:01:25.34
Now of course no
such printing press
00:01:25.35\00:01:27.29
has ever been
invented nor ever will be
00:01:27.30\00:01:29.65
because there's one thing
that human beings can't do.
00:01:29.66\00:01:33.61
And that is foretell the future.
00:01:33.62\00:01:37.95
I mean if we
could tell the future
00:01:37.96\00:01:39.32
all we would have to do,
00:01:39.33\00:01:41.24
the next horse
race that takes place.
00:01:41.25\00:01:44.62
All you'd need to do is
put all your money on the horse
00:01:44.63\00:01:47.02
that you know is going to win
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and you could
become a very rich person.
00:01:48.01\00:01:50.11
Isn't that right?
00:01:50.12\00:01:52.26
And it wouldn't seem
to be very difficult to me
00:01:52.27\00:01:54.21
if someone claims that
they can read the future
00:01:54.22\00:01:56.17
to be able to tell which horse
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is going to win next race.
00:01:57.38\00:01:58.73
Because you haven't got
00:01:59.13\00:02:00.10
to tell her the
long way in advance,
00:02:00.11\00:02:01.25
only what half an
hour before the horse race.
00:02:01.26\00:02:06.56
Or if you don't like
horse races what about lotto?
00:02:06.57\00:02:10.85
Pick six numbers
00:02:10.86\00:02:12.96
and you could
become a multimillionaire.
00:02:12.97\00:02:15.81
And once again if
you can read the future
00:02:15.82\00:02:17.74
if human beings can
read the future surely.
00:02:17.75\00:02:20.14
It shouldn't be
very hard to do that.
00:02:20.15\00:02:22.03
But the trouble
is nobody can do it.
00:02:22.04\00:02:24.53
Now every now and again
someone backs the right horse
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and they get the right numbers
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but get them to
do at the next week
00:02:28.44\00:02:29.75
or the next week
or the next week.
00:02:29.76\00:02:32.37
Impossible, because
nobody can read the future.
00:02:32.38\00:02:36.66
But I wanna tell you this.
00:02:36.67\00:02:37.92
God actually guarantees
He can read the future.
00:02:37.93\00:02:42.45
And He has written it
down, so that we today can read
00:02:42.46\00:02:46.91
what was written
thousands of years ago
00:02:46.92\00:02:49.04
and as it comes to
pass before our eyes today
00:02:49.05\00:02:53.08
it gives us
tremendous confidence
00:02:53.09\00:02:54.74
that we're not following
some made up story or fairytale.
00:02:54.75\00:02:59.26
And that written
material its called prophecy
00:02:59.27\00:03:03.19
has actually been
written in the Bible.
00:03:03.20\00:03:06.53
Now I know that there maybe
some of my friends here today
00:03:06.54\00:03:09.95
who maybe, have got
00:03:09.96\00:03:13.43
some very skeptical
views about the Bible.
00:03:13.44\00:03:15.57
I wonder whether
the Bible is true,
00:03:15.58\00:03:17.73
whether it's just
full of fairy stories.
00:03:17.74\00:03:21.77
Story of Adam and Eve
00:03:21.78\00:03:22.82
and all that just a fairy story.
00:03:22.83\00:03:25.63
Well, I want to assure you
over these series of programs
00:03:25.64\00:03:29.28
that I'm going
to give you evidence
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that this book is
indeed God's book.
00:03:31.80\00:03:36.04
Matthew 16, it says,
00:03:36.05\00:03:37.82
"Then the
Pharisees and Sadducees came,
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and testing Him asked
that He would show them
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a sign from heaven.
00:03:43.65\00:03:45.65
He answered and said to them,
"When it is evening you say,
00:03:45.66\00:03:48.54
it will be fair
weather, for the sky is red,"
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and in the morning,
00:03:51.12\00:03:52.22
"It will be foul weather today,
00:03:52.23\00:03:53.86
for the sky is
red and threatening."
00:03:53.87\00:03:56.50
Hypocrites! You know how to
discern the face of the sky,
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but you cannot discern
the signs of the times."
00:04:00.87\00:04:07.65
Now, Jesus, called
these men hypocrites,
00:04:07.66\00:04:09.97
that is the
religious leaders of the day
00:04:09.98\00:04:12.66
because they
could go out at night
00:04:12.67\00:04:14.94
and they could see a red sky.
00:04:14.95\00:04:17.34
And what does
usually a red sky suggest
00:04:17.35\00:04:19.59
when you see it in the evening?
00:04:19.60\00:04:22.22
That shows it's going to
be, what, good weather tomorrow?
00:04:22.23\00:04:24.91
On the other hand, if
you get up in the morning
00:04:24.92\00:04:26.45
and you noticed a
red sky in the east.
00:04:26.46\00:04:28.69
What does that usually suggest?
00:04:28.70\00:04:30.75
Not so good.
00:04:30.76\00:04:31.73
We have a saying, aren't we?
00:04:31.74\00:04:32.96
Shepherd's delight
and a shepherd's warning.
00:04:32.97\00:04:36.71
And these men were as
good as the weather bureau.
00:04:36.72\00:04:39.95
They knew what type of weather
00:04:39.96\00:04:42.05
because they
studied the signs in the sky
00:04:42.06\00:04:44.58
but they knew nothing
about the signs of the times.
00:04:44.59\00:04:48.83
And, Jesus said, that they ought
00:04:48.84\00:04:51.13
to have understood
the signs of the times.
00:04:51.14\00:04:55.11
In fact, on one occasion,
the disciples came to Jesus
00:04:55.12\00:04:58.20
while He was on His own,
separate from the crowds.
00:04:58.21\00:05:02.48
It's recorded over
here in Matthew 24.
00:05:02.49\00:05:04.51
If you'd just come
over a little further
00:05:04.52\00:05:05.88
to Matthew 24.
00:05:05.89\00:05:07.75
And they asked Him the question
00:05:07.76\00:05:09.39
because they had
heard, Jesus, speak so often
00:05:09.40\00:05:11.91
about the signs of the times.
00:05:11.92\00:05:14.10
That they got, Jesus,
alone by themselves one day
00:05:14.11\00:05:16.98
and this is the
question they put to Him.
00:05:16.99\00:05:20.78
"Now as He sat on
the Mount of Olives."
00:05:20.79\00:05:23.63
This is verse 3
down the bottom see.
00:05:23.64\00:05:26.30
"The disciples came
to Him privately, saying,
00:05:26.31\00:05:29.71
"Tell us, when
will these things be?
00:05:29.72\00:05:33.22
And what will be
the sign of Your coming,
00:05:33.23\00:05:37.70
and the end of the age?"
00:05:37.71\00:05:40.86
And so the
disciples wanted to know
00:05:40.87\00:05:45.23
the answer to this
question from Jesus.
00:05:45.24\00:05:47.30
How will the world end?
00:05:47.31\00:05:48.64
What will be the
sign of Your coming
00:05:48.65\00:05:50.77
and the end of the world?
00:05:50.78\00:05:51.84
And it's interesting to
notice what, Jesus, said.
00:05:51.85\00:05:54.35
You would expect for Him
00:05:54.36\00:05:56.06
immediately to say,
well, the first sign will be
00:05:56.07\00:05:59.34
and then to
start listing them off.
00:05:59.35\00:06:00.94
But He doesn't do that.
00:06:00.95\00:06:01.92
Have a look at verse
4 as to what He says.
00:06:01.93\00:06:05.50
Jesus, answered
and said to them,
00:06:05.51\00:06:07.74
"Take heed that no
one," what, "deceives you."
00:06:07.75\00:06:14.04
So He starts with a warning.
00:06:14.05\00:06:16.17
Because He said
there's going to be an awful
00:06:16.18\00:06:18.41
lot of deception
regarding my coming.
00:06:18.42\00:06:22.39
Because there is going to be
00:06:22.40\00:06:23.37
lots of people
claiming to be this
00:06:23.38\00:06:26.00
and claiming to be that.
00:06:26.01\00:06:27.52
And what proportion of
the population is the many
00:06:27.53\00:06:30.42
when it says they
will deceive many.
00:06:30.43\00:06:33.65
What proportion of the
population would many be?
00:06:33.66\00:06:39.68
Not all, would
it? Many is not all.
00:06:39.69\00:06:43.66
The majority,
that's right, the majority.
00:06:43.67\00:06:45.45
So it has to be
at least 51 percent,
00:06:45.46\00:06:47.74
isn't that
right? To be the many.
00:06:47.75\00:06:51.40
So at least we would
say half the population
00:06:51.41\00:06:56.56
is deceived regarding,
the coming of Jesus, at least.
00:06:56.57\00:07:00.35
Many are going to be deceived.
00:07:00.36\00:07:02.84
And He says here that
they, as it says in verse 5
00:07:02.85\00:07:09.07
"For many will come in My name,
00:07:09.08\00:07:10.66
saying, I am the
Christ, and will deceive many."
00:07:10.67\00:07:15.73
That's the vast majority.
00:07:15.74\00:07:17.99
And so that's why when
we go out to talk to people
00:07:18.00\00:07:21.36
about the coming of,
Jesus, we have to recognize that
00:07:21.37\00:07:24.42
the vast majority
of people are deceived.
00:07:24.43\00:07:27.77
They do not know.
00:07:27.78\00:07:31.36
That's why we
must go to the Bible
00:07:31.37\00:07:32.96
to find out what, Jesus said.
00:07:32.97\00:07:34.60
Not to ask this one or that one
00:07:34.61\00:07:36.50
because they may be amongst
the group that are deceived.
00:07:36.51\00:07:40.57
We must go to what, Jesus said.
00:07:40.58\00:07:42.49
And here in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:07:42.50\00:07:44.58
Jesus, gives us five great signs
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that are going to take
place before He returns.
00:07:48.48\00:07:51.24
First of all, signs
in the religious world.
00:07:51.25\00:07:55.85
Then He talks about
signs in the political world.
00:07:55.86\00:08:00.43
Then He talks about
signs in the natural world.
00:08:00.44\00:08:04.29
Signs in the economic world
00:08:04.30\00:08:06.07
and finally signs
in the social world.
00:08:06.08\00:08:09.84
Let's have a look
first of all at the signs
00:08:09.85\00:08:11.90
that He spoke about
in the religious world.
00:08:11.91\00:08:13.95
Verse 5, "For many
will come in My name
00:08:13.96\00:08:19.27
saying, I am the Christ."
00:08:19.28\00:08:22.19
Now when it says that
they will come in My name
00:08:22.20\00:08:25.29
what does that mean?
00:08:25.30\00:08:28.15
Does that mean that
they are the atheists?
00:08:28.16\00:08:30.58
They are the soothsayers?
00:08:30.59\00:08:34.51
And those
dabbling in witchcraft?
00:08:34.52\00:08:36.58
Is that what it's talking about?
00:08:36.59\00:08:38.47
Not necessarily at all.
00:08:38.48\00:08:39.92
It's talking
about those who claim
00:08:39.93\00:08:43.13
to be followers of Christ,
that is the religious world.
00:08:43.14\00:08:48.10
The Christian world.
00:08:48.11\00:08:50.70
They are the ones Jesus
said to be careful about
00:08:50.71\00:08:53.32
because
they--in what they teach.
00:08:53.33\00:08:56.17
They're going to deceive many.
00:08:56.18\00:08:58.52
The vast majority and
so the very first thing
00:08:58.53\00:09:01.68
that we noticed about
His coming is a warning.
00:09:01.69\00:09:05.15
Be very careful Jesus said.
00:09:05.16\00:09:07.16
There is a lot
deception and so that ought to
00:09:07.17\00:09:09.69
put us on full alert
as we study the subject
00:09:09.70\00:09:12.72
to be very, very
careful in our study
00:09:12.73\00:09:15.20
and that's the reason
why we've gone to the expense
00:09:15.21\00:09:17.54
of giving you all a Bible
00:09:17.55\00:09:18.70
because I don't
want you to go home
00:09:18.71\00:09:20.72
from this meeting saying, well,
00:09:20.73\00:09:21.95
that's what,
Geoff Youlden teaches.
00:09:21.96\00:09:25.26
Or that's Geoff
Youlden's opinion.
00:09:25.27\00:09:27.39
In all honesty
friends, what my opinion is
00:09:27.40\00:09:30.27
and with all due respect
to you what your opinion is
00:09:30.28\00:09:32.98
really in the
bottom line doesen't count.
00:09:32.99\00:09:35.87
Because the only opinion
00:09:35.88\00:09:37.27
that really
matters is what God says.
00:09:37.28\00:09:40.58
And that's why we
want you to see it
00:09:40.59\00:09:42.34
with your own eyes.
00:09:42.35\00:09:43.32
We want you to study this book.
00:09:43.33\00:09:45.02
Because by the
time the series finishes
00:09:45.03\00:09:47.27
I want you to feel
00:09:47.28\00:09:48.42
that you're very
comfortable with the Bible.
00:09:48.43\00:09:50.98
And that you are
finding your way round it.
00:09:50.99\00:09:54.71
And so Jesus said,
"Be very, very careful,
00:09:54.72\00:09:58.21
there is going to
be a lot of deception
00:09:58.22\00:09:59.87
regarding My coming."
00:09:59.88\00:10:01.19
Then He began to talk about
signs in the political world.
00:10:01.20\00:10:04.93
Have a look at verse 6.
Matthew 24, now verse 6.
00:10:04.94\00:10:10.21
"And you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars.
00:10:10.22\00:10:15.48
See that you are not troubled,
00:10:15.49\00:10:16.69
for all these
things must come to pass,
00:10:16.70\00:10:18.93
but the end is not yet.
00:10:18.94\00:10:20.35
For nation will
rise against nation,
00:10:20.36\00:10:23.42
and kingdom against kingdom."
00:10:23.43\00:10:25.29
When you say,
we've always had wars.
00:10:25.30\00:10:28.12
Absolutely, we
have always had wars.
00:10:28.13\00:10:31.00
Wars in themselves are
not a sign of Christ coming
00:10:31.01\00:10:34.76
because as we all admit
there's always been wars,
00:10:34.77\00:10:37.41
well, it is human nature until
00:10:37.42\00:10:38.91
human beings' on the world
00:10:38.92\00:10:40.69
there's going to be wars
and unrest and unhappiness.
00:10:40.70\00:10:46.20
But what we are
facing as we study the Bible
00:10:46.21\00:10:49.76
is an increase of the signs
00:10:49.77\00:10:53.21
as we get closer to
the coming of Jesus.
00:10:53.22\00:10:55.80
That's what
we're going to notice.
00:10:55.81\00:10:57.35
For example, let me
give you some history.
00:10:57.36\00:11:00.62
Historians estimate that
up until the, First World War,
00:11:00.63\00:11:05.08
there have been about 900
major wars in the world, 900.
00:11:05.09\00:11:11.93
But in the First World War,
00:11:11.94\00:11:16.01
over seven million
men and women died.
00:11:16.02\00:11:20.20
In fact, up until
the, First World War,
00:11:20.21\00:11:24.81
there were seven times
more people killed in that war
00:11:24.82\00:11:30.83
than historians
estimate than all the human wars
00:11:30.84\00:11:34.59
put together, seven times.
00:11:34.60\00:11:38.18
But Jesus said, these
things were only going to be
00:11:38.19\00:11:40.82
but the beginning that was
00:11:40.83\00:11:41.80
followed by the,
Second World War.
00:11:41.81\00:11:43.55
And since the, Second World War,
00:11:43.56\00:11:45.29
in which millions more died,
00:11:45.30\00:11:47.31
we've hardly
had a year of peace.
00:11:47.32\00:11:51.64
And when we think
of, Korea, and, Vietnam,
00:11:51.65\00:11:53.88
and, Cambodia, and Afghanistan,
00:11:53.89\00:11:55.81
and Ethiopia, and
Angola, and Lebanon, and Iraq
00:11:55.82\00:11:59.25
and Kurdistan, and Armenia,
00:11:59.26\00:12:01.46
Nicaragua, and El
Salvador, Burundi, Bosnia,
00:12:01.47\00:12:05.06
Anglia, Angola, and the
list goes on and on and on
00:12:05.07\00:12:08.93
and we'll continue
to go on and on and on.
00:12:08.94\00:12:13.16
We're going to see
00:12:13.17\00:12:14.14
an
intensification of these things
00:12:14.15\00:12:16.04
the closer we get
to the coming of Jesus.
00:12:16.05\00:12:18.10
That's what, Jesus,
was talking about here.
00:12:18.11\00:12:21.71
In fact if you'd come over
00:12:21.72\00:12:22.69
to the book of Luke
now, the 21 Chapter.
00:12:22.70\00:12:25.17
Now Luke is recording
exactly the same sermon
00:12:25.18\00:12:29.14
that Jesus preached,
00:12:29.15\00:12:30.91
that's recorded in Matthew 24.
00:12:30.92\00:12:32.84
You understand that
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
00:12:32.85\00:12:36.08
really are
covering the same history
00:12:36.09\00:12:39.88
that was
regarding the life of Jesus.
00:12:39.89\00:12:44.21
And so there are
some similarities
00:12:44.22\00:12:45.83
between Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John.
00:12:45.84\00:12:48.25
Now Luke 21 is Luke's
recording of the same sermon
00:12:48.26\00:12:52.09
that Matthew recorded
in Matthew Chapter 24.
00:12:52.10\00:12:55.40
Only that Luke gives some
aspects that Matthew didn't
00:12:55.41\00:13:00.11
and Matthew gives
something that Luke didn't.
00:13:00.12\00:13:02.03
And you'd expect
that with eyewitnesses
00:13:02.04\00:13:03.89
because we all have a
different perspective.
00:13:03.90\00:13:06.68
We might see the same
event but we will describe it
00:13:06.69\00:13:08.90
a little
differently, isn't that right?
00:13:08.91\00:13:10.56
And so you find
some slight differences
00:13:10.57\00:13:13.88
that helped to round
out the full picture.
00:13:13.89\00:13:16.13
And here in Luke
Chapter 21 and verse 25,
00:13:16.14\00:13:19.07
Jesus, also added
in that same sermon.
00:13:19.08\00:13:21.97
"There will be signs in the sun,
00:13:21.98\00:13:25.39
in the moon, and in the stars,
00:13:25.40\00:13:28.66
and on the earth distress
of nations, with perplexity,"
00:13:28.67\00:13:35.54
Now what does that mean?
00:13:37.27\00:13:39.88
What does it mean
00:13:39.89\00:13:42.12
that the nations
would be perplexed?
00:13:42.13\00:13:47.10
Well, let me illustrate.
00:13:47.11\00:13:48.61
Say, you're going home
from this meeting this afternoon
00:13:48.62\00:13:53.49
and as you rounded
your straight corner
00:13:53.50\00:13:57.25
suddenly you see your
house going up in flames.
00:13:57.26\00:14:02.94
The feelings that would
come over you at that stage
00:14:05.33\00:14:09.15
that's how the Bible describes
00:14:09.16\00:14:10.69
it is being perplexed.
00:14:10.70\00:14:15.83
There's just no way
of resolving the problem.
00:14:15.84\00:14:21.00
And Jesus said here,
00:14:21.01\00:14:22.16
"The nations will be perplexed."
00:14:22.17\00:14:25.08
For example, let's consider
for a moment the Middle East.
00:14:25.09\00:14:28.93
How you're gonna
solve the problem
00:14:28.94\00:14:30.38
between the Jews, and the Arabs?
00:14:30.39\00:14:33.01
You know, I've
been in the Middle East
00:14:33.02\00:14:34.06
many, many times.
00:14:34.07\00:14:35.04
I'd spoken to
both Arabs and Jews.
00:14:35.05\00:14:37.87
And I want to tell you this
00:14:37.88\00:14:38.85
that when you speak to the Arabs
00:14:38.86\00:14:39.93
you feel that they
have watertight case.
00:14:39.94\00:14:41.90
When you speak to the Jews,
00:14:41.91\00:14:44.20
you feel that they've
got a watertight case.
00:14:44.21\00:14:50.09
And when in 1948
this line was drawn
00:14:50.10\00:14:52.59
and if you happened
to be on the wrong side
00:14:52.60\00:14:55.02
and if you are an Arab
you had to leave your farm
00:14:55.03\00:14:59.03
that had been in your family
00:14:59.04\00:15:01.30
for hundreds and
hundreds of years
00:15:01.31\00:15:02.92
and get over to the other side.
00:15:02.93\00:15:04.68
And when you got
over to the other side
00:15:04.69\00:15:06.14
they didn't provide you
with a nice alternate farm.
00:15:06.15\00:15:09.01
They put you into camps.
00:15:09.02\00:15:13.52
And many of those
families have been
00:15:13.53\00:15:16.18
living in those
camps ever since 1948.
00:15:16.19\00:15:22.63
And you can imagine the feelings
00:15:22.64\00:15:24.83
that are in
those peoples' hearts.
00:15:24.84\00:15:26.85
You imagine the
feral thugs came in
00:15:26.86\00:15:28.40
and took you-- push
you out of your house
00:15:28.41\00:15:30.37
and then put you in some camp
00:15:30.38\00:15:32.14
with hardly
running water and so forth.
00:15:32.15\00:15:34.28
You wouldn't feel too,
00:15:34.29\00:15:36.10
you know, magnanimous
toward them, would you?
00:15:36.11\00:15:39.51
Now, I am not excusing the Arabs
00:15:39.52\00:15:41.61
but I wanna tell you that
many of the suicide bombers
00:15:41.62\00:15:45.68
that's where they come
from, from these camps.
00:15:45.69\00:15:50.44
Because they've
got nothing to live for
00:15:50.45\00:15:51.89
and the hatred that has
been built up in their hearts,
00:15:51.90\00:15:55.12
the resentment
against the interferences
00:15:55.13\00:15:59.51
taking place in those countries.
00:15:59.52\00:16:03.12
And particularly
against the Jews, is something
00:16:03.13\00:16:06.92
which is very hard to
describe but it go so deep.
00:16:06.93\00:16:11.16
And they live for one
thing and one thing only
00:16:11.17\00:16:13.56
and that is to drive
00:16:13.57\00:16:14.56
every Jew into
the Mediterranean Sea.
00:16:14.57\00:16:17.70
That's what they live for.
00:16:17.71\00:16:19.10
And if they die in
the process, so be it.
00:16:19.11\00:16:22.33
But as long as they
can advance the cause
00:16:22.34\00:16:24.61
that there-- they're joining.
00:16:24.62\00:16:26.77
How you're gonna solve them?
00:16:26.78\00:16:28.08
I don't know and I don't
know any other political leader
00:16:28.09\00:16:31.02
that has any
idea how to solve it.
00:16:31.03\00:16:33.05
And that's why Jesus said,
00:16:33.06\00:16:34.75
the nations will be
absolutely perplexed
00:16:34.76\00:16:38.59
as they see what's
happening in the world.
00:16:38.60\00:16:41.46
In fact, notice the
next verse, verse 26,
00:16:41.47\00:16:44.26
"Men's hearts
failing them from fear
00:16:44.27\00:16:48.19
and the
expectation of those things
00:16:48.20\00:16:50.69
which are coming on the earth."
00:16:50.70\00:16:52.97
The more people know of
what's happening in the world
00:16:52.98\00:16:55.84
and the more
educate you are today.
00:16:55.85\00:16:57.53
The more widely you all read.
00:16:57.54\00:16:59.62
And the more exposed you are
00:16:59.63\00:17:01.87
to what's happening in the world
00:17:01.88\00:17:02.91
the more fear
comes into your heart.
00:17:02.92\00:17:05.18
Because when the, Soviet
Union, for example was broken up
00:17:05.19\00:17:09.32
some of the nuclear weapons
00:17:09.33\00:17:10.74
that the, Soviet
Union, had have gone missing.
00:17:10.75\00:17:14.85
And world leader still
don't know where they all are.
00:17:14.86\00:17:17.11
Many believe today
that there is a great,
00:17:17.12\00:17:20.04
a high
probability that some of those
00:17:20.05\00:17:23.60
maybe in the hands of
a terrorist organization.
00:17:23.61\00:17:27.53
Now you imagine if that is true.
00:17:27.54\00:17:30.86
Imagine if, Osama Bin
Laden, had in his hands
00:17:30.87\00:17:36.31
the possibility of
exploding a nuclear weapon.
00:17:36.32\00:17:40.65
And not only are we
fearful today about terrorism
00:17:45.44\00:17:48.31
of course that's only thing.
00:17:48.32\00:17:50.41
What about now
00:17:50.42\00:17:51.39
the possibility of the tsunamis.
00:17:51.40\00:17:56.79
And I'll tell you
most of us in, Australia,
00:17:56.80\00:17:58.89
and around the
world think that the most
00:17:58.90\00:18:01.67
ideal place to
live is on the water.
00:18:01.68\00:18:07.69
And we all thought
that, Australia, was
00:18:07.70\00:18:09.21
going to be pretty
well protected from tsunamis
00:18:09.22\00:18:12.41
until very
recently one hit up there
00:18:12.42\00:18:14.19
in the, Solomon Islands,
and they all got panicked.
00:18:14.20\00:18:16.95
All down the
eastern coast of Australia
00:18:16.96\00:18:19.73
right down to, Sydney.
00:18:19.74\00:18:23.50
And they were on high
alert for a great tsunami
00:18:23.51\00:18:28.07
or tidal wave coming in.
00:18:28.08\00:18:30.74
And the Bible is saying here
00:18:30.75\00:18:32.88
that men's hearts
are going to fail in
00:18:32.89\00:18:35.70
from fear in the
expectation of those things
00:18:35.71\00:18:39.58
which are coming on the earth."
00:18:39.59\00:18:40.96
And I believe as days and weeks
00:18:40.97\00:18:44.11
and the years roll by,
we are beginning to see
00:18:44.12\00:18:47.55
more understanding of this verse
00:18:47.56\00:18:49.51
than we've ever
understood in the past.
00:18:49.52\00:18:52.17
And Jesus said here,
"Be very, very watchful."
00:18:52.18\00:18:55.01
Signs in the political world.
00:18:55.02\00:18:59.27
And sometimes people say to me.
00:18:59.28\00:19:00.39
Well, Geoff, does the Bible say
00:19:00.40\00:19:03.03
anything about nuclear war?
00:19:03.04\00:19:04.50
Well, just come over
to Revelation Chapter 11
00:19:04.51\00:19:06.90
and verse 18.
00:19:06.91\00:19:07.88
Revelation
Chapter 11 and verse 18,
00:19:07.89\00:19:10.32
its page 1,182 at the
back of the Bible, 1182.
00:19:10.33\00:19:17.44
And verse 18 is half
way down the outside column,
00:19:17.45\00:19:20.69
and this is what it says.
00:19:20.70\00:19:21.67
Revelation
Chapter 11 and verse 18,
00:19:21.68\00:19:25.71
"The nations were
angry, Your wrath has come,
00:19:25.72\00:19:31.72
And the time of the dead,
that they should be judged
00:19:31.73\00:19:34.56
that You should reward
Your servants the prophets
00:19:34.57\00:19:37.03
and the saints, And
those who fear Your name,
00:19:37.04\00:19:39.53
small and great, And
should destroy those who," what?
00:19:39.54\00:19:44.31
"Destroy the earth."
00:19:44.32\00:19:45.58
I'm gonna
suggest to every person
00:19:45.59\00:19:49.02
that its only the
generation that has lived
00:19:51.89\00:19:54.07
since the, Second World War,
00:19:54.08\00:19:56.26
that has had the possibility
of destroying this earth.
00:19:56.27\00:20:01.02
We have got the
possibility now with the bomb
00:20:01.03\00:20:03.67
and of course more
recently with pollution.
00:20:03.68\00:20:08.77
And the Bible says
that God is going to destroy
00:20:08.78\00:20:11.25
those who attempt
to destroy the earth.
00:20:11.26\00:20:15.93
And once again this
is just another sign
00:20:15.94\00:20:18.67
that, Jesus is
coming and coming soon.
00:20:18.68\00:20:22.76
And I wanna assure you this
00:20:22.77\00:20:24.25
that this world has
cost God far, far too much
00:20:24.26\00:20:28.51
that He is going to allow
some terrorist organization
00:20:28.52\00:20:31.20
or some person here or
there to destroy the earth.
00:20:31.21\00:20:34.21
God is going to write
00:20:34.22\00:20:35.39
the last sentence on the earth.
00:20:35.40\00:20:37.78
And He is going to write it
00:20:37.79\00:20:38.97
when He comes
back the second time.
00:20:38.98\00:20:41.39
Now that doesn't mean
that in between now and then
00:20:41.40\00:20:45.68
that there's going to
be not some--great turmoil
00:20:45.69\00:20:49.92
and men's hearts are
going to fail in from fear
00:20:49.93\00:20:52.85
in the
expectation of those things
00:20:52.86\00:20:54.90
which are coming on the earth.
00:20:54.91\00:20:57.13
Let's go back to Matthew 24
because Jesus now talks about
00:20:57.14\00:21:00.09
signs in the physical
world, or the natural world.
00:21:00.10\00:21:03.30
Come back to Matthew Chapter 24.
00:21:03.31\00:21:06.82
Matthew Chapter 24 and verse 7.
00:21:06.83\00:21:11.63
And this is what it says.
00:21:11.64\00:21:12.61
Matthew 24 and verse 7,
00:21:12.62\00:21:14.51
"For nation will
rise against nation,
00:21:14.52\00:21:17.88
and kingdom against kingdom,"
00:21:17.89\00:21:19.68
then it says, "And
there shall be," what
00:21:19.69\00:21:23.77
"Famines," yes "pestilences,
00:21:23.78\00:21:27.76
and earthquakes
in various places."
00:21:27.77\00:21:30.58
Now look I don't
have to prove tonight
00:21:30.59\00:21:33.52
or today what I'm
gonna share with you
00:21:33.53\00:21:36.51
because you notice as well as I.
00:21:36.52\00:21:38.50
You watched the
news. You're intelligent.
00:21:38.51\00:21:40.88
You see what's
going on in the world.
00:21:40.89\00:21:42.60
All I am doing today
is I want to point out
00:21:42.61\00:21:46.25
that the Bible was
written 2,000 years ago
00:21:46.26\00:21:48.63
at least this part of the Bible
00:21:48.64\00:21:49.77
was written 2,000 years ago.
00:21:49.78\00:21:53.45
And what gives me
tremendous confidence
00:21:53.46\00:21:56.34
is as we see these very events
00:21:56.35\00:21:59.19
happening before our eyes today
00:21:59.20\00:22:02.88
it gives us confidence
00:22:02.89\00:22:04.15
that we were not following
a fairytale, get the thought?
00:22:04.16\00:22:08.01
And so Jesus
mentions pestilences.
00:22:08.02\00:22:10.93
Now what are pestilences?
00:22:10.94\00:22:14.20
Well, I guess here in,
Australia, we call them pests.
00:22:14.21\00:22:17.23
You know we like to
shorten everything pests.
00:22:17.24\00:22:21.05
You know the
amazing thing is this.
00:22:21.06\00:22:22.64
That while all the
amazing discoveries
00:22:22.65\00:22:26.31
have been made
in the medical world
00:22:26.32\00:22:28.04
it seems that the
germs and the bugs
00:22:28.05\00:22:30.36
are always one step ahead of us.
00:22:30.37\00:22:34.12
And it seems to me
00:22:34.13\00:22:35.10
that while the doctors
have been going to college,
00:22:35.11\00:22:38.32
the bugs and the pests
have been going to university
00:22:38.33\00:22:42.06
because they always seem to be
00:22:42.07\00:22:43.54
just that much
further ahead, don't they?
00:22:43.55\00:22:47.16
And Jesus mentioned pestilences.
00:22:47.17\00:22:49.18
And those of us who come
from a farming background
00:22:49.19\00:22:51.55
realized today that we
are spraying for things
00:22:51.56\00:22:53.77
that we never had to
spray for in the past.
00:22:53.78\00:22:58.67
And the tragic thing is
today is that the very things
00:22:58.68\00:23:03.91
that mankind has discovered
in the last hundred years.
00:23:03.92\00:23:09.75
I'm thinking of
things like penicillin
00:23:09.76\00:23:12.21
that have been
made to protect us.
00:23:12.22\00:23:14.47
These very things because
many of these antibiotics
00:23:14.48\00:23:18.23
have been over prescribed now
00:23:18.24\00:23:22.04
the human
organism is building up
00:23:22.05\00:23:23.74
an immunity against
it and so the very things
00:23:23.75\00:23:25.78
that were once there to save us
00:23:25.79\00:23:28.36
are no longer
providing that strong barrier.
00:23:28.37\00:23:32.84
And Jesus mentioned pestilences.
00:23:32.85\00:23:35.46
I picked up a book recently
written by Laurie Garrett
00:23:35.47\00:23:38.13
that's a lady.
00:23:38.14\00:23:39.66
And she maintains
that in the world today
00:23:39.67\00:23:44.63
there are superbugs.
00:23:44.64\00:23:47.25
She wrote the book,
00:23:47.26\00:23:48.23
the title of the book
is "The Coming Plague."
00:23:48.24\00:23:51.81
And she talks
about HIV and Ebola
00:23:51.82\00:23:54.48
and Marburg and the virus
that killed that horse trainer
00:23:54.49\00:23:58.92
up in Queensland,
a number of years ago
00:23:58.93\00:24:00.40
which they still
haven't worked out
00:24:00.41\00:24:01.58
what killed him and the horses.
00:24:01.59\00:24:03.76
It's a mystery.
00:24:03.77\00:24:06.19
And she's been
writing all these up
00:24:06.20\00:24:07.74
and she is
saying that the viruses
00:24:07.75\00:24:11.21
and so forth that are starting
00:24:11.22\00:24:12.50
to break out in the world now
00:24:12.51\00:24:14.73
are due to the
transmission of disease
00:24:14.74\00:24:18.83
because of aeroplane travel.
00:24:18.84\00:24:21.02
You know disease can be
taken to one part of the world
00:24:21.03\00:24:23.16
to the other in a
very short amount of time
00:24:23.17\00:24:25.35
and the sexual revolution.
00:24:25.36\00:24:28.76
Once again if
Jesus doesn't come soon
00:24:28.77\00:24:32.56
the very things that we felt
00:24:32.57\00:24:35.04
secure about
could destroy us again.
00:24:35.05\00:24:41.83
And then Jesus mentioned after
00:24:41.84\00:24:45.02
famines and then pestilences,
00:24:45.03\00:24:48.11
He mentioned
earthquakes in various places.
00:24:48.12\00:24:52.23
Now once again I
don't have to remind you
00:24:52.24\00:24:55.23
about earthquakes.
00:24:55.24\00:24:58.80
And while it's
true that we have always
00:24:58.81\00:25:00.65
had earthquakes
nobody is suggesting
00:25:00.66\00:25:02.69
that earthquakes are a phenomena
00:25:02.70\00:25:04.12
of the 20th and
21st Century not at all.
00:25:04.13\00:25:07.92
There have been major
earthquakes in the past
00:25:07.93\00:25:10.51
but let me tell you very few.
00:25:10.52\00:25:13.53
If you pick up the
internet or the encyclopedia
00:25:13.54\00:25:16.32
you check back through on
to the subject of earthquakes.
00:25:16.33\00:25:19.61
And you will be
surprised at the intensity
00:25:19.62\00:25:22.87
of the number of earthquakes
00:25:22.88\00:25:24.63
that are taking
place in the world now.
00:25:24.64\00:25:26.74
They believe
over 6,000 every year.
00:25:26.75\00:25:29.00
Fortunately all of
them aren't number 6
00:25:29.01\00:25:31.57
on the Richter scale and above.
00:25:31.58\00:25:34.05
Otherwise the world
would be really in a mess.
00:25:34.06\00:25:37.64
But we are seeing sufficient
00:25:37.65\00:25:39.76
of those earthquakes to realize
00:25:39.77\00:25:43.10
that there is an
increased in the intensity.
00:25:43.11\00:25:45.48
And that tsunami that killed,
00:25:45.49\00:25:47.77
well, over three
hundred thousand people in Asia.
00:25:47.78\00:25:52.10
That is nothing
more or less than
00:25:52.11\00:25:54.03
an earthquake, isn't it?
00:25:54.04\00:25:55.92
That's what it is.
00:25:55.93\00:25:57.23
And it's an
earthquake underneath the sea.
00:25:57.24\00:26:01.87
And that's why
we have no control.
00:26:01.88\00:26:05.46
And no country really is immune
00:26:05.47\00:26:08.47
from the possibilities
of being wiped out.
00:26:08.48\00:26:14.06
We've already seen New Orleans.
00:26:14.07\00:26:18.53
And that all give us a
clue as to what can happen.
00:26:18.54\00:26:23.01
And who knows what's
going to happen in the future
00:26:25.72\00:26:27.47
but, Jesus, mentioned
earthquakes along with famines
00:26:27.48\00:26:31.02
and along with pestilences
and along with earthquakes.
00:26:31.03\00:26:34.23
The three seem to go together.
00:26:34.24\00:26:37.66
And when it comes to famines
that we were talking about
00:26:37.67\00:26:40.23
I can assure you
this that in this country
00:26:40.24\00:26:42.91
and in the western
world we don't understand
00:26:42.92\00:26:44.78
what it means to
go to bed starving.
00:26:44.79\00:26:47.78
In fact, many of us
here in the western world,
00:26:47.79\00:26:52.34
we have a problem the other way.
00:26:52.35\00:26:56.94
But I can tell
you they don't have
00:26:56.95\00:26:58.17
weight loss classes in India
or in some of those countries.
00:26:58.18\00:27:02.32
And in Africa where
people can hardly get any food.
00:27:02.33\00:27:06.72
If they get a little
food one meal per day
00:27:06.73\00:27:09.28
they are doing very, very well.
00:27:09.29\00:27:11.38
If you've been
watching what's happening
00:27:11.39\00:27:12.66
in Northern Africa like Sudan
00:27:12.67\00:27:14.18
and so forth terrible things.
00:27:14.19\00:27:15.94
I mean it's just any
parent that has a child
00:27:15.95\00:27:18.46
and sees those poor mothers
00:27:18.47\00:27:20.21
with their little
children dying in their arms.
00:27:20.22\00:27:22.86
Just imagine the
feelings that are going through
00:27:22.87\00:27:26.20
those poor peoples' hearts.
00:27:26.21\00:27:28.91
And that's not just
happening in one case
00:27:28.92\00:27:31.06
that's happening in millions.
00:27:31.07\00:27:34.45
We live in such a
wonderful country.
00:27:34.46\00:27:35.96
We feel immune.
00:27:35.97\00:27:36.96
We don't even feel
part of that same world.
00:27:36.97\00:27:41.77
But anyone who has
travelled around the world
00:27:41.78\00:27:43.50
knows that
famines, the lack of food
00:27:43.51\00:27:46.81
for a large percentage of
the world's population today
00:27:46.82\00:27:51.13
is something
which is tragic, tragic.
00:27:51.14\00:27:56.06
Then Jesus went on
to say in Matthew 24,
00:27:56.07\00:27:58.39
and made a
statement in verse 15.
00:27:58.40\00:28:01.56
I want you to
notice what Jesus said here
00:28:01.57\00:28:03.55
in Matthew 24 verse 15.
00:28:03.56\00:28:06.09
"Therefore, when you see
00:28:06.10\00:28:07.86
the abomination of desolation,
00:28:07.87\00:28:10.03
spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
00:28:10.04\00:28:13.07
standing in the holy place."
00:28:13.08\00:28:15.25
Matthew adds whoever
reads, let him understand.
00:28:15.26\00:28:17.98
You know it's
interesting that Jesus here
00:28:17.99\00:28:20.77
nominated in His discussion
00:28:20.78\00:28:23.02
about the Second
Coming and the signs.
00:28:23.03\00:28:25.89
Which particular
prophet did Jesus say,
00:28:25.90\00:28:28.46
we ought to
study and understand.
00:28:28.47\00:28:31.33
Daniel, the prophet.
00:28:31.34\00:28:33.95
And yet the tragedy
is Daniel is a prophet
00:28:33.96\00:28:36.19
that's hardly ever
referred to by Christians.
00:28:36.20\00:28:38.93
Hardly know
anything about Daniel.
00:28:38.94\00:28:41.02
And yet Jesus said,
study and understand it.
00:28:41.03\00:28:44.90
Because in the
context of His Second Coming
00:28:44.91\00:28:47.61
Daniel has a lot to say.
00:28:47.62\00:28:49.66
Let me just give
you an illustration.
00:28:49.67\00:28:50.96
Come back to Daniel Chapter 12.
00:28:50.97\00:28:54.21
Daniel Chapter 12 and
you've got the page there.
00:28:54.22\00:28:58.76
Daniel Chapter 12 and verse 4.
00:28:58.77\00:29:04.83
Daniel Chapter 12 and verse 4,
00:29:04.84\00:29:07.63
and here Daniel is
writing about these times
00:29:07.64\00:29:10.94
and this is what he said,
00:29:10.95\00:29:13.43
"But you, Daniel,
shut up the words,
00:29:13.44\00:29:16.72
and seal the book until"
when "The time of the end."
00:29:16.73\00:29:24.27
Now let me illustrate.
00:29:25.62\00:29:27.61
Here on the screen
we have the end of time.
00:29:27.62\00:29:33.24
Now the end of time is when
Jesus is going to come back.
00:29:33.25\00:29:37.03
But the time of the end
is that little period of time
00:29:40.27\00:29:44.22
just before He returns.
00:29:44.23\00:29:46.51
Can you see there
the time of the end?
00:29:46.52\00:29:50.25
And Jesus is
saying through Daniel
00:29:50.26\00:29:52.55
that the book of Daniel
was going to be sealed up,
00:29:52.56\00:29:55.00
that is people
wouldn't understand it.
00:29:55.01\00:29:57.14
It would be sealed
from understanding.
00:29:57.15\00:29:58.91
Seal up until
the time of the end.
00:29:58.92\00:30:02.00
As I said the time of the
end is not the end of time.
00:30:02.01\00:30:05.11
The end of time is
when Jesus returns.
00:30:05.12\00:30:07.14
But the period just
before He comes back
00:30:07.15\00:30:09.81
is known as the time of the end.
00:30:09.82\00:30:11.87
Now how will we know when
the time of the end begins?
00:30:11.88\00:30:15.04
Well, verse 4 goes on to say,
"Many shall run to and fro."
00:30:15.05\00:30:19.85
And what's going to increase?
00:30:19.86\00:30:22.17
Knowledge is going to increase.
00:30:22.18\00:30:26.23
One of the great
signs that we're living
00:30:26.24\00:30:28.21
in the time of
the end is going to be
00:30:28.22\00:30:30.33
an explosion in knowledge.
00:30:30.34\00:30:34.29
Tell me, do we live
in such a world today?
00:30:34.30\00:30:38.72
Are we seeing an
explosion in knowledge today?
00:30:38.73\00:30:42.02
My, oh my,
anyone who would think
00:30:42.03\00:30:44.28
otherwise would have
their-- be an ostrich
00:30:44.29\00:30:46.15
and hid their head in the sand.
00:30:46.16\00:30:48.42
And we've all experienced
that with children at school.
00:30:48.43\00:30:50.63
You know you spend
large numbers of dollars
00:30:50.64\00:30:52.88
on text books for your children.
00:30:52.89\00:30:54.18
You say, kids, now listen.
00:30:54.19\00:30:56.29
You look after that text book
because when Mary comes along
00:30:56.30\00:30:59.78
into the same class
she can have the book.
00:30:59.79\00:31:02.82
We don't have to
buy it a second time.
00:31:02.83\00:31:06.46
And what happens when
Mary gets to that same class.
00:31:06.47\00:31:10.91
That text book is out of date
00:31:10.92\00:31:12.33
it's
particularly in the sciences
00:31:12.34\00:31:16.57
because science
is changing you know.
00:31:16.58\00:31:18.34
You never need to worry
about what science is today's.
00:31:18.35\00:31:20.60
What science is today
and what science is tomorrow
00:31:20.61\00:31:23.27
will probably be
two different things.
00:31:23.28\00:31:27.72
I picked out a
magazine recently,
00:31:27.73\00:31:29.80
a little article
that was written in 1850.
00:31:29.81\00:31:32.28
And it said, 50 reasons why
00:31:32.29\00:31:34.58
a scientist could no t
believe in God, 50 reasons.
00:31:34.59\00:31:39.99
There wouldn't be one
scientist in the world today
00:31:40.00\00:31:43.05
who would agree
with any one of those 50.
00:31:43.06\00:31:48.30
And yet if you
followed science back in 1850,
00:31:48.31\00:31:51.47
you couldn't believe in God
00:31:51.48\00:31:52.58
because of what
science was saying.
00:31:52.59\00:31:54.03
Wow, science.
00:31:54.04\00:31:56.51
You see to know
anything really for sure
00:31:56.52\00:32:01.11
you've got to know
everything, isn't that right?
00:32:01.12\00:32:02.86
That's true, isn't it?
00:32:05.45\00:32:07.09
To be absolutely
certain about anything
00:32:07.10\00:32:10.03
you have to know
everything because otherwise
00:32:10.04\00:32:13.00
it might be a little
bit of knowledge out here
00:32:13.01\00:32:15.36
that you don't know
00:32:15.37\00:32:16.46
which would completely
change your conclusions
00:32:16.47\00:32:18.39
if you knew about it before.
00:32:18.40\00:32:20.84
Now who of us-- which
scientist in the world
00:32:20.85\00:32:23.37
would like to claim
that they know everything
00:32:23.38\00:32:24.93
about even their own discipline?
00:32:24.94\00:32:27.72
There is none.
00:32:27.73\00:32:29.01
That's why every
scientist ought to be
00:32:29.02\00:32:30.80
the most humble
person in the world.
00:32:30.81\00:32:33.73
Not making dogmatic statements
00:32:33.74\00:32:36.34
about anything because
he or she is in a discipline
00:32:36.35\00:32:40.97
that is
changing like a chameleon
00:32:40.98\00:32:43.60
with its skin every day.
00:32:43.61\00:32:46.99
New knowledge is coming to pass
00:32:47.00\00:32:48.74
because we are understanding
more about the universe.
00:32:48.75\00:32:52.38
In the time of the end
00:32:52.39\00:32:53.37
knowledge is going to explode.
00:32:53.38\00:32:55.03
Take computers.
00:32:55.04\00:32:57.93
Amazing world in which we live.
00:32:57.94\00:33:01.39
God said that this
would be a great sign
00:33:01.40\00:33:04.03
of the end of the
world. You know air travel.
00:33:04.04\00:33:07.73
Air travel is an
amazing thing too.
00:33:07.74\00:33:09.42
I mean, we take it
for granted so much today.
00:33:09.43\00:33:11.35
It's only over a
hundred years ago
00:33:11.36\00:33:13.45
that men were able to fly.
00:33:13.46\00:33:16.79
In the First World War,
00:33:16.80\00:33:18.02
aeroplanes flew at
67 kilometers an hour.
00:33:18.03\00:33:21.00
Now most of you travel
faster to get to the meeting
00:33:21.01\00:33:24.32
than they flew in
the First World War.
00:33:24.33\00:33:26.91
And today they're getting
faster and faster and faster.
00:33:26.92\00:33:32.51
You know I had heard about
a lady over there in Sydney.
00:33:32.52\00:33:34.55
She wanted to come
over here to Perth.
00:33:34.56\00:33:38.82
And she rang up Qantas
00:33:38.83\00:33:40.27
because she wanted to find out
00:33:40.28\00:33:41.48
how long will it take to fly
00:33:41.49\00:33:43.80
from one part of
Australia to the other.
00:33:43.81\00:33:47.23
Now anyone you all know
that flying from one way
00:33:47.24\00:33:51.76
is different to
flying the other ways,
00:33:51.77\00:33:53.27
isn't that right?
00:33:53.28\00:33:54.33
When you fly
from Sydney to Perth,
00:33:54.34\00:33:56.43
that is you fly
from east to west
00:33:56.44\00:33:58.69
it takes you longer
than flying from west to east
00:33:58.70\00:34:02.66
because when
you fly west to east
00:34:02.67\00:34:04.32
you got the flat
tailwinds usually
00:34:04.33\00:34:05.83
and if it's a good tailwind
00:34:05.84\00:34:07.43
that could cut off half an hour,
00:34:07.44\00:34:08.69
three quarters of an
hour of a four hour journey.
00:34:08.70\00:34:13.60
And so when she rang up Qantas,
00:34:13.61\00:34:15.08
she said, "How long
will it take me to fly?
00:34:15.09\00:34:16.57
Well, the air clerk
wasn't quite certain
00:34:16.58\00:34:19.46
and so he said to the
lady, "Just a minute."
00:34:19.47\00:34:23.29
"Thank you" said the
lady and she hang up.
00:34:23.30\00:34:25.78
Now we haven't got
that fast yet, have we?
00:34:25.79\00:34:28.40
But I wanna tell you
this that we are going there
00:34:28.41\00:34:30.12
in a big way because God said
00:34:30.13\00:34:33.88
that knowledge is going
to dramatically increase.
00:34:33.89\00:34:38.25
And we are seeing that
today a blind man would see it.
00:34:38.26\00:34:41.31
People say to me,
well, Daniel must have been
00:34:41.32\00:34:42.79
a pretty smart man to be
able to work all this out.
00:34:42.80\00:34:46.71
I don't think that he is
much smarter than any of us.
00:34:46.72\00:34:49.54
Because look notice what
he said here in Daniel 12.
00:34:49.55\00:34:52.16
You still got it open, have you?
00:34:52.17\00:34:53.69
Daniel 12 and verse 6, verse 6.
00:34:53.70\00:35:01.60
"One said to the
man clothed in linen,
00:35:01.61\00:35:03.66
who was above the
waters of the river,
00:35:03.67\00:35:05.32
How long shall the fulfillment
00:35:05.33\00:35:07.63
of these wonders be?'"
00:35:07.64\00:35:09.06
How long is it going to be
00:35:09.07\00:35:10.04
until all these
things take place?
00:35:10.05\00:35:14.10
Notice the answer,
verse 8, "Although I heard,
00:35:14.11\00:35:18.87
I did not," what "understand."
00:35:18.88\00:35:22.90
So did Daniel
understand what he was writing?
00:35:22.91\00:35:26.06
No, he didn't. He admitted that.
00:35:26.07\00:35:29.42
But you see Daniel
wrote down what God told him.
00:35:29.43\00:35:34.42
And that's why when
you read the Bible today
00:35:34.43\00:35:37.24
it doesn't sound like a book
00:35:37.25\00:35:38.40
that was written 2,500
years ago when Daniel lived.
00:35:38.41\00:35:46.29
You know you
pick up another book
00:35:46.30\00:35:47.61
that was written 2,500 years ago
00:35:47.62\00:35:50.12
it wouldn't sound
very up-to-date would it?
00:35:50.13\00:35:51.67
It would reflect the
thinking of the times
00:35:51.68\00:35:55.86
but not the Bible.
00:35:55.87\00:35:57.46
Because the Bible
was written by someone
00:35:57.47\00:35:59.67
who knows the end
from the beginning
00:35:59.68\00:36:02.86
and has written it down
so that when we read it today
00:36:02.87\00:36:05.30
it sounds, well,
pretty up-to-date.
00:36:05.31\00:36:07.72
Sounds as if it
could have been written
00:36:07.73\00:36:08.92
just in the last year or two
00:36:08.93\00:36:12.15
because God can see
the end from the beginning.
00:36:12.16\00:36:15.68
And although
Daniel didn't understand
00:36:15.69\00:36:17.38
he still wrote down
exactly what God told him.
00:36:17.39\00:36:21.45
That's why we can have
00:36:21.46\00:36:22.49
tremendous
confidence in this book.
00:36:22.50\00:36:25.75
Now I wanna look at
signs in the economic world.
00:36:25.76\00:36:28.93
Just come over
to the book of James
00:36:28.94\00:36:30.99
toward the back of the Bible.
00:36:31.00\00:36:33.48
Right over toward the
back the book of James.
00:36:33.49\00:36:39.41
And we will read here Chapter 5.
00:36:39.42\00:36:44.47
James Chapter 5, after Hebrews
00:36:44.48\00:36:50.66
comes James the
fifth Chapter page 1,161
00:36:53.08\00:36:56.66
and this is what it says.
00:36:56.67\00:37:00.85
"Come now, you
rich, weep, and howl
00:37:00.86\00:37:04.58
for your miseries
that are coming upon you!"
00:37:04.59\00:37:07.56
Now we don't often
associate the rich weeping
00:37:07.57\00:37:09.95
and howling but
here James is saying
00:37:09.96\00:37:12.92
the rich are going to weep
and howl for their miseries.
00:37:12.93\00:37:16.04
Well, right why?
00:37:16.05\00:37:17.54
Verse 2, "Your
riches are corrupted,
00:37:17.55\00:37:20.51
and your
garments are moth-eaten."
00:37:20.52\00:37:23.87
Now we all
understand that language.
00:37:23.88\00:37:26.11
You know if you
had your good suit
00:37:26.12\00:37:27.98
or your good dress
hanging up in the wardrobe
00:37:27.99\00:37:30.71
and you haven't
worn it for a while
00:37:30.72\00:37:33.89
and you find when you go to
put it on that the silverfish
00:37:33.90\00:37:37.41
or the moths have been into it.
00:37:37.42\00:37:40.24
Not a nice
feeling isn't it? Ruined.
00:37:40.25\00:37:44.43
And that's how the
Bible is describing
00:37:44.44\00:37:47.68
the rich are going
to regard their riches.
00:37:47.69\00:37:49.59
They're going to be
moth-eaten, useless.
00:37:49.60\00:37:51.98
Verse 3, "Your gold
and silver are corroded,
00:37:51.99\00:37:54.72
and their corrosion
will be a witness against you
00:37:54.73\00:37:57.35
and will eat
your flesh like fire.
00:37:57.36\00:37:59.60
You have heaped up
treasure in the last days."
00:37:59.61\00:38:02.62
So the Bible is
saying there's going to be
00:38:02.63\00:38:03.96
a great accumulation of
wealth in the last days.
00:38:03.97\00:38:07.92
By the way are we
seeing that today?
00:38:07.93\00:38:10.28
Even in this part of the world
00:38:10.29\00:38:11.58
I understand that things
are on a pretty good role.
00:38:11.59\00:38:16.08
Riches are increasing.
00:38:16.09\00:38:19.90
But then notice
00:38:19.91\00:38:20.88
what the Bible
talks about verse 4,
00:38:20.89\00:38:24.08
"Indeed the
wages of the laborers
00:38:24.09\00:38:26.94
who mowed your fields,
00:38:26.95\00:38:28.25
which you kept
back by fraud, cry out,
00:38:28.26\00:38:31.51
and the cries of the reapers
00:38:31.52\00:38:33.02
have reached the ears
of the Lord of Sabaoth.
00:38:33.03\00:38:36.00
You have lived on the
earth in pleasure and luxury,"
00:38:36.01\00:38:38.73
that is talking about the rich
00:38:38.74\00:38:40.15
"You have fattened your hearts
00:38:40.16\00:38:41.60
as in a day of slaughter.
00:38:41.61\00:38:42.58
You have condemned,
you have murdered the just,
00:38:42.59\00:38:44.92
he does not resist.
00:38:44.93\00:38:46.24
Therefore be patient, brethren,
00:38:46.25\00:38:47.95
until the coming of the Lord.
00:38:47.96\00:38:51.17
See how the farmer waits
00:38:51.18\00:38:52.42
for the precious
fruit on the earth,
00:38:52.43\00:38:53.96
waiting patiently for it
until it receives the early
00:38:53.97\00:38:56.51
and the latter
rain. You also be patient.
00:38:56.52\00:38:59.20
Establish your hearts,
00:38:59.21\00:39:00.74
for the coming of
the Lord is at hand."
00:39:00.75\00:39:03.12
What is James
talking about here?
00:39:03.13\00:39:05.40
He is saying there is
going to be great conflict
00:39:05.41\00:39:07.50
between two groups of
people in the last days.
00:39:07.51\00:39:10.76
First of all there's going to be
00:39:10.77\00:39:11.74
a great accumulation of wealth
00:39:11.75\00:39:13.38
and eventually that
wealth is going to be
00:39:13.39\00:39:16.02
regarded as worthless.
00:39:16.03\00:39:18.23
It's like the moths
have got into the garments.
00:39:18.24\00:39:21.24
And the gold and
silver have become corroded.
00:39:21.25\00:39:23.80
They're gonna become worthless.
00:39:23.81\00:39:25.49
At the same time that
that's going to take place
00:39:25.50\00:39:28.42
then we find this
other class of people
00:39:28.43\00:39:30.42
the laborers who have worked,
00:39:30.43\00:39:33.17
have been diddled
out of their money.
00:39:33.18\00:39:38.51
They haven't had a fair share.
00:39:38.52\00:39:41.72
And there's going to be
these two groups of people.
00:39:41.73\00:39:44.30
Now the Bible is not
taking side in saying,
00:39:44.31\00:39:46.93
it's the laborers
against the capitalist.
00:39:46.94\00:39:49.95
One's right and
the other is wrong.
00:39:49.96\00:39:51.38
That's not what
the Bible is saying.
00:39:51.39\00:39:53.02
All the Bible is saying is that
00:39:53.03\00:39:54.41
there is going to
be two groups of people
00:39:54.42\00:39:56.58
and they're going
to be in conflict.
00:39:59.33\00:40:03.32
Once again I don't need
to remind you of the conflict
00:40:03.33\00:40:06.34
that is often waged
between those who are
00:40:06.35\00:40:09.91
regarded as the capitalist
and those who are regarded
00:40:09.92\00:40:12.40
as the laborers or the unionist.
00:40:12.41\00:40:15.34
God said that there
is going to be problems
00:40:15.35\00:40:17.26
between capital and
labor and once again that
00:40:17.27\00:40:20.46
this is going to be
a sign of Jesus coming.
00:40:20.47\00:40:23.75
God says, be patient,
don't lose your confidence
00:40:23.76\00:40:27.44
now as you see this taking place
00:40:27.45\00:40:29.15
because the coming of the Lord
00:40:29.16\00:40:32.33
is about to take place.
00:40:32.34\00:40:34.99
Establish your
hearts, be confident.
00:40:35.00\00:40:40.63
Then Jesus talked
about the fifth sign
00:40:40.64\00:40:43.88
that I want to underline.
00:40:43.89\00:40:45.32
Come back to
Matthew Chapter 24 again.
00:40:45.33\00:40:47.95
Matthew the Chapter
24 and its page 961,
00:40:47.96\00:40:54.34
Matthew 24 and
this time verse 36.
00:40:54.35\00:41:01.57
I think we'll start with
verse 36, perhaps verse 37.
00:41:01.58\00:41:06.81
Maybe we better
start with verse 37.
00:41:06.82\00:41:08.87
Jesus said, "As
the days of Noah were,
00:41:11.27\00:41:15.36
so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be."
00:41:15.37\00:41:21.69
So Jesus says, as it
was in the days of Noah
00:41:21.70\00:41:25.90
it's going to be a
mirror image of the days
00:41:25.91\00:41:28.78
just before Jesus returns.
00:41:28.79\00:41:30.35
Is that what it say? Exactly.
00:41:30.36\00:41:34.82
So if we go back
now to the days of Noah
00:41:34.83\00:41:37.32
and we need to--
when we think of Noah,
00:41:37.33\00:41:38.95
we've gotta go right
back to the beginning
00:41:38.96\00:41:42.01
and we go back
to Genesis Chapter 6
00:41:42.02\00:41:44.45
right at the very beginning.
00:41:44.46\00:41:47.09
Genesis Chapter 6
and verse 1, page 5.
00:41:47.10\00:41:52.20
Right at the very beginning.
00:41:52.21\00:41:53.72
As it was in the days of Noah,
00:41:53.73\00:41:56.06
so it's going to
be in the days of
00:41:56.07\00:41:58.22
coming of the Son
of Man, all right.
00:41:58.23\00:42:00.24
What were conditions
like just before the flood?
00:42:00.25\00:42:04.47
Have a look at verse 1.
00:42:04.48\00:42:06.73
"Now it came to pass,
when men began to multiply
00:42:06.74\00:42:11.44
on the face of the earth,
00:42:11.45\00:42:12.82
and daughters were born to them
00:42:12.83\00:42:16.02
that the sons of God
saw the daughters of men,
00:42:16.03\00:42:18.24
that they were beautiful,
00:42:18.25\00:42:19.49
and they took wives
for themselves of all
00:42:19.50\00:42:22.13
whom they chose."
00:42:22.14\00:42:25.48
This would suggest
00:42:25.49\00:42:27.07
that there was a tremendous
increase in the population
00:42:27.08\00:42:30.74
just before the flood.
00:42:30.75\00:42:35.14
Some estimate the
population of the world
00:42:35.15\00:42:38.44
before the flood was
very, very high, extremely high.
00:42:38.45\00:42:44.01
And it seems from the statement
00:42:45.93\00:42:48.60
that's made here.
00:42:48.61\00:42:49.84
"They took wives
for themselves of all
00:42:49.85\00:42:51.96
whom they chose."
00:42:51.97\00:42:53.91
That this is
referring to polygamy.
00:42:53.92\00:42:57.46
Well, he say we
don't have polygamy today.
00:42:57.47\00:43:00.33
Well, no, that's
true, we don't have polygamy
00:43:00.34\00:43:02.99
but maybe if it was not
against the law we might.
00:43:03.00\00:43:09.28
But we have what is something
very similar in today's world
00:43:11.08\00:43:15.46
it's called easy divorce.
00:43:15.47\00:43:19.95
In which instead of
having many at the one time
00:43:19.96\00:43:22.47
we have a string of them.
00:43:22.48\00:43:26.80
In fact it's
interesting that in 1870,
00:43:26.81\00:43:30.68
there was one divorce
for every 34 marriages.
00:43:30.69\00:43:32.96
Do you know what it is today?
00:43:32.97\00:43:36.60
Nearly not quite but
nearly one in very two.
00:43:36.61\00:43:40.91
So I tell young couples when
they're about to get married
00:43:40.92\00:43:42.88
you're chances are only 50%.
00:43:42.89\00:43:46.96
That's what the
law of averages says,
00:43:46.97\00:43:48.64
50% that you're going to
survive a number of years.
00:43:48.65\00:43:55.35
And of course this has
tremendous repercussions
00:43:55.36\00:43:57.85
in our society today
because anybody who's been
00:43:57.86\00:44:01.33
through divorce
knows the sadness
00:44:01.34\00:44:04.03
and the interruption
of life that takes upon
00:44:04.04\00:44:08.15
and the toll that
that takes upon a person.
00:44:08.16\00:44:10.72
You know in Britain
today and in Australia
00:44:10.73\00:44:12.56
it's not much different,
00:44:12.57\00:44:13.54
nearly 30% of births
are outside marriages, 30%.
00:44:13.55\00:44:20.87
And if we read on
here in Genesis Chapter 6.
00:44:22.67\00:44:26.07
We read a description
00:44:26.08\00:44:29.07
describing the
conditions in the world
00:44:29.08\00:44:32.08
just before the flood.
00:44:32.09\00:44:33.22
Notice what they were
00:44:33.23\00:44:34.20
in Genesis
Chapter 6 and verse 11.
00:44:34.21\00:44:37.19
"The earth also
was corrupt before God,
00:44:40.25\00:44:44.63
and the earth was
filled with," what, "Violence."
00:44:44.64\00:44:49.27
Two words described
the antediluvian world.
00:44:49.28\00:44:53.21
One was corrupt and violent.
00:44:53.22\00:44:56.36
Tell me would that
describe our world today?
00:44:56.37\00:45:00.69
I don't have to
prove that to anybody.
00:45:00.70\00:45:03.25
Nobody will doubt
that corrupt and violent.
00:45:03.26\00:45:06.00
Why are you saying you
couldn't describe our world
00:45:06.01\00:45:08.07
better than that?
00:45:08.08\00:45:12.47
Today we can
hardly trust anybody.
00:45:12.48\00:45:17.89
In fact the very people
that have been in our society
00:45:17.90\00:45:20.83
who we should look up to
today have let us all down.
00:45:20.84\00:45:27.10
And we have politicians
00:45:27.11\00:45:28.41
in which
corruption is just rife with.
00:45:28.42\00:45:33.02
And I believe
that that one thing
00:45:33.03\00:45:35.44
that has contributed to
both corruption and violence
00:45:35.45\00:45:39.44
in our society today
00:45:39.45\00:45:40.88
more than any other single thing
00:45:40.89\00:45:43.79
it is what is
turned out of Hollywood.
00:45:43.80\00:45:47.20
That is influencing our society
00:45:47.21\00:45:49.55
like nothing else on this earth
00:45:49.56\00:45:53.58
because people are spending
more and more time watching
00:45:53.59\00:45:59.19
rather than reading any longer.
00:45:59.20\00:46:03.56
Fewer and fewer
people are reading
00:46:03.57\00:46:05.73
because they're
spending all their spare time
00:46:05.74\00:46:08.11
in watching television
or going to the theatre
00:46:08.12\00:46:10.66
or videos or
whatever what happen to be.
00:46:10.67\00:46:14.50
And what is being
turned out from Hollywood today
00:46:14.51\00:46:18.29
is influencing our society
in a very, very mark way.
00:46:18.30\00:46:24.23
Let me just give you
some evidence of that.
00:46:24.24\00:46:28.05
Back in 1981, now
that's a long time ago.
00:46:28.06\00:46:31.43
Two researchers Joyce Sprafkin
00:46:35.19\00:46:37.98
and Theresa Silverman
00:46:37.99\00:46:39.28
monitored 58 programs
on prime-time television.
00:46:39.29\00:46:43.43
Now prime-time
television is the time
00:46:43.44\00:46:45.69
between 6:00 and 10:00 at night
00:46:45.70\00:46:46.89
when everybody the
families are watching.
00:46:46.90\00:46:49.58
All right. Prime-time.
00:46:49.59\00:46:51.81
They monitored 58 programs
in prime-time television.
00:46:51.82\00:46:55.28
They found this, 41 instances
of sex outside marriage
00:46:58.68\00:47:05.42
and only six
between married people.
00:47:05.43\00:47:08.91
Forty-one outside
marriage, six inside marriage.
00:47:08.92\00:47:13.33
Forty one to six, all right.
00:47:13.34\00:47:16.92
What is it today?
00:47:16.93\00:47:19.47
Well, the extra marital sex
00:47:19.48\00:47:21.29
has dramatically
increased from April 28
00:47:21.30\00:47:24.65
the other year to May 25,
00:47:24.66\00:47:27.15
dialog 615 instances of
sexual activity depicted
00:47:27.16\00:47:31.37
or discussed on
prime-time television.
00:47:31.38\00:47:34.14
I'm not talking about
late night television.
00:47:34.15\00:47:36.04
I'm talking about
prime-time television.
00:47:36.05\00:47:40.05
favoring sex outside marriage.
00:47:47.97\00:47:52.05
Now what's that saying?
00:47:52.06\00:47:56.49
What's the message
that is coming through
00:47:56.50\00:47:59.07
to young people
to impressionable
00:47:59.08\00:48:00.75
young people particularly.
00:48:00.76\00:48:03.70
What's the message?
00:48:03.71\00:48:06.69
That's life, that's what you do.
00:48:06.70\00:48:11.29
In fact if a
girl by the age of 21
00:48:11.30\00:48:14.90
the pressure seems to be that
if a girl hasn't experimented
00:48:14.91\00:48:18.02
and so forth by the age of 21
00:48:18.03\00:48:19.91
there's
something wrong with her.
00:48:19.92\00:48:23.45
That's the
impression that's gained
00:48:23.46\00:48:25.82
as you watch television.
00:48:25.83\00:48:26.80
Now I don't believe that
00:48:26.81\00:48:27.78
that is the case in real life.
00:48:27.79\00:48:30.02
But that would be the
impression that you get
00:48:30.03\00:48:32.86
when you watch the media.
00:48:32.87\00:48:34.53
Five hundred and
seventy one to thirteen.
00:48:37.74\00:48:43.09
Hollywood is telling us that
there is no fun without sin.
00:48:43.10\00:48:47.71
No kiss except a stolen one.
00:48:47.72\00:48:49.91
Let me tell you about
"Silence of the Lambs."
00:48:49.92\00:48:52.46
Now once again this is an oldie.
00:48:52.47\00:48:55.43
Few years ago now.
00:48:55.44\00:48:57.81
The reason I still mention it
00:48:57.82\00:48:59.68
is because it is only
the third film in history
00:48:59.69\00:49:04.23
to win all the major
awards, best screenplay,
00:49:04.24\00:49:08.98
best director, best actor,
best actress, best director,
00:49:08.99\00:49:13.11
it won a lot.
00:49:13.12\00:49:14.45
It's only the third film
in history to ever do that.
00:49:14.46\00:49:19.61
Now what was
"Silence of the Lambs" about?
00:49:19.62\00:49:21.84
Well, let me read you
what a film critic said.
00:49:24.92\00:49:27.65
The plot of
"Silence of the Lambs,"
00:49:27.66\00:49:30.47
sent us on a
transvestite serial killer
00:49:30.48\00:49:33.49
who stuffs the
larvae of the rare moth
00:49:33.50\00:49:35.48
down the throats of his victims
00:49:35.49\00:49:37.74
after he has skinned them.
00:49:37.75\00:49:39.67
He selects overweight women
as the target of his wrath,
00:49:39.68\00:49:42.99
holding them prisoner
and starving them for a time
00:49:43.00\00:49:45.63
before slaughtering
them so that their skin
00:49:45.64\00:49:47.90
will hang loose on their frames.
00:49:47.91\00:49:50.47
The criminals are so bizarre
00:49:50.48\00:49:52.12
and extreme in
their sadistic pleasures
00:49:52.13\00:49:54.24
that they are more
ridiculous than frightening.
00:49:54.25\00:49:57.85
Now remember that's the
film that won all the awards.
00:49:57.86\00:50:01.39
The third in
history to ever do that.
00:50:01.40\00:50:05.19
And it's about that.
00:50:05.20\00:50:06.46
I tell you friend,
I refused to go along
00:50:06.47\00:50:09.35
and waste my time and
money on some perverted director
00:50:09.36\00:50:14.06
or writer who has
written a script like that.
00:50:14.07\00:50:17.35
That does not reflect
00:50:17.36\00:50:18.89
where the vast
majority of human beings are
00:50:18.90\00:50:21.65
Christian or non-Christian.
00:50:21.66\00:50:23.30
That's not
where the majority are
00:50:23.31\00:50:25.17
but the trouble is we
sit back and we absorb
00:50:25.18\00:50:28.01
and we watch that
rebel out of a sick mind.
00:50:28.02\00:50:34.41
Then could I
mention about violence.
00:50:37.42\00:50:39.15
Since 1955 T.V.
characters have been murdered
00:50:39.16\00:50:42.94
1,000 more than it
happens in real life.
00:50:42.95\00:50:46.00
And on normal nights viewing
quoted the Rothman, Litcher
00:50:46.01\00:50:48.65
and Litcher
report that you would see
00:50:48.66\00:50:50.82
15 to 20 robberies, rapes,
assaults and other crimes.
00:50:50.83\00:50:54.75
And then today could I remind
you about the rise of AIDS
00:50:54.76\00:50:58.25
in some African countries
nearly 25% of the population.
00:50:58.26\00:51:02.24
South Africa when
I was there recently,
00:51:02.25\00:51:03.94
25% of the
population is HIV positive.
00:51:03.95\00:51:08.18
Huge amount!
00:51:08.19\00:51:10.04
Population numbers
are being rolled back
00:51:10.05\00:51:12.44
because of the fact that
so many people are dying.
00:51:12.45\00:51:16.25
Magic Johnson, you remember him?
00:51:16.26\00:51:18.13
The great basketball player.
00:51:18.14\00:51:20.14
Made a shocking
disclosure after admitting
00:51:20.15\00:51:21.93
that he'd had woman
after woman after woman.
00:51:21.94\00:51:23.62
He said, "I thought
my body can handle it
00:51:23.63\00:51:25.17
but I've discovered that
00:51:25.18\00:51:26.15
even Magic Johnson is
subject to laws of nature."
00:51:26.16\00:51:28.35
Because you'll remember
that he was HIV positive.
00:51:28.36\00:51:32.15
Last verse, I wanna
end on something positive.
00:51:34.16\00:51:37.91
Luke Chapter 21,
just come over there
00:51:37.92\00:51:40.39
because while there is
lots of negativity in the world
00:51:40.40\00:51:44.95
the Bible ends
on a positive note
00:51:44.96\00:51:46.89
and I want to
read it what it says.
00:51:46.90\00:51:48.30
Luke 21 and verse 25, 26.
00:51:48.31\00:51:52.40
We read, "Men's hearts
failing them from fear"
00:51:52.41\00:51:55.75
says in verse 27.
00:51:55.76\00:52:00.32
"Then they will see,"
this is Luke 21 verse 27,
00:52:00.33\00:52:03.74
"Then they will
see the Son of Man
00:52:03.75\00:52:05.60
coming in a cloud
with power and great glory.
00:52:05.61\00:52:08.82
Now when these
things begin to happen,"
00:52:08.83\00:52:11.17
what are we to do?
00:52:11.18\00:52:12.94
"Look up and lift up our heads,
00:52:12.95\00:52:14.97
because our
redemption draws near."
00:52:14.98\00:52:18.16
When we see all these things
happening in the world today
00:52:18.17\00:52:20.70
what are we to do
become terribly frighten
00:52:20.71\00:52:22.60
and discouraged? No.
00:52:22.61\00:52:24.58
we are not to be discouraged.
00:52:24.59\00:52:26.56
Notice of
confidence because Jesus said,
00:52:26.57\00:52:29.09
all these things must take place
00:52:29.10\00:52:30.94
and as you see
them taking place,
00:52:30.95\00:52:32.83
take fresh courage, look up
00:52:32.84\00:52:35.06
because Jesus
is about to return.
00:52:35.07\00:52:38.46
And I wanna remind
you of a message of hope
00:52:38.47\00:52:42.07
because Jesus has
told us these things
00:52:42.08\00:52:44.20
not to frighten us
but because He loves us.
00:52:44.21\00:52:46.03
Listen if I knew that your
house was going to burn down
00:52:46.04\00:52:50.93
in the next 12
months and you knew that
00:52:50.94\00:52:52.79
I knew and you had
confidence that I was right
00:52:52.80\00:52:56.02
that your house
was going to burn down
00:52:56.03\00:52:57.67
in the next 12 months.
00:52:57.68\00:52:58.98
Would you want
me to tell you that
00:52:58.99\00:53:00.87
or would you not?
00:53:00.88\00:53:04.12
Would you want me to tell you?
00:53:04.13\00:53:05.95
Why would you
want me to tell you?
00:53:05.96\00:53:08.85
Yes, so that you
could be prepared.
00:53:08.86\00:53:10.60
Isn't that right?
00:53:10.61\00:53:11.58
You might want to make sure
00:53:11.59\00:53:12.56
your insurance
was up-to-date, huh?
00:53:12.57\00:53:14.66
That's the first thing you'd do.
00:53:14.67\00:53:16.58
You might wanna
take out your pictures,
00:53:16.59\00:53:17.96
you know, your family pictures
00:53:17.97\00:53:19.40
that are valuable to you
that you can never replace.
00:53:19.41\00:53:21.44
You'd be able to
make preparation, right?
00:53:21.45\00:53:23.98
That's why Jesus has
told us these things.
00:53:23.99\00:53:26.51
Not to frighten us but
so that we can be prepared.
00:53:26.52\00:53:31.40
Because whether we believe
it or not Jesus is coming.
00:53:31.41\00:53:34.75
We have read
evidence after evidence
00:53:34.76\00:53:36.42
and there's far more
and I'm gonna share with you
00:53:36.43\00:53:38.57
night by night more
evidence that the Bible is true.
00:53:38.58\00:53:42.86
And as we see these
things taking place today
00:53:42.87\00:53:45.77
it gives us fresh confidence
00:53:45.78\00:53:49.43
that the book that
has been the shoulders of
00:53:49.44\00:53:52.86
so many down
through the years is true
00:53:52.87\00:53:57.22
and that we can trust it.
00:53:57.23\00:54:00.87
And today in these last
times God wants us to be ready.
00:54:00.88\00:54:08.83
And I tell you this
in my hand on hearts
00:54:08.84\00:54:11.32
I want to be
ready when Jesus comes
00:54:11.33\00:54:13.08
and in fact I'd like to
raise my hand to God and say,
00:54:13.09\00:54:15.63
"God help me to be
ready when you come."
00:54:15.64\00:54:18.29
Who'd like to join me
and say I want to be ready?
00:54:18.30\00:54:20.05
Yes, God bless you.
00:54:20.06\00:54:21.33
Because as we make a
decision to follow Jesus
00:54:21.34\00:54:24.14
then we can be ready.
00:54:24.15\00:54:25.62
Let's just bow our
heads together in prayer.
00:54:25.63\00:54:28.25
Wonderful Father in Heaven,
00:54:28.26\00:54:29.56
I just want to thank you again
00:54:29.57\00:54:32.11
at this very
time for all the signs
00:54:32.12\00:54:33.96
that you have told us about.
00:54:33.97\00:54:36.06
Signs that tell
us in the heavens
00:54:36.07\00:54:37.82
and on the earth
that Jesus is coming soon
00:54:37.83\00:54:40.09
and we want to be ready.
00:54:40.10\00:54:41.07
You have told us
because you love us.
00:54:41.08\00:54:43.08
That you don't us to be lost.
00:54:43.09\00:54:44.50
You want us to understand
the times in which we live.
00:54:44.51\00:54:47.89
And so I pray today
that you will bless us
00:54:47.90\00:54:50.07
now as we go home.
We want to be ready.
00:54:50.08\00:54:52.46
Bring us back
again tomorrow night
00:54:52.47\00:54:54.03
as further we look in these
wonderful, wonderful truths.
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I pray for Jesus sake, amen.
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