Hello, everyone, I'm Graham Weir. 00:00:25.39\00:00:27.86 Welcome to part four of the Reformation Revisited. 00:00:27.89\00:00:32.49 This is the sixth part dynamic series 00:00:32.53\00:00:34.96 examining the great Protestant Reformation 00:00:35.00\00:00:37.97 and its vital implications 00:00:38.00\00:00:39.57 for the survival of Christianity today. 00:00:39.60\00:00:43.20 In this presentation, we are going to take a look 00:00:43.24\00:00:46.14 at the crisis that God's people can expect to encounter 00:00:46.17\00:00:49.98 during the end times of earth's history. 00:00:50.01\00:00:52.68 And we'll also reveal how God's Word 00:00:52.71\00:00:56.52 provides a discernment and spiritual defenses 00:00:56.55\00:00:59.75 that are needed to withstand the attacks of the enemy 00:00:59.79\00:01:03.53 and maintain a genuine spirit of the reformation. 00:01:03.56\00:01:07.70 Let's begin with a prayer. 00:01:07.73\00:01:09.10 Loving Father in heaven, we pray Thee and thank Thee 00:01:13.74\00:01:16.60 for an opportunity to come together 00:01:16.64\00:01:19.47 and share the wonderful truth from Thy word. 00:01:19.51\00:01:22.84 We're conscious that You're showing us 00:01:22.88\00:01:25.31 the great heritage of the reformation 00:01:25.35\00:01:27.78 and its implication for today. 00:01:27.82\00:01:29.38 We're conscious that many are saying 00:01:29.42\00:01:32.39 that the Protestant Reformation is over. 00:01:32.42\00:01:35.12 It is finished. 00:01:35.16\00:01:36.69 But we do not believe that, 00:01:36.73\00:01:38.83 and Lord we want you to bless us 00:01:38.86\00:01:41.36 with your presence this morning, this afternoon, 00:01:41.40\00:01:45.73 and show us Lord that there is much work to be done, 00:01:45.77\00:01:48.44 and that this time is running out. 00:01:48.47\00:01:51.11 Your people need to wake up through Your lens 00:01:51.14\00:01:54.48 and be prepared for Your coming. 00:01:54.51\00:01:55.84 Help us Lord to do this. 00:01:55.88\00:01:57.41 Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, 00:01:57.45\00:02:00.85 and incline our hearts to want to do Your work 00:02:00.88\00:02:03.85 because we ask these things in Jesus' precious name. 00:02:03.89\00:02:07.09 Amen. 00:02:07.12\00:02:08.46 Now Bible says 00:02:14.16\00:02:17.47 in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8. 00:02:17.50\00:02:21.74 We're going to have a look at that. 00:02:21.77\00:02:23.64 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8. 00:02:23.67\00:02:29.14 And it says this, 00:02:29.18\00:02:32.81 "For the "Mystery of Iniquity" doth already work: 00:02:32.85\00:02:36.08 only he who now letteth," 00:02:36.12\00:02:38.35 and that word means obstruct or hinder. 00:02:38.39\00:02:42.32 "Will continue to let until he be taken out of the way... 00:02:42.36\00:02:45.36 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, 00:02:45.39\00:02:48.23 whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth 00:02:48.26\00:02:51.63 and shall destroy 00:02:51.67\00:02:53.10 with the brightness of his coming..." 00:02:53.13\00:02:55.77 So you must ask the question, 00:02:55.80\00:02:57.14 what is this mystery of iniquity spoken about here? 00:02:57.17\00:03:02.98 Well, we can get a clue 00:03:03.01\00:03:04.35 from that amazing Bible commentary 00:03:04.38\00:03:06.18 called The Great Controversy 00:03:06.21\00:03:08.38 which uses some very interesting libels 00:03:08.42\00:03:11.45 to describe this mystery of iniquity. 00:03:11.49\00:03:14.72 Let's take a look, and I'm quoting, 00:03:14.76\00:03:18.66 it says, "Little by little, 00:03:18.69\00:03:20.03 at first in stealth and silence, 00:03:20.06\00:03:22.76 and then more openly as it increased in strength 00:03:22.80\00:03:25.67 and gained control of the minds of men, 00:03:25.70\00:03:28.77 "the mystery of iniquity" carried forward 00:03:28.80\00:03:30.84 its deceptive and blasphemous work. 00:03:30.87\00:03:34.24 Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism 00:03:34.28\00:03:38.31 found their way into the Christian church." 00:03:38.35\00:03:42.25 Well, this statement gives us a clue 00:03:42.28\00:03:44.15 that the mystery of iniquity 00:03:44.19\00:03:46.05 has something to do with the customs of heathenism. 00:03:46.09\00:03:50.89 Now let's go a little further. 00:03:50.93\00:03:53.60 She says, "The spirit of compromise and conformity 00:03:53.63\00:03:56.87 was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions 00:03:56.90\00:04:00.40 which the church endured under paganism." 00:04:00.44\00:04:02.90 So here we get another libel. 00:04:02.94\00:04:04.91 The spirit of compromise and conformity. 00:04:04.94\00:04:08.64 We'll keep reading. 00:04:08.68\00:04:10.81 "But as persecution ceased, 00:04:10.85\00:04:12.21 and Christianity entered 00:04:12.25\00:04:13.58 the courts and palaces of kings, 00:04:13.62\00:04:15.68 she laid aside 00:04:15.72\00:04:17.05 the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles 00:04:17.09\00:04:19.75 for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers, 00:04:19.79\00:04:24.46 and in place of the requirements of God, 00:04:24.49\00:04:26.59 she substituted human theories and traditions." 00:04:26.63\00:04:30.13 Another libel, human theories and traditions. 00:04:30.17\00:04:35.60 We continue, "The nominal conversion of Constantine, 00:04:35.64\00:04:38.87 in the early part of the fourth century 00:04:38.91\00:04:41.18 caused great rejoicing, 00:04:41.21\00:04:43.24 and the world cloaked with a form of righteousness, 00:04:43.28\00:04:46.61 walked into the church." 00:04:46.65\00:04:48.78 Under a cloaked pretended Christianity, 00:04:48.82\00:04:51.42 Satan was insinuating himself into the church 00:04:51.45\00:04:54.66 to corrupt their faith 00:04:54.69\00:04:56.02 and turn their mind from the word of truth. 00:04:56.06\00:04:59.93 Most of the Christians 00:04:59.96\00:05:01.30 at last consented to lower their standard, 00:05:01.33\00:05:04.17 and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism. 00:05:04.20\00:05:07.60 Now here is another clue. 00:05:07.64\00:05:09.04 They consented to lower their standard. 00:05:09.07\00:05:14.01 Although the worship is vital professed to be converted 00:05:14.04\00:05:16.88 and united with the church, 00:05:16.91\00:05:18.98 they still clung to their idolatry, 00:05:19.01\00:05:21.88 only changing the objects 00:05:21.92\00:05:23.55 that they worship to images of Jesus, 00:05:23.59\00:05:25.92 and even of Mary in the sense. 00:05:25.95\00:05:27.56 They simply changed the libels on pagan idols. 00:05:27.59\00:05:31.33 The foul living of idolatry, 00:05:31.36\00:05:33.13 thus brought into the church continued its diabolical work. 00:05:33.16\00:05:36.60 Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites, 00:05:36.63\00:05:39.03 and idolatrous ceremonies 00:05:39.07\00:05:40.87 were incorporated into her faith and worship. 00:05:40.90\00:05:44.57 And as the followers of Christ united with idolaters, 00:05:44.61\00:05:47.71 the Christian religion became corrupted, 00:05:47.74\00:05:50.05 and the church lost her purity and power. 00:05:50.08\00:05:54.02 So you see another clue 00:05:54.05\00:05:56.08 that causes corruption and a loss of power, 00:05:56.12\00:06:00.16 a loss of purity and power. 00:06:00.19\00:06:03.02 Now if we put all these libels together, 00:06:03.06\00:06:05.56 we get a very clear picture of the mystery of iniquity. 00:06:05.59\00:06:09.70 We see that it involves at least six of these factors. 00:06:09.73\00:06:14.00 Number one, the customs of heathenism. 00:06:14.04\00:06:17.47 Number two, compromise and conformity. 00:06:17.51\00:06:21.01 Number three, human theories and traditions. 00:06:21.04\00:06:24.58 Number four, it lowers standards. 00:06:24.61\00:06:27.62 Number five, it causes corruption. 00:06:27.65\00:06:30.22 And number six, it causes a loss of purity and power. 00:06:30.25\00:06:36.16 So we can see here in Paul's second letter 00:06:36.19\00:06:38.33 to the believers in Thessalonica 00:06:38.36\00:06:40.66 that he was showing them exactly how the enemy of Christ 00:06:40.70\00:06:44.40 would deceitfully work to gradually undermine 00:06:44.43\00:06:47.37 and overthrow their faith. 00:06:47.40\00:06:50.37 Now let's read verses 8 and 9 in 2 Thessalonians 2. 00:06:50.41\00:06:55.58 It says, "And then shall that wicked be revealed, 00:06:55.61\00:06:58.68 whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, 00:06:58.71\00:07:01.88 and shall destroy 00:07:01.92\00:07:03.25 with the brightness of His coming. 00:07:03.28\00:07:05.42 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan 00:07:05.45\00:07:08.96 with all power and signs and lying wonders." 00:07:08.99\00:07:14.20 So Paul is saying that in the falling away, 00:07:14.23\00:07:16.77 a power would arise as an agent of Satan, 00:07:16.80\00:07:19.87 and this power would use a combination 00:07:19.90\00:07:23.27 of customs of heathenism, 00:07:23.30\00:07:25.81 compromise and conformity, 00:07:25.84\00:07:27.91 human theories and traditions, to lower Christian standards, 00:07:27.94\00:07:31.88 and cause corruption of their faith, 00:07:31.91\00:07:34.12 and a loss of purity and power to the followers of Christ. 00:07:34.15\00:07:38.25 And furthermore, he would drive this destructive process 00:07:38.29\00:07:42.29 by means of overpowering lies and deceitful delusions. 00:07:42.32\00:07:49.23 And Paul reveals even more details 00:07:49.26\00:07:52.13 when he says, 00:07:52.17\00:07:53.50 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness 00:07:53.54\00:07:56.60 in them that perish, 00:07:56.64\00:07:58.51 because they received not the love of the truth, 00:07:58.54\00:08:00.54 that they might be saved. 00:08:00.58\00:08:02.88 And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, 00:08:02.91\00:08:09.08 that they should believe a lie." 00:08:09.12\00:08:12.22 And verse 12 says, "That they all might be damned 00:08:12.25\00:08:14.72 who believed not the truth, 00:08:14.76\00:08:16.32 but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 00:08:16.36\00:08:19.76 So in these verses, 00:08:19.79\00:08:21.13 Paul hold out both a promise and a warning. 00:08:21.16\00:08:25.07 The promise is that the only one shall be deceived 00:08:25.10\00:08:28.87 will be those who receive not the love of the truth 00:08:28.90\00:08:32.04 that they might be saved. 00:08:32.07\00:08:33.68 And note here, Paul's key word, the love of the truth. 00:08:33.71\00:08:37.15 He wasn't just talking about 00:08:37.18\00:08:38.51 those who said that they do hear it, 00:08:38.55\00:08:41.65 they did believe it, 00:08:41.68\00:08:44.05 and they professed to receive it. 00:08:44.09\00:08:46.05 But even in spite of their outward profession, 00:08:46.09\00:08:48.39 they don't love it enough 00:08:48.42\00:08:49.76 to make their guide and rule of life. 00:08:49.79\00:08:51.33 They just seemed to be satisfied 00:08:54.43\00:08:55.96 with some kind of intellectual assent 00:08:56.00\00:08:58.20 without seeing any kind of need to reform their way of life. 00:08:58.23\00:09:02.94 So they professed to receive the truth 00:09:02.97\00:09:05.41 but they didn't love it enough 00:09:05.44\00:09:06.78 to make it their guide and way of life. 00:09:06.81\00:09:08.31 That's what he's talking about here, 00:09:08.34\00:09:09.94 not just those who received the truth. 00:09:09.98\00:09:12.61 And the Bible itself warns about this kind of attitude 00:09:12.65\00:09:15.88 in James 1:22 to 25. 00:09:15.92\00:09:18.99 And we're going to have a look at that text. 00:09:19.02\00:09:21.46 James 1:22 to 25. 00:09:21.49\00:09:25.83 And it says this, "But be ye doers of the word, 00:09:25.86\00:09:32.17 and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 00:09:32.20\00:09:36.20 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, 00:09:36.24\00:09:39.61 he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. 00:09:39.64\00:09:43.91 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, 00:09:43.95\00:09:47.08 and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 00:09:47.12\00:09:51.09 But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, 00:09:51.12\00:09:54.59 and continueth therein, 00:09:54.62\00:09:56.49 he being not a forgetful hearer, 00:09:56.52\00:09:58.73 but a doer of the word, 00:09:58.76\00:10:00.40 this man shall be blessed in his deed. 00:10:00.43\00:10:04.73 Now let's go back to 2 Thessalonians 2. 00:10:04.77\00:10:08.10 Paul's warning in verse 11 and 12 makes it very clear 00:10:08.14\00:10:11.71 that if a person professes to be a believer in God, 00:10:11.74\00:10:15.04 but chooses to be carelessly ignorant of His word, 00:10:15.08\00:10:19.21 and I'm not talking about those who don't have 00:10:19.25\00:10:20.98 access to the Bible or can't read it, 00:10:21.02\00:10:23.49 I'm talking about those who do have the Bible 00:10:23.52\00:10:26.76 but choose to ignore or neglect it. 00:10:26.79\00:10:29.59 Or worse, misinterpret it to fit their own opinions. 00:10:29.62\00:10:33.86 When people do that, then the result will be 00:10:33.90\00:10:36.20 that God will not protect them from believing lies. 00:10:36.23\00:10:40.24 Lies that lead to strong delusions. 00:10:40.27\00:10:43.94 Delusions so bad that damnation 00:10:43.97\00:10:46.51 and loss of eternal life would be the end result. 00:10:46.54\00:10:49.34 You don't want to be deluded like that, do you? 00:10:49.38\00:10:52.31 No way. 00:10:52.35\00:10:54.75 Paul makes it very plain that his warnings 00:10:54.78\00:10:57.09 are an incredibly serious matter. 00:10:57.12\00:10:59.42 Not only for the believers in Thessalonica, 00:10:59.45\00:11:02.52 but I believe God intended it also for all believers today. 00:11:02.56\00:11:07.10 What do you say? 00:11:07.13\00:11:08.46 It's important. 00:11:08.50\00:11:10.03 Therefore it's vitally important 00:11:10.07\00:11:11.80 that God's people understand 00:11:11.83\00:11:13.20 exactly how to identify such potentially deadly delusions 00:11:13.23\00:11:18.34 to avoid becoming ensnared by them. 00:11:18.37\00:11:21.58 And thankfully, God's living word in the Bible 00:11:21.61\00:11:24.58 makes the evidence so clear even a child can understand it. 00:11:24.61\00:11:29.12 Let's explore the evidence God has given us 00:11:29.15\00:11:31.59 in biblical history. 00:11:31.62\00:11:33.59 I'm not going to quote all the texts. 00:11:33.62\00:11:35.19 I'm not going to read all the text 00:11:35.22\00:11:36.62 to you from the Bible. 00:11:36.66\00:11:37.99 We're just down to summarizing, 00:11:38.03\00:11:39.36 because there is a lot of material in here, 00:11:39.39\00:11:41.43 and we have limited time. 00:11:41.46\00:11:42.80 So I'll be summarizing some of them. 00:11:42.83\00:11:45.10 Isaiah 14:12 to 14, 00:11:45.13\00:11:47.94 records a nature of the very first conflict 00:11:47.97\00:11:50.71 in the controversy between good and evil. 00:11:50.74\00:11:53.41 We will look up this one. 00:11:53.44\00:11:55.74 It says in Isaiah 14:12 to 14. 00:11:55.78\00:12:01.08 We'll have a look at that. 00:12:01.12\00:12:03.22 We will read this one. 00:12:03.25\00:12:05.49 And it's Isaiah 14:12 to 14, and it says this. 00:12:05.52\00:12:12.19 "How art thou fallen from heaven, 00:12:12.23\00:12:13.90 O Lucifer, son of the morning! 00:12:13.93\00:12:15.83 How art thou cut down to the ground, 00:12:15.86\00:12:17.67 which didst weaken the nations! 00:12:17.70\00:12:20.14 For thou hast said in thine heart, 00:12:20.17\00:12:21.50 I will ascend into heaven, 00:12:21.54\00:12:23.41 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. 00:12:23.44\00:12:26.47 I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, 00:12:26.51\00:12:29.41 in the sides of the north. 00:12:29.44\00:12:32.21 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 00:12:32.25\00:12:36.12 I will be like the Most High." 00:12:36.15\00:12:39.25 So what's the problem? 00:12:39.29\00:12:41.19 What was Lucifer striving for in his conflict? 00:12:41.22\00:12:45.83 The Bible tells us, he wanted to be like the Most High. 00:12:45.86\00:12:50.03 So clearly, he wanted to be worshiped like God. 00:12:50.07\00:12:56.27 So we see that the first conflict 00:12:56.30\00:12:57.87 in the great controversy was over what? 00:12:57.91\00:13:01.28 Worship. Worship. 00:13:01.31\00:13:02.64 That was the key. 00:13:02.68\00:13:05.05 Now, if we look at the first conflict in human history 00:13:05.08\00:13:07.95 as recorded in Genesis 4:3 to 8. 00:13:07.98\00:13:12.45 We won't read this one, 00:13:12.49\00:13:13.82 but we see again that worship is a focus of the conflict. 00:13:13.86\00:13:17.26 Not who to worship this time but how to worship. 00:13:17.29\00:13:21.86 Worship was the issue again. 00:13:21.90\00:13:25.37 And if we consider the conflict between Elijah, Ahab, 00:13:25.40\00:13:28.94 and the priest of Baal on Mount Carmel, 00:13:28.97\00:13:31.84 you can look it up if you want to after the program. 00:13:31.87\00:13:33.91 It's in 1 kings 18:17 to 39. 00:13:33.94\00:13:37.78 Once again, we see that the conflict in this story 00:13:37.81\00:13:40.15 was clearly a conflict over who? 00:13:40.18\00:13:43.89 To worship. 00:13:43.92\00:13:46.35 And notice also that all the people in this story 00:13:46.39\00:13:49.02 were of the same nation. 00:13:49.06\00:13:50.93 But most of them had become ensnared by other pairing lies 00:13:50.96\00:13:54.70 and deceitful delusion 00:13:54.73\00:13:56.70 that involved the same six identifiers 00:13:56.73\00:13:59.10 we just spoke about earlier. 00:13:59.13\00:14:00.60 Let's look at them again. 00:14:00.64\00:14:03.71 The customs of heathenism, compromise and conformity, 00:14:03.74\00:14:08.48 human theory and traditions, the lower standards, 00:14:08.51\00:14:12.78 it cause corruption, and a loss of purity and power. 00:14:12.81\00:14:16.89 That's what they're involved in. 00:14:16.92\00:14:19.62 And there are other examples. 00:14:19.65\00:14:21.72 In Daniel 3, Daniel's three friends 00:14:21.76\00:14:24.76 who are thrown into the fiery furnace 00:14:24.79\00:14:27.03 because they refused to bow down 00:14:27.06\00:14:28.70 before King Nebuchadnezzar's image 00:14:28.73\00:14:30.47 on the plain of Dura, 00:14:30.50\00:14:31.83 were involved in a conflict about what? 00:14:31.87\00:14:35.57 Worship. 00:14:35.60\00:14:36.94 Who will they worship? 00:14:36.97\00:14:40.21 And take a look at the experience 00:14:40.24\00:14:41.58 of Christ Himself 00:14:41.61\00:14:42.94 during His temptation by Satan after 40 days of fasting. 00:14:42.98\00:14:46.82 We will read this one in Matthew 4:8 to 10. 00:14:46.85\00:14:52.09 This is very interesting. 00:14:52.12\00:14:53.46 Matthew 4:8 to 10. 00:14:53.49\00:14:57.63 And verse 8 says, 00:14:57.66\00:14:59.69 "Again, the devil taketh him up 00:14:59.73\00:15:01.46 into an exceeding high mountain, 00:15:01.50\00:15:03.00 and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, 00:15:03.03\00:15:05.63 and the glory of them. 00:15:05.67\00:15:07.87 And saith unto him, 00:15:07.90\00:15:10.57 'All these things will I give thee, 00:15:10.61\00:15:12.77 if thou wilt fall down and worship me.' 00:15:12.81\00:15:17.85 Then saith Jesus unto him, 'Get thee hence, Satan. 00:15:17.88\00:15:20.75 For it is written, Thou shalt worship,'" who? 00:15:20.78\00:15:23.89 "'The Lord thy God, 00:15:23.92\00:15:26.72 and him only shalt thou serve.'" 00:15:26.76\00:15:30.33 So we see here again 00:15:30.36\00:15:31.69 that Bible illustrates a conflict over who to worship. 00:15:31.73\00:15:37.53 And all through the history of The Dark Ages, 00:15:37.57\00:15:40.10 more than 100 million martyrs were tortured and murdered 00:15:40.14\00:15:44.11 because they refused to participate 00:15:44.14\00:15:46.37 in false worship. 00:15:46.41\00:15:50.08 So for the student of God's word, 00:15:50.11\00:15:51.81 it should be no surprise 00:15:51.85\00:15:53.18 that the final conflict in human history, 00:15:53.21\00:15:56.18 and therefore the basis of all delusions 00:15:56.22\00:15:59.42 can be expected to center around three issues. 00:15:59.45\00:16:05.03 Number one, who we worship. 00:16:05.06\00:16:08.50 Number two, how we worship. 00:16:08.53\00:16:12.30 And number three, when we worship. 00:16:12.33\00:16:17.27 Now when God wrote the Ten Commandments 00:16:17.31\00:16:19.01 with His finger on stone, 00:16:19.04\00:16:20.38 He even gave us a hint 00:16:20.41\00:16:22.51 that the issue of how we worship would arise 00:16:22.54\00:16:26.51 right there in the Ten Commandments 00:16:26.55\00:16:28.65 in Exodus 20:3. 00:16:28.68\00:16:31.69 Let's have a look at this one. 00:16:31.72\00:16:33.46 Exodus 20:3. 00:16:33.49\00:16:36.39 Exodus 20:3. 00:16:39.79\00:16:43.16 And it says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." 00:16:43.20\00:16:48.17 So you see here in the first commandment 00:16:48.20\00:16:50.84 that it opposes the worship of false god. 00:16:50.87\00:16:53.27 Is that right? 00:16:53.31\00:16:54.88 It opposes the worship of false god. 00:16:54.91\00:16:57.21 Now let's look at the second commandment 00:16:57.25\00:16:59.75 in verses 4 and 5. 00:16:59.78\00:17:03.02 Verse 4 says, "Thou shalt not make unto thee 00:17:03.05\00:17:05.49 any graven image, 00:17:05.52\00:17:07.26 or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 00:17:07.29\00:17:10.59 or that is in the earth beneath, 00:17:10.63\00:17:12.79 or that is in the water under the earth." 00:17:12.83\00:17:14.56 So that's the reinforcement of the first one, isn't it? 00:17:14.60\00:17:17.33 Now look at some more. 00:17:17.37\00:17:18.83 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 00:17:18.87\00:17:21.37 nor serve them, 00:17:21.40\00:17:22.74 for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 00:17:22.77\00:17:25.74 visiting the iniquity 00:17:25.77\00:17:27.11 of the fathers upon the children 00:17:27.14\00:17:28.84 unto the third and fourth generation 00:17:28.88\00:17:31.98 of them that hate me." 00:17:32.01\00:17:34.82 So we see that the second commandment 00:17:34.85\00:17:36.52 reinforces the first one. 00:17:36.55\00:17:38.29 But it also implies something else, 00:17:38.32\00:17:41.36 and I wonder if you can see it. 00:17:41.39\00:17:44.33 It says, "Don't worship the true God in a false way." 00:17:44.36\00:17:49.40 Did I make it clear? 00:17:49.43\00:17:51.07 Now plenty of people out there who worship idols. 00:17:51.10\00:17:53.23 They don't worship the idols. 00:17:53.27\00:17:54.60 I say, they don't worship the idols, 00:17:54.64\00:17:55.97 that the idol is just a symbol of the God they worship. 00:17:56.00\00:17:59.67 But the Lord says in the Bible, 00:17:59.71\00:18:01.94 "Don't worship the true God in a false way." 00:18:01.98\00:18:06.51 Because God put that there, 00:18:06.55\00:18:07.88 because in you that men would be inclined 00:18:07.92\00:18:09.52 to invent their own ideas of how to worship. 00:18:09.55\00:18:12.55 And that was exactly what Cain did, 00:18:12.59\00:18:15.02 and Jeroboam, and many others. 00:18:15.06\00:18:17.63 They thought their own opinion was more important 00:18:17.66\00:18:20.86 than what God says. 00:18:20.90\00:18:22.23 You know, sometimes people say, "Oh, yeah. 00:18:22.26\00:18:24.43 God may say, but I think..." 00:18:24.47\00:18:27.94 What's the God? 00:18:27.97\00:18:29.44 "I think." 00:18:29.47\00:18:30.81 They don't worship the God of heaven, 00:18:30.84\00:18:32.47 they worship the God called "I think", 00:18:32.51\00:18:35.04 a god of their own opinions. 00:18:35.08\00:18:37.55 So it is a conflict between Christ and His followers, 00:18:37.58\00:18:40.78 and Satan and his followers. 00:18:40.82\00:18:44.12 And the Sabbath versus Sunday issue in the last days 00:18:44.15\00:18:46.96 will be a conflict about when we worship. 00:18:46.99\00:18:48.76 Isn't that so? 00:18:48.79\00:18:50.13 When we worship. 00:18:50.16\00:18:51.49 And this is the conflict between 00:18:51.53\00:18:52.86 Christ and His followers, 00:18:52.89\00:18:54.23 and Satan and his followers. 00:18:54.26\00:18:56.20 And the weapons of each party are entirely different. 00:18:56.23\00:19:00.24 Christ always appeals to the record 00:19:00.27\00:19:02.50 with unfailing love and personal sacrifice 00:19:02.54\00:19:06.21 as we read early in the Bible. 00:19:06.24\00:19:08.48 But his adversary Satan resort 00:19:08.51\00:19:10.18 to every means of false and deception. 00:19:10.21\00:19:14.58 Christ impacts their emotions by appealing to reason. 00:19:14.62\00:19:18.45 He says in Isaiah 1:18, 00:19:18.49\00:19:20.76 "Come now, let us reason together." 00:19:20.79\00:19:24.26 But in contrast, Satan appeals to our emotions 00:19:24.29\00:19:28.36 in order to twist our reason. 00:19:28.40\00:19:31.83 He says, "Come now and let us experience together. 00:19:31.87\00:19:35.07 Experience the alluring attractions of sin. 00:19:35.10\00:19:37.81 If it feels good, do it. 00:19:37.84\00:19:40.21 Experience the wealth of ill-gotten game. 00:19:40.24\00:19:42.98 Feel the emotion of serving self. 00:19:43.01\00:19:45.38 Feel the freedom, so called, of accepting that God's law 00:19:45.41\00:19:49.85 was done away with at the cross, 00:19:49.88\00:19:51.45 not necessary anymore." 00:19:51.49\00:19:54.62 But, friend, Paul's combination of warning and promise 00:19:54.66\00:19:57.03 to the Thessalonians also informs us today 00:19:57.06\00:20:00.70 that as the spirit of compromise, 00:20:00.73\00:20:02.60 conformity, and disobedience 00:20:02.63\00:20:05.23 would continue to drive the world 00:20:05.27\00:20:07.04 and God's precious people 00:20:07.07\00:20:08.90 away from the light of truth back into the dark ages. 00:20:08.94\00:20:12.97 So God's Holy Spirit of, what's it say? 00:20:13.01\00:20:17.68 Obedience would continue to send the reformation call 00:20:17.71\00:20:22.75 out of darkness into light. 00:20:22.78\00:20:26.32 Now let's take a look at Revelation 14:6 and 7. 00:20:26.35\00:20:30.79 And it says this. 00:20:30.83\00:20:32.99 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 00:20:33.03\00:20:36.63 having the everlasting gospel 00:20:36.67\00:20:38.00 to preach to those who dwell on the earth, 00:20:38.03\00:20:40.44 to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. 00:20:40.47\00:20:44.11 Saying with a loud voice, 00:20:44.14\00:20:45.47 'Fear God, and give glory to Him, 00:20:45.51\00:20:49.38 for the hour of His judgment is come, 00:20:49.41\00:20:51.21 and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, 00:20:51.25\00:20:55.18 and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'" 00:20:55.22\00:20:58.55 So we see here that God's last warning message 00:20:58.59\00:21:00.89 to the world is a final call, how to worship Him, 00:21:00.92\00:21:07.03 the true way by obedience. 00:21:07.06\00:21:09.53 Is that clear? 00:21:09.56\00:21:12.53 Also we see that the angel's messages 00:21:12.57\00:21:14.84 appealed with a loud voice to fear God. 00:21:14.87\00:21:18.74 Well, what does it mean to fear God? 00:21:18.77\00:21:21.64 It simply means to reverence or obey God. 00:21:21.68\00:21:25.91 And it also calls us to give glory to Him. 00:21:25.95\00:21:28.68 What does that mean? 00:21:28.72\00:21:30.15 It simply means that out of profound gratitude 00:21:30.19\00:21:32.75 for what He's done to save us through His son, 00:21:32.79\00:21:35.72 we want to demonstrate our love for Him 00:21:35.76\00:21:38.23 by honoring Him in all that we do. 00:21:38.26\00:21:40.46 What do you say, folk? 00:21:40.50\00:21:43.26 In speaking, in eating, in dressing, in our behavior, 00:21:43.30\00:21:48.40 everything we do in private or in public 00:21:48.44\00:21:50.94 is being observed by unfallen beings on other world. 00:21:50.97\00:21:54.01 Do you believe that? 00:21:54.04\00:21:56.68 We are actors on the theater of the universe. 00:21:56.71\00:22:00.02 All right, what's the conflict between 00:22:00.05\00:22:01.52 good and evil on this planet? 00:22:01.55\00:22:03.39 With the most intense interest, you might say why. 00:22:03.42\00:22:07.19 Why would they be so interested 00:22:07.22\00:22:08.56 on what happens on this horrible place? 00:22:08.59\00:22:11.29 Simply because they want to be reassured 00:22:11.33\00:22:14.10 that those whom God intends to save 00:22:14.13\00:22:16.56 and bring back to them to live with Him for eternity 00:22:16.60\00:22:20.34 can safely be trusted 00:22:20.37\00:22:21.77 never to entertain disobedience. 00:22:21.80\00:22:24.74 Like those who are cast out to the earth with Lucifer. 00:22:24.77\00:22:28.61 Makes sense? It's simple. 00:22:28.64\00:22:31.71 The true remnant church 00:22:31.75\00:22:33.08 will be ready for Jesus to come. 00:22:33.11\00:22:34.95 Will call men and women to be obedient in who they worship, 00:22:34.98\00:22:40.59 how they worship, and when they worship. 00:22:40.62\00:22:44.76 It will encourage obedience to worship Him on the day 00:22:44.79\00:22:48.40 that is clearly specified, the true Sabbath day, 00:22:48.43\00:22:52.30 the seventh day of the week. 00:22:52.33\00:22:55.24 And it will teach that God's holy word has more authority 00:22:55.27\00:22:58.91 than man-made opinions and traditions. 00:22:58.94\00:23:00.84 What do you say? Amen. 00:23:00.88\00:23:04.88 On the other hand, Christ enemy 00:23:04.91\00:23:06.75 will now outwardly professing belief in the truths 00:23:06.78\00:23:10.35 whereby its false worship practices 00:23:10.39\00:23:13.39 speaks people to be 00:23:13.42\00:23:15.49 the opposite of obedience, disobedient. 00:23:15.52\00:23:19.06 By worshiping according to man-made ideas and traditions 00:23:19.09\00:23:22.93 instead of the Word of God. 00:23:22.96\00:23:24.80 And on a day that God did not command, Sunday, 00:23:24.83\00:23:28.84 the first day of the week. 00:23:28.87\00:23:31.77 It would certainly teach people to regard the Ten Commandments 00:23:31.81\00:23:34.84 as done away with at the cross. 00:23:34.88\00:23:37.61 And that we can safely ignore doctrine 00:23:37.65\00:23:39.38 for the sake of universal unity. 00:23:39.41\00:23:42.42 Have you heard that before? 00:23:42.45\00:23:44.25 Don't worry about doctrine, just come together for unity. 00:23:44.29\00:23:49.39 When we look back at the emergence 00:23:49.42\00:23:50.93 of the spirit of compromise, conformity, 00:23:50.96\00:23:53.06 and disobedience during The Dark Ages, 00:23:53.09\00:23:55.73 we discover that one of the major step that took 00:23:55.76\00:23:59.40 was to change the law of God in such a way 00:23:59.43\00:24:02.44 that it would deceive the people into thinking 00:24:02.47\00:24:05.17 it hadn't been changed at all. 00:24:05.21\00:24:07.91 Take a look at these two versions 00:24:07.94\00:24:09.44 of the commandments. 00:24:09.48\00:24:11.68 On the left, you see them just as they appear in the Bible 00:24:11.71\00:24:14.42 in Exodus 20:3 to 11. 00:24:14.45\00:24:17.02 And on the right, you see them 00:24:17.05\00:24:18.39 as they commonly appear in Roman Catholic catechism. 00:24:18.42\00:24:23.12 And you can see, there is a profound difference. 00:24:23.16\00:24:26.66 The second one about images has been removed entirely, 00:24:26.70\00:24:30.77 and the third one put in its place. 00:24:30.80\00:24:34.57 The fourth one has had over 90% of it removed, 00:24:34.60\00:24:38.14 particularly the part that identifies 00:24:38.17\00:24:41.04 which day is the Sabbath. 00:24:41.08\00:24:44.21 And to make up for the removal of number two, 00:24:44.25\00:24:46.48 the tenth has been divided into two commandments 00:24:46.51\00:24:49.42 to make up the number ten. 00:24:49.45\00:24:51.92 So if a reader was not familiar 00:24:51.95\00:24:53.36 with the original in God's word, 00:24:53.39\00:24:55.36 they will be not aware that any significant change 00:24:55.39\00:24:58.79 had been made 00:24:58.83\00:25:00.16 that's subtle, that deceptive, it sure is, isn't it? 00:25:00.20\00:25:06.00 To summarize, the two rival powers 00:25:06.03\00:25:07.84 in the end time crisis 00:25:07.87\00:25:09.20 will call every inhabitant of the world 00:25:09.24\00:25:11.54 to worship God according to their commands. 00:25:11.57\00:25:16.54 One power will lovingly knock on the door of our heart 00:25:16.58\00:25:20.58 and invite us to worship God the true way 00:25:20.62\00:25:24.59 according to His word in the Bible. 00:25:24.62\00:25:28.79 The rival power will at first, deceitfully coerce, 00:25:28.82\00:25:31.63 then ruthlessly demand that we worship God 00:25:31.66\00:25:34.60 the false way according to man's word, tradition. 00:25:34.63\00:25:40.47 On the side of the antichrist power, 00:25:40.50\00:25:42.27 we can expect to see a unity of church and state 00:25:42.30\00:25:47.94 to develop an international system of government 00:25:47.98\00:25:51.68 which initially will appear to have very noble goals 00:25:51.71\00:25:55.22 of saving the planet, 00:25:55.25\00:25:56.85 stopping all wars, and ending poverty. 00:25:56.89\00:25:59.79 But behind the scenes, we can expect, 00:25:59.82\00:26:04.03 it will quickly become highly repressive and brutal 00:26:04.06\00:26:07.93 against anyone who refuses to participate 00:26:07.96\00:26:11.00 in its system of social reorganization, 00:26:11.03\00:26:14.90 and eventually, particularly those 00:26:14.94\00:26:17.81 who refuse to be involved 00:26:17.84\00:26:20.31 in its legislative false worship practices. 00:26:20.34\00:26:26.28 And we can see this system developing 00:26:26.31\00:26:27.92 in the speeches of the previous pope, 00:26:27.95\00:26:30.49 Benedict XVI in 2009. 00:26:30.52\00:26:33.66 Listen to these words. 00:26:33.69\00:26:37.23 He said, "There is urgent need 00:26:37.26\00:26:39.06 of a true world political authority, 00:26:39.09\00:26:42.96 as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII 00:26:43.00\00:26:45.23 indicated some years ago. 00:26:45.27\00:26:47.07 Such an authority would need to be regulated by law..." 00:26:47.10\00:26:52.67 Notice the language. 00:26:52.71\00:26:54.54 "To observe consistently 00:26:54.58\00:26:56.04 the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity." 00:26:56.08\00:26:58.61 You know what that means? 00:26:58.65\00:27:00.08 Subsidiarity simply means that your goods can be 00:27:00.12\00:27:03.22 shared with those who don't have them. 00:27:03.25\00:27:05.09 You don't have any right to own anything. 00:27:05.12\00:27:07.59 Your house can be used to house other people. 00:27:07.62\00:27:11.19 If they don't have a home, 00:27:11.23\00:27:12.56 they are told to come and live in your house, 00:27:12.59\00:27:13.93 and you can't do anything about it. 00:27:13.96\00:27:15.50 Your car can be shared with others. 00:27:15.53\00:27:17.13 It all becomes common property. 00:27:17.17\00:27:19.10 That's what subsidiarity means. 00:27:19.13\00:27:20.77 And solidarity means everybody together, 00:27:20.80\00:27:23.61 they work for the common good. 00:27:23.64\00:27:26.07 To seek to establish, as he says, 00:27:26.11\00:27:27.64 "The common good, and to make a commitment 00:27:27.68\00:27:30.15 to securing authentic integral human development 00:27:30.18\00:27:34.15 inspired by the values of charity in truth." 00:27:34.18\00:27:36.75 Sounds flowery, doesn't it? Sounds good. 00:27:36.79\00:27:40.56 "Furthermore such an authority 00:27:40.59\00:27:41.99 would need to be universally recognized 00:27:42.02\00:27:44.69 and be invested with the effective power 00:27:44.73\00:27:48.70 to ensure security for all, 00:27:48.73\00:27:50.77 regard for justice and respect for rights." 00:27:50.80\00:27:54.20 Except, of course, your individual rights. 00:27:54.24\00:27:58.81 And also in the words of the current pope Francis, 00:27:58.84\00:28:01.48 in 2015, encyclical Care of Our Common Home, 00:28:01.51\00:28:06.51 in which he was promoting the common good. 00:28:06.55\00:28:08.48 He said this. 00:28:08.52\00:28:11.32 "International climate negotiations 00:28:11.35\00:28:13.15 cannot make significant progress 00:28:13.19\00:28:15.09 due to positions taken by countries 00:28:15.12\00:28:17.83 which place their national interests 00:28:17.86\00:28:19.79 above the global common good. 00:28:19.83\00:28:23.16 Climate change," he says, 00:28:23.20\00:28:24.53 "is a global problem whose solution 00:28:24.57\00:28:26.33 will depend on our stepping beyond national affiliations 00:28:26.37\00:28:30.47 and coming together for the common good. 00:28:30.51\00:28:32.87 The establishment of a legal framework..." 00:28:32.91\00:28:35.74 There is that language again. 00:28:35.78\00:28:37.81 "Which can set clear boundaries and ensure the protection of 00:28:37.85\00:28:40.82 ecosystems has become indispensable." 00:28:40.85\00:28:45.59 No wonder people listen to this. 00:28:45.62\00:28:47.52 No wonder people follow it. It seems so good. 00:28:47.56\00:28:49.42 He's gonna save your planet. 00:28:49.46\00:28:52.69 But some Christian commentators can see the hidden agenda 00:28:52.73\00:28:56.20 behind such outwardly commendable language. 00:28:56.23\00:28:59.57 Now one of them Pastor Steven Bohr 00:28:59.60\00:29:01.44 from California, he had this to say. 00:29:01.47\00:29:03.87 Interesting to note his words. 00:29:03.91\00:29:06.88 He said, "The Pope's encyclical," 00:29:06.91\00:29:08.44 which was released June 18, 2015, 00:29:08.48\00:29:12.05 "published about two months after the 'Climate Change 00:29:12.08\00:29:14.45 and the Common Good' declaration, 00:29:14.48\00:29:16.75 suggested that the elimination of carbon gases, 00:29:16.79\00:29:19.85 car pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, 00:29:19.89\00:29:24.96 restricting the use of air conditioning, 00:29:24.99\00:29:27.73 recycling, and boycotting certain products 00:29:27.76\00:29:30.77 as well as giving the planet a..." 00:29:30.80\00:29:33.97 What he says? 00:29:34.00\00:29:35.34 "Sunday rest will help solve the problem." 00:29:35.37\00:29:41.81 And Pastor Bohr says, 00:29:41.84\00:29:43.18 "Of course, one of the Pope's provisions 00:29:43.21\00:29:44.55 of the 'save the planet' 00:29:44.58\00:29:45.91 crusade is making Sunday a day for the environment to rest, 00:29:45.95\00:29:50.02 for families to strengthen their ties 00:29:50.05\00:29:51.82 by attending Mass, 00:29:51.85\00:29:53.79 and to give the poor a break from what he perceives 00:29:53.82\00:29:56.56 as the endless 00:29:56.59\00:29:57.93 and dehumanizing cycle of Capitalist life." 00:29:57.96\00:30:02.43 He said, "The not too subtle insertion of Sunday 00:30:02.46\00:30:05.23 at the end of the encyclical 00:30:05.27\00:30:07.30 appears innocuous or innocent at first, 00:30:07.34\00:30:10.37 but as Adventists, 00:30:10.41\00:30:11.74 we know 00:30:11.77\00:30:13.11 what the papacy's ultimate purpose is 00:30:13.14\00:30:15.14 in bringing global climate change 00:30:15.18\00:30:18.05 to the forefront." 00:30:18.08\00:30:19.41 Can you see that, folk? 00:30:19.45\00:30:21.08 It's a lever. 00:30:21.12\00:30:22.88 It's a lever to bring about a system 00:30:22.92\00:30:25.62 of one world government that anybody would unite 00:30:25.65\00:30:27.96 on this platform of saving the planet. 00:30:27.99\00:30:30.89 But there is an evil purpose behind it. 00:30:30.93\00:30:34.70 What many failed to understand Pastor Bohr says, 00:30:34.73\00:30:37.67 "Is that the word papacy 00:30:37.70\00:30:39.17 does not refer to the Roman Catholic Church 00:30:39.20\00:30:42.07 as a religious entity." 00:30:42.10\00:30:45.07 He says, "It is rather a code word 00:30:45.11\00:30:47.44 for a system 00:30:47.48\00:30:48.84 that unites church and state and whose leader, 00:30:48.88\00:30:51.98 in union with the Council of Bishops, 00:30:52.01\00:30:54.48 claims to have the divine right to global jurisdiction, 00:30:54.52\00:30:59.02 in both religious and secular matters. 00:30:59.05\00:31:02.66 He says, little does the world realize 00:31:02.69\00:31:04.56 what the ultimate aspirations of the papacy really are, 00:31:04.59\00:31:08.33 "Global dominion with an iron fist." 00:31:08.36\00:31:14.60 And note, I didn't make that up. 00:31:14.64\00:31:16.81 I'm simply quoting historians. 00:31:16.84\00:31:20.34 And believe it or not, 00:31:20.38\00:31:21.98 this isn't some startling horrific news. 00:31:22.01\00:31:25.78 A hundred and fifty years ago, 00:31:25.81\00:31:28.08 Ellen White predicted in her Christian commentary, 00:31:28.12\00:31:31.65 Last Day Events, 00:31:31.69\00:31:33.49 that worship would be the centerpiece 00:31:33.52\00:31:35.52 of the final conflict. 00:31:35.56\00:31:36.89 Listen to these words. 00:31:36.93\00:31:39.86 She says, "When our nation, United States, 00:31:39.89\00:31:43.06 in its legislative councils, 00:31:43.10\00:31:44.60 shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men 00:31:44.63\00:31:48.64 in regard to their religious privileges, 00:31:48.67\00:31:51.27 enforcing Sunday observance, 00:31:51.31\00:31:54.14 and bringing oppressive power to bear 00:31:54.18\00:31:56.95 against those who keep the Seventh-day Sabbath..." 00:31:56.98\00:32:00.95 What's the target of these laws? 00:32:00.98\00:32:03.25 "The people who keep the Seventh-day Sabbath..." 00:32:03.28\00:32:05.45 Very interesting. 00:32:05.49\00:32:07.72 "The law of God will, to all intents and purposes, 00:32:07.76\00:32:11.16 be made void in our land, 00:32:11.19\00:32:12.56 and national apostasy will be followed," by what? 00:32:12.59\00:32:16.50 "National ruin." 00:32:16.53\00:32:18.13 Little did these people know who are framing these laws, 00:32:18.17\00:32:20.90 what they are shaping the country up for, 00:32:20.94\00:32:23.24 national ruin. 00:32:23.27\00:32:25.64 If I could see ahead, if I could see this quote, 00:32:25.67\00:32:28.28 they'd be horrified and think twice about it. 00:32:28.31\00:32:31.61 My friend, you must ask the question 00:32:31.65\00:32:33.15 just how real is this? 00:32:33.18\00:32:34.98 Can we really believe 00:32:35.02\00:32:36.35 that the United States is close to making 00:32:36.38\00:32:38.35 such drastic changes to their laws, 00:32:38.39\00:32:41.22 changes so drastic as to alter their constitution 00:32:41.26\00:32:44.96 to get rid of that great principle 00:32:44.99\00:32:46.70 of separation of church and state, 00:32:46.73\00:32:49.16 that great principle that is the foundation 00:32:49.20\00:32:51.37 of their national prosperity and freedom? 00:32:51.40\00:32:53.60 Is that really possible? 00:32:53.64\00:32:56.00 I'm sure, most Americans, and most Australians, 00:32:56.04\00:32:58.47 and many people around the world 00:32:58.51\00:32:59.84 would ask these question. 00:32:59.87\00:33:01.21 Come on. 00:33:01.24\00:33:02.58 I would say, "This is impossible. 00:33:02.61\00:33:03.95 This nation was founded on religious freedom." 00:33:03.98\00:33:06.85 Well, I want you to watch 00:33:06.88\00:33:08.75 this amazing video from Amazing Discoveries. 00:33:08.78\00:33:13.36 These are the issues of the day. 00:33:13.39\00:33:16.12 The Christian post says, 00:33:16.16\00:33:18.69 "Megachurch Pastor Jack Graham ready to champion Donald Trump 00:33:18.73\00:33:24.30 after meeting with 900 evangelicals." 00:33:24.33\00:33:28.07 Now he is also one of those that went to the pope. 00:33:28.10\00:33:30.74 "Former Southern Baptist Convention president 00:33:30.77\00:33:33.58 and megachurch Pastor Jack Graham says 00:33:33.61\00:33:36.24 that he is ready to champion Donald Trump 00:33:36.28\00:33:39.01 after attending the meeting 00:33:39.05\00:33:40.38 between the presumptive Republican nominee 00:33:40.42\00:33:42.35 and over 900 evangelical pastors 00:33:42.38\00:33:44.82 and activists in New York City on Tuesday." 00:33:44.85\00:33:49.16 These people are, 00:33:49.19\00:33:51.29 on the one hand now 00:33:51.33\00:33:52.89 the advisers to the president, and to bring about this change, 00:33:52.93\00:33:59.13 this making America great again. 00:33:59.17\00:34:02.37 And on the other hand, 00:34:02.40\00:34:03.74 they are the ones 00:34:03.77\00:34:05.11 who are negotiating with the papacy 00:34:05.14\00:34:08.91 for reunification. 00:34:08.94\00:34:13.11 In fact, that is exactly what Donald Trump vowed to do. 00:34:13.15\00:34:17.65 "Donald Trump vowed to close 00:34:17.69\00:34:19.32 the gap between church and state 00:34:19.35\00:34:21.39 according to Time. 00:34:21.42\00:34:23.93 And it states 00:34:23.96\00:34:25.29 that the GOP presidential nominee 00:34:25.33\00:34:27.06 has tripled down 00:34:27.10\00:34:28.53 with one base of political support 00:34:28.56\00:34:31.13 that has steadfastly remained with him 00:34:31.17\00:34:34.34 white, evangelical voters - 00:34:34.37\00:34:36.27 by promising to dismantle the laws 00:34:36.30\00:34:38.57 that separate church and state in America." 00:34:38.61\00:34:43.24 Now, it's fascinating what he said on the issue. 00:34:43.28\00:34:47.08 "And if you look what's happened to religion, 00:34:47.12\00:34:49.42 if you look at what's happening to Christianity, 00:34:49.45\00:34:52.45 and you look at the number of people 00:34:52.49\00:34:54.09 going to the churches 00:34:54.12\00:34:55.62 and the evangelicals know this also, 00:34:55.66\00:34:58.59 it's not on this kind of climb, 00:34:58.63\00:35:00.53 it's on this kind of a climb of slow and steady 00:35:00.56\00:35:04.27 in the wrong direction,' Trump said. 00:35:04.30\00:35:07.27 'A lot of it has to do with the fact 00:35:07.30\00:35:09.20 that you've been silenced, 00:35:09.24\00:35:11.11 you've been silenced like a child 00:35:11.14\00:35:12.97 has been silenced. 00:35:13.01\00:35:14.71 You have a chance to do something 00:35:14.74\00:35:16.95 that will be earthshaking,' 00:35:16.98\00:35:18.85 he said, 'I literally mean it earthshaking. 00:35:18.88\00:35:22.62 You got to get your people out to vote.'" 00:35:22.65\00:35:26.29 This is what Donald Trump promised. 00:35:26.32\00:35:28.82 But then he is promising precisely 00:35:28.86\00:35:31.46 what the Bible said would happen. 00:35:31.49\00:35:34.36 "An earthshaking event 00:35:34.40\00:35:36.50 that will induce God to intervene in human affairs." 00:35:36.53\00:35:41.94 It's interesting that both Donald Trump 00:35:41.97\00:35:44.77 and Pence said that they cherished the Sunday 00:35:44.81\00:35:50.65 because that was part of their heritage, 00:35:50.68\00:35:53.42 and that is what they remember of their childhood. 00:35:53.45\00:35:56.48 Now the Lord's Day Alliance 00:35:56.52\00:35:57.92 in the Boston Globe said the following. 00:35:57.95\00:36:00.82 "The Lord's Day Alliance founded 00:36:00.86\00:36:02.52 by six major Protestant denominations in 1888." 00:36:02.56\00:36:07.80 I find these dates so fascinating. 00:36:07.83\00:36:11.33 "Spent a century fighting to force industrialists 00:36:11.37\00:36:15.30 to give workers time to attend religious services 00:36:15.34\00:36:18.41 and later to protect the Blue Laws." 00:36:18.44\00:36:21.44 Those are the ones 00:36:21.48\00:36:22.81 that bring in Sunday legislation. 00:36:22.84\00:36:25.21 "But little by little drinking, sporting, shopping 00:36:25.25\00:36:30.15 became permissible on Sundays. 00:36:30.19\00:36:32.55 In the last 20 or so years, 00:36:32.59\00:36:34.36 the group has shifted to advocating 00:36:34.39\00:36:36.52 to an internal recognition of the Sabbath. 00:36:36.56\00:36:40.26 The point is where can a stressed out society 00:36:40.30\00:36:43.63 find regeneration and renewal? 00:36:43.67\00:36:46.87 Said Reverend Rodney Peterson, 00:36:46.90\00:36:48.80 executive director of the group who drew dozens of people 00:36:48.84\00:36:52.71 to an interfaith conference on Sabbath of sermons, 00:36:52.74\00:36:55.71 last week at the old South church 00:36:55.74\00:36:58.18 in Copley Square." 00:36:58.21\00:36:59.61 So this was reported in the Boston Globe 00:36:59.65\00:37:01.82 on November the 2nd, 2016. 00:37:01.85\00:37:05.65 This is an evangelical agenda 00:37:05.69\00:37:08.12 to bring Sunday back into the mainstream again. 00:37:08.16\00:37:13.43 And here we have candidates, 00:37:13.46\00:37:15.70 I believe that are in a position 00:37:15.73\00:37:19.20 and have the power base to do it 00:37:19.23\00:37:23.47 because for the first time 00:37:23.51\00:37:25.17 Republicans control both houses. 00:37:25.21\00:37:28.08 This is one of the most powerful presidents 00:37:28.11\00:37:31.51 that the United States has ever had. 00:37:31.55\00:37:34.38 And if ever there was an opportunity 00:37:34.42\00:37:37.15 to bring about 00:37:37.19\00:37:38.52 the prophetic scenario, it is now. 00:37:38.55\00:37:41.52 I'm not saying, it will happen, 00:37:41.56\00:37:43.26 I'm saying, 00:37:43.29\00:37:44.89 it is possible for it to happen. 00:37:44.93\00:37:48.60 Revelation 13:15 says, 00:37:48.63\00:37:51.00 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, 00:37:51.03\00:37:56.57 and that the image of the beast should both speak, 00:37:56.60\00:37:59.77 and cause that many as would not worship 00:37:59.81\00:38:02.34 the image of the beast should be killed." 00:38:02.38\00:38:08.68 Is this the time 00:38:08.72\00:38:10.05 in which this prophecy will be fulfilled? 00:38:10.09\00:38:14.26 Only time will tell. 00:38:14.29\00:38:18.79 Friends, the warning from the pens of history 00:38:18.83\00:38:21.53 and prophecy are beginning to risen out 00:38:21.56\00:38:24.53 with approaching thunder, 00:38:24.57\00:38:26.94 and I believe the time for Christians everywhere, 00:38:26.97\00:38:29.60 and especially all American to remember this great counsel, 00:38:29.64\00:38:33.58 written 150 years ago 00:38:33.61\00:38:35.98 in that famous Bible commentary, 00:38:36.01\00:38:38.11 the Great Controversy. 00:38:38.15\00:38:39.51 It says this. 00:38:39.55\00:38:41.58 "To protect liberty of conscience 00:38:41.62\00:38:43.25 is the duty of the state, 00:38:43.28\00:38:45.62 and this is the limit of its authority 00:38:45.65\00:38:48.06 in matters of religion. 00:38:48.09\00:38:50.49 Every secular government that attempts to regulate 00:38:50.53\00:38:53.56 or enforce religious observance 00:38:53.60\00:38:56.06 by civil authority 00:38:56.10\00:38:57.73 is sacrificing the very principle 00:38:57.77\00:39:00.37 for which evangelical Christians 00:39:00.40\00:39:02.30 so nobly struggled." 00:39:02.34\00:39:03.74 That's good counsel, isn't it? 00:39:03.77\00:39:05.47 Well, you need to remember it. 00:39:05.51\00:39:07.64 And remember more than one hundred million people died 00:39:07.68\00:39:11.05 in defense of this religious freedom 00:39:11.08\00:39:13.98 we enjoy today. 00:39:14.02\00:39:15.35 Freedom from state control of their consciences. 00:39:15.38\00:39:18.59 Will they who received death now be conveniently forgotten? 00:39:18.62\00:39:23.69 The final crisis in the last days 00:39:23.73\00:39:25.39 will be about the same issue is when it began. 00:39:25.43\00:39:29.03 Worship will be the centerpiece issue 00:39:29.06\00:39:31.20 that determined the eternal destiny of million. 00:39:31.23\00:39:34.60 The final crisis will focus on the first four commandment 00:39:34.64\00:39:39.97 because these, they are with worship issue. 00:39:40.01\00:39:43.45 Who we should worship? 00:39:43.48\00:39:45.31 When we should worship? 00:39:45.35\00:39:46.92 And how we should worship? 00:39:46.95\00:39:48.28 All encased in the first four commandment. 00:39:48.32\00:39:51.65 So in the light of this history, 00:39:51.69\00:39:53.05 every person who sincerely wants to know God 00:39:53.09\00:39:55.79 must ask the question, 00:39:55.82\00:39:57.39 how can I identify 00:39:57.43\00:39:59.06 delusive false worship practices? 00:39:59.09\00:40:03.67 Well, based on the enemy strategies, 00:40:03.70\00:40:05.47 the customs of heathenism, compromising, conformity, 00:40:05.50\00:40:09.70 human theories and traditions, with lower standards, 00:40:09.74\00:40:14.08 it causes corruption and a loss of purity and power. 00:40:14.11\00:40:18.21 I've made up a little list of identifiers 00:40:18.25\00:40:20.25 that might help you. 00:40:20.28\00:40:21.62 The first one 00:40:21.65\00:40:22.98 is where it's talking about creeping compromise. 00:40:23.02\00:40:25.42 You can expect to see deliberate emphasis 00:40:25.45\00:40:27.72 of distinctive doctrines 00:40:27.76\00:40:29.92 in an attempt to make worship more relevant 00:40:29.96\00:40:33.09 or attractive to unbelievers. 00:40:33.13\00:40:36.20 This will pull standard down 00:40:36.23\00:40:38.17 rather than according to God' standard. 00:40:38.20\00:40:39.77 I'm not just talking about our church, 00:40:39.80\00:40:41.20 I'm talking about Christianity in general. 00:40:41.24\00:40:44.04 Any teaching that does this, 00:40:44.07\00:40:46.41 we can see 00:40:46.44\00:40:47.78 that is the false worship system. 00:40:47.81\00:40:50.88 The second one would be diluted truth. 00:40:50.91\00:40:53.82 It would teach a social psychology gospel 00:40:53.85\00:40:57.05 with little or no call to repentance, 00:40:57.09\00:40:59.29 revival and reformation. 00:40:59.32\00:41:01.19 Just love one another. 00:41:01.22\00:41:03.93 And the third one, 00:41:03.96\00:41:05.63 truth versus present truth. 00:41:05.66\00:41:09.26 They will preach the generic truth, 00:41:09.30\00:41:11.67 no different from the preachings 00:41:11.70\00:41:13.34 of any other denomination. 00:41:13.37\00:41:15.90 They will ignore the distinctive end time 00:41:15.94\00:41:19.14 three angels' messages in Daniel and Revelation. 00:41:19.17\00:41:23.88 And these present truths are vital. 00:41:23.91\00:41:26.21 Now do you believe that? 00:41:26.25\00:41:27.72 The three angels' messages in Revelation 14 00:41:27.75\00:41:31.15 are vital information for the world at this time. 00:41:31.19\00:41:35.72 And it's very unlikely you are heathen outside 00:41:35.76\00:41:38.43 the Seventh-day Adventist church. 00:41:38.46\00:41:39.96 This is the place to be. What do you say? 00:41:40.00\00:41:44.43 Feeble and defective that ought might be, 00:41:44.47\00:41:46.20 it is still the apple of God's eye 00:41:46.23\00:41:47.97 and this is the only place 00:41:48.00\00:41:49.64 you'll find all these doctrines too. 00:41:49.67\00:41:52.47 And the fourth one, 00:41:52.51\00:41:54.28 it will ignore the importance of the sanctuary message 00:41:54.31\00:41:57.41 of Christ's final atonement ministry 00:41:57.45\00:42:00.05 in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. 00:42:00.08\00:42:05.19 It will neglect the call to repentance, revival 00:42:05.22\00:42:07.82 and sanctification 00:42:07.86\00:42:09.36 and obedience as a response 00:42:09.39\00:42:12.49 to the grace of Christ. 00:42:12.53\00:42:16.33 Not in order to be saved 00:42:16.36\00:42:18.03 but as a response to the grace of Christ. 00:42:18.07\00:42:20.24 That's why we keep the commandments, isn't it? 00:42:20.27\00:42:22.24 We don't get saved by it. We are not legalist. 00:42:22.27\00:42:25.17 And the fifth will be teachings 00:42:25.21\00:42:26.98 that tend to corrupt basic doctrines 00:42:27.01\00:42:29.41 and cause a loss of purity and power 00:42:29.44\00:42:31.45 in the Christian's life. 00:42:31.48\00:42:32.81 For example, the doctrines of faith without work. 00:42:32.85\00:42:37.92 Or the opposite here, of works without faith. 00:42:37.95\00:42:41.99 True faith will be exhibited in good works. 00:42:42.02\00:42:45.53 For faith without work is what? 00:42:45.56\00:42:48.06 Dead. 00:42:48.10\00:42:49.90 All who have an honest heart receive the gospel message 00:42:49.93\00:42:53.13 will long proclaim it, won't they? 00:42:53.17\00:42:55.50 The heaven born love of Christ must find expression. 00:42:55.54\00:42:58.91 Do you agree? Yes. 00:42:58.94\00:43:00.28 You got to talk about it. 00:43:00.31\00:43:04.11 Faith and works go hand in hand. 00:43:04.15\00:43:08.48 They act harmoniously in the work of overcoming. 00:43:08.52\00:43:12.35 Works without faith are dead, 00:43:12.39\00:43:14.92 and faith without works are dead too. 00:43:14.96\00:43:17.99 Isn't that so? 00:43:18.03\00:43:21.00 Work will never save us. 00:43:21.03\00:43:23.06 It is the mode of Christ that will abide in our behalf. 00:43:23.10\00:43:26.20 Through faith in Him, 00:43:26.23\00:43:27.57 Christ will empower and enable us 00:43:27.60\00:43:30.47 to overcome sin 00:43:30.51\00:43:31.91 and to demonstrate His love for us in our life. 00:43:31.94\00:43:35.14 Isn't that true? 00:43:35.18\00:43:36.95 You might have heard the claim 00:43:36.98\00:43:38.31 that it's impossible to keep the commandments 00:43:38.35\00:43:39.81 or stop sinning till Jesus comes. 00:43:39.85\00:43:41.52 Have you heard that? 00:43:41.55\00:43:44.35 Well, if there is anything more dangerous 00:43:44.39\00:43:47.26 than out right here is truth mixed with error. 00:43:47.29\00:43:51.89 If you put a drop of poison in a glass of water, 00:43:51.93\00:43:54.16 it might still taste like ordinary water 00:43:54.20\00:43:55.86 but it will still kill you, won't it? 00:43:55.90\00:43:59.00 The partial truth is, and, of course, 00:43:59.03\00:44:01.40 we can't stop sinning by our own power. 00:44:01.44\00:44:05.94 But the rest of the truth is, 00:44:05.97\00:44:07.31 that we deny the power thereof 00:44:07.34\00:44:10.45 when we refuse to believe 00:44:10.48\00:44:11.88 that Christ has the supernatural power 00:44:11.91\00:44:14.65 to enable us to overcome sin and keep the commandments. 00:44:14.68\00:44:18.22 What do you say? 00:44:18.25\00:44:20.06 That's simple, isn't it? Why do people fight over this? 00:44:20.09\00:44:24.09 To neglect this point is to leave people uninformed 00:44:24.13\00:44:27.10 of the reality 00:44:27.13\00:44:29.43 that the Savior took upon Himself 00:44:29.46\00:44:31.33 the infirmities of humanity 00:44:31.37\00:44:33.74 and lived the sinless life in order to demonstrate 00:44:33.77\00:44:37.37 that men might have no fear, 00:44:37.41\00:44:39.57 that because of the weakness of human nature 00:44:39.61\00:44:41.78 they could not overcome. 00:44:41.81\00:44:43.91 To teach that it is impossible to overcome sin 00:44:43.95\00:44:47.02 is to corrupt the water of life with poison. 00:44:47.05\00:44:49.68 What do you say? 00:44:49.72\00:44:52.85 The inevitable result will be a loss of purity and power 00:44:52.89\00:44:56.62 in the Christian's life. 00:44:56.66\00:44:57.99 2 Peter 1:4 gives us this assurance, 00:45:01.46\00:45:05.27 and you can see this text on the screen. 00:45:05.30\00:45:08.04 It says, "Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, 00:45:08.07\00:45:12.24 that by these we might be..." 00:45:12.27\00:45:14.24 What it says? 00:45:14.28\00:45:16.14 "Partakers of the divine nature, 00:45:16.18\00:45:19.18 having escaped the corruption 00:45:19.21\00:45:20.78 that is in the world through lust." 00:45:20.82\00:45:23.45 And Ellen White often described counsel. 00:45:23.49\00:45:26.49 She says, "The Savior took upon Himself 00:45:26.52\00:45:28.22 the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, 00:45:28.26\00:45:31.73 that men might have no fear 00:45:31.76\00:45:34.36 that because of the weakness of human nature 00:45:34.40\00:45:36.60 they could not overcome." 00:45:36.63\00:45:37.97 Isn't that good news? 00:45:38.00\00:45:41.04 And there's just one more identifier 00:45:41.07\00:45:42.87 of delusive worship practices 00:45:42.90\00:45:45.51 that I want to mention in this presentation. 00:45:45.54\00:45:48.28 And this practice is one that can potentially 00:45:48.31\00:45:50.78 cause enormous loss of purity and genuine Godly power 00:45:50.81\00:45:56.25 in the Christian's life. 00:45:56.28\00:45:58.62 And it is this. 00:45:58.65\00:46:00.59 Disharmonic music. 00:46:00.62\00:46:04.09 Disharmonic music. 00:46:04.13\00:46:07.36 Ellen White had a terrible experience 00:46:07.40\00:46:09.06 with disharmonic music over 150 years ago. 00:46:09.10\00:46:12.80 And she warned would appear again 00:46:12.83\00:46:14.70 towards the end of time. 00:46:14.74\00:46:16.07 Listen to her report. 00:46:16.10\00:46:18.64 She said, "A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts 00:46:18.67\00:46:21.68 that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. 00:46:21.71\00:46:25.21 The powers of satanic agencies blend 00:46:25.25\00:46:27.32 with the din and noise to have a carnival, 00:46:27.35\00:46:30.02 and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working." 00:46:30.05\00:46:34.52 She says, "Those things 00:46:34.56\00:46:35.89 which have been in the past will be in the future. 00:46:35.92\00:46:39.53 Satan will make music a snare by the way 00:46:39.56\00:46:43.93 in which it is conducted." 00:46:43.97\00:46:47.84 She says, "Let us give no place to strange exercisings, 00:46:47.87\00:46:51.47 which really take the mind away 00:46:51.51\00:46:53.04 from the deep movings of the Holy Spirit. 00:46:53.07\00:46:55.51 God's work is ever characterized 00:46:55.54\00:46:57.31 by calmness and dignity." 00:46:57.35\00:47:00.02 By calmness and dignity. 00:47:00.05\00:47:03.39 You ever listen to rock music? 00:47:03.42\00:47:05.09 Anybody? 00:47:05.12\00:47:06.62 Ever listen to rock music? 00:47:06.65\00:47:09.46 Did it leave you feeling calm and dignified? 00:47:09.49\00:47:13.50 Hardly. 00:47:13.53\00:47:16.26 Do you ever listen to Christian rock music? 00:47:16.30\00:47:18.83 We listen to Christian rock music. 00:47:18.87\00:47:22.20 Did that leave you feeling calm and dignified? 00:47:22.24\00:47:25.61 It didn't. 00:47:25.64\00:47:28.08 Well, the words might have been Christianized 00:47:28.11\00:47:29.61 but that didn't change your feeling, did it? 00:47:29.64\00:47:32.71 That is an important question. 00:47:32.75\00:47:35.28 It is the common belief today that the church's music 00:47:35.32\00:47:37.75 is really a matter of personal taste, 00:47:37.79\00:47:40.26 maybe culture. 00:47:40.29\00:47:42.36 It is really thought of in terms of its signs. 00:47:42.39\00:47:46.09 Its physiological effects on the human organism. 00:47:46.13\00:47:50.50 And what a fascinating study that would be. 00:47:50.53\00:47:53.54 You know, when we talk about food and diet, 00:47:53.57\00:47:56.71 we don't talk about 00:47:56.74\00:47:58.67 to determine the difference between 00:47:58.71\00:48:00.84 healthy and unhealthy food. 00:48:00.88\00:48:02.58 We don't talk about taste and culture, do we? 00:48:02.61\00:48:05.95 We analyze the food, 00:48:05.98\00:48:07.32 then you have dietician analyze food 00:48:07.35\00:48:08.72 and they can tell you 00:48:08.75\00:48:10.09 the effects of certain elements of food, 00:48:10.12\00:48:12.09 certain types of food on human organism. 00:48:12.12\00:48:14.59 That's how he tells the difference between 00:48:14.62\00:48:16.12 healthy and unhealthy food. 00:48:16.16\00:48:18.86 How fantastic it would be if we had some Adventists 00:48:18.89\00:48:21.50 or some scientists 00:48:21.53\00:48:23.03 who could investigate 00:48:23.06\00:48:24.40 the physiological elements of music, 00:48:24.43\00:48:26.07 the various aspects of music. 00:48:26.10\00:48:29.00 And examine the effects on the human organism. 00:48:29.04\00:48:32.24 Wouldn't that be a fascinating study? 00:48:32.27\00:48:34.31 I wonder what the conclusions will reveal. 00:48:34.34\00:48:38.45 The general attitude, it seems to be 00:48:38.48\00:48:40.12 that if the words are Christian and it feels good, 00:48:40.15\00:48:41.92 well, it must be okay. 00:48:41.95\00:48:43.62 And anyway, you might have heard 00:48:43.65\00:48:44.99 the statement that music is morally neutral. 00:48:45.02\00:48:48.42 But is it really morally neutral? 00:48:48.46\00:48:51.73 Does it make no difference to our behavior 00:48:51.76\00:48:53.80 what kind of music we listen to? 00:48:53.83\00:48:56.97 When we understand that before his fall, 00:48:57.00\00:48:59.03 Satan was the leader of heavenly music. 00:48:59.07\00:49:02.07 Shouldn't that fact make us be careful, 00:49:02.10\00:49:03.97 what kind of music we listen to? 00:49:04.01\00:49:06.47 What do you say? 00:49:06.51\00:49:09.48 To make a decision about music based on personal preferences, 00:49:09.51\00:49:12.38 or culture, or age 00:49:12.41\00:49:13.98 is a very unscientific approach. 00:49:14.02\00:49:18.25 So you must ask the question, 00:49:18.29\00:49:20.92 well, is all music disharmonic and dangerous? 00:49:20.96\00:49:24.49 Well, of course not. 00:49:24.53\00:49:26.16 So how can a Christian make his decision? 00:49:26.19\00:49:29.53 Well, perhaps, we can take a note 00:49:29.56\00:49:31.33 of the advice of our current world president, 00:49:31.37\00:49:33.50 Dr. Ted Wilson. 00:49:33.54\00:49:37.01 Right back at his inaugural sermon 00:49:37.04\00:49:38.71 back in 2010, 00:49:38.74\00:49:40.08 he made some very interesting statements, 00:49:40.11\00:49:41.58 and he said this. 00:49:41.61\00:49:44.35 "Go forward, not backward! 00:49:44.38\00:49:46.85 Use Christ - centered, 00:49:46.88\00:49:48.22 Bible-based worship 00:49:48.25\00:49:49.58 and music practices in church services. 00:49:49.62\00:49:52.52 While we understand 00:49:52.55\00:49:53.89 that worship services and cultures 00:49:53.92\00:49:55.52 vary throughout the world, 00:49:55.56\00:49:57.19 don't go backwards into confusing pagan settings 00:49:57.23\00:50:01.13 where music and worship become so focused 00:50:01.16\00:50:03.63 on emotion and experience 00:50:03.67\00:50:06.37 that you lose the central focus 00:50:06.40\00:50:08.77 on the Word of God. 00:50:08.80\00:50:11.51 All worship, however simple or complex should do one thing 00:50:11.54\00:50:15.31 and one thing only, 00:50:15.34\00:50:17.28 lift up Christ and put down self." 00:50:17.31\00:50:19.95 Isn't that good advice? 00:50:19.98\00:50:22.28 "Worship methods that lift up performance 00:50:22.32\00:50:24.42 and self should be replaced 00:50:24.45\00:50:26.52 with a simple and sweet reflection 00:50:26.55\00:50:29.09 of a Christ-centered, biblical approach. 00:50:29.12\00:50:32.43 To define it too closely is impossible, 00:50:32.46\00:50:34.76 but when you read in Scripture 00:50:34.80\00:50:36.13 of the holiness of God's presence, 00:50:36.16\00:50:38.10 the Holy Spirit will help you to know 00:50:38.13\00:50:40.14 what is right and wrong." 00:50:40.17\00:50:42.07 Friends, our personal decisions about who we worship, 00:50:42.10\00:50:44.84 how we worship, 00:50:44.87\00:50:46.21 and when we worship 00:50:46.24\00:50:47.58 are far greater consequence than just cultural 00:50:47.61\00:50:50.11 or age group preferences. 00:50:50.15\00:50:51.95 Our worship choices will automatically determine 00:50:51.98\00:50:54.68 our eternal destiny. 00:50:54.72\00:50:57.32 And God's true followers will be distinguished as those 00:50:57.35\00:51:00.19 who keep the commandments. 00:51:00.22\00:51:01.76 Uphold sound doctrine. 00:51:01.79\00:51:03.93 Chose worship practices in harmony with the Bible. 00:51:03.96\00:51:07.36 Chose health supporting lifestyle 00:51:07.40\00:51:08.96 and dietary practices. 00:51:09.00\00:51:10.93 And the Bible assures us that in the last day, 00:51:10.97\00:51:13.74 God's remnant people 00:51:13.77\00:51:15.37 will be a people of obedience 00:51:15.40\00:51:20.61 that will honor God in everything that they do. 00:51:20.64\00:51:23.08 And the Bible confirms 00:51:23.11\00:51:24.45 this doctrine in Revelation 14:2, 00:51:24.48\00:51:26.92 it says, "Here is the patience of the saints: 00:51:26.95\00:51:29.38 Here are they that keep the commandments of God, 00:51:29.42\00:51:31.35 and the faith of the Jesus. 00:51:31.39\00:51:33.46 God's true remnant will automatically triumph 00:51:33.49\00:51:35.76 in the great conflict over worship. 00:51:35.79\00:51:38.66 Thus proving 00:51:38.69\00:51:40.03 to the entire watching universe that, indeed, 00:51:40.06\00:51:42.36 holiness is possible even in this sinful world." 00:51:42.40\00:51:46.20 What do you say? Amen. 00:51:46.23\00:51:47.57 That's our task. 00:51:47.60\00:51:48.94 Think about these wonderful promises 00:51:48.97\00:51:51.01 as you watch this moving story by Pastor John Bradshaw, 00:51:51.04\00:51:54.61 and the hidden faith of our fathers. 00:51:54.64\00:51:59.71 Now, this makes it real. 00:51:59.75\00:52:03.15 The church of the cave, 00:52:03.18\00:52:05.82 ancient temple of the faith 00:52:05.85\00:52:09.09 revives the heroic spirit of the fathers 00:52:09.12\00:52:12.93 who praying, 00:52:12.96\00:52:15.56 suffered and died 00:52:15.60\00:52:18.47 for liberty of conscience. 00:52:18.50\00:52:22.57 Here in the Waldensian Valleys in Northern Italy, 00:52:22.60\00:52:25.57 people really suffered for their faith. 00:52:25.61\00:52:30.65 They were committed to God, to live way back up here, 00:52:30.68\00:52:35.18 the winters were just so harsh, life was difficult. 00:52:35.22\00:52:39.99 But here they lived so that they could cling 00:52:40.02\00:52:43.32 to the faith once delivered to the saints. 00:52:43.36\00:52:47.43 And being here and thinking that people way up here 00:52:47.46\00:52:51.23 suffered persecution, 00:52:51.27\00:52:52.83 speaks to the ferocious zeal of the persecutors. 00:52:52.87\00:52:57.97 It's not easy to get up here. 00:52:58.01\00:53:00.21 And if you're gonna pursue somebody 00:53:00.24\00:53:03.88 for the purpose of persecuting them, 00:53:03.91\00:53:07.25 you've got to be as committed to persecuting 00:53:07.28\00:53:11.85 as the believers were to following Jesus in faith. 00:53:11.89\00:53:18.26 Behind me is one of the very caves 00:53:18.29\00:53:21.30 in which Waldensian believers worshiped, 00:53:21.33\00:53:25.43 and prayed, and hid, and were persecuted. 00:53:25.47\00:53:30.71 They worshiped in caves 00:53:30.74\00:53:32.67 because worshipping in their homes 00:53:32.71\00:53:34.11 or in churches was not an option. 00:53:34.14\00:53:37.25 Again, no crimes were committed by these people, 00:53:37.28\00:53:41.18 other than they felt that in their heart 00:53:41.22\00:53:44.52 they had to cling to the Bible 00:53:44.55\00:53:47.26 and follow what they believed was a pure faith 00:53:47.29\00:53:50.56 rather than the tradition laden works 00:53:50.59\00:53:54.33 based faith that was forced upon them 00:53:54.36\00:53:58.87 by the ruling church. 00:53:58.90\00:54:01.84 Today, we have freedom to worship, 00:54:01.87\00:54:04.54 freedom of religion. 00:54:04.57\00:54:05.91 Today, we can be thankful to those faithful saints 00:54:05.94\00:54:10.15 who paid so great a price 00:54:10.18\00:54:13.92 that we could follow the faith of our fathers. 00:54:13.95\00:54:19.09 Faith of our fathers, living still 00:54:19.12\00:54:25.89 In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword 00:54:25.93\00:54:32.17 Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy 00:54:32.20\00:54:38.37 Whene'er we hear that glorious Word! 00:54:38.41\00:54:44.55 Faith of our fathers, holy faith! 00:54:44.58\00:54:50.62 We will be true 00:54:50.65\00:54:53.39 To thee till death 00:54:53.42\00:54:59.29 Our fathers, chained in prisons dark 00:54:59.33\00:55:05.03 Were still in heart and conscience free 00:55:05.07\00:55:11.21 How sweet would be their children's fate 00:55:11.24\00:55:16.98 If they, like them, could die for thee! 00:55:17.01\00:55:23.49 Faith of our fathers, holy faith! 00:55:23.52\00:55:29.46 We will be true 00:55:29.49\00:55:32.09 To thee till death 00:55:32.13\00:55:37.53 Faith of our fathers, we will love 00:55:37.57\00:55:43.67 Both friend and foe in all our strife 00:55:43.71\00:55:49.84 And preach thee, too, 00:55:49.88\00:55:52.61 as love knows how 00:55:52.65\00:55:55.98 By kindly words and virtuous life 00:55:56.02\00:56:02.29 Faith of our fathers, holy faith! 00:56:02.32\00:56:08.30 We will be true 00:56:08.33\00:56:11.67 We will be true 00:56:11.70\00:56:15.37 We will be true 00:56:15.40\00:56:19.07 To thee 00:56:19.11\00:56:22.04 Till death 00:56:22.08\00:56:29.85 Let us pray. 00:56:29.88\00:56:34.82 Loving Father in heaven, 00:56:34.86\00:56:36.19 we pray Thee and thank Thee so much 00:56:36.22\00:56:38.36 for the faith of our fathers, 00:56:38.39\00:56:41.20 the incredible price that was paid 00:56:41.23\00:56:42.73 for freedom of religion, 00:56:42.76\00:56:45.43 freedom to worship. 00:56:45.47\00:56:47.94 Lord, keep us conscious of these things 00:56:47.97\00:56:50.01 as we consider the events about to explode upon the work 00:56:50.04\00:56:53.98 rather overwhelming surprise for many. 00:56:54.01\00:56:57.68 Help us Lord to remain steadfast 00:56:57.71\00:56:59.38 and immovable, 00:56:59.41\00:57:01.02 and give us eyes to see, ears to hear, 00:57:01.05\00:57:04.22 and hearts inclined to do Your will 00:57:04.25\00:57:06.39 as we move forward in faith and practice 00:57:06.42\00:57:09.06 because, Lord, we long for You to come. 00:57:09.09\00:57:11.89 Please come, Lord Jesus, 00:57:11.93\00:57:13.66 and we thank You in Your precious name, amen. 00:57:13.70\00:57:17.03