Music...
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From wherever you are watching
or listening around the world,
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I'd like to give
you a very warm welcome
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to the six-part Series entitled:
End-Time Love and Loyalty.
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I want to also welcome
our audience here today
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it's wonderful to see
your happy and smiling faces
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and this is Part 4
in the six-part Series
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and in this particular message,
we're going to take a look at
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the all-important subject
of, "What happens after death?"
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We're going to look
at the truth about death.
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Now they say, "There
are two certainties in life,
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one of them is
Taxes... the other one is...?
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Death.
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The truth is, you
can avoid paying tax
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and many go to great lengths
in order to avoid the tax man
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but you cannot avoid death.
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There is no way to avoid death
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and so we need to...
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we need to know
what happens to a person
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after they breathe their last
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because there are different
views and different theories
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and different belief systems
in this all-important subject.
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When it comes to
death, I think of this story
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that is a very funny
story about a little boy...
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not sure if it's
a true story or not
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but it
certainly makes the point.
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A little boy that was traveling
home after being at school
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and as he's traveling home,
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he's walking
through the cemetery,
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and as he's walking
through the cemetery,
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he comes across a tombstone
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and on the
tombstone is this epitaph
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and I want to read
it for you, and it says,
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"As you are now, so once was I,
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as I am now, you soon will be,
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so prepare
yourself to follow me. "
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And so, this little
boy... as he reads these words,
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he scratches his head
and he thinks about the words
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and then he takes a
crayon out of his pocket
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and he writes the
following words in response.
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"To follow you I'm not content,
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until I know
just where you went. "
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So, what happens when a
person breathes their last?
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Where do they go?
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That's a very important question
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and that's the question
that we seek by God's grace
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the answer in
this very presentation.
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There are many that believe
that if you're a good person,
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you go to heaven
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and if you haven't
been a good person,
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well, you go to
the opposite place...
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you go to a
place called "Hell. "
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Then there are
those that believe
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that if aren't quite
good enough for heaven
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and you're not
quite bad enough for hell,
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you go to a purifying
place called "purgatory"
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where you are
prepared and purified
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in order that you may be
fit to be part of a happy
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and a holy heaven with
everyone else who is there.
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Then there are those
that believe in reincarnation.
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Millions and
millions of individuals
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in particular in India
that has over a billion people
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believe that when you die,
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you... you... you
become another person
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or you are
transformed into another animal
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and so your soul
lives on in another entity.
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Then there are those that
believe that you can speak...
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we can speak to
our dead loved ones
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through spirit
mediums and... and other means
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that we can communicate
to our dead loved ones...
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our dead loved
ones can share with us
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messages from heaven
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and there are many
that believe in this
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and have supposedly communicated
with their dead loved ones.
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So, what happens to
a person when they die?
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When people pick up
their newspapers in Australia,
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they will, at times, come
across a front-page headline
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such as the one you
have there on the screen
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and this one was
from April 4, 2005.
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It was in the wake of
Pope John Paul the Second
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and him passing away
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and this was the
front-page headline.
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"He changed the world...
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Death of the Pope: a
champion of human freedom
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called home to God. "
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And so when Australians
read this on their front pages
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of their daily newspapers,
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they once again have
the reinforced idea...
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the reinforced
belief that when you die,
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you go to heaven.
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Here is another
front-page headline,
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from the Sun
Herald, April 3, 2005
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same event...
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"Christ is opening
the door to the Pope...
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he is already seeing
and touching the Lord. "
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And so, these
newspaper headlines
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once again reinforce
within the thinking...
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within the psyche of Australians
and people around the world
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that when you die,
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your soul is immediately
transported to heaven...
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and most people are
transported to heaven.
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I haven't been to a funeral
where the priest or the pastor
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sends someone to hell, have you?
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Everyone seems to go to heaven,
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I'm not quite sure if
I want to be in heaven
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with everyone and
anyone who will be there.
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We often hear people say
when someone has passed away,
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they have gone
to a better... what?
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A better place...
they've gone to a better place.
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So, this is the view
out there today in Society.
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Stephen Hawking who
passed away in 2018...
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this is what he had to say
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happens immediately
after you breathe your last.
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Notice these words
from Stephen Hawking
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the world-renowned
Mathematics expert
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and one of the
brightest minds since Einstein
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in many people's views,
this is what he had to say,
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I believe the
simplest explanation is,
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there is no God.
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No one created the universe
and no one directs our fate.
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This leads me to a
profound realization
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that there probably is no heaven
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and no afterlife either. "
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So, this is what
Stephen Hawking has to say
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and there are
millions and millions
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that subscribe to his point
of view... to his belief system.
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No, I certainly don't...
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so the question is,
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"Does it really
matter what you believe?"
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Is that really all that
important what you believe
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regarding what
happens to you after you die,
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I mean, you're
not here any longer,
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who cares? What's the big deal?
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Well, the truth is...
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the truth is
that it does matter.
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What you do believe about death
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and what happens
when a person dies
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has a profound impact
on what happens to you
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in the end-times.
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It is an
absolutely important subject
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and we'll discover
that as we go along
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for the enemy... Satan himself
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will seek to
deceive the entire world
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as we will discover
based on a false understanding
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and belief
system when it comes to,
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"What happens after death
and what the Bible has to say
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regarding that
all-important question. "
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So, we need to know the
truth, so the question is,
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"What happens after a
person breathes their last?"
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That is our
question in this presentation
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and I pray that by God's
grace and through His strength
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and through His Word,
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we will come to a
very clear answer.
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So, let's pray and ask God
to bless our time in His Word.
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"Father in
heaven, we ask and pray
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that you will bless
our time in Your Word.
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We pray that as we
open Your Word right now
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and seek an answer for
this all-important question
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that affects
each and every person,
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we pray that Your Holy Spirit
will give us understanding
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so, we pray all this in
Jesus' name, amen... amen. "
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Well, for the answer,
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we want to go back to
the beginning of time,
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we want to go to
the book of Genesis
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where God here
gives us the answer
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by enabling us to understand
how He created human beings
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from the very outset.
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Notice these words that we read
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in Genesis
chapter 2 and verse 7,
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"And the LORD God formed
man of the dust of the ground,
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and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life;
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and man became a living being. "
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So, notice here, we have
at the very beginning of time,
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God takes the dust
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and He breathes His
life-giving breath into Adam,
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and Adam becomes a living being
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or if you have the
King James Version,
00:09:06.31\00:09:07.94
it simply says,
"a living soul. "
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Living being...
living soul... living person
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so, the two
elements of dust plus breath
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equals a living human
being, is that nice and easy?
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Absolutely.
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So, the question is,
"What happens at death?"
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Notice, in Psalm
chapter 104 verse 29...
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Psalm 104 verse 29
we read these words,
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"You hide your face,
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they are troubled;
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You take away their breath,
they die and return to their.. "
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what? "to their dust. "
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So, the opposite
happens at death.
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The person...
the physical being...
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they go back into the dust...
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they go back into the soil...
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and that is why we
often say at funerals,
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"Ashes to
ashes... dust to dust. "
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That's where the
saying comes from.
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So the... the
physical path of the person
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goes back into the
dust from where it came
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and the breath that
God gave to that person,
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right at the very
beginning of their lives
00:10:16.51\00:10:18.85
when they added
that very first breath...
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as they came out of
their mother's womb,
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the Bible says, "that goes
back to the Life giver Himself
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who gives breath
to all His creatures
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and that is God Himself.
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Nice and easy... nice and simple
00:10:31.63\00:10:33.93
it's the reverse of
what happened at Creation.
00:10:33.96\00:10:36.73
Well, there are some
that say, "But Danny,
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I'm sure I have read
one or more Scriptures
00:10:39.97\00:10:43.10
where the Bible says,
00:10:43.14\00:10:44.47
"The spirit goes
back to God at death. "
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And that is true,
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let me share that
Scripture with you.
00:10:50.41\00:10:52.08
We can read all that
in Ecclesiastes chapter 12
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and verse 7,
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"Then the dust will return
to the earth as it was... "
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as we have just read...
00:11:02.06\00:11:03.63
"and the spirit will
return to God who gave it. "
00:11:03.66\00:11:07.60
So, here the
word "spirit" is used
00:11:07.66\00:11:10.17
and when people
read the word "spirit"
00:11:10.20\00:11:12.73
they
automatically think of soul...
00:11:12.77\00:11:15.14
they
automatically think of this...
00:11:15.17\00:11:17.81
this immortal soul that we have
00:11:17.84\00:11:20.48
that is what people believe
00:11:20.51\00:11:22.28
that goes to
God... that goes to heaven
00:11:22.34\00:11:24.98
and that is how
you continue to live
00:11:25.01\00:11:27.92
through the
immortal soul that you have.
00:11:27.95\00:11:30.79
I looked up that word
"spirit" in the original
00:11:30.82\00:11:34.06
and noticed the
word and what it means.
00:11:34.09\00:11:37.09
The Hebrew word
for "spirit" is "ruach"
00:11:37.13\00:11:40.60
and that word simply
means breath or wind.
00:11:40.63\00:11:43.77
That's what the word
means, breath or wind.
00:11:43.80\00:11:46.87
So, let's put that word "breath"
in the place of "spirit"
00:11:46.90\00:11:50.61
and now let's read the text,
Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 7,
00:11:50.64\00:11:54.41
"Then the dust will
return to the earth as it was,
00:11:54.44\00:11:57.41
and the breath will
return to God who gave it. "
00:11:57.45\00:12:00.55
Is that in harmony
with what we just read
00:12:00.58\00:12:03.79
from Psalm 104 verse 29?
00:12:03.82\00:12:05.49
Yes, indeed it is.
00:12:05.52\00:12:07.09
It's the exact opposite
to what happened at Creation.
00:12:07.12\00:12:10.73
Well, it's not just the Old
Testament that makes this plain,
00:12:10.76\00:12:14.36
but it's also the New Testament.
00:12:14.40\00:12:16.23
Notice as we go to the words
of Jesus hanging on the cross
00:12:16.26\00:12:21.87
In Luke chapter 23
and verse 46, we read,
00:12:21.90\00:12:25.81
"And when Jesus had
cried out with a loud voice,
00:12:25.84\00:12:28.54
He said, 'Father, into Your
hands I commit My spirit. '"
00:12:28.58\00:12:33.45
There is that word again,
00:12:33.48\00:12:34.98
"Having said this,
He breathed His last. "
00:12:35.02\00:12:37.25
Once again, that
word "spirit" is used.
00:12:37.29\00:12:39.95
So, once again, I looked
up that word in the Greek.
00:12:39.99\00:12:44.73
The New Testament
is written in Greek,
00:12:44.76\00:12:46.90
the Old Testament
is written in Hebrew
00:12:46.93\00:12:49.26
and I looked up
that word in the Greek
00:12:49.30\00:12:51.83
to discover what
that word indeed was
00:12:51.87\00:12:54.37
and here is that word,
00:12:54.40\00:12:55.84
the word in the
Greek is "pneuma"
00:12:55.87\00:12:58.74
and that word means,
"breath... air or breeze"
00:12:58.77\00:13:02.21
so, once again we
have the very same message
00:13:02.24\00:13:05.65
that we have in
the Old Testament
00:13:05.68\00:13:07.45
where Jesus cries out,
00:13:07.52\00:13:09.35
"Father, into Your
hands I commit my breath. "
00:13:09.38\00:13:12.75
My life... God is the
Life giver and having said that
00:13:12.82\00:13:18.26
he breathed His last.
00:13:18.29\00:13:19.63
Pneuma... it's the word that
in English we get pneumatic...
00:13:19.66\00:13:25.03
pneumatic tools...
00:13:25.07\00:13:26.50
what are
pneumatic tools powered by?
00:13:26.53\00:13:29.04
By air... by an
air compressor...
00:13:29.07\00:13:32.21
we... we know of pneumonia.
00:13:32.24\00:13:35.31
Pneumonia is a disease
that affects what part of the...
00:13:35.34\00:13:39.75
what part of the body?
00:13:39.78\00:13:41.25
The lungs... the
breathing apparatus
00:13:41.28\00:13:44.85
and so, the Bible is in harmony
00:13:44.89\00:13:47.46
but the Old and
the New Testament
00:13:47.49\00:13:49.99
where God says, "At death
the body returns to the dust,
00:13:50.03\00:13:54.80
but the life-giving
breath that belongs to God
00:13:54.83\00:13:58.47
that He gives to us as a gift
00:13:58.53\00:14:00.74
that goes back to
God who gave it. "
00:14:00.77\00:14:03.77
So, that is what
the Bible teaches
00:14:03.81\00:14:06.74
when it comes to
what happens to a person
00:14:06.78\00:14:10.08
when they die.
00:14:10.11\00:14:11.45
Notice, the Bible uses the
word "soul" some 1,600 times
00:14:11.48\00:14:17.29
and never once does it use it...
00:14:17.32\00:14:19.72
and never once does it use
the words... "immortal soul. "
00:14:19.75\00:14:23.73
That's in the
King James Version,
00:14:23.76\00:14:25.63
1,600 times... the
word "soul" is used...
00:14:25.66\00:14:29.16
and not once... not
once in the entire Bible
00:14:29.20\00:14:32.63
from Genesis to Revelation,
are the words "immortal soul"
00:14:32.70\00:14:36.27
you won't find it.
00:14:36.30\00:14:37.81
Notice what the Bible says
regarding who alone is immortal,
00:14:37.84\00:14:43.58
this is extremely important
and extremely critical.
00:14:43.61\00:14:46.41
Notice what we read
in 1 Timothy chapter 6
00:14:46.45\00:14:50.42
verses 15 and 16,
00:14:50.45\00:14:52.49
the Apostle Paul writes,
00:14:52.55\00:14:54.76
"... He who is the
blessed and only Potentate,
00:14:54.79\00:14:58.66
the King of kings
and Lord of lords... "
00:14:58.69\00:15:01.50
notice these next
words, "who alone is immortal,
00:15:01.53\00:15:05.77
dwelling in
unapproachable light... "
00:15:05.80\00:15:08.27
So, as far as
Scripture is concerned,
00:15:08.30\00:15:10.71
God alone is immortal.
00:15:10.77\00:15:12.97
You and I do
not have immortality
00:15:13.01\00:15:18.85
as part of who we
are in the here and now.
00:15:18.88\00:15:22.05
God alone is immortal.
00:15:22.08\00:15:24.49
We are mortal...
we are very mortal...
00:15:24.52\00:15:28.56
so, the question is,
"How did the teaching
00:15:28.59\00:15:32.53
of the immortal soul come
into the Christian church?"
00:15:32.56\00:15:36.13
If it's not in the
Bible... which it isn't...
00:15:36.16\00:15:38.80
how on earth did it come
into the Christian church?
00:15:38.83\00:15:42.50
It came into
the Christian church
00:15:42.54\00:15:45.64
through Pagan Greek philosophy
00:15:45.67\00:15:48.74
that taught that
the soul is immortal.
00:15:48.78\00:15:53.11
Notice what the Philosopher...
00:15:53.15\00:15:58.15
the famous world-renowned
Philosopher Plato... had to say
00:15:58.19\00:16:03.22
on this very subject.
00:16:03.26\00:16:04.59
"The soul of man is
immortal and imperishable. "
00:16:04.63\00:16:09.53
So, this
teaching... this belief system
00:16:09.56\00:16:13.34
that the soul is immortal
came into the Christian church
00:16:13.37\00:16:18.41
through pagan Greek philosophy.
00:16:18.44\00:16:21.54
Just like, as we have discovered
in a previous presentation,
00:16:21.61\00:16:27.42
the day of worship...
from Saturday to Sunday
00:16:27.45\00:16:30.82
came into the Christian
church through paganism.
00:16:30.85\00:16:34.19
The pagans worshiped the sun god
00:16:34.22\00:16:36.59
that was their preeminent
god that they worshiped
00:16:36.62\00:16:39.59
and so, when the
pagans came en masse
00:16:39.63\00:16:42.33
into the Christian church,
00:16:42.36\00:16:43.70
especially during
the time of Constantine,
00:16:43.73\00:16:46.27
they brought in their
pagan sun-worship practices
00:16:46.30\00:16:51.21
and their day of worship
00:16:51.24\00:16:52.57
and in the same
way, when the pagans came
00:16:52.61\00:16:54.88
into the
Christian church en masse
00:16:54.91\00:16:56.88
during Constantine's
time and afterward...
00:16:56.91\00:17:00.45
they brought in this teaching
00:17:00.48\00:17:02.38
that was very
much part and parcel
00:17:02.42\00:17:05.72
of their faith and practice
00:17:05.75\00:17:07.82
that the soul lives on
forever and ever and ever
00:17:07.89\00:17:11.66
and guess what?
00:17:11.69\00:17:13.03
Ever since that time, all
the major world religions...
00:17:13.06\00:17:16.80
all the major world cultures
have adopted and accepted
00:17:16.83\00:17:21.07
this false teaching that
we have an immortal soul.
00:17:21.10\00:17:25.31
In fact, we have a
magazine here in Australia
00:17:25.34\00:17:28.94
and it's still published today,
00:17:28.98\00:17:31.41
it's an insert in
the Sunday Telegraph...
00:17:31.45\00:17:34.65
it comes out every week
00:17:34.68\00:17:36.08
and this is the
August 8, 2010 edition,
00:17:36.12\00:17:39.95
and notice the
title, "Body and... " what?
00:17:39.99\00:17:43.83
"Soul"
00:17:43.86\00:17:45.19
Body and Soul...
00:17:45.23\00:17:46.56
this comes to us from
pagan-Greek philosophy
00:17:46.59\00:17:51.00
where they
believed in dualism...
00:17:51.03\00:17:52.53
and what is dualism?
00:17:52.60\00:17:54.37
Dualism is simply that
00:17:54.40\00:17:55.80
that... that we are made
up of two separate entities.
00:17:55.84\00:17:59.17
Every human being is
made up of the physical being
00:17:59.21\00:18:02.54
which you see...
which is mortal...
00:18:02.58\00:18:05.48
and which perishes...
00:18:05.51\00:18:07.02
and which goes into the
dirt and goes into the ground
00:18:07.05\00:18:09.88
and becomes dust
00:18:09.92\00:18:11.25
and becomes nothing
at the end of the day,
00:18:11.29\00:18:12.79
and you also have your soul,
00:18:12.82\00:18:15.16
and the soul is that which
is immortal... that cannot die,
00:18:15.19\00:18:19.19
body and soul...
00:18:19.23\00:18:20.73
and so, this is being
passed on to this very day
00:18:20.76\00:18:24.23
in our popular newspapers
00:18:24.27\00:18:26.43
and that is why people have
this belief and understanding
00:18:26.47\00:18:30.11
regarding the
body and the soul...
00:18:30.14\00:18:32.44
that they are
two separate entities
00:18:32.47\00:18:34.71
that the Bible does not teach.
00:18:34.74\00:18:37.25
So, from where did the Greeks
00:18:37.28\00:18:42.78
get their belief
that when you die,
00:18:42.82\00:18:44.35
your soul lives on forever...
00:18:44.39\00:18:46.39
that your soul is
"immortal and imperishable"?
00:18:46.42\00:18:49.69
Where did they get it from?
00:18:49.72\00:18:51.56
Where did all the other
cultures and religious faiths
00:18:51.59\00:18:55.90
before the Greeks get it from?
00:18:55.93\00:18:57.93
The truth is... my dear friends,
00:18:57.97\00:18:59.93
the truth is...
that that teaching came
00:18:59.97\00:19:04.84
for the very first time
from the Garden of Eden...
00:19:04.87\00:19:08.24
from the Garden of Eden.
00:19:08.28\00:19:09.74
Notice these words from
the serpent... the serpent...
00:19:09.78\00:19:13.15
Satan himself...
00:19:13.18\00:19:14.98
"Then the serpent said
to the woman... " to Eve,
00:19:15.02\00:19:17.69
"You will... " what's that word?
00:19:17.75\00:19:19.82
"not surely die. "
00:19:19.85\00:19:21.92
God had made it
clear to Eve and to Adam
00:19:21.96\00:19:25.73
that the day that
they eat of the fruit
00:19:25.76\00:19:29.46
of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil,
00:19:29.53\00:19:31.33
they will surely die
00:19:31.37\00:19:32.87
because their only hope
00:19:32.90\00:19:34.30
of eternal life
00:19:34.34\00:19:36.57
was to put their
faith and trust in God,
00:19:36.60\00:19:38.61
their only hope
00:19:38.64\00:19:41.34
of living forever and ever
00:19:41.38\00:19:43.38
was to be faithful and
true to the Word of God...
00:19:43.41\00:19:46.21
to their Creator
00:19:46.25\00:19:47.58
and the serpent
comes along and he says,
00:19:47.62\00:19:49.88
"No, you can't believe God,
00:19:49.92\00:19:53.05
you can't trust
in the Word of God,
00:19:53.09\00:19:55.79
if you eat the
fruit from this tree,
00:19:55.82\00:19:58.53
you'll become just like God,
00:19:58.56\00:20:00.63
just like God...
00:20:00.66\00:20:02.76
that is what the
serpent said to the woman
00:20:02.80\00:20:05.57
and who alone is
immortal according to Scripture?
00:20:05.60\00:20:08.00
God...
00:20:08.07\00:20:09.40
God alone is immortal.
00:20:09.44\00:20:10.94
So, the serpent was tempting Eve
to believe the very first lie
00:20:10.97\00:20:17.55
which was, "You
can be just like God...
00:20:17.58\00:20:22.08
you can be immortal. "
00:20:22.12\00:20:24.45
And that belief system...
00:20:24.49\00:20:26.79
that lie has been passed down
from generation to generation
00:20:26.82\00:20:32.33
and to generation
for the last 6,000 years
00:20:32.36\00:20:35.26
all the way through to our day.
00:20:35.30\00:20:37.53
So, that's where it came from.
00:20:37.57\00:20:39.70
It came from the
serpent in the Garden of Eden.
00:20:39.73\00:20:44.21
So, what does the Bible
say regarding when and how
00:20:44.24\00:20:48.68
we get immortality?
00:20:48.71\00:20:50.48
Notice these words
from the Apostle Paul...
00:20:50.51\00:20:53.72
he writes in 1st Corinthians
chapter 15 verses 52 to 54,
00:20:53.75\00:20:57.65
and interestingly enough,
00:20:57.69\00:21:00.26
he's writing to the
believers in Corinth,
00:21:00.29\00:21:02.69
a major city there
influenced by Greek philosophy
00:21:02.72\00:21:06.80
and Greek religion
and he writes these words,
00:21:06.83\00:21:10.27
"In a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye,
00:21:10.33\00:21:13.70
at the last trumpet,
for the trumpet will sound,
00:21:13.74\00:21:16.37
and the dead will
be raised incorruptible
00:21:16.40\00:21:18.41
and we shall be changed.
00:21:18.44\00:21:20.04
For this corruptible... "
00:21:20.08\00:21:21.58
he's speaking
of... of our bodies
00:21:21.61\00:21:23.88
and the way we are
in the here and now,
00:21:23.91\00:21:25.78
"must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on"
00:21:25.81\00:21:29.95
what? "immortality...
00:21:29.98\00:21:31.75
then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written:
00:21:31.82\00:21:34.79
'Death is
swallowed up in victory. '"
00:21:34.82\00:21:36.86
So, when do you and
I receive immortality?
00:21:36.89\00:21:40.83
We receive immortality at
the second coming of Jesus.
00:21:40.86\00:21:44.57
It's a gift that God gives to us
at the second coming of Jesus,
00:21:44.60\00:21:49.37
so until then, we
are very much... what?
00:21:49.40\00:21:51.44
mortal...
00:21:51.47\00:21:52.81
we don't have any mortal soul...
00:21:52.84\00:21:55.08
immortality is given to
us as a gift when Jesus comes
00:21:55.11\00:22:00.08
and by faith... through
the endless ages of eternity
00:22:00.12\00:22:05.05
by partaking of the
Tree of Life once a month
00:22:05.09\00:22:08.42
according to Revelation,
00:22:08.46\00:22:09.79
we will continue by faith to
enjoy the gift of immortality
00:22:09.82\00:22:14.70
that comes to us from God alone.
00:22:14.73\00:22:17.43
The Apostle Paul also
looked forward to meeting Jesus
00:22:17.47\00:22:23.00
and he looked forward to meeting
Jesus at the second coming.
00:22:23.04\00:22:26.04
Notice these words
from 2nd Timothy chapter 4
00:22:26.07\00:22:28.88
verses 6 to 8, he writes,
00:22:28.91\00:22:30.45
"For I am already being
poured out as a drink offering,
00:22:30.48\00:22:32.65
and the time of my
departure is at hand.
00:22:32.68\00:22:35.15
I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race,
00:22:35.18\00:22:37.62
I have kept the faith.
00:22:37.65\00:22:38.99
Finally, there is laid up for
me the crown of righteousness,
00:22:39.02\00:22:42.32
which the Lord,
the righteous Judge,
00:22:42.36\00:22:44.26
will give to me on that Day... "
00:22:44.29\00:22:45.83
speaking of the 2nd coming,
00:22:45.86\00:22:47.20
"and not to me only but to
all who have loved His... "
00:22:47.23\00:22:51.57
"what? "appearing. "
00:22:51.60\00:22:53.13
So, as far as the
Apostle Paul was concerned,
00:22:53.17\00:22:55.87
He was looking for
the blessed second coming.
00:22:55.90\00:22:58.57
He believed that
he would meet Jesus...
00:22:58.61\00:23:01.11
He would be with
Jesus when Jesus returned.
00:23:01.14\00:23:03.61
He did not believe...
as many today sadly believe
00:23:03.65\00:23:08.22
that when he would
die... the very next moment
00:23:08.25\00:23:12.75
that he would be with Jesus,
no, he didn't believe that.
00:23:12.79\00:23:15.36
The Apostle Paul was very
clear in what he believed.
00:23:15.39\00:23:17.89
He believed,
according to Scripture
00:23:17.93\00:23:19.79
that when Jesus would come,
00:23:19.83\00:23:22.73
that is when he
would meet his Savior
00:23:22.76\00:23:26.60
and not one moment before.
00:23:26.63\00:23:28.64
So, the Apostle Paul
knew what the Bible taught
00:23:28.67\00:23:33.17
on this very important subject.
00:23:33.21\00:23:34.54
So, the question
we need to ask now is,
00:23:34.58\00:23:38.01
"If the dead
are not in heaven...
00:23:38.08\00:23:40.85
they're not in hell...
00:23:40.88\00:23:42.38
they're not in purgatory...
00:23:42.42\00:23:43.75
where are those who
have passed away right now?
00:23:43.79\00:23:47.99
Where are they?"
00:23:48.02\00:23:49.36
Well the... the answer to
that is found in Scripture,
00:23:49.39\00:23:53.13
but I want to go to one story,
one powerful, well-known story
00:23:53.16\00:23:56.00
by many Christians.
00:23:56.03\00:23:57.37
The story of Mary,
Martha and Lazarus.
00:23:57.40\00:24:00.84
They were... they
were close friends of Jesus
00:24:00.87\00:24:04.07
very close friends of
Jesus and on one occasion,
00:24:04.11\00:24:07.24
Mary and Martha sent messengers
to Jesus sharing the news
00:24:07.28\00:24:11.38
and you can read about
this in John chapter 11,
00:24:11.41\00:24:13.48
sharing the news that
their brother was very sick
00:24:13.52\00:24:16.69
and if Jesus
could immediately come
00:24:16.75\00:24:19.29
in order to heal their
beloved brother, Lazarus.
00:24:19.32\00:24:22.62
And so, we have this story here,
00:24:22.66\00:24:25.13
as it's recorded by John.
00:24:25.19\00:24:27.30
In John chapter 11 verse 11,
00:24:27.33\00:24:30.20
Jesus says to his disciples
00:24:30.23\00:24:33.00
after tarrying
for a couple of days
00:24:33.03\00:24:35.34
in the place
where He was, He says,
00:24:35.37\00:24:37.67
"Our friend Lazarus sleeps,
00:24:37.71\00:24:39.71
but I go that I
may wake him up. "
00:24:39.77\00:24:42.21
And notice the
response of the disciples,
00:24:42.24\00:24:44.65
"Then His disciples said,
00:24:44.68\00:24:46.25
'Lord, if he sleeps
he will get well. '"
00:24:46.28\00:24:48.95
We all know that if
someone is not well,
00:24:48.98\00:24:51.32
and they're
getting some good sleep,
00:24:51.35\00:24:53.25
that's a good
sign, isn't that right?
00:24:53.29\00:24:55.59
That's an
absolutely very good sign.
00:24:55.62\00:24:58.46
But Jesus knew
that they misunderstood
00:24:58.49\00:25:00.96
what He meant by,
"Lazarus sleeps. "
00:25:01.03\00:25:03.43
So, then He goes and He
shares with them what He means
00:25:03.47\00:25:07.17
by Lazarus sleeping.
00:25:07.20\00:25:08.54
Notice what Jesus says,
00:25:08.57\00:25:09.90
"Then Jesus
said to them plainly,
00:25:09.94\00:25:12.11
'Lazarus is... '" what?
00:25:12.14\00:25:13.71
"dead. "
00:25:13.74\00:25:15.08
As far as Jesus was concerned,
00:25:15.11\00:25:17.71
death was nothing more and
nothing less but a sleep...
00:25:17.75\00:25:22.48
a peaceful sleep.
00:25:22.52\00:25:24.42
In fact, when
Jesus spoke with Martha
00:25:24.45\00:25:30.49
regarding when she
would see her brother again,
00:25:30.53\00:25:34.30
notice the conversation,
"Jesus said to her... "
00:25:34.33\00:25:38.07
He's speaking to Martha,
00:25:38.10\00:25:39.43
"Your brother will rise again,
00:25:39.47\00:25:41.30
and Martha said to Him, 'I
know that he will rise again
00:25:41.34\00:25:45.14
in the... '" what?
00:25:45.17\00:25:46.51
"in the resurrection... "
00:25:46.54\00:25:48.01
when? "At the last day. "
00:25:48.04\00:25:49.54
So, as far as
Martha was concerned,
00:25:49.58\00:25:52.11
she was very clear
00:25:52.15\00:25:53.48
when she would
see her brother again,
00:25:53.52\00:25:55.08
she would see him on
resurrection morning.
00:25:55.12\00:25:59.39
She would not see
him when she passed away
00:25:59.42\00:26:03.66
and be joined
together with him...
00:26:03.69\00:26:06.06
as he was already in heaven...
00:26:06.09\00:26:08.06
no, no, no, no... no, no, no...
00:26:08.10\00:26:10.07
as far as Martha was concerned,
00:26:10.10\00:26:11.97
she knew that she
would see her brother again,
00:26:12.00\00:26:15.54
on resurrection morning.
00:26:15.60\00:26:18.07
The Bible is abundantly
clear, Jesus was clear,
00:26:18.11\00:26:21.71
His disciples were clear...
00:26:21.74\00:26:23.38
those who were closest
to Him were very clear,
00:26:23.41\00:26:26.48
and what does the
Bible go on and say?
00:26:26.51\00:26:28.65
the Bible goes on and says
that when Jesus came to the tomb
00:26:28.68\00:26:33.29
he asked for the
stone to be rolled away
00:26:33.32\00:26:35.69
and he cried out
with a mighty voice,
00:26:35.72\00:26:38.49
to Lazarus who
had been asleep...
00:26:38.53\00:26:40.86
he had been
dead for four days...
00:26:40.90\00:26:43.16
for four days...
00:26:43.20\00:26:44.63
fascinating little point that
I discovered not so long ago
00:26:44.70\00:26:48.37
that the Jews
believed falsely...
00:26:48.40\00:26:52.71
but they still believed
that the person's spirit
00:26:52.77\00:26:56.48
returns to the
dead body for three days
00:26:56.51\00:27:01.68
and after three days,
00:27:01.72\00:27:03.62
the dead spirit...
sorry, the person's spirit
00:27:03.69\00:27:06.76
returns no more
00:27:06.82\00:27:08.16
and so, Jesus
waited until the fourth day
00:27:08.19\00:27:11.26
to come and to raise Lazarus
00:27:11.29\00:27:14.76
to make it, beyond
a shadow of a doubt,
00:27:14.80\00:27:18.60
that it wasn't some
returning spirit of the person
00:27:18.63\00:27:22.44
that brought
Lazarus back to life.
00:27:22.50\00:27:24.27
But anyway, that's
just a little something
00:27:24.31\00:27:25.81
and so, Jesus Christ cry's
out, "Lazarus come forth... "
00:27:25.84\00:27:31.48
not "Lazarus, come down... "
00:27:31.51\00:27:33.48
but, "Lazarus, come forth... "
00:27:33.52\00:27:35.38
and Lazarus, as
the Bible describes,
00:27:35.42\00:27:37.92
he came forth
00:27:37.95\00:27:39.29
and he was
reunited with his sisters
00:27:39.32\00:27:41.32
and with all of his loved ones.
00:27:41.36\00:27:43.02
The truth is,
Revelation chapter 1,
00:27:43.06\00:27:45.39
tells us that Jesus has the
keys to the grave and to death
00:27:45.43\00:27:50.00
and at the second coming,
00:27:50.03\00:27:51.70
Jesus will open all
the graves of all of those
00:27:51.73\00:27:54.30
that have put their
faith and trust in Him
00:27:54.34\00:27:57.31
and they will be
reunited with Christ...
00:27:57.34\00:28:00.08
they will be
reunited with their loved ones
00:28:00.11\00:28:02.74
and that would be part of that
blessed resurrection morning.
00:28:02.78\00:28:07.45
The Bible
describes death as a sleep
00:28:07.48\00:28:11.55
and when you take a look at
someone who has passed away,
00:28:11.59\00:28:14.82
they indeed look
like they're... what?
00:28:14.86\00:28:16.73
they're asleep.
00:28:16.76\00:28:18.09
They're in a deep, deep
sleep... an unconscious sleep...
00:28:18.13\00:28:22.86
waiting for the
trumpet to sound...
00:28:22.90\00:28:26.30
waiting for the
blessed resurrection
00:28:26.33\00:28:29.70
and reunion morning.
00:28:29.74\00:28:31.07
In fact, the Bible teaches
that death is like a sleep,
00:28:31.11\00:28:35.41
that lasts until
Christ's Second Coming.
00:28:35.44\00:28:37.91
The Bible writers declare death
a sleep... more than 50 times.
00:28:37.95\00:28:43.25
Just a deep sleep...
00:28:43.28\00:28:45.82
notice what the Bible says
00:28:45.85\00:28:47.42
in Ecclesiastes
chapter 9 and verse 5,
00:28:47.46\00:28:50.36
"For the living
know that they will die;
00:28:50.39\00:28:53.23
but the dead know... " how much?
00:28:53.26\00:28:54.70
"nothing. "
00:28:54.73\00:28:56.06
Nothing... the
dead know nothing...
00:28:56.10\00:28:57.43
they're asleep...
00:28:57.47\00:28:58.80
they're in an unconscious state
00:28:58.83\00:29:01.57
unaware of any of
their surroundings.
00:29:01.60\00:29:05.47
Notice, we also read
in Psalm 115 verse 17,
00:29:05.51\00:29:09.98
"The dead do
not praise the Lord,
00:29:10.01\00:29:12.11
nor any who go
down into... " what?
00:29:12.15\00:29:14.22
"into silence. "
00:29:14.25\00:29:15.68
The Bible is abundantly
clear, The dead know nothing...
00:29:15.72\00:29:21.59
the dead experience
silence and silence alone.
00:29:21.62\00:29:26.93
I guess, I don't quite know
what it's quite like to be dead,
00:29:26.96\00:29:34.50
I haven't been in that state,
00:29:34.54\00:29:36.84
but probably the
closest that I can imagine
00:29:36.87\00:29:40.88
what it would probably be like
00:29:40.91\00:29:42.91
is being put under anesthetic.
00:29:42.94\00:29:44.88
Has anyone here have
been put under an anesthetic?
00:29:44.91\00:29:46.95
Okay, a number of you have.
00:29:46.98\00:29:48.32
I have... some
10 or 11 years ago
00:29:48.35\00:29:51.59
when I was operated on my
shoulder with... with melanoma,
00:29:51.65\00:29:56.66
and I remember being "under"
00:29:56.69\00:29:58.83
and I remember it
was such a deep sleep
00:29:58.86\00:30:01.60
such as I have
never experienced before,
00:30:01.66\00:30:03.93
such a deep sleep,
00:30:03.97\00:30:05.37
and I remember
when I started to awake,
00:30:05.40\00:30:07.54
I was like, "Where am I?"
00:30:07.60\00:30:09.54
I was totally disoriented...
totally confused...
00:30:09.57\00:30:13.68
had no idea where I was,
00:30:13.71\00:30:15.04
anyone experienced that
when you were waking up?
00:30:15.08\00:30:17.08
Yeah, it's a... it's
a really weird feeling,
00:30:17.11\00:30:19.05
and I guess that's
probably the closest
00:30:19.08\00:30:22.68
to what it must
be like to be asleep
00:30:22.72\00:30:25.62
as far as... to
be there in the grave
00:30:25.65\00:30:28.52
to... to have passed away...
00:30:28.56\00:30:29.89
unconscious of your surroundings
in a deep, deep, peaceful sleep.
00:30:29.92\00:30:34.90
Well, there are those that
say, "But Danny, what about...
00:30:34.96\00:30:38.97
what about the
thief on the cross?
00:30:39.00\00:30:40.94
I mean, didn't Jesus tell him
00:30:40.97\00:30:45.37
that He was going to be with
Him in paradise that very day?
00:30:45.41\00:30:48.28
Well, let's take
a look at the text,
00:30:48.31\00:30:49.78
it's found there in
Luke chapter 23 and verse 43.
00:30:49.81\00:30:54.02
"And Jesus said to him,
'Assuredly, I say to you,
00:30:54.05\00:30:58.19
today you will be
with Me... '" where?
00:30:58.22\00:31:00.52
"in Paradise. "
00:31:00.56\00:31:01.96
And they're like,
"There... there you go...
00:31:01.99\00:31:04.13
it says it...
00:31:04.16\00:31:05.83
as clear as the
nose on your face,
00:31:05.89\00:31:08.13
"Today, you will be
with me in Paradise. "
00:31:08.16\00:31:12.57
That's how I read it...
00:31:12.60\00:31:14.94
that's how most people read it.
00:31:14.97\00:31:16.64
"Danny, what do you say?"
00:31:16.67\00:31:18.04
Well, the truth is, my Friend,
00:31:18.07\00:31:20.94
when the New Testament
writers wrote the Scriptures,
00:31:20.98\00:31:25.68
in fact, when the Old Testament
writers wrote the Scriptures,
00:31:25.71\00:31:29.02
they didn't use punctuation
the way we use punctuation.
00:31:29.05\00:31:32.19
There were no commas...
there were no apostrophes...
00:31:32.22\00:31:35.39
there were no talking
marks and so on and so forth.
00:31:35.42\00:31:39.43
At a later time, those
that copied the Scriptures
00:31:39.46\00:31:43.40
from the Greek into the English
00:31:43.43\00:31:45.17
and into
various other languages,
00:31:45.23\00:31:46.90
they added punctuation in
order to make it more readable
00:31:46.94\00:31:50.67
and so, without
punctuation, it's up to the...
00:31:50.71\00:31:55.04
it's up to the translator to
place the comma, in this case,
00:31:55.08\00:32:00.88
wherever they
believe it ought to go.
00:32:00.92\00:32:03.75
Now, the "comma"
makes a huge difference...
00:32:03.79\00:32:06.15
a huge difference...
00:32:06.19\00:32:07.59
now notice, if we
place the comma before...
00:32:07.62\00:32:11.19
or I should say,
after the word "today"
00:32:11.26\00:32:14.86
notice how it reads,
"And Jesus said to him,
00:32:14.90\00:32:17.10
'Assuredly, I say
to you today, comma,
00:32:17.13\00:32:19.43
you will be with
Me in Paradise. '"
00:32:19.47\00:32:21.70
The difference is phenomenal.
00:32:21.74\00:32:25.87
In one reading of the
text, Jesus is saying to him,
00:32:25.94\00:32:30.08
"today... today you will
be with me in Paradise. "
00:32:30.11\00:32:34.22
In the other
reading, Jesus is saying,
00:32:34.25\00:32:36.32
"I'm giving you
the assurance today...
00:32:36.35\00:32:38.32
today, while I... while
I am prostrate here on this
00:32:38.35\00:32:44.59
sorry, while I
am... while I am crucified
00:32:44.63\00:32:48.13
and while it seems
that there is no hope for Me
00:32:48.16\00:32:51.63
or for anyone else,
00:32:51.67\00:32:53.10
today, you have put
your faith and trust in Me...
00:32:53.13\00:32:56.00
today, you have
called Me, 'Lord'
00:32:56.07\00:32:57.61
you have called me 'Lord'
00:32:57.64\00:32:59.54
and today, as your Lord,
00:32:59.57\00:33:01.41
I'm giving you
the assurance today
00:33:01.44\00:33:03.28
that when I come, you
will be with me in Paradise,
00:33:03.31\00:33:07.32
you have the guarantee...
you have the assurance today. "
00:33:07.35\00:33:10.62
The thief never went
to heaven that day...
00:33:10.65\00:33:14.02
Jesus never went
to heaven that day...
00:33:14.06\00:33:17.33
in fact, when Jesus met up with
Mary on resurrection morning,
00:33:17.39\00:33:21.93
the Bible tells
us... the Bible tells us,
00:33:21.96\00:33:25.27
oh, before
that... before that...
00:33:25.30\00:33:27.10
I almost skipped
out the importance of...
00:33:27.14\00:33:30.77
the importance of... of grammar.
00:33:30.81\00:33:32.27
Let me illustrate that.
00:33:32.34\00:33:34.08
"A woman without
her man is nothing. "
00:33:34.11\00:33:38.18
How many of you ladies
believe that to be true?
00:33:38.21\00:33:40.45
"A woman without
her man is nothing. "
00:33:40.52\00:33:42.48
Okay, no hands have gone up.
00:33:42.52\00:33:44.89
Laughter.
00:33:44.92\00:33:46.25
I wonder why.
00:33:46.29\00:33:47.62
Well, let's put
in some punctuation
00:33:47.66\00:33:49.92
and let's see if that
makes a bit of a difference,
00:33:49.96\00:33:51.46
here we go,
00:33:51.49\00:33:52.83
"A woman, without
her, man is nothing. "
00:33:52.86\00:33:57.27
How many of you women
believe in that statement?
00:33:57.30\00:34:00.54
"A woman, without
her, man is nothing. "
00:34:00.57\00:34:05.64
Of course, there's a...
00:34:05.67\00:34:08.94
does punctuation
make a difference?
00:34:08.98\00:34:11.21
Yes, indeed,
00:34:11.25\00:34:12.75
punctuation makes all
the difference in the world.
00:34:12.81\00:34:16.65
I'm glad I didn't miss
out that very interesting
00:34:16.69\00:34:20.49
but very important illustration,
you know what I mean?
00:34:20.52\00:34:23.79
Makes the point very clear.
00:34:23.83\00:34:25.16
Now back to the
story... back to the story.
00:34:25.19\00:34:28.20
Did Jesus go to
paradise that day?
00:34:28.23\00:34:31.07
No He didn't... no He didn't.
00:34:31.13\00:34:33.30
Notice when we read,
00:34:33.34\00:34:37.21
"Jesus said to her...
" He's speaking to Mary,
00:34:37.24\00:34:40.34
on resurrection
morning, Jesus meets with Mary.
00:34:40.38\00:34:43.41
Mary did not know that it
was Jesus... to begin with,
00:34:43.45\00:34:45.91
she thought that
it was the gardener
00:34:45.95\00:34:49.15
and then when she
realized that it was Jesus,
00:34:49.18\00:34:52.62
Jesus had to say to
her, "Do not cling to Me,
00:34:52.65\00:34:56.02
for I have... " what?
00:34:56.06\00:34:57.79
"not yet
ascended to My Father. "
00:34:57.83\00:35:00.46
That was on
resurrection morning.
00:35:00.50\00:35:03.06
Jesus had not yet
ascended to His Father.
00:35:03.10\00:35:06.07
So did Jesus go to Paradise
on that Friday afternoon
00:35:06.10\00:35:09.87
to be joined with the thief
00:35:09.90\00:35:12.37
that was on the
cross there by His side?
00:35:12.41\00:35:14.58
The answer is "No"
according to the words of Jesus,
00:35:14.61\00:35:17.11
He hadn't gone to Paradise yet,
00:35:17.15\00:35:20.15
that is what He
clearly shared with Mary.
00:35:20.18\00:35:23.49
So, what did God say
00:35:23.52\00:35:29.96
about communicating
with the supposed dead?
00:35:29.99\00:35:32.93
That is a very important
part of this message...
00:35:32.96\00:35:36.23
a very important...
00:35:36.26\00:35:38.03
a very critical
part of this message,
00:35:38.07\00:35:39.80
This subject has permeated
every part of their culture.
00:35:39.83\00:35:48.61
The... the deceptions regarding
this all-important truth of God
00:35:48.64\00:35:55.82
have permeated
throughout every aspect
00:35:55.85\00:35:59.02
of our way of
life... of our culture.
00:35:59.05\00:36:02.12
So, what did God say
to the children of Israel?
00:36:02.19\00:36:05.59
What does God say
to you and I today
00:36:05.63\00:36:07.96
regarding seeking to communicate
with our dead loved ones?
00:36:08.00\00:36:12.73
Seeking to get
involved with the supernatural?
00:36:12.77\00:36:16.24
Very important...
00:36:16.27\00:36:17.94
I pray that you will be
listening up right now...
00:36:17.97\00:36:19.81
those who are here
00:36:19.87\00:36:21.21
and those who are
watching or listening...
00:36:21.24\00:36:22.88
wherever you may be,
00:36:22.91\00:36:24.25
I really pray
that you will tune in
00:36:24.28\00:36:26.25
to what we are about to
discover from God's Word
00:36:26.28\00:36:29.08
for this is
extremely important...
00:36:29.12\00:36:30.99
this has the potential
00:36:31.02\00:36:32.75
to indeed make an
eternal difference in your life.
00:36:32.79\00:36:35.72
So, let's take a look at
what Scripture has to say.
00:36:35.76\00:36:38.63
In Deuteronomy
chapter 18 verses 10 to 12,
00:36:38.66\00:36:41.73
this is what we read.
00:36:41.76\00:36:43.60
This is God speaking
to the children of Israel
00:36:43.63\00:36:46.13
and He says, "There
shall not be among you anyone
00:36:46.17\00:36:48.60
who calls up the... " what?
00:36:48.64\00:36:50.31
"who calls up the dead...
00:36:50.34\00:36:51.91
These things are
a... " what to the LORD?
00:36:51.94\00:36:54.38
"an abomination to the LORD."
00:36:54.41\00:36:56.51
Wow! The strongest possible
language that God can use
00:36:56.54\00:37:00.38
for something that is not
in harmony with His Word...
00:37:00.42\00:37:03.52
something that is not
in harmony with His will...
00:37:03.55\00:37:06.59
something that is completely
contrary to His character...
00:37:06.62\00:37:11.09
something that has the
potential to deceive you and I
00:37:11.13\00:37:15.50
from following the One who is
the way the truth and the light,
00:37:15.53\00:37:18.00
and that is Jesus Christ.
00:37:18.03\00:37:19.37
The Bible in the Old
Testament and the New Testament
00:37:19.40\00:37:23.34
refers to it as an
abomination.. an abomination.
00:37:23.37\00:37:27.41
You don't want to be
called an abomination
00:37:27.44\00:37:30.08
and you ought not to go calling
people an abomination either,
00:37:30.11\00:37:33.68
it's a very strong term.
00:37:33.72\00:37:36.05
Now why does
God feel so strongly
00:37:36.08\00:37:40.56
about those who
will seek to communicate
00:37:40.59\00:37:43.96
with the supposed dead
00:37:43.99\00:37:46.63
and we know that
you cannot communicate
00:37:46.66\00:37:48.56
with the supposed dead
00:37:48.60\00:37:49.93
because the dead are what?
They're asleep... they're dead,
00:37:49.96\00:37:53.07
they know how much?
00:37:53.10\00:37:54.60
They know nothing...
00:37:54.64\00:37:55.97
they go down into what?
00:37:56.00\00:37:57.34
into silence.
00:37:57.37\00:37:59.11
Why is this so dangerous?
00:37:59.14\00:38:00.61
Well, let's keep reading
and discovering what God says
00:38:00.68\00:38:04.15
is to be the punishment of those
00:38:04.18\00:38:06.65
who are to
communicate in such a way.
00:38:06.68\00:38:08.88
In Leviticus chapter
20 and verse 27, we read,
00:38:08.92\00:38:12.02
"A man or a
woman who is a medium,
00:38:12.05\00:38:15.19
or one who has familiar spirits,
00:38:15.22\00:38:17.59
shall surely be put to death;
00:38:17.63\00:38:19.89
they shall stone
them with stones.
00:38:19.93\00:38:21.90
Their blood
shall be upon them. "
00:38:21.93\00:38:23.40
Wow! an individual who was...
00:38:23.47\00:38:26.63
who was involved in and
practicing this form of...
00:38:26.67\00:38:33.61
of... of mediumship
00:38:33.64\00:38:36.04
which is seeking to
communicate with the dead
00:38:36.08\00:38:39.38
on behalf of the living,
the Bible says... God said...
00:38:39.41\00:38:43.59
they were to be put to death.
00:38:43.62\00:38:46.55
Why such heavy punishment?
00:38:46.59\00:38:49.19
Why such drastic measures?
00:38:49.22\00:38:51.79
Well, notice what the Bible says
00:38:51.83\00:38:54.03
in 2nd Corinthians
chapter 11 verse 14,
00:38:54.10\00:38:57.27
"For Satan
himself transforms himself
00:38:57.30\00:39:00.34
into an angel of... "what?
00:39:00.37\00:39:02.00
"into an angel of light. "
00:39:02.04\00:39:03.64
Those who claim to
communicate with the dead
00:39:03.67\00:39:08.84
are not communicating
with their dead loved ones,
00:39:08.88\00:39:12.25
they are communicating
with Satan's demons...
00:39:12.28\00:39:15.58
with Satan's evil demons.
00:39:15.62\00:39:17.95
There is much of
this that takes place...
00:39:17.99\00:39:21.52
much of this that takes place.
00:39:21.56\00:39:23.63
I can tell you of one
story and I'll be very brief.
00:39:23.66\00:39:28.46
A Pastor friend of mine,
00:39:28.50\00:39:30.20
his name is
Pastor David Bertelson
00:39:30.23\00:39:31.97
for those of you
who may know him,
00:39:32.00\00:39:33.74
you can verify this story.
00:39:33.77\00:39:35.84
He shared with me
the story of a woman
00:39:35.87\00:39:39.17
who was attending
meetings such as this
00:39:39.21\00:39:42.31
and she made a
decision to be baptized.
00:39:42.34\00:39:45.15
She made a
decision to follow Christ.
00:39:45.18\00:39:47.88
She made a decision to
keep the seventh-day Sabbath
00:39:47.95\00:39:50.82
and on the day of her baptism...
00:39:50.85\00:39:52.95
this happened in Oakland...
00:39:52.99\00:39:54.72
she's walking up the steps
00:39:54.76\00:39:56.42
of the particular
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:39:56.46\00:39:59.89
I can't remember the name of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:39:59.93\00:40:02.63
but she's walking up the steps,
00:40:02.66\00:40:04.63
and as she's
walking up the steps...
00:40:04.67\00:40:06.77
this is a true story...
00:40:06.80\00:40:08.14
she is... she... she is
met there by her grandmother
00:40:08.17\00:40:13.81
who has passed
away many years before
00:40:13.84\00:40:16.54
and... and her
grandmother says to her,
00:40:16.61\00:40:19.25
"My dear child, do not
do what you're about to do,
00:40:19.28\00:40:23.18
I have come from
God with a message
00:40:23.22\00:40:25.89
to... to encourage you
to stop from being baptized
00:40:25.92\00:40:29.92
stop from joining this church,
00:40:29.96\00:40:31.63
stop from being
part of this denomination
00:40:31.66\00:40:35.03
I have come with a
message from God. "
00:40:35.06\00:40:38.37
This woman remembered what
she had heard about the truth
00:40:38.43\00:40:42.97
on this all-important subject
00:40:43.00\00:40:44.34
and... and... and in
a moment she cried out,
00:40:44.37\00:40:48.81
"Get behind me Satan... "
00:40:48.84\00:40:50.91
and in that very moment,
00:40:50.95\00:40:52.91
this evil spirit
just vanished before her.
00:40:52.95\00:40:56.28
Pause...
00:40:56.32\00:40:58.35
My Friends, this is
as real as real can be.
00:40:58.39\00:41:00.96
The enemy wants to deceive us
through this false understanding
00:41:00.99\00:41:05.76
that we can communicate
with our dead loved ones.
00:41:05.79\00:41:09.40
Notice, spiritualism is
founded on two key principles:
00:41:09.43\00:41:13.57
Number one:
00:41:13.60\00:41:14.94
Conscious life
exists after death...
00:41:14.97\00:41:17.34
that is the
immortality of the soul
00:41:17.37\00:41:19.91
which we have looked
at which is ingrained...
00:41:19.94\00:41:23.28
which has permeated every
aspect of our world culture.
00:41:23.31\00:41:26.95
In all the world religions...
in all the world philosophies,
00:41:26.98\00:41:30.39
by and large, this is
what is taught and believed.
00:41:30.42\00:41:33.99
Secondly, that the dead can
communicate with the living.
00:41:34.02\00:41:38.09
As I pointed out, all
the world's major religions
00:41:38.13\00:41:41.93
they... they
teach on this very point
00:41:41.96\00:41:46.63
that you can communicate
with the dead loved ones
00:41:46.67\00:41:50.27
that the soul lives on after
death... in another form...
00:41:50.31\00:41:54.58
in another
state... in another place...
00:41:54.64\00:41:57.05
this is... this is
right across the board,
00:41:57.08\00:41:59.45
and I am not surprised
00:41:59.48\00:42:01.48
because the enemy is seeking
to set up the entire world
00:42:01.52\00:42:04.72
in order to be
deceived at the very end of time
00:42:04.75\00:42:07.76
through this very means.
00:42:07.79\00:42:09.29
The Apostle Paul warned
us of what we were to expect
00:42:09.32\00:42:14.60
especially in the last days.
00:42:14.63\00:42:16.46
Notice these words
from the Apostle Paul
00:42:16.50\00:42:19.27
in 1st Timothy
chapter 4 verse 1,
00:42:19.30\00:42:20.94
"Now the Spirit expressly
says that in... " what times?
00:42:20.97\00:42:24.87
"the latter times...
" or the last days...
00:42:25.07\00:42:27.88
"some will depart from the
faith, giving heed to... " what?
00:42:27.94\00:42:31.75
"deceiving spirits and
doctrines of... " what?
00:42:31.78\00:42:34.95
"of demons... "
00:42:34.98\00:42:36.32
This teaching of the
immortality of the soul
00:42:36.35\00:42:39.89
that when you die,
your soul lives on...
00:42:39.92\00:42:43.53
that is a
teaching from the enemy.
00:42:43.56\00:42:45.69
It's a doctrine... a
doctrine is a teaching
00:42:45.73\00:42:48.26
it's a teaching
from the devil himself.
00:42:48.30\00:42:50.80
What does the Apostle Paul say?
00:42:50.83\00:42:53.70
Notice what he says,
in Ephesians chapter 5:11,
00:42:53.74\00:42:57.91
"Have... " how much fellowship?
00:42:57.94\00:42:59.37
"no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of... " what?
00:42:59.41\00:43:03.11
"Darkness, but
rather do... " what?
00:43:03.14\00:43:05.75
"expose them. "
00:43:05.78\00:43:07.12
So, that is the reason why
in this all-important Series,
00:43:07.15\00:43:11.35
End-Time Living...
00:43:11.39\00:43:14.46
love and loyalty...
00:43:14.49\00:43:17.49
we're looking
to expose the truth
00:43:17.53\00:43:20.80
regarding what happens
to a person when they die
00:43:20.86\00:43:24.50
because this is
exposing the works of darkness,
00:43:24.53\00:43:28.14
this is exposing
the works of the enemy,
00:43:28.20\00:43:30.67
and Jesus said... and
I love what He shares,
00:43:30.71\00:43:33.14
He says in John 8:31 and
32, "If you abide in My Word,
00:43:33.17\00:43:38.65
you will do... " what?
00:43:38.68\00:43:40.45
"you are my disciples indeed
00:43:40.48\00:43:42.25
and you will know the truth
and the truth will do... " what?
00:43:42.28\00:43:44.65
"it will set you free. "
00:43:44.72\00:43:46.49
If you and I abide in the Word,
00:43:46.52\00:43:48.02
if we take time
each and every day
00:43:48.06\00:43:49.82
to open the Word and find out
00:43:49.86\00:43:51.53
what God's Word
has to say on this
00:43:51.56\00:43:54.03
and every other important topic
00:43:54.06\00:43:56.43
when it comes to
our eternal salvation,
00:43:56.46\00:43:57.80
we will know the truth
00:43:57.83\00:43:59.17
and we will not be deceived.
00:43:59.20\00:44:00.54
The only way you and
I will ever be deceived
00:44:00.57\00:44:03.71
is if we take our
eyes off God's Word.
00:44:03.74\00:44:05.81
God's Word must be the
foundation for your faith
00:44:05.87\00:44:09.94
and practice in all things
00:44:09.98\00:44:11.61
and the only sure
foundation is the Word of God.
00:44:11.65\00:44:15.78
"If they speak not
according to this Word... "
00:44:15.85\00:44:19.95
Isaiah chapter 8 verse 20,
00:44:19.99\00:44:21.49
"it is because there
is no light in them... "
00:44:21.52\00:44:23.59
instead of light, there is what?
00:44:23.63\00:44:25.06
There is darkness...
00:44:25.09\00:44:27.46
The Book of Revelation...
00:44:27.50\00:44:29.16
the Book of Revelation
00:44:29.23\00:44:30.57
the last book of the Bible
00:44:30.60\00:44:32.23
contains God's
truth for the last days
00:44:32.27\00:44:34.54
and exposes Satan's deceptions
00:44:34.57\00:44:37.14
more so than any
other book of the Bible.
00:44:37.17\00:44:39.74
It's a book that the
enemy did not want to be written
00:44:39.77\00:44:44.91
and here in
Revelation chapter 14 verse 8,
00:44:44.95\00:44:48.75
the 2nd Angel's message
00:44:48.78\00:44:50.12
of these three all-important
final messages of God's love
00:44:50.15\00:44:53.76
that need to go
to all the world,
00:44:53.79\00:44:55.12
we have these words,
Revelation 14 verse 8,
00:44:55.16\00:44:57.69
"Babylon is
fallen, is fallen... "
00:44:57.76\00:45:00.16
now, what is Babylon?
00:45:00.20\00:45:01.76
We've looked at
that in a previous...
00:45:01.80\00:45:03.63
in a previous Series
00:45:03.67\00:45:05.67
when we looked at
End-Time Apocalypse.
00:45:05.70\00:45:08.64
You can look at
that on another day
00:45:08.67\00:45:10.81
or you can,
maybe, order those...
00:45:10.84\00:45:13.41
order those messages from 3ABN
00:45:13.44\00:45:15.94
but Babylon...
Babylon is deception...
00:45:15.98\00:45:19.31
Babylon is confusion...
00:45:19.35\00:45:20.68
Babylon is rebellion
against God and His Word.
00:45:20.72\00:45:24.15
That's what Babylon is,
Babylon seeks to deceive
00:45:24.19\00:45:27.52
and the enemy uses
this system called Babylon
00:45:27.56\00:45:30.86
in order to
deceive the whole world
00:45:30.89\00:45:32.79
and notice what we read
in Revelation chapter 18
00:45:32.83\00:45:35.56
regarding this deceptive
power that the enemy uses...
00:45:35.60\00:45:40.90
Revelation
chapter 18 and verse 2,
00:45:40.94\00:45:43.27
"And he cried mightily
with a loud voice, saying,
00:45:43.30\00:45:46.27
'Babylon the great
is fallen, is fallen,
00:45:46.31\00:45:48.68
and has become a... '" what?
00:45:48.71\00:45:51.01
"a dwelling place of... " what?
00:45:51.05\00:45:53.28
"of demons, a prison
for every foul spirit,
00:45:53.31\00:45:56.15
and a cage for every
unclean and hated bird!"
00:45:56.18\00:45:58.99
We don't have time to unpack
00:45:59.02\00:46:00.56
everything in this
particular verse here,
00:46:00.59\00:46:03.22
but simply to say
that at the end of time,
00:46:03.26\00:46:05.39
the enemy is going to
pull out all the stops
00:46:05.43\00:46:07.50
and at the end of time,
00:46:07.53\00:46:08.86
the enemy is going to seek
to deceive the entire world
00:46:08.90\00:46:11.40
in many different ways
00:46:11.43\00:46:13.57
but especially
through Spiritualism...
00:46:13.60\00:46:16.14
especially through
this very important teaching
00:46:16.17\00:46:19.31
that we are taking a look at.
00:46:19.34\00:46:20.68
In fact, in Revelation
chapter 18 and verse 23,
00:46:20.71\00:46:24.98
notice what the Bible says,
00:46:25.01\00:46:27.58
"The light of a lamp
shall not shine in you... "
00:46:27.62\00:46:30.49
and God here is speaking of
Babylon... that's the context,
00:46:30.55\00:46:33.29
"anymore...
00:46:33.32\00:46:34.89
for by your... " what?
00:46:34.92\00:46:36.69
"sorcery... " how
many of the nations?
00:46:36.73\00:46:38.69
"all the nations were... " what?
00:46:38.73\00:46:41.00
"deceived by your sorcery... "
00:46:41.03\00:46:43.16
I looked up that word "sorcery"
00:46:43.20\00:46:45.27
and notice what that
word is in the Greek...
00:46:45.30\00:46:47.67
it's the word, Pharmacia...
00:46:47.70\00:46:49.04
it's where we get our word
"Pharmacy" from in the English
00:46:49.07\00:46:54.31
and also, it means medication,
magic, sorcery and witchcraft.
00:46:54.34\00:46:59.58
Wow! this is...
00:46:59.61\00:47:01.75
this is at the very
heart of Babylon's final attack
00:47:01.78\00:47:05.79
at the end of the world
00:47:05.85\00:47:07.19
and the Bible is clear
that the entire world...
00:47:07.22\00:47:10.19
all the nations
will be deceived.
00:47:10.23\00:47:11.89
Now, how much has magic
00:47:11.93\00:47:16.97
and witchcraft
00:47:17.00\00:47:18.63
and sorcery
00:47:18.67\00:47:20.20
permeated our worldwide culture?
00:47:20.24\00:47:24.57
Pause...
00:47:24.61\00:47:27.31
Let me take you to Hollywood...
00:47:27.34\00:47:30.71
not the Hollywood that
you may be thinking of,
00:47:30.75\00:47:35.25
but the wood called "Holly"
00:47:35.28\00:47:37.92
from the Holly Tree.
00:47:37.95\00:47:39.75
Notice, Harry Potter...
made famous by J.K. Rowling
00:47:39.79\00:47:45.96
in Harry Potter Series
00:47:45.99\00:47:47.63
has a wand made
out of Holly Wood.
00:47:47.66\00:47:51.53
Interesting...
00:47:51.57\00:47:52.90
Holly is associated...
notice this wood called "Holly"
00:47:52.93\00:47:56.40
it's associated with the
cycle of death and rebirth
00:47:56.44\00:48:00.04
and is good for spells
that involve sleep or rest.
00:48:00.08\00:48:03.65
Fascinating...
00:48:03.71\00:48:05.05
I looked that up...
00:48:05.08\00:48:06.41
you can go home and
you can look at all that up
00:48:06.45\00:48:08.28
it's there...
00:48:08.32\00:48:09.78
and I'm asking the question,
00:48:09.82\00:48:11.59
and I pray that you'll
be asking that question too.
00:48:11.62\00:48:14.69
"Are we letting
Hollywood put us under a spell
00:48:14.72\00:48:17.66
by putting us to
sleep spiritually?"
00:48:17.69\00:48:20.46
Is that possibly taking place?
00:48:20.50\00:48:23.23
And I think the answer
is overwhelmingly what?
00:48:23.26\00:48:27.54
"Yes. "
00:48:27.57\00:48:28.90
Hollywood...
00:48:28.94\00:48:30.27
Holly wood... the
enemy's final attempt
00:48:30.31\00:48:35.84
to deceive the entire world
00:48:35.88\00:48:38.15
has to be by and
large through Hollywood.
00:48:38.18\00:48:42.95
It has to be...
00:48:42.98\00:48:44.32
based on the evidence,
00:48:44.35\00:48:45.79
I mean, just take a look at
00:48:45.82\00:48:47.86
what is on your
television screens,
00:48:47.89\00:48:49.96
take a look at
what's in the movies,
00:48:49.99\00:48:51.99
take a look at what's
in books, in popular books.
00:48:52.03\00:48:54.56
It all started
off nice and easy...
00:48:54.60\00:48:56.56
nice and innocent
with "I Dream of Jeannie"
00:48:56.63\00:48:58.97
and "Bewitched"
00:48:59.00\00:49:00.34
and... and Walt Disney...
00:49:00.37\00:49:02.74
and it's
fascinating... "Walt Disney"
00:49:02.77\00:49:04.11
have you seen how
Walt Disney begins or ends?
00:49:04.14\00:49:06.68
With the wand...
isn't that right?
00:49:06.71\00:49:09.24
Ding... maybe
not quite like that
00:49:09.28\00:49:11.81
but it's the wand...
00:49:11.85\00:49:13.88
the enemy is seeking
to put you and I to sleep,
00:49:13.92\00:49:16.99
and in more recent
times, we've got...
00:49:17.05\00:49:19.19
we've got movies like
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
00:49:19.22\00:49:22.62
"Star Wars" that epic Series
that has captivated millions
00:49:22.66\00:49:28.00
upon millions upon
millions around the world.
00:49:28.03\00:49:30.27
"Lord of the Rings"
00:49:30.30\00:49:31.83
and this new Series
in the last ten years,
00:49:31.87\00:49:35.27
this Marvel Series...
00:49:35.30\00:49:36.71
where some 21
movies and counting
00:49:36.74\00:49:40.01
have been produced in
the line of the supernatural.
00:49:40.04\00:49:44.15
The enemy... he
is doing his utmost
00:49:44.18\00:49:47.22
in order to deceive the world,
00:49:47.25\00:49:49.12
he's pulling out all the
stops and if you can't see it,
00:49:49.18\00:49:52.12
then you need to go
and get some serious help
00:49:52.15\00:49:57.99
from a spiritual doctor.
00:49:58.03\00:50:01.40
Not a physical doctor
but a spiritual doctor...
00:50:01.43\00:50:05.13
you and I need
to go into the Word.
00:50:05.17\00:50:06.53
We need to go into the Word
if we don't see what's going on.
00:50:06.57\00:50:09.17
Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12,
00:50:09.20\00:50:12.37
these are the words
from the Apostle Paul
00:50:12.41\00:50:14.71
where he writes, "For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood,
00:50:14.74\00:50:17.55
but against the rulers,
against the authorities,
00:50:17.58\00:50:19.45
against the cosmic powers
over this present darkness,
00:50:19.48\00:50:22.18
against the... "
what kind of forces?
00:50:22.22\00:50:24.02
"against the
spiritual forces of... " what?
00:50:24.09\00:50:27.16
"of evil in the
heavenly places. "
00:50:27.22\00:50:29.52
It's a cosmic battle going on...
00:50:29.56\00:50:31.79
a heavy, cosmic
battle that is going on.
00:50:31.86\00:50:35.43
Pause...
00:50:35.46\00:50:37.63
My Friends, I could
spend a lot more time
00:50:37.70\00:50:39.40
but we don't have time,
but I want to encourage you
00:50:39.43\00:50:43.30
if... if you have been
involved in watching or reading
00:50:43.34\00:50:47.14
anything
regarding the supernatural,
00:50:47.18\00:50:49.44
it may be fine...
it may be enjoyable...
00:50:49.48\00:50:51.71
it may be entertainment...
00:50:51.75\00:50:53.11
but my Friends... my Friends,
it's deadly entertainment,
00:50:53.15\00:50:57.35
it's absolutely deadly for your
spiritual health and well-being.
00:50:57.39\00:51:01.16
It will lead you to the place
ultimately where it led Eve
00:51:01.22\00:51:05.69
who was tempted and lured
in by the voice of that serpent
00:51:05.76\00:51:09.30
that said it would be
harmless.. it would be harmless
00:51:09.33\00:51:12.83
and in fact, it
would be good for her
00:51:12.87\00:51:15.04
to partake of that
fruit of the forbidden tree.
00:51:15.10\00:51:19.24
I want to encourage you...
00:51:19.27\00:51:21.21
have nothing to do with
the fruits of darkness...
00:51:21.24\00:51:24.18
nothing at all...
00:51:24.21\00:51:25.55
nothing at all.
00:51:25.58\00:51:27.18
Harry Potter books
need to go in the bin...
00:51:27.22\00:51:29.12
those movies...
do not watch them,
00:51:29.15\00:51:31.42
Ouija boards...
00:51:31.45\00:51:32.79
anything and everything to
do with the supernatural...
00:51:32.82\00:51:35.59
turn your back...
avoid like the plague...
00:51:35.62\00:51:41.03
don't have
anything to do with it.
00:51:41.06\00:51:43.53
I encourage
you... I plead with you
00:51:43.57\00:51:46.00
for your salvation.
00:51:46.03\00:51:47.37
Well, let's talk
about the Apostle Paul.
00:51:47.40\00:51:50.04
"What is the blessed hope
for the follower of Jesus?"
00:51:50.11\00:51:52.97
Notice what the
Apostle Paul writes
00:51:53.01\00:51:54.64
in 1st Thessalonians
chapter 4 verses 13 and 14,
00:51:54.68\00:51:57.08
"But I do not want you
to be ignorant, brethren,
00:51:57.11\00:51:59.51
concerning those
who have fallen asleep,
00:51:59.55\00:52:01.75
lest you sorrow as
others who have no hope.
00:52:01.78\00:52:03.95
For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again,
00:52:03.99\00:52:06.72
even so God will bring with
Him those who sleep in Jesus.
00:52:06.76\00:52:10.13
For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord,
00:52:10.16\00:52:13.06
that we who are alive and remain
until the coming of the Lord
00:52:13.09\00:52:16.26
will by no means
precede those who are asleep.
00:52:16.30\00:52:19.07
For the Lord Himself
will descend from heaven
00:52:19.10\00:52:21.44
with a shout,
00:52:21.47\00:52:22.80
with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
00:52:22.84\00:52:25.37
And the dead in
Christ will do... " what?
00:52:25.41\00:52:27.51
"They'll rise
first... " and then he goes on,
00:52:27.58\00:52:29.64
"Then we who
are alive and remain
00:52:29.68\00:52:32.28
shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds
00:52:32.31\00:52:34.72
to meet the Lord in the air.
00:52:34.78\00:52:36.69
And thus we shall
always be with the Lord. "
00:52:36.72\00:52:40.09
And he finishes off by
saying, "Therefore... " do what?
00:52:40.12\00:52:42.82
"comfort one
another with these words...
00:52:42.86\00:52:45.96
comfort one
another with these words. "
00:52:45.99\00:52:49.10
What an awesome
day that will be!
00:52:49.13\00:52:50.90
What an awesome day that
will be when Jesus will come
00:52:50.93\00:52:54.27
and... and... and... and there
will be the great resurrection
00:52:54.30\00:52:58.07
and reunion morning when
the... the dead in Christ...
00:52:58.11\00:53:01.91
the dead in Christ...
00:53:01.94\00:53:03.48
those that have put
their faith and trust in Jesus,
00:53:03.51\00:53:05.45
they will be brought
together and reunited
00:53:05.51\00:53:09.35
and they will be
lifted up from this earth
00:53:09.38\00:53:13.15
to join those who are alive
and together, the Bible says,
00:53:13.19\00:53:17.26
they will meet
the Lord in the air,
00:53:17.29\00:53:18.76
what a wonderful
day that will be!
00:53:18.79\00:53:20.16
That is the blessed
hope of the Christian.
00:53:20.20\00:53:23.37
That is the blessed hope
of the follower of Jesus.
00:53:23.40\00:53:27.20
The day when there
will be no more wrinkles,
00:53:27.24\00:53:29.57
no more pain...
00:53:29.60\00:53:31.07
no more suffering...
00:53:31.11\00:53:32.67
no more sorrow...
00:53:32.71\00:53:34.24
no more death...
00:53:34.28\00:53:35.74
no more separation...
00:53:35.78\00:53:37.11
are you looking
forward to that day?
00:53:37.15\00:53:38.61
I'm so looking
forward to that day,
00:53:38.65\00:53:40.25
I want to end by sharing
with you a powerful testimony,
00:53:40.28\00:53:43.95
a powerful testimony of
this lady here in the center,
00:53:43.99\00:53:47.59
her name is Jayne
00:53:47.62\00:53:49.19
and I had the
privilege of baptizing her
00:53:49.22\00:53:51.49
two or three years ago
00:53:51.53\00:53:53.33
and this is Jayne coming up
out of the water at her baptism,
00:53:53.40\00:53:57.90
you can see the... you
can see the... the smile...
00:53:57.93\00:54:00.60
you can see the joy on her face.
00:54:00.64\00:54:03.37
Jayne was led to... to the Lord
00:54:03.41\00:54:06.04
and to a... to a
decision to follow Jesus
00:54:06.07\00:54:09.31
through her good
friend there on the left, Liz,
00:54:09.34\00:54:12.08
and I had the
privilege of spending some time
00:54:12.11\00:54:15.02
with my friend,
Jayne, and baptizing her.
00:54:15.05\00:54:17.89
On the day of her baptism,
Jayne shared her testimony...
00:54:17.92\00:54:23.79
she shared how the Lord
had transformed her life,
00:54:23.83\00:54:27.10
how He had...
how He had completely
00:54:27.13\00:54:29.80
transformed her life
from where she was...
00:54:29.86\00:54:32.37
walking in darkness
00:54:32.40\00:54:33.74
to now, walking in
the ways of Christ,
00:54:33.77\00:54:35.90
walking in His wonderful light.
00:54:35.94\00:54:38.97
She was 50 at the time and
for the majority of her life
00:54:39.01\00:54:44.35
she had walked
far away from Jesus.
00:54:44.38\00:54:47.18
She wasn't interested in Jesus
but she had a praying mother.
00:54:47.22\00:54:50.79
Praise God for
praying mothers, amen.
00:54:50.82\00:54:53.05
She had a praying mother
00:54:53.09\00:54:54.99
who would meet
together with her friend
00:54:55.02\00:54:56.69
every single day for 35
years and pray for her daughter
00:54:56.73\00:55:01.53
and pray for others.
00:55:01.56\00:55:03.10
and her mother had
the... had the opportunity
00:55:03.13\00:55:05.43
of witnessing Jayne's baptism.
00:55:05.47\00:55:07.40
When Jayne was baptized,
00:55:07.44\00:55:10.47
she had already been diagnosed
with cancer... breast cancer
00:55:10.51\00:55:14.61
and these were her
words that she shared
00:55:14.64\00:55:19.58
at the end of her testimony
00:55:19.61\00:55:21.45
and I have them up
on the screen for you.
00:55:21.48\00:55:23.05
She entitled her testimony:
00:55:23.08\00:55:25.89
Hope, Peace and
Prayer... A Story of Redemption
00:55:25.92\00:55:30.26
and these are her words,
00:55:30.29\00:55:31.83
"If you haven't invited
Jesus into your own life as yet,
00:55:31.86\00:55:35.70
I can highly
recommend the experience.
00:55:35.73\00:55:38.07
It is my belief that
our time here on earth
00:55:38.10\00:55:40.74
is very short indeed and
that Jesus will soon return,
00:55:40.77\00:55:44.17
just as He has promised,
00:55:44.21\00:55:45.87
to claim His believers
00:55:45.94\00:55:47.54
and destroy Satan
and sin forevermore. "
00:55:47.58\00:55:50.05
And what do you say? Amen...
00:55:50.08\00:55:51.71
she goes on, "How I
long to see that day.
00:55:51.75\00:55:55.05
I pray that we will all be
ready to go home with Him. "
00:55:55.08\00:55:59.62
Amen.
00:55:59.65\00:56:01.32
That was... that
was Jayne's testimony,
00:56:01.39\00:56:04.19
that was Jayne's desire
00:56:04.23\00:56:05.56
that together we will
be with Jesus forevermore.
00:56:05.59\00:56:10.57
At the end of that year...
00:56:10.60\00:56:12.23
that was at the beginning
of the year in February
00:56:12.27\00:56:14.90
when I baptized Jayne,
00:56:14.97\00:56:16.71
at that end of that
year, Jayne went to sleep
00:56:16.74\00:56:20.44
in the arms of Jesus.
00:56:20.48\00:56:22.41
She went to sleep
in the arms of Jesus
00:56:22.44\00:56:25.41
awaiting the resurrection.
00:56:25.48\00:56:27.75
I'm looking forward to
the day when I will see Jayne.
00:56:27.78\00:56:30.39
I'm looking forward to
the day when I will see her
00:56:30.42\00:56:32.92
and all those that have put
their faith and trust in Jesus.
00:56:32.95\00:56:35.36
What about you my friends?
00:56:35.39\00:56:36.73
Those who are here...
those who are watching...
00:56:36.76\00:56:39.13
are you looking
forward to being reunited
00:56:39.16\00:56:41.33
with all those who have put
their faith and trust in Jesus?
00:56:41.36\00:56:43.90
If that's your desire to
be ready when Jesus comes,
00:56:43.93\00:56:46.53
I want to invite you
to bow your heads with me
00:56:46.60\00:56:49.24
wherever you may be
00:56:49.27\00:56:50.84
and let us thank Jesus
00:56:50.87\00:56:52.37
and look forward
to that precious day,
00:56:52.41\00:56:54.14
"Father in heaven, we
want to thank you so much
00:56:54.18\00:56:56.75
for the blessed hope
that we have in Jesus
00:56:56.78\00:56:59.41
that one of these days soon,
He will come in all His glory...
00:56:59.45\00:57:03.35
with all the heavenly angels
00:57:03.39\00:57:05.55
and He will take with Him
00:57:05.59\00:57:07.69
those that have put
their faith and trust in Him,
00:57:07.72\00:57:09.89
those that have passed away
00:57:09.92\00:57:11.99
and have been resting
in His safe and secure arms
00:57:12.03\00:57:15.10
along with those that are alive
00:57:15.13\00:57:17.67
and will be caught
up together with Him
00:57:17.70\00:57:19.47
to be with the Lord forever.
00:57:19.50\00:57:20.84
This is our prayer,
Father, keep us close to Jesus,
00:57:20.87\00:57:23.94
keep us looking unto Him always,
00:57:23.97\00:57:25.64
the Author and
Finisher of our faith,
00:57:25.67\00:57:27.98
for this is our
prayer in the name of Jesus,
00:57:28.01\00:57:30.48
everybody said,
'Amen... amen. '"
00:57:30.51\00:57:33.08