Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: GAB
Program Code: GAB000012
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01:11 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
01:14 Father in heaven, we thank You 01:15 for the awesome privilege of being in Your house. 01:18 We thank you for your holy Sabbath 01:21 where we can just take a break for 24 whole hours 01:24 from our own endeavors, from our own words, 01:27 from our own activities. 01:29 We ask, Father, that as we open Your word 01:31 and study about the final apostasy 01:33 that Your Holy Spirit will be with us to guide our thoughts. 01:37 And we thank You Father, for hearing our prayer 01:39 for we ask it in the precious name of Jesus, amen. 01:44 I'd like to begin our study this morning 01:46 by referring to a text which I probably quote 01:50 more than any text from Scripture. 01:52 Genesis 3:15. 01:57 Basically this is after Adam and Eve had sinned. 02:01 God has come down to the garden 02:03 and He is addressing the serpent. 02:06 And what He is saying is that He is going to send 02:10 a seed born of a woman to this world 02:15 and that seed is going to do battle with Satan, 02:20 with the serpent, with the devil. 02:22 In the process of the battle the seed of the woman 02:28 is going to be wounded on His heel, 02:32 but the head of the serpent is going to be crushed 02:37 by the woman seed. 02:39 In other words, God is serving Satan notice. 02:43 He is saying you led man into sin, 02:46 you're gonna cause misery on planet earth, 02:49 but I'm warning you that I'm sending a seed to the world 02:52 who is going to do battle with you. 02:54 In that battle you're gonna hurt him, 02:57 but he is going to crush your head. 03:01 From that point on the devil decided 03:03 he was not going to allow that seed to come. 03:06 And so basically Satan used two different methods 03:12 to try and keep the seed from coming 03:15 during the Old Testament period. 03:18 Two methods, 03:20 the first method we find in the story of Cain and Abel. 03:25 You see when-- when Abel lived in harmony 03:30 with God's principles the devil soon discovered 03:32 that Abel probably wasn't the seed, 03:35 but he was going to bring 03:37 through a lineage the seed into the world. 03:40 And so was not convenient 03:41 for the devil to have Abel living. 03:45 And so we're told in Genesis 4:8 03:48 if you go with me there Genesis 4:8 03:53 "Now Cain talked with Abel his brother, 03:57 and it came to pass, when they were in the field, 04:00 that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." 04:07 So the first method that the devil uses 04:09 is to try and destroy the seed by persecution. 04:14 He tries to kill the seed and in this case 04:17 he was successful with Abel. 04:20 Of course he was not ultimately successful 04:22 because we're told in Genesis 4:25 04:27 that God gave Eve another seed 04:30 and the name of that seed was Seth. 04:33 So the devil was not successful by killing the seed 04:37 through whom the seed would eventually come into the world. 04:43 So the devil soon discovers that by killing the seed 04:46 he is not going to accomplish his purposes. 04:49 So he begins to think there must be a better method 04:53 of keeping the seed from coming then killing the seed. 04:57 Because I kill the seed and God brings another one. 05:00 How can I do it? 05:02 And so, now we move to the moment before the flood, 05:05 actually several years before the flood. 05:08 Notice Genesis 6:1 05:12 it says "Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply 05:15 on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 05:19 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, 05:22 that they were beautiful, and they took wives 05:25 for themselves of all whom they chose." 05:28 I'm gonna stop there for a moment. 05:30 The sons of God here are the righteous, 05:34 the daughters of men are the wicked women 05:37 that are mentioned in the genealogy of Cain. 05:40 And what the devil is doing here 05:42 he's not trying to destroy the sons of God by persecution, 05:46 he's not trying to annihilate the sons of God, 05:49 what he's doing is he's blending or mixing the two seeds 05:54 the sons of God that is the righteous 05:57 with the daughters of men who are the lineage 06:00 of the wicked or of the unrighteous. 06:03 In other word Satan is saying 06:04 perhaps the method of contaminating the seed 06:08 or blending the two seeds will be more successful 06:12 then trying to kill the seed. 06:14 And by the way this method was diabolically successful, 06:19 because when you read the story in Genesis 06:21 in spite of the fact that 1,656 years had gone 06:25 by between creation and the flood 06:28 we're told in Genesis 06:29 that out of all the millions of people that individually 06:32 were on planet earth and at that time 06:35 because men live to be almost a 1,000 years old, 06:38 there was no sterility problems, there was no scarcity of food. 06:42 In other words, the world was almost 06:44 in its pristine glory and beauty. 06:48 There must have been millions of people on planet earth, 06:50 it says the whole earth had become corrupted. 06:53 We find that out of all those millions of people 06:56 that probably were on planet earth 06:58 only eight were still faithful to God. 07:03 If time had passed, 07:05 if God had not brought about the flood 07:07 the holy line would have disappeared. 07:09 I continue reading in verse 3 07:11 "And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not strive 07:14 with man forever, for he is indeed flesh, 07:16 yet his day shall be one hundred and twenty years.' 07:19 There were giants on the earth in those days, 07:22 and also afterward, 07:24 when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men 07:27 and they bore children to them. 07:29 Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown." 07:33 Or men with the name. 07:35 They were the same builders of the Tower of Babel. 07:37 The identical expression is used 07:39 of those who build the Tower of Babel. 07:41 In other words, 07:42 a very wicked powerful race was the result of this mixture 07:48 of the sons of God with the daughters of men. 07:51 In fact, we're told in Genesis 07:53 that as the result of the devil blending these two seeds 07:56 the world was almost totally corrupted. 07:59 Notice Genesis 6:5 it says here 08:03 "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man 08:07 was great in the earth, and that every intent 08:11 of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." 08:15 And noticed the end result in society verses 11 and 12, 08:20 it says "The earth also was corrupt before God, 08:24 and the earth was filled with violence. 08:27 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt 08:30 for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth." 08:35 So in the early chapters of Genesis we noticed 08:37 that the devil uses two methods to try 08:40 and keep the seed the promised seed 08:42 of Genesis 3:15 from coming. 08:45 Number one, attempt took kill the holy seed. 08:50 Number two, try to infiltrate 08:53 and corrupt the seed by mixing or blending them 08:57 with wordlings, blending them with the unrighteous. 09:02 And of course the method which worked the best 09:04 was blending the righteous with the unrighteous. 09:09 Every thought of the intense of the heart of man 09:11 was only evil continually. 09:13 The earth was filled with violence as a result 09:16 of this second method of Satan. 09:20 Now Satan has used these methods 09:22 all throughout the course of human history. 09:25 These are his primary two methods 09:27 to try and get people to forsake their allegiance to God 09:32 either kill them or corrupt them. 09:36 There are many other smaller methods 09:39 if you please that the devil uses 09:41 but these are the two major methods 09:44 that the devil uses in the course of human history 09:47 either kill the seed or corrupt the seed, 09:52 either destroy the righteous through persecution 09:56 or else contaminate them through false ideas 10:00 and through worldly practices. 10:03 Now there's another example of this 10:05 that we've studied previously in this series 10:07 and that is in the story of Balaam. 10:12 And this morning I'm gonna review some of the things 10:15 that we've studied before because this is really 10:16 the concluding lecture in the series 10:19 on great apostasies in the Bible. 10:23 Notice Numbers 22:6, Numbers 22:6. 10:30 Israel at this point 10:31 was in a proper relationship with God, 10:34 in fact they had a strong covenant relationship 10:37 with the Lord when they came 10:38 to the borders of the Promise Land, 10:40 they'd learned their lesson, 10:41 they been in the wilderness for 40 years. 10:44 That whole generation had passed away 10:46 except for those who are 18 years and younger. 10:49 And Caleb and Joshua and so now 10:51 they were in a strong relationship with God 10:55 and the devil knew it. 10:56 And so now the devil is going to attempt to destroy them. 11:00 And the way that he attempts to do it is by getting Balaam 11:02 to curse Israel so that then Balak can come against them 11:06 and destroyed them in battle. 11:08 Notice Numbers 22:6. 11:11 This is Balak the king of the Moabites 11:17 asking Balaam to come and curse the people. 11:20 "Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, 11:24 for they are too mighty for me. 11:27 Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them 11:29 and drive them out of the land, 11:31 for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, 11:34 and he whom you curse is cursed." 11:36 In other words, come and curse this people 11:38 so that I can come against them in battle 11:40 and I can defeat them in battle and destroy them. 11:44 It's interesting to notice the response of Balaam 11:48 to the request of Balak. 11:50 Notice Numbers 23:20-23. 11:55 "Behold, I have received a command to bless. 12:01 He has blessed." That is God has blessed. 12:04 "And I cannot reverse it. 'He has not.'" 12:07 Now notice what reason. 12:09 "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, 12:13 nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. 12:18 The Lord his God is with him, 12:20 and the shout of a King is among them. 12:24 God brings them out of Egypt. He has strength like a wild ox. 12:29 'For there is no sorcery against Jacob, 12:31 nor any divination against Israel. 12:34 It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel,' 12:37 Oh, what God has done!" 12:41 No way in which the devil could destroy Israel 12:44 from the outside through persecution, 12:47 because Israel was in a proper relationship with God, 12:50 strong covenant relationship with God. 12:53 As it says here "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, 12:57 nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. 13:02 So the devil begins to think he says, 13:04 I'm not able to influence Balaam by money to curse Israel. 13:11 God is protecting Israel 13:12 they are in a proper relationship with Him. 13:14 I cannot destroy them through persecution. 13:18 What method could I use? 13:19 And so suddenly he brings all of his filing cabinet 13:23 the method that he had used before the flood. 13:26 If you can't fight them join them 13:30 and then if they become defiled with the inhabitants of the land 13:33 God will withdraw His protection 13:36 and they will be easy to destroy. 13:39 Notice Numbers 31:16 13:43 it was Balaam who made the suggestion 13:45 that the children of Israel be enticed to commit idolatry 13:50 and fornication to become defiled with those Moabites. 13:54 It says here in Numbers 31:16 13:59 "Look, these women caused the children of Israel, 14:03 through the council of Balaam, 14:05 to trespass against the Lord in the incidents of Peor, 14:11 and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord." 14:16 In other words, God is saying 14:19 as long as you are in a proper relationship with me 14:22 there is nothing that the devil can do to destroy you 14:25 from outside through persecution. 14:27 So the devil says, if you can't fight them join them. 14:30 And so he brings believers and unbelievers together. 14:34 The unbelievers corrupt the believers 14:36 and as a result God withdraws His protection. 14:40 And the Bible says that 24,000 of the cream 14:44 of the crop of Israel died, because of their apostasy. 14:50 Notice Numbers 25:1-4 on this second method 14:55 speaking about when Israel arrived 14:57 at the borders of the Promised Land 14:59 they should have been willing to advance immediately 15:01 into the Promised Land, 15:03 but there's a very important little word here 15:05 in Numbers 25:1 it says 15:07 "Then Israel" notice "remained in Acacia Grove." 15:14 They remained in Acacia Grove. 15:16 "And the people began to commit adultery with the women of Moab. 15:21 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, 15:24 and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 15:26 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, 15:30 and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel." 15:34 So what the devil was not able to do through persecution 15:38 the devil was able to do through infiltration. 15:41 Those are the two methods that the devil uses 15:44 all throughout human history to try and conquer 15:48 and overcome God's people 15:51 by trying to destroy them physically, 15:54 by trying to kill them, by persecution 15:56 and the second method is by infiltrating them, 16:00 in other words corrupting their principles 16:03 and leading them to a wrong belief system. 16:07 We have another example of this in Scripture. 16:11 We have the case of Daniel and his three friends. 16:16 Let's read from Daniel Chapter 1 16:19 and we'll being at verse 3, Daniel 1:3. 16:24 And I want you to notice three things 16:26 that Nebuchadnezzar does with Daniel and his three friends. 16:32 It says there, 16:34 "Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, 16:38 the master of his eunuchs, 16:40 to bring some of the children of Israel 16:42 and some of the Kings descendants 16:44 and some of the nobles, 16:46 young men in whom there was no blemish, 16:49 but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, 16:52 possessing knowledge and quick to understand, 16:55 who had ability to serve in the king's palace, 16:58 and whom they might teach." 17:00 Now notice this. 17:01 "They might teach the language 17:04 and the literature of the Chaldeans." 17:09 What was the idea of teaching these young men 17:12 the literature and language of the Chaldeans? 17:16 Through the educational system it was to reprogram 17:19 their way of thinking from Hebrew thinking 17:22 into Babylonian thinking. 17:24 But there was more. 17:26 Notice what we find in verse 5. 17:30 It says "And the king appointed for them a daily provision 17:34 of the king's delicacies 17:36 and of the wine which they drank." 17:40 Interesting, why would the devil want 17:44 Daniel and his three friends to eat the food of Babylon 17:48 and to drink the wine of Babylon? 17:50 Simply, because our physical habits 17:53 have much to do with our moral ability 17:56 to distinguish between right and wrong 17:59 and to chose the right and reject the wrong. 18:03 So not only is the devil trying to reprogram their thinking 18:06 through the educational system of Babylon, 18:09 he is also trying to lower their physical barriers 18:12 and their mental barriers to sin by getting them 18:15 to eat the food and drink the wine of Babylon. 18:21 But there is more. 18:23 Verse 5 again "And the king appointed 18:25 for them a daily provisional of the king's delicacies 18:27 and of the wine which he drank, 18:29 and three years of training for them, 18:32 so that at the end of that time 18:34 they might serve before the king. 18:37 Now from among those of the sons of Judah 18:40 were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah." 18:45 And now notice this. 18:47 "To them the chief of the eunuchs gave" what? 18:51 "Names." 18:54 Why would Babylon want to change their names? 18:57 What does a name indicate in Scripture? 19:00 A name indicates the character of the person. 19:05 To them the chief eunuchs gave names, 19:08 he gave Daniel the name of Belteshazzar, 19:11 to Hananiah, Shadrach, to Mishael, Meshach 19:14 and to Azariah, Abednego. 19:16 In fact, these names were names it 19:18 honor of the Babylonian gods. 19:20 He hoped that as they listened to their names 19:22 their character would changed as they listen 19:25 to the names of gods of the Pantheon of Babylon. 19:30 You know what's interesting? 19:33 The Bible says that even though Daniel and his friends 19:35 attended the educational system of Babylon 19:37 they did not allow their minds to be defiled. 19:41 Not only that when the food and when the wine was brought 19:45 before them they refused to eat. 19:48 They chose a vegan diet, water and vegetables. 19:54 And you know something else never in the Book of Daniel 19:57 do we find Daniel calling himself Belteshazzar. 20:04 He's always called that by the Babylonians, 20:06 but whenever Daniel speaks of himself he says I Daniel. 20:12 He did not allow the change of names to influence him. 20:16 What was Babylon trying to do at this point? 20:19 They were trying to convert the Hebrews into Babylonians. 20:24 They were trying to corrupt them 20:27 and the devil was not able to do it. 20:29 See the devil work in both ways. 20:31 He'll either kill you and if he can't kill you 20:33 he'll infiltrate you, or he'll try to infiltrate you 20:36 and if he can't he'll kill you. 20:39 Are you following what I'm saying? 20:40 The two methods of the devil he'll work both ways. 20:44 And so the devil sees that these three young men 20:46 and Daniel stand firm, they're not gonna allow 20:48 themselves to be defiled by the food, by the learning, 20:51 by having names in honor of Babylonian gods. 20:56 And so the devil says, I'm gonna have to kill them. 21:03 And so now you entered Daniel Chapter 3. 21:06 By the way, do you know that Daniel Chapter 3 21:08 is a prophetic chapter? 21:10 Its history, yes it took place in history, 21:12 but it also is a prophecy. 21:15 Did Nebuchadnezzar live for a period 21:17 as a beast yes or no? 21:20 Sure he did for seven years. He thought he was a beast. 21:23 Did he raise up an image? He more certainly did. 21:27 Did he command everyone to worship the image? 21:30 Yes, he did. 21:32 Did he threaten that whoever did not worship the image 21:34 that he had raised up would be killed? 21:37 Absolutely, and who were 21:39 the only ones who stood and refused to worship? 21:41 Those three young men. 21:42 Daniel wasn't there for some reason. 21:44 We'll have to ask in the kingdom where Daniel was. 21:47 You know, there's all kinds of speculation, 21:49 but we know that Daniel if he had been there 21:51 he wouldn't have bowed either, 21:53 because later on he was willing to face the lions. 21:57 At the end of his life we know what his character was like. 22:00 Maybe he was ill, maybe that's king sent him on a trip, 22:03 maybe the king kept him someplace 22:05 because he knew he wasn't gonna worship we don't know, 22:08 but the three young men stood before the king 22:11 and I want to read the verses Daniel Chapter 3 22:14 and beginning with verse 16. 22:16 Daniel 3:16 22:18 it says here "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego 22:24 answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, 22:29 we have no need to answer you in this matter. 22:32 If that is the case, our God whom we serve 22:36 is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, 22:40 and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 22:44 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, 22:48 that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship 22:52 the gold image which you have set up." 22:57 You know, when you look at the historical context 22:59 of this passage 23:00 they were standing before the monarch 23:02 of the universe so to speak at that time, 23:04 of the world, Nebuchadnezzar. 23:07 All of the luminaries and dignitaries were gathered there 23:11 and this was embarrassing to Nebuchadnezzar 23:13 because you have these three young men 23:15 that refused to bow down to worship. 23:17 Let me ask you, have they been contaminated 23:19 with the teaching of Babylon? 23:21 No. 23:22 Were they living up to the meaning of their names, 23:24 The Babylonian names? No. 23:27 Was it worthwhile having clear minds 23:30 and strong physical constitution 23:32 to be able to stand for the truth? 23:34 Absolutely, yes. 23:37 So they remain firm to God and devil says okay, 23:40 if I can't infiltrate you I will kill you. 23:44 But the interesting thing is we all know the conclusion 23:46 of the story the Bible says 23:49 that when they were thrown into the fiery furnace 23:53 clothing and all bound suddenly Nebuchadnezzar looks 23:57 and he sees in the furnace not three but four 24:02 and that the fourth one looks like the Son of God. 24:04 Some people saying how did Nebuchadnezzar know 24:07 what the Son of God looked like? 24:08 Well, the fact is that the Prophets and Kings tells us 24:11 that Daniel had described to Nebuchadnezzar 24:16 what the Son of God was like according to Scripture 24:19 because he had a physical description of Him. 24:21 And so Nebuchadnezzar knew what the Son of God look like. 24:24 And, you know, when they were brought out of the fiery furnace 24:29 I mean, when God delivers He really delivers fully 24:31 and completely doesn't He? 24:33 I mean, the only thing they had burnt 24:35 was the ropes that had them tie. 24:39 It says not a hair of their heads with burnt 24:42 and they didn't even smell like smoke. 24:45 That's what the text says, because God intervene 24:48 and He delivered His faithful followers. 24:51 What I want us to notice in these examples 24:53 that we studied so far is that the devil uses two methods. 24:57 Number one, he will try to undermine your principles. 25:00 He will try to contaminate you with the world. 25:02 He will try to get you to follow false doctrines 25:05 and false teachings which are manifested 25:07 then ultimately in behavior. 25:09 If he can't do that he'll say 25:11 the final solution I'll kill you. 25:14 But sometimes he works in the opposite way. 25:16 He tries to destroy and to kill 25:19 and if he's not successful in doing that 25:22 he will try and infiltrate them. 25:25 You know, during prayer meetings in the last oh, 25:29 I would say about four or five months 25:31 we've been studying the seven churches 25:34 of the Book of Revelation. 25:36 It's been a fascinating study. 25:38 We have a small group of people 25:40 probably about 20 to 25 that come out to prayer meeting. 25:43 And I wish the group was larger 25:45 because we really have a good time. 25:47 You know, I want you to know 25:48 that I don't save the good stuff for Sabbath. 25:52 You know, they say oh, prayer meeting, 25:53 you know, they saved up the "B" stuff. 25:56 You know, no, we're studying real, real good stuff. 25:59 We're studying the church of Philadelphia right now. 26:02 And I would encourage you to attend 26:05 if it all possible prayer meeting 26:06 and to dwell into the word with us. 26:09 But anyway we've been studying the seven churches. 26:11 I'd like to say something about the first three churches. 26:15 The first church is Ephesus that is the Apostolic Church 26:19 the church of the apostles. 26:21 That's the church that went out and set the world on fire. 26:25 That's the church that baptized thousands in one day. 26:29 That's the church that soon not only baptized thousands, 26:32 but started establishing churches 26:35 all over the Roman Empire. 26:37 They grew like grassfire. 26:40 Then you have the second church. 26:42 The second church is a church of Smyrna. 26:44 If you read carefully 26:45 the description in Revelation Chapter 2 26:47 you'll find that Smyrna is the persecuted church. 26:51 There is a lot of death language 26:53 relating to the Church of Smyrna. 26:55 You know, God says be faithful unto death 26:57 I will give you the crown of life. 26:59 You know, Jesus introduces Himself as 27:01 He who was dead and yet He is alive. 27:05 Then the name Smyrna means bittersweet mere 27:10 and mere was used to inbound the dead. 27:12 In other words, there's all sorts of death language 27:14 connected to church of Smyrna. 27:16 Why? 27:18 Because we find in history that when the Apostolic Church 27:22 lift pious lives and they proliferated 27:26 the gospel message throughout the whole Roman Empire, 27:28 Satan started losing his followers by droops. 27:33 Christianity was growing 27:34 and the pagan temples were empty. 27:38 And so the devil says this is not convenient for me 27:41 and so we goes to the plan of persecution. 27:44 The church Ephesus is the conferring church 27:47 the church that wins thousands in a day. 27:50 The devil says under the Church of Smyrna 27:52 I'm gonna destroy them, I'm gonna persecute them. 27:54 But, you know, the interesting thing is 27:56 that the more the devil persecuted 27:58 the more the church grew. 28:03 So he says it doesn't do any good 28:05 to try and destroy them through persecution, 28:08 because the more I tried to destroy them 28:10 the more they are. 28:13 And so now you enter the church in Pergamum 28:16 and the church by Thyatira. 28:18 This is the Church of Pergamum is the church 28:21 of the period of Constantine the Great. 28:25 When suddenly Christianity joins the world, 28:28 when Christianity is favored by the Roman Emperor 28:31 and all sorts of false teachings enter the church in preparation 28:35 for what we know is the Dark Ages or the Middle Ages 28:38 the period of the people apostasy, 28:40 which lasted 1,260 years, 28:43 In other words the devil said 28:45 I'm not able to destroy them by persecution. 28:47 What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna infiltrate them, 28:49 lead them to fall in love with the world, 28:52 following a practices of the world, 28:53 adopt the teachings of the world 28:55 and then if I corrupt them God is not gonna favor them, 29:00 they'll be overcome. 29:02 Allow me to read you a statement, 29:04 I'm gonna read you several statements now 29:07 on these first three churches on the Book of Revelation. 29:10 I'm gonna read from the Spirit of Prophecy, 29:12 Great Controversy specifically page 46. 29:16 Here Ellen White describes 29:18 the faith of the early Christians, 29:20 of the church of Ephesus. 29:22 She says this 29:24 "The early Christians were indeed a peculiar people." 29:29 Today people don't want to be peculiar. 29:32 Now we want to be one of the crowd, right? 29:37 We don't want to be different. 29:39 We don't want to be called a cult. 29:42 I don't like being called a cult. 29:45 But, you know, many times we even call our churches 29:48 we don't call them Seventh-day Adventist 29:49 just we call them Adventist community, 29:52 the fellowship or Adventist Community Church. 29:59 Is it perhaps because we're embarrassed? 30:02 She says "The early Christians were indeed a peculiar people. 30:06 Their blameless department and unswerving faith 30:11 were a continual reproof that disturbed the sinner's peace. 30:16 Though few in numbers, without wealth, position, 30:22 or honorary titles, they were a terror to evildoers 30:27 wherever their character and doctrines were known. 30:32 Therefore they were hated by the wicked, 30:35 even as Abel was hated by the ungodly Cain. 30:39 For the same reason that Cain slew Abel, 30:42 did those who sought to throw off the restraint 30:45 of the Holy Spirit, put to death God's people." 30:50 You see they have this peculiar church 30:53 whose lives are different than the world 30:56 and they cause the world 30:58 of course to react by persecution. 31:04 And so I want you to notice that the devil attempts 31:07 to destroy the early church, because of their character. 31:12 We find in the same page of Great Controversy 31:14 inveigh where Satan efforts to destroy the Church 31:17 of Christ by violence. 31:19 He wasn't able to destroy the church by violence. 31:21 Do you know that the church that is in a proper relationship 31:24 with Christ is indestructible? 31:27 There is an indestructible to the people of God. 31:31 Jesus says upon this rock I will build my church 31:34 and the gates of hell which means Hades 31:37 or the grave shall not prevail against it. 31:41 You can take it to the bank. 31:43 She says the Great Controversy in which the disciples of Jesus 31:47 healed up their lives did not cease 31:50 when these faithful standard bearers fell at their post. 31:54 By defeat they conquered. 31:58 Wait a minute, by defeat they conquered? 32:02 What they have been defeated if they had given 32:04 in to save their lives? 32:06 Yes, but the fact that they're willing to die 32:09 to be faithful to God show 32:11 that the devil could not overcome them. 32:14 She continued saying "God's workmen were slain, 32:17 but His work went steadily forward. 32:20 The gospel continued to spread 32:22 and the number of its adherents to increase. 32:26 It penetrated into regions that were inaccessible 32:30 even to the eagles of Rome. 32:35 Said a Christian, expostulating with the heathen rulers 32:39 who were urging forward the persecution: 32:42 You may 'kill us, torture us, condemn us. 32:47 Your injustice is the proof that we are innocent. 32:51 Nor does your cruelty avail you.' 32:55 It was but a stronger invitation 32:57 to bring others to their persuasion. 33:00 'The oftener we are mown down by you, 33:03 the more in number we grow, 33:05 the blood of Christians is seed.'" 33:11 The devil should have learned a lesson 33:12 that the best method of getting rid 33:14 of true Christianity is not by persecution. 33:18 It takes a while even for the devil to learn. 33:21 You know, by killing Abel 33:24 through Cain God brings another seed. 33:28 That devil had learned that infiltrating the seed 33:30 before the flood work much better only eight left. 33:35 But evidently he didn't learn well enough 33:37 to apply it here in the Christian Church. 33:40 He raises persecution first, the more the church grows. 33:45 Is it perhaps true that there might be a good idea 33:47 to have a little persecution today? 33:51 You know, we praise that what when we say 33:52 oh thank you, Lord, for the times of peace. 33:55 And we sit in from the television set 33:56 for hours and hours. 33:57 Thanks for the times of peace. 34:00 There I speak boldly perhaps the only thing folks, 34:04 that is gonna lift us up from are pews 34:08 and lead us to come to prayer meeting 34:11 where we not only study, but we also pray 34:13 and we have a testimony service 34:15 and when Pastor Jensen, leads they sing. 34:21 What is it gonna take? 34:25 Now notice Satan's plan "B" when a church grew phenomenally. 34:31 "Satan therefore laid plans to war more successfully 34:34 against the government of God 34:37 by planting his banner in the Christian church." 34:41 Is that what he did in the days of Balaam? 34:43 Absolutely. 34:44 "If the followers of Christ could be deceived 34:47 and led to displease God, 34:50 then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail, 34:55 and they would fall an easy prey." 34:58 It's like she's describing what happened in days of Balaam. 35:02 She continues saying "The great adversary 35:04 now endeavored to gain by artifice 35:08 what he had failed to secure by force. 35:11 Persecution ceased, and in its stead 35:15 were substituted the dangerous allurements 35:19 of temporal prosperity and worldly honor. 35:23 Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, 35:29 while they rejected other essential truths." 35:32 Is it just possible that we're filling the church 35:34 with the mix multitude people who are not fully 35:38 and completely committed to all of our message? 35:42 She continues saying 35:43 "They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God 35:47 and to believe in His death and resurrection, 35:50 but they had no conviction of sin 35:53 and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart. 35:58 With some concessions on their part 36:01 they proposed that Christians should make concessions, 36:04 that all might unite 36:06 on the platform of belief in Christ." 36:11 Unite on the platform of what? 36:14 We all believe in Jesus. 36:20 That's ecumenism, as it's been spoken of the day. 36:23 Let's join on the points that we have in common. 36:26 We all believe in the same Lord, 36:28 we're all going to the same place. 36:31 She continues saying 36:32 this is page 42 and 43 of Great Controversy. 36:35 She says "Now the church was in fearful peril. 36:39 Prison, torture, fire, and sword were blessings 36:43 in comparison with this. 36:46 Some of the Christians stood firm, 36:49 declaring that they could make no compromise. 36:52 Others were in favor of yielding 36:54 or modifying some features of their faith 36:58 and uniting with those who had accepted a part of Christianity, 37:02 urging that this might be 37:04 the means of their full conversion." 37:08 Did you catch that? 37:11 You know, if we just concede a little bit 37:13 we'll reach all of those on Church out there. 37:16 If we just worship that the way 37:17 that they are comfortable worshiping. 37:20 You know, if we allow in church 37:22 the behavior that they are partake of. 37:25 If we use, you know, instead of preaching a sermon 37:27 we show movie now and then. 37:30 They'll feel more comfortable in our midst. 37:33 It's happening now in the Adventist church, folks. 37:38 It's quite in here. 37:42 She continues saying "That was a time of deep anguish 37:45 to the faithful followers of Christ. 37:48 Under a cloak of pretended Christianity, 37:51 Satan was insinuating himself into the church, 37:57 to corrupt their faith and turn their minds 38:00 from the Word of God." 38:04 See how the devil works. 38:07 Persecution and infiltration 38:12 and he does them in both orders. 38:15 Persecution and infiltration or infiltration and persecution 38:19 it doesn't make any difference to him. 38:21 If we can't get you one way he will get you another way. 38:26 Now I would like to dedicate my concluding remarks 38:33 to a passage from the Spirit of Prophecy 38:36 where Ellen White is discussing a meeting 38:42 that she saw in vision of Satan 38:44 and his angels to plan the strategy 38:48 for God's remnant church in the last days. 38:52 Now I must say that 38:54 though I'm gonna read this passage 38:55 from the writings of Ellen White 38:58 what she says is contained already in Scripture 39:01 primarily Matthew 24 and 25, Luke 21 39:06 where Jesus speaks about being prepared for His second coming. 39:10 Jesus said pray, watch, 39:14 don't be caught up by the cares of this world. 39:18 Less that they catch you unawares. 39:20 Now I'm not gonna read the whole passage, 39:23 it's in Testimonies to Ministers, pages 473 to 475. 39:30 I'm just gonna mention a few of Ellen White's comments 39:33 in the first half of this chapter 39:35 and then I'm gonna dedicate my remarks especially 39:38 to the second half of this chapter, 39:41 it's called the Snares of Satan. 39:44 In the first half of this chapter 39:46 Ellen White speaks about Satan 39:49 influencing the religious world 39:52 to move for the establishment of laws which restrict 39:57 and remove liberty of conscience. 40:00 She speaks about the religious 40:02 and political powers of the world joining forces 40:05 to actually implement a Sunday law 40:09 which will force God's people 40:11 to observe Sunday as the day of worship. 40:14 I just like to read the concluding section 40:18 of this first part of the chapter 40:20 the Snares of Satan. 40:22 This is the combination of the devils first method 40:24 which is to restrict religious liberty 40:26 and ultimately to persecute 40:28 and tried to destroy God's people by destroying them 40:31 from the face of earth through persecution. 40:34 She says this, 40:36 Satan here is speaking, she is hearing him speak. 40:39 "We led the Romish church 40:41 to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death 40:46 upon those who refused to yield to her decrees 40:50 and now that we are bringing the Protestant churches 40:54 and the world into harmony 40:57 with this right arm of our strength." 40:59 Notice the three fold union. 41:02 "We will finally have a law to exterminate 41:07 all who will not submit to our authority. 41:11 When death shall be made the penalty 41:14 of violating our Sabbath, 41:17 then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers 41:21 will come over to our side." 41:25 But do you know that this method of the devil is the last resort. 41:30 This method of the Sunday law and the death decree 41:33 against God's people who observe His only Sabbath. 41:36 This is only the last resort that He is gonna use for those 41:41 that He is not able to conquer first through another method. 41:45 Allow me to continue reading the statement she says. 41:49 The devil once again is saying these words. 41:51 "But before proceeding to these extreme measures" 41:57 Did you catch that? Before what? 42:01 Proceeding to these extreme measures. 42:03 What extreme measures? 42:05 Sunday law, a death decree 42:08 to exterminate God's faithful people. 42:11 She says that before this something is gonna happen. 42:13 She says "Before proceeding to these extreme measures, 42:18 we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive 42:24 and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath." 42:31 So who is the target before the world before the Papacy 42:36 and Protestantism joining with the powers of the world, 42:40 give this Sunday law and this death decree? 42:43 Who is the target of the devil's work? 42:46 Sabbath keepers. 42:49 "But before proceeding these extreme measures, 42:52 we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive 42:54 and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath." 42:58 Now notice this. 42:59 "We can separate many from Christ 43:03 by worldliness, 43:06 lust, and pride." 43:11 Wow. Worldliness, lust, and pride. 43:17 "They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth, 43:24 but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, 43:31 which will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, 43:36 will cause their fall." 43:38 You know, what she is listing here? 43:41 She says once again 43:45 "Worldliness, lust, 43:50 pride, appetite 43:56 or feeding the lower passions confuses judgment. 44:00 She goes on, but devil speaking to his angels. 44:04 "Go, make the possessors of lands 44:08 and money drunk with the cares of this life." 44:16 What place this money occupy in your list of priorities? 44:22 She continues saying 44:23 "Present the world before them in its most attractive light 44:29 that they may lay up their treasure here, 44:33 and fix their affections upon earthly things." 44:39 Only we can answer if we're doing that. 44:42 Do we have far more than what we need 44:46 while the work of God is languishing 44:50 and the churches in need? 44:53 You say oh, it's easy for you to say 44:54 that 'cause our budget is behind. 44:57 Yes our budget is behind, but I don't say it, 44:59 because of our budget, I say it because of us. 45:03 It's not about the church having the money 45:05 it's about us having the heart to return the money 45:07 that belongs to God. 45:11 She continues saying "We must do our utmost 45:13 to prevent those who labor in God's cause 45:16 from obtaining means to use against us." 45:21 Means, means money. 45:23 She continues saying "Keep the money in our own ranks. 45:28 The more means they obtain, the more they will injure 45:31 our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. 45:35 Make them care more for money than 45:37 for the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom 45:40 and the spread of the truths we hate, 45:42 and we need not fear their influence 45:45 for we know that every selfish, 45:47 covetous person will fall under our power, 45:50 and will finally be separated from God's people." 45:56 Now listen, through those who have a form of godliness 46:03 and some of that means the form a godliness 46:06 because through all the routine and all the forms 46:09 and all the ceremonies, becoming go from church. 46:13 "Through those that have a form of godliness 46:15 but know not the power," 46:18 the devil says "we can gain many 46:19 who would otherwise do us harm. 46:23 Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God 46:26 will be our most effective helpers. 46:29 Those of this class who are apt and intelligent 46:32 will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. 46:38 Many will not fear their influence, 46:42 because they profess the same faith. 46:45 We will thus lead them to conclude 46:47 that the requirements of Christ 46:49 are less strict than they once believed." 46:53 See lowering the standard, 46:55 lower according to this the requirements of Jesus. 47:00 "And that by conformity to the world 47:03 they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. 47:07 Thus they will separate from Christ, 47:10 then they will have no strength to resist our power, 47:14 and erelong they will be ready 47:16 to ridicule their former zeal and devotion. 47:22 Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, 47:26 our efforts against commandment keepers must be untiring. 47:31 We must be present at all their gatherings." 47:35 He is here today 47:39 whispering in people's ears 47:44 trying to get you to go to sleep. 47:49 She continues saying "In their large meetings 47:53 especially our cause will suffer much, 47:57 and we must exercise great vigilance, 47:59 and employ all our seductive arts to prevent souls 48:03 from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it. 48:08 I will have upon the ground, as my agents, 48:12 men holding false doctrines mingled 48:15 with just enough truth to deceive souls." 48:19 See here you have heresy, not only lifestyle issues, 48:24 not only money, not only pride, not only worldliness, 48:29 but also false doctrines mingled with the truth. 48:34 Folks, we need in our Bibles. 48:38 What would happen if you only ate once a week? 48:42 Physically speaking. 48:45 Tell me, what would happen if we ate once a week? 48:49 We would be alive very long, right. 48:52 And yet many Adventist their only meal 48:55 is the sermon on Sabbath morning. 48:58 Spiritually speaking. 49:01 And that's why as the church of Sardis 49:02 we have a name that we're alive, 49:04 but we're what? We're dead. 49:08 "I will have upon the ground, as my agents, 49:10 men holding false doctrines mingled 49:12 with just enough truth to deceive souls. 49:14 I will also have unbelieving ones present 49:17 who will express doubts 49:19 in regard to the Lord's messages of warning to His church. 49:22 Should the people read and believe these admonitions." 49:25 She is speaking about her writings by the way. 49:27 "We could have little hope of overcoming them. 49:30 But, if we can divert their attention from these warnings, 49:34 they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, 49:36 and we shall secure them in our ranks at last." 49:41 Like the Ellen White speaks of a group 49:42 in the time of trouble that cried out to God 49:44 and they said, why didn't you tell us 49:45 that this time was gonna be so terrible, 49:47 so that we could be prepare. 49:50 And God is gonna say I did warn you, 49:52 I gave you a testimonies of the spirit 49:54 and you chose to ignore them and to reject them. 49:58 Now more than ever we should be reading the Spirit of Prophecy 50:00 and implementing the principles into our lives, 50:03 because they are Biblical principles, 50:04 they amplify, they explain the principles 50:08 that we contain in Scripture. 50:11 She continues saying speaking about the devil, 50:15 speaking "God will not permit His words 50:17 to be slighted with impunity. 50:19 If we can keep souls deceived for a time, 50:23 God's mercy will be withdrawn, 50:25 and He will give them up to our full control." 50:28 And now notice this. 50:29 "We must cause distraction and division. 50:36 We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, 50:40 and lead them to criticize, to judge, 50:43 and to accuse and condemn one another, 50:46 and to cherish selfishness and enmity." 50:51 So if they are strive in the church 50:52 we know where it comes from. 50:56 "For these sins, God banished us from His presence 51:00 and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate." 51:07 That Satan's plan for the remnant church. 51:11 Not to destroy them first that's the last resort 51:13 just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego 51:15 if, you know, I can't corrupt them 51:17 they remain firm I'm gonna kill them. 51:20 It's a same thing that the devil 51:21 is gonna do at the end of time. 51:23 He's gonna try to corrupt God's people 51:25 by worldliness, by pride, by the love of money, 51:28 by criticism, by all of these things 51:31 that we've described in this passage 51:32 which is also found in Matthew 24 and 25, 51:35 but there is still gonna be a group 51:37 that will not bow to the power of the devil. 51:41 And so the devil is gonna say if I cannot corrupt them 51:45 I'm going to destroy them from the face of the earth 51:47 and then only those who really know Jesus 51:51 as their personal Savior will be willing to die 51:54 in order to be faithful to Him. 51:58 I'd like to conclude by reading one statement 52:02 that we find in Great Controversy page 48. 52:05 We rejoice that we live in a country 52:07 where there is no persecution, 52:08 where there is freedom to worship God 52:10 according to the dictates of our conscience. 52:12 And I say praise the Lord, 52:13 it's nice to live in a country like this. 52:16 God has been good to the United States. 52:19 It's based on wonderful principles, 52:21 separation of church and state, 52:23 full religious liberty to worship God 52:26 according to the dictates of our conscience. 52:28 It's marvelous. 52:30 But I believe that the time is coming 52:31 when God is gonna have to take measures into His own hands 52:34 and He is going to have to allow some persecution 52:36 to come in to sift the church. 52:43 Notice this statement, closing statement. 52:47 "There is another and more important question 52:49 that should engage the attention of the churches of today. 52:53 The apostle Paul declares that "all that will live godly 52:57 in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 53:01 All who will live godly in Christ 53:03 Jesus shall suffer persecution. 53:07 And then she asks this question. 53:08 "Why is it, then, that persecution seems 53:13 in a great degree to slumber?" 53:17 Why not persecution? 53:19 If those who live piously in Christ Jesus will suffer, 53:22 will suffer doesn't say might it says will suffer persecution. 53:25 Why is there no persecution? 53:27 Here's her answer. 53:28 "The only reason" 53:30 How many reasons? One. 53:32 "The only reason is that the church has conformed 53:36 to the world's standard 53:38 and therefore awakens no opposition. 53:44 The religion which is current in our day 53:47 is not of the pure and holy character 53:49 that marked the Christian faith 53:51 in the days of Christ and His apostles. 53:54 It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, 53:59 because the great truths of the word of God 54:01 are so indifferently regarded, 54:04 because there is so little vital godliness in the church, 54:10 that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world." 54:14 And then she gives this warning. 54:17 "Let there be a revival of the faith 54:22 and power of the early church, 54:27 and the spirit of persecution will be revived, 54:30 and the fires of persecution will be rekindled." 54:36 So what is God waiting for? 54:38 I guess God is waiting for more signs 54:40 in the sun, moon and stars. 54:45 He is waiting for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. 54:48 No. 54:51 What He is doing is He is waiting for people, 54:54 a people who will get serious about the Lord, 54:57 a people who will make 54:59 that kingdom number one on the list. 55:02 The kingdom of God and its righteousness, 55:05 not the added things. 55:07 Folks, the day has coming when everything 55:09 that we possess is gonna burn. 55:12 And the more we have the more is gonna burn. 55:17 Do we really need everything that we have 55:19 or should we place it on the altar of sacrifice 55:23 to be used in the finishing of God's work on earth 55:26 so we can go home. 55:30 Kind of reminds me of a chapter in Early Writings 55:32 where Ellen White says that during the time of trouble 55:34 there will be many people, 55:36 this is the short time of trouble 55:37 before the close of probation 55:39 where God's people will not be able 55:40 to get rid of their properties. 55:44 Can't buy or sell. 55:47 And she heard that cry not and lamenting before God 55:50 how we could have taken the funds that we had, 55:53 the excess that we didn't need 55:55 and we could have invested it in the cause of God 55:57 and shows that have been save 56:00 and now we can't get rid of our property for any price. 56:05 In fact the Bible says that the time is coming 56:08 when people will take their silver and their gold. 56:11 Ezekiel 7:19 says 56:13 "People will take their silver and their gold 56:15 and they will throw it in the streets, 56:16 they say what good is this silver and this gold." 56:20 We're lost, eternally lost. 56:25 And it's no good to us anymore. 56:29 I pray to God folks, this morning 56:31 that we will get serious about the order of things in our lives 56:38 that we will fulfill what Jesus spoke about in Matthew 6:33 56:44 "Seek ye first the kingdom of God 56:49 and its righteousness." 56:51 And all of these things will be added out to you, 56:54 don't put the added things first 56:56 and then think that the kingdom of God will come as a result. 56:59 We must place the kingdom of God and its righteousness first 57:04 and then the added things will come in their train. 57:07 Folks, we're living on the brink of eternity. 57:10 I believe that what we're seen in the world 57:12 shows that we're living in the last moments of time. 57:15 What will our priorities being? 57:18 The answer to that question is in our hearts and our minds. |
Revised 2014-12-17