As you notice,
00:00:29.96\00:00:31.29
the title of our
study this evening
00:00:31.33\00:00:33.13
is Fire, Lions and Deliverance.
00:00:33.16\00:00:38.00
It's actually part two
00:00:38.03\00:00:39.67
that we began in our last study.
00:00:39.70\00:00:42.00
And so before
we begin our study,
00:00:42.04\00:00:44.07
we want to ask for
the Lord's blessing
00:00:44.11\00:00:46.21
as we open the
pages of His Holy Book.
00:00:46.24\00:00:48.31
So please bow your
heads with me as we pray.
00:00:48.34\00:00:52.08
Our Father and our God,
00:00:52.11\00:00:53.55
we come boldly to
the throne of grace
00:00:53.58\00:00:55.95
because we come
in the name of Jesus.
00:00:55.98\00:00:58.39
First of all, we
want to thank You
00:00:58.42\00:00:59.95
for having been with us
00:00:59.99\00:01:01.62
throughout the first
nine studies together.
00:01:01.66\00:01:05.39
And now as we are
about to end this series,
00:01:05.43\00:01:07.93
we ask for the
presence of Your Holy Spirit
00:01:07.96\00:01:10.53
through the
ministry of the angels
00:01:10.57\00:01:12.07
in a very special way.
00:01:12.10\00:01:14.50
We ask Lord that You'll
open our minds and our hearts
00:01:14.54\00:01:17.41
to receive the seed of truth,
00:01:17.44\00:01:19.24
that You will
give us the boldness
00:01:19.27\00:01:21.08
to speak the
truth as it is in Jesus.
00:01:21.11\00:01:24.25
We thank you
Father for all of those
00:01:24.28\00:01:26.15
who are watching
the live streaming,
00:01:26.18\00:01:27.78
for those who will
watch this on YouTube,
00:01:27.82\00:01:30.35
bless them and open
their minds and hearts as well.
00:01:30.39\00:01:33.66
And I thank you Father
00:01:33.69\00:01:35.02
for hearing and
answering our prayer,
00:01:35.06\00:01:36.39
for I ask in the
precious name of Jesus.
00:01:36.42\00:01:38.49
Amen.
00:01:38.53\00:01:40.73
Well, let's begin by
reviewing the prophetic chain
00:01:40.76\00:01:44.47
that we have been pursuing
during the last nine sessions.
00:01:44.50\00:01:48.87
You have this on your handout
00:01:48.90\00:01:50.31
and I want to take this
opportunity of mentioning
00:01:50.34\00:01:52.87
to those who
will be watching this
00:01:52.91\00:01:55.14
on the live streaming
as well as on YouTube,
00:01:55.18\00:01:58.31
that there is a
syllabus available
00:01:58.35\00:02:01.65
where these
lectures are in printed form
00:02:01.68\00:02:03.95
so that you can visualize
what we're discussing here.
00:02:03.99\00:02:07.42
Those who have
attended have received a handout
00:02:07.46\00:02:09.72
with the full lecture.
00:02:09.76\00:02:11.29
So I would encourage
00:02:11.33\00:02:12.66
those who are
watching the live stream
00:02:12.69\00:02:14.86
and also those who
will be watching on YouTube,
00:02:14.90\00:02:17.63
those who get the DVDs
00:02:17.67\00:02:19.53
that you will
also get the syllabus
00:02:19.57\00:02:22.37
that goes along with the class.
00:02:22.40\00:02:24.11
Now, let's review
the prophetic chain.
00:02:24.14\00:02:26.68
We have first of all
Babylon 605 to 539 BC.
00:02:26.71\00:02:32.58
Then we have
Medo-Persia 539 BC to 331 BC.
00:02:32.61\00:02:38.69
Then we have the
kingdom of Greece
00:02:38.72\00:02:41.26
331 BC to 168 BC.
00:02:41.29\00:02:45.39
Then we have the Roman
Empire which is a united empire
00:02:45.43\00:02:49.13
from 168 BC to 476 AD.
00:02:49.16\00:02:55.04
And then the
Roman Empire is divided
00:02:55.07\00:02:57.67
and the divisions
take place primarily
00:02:57.71\00:03:01.14
between the year
476 and the year 538.
00:03:01.18\00:03:05.65
And then after the
Roman Empire is divided,
00:03:05.68\00:03:08.32
you have a little horn
00:03:08.35\00:03:10.22
which represents the
Roman Catholic papacy
00:03:10.25\00:03:13.29
and this little horn
rules for 1260 years.
00:03:13.32\00:03:17.99
And the 1260 years come
to an end in the year 1798
00:03:18.03\00:03:24.00
where the papacy
was put under restraint
00:03:24.03\00:03:27.64
and the papacy
received the wound
00:03:27.67\00:03:29.60
with the sword of civil power.
00:03:29.64\00:03:32.11
And then around the same time
00:03:32.14\00:03:34.11
that this little horn
received its deadly wound,
00:03:34.14\00:03:38.45
we find that another
beast rises from the earth.
00:03:38.48\00:03:42.68
And this beast from
the earth as we've studied
00:03:42.72\00:03:44.92
represents the
United States of America.
00:03:44.95\00:03:48.76
A beast that has
two horns like a lamb
00:03:48.79\00:03:51.39
but ends up
speaking like a dragon.
00:03:51.43\00:03:54.66
Now where are we in
the prophetic chain?
00:03:54.70\00:03:57.83
Right now we are in
the period of respite
00:03:57.87\00:04:02.40
where there is no persecution.
00:04:02.44\00:04:04.87
Right now we are living
00:04:04.91\00:04:06.57
in the closing stages of
the papacy being restrained
00:04:06.61\00:04:11.85
and having the
wound of the sword.
00:04:11.88\00:04:13.92
I firmly believe that as we see
00:04:13.95\00:04:15.78
what's happening in
the United States, in Rome,
00:04:15.82\00:04:19.42
what is happening in
the United Nations, etcetera
00:04:19.45\00:04:22.66
that we are in the last portion
00:04:22.69\00:04:25.03
of this period of
respite, this period of peace.
00:04:25.06\00:04:28.70
The next event on the drama
according to what we've studied
00:04:28.73\00:04:32.47
will be when this
beast from the earth
00:04:32.50\00:04:35.20
that has two horns like a lamb
00:04:35.27\00:04:37.04
and of course that represents
a civil and religious liberty
00:04:37.07\00:04:40.68
which is based on the foundation
00:04:40.71\00:04:42.54
of the separation
of church and state.
00:04:42.58\00:04:45.35
What is gonna happen is
that this beast from the earth
00:04:45.38\00:04:48.18
is going to end up
contradicting its profession
00:04:48.22\00:04:52.62
and it is going to
speak like a dragon.
00:04:52.65\00:04:56.36
In other words, it's going to,
00:04:56.39\00:04:58.26
professedly say that it believes
00:04:58.29\00:05:00.30
in religious
liberty and civil liberty
00:05:00.33\00:05:02.83
in the separation
of church and state,
00:05:02.86\00:05:04.67
but in the actual
practice it will deny
00:05:04.70\00:05:08.60
what it claims to
believe and to practice.
00:05:08.64\00:05:13.01
So we are now in the time
00:05:13.04\00:05:16.54
immediately before
the deadly wound is healed
00:05:16.58\00:05:20.12
and the papacy is
released from its captivity.
00:05:20.15\00:05:24.89
And then we
notice the three events
00:05:24.92\00:05:27.52
that we studied in
our first part last night.
00:05:27.56\00:05:31.19
And that is after all cases
are decided in the judgment,
00:05:31.23\00:05:35.90
then the close of human
probation will take place.
00:05:35.93\00:05:40.57
There will be no more
opportunity to change sides,
00:05:40.60\00:05:43.77
and then after this
there will be a time of trouble
00:05:43.81\00:05:46.57
such as never has been seen
in the history of the world.
00:05:46.61\00:05:50.15
God will have withdrawn
His spirit from the earth
00:05:50.18\00:05:53.01
and the heart of
man can be very cruel
00:05:53.05\00:05:55.72
when it is devoid
of the Spirit of God.
00:05:55.75\00:05:58.45
And then finally
00:05:58.49\00:05:59.82
the time of trouble
will come to an end,
00:05:59.85\00:06:01.59
the time of
trouble for God's people
00:06:01.62\00:06:03.46
will come to an end
00:06:03.49\00:06:04.83
when Jesus comes on
the clouds of heaven
00:06:04.86\00:06:07.30
with all of His holy
angels to deliver His remnant
00:06:07.33\00:06:10.93
from the death decree
00:06:10.97\00:06:12.30
that has been
proclaimed against them.
00:06:12.33\00:06:15.10
That is the prophetic
chain that we find in scripture.
00:06:15.14\00:06:19.27
This is not an
invention of mine.
00:06:19.31\00:06:21.31
We have carefully
studied all of these events.
00:06:21.34\00:06:25.18
Now, let's review a few details
00:06:25.21\00:06:28.55
about the beast
with lamb like horns
00:06:28.58\00:06:31.45
that speaks like a dragon.
00:06:31.49\00:06:34.32
We have clearly
identified this power
00:06:34.36\00:06:36.83
as the United States of America.
00:06:36.86\00:06:40.06
We noted that the
two horns represent
00:06:40.10\00:06:42.70
civil and religious liberty
which is based on the idea
00:06:42.73\00:06:46.94
of church and state being
separate from one another.
00:06:46.97\00:06:51.97
The church would
be religious liberty
00:06:52.01\00:06:54.04
and the state
would be civil liberty.
00:06:54.08\00:06:57.41
Now, these principles
00:06:57.45\00:06:59.21
of the separation
of church and state
00:06:59.25\00:07:01.28
are clearly enunciated
00:07:01.32\00:07:02.65
in the First Amendment
00:07:02.68\00:07:04.85
to the Constitution
of the United States.
00:07:04.89\00:07:06.76
These principles of
civil and religious liberty,
00:07:06.79\00:07:09.66
separation of church and state
00:07:09.69\00:07:11.66
are found in
the First Amendment.
00:07:11.69\00:07:13.19
In other words, the
two horns like a lamb
00:07:13.23\00:07:15.83
are in one of the
founding documents.
00:07:15.86\00:07:19.03
of the United States.
00:07:19.07\00:07:21.14
Now, remember that we studied
that this beast from the earth
00:07:21.17\00:07:26.24
is going to do
everything in its power
00:07:26.27\00:07:29.58
to restore the
throne to the beast
00:07:29.61\00:07:32.91
that received the
deadly wound to the beast
00:07:32.95\00:07:35.95
that was sent into captivity.
00:07:35.98\00:07:38.79
Let me just
review the main points.
00:07:38.82\00:07:41.56
We notice that this
beast from the earth
00:07:41.59\00:07:43.93
will speak like a dragon
00:07:43.96\00:07:45.56
and we've noticed
that the dragon represents
00:07:45.59\00:07:47.60
Satan working
through what power?
00:07:47.63\00:07:50.17
Satan working through Rome.
00:07:50.20\00:07:52.70
We also noticed that
this beast from the earth
00:07:52.73\00:07:55.27
will exercise all of the
power of the first beast.
00:07:55.30\00:08:00.08
We noticed that
it will do everything
00:08:00.11\00:08:02.21
in the presence
of the first beast.
00:08:02.24\00:08:05.25
Basically in the
presence of means
00:08:05.28\00:08:07.05
on behalf of the first beast.
00:08:07.08\00:08:09.38
It will command everyone
to worship the first beast.
00:08:09.42\00:08:13.69
It will make an
image of the first beast
00:08:13.72\00:08:17.19
and it will enforce the
mark of the first beast.
00:08:17.23\00:08:20.56
So you notice
that the second beast,
00:08:20.60\00:08:22.36
this beast from the earth
representing the United States
00:08:22.40\00:08:25.27
is actually going
to be instrumental
00:08:25.30\00:08:27.80
in returning
freedom to the papacy
00:08:27.84\00:08:31.27
from its captivity
00:08:31.31\00:08:32.64
and restoring the sword
of civil power to the papacy
00:08:32.67\00:08:36.24
and we are seeing signs that,
00:08:36.28\00:08:38.55
that is
happening in our very day.
00:08:38.58\00:08:42.18
We are reminded of
the first two clauses
00:08:42.22\00:08:44.95
of the First
Amendment to the Constitution.
00:08:44.99\00:08:48.19
The first two clauses
of the First Amendment
00:08:48.22\00:08:50.43
have to do with
religious liberty.
00:08:50.46\00:08:53.66
The last clause of
the First Amendment
00:08:53.70\00:08:56.06
has to do with civil liberty.
00:08:56.10\00:08:59.93
Let's notice...
00:08:59.97\00:09:01.30
First of all the
first two clauses
00:09:01.34\00:09:03.27
of the First
Amendment to the Constitution.
00:09:03.30\00:09:06.04
This is how it reads.
00:09:06.07\00:09:08.28
Congress shall make no law.
00:09:08.31\00:09:11.18
Congress draws up
the laws, doesn't it?
00:09:11.21\00:09:13.88
"Congress shall make
no law respecting what?
00:09:13.92\00:09:17.95
An establishment of religion,
00:09:17.99\00:09:21.12
or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof."
00:09:21.16\00:09:25.93
In other words,
00:09:25.96\00:09:27.30
the First
Amendment to the Constitution
00:09:27.33\00:09:30.00
prohibits
Congress from writing a law
00:09:30.03\00:09:33.40
that establishes any
religious observance,
00:09:33.44\00:09:36.87
and it forbids
Congress from drawing up any law
00:09:36.91\00:09:40.01
that forbids people
00:09:40.04\00:09:41.94
from practicing
freely the religion.
00:09:41.98\00:09:45.51
One is called the
establishment clause,
00:09:45.55\00:09:47.52
the other is called
the free exercise clause.
00:09:47.55\00:09:50.39
So, basically what this means
00:09:50.42\00:09:52.19
is that Congress
could never write a law
00:09:52.22\00:09:54.66
that enforces Sunday observance
00:09:54.69\00:09:56.59
or forbids the
observance of the Sabbath
00:09:56.62\00:09:59.59
because that would
be establishing Sunday
00:09:59.63\00:10:01.50
and it would be forbidding
00:10:01.53\00:10:02.93
the free exercise
of keeping the Sabbath.
00:10:02.96\00:10:05.90
And yet, the prophecy
tells us that the United States
00:10:05.93\00:10:09.17
even though it's gonna conserve
00:10:09.20\00:10:10.87
the two first clauses
of the First Amendment
00:10:10.91\00:10:14.28
is going to contradict
them in actual practice.
00:10:14.31\00:10:18.41
Now, not only do we
have in the First Amendment
00:10:18.45\00:10:22.88
a guarantee of religious liberty
00:10:22.92\00:10:25.02
by forbidding
Congress to establish religion
00:10:25.05\00:10:28.09
or to forbid the
free exercise of religion
00:10:28.12\00:10:30.99
but the First
Amendment also guarantees
00:10:31.03\00:10:33.09
what the other horn represents.
00:10:33.13\00:10:35.10
It guarantees
full civil liberty.
00:10:35.13\00:10:38.87
Notice clause number
three of the First Amendment,
00:10:38.90\00:10:42.34
it continue saying,
00:10:42.37\00:10:43.71
I'm gonna read
the First Amendment
00:10:43.74\00:10:45.07
in its entirety now.
00:10:45.11\00:10:46.44
"Congress shall make no law
00:10:46.47\00:10:47.81
respecting an
establishment of religion,
00:10:47.84\00:10:50.21
or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof,
00:10:50.25\00:10:52.75
or now comes the civil rights,
00:10:52.78\00:10:55.12
or abridging the
freedom of speech..."
00:10:55.15\00:10:57.55
Is that a civil right?
00:10:57.59\00:10:59.35
It most certainly
is "or of the press."
00:10:59.39\00:11:03.12
Is a free press a civil right?
00:11:03.16\00:11:05.46
It certainly is.
00:11:05.49\00:11:07.10
"Or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble."
00:11:07.13\00:11:10.23
Is that a civil right?
00:11:10.27\00:11:11.87
Yes.
00:11:11.90\00:11:13.23
"And to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances."
00:11:13.27\00:11:16.91
Basically that means that
00:11:16.94\00:11:18.27
if somebody does
you an injustice,
00:11:18.31\00:11:19.64
you have a right to
appeal to the government
00:11:19.67\00:11:21.84
for the
government to do you justice
00:11:21.88\00:11:23.91
and to set things right.
00:11:23.95\00:11:25.28
Is that a civil right?
00:11:25.31\00:11:26.65
It most
certainly is a civil right.
00:11:26.68\00:11:28.52
So the First
Amendment to the Constitution
00:11:28.55\00:11:31.15
guarantees religious
liberty and it guarantees what?
00:11:31.19\00:11:34.79
Civil liberty.
00:11:34.82\00:11:36.16
So let me ask you.
00:11:36.19\00:11:37.53
Is there a separation
between church and state
00:11:37.56\00:11:40.10
in the First Amendment?
00:11:40.13\00:11:41.46
Yes, because
Congress is forbidden
00:11:41.50\00:11:43.93
from making religious laws,
00:11:43.97\00:11:46.23
whether establishing religion
00:11:46.27\00:11:48.04
or practicing the
free exercise of religion.
00:11:48.07\00:11:50.64
Are you with me or not?
00:11:50.67\00:11:52.27
Now, in our last study...
00:11:52.31\00:11:54.08
Oh, by the way
let me mention this
00:11:54.11\00:11:55.64
before we talk a little
bit about our last study.
00:11:55.68\00:11:59.11
If congress should write a
law enforcing Sunday observance
00:11:59.15\00:12:03.59
and prohibiting the
observance of the Sabbath,
00:12:03.62\00:12:07.02
let me ask you,
00:12:07.06\00:12:08.39
would that affect
your civil rights?
00:12:08.42\00:12:11.79
Would that affect
your freedom of speech?
00:12:11.83\00:12:14.30
What would the government do
if you speak out against that?
00:12:14.33\00:12:17.60
You would be persecuted.
00:12:17.63\00:12:18.97
Would that affect
your right to publicize
00:12:19.20\00:12:21.60
by television and by radio
and by newspapers etcetera,
00:12:21.64\00:12:25.87
your views contrary
to the views of the law?
00:12:25.91\00:12:28.31
Absolutely.
00:12:28.34\00:12:29.68
Would that affect
your freedom of assembly
00:12:29.71\00:12:32.15
on the Holy Sabbath?
00:12:32.18\00:12:33.58
You would be forced to
attend church on Sunday.
00:12:33.62\00:12:36.79
Would it also
have anything to do
00:12:36.82\00:12:38.55
with the government saying,
00:12:38.59\00:12:39.92
we are not going to
redress your grievances
00:12:39.95\00:12:42.46
because you are persecuted
for not keeping Sunday.
00:12:42.49\00:12:45.13
Let me ask you.
00:12:45.16\00:12:46.49
When the first two
clauses of the First Amendment
00:12:46.53\00:12:49.23
are violated, is the
third clause also violated?
00:12:49.26\00:12:52.73
It is.
00:12:52.77\00:12:54.10
When the government
gets involved in religion,
00:12:54.14\00:12:56.87
ultimately people lose
also their civil rights
00:12:56.91\00:13:01.34
which is the third
clause of the First Amendment.
00:13:01.38\00:13:03.65
I hope you're understanding
the importance of this.
00:13:03.68\00:13:06.78
Now, let's look at
the common denominators
00:13:06.82\00:13:09.45
of what we studied last time.
00:13:09.48\00:13:12.75
We noticed that in
all the perspectives
00:13:12.79\00:13:14.89
that we have of
the close of probation,
00:13:14.92\00:13:17.53
the tribulation
00:13:17.56\00:13:19.39
and the second coming of Christ,
00:13:19.43\00:13:21.86
the deliverance of God's people,
00:13:21.90\00:13:23.23
we have six common denominators.
00:13:23.26\00:13:24.83
First of all, we
have a faithful remnant.
00:13:24.87\00:13:29.10
Secondly, we have
enemies of the remnant.
00:13:29.14\00:13:33.27
Number three, the
remnant goes through
00:13:33.31\00:13:35.48
a severe time of trouble
00:13:35.51\00:13:37.25
because of the
persecution of their enemies.
00:13:37.28\00:13:40.95
During this time of trouble,
00:13:40.98\00:13:42.38
the faith of
the remnant is what?
00:13:42.42\00:13:44.59
Severely tested.
00:13:44.62\00:13:46.89
Does God
immediately answer the pleas
00:13:46.92\00:13:49.52
of His people for deliverance?
00:13:49.56\00:13:51.43
No, there is a delay in
God intervening to deliver.
00:13:51.46\00:13:55.46
But ultimately, finally
after the delay, God what?
00:13:55.50\00:13:59.40
God intervenes and
He delivers His people.
00:13:59.43\00:14:03.04
And we noticed several
examples of that last night.
00:14:03.07\00:14:06.91
But now, we want to take a
look at a few other stories
00:14:06.94\00:14:11.11
that illustrate this
same sequence of events
00:14:11.15\00:14:16.55
and we want to
take a look at Daniel 3,
00:14:16.58\00:14:20.22
and we're not gonna
study everything in Daniel 3,
00:14:20.26\00:14:22.96
we don't have
the time to do that,
00:14:22.99\00:14:24.93
but what I want you to
see as we study Daniel 3
00:14:24.96\00:14:27.63
is what happens
00:14:27.66\00:14:29.23
when the civil power
establishes religion.
00:14:29.26\00:14:32.30
So this story
is gonna illustrate
00:14:32.33\00:14:34.64
what happens
when the first clause
00:14:34.67\00:14:36.60
of the First
Amendment is violated.
00:14:36.64\00:14:39.17
Immediately the
result is persecution.
00:14:39.21\00:14:42.74
When the civil
power gets involved
00:14:42.78\00:14:44.75
in enforcing
religious observances,
00:14:44.78\00:14:46.92
the result is automatically
ultimately persecution.
00:14:46.95\00:14:51.59
Daniel 3, in other
words is a vivid illustration
00:14:51.62\00:14:54.56
of what happens
when the civil power
00:14:54.59\00:14:56.73
violates the
establishment clause
00:14:56.76\00:14:59.33
of the First
Amendment to the Constitution.
00:14:59.36\00:15:01.63
Now Daniel 3 is
really a small scale model
00:15:01.66\00:15:06.33
of what is gonna
happen at the end of time.
00:15:06.37\00:15:08.70
It's a local literal model
00:15:08.74\00:15:11.87
of something
that is gonna happen
00:15:11.91\00:15:13.88
globally and
spiritually at the end of time.
00:15:13.91\00:15:17.71
Let me ask you,
didn't Nebuchadnezzar
00:15:17.75\00:15:19.41
for a while live as a beast?
00:15:19.45\00:15:21.98
Yes, for seven
years he lived as a beast.
00:15:22.02\00:15:24.19
Let me ask you,
did he raise an image?
00:15:24.22\00:15:27.06
He raised an image.
00:15:27.09\00:15:28.42
Was that image in honor of
himself and of his kingdom?
00:15:28.46\00:15:31.73
Of course it was.
00:15:31.76\00:15:33.09
Did he command
everyone to worship the image?
00:15:33.13\00:15:36.87
He most certainly did.
00:15:36.90\00:15:38.33
Did he gave a death
decree against all of those
00:15:38.37\00:15:41.50
who would not worship the image?
00:15:41.54\00:15:43.71
Does that sound familiar?
00:15:43.74\00:15:46.34
Have you ever
read Revelation 13?
00:15:46.37\00:15:48.38
You must have been
'cause you've been coming
00:15:48.41\00:15:50.35
to our studies here.
00:15:50.38\00:15:51.71
In Revelation 13,
do you have a beast?
00:15:51.75\00:15:53.48
Yes.
00:15:53.52\00:15:54.85
Does the beast
raise up an image?
00:15:54.88\00:15:56.22
It does.
00:15:56.25\00:15:57.59
Does it command everyone
00:15:57.62\00:15:58.95
to worship the
image of the beast?
00:15:58.99\00:16:00.32
Absolutely.
00:16:00.36\00:16:01.69
Does it say that
00:16:01.72\00:16:03.06
whoever does not worship
of the beast will be killed?
00:16:03.09\00:16:04.49
Absolutely.
00:16:04.53\00:16:05.86
But in Daniel 3,
00:16:05.89\00:16:07.23
you're dealing with a
literal small geographical area,
00:16:07.26\00:16:10.00
you're dealing
with literal Babylon,
00:16:10.03\00:16:11.83
you're dealing
with a literal Jews.
00:16:11.87\00:16:13.90
At the end of time,
00:16:13.94\00:16:15.37
you're dealing
with spiritual Babylon,
00:16:15.40\00:16:18.14
which is global
00:16:18.17\00:16:19.51
and God's people are
not just three individuals,
00:16:19.54\00:16:21.84
it's all of God's remnant people
00:16:21.88\00:16:24.15
on a global basis,
on a worldwide basis.
00:16:24.18\00:16:26.95
Are you
understanding the principle?
00:16:26.98\00:16:28.68
Now, let's take a look
at this story of Daniel 2.
00:16:28.72\00:16:33.39
Go with me to Daniel 3:15,
00:16:33.42\00:16:36.36
you all know that
Nebuchadnezzar raised an image,
00:16:36.39\00:16:38.56
he commanded everyone
00:16:38.59\00:16:39.93
to worship the
image on pain of death.
00:16:39.96\00:16:42.80
And there were three young men,
that is the remnant that said,
00:16:42.83\00:16:46.63
we will not worship the image
00:16:46.67\00:16:49.74
that has been raised
by the beast so to speak.
00:16:49.77\00:16:52.77
And so the king
gets very furious
00:16:52.81\00:16:55.01
and notice what he
says in Daniel 3:15.
00:16:55.04\00:16:59.08
The keyword that
we're gonna see is deliver.
00:16:59.11\00:17:01.15
Don't forget deliver.
00:17:01.18\00:17:02.52
Remember Daniel
12:1 at that time
00:17:02.55\00:17:04.92
when God's people
are being persecuted
00:17:04.95\00:17:06.55
by the king of the north,
00:17:06.59\00:17:07.92
Michael stands
up to protect them,
00:17:07.96\00:17:09.62
it says, and God's
people will be what?
00:17:09.66\00:17:12.23
Delivered, everyone who
is found written in the book.
00:17:12.26\00:17:14.83
Now, remember that word
00:17:14.86\00:17:16.20
because Daniel 3 and
Daniel 6 illustrate Daniel 12:1.
00:17:16.23\00:17:21.50
Daniel 12:1 is
the global fulfillment
00:17:21.54\00:17:24.71
of Daniel 3 and Daniel 6.
00:17:24.74\00:17:26.68
Now, notice verse
15, the king says,
00:17:26.71\00:17:29.84
"But if you do not worship,
you shall be cast immediately
00:17:29.88\00:17:34.52
into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace."
00:17:34.55\00:17:38.02
And now notice the
question that he asks.
00:17:38.05\00:17:40.12
"And who is the
god who will what?
00:17:40.16\00:17:43.19
Who will deliver
you from my hands?"
00:17:43.22\00:17:47.03
Is the word deliver a key word?
00:17:47.06\00:17:50.23
The beast raises its image
00:17:50.27\00:17:51.87
and he gives the
decree to worship,
00:17:51.90\00:17:53.23
he says, and if
you don't worship
00:17:53.27\00:17:54.94
what god is gonna
deliver you from my hands.
00:17:54.97\00:17:59.04
Now, it's interesting to notice
00:17:59.07\00:18:00.44
the answer of the
young Hebrew worthies.
00:18:00.48\00:18:04.18
We find it in verses 16-18,
00:18:04.21\00:18:07.28
"Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego
00:18:07.32\00:18:09.55
answered and said to the king,
00:18:09.58\00:18:11.05
"O Nebuchadnezzar,
00:18:11.09\00:18:12.52
we have no need to
answer you in this matter.
00:18:12.55\00:18:15.56
If that is the case,
00:18:15.59\00:18:17.53
our God whom we
serve is able to..."
00:18:17.56\00:18:22.53
There is the key word again,
00:18:22.56\00:18:23.90
used only in three
chapters in Daniel,
00:18:23.93\00:18:25.87
Daniel 3, Daniel
6 and Daniel 12:1.
00:18:25.90\00:18:29.17
They must be
connected, so notice, it says,
00:18:29.20\00:18:33.24
"If that is the
case, our God whom we serve
00:18:33.27\00:18:36.38
is able to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace,
00:18:36.41\00:18:39.65
and He will," what?
00:18:39.68\00:18:41.02
There is the word again.
00:18:41.05\00:18:42.38
"He will deliver us
from your hand, O king."
00:18:42.42\00:18:45.55
But they are not presumptions.
00:18:45.59\00:18:47.19
They love the Lord so much
00:18:47.22\00:18:49.02
that they're willing
to give up their lives.
00:18:49.06\00:18:51.09
So they say, "But if not,
let it be known to you O king,
00:18:51.13\00:18:55.53
that we do not serve your gods,
00:18:55.56\00:18:57.90
nor will we
worship the gold image
00:18:57.93\00:19:00.40
which you have set up."
00:19:00.44\00:19:04.47
Is the remnant in jeopardy?
00:19:04.51\00:19:06.68
They're very much in jeopardy.
00:19:06.71\00:19:08.34
Are they facing a death decree?
00:19:08.38\00:19:10.31
Most certainly so,
00:19:10.35\00:19:11.68
because the civil
power has established
00:19:11.71\00:19:14.88
a religious observance.
00:19:14.92\00:19:17.79
Are these individuals doomed
00:19:17.82\00:19:19.89
to lose the greatest
civil right which is life?
00:19:19.92\00:19:22.56
Absolutely.
00:19:22.59\00:19:24.09
Now, I want you to
notice Daniel 3:25,
00:19:24.13\00:19:28.90
someone comes into the furnace
to deliver these young men.
00:19:28.93\00:19:34.17
Notice, Daniel 3:25,
00:19:34.20\00:19:38.34
King Nebuchadnezzar
looks into the furnace
00:19:38.37\00:19:41.34
and suddenly he
sees not three but four.
00:19:41.38\00:19:43.71
It says there, "Look!"
00:19:43.75\00:19:45.08
he answered, "I
see four men loose,
00:19:45.11\00:19:48.72
walking in the
midst of the fire,
00:19:48.75\00:19:50.65
and they are not hurt,
00:19:50.69\00:19:52.39
and the form of the fourth
is like the Son of God..."
00:19:52.42\00:19:55.19
You'll notice that
some modern version say
00:19:55.22\00:19:57.33
the Son of the gods
00:19:57.36\00:19:59.59
like he though that
this was one of many gods.
00:19:59.63\00:20:02.06
No.
00:20:02.10\00:20:03.43
The fact is the
Spirit of Prophecy tells us
00:20:03.47\00:20:04.90
that Daniel had
described to Nebuchadnezzar
00:20:04.93\00:20:08.20
what the Son of God look like.
00:20:08.24\00:20:10.91
a Son of one of the
gods, it was the Son of God.
00:20:14.74\00:20:20.18
But now, I want you to notice
something very interesting.
00:20:20.22\00:20:22.78
Who delivers in Daniel 12:1?
00:20:22.82\00:20:25.92
It is Michael who
delivers. And what is Michael?
00:20:25.95\00:20:29.42
He is the
archangel who delivers.
00:20:29.46\00:20:32.89
Now, even though it
says here that the one
00:20:32.93\00:20:35.50
who is in the
furnace is the Son of God,
00:20:35.53\00:20:38.13
I want you to notice verse 28.
00:20:38.17\00:20:41.24
"Nebuchadnezzar
spoke, saying..."
00:20:41.27\00:20:43.14
This is after they
come out of the furnace.
00:20:43.17\00:20:45.34
"Blessed be the God
of Shadrach, Meshach,
00:20:45.37\00:20:48.24
and Abed-Nego, who sent His..."
00:20:48.28\00:20:52.85
Now what a minute,
what was the Son of God?
00:20:52.88\00:20:55.78
The angel. Which Angel?
00:20:55.82\00:20:59.19
Michael, the archangel.
Are you with me or not?
00:20:59.22\00:21:03.02
It's the same Jesus
that delivered in the furnace
00:21:03.06\00:21:05.53
that will deliver according to
Daniel 12:1 at the end of time.
00:21:05.56\00:21:09.70
So it says, "He
sent his angel..."
00:21:09.73\00:21:12.13
Notice the word.
00:21:12.17\00:21:13.50
"Delivered His servants
who trusted in Him, notice,
00:21:13.54\00:21:16.64
trusted in Him, and they
have frustrated the king's word,
00:21:16.67\00:21:20.21
and yielded their bodies,
that they should not serve
00:21:20.24\00:21:22.74
nor worship any god
except their own God!"
00:21:22.78\00:21:27.35
So now Nebuchadnezzar
makes an illegitimate decree.
00:21:27.38\00:21:31.15
Nebuchadnezzar
is gonna say, now,
00:21:31.19\00:21:32.79
everybody is
gonna have to worship...
00:21:32.82\00:21:34.16
Everybody is
gonna have to respect
00:21:34.19\00:21:35.52
the God of
these three young men,
00:21:35.56\00:21:37.19
and if they don't, they're
gonna be chopped in pieces
00:21:37.23\00:21:39.63
and their houses are
gonna be totally torn down.
00:21:39.66\00:21:41.93
Was that a legitimate decree?
00:21:41.96\00:21:43.80
No, the civil
power cannot forbid you
00:21:43.83\00:21:46.20
from worshipping the true God,
00:21:46.23\00:21:48.30
nor can it force you
to worship false gods.
00:21:48.34\00:21:50.91
It cannot be
involved in religion.
00:21:50.94\00:21:54.14
Now, notice what the
king says in Daniel 3:28,
00:21:54.18\00:21:57.25
and we'll read verse 29 as well.
00:21:57.28\00:22:00.22
"Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying,
00:22:00.25\00:22:01.75
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
00:22:01.78\00:22:03.69
Meshach, and Abed-Nego..."
00:22:03.72\00:22:05.05
Now notice this.
00:22:05.09\00:22:06.42
"Who sent His Angel and..."
00:22:06.45\00:22:07.79
What's the keyword again?
00:22:07.82\00:22:09.16
"And delivered His
servants who trusted in Him."
00:22:09.19\00:22:11.76
Notice the idea is that
they trusted implicitly in Him.
00:22:11.79\00:22:15.46
"And they have
frustrated the king's word,
00:22:15.50\00:22:17.17
and yielded their bodies,
that they should not serve
00:22:17.20\00:22:19.70
nor worship any god
except their own God!"
00:22:19.73\00:22:22.74
Now, notice he gives a decree.
00:22:22.77\00:22:24.74
''Therefore I make a
decree that any people,
00:22:24.77\00:22:28.61
nation, or language
which speaks anything amiss
00:22:28.64\00:22:31.61
against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
00:22:31.65\00:22:34.28
shall be cut in pieces,
00:22:34.32\00:22:36.18
and their houses
shall be made an ash heap,
00:22:36.22\00:22:39.09
because there is no other
God who can deliver like this."
00:22:39.12\00:22:44.86
What do you think is the
keyword in this whole passage?
00:22:44.89\00:22:47.70
Deliver. Deliver.
00:22:47.73\00:22:50.30
God is a God who delivers
His remnant from certain death.
00:22:50.33\00:22:54.40
His remnant whose
faith is severely tested.
00:22:54.44\00:22:57.97
Now, notice Hebrews 11:33-34,
00:22:58.01\00:23:01.24
what was the secret
of these three young men?
00:23:01.28\00:23:04.31
Why were they so
firm and so constant?
00:23:04.35\00:23:07.32
Notice, you notice
that we already read that
00:23:07.35\00:23:09.38
they trusted their God,
00:23:09.42\00:23:10.82
that means they
had faith in God.
00:23:10.85\00:23:13.15
Notice Hebrews
11:33-34 picks up on this.
00:23:13.19\00:23:15.96
It gives a long list
of the heroes of faith
00:23:15.99\00:23:18.33
and then we find these words.
00:23:18.36\00:23:20.50
"And what more shall I say?
00:23:20.53\00:23:22.70
For the time would
fail me to tell of Gideon
00:23:22.73\00:23:26.13
and Barak and
Samson and Jephthah,
00:23:26.17\00:23:29.27
also of David and
Samuel and the prophets..."
00:23:29.30\00:23:32.71
Now, notice what they did.
00:23:32.74\00:23:34.18
"Who through faith..."
00:23:34.21\00:23:36.01
That means trust by the way.
00:23:36.04\00:23:37.55
"Who through
faith subdued kingdoms,
00:23:37.58\00:23:40.38
worked righteousness,
00:23:40.42\00:23:41.75
obtained
promises, stopped the, what?
00:23:41.78\00:23:44.75
"By faith they
stopped the mouths of lions,
00:23:44.79\00:23:48.12
and by faith they did what else,
00:23:48.16\00:23:50.36
they quenched the
violence of fire."
00:23:50.39\00:23:53.60
So what did these
three young men have
00:23:53.63\00:23:55.56
when they went through
this trial over the beast
00:23:55.60\00:23:57.47
his image and the
command to worship
00:23:57.50\00:23:59.13
and the death decree?
00:23:59.17\00:24:00.50
They trusted their God,
00:24:00.54\00:24:02.10
they had faith in
their God according to this
00:24:02.14\00:24:05.47
and they tamed the fire
00:24:05.51\00:24:07.64
and they shut the lions' mouths.
00:24:07.68\00:24:09.98
Now, do we have all of
the common denominators
00:24:10.01\00:24:12.45
in this story?
00:24:12.48\00:24:13.92
Is there a faithful remnant?
00:24:13.95\00:24:15.78
Yes, the three young men.
00:24:15.82\00:24:17.75
Are their
enemies of the remnant?
00:24:17.79\00:24:20.26
Absolutely, the
king and his advisors.
00:24:20.29\00:24:23.12
Does the remnant go through
a severe time of trouble?
00:24:23.16\00:24:26.53
Yes, they do. Did
they face a death decree?
00:24:26.56\00:24:29.53
Was it a real
anguish and trial for them?
00:24:29.56\00:24:32.73
It most certainly was.
00:24:32.77\00:24:34.57
Now, did God delay
in delivering them?
00:24:34.60\00:24:38.77
Could God had delivered them
00:24:38.81\00:24:40.14
without them being
thrown into the furnace?
00:24:40.18\00:24:43.18
Did God delay
in delivering them?
00:24:43.21\00:24:45.75
Oh, you know why?
00:24:45.78\00:24:47.32
Because when they were...
00:24:47.35\00:24:48.95
If they had not been
thrown into the furnace,
00:24:48.98\00:24:51.35
the whole Babylonian
kingdom would not have seen
00:24:51.39\00:24:53.82
how great God was
in delivering them.
00:24:53.86\00:24:57.09
So God is gonna allow His people
00:24:57.13\00:24:59.29
to go through the time of
trouble at the end of time,
00:24:59.33\00:25:01.16
so that His glory will shine
00:25:01.20\00:25:03.23
when He finally delivers
His people from certain death.
00:25:03.26\00:25:06.80
Let me ask you.
00:25:06.84\00:25:08.34
Were they delivered
after the period of delay?
00:25:08.37\00:25:12.11
They were most
certainly delivered.
00:25:12.14\00:25:14.74
Now, let's go to another
story in the Book of Daniel
00:25:14.78\00:25:16.98
that illustrates the second
clause of the First Amendment.
00:25:17.01\00:25:21.65
The case of when the
free exercise of religion
00:25:21.68\00:25:26.12
is forbidden.
00:25:26.15\00:25:28.66
You see in Daniel 6, we
have a similar story to Daniel 3
00:25:28.69\00:25:32.79
but it's not the king
establishing religion,
00:25:32.83\00:25:36.16
it's the king forbidding
the free exercise of religion
00:25:36.20\00:25:39.83
which is the second
clause of the First Amendment
00:25:39.87\00:25:42.40
to the constitution.
00:25:42.44\00:25:43.91
Let's notice first of all,
what the controversy is about.
00:25:43.94\00:25:48.14
Daniel 6:5, you
remember there is the text
00:25:48.18\00:25:51.98
in the Book of Revelation says
00:25:52.01\00:25:53.35
that the dragon was
enraged with the woman
00:25:53.38\00:25:55.58
and went to make war
00:25:55.62\00:25:56.95
with the remnant
of her seed who what?
00:25:56.99\00:25:58.89
Who keep the
commandments of God.
00:25:58.92\00:26:01.66
The final conflict is between
obedience to God's commandments
00:26:01.69\00:26:06.23
and disobedience
to God's commandments,
00:26:06.26\00:26:08.33
and worshipping God
or worshipping the beast.
00:26:08.36\00:26:10.80
So is the
conflict at the end time
00:26:10.83\00:26:13.34
the law and worship?
00:26:13.37\00:26:15.14
Absolutely.
00:26:15.17\00:26:16.50
Now, notice what
we find in Daniel 6:5,
00:26:16.54\00:26:19.41
"Then these men, the
advisors of the king said,
00:26:19.44\00:26:22.94
"We shall not find any
charge against this Daniel
00:26:22.98\00:26:27.02
unless we find it
against him concerning, " what?
00:26:27.05\00:26:31.02
"Concerning the law of his God."
00:26:31.05\00:26:33.96
This guy keeps God's law
00:26:33.99\00:26:35.99
and we've got to come
after him because of that.
00:26:36.02\00:26:39.19
Now, notice verses 7-9, here
is where the king makes a law.
00:26:39.23\00:26:44.60
By the way he is accepting
the counsel of his advisors.
00:26:44.63\00:26:48.24
See in this stories
00:26:48.27\00:26:50.61
the advisors are
the dangerous ones
00:26:50.64\00:26:53.24
because they're
deceiving the civil power
00:26:53.27\00:26:55.81
into doing this,
00:26:55.84\00:26:57.18
and the kings of the
earth today would do well
00:26:57.21\00:26:59.48
to listen to what
I'm saying right now,
00:26:59.51\00:27:01.62
because the
religious system of the papacy
00:27:01.65\00:27:04.19
appears to want the best
for the kings of the world,
00:27:04.22\00:27:07.19
but let me tell you, folks,
00:27:07.22\00:27:08.56
the papacy want simply
to take over the throne
00:27:08.59\00:27:12.26
of the power of the world again.
00:27:12.29\00:27:14.06
They do not have any love
00:27:14.10\00:27:16.30
for the civil
powers of the world,
00:27:16.33\00:27:17.83
no matter how much the
civil powers of the world
00:27:17.87\00:27:20.00
think that the papacy does.
00:27:20.04\00:27:22.17
So, it says, "All the
governors of the kingdom,
00:27:22.20\00:27:24.37
the administrators and satraps,
00:27:24.41\00:27:26.27
the counselors and
advisors have consulted together
00:27:26.31\00:27:29.84
to establish a royal statute
and to make a firm decree,
00:27:29.88\00:27:33.25
they are speaking to the king,
00:27:33.28\00:27:34.62
that whoever petitions any
god or man for thirty days,
00:27:34.65\00:27:37.95
except you, O king, shall
be cast into the den of lions.
00:27:37.99\00:27:41.82
Therefore King Darius
signed the written decree.'
00:27:41.86\00:27:45.29
' Says, boy, these
guys really do love me.
00:27:45.33\00:27:47.93
Nobody can ask any petition
of man or a God for thirty days.
00:27:47.96\00:27:52.90
Let me ask you.
00:27:52.93\00:27:54.27
Is the king establishing
a religious observance?
00:27:54.30\00:27:57.11
No, he isn't.
00:27:57.14\00:27:59.11
He is forbidding
the right of people
00:27:59.14\00:28:02.31
to petition their god.
00:28:02.34\00:28:03.88
He's forbidding the
free exercise of religion.
00:28:03.91\00:28:06.68
Are you with me or not?
00:28:06.72\00:28:08.05
He is not establishing to
say, you have to pray this way.
00:28:08.08\00:28:10.42
No, he is saying you can't pray
00:28:10.45\00:28:12.52
for a period of
30 days to any god.
00:28:12.55\00:28:14.89
It's the second clause
of the First Amendment.
00:28:14.92\00:28:17.79
It's forbidding the
free exercise of religion.
00:28:17.83\00:28:21.73
Now, what did Daniel do
00:28:21.76\00:28:24.43
when the decree was
given forbidding him
00:28:24.47\00:28:27.47
to pray to his God?
00:28:27.50\00:28:30.07
Notice what it
says in Daniel 6:10,
00:28:30.11\00:28:33.71
"Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
00:28:33.74\00:28:37.05
he went home.
00:28:37.08\00:28:38.41
And in his upper room,
00:28:38.45\00:28:40.75
with the window
open toward Jerusalem,
00:28:40.78\00:28:44.25
he knelt down on his
knees three times that day,
00:28:44.29\00:28:48.02
and prayed and gave
thanks before his God,
00:28:48.06\00:28:51.29
as was his custom
since early days."
00:28:51.33\00:28:54.53
Would have been very
easy for Daniel to say
00:28:54.56\00:28:56.33
now, you know, there's no reason
00:28:56.36\00:28:57.73
to ruffle these guy's feathers.
00:28:57.77\00:28:59.93
There is no reason to
really aggravate them, you know,
00:28:59.97\00:29:02.64
I'll just shut
the windows, no way.
00:29:02.67\00:29:06.37
He was not politically correct.
00:29:06.41\00:29:08.71
He says this is an
illegitimate decree,
00:29:08.74\00:29:11.68
by the way Daniel
obeyed all of the civil laws
00:29:11.71\00:29:14.12
of the Medes and Persians
00:29:14.15\00:29:15.48
except when the
Medes and Persians
00:29:15.52\00:29:17.32
proclaimed the law that violated
00:29:17.35\00:29:19.55
their conscience
or his conscience.
00:29:19.59\00:29:22.02
Are you with me or not?
00:29:22.06\00:29:23.39
So we should obey
all of the civil laws
00:29:23.43\00:29:26.06
except when the civil law
00:29:26.09\00:29:28.53
conflicts with our
religious convictions
00:29:28.56\00:29:31.57
and so it says
that Daniel prayed,
00:29:31.60\00:29:34.04
and of course his
enemies were watching.
00:29:34.07\00:29:36.27
Notice Daniel 6:14-23,
00:29:36.30\00:29:39.97
oh these men go
and tell the king,
00:29:40.01\00:29:42.04
oh, king we found
Daniel praying to...
00:29:42.08\00:29:43.78
you know practicing his religion
00:29:43.81\00:29:46.21
and you said that nobody could
freely practice their religion,
00:29:46.25\00:29:50.42
so you know, you have to
enforce the law, verse 14.
00:29:50.45\00:29:55.49
"And the king, when
he heard these words,
00:29:55.52\00:29:57.26
was greatly
displeased with himself..."
00:29:57.29\00:29:59.16
Did he realized that
he had been deceived.
00:29:59.19\00:30:01.13
Oh, yeah, but it was too late.
00:30:01.16\00:30:03.16
"And set his
heart on Daniel to."
00:30:03.20\00:30:05.53
What? Ah, there is the key word.
00:30:05.57\00:30:07.90
"To deliver him,
00:30:07.94\00:30:09.47
and he labored till the going
down of the sun to deliver him.
00:30:09.50\00:30:14.18
So the king gave the
command, and they brought Daniel
00:30:14.21\00:30:16.68
and cast him
into the den of lions.
00:30:16.71\00:30:18.55
But the king spoke
saying to Daniel, "Your God,
00:30:18.58\00:30:21.75
whom you serve
continually he will..."
00:30:21.78\00:30:25.39
Wow, I think deliverance
is a central theme here.
00:30:25.42\00:30:28.19
So, he says your God
whom you serve continually
00:30:28.22\00:30:31.29
he will deliver you,
00:30:31.33\00:30:33.19
then the king arose
very early in the morning
00:30:33.23\00:30:35.20
and went in haste
to the den of lions.
00:30:35.23\00:30:37.70
And when he came to the den,
00:30:37.73\00:30:39.07
he cried out with a
lamenting voice to Daniel.
00:30:39.10\00:30:41.90
The king spoke,
saying to Daniel,
00:30:41.94\00:30:43.81
"Daniel, servant
of the living God,
00:30:43.84\00:30:45.81
has your God, whom
you serve continually..."
00:30:45.84\00:30:48.18
See there you have
the element of faith,
00:30:48.21\00:30:49.98
trust in God.
00:30:50.01\00:30:51.35
The God whom you
serve continually,
00:30:51.38\00:30:54.05
has he been able to what?
00:30:54.08\00:30:55.95
There it is again, to
deliver you from the lions.
00:30:55.98\00:30:59.49
Then Daniel said to the King,
00:30:59.52\00:31:01.09
"O king live for ever.
My God sent His," what?
00:31:01.12\00:31:07.73
So who is at the deliverance?
00:31:07.76\00:31:09.36
Michael, the
archangel, in the fiery furnace,
00:31:09.40\00:31:12.93
the angel, with Jacob,
remember the story of Jacob,
00:31:12.97\00:31:16.77
the angel, who
is God by the way.
00:31:16.81\00:31:19.51
So it's the angel who
delivers and so he says,
00:31:19.54\00:31:24.18
once again verse 20,
"And when came to the den,
00:31:24.21\00:31:27.82
he cried out with a
lamenting voice to Daniel.
00:31:27.85\00:31:29.72
The king spoke,
saying to Daniel,
00:31:29.75\00:31:31.45
"Daniel, servant of the
living God, has your God,
00:31:31.49\00:31:33.62
whom you serve continually,
00:31:33.66\00:31:35.16
been able to
deliver you from the lions.
00:31:35.19\00:31:37.13
Then Daniel said to the
king, "O king live forever.
00:31:37.16\00:31:40.03
My god sent His angel
and shut the lions' mouths,
00:31:40.06\00:31:43.26
so that they have not hurt me,
00:31:43.30\00:31:45.87
because I was found innocent
before Him, and also, O king,
00:31:45.90\00:31:50.21
I have done no
wrong before you."
00:31:50.24\00:31:53.11
I have been,
trust worthy before God
00:31:53.14\00:31:56.08
and before the civil power.
00:31:56.11\00:31:57.88
Verse 23, "Now the king
was exceedingly glad for him,
00:31:57.91\00:32:01.82
and commanded that they should
take Daniel up out of the den.
00:32:01.85\00:32:06.09
So Daniel was
taken up out of the den
00:32:06.12\00:32:08.72
and no injury
whatever was found on him..."
00:32:08.76\00:32:11.76
Now notice what is the reason...
00:32:11.79\00:32:13.43
Because he, what?
00:32:13.46\00:32:15.23
"Because he
believed in his God."
00:32:15.26\00:32:17.47
He trusted, he had
faith in this trial.
00:32:17.50\00:32:20.14
I want you to remember
this. We'll come back to it.
00:32:20.17\00:32:22.90
And now King
Darius gives a decree
00:32:22.94\00:32:25.11
which is illegitimate again,
but these are pagan kings.
00:32:25.14\00:32:28.11
See they are doing the best
00:32:28.14\00:32:29.54
according to the
knowledge that they have.
00:32:29.58\00:32:31.48
Notice, verse 25,
"Then King Darius wrote:
00:32:31.51\00:32:35.25
To all peoples,
nations, and languages
00:32:35.28\00:32:37.55
that dwell in all the earth:
peace be multiplied to you.
00:32:37.59\00:32:40.82
I make a decree
00:32:40.86\00:32:43.12
that in every
dominion of my kingdom
00:32:43.16\00:32:44.89
men must tremble and fear
00:32:44.93\00:32:47.63
before the God of Daniel
for He is the living God,
00:32:47.66\00:32:50.70
and steadfast forever,
00:32:50.73\00:32:52.57
His kingdom is the one
which shall not be destroyed,
00:32:52.60\00:32:56.77
and His dominion
shall endure to the end."
00:32:56.81\00:32:59.21
And now notice this, he
what? There it is again.
00:32:59.24\00:33:02.81
"He delivers and rescues,
and He works signs and wonders
00:33:02.84\00:33:07.68
in heaven and on
earth, who has..."
00:33:07.72\00:33:11.42
I think deliverance is
the central thought, right?
00:33:11.45\00:33:14.29
So it says, "Who has
delivered Daniel from," what?
00:33:14.32\00:33:18.06
"From the power of the lions."
00:33:18.09\00:33:19.43
So, let me ask you,
00:33:19.46\00:33:20.80
is there is a
faithful remnant in this story?
00:33:20.83\00:33:23.20
Who is it?
00:33:23.23\00:33:24.67
Daniel. Does he have enemies?
00:33:24.70\00:33:28.34
Oh, the advisors
of the king primarily.
00:33:28.37\00:33:30.77
Does Daniel go
through a time of trouble?
00:33:30.81\00:33:33.51
You don't think being
thrown into a lions' den
00:33:33.54\00:33:35.64
is a time of trouble?
00:33:35.68\00:33:37.68
Hungry lions
because the Bible says
00:33:37.71\00:33:41.32
that once the plan, the plot
was thrown into the lions' den
00:33:41.35\00:33:44.85
and before they got
to the bottom of the den,
00:33:44.89\00:33:46.69
the lions were having
the banquet of the century.
00:33:46.72\00:33:50.09
So they were very hungry.
00:33:50.13\00:33:52.06
It was a trial of Daniel's faith
00:33:52.09\00:33:54.80
to stand for God
00:33:54.83\00:33:56.16
and to know that he would
be thrown into the lions' den.
00:33:56.20\00:33:58.67
Let me ask you.
00:33:58.70\00:34:00.04
Did God delay in
delivering Daniel?
00:34:00.07\00:34:02.40
He delayed all night, folks.
00:34:02.44\00:34:04.47
But did God
ultimately intervene and deliver
00:34:04.51\00:34:08.08
Daniel from his enemies?
00:34:08.11\00:34:09.88
Absolutely.
00:34:09.91\00:34:11.31
Now, let's take a
look at the Book of Esther,
00:34:11.35\00:34:13.45
very interesting book.
00:34:13.48\00:34:15.72
The crisis once again has
to do with law and worship.
00:34:15.75\00:34:20.12
That is the
conflict at the end of time.
00:34:20.16\00:34:22.02
Folks, it is not ISIS,
00:34:22.06\00:34:26.16
that is a distraction,
00:34:26.19\00:34:28.20
everybody is
looking over it ISO,
00:34:28.23\00:34:31.20
you know, and the terrorist.
00:34:31.23\00:34:32.73
I'm not saying
that terrorism is okay,
00:34:32.77\00:34:34.70
or blowing yourself up is okay,
00:34:34.74\00:34:37.14
that's a barbarous act,
but what I'm saying is that
00:34:37.17\00:34:40.61
prophecy is not
being fulfilled over there.
00:34:40.64\00:34:43.31
Prophecy is
being fulfilled in Rome
00:34:43.35\00:34:45.35
and in the United
States and people can see it
00:34:45.38\00:34:48.65
because they're looking
there instead of looking here.
00:34:48.68\00:34:52.95
What is the issue
in the days of Esther?
00:34:52.99\00:34:55.56
Esther 3:1-3 it
involves worship.
00:34:55.59\00:35:00.20
"After these things king
Ahasuerus promoted Haman,
00:35:00.23\00:35:03.87
the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite,
00:35:03.90\00:35:07.00
and advanced
him and set his seat
00:35:07.04\00:35:09.30
above all the
princes who were with him.
00:35:09.34\00:35:12.57
And all the king's servants
who were within the king's gate
00:35:12.61\00:35:16.61
bowed and paid homage to Haman."
00:35:16.64\00:35:21.88
Now why did they
pay homage to Haman?
00:35:21.92\00:35:24.59
Why did they bow before him?
00:35:24.62\00:35:26.62
For so the king had
commanded concerning him.
00:35:26.65\00:35:30.76
Is this a civil
power giving a command
00:35:30.79\00:35:33.03
to bow before human being?
00:35:33.06\00:35:35.16
Absolutely. Was
Mordecai a faithful Jew?
00:35:35.20\00:35:38.40
He most certainly was.
00:35:38.43\00:35:40.04
So notice what
it continue saying."
00:35:40.07\00:35:41.97
But Mordecai would not," what?
00:35:42.00\00:35:44.67
"Bow or pay homage.
00:35:44.71\00:35:46.91
Then the king's servants
who were within the king's gate
00:35:46.94\00:35:49.94
said to Mordecai,
00:35:49.98\00:35:51.31
"Why do you
transgress the king's command?"
00:35:51.35\00:35:53.88
So let me ask you.
00:35:53.92\00:35:55.48
Is Mordecai violating civil law?
00:35:55.52\00:36:00.19
Yes.
00:36:00.22\00:36:01.56
Does the civil law say
bow before this human being?
00:36:01.59\00:36:03.86
Yes.
00:36:03.89\00:36:05.23
Does Mordecai
disobey the civil law?
00:36:05.26\00:36:07.30
Yes, because it
conflicts with what?
00:36:07.33\00:36:09.46
It conflicts with the
convictions of his conscience.
00:36:09.50\00:36:13.50
And when the
civil power make laws
00:36:13.54\00:36:15.47
that conflict
with your conscience,
00:36:15.50\00:36:17.41
you have a right to
disobey the civil law,
00:36:17.44\00:36:19.67
but otherwise you
must obey civil law,
00:36:19.71\00:36:22.84
only when it interferes
with your religious convictions
00:36:22.88\00:36:25.91
are you entitled to disobey.
00:36:25.95\00:36:28.48
Now, when Haman discovers
00:36:28.52\00:36:29.85
that Mordecai does
not bow before him,
00:36:29.88\00:36:32.85
he is filled
with rage and he says,
00:36:32.89\00:36:35.09
I'm not only gonna
get rid of Mordecai,
00:36:35.12\00:36:36.86
I'm gonna get rid of the
whole people, all of the Jews.
00:36:36.89\00:36:40.16
Notice what we
find in Esther 3:8-9.
00:36:40.20\00:36:46.17
"Then Haman said
to King Ahasuerus,
00:36:46.20\00:36:49.04
"There is a certain
people scattered and dispersed
00:36:49.07\00:36:54.54
among the people in all the
provinces of your kingdom..."
00:36:54.58\00:36:58.91
Now notice what the
issue is, there what?
00:36:58.95\00:37:02.08
Oh, talking about
the Jewish nation.
00:37:02.12\00:37:05.32
"There laws are different
from all other people's..."
00:37:05.35\00:37:10.03
And because their
laws are different,
00:37:10.06\00:37:11.66
what law would
it be referring to,
00:37:11.69\00:37:15.70
bowing and
rendering homage, right?
00:37:15.73\00:37:18.70
Worship, and so it says here,
00:37:18.73\00:37:21.50
"Their laws are different
than all other people's
00:37:21.54\00:37:24.07
and they do not
keep the king's laws,
00:37:24.11\00:37:27.38
therefore it is not fitting
00:37:27.41\00:37:29.24
for the king to let them remain.
00:37:29.28\00:37:31.38
If it pleases the king,
00:37:31.41\00:37:32.98
let a decree be
written that they be, " what?
00:37:33.01\00:37:36.82
"That they be destroyed."
00:37:36.85\00:37:39.79
Are you catching the picture?
00:37:39.82\00:37:42.19
Now, is there a
faithful remnant in this story?
00:37:42.22\00:37:45.73
Who is the faithful remnant?
00:37:45.76\00:37:47.56
Mordecai and the Jews?
00:37:47.60\00:37:49.96
Do they have enemies?
00:37:50.00\00:37:51.87
Haman and his wife.
00:37:51.90\00:37:53.57
We don't have time
to talk about his wife,
00:37:53.60\00:37:55.77
but his wife was the
real mover behind the scenes.
00:37:55.80\00:38:00.34
Does Mordecai and do
the people go through
00:38:00.38\00:38:03.98
a severe time of
trouble and crisis?
00:38:04.01\00:38:07.28
Let's read about
it in Esther 4:3,
00:38:07.32\00:38:10.39
"And in every province
where the king's command
00:38:10.42\00:38:13.36
and decree arrived,
there was great," what?
00:38:13.39\00:38:16.52
"Mourning among the Jews,
00:38:16.56\00:38:18.76
with fasting,
weeping, and wailing,
00:38:18.79\00:38:22.83
and many lay in
sackcloth and ashes."
00:38:22.86\00:38:25.83
Can you hear the anguish
and the agony of the people
00:38:25.87\00:38:29.24
as they are going
through this time of trouble
00:38:29.27\00:38:31.07
when the death decree has
been proclaimed against them.
00:38:31.11\00:38:34.54
Is the faith of God's people
00:38:34.58\00:38:36.28
severely tested
during this trail?
00:38:36.31\00:38:38.11
Absolutely.
00:38:38.15\00:38:39.48
Did God delay to
intervene to deliver them?
00:38:39.51\00:38:43.18
All you have to do is
read the story of Esther.
00:38:43.22\00:38:45.29
God could have
delivered them instantly,
00:38:45.32\00:38:48.36
but there is a whole series
of events that takes place
00:38:48.39\00:38:51.89
while the death
decree has been given.
00:38:51.93\00:38:54.06
There is all kinds of events
00:38:54.10\00:38:55.66
that God takes to
finally deliver His people.
00:38:55.70\00:38:59.60
He does not deliver them
instantly, but let me ask you,
00:38:59.63\00:39:02.54
does He finally
intervene and deliver His people
00:39:02.57\00:39:06.21
from certain death.
00:39:06.24\00:39:08.01
Let me read you this
statement from Ellen White,
00:39:08.04\00:39:11.35
she stated in volume 5
of her Testimonies page 450,
00:39:11.38\00:39:16.95
"The decree which is to go forth
00:39:16.99\00:39:19.25
against the people of God
00:39:19.29\00:39:21.29
at the end time will be
very similar to that issued
00:39:21.32\00:39:26.19
by Ahasuerus against the
Jews in the time of Esther."
00:39:26.23\00:39:30.17
Do we need to study
the Book of Esther then?
00:39:30.20\00:39:32.80
Oh, absolutely.
00:39:32.83\00:39:34.64
"The Persian edict
sprang from the malice of Haman
00:39:34.67\00:39:38.77
toward Mordecai.
00:39:38.81\00:39:40.51
Not that Mordecai
had done him harm,
00:39:40.54\00:39:43.18
but he had refused
to show him reverence
00:39:43.21\00:39:45.68
which belongs only to God."
00:39:45.71\00:39:47.38
Was this an issue of
worship? It most certainly was.
00:39:47.42\00:39:50.65
"The king's
decision against the Jews
00:39:50.69\00:39:52.92
was secured
under false pretences
00:39:52.95\00:39:56.09
through misrepresentation
of that peculiar people."
00:39:56.12\00:39:58.76
Are God's people gonna be
00:39:58.79\00:40:00.13
misrepresented
at the end of time?
00:40:00.16\00:40:02.16
You just read the Bible
00:40:02.20\00:40:03.53
and read what the
Spirit of Prophecy
00:40:03.57\00:40:04.90
has to say about the end time.
00:40:04.93\00:40:06.90
She continues
writing, "Satan instigated
00:40:06.94\00:40:09.80
the scheme in
order to rid the earth
00:40:09.84\00:40:12.27
of those who preserved
the knowledge of the true God.
00:40:12.31\00:40:16.44
But his plots were
defeated by a counterpower
00:40:16.48\00:40:21.15
that reigns among
the children of men.
00:40:21.18\00:40:24.42
Angels that excel in
strength were commissioned
00:40:24.45\00:40:27.86
to protect the people of God,
00:40:27.89\00:40:29.66
and the plots of
their adversaries
00:40:29.69\00:40:31.66
returned upon their own heads."
00:40:31.69\00:40:33.86
And then she
makes the application.
00:40:33.90\00:40:35.66
"The Protestant world
today see in the little company
00:40:35.70\00:40:39.80
keeping the Sabbath
a Mordecai in the gate.
00:40:39.83\00:40:44.27
His character and conduct,
00:40:44.31\00:40:46.21
expressing
reverence for the law of God,
00:40:46.24\00:40:48.54
are a constant rebuke
00:40:48.58\00:40:50.61
to those who have cast
off the fear of the Lord
00:40:50.65\00:40:53.25
and are
trampling upon His Sabbath,
00:40:53.28\00:40:55.78
the unwelcome
intruder must by some means
00:40:55.82\00:41:00.06
be put out of the way."
00:41:00.09\00:41:04.06
Are you catching the
picture? So let me ask you.
00:41:04.09\00:41:07.00
Are all of the elements
that we've been speaking about
00:41:07.03\00:41:09.43
found in this story?
00:41:09.46\00:41:11.00
Absolutely.
00:41:11.03\00:41:12.37
You know the most beautiful part
00:41:12.40\00:41:13.74
of all these stories
is a final deliverance.
00:41:13.77\00:41:16.10
God has the last word.
00:41:16.14\00:41:19.74
He delivers those
who have faith in Him,
00:41:19.77\00:41:22.71
those who trust in Him.
00:41:22.74\00:41:25.25
But the greatest example
in the Bible of these elements
00:41:25.28\00:41:29.35
that we spoken about is
the experience of Jesus.
00:41:29.38\00:41:33.15
The experience of Jesus
00:41:33.19\00:41:34.52
has all of these
common denominators
00:41:34.56\00:41:36.39
that we've described.
00:41:36.42\00:41:38.23
The faithful
remnant in this case
00:41:38.26\00:41:41.33
would be Jesus Christ.
00:41:41.36\00:41:43.33
At the end of His
life did Jesus Christ
00:41:43.37\00:41:45.33
have very many enemies
that wanted to do Him in?
00:41:45.37\00:41:48.90
Oh, we can just mention
Satan, we can mention Judas,
00:41:48.94\00:41:53.71
we can mention
Caiaphas, the religious leaders,
00:41:53.74\00:41:56.78
the Sadducees, the Herodians
00:41:56.81\00:41:58.88
who instigated the populist
to try and get rid of Jesus.
00:41:58.91\00:42:04.19
Did Jesus go
through a severe time
00:42:04.22\00:42:06.82
of trouble and anguish
00:42:06.86\00:42:08.76
because of the
persecution of His enemies?
00:42:08.79\00:42:11.13
Absolutely.
00:42:11.16\00:42:12.59
Notice Matthew 26:37,
00:42:12.63\00:42:15.66
Jesus when He is
in Gethsemane He says,
00:42:15.70\00:42:18.43
"My soul is exceedingly," what?
00:42:18.47\00:42:21.60
Sorrowful, even to death."
00:42:21.64\00:42:24.01
And you remembered that
in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:42:24.04\00:42:26.47
three times He raised
up a prayer to His Father,
00:42:26.51\00:42:28.74
said Father if this cup of
your wrath can pass from me
00:42:28.78\00:42:32.48
'cause I have to drink
this cup of your wrath,
00:42:32.51\00:42:34.95
because I'm bearing
the sins of the world.
00:42:34.98\00:42:36.69
If this cup of your wrath
can pass away, let it be so.
00:42:36.72\00:42:41.62
Nevertheless not My will be done
00:42:41.66\00:42:43.83
but yours and the
Bible says that He sweated
00:42:43.86\00:42:46.59
great drops of blood
because of the anguish
00:42:46.63\00:42:49.36
and the time of trouble
that He was going through.
00:42:49.40\00:42:52.10
And then Jesus when
He was on the cross,
00:42:52.13\00:42:54.27
He cried out, my God,
00:42:54.30\00:42:55.97
my God, why
have you forsaken Me.
00:42:56.00\00:42:58.37
This is the time
of trouble of Jesus.
00:42:58.41\00:43:02.01
By the way this time of
trouble is described vividly
00:43:02.04\00:43:04.61
in Hebrews 5:7,
00:43:04.65\00:43:07.92
here it says the following...
00:43:07.95\00:43:09.62
"Who, in the days of His flesh,
00:43:09.65\00:43:12.82
when He had offered up
prayers and supplications..."
00:43:12.85\00:43:16.02
This is what's
happening in Gethsemane.
00:43:16.06\00:43:18.16
"He had offered up prayers
and supplications, with" what?
00:43:18.19\00:43:21.26
"With vehement
cries and tears to Him
00:43:21.30\00:43:24.87
who was able to save Him
00:43:24.90\00:43:26.70
from death, and was heard
because of His godly fear.
00:43:26.74\00:43:31.34
Ellen White
describes the anguish of Jesus
00:43:31.37\00:43:35.08
and how Jesus was
able to gain the victory
00:43:35.11\00:43:37.08
in this
terrible time of trouble.
00:43:37.11\00:43:40.25
She writes in
Desire of Ages, page 756,
00:43:40.28\00:43:43.59
"Amid the awful darkness,
apparently forsaken of God,
00:43:43.62\00:43:48.36
Christ had
drained the last dregs
00:43:48.39\00:43:50.63
in the cup of human woe.
00:43:50.66\00:43:53.06
In those dreadful hours
He had relied upon," what?
00:43:53.09\00:43:58.03
"Upon the evidence of
His Father's acceptance
00:43:58.07\00:44:01.47
heretofore given to Him."
00:44:01.50\00:44:02.84
In other words, He
had a past experience
00:44:02.87\00:44:05.07
that strengthened
Him in this trial.
00:44:05.11\00:44:07.61
"He was acquainted with
the character of His Father,
00:44:07.64\00:44:11.05
He understood His justice,
His mercy, and His great love.
00:44:11.08\00:44:15.55
By faith He rested in Him
00:44:15.58\00:44:18.49
whom it had ever
been His joy to obey.
00:44:18.52\00:44:22.02
And as in submission He
committed Himself to God,
00:44:22.06\00:44:25.83
the sense of the
loss of His Father's favor
00:44:25.86\00:44:28.40
was withdrawn.
00:44:28.43\00:44:29.76
By faith, Christ was,"
what? "Was the victor."
00:44:29.80\00:44:34.00
Jesus did not
depend on His feelings
00:44:34.04\00:44:35.97
and His emotions in
His time of trouble.
00:44:36.00\00:44:39.14
He felt
separated from His Father,
00:44:39.17\00:44:41.74
He felt the burden of sin.
00:44:41.78\00:44:43.81
He thought that the
burden of sin of was so heavy
00:44:43.85\00:44:46.61
that He would never
see His Father's face again
00:44:46.65\00:44:50.32
and yet He trusted in
the promises of His Father.
00:44:50.35\00:44:53.66
This is what the Bible
calls the faith of Jesus.
00:44:53.69\00:44:58.39
Let me ask you.
00:44:58.43\00:44:59.76
Was there a delay in the Father
intervening to deliver Jesus?
00:44:59.79\00:45:04.43
Did Jesus die, yes or
no? Of course, He died.
00:45:04.47\00:45:07.17
Did His Father
deliver Him from death?
00:45:07.20\00:45:09.30
No, there was a delay.
00:45:09.34\00:45:12.44
Did the Father deliver
Him from death ultimately?
00:45:12.47\00:45:15.44
Yes, but there was a delay.
00:45:15.48\00:45:17.98
I want you to notice
what we find in Hebrews 5:8,
00:45:18.01\00:45:21.35
why did God allow Jesus to
go through this severe trial.
00:45:21.38\00:45:24.85
It says in Hebrews
5:8, the very next verse
00:45:24.89\00:45:26.92
after what we've just read.
00:45:26.96\00:45:28.42
"Though He was," what?
A Son, He learned," what?
00:45:28.46\00:45:33.26
"Obedience by the
things which He suffered."
00:45:33.29\00:45:37.37
So what happens when
we go through this trial?
00:45:37.40\00:45:40.94
We learn to obey, to
trust God, to have faith in God,
00:45:40.97\00:45:45.87
to have implicit trust in God
00:45:45.91\00:45:49.34
so that nothing in the world
can shake our trust in Him.
00:45:49.38\00:45:54.52
Let me ask you, even
though there was a delay
00:45:54.55\00:45:56.35
and it look like God
didn't answer to Jesus
00:45:56.38\00:45:58.32
because He cried
out, my God, my God,
00:45:58.35\00:45:59.92
why have You
forsaken me and then He died.
00:45:59.95\00:46:02.82
So there is a delay,
how long did the delay last?
00:46:02.86\00:46:06.03
It lasted from Friday
afternoon at about 3 o'clock
00:46:06.06\00:46:11.63
till very early on
the first day of the week.
00:46:11.67\00:46:15.27
So after the delay
00:46:15.30\00:46:16.64
is Jesus gonna be
delivered by His Father?
00:46:16.67\00:46:18.67
Absolutely.
00:46:18.71\00:46:20.11
Notice this
statement from Ellen White,
00:46:20.14\00:46:22.31
it's found in Youth
Instructor May 2, 1901.
00:46:22.34\00:46:27.12
It says there, "He who
died for the sins of the world
00:46:27.15\00:46:31.99
was to remain in the
tomb for the allotted time.
00:46:32.02\00:46:36.32
He was in that
stony prison house
00:46:36.36\00:46:39.03
a prisoner of divine justice.
00:46:39.06\00:46:42.00
Wow, he was in the tomb a
prisoner of divine justice,
00:46:42.03\00:46:46.47
and he was responsible to
the Judge of the universe."
00:46:46.50\00:46:50.87
Who was the
judge of the universe?
00:46:50.91\00:46:52.67
God the Father.
00:46:52.71\00:46:54.11
"He was bearing
the sins of the world,
00:46:54.14\00:46:56.18
and his Father
only could release him.
00:46:56.21\00:47:00.12
What would be a
synonym of release?
00:47:00.15\00:47:02.68
Deliver, that's right.
00:47:02.72\00:47:04.19
Only His Father
could deliver Him.
00:47:04.22\00:47:05.75
And I know some
people are thinking
00:47:05.79\00:47:07.12
about John
10:17-18 where Jesus says,
00:47:07.16\00:47:09.42
I have power to lay down My life
00:47:09.46\00:47:11.59
and I have power to
take up My life again.
00:47:11.63\00:47:13.73
Trouble is people don't
read the complete two verses.
00:47:13.76\00:47:17.67
Let's notice John 10:17 and 18.
00:47:17.70\00:47:22.04
"Therefore My Father
loves me, Jesus says,
00:47:22.07\00:47:25.04
because I lay down my
life that I may take it again."
00:47:25.07\00:47:28.91
So, He lays down His
life and He takes it again.
00:47:28.94\00:47:31.91
"No one takes it from Me,
but lay it down of myself."
00:47:31.95\00:47:36.65
And then He says I have
power that's a bad translation,
00:47:36.69\00:47:39.15
it's the word, it's
not the word dunamis
00:47:39.19\00:47:40.89
where we get the
word dynamite from,
00:47:40.92\00:47:42.36
it's the word Exocesia
00:47:42.39\00:47:43.73
which really should
be translated authority.
00:47:43.76\00:47:45.99
He is saying I have
authority to lay it down,
00:47:46.03\00:47:49.53
and I have
authority to take it up again.
00:47:49.56\00:47:52.27
Why did Jesus have
authority to lay down His life
00:47:52.30\00:47:54.80
and take it up again?
00:47:54.84\00:47:56.17
Was it because of
Him or was it because
00:47:56.20\00:47:57.84
He got
permission from His Father?
00:47:57.87\00:48:00.21
Let's read the
last part of verse 18,
00:48:00.24\00:48:02.44
"This command I have
received from My Father."
00:48:02.48\00:48:06.18
So what happened at
the first day of the week,
00:48:06.21\00:48:08.15
Jesus was a
prisoner of divine justice,
00:48:08.18\00:48:10.49
the Father
sends down two angels,
00:48:10.52\00:48:12.52
one of them rolls away the stone
00:48:12.55\00:48:14.39
and sits on the stone
00:48:14.42\00:48:16.26
and the other angel
stands before the tomb and says,
00:48:16.29\00:48:19.16
"O thou Son of God,
thy Father calls thee."
00:48:19.19\00:48:22.40
And then Jesus
comes forth from the tomb
00:48:22.43\00:48:24.80
by a life that
is within Himself.
00:48:24.83\00:48:27.97
But His Father was the
one that authorized Jesus
00:48:28.00\00:48:31.14
to take up His own life again.
00:48:31.17\00:48:33.54
He says I receive this
command from My Father.
00:48:33.58\00:48:36.41
So was Jesus
delivered by His Father?
00:48:36.44\00:48:39.41
He most certainly was delivered.
00:48:39.45\00:48:41.08
That's the beautiful thing.
00:48:41.12\00:48:42.45
Now, do you know
that we are gonna repeat
00:48:42.48\00:48:44.69
the story of Jesus.
00:48:44.72\00:48:48.12
Listen to this
magnificent statement,
00:48:48.16\00:48:50.49
Review and
Herald, April 14, 1896.
00:48:50.53\00:48:55.10
This actually gives you
goosebumps, it gives me.
00:48:55.13\00:48:59.33
"The forces of
the powers of darkness
00:48:59.37\00:49:01.90
will unite with human
agents who have given themselves
00:49:01.94\00:49:06.17
unto the control of Satan,
00:49:06.21\00:49:08.68
and the same scenes,
listen the same scenes
00:49:08.71\00:49:13.18
that were
exhibited at the trial,
00:49:13.21\00:49:15.68
rejection and crucifixion
of Christ will be revived."
00:49:15.72\00:49:21.42
Are we gonna go
through a similar trial?
00:49:21.46\00:49:23.26
Yes.
00:49:23.29\00:49:24.79
And notice what
it's gonna be like.
00:49:24.83\00:49:26.63
"Through yielding
to satanic influences
00:49:26.66\00:49:29.10
men will be merged into
fiends, that means demons,
00:49:29.13\00:49:33.44
and those who were
created in the image of God,
00:49:33.47\00:49:36.34
who were formed to honor
and glorify their Creator,
00:49:36.37\00:49:39.87
will become the
habitation of dragons,
00:49:39.91\00:49:42.58
and Satan will see
in an apostate race
00:49:42.61\00:49:45.91
his masterpiece of evil--men
who reflect his own image.
00:49:45.95\00:49:51.22
That's what God's
people are gonna go through.
00:49:51.25\00:49:55.32
That's why I can assure you
00:49:55.36\00:49:57.23
that Jesus is not gonna
simply pick up and leave.
00:49:57.26\00:50:00.36
The spirit will be withdrawn
from the finally impenitent,
00:50:00.40\00:50:03.87
but the spirit will not be
withdrawn from God's people
00:50:03.90\00:50:07.30
because nobody would survive.
00:50:07.34\00:50:09.74
So let me ask
you, Is there gonna be
00:50:10.11\00:50:12.07
a generation at the end of time
00:50:12.11\00:50:13.94
that we can call
the faithful generation?
00:50:13.98\00:50:17.05
Absolutely.
00:50:17.08\00:50:18.51
Revelation 13:10 says,
00:50:18.55\00:50:20.48
"Here are those who
keep the commandments of God
00:50:20.52\00:50:24.35
and have," the what?
"The faith of Jesus."
00:50:24.39\00:50:28.39
And in Revelation 13
and last one was 14:12,
00:50:28.42\00:50:31.76
Revelation 13:10 says,
00:50:31.79\00:50:33.80
"Here is the
patience of the saints"
00:50:33.83\00:50:35.96
and then it speaks about those
00:50:36.00\00:50:37.40
who keep the commandments of God
00:50:37.43\00:50:39.23
and here is the perseverance
or the patience of the saints.
00:50:39.27\00:50:45.51
Now the big question is,
00:50:45.54\00:50:47.84
why will God allow his people
00:50:47.88\00:50:50.75
to go through this
severe time of trouble.
00:50:50.78\00:50:53.78
Why not just spare them
00:50:53.82\00:50:55.32
and take them out of the
world before the tribulation,
00:50:55.35\00:50:59.02
like most Christians believe.
00:50:59.05\00:51:01.86
I believe the best explanation
is found in the story of Job.
00:51:01.89\00:51:06.26
You remember the story of Job?
00:51:06.29\00:51:08.70
There is this counsel in heaven,
00:51:08.73\00:51:10.10
all the
representatives of the universe
00:51:10.13\00:51:11.93
came to present
themselves before the Lord.
00:51:11.97\00:51:14.47
And, of course,
00:51:14.50\00:51:15.84
Satan came
representing planet earth
00:51:15.87\00:51:17.61
because before
Jesus died on the Cross,
00:51:17.64\00:51:20.68
Satan was the
prince of this world.
00:51:20.71\00:51:22.58
Jesus said, "But he's
gonna be cast out, when I die."
00:51:22.61\00:51:25.91
And so, you know, God
says proudly to Satan,
00:51:25.95\00:51:29.82
you know, "Where
do you come from?"
00:51:29.85\00:51:31.19
Well, I come from the earth,
00:51:31.22\00:51:32.55
you know, from patrolling
my territory and God says,
00:51:32.59\00:51:34.32
"Have you seen my servant Job?
00:51:34.36\00:51:35.72
He lives in your
territory but he's my servant."
00:51:35.76\00:51:39.93
And the devil says, "Of
course, he's your servant,
00:51:39.96\00:51:42.16
you've surrounded
him, you protect him,
00:51:42.20\00:51:44.30
you prospered him.
00:51:44.33\00:51:45.77
You don't allow me to touch him
00:51:45.80\00:51:47.14
but if you
allow me to touch him,
00:51:47.17\00:51:48.50
you would see that he serves you
00:51:48.54\00:51:49.87
for the loaves and the fishes.
00:51:49.90\00:51:52.77
He serves you be
out of self interest.
00:51:52.81\00:51:54.48
He doesn't serve you
because he loves you.
00:51:54.51\00:51:56.01
So if you let me try him,
00:51:56.04\00:51:58.01
he would
blaspheme you to your face."
00:51:58.05\00:52:00.55
Now what would have
happened if God had said,
00:52:00.58\00:52:02.55
"I don't believe
him, he's a liar."
00:52:02.58\00:52:04.39
If he'd said that
before the heavenly council,
00:52:04.42\00:52:06.09
heavenly council would
say, "Well, who knows?"
00:52:06.12\00:52:10.13
So God says to
Satan, "Go for it.
00:52:10.16\00:52:14.23
Do whatever you want, take
whatever you want from him."
00:52:14.26\00:52:15.96
So, you know the story.
00:52:16.00\00:52:17.33
The devil goes out and he
takes everything from Job,
00:52:17.37\00:52:19.93
all of his material
possessions are gone.
00:52:19.97\00:52:22.84
And after the trial he says,
00:52:22.87\00:52:24.84
"God gave and
God has taken away."
00:52:24.87\00:52:26.21
He was half right.
00:52:26.24\00:52:27.74
"Blessed be the
name of the Lord."
00:52:27.78\00:52:30.28
He did not sin against God,
00:52:30.31\00:52:31.78
he did not
blaspheme against God.
00:52:31.81\00:52:34.18
So, is the devil
looking pretty bad
00:52:34.22\00:52:36.22
before the heavenly council?
00:52:36.25\00:52:37.59
Before all the
representatives of the world.
00:52:37.62\00:52:38.95
Oh, he's looking
bad, God is looking good.
00:52:38.99\00:52:40.52
See, Job serves God,
even when God doesn't,
00:52:40.56\00:52:42.72
you know, when God is
withdrawing His protection.
00:52:42.76\00:52:44.79
So a second meeting takes
place in heaven and God says,
00:52:44.83\00:52:48.20
"Have you seen my servant Job.
00:52:48.23\00:52:49.63
You know, how in
spite of the fact
00:52:49.66\00:52:51.00
you turned me against him,
00:52:51.03\00:52:52.60
he still
conserves his integrity."
00:52:52.63\00:52:54.37
"Oh," the devil says,
00:52:54.40\00:52:55.74
"of course, you
didn't let me touch him.
00:52:55.77\00:52:57.64
If you let me touch him,
00:52:57.67\00:52:59.01
you would see that he serves you
00:52:59.04\00:53:00.51
for the loaves and the fishes.
00:53:00.54\00:53:01.98
Out of self-interest."
00:53:02.01\00:53:03.35
And God could have
said, "No, you've seen.
00:53:03.38\00:53:05.48
He's a liar."
00:53:05.51\00:53:07.62
The heavenly
council might have thought,
00:53:07.65\00:53:09.22
"Well, you know,
maybe, he's got a point."
00:53:09.25\00:53:11.89
So God says, "Go afflict him.
00:53:11.92\00:53:13.92
I don't want you to kill
him because if you kill him,
00:53:13.96\00:53:15.62
the trial's over,
00:53:15.66\00:53:16.99
but do whatever you want
to him only don't kill him."
00:53:17.03\00:53:19.53
So the devil goes
out and he afflicts Job
00:53:19.56\00:53:21.70
with a terrible
boils, terrible boils
00:53:21.73\00:53:24.50
from the top of his head
to the plant of his foot.
00:53:24.53\00:53:26.94
He had to scratch
him self with a potsherd,
00:53:26.97\00:53:30.04
then his wife
forsakes and his wife says,
00:53:30.07\00:53:32.37
"Curse God and die."
00:53:32.41\00:53:33.74
That's what the devil have said,
00:53:33.78\00:53:35.11
she becomes an
instrument of the devil
00:53:35.14\00:53:37.01
and then his three
friends come to console Job
00:53:37.05\00:53:39.91
and they become his accusers,
00:53:39.95\00:53:42.12
everything has
turned against Job,
00:53:42.15\00:53:44.45
he's going through the severe,
terrible time of trouble.
00:53:44.49\00:53:47.36
He's lost all
of his possessions.
00:53:47.39\00:53:49.02
He's lost his
support of his wife.
00:53:49.06\00:53:50.56
He's lost the
support of his friends.
00:53:50.59\00:53:52.13
He's lost his health. He's...
00:53:52.16\00:53:53.80
The nations spit in his face.
00:53:53.83\00:53:55.70
You can read this in the book,
00:53:55.73\00:53:57.10
all of those who previously
loved him, now hate him.
00:53:57.13\00:54:01.00
There's no one and if you
read beginning with chapter 3,
00:54:01.04\00:54:04.77
all the way through chapter
38, you'll find that Job feels
00:54:04.81\00:54:08.08
that like, even
God has forsaken him.
00:54:08.11\00:54:11.61
All throughout those chapters,
from Chapter 3 to Chapter 38,
00:54:11.65\00:54:14.45
Job was saying," Where are you?
00:54:14.48\00:54:16.38
I know that if I
could come to your throne,
00:54:16.42\00:54:18.32
to your throne of justice.
00:54:18.35\00:54:20.06
You would do justice,
you would hear my case
00:54:20.09\00:54:22.59
and you would vote in my favor.
00:54:22.62\00:54:24.99
What is happening
to me? I was faithful.
00:54:25.03\00:54:27.83
I used my goods
to help the poor,
00:54:27.86\00:54:29.36
I was a family man,
00:54:29.40\00:54:30.77
I had family
worship with my kids.
00:54:30.80\00:54:33.87
What is happening?
00:54:33.90\00:54:35.24
Why have you, my
best friend, forsaken me."
00:54:35.27\00:54:37.87
And God's answer is silence,
is there a delay in this story.
00:54:37.91\00:54:43.45
The delay is from
chapter 3 to chapter 38.
00:54:43.48\00:54:47.78
And then finally
God has heard enough.
00:54:47.82\00:54:50.82
And so in chapter 38, He
says to Job, "Now you be quiet,
00:54:50.85\00:54:53.59
I'm gonna talk."
00:54:53.62\00:54:55.42
And then God begins to describe
His greatness in creation,
00:54:55.46\00:54:59.19
in chapters 39 and 40.
00:54:59.23\00:55:01.60
And I have to go quickly
because our time is almost up.
00:55:01.63\00:55:04.13
In chapter 41, God shows Job.
00:55:04.17\00:55:07.24
A creature called Leviathan,
00:55:07.27\00:55:10.14
which is described
in Isaiah chapter 27:1
00:55:10.17\00:55:15.24
"As the serpent and the dragon."
00:55:15.28\00:55:19.18
In other words,
Leviathan was the one
00:55:19.21\00:55:21.25
that was causing
all of Job's problems
00:55:21.28\00:55:23.79
and Job now says,
00:55:23.82\00:55:25.15
"Ah, now I know where
all this suffering came from.
00:55:25.19\00:55:28.46
It's not because of you."
00:55:28.49\00:55:30.63
And so Job says, "I
repent in dust and ashes
00:55:30.66\00:55:33.53
for requiring
that you should answer
00:55:33.56\00:55:36.26
and explain the
reason for my suffering."
00:55:36.30\00:55:39.37
And the Bible
says that God gave Job
00:55:39.40\00:55:42.24
twice as much as
what he had before.
00:55:42.27\00:55:46.17
Let me ask you, who
looked good in this whole story?
00:55:46.21\00:55:49.44
God looked good.
00:55:49.48\00:55:50.81
It is God who is being
accused, does Job vindicate God?
00:55:50.85\00:55:54.98
He most certainly does.
00:55:55.02\00:55:56.38
The heavenly universe says,
00:55:56.42\00:55:57.75
Job serves God
because he loves God
00:55:57.79\00:56:00.76
and he trusts God, no
matter how many evils may come.
00:56:00.79\00:56:04.33
God is right and Satan is wrong.
00:56:04.36\00:56:07.40
God will allow His
people to go through
00:56:07.43\00:56:09.20
the time of trouble
to make a great statement
00:56:09.23\00:56:12.03
to the universe and that is,
00:56:12.07\00:56:13.64
God has a people who
say, "Thou He slay me,
00:56:13.67\00:56:16.84
yet will I trust in Him."
00:56:16.87\00:56:18.27
People like the
three young men, who said,
00:56:18.31\00:56:21.18
"Even if you
throw us in the furnace
00:56:21.21\00:56:23.71
and we're burned alive.
00:56:23.75\00:56:25.21
We are still
servants of the true God."
00:56:25.25\00:56:27.62
The Universe will see
00:56:27.65\00:56:29.18
that it is
possible to be loyal to God
00:56:29.22\00:56:31.25
because you love God
without any self-interest.
00:56:31.29\00:56:34.56
There's a second reason.
00:56:34.59\00:56:36.32
And that is that
the character of Job
00:56:36.36\00:56:38.63
was refined in the trial.
00:56:38.66\00:56:41.66
In Job 23:10, Job
said, "When He..."
00:56:41.70\00:56:46.53
God "has tried me, I
shall come forth as..." what?
00:56:46.57\00:56:50.94
"as gold."
00:56:50.97\00:56:52.77
Isaiah 48:10 says, "Behold,..."
00:56:52.81\00:56:54.94
God is speaking, "I have
refined you, but not as silver,
00:56:54.98\00:56:57.51
I have tested
you in the..." what?
00:56:57.55\00:56:59.85
"in the furnace of affliction."
00:56:59.88\00:57:02.22
Ellen White picks up on this.
00:57:02.25\00:57:04.29
She says, "The
affliction is great,
00:57:04.32\00:57:06.65
" Those who are going
through the time of trouble.
00:57:06.69\00:57:08.46
"The flames of the furnace
seem about to consume them..."
00:57:08.49\00:57:12.39
She is referring to Daniel 3.
00:57:12.43\00:57:14.36
"But the refiner
will bring them forth
00:57:14.40\00:57:16.93
as gold tried in the fire.
00:57:16.97\00:57:19.67
God's love for His children
00:57:19.70\00:57:21.04
during the period
of their severest trial
00:57:21.07\00:57:22.67
is as strong and
tender as in the days
00:57:22.70\00:57:24.94
of their sunniest prosperity,
00:57:24.97\00:57:27.41
but it is need for them to be
placed in the furnace of fire,
00:57:27.44\00:57:31.31
their
earthliness must be consumed,
00:57:31.35\00:57:33.82
that the image of Christ
may be perfectly reflected."
00:57:33.85\00:57:38.22
And so, folks, in these
times of relative peace,
00:57:38.25\00:57:42.12
is when we need
to learn to trust God
00:57:42.16\00:57:44.93
because the big
trials are coming.
00:57:44.96\00:57:47.90
And if we are not strong
in our faith with God now,
00:57:47.93\00:57:51.13
we will never be firm
in the time of trouble.
00:57:51.17\00:57:55.04
That is soon to come.
00:57:55.07\00:57:56.94