Music...
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Hello Friends, and welcome
the Avondale Memorial Church
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where we have been enjoying
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Homecoming 2018
for 3ABN Australia,
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have you been
blessed, can you say, "Amen"?
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Audience: Amen.
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We have been so
blessed here haven't we honey?
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Every message
has been a blessing
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and I'm always learning
something in every message.
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God is so good.
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And this message is going to be
brought to us by Dr. Hal Lindsay
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Allan Lindsay...
did I say Hal Lindsay?
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Please do not associate the two
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because Dr. Allan
Lindsay is not Hal Lindsay.
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Dr. Allan Lindsay has a special
place in our heart, doesn't he?
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You know, through the
years we've come to Australia
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and when we had a
chance to meet him,
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we were first stunned to know
that he has been the voice of...
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"Keepers of the Flame. "
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Keepers of the Flame...
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work of showing the pioneer
and the Adventist history
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through the years,
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that has blessed our
hearts in tremendous ways
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but Dr. Allan
Lindsay was a Lecturer
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at Avondale College for 30 years
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he was teaching pastors and
teachers in Adventist history
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but that's not the only
thing that's true about him,
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what else is true?
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Now he has a
wonderful wife Deirdre...
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he's been
married for 61 years...
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four children...
ten grandchildren...
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and two great-grandchildren...
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what a blessing.
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And just recently we went
to the Ellen White Estates here
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in Cooranbong... thank
you for remembering that
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and it was such a
blessing to have that tour again
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and he would
affectionately call you...
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now your name is Angela
but what would he call you?
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Angie...
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and it is so... I
pulled him aside, I said,
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"Dr. Lindsay, you said
that so affectionately. "
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He said, "I'm sorry,
John, should I not say that?"
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I said, "No, it's okay,
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I don't mind if you
call my wife 'Angie'
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you said that so wonderfully"
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but also, he is
the Historian Advisor
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or the Historical
Advisor for the...
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for the beautiful narrative
movie that had come out
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not many years ago,
called, "Tell the World. "
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That was absolutely wonderful
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and for the last 10
years he's been the Director
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of the Ellen
White Research Center.
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That's right.
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And this... this presentation
Dr. Allan Lindsay is going to be
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speaking about knowing
God through the great...
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I'll say it the way
they say it in Australia...
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the great con...
con... contro versy.
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Audience: Controversy.
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It's the controversy, right?
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but Australians
say, Contra... versy...
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Audience: No.
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They said, "No... "
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Okay, well, forgive us for that,
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we're Americans, we
don't know any better.
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But knowing God through
the great controversy...
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and we're going to be blessed
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but before Dr. Lindsay comes,
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we're going to have some
wonderful music from Tim Parton
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and he's going to
set the atmosphere
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and also Ryan Day
is going to be singing
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and Ryan is one of the
newest additions to 3ABN
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and you'll know how
God is blessing our hearts
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as he comes to bless yours
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through this wonderful
song that Ryan is going to bring
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and Tim is going to play.
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Piano...
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more piano...
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The love of God
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is greater far
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Than tongue or pen
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can ever tell;
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It goes beyond
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the highest star,
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And reaches to
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the lowest hell;
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The guilty pair,
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bowed down with care,
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God gave His Son
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to win;
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His erring child
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He reconciled,
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And pardoned from
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his sin.
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Oh, love of God,
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how rich and pure!
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How measureless
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and strong!
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It shall forever more endure...
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The saints' and angels'
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song.
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Piano...
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Could we with ink
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the ocean fill,
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And were the skies
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of parchment made,
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Were every stalk
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on earth a quill,
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And every man
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a scribe by trade;
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To write the love
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of God above
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Would drain the ocean dry;
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Nor could the scroll
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contain the whole,
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Though stretched from sky
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to sky.
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Oh love of God
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how rich and pure!
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How measureless
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and strong!
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It shall forevermore endure...
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The saints' and angels' song...
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The saints' and angels'
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angels'
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song...
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song.
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Amen.
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Pause...
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more pause...
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Good morning everybody.
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Wow! I hope your heart's
been touched by that song.
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Wonderful
song... wonderful words
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and that's the theme
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of what I want to
share with you this morning.
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You know, I was
looking at the brochure
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that I'm sure you've received,
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I'm looking at the
photographs of the people
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that are in the
back page and I...
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I guess you must have noticed
there's only one with gray hair.
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Audience: Laughter.
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All the others look
surprisingly young don't they?
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One of them
actually is a student of mine
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but I won't identify him
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but when I look at these photos
and think of this gray hair,
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I was reminded of a
text I read recently
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in the book of
Leviticus chapter 19.
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It's an interesting chapter
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because it talks
about a lot of things
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that God expected of His people
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and told them about
things that they should do...
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keep the Sabbath... it says,
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and also to not regard mediums
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and then I came across
verse 32 where it says,
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"You shall rise
before the gray-headed,
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and honor the
presence of an old man. "
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Now, the King James
says, I think, "a hoary head"
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and a hoary head is always...
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well, I've always been
wondering what a hoary head was
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but then I
looked at the dictionary
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and was discouraged
to find that it said,
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"Old and gray-headed. "
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Audience: Laughter.
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But I'm so grateful
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and I thank 3ABN for
the privilege of sharing
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a wonderful topic
with you this morning
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and I just want you to bow
your heads in a word of prayer.
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"Dear loving Father,
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as we contemplate this
tremendous theme this morning,
00:10:06.20\00:10:10.87
help us to see the love of
God that has been manifested
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in every part of this great
controversy... down through time
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open up our hearts
to the Holy Spirit,
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speak through this
very poor agent this morning
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as we uplift Jesus and
His love for each one of us
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is my prayer in His
wonderful name, amen. "
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During this weekend,
our minds and our hearts
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are being directed to
a very wonderful text,
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the text that reminds us
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from the High
Priestly prayer of Jesus
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just before He died
00:10:47.61\00:10:48.94
that this is life eternal
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that they might know
you... the only true God
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and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent
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and in each
presentation of this weekend
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there is a topic or a
theme that will help us,
00:11:02.92\00:11:06.09
that's its aim... to help
us to get to know God better.
00:11:06.16\00:11:10.07
David Jeremiah, a New
York Times best-selling author
00:11:10.10\00:11:13.97
has recently published a
book, "The God You May Not Know"
00:11:14.00\00:11:18.37
and in his introduction,
he writes these words,
00:11:18.44\00:11:21.81
some say, "The greatest question
in life is 'Does God exist?'
00:11:21.84\00:11:27.12
I say, the greatest question is,
00:11:27.15\00:11:30.99
'Do I know the
God who does exist?'
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Do I know about Him and
do I know Him personally
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personally...?"
00:11:39.69\00:11:41.30
Can I suggest to you
this morning dear friends
00:11:41.33\00:11:43.80
that that last
question is the most important
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because I can know
a lot about someone
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and not know them
at all personally.
00:11:49.34\00:11:52.34
I know a lot about the Queen,
00:11:52.37\00:11:54.51
I have lived longer
than she has reigned,
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but I can't say that
I know her personally.
00:11:58.38\00:12:02.15
Now, this is the problem
00:12:02.18\00:12:04.42
of those people
that Jesus speaks about
00:12:04.45\00:12:07.06
in Matthew chapter 7...
00:12:07.09\00:12:10.29
it's the end of
the sermon on the mount
00:12:10.33\00:12:12.59
and I know
you've heard these words
00:12:12.63\00:12:14.80
but I want you to think of
the significance this morning
00:12:14.86\00:12:17.33
in Matthew 7 verse 21 to 23,
00:12:17.37\00:12:20.00
where Jesus says, "Not
everyone who says to me,
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Lord, Lord, shall
enter the kingdom of heaven;
00:12:23.24\00:12:27.01
but He who does the
will of my Father in heaven.
00:12:27.04\00:12:30.75
Many will say to me in that day,
00:12:30.78\00:12:33.92
Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in your name?
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cast out demons in your name?
00:12:38.35\00:12:40.86
and done many
wonders in your name?
00:12:40.89\00:12:42.92
and done many
wonders in your name?
00:12:42.96\00:12:44.89
And then, I
will declare to them,
00:12:44.96\00:12:48.16
I never knew you:
00:12:48.20\00:12:51.33
depart from me, ye
who work iniquity. "
00:12:51.37\00:12:56.81
Dear friends, that... that verse
00:12:56.84\00:12:59.17
has always been
a challenge to me.
00:12:59.21\00:13:01.88
here is Jesus speaking to people
00:13:01.91\00:13:04.55
who venerated His name...
00:13:04.58\00:13:06.78
it's the last generation...
just before Jesus comes
00:13:06.82\00:13:10.39
and these people are not pagans,
00:13:10.45\00:13:12.79
they're not Atheists,
00:13:12.82\00:13:14.16
they are people who have
venerated the name of Jesus,
00:13:14.19\00:13:17.36
but why did Jesus say to
them, "I never knew you?"
00:13:17.39\00:13:21.00
In spite of being busy,
00:13:21.03\00:13:23.70
evidently, in the
activities of life in His name,
00:13:23.73\00:13:27.04
they didn't take
the time or the effort
00:13:27.07\00:13:30.61
to get to know God.
00:13:30.64\00:13:33.27
It wasn't a top
priority in their lives.
00:13:33.31\00:13:36.34
I'm sure if you
had asked these people,
00:13:36.38\00:13:39.35
"Do you believe in Jesus?"
00:13:39.38\00:13:41.25
the answer will be, "Yes"
00:13:41.28\00:13:43.05
but the Bible tells me that
the devils believe and tremble.
00:13:43.08\00:13:48.06
evidently dear
friends, we can be busy
00:13:48.09\00:13:52.03
in doing the Lord's work...
00:13:52.06\00:13:54.16
casting out demons
in the name of Jesus,
00:13:54.20\00:13:57.20
preaching in the name of Jesus
00:13:57.23\00:13:59.13
and yet not know God.
00:13:59.17\00:14:03.51
Pause.
00:14:03.57\00:14:06.01
I want to say this this morning,
00:14:06.04\00:14:07.48
in spite of the fact
00:14:07.51\00:14:09.41
there is nothing
more important in life
00:14:09.44\00:14:12.21
and can I just say
that again, dear friends,
00:14:12.25\00:14:13.98
there is nothing
more important in life
00:14:14.02\00:14:16.65
than your getting to know
God and His Son Jesus Christ
00:14:16.69\00:14:22.76
for our eternal
destiny is at stake.
00:14:22.82\00:14:26.16
How important then is the study
of our theme for this weekend?
00:14:26.19\00:14:30.77
The topic that I have
been given within that theme
00:14:30.80\00:14:34.20
is getting to
know the God revealed
00:14:34.24\00:14:37.64
in the great controversy
between Christ and Satan.
00:14:37.67\00:14:42.04
But first can I explain why I
am going to use some quotations
00:14:42.08\00:14:47.08
that I'm going to put
on the screen this morning,
00:14:47.12\00:14:49.12
it's true that the
major theme of the Bible
00:14:49.15\00:14:52.82
is the story of
the great controversy
00:14:52.85\00:14:55.59
between Christ and Satan
00:14:55.62\00:14:56.96
and the unfolding of
the plan of salvation
00:14:56.99\00:15:00.46
but as a church, we
believe that in 1844
00:15:00.50\00:15:03.83
God gave to a
young 17-year-old girl,
00:15:03.87\00:15:06.40
Ellen Harmon, as
she was at that time,
00:15:06.43\00:15:08.97
the Gift of Prophecy
00:15:09.00\00:15:10.61
and that a major role
of her voluminous writings
00:15:10.64\00:15:14.18
that she would produce
over the next 70 years,
00:15:14.24\00:15:17.75
were not given to
replace the Bible...
00:15:17.78\00:15:21.28
I want to underscore that
in your thinking this morning
00:15:21.32\00:15:23.49
but they were given
to uplift the Bible...
00:15:23.52\00:15:27.59
to magnify the Bible...
00:15:27.62\00:15:29.59
to point you and me
to its continual study
00:15:29.62\00:15:33.36
because that alone will
help us to get to know God
00:15:33.40\00:15:38.13
and therefore, I would expect
if the major theme of the Bible
00:15:38.17\00:15:42.30
is the story of
the great controversy,
00:15:42.34\00:15:44.81
it would be the
major theme of her counsel
00:15:44.84\00:15:47.28
and I have
found that to be true.
00:15:47.31\00:15:49.61
Out of the 2,000 visions
that God gave to Ellen White,
00:15:49.64\00:15:54.45
the one given on Sunday
afternoon March the 14th 1858
00:15:54.48\00:15:59.29
was the most comprehensive
00:15:59.32\00:16:01.26
and we call it, "The
Great Controversy Vision. "
00:16:01.29\00:16:04.43
At the end of that vision,
00:16:04.49\00:16:06.80
she was instructed to
write out what she had seen
00:16:06.86\00:16:09.76
but she was warned that
the devil would attack her
00:16:09.80\00:16:12.67
because of the
content of that vision
00:16:12.70\00:16:16.04
and I believe dear
friends, it's significant
00:16:16.07\00:16:20.71
that of the 2,000
visions that she received,
00:16:20.74\00:16:24.31
this one... The
Great Controversy Vision
00:16:24.35\00:16:26.38
was the only one in
which Satan tried to kill her
00:16:26.41\00:16:30.79
soon after she
received the vision.
00:16:30.82\00:16:32.92
I want you to
think about that...
00:16:32.95\00:16:34.96
the reality of this controversy
00:16:35.02\00:16:37.23
in which all of
us are engaged...
00:16:37.26\00:16:39.43
tried to kill her to prevent
her from writing out the book
00:16:39.46\00:16:44.53
outlining the great controversy
between Satan and Jesus.
00:16:44.60\00:16:49.20
Many visions of course
followed that first vision
00:16:49.27\00:16:53.61
and finally she
produced five volumes
00:16:53.64\00:16:56.68
which incidentally were called,
00:16:56.71\00:16:58.48
"The Conflict of
the Ages Series. "
00:16:58.51\00:17:00.82
Five volumes...
"Patriarchs and Prophets"
00:17:00.85\00:17:03.95
dealing with the first
half of the Old Testament.
00:17:03.99\00:17:06.32
"Prophets and Kings... " the
2nd half of the Old Testament.
00:17:06.35\00:17:09.66
The book "Desire of Ages"
centering on the life of Jesus.
00:17:09.69\00:17:12.99
Then "Acts of the Apostles"
00:17:13.03\00:17:14.73
the beginnings of
the Christian Church
00:17:14.76\00:17:16.13
and finally, the book,
"The Great Controversy"
00:17:16.16\00:17:19.30
going from the destruction of
Jerusalem in the first century
00:17:19.33\00:17:23.47
down to the
creation of the new earth...
00:17:23.51\00:17:25.57
what five
wonderful volumes to have
00:17:25.64\00:17:28.94
and practically all the
quotations I will give you,
00:17:29.01\00:17:32.15
I am taking from
those inspired accounts
00:17:32.18\00:17:35.05
of this Great Controversy
00:17:35.08\00:17:36.42
but I notice in
preparing for this morning,
00:17:36.45\00:17:39.75
that in the last
of those volumes,
00:17:39.79\00:17:41.49
in the book "Great Controversy"
00:17:41.52\00:17:43.12
she makes the comment
that throughout eternity...
00:17:43.16\00:17:46.33
think about
this... throughout eternity
00:17:46.36\00:17:48.86
where our love and our
reverence and our happiness
00:17:48.90\00:17:52.13
will continue
to increase... why?
00:17:52.20\00:17:54.47
Because we will learn
more and more revelations
00:17:54.50\00:17:57.61
of the character of the
God of the great controversy
00:17:57.64\00:18:01.64
and it's my prayer
this morning dear friends
00:18:01.71\00:18:04.31
that as we
contemplate getting to know God
00:18:04.35\00:18:06.95
through the great controversy
00:18:06.98\00:18:09.35
that you will be drawn
to love Him all the more.
00:18:09.38\00:18:12.85
I'm going to speak
about three aspects
00:18:12.89\00:18:15.92
of this great controversy...
00:18:15.96\00:18:17.29
how do you choose...
what aspects do you deal with
00:18:17.33\00:18:19.29
in a story that's
lasted for 1,000s of years?
00:18:19.33\00:18:22.43
But first of all, I
want you to think about
00:18:22.46\00:18:25.57
the character of God challenged.
00:18:25.60\00:18:28.40
As we think about the beginnings
of this great controversy,
00:18:28.47\00:18:31.97
you know, the
bible begins with a text,
00:18:32.01\00:18:34.61
"In the beginning... " what?
00:18:34.64\00:18:36.08
God created...
00:18:36.11\00:18:38.01
but what kind of a God created?
00:18:38.05\00:18:40.58
I asked that question
because the Deists now...
00:18:40.62\00:18:44.35
Deism was a philosophy
that particularly was promoted
00:18:44.39\00:18:47.66
during the French Revolution
00:18:47.69\00:18:49.22
but it's based upon the
Latin word for God... "Deus"
00:18:49.26\00:18:53.23
and a Deist has a
certain picture of God
00:18:53.26\00:18:55.96
and many people
have adopted this view.
00:18:56.00\00:18:58.50
What is it?
00:18:58.53\00:19:00.54
They believe in a God
who created the world, yes,
00:19:00.57\00:19:03.34
but then placed it under Law
and withdrew from the world...
00:19:03.37\00:19:07.51
showed no more interest in
the world or its inhabitants
00:19:07.54\00:19:11.65
a bit like an absentee landlord
00:19:11.68\00:19:14.32
and if you're a
Deist, there is no Bible
00:19:14.35\00:19:17.59
because why would this God
00:19:17.62\00:19:18.95
who's gone to the
edge of the universe
00:19:18.99\00:19:21.09
with no more interest in
the affairs of this world...
00:19:21.12\00:19:23.59
why would he
write a book for that...
00:19:23.63\00:19:25.46
people of that... who
inhabit that little planet?
00:19:25.49\00:19:28.13
There's no Savior...
00:19:28.16\00:19:29.66
why would He
bother to visit this world
00:19:29.70\00:19:32.43
when He lives so far away
with no more interest in...
00:19:32.47\00:19:36.20
in the things of this earth?
00:19:36.24\00:19:37.77
There's no prayer...
00:19:37.81\00:19:39.34
you can't talk to a
God who's that far away
00:19:39.37\00:19:42.54
who's no longer
interested in you...
00:19:42.58\00:19:44.41
there's no resurrection.
00:19:44.45\00:19:46.61
But oh, dear friends,
00:19:46.65\00:19:48.72
that's not the character of
the God revealed in the events
00:19:48.75\00:19:52.55
that even preceded
the creation of the world
00:19:52.62\00:19:55.89
and that are most
shockingly described
00:19:55.92\00:19:58.99
in the book of Revelation
00:19:59.03\00:20:00.46
and I go to
that amazing chapter,
00:20:00.50\00:20:02.96
chapter 12 of
Revelation and I read in verse 7
00:20:03.00\00:20:06.57
and war broke out... where?
00:20:06.60\00:20:09.20
in heaven of all places
00:20:09.24\00:20:11.54
not on earth
though filled with wars...
00:20:11.57\00:20:14.41
this is a war in heaven...
00:20:14.44\00:20:17.41
where all is peace and harmony
00:20:17.45\00:20:20.32
and beauty and
perfection where love reigns...
00:20:20.35\00:20:24.05
war in heaven...
00:20:24.09\00:20:26.05
and that war all started, I
would remind you this morning,
00:20:26.09\00:20:30.09
next to God's throne
where God governed the universe
00:20:30.13\00:20:34.63
because I read in Revelation
chapter 12 and going on
00:20:34.66\00:20:39.17
in chapter... in verse 7...
00:20:39.20\00:20:41.34
"Michael and his
angels fought with the dragon;
00:20:41.37\00:20:46.57
and the dragon
fought and his angels,
00:20:46.61\00:20:48.48
and they did not prevail;
00:20:48.54\00:20:50.45
nor was a place found for
them in heaven any longer,
00:20:50.48\00:20:53.62
so the great
dragon was cast out,
00:20:53.65\00:20:55.22
that serpent of old,
00:20:55.28\00:20:56.75
called the devil, and Satan... "
00:20:56.79\00:20:58.22
in those simple words, what
tremendous events are covered
00:20:58.25\00:21:02.39
Michael on one
side and His angels...
00:21:02.42\00:21:05.93
now, let me just
very quickly affirm
00:21:05.96\00:21:09.40
that Michael, I believe,
is another name for Jesus,
00:21:09.43\00:21:11.90
it's only used in Scripture
00:21:11.93\00:21:14.20
whenever Jesus is
in contact with Satan
00:21:14.24\00:21:16.57
which is interesting.
00:21:16.60\00:21:18.04
But Michael, the
name... who is like God...
00:21:18.07\00:21:20.84
a threatening name...
00:21:20.88\00:21:23.38
when in conflict with
Satan directly Himself.
00:21:23.41\00:21:26.31
Michael is called the
Archangel and people have said,
00:21:26.35\00:21:29.42
"Well, that means,
He must be an angel. "
00:21:29.45\00:21:31.95
No, my friends,
because the word "Archangel"
00:21:32.02\00:21:34.46
"archaggelos" in the Greek
means Leader of the angels.
00:21:34.49\00:21:38.26
Chief of the angels, and
that's why Revelation says,
00:21:38.29\00:21:42.00
"Michael and His angels
00:21:42.06\00:21:43.47
fought against the
dragon and his angels"
00:21:43.50\00:21:46.94
identified here in
verse 9 very clearly as Satan
00:21:46.97\00:21:51.74
the adversary
00:21:51.77\00:21:53.41
previously with
the name, Lucifer.
00:21:53.44\00:21:56.95
Lucifer...
00:21:56.98\00:21:58.65
how did a being
like Satan find a place
00:21:58.68\00:22:03.42
in the perfection of heaven?
00:22:03.45\00:22:05.45
The book of Ezekiel gives us a
great deal of insight into this
00:22:05.49\00:22:10.93
and I'd like you, if
you have your Bibles,
00:22:10.96\00:22:13.19
to turn to Ezekiel chapter
28 and notice these words
00:22:13.26\00:22:16.63
as Ezekiel is addressing Satan
00:22:16.67\00:22:19.77
under the symbol
of the King of Tyre...
00:22:19.83\00:22:22.20
a very evil king that we know
00:22:22.27\00:22:24.94
but in Ezekiel chapter
28 and we read in verse 12,
00:22:24.97\00:22:29.61
"Son of man, take up a
lamentation for the king of Tyre
00:22:29.64\00:22:32.58
and say to him, 'Thus
says the Lord God... '"
00:22:32.61\00:22:34.85
but listen to the
words that follow...
00:22:34.88\00:22:36.28
speaking directly to Lucifer...
00:22:36.32\00:22:38.92
"You were the
seal of perfection,
00:22:38.95\00:22:41.02
full of wisdom...
perfect in beauty.
00:22:41.06\00:22:43.46
You were in Eden,
the garden of God;
00:22:43.53\00:22:45.83
Every precious stone
was your covering... "
00:22:45.86\00:22:48.70
then He lists all
the beautiful stones
00:22:48.73\00:22:50.60
like diamonds and sapphires
and turquoises and emeralds
00:22:50.63\00:22:54.34
that covered this
leading angel in heaven.
00:22:54.37\00:22:56.71
"You... " it says,
00:22:56.74\00:22:59.57
"Were prepared for you
on the day you were created.
00:22:59.61\00:23:02.41
You were the anointed
cherub that covereth... "
00:23:02.44\00:23:05.21
and those words, dear friends,
00:23:05.25\00:23:07.85
remind us of the ark that was
placed in the Most Holy Place
00:23:07.88\00:23:11.49
and the two angels that were
called "the Covering Cherubim"
00:23:11.52\00:23:15.62
right there next to the throne
of God the Shekinah glory.
00:23:15.66\00:23:19.69
Lucifer was that leading...
00:23:19.76\00:23:22.23
one of those two
leading angels in heaven
00:23:22.26\00:23:24.37
from the day that he was created
00:23:24.40\00:23:26.84
he stood by God's
throne perfect, it says,
00:23:26.87\00:23:30.71
in wisdom and beauty
00:23:30.74\00:23:32.07
and I read there in verse 15,
"You were perfect in your ways
00:23:32.11\00:23:38.41
from the day you
were created until... "
00:23:38.48\00:23:41.55
and what an "until"
it is because it says,
00:23:41.58\00:23:44.65
"Until iniquity
was found in you.
00:23:44.69\00:23:47.86
You were perfect in the
day you were created... "
00:23:47.89\00:23:52.13
and my friends,
what I marvel at here
00:23:52.16\00:23:54.53
is that Jesus was the
Creator, the Bible says,
00:23:54.56\00:23:57.47
of all the angels...
00:23:57.50\00:23:58.83
it was Jesus who
created Lucifer...
00:23:58.87\00:24:00.87
but think of the significance
therefore, of the war in heaven
00:24:00.90\00:24:05.91
when Jesus is on one side
00:24:05.94\00:24:08.44
fighting against
that created being...
00:24:08.48\00:24:11.71
that He had
created way back before
00:24:11.75\00:24:14.45
and it tells us
there in verse 17
00:24:14.48\00:24:17.15
"Your heart was lifted
up because of your beauty;
00:24:17.19\00:24:21.02
you corrupted your wisdom
for the sake of your splendor;
00:24:21.06\00:24:25.33
I cast you to the ground,
00:24:25.36\00:24:27.20
that they might gaze
at you... these kings... "
00:24:27.23\00:24:29.30
That's the origin, dear friends,
00:24:29.33\00:24:32.13
right there at the heart
of the Government of God,
00:24:32.17\00:24:34.97
war in heaven...
00:24:35.00\00:24:36.34
was God
responsible for his iniquity?
00:24:36.37\00:24:39.87
Was He?
00:24:39.91\00:24:42.08
Oh no, my
friends, God created...
00:24:42.11\00:24:44.41
Jesus created a perfect being...
00:24:44.45\00:24:46.72
"you were
perfect in your ways...
00:24:46.75\00:24:48.95
from the day you were created
00:24:48.98\00:24:51.19
until iniquity
was found in him. "
00:24:51.22\00:24:54.49
Dear friends, God
never desired evil
00:24:54.52\00:24:57.76
but listen to
what I'm about to say,
00:24:57.79\00:25:00.43
that God never desires evil
00:25:00.50\00:25:04.13
but the very allowance of
evil testifies of God's love.
00:25:04.17\00:25:09.24
Think about it, why?
00:25:09.27\00:25:12.07
For love
requires freedom to exist,
00:25:12.11\00:25:14.91
and for love to exist,
00:25:14.94\00:25:16.85
there must always
be the possibility
00:25:16.88\00:25:19.61
of a wrong choice being made.
00:25:19.65\00:25:21.85
John Peckham, in his
book, "The Love of God"
00:25:21.88\00:25:25.39
has written
this, "God allowed evil
00:25:25.42\00:25:28.82
while passionately despising it
00:25:28.86\00:25:32.19
because to
exclude its possibility
00:25:32.23\00:25:35.53
would exclude love,
00:25:35.56\00:25:37.47
central to this
great controversy
00:25:37.50\00:25:40.94
and the issues at stake,
00:25:40.97\00:25:42.30
was the power to freely choose
00:25:42.34\00:25:44.17
that God gave to
angels and to men
00:25:44.21\00:25:46.94
and to each one of us here
in this church this morning.
00:25:46.98\00:25:49.94
I read in the book
"The Great Controversy"
00:25:49.98\00:25:53.88
page 493, these words,
00:25:53.92\00:25:57.22
"God desires from all His
creatures the service of love...
00:25:57.25\00:26:01.72
homage that springs from
an intelligent appreciation
00:26:01.76\00:26:06.26
of His character.
00:26:06.29\00:26:07.63
He takes no pleasure
in a forced allegiance,
00:26:07.66\00:26:11.23
and to all He grants... " what?
00:26:11.27\00:26:13.67
"freedom of will,
00:26:13.74\00:26:16.17
that they may render
Him voluntary service. "
00:26:16.20\00:26:19.67
But dear friends,
the gift of choice
00:26:19.71\00:26:22.78
brings with it a terrible risk
00:26:22.81\00:26:24.65
for it means that
some time... somewhere,
00:26:24.68\00:26:28.72
one of those creatures or more
00:26:28.78\00:26:32.49
would take advantage of that
choice that was given to them
00:26:32.52\00:26:36.83
and choose the path of iniquity
00:26:36.86\00:26:39.79
and of course the
tragedy in Lucifer's life came
00:26:39.83\00:26:43.90
when, at one point in
the eternity of the past,
00:26:43.93\00:26:48.17
he indeed did choose
that pathway of iniquity
00:26:48.20\00:26:52.37
and what led to it?
00:26:52.44\00:26:53.84
The answer is found very
clearly in the book of Isaiah
00:26:53.88\00:26:57.75
and if you have it
there, look at Isaiah chapter 14
00:26:57.78\00:27:01.62
because here in Isaiah's book,
00:27:01.68\00:27:03.99
speaking this time,
00:27:04.05\00:27:05.39
not to the king of
Tyre, as in Ezekiel,
00:27:05.42\00:27:07.56
but to the king of
Babylon, a man... a symbol again
00:27:07.59\00:27:11.79
of all that went against
God, He speaks in verse 12,
00:27:11.83\00:27:15.66
"How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
00:27:15.70\00:27:20.54
How you are cut
down to the ground,
00:27:20.57\00:27:22.60
you who weaken the nations
00:27:22.64\00:27:23.97
for you have said
in your heart... "
00:27:24.01\00:27:26.78
here the prophet is
revealing what went on
00:27:26.81\00:27:29.74
in that day until
iniquity was found in him.
00:27:29.78\00:27:32.65
"you have said in your heart,
00:27:32.68\00:27:34.48
'I will ascend into heaven,
00:27:34.52\00:27:36.25
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God,
00:27:36.28\00:27:39.52
I will sit on the
mount of the congregation
00:27:39.55\00:27:42.72
on the farthest
sides of the north;
00:27:42.79\00:27:44.23
I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds,
00:27:44.26\00:27:48.03
I will be like the Most High. '
00:27:48.06\00:27:51.30
Yet you shall be
brought down to Sheol,
00:27:51.33\00:27:56.87
to the lowest
depths of the Pit. "
00:27:56.91\00:27:59.31
Oh, my dear friends,
00:27:59.34\00:28:02.08
here is the beginnings
of that great controversy
00:28:02.11\00:28:05.38
this perfect being
next to the throne of God
00:28:05.41\00:28:09.18
beginning to think
that he was wanting to be
00:28:09.22\00:28:12.99
number one in the universe,
00:28:13.02\00:28:14.79
he wanted to lift his throne
00:28:14.82\00:28:16.52
above the throne of all
created beings in heaven,
00:28:16.59\00:28:20.30
he wanted to sit on
God's throne and push God away
00:28:20.33\00:28:23.97
because he had a better
form of government than God had,
00:28:24.03\00:28:27.94
he was not satisfied
by standing by the throne,
00:28:27.97\00:28:31.81
he wanted to sit on the throne,
00:28:31.87\00:28:34.28
and where he
thought in his heart,
00:28:34.31\00:28:36.38
"I will be like
the Most High... "
00:28:36.44\00:28:38.61
he wasn't saying, "I want
to be like God in character"
00:28:38.65\00:28:41.18
"I want to be like
God to be worshiped... "
00:28:41.22\00:28:45.52
would you keep that in mind?
00:28:45.55\00:28:47.72
Because over time, he managed
to persuade by his lies...
00:28:47.76\00:28:53.26
one-third of
the angels in heaven
00:28:53.29\00:28:56.53
to join him in his
attacks against God
00:28:56.56\00:29:00.70
and there were three things
that he attacked particularly,
00:29:00.74\00:29:04.41
number one, he
attacked God's character,
00:29:04.44\00:29:06.78
God had ruled the universe by
love since the days of eternity,
00:29:06.81\00:29:11.21
Lucifer claimed
that God was a tyrant...
00:29:11.25\00:29:13.88
that he had a
better form of government
00:29:13.92\00:29:16.35
to offer to created beings
00:29:16.38\00:29:18.09
where all would
have total freedom
00:29:18.12\00:29:21.39
to go and to be and
to do what they chose
00:29:21.42\00:29:25.89
but then too, he
attacked God's Law
00:29:25.93\00:29:29.33
claiming that
angels... perfect angels...
00:29:29.36\00:29:32.83
they don't need a Law to
tell them what they should do
00:29:32.87\00:29:36.04
or what they should not do,
00:29:36.07\00:29:37.44
and I read in
"Patriarchs and Prophets"
00:29:37.51\00:29:41.68
page 338,
00:29:41.71\00:29:43.35
"From the beginning
of the great controversy,
00:29:43.38\00:29:47.38
it has been Satan's purpose
to misrepresent God's character,
00:29:47.42\00:29:52.42
and to excite
rebellion against His law. "
00:29:52.45\00:29:56.19
But then, thirdly, Satan...
00:29:56.22\00:29:59.76
Lucifer was also
particularly envious of Jesus,
00:29:59.79\00:30:03.40
he hated the supremacy
and the authority of Christ,
00:30:03.43\00:30:06.90
even though Christ had
been the One who had created him
00:30:06.94\00:30:10.37
and given him life
00:30:10.41\00:30:12.01
and because Satan
could tell lies, my friends,
00:30:12.04\00:30:16.24
and God couldn't.
00:30:16.28\00:30:17.61
Many angels were
beguiled by these deceptions.
00:30:17.65\00:30:21.85
How could God have
responded to Lucifer?
00:30:21.88\00:30:26.86
I believe that His
response would reveal much
00:30:26.89\00:30:30.23
about the character of this
God of the great controversy.
00:30:30.26\00:30:33.63
He could, of course,
have destroyed Lucifer.
00:30:33.70\00:30:37.27
That would have crushed
the rebellion at the very heart
00:30:37.30\00:30:40.77
but perhaps Lucifer knew things
00:30:40.80\00:30:44.57
since he was the angel
standing next to God's throne,
00:30:44.61\00:30:48.28
he knew more
about God's dealings
00:30:48.31\00:30:51.08
than any other angel in heaven,
00:30:51.11\00:30:53.82
perhaps he knew something
that God doesn't want revealed
00:30:53.88\00:30:59.12
and therefore, He destroys him.
00:30:59.15\00:31:01.42
My dear friends, if
God had taken that...
00:31:01.46\00:31:05.43
just made that decision...
00:31:05.46\00:31:06.80
it would have upset the
very basic rule in heaven
00:31:06.83\00:31:11.17
of love... not fear
00:31:11.20\00:31:15.07
and the relationship with
the other angels at that time
00:31:15.10\00:31:19.01
would have
changed from love to fear
00:31:19.04\00:31:21.68
and would have caused...
00:31:21.74\00:31:23.68
have backed up Satan's
charge that God was a tyrant
00:31:23.71\00:31:27.62
obliterating
anybody who stood in his way
00:31:27.65\00:31:30.89
and of course such a
decision would not prevent
00:31:30.92\00:31:34.36
rebellion arising
up some... another time
00:31:34.39\00:31:36.99
because all the other
angels had the power of choice
00:31:37.03\00:31:40.53
but then, God could also
have taken away from Lucifer
00:31:40.56\00:31:44.03
the power of choice.
00:31:44.07\00:31:45.73
He could have said,
"Okay, if you've done this...
00:31:45.80\00:31:48.54
I'm going to take away
from you the power of choice
00:31:48.57\00:31:51.27
and never again will you choose
the path of rebellion... "
00:31:51.31\00:31:54.31
pause
00:31:54.34\00:31:56.95
but that's not possible...
00:31:56.98\00:31:58.95
not for a God of love.
00:31:59.01\00:32:00.48
The only
response my dear friends
00:32:00.52\00:32:04.55
of a God who is love
00:32:04.59\00:32:06.15
was to allow the controversy
between Himself and Lucifer
00:32:06.19\00:32:10.49
to be played out to the very end
00:32:10.53\00:32:12.76
to reveal to the universe
the true nature of God...
00:32:12.79\00:32:16.83
what He was really like...
00:32:16.87\00:32:18.57
the righteousness
of God's government
00:32:18.63\00:32:20.97
and the consequences of Satan's
character and of his government.
00:32:21.00\00:32:27.11
I want you to notice
some very important words
00:32:27.14\00:32:30.01
that were written in
"Patriarchs and Prophets"
00:32:30.05\00:32:32.85
page 42.
00:32:32.88\00:32:34.62
"For the good of
the entire universe... "
00:32:34.65\00:32:38.05
listen to this,
00:32:38.09\00:32:39.42
not just little planet Earth...
00:32:39.45\00:32:41.29
we can become so
localized in our thinking
00:32:41.32\00:32:43.69
that we fail to realize
that there's a whole universe
00:32:43.73\00:32:47.30
that is involved in in what
we're talking about this morning
00:32:47.33\00:32:50.53
"For the good of
the entire universe
00:32:50.57\00:32:51.97
through ceaseless ages,
00:32:52.00\00:32:53.64
Satan... he must more
fully develop his principles,
00:32:53.70\00:32:57.31
that his charges against the
divine government might be seen
00:32:57.34\00:33:01.24
in their true light
by all created beings,
00:33:01.31\00:33:05.01
and that the
justice and mercy of God
00:33:05.05\00:33:08.68
and the immutability of His law
00:33:08.72\00:33:12.15
might be forever
placed beyond question. "
00:33:12.19\00:33:16.69
And so, the Biblical
record in Revelation chapter 12
00:33:16.73\00:33:21.66
is very simple,
00:33:21.70\00:33:23.40
but as a result
of that war in heaven
00:33:23.43\00:33:26.30
and the decisions
that a God of love made,
00:33:26.33\00:33:28.70
in Revelation 12
and verses 8 and 9,
00:33:28.74\00:33:32.34
we read these words,
00:33:32.37\00:33:34.14
"They didn't prevail... "
00:33:34.18\00:33:36.58
these angels and
Lucifer in heaven,
00:33:36.61\00:33:38.98
"neither was a place
for them found any longer...
00:33:39.01\00:33:41.32
the great dragon was cast out,
00:33:41.35\00:33:42.68
that old serpent,
called the Devil and Satan
00:33:42.72\00:33:45.39
who deceives the whole world,
00:33:45.45\00:33:47.82
he was cast out
to the earth... "
00:33:47.86\00:33:50.16
and this earth
became the battleground
00:33:50.19\00:33:53.46
for the ongoing
great controversy.
00:33:53.50\00:33:56.73
In Genesis 2 as you
know... well know dear friends,
00:33:56.77\00:34:00.04
tells the tragic story of
the temptation of Satan...
00:34:00.40\00:34:04.77
that Satan set before
those two perfect beings...
00:34:04.81\00:34:09.24
beings who had been also
made with freedom to choose
00:34:09.28\00:34:13.72
pause
00:34:13.75\00:34:17.02
they believed this creature,
Satan... rather than God
00:34:17.05\00:34:21.86
and the
consequences you and I see
00:34:21.89\00:34:26.59
in our world of today.
00:34:26.66\00:34:28.06
But at this time we
see a wonderful revelation
00:34:28.10\00:34:31.23
of the character
of God the Father
00:34:31.27\00:34:33.07
because He called a
council with His Son
00:34:33.10\00:34:36.04
and because of their
great love for the human race,
00:34:36.07\00:34:39.11
for the fallen race...
00:34:39.14\00:34:40.48
they made public... a wonderful
plan for saving the human race
00:34:40.51\00:34:45.28
from the consequences...
the awful consequences of sin.
00:34:45.31\00:34:49.52
A plan... we are told
that had been kept in silence
00:34:49.55\00:34:53.76
from the days of eternity.
00:34:53.79\00:34:56.12
Jesus, the second of the
godhead would come to earth
00:34:56.16\00:35:02.33
and give His life
as a ransom for many...
00:35:02.36\00:35:04.23
He would take upon
Himself the sentence of death
00:35:04.27\00:35:06.84
that the human race deserved
00:35:06.87\00:35:10.21
so that whoever believes in Him
00:35:10.24\00:35:13.48
should not perish but
have everlasting life.
00:35:13.51\00:35:17.28
What love!
00:35:17.31\00:35:18.78
Reluctantly we must pass through
00:35:18.81\00:35:21.62
the Old Testament outworkings
of the great controversy
00:35:21.65\00:35:24.92
and what is revealed
about the character of God there
00:35:24.95\00:35:28.19
for very quickly but
for a brief diversion
00:35:28.22\00:35:31.59
into Exodus 33... and I'll
share that in just a moment.
00:35:31.63\00:35:34.86
But finally the time
came in this great controversy
00:35:34.93\00:35:38.13
when He who was God
came into human form
00:35:38.17\00:35:41.90
and how beautifully
did the apostle Paul
00:35:41.94\00:35:45.64
describe these words...
00:35:45.67\00:35:47.11
describe this
action of condescension
00:35:47.18\00:35:49.94
in Philippians 2, "Let
this mind be in you... "
00:35:49.98\00:35:53.21
you know the text,
"which was also in Christ Jesus"
00:35:53.25\00:35:56.42
think about what is said here,
"Who, being in the form of God,
00:35:56.45\00:36:01.86
did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God:
00:36:01.92\00:36:05.33
but made himself
of no reputation,
00:36:05.36\00:36:09.10
taking the form
of a bondservant,
00:36:09.13\00:36:13.13
and coming in
the likeness of men:
00:36:13.20\00:36:17.14
and being found in
appearance as a man,
00:36:17.17\00:36:21.78
he humbled
himself, and became obedient
00:36:21.81\00:36:26.38
to the point of death,
even the death of the cross. "
00:36:26.41\00:36:32.25
God... His
character demonstrated
00:36:32.29\00:36:39.06
here is described the most
wonderful revelation of God
00:36:39.09\00:36:44.30
that you and I can
read of in Scripture.
00:36:44.33\00:36:47.97
In the death... the life...
00:36:48.00\00:36:50.51
the death and the
resurrection of Jesus,
00:36:50.54\00:36:52.27
but we need to see this
event in the light of a request
00:36:52.31\00:36:56.91
that Moses made of God
some 1,500 years before
00:36:56.95\00:37:01.28
that's recorded in
the book of Exodus.
00:37:01.32\00:37:03.75
Reference was made to it,
I think, last night as well
00:37:03.79\00:37:07.19
but I want you to
notice this request,
00:37:07.26\00:37:09.72
for the first
time in human history,
00:37:09.76\00:37:12.19
a man made a request
of God, "Show me... "
00:37:12.23\00:37:16.16
do you remember what it was?
00:37:16.20\00:37:17.53
"Show me Your...
show me Your glory...
00:37:17.57\00:37:20.64
Your glory... "
00:37:20.67\00:37:22.00
Israel had just
violated the commandment of God
00:37:22.04\00:37:24.87
that they just received
from... on Mount Sinai...
00:37:24.91\00:37:27.98
and then you remember
00:37:28.01\00:37:29.94
Moses had broken
the tables of stone
00:37:29.98\00:37:32.81
and wondered how
could God love a people
00:37:32.85\00:37:35.92
that had heard His
Law and then broken it
00:37:35.95\00:37:38.99
dancing naked
around a golden calf,
00:37:39.02\00:37:41.19
pause...
00:37:41.22\00:37:43.96
at that time, Moses says,
"I want to see Your glory,
00:37:43.99\00:37:46.73
what kind of a God are You
00:37:46.76\00:37:49.13
that's going to lead
these people out of Egypt
00:37:49.16\00:37:51.47
into the promised land?"
00:37:51.50\00:37:52.97
And you remember in
Exodus chapter 33 and verse 19,
00:37:53.03\00:37:58.21
God said, "I will
make all My goodness
00:37:58.24\00:38:01.84
pass before you,
00:38:01.88\00:38:04.15
and I will proclaim
the name of the Lord
00:38:04.18\00:38:07.42
because the character
of God... His goodness
00:38:07.45\00:38:10.69
is equivalent to His name"
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.79
and we read in the next
few verses in Exodus 34,
00:38:12.82\00:38:17.46
where Moses was invited to
go up to the top of Mount Sinai
00:38:17.49\00:38:20.96
with two more tablets of stone,
00:38:21.00\00:38:22.96
for God to re-write
the Ten Commandments
00:38:23.03\00:38:25.33
and while he was
there, the Lord passed by him,
00:38:25.37\00:38:30.34
and proclaimed His
name... His character...
00:38:30.37\00:38:35.31
His goodness and love...
00:38:35.34\00:38:37.35
because I read in the
New Living translation
00:38:37.38\00:38:41.25
verses 6 and 7,
00:38:41.28\00:38:43.89
God passed in
front of Moses and said,
00:38:43.92\00:38:46.55
"I am the Lord, the
merciful and gracious God,
00:38:46.59\00:38:51.43
I am slow to anger
00:38:51.46\00:38:53.50
and rich in unfailing
love and faithfulness,
00:38:53.53\00:38:56.80
I show this unfailing
love to many thousands
00:38:56.83\00:39:00.07
by forgiving
every sin and rebellion
00:39:00.10\00:39:04.21
even so, I do not
leave sin unpunished.
00:39:04.24\00:39:08.28
That last sentence has
been described by somebody
00:39:08.31\00:39:12.55
as the dark line in God's face
00:39:12.58\00:39:15.08
but when we stop
to think about it
00:39:15.12\00:39:17.59
and it explains some of those
"heavy-to-believe" episodes
00:39:17.62\00:39:21.59
in the Old Testament
00:39:21.62\00:39:22.96
where God doesn't seem to
reveal the character of God...
00:39:22.99\00:39:26.19
the character of God
00:39:26.23\00:39:27.86
that God's justice is a
necessary part of his love,
00:39:27.93\00:39:32.57
and 1,500 years later
after Moses made that request,
00:39:32.60\00:39:37.21
on the night before Jesus died,
00:39:37.24\00:39:39.41
Jesus looked back on His
life in His High Priestly prayer
00:39:39.44\00:39:45.48
recorded in John 17,
00:39:45.51\00:39:47.72
that prayer that He
prayed the Thursday night...
00:39:47.75\00:39:51.99
the next day... He was to die
00:39:52.02\00:39:54.32
and in that prayer,
00:39:54.36\00:39:56.62
we read in John
chapter 17, verse 3,
00:39:56.66\00:39:59.56
the theme of this
weekend, "This is life eternal,
00:39:59.59\00:40:03.63
that they might know
You the only true God,
00:40:03.67\00:40:06.33
and Jesus Christ,
whom You have sent. "
00:40:06.37\00:40:09.04
But dear
friends, what amazes me,
00:40:09.07\00:40:11.07
is the statement that He
made in that prayer in verse 6,
00:40:11.11\00:40:15.64
we're looking back on
His life... on His ministry
00:40:15.68\00:40:19.11
those thee-and-a-half years,
00:40:19.15\00:40:20.65
He said to His
Father that night,
00:40:20.68\00:40:22.68
"And now, O Father,
00:40:22.72\00:40:24.19
glorify Me
together with Yourself,
00:40:24.22\00:40:26.96
with the glory
that I had with You
00:40:27.02\00:40:29.72
before the world was.
00:40:29.76\00:40:31.09
I have manifested Your name
to the men you've given Me. "
00:40:31.13\00:40:36.77
Remember Moses' request?
00:40:36.83\00:40:38.73
"I want to see Your glory. "
00:40:38.80\00:40:40.67
And the Lord said,
"My glory is My name...
00:40:40.70\00:40:43.47
My character of love. "
00:40:43.51\00:40:45.37
And here this God who
became man says to His Father,
00:40:45.41\00:40:50.41
"I have manifested
Your name before men. "
00:40:50.45\00:40:55.85
The message paraphrased...
00:40:55.88\00:40:59.69
"I spelled out
Your character in detail
00:40:59.75\00:41:03.79
to the men and
women you gave me. "
00:41:03.83\00:41:07.76
But dear friends, did
you notice in Scripture
00:41:07.83\00:41:11.20
that earlier
that same evening...
00:41:11.23\00:41:13.64
the Thursday
night before Jesus died,
00:41:13.67\00:41:15.90
Jesus was in
conversation with His disciples
00:41:15.94\00:41:20.34
and one of them came
with a request of Jesus
00:41:20.38\00:41:24.75
in verse 8 of chapter 14,
00:41:24.78\00:41:27.05
where Philip said to Him,
"Lord, show us the Father. "
00:41:27.12\00:41:32.85
Jesus says, just a little
while later to His Father,
00:41:32.89\00:41:38.59
I've manifested
your character...
00:41:38.63\00:41:40.43
I've told the
world what you're like"
00:41:40.46\00:41:42.83
how disappointed
Jesus must have been
00:41:42.86\00:41:45.23
to hear one of
His disciples say,
00:41:45.27\00:41:47.77
"After all
this, what's God like?
00:41:47.80\00:41:50.07
Show us the Father. "
00:41:50.11\00:41:51.64
Pause.
00:41:51.67\00:41:54.01
There follows
those wonderful words
00:41:54.04\00:41:57.18
where Jesus said
to him in verse 9,
00:41:57.21\00:42:00.28
"Have I been with you so long
and yet you have not known Me?"
00:42:00.32\00:42:06.89
I hear Jesus...
those words almost dripping
00:42:06.92\00:42:10.99
with the
disappointment of Jesus.
00:42:11.03\00:42:12.83
"Have I been so long with you
00:42:12.86\00:42:15.23
that you haven't known
what the Father is like?"
00:42:15.26\00:42:17.03
and then He said,
"He who has seen me... "
00:42:17.07\00:42:19.57
what? Do you remember the text?
00:42:19.60\00:42:20.94
"has seen... " who?
00:42:20.97\00:42:22.57
"The Father"
00:42:22.60\00:42:23.94
and I could well imagine
that Jesus may have been tempted
00:42:23.97\00:42:27.64
at least to say on to Philip,
00:42:27.68\00:42:30.51
"Oh Philip, do you
remember those villages
00:42:30.55\00:42:32.75
where they were
filled with the sick
00:42:32.78\00:42:35.05
and when I walked out
of the end of the village,
00:42:35.08\00:42:37.79
I looked back and there wasn't
one sick person left there,
00:42:37.82\00:42:41.26
that's the Father,
00:42:41.29\00:42:43.73
do you
remember, Philip, the day,
00:42:43.76\00:42:45.99
when that woman
caught in the act of adultery
00:42:46.03\00:42:48.23
was dragged into My presence
00:42:48.26\00:42:49.76
and I could assure her
that her sins were forgiven,
00:42:49.80\00:42:53.64
'Go and sin no more. '
00:42:53.67\00:42:55.57
Philip, that's what
God the Father is like
00:42:55.60\00:43:00.28
and when I fed those 5,000
men plus women and children
00:43:00.31\00:43:04.38
with five loaves and two fish,
00:43:04.41\00:43:06.05
seeing their need and I
wanted them to understand
00:43:06.08\00:43:09.48
that God the Father can
supply all their need...
00:43:09.52\00:43:12.85
God's like that
00:43:12.89\00:43:14.72
and you remember
Philip, the day when we stood
00:43:14.76\00:43:18.23
in front of the tomb of Lazarus,
00:43:18.29\00:43:19.83
he'd been dead for four days
00:43:19.86\00:43:22.23
and you remember,
I just said to him,
00:43:22.26\00:43:25.00
"Lazarus, come forth"
00:43:25.03\00:43:26.77
and he who was
dead... came forth.
00:43:26.80\00:43:30.21
That's what the Father's like. "
00:43:30.27\00:43:33.14
And of course,
the very next day,
00:43:33.17\00:43:36.01
we see Jesus tried, condemned,
00:43:36.04\00:43:38.85
and nailed to the cross,
00:43:38.88\00:43:40.68
suffering for the next six
hours the most terrible agony
00:43:40.72\00:43:44.22
of body and mind
00:43:44.25\00:43:45.69
and as the guilt of
every descendent of Adam...
00:43:45.72\00:43:48.62
all of our guilt here
in church this morning...
00:43:48.66\00:43:51.73
plus the guilt of the
world was laid upon Him...
00:43:51.76\00:43:54.76
the wrath of God against sin
filled Him with consternation.
00:43:54.80\00:44:00.40
We're told that the
withdrawal of His Father's face
00:44:00.44\00:44:03.51
from the Savior... in
this hour of supreme anguish
00:44:03.54\00:44:06.57
pierced His heart with a sorrow
00:44:06.61\00:44:08.94
that could never be
fully understood by man.
00:44:08.98\00:44:11.95
Do you realize, dear
friends, that afternoon
00:44:11.98\00:44:14.92
that for the first
time in eternity...
00:44:14.95\00:44:18.82
you and me... we
cannot really understand
00:44:18.85\00:44:22.72
the anguish that that produced
00:44:22.76\00:44:24.13
but for the
first time in eternity,
00:44:24.16\00:44:26.80
of the relationship that
the Son had with the Father,
00:44:26.83\00:44:30.33
Jesus felt absolutely alone...
00:44:30.37\00:44:33.44
think there is no greater
revelation of the love of God...
00:44:33.47\00:44:38.24
the love of the God
of the great controversy
00:44:38.27\00:44:40.61
than this moment on the cross,
00:44:40.64\00:44:42.68
I read in "Desire
of Ages" page 753,
00:44:42.71\00:44:46.25
"Satan with his
fierce temptations
00:44:46.28\00:44:49.78
wrung the heart of Jesus.
00:44:49.82\00:44:51.75
The Savior could not see
through the portals of the tomb.
00:44:51.82\00:44:55.19
Hope did not present to Him
00:44:55.22\00:44:57.86
His coming forth from
the grave as a conqueror,
00:44:57.89\00:45:00.73
or tell Him of the Father's
acceptance of His sacrifice.
00:45:00.80\00:45:05.33
He feared that sin
was so offensive to God
00:45:05.37\00:45:09.80
that Their
separation was to be eternal. "
00:45:09.84\00:45:14.11
Think about what that means.
00:45:14.18\00:45:16.34
"It was the sense of sin,
00:45:16.38\00:45:18.51
bringing the
Father's wrath upon Him
00:45:18.55\00:45:20.18
as man's substitute,
00:45:20.22\00:45:21.55
that made the cup
He drank so bitter,
00:45:21.58\00:45:26.15
and broke the heart
of the Son of God. "
00:45:26.19\00:45:30.83
He died of a broken heart...
00:45:30.86\00:45:35.33
a broken heart.
00:45:35.36\00:45:38.13
Therefore, can we
hear the agonizing cry,
00:45:38.17\00:45:43.74
"My God... Lama Sabachthani
00:45:43.77\00:45:45.87
My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me?"
00:45:45.91\00:45:49.98
Because He was tied to that
cross, dear friends, by love...
00:45:50.01\00:45:55.25
love for each one
of us here this morning
00:45:55.28\00:45:57.85
that you and I might have
life with Him for eternity.
00:45:57.89\00:46:01.82
Here was the ultimate evidence
to the watching universe
00:46:01.89\00:46:05.79
of the length and the
breadth and the height
00:46:05.83\00:46:07.76
and depth of
God's love and grace
00:46:07.80\00:46:09.60
that He desires to save sinners
and grant them forgiveness
00:46:09.63\00:46:14.00
and the gift of eternal life.
00:46:14.04\00:46:16.47
Dear friends, I believe that
there was no greater display
00:46:16.50\00:46:20.78
of the falsity of
Satan's charges in the beginning
00:46:20.81\00:46:24.28
that God was a
tyrant but in that moment...
00:46:24.31\00:46:28.08
that Friday afternoon...
00:46:28.15\00:46:31.12
1st John 4:9 and 10 says,
00:46:31.15\00:46:34.09
"God showed how
much He loved us"
00:46:34.12\00:46:37.33
by sending His
own Son into the world
00:46:37.39\00:46:40.53
so that we might have
eternal life through Him.
00:46:40.56\00:46:44.97
This is real life... it
is not that we loved God
00:46:45.03\00:46:49.04
but that He loved us and
sent His son as a sacrifice
00:46:49.07\00:46:53.07
to take away our sins. "
00:46:53.11\00:46:56.31
Jesus died... but the
grave could not hold Him.
00:46:56.34\00:47:02.22
Had He remained in the
grave that day, dear friends,
00:47:02.25\00:47:06.29
there would be no final victory
00:47:06.32\00:47:07.96
in the great controversy
00:47:07.99\00:47:10.13
played out before
the watching universe.
00:47:10.16\00:47:12.66
When on that Sunday morning,
Jesus arose, death was conquered
00:47:12.69\00:47:17.17
death was conquered
00:47:17.20\00:47:18.63
and Satan knew
that his cause was lost,
00:47:18.70\00:47:21.47
that his kingdom
would have an end
00:47:21.50\00:47:24.01
and that finally
he would be destroyed
00:47:24.04\00:47:26.07
and that's why we read
in Revelation 12 verse 12
00:47:26.11\00:47:29.58
the devil has now come
down as a result of the cross
00:47:29.61\00:47:33.01
having great wrath
00:47:33.08\00:47:35.68
because he knows
his time is short,
00:47:35.72\00:47:39.89
he also knew that Jesus
had promised to come back again
00:47:39.92\00:47:44.79
and so, in that third
aspect of God's character,
00:47:44.83\00:47:50.00
we see it declared
00:47:50.03\00:47:52.03
because time permits us an all
too brief review of the events
00:47:52.07\00:47:56.84
that are
involving God's character
00:47:56.87\00:47:58.54
as the great
controversy draws to a close,
00:47:58.57\00:48:01.54
but as we do, we
need to ask the question,
00:48:01.58\00:48:04.51
since Jesus showed the
falsity of Satan's charges,
00:48:04.55\00:48:08.78
2000 years ago,
00:48:08.82\00:48:10.15
why are there 2,000
years of Satan's malignity
00:48:10.19\00:48:13.86
and his hatred against
the human race continuing?
00:48:13.89\00:48:17.63
Haven't events
within the last 2,000 years
00:48:17.69\00:48:21.83
proved to the watching
universe the malignity of Satan?
00:48:21.86\00:48:26.43
And I offer you very
quickly several reasons,
00:48:26.47\00:48:29.57
there are many but
I want to suggest two,
00:48:29.60\00:48:33.78
at the beginning
Satan wanted worship
00:48:33.81\00:48:37.91
pause
00:48:37.95\00:48:40.58
he wanted worship...
00:48:40.62\00:48:41.95
he wanted to be
Number One in the universe
00:48:41.98\00:48:44.62
and therefore, I
read the amazing verse
00:48:44.65\00:48:47.46
that's found in Revelation
chapter 13 and verse 8
00:48:47.49\00:48:51.36
where the Bible
says that in the last...
00:48:51.39\00:48:54.16
very last days of time,
00:48:54.20\00:48:55.90
all that dwell on the earth
will worship a beast power...
00:48:55.96\00:49:01.40
a beast power that is a symbol
of a religious organization
00:49:01.44\00:49:06.88
and a political organization
00:49:06.91\00:49:08.28
that will grow up
during that 2,000-year period,
00:49:08.31\00:49:11.51
but that eventually,
00:49:11.55\00:49:14.22
all the world is
going to worship this beast
00:49:14.25\00:49:16.62
whose names have not been
written in the Book of Life
00:49:16.65\00:49:20.02
which means that those
whose names are written
00:49:20.06\00:49:23.56
in the Book of Life... will
not be worshipping the beast
00:49:23.59\00:49:26.16
pause...
00:49:26.19\00:49:29.53
but I want you to notice having
read that verse dear friends,
00:49:29.56\00:49:32.77
that the Bible tells me
00:49:32.80\00:49:35.34
that with all the
world worshiping this beast,
00:49:35.37\00:49:39.51
they are, in
reality, worshiping Satan.
00:49:39.54\00:49:45.01
Pause.
00:49:45.05\00:49:47.52
Think about what I'm saying,
00:49:47.58\00:49:49.02
he wanted worship...
00:49:49.05\00:49:51.99
he attacked God's character
00:49:52.02\00:49:55.52
and before Jesus can return,
00:49:55.56\00:49:58.99
this power must be allowed
to demonstrate to the fullest
00:49:59.03\00:50:04.60
his extent of deceiving
the world into worship.
00:50:04.63\00:50:09.37
God needed to give
Satan time, you remember,
00:50:09.40\00:50:12.84
to display the ultimate
results of his way of government
00:50:12.87\00:50:16.44
and in this power,
the book of Revelation
00:50:16.48\00:50:19.31
which incidentally, you remember
00:50:19.38\00:50:20.92
is called the
Revelation of Jesus,
00:50:20.95\00:50:22.38
tells us that the time
is going to come at the end
00:50:22.42\00:50:26.92
when almost all the world...
00:50:26.96\00:50:28.99
Satan will almost
have his aim achieved,
00:50:29.02\00:50:32.23
when the world
worships the beast.
00:50:32.29\00:50:36.67
When that display is fully
achieved... Jesus will come.
00:50:36.70\00:50:41.47
But there's a second reason
that's related to this delay
00:50:41.50\00:50:46.24
also that I would mention
00:50:46.27\00:50:47.78
and that's
related to the first...
00:50:47.81\00:50:50.88
because God has
known of Satan's desire
00:50:50.91\00:50:54.95
to place himself on the throne
00:50:54.98\00:50:57.69
and because God knew in advance
00:50:57.72\00:51:00.39
and as we see in
the book of Revelation
00:51:00.42\00:51:02.29
that he would accomplish his aim
00:51:02.32\00:51:05.56
of deceiving the
world into worshiping Him,
00:51:05.59\00:51:08.16
He did... God did what only a
God of love and justice would do
00:51:08.20\00:51:13.50
all the world must be warned
00:51:13.54\00:51:15.70
of that crisis
to come at the end,
00:51:15.74\00:51:19.17
all the world must
understand the issues involved,
00:51:19.21\00:51:23.01
Jesus had
predicted in Matthew 24,
00:51:23.04\00:51:25.55
"And this gospel of the
kingdom should be preached... "
00:51:25.58\00:51:28.02
whereabouts? "in all the world
00:51:28.05\00:51:30.39
as a witness to all nations
and then shall the end come. "
00:51:30.42\00:51:34.62
And included in the preaching of
that final appeal to the world
00:51:34.66\00:51:40.43
surely a God of love
00:51:40.46\00:51:43.70
seeing what Satan
would do at the end of time,
00:51:43.73\00:51:47.90
in his desire for worship,
He would send the warning
00:51:47.94\00:51:52.67
because a God of love
would always send warnings
00:51:52.71\00:51:57.38
to the people of the world
00:51:57.41\00:51:59.51
and that's why dear friends
in the book of Revelation
00:51:59.55\00:52:02.68
chapter 14 and you know it well,
00:52:02.72\00:52:04.62
there is report of the
last message to go to the world
00:52:04.65\00:52:08.86
and I'm encouraged as I read
it in Revelation chapter 14,
00:52:08.89\00:52:13.03
where it says in verse 6,
00:52:13.09\00:52:15.26
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:52:15.30\00:52:17.67
having... " what?
00:52:17.70\00:52:19.03
"the everlasting... " what?
00:52:19.07\00:52:21.27
The good news... the
everlasting gospel to preach
00:52:21.30\00:52:24.47
Jesus said, "When the
gospel has gone to the world,
00:52:24.51\00:52:27.64
then the end will come. "
00:52:27.68\00:52:29.14
And here now, in
the book of Revelation,
00:52:29.18\00:52:31.48
we see the fulfillment of that
00:52:31.51\00:52:32.95
with the message
going to the whole world
00:52:32.98\00:52:35.92
which is the gospel,
saying with a loud voice,
00:52:35.95\00:52:38.95
"Fear God, give glory to Him,
00:52:38.99\00:52:40.32
for the hour of
His judgment is come,
00:52:40.36\00:52:42.52
and worship... "
notice that word...
00:52:42.56\00:52:45.53
"Him who made the
heavens and the earth
00:52:45.56\00:52:47.90
and the sea and
the springs of water"
00:52:47.93\00:52:50.23
who is that?
00:52:50.27\00:52:51.60
The Bible tells me...
Colossians 1, Hebrews 1, John 1,
00:52:51.63\00:52:56.54
that Jesus was the Creator,
00:52:56.57\00:52:59.54
this last message
to go to the world
00:52:59.57\00:53:02.38
based upon the
everlasting gospel
00:53:02.41\00:53:05.31
will call the
world to worship Jesus,
00:53:05.35\00:53:08.18
but I go on and read down
to the third angel's message
00:53:08.22\00:53:12.45
that follows
00:53:12.49\00:53:13.82
and it says this
in verse 9 and 10,
00:53:13.86\00:53:15.96
"Then a third angel followed
them, saying with a loud voice,
00:53:15.99\00:53:19.13
'If anyone worships
the beast and his image,
00:53:19.16\00:53:22.16
and receives his mark on
his forehead or on his hand,
00:53:22.20\00:53:24.63
he himself also shall drink
of the wine of the wrath of God,
00:53:24.67\00:53:29.00
which is poured
out full strength
00:53:29.04\00:53:31.21
into the cup of
his indignation. '"
00:53:31.24\00:53:33.38
Pause...
00:53:33.41\00:53:35.91
Do you notice... the God of
love who is seeing the future
00:53:35.94\00:53:40.32
sends a message...
00:53:40.35\00:53:42.08
there will be a temptation
that will come to all the world
00:53:42.12\00:53:46.76
to worship the beast
00:53:46.79\00:53:48.12
and all the world
will succumb practically,
00:53:48.16\00:53:50.73
except for a
small group of people
00:53:50.76\00:53:52.89
and this God of
love warns what's coming.
00:53:52.93\00:53:57.53
Dear friends, at first a
friend of mine said to me
00:53:57.57\00:54:01.64
a little while ago,
00:54:01.67\00:54:03.57
when I pointed out
to him verses 9 and 10,
00:54:03.61\00:54:06.11
"and the wrath of God
poured out unmixed with mercy"
00:54:06.14\00:54:09.44
he said to me,
00:54:09.48\00:54:11.48
"Allan, where's the love
of your God in these verses?"
00:54:11.51\00:54:17.29
Do you know what I said to him?
00:54:17.32\00:54:20.89
It's precisely
because God is love
00:54:20.92\00:54:24.43
that he sends a warning to
all the people of the world
00:54:24.46\00:54:29.76
and when that message
has gone to all the world,
00:54:29.83\00:54:34.24
then Jesus will come
00:54:34.27\00:54:35.77
but it's only
God's love, in a sense,
00:54:35.80\00:54:38.44
that's holding Him back
until all the world is warned
00:54:38.47\00:54:42.18
and all the world
has made a decision...
00:54:42.24\00:54:44.91
it's precisely
because of that great love
00:54:44.95\00:54:47.58
that Jesus is sending this
final message to the world.
00:54:47.62\00:54:53.49
Dear friends,
before Jesus comes,
00:54:53.52\00:54:56.09
the Bible tells
me that God's glory
00:54:56.12\00:54:58.59
is going to arise on His people.
00:54:58.63\00:55:01.06
A time when gross darkness...
in Isaiah 60 verses 1 and 2
00:55:01.10\00:55:05.60
covers the world
and surely that is today
00:55:05.63\00:55:08.04
the glory of the Lord
will rise upon His people.
00:55:08.10\00:55:13.11
Remember, "Surely your glory"
00:55:13.14\00:55:15.71
what was the glory?
00:55:15.74\00:55:17.48
The name... the character of God
00:55:17.51\00:55:19.78
that's to be
seen upon God's people
00:55:19.81\00:55:21.98
and therefore I read in
"Christ's Object Lessons"
00:55:22.05\00:55:24.99
page 415,
00:55:25.02\00:55:26.35
"It is the darkness
of misapprehension of God
00:55:26.39\00:55:29.32
that is enshrouding the world.
00:55:29.36\00:55:31.26
Men are losing their
knowledge of His character. "
00:55:31.29\00:55:33.80
Notice that...
00:55:33.86\00:55:35.20
the darkness lost
understanding of His character.
00:55:35.23\00:55:38.23
"It is being misunderstood
and misinterpreted.
00:55:38.27\00:55:41.30
At this time... a message
from God is to be proclaimed,
00:55:41.34\00:55:45.27
a message
illuminating in its influence
00:55:45.31\00:55:47.91
and saving in its power.
00:55:47.94\00:55:49.84
His character is
to be made known. "
00:55:49.88\00:55:52.75
And then, following on,
00:55:52.78\00:55:55.32
"The last rays
of merciful light,
00:55:55.35\00:55:57.82
the last message of
mercy to be given to the world,
00:55:57.85\00:56:01.12
is a revelation of
His character of love. "
00:56:01.19\00:56:06.39
And that's your role
and mine, dear friends,
00:56:06.46\00:56:11.57
The last message... is it
not the three angels' messages?
00:56:11.60\00:56:16.27
Yes, but the last message to go
00:56:16.30\00:56:18.97
is a message of
His character of love.
00:56:19.01\00:56:22.38
What a day when
all that's fulfilled!
00:56:22.41\00:56:25.75
What a day!
00:56:25.78\00:56:27.35
Could we with
ink the ocean fill,
00:56:27.42\00:56:30.55
And were the
skies of parchment made;
00:56:30.59\00:56:33.05
Were every stalk
on earth a quill,
00:56:33.09\00:56:35.32
And every man a scribe by trade;
00:56:35.36\00:56:37.46
To write the love of God above
00:56:37.49\00:56:39.56
Would drain the ocean dry;
00:56:39.59\00:56:41.33
Nor could the
scroll contain the whole,
00:56:41.36\00:56:45.17
Though
stretched from sky to sky.
00:56:45.20\00:56:49.64
My dear friends,
00:56:49.67\00:56:51.67
do you love the God revealed
in the great controversy?
00:56:51.71\00:56:55.48
Have you made Him your friend?
00:56:55.51\00:56:57.95
Let us bow our heads,
00:56:57.98\00:56:59.75
"Dear Father, we thank
you for this revelation of God
00:56:59.81\00:57:03.35
that has come to us.
00:57:03.39\00:57:04.95
A God who not only
loves the universe,
00:57:04.99\00:57:07.82
loving the angels,
00:57:07.86\00:57:09.56
but also who has
loved us each one enough
00:57:09.62\00:57:13.43
for Jesus to die
00:57:13.46\00:57:15.43
that we might have
the hope of eternal life
00:57:15.46\00:57:18.23
help us dear Father
to reflect that love
00:57:18.27\00:57:21.00
into the lives of those we meet
00:57:21.04\00:57:22.87
and we ask it in
Jesus' precious name, amen. "
00:57:22.90\00:57:28.14