Let's pray.
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Our Father and our God, once
again we approach Your throne
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because we need Your help.
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This is a very, very important
subject on the antichrist
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sitting in the temple of God.
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And we need divine wisdom.
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We need
understanding from on high.
00:00:46.59\00:00:49.48
So we ask for Your presence
through the ministration
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of the Holy Spirit.
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I ask, Lord, that
You'll give us tender hearts
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and open minds to receive
the truth as it is in Jesus.
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And we thank You for hearing
our prayer, for we ask it
00:01:01.24\00:01:03.56
in Jesus' name, amen.
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In our last study, we analyzed
what the Bible has to say
00:01:07.86\00:01:12.43
about the antichrist.
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And we were studying the passage
of the apostle Paul that is
00:01:14.51\00:01:17.51
found in 2
Thessalonians chapter 2.
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And basically we noticed
that in the Christian world
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there are two ideas concerning
the identity of the antichrist.
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The first idea is that
the antichrist was a nasty
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individual that arose
in Old Testament times
00:01:31.99\00:01:35.17
called Antiochus Epiphanes who
lived between 171 and 164 BC.
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Other Christians,
mainly conservative Christians,
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believe that the antichrist
is a future nasty individual
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who's going to arise and
sit in a rebuilt Jewish temple
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after the rapture of the church.
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In other words, for
most Christians in the world,
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the antichrist either
already came in the distant past
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or the
antichrist has not yet come.
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But in our last study, we
noticed that the first stage
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of the antichrist
has already taken place
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in Christian history.
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Because Scripture
tells us that the antichrist
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was going to sit
in the temple of God.
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And the temple of God
represents the church.
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And so it is a system
that claims allegiance to
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Jesus Christ but
actually betrays Jesus Christ,
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even though it professes to
serve Him and to preach Him.
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Now we want to begin
today where we left off
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in our last lecture.
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2 Thessalonians
chapter 2 and verse 5.
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2 Thessalonians 2 verse 5
tells us that the apostle Paul
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had already told these
things to the Thessalonians.
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They already knew
everything that he had said
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that we studied last time.
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Notice 2
Thessalonians 2 and verse 5.
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Here the apostle Paul
says, "Do you not remember
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that when I was still with
you I told you these things?"
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In other words, "This
shouldn't be new to you.
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I've already talked to
you about the antichrist."
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And then the apostle
Paul goes on to speak about
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the mysterious restrainer.
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This is something that was
holding back the antichrist
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from manifesting himself.
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From actually revealing
himself for what he was.
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Let's read that verse,
2 Thessalonians chapter 2
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and verse 6.
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"And now you know..."
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See, they even knew this; they
knew who the restrainer was.
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That is, the antichrist.
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Now as we noticed in our
last study, many Christians say,
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"Well you see, the personal
pronoun, 'he,' here indicates
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that this is an
individual, this is a person.
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Because the personal
pronoun, 'he,' is used."
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But we noticed four reasons
last time why just because
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the personal pronoun,
"he," is used, it doesn't mean
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that it's speaking about
an individual, but rather
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about a
succession of individuals.
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In other words, a system.
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Now there's an
interesting detail here.
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And it is that the apostle
Paul does not actually identify
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the restrainer by name.
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Now some Christians
believe that the restrainer
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is the Holy Spirit.
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That when the Holy
Spirit would be removed,
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then the antichrist
would be manifested.
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But I don't believe that
the restrainer here that kept
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the antichrist
from revealing himself
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actually was the Holy Spirit.
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Because if it had been the
Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul
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would have had no
problem identifying Him.
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But the apostle Paul here
is using ambiguous language.
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Because he's saying,
"You know what is restraining,
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that he may be
revealed in his own time."
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In other words, there's
some reason why the apostle Paul
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does not identify the
restrainer specifically by name.
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Now I want you to notice
the comment that was made by
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the noted Bible
commentary, Albert Barnes.
00:05:06.78\00:05:09.27
A very famous Bible commentator.
00:05:09.30\00:05:11.11
He had this to say about
the meaning of the restrainer
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who was keeping the man of
sin from manifesting himself.
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This is what he says,
"The belief among the primitive
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Christians was
that what hindered..."
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Another for restrained.
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"...what hindered the
rise of the man of sin
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was the Roman Empire.
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And therefore, they prayed
for its peace and welfare;
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as knowing that when the
Roman Empire should be dissolved
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and broken in pieces..."
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Don't forget that expression.
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"...and broken in pieces,
the empire of the man of sin
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would be raised on its ruins."
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In other words, the
restrainer was the Roman Empire.
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When the Roman
Empire was broken or divided
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in many pieces, then a
new empire would arise;
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which is the
empire of the antichrist.
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Now in order to understand
what the restrainer is,
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we must go back to
the Old Testament prophecy
00:06:11.19\00:06:15.29
that is being spoken
of by the apostle Paul.
00:06:15.32\00:06:18.52
Do you remember that
in our study last time,
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we talked a little
bit about the little horn?
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The little horn who
thought that it could change
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the law of God, that
ruled for 1260 years.
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Well the fact is that Daniel
chapter 7 shows us very clearly
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that the Roman Empire
would be broken in pieces.
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And then when it
was broken in pieces
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the little horn, or the
antichrist, would arise.
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In fact, let's read Daniel
chapter 7 and verses 23 and 24.
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Daniel chapter 7
and verses 23 and 24.
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"Thus he said, 'The
fourth beast shall be a
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fourth kingdom on earth...'"
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What does that fourth
beast represent in Daniel 7?
00:07:02.65\00:07:05.80
Remember, Babylon, Medo
Persia, Greece, and what?
00:07:06.18\00:07:09.69
And Rome, very well.
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So it says...
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And now notice what was
going to happen to that empire.
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So was the kingdom of
Rome going to be divided?
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Absolutely.
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And then who was going
to arise when the empire
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was divided into pieces?
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Ah, notice it
continues saying...
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Are you catching the picture?
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There's a restrainer.
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When the restrainer
is taken out of the way,
00:07:56.31\00:07:58.95
the antichrist
manifests himself.
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And we noticed that the
early Christians believed
00:08:01.75\00:08:04.53
that when the Roman
Empire was broken in pieces,
00:08:04.56\00:08:07.56
the empire of the
antichrist would rise.
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Did they have it correct?
Did they have it straight?
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They most certainly did.
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Incidentally, in
Revelation chapter 13,
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if you go with me
there, Revelation chapter 13
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and verse 2, we
notice the same sequence
00:08:21.83\00:08:26.05
of the Roman Empire
giving its throne and its power
00:08:26.28\00:08:29.68
to the beast, which is
the same as the little horn.
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Let's read that,
Revelation 13 and verse 2.
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"Now the beast," which is
the same as the little horn,
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"which I saw," the
beast that ruled for 42 months
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or 1260 years...
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And now notice, "The dragon,"
which is the fourth beast,
00:08:49.61\00:08:52.67
which represents
the Roman Empire...
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So where did the
antichrist get his power from?
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He got it from the fourth beast.
00:09:05.06\00:09:07.22
He got it from the dragon beast.
00:09:07.25\00:09:09.17
So antichrist rises after
the dragon beast has its fall,
00:09:09.37\00:09:13.97
after the dragon beast is
divided into ten kingdoms.
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Is that point clear?
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So the prophecies of
Daniel and Revelation 13
00:09:19.54\00:09:22.94
clearly show the sequence.
00:09:22.97\00:09:24.54
The sequence is, the
Roman Empire would rule,
00:09:24.57\00:09:27.99
the Roman empire would be
divided into ten kingdoms,
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or broken up into ten kingdoms,
00:09:31.26\00:09:33.08
and then the
antichrist would arise.
00:09:33.11\00:09:36.11
So the question is, what
was it that was restraining
00:09:36.14\00:09:39.40
the antichrist from
manifesting himself?
00:09:39.43\00:09:41.55
It must have been
the previous power.
00:09:41.58\00:09:43.76
It must have
been the Roman Empire.
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Are you following me or not?
00:09:46.11\00:09:47.27
In other words,
it's the previous power.
00:09:47.52\00:09:49.55
While the previous power is
ruling, a new power cannot rule.
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The previous power has
to be taken out of the way,
00:09:53.97\00:09:56.66
and then the antichrist
could manifest himself.
00:09:56.69\00:10:00.38
Now let me ask you
this, was this antichrist,
00:10:00.86\00:10:05.34
at least the
spirit of this antichrist,
00:10:05.37\00:10:07.66
wanting to manifest itself even
in the days of the apostle Paul?
00:10:07.69\00:10:12.41
Absolutely.
00:10:13.08\00:10:14.23
Because he says there
is something that is what?
00:10:14.57\00:10:17.17
That is restraining it...
00:10:17.41\00:10:19.56
...in the days
of the Roman Empire.
00:10:20.03\00:10:22.27
Now you can't have
something restraining this power
00:10:22.49\00:10:26.17
unless the power is there.
00:10:26.20\00:10:27.96
And so basically what you
have here is that you have this
00:10:28.70\00:10:32.78
antichrist spirit that is
wanting to manifest itself,
00:10:32.81\00:10:36.56
and it's already there in
the days of the apostle Paul
00:10:36.59\00:10:39.39
just waiting to manifest itself.
00:10:39.42\00:10:41.30
Is this then speaking
about a future antichrist that's
00:10:41.92\00:10:44.57
going to arise after
the rapture of the church?
00:10:44.60\00:10:46.98
No.
00:10:47.01\00:10:48.04
This antichrist power
was already wanting to
00:10:48.07\00:10:51.17
manifest itself when?
00:10:51.20\00:10:52.79
In the days of the apostle
Paul he was already wanting to
00:10:53.06\00:10:57.37
manifest his power.
00:10:57.40\00:10:58.75
Now allow me to give
you a little bit of history.
00:10:59.48\00:11:02.56
I'm going to read lots of
quotations from historians
00:11:02.59\00:11:05.70
in this presentation.
00:11:05.73\00:11:07.05
That's why I've given
you a copy of the lectures
00:11:07.08\00:11:09.26
so that you can follow along.
00:11:09.29\00:11:10.91
Now I want to just go a
little bit through the history.
00:11:11.28\00:11:14.41
The Roman Empire,
around the fourth century,
00:11:15.02\00:11:18.51
started to be invaded
by the barbarian tribes
00:11:18.76\00:11:22.77
from the northern
sector of the empire.
00:11:22.80\00:11:24.64
And they began to carve up
what had been the Roman Empire.
00:11:24.96\00:11:28.73
In fact, by the year 476
the Roman Empire had been carved
00:11:28.76\00:11:33.16
into ten pieces.
00:11:33.19\00:11:34.44
In that year, 476, the
last emperor of the western
00:11:34.76\00:11:39.10
Roman Empire fell.
00:11:39.13\00:11:40.32
His name was Romulus Augustulus.
00:11:40.35\00:11:42.59
After him there
was no emperor in Rome.
00:11:42.62\00:11:46.20
Now shortly before this,
Constantine had transferred
00:11:46.79\00:11:50.83
the capital of his
kingdom to Constantinople,
00:11:50.86\00:11:54.67
or Istanbul, in the
eastern Roman Empire.
00:11:54.88\00:11:57.69
And when he went to
the eastern Roman Empire,
00:11:57.77\00:12:00.43
the western empire
was left to the mercy
00:12:00.46\00:12:03.36
of the barbarian tribes.
00:12:03.39\00:12:04.72
There was no
emperor, there was no law,
00:12:04.75\00:12:06.81
there was no order.
00:12:06.84\00:12:08.10
Everything was a disaster,
everything was anarchy.
00:12:08.18\00:12:11.61
Allow me to read you
a few statements here
00:12:12.39\00:12:14.96
from historians
about this period.
00:12:14.99\00:12:17.51
Notice from Alexander
Clarence Flick in his book,
00:12:18.03\00:12:23.74
The Rise of the Medieval
Church, pages 168 and 169,
00:12:23.77\00:12:27.67
he says this, "The removal
of the capital of the empire
00:12:27.70\00:12:32.28
from Rome to Constantinople
in 330 left the western
00:12:32.31\00:12:37.93
church practically..." What?
00:12:37.96\00:12:40.05
Is that an
important word, "free?"
00:12:41.66\00:12:43.75
If it left it
free, what was it before?
00:12:44.88\00:12:47.64
It was restrained, absolutely.
00:12:48.62\00:12:50.71
"...practically
free from..." What?
00:12:51.47\00:12:54.06
"...from imperial power."
00:12:54.48\00:12:55.52
So what was restraining?
00:12:55.55\00:12:57.13
The imperial power.
00:12:57.54\00:12:59.04
Now it continues saying,
"The removal of the capital
00:13:00.09\00:13:02.31
of the empire from Rome
to Constantinople in 330
00:13:02.34\00:13:04.86
left the western
church practically free
00:13:04.89\00:13:07.15
from imperial power to develop
its own form of organization.
00:13:07.35\00:13:12.47
The Bishop of Rome,"
and now listen to this,
00:13:12.93\00:13:15.24
"in the seat of the..." What?
00:13:15.27\00:13:16.73
Ah, it's a
continuation of Rome, right?
00:13:17.23\00:13:19.74
"...in the seat of the
Caesars was now the greatest man
00:13:19.77\00:13:22.82
in the west, and was soon
forced to become the political
00:13:22.85\00:13:27.60
as well as the spiritual head."
00:13:27.63\00:13:29.75
Here's another
historian, Philip Schaff,
00:13:30.38\00:13:32.53
one of the greatest
church historians in history,
00:13:32.56\00:13:35.47
has this to say,
"When the western empire
00:13:35.50\00:13:38.86
fell into the
hands of the barbarians,
00:13:38.96\00:13:42.16
the Roman Bishop," which
later was called the pope,
00:13:42.36\00:13:45.73
"was the only surviving
heir of this imperial past.
00:13:45.93\00:13:50.81
Or in the well known dictum
of Hobbes, 'the ghost of the
00:13:50.91\00:13:55.45
deceased Roman
Empire sitting crowned
00:13:55.48\00:13:58.64
upon the grave thereof.'"
00:13:58.67\00:14:00.24
Interesting, isn't it.
00:14:00.57\00:14:02.28
So who is it that took
the place of the Roman Empire?
00:14:02.50\00:14:05.70
It was the
Roman Catholic Papacy.
00:14:06.10\00:14:08.80
Notice another comment.
00:14:09.40\00:14:10.60
This is by the Roman
Catholic, James P. Conroy,
00:14:10.63\00:14:14.20
in the journal, American
Catholic, quarterly review.
00:14:14.23\00:14:17.33
He says, "Long ages ago
when Rome, through the neglect
00:14:17.36\00:14:21.93
of the western
emperors, was left to the mercy
00:14:21.96\00:14:26.48
of the barbarous hordes,
the Romans turned to one figure
00:14:26.51\00:14:31.17
for aid and protection,
and asked him to rule them.
00:14:31.20\00:14:35.75
And thus in this simple manner,
the best title of all to kingly
00:14:36.14\00:14:41.39
right commenced the temporal
sovereignty of the popes.
00:14:41.42\00:14:45.73
And meekly stepping to
the throne of Caesar..."
00:14:45.91\00:14:49.02
Listen to this, "And
meekly stepping to the throne
00:14:49.05\00:14:51.95
of Caesar, the Vicar of
Christ took up the scepter
00:14:51.98\00:14:56.31
to which the emperors
and kings of Europe were to
00:14:56.51\00:15:00.20
bow in reverence
through so many ages."
00:15:00.23\00:15:03.24
One final quotation,
from Douglas Auchincloss,
00:15:03.95\00:15:10.65
in his article, City of
God and Man, in Time magazine.
00:15:10.68\00:15:14.65
This was in 1960.
00:15:14.68\00:15:15.97
He had this to say, "The
all conquering barbarians
00:15:16.00\00:15:20.18
were storming the
gates of Augustine's city..."
00:15:20.21\00:15:23.10
That's Hippo in northern Africa.
00:15:23.13\00:15:24.95
"...when the saint died in 430.
00:15:25.09\00:15:27.31
The north African town
of Hippo was one of the last
00:15:27.52\00:15:31.11
imperial
outposts to be attacked.
00:15:31.14\00:15:33.43
Rome had already gone under.
00:15:33.59\00:15:36.23
Only four years before,
Saint Augustine's City of God
00:15:36.48\00:15:39.82
had laid the
theological groundwork
00:15:39.85\00:15:42.09
for the church to step
into the void left by the
00:15:42.29\00:15:46.67
collapsing Roman Empire."
00:15:46.70\00:15:48.12
Are you catching the picture?
00:15:48.15\00:15:49.53
So what was
restraining the antichrist from
00:15:50.01\00:15:52.95
being manifested?
00:15:52.98\00:15:54.19
What was restraining was the
existence of the Roman Empire.
00:15:54.22\00:15:58.64
You see, while the
Roman Empire was ruling,
00:15:59.14\00:16:01.82
while you had an
emperor in the west,
00:16:02.19\00:16:04.71
then the
antichrist could not rule.
00:16:05.29\00:16:07.60
The emperor had to be removed.
00:16:08.24\00:16:10.57
And the first step was
when Constantine moved the
00:16:10.77\00:16:14.03
capital to Constantinople.
00:16:14.06\00:16:15.71
The second step is
when the barbarians began
00:16:15.74\00:16:18.20
carving up the empire.
00:16:18.23\00:16:19.54
Which finally culminated in
the last emperor being deposed
00:16:19.57\00:16:23.45
in the year 476.
00:16:23.48\00:16:25.03
Then at that point
the empire had fallen.
00:16:25.13\00:16:28.60
It had been
divided into ten kingdoms.
00:16:28.63\00:16:30.70
And now the restrainer
was taken out of the way
00:16:30.73\00:16:33.48
and the antichrist
could manifest himself and
00:16:33.78\00:16:37.06
fill the void that
had been left by Rome.
00:16:37.09\00:16:41.26
Now let me read
you some statements by
00:16:41.78\00:16:44.17
the early church fathers.
00:16:44.37\00:16:46.23
They were living
shortly before this period,
00:16:46.77\00:16:49.10
and some of them were
living during this period.
00:16:49.13\00:16:51.48
They knew who
the restrainer was.
00:16:51.68\00:16:53.38
Listen to what
Tertullian had to say.
00:16:53.88\00:16:56.67
He was one of the
renowned church fathers.
00:16:56.70\00:16:59.84
He said this...
00:17:00.21\00:17:01.35
Is he quoting 2
Thessalonians chapter 2?
00:17:16.12\00:17:18.49
Most certainly. That's
what he's commenting on.
00:17:18.59\00:17:20.64
And now notice his question.
00:17:20.84\00:17:22.33
Is that clear?
00:17:40.81\00:17:41.93
Absolutely crystal clear, folks.
00:17:42.32\00:17:44.43
Tertullian understood that
what hindered the manifestation
00:17:44.80\00:17:48.72
of the antichrist was the
existence of the Roman state.
00:17:48.75\00:17:53.20
That was the
obstacle, according to him.
00:17:53.23\00:17:55.94
Now notice what Tertullian also
had to say in another place.
00:17:56.39\00:17:59.87
And you have the
references to this, if you want
00:17:59.90\00:18:01.91
to check them out.
00:18:01.94\00:18:02.97
He said...
00:18:03.14\00:18:04.26
So what was going to
happen when the Roman Empire
00:18:18.48\00:18:21.77
was taken out of the way?
00:18:21.80\00:18:23.09
He said,
"...threatening dreadful woes."
00:18:23.19\00:18:26.48
Which happened when the
barbarians took over the
00:18:26.51\00:18:28.70
western empire;
there was no law and order.
00:18:28.73\00:18:31.16
And so they said
to the Bishop of Rome,
00:18:31.19\00:18:32.75
"Why don't you rule
over us and why don't you
00:18:32.78\00:18:35.06
put down some order."
00:18:35.09\00:18:37.04
Notice what Ambrose had to say.
00:18:37.70\00:18:39.48
This is another
church father, Ambrose.
00:18:39.51\00:18:41.71
Notice also what
Chrysostom had to say.
00:18:50.67\00:18:52.68
And this is only a
sampling. I have many more.
00:18:52.71\00:18:54.69
I have about three
pages of quotations from the
00:18:54.72\00:18:57.19
church fathers where they
understood that power that
00:18:57.22\00:19:00.65
hindered, or the
restrainer, as the Roman Empire.
00:19:00.68\00:19:03.51
Chrysostom had to say...
00:19:03.54\00:19:04.86
Is that language
from 2 Thessalonians 2?
00:19:09.82\00:19:12.18
Absolutely.
00:19:12.21\00:19:13.31
When the empire is dissolved.
00:19:30.99\00:19:32.42
Interesting that the
church fathers would believe
00:19:44.54\00:19:47.89
that the restrainer was what?
00:19:47.92\00:19:50.11
That the restrainer
was the Roman Empire.
00:19:50.33\00:19:52.34
Now we understand the
reason why the apostle Paul
00:19:52.37\00:19:54.64
did not identify by
name the restrainer.
00:19:54.67\00:19:57.00
What if the apostle Paul
had told the Thessalonians,
00:19:57.56\00:19:59.75
"Well you know that the
restrainer is the Roman Empire.
00:20:00.03\00:20:02.45
But the Roman Empire,
when it's taken out of the way,
00:20:02.48\00:20:05.08
then the antichrist
will be manifested."
00:20:05.28\00:20:07.47
What would be a problem there?
00:20:08.38\00:20:10.00
Oh, he'd have trouble with
the Roman Empire, wouldn't he.
00:20:10.91\00:20:13.39
Because the
Roman Empire would say,
00:20:13.72\00:20:14.75
"We're going to be
taken out of the way?
00:20:14.78\00:20:16.58
Are you
promoting the idea that the
00:20:16.76\00:20:18.32
Roman Empire is going to fall?"
00:20:18.35\00:20:20.02
He would have been
accused of sedition against
00:20:20.60\00:20:23.01
the Roman Empire.
00:20:23.04\00:20:24.46
And so the apostle Paul says,
"You know what's restraining."
00:20:24.49\00:20:27.32
The church fathers
understood what was restraining.
00:20:27.35\00:20:30.10
But he does not
identify by name the restrainer.
00:20:30.13\00:20:33.08
Because if he did, it would
cause persecution of Christians.
00:20:33.11\00:20:37.39
Are you
understanding the reason why?
00:20:37.42\00:20:39.08
If it had been the Holy Spirit,
he would have clearly said,
00:20:39.41\00:20:41.85
"The Holy
Spirit is restraining."
00:20:41.88\00:20:43.56
Because that would
not be a difficult idea
00:20:43.59\00:20:47.11
for the Romans to accept.
00:20:47.14\00:20:48.73
Now I want to read you
an interesting statement.
00:20:48.91\00:20:52.27
Actually a couple of statements
from a Roman Catholic cardinal.
00:20:52.30\00:20:56.42
His name is Cardinal
Henry Edward Manning.
00:20:57.29\00:21:00.48
He lived actually
in the 19th century.
00:21:01.12\00:21:04.21
He converted from the
Anglican Communion to the
00:21:04.45\00:21:07.65
Roman Catholic Church.
00:21:07.68\00:21:08.80
Right around the same
time that John Henry Newman
00:21:08.83\00:21:11.31
converted also from
the Anglican Communion
00:21:11.34\00:21:13.80
to the Roman Catholic Church.
00:21:13.83\00:21:15.30
And I don't believe that...
00:21:15.41\00:21:17.55
In fact, I know
that Cardinal Manning
00:21:17.58\00:21:20.39
really does not know
the implications of what
00:21:20.89\00:21:23.07
he says in these statements.
00:21:23.10\00:21:24.15
He doesn't understand.
00:21:24.18\00:21:25.21
But when we read it carefully,
we understand perfectly
00:21:25.24\00:21:28.12
that he's writing about
the removal of the empire.
00:21:28.15\00:21:31.07
And he's actually saying
that the Roman Catholic Church
00:21:31.37\00:21:33.91
is the predicted antichrist.
00:21:33.94\00:21:35.14
Even though he doesn't say
so and he doesn't believe that.
00:21:35.17\00:21:37.46
But notice the language.
00:21:37.49\00:21:39.13
The first
statement is in his book,
00:21:39.42\00:21:41.23
The Temporal Power of
the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
00:21:41.26\00:21:44.12
In the preface of the book he
says this, listen carefully...
00:21:44.71\00:21:48.17
He's speaking about
Constantine moving to the east.
00:21:51.85\00:21:54.85
What needs to happen if
you're going to be liberated?
00:21:59.71\00:22:01.64
You have to be
restrained, right?
00:22:02.63\00:22:04.04
That is, of the popes.
00:22:10.40\00:22:11.43
Are you
understanding what he's saying?
00:22:11.46\00:22:12.62
He doesn't
understand what he's saying.
00:22:13.12\00:22:14.54
He doesn't
understand the implications
00:22:15.58\00:22:17.47
as they apply to
2 Thessalonians 2.
00:22:17.50\00:22:19.61
Now notice what
he continues saying.
00:22:19.64\00:22:21.68
And then he mentions
several barbarian tribes.
00:22:27.53\00:22:29.35
So what did the barbarians do?
00:22:37.93\00:22:39.43
They effaced the
remnants of the empire.
00:22:40.15\00:22:42.36
In other words, the empire what?
00:22:42.39\00:22:43.95
Fell.
00:22:44.29\00:22:45.32
And then he says...
00:22:46.06\00:22:47.09
So who stepped into the void?
00:22:57.00\00:22:58.93
The pontiffs.
00:22:59.54\00:23:00.66
He continues saying...
00:23:00.69\00:23:01.72
Interesting, again
the word, "liberation."
00:23:05.77\00:23:08.65
So what was the problem with the
successor of Peter before this?
00:23:15.74\00:23:20.34
He was what?
00:23:20.37\00:23:21.40
He was chained,
he was restrained.
00:23:21.78\00:23:23.77
But when the barbarians
invaded, what happened?
00:23:24.47\00:23:26.87
The Bishop of Rome
takes the ascendency
00:23:27.71\00:23:30.53
and the chains fall off.
00:23:30.56\00:23:31.74
He's not restrained anymore.
00:23:31.77\00:23:33.23
Notice what he continues saying.
00:23:33.56\00:23:34.88
"And from the hour of
this providential liberation,
00:23:34.91\00:23:37.51
when, by a divine intervention,
the chains fell off from the
00:23:37.54\00:23:40.95
hands of the successor
of St. Peter, as once before
00:23:40.98\00:23:43.64
his own, no sovereign
has ever reigned in Rome
00:23:43.67\00:23:48.39
except the Vicar
of Jesus Christ."
00:23:48.61\00:23:50.89
Is that a significant statement?
00:23:51.31\00:23:52.69
That is a powerful statement.
00:23:53.16\00:23:54.74
Notice there's another one.
00:23:55.07\00:23:56.50
This is on pages 11
to 13 of the same book,
00:23:56.70\00:23:59.96
The Temporal Power of
the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
00:23:59.99\00:24:02.31
He says this, "It,"
that is the papacy...
00:24:02.51\00:24:05.35
So what needed to happen?
00:24:12.88\00:24:14.23
The bonds needed
to be broken asunder.
00:24:15.00\00:24:18.52
Why could they be released
from subjection to civil powers?
00:24:26.29\00:24:29.78
Because the Roman Empire what?
00:24:29.98\00:24:31.79
Ceased to rule. It fell.
00:24:32.59\00:24:34.56
There was no longer any emperor.
00:24:34.66\00:24:36.47
And so he says...
00:24:37.04\00:24:38.10
So who is the restrainer?
00:24:53.29\00:24:54.72
The restrainer is the what?
00:24:55.28\00:24:57.32
The Roman Empire.
00:24:57.54\00:24:58.70
And when the Roman
Empire was taken out of the way,
00:24:59.28\00:25:02.06
then the antichrist
power could fill the void,
00:25:02.42\00:25:05.97
could take the place of
the empire that existed before.
00:25:06.31\00:25:10.50
Now let me ask you,
was there a specific time
00:25:10.75\00:25:13.46
set apart for this?
00:25:13.49\00:25:14.93
Absolutely.
00:25:14.96\00:25:16.05
Is there a prophecy
that says exactly when this
00:25:16.33\00:25:19.28
power would rise and
when this power would fall?
00:25:19.31\00:25:21.79
Do you remember we
studied about the little horn?
00:25:22.65\00:25:24.43
How long was the
little horn going to rule?
00:25:24.46\00:25:26.59
Time, times, and
the dividing of time.
00:25:26.79\00:25:30.62
Revelation chapter 13, as well
as, well actually chapter 13,
00:25:31.22\00:25:37.29
says that he
would rule 42 months.
00:25:37.32\00:25:39.21
Revelation chapter 12
says that this power would rule
00:25:39.24\00:25:42.84
1260 days, which are years.
00:25:42.87\00:25:47.27
So was there a time
specific when this power was
00:25:47.30\00:25:50.57
going to manifest itself?
00:25:50.60\00:25:51.77
Absolutely.
00:25:51.80\00:25:52.83
Now notice what the
apostle Paul says next.
00:25:52.86\00:25:54.85
2 Thessalonians
chapter 2 and verse 6.
00:25:54.95\00:25:58.08
See, once again he
doesn't identify the restrainer.
00:26:01.56\00:26:04.04
He says, "You know
what is restraining,
00:26:04.28\00:26:08.34
that he may be
revealed..." When?
00:26:08.61\00:26:12.31
"...in his own time."
00:26:13.01\00:26:16.05
Had God established a time when
he was going to be manifested?
00:26:16.65\00:26:19.57
Absolutely.
00:26:19.77\00:26:20.80
Daniel 7 has the chronology
of when he would be manifested.
00:26:20.83\00:26:25.35
It would be when the
empire was broken apart,
00:26:25.45\00:26:28.70
the ten horns appeared,
and then the little horn
00:26:28.73\00:26:31.84
would be manifested.
00:26:32.78\00:26:34.10
In other words,
his time would come.
00:26:34.13\00:26:36.92
Now let's go to 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2 and verse 7.
00:26:37.37\00:26:40.53
2 Thessalonians
chapter 2 and verse 7.
00:26:40.56\00:26:43.12
Was this power already
wanting to manifest itself
00:26:43.26\00:26:46.50
in the days of the apostle Paul?
00:26:46.53\00:26:48.05
Absolutely.
00:26:48.15\00:26:49.18
So is this some
future antichrist who is
00:26:49.38\00:26:51.42
going to sit in a
rebuilt Jerusalem temple?
00:26:51.45\00:26:53.76
Absolutely not.
00:26:53.82\00:26:54.85
Because it was already
wanting to manifest its power
00:26:54.88\00:26:56.98
in the days of Paul.
00:26:57.01\00:26:58.74
So it already
existed, the spirit of it,
00:26:59.39\00:27:01.24
existed in the days of Paul.
00:27:01.27\00:27:03.09
Now notice 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2 and verse 7.
00:27:03.12\00:27:06.92
He's going to give a
new name to this system.
00:27:07.45\00:27:10.60
He says, "For the
mystery of..." What?
00:27:10.82\00:27:13.49
Did you notice that previously
he was called the man of what?
00:27:18.20\00:27:20.93
Sin.
00:27:21.48\00:27:22.51
Here, it's called
the mystery of what?
00:27:22.67\00:27:24.95
Lawlessness.
00:27:24.98\00:27:26.01
Is this apostasy going to have
anything to do with God's law?
00:27:26.04\00:27:28.63
Absolutely. What is sin?
00:27:29.10\00:27:30.51
Transgression of the law. Right?
00:27:30.95\00:27:33.00
Interestingly enough, the
two words that are used in
00:27:33.40\00:27:36.53
2 Thessalonians 2,
"sin," "the man of sin,"
00:27:36.56\00:27:40.12
and, "the
mystery of lawlessness,"
00:27:40.63\00:27:42.77
those are the very
two words that are used in
00:27:42.97\00:27:44.83
1 John chapter 3 and
verse 4 where it says,
00:27:44.86\00:27:47.67
"sin is lawlessness."
00:27:47.88\00:27:50.91
So this power was
going to be a power that
00:27:51.31\00:27:53.63
would attack God's law.
00:27:53.66\00:27:55.64
Now obviously it
wouldn't be an open attack,
00:27:55.95\00:27:58.40
a blasphemous attack.
00:27:58.87\00:28:00.61
It would be a camouflaged
attack against God's law.
00:28:00.98\00:28:05.93
As it says in Daniel
chapter 7 and verse 25,
00:28:06.03\00:28:08.80
"He would think to..." What?
00:28:08.83\00:28:10.14
To change God's law.
00:28:10.47\00:28:12.80
In that way he would
attack God's holy law.
00:28:12.83\00:28:15.22
And so it says, "For the
mystery of lawlessness..."
00:28:15.52\00:28:18.90
Even in his day.
00:28:22.14\00:28:23.36
And see, Christians, they say,
"See, once again, 'he,' means
00:28:34.30\00:28:37.75
a person or an individual."
00:28:37.99\00:28:40.12
Because it says very
clearly here, it says,
00:28:40.15\00:28:43.37
"He now restrains until
he is taken out of the way."
00:28:43.74\00:28:48.35
Actually, it's a very
weak argument to say that
00:28:49.29\00:28:51.82
the word, "he," that
the personal pronoun, "he,"
00:28:51.85\00:28:53.94
means that it's an
individual or a person.
00:28:53.97\00:28:56.01
Because I want you to
notice in Romans chapter 13
00:28:56.84\00:29:00.22
that the Roman Empire is
referred to with a personal
00:29:00.25\00:29:02.90
pronoun masculine also.
00:29:02.93\00:29:04.49
Notice Romans
chapter 13 and verse 4.
00:29:05.29\00:29:10.28
Romans chapter 13 and verse 4.
00:29:10.31\00:29:12.29
He's speaking
about the Roman Empire.
00:29:12.32\00:29:14.56
And notice what he says.
00:29:15.05\00:29:16.45
Not speaking about a specific
ruler of the Roman Empire.
00:29:16.84\00:29:19.69
He says, "For he is..." What?
00:29:20.01\00:29:23.84
"...God's
minister to you for good.
00:29:24.64\00:29:27.59
But if you do evil, be
afraid; for he does not bear
00:29:28.23\00:29:34.14
the sword in vain;
for he is God's minister,
00:29:34.17\00:29:39.02
an avenger to execute wrath
on him who practices evil."
00:29:39.05\00:29:42.60
Now you read the
context of those verses.
00:29:43.08\00:29:45.14
It's talking about the rulers
and the magistrates of Rome.
00:29:45.24\00:29:49.55
It's not talking
about a specific magistrate
00:29:50.06\00:29:52.58
or a specific emperor.
00:29:52.61\00:29:54.06
It's simply saying,
the Roman Empire is meant
00:29:54.09\00:29:58.31
to keep the peace
and to keep civil order.
00:29:58.34\00:30:01.26
And notice that three
times in this passage,
00:30:01.56\00:30:04.36
the personal pronoun
masculine singular, "he,"
00:30:04.52\00:30:08.47
is used to
describe the Roman Empire.
00:30:08.50\00:30:10.86
So if the, "he," here can
refer to the Roman Empire,
00:30:11.50\00:30:14.60
then why can't the restrainer
who is referred with the
00:30:14.63\00:30:17.61
personal pronoun, "he,"
refer also to the Roman Empire?
00:30:17.64\00:30:20.73
Are you understanding my point?
00:30:20.76\00:30:22.23
Now, do you know
that the Bible teaches
00:30:23.00\00:30:26.78
that this power was not
only going to rule in the past,
00:30:27.25\00:30:31.73
but this power was also
going to rule in the future.
00:30:31.76\00:30:34.39
The Bible says that at
the end of its first stage
00:30:35.44\00:30:37.85
it would receive a deadly wound.
00:30:37.88\00:30:39.66
But then its deadly
wound would be what?
00:30:40.16\00:30:42.42
Its deadly
wound would be healed.
00:30:42.92\00:30:44.73
Now let's read once again
2 Thessalonians 2 verse 7,
00:30:45.24\00:30:48.69
and then we'll come to
this aspect of the healing
00:30:48.91\00:30:52.49
of the deadly wound
just for a few moments.
00:30:52.52\00:30:54.75
Verse 7 says...
00:30:54.78\00:30:55.92
What does that
expression indicate,
00:31:07.19\00:31:08.72
"taken out of the way."
00:31:08.75\00:31:10.16
Is it a case that he says. "Oh,
okay, I'm just going to move
00:31:11.72\00:31:15.30
and you just move in."
00:31:15.33\00:31:16.62
No.
00:31:16.94\00:31:17.97
Somebody is what?
00:31:18.85\00:31:20.38
Taking him out of the way.
00:31:20.62\00:31:22.26
Who were the ones that took
the Roman Empire out of the way?
00:31:22.29\00:31:25.16
The barbarian invasions
took the empire out of the way.
00:31:25.83\00:31:28.81
And the barbarian invasions
came because Constantine
00:31:29.90\00:31:32.93
moved the capital of
the empire to the east.
00:31:32.96\00:31:34.92
And as a result,
the western Roman Empire
00:31:35.02\00:31:37.37
was greatly weakened.
00:31:37.40\00:31:39.57
Now I mentioned that
this power's strength
00:31:39.96\00:31:45.29
is going to be seen again.
00:31:45.32\00:31:46.63
In other words, it's
deadly wound which it received
00:31:46.66\00:31:49.74
in 1798 when the
pope was taken prisoner
00:31:49.77\00:31:52.86
and he died in exile in
France, he's going to be healed
00:31:53.24\00:31:57.32
from that wound and
he's going to rule again.
00:31:57.35\00:31:59.23
Now let me read you a
very significant statement
00:31:59.87\00:32:02.10
that was written
by Malachi Martin.
00:32:02.55\00:32:06.46
Now let me explain
who Malachi Martin was.
00:32:07.24\00:32:09.24
He was a Jesuit
Roman Catholic priest.
00:32:09.27\00:32:12.11
He died a few years ago.
00:32:12.51\00:32:14.00
He was also an exorcist.
00:32:14.32\00:32:16.22
And he wrote a very famous book
called, The Keys of This Blood.
00:32:16.42\00:32:19.72
But this statement in
Christianity Today is a
00:32:20.33\00:32:22.57
very interesting statement.
00:32:22.60\00:32:24.21
You know, the papacy
lost its power in 1798,
00:32:25.16\00:32:29.03
which was the culmination
of the French Revolution.
00:32:29.06\00:32:31.72
The French
Revolution began in 1789
00:32:32.48\00:32:35.67
and it continued until 1798.
00:32:35.70\00:32:37.89
The pope taken
prisoner was the climax
00:32:38.13\00:32:40.75
of the spirit of
the French Revolution.
00:32:40.78\00:32:42.48
That's when the papacy
lost its ability to use the
00:32:42.51\00:32:46.78
civil powers of the world
to accomplish its purposes.
00:32:46.81\00:32:49.49
Now notice what
Malachi Martin has to say
00:32:49.85\00:32:52.11
here in Christianity
Today, November 21, 1986.
00:32:52.14\00:32:56.98
He says, "For 1500
years and more, Rome,"
00:32:57.91\00:33:02.48
he means the papacy,
"Rome had kept as strong a hand
00:33:02.51\00:33:06.98
as possible in
each local community
00:33:07.01\00:33:09.82
around the wide world."
00:33:09.85\00:33:10.88
What had the papacy
done, according to him,
00:33:10.91\00:33:12.62
for 1500 years and more?
00:33:12.65\00:33:14.24
It had "kept as
strong a hand as possible
00:33:15.01\00:33:17.41
in each local
community around the world."
00:33:17.44\00:33:19.85
And then he says
this, "By and large,
00:33:19.88\00:33:22.46
and admitting some exceptions,
that had been the Roman view."
00:33:22.72\00:33:27.39
What had been the Roman view?
00:33:27.73\00:33:29.08
It had "kept as
strong a hand as possible
00:33:31.26\00:33:33.61
in each local community
around the whole world."
00:33:33.64\00:33:36.05
That was the Roman view.
00:33:36.15\00:33:37.35
Now notice, "By and large,
and admitting some exceptions,
00:33:37.38\00:33:40.55
that had been the
Roman view until 200 years
00:33:40.58\00:33:46.53
of inactivity had been..." What?
00:33:47.51\00:33:52.79
"...imposed upon
the papacy..." By whom?
00:33:53.88\00:33:58.77
"...by the major
secular powers of the world."
00:33:59.16\00:34:02.17
Was this power restrained again?
00:34:03.07\00:34:04.90
After it received its deadly
wound was it restrained again?
00:34:05.82\00:34:08.34
Who restrained it?
00:34:08.77\00:34:10.08
The major what?
00:34:10.69\00:34:12.10
Secular powers of the world.
00:34:12.29\00:34:14.02
Now let me ask you, in order
for its wound to be healed,
00:34:14.34\00:34:17.20
what must happen?
00:34:17.23\00:34:18.36
It must be able
once again to rule
00:34:19.96\00:34:22.93
the secular powers of the world.
00:34:23.23\00:34:24.79
Are you with me?
00:34:25.31\00:34:26.34
In other words, it must be able
to use the states of the world
00:34:26.37\00:34:29.59
to accomplish its purposes.
00:34:29.62\00:34:32.19
Now the
interesting thing is this;
00:34:32.84\00:34:34.97
this is being written in 1986.
00:34:35.32\00:34:37.75
And he's saying that
200 years, up to that point,
00:34:38.87\00:34:43.19
of inactivity had been
imposed upon the papacy.
00:34:43.61\00:34:48.43
So let's go back from
1986 two-hundred years.
00:34:49.05\00:34:53.09
Because that's the period of
inactivity, according to him,
00:34:53.69\00:34:56.37
imposed by the major
secular powers of the world.
00:34:56.40\00:34:59.46
You go back, where
does that take you?
00:34:59.49\00:35:01.71
It takes you back to 1786.
00:35:02.48\00:35:08.11
And that's very near to what?
00:35:08.59\00:35:10.29
To the period
of the deadly wound
00:35:11.64\00:35:13.44
and the French Revolution.
00:35:13.96\00:35:16.38
So let me ask you, what
was it that took away the power
00:35:16.88\00:35:19.32
from the Roman Catholic papacy,
00:35:19.35\00:35:20.86
according to this
Roman Catholic theologian?
00:35:20.89\00:35:23.40
It was the French
Revolution and when the pope was
00:35:24.16\00:35:27.01
taken captive to France.
00:35:27.04\00:35:28.38
He says, since then the major
secular powers of the world
00:35:28.41\00:35:32.42
have imposed upon
this system, what?
00:35:32.45\00:35:34.99
Inactivity.
00:35:35.02\00:35:36.12
Now let me read you a
statement from Ellen White.
00:35:36.57\00:35:38.09
This is an amazing statement.
00:35:38.12\00:35:39.61
It's found in
Great Controversy, 564.
00:35:39.97\00:35:42.34
She says that restraint
is going to be removed.
00:35:42.96\00:35:45.89
This is what she says.
00:35:46.97\00:35:48.33
"Let the restraints..."
Notice the terminology.
00:35:48.90\00:35:51.54
Are you
understanding that statement?
00:36:12.74\00:36:14.39
It's a powerful statement.
00:36:14.42\00:36:15.62
What she's saying is that
the papacy has a deadly wound.
00:36:16.25\00:36:19.00
She says that it
needs to be reinstated,
00:36:19.03\00:36:22.33
and there would
speedily be a revival.
00:36:22.88\00:36:25.50
In order to have a
revival, it has to be what?
00:36:25.53\00:36:28.01
Inactive.
00:36:28.80\00:36:29.85
And what is it that
would lead to her revival?
00:36:30.31\00:36:32.77
The taking away of the what?
00:36:32.80\00:36:34.84
Of the
restraints imposed by what?
00:36:35.09\00:36:37.85
By the secular
governments of the world.
00:36:37.95\00:36:40.49
In Great Controversy,
page 581, she says this...
00:36:41.43\00:36:44.88
You can't re-establish something
that wasn't established first.
00:36:50.45\00:36:53.73
And then she says
how it's going to happen.
00:37:00.55\00:37:02.43
Now let me read you a statement
from a reformed theologian.
00:37:24.06\00:37:27.80
He's actually quoting Ayn Rand.
00:37:27.83\00:37:30.04
And this woman was a novelist,
a philosopher, a playwright,
00:37:30.41\00:37:34.13
a screenwriter; a
multi-talented person.
00:37:34.16\00:37:36.97
And notice what she said
all the way back in 1967.
00:37:37.00\00:37:40.01
"The Catholic church
has never given up the hope
00:37:40.49\00:37:43.62
to re-establish the medieval
union of church and state;
00:37:44.48\00:37:50.24
with a global state and a global
theocracy as its ultimate goal.
00:37:50.60\00:37:55.42
The Roman church-state
is a hybrid; a monster of
00:37:56.14\00:38:00.07
ecclesiastical
and political power.
00:38:00.10\00:38:02.30
Its political
thought is totalitarian.
00:38:02.83\00:38:05.38
And whenever it has had
the opportunity to apply its
00:38:05.75\00:38:08.98
principles, the result
has been bloody repression.
00:38:09.01\00:38:12.30
If during the last 30 years it
has softened its assertions of
00:38:12.62\00:38:17.15
full supreme and
irresponsible power
00:38:17.18\00:38:19.74
and has murdered
fewer people than before,
00:38:20.05\00:38:22.71
such changes in behavior are not
due to a change in its ideas,
00:38:23.27\00:38:27.41
but to a change in
its circumstances."
00:38:27.44\00:38:30.24
What are those circumstances?
00:38:31.59\00:38:33.21
It is restrained by the
secular powers of the world.
00:38:33.52\00:38:36.54
The governments do not
allow her to lord it over them.
00:38:36.57\00:38:40.38
Like in the Middle Ages.
00:38:40.85\00:38:42.77
He continues saying,
or she continues saying,
00:38:43.01\00:38:45.12
"The Roman church-state
in the 20th century, however,
00:38:45.15\00:38:49.79
is an institution
recovering from a mortal wound."
00:38:49.82\00:38:54.00
And then she says
this, "If and when..."
00:38:54.70\00:38:57.85
I would take away
the "if," because it's a
00:38:57.88\00:38:59.66
matter of "when."
00:38:59.69\00:39:00.85
But she says, "If and
when it regains its full power
00:39:00.88\00:39:06.33
and authority, it will
impose a regime more sinister
00:39:06.36\00:39:12.52
than any the
planet has yet seen."
00:39:12.55\00:39:15.81
Is the restraint
going to be removed?
00:39:17.85\00:39:20.09
Absolutely.
00:39:20.45\00:39:21.54
What was the restraints in
the times of the apostle Paul?
00:39:21.82\00:39:25.47
The secular power was ruling,
00:39:25.67\00:39:27.97
and the
religious power was bound.
00:39:28.87\00:39:30.87
What happened when the
secular power was removed?
00:39:31.60\00:39:34.20
The chains fell off.
00:39:34.62\00:39:36.22
In 1798, what happened?
00:39:36.75\00:39:38.94
The cuffs were put back on by
the civil powers of the world.
00:39:39.82\00:39:43.52
When will the
cuffs fall off again?
00:39:44.12\00:39:47.11
When the secular powers of the
world step back and they say,
00:39:47.56\00:39:50.50
"We'll do as you say
we're suppose to do."
00:39:50.61\00:39:53.81
It's that simple.
00:39:54.66\00:39:55.90
Now the Bible tells us
what this final controversy
00:39:56.98\00:39:59.65
is going to be about.
00:39:59.68\00:40:00.73
This is the man of sin.
00:40:01.06\00:40:03.02
This is the
mystery of lawlessness.
00:40:03.70\00:40:06.19
The end time controversy
is going to have to do with
00:40:06.22\00:40:08.30
God's holy law.
00:40:08.33\00:40:09.69
That's why Revelation
12 verse 17, a very famous
00:40:10.83\00:40:14.30
verse in Adventist circles,
says, "And the dragon was
00:40:14.33\00:40:17.51
enraged with the
woman, and went to make war
00:40:17.54\00:40:21.11
with the rest of her
offspring, who..." What?
00:40:21.38\00:40:24.28
"...who keep the commandments
of God and have the testimony
00:40:24.31\00:40:28.02
of Jesus Christ."
00:40:28.05\00:40:29.16
Satan hates those who
keep the commandments.
00:40:29.19\00:40:31.63
And so does the man of
sin, who is the representative
00:40:31.98\00:40:35.39
of the mystery of lawlessness,
who claims to have had the
00:40:35.42\00:40:38.38
power to change God's holy law.
00:40:38.41\00:40:40.54
Can any human being
change God's holy law?
00:40:41.07\00:40:44.04
Absolutely not.
00:40:44.07\00:40:45.49
By the way, most of
the attack on God's law
00:40:46.41\00:40:50.57
is an attack on the
first table of the law.
00:40:51.14\00:40:53.62
The Bible says that this
power is going to sit in the
00:40:55.67\00:40:57.89
temple of God
showing himself to be God.
00:40:57.92\00:40:59.73
Is he breaking
the first commandment,
00:40:59.76\00:41:01.12
"Thou shalt have no
other gods before Me."
00:41:01.15\00:41:02.95
Is he going to raise an
image and command everyone
00:41:04.64\00:41:07.18
to worship the image?
00:41:07.21\00:41:08.45
Does that involve
the second commandment,
00:41:08.56\00:41:10.49
"Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven image."
00:41:11.10\00:41:13.22
Absolutely.
00:41:13.25\00:41:14.28
How about the third commandment,
"Don't take the name of
00:41:14.31\00:41:16.70
the Lord your God in vain."
00:41:16.73\00:41:18.03
Does this power
blaspheme the name of God
00:41:18.06\00:41:20.50
by claiming to exercise the
power and prerogatives of God?
00:41:20.70\00:41:23.51
Yes.
00:41:23.86\00:41:24.89
Is this power a power
that attacks God's holy Sabbath
00:41:25.20\00:41:28.60
by claiming to have
changed Sabbath to Sunday?
00:41:28.63\00:41:30.62
Yes.
00:41:30.70\00:41:31.73
In other words, the final
attack is against the first
00:41:31.76\00:41:34.18
table of God's holy law.
00:41:34.21\00:41:35.91
Primarily.
00:41:36.20\00:41:37.23
Not primarily against
the second table of the law.
00:41:37.46\00:41:39.87
Now the Bible predicts
some amazing things that are
00:41:41.45\00:41:43.40
going to happen in the future.
00:41:43.43\00:41:44.66
Once this power regains
its authority and regains its
00:41:45.01\00:41:48.77
throne, as Ayn Rand
said, "It will establish
00:41:48.80\00:41:55.09
a regime more sinister than
any the planet has yet seen."
00:41:55.12\00:41:59.58
And it's going to do
it not only through force,
00:41:59.78\00:42:03.04
but through deception.
00:42:03.07\00:42:04.45
Let's continue our study
in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2
00:42:04.82\00:42:08.03
and verse 9.
00:42:08.06\00:42:09.33
It says here, "The coming..."
00:42:10.35\00:42:12.96
You know what that
word is, "coming," there?
00:42:13.26\00:42:15.61
It's the word, "parousia."
00:42:16.18\00:42:18.01
Is the antichrist also
going to have his parousia?
00:42:18.85\00:42:21.86
Is it going to be
before the parousia of Christ?
00:42:22.66\00:42:25.22
Absolutely.
00:42:25.25\00:42:26.28
There's going to be
a counterfeit parousia
00:42:26.31\00:42:28.75
by the antichrist.
00:42:29.02\00:42:30.05
The same word is
used, as we studied before.
00:42:30.08\00:42:32.41
And so it says, "The
coming of the lawless one..."
00:42:32.61\00:42:35.59
Notice once again
the emphasis on lawless.
00:42:35.62\00:42:37.98
"The coming of the
lawless one is according to the
00:42:38.01\00:42:40.90
working of..." Whom?
00:42:40.93\00:42:42.53
"...of Satan with all
power, signs..." And what?
00:42:42.56\00:42:47.38
"...and lying wonders."
00:42:47.61\00:42:48.84
Are all miracles from God?
00:42:49.04\00:42:51.91
You know, I was once
talking to an individual who
00:42:52.81\00:42:54.83
belonged to a
charismatic church.
00:42:54.86\00:42:56.62
And he said, "You
Adventists have the truth,
00:42:57.34\00:42:59.42
but we've got the Spirit."
00:42:59.45\00:43:00.73
And I said, "We've
got the truth, but you
00:43:02.42\00:43:05.10
don't have the Spirit.
00:43:05.13\00:43:06.30
And he said, "What do you mean?"
00:43:06.82\00:43:08.13
I said, "The Bible says
that we're suppose to worship
00:43:08.16\00:43:10.42
God in Spirit and in truth.
00:43:10.45\00:43:12.77
We cannot worship God in
the Spirit without the truth.
00:43:13.43\00:43:15.94
And we cannot worship God
in truth without the Spirit.
00:43:15.97\00:43:18.49
They have to go together."
00:43:18.81\00:43:19.90
He said, "Well, we
have signs and wonders.
00:43:20.22\00:43:22.21
We have miracles
and we speak in tongues.
00:43:22.24\00:43:24.43
And we have healing
and all these things."
00:43:24.46\00:43:26.56
I said, "So does the devil."
00:43:26.59\00:43:28.33
In fact, let's
continue reading here.
00:43:30.12\00:43:32.11
Don't depend on signs
and wonders and miracles,
00:43:32.45\00:43:36.16
because the devil can
counterfeit the genuine.
00:43:36.19\00:43:39.92
Notice what we find in
Acts chapter 2 and verse 22.
00:43:40.12\00:43:43.62
Acts chapter 2 and verse 22.
00:43:43.65\00:43:46.86
This is speaking
about the miracles that were
00:43:47.79\00:43:49.42
performed by Jesus.
00:43:49.45\00:43:50.58
Now you noticed three
words that we just read in
00:43:50.61\00:43:52.70
2 Thessalonians 2:9.
00:43:52.73\00:43:54.19
It says the antichrist
will come with power, signs,
00:43:54.22\00:43:57.38
and lying wonders.
00:43:57.41\00:43:58.63
Now there's only one
other verse in the Bible that
00:43:59.33\00:44:01.61
uses those
three identical words.
00:44:01.64\00:44:03.24
They're not translated the same,
00:44:03.27\00:44:04.45
but they're the
same three words.
00:44:04.48\00:44:06.11
And they refer to the
miracles that Christ performed.
00:44:06.40\00:44:08.76
Acts 2 and verse 22.
00:44:08.79\00:44:10.75
"Men of Israel,
hear these words..."
00:44:11.32\00:44:13.72
Those are the
identical three words.
00:44:19.44\00:44:21.55
So what is the
antichrist going to do?
00:44:28.26\00:44:30.25
He's going to perform
the same signs and wonders
00:44:31.49\00:44:34.16
that who performed?
00:44:34.19\00:44:35.30
That Jesus Christ performed.
00:44:35.71\00:44:37.07
Only, the antichrist
does it by the power of Satan,
00:44:37.76\00:44:40.98
according to what we just read.
00:44:41.01\00:44:42.38
Whereas Jesus performed these
things by the power of whom?
00:44:42.60\00:44:46.08
By the power of God.
00:44:46.18\00:44:47.61
In fact, this prophecy
tells us that Satan is going to
00:44:47.82\00:44:51.11
counterfeit the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:44:51.14\00:44:53.73
Now you say, "Where
does the Bible say that?"
00:44:55.39\00:44:57.04
Go with me to
Matthew chapter 24.
00:44:57.76\00:44:59.36
This isn't in your
list. I added it afterwards.
00:44:59.39\00:45:01.63
Matthew 24 and
verse 23 through verse 27.
00:45:01.66\00:45:05.57
And we'll read this quickly.
00:45:05.60\00:45:06.99
Matthew chapter 24
and verses 23 through 27.
00:45:07.02\00:45:10.86
This is at the very end
of the tribulation period.
00:45:11.65\00:45:14.74
And notice once again,
signs and wonders and miracles
00:45:14.77\00:45:17.53
through which the devil is
going to try and deceive people.
00:45:17.56\00:45:19.92
It says there in verse 23...
00:45:20.13\00:45:22.10
Now notice, is there going
to be someone who is going to
00:45:40.98\00:45:43.98
counterfeit the
second coming of Christ?
00:45:44.01\00:45:45.83
Listen carefully, verse 26...
00:45:45.86\00:45:48.25
Ellen White calls this the
almost overmastering delusion.
00:46:05.48\00:46:09.38
In fact, let me read you
the description that she gives
00:46:09.66\00:46:12.35
that she saw in vision of how
Satan is going to counterfeit
00:46:12.38\00:46:15.61
the second coming of Christ.
00:46:15.64\00:46:17.05
This is in Great
Controversy page 624.
00:46:17.15\00:46:19.74
It's a rather long passage,
but it's very significant.
00:46:19.77\00:46:22.72
She says, "As the crowning act
in the great drama of deception,
00:46:22.75\00:46:27.55
Satan himself
will personate Christ.
00:46:27.58\00:46:30.19
The church has long professed
to look to the Saviour's advent
00:46:30.98\00:46:34.33
as the
consummation of her hopes.
00:46:34.36\00:46:36.29
Now the great deceiver will make
it appear that Christ has come.
00:46:36.59\00:46:40.07
In different parts of the earth,
Satan will manifest himself
00:46:40.77\00:46:44.11
among men as a majestic
being of dazzling brightness,
00:46:44.14\00:46:48.01
resembling the
description of the Son of God
00:46:48.04\00:46:50.53
given by John in the Revelation.
00:46:50.56\00:46:52.72
The glory that surrounds
him is unsurpassed by anything
00:46:53.12\00:46:57.67
that mortal
eyes have yet beheld.
00:46:57.70\00:46:59.73
The shout of triumph
rings out upon the air,
00:46:59.83\00:47:02.65
'Christ has come!
Christ has come!'"
00:47:02.68\00:47:04.27
If you believe that Jesus
is coming back to this earth
00:47:04.53\00:47:06.56
to establish His kingdom
here for a thousand years,
00:47:06.59\00:47:08.45
you're going to be deceived.
00:47:08.48\00:47:09.63
Now notice what
she continues saying.
00:47:11.72\00:47:13.35
"The people prostrate themselves
in adoration before him..."
00:47:13.38\00:47:16.16
These are Christians, folks.
00:47:16.19\00:47:17.64
"And he lifts up
his hands and pronounces
00:47:17.84\00:47:20.20
a blessing upon them, as
Christ blessed his disciples
00:47:20.23\00:47:23.90
when he was upon the earth.
00:47:23.93\00:47:25.38
His voice is soft and
subdued, yet full of melody.
00:47:25.86\00:47:30.62
In gentle, compassionate
tones he presents some of the
00:47:30.83\00:47:34.60
same gracious, heavenly truths
which the Saviour uttered;
00:47:34.63\00:47:38.48
he heals the diseases of
the people, and then, in his
00:47:38.95\00:47:42.71
assumed character of Christ,
he claims to have changed the
00:47:42.74\00:47:46.15
Sabbath to Sunday, and
commands all to hallow the day
00:47:46.18\00:47:49.65
which he has blessed.
00:47:49.68\00:47:51.12
He declares that those who
persist in keeping holy the
00:47:51.52\00:47:54.15
seventh day are blaspheming
his name by refusing to listen
00:47:54.18\00:47:58.11
to his angels sent to
them with light and truth.
00:47:58.14\00:48:01.24
This is the strong,
almost overmastering delusion."
00:48:01.61\00:48:06.30
Interesting, she's referring
to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.
00:48:07.28\00:48:10.82
That's where the
language comes from.
00:48:10.92\00:48:12.72
"This is the strong,
almost overmastering delusion."
00:48:12.75\00:48:16.30
How are God's people going to
know this isn't really Christ?
00:48:16.33\00:48:19.00
By two things.
00:48:20.27\00:48:21.45
First, we need to know
how Jesus is going to come.
00:48:22.02\00:48:24.71
You know, I once heard
a minister, an Adventist
00:48:25.57\00:48:26.99
minister, who said, "I
don't care how Jesus is coming.
00:48:27.02\00:48:29.86
I only care that He is coming."
00:48:29.89\00:48:32.01
Let me tell you, if you
don't know how He is coming,
00:48:33.46\00:48:38.98
you probably will
accept the wrong "he."
00:48:39.83\00:48:42.56
Because you have to
know how He's coming,
00:48:43.68\00:48:45.66
that's the first one.
00:48:45.69\00:48:46.84
And secondly, you have to
know what the Bible teaches.
00:48:46.87\00:48:49.87
Now notice what
she continues saying.
00:48:51.16\00:48:52.91
"But the people of
God will not be misled.
00:48:53.13\00:48:55.66
The teachings of
this false christ are not
00:48:55.86\00:48:58.45
in accordance
with the Scriptures."
00:48:58.48\00:49:00.39
So what do we
compare everything with?
00:49:01.07\00:49:03.21
The Scriptures.
00:49:03.61\00:49:05.03
"His blessing is pronounced
upon the worshipers of the beast
00:49:05.55\00:49:08.31
and his image, the very class
upon whom the Bible declares
00:49:08.34\00:49:12.40
that God's unmingled
wrath shall be poured out."
00:49:12.43\00:49:15.15
And then she says not
only are his teachings contrary
00:49:15.62\00:49:18.38
to the Bible, but
then she speaks about the
00:49:18.41\00:49:20.44
manner of Christ's coming.
00:49:20.47\00:49:21.86
"And furthermore, Satan is
not permitted to counterfeit
00:49:21.89\00:49:25.68
the manner of Christ's advent.
00:49:25.71\00:49:27.55
The Saviour has warned
His people against deception
00:49:27.81\00:49:30.15
upon this point, and has
clearly foretold the manner
00:49:30.18\00:49:33.22
of His second coming.
00:49:33.25\00:49:34.55
'There shall arise false
christs, and false prophets,
00:49:34.58\00:49:37.12
and shall show great signs
and wonders; insomuch that,
00:49:37.15\00:49:40.20
if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect...
00:49:40.23\00:49:43.39
Wherefore if they
shall say unto you,
00:49:43.73\00:49:45.75
"Behold, He is in the
desert;" go not forth;
00:49:45.78\00:49:48.68
"Behold, He is in the secret
chambers," believe it not.
00:49:48.71\00:49:51.47
For as the lightning
cometh out of the east,
00:49:51.68\00:49:53.63
and shineth even unto
the west; so shall also the
00:49:53.66\00:49:56.88
coming of the Son of man be.'
00:49:56.91\00:49:58.35
This coming there is no
possibility of counterfeiting.
00:49:59.06\00:50:03.68
It will be universally known;
witnessed by the whole world."
00:50:03.83\00:50:08.92
So every eye is going
to see him simultaneously.
00:50:09.67\00:50:12.05
Don't ask me to
scientifically explain that.
00:50:12.08\00:50:14.84
But the Bible says so.
00:50:15.86\00:50:17.36
And I believe it.
00:50:17.39\00:50:18.49
And He's not going
to touch the earth.
00:50:18.88\00:50:20.95
He's going to be above the
earth and we are going to be
00:50:21.73\00:50:24.25
gathered together to Him.
00:50:24.28\00:50:25.61
He said so in verse 1.
00:50:25.64\00:50:27.14
Not Him gathered to
us, we gather to Him.
00:50:27.33\00:50:29.92
And then He is going to
take us to His Father's house.
00:50:29.95\00:50:32.63
So if any individual comes,
even if he looks like Christ
00:50:33.68\00:50:36.91
and performs miracles,
and walks on the earth and
00:50:36.94\00:50:39.61
speaks beautiful
words like Jesus spoke;
00:50:39.64\00:50:41.95
he's walking on the
earth, and that is not Christ.
00:50:42.57\00:50:45.14
And we're not suppose
to go out and even look.
00:50:45.34\00:50:47.89
She ends this
statement by saying,
00:50:48.47\00:50:50.54
"Only those who have
been diligent students of the
00:50:50.57\00:50:53.41
Scriptures and who have
received the love of the truth
00:50:53.44\00:50:57.86
will be shielded
from the powerful delusion
00:50:58.43\00:51:00.72
that takes the world captive.
00:51:01.01\00:51:03.11
By the Bible
testimony these will detect
00:51:03.21\00:51:06.81
the deceiver in his disguise."
00:51:06.84\00:51:09.97
How important is
it to study the Bible
00:51:10.55\00:51:12.93
and strengthen your
mind with Scripture?
00:51:13.13\00:51:15.23
It is a matter
of life and death.
00:51:15.43\00:51:17.39
And the church has gone
far astray from Scripture;
00:51:17.42\00:51:21.90
justifying all kinds
of practices that are
00:51:21.93\00:51:24.94
contrary to Scripture
in the name of culture.
00:51:24.97\00:51:27.88
It's not culture that
dictates what we believe
00:51:29.22\00:51:31.57
and what we practice.
00:51:31.60\00:51:32.63
It's God's holy Word
that dictates what Christians
00:51:32.66\00:51:36.34
should do, and what they should
speak, and where they should go,
00:51:36.37\00:51:39.30
and what they should eat,
and when they should worship,
00:51:39.33\00:51:41.57
and how they should worship.
00:51:41.60\00:51:43.01
God has given indications
on all of these things.
00:51:43.52\00:51:46.43
Now let's go to verse 10.
00:51:47.33\00:51:48.62
Because our time is running out.
00:51:48.65\00:51:50.28
2 Thessalonians 2 verse 10.
00:51:50.71\00:51:52.73
Why are most people
going to be deceived?
00:51:53.47\00:51:55.86
Listen carefully.
00:51:56.06\00:51:57.27
It says that the antichrist
will come "with all unrighteous
00:51:58.29\00:52:02.37
deception among
those who perish..."
00:52:02.40\00:52:06.18
Why?
00:52:07.21\00:52:08.34
Listen, "Because..."
00:52:08.73\00:52:10.50
Here's the reason why
they're going to perish.
00:52:11.00\00:52:12.89
How important is
it to know the truth
00:52:21.18\00:52:23.23
and follow the truth?
00:52:23.83\00:52:25.07
It's a matter of
life and death, folks.
00:52:25.64\00:52:27.71
And where do we find truth?
00:52:27.91\00:52:29.94
On CNN?
00:52:31.45\00:52:32.82
Well, there's some truth in CNN.
00:52:33.98\00:52:36.50
Or the New York Times?
00:52:36.92\00:52:38.59
What our preacher says?
00:52:39.15\00:52:41.19
Maybe.
00:52:41.48\00:52:42.54
Some truth.
00:52:42.57\00:52:43.99
But where do we find
absolute and undiluted truth?
00:52:44.02\00:52:47.59
In God's Word.
00:52:48.00\00:52:49.80
And so it says, "Because
they did not receive the love of
00:52:50.20\00:52:53.23
the truth that
they might be saved."
00:52:53.26\00:52:54.56
Jesus said in
John 17 and verse 17,
00:52:54.59\00:52:57.20
"Sanctify them by Your truth."
00:52:57.50\00:52:59.32
That is, "Make them
holy by Your truth."
00:52:59.35\00:53:02.14
"Your word is truth."
00:53:02.17\00:53:05.98
By the way, the Bible also says
that God's law is the truth.
00:53:06.77\00:53:10.42
Psalm 119 and verse 142 says...
00:53:10.45\00:53:14.70
And so what is the issue
going to be at the end of time?
00:53:24.84\00:53:26.96
The issue is very simple.
00:53:27.56\00:53:29.15
Do you obey God's commandments
because you love Him?
00:53:29.63\00:53:32.69
Are you willing even
to die to be loyal to God?
00:53:32.72\00:53:36.05
Not as a legalist, but
as someone who loves Jesus
00:53:36.44\00:53:39.82
so much that you're not
willing to bend your knee
00:53:39.85\00:53:43.34
to anyone else; to the beast,
his image, or receive his mark,
00:53:43.37\00:53:46.58
because your love
for Jesus is number one.
00:53:46.88\00:53:49.86
That is going to be the issue.
00:53:50.17\00:53:51.58
Just like Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
00:53:51.61\00:53:54.00
For them, being loyal to God
and not bowing before the image,
00:53:54.89\00:53:59.79
which was raised
up by Nebuchadnezzar,
00:53:59.82\00:54:01.56
was more
important than life itself.
00:54:01.59\00:54:05.11
They lived by
every word that proceeds
00:54:05.65\00:54:07.72
out of the mouth of God.
00:54:07.75\00:54:09.24
And now I want to end by
going to verses 11 and 12.
00:54:09.73\00:54:13.85
Verses 11 and 12.
00:54:13.95\00:54:15.75
The Bible says that
because they did not receive
00:54:16.16\00:54:18.56
the love of the truth,
that they might be saved,
00:54:18.59\00:54:21.12
something happens.
00:54:21.15\00:54:22.62
It says, "And God
will send them..."
00:54:22.82\00:54:25.02
Now the Bible attributes
to God what God allows.
00:54:25.05\00:54:28.72
You understand that?
00:54:28.75\00:54:29.78
It's not that God
is deluding people.
00:54:29.81\00:54:31.78
It's that these people
did not want to receive
00:54:32.20\00:54:34.13
the love of the
truth, and so God says,
00:54:34.16\00:54:35.41
"I'm not going to
force the truth on you.
00:54:35.44\00:54:37.00
I'll just withdraw."
00:54:37.03\00:54:38.78
And when God
withdraws, then they're deluded.
00:54:38.81\00:54:41.94
Are you understanding
what this is saying?
00:54:41.97\00:54:43.30
It's not that God deludes
people or deceives people.
00:54:43.33\00:54:46.40
Because God does
not deceive anyone.
00:54:46.50\00:54:48.45
He wants everyone to be saved.
00:54:48.48\00:54:49.88
And so it says...
00:54:49.91\00:54:50.94
In other words, He will
allow them to be deluded.
00:54:53.62\00:54:55.72
Now listen carefully.
00:54:58.08\00:54:59.34
This is not that
they should believe a lie.
00:55:00.47\00:55:03.26
The word, "lie," here has
the definite article, "the" lie.
00:55:04.40\00:55:10.45
What lie is this referring to?
00:55:10.92\00:55:12.75
According to the
context, what is the lie?
00:55:12.95\00:55:15.51
The counterfeit what?
00:55:17.54\00:55:19.16
The counterfeit
second coming of Christ.
00:55:19.54\00:55:22.17
That they
should believe the lie.
00:55:22.61\00:55:24.69
In other words, the
counterfeit parousia.
00:55:25.44\00:55:28.04
So because they did not
receive the love of the truth,
00:55:29.07\00:55:31.89
they believe the lie.
00:55:32.31\00:55:34.04
And the word, "lie,"
here is the word, "pseudos."
00:55:34.07\00:55:37.14
Which means,
"false," "counterfeit."
00:55:38.96\00:55:41.25
"...that they
should believe the lie,
00:55:41.70\00:55:44.44
that they all may be
condemned who did not..."
00:55:45.27\00:55:48.61
Once again, the same idea.
00:55:48.64\00:55:50.14
"...who did not
believe..." What?
00:55:50.17\00:55:52.10
"...the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness."
00:55:52.59\00:55:57.41
Folks, the only standard in
this world that we can trust in
00:55:58.30\00:56:01.82
is God's Word.
00:56:01.85\00:56:02.92
Not science, not
philosophy, not historians.
00:56:04.28\00:56:07.97
Not that they
don't have some truth.
00:56:08.75\00:56:11.01
We need to compare what
they say with Scripture.
00:56:11.35\00:56:13.78
But the ultimate
authority by which we test
00:56:14.06\00:56:16.62
everything in this
world to determine whether
00:56:16.65\00:56:19.40
it's true or false
is the absolute standard
00:56:19.43\00:56:24.22
of God's holy Word.
00:56:24.32\00:56:26.95
As Jesus said when he was
in the mount of temptation.
00:56:27.32\00:56:30.08
The devil used all kinds
of temptations to try and get
00:56:30.46\00:56:34.98
Jesus to sin.
00:56:35.01\00:56:36.28
But every time that
the devil came to Jesus,
00:56:36.62\00:56:38.90
Jesus didn't say,
"Well, I don't think that
00:56:39.02\00:56:41.25
what you're saying is right."
00:56:41.28\00:56:42.63
Or you know, "It
doesn't look right."
00:56:43.28\00:56:45.79
Or, "It doesn't feel right."
00:56:46.33\00:56:48.00
Or, "It doesn't sound right."
00:56:48.50\00:56:50.22
That wasn't the
standard that Jesus applied.
00:56:50.80\00:56:52.98
Every single time, all three
times, when the devil came,
00:56:53.41\00:56:57.34
Jesus said what?
00:56:57.64\00:56:59.17
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:56:59.20\00:57:04.72
but by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God.'"
00:57:04.75\00:57:08.11
It's my prayer that
we will make the choice
00:57:09.30\00:57:13.12
of living by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God,
00:57:13.15\00:57:16.25
no matter what it might cost.
00:57:16.57\00:57:19.07
For what does it profit a
man if he gains the whole world
00:57:19.68\00:57:23.14
and loses his soul.
00:57:23.84\00:57:25.48