It has stood the
test of time, God's book,
00:00:07.03\00:00:11.93
the Bible.
00:00:11.93\00:00:16.66
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:16.66\00:00:22.46
It Is Written ...
00:00:22.46\00:00:24.86
sharing hope around the globe.
00:00:24.86\00:00:28.73
Leaders come and
leaders go from the world stage.
00:00:36.76\00:00:40.40
Some of them are little
remembered, while others
00:00:40.40\00:00:43.13
are never to be forgotten.
00:00:43.13\00:00:44.66
One of the most significant
figures of world history
00:00:44.66\00:00:48.70
is a man whose exploits
see him actually become a man
00:00:48.70\00:00:52.00
of prophetic significance.
00:00:52.00\00:00:54.50
No, his name is not mentioned
in the Bible, but his deeds
00:00:54.50\00:00:57.96
and his conquests
and ultimately his
00:00:57.96\00:01:00.80
defeat see him fit
into one of the most
00:01:00.80\00:01:03.70
important
prophecies in the entire Bible.
00:01:03.70\00:01:07.16
[Music]
00:01:07.60\00:01:10.46
Napoleon Bonaparte is
one of the most significant
00:01:11.13\00:01:13.46
figures in the
history of France,
00:01:13.46\00:01:16.36
and few leaders in
recent history have impacted
00:01:16.36\00:01:18.60
the world in as
big a way as he did.
00:01:18.60\00:01:22.80
Today he rests
here - at Les Invalides.
00:01:22.80\00:01:28.60
The complex is a
collection of buildings relating
00:01:28.60\00:01:30.90
to France's military history.
00:01:30.90\00:01:33.63
Originally it was a hospital
and retirement home for war
00:01:33.63\00:01:36.63
veterans, but now there
are museums and monuments -
00:01:36.63\00:01:39.90
as well as this being
the burial place for many
00:01:39.90\00:01:42.43
of France's war
heroes - including Napoleon.
00:01:42.43\00:01:48.66
His ashes are kept in an
incredibly impressive tomb.
00:01:48.66\00:01:51.93
It's one of the most remarkable
structures you'll ever see.
00:01:51.93\00:01:58.66
This great honor was
given to Napoleon because he was
00:01:58.66\00:02:01.83
- in many minds - one of
the greatest military commanders
00:02:01.83\00:02:05.93
in all of history.
00:02:05.93\00:02:08.53
He came to power as the
Emperor of France not long
00:02:08.53\00:02:11.63
after the French Revolution,
and his aim was the unite
00:02:11.63\00:02:15.60
Europe under the
leadership of France.
00:02:15.60\00:02:18.23
And he very nearly succeeded.
00:02:18.23\00:02:20.43
But one thing
was against Napoleon.
00:02:26.03\00:02:28.23
Prophecy.
00:02:29.33\00:02:31.03
The word of God said
Napoleon couldn't possibly
00:02:32.56\00:02:35.70
be victorious.
00:02:35.70\00:02:36.70
But Napoleon either
didn't know what the Bible said,
00:02:36.70\00:02:40.23
or didn't care.
00:02:40.23\00:02:42.86
Napoleon's history
demonstrates that what God
00:02:42.86\00:02:45.66
says comes to pass.
00:02:45.66\00:02:51.36
No matter what any person
might try to do, what God says
00:02:51.36\00:02:56.13
is going to happen
is going to happen.
00:02:56.13\00:02:58.13
The word of God doesn't fail.
00:02:58.13\00:02:59.60
It could be said of the Bible,
as f Isaiah said, "No weapon
00:02:59.60\00:03:04.43
formed against thee shall
prosper." Napoleon defeated
00:03:04.43\00:03:08.06
much of Europe,
but he couldn't defeat
00:03:08.06\00:03:12.63
the word of God.
00:03:12.63\00:03:16.53
So what was this prophecy
that doomed the great military
00:03:16.53\00:03:19.86
leader Napoleon
to ultimate defeat?
00:03:19.86\00:03:22.70
We're going to take a look
at that prophecy right now.
00:03:22.70\00:03:25.13
We find it in Daniel, Chapter 2.
00:03:25.13\00:03:28.86
The chapter begins with
another great military leader,
00:03:28.86\00:03:32.06
a man named Nebuchadnezzar,
who was the king of Babylon.
00:03:32.06\00:03:35.56
Babylon was a very powerful
kingdom, based in what today
00:03:35.56\00:03:38.86
we would call Iraq.
00:03:38.86\00:03:41.13
One night, the king of
Babylon had a dream and it was
00:03:41.13\00:03:44.36
so profound a dream,
so impressive a dream,
00:03:44.36\00:03:47.80
it caused Nebuchadnezzar
to wake up out of his sleep.
00:03:47.80\00:03:50.66
When he woke up, he tried
to recall his dream but he
00:03:50.66\00:03:54.16
couldn't remember what he
had dreamed and, therefore,
00:03:54.16\00:03:56.80
he couldn't possibly
know what the dream meant.
00:03:56.80\00:03:59.80
Maybe you've had
a dream like that.
00:03:59.80\00:04:02.03
You wake up in the morning
and you say, well, that was
00:04:02.03\00:04:04.03
interesting.
00:04:04.03\00:04:05.03
And you reach for your
dream, you try to remember
00:04:05.03\00:04:07.23
what it was but it
just seems to slip away.
00:04:07.23\00:04:13.36
Maybe it was something like
that for king Nebuchadnezzar.
00:04:13.36\00:04:16.36
Now before I tell you about
the dream, I want to tell you
00:04:20.26\00:04:23.33
that the dream itself
is a remarkable thing.
00:04:23.33\00:04:27.10
What you're about to
see is one of the greatest
00:04:27.10\00:04:28.93
evidences in the
Bible for the reliability
00:04:28.93\00:04:31.40
and the trustworthiness
of the word of God.
00:04:31.40\00:04:35.30
This dream given many years
ago by God to a heathen King
00:04:35.30\00:04:39.46
has made believers
out of a lot of skeptics
00:04:39.46\00:04:42.46
- so get ready to be
challenged if you do not
00:04:42.46\00:04:45.46
think that the Bible is God's
communication to humankind.
00:04:45.46\00:04:49.36
In Nebuchadnezzar's dream
that night he saw an impressive
00:04:52.50\00:04:55.60
multi-metal
image stood before him.
00:04:55.60\00:04:58.73
This image had a head
made of gold, a chest and arms
00:04:58.73\00:05:02.23
of silver, its loins
were of brass and its legs
00:05:02.23\00:05:06.46
were made from iron.
00:05:06.46\00:05:08.23
Its feet were a mixture
of iron and ceramic clay.
00:05:08.23\00:05:12.16
Then to the King's dismay
he watched a bolder strike
00:05:12.16\00:05:15.83
the image on its
feet and knock it down.
00:05:15.83\00:05:18.90
And if that was not enough,
the rock ground the entire
00:05:18.90\00:05:23.03
image to dust.
00:05:23.03\00:05:24.93
As he watched, the rock then
grew bigger and bigger until
00:05:24.93\00:05:29.86
it encompassed the whole earth.
00:05:29.86\00:05:34.46
Now keep in mind,
Nebuchadnezzar was
00:05:38.23\00:05:40.00
an idol worshipper.
00:05:40.00\00:05:41.63
Idols were his gods.
00:05:41.63\00:05:43.23
So when he has a dream about
a great big idol that is being
00:05:43.23\00:05:45.86
destroyed, he is alarmed.
00:05:45.86\00:05:47.90
A god being destroyed?
00:05:47.90\00:05:50.23
What would the implications
be for Nebuchadnezzar
00:05:50.23\00:05:52.83
and for his kingdom?
00:05:52.83\00:05:54.56
So Nebuchadnezzar called his
wise men together and he said,
00:05:54.56\00:05:58.00
"I've had a dream..
00:05:58.00\00:05:59.36
It seems to me that the
gods are speaking to me and so
00:05:59.36\00:06:03.16
I need to know what the
dream was and what it meant.
00:06:03.16\00:06:06.86
Tell me, both things,
what I dreamed and what
00:06:06.86\00:06:09.16
the dream meant."
00:06:09.16\00:06:10.36
Now, that wasn't an
unreasonable request at all.
00:06:10.36\00:06:13.33
If these wise men were as
close to the world of the gods
00:06:13.33\00:06:16.93
as they claimed to
be, this shouldn't be any
00:06:16.93\00:06:19.70
problem for them at all.
00:06:19.70\00:06:21.70
They responded: "There is
not a man on earth who can tell
00:06:23.66\00:06:27.00
the king's matter; therefore
no king, lord, or ruler has
00:06:27.00\00:06:32.33
ever asked such things
of any magician, astrologer,
00:06:32.33\00:06:35.36
or Chaldean.
00:06:35.36\00:06:36.36
It is a difficult thing that
the king requests, and there
00:06:36.36\00:06:39.93
is no other who can tell it
to the king except the gods,
00:06:39.93\00:06:43.60
whose dwelling is not
with flesh" (Dan 2:10, 11).
00:06:43.60\00:06:48.66
Because they were unable to
live up to their reputation,
00:06:48.66\00:06:50.96
because they couldn't
interpret for the king what
00:06:50.96\00:06:54.13
his dream was and what
it meant, the king ordered
00:06:54.13\00:06:56.60
them to be executed.
00:06:56.60\00:06:57.83
Now this was especially
bad news for a young man named
00:06:57.83\00:07:00.96
Daniel and his three
friends, Shadrach, Meshach
00:07:00.96\00:07:03.33
and Abednego.
00:07:03.33\00:07:04.36
Because of their exemplary
character, they had been
00:07:04.36\00:07:06.40
included in the group
of the king's wise men.
00:07:06.40\00:07:08.73
So when the king
said that the wise men
00:07:08.73\00:07:10.73
were to be executed,
that included Daniel and his
00:07:10.73\00:07:13.73
friends, Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego.
00:07:13.73\00:07:16.76
Daniel asked for a
little bit of time.
00:07:16.76\00:07:19.16
He and his friends got
together and earnestly prayed
00:07:19.16\00:07:21.53
that God would show them
the dream and its meaning.
00:07:21.53\00:07:24.20
And God did.
00:07:24.20\00:07:26.16
And so now, Daniel is ushered
into the presence of the king.
00:07:26.16\00:07:30.26
Here is what happened.
00:07:30.26\00:07:32.00
"The king answered and
said to Daniel, whose name was
00:07:32.00\00:07:37.43
Belteshazzar, "Are you able
to make known to me the dream
00:07:37.43\00:07:40.33
which I have seen,
and its interpretation?"
00:07:40.33\00:07:43.96
Daniel answered in
the presence of the king,
00:07:43.96\00:07:46.36
and said, "The secret
which the king has demanded,
00:07:46.36\00:07:49.00
the wise men, the
astrologers, the magicians,
00:07:49.00\00:07:51.63
and the soothsayers
cannot declare to the king.
00:07:51.63\00:07:56.80
But there is a God in
heaven who reveals secrets,
00:07:56.80\00:08:00.10
and He has made known
to King Nebuchadnezzar
00:08:00.10\00:08:02.93
what will be in
the latter days.".
00:08:02.93\00:08:09.53
The king listened
intently as he heard Daniel
00:08:09.53\00:08:13.10
describing his dream.
00:08:13.10\00:08:14.10
He knew this was
exactly what he had dreamed
00:08:14.10\00:08:17.46
the night before.
00:08:17.46\00:08:18.76
And then Daniel
told the king the meaning
00:08:18.76\00:08:21.66
of the dream.
00:08:21.66\00:08:23.73
"You, O king,
are a king of kings.
00:08:23.73\00:08:26.20
For the God of heaven has
given you a kingdom, power,
00:08:26.20\00:08:29.03
strength, and glory;
...you are this head of gold."
00:08:29.03\00:08:34.76
Nebuchadnezzar was
like France's Napoleon,
00:08:34.76\00:08:40.86
the French Emperor -
eager to be the head,
00:08:40.86\00:08:44.43
wanting to be a great leader.
00:08:44.43\00:08:49.16
According to God's plan,
Babylon was to be the first
00:08:49.16\00:08:53.36
in a line of world empires.
00:08:53.36\00:08:56.13
This did not
appeal to the king at all.
00:08:56.13\00:08:59.83
He had great plans to make
Babylon an enduring kingdom.
00:08:59.83\00:09:05.00
Bricks excavated in the ruins
of old Babylon were stamped
00:09:05.00\00:09:08.33
with an inscription in which
Nebuchadnezzar announced that
00:09:08.33\00:09:10.83
he built the
city to last forever.
00:09:10.83\00:09:14.10
Here was the king of the first
world empire confronted by the
00:09:14.10\00:09:17.33
plans of the King of Kings.
00:09:17.33\00:09:20.50
How would he respond?
00:09:20.50\00:09:21.66
He could surrender his plans
and accept the plan of God.
00:09:21.66\00:09:26.86
Or he could reject God's
plans and push his own agenda.
00:09:26.86\00:09:32.50
You know - it's entirely
appropriate that I'm telling
00:09:34.53\00:09:36.66
you this story from France -
from Paris, the final resting
00:09:36.66\00:09:40.40
place of the Emperor Napoleon.
00:09:40.40\00:09:41.80
Like Nebuchadnezzar, Napoleon
had ideas about great dominion.
00:09:41.80\00:09:47.10
And just like Nebuchadnezzar,
Napoleon's ideas and God's
00:09:47.10\00:09:51.13
ideas didn't mesh.
00:09:51.13\00:09:53.73
Listen on, and you'll see
how this prophecy in Daniel 2
00:09:53.73\00:09:57.76
guaranteed Napoleon couldn't
succeed in bringing Europe
00:09:57.76\00:10:02.60
into one dominion.
00:10:02.60\00:10:04.16
[Music]
00:10:04.16\00:10:07.93
With Nebuchadnezzar's
dream, much was at stake.
00:10:11.06\00:10:13.76
The real issue was
this: Who was going to control
00:10:13.76\00:10:17.60
human history, God or man?
00:10:17.60\00:10:20.96
Every succeeding king had
to answer the same question.
00:10:20.96\00:10:24.46
Would they let God be
God or would they try to
00:10:24.46\00:10:28.56
play God instead?
00:10:28.56\00:10:30.50
God emphatically told
Nebuchadnezzar - "But after
00:10:32.03\00:10:34.83
you shall arise another
kingdom inferior to yours."
00:10:34.83\00:10:37.90
In answer, Nebuchadnezzar
said; "No, I reject
00:10:37.90\00:10:42.23
God's plan." You
see in Daniel 3 just how
00:10:42.23\00:10:46.16
Nebuchadnezzar responded.
00:10:46.16\00:10:47.86
He had his own image
built that was made entirely
00:10:47.86\00:10:51.63
out of gold.
00:10:51.63\00:10:52.63
You see, Nebuchadnezzar
was saying, instead of Babylon
00:10:52.63\00:10:55.56
being the head of the image,
Babylon will be the entire
00:10:55.56\00:10:59.83
image.
00:10:59.83\00:11:00.90
Babylon won't only be the
first kingdom, Babylon will be
00:11:00.90\00:11:05.80
the only kingdom.
00:11:05.80\00:11:07.80
Now before we consider
this prophecy any further, we
00:11:10.13\00:11:12.93
really ought to take a
look at a very important word
00:11:12.93\00:11:15.90
and that's that word "inferior."
00:11:15.90\00:11:18.63
God said to Nebuchadnezzar
that his kingdom would be
00:11:18.63\00:11:20.63
dominated by an "inferior"
kingdom, which humanly
00:11:20.63\00:11:24.70
speaking, doesn't
make a lot of sense.
00:11:24.70\00:11:27.56
Normally, you would
expect that the superior would
00:11:27.56\00:11:30.30
dominate the inferior.
00:11:30.30\00:11:32.00
But that's not
what God said happened.
00:11:32.00\00:11:34.06
Here, we see a progression.
00:11:34.06\00:11:36.00
The gold was
conquered by the silver,
00:11:36.00\00:11:39.30
the silver by the
bronze, the bronze by the iron,
00:11:39.30\00:11:42.00
each time the
conquering@ met God is driving
00:11:42.00\00:11:51.36
home a point here.
00:11:51.36\00:11:52.93
If human beings were in
charge, then you might expect
00:11:52.93\00:11:55.83
that the superior
would dominate the inferior.
00:11:55.83\00:11:58.66
But God is saying human
beings are not in charge.
00:11:58.66\00:12:04.80
The fact that the inferior
conquers the superior shows us
00:12:04.80\00:12:08.93
that there is
something supernatural taking
00:12:08.93\00:12:11.56
place here.
00:12:11.56\00:12:13.70
God is in charge
of human history.
00:12:13.70\00:12:17.03
[Music] In Matthew 4:4 the Word
00:12:17.03\00:12:20.33
of God says "It is written
'Man shall not live by bread
00:12:20.33\00:12:23.76
alone but by every word
that proceeds out of the mouth
00:12:23.76\00:12:26.96
of God'." Every
Word is a one minute
00:12:26.96\00:12:29.73
Bible-based daily devotional
presented by Pastor John
00:12:29.73\00:12:32.66
Bradshaw and designed
especially for busy people
00:12:32.66\00:12:35.60
like you.
00:12:35.60\00:12:36.60
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch
00:12:36.60\00:12:39.76
it on-line everyday on
our website itiswritten.com.
00:12:39.76\00:12:43.66
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:12:43.66\00:12:46.56
Watch Every Word.
00:12:46.56\00:12:47.50
You'll be glad you did.
00:12:47.50\00:12:49.26
Here's a sample.
00:12:49.26\00:12:51.00
One of the great themes
in the Bible is the Second
00:12:59.90\00:13:02.13
Coming of Jesus and again
and again the Bible urges us
00:13:02.13\00:13:05.16
to be ready for that day.
00:13:05.16\00:13:06.40
But notice what Paul
wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
00:13:06.40\00:13:10.60
He said, "For yourselves
know perfectly that the day
00:13:10.60\00:13:13.20
of the Lord so comes
as a thief in the night.
00:13:13.20\00:13:16.20
Thieves come unexpectedly.
00:13:16.20\00:13:17.73
Usually, when people are
not anticipating them and most
00:13:17.73\00:13:19.93
often when people
are not ready for them.
00:13:19.93\00:13:22.66
Paul says that for those
who are not ready, the return
00:13:22.66\00:13:24.80
of Jesus will come
as a surprise, something
00:13:24.80\00:13:27.30
for which they are not prepared,
like a thief in the night.
00:13:27.30\00:13:30.23
The whole purpose of this life
is to get ready for the life
00:13:30.23\00:13:33.26
to come.
00:13:33.26\00:13:34.56
What are you spending your time
on or devoting your energies to.
00:13:34.56\00:13:38.00
Don't let the return of
Jesus catch you unawares.
00:13:38.00\00:13:44.50
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:13:44.50\00:13:46.33
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:13:46.33\00:13:48.73
Eyes for India is giving
sight to the blind and you
00:13:59.93\00:14:03.13
can be a part of this
amazing work that God is doing.
00:14:03.13\00:14:06.73
15 million blind people
live in India, more than any
00:14:06.73\00:14:10.23
other country in the world.
00:14:10.23\00:14:11.73
And many of the blind
in India could see again
00:14:11.73\00:14:14.40
if only they could have
simple cataract surgery.
00:14:14.40\00:14:18.20
It Is Written is
making that happen.
00:14:18.20\00:14:20.86
Would you
support Eyes for India?
00:14:20.86\00:14:23.66
For just $75, you'll be giving
the gift of sight to someone
00:14:23.66\00:14:28.16
who desperately wants to see.
00:14:28.16\00:14:30.50
Here is all you need to
do: Call 1.800.253.3000.
00:14:30.50\00:14:35.16
That's 1.800.253.3000
to donate and support Eyes
00:14:35.16\00:14:41.33
for India or you can
write to It Is Written, Box O,
00:14:41.33\00:14:45.56
Thousand Oaks, California 91359.
00:14:45.56\00:14:49.23
You'll also find Eyes for India
on-line at itiswritten.com.
00:14:49.23\00:14:54.73
Every $75 you give gives
someone the precious gift
00:14:54.73\00:14:58.13
of sight.
00:14:58.13\00:14:59.40
Eyes for India, doing the work
of Jesus in opening the eyes
00:14:59.40\00:15:03.40
of the blind, and opening
hearts to the love of God.
00:15:03.40\00:15:07.73
Call 1-800-253-3000 or
write to Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:15:07.73\00:15:12.63
CA 91359, or
visit itiswritten.com.
00:15:12.63\00:15:18.70
[Music] The Medo-Persian
00:15:20.66\00:15:24.46
kingdom conquered
Babylon in a remarkable way.
00:15:24.46\00:15:26.66
You can read about
that in Daniel chapter 5.
00:15:26.66\00:15:29.96
Just as God's plan indicated,
Babylon went down and another
00:15:29.96\00:15:35.00
kingdom dominated the landscape.
00:15:35.00\00:15:38.86
While interpreting the
dream to Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel
00:15:38.86\00:15:41.96
said: "then (there will
be) another, a third kingdom of
00:15:41.96\00:15:45.60
bronze, which shall rule over
all the earth" (Daniel 2:39).
00:15:45.60\00:15:53.53
The bronze midsection of
the image represented Empire of
00:15:53.53\00:15:57.23
Greece.
00:15:57.23\00:15:58.23
At the battle of Issus in
333 BC the Greek army under
00:15:58.23\00:16:03.20
the generalship of Alexander
the Great defeated the Medo
00:16:03.20\00:16:06.13
Persians who were under
the direct command of king
00:16:06.13\00:16:10.33
Darius the 3rd.
00:16:10.33\00:16:12.00
Ancient sources tell us
that the Greeks were vastly
00:16:12.00\00:16:14.36
outnumbered.
00:16:14.36\00:16:15.50
It seems the Medo Persian
army was made up of 400,000
00:16:15.50\00:16:19.30
soldiers while the Greek Army
may have had as few as 40,000.
00:16:19.30\00:16:23.93
That is a ratio of 10 to 1.
00:16:23.93\00:16:27.23
However, it was a decisive
victory for the Macedonians.
00:16:27.23\00:16:31.10
The Persians were turned
to flight and as they fled,
00:16:31.10\00:16:34.76
great numbers of them
were massacred by the Greeks.
00:16:34.76\00:16:38.00
It was the first time
ever that the Medo Persians had
00:16:38.00\00:16:41.03
been defeated with
their king present.
00:16:41.03\00:16:45.33
The kingdom of Greece
now had its place in the sun.
00:16:48.13\00:16:50.56
This was a vast empire
stretching from the Adriatic
00:16:50.56\00:16:54.16
Sea to the Indus River.
00:16:54.16\00:16:56.43
But according to God's plan,
it too would make way for the
00:16:56.43\00:17:00.63
rise of a fourth
world ruling power.
00:17:00.63\00:17:05.20
Here's what Daniel
said to Nebuchadnezzar: "
00:17:05.20\00:17:08.70
The legs of iron
represented the Roman Empire.
00:17:23.10\00:17:26.50
The Roman Empire lasted
more than half a millennium.
00:17:26.50\00:17:30.90
But now notice; it was never
conquered by another single
00:17:30.90\00:17:34.80
nation.
00:17:34.80\00:17:35.96
Rome marked the end of the
line of the four world empires
00:17:35.96\00:17:40.23
that God predicted
would dominate the world.
00:17:40.23\00:17:42.80
There would never be another.
00:17:42.80\00:17:46.50
The Roman Empire was simply
absorbed by the nations of
00:17:46.50\00:17:49.40
Europe and ceased to exist.
00:17:49.40\00:17:52.33
Amazing!
00:17:52.33\00:17:53.33
But then God makes
another startling announcement.
00:17:53.33\00:17:57.93
The next dominant force
on the world scene was to be
00:18:16.16\00:18:18.53
the nations of Europe.
00:18:18.53\00:18:20.26
You it's interesting that
these things unfolded just as
00:18:20.26\00:18:22.96
God said they would.
00:18:22.96\00:18:24.33
And remember, God had said
that these nations would never
00:18:24.33\00:18:27.20
unite again under one empire.
00:18:27.20\00:18:30.60
Well, what do you
think man's response was?
00:18:30.60\00:18:32.83
Man's response
was "We don't like it.
00:18:32.83\00:18:35.86
We will unite these nations.
00:18:35.86\00:18:37.90
We will bring these nations
together again because we will
00:18:37.90\00:18:40.90
be in charge, and not God."
00:18:40.90\00:18:44.66
You know, the history of
Europe is really the story
00:18:44.66\00:18:47.63
of mankind's futile attempt
to try to prove God wrong.
00:18:47.63\00:18:52.30
God had said these nations
would never unite but some
00:18:52.30\00:18:55.20
of the greatest generals
in history marshaled some of
00:18:55.20\00:18:57.50
history's greatest
armies in an attempt to conquer
00:18:57.50\00:19:01.26
and unite Europe.
00:19:01.26\00:19:02.26
But they tried and they failed.
00:19:02.26\00:19:05.40
Charlemagne tried and failed.
00:19:05.40\00:19:07.23
It could be said Louis
the XIV tried and failed.
00:19:07.23\00:19:09.80
And others did exactly the same.
00:19:09.80\00:19:11.83
They tried and failed.
00:19:11.83\00:19:13.73
Mankind was
wrong; God was right.
00:19:13.73\00:19:17.86
[Music÷
00:19:17.86\00:19:20.23
That brings us back to Napoleon.
00:19:25.46\00:19:27.40
At one stage he
dominated much of Europe.
00:19:27.40\00:19:30.13
The Arc de Triomphe celebrates
his brilliant military
00:19:30.13\00:19:33.23
achievements.
00:19:33.23\00:19:35.23
[Music] Under his leadership
00:19:36.93\00:19:37.96
France probably stood taller
in Europe than it did at any
00:19:37.96\00:19:41.43
other time.
00:19:41.43\00:19:42.86
England and Russia were
still in his cross hairs.
00:19:42.86\00:19:45.30
But the Russian
campaign turned into a disaster
00:19:45.30\00:19:48.96
for Napoleon.
00:19:48.96\00:19:50.40
Knowingly or unknowingly
Napoleon was fighting against
00:19:50.40\00:19:53.60
the dictates of
the King of Kings.
00:19:53.60\00:19:56.46
Just like
Nebuchadnezzar, he said, I will
00:19:56.46\00:19:59.86
control history, not God.
00:19:59.86\00:20:03.00
Just two days before the
battle of Waterloo at the
00:20:03.56\00:20:05.90
battle of Ligny, Napoleon
defeated the Prussian army
00:20:05.90\00:20:09.00
under Field Marshal Blucher.
00:20:09.00\00:20:10.83
Then torrential rains
came and flooded the area.
00:20:10.83\00:20:14.46
This caused Napoleon to
actually delay the start
00:20:14.46\00:20:17.13
of the battle of
Waterloo ever so slightly.
00:20:17.13\00:20:19.50
.When the battle began,
68,000 British were under
00:20:19.50\00:20:23.43
the direction of
the Duke of Wellington.
00:20:23.43\00:20:25.43
The French army numbered 72,000.
00:20:25.43\00:20:27.43
But the Prussians sent
a support force of 50,000
00:20:27.43\00:20:30.90
to aid the British.
00:20:30.90\00:20:32.33
As the battle unfolded,
Napoleon was actually gaining
00:20:32.33\00:20:35.23
the upper hand.
00:20:35.23\00:20:36.16
But then he needed to
reposition his artillery
00:20:36.16\00:20:40.10
and when he did, those
heavy grounds made it very, very
00:20:40.10\00:20:44.06
difficult for him to do so.
00:20:44.06\00:20:45.90
By the time the Prussians
arrived, the die was cast.
00:20:45.90\00:20:51.06
Could it be that it was not
the Prussians and the British
00:20:51.06\00:20:53.30
that defeated Napoleon?
00:20:53.30\00:20:55.00
Could it be that God sent
those torrential rains to do
00:20:55.00\00:21:00.26
what man could not do?
00:21:00.26\00:21:03.16
I believe that
could be the case.
00:21:03.16\00:21:05.36
You see, God had spoken.
00:21:05.36\00:21:06.80
In the book of Daniel, God
said they shall not cleave one
00:21:06.80\00:21:10.26
to another even as iron
is not mixed with miry clay.
00:21:10.26\00:21:14.13
On Sunday, June 15,
1815 a brilliant career ended
00:21:14.13\00:21:18.83
at the Battle of
Waterloo, in Belgium.
00:21:18.83\00:21:23.53
It's interesting.
00:21:23.53\00:21:24.53
The Arc de Triomphe glorifies
Napoleon's many campaigns
00:21:24.53\00:21:28.03
and victories.
00:21:28.03\00:21:29.23
But there's no mention on
the Arc de Triomphe of Waterloo.
00:21:29.23\00:21:33.33
It was his downfall.
00:21:33.33\00:21:35.16
God knew best.
00:21:35.16\00:21:36.20
Napoleon was
fighting against Providence.
00:21:36.20\00:21:39.10
God had - and God has
- a plan for this world.
00:21:39.10\00:21:43.93
It's fascinating that
Napoleon was like Nebuchadnezzar
00:21:47.90\00:21:50.86
in many ways.
00:21:50.86\00:21:51.86
A great leader.
00:21:51.86\00:21:53.53
A great strategist.
00:21:53.53\00:21:55.40
A great military man.
00:21:55.40\00:21:57.93
But like Nebuchadnezzar,
he sought to fight against
00:21:57.93\00:22:01.76
the word of God.
00:22:01.76\00:22:02.76
That can never work.
00:22:02.76\00:22:05.30
But he was like Nebuchadnezzar
in another way, too.
00:22:05.30\00:22:08.76
If you're familiar with
the book of Daniel you'll know
00:22:08.76\00:22:10.96
that Nebuchadnezzar came
to the place where he accepted
00:22:10.96\00:22:14.00
the true God into his life.
00:22:14.00\00:22:16.63
Now, I don't know if we can
go so far as to say Napoleon did
00:22:16.63\00:22:19.70
that, but it's true that while
he was in exile on St Helena,
00:22:19.70\00:22:23.53
in the last years of his life
- a lot like Nebuchadnezzar's
00:22:23.53\00:22:26.83
7 years in the wilderness -
Napoleon recognized that what
00:22:26.83\00:22:30.86
Jesus accomplished through
Divine love was much greater
00:22:30.86\00:22:35.60
than the genius and
military power of any general.
00:22:35.60\00:22:40.53
He said, "
00:22:40.53\00:22:41.96
Napoleon made the
ultimate discovery, Jesus
00:22:58.63\00:23:05.00
and His inexhaustible
love for the human family.
00:23:05.00\00:23:09.23
Makes you wonder if Napoleon
ever surrendered his heart to
00:23:09.23\00:23:11.63
Jesus Christ but I guess that
is something that we will just
00:23:11.63\00:23:15.03
never know?
00:23:15.03\00:23:16.56
What we do know is this.
00:23:16.56\00:23:18.36
That is that God has a
plan for the kingdoms and the
00:23:18.36\00:23:20.80
nations of the world.
00:23:20.80\00:23:21.80
And if there's a plan for
nations and kingdoms, then
00:23:21.80\00:23:25.26
there's little doubt that
God has a plan for your life as
00:23:25.26\00:23:28.06
well.
00:23:28.06\00:23:29.30
Now, if the greatest armies
in the world could not frustrate
00:23:29.30\00:23:32.96
the plans of God, why would
you fight against God's plan
00:23:32.96\00:23:37.00
for your life?
00:23:37.00\00:23:38.56
One thing is different though.
00:23:38.56\00:23:40.16
You do have a very real
choice, whether to say "yes"
00:23:40.16\00:23:43.26
to God and let God lead your
life, or to say like some of
00:23:43.26\00:23:47.13
these others did, "No,
God, I'm going to go my way."
00:23:47.13\00:23:52.80
On whose side will you stand?
00:23:52.80\00:23:54.00
Will you stand with
Napoleon, Alexander the Great,
00:23:54.00\00:23:58.53
and Nebuchadnezzar and say
"I'm going to do my own thing?
00:23:58.53\00:24:01.90
Or will you make a decision
to let God's plans be the plans
00:24:01.90\00:24:06.73
for your life?
00:24:06.73\00:24:08.70
In the days of these kings
(the kingdoms of Europe) God
00:24:08.70\00:24:13.20
will set up His kingdom
that will never pass away and he
00:24:13.20\00:24:17.60
wants you to be a
part of that kingdom.
00:24:17.60\00:24:19.86
He loves you.
00:24:19.86\00:24:20.86
He died for you.
00:24:20.86\00:24:22.86
In heaven now, God is doing
everything he can to prepare
00:24:22.86\00:24:27.40
you for eternity.
00:24:27.40\00:24:29.30
He invites you today to
surrender your life to him.
00:24:29.30\00:24:33.00
The prophecies of the Bible,
inspired by God to help us
00:24:38.06\00:24:41.96
understand the
past and the future.
00:24:41.96\00:24:44.93
To help us see that the
Bible can be trusted and to
00:24:44.93\00:24:47.56
encourage us to face
the future with confidence.
00:24:47.56\00:24:51.23
I want you to have this
eye opening Bible-study guide
00:24:51.23\00:24:53.93
about your future.
00:24:53.93\00:24:55.70
You'll understand Bible
Prophecy and you'll see how
00:24:55.70\00:24:57.96
you can read the prophecies
of the Bible for yourself
00:24:57.96\00:25:01.76
and know what God is
saying in these important
00:25:01.76\00:25:04.06
passages of the Bible.
00:25:04.06\00:25:05.36
Bible prophecy will open up
to you when you read about your
00:25:05.36\00:25:09.26
future.
00:25:09.26\00:25:10.26
I'm offering it to you free.
00:25:10.26\00:25:12.03
There is
absolutely no obligation.
00:25:12.03\00:25:14.16
Just call and ask for About
your Future and I'll have it
00:25:14.16\00:25:17.60
sent right to your
address in North America.
00:25:17.60\00:25:20.33
In just a few pages
you'll learn what the Bible says
00:25:20.33\00:25:22.46
about prophecy and your
knowledge of prophecy will
00:25:22.46\00:25:25.40
grow.
00:25:25.40\00:25:26.40
And it's my gift to
you absolutely free.
00:25:26.40\00:25:30.00
In this booklet, you'll
discover the details of Bible
00:25:30.00\00:25:32.23
prophecy and how God
is guiding the affairs of
00:25:32.23\00:25:34.63
nations.
00:25:34.63\00:25:35.73
More importantly, you'll know
what's ahead for planet earth.
00:25:35.73\00:25:39.03
About your Future is available
right now from It Is Written.
00:25:39.03\00:25:42.50
It's practical and it makes
sense of subjects many people
00:25:42.50\00:25:46.93
struggle with.
00:25:46.93\00:25:48.30
Just call 1.800.253.3000
and ask for About your Future.
00:25:48.30\00:25:54.16
You can also request About
your Future by writing to It
00:25:54.16\00:25:57.36
Is Written, Box O, Thousand
Oaks, CA 91359, and we'll mail
00:25:57.36\00:26:02.83
a copy to your
address in North America.
00:26:02.83\00:26:05.36
And be sure to visit our
website, itiswritten.com,
00:26:05.36\00:26:08.63
where you will discover more
helpful resources on a host of
00:26:08.63\00:26:12.10
life-changing topics.
00:26:12.10\00:26:14.36
It Is Written is a faith-based
outreach made possible by
00:26:14.36\00:26:17.13
viewers like you.
00:26:17.13\00:26:18.13
Thank you for your letters
and your continued financial
00:26:18.13\00:26:20.90
support.
00:26:20.90\00:26:22.10
Our toll-free number is
1.800.253.3000 and our web
00:26:22.10\00:26:27.56
address is itiswritten.com.
00:26:27.56\00:26:30.20
[Music] Planning
for your financial
00:26:32.06\00:26:35.26
future is a vital aspect
of Christian stewardship.
00:26:35.26\00:26:38.03
For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer free
00:26:38.03\00:26:40.40
planned giving
and estate services.
00:26:40.40\00:26:43.10
For more information on how
we can help you, please call
00:26:43.10\00:26:45.10
1.800.922.2219.
00:26:45.10\00:26:48.93
Call today or visit
our planned giving website
00:26:48.93\00:26:52.03
www.hislegacy.com.
00:26:52.03\00:26:57.00
Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:02.50\00:27:03.73
Let's pray together.
00:27:03.73\00:27:05.46
Father in heaven, thank you
for this wonderful prophecy in
00:27:05.46\00:27:08.03
Daniel, Chapter 2.
00:27:08.03\00:27:09.76
And thank you for showing
us again that just as you have
00:27:09.76\00:27:12.33
a plan for the
world, you have a plan
00:27:12.33\00:27:14.26
for each one of us.
00:27:14.26\00:27:15.60
Give us grace, Lord, to
be surrendered to you so your
00:27:15.60\00:27:17.40
plans for our lives can be the
plans that are carried out in
00:27:17.40\00:27:22.53
our lives.
00:27:22.53\00:27:24.06
Keep us, please, we pray.
00:27:24.06\00:27:25.36
Take our hearts
and make them yours.
00:27:25.36\00:27:28.13
I ask in Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:28.13\00:27:32.50
[Music]
00:27:34.20\00:27:39.43
I look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:49.66\00:27:51.23
Until then, please
remember It is written,
00:27:51.23\00:27:54.23
man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every
00:27:54.23\00:27:57.63
word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.
00:27:57.63\00:28:01.20