¤[Theme music]¤
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¤[Theme music]¤
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¤[Music]¤
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>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joining me today.
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Imagine you're living your
life, minding your own business,
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and from out of the
blue, you're accused
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of committing
truly horrible crimes.
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That's what
happened to a man from
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the southwest of
Chicago, Illinois.
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His life was turned upside down;
people all over Chicago were
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shocked, and horrified.
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In the 1970s, claims
were made that Frank Walus
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had collaborated with the
Gestapo during World War 2,
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and before long Mr.
Walus found himself in court
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facing very serious charges.
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A gruesome picture
was painted of him.
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It was said that he had
participated in the murder
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of innocent Jews in Poland,
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and that he had
cooperated with the Nazis
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to kill women and children.
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He was
identified by several people
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who claimed to
have witnessed him
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carrying out
atrocities during the war.
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His U.S.
citizenship was revoked,
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because it was claimed he
didn't reveal his involvement
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with the Nazis when applying
to come to the United States.
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It seemed to
many that authorities
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had rooted out
another war criminal.
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Many believed the case against
Frank Walus was watertight:
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a wartime monster,
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identified by eyewitnesses
as a killer and a tyrant.
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Well, information came
to light that suggested that
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maybe Frank Walus
was not the war criminal
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he'd been portrayed as.
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In fact, his attorney unearthed
evidence demonstrating Mr. Walus
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was not the man who had
participated in cruel beatings
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and callous murders.
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And a writer in the New York
Times said that Mr. Walus was,
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in fact, a farm laborer
rather than a Nazi sympathizer
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at the time the
alleged atrocities took place.
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The U.S. government
dropped the case against Walus,
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with prosecutors saying
that Mr. Walus had never been
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at the concentration
camp in Kielce, Poland,
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where many of the atrocities
alleged to have involved
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Mr. Walus had taken place.
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Frank Walus died
in 1994, aged 72.
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A question, an
important question,
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was being asked
at Mr. Walus' trial.
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Was he the "Beast of Kielce,"
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or in actuality a kind
man quietly living his life,
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a Polish immigrant doing
his best to make a new life
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in the United States of America?
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In other words, who
was the real Frank Walus?
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That's a question
that's going to be asked of you
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and me one day.
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Who is the real John Q Citizen?
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The real Jane Doe?
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According to the Bible, there's
going to be a judgment one day
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[gong sounds] when God
asks of every last one of us,
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who are you, really?
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This could be
something a person might fear,
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but rightly understood,
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the judgment is something
you can face with confidence.
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So, how can you face the
judgment with confidence?
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We'll look in to
that in just a moment.
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¤[Music]¤
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I'd love for you to
have today's free offer,
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“Messiah and the Judgment,”
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from our “Revelation Today:
The Mysteries Revealed” series.
00:04:55.99\00:04:59.63
The DVD of the
“Messiah and the Judgment.”
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Call us on 800-253-3000,
00:05:03.60\00:05:06.20
or visit us online
at itiswritten.com.
00:05:06.23\00:05:09.77
“Messiah and the Judgment”
00:05:09.80\00:05:11.14
on DVD will go deep
into Bible prophecy.
00:05:11.17\00:05:13.84
Make it yours free.
00:05:13.88\00:05:15.61
800-253-3000,
00:05:15.64\00:05:18.25
or visit us online
at itiswritten.com.
00:05:18.28\00:05:21.75
>>Announcer: Planning
for your financial future
00:05:24.42\00:05:26.02
is a vital aspect of
Christian stewardship.
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For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer
00:05:29.99\00:05:32.63
free planned giving
and estate services.
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For information on
how we can help you,
00:05:35.56\00:05:37.67
please call 800-992-2219.
00:05:37.70\00:05:42.57
Call today, or
visit our website,
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HisLegacy.com.
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Call 800-992-2219.
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¤[Music]¤
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¤[Music]¤
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It's time now for
today's Bible question.
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It reads like this:
"My question is simple:
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I believe in God,
but is the devil real?"
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Yes, he is!
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You'll read in the Bible
that there is a very real devil.
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The Bible is
unambiguous about that.
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Revelation chapter 12 talks
in some detail about this being,
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saying in verse 9,
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"So the great dragon was
cast out [that's out of heaven],
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that old serpent
called the devil and Satan,
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which deceiveth
the whole world..."
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Notice here, not
only is the devil real,
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but he's
referred to as a dragon,
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a prophetic symbol that you'll
find in the book of Revelation,
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and he is
referred to as the serpent,
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referring to the way
he tempted Adam and Eve
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in the Garden of Eden.
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Jesus referenced
the devil Himself.
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In John 8 Jesus
referred to the devil as a liar,
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and the father of lies.
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Satan tempted Jesus in
the wilderness, you remember.
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And you might recall when
Jesus was talking to Peter
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and he rebuked him by saying,
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"Get behind me,
Satan," in Matthew 16.
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So yes, the devil is real.
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He was once an angel who
lived in the presence of God,
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but, filled with
pride and selfishness,
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he rebelled against God
and was evicted from heaven.
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Satan is responsible for
the evil that's in the world.
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You know, so many
people want to blame God
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for the mayhem
in the world today,
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mayhem which is evidence of the
evil that exists in the world.
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But here's what
you need to know.
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1 John 4, verse
4, the Bible says,
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"Greater is He that is in you
than he that is in the world."
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The God of heaven is
much more powerful than Satan.
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The devil will
tempt, yes, he will.
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But God can deliver, and
He will if you ask Him to.
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There certainly is a devil.
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But the really good news
is, there really is a Savior;
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His name is Jesus.
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And He will give new
life to you and anybody else
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who comes to Him in faith.
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If you have a
question you'd like answered,
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please go to our
website: www.itiswritten.com,
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and click on the questions tab.
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Submit your question
there, and in a future program
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you may discover the
answer your question.
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¤[Music]¤
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The Bible tells us
that every person on earth
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will one day come
before God in judgment.
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You read these
words in 2 Corinthians,
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chapter 5 and verse
10, where the Bible says,
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“We must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ;
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that every one may receive
the things done in the body,
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according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad."
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In the book of Revelation,
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John gives us a bigger
picture of the judgment.
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Revelation chapter
20 and verse 12 says,
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"And I saw the dead, small
and great, stand before God;
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and the books were opened:
and another book was opened,
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which is the book of life:
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and the dead were
out of those things
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which were written in the books,
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according to their works."
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You know, many people are
concerned by the idea that God
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is going to examine their lives.
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They worry that things will
go against them when God judges.
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If you were
appearing in an earthly court,
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you might be worried about
what the prosecution had dug up
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to use as evidence against you.
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But what do you think
God might be able to find
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to use against you?
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Now here's where we've
got to keep something in mind.
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God is not looking to do
all He can to condemn people.
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He's doing everything
He can to save people.
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Most people are familiar with
that famous verse John 3:16,
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but John 3:17 says
this, John 3, verse 17
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"For God sent not
His Son into the world
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to condemn the world,
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but that the world
through Him might be saved."
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No, God didn't send Jesus
to the world to condemn us,
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but for the purpose of
seeing people saved from sin
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and its penalty.
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So what, then, is
this judgment all about?
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A “good” person might say,
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"I'm a good person
and surely judgment
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is for other people and not me."
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Well, let's think about this.
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In Matthew 7 and verse 21, Jesus
says that theres gonna come
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a time when many people
will come to Him and say,
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"Lord, Lord, haven't we done
wonderful works in Your name?"
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They talk about having done such
things as healing the sick and
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working miracles,
good things, for sure!
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And yet Jesus surprises
these people by saying,
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"I never knew you!"
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There's a question
to who they really are.
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Now, maybe they had done
some things in their lives
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that were laudable.
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But here, they run to
Jesus, they call Him “Lord,”
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while Jesus knows
what they're really like.
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They are pretenders.
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Phonies.
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There's a Bible story that
illustrates this perfectly.
00:11:03.86\00:11:08.06
The children of Israel
entered the Promised Land,
00:11:08.10\00:11:10.20
and not long after they're
approached by a group of people
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claiming to be
from a distant country.
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"We heard of you,
and about your great God,
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and we traveled a long distance
to join ourselves to you
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and to be your servants.”
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And Joshua says, "Great!
Glad to have you on board.
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Welcome to Canaan!"
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And then, not
too long afterward,
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it comes to light
that these people are not
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pilgrims from a distant country.
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They're the Gibeonites,
from very nearby in Canaan.
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They were enemies of God!
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But Joshua never checked.
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He took their word for it!
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And so the Gibeonites
became joined to God's people,
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and even though a
system was devised
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to make that arrangement
work as well as possible,
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it caused some real problems.
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As much as God might like for
everyone to be saved eternally,
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He knows, and we know,
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that God cannot allow a bunch
of pretenders into His kingdom.
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So, before eternity comes
there's going to be a judgment,
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a time when God can ascertain
00:12:08.49\00:12:09.79
who really has
chosen Him genuinely,
00:12:09.82\00:12:11.96
and a time when
He can separate out,
00:12:11.99\00:12:14.10
if you like, those who
really are not true believers,
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though they claim to be.
00:12:16.97\00:12:18.57
This isn't God
trying to find out something
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He doesn't already know.
00:12:20.27\00:12:22.90
It's much like an
audit, if you like,
00:12:22.94\00:12:24.94
where God reviews the records,
00:12:24.97\00:12:27.54
reviews the claims
that people have made,
00:12:27.58\00:12:29.84
and He sees how those
claims stack up against reality.
00:12:29.88\00:12:33.95
Simple example:
00:12:33.98\00:12:35.02
when you cross a border
and enter another country,
00:12:35.05\00:12:37.45
you usually have to
hand over some identification
00:12:37.49\00:12:40.36
and perhaps some documentation.
00:12:40.39\00:12:42.96
The last time I crossed into
Canada from the United States,
00:12:42.99\00:12:45.59
I arrived at the border
claiming I'm a trustworthy guy,
00:12:45.63\00:12:48.36
that I'm not
there to cause trouble,
00:12:48.40\00:12:50.17
and that I'm wanting to go into
Canada for legitimate reasons.
00:12:50.20\00:12:53.07
I don't want to be a
hindrance or a nuisance.
00:12:53.10\00:12:54.70
So, I hand over some documents.
00:12:54.74\00:12:57.21
Then the border guard
asks me some questions.
00:12:57.24\00:12:59.27
"Why are you coming into Canada?
00:12:59.31\00:13:01.71
Why are you crossing the
border at this time of night?
00:13:01.74\00:13:04.31
How long have you known
that guy you're with and,
00:13:04.35\00:13:06.35
and why are you with him?"
00:13:06.38\00:13:08.42
Now, was it really
necessary for the border guard
00:13:08.45\00:13:11.52
to ask me those questions?
00:13:11.55\00:13:13.32
No of course not!
00:13:13.36\00:13:14.29
He could have
just trusted me, right?
00:13:14.32\00:13:18.73
So why didn't he?
00:13:18.76\00:13:19.89
Why didn't he just take my
word for the fact that I was
00:13:19.93\00:13:22.03
a good guy there
to do good things?
00:13:22.06\00:13:24.37
Because I might not
have been telling the truth.
00:13:24.40\00:13:26.97
How does he know
that I'm not trouble?
00:13:27.00\00:13:29.30
So he checks out my documents,
looks at his computer,
00:13:29.34\00:13:32.71
asks me some
questions, and then,
00:13:32.74\00:13:34.28
when he's
satisfied I'm on the level,
00:13:34.31\00:13:35.98
and that I'm not a threat
to Canadian national security,
00:13:36.01\00:13:38.55
he lets me into the country.
00:13:38.58\00:13:40.02
Now, that's really
how the judgment works.
00:13:40.05\00:13:42.32
You've got a mass of people who
claim that they're loyal to God
00:13:42.35\00:13:45.55
and won't pose a threat
to the stability of heaven.
00:13:45.59\00:13:48.26
Should we ask God to
let those people into heaven
00:13:48.29\00:13:51.19
based on their word?
00:13:51.23\00:13:52.66
Or would it be
slightly more responsible of God
00:13:52.69\00:13:55.86
to look at the documentation,
the books of record,
00:13:55.90\00:13:59.10
and perhaps do a
little investigating to see
00:13:59.13\00:14:01.24
if Person A really is
what he or she claims to be?
00:14:01.27\00:14:05.27
And let's take that up a notch.
00:14:05.31\00:14:07.64
Not only is it
important that that border guard
00:14:07.68\00:14:10.95
ensure justice is done,
00:14:10.98\00:14:13.35
it is also imperative that he be
seen to ensure justice is done.
00:14:13.38\00:14:19.29
God could just wave
a lot of people through
00:14:19.32\00:14:21.39
and into the kingdom
knowing they're okay,
00:14:21.42\00:14:23.83
but there's a
universe looking on,
00:14:23.86\00:14:26.06
and it's vital that God
Himself is not only just,
00:14:26.09\00:14:29.56
but that He's seen to
be just in the process
00:14:29.60\00:14:33.00
of judging the world.
00:14:33.03\00:14:34.47
The Bible says in
Romans 3 and verse 23,
00:14:34.50\00:14:37.71
you might know this verse,
00:14:37.74\00:14:39.14
"...all have sinned,
00:14:39.17\00:14:40.98
and have come short
of the glory of God."
00:14:41.01\00:14:43.21
And then just a page or
so over, the Bible says,
00:14:43.24\00:14:46.05
"For the wages of sin is death;
00:14:46.08\00:14:48.98
but the gift of
God is eternal life
00:14:49.02\00:14:51.95
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
00:14:51.99\00:14:53.89
So, in the judgment process,
in this auditing process,
00:14:53.92\00:14:59.36
God is looking to see whether
we've really chosen His gift
00:14:59.39\00:15:02.13
of eternal life through Jesus,
00:15:02.16\00:15:04.27
or whether we've only
made some sort of hollow claim
00:15:04.30\00:15:07.07
to God's grace.
00:15:07.10\00:15:09.20
God's asking the question,
00:15:09.24\00:15:10.54
"Who, really, are you?"
00:15:10.57\00:15:13.31
It reminds me of
that 70s song by The Who,
00:15:13.34\00:15:15.98
who sang,
00:15:16.01\00:15:16.95
"Oh, I really want
to know, Who Are You?"
00:15:16.98\00:15:20.25
Now, I'm not sure how many
times The Who have popped up
00:15:20.28\00:15:22.18
in a discussion about
God's working with human beings,
00:15:22.22\00:15:24.85
but, that's really what
God is asking in the judgment.
00:15:24.89\00:15:27.12
"Who are You?
00:15:27.16\00:15:28.72
You say you're one thing,
00:15:28.76\00:15:30.23
but because the
truth could be otherwise,
00:15:30.26\00:15:32.29
I'm going to conduct this audit.
00:15:32.33\00:15:34.76
And we'll find out who you are.
00:15:34.83\00:15:36.00
And if you are
who you claim to be,
00:15:36.03\00:15:38.80
if you're really My child,
00:15:38.83\00:15:40.14
then you've got
nothing to fear."
00:15:40.17\00:15:43.41
Let me ask you, have
you ever been audited?
00:15:43.44\00:15:47.84
A few years ago I got
a letter from the tax man
00:15:47.88\00:15:50.08
telling me that certain
aspects of my tax return
00:15:50.11\00:15:52.68
were going to be audited.
00:15:52.71\00:15:55.08
Imagine that!
00:15:55.12\00:15:56.28
The IRS going over my tax
return with a fine-toothed comb.
00:15:56.32\00:15:59.52
What might they find?
00:15:59.55\00:16:02.02
So, did I panic, or
was I my usual cool,
00:16:02.06\00:16:05.63
calm and collected self?
00:16:05.66\00:16:08.20
I'll tell you in a moment.
00:16:08.23\00:16:09.73
I'd love you to
have today's free offer,
00:16:10.73\00:16:12.73
“Messiah and the Judgment,”
00:16:12.77\00:16:14.27
from our “Revelation Today:
The Mysteries Revealed” series.
00:16:14.30\00:16:17.97
The DVD of the
“Messiah and the Judgment.”
00:16:18.01\00:16:21.81
Call us on 800-253-3000,
00:16:21.84\00:16:24.45
or visit us online
at itiswritten.com.
00:16:24.48\00:16:28.02
“Messiah and the Judgment”
00:16:28.05\00:16:29.35
on DVD will go deep
into Bible prophecy.
00:16:29.38\00:16:31.99
Make it yours free.
00:16:32.02\00:16:33.46
800-253-3000,
00:16:33.49\00:16:36.39
or visit us online
at itiswritten.com.
00:16:36.42\00:16:39.86
¤[Music]¤
00:16:40.30\00:16:41.76
In Matthew 4:4
The word of God says,
00:16:41.80\00:16:44.33
"It Is Written,
00:16:44.37\00:16:45.40
Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:16:45.43\00:16:47.27
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.”
00:16:47.30\00:16:51.41
Every Word is a one-minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:16:51.44\00:16:54.64
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw
00:16:54.68\00:16:56.38
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:16:56.41\00:16:59.51
Look for Every Word
on selected networks
00:16:59.55\00:17:02.38
or watch it on line
every day on our website
00:17:02.42\00:17:04.89
itiswritten.com.
00:17:04.92\00:17:07.26
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:17:07.29\00:17:09.39
Watch Every Word,
you'll be glad you did.
00:17:09.42\00:17:12.29
Here's a sample.
00:17:12.33\00:17:14.83
¤[Music]¤
00:17:15.56\00:17:22.77
Here's a serious
thought for you today.
00:17:22.80\00:17:25.31
In Revelation 12:9,
John says that Satan
00:17:25.34\00:17:27.74
"was cast out into the earth,
00:17:27.78\00:17:29.08
and his angels
were cast out with him."
00:17:29.11\00:17:31.08
Satan is very real, as
is the spiritual warfare
00:17:31.11\00:17:34.55
we currently find
ourselves embroiled in.
00:17:34.58\00:17:37.09
You and I are the very special
objects of Satan's venom.
00:17:37.12\00:17:40.46
He is on this earth
intentionally attempting
00:17:40.49\00:17:42.72
to lead us away from the
safety of God's presence,
00:17:42.76\00:17:45.53
and from the safety
of surrender to Jesus.
00:17:45.56\00:17:48.13
And being at his game
for thousands of years,
00:17:48.16\00:17:50.30
he's very effective at
bringing the right temptations
00:17:50.33\00:17:52.83
at the right time.
00:17:52.87\00:17:54.27
It's something to
be taken seriously.
00:17:54.30\00:17:56.54
Today, know that
there's an enemy who wants to
00:17:56.57\00:17:58.87
manipulate you and
ruin your faith in God.
00:17:58.91\00:18:01.44
And know this: anyone
who asks for Jesus' help
00:18:01.48\00:18:04.48
in this spiritual
warfare will receive it.
00:18:04.51\00:18:07.15
And with Jesus there is
victory, and not defeat.
00:18:07.18\00:18:10.85
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:18:10.89\00:18:12.25
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:18:12.29\00:18:15.39
¤[East Indian music]¤
00:18:15.69\00:18:20.80
Eyes for India is
giving sight to the blind,
00:18:20.83\00:18:23.83
and you can be a
part of this amazing work
00:18:23.87\00:18:25.97
God is doing.
00:18:26.00\00:18:26.97
Fifteen million
blind people live in India;
00:18:27.00\00:18:29.37
more than any other
country in the world.
00:18:29.40\00:18:31.61
And many of the blind
in India could see again,
00:18:31.64\00:18:34.84
if only they could have
simple cataract surgery.
00:18:34.88\00:18:37.45
It Is Written is
making that happen.
00:18:37.48\00:18:39.95
Would you
support Eyes for India,
00:18:39.98\00:18:42.02
and the world wide
outreach of It Is Written.
00:18:42.05\00:18:44.32
You'll be giving
the gift of sight,
00:18:44.35\00:18:45.62
to someone who
desperately wants to see.
00:18:45.65\00:18:48.16
Here's all you need to do.
00:18:48.19\00:18:49.39
Call 800-253-3000
00:18:49.42\00:18:52.29
to donate and support
those, who are in need.
00:18:52.33\00:18:55.53
Or you can write
to It Is Written,
00:18:55.56\00:18:57.03
P. O. Box 6,
Chattanooga, TN 37401.
00:18:57.07\00:19:01.57
You'll also find
additionally information about
00:19:01.60\00:19:03.84
Eyes for India online at
00:19:03.87\00:19:05.81
itiswritten.com.
00:19:05.84\00:19:07.54
Call 800-253-3000
00:19:07.58\00:19:10.55
Or write to:
00:19:10.58\00:19:11.68
P. O. Box 6,
Chattanooga, TN 37401.
00:19:11.71\00:19:16.38
The New York Times
recently ran a story about
00:19:17.05\00:19:19.69
a harrowing ordeal experienced
by a New York City woman.
00:19:19.72\00:19:23.32
Originally from Guyana,
00:19:23.36\00:19:25.03
Seemona Sumasar was an
immigrant success story:
00:19:25.06\00:19:28.20
a former Wall Street analyst
who was now running a restaurant
00:19:28.23\00:19:30.87
and doing very well for herself.
00:19:30.90\00:19:32.83
When she was
arrested and jailed,
00:19:32.87\00:19:34.24
and found herself facing
up to 25 years in prison,
00:19:34.27\00:19:37.34
she just couldn't
understand what was going on.
00:19:37.37\00:19:39.74
Even though she didn't
have a criminal record,
00:19:39.77\00:19:41.34
she spent seven months in
jail, before it came to light
00:19:41.38\00:19:44.75
that an angry
former boyfriend framed her
00:19:44.78\00:19:47.62
for a series of
crimes she did not commit,
00:19:47.65\00:19:50.59
in what New York
City prosecutors called
00:19:50.62\00:19:52.69
“one of the most elaborate
framing cases ever seen.”
00:19:52.72\00:19:56.62
Ms. Sumasar was
completely innocent.
00:19:56.66\00:19:59.63
The question though was asked,
00:19:59.66\00:20:01.40
who was the
real Seemona Sumasar?
00:20:01.43\00:20:04.83
And one day, that question
will be asked of you and me.
00:20:04.87\00:20:08.47
Today we're discussing
the biblical idea that one day
00:20:08.50\00:20:11.31
God is going to judge
everyone on the earth.
00:20:11.34\00:20:14.34
2 Corinthians 5:10 says that
00:20:14.38\00:20:16.31
"we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ."
00:20:16.34\00:20:20.25
And why is that, do you think?
00:20:20.28\00:20:21.98
Could it be because God needs
to find answers to questions,
00:20:22.02\00:20:24.75
because there are
certain things He doesn't know?
00:20:24.79\00:20:27.46
Is God on a
fact-finding mission?
00:20:27.49\00:20:29.32
No.
00:20:29.36\00:20:30.76
But perhaps God is making
sure that the claims people make
00:20:30.79\00:20:34.20
about themselves
as being His children
00:20:34.23\00:20:36.46
are actually accurate claims.
00:20:36.50\00:20:38.70
And perhaps God is going through
this audit of heaven's books
00:20:38.73\00:20:41.84
or record because its in the
best interest of the universe
00:20:41.87\00:20:44.74
to know that God has gone
through some type of process
00:20:44.77\00:20:47.11
to ensure only the right people
are granted everlasting life.
00:20:47.14\00:20:51.11
[Gong sounds] You know,
we could just trust God.
00:20:51.15\00:20:57.52
I would, I think.
00:20:57.55\00:20:58.92
I think I'd be satisfied if
God told me He'd done the right
00:20:58.95\00:21:01.52
thing and that
I could trust Him.
00:21:01.56\00:21:03.53
But what if you got to heaven
and there were some people there
00:21:03.56\00:21:06.33
that you never
thought would be there?
00:21:06.36\00:21:08.06
Or what if some
people that you were certain
00:21:08.10\00:21:11.33
would be there, weren't there?
00:21:11.37\00:21:13.77
You might have questions.
00:21:13.80\00:21:15.80
Under those
circumstances, I think I might.
00:21:15.84\00:21:19.01
You can see how a
formal auditing process,
00:21:19.04\00:21:22.18
a judgment process if
you want to call it that,
00:21:22.21\00:21:24.48
might be very helpful in
answering a lot of questions.
00:21:24.51\00:21:27.55
Not questions that God has,
00:21:27.58\00:21:29.02
but questions that we might
have when we arrive in glory.
00:21:29.05\00:21:31.92
You see, the judgment isn't
something you need to fear.
00:21:31.95\00:21:35.66
Because Jesus died for you,
00:21:35.69\00:21:37.16
you can repent of your
sins and be completely forgiven.
00:21:37.19\00:21:39.29
God will give you Jesus' own
goodness in place of your sin,
00:21:39.33\00:21:42.96
and as a “new
creature,” as the Bible says,
00:21:43.00\00:21:45.73
you can live for God and look
forward to heaven right now.
00:21:45.77\00:21:49.37
I mentioned a few moments ago
that I was audited by the IRS.
00:21:49.40\00:21:52.94
When I got that letter I
realized that they were going to
00:21:52.97\00:21:54.91
be asking some questions
of me regarding my tax return.
00:21:54.94\00:21:58.31
Now, I hasten to point out that
this was just a random audit.
00:21:58.35\00:22:01.78
I hadn't done
anything to upset Uncle Sam.
00:22:01.82\00:22:03.65
When I found out the IRS
00:22:03.69\00:22:06.19
was going to be
checking out my tax return,
00:22:06.22\00:22:08.16
you know what?
00:22:08.19\00:22:09.99
I wasn't the least bit worried.
00:22:10.03\00:22:11.73
Because I knew
I'd done nothing wrong
00:22:11.76\00:22:13.60
and that I had obeyed the law.
00:22:13.63\00:22:14.93
They could look all they wanted.
00:22:14.96\00:22:16.33
I knew everything would be okay.
00:22:16.36\00:22:18.67
It's like a non-drinker being
asked to take a breath test,
00:22:18.70\00:22:21.30
what's there to worry about?
00:22:21.34\00:22:23.61
The same is true
with the judgment.
00:22:23.64\00:22:25.71
God is going to be
checking to see if the people
00:22:25.74\00:22:27.64
who have claimed to
be followers of Jesus
00:22:27.68\00:22:29.78
really are followers of Jesus.
00:22:29.81\00:22:31.68
And if they are,
there's nothing at all to fear.
00:22:31.71\00:22:35.62
The very good news is that God
is on your side in the judgment.
00:22:35.65\00:22:40.19
Imagine arriving
in God's courtroom,
00:22:40.22\00:22:41.66
and having Satan turn up
to sit through your trial.
00:22:41.69\00:22:44.49
I think we could
expect that he'd be there
00:22:44.53\00:22:46.09
saying something like,
00:22:46.13\00:22:47.40
"John Bradshaw, is not worth it.
00:22:47.40\00:22:50.50
Look at all the
sins that he's committed.
00:22:50.53\00:22:52.33
I know what he did
because I tempted him
00:22:52.37\00:22:53.80
to do everything that he
did, that's all the bad things.
00:22:53.84\00:22:56.60
You can't forgive him.
00:22:56.64\00:22:58.14
His sins are too bad.
00:22:58.17\00:23:00.21
If you can forgive him
00:23:00.24\00:23:01.21
then You have to let
me back into heaven, too."
00:23:01.24\00:23:03.11
Imagine that,
00:23:03.14\00:23:05.18
knowing that the devil is right
there and that over the years
00:23:05.21\00:23:08.45
you've made a lot of mistakes
and committed a lot of sins.
00:23:08.48\00:23:11.95
I'd probably feel as though
I was about to lose the case.
00:23:11.99\00:23:15.32
There'd be nothing I could do
00:23:15.36\00:23:16.52
to get myself out
of my predicament.
00:23:16.56\00:23:18.96
But just when I feel
it's all over for me,
00:23:18.99\00:23:22.30
maybe Jesus would
say something like,
00:23:22.33\00:23:23.80
"Father, yes, you
can save that one.
00:23:23.83\00:23:26.80
Yes, I know that that
John Bradshaw has sinned.
00:23:26.84\00:23:29.67
I know his sins were serious.
00:23:29.70\00:23:31.54
But I died for him.
00:23:31.57\00:23:33.21
He has repented, and
he has been forgiven.
00:23:33.24\00:23:35.98
He belongs to Me.
00:23:36.01\00:23:37.71
I bought him with My life."
00:23:37.75\00:23:41.62
Let's look at a
wonderful Bible text
00:23:41.65\00:23:43.42
that helps us to explain
this a little more clearly.
00:23:43.45\00:23:46.22
In your imagination,
00:23:46.25\00:23:47.22
think of Jesus
suffering on the cross.
00:23:47.26\00:23:49.52
Of course He was suffering
from great physical agony.
00:23:49.56\00:23:52.46
Think about what
He'd just gone through.
00:23:52.49\00:23:54.50
But listen to this, it's
in Psalm 40 and verse 12.
00:23:54.56\00:23:57.93
Psalm 40, verse 12 says,
00:23:57.97\00:24:00.24
"For innumerable evils
have compassed Me about:
00:24:00.27\00:24:03.34
Mine iniquities
have taken hold upon Me,
00:24:03.37\00:24:04.97
so that I'm not able to look up;
they are more than the hairs of
00:24:05.01\00:24:08.54
My head; therefore
My heart fails Me."
00:24:08.58\00:24:13.88
Jesus says, "My"
iniquities were on Him.
00:24:13.92\00:24:18.15
But we know that He didn't sin.
00:24:18.19\00:24:20.19
Those were our sins that He
took upon Himself on the cross.
00:24:20.22\00:24:23.29
Isaiah wrote that Jesus "was
wounded for our transgressions,
00:24:23.32\00:24:26.26
He was bruised
for our iniquities."
00:24:26.29\00:24:27.73
The burden of
our sin was so great,
00:24:27.76\00:24:30.93
that after only six
hours on that terrible cross,
00:24:30.97\00:24:34.14
He suffered from
heart failure and died.
00:24:34.17\00:24:36.97
Jesus took our
sins upon Himself.
00:24:37.01\00:24:41.21
So when our names come up
in judgment, God checks to see
00:24:41.24\00:24:44.95
if we've given up our sins
and handed them over to Jesus,
00:24:44.98\00:24:49.68
and then lived in
connection with Him.
00:24:49.72\00:24:51.62
That's all.
00:24:51.65\00:24:53.25
Micah chapter 7
and verse 19 says,
00:24:53.29\00:24:55.26
"He will turn again,
00:24:55.29\00:24:56.93
He will have compassion upon us;
He will subdue our iniquities;
00:24:56.96\00:25:01.06
and Thou wilt cast all
their sins into the depths
00:25:01.10\00:25:04.00
of the sea."
00:25:04.03\00:25:05.43
You know, there's a
place where the Pacific Ocean
00:25:05.47\00:25:08.50
is nearly 36,000
feet deep, 11,000 meters!
00:25:08.54\00:25:13.24
Deeper than
Mount Everest is tall.
00:25:13.27\00:25:15.18
That's deep!
00:25:15.21\00:25:16.64
What God wants us to catch here
is that if we confess our sins
00:25:16.68\00:25:19.98
that he will take our sins away.
00:25:20.02\00:25:21.68
And when our names
come up in the judgment
00:25:21.72\00:25:23.69
He will declare that we
are clean and we belong to Him.
00:25:23.72\00:25:27.66
Should we fear God?
00:25:27.69\00:25:29.09
And fear judgment?
00:25:29.12\00:25:31.13
I remember a
teacher at my high school
00:25:31.16\00:25:32.49
that we used to call Bookes.
00:25:32.53\00:25:33.76
He walked straight and
always carried an umbrella
00:25:33.80\00:25:36.67
and we all had a
deadly fear of him.
00:25:36.70\00:25:38.73
We pretty much tried
to keep out of his way
00:25:38.77\00:25:40.84
in case he pointed
that umbrella at one of us.
00:25:40.87\00:25:43.44
If that happened,
your number was up.
00:25:43.47\00:25:45.67
Punishment would follow.
00:25:45.71\00:25:47.61
Of course that
never ever happened to me.
00:25:47.64\00:25:49.54
But remember, God is not looking
for reasons to punish us.
00:25:49.58\00:25:55.58
He's already got all
the reasons He needs!
00:25:55.62\00:25:57.39
God's looking to save us, to
get us into His eternal kingdom.
00:25:57.42\00:26:04.13
And that's good news.
00:26:04.16\00:26:06.43
When I was a boy my
brother did something wrong
00:26:06.46\00:26:08.63
that my father
wanted to address.
00:26:08.66\00:26:11.07
Now, Dad knew who
the transgressor was
00:26:11.10\00:26:12.87
but he let some time
pass so that my brother
00:26:12.90\00:26:15.10
would have an opportunity
to confess his fault.
00:26:15.14\00:26:18.37
My dad was a just man
and he wanted my brother
00:26:18.41\00:26:20.44
to examine himself and, and
then set this problem right.
00:26:20.48\00:26:24.18
My father at the time
00:26:24.21\00:26:25.25
worked on the old-fashioned
telephone exchange.
00:26:25.28\00:26:27.75
My brother called him at 5
o'clock one morning and said,
00:26:27.78\00:26:31.32
"Dad, it was me."
00:26:31.35\00:26:34.62
"Okay, my boy," Dad said.
00:26:34.66\00:26:35.86
"Let's just leave it there."
00:26:35.89\00:26:39.09
Dad gave my brother some insight
that day into what God is like.
00:26:39.13\00:26:42.80
We can go to God and we can say,
00:26:42.83\00:26:44.13
"Lord, it was me."
00:26:44.17\00:26:46.03
And God will say
something just like that.
00:26:46.07\00:26:47.97
"Okay, my child,
let's leave it there."
00:26:48.00\00:26:52.27
With a heavenly
Father like that,
00:26:52.31\00:26:55.01
you don't have to fear judgment.
00:26:55.04\00:26:57.08
You can face the
future with confidence.
00:26:57.11\00:27:00.28
God wants to know, the real you.
00:27:00.32\00:27:04.25
And He wants you
to know, the real God.
00:27:04.29\00:27:08.39
Let's pray together.
00:27:08.42\00:27:10.06
Our Father in Heaven,
00:27:10.09\00:27:11.13
I thank You, that You
really are a God of love,
00:27:11.16\00:27:15.16
who sent His Son into
the world not to condemn us,
00:27:15.20\00:27:18.20
but so that through
Him we might be saved.
00:27:18.23\00:27:21.10
We have so many faults.
00:27:21.14\00:27:23.91
Here they are.
00:27:23.94\00:27:25.24
Please, would You take
our heart, and make it Yours.
00:27:25.27\00:27:28.31
Live Your life
in us, cleanse us,
00:27:28.34\00:27:32.11
forgive us, and we look
forward to that judgment.
00:27:32.15\00:27:36.42
We know that when
our name comes up,
00:27:36.45\00:27:38.49
the sins will all be gone,
because of what Jesus has done.
00:27:38.52\00:27:42.49
We are confident today in
Your love and Your goodness.
00:27:42.52\00:27:45.03
And we pray, in Jesus' name,
00:27:45.06\00:27:48.13
Amen.
00:27:48.16\00:27:53.50
¤[Music]¤
00:27:54.80\00:28:08.32
¤[Music]¤
00:28:08.92\00:28:17.63
I'd love you to
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00:28:17.66\00:28:19.63
“Messiah and the Judgment,”
00:28:19.66\00:28:21.13
from our “Revelation Today:
The Mysteries Revealed” series.
00:28:21.16\00:28:24.80
The DVD of the
“Messiah and the Judgment.”
00:28:24.83\00:28:28.64
Call us on 800-253-3000,
00:28:28.67\00:28:31.27
or visit us online
at itiswritten.com.
00:28:31.31\00:28:34.78
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00:28:34.81\00:28:36.14
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800-253-3000,
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or visit us online
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00:28:43.28\00:28:46.99
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00:28:47.02\00:28:49.59
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00:28:49.62\00:28:52.39
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00:28:52.43\00:28:55.60
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00:28:55.63\00:28:59.87
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00:28:59.90\00:29:01.40
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00:29:01.44\00:29:02.94
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00:29:02.97\00:29:06.78
Thank you for your prayers
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00:29:06.81\00:29:09.61
Our number
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00:29:09.64\00:29:13.78
Or you can visit us
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00:29:13.82\00:29:17.09
Thanks for joining me today.
00:29:17.69\00:29:19.19
I look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:29:19.22\00:29:21.19
Until then, remember:
00:29:21.22\00:29:22.36
“It is written:
00:29:22.39\00:29:24.83
‘Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:29:24.86\00:29:27.76
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'”
00:29:27.76\00:29:32.57
¤[Theme music]¤
00:29:32.60\00:29:47.62