Participants: Bill Santos
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC201223
|
00:02 Bill: On February 15, 1947 Glenn Chambers boarded a plane bound for Quito,
00:07 Ecuador to begin his ministry in missionary broadcasting. 00:11 But he never aived. 00:15 In a horrible moment, the plane carrying Chambers crashed into a mountain 00:18 peak and spiraled downward. 00:22 Later it was learned that before leaving the Miami airport, Chambers wanted 00:25 to write his mother a letter. 00:28 All he could find for stationery was a page of advertising on which was 00:33 written the single word "WHY?" 00:38 Around that word he hastily scribbled a final note. 00:43 After Chambers' mother learned of her son's death, his letter arrived. 00:48 She opened the envelope, took out the paper, and unfolded it. 00:53 Staring her in the face was the question "WHY?" 01:10 ANNOUNCER: It has stood the test of time. 01:14 God's book: the Bible, 01:18 still relevant in today's complex world. 01:23 It Is Written, 01:25 sharing the messages of hope around the world. 01:39 The curious as well as the critics of Christianity ask this question. 01:46 If God is all-powerful and all loving, then why does He permit evil and 01:53 suffering in the world? 01:56 Why do people get cancer? 01:59 Why are there earthquakes that destroy entire cities? 02:03 Why do people have to work so hard just to have enough money to barely 02:07 feed their families? 02:10 Subconsciously, we probably ask ourselves questions like these quite 02:13 often. 02:15 So, WHY do bad things happen? 02:18 WHY isn't this world a better place? 02:22 Let's ask the Bible. 02:26 Turn with me to Revelation 12: 7 - 9 03:04 War in Heaven! 03:07 Strange that war should break out in the most holy place of heaven's 03:07 sanctuary! 03:14 God's throne is the last place one would expect a fight. 03:18 But the throne was the focus of the battle. 03:21 Possession of the throne was the issue. 03:25 Two groups battled - the dragon and his angels and Michael and His angels. 03:31 The dragon is Satan, the devil. 03:34 The Hebrew word for Michael means "who is like God. 03:38 " Clearly the war in heaven was between Christ and Satan, first in heaven 03:44 and then on earth. 03:47 Before this war in heaven, God created the universe through Christ - 03:53 Colossians 1:16. 04:17 This means that Christ created Lucifer (who later became Satan) and those 04:21 who joined his side of the cosmic controversy. 04:29 Rebellion was against Christ, the One who gave them existence. 04:35 Consider Lucifer's position in heaven before his rebellion. 04:39 Lucifer means "the shining one. 04:42 " He stood at God's throne as the "anointed . guardian cherub" look at 04:48 Ezekiel 28:14. 05:05 Christ created Lucifer as much like Himself as He could. 05:09 We might call him a look-alike. 05:13 Lucifer even had his own throne. 05:16 He said, 05:42 Lucifer, a created being, wanted to raise his throne above the throne of God 05:46 and be "like the Most High. 05:49 " How could this be? 05:51 - a created being wanted to become as the Creator and sit on His throne? 05:59 Why did Lucifer rebel and become the devil? 06:05 He thought he could become God, sit on His throne, in spite of the fact that it 06:11 was Christ who created him and gave him everything, including freedom of 06:16 choice and a position as the leading cherubim at the throne, and thus great 06:24 authority. 06:27 Lucifer was the most exalted created being in the universe. 06:34 He should have been grateful and known that the One who created him 06:38 was the Creator and not a created being. 06:42 And a creature can never become the Creator. 06:48 Yet Lucifer sought to be one. 06:51 So blind is pride. 06:54 Thus sin, rebellion against God, had its roots in self-exaltation, or 07:01 self-dependence. 07:04 Lucifer knew that he was dependent on Christ for his life yet said "I will" 07:08 be independent! 07:13 Lucifer's rebellion was not public at first. 07:17 It started in his mind, that is where all sin begins. 07:21 Sin is not just the outward act it is the inward thought. 07:26 Lucifer was becoming Satan in his mind. 07:32 He mulled over the position of Christ and became jealous. 07:36 He wanted to the throne of the One who had given him his throne, and he hated 07:39 Christ. 07:42 Scripture says: Ezekiel 28: 15 - 16. 08:17 The Hebrew word for "unrighteousness" is rekullah meaning "trading" 08:23 or "peddling", which in this case refers to gossip. 08:28 Here Satan spreads gossip about God among the angels. 08:34 The cosmic controversy spread with gossip, slandering the character 08:41 of God as unjust. 08:44 Satan claimed himself a better choice to run heaven's government. 08:49 His influence permeated Paradise like a cancer. 08:54 One-third of the angels according to Revelation 12: 4 succumbed to his 09:00 deception and cast their lot with him. 09:05 After he was cast out of heaven, Satan shifted his focus to Planet Earth to 09:12 cause the human race to rebel against God. 09:16 Satan knew God has given all His creatures, angelic and human, freedom of 09:22 choice. 09:24 It was the wrong exercise of this freedom that led Lucifer and his angels to 09:31 rebel, and now he would use the same technique with our first parents. 09:38 Adam and Eve, made in the image of God were free beings. 09:43 They could converse with God, and God expected them to serve and freely obey 09:48 out of love. 09:51 Once again the wrong exercise of freedom on the part of Adam and Eve led 09:56 them, and with them all humanity, to become subjects of sin and Satan. 10:02 God knew that freedom is risky, but the fearful risk was worth it, for at 10:11 the end of history all created beings will choose freely to follow Christ 10:16 forever. 10:18 God warned Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate of the forbidden 10:23 fruit. 10:25 But Satan in the form of a serpent told Eve; Genesis 3: 4 - 5. 10:52 Eve doubted the word of her Creator and accepted the word of her tempter. 10:59 Thus through Adam and Eve sin entered the world, and all humanity fell prey to 11:03 sin and its effects . 11:07 Consequently, Satan pretended to be master of this earth. 11:11 As the prince and god of this world, Satan claimed the human race as his. 11:17 But Christ came to this world to win back the lost world. 11:24 The book of Job introduces us to the cosmic united nations where Adams of 11:31 different worlds came to a cosmic council. 11:36 These representatives come by virtue of the leader of a world. 11:40 Christ created each of these worlds and each of these Adams also called 11:45 "sons of God" Job 1:6 11:49 Each has dominion over their world as Adam and Eve were given dominion 12:04 Each has dominion over their world as Adam and Eve were given dominion 12:08 over this world. 12:10 But Adam and Eve lost their position, which because of their sin, was 12:15 usurped by Satan. 12:17 And so Satan came. 12:21 At this cosmic council, Christ asked Satan, 12:40 Here's a test case of one who freely followed Christ in the cosmic controversy. 12:47 The book of Job unravels the drama that ensues, and one imagines that angels 12:54 and inhabitants of all the worlds watched to see whether Job would stay 12:58 true to Christ. 13:01 Christ allows Satan to cause Job's family and possessions to be taken 13:05 through death and destruction. 13:09 Rather than blame God, Job "fell to the ground in worship and said: 13:39 At another meeting of the council Christ asked Satan again about Job. 13:47 Satan replied Job 2: 1 - 5 14:57 Again Christ permitted Satan to test Job. 15:02 Through it all Job remained faithful to Christ and was commended 15:08 by Him, and He made him twice as prosperous as before. 15:14 Job is a type of all those who will be saved. 15:19 Each one witnesses to the universe about the justice of God. 15:24 In the trials and crucifixion of Jesus we find the climax of the 15:31 cosmic controversy between Christ and Satan. 15:37 Properly understood the destiny of the world hung in the balance at 15:41 Gethsemane and the cross. 15:45 The temptations endured during those crises can only be glimpsed, never 15:48 fully understood. 15:52 Amid the anguish and shame of crucifixion, carrying the crushing weight of the 15:56 world's sin the mob mocked and ridiculed the One who hung there for them. 16:02 Was it worth it? 16:06 Should He give up? 16:08 Satan knew everything was at stake now. 16:12 If Christ died triumphant, he was doomed. 16:17 But if he could make Christ come down form the cross, or just sin once, 16:24 his future was secure. 16:28 But Calvary decided the controversy. 16:30 Christ won the decisive victory. 16:33 Satan knew he was defeated. 16:35 He knew Christ's death meant that he would die. 16:38 But Satan would not give up. 16:42 He flung his full flury against the r esurrected/ascended 16:45 Christ. 16:49 He would throw all his energy against Christ by attempting to make the 16:52 Cross of no avail. 16:56 If the human race neglects what happened that day on the cross, then it would 17:01 be of no value to them, and Satan would still come out the winner. 17:07 He would invest everything to make the cross of no effect to humans. 17:11 Although Christ has won the cosmic war on the cross, the Bible does 17:17 speak of a final judgment at the end of time when the great controversy will 17:24 meet its final resolution. 17:27 Revelation 20: 11 - 12 18:03 Indeed, it make no sense to have a final judgment if there is no cosmic 18:08 controversy needing resolution. 18:14 For why else would God gather all who ever lived in one place at one time? 18:19 This post - millennial judgment is one thousand years after the saints 18:29 went to heaven in the second advent and includes the dead wicked who are 18:34 now resurrected The fact that one group has been in heaven and the other group 18:41 not, shows destiny has already been decided and experienced by the saved. 18:48 The wicked dead are resurrected to face their Creator and Savior and to 18:53 receive their final judgment, along with Satan and his angels. 18:59 What is this final judgment? 19:02 It is God's self revelation, providing overwhelming evidence that 19:07 convinces all created beings that God is just, gracious, and loving. 19:16 True, God's character was fully revealed at Calvary. 19:20 But only a few saw Jesus die. 19:23 How could He show the others? 19:26 What if He replays the scenes of the cross across the canvass of the 19:33 heavens. 19:35 The saved and the lost would gaze upon the greatest revelation of 19:37 God. 19:39 Here they would see that God poured out all of His love to save every human. 19:48 In the light of salvation offered to all at Calvary, the wicked realize their 19:52 abject slavery to Satan. 19:57 For the first time they see the utter contrast between Christ and Satan. 20:02 They realize that only God is love. 20:05 But they also realize that they don't love Him. 20:07 They are unfit for life with God. 20:11 They want to be hidden from God. 20:14 Sin has separated them from the Savior. 20:18 There will be an universal acknowledgment of God's love and justice. 20:45 Then every created being will realize "in all things God works for the 20:52 good of those who love Him. 20:54 " (Romans 8:28). 20:56 For God is Love on that the universal cosmic conflict will see its end. 21:06 Let us pray. 21:09 Gracious, loving heavenly Father thank you for revealing your love 21:13 through the life, death and ressurection of Jesus Christ. 21:19 I pray for those that have not accepted Jesus. 21:23 May they claim him as Lord and Savior right now. 21:26 For in his name we pray, Amen. 22:05 >>Bev: Hi, everyone! 22:07 When I was at university studying to become a Dietitian, I remember a 22:11 professor talking one day about certain plants that were "functional foods". 22:15 I remember thinking, "aren't all plants that God has ordained for food, 22:19 functional? 22:21 " Sure, some plant foods seem to be "more equal" than others, however, in 22:24 my estimation, all plants we use for food are functional. 22:28 Even many of the plants we've come to consider as "weeds". 22:33 Case in point: the much maligned, lowly dandelion. 22:38 So relentlessly exterminated from our lawns, this pesky weed - 22:42 often called Lion's tooth, Priest's crown, or Swine's snout - is so amazingly 22:47 good for us , we should actually be cultivating it in our gardens! 22:51 Native American, Chinese, and European populations have been aware of the 22:56 dandelion's medicinal uses for centuries, and many cultures love using 23:00 dandelion greens for food. 23:04 Interestingly, the whole plant from its roots to its flowers can be used 23:08 for an assortment of teas, drinks, salads, and more. 23:12 Here are just a few of the many reasons you should be consuming dandelions on a 23:15 regular basis. 23:18 Dandelion acts as a diuretic to increase urine flow, detoxifies the liver 23:24 and gallbladder, purifies and nourishes the blood, acts as a mild laxative 23:27 and helps relieve constipation, can stimulate a poor appetite, 23:33 aids digestion, helps relieve stomach aches, strengthens the immune 23:38 system to fight disease, may lower blood sugar levels, and according to 23:43 researchers, early results show that dandelion tea kills cancer cells in the 23:47 lab. 23:51 You can find dandelions fresh in the produce section of your grocery 23:54 store, or dried, in capsule form, or in liquid form at the health-food 23:57 store. 23:59 I love putting the fresh, raw leaves in my breakfast smoothies. 24:02 I also add the fresh leaves to my salads. 24:05 Or, if I want a nice bowl of sautéed greens, I'll add a few dandelion leaves 24:10 with my collard greens and kale, along with some garlic, onion, and a 24:13 little vegetable broth. 24:15 Very delicious! 24:17 You'll get lots of vitamins, including A, B-complex, C, and K from 24:21 dandelions. 24:24 They are also a good source of calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and 24:26 potassium. 24:29 In fact, when it comes to overall nutritional value, dandelions are deemed one 24:33 of the top 4 green vegetables, according to USDA Bulletin #8, 24:37 "Composition of Foods". 24:40 Be careful, though. 24:42 Don't run out to your backyard and pick your dandelions just yet, 24:45 because chances are that pesticides and other chemicals have been used 24:48 on your lawn. 24:50 As well, if you are taking any medications - especially antacids, 24:54 antibiotics, blood thinners, diuretics, diabetes medications, or 24:55 lithium - ask your doctor about possible adverse interactions between the 25:03 dandelion and your medication. 25:07 Overall, though, dandelions are super heroes when it comes to 25:10 high antioxidant nutrition! 25:12 Eat them in good health. 25:14 I'll see you next time! 25:23 >>Bill: We would love to offer you a couple of resources to help you as 25:27 you continue to study these important topics at home. 25:31 One of them is a study guide that was prepared specifically on today's 25:34 topic. 25:37 It is available for download at our It Is Written Canada web site 25:40 "ItIsWrittenCanada.ca". 25:44 The other is the complete set of Bible study guides ... the "Discover Bible 25:49 Study Guides" that are available to you by correspondence free of 25:53 charge. 25:55 The cover all the major topics in the scriptures. 25:58 A wonderful way to deepen your understanding of God's word. 26:02 It is our gift to you, here is the information you need to begin your 26:05 studies today. 27:07 I want to encourage you to visit our web site "ItIsWrittenCanada.ca". 27:12 There you can see all of the programs, they are all archived there. 27:15 You can find out where the It Is Written team may be appearing. 27:19 You can send a prayer request -- I want to let you know that the staff at 27:22 the office come together every morning and pray over all of the requests 27:27 that make their way to our office either by conventional mail or 27:31 e-mail or from the web site. 27:34 You can also, at the web site make a donation to It Is Written, if you feel so 27:39 impressed to do that to help us keep this ministry on the air. 27:43 You can also visit our Youtube channel "youtube.com/IIWCanada". 27:50 There you can see all the programs also, you can refer friends to see the 27:54 programs. 27:55 Check that out when you get a chance. 27:57 You can also follow us on twitter. 28:00 Well, our pray will be that we will have this opportunity again next 28:04 week to sit down together and to once again open God's word and study it, I 28:09 hope you will join us. 28:11 Until then, remember, It Is Written, man shall not live by bread alone, but 28:17 by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 28:24 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ |
Revised 2015-02-06