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>>John: This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me for 500,
our series on the Reformation.
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The Reformation Finished.
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That's what we'll be
talking about tonight,
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and I'm glad to be able
to welcome to this program
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the President
of the World Church
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of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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Elder Ted Wilson.
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Elder Wilson,
thanks for joining me.
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>>Ted: Thank you, John.
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>>John: Let me ask you, we're
talking about the Reformation.
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How much work is left to be done
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before we can say the
Reformation is complete?
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>>Ted: Well, I'll tell you.
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There's plenty
of work to be done,
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not only outside
of our own circle
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but even in our own hearts.
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The Reformation is
really to start with us
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and our
relationship with Christ,
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and then it is to go
on till the end of time,
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so there's plenty of
work to do by God's grace.
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>>John: We've covered a
lot of ground during 500,
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and I'd like to tell
you a little bit about
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what motivated me to do so.
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You know, I wasn't
raised with a Bible in my hand.
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When you study the Reformation,
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you come face to face
with the central theme
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of the Reformation
which is the Word of God.
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The Word of God set people
free during Reformation times;
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people who were in spiritual
slavery, spiritual bondage.
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The Word of God did
exactly the same for me.
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I've given my life to sharing
the Word of God with others
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knowing that the Word of God,
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the Bible, the Holy Scriptures
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can do for others
what they did for me.
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The Bible will
open up your eyes.
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As a matter of fact,
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when I wore a
younger man's clothes,
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I was presented by the
Holy Spirit with a choice.
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And the choice for me
was my church or the Bible
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which boiled down
to my church or Jesus.
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I knew I couldn't have both, and
it had to be one or the other.
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What a question or
what a choice to put towards
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a young man in his early 20s.
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What was I going to do?
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You know, I
wrestled with that, I did.
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I knew which
direction God was leading me,
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I never thought at
any time about going back.
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But here's what spurred me on.
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As a young man
attending a parochial school,
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the nuns, my
teachers, taught me,
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taught us a
certain verse of the Bible.
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It's not that we learned a lot,
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and I don't know why
they covered this one with us,
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but here it is.
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The Bible says,
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"What does it profit a man
if he gains the whole world
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and yet loses his own soul?"
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I had a choice.
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I couldn't have both because
the church I was raised in
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and the Bible absolutely were
in conflict with each other.
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You see, what I
believe is that God
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gives everybody a choice.
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He wants
everyone to have a choice.
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And He certainly wants everybody
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to choose Jesus
as Lord and Savior.
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So during 500, we've
traced this, this conflict,
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the conflict between
tradition and the Bible,
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a conflict between man and God.
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Some of us refer to this
as the Great Controversy.
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So where have we been?
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Our first program called
500 reviewed the Reformation.
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We took a big picture look,
nothing too terribly specific,
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but we looked at the, the
overall flow of the Reformation.
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In that program, we
speak to Dr. Gerard Damsteegt,
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recently retired
from Andrews University.
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Second program, we looked
at a pre-Reformation figure,
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Patrick of England,
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known better as
Patrick of Ireland.
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Patrick who
taught the Word of God
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and educated pagans
to become Christians,
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he spoke to druids and
proclaimed the Bible to them,
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and they
converted to Christianity.
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Patrick was a missionary.
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His converts went to
what we now call Scotland,
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and from there,
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took
Christianity back to England
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which had recently
fallen into pagan hands
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and had a colossal impact.
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What they were doing
was sharing the Word of God.
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Our third program in
500 was a Lamp to My Feet.
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We looked at the
forgotten reformer,
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the English Bible
translator William Tyndale.
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And you see what
this did is it focused
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on the key of the Reformation,
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it was getting the Bible
into the hands of the people.
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In that program, I
spoke to Dr. Dedrick Blue
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from Oakwood University.
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We looked at the
power of the Word of God
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and that's where the power is.
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I realized that in my own
experience it's not tradition,
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it's truth that matters.
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It's not man,
it's God that matters.
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The ability to understand the
Bible and make life decisions
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based on the Word of God.
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Tyndale was
persecuted relentlessly;
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translating the
Bible cost him his life.
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We went together to
Belgium where he died,
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to England where he ministered.
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And we were reminded that God's
will for all of us is to accept
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Jesus Christ the Living
Word in the Word of God,
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the Sacred Scriptures,
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and it's a blessing
to be able to do so.
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Program number four in
500, Rome and the Reformation.
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We took you to the Vatican City.
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You know something?
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If I'd gone to the
Vatican City years ago,
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I would have
gone there as a, uh,
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as a grandchild
visiting his grandparents,
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as a wanderer
who'd returned home.
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I would have been thrilled
to be there and venerate statues
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and kneel before idols.
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I'd have been walking up
Pilate's staircase on my knees.
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But God
introduced me to His Word,
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to the liberating
power of the gospel,
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and the great Reformation
truths of justification by faith
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or sola fide, sola
gratia, solus Christus.
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Christ alone.
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That great Reformation truth.
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Not penance,
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not purgatory,
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not confession,
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Christ, salvation in
Jesus and through Jesus.
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So I visited Rome looking
at Rome through interested eyes
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as somebody who had been
liberated by the great truths
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of the Word of God.
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Then the next
program was Here I Stand.
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Here I Stand, we
focused on the life,
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the ministry of Martin Luther.
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Had the privilege of
speaking to Dr. Leslie Pollard,
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the President of
Oakwood University.
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Luther wasn't the only one,
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he was one of many Reformers,
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there were
Reformers before Luther.
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But Luther was the big one.
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And it was Luther's ministry
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that brought to
life the Reformation,
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and as we know now,
it was October 31, 1517,
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when Martin Luther
nailed his 95 Theses to the door
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of the famous Castle
Church in Wittenberg, Germany,
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and history would
be forever changed.
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However, when you
rattle the church's cage,
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the church
doesn't remain silent,
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and following the Reformation or
concurrent with the Reformation
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for a time was something
called the Counter-Reformation.
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Together, we
journeyed to northern Spain,
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the birthplace
of Ignatius Loyola.
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We went to Rome
and to the Vatican City
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where the Counter-Reformation
was launched,
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and that impacted
history in a significant way.
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I had the privilege of talking
with Dr. Gerard Damsteegt again,
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this time about the
Counter-Reformation.
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Then, we discussed
the pilgrim fathers,
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A Wall of Separation.
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I spoke with
Pastor Lincoln Steed,
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we looked at religious
liberty, religious freedom.
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We studied Roger Williams,
that great man of faith
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who named the city of
Providence in Rhode Island
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and founded the
Rhode Island Colony,
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and whether we
realized it or not,
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he changed our lives entirely.
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Our second to last program
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took us to another
part of New England,
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we particularly
went to the farm of one,
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William Miller, who in the
middle part of the 19th century
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caused a firestorm in
Christianity with his belief
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that Jesus Christ was
coming back to this earth.
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He was counter cultural,
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particularly in
terms of religious faith.
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He shared a gospel
that was rather different,
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not so much the
science of salvation
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but a prophetic
message that was different
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to what had been
proclaimed in the world.
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You know, I believe
what William Miller believed,
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not that Jesus was
coming back in the 1800s,
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but that Jesus
is coming back soon,
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and that belief spurs me
as a minister of the gospel
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to share Jesus with others.
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As you look around, you
know that there are millions,
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billions of people without
faith in the God of Heaven,
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and if we can reach just
one more and let another one
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know that there's
hope in Jesus Christ,
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that there's power
in the Word of God,
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then we've done
something that's valuable
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in the life of that person and
undoubtedly many others besides.
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Then, Finishing the Reformation.
00:10:40.60\00:10:43.71
What a blessing to be able
to speak with Pastor Wilson,
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and discuss the role of
God's church in these last days
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to get the job finished.
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To finish the work
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of proclaiming the
everlasting gospel.
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You would refer to them
perhaps as the three angels'
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messages to let people
know that there is hope,
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hope in Jesus that He is enough,
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that we can lay hold
on His promises by grace
00:11:07.50\00:11:10.80
through faith in His word.
00:11:10.83\00:11:13.03
So tonight, our
subject, our program is
00:11:13.07\00:11:16.20
"Finishing the Reformation."
00:11:16.24\00:11:18.17
I hope you've
been blessed by 500.
00:11:18.21\00:11:19.71
We're not done yet,
almost, but not quite.
00:11:19.74\00:11:23.14
In just a moment,
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back with this
program filmed on location,
00:11:24.48\00:11:27.98
"Finishing the Reformation."
00:11:28.02\00:11:29.42
Don't go away.
00:11:29.45\00:11:30.69
¤[Music]¤
00:11:30.72\00:11:35.72
Jesus said, "Upon this
Rock, I will build My church."
00:11:38.39\00:11:41.90
He said He would have a church,
00:11:41.93\00:11:44.40
but what would
this church look like?
00:11:44.43\00:11:46.20
How would it carry itself?
00:11:46.23\00:11:47.50
What would it teach?
00:11:47.54\00:11:49.14
Where can it be found?
00:11:49.17\00:11:51.21
I'd like you to receive
In Search of the Church.
00:11:51.24\00:11:55.18
Call us on 800-253-3000
00:11:55.21\00:11:58.11
or visit us online
at itiswritten.com,
00:11:58.15\00:12:01.95
or you can write to
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00:12:01.98\00:12:04.52
In Search of the Church,
it's yours completely free.
00:12:04.55\00:12:09.12
This is It Is Written.
00:12:09.16\00:12:10.59
I'm John Bradshaw,
thanks for joining me.
00:12:10.63\00:12:12.73
Now, imagine it if you can.
00:12:12.76\00:12:15.63
You'd been reading your Bible,
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and you're now convinced
that Jesus is coming back soon,
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really coming back, literally.
00:12:22.40\00:12:24.54
You believe that
you're gonna see Jesus
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and the angels on a certain day.
00:12:26.44\00:12:30.35
October days in
Eastern New York state
00:12:30.38\00:12:32.58
near the Vermont
border can be cool.
00:12:32.61\00:12:35.32
Life in the middle of the
19th century could be difficult,
00:12:35.35\00:12:37.99
and having
peculiar religious views
00:12:38.02\00:12:40.59
doesn't ordinarily
buy you popularity,
00:12:40.62\00:12:42.99
and when you're a Millerite,
00:12:43.02\00:12:44.79
a follower of the
Baptist preacher William Miller,
00:12:44.83\00:12:47.66
you're out there on the fringes.
00:12:47.73\00:12:49.20
Now you're not alone,
00:12:49.23\00:12:51.17
Miller has tens of
thousands of followers,
00:12:51.20\00:12:53.74
but still you, well, really,
00:12:53.77\00:12:56.07
none of that matters
because you're gonna see Jesus.
00:12:56.10\00:12:58.94
He's coming back
in just a few weeks,
00:12:58.97\00:13:01.58
He's coming back
in just a few days.
00:13:01.61\00:13:03.58
He's coming back tomorrow.
00:13:03.61\00:13:05.41
You'll see Jesus
in just a few hours.
00:13:05.45\00:13:09.42
Can you imagine?
00:13:09.45\00:13:12.12
So as October 22nd got closer,
00:13:12.15\00:13:14.92
the Millerites,
00:13:14.96\00:13:15.79
the Adventists,
were more than excited.
00:13:15.82\00:13:18.76
These were regular
hard working people,
00:13:18.79\00:13:20.90
faithful Christians,
00:13:20.93\00:13:21.66
and Jesus was returning?
00:13:21.70\00:13:24.40
Tomorrow?
00:13:24.43\00:13:26.13
William Miller had predicted
that Jesus would return in 1843.
00:13:26.17\00:13:29.50
But that didn't happen.
00:13:29.54\00:13:31.64
But then he
recalculated and said
00:13:31.67\00:13:33.21
the Second Coming would
happen in the spring of 1844.
00:13:33.24\00:13:37.38
That didn't happen either.
00:13:37.41\00:13:38.95
The Millerites were
perplexed until a man named
00:13:38.98\00:13:42.28
Samuel Snow calculated
that Jesus would return
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on October
22nd, 1844, of course.
00:13:46.59\00:13:52.69
William Miller
was a rational man.
00:13:52.73\00:13:55.30
He was not a fanatic, he
was a deep Bible student,
00:13:55.33\00:13:58.90
but he was wrong.
00:13:58.93\00:14:01.14
He was right about an awful lot,
00:14:01.17\00:14:03.57
but you don't have
to be wrong about much
00:14:03.61\00:14:05.81
to botch a prediction about the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
00:14:05.84\00:14:08.91
As he was studying the Bible,
00:14:08.94\00:14:11.25
he came to
Daniel 8:14, which says,
00:14:11.28\00:14:15.02
"Unto two thousand
three hundred days,
00:14:15.05\00:14:17.25
then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed."
00:14:17.29\00:14:19.82
Miller was convinced he
was looking at a prophesy
00:14:19.85\00:14:22.56
about the
Second Coming of Jesus.
00:14:22.59\00:14:25.03
Based on the prevailing
idea that the sanctuary
00:14:25.06\00:14:27.86
represented the earth.
00:14:27.86\00:14:29.13
He figured the
earth would be cleansed
00:14:29.16\00:14:32.17
when Jesus
returned the second time.
00:14:32.20\00:14:34.84
What else could
that possibly mean?
00:14:34.87\00:14:37.51
Looking at the scriptures, he
determined that a day represents
00:14:37.54\00:14:41.84
a year in Bible prophesy.
00:14:41.88\00:14:43.61
He was right about that.
00:14:43.65\00:14:45.48
That's a symbol just like
a beast represents a nation
00:14:45.51\00:14:49.32
and a woman
represents the church.
00:14:49.35\00:14:51.79
Miller figured
that Jesus would return
00:14:51.82\00:14:53.72
at the end of 2,300 years.
00:14:53.76\00:14:56.32
If only he could know
when that period began,
00:14:56.36\00:14:59.76
then he could
know when it ended.
00:14:59.79\00:15:02.36
But then Miller
found his starting point.
00:15:02.40\00:15:04.90
Daniel chapter nine spoke
of a decree of the going forth
00:15:04.93\00:15:10.27
of the commandment to
restore and rebuild Jerusalem.
00:15:10.31\00:15:13.61
Miller found that
decree in Ezra chapter seven.
00:15:13.64\00:15:17.65
It was issued in 457 B.C. by the
Medo-Persian Emperor Artaxerxes,
00:15:17.68\00:15:23.79
so that was that then.
00:15:23.82\00:15:25.52
Start in 457 B.C., add
2,300 days or 2,300 years,
00:15:25.55\00:15:32.99
and you get to 1843.
00:15:33.03\00:15:36.16
You correct that
because you forgot
00:15:36.20\00:15:37.63
that there's no year
zero, and you get to 1844.
00:15:37.67\00:15:43.67
Miller's opponents
couldn't argue with his logic.
00:15:43.71\00:15:46.61
Now, of course,
00:15:46.64\00:15:47.74
the Bible does say that no
one knows the day or the hour
00:15:47.78\00:15:50.05
of Jesus' appearing,
00:15:50.08\00:15:51.75
but Miller never set a date.
00:15:51.78\00:15:54.42
It was Samuel
Snow who set the date.
00:15:54.45\00:15:56.48
He did that in August of 1844.
00:15:56.52\00:15:59.92
Miller never
accepted that interpretation
00:15:59.95\00:16:02.52
until October 6th.
00:16:02.56\00:16:05.03
He spent October
22nd in this very room.
00:16:05.06\00:16:08.86
Looking out this window,
00:16:08.90\00:16:10.87
waiting for Jesus to
come in the eastern sky.
00:16:10.90\00:16:13.80
So imagine how it
felt on October 23rd, 1844.
00:16:17.44\00:16:23.51
You weren't even
expecting to be here,
00:16:23.55\00:16:25.41
but now you have to face people.
00:16:25.45\00:16:26.95
You have to go
back to your occupation.
00:16:26.98\00:16:28.65
You have to admit that
the movement was wrong,
00:16:28.68\00:16:31.79
that you've made a big mistake.
00:16:31.82\00:16:35.39
Where was God in all of this?
00:16:35.42\00:16:37.23
And what about the Bible?
00:16:37.26\00:16:39.69
How do you
relate to the Bible now?
00:16:39.73\00:16:42.16
Well, some people
simply chose not to,
00:16:42.20\00:16:43.93
and they gave up on
their hope in God altogether.
00:16:43.97\00:16:46.87
Most people simply
went back to the churches
00:16:46.90\00:16:49.57
from which they'd come,
00:16:49.60\00:16:50.64
but that wasn't an
option for everyone.
00:16:50.67\00:16:53.44
William and Lucy
Miller and their children were
00:16:53.48\00:16:55.21
kicked out of the
Baptist church that they'd been
00:16:55.24\00:16:57.05
attending because
they continued to hang
00:16:57.08\00:16:59.75
on to the belief that Jesus
was still coming back soon.
00:16:59.78\00:17:04.99
And then there were
others who tried to figure out
00:17:05.02\00:17:07.69
how God was leading now.
00:17:07.72\00:17:10.56
But what became known as
the Great Disappointment of 1844
00:17:10.59\00:17:14.83
became to the heirs of the
Millerite movement what the
00:17:14.83\00:17:18.37
Great Disappointment of Calvary
00:17:18.40\00:17:19.93
became to the
followers of Jesus.
00:17:19.97\00:17:23.07
Jesus' disciples were sure that
their master would set up an
00:17:23.10\00:17:26.51
earthly kingdom and
drive the heathen Romans
00:17:26.54\00:17:29.44
from the covenant land.
00:17:29.48\00:17:31.38
On the road to Emmaus,
two disciples poured out
00:17:31.41\00:17:33.88
their despondency to
Jesus himself saying,
00:17:33.92\00:17:37.15
"But we were hoping that it was
00:17:37.19\00:17:38.52
He who was going
to redeem Israel."
00:17:38.55\00:17:41.06
Luke 24:21.
00:17:41.09\00:17:43.22
But the disciples' hopes
had been based on a false view
00:17:43.26\00:17:46.90
of the Messiah's mission.
00:17:46.93\00:17:48.96
They weren't
wrong in recognizing
00:17:49.00\00:17:50.53
Jesus as the promised Savior,
00:17:50.57\00:17:52.93
but they were wrong in
their understanding of his work.
00:17:52.97\00:17:56.97
The same was true with
the disappointed followers
00:17:57.01\00:17:59.21
of William Miller in 1844.
00:17:59.24\00:18:02.18
They were
correct in their timing,
00:18:02.21\00:18:04.81
but they were
wrong about the event.
00:18:04.85\00:18:07.18
But God wouldn't
leave His faithful followers
00:18:07.22\00:18:09.22
in the dark for long.
00:18:09.25\00:18:10.85
After an all night
vigil weary and heartbroken,
00:18:10.89\00:18:14.79
two men decided to visit
some of their fellow believers
00:18:14.82\00:18:17.49
who'd been through
the same disappointment.
00:18:17.53\00:18:19.19
One of them was Hiram Edson.
00:18:19.23\00:18:22.83
Here's how he explained
the events that followed.
00:18:22.86\00:18:25.80
"We started, and while
passing through a large field,
00:18:25.83\00:18:29.67
I was stopped about
midway of the field.
00:18:29.70\00:18:32.67
Heaven seemed open to my view,
00:18:32.71\00:18:35.01
and I saw distinctly and clearly
that instead of our High Priest
00:18:35.04\00:18:39.08
coming out of the Most
Holy of the heavenly sanctuary,
00:18:39.11\00:18:42.08
to come to this earth on the
tenth day of the seventh month,
00:18:42.12\00:18:44.99
at the end of the 2,300 days,
00:18:45.02\00:18:47.82
He for the first time entered
on that day the second apartment
00:18:47.86\00:18:52.73
of that sanctuary;
00:18:52.76\00:18:54.60
and that He had a work
to perform in the Most Holy
00:18:54.63\00:18:58.17
before coming to this earth."
00:18:58.20\00:19:00.24
With this dramatic insight,
00:19:00.27\00:19:01.90
the movement
birthed by William Miller
00:19:01.94\00:19:03.74
gave rise to yet
another movement,
00:19:03.77\00:19:06.51
the one predicted by
the angel spoken of by John
00:19:06.54\00:19:09.48
in the 10th of the chapter
of the book of Revelation.
00:19:09.51\00:19:12.21
"Thou must prophesy
again before many peoples
00:19:12.25\00:19:15.72
and nations and
tongues and kings."
00:19:15.75\00:19:19.29
Revelation 10:11.
00:19:19.32\00:19:21.36
A movement was born,
and with this new movement,
00:19:21.39\00:19:24.33
God set in place
a global initiative
00:19:24.36\00:19:27.13
to complete the
Protestant Reformation.
00:19:27.20\00:19:30.23
I'll have more in just a moment.
00:19:30.27\00:19:31.63
¤[Music]¤
00:19:31.67\00:19:36.67
I'm John Bradshaw
from It Is Written,
00:19:39.14\00:19:41.34
inviting you to join me for 500.
00:19:41.38\00:19:45.05
Nine programs
produced by It Is Written,
00:19:45.08\00:19:47.28
taking you deep
into the Reformation.
00:19:47.32\00:19:50.45
This is the 500th
anniversary of the beginning
00:19:50.49\00:19:53.49
of the Reformation when Martin
Luther nailed his 95 Theses
00:19:53.52\00:19:57.13
to the door of the Castle
Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
00:19:57.16\00:20:00.00
We'll take you to
Wittenberg and to Belgium,
00:20:00.03\00:20:02.16
to England,
00:20:02.20\00:20:03.00
to Ireland,
00:20:03.03\00:20:04.57
to Rome,
00:20:04.60\00:20:05.40
to the Vatican City,
00:20:05.43\00:20:06.63
and introduce you to the people
who created the Reformation,
00:20:06.67\00:20:09.67
who pushed the
Reformation forward.
00:20:09.70\00:20:11.67
We'll take you to
sites all throughout Europe
00:20:11.71\00:20:13.64
where the Reformers
lived and in some cases died.
00:20:13.68\00:20:16.44
We'll bring you
back to the United States
00:20:16.48\00:20:18.11
and take you to a
little farm in Upstate New York
00:20:18.15\00:20:21.15
and show you how God
spread the Reformation here.
00:20:21.18\00:20:24.05
Don't miss 500.
00:20:24.09\00:20:26.15
You can own the
500 series on DVD.
00:20:26.19\00:20:29.22
Call us on 888-664-5573
00:20:29.26\00:20:33.80
or visit us online
at itiswritten.shop.
00:20:33.83\00:20:38.83
This is It Is
Written, I'm John Bradshaw.
00:20:41.20\00:20:43.77
Thanks for joining me.
00:20:43.81\00:20:45.44
William Miller became
the figurehead for a movement
00:20:45.47\00:20:47.94
after studying his Bible
and then sharing what he found.
00:20:47.98\00:20:51.75
He and others believed
that Jesus was coming back
00:20:51.78\00:20:54.02
to the earth in the year 1844.
00:20:54.05\00:20:56.99
And they believed this based
on a prophesy which said that
00:20:57.02\00:21:00.92
the sanctuary would be cleansed.
00:21:00.96\00:21:03.73
But Jesus didn't come back
in 1844. So where was the error?
00:21:03.76\00:21:09.13
Miller believed like
virtually everybody else,
00:21:09.16\00:21:11.73
that the sanctuary in
Daniel 8:14 was the earth.
00:21:11.77\00:21:14.87
But look into the Bible
and you see that that sanctuary
00:21:14.90\00:21:18.47
could really only be
the portable sanctuary
00:21:18.51\00:21:21.84
that went with Israel
throughout the wilderness
00:21:21.88\00:21:24.38
or the temple or the great
sanctuary of God in Heaven.
00:21:24.41\00:21:29.35
In Old Testament times,
00:21:29.38\00:21:30.49
the cleansing of the
sanctuary took place once a year
00:21:30.52\00:21:34.39
on the Day of Atonement.
00:21:34.42\00:21:36.19
It was a day of judgment.
00:21:36.22\00:21:39.03
So some of these Millerite
believers went to the Bible
00:21:39.06\00:21:41.76
and studied, and
their eyes were opened.
00:21:41.80\00:21:47.30
Hebrews 8:1 and 2 says,
00:21:47.34\00:21:49.74
"We have such a high
priest, who is seated at the
00:21:49.77\00:21:53.11
right hand of the throne
of the majesty in the heavens.
00:21:53.14\00:21:56.38
A minister of the sanctuary
and of the true tabernacle,
00:21:56.41\00:22:00.52
which the Lord
erected and not man."
00:22:00.55\00:22:04.29
The book of Hebrews
describes this sanctuary again
00:22:04.32\00:22:06.59
in the following chapter.
00:22:06.62\00:22:07.82
"But Christ came as High Priest
of the good things to come,
00:22:07.86\00:22:12.59
with the greater and
more perfect tabernacle
00:22:12.63\00:22:15.00
not made with hands, that
is, not of this creation."
00:22:15.03\00:22:19.43
That's Hebrews 9:11.
00:22:19.47\00:22:22.00
These believers found
that on the day of atonement,
00:22:22.04\00:22:24.44
a new sacrifice was offered
by which the record of sin
00:22:24.47\00:22:28.74
in the sanctuary was
taken away or cleansed.
00:22:28.78\00:22:31.65
On that day, God's
people would afflict their souls
00:22:31.68\00:22:35.38
and search their hearts to
be sure that no unconfessed
00:22:35.42\00:22:39.19
or unforsaken sin
remained in their lives.
00:22:39.22\00:22:44.26
Once the record of sin was
expunged from the sanctuary,
00:22:44.29\00:22:48.20
the sins were transferred
again to a scapegoat.
00:22:48.23\00:22:52.37
That goat would then be led
into the wilderness to carry
00:22:52.40\00:22:55.24
the sins of the people
into oblivion and to die there.
00:22:55.27\00:23:00.11
But the ultimate purpose
of the service was not only
00:23:00.14\00:23:02.34
to remove the record of sin,
00:23:02.38\00:23:03.75
but to remove sin itself
from the hearts and lives
00:23:03.78\00:23:07.12
of the worshipers.
00:23:07.15\00:23:08.28
Leviticus, 16:30 says,
00:23:08.32\00:23:10.45
"For on that day the priest
shall make atonement for you,
00:23:10.49\00:23:14.36
to cleanse you,
00:23:14.39\00:23:15.79
that you may be clean from
all your sins before the Lord."
00:23:15.82\00:23:19.09
And like the sanctuary on earth,
00:23:19.13\00:23:21.33
the book of Hebrews is
clear that the sanctuary
00:23:21.36\00:23:24.30
in heaven must also be cleansed.
00:23:24.33\00:23:27.80
"Therefore, it was necessary
that the copies of the things
00:23:27.84\00:23:30.54
in the heavens should
be purified with these,
00:23:30.57\00:23:34.04
but the heavenly
things themselves
00:23:34.08\00:23:36.34
with better
sacrifices than these."
00:23:36.38\00:23:38.98
The judgment hour message
hadn't ever been proclaimed.
00:23:39.01\00:23:42.45
It was a message that
would lead people to the Bible.
00:23:42.48\00:23:45.95
Bibles people now had
thanks to the Reformers.
00:23:45.99\00:23:49.69
These were people who were
free to think for themselves
00:23:49.72\00:23:52.76
thanks to Roger Williams,
and it was a message that
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.70
would prepare people for
the Second Coming of Jesus,
00:23:55.73\00:23:58.40
a teaching now known, thanks to
the ministry of William Miller.
00:23:58.43\00:24:03.14
It's interesting that
Martin Luther said this.
00:24:03.17\00:24:05.64
"I persuade myself verily,
00:24:05.67\00:24:08.18
that the day of judgment will
not be absent full 300 years.
00:24:08.21\00:24:13.35
God will not, cannot, suffer
this wicked world much longer!"
00:24:13.38\00:24:17.69
In the 1500s, Martin
Luther said that the judgment
00:24:17.72\00:24:22.42
would take place 300
years into the future
00:24:22.46\00:24:25.43
in the middle of the 1800s.
00:24:25.46\00:24:26.90
So what would God do?
00:24:26.93\00:24:29.50
2,000 years before John
wrote in the book of Revelation
00:24:29.53\00:24:33.23
that the judgment hour
message would go to the world,
00:24:33.27\00:24:36.54
but there was much more which
by the time of William Miller
00:24:36.57\00:24:40.38
still had not been proclaimed.
00:24:40.41\00:24:42.98
This is Revelation 14:6 and 7.
00:24:43.01\00:24:45.81
John wrote, "And I saw another
angel fly in the midst of heaven
00:24:45.85\00:24:50.15
having the everlasting
gospel to preach unto them
00:24:50.19\00:24:52.82
that dwell on the earth,
00:24:52.85\00:24:54.29
and to every nation,
00:24:54.32\00:24:55.82
and kindred,
00:24:55.86\00:24:56.62
and tongue,
00:24:56.66\00:24:57.29
and people,
00:24:57.33\00:24:58.23
saying with a loud voice,
00:24:58.26\00:24:59.93
Fear God, and give glory to him,
00:24:59.96\00:25:02.43
for the hour of
his judgement is come.
00:25:02.46\00:25:04.77
And worship him that
made heaven and earth
00:25:04.80\00:25:07.40
and the sea and the
fountains of waters."
00:25:07.44\00:25:10.87
John wrote that there would
come a time when God's people
00:25:10.91\00:25:14.04
would be called to live
lives of complete surrender
00:25:14.08\00:25:16.98
to Jesus in the time of
earth's final judgement.
00:25:17.01\00:25:20.25
And there's
something else in that passage.
00:25:20.28\00:25:24.32
"Worship him that
made heaven and earth
00:25:24.35\00:25:26.92
and the sea and the
fountains of waters."
00:25:26.96\00:25:29.12
That's a direct quote
from the fourth commandment,
00:25:29.16\00:25:33.43
the Sabbath commandment.
00:25:33.46\00:25:35.16
"Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
00:25:35.20\00:25:37.80
Six days shalt thou
labor and do all thy work,
00:25:37.83\00:25:40.04
but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God."
00:25:40.07\00:25:44.24
It goes onto say,
00:25:44.27\00:25:45.77
"For in six days the
Lord made heaven and earth,
00:25:45.81\00:25:49.31
the sea, and all that in them
is and rested the seventh day.
00:25:49.34\00:25:54.05
Wherefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and hallowed it."
00:25:54.08\00:25:58.89
It's about as
clear as it could be.
00:25:58.92\00:26:01.39
In earth's last days,
00:26:01.42\00:26:03.49
God would call His
people to surrender,
00:26:03.53\00:26:06.93
to obedience to His
word rather than obedience
00:26:06.96\00:26:10.00
to the teachings
of men or of churches.
00:26:10.03\00:26:11.80
Up until this
time, very few people
00:26:11.83\00:26:14.54
were keeping the
seventh-day Sabbath.
00:26:14.57\00:26:16.57
Sunday was the day
acknowledged to be the holy day.
00:26:16.60\00:26:20.48
It just stands
to reason that Jesus
00:26:20.51\00:26:22.38
would want the
people He's going to return
00:26:22.41\00:26:24.38
for to be surrendered,
00:26:24.41\00:26:26.92
to be living in obedience
because as He has said,
00:26:26.95\00:26:30.12
surrender demonstrates love.
00:26:30.15\00:26:33.46
John 14:15 says,
00:26:33.49\00:26:35.22
"If you love me,
keep my commandments."
00:26:35.26\00:26:39.89
So who are these
people who'd been keeping
00:26:39.93\00:26:41.80
the commandments of God?
00:26:41.83\00:26:44.07
I'll tell you in just a moment.
00:26:44.10\00:26:45.57
¤[Music]¤
00:26:45.60\00:26:51.01
>>Announcer: In Matthew
4:4, the Word of God says,
00:26:53.64\00:26:56.11
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:26:56.14\00:26:59.05
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:26:59.08\00:27:03.35
"Every Word"
00:27:03.39\00:27:04.35
is a one-minute Bible
based daily devotional
00:27:04.39\00:27:06.59
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw
00:27:06.62\00:27:08.29
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:27:08.32\00:27:11.43
Look for Every Word
on selected networks
00:27:11.46\00:27:14.20
or watch it online
every day on our website,
00:27:14.20\00:27:16.63
itiswritten.com.
00:27:16.67\00:27:19.03
Receive a daily spiritual boost,
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.14
watch Every Word,
00:27:21.17\00:27:22.10
you'll be glad you did.
00:27:22.14\00:27:24.14
Here's a sample.
00:27:24.17\00:27:26.98
>>John: As you look
back at the Reformation
00:27:32.75\00:27:34.32
which began 500 years
ago on October 31st, 1517,
00:27:34.35\00:27:38.42
there are several major events
that are pretty well forgotten.
00:27:38.45\00:27:41.22
In August of 1572,
King Charles IX of France
00:27:41.26\00:27:44.39
ordered the killing of a
group of French Huguenots,
00:27:44.43\00:27:46.63
Protestants.
00:27:46.66\00:27:47.50
By the time the
St. Bartholomew's Day
00:27:47.56\00:27:49.53
massacre was over, as many as
30,000 people had been killed.
00:27:49.56\00:27:53.13
Protestants were
ruthlessly persecuted,
00:27:53.17\00:27:55.10
and it was not until
the French Revolution
00:27:55.14\00:27:56.74
that they gained
equal right in France.
00:27:56.77\00:27:59.71
What kind of person
or people perpetrate
00:27:59.74\00:28:01.51
that kind of utter wickedness?
00:28:01.54\00:28:03.81
Jeremiah 17:9 says,
00:28:03.85\00:28:05.31
"The heart is
deceitful above all things,
00:28:05.35\00:28:07.25
and desperately
wicked, who can know it?"
00:28:07.28\00:28:09.65
What kind of person?
00:28:09.68\00:28:11.32
Anyone at all.
00:28:11.35\00:28:12.55
The heart can
be extremely wicked
00:28:12.59\00:28:14.26
when God's fear and
love have been removed.
00:28:14.29\00:28:16.49
Human nature follows
just one selfish direction,
00:28:16.52\00:28:19.06
but Christ in your
heart creates a new you,
00:28:19.09\00:28:21.90
gives you a new heart.
00:28:21.93\00:28:23.00
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:28:23.03\00:28:24.50
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:28:24.53\00:28:27.04
¤[Music]¤
00:28:28.47\00:28:31.81
Thanks for joining
me on It Is Written.
00:28:31.84\00:28:34.44
Rachel Oakes lived
here in Washington,
00:28:34.48\00:28:36.71
New Hampshire in 1844.
00:28:36.75\00:28:39.61
Her daughter, Delight,
was a local school teacher.
00:28:39.65\00:28:41.98
This was almost 70 years
after this town became the first
00:28:42.02\00:28:46.76
to be named after
George Washington.
00:28:46.79\00:28:49.56
Then as now,
Washington, New Hampshire
00:28:49.59\00:28:52.09
was just a tiny little slice
of the New England landscape.
00:28:52.13\00:28:55.76
But what happened
here in Washington in 1844
00:28:55.80\00:28:59.53
went on to make a major
impact in the entire world.
00:28:59.57\00:29:03.44
She attended this
church pastored by a man
00:29:06.68\00:29:09.74
named Frederick Wheeler.
00:29:09.78\00:29:11.91
Wheeler had accepted the
teachings of William Miller
00:29:11.95\00:29:14.58
and was active in preaching the
doctrine of the second advent.
00:29:14.62\00:29:17.82
While preaching
during a communion service
00:29:17.85\00:29:21.69
in this church building,
00:29:21.72\00:29:23.49
Wheeler made the
comment that only those who keep
00:29:23.53\00:29:26.23
all of the Ten
Commandments should participate.
00:29:26.26\00:29:29.40
Well, Sister Oaks,
00:29:29.43\00:29:30.53
a Seventh-Day
Baptist, challenged him.
00:29:30.57\00:29:32.60
And she told him after the
service that he wasn't keeping
00:29:32.63\00:29:36.44
all of the Ten Commandments
00:29:36.47\00:29:37.61
because he did not keep
the seventh-day Sabbath.
00:29:37.64\00:29:41.24
Wheeler went to his Bible and he
studied the matter for himself,
00:29:41.28\00:29:43.88
and he came to the conclusion
that Rachel Oaks was right.
00:29:43.91\00:29:47.08
And he became the first Sabbath
keeping Adventist minister.
00:29:47.12\00:29:51.05
And this church building
became the first Sabbath keeping
00:29:51.09\00:29:55.19
Adventist church in the world.
00:29:55.22\00:29:58.83
In March of 1844, he
preached his first sermon
00:29:58.86\00:30:02.43
on the subject of the Sabbath.
00:30:02.46\00:30:05.03
A number of
families here in Washington
00:30:05.07\00:30:06.90
became Sabbath keepers.
00:30:06.94\00:30:09.04
A man named Thomas Motherwell
Preble learned of the Sabbath
00:30:09.07\00:30:12.87
from Wheeler, and he wrote
a tract on the subject called
00:30:12.91\00:30:16.38
Tract showing that the
seventh day should be observed
00:30:16.41\00:30:19.78
as the Sabbath.
00:30:19.81\00:30:21.18
Somehow a retired sea
captain named Joseph Bates
00:30:21.22\00:30:24.62
who lived in
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
00:30:24.65\00:30:26.89
got hold of that tract.
00:30:26.92\00:30:28.09
And he was so moved by it
that he traveled from his home
00:30:28.12\00:30:31.43
60 miles south of Boston
to meet with Frederick Wheeler
00:30:31.46\00:30:35.06
here in
Washington, New Hampshire.
00:30:35.10\00:30:37.03
A distance of
at least 160 miles.
00:30:37.07\00:30:40.60
The men studied all night long,
00:30:40.64\00:30:43.30
and by the time
they were finished,
00:30:43.34\00:30:45.21
Joseph Bates was a
Sabbath keeping Adventist.
00:30:45.24\00:30:47.94
And he was committed.
00:30:50.01\00:30:51.61
While heading back from
Washington, New Hampshire,
00:30:51.65\00:30:53.65
to his home in
Fairhaven, Massachusettes,
00:30:53.68\00:30:55.98
Bates was crossing a bridge
near his home when a man named
00:30:56.02\00:30:59.62
James Madison Monroe
Hall called out to him.
00:30:59.65\00:31:02.66
He said, "What's the
news, Captain Bates?"
00:31:02.69\00:31:05.69
Bates replied by saying,
00:31:05.73\00:31:06.86
"The news is the seventh day
00:31:06.90\00:31:08.63
is the Sabbath of
the Lord thy God."
00:31:08.66\00:31:10.80
Hall began keeping the Sabbath,
and so a movement began.
00:31:10.83\00:31:14.17
The truth began to spread,
00:31:14.20\00:31:15.94
and this was truth God
wanted the world to know.
00:31:15.97\00:31:18.47
The messages of the
Three Angels in Revelation 14
00:31:18.51\00:31:23.11
are called by God
the everlasting gospel
00:31:23.14\00:31:26.01
or the final gospel message.
00:31:26.05\00:31:28.52
The final good news
message to go to the world.
00:31:28.55\00:31:32.12
And that final message contains
a call to worship the Creator
00:31:32.15\00:31:36.19
by keeping the
seventh-day Sabbath,
00:31:36.22\00:31:38.89
a day set aside at creation
so all of God's children
00:31:38.93\00:31:42.46
could rest,
00:31:42.50\00:31:43.80
worship,
00:31:43.83\00:31:44.70
and commune with
Him in a special way.
00:31:44.73\00:31:48.30
The most basic principle
of the Protestant Reformation
00:31:48.34\00:31:50.91
was the supreme
authority of the Bible,
00:31:50.94\00:31:54.14
supreme over church
councils and church tradition.
00:31:54.18\00:31:58.55
This new movement God
raised up from the ashes of the
00:31:58.58\00:32:01.15
Great Disappointment of 1844
00:32:01.18\00:32:03.22
would focus in a special way
on testing all Christian beliefs
00:32:03.25\00:32:08.26
and practices by
the Holy Scriptures.
00:32:08.29\00:32:12.09
Even though, many Reformers
taught things that didn't quite
00:32:12.13\00:32:14.83
measure up with the Bible,
00:32:14.86\00:32:16.43
they all appealed to the Bible
as their ultimate authority.
00:32:16.46\00:32:20.44
Martin Luther had
theological challenges,
00:32:20.47\00:32:22.60
John Calvin taught
predestination in spite
00:32:22.64\00:32:25.37
of the fact that the best known
verse in the Bible says that,
00:32:25.41\00:32:29.38
"God so loved the world that
he gave His only begotten Son,
00:32:29.41\00:32:32.68
that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish
00:32:32.71\00:32:37.32
but have everlasting life."
00:32:37.35\00:32:39.45
And down through the years,
00:32:39.49\00:32:40.59
the Reformers had a blind
spot about the law of God.
00:32:40.62\00:32:45.03
Something so
fundamental and yet,
00:32:45.06\00:32:47.46
they were missing
something essential.
00:32:47.50\00:32:49.33
But rather than castigate them,
00:32:49.36\00:32:51.20
we remember that the
likes of Calvin and Zwingli
00:32:51.23\00:32:54.57
and Luther came to the Bible
from out of complete darkness.
00:32:54.60\00:32:58.81
Martin Luther was a
Roman Catholic priest.
00:32:58.84\00:33:01.74
They came
pre-programmed by tradition.
00:33:01.78\00:33:05.05
The fact that they were
able to shake off so much
00:33:05.08\00:33:07.25
of that tradition is remarkable.
00:33:07.28\00:33:08.95
And it's important to remember
that truth is progressive.
00:33:08.98\00:33:12.79
It grows down through time.
00:33:12.82\00:33:14.59
Knowledge of agriculture,
00:33:14.62\00:33:16.49
of science,
00:33:16.52\00:33:17.36
of mathematics,
00:33:17.39\00:33:18.29
of physical
wellness, well, that grows.
00:33:18.33\00:33:20.93
The same is true of
knowledge of the Bible.
00:33:20.96\00:33:24.47
But the sad truth is that
many people simply don't grow.
00:33:24.50\00:33:29.10
They accept what they
were taught as children,
00:33:29.14\00:33:31.31
and then spend the
rest of their lives
00:33:31.34\00:33:32.77
defending that
instead of asking God
00:33:32.81\00:33:35.71
if there is more
that they could learn.
00:33:35.74\00:33:38.45
All the way to about
the time of William Miller,
00:33:38.48\00:33:40.78
Christians,
with some exceptions,
00:33:40.82\00:33:42.32
believed in not
the Ten Commandments
00:33:42.35\00:33:45.45
but in the nine commandments.
00:33:45.49\00:33:46.82
And when those Adventists
saw the truth of God's word
00:33:46.86\00:33:50.56
and understood that
all of the Ten Commandments
00:33:50.59\00:33:52.56
should be kept,
00:33:52.59\00:33:53.80
it was the dawning of a new day.
00:33:53.83\00:33:55.86
Sunday had come into
Christianity as a tradition
00:33:55.90\00:33:58.90
of the Roman Catholic church.
00:33:58.93\00:34:01.07
Rome had absorbed
Sunday worship from paganism.
00:34:01.10\00:34:04.67
It didn't come from the Bible.
00:34:04.71\00:34:07.01
So you would think then
that Christians who were
00:34:07.04\00:34:09.11
conscientious about
separating from tradition
00:34:09.14\00:34:12.21
would be open to embracing
the seventh-day Sabbath.
00:34:12.25\00:34:15.45
That's certainly
what God was hoping.
00:34:15.48\00:34:17.62
And that's why the
message of the Sabbath
00:34:17.65\00:34:19.52
was included into
the final gospel message
00:34:19.55\00:34:22.32
to go to the world.
00:34:22.36\00:34:24.49
As the movement grew,
00:34:24.53\00:34:25.66
it eventually became the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:34:25.69\00:34:29.93
identified in the Bible as a
00:34:29.96\00:34:31.67
"Remnant which keep
the commandments of God
00:34:31.70\00:34:34.47
and the testimony of Jesus."
00:34:34.50\00:34:36.44
That's Revelation 12:17.
00:34:36.47\00:34:38.04
This group would
proclaim the everlasting gospel,
00:34:38.07\00:34:41.84
the judgment hour message.
00:34:41.88\00:34:43.71
A message of cleansing
and preparation pointing
00:34:43.75\00:34:46.98
to Jesus as high priest
and the believers' only hope.
00:34:47.02\00:34:51.15
The seventh-day Sabbath,
00:34:51.19\00:34:52.92
total surrender to
the indwelling of Jesus,
00:34:52.95\00:34:55.79
resulting in willing obedience
to God's law and not man's law.
00:34:55.82\00:35:01.10
The call out of Babylon,
00:35:01.13\00:35:02.90
out of false worship
and into true worship.
00:35:02.93\00:35:06.84
A call to the world to worship
not the beast but the lamb,
00:35:06.87\00:35:11.44
Jesus and to
receive the seal of God
00:35:11.47\00:35:14.91
rather than the
mark of the beast.
00:35:14.94\00:35:17.41
And the relationship
with Jesus so strong,
00:35:17.45\00:35:19.68
a dependence on
Jesus so complete
00:35:19.71\00:35:23.52
that they're characterized
by Revelation 14:12, which says,
00:35:23.55\00:35:26.89
"Here is the
patience of the saints.
00:35:26.92\00:35:30.06
Here are they that
keep the commandments of God
00:35:30.09\00:35:34.20
and the faith of Jesus."
00:35:34.20\00:35:36.67
This final company of the
faithful and the sacred story
00:35:36.70\00:35:40.27
will share one last
message of mercy with the world.
00:35:40.30\00:35:43.81
Jesus was clear, he
told Peter in Matthew 16:18
00:35:43.84\00:35:48.31
that he would build his church.
00:35:48.34\00:35:50.75
The early Christian church
was led by people such as Peter
00:35:50.78\00:35:53.72
and James and John and
Paul and others like them
00:35:53.75\00:35:57.55
who presented Jesus to the
world as the sinner's only hope.
00:35:57.59\00:36:02.32
But that early
church lost its way,
00:36:02.36\00:36:04.43
it became
corrupted by traditions,
00:36:04.46\00:36:06.86
many of which came into
the church from paganism.
00:36:06.90\00:36:10.60
And then the church
was hijacked by a system
00:36:10.63\00:36:13.80
that neglected the Bible,
00:36:13.84\00:36:15.20
that departed from the Bible.
00:36:15.24\00:36:18.04
That obscured the Bible
00:36:18.07\00:36:19.97
and then kept the
Bible from the people.
00:36:20.01\00:36:22.84
But Wycliffe and
Tyndale and Luther
00:36:22.88\00:36:25.21
and others like them put
the Bible back in the hands
00:36:25.25\00:36:28.62
of God's children.
00:36:28.65\00:36:30.19
Hearts were touched by
the power of God's Word,
00:36:30.22\00:36:33.09
and the broken
system was reformed.
00:36:33.12\00:36:36.39
But that reformation
didn't go all the way,
00:36:36.42\00:36:38.96
so God raised up others
across the ocean from Europe,
00:36:38.99\00:36:42.40
beyond the reach of a
pope to go back to the Bible,
00:36:42.43\00:36:45.90
to discover neglected teachings,
00:36:45.93\00:36:48.24
and to deliver the final
gospel message to the world.
00:36:48.27\00:36:52.51
Organized in
1863, and now numbering
00:36:52.54\00:36:56.08
in the tens of
millions of members,
00:36:56.11\00:36:58.51
the Seventh-day Adventist
Church exists to complete
00:36:58.55\00:37:01.58
the work of the Reformers,
00:37:01.62\00:37:03.55
to take the message of
justification by faith,
00:37:03.59\00:37:06.12
the message of salvation,
00:37:06.15\00:37:07.92
to reveal the
character of God to the world.
00:37:07.96\00:37:11.59
And will that work be finished?
00:37:11.63\00:37:13.33
Yes, it will.
00:37:13.36\00:37:14.30
God has promised.
00:37:14.36\00:37:16.30
The everlasting gospel
will go to every nation,
00:37:16.33\00:37:19.87
kindred,
00:37:19.90\00:37:20.87
tongue,
00:37:20.90\00:37:21.70
and people.
00:37:21.74\00:37:23.74
Jesus said, "Upon this
Rock, I will build My church."
00:37:29.71\00:37:33.21
He said he would have a church,
00:37:33.25\00:37:35.72
but what would
this church look like?
00:37:35.75\00:37:37.45
How would it carry itself?
00:37:37.49\00:37:38.79
What would it teach?
00:37:38.82\00:37:41.39
Where can it be found?
00:37:41.42\00:37:42.72
I'd like you to receive
In Search of the Church.
00:37:42.76\00:37:46.46
Call us on 800-253-3000
00:37:46.49\00:37:49.36
or visit us online
at itiswritten.com,
00:37:49.40\00:37:53.10
or you can write to
the address on your screen.
00:37:53.13\00:37:55.64
In Search of the Church,
00:37:55.67\00:37:57.31
it's yours completely free.
00:37:57.34\00:37:59.61
And thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:37:59.64\00:38:02.14
exists due to the gracious
support of people like you.
00:38:02.18\00:38:06.98
It's your support that makes
it possible for It Is Written
00:38:07.02\00:38:09.12
to share Christ and the hope
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00:38:09.15\00:38:13.05
You can send your
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00:38:13.09\00:38:14.86
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00:38:14.89\00:38:17.89
through our website,
00:38:17.93\00:38:18.86
itiswritten.com.
00:38:18.89\00:38:21.73
Thanks for your
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00:38:21.76\00:38:23.20
Our number is 800-253-3000,
00:38:23.23\00:38:26.53
and our web
address is itiswritten.com.
00:38:26.57\00:38:29.40
>>John: Welcome back to 500
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:38:30.37\00:38:32.81
My guest is Pastor Ted Wilson,
00:38:32.84\00:38:35.21
the President of the World
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:38:35.24\00:38:38.15
Pastor Wilson, thanks
very much for joining me.
00:38:38.18\00:38:40.55
>>Ted: Thank you so much.
00:38:40.58\00:38:41.95
Great to be here.
00:38:41.98\00:38:42.88
>>John: And, and
we, I'll tell you what.
00:38:42.92\00:38:44.52
We're just thrilled to
be able to talk with you,
00:38:44.55\00:38:46.05
I think, about an, an
incredibly important subject.
00:38:46.09\00:38:49.59
We look back to the Reformation
that began 500 years ago.
00:38:49.62\00:38:53.19
There's a little
bit of work to be done.
00:38:53.23\00:38:54.76
Now, let's talk
in the very positive.
00:38:54.83\00:38:57.53
What were the great
victories or successes
00:38:57.57\00:38:59.67
of the Reformation do you think?
00:38:59.70\00:39:01.07
>>Ted: Well, first
of all, the Bible itself
00:39:01.10\00:39:04.34
was so critical and crucial
to the Protestant Reformation.
00:39:04.37\00:39:08.88
You know, so many people were
not able to access the Bible,
00:39:08.91\00:39:13.85
and it was just a powerful
thing that Martin Luther
00:39:13.88\00:39:18.35
took about, uh, 11 weeks or so,
00:39:18.39\00:39:21.09
translated the Bible
into a recognizable German
00:39:21.12\00:39:27.30
that became
really the lingua franca
00:39:27.36\00:39:29.86
of that region
and for the future.
00:39:29.90\00:39:32.33
And the Bible became something
so positive in people's lives
00:39:32.37\00:39:37.91
that it, it changed their
whole perspective on life.
00:39:37.94\00:39:42.41
And, you know, the
Protestant Reformation
00:39:42.44\00:39:43.85
had as its great pillars, uh,
sola Scriptura, only the Bible.
00:39:43.88\00:39:49.75
Uh, then the
aspect of sola fide,
00:39:49.78\00:39:52.55
only by faith can we have
this relationship with the Lord.
00:39:52.59\00:39:57.46
And then sola gratia,
only by grace are we saved.
00:39:57.49\00:40:01.33
>>John: I'm convinced, and I,
00:40:01.36\00:40:03.10
I'd like to
think this is changing,
00:40:03.13\00:40:04.43
but I'm convinced that still
not enough people understand
00:40:04.47\00:40:08.10
the concept of
righteousness by faith
00:40:08.14\00:40:11.24
by allowing the power of
God's word through the power
00:40:11.27\00:40:13.51
of the Holy Spirit to
work in a person's life.
00:40:13.54\00:40:16.98
Speak to me about how that
truth has impacted you when,
00:40:17.01\00:40:19.65
when, whenever it was your eyes
were opened to the fact that,
00:40:19.68\00:40:23.12
that what we are
called to do is yield
00:40:23.15\00:40:25.39
so God can work through us.
00:40:25.42\00:40:28.09
Explain that to me.
00:40:28.12\00:40:29.56
Let, let's hear that in terms
00:40:29.59\00:40:30.99
that are gonna
make it real to us.
00:40:31.03\00:40:32.29
God at work in a person's life.
00:40:32.33\00:40:33.73
>>Ted: You know, it
takes a while for everyone to
00:40:33.76\00:40:37.07
really make it your own.
00:40:37.10\00:40:39.43
I, I remember when
I was in my early 20s,
00:40:39.47\00:40:43.00
uh, someone, you know, mentioned
some questions to me and,
00:40:43.04\00:40:47.21
and posed these questions.
00:40:47.24\00:40:48.78
I, uh, what if Jesus
were to come tonight,
00:40:48.81\00:40:51.68
would you be ready?
00:40:51.71\00:40:52.51
Well, you know,
maybe, I think so,
00:40:52.55\00:40:54.72
I mean, I'm trying
to be a good Chris-,
00:40:54.75\00:40:56.62
but to really
understand this relationship,
00:40:56.65\00:40:59.65
you have to understand
that this is a gift of God,
00:40:59.69\00:41:03.83
salvation is not
something we purchase,
00:41:03.86\00:41:06.43
it's not by works,
00:41:06.46\00:41:07.96
it is a wonderful
gift provided to you,
00:41:07.96\00:41:12.10
and you can either
accept or reject a gift.
00:41:12.13\00:41:16.77
And this
marvelous gift of salvation
00:41:16.81\00:41:19.71
has a number of parts to it.
00:41:19.74\00:41:22.64
Essentially two.
00:41:22.68\00:41:24.25
Uh, one is that
you accept Christ,
00:41:24.28\00:41:26.58
and then, of course, you
are accepting his righteousness.
00:41:26.61\00:41:30.25
Christ covers you with
his robe of righteousness,
00:41:30.29\00:41:33.02
and it, it, it becomes
your robe because He's covering
00:41:33.05\00:41:38.13
you and you are
appearing as if you are perfect.
00:41:38.16\00:41:42.40
When in reality,
it's his righteousness.
00:41:42.43\00:41:45.53
Well, that's being justified.
00:41:45.57\00:41:47.67
Sanctification,
once you accept Christ,
00:41:47.70\00:41:51.27
sanctification is also a gift,
00:41:51.31\00:41:53.68
but it starts working
in your life so you become
00:41:53.71\00:41:56.11
more and more like Christ
00:41:56.14\00:41:58.41
through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:58.45\00:42:00.98
Righteousness by
faith is a complete package,
00:42:01.02\00:42:04.59
it's God's great gift to us,
00:42:04.62\00:42:06.96
but we have to
exercise faith in Him
00:42:06.99\00:42:09.96
and an acceptance of
relying completely on the Lord.
00:42:09.99\00:42:14.56
It's not our own works,
00:42:14.56\00:42:16.36
it is the works and the
beauty of Christ working in us.
00:42:16.40\00:42:21.67
The righteousness
of Christ is the focus,
00:42:21.70\00:42:24.67
the center of the plan
of salvation and certainly,
00:42:24.71\00:42:28.81
in the book of
Revelation chapter 14,
00:42:28.84\00:42:31.25
it talks about the
three angels' messages,
00:42:31.28\00:42:35.55
the very heart and
core of those messages
00:42:35.58\00:42:38.69
is the
righteousness of Jesus Christ.
00:42:38.72\00:42:41.16
>>John: It seems that God
has given a special message
00:42:41.19\00:42:45.69
to be proclaimed
in the end of time,
00:42:45.73\00:42:47.30
the everlasting gospel,
00:42:47.30\00:42:48.76
the eternal gospel,
00:42:48.80\00:42:50.37
the final gospel
message to go to the world.
00:42:50.40\00:42:53.37
We find it in Revelation chapter
14 starting in verse six,
00:42:53.40\00:42:57.91
really wrapping
up in about verse 12.
00:42:57.94\00:43:01.21
>>Ted: Mm-hmm.
00:43:01.24\00:43:02.14
>>John: Let's walk
through this together.
00:43:02.18\00:43:03.38
These, these few verses of
the Bible and identify what God
00:43:03.41\00:43:07.15
might be saying to His people
down here in the end of time.
00:43:07.18\00:43:09.18
In Revelation 14:6, we
read where the Bible says,
00:43:09.22\00:43:14.89
"And I saw another angel
fly in the midst of heaven
00:43:14.92\00:43:18.19
having the everlasting
gospel to preach to them
00:43:18.23\00:43:20.43
that dwell on the earth
and to every nation and kindred
00:43:20.46\00:43:23.80
and tongue and people."
00:43:23.83\00:43:25.43
Luther certainly wasn't
capable of proclaiming to the,
00:43:25.47\00:43:28.77
the world as we know it.
00:43:28.80\00:43:31.34
Now we're down here in
the end of the time God
00:43:31.37\00:43:33.84
has given a global
mission to His people.
00:43:33.88\00:43:38.05
Talk about that
for me for a moment.
00:43:38.08\00:43:39.41
>>Ted: You know, in, uh,
the, uh, interesting text of,
00:43:39.45\00:43:43.05
uh, Acts 1:8, it says that
00:43:43.08\00:43:46.72
"we would receive power when
00:43:46.76\00:43:48.42
the Holy Sprit
was come upon you."
00:43:48.46\00:43:51.63
That's talking
about the early apostles.
00:43:51.66\00:43:54.46
And then there are gonna
be "witnesses in Jerusalem,
00:43:54.50\00:43:56.67
Judea, Samaria, and
the end of the earth."
00:43:56.70\00:44:00.60
I mean, we're talking
about now the gospel going to
00:44:00.64\00:44:04.24
every corner of this vast globe.
00:44:04.27\00:44:07.91
This is a phenomenal thing when,
00:44:07.94\00:44:10.21
uh, when the church perhaps
began thinking about mission
00:44:10.25\00:44:14.62
and reaching out,
00:44:14.65\00:44:15.92
it was perhaps just across
the street or to the next town
00:44:15.95\00:44:20.42
or maybe another
part of the country.
00:44:20.46\00:44:23.09
But in reality, it is to
every part of the entire world.
00:44:23.12\00:44:28.13
And Seventh-day Adventists
are in about 215 countries
00:44:28.16\00:44:32.90
of the world using
multiple languages,
00:44:32.93\00:44:36.07
uh, helping people who
haven't even understood
00:44:36.10\00:44:39.44
the name of Christ before,
00:44:39.47\00:44:41.31
understanding that God
wants to use His people
00:44:41.34\00:44:45.11
in a powerful way
locally and globally.
00:44:45.15\00:44:49.18
But I want to
tell you something.
00:44:49.22\00:44:50.52
It is impossible to do that
00:44:50.55\00:44:52.65
without the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:44:52.69\00:44:55.82
We can do all kinds of programs,
all kinds of activities,
00:44:55.86\00:44:59.23
but if we don't have the
power of the Holy Spirit,
00:44:59.26\00:45:02.63
everything will come to nothing.
00:45:02.66\00:45:05.43
Praise God for His
spirit in our lives
00:45:05.47\00:45:08.50
as we tell people about Him.
00:45:08.54\00:45:10.14
>>John: There's
gonna be a great work done.
00:45:10.17\00:45:13.88
>>Ted: Absolutely.
00:45:13.91\00:45:15.11
>>John: As you look at these
populations and you know that,
00:45:15.14\00:45:17.01
that we can't get
it done by ourselves,
00:45:17.05\00:45:19.38
what does this
suggest to you about what God
00:45:19.41\00:45:21.22
is gonna do down
here in the close of time?
00:45:21.25\00:45:23.15
>>Ted: Well, it's so exciting
because in the book of Joel,
00:45:23.18\00:45:27.06
in the book of Acts,
00:45:27.09\00:45:28.49
it tells us something's going
to happen at the end of time,
00:45:28.52\00:45:31.83
and that is the Latter
Rain of the Holy Spirit.
00:45:31.86\00:45:35.13
In fact, we're to
pray for the Latter Rain,
00:45:35.16\00:45:36.90
we're to ask God to
empower us with this incredible
00:45:36.93\00:45:41.07
outpouring of the Latter Rain.
00:45:41.10\00:45:42.30
Of course, that involves a right
relationship with the Lord,
00:45:42.34\00:45:47.68
that revival and reformation,
00:45:47.71\00:45:49.68
all of us turning to the Lord
and humbling ourselves in a,
00:45:49.71\00:45:53.68
in a very special way.
00:45:53.72\00:45:55.58
You see, as we look at
the conditions of the world
00:45:55.62\00:45:58.29
and the natural disasters
that are happening, the,
00:45:58.32\00:46:01.49
the violence
that is taking place
00:46:01.52\00:46:03.73
and you can hardly escape, uh,
00:46:03.76\00:46:06.29
one day without hearing
about some horrible thing
00:46:06.33\00:46:10.20
that's been happening,
00:46:10.23\00:46:11.50
all these things
tell us that we are coming
00:46:11.53\00:46:13.50
to the very end of time.
00:46:13.54\00:46:15.90
I believe with all my heart
that Jesus is coming very soon.
00:46:15.94\00:46:19.34
>>John: Amen.
00:46:19.37\00:46:20.34
>>Ted: And that gives
me a real sense of urgency
00:46:20.38\00:46:23.51
to understand that the
Lord is coming very soon,
00:46:23.55\00:46:26.82
and by the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:46:26.85\00:46:30.35
we will be able to proclaim
this message through revival
00:46:30.39\00:46:34.69
and reformation,
00:46:34.72\00:46:35.76
our lives will be
changed so that we can take part
00:46:35.79\00:46:39.03
in this amazing
ability to tell people
00:46:39.06\00:46:42.70
about Christ's righteousness,
00:46:42.73\00:46:45.50
His plan of
salvation and His soon coming.
00:46:45.53\00:46:48.37
I'm so glad to be a part of it.
00:46:48.40\00:46:50.24
>>John: I suggested to
you that God is gonna do a,
00:46:50.27\00:46:53.48
a remarkable work.
00:46:53.51\00:46:54.68
Now, what I don't want to do
is leave the wrong impression
00:46:54.71\00:46:57.11
as though we sit on our hands
and watch God do His thing.
00:46:57.15\00:47:00.28
God has a plan to
get people involved,
00:47:00.32\00:47:02.32
and we'll talk about that.
00:47:02.35\00:47:04.12
Perhaps, what you and
I can do to share Christ
00:47:04.15\00:47:07.09
with a dying
world in just a moment.
00:47:07.12\00:47:11.53
¤[Music]¤
00:47:11.56\00:47:16.70
I'm John Bradshaw
from It Is Written,
00:47:17.97\00:47:19.93
inviting you to join me for 500.
00:47:19.97\00:47:23.61
Nine programs
produced by It Is Written,
00:47:23.64\00:47:25.87
taking you deep
into the Reformation.
00:47:25.91\00:47:29.04
This is the 500th
anniversary of the beginning
00:47:29.08\00:47:32.08
of the Reformation when
Martin Luther nailed his
00:47:32.11\00:47:34.45
95 Theses to the
door of the Castle Church
00:47:34.48\00:47:36.95
in Wittenberg, Germany.
00:47:36.99\00:47:38.52
We'll take you to
Wittenberg and to Belgium,
00:47:38.55\00:47:40.72
to England,
00:47:40.76\00:47:41.56
to Ireland,
00:47:41.59\00:47:43.12
to Rome,
00:47:43.16\00:47:43.96
to the Vatican City
00:47:43.99\00:47:45.19
and introduce you to the people
who created the Reformation,
00:47:45.23\00:47:48.16
who pushed the
Reformation forward.
00:47:48.20\00:47:50.17
We'll take you to
sites all throughout Europe
00:47:50.20\00:47:52.13
where the Reformers
lived and in some cases died.
00:47:52.17\00:47:54.97
We'll bring you
back to the United States
00:47:55.00\00:47:56.64
and take you to a
little farm in Upstate New York
00:47:56.67\00:47:59.64
and show you how God
spread the Reformation here.
00:47:59.67\00:48:02.64
Don't miss 500.
00:48:02.68\00:48:04.81
You can own the
500 series on DVD.
00:48:04.85\00:48:07.75
Call us on 888-664-5573
00:48:07.78\00:48:12.52
or visit us online
at itiswritten.shop.
00:48:12.55\00:48:17.49
Welcome back, this is 500,
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:48:18.33\00:48:22.10
I'm John Bradshaw, and my
guest is Pastor Ted Wilson,
00:48:22.13\00:48:24.67
the President of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:48:24.70\00:48:28.24
Pastor Wilson, a
couple of moments ago,
00:48:28.27\00:48:29.60
I was talking with you about
how God is going to do a great
00:48:29.64\00:48:32.41
work to see the everlasting
gospel go to earth's remotest
00:48:32.44\00:48:35.21
bounds, and we believe,
00:48:35.24\00:48:37.18
both of us, that it's
gonna take a mighty outpouring
00:48:37.21\00:48:40.75
of the Holy Spirit,
00:48:40.78\00:48:41.62
the Latter Rain
is gonna take place.
00:48:41.65\00:48:42.98
Yet, it's possible
then that we could say,
00:48:43.02\00:48:46.35
the work is just too big
for us, God will get it done.
00:48:46.39\00:48:50.33
I don't see that in the Bible.
00:48:50.36\00:48:51.73
I see God
commissioning His people,
00:48:51.76\00:48:53.33
and you referred
us earlier to Acts 1.
00:48:53.36\00:48:57.57
What can we do?
00:48:57.60\00:48:58.97
We're church members,
00:48:59.00\00:49:00.30
we sit in our pews in our little
churches or our big churches.
00:49:00.34\00:49:03.51
Our circle of
influence is only so great.
00:49:03.54\00:49:06.78
Maybe it's tempting to
leave it all to somebody else.
00:49:06.81\00:49:10.15
What would God have us
as church members do or pray
00:49:10.18\00:49:15.62
for about the
finishing of this work?
00:49:15.65\00:49:18.15
>>Ted: Wow, that's really
a, an interesting question
00:49:18.19\00:49:21.12
because I think we have to
look back at the pioneer days
00:49:21.16\00:49:23.73
of our church and understand
that at the very beginning,
00:49:23.76\00:49:26.93
everybody was
animated for mission.
00:49:26.96\00:49:29.63
They were full of the,
00:49:29.66\00:49:31.13
the spirit to share
in a very simple way,
00:49:31.17\00:49:35.40
the marvelous aspects of their
relationship with the Lord.
00:49:35.44\00:49:39.84
And in those pioneer days,
00:49:39.87\00:49:42.21
pastors were not necessarily
settled pastors over churches,
00:49:42.24\00:49:48.18
they were itinerant
preachers and evangelists.
00:49:48.22\00:49:51.55
And what happened was they
would be there for a while,
00:49:51.59\00:49:53.82
they would train church members,
00:49:53.86\00:49:55.59
the church
members then would say,
00:49:55.62\00:49:57.09
"Pastor, go.
00:49:57.13\00:49:58.49
Open up new fields.
00:49:58.53\00:49:59.73
Uh, teach these
things to other people.
00:49:59.76\00:50:02.60
We'll take care of
the church, it's okay."
00:50:02.63\00:50:04.33
Now, of course, many
times people simply expect that
00:50:04.37\00:50:07.84
a pastor's going
to be there every,
00:50:07.87\00:50:10.81
every week, gonna be
preaching every week,
00:50:10.84\00:50:13.78
and there's this mentality
that we can kind of sit
00:50:13.81\00:50:16.61
and watch but not necessarily be
part of the incredible process.
00:50:16.64\00:50:21.38
>>John: Sure.
00:50:21.42\00:50:22.38
>>Ted: I believe that
we're gonna see a return
00:50:22.42\00:50:24.82
to those pioneer days when
pastors and church members are
00:50:24.85\00:50:30.06
gonna be so involved
in the proclamation of,
00:50:30.09\00:50:33.29
of the message
that you won't have time
00:50:33.33\00:50:36.00
to simply look at yourselves,
00:50:36.03\00:50:38.37
but you're gonna
be outward focused.
00:50:38.40\00:50:40.60
There's a wonderful quotation
in the Spirit of Prophesy
00:50:40.64\00:50:44.47
that indicates to us that
00:50:44.51\00:50:46.78
"The work will never
be finished on this earth
00:50:46.81\00:50:49.58
until the men and women
comprising our membership
00:50:49.61\00:50:53.01
rally to the work,
00:50:53.05\00:50:55.02
and cooperate and
work in cooperation
00:50:55.05\00:50:57.75
with pastors
and church leaders."
00:50:57.79\00:51:00.36
Everybody working together.
00:51:00.39\00:51:03.39
Total member involvement.
00:51:03.43\00:51:05.73
Everybody doing
something for Jesus.
00:51:05.76\00:51:08.20
>>John: So there's work
for everybody to do when,
00:51:08.23\00:51:10.57
when, when
Christ fills our hearts,
00:51:10.60\00:51:13.34
He says you're the
light of the world,
00:51:13.37\00:51:14.77
we become the
light of the world,
00:51:14.80\00:51:16.10
and then we see God's
church do great things.
00:51:16.14\00:51:18.17
>>Ted: Absolutely.
00:51:18.21\00:51:19.17
>>John: When you look
at these three messages
00:51:19.21\00:51:22.11
and you boil 'em down,
00:51:22.14\00:51:23.65
you consider the scholarship
of people of great wisdom.
00:51:23.68\00:51:27.25
What's our message through
this to take to the world?
00:51:27.28\00:51:29.65
>>Ted: We have to understand
that really we're trying to turn
00:51:29.68\00:51:32.52
people back to the true
worship of God and understanding
00:51:32.55\00:51:36.02
that the, the Lord, uh, wants
to have a personal relationship,
00:51:36.06\00:51:39.66
helping people to,
00:51:39.69\00:51:41.13
to understand that He
has a very meaningful purpose
00:51:41.16\00:51:45.60
for their lives.
00:51:45.63\00:51:46.74
And, and you can place
yourself in the hands of God,
00:51:46.77\00:51:50.51
that you align
yourself with a God who,
00:51:50.54\00:51:52.97
who loves and cares for you and
also One who's gonna save you.
00:51:53.01\00:51:58.55
I mean, the Lord
is our all in all.
00:51:58.58\00:52:01.95
Uh, there's a really distinct
difference between salvation
00:52:01.98\00:52:08.42
by works and salvation by grace.
00:52:08.46\00:52:11.53
Uh, salvation by works
makes you an unhappy person
00:52:11.56\00:52:14.13
because you simply can't
do enough good things in order
00:52:14.20\00:52:17.43
to get into heaven or to
bring your relationship with
00:52:17.47\00:52:20.84
the Lord up to the
level that it should.
00:52:20.87\00:52:23.14
When you are saved by
grace and you understand that,
00:52:23.17\00:52:26.37
you're filled with a power,
00:52:26.41\00:52:28.61
you're filled with an
understanding that the Lord
00:52:28.64\00:52:31.58
will work in your life
to make you a new creature
00:52:31.61\00:52:35.62
and that you can then
give Him glory because
00:52:35.65\00:52:38.32
He's actively
working in your life.
00:52:38.35\00:52:41.52
And this becomes
a powerful message
00:52:41.56\00:52:44.06
that you can
share with everyone.
00:52:44.09\00:52:46.16
>>John: So we're living down
here in the end of time where,
00:52:46.19\00:52:48.66
we're at the very tips
of the toes in Daniel 2,
00:52:48.70\00:52:51.77
we look back to the Reformation,
00:52:51.80\00:52:53.47
we've been doing
00:52:53.50\00:52:54.37
that over these
past several programs.
00:52:54.40\00:52:57.11
What are the key
lessons you'd like to see people
00:52:57.14\00:53:01.84
take from the
Reformation as we go forward
00:53:01.88\00:53:06.58
into the final
days of earth's history?
00:53:06.61\00:53:08.78
What's the lesson or
what are the lessons for us
00:53:08.82\00:53:12.65
as we look back and now we
go forward to take this gospel
00:53:12.69\00:53:16.12
to earth's remotest bounds?
00:53:16.16\00:53:17.66
>>Ted: A really important
thing is that the gospel
00:53:17.69\00:53:20.76
is a personal message.
00:53:20.80\00:53:22.56
It is not to be
interpreted by religious leaders
00:53:22.60\00:53:26.30
without you understanding what
the word of God says yourself.
00:53:26.33\00:53:30.07
Uh, you're responsible
for your own salvation,
00:53:30.11\00:53:33.94
you can't depend upon
other people or groups,
00:53:33.98\00:53:38.51
uh, although, we
are part of a church
00:53:38.55\00:53:40.42
and a wonderful advent movement.
00:53:40.45\00:53:43.18
Uh, this is a marvelous thing,
00:53:43.22\00:53:44.55
but we're not saved by
groups or by connections
00:53:44.59\00:53:48.49
with other people,
00:53:48.52\00:53:49.49
we're saved by
connection with Jesus Christ.
00:53:49.52\00:53:51.73
And so that's why it has to
be a very personal wonderful
00:53:51.76\00:53:55.36
relationship
with, with the Lord.
00:53:55.40\00:53:57.63
And this gives real meaning,
00:53:57.67\00:54:00.80
uh, to what it means to be part
of the Protestant Reformation.
00:54:00.84\00:54:06.17
I mean, the
Protestant Reformation
00:54:06.21\00:54:07.98
made things personal,
00:54:08.01\00:54:09.91
so it wasn't a
detached kind of situation.
00:54:09.94\00:54:12.68
You were in connection
with the God of heaven
00:54:12.71\00:54:16.15
who actually created
you and now gives you life
00:54:16.18\00:54:20.62
and empowers you to
tell somebody else about it.
00:54:20.66\00:54:23.73
So the simplicity of
God's plan is an amazing thing.
00:54:23.76\00:54:27.46
It, it, it helps
us to understand how
00:54:27.50\00:54:30.50
He wanted us to relate to Him,
00:54:30.53\00:54:32.90
and then to be able to
relate to other people.
00:54:32.93\00:54:35.90
And when you think of
those foundational aspects of,
00:54:35.94\00:54:39.41
of the, uh, the
Protestant Reformation,
00:54:39.44\00:54:41.81
sola scriptura,
00:54:41.84\00:54:42.91
uh, sola fide,
00:54:42.94\00:54:45.35
sola gratia,
00:54:45.38\00:54:46.95
solus Christus,
00:54:46.98\00:54:48.55
only by Christ's mediation
can we truly find salvation,
00:54:48.58\00:54:55.09
you understand that the,
00:54:55.12\00:54:56.29
that the Protestant Reformation
was really helping people
00:54:56.32\00:55:00.53
to understand their
personal relationship with Him,
00:55:00.56\00:55:04.43
and that He
would not forsake them,
00:55:04.47\00:55:06.43
He would be with them
to the very end of time.
00:55:06.47\00:55:09.87
I get so excited
when I think about it.
00:55:09.90\00:55:12.27
>>John: It's true,
isn't it that the church God
00:55:12.31\00:55:17.58
has raised up down
here in the close of time
00:55:17.61\00:55:20.75
is a church with
a specific mission.
00:55:20.78\00:55:23.89
Address that with me.
00:55:23.92\00:55:24.95
>>Ted: Well, you know,
there's a lot of confusion
00:55:24.99\00:55:27.16
in the religious world.
00:55:27.19\00:55:28.79
Uh, people have
misunderstandings
00:55:28.82\00:55:31.73
about biblical things,
00:55:31.76\00:55:32.93
about why they're here
and how they're supposed
00:55:32.96\00:55:35.53
to involve themselves in,
00:55:35.56\00:55:37.50
in activities
whether they are religious
00:55:37.53\00:55:39.50
or social or whatever it is.
00:55:39.53\00:55:41.40
But really, you're
brought back to the question
00:55:41.44\00:55:44.87
why am I here
and where am I going?
00:55:44.91\00:55:47.91
Where did I come from?
00:55:47.94\00:55:49.11
And really, the gospel answers
those questions perfectly.
00:55:49.14\00:55:53.72
Uh, the gospel gives us a,
00:55:53.75\00:55:55.08
a full understanding of our
purpose for life and why God
00:55:55.12\00:55:59.22
has intended for us to
be part of the proclamation
00:55:59.25\00:56:02.96
at the very end of time.
00:56:02.99\00:56:04.36
Uh, you know, the
mission of the church is,
00:56:04.39\00:56:07.50
is not only to
just live a happy life
00:56:07.50\00:56:10.23
of relationship with the Lord,
00:56:10.27\00:56:12.10
it is an expression to
other people as to what God
00:56:12.13\00:56:17.31
can really do in your life.
00:56:17.34\00:56:19.84
And you go back to the
Bible because the Bible
00:56:19.87\00:56:22.88
is the Word of God.
00:56:22.91\00:56:24.11
It is that which gives you life
and meaning and understanding.
00:56:24.15\00:56:27.55
It helps you to
understand your place in history
00:56:27.58\00:56:31.22
and why God is working
in your life right now.
00:56:31.25\00:56:34.66
And you go to every
doctrine that we believe in.
00:56:34.69\00:56:37.66
Every doctrine must have
at the core, and it does,
00:56:37.69\00:56:42.63
Jesus, the center of
everything we do because
00:56:42.66\00:56:46.94
every good thing
comes from the Lord.
00:56:46.97\00:56:50.34
And then the Lord asks us
to share that with others,
00:56:50.37\00:56:54.08
not in some legalistic way,
00:56:54.11\00:56:55.98
beating people over the head
with scripture but explaining
00:56:56.01\00:56:59.65
to people the powerful effect
that a relationship with Christ
00:56:59.68\00:57:04.42
and accepting His righteousness
can really have in our own lives
00:57:04.45\00:57:09.79
in the way we live and
the way we treat people
00:57:09.82\00:57:12.76
and the invitation
to have somebody else
00:57:12.79\00:57:16.13
be part of that incredible
heaven ordained process
00:57:16.16\00:57:20.80
of leading someone to
the foot of the cross.
00:57:20.84\00:57:23.27
>>John: Pastor
Wilson, thanks very much
00:57:23.30\00:57:25.87
for taking this time,
00:57:25.91\00:57:27.01
I really appreciate you
making time in your schedule
00:57:27.04\00:57:29.38
and sharing with us.
00:57:29.41\00:57:30.41
Thanks.
00:57:30.45\00:57:31.08
>>Ted: Great to be with you.
00:57:31.11\00:57:32.55
>>John: And thank
you for joining us.
00:57:32.58\00:57:34.95
We customarily close with
prayer at about this time.
00:57:34.98\00:57:38.15
Pastor Wilson, would you
be willing to pray for us?
00:57:38.19\00:57:40.32
>>Ted: Let's pray.
00:57:40.36\00:57:42.12
Our father in heaven,
00:57:42.16\00:57:42.96
we thank You for
this great privilege
00:57:42.99\00:57:45.56
of focusing
upon the Word of God,
00:57:45.59\00:57:48.90
upon Christ the Living Word,
00:57:48.93\00:57:51.50
of understanding
our place in history
00:57:51.53\00:57:54.47
and the incredible opportunity
that You have given to us
00:57:54.50\00:57:59.01
to tell somebody else
about our relationship with You.
00:57:59.04\00:58:03.81
Lord, thank you for
salvation through Christ,
00:58:03.85\00:58:07.05
thank You for the faith that
You can instill in our lives,
00:58:07.08\00:58:10.79
thank You for the grace
that has been provided to us.
00:58:10.82\00:58:13.89
Thank You for
Christ our mediator
00:58:13.92\00:58:16.12
and that You are
the one to be worshiped.
00:58:16.16\00:58:18.83
Help us Lord as we walk
through life to recognize
00:58:18.86\00:58:23.00
that You are leading us and that
00:58:23.03\00:58:24.97
You've given us
a purpose in life,
00:58:25.00\00:58:28.64
and that is to
share you with others.
00:58:28.67\00:58:31.51
Now, Lord in a special way,
00:58:31.54\00:58:32.61
bless every viewer,
00:58:32.64\00:58:34.34
each individual
in their own respect
00:58:34.38\00:58:37.71
and all of their needs,
00:58:37.75\00:58:39.28
bless their families, and Lord,
00:58:39.31\00:58:41.22
help them to be in
contact with You day by day
00:58:41.25\00:58:44.79
through the
reading of Your Word,
00:58:44.82\00:58:46.65
through prayer,
00:58:46.69\00:58:47.49
and through
telling somebody else
00:58:47.52\00:58:50.09
about their
relationship with You.
00:58:50.13\00:58:52.79
We thank You for the promise
of Your soon Second Coming,
00:58:52.83\00:58:55.73
and we ask all of
this in the powerful
00:58:55.76\00:58:58.20
and wonderful
name of our Creator,
00:58:58.23\00:59:01.30
our Redeemer,
00:59:01.34\00:59:02.40
our Lord,
00:59:02.44\00:59:03.51
our High Priest,
00:59:03.54\00:59:04.71
our coming King,
00:59:04.74\00:59:06.04
and our best friend,
00:59:06.07\00:59:07.68
Jesus Christ,
00:59:07.71\00:59:09.28
Amen.
00:59:09.31\00:59:09.94
>>John: Amen.
00:59:09.98\00:59:10.61
And thank you again.
00:59:10.65\00:59:11.88
And thank you.
00:59:11.91\00:59:12.98
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:59:13.01\00:59:16.62
Until then, remember,
00:59:16.65\00:59:17.69
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:59:17.72\00:59:21.96
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:59:21.99\00:59:25.69
¤[Music]¤
00:59:25.73\00:59:30.70