Participants: Pastor Charles Byrd
Series Code: IST
Program Code: IST000013
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00:01 Hello, I'm Karen Byrd.
00:03 Did you know that this book, 00:05 the Bible of the Christians and the Jews 00:07 talks about the United States? 00:09 "How can that be?" some might ask. 00:11 Well, if you have watched the 12 preceding programs 00:15 then you know there are a number of things 00:17 that you can be sure of. 00:18 You can be sure that we couldn't and didn't evolve. 00:21 You can be sure 00:22 that God knows the future with pinpoint accuracy 00:25 and that His prophetic word is better 00:28 than an eye witness account. 00:30 Perhaps you were unaware that God foresaw this great nation, 00:35 knew how it would get started and even how it would end. 00:39 Yes, end. 00:42 Today you can be confident that the same God 00:45 who knew in advance that Babylon would be followed by Medo-Persia 00:48 and that kingdom would be followed by Greece 00:51 and that kingdom would be followed by Rome 00:53 and that kingdom would not be followed by another world empire 00:57 that same God also knew in advance 01:00 what would be happening to us here in the U.S. 01:04 Join us as Charles goes in search for the United States 01:07 in Bible prophecy. 01:47 I have lived outside the United States on more than one occasion 01:51 and have traveled to places like Israel, Egypt, 01:54 Bali, Tonga, Guam and Europe. 01:56 I like America. We are soooo blessed. 02:01 I am very thankful to live here with all the privileges 02:04 and good fortune it affords. 02:06 And I do not take this birthright for granted 02:08 for my family has personally felt the loss 02:11 of one who has given the last full measure of devotion 02:14 to insure our liberty, as well as that of others. 02:17 But in all my travels around these United States I see, 02:21 especially in the post World War II generation, 02:24 a marked ignorance about why we are a great nation. 02:27 It is not because we are better on the battlefield 02:30 or better in the sports arena or better in the marketplace. 02:33 We are great because God called us to this place. 02:38 How can I be so sure? 02:40 Again, the answer is Prophecy. 02:43 You may be surprised to discover 02:45 that America appears in Bible prophecy. 02:48 In fact, America will play a leading role 02:50 in the final astounding events of planet Earth 02:53 as revealed in the book of Revelation. 02:56 Around the year A.D. 95 or 96 02:59 the last of Jesus' 12 disciples 03:01 is exiled to the island of Patmos in the Mediterranean Sea. 03:05 There, John is given visions revealing the future. 03:08 John wrote out what the Spirit of Prophecy had revealed to him 03:12 in a book called Revelation. 03:14 Today I'd like to explore with you a portion of this prophecy. 03:18 In chapter 13 two beasts are employed to symbolize two powers 03:23 that will play key roles in our lives today. 03:27 Read along with me as we look at verses 11-18. 03:31 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 03:34 and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 03:39 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast 03:42 in his presence, 03:43 and causes the earth 03:44 and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, 03:47 who's deadly wound was healed. 03:50 He performs great signs, 03:51 so that he even makes fire come down from heaven 03:54 on the earth in the sight of men. 03:56 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth 03:58 by those signs which he was granted to do 04:01 in the sight of the beast, 04:02 telling those who dwell on the earth 04:03 to make an image to the beast who was wounded 04:06 by the sword and lived. 04:07 He was granted power 04:09 to give breath to the image of the beast, 04:11 that the image of the beast should both speak 04:13 and cause as many as would not worship 04:16 the image of the beast to be killed. 04:18 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, 04:22 free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand 04:26 or on their foreheads, 04:27 and that no one may buy or sell 04:30 except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, 04:33 or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. 04:37 Let him who has understanding 04:38 calculate the number of the beast, 04:40 for it is the number of a man: His number is 666." 04:46 Here in Revelation 13 04:48 we discover that there are two beast powers. 04:51 The first, described in verses 1-10, 04:53 is a beast that at first glance looks like a leopard 04:57 but it has seven heads and ten horns. 04:59 The second symbolic beast, found in verses 11-18, 05:03 comes up out of the earth. 05:05 This lamb-like beast only has two horns 05:08 and finally speaks as a dragon. 05:10 What are these beasts? 05:12 I find that the only way to properly understand scripture 05:16 is to let it interpret itself. 05:18 So let's go back to another prophetic book in the Bible 05:21 and get an interpretive tool. 05:23 In the book of Daniel we find that he receives a vision 05:26 that parallels the vision given to King Nebuchadnezzar. 05:30 In Daniel 2 the king saw an image made of gold, 05:34 silver, bronze and iron. 05:37 In Daniel 7 05:39 the prophet receives a vision with four different beasts. 05:43 What do these beasts symbolize? 05:45 "Those great beasts, which are four, 05:48 are four kings which arise out of the earth." 05:51 In those days a king and his kingdom were synonymous 05:54 and verse 23 says, 05:56 "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth." 06:00 These four beasts represent the same four kingdoms of Babylon, 06:05 Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. 06:09 Did you catch the interpretive tool? 06:11 In Bible prophecy 'beasts' represent kingdoms or nations. 06:16 So with this tool in hand let's go back to Revelation 13. 06:21 Here in Revelation 13 we have two beasts. 06:24 Do they also represent two kingdoms or powers? 06:28 Indeed they do. 06:30 Careful study reveals that the first beast with 7 heads 06:33 represents the Roman Papacy. 06:36 This prophecy accurately predicted 06:38 that the Papal power would last 42 prophetic months 06:42 or 1260 years and then receive a 'deadly wound.' 06:46 History faithfully records that the wound came to the Papacy 06:50 when Napoleon's General Berthier took the Pope captive in 1798. 06:56 That wound was later to be healed 06:58 according to this same prophecy 07:00 but in 1798 most people thought 07:02 that the Medici papacy was finished. 07:05 At that point in history, 07:07 John tells us in verse 11 07:09 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 07:12 and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." 07:16 Folks, prophecy is like an empty glove. 07:19 For prophecy that has already been fulfilled 07:22 we must go back into history and look for a perfect fit. 07:25 When we make this search 07:27 we discover that this 'lamb-like beast' 07:29 is none other than the United States. 07:32 But don't take my word for it. 07:33 Let's compare the prophetic word with the historical indicators. 07:37 Revelation 13 verses 10 and 11 07:40 tells us that while the first beast was going into captivity 07:43 a second beast or nation 07:44 was coming onto the stage of History. 07:47 The United States declared its independence in 1776, 07:51 voted the Constitution in 1787, 07:54 adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791, 07:57 and was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798. 08:02 The timing obviously fits America. 08:04 No other power, nation or kingdom could possibly qualify. 08:08 Notice another prophetic indicator. 08:11 This lamb-like beast was to come up out of the earth. 08:15 What is the significance of the beast 08:17 "coming up out of the earth", 08:19 instead of coming up out of the waters 08:21 as did the other beast powers 08:22 mentioned in Daniel and Revelation? 08:25 Look at what the prophetic angel tells John 08:27 the waters represent in Rev 17:15. 08:31 "The waters which you saw...are peoples, 08:34 multitudes, nations, and tongues." 08:38 Waters in prophetic symbolism represents multitudes of people. 08:42 The earth being the opposite 08:43 represents an absence of multitudes. 08:46 This new beast nation 08:48 did not arise from among the masses of humanity, 08:50 the crowded and struggling nations of the Old World 08:53 but in a sparsely populated area of this new continent. 08:57 Does the glove fit? 08:59 A humble, lamb-like, group of pilgrims seeking freedom 09:04 landing on a sparsely populated continent of the earth, 09:07 coming into power and independence 09:08 by the late 17 hundreds when the Papacy was humiliated. 09:12 Folks, the US fits. 09:14 All through prophecy 09:16 the beasts used to depict certain nations or kingdoms 09:20 have certain characteristics 09:21 that help us to match them with the historical realities. 09:25 The leopard with four wings and four heads in Daniel 7 09:28 represented Alexander the Great's kingdom. 09:31 The four wings 09:32 are a fitting description of the lightening speed 09:35 with which he came to rule the world. 09:37 The four heads are a good description 09:38 of the dividing of power and leadership 09:41 for upon his death 09:42 his kingdom was divided between his four generals: 09:44 Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus 09:48 who ruled over the kingdoms of Macedonia, 09:51 Thrace, Egypt, and Syria. 09:52 So, in looking at the characteristics 09:54 of this lamb-like beast, 09:56 what is symbolized by its two horns? 09:59 Horns represent kings and kingdoms, or governments 10:02 according to Daniel 7:24 and 8:21. 10:06 In this case they perfectly match 10:08 with America's two governing principles: 10:10 civil and religious liberty. 10:13 These two governing principles 10:14 have also been labeled "republicanism", 10:17 a government without a king, 10:19 and "Protestantism", a church without a pope. 10:22 Some have also suggested 10:24 that these two horns represent our dividing of powers 10:27 between the president 10:28 and the people represented by the congress. 10:31 Other nations 10:33 since ancient times have taxed people 10:35 to support a state religion. 10:37 Most have also oppressed religious dissidents. 10:40 But America established something entirely new: 10:43 Freedom to worship as you wish 10:45 without government interference or control 10:47 and with government protection. 10:50 Absence of crowns signifies a republican form of government, 10:54 rather than a monarchy. 10:55 Lamb-like horns denote an innocent, young, non-oppressive, 10:58 peace-loving, and spiritual nation. 11:01 Jesus is referred to as a lamb 28 times in Revelation. 11:05 So this new government was trying to uphold His principles. 11:09 No other power on earth could possibly fit the characteristics 11:12 and the time slot of the lamb-horned beast, 11:15 except America. 11:18 I f you only knew how much I wish I could stop right here 11:21 in the prophetic description of America. 11:24 But I can't because the prophecy of Jesus continues. 11:28 What comes next is jolting and disquieting. 11:32 The United States of America is truly a great country. 11:35 With its freedom of conscience, press, speech, and enterprise; 11:39 the protection it provides; its golden opportunities; 11:42 its sense of fair play; its sympathy for the underdog; 11:45 and its strong Christian orientation. 11:48 My eyes are open, it is not perfect. 11:51 But even still a host of people from other countries 11:54 hasten to become American citizens every year. 11:57 If America's doors were opened wide, 11:59 a vast portion of the people of the world 12:01 would move to the United States at once, 12:04 to "heaven on earth" as they perceive it. 12:07 Sadly, this richly blessed country will change drastically 12:12 in the days just ahead, 12:13 precipitating unparalleled heartache and woe 12:17 for God's people. 12:18 Notice this disturbing portion of the prophecy 12:21 of Revelation 13. 12:22 It says that America will speak "like a dragon". 12:27 Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 both make it clear 12:30 that the dragon is none other than Satan. 12:33 This former angel from heaven hates all those who love God 12:36 and is quite willing to stand as our accuser in the judgment. 12:40 Revelation 20:10 says 12:42 that Satan accuses us before God day and night. 12:45 Satan has used and continues to use governments and churches 12:49 to carry out his hatred for God's true people. 12:52 Who are God's true people you might ask? 12:56 Jesus describes them like this. 12:59 "Here is the patience of the saints; 13:01 here are those who keep the commandments of God 13:05 and the faith of Jesus." 13:07 Jesus said it this way when He was here on earth. 13:10 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." 13:16 Satan used the Babylonian government and religion 13:19 to persecute Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 13:22 Why? 13:23 Because Satan wants to be worshiped as God. 13:26 Because he wants us to disregard God's laws 13:28 knowing that then we will not be His friends or His people. 13:32 When Satan speaks as a dragon 13:34 he is speaking as a persecuting power. 13:37 That's the way King Nebuchadnezzar was 13:39 when he ordered the three Hebrews 13:41 the fiery furnace for not bowing down 13:43 to worship his golden image. 13:45 Satan, the dragon, 13:47 is not opposed to using force to get people to worship him. 13:51 And when the United States speaks as a dragon 13:53 it will be speaking as an agent of Satan, 13:56 seeking to force the people to worship contrary to conscience. 14:01 What specifically will America do 14:03 that will cause it to speak as a dragon? 14:06 Notice the first of four crucial points from Revelation 13. 14:11 "And he exercises all the authority 14:13 of the first beast in his presence." 14:16 The first beast power of Revelation 13 was papal Rome. 14:21 Notice the first point 14:22 is the USA exercises the oppressive authority 14:25 of the papacy. 14:27 This is a most tragic chapter in human history 14:30 but papal Rome was indeed a persecuting power. 14:34 The papacy clearly admits doing so 14:36 and much supportive evidence exists. 14:39 Even conservative historians claim 14:41 the church probably destroyed at least 50 million people 14:45 over matters of religious conviction. 14:48 W.E.H. Lecky, in his book, 14:50 History of the Rise and Influence 14:52 of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, Vol. 2 p. 40 says this, 14:57 "That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood 15:00 than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, 15:04 will be questioned by no Protestant 15:07 who has a competent knowledge of history." 15:10 Lest some think I am attacking fellow Christians 15:14 by identifying this beast power, 15:15 please keep in mind that this prophecy is aimed at a system 15:18 and not individuals. 15:20 Other prophecies point out the faults 15:22 of Protestant and Jewish faiths. 15:25 God has true people in all religions. 15:27 His true people, no matter what their faith, 15:30 will always humbly accept the correction of the Lord 15:33 and will not shut their ears and hearts against Him 15:35 by self-defensiveness. 15:37 And remember, 15:39 the rest of this Prophecy points out 15:40 that the United States will also be a persecuting power, 15:44 speaking as a dragon. 15:46 Here is our second crucial point from Revelation 13. 15:50 He, "causes the earth and those who dwell in it 15:53 worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." 15:57 According to this prophecy 15:58 the United States will lead the nations of the world 16:01 in enforcing the worship of and allegiance to, 16:04 the papal beast power. 16:06 You see, the issue is always worship. 16:08 Who will you worship, who will you obey? 16:11 Will it be Christ your Creator and Redeemer, or Antichrist? 16:15 Every soul on earth 16:17 will finally worship one or the other. 16:20 The entire approach will appear to be deeply spiritual. 16:23 Incredible miracles will be wrought 16:26 which will deceive billions. 16:27 Those who refuse to join the movement 16:29 will be considered godless radicals. 16:32 All this may seem impossible here in America 16:34 where we have cherished our freedom, 16:36 but Jesus' words are always totally reliable and true. 16:41 He foretold the rise and fall 16:43 of four world empires and the Antichrist 16:46 at a time when such predictions seemed outlandish 16:49 and incredible. 16:50 But all came to pass precisely as predicted. 16:53 His warning to us today regarding prophecy is, 16:56 "I have told you before it comes, 16:58 that when it does come to pass, you may believe." 17:02 Here is our third crucial point from Revelation 13. 17:06 "Saying to them that dwell on the earth, 17:08 that they should make an image to the beast, 17:11 which had the wound by a sword, and did live." 17:14 This power identified 17:15 as the United States will make an image to the beast 17:18 by legislating religious practice. 17:20 It will come to a point of passing laws requiring worship 17:24 and force people to either obey them or face death. 17:28 This action is a copy or an image 17:30 of the church-state combination that the papacy utilized 17:34 at the height of her power during the Middle Ages, 17:37 when millions were slain for their faith. 17:39 America will combine civil government 17:42 and apostate Protestantism 17:43 into a coalition that will support the papacy again. 17:47 It will then influence all the nations of the world 17:50 to follow her example. 17:52 Thus, the papacy will gain worldwide support. 17:55 I would be tempted myself to say, 17:58 "Not here, not in America." 18:00 But when I look at the perfect track record of Bible Prophecy 18:04 I don't have any rational choice but to believe. 18:07 God knows the future before it happens. 18:10 OK, here is our fourth and final crucial point 18:13 from Revelation 13. 18:16 This beast power, 18:17 that we understand to be the United States, 18:19 will "Cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast 18:23 should be killed." 18:25 According to scripture the United States, 18:27 as head of this international movement, 18:30 will next influence the nations of the world 18:32 to impose a universal death sentence 18:34 upon all who refuse to worship the papal beast or his image. 18:39 Another name for this worldwide coalition, 18:41 according to Revelation 17:5, is "Babylon the Great." 18:45 This coalition will deny the God-given freedom to worship 18:49 according to conscience 18:50 by legislating and enforcing the worship of the Antichrist. 18:55 Today many, if not most Christians, 18:57 are captivated by the Middle East. 19:00 They are watching carefully the events in and around Israel 19:03 because that is where their religious leaders 19:06 are pointing their attention. 19:07 Our Government's foreign policy is in many cases dictated 19:11 by our misdirected understandings of prophecy. 19:14 Based on my careful study 19:15 of the Prophetic books of Revelation and Daniel 19:18 the prophecy of Revelation 13 19:20 puts our focus on the Vatican and the United States. 19:24 Revelation chapter 13 is clear. 19:27 Two superpowers will emerge in the end time. 19:30 History fills the prophetic glove, so to speak, 19:33 identifying them as the Untied States of America 19:36 and the papacy. 19:38 The United States of America will support the papacy 19:40 by leading a drive to force people of the world 19:44 to worship the beast (the papacy) 19:45 and receive his mark or else face death. 19:49 I along with many have wondered 19:51 how this could possibly happen in America 19:53 with our strong constitution 19:55 supporting the separation of church and state. 19:58 Imagine then the jolt that I received 20:00 while watching a Catholic talk show on Sky Angel Network. 20:04 There three men including a Catholic priest and lawyer 20:07 were talking about what life in America 20:10 and the world will be like 20:11 once the Roman Church is in control of the government. 20:14 Without apology 20:15 they talked about how everyone will be told when, 20:19 where and how they can worship. 20:21 Not only in Revelation was this Papal plan foretold. 20:25 Just 115 years before I saw this talk show, 20:28 the Spirit of Prophecy foresaw the plans 20:31 and purposes of the papacy 20:32 and the willing role played by the United States. 20:36 "...Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf 20:39 to grasp the hand of the Roman power... 20:42 our country shall repudiate 20:44 every principle of its Constitution 20:45 as a Protestant and Republican government, 20:48 and shall make provision 20:49 for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions..." 20:53 I just want to publicly affirm the Catholic Church 20:56 for their direct honesty on this critical and important issue. 21:00 By their own published works they clearly admit 21:03 that they are the people 21:04 who changed God's Ten Commandment Law. 21:06 The Ten Commandments, 21:08 written with the finger of God himself says, 21:10 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 21:12 Listen to their own words from the Hartford Weekly Call. 21:16 "The church changed Sabbath to Sunday 21:19 and all the world bows down and worships upon that day 21:22 in silent obedience 21:24 to the mandates of the Catholic Church." 21:27 Is this true? 21:29 They clearly said so in their own Catholic catechism. 21:33 "Question: Which day is the Sabbath day? 21:36 Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day." 21:40 Now folks, this is clear. 21:41 They are being completely honest 21:43 and are in agreement with the Bible. 21:45 But what is said here 21:47 certainly should make the thinking person ask a question. 21:49 What's the question? Exactly! 21:53 Then why do we keep Sunday? 21:55 This question is so obvious that they put it in their catechism. 21:58 "Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? 22:02 Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday 22:05 because the Catholic Church, 22:07 in the Council of Laodicea (AD 336), 22:10 transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday." 22:14 Now the Protestants left the Catholic Church 22:17 with this cry on their lips: Sola-scriptura! 22:20 The Bible and the Bible alone. I embrace this mantra. 22:24 The Bible should be our first and senior source, 22:27 guide and teacher when it comes to eternal things. 22:30 But in this book there is not the slightest bit of evidence 22:34 for the changing the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. 22:38 I believe the Catholics have every right 22:41 to challenge everyone who keeps Sunday 22:43 with these words from Monsignour Louis Segur. 22:46 "It was the Catholic church 22:48 which... transferred the rest to the Sunday... 22:51 Thus the observance of Sunday by the Protestants 22:54 is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, 22:57 to the authority of the [Catholic] Church." 23:00 I have Catholic friends, 23:02 and they know that I am not a Catholic-basher. 23:05 I am an American, 23:06 I am not bashing the United States either. 23:09 But friends, God promised us in Amos 3:7 23:12 that He would do nothing without first revealing it 23:15 to one of His prophets. 23:16 If the God of creation, the God of the Bible, 23:19 in love warns us about future events, 23:22 we are most wise to take to heart His warnings. 23:26 Revelation 13 clearly tells us 23:28 that the United States and the papacy 23:30 will seek to force us to worship on Sunday, 23:33 thus receiving the Mark of the Beast. 23:37 Again the papacy clearly tells us what their mark is. 23:40 "Of course the Catholic Church claims 23:43 that the change (from Sabbath to Sunday) was her act... 23:47 And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power 23:50 and authority in religious matters." 23:53 America is clearly a great Nation, 23:55 founded on Christ, or lamb-like principles 23:58 but America is going to surrender her greatness 24:01 to be used by Satan. 24:03 That leaves each of us with a choice 24:06 and that choice is clearly laid before us. 24:09 What are we going to do with Jesus and His Sabbath? 24:13 Jesus created the Sabbath. 24:16 When Jesus was here on earth he kept the Sabbath day holy. 24:19 When Jesus talked about the future he asked them to, 24:22 "Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." 24:26 The flight that He was talking about 24:29 would happen some 30 years in the future 24:32 with the destruction of Jerusalem. 24:33 This means that more than 30 years after He went to heaven 24:36 He fully expected His true friends 24:39 to be keeping the Sabbath holy 24:40 just as he commanded in His Ten Commandments. 24:44 There are lots of people who say they love Jesus. 24:48 Then let His words challenge us. 24:50 "If you love Me," Jesus said, "keep My commandments." 24:55 Jesus tells us through His servant Isaiah, in Isaiah 66:23, 25:00 that even in heaven we will be keeping the Sabbath 25:03 as our homage to Him. 25:05 Each Sabbath, 25:06 those who are saved will show their willing subservience 25:09 to the God of creation. 25:11 So what will it be for you, friend? 25:14 Human tradition-Sunday worship 25:16 or Love for God and His law-Sabbath observance? 25:20 Yes, it is true, 25:21 there will be a death decree placed on those who follow 25:24 and keep God's commandments. 25:26 There was also a death decree placed on Jesus 25:28 by the religious leaders and the government of His day. 25:31 But Jesus could not be held in the tomb. 25:34 What an encouragement to hear Him say, 25:37 "I am the resurrection and the life. 25:41 He who believes in me will live [again], 25:44 even though he dies." 25:45 The question for each of us is, 25:47 "Are we going to die in obedience 25:49 to our loving friend, Jesus?" 25:50 If we do we will live again and that forever with Him. 25:57 Charles is right, everyone will die sometime. 26:01 Far better for each of us to choose right now 26:05 that if we die 26:06 we will die in obedience to the God of creation. 26:09 Only then can we be sure of eternal life. 26:12 Only then can we be sure of living with God in heaven. 26:16 It is important for us to know all we can 26:18 about God's end-time prophesies 26:21 and especially those that deal 26:22 with the only remaining super-power. 26:25 I hope you'll request your free study guide today. 26:28 Here's the information you'll need. 27:10 Thanks for joining us 27:12 for these 13 In Search of the Truth programs. 27:15 It is our desire to always seek out 27:17 and embrace the truth because Jesus said, 27:20 "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 27:25 Then you will know the truth, 27:26 and the truth will set you free." 27:29 God bless you each day 27:31 as you continue your search for the truth. |
Revised 2014-12-17