I'm gonna take you back
to that underlying template
00:00:34.06\00:00:36.81
because really what we are doing
00:00:36.84\00:00:38.37
in the seminar is much
like putting a puzzle together.
00:00:38.40\00:00:42.22
When is the last time
00:00:42.25\00:00:43.28
you put a puzzle
together do you remember?
00:00:43.31\00:00:45.49
I bet you kids
have done a puzzle
00:00:45.52\00:00:47.33
probably at some
point this last year may be.
00:00:47.36\00:00:50.50
But I remember the idea
was to get the parameters,
00:00:50.53\00:00:53.77
you know, the outline done
00:00:53.80\00:00:56.09
and then you put
in the details, right.
00:00:56.12\00:00:59.51
And that's exactly what we
are doing with the template.
00:00:59.54\00:01:02.75
We get the
essential elements down
00:01:02.78\00:01:04.89
and then we begin
to fill in the details
00:01:04.92\00:01:08.22
and the template helps us to
see how all of the great things
00:01:08.25\00:01:12.27
of the Bible
really interconnect.
00:01:12.30\00:01:15.78
And as we pull
all of these things
00:01:15.81\00:01:17.57
in the Bible together
over the period of time
00:01:17.60\00:01:19.68
we find this
wonderful beautiful picture
00:01:19.71\00:01:22.74
of the God who really loves
us and really cares for us.
00:01:22.77\00:01:26.08
But you can
remember the very first thing
00:01:26.11\00:01:27.60
that we took
note of opening night
00:01:27.63\00:01:29.53
is that God began with
His perfect beautiful world.
00:01:29.56\00:01:33.05
Remember, in
Genesis 1:31, God said
00:01:33.08\00:01:37.36
and it was very
good, it was perfect,
00:01:37.39\00:01:41.17
it was beautiful.
00:01:41.20\00:01:43.06
God designed the
world to be a paradise.
00:01:43.09\00:01:46.51
He designed to be place in which
00:01:46.54\00:01:48.27
we would only
know what was good,
00:01:48.30\00:01:51.26
if only it had
stayed that way, right.
00:01:51.29\00:01:53.57
If only it stayed that way.
00:01:53.60\00:01:54.92
But there were troubles
that were brooding there
00:01:54.95\00:01:57.85
in the very
presence of God Himself
00:01:57.88\00:01:59.52
which is very
astounding to think about.
00:01:59.55\00:02:01.62
There was trouble
that was developing
00:02:01.65\00:02:03.30
among the angelicals of heaven
00:02:03.33\00:02:05.49
and it broke
out in open conflict
00:02:05.52\00:02:08.20
and Satan and the
third of the angels
00:02:08.23\00:02:10.50
as we study were cast down
to this planet and remember,
00:02:10.53\00:02:14.12
initially they only
had access to the planet.
00:02:14.15\00:02:17.95
There at the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
00:02:17.98\00:02:22.62
That's the only
place they had access
00:02:22.65\00:02:25.21
until Adam and Eve
gave into the temptation.
00:02:25.24\00:02:29.73
And remember, what
that fruit represented.
00:02:29.76\00:02:31.93
Is, was it so much the
fruit it's just like God said
00:02:31.96\00:02:34.30
you shall not eat of it.
00:02:34.33\00:02:36.14
And so it represented
faith in God, trust in God
00:02:36.17\00:02:39.54
or disobedience meant that,
00:02:39.57\00:02:42.81
you know, one
really didn't trust God.
00:02:42.84\00:02:45.46
Its been
playing out historically
00:02:45.49\00:02:47.15
right on down to our
time all of the problems
00:02:47.18\00:02:50.24
the difficulties,
the sin and rebellion
00:02:50.27\00:02:53.06
has blot to this planet
00:02:53.09\00:02:54.87
comes right here from the tree
00:02:54.90\00:02:56.78
of the knowledge
of good and evil.
00:02:56.81\00:03:00.36
God never intended for us to
have acknowledge of the evil.
00:03:00.39\00:03:04.36
Isn't there just
something that you wish
00:03:04.39\00:03:05.84
you could just take
off your mind the things
00:03:05.87\00:03:07.53
that may be you have
experienced or seen or heard?
00:03:07.56\00:03:12.20
Aren't there just somethings
00:03:12.23\00:03:13.71
there're just
somethings I wish I didn't know.
00:03:13.74\00:03:16.96
But remember, God
could not let us go.
00:03:16.99\00:03:19.46
God just could not let go of us.
00:03:19.49\00:03:22.15
He could have just
think of this little planet
00:03:22.18\00:03:25.69
in the immensity of the universe
00:03:25.72\00:03:28.54
God troubled
Himself over this planet
00:03:28.57\00:03:30.98
and so He paid
the ultimate price
00:03:31.01\00:03:32.87
for redemption
there at the other tree.
00:03:32.90\00:03:35.22
It's the other tree.
00:03:35.25\00:03:36.93
It's the Cavalry
00:03:36.96\00:03:38.30
and its there that we
too must make a decision.
00:03:38.33\00:03:41.77
A decision that
means life eternal
00:03:41.80\00:03:44.68
and then as we've
already noted Revelation 21.
00:03:44.71\00:03:47.42
Now we could go from tonight
00:03:47.45\00:03:49.09
we discover
that God has His plan
00:03:49.12\00:03:51.47
it is centered in
the Cross of Cavalry
00:03:51.50\00:03:53.45
in which He is going to
eliminate the whole problem
00:03:53.48\00:03:56.33
the whole mess of sin
that brought to this planet.
00:03:56.36\00:03:59.40
Evil, death,
suffering, rebellion
00:03:59.43\00:04:02.09
is all going to
be brought to an end.
00:04:02.12\00:04:05.86
And the first habitant it
says the first earth passes away
00:04:05.89\00:04:08.91
and God makes a new
heaven and a new earth.
00:04:08.94\00:04:13.17
And my friend,
that is the focal point
00:04:13.20\00:04:15.51
of all of the
prophecies but I want to
00:04:15.54\00:04:18.31
as we are in a
prophetic sequences we can
00:04:18.34\00:04:21.34
I want to
emphasize how vital it is
00:04:21.37\00:04:26.13
what Jesus did
for us at Cavalry.
00:04:26.16\00:04:30.04
We would have no future.
00:04:30.07\00:04:32.60
But because of what
Jesus did at Cavalry
00:04:32.63\00:04:36.65
we again have
this wonderful future.
00:04:36.68\00:04:39.38
But remember there're
two significant things
00:04:39.41\00:04:42.02
that flows out of what
Jesus did for us at Cavalry.
00:04:42.05\00:04:44.21
Number one, well, number
one is we have the promise
00:04:44.24\00:04:48.71
that by, by faith in Him
00:04:48.74\00:04:51.10
we are saved
from the curse of sin
00:04:51.13\00:04:54.03
from what this knowledge
of evil has done for us.
00:04:54.06\00:04:56.21
We are saved from it.
00:04:56.24\00:04:58.00
And connected to
it is the promise
00:04:58.03\00:05:00.64
that in the end God is
going to eliminate sin.
00:05:00.67\00:05:05.54
He is going to eliminate
00:05:05.57\00:05:06.88
the knowledge
of the evil, right.
00:05:06.91\00:05:10.07
He is gonna do that.
That's part of the good news.
00:05:10.10\00:05:12.37
That is actually a
part of the gospel.
00:05:12.40\00:05:16.12
Jesus is as victorious
and will be victorious.
00:05:16.15\00:05:19.67
The second thing is that He
is going to restore paradise.
00:05:19.70\00:05:25.54
God has through what
Jesus has done for us
00:05:25.57\00:05:28.99
prepared this
wonderful, beautiful.
00:05:29.02\00:05:33.58
And when you keep in
mind as we study prophecy
00:05:33.61\00:05:35.81
those significant,
those are fundamental
00:05:35.84\00:05:38.42
to what's gonna be
happening in the end time.
00:05:38.45\00:05:41.10
Then it really, you
know, there's gonna be
00:05:41.13\00:05:43.33
some pretty awful
things that will happen.
00:05:43.36\00:05:45.39
I'll tell you Satan is not
gonna get this fide up easily.
00:05:45.42\00:05:49.45
He is going to battle
this right on down to the end
00:05:49.48\00:05:52.29
but his fate is sealed, right.
00:05:52.32\00:05:55.17
His fate is sealed but
he is not going to give up
00:05:55.20\00:05:59.09
until he is forced to give up.
00:05:59.12\00:06:01.69
You know to say that
we live in troublous times
00:06:01.72\00:06:05.65
just it's an
understatement, troublous times.
00:06:05.68\00:06:08.52
I mean we see it all around us.
00:06:08.55\00:06:11.11
As we see natural
and manmade disasters
00:06:11.14\00:06:14.67
causing
destruction and loss of life
00:06:14.70\00:06:17.16
it's just tragic to
things that are going on,
00:06:17.19\00:06:19.16
Katrina all other the things.
00:06:19.19\00:06:21.03
I mean, you know, we
have going through it
00:06:21.06\00:06:23.71
this year, haven't we.
00:06:23.74\00:06:25.37
And tonight in our world
00:06:25.40\00:06:26.43
we find ourselves
facing economic instability.
00:06:26.46\00:06:31.99
You know where is this
going to end up anyway?
00:06:32.02\00:06:34.18
You know, we're trying to
prop up the financial systems,
00:06:34.21\00:06:37.06
we're trying bail people
out of you know their homes
00:06:37.09\00:06:40.27
or you know are in jeopardy.
00:06:40.30\00:06:43.16
They're facing foreclosure.
00:06:43.19\00:06:44.92
This is thing playing with jobs,
00:06:44.95\00:06:47.37
millions of jobs
that have been lost.
00:06:47.40\00:06:49.80
I mean, you know,
00:06:49.83\00:06:51.94
what's the
outcome of all of this.
00:06:51.97\00:06:54.07
You know, we could
talk about political unrest
00:06:54.10\00:06:56.67
in the world
that we are living in.
00:06:56.70\00:06:58.89
And going right back to 9/11.
00:06:58.92\00:07:01.25
So we have got
international tensions,
00:07:01.28\00:07:03.42
we have got
conflicts, we have got crime,
00:07:03.45\00:07:06.29
we have got
violence, we have got violence.
00:07:06.32\00:07:11.17
It threatens our
peace for the present
00:07:11.20\00:07:14.01
and our confidence
in the future it does
00:07:14.04\00:07:17.64
but problems and difficulties
00:07:17.67\00:07:19.23
that we are
facing our so complex
00:07:19.26\00:07:22.07
as to defy human
wisdom to resolve them.
00:07:22.10\00:07:26.13
And then we look at Luke 21.
00:07:26.16\00:07:27.63
This prophetic statement
of Jesus made in Luke 21
00:07:27.66\00:07:30.23
and beginning with
verse 25 where He said
00:07:30.26\00:07:32.85
"And there will be
signs in sun and moon
00:07:32.88\00:07:35.24
and stars, and upon the earth."
00:07:35.27\00:07:37.01
Notice what Jesus said
about the end time, times.
00:07:37.04\00:07:39.41
"And upon the earth
dismay among nations."
00:07:39.44\00:07:44.32
How accurate is
that? "In perplexity."
00:07:44.35\00:07:48.06
And the language
here is prophetic now.
00:07:48.09\00:07:50.08
"In perplexity at the roaring
of the sea and the waves,"
00:07:50.11\00:07:54.47
Talking about the
turmoil, you know,
00:07:54.50\00:07:56.66
among the nations to peoples.
00:07:56.69\00:07:58.62
"Men fainting from fear," fear
00:07:58.65\00:08:02.60
"and the
expectation of the things
00:08:02.63\00:08:04.29
which are coming upon the world
00:08:04.32\00:08:06.02
for the powers of the
heavens will be shaken."
00:08:06.05\00:08:09.37
Evil is not just
going to rollover
00:08:09.40\00:08:11.96
as much as we
would like it to do.
00:08:11.99\00:08:16.92
It is, it is going to
struggle it is going to,
00:08:16.95\00:08:21.15
you know, its
going to be a conflict
00:08:21.18\00:08:23.54
with God right on
down to the very end.
00:08:23.57\00:08:28.40
And it's that
dynamic of this conflict
00:08:28.43\00:08:30.71
and I remind you, I remind you
where this conflict all began
00:08:30.74\00:08:34.38
this conflict all
began in heaven, right.
00:08:34.41\00:08:38.29
I mean, just to think
about there was conflict
00:08:38.32\00:08:40.17
among the angels
of God in heaven.
00:08:40.20\00:08:41.65
I can't imagine
quite how that conflict
00:08:41.68\00:08:43.91
but it was conflict
it's described as war.
00:08:43.94\00:08:47.39
And Satan and his angels
00:08:47.42\00:08:49.48
as we've already
noted were forced out.
00:08:49.51\00:08:53.09
My friend, we are in
the middle of the conflict
00:08:53.12\00:08:55.22
that began in
heaven that's playing
00:08:55.25\00:08:56.81
out here upon this planet.
00:08:56.84\00:09:00.28
And I, I just know
this knowing something
00:09:00.31\00:09:02.51
about the evil one as you do.
00:09:02.54\00:09:04.28
He did not give it up
there in heaven easily.
00:09:04.31\00:09:06.40
He was forced out.
00:09:06.43\00:09:10.04
And he is not going to give
00:09:10.07\00:09:11.64
the conflict up
easily here upon the earth.
00:09:11.67\00:09:14.93
He is going to be
forced to give it up
00:09:14.96\00:09:18.63
but give it up he
will because Jesus said
00:09:18.66\00:09:22.74
all power has been given
to Me in heaven in earth.
00:09:22.77\00:09:26.66
All power and He is victorious.
00:09:26.69\00:09:30.18
And the Cross of
Cavalry guarantees the victory
00:09:30.21\00:09:33.88
that will be
His at the end time.
00:09:33.91\00:09:36.47
His enemies are
gonna be made footstools
00:09:36.50\00:09:38.96
what the Bible tells us.
00:09:38.99\00:09:40.23
So anyway I want that
assurance as we talk about this.
00:09:43.41\00:09:46.94
I was living in
Everett in Washington.
00:09:46.97\00:09:48.55
Anybody know where Everett is?
00:09:48.58\00:09:50.53
Everett is just north of Seattle
00:09:50.56\00:09:52.41
probably 30-40
miles north of Seattle.
00:09:52.44\00:09:56.20
And this is when I was a kid
00:09:56.23\00:09:59.11
and we lived in our neighborhood
at the end of the block
00:09:59.14\00:10:03.74
which meant that on
two sides of our property
00:10:03.77\00:10:06.54
we have what we
called the woods.
00:10:06.57\00:10:09.30
The wood was a
great place of adventure
00:10:09.33\00:10:11.30
for particularly
the neighborhood boys.
00:10:11.33\00:10:13.92
Because they were
trails in the woods.
00:10:13.95\00:10:16.84
There was
exploration in the woods.
00:10:16.87\00:10:19.75
I mean, there is sometimes
00:10:19.78\00:10:20.81
we would go very
deep into the woods
00:10:20.84\00:10:22.92
probably not
more than half a mile
00:10:22.95\00:10:24.72
but when you got
really deep in the woods
00:10:24.75\00:10:26.98
that was kind of scary.
00:10:27.01\00:10:28.17
Who knew what was out there
00:10:28.20\00:10:29.29
when you're
little kid, you know.
00:10:29.32\00:10:31.30
And then we would, we
sometimes would build forts.
00:10:31.33\00:10:35.07
Anyway I remember this one time
00:10:35.10\00:10:37.28
we had built this fort
00:10:37.31\00:10:38.76
we had taken the tools
out we dug this big pit.
00:10:38.79\00:10:41.61
Well, for us as kids
it seems like a big pit.
00:10:41.64\00:10:44.08
And we threw all the dirt up
around the parameter of that pit
00:10:44.11\00:10:48.00
and then we put down logs.
00:10:48.03\00:10:50.12
Well, they weren't really logs
00:10:50.15\00:10:51.46
but, you know, twig branches
and whatever we could find,
00:10:51.49\00:10:54.74
you know, make to make fort.
00:10:54.77\00:10:56.45
And it was time for supper
00:10:56.48\00:10:58.60
and I don't know how
my dad smelled this out
00:10:58.63\00:11:01.32
but he said "Jim,
where are all the tools?"
00:11:01.35\00:11:04.86
And I had to admit we
had left them in the woods.
00:11:04.89\00:11:07.44
It was raining
now. It was raining now.
00:11:07.47\00:11:10.90
And my dad said "you're going
to have to go get those tools
00:11:10.93\00:11:14.21
because they're
going to rust in the rain."
00:11:14.24\00:11:17.12
I didn't want to go out
into the woods in the dark.
00:11:17.15\00:11:21.90
I really didn't want to do that.
00:11:21.93\00:11:25.27
But my dad I usually
didn't argue with my dad
00:11:25.30\00:11:29.32
even into my adult years
00:11:29.35\00:11:30.82
I can hardly remember a
discussion that I ever won.
00:11:30.85\00:11:38.54
My dad always won
whatever the discussion was.
00:11:38.57\00:11:41.72
But anyway so there I go
00:11:41.75\00:11:44.26
I'm on woods fortunately
I'm going out in the woods
00:11:44.29\00:11:46.56
down through the
backyard into the woods,
00:11:46.59\00:11:48.42
into the underbrush
these big trees and all
00:11:48.45\00:11:52.10
and I don't like the dark
00:11:52.13\00:11:53.46
and unfortunately it wasn't
that far from the backyard
00:11:53.49\00:11:56.12
but nevertheless
it was into the woods.
00:11:56.15\00:11:58.30
And I found the fort
00:11:58.33\00:11:59.98
and I gather the
shovel, the rake and the hoe
00:12:00.01\00:12:02.89
I think that's those were
the tools we had out there.
00:12:02.92\00:12:05.90
And I made my way back.
00:12:05.93\00:12:07.56
Something happened to me
00:12:07.59\00:12:08.62
the very moment
I turn to go back.
00:12:08.65\00:12:11.22
I just sensed that
that was something there
00:12:11.25\00:12:13.32
in the darkness, sinister.
00:12:13.35\00:12:15.44
You know, which just gave me
a little bit of adrenaline rush
00:12:15.47\00:12:21.89
and which made
me pick up my pace.
00:12:21.92\00:12:24.45
Which meant by the
time I got to the backyard
00:12:24.48\00:12:27.32
I was running as
fast as I could knowing
00:12:27.35\00:12:30.35
that there was
something just behind me.
00:12:30.38\00:12:34.42
I ran the
length of the backyard.
00:12:34.45\00:12:36.13
I lunged for the backdoor.
00:12:36.16\00:12:38.64
I stalled the tools
now because my dad said
00:12:38.67\00:12:41.20
"you better bring
those tools back."
00:12:41.23\00:12:43.17
I lunged for that backdoor.
00:12:43.20\00:12:45.04
I flung it open and
I slandered behind me
00:12:45.07\00:12:48.21
just knowing I just have got it.
00:12:48.24\00:12:50.35
I know it was just
my childish imagination
00:12:50.38\00:12:52.96
but there is
something about the dark.
00:12:52.99\00:12:56.70
And you know when you
and I in troublous time
00:12:56.73\00:12:59.33
particularly
looked to the future
00:12:59.36\00:13:00.85
and there is uncertainty
it's just like that experience.
00:13:00.88\00:13:03.88
I mean, there is
fear what's gonna happen.
00:13:03.91\00:13:06.61
If you lost your job
00:13:06.64\00:13:08.88
and you don't know
how you're gonna make
00:13:08.91\00:13:11.03
pay the bills next
month or the month after that,
00:13:11.06\00:13:14.07
you don't know
what's around the corner
00:13:14.10\00:13:16.48
or you've just lost you know
00:13:16.51\00:13:18.34
you've lost your
retirement in the stock market.
00:13:18.37\00:13:22.45
I mean, there is some
real fear is out there
00:13:22.48\00:13:24.93
and what's gonna happen.
00:13:24.96\00:13:27.85
Well, let me take
you to texts 2 Peter 1,
00:13:27.88\00:13:30.16
the New Testament page
183, 183, 2 Peter 1:19.
00:13:30.19\00:13:36.39
2 Peter Chapter 1 now
00:13:39.23\00:13:45.14
and just make your
way right down to verse 19
00:13:45.17\00:13:47.79
where we have this important
statement in the Bible.
00:13:47.82\00:13:50.39
It says "So we
have the prophetic word"
00:13:50.42\00:13:52.66
the prophetic
word "made more sure."
00:13:52.69\00:13:56.81
So we have the prophetic word
00:13:56.84\00:13:58.43
and the Bible says
it's been made more sure.
00:13:58.46\00:14:01.94
That's talking about
reliability, isn't it?
00:14:01.97\00:14:04.58
"To which you do
well to pay attention,"
00:14:04.61\00:14:08.15
Was it to that
we're to pay attention to?
00:14:08.18\00:14:10.86
The prophetic word.
00:14:10.89\00:14:12.29
Don't let anybody tell you
00:14:12.32\00:14:13.75
prophecy is not
important or is not relevant.
00:14:13.78\00:14:19.58
Anyway "To which you
do well to pay attention
00:14:19.61\00:14:21.62
as to a lamp
shining in a dark place,
00:14:21.65\00:14:24.26
until the day dawns
00:14:24.29\00:14:26.52
and the morning star
arises in your hearts."
00:14:26.55\00:14:30.29
So prophecy is like
a light a like a lamp
00:14:30.32\00:14:34.17
that lightens up, the future.
00:14:34.20\00:14:38.43
We don't see all of the details
00:14:38.46\00:14:40.48
but it shows us the way.
00:14:40.51\00:14:43.82
It shows us among other things.
00:14:43.85\00:14:45.45
It just shows
that God has a plan.
00:14:45.48\00:14:48.04
God really is at work
00:14:48.07\00:14:50.53
and He is going
to get us through
00:14:50.56\00:14:53.61
whatever working
is and uncertainty
00:14:53.64\00:14:56.60
there is as we
think about the future.
00:14:56.63\00:14:58.55
He is going to get us through.
00:14:58.58\00:15:00.41
And so prophecy really is
important for us to be assured
00:15:00.44\00:15:05.77
that He is, He
is going accomplish
00:15:05.80\00:15:07.63
what He said He is
going to accomplish.
00:15:07.66\00:15:08.93
His will is going
to be carried out.
00:15:08.96\00:15:10.50
I'll take you to
Amos 3:7 on the screen
00:15:10.53\00:15:13.63
where it says "Surely
the Lord God will do nothing,
00:15:13.66\00:15:15.91
but He revealeth his secrets
unto His servants the prophets."
00:15:15.94\00:15:21.07
And my friend, there
we have the assurance
00:15:21.10\00:15:23.04
that's why we're being
given the prophetic word.
00:15:23.07\00:15:26.16
That's why we've been given
00:15:26.19\00:15:27.63
the testimony of the
prophets in this book.
00:15:27.66\00:15:31.02
We call it the Bible
00:15:31.05\00:15:33.13
it's a powerful
book, it is a dynamic book.
00:15:33.16\00:15:37.86
There is no other book like it.
00:15:37.89\00:15:43.25
You can spend a
lifetime studying in this book
00:15:43.28\00:15:45.87
and let me tell you,
you will never reach a point
00:15:45.90\00:15:48.74
where, where you know it all.
00:15:48.77\00:15:51.69
I was talking to a lady
00:15:51.72\00:15:53.38
and she'd come the opening night
00:15:53.41\00:15:55.66
and she said "oh, I
thought you gonna talk about
00:15:55.69\00:15:58.13
political
intrigue and conspiracies
00:15:58.16\00:16:00.66
and what's a quite word I
thought it was going to be."
00:16:00.69\00:16:03.22
She said "it was interesting."
00:16:03.25\00:16:04.49
But she says "I know
what the Bible teaches."
00:16:04.52\00:16:08.36
And I thought to
myself that's interesting
00:16:08.39\00:16:09.96
she knows what
the Bible teaches.
00:16:09.99\00:16:12.09
Now, you know, I'm not judging
00:16:12.12\00:16:13.69
somebody's experience.
00:16:13.72\00:16:15.26
I know certain
things about the Bible
00:16:15.29\00:16:17.29
but I can't say "I know
the Bible in the sense."
00:16:17.32\00:16:20.28
I you know, I know every
chapter and verse and I know.
00:16:20.31\00:16:25.07
You know you can spend a
lifetime studying the Bible
00:16:25.10\00:16:28.95
and still not
have gotten it all.
00:16:28.98\00:16:32.52
That's the
dynamism in the scriptures.
00:16:32.55\00:16:36.60
I love this book.
It's a wonderful book.
00:16:36.63\00:16:39.23
And then I will take
you into Isaiah 46:9, 10
00:16:39.26\00:16:42.94
where it says "For I am God,
and there is no other I am God,
00:16:42.97\00:16:46.28
and there is none like Me,
00:16:46.31\00:16:48.07
declaring the end
from the beginning,
00:16:48.10\00:16:50.46
and from ancient times
things that are not yet done."
00:16:50.49\00:16:55.49
God can see into the future.
00:16:55.52\00:16:58.09
He knows exactly
00:16:58.12\00:16:59.38
what's going to
happen in the future
00:16:59.41\00:17:00.79
absolutely without question.
00:17:00.82\00:17:04.92
He not only inhabits the present
00:17:04.95\00:17:07.38
he inhabits the
future as if it was present.
00:17:07.41\00:17:12.26
He knows what is ahead of us.
00:17:12.29\00:17:15.79
And so we can take
courage start tonight
00:17:15.82\00:17:18.08
because God has
revealed the future
00:17:18.11\00:17:20.76
and the things which are
to take place and assures us
00:17:20.79\00:17:24.15
that He going to get us through.
00:17:24.18\00:17:26.17
He's promise I'm with
you always even to the end
00:17:26.20\00:17:30.59
and we must never forget that
00:17:30.62\00:17:32.55
when tough times are going on.
00:17:32.58\00:17:34.69
And tonight we will discover
00:17:34.72\00:17:35.97
through one of the
most astounding prophecies
00:17:36.00\00:17:39.47
given to the prophet Daniel.
00:17:39.50\00:17:41.52
How God has been
at work in the past
00:17:41.55\00:17:44.82
and how He will work
out His will in the future.
00:17:44.85\00:17:48.35
This is really a
fascinating study.
00:17:48.38\00:17:50.56
As we turn to the Book of Daniel
00:17:50.59\00:17:51.96
this is the apocalyptic
book of the Old Testament.
00:17:51.99\00:17:55.76
It is a parallel,
00:17:55.79\00:17:58.02
a companion book to
the Book of Revelation,
00:17:58.05\00:18:00.22
the apocalyptic book
of the New Testament.
00:18:00.25\00:18:03.02
And what do we mean when
we talk about apocalypse.
00:18:03.05\00:18:07.49
Theologically we talk
about apocalyptic literature.
00:18:07.52\00:18:10.75
Let me give you definition
about what we are talking about.
00:18:10.78\00:18:12.55
This will help us
understand Daniel in Revelation
00:18:12.58\00:18:15.63
and how it
really is put together.
00:18:15.66\00:18:17.96
This is the definition,
"The apocalyptic books of Daniel
00:18:17.99\00:18:20.54
and Revelation are
based on prophetic visions
00:18:20.57\00:18:23.85
and dreams in which the
cosmic theme of the conflict
00:18:23.88\00:18:27.33
between good and evil,
00:18:27.36\00:18:29.52
Christ and Satan are
set forth in largely,"
00:18:29.55\00:18:32.40
notice "largely
coded, prophetic terms
00:18:32.43\00:18:35.88
often depicting
fantastic symbolic creatures
00:18:35.91\00:18:40.29
to represent powers, forces,
00:18:40.32\00:18:42.77
and nations
relating to the end time.
00:18:42.80\00:18:46.32
Apocalypse literally
translates revelation."
00:18:46.35\00:18:50.22
That's really what
it means revelation.
00:18:50.25\00:18:52.14
That's why the apocalypse
00:18:52.17\00:18:54.44
of the New Testament is
called the Book of Revelation.
00:18:54.47\00:18:58.77
"And as such reveals the closing
scenes of earth's history,
00:18:58.80\00:19:02.44
the defeat and
destruction of evil,
00:19:02.47\00:19:04.83
the triumph of God's people
00:19:04.86\00:19:06.95
and the establishment of
God's eternal kingdom on earth."
00:19:06.98\00:19:11.02
It's all of that.
That's what it's all about.
00:19:11.05\00:19:14.44
But as we come to Daniel
00:19:14.47\00:19:15.50
we are coming to
Daniel Chapter 2.
00:19:15.53\00:19:17.02
As we come to Daniel Chapter 2
00:19:17.05\00:19:18.58
we find that, you know,
00:19:18.61\00:19:20.63
we find Daniel
and his companions.
00:19:20.66\00:19:22.91
Remember them
their Babylonian names
00:19:22.94\00:19:27.09
were Shadrach, Meshach Abednego.
00:19:27.12\00:19:30.64
You remember that Daniel,
Shadrach, Meshach Abednego.
00:19:30.67\00:19:33.73
They are there
because Nebuchadnezzar
00:19:33.76\00:19:35.61
has invaded the
kingdom of Judah.
00:19:35.64\00:19:39.07
The kingdom had been
gone through a civil war
00:19:39.10\00:19:42.19
basically after
the passing of Solomon
00:19:42.22\00:19:45.23
and we have ten
more northern tribes
00:19:45.26\00:19:48.00
and then the
two southern tribes,
00:19:48.03\00:19:50.05
the tribe of Benjamin
and the tribe of the Judah.
00:19:50.08\00:19:53.03
So anyway Nebuchadnezzar
had come in the ten tribe
00:19:53.06\00:19:56.15
of Samaria is what
we called that nation
00:19:56.18\00:19:59.88
and they're made up Israelites
00:19:59.91\00:20:02.22
were described by the Assyrians.
00:20:02.25\00:20:05.55
So Nebuchadnezzar comes
down three times he invades,
00:20:05.58\00:20:09.41
what we call the Holy Land.
00:20:09.44\00:20:11.74
And in the process he takes
00:20:11.77\00:20:13.21
some of the most
intelligent often,
00:20:13.24\00:20:16.90
the young people of the nation
00:20:16.93\00:20:18.99
he takes them back to Babylon
00:20:19.02\00:20:21.22
and he puts them
through a course of study
00:20:21.25\00:20:24.98
to prepare them
for his civil service.
00:20:25.01\00:20:28.30
It was through them
and he had this practice
00:20:28.33\00:20:31.23
not just with the Jews
that were taking the Babylon
00:20:31.26\00:20:34.74
he had this practice
with all of the nations
00:20:34.77\00:20:37.50
that he defeated.
00:20:37.53\00:20:39.35
He will take, he
will take the very best
00:20:39.38\00:20:42.73
educate them give
them all these privileges
00:20:42.76\00:20:45.24
and then he would administrate
his, his empire through them.
00:20:45.27\00:20:49.54
And so that's
why Daniel, Shadrach,
00:20:49.57\00:20:50.91
Meshach Abednego are in Babylon.
00:20:50.94\00:20:52.95
And they were in
Jerusalem originally
00:20:52.98\00:20:54.21
but now they're in Babylon.
00:20:54.24\00:20:56.14
And Nebuchadnezzar, King
Nebuchadnezzar is reigning
00:20:56.17\00:21:01.62
and he has a dream I
mean, this is a dream.
00:21:01.65\00:21:05.72
We all had
dreams that just really,
00:21:05.75\00:21:08.42
you know, had a
deep impact upon us.
00:21:08.45\00:21:11.33
Well, tell you Nebuchadnezzar
had one of those kind of dreams.
00:21:11.36\00:21:14.16
In fact, he awakened
in the middle of the night
00:21:14.19\00:21:17.59
and he would
shaken by this dream.
00:21:17.62\00:21:20.05
It was really overpowering
00:21:20.08\00:21:22.67
but he had no
idea what it was about.
00:21:22.70\00:21:26.14
You know, we have to
take note of the fact
00:21:26.17\00:21:28.51
that in ancient
times they often believed
00:21:28.54\00:21:31.54
that the gods would
communicate with them
00:21:31.57\00:21:34.38
by means of dreams
and that is apparent
00:21:34.41\00:21:37.01
as you look at Daniel 2.
00:21:37.04\00:21:38.69
Daniel felt that something vital
was being communicated to him.
00:21:38.72\00:21:43.72
And so in the
middle of the night
00:21:43.75\00:21:46.05
he calls for his
counselors his wise men.
00:21:46.08\00:21:50.04
Now can you imagine this?
00:21:50.07\00:21:51.73
He sends out the messengers,
00:21:51.76\00:21:54.24
they awaken all
of these counselors
00:21:54.27\00:21:56.83
and it's urgent it
can't wait until the morning.
00:21:56.86\00:21:59.60
They got to get up
and hurriedly dress.
00:21:59.63\00:22:01.81
They are taken to the palace
00:22:01.84\00:22:04.46
where they find
Nebuchadnezzar he is agitated.
00:22:04.49\00:22:09.06
Now among these
wise men of counselors
00:22:09.09\00:22:11.70
are those who profess to
be able to interpret dreams.
00:22:11.73\00:22:16.03
That's what
they're professed to do.
00:22:16.06\00:22:17.66
They were among them
astrologers interestingly.
00:22:17.69\00:22:22.23
And so they're brought
and in haste Nebuchadnezzar
00:22:22.26\00:22:26.14
we already know that
he said in that dream
00:22:26.17\00:22:28.63
and they said oh,
king, tell us the dream
00:22:28.66\00:22:30.63
and we'll give you
the interpretation.
00:22:30.66\00:22:32.36
But Nebuchadnezzar
says "you don't understand
00:22:32.39\00:22:34.82
I can't remember the dream.
00:22:34.85\00:22:36.40
You tell me the
dream and then I know that,
00:22:36.43\00:22:38.80
the interpretation is true."
00:22:38.83\00:22:40.42
You can read this
context which makes me wonder
00:22:40.45\00:22:43.34
did he really
believe some of the claims
00:22:43.37\00:22:45.33
they were making about
interpreting the dream.
00:22:45.36\00:22:48.59
But they said "okay
this is with the gods
00:22:48.62\00:22:51.19
not with human beings
we can't reveal the matter.
00:22:51.22\00:22:54.38
But tell us the dream
00:22:54.41\00:22:55.51
we'll give you
an interpretation."
00:22:55.54\00:22:57.16
Yes, they would have
done that but he could.
00:22:57.19\00:23:02.05
And as you studied
in Daniel 2 you discover
00:23:02.08\00:23:04.47
I'm just giving you
the background before
00:23:04.50\00:23:06.33
we get to the verses
we're gonna be looking at.
00:23:06.36\00:23:08.50
You'll find Nebuchadnezzar
increasingly becoming angry
00:23:08.53\00:23:15.25
and he accused
them of just warning.
00:23:15.28\00:23:17.39
You know they--
he was to gonna--
00:23:17.42\00:23:18.91
they were going to tell
him until the time should pass.
00:23:18.94\00:23:23.21
Some implication that he thought
00:23:23.24\00:23:25.28
may be there is a little
conspiracy going on here.
00:23:25.31\00:23:27.81
I mean, read the
whole of Daniel 2.
00:23:27.84\00:23:30.43
When you get home
tonight and you will pick
00:23:30.46\00:23:31.91
some of those new
answers in, in the text.
00:23:31.94\00:23:35.76
And finally, I
mean, what could they do?
00:23:35.79\00:23:38.28
They could do
nothing without the dream.
00:23:38.31\00:23:42.66
And Nebuchadnezzar
angrily said "away with them."
00:23:42.69\00:23:45.52
He called for
captain on his guard
00:23:45.55\00:23:47.34
he said "I want
you to get them all
00:23:47.37\00:23:49.98
and I want you
to kill them all."
00:23:50.01\00:23:52.60
He was an absolutely ruler.
00:23:52.63\00:23:54.24
Nebuchadnezzar was,
00:23:54.27\00:23:56.02
and so Arioch begin to
follow the orders he did.
00:23:56.05\00:24:00.06
And so they went through
00:24:00.09\00:24:01.12
all of Babylon
gathering up them all.
00:24:01.15\00:24:07.14
And they knocked
on Daniel, Shadrach,
00:24:07.17\00:24:09.44
Meshach Abednego and goes door.
00:24:09.47\00:24:11.02
They were not there.
00:24:11.05\00:24:12.08
Daniel had not been there
00:24:12.11\00:24:13.14
though they were
counted public junior members
00:24:13.17\00:24:16.14
of this class of
counselors' wise men.
00:24:16.17\00:24:20.90
And Arioch he know
he is there in haste
00:24:20.93\00:24:23.71
and Daniel wants it
you know what's going on.
00:24:23.74\00:24:25.85
So Arioch does take the time
00:24:25.88\00:24:27.22
to explain to
him what's going on.
00:24:27.25\00:24:29.44
And so Daniel asked
for a brief period of time.
00:24:29.47\00:24:34.25
A brief period of time he said
00:24:34.28\00:24:36.39
"there is a God in
heaven that knows these things."
00:24:36.42\00:24:39.30
And asked for short time
00:24:39.33\00:24:40.40
it was granted to
him interestingly enough.
00:24:40.43\00:24:43.39
It was granted to him
00:24:43.42\00:24:45.03
and so Daniel and his companions
00:24:45.06\00:24:47.79
get on their knees
and they begin to pray.
00:24:47.82\00:24:50.32
It's in the middle
of the night, remember.
00:24:50.35\00:24:52.40
They were asking and they were
making their petition to God
00:24:52.43\00:24:58.96
that He would reveal the
matter to them and God did,
00:24:58.99\00:25:02.97
that is the Daniel revealed
the whole matter to him.
00:25:03.00\00:25:08.26
And so he was taken
to King Nebuchadnezzar
00:25:08.29\00:25:12.11
who was interested to hear
00:25:12.14\00:25:13.44
what this Jewish
young man would have to say.
00:25:13.47\00:25:17.79
And that's the
context that we've,
00:25:17.82\00:25:20.40
that we put into place
00:25:20.43\00:25:21.55
as we get to really
our passage tonight.
00:25:21.58\00:25:25.20
Daniel 2:27, 28,
00:25:25.23\00:25:29.06
so Daniel finds himself
before King Nebuchadnezzar.
00:25:29.09\00:25:33.09
That's going to be the
Old Testament page 629, 629.
00:25:33.12\00:25:38.41
Daniel 2:27, 28 where it says
"Daniel answered before the king
00:25:38.44\00:25:45.93
and said, 'As
for the mystery about
00:25:45.96\00:25:47.71
which the king has inquired,
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.45
neither wise men,
conjurers, magicians
00:25:49.48\00:25:52.19
nor diviners are able to
declare it to the king.'"
00:25:52.22\00:25:55.59
He began by making a
point that all of them,
00:25:55.62\00:26:02.24
all of those counselors,
all of those wise men
00:26:02.27\00:26:05.16
including the
astrologers, don't miss this,
00:26:05.19\00:26:08.93
none of them could
give the king the answer.
00:26:08.96\00:26:10.95
Verse 28 "However,
there is a God in heaven
00:26:10.98\00:26:14.02
who reveals mysteries."
00:26:14.05\00:26:16.69
Do you know that?
00:26:16.72\00:26:17.75
Do you know there
is a God in heaven
00:26:17.78\00:26:20.36
that reveals
mysteries that which we would
00:26:20.39\00:26:22.66
not understand and
comprehend, He does.
00:26:22.69\00:26:27.42
And He has given us revelations
00:26:27.45\00:26:29.95
that appropriately
give us certain insights
00:26:29.98\00:26:33.63
into some of these mysteries.
00:26:33.66\00:26:35.77
"There is a God in
heaven who reveals mysteries
00:26:35.80\00:26:37.87
and He has made known
to King Nebuchadnezzar
00:26:37.90\00:26:40.32
what will take
place in the latter days."
00:26:40.35\00:26:42.40
The King James
says "the last days."
00:26:42.43\00:26:44.58
"This was your
dream and the visions
00:26:44.61\00:26:46.43
in your mind while in your bed."
00:26:46.46\00:26:49.50
And we continue on in verse 29.
00:26:49.53\00:26:52.44
He says "As for you, O
king, while on your bed
00:26:52.47\00:26:55.48
your thoughts turned to what
would take place in the future."
00:26:55.51\00:26:58.47
He was reminding Nebuchadnezzar
that as he retired that night
00:26:58.50\00:27:02.21
that he was
thinking about the future.
00:27:02.24\00:27:05.11
Nebuchadnezzar was a
great empire builder.
00:27:05.14\00:27:08.74
It really began with
his father Nabopolassar.
00:27:08.77\00:27:13.48
He began the
rebuilding of Babylon.
00:27:13.51\00:27:16.44
We will call this the
Neo Babylonian Empire.
00:27:16.47\00:27:18.93
It began with his father
and Nebuchadnezzar picked up
00:27:18.96\00:27:22.10
where his father left off
00:27:22.13\00:27:24.30
building this
tremendous city beautiful.
00:27:24.33\00:27:28.91
And he had all of this plans.
He was expanding his empire.
00:27:28.94\00:27:33.06
He was dominating what we have
called the Middle East remember,
00:27:33.09\00:27:36.02
Mesopotamia to put in the
terms of that period of time.
00:27:36.05\00:27:39.95
So it's reminding and you're
thinking about the future.
00:27:39.98\00:27:42.79
And lot of part of verse 29
00:27:42.82\00:27:44.19
"And He who reveals
mysteries has made known to you
00:27:44.22\00:27:46.70
what will take place.
00:27:46.73\00:27:48.20
But as for me, this mystery
has not been revealed to me
00:27:48.23\00:27:50.80
for any wisdom residing in me
00:27:50.83\00:27:53.07
more than in any
other living man."
00:27:53.10\00:27:54.77
He was not gonna
take credit for this
00:27:54.80\00:27:56.89
and that's shows something about
the humility of the prophet.
00:27:56.92\00:28:00.50
That's the good thing to have
when you have the prophetic gift
00:28:00.53\00:28:02.89
a little bit of
humility, don't you.
00:28:02.92\00:28:05.24
And as-- its good to have
00:28:05.27\00:28:06.46
a little bit of humility
as believers too, isn't it?
00:28:06.49\00:28:09.85
A little bit of humility
is a good thing to have.
00:28:09.88\00:28:13.67
And then we come down,
00:28:13.70\00:28:16.45
we come down to
verse 31, look at verse 31.
00:28:16.48\00:28:19.95
He really gets
to the matter here.
00:28:19.98\00:28:21.69
He says "You, O king,
were looking and behold."
00:28:21.72\00:28:25.08
That's in his dream.
00:28:25.11\00:28:26.14
"You were looking and behold
there was a single great statue,
00:28:26.17\00:28:30.37
that statue, which was large
and of extraordinary splendor,
00:28:30.40\00:28:34.27
was standing in front of you,
00:28:34.30\00:28:35.75
and its appearance was awesome."
00:28:35.78\00:28:39.28
Immediately
Nebuchadnezzar said "that's it."
00:28:39.31\00:28:42.78
That's it.
00:28:42.81\00:28:45.39
He couldn't remember.
00:28:45.42\00:28:47.27
By the way who do
you think was behind that
00:28:47.30\00:28:50.22
that Nebuchadnezzar
could not remember the dream?
00:28:50.25\00:28:53.52
God was behind it. Why?
00:28:53.55\00:28:56.63
Because he wanted to
verify that the interpretation
00:28:56.66\00:29:00.66
was from Him and no other.
00:29:00.69\00:29:03.07
For no other would
know the dream except God.
00:29:03.10\00:29:07.63
So it was clear
this came from God.
00:29:07.66\00:29:10.13
Okay and he said that's it
00:29:10.16\00:29:11.26
the statue yes, I
remember, I remember.
00:29:11.29\00:29:13.99
Verse 32 it says
"The head" Daniel says
00:29:14.02\00:29:16.46
"The head of that
statue was made of fine gold,
00:29:16.49\00:29:19.38
its breast and
its arms of silver,
00:29:19.41\00:29:21.63
its belly and its thighs
of bronze, its legs of iron,
00:29:21.66\00:29:26.00
its feet partly of
iron and partly of clay."
00:29:26.03\00:29:28.60
It's a great
metallic multi metallic image.
00:29:28.63\00:29:32.68
"You continue" verse 34
00:29:32.71\00:29:34.16
"looking until a stone
was cut out without hands,
00:29:34.19\00:29:37.40
and it struck the statue
00:29:37.43\00:29:38.69
on its feet of iron
and clay and crushed them."
00:29:38.72\00:29:41.70
Crush them "Then
the iron and the clay,
00:29:41.73\00:29:45.10
the bronze, the silver
00:29:45.13\00:29:46.37
and the gold were
crushed all at the same time
00:29:46.40\00:29:48.92
and became like chaff from
the summer threshing floors
00:29:48.95\00:29:51.80
and the wind carried them away
00:29:51.83\00:29:53.49
so that not a
trace of them was found.
00:29:53.52\00:29:56.90
But the stone
that struck the statue
00:29:56.93\00:29:59.20
became a great mountain
and filled the whole earth."
00:29:59.23\00:30:02.98
Now again he immediately
00:30:03.01\00:30:05.34
Nebuchadnezzar said
that's it, that's exactly it.
00:30:05.37\00:30:11.21
So do you think it
gave him confidence
00:30:11.24\00:30:13.38
in the
interpretation that now follows?
00:30:13.41\00:30:16.68
Absolutely.
00:30:16.71\00:30:18.52
Verse 36, "This was the dream."
00:30:18.55\00:30:22.77
Daniel says, this was the dream
00:30:22.80\00:30:25.03
"now we will tell its
interpretation before the king.
00:30:25.06\00:30:29.45
You, O king, are
the king of kings,
00:30:29.48\00:30:31.93
to whom the God of
heaven has given the kingdom,
00:30:31.96\00:30:34.58
the power, the
strength and the glory,
00:30:34.61\00:30:37.49
and wherever the
sons of men dwell,
00:30:37.52\00:30:39.10
or the beasts of the
field, or the birds of the sky,
00:30:39.13\00:30:41.59
He has given them into your hand
00:30:41.62\00:30:44.59
and has caused you
to rule over them all.
00:30:44.62\00:30:47.62
You are the head of gold."
00:30:47.65\00:30:52.07
And Nebuchadnezzar
probably said something like
00:30:52.10\00:30:54.82
"Amen, you have
got that one right."
00:30:54.85\00:30:59.09
I know they've said Amen
00:30:59.12\00:31:00.22
but, you know, of course,
00:31:00.25\00:31:03.23
the head, and
it's the head of gold.
00:31:03.26\00:31:05.70
It represents my
kingdom, my empire.
00:31:05.73\00:31:09.88
Yes, how appropriate.
00:31:09.91\00:31:11.86
And wow might
the Babylonian empire
00:31:11.89\00:31:16.10
be represented the head of gold.
00:31:16.13\00:31:18.26
You know, they've been
doing archeology over there.
00:31:18.29\00:31:21.36
You know, in fact,
in what modern country
00:31:21.39\00:31:25.54
would we find Babylon, today?
00:31:25.57\00:31:28.98
In Iraq.
00:31:29.01\00:31:31.00
Its interesting that among
the divisions of Saddam Hussein,
00:31:31.03\00:31:37.78
among the
republican guard divisions
00:31:37.81\00:31:40.99
he had the division called
the Nebuchadnezzar division.
00:31:41.02\00:31:44.56
Did you ever
catch that in the news?
00:31:44.59\00:31:47.51
Which told me,
well, I think it tells me
00:31:47.54\00:31:51.02
that he has some ambitions
and identified something
00:31:51.05\00:31:55.97
of somewhat with
this great empire builder.
00:31:56.00\00:31:59.53
And Saddam had some
ambitions, didn't he.
00:31:59.56\00:32:02.90
He did.
00:32:02.93\00:32:04.47
But anyway you know
here is the Ishtar Gate
00:32:04.50\00:32:07.89
as they, they imagine it this
was the one of the main gates
00:32:07.92\00:32:11.31
that came into the city.
00:32:11.34\00:32:12.98
You will remember
that in the city hung
00:32:13.01\00:32:15.51
one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world
00:32:15.54\00:32:18.40
the hanging
gardens of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:32:18.43\00:32:20.38
I will share a
little bit about that story.
00:32:20.41\00:32:22.14
There is a love story behind
this actually as you look at it.
00:32:22.17\00:32:24.85
But as they've been excavating
00:32:24.88\00:32:26.96
there at the site
of ancient Babylon
00:32:26.99\00:32:29.89
they've been making
some fascinating discoveries.
00:32:29.92\00:32:32.17
Among other
things they discovered
00:32:32.20\00:32:33.89
that the city was laid out
00:32:33.92\00:32:35.21
in the form of square,
approximately 15 miles to aside.
00:32:35.24\00:32:39.78
This was known little
village or just small city.
00:32:39.81\00:32:43.58
Fifteen miles aside to a site
00:32:43.61\00:32:45.16
which meant in encompass
an area of 225 square miles.
00:32:45.19\00:32:50.80
And it had these massive
walls that surrounded it.
00:32:50.83\00:32:55.03
In fact among
the cuneiform tablets
00:32:55.06\00:32:57.20
that they have found at
the site of ancient Babylon,
00:32:57.23\00:33:00.41
they have found
cuneiform tablets
00:33:00.44\00:33:02.05
that come directly
from Nebuchadnezzar.
00:33:02.08\00:33:04.79
Among the things that he
said about this beautiful city
00:33:04.82\00:33:08.51
and the empire
that it represented.
00:33:08.54\00:33:10.61
It say "May it Last Forever."
00:33:10.64\00:33:13.36
But anyway massive
walls around it in fact,
00:33:13.39\00:33:16.22
it was a double
walled defense system.
00:33:16.25\00:33:20.43
The inner wall
was 21 feet thick.
00:33:20.46\00:33:24.69
And places of they say 87 thick
00:33:24.72\00:33:27.63
and in some places
it's high as 300 feet high.
00:33:27.66\00:33:30.91
So you have an inner wall
00:33:30.94\00:33:32.06
that basically
it was 21 feet thick
00:33:32.09\00:33:35.20
then around it was
mote that was 40 feet wide.
00:33:35.23\00:33:41.21
And then you had an outer wall
00:33:41.24\00:33:44.27
that was 12 feet wide.
00:33:44.30\00:33:47.20
They build the city
to withstand any siege.
00:33:47.23\00:33:51.04
But at this point
Nebuchadnezzar was not so sure
00:33:51.07\00:33:54.98
that he was really happy to hear
00:33:55.01\00:33:57.20
that it was going
to come to an end.
00:33:57.23\00:34:00.49
As this
cuneiform tablets indicated
00:34:00.52\00:34:02.79
he wanted this
empire to last forever.
00:34:02.82\00:34:05.55
But my friend, short
of the kingdom of God
00:34:05.58\00:34:08.21
nothing lasts forever on
this planet, you know that.
00:34:08.24\00:34:13.59
We are here today.
00:34:13.62\00:34:14.73
We're to be gone tomorrow
relatively speaking aren't we.
00:34:14.76\00:34:19.07
And we know, we
know Nebuchadnezzar
00:34:19.10\00:34:22.59
actually struggled
with this whole issue
00:34:22.62\00:34:25.31
that his kingdom
was not going to last
00:34:25.34\00:34:27.41
that there was going
to be another kingdom.
00:34:27.44\00:34:28.85
We know that because as
you go to the next chapter
00:34:28.88\00:34:31.77
in Daniel you'll discover
00:34:31.80\00:34:33.18
that Nebuchadnezzar
builds himself a statue.
00:34:33.21\00:34:36.85
Where do you
think he got that idea?
00:34:36.88\00:34:41.07
Yes, he got it from that dream.
00:34:41.10\00:34:43.55
But this statue was made
00:34:43.58\00:34:45.68
of what kind of
metal from head to foot?
00:34:45.71\00:34:48.59
All gold. All gold.
00:34:48.62\00:34:50.02
What kind of statement
do you think Nebuchadnezzar
00:34:50.05\00:34:52.32
was making when he did that?
00:34:52.35\00:34:54.74
He didn't want to end.
00:34:54.77\00:34:57.32
It was an act of rebellion
00:34:57.35\00:34:58.51
against what God
have revealed to him.
00:34:58.54\00:35:00.34
Those hanging
gardens it's a love story
00:35:00.37\00:35:02.21
because he
married a medium princess
00:35:02.24\00:35:06.57
and her name was
Amadeus and she came from Mede
00:35:06.60\00:35:11.95
which is North of Babylon.
00:35:11.98\00:35:13.13
It's in a mountainous area.
00:35:13.16\00:35:14.94
It's got wildlife, its got trees
00:35:14.97\00:35:17.12
and foliage and
Babylon's in a semiarid area,
00:35:17.15\00:35:20.77
its like almost like a desert.
00:35:20.80\00:35:22.87
It was not
beautiful she was homesick
00:35:22.90\00:35:25.30
and so Nebuchadnezzar
put to work 103,000 slaves
00:35:25.33\00:35:29.95
those who build these
beautiful hanging gardens.
00:35:29.98\00:35:32.70
If you thought these
were just a few flower pots
00:35:32.73\00:35:35.25
something hung here and there
this was much more elaborate
00:35:35.28\00:35:39.65
as they brought in even
wildlife and all of the trees
00:35:39.68\00:35:43.29
and you know they
had elaborate system
00:35:43.32\00:35:45.83
it did this all out
of love for his queen.
00:35:45.86\00:35:48.63
The Babylon indicates
that it comes to an end.
00:35:48.66\00:35:51.42
And it did.
00:35:51.45\00:35:52.51
The days for the
Neo Babylon Empire
00:35:52.54\00:35:55.43
are from 605-539 BC.
00:35:55.46\00:35:58.18
You can see for
yourself it didn't last forever
00:35:58.21\00:36:00.39
but as we read in
verse 39 it's says.
00:36:00.42\00:36:03.62
"After you there will arise
00:36:03.65\00:36:04.83
another kingdom
inferior to you."
00:36:04.86\00:36:06.70
As we come down to
the chest of silver.
00:36:06.73\00:36:09.04
What kingdom comes on the
hills of the Babylonian empire?
00:36:09.07\00:36:14.47
The Persian Empire.
00:36:14.50\00:36:15.88
I think some of you have
00:36:15.91\00:36:16.94
actually studied
this, haven't you?
00:36:16.97\00:36:19.07
The Persian Empire
that's exactly what the history,
00:36:19.10\00:36:23.92
ancient history
tells us happened.
00:36:23.95\00:36:27.06
It was the
Medo-Persian Empire the Medes
00:36:27.09\00:36:30.14
and the Persians in
the military alliance
00:36:30.17\00:36:32.23
is what was involved here.
00:36:32.26\00:36:33.97
And it's
interesting that in Isaiah 45:1,
00:36:34.00\00:36:37.30
this prophecy was made about
the destruction of Babylon.
00:36:37.33\00:36:41.44
Its destruction how
it would be destroyed
00:36:41.47\00:36:44.00
and by whom it
would be destroyed?
00:36:44.03\00:36:45.75
This prophecy was given
150-years before it happened.
00:36:45.78\00:36:49.23
And it says "Thus says the
Lord to Cyrus His anointed,
00:36:49.26\00:36:52.63
whom I have taken
by the right hand,
00:36:52.66\00:36:54.38
to subdue nations before him
00:36:54.41\00:36:56.14
and to loose the loins of
kings to open doors before him
00:36:56.17\00:37:00.27
so that gates will not be shut."
00:37:00.30\00:37:03.73
Now we come down basically
00:37:03.76\00:37:05.59
to generations
from Nebuchadnezzar.
00:37:05.62\00:37:08.47
We come to the time
his grandson Belshazzar
00:37:08.50\00:37:13.22
who is reigning in Babylon
00:37:13.25\00:37:17.22
that you been
remember that at one point
00:37:17.25\00:37:19.75
when you know there was writing
on the palace wall and Daniel
00:37:19.78\00:37:23.41
and all men came and read it.
00:37:23.44\00:37:27.14
Belshazzar said "I will make
you the third ruler in Babylon."
00:37:27.17\00:37:31.24
There is a reason
why he said third ruler
00:37:31.27\00:37:33.44
because his father Nabonidus
00:37:33.47\00:37:38.58
was a co-ruler with Belshazzar.
00:37:38.61\00:37:42.24
Nabonidus some 10 years
before had taken the army
00:37:42.27\00:37:47.20
and had gone some
distance from the empire
00:37:47.23\00:37:49.30
where it's kind of
murky what he was doing
00:37:49.33\00:37:50.97
but he was gone for
ten years left Belshazzar.
00:37:51.00\00:37:54.23
When the Medes and Persians
in this military alliance
00:37:54.26\00:37:57.05
went up against Babylon
00:37:57.08\00:37:59.39
again we know
this from the Bible
00:37:59.42\00:38:00.88
but we know this from
secular history as well.
00:38:00.91\00:38:03.53
History verifies what,
what, what we find in the Bible
00:38:03.56\00:38:07.66
and this is, you know,
we don't have photographs
00:38:07.69\00:38:10.04
but this is Cyrus the Great,
00:38:10.07\00:38:12.83
the head of this
military alliance.
00:38:12.86\00:38:14.72
And we still have the
tomb of Cyrus the Great
00:38:14.75\00:38:17.81
in Iran there is the tomb,
00:38:17.84\00:38:20.13
it still stands
today of Cyrus the Great,
00:38:20.16\00:38:23.11
a testament to a great
man for that period of time.
00:38:23.14\00:38:28.30
And so we have the
Medes and the Persians
00:38:28.33\00:38:31.06
they are laying
siege against Babylon.
00:38:31.09\00:38:33.85
But they have these double
you know these massive walls,
00:38:33.88\00:38:37.27
these doubled walls
system with this huge mote.
00:38:37.30\00:38:41.17
And they felt so secure
behind those massive walls.
00:38:41.20\00:38:44.39
Well, the river Euphrates flows
00:38:44.42\00:38:46.48
right through the
middle of the city.
00:38:46.51\00:38:50.19
But as it flows
through this city
00:38:50.22\00:38:51.33
they were these
massive walls there were gates.
00:38:51.36\00:38:53.80
Of course, there were gates.
00:38:53.83\00:38:55.82
And so the
Medes and the Persians
00:38:55.85\00:38:57.37
are known to the defenders
00:38:57.40\00:38:59.01
began to divert
the river Euphrates
00:38:59.04\00:39:01.28
to a nearby base
it was out of site.
00:39:01.31\00:39:03.04
They built a channel
and then when they completed
00:39:03.07\00:39:06.03
they diverted the
waters to this nearby basin.
00:39:06.06\00:39:08.16
The water went
down that faithful night
00:39:08.19\00:39:10.80
and then the combined armies
of the Medes and the Persians
00:39:10.83\00:39:13.27
made their way up into
the interior of the city.
00:39:13.30\00:39:18.56
In fact if you look
at this historically
00:39:18.59\00:39:20.84
the Medes and Persians have
a very long history together.
00:39:20.87\00:39:25.50
In fact, remember
some of these epic balances
00:39:25.53\00:39:27.43
between the
Persians and the Greeks?
00:39:27.46\00:39:30.78
Remember some of
that from history?
00:39:30.81\00:39:33.50
When you look at the composition
of the Persian forces
00:39:33.53\00:39:37.45
you will find invariably
the Medes were always present.
00:39:37.48\00:39:42.39
So this was not unusual.
00:39:42.42\00:39:44.45
And so they
diverted the river Euphrates
00:39:44.48\00:39:46.04
and as they came up into
the city down that dry river bed
00:39:46.07\00:39:50.32
guess what they found
just as declared in Isaiah 45,
00:39:50.35\00:39:53.18
the gates were left open
and that night the city fell.
00:39:53.21\00:39:57.51
The city fell just
as the Bible predicted.
00:39:57.54\00:40:00.68
And out of it out of
this military alliance
00:40:00.71\00:40:02.68
we have the emergence what
we call the Persian Empire.
00:40:02.71\00:40:06.10
The dates of it
are 539 to 331 BC,
00:40:06.13\00:40:10.41
539-331 and then the lot of
part of verse 39 goes on to say.
00:40:10.44\00:40:17.38
"Then another
third kingdom of bronze,
00:40:17.41\00:40:20.69
which will rule
over all the earth."
00:40:20.72\00:40:23.30
What kingdom as we look
at our ancient world history
00:40:23.33\00:40:26.81
comes on the heels
of the Persian Empire?
00:40:26.84\00:40:29.83
Greek. It's the
Grecian empire, the Greeks.
00:40:29.86\00:40:34.41
And I think most of us
know that much about history
00:40:34.44\00:40:38.33
and of course when we
talk about the Grecian empire
00:40:38.36\00:40:41.35
we think of this young
man Alexander the Great.
00:40:41.38\00:40:45.43
His father
Philip of Macedon, died.
00:40:45.46\00:40:51.00
Actually, Philip
had been preparing
00:40:51.03\00:40:53.05
for this for this incursion
into the Persian Empire.
00:40:53.08\00:40:59.47
And Alexander the Great
very quickly consolidated
00:40:59.50\00:41:03.76
the Greek states
under his control
00:41:03.79\00:41:06.43
within a few months he
was successful in doing this
00:41:06.46\00:41:08.63
though he was very young,
00:41:08.66\00:41:09.69
he was in his very
early 20s when he did this.
00:41:09.72\00:41:13.38
And then he took up, he
took up this, this forces
00:41:13.41\00:41:18.04
and you know all of this wise
00:41:18.07\00:41:20.01
and every thing that his
father has been preparing
00:41:20.04\00:41:22.82
for this battle
with the Persians.
00:41:22.85\00:41:24.80
Again you know one of those
00:41:24.83\00:41:26.36
epic conflicts
with the Persian Empire.
00:41:26.39\00:41:29.28
And he went up against
the Persian King Darius III
00:41:29.31\00:41:32.28
again we know this
from the historical record.
00:41:32.31\00:41:35.77
He went to Issus that's
where he met the Persian forces.
00:41:35.80\00:41:39.58
And it is estimated the Persians
had a force of 400,000 soldiers.
00:41:39.61\00:41:44.71
It was
composite of many nations.
00:41:44.74\00:41:49.61
Had I'll tell you Alexander
the Great was a military genius.
00:41:49.64\00:41:56.48
You know, he had his way
00:41:56.51\00:41:57.78
of driving a wedge
in the opposing forces
00:41:57.81\00:42:01.10
and then he
would take his cavalry
00:42:01.13\00:42:02.88
and he would be
at the head of it
00:42:02.91\00:42:04.25
and he would go for the head
00:42:04.28\00:42:06.12
which was Darius
III in this case.
00:42:06.15\00:42:08.57
He would drive for the head.
00:42:08.60\00:42:11.21
And I don't know
how old this mosaic is
00:42:11.24\00:42:13.24
but it's a mosaic
showing Darius III
00:42:13.27\00:42:16.08
as he sees Alexander the Great
00:42:16.11\00:42:17.83
with his cavalry
coming straight for him.
00:42:17.86\00:42:20.04
You can see the fear
and he takes his chariot
00:42:20.07\00:42:23.24
out of the battle
and he runs for his life.
00:42:23.27\00:42:27.11
And the Persians were
defeated and he dominated,
00:42:27.14\00:42:33.00
he controlled the
world that he knew it.
00:42:33.03\00:42:35.44
But he had these great ambitions
00:42:35.47\00:42:37.10
to cross over the
Himalayan mountains
00:42:37.13\00:42:41.80
and he descendant as we
know from the historical records
00:42:41.83\00:42:44.38
down into the
northern plains of India.
00:42:44.41\00:42:48.24
And he was having some trouble
00:42:48.27\00:42:49.31
because some of
this soldiers were,
00:42:49.34\00:42:50.88
I mean they've
been on the campaign
00:42:50.91\00:42:52.56
as Greeks soldiers
for a very long time.
00:42:52.59\00:42:54.73
Some of them were weary of it,
00:42:54.76\00:42:56.30
some of them were going awol,
00:42:56.33\00:42:58.28
some of them when they went awol
00:42:58.31\00:42:59.80
didn't go back to Greece
00:42:59.83\00:43:01.18
they stayed in
Himalaya Mountains
00:43:01.21\00:43:02.71
and they intermarried
with the local population.
00:43:02.74\00:43:05.92
They intermarried among
those who lived in Hunza.
00:43:05.95\00:43:09.03
I saw this on
the History channel
00:43:09.06\00:43:11.67
just a couple of years ago.
00:43:11.70\00:43:13.56
As they were
studying these people
00:43:13.59\00:43:15.68
in the Himalayan Mountains
00:43:15.71\00:43:17.08
who were light
skinned and blue eyed
00:43:17.11\00:43:20.22
unlike any of the
other surrounding population
00:43:20.25\00:43:24.32
and bearing testimony
that they intermarried
00:43:24.35\00:43:26.75
with some of these Greeks.
00:43:26.78\00:43:28.63
So anyway he had a
large force at this point
00:43:28.66\00:43:31.95
descendant into those
the northern plains of India
00:43:31.98\00:43:35.44
as I have already noted
00:43:35.47\00:43:36.68
and had this epic
battle with the Indians.
00:43:36.71\00:43:40.50
And for the very first
time as they were in battle
00:43:40.53\00:43:43.53
they met 200 war elephants.
00:43:43.56\00:43:47.05
They had never
seen such a thing.
00:43:47.08\00:43:51.30
They barely were able to prevail
but its soldiers had to had it,
00:43:51.33\00:43:57.77
they rebelled they were
not willing to go further.
00:43:57.80\00:44:00.00
Who knows how much
further he would have gone
00:44:00.03\00:44:02.61
if they've been
willing to follow him.
00:44:02.64\00:44:04.28
I mean, he was still young man
00:44:04.31\00:44:05.86
and he was in his
early 30s at this point
00:44:05.89\00:44:09.03
when all of this happened.
00:44:09.06\00:44:10.47
And so he took them back.
00:44:10.50\00:44:13.81
And he took them back
through the Makran desert
00:44:13.84\00:44:17.76
which is the worst wrath
00:44:17.79\00:44:19.16
that he possibly
could have taken them.
00:44:19.19\00:44:21.99
He was taking them
back through this desert,
00:44:22.02\00:44:24.41
he went into this
desert I got the figures here.
00:44:24.44\00:44:26.87
He went into the
desert with 82,000 soldiers.
00:44:26.90\00:44:30.87
By the time they got
the through the desert
00:44:30.90\00:44:32.91
they were only
25,000 of them left.
00:44:32.94\00:44:37.58
And some wondered
00:44:37.61\00:44:38.64
if he didn't take them
out to there to punish them
00:44:38.67\00:44:41.68
because they had failed
to follow him all the way.
00:44:41.71\00:44:45.28
And we have Grecian
empire we have Greek culture
00:44:45.31\00:44:49.35
that dominates
this civilized world,
00:44:49.38\00:44:52.39
the western world as we know it
00:44:52.42\00:44:54.62
and that's why Greek
became international language,
00:44:54.65\00:44:57.52
why Greek became the
language of the New Testament.
00:44:57.55\00:45:03.13
And it's all because of
what Alexander the great did.
00:45:03.16\00:45:06.05
But there is more
as we turn to verse 40
00:45:06.08\00:45:08.28
those in the dates
00:45:08.31\00:45:09.34
for the Grecian
empire 331 to 168 BC.
00:45:09.37\00:45:13.38
And as we come
to verse 40 it says
00:45:13.41\00:45:14.69
"Then there will be a fourth
kingdom as strong as iron,
00:45:14.72\00:45:19.85
inasmuch as iron
crushes and shatters all things,
00:45:19.88\00:45:22.22
so, like iron
that breaks in pieces,
00:45:22.25\00:45:24.29
it will crush and
break all these in pieces."
00:45:24.32\00:45:27.29
Now what empire
are we talking about?
00:45:27.32\00:45:30.29
And of course those of
you who remember your history
00:45:30.32\00:45:32.66
we're talking
about the Roman Empire,
00:45:32.69\00:45:35.08
we are talking about
the Caesar aren't we.
00:45:35.11\00:45:38.70
This empire would
out last them all.
00:45:38.73\00:45:41.80
It lasted for centuries.
00:45:41.83\00:45:43.47
And of course, one
of the main figures
00:45:43.50\00:45:45.20
that we think of
when we think of Rome
00:45:45.23\00:45:47.15
we think of Julius Caesar
as we have in depicted here.
00:45:47.18\00:45:50.65
Julius Caesar, who helped
to consolidate the empire.
00:45:50.68\00:45:55.87
This actually
happened in number of times
00:45:55.90\00:45:57.90
through the
history of the empire
00:45:57.93\00:46:00.10
of this consolidation and
then often administratively
00:46:00.13\00:46:04.38
it would be broken up
in different parts to be,
00:46:04.41\00:46:07.17
you know, because
it was so very vast.
00:46:07.20\00:46:09.85
And so Julius Caesar
interesting to study him.
00:46:09.88\00:46:14.30
And this empire,
this empire in its heyday
00:46:14.33\00:46:18.16
stretched all way
from the Isles of Britain
00:46:18.19\00:46:21.94
through what we
call Western Europe
00:46:21.97\00:46:25.51
through the Middle
East, through Asia Minor
00:46:25.54\00:46:27.40
the Middle East
and Northern Africa.
00:46:27.43\00:46:29.79
It was vast, the Roman
Empire as we look at it.
00:46:29.82\00:46:33.97
But you know and
reached a time historically
00:46:34.00\00:46:37.52
when the Roman
Empire, the Roman Empire
00:46:37.55\00:46:39.44
often had problems and
difficulties particularly
00:46:39.47\00:46:42.08
as it begin to
restore those final centuries.
00:46:42.11\00:46:45.48
In fact the dates
for the Roman Empire
00:46:45.51\00:46:47.24
are from 168 BC to the
middle of the 4th century AD.
00:46:47.27\00:46:52.66
And so we had the Roman Empire
00:46:52.69\00:46:55.10
we got the Babylonian
00:46:55.13\00:46:56.84
then the Persian
and then the Grecian
00:46:56.87\00:46:59.54
then the Roman Empire.
00:46:59.57\00:47:01.23
Okay, that's the progression,
00:47:01.26\00:47:03.60
the progression
that we are finding
00:47:03.63\00:47:05.02
and then we come to verse 41.
00:47:05.05\00:47:07.26
In verse 41 it says "In
that you saw the feet and toes,
00:47:07.29\00:47:10.96
partly of potter's
clay and partly of iron,
00:47:10.99\00:47:14.19
it will be a divided kingdom."
00:47:14.22\00:47:16.16
It's talking about the ten toes.
00:47:16.19\00:47:19.01
"But it will have in
it the toughness of iron,
00:47:19.04\00:47:20.98
inasmuch as you saw the
iron mixed with common clay."
00:47:21.01\00:47:24.05
I ask you, do we have
00:47:24.08\00:47:25.70
the introduction
of another empire
00:47:25.73\00:47:27.65
as we have had in the
previous progressions?
00:47:27.68\00:47:31.74
Not at all.
00:47:31.77\00:47:33.42
But it says because it's
a continuation of the iron
00:47:33.45\00:47:36.64
into the ten toes the
feet, right, continuation iron
00:47:36.67\00:47:40.53
but it will go through
an alteration it'll change
00:47:40.56\00:47:45.95
with like
pottery and it would not
00:47:45.98\00:47:48.34
it will become
a divided kingdom.
00:47:48.37\00:47:51.08
And we know
something again about this
00:47:51.11\00:47:52.90
is as we look at
the history of it,
00:47:52.93\00:47:54.31
that's exactly what happened.
00:47:54.34\00:47:55.68
I mean we have the
we have the barbarians
00:47:55.71\00:47:58.32
that often were threatening
00:47:58.35\00:47:59.99
the cohesiveness
of the Roman Empire
00:48:00.02\00:48:02.02
and eventually were successful
in breaking up the Roman Empire
00:48:02.05\00:48:07.43
and among them
where some of my relatives
00:48:07.46\00:48:09.37
and so I have German
blood in me, you know.
00:48:09.40\00:48:11.96
And we have here you have a map
of the, of the various tribes
00:48:11.99\00:48:17.35
that broke up the
empire this Suevi, Visigoths,
00:48:17.38\00:48:20.27
the Franks the Anglo-Saxons
the Burgundies and on and on.
00:48:20.30\00:48:26.22
You can go.
00:48:26.25\00:48:27.42
And this were put it
altogether little bit better.
00:48:27.45\00:48:29.82
The Alamanni became the Germans,
00:48:29.85\00:48:32.07
the Burgandians the
Swiss, the Franks the French,
00:48:32.10\00:48:35.39
the Lombards the Italians,
the Saxons the English,
00:48:35.42\00:48:38.64
and Suevi the Portuguese
and Visigoths the Spanish.
00:48:38.67\00:48:42.91
And so it became a
divided kingdom just like,
00:48:42.94\00:48:46.41
just like the
Bible indicated it would.
00:48:46.44\00:48:49.29
But there is more as
we come down to verse 43.
00:48:49.32\00:48:54.16
It says "And in that you saw
the iron mixed with common clay,
00:48:54.19\00:48:58.05
they will combine with
one another in the seed of men
00:48:58.08\00:49:01.32
but they will not
adhere to one another,
00:49:01.35\00:49:03.28
even as iron does not
combine with pottery."
00:49:03.31\00:49:06.62
It says they
would seek to combine
00:49:06.65\00:49:08.86
or to unite
through the seed of men.
00:49:08.89\00:49:13.25
And what is that talking about?
00:49:13.28\00:49:15.30
Again it's talking
about that European time
00:49:15.33\00:49:17.52
after the break
up of the empire,
00:49:17.55\00:49:19.17
after it was divided,
the attempt to reestablish
00:49:19.20\00:49:23.09
the cohesiveness
and unity of the empire.
00:49:23.12\00:49:28.21
And there was one
attempt made after another.
00:49:28.24\00:49:30.43
Basically it was
the intermarrying
00:49:30.46\00:49:33.26
between the
royal houses of Europe.
00:49:33.29\00:49:35.41
Its one of the ways they
sought to bring this unity
00:49:35.44\00:49:38.17
and to bring peace in Europe.
00:49:38.20\00:49:39.65
These families just fought
each other, killed each other.
00:49:39.68\00:49:42.91
You know at one
point the Czar of Russia,
00:49:42.94\00:49:46.56
Kaiser Wilhelm and
the king of England
00:49:46.59\00:49:49.55
were all first cousins.
00:49:49.58\00:49:51.70
They had a common
grandmother Queen Victoria.
00:49:51.73\00:49:54.06
In fact, Queen Elizabeth II,
00:49:54.09\00:49:55.59
the current
reigning Queen in England
00:49:55.62\00:50:00.34
married into it's the trivial
question for the night into
00:50:00.37\00:50:05.24
what royal house when
she married Prince Philip?
00:50:05.27\00:50:10.43
Anybody know?
00:50:10.46\00:50:13.69
The royal house of Greece
00:50:13.72\00:50:15.62
of course, which
does not exist anymore
00:50:15.65\00:50:18.65
but if it did that's where
00:50:18.68\00:50:20.85
that's where,
Philip came from anyway.
00:50:20.88\00:50:22.67
So there is still this practice.
00:50:22.70\00:50:24.75
But it did not bring
unity and cohesiveness
00:50:24.78\00:50:27.49
and there is been one
attempt after another.
00:50:27.52\00:50:29.40
There was Sharla Maens
00:50:29.43\00:50:30.95
they called it
the Holy Roman Empire.
00:50:30.98\00:50:33.62
It had a semblance of unity
00:50:33.65\00:50:35.51
but my friend, it was really
not unified you look at it.
00:50:35.54\00:50:38.47
Politically, it
was not really unified.
00:50:38.50\00:50:41.25
And then you
look at the Louis XIV
00:50:41.28\00:50:44.29
and you can look at Napoleon
00:50:44.32\00:50:46.84
and it seem like
Napoleon might cede
00:50:46.87\00:50:48.66
and then you come
down to Kaiser Wilhelm
00:50:48.69\00:50:51.13
and then the Turek,
00:50:51.16\00:50:52.48
Hitler it almost seem
like he might succeed.
00:50:52.51\00:50:56.21
And then today we have
what the European Union.
00:50:56.24\00:51:00.26
You tell me what the
Bible says about this.
00:51:00.29\00:51:02.93
Are they gonna succeed? No
00:51:02.96\00:51:05.33
Never, they will not.
You can debate upon this.
00:51:05.36\00:51:09.31
The Bible makes this
clear it will remain divided.
00:51:09.34\00:51:13.85
They will attempt it
but it will remain divided.
00:51:13.88\00:51:16.56
Now you, notice
there is not much left.
00:51:16.59\00:51:19.09
This is an
outline of human history
00:51:19.12\00:51:21.23
that takes us right
down to our own time.
00:51:21.26\00:51:24.85
What's the next thing? Do
you remember in the dream?
00:51:24.88\00:51:29.07
That huge stone
that smashes the statue
00:51:29.10\00:51:33.10
what does that represent?
00:51:33.13\00:51:35.44
Human history where
this political system
00:51:35.47\00:51:39.84
are going to come to an end.
00:51:39.87\00:51:42.60
That has bought us
right down to our day and age.
00:51:42.63\00:51:46.67
We know what we are at.
00:51:46.70\00:51:48.72
The next kingdom is that
which God will establish.
00:51:48.75\00:51:52.26
Verse 44, verse 44, here it
is "In the days of those kings."
00:51:52.29\00:51:58.88
And their kingdoms.
00:51:58.91\00:51:59.94
"The God of heaven
will set up a kingdom
00:51:59.97\00:52:01.79
which will never be destroyed,
00:52:01.82\00:52:04.13
and that kingdom will not
be left for another people
00:52:04.16\00:52:06.16
it will crush and put an
end to all these kingdoms,
00:52:06.19\00:52:08.71
but it will
itself endure forever."
00:52:08.74\00:52:12.02
My friend, I'm here to tell you
00:52:12.05\00:52:14.22
we are on the verge
of the establishment
00:52:14.25\00:52:17.59
of the eternal
kingdom of God on earth.
00:52:17.62\00:52:23.85
And who is it
that will rein over us?
00:52:23.88\00:52:28.25
King Jesus,
absolutely, King Jesus.
00:52:28.28\00:52:34.42
And He will solve all
of the world's problems.
00:52:34.45\00:52:38.75
It will be a
totally new world order.
00:52:38.78\00:52:43.15
It is fundamentally
moving away from the old world
00:52:43.18\00:52:45.83
order to establish the
eternal kingdom of God.
00:52:45.86\00:52:48.69
This is exciting, my friend.
00:52:48.72\00:52:50.42
Its exciting the one who died
for us is going to come back.
00:52:50.45\00:52:55.37
He is going to
bring the rein of sin
00:52:55.40\00:52:57.34
and death and
rebellion to an end.
00:52:57.37\00:53:00.48
And in the process
He is going to establish
00:53:00.51\00:53:02.72
His everlasting kingdom.
00:53:02.75\00:53:05.23
And if by faith in Jesus
00:53:05.26\00:53:09.64
we will be counted
to be the citizens.
00:53:09.67\00:53:13.18
You and I will be the
citizens of this kingdom.
00:53:13.21\00:53:15.44
Yes, yes its true that
we live in troublous times,
00:53:15.47\00:53:18.36
difficult times but the
God of heaven is working.
00:53:18.39\00:53:21.71
He is working through the fares
00:53:21.74\00:53:23.06
and meant to
accomplish His will.
00:53:23.09\00:53:26.02
My friend, the final
solution to this earth
00:53:26.05\00:53:28.43
and its problems comes through
00:53:28.46\00:53:30.05
the direct intervention
of God in human history.
00:53:30.08\00:53:33.14
There is no other solution.
00:53:33.17\00:53:34.71
The kingdoms of this
world will be dissolved
00:53:34.74\00:53:37.64
into the
kingdom of righteousness
00:53:37.67\00:53:39.83
and everlasting peace and again
the one who will rule over us
00:53:39.86\00:53:45.22
will be called
the prince of peace.
00:53:45.25\00:53:48.10
All of this
because of what Jesus did
00:53:48.13\00:53:51.33
for us the bearing our sins,
00:53:51.36\00:53:54.41
taking the curse upon
Him on the Cross of Cavalry.
00:53:54.44\00:53:58.42
My friend, it
guarantees it and end is coming
00:53:58.45\00:54:01.96
and with it a
wonderful new beginning.
00:54:01.99\00:54:04.49
It's exciting isn't
it, to think about it
00:54:04.52\00:54:06.59
that this could
happen in our day and age.
00:54:06.62\00:54:09.07
The future has been revealed,
Jesus has revealed it to us.
00:54:09.10\00:54:12.53
It will all take
place at His coming.
00:54:12.56\00:54:14.11
And Luke 21 is our
final text where Jesus says
00:54:14.14\00:54:17.17
"But when these
things begin to take place,
00:54:17.20\00:54:19.53
straighten up and
lift up your heads,
00:54:19.56\00:54:21.48
because your
redemption is drawing near."
00:54:21.51\00:54:24.39
As we look at this prophecies
00:54:24.42\00:54:26.77
as we see how
they're been fulfilled
00:54:26.80\00:54:29.26
they are to all
give us assurance
00:54:29.29\00:54:31.81
He is coming He is coming soon.
00:54:31.84\00:54:34.43
But remember Jesus said
00:54:34.46\00:54:35.53
"I'm with you
always even to the end."
00:54:35.56\00:54:39.33
He is gonna be with us
00:54:39.36\00:54:40.39
through the tough
times ahead of us.
00:54:40.42\00:54:43.49
But notice it says
don't get discouraged,
00:54:43.52\00:54:46.04
don't get worn
down and way down.
00:54:46.07\00:54:48.36
It's says when you
see these things happen
00:54:48.39\00:54:50.16
straighten up
and to stay courage
00:54:50.19\00:54:54.52
because our
redemption got an eye.
00:54:54.55\00:54:56.75