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Shall we bow our
heads for prayer.
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Our Father and our God, we come
before your awesome presence
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in the powerful name of Jesus
asking that you will be with us
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as we study this very important
subject about the great
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tribulation which Jesus spoke
about in Matthew 24. We believe
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that we are seeing in the world
the signs that this tribulation
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will come soon and we want to
be ready. So I ask that you will
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bless us in our study, open
our minds to understand and our
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hearts to receive. And I
ask that you will remove any
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obstacle from any heart that
will watch this presentation
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that we might accept the truth
as it is in Jesus. In his name
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we pray, Amen.
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I want to draw to your attention
four specific successive stages
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that Matthew chapter 24 mentions
in the end time. There are many
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others but these are the four
that I want to highlight. First
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of all, you have the abomination
of desolation that is set up in
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the holy place. In terms of
purpose of end time prophecy
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we've noticed that this
represents a national Sunday law
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that will lead the whole world
to decide to be in one of two
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groups. There will be no
neutrality. You will be either
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on the side that keeps God's
holy Sabbath or you will be on
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the side that keeps Sunday
as the day of rest. When the
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abomination of desolation is
set up that's a sign for God's
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people to flee from the large
cities preparatory to leaving
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the smaller ones. And so after
the abomination of desolation
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is seen, the sign is seen, then
God's people must flee because
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persecution will ensue. Shortly
after the flight probation
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closes All the world has taken
sides on one side or the other.
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Just like in Jerusalem those who
stayed were in apostasy, they
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perished. Those who left
actually were saved because
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they paid attention to the sign.
And then after the close of
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probation when God's people
flee then you have the great
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tribulation such as has not been
seen since the beginning of the
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world until this time, no, nor
ever shall be. Now in order to
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understand this great
tribulation, not the tribulation
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of verse nine but the great
tribulation of verse 21. We need
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to understand that there is only
one tribulation composed of two
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stages. One tribulation, two
stages with a pause in between.
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Let me give you an illustration
of what I mean. You put a DVD in
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the DVD player. You push play
and now you're watching a movie,
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let's say it's a movie. Then
you go and you press pause and
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the movie stops. Then at your
leisure you push play again and
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the movie picks up where it left
off. This is the case with the
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great tribulation. It has two
stages with a pause in between.
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Now the question is, what
are the two stages of this great
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tribulation? I might mention
before we identify the two
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stages that the first stage is
the worst in the history of the
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world with regards to length,
because it lasted 1260 years.
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The second phase of the great
tribulation is actually the
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worst with regards to intensity
because even though it's short
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it will be a time of severe
anguish and suffering for God's
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people. So what are the
two stages? The two stages are
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the first, the period of papal
supremacy during the 1260 years
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that began in 538 A.D. and ended
in 1798 when the papacy received
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its deadly wound at the
conclusion of the French
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revolution. This stage
of the great tribulation was
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interrupted towards the end by
the protestant reformation. In
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other words, it was cut short by
the protestant reformation. The
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second period, or the second
stage, if you please, of the
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tribulation will be a short
period of persecution at the
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very end of time after probation
has closed and it will be cut
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short by the second coming
of Jesus Christ. So there's only
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one tribulation divided into two
parts, two phases, with a pause
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in between. Now what is
the biblical evidence for this?
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Well, you find in Revelation
chapter 13 that there is a beast
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that rules for 42 months.
In other places it's called
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time, times, and dividing of
time or it's called 1260 days.
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It's actually 1260 years.
And you find this beast in
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Revelation 13 verses three to 10
that basically does its will and
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thinks it can change God's law,
persecutes the saints, speaks
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blasphemies against the Most
High, tramples on the heavenly
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temple. In other words, it does
basically what it wants. God
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allows to do this. But at the
end of this period we're told
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in Revelation 13 and verses
nine and 10 that this system
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received a deadly wound with
a sword. In other words, it was
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put out of commission, it no
longer was supreme, it no longer
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ruled. This is the pause button
on the movie, if you please.
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But Revelation 13 and verse
three tells us that the deadly
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wound of this system will be
healed and the whole world will
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marvel after the beast. And then
persecution will ensue like the
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papacy persecuted during the
first stage of its existence.
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We also are encouraged to
study about the seven seals,
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and particularly the fifth and
sixth seals to understand the
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historical framework of these
two phases of the tribulation.
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I want to go to Revelation
chapter six, Revelation chapter
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six and verses nine through
11 where you have mentioned two
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periods of persecution,
not one period, two periods of
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persecution and actually
they are two phases of the same
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persecution. Let me just review
what the first four seals are.
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You have a white horse which
is the conquest of the Christian
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church. You have the red
horse which represents the
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persecutions by the Roman empire
against Christians. Then you
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have third horse, the black
horse that's the period during
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which Constantine and the church
joined forces and introduced
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paganism into the church. The
fourth horse which is the pale
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or yellow horse, the horse of
death represents the period of
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papal supremacy, the 1260 years
when the saints of the Most High
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were mowed down because of their
religious convictions. Now with
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this in mind, let's go to
the fifth seal which comes
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immediately after a description
of the period of papal supremacy
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We're going to find that
the martyrs who died during the
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fourth seal, during the period
of the fourth horse, are now
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crying out for justice and
vengeance because of what has
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happened to them unjustly.
Revelation chapter six verse
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nine: When he opened the fifth
seal I saw under the altar the
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souls of those who had been
slain for the word of God and
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for the testimony which they had
and they cried with a loud voice
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saying, How long, O Lord, Holy
and True, until you judge and
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avenge our blood on those who
dwell on the earth. So they're
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asking two things: How long
it it going to be till you judge
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and, secondly, avenge our blood
on those who did this to us?
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Now notice verse 11: Then a
white robe was given to each of
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them. That means they are
secure they don't have to worry.
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Incidentally they're not
literally crying out. This is
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like the blood of Abel crying
out for justice when Cain slew
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him. You know, Abel is
symbolically crying out because
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a great injustice has been done.
So it says in verse 11: Then a
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white robe was given to each
of them and it was said to them
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(This is the first group of
martyrs) that they should rest
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a little while longer until
both the number of their fellow
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servants and their brethren
who would be killed as they were
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was complete. So then you have
a second group that are going to
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be killed in the future. So you
have two periods of persecution.
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You have those who are
crying out for justice and for
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vengeance because an injustice
has been done. They are given a
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white robe, they're told you
case is secure. Just rest for a
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while until the number of the
rest of the martyrs is complete.
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So there are two groups of
martyrs because the papacy has
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two periods of persecution, two
periods of dominance. Now Ellen
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White had something to say about
the period of persecution in the
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past. She wrote in
Great Controversy, page 59
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the following words speaking
about the papacy during the 1260
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years...
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So notice the first stage is the
martyrs that were slain by the
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papacy, that's the context,
the mangled forms of millions of
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martyrs cry to God for vengeance
upon that apostate power. But
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Ellen White also refers to the
second stage of persecution by
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the papacy. We find in Volume
five of Testimonies, page 451,
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the following words:...
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And here she refers to the
last group of martyrs. So she
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understood that the papacy has
two stages and she understood
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that the persecutions by
the papacy also had two stages.
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Daniel 11 presents the same
scenario. If you study Daniel 11
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and verses 30-39 you will find
that this describes the period
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of papal supremacy. You'll find
many common elements with the
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little horn of Daniel seven and
with the little horn of Daniel
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chapter eight. So verses 30-39
describe the past of the papacy
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when everything is going well
for it. However, when you get to
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verses 40-45 you have the future
career of the papacy who goes
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out to destroy and annihilate
many because tidings are coming
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from the north and the east
that represents the loud cry of
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Revelation chapter 18 and it
represents the sealing message
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of Revelation chapter seven.
Ellen White saw that Daniel 11
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has a past stage and a
future stage to the papacy.
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In Manuscript releases volume
13 page 394 Ellen White wrote:
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This history is a period
of papal supremacy and the
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repetition of history is what
is going to take place in the
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future when the papacy recovers
from its deadly wound. Notice
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that she's not saying that the
prophecy will be repeated. She's
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saying much of the history that
fulfilled the prophecy will be
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repeated and the reason is
simple. The same power that
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persecuted God's people in the
past is going to be the power
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that will persecute his people
in the future. Then she ends by
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saying In the 30th verse a power
is spoken of that "shall be
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grieved, and return, and have
indignation against the holy
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covenant... so shall he do;
he shall even return, and have
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intelligence with them
that forsake the holy covenant."
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Then she quotes verses 31-36
which are describing the period
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of papal supremacy and then she
writes: Scenes similar to those
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described in these
words will take place.
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So notice in the
future, prophecy's going to be
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fulfilled again, ah
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not prophecy the history is
going to be fulfilled again of
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the prophecy just flows from
verses 30-39 of the past stage
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and verses 40-45 are the
future stage. So there's not a
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repetition of prophecy but
actually a repetition of history
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Both stages of the tribulation
are the worst in history as I
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mentioned. The first because of
the length of the period and the
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second because of the intensity
of the period. Now here's
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another interesting element.
Toward the conclusion of the
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first period there were signs in
the heavens, there were signs in
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the sun, moon and stars. The sun
was darkened, the moon looked
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like blood and the stars
fell from heaven and there was a
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great earthquake. These
were fulfilled in 1755 the great
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earthquake, then 1780 the sun
was darkened and the moon looked
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like blood and in 1833 you have
the falling of the stars. These
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signs in the heavens actually
were announcing that the
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judgment in favor of the
saints was about to begin. The
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vindication of the martyrs who
were killed was about to begin.
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Beginning with those who
were killed in the past and this
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judgment would end with those
who will be persecuted at the
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end of time shortly before the
close of probation. So we have
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signs in the heavens that
indicate that the judgment of
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the cases of the righteous
who were slain are going to be
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examined now in the heavenly
investigative judgment. Then you
00:15:40.64\00:15:44.61
have also signs that point
forward to the second coming of
00:15:44.64\00:15:48.94
Christ. They're a little
different because it says in
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Matthew chapter 24 and verse 30
that the sun will be darkened,
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the moon will be darkened.
It doesn't say the moon will be
00:15:57.32\00:15:59.95
turned into blood, but it says
the moon will be darkened and
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the stars will fall from heaven,
the stars will not give forth
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their light. So you notice
once again that this will be the
00:16:08.63\00:16:14.90
announcement that the avenging
stage of the martyrs has arrived
00:16:14.94\00:16:18.24
So I want you to catch this very
clearly in your mind. There are
00:16:18.27\00:16:22.94
two groups of martyrs; the
martyrs of the past that the
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papacy slew; the martyrs of the
future with a pause in between.
00:16:25.71\00:16:30.25
The deadly wound of the papacy
is healed and persecution rises
00:16:30.29\00:16:34.19
again. You also have the martyrs
crying out for justice and for
00:16:34.22\00:16:38.79
vengeance. So God simply gives
some signs in the heavens in the
00:16:38.83\00:16:43.77
sun, moon and stars to announce
that the judgment portion is
00:16:43.80\00:16:47.00
about to begin and then the
signs shortly Jesus begins his
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second coming which show that he
is now going to avenge the blood
00:16:52.37\00:16:56.95
of those who were persecuted
during the two stages. Both
00:16:56.98\00:17:02.75
stages also have a relationship
with the Sabbath. You say how is
00:17:02.78\00:17:07.32
this? Because in Daniel 7:25
we're told that the little horn
00:17:07.36\00:17:12.56
which represents the papacy not
only persecuted the saints of
00:17:12.59\00:17:16.33
the Most High, not only
blasphemed against the God of
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the Most High, but thought that
it could change God's Holy Law.
00:17:20.74\00:17:26.07
The papacy in multiple
statements claims that it has
00:17:26.11\00:17:31.91
the power to change God's law
specifically to change the day
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of worship from Sabbath to
Sunday. I've provided these
00:17:36.42\00:17:40.99
quotations in other studies
of ours which you can find at
00:17:41.02\00:17:45.39
secretsunsealed.org. So Ellen
White also wrote about these two
00:17:45.43\00:17:50.30
periods of tribulation. In
Desire of Ages page 631 she
00:17:50.33\00:17:55.70
wrote about the first stage of
this one great tribulation. This
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is how it reads:...
00:18:01.28\00:18:54.86
She said, for more than a
thousand years. This is talking
00:18:54.90\00:18:57.83
about the persecutions against
God's people by the Roman
00:18:57.87\00:19:01.84
Catholic papacy during the
1260 years. But Ellen White also
00:19:01.87\00:19:06.34
applies Matthew 24:21 to the
future. You say, now how can it
00:19:06.37\00:19:10.15
apply to the past and to the
future? Simply because we have
00:19:10.18\00:19:14.12
noticed that according the
prophecy there are two stages to
00:19:14.15\00:19:18.89
the persecution with a pause in
between. In Review and Herald,
00:19:18.92\00:19:23.39
Nov. 22, 1892, Ellen White wrote
00:19:23.43\00:19:28.00
So notice that she
applies Matthew 24:21 to the
00:19:52.05\00:19:55.52
persecutions in the past and to
the persecutions in the future.
00:19:55.56\00:19:59.39
You say, well how is that? Then
there's two great tribulations.
00:19:59.43\00:20:02.06
No, there's one great
tribulation with a pause in
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between. It's the same
tribulation basically because
00:20:07.40\00:20:10.44
the same power, the papacy, is
the power that persecutes God's
00:20:10.47\00:20:14.84
people in both stages. Now
let's compare the sequence of
00:20:14.88\00:20:19.51
Matthew 24 with the book
of Revelation. I want to read
00:20:19.55\00:20:25.05
first of all Great Controversy
page 614 where Ellen White
00:20:25.09\00:20:28.86
explicitly states that
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:20:28.89\00:20:31.16
foreshadowed what would take
place at the end of the world.
00:20:31.19\00:20:34.96
Great Controversy
614 she states:...
00:20:35.00\00:20:46.54
So she's comparing the ruin
of the world with the ruin of
00:20:46.57\00:20:49.71
Jerusalem of old. Now what
is the sequence that we find in
00:20:49.74\00:20:54.15
Matthew chapter 24 and then
we'll go to Revelation. First of
00:20:54.18\00:20:58.65
all Jesus spoke about the
preaching of the gospel to all
00:20:58.69\00:21:02.79
the world. What is the
equivalent in the book of
00:21:02.82\00:21:05.96
Revelation. In the book of
Revelation the equivalent is
00:21:05.99\00:21:09.56
the everlasting gospel, the
first angel's message that goes
00:21:09.60\00:21:13.37
to every nation, kindred, tongue
and people to prepare them for
00:21:13.40\00:21:17.34
what's coming and calling
them to worship the Creator God.
00:21:17.37\00:21:22.74
Then you go back to Matthew
chapter 24. After the preaching
00:21:22.78\00:21:26.61
of the gospel is mentioned
in verse 15 you have the world
00:21:26.65\00:21:30.15
divided into two groups. Those
who have the seal of God and
00:21:30.19\00:21:33.25
those who have the mark of
the beast just like before the
00:21:33.29\00:21:36.62
destruction of Jerusalem.
You have those who fled from the
00:21:36.66\00:21:40.66
city and you have those who
stayed in the city. In other
00:21:40.70\00:21:43.16
words, the sign of the
abomination of desolation
00:21:43.20\00:21:46.20
separated all of the inhabitants
of Jerusalem into two groups.
00:21:46.23\00:21:50.71
Where is the equivalent in the
book of Revelation? Well once
00:21:50.74\00:21:54.41
again you have two groups. You
have those who receive the seal
00:21:54.44\00:21:57.31
of God or the sign of God which
is the Sabbath and you have
00:21:57.35\00:22:01.72
those who receive the
mark of the beast which is the
00:22:01.75\00:22:04.45
observance of the first day
of the week. Now let me just
00:22:04.49\00:22:08.46
clarify that nobody yet has the
mark of the beast. Only when the
00:22:08.49\00:22:13.56
world has seen clearly the
issues relating to Sabbath and
00:22:13.60\00:22:18.80
Sunday and people decide to keep
Sunday in spite of the evidence
00:22:18.83\00:22:23.37
then they will receive the mark
of the beast. But now there are
00:22:23.41\00:22:27.04
many thousands and thousands
of sincere Christians that don't
00:22:27.08\00:22:31.11
understand these things and when
the loud cry is given under the
00:22:31.15\00:22:35.68
power of the Holy Spirit they
will forsake all and they will
00:22:35.72\00:22:39.82
join God's remnant movement. So
there you have the world divided
00:22:39.85\00:22:44.16
into two groups just like
Jerusalem was divided into two
00:22:44.19\00:22:47.50
groups and then you have
the close of probation. You have
00:22:47.53\00:22:52.83
those in the city who were
faithful that now flee and you
00:22:52.87\00:22:57.17
have those that stay behind.
At that moment probation closes.
00:22:57.21\00:23:02.11
Then you have the great
tribulation. Once again in
00:23:02.14\00:23:06.55
Matthew chapter 24 it says
that then God's people flee in
00:23:06.58\00:23:11.35
Matthew chapter 24 and verse 21.
Where is the tribulation in the
00:23:11.39\00:23:15.52
book of Revelation? Revelation
chapters 16-18 describes the
00:23:15.56\00:23:20.20
period of the seven plagues.
That is the great tribulation
00:23:20.23\00:23:23.23
such as never has been seen.
And then in Matthew 24:29, 30
00:23:23.26\00:23:27.94
you have the second coming of
Jesus Christ in power and glory.
00:23:27.97\00:23:31.41
Just like in the book of
Revelation chapter 19 you have
00:23:31.44\00:23:35.08
Jesus sitting on a white horse.
He comes with the armies of
00:23:35.11\00:23:38.45
heaven to rescue his people
from certain death. So you see
00:23:38.48\00:23:43.12
Matthew 24 and Revelation
go together. Revelation is the
00:23:43.15\00:23:46.86
revelation of Jesus Christ
so Revelation has to be an
00:23:46.89\00:23:50.73
explanation and a further
expansion of what Jesus said in
00:23:50.76\00:23:55.16
Matthew chapter 24. Now
let's take a look again at the
00:23:55.20\00:23:59.23
sequence of events in the
synoptic gospels. The synoptic
00:23:59.27\00:24:04.77
gospels are Matthew, Mark and
Luke. Let's look at the sequence
00:24:04.81\00:24:10.38
of events. And I've already
covered this before but there
00:24:10.41\00:24:13.28
might be people watching
who did not watch the previous
00:24:13.31\00:24:15.92
presentation so let's review.
I'm going to do it quickly.
00:24:15.95\00:24:18.85
First of all
00:24:18.89\00:24:20.76
according to Matthew chapter
24 verses six through eight
00:24:20.79\00:24:24.33
there will be wars and rumors of
wars, nation will rise against
00:24:24.36\00:24:28.70
nation and kingdom against
kingdom, there's going to be
00:24:28.73\00:24:31.23
famine and there's going to be
earthquakes and there's going to
00:24:31.27\00:24:35.10
be wars and there's going to
be troubles according to what we
00:24:35.14\00:24:39.44
noticed, epidemics, pestilence,
and all of these things have one
00:24:39.47\00:24:45.78
purpose. Satan wants to
use these things to blame God's
00:24:45.81\00:24:50.29
people who keep the holy
Sabbath. And that's what we find
00:24:50.32\00:24:53.09
in verse nine where it says then
they will afflict you, there'll
00:24:53.12\00:24:56.99
be tribulation and some of you
will die, some of you will be
00:24:57.03\00:25:01.40
killed. Then we're told in verse
10 that many at that time who
00:25:01.43\00:25:05.00
appeared to be genuine believers
will apostatize. In other words,
00:25:05.03\00:25:08.97
they will be scandalized.
This is the shaking. They will
00:25:09.00\00:25:12.07
abandon the faith because they
don't want to be persecuted.
00:25:12.11\00:25:14.94
And then this time of
tribulation when God's people
00:25:14.98\00:25:18.71
are being persecuted, this is
not the great tribulation. It's
00:25:18.75\00:25:22.22
the tribulation mentioned in
verse nine. During this period
00:25:22.25\00:25:24.89
we're told that God's people
will be taken before political
00:25:24.92\00:25:29.62
before counsels and kings and
presidents to give a witness for
00:25:29.66\00:25:34.40
their faith. They won't have to
think about what they're going
00:25:34.43\00:25:37.03
say because the Holy Spirit that
has been poured out in latter
00:25:37.07\00:25:41.44
rain power will give them wisdom
and will provide the words for
00:25:41.47\00:25:46.07
them to speak. At this time
false prophets will arise and
00:25:46.11\00:25:50.85
these false prophets of course
are those who abandon God's
00:25:50.88\00:25:55.78
people who actually forsook
the message because they did not
00:25:55.82\00:25:58.55
want to suffer persecution and
because of the message of the
00:25:58.59\00:26:03.19
false prophets we're told that
lawlessness will increase and
00:26:03.22\00:26:07.03
the love of many will grow cold.
And then we're told that whoever
00:26:07.06\00:26:11.90
endures or perseveres to the
end will be saved. Then you have
00:26:11.93\00:26:17.51
the preaching of the gospel
to the world. This will be the
00:26:17.54\00:26:20.31
three angels messages that are
proclaimed to the world. You say
00:26:20.34\00:26:23.68
how do you know that? Well
because Jesus said this gospel
00:26:23.71\00:26:26.92
of the kingdom will be
proclaimed to the whole world
00:26:26.95\00:26:29.38
as a witness to all nations,
then the end will come. First
00:26:29.42\00:26:32.35
angels message says that there's
an angel that flies in the midst
00:26:32.39\00:26:35.92
of heaven having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those who
00:26:35.96\00:26:39.16
dwell on the earth, to every
nation, kindred, tongue and
00:26:39.19\00:26:42.83
people. It's the same gospel but
in the end time context. Saying
00:26:42.86\00:26:46.97
that the hour of God's judgment
has come and that we are to
00:26:47.00\00:26:50.04
worship the Creator and of
course the sign of the Creator
00:26:50.07\00:26:53.07
is the holy Sabbath. So the
gospel is preached and then the
00:26:53.11\00:26:57.48
last point that we see
before probation closes is the
00:26:57.51\00:27:01.22
abomination of desolation
which we noticed was the Roman
00:27:01.25\00:27:06.55
standards with an eagle that had
outstretched wings and also a
00:27:06.59\00:27:13.63
sun that surrounded it, a golden
wreath that represented the sun.
00:27:13.66\00:27:17.60
In end-time prophecy, it
represents the United States
00:27:17.63\00:27:21.94
a nation represented by an eagle
that will impose the day of the
00:27:21.97\00:27:26.41
sun, in other words, what we
call Sunday and this sign, this
00:27:26.44\00:27:31.38
abomination of desolation will
divide the entire world into two
00:27:31.41\00:27:36.05
groups, those who decide
to reject the seal of God and
00:27:36.08\00:27:41.42
receive the mark of the beast
and those who receive the seal
00:27:41.46\00:27:44.86
of God and reject the mark of
the beast. In other words, the
00:27:44.89\00:27:49.26
Sunday law will divide the
entire world into two groups.
00:27:49.30\00:27:53.74
The lost stay in Jerusalem and
those who are saved flee, two
00:27:53.77\00:28:01.74
groups. And then God's people
will have to flee from the large
00:28:01.78\00:28:06.55
cities preparatory to leaving
the small cities because those
00:28:06.58\00:28:11.95
who believe that they're causing
the evils in society believe
00:28:11.99\00:28:14.86
that it's because they keep the
Sabbath. If they can get rid of
00:28:14.89\00:28:18.43
then things will return as they
once were. Then we're told that
00:28:18.46\00:28:24.43
not one of God's people will
perish during this period. After
00:28:24.47\00:28:29.07
probation closes not one person
will die as a martyr. There will
00:28:29.10\00:28:33.61
be no one among the living
righteous that will die. And
00:28:33.64\00:28:38.01
then this, at the very end of
the tribulation we have the sun,
00:28:38.05\00:28:43.25
the moon and the stars darkening
This is the darkness of the
00:28:43.28\00:28:50.06
fifth plague of the book of
Revelation. All this points to
00:28:50.09\00:28:54.03
the moment when God is
going to deliver his people from
00:28:54.06\00:28:57.53
certain death. And then the sign
of the Son of Man is seen in
00:28:57.57\00:29:03.14
heaven. It's the announcement
that Jesus is beginning his
00:29:03.17\00:29:06.37
second coming. That little black
cloud about half the size of a
00:29:06.41\00:29:12.11
man's fist will come closer and
closer to the earth and it will
00:29:12.15\00:29:16.65
become a white cloud as it nears
Then we find Jesus once he's
00:29:16.69\00:29:21.46
above the earth, not on it, but
above the earth, we're told that
00:29:21.49\00:29:25.49
he will send his angels to
gather his elect from the four
00:29:25.53\00:29:29.96
winds of heaven. Now let's
talk about the flight in Matthew
00:29:30.00\00:29:36.00
chapter 24 and let's go to verse
21. We'll read this verse again
00:29:36.04\00:29:42.58
that we read before...
00:29:42.61\00:29:55.96
The word then here is
very significant. You say why?
00:29:55.99\00:30:00.56
Because we've noticed
that Matthew chapter 24 is in
00:30:00.60\00:30:05.70
chronological order. Notice
verse six. Once you see wars and
00:30:05.73\00:30:11.27
rumors of wars the end is not
yet. Once you see pestilences
00:30:11.31\00:30:14.88
and earthquakes and famines
these are the beginning of
00:30:14.91\00:30:18.15
sorrow. Verse nine: Then
they will deliver you up to
00:30:18.18\00:30:21.68
tribulation and kill you. Then
many are going to be offended
00:30:21.72\00:30:26.82
and they're going to betray
one another. Then many false
00:30:26.86\00:30:30.23
prophets will rise up and
deceive many and then in verse
00:30:30.26\00:30:34.00
14 the final proclamation of the
gospel will come. And then we
00:30:34.03\00:30:40.10
find the abomination of
desolation in verse 15. Verse 16
00:30:40.14\00:30:44.01
says Then those who are in Judea
should flee to the mountains.
00:30:44.04\00:30:48.01
So you have a sequence of events
spoken of here. The word Then is
00:30:48.04\00:30:53.55
very important. Now in volume
five of the Testimonies page 451
00:30:53.58\00:30:59.32
Ellen White explains that the
national Sunday law which is the
00:30:59.35\00:31:03.43
abomination of desolation is the
sign for God's people to flee
00:31:03.46\00:31:08.30
after which they will be plunged
into the time of trouble. During
00:31:08.33\00:31:14.27
the first stage of the
tribulation God's people fled to
00:31:14.30\00:31:18.81
the Piedmont Valleys. When I
talk about the first stage of
00:31:18.84\00:31:22.88
the tribulation I'm talking
about the period of papal
00:31:22.91\00:31:25.61
supremacy. Let me ask you,
did God's faithful people during
00:31:25.65\00:31:29.32
that period flee to the
desolate places of the earth?
00:31:29.35\00:31:32.59
Absolutely. You'll notice that
they fled to the Piedmont, the
00:31:32.62\00:31:38.29
Waldenses, the Albigenses fled
to the desolate places of the
00:31:38.33\00:31:42.80
earth. But at the end of time
during the second stage, God's
00:31:42.83\00:31:48.40
people will also have to flee to
the desolate places. We're told
00:31:48.44\00:31:52.57
in Great Controversy page 635,
this is speaking of the moment
00:31:52.61\00:31:57.35
when the death decree is about
to be executed against God's
00:31:57.38\00:32:01.82
people it says there...
00:32:01.85\00:32:27.38
Now you're probably thinking
Pastor Bohr what you're saying
00:32:27.41\00:32:32.05
is absolutely crazy. Are you
saying that the time is coming
00:32:32.08\00:32:36.05
when individuals will be
sentenced to death because
00:32:36.08\00:32:40.22
they're Sabbath keepers. Come
on, be real. That can't happen
00:32:40.26\00:32:42.82
in the United States of America.
This is the land of the free and
00:32:42.86\00:32:46.29
the home of the brave. Well
folks the book of Revelation
00:32:46.33\00:32:50.60
tells us of a time when God is
going to release the four winds
00:32:50.63\00:32:54.07
of heaven. He's holding them
back now. He's going to release
00:32:54.10\00:32:57.41
them which means that he's going
to withdraw his Holy Spirit from
00:32:57.44\00:32:59.91
the earth. And then the
finally impenitent will be fully
00:32:59.94\00:33:06.35
controlled by Satan. Only those
who are faithful, who received
00:33:06.38\00:33:11.22
the seal of God during
that period will be protected.
00:33:11.25\00:33:14.69
Everyone else will be under the
influence of Satan. There will
00:33:14.72\00:33:19.46
be no redeemable good in people
after probation closes. And
00:33:19.49\00:33:24.67
Ellen White states that the
heart of man can be very cruel
00:33:24.70\00:33:28.34
when it is destitute of
the Spirit of God. We find in
00:33:28.37\00:33:33.84
Matthew 24 verse 22 that this
period of tribulation at the end
00:33:33.88\00:33:38.18
is going to be cut short. The
time of trouble is going to be
00:33:38.21\00:33:42.12
cut short. It says in
Matthew 24 and verse 22:
00:33:42.15\00:33:45.95
And unless those days were
shortened... that's the days of
00:33:45.99\00:33:49.12
the tribulation...no flesh would
be saved; but for the elect's
00:33:49.16\00:33:53.53
sake those days
will be shortened.
00:33:53.56\00:33:56.46
As I mentioned before, the
first stage was shortened by the
00:33:56.50\00:34:01.30
protestant reformation. The
second stage will be shortened
00:34:01.34\00:34:06.31
by God uttering his voice
according to Revelation 16 and
00:34:06.34\00:34:11.21
verse 17 and this will indicate
that God is now going to deliver
00:34:11.25\00:34:16.79
his people from the
death decree. It's important to
00:34:16.82\00:34:21.76
realize that the elect, this is
a very important point, will go
00:34:21.79\00:34:26.70
through the tribulation.
God will not take them to heaven
00:34:26.73\00:34:30.67
in a pretribulation rapture.
When Jesus comes he will come to
00:34:30.70\00:34:36.60
pick up, he will send his angels
actually, to gather his elect
00:34:36.64\00:34:41.31
from the four winds of heaven.
Now why would he pick up his
00:34:41.34\00:34:46.82
elect at the second coming from
the four winds of heaven if he'd
00:34:46.85\00:34:49.92
already taken them to
heaven seven years before in the
00:34:49.95\00:34:53.99
rapture. The fact is that God's
people are going to go through
00:34:54.02\00:34:57.36
the tribulation, the worst
period in history in terms of
00:34:57.39\00:35:02.00
persecution and anguish. And
when do we prepare a character
00:35:02.03\00:35:08.07
to withstand this period of
severe trial? Folks, that is to
00:35:08.10\00:35:13.01
be done now. If we reach that
period and we're not ready we
00:35:13.04\00:35:17.65
will fail. That's why Jesus said
watch, pray, work, pay attention
00:35:17.68\00:35:22.82
because you don't know when
the time is. Satan uses us false
00:35:22.85\00:35:29.09
teachers to persuade Christians
that they're not going to go
00:35:29.12\00:35:32.79
through the tribulation because
Satan knows that we are going
00:35:32.83\00:35:37.03
to need a special quality
of faith to go through this
00:35:37.07\00:35:40.27
particular period. Let me
illustrate what I mean. Would a
00:35:40.30\00:35:44.64
person prepare for a hurricane
in California when the weather
00:35:44.67\00:35:49.51
casters predict that it is going
to hit in Florida? Of course not
00:35:49.54\00:35:54.25
You don't prepare for what you
don't think is coming here. If,
00:35:54.28\00:35:58.79
as futurists believe all of
the events of Revelation four
00:35:58.82\00:36:03.99
through 22 occur after the
rapture while the church is in
00:36:04.03\00:36:08.86
heaven then why even bother to
study Revelation four through 22
00:36:08.90\00:36:12.33
at this time in history. By the
way who are the elect? You can
00:36:12.37\00:36:18.71
read Romans chapter eight
verses 33-37 where it says that
00:36:18.74\00:36:23.38
the elect are those that
have been justified by Christ.
00:36:23.41\00:36:25.95
In other words, the elect
are the true followers of Jesus.
00:36:25.98\00:36:29.52
You know there's a parable that
Jesus told which is describing
00:36:29.55\00:36:34.56
what would take place at
this particular time of history.
00:36:34.59\00:36:38.13
I call it the parable of the
persistent widow in Luke chapter
00:36:38.16\00:36:43.93
18. There this widow who was
destitute of any human support
00:36:43.97\00:36:47.57
comes to the judge, and comes to
the judge and continues coming
00:36:47.60\00:36:51.51
to the judge to ask him to do
justice and to avenge her over
00:36:51.54\00:36:56.75
her adversary. Now that's very
similar to the fifth seal. Judge
00:36:56.78\00:37:00.15
and avenge. And she's crying out
to the judge and the judge puts
00:37:00.18\00:37:04.35
her off, and puts her off, and
doesn't answer. In other words,
00:37:04.39\00:37:06.96
there's a delay. But eventually
the judge to get her off his
00:37:06.99\00:37:11.63
back does her justice and
avenges her over her adversary.
00:37:11.66\00:37:16.63
Now what does that parable mean?
Well the widow represents God's
00:37:16.67\00:37:19.77
end time remnant that will
go through the tribulation. The
00:37:19.80\00:37:24.11
judge of course is God and the
adversary is Satan and Satan is
00:37:24.14\00:37:29.58
going to turn the adversary
against God's people and God's
00:37:29.61\00:37:33.52
people. And God's people during
the time of trouble will cry out
00:37:33.55\00:37:36.72
to the Lord saying Lord until
when will you not judge and
00:37:36.75\00:37:42.09
avenge those who have shed the
blood of your people here on the
00:37:42.12\00:37:46.39
earth? And God is going to delay
The time of trouble is the delay
00:37:46.43\00:37:51.23
God does not answer immediately.
But eventually God cuts this
00:37:51.27\00:37:57.54
period short and he will
do justice to his people not
00:37:57.57\00:38:02.71
because to get him off his back
but because he loves them. In
00:38:02.74\00:38:07.78
The Great Controversy page 631,
this is the chapter on the time
00:38:07.82\00:38:12.59
of trouble in this book. Ellen
White universalized the meaning
00:38:12.62\00:38:18.26
of the tribulation and alluded
to Matthew 24. She referred to
00:38:18.29\00:38:24.83
the shortening of the
tribulation for the sake of the
00:38:24.87\00:38:28.00
elect and to the flight of God's
people from the cities. I want
00:38:28.04\00:38:31.54
to read that statement Great
Controversy page 631. Remember
00:38:31.57\00:38:35.48
that this is dealing with the
second phase of the tribulation.
00:38:35.51\00:38:39.11
It says there she quotes Matthew
Yet for the elect's sake the
00:38:39.15\00:38:46.62
time of trouble will be
shortened... That comes directly
00:38:46.65\00:38:49.92
from Matthew 24 verse
22. Then she comments...
00:38:49.96\00:39:36.81
Not one of God's people will
perish during this period. The
00:39:36.84\00:39:40.94
persecution will be very intense
but God's people will persevere
00:39:40.98\00:39:47.08
until the end and they will
be saved. Now we go to Matthew
00:39:47.12\00:39:51.52
chapter 24 and verse 23. This
is still during the tribulation
00:39:51.55\00:39:55.82
period. Jesus said...
00:39:55.86\00:40:04.67
At some point towards the end of
the tribulation period Satan is
00:40:04.70\00:40:10.11
going to going to counterfeit
the second coming of Jesus to
00:40:10.14\00:40:14.68
deceive if possible the
very elect. The word then in
00:40:14.71\00:40:19.21
Matthew 24 verse 23 indicates
that clearly. It says there,
00:40:19.25\00:40:25.42
Then if anyone says to you, look
here is the Christ, or there, do
00:40:25.45\00:40:30.33
not believe it. Now this is
taking place after the close of
00:40:30.36\00:40:35.70
probation. Now there's
this controversy among Adventist
00:40:35.73\00:40:40.80
scholars as to whether the
counterfeit second coming occurs
00:40:40.84\00:40:44.74
before the close of probation
or after the close of probation.
00:40:44.77\00:40:49.68
There are some who say that this
will occur before the close of
00:40:49.71\00:40:56.35
probation, others say that it
will happen after the close of
00:40:56.38\00:40:59.39
probation. Now those who say
that it takes place before the
00:40:59.42\00:41:02.66
close of probation you know they
seem to have a point. And that
00:41:02.69\00:41:07.16
is why would Satan counterfeit
the second coming after the
00:41:07.20\00:41:11.33
close of probation if he knows
that he's not going to able to
00:41:11.37\00:41:14.67
deceive the elect. What would
be the purpose. Ah, but if this
00:41:14.70\00:41:18.01
happens before the close of
probation, then Satan can do
00:41:18.04\00:41:21.44
this because he knows that if
possible that he might be able
00:41:21.48\00:41:24.85
to deceive the elect. Well
sometimes what appears to be
00:41:24.88\00:41:29.32
reasonable is not exactly so.
Let me just mention that there
00:41:29.35\00:41:34.59
are two reasons why we know that
the counterfeit second coming
00:41:34.62\00:41:38.49
place after the close of
probation. First because this
00:41:38.53\00:41:44.97
counterfeit second coming in The
Great Controversy appears in the
00:41:45.00\00:41:50.24
chapter on the time of trouble
after the close of probation.
00:41:50.27\00:41:53.61
So we know that that is one
reason. The second reason that
00:41:53.64\00:41:59.21
we have is that Matthew 24 is in
chronological order. So the word
00:41:59.25\00:42:05.15
then indicates that after God's
people flee and the persecution
00:42:05.19\00:42:10.43
or the tribulation begins then
in the period of tribulation
00:42:10.46\00:42:14.53
you have Satan counterfeiting
the second coming of Christ.
00:42:14.56\00:42:19.17
Now I know what some people are
thinking. They're saying, well
00:42:19.20\00:42:23.30
Pastor Bohr what use would it
be for Satan to counterfeit the
00:42:23.34\00:42:26.68
second coming after the close of
probation. It makes more sense
00:42:26.71\00:42:32.71
to say that he does it before
the close of probation because
00:42:32.75\00:42:35.85
probation hasn't closed you know
he thinks it might be possible
00:42:35.88\00:42:39.49
to deceive the elect. But after
the close of probation he knows
00:42:39.52\00:42:42.32
that the elect are sealed
and he's not going to be able to
00:42:42.36\00:42:44.96
deceive them, so what would
be the purpose of counterfeiting
00:42:44.99\00:42:47.96
the second coming? Well let me
give you an example so that you
00:42:48.00\00:42:54.67
can understand the reason why
Satan does this after the close
00:42:54.70\00:42:58.34
of probation. It's very simple.
Satan is Satan. He doesn't give
00:42:58.37\00:43:05.71
up. He tries to counteract what
God says in scripture. He knows
00:43:05.75\00:43:10.35
that Matthew 24 says that he's
going to deceive if possible
00:43:10.39\00:43:15.59
although he knows it's not
possible, the very elect. So why
00:43:15.62\00:43:18.19
is he going to counterfeit the
second coming to try and deceive
00:43:18.23\00:43:20.83
them. Because Satan harbors the
thought that perhaps just once
00:43:20.86\00:43:25.37
he'll be able to counteract what
God has said in his holy word.
00:43:25.40\00:43:30.47
Now you say, how do you know
this? Let me give you a parallel
00:43:30.51\00:43:34.08
so that you can understand how
this works out. Does Satan know
00:43:34.11\00:43:40.08
that after the millennium he is
not going to be able to conquer
00:43:40.12\00:43:43.32
the new Jerusalem? Does he know
that fire's going to fall from
00:43:43.35\00:43:46.45
heaven and consume him, his
angels and all of his followers?
00:43:46.49\00:43:49.72
And he's not going to be able to
prevail against the city. Well
00:43:49.76\00:43:53.03
folks if he doesn't know he's
not very smart because he can
00:43:53.06\00:43:56.77
read Revelation chapter 20
verses seven through nine where
00:43:56.80\00:43:59.77
it says that he and his
army surround the city, ready to
00:43:59.80\00:44:02.64
attack the city and then
fire descends from heaven and
00:44:02.67\00:44:06.17
consumes Satan, his angels
and the wicked. So why is Satan
00:44:06.21\00:44:11.18
after the millennium when all
of the wicked resurrect, he'll
00:44:11.21\00:44:14.42
gather them all together,
prepare them for battle to
00:44:14.45\00:44:17.42
attack the Holy City? Why would
he do that? He knows that his
00:44:17.45\00:44:20.46
case is lost, Revelation says so
Because Satan is Satan. At the
00:44:20.49\00:44:26.70
beginning of the tribulation at
the very end he says I haven't
00:44:26.73\00:44:28.63
been able gain the victory over
this group of elect people but
00:44:28.66\00:44:33.60
just maybe this once I can
counteract what God has said in
00:44:33.64\00:44:37.41
his word and I can be successful
in overcoming them. Matthew 24
00:44:37.44\00:44:42.28
verses 24-26 we find these words
For false christs and false
00:44:42.31\00:44:47.42
prophets will rise... See during
this time there are also going
00:44:47.45\00:44:49.88
be false prophets that are
going to say these people are
00:44:49.92\00:44:53.05
preparing for what is happening
in society, the calamities in
00:44:53.09\00:44:56.96
society. We need to observe the
first day of the week. Everybody
00:44:56.99\00:44:59.73
back to church because that way
our troubles are going to leave
00:44:59.76\00:45:03.60
us and the nation is going to
come back to where it was once.
00:45:03.63\00:45:06.80
For false Christs and false
prophets will rise and show
00:45:06.84\00:45:10.47
great signs and wonders to
deceive, if possible even the
00:45:10.51\00:45:14.41
elect... verse 26...
00:45:14.44\00:45:26.82
So if someone appears in the
desert that I am Christ, don't
00:45:26.86\00:45:30.73
go out. If he's in the inner
room and he says I am the Christ
00:45:30.76\00:45:34.73
do not believe it because Satan
is going to counterfeit the
00:45:34.76\00:45:38.83
second coming of Christ. I would
encourage you to read Second
00:45:38.87\00:45:41.77
Thessalonians chapter two.
It speaks thereof two comings.
00:45:41.80\00:45:45.57
At the beginning of the chapter
the apostle Paul refers to the
00:45:45.61\00:45:49.01
coming or the Parousia of Jesus.
A little later on in verse nine
00:45:49.04\00:45:54.58
he speaks about the coming of
the lawless one. It's the same
00:45:54.62\00:45:58.19
word Parousia. So Satan is going
to counterfeit the second coming
00:45:58.22\00:46:02.86
of Jesus Christ. He's going
to perform this counterfeit in
00:46:02.89\00:46:10.50
order to counteract the genuine
that comes afterward. Because
00:46:10.53\00:46:14.24
the devil not only counterfeits
the genuine after the genuine
00:46:14.27\00:46:18.77
is put in place. The devil
sometimes tries to preempt the
00:46:18.81\00:46:24.05
genuine by establishing a
counterfeit. And then Jesus says
00:46:24.08\00:46:29.08
Matthew chapter 24
verse 25 to his disciples:...
00:46:29.12\00:46:34.62
Notice, I told you this,
pay attention. Obviously all the
00:46:34.66\00:46:38.23
apostles have died but this was
written not only for them. It
00:46:38.26\00:46:43.00
was actually written for us as
well who will be living in the
00:46:43.03\00:46:47.24
last days of the history of this
world. Now I want to read you
00:46:47.27\00:46:51.67
the description that Ellen White
gives of the counterfeit second
00:46:51.71\00:46:55.64
coming of Christ. It's in the
book Great Controversy page 624
00:46:55.68\00:47:01.82
to 626. It is a long description
but a very important description
00:47:01.85\00:47:07.26
She writes:...
00:47:07.29\00:47:51.73
And you read there it says that
the face of Jesus, the ascended
00:47:51.77\00:47:54.64
Christ, the glorified Christ
shown like the sun. Ellen White
00:47:54.67\00:47:59.24
here is saying that Satan
is going to have a dazzling
00:47:59.27\00:48:03.08
brightness resembling the
brightness of the glorified
00:48:03.11\00:48:05.75
Jesus. The statement continues..
00:48:05.78\00:48:47.56
Listen to this. Listen to this..
00:48:47.59\00:49:37.91
Now comes what is going to be
done by the elect. He will not
00:49:37.94\00:49:43.81
deceive the elect. She continues
00:49:43.85\00:50:10.21
In other words, Satan claiming
to be Christ is pronouncing a
00:50:10.24\00:50:14.54
blessing on the worshippers of
the beast and his image. Amazing
00:50:14.58\00:50:18.75
She continues:...
00:50:18.78\00:51:24.75
Quite a vivid description isn't
it of the counterfeit second
00:51:24.78\00:51:28.38
coming of Christ. Ellen
White continues: (last sentence)
00:51:28.42\00:51:46.53
In other words, Christ is not
going to appear over there in
00:51:46.57\00:51:47.90
the desert. And you know
people have to see on CNN, Jesus
00:51:47.94\00:51:51.67
over in the desert. Or you know
he appeared in the inner room
00:51:51.71\00:51:55.34
You can watch him on the Fox
News channel. You know how he's
00:51:55.38\00:51:59.01
appearing in the inner room. No.
They will be universally known.
00:51:59.05\00:52:05.29
The Bible says that every eye
will see him. People will not be
00:52:05.32\00:52:10.49
able to trust their ears, their
eyes, their feelings, their
00:52:10.53\00:52:16.16
emotions, their impressions
or the testimony of others. The
00:52:16.20\00:52:20.84
faithful will detect Satan's
counterfeit in two ways and
00:52:20.87\00:52:25.57
Ellen White mentions them. But
now I want to highlight these
00:52:25.61\00:52:31.05
two ways in which God's people
will detect the counterfeit.
00:52:31.08\00:52:35.02
First of all, the manner of
Satan's counterfeit coming is
00:52:35.05\00:52:41.56
contrary to the Biblical picture
of how Jesus will come. Matthew
00:52:41.59\00:52:47.66
chapter 24 verse 30 tells us
that Jesus will send his angels
00:52:47.70\00:52:54.00
to gather the elect from
the four winds. In other words,
00:52:54.04\00:52:57.64
Jesus doesn't come, step on the
earth and go all throughout the
00:52:57.67\00:53:01.18
earth to pick up his redeemed
saints. No. He sends his angels
00:53:01.21\00:53:05.91
from where he is above the earth
He sends his angels to pick up
00:53:05.95\00:53:10.69
the righteous and then we're
going to read in 1 Thessalonians
00:53:10.72\00:53:13.56
four that they are caught up
to Jesus in the cloud which is
00:53:13.59\00:53:19.49
above the earth. Incidentally
2 Thessalonians two verse 1
00:53:19.53\00:53:24.60
it speaks about the Parousia
of Christ, the second coming of
00:53:24.63\00:53:28.00
Christ and our gathering
together to him. He's not coming
00:53:28.04\00:53:32.31
here to gather to us. We gather
to him. And in John chapter 14
00:53:32.34\00:53:37.71
verses one to three you remember
the promise that Jesus added:
00:53:37.75\00:53:41.65
Let not your heart to
troubled... You believe in God
00:53:41.68\00:53:45.15
believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many
mansions. If it were not so
00:53:45.19\00:53:48.89
I would have told you. Jesus
then said, I go to prepare a
00:53:48.92\00:53:53.23
place for you and if I go to
prepare a place for you, I will
00:53:53.26\00:53:58.33
come again and establish my
kingdom with you? No that's not
00:53:58.37\00:54:02.64
what he said. Sometimes
I misquote to make a point.
00:54:02.67\00:54:05.51
What does he say? He says: I
will come again and receive you
00:54:05.54\00:54:11.75
to myself that where I am there
you may be also. And he's going
00:54:11.78\00:54:15.98
to take us to the Father's
house Because Jesus says, In my
00:54:16.02\00:54:19.25
Father's house are many mansions
and then he states that he will
00:54:19.29\00:54:23.93
take us to the Father's house.
That's the first way in which
00:54:23.96\00:54:28.50
you are going to detect
the counterfeit is because the
00:54:28.53\00:54:32.13
coming of this false Christ is
not in harmony with the manner
00:54:32.17\00:54:36.87
that the Bible describes the
second coming of Jesus. Let's
00:54:36.91\00:54:40.28
read 1 Thessalonians chapter
four and beginning with verse 15
00:54:40.31\00:54:46.18
For this we say to you by the
word of the Lord, that we who
00:54:46.21\00:54:50.15
are alive and remain until the
coming of the Lord will by no
00:54:50.19\00:54:53.12
means precede those who are
asleep. For the Lord himself
00:54:53.15\00:54:56.83
will descend from heaven... this
is the second coming... with a
00:54:56.86\00:54:59.96
shout, with the voice of an
archangel and the trumpet of God
00:55:00.00\00:55:03.47
and the dead in Christ will rise
first. The notice what happens
00:55:03.50\00:55:07.07
with those who died and
resurrected and those who are
00:55:07.10\00:55:10.17
alive. Verse 17: Then we who are
alive and remain shall be what?
00:55:10.21\00:55:15.04
Caught up together with them...
that is with those who died and
00:55:15.08\00:55:20.68
resurrected... shall be caught
up together with them in the
00:55:20.72\00:55:23.79
clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. And thus we shall always be
00:55:23.82\00:55:29.46
with the Lord... and then Paul
says... Therefore comfort one
00:55:29.49\00:55:32.26
another with these words. So
the manner of the counterfeit
00:55:32.29\00:55:38.40
coming is not the manner
that the Bible teaches and the
00:55:38.43\00:55:41.30
teachings of this false Christ
are counterfeit teachings. You
00:55:41.34\00:55:46.78
say, how is that? What is the
false Christ going to say. Well
00:55:46.81\00:55:50.95
he's going to say as I read
from the writings of Ellen White
00:55:50.98\00:55:55.15
You know the reason why all
these calamities are coming in
00:55:55.18\00:55:58.92
society is because this people
don't obey the law and they
00:55:58.95\00:56:02.86
insist on keeping the Sabbath
day. If we can get rid of them
00:56:02.89\00:56:07.20
then once again we will
have peace and prosperity in the
00:56:07.23\00:56:12.40
world and in our nation.
Matthew 24 verse 28 ends what
00:56:12.43\00:56:17.57
we're going to study today.
Matthew 24 verse 28 has a very
00:56:17.61\00:56:21.71
interesting detail. You remember
that in the first destruction of
00:56:21.74\00:56:26.05
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar
the eagle played a role. In the
00:56:26.08\00:56:30.25
second destruction of Jerusalem
you have the Roman eagle
00:56:30.29\00:56:33.96
standards as a sign. Well at the
end of time you notice that the
00:56:33.99\00:56:39.79
nation represented by an eagle
with a sunburst above his head
00:56:39.83\00:56:44.33
represents the United States of
America and the Sunday law that
00:56:44.37\00:56:48.57
will be proclaimed. That's
why Matthew 24:28 is really
00:56:48.60\00:56:53.78
interesting. It says:
00:56:53.81\00:57:07.09
So I'm hoping you've understood
what we've studied so far about
00:57:07.12\00:57:10.36
the great tribulation. We
still have to study in our next
00:57:10.39\00:57:13.46
presentation about the signs
in the sun, moon and stars; we
00:57:13.50\00:57:19.00
haven't spoken about that. And
we have to talk about the sign
00:57:19.03\00:57:23.17
of the Son of Man in the heavens
Then we have to talk about the
00:57:23.20\00:57:27.01
coming of Jesus in power and
great glory and how Jesus will
00:57:27.04\00:57:31.98
gather his elect, catch them up
into the cloud to then take them
00:57:32.01\00:57:36.38
to heaven. So will God's people
go through the tribulation if
00:57:36.42\00:57:41.52
they are alive after the close
of probation. Absolutely. So
00:57:41.56\00:57:45.63
what should we be doing now?
We should be forming an intimate
00:57:45.66\00:57:50.50
relationship with our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. Pray such
00:57:50.53\00:57:53.70
as never before. Watch such as
never before. Work for the Lord
00:57:53.74\00:57:57.81
such as never before. Use our
gifts and talents for his glory
00:57:57.84\00:58:01.44
that we might be ready for the
awesome day that will soon take
00:58:01.48\00:58:05.68
place in this world.
00:58:05.71\00:58:07.88
¤ ¤
00:58:07.92\00:58:25.23