Music...
00:00:01.36\00:00:21.08
"Father, as we
begin our study today,
00:00:21.12\00:00:23.45
we ask for Your presence
00:00:23.49\00:00:25.85
through the
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
00:00:25.89\00:00:27.49
Give us understanding...
00:00:27.56\00:00:29.59
give us open hearts...
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and Lord, help us to
prepare for the glorious event
00:00:31.63\00:00:35.13
of the coming of Jesus
Christ in power and glory.
00:00:35.16\00:00:38.30
We thank you for the
promise of your presence
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and we claim that promise.
00:00:41.50\00:00:43.51
In Jesus' name, amen. "
00:00:43.54\00:00:45.47
In our last
presentation, we studied Part 1
00:00:45.54\00:00:49.24
making a comparison
between what happened
00:00:49.28\00:00:52.98
with the
National Reform Movement
00:00:53.01\00:00:55.08
between 1864 and 1888
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and what was occurring in
the United States of America
00:00:58.85\00:01:03.46
in the decades of the 1980s...
1990s... and early 2000s.
00:01:03.49\00:01:08.06
We noticed that there
were many similarities
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and today we are
going to cover Part 2.
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Now, I want to make
something very clear
00:01:14.17\00:01:17.24
and that is...
00:01:17.27\00:01:18.61
even though I mention
proper names of individuals
00:01:18.64\00:01:21.68
who were involved in
this Religious-Right Movement
00:01:21.71\00:01:24.98
in the 1980s...
1990s... and early 2000s...
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it is no
reflection on them personally.
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In other words, I'm
not judging their motives.
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God is the only one
00:01:34.32\00:01:36.29
who can actually
sit on the throne
00:01:36.32\00:01:38.46
and judge our motivations.
00:01:38.49\00:01:40.50
However, because they
have gone on the record,
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I am quoting them
in these Presentations
00:01:43.53\00:01:46.97
particularly the last
one which was Part One
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and this one... we
will continue Part Two.
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Now, as we ended
our last Presentation,
00:01:53.91\00:01:57.31
we were talking about how
Protestantism and Catholicism
00:01:57.35\00:02:01.78
are coming closer
and closer together
00:02:01.82\00:02:04.42
and we mentioned three
factors that have led to this.
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Number 1: The election of
John F. Kennedy as President
00:02:08.32\00:02:12.16
of the United States.
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There was a lot of
fear in the minds of people
00:02:13.56\00:02:15.80
to have the first
Roman Catholic President
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knowing the principles
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that the Roman
Catholic Church is built on.
00:02:20.70\00:02:22.60
However, John F. Kennedy...
in the speech that he gave to
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the Greater Houston
Ministerial Association,
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he promised to
abide by the Constitution
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of the United States
00:02:32.58\00:02:33.92
and not by what
the Pope told him
00:02:33.95\00:02:35.95
and he lived up to his promise.
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We also noticed that Vatican
2 melted the ice that existed
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between
Protestants and Catholics.
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And then also, we
noticed that the prophetic views
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of the Religious Right
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basically tells
them that the Antichrist
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is an individual
that is going to rise
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in the Middle East.
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He's going to sit in
the rebuilt Jewish temple
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and he's going to
build a great big statue
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and command everyone
to worship the statue
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and he's going to place a
tattoo on people's foreheads
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that is... of his
servants or his followers.
00:03:09.88\00:03:12.25
And therefore, Protestants
cannot see the dangers
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of the beast which is
really the Roman Catholic Papacy
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and the beast that
rises from the earth
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which is a symbol
of the United States...
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because they are looking
for the fulfillment of prophecy
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in the Middle East
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when it is being fulfilled in
Rome and in the United States.
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Now, today we
are going to continue
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with the section that deals with
how Protestants and Catholics
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are coming closer
and closer together.
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As we ended our
last Presentation,
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I was talking
about the document:
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Evangelicals and
Catholics Together
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where they said
that we need to cooperate
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on issues that
we have in common...
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set aside our
doctrinal differences...
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and not proselytize
one another's members.
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Now, another evidence of the
closer and closer relationship
00:04:03.97\00:04:09.84
between
Protestants and Catholics
00:04:09.88\00:04:11.55
is in a document
that was signed in 1999.
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It's known as:
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The Joint Declaration
on Righteousness by Faith.
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It was signed by
Lutherans and Roman Catholics
00:04:21.99\00:04:26.36
and basically, the document
says that Roman Catholics
00:04:26.39\00:04:29.46
and Lutherans
00:04:29.50\00:04:30.93
agree on the doctrine
of Righteousness by Faith.
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Luther must be rolling
in his grave... so to speak
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because the doctrine
of Righteousness by Faith
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was one of the key issues
00:04:42.71\00:04:44.81
that led to the separation
of Protestantism from Rome.
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Regarding this document:
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Joint Declaration on
Justification by Faith,
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Kenneth Kantzer, a
Protestant wrote the following.
00:04:54.82\00:04:59.03
"Finally, we... " that is
Catholics and Evangelicals...
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"can work together on those
political and social issues
00:05:03.97\00:05:08.77
where we are in
such strong agreement.
00:05:08.80\00:05:12.27
Our united effort in these areas
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will do much to influence
the world to the good...
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In spite of basic differences
00:05:19.15\00:05:22.15
we can use our common
Judeo-Christian value system
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to forge moral leadership
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that will advance the
cause of justice and peace
00:05:29.12\00:05:32.23
through a stable
society in our nation
00:05:32.26\00:05:35.43
and around the world. "
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Pat Robertson... one of
the Signers of the document
00:05:37.27\00:05:41.44
added his testimony
in the following words,
00:05:41.47\00:05:43.91
"I believe frankly
00:05:43.94\00:05:46.41
that the Evangelicals
and the Catholics in America,
00:05:46.44\00:05:50.45
if they work together,
00:05:50.48\00:05:52.81
can see many pro-family
initiatives in our society,
00:05:52.85\00:05:57.19
and we can be an
effective counterbalance
00:05:57.22\00:06:00.52
to some of the
radical, leftist initiatives. "
00:06:00.56\00:06:03.93
Chuck Colson, an
Evangelical or Protestant,
00:06:03.96\00:06:08.46
made some amazing statements
00:06:08.50\00:06:10.63
in the introduction
to Keith Fournier's book:
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Evangelical Catholics.
00:06:13.87\00:06:15.24
I'm going to read
those statements now
00:06:15.30\00:06:17.44
because it shows how
Protestants and Catholics
00:06:17.51\00:06:21.71
are coming closer
and closer together.
00:06:21.74\00:06:24.58
In one statement,
Chuck Colson wrote,
00:06:24.61\00:06:27.38
"It's high time that
all of us who are Christians
00:06:27.42\00:06:30.69
come together
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regardless of the
differences of our confessions
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and our traditions
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and make common cause to
bring Christian values to bear
00:06:37.06\00:06:41.86
in our society.
00:06:41.90\00:06:43.23
When the barbarians
are scaling the walls,
00:06:43.26\00:06:46.47
there is no time for
petty quarreling in the camp. "
00:06:46.50\00:06:50.74
In another statement he wrote,
00:06:50.77\00:06:53.84
"But at root,
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those who are called of God,
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whether Catholic or Protestant,
00:06:57.31\00:06:59.51
are part of the same Body.
00:06:59.55\00:07:02.38
What they share is a belief
in the basics: the virgin birth,
00:07:02.42\00:07:07.82
the deity of Christ,
00:07:07.86\00:07:09.22
His bodily resurrection,
00:07:09.26\00:07:11.19
His imminent return,
00:07:11.23\00:07:12.79
and the authority
of His infallible Word.
00:07:12.83\00:07:15.96
They also share
the same mission:
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presenting Christ
as Savior and Lord
00:07:19.07\00:07:22.10
to a needy world. "
00:07:22.14\00:07:23.47
I don't know where Chuck Colson
was getting this information.
00:07:23.51\00:07:27.68
He says that
Catholics and Protestants
00:07:27.71\00:07:29.91
belong to the same body.
00:07:29.94\00:07:32.05
They share the same basics
00:07:32.08\00:07:34.12
and they have the same mission.
00:07:34.15\00:07:37.42
Folks, that
simply is not accurate.
00:07:37.45\00:07:42.02
The Roman Catholic Church
00:07:42.09\00:07:43.89
is the harlot of
Revelation chapter 17.
00:07:43.93\00:07:47.23
How can we say that it
is part of the same body
00:07:47.26\00:07:51.27
of faithful
Christians to the Lord?
00:07:51.33\00:07:54.50
In another remark,
Chuck Colson wrote,
00:07:54.54\00:07:57.61
"I pray that his book...
" that is Fournier's book
00:07:57.67\00:08:01.64
"will be read by
Catholics and Protestants alike,
00:08:01.68\00:08:05.65
that it will be a bridge
00:08:05.68\00:08:08.22
across many of the
historic divisions in the church
00:08:08.25\00:08:12.25
that have weakened our
stand in today's culture. "
00:08:12.29\00:08:16.12
So, there you have the
bridge between Protestantism
00:08:16.16\00:08:20.00
and Catholicism.
00:08:20.03\00:08:21.36
Keith Fournier...
throughout the book
00:08:21.40\00:08:25.00
expressed the same
ecumenical sentiments.
00:08:25.03\00:08:28.17
And I'm going to read
now several statements
00:08:28.20\00:08:31.31
that Keith
Fournier made in his book.
00:08:31.34\00:08:33.31
The previous statements
were written by Chuck Colson
00:08:33.34\00:08:36.44
an Evangelical in the
introduction to the book
00:08:36.48\00:08:39.28
but now I am going to
read Keith Fournier's comments.
00:08:39.31\00:08:42.45
On Page 12 he wrote,
00:08:42.48\00:08:44.95
"We Christians
have differences...
00:08:44.99\00:08:46.96
important, critical differences.
00:08:46.99\00:08:50.03
But we have far more in common
both in beliefs and in mission.
00:08:50.06\00:08:55.56
These believers have
built on their commonalities
00:08:55.60\00:09:00.10
without denying
their differences. "
00:09:00.14\00:09:02.44
On Page 65 he wrote,
00:09:02.47\00:09:05.27
"But as long as we see
ourselves as disconnected,
00:09:05.31\00:09:08.98
even polarized,
communities with some of us
00:09:09.01\00:09:12.41
adhering to 'the right faith'
00:09:12.45\00:09:15.35
while the rest of us
are languishing in error,
00:09:15.38\00:09:18.52
we will never receive
the incredibly rich benefits
00:09:18.55\00:09:22.19
of a worldwide revival. "
00:09:22.22\00:09:24.79
On Page 65 he also wrote,
00:09:24.83\00:09:27.90
"We must see that we
were meant to be one church
00:09:27.93\00:09:31.97
united under one Head
00:09:32.00\00:09:34.47
for the purpose of
carrying out a two-fold mission
00:09:34.50\00:09:38.07
proclaiming the gospel
and maturing in Christ. "
00:09:38.11\00:09:42.91
Folks, the Roman Catholic gospel
00:09:42.94\00:09:46.21
is not the Protestant gospel.
00:09:46.25\00:09:49.02
They are two different gospels.
00:09:49.05\00:09:50.62
Finally, on page 153,
00:09:50.65\00:09:53.76
we find Fournier
wrote the following words,
00:09:53.79\00:09:57.19
"As we prepare to move
into the next millennium,
00:09:57.23\00:10:00.83
we will we do it together,
00:10:00.86\00:10:03.30
recognizing that
what we have in common
00:10:03.33\00:10:06.50
far exceeds what separates us.
00:10:06.53\00:10:09.84
Or will we allow
our internal divisions
00:10:09.87\00:10:13.31
to hold us back from
fulfilling our heritage?"
00:10:13.34\00:10:17.71
So the Ecumenists referred
to the theological differences
00:10:17.75\00:10:22.15
as petty quarreling.
00:10:22.18\00:10:23.69
My question is: Is the fourth
commandment of God's holy law
00:10:23.72\00:10:28.62
which commands us to
keep the seventh-day Sabbath
00:10:28.66\00:10:31.66
an important issue?
00:10:31.69\00:10:33.43
Is it petty quarreling to say,
00:10:33.46\00:10:36.16
"Well, is it
Sunday or the Sabbath?"
00:10:36.20\00:10:38.50
Is it petty quarreling to
say that the dead are dead
00:10:38.53\00:10:44.11
in contrast to Protestantism
that says generally
00:10:44.14\00:10:49.68
that the dead are not dead...
00:10:49.74\00:10:52.55
that the soul flies off
to heaven when a person dies?
00:10:52.58\00:10:55.15
Is it an
insignificant difference to say
00:10:55.18\00:10:58.25
that the dead are
dead until the resurrection
00:10:58.29\00:11:00.66
or that the dead...
00:11:00.69\00:11:02.16
actually their soul flies
off to heaven when they die?
00:11:02.22\00:11:04.99
I don't see that
as a small difference.
00:11:05.03\00:11:08.73
John Swanley who
was a strong supporter
00:11:08.76\00:11:11.60
of the separation
of church and state
00:11:11.63\00:11:14.97
and opposed the
ecumenical overtures
00:11:15.00\00:11:18.27
between Protestants and
Catholics wrote the following,
00:11:18.31\00:11:22.98
"Roman Catholic bishops
are also at work politically
00:11:23.01\00:11:27.65
to end separation
of church and state.
00:11:27.68\00:11:31.15
They are working in
an informal alliance
00:11:31.19\00:11:35.16
with fundamentalist Protestants
00:11:35.19\00:11:37.46
not only on the abortion issue,
00:11:37.49\00:11:40.06
but to get government support
of private church schools.
00:11:40.10\00:11:44.57
The major
Protestant denominations
00:11:44.60\00:11:47.57
have been effectively
silenced by ecumenism,
00:11:47.60\00:11:51.94
falsely based on fear
00:11:51.97\00:11:54.68
of offending the
Catholic hierarchy. "
00:11:54.71\00:11:58.21
In other words,
because they want to be...
00:11:58.25\00:12:01.12
they want to have
political correctness...
00:12:01.15\00:12:03.59
that is... Protestants.
00:12:03.62\00:12:05.02
Two professors of Jerry
Falwell's Liberty University
00:12:05.05\00:12:11.19
in Lynchburg,
Virginia wrote the following,
00:12:11.23\00:12:14.40
"We are seeking a
political alliance
00:12:14.43\00:12:17.87
between the
Roman Catholic church
00:12:17.90\00:12:20.37
and conservative Protestants
00:12:20.40\00:12:22.97
that would have
a profound impact
00:12:23.00\00:12:25.87
in the areas of
abortion, family life,
00:12:25.91\00:12:28.84
school policy and
public morality. "
00:12:28.88\00:12:32.78
Ralph Reed who spoke to the
Catholic campaign for America
00:12:32.81\00:12:38.15
described the
ecumenical spirit of the time.
00:12:38.19\00:12:41.52
This is what he said to the
Catholic campaign for America.
00:12:41.56\00:12:46.53
"The truth is,
you and I are uniting.
00:12:46.56\00:12:50.10
We are coming together
00:12:50.13\00:12:51.90
because whatever theological
differences there are,
00:12:51.93\00:12:56.14
there is far more that
unites us and brings us together
00:12:56.17\00:13:00.38
than divides us
and separates us.
00:13:00.41\00:13:03.55
The good news is the
chasm is being bridged
00:13:03.58\00:13:08.38
and that those
walls are crumbling. "
00:13:08.42\00:13:11.72
The walls of separation between
Protestants and Catholics
00:13:11.75\00:13:14.99
he's referring to.
00:13:15.02\00:13:16.39
He continues, "The
truth my friends is this.
00:13:16.42\00:13:19.76
Catholicism never
has been, is not today,
00:13:19.79\00:13:24.47
and never will be a
threat to American democracy. "
00:13:24.50\00:13:29.04
Think again Folks,
00:13:29.07\00:13:30.91
Roman Catholic
Church does not change.
00:13:30.94\00:13:35.18
It has the same
principles today as it had
00:13:35.21\00:13:39.45
during the time it persecuted
the saints of the Most High
00:13:39.48\00:13:42.48
but it has changed its attitude,
00:13:42.52\00:13:46.05
its external attitude... but
in essence it's the same System.
00:13:46.09\00:13:50.36
We find Ralph Reed continuing,
00:13:50.39\00:13:53.66
"It was Catholicism and
remains the most colorful
00:13:53.70\00:13:58.23
and the most vibrant thread
00:13:58.27\00:14:00.90
running through the tapestry
of American democracy. "
00:14:00.94\00:14:04.21
And Ralph Reed is an
Evangelical Protestant.
00:14:04.24\00:14:09.01
And then he continued,
00:14:09.04\00:14:10.88
"Cardinal Gibbons said this... "
00:14:10.91\00:14:12.75
Cardinal Gibbons was a
very influential Cardinal
00:14:12.78\00:14:15.58
in the United
States in years past.
00:14:15.62\00:14:18.15
Cardinal Gibbons
said this: he said,
00:14:18.19\00:14:21.42
"No constitution is more in
harmony with Catholic principles
00:14:21.46\00:14:26.80
than the American constitution
00:14:26.83\00:14:29.20
and no religion is more in
accord with that constitution
00:14:29.23\00:14:34.97
than the Catholic religion. "
00:14:35.00\00:14:36.67
I have no idea where Ralph Reed
is getting this information from
00:14:36.71\00:14:42.14
because history shows
00:14:42.18\00:14:44.71
that the Constitution
of the United States
00:14:44.75\00:14:47.78
is the total
opposite of the principles
00:14:47.82\00:14:50.79
upon which the Roman
Catholic Church stands.
00:14:50.82\00:14:53.25
He continued,
00:14:53.29\00:14:54.62
"I want you to know
00:14:54.66\00:14:55.99
that as Evangelicals we stand
shoulder to shoulder with you"
00:14:56.02\00:15:00.06
he's talking at
this Convention...
00:15:00.10\00:15:01.70
"in ensuring that never again
00:15:01.73\00:15:04.73
will bigotry be directed against
Catholics and their religion
00:15:04.77\00:15:08.87
be used to try and silence them
00:15:08.90\00:15:11.37
and drive them from
the public square. "
00:15:11.41\00:15:13.71
And then he concluded,
00:15:13.74\00:15:16.28
"I think you know that
we have recently launched
00:15:16.31\00:15:19.18
a division of the
Christian Coalition
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.52
called the Catholic Alliance
00:15:21.55\00:15:23.62
which is designed to formalize
and continue to build bridges
00:15:23.65\00:15:29.06
in our partnership
with Roman Catholics.
00:15:29.09\00:15:32.09
The Catholic Alliance,
like the Catholic Campaign,
00:15:32.13\00:15:35.73
will be a lay movement. "
00:15:35.76\00:15:38.73
I don't know where Ralph Reed is
getting his information from...
00:15:38.77\00:15:43.74
those who forget
the mistakes of history
00:15:43.77\00:15:47.58
are bound to repeat
those same mistakes, Folks.
00:15:47.61\00:15:50.31
Ralph Reed also
mentioned the following...
00:15:50.35\00:15:54.38
this is in the
Amarillo Sunday News Globe.
00:15:54.42\00:15:58.55
"We can no longer
afford to be divided... "
00:15:58.59\00:16:01.66
he says about
Protestants and Catholics.
00:16:01.69\00:16:05.09
"It is a luxury
that is no longer ours.
00:16:05.13\00:16:09.03
The left wants you
and I to be divided.
00:16:09.06\00:16:12.40
Nothing frightens
them more than Christians
00:16:12.43\00:16:17.04
shattering the
barriers of denomination. "
00:16:17.07\00:16:21.01
Keith Fournier who
as I mentioned before
00:16:21.04\00:16:25.18
was the former
Executive Director
00:16:25.21\00:16:27.45
of Pat Robertson's American
Center for Law and Justice
00:16:27.48\00:16:30.49
said this,
00:16:30.52\00:16:32.62
"Yet there is a wall
00:16:32.65\00:16:33.99
which has been mistakenly
erected in our beloved country.
00:16:34.02\00:16:39.39
Its impact on religious freedom
00:16:39.43\00:16:42.00
has perhaps had an even
more devastating effect,
00:16:42.03\00:16:44.83
it is the so called wall
00:16:44.87\00:16:47.94
of separation of
church and state. "
00:16:47.97\00:16:50.14
So, this is the next point
that we are going to notice
00:16:50.17\00:16:52.41
that is similar to what
happened from 1864 to 1888.
00:16:52.44\00:16:58.05
They actually wanted
to tear down the wall
00:16:58.08\00:17:01.68
of separation
between church and state.
00:17:01.72\00:17:04.65
Pat Robertson
also attacked the idea
00:17:04.69\00:17:08.42
of separation of church
and state in the Constitution.
00:17:08.46\00:17:11.26
This is what he wrote,
00:17:11.29\00:17:13.13
"Liberals and secular humanists
00:17:13.16\00:17:16.50
have kept us in submission
00:17:16.53\00:17:18.17
because they have talked about
separation of church and state.
00:17:18.20\00:17:22.64
There is no such
thing in the Constitution.
00:17:22.67\00:17:26.21
It's a lie of the left,
00:17:26.24\00:17:28.74
and we're not going
to take it anymore. "
00:17:28.78\00:17:32.15
What about the First Amendment?
00:17:32.18\00:17:35.28
"Congress shall make no law
00:17:35.32\00:17:37.75
respecting an
establishment of religion
00:17:37.79\00:17:39.82
or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof. "
00:17:39.85\00:17:43.02
True the
Constitution doesn't say
00:17:43.06\00:17:45.46
separation of church
and state in so many words
00:17:45.49\00:17:49.03
but the First
Amendment makes it clear
00:17:49.06\00:17:51.73
that there is a
separation of church and state
00:17:51.77\00:17:54.74
and Jefferson actually spoke
00:17:54.77\00:17:57.11
of the wall of separation
between church and state.
00:17:57.14\00:18:00.81
Jerry Falwell who
founded the Moral Majority
00:18:00.84\00:18:05.35
and passed away a few years ago,
00:18:05.38\00:18:06.82
had this to say
about church and state.
00:18:06.85\00:18:09.75
"Separation of church and state
has long been the battle cry
00:18:09.78\00:18:14.76
of civil libertarians
00:18:14.79\00:18:16.46
wishing to purge our
glorious Christian heritage
00:18:16.49\00:18:20.43
from our nation's history.
00:18:20.46\00:18:22.33
Of course, the term... "
00:18:22.36\00:18:24.23
that is,
separation of church and state
00:18:24.27\00:18:26.40
"never once
appears in our Constitution
00:18:26.43\00:18:29.54
and is a modern
fabrication of discrimination. "
00:18:29.57\00:18:34.74
D. James Kennedy who
was pastor for many years
00:18:34.78\00:18:39.78
of Coral Ridge Church
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
00:18:39.81\00:18:43.52
said this about
the wall of separation
00:18:43.55\00:18:46.79
between church and state.
00:18:46.82\00:18:48.16
"If we are
committed and involved
00:18:48.19\00:18:50.53
in taking back the
nation for Christian values...
00:18:50.56\00:18:53.96
there is no doubt we
can witness the dismantling
00:18:54.00\00:18:57.77
of not just the Berlin Wall
00:18:57.80\00:19:00.10
but the even more
diabolical wall of separation
00:19:00.14\00:19:05.07
that has led to
secularization, immorality,
00:19:05.11\00:19:08.41
and corruption in our country. "
00:19:08.44\00:19:10.35
So, he's referring to
the wall of separation
00:19:10.38\00:19:12.45
between church and
state as being diabolical.
00:19:12.48\00:19:16.15
What a contrast with what
Thomas Jefferson had to say
00:19:16.18\00:19:20.29
to the Danbury
Baptist Association.
00:19:20.32\00:19:22.96
Here are his words,
00:19:22.99\00:19:24.66
I contemplate with
sovereign reverence
00:19:24.69\00:19:29.03
that act of the
whole American people
00:19:29.06\00:19:32.23
which declared
that their legislature
00:19:32.27\00:19:34.37
should make no law respecting
an establishment of religion,
00:19:34.40\00:19:39.54
or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof,
00:19:39.57\00:19:43.24
thus building a
wall of separation
00:19:43.28\00:19:47.88
between church and state. "
00:19:47.92\00:19:50.55
Jefferson was clear that
there is a wall of separation
00:19:50.59\00:19:55.56
between church and state.
00:19:55.59\00:19:56.93
The First Amendment says so.
00:19:56.96\00:19:59.13
William Rehnquist who
worked for 33 years...
00:19:59.16\00:20:03.26
was a judge on the Supreme
Court of the United States
00:20:03.30\00:20:06.74
said the following
about the wall of separation
00:20:06.77\00:20:09.77
between church and state.
00:20:09.80\00:20:11.14
"The wall of separation
between church and state
00:20:11.17\00:20:14.58
is a metaphor
based on bad history;
00:20:14.61\00:20:18.51
a metaphor which
has proved useless
00:20:18.55\00:20:21.58
as a guide to judging;
00:20:21.62\00:20:23.52
it should be frankly
and explicitly abandoned. "
00:20:23.55\00:20:27.89
This is an
individual who for 19 years
00:20:27.92\00:20:31.39
served as the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court
00:20:31.43\00:20:34.70
of the United
States and he's saying that
00:20:34.73\00:20:36.67
the wall of separation
is based on bad history
00:20:36.70\00:20:39.60
and it should frankly
and explicitly be abandoned
00:20:39.63\00:20:43.64
as a guide to judging.
00:20:43.67\00:20:45.14
Ellen White had this
to say about the idea
00:20:45.17\00:20:50.48
of joining church and
state even in a slight way.
00:20:50.51\00:20:53.65
Great Controversy, page 297,
00:20:53.68\00:20:56.18
"The union of
church with the state
00:20:56.22\00:20:59.25
be the degree never so slight,
00:20:59.29\00:21:03.02
while it may appear to bring
the world nearer to the church,
00:21:03.06\00:21:07.33
does in reality but bring the
church nearer to the world. "
00:21:07.36\00:21:12.03
W.A. Chriswell who for 47
years was the Senior Pastor
00:21:12.07\00:21:18.37
of the First Baptist
Church in Dallas, Texas,
00:21:18.41\00:21:21.18
and served as President of
the National Baptist Convention
00:21:21.21\00:21:24.98
from 1969 to
1970 had this to say
00:21:25.01\00:21:28.95
about the wall of separation
between church and state.
00:21:28.98\00:21:31.95
"I believe that this notion
00:21:31.99\00:21:34.06
of the separation
of church and state
00:21:34.09\00:21:36.12
was the figment of some
infidel's imagination. "
00:21:36.16\00:21:40.56
Interesting.
00:21:40.60\00:21:43.67
The Baptists came
from the Anabaptists
00:21:43.70\00:21:45.40
who were persecuted mercilessly
00:21:45.43\00:21:47.87
even by Martin Luther
and John Calvin and others.
00:21:47.90\00:21:52.37
They were at the forefront
00:21:52.41\00:21:54.24
in the struggle
for religious liberty.
00:21:54.28\00:21:56.75
Arizona State
Senator John B. Conlan
00:21:56.78\00:22:01.02
during this period
that we're talking about...
00:22:01.05\00:22:02.85
80s... 90s... and
the early 2000s...
00:22:02.88\00:22:05.32
once stated,
00:22:05.35\00:22:06.72
"The separation of church
and state is a false issue.
00:22:06.76\00:22:09.92
It is a slogan created
by the secular humanists
00:22:09.96\00:22:13.80
that sounds legal
but is in fact a sham.
00:22:13.83\00:22:18.63
It does not appear
anywhere in the constitution,
00:22:18.67\00:22:21.80
and it is not a concept that
our Founding Fathers believed.
00:22:21.84\00:22:26.57
Separation of
church and state...
00:22:26.61\00:22:28.74
is simply a line of propaganda
00:22:28.78\00:22:31.75
created by modern humanists
00:22:31.78\00:22:34.98
to intimidate Christians
00:22:35.02\00:22:36.75
and make us believe that we
are second-class citizens. "
00:22:36.79\00:22:40.69
These are powerful statements.
00:22:40.72\00:22:43.73
These are...
00:22:43.76\00:22:45.16
these are statements
that are unbelievable.
00:22:45.19\00:22:48.56
You know, Protestants saying
that the wall of separation
00:22:48.60\00:22:51.10
of church and
state should not exist.
00:22:51.13\00:22:53.74
Keith Fournier who spoke at the
Second Annual Road to Victory
00:22:53.77\00:22:58.67
Briefing Conference of
the Christian Coalition
00:22:58.71\00:23:01.58
September 10 through 12, 1992...
00:23:01.61\00:23:04.95
this meeting took
place in Washington D.C.
00:23:04.98\00:23:07.62
had this to say about
the wall of separation.
00:23:07.65\00:23:11.02
"The wall of separation
between church and state
00:23:11.05\00:23:13.62
that was erected
by secular humanists
00:23:13.66\00:23:17.53
and other enemies
of religious freedom
00:23:17.56\00:23:20.50
has to come down.
00:23:20.53\00:23:22.80
That wall is more
of a threat to society
00:23:22.83\00:23:26.07
than the Berlin Wall ever was.
00:23:26.10\00:23:28.47
Those opposing our
views are the new Fascists. "
00:23:28.50\00:23:32.84
David Nelson
who was the Director
00:23:32.87\00:23:36.41
of Pat Robertson's
Christian Coalition in Colorado
00:23:36.44\00:23:39.81
stated this about
the wall of separation.
00:23:39.85\00:23:43.28
"Separation of church
and state is... Number 1:
00:23:43.32\00:23:46.05
not a teaching of
the founding fathers;
00:23:46.09\00:23:48.42
Number 2: not a
historical teaching;
00:23:48.46\00:23:51.99
Number 3: not a
teaching of law...
00:23:52.03\00:23:55.06
except in recent years... "
00:23:55.10\00:23:56.90
he puts in parenthesis...
00:23:56.93\00:23:58.27
"Number 4: not a
Biblical teaching.
00:23:58.30\00:24:01.30
In summary, there should
be absolutely no 'separation
00:24:01.34\00:24:06.27
of church and
state' in America. "
00:24:06.31\00:24:09.28
Now, many people are surprised
when I read these statements,
00:24:09.31\00:24:13.55
they say, "I
never knew this... "
00:24:13.58\00:24:16.72
you know, even some of
our camera operators here
00:24:16.75\00:24:18.45
in the studio
00:24:18.49\00:24:19.99
they said, "Wow! you know,
00:24:20.02\00:24:21.49
I never knew this aspect of
history in the United States. "
00:24:21.52\00:24:25.06
But I'm reading
from these individuals
00:24:25.09\00:24:27.93
who actually went on the
record regarding these issues.
00:24:27.96\00:24:31.37
During this period
also, there were some of those
00:24:31.40\00:24:34.94
who belonged to this
Religious Right Movement
00:24:34.97\00:24:38.47
that wanted to establish a
theocracy in the United States.
00:24:38.51\00:24:42.81
For example, Gary
North who was a Dominionist
00:24:42.84\00:24:47.15
and a Christian
Reconstructionist
00:24:47.18\00:24:49.92
wrote the following,
00:24:49.95\00:24:51.29
"We must use the
doctrine of religious liberty
00:24:51.32\00:24:54.79
to gain independence
for Christian schools
00:24:54.82\00:24:58.19
until we train up a
generation of people
00:24:58.23\00:25:01.96
who know that there is
no religious neutrality.
00:25:02.00\00:25:05.43
Then they will get busy
00:25:05.47\00:25:08.67
in constructing a
Bible-based social, political
00:25:08.70\00:25:13.07
and religious order
00:25:13.11\00:25:14.44
which finally denies
the religious liberty
00:25:14.48\00:25:17.68
of the enemies of God. "
00:25:17.71\00:25:19.15
So, in other words... train
up a whole group of young people
00:25:19.18\00:25:23.18
in the schools...
take over the schools...
00:25:23.22\00:25:24.69
train them that
there's no separation
00:25:24.72\00:25:27.32
between church and state
00:25:27.36\00:25:28.69
and then deny
freedom and liberty
00:25:28.72\00:25:31.33
to the enemies of God.
00:25:31.36\00:25:33.80
In other words, his idea was
to raise up a whole generation
00:25:33.83\00:25:38.73
of kids in the
Christian System...
00:25:38.77\00:25:41.34
get them to take
over the government...
00:25:41.37\00:25:43.74
and then deny religious
liberty to all who disagreed
00:25:43.77\00:25:48.14
with their perspective.
00:25:48.18\00:25:49.64
Journalist Cal
Thomas once wrote,
00:25:49.68\00:25:53.31
"If we will not be
constrained from within
00:25:53.35\00:25:56.48
by the power of God,
00:25:56.52\00:25:57.89
we must be
constrained from without
00:25:57.92\00:26:00.86
by the power of the
State acting as God's agent. "
00:26:00.89\00:26:05.09
In other words,
if the Holy Spirit
00:26:05.13\00:26:06.83
doesn't... is not
able to change the heart
00:26:06.86\00:26:10.57
and therefore,
morality in society falls,
00:26:10.60\00:26:14.30
then, it's necessary for
the government to propose laws
00:26:14.34\00:26:17.77
to order society morally
as people would like to see...
00:26:17.81\00:26:25.28
as Protestants
would like to see.
00:26:25.31\00:26:26.68
Pat Robertson had this to say
00:26:26.72\00:26:30.45
about the
Religious Right Movement,
00:26:30.49\00:26:33.25
"There will never be world peace
00:26:33.29\00:26:36.22
until God's
house and God's people
00:26:36.26\00:26:39.89
are given their
rightful place of leadership
00:26:39.93\00:26:43.03
at the top of the world.
00:26:43.06\00:26:44.67
How can there be peace
when drunkards, drug dealers,
00:26:44.70\00:26:49.97
communists, atheists,
New Age worshippers of Satan,
00:26:50.01\00:26:54.98
secular humanists,
00:26:55.01\00:26:56.64
oppressive dictators,
00:26:56.68\00:26:58.65
greedy moneychangers,
00:26:58.68\00:27:00.18
revolutionary assassins,
00:27:00.22\00:27:02.05
adulterers and
homosexuals are on top?
00:27:02.08\00:27:06.02
Under their
leadership the world will never,
00:27:06.05\00:27:09.89
I repeat never,
experience lasting peace.
00:27:09.92\00:27:13.06
Although I agree that it is
unwise for the organized church
00:27:13.09\00:27:17.67
as an institution to get
itself entwined with government
00:27:17.70\00:27:21.47
as an institution
00:27:21.50\00:27:22.84
there is absolutely no way
00:27:22.87\00:27:25.27
that government can
operate successfully
00:27:25.31\00:27:28.14
unless led by
godly men and women
00:27:28.18\00:27:32.75
operating under the
laws of the God of Jacob. "
00:27:32.78\00:27:37.29
In other words,
the God of Christianity
00:27:37.32\00:27:39.35
that is establishing a religion
00:27:39.39\00:27:41.79
which is forbidden by the First
Amendment to the Constitution.
00:27:41.82\00:27:45.89
Robertson's eschatology
fails to square with the Bible.
00:27:45.93\00:27:51.23
He's talking about
taking over the moral leadership
00:27:51.27\00:27:54.47
of the world by
taking over governments
00:27:54.50\00:27:57.11
and then, peace and prosperity
will come to the world.
00:27:57.14\00:28:00.34
That does not fit
with the Biblical scenario.
00:28:00.38\00:28:03.18
According to Matthew chapter 24,
00:28:03.21\00:28:05.65
the world is going
to get worse and worse
00:28:05.68\00:28:08.78
and the only thing
that will save this world
00:28:08.82\00:28:11.69
will be the second coming
of Jesus in power and glory
00:28:11.72\00:28:15.62
and after the
Millennium to establish
00:28:15.66\00:28:18.06
a new heavens and a new earth.
00:28:18.09\00:28:20.50
Those who envision changing
the world through legislation
00:28:20.53\00:28:24.67
are attempting an impossibility.
00:28:24.70\00:28:27.64
Only a change within the
heart can create a society
00:28:27.70\00:28:31.71
where there is lasting peace.
00:28:31.74\00:28:33.44
In other words, ministers
are called to preach the gospel.
00:28:33.48\00:28:37.01
They are not called to
get politically involved
00:28:37.05\00:28:40.12
in order to change society.
00:28:40.15\00:28:41.82
Societies change when
ministers preach in church
00:28:41.85\00:28:45.99
and in meetings...
00:28:46.02\00:28:47.36
they present the
gospel of Christ.
00:28:47.39\00:28:49.52
The Holy Spirit
changes the heart
00:28:49.56\00:28:51.56
and then when
the heart is changed,
00:28:51.59\00:28:53.60
the behavior changes as well.
00:28:53.63\00:28:56.16
Futurist Tim Lahaye... the
individual who was behind the...
00:28:56.20\00:29:03.20
the incredibly
popular Series: "Left Behind"
00:29:03.24\00:29:07.51
had this to say about the
secret for a national revival.
00:29:07.54\00:29:12.38
"While it is true that
God has already given America
00:29:12.41\00:29:17.09
three national
revivals in the past,
00:29:17.12\00:29:19.92
we desperately need
another one today. "
00:29:19.95\00:29:23.32
And then he says this,
00:29:23.36\00:29:26.39
"Personally, I am
not sure we can have one"
00:29:26.43\00:29:30.07
that is... a revival...
00:29:30.10\00:29:31.43
"without legislative reform. "
00:29:31.47\00:29:34.20
Since when does
legislative reform
00:29:34.24\00:29:38.21
bring about a revival in
the church and in society?
00:29:38.24\00:29:41.31
Revival comes by the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:29:41.34\00:29:44.31
through Bible study and prayer.
00:29:44.35\00:29:46.05
Since when does taking over
the government bring revival?
00:29:46.08\00:29:50.39
Real change comes
00:29:50.42\00:29:52.12
not by legislation from without
00:29:52.15\00:29:55.19
but by a change within.
00:29:55.22\00:29:57.66
In other words,
the gospel functions
00:29:57.69\00:30:00.00
on the principle of leaven...
00:30:00.03\00:30:01.46
let me give you an example
of what I'm talking about.
00:30:01.53\00:30:03.87
Pause...
00:30:03.90\00:30:05.23
I do not know how to make bread.
00:30:05.27\00:30:08.57
My wife makes delicious bread.
00:30:08.60\00:30:12.54
Now, how do people make bread?
00:30:12.57\00:30:15.41
How do you make a loaf of bread?
00:30:15.44\00:30:18.21
Well, I'll tell
you, it's very simple.
00:30:18.25\00:30:20.35
You take flour, water
and the other ingredients...
00:30:20.38\00:30:25.45
you put them in the bread maker
00:30:25.49\00:30:28.09
and then you have
a big ball of dough
00:30:28.12\00:30:31.29
and you form
the... the loaf of bread
00:30:31.33\00:30:34.40
and then you sprinkle a
little bit of leaven on top
00:30:34.43\00:30:39.43
so that the bread will grow.
00:30:39.47\00:30:41.50
You're laughing... you're saying
that's not the way it happens.
00:30:41.54\00:30:44.31
You know, it does no good to
sprinkle a little bit of leaven
00:30:44.34\00:30:48.71
on top of the loaf of dough.
00:30:48.74\00:30:50.28
What you need to do is:
put the leaven in the dough
00:30:50.31\00:30:53.52
and then, the
lump of dough grows.
00:30:53.55\00:30:57.49
The same is true with
the change in society.
00:30:57.52\00:31:00.56
You implant the Holy Spirit
00:31:00.59\00:31:02.72
through the preaching of
the Word in the human heart
00:31:02.76\00:31:05.13
and then, a person's
Christian experience grows
00:31:05.16\00:31:09.90
and society changes.
00:31:09.93\00:31:12.10
In other words, society changes
from within... not from without.
00:31:12.13\00:31:16.71
Jesus told His followers
to be the salt of the earth.
00:31:16.74\00:31:21.24
Tim Lahaye suggested
00:31:21.31\00:31:24.85
that Christians could
become the salt of the earth
00:31:24.88\00:31:27.82
by the following means:
00:31:27.85\00:31:29.92
By establishing a
political action committee...
00:31:29.95\00:31:33.69
Encouraging and preaching
on Christian activism...
00:31:33.72\00:31:37.46
By organizing a good
government committee...
00:31:37.49\00:31:40.60
By circulating
petitions and lobbying...
00:31:40.63\00:31:43.70
By conducting
political forums...
00:31:43.73\00:31:46.47
and by introducing
candidates at worship services.
00:31:46.50\00:31:51.34
Now, is this what Jesus meant
00:31:51.37\00:31:54.81
when He
recommended to His disciples
00:31:54.84\00:31:57.11
that they be the
salt of the earth?
00:31:57.15\00:31:59.41
I don't think so.
00:31:59.45\00:32:00.82
God's people are
the salt of the earth
00:32:00.88\00:32:04.59
when in church
they preach the gospel
00:32:04.65\00:32:08.29
and people are transformed
and changed from within.
00:32:08.32\00:32:12.03
Richard Hogue... Pastor...
00:32:12.06\00:32:15.40
who was pastor of the Mount
Bethel United Methodist church
00:32:15.43\00:32:18.70
wrote in his book:
"Saints and Dirty Politics"
00:32:18.73\00:32:22.14
the following words,
00:32:22.20\00:32:23.54
"if our country survives...
00:32:23.57\00:32:25.71
and I realize that's a big IF...
00:32:25.74\00:32:29.01
it will be because
there is an awakening
00:32:29.04\00:32:32.41
in the lives of committed
Christians across our nation
00:32:32.45\00:32:35.92
who will
finally begin to realize
00:32:35.95\00:32:39.02
that it is not
only their opportunity
00:32:39.05\00:32:42.22
but also their
absolute responsibility
00:32:42.29\00:32:45.43
to be intricately involved
00:32:45.46\00:32:49.06
in the political
process of our country
00:32:49.10\00:32:51.73
and use that involvement
00:32:51.77\00:32:53.64
to turn this nation
once again to the Lord. "
00:32:53.67\00:32:56.91
Once again, the idea:
Turning the nation to the Lord
00:32:56.94\00:33:00.84
by becoming involved
in the political system.
00:33:00.88\00:33:04.51
Ralph Reed shared his formula
00:33:04.55\00:33:07.42
on how to get the
country back to God.
00:33:07.45\00:33:10.49
I quote, "What
Christians have got to do
00:33:10.52\00:33:13.52
is take back this country,
00:33:13.56\00:33:15.96
one precinct at a time,
00:33:15.99\00:33:18.29
one neighborhood at a time,
00:33:18.33\00:33:20.60
one state at a time.
00:33:20.63\00:33:22.70
I honestly believe
that in my lifetime
00:33:22.73\00:33:25.90
we will see a country once again
00:33:25.93\00:33:28.84
governed by Christians. "
00:33:28.87\00:33:31.31
Randall Terry... the Founder of
the Anti-abortion Organization
00:33:31.34\00:33:37.61
Operation Rescue
00:33:37.65\00:33:40.32
gave a speech in
Willoughby Hill, Ohio,
00:33:40.35\00:33:42.18
in July of 1993 where he said,
00:33:42.22\00:33:45.39
"Our goal must be simple:
00:33:45.42\00:33:47.42
We must have a Christian nation
00:33:47.46\00:33:50.06
built on God's law,
on the Ten Commandments.
00:33:50.09\00:33:54.40
No apologies. "
00:33:54.43\00:33:56.23
A Christian nation...
00:33:56.26\00:33:57.90
would that not be the
establishment of religion?
00:33:57.93\00:34:01.40
Because there are other
religions besides Christianity.
00:34:01.44\00:34:04.54
We find Pat
Robertson many years ago
00:34:04.57\00:34:07.91
stating the objectives
of the Christian Right.
00:34:07.94\00:34:11.21
I quote: "we have
together with the Protestants
00:34:11.25\00:34:14.55
and the Catholics
enough votes to run the country
00:34:14.58\00:34:18.15
and when the people
say, 'We've had enough,'
00:34:18.19\00:34:21.36
we are going to take over. "
00:34:21.39\00:34:23.63
That is... to run the country.
00:34:23.66\00:34:25.83
Robert Grant... the
President of Christian Voice
00:34:25.86\00:34:30.17
which was a branch
of the Moral Majority
00:34:30.20\00:34:32.63
explained the final objective
of the Christian Right.
00:34:32.67\00:34:36.24
He said this,
00:34:36.27\00:34:38.37
"If Christians
unite we can do anything.
00:34:38.41\00:34:42.51
We can pass any
law or any amendment
00:34:42.54\00:34:46.58
and that's exactly
what we intend to do. "
00:34:46.61\00:34:50.79
Now, in the environment today
this might not seem possible
00:34:50.82\00:34:55.42
but it happened in the 1880s.
00:34:55.46\00:34:58.16
It happened in the
decades of the 1980s... 1990s...
00:34:58.19\00:35:03.87
and the early 2000s.
00:35:03.90\00:35:05.23
The time will
come when this view
00:35:05.27\00:35:09.67
will actually succeed
00:35:09.70\00:35:11.81
even though the
first two times, it failed.
00:35:11.84\00:35:14.74
In a television interview,
Grant boasted the following.
00:35:14.78\00:35:18.65
"We can do anything.
00:35:18.68\00:35:20.35
We can amend the Constitution.
00:35:20.38\00:35:22.28
We can elect a President.
00:35:22.32\00:35:24.32
We can change or
make any law in the land
00:35:24.35\00:35:27.22
and it behooves us to do it.
00:35:27.26\00:35:29.99
If we have to live
under the law, as well,
00:35:30.03\00:35:34.33
we should live under
moral and Godly Law. "
00:35:34.36\00:35:38.57
All of these views contrast
with what Ellen White wrote
00:35:38.60\00:35:44.81
in the Great
Controversy, page 297,
00:35:44.84\00:35:46.74
over 130 years ago.
00:35:46.78\00:35:51.01
She foresaw that this was
going to happen in America.
00:35:51.05\00:35:54.02
Actually, during her lifetime,
00:35:54.05\00:35:55.78
this was happening
after the Civil War
00:35:55.82\00:35:59.22
from 1864 all the way to
1888 during reconstruction.
00:35:59.25\00:36:03.09
When the United States
was in a National Emergency.
00:36:03.12\00:36:06.70
there was a strong push to
make this a Christian nation
00:36:06.76\00:36:10.30
and also, to have a
National Sunday Law.
00:36:10.33\00:36:13.67
It failed.
00:36:13.70\00:36:15.04
This movement in the 1980s...
1990s... and early 2000s...
00:36:15.07\00:36:19.31
it kind of has fizzled out
00:36:19.34\00:36:21.58
but it will come back again.
00:36:21.61\00:36:23.81
It will resurrect again
00:36:23.85\00:36:25.35
and it will cause severe
problems for the United States.
00:36:25.38\00:36:30.62
In fact, it will
lead to National Apostasy
00:36:30.65\00:36:33.29
and ultimately to National ruin.
00:36:33.32\00:36:34.92
Notice what Ellen White wrote,
00:36:34.96\00:36:36.49
"The regulation
adopted by the early colonists,
00:36:36.52\00:36:40.60
of permitting only
members of the church to vote
00:36:40.63\00:36:44.70
or to hold office in
the civil government,
00:36:44.73\00:36:47.47
led to most
pernicious results. "
00:36:47.50\00:36:51.01
So, in the Colonial period,
00:36:51.04\00:36:52.87
only members of
the established church
00:36:52.91\00:36:55.44
could occupy
position in the government.
00:36:55.48\00:36:57.78
She continues,
00:36:57.81\00:36:59.15
"This measure had
been accepted as a means
00:36:59.18\00:37:02.72
of preserving the
purity of the state... "
00:37:02.75\00:37:05.72
so, in other words, if you
have only Christian rulers,
00:37:05.75\00:37:08.66
the state will be pure.
00:37:08.69\00:37:10.23
But the opposite happened.
00:37:10.26\00:37:12.09
She continues,
00:37:12.13\00:37:13.46
"But it resulted in the
corruption of the church.
00:37:13.50\00:37:16.43
A profession of religion
00:37:16.46\00:37:19.13
being the condition of
suffrage and office holding,
00:37:19.17\00:37:23.14
many, actuated solely by
motives of worldly policy,
00:37:23.17\00:37:29.31
united with the church
without a change of heart. "
00:37:29.34\00:37:32.48
So, they said, "I want
to occupy political position
00:37:32.51\00:37:35.58
in the Colony, so,
I'll become a Christian
00:37:35.62\00:37:38.42
and then, I can be elected. "
00:37:38.45\00:37:39.82
So, what happens?
00:37:39.85\00:37:41.22
The person was not
a Christian at heart
00:37:41.26\00:37:43.26
so, he comes into the church
00:37:43.29\00:37:45.86
and the church
becomes corrupted.
00:37:45.89\00:37:47.86
She continues,
00:37:47.90\00:37:49.23
"Thus, the
churches came to consist
00:37:49.26\00:37:52.07
to a considerable
extent of unconverted persons
00:37:52.10\00:37:56.27
and even in the
ministry were those
00:37:56.30\00:37:59.94
who not only held
errors of doctrine,
00:37:59.97\00:38:02.58
but who were
ignorant of the renewing power
00:38:02.61\00:38:05.68
of the Holy Spirit.
00:38:05.71\00:38:07.05
Thus again was
demonstrated the evil results,
00:38:07.08\00:38:09.85
so often witnessed in
the history of the church
00:38:09.88\00:38:13.02
from the days of
Constantine to the present,
00:38:13.05\00:38:15.96
of attempting to build up the
church by the aid of the state,
00:38:15.99\00:38:20.73
of appealing to
the secular power
00:38:20.76\00:38:24.17
in support of the
gospel of Him who declared:
00:38:24.20\00:38:27.40
'My kingdom is
not of this world. '"
00:38:27.44\00:38:30.94
And then she wrote this,
00:38:30.97\00:38:32.54
"The union of the
church with the state
00:38:32.57\00:38:35.14
be the degree never so slight,
00:38:35.18\00:38:38.15
while it may appear to bring
the world nearer to the church,
00:38:38.18\00:38:42.02
does in reality but bring the
church nearer to the world. "
00:38:42.05\00:38:47.19
This movement in the 1980s...
1990s... and early 2000s...
00:38:47.22\00:38:53.83
actually also proposed
00:38:53.86\00:38:56.40
that Sunday should be
the national day of worship.
00:38:56.43\00:38:59.47
For example, D.
James Kennedy wrote,
00:38:59.50\00:39:02.20
"From the witness
of the early church,
00:39:02.24\00:39:04.84
from the witness of
our disarrayed lives,
00:39:04.87\00:39:08.11
from the witness of our society
as it teeters on the brink
00:39:08.14\00:39:13.08
of moral collapse,
00:39:13.11\00:39:14.45
we see that the need to keep
the Sabbath is truly urgent. "
00:39:14.48\00:39:18.69
And by the way, that
is one of the arguments
00:39:18.72\00:39:20.92
in the midst of a pandemic
00:39:20.96\00:39:22.29
is... "You know,
because everybody has been
00:39:22.32\00:39:25.49
shut in in their homes,
00:39:25.53\00:39:26.96
you know, the air is cleaner...
00:39:27.00\00:39:28.86
the water is cleaner...
00:39:28.90\00:39:30.23
so, we need a weekly Sunday rest
00:39:30.27\00:39:33.44
for the good of
the environment...
00:39:33.47\00:39:35.00
for the good of the family...
00:39:35.04\00:39:36.37
for the good of the poor. "
00:39:36.40\00:39:37.74
We're going to hear
more and more of this
00:39:37.77\00:39:39.47
as time goes by.
00:39:39.51\00:39:40.84
Even John Paul the second,
00:39:40.88\00:39:43.08
one of the most
influential Popes
00:39:43.14\00:39:44.48
in the history of the
Roman Catholic Church,
00:39:44.51\00:39:46.45
pleaded for Civil legislation
00:39:46.48\00:39:49.22
to observe Sunday
as the day of rest.
00:39:49.28\00:39:51.75
This is what he wrote in
Dies Domini... the document
00:39:51.79\00:39:56.49
the pastoral
letter that he wrote
00:39:56.52\00:39:58.69
concerning the observance
of the first day of the week.
00:39:58.73\00:40:02.56
He said, "In the particular
circumstances of our time,
00:40:02.63\00:40:06.47
Christians will naturally strive
00:40:06.50\00:40:09.17
to see that civil legislation
00:40:09.20\00:40:13.68
respects their duty to
keep the Sabbath day. "
00:40:13.71\00:40:17.21
And by the Sabbath
Day he means: Sunday.
00:40:17.25\00:40:20.75
What is the controversy
going to be at the end of time?
00:40:20.78\00:40:24.55
Is it going to be a controversy
over the oil of the Middle East
00:40:24.59\00:40:30.53
like it was being
said in the 60s and 70s?
00:40:30.56\00:40:33.09
No.
00:40:33.13\00:40:34.76
Is it going to be a war
between Christians and Islam?
00:40:34.80\00:40:37.53
No.
00:40:37.57\00:40:39.00
Is it going to be a war
between the right and the left?
00:40:39.03\00:40:41.74
No.
00:40:41.77\00:40:43.67
What are the issues
in the end-time conflict?
00:40:43.71\00:40:46.78
They are not
commercial political issues.
00:40:46.81\00:40:51.81
They are deeply
religious issues.
00:40:51.85\00:40:54.85
Every passage of Scripture
that speaks of the end time
00:40:54.88\00:40:58.92
tells us that the controversy
is going to be over worship
00:40:58.95\00:41:04.13
and God's holy law.
00:41:04.16\00:41:07.00
Between what we
find in human legislation
00:41:07.03\00:41:12.90
and the divine legislation
00:41:12.93\00:41:15.24
that we find in
the Ten Commandments.
00:41:15.27\00:41:17.67
Let me give you
several examples of passages
00:41:17.71\00:41:22.41
that deal with the
end time that tell us
00:41:22.44\00:41:24.51
that the issue is going
to involve the law of God.
00:41:24.55\00:41:28.78
Matthew chapter 7
is very interesting.
00:41:28.85\00:41:32.25
Here Jesus is speaking
to a group of believers
00:41:32.32\00:41:37.53
and He said the following.
00:41:37.56\00:41:40.03
Matthew chapter 7
and verses 21 to 23.
00:41:40.06\00:41:43.80
"Not everyone who
says to me 'Lord, Lord,'
00:41:43.87\00:41:48.44
shall enter the
kingdom of heaven;
00:41:48.47\00:41:51.11
but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven.
00:41:51.17\00:41:55.08
Many will say to me in
that day, 'Lord, Lord... '"
00:41:55.11\00:41:59.01
See, they claim to be Christians
00:41:59.05\00:42:00.62
because they say to
Jesus, "Lord, Lord... "
00:42:00.65\00:42:02.92
"Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name?
00:42:02.95\00:42:07.32
cast out demons in Your name?
00:42:07.36\00:42:10.36
and done many
wonders in Your name?"
00:42:10.39\00:42:13.16
We've performed miracles,
we've given prophecies...
00:42:13.19\00:42:15.80
We've even cast out demons.
00:42:15.83\00:42:17.47
And now notice
the response of Jesus.
00:42:17.50\00:42:20.64
"And then I
will declare to them,
00:42:20.67\00:42:23.74
'I never knew you:
00:42:23.77\00:42:25.64
depart from me you who
practice lawlessness. '"
00:42:25.67\00:42:29.74
That word "Lawlessness"
00:42:29.78\00:42:31.68
as we've noticed
in a previous lecture,
00:42:31.71\00:42:33.72
actually is the same word
00:42:33.75\00:42:36.42
that is translated in 1st
John chapter 3 and verse 4,
00:42:36.45\00:42:39.89
"transgression of the law"
00:42:39.92\00:42:41.29
so, in other words,
it could be translated,
00:42:41.32\00:42:44.73
"Depart from me you
who transgress the law. "
00:42:44.79\00:42:48.13
You see, if we're keeping
the wrong day of worship,
00:42:48.16\00:42:50.43
we are breaking God's law.
00:42:50.47\00:42:51.87
We are actually breaking
the most important commandment
00:42:51.90\00:42:56.27
of the Ten Commandments...
00:42:56.30\00:42:57.64
the one that
identifies God as the Creator
00:42:57.67\00:43:00.04
of the heavens and the earth.
00:43:00.08\00:43:01.41
In Matthew chapter
24, we find once again
00:43:01.44\00:43:05.11
that in the end
time, the Law of God
00:43:05.15\00:43:07.28
will be involved.
00:43:07.32\00:43:08.98
Matthew chapter
24 and let's notice
00:43:09.02\00:43:12.05
what we find in verse 12.
00:43:12.09\00:43:15.29
It says there in verse 12,
00:43:15.32\00:43:18.46
"And because
lawlessness will abound,
00:43:18.49\00:43:21.90
the love of many
will grow cold. "
00:43:21.93\00:43:25.13
Once again, that
word "Lawlessness"
00:43:25.17\00:43:28.34
is the Greek word, Anomias
00:43:28.37\00:43:30.14
and it really
should be translated
00:43:30.17\00:43:32.14
and because of the
transgression of the law...
00:43:32.17\00:43:35.18
transgression of the law...
00:43:35.21\00:43:37.98
the love of many will grow cold.
00:43:38.01\00:43:40.35
In other words,
society will be devoid of love,
00:43:40.38\00:43:44.55
because of the
transgression of God's law
00:43:44.59\00:43:47.46
and the primary commandment
that will be transgressed
00:43:47.49\00:43:50.89
will be the Sabbath commandment
00:43:50.93\00:43:52.93
that identifies
God as the Creator
00:43:52.96\00:43:54.86
and the fact
that we are creatures
00:43:54.93\00:43:56.80
and we owe Him our respect
00:43:56.83\00:43:58.63
and we owe Him our obedience.
00:43:58.67\00:44:00.37
Once again, 2nd
Thessalonians chapter 2
00:44:00.44\00:44:03.84
tells us that
the law is involved
00:44:03.87\00:44:06.24
in the work of the final
Antichrist in this world.
00:44:06.27\00:44:09.31
2nd Thessalonians chapter 2
00:44:09.34\00:44:11.85
refers to the final Antichrist
as the Man of Lawlessness.
00:44:11.88\00:44:17.75
Interesting...
the Man of Lawlessness
00:44:17.79\00:44:20.82
once again, the
Greek word: Anomias.
00:44:20.86\00:44:23.83
The... the man of the
transgression of the law
00:44:23.86\00:44:27.50
because the Papacy tells us
00:44:27.53\00:44:29.46
that the day of worship is
not the seventh-day Sabbath...
00:44:29.50\00:44:32.43
they say, "Our church has
changed the day of worship
00:44:32.47\00:44:36.20
from Sabbath to Sunday. "
00:44:36.24\00:44:37.84
So, this Antichrist is
called: the lawless one.
00:44:37.87\00:44:43.01
Notice verse 7,
00:44:43.04\00:44:44.38
"For the mystery of lawlessness
is already at work. "
00:44:44.41\00:44:48.88
It was at work
in the days of Paul.
00:44:48.92\00:44:50.89
"Only he who now
restrains will do so
00:44:50.92\00:44:53.42
until he is
taken out of the way. "
00:44:53.46\00:44:55.82
And then verse 9 says,
00:44:55.86\00:44:58.89
"the coming of the lawless one
00:44:58.93\00:45:00.26
is according to the
working of Satan with all power,
00:45:00.30\00:45:03.57
signs and lying wonders. "
00:45:03.60\00:45:06.00
So, once again, we
find in the end time
00:45:06.03\00:45:10.31
that there will be a
System that is characterized
00:45:10.34\00:45:13.07
by transgression of the law.
00:45:13.11\00:45:15.94
What about Daniel chapter 7?
00:45:15.98\00:45:18.55
Once again, the Antichrist
is portrayed as a System
00:45:18.58\00:45:22.88
that is contrary
to God's holy law.
00:45:22.92\00:45:26.42
Notice Daniel
chapter 7 and verse 25.
00:45:26.45\00:45:29.69
We've studied this in one
of our previous Presentations.
00:45:29.72\00:45:32.43
This is... the Little
Horn is speaking about
00:45:32.46\00:45:35.00
the Roman Catholic Papacy
00:45:35.06\00:45:36.50
and the Papacy did many things
00:45:36.53\00:45:38.67
during the first
period of its dominion.
00:45:38.70\00:45:42.20
We are told in
Daniel chapter 7 verse 25
00:45:42.24\00:45:44.61
what this Little Horn would do.
00:45:44.64\00:45:46.11
"He shall speak pompous
words against the Most High. "
00:45:46.14\00:45:49.68
The book of Revelation
identifies those pompous words
00:45:49.71\00:45:53.25
as blasphemies
00:45:53.28\00:45:56.02
and the Bible defines
blasphemy as, first of all,
00:45:56.05\00:45:59.59
when a mere man claims to have
the power and authority of God
00:45:59.65\00:46:02.89
and Number 2:
00:46:02.92\00:46:04.39
when a mere man
claims to have the power
00:46:04.43\00:46:07.23
and the
authority to forgive sins.
00:46:07.30\00:46:09.20
The Papacy claims that the Pope
is God's representative on earth
00:46:09.26\00:46:13.03
and the Papacy claims
00:46:13.07\00:46:15.04
that its priesthood has
the power to forgive sins.
00:46:15.07\00:46:18.37
That is blasphemy.
00:46:18.41\00:46:19.74
So, it says, "He
shall speak pompous words
00:46:19.77\00:46:21.98
against the Most High...
00:46:22.01\00:46:23.35
shall persecute the
saints of the Most High... "
00:46:23.38\00:46:26.05
I'm sure that you've
heard of the Inquisition...
00:46:26.08\00:46:28.98
how the Roman Catholic
Papacy persecuted everyone
00:46:29.02\00:46:31.85
that was not in
harmony with the teachings
00:46:31.92\00:46:34.06
and practices of the church
00:46:34.09\00:46:35.42
and it used the
power of the State
00:46:35.46\00:46:37.86
to persecute
those who did not agree
00:46:37.89\00:46:40.16
with its
doctrines and practices.
00:46:40.20\00:46:42.36
But then, there's
another characteristic.
00:46:42.40\00:46:46.43
"And shall intend to
change times and laws. "
00:46:46.47\00:46:50.41
So, we're told that the Papacy
would think during this period
00:46:50.44\00:46:54.44
of time... times...
the dividing of time...
00:46:54.51\00:46:56.81
538 to 1798...
00:46:56.85\00:46:59.05
the Papacy would intend or
think to change God's holy law.
00:46:59.08\00:47:04.42
And Folks, the
Papacy has done that.
00:47:04.45\00:47:06.89
If you look at the catechisms
of the Roman Catholic Church,
00:47:06.96\00:47:11.16
the Second
Commandment isn't there...
00:47:11.19\00:47:13.50
it disappears.
00:47:13.53\00:47:15.03
because the
Second Commandment says
00:47:15.06\00:47:17.03
that we're not
supposed to make images
00:47:17.07\00:47:18.97
and we're not supposed
to worship those images...
00:47:19.00\00:47:21.00
we're not supposed
to bow before them.
00:47:21.04\00:47:22.67
So, why does the
Roman Catholic Church
00:47:22.70\00:47:24.81
take that commandment
out of the Catechism?
00:47:24.84\00:47:26.74
Because when you teach
kids for First Communion
00:47:26.78\00:47:30.95
about the commandments
00:47:30.98\00:47:32.55
and they see that commandment...
00:47:32.58\00:47:34.18
they're going to say,
"But wait a minute Mr. Priest,
00:47:34.22\00:47:37.29
we have all kinds
of images in church...
00:47:37.32\00:47:39.52
and our faithful people in the
church bow before those images,
00:47:39.55\00:47:43.66
how does that square
with God's commandment?"
00:47:43.69\00:47:45.66
Now, because they get rid
of the second commandment,
00:47:45.69\00:47:48.86
they have to divide the
tenth commandment in two
00:47:48.90\00:47:51.93
in order to end up with ten.
00:47:51.97\00:47:53.64
So, they divide the
tenth commandment to say,
00:47:53.67\00:47:56.10
"You shall not covet
your neighbor's goods
00:47:56.14\00:47:58.51
and you shall not
covet your neighbor's wife. "
00:47:58.57\00:48:01.44
But covetousness is
one commandment, Folks,
00:48:01.48\00:48:04.35
so, once again, Daniel 7
tells us that the Little Horn
00:48:04.38\00:48:07.15
would think to change God's law.
00:48:07.18\00:48:09.88
The book of
Revelation also shows
00:48:09.92\00:48:12.62
that the issue is worship.
00:48:12.65\00:48:14.09
Whether we worship the Creator
00:48:14.16\00:48:15.66
or whether we worship the beast.
00:48:15.69\00:48:17.73
In the first angel's message,
00:48:17.76\00:48:19.73
we have a call to
worship the Creator.
00:48:19.76\00:48:22.36
By the way,
Revelation 14 has three messages
00:48:22.40\00:48:25.57
of three angels
00:48:25.60\00:48:26.94
that are going to go
to all of the world...
00:48:26.97\00:48:29.14
calling the world
to worship the Creator.
00:48:29.17\00:48:31.24
And at the same time
there's going to be a message
00:48:31.27\00:48:33.88
given by the beast.
00:48:33.91\00:48:35.28
He's going to want
to impose his mark.
00:48:35.31\00:48:37.21
Notice what we find
in Revelation chapter 14
00:48:37.25\00:48:40.42
verses 6 and 7,
00:48:40.45\00:48:41.78
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:48:41.82\00:48:44.45
having the everlasting gospel
00:48:44.49\00:48:46.59
to preach to those
who dwell on the earth...
00:48:46.65\00:48:49.26
to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people,
00:48:49.29\00:48:51.86
saying with a loud voice,
00:48:51.89\00:48:53.76
'Fear God, and
give glory to Him;
00:48:53.80\00:48:56.53
for the hour of His
judgment has come... '"
00:48:56.56\00:48:58.70
and then notice,
00:48:58.73\00:49:00.07
"and worship Him who
made heaven and earth,
00:49:00.10\00:49:03.20
the sea, and
springs of waters. "
00:49:03.24\00:49:04.97
What sign did God create
00:49:05.01\00:49:07.21
to remind us that
He is the Creator?
00:49:07.24\00:49:09.74
The Sabbath.
00:49:09.78\00:49:11.11
The seventh-day
Sabbath... the day of rest.
00:49:11.15\00:49:13.68
God says in Ezekiel chapter
20 verse 12 and verse 20,
00:49:13.72\00:49:17.72
He says... the Sabbath
is a sign between Me and you
00:49:17.75\00:49:21.86
so that you know that I am
the Lord who sanctifies you...
00:49:21.89\00:49:24.89
so that you know that
I am the Lord your God. "
00:49:24.93\00:49:27.26
The Sabbath is the great sign
00:49:27.30\00:49:29.53
between the Creator and
His creature... creatures...
00:49:29.56\00:49:32.40
and in verse 7 we are
told that a call is made
00:49:32.43\00:49:36.04
to every nation...
kindred... tongue and people
00:49:36.07\00:49:38.11
to worship the Creator
00:49:38.17\00:49:39.64
of course, that
means respecting the sign
00:49:39.67\00:49:42.34
or the
remembrance of the Creator.
00:49:42.38\00:49:44.65
Ah, but there's another power.
00:49:44.71\00:49:46.88
The other power
is called the beast.
00:49:46.92\00:49:48.65
And the beast wants worship too
00:49:48.68\00:49:50.79
and the beast is going
to have a mark as well.
00:49:50.85\00:49:53.66
And his mark has
to be an opposite day
00:49:53.69\00:49:56.79
than the day that is the
sign between God and His people.
00:49:56.83\00:50:00.16
The third angel's message
tells us that the final issue
00:50:00.20\00:50:03.50
is the issue of worship.
00:50:03.53\00:50:04.93
It says in verse 9,
00:50:04.97\00:50:06.30
"Then a third angel followed
them saying with a loud voice,
00:50:06.33\00:50:09.84
'If anyone worships the
beast and his image... '"
00:50:09.87\00:50:12.57
see, that's in contrast
to worshipping the Creator...
00:50:12.61\00:50:15.28
"worships the
beast and his image,
00:50:15.31\00:50:17.08
and receives his mark on
his forehead, or on his hand,
00:50:17.11\00:50:21.35
he himself shall also drink
of the wine of the wrath of God,
00:50:21.38\00:50:24.69
which is poured
out full strength
00:50:24.72\00:50:26.62
into the cup of his indignation;
00:50:26.65\00:50:28.52
he shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone
00:50:28.56\00:50:31.23
in the presence
of the holy angels,
00:50:31.26\00:50:32.73
and in the
presence of the Lamb. "
00:50:32.76\00:50:34.20
This is a terrible
denunciation of God.
00:50:34.23\00:50:36.60
God tells us this
because He doesn't want people
00:50:36.67\00:50:40.40
to end up worshipping
the beast and his image
00:50:40.44\00:50:42.64
and receiving the mark.
00:50:42.67\00:50:44.01
So, while
Christians... Protestants...
00:50:44.04\00:50:46.94
are looking to the Middle East
for the fulfillment of prophecy
00:50:46.98\00:50:49.68
they're expecting
this personal Antichrist
00:50:49.74\00:50:52.18
sitting in a
rebuilt Jewish temple...
00:50:52.21\00:50:54.42
building a great
big statue of himself...
00:50:54.48\00:50:56.65
commanding everyone to worship
00:50:56.69\00:50:58.02
and tattooing
people on the forehead
00:50:58.05\00:51:00.06
or on their right hand.
00:51:00.09\00:51:01.42
Meanwhile, the power that
claims to have changed God's Law
00:51:01.46\00:51:05.53
is in Rome
00:51:05.56\00:51:06.90
and the United
States of America...
00:51:06.93\00:51:08.36
Protestants are coming
closer and closer to Rome.
00:51:08.40\00:51:10.90
They no longer fear Rome.
00:51:10.93\00:51:13.13
What a tragedy that prophecy
is being fulfilled in the West
00:51:13.17\00:51:17.44
and everybody among Protestants
is looking to the East.
00:51:17.47\00:51:21.74
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 17
00:51:21.78\00:51:25.08
tells us what the
controversy is about...
00:51:25.11\00:51:27.18
the final controversy...
00:51:27.22\00:51:28.55
Revelation 12 gives us the
history of the... the church
00:51:28.58\00:51:33.42
from the Old Testament times
00:51:33.46\00:51:35.32
to the birth of Jesus...
00:51:35.36\00:51:37.13
to the ascension of Christ...
00:51:37.16\00:51:38.89
to His enthronement in heaven...
00:51:38.93\00:51:40.60
the persecutions against God's
church during the 1260 years...
00:51:40.63\00:51:45.17
the rise of the United States
00:51:45.20\00:51:47.40
and then we have a
picture of the final remnant.
00:51:47.44\00:51:50.77
In verse 17 of Revelation 12,
00:51:50.81\00:51:53.58
it tells us what the dragon
is going to be angry about.
00:51:53.64\00:51:56.64
Notice, it's God's law
00:51:56.68\00:51:58.01
and it's worship
all the way through.
00:51:58.05\00:51:59.78
It says in verse 17,
00:51:59.81\00:52:01.38
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman,
00:52:01.42\00:52:03.92
and he went to make war
with the rest of her offspring"
00:52:03.95\00:52:07.62
better translation...
"with the remnant of her seed"
00:52:07.66\00:52:10.53
and what is
their characteristic?
00:52:10.56\00:52:12.53
"They keep the
commandments of God,
00:52:12.56\00:52:14.43
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ. "
00:52:14.46\00:52:17.90
Folks, everyone in the city
of Jerusalem... the new city...
00:52:17.93\00:52:22.50
after the Millennium is going
to be a commandment keeper.
00:52:22.54\00:52:27.08
Revelation chapter 22
and verse 14 and verse 15
00:52:27.11\00:52:31.01
tells us the following,
00:52:31.05\00:52:33.28
"Blessed are those
who do His commandments,
00:52:33.31\00:52:36.28
that they may have the
right to the tree of life,
00:52:36.32\00:52:39.25
and may enter through
the gates into the city. "
00:52:39.29\00:52:41.76
So, those inside the
city are commandment keepers.
00:52:41.79\00:52:45.36
What about outside?
00:52:45.39\00:52:47.10
"But outside are
dogs and sorcerers...
00:52:47.13\00:52:50.40
sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters,
00:52:50.43\00:52:53.64
and whoever loves
and practices a lie. "
00:52:53.67\00:52:56.81
So, all of these texts show
us that the final controversy
00:52:56.84\00:53:00.41
is over God's
commandments and worship.
00:53:00.44\00:53:03.45
Now, I want to read a couple
of statements by Ellen White
00:53:03.48\00:53:06.92
in closing, Great
Controversy, page 590.
00:53:06.95\00:53:10.42
It doesn't seem possible
that this could take place
00:53:10.45\00:53:13.76
but when it does,
remember these Presentations
00:53:13.79\00:53:18.36
that you have seen here from our
Studios in Fresno, California.
00:53:18.39\00:53:22.43
"It will be declared
that men are offending God
00:53:22.46\00:53:27.57
by the violation
of the Sunday sabbath,
00:53:27.60\00:53:30.44
that this sin has brought
calamities that will not cease
00:53:30.47\00:53:34.91
until Sunday observance
shall be strictly enforced,
00:53:34.94\00:53:38.75
and that those
who present the claims
00:53:38.78\00:53:41.42
of the fourth commandment,
00:53:41.45\00:53:42.78
thus destroying
reverence for Sunday,
00:53:42.82\00:53:45.82
are troublers of the people,
00:53:45.85\00:53:48.12
preventing their
restoration to divine favor
00:53:48.16\00:53:51.49
and temporal prosperity. "
00:53:51.53\00:53:53.46
And you say, "Well,
that could never happen. "
00:53:53.50\00:53:56.13
It happened in the
days of Elijah, Folks.
00:53:56.16\00:53:57.97
Who was blamed for the
fact that there was no rain
00:53:58.00\00:54:02.20
for three and a half years?
00:54:02.24\00:54:03.57
"Oh, it was
Elijah... " they said,
00:54:03.61\00:54:05.07
"if we can get rid of Elijah,
00:54:05.11\00:54:06.44
temporal prosperity
will come back again...
00:54:06.47\00:54:08.74
we'll be blessed again. "
00:54:08.78\00:54:10.11
It will happen just
like it occurred in the past.
00:54:10.15\00:54:13.92
In the last
statement, Ellen White wrote
00:54:13.95\00:54:16.99
and she made a very
interesting comparison.
00:54:17.02\00:54:20.02
This is found in
Signs of the Times,
00:54:20.06\00:54:25.29
March 31, 1898.
00:54:25.33\00:54:27.86
"Those who ignore
the Lord's Sabbath
00:54:27.90\00:54:31.53
to keep holy the
first day of the week,
00:54:31.57\00:54:34.77
offer strange fire to God. "
00:54:34.80\00:54:37.87
She's alluding to the
story of Nadab and Abihu,
00:54:37.91\00:54:41.64
the sons of Aaron,
00:54:41.68\00:54:43.01
who took common fire
00:54:43.04\00:54:45.01
and presented it as if it
was holy in the sanctuary.
00:54:45.05\00:54:49.82
See... God had said,
"Take the fire from the altar...
00:54:49.85\00:54:52.65
that fire that I
rain from heaven... "
00:54:52.69\00:54:54.62
that's holy fire...
00:54:54.66\00:54:55.99
whenever you take incense
into the sanctuary with fire,
00:54:56.02\00:54:59.33
you're going to
take it from that altar
00:54:59.36\00:55:01.16
because that's holy fire.
00:55:01.20\00:55:02.63
Don't take any
other kind of fire.
00:55:02.66\00:55:04.43
But Nadab and
Abihu who were drunk...
00:55:04.50\00:55:06.23
they were intoxicated...
00:55:06.27\00:55:07.84
just like the religious
world at the end of time
00:55:07.87\00:55:10.51
with the wine of Babylon,
00:55:10.54\00:55:12.11
they could not think straight,
00:55:12.14\00:55:14.08
they could not distinguish
between right and wrong...
00:55:14.11\00:55:16.24
good and evil...
00:55:16.31\00:55:17.65
and therefore they took in
common fire into the sanctuary.
00:55:17.68\00:55:21.35
How did God feel about that?
00:55:21.38\00:55:23.49
Did He say, "Oh, it's okay,
fire is fire... who cares?"
00:55:23.52\00:55:27.16
No, God is particular when
He says that something is holy.
00:55:27.19\00:55:30.83
When He says that
the Sabbath is holy,
00:55:30.86\00:55:33.13
He means the
seventh-day Sabbath is holy...
00:55:33.16\00:55:35.36
not Sunday.
00:55:35.40\00:55:36.73
We can't make anything holy.
00:55:36.77\00:55:38.67
Only God can make things holy.
00:55:38.73\00:55:40.74
She continues here,
00:55:40.77\00:55:42.10
"Those who ignore
the Lord's Sabbath
00:55:42.14\00:55:44.34
to keep holy the
first day of the week,
00:55:44.37\00:55:45.77
offer strange fire to God.
00:55:45.81\00:55:47.44
It is a strange sabbath,
00:55:47.48\00:55:49.54
that He has commanded them not.
00:55:49.58\00:55:52.31
Will He accept
it at their hands?
00:55:52.35\00:55:55.48
Men have sought
out many inventions.
00:55:55.52\00:55:58.85
They have taken a common day,
00:55:58.89\00:56:01.32
upon which God has
placed no sanctity,
00:56:01.36\00:56:04.66
and have clothed it
with sacred prerogatives. "
00:56:04.69\00:56:09.50
In other words,
they've taken what is common
00:56:09.53\00:56:13.03
and they have made it holy.
00:56:13.07\00:56:14.74
She continues,
00:56:14.77\00:56:16.37
"They have declared
it to be a holy day... "
00:56:16.40\00:56:19.07
that is Sunday...
00:56:19.11\00:56:20.44
"but this does not give
it a vestige of sanctity.
00:56:20.48\00:56:24.68
They dishonor God by
accepting human institutions
00:56:24.71\00:56:30.92
and presenting to the
world as the Christian Sabbath
00:56:30.95\00:56:37.23
a day which has no
'Thus saith the Lord'
00:56:37.26\00:56:41.30
for its authority.
00:56:41.33\00:56:43.10
As did Nadab and Abihu,
00:56:43.13\00:56:45.83
they offer the common
in place of the sacred. "
00:56:45.87\00:56:50.21
Pause...
00:56:50.24\00:56:51.57
If God accepts the
observance of Sunday
00:56:51.61\00:56:54.78
in place of the Sabbath,
00:56:54.81\00:56:56.14
He's going to have to
apologize to Nadab and Abihu
00:56:56.18\00:56:59.78
because they were
consumed by the fire of the Lord
00:56:59.81\00:57:02.52
that came from His presence.
00:57:02.55\00:57:04.35
God is particular
about His commands.
00:57:04.39\00:57:10.13
We can't say, "Well, you know,
God says that it's the Sabbath
00:57:10.16\00:57:14.06
but everybody keeps Sunday,
00:57:14.10\00:57:15.43
so I'm going to keep Sunday
to go along with everybody. "
00:57:15.46\00:57:17.87
You know, God's faithful people
00:57:17.90\00:57:19.93
have always
been in the minority.
00:57:19.97\00:57:22.00
They've always been the few
00:57:22.04\00:57:24.14
because only the few are willing
to walk in the ways of the Lord.
00:57:24.17\00:57:27.94
So, Folks, the end-time
controversy is not about oil...
00:57:28.01\00:57:31.81
it's not primarily
about economic issues,
00:57:31.85\00:57:34.28
it's not about political issues,
00:57:34.32\00:57:36.18
it is about whether
you keep God's commandments
00:57:36.22\00:57:39.05
and worship the Creator
00:57:39.09\00:57:40.49
or whether you keep
the commandments of man
00:57:40.52\00:57:42.79
and you worship the beast.
00:57:42.82\00:57:44.16
And the test that God gives
00:57:44.19\00:57:46.13
to show which
authority we follow
00:57:46.16\00:57:48.86
is: Sabbath and Sunday.
00:57:48.90\00:57:52.10
If you keep the Sabbath,
00:57:52.13\00:57:53.97
you recognize that you
accept God's authority.
00:57:54.00\00:57:56.71
If you keep Sunday,
00:57:56.74\00:57:58.07
you are accepting the
authority of the beast.
00:57:58.11\00:58:00.51
I pray that God will lead
us to make the right decision.
00:58:00.54\00:58:04.61