Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP110406
|
00:27 Nothing compares to the promise I have in...
00:33 Shout to the Lord All the earth let us sing 00:39 Power and majesty Praise to the King, 00:45 Mountains bow down And the seas will roar 00:51 At the sound of Your name 00:58 I sing for joy at the work of Your hands 01:03 Forever I'll loveYou, 01:06 forever I'll stand 01:10 Nothing compares to the promise I have 01:15 Nothing compares to the promise I have 01:21 Nothing compares to the promise 01:26 I have in You 01:33 Be seated. 01:37 Is there any thing really that compares with the promise 01:40 that we have in God that we have in Jesus. 01:43 Is there anything that compares to Him? 01:48 I suppose we answer that everyday 01:49 by the way we live our lives. 01:52 But today we're here to add 01:55 to our lives by our praise to say Lord, 02:00 no matter what's happened, 02:01 no matter how I've lived this week. 02:05 I'm here today to praise you. 02:08 God's promised His grace 02:10 is available to all of us this morning, 02:12 all of us right now. 02:15 You join us as we praise the Lamb of God. 02:19 Jesus is the Lamb and it's through Him 02:21 that all of God's promises come to us 02:24 free of charge yet at an infinite cost, 02:28 sing. 02:30 Your only Son, no sin to hide 02:35 But You have sent Him from Your side 02:41 To walk upon this guilty sod 02:46 And to become 02:48 the Lamb of God 02:54 Your gift of love they crucified 03:00 They laughed and scorned Him as He died 03:05 The humble King, they named a fraud 03:10 And sacrificed the Lamb of God 03:16 Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God 03:21 I love the holy Lamb of God 03:27 Oh, wash me in His precious blood 03:32 My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God 03:55 I was so lost, I should have died 04:00 But You have brought me to Your side 04:05 To be led by Your staff and rod 04:11 And to be called the Lamb of God 04:17 Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God 04:22 I love the holy Lamb of God 04:27 Oh, wash me in His precious blood 04:33 My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God 04:38 Oh, Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God 04:44 I love the holy Lamb of God 04:49 Oh, wash me in His precious blood 04:54 My Jesus Christ, 04:57 the Lamb of God 05:25 Oh, draw me, Lord 05:32 Oh, draw me, Lord 05:40 Oh, draw me, Lord 05:47 And I'll run after You 05:54 Oh, draw me, Lord 06:02 Oh, draw me, Lord 06:09 Oh, draw me, Lord 06:16 And I'll run 06:20 after You 06:28 I invite you to come forward. 06:31 If there's anything that you have on your heart 06:32 to bring before the Lord today, 06:35 special requests, special praise, 06:39 a heavy burden, special joy. 06:43 Join us at the front for prayer. 06:46 Just slip out of your seats. 06:47 Come right down front as we approach our God in prayer 06:51 and sing with us, Draw me, Lord. 06:55 Oh, draw me, Lord 07:02 Oh, draw me, Lord 07:10 Oh, draw me, Lord 07:17 And I'll run after You 07:25 Oh, draw me, Lord 07:33 Oh, draw me, Lord 07:40 Oh, draw me, Lord 07:48 And I'll run 07:52 after You 08:00 Let us kneel. 08:15 Our God and King, 08:16 lift up your voice and with us sing 08:18 hallelujah, hallelujah. 08:20 Oh, burning sun with golden beam 08:22 and silver moon with softer gleam. 08:24 Oh, praise Him, oh, praise Him. 08:25 Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. 08:28 Or we come before You singing Your praises 08:31 but we know there's no amount of words 08:32 that can bring you to glory that You deserve. 08:34 Well, that's why today we come before with open hearts, 08:37 open to You, open to Your love, 08:40 open to Your Holy Spirit. 08:42 Lord, we ask for Your strength and healing for these people, 08:45 Jean Starky, 08:47 Charlotte Graff and Don Snyder 08:50 and Pamela Pauline's father. 08:53 Oh, we bring them before you, 08:54 and Lord we know that You have amazing power. 09:01 And Lord, we also come to You this morning 09:03 with broken hearts. 09:05 Lord, there have been so many losses this week 09:07 but we know that You are always with us, 09:10 no matter how much we lose, 09:11 there's so much to gain with You Lord. 09:14 And this morning, I just want to lift up, 09:17 Richard Orison on the death of his sister in Virginia 09:20 and Harris on the death of her brother in California. 09:24 Larry Booth on the death of his father John William Booth, 09:28 Marylyn Bower on the death of her mother Helen Hayes. 09:31 Terry Robertson on the death of his mother 09:35 and Loris Sedol on the death of his brother. 09:38 Lord, we are so desperate and anxious 09:43 and waiting for Your second coming word 09:45 because we know that with that trumpet call, 09:49 those Lord didn't knew just raise up and we are so, 09:53 so looking forward to that day. 09:56 Please, come soon Lord Jesus. 10:00 Oh, God, we also come before you with grateful hearts. 10:04 We have so much to be thankful for Your word 10:08 that tells us not to be anxious about anything. 10:11 But in everything present our prayer request 10:13 with thanks giving before you our God and King. 10:18 Lord, we thank You for the breathe of life 10:21 that You've given all of us. 10:23 We thank You for Your guidance and Your love that never fails. 10:27 We thank You because You listen to our hearts. 10:30 And we thank You because You provided prayer, 10:33 a means to talk to You Jesus. 10:36 Help us to always be thankful in all circumstances 10:39 and Lord on the Sabbath day, 10:40 may we honor You in everything that we do and say, 10:44 maybe we'll reflect Jesus Christ. 10:46 Thank You, Jesus. 10:48 Thank You for Your Son. 10:49 Thank you for the blood of the Lamb, amen. 11:10 I'd rather have Jesus 11:16 than silver or gold 11:21 I'd rather be His 11:27 than have riches untold 11:33 I'd rather have Jesus 11:39 than houses or land 11:44 I'd rather be led 11:50 by His nail 11:53 pierced hand 11:58 Than to be the queen 12:04 of a vast domain 12:09 And be held in sin's 12:15 dread sway 12:25 I'd rather have Jesus 12:31 than houses or land 12:37 I'd rather be faithful 12:42 to His dear cause 12:47 I'd rather have Jesus 12:53 than worldwide fame 12:58 I'd rather be true 13:03 to His holy name 13:11 He's fairer than lilies 13:18 of rarest bloom 13:23 He's sweeter than honey 13:28 from out the comb 13:33 He's all that my hungering 13:39 spirit needs 13:44 I'd rather have Jesus 13:49 and let Him lead 13:57 Than to be the queen 14:02 of a vast domain 14:07 And be held in sin's 14:12 dread sway 14:18 I'd rather have Jesus 14:25 than anything 14:30 This world 14:33 affords 14:39 today 15:05 Oh, Father, Sofia's testimony is ours as well. 15:11 There is so much that is offered 15:14 in this culture in this life. 15:19 But with her youthful voice we too want to say, 15:24 we want Jesus first. 15:27 We'd rather have Him than anything. 15:29 And when the story ends, 15:31 is it shall end one day for this civilization 15:34 may that be our testimony then as well we pray. 15:39 Now teach us in Holy Scripture 15:41 and let the teaching be clear for the glory of Christ, 15:44 we pray in His name, amen. 15:49 Let's begin this morning referencing a book, 15:50 you've probably never heard off. 15:53 The White House has heard of this book. 15:56 Staffers in the White House have actually read the book. 16:00 Because the author of this book has been invited 16:02 into the White House to conduct Bible studies 16:06 with some of the staffers. 16:08 Autograph copies of his book 16:11 have been given by liaison friends to the president 16:15 and the vice president, 16:16 although we do not know whether those two leaders of our nation 16:23 have opened the book or even touched it. 16:27 The author is a Jew, 16:29 who converted to evangelical Christianity. 16:31 His name's Joel Rosenberg and according to his own blog. 16:36 He has served as senior advisor to major US 16:39 and Israeli political leaders including 16:40 the former prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu. 16:44 His genre as a writer religious fiction, 16:48 here are some of his titles. 16:50 Best selling titles by the way, 16:52 The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option. 16:56 That title won the coveted 16:58 evangelical publishing communities 17:00 gold medallion award for the best novel of 2006. 17:06 But the book I'm referencing is his first non fiction work 17:09 that was just released this September title of the book. 17:14 Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings 17:16 in the Middle East Will Change Your Future. 17:21 Now his blog also boasted 17:23 that he's been interviewed by more than 300 radio 17:25 and TV shows including 17:26 the major network and cable news outlets. 17:29 You see his picture on the screen, 17:32 the reason Rosenberg has caught 17:34 the eye and ear of the White House 17:37 is because of his dramatic proposition 17:40 that Bible prophecy predicts that Russia and Iran will unite 17:45 in a final global conflict against 17:47 Israel and the United States. 17:49 And you can understand why that would get the attention 17:52 of some in this nation. 17:54 He's not alone by the way. 17:57 Evangelical preachers across this land 17:59 espouse the same conviction. 18:03 Bible prophecy, I don't know if you've missed this 18:06 but Bible prophecy has become avant-garde again. 18:13 In a moment I'm gonna quote 18:14 from an interview Rosenberg gave 18:15 just last week in which he voiced 18:20 troubling recommendations for the president. 18:23 We'll get to that in a moment. 18:25 Question is the end going to come the way 18:27 Rosenberg predicts? 18:31 I do not doubt that Rosenberg 18:33 and this cadre of evangelical preachers are sincere, 18:36 but I must tell you they are sincerely wrong. 18:39 They are dead wrong as the explosive Bible prophecy, 18:44 we are gonna study this morning will teach us. 18:46 Open your Bibles please to the twin book to the apocalypse. 18:49 This book is in the Old Testament, 18:50 it's the book of Daniel, 18:51 Open your Bible to Daniel Chapter 11. 18:54 Let us strap on our seatbelts 18:56 and fly through this teaching today. 18:58 Daniel Chapter 11, Old Testament. 19:01 If you didn't bring your Bible today, 19:02 grab the pew Bible right in front of you. 19:04 It's the same translation 19:06 that I'll be reading from this morning, 19:07 the New King James Version, 19:08 it would be page 606. 19:12 Daniel Chapter 11, page 606. 19:15 We're gonna drop down to the end. 19:17 This is the Bible's longest prophecy. 19:18 It starts in Daniel 10, 19:19 it goes all the way through Daniel 11 19:21 and goes into Daniel 12 as we will know in just a moment. 19:24 All right, let's go Daniel Chapter 11. 19:26 Drop down to the end of the chapter verse 40. 19:29 I'll start reading in verse 40. 19:31 Daniel 11:40, and at that time, 19:34 "At the time of the end..." 19:35 By the way very fascinating about this prophecy, 19:38 it moves from the time of the end 19:40 all the way to the end of time 19:42 as you will know in just a moment. 19:44 "At the time of the end 19:46 the king of the South shall attack him..." 19:49 Who's him? The king of the north. 19:51 "And the king of the North shall come against him, 19:53 the king of the south, like a whirlwind, 19:55 with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships, 19:57 and he shall enter the countries, 19:58 overwhelm them and pass through." 20:00 Not a clue yet, 20:01 not a clue yet who these two kings are. 20:03 Don't you dare miss next Sabbath. 20:05 We get the summation of this series 20:07 comes next Sabbath and you will know, 20:09 you will know who these two kings are next week. 20:13 So the king of the north verse 41, 20:15 "He shall also enter the Glorious Land, 20:17 and many countries shall be overthrown, 20:18 but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, 20:22 and the prominent people of Ammon." 20:23 Verse 42, "He, the king of the north, 20:25 shall stretch out his hand against the countries, 20:27 and the land of Egypt shall not escape." 20:29 Verse 43, "He shall have power over 20:32 the treasures of gold and silver, 20:33 and over all the precious things of Egypt, 20:35 and also the Libyans and Ethiopians 20:37 shall follow at his heels." 20:38 Now here it comes verse 44, 20:41 New American Standard Version reads this way 20:43 "But rumors from the east." 20:47 You see that's the title of this teaching series, 20:49 it's coming to an end next week. 20:50 Rumors from east this says, 20:52 "But news from the east and the north 20:54 shall trouble him, 20:55 therefore he, the king of the north, 20:57 shall go out with great fury to destroy 20:59 and annihilate many." 21:01 Verse 45, "And he shall plant the tents 21:03 of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain, 21:07 yet he shall come to his end and no one will help him." 21:13 We'll decide for that next week. 21:15 Now there is no break. 21:16 When Daniel is writing this, there is no chap. 21:18 He said, oh, I need to get to chapter 12. 21:19 There were no chapters, 21:21 so it needs to just keep reading. 21:22 We need to just keep reading, 21:23 as if there were no break. 21:24 Chapter 12:1 And at that time 21:27 they follow the king of the north. 21:28 "At that time Michael shall stand up, 21:31 The great prince who stands watch over 21:32 the sons of your people, 21:34 And there shall be a time of trouble, 21:35 Such as never was since there was a nation, 21:37 Even to that time. 21:38 And at that time your people shall be delivered, 21:41 Every one who is found written in the book. 21:43 And many of those who sleep in the dust 21:45 of the earth shall awake, 21:46 Some to everlasting life, 21:48 Some to shame and everlasting contempt." 21:52 Take a breath, that's it. 21:56 Suffice it to say ladies and gentlemen, 21:58 what we have just read contains 22:00 two pieces of good news and one piece of bad news. 22:03 And with your permission, 22:04 we'll put the bad news in between 22:06 the two good news pieces. 22:07 They're three prophetic news bulletins. 22:10 Take your study guide out and jot down, 22:11 what we know from our cursory reading 22:13 that we have just taken together. 22:15 Three news bulletins, prophetic news bulletins. 22:20 The study guide in your worship bulletins. 22:22 Ushers let's go, Let's get the study guides out. 22:24 If you didn't get a study guide, 22:25 just hold your hand up, 22:26 our friendly ushers will do everything 22:28 they can to make sure that all the way 22:29 to the back in the balcony 22:30 that everybody gets a study guide. 22:32 Just hold your hand up, you're gonna want this study guide, 22:35 trust me you will want it. 22:36 And while they're doing that, 22:38 let me talk to you on the television. 22:41 There's a website, let's put it on the screen right now, 22:43 there it goes. 22:44 That's our website www.pmchruch.tv. 22:48 Please go to our website. 22:51 Click on there to this teaching series 22:53 called Rumors From The East. 22:54 This is the next to the last piece 22:56 and it's entitled The Last Sonset, 22:58 S-o-n-e-t. The Last Sonet. 23:01 There it says study guide click that 23:04 and you have the very same study guide 23:06 that we will be filling out here together this morning. 23:09 So take your study guide, everybody have one. 23:13 We're gonna move now. 23:14 You gonna need a pen. 23:15 We're gonna start writing, Let's go. 23:17 Bulletin number one. 23:18 All right, there are three news bulletins, 23:19 prophetic news bulletins in what we've just read. 23:21 Bulletin number one, this is a good news bulletin, 23:23 The King of the North will come to his end. 23:27 Write in the word north please, the king of the north. 23:31 You say what so good news about that? 23:32 Well, given the fact he is dark and evil, 23:35 this is very good news. 23:37 Trust me. 23:38 The next Sabbath the entire series shuts down 23:41 in the teaching entitled King of the north. 23:43 Don't miss it. 23:44 We'll give prayerful, 23:45 careful study to the final verses of Chapter 11. 23:47 Not today, not today, don't have time. 23:49 News bulletin number two, 23:51 oh, this is bad news, write it down. 23:54 We are facing the worst global crises 23:56 in time of trouble in the history of the civilization. 23:59 Daniel 12 have just made that point. 24:02 Still ahead of us by the way, we are not in it now. 24:04 No, no, no, it's-- the worst in history of civilization 24:08 is yet ahead of us. 24:10 Bulletin number two and now bulletin number three, 24:12 good news again, 24:13 Michael will stand up and deliver. 24:16 Write in that word deliver. 24:17 He will deliver Daniel's people from out of that awful crisis 24:21 also Daniel 12:1, 2. 24:24 In fact let's read verse one again, 24:25 Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael shall stand up, 24:29 The great prince who stands watch over 24:30 the sons of your people, 24:32 And there shall be a time of trouble, 24:33 Such as never was since there was a nation, 24:35 Even to that time. 24:37 And at that time your people shall be delivered, 24:40 Every one who is found written in the book." 24:44 So who is this Michael? 24:47 This being whose name means, 24:48 who is like God? It'll be a question, 24:50 who is like God or can be a statement. 24:51 Who is like God. 24:53 You remember those of you who have been 24:54 a part of this entire teaching series. In part one, 24:56 we actually spend some time actually looking at Michael, 24:59 so the website that we just noted a moment ago, 25:03 if you go back to that website, 25:04 go to teaching number one. 25:05 Rumors from the East teaching number one, 25:07 it'll all be there in that study guide. 25:08 Let me just take a moment 25:10 and we'll put it on the screen for you. 25:12 Refresh your memory as to who Michael is? 25:14 By the way the name only appears 25:15 in apocalyptic literature. 25:16 That would be the Book of Daniel, 25:18 the Book of Jude, in the Book of Revelation. 25:20 Only appears there always when there is a war, 25:23 when there's a war between the forces of light and darkness, 25:26 Michael shows up. 25:28 And by the way he wins every single time. Hallelujah. 25:31 Every time he shows up he wins. 25:33 Who is Michael? 25:35 That's our review on the screen, in Jude 9, 25:38 Michael is called the archangel. 25:40 So form Jude 9, 25:41 we know Michael equals archangel. 25:43 Now 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 25:45 you want to jot this down, you may 1Thessalonians 4:16, 25:49 "The voice of the archangel, Paul writes raises the dead." 25:53 And then Jesus in John 5:28-29. 25:57 Jesus says, "It's My voice that raises the dead." 26:01 Leading the great Protestant reformer Philipp Melanchthon. 26:05 Melanchthon concluded on the basis of this biblical evidence 26:08 that Michael is none other than the pre-incarnate Christ. 26:14 Jot that one down. 26:15 It's good enough for Melanchthon, 26:16 it's good enough for me. 26:19 Michael, the mighty second person of the guarded, 26:22 who whenever he shows up in battle is shown up as Michael. 26:27 So what do we know from what we've just read. 26:29 We know that when Michael shows up 26:31 and stands up on behalf of Daniel's people, he wins. 26:33 Here's the question, who? 26:36 This is the great question now. 26:38 Who are Daniel's people? 26:42 Joel Rosenberg comes along he says, 26:43 oh, I know who Daniel's people are, 26:45 evangelical American preachers across this nations say, 26:48 oh, we know who Daniel's people are. 26:50 Rosenberg and those preachers all agree, 26:54 they are modern Israel and Jews living today. 26:59 That's their conclusion. 27:02 I was watching TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, 27:05 do you remember that name? Just a couple of Sundays ago, 27:07 I'm watching him preach and he's preaching in front 27:08 of this massive backdrop, 27:10 a map of the Middle East. 27:12 And he's preaching his heart out 27:13 because he's absolutely convinced that Israel 27:16 is strategic to God's end time game plan. 27:22 Oh, boy, 27:24 that's why Joel Rosenberg just last week in an interview 27:27 with the Washington Times newspaper 27:29 in the Nation's capital. 27:31 That's why he made these statements. 27:33 I'm gonna put Rosenberg's words on the screen for you, 27:35 I'll read them. 27:37 This is a part of that interview. 27:38 Now he's talking to the reporter, 27:39 "The key is we don't know at this moment 27:43 whether the alliance 27:44 that's emerging between Russia and Iran 27:46 and these other Middle Eastern countries 27:48 is in fact a fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and 39." 27:51 His new book says, 27:52 that's what those chapters are teaching, 27:55 we just don't know if it's now, 27:57 but notice his point. 27:59 "Therefore, we can't base American foreign policy 28:02 on the supernatural intervention by the God 28:05 of Israel to protect Israel." 28:07 This may not be the time for God 28:09 to step in which case we better help him, that's his point. 28:11 We need to take action to protect ourselves... 28:15 I believe that 2007, 28:16 Rosenberg is going to be the year of decision 28:19 for President Bush. 28:20 Either he's going to take some form of action 28:21 to stop Iran from going nuclear, 28:23 or the moment may be lost. 28:25 2008 is a presidential election year. 28:27 The year 2009 is the beginning of a new administration, 28:30 and by then it may be too late. 28:32 Iran could have nuclear weapons by then... 28:35 If Iran goes nuclear on President Bush's watch, 28:38 it will erase all of the gains that we've made thus far 28:40 in the war against radical Islam." 28:42 And now here's the line that jumped out at me, 28:44 "I believe an apocalyptic war is coming 28:47 in the Middle East in the next few years. 28:52 Either Iran is going to launch it at us and Israel, 28:54 or we're going to take action to stop them." 28:57 Washington Times last week. 29:00 So question. 29:03 Is Rosenberg right? 29:07 Or is he looking in the wrong direction. 29:14 Would it'd be something? 29:15 If in fact all of this is a part of a dark diversion 29:18 and deceptive distraction. 29:19 Not intentionally, I'm not talking about Rosenberg, 29:21 I'm not talking about these TV preachers in the land. 29:23 But what if-- 29:25 what if the prince of this world has much to gain 29:28 by keeping the attention of the world focus on the Middle East, 29:33 all the while the impending crisis is coming 29:35 not from the east but out of the north, 29:38 the king of the North. 29:40 Wouldn't that be brilliant, brilliant strategy? 29:46 May I share with you, 29:49 why I respectfully believe that Rosenberg is wrong? 29:54 And why Israel in particular 29:56 and tangentially Iran and Russia 29:59 are not the key players in earth's final movements. 30:02 May I share that with you? 30:03 Jot them down please, I want to share with you now. 30:04 Four principles of Bible prophecy interpretation 30:09 particularly Old Testament prophecy. 30:11 Four Old Testament prophecy principles of interpretation. 30:13 Jot these down, Number one, write it down please. 30:16 "The Old Testament prophecies regarding the future glory 30:18 of Israel and Jerusalem are primarily conditioned 30:22 upon Israel's obedience to God." 30:27 Obedience, write that word in please. 30:29 And now you need to hear God make the very point Himself. 30:32 God back three books to Jeremiah. 30:35 I want you to read this in your own Bible, 30:37 Jeremiah 18, what's that page number. 30:41 Jeremiah 18 that's page 521. 30:44 All right, in the pew Bible, 30:47 familiar story that begins this passage. 30:52 Some of you might remember the story. 30:54 Begins in verse 1 of Jeremiah 18, 30:56 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 31:00 verse 2, hey, Jeremiah, 31:02 "Arise, and go down to the potter's house..." 31:04 Do you know what a potter is? 31:06 It's an artist that works with clay. 31:08 You see the wheels-- with their feet 31:11 and they keep their hands-- hands get all red 31:13 and brown wet as they carefully shape those vases 31:16 and whatever is they make, all right. 31:19 So "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, 31:21 Jeremy and there I will cause you to hear my words." 31:24 Verse 3, "Then I went down to the potter's house, 31:26 and there he was making something at the wheel." 31:29 And verse 4, "And the vessel 31:30 that he made of clay was marred" 31:32 Ooh, a mistake, crazy thing breaks. 31:38 "It was marred in the hand of the potter: 31:39 so he made it again, 31:42 took it all apart made it into another vessel, 31:44 as it seemed good to the potter to make." 31:46 Now I'm gonna put the words on the screen because God says, 31:48 I'm making my point now, this is verse 5, 31:51 "Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying," 31:53 Verse 6 "O house of Israel, 31:55 can I not do with you as this potter?" 31:58 says the Lord. 31:59 "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, 32:02 so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!" 32:04 Look at this verse 7, 32:05 "The instant I speak concerning a nation 32:08 and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, 32:09 to pull down, and to destroy it, 32:11 if that nation against whom 32:13 I have spoken turns from its evil, 32:17 I will relent of the disaster that 32:18 I had thought to bring about upon it." 32:21 Look at verse 9, and by the way flip side is true 32:24 "And the instant I speak concerning 32:26 a nation concerning a kingdom, 32:28 to build it up, to plant it," 32:30 "If, verse 10, it does evil in My sight 32:33 so that it does not obey..." 32:36 key word "it does not obey My voice, then I will relent, 32:42 I'll change my mind concerning the good 32:43 with which I said, I would benefit it." 32:45 Who's got talking to verse 11 cinches it 32:48 "Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah 32:51 and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem," 32:53 I'm talking to you people the chosen ones. 32:56 I'm talking to you God says. 33:00 Write it down please in your study guide 33:02 Jeremiah 18:11 teaches us that Divine prophecies 33:05 are conditioned upon human response. 33:09 Response, the response is the key. 33:13 Classic, I mean, let's look at two classic exhibits. 33:16 Classic exhibit number A, 33:17 letter A rather is Nineveh, What did God do to Nineveh? 33:20 He said, Jonah and the Nineveh, 33:22 he said, hey, Jonah, tell 'em I'm gonna nuke, 33:23 I'm gonna nuke that city. 33:25 40 days and it's over. 33:27 When the word went out and Jonah walked the streets. 33:29 Nineveh from the king on down to the lowest slave, 33:33 they all repented and God said, 33:35 man I can't do this, they changed. 33:39 Changed my mind, I won't destroy it. 33:40 Classic exhibit A Nineveh. 33:42 Classic exhibit B Israel, 33:44 write it down, Israel. 33:46 I'm gonna make you last forever and ever. 33:48 I want to give you a kingdom 33:49 that shall never come to an end. 33:51 But then Israel walks away, 33:53 from the one that raised him up and God says, 33:57 change my mind, I'm not gonna do it. 34:01 Does God had the right to do that? 34:02 But of course he's the potter. 34:04 Jeremiah 18, you cannot miss the teaching in Jeremiah 18. 34:07 So that's interpretive principle. 34:10 Number one for Old Testament prophecy, 34:11 here comes number two, as a nation, 34:13 Israel rejected God's appeal through Christ. 34:19 Write in the word rejected. 34:21 By the way let me be quick to insert 34:24 this is not an anti-Semitic proposition. 34:27 No, no, no the mass, come on, 34:29 the masses of Israel during the time 34:31 of Jesus gladly heard him. 34:33 Gladly embraced him as Messiah 34:35 and particularly after His crucifixion, 34:37 resurrection and ascension by the tens of thousands Jews 34:42 accepted Christ as the Messiah. 34:44 But tragically the national religious leadership 34:49 rejected him. 34:53 That's why you have the prophecy in Daniel 9: 24, 34:58 just a few pages earlier in Daniel, 35:00 God's talking about a probationary period 35:02 that He's gonna give after the exile 35:04 that He's gonna give to the children of Israel, 35:06 70 weeks Daniel. 35:08 Bible scholars are clear that's 490 years, 35:10 "Are determined For your people and for your holy city, 35:13 To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, 35:16 To make reconciliation for iniquity, 35:18 To bring in everlasting righteousness, 35:20 To seal up vision and prophecy, 35:22 And to anoint the Most Holy." 35:26 God said, I want to give 490 more years 35:28 but still the national leadership of Israel said no, 35:33 and God has no choice but to honor the freedom 35:36 of even the community of faith. 35:38 And it must have broken-- 35:40 it must have broken Jesus' heart 35:42 to sob these words. 35:44 In Matthew 23, look at this, 35:45 Matthew 23:37, "O Jerusalem, 35:49 Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets 35:52 and stones those who are sent to her! 35:55 How often I wanted to gather your children together, 35:58 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 36:00 but you were not willing! See! 36:02 Your house is left to you now desolate." 36:06 It is over. 36:09 Broken hearted God must accept free choice 36:15 and Jesus does. 36:18 And as the consequence 36:19 the greatest Christian who ever lived, 36:20 who was an orthodox Jew and a rabbi himself. 36:24 The mighty Apostle Paul gives us interpretation. 36:26 Number three clue to how interpret 36:29 Old Testament prophecy write this down please. 36:30 God turned as a result of their rejecting the Messiah, 36:34 God turned from a geographical Israel to a spiritual Israel 36:39 and a spiritual Jerusalem to become the recipients 36:43 of the Old Testament's prophecies of future glory 36:46 for Israel and Jerusalem. 36:48 Take a look at this incontrovertible. 36:50 Look at this Romans 9:6 Paul is writing. 36:53 But he says, hey readers, I want you to know, 36:55 "It is not that the word of God has taken no effect. 36:58 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel." 37:02 Just because you say I got DNA that says I'm from Israel. 37:05 Paul says, too bad, everybody from Israel 37:07 is not really the Israel that has God has promised. 37:10 Notice the next verse. 37:11 "Nor are they all children because, hey, Abraham, 37:14 I get my family tree tied to his, but rather, 37:17 "In Isaac your seed shall be called. 37:20 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, 37:22 these are not the children of God." 37:24 It has to be out of faith. 37:25 You have to receive it out of faith. 37:27 "The children of the promise are counted as the seed." 37:29 And now get this guys, this is incredible. 37:31 Little bit earlier in Romans 2:28, 37:35 Paul says, you want to know who the real Jew is? 37:36 Take a look at this, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 37:40 nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh." 37:44 Forget it, forget it. 37:45 Well, what are you talking about them, Paul? 37:47 Verse 29, "He is a Jew who is one inwardly, 37:51 and circumcision is that of the heart, 37:53 in the Spirit, not in the letter, 37:55 whose praise" catch that word, knows that word, 37:58 "whose praise is not from men but from God." 38:01 Paul is doing a little bit of a-- a play on words here 38:04 then the name Jew comes from the name Judah 38:07 and Yehudah mean praise. 38:10 You wanted-- you want true praise, 38:12 it won't be the cutting of your flesh or the DNA in your blood. 38:17 It will be the change of your heart by faith in the Messiah. 38:22 That's his point. 38:23 One more just in case you say, 38:25 you're still not sure this will accentuate. 38:27 Galatians 3:28, "There is neither now, 38:31 neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, 38:35 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 38:37 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, 38:41 and heirs according to the promise." 38:45 Would you write it down please, 38:47 this is Paul's point, jot it down. 38:49 "Through faith in Christ 38:51 a new spiritual Israel, 38:54 write in the world new has been born, 38:56 inheriting all the promises made to Abraham, 38:59 the father of the Jews. 39:01 And by the way the great Jew who became 39:04 the foremost leader of the New Testament church, 39:06 Peter himself agrees at what Paul says, 39:08 write on Paul look at this, 39:10 1 Peter 2: 9, Peter is writing to Gentiles, 39:13 "But you are a chosen generation, 39:16 a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 39:19 His own special people, 39:20 that you may proclaim the praises." 39:22 See there's the word praise again. 39:24 The true Jew is the one in Christ, 39:26 "That you may proclaim the praises of Him 39:28 who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light," 39:31 Guys, jot this down real quick, Peter's point, 39:34 "The new community of spiritual Israel is a holy nation. 39:39 God has a new Israel, It's a nation. 39:42 It's no longer tied to geography. 39:44 It's tied to the heart, 39:46 the heart's response to the Messiah, 39:48 a spiritual community, a nation he calls it. 39:52 Wow, therefore we have principle number four, 39:54 jot it down. 39:56 "Old Testament prophecies regarding Israel's future, 39:59 that would have been literally fulfilled 40:01 had Israel remained obedient to God, 40:04 must now be reapplied to spiritual Israel," 40:08 There is the key point focusing on spiritual intent 40:12 rather than geographical detail anymore. 40:15 No more geography now, it's over, it's over. 40:19 Which means that Joel Rosenberg's 40:20 use of Ezekiel, listen carefully 40:21 now 'cause you're gonna move in circles 40:23 where this wil be brought to you. 40:25 Joel Rosenberg's use of Ezekiel 38 and 39 40:29 that's the ancient prophecy about a king name Gog, 40:33 from a land called Magog. 40:34 You've heard of-- have you heard of Gog and Magog? 40:36 He says, that's Russia and Iran 40:39 coming against Israel that means 40:40 based on this four principles 40:42 that Joel Rosenberg's using that prophecy 40:45 to prove his prediction 40:46 that Russia and Iran will one day unite against Israel. 40:50 And by political and evangelical extension, 40:52 the United States is simply sadly wrong. 40:57 It's wrong, 40:59 it would have come true, 41:00 had Israel after the exile remain true to God, 41:03 but it did not. 41:05 Rosenberg obviously is oblivious to these four 41:10 critical Bible prophecy interpretation 41:14 principles that we've just shared. 41:19 You can answer anybody... 41:25 anybody. 41:27 Lock on but in the Bible interpret itself. 41:30 And so Joel Rosenberg, Tim LaHaye, 41:33 have you heard of him? 41:34 Left behind the identical 41:38 premise that drives LaHaye, drives Rosenberg, 41:41 these other evangelical preachers 41:42 by the way well meaning though they are, 41:45 have mistakenly interpreted Old Testament prophecies 41:49 to continue to be literal unconditional prophecies 41:52 that can be applied to Israel at the end of time. 41:55 And that simply is wrong, 41:58 Paul has made his point. 42:00 You say, oh, come on, Dwight, 42:01 come on pastor, what's the big deal? 42:03 Let it go, 42:04 I would let it go 42:07 and the reason why I'm so passionate about this. 42:10 Were it not for the danger that such an interpretation 42:14 brings to the Christian community in this nation 42:16 and around the world. 42:18 Clearly the dark and evil prince of this world 42:21 is working overtime to distract the church 42:23 by events in the Middle East. 42:25 Hey, guys, look, look, look, look 42:27 and while everybody staring over there. 42:28 Here it comes gaining ahead of steam, 42:31 the king of the north not the east, 42:33 it's the north. 42:35 If I were the devil, I'd do the same thing. 42:38 Get everybody looking here. 42:39 Surely something's gonna happen here for the end time scenario 42:43 and boom out of the back 42:46 and brought down. 42:47 Brilliant devil, 42:55 as we will discover next week in the conclusion. 42:58 Go back to Daniel 12 43:01 we read again Daniel 12:1, 43:04 "At that time Michael shall stand up, 43:07 The great prince who stands 43:08 watch over the sons of your people, 43:11 And there shall be a time of trouble, 43:12 such as never was since there was a nation even to that time. 43:15 And at that time your people shall be delivered, Daniel. 43:18 Every one who is found written in the book." 43:20 The four interpretation principles that you 43:23 and I have just noted mean that Daniel's people 43:25 who are delivered at the end of time are not modern Jews. 43:28 They are not modern Israel, 43:30 they are the people of God 43:32 living in the final generation. 43:34 In fact would you jot this down please, 43:35 the deliverance promised here 43:37 is not for the nation of Israel 43:39 but rather for the people of God 43:41 the world over. 43:43 Keep your pen moving, 43:45 Daniel is clear. 43:46 They are not delivered because they are his people, 43:48 they are delivered because their names are in the book. 43:51 What book? The twin book that Daniel tells us, 43:54 it is the Lamb's book of life. 43:57 Write that down. 44:00 A people at the end of time who will stand radically 44:03 and boldly for the Lord Jesus Christ. 44:06 And by the way would you jot this down too-- 44:08 let's not escape the bad news, 44:10 and who this people will face 44:11 the most dreadful crisis in the history. 44:14 Write it down, in the history of time. 44:19 Oh, mercy, 44:20 notice Jesus somber declaration 44:23 in the gospel's little mini apocalypse Matthew 24, 44:26 the science of the times chapter 44:27 is that little mini apocalypse, 44:30 Jesus quotes Daniel, 44:31 as he describes this final crises, 44:33 this is Matthew 24:21, 44:35 "For then there will be great tribulation, 44:38 such as has not been since the beginning of the world 44:41 until this time, 44:42 no, nor ever shall be." 44:43 Direct quote out of Daniel, all right. 44:45 "And unless those days were shortened, 44:48 no flesh would be saved, 44:50 but for the elect's sake 44:52 those days will be shortened." 44:55 Jot that down Jesus says, 44:57 unless those days were shortened 44:59 no flesh would be saved. 45:02 The New International translate it 45:03 "No one would survive" 45:06 Ladies and gentlemen, we're not talking about 45:07 a little conflagration in the Middle East here. 45:11 This is massive, 45:13 it is global and it is before the return of Christ. 45:17 The worst in the history of this race is yet ahead, 45:21 that's the bad news. 45:22 By the way that little apocalyptic classic 45:24 Great Controversy page 622, Jot this down. 45:26 "It is often the case that trouble is greater 45:28 in anticipation than in reality." 45:31 Have you ever had to have surgery? Have you ever? 45:34 You know what the worst part of surgery is not the surgery. 45:36 It's the countdown to the surgery. 45:38 I visit people all the time, 45:39 I was just as one of our dear member shot 45:41 a graft this last week who came 45:42 very successfully through a surgery. 45:44 But boys, I'm visiting with her, 45:45 it's the anticipation that kills you. 45:48 Once a surgery is over, hey, hallelujah, I made it. 45:51 Now that's often the way it is in life 45:53 but notice the point the author is making here. 45:55 Very significant. 45:56 "It is often the case that trouble is greater 45:58 in anticipation than in reality, 46:00 but this is not true 46:03 of the crisis yet ahead of us. 46:07 The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude 46:11 of the ordeal. 46:13 When I first came into this parish 46:17 some years ago, a seminary professor took me aside 46:19 and said hey, Dwight. 46:21 There's a little concern about how the children 46:22 are being prepared and he said, 46:25 you know what we-- 46:27 you can't be teaching at the time of trouble. 46:28 You can't be teaching-- you can't scare kids 46:30 into accepting Jesus as savior please. 46:35 You know what? 46:36 I concur with that professor then 46:37 and I can concur still today. 46:40 However fear's not-- 46:42 fear is not the proper motivation forever. 46:45 It's not the proper motivation for coming to Jesus, 46:46 I understand that. 46:48 However I do fear 46:50 that the pendulum has swung so far the other way that today 46:54 we are practically oblivious to the impending crisis 46:58 that is going to crash down around us. 47:00 Oh, man, you don't have to worry, 47:03 please it's no big deal. 47:07 You better tell that to Jesus 47:08 and then you'll tell it to Daniel. 47:11 And why you had to tell the writer 47:12 of Great Controversy the same. 47:15 Jacques Doukhan my friend here in the theological seminar, 47:17 he's written a book Secrets of Daniel. 47:19 Look at these words of Jacques. 47:21 "We have no knowledge as yet of the nature of the despair 47:24 that will torment the last survivors of human history." 47:27 It got no concept. 47:29 "It has no historical precedent. 47:32 And I want to just hit the pause button right there. 47:33 There is no historical calibration, okay. 47:36 Let's see, like it was back there, 47:37 that's what it'll be now. 47:39 No, no, no 47:41 there's nothing ever been 47:43 like what's coming. 47:45 You get the point? It's bad. 47:47 All right, that's Doukhan's point, 47:49 It has no historical precedent.... 47:51 History becomes a battlefield 47:52 that's what'll happen at the end. 47:53 A battlefield of raging forces, 47:55 and evil seems to have triumphed over good. 47:57 "Why go on?" People would wonder. 47:59 "Doubts smother the feeble flame of faith. 48:01 With nowhere to turn, 48:02 God's people seem to have no hope left. 48:04 It is truly 'a time of distress' 48:06 quoting Jeremiah 30:7. 48:08 It is a time of trouble such as has never been. 48:11 The Bible is clear, ladies and gentlemen. 48:13 The Last Sonset will usher in a very-- 48:18 the darkest night in the history of the human race 48:23 Save for Gethsemane, 48:24 save for Gethsemane. 48:28 We don't need the impending time of trouble to motivate us, 48:30 I agree with you. 48:33 Although we surely need to be reminded 48:35 do we not that we do not have forever. 48:37 The spiritual decisions you are waiting to make, 48:39 that character changes. 48:41 You are waiting to undertake 48:43 ought not to be put off. 48:48 Same book 48:49 that tells us it'll be worse than anticipation. 48:52 Great Controversy, 48:53 beautiful here 48:54 and you got it in your study guide. 48:55 "It is in this life 48:57 that we are to separate sin from us, 49:00 through faith..." I love this, 49:01 "Through faith in the atoning blood of Christ." 49:04 Michael became Emmanuel, 49:06 the second person of the God 49:07 had become one with the human race. 49:10 "The atoning blood of Christ. 49:11 Our precious Savior 49:13 invites us to join ourselves to Him, 49:16 to unite our weakness to His strength, 49:17 our ignorance to His wisdom, 49:20 our unworthiness to His merits. 49:22 God' providence is the school 49:25 in which we are to learn the meekness 49:27 and lowliness of Jesus." 49:29 And here's the line that got me, 49:30 "The Lord is ever setting before us, 49:33 not the way we would choose." 49:36 And that's something I'm always given God orders. 49:39 I'm always telling him this is what will be best for me, 49:41 then I need this and then you do this. 49:43 And if you will just cooperate with me, 49:44 we'll get along just fine. 49:47 Do you ever do that with God? 49:50 Nag, nag, nag, nag, 49:53 what's the point here? 49:54 This hit me, 49:56 The Lord is ever setting before us, 49:57 not the way we would choose, 49:59 God doesn't choose death, God doesn't choose disease. 50:01 God doesn't choose divorce, God didn't choose evil. 50:05 But He let you go through it. 50:07 He let you go through it. 50:09 He chose that way. 50:11 He said, I'll be with you, 50:12 always even to the end of the age. 50:15 Trust me, it's best for you. 50:21 "The Lord is ever setting before us, 50:22 not the way we would choose, 50:24 which seems easier and pleasanter to us, 50:25 but the true aims of life. 50:27 It rests with us to co-operate with the agencies 50:28 which Heaven employs in the work of conforming 50:31 our characters to Jesus, the divine model. 50:34 None, final sentence, 50:35 none can neglect or defer this work 50:37 but at the most fearful peril to their souls." 50:41 Which being interpreted means ladies and gentlemen, 50:44 we cannot-- we dare not 50:47 put off to tomorrow, 50:49 which you know in your heart. 50:50 You have got to do today. 50:53 You can't put it off. 50:54 How do you know you're gonna be here tomorrow? 50:57 How do you know you're gonna be here tomorrow? 51:00 You have no knowledge. 51:02 I may bury you this week. 51:10 You say, well, 'cause you said that 51:12 I'll make sure you're not the one burying me. 51:16 He got the point, 51:22 that's what our power 24, 51:25 focus these 24 hours is all about. 51:30 We cannot put off a seeking a deeper 51:33 more meaningful relationship with Christ. 51:36 There comes a time when you clear the desk, 51:39 and you go without what's your favorite activity. 51:41 You go without what's your favorite food 51:43 and you're just praying. 51:45 You go deep over Jesus, 51:47 and you say Jesus take me to another level with you. 51:50 I want to go deeper with you, that's what power 24 is about. 51:54 You don't have tomorrow, you got today. 51:57 Oh, great, shall we fear tomorrow, never. 52:01 Oh, mercy, why? 52:02 Because we've got Michael. 52:04 Read it again one last time. 52:05 Chapter 12:1, "At that time 52:07 Michael shall stand up, hallelujah. 52:10 The great prince who stands 52:12 watch over the sons of your people, 52:13 And there shall be a time of trouble, 52:15 Such as never was since there was a nation. 52:16 Even to that time. 52:17 And at that time your people shall be delivered, 52:20 Every one who is found written in the book." 52:24 We have Michael 52:26 and when you've got Michael, you've got God. 52:28 And when you've got God, 52:29 there is nothing to fear for the future. 52:31 And when there is nothing to fear for the future, 52:33 there is nothing in the present that can hold you back. 52:37 489 years ago, 52:39 this very weak 52:42 young German monk 52:45 spreading those fallen autumn leaves in Wittenburg, 52:49 strode up to the university bulletin board 52:51 which happened to be the wooden doors of the cathedral church. 52:54 And he hammered up on that door, 52:57 his 95 thesis, 95 convictions, 53:00 Martin Luther posted. 53:02 Why I believe that ultimately salvation 53:05 cannot be sold by an institutional church. 53:08 Cannot be manipulated or controlled by a power 53:11 that is only in Christ Jesus. 53:13 I believe that, 53:14 and nailed it up and 489 years later. 53:20 His battle cry is still true. 53:22 A mighty fortress 53:24 is our God never failing. 53:29 I love that second stanza of his, 53:31 put it on the screen for you 53:33 "Did we in our own strength confide, 53:37 our striving would be losing, 53:40 were not the right man on our side, 53:43 the man of God's own choosing. 53:45 Dost ask who that may be? 53:47 Christ Jesus, it is he, 53:50 Lord Sabaoth, his name, 53:52 from age to age the same, 53:53 and he must win the battle." 53:58 Daniel declares not must He does, He wins, 54:02 Michael shows up and when Michael shows up 54:05 the right man on our side, Michael wins. 54:09 And please do not forget this, 54:11 when Michael wins, we win with him. 54:16 Which is an ending, 54:17 you got to-- you lock this away. 54:19 That is an ending we must never forget 54:22 as we prepare to face the king of the north. 54:28 It may look like it's all over 54:33 but never forget, 54:35 Michael wins. 54:36 Michael wins, don't you ever-- 54:40 don't you ever step away from Michael, 54:43 which is why by the way, 54:45 we need a new generation of Martin Luther's today. 54:49 I'm gonna end with an appeal. 54:53 If you are a young man 54:56 hear now. 55:01 Like Martin Luther, 55:04 and you'll be willing to make your life available 55:05 to the Lord Jesus Christ to Michael himself, 55:08 to stand just like Jacques did. 55:11 To stand even if you have to stand alone. 55:14 If you're a young man here, 55:16 I want to invite you to stand to your feet right now. 55:18 I don't care what's your major is, 55:19 I don't care what your career is, 55:20 it doesn't matter to me. 55:21 If you're willing to stand as a young man 55:23 for the Lord Jesus Christ 55:25 and you don't have to be a young man either. 55:29 I see some of the older men stood up and that's good. 55:31 Yeah, you stand. 55:35 We need a generation of Martin Luther's today. 55:37 Unafraid and un-intimidated, 55:40 who will stand for Michael who has stood for them. 55:44 How about you women? 55:45 Young women, 55:48 young women willing to stand up in the circus 55:51 where Jesus has placed you on this campus 55:52 or in this community 55:53 I don't care what's your major is or what's your calling is, 55:55 stand for Jesus. 55:57 You're young women, 55:58 and not so young women 56:00 and you're willing to stand for Jesus. 56:02 We need a generation, it's not based upon age. 56:04 It's based upon commitment to Michael. 56:08 To the Michael who stands for us, hallelujah. 56:13 Oh, holy father, just because of that truth 56:15 your kingdom is forever 56:18 that we have nothing to fear for the future. 56:22 Michael stands 56:24 and when Michael stands he wins. 56:28 We chose Christ Jesus today. 56:32 Let the record show we have stood to choose Him 56:37 that we too might stand for him 56:40 in this hour of history. 56:43 We are not afraid holy father 56:45 for our Christ has truly promised us lo, 56:51 I'm with you always even to the end of the age, 56:58 even so come Lord Jesus, amen. 57:05 Before you go I wanted to take one more moment 57:07 let you know how glad I am. 57:09 You shared this hour worship and Bible teachings with us. 57:12 Living in the world that we do now, 57:13 a civilization surviving on the edge 57:15 of constant upheaval and change. 57:18 I'm grateful that we have the bedrock hope of Jesus, 57:20 aren't you? 57:21 And I'm thankful that you and I can partnered together 57:23 to reach this generation the world ove 57:26 through the satellite telecast. 57:28 So please know that I thank God 57:29 and you for the generous way you partnered with us. 57:33 Your tax deductible gifts are being multiplied 57:35 all across the earth for such a time as this. 57:38 If you'd like to order a DVD or a video tape copy 57:40 of this teaching today or make a donation on your credit card, 57:44 please call our friendly operators 57:45 at the number on your screen. 57:46 There it is 877-HIS-WILL, 57:49 just the two words 877-HIS-WILL. 57:51 And I promise you, 57:53 we will invest every penny of your generosity 57:55 in God's mission to reach this final generation now. 57:59 Thank you for that partnership 58:01 and I'll see you here again next time. |
Revised 2015-05-28