Let's pray.
00:04:25.42\00:04:26.83
And then plunge
into the last piece
00:04:26.86\00:04:30.12
in our series
entitled "The Gift" this is it.
00:04:30.15\00:04:33.91
Let's pray together.
00:04:33.94\00:04:35.14
Dear God, in this
season that begins where we
00:04:35.17\00:04:39.45
celebrate the coming of
the Messiah the first time
00:04:39.48\00:04:42.82
in our hearts that
set ablaze with a hope
00:04:42.85\00:04:44.55
of His return the second time.
00:04:44.58\00:04:46.87
We do come to that last
piece, the last teaching.
00:04:46.90\00:04:50.56
May it be clear, may
Holy Scriptures speak
00:04:50.59\00:04:54.47
in unequivocal
tones and terms to us.
00:04:54.50\00:05:00.36
And what we hear, let us follow
00:05:00.39\00:05:03.98
as we follow our
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:05:04.01\00:05:05.69
in His name we pray.
00:05:05.72\00:05:07.29
Amen.
00:05:07.32\00:05:09.39
When I was in school, in
fact, when you were in school,
00:05:09.42\00:05:12.91
the favorite time of the
day or the week besides recess
00:05:12.94\00:05:19.15
was when the
teacher put her pencil down
00:05:19.18\00:05:21.57
and she said, "Boys and girls,
00:05:21.60\00:05:22.66
we're having
show-and-tell today."
00:05:22.69\00:05:25.90
Three minutes of fame.
00:05:25.93\00:05:29.19
As you stand in front
of your little friends
00:05:29.22\00:05:31.27
and you show what you found,
00:05:31.30\00:05:35.31
what you made, who you know,
00:05:35.34\00:05:39.98
whatever it was, show-and-tell.
00:05:40.01\00:05:42.43
Well, teacher says we can have
a little show-and-tell today.
00:05:42.46\00:05:44.91
I want to share two
items with you both headlines.
00:05:44.94\00:05:47.12
Three weeks ago,
this headline came,
00:05:47.15\00:05:50.43
Cyberspace, one
of the most respected
00:05:50.46\00:05:52.89
news organizations
in the United States,
00:05:52.92\00:05:54.80
the Christian Science
Monitor, three weeks ago.
00:05:54.83\00:05:59.88
The headline
naturally would catch my eye.
00:05:59.91\00:06:02.88
Here's the headline,
"For real education reform,
00:06:02.91\00:06:06.84
take a cue from the Adventists."
00:06:06.87\00:06:09.45
Well, he got my attention now.
00:06:09.48\00:06:12.02
Here we go, "Amidst all of
the buzz on education reform,
00:06:12.05\00:06:14.84
the Seventh-day
Adventist school system
00:06:14.87\00:06:16.39
might seem an unexpected place
00:06:16.42\00:06:18.27
to look for models in
improving student achievement
00:06:18.30\00:06:20.33
but by educating
mind, body and spirit,
00:06:20.36\00:06:23.53
Adventist schools outperform
00:06:23.56\00:06:24.95
the national average
across all demographics.
00:06:24.98\00:06:29.76
Since 2006, as part of
the cognitive genesis study
00:06:29.79\00:06:32.61
two colleagues and I,"
this is written by Elisa Kido.
00:06:32.64\00:06:35.43
"Two colleagues and I
have been gathering data
00:06:35.46\00:06:37.09
on more than 50,000 students
00:06:37.12\00:06:38.68
enrolled in
Seventh-day Adventist schools
00:06:38.71\00:06:40.60
unbeknownst to many
the Adventist church runs
00:06:40.63\00:06:42.73
a Christian school
system, second only in size
00:06:42.76\00:06:45.35
to the Roman
Catholic parochial schools.
00:06:45.38\00:06:47.52
Even we were
surprised by the results,
00:06:51.42\00:06:53.01
our four-year independently
financed study show
00:06:53.04\00:06:55.85
that students at
Adventist schools
00:06:55.88\00:06:57.58
outperformed their peers
00:06:57.61\00:06:59.55
at the national
average in every subject area.
00:06:59.58\00:07:02.87
Our research
shows the demographics
00:07:02.90\00:07:04.46
at Adventist schools are closer
to those of public schools
00:07:04.49\00:07:08.16
and this is the shocker,
closer to public schools
00:07:08.19\00:07:11.09
with high economic and
socioeconomic diversity."
00:07:11.12\00:07:14.01
Because people says "Oh,
yeah, yeah private school,
00:07:14.04\00:07:15.90
unique, you get
the creme de la creme
00:07:15.93\00:07:17.90
and that's why you
have the high scores."
00:07:17.93\00:07:19.07
No, we're just
like public schools,
00:07:19.10\00:07:20.42
they look at our diversity.
00:07:20.45\00:07:21.97
Okay.
00:07:22.00\00:07:23.10
"Enrollment is open,
many students are admitted
00:07:23.13\00:07:25.00
without the kind of
screening for ability
00:07:25.03\00:07:26.67
that many other
private schools employ.
00:07:26.70\00:07:28.41
In North America,
the Adventist Church runs
00:07:28.44\00:07:30.74
almost a thousand
schools, we're one of them.
00:07:30.77\00:07:33.25
Many of which
are small and rural.
00:07:33.28\00:07:35.23
We found no relationship
between the size of the school
00:07:35.26\00:07:38.29
that students
attended and achievement,"
00:07:38.32\00:07:40.35
Isn't that great?
00:07:40.38\00:07:41.43
Some of you came
from a very small school
00:07:41.46\00:07:44.40
and you are doing very well here
00:07:44.43\00:07:47.04
and we are very proud of you.
00:07:47.07\00:07:50.36
Good on you.
00:07:50.39\00:07:51.77
"So how do we account for
the Adventist's advantage?
00:07:51.80\00:07:53.82
We believe it lies
in the holistic approach
00:07:53.85\00:07:56.57
these schools take.
00:07:56.60\00:07:57.79
A commitment to educating
mind, body and spirit."
00:07:57.82\00:08:00.88
Whoa.
00:08:00.91\00:08:01.98
Andrews
University, our latin motto,
00:08:02.01\00:08:04.13
Mens, Corpus, Spiritus.
00:08:04.16\00:08:07.51
We believe in that, don't we?
00:08:07.54\00:08:08.84
"Unlike public
schools, Adventist schools
00:08:08.87\00:08:10.30
across the country
have a standard curriculum.
00:08:10.33\00:08:12.39
It includes the
traditional three R's
00:08:12.42\00:08:14.55
along with emphasis on spiritual
00:08:14.58\00:08:15.76
and physical development.
00:08:15.79\00:08:16.85
There's a
coherence and a connectedness
00:08:16.88\00:08:19.11
between Adventist schools
00:08:19.14\00:08:20.31
that doesn't often
exist in other systems."
00:08:20.34\00:08:23.20
Final sentence, here it comes.
00:08:23.23\00:08:24.81
"True reform of the
public school system
00:08:24.84\00:08:26.80
will take hard
work and innovation,
00:08:26.83\00:08:29.11
but the
Adventists provide a model
00:08:29.14\00:08:31.61
that can help
reformers hit the reset button."
00:08:31.64\00:08:37.38
Show-and-tell,
headline number one.
00:08:37.41\00:08:39.99
Here comes headline number two.
00:08:40.02\00:08:42.93
Hold it up here for you to see
00:08:42.96\00:08:44.45
the respected
National Geographic magazine.
00:08:44.48\00:08:48.46
Here we go.
00:08:48.49\00:08:49.71
You can see the
cover story, you see it?
00:08:49.74\00:08:51.94
"The Secrets of
Living Longer," cover story.
00:08:51.97\00:08:55.64
So I'm curious now.
00:08:55.67\00:08:57.04
I open up my
National Geographic.
00:08:57.07\00:08:59.82
"What if I said you could add up
00:08:59.85\00:09:01.43
to ten years to your life?
00:09:01.46\00:09:04.48
A long healthy
life is no accident.
00:09:04.51\00:09:06.34
It begins with good genes,
00:09:06.37\00:09:07.76
but it also
depends on good habits.
00:09:07.79\00:09:09.30
If you adopt the right
lifestyle, experts say,
00:09:09.33\00:09:11.58
chances are you may
live up to a decade longer.
00:09:11.61\00:09:15.50
So with this
study for funded in part
00:09:15.53\00:09:18.01
by the US National
Institute on aging.
00:09:18.04\00:09:20.71
Scientist focused
on several regions.
00:09:20.74\00:09:22.77
Sardinia, Italy,
sent the crew there.
00:09:22.80\00:09:25.72
Okinawa, Japan, I've
been there, sent a crew there.
00:09:25.75\00:09:28.43
Loma Linda, California,
00:09:28.46\00:09:30.29
researchers studied a
group of Seventh-day Adventists
00:09:30.32\00:09:32.46
who rank among
America's longevity all-stars,
00:09:32.49\00:09:35.73
they live the longest."
00:09:35.76\00:09:37.11
So I turned to
this little section
00:09:37.14\00:09:40.11
called Adventists in
the National Geographic.
00:09:40.14\00:09:42.44
Let me just read a line here.
00:09:42.47\00:09:43.52
"The Adventists
church born during the era
00:09:43.55\00:09:45.29
of 19th century health reforms
00:09:45.32\00:09:47.59
that popularized
organized vegetarianism,
00:09:47.62\00:09:50.27
the graham cracker
and breakfast cereals.
00:09:50.30\00:09:52.82
John Harvey
Kellogg was an Adventist
00:09:52.85\00:09:54.38
when he started making
wheat flakes, cornflakes today.
00:09:54.41\00:09:58.02
Has Seventh-day Adventist
church has always preached
00:09:58.05\00:10:00.26
and practiced a
message of health.
00:10:00.29\00:10:02.70
It expressly forbids
smoking, alcohol consumption,
00:10:02.73\00:10:06.11
and eating biblically
unclean foods, such as pork.
00:10:06.14\00:10:08.81
It also discourages the
consumption of other meat,
00:10:08.84\00:10:11.27
rich foods, caffeinated drinks
00:10:11.30\00:10:13.05
and stimulating
condiments and spices."
00:10:13.08\00:10:15.27
Quoting now,
someone, "Grains fruits, nuts
00:10:15.30\00:10:18.89
and vegetables
constitute the diet,
00:10:18.92\00:10:20.62
chosen for us by our
Creator," wrote Ellen White.
00:10:20.65\00:10:24.61
"An early figure that helped
shape the Adventist church,
00:10:24.64\00:10:27.80
Adventists also observed
the Sabbath on Saturday,
00:10:27.83\00:10:30.31
socializing with
other church members
00:10:30.34\00:10:31.99
and enjoying a sanctuary in time
00:10:32.02\00:10:33.38
that helps relieve stress.
00:10:33.41\00:10:34.69
Today most Adventists
follow the prescribed lifestyle,
00:10:34.72\00:10:37.21
a testimony perhaps to the power
00:10:37.24\00:10:38.95
of mixing health and religion."
00:10:38.98\00:10:41.78
You want to know what these
two headlines have in common?
00:10:41.81\00:10:44.40
They have in common,
the same 5'2" little woman,
00:10:44.43\00:10:50.04
whose writings have
shaped the community of faith
00:10:50.07\00:10:53.51
that I'm
privileged to belong to.
00:10:53.54\00:10:55.64
Ever read a book, Education?
00:10:55.67\00:10:57.46
I have. Amazing.
00:10:57.49\00:11:00.37
Ever read a book,
Ministry of Healing?
00:11:00.40\00:11:01.91
I have. Amazing.
00:11:01.94\00:11:04.03
10 year advantage, please.
00:11:04.06\00:11:06.76
Amazing. What's up with that?
00:11:06.79\00:11:11.81
I mean, the word on the
street is practically everything
00:11:11.84\00:11:14.24
she got, she
borrowed from somebody else.
00:11:14.27\00:11:17.79
Well, you if that was true,
you think about this, just--
00:11:17.82\00:11:20.12
Let's just be logical.
00:11:20.15\00:11:21.59
If she borrowed it
all, how come nobody else
00:11:21.62\00:11:23.70
has come up with the
same positive results?
00:11:23.73\00:11:27.88
Why they're making headlines?
00:11:27.91\00:11:31.02
How come the people
who follow the principal
00:11:31.05\00:11:34.13
she wrote and championed
00:11:34.16\00:11:35.79
live up to 10 years
longer than those who don't.
00:11:35.82\00:11:40.39
That's the
question that intrigued
00:11:40.42\00:11:41.95
Australian ENT, ear, ear, nose
00:11:41.98\00:11:45.26
and throat
specialist, Don McMahon.
00:11:45.29\00:11:48.03
In Loma Linda
University biologist,
00:11:48.06\00:11:50.12
paleontologist
researcher Leonard Brand,
00:11:50.15\00:11:52.29
they collaborated
to find the answer.
00:11:52.32\00:11:54.48
I'm reading at
the very last page
00:11:54.51\00:11:55.75
of their book,
delightful little book,
00:11:55.78\00:11:57.13
I put the words on
the screen for you.
00:11:57.16\00:11:58.48
"The critics claims
that Ellen White's writings
00:11:58.51\00:12:01.55
can be explained as originating
from strictly human sources
00:12:01.58\00:12:05.06
do not stand up to
critical evaluation.
00:12:05.09\00:12:07.83
Dr. Don
McMahon's research reveals
00:12:07.86\00:12:10.75
a dramatic difference in quality
00:12:10.78\00:12:12.45
between Mrs.
White's health principles
00:12:12.48\00:12:14.52
and those advocated by other
health reformers in the 1800s."
00:12:14.55\00:12:18.71
So they-- I photocopied
this from their book.
00:12:18.74\00:12:20.80
So they-- they put some
of the other health reforms.
00:12:20.83\00:12:23.58
These are the people that
she could have borrowed from.
00:12:23.61\00:12:25.71
She could have
borrowed these ideas.
00:12:25.74\00:12:27.55
Let's see,
here's Sylvester Graham,
00:12:27.58\00:12:30.59
graham crackers, all right,
00:12:30.62\00:12:31.65
graham
crackers, this is the guy.
00:12:31.68\00:12:34.11
This is, listen.
00:12:34.14\00:12:35.58
These are his health principles.
00:12:35.61\00:12:36.64
Don't heat your house, go naked.
00:12:36.67\00:12:43.78
Don't rock-- Parents,
don't rock a baby to sleep.
00:12:43.81\00:12:48.34
Don't drink water, get
liquids only from fruit.
00:12:48.37\00:12:52.31
Somebody is borrowing,
fortunately left all that out.
00:12:52.34\00:12:56.95
Here's another
health reformer contemporary
00:12:56.98\00:12:58.57
to Ellen White,
William A. Alcott,
00:12:58.60\00:13:00.93
wear very little
clothing even when it's cold.
00:13:00.96\00:13:03.47
These guys must
have lived in California,
00:13:03.50\00:13:04.74
that's what I'm thinking.
00:13:04.77\00:13:06.74
Where do you come
up with this stuff?
00:13:06.77\00:13:09.83
Don't use eyeglasses.
00:13:09.86\00:13:12.28
Don't comfort children,
crying is good for them.
00:13:12.31\00:13:14.29
Avoid sweating in hot weather.
00:13:17.90\00:13:21.02
They didn't live in California.
Okay, here's another one.
00:13:21.05\00:13:24.48
Larkin B. Coles,
another contemporary.
00:13:24.51\00:13:26.34
Avoid excessive spitting.
Well, that's good counsel.
00:13:26.37\00:13:30.52
Don't rock a child in a cradle.
Don't nurse babies at night.
00:13:30.55\00:13:34.27
When you're
supposed to nurse them?
00:13:34.30\00:13:37.02
Just wait till
day. Drink little water.
00:13:37.05\00:13:40.67
Here's another
guy, James C. Jackson,
00:13:40.70\00:13:42.69
don't wear black.
00:13:42.72\00:13:44.04
Why are you laughing at me for?
00:13:47.20\00:13:48.29
Marital sexual activity
is dangerous to your health.
00:13:53.70\00:13:56.32
Rubbing the body with the hands
will substitute for a bath.
00:13:59.69\00:14:02.43
You're right. Okay.
00:14:02.46\00:14:05.29
So McMahon the specialist
and the researcher Brand,
00:14:05.32\00:14:09.60
they examine what's
happening to her contemporaries.
00:14:09.63\00:14:12.23
She's leaving all this behind.
00:14:12.26\00:14:13.39
What she comes up with gives you
00:14:13.42\00:14:14.62
a 10 year advantage today.
00:14:14.65\00:14:16.30
Something's going on
here, these men conclude.
00:14:16.33\00:14:18.78
I'll put it on
the screen for you.
00:14:18.81\00:14:20.69
Take a careful note of this.
00:14:20.72\00:14:21.81
"This difference between
the health reformers indicates
00:14:21.84\00:14:24.40
that Mrs. White
had health information
00:14:24.43\00:14:26.65
that could not have
come from any human source
00:14:26.68\00:14:29.72
available anywhere at the
time she lived and wrote."
00:14:29.75\00:14:32.99
It just didn't exist.
00:14:33.02\00:14:35.45
The stuff was not around
00:14:35.48\00:14:36.89
for a 10 year
advantage back then.
00:14:36.92\00:14:38.35
Where did she get
it from? Keep reading.
00:14:38.38\00:14:41.61
"At least in the area of health,
00:14:41.64\00:14:43.47
our research has
provided evidence
00:14:43.50\00:14:45.33
that demands an extra biblical,
that means outside the Bible,
00:14:45.36\00:14:48.72
extra human, outside of human,
00:14:48.75\00:14:50.75
source of information to account
00:14:50.78\00:14:52.99
for the accuracy of
her health principles."
00:14:53.02\00:14:56.74
Amazing. Amazing.
00:14:56.77\00:15:00.45
Reminds me, of
these words to God,
00:15:00.48\00:15:03.50
to the children of Israel,
00:15:03.53\00:15:04.58
the chosen people on their way
00:15:04.61\00:15:06.82
to the Promised
Land, liberated from Egypt.
00:15:06.85\00:15:08.59
This is Exodus 15:26,
God speaking to Israel,
00:15:08.62\00:15:11.67
"If you diligently heed
the voice of the Lord your God
00:15:11.70\00:15:15.36
and do what is
right in His sight
00:15:15.39\00:15:17.08
give ear to His commandments,
keep all the His statutes,"
00:15:17.11\00:15:19.37
those health
embedded health principles
00:15:19.40\00:15:21.53
in the mosaic writings.
00:15:21.56\00:15:23.59
"Keep all the statues, I
will put none of the diseases
00:15:23.62\00:15:27.41
on you which I have
brought on the Egyptians.
00:15:27.44\00:15:29.40
For I am the
Lord who heals you."
00:15:29.43\00:15:33.69
Amazing. Up to a
10 year advantage.
00:15:33.72\00:15:38.34
Wow.
00:15:38.37\00:15:39.43
Maybe the Creator of our bodies
really does know what's best.
00:15:39.46\00:15:43.83
And maybe, just maybe
that little 5'2" woman
00:15:43.86\00:15:46.88
really was divinely
inspired to lead her readers
00:15:46.91\00:15:49.66
back to the timeless principles
of this book right here.
00:15:49.69\00:15:53.72
Which is why by the
way, we might understand now
00:15:53.75\00:15:57.12
the ending that the
Christmas story has to it.
00:15:57.15\00:16:00.73
Lot of people don't know this.
00:16:00.76\00:16:03.59
Well, they just say,
God, John just forgot--
00:16:03.62\00:16:05.65
I mean, they read
the Gospel of John,
00:16:05.68\00:16:06.76
there's no Christmas
story in the Gospel of John.
00:16:06.79\00:16:08.31
He forgot it, no,
he didn't forget it,
00:16:08.34\00:16:09.95
he was saving it.
00:16:09.98\00:16:11.02
He embedded it
into his apocalypse,
00:16:11.05\00:16:14.10
the dramatic apocalypse
and I want to go there today,
00:16:14.13\00:16:16.75
the dramatic Christmas story,
the cryptic Christmas story.
00:16:16.78\00:16:19.90
The moment you read
these words, you will just say,
00:16:19.93\00:16:21.21
"Oh, yeah, that's
Christmas, all right."
00:16:21.24\00:16:22.52
Open your Bible, please
to the Bible's last book
00:16:22.55\00:16:24.68
written by John,
Book of Revelation.
00:16:24.71\00:16:27.93
Revelation 12.
00:16:27.96\00:16:30.95
You didn't bring your
Bible, you got to see this,
00:16:30.98\00:16:32.58
this will be page
829 in the pew Bible.
00:16:32.61\00:16:35.41
Revelation 12. Look at this.
00:16:35.44\00:16:38.86
The cryptic Christmas
story, yeah, you'll see it.
00:16:38.89\00:16:41.78
You'll say, "Well, that
is Christmas right there."
00:16:41.81\00:16:44.39
I'm in the New King
James Version today,
00:16:44.42\00:16:46.69
any translation you
have, it's fine with me.
00:16:46.72\00:16:50.22
All right.
00:16:50.25\00:16:51.73
Revelation 12:1,
"Now--" John's envision.
00:16:51.76\00:16:54.98
All right, that's what happens
to prophet, they get visions.
00:16:55.01\00:16:57.37
God shows them
what others cannot see.
00:16:57.40\00:17:01.05
"Now a great sign
appeared in heaven,
00:17:01.08\00:17:03.54
a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
00:17:03.57\00:17:08.22
and on her head a garland,"
00:17:08.25\00:17:09.55
now the Greek word for
garland there is Stephanus,
00:17:09.58\00:17:11.80
from whence comes our
word Stephanie or Stephen.
00:17:11.83\00:17:15.25
All right, it's
a--it's a wreath,
00:17:15.28\00:17:17.23
you cross the finish line
in the ancient Olympus races,
00:17:17.26\00:17:21.53
you get this wreath.
00:17:21.56\00:17:22.63
It's the
conqueror, it's the winner.
00:17:22.66\00:17:24.35
"On her head a
garland of twelve stars."
00:17:24.38\00:17:26.86
All right, let's just put
an artist portrayal of that.
00:17:26.89\00:17:29.27
Okay, there she
is. There's the woman.
00:17:29.30\00:17:31.11
Now in Revelation a pure woman
00:17:31.14\00:17:33.64
such as this one represents
God's true community of faith.
00:17:33.67\00:17:36.78
If there's an impure woman
and she appears in Chapter 17,
00:17:36.81\00:17:39.55
she's called the prostitute,
the whore or the harlot.
00:17:39.58\00:17:42.37
That represents
the fallen system
00:17:42.40\00:17:44.63
a fake, counterfeit truth.
00:17:44.66\00:17:46.11
All right.
00:17:46.14\00:17:47.23
So that the two are just
opposed in the apocalypse,
00:17:47.26\00:17:49.70
the pure woman, this
is the pure woman here.
00:17:49.73\00:17:52.13
Keep reading, verse 2.
00:17:52.16\00:17:53.39
"Then being with
child," oh, oh, that woman
00:17:53.42\00:17:56.85
that we just saw is pregnant.
00:17:56.88\00:17:58.60
"Then being with
child, she cried out in labor
00:17:58.63\00:18:01.54
and in pain to give birth."
00:18:01.57\00:18:04.29
And then watch this, John
says, when I'm watching verse 3.
00:18:04.32\00:18:07.04
"Another sign
appeared in heaven,
00:18:07.07\00:18:09.03
behold, a great fiery
red dragon having seven heads
00:18:09.06\00:18:12.66
and ten horns, and
seven diadems on his heads."
00:18:12.69\00:18:15.70
Let's see that
dragon now on that screen.
00:18:15.73\00:18:18.25
Whoa. Found him in Google.
00:18:18.28\00:18:23.59
I typed in dragon, Revelation 12
00:18:23.62\00:18:25.11
and that's what I got.
00:18:25.14\00:18:26.79
Isn't that something?
00:18:26.82\00:18:27.91
Hey, by the way, who's
the dragon in this prophecy?
00:18:27.94\00:18:30.53
Who's a dragon?
Verse 9, it's clear.
00:18:30.56\00:18:32.66
The dragon, that old serpent
called the devil and Satan,
00:18:32.69\00:18:36.54
we know who the dragon is.
00:18:36.57\00:18:38.29
The dragon is Satan.
Okay. So now let's go.
00:18:38.32\00:18:40.64
Here Satan appears in
verse 3, here goes verse 4 now.
00:18:40.67\00:18:43.20
"His tail drew a
third of the stars of heaven
00:18:43.23\00:18:46.69
and threw them to the earth."
00:18:46.72\00:18:47.89
Those are clearly
members of the family
00:18:47.92\00:18:49.78
of God's angels
who joined with him.
00:18:49.81\00:18:51.55
This is the origin
of demons by the way.
00:18:51.58\00:18:53.65
There are demons,
that's not a figment
00:18:53.68\00:18:55.15
of my imagination,
they're fallen angels.
00:18:55.18\00:18:57.48
A third of them were drawn
to this rebellion by Lucifer,
00:18:57.51\00:19:00.52
the fallen one and the
dragon, now here it goes.
00:19:00.55\00:19:02.72
"And the dragon
stood before the woman
00:19:02.75\00:19:04.67
who was ready to give birth,
00:19:04.70\00:19:06.09
to devour her Child
as soon as it was born."
00:19:06.12\00:19:09.28
Now we're getting
to the Christmas story.
00:19:09.31\00:19:11.46
What happened in
that Christmas story?
00:19:11.49\00:19:13.14
Who was poised, ready as soon
as the Christ child is born?
00:19:13.17\00:19:16.72
And who is the
front man for the dragon?
00:19:16.75\00:19:19.22
Who is the
front man? King Herod.
00:19:19.25\00:19:21.91
Ready to devour that
baby as soon as it's born.
00:19:21.94\00:19:25.21
This is the
cryptic Christmas story
00:19:25.24\00:19:26.72
and it's in fast forward.
00:19:26.75\00:19:27.85
Watch this.
00:19:27.88\00:19:28.97
Verse 5, "So she
bore a male Child
00:19:29.00\00:19:32.09
who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron."
00:19:32.12\00:19:34.26
That's a messianic
sign, symbol rather.
00:19:34.29\00:19:36.55
Straight out of Psalm
2. She bore the Messiah.
00:19:36.58\00:19:39.37
"And her child was
caught up to heaven and gone.
00:19:39.40\00:19:43.18
That's the whole
story, his whole life
00:19:43.21\00:19:44.73
in half a sentence,
because that's the point.
00:19:44.76\00:19:48.26
The point is the
dragon in this story.
00:19:48.29\00:19:50.76
The dragon and
the woman, the woman.
00:19:50.79\00:19:53.93
What happens to
the woman? Verse 6.
00:19:53.96\00:19:55.70
"Then the woman--" after
he was ascended to heaven.
00:19:55.73\00:19:57.88
"Then the woman
fled into the wilderness,
00:19:57.91\00:19:59.73
where she has a
place prepared by God,
00:19:59.76\00:20:01.72
that they should feed her there
00:20:01.75\00:20:03.16
one thousand two
hundred and sixty days."
00:20:03.19\00:20:05.47
In Bible prophecy, a day equals
a year, that's 1,260 years.
00:20:05.50\00:20:08.91
The dark and
middle ages now. Whoa.
00:20:08.94\00:20:11.76
She goes underground,
the community of faith
00:20:11.79\00:20:13.87
goes underground
preserving divine truth
00:20:13.90\00:20:16.58
for a ruthless
power seeks to exterminate
00:20:16.61\00:20:22.79
that truth and that community.
00:20:22.82\00:20:25.35
Long dark and middle ages.
00:20:25.38\00:20:28.04
Well, just read--
just drop down to verse 13,
00:20:28.07\00:20:30.01
"And when the dragon saw
00:20:30.04\00:20:31.09
that he had been
cast to the earth,"
00:20:31.12\00:20:32.18
and by the way that
happened at Calvary.
00:20:32.21\00:20:34.04
This chapter's clear, Calvary,
00:20:34.07\00:20:35.34
when Jesus said it is
finished on the cross,
00:20:35.37\00:20:37.24
over, it's curtains
for Satan and he knows it.
00:20:37.27\00:20:40.50
He's cast to the earth fully.
00:20:40.53\00:20:42.52
"Now when the dragon
saw that he had been cast
00:20:42.55\00:20:44.05
to the earth, he
persecuted the woman
00:20:44.08\00:20:46.80
who gave birth
to the male Child."
00:20:46.83\00:20:48.75
I can't get at my
antagonist, I cannot get it.
00:20:48.78\00:20:52.85
I will kill the woman
that gave birth to him.
00:20:52.88\00:20:57.20
Now, fast forward all the
way to the end of the chapter.
00:20:57.23\00:20:59.71
This is the final
generation at the end of time
00:20:59.74\00:21:02.94
that is faithful to God.
00:21:02.97\00:21:04.75
Seed of the woman,
watch this. Verse 17.
00:21:04.78\00:21:07.13
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman,
00:21:07.16\00:21:11.65
and he went to make war
00:21:11.68\00:21:13.83
with the rest of her offspring,"
00:21:13.86\00:21:16.40
King James says
with the remnant.
00:21:16.43\00:21:17.79
That what's
comes at the very end.
00:21:17.82\00:21:19.04
He went to make war
with that at the very end.
00:21:19.07\00:21:21.28
Who are these people?
00:21:21.31\00:21:22.52
Oh, these are they who
keep the commandments of God.
00:21:22.55\00:21:25.54
And notice this, have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:21:25.57\00:21:30.11
Ladies and
gentlemen, there it is.
00:21:30.14\00:21:31.19
Did you catch that line?
00:21:31.22\00:21:32.25
And the dragon was
enraged, raged with the woman.
00:21:32.28\00:21:39.88
That's what
happened at Christmas.
00:21:39.91\00:21:41.61
By the way, that's
what's happening today.
00:21:41.64\00:21:43.73
Now you know, now you know.
00:21:43.76\00:21:46.92
Because if we take
a look at this woman
00:21:46.95\00:21:48.55
and her end time children.
00:21:48.58\00:21:49.63
Do you see what they have?
00:21:49.66\00:21:51.01
The Greek word
here is very clear,
00:21:51.04\00:21:53.25
it can be
translated, they possess.
00:21:53.28\00:21:55.27
They don't have the
commandments of God.
00:21:55.30\00:21:56.75
God has those. They're
radically loyal to God.
00:21:56.78\00:21:59.37
They only have one
solitary possession
00:21:59.40\00:22:01.65
and what is that possession?
00:22:01.68\00:22:02.91
They possess the
testimony of Jesus Christ,
00:22:02.94\00:22:06.39
that's what they possess.
00:22:06.42\00:22:07.63
Final community, what's
the testimony of Jesus Christ?
00:22:07.66\00:22:09.64
Revelation-- We've
been there a few weeks ago.
00:22:09.67\00:22:11.35
Just a little
refresher, Revelation 19:10,
00:22:11.38\00:22:13.40
we put it up here, direct quote,
00:22:13.43\00:22:14.71
"For the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy."
00:22:14.74\00:22:20.31
That means we found
out from Revelation 22,
00:22:20.34\00:22:22.09
that means there is the presence
00:22:22.12\00:22:23.45
of a divinely inspired prophet
in the midst of the community.
00:22:23.48\00:22:27.76
I'm not making this up,
this is in the apocalypse.
00:22:27.79\00:22:34.43
So here's a question
we need to be asking,
00:22:34.46\00:22:35.88
really here's the question.
00:22:35.91\00:22:36.97
Why has the
dragon, this evil grinch
00:22:37.00\00:22:39.76
that almost
destroyed the first Christmas?
00:22:39.79\00:22:42.01
Why has the dragon
from the very beginning
00:22:42.04\00:22:43.92
of time been so enraged
at the gift of prophecy,
00:22:43.95\00:22:46.93
at the spirit of prophecy,
at the testimony of Jesus?
00:22:46.96\00:22:49.56
Why has he always
slaughtered the prophets?
00:22:49.59\00:22:51.87
John the Baptist.
00:22:51.90\00:22:54.34
Why has he being
going after the prophets?
00:22:54.37\00:22:57.47
I tell you why? This
isn't rocket science.
00:22:57.50\00:22:59.51
Now the answer is very simple.
00:22:59.54\00:23:01.67
Because the gift of prophecy
00:23:01.70\00:23:05.95
through it, God shines
a massive halogen light
00:23:05.98\00:23:11.08
straight into that dark
secret layer of the dragon
00:23:11.11\00:23:16.79
and exposes his secrets
00:23:16.82\00:23:19.61
and brings to
light his deceptions.
00:23:19.64\00:23:23.17
And so the dragon is
enraged at the woman, a killer.
00:23:23.20\00:23:29.37
Now snuff out that light.
00:23:29.40\00:23:30.96
You see, the
bright halogen light
00:23:34.03\00:23:37.35
closes in on the mo, the
modus operandi of the dragon.
00:23:37.38\00:23:42.21
For example, how he uses diet?
00:23:42.24\00:23:46.19
What we're eating, what we drink
00:23:46.22\00:23:47.61
to control how we think?
00:23:47.64\00:23:49.79
Now light suddenly shines,
00:23:49.82\00:23:51.92
you don't want to
be under that control.
00:23:51.95\00:23:53.90
Watch what you eat,
watch what you drink.
00:23:53.93\00:23:56.85
There's another for example.
How he uses reading material.
00:23:56.88\00:24:02.70
You watch that goes
through into your brain
00:24:02.73\00:24:04.99
and onto the hard disk.
00:24:05.02\00:24:06.29
How he uses that to
open the door of your life,
00:24:06.32\00:24:08.63
straight to his attack.
00:24:08.66\00:24:10.50
Now light shines,
look out for what you read.
00:24:10.53\00:24:13.69
What you watch, what you hear,
be very careful, he wants it.
00:24:13.72\00:24:19.02
That's what the-- that's what
00:24:19.05\00:24:20.08
the halogen light of
the spirit of prophecy does.
00:24:20.11\00:24:22.51
It illumines the fallen
culture of a doomed planet.
00:24:22.54\00:24:30.15
Don't be
marinated in that culture.
00:24:30.18\00:24:33.70
It exposes
philosophical confusion,
00:24:33.73\00:24:36.43
it exposes false record,
00:24:36.46\00:24:37.85
hey, we got
time, man, I got time.
00:24:37.88\00:24:40.12
This world's not
coming to an end.
00:24:40.15\00:24:41.53
Bright halogen the
hiss of the serpent,
00:24:41.56\00:24:45.80
the dragon, all exposed.
00:24:45.83\00:24:47.83
I tell you what,
if I were the dragon,
00:24:47.86\00:24:49.50
I would be, I would
be tip to high heavens
00:24:49.53\00:24:54.34
over that bright halogen light.
00:24:54.37\00:24:56.12
Because by the
way, the bright light,
00:24:56.15\00:24:57.49
not only exposes
the end game of Lucifer,
00:24:57.52\00:24:59.62
it also exposes the strategy
00:24:59.65\00:25:02.22
and end game of
Almighty God Himself.
00:25:02.25\00:25:05.23
So that when you and I
think curtains, there's no hope,
00:25:05.26\00:25:07.98
we might as well give
up our faith and surrender.
00:25:08.01\00:25:10.47
That light shines, it says,
00:25:10.50\00:25:11.58
don't you let
go, I'm coming soon.
00:25:11.61\00:25:14.06
When you see these
things begin to come to pass,
00:25:14.09\00:25:16.03
sit up, sit up, sit
up, I'm coming soon.
00:25:16.06\00:25:18.41
Hang on.
00:25:18.44\00:25:19.50
It gives us hope in a future.
00:25:19.53\00:25:21.99
If I were the dragon, I would
obliterate this gift, please.
00:25:22.02\00:25:27.67
In fact, if I were the dragon,
00:25:27.70\00:25:29.90
there are two
diabolical strategies
00:25:29.93\00:25:31.56
that I would resort to.
00:25:31.59\00:25:32.96
May I put them on
the screen for you?
00:25:32.99\00:25:34.20
Two strategies,
if I were the dragon.
00:25:34.23\00:25:35.98
Strategy number one, I
would ravage the author,
00:25:36.01\00:25:40.80
"I would ravage the
author and her writings
00:25:40.83\00:25:43.77
so that no one will read her."
00:25:43.80\00:25:47.45
If I were the dragon I
would raise up every critic
00:25:47.48\00:25:49.88
I could find in an effort
to destroy the credibility
00:25:49.91\00:25:52.84
of that little 5'2"
woman and a prophetic gift.
00:25:52.87\00:25:55.90
I would seek to
destroy her influence,
00:25:55.93\00:25:57.53
I would seek to cast
down on her integrity.
00:25:57.56\00:25:59.30
I would accuse her
of the basest of motives
00:25:59.33\00:26:01.76
that I could possibly
concoct, because if she is read,
00:26:01.79\00:26:06.30
if she is read, I am
exposed and I lose big-time.
00:26:06.33\00:26:14.06
Destroy it, destroy it.
00:26:14.09\00:26:18.75
Two strategic plans, the
other is the very opposite,
00:26:18.78\00:26:21.99
put the second one up.
00:26:22.02\00:26:23.72
"I would overemphasize
the author and her writings
00:26:23.75\00:26:27.27
so that no one will read her."
00:26:27.30\00:26:28.36
Either strategy,
they don't read her.
00:26:28.39\00:26:31.29
What's the strategy number two?
00:26:31.32\00:26:32.76
I'd find well-meaning
but fanatical people
00:26:32.79\00:26:34.60
who use her writings to
beat others over the head.
00:26:34.63\00:26:37.96
I'd raise a
generation of baby boomers,
00:26:37.99\00:26:39.76
many of whom
appeared to have experienced
00:26:39.79\00:26:41.25
that sort of
legalistic punitive use
00:26:41.28\00:26:43.10
of her writings
when they were young
00:26:43.13\00:26:44.51
and I would make
those baby boomer parents
00:26:44.54\00:26:46.32
so gun-shy over
the Spirit of Prophecy
00:26:46.35\00:26:48.60
that they would
end up neglecting
00:26:48.63\00:26:51.03
to teach their children
00:26:51.06\00:26:52.12
the immensity and
value of the divine gift,
00:26:52.15\00:26:54.26
so that I would
have an entire generation
00:26:54.29\00:26:56.16
in the university right now.
00:26:56.19\00:26:57.50
An entire generation that
has not been exposed to her
00:26:57.53\00:27:01.02
because of their
parents' gun-shy timidity.
00:27:01.05\00:27:04.50
That's what I would do.
00:27:04.53\00:27:07.08
I wouldn't want them to
know that now was the time,
00:27:07.11\00:27:09.71
forget what
your mom and dad did.
00:27:09.74\00:27:11.26
Don't do what
your mom and dad did.
00:27:11.29\00:27:13.11
Read it for yourself.
00:27:13.14\00:27:14.62
I wouldn't want
them to know that.
00:27:14.65\00:27:17.62
Either extreme, I win
00:27:17.65\00:27:19.55
because nobody
reads her that way.
00:27:19.58\00:27:25.32
Pretty bright
dragon. Pretty smart dragon.
00:27:25.35\00:27:29.74
Which is why I'm grateful
00:27:29.77\00:27:30.87
for the very
bright mind of the scholar
00:27:30.90\00:27:34.42
who is the namesake
of Andrews University.
00:27:34.45\00:27:37.73
Now go, come on,
help me out here.
00:27:37.76\00:27:39.00
We surely wouldn't have named
our university after someone
00:27:39.03\00:27:42.70
who was not intellectually
bright and biblically literate.
00:27:42.73\00:27:46.69
Now would we have? No.
00:27:46.72\00:27:49.62
Having established that point.
00:27:49.65\00:27:52.12
Then please listen
to what J.N. Andrew says
00:27:52.15\00:27:55.47
about this end-time community
and the gift of prophecy.
00:27:55.50\00:27:59.37
In February, 15, 1870 issue,
the Review and Herald Magazine,
00:27:59.40\00:28:03.37
Andrews lays out 20
sure points to express
00:28:03.40\00:28:05.50
what Seventh-day
Adventists believe
00:28:05.53\00:28:07.13
about the Bible
teaching of spiritual gifts
00:28:07.16\00:28:08.88
and Ellen White's prophetic
ministry in this church.
00:28:08.91\00:28:11.11
I'm not gonna
share the 20 with you,
00:28:11.14\00:28:12.20
I'm gonna share
just the last two.
00:28:12.23\00:28:13.26
All right.
00:28:13.29\00:28:14.32
Number 19, I put it
on the screen for you.
00:28:14.35\00:28:15.70
Number 19, here it is.
00:28:15.73\00:28:17.46
This is the namesake of
this university writing.
00:28:17.49\00:28:20.13
"One of the chief
gifts of the Spirit of God
00:28:20.16\00:28:22.39
that he has placed in
the New Testament church
00:28:22.42\00:28:24.20
is the gift of prophecy."
00:28:24.23\00:28:25.68
And there are list
of texts. All right.
00:28:25.71\00:28:28.22
"This gift the Bible
connects with the closing work
00:28:28.25\00:28:31.13
of this age, this dispensation."
00:28:31.16\00:28:33.12
There are those next texts.
00:28:33.15\00:28:34.59
Spiritual gifts do not,
here's the keeper for 19.
00:28:34.62\00:28:37.52
"Spiritual gifts, therefore,
00:28:37.55\00:28:38.69
do not cease to be of importance
00:28:38.72\00:28:40.64
in the sight of God
at the end of time."
00:28:40.67\00:28:42.74
No, no, no, just go
all the way to the end.
00:28:42.77\00:28:44.90
"Nor of importance
to his true people.
00:28:44.93\00:28:47.44
And that message which is
to accomplish the perfecting,
00:28:47.47\00:28:50.66
the shaping of the saints
to fit them for translation,
00:28:50.69\00:28:53.88
for the return of Christ.
00:28:53.91\00:28:55.05
That message has the Spirit
of God connected with it."
00:28:55.08\00:28:59.89
The Holy Spirit is in the
think of the gift of prophecy.
00:28:59.92\00:29:03.43
I dismiss that
gift, I'm dismissing him.
00:29:03.46\00:29:05.57
Hey, I don't need you.
He's in the thick of it.
00:29:05.60\00:29:08.53
Of course, he is.
Now here comes number 20.
00:29:08.56\00:29:12.78
This is where I can tell
00:29:12.81\00:29:14.74
we chose the
right one, bright mind.
00:29:14.77\00:29:17.05
Notice the balance,
notice the careful balance here.
00:29:17.08\00:29:19.47
Number 20, on
the screen for you.
00:29:19.50\00:29:20.74
"Finally, in the reception
of members into our churches,"
00:29:20.77\00:29:23.15
all right, so
you're bringing people in.
00:29:23.18\00:29:25.01
"We desire on this
subject to know two things."
00:29:25.04\00:29:27.51
You want to come and join
00:29:27.54\00:29:28.77
my community of
faith, two things.
00:29:28.80\00:29:30.67
"Number one, we desire to know
00:29:30.70\00:29:33.55
that they believe
the biblical doctrine,
00:29:33.58\00:29:35.01
the Bible doctrine
of Spiritual gifts."
00:29:35.04\00:29:36.37
Well, that's not rocket science,
00:29:36.40\00:29:37.57
every Christian today
believes in the doctrine
00:29:37.60\00:29:39.21
of Spiritual
gifts is right here.
00:29:39.24\00:29:40.74
And the Spiritual
gifts go all the way
00:29:40.77\00:29:42.26
to the end of time, very
clear from Holy Scripture.
00:29:42.29\00:29:44.27
All right, so number
one, that's what we ask
00:29:44.30\00:29:45.94
and then number two, watch this.
00:29:45.97\00:29:47.58
"That they will
candidly acquaint themselves
00:29:47.61\00:29:50.32
with the visions, the
writings of Ellen White,
00:29:50.35\00:29:54.53
which have ever held
00:29:54.56\00:29:55.60
so prominent place in this work.
00:29:55.63\00:29:57.66
We believe that
every person standing
00:29:57.69\00:29:59.28
thus, you do these two.
00:29:59.31\00:30:00.78
Carrying out this purpose
will be guided in the way
00:30:00.81\00:30:02.75
of truth and righteousness."
00:30:02.78\00:30:03.82
Now the last
sentence is the key point.
00:30:03.85\00:30:06.36
And these are my italics.
00:30:06.39\00:30:07.80
And these who
occupy this ground,
00:30:07.83\00:30:10.76
are never denied all the time
00:30:10.79\00:30:14.22
they desire to
decide this matter."
00:30:14.25\00:30:17.29
You can have all
the time you wish.
00:30:17.32\00:30:19.48
You don't have to come
to the conclusion I come to.
00:30:19.51\00:30:22.19
Now take all the time you wish.
00:30:22.22\00:30:24.72
Study the Biblical
teaching of Spiritual gifts.
00:30:24.75\00:30:26.78
Read from Ellen
White's writings.
00:30:26.81\00:30:28.26
Take your time, be a
stern as you can possibly be
00:30:28.29\00:30:31.78
and then, here's
what you ask yourself,
00:30:31.81\00:30:33.47
ask yourself, when
I read her writings,
00:30:33.50\00:30:36.47
am I tasting the fruit
of the testimony of Jesus?
00:30:36.50\00:30:40.61
Is this the
fruit? You know what?
00:30:40.64\00:30:43.05
I'm just as confident
as John Nevins Andrews,
00:30:43.08\00:30:45.23
that if you'll do
that, I just trust you
00:30:45.26\00:30:47.75
and God to work it all out.
00:30:47.78\00:30:49.27
You don't have to talk to
me about it, you just do it.
00:30:49.30\00:30:52.48
I trust the Holy
Spirit to lead you.
00:30:52.51\00:30:55.19
So you're saying,
Dwight, what do we do next?
00:30:55.22\00:30:58.11
I say we embrace
00:30:58.14\00:30:59.17
the great Kellogg's
cornflakes marketing strategy
00:30:59.20\00:31:03.08
from a few years ago.
00:31:03.11\00:31:04.17
Let's put Kellogg's cornflakes,
00:31:04.20\00:31:05.83
make us hungry
just for a moment.
00:31:05.86\00:31:07.41
Taste them again.
00:31:07.44\00:31:08.53
Wasn't that, that was brilliant.
00:31:08.56\00:31:10.15
Taste them again
for the first time.
00:31:10.18\00:31:14.06
You say, come on,
Dwight, how can you do that?
00:31:14.09\00:31:15.36
How can you do something
again for the first time?
00:31:15.39\00:31:17.84
But of course that's
the whole point, isn't it?
00:31:17.87\00:31:20.60
You can't but of course you can.
00:31:20.63\00:31:24.41
But of course is the message,
come back to what you thought
00:31:24.44\00:31:26.92
you gave up when you
grew up, come back to it.
00:31:26.95\00:31:30.16
Now look, when I grew
up, I grew up in Japan.
00:31:30.19\00:31:33.46
Let me tell you about the
breakfast cereals in Japan.
00:31:33.49\00:31:34.85
We had hot soggy oatmeal.
00:31:34.88\00:31:39.20
All right, God bless my mother.
00:31:39.23\00:31:42.32
It was good.
00:31:42.35\00:31:44.04
We had hot soggy oatmeal
00:31:44.07\00:31:45.12
or because we
have a college in Japan
00:31:45.15\00:31:46.95
as well schools
are all over there.
00:31:46.98\00:31:48.53
They produced granola,
00:31:48.56\00:31:49.62
so we had granola
or hot soggy oatmeal.
00:31:49.65\00:31:51.70
When we came home on furlough,
00:31:51.73\00:31:53.11
back to the United States
00:31:53.14\00:31:54.26
and we step for the first time
into an American supermarket
00:31:54.29\00:31:58.62
and saw that there
are miles of shells
00:31:58.65\00:32:01.74
of American breakfast cereal.
00:32:01.77\00:32:04.48
We think that we
are dining on heaven.
00:32:04.51\00:32:06.52
I mean, can you believe it,
00:32:06.55\00:32:09.65
they even have something called
frosted flakes to die for.
00:32:09.68\00:32:16.21
Whoa.
00:32:16.24\00:32:18.13
Of course, now
that I'm grown up,
00:32:18.16\00:32:19.26
I did out the much
more sophisticated palates.
00:32:22.86\00:32:26.21
Kenny frosted
flakes now, Karen says so.
00:32:26.24\00:32:32.46
Ah, well, that's the whole point
00:32:32.49\00:32:33.92
of the marketing strategy,
come back to what you thought
00:32:33.95\00:32:37.17
you gave up when you grew up.
00:32:37.20\00:32:38.95
Come on, come on back,
00:32:38.98\00:32:40.34
taste them again
for the first time.
00:32:40.37\00:32:42.68
Go back to what nourished
you when you were a child.
00:32:42.71\00:32:45.74
Open up another
box of cornflakes,
00:32:45.77\00:32:48.11
eat, eat and enjoy.
00:32:48.14\00:32:52.54
What if we all did
that, what if we all decide.
00:32:52.57\00:32:54.34
Okay, I'm gonna read a
book or two of Ellen White's
00:32:54.37\00:32:57.22
for the first time, we
call for the first time
00:32:57.25\00:32:58.93
I'll pick up a book
and it will be just like
00:32:58.96\00:33:00.71
I'm reading it
for the first time.
00:33:00.74\00:33:01.78
I pretend like I
never read it before
00:33:01.81\00:33:03.62
with new eyes now, I experience
what has always been there.
00:33:03.65\00:33:07.56
What would happen?
00:33:07.59\00:33:09.17
If you and I began to read
00:33:09.20\00:33:10.30
writings of Ellen
White, guess what?
00:33:10.33\00:33:12.00
We don't have to,
00:33:12.03\00:33:13.08
we don't have to
wonder what will happen.
00:33:13.11\00:33:14.83
Because two friends of mine
00:33:14.86\00:33:16.85
have done the
empirical research.
00:33:16.88\00:33:18.51
Now this is gonna
blow you out of the water.
00:33:18.54\00:33:19.99
Have done the
empirical research,
00:33:20.02\00:33:21.77
two very respected
and rigorous researchers
00:33:21.80\00:33:25.29
have done their
research, who are my friends,
00:33:25.32\00:33:27.61
Roger Dudley, Des Cummins Jr.
00:33:27.64\00:33:31.22
They did this
research, get this.
00:33:31.25\00:33:33.22
They surveyed
more than 8,200 members
00:33:33.25\00:33:37.47
of a 193 Seventh-day Adventist
churches across North America.
00:33:37.50\00:33:40.90
Their research empirically
has confirmed on a broad scale
00:33:40.93\00:33:43.75
what many of us have experienced
00:33:43.78\00:33:45.01
on a deeply personal level.
00:33:45.04\00:33:46.16
And I can hardly wait
to share this with you.
00:33:46.19\00:33:47.83
There they were measuring
00:33:47.86\00:33:49.57
20 different
categories of spiritual life
00:33:49.60\00:33:51.99
with one of the
categories being this question,
00:33:52.02\00:33:54.76
whether those
surveyed were regular readers
00:33:54.79\00:33:56.78
of the writings of
Ellen White or not.
00:33:56.81\00:33:58.81
The results are stunning
00:33:58.84\00:34:00.37
and they're on the
back of your study guide
00:34:00.40\00:34:02.56
which we'd not fill in the
day, it's just a take-home.
00:34:02.59\00:34:05.06
So pull your study
guide out right now
00:34:05.09\00:34:06.64
and deacons will
you please make sure
00:34:06.67\00:34:08.39
that everybody here 'cause
you're gonna want this graph.
00:34:08.42\00:34:10.74
Everybody here gets this,
00:34:10.77\00:34:11.80
just go ahead and
stand right up now,
00:34:11.83\00:34:13.34
start moving down the aisle
00:34:13.37\00:34:14.71
and make sure
you get this piece.
00:34:14.74\00:34:17.07
This is the keeper, you
don't have to fill it out.
00:34:17.10\00:34:19.21
You want to have the peace
and then I'll go to the graph
00:34:19.24\00:34:22.25
and I want to little
belatedly now welcome all of you
00:34:22.28\00:34:24.74
who are watching on television
delighted to have you.
00:34:24.77\00:34:26.89
I want you to be
please to have the same graph.
00:34:26.92\00:34:28.92
So go to our website.
00:34:28.95\00:34:30.08
Put it on the
screen for you right now.
00:34:30.11\00:34:32.01
There it is www.pmchurch.tv.
00:34:32.04\00:34:35.49
Go to that website, Pioneer
Memorial Church, pmchurch.tv.
00:34:35.52\00:34:40.21
This is the last in the series,
man, the semester is gone.
00:34:40.24\00:34:43.81
Series has been the
gift, the final piece,
00:34:43.84\00:34:46.04
Ellen White, "Taste them
again for the first time."
00:34:46.07\00:34:49.11
When you see
that teaching title,
00:34:49.14\00:34:50.92
it's says study
guide beneath it,
00:34:50.95\00:34:53.09
you click that and you
will have the same graph,
00:34:53.12\00:34:54.92
you'll have all the material,
I am sharing this morning
00:34:54.95\00:34:57.55
and you won't have to
fill out a single line.
00:34:57.58\00:35:00.08
That's a little
holiday break for you.
00:35:00.11\00:35:02.24
All right.
00:35:02.27\00:35:04.03
So let's take a
look at this graph.
00:35:04.06\00:35:06.35
Just hold your hand, if
you sitting in overflow,
00:35:06.38\00:35:07.87
make sure you get this graph.
00:35:07.90\00:35:09.68
All right, I'm not gonna
wait any longer just be patient,
00:35:09.71\00:35:11.92
they're coming your way.
00:35:11.95\00:35:13.00
But I want to put,
00:35:13.03\00:35:14.68
I want to pull this
graph out myself first, okay.
00:35:14.71\00:35:17.82
So here's the graph.
00:35:17.85\00:35:18.88
Let me draw your
attention to this.
00:35:18.91\00:35:20.48
Okay, so they're two bars,
the top bar, the lighter bar
00:35:20.51\00:35:23.72
are the readers of Ellen White.
00:35:23.75\00:35:25.68
The dark bar, the non readers.
00:35:25.71\00:35:27.44
Okay. Let's find out.
00:35:27.47\00:35:29.26
They asked, everybody
surveyed over 8,200 people.
00:35:29.29\00:35:31.96
They ask them, do you have
00:35:31.99\00:35:33.94
a strong
relationship with Jesus Christ?
00:35:33.97\00:35:37.07
85% of those
who read Ellen White
00:35:37.10\00:35:41.15
regularly, say yes, I do.
00:35:41.18\00:35:44.44
59% of those who do not
read her, said yes, I do.
00:35:44.47\00:35:50.70
Now I want to
get the differences.
00:35:50.73\00:35:52.83
That's a 26 percent spread.
00:35:52.86\00:35:56.36
Do you have a strong
relationship with Jesus?
00:35:56.39\00:35:58.93
Those who read her,
say, yeah, I do, way more.
00:35:58.96\00:36:04.36
Also look at the next
one, what is this one.
00:36:04.39\00:36:06.42
Do you have the assurance
of being right with God?
00:36:06.45\00:36:08.26
Do you have that security,
that assurance right now?
00:36:08.29\00:36:11.02
82% of those who read
Ellen White says, yes I do.
00:36:11.05\00:36:13.54
59% of those who don't
read Ellen White say, yes I do.
00:36:13.57\00:36:16.85
Look at that spread.
00:36:16.88\00:36:20.32
Let's drop down,
here's another one.
00:36:20.35\00:36:21.46
Feel well
prepared, you see that,
00:36:21.49\00:36:22.76
feel well
prepared for witnessing.
00:36:22.79\00:36:24.93
49% said yep, 24% said
no, look at that spread.
00:36:24.96\00:36:29.58
Let's drop down another one.
00:36:29.61\00:36:31.22
I thought this was significant.
Daily personal Bible study.
00:36:31.25\00:36:34.40
You see that one.
00:36:34.43\00:36:36.05
82% of those who
read Ellen White say,
00:36:36.08\00:36:39.01
I read the Bible
every single day.
00:36:39.04\00:36:41.57
Now if it were a false prophet,
00:36:41.60\00:36:43.24
we would expect the
reaction, it would be no,
00:36:43.27\00:36:44.93
I don't need the Bible anymore,
I found another prophet.
00:36:44.96\00:36:48.06
Isn't that amazing?
00:36:48.09\00:36:49.66
82% of the people
who read Ellen White say,
00:36:49.69\00:36:52.59
you bet, I read the
Bible every single day.
00:36:52.62\00:36:55.47
How about those
who don't read her?
00:36:55.50\00:36:56.88
47%, 35% point spread.
00:36:56.91\00:37:02.15
Something is happening here,
00:37:02.18\00:37:05.46
not rocket science,
it's called research.
00:37:05.49\00:37:09.20
One more I'll have
you take a look at,
00:37:09.23\00:37:10.65
it's next, third from the last.
00:37:10.68\00:37:11.93
Have daily family worship.
00:37:11.96\00:37:13.15
I want to speak to the parents
00:37:13.18\00:37:14.23
who were up here
just a moment ago.
00:37:14.26\00:37:17.51
Notice this, those
who read Ellen White,
00:37:17.54\00:37:21.08
daily family
worship, 70% of them.
00:37:21.11\00:37:23.04
Those who don't read
Ellen White, only 42% of them.
00:37:23.07\00:37:25.75
You want a little
something to boost you,
00:37:25.78\00:37:28.25
as you raise
your children, read,
00:37:28.28\00:37:31.26
read, taste them again
for the first time read, read.
00:37:31.29\00:37:38.03
Wow.
00:37:38.06\00:37:40.75
As you can note in everyone
00:37:40.78\00:37:42.77
of the 20 spiritual
life categories surveyed
00:37:42.80\00:37:44.81
the regular readers of
Ellen White scored higher
00:37:44.84\00:37:46.68
than the non readers
in their conclusions.
00:37:46.71\00:37:48.55
I'd put Dudley's
and Cummings' conclusion
00:37:48.58\00:37:52.00
on the screen for you.
00:37:52.03\00:37:53.13
"Seldom does a
research study find the evidence
00:37:53.16\00:37:57.53
so heavily weighted
toward one conclusion.
00:37:57.56\00:37:59.79
In the church grow survey,
on every single item that deals
00:37:59.82\00:38:02.45
with personal attitudes or
practices of spiritual life,
00:38:02.48\00:38:05.36
the member who regularly
studies Ellen White's books
00:38:05.39\00:38:08.03
tends to rank
higher than does the member
00:38:08.06\00:38:10.36
who reads them only
occasionally or never."
00:38:10.39\00:38:15.81
Which means,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:38:15.84\00:38:16.90
if you will, if you
will taste them again.
00:38:16.93\00:38:19.70
When you taste them
again for the first time,
00:38:19.73\00:38:21.62
you're reading of the
writings of Ellen White
00:38:21.65\00:38:23.75
will open the door, I believe
to a deeper walk with Christ
00:38:23.78\00:38:27.52
and a more meaningful
life of service with Him.
00:38:27.55\00:38:32.59
Taste them again
for the first time.
00:38:32.62\00:38:37.18
You say, come on, Dwight,
there are over 130 titles
00:38:37.21\00:38:39.91
that bare her name,
where am I gonna start?
00:38:39.94\00:38:41.63
It's a fair question.
00:38:41.66\00:38:42.74
I say, let's start
with the Testimony of Jesus.
00:38:42.77\00:38:45.50
Let's start with
the Testimony of Jesus.
00:38:45.53\00:38:47.07
I'm gonna recommend three
classics and then sit down.
00:38:47.10\00:38:49.41
Here they are, I have right here
00:38:49.44\00:38:50.47
in the podium with
me, three classics.
00:38:50.50\00:38:52.74
Put it on the
screen, classic number one.
00:38:52.77\00:38:55.65
Steps to
Christ, I've right here.
00:38:55.68\00:38:57.37
Steps to Christ this
short Christian classic,
00:38:57.40\00:38:59.39
I went into
Wikipedia and found out
00:38:59.42\00:39:00.73
this is translated somewhere
between 135 and 140 languages,
00:39:00.76\00:39:04.59
it's the most
translated book she has,
00:39:04.62\00:39:06.45
Steps to Christ, right here.
00:39:06.48\00:39:08.28
I shared this with
you a few weeks ago.
00:39:08.31\00:39:10.16
This little book when
I was in graduate school
00:39:10.19\00:39:11.68
at Andrews
University, this little book
00:39:11.71\00:39:13.77
is what sparked my
re-conversion to Jesus.
00:39:13.80\00:39:15.74
This, the reading
of this little book,
00:39:15.77\00:39:17.64
it's why I'm so big on the book.
00:39:17.67\00:39:19.86
In fact, you know what,
00:39:19.89\00:39:21.38
I want you to have
this book, You may have it.
00:39:21.41\00:39:23.80
When you leave today
at the Welcome stations,
00:39:23.83\00:39:25.41
you don't have one of
these, stop by and pick it up.
00:39:25.44\00:39:28.40
We got one for you, take one.
00:39:28.43\00:39:30.96
When you comeback from holidays,
00:39:30.99\00:39:32.91
we're not gonna
have 40 days of prayer,
00:39:32.94\00:39:34.07
we're gonna have
31 days of prayer,
00:39:34.10\00:39:35.19
we're gonna wait
till you're back,
00:39:35.22\00:39:36.27
so we don't start till January.
00:39:36.30\00:39:38.31
When you come
back from the holidays,
00:39:38.34\00:39:40.12
we're gonna
take this little book
00:39:40.15\00:39:42.15
and it's gonna
be the text that we,
00:39:42.18\00:39:44.11
that we work our way through.
00:39:44.14\00:39:45.44
Somebody on Facebook,
00:39:45.47\00:39:46.51
we will give you the
address when you get back.
00:39:46.54\00:39:47.98
Somebody on Facebook
00:39:48.01\00:39:49.27
has divided this book
into 31 daily readings.
00:39:49.30\00:39:52.50
We will give you
that when you come back,
00:39:52.53\00:39:54.45
more on that later.
00:39:54.48\00:39:55.54
Get the book, taste them
again for the first time.
00:39:55.57\00:40:00.74
All right, classic
number one is Steps to Christ.
00:40:00.77\00:40:03.12
Classic number two, I'm
really excited about this one
00:40:03.15\00:40:06.47
for more reasons than one.
00:40:06.50\00:40:08.99
Classic number
two, Desire of Ages.
00:40:09.02\00:40:11.78
Hands down,
outside of the Bible,
00:40:11.81\00:40:13.18
this happens to be my
most favorite book of all.
00:40:13.21\00:40:16.94
But I've got a brand new edition
00:40:16.97\00:40:18.10
right here in my
hands, I need the camera
00:40:18.13\00:40:19.22
to pull in as
closer as you can see it.
00:40:19.25\00:40:21.03
This is a new edition.
00:40:21.06\00:40:22.68
My friend Jerry
Patzer, now sleeps in Jesus.
00:40:22.71\00:40:26.22
One of his
projects before he died
00:40:26.25\00:40:28.36
was to work for the publishers,
he said, listen, you know what,
00:40:28.39\00:40:30.82
the King James,
oh, I agree with him,
00:40:30.85\00:40:32.62
the King James makes
this really tough reading.
00:40:32.65\00:40:34.99
Could you pull all
the King James out,
00:40:35.02\00:40:36.85
put New King
James in, sometimes NIV,
00:40:36.88\00:40:39.16
Sometimes New American
Standard, just put it in.
00:40:39.19\00:40:42.12
A friend of Jerry sent
this book to me last February
00:40:42.15\00:40:44.68
and I started
reading it, read it through.
00:40:44.71\00:40:47.01
I tell you what,
what a difference.
00:40:47.04\00:40:49.82
Amazing. You're gonna love it.
00:40:49.85\00:40:51.92
This is the book, the
classic in the life of Jesus.
00:40:51.95\00:40:55.98
A second feature by the way
00:40:56.01\00:40:57.14
and that's why
I'm holding this up.
00:40:57.17\00:40:58.30
'Cause I need you to come in on.
00:40:58.33\00:40:59.89
The second feature is
that publishers decided
00:40:59.92\00:41:02.08
to hire the
award-winning artist, Daryl Tank
00:41:02.11\00:41:05.84
to give a pencil sketch,
scenes from the life of Jesus
00:41:05.87\00:41:08.92
at the beginning
of every chapter,
00:41:08.95\00:41:10.07
this is his pencil
sketch for Calvary.
00:41:10.10\00:41:11.86
By the way the
most moving chapter
00:41:11.89\00:41:13.67
I've ever read anywhere
in literature on Calvary
00:41:13.70\00:41:16.45
is the one titled
Calvary in this book.
00:41:16.48\00:41:19.96
It will change you just
by reading it, I promise.
00:41:19.99\00:41:22.94
Anyway this is a pencil sketch,
they've kind of doctored it up
00:41:22.97\00:41:25.32
with some color for the cover.
00:41:25.35\00:41:26.88
I prop this book up
where I worship every morning,
00:41:26.91\00:41:28.63
just so that I can
look at that cover.
00:41:28.66\00:41:30.60
And remind myself
there's the Victor.
00:41:30.63\00:41:34.08
There's the winner
in this cosmic battle
00:41:34.11\00:41:38.06
that you and I are engaged in.
00:41:38.09\00:41:39.51
Wow.
00:41:39.54\00:41:41.09
But beyond all of
that, I'm quite confident
00:41:41.12\00:41:42.63
that you'll never
read a more inspiring
00:41:42.66\00:41:44.35
and life changing portrayal
00:41:44.38\00:41:45.70
of the life of
Jesus than this book.
00:41:45.73\00:41:47.47
I've been blessed to
read it a dozen times.
00:41:47.50\00:41:50.33
Hey, listen, you can read, look,
00:41:50.36\00:41:51.45
you can read this
for your devotions.
00:41:51.48\00:41:53.51
At the bottom of every chapter,
there are the gospel references
00:41:53.54\00:41:56.97
where the chapter is based on.
00:41:57.00\00:41:58.29
You could read a chapter a day,
00:41:58.32\00:41:59.46
you could read a
chapter a week, who cares.
00:41:59.49\00:42:01.81
"Taste them again
for the first time."
00:42:01.84\00:42:03.41
It's the testimony of Jesus.
Take a look at your savior.
00:42:03.44\00:42:06.75
You will never
be the same again.
00:42:09.76\00:42:10.96
"Taste them again
for the first time."
00:42:10.99\00:42:12.02
All right, two
classics, "Steps to Christ."
00:42:12.05\00:42:14.41
"Desire of Ages."
00:42:14.44\00:42:15.58
Here's the third, hands
down "The Great Controversy."
00:42:15.61\00:42:20.55
Hands down, this is the most
dramatically influential book
00:42:20.58\00:42:23.82
Ellen White ever wrote.
00:42:23.85\00:42:26.29
This book, trust me has
been read in high places.
00:42:26.32\00:42:31.98
I have three scholar friends
00:42:32.01\00:42:35.18
who became Christian
of this community of faith
00:42:35.21\00:42:40.13
after reading this
book, Great Controversy.
00:42:40.16\00:42:43.61
You know what this book does?
00:42:46.89\00:42:48.45
It concentrates on the
books of Daniel and Revelation.
00:42:48.48\00:42:51.57
And like no other
book that you'll ever read
00:42:51.60\00:42:54.15
unveils the end game
of both Christ and Satan
00:42:54.18\00:42:57.27
in the final
chapter of earth's history.
00:42:57.30\00:42:58.91
It's all exposed.
00:42:58.94\00:43:00.26
Bright halogen light right here.
00:43:00.29\00:43:03.48
I'm warning you.
00:43:03.51\00:43:05.59
You will never be the same again
00:43:05.62\00:43:07.38
if you read this book.
00:43:07.41\00:43:08.55
Promise you.
00:43:08.58\00:43:09.64
Listen to this, Ellen
White describing this book,
00:43:09.67\00:43:11.68
here's what she
says about the book.
00:43:11.71\00:43:12.83
Put it on the screen.
00:43:12.86\00:43:13.89
"The Great Controversy should
be very widely circulated.
00:43:13.92\00:43:17.04
It contains the
story of the past,
00:43:17.07\00:43:19.13
the present, and the future.
00:43:19.16\00:43:22.22
In its outline of the closing
scenes of this earth's history,
00:43:22.25\00:43:25.00
it bears a powerful testimony
in behalf of the truth.
00:43:25.03\00:43:27.58
I am more anxious to see
00:43:27.61\00:43:28.75
a wide circulation for this book
00:43:28.78\00:43:30.62
than for any
others I have written,
00:43:30.65\00:43:33.40
for in The Great
Controversy, the last message
00:43:33.43\00:43:35.08
of warning to the world
is given more distinctly
00:43:35.11\00:43:37.53
than in any of my other books."
00:43:37.56\00:43:40.27
Now I want to say
something to some of you.
00:43:40.30\00:43:42.82
If you're a pastor and I know,
I've got a bunch of colleagues
00:43:42.85\00:43:47.23
who listen on the radio
and watch on television,
00:43:47.26\00:43:49.16
if you're a pastor
or a spiritual leader,
00:43:49.19\00:43:51.76
I want you to read this book.
00:43:51.79\00:43:54.67
I've given my copy
of this particular one,
00:43:54.70\00:43:56.65
because this is the
other one Jerry worked on two
00:43:56.68\00:43:59.48
that has the New
King James Version in it.
00:43:59.51\00:44:01.41
I gave my copy
00:44:01.44\00:44:02.87
to a South Bend Pentecostal
pastor friend of mine.
00:44:02.90\00:44:05.64
He is reading my copy. I
want you to get this book.
00:44:05.67\00:44:11.34
Open it up, just
lay everything aside,
00:44:11.37\00:44:13.38
say, okay, okay,
okay, I'll check it out.
00:44:13.41\00:44:15.69
Listen, George Barna,
00:44:15.72\00:44:18.43
the celebrated
Christian demographer.
00:44:18.46\00:44:20.33
Everybody knows George Barna.
00:44:20.36\00:44:22.06
George Barna surveyed
American clergy, asked them,
00:44:22.09\00:44:25.93
what is the most influential
writers you are reading?
00:44:25.96\00:44:28.61
And get this, for
pastors under the age of 40.
00:44:28.64\00:44:33.24
Okay 40 and
younger, they mention,
00:44:33.27\00:44:36.04
in fact Barna uses the word,
00:44:36.07\00:44:37.63
they championed
the author Ellen White.
00:44:37.66\00:44:42.87
Three authors and she
was one of those three.
00:44:42.90\00:44:45.03
Pastors 40 and under
are reading this book.
00:44:45.06\00:44:48.41
I'm telling you what
ladies and gentleman,
00:44:48.44\00:44:49.88
she is no longer
the best kept secret
00:44:49.91\00:44:53.48
in the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:44:53.51\00:44:54.86
Every denomination
the survey, 40 and under,
00:44:54.89\00:44:59.09
we read an author
named Ellen White.
00:44:59.12\00:45:02.50
What up with that?
00:45:02.53\00:45:03.76
Readable,
compelling this would be
00:45:07.13\00:45:08.52
a prophetic page turner for you.
00:45:08.55\00:45:10.33
Get the book, three
classics, "Steps to Christ."
00:45:10.36\00:45:12.40
"Desire of Ages."
"The Great Controversy."
00:45:12.43\00:45:16.32
By the way, I
need to tell you this,
00:45:16.35\00:45:18.87
these three are part
of a five volume series,
00:45:18.90\00:45:23.93
it's called "The
Conflict of the Ages Series."
00:45:23.96\00:45:27.03
Takes the entire
story of the Bible
00:45:27.06\00:45:28.52
from Genesis
through the Revelation
00:45:28.55\00:45:29.99
and in a sweeping
panorama of sacred history.
00:45:30.02\00:45:35.09
The five books describe
God's activity on this planet.
00:45:35.12\00:45:39.56
You can get the
other two here, one here.
00:45:39.59\00:45:43.68
I want you to
ponder for a moment,
00:45:43.71\00:45:45.75
the words of a
theologian who researched
00:45:45.78\00:45:48.53
these five books, called
the Conflict of the Ages.
00:45:48.56\00:45:50.53
I put his words on the screen,
his name is Joseph Battistone.
00:45:50.56\00:45:53.21
These are his words.
00:45:53.24\00:45:54.51
"The 'Conflict
of the Ages Series'
00:45:54.54\00:45:56.10
is in many respects a
theological masterpiece."
00:45:56.13\00:46:01.88
I believe the five are
Ellen White's magnum opus,
00:46:01.91\00:46:04.38
the greatest writing
that she's done, those five.
00:46:04.41\00:46:07.39
He goes on, "In a unique way
00:46:07.42\00:46:08.83
Ellen White unfolds the
drama, the drama of the most
00:46:08.86\00:46:11.34
significant
controversy in human history,
00:46:11.37\00:46:13.02
she identifies the
main issues in the conflict,
00:46:13.05\00:46:14.95
and demonstrates their
relevance for each individual.
00:46:14.98\00:46:17.14
In a simple way
she provides answers
00:46:17.17\00:46:19.42
to some of the
most vexing questions
00:46:19.45\00:46:21.06
relating to the human dilemma,
00:46:21.09\00:46:22.74
those having to do
with the problem of evil.
00:46:22.77\00:46:25.10
One of the major
achievements of this work,
00:46:25.13\00:46:26.83
if not the most important,
00:46:26.86\00:46:28.07
is the exoneration
of God's character."
00:46:28.10\00:46:31.81
The five books
begin with the word,
00:46:31.84\00:46:33.39
the first book begins with
the three words, God is love,
00:46:33.42\00:46:35.79
The Great Controversy
ends with the three words,
00:46:35.82\00:46:38.01
God is love and
between those book ends
00:46:38.04\00:46:40.10
the revelation of
God's divine passion
00:46:40.13\00:46:44.26
and love for the human race
00:46:44.29\00:46:45.40
and the lengths
heaven has gone to.
00:46:45.43\00:46:47.50
You want to read
five books. There you go.
00:46:47.53\00:46:50.94
By the way, I neglected
to mention that those of you
00:46:50.97\00:46:54.08
who are watching on
television right now,
00:46:54.11\00:46:55.45
these little
classic Steps to Christ,
00:46:55.48\00:46:56.76
I'll send it to
you free of charge
00:46:56.79\00:46:57.85
that come in the mail.
00:46:57.88\00:46:58.91
There is a toll free number
coming up in just a moment,
00:46:58.94\00:47:00.44
call that toll free
number, the book is yours.
00:47:00.47\00:47:02.93
If you are here in
this building right now,
00:47:02.96\00:47:04.45
stop by our Welcome Center
00:47:04.48\00:47:05.66
and ask for your own
copy of Steps to Christ.
00:47:05.69\00:47:08.66
And I'll make one more offer,
those of you who are watching,
00:47:08.69\00:47:13.32
this book right here,
I'll send the book to you.
00:47:13.35\00:47:16.73
You call the 800 number,
00:47:16.76\00:47:18.65
I'm not gonna give
it in the church here
00:47:18.68\00:47:19.86
because everybody will call.
00:47:19.89\00:47:20.92
So they don't know the number
00:47:20.95\00:47:21.98
it's between you and me.
00:47:22.01\00:47:24.12
You call the number, as
this is a more expensive book,
00:47:24.15\00:47:27.10
but I want to have the book.
00:47:27.13\00:47:28.18
By the way, since you
brought it up, Amazon.com.
00:47:28.21\00:47:30.92
Where do I find these books,
00:47:30.95\00:47:32.29
this book
Amazon.com 299 brand new, 299.
00:47:32.32\00:47:37.13
all three of these classics,
Amazon.com, and by the way,
00:47:37.16\00:47:40.46
hi-techie, third millennials,
00:47:40.49\00:47:42.58
you can get them
for your e-readers.
00:47:42.61\00:47:44.88
Your iPad, your
Kindle, your Nook,
00:47:44.91\00:47:48.36
everything's there
ready and waiting for you.
00:47:48.39\00:47:51.48
Just go to
Amazon.com, 99 cents, Amazon.com
00:47:51.51\00:47:54.13
for the electronic
edition of this one.
00:47:54.16\00:47:57.21
So go to Amazon.com.
00:47:57.24\00:48:00.49
If you like it, if you look
it-- if you like, if you like
00:48:00.52\00:48:02.67
everything this woman
ever wrote, for $19.99,
00:48:02.70\00:48:07.63
whiteestate.org, you can
buy a CD rom, I have that,
00:48:07.66\00:48:10.41
you put on your
laptop, you got them all.
00:48:10.44\00:48:12.75
Hey, listen guys.
00:48:12.78\00:48:14.28
This isn't about
selling books, here's a deal.
00:48:14.31\00:48:17.86
This is about a
generation at the end of time.
00:48:17.89\00:48:21.69
This is about a generation
where the dragon is marked
00:48:21.72\00:48:24.09
to destroy and eliminate.
00:48:24.12\00:48:26.43
And there is a halogen light
00:48:26.46\00:48:28.68
that he does not
want you to find.
00:48:28.71\00:48:32.76
Go out running
every morning at 6:30,
00:48:32.79\00:48:34.87
every morning and
it's dark right now,
00:48:34.90\00:48:36.26
it's 6:30, I carry a
little LED flashlight,
00:48:36.29\00:48:38.42
it has these, you
know, these little,
00:48:38.45\00:48:39.98
looks like the blue lights
00:48:40.01\00:48:41.04
that the new cars have on them.
00:48:41.07\00:48:42.49
I shine them, boy, I
shines way ahead in the dark.
00:48:42.52\00:48:45.39
Why do I carry a
flash light in the dark?
00:48:45.42\00:48:47.32
Because I don't want
to stumble upon something
00:48:47.35\00:48:48.88
that I didn't know
was lying in my pathway.
00:48:48.91\00:48:51.20
You can have the test,
you can have the halogen light
00:48:51.23\00:48:54.99
of divine prophecy and shine it.
00:48:55.02\00:48:59.66
And what is coming
ahead, you'll see with clarity.
00:48:59.69\00:49:03.29
Taste them again
for the first time.
00:49:03.32\00:49:05.57
Taste them again.
00:49:05.60\00:49:06.64
All right, let me end the story.
00:49:06.67\00:49:07.88
The whole series
ends with this story.
00:49:07.91\00:49:11.89
By the way, I can't think
of a more heart inspiring,
00:49:11.92\00:49:13.81
a life changing
Christmas gift to give somebody.
00:49:13.84\00:49:16.23
Giving the books.
00:49:19.94\00:49:22.15
Those of you
who are bibliophiles
00:49:22.18\00:49:23.55
like me and you
have to have to hold,
00:49:23.58\00:49:24.98
you have to hold
the book in your hand,
00:49:25.01\00:49:26.09
'cause you can't figure out
00:49:26.12\00:49:27.18
how you change the pages
with this electronic gizmo.
00:49:27.21\00:49:32.00
Just walk across
campus, university bookstore,
00:49:32.03\00:49:33.77
you'll find all three classics.
00:49:33.80\00:49:34.96
Across the street to
the ABC Christian bookstore,
00:49:34.99\00:49:37.25
they are all there, hard cover.
00:49:37.28\00:49:38.86
You can turn the
pages, mark them, study them,
00:49:38.89\00:49:41.21
and come back to them.
00:49:41.24\00:49:42.27
Taste them again
for the first time.
00:49:42.30\00:49:44.52
Want to end with the story,
00:49:44.55\00:49:45.61
the whole series,
the gift ends now.
00:49:45.64\00:49:48.26
This is an oral
interview between James R. Nix,
00:49:48.29\00:49:50.69
my friend, Jim Nix
and Ella Mae Robinson,
00:49:50.72\00:49:55.07
granddaughter of Ellen White.
00:49:55.10\00:49:57.13
He asked her the question,
00:49:57.16\00:49:58.21
"Hey, what was it like to
watch your grandma upfront."
00:49:58.24\00:50:00.04
All right.
00:50:00.07\00:50:01.14
So this is an eye witness,
grand daughter speaking.
00:50:01.17\00:50:03.41
She says, "I see grandma.
00:50:03.44\00:50:05.29
I see grandma
standing in the pulpit,
00:50:05.32\00:50:07.38
dressed in her loose
fitting black sack suit,
00:50:07.41\00:50:09.83
narrow cuffs of white,
00:50:09.86\00:50:11.59
narrow white collar
secured the throat by a brooch,
00:50:11.62\00:50:14.48
she's been telling of
the matchless love of Christ
00:50:14.51\00:50:16.76
in suffering shame and death.
00:50:16.79\00:50:19.03
And even running the
risk of eternal separation
00:50:19.06\00:50:21.02
from His father in heaven
00:50:21.05\00:50:22.26
by taking upon
Himself the sins of the world,
00:50:22.29\00:50:24.40
she pauses, she
pauses and she looks up
00:50:24.43\00:50:28.92
and with one hand
resting on the desk,
00:50:28.95\00:50:30.74
they call the podium back then.
00:50:30.77\00:50:32.09
And one hand
resting upon the desk
00:50:32.12\00:50:33.88
and the other lifted heavenward,
00:50:33.91\00:50:35.81
she exclaims in a ringing voice,
00:50:35.84\00:50:38.43
oh, Jesus, how I love you.
00:50:38.46\00:50:42.17
How I love you, how I love you.
00:50:42.20\00:50:46.58
Granddaughter goes
on, there is a deep hush.
00:50:46.61\00:50:49.69
Heaven is very near.
00:50:49.72\00:50:52.89
Ladies and
gentleman, there is a reason
00:50:52.92\00:50:56.07
why the gift is called
the testimony of Jesus.
00:50:56.10\00:51:01.01
And here's my
testimony about the gift,
00:51:01.04\00:51:04.18
like no other author on earth,
00:51:04.21\00:51:07.73
her writings
have taught me to say,
00:51:07.76\00:51:15.46
oh, Jesus, how I love you.
00:51:15.49\00:51:19.77
How I love you. How I love you.
00:51:19.80\00:51:24.95
Which is why I'm unabashed,
absolutely unapologetic
00:51:24.98\00:51:27.38
to stand in
front of you right now
00:51:27.41\00:51:29.71
and tell you, I am what I am
00:51:29.74\00:51:34.54
because of the
writings of Ellen White.
00:51:34.57\00:51:37.32
I am where I am right now,
00:51:37.35\00:51:40.56
because of the
writings of Ellen White.
00:51:40.59\00:51:44.75
I appeal to you.
00:51:44.78\00:51:46.29
Taste them again
for the first time,
00:51:46.32\00:51:51.61
for your sake, for Jesus' sake.
00:51:51.64\00:51:56.82
Amen.
00:51:56.85\00:51:59.68
Want you to sit back and listen
to my friend Glenn Russell,
00:51:59.71\00:52:05.07
Professor of Religion
here at Andrews University.
00:52:05.10\00:52:07.07
He wrote a song in college,
00:52:07.10\00:52:09.73
I want you to hear
that song right now.
00:52:09.76\00:52:14.97
And his college buddy,
also my friend, Gary Burns,
00:52:15.00\00:52:20.08
editor of the Lake Union Herald
is gonna be on the string base.
00:52:20.11\00:52:23.90
Listen up.
00:52:23.93\00:52:25.11
To a church of searching sinners
00:52:48.48\00:52:53.20
To a world of suffering men
00:52:53.23\00:52:57.96
You were given Holy vision
00:52:57.99\00:53:02.90
As a prophet, as our friend
00:53:02.93\00:53:07.54
All the conflicts of the ages
00:53:07.57\00:53:12.38
Was unfurled by God above
00:53:12.41\00:53:17.05
And you wrote
it with such beauty
00:53:17.08\00:53:21.81
That it moves me now with love
00:53:21.84\00:53:26.40
As a woman, as a vanguard
00:53:26.43\00:53:31.38
Through the
life of growing faith
00:53:31.41\00:53:35.94
I'm so glad you
wrote for Jesus in your way
00:53:35.97\00:53:41.80
Though you pleaded
with each Christian
00:53:45.30\00:53:49.98
To prepare for Christ return
00:53:50.01\00:53:54.55
Still so many clung to emptiness
00:53:54.58\00:53:59.27
Sought salvation they could earn
00:53:59.30\00:54:04.30
Even now I hear the voices
00:54:04.33\00:54:08.79
Of opinion raised in spite
00:54:08.82\00:54:13.07
And we use your
word since decades
00:54:13.10\00:54:18.81
To cut and prove we're right
00:54:18.84\00:54:22.44
Would it break
your heart in sadness
00:54:22.47\00:54:27.07
If you touched
our hand with mercy
00:54:27.10\00:54:31.34
Oh, how much we need
the man of God indeed
00:54:31.37\00:54:37.85
Even though
there's been confusion
00:54:47.98\00:54:52.51
God's son kept shining through
00:54:52.54\00:54:57.03
Through His work
and through His spirit
00:54:57.06\00:55:01.69
Using messengers like you
00:55:01.72\00:55:06.25
As a woman, as a vanguard
00:55:06.28\00:55:11.12
Through a life of growing faith
00:55:11.15\00:55:15.33
I'm so glad you
lived for Jesus in your way
00:55:15.36\00:55:21.15
I'm so glad you
wrote for Jesus in your way
00:55:24.64\00:55:32.64
Let's stand as we pray.
00:55:43.60\00:55:45.11
Holy Father, thank you
for the testimony of Jesus.
00:55:55.03\00:55:58.94
Where would we be without it?
00:55:58.97\00:56:02.73
It's all about Him,
from Christmas to the end.
00:56:02.76\00:56:09.15
Oh, God, grant us the wisdom
00:56:09.18\00:56:15.04
to taste them
again for the first time.
00:56:15.07\00:56:20.10
Nourish us, our
souls, our bodies, our lives,
00:56:20.13\00:56:26.97
as we countdown to the
Messiah's second coming.
00:56:27.00\00:56:31.91
And now may the
love of the Father
00:56:36.20\00:56:40.38
and the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ
00:56:40.41\00:56:42.19
and the communion
of the Holy Spirit
00:56:42.22\00:56:43.94
be with you and me
00:56:43.97\00:56:45.10
while we are
absent one from another.
00:56:45.13\00:56:48.94
Amen.
00:56:48.97\00:56:50.18
This little classic
was what God sent to me
00:57:05.63\00:57:07.42
when I hit rock
bottom spiritually,
00:57:07.45\00:57:09.41
as a graduate student
on this campus years ago.
00:57:09.44\00:57:12.18
The title became a
self fulfilling prophecy,
00:57:12.21\00:57:14.66
Steps to Christ.
00:57:14.69\00:57:16.93
Because that's precisely
what I discovered in this short
00:57:16.96\00:57:19.36
but inspiring and for
me life changing book.
00:57:19.39\00:57:22.49
And I'd love for you
to experience the same,
00:57:22.52\00:57:24.94
which is why we're setting aside
00:57:24.97\00:57:26.00
a few of these books
for our viewing friends.
00:57:26.03\00:57:28.07
If you'd like your own
copy of Steps to Christ
00:57:28.10\00:57:30.49
call our toll free
number 877-His-Will,
00:57:30.52\00:57:33.65
just punch those two words
"His Will" on your keyboard,
00:57:33.68\00:57:36.24
877- His-Will
and ask for the book.
00:57:36.27\00:57:38.56
You want it in
Spanish? Ask for it.
00:57:38.59\00:57:40.51
It's one of the most
translated books in the world.
00:57:40.54\00:57:43.09
Our friendly operators are
standing by 24/7 to assist you
00:57:43.12\00:57:46.27
and will get the book to you
00:57:46.30\00:57:47.33
as soon as possible,
straight to your address.
00:57:47.36\00:57:49.55
So why not go to
the phone right now
00:57:49.58\00:57:51.30
and see if your walk with Jesus
00:57:51.33\00:57:52.57
isn't deepened by
this spiritual classic.
00:57:52.60\00:57:55.11
It's our gift to you.
00:57:55.14\00:57:56.99
And until I see
you again next time,
00:57:57.02\00:57:58.50
may you sense the living Christ
00:57:58.53\00:58:01.04
walking beside you
every step of the way.
00:58:01.07\00:58:04.29