¤¤
00:00:00.20\00:00:06.84
[ Organ plays ]
00:00:10.84\00:00:13.68
[ Organ stops ]
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>> ¤ Precious
Lord, take my hand ¤
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¤ Bring thy child home at last ¤
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¤ Where the strife and the pain
all are past ¤ ¤ I have dreamed
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a great dream ¤ ¤ That Thy love
shall rule our land ¤ ¤ Precious
Lord, precious Lord,
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take my hand ¤ ¤ For that
day when all flesh ¤ ¤ Joins the
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glory Thou hast planned ¤ ¤
Precious Lord, precious Lord,
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take my hand ¤ >> ¤ Take ¤
>> ¤ Take ¤ >> ¤ Take my hand ¤
00:02:02.48\00:02:19.30
>> Let's pray. Dear heavenly
Father, You have brought us
through another week
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to a beautiful Sabbath, and we
just want to praise You for that
because it's only possible
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through Your grace and through
Your mercy. Now, we may be near
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at home -- we may be far at home
or near right here in the
church, but we just ask that You
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join our hearts together during
this worship as we praise Your
name. In Jesus' name, amen.
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Good morning, and happy Sabbath.
I just invite you to stand and
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join us as we sing
hymn 340, "Jesus Saves."
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[ "Jesus Saves" begins ]
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[ Congregation sings ]
00:03:11.12\00:03:14.32
Amen. You may be seated.
I don't know about you, but
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sometimes I find myself at a
loss of words, especially when
it comes to describing how great
00:04:23.36\00:04:29.76
God is or what He's done for
me. I sometimes am like, "God is
00:04:29.76\00:04:35.47
good!" And then I'm trying to
think, "God is really, really
good," and I'm just stuck on
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that He is just so good because
it's just so indescribable.
There's nothing else that I can
00:04:40.28\00:04:45.21
say about all that He does. So
this morning, as we continue in
song and praise, I just
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invite you to reflect on how
great and good our God is, and
will be probably told to you
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through the songs that we're
about to sing. So, join us as we
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sing "Indescribable." [
"Indescribable" begins ]
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[ Congregation sings ]
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[ "Total Praise" begins ]
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[ Congregation sings ]
00:09:17.72\00:09:21.02
[ Applause ] Amen.
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Amen.
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What more can you say after
that? He is the source of our
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strength. He will carry us
through, even when feel like we
00:13:42.85\00:13:48.06
can't carry on because He loves
us so much. His love is so deep,
so wide. It's amazing, so join
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us as we continue singing
"Amazing." [ "Amazed" begins ]
00:13:56.56\00:14:02.87
[ Congregation sings ]
00:14:14.55\00:14:17.52
At this time, I would
just invite you to stand.
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Also, if you have a prayer
request or a burden on your
00:16:03.09\00:16:06.46
heart, I invite you to come
forward to bring them forward
00:16:06.46\00:16:09.93
to the foot of the cross --
to the source of our strength.
00:16:09.93\00:16:13.90
[ Congregation sings ]
00:16:24.75\00:16:27.58
>> ¤ My Lord, what a mornin' ¤
00:19:00.64\00:19:10.28
¤ My Lord, what a mornin' ¤ ¤
Oh, my Lord, what a mornin' ¤ ¤
When the stars begin to fall ¤
00:19:10.45\00:19:41.64
¤ When the stars begin to fall ¤
¤ My Lord, what a mornin' ¤ ¤ My
Lord, what a mornin' ¤
00:19:41.64\00:20:17.05
¤ Oh, my Lord, what a mornin' ¤
¤ When the stars begin to fall ¤
00:20:17.05\00:20:49.01
¤ Mmm ¤ ¤ Mmm ¤ ¤ Mmm ¤ ¤ Mmm ¤
00:20:49.01\00:21:04.06
>> ¤ Done quit all my
worldly ways ¤ ¤ Gonna join that
00:21:05.93\00:21:15.74
heavenly band ¤ >> ¤ My worldly
ways ¤ >> ¤ Done quit all my
00:21:15.74\00:21:22.11
worldly ways ¤ ¤ Gonna
join that heavenly band ¤
00:21:22.11\00:21:33.76
¤ Oh, my Lord, what a mornin' ¤
¤ Oh, my Lord, what a mornin' ¤
¤ Oh, my Lord, what a mornin' ¤
00:21:33.76\00:22:15.86
¤ When the stars begin to fall
¤ ¤ When the stars ¤ ¤ Begin ¤
00:22:15.86\00:22:40.86
¤ To fall ¤
00:22:40.86\00:22:56.07
>> My Lord, what a morning, when
the stars begin to fall. How
00:23:01.01\00:23:08.22
close are we? How do we know? We
just know...we are near. We are
00:23:08.22\00:23:18.33
nearing home. And so that hope
that ignites us compels us to
hear Your word. Let it be clear
00:23:18.33\00:23:27.14
today, I pray in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:23:27.14\00:23:28.67
Imagine the letter that you
are about to read was actually
00:23:28.97\00:23:32.57
dictated to,
addressed to America.
00:23:32.57\00:23:37.75
Mm-hmm. I'm talking about the
00:23:37.75\00:23:40.38
United States of America,
its people, its politicians, its
00:23:40.38\00:23:45.55
president. We're
gonna read the letter.
00:23:45.55\00:23:50.03
We'll have to make a slight
adaptation at the beginning, you
00:23:50.03\00:23:52.53
understand, in order for
it to be a letter to America.
00:23:52.53\00:23:57.00
"Will it really fit,
Dwight?" Why I think it might.
00:23:57.00\00:24:00.94
You consider it.
00:24:00.94\00:24:02.24
Open your bible to Revelation 3,
the bible's last book. And there
we find the bible's
00:24:02.40\00:24:08.18
last letter. We're gonna read
that letter. We'll change the
00:24:08.18\00:24:13.15
opening. Uh, red letter words
-- that means Jesus is dictating
00:24:13.15\00:24:17.89
this letter. He dictated it to a
church long ago called Laodicea.
Makes you wonder, though, if He
00:24:17.89\00:24:22.92
really had America in mind when
He dictated these words. Read it
00:24:22.92\00:24:27.30
in your bible, Revelation 3:14.
"And to the angel of the church
of the Laodiceans write" --
00:24:27.30\00:24:32.90
Okay. Stop it right there.
Here's where we change it. Let's
change it on the screen,
00:24:32.90\00:24:36.00
please.
00:24:36.00\00:24:36.97
"And to the angel of the church
of the nation of America write,
00:24:37.14\00:24:42.68
'These things says the Amen, the
Faithful and True Witness, the
00:24:42.68\00:24:46.05
Beginning of the
creation of God."
00:24:46.05\00:24:47.72
"I am the beginning, and I am
the Amen, I'm the end, and I'm
00:24:47.72\00:24:51.09
everything in between, so I know
you, and I'm speaking to you
00:24:51.09\00:24:54.49
right now. Listen to me."
00:24:54.49\00:24:56.46
"I know," verse 18, "your works,
that you are neither cold nor
00:24:56.46\00:25:00.60
hot. I could
wish you were cold or
00:25:00.60\00:25:02.20
hot. So then, because you are
00:25:02.20\00:25:03.60
lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will vomit you out of my
00:25:03.60\00:25:06.33
mouth. Because
you say, 'I am rich,
00:25:06.33\00:25:09.04
I have become wealthy, and have
need of nothing' -- and do not
00:25:09.04\00:25:12.11
know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and
00:25:12.11\00:25:15.94
naked -- I counsel you to
buy from Me gold refined in the
00:25:15.94\00:25:18.95
fire, that you may be rich; and
white garments, that you may be
00:25:18.95\00:25:22.25
clothed, that the shame of your
nakedness might not be revealed;
00:25:22.25\00:25:25.59
and anoint your eyes with
eye salve, that you may see.
00:25:25.59\00:25:29.52
"For," verse 19, "as many as
I love, I rebuke and chasten.
00:25:29.52\00:25:33.66
Therefore be
zealous and repent.'"
00:25:33.66\00:25:36.73
There they are -- seven stunning
parallels between Laodicea and
America, and I want you to
00:25:36.90\00:25:42.80
scribble them down. I'm gonna
run through them fast. You got a
study guide in your
00:25:42.80\00:25:46.54
worship bulletin today. Let's
go. Pull it out, please, right
00:25:46.54\00:25:50.25
now, and thank you, ushers,
because this would be the moment
when we ask are there any here
00:25:50.25\00:25:54.08
who didn't get a bulletin when
you came in? You just hurried in
00:25:54.08\00:25:57.25
'cause it was so cold out there.
Put your hand up, and our
friendly ushers will get
00:25:57.25\00:26:01.29
those -- get those study guides
to you. And while they're doing
00:26:01.29\00:26:04.39
that -- I see them in the
balcony already at work -- I'm
gonna talk to you that are
00:26:04.39\00:26:08.33
watching on our live stream
right now, watching on
television. You can get that
00:26:08.33\00:26:11.80
same study guide.
00:26:11.80\00:26:12.70
You see the website at the
bottom -- www.newperceptions.tv?
00:26:12.87\00:26:17.87
Go to that website.
You're looking for a little
00:26:17.87\00:26:19.87
series that's just begun
called "The Last Letter."
00:26:19.87\00:26:22.71
Title of this one -- "Wretched
(Last Letter for America)."
00:26:22.71\00:26:26.18
And you come to that, click on
"study guide," and you'll have
00:26:26.18\00:26:29.48
the same one. This is a keeper.
00:26:29.48\00:26:31.15
You're gonna want the
quotations if for nothing else.
00:26:31.15\00:26:33.56
All right. Can't
wait for the ushers to
00:26:33.56\00:26:36.02
keep going, so we're
gonna plunge in right now.
00:26:36.02\00:26:38.09
Seven stunning parallels
between Laodicea and America.
00:26:38.09\00:26:41.70
Parallel number one --
write it down -- wealth.
00:26:41.70\00:26:44.93
Wealth. Laodicea
became one of the
00:26:44.93\00:26:48.34
greatest centers of
finance in the Roman empire.
00:26:48.34\00:26:51.24
Ranko Stefanovic, in his
commentary on Romans -- his
00:26:51.24\00:26:54.31
words on the screen.
00:26:54.31\00:26:55.61
End quote.
00:27:04.55\00:27:05.45
Laodicea boasted a huge bank
exchange. Laodicea was known for
00:27:05.62\00:27:10.76
a large cache of gold. Is there
another nation on the planet
that backs its currency
00:27:10.76\00:27:15.50
or once did with
gold? I wonder. Laodicea.
00:27:15.50\00:27:19.17
It was said of Cicero, the
famous Roman statesman, that
whenever he would travel to
00:27:19.17\00:27:23.17
Asia, he would stop by Laodicea
to get letters of credit. He
just needed those credit
00:27:23.17\00:27:27.44
cards, 'cause they provided the
backing for it. Oh, Laodicea.
00:27:27.44\00:27:33.05
No need to talk about America's
wealth. I'd sound like I'm
00:27:33.05\00:27:36.58
boasting. But I went to CNBC
just to get another factoid that
you probably haven't heard
00:27:36.58\00:27:40.36
before. Here it is. Do you know
how many millionaires there are
00:27:40.36\00:27:43.69
in the world today? Right now,
how many millionaires on this
00:27:43.69\00:27:46.80
planet? Here's the answer -- 36
million millionaires, people who
earn over or are worth over
00:27:46.80\00:27:52.50
$1 million. And the US leads
that -- 15.3 million people in
00:27:52.50\00:27:57.91
this country, in America, are
worth $1 million or more,
followed by Japan, the UK, and
00:27:57.91\00:28:06.11
China. Am I boasting about this?
No, but Laodicea was. And so
does America, by the way.
00:28:06.11\00:28:10.89
Or maybe not so much by the
people as it does by the
politicians and presidents, and
00:28:10.89\00:28:14.86
the numbers speak for
themselves. Seven stunning
00:28:14.86\00:28:17.96
parallels. Parallel number one
is wealth. Jot it down. Parallel
number two is health.
00:28:17.96\00:28:21.90
Health. Healthcare was a
big deal in ancient Laodicea.
00:28:21.90\00:28:26.43
In fact, Laodicea boasted -- by
the way, that's a word you're
gonna get used to in Laodicea
00:28:26.43\00:28:30.31
and America. Whenever you
talk about them, "boast, boast,"
00:28:30.31\00:28:33.71
because it's just they're big on
themselves. Laodicea boasted one
of the leading health resorts in
00:28:33.71\00:28:39.38
Europe and Asia. Over the
Greco-Roman world, they would
come to these lukewarm
00:28:39.38\00:28:44.49
baths and mineral springs.
Visitors from everywhere. Oh, by
the way, they had a
00:28:44.49\00:28:49.36
well-known school of medicine
there that was situated in the
temple of Carou dedicated to
00:28:49.36\00:28:54.50
the Greek god of medicine,
Asclepius, who was a messiah
00:28:54.50\00:29:01.00
kind of healer. Adjoining the
school of medicine -- very
interesting -- there was
00:29:01.00\00:29:06.04
industry for the manufacture of
a unique eye medicine called
collyrium made from the renown
00:29:06.04\00:29:13.28
Phrygian stone inside the
temple. And it's called Phrygian
powder. Sounds like the Jesus
00:29:13.28\00:29:18.79
who sent this letter to Laodicea
knew everything about them in
00:29:18.79\00:29:22.52
advance. Sounds like maybe He
even knows everything about
America in advance.
00:29:22.52\00:29:27.13
Health was a big deal in
Laodicea, and it certainly
increasingly is in the
00:29:27.13\00:29:31.23
United States. I've traveled
all over the world and had to be
00:29:31.23\00:29:34.60
admitted in two foreign
hospitals. I'm not great
evaluator of healthcare, but I
00:29:34.60\00:29:41.18
can tell you this -- I am very
grateful for the healthcare and
the medical community in my own
00:29:41.18\00:29:45.31
country because of the last 10
weeks. Very grateful. Parallel
00:29:45.31\00:29:50.75
number three. First one was
wealth. Second one was health.
Parallel number three is self.
00:29:50.75\00:29:55.19
Write it down. Because of their
wealth, Laodicean citizens were
00:29:55.19\00:30:00.10
noted in the empire for their
isolationist self-dependence or
independence from everyone.
00:30:00.10\00:30:05.40
"Oh, we don't need you. We can
live on our own." Tacitus, the
00:30:05.40\00:30:11.21
great historian, marveled at the
chutzpah of the Laodiceans when,
in 61 AD, they were struck by
00:30:11.21\00:30:17.35
this devastating earthquake, and
when the imperial treasury
offered to fund their
00:30:17.35\00:30:21.58
rebuilding, they said, "Nah, you
keep your money. We got enough.
00:30:21.58\00:30:24.55
We have need of nothing." Heard
those words before? "I have need
00:30:24.55\00:30:33.23
of nothing. We'll make ourselves
great again without your help."
00:30:33.23\00:30:39.30
Wow. Laodicea and America. Here
comes parallel number four --
00:30:39.30\00:30:43.54
fashion. Oh, you're gonna like
this one. Fashion. Laodicea was
00:30:43.54\00:30:46.64
situated and surrounded by a
lush, rich farming district --
green grass where flocks of
00:30:46.64\00:30:53.01
sheep produce the most valuable
and unusual wool. Now, listen to
00:30:53.01\00:30:56.25
this. I'm gonna put it on the
screen for you. Roy Allen
Anderson, in his book
00:30:56.25\00:31:00.12
"Unfolding the Revelation," he
observes -- see it on the screen
-- "Valuable wool was
00:31:00.12\00:31:05.06
produced in the valley,"
surrounding Laodicea, "soft in
texture, glossy black in color,
00:31:05.06\00:31:10.73
but tinged as it were with
violet. Black garments were worn
00:31:10.73\00:31:15.67
almost exclusively by the
Laodiceans as evidence of their
wealth." End quote.
00:31:15.67\00:31:21.21
The wealthy in the other nations
would wear white, but the
Laodiceans say, "Not us.
00:31:21.21\00:31:26.38
We wear black." Fashionistas.
That's what they were.
00:31:26.38\00:31:32.69
And in a country on Earth, is
there one more preoccupied with
its dress and appearance than
00:31:32.69\00:31:36.99
America? Give me a break.
Who are the hottest fashion
00:31:36.99\00:31:41.16
numbers in this little town and
village? You're looking at them
00:31:41.16\00:31:45.77
behind me. The
students at Andrews University.
00:31:45.77\00:31:47.54
You want to talk about being up
on fashion, whew, from footgear
to headgear -- the latest.
00:31:47.54\00:31:52.74
Something wrong with that? No,
I'm not complaining. I'm just
00:31:52.74\00:31:57.15
telling you that Laodicea and
America are amazingly,
stunningly parallel. Wow.
00:31:57.15\00:32:05.89
Parallel number five -- divided.
These quit rhyming, didn't they?
00:32:06.05\00:32:12.46
Parallel number five -- divided.
00:32:12.46\00:32:14.30
Listen. Laodicea's very drinking
water -- the only source of
00:32:14.46\00:32:17.87
water, poor guys, that they had
access to was a nauseating blend
of cold and hot that produced
00:32:17.87\00:32:25.04
this half-and-half great for
health treatments but horrible
for ingestion kind of water, but
00:32:25.04\00:32:30.35
you still have to drink it
because that's all we got. Let's
talk about the divided
00:32:30.35\00:32:36.42
states of America. The
blue states and the red states.
00:32:36.42\00:32:41.29
Uh-huh. The black
lives and the white lives.
00:32:41.29\00:32:45.43
The rich people and the
poor people. Divided to the core
00:32:45.43\00:32:48.73
people. I could write a little
hip-hop right there with that
00:32:48.73\00:32:51.40
first stanza. Come on. Choir was
already feeling it. Parallel
number five -- divided.
00:32:51.40\00:32:59.34
Oh, are we divided to the core.
Parallel number six -- only
00:32:59.34\00:33:03.04
seven of these. Here comes
parallel number six -- haughty.
00:33:03.21\00:33:05.58
You know, it's one thing to be
self-dependent, independent, but
00:33:05.58\00:33:08.75
it's pushing the envelope
when you're proud of it.
00:33:08.75\00:33:11.32
You got a problem with that?
The Achilles heel of Laodicea
00:33:11.32\00:33:16.83
was its boastful
pride and were proud of it.
00:33:16.83\00:33:19.33
Jacques Doukhan, in his
book "Secrets of Revelation,"
00:33:19.33\00:33:21.90
comments --
Doukhan on the screen...
00:33:21.90\00:33:23.57
End quote. Welcome to America.
00:33:34.54\00:33:37.81
Well, pardon me.
Was that Laodicea?
00:33:37.81\00:33:39.88
Seven stunning parallels.
America to the core, which is
00:33:39.88\00:33:44.69
why, like Laodicea, America
can also be called a people
00:33:44.69\00:33:51.83
judged. Write it down.
00:33:51.83\00:33:54.03
Parallel number
seven. Jot it down -- judged.
00:33:54.03\00:33:56.70
A people judged.
That's what Laodicea means in
00:33:56.70\00:33:58.93
the Greek. But
America, why would America
00:33:58.93\00:34:01.47
be judged? Well,
I'll tell you why.
00:34:01.47\00:34:03.47
Read verse 17. Jesus speaking.
00:34:03.47\00:34:05.71
That's why.
00:34:17.09\00:34:18.52
Whoa. Laodicea, a
people judged. America?
00:34:18.69\00:34:26.90
I came across one of the boldest
depictions of this country in
relation to God that I have ever
00:34:26.90\00:34:32.03
read from over a century ago. I
got to put it on the screen for
00:34:32.03\00:34:35.20
you. You'll take the quotation
home, but let me put it on the
00:34:35.20\00:34:37.94
screen for you. "The Lord
has done more" -- this is Ellen
00:34:37.94\00:34:40.78
White. Period.
00:34:48.45\00:34:50.09
Now, I know we represent close
to 100 nations here at Andrews
00:34:52.49\00:34:56.46
University. That's a pretty
un-PC kind of statement to make
when we got this many flags
00:34:56.46\00:35:04.57
flying around our courtyard, but
your argument's not with me.
What's that sentence again?
00:35:04.57\00:35:11.31
But before we dislocate our
elbows trying to pat ourselves
on the back, let us remember
00:35:17.28\00:35:21.98
that to whom much is given --
how does it go? To whom much is
00:35:21.98\00:35:26.96
given, much is required. The God
who has blessed America to the
max -- hold onto your
00:35:26.96\00:35:35.76
pew -- is the God who is gonna
judge America to the max. To the
00:35:35.76\00:35:42.10
max. If it's blessed to be -- If
it's blessed to be honored by
God to the max, whew, I'm not
00:35:47.38\00:35:54.92
sure about being judged by God
to the max. I know what you're
00:35:54.92\00:35:57.55
saying. "I don't know about
that, Dwight. I really don't
00:35:57.55\00:36:00.22
know about that. I don't think
America's that bad. I don't even
00:36:00.22\00:36:02.62
know why you're bringing up
judgment in connection with
America. I saw God bless
00:36:02.62\00:36:07.76
America." You know what I say to
what you said? I say, "Amen and
00:36:07.76\00:36:11.70
amen." But guess what?
Too late. Oh, I know we sing
00:36:11.70\00:36:16.50
¤ God bless America ¤ ¤ Land...
¤ We sing it all the time.
00:36:16.50\00:36:22.41
It's practically the second
national anthem in the United
00:36:22.41\00:36:29.02
States. But I'm wondering,
mnh-mnh... I need to remind you
that while we're singing that
00:36:29.02\00:36:34.59
beautiful song "God Bless
America," we are the one nation
-- we are the one nation that,
00:36:34.59\00:36:43.13
with impunity, is destroying
unborn lives by the tens of
thousands every single year.
00:36:43.13\00:36:49.84
Gone, throw them in the garbage.
We don't need them anymore. Do
you think that with that
00:36:49.84\00:36:57.08
wanton destruction of human life
we are gonna be given a get out
of judgement free card on the
00:36:57.08\00:37:02.35
day when we have this rendezvous
with the Judge of the Universe
and says, "What were you
00:37:02.35\00:37:07.09
thinking?" ¤ God bless
America ¤ Are you serious?
00:37:07.09\00:37:16.13
For that? And we're the
nation that, with impunity, is
00:37:16.13\00:37:24.81
experimenting with and exporting
to the world our advocacy of
unbridled sex? Well, through our
00:37:24.81\00:37:33.78
entertainment empire here in
this country, we sell to the
nations our debased and fallen
00:37:33.78\00:37:38.12
culture. Do you think this
nation will not have a
rendezvous with a day of
00:37:38.12\00:37:43.96
judgement and stand before the
Judge Almighty and answer, "Why
did you live this way?" America
00:37:43.96\00:37:52.83
does naked well. Well, Laodicea
did naked well. "You're naked,"
Jesus said. Well, America does
00:37:52.83\00:37:57.47
naked well. We're getting more
naked by the day. Sex is the
number-one import in
00:37:57.47\00:38:03.48
the United States. Facebook, the
American megabillion icon, now
00:38:03.48\00:38:09.18
offers -- jot it down -- 58 --
some say 63 -- gender options
that you can choose from.
00:38:09.18\00:38:15.82
What are you? Well, give me
a list. Facebook now offers 58
00:38:15.82\00:38:20.00
choices, and this is from
Facebook's... headquarters what
you're gonna see on the screen
00:38:20.00\00:38:29.70
right now. Facebook says we've
got even more. "Last year" --
00:38:29.70\00:38:33.31
This is directly
quoting from their website.
00:38:33.31\00:38:34.78
Is this our
contribution to the human race?
00:39:13.18\00:39:15.75
¤ God bless America ¤ we sing.
And we're the nation that, with
00:39:19.72\00:39:26.83
impunity, turns our backs on the
poor, the powerless, the
stranger that is within our
00:39:26.83\00:39:31.67
gates, and you think this nation
won't have to answer before the
creator of the universe on
00:39:31.67\00:39:36.14
judgement day? Think
again. Just think again.
00:39:36.14\00:39:39.34
You can call them immigrants.
You can call them whatever you
will, but Jesus identifies with
00:39:39.34\00:39:44.48
the very people we are
rejecting. Jesus said, "I was
00:39:44.48\00:39:47.82
naked and you didn't clothe me.
I was hungry and you didn't feed
00:39:47.82\00:39:50.12
me. I was thirsty and you didn't
give me a drink. I was even in
00:39:50.12\00:39:53.49
prison and you didn't visit me.
You just kept reminding me of my
00:39:53.49\00:39:56.32
prison record." ¤ God
bless America ¤ Yeah, right.
00:40:00.40\00:40:07.00
The only answer we will hear
will be the words the drunken
00:40:11.37\00:40:15.21
King Belshazzar heard on
the night of his destruction --
00:40:15.21\00:40:18.45
"Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin."
You have been weighed in the
00:40:18.45\00:40:22.92
balances's nation, and you have
been found wanting, and it's
00:40:22.92\00:40:26.65
curtains tonight. Adios.
00:40:26.65\00:40:30.56
Oh, my. I hear the tread,
America, of an approaching God,
00:40:30.73\00:40:38.47
and what shall we say when He
arrives? Hmm. The night is soon
00:40:38.47\00:40:47.98
to come, when over America the
beautiful will be pronounced
those bitter words of doom --
00:40:47.98\00:40:53.52
"You have been weighed in the
balances, and you have been
found wanting, and it's over.
00:40:53.52\00:41:00.62
Goodbye. Unless --
Unless America repents.
00:41:00.62\00:41:09.20
I'm serious. And that's not such
a preposterous notion, by the
00:41:09.20\00:41:13.67
way, America repenting. After
all, there was a wicked city
with a wicked people in it
00:41:13.67\00:41:18.37
named Nineveh with a wicked king
who ruled the city. One day, a
man sent by God had a
00:41:18.37\00:41:24.01
message to those Ninevites -- 40
days, and this city will be
destroyed by Almighty God, and
00:41:24.01\00:41:29.82
you are dust, do you understand
that? And in 40 days less, from
00:41:29.82\00:41:34.66
the king on the thrown to the
slave in the marketplace, the
entire city repents of its
00:41:34.66\00:41:41.93
rebellion and the God of heaven,
of mercy, forgives them their
rebellion, writes a new chapter,
00:41:41.93\00:41:48.70
gives them hope again. It's not
impossible for America. It's not
too late for America to
00:41:48.70\00:41:52.87
repent. Babylon did.
When that mighty king
00:41:52.87\00:41:57.78
Nebuchadnezzar, brooding in his
insanity after seven years
repented to the God of heaven
00:41:57.78\00:42:03.12
and confessed that the God of
heaven is the great God of the
universe, when Babylon repented,
00:42:03.12\00:42:08.66
God spared Babylon of its demise
for awhile, until the grandson
Belshazzar mocked God
00:42:08.66\00:42:19.80
to His face. Probation was
up. "You're dead tonight, buddy.
00:42:19.80\00:42:25.64
See ya."
00:42:25.64\00:42:26.61
Babylon repented. Why can't
America repent? Sodom and
Gomorrah...repented
00:42:30.45\00:42:36.05
not, and their tragic history is
a morality tale for the likes of
this nation of which we sing,
00:42:36.05\00:42:43.69
"God bless America." But you
know what, folks? That is a song
00:42:43.69\00:42:50.53
to late to sing. For 2 1/2
centuries, He's been blessing
America, and look what He's got.
00:42:50.53\00:42:56.24
There's only one song to sing
now, and I wish somebody would
write it -- "God Save America."
00:42:56.24\00:43:05.68
Don't bless us anymore. It'll
only drive us further into our
00:43:05.68\00:43:11.45
frenzied insanity. Save us.
00:43:11.45\00:43:13.56
Not the blessing of God we need.
It's His salvation, for unless
He saves us, we're as doomed as
00:43:16.59\00:43:20.93
Babel, we're as doomed as
Babylon, we're as doomed as
Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:43:20.93\00:43:24.37
I mean, what have we done to
an entire generation? And it was
00:43:24.37\00:43:27.74
done by adults. The children
didn't come up with this. The
adults have done it, and
00:43:27.74\00:43:30.77
they've told them, "This is how
you think now, and we're gonna
give you 58 options of how you
00:43:30.77\00:43:34.74
can behave." The kids
didn't come up with that.
00:43:34.74\00:43:40.45
Some special-interest adult
said, "This is what we need." We
00:43:40.45\00:43:47.36
got it now. You don't think
we're gonna stand with our
rendezvous with destiny before
00:43:50.59\00:43:56.13
the Judge of the Universe? I
tell you what, if you're an
adult listening to me right now
00:43:56.13\00:44:02.00
and you're purveying what is
gonna take down our children,
Jesus said it well, "it would
00:44:02.00\00:44:10.75
be better for a millstone to be
tied around your neck and to be
thrown into the ocean than for
00:44:10.75\00:44:16.95
you to live with that." The
words of Christ. The red letter
00:44:16.95\00:44:24.53
words of Christ, verse 17.
00:44:24.53\00:44:25.53
Laodicea, a people judged.
America, a people judged. So,
what hope is there for this
00:44:39.71\00:44:46.85
nation? The truth is -- I'll
just tell you what the truth is
00:44:46.85\00:44:49.55
right now. The truth for
America, whether you're an
American Jew or an American
00:44:49.55\00:44:53.99
Muslim or an American Hindu or
an American Christian or an
American Adventist or an
00:44:53.99\00:44:59.26
American atheist, the only hope
we have, the last great hope for
America is Jesus Christ. It's
00:44:59.26\00:45:08.10
the only hope we have. Jesus,
called the Christ. Act 4:12.
Does this get it or what?
00:45:08.10\00:45:17.18
There is no other hope left for
America. There's no other savior
00:45:27.86\00:45:33.13
that's gonna come riding on a
white stallion and deliver us
politically, economically,
00:45:33.13\00:45:38.20
morally, socially, or
spiritually. We have only one
00:45:38.20\00:45:43.57
hope left, and His name is
Jesus. And if we spit in His
face as they did 2,000 years ago
00:45:43.57\00:45:49.61
on the day of judgment, you'll
see the video when you spit in
the face of the King of Kings
00:45:49.61\00:45:57.09
and Lord of Lords. "I blessed
you for 2 1/2 centuries, and is
00:45:57.09\00:46:03.96
this what I get?" "America,
America, God shed His grace on
00:46:03.96\00:46:13.77
thee." Jesus once spent two days
-- you might remember this story
-- two days with half-pagan
00:46:17.11\00:46:22.01
Samaritans. I mean, they
were kind of a mongrel religious
00:46:22.01\00:46:25.25
faith -- half pagan, half
believer. He spent two days with
them, and when the two days were
00:46:25.25\00:46:29.52
up, the Samaritans came to the
woman at the well, because
that's how He got invited to
00:46:29.52\00:46:33.99
that village. He first met with
her. They came to that woman at
00:46:33.99\00:46:36.59
the well. John
4:42 on the screen.
00:46:36.59\00:46:38.16
Look what they
said to that woman.
00:46:38.33\00:46:39.69
"They said to the woman at the
well, 'We no longer believe just
00:46:39.69\00:46:43.10
because of what you said; now we
have heard for ourselves, and we
00:46:43.10\00:46:46.67
know that this Man really
is the Savior of the world.'"
00:46:46.67\00:46:50.21
I find that confession
absolutely remarkable. You know
00:46:50.37\00:46:54.18
why? They've had only two days
with Jesus, and in two days,
they believe Him to be the
00:46:54.18\00:46:59.78
savior of the human race.
Apparently, it doesn't take a
lot of time for God to turn a
00:46:59.78\00:47:04.82
village around, and not even
a nation. "How much time will we
00:47:04.82\00:47:10.89
need for America," God asks? No,
the question to ask is how much
time does America have?
00:47:10.89\00:47:18.20
We're running out of time.
When I see events like this, I'm
00:47:21.64\00:47:27.58
saying, "Oh, boy. This is
calvary all over again, and you
know how calvary ends. It ends
00:47:27.58\00:47:34.65
with the death." But it's
happening all over again. I'm
talking about when the
00:47:34.65\00:47:38.69
Pharisees and the Sadducees, the
religious leaders of Israel were
currying the favor of the
00:47:38.69\00:47:44.33
despised Roman
governor Pilate. They hated him.
00:47:44.33\00:47:47.60
But they were currying his favor
in order to secure power and
influence for their own
00:47:50.07\00:47:54.30
political ambitions, even so, I
fear, that there are religious
leaders in America who are
00:47:54.30\00:47:59.17
attempting to parley with the
president in order to secure for
themselves power to change times
00:47:59.17\00:48:04.68
and laws for their own misguided
and terribly mistaken agenda.
I'm seeing it coming all over
00:48:04.68\00:48:15.36
again. Swallow your morals, hide
your spiritual convictions, and
00:48:15.36\00:48:22.73
pretend you're just like him.
00:48:22.73\00:48:26.00
The good news is they can
be stopped. That's the point.
00:48:30.47\00:48:36.01
They can be held in
check a little longer.
00:48:36.01\00:48:38.65
The very liberties that this
nation was founded upon are the
liberties that desperately need
00:48:44.35\00:48:50.19
to be championed today. Listen,
the word can get out. The word
00:48:50.19\00:48:56.03
can get out. Jon Meacham --
Karen gave me this book last
year. I think it was for
00:48:56.03\00:48:59.53
Valentine's. It's a wonderful
book. Finished it last year. Jon
Meacham, historian, in his
00:48:59.53\00:49:03.47
inspiring book "The Soul of
America: the Battle for Our
Better Angels" quotes -- you're
00:49:03.47\00:49:08.48
gonna like this -- quotes the
English writer, jurist, and
member of Parliament in England
00:49:08.48\00:49:13.58
James Bryce. He wrote a book
called "The American
Commonwealth" in 1888.
00:49:13.58\00:49:18.59
Jon Meacham now is
quoting James Bryce.
00:49:18.59\00:49:22.92
The words are on
the screen for you.
00:49:23.09\00:49:24.59
"'A bold President'" --
Now, this is James Bryce, the
00:49:24.59\00:49:27.40
Britisher who's looking at
the political system in the
00:49:27.40\00:49:29.90
United States and says,
"Hey, this could happen."
00:49:29.90\00:49:32.20
Watch this. "'A
bold President who knew
00:49:32.20\00:49:34.47
himself to be supported by
a majority in the country'" --
00:49:34.47\00:49:38.24
that's the key.
"I got the support.
00:49:38.24\00:49:41.01
I got the support."
"'A bold President who knew
00:49:41.01\00:49:44.18
himself to be supported by a
majority in the country, might
00:49:44.18\00:49:46.51
be tempted to override the law,
and deprive the minority of the
00:49:46.51\00:49:50.65
protection which
the law affords it.'"
00:49:50.65\00:49:53.25
America jurisprudence protects
the minority. You cannot be
00:49:53.42\00:49:58.63
destroyed because the majority
doesn't want you. Not in this
land. The minorities are free to
00:49:58.63\00:50:03.40
follow their consciences. You're
safe in America. In another
country, you're gone.
00:50:03.40\00:50:10.41
James Bryce came over here turn
of the 19th century, and he
says, "You know what?
00:50:10.41\00:50:15.34
You let somebody in power who
has the majority, stuff could
00:50:15.34\00:50:22.85
happen." He goes on.
00:50:22.85\00:50:23.45
"James Bryce wrote, 'He,'" the
president, "'might be a tyrant."
00:50:23.62\00:50:27.32
Now, this is preaching.
"'He might be a tyrant, not
00:50:27.32\00:50:31.26
against the masses,
but with the masses.'"
00:50:31.26\00:50:35.36
In other words, he sees with
his support by the majority a
00:50:35.36\00:50:39.10
permission to enact that which
is beyond the constitution and
00:50:39.10\00:50:43.00
the law.
00:50:43.00\00:50:44.17
But he has the majority.
00:50:44.34\00:50:46.64
And I don't know about you, but
the masses in America can be as
irrational and fickle and
00:50:49.21\00:50:56.52
utterly susceptible to
groupthink as any nation on
00:50:56.52\00:51:00.56
Earth. Social media.
00:51:00.56\00:51:05.19
I wrote on my blog this week,
the 4th Watch, these words on
00:51:05.36\00:51:07.86
the screen. "The
warp speed with which the
00:51:07.86\00:51:10.67
faceless social media
crowd" -- I said mob maybe, huh?
00:51:10.67\00:51:15.00
"The warp speed with which the
faceless social media crowd can
00:51:15.00\00:51:19.41
serve as judge, jury, and
executioner is breathtaking!
00:51:19.41\00:51:23.31
'Don't confuse me with the
facts -- my mind is made up'
00:51:23.31\00:51:27.35
seems to be the prevailing
'cry de jour'" -- the cry of the
00:51:27.35\00:51:29.88
day -- " among these
anonymous commentators.
00:51:29.88\00:51:31.85
And even when the press" -- as
it did last week -- "sheepishly
00:51:31.85\00:51:35.36
withdraws yesterday's hue and
cry 24 hours later, there is no
00:51:35.36\00:51:39.89
abatement, no disavowal that
appears among the purveyors of
00:51:39.89\00:51:42.80
social media pronouncements.
In other words, the 'people'" --
00:51:42.80\00:51:45.87
this is what they think -- "the
'people' have spoken -- so be
00:51:45.87\00:51:48.30
it. But the
people (like the press)
00:51:48.30\00:51:50.67
can be wrong, dreadfully wrong.
And therein lies my concern."
00:51:50.67\00:51:54.98
End quote.
00:51:54.98\00:51:57.38
Just because social media
purveys it does not anoint it as
00:51:57.55\00:52:09.26
correct. So, you get the right
president with the right
majority, James Bryce is saying,
00:52:09.26\00:52:15.93
"Look out." [ Inhales sharply
] But the good news is social
00:52:15.93\00:52:20.00
media cuts both ways. It's now
time for a generation within the
Seventh-Day Adventist
00:52:20.00\00:52:24.44
Church to rise up, a generation
that can see the range of social
media and begin to communicate
00:52:24.44\00:52:30.35
through social media,
championing the very religious
liberties and eternal principles
00:52:30.35\00:52:35.68
through which America might yet
be saved. We're not asking God
00:52:35.68\00:52:39.95
to bless America. We need God
to save America. That's all the
00:52:39.95\00:52:43.69
time we got left. Save America.
We got to reach the thought
00:52:43.69\00:52:47.76
leaders. We got to reach the
though leaders of our little
communities, our counties, our
00:52:47.76\00:52:50.97
states, our nation. And I
know of no more influential and
00:52:50.97\00:52:59.17
attractive and compelling
magazine to do just that...than
this one right here. It's been
00:52:59.17\00:53:06.92
around for decades. It's called
Liberty magazine. Ever see this
magazine? From the county
00:53:06.92\00:53:13.52
commission to the Supreme Court,
thought leaders in America are
turning to this magazine.
00:53:13.52\00:53:18.93
You say, "You can't prove it."
Just read what's inside of it.
00:53:18.93\00:53:22.26
You can prove it. Read the
letters. You can prove it. This
little magazine, six times
00:53:22.26\00:53:29.87
a year -- $6 a subscription. For
100 bucks, you could send 16
thought leaders in America --
00:53:29.87\00:53:35.84
You say, "Dwight, I don't know a
single name. I wouldn't know who
00:53:35.84\00:53:38.55
to recommend to get this." We --
There are data banks filled with
00:53:38.55\00:53:42.38
men and women who, in sincerity,
are reaching out. "Is there
another view to all of this?
00:53:42.38\00:53:46.42
Is there another voice that we
might hear?" It's called Liberty
00:53:46.42\00:53:50.89
magazine. If you value your
freedom and honoring your
conscience and dedicating your
00:53:50.89\00:54:00.20
day of worship to God, and you
want to be honored by the
authorities in America for that
00:54:00.20\00:54:06.14
freedom and that
liberty, just send this.
00:54:06.14\00:54:09.11
You can give it
to your neighbors.
00:54:09.28\00:54:10.75
Give it to anybody you want.
But we need to send it to the
00:54:10.75\00:54:13.28
top leaders, the thought leaders
of Berrien County, Michigan,
00:54:13.28\00:54:16.95
America.
00:54:16.95\00:54:18.15
Inside your little worship
bulletin today is something that
00:54:21.92\00:54:24.69
looks like this. This
is for Liberty magazine.
00:54:24.69\00:54:28.13
If you open it up and just turn
it out like this, it makes a
00:54:28.13\00:54:31.10
little -- you see a
little tear-off here.
00:54:31.10\00:54:33.27
It's an envelope.
00:54:33.27\00:54:34.87
Listen, folks. We can sit here
and say, "Well, not my problem."
00:54:35.04\00:54:39.27
Are you serious? It's not
your problem? Well, whose is it,
00:54:39.27\00:54:44.75
then? It's America's
problem, and you're an American.
00:54:44.75\00:54:46.75
Put $100 in a tithe envelope,
just mark it "religious liberty"
the next Sabbath, the next, the
00:54:50.42\00:54:53.86
next, the next. It's
fine. You can put it in.
00:54:53.86\00:54:55.52
You have $100 bill in your
wallet today. Just slip it in.
00:54:55.52\00:54:58.53
16 thought leaders automatically
will receive this impressive
advocate for religious freedom.
00:54:58.53\00:55:09.80
You don't have to know their
names. You just know the times.
00:55:09.80\00:55:13.11
That's all you have to know.
Just know the times. There's one
more way to respond
00:55:13.11\00:55:18.31
to America's deep spiritual
need, and that is we must pray
00:55:18.31\00:55:22.45
for America. I wonder what the
heart of Jesus is for America.
You don't have to wonder at all.
00:55:22.45\00:55:25.85
Do you remember that moment when
Jesus looked out over Jerusalem
00:55:25.85\00:55:31.59
and began to cry? I want to put
the words of Jesus on the screen
for you. You want to know the
00:55:31.59\00:55:35.13
heart of Jesus for America? It
says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem"
-- Why don't we read
00:55:35.13\00:55:38.07
it, "America, America, the one
who kills the prophets and
stones those who are sent to
00:55:38.07\00:55:41.30
her!" Keep reading. "How
often I've wanted to gather
00:55:41.30\00:55:44.11
your children together, America,
as a hen gathers her chicks, as
a mother gathers her children
00:55:44.11\00:55:48.44
under her wings, you were
not willing! How often I have
00:55:48.44\00:55:53.82
longed. Now look. Your nation
is left to you desolate..."
00:55:53.82\00:55:58.42
Keep going. "...for I say to
you, you shall see me no more
00:55:58.42\00:56:04.89
till you say, 'Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord.'
That's the next time you're
00:56:04.89\00:56:11.17
gonna see me, America. I'll be
here." Oh, by the way, He said
00:56:11.17\00:56:17.67
that to Laodicea. "Oh, He
did not, Dwight." Yes, He did.
00:56:17.67\00:56:20.24
I'll end with this. Look
at verse 19. Look at verse 19.
00:56:20.24\00:56:23.51
To Laodicea and America. "As
many as I love" -- There are
only two letters that have Him
00:56:23.51\00:56:27.55
describing His love. It'd
be Philadelphia and Laodicea."
00:56:27.55\00:56:30.22
"As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten. Therefore be zealous
00:56:30.22\00:56:35.89
and repent. Behold, I
stand at the door and knock."
00:56:35.89\00:56:38.83
We'll unpack that another time,
but do you know what it means to
00:56:38.83\00:56:41.86
stand at the door? [ Knocking
] "I'm here. I'm already here.
00:56:41.86\00:56:46.77
I'm at the door now."
00:56:46.77\00:56:49.74
If He loves this country this
deeply, then we must pray not
00:56:53.48\00:56:56.78
God bless America. Here's the
prayer to pray -- God save
America, and let me help You.
00:56:56.78\00:57:00.88
Amen. God save
America, and let me help You.
00:57:00.88\00:57:05.02
Amen. God save
America, and let me help You.
00:57:05.02\00:57:11.09
Amen.
00:57:11.09\00:57:12.09
>> I want to take an extra
moment to thank you for joining
00:57:15.83\00:57:17.93
us in worship today.
It's by the continued support
00:57:17.93\00:57:19.83
from viewers like you that we're
able to bring this program.
00:57:19.83\00:57:22.47
Today I want to invite you,
though, to share with us how
00:57:22.47\00:57:25.01
this ministry has blessed you.
I get inspiring notes, e-mails,
00:57:25.01\00:57:29.01
from viewers literally all over
the world telling me, "Look,
00:57:29.01\00:57:31.21
Dwight, God has been blessing me
this way, He's been doing this."
00:57:31.21\00:57:34.08
I would love to
hear from you, as well.
00:57:34.08\00:57:35.62
Just visit our
website. You know it --
00:57:35.62\00:57:37.79
newperceptions.tv -- and click
on the "contact" link at the top
00:57:37.79\00:57:41.76
of the page. Send me a note.
00:57:41.76\00:57:43.29
Let me know what God has been
doing right now in your life.
00:57:43.29\00:57:47.10
Once again, thank you
for being with us today.
00:57:47.10\00:57:49.36
I hope you join us right
here next time, and until then,
00:57:49.36\00:57:52.83
may the God of grace journey
with you every step of the way.
00:57:52.83\00:57:56.81
¤¤ ¤¤
00:57:59.94\00:58:18.69
¤¤
00:58:18.69\00:58:28.07