Welcome to
"Digging Up the Future"
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Bible Prophecy Exposed.
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We're glad each of
you are here this evening.
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Are you glad to
be here? All right.
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I'm glad that you're here.
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And you know, we have-
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we have been studying
about many different things
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but tonight we're gonna be
considering pain and suffering.
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Why do good things or bad things
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rather happen to good people?
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What about human suffering?
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What does the Book of Revelation
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had to say about it?
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I don't about you
but if we're considering
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subjects like that,
there's a lot of people
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that feel very
strongly about that subject.
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Isn't that right?
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I mean, so we need to pray
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that the Lord's spirit
will be here especially
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because I
believe that for us here,
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I'm sure there's someone
here that has that question
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and then those watching as well.
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So let's bow our heads
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and just invite God's
presence this evening.
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Father in heaven, You
are the God of the good.
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We get the word good from You
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and good bye
and God be with you.
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But when we think about
things that are, are bad
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we sometimes don't know
what to do and we are troubled.
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Sometimes we think
very bad things about You.
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Tonight we want to
kind of unpack that.
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That we ask that Your
spirit will be with us,
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be with our speaker,
give him just Your spirit
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as he deals with
this important subject
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and we come in
Christ name, amen.
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Well, I'm thankful
Jesus is coming again.
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Aren't you?
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Let's stand together and sing
"Marvelous Message We Bring."
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Marvelous message we bring
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Glorious carol we sing
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Wonderful word of the King
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Jesus is coming again
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Coming again, coming again
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Maybe morning, maybe noon
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Maybe evening, and maybe soon
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Coming again, coming again
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Oh what a
wonderful day that will be
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Jesus is coming again
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Can be seated.
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Man, you sound wonderful.
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And do you believe it?
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Do you believe
Jesus is coming again?
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Amen. I believe it's true.
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Well, Chris
Albrecht our trumpetist
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is going to
come and play for us.
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Anthea is going to
accompany him as they,
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they play and
reflect on "The Love of God."
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Amen and amen.
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You just sit and listen to
that all night long, could you?
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It's wonderful.
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Thank you so
much, Chris and Anthea.
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Let us pray together
again as we go into the subject.
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Father in heaven, thank
You for Your revelations
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concerning all that trouble us,
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and also all
that brings us hope.
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Bless us as we study
now in Jesus name, amen.
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As I was
mentioning in another segment,
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the Twin Towers had took place.
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We were at a
time in South Dakota.
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We had no idea what was going on
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and the phone
rang and there was a
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friend of ours from Australia.
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And he called and said
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what in the world
is going on up there?
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And my wife said, what
are you talking about, Bruce?
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Turn on the
television he said on the phone.
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And so my wife
turned on the television
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to see the second
plane hit the towers.
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Obviously it was something
that no one anticipated at least
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as far as we know
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but it was a
tremendous disaster.
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I remember going
there right after
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to Twin Towers to help out
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and it was a very,
very sobering moment
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for people in New York.
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People in New York are
pretty hard cored people.
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I know because I grew up there.
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And you deal with
so much in New York
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that you pretty
much become hard shell.
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And it takes a lot to
move people in New York.
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But that devastation
made a lot of people sober
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and the lot of people
begin to ask questions.
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Why? Why did it happen?
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And what does it mean?
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I should tell you
that I read a book
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that was written
back in about 1901.
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And it's interesting
that the page number of it-
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it happened to be
volume 9, page 11.
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What did I say?
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It was volume 9 and page 11.
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And the author was writing about
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seeing some
buildings in New York.
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She specifically
mentions New York
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and saying that the fireman
tried to turn out the fire,
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but it was of no avail.
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The author writes
that it was like pitch,
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the buildings went up in fire
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and the fireman
all they could do
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is stand there and watch.
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And the author was
writing about buildings
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that just went up and
up and up skyscrapers.
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There's no question friends,
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that God still thus reveals
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what is about to take place.
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But listen, tonight
we're going to study
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this particular subject
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on why is it that so
much suffering takes place?
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Why is it that the good suffer,
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the holy, the innocent.
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Sometimes the
good suffer for the bad
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or with the bad or by the bad.
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Why is it that good
honest people suffer?
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Why is it that
honest fathers and mothers?
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Why is it that
innocent children suffer?
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These questions cause concern.
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Many people are
seeking to financers
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and the more that we reach
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the closing times
of earth's history,
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the more disastrous that we see,
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the more questions
that will be raised.
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Is that true?
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You think of the devastations
that some of these tornados
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or some of these
hurricanes or earthquakes
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and then some of these diseases
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that are lurking here and there.
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There's trouble everywhere.
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There seems to be a dark,
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dark shadow on planet earth.
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And the question
is if God is so good
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then why does He permit evil?
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If God is really in control,
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why does He
allow things to happen?
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I remember my mother
asking that question often
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because there are many
things that happened to her.
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As I think about my poor mother
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who was
abandoned by her husband,
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left with six
children to rise by herself
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and then she had cancer
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and she prayed that somehow
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God would have mercy on
her and let her live until
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we could take care of ourselves.
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And then after
that it was arthritis
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and then cancer again.
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And mother would just plagued
with the lot of suffering,
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a lot of things that
happened in her life.
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And there's no question
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that in her mind
there was that thought.
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Why is it?
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The Bible reveals
where evil came from.
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And in the Bible,
if you have your Bibles
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let us turn to Matthew 13:24-30.
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And we find there a parable.
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And this particular
parable in Matthew Chapter 13,
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Jesus is
talking about some seeds
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that are being sown.
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If you notice in
verse 24 it says,
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"The kingdom of
heaven is likened unto a man
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which sowed good
seed in the field"
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Do you see that?
00:14:16.62\00:14:18.39
And if you read
through the parable
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and you see that it says,
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"But while men
slept, his enemy came
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and sowed tares among the wheat,
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and went his way.
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But when the
blade was sprung up,
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and brought forth fruit,
then appeared the tares also.
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So the servants
of the householder
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came and said unto him,
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Sir, did not we sow
good seed in thy field?
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From whence then hath it tares?"
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And verse 28 it
says, who has done it?
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"An enemy hath done this.
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The servants said unto him,
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wilt thou then that
we go and gather them up?
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But he said, Nay, lest
while ye gather up the tares,
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ye root up also
the wheat with them."
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Notice it says then
that the good seed was sown
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but once it began to
grow, what also showed up?
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Tares.
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And the question was then,
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where that
these tares come from?
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"So the servants
of the householder
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came and said unto them,
do you want us to buckle up?"
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Where did they come from?
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Well, you remember the answer.
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An enemy have done this.
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Now later on, when
the disciples were by-
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well, Jesus by themselves
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then that Jesus began
to explain the parable.
00:15:35.33\00:15:38.83
And if you notice in verse 37
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He said, "Unto to them,
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He who sows the
good seed" is who?
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"The Son of Man."
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So who created this world?
00:15:47.94\00:15:51.21
The Son of Man.
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What did the Son of
Man plant on this earth?
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Good or bad seed?
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Good seed.
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Was Adam and Eve
created bad or created good?
00:15:59.09\00:16:02.29
They were created good.
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In fact if you read verse 31
of Genesis Chapter 1 it says,
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"Behold everything was
not just good but very good."
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And so God
created everything good
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and planted good
people on planet earth.
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So then the parable is
illustrating the reality
00:16:17.37\00:16:20.44
that the Creator
put good things here
00:16:20.48\00:16:22.78
but then an enemy sowed what?
00:16:22.81\00:16:25.71
Tares.
00:16:25.75\00:16:27.08
And enemy sowed what?
00:16:27.12\00:16:28.48
Tares.
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In verse 38 "The
field is the" what?
00:16:29.88\00:16:33.36
"The world, the good seeds
are the sons of the kingdom,
00:16:33.39\00:16:38.03
but the tares are
the sons" of whom?
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"Of the wicked one."
00:16:41.76\00:16:43.16
And verse 39 it says,
00:16:43.20\00:16:45.03
"The enemy who
sowed them is" who?
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There you have it.
00:16:48.04\00:16:49.40
So according to
the scriptures then,
00:16:49.44\00:16:51.34
did God create a bad world?
00:16:51.37\00:16:53.88
What's the answer?
00:16:53.91\00:16:55.24
No.
00:16:55.28\00:16:56.61
According to the scriptures
God created a good world.
00:16:56.64\00:16:59.18
But also
according to the scriptures
00:16:59.21\00:17:01.32
God says that the
tares were also sown
00:17:01.35\00:17:05.65
and the question is
where do they come from?
00:17:05.69\00:17:07.69
Who sowed them?
00:17:07.72\00:17:09.06
And the answer is who?
00:17:09.09\00:17:10.69
The devil.
00:17:10.73\00:17:12.53
Now the question is
who is the devil then?
00:17:12.56\00:17:16.06
What is he?
00:17:16.10\00:17:17.90
There are lots of people
who believe there's a devil.
00:17:17.93\00:17:20.47
You know, that, right?
00:17:20.50\00:17:23.51
They think it's just a
figment of the imagination.
00:17:23.54\00:17:26.04
But the Bible
speaks about the devil
00:17:29.14\00:17:32.31
and in fact the Bible
gives him several names.
00:17:32.35\00:17:36.42
I want you to know
notice various names
00:17:36.45\00:17:38.92
in the scriptures
that the devil has.
00:17:38.95\00:17:42.52
Notice that he is
called the devil, okay.
00:17:42.56\00:17:46.66
He is called Satan.
00:17:46.70\00:17:48.03
He's called Lucifer, the Dragon,
00:17:48.06\00:17:50.07
Serpent, Beelzebub,
00:17:50.10\00:17:51.67
Angel of the bottomless pit,
00:17:51.70\00:17:54.17
Abaddon, Belial, Apollyon,
00:17:54.20\00:17:57.14
Lier, Adversary, Roaring Lion,
00:17:57.17\00:18:00.91
Deceiver, Murderer,
00:18:00.94\00:18:02.28
Accuser of the
brethren, Covering Cherub,
00:18:02.31\00:18:04.81
Prince of the power
of the air, The tempter.
00:18:04.85\00:18:09.48
Those are many names.
00:18:09.52\00:18:10.99
Now we think of names,
00:18:11.02\00:18:13.49
the reasons why
many names are given.
00:18:13.52\00:18:15.79
It's because in the scriptures
and then in the ancient times
00:18:15.82\00:18:18.79
when people are given the name,
00:18:18.83\00:18:20.16
a significant of their character
00:18:20.20\00:18:22.06
or a particular
characteristic that they had.
00:18:22.10\00:18:24.80
The Native
Americans used to do that.
00:18:24.83\00:18:26.84
Here in this country
they wouldn't give names
00:18:26.87\00:18:29.50
like sitting
bull, okay, et cetera.
00:18:29.54\00:18:33.94
By the way many of us have names
00:18:33.98\00:18:35.54
that we don't even
know what they mean,
00:18:35.58\00:18:36.91
but they actually
have some meaning.
00:18:36.95\00:18:39.08
For example my
name Louis means strong.
00:18:39.11\00:18:42.55
My last name
Torres means towers.
00:18:42.58\00:18:46.25
So strong towers,
00:18:46.29\00:18:50.26
that's a big name
to live up to isn't it?
00:18:50.29\00:18:53.76
Especially when I'm short tower.
00:18:53.80\00:18:57.77
But names had meanings.
00:18:57.80\00:18:59.80
They had some significant
and that's why for example
00:18:59.83\00:19:03.47
that the other night
we're talking about Christ
00:19:03.51\00:19:05.74
and how many names did He have?
00:19:05.77\00:19:07.64
Over 40 names,
you remember that.
00:19:07.68\00:19:10.05
Which means then that there
are many, many titles given
00:19:10.08\00:19:14.05
because of the individual
00:19:14.08\00:19:16.62
who carries all the
titles and all the names,
00:19:16.65\00:19:18.62
it means that they
have a lot of influence,
00:19:18.65\00:19:21.22
may have a lot of power,
00:19:21.26\00:19:22.59
there's a
characteristics about them
00:19:22.62\00:19:24.23
that may be good or
evil but none the less
00:19:24.26\00:19:26.93
these names spell out
00:19:26.96\00:19:28.40
these different characteristics.
00:19:28.43\00:19:30.57
Now most people have the idea
00:19:30.60\00:19:33.84
that the devil is some
half human, half creature,
00:19:33.87\00:19:38.67
half animal creature.
00:19:38.71\00:19:40.34
For example, how
many of you ever have seen
00:19:40.38\00:19:43.35
the painting of the
devil kind of with hooves,
00:19:43.38\00:19:46.08
you know, and with a tail
00:19:46.11\00:19:49.78
and then usually red as a goatee
00:19:49.82\00:19:53.15
and two horns right.
00:19:53.19\00:19:55.66
Usually he's
painted red, correct.
00:19:55.69\00:19:58.73
And usually he has
it what? A pitchfork.
00:19:58.76\00:20:02.13
And he's supposed to
be in charge of what?
00:20:02.16\00:20:04.40
Of hell and he's the one that
roast people around in hell,
00:20:04.43\00:20:07.94
so to speak, right.
00:20:07.97\00:20:09.30
In other words that's
the picture of the devil.
00:20:09.34\00:20:12.27
I remember when I was a
young lad as a Catholic boy,
00:20:12.31\00:20:18.08
I gave the nuns
a lot of trouble.
00:20:18.11\00:20:19.45
I wish I could go
back and apologize to them
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.79
but I don't think
they are still alive
00:20:29.82\00:20:32.76
and I don't
remember who they are anyway.
00:20:32.79\00:20:34.63
But in catechism I
remember the warnings.
00:20:37.70\00:20:42.77
You better watch out
00:20:42.80\00:20:44.54
or the devil is
gonna get hold of you.
00:20:44.57\00:20:48.34
Oh, that shook me up.
00:20:48.38\00:20:50.88
And I remember going to, to bed.
00:20:50.91\00:20:56.28
And when I was
going to go to bed
00:20:56.32\00:20:58.49
it was dark underneath
and somehow I had this idea
00:20:58.52\00:21:04.59
that the devil was
hiding underneath my bed
00:21:04.63\00:21:07.83
and to ensure that
he could not grab me
00:21:07.86\00:21:10.03
and pull me
underneath into that darkness.
00:21:10.07\00:21:11.70
You know, what I would do?
00:21:11.73\00:21:13.34
I would take a running
start and leap onto my bed
00:21:13.37\00:21:17.54
and I always
succeeded in landing on the bed,
00:21:17.57\00:21:19.61
never getting pulled under.
00:21:19.64\00:21:24.31
I had that idea that the
devil was some half human,
00:21:24.35\00:21:31.25
half animal creature.
00:21:31.29\00:21:35.12
But in reality
that's a pagan concept.
00:21:35.16\00:21:39.06
That description is
not found in the Bible.
00:21:39.09\00:21:42.50
The Bible on the contrary
gave us a clear understanding
00:21:42.53\00:21:47.37
that the devil
is a superior being
00:21:47.40\00:21:52.67
with high intellect and powers.
00:21:52.71\00:21:57.55
The scripture
reveals that the devil
00:21:57.58\00:22:01.58
or called Satan
was actually an angel
00:22:01.62\00:22:05.15
who was created in heaven.
00:22:05.19\00:22:08.12
When Jesus was on earth,
00:22:08.16\00:22:10.03
Jesus made a
statement in Luke 10:18.
00:22:10.06\00:22:14.10
"I beheld" who?
00:22:14.13\00:22:16.46
"Satan fall from"
where? "From heaven."
00:22:16.50\00:22:20.34
Now notice it says, "I
beheld Satan fall from heaven."
00:22:20.37\00:22:23.84
And Jesus said
this to the disciples
00:22:23.87\00:22:25.94
because the disciples
had just been on a venture
00:22:25.97\00:22:28.88
of doing ministry
and they came back
00:22:28.91\00:22:31.08
and they were
rejoicing and said to the Lord,
00:22:31.11\00:22:33.01
Lord, the devils
of subject unto us.
00:22:33.05\00:22:36.85
And the Lord said in essence
00:22:36.89\00:22:40.29
watch out, fellows,
don't get high minded.
00:22:40.32\00:22:44.46
I saw Satan fall from heaven.
00:22:44.49\00:22:48.43
In other words, what's
taking a hold of your spirit
00:22:48.46\00:22:52.17
is the same spirit that
caused Satan to fall from where?
00:22:52.20\00:22:56.50
From heaven. Pride
is a terrible thing.
00:22:56.54\00:22:59.24
What do you say?
Pride is a terrible thing.
00:22:59.27\00:23:02.08
And so Jesus says that He
saw Satan fall from heaven.
00:23:02.11\00:23:07.22
And now going to
the Book of Revelation
00:23:07.25\00:23:08.98
we find that the Book of
Revelation substantiates that
00:23:09.02\00:23:13.22
and the Book of Isaiah
and Book of Ezekiel as well.
00:23:13.25\00:23:17.16
Looking at some of
the prophet's writings
00:23:17.19\00:23:19.56
concerning Lucifer notice
that in Isaiah 14:2 it says,
00:23:19.59\00:23:25.37
"How are you fallen from" Where?
00:23:25.40\00:23:28.94
"From heaven."
00:23:28.97\00:23:30.31
Notice that this
is written where?
00:23:30.34\00:23:32.31
In the book of what? Isaiah.
00:23:32.34\00:23:34.44
Now there are some
people who think that
00:23:34.48\00:23:36.14
in the Revelation Chapter
12, we'll go to that shortly
00:23:36.18\00:23:39.65
that the devil has
fallen sometime in our time
00:23:39.68\00:23:42.55
because it's written
in the Book of Revelation,
00:23:42.58\00:23:44.25
therefore he must
have fallen way after.
00:23:44.29\00:23:46.55
But I want you to notice that
the Book of Isaiah was written
00:23:46.59\00:23:50.66
about 500 years before Christ
00:23:50.69\00:23:53.80
and notice that
right there it says what,
00:23:53.83\00:23:56.73
how are you going to fall?
00:23:56.77\00:24:01.07
How is it written?
00:24:01.10\00:24:03.24
"How are you fallen" from where?
00:24:03.27\00:24:05.47
"From heaven."
00:24:05.51\00:24:06.84
And what's his
name here? Lucifer.
00:24:06.88\00:24:09.18
Which means light bearer.
00:24:09.21\00:24:11.78
"How are you fallen from heaven,
00:24:11.81\00:24:13.62
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
00:24:13.65\00:24:16.18
How are you cut
down to the ground.
00:24:16.22\00:24:19.15
For you have said in your heart"
00:24:19.19\00:24:21.82
What will I do?
00:24:21.86\00:24:23.76
"I will ascend into heaven,
00:24:23.79\00:24:25.69
I will exalt my
throne above the" What?
00:24:25.73\00:24:28.56
"The stars of God
00:24:28.60\00:24:30.77
and I will be
like the Most High."
00:24:30.80\00:24:35.94
Okay.
00:24:35.97\00:24:38.94
At some point
the scripture reveals
00:24:38.97\00:24:42.48
that God had
created a beautiful angel,
00:24:42.51\00:24:44.85
his name was
Lucifer, light bearer.
00:24:44.88\00:24:48.48
And this beautiful angel
was in the very presence of God,
00:24:48.52\00:24:51.05
one of the exalted angels
because the scripture says,
00:24:51.09\00:24:53.56
that the cherub is usually one
00:24:53.59\00:24:55.86
that's stands at
the presence of God,
00:24:55.89\00:24:58.33
a high exalted privilege.
00:24:58.36\00:25:00.66
To be able to stand
right by the presence of God,
00:25:00.70\00:25:03.63
you must agree that it
was an honored position.
00:25:03.67\00:25:06.53
What do you say?
00:25:06.57\00:25:08.10
But the scripture
reveals then that Lucifer
00:25:08.14\00:25:11.77
began to consider his
abilities and his beauty
00:25:11.81\00:25:16.41
and decided that he
could do better than God.
00:25:16.44\00:25:19.55
And so the
scripture reveals then that,
00:25:19.58\00:25:22.25
that because of his beauty
00:25:22.28\00:25:24.29
Lucifer or Satan
wanted to be like who?
00:25:24.32\00:25:28.89
Like the Most High.
00:25:28.92\00:25:30.26
In other words, he wanted
to take the place of whom?
00:25:30.29\00:25:33.16
Of God.
00:25:33.19\00:25:34.53
And notice that
it says, I, I, I.
00:25:34.56\00:25:40.54
And please remember this
00:25:40.57\00:25:42.30
that the word sin has
what letter in the middle?
00:25:42.34\00:25:46.24
I. I, I, I.
00:25:46.27\00:25:50.31
The Bible then
further says in Ezekiel,
00:25:53.88\00:25:57.35
"You were perfect in your" what?
00:25:57.39\00:26:00.06
"In your ways from
the day you were created,
00:26:00.09\00:26:02.72
till iniquity was found in you."
00:26:02.76\00:26:06.49
Let me ask you the question.
00:26:06.53\00:26:07.86
And according to the
Bible, did God make a devil?
00:26:07.90\00:26:10.97
What's the answer? No.
00:26:11.00\00:26:12.53
What did God make?
00:26:12.57\00:26:14.37
God made the perfect
angel, a perfect being
00:26:14.40\00:26:18.27
with the ability to
bear light to other galaxies,
00:26:18.31\00:26:21.98
and other
places in the universe.
00:26:22.01\00:26:24.48
But for some
reason unexplainable,
00:26:24.51\00:26:26.58
the scripture says,
00:26:26.61\00:26:27.95
that this
particular being decided that
00:26:27.98\00:26:30.15
he was better than God
and more capable than God
00:26:30.19\00:26:34.29
to run the universe
00:26:34.32\00:26:35.66
and therefore he
began to exalt himself.
00:26:35.69\00:26:38.99
And the scripture says,
you were perfect in your ways
00:26:39.03\00:26:42.00
from the day that you
were created till what?
00:26:42.03\00:26:44.33
Till iniquity.
00:26:44.37\00:26:45.70
Was what? Found in you.
00:26:45.73\00:26:48.10
Now you may ask the question.
00:26:48.14\00:26:49.47
How is it possible for a
perfect being to become evil?
00:26:49.50\00:26:55.54
Let me explain
this mystery to you
00:26:55.58\00:26:59.05
and I'm going to do
it hopefully in a way
00:26:59.08\00:27:01.95
that you will be
able to capture it.
00:27:01.98\00:27:04.65
When God created, God
created free moral agents.
00:27:04.69\00:27:09.26
What did He
create? Free moral agents.
00:27:09.29\00:27:12.26
In other words God
because He has love
00:27:12.29\00:27:17.07
wanted to be in the domain
00:27:17.10\00:27:19.43
where love existed
and love cannot exist
00:27:19.47\00:27:23.44
without there being
the ability to love.
00:27:23.47\00:27:27.61
In other words,
this apparatus here,
00:27:27.64\00:27:29.94
this in animate
object has no capacity
00:27:29.98\00:27:33.65
to respond to me in love.
00:27:33.68\00:27:35.52
Is that true? Yes or no?
00:27:35.55\00:27:38.19
So in order for
me to experience love
00:27:38.22\00:27:41.12
I must then get
together with somebody
00:27:41.16\00:27:43.73
who was capable of loving.
00:27:43.76\00:27:45.86
What do you say?
00:27:45.89\00:27:47.23
And that means that,
that thing whatever it is
00:27:47.26\00:27:50.17
must have all the
apparatus necessary
00:27:50.20\00:27:53.37
in order to process
this thing called love,
00:27:53.40\00:27:55.90
experience this
thing called love
00:27:55.94\00:27:57.71
and be able in turn to
share love with others.
00:27:57.74\00:28:01.48
And so God created
beings not machines, not robots
00:28:01.51\00:28:07.52
but beings who
were able to freely
00:28:07.55\00:28:11.82
experience this
thing that God is.
00:28:11.85\00:28:14.29
Because the Bible
says, God is love.
00:28:14.32\00:28:17.69
So God made
beings with that ability,
00:28:23.33\00:28:27.54
but when you make
beings with their ability
00:28:27.57\00:28:29.37
there's always a
potential that beings
00:28:29.40\00:28:31.57
who had the potential for good
00:28:31.61\00:28:33.41
can also have the
potential for what?
00:28:33.44\00:28:36.21
For evil.
00:28:36.24\00:28:40.18
And so we find angels,
00:28:40.22\00:28:43.15
in fact the
scripture reveals that
00:28:43.18\00:28:45.65
when Lucifer
rebelled against God
00:28:45.69\00:28:49.06
that actually in this rebellion
00:28:49.09\00:28:53.66
He brought a third
of the angels with him,
00:28:53.70\00:28:58.63
which we'll see.
00:28:58.67\00:29:00.50
Notice it says, "Your heart
was lifted up because of" What?
00:29:00.54\00:29:04.47
"Your beauty, you
corrupted your wisdom
00:29:04.51\00:29:06.31
for the sake of your splendor."
00:29:06.34\00:29:09.21
So the scripture then is
clear concerning what happened.
00:29:09.24\00:29:13.38
Now notice the
result of this rebellion.
00:29:13.42\00:29:17.62
The devil began to
try to win the affection
00:29:17.65\00:29:20.42
of other beings in heaven
00:29:20.46\00:29:22.62
and the result was
that a battle in the ensued.
00:29:22.66\00:29:26.76
In Revelation Chapter 12,
00:29:26.80\00:29:28.16
if we turn there to
chapter 12 of Revelation
00:29:28.20\00:29:31.00
you will see what
the scripture says.
00:29:31.03\00:29:33.17
Notice Revelations
Chapter 12 and it says there,
00:29:33.20\00:29:36.57
verse 7 and there was war.
00:29:36.60\00:29:40.84
Where was this war?
00:29:40.88\00:29:42.24
Bible says,
"There was war in," what?
00:29:42.28\00:29:45.21
"In heaven." Chapter 12 verse 7.
00:29:45.25\00:29:48.12
" Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon;
00:29:48.15\00:29:51.12
and the dragon
fought and his angels,
00:29:51.15\00:29:52.92
and prevailed not;
neither was their place found
00:29:52.95\00:29:55.12
any more in heaven."
00:29:55.16\00:29:56.86
And so the scripture says,
00:29:56.89\00:29:58.23
that there resulted war.
00:29:58.26\00:30:04.63
There was war where? In heaven.
00:30:04.67\00:30:07.67
In the place of bliss and glory,
00:30:07.70\00:30:13.24
a place where God intended
00:30:13.27\00:30:15.01
and there would be
eternal joy and happiness
00:30:15.04\00:30:18.88
there came sadness.
00:30:18.91\00:30:23.92
And in comparison to
the high and holy state
00:30:23.95\00:30:27.92
that God and the angels have
00:30:27.96\00:30:30.03
would be the pain that
heaven will experience.
00:30:30.06\00:30:34.03
With this great controversy
that erupted in heaven.
00:30:34.06\00:30:38.80
Lucifer leading the
angels rebelled against God
00:30:38.83\00:30:43.14
and in verse 9 it
says- "He was" what?
00:30:43.17\00:30:47.58
"Cast to" where?
00:30:47.61\00:30:49.21
"To the earth and his
angels were cast with him."
00:30:49.24\00:30:53.65
Now you may ask the question
00:30:53.68\00:30:56.08
why did God cast
the devil to the earth,
00:30:56.12\00:30:58.69
why didn't He send it to Mars
00:30:58.72\00:31:00.06
or someplace else, right?
00:31:00.09\00:31:02.62
Isn't that question, right?
00:31:02.66\00:31:04.53
Why didn't they send
it to another universe?
00:31:04.56\00:31:06.26
I will tell you why.
00:31:06.29\00:31:08.96
God made the angels
00:31:09.00\00:31:14.20
with the purpose of experiencing
00:31:14.24\00:31:16.84
and spreading this
thing called love and joy.
00:31:16.87\00:31:22.48
When Lucifer
and his angels rebel
00:31:22.51\00:31:25.78
God still purposed
00:31:25.81\00:31:27.32
that His plan would be
satisfied and fulfilled
00:31:27.35\00:31:30.35
and so God went about to create
00:31:30.39\00:31:32.59
a different form of
being more like Himself.
00:31:32.62\00:31:36.19
More like what?
More like Himself.
00:31:36.22\00:31:39.36
In fact, if you
read the scriptures
00:31:39.39\00:31:40.93
in Genesis 1:26, it says,
00:31:40.96\00:31:43.93
"In the image of
God He created He Him,
00:31:43.97\00:31:46.84
male and female
He created them."
00:31:46.87\00:31:50.11
So in the image of God
He created man and woman.
00:31:50.14\00:31:55.38
God intended that you and I
00:31:55.41\00:31:57.95
would reflect the
image and character of God.
00:31:57.98\00:32:02.95
The goodness,
the love, the purity,
00:32:02.98\00:32:05.99
all the
wonderful virtues of God,
00:32:06.02\00:32:08.62
He intended for us to have.
00:32:08.66\00:32:11.96
What do you think of that?
00:32:11.99\00:32:14.70
And you recognize
where we are in time
00:32:14.73\00:32:18.33
and what has
happened to human race?
00:32:18.37\00:32:20.54
We certainly do not reflect
00:32:20.57\00:32:22.17
all that God
purposed and intended.
00:32:22.20\00:32:24.94
Is that true?
00:32:24.97\00:32:26.74
And so God
created the human race
00:32:26.78\00:32:30.48
and God intended that the
human race would repopulate
00:32:30.51\00:32:34.08
that which was lost
00:32:34.12\00:32:35.92
but the devil had brought
certain charges against God
00:32:35.95\00:32:39.72
and one of the charges
was that God was a tyrant
00:32:39.75\00:32:43.09
that if you disobey
God, He would wipe you out.
00:32:43.12\00:32:47.40
In other words,
there was no real freedom.
00:32:47.43\00:32:50.23
God was a selfish God.
00:32:50.27\00:32:53.13
Everything He
wanted was for Himself.
00:32:53.17\00:32:55.57
And so if you went against Him,
00:32:55.60\00:32:58.01
you would find out very quickly
00:32:58.04\00:32:59.74
that you would pay the price.
00:32:59.77\00:33:02.91
Another point that
he brought out was that
00:33:02.94\00:33:05.55
God was expecting
all to blindly obey Him,
00:33:05.58\00:33:11.65
blind obedience.
00:33:11.69\00:33:14.42
These charges were
brought against God.
00:33:14.46\00:33:16.52
And the problem is that
when you're an honest person
00:33:16.56\00:33:19.29
and you're dealing
with a dishonest person
00:33:19.33\00:33:21.16
it is hard to argue the point.
00:33:21.20\00:33:23.16
Is that true?
00:33:23.20\00:33:24.53
How many of you have
dealt with that situation
00:33:24.57\00:33:26.47
where you're honest,
00:33:26.50\00:33:27.97
you're dealing with
somebody who is dishonest
00:33:28.00\00:33:29.80
and it was very
difficult to gather around it
00:33:29.84\00:33:32.01
because they could
tell a lie but you couldn't.
00:33:32.04\00:33:37.38
And so charges
brought against God
00:33:37.41\00:33:42.65
and because sin was something
unheard of and not known,
00:33:42.68\00:33:47.06
God then had to allow
time for this thing to develop
00:33:47.09\00:33:51.23
and show his true character.
00:33:51.26\00:33:53.73
You may ask why
didn't God destroy Satan then
00:33:53.76\00:33:56.43
since God knows the
end from the beginning?
00:33:56.46\00:33:58.50
Number one, because God is love.
00:33:58.53\00:34:00.47
Because God is what? Love.
00:34:00.50\00:34:02.74
And aren't you
thankful for that?
00:34:02.77\00:34:04.94
You know, sometimes we will say,
00:34:04.97\00:34:06.41
why didn't God destroy Satan?
00:34:06.44\00:34:08.11
Well, how many
times have you sinned?
00:34:08.14\00:34:11.68
How many times?
00:34:11.71\00:34:13.68
If you ask why
then destroyed Satan,
00:34:13.72\00:34:15.45
then you have to
ask the question,
00:34:15.48\00:34:16.82
why didn't God destroy you?
00:34:16.85\00:34:19.05
Aren't you glad
that God has mercy?
00:34:19.09\00:34:20.82
What do you say?
00:34:20.86\00:34:22.32
Aren't you glad
that God is patient,
00:34:22.36\00:34:24.23
the long suffering and not
willing that any should perish?
00:34:24.26\00:34:28.46
And so God's love
extended beyond that which-
00:34:28.50\00:34:34.60
we would say we require.
00:34:34.64\00:34:36.40
God wipe him out and
then we have no problems,
00:34:36.44\00:34:38.64
but it wouldn't
solve the problem
00:34:38.67\00:34:40.38
because if one
being was wiped out
00:34:40.41\00:34:42.78
he would put the
other angels at the position
00:34:42.81\00:34:48.12
where they would think,
00:34:48.15\00:34:49.62
well, if He did it to Satan
00:34:49.65\00:34:52.99
and we decide that we
don't want to follow Him,
00:34:53.02\00:34:56.16
then we're next.
00:34:56.19\00:34:57.73
And then the
whole host of heaven
00:34:57.76\00:35:00.03
would be with God out of what?
00:35:00.06\00:35:02.66
Fear rather than out of love.
00:35:02.70\00:35:06.40
And God does not work that way.
00:35:06.43\00:35:08.54
Listen, friends,
you as a human being,
00:35:08.57\00:35:12.57
as sinful as you may be
00:35:12.61\00:35:14.71
still preferred to have somebody
00:35:14.74\00:35:16.68
who desires to love
you out of their volition
00:35:16.71\00:35:19.91
rather than that
you put a gun to them
00:35:19.95\00:35:21.58
and say you
better love me or else.
00:35:21.62\00:35:24.55
Is that true, yes or no?
00:35:24.59\00:35:26.35
Not one of us want to feel like
00:35:26.39\00:35:28.56
we're being forced to
have to accept somebody
00:35:28.59\00:35:31.16
or like somebody we rather wish
00:35:31.19\00:35:34.10
that we could
actually come to the place
00:35:34.13\00:35:36.03
where we could do
that out of our own hearts.
00:35:36.06\00:35:38.33
Is that true?
00:35:38.37\00:35:39.73
And so God
prefers that we like Him,
00:35:39.77\00:35:45.07
can love out of our freewill.
00:35:45.11\00:35:48.84
When God created Adam and Eve,
00:35:48.88\00:35:51.48
the devil then decided
00:35:51.51\00:35:53.78
that he would command
them, plan there if he could
00:35:53.82\00:35:57.52
and demonstrate that he could be
00:35:57.55\00:35:59.29
a better ruler than God himself.
00:35:59.32\00:36:02.36
And so when the scripture says
00:36:02.39\00:36:04.23
that the devil was
cast on to the earth,
00:36:04.26\00:36:06.43
God had already
informed Adam and Eve
00:36:06.46\00:36:09.90
about the problem.
00:36:09.93\00:36:11.60
God had created a perfect world.
00:36:11.63\00:36:13.74
If you would read
in the Book of Genesis
00:36:13.77\00:36:15.90
everything was perfect
00:36:15.94\00:36:17.27
and Adam and Eve
already knew about the situation
00:36:17.31\00:36:21.14
because God had put
a tree to test them.
00:36:21.18\00:36:24.55
Now you may say to yourself,
00:36:24.58\00:36:26.15
why is it that God put a test?
00:36:26.18\00:36:28.48
Isn't that putting
Adam and Eve at risk?
00:36:28.52\00:36:33.42
Why did He have to test them?
00:36:33.46\00:36:34.92
Well, let me ask you a question.
00:36:34.96\00:36:37.23
Suppose that
you and your husband
00:36:37.26\00:36:42.00
were the only
ones on planet earth
00:36:42.03\00:36:44.13
and your husband
were to make a statement.
00:36:44.17\00:36:46.57
Honey, if there
are million others
00:36:46.60\00:36:48.44
you would only be
the other, only one.
00:36:48.47\00:36:51.27
How would she know?
00:36:51.31\00:36:52.64
But suppose there
are lot of women around,
00:36:58.71\00:37:01.15
and your husband said, honey,
00:37:01.18\00:37:02.95
even if there are thousand
other you are the only one.
00:37:02.98\00:37:05.72
Now how much
does that mean to you?
00:37:05.75\00:37:09.39
Is it more meaningful yes or no?
00:37:09.42\00:37:11.76
Of course it is
because it allows
00:37:11.79\00:37:15.23
love to be demonstrated.
00:37:15.26\00:37:17.70
It allows what? Love to be what?
00:37:17.73\00:37:20.00
Demonstrated.
00:37:20.04\00:37:21.37
How many of you
like people who say
00:37:21.40\00:37:22.74
I love, I love, I love, I love,
00:37:22.77\00:37:24.21
but really don't love?
00:37:24.24\00:37:25.57
We don't like what we
call "hypocrites," right?
00:37:30.15\00:37:33.58
We like people who are what?
00:37:33.62\00:37:35.28
Genuine.
00:37:35.32\00:37:36.79
Well, you can understand why God
00:37:36.82\00:37:40.29
prefers us to be the
same, genuine in love.
00:37:40.32\00:37:44.59
Well, the devil then decided
00:37:44.63\00:37:50.07
that he would
thwart God's plans.
00:37:50.10\00:37:53.97
And even though God had
made man in His own image
00:37:54.00\00:37:57.24
and after His own likeness
00:37:57.27\00:37:59.21
and even though
God had warned man
00:37:59.24\00:38:01.48
and said, don't touch
the tree, don't eat of it,
00:38:01.51\00:38:05.81
you can eat everything
else, but don't go there
00:38:05.85\00:38:10.62
because in the day that
you eat there off you will die.
00:38:10.65\00:38:15.16
The test, the test of loyalty,
00:38:15.19\00:38:18.09
the test of free will,
00:38:18.13\00:38:19.89
the test of demonstration
00:38:19.93\00:38:22.30
of faithfulness to the
one who had created them.
00:38:22.33\00:38:26.27
Now think of it, how
big of request was that?
00:38:26.30\00:38:31.31
Was that a big request?
00:38:31.34\00:38:33.68
Can you consider God
made a garden for them.
00:38:33.71\00:38:36.54
God made all truths
00:38:36.58\00:38:37.91
and so you can
eat of every tree,
00:38:37.95\00:38:39.28
but just one, how many?
00:38:39.31\00:38:41.58
Just one that's all.
00:38:41.62\00:38:44.19
But that was sufficient.
00:38:44.22\00:38:46.65
For some reason the
Bible doesn't explain
00:38:46.69\00:38:48.36
that Eve walked that way
00:38:48.39\00:38:49.72
and before we know
it Adam and Eve fall.
00:38:49.76\00:38:53.40
And you can imagine Lucifer
00:38:53.43\00:38:55.70
watching over
the whole scenario.
00:38:55.73\00:38:58.87
He purposed to put God in
a position by tempting man
00:38:58.90\00:39:03.34
and casing man to
fall into rebellion.
00:39:03.37\00:39:05.44
He was hoping one of two things.
00:39:05.47\00:39:07.71
He was hoping either that God
would destroy man immediately
00:39:07.74\00:39:11.35
and he could say to
the angelic host you see,
00:39:11.38\00:39:13.95
I told you He's a tyrant.
00:39:13.98\00:39:17.19
If you disobey
Him, poof there you go.
00:39:17.22\00:39:20.62
But he was also hoping
that if God did not destroy man
00:39:20.66\00:39:24.63
and just simply forgave
him then he could claim, look,
00:39:24.66\00:39:28.20
You are
inconsistent, if You forgive him
00:39:28.23\00:39:31.53
You will also have to forgive us
00:39:31.57\00:39:33.23
and allows back into heaven.
00:39:33.27\00:39:34.74
In either way he
was hoping to win?
00:39:37.91\00:39:42.48
But he did not really fully
know the love of God, did he?
00:39:42.51\00:39:46.98
He really did not
understand the character of God
00:39:47.02\00:39:49.68
because when man fell
00:39:49.72\00:39:52.79
it brought great grief to heaven
00:39:52.82\00:39:55.66
but it also reveals
greater love than ever before.
00:39:55.69\00:40:00.23
Because the Bible
says then that as Eve
00:40:00.26\00:40:05.17
being the one
to first be tempted
00:40:05.20\00:40:07.97
and then now tempting
Adam and as they both fell
00:40:08.00\00:40:11.71
and the devil expecting
the destruction of both
00:40:11.74\00:40:14.94
because sin brings what?
00:40:14.98\00:40:17.45
Separation.
00:40:17.48\00:40:18.81
According to Isaiah 59:2
00:40:18.85\00:40:22.88
the devil intended to
separate man from God forever,
00:40:22.92\00:40:26.86
but God so loved that He
could not bear the thought
00:40:26.89\00:40:30.29
of being separated from
those that He had created.
00:40:30.33\00:40:33.60
And since Adam was
deceived contrary to the devil
00:40:33.63\00:40:36.93
who actually
rebelled in the full light
00:40:36.97\00:40:39.53
God gave man another opportunity
00:40:39.57\00:40:41.84
and revealed the plan
00:40:41.87\00:40:43.71
and we find
that in Genesis 3:15.
00:40:43.74\00:40:47.48
I want you to notice
that God said "I will" what?
00:40:47.51\00:40:50.51
"Put enmity
between thy seed" and what?
00:40:50.55\00:40:53.68
"And her seed."
00:40:53.72\00:40:55.28
And so that seed
will be whom? Christ.
00:40:55.32\00:40:59.25
In other words, here's
the first gospel message
00:40:59.29\00:41:02.92
ever recorded and holy...
00:41:02.96\00:41:05.49
God promising that in the future
00:41:05.53\00:41:08.93
the seed would
come and deliver mankind
00:41:08.96\00:41:12.50
and there would be enmity.
00:41:12.53\00:41:13.87
In other words, there would be
00:41:13.90\00:41:15.27
hatred between
the good and the bad.
00:41:15.30\00:41:18.24
And so God intended them
00:41:18.27\00:41:20.88
that in spite of the
fall the Son, his own Son,
00:41:20.91\00:41:25.65
the Creator of heaven and earth
00:41:25.68\00:41:27.32
would come and
take the place of man.
00:41:27.35\00:41:31.75
Now think of this.
00:41:31.79\00:41:35.66
Man was guilty,
Christ was innocent
00:41:35.69\00:41:40.46
and here's revealed
a great love of God,
00:41:40.50\00:41:43.70
that God allowed the
innocent to pay for the guilty.
00:41:43.73\00:41:49.77
Christ then was promised
and it brought hope to mankind
00:41:49.80\00:41:54.88
that even though he
fell into the bondage of sin,
00:41:54.91\00:41:58.71
yet through the
promise of the Savior,
00:41:58.75\00:42:01.25
someday the deliver would come
00:42:01.28\00:42:03.69
and man could be restored
00:42:03.72\00:42:05.35
once again into union with God,
00:42:05.39\00:42:07.92
full cooperation with God
00:42:07.96\00:42:10.19
and at last live in
harmony with God forever.
00:42:10.23\00:42:15.43
Good news, what do you say?
00:42:15.46\00:42:17.53
Well, the struggle then began
00:42:17.57\00:42:20.84
and it doesn't take long
for the struggle to be seen.
00:42:20.87\00:42:24.34
In the great controversy
between the heaven and earth
00:42:24.37\00:42:28.84
and on planet earth, you
see then in those chapters,
00:42:28.88\00:42:32.98
chapter 1 and 2 Eden is lost.
00:42:33.01\00:42:35.68
And according to Romans 6:23,
"The wages of sin is" what?
00:42:35.72\00:42:39.05
"Death.
00:42:39.09\00:42:40.42
But the gift of
God is eternal life."
00:42:40.46\00:42:43.09
And of course
the great controversy
00:42:43.12\00:42:45.89
is revealed as man falls
and he stubbles into sin,
00:42:45.93\00:42:50.93
the plan is that at some point
00:42:50.97\00:42:53.34
the Savior would come
and through the Savior
00:42:53.37\00:42:55.97
man would be lifted up again,
restored again in character,
00:42:56.00\00:42:59.67
so man could then be restored
00:42:59.71\00:43:02.24
back to the
Edenic home that was lost
00:43:02.28\00:43:04.61
and man could live
again forever with his God.
00:43:04.65\00:43:08.48
How many of you would
like to live with God?
00:43:08.52\00:43:11.15
I would love to live with God.
00:43:11.19\00:43:13.46
Everything that He has
showed me of Himself is good
00:43:13.49\00:43:16.42
and I love to be with Him.
00:43:16.46\00:43:17.79
What do you say?
And so that is the plan.
00:43:17.83\00:43:21.16
Now as we
consider what transpires?
00:43:21.20\00:43:25.47
We find then through the
Bible that is man falls into sin
00:43:25.50\00:43:30.61
and the devil
seeks to plunge man
00:43:30.64\00:43:33.24
deeper and
deeper into rebellion.
00:43:33.27\00:43:35.08
He is hoping somehow
to completely obliterate
00:43:35.11\00:43:39.01
that which God has created
00:43:39.05\00:43:40.75
or completely
instill in man his own image.
00:43:40.78\00:43:46.49
At the same time God
seeks to restore in man
00:43:46.52\00:43:52.26
through the gift of
Christ His own image.
00:43:52.29\00:43:55.20
And so you have the controversy
between good and evil
00:43:55.23\00:43:58.47
and you also
find that is mankind
00:43:58.50\00:44:02.24
accepts rebel in his heart,
00:44:02.27\00:44:04.84
he goes down, down, down,
00:44:04.87\00:44:06.41
becomes more
degenerated, more rebellious,
00:44:06.44\00:44:08.81
more hateful, more evil,
00:44:08.84\00:44:11.08
so much so then
that by the time-
00:44:11.11\00:44:13.82
the time of Noah came,
00:44:13.85\00:44:15.25
man was so desperately wicked
that God have no alternative
00:44:15.28\00:44:18.85
then to destroy the human
race and start all over again.
00:44:18.89\00:44:24.43
And no sooner does
He start all over again,
00:44:24.46\00:44:26.86
then the devil
infects one of Noah's boys,
00:44:26.90\00:44:29.80
his name is Ham
00:44:29.83\00:44:31.17
and the
controversy continues again.
00:44:31.20\00:44:33.74
And of course the wicked
begin to increase in numbers
00:44:33.77\00:44:36.84
and at the same time
00:44:36.87\00:44:38.21
the righteous
increase in numbers.
00:44:38.24\00:44:40.08
You always have two
sides throughout history.
00:44:40.11\00:44:43.11
The enemy seeking to
gain control of mankind
00:44:43.14\00:44:46.28
and God seeking to still
00:44:46.31\00:44:48.02
restore in man His
image just like this,
00:44:48.05\00:44:50.89
love and loyalty and honesty
00:44:50.92\00:44:55.79
and truths for us and goodness.
00:44:55.82\00:44:59.03
Finally, as the
devil seeks to punch man
00:45:02.96\00:45:08.30
deeper and deeper the time comes
00:45:08.34\00:45:12.27
and the darkest
hour of first history
00:45:12.31\00:45:15.18
when even the
religious people of Christ,
00:45:15.21\00:45:17.75
even His own
followers are so darkened
00:45:17.78\00:45:21.65
that they are
now following things
00:45:21.68\00:45:24.15
that they think
are pertained to God
00:45:24.19\00:45:26.35
but then reality
are leading people away
00:45:26.39\00:45:29.36
into a different direction
00:45:29.39\00:45:30.73
with cruelty and hatred and lust
00:45:30.76\00:45:36.40
and selfishness and egotism.
00:45:36.43\00:45:40.90
When you come to time of Christ,
00:45:40.94\00:45:44.14
Christ appears on the
earth for two purposes.
00:45:44.17\00:45:49.21
Number one, to show
what man could become like
00:45:49.24\00:45:54.68
and number two, to show what God
00:45:54.72\00:45:57.42
was really liked...
00:45:57.45\00:45:59.45
You see through the generations
00:45:59.49\00:46:00.82
you got to the place
where people began to think
00:46:00.86\00:46:03.76
that what the devil
was saying was true.
00:46:03.79\00:46:05.73
That if you rebel against
God you're going to be zapped.
00:46:05.76\00:46:09.56
Are you
acquainted with that term?
00:46:09.60\00:46:11.57
That you're going to
be hit with lightening.
00:46:11.60\00:46:14.37
I remember a particular
story of a man in England
00:46:14.40\00:46:17.57
who was an
atheist and he stood there
00:46:17.61\00:46:20.88
in Piccadilly Circus
and defied God and said,
00:46:20.91\00:46:24.88
I can prove that there
is no God and then he said
00:46:24.91\00:46:27.35
God if you're there
strike me with lightening.
00:46:27.38\00:46:29.62
Go ahead I dare You
and nothing happened.
00:46:29.65\00:46:32.32
So he told the
others, you see I've told you,
00:46:32.35\00:46:33.99
there's no such as God
00:46:34.02\00:46:35.72
and are there any one
to come and challenge me
00:46:35.76\00:46:38.63
to prove that there is a God.
00:46:38.66\00:46:40.30
And he kept on
saying, God go ahead prove it.
00:46:40.33\00:46:44.30
Well, there's a little
lady who was a Christian
00:46:44.33\00:46:47.14
standing in the
back of the audience
00:46:47.17\00:46:49.07
and no one seemed to
go up and defend God.
00:46:49.10\00:46:52.24
So she pressed through the crowd
00:46:52.27\00:46:55.14
and came up to the man and said,
00:46:55.18\00:46:56.71
I like to say
something and the man said,
00:46:56.75\00:46:58.88
well, go ahead say on,
lady, what do you have to say?
00:46:58.91\00:47:01.82
And the lady said, Mister,
do you have any children?
00:47:01.85\00:47:05.45
And the man said, of
course I have children.
00:47:05.49\00:47:07.62
Are they big or small?
00:47:07.66\00:47:08.99
Well, they are
little kids right now.
00:47:09.02\00:47:11.36
Well, Mister, what if
00:47:11.39\00:47:13.19
your little boy
came to you and said,
00:47:13.23\00:47:14.96
dad, I dare you to kill me.
00:47:15.00\00:47:22.90
Go ahead prove how
big of a man you are.
00:47:22.94\00:47:25.41
Go ahead and kill me.
00:47:25.44\00:47:27.71
What would you say to your boy?
00:47:27.74\00:47:31.51
I would say silly
little kid, go on your way.
00:47:31.55\00:47:35.48
And the little lady
said, aren't you glad
00:47:35.52\00:47:37.25
that God thinks
you're silly too.
00:47:37.29\00:47:38.92
The reality is that people
think that God is a tyrant.
00:47:47.00\00:47:50.33
And if you really
want to understand
00:47:50.37\00:47:52.03
this whole issue of human
suffering read the Book of Job.
00:47:52.07\00:47:55.44
Read the book of what? Job.
00:47:55.47\00:47:57.67
You will find there, Job
who is innocent with righteous,
00:47:57.71\00:48:02.28
you will find that the devil
00:48:02.31\00:48:03.65
goes to heaven to
a special meeting.
00:48:03.68\00:48:06.11
He presents himself
as a representative,
00:48:06.15\00:48:08.52
rightful
representative of planet earth.
00:48:08.55\00:48:10.95
And when he asked
00:48:10.99\00:48:12.89
when the Lord asked to
devil where you come from?
00:48:12.92\00:48:14.89
He said from walking
to and fro the earth.
00:48:14.92\00:48:16.52
In another
words I'm the director
00:48:16.56\00:48:17.99
the representative of the earth.
00:48:18.03\00:48:19.93
The Lord says, have you
considered My servant Job?
00:48:19.96\00:48:24.43
You think you're the one
00:48:24.47\00:48:25.93
but have you
considered My servant Job?
00:48:25.97\00:48:29.07
And the devil said,
well, he's only serving you
00:48:29.10\00:48:30.91
because, you know, you have
done all these things for him,
00:48:30.94\00:48:32.91
you protected him and if you
take everything away from him
00:48:32.94\00:48:36.85
he will curse You.
00:48:36.88\00:48:38.21
You watch and see.
00:48:38.25\00:48:39.58
Go ahead and do
it, You will see.
00:48:39.61\00:48:40.95
Well, God says all right,
00:48:40.98\00:48:42.32
go ahead and take everything
from him you will see.
00:48:42.35\00:48:44.62
Well, the devil comes
back down and all of a sudden
00:48:44.65\00:48:46.96
Job who was very
wealthy and rich,
00:48:46.99\00:48:49.22
all of a sudden he has nothing.
00:48:49.26\00:48:52.66
And so the whole host of heaven
is expecting Job's response.
00:48:52.69\00:48:57.40
And Job simply
bows down and he says,
00:48:57.43\00:49:01.44
naked I came into the
world and naked shall I return.
00:49:01.47\00:49:06.41
The Lord giveth and
the Lord taketh away.
00:49:06.44\00:49:10.58
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
00:49:10.61\00:49:14.12
Can you imagine
heaven saying, hey!
00:49:14.15\00:49:17.75
Yeah, Job!
00:49:17.79\00:49:20.09
Can you imagine the angels?
00:49:20.12\00:49:22.52
I mean, over here we go yeah!
00:49:22.56\00:49:25.13
I wonder what the angels did.
00:49:25.16\00:49:27.26
Took those harps and what?
00:49:27.30\00:49:29.00
They struck them,
began to sing praises to God
00:49:29.03\00:49:32.63
that there was a
person down here on earth
00:49:32.67\00:49:35.50
who loved God so much that
even if he did not understand,
00:49:35.54\00:49:39.47
he still believes that
God had his good at heart.
00:49:39.51\00:49:45.68
Then the devil went
back to the meeting again
00:49:45.71\00:49:48.32
and said to the God well,
you know, he's faithful to You
00:49:48.35\00:49:51.95
because You put
a hedge about him.
00:49:51.99\00:49:53.66
Take Your hedge away
00:49:53.69\00:49:55.02
and you will
see what he will do,
00:49:55.06\00:49:56.46
he will curse You.
00:49:56.49\00:49:57.83
And so the Lord says okay,
00:49:57.86\00:49:59.56
you can do that
and you will see.
00:49:59.59\00:50:01.66
Well, Job gets filled with boils
00:50:01.70\00:50:06.07
and the expectation
is that Job was what?
00:50:06.10\00:50:09.50
Will curse God.
00:50:09.54\00:50:11.14
Job does not understand
and he makes a lot of questions
00:50:11.17\00:50:14.91
but he does not move
from his integrity to his God.
00:50:14.94\00:50:19.25
And finally,
after the wife says,
00:50:19.28\00:50:20.85
Job, look why don't
you just curse God and die?
00:50:20.88\00:50:24.29
Job said, though he
slay, yet well I trust Him.
00:50:24.32\00:50:30.93
Ah friends, if only
you and I could have
00:50:30.96\00:50:33.60
that kind of
faith what do you say?
00:50:33.63\00:50:35.86
If only you and I can
have that kind of love.
00:50:35.90\00:50:38.70
Well, finally the time comes
00:50:38.73\00:50:42.80
when Christ comes to the earth
00:50:42.84\00:50:47.94
and Jesus reveals
that there are two sides.
00:50:47.98\00:50:53.38
Notice as His opponents
seek to controvert Him,
00:50:53.42\00:50:59.92
Jesus says to
them "You are of" what?
00:50:59.95\00:51:04.06
"Your father the" what?
00:51:04.09\00:51:05.73
"The devil, and the lust
of your father will you do.
00:51:05.76\00:51:09.86
He was a" What?
00:51:09.90\00:51:11.23
"A murderer." From when?
00:51:11.27\00:51:13.37
"From the beginning,
and abode not in" what?
00:51:13.40\00:51:16.74
"In the truth, because there is"
00:51:16.77\00:51:19.04
how much truth in him?
00:51:19.07\00:51:20.61
"There was no truth in him.
00:51:20.64\00:51:22.14
When he speaks a lie,
he speaks of his" who?
00:51:22.18\00:51:25.08
"Of his own, for he is
a liar," and what else?
00:51:25.11\00:51:29.05
"The father of lies," John 8:44.
00:51:29.08\00:51:32.92
Jesus then came and
lived a life among man.
00:51:32.95\00:51:37.76
He had to live the life
so that you and I could see
00:51:37.79\00:51:40.93
that it is possible
to live as Christ lived.
00:51:40.96\00:51:45.43
I've heard people say,
well, Jesus lived that way
00:51:45.47\00:51:49.00
because He was God.
00:51:49.04\00:51:50.47
No Jesus lived that
way because He became flesh
00:51:50.51\00:51:53.88
to demonstrate that is possible
for you and for me to become
00:51:53.91\00:51:57.81
like Christ in character.
00:51:57.85\00:51:59.91
What do you say?
00:51:59.95\00:52:01.82
And He also came to remove that,
00:52:01.85\00:52:05.29
that charge against
Him that he was a tyrant.
00:52:05.32\00:52:09.79
Christ healed, Christ forgave.
00:52:09.82\00:52:12.86
You remember the woman
that was brought to Him
00:52:12.89\00:52:15.03
that they wanted Him to
stone her, remember that?
00:52:15.06\00:52:18.63
She had been caught in adultery.
00:52:18.67\00:52:20.24
By the way they
only brought the woman
00:52:20.27\00:52:22.27
and according to the law
00:52:22.30\00:52:23.74
it was both who
would be stoned not one.
00:52:23.77\00:52:26.74
What happened to the man?
00:52:26.78\00:52:28.91
Why did they
just bring the woman?
00:52:28.94\00:52:30.78
Well, it's a plot.
00:52:30.81\00:52:32.31
They were trying to
put Christ in a position
00:52:32.35\00:52:34.85
to make Him make a mistake
00:52:34.88\00:52:37.55
but Jesus then writing
their sins on the floor,
00:52:37.59\00:52:41.92
finally one by one they left
00:52:41.96\00:52:43.73
and finally Jesus said,
00:52:43.76\00:52:46.39
where are those
that accused you?
00:52:46.43\00:52:50.03
And she said no
man condemn me, Lord.
00:52:50.07\00:52:52.80
And Jesus said those
most wonderful words,
00:52:52.83\00:52:55.44
"Neither do I condemn you.
00:52:55.47\00:52:58.81
Go and sin no more."
00:52:58.84\00:53:01.94
Ah friends a longing
of the heart of Christ
00:53:01.98\00:53:04.98
is that you and
I will sin no more.
00:53:05.01\00:53:10.19
That you and I could
become like Christ in heart.
00:53:10.22\00:53:13.59
That we will love the Father
and that we would love that
00:53:13.62\00:53:16.66
which is just good and
virtuous and pure and holy.
00:53:16.69\00:53:22.06
But we must allow
Jesus to come into our hearts
00:53:22.10\00:53:25.30
and to dwell in our hearts.
00:53:25.33\00:53:26.67
What do you say?
00:53:26.70\00:53:28.04
Mankind by nature has accepted
00:53:28.07\00:53:31.24
the inheritance of
that which is rebellious,
00:53:31.27\00:53:36.34
but through Christ
man's nature can change
00:53:36.38\00:53:40.28
and when he was evil
he can become good again.
00:53:40.32\00:53:46.15
Listen, I was holding an
evangelistic meeting like this,
00:53:46.19\00:53:50.19
prophecy seminar,
Jacksonville, Florida.
00:53:50.23\00:53:53.36
And one night in the tent,
in those days I had projectors,
00:53:53.40\00:53:58.57
a slide projectors and
you had to turn off the lights
00:53:58.60\00:54:00.97
because you
couldn't see the screen.
00:54:01.00\00:54:03.20
And so a man and woman came in
00:54:03.24\00:54:07.11
and I could just see their shape
00:54:07.14\00:54:09.11
because there was dark in there.
00:54:09.14\00:54:10.48
As soon as I finished they left.
00:54:10.51\00:54:11.85
The next night
they came and sat closer
00:54:11.88\00:54:13.92
and then I could
tell, he was a big, big man,
00:54:13.95\00:54:17.29
handlebar mustache, baldheaded,
00:54:17.32\00:54:19.22
turnout he was a weight lighter.
00:54:19.25\00:54:20.76
He looked like Mr. Clean.
00:54:20.79\00:54:22.96
If you know who
I'm talking about.
00:54:22.99\00:54:25.23
And so mighty man,
his wife also came around,
00:54:25.26\00:54:30.10
she was also weight
lifter, both came in.
00:54:30.13\00:54:32.87
Well, one night I preached
about the Great Controversy
00:54:32.90\00:54:37.31
and I made an
appeal to the people,
00:54:37.34\00:54:39.21
who would accept the Christ?
00:54:39.24\00:54:40.91
Who would choose
to be on God's side?
00:54:40.94\00:54:43.48
There are two sides
you cannot be on both.
00:54:43.51\00:54:46.18
You either accept this
side or you accept that side.
00:54:46.21\00:54:50.19
God says you
cannot serve how many?
00:54:50.22\00:54:52.22
Two servants.
00:54:52.25\00:54:53.59
And so I made
an appeal for those
00:54:53.62\00:54:56.56
who wanted to commit
their lives for Christ.
00:54:56.59\00:54:58.26
Those who wanted to accept Jesus
00:54:58.29\00:55:00.80
as Lord and
Savior to come forward.
00:55:00.83\00:55:02.70
That big man came forward
00:55:02.73\00:55:04.53
and when he came
forward he was crying.
00:55:04.57\00:55:06.47
He was upset because he
had never cried in his life.
00:55:06.50\00:55:09.37
And he told me, he
said, can God forgive me?
00:55:09.40\00:55:11.97
I said, yes,
God can forgive you.
00:55:12.01\00:55:13.68
How do you know
God can forgive me?
00:55:13.71\00:55:15.14
He said, you don't
know what I've done.
00:55:15.18\00:55:16.78
I said I don't know how you
are but I know who my God is.
00:55:16.81\00:55:20.02
And my God says,
if we confess our sins
00:55:20.05\00:55:23.12
He is faithful and just to what?
00:55:23.15\00:55:25.59
Forgive us our sins
and to do what else?
00:55:25.62\00:55:28.02
Cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
00:55:28.06\00:55:30.13
That man could not believe it.
00:55:30.16\00:55:31.93
So what do you
think you have done
00:55:31.96\00:55:33.29
and God can't forgive you?
00:55:33.33\00:55:34.66
He said I killed 3,500 people.
00:55:34.70\00:55:38.87
I said, how do you
kill- how did you do that?
00:55:38.90\00:55:42.04
He said I grew up in my
home, my dad was a hired killer.
00:55:42.07\00:55:46.27
And I always wanted to kill
but I decided to do it legally.
00:55:46.31\00:55:48.88
So I volunteered in
Vietnam War, flew a helicopter
00:55:48.91\00:55:52.71
and I wanted to kill as
many people as I could legally.
00:55:52.75\00:55:55.05
And I counted 3,500 people.
00:55:55.08\00:55:57.35
I never felt bad about that
00:55:57.39\00:55:59.22
until I came to these
meetings and now I'm troubled.
00:55:59.25\00:56:02.66
Can God forgive me?
00:56:02.69\00:56:04.33
And the man was
weeping and I said yes,
00:56:04.36\00:56:06.63
God can forgive you,
00:56:06.66\00:56:08.53
if you will give
your heart to God tonight.
00:56:08.56\00:56:11.53
Will you choose Christ as
your Lord and your Savior?
00:56:11.57\00:56:14.30
He says gladly.
00:56:14.34\00:56:15.94
I said would you
kneel down with me.
00:56:15.97\00:56:17.97
That big hulk of
a man knelled down
00:56:18.01\00:56:20.14
and poured out
his heart in tears
00:56:20.18\00:56:22.44
asking God to forgive him
00:56:22.48\00:56:24.31
and saying, oh, God, I
want to be on Your side,
00:56:24.35\00:56:27.18
will you accept me?
00:56:27.22\00:56:28.55
My, friends, remember this,
00:56:28.58\00:56:29.98
Jesus says, "Him that
cometh to Me I will" what?
00:56:30.02\00:56:33.66
"In no wise cast out."
00:56:33.69\00:56:35.46
And I wonder here tonight,
00:56:35.49\00:56:37.29
how many of you want
to be on the Lord's side?
00:56:37.33\00:56:40.26
Any of you?
00:56:40.30\00:56:41.63
How many of you are thankful
00:56:41.66\00:56:43.16
that there is a time when God
will destroy Satan's wickedness
00:56:43.20\00:56:47.54
and forever
we'll be with the Lord.
00:56:47.57\00:56:49.37
What do you say?
00:56:49.40\00:56:50.81
Well, listen, I like
to have a prayer with you
00:56:50.84\00:56:52.97
and after the prayer
00:56:53.01\00:56:54.34
I like to make an
invitation tonight.
00:56:54.38\00:56:56.81
Shall we pray?
00:56:56.85\00:56:58.18
Our heavenly Father,
00:56:58.21\00:57:00.65
we see the great
controversy rage you.
00:57:00.68\00:57:03.52
We know that Jesus won
the victory on Calvary.
00:57:03.55\00:57:06.25
He said it is
finished, it is done,
00:57:06.29\00:57:09.29
now it remains with us.
00:57:09.32\00:57:11.46
Oh, God, help us to
choose You and to obey You
00:57:11.49\00:57:15.96
and to love You
in Jesus name, amen.
00:57:16.00\00:57:19.27