Let's bow our heads.
00:01:00.70\00:01:03.40
Almost gracious
and heavenly Lord,
00:01:03.41\00:01:06.15
we thank You for
this, Your heavenly Sabbath.
00:01:06.16\00:01:09.85
Father. We pray that your spirit
00:01:09.86\00:01:12.14
would be here among us.
00:01:12.15\00:01:14.36
Father today there are someone
00:01:14.37\00:01:15.85
as looking for a
special blessing.
00:01:15.86\00:01:18.19
I pray Lord that you
will hear their prayer
00:01:18.20\00:01:22.99
and their cry Father.
00:01:23.00\00:01:25.53
Lord we asks that You will speak
00:01:25.54\00:01:27.03
through our speaker today.
00:01:27.04\00:01:30.57
Give him words from own high.
00:01:30.58\00:01:32.67
Bless his service Lord,
and come be here with us.
00:01:32.68\00:01:37.44
This is our prayer Father,
not because we are worthy,
00:01:37.45\00:01:40.65
but because we've been
filled by Your Son Jesus Christ.
00:01:40.66\00:01:44.20
Thank you Father, it is
in His name that we pray
00:01:44.21\00:01:47.96
and we give Him
all the glory. amen.
00:01:47.97\00:01:51.40
You maybe seated.
00:01:51.41\00:01:54.01
Happy Sabbath Church.
00:02:03.20\00:02:05.82
One more time
Happy Sabbath Church.
00:02:05.83\00:02:09.82
it's a blessing to be
here together with everybody.
00:02:09.83\00:02:12.15
My church soared song with you
00:02:12.16\00:02:14.22
that encompasses the
message of the weakened.
00:02:14.23\00:02:18.63
He was standing in
heaven With tears in His eyes
00:02:42.16\00:02:48.77
Saying, tell me this isn't so
00:02:48.78\00:02:54.70
For there was one in
heaven And no one on earth
00:02:54.71\00:03:02.09
Worthy to open the scroll
00:03:02.10\00:03:08.29
And one of the elders
Said, John don't you cry
00:03:08.30\00:03:14.32
It was all a part of the plan
00:03:14.33\00:03:20.90
And then in the center
Of Gods glorious throne
00:03:20.91\00:03:26.90
Hallelujah, there stood a lamb
00:03:26.91\00:03:35.57
And they sang worthy
Worthy of honor and praise
00:03:35.58\00:03:49.35
They were casting down crowns
00:03:49.36\00:03:54.54
And they were praising His name
00:03:54.55\00:04:02.44
When he said, are you worthy?
I can hear Jesus saying, I am
00:04:02.45\00:04:16.34
Oh, praise God,
forever There stood a Lamb
00:04:16.35\00:04:29.26
Now open your
Bible's And open your hearts
00:04:29.27\00:04:35.33
It is clear we
are in the last days
00:04:35.34\00:04:41.29
And he said, I'll come
quickly So don't be surprised
00:04:41.30\00:04:48.29
When He comes
back to take us away
00:04:48.30\00:04:55.10
And feeble
excuses won't get very far
00:04:55.11\00:05:01.08
When you find
yourself There at His throne
00:05:01.09\00:05:07.77
But if you know
Jesus And He is your Lord
00:05:07.78\00:05:13.82
Hallelujah, you won't be alone
00:05:13.83\00:05:23.02
And well sing worthy
Worthy of honor and praise
00:05:23.03\00:05:36.73
Well be casting our crowns
And we'll be praising His name
00:05:36.74\00:05:49.48
And when he
says, are you worthy?
00:05:49.49\00:05:53.73
I can hear Jesus saying,
I am Oh, praise God, forever
00:05:53.74\00:06:08.67
For there stood a
Lamb And well cry worthy
00:06:08.68\00:06:20.64
Worthy of honor and praise
As we cast down our crowns
00:06:20.65\00:06:34.83
Well be praising his name
00:06:34.84\00:06:42.45
And when he
says, are you worthy?
00:06:42.46\00:06:46.77
I can hear Jesus saying, I am
00:06:46.78\00:06:57.22
Oh, praise God, forever
Yes, praise God, forever
00:06:57.23\00:07:04.12
Praise God,
forever There stood a Lamb
00:07:04.13\00:07:20.12
All right good morning everyone.
00:07:26.37\00:07:29.07
Good morning
everyone. Good morning.
00:07:29.08\00:07:32.11
Can you hear me? Yes. All right.
00:07:32.12\00:07:35.43
Happy Sabbath.
00:07:35.44\00:07:37.68
Are you having
a good convention?
00:07:37.69\00:07:39.36
Yeah, amen.
00:07:39.37\00:07:40.57
I love the morning
because my voice is so deep.
00:07:40.58\00:07:45.44
I like to sing in the
morning. Sing the base.
00:07:45.45\00:07:49.43
While we've been studying
in our Sabbath school lesson
00:07:49.44\00:07:53.56
"The Epistles of John."
00:07:53.57\00:07:55.24
And it has been an
excellent quarterly.
00:07:55.25\00:07:58.05
How many have you have
been studying faithfully
00:07:58.06\00:08:00.47
your lesson quarterly?
00:08:00.48\00:08:01.66
Let me see you
raise your hands. Great!
00:08:01.67\00:08:04.68
I remember when I first became
00:08:04.69\00:08:06.04
a Seventh-day
Adventist, one of the things
00:08:06.05\00:08:07.55
that drew me to the church,
00:08:07.56\00:08:09.52
one of the things that
initially really appealed me
00:08:09.53\00:08:12.59
was the fact that this was not
an isolated parochial church,
00:08:12.60\00:08:16.42
but it is the worldwide church.
00:08:16.43\00:08:18.27
Can you say amen to that?
00:08:18.28\00:08:19.87
Amen. And one of the things
00:08:19.88\00:08:21.18
that gives a worldwide church,
00:08:21.19\00:08:23.49
the kind of
coherence and cohesiveness
00:08:23.50\00:08:25.87
that we have, is the
fact that all over the world,
00:08:25.88\00:08:29.73
all of our members
whether they are in Australia
00:08:29.74\00:08:32.31
or they are in
America or they are in Africa,
00:08:32.32\00:08:34.85
all over the world,
00:08:34.86\00:08:36.29
we study the same
thing from week-to-week,
00:08:36.30\00:08:38.87
month-to-month,
Sabbath-to-Sabbath
00:08:38.88\00:08:40.92
and
quarter-to-quarter, amen. Amen.
00:08:40.93\00:08:43.46
And I think that's great.
00:08:43.47\00:08:44.44
I think it's
very important for us
00:08:44.45\00:08:46.61
as Seventh-day Adventist,
00:08:46.62\00:08:47.75
who can be very
busy to take seriously
00:08:47.76\00:08:50.27
not just the study of
God's word in general,
00:08:50.28\00:08:52.64
but to take very seriously
00:08:52.65\00:08:54.09
the Sabbath school commentary.
00:08:54.10\00:08:55.94
I believe that God
guides the general conference
00:08:55.95\00:08:58.88
and the other men and women
that are in-charge of planning
00:08:58.89\00:09:02.18
and strategizing
these quarterlies
00:09:02.19\00:09:03.98
so that we receive these
quarterlies right on time
00:09:03.99\00:09:06.66
to study things
that are critical for us
00:09:06.67\00:09:08.97
at this point
in earth's history.
00:09:08.98\00:09:11.41
And so we're going
to be talking today
00:09:11.42\00:09:13.00
not in a sermonic fashion,
but we're going to be going
00:09:13.01\00:09:15.63
through the lesson,
and our lesson this week
00:09:15.64\00:09:19.00
was on Antichrist.
What was it on everyone?
00:09:19.01\00:09:21.92
Antichrist. Antichrist
00:09:21.93\00:09:23.56
and the title of the lesson is
00:09:23.57\00:09:25.45
"Walking in the Light
Rejecting Antichrists."
00:09:25.46\00:09:29.39
And as we've been
going to the lesson,
00:09:29.40\00:09:30.65
we are not quite
half way through.
00:09:30.66\00:09:32.65
We've had this
sort of mini-series,
00:09:32.66\00:09:34.62
"Walking in the Light
Keeping His Commandments,"
00:09:34.63\00:09:36.86
"Walking in the
Light Being Ready
00:09:36.87\00:09:38.65
for the coming of Christ,"
00:09:38.66\00:09:39.90
and now "Walking in the
Light Rejecting Antichrist."
00:09:39.91\00:09:43.21
And so the essence, the
guts of what we are going
00:09:43.22\00:09:47.28
to be talking about today is
this topic of the Antichrist.
00:09:47.29\00:09:51.38
But especially from
the perspective of 1st John
00:09:51.39\00:09:55.23
and also we look a
little bit of 2nd John.
00:09:55.24\00:09:56.91
So before we get
into scripture proper,
00:09:56.92\00:09:58.80
let's begin with
the word of prayer
00:09:58.81\00:10:00.03
as we commands
with our lesson study.
00:10:00.04\00:10:01.77
Father in Heaven, we anticipate
00:10:02.99\00:10:04.88
Your presence among us.
00:10:04.89\00:10:06.44
We are not inviting
You to come and be with us
00:10:07.38\00:10:10.71
because we believe You were here
00:10:10.72\00:10:12.11
before any of us got here.
00:10:12.12\00:10:14.09
And so Father we are
glorying in the fact that
00:10:14.10\00:10:16.14
you have invited us to
come and meet with you.
00:10:16.15\00:10:19.63
Father we are
living in paralysis
00:10:19.64\00:10:20.96
and pretentious times.
00:10:20.97\00:10:23.17
We are living in strange times.
00:10:23.18\00:10:24.84
We are living in hostile times.
00:10:24.85\00:10:28.11
And Father many of us
have not made scripture,
00:10:28.12\00:10:30.87
the priority that it should be.
00:10:30.88\00:10:33.40
And we need to be recalibrated.
00:10:33.41\00:10:35.87
We need to be refocused,
and we pray today Father
00:10:35.88\00:10:39.61
that as we study
this very serious
00:10:39.62\00:10:41.57
and biblical
topic of the Antichrist
00:10:41.58\00:10:44.62
that you would
give us a urgency,
00:10:44.63\00:10:47.68
a sense of immediacy,
00:10:47.69\00:10:50.20
that today is
the day of salvation
00:10:50.21\00:10:52.22
and that now is
the accepted time.
00:10:52.23\00:10:55.22
Father today we hear Your voice
00:10:55.23\00:10:56.65
and so we want to
the heed the admonition
00:10:56.66\00:10:58.38
of the solemnest not
to harden our hearts.
00:10:58.39\00:11:02.31
So please Father
as we open Your word
00:11:02.32\00:11:04.83
in this marvelous
supernatural transaction,
00:11:04.84\00:11:07.99
may the inspiring spirit now
become the instructing spirit
00:11:08.00\00:11:12.64
And Father, may You
open us, that You read us,
00:11:12.65\00:11:15.96
and may our sense of urgency
and our sense of immediacy
00:11:15.97\00:11:19.59
be increased as a
result of this study,
00:11:19.60\00:11:23.11
is our prayer in Jesus name,
00:11:23.12\00:11:24.90
let everyone say, amen. Amen.
00:11:24.91\00:11:28.20
So let's all open together
to the Epistle of 1st John,
00:11:28.21\00:11:33.22
1st John and we're
going to Chapter 2.
00:11:33.23\00:11:35.19
What Chapter
we're going to everyone?
00:11:35.20\00:11:37.28
Chapter 2, "Walking in the
Light Rejecting Antichrist."
00:11:37.29\00:11:43.26
Now 1st John Chapter 2,
00:11:43.27\00:11:45.49
our passage that we're
going to be concentrating on
00:11:45.50\00:11:47.62
and that our lessons
study brings out for this week,
00:11:47.63\00:11:50.91
begins in verse 18.
00:11:50.92\00:11:52.68
We're going to
begin reading in verse 18
00:11:52.69\00:11:54.19
and extend down to verse 27.
00:11:54.20\00:11:55.90
So we're in 1st John Chapter 2,
00:11:55.91\00:11:57.96
beginning in verse 18.
00:11:57.97\00:11:59.69
John says, "Little
children, it is the last hour.
00:11:59.70\00:12:03.73
And as you have heard
that the Antichrist is coming,"
00:12:03.74\00:12:07.25
there is our word,
00:12:07.26\00:12:08.36
"and even now many
Antichrists have come by
00:12:08.37\00:12:11.30
which we know that
it is the last hour.
00:12:11.31\00:12:14.14
They went out from us,
but they were not of us,
00:12:14.15\00:12:16.71
for if they had been of us,
00:12:16.72\00:12:17.72
they would have
continued with us,
00:12:17.73\00:12:19.12
but they went out, that
they might be made manifest
00:12:19.13\00:12:21.65
that they were not all of us.
00:12:21.66\00:12:23.62
But you have an
anointing from the Holy One,
00:12:23.63\00:12:25.69
and you know all things.
00:12:25.70\00:12:27.34
I have not
written to you because
00:12:27.35\00:12:28.80
you do not know the truth,
00:12:28.81\00:12:30.07
but because you do know it,
00:12:30.08\00:12:31.50
and that no lie is of the truth.
00:12:31.51\00:12:34.04
Who is the liar
but he who denies
00:12:34.05\00:12:36.21
that Jesus is
the Christ? He is,"
00:12:36.22\00:12:39.63
what does your bible say there?
00:12:39.64\00:12:40.69
What is the next
word? Here it is again,
00:12:40.70\00:12:42.49
the third time,
"He is Antichrist,
00:12:42.50\00:12:44.43
who denies the
Father and the Son.
00:12:44.44\00:12:46.14
Whoever denies the son
does not have the Father either,
00:12:46.15\00:12:48.84
whoever acknowledges the
son has the Father also."
00:12:48.85\00:12:51.45
Verse 24, "Therefore
let that abide in you,
00:12:51.46\00:12:54.35
which you heard
from the beginning.
00:12:54.36\00:12:56.33
If what you heard from
the beginning abide in you,
00:12:56.34\00:12:58.38
you also will abide in
the Son and in the Father.
00:12:58.39\00:13:01.00
And this is the promise
00:13:01.01\00:13:02.08
that He is
promised us, eternal life.
00:13:02.09\00:13:04.48
These things I have
written to you concerning those
00:13:04.49\00:13:06.73
who are trying to," what
does your Bible say there?
00:13:06.74\00:13:09.66
"Trying to seduce
you, trying to deceive you,
00:13:09.67\00:13:12.29
trying to trick you.
00:13:12.30\00:13:13.74
But the anointing which
you have received from Him
00:13:13.75\00:13:16.09
abides in you, and
you do not need that
00:13:16.10\00:13:18.25
anyone teach you,
00:13:18.26\00:13:19.51
but as the same
anointing teaches you
00:13:19.52\00:13:20.95
concerning all
things, and is true,
00:13:20.96\00:13:22.49
and is not a lie,
00:13:22.50\00:13:23.55
and just as it has taught
you, you will abide in Him."
00:13:23.56\00:13:27.44
This is the passage that
we're going to be looking
00:13:27.45\00:13:28.89
at today and
we'll be branching out
00:13:28.90\00:13:30.49
into other passages.
00:13:30.50\00:13:31.87
But the central idea here
is that John was concerned
00:13:31.88\00:13:35.46
about these infiltrators.
00:13:35.47\00:13:37.56
He was concerned
about a group of separatists
00:13:37.57\00:13:40.06
and probably as the
lesson quarterly brings out,
00:13:40.07\00:13:42.79
the separatists had Gnostic
leanings, Gnostic influences.
00:13:42.80\00:13:47.05
And we find
John's pastoral heart,
00:13:47.06\00:13:49.74
John's pastoral
concern on full display.
00:13:49.75\00:13:52.64
And he says I'm writing
this to you concerning those
00:13:52.65\00:13:55.94
who are trying to deceive you.
00:13:55.95\00:13:57.77
Then he goes on to use
the term Antichrist not once,
00:13:57.78\00:14:00.97
not twice, but three times.
00:14:00.98\00:14:02.69
He says they are Antichrist.
00:14:02.70\00:14:04.42
They are
Antichrist. They are Antichrist.
00:14:04.43\00:14:07.25
Now the word Antichrist occurs
00:14:07.26\00:14:08.99
only five times in
scripture, five times,
00:14:09.00\00:14:11.64
all of them in
"Epistles of John."
00:14:11.65\00:14:13.84
In fact, what we're going to now
00:14:13.85\00:14:14.95
is just jump over to chapter 4
00:14:14.96\00:14:16.93
and notice the second
usage here, of Antichrist,
00:14:16.94\00:14:19.62
the second passage in
which John uses this term.
00:14:19.63\00:14:23.32
Go with me to chapter
4, we begin in verse 1,
00:14:23.33\00:14:27.19
"Beloved, do not
believe every spirit."
00:14:27.20\00:14:29.52
But what should be
do with the spirits?
00:14:29.53\00:14:31.57
"Test the spirits
whether they are of God,
00:14:31.58\00:14:33.85
because many false prophets
have gone out into the world.
00:14:33.86\00:14:37.24
By this you know
the Spirit of God,
00:14:37.25\00:14:38.90
Every spirit that confesses that
00:14:38.91\00:14:40.69
Jesus Christ has come
in the flesh is of God."
00:14:40.70\00:14:42.96
Notice verse 3,
"and every spirit
00:14:42.97\00:14:45.19
that does not
confess that Jesus has come
00:14:45.20\00:14:47.02
in the flesh is not of God.
00:14:47.03\00:14:48.69
And this is the
spirit of, " what everyone?
00:14:48.70\00:14:51.67
"Antichrist, which
you have heard was coming,
00:14:51.68\00:14:53.84
and is even now in the world."
00:14:53.85\00:14:57.94
The Antichrist apparently,
already was in the world
00:14:57.95\00:15:01.26
or at least the
spirit of Antichrist
00:15:01.27\00:15:03.04
and John identifies these
Gnostic leaning separatists
00:15:03.05\00:15:06.78
that were
infiltrating his churches,
00:15:06.79\00:15:08.43
probably the
churches in and around Ephesus
00:15:08.44\00:15:10.44
as Antichrist vigorous.
00:15:10.45\00:15:12.75
He uses this word
Antichrist in three ways here.
00:15:12.76\00:15:15.43
He says
Antichrist in the singular,
00:15:15.44\00:15:17.57
Antichrist in the plural,
00:15:17.58\00:15:19.64
and the spirit of
Antichrist as well.
00:15:19.65\00:15:21.87
Let's look at our third passage.
00:15:21.88\00:15:23.44
We go from 1st John to 2nd John.
00:15:23.45\00:15:26.08
Second John,
there's only one chapter
00:15:26.09\00:15:28.40
there so that's an
easy one to figure out,
00:15:28.41\00:15:30.46
2nd John chapter 1.
00:15:30.47\00:15:33.01
We'll begin in verse 7, it says,
00:15:33.02\00:15:35.97
"For many deceivers,"
there is that word again,
00:15:35.98\00:15:38.90
"have gone out into the world
00:15:38.91\00:15:40.43
who do not confess Jesus Christ
00:15:40.44\00:15:42.18
as coming in the flesh."
00:15:42.19\00:15:43.87
This is a deceiver
and a what? "Antichrist."
00:15:43.88\00:15:48.18
There is the 5th and final usage
00:15:48.19\00:15:49.61
of Antichrist in the Bible.
00:15:49.62\00:15:50.74
So we've just done
an exhaustive study
00:15:50.75\00:15:53.23
on the word
Antichrist in scripture.
00:15:53.24\00:15:56.01
They are all here in
1st John and 2nd John.
00:15:56.02\00:15:58.98
Notice what he
goes on to say there.
00:15:58.99\00:16:00.73
"Look to
yourselves that we do not lose
00:16:00.74\00:16:02.96
the things we worked for,
00:16:02.97\00:16:04.87
but that we may
receive a full reward.
00:16:04.88\00:16:07.33
Whoever
transgresses and does not abide
00:16:07.34\00:16:09.46
in the doctrine of
Christ does not have God.
00:16:09.47\00:16:11.89
He who abides in
doctrine of Christ
00:16:11.90\00:16:13.61
has both the
Father and the Son."
00:16:13.62\00:16:15.10
Verses 10 and 11
are really striking
00:16:15.11\00:16:17.48
and frankly strike us
as almost unchristian,
00:16:17.49\00:16:22.42
as almost too
strong. Notice what he says,
00:16:22.43\00:16:25.63
"if anyone comes to you,"
John writing to his Church,
00:16:25.64\00:16:28.38
his pastoral
heart on full display.
00:16:28.39\00:16:30.95
"If anyone comes to you and
does not bring this doctrine,
00:16:30.96\00:16:34.24
do not receive him into
your house nor greet him,
00:16:34.25\00:16:37.66
for he who greets
him shares,"in his what?
00:16:37.67\00:16:42.08
"In is evil deeds."
00:16:42.09\00:16:44.61
You can really get
the sense here that John
00:16:44.62\00:16:47.54
is very
concerned, deeply concerned,
00:16:47.55\00:16:49.52
in fact, this sense of urgency
00:16:49.53\00:16:51.64
and immediacy
saturates the "Epistles of John"
00:16:51.65\00:16:54.35
and here we find John
with his pastoral heart
00:16:54.36\00:16:56.77
on full display and he says,
00:16:56.78\00:16:58.53
if these people come to
you and they want to come
00:16:58.54\00:17:01.15
into your house don't
even let them into your house.
00:17:01.16\00:17:03.26
In fact don't even
greet them in the streets,
00:17:03.27\00:17:05.51
don't greet them
in the marketplace
00:17:05.52\00:17:06.97
because he who
receives them and greets them
00:17:06.98\00:17:09.36
is actually a participant,
00:17:09.37\00:17:11.17
is acquiescing
to their evil deeds.
00:17:11.18\00:17:15.07
Question, is John
concerned, yes or no? Yes.
00:17:15.08\00:17:20.58
Is he very concerned?
Yeah the sense of immediacy,
00:17:20.59\00:17:23.16
the sense of urgency is
absolutely on display here.
00:17:23.17\00:17:26.31
And John says,
when these Antichrists,
00:17:26.32\00:17:28.65
when these
deceivers come to you,
00:17:28.66\00:17:30.48
do not receive them.
00:17:30.49\00:17:31.87
What was taking place probably
00:17:31.88\00:17:33.16
as we begin to put
the pictures together
00:17:33.17\00:17:35.03
is that there were a
group of infiltrators,
00:17:35.04\00:17:36.86
as we already suggested
00:17:36.87\00:17:37.96
there is the lesson
quarterly brings out,
00:17:37.97\00:17:40.47
they were
Agnostically influence likely.
00:17:40.48\00:17:43.47
Now the word Gnostic comes
from the Greek word Gnosis,
00:17:43.48\00:17:47.28
it means to know,
it means what everyone?
00:17:47.29\00:17:50.35
To know! To know.
00:17:50.36\00:17:51.36
For example
many of us have heard
00:17:51.37\00:17:53.57
someone say
they are an Agnostic.
00:17:53.58\00:17:55.88
You might have met someone
00:17:55.89\00:17:57.43
and you try to
witness to them and they said,
00:17:57.44\00:17:59.53
you know I'm not
sure, I don't know,
00:17:59.54\00:18:01.20
I don't
consider myself believer.
00:18:01.21\00:18:02.86
I consider myself
to be an Agnostic.
00:18:02.87\00:18:05.98
Well, an Agnostic is simply
the opposite of a Gnostic.
00:18:05.99\00:18:09.66
If something is symmetrical,
if you have a piece of paper
00:18:09.67\00:18:12.31
that is symmetrical,
if you fold it in half,
00:18:12.32\00:18:15.04
the two halves are the same.
00:18:15.05\00:18:16.68
If you have
something that is asymmetrical
00:18:16.69\00:18:18.79
when you fold it in half,
the halves are not the same.
00:18:18.80\00:18:21.37
And so Agnostic
is someone who knows
00:18:21.38\00:18:24.25
and Agnostic is
someone who claims not to know.
00:18:24.26\00:18:27.15
In the first
second and third centuries
00:18:27.16\00:18:29.55
this Gnostic influence terrace
00:18:29.56\00:18:31.61
was one of the great hurdles
that the early church faced.
00:18:31.62\00:18:34.58
And basically many scholars
believe that Agnosticism
00:18:34.59\00:18:37.88
can not be defined
as a Homogeneous Entity.
00:18:37.89\00:18:40.39
There is discussion about
what exactly Agnosticism is.
00:18:40.40\00:18:43.23
And while we may
not be able to put
00:18:43.24\00:18:44.32
all of the pieces together,
00:18:44.33\00:18:45.53
we can be sure of a few things.
00:18:45.54\00:18:47.79
What these
Agnostics were basically doing
00:18:47.80\00:18:49.56
and especially
in John's case here,
00:18:49.57\00:18:51.34
is they were subtly
infiltrating the church,
00:18:51.35\00:18:54.85
they were subtly what everyone?
00:18:54.86\00:18:56.98
Infiltrating!
Infiltrating the church,
00:18:56.99\00:18:58.27
and they were saying
things probably like this,
00:18:58.28\00:19:00.34
what John is
teaching you is great,
00:19:00.35\00:19:02.17
what others are
teaching you is fine,
00:19:02.18\00:19:03.72
but we know but
we, what everyone?
00:19:03.73\00:19:08.46
We know! We know
what's really going on.
00:19:08.47\00:19:11.10
It's nice what
they've taught you
00:19:11.11\00:19:12.32
and they have got you started.
00:19:12.33\00:19:13.88
But now let's time to
advance into more alight,
00:19:13.89\00:19:16.39
into more knowledge about God.
00:19:16.40\00:19:18.55
We know what is taking
place and many of the things
00:19:18.56\00:19:21.61
that they propertied to know,
00:19:21.62\00:19:22.98
stood indirect
opposition to scripture.
00:19:22.99\00:19:26.35
Now some of you are
really into conspiracy theories.
00:19:26.36\00:19:34.46
Is that true yes or no? Yes.
00:19:34.47\00:19:37.01
I won't make
you raise your hands
00:19:37.02\00:19:38.34
and embarrass yourselves.
00:19:38.35\00:19:41.08
Now there is grand conspiracy.
00:19:41.09\00:19:43.22
I too believe not
in conspiracy theory,
00:19:43.23\00:19:45.51
but in an actual conspiracy.
00:19:45.52\00:19:47.95
And the conspiracy is to
keep you away from Jesus.
00:19:47.96\00:19:51.82
Can you say amen? Amen.
00:19:51.83\00:19:53.39
But there are in addition
to this grand conspiracy,
00:19:53.40\00:19:55.84
other conspiracies that
sort of grab our attention
00:19:55.85\00:19:59.36
and for some people they
become absolutely consuming.
00:19:59.37\00:20:02.49
The conspiracy theory de jure is
00:20:02.50\00:20:04.49
what exactly happened on 9/11.
00:20:04.50\00:20:06.66
And you meet people
who are totally consumed
00:20:06.67\00:20:09.45
with what actually took place.
00:20:09.46\00:20:11.53
And these people will come to us
00:20:11.54\00:20:12.91
and they will say things like,
00:20:12.92\00:20:14.68
sure the media tells us
that they were 19 hijackers
00:20:14.69\00:20:17.98
and sure the media tells us that
00:20:17.99\00:20:19.42
it's Islamic fundamentalism,
Islamic radicalism.
00:20:19.43\00:20:22.71
But we know, but we
what's the word everyone?
00:20:22.72\00:20:26.85
But we know
what's really going on
00:20:26.86\00:20:28.68
and just about that time,
they hand you the DVD, right.
00:20:28.69\00:20:32.42
Watch this DVD
and you too will know.
00:20:32.43\00:20:35.34
You will also know what is
going on behind the scenes,
00:20:35.35\00:20:38.36
you will have inside
knowledge, inside data,
00:20:38.37\00:20:40.97
inside information, in many ways
00:20:40.98\00:20:43.32
the Agnostics in John's
day and in the early church
00:20:43.33\00:20:46.38
were like these conspiracy
theories who were saying,
00:20:46.39\00:20:48.74
sure that's would
others are telling you,
00:20:48.75\00:20:50.57
but we know
what's really happening.
00:20:50.58\00:20:53.34
This is what is really
taking place behind the scenes.
00:20:53.35\00:20:57.33
Now very
significantly the word 'know'
00:20:57.34\00:21:01.48
is a critical
word in the epistle of,
00:21:01.49\00:21:03.73
in all of the, in all
of, not just chapter 2 here,
00:21:03.74\00:21:07.05
but in all 1st John.
00:21:07.06\00:21:08.68
In fact, stay right there
in 1st John and go to chapter 5
00:21:08.69\00:21:12.11
stay right there in 1st
John and go to chapter 5,
00:21:12.12\00:21:15.54
we're talking about Antichrists.
00:21:15.55\00:21:17.88
John identifies
these Agnostic influenced
00:21:17.89\00:21:21.65
infiltrators as Antichrist.
00:21:21.66\00:21:23.72
We're going to get down
00:21:23.73\00:21:24.70
to our modern
application of this.
00:21:24.71\00:21:27.87
But first we want
to understand textually
00:21:27.88\00:21:29.66
and contextually
what was John addressing,
00:21:29.67\00:21:31.71
what was actually taking place.
00:21:31.72\00:21:33.79
When we go to
1st John chapter 5,
00:21:33.80\00:21:35.33
we read in verse 13
and I want you to notice
00:21:35.34\00:21:37.88
the recurrent theme
here the recurrent idea here.
00:21:37.89\00:21:40.87
He says in verse 13,
00:21:40.88\00:21:42.22
"these things I
have written to you
00:21:42.23\00:21:44.03
who believe in the
name of the Son of God,
00:21:44.04\00:21:46.70
that you may," what is the word?
00:21:46.71\00:21:49.77
"That you may know
that you have eternal life.
00:21:49.78\00:21:52.21
And that you may
continue to believe
00:21:52.22\00:21:53.37
in the name of the Son of God."
00:21:53.38\00:21:54.83
Notice verse 15, John is
closing his Epistle here.
00:21:54.84\00:21:57.84
He's bringing this
Epistle to a close.
00:21:57.85\00:21:59.61
He says in verse 15,
"And if we what is the word?"
00:21:59.62\00:22:02.59
If we know. "If we know
00:22:02.60\00:22:03.64
that he hears us
whenever we ask we,"
00:22:03.65\00:22:05.69
what's the word? "Know
that we have the petitions
00:22:05.70\00:22:08.38
that we asked of
him." Notice verse 18,
00:22:08.39\00:22:10.40
"We know that whoever is
born of God does not sin,
00:22:10.41\00:22:13.06
but he who has born
of God keeps them safe,
00:22:13.07\00:22:15.89
and the wicked one
does not touch him."
00:22:15.90\00:22:17.45
Verse 19, "We know
that we are of God."
00:22:17.46\00:22:19.84
Verse 20, "And we know
the Son of God has come."
00:22:19.85\00:22:22.26
Notice the recurrent theme here,
00:22:22.27\00:22:23.41
as John is bringing
his Epistle to a close.
00:22:23.42\00:22:25.30
We know that we
have eternal life,
00:22:25.31\00:22:26.77
we know that
Jesus is the Son of God,
00:22:26.78\00:22:28.51
we know that when we
pray we have the things
00:22:28.52\00:22:30.15
that we asked of him,
we know, we know, we know,
00:22:30.16\00:22:33.40
we know, we know.
00:22:33.41\00:22:35.93
In fact marvelously even though
00:22:35.94\00:22:37.93
there are only five chapters,
00:22:37.94\00:22:40.00
five short chapters in
the Epistle of 1st John,
00:22:40.01\00:22:42.81
John actually uses the
word no, if I not mistaken,
00:22:42.82\00:22:45.61
I think I'm on this,
more than any other books
00:22:45.62\00:22:48.58
in the New Testament.
00:22:48.59\00:22:51.24
This word 'know.' I mean,
00:22:51.25\00:22:52.22
you think about the
book of Matthew 28 chapters.
00:22:52.23\00:22:53.99
You think about the
book of Mark 16 chapters,
00:22:54.00\00:22:55.63
Luke 24
chapters, John 21 chapters,
00:22:55.64\00:22:58.12
Acts 28 chapters, and
here in five chapters,
00:22:58.13\00:23:00.79
John says we know, we
know, we know, we know,
00:23:00.80\00:23:04.67
we know, we know.
00:23:04.68\00:23:07.34
Why the emphasis on "knowing."
00:23:07.35\00:23:09.76
Well contextually
because they were others
00:23:09.77\00:23:11.72
who are coming in and saying
00:23:11.73\00:23:12.96
what John has
taught you is good.
00:23:12.97\00:23:14.57
What you've learned is good,
00:23:14.58\00:23:15.83
but we know what
is really taking place
00:23:15.84\00:23:19.56
behind the scenes.
00:23:19.57\00:23:21.12
Are you with me
yes or no? In fact,
00:23:21.13\00:23:22.72
on one occasion John says,
00:23:22.73\00:23:23.75
something
absolutely fascinating,
00:23:23.76\00:23:26.28
he says I'm not
writing to you because
00:23:26.29\00:23:28.40
you don't know the truth.
00:23:28.41\00:23:29.73
We've read this.
We've just read this
00:23:31.93\00:23:33.13
in 1st John chapter 2.
00:23:33.14\00:23:34.22
He says, I am not
writing to you because
00:23:34.23\00:23:35.92
you don't know the truth.
00:23:35.93\00:23:37.39
He says I am writing to
you, do you remember it?
00:23:37.40\00:23:40.26
Because you do know the truth.
00:23:40.27\00:23:43.27
John in a marvelous
stroke of pastoral wisdom
00:23:43.28\00:23:46.08
and brilliance here,
00:23:46.09\00:23:47.21
basically rather than
getting into yelling match.
00:23:47.22\00:23:49.94
For some reason John
couldn't travel to the church.
00:23:49.95\00:23:52.28
Probably he was aging.
00:23:52.29\00:23:53.26
He was unable to travel.
00:23:53.27\00:23:54.42
And so he sends this Epistle
00:23:54.43\00:23:55.71
and in a stroke of
pastoral brilliance rather than
00:23:55.72\00:23:58.14
getting into yelling
match with Agnostics,
00:23:58.15\00:24:00.62
who are trying to infiltrate
and to deceive the church
00:24:00.63\00:24:03.34
who were saying, we
know what's really going on,
00:24:03.35\00:24:05.08
and according to the Epistle
some are being let astray.
00:24:05.09\00:24:08.47
John says they went out from us,
00:24:08.48\00:24:09.94
but they were not of
us. If they had been of us,
00:24:09.95\00:24:12.02
they would have remained with us
00:24:12.03\00:24:13.25
and so people were going out.
00:24:13.26\00:24:14.50
They were
leaving. They were leaving.
00:24:14.51\00:24:15.91
And so rather than
getting into a yelling
00:24:15.92\00:24:17.23
in which the
Agnostics are saying no we know,
00:24:17.24\00:24:19.52
and John says no we know,
00:24:19.53\00:24:21.26
and they say no we
know this is the truth.
00:24:21.27\00:24:23.28
No, no this is the
truth. No, no this is the truth.
00:24:23.29\00:24:26.23
John says I'm not
writing to you because
00:24:26.24\00:24:28.09
you don't know the truth.
00:24:28.10\00:24:31.61
I'm writing to you because
you already know the truth.
00:24:31.62\00:24:35.55
And in the context he
says because the spirit himself
00:24:35.56\00:24:38.94
has given you the truth,
can you say amen to that? Amen.
00:24:38.95\00:24:41.76
It reminds me of
that marvelous story
00:24:41.77\00:24:43.41
there when Jesus
says, Who do men say
00:24:43.42\00:24:44.97
that I the Son of Man am?
00:24:44.98\00:24:46.09
And they, well
some say you're Elijah,
00:24:46.10\00:24:47.90
some say you're
John the Baptist,
00:24:47.91\00:24:49.28
some say you're
one of the prophets
00:24:49.29\00:24:50.56
and Jesus says okay well,
00:24:50.57\00:24:51.54
who do you think I am?
And Peter's speaks up on
00:24:51.55\00:24:53.92
behalf of the rest of
the apostles and he says,
00:24:53.93\00:24:55.88
you are the
Christ, you're Son of God,
00:24:55.89\00:24:59.67
you are the Christ
00:24:59.68\00:25:00.84
and what Jesus
says is marvelous here.
00:25:00.85\00:25:02.48
He says, "Blessed
are you, Simon Barjona,
00:25:02.49\00:25:04.51
because flesh and blood
did not reveal this to you,
00:25:04.52\00:25:06.50
but" who, who did He
say reveal to it him?
00:25:06.51\00:25:08.42
"My Father which is in heaven."
00:25:08.43\00:25:09.53
In other words, men
didn't teach you that.
00:25:09.54\00:25:13.68
God taught you that.
00:25:13.69\00:25:14.88
And when John writes
here with his pastoral heart
00:25:14.89\00:25:17.46
on full display and his
concern on full display,
00:25:17.47\00:25:20.03
he says, you don't
need another human teacher.
00:25:20.04\00:25:22.75
In fact, he says that,
00:25:22.76\00:25:23.82
you don't need any
one to teach you because
00:25:23.83\00:25:25.88
you know all things.
00:25:25.89\00:25:29.48
John did not want to
get into a yelling match
00:25:29.49\00:25:31.31
where it was the
Agnostic versus him
00:25:31.32\00:25:33.11
and the congregation
would have been confused
00:25:33.12\00:25:35.15
and invariably divided.
00:25:35.16\00:25:40.23
John fingers these separatists,
00:25:40.24\00:25:42.73
John fingers these Agnostic
00:25:42.74\00:25:44.92
influence
separatists as Antichrists.
00:25:44.93\00:25:48.66
Antichrists. Antichrists.
00:25:48.67\00:25:53.03
Many scholars believe
that the word Antichrist
00:25:53.04\00:25:55.15
was itself coined by John.
00:25:55.16\00:25:57.45
He may have been the one
that formulated the word.
00:25:57.46\00:26:00.83
Now our lesson here
is rejecting Antichrists.
00:26:00.84\00:26:06.07
So I think it follows
a logical pattern here,
00:26:06.08\00:26:08.97
a logical linear line of
reasoning to suggest this.
00:26:08.98\00:26:12.21
If we're going to reject
Antichrists in modern times
00:26:12.22\00:26:15.80
and even in John's time,
00:26:15.81\00:26:16.93
if they were going
to reject Antichrists,
00:26:16.94\00:26:18.77
they had first know
what an Antichrist was.
00:26:18.78\00:26:22.74
Are you with me yes or no?
00:26:22.75\00:26:23.83
Yes. Of course.
00:26:23.84\00:26:25.10
How can you reject something
00:26:25.11\00:26:26.16
that you don't even
have an identity of?
00:26:26.17\00:26:28.01
And so we are
rejecting Antichrists.
00:26:28.02\00:26:30.04
In John's day
there was no question,
00:26:30.05\00:26:31.83
no equivocation about
what the Antichrist was.
00:26:31.84\00:26:34.15
It was the
separatists who had left,
00:26:34.16\00:26:36.50
who had actually gone
out under the influence
00:26:36.51\00:26:40.35
of these Gnostic
influence teachers
00:26:40.36\00:26:43.78
and were
beginning to woo people away
00:26:43.79\00:26:46.03
from John's
church, likely in Ephesus,
00:26:46.04\00:26:48.78
wooing them away. And John says,
00:26:48.79\00:26:49.95
if these people come
to you, don't greet them.
00:26:49.96\00:26:53.90
Certainly don't have
them into your house,
00:26:53.91\00:26:56.36
not because John
didn't want them to act
00:26:56.37\00:26:58.17
in kindly Christian
and courteous manner.
00:26:58.18\00:27:00.11
But John knows
that these deceptions
00:27:00.12\00:27:02.44
are of such of
character, of such a subtlety
00:27:02.45\00:27:05.19
that many of us
burgeoning young sheep
00:27:05.20\00:27:07.21
will be led away and
deceive by this individuals
00:27:07.22\00:27:10.31
and he says don't
even greet these people.
00:27:10.32\00:27:14.55
Now what is an Antichrist?
00:27:14.56\00:27:18.24
Well when you take that prefix
00:27:18.25\00:27:19.55
"anti" and you
stick it on the front
00:27:19.56\00:27:22.03
of a name or of a person,
00:27:22.04\00:27:24.10
it can mean several things.
00:27:24.11\00:27:26.37
It can mean being that person,
00:27:26.38\00:27:28.56
or purporting to be that person,
00:27:28.57\00:27:30.50
what we call impersonation,
00:27:30.51\00:27:32.51
or even more
precisely personation,
00:27:32.52\00:27:35.63
claiming to be. It can
also mean substitution,
00:27:35.64\00:27:39.94
taking the place of.
00:27:39.95\00:27:42.41
So when Antichrist is someone
00:27:42.42\00:27:43.55
who seeks to
substitute for the real Christ.
00:27:43.56\00:27:47.37
In the context of
1st John, the concern,
00:27:47.38\00:27:50.63
the nucleus of the
heresy revolved around
00:27:50.64\00:27:54.95
the atonement and incarnation.
00:27:54.96\00:27:57.37
The Gnostics were
beginning to say no Jesus
00:27:57.38\00:27:59.71
was more like a projection.
00:27:59.72\00:28:01.54
He wasn't into
really flesh and blood
00:28:01.55\00:28:03.22
because they had
these very elaborate ideas
00:28:03.23\00:28:05.03
of about what
spirit was and flesh was
00:28:05.04\00:28:06.91
and it wasn't possible in
their world view for Jesus
00:28:06.92\00:28:09.46
who've actually been God
and who've actually been flesh,
00:28:09.47\00:28:12.07
and so you find John over
an over again in the epistle
00:28:12.08\00:28:14.22
saying this is he who
came by water and blood.
00:28:14.23\00:28:17.00
He is Christ. He
came in the flesh
00:28:17.01\00:28:18.83
because they were
beginning to take issue
00:28:18.84\00:28:20.14
with the actual incarnation,
00:28:20.15\00:28:21.60
which simply means
the in-fleshing of God.
00:28:21.61\00:28:25.54
But just because
that was the first,
00:28:25.55\00:28:27.89
the original
usage of Antichrist,
00:28:27.90\00:28:30.72
John and scripture
does not limit Antichrist
00:28:30.73\00:28:33.28
only to those who have
this Gnostic influence.
00:28:33.29\00:28:36.83
Scripture says, for
example in Acts chapter 4
00:28:36.84\00:28:38.67
and verse 12, that
Jesus Christ is the only name
00:28:38.68\00:28:41.62
whereby people can be saved.
00:28:41.63\00:28:43.03
Can you say amen to that? Amen.
00:28:43.04\00:28:44.37
And so it is
Christ and it is a correct
00:28:44.38\00:28:46.38
understanding of Christ
00:28:46.39\00:28:47.98
that enables us
to come to know God.
00:28:47.99\00:28:50.07
Jesus himself
said "no man cometh
00:28:50.08\00:28:51.48
under the Father but by me.
00:28:51.49\00:28:52.85
" And so what ends up
happening is that Satan,
00:28:52.86\00:28:56.22
Satan begins to
setup these counterfeit
00:28:56.23\00:28:59.52
competing Christ
and these counterfeit
00:28:59.53\00:29:01.83
competing Christ
interpose themselves
00:29:01.84\00:29:04.55
between genuine
believers and the real Christ
00:29:04.56\00:29:07.22
and he woos them
away from the real Christ.
00:29:07.23\00:29:11.04
This can take
many different forms.
00:29:11.05\00:29:13.69
When we come to the
Middle Ages for example,
00:29:13.70\00:29:16.14
the reformers
unanimously and uniformly
00:29:16.15\00:29:19.48
fingered the church
itself, as Antichrist.
00:29:19.49\00:29:23.58
They said the Roman
Church and the office
00:29:23.59\00:29:25.32
of the Pope is none other than
00:29:25.33\00:29:27.05
the office of Antichrist.
00:29:27.06\00:29:28.40
And this wasn't Mark
and Luther in isolation.
00:29:28.41\00:29:31.01
This was the
uniform, virtually unanimous.
00:29:31.02\00:29:34.31
In fact some would
argue the actually unanimous
00:29:34.32\00:29:37.09
perspective of all
of the reformers because
00:29:37.10\00:29:39.45
what they saw was that
scripture had been supplanted
00:29:39.46\00:29:42.71
and a system, an
enormous unbiblical
00:29:42.72\00:29:47.60
monolithic
obstruction had placed itself
00:29:47.61\00:29:51.04
between the
believer and the Christ.
00:29:51.05\00:29:53.96
And so the reformers
looked at that and said
00:29:53.97\00:29:55.26
that's an Antichrist
system that is a system
00:29:55.27\00:29:57.94
that is seeking
to take the place,
00:29:57.95\00:29:59.43
to take the position of Christ.
00:29:59.44\00:30:01.33
And so they said
the office of the Pope
00:30:01.34\00:30:03.09
is the office of the
Antichrist and they said
00:30:03.10\00:30:04.76
it over and over again,
the office of Antichrist,
00:30:04.77\00:30:07.23
the office of Antichrist.
00:30:07.24\00:30:08.59
And they were exactly right.
00:30:08.60\00:30:12.11
And they were right
because of this simple reason.
00:30:12.12\00:30:14.79
Anything that seeks to
interpose itself between
00:30:14.80\00:30:19.77
the sincere believer
and the genuine historical
00:30:19.78\00:30:23.00
scriptural Christ is in a
very real sense an Antichrist
00:30:23.01\00:30:26.78
That's why John can
use the term Antichrists
00:30:26.79\00:30:29.47
in the plural,
Antichrist in the singular
00:30:29.48\00:30:32.14
that is consummate
Antichrist that is to come,
00:30:32.15\00:30:34.22
and the sprit of
Antichrist which is any
00:30:34.23\00:30:36.57
spirit that seeks to
interpose itself between
00:30:36.58\00:30:39.28
the genuine believer
and the scriptural Christ.
00:30:39.29\00:30:42.26
Are we together
everyone yes or no?
00:30:42.27\00:30:44.38
Now what does
this mean for us today?
00:30:44.39\00:30:47.81
Well according to
Revelation chapter 13,
00:30:47.82\00:30:51.34
the very entity that
the reformers unanimously
00:30:51.35\00:30:55.28
fingered as the
Antichrist will actually
00:30:55.29\00:30:57.72
become resurgent,
reborn and revitalized
00:30:57.73\00:31:01.34
and we'll become again
not just an Antichrist,
00:31:01.35\00:31:05.44
but the consummate Antichrist.
00:31:05.45\00:31:07.93
The consummate
entity, the consummate system
00:31:07.94\00:31:10.64
who has setup a
rival Christ and a rival
00:31:10.65\00:31:13.93
system of salvation.
00:31:13.94\00:31:16.99
Revelation chapter
13 presents this in
00:31:17.00\00:31:18.97
marvelous counterfeit language.
00:31:18.98\00:31:20.75
In fact many
scholars have noted this.
00:31:20.76\00:31:22.91
They have noted that
in Revelation 13 you have,
00:31:22.92\00:31:25.74
you have Christ, in
Revelation for example
00:31:25.75\00:31:28.73
depicted with horns and crowns.
00:31:28.74\00:31:30.85
And so to the
Antichrist Revelation 13
00:31:30.86\00:31:33.07
depicted with horns and crowns.
00:31:33.08\00:31:35.23
Christ is ministering
for three and half years
00:31:35.24\00:31:37.51
on earth, the
Antichrist comes 1260 days,
00:31:37.52\00:31:40.12
or three and
half prophetic years.
00:31:40.13\00:31:42.06
Christ received the deadly wound
00:31:42.07\00:31:44.74
and was raised.
He was resurrected.
00:31:44.75\00:31:46.61
The Antichrist so too receives
00:31:46.62\00:31:48.34
a deadly wound and his healed.
00:31:48.35\00:31:50.12
And many of noted
this counterfeit motive
00:31:50.13\00:31:52.45
between the
genuine Christ and this
00:31:52.46\00:31:54.44
Revelation 13 Antichrist,
00:31:54.45\00:31:55.94
and that's why it
is absolutely biblical
00:31:55.95\00:31:57.99
even though the
nomenclature is not there
00:31:58.00\00:32:00.03
in Revelation 13 to
refer to the first piece
00:32:00.04\00:32:02.44
Revelation 13 as
the Antichrist beast.
00:32:02.45\00:32:06.14
Because this beast is
seeking to setup to you
00:32:06.15\00:32:08.53
serve the very position, place,
00:32:08.54\00:32:10.88
preeminence and
prominence of Christ
00:32:10.89\00:32:12.83
by interposing its own system.
00:32:12.84\00:32:16.43
Its own what everyone?
00:32:16.44\00:32:18.23
Its own system.
00:32:18.24\00:32:20.96
And maybe we
should quickly disabuse
00:32:20.97\00:32:22.22
our minds of this
idea that in order to
00:32:22.23\00:32:23.95
be a counterfeit Christ,
00:32:23.96\00:32:25.60
we have to dress up like Jesus.
00:32:25.61\00:32:27.90
You have to put on the
robe and pretend to be Jesus
00:32:27.91\00:32:30.05
and have the beard
and carry the cross
00:32:30.06\00:32:31.47
around, not at all.
00:32:31.48\00:32:33.06
A counterfeit
Christ can be any Christ,
00:32:33.07\00:32:35.32
that claims to
deliver, that claims to save
00:32:35.33\00:32:37.35
by some means
other than what scripture
00:32:37.36\00:32:39.39
identifies the
only way of salvation.
00:32:39.40\00:32:42.78
Are you with me
everyone yes or no?
00:32:42.79\00:32:44.52
And so when Antichrist
in John's day were those
00:32:44.53\00:32:46.83
that interpose
themselves between true Christs,
00:32:46.84\00:32:50.01
the incarnate Christ
00:32:50.02\00:32:51.12
who died on
Calvary street to save us,
00:32:51.13\00:32:53.49
and this false
system between that
00:32:53.50\00:32:56.29
and the believer.
00:32:56.30\00:32:57.48
For us in modern
times there was going to be
00:32:57.49\00:33:00.33
a consummate
Antichrist and in fact there is
00:33:00.34\00:33:03.26
a consummate Antichrist.
00:33:03.27\00:33:04.49
And as we've
already said and it is
00:33:04.50\00:33:05.80
none other than the
reborn, revitalized,
00:33:05.81\00:33:09.09
resurgent church
that the reformers
00:33:09.10\00:33:11.60
unanimously
fingered in the Middle Ages.
00:33:11.61\00:33:14.90
Now this Antichrist
is not slow to move.
00:33:14.91\00:33:19.71
And we are seeing
like before our very eyes
00:33:19.72\00:33:22.14
these last movements
which are rapid ones.
00:33:22.15\00:33:25.50
In fact, I have
an article right here
00:33:25.51\00:33:26.94
with me dated July 26,
2009 from USATODAY that says
00:33:26.95\00:33:31.82
Pope calls for
'God-centered' global economy.
00:33:31.83\00:33:35.80
Let me just read you
the first two paragraphs.
00:33:35.81\00:33:37.94
Pope Benedict
the XVI today called
00:33:37.95\00:33:39.60
for reforming the
United Nations and establishing
00:33:39.61\00:33:42.67
"a true world
political authority" with
00:33:42.68\00:33:46.12
fascinating
language here "real teeth".
00:33:46.13\00:33:51.78
With what everyone? Real teeth!
00:33:51.79\00:33:53.69
Just a quick
question for clarification.
00:33:53.70\00:33:55.73
What are teeth for?
for Biting, for chewing.
00:33:55.74\00:34:01.08
for devouring.
00:34:01.09\00:34:03.26
A true world
political authority with
00:34:03.27\00:34:04.74
real teeth to
manage the global economy
00:34:04.75\00:34:08.07
Sounds very
nice, sounds very good,
00:34:10.09\00:34:11.94
sounds very magnanimous,
sounds very wonderful.
00:34:11.95\00:34:14.05
In fact, it goes on,
in his third encyclical,
00:34:14.06\00:34:15.88
a major teaching released as the
00:34:15.89\00:34:17.42
G-8 summit begins in Italy.
00:34:17.43\00:34:18.96
By the way this was well-time.
00:34:18.97\00:34:20.48
This was not, this
wasn't a happen stand.
00:34:20.49\00:34:22.84
This was absolutely calculated,
00:34:22.85\00:34:24.25
the release of the
epistles, the encyclical.
00:34:24.26\00:34:26.81
The pope says that such an
authority is urgently needed.
00:34:26.82\00:34:30.41
Now we have an urgent
need for a God-centered
00:34:30.42\00:34:33.63
global economy with real teeth.
00:34:33.64\00:34:37.91
This is sounding surprisingly
00:34:37.92\00:34:39.50
but not to us start,
not to us startlingly,
00:34:39.51\00:34:43.87
like exactly what
has been predicated
00:34:43.88\00:34:45.38
in Revelation many
hundreds of years ago,
00:34:45.39\00:34:47.90
two millennia ago
and even more precisely
00:34:47.91\00:34:52.15
and even more with more detail
00:34:52.16\00:34:54.19
in great controversy
about a 150 years ago.
00:34:54.20\00:34:58.93
Urgently needed to
end the current world
00:34:58.94\00:35:00.94
financial crisis,
it should "revive"
00:35:00.95\00:35:03.39
damaged economies,
reach toward disarmament,
00:35:03.40\00:35:05.61
listen how good
this sounds "disarmament,
00:35:05.62\00:35:08.15
food, security, and peace.
00:35:08.16\00:35:11.89
" We love it at
Revelation chapter 13
00:35:11.90\00:35:13.68
in the plainest of
language suggest that this
00:35:13.69\00:35:16.36
end time Antichrist
which is very similar to
00:35:16.37\00:35:19.88
the Antichrist that
existed in John's day seeking to
00:35:19.89\00:35:22.65
interpose itself
between the true believer
00:35:22.66\00:35:24.66
and the historical Christ.
00:35:24.67\00:35:26.03
Revelation 13 says, that
this power will use economics.
00:35:26.04\00:35:30.88
Will use what word did
I say everyone? Economics!
00:35:30.89\00:35:33.52
In fact it goes to as
far to say if you don't
00:35:33.53\00:35:35.32
receive this mark of the beast,
00:35:35.33\00:35:36.77
this mark of
allegiance to this end time
00:35:36.78\00:35:39.08
Antichrist, that
you will not be able to,
00:35:39.09\00:35:41.78
does anyone remember?
00:35:41.79\00:35:42.96
To buy or
beloved, that is economics,
00:35:42.97\00:35:46.77
there is going to be a
significant economic pressure
00:35:46.78\00:35:50.09
a significant economics pressure
00:35:50.10\00:35:52.49
that is brought to
bear on God's people at the
00:35:52.50\00:35:54.52
end of time that's going
to go something like this.
00:35:54.53\00:35:57.82
Either you get
along with our program,
00:35:57.83\00:35:59.97
either you act with us
to our desire for global
00:35:59.98\00:36:03.54
disarmament, oh
that sound so nice.
00:36:03.55\00:36:05.30
Our desire for global peace,
00:36:05.31\00:36:06.88
our desired to end,
either you get on board
00:36:06.89\00:36:08.95
with our program or you yourself
00:36:08.96\00:36:11.86
will not be able to sell.
00:36:11.87\00:36:13.58
You yourself will
not be able to buy.
00:36:13.59\00:36:15.41
Does that sound like
economic peer pressure,
00:36:15.42\00:36:17.00
yes or no? Absolutely!
00:36:17.01\00:36:20.11
Now if it was only
economic those of us
00:36:20.12\00:36:21.88
that have gardens and
other things maybe able
00:36:21.89\00:36:24.01
for a time to
endure, but you actually see
00:36:24.02\00:36:26.14
in Revelation 13 an auscultation
00:36:26.15\00:36:27.90
from economic
pressure to or else, or else.
00:36:27.91\00:36:34.17
I'm so thrill that
in Revelation chapter 14
00:36:34.18\00:36:36.08
verse 12, scripture
says in the plainest
00:36:36.09\00:36:38.56
of language, here is
the patience of the saints,
00:36:38.57\00:36:42.32
here are those
that do you know what?
00:36:42.33\00:36:44.52
Keep the commandments
of God and cling to their
00:36:44.53\00:36:46.91
faith in Jesus.
00:36:46.92\00:36:48.17
Beloved there is
going to be an end time
00:36:48.18\00:36:49.94
people, who will reject
the overtures of Antichrist.
00:36:49.95\00:36:53.37
Who will reject the
overtures of an end time
00:36:53.38\00:36:55.87
system that is sought
to you serve the power of
00:36:55.88\00:36:58.84
Christ to interpose itself
between us and the Christ.
00:36:58.85\00:37:02.14
My word of exhortation
for you today is the same
00:37:02.15\00:37:04.98
that John gave to
his Church many hundreds
00:37:04.99\00:37:07.83
of years ago and that
is I'm not telling you
00:37:07.84\00:37:10.17
these things because
you don't know the truth,
00:37:10.18\00:37:12.54
but because you
do know the truth.
00:37:12.55\00:37:15.50
Beloved this is the
time when we need to know
00:37:15.51\00:37:18.06
God, we need to know Him,
00:37:18.07\00:37:19.64
we need to know
Him, we need to know Him,
00:37:19.65\00:37:22.03
we need to know Him,
w need to know Him. Why?
00:37:22.04\00:37:25.50
Because this is life
eternal that they might
00:37:25.51\00:37:27.87
know thee, the only true God,
00:37:27.88\00:37:30.40
and Jesus Christ
whom thou has sent.
00:37:30.41\00:37:34.37
Amen. Amen.
00:37:34.38\00:37:36.48
Let us pray Father in Heaven,
00:37:36.49\00:37:38.60
we are thrilled
with the message today.
00:37:38.61\00:37:41.29
A message that by
your grace we can reject
00:37:41.30\00:37:44.04
Antichrists, and
Father we pray to you that
00:37:44.05\00:37:46.47
would give us the
desire to reject spirit
00:37:46.48\00:37:48.19
of Antichrist, anything
any fall system that would
00:37:48.20\00:37:51.40
seek to interpose and interrupt
00:37:51.41\00:37:53.98
the relationship that
you have with your people.
00:37:53.99\00:37:56.84
Father may be we riveted to you,
00:37:56.85\00:37:58.37
maybe we riveted
to Christ and maybe we
00:37:58.38\00:38:00.37
riveted to
scripture, so that when these
00:38:00.38\00:38:02.69
overtures economic, miraculous
00:38:02.70\00:38:04.93
and eventually on
pain of death come to us,
00:38:04.94\00:38:07.32
may we stand with Christ,
00:38:07.33\00:38:09.35
may we stand by
Christ and may we stand in
00:38:09.36\00:38:12.53
Christ, is our prayer in
the name of Jesus Christ,
00:38:12.54\00:38:15.69
let everyone say, amen.
00:38:15.70\00:38:18.77
[Music]
00:38:21.88\00:38:26.70
I like to challenge
you to turn to Matthew
00:43:27.26\00:43:30.18
Chapter 5, first
verses, "When Jesus saw
00:43:30.19\00:43:34.06
his ministry
drawing huge crowds,
00:43:34.07\00:43:37.60
he climbed a hillside.
00:43:37.61\00:43:39.70
Those who were
apprenticed to him,
00:43:39.71\00:43:41.70
the committed, climbed with him.
00:43:41.71\00:43:45.12
Arriving at a quiet place,
00:43:45.13\00:43:46.97
he sat down and taught
his climbing companions.
00:43:46.98\00:43:51.19
This is what he
said: "You're blessed
00:43:51.20\00:43:55.03
when you're at
the end of your rope.
00:43:55.04\00:43:58.35
With less of you there
is more of God and his rule.
00:43:58.36\00:44:05.38
Denzil, you and I
have watched this process
00:44:05.39\00:44:09.16
in several
places around the world.
00:44:09.17\00:44:10.90
Yes we have. But
a few months ago,
00:44:10.91\00:44:12.78
we were in Livingstone,
00:44:12.79\00:44:14.94
Zambia and I want
to show you about seven
00:44:14.95\00:44:17.73
photographs and see
what they remind you of
00:44:17.74\00:44:20.54
when you look at the pictures,
00:44:20.55\00:44:22.48
here is the first one.
00:44:22.49\00:44:24.47
This was just the most
exciting thing I've seen.
00:44:24.48\00:44:27.46
I've been able to
have the privilege of doing
00:44:27.47\00:44:30.12
DVD training around the world,
00:44:30.13\00:44:32.45
and I have never
seen people more intent
00:44:32.46\00:44:36.35
and more excited
about telling the good news
00:44:36.36\00:44:39.68
of Jesus Christ.
00:44:39.69\00:44:40.80
And take a look, see
all the prayers. Yes.
00:44:40.81\00:44:42.96
And no matter where you looked
00:44:42.97\00:44:44.12
in that church,
people were praying.
00:44:44.13\00:44:45.66
You'll be in the
middle of a talk and all of
00:44:45.67\00:44:47.16
a sudden two or three
of the people over here
00:44:47.17\00:44:48.97
would just kneel
down and start focusing on
00:44:48.98\00:44:51.21
God. Yes.
00:44:51.22\00:44:52.23
It was just so
exciting because you saw people
00:44:52.24\00:44:55.50
knowing that they
wanted to be involved
00:44:55.51\00:44:57.67
Evangelism, they
wanted to play their part,
00:44:57.68\00:44:59.99
but they knew that the
only way they could do it
00:45:00.00\00:45:02.24
with the help
of the Holy Spirit.
00:45:02.25\00:45:03.92
And I want to stop on that
picture for a just a minute.
00:45:03.93\00:45:06.14
What are in all those boxes?
The picture just went away,
00:45:06.15\00:45:08.38
what's in all
the boxes the DVDs?
00:45:08.39\00:45:10.23
Don't let that
picture go away. Okay.
00:45:10.24\00:45:12.90
Well, DVDs, what
you mean DVD players?
00:45:12.91\00:45:14.69
They were DVD players.
00:45:14.70\00:45:15.86
And you are giving them way.
00:45:15.87\00:45:17.20
We are giving them
away to the lay people.
00:45:17.21\00:45:19.73
So you take those DVD
players along with the
00:45:19.74\00:45:23.08
DVD lessons that
are on the top of them
00:45:23.09\00:45:25.04
and you give them
away all over the world,
00:45:25.05\00:45:27.33
so Adventist-laymen
can give Bible studies.
00:45:27.34\00:45:31.56
Absolutely, and the
exciting part of that is,
00:45:31.57\00:45:34.10
is that they are able
to take that DVD player
00:45:34.11\00:45:37.08
and the tools that
they have with the pictures
00:45:37.09\00:45:39.76
and be able to tell the
complete Gospel message.
00:45:39.77\00:45:43.53
Now I saw something
that I've never seen
00:45:43.54\00:45:45.76
before in my life.
00:45:45.77\00:45:47.34
In Livingstone that
day there were three
00:45:47.35\00:45:49.50
Adventist Pastors, who
tried to sneak into the line
00:45:49.51\00:45:52.80
where the laymen were
getting the Bible studies.
00:45:52.81\00:45:55.00
And they were
turned away they didn't get
00:45:55.01\00:45:56.70
DVD player why is that.
00:45:56.71\00:45:58.22
Yes, well because
we only had so many
00:45:58.23\00:46:00.04
and the other part is the
main thing is that we wanted
00:46:00.05\00:46:04.01
our lay people to
be the ones to have the
00:46:04.02\00:46:06.68
privilege of telling others
00:46:06.69\00:46:08.30
about the soon coming savior.
00:46:08.31\00:46:10.09
And if the laymen
think the pastors got the
00:46:10.10\00:46:11.92
DVD player and he's
going to do the work...
00:46:11.93\00:46:13.73
They are not going to work.
They are not going to work.
00:46:13.74\00:46:15.19
That's right. But look
at the last photograph.
00:46:15.20\00:46:17.15
Can we get back to
that one by any chance
00:46:17.16\00:46:19.00
the thing I love
about this picture is all
00:46:19.01\00:46:22.51
the darkest ladies
walking away from the building.
00:46:22.52\00:46:25.65
This is after we
did our DVD training.
00:46:25.66\00:46:27.89
Now keep in mind it's
about 100 degrees here
00:46:27.90\00:46:30.17
and the ladies
have on those warm hats.
00:46:30.18\00:46:32.38
And they were
just excited singing.
00:46:32.39\00:46:35.86
They were just really
happy to be able to tell
00:46:35.87\00:46:39.55
others about Jesus soon coming.
00:46:39.56\00:46:41.84
Denzil we get to back
to that in a few minutes.
00:46:41.85\00:46:43.47
Right now I want to
talk Chuck Cleveland and
00:46:43.48\00:46:46.58
Pastor Richard
Elofer from Israel.
00:46:46.59\00:46:49.87
And there is story
in Israel about the
00:46:49.88\00:46:51.71
DVD training about
ministry and it goes right back
00:46:51.72\00:46:56.87
to where Jesus walked.
00:46:56.88\00:46:59.29
Chuck, let's start with you.
00:46:59.30\00:47:00.57
Tell us what you been doing
the last few weeks in Haifa.
00:47:00.58\00:47:04.04
Well, we had the
privilege of going over there
00:47:04.05\00:47:05.83
and working with our
Israeli Field programe
00:47:05.84\00:47:09.13
and to teach a
medical missionary course,
00:47:09.14\00:47:11.46
we call it Light
Course and it will be
00:47:11.47\00:47:13.15
discussed a little bit
more, later today. Okay.
00:47:13.16\00:47:15.46
But in that
medical missionary training
00:47:15.47\00:47:17.41
our objective was to
train 30 of our church
00:47:17.42\00:47:21.10
members, you know,
nearly one month program
00:47:21.11\00:47:24.30
go to Haifa, run
a large auditorium,
00:47:24.31\00:47:27.74
and have a health
explore there for six days.
00:47:27.75\00:47:30.95
Wow! And was it effective?
00:47:30.96\00:47:32.66
Well, God really did bless.
00:47:32.67\00:47:34.87
We had over 600
people come out for our expo
00:47:34.88\00:47:38.51
and when we offered
to signed them up for
00:47:38.52\00:47:41.17
follow-up classes,
which is the purpose of
00:47:41.18\00:47:43.17
expo, we had
nearly 50 percent of them
00:47:43.18\00:47:45.90
we said we want more.
00:47:45.91\00:47:47.55
That's the time
to declare a victory.
00:47:47.56\00:47:49.22
So now we have a
weekly health club going on
00:47:49.23\00:47:52.43
in Haifa as well.
00:47:52.44\00:47:54.95
May I tell you one quick story?
00:47:54.96\00:47:56.40
If it's really fast.
00:47:56.41\00:47:57.47
The man that we
read it from was a former
00:47:57.48\00:48:00.49
Israeli General of
Russian background.
00:48:00.50\00:48:05.09
He was all of that Russian,
00:48:05.10\00:48:06.79
General, the whole works.
00:48:06.80\00:48:09.23
And we had to deal
with this man and telling so
00:48:09.24\00:48:11.46
to where we could put our things
00:48:11.47\00:48:12.62
or where
couldn't put our things.
00:48:12.63\00:48:14.31
And he seemed very gruff.
00:48:14.32\00:48:16.50
But as he saw us
work night after night
00:48:16.51\00:48:18.72
his heart just melted
and instead of being gruff,
00:48:18.73\00:48:22.49
he is hugging us and loving us,
00:48:22.50\00:48:24.69
and in a week or two
he is going to our health
00:48:24.70\00:48:27.52
center at Herghelia in
Romania because they were
00:48:27.53\00:48:31.04
very much involved in
working with the mission
00:48:31.05\00:48:33.60
and it's all timed
together as we get to know
00:48:33.61\00:48:36.99
these people work with them,
00:48:37.00\00:48:38.35
medical
missionary work opens doors.
00:48:38.36\00:48:40.84
Speak to me about
medical missionary work pastor.
00:48:40.85\00:48:43.22
You are in-charged with
Adventist work in Israel.
00:48:43.23\00:48:45.83
Yes, yes in Israel we
have in fact two territories.
00:48:45.84\00:48:50.16
We have that Israel territory
00:48:50.17\00:48:53.23
and the
Palestinian territory too.
00:48:53.24\00:48:55.68
And what are you
doing for the Palestinians?
00:48:55.69\00:48:57.30
That is a very big
important question,
00:48:57.31\00:49:01.29
because we have very few members
00:49:01.30\00:49:04.79
among the Palestinian.
00:49:04.80\00:49:06.29
And we wouldn't
really reach to Palestinian
00:49:06.30\00:49:08.99
people and that's
why in East Jerusalem
00:49:09.00\00:49:12.11
we have
community service center.
00:49:12.12\00:49:15.60
On this community
service center we want
00:49:15.61\00:49:18.23
also to have health
ministry because we have
00:49:18.24\00:49:22.35
noticed that's
the Palestinian people
00:49:22.36\00:49:24.50
have a very poor health system.
00:49:24.51\00:49:28.21
When we have already
organized a health seminar,
00:49:28.22\00:49:32.35
there was the five day plan
00:49:32.36\00:49:34.11
with new start program.
00:49:34.12\00:49:36.83
A lot of Palestinian
came and they were very happy
00:49:36.84\00:49:40.14
to have free examination
00:49:40.15\00:49:42.35
from one of our doctors.
00:49:42.36\00:49:44.25
It sounds like
health ministry opens doors
00:49:44.26\00:49:46.99
on both sides of the world.
00:49:47.00\00:49:48.41
Yes that is exactly.
00:49:48.42\00:49:50.30
On at the end of
this healthy ministry
00:49:50.31\00:49:53.13
there the leader of the
health club where we had
00:49:53.14\00:49:58.18
this health
ministry, say to us that is
00:49:58.19\00:50:01.84
wonderful for our people.
00:50:01.85\00:50:03.59
Can you come back
and do the same program
00:50:03.60\00:50:06.39
in the Ramallah, in
Jericho, in Bethlehem.
00:50:06.40\00:50:09.73
I say, oh, just a
moment please because
00:50:09.74\00:50:12.23
we are a very small team.
00:50:12.24\00:50:14.15
Now which this product we have,
00:50:14.16\00:50:16.70
we have OCI and
Chuck, we would like to open
00:50:16.71\00:50:19.79
a health center to
has more volunteer,
00:50:19.80\00:50:22.41
more people come into
work for us and then we
00:50:22.42\00:50:25.62
will able to reach
this two population,
00:50:25.63\00:50:28.87
and we would be
able to preach peace
00:50:28.88\00:50:31.41
between Israelis
and Palestinian people.
00:50:31.42\00:50:34.39
What do you think? Amen.
00:50:34.40\00:50:36.26
Thank you so much, thank you.
00:50:36.27\00:50:39.26
We are going on from
Israel where the Gospel
00:50:39.27\00:50:42.23
really started to
the story of creation.
00:50:42.24\00:50:44.99
Thanks for joining us gentlemen.
00:50:45.00\00:50:46.67
Thank you, thank you very much.
00:50:46.68\00:50:47.81
I want to
introduce you to a lady
00:50:47.82\00:50:49.14
whose experienced with
ASI is deepening as we speak,
00:50:49.15\00:50:55.61
and that's Conna Bond.
00:50:55.62\00:50:57.63
And when Conna gets here,
00:50:57.64\00:50:58.76
she is the new director
of communication for ASI.
00:50:58.77\00:51:03.92
Now what do you
think about that?
00:51:03.93\00:51:06.07
Conna is one of the
most brilliant pleasant,
00:51:06.08\00:51:11.47
wife's, mother's, horsewoman,
00:51:11.48\00:51:14.98
take care of whatever
animals happened to be
00:51:14.99\00:51:16.95
in the back of your
ranch--I hope you enjoy
00:51:16.96\00:51:20.91
Conna as much as I do.
00:51:20.92\00:51:22.07
Conna take a minute
I want to ask you one
00:51:22.08\00:51:25.10
leading question?
00:51:25.11\00:51:27.22
When you were young
you were in an environment
00:51:27.23\00:51:30.64
where asking questions
about creation or about
00:51:30.65\00:51:33.79
Bible or about God
what's just really not, okay
00:51:33.80\00:51:37.27
How have you transitioned
in the last few years.
00:51:37.28\00:51:41.44
Well, I want to share
with you my experience
00:51:41.45\00:51:44.19
with the
Creation-Evolution debate
00:51:44.20\00:51:46.06
that goes to be way
back to when I was young.
00:51:46.07\00:51:48.30
I was very blessed to grow
up in a loving Christian home.
00:51:48.31\00:51:51.03
I had wonderful
loving Christian Seventh-day
00:51:51.04\00:51:53.64
Adventist parents, both
of my parents had a deep
00:51:53.65\00:51:55.77
abiding faith of their own,
00:51:55.78\00:51:57.75
and so I got a really
wonderful picture of who
00:51:57.76\00:52:00.78
God is, how loving God is.
00:52:00.79\00:52:02.89
But I never really
questioned my faith.
00:52:02.90\00:52:04.76
I didn't really need to
00:52:04.77\00:52:05.91
I was in a very
protected environment.
00:52:05.92\00:52:08.08
And so it wasn't
until I was about 21
00:52:08.09\00:52:10.92
when a respected
scientist, a friend of mine
00:52:10.93\00:52:14.38
brought into question the
biblical account of creation.
00:52:14.39\00:52:17.92
And it didn't take me
probably a week to make
00:52:17.93\00:52:20.49
the connection
between, well if I can't trust
00:52:20.50\00:52:22.48
the Bible on this issue,
00:52:22.49\00:52:24.64
why should I trust
it on anything else.
00:52:24.65\00:52:27.18
And it was what my
poof, my faith was just
00:52:27.19\00:52:30.28
evaporated before my
eyes and I started to question
00:52:30.29\00:52:33.40
everything including
is there really a God.
00:52:33.41\00:52:35.93
And it was very hard,
00:52:35.94\00:52:37.60
very painful time
for me in my life.
00:52:37.61\00:52:40.11
But looking back
I can see the God
00:52:40.12\00:52:41.71
was guiding
through that process.
00:52:41.72\00:52:42.91
It was necessary
thing for me to go through
00:52:42.92\00:52:45.23
because I didn't have a
faith of my own at that point.
00:52:45.24\00:52:47.80
I had memorized a
lot of information,
00:52:47.81\00:52:49.99
but I didn't know
God at that point.
00:52:50.00\00:52:52.40
So the Lord
really guided me through
00:52:52.41\00:52:54.33
the process but I
didn't really have a lot of
00:52:54.34\00:52:56.55
places to go for answers.
00:52:56.56\00:52:57.97
There were not a
lot of resources.
00:52:57.98\00:52:59.32
People weren't
really talking about
00:52:59.33\00:53:00.97
the Creation-Evolution debate
00:53:00.98\00:53:02.39
at least not around me.
00:53:02.40\00:53:03.88
And so I had to meddle
through that whole process
00:53:03.89\00:53:07.29
and it over period of 25 years
00:53:07.30\00:53:09.49
I continued to study
everyday and personally
00:53:09.50\00:53:11.93
I can say the I truly,
firmly believe there is
00:53:11.94\00:53:14.83
a God and that the
biblical account of creation
00:53:14.84\00:53:17.30
is trustworthy and
that is my testimony
00:53:17.31\00:53:19.71
my personal testimony.
00:53:19.72\00:53:21.60
I really believe in my heart
00:53:21.61\00:53:23.25
that is not a peripheral issue.
00:53:23.26\00:53:25.58
As you can see in my own
life when the biblical account
00:53:25.59\00:53:28.38
was dissipated
before me then the rest
00:53:28.39\00:53:31.28
of my faith fell apart as well.
00:53:31.29\00:53:33.16
And we need to
recognize that for our children
00:53:33.17\00:53:35.74
and for our
young people growing up
00:53:35.75\00:53:37.41
when they ask questions.
00:53:37.45\00:53:38.98
It helped me
shape and form the way
00:53:38.99\00:53:41.28
I raised my own children.
00:53:41.29\00:53:43.37
I wanted to be there
for them to help them ask
00:53:43.38\00:53:46.97
questions at a young age,
00:53:46.98\00:53:48.71
to tell them this not,
this is what you should
00:53:48.72\00:53:51.67
believe, but this is
what I believe and why.
00:53:51.68\00:53:54.57
Let's look at the
evidence together,
00:53:54.58\00:53:56.78
and one of the
things that really helped me
00:53:56.79\00:53:58.60
was to recognize that, you know,
00:53:58.61\00:54:01.17
some people will say
there is more evidence
00:54:01.18\00:54:03.37
for Creation, or there is
more evidence for evolution.
00:54:03.38\00:54:06.37
The reality is we all look
at the same body of evidence.
00:54:06.38\00:54:10.53
It is how we look in
way and test the evidence
00:54:10.54\00:54:13.76
that brings us
to our conclusions.
00:54:13.77\00:54:15.99
And so I have
worked through with my
00:54:16.00\00:54:17.59
own children to way
and test that evidence
00:54:17.60\00:54:19.92
for themselves, and
I'm really thankful now
00:54:19.93\00:54:22.51
for the resources that
are out there to help me
00:54:22.52\00:54:25.35
work through that for
myself and with my children
00:54:25.36\00:54:28.13
and a lot of wonderful Christian
00:54:28.14\00:54:30.23
scientists out there
who studied into this issue.
00:54:30.24\00:54:33.85
I really was thankful
for what Michael Hasel said
00:54:33.86\00:54:36.99
this week when he gave his
presentation on archeology.
00:54:37.00\00:54:40.68
He gave some strong
evidence that supports
00:54:40.69\00:54:43.22
the biblical
account of the Israelites.
00:54:43.23\00:54:46.65
But he held up his
Bible and this is the Bible
00:54:46.66\00:54:48.72
that my parents gave me
when I was 16 years old,
00:54:48.73\00:54:50.87
I still have it.
00:54:50.88\00:54:52.11
He held up his Bible
and he says I'm not here
00:54:52.12\00:54:53.67
to proof to you that God exist,
00:54:53.68\00:54:55.16
or to proof to you,
and I'm not here today
00:54:55.17\00:54:56.80
proof to you that the
creation account is true
00:54:56.81\00:54:59.48
or that the
account of Israel is true.
00:54:59.49\00:55:01.65
The Bible stands on its own.
00:55:01.66\00:55:03.40
You can read this and there
is enough eternal evidence.
00:55:03.41\00:55:05.80
You can way up and
test it for yourself
00:55:05.81\00:55:08.21
and as David
Asscherick told our children,
00:55:08.22\00:55:10.36
our youth
yesterday or day before,
00:55:10.37\00:55:12.52
he said you can
know that God is real
00:55:12.53\00:55:16.16
because of the
relationship that you with Him.
00:55:16.17\00:55:18.32
When you what He has
done in your own life
00:55:18.33\00:55:20.56
nobody can shake your belief
00:55:20.57\00:55:22.13
in the
existence of a loving God.
00:55:22.14\00:55:24.28
But one of the
things that he instruct me,
00:55:24.29\00:55:25.95
and I want leave you
with this thought is that,
00:55:25.96\00:55:27.92
I have seen ranker on
both sides of the issue
00:55:27.93\00:55:30.64
on the Creation
and Evolution debate.
00:55:30.65\00:55:32.49
There has been disrespect
00:55:32.50\00:55:34.25
and unkindness and
ridicule on both sides.
00:55:34.26\00:55:38.18
We need to not
divorce the issue of Creation
00:55:38.19\00:55:41.78
from the message of the Cross,
00:55:41.79\00:55:44.00
from the message that
we serve a loving God.
00:55:44.01\00:55:47.27
When I looked into this issue,
00:55:47.28\00:55:49.54
I saw the order of the universe.
00:55:49.55\00:55:51.30
I saw the order of creation.
00:55:51.31\00:55:52.64
It fits into my
picture and my understanding
00:55:52.65\00:55:55.59
that God is good
and that God is loving
00:55:55.60\00:55:58.12
and that is the
most important message
00:55:58.13\00:56:00.15
that we have to
share with the world
00:56:00.16\00:56:02.55
and the creation
account is part of that message.
00:56:02.56\00:56:07.04
Conna thank you.
What do you think?
00:56:07.05\00:56:09.70
I pray that each of
us will be able to share
00:56:13.37\00:56:16.26
the kind of conversation
Conna has had with her kids,
00:56:16.27\00:56:19.50
with our children
and with our friends.
00:56:19.51\00:56:21.71
The Bible is the source
and it is the safe source.
00:56:21.72\00:56:25.41