At the beginning of
the Second World War,
00:01:01.74\00:01:03.60
the tiny 350
square island of Guam
00:01:03.63\00:01:07.33
was controlled by
the United States.
00:01:07.36\00:01:10.50
Then toward the
beginning of the war,
00:01:10.53\00:01:12.75
Japan took it
from the United States
00:01:12.78\00:01:15.21
and then toward the
end of the war, eventually,
00:01:15.24\00:01:19.43
America got it back again.
00:01:19.46\00:01:24.23
And for a number of months
00:01:24.26\00:01:26.24
they were rounding
up Japanese soldiers.
00:01:26.27\00:01:30.91
And in 1960 which was 15 years
00:01:30.94\00:01:33.26
after the end of
the Second World War,
00:01:33.29\00:01:35.29
a Guamanian was out in the bush
00:01:35.32\00:01:36.86
and he thought he saw
two Japanese soldiers.
00:01:36.89\00:01:43.46
He thought to
himself this is impossible,
00:01:43.49\00:01:45.14
the war has been
over for 15 years,
00:01:45.17\00:01:48.17
there wouldn't
be Japanese soldiers
00:01:48.20\00:01:49.84
still on the
tiny island of Guam.
00:01:49.87\00:01:53.95
But he was
sufficiently convinced
00:01:53.98\00:01:55.95
that he had seen
a Japanese soldier
00:01:55.98\00:01:58.57
so he reported
to the authorities
00:01:58.60\00:02:02.36
and they believed him enough
to send out a search party.
00:02:02.39\00:02:09.57
And they found after
some days of searching
00:02:09.60\00:02:13.16
they found two
Japanese soldiers,
00:02:13.19\00:02:16.90
they have been hiding
down underneath in the earth,
00:02:16.93\00:02:20.32
when I was in Guam,
00:02:20.35\00:02:21.41
I went down and had a look
at where they'd been hiding,
00:02:21.44\00:02:24.61
they'd been living like
animals for the last 15 years.
00:02:24.64\00:02:30.86
And when they
brought the men of course
00:02:30.89\00:02:33.39
they still had
their old uniform on.
00:02:33.42\00:02:35.87
Now you can imagine what
they looked like after 15 years
00:02:35.90\00:02:39.10
and their feet and their legs
were ulcerated and so forth.
00:02:39.13\00:02:43.05
And they brought
them in and they said,
00:02:43.08\00:02:44.70
guys, the war is
over, we're friends now.
00:02:44.73\00:02:50.75
They didn't believe it
because they had been told
00:02:50.78\00:02:53.06
that in war, you
never believe the enemy.
00:02:53.09\00:02:56.83
They'll try to
brainwash you, you see?
00:02:56.86\00:02:58.96
So they were very resistant
00:02:58.99\00:03:00.74
against the idea
that the war was over.
00:03:00.77\00:03:04.47
So they found
in more questioning
00:03:04.50\00:03:06.63
that one of the guys
had a sister in Tokyo,
00:03:06.66\00:03:11.30
now of course nobody knew
whether she was still alive
00:03:11.33\00:03:14.39
but they contacted
the authorities in Tokyo
00:03:14.42\00:03:17.82
and they told them that
families two Japanese soldiers
00:03:17.85\00:03:20.31
and one had a sister,
00:03:20.34\00:03:21.68
would they try to find her.
00:03:21.71\00:03:22.93
Well, eventually
they turned her up.
00:03:22.96\00:03:25.20
And they got
her on the telephone
00:03:25.23\00:03:26.57
and they said look, we
have found your brother.
00:03:26.60\00:03:29.13
Now she was delighted
because she had presumed
00:03:29.16\00:03:32.18
not hearing
from him for 15 years
00:03:32.21\00:03:34.20
that he was dead in the war.
00:03:34.23\00:03:36.13
So she was over the moon
00:03:36.16\00:03:37.54
to think that
he was still alive.
00:03:37.57\00:03:40.45
So they asked her
to tell her brother
00:03:40.48\00:03:43.69
that the war was over
and we were all friends now.
00:03:43.72\00:03:47.68
Well, she tried her best
00:03:47.71\00:03:49.21
but he wouldn't
believe her either.
00:03:49.24\00:03:51.67
So finally what they did is
they put them on an airplane
00:03:51.70\00:03:54.69
and they flew them back to Tokyo
00:03:54.72\00:03:56.79
and as the
airplane was banking around,
00:03:56.82\00:04:00.01
of course they could
look out of the window
00:04:00.04\00:04:02.00
and they saw Tokyo in
1945-- 1960 I should say,
00:04:02.03\00:04:08.43
they remembered
it from about 1939
00:04:08.46\00:04:13.11
so you can imagine the changes
00:04:13.14\00:04:15.01
that have taken place
in Tokyo over those years.
00:04:15.04\00:04:18.01
They couldn't
believe what they were seeing
00:04:18.04\00:04:19.48
when they looked
out of the window.
00:04:19.51\00:04:20.92
Well, the plane pulled up
00:04:20.95\00:04:21.98
and of course they were
reunited with their family
00:04:22.01\00:04:25.09
because they'd been
told that they were coming.
00:04:25.12\00:04:27.11
And there was a
very, very happy reunion.
00:04:27.14\00:04:31.13
I've often
thought about that story
00:04:31.16\00:04:32.56
because that is a true story.
00:04:32.59\00:04:34.15
I have pictures of
the very guy himself.
00:04:34.18\00:04:37.24
You can look it up if
you want to check the--
00:04:37.27\00:04:40.33
you look up the story from Guam
00:04:40.36\00:04:42.71
and you'll get
pictures of those fellows.
00:04:42.74\00:04:45.59
I have a picture of him
00:04:45.62\00:04:46.65
getting his first
hiccup after 15 years.
00:04:46.68\00:04:51.51
And it's a true story as I said.
00:04:51.54\00:04:55.02
Now what amazes me is
that here he was back in Tokyo,
00:04:55.05\00:05:00.81
the two of them back in Tokyo
walking around the streets,
00:05:00.84\00:05:03.79
having met their family,
00:05:03.82\00:05:05.30
I can just imagine the regrets
00:05:05.33\00:05:07.21
that they must
have had in their hearts
00:05:07.24\00:05:10.04
when they realized
00:05:10.07\00:05:11.10
I could have been living
back here in luxury and in ease
00:05:11.13\00:05:15.19
and here they were hiding down
under the earth, in the hole
00:05:15.22\00:05:18.45
just like an animal
underneath the earth
00:05:18.48\00:05:21.02
for all of those years.
00:05:21.05\00:05:24.79
And I have thought that this
is an illustration of human kind
00:05:24.82\00:05:28.70
because most
people today in our world
00:05:28.73\00:05:32.70
and in our country in particular
00:05:32.73\00:05:35.50
do not know that Jesus has come
00:05:35.53\00:05:37.85
and peace has been
declared between God and man.
00:05:37.88\00:05:41.97
The war is over.
00:05:42.00\00:05:46.41
And they certainly don't
know that God has a message.
00:05:46.44\00:05:50.45
A special message
in these last days
00:05:50.48\00:05:54.01
and that message is
to go to every nation,
00:05:54.04\00:05:56.58
kindred, tongue and people.
00:05:56.61\00:05:59.06
And the purpose of that
message is to get people ready
00:05:59.09\00:06:01.89
for the return of Jesus.
00:06:01.92\00:06:04.47
And I want you
to open your Bibles
00:06:04.50\00:06:05.89
if you wouldn't mind
to Revelation Chapter 14
00:06:05.92\00:06:08.62
and I want to
read you that message
00:06:08.65\00:06:11.15
because it is
very, very special,
00:06:11.18\00:06:14.03
in fact it is the
heartbeat of Revelation.
00:06:14.06\00:06:18.57
This is what the Book
of Revelation is all about.
00:06:18.60\00:06:21.75
The expansion
00:06:21.78\00:06:23.14
and the
understanding of this message,
00:06:23.17\00:06:26.32
it's almost in the
center of the book.
00:06:26.35\00:06:31.70
And everything
else in Revelation
00:06:31.73\00:06:34.98
is supporting
these three messages.
00:06:35.01\00:06:37.65
Let's have a look at them.
00:06:37.68\00:06:38.71
Revelation 14:6 says,
00:06:38.74\00:06:41.65
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:06:41.68\00:06:46.67
having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those
00:06:46.70\00:06:49.67
who dwell on the
earth, to every nation,
00:06:49.70\00:06:52.27
tribe, tongue, and people,
00:06:52.30\00:06:56.24
saying with a loud voice,
00:06:56.27\00:06:57.81
'Fear God, and
give glory to Him,
00:06:57.84\00:07:00.39
for the hour of
His judgment has come,
00:07:00.42\00:07:03.14
and worship Him who
made heaven, and earth,
00:07:03.17\00:07:05.08
the sea, and the
springs of water.'
00:07:05.11\00:07:08.69
And another
angel followed saying
00:07:08.72\00:07:10.36
'Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city,
00:07:10.39\00:07:13.37
because she has made all
nations drink of the wine
00:07:13.40\00:07:16.63
of the wrath of
her fornication.'
00:07:16.66\00:07:19.79
Then a third angel followed
them saying with a loud voice,
00:07:19.82\00:07:23.59
'If anyone worships
the beast and his image
00:07:23.62\00:07:26.48
and receives his mark on
his forehead or on his hand,
00:07:26.51\00:07:30.17
he himself shall also drink
of the wine of the wrath of God,
00:07:30.20\00:07:33.74
which is poured
out full strength
00:07:33.77\00:07:35.39
into the cup of his indignation.
00:07:35.42\00:07:37.98
He shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone
00:07:38.01\00:07:40.29
in the presence
of the holy angels,
00:07:40.32\00:07:42.29
and in the presence of the Lamb.
00:07:42.32\00:07:44.31
And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever,
00:07:44.34\00:07:47.08
and they have no
rest day or night,
00:07:47.11\00:07:49.44
who worship the
beast and his image,
00:07:49.47\00:07:51.99
and whoever receives
the mark of his name.'"
00:07:52.02\00:07:56.09
Then in verse 12 it says,
00:07:56.12\00:07:57.39
"Here is the
patience of the saints,
00:07:57.42\00:07:59.53
here are those who keep
the commandments of God,
00:07:59.56\00:08:02.19
and the faith of Jesus."
00:08:02.22\00:08:05.54
Now I often have
people say to me,
00:08:05.57\00:08:07.32
"Well, whatever
is that all about?"
00:08:07.35\00:08:12.34
One of the amazing things
about the Book of Revelation is
00:08:12.37\00:08:15.23
that the Book of
Revelation is Jesus' own book.
00:08:15.26\00:08:19.08
In fact if you go back
to the very first chapter
00:08:19.11\00:08:22.34
and the first
verse of Revelation,
00:08:22.37\00:08:24.66
it tells us here that
revelation, it's of Jesus,
00:08:24.69\00:08:28.63
it's the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:08:28.66\00:08:31.49
Let me just read it
to you in Revelation 1:1.
00:08:31.52\00:08:35.15
It says here, "The
Revelation of Jesus Christ,
00:08:35.18\00:08:38.87
which God gave to him,
00:08:38.90\00:08:41.34
to show His servants things
which must shortly take place."
00:08:41.37\00:08:46.64
Now if there's one book
that Christians ought to love,
00:08:46.67\00:08:50.92
and one book that we
all to be clear about,
00:08:50.95\00:08:53.39
it's the Book of
Revelation, isn't that right?
00:08:53.42\00:08:56.96
I heard a lady say
to me the other day,
00:08:56.99\00:08:59.55
"So much emphasis on Revelation,
00:08:59.58\00:09:02.31
what about Jesus?"
00:09:02.34\00:09:06.54
Well, I don't
know how long it is
00:09:06.57\00:09:07.67
since she read the
Book of Revelation,
00:09:07.70\00:09:09.89
but that's what
Revelation is about, isn't it?
00:09:09.92\00:09:12.36
It's about Jesus, it's
the revelation of Jesus.
00:09:12.39\00:09:15.80
And if there's
one book in the Bible
00:09:15.83\00:09:17.70
that you and I are to be
very, very familiar with,
00:09:17.73\00:09:21.86
it's this book.
00:09:21.89\00:09:24.54
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
are about the work of Jesus,
00:09:24.57\00:09:28.94
very important
00:09:28.97\00:09:30.43
but the Book of
Revelation's His own book.
00:09:30.46\00:09:34.80
That's why we ought to be
high on the Book of Revelation
00:09:34.83\00:09:37.74
if I can use colloquialism.
00:09:37.77\00:09:39.72
That's why we ought to be
00:09:39.75\00:09:40.78
studying the Book of Revelation.
00:09:40.81\00:09:42.33
That's why the
Book of Revelation
00:09:42.36\00:09:43.96
ought to be our passion
00:09:43.99\00:09:46.38
because it is
dealing with the gospel
00:09:46.41\00:09:50.06
in the setting of the last days.
00:09:50.09\00:09:53.39
And if you read the rest
of the verse 1 there, it says,
00:09:53.42\00:09:57.33
not only would God
show His servants things
00:09:57.36\00:09:59.68
which must shortly take
place, and He sent and--
00:09:59.71\00:10:03.27
what's the next word there?
00:10:03.30\00:10:06.38
In my version it says signified,
00:10:06.41\00:10:09.82
does it say that in yours?
00:10:09.85\00:10:12.18
Has anyone got a version
that's different to that?
00:10:12.21\00:10:14.42
Signified?
00:10:14.45\00:10:17.32
What does the word signify mean?
00:10:17.35\00:10:19.15
If something is signified,
00:10:19.18\00:10:21.98
if you break that word up,
00:10:22.01\00:10:23.55
the first part
of the word is what?
00:10:23.58\00:10:26.16
Sign.
00:10:26.19\00:10:28.37
It's given in signs and symbols,
00:10:28.40\00:10:30.97
the very first
chapter, the very first chapter,
00:10:31.00\00:10:34.67
the very first verse tells
us that the Book of Revelation
00:10:34.70\00:10:37.94
is written differently
to other books in the Bible.
00:10:37.97\00:10:42.24
In fact it's
written in code language
00:10:42.27\00:10:46.05
for a very special reason.
00:10:46.08\00:10:49.96
I've had people say to me,
00:10:49.99\00:10:51.02
"Why isn't the
Book of Revelation
00:10:51.05\00:10:52.34
just written like
the rest of the Bible?"
00:10:52.37\00:10:53.99
There is a very good reason
00:10:54.02\00:10:55.32
that God has written the
Book of Revelation like He has.
00:10:55.35\00:10:59.42
Because it is code
language to illustrate.
00:10:59.45\00:11:05.54
John the
Revelator, you remember,
00:11:05.57\00:11:07.51
wrote the Book of
Revelation when he was where?
00:11:07.54\00:11:11.16
On the island of Patmos,
00:11:11.19\00:11:12.59
he had been
banished, you remember,
00:11:12.62\00:11:14.99
to Patmos because the
Roman Empire used Patmos
00:11:15.02\00:11:19.03
as the Alcatraz
of the ancient world.
00:11:19.06\00:11:23.62
It was the most secured
prison in the Roman world.
00:11:23.65\00:11:26.86
Nobody escaped from Patmos
00:11:26.89\00:11:29.21
and you're gonna understand why,
00:11:29.24\00:11:30.38
it's out in the
middle of the sea.
00:11:30.41\00:11:34.43
And John was considered
to be very troublesome
00:11:34.46\00:11:38.49
in what he was saying.
00:11:38.52\00:11:40.13
So they banished him
over to this little island.
00:11:40.16\00:11:43.76
But the trouble was
that God gave him a vision
00:11:43.79\00:11:46.46
that he wanted to be
spread around on the outside.
00:11:46.49\00:11:50.95
Now, you know, if you're in
a strict high security prison
00:11:50.98\00:11:55.45
and you want
something on the outside,
00:11:55.48\00:11:58.10
what's going to happen to it
00:11:58.13\00:11:59.68
if they ever does
get on the outside,
00:11:59.71\00:12:01.83
what will happen
before it gets on the outside?
00:12:01.86\00:12:06.29
It's going to be
checked on, isn't it? Censored.
00:12:06.32\00:12:09.07
Isn't that right? Yes.
00:12:09.10\00:12:12.08
Now can you imagine
00:12:12.11\00:12:13.35
if the Roman soldiers
picked up the Book of Revelation
00:12:13.38\00:12:16.42
as John had
written it because remember
00:12:16.45\00:12:18.49
it's addressed to the
seven churches of Asia,
00:12:18.52\00:12:22.85
they were outside Patmos.
00:12:22.88\00:12:26.13
So here John has
written it down in prison
00:12:26.16\00:12:28.83
and he has to get
the vision outside
00:12:28.86\00:12:32.13
so the Roman
soldiers are going to read it.
00:12:32.16\00:12:36.50
They're gonna censor it.
00:12:36.53\00:12:39.05
Now can you imagine
what would have happened
00:12:39.08\00:12:40.94
if the Roman
soldiers had realized
00:12:40.97\00:12:43.07
that the Book of Revelation
00:12:43.10\00:12:44.16
foretold the doom
of the Roman Empire,
00:12:44.19\00:12:47.42
what do you think
would have happened
00:12:47.45\00:12:48.48
to the Book of Revelation?
00:12:48.51\00:12:50.47
It would have been
destroyed, of course.
00:12:50.50\00:12:53.09
And not only would the
Revelation have been destroyed
00:12:53.12\00:12:55.45
but John would have been killed,
00:12:55.48\00:12:57.71
because he would
be guilty of treason.
00:12:57.74\00:13:02.13
So God kept it
from the Roman soldiers
00:13:02.16\00:13:04.41
and when they read it,
00:13:04.44\00:13:06.04
they couldn't make
head nor tail of it
00:13:06.07\00:13:08.47
and so they said,
00:13:08.50\00:13:09.56
oh, let's put the
thing through, it doesn't,
00:13:09.59\00:13:12.02
nothing very
serious and they let it out.
00:13:12.05\00:13:15.55
And God purposely wrote
the Revelation like He did.
00:13:15.58\00:13:20.16
Secondly, the second reason
that it's written like this is
00:13:20.19\00:13:22.85
because if the church of
the middle ages had realized
00:13:22.88\00:13:28.03
that the Book of Revelation
foretold its doom as it does,
00:13:28.06\00:13:33.51
instead of preserving
the Book of Revelation,
00:13:33.54\00:13:36.08
what would they have done?
00:13:36.11\00:13:38.02
They would have
destroyed it too.
00:13:38.05\00:13:40.13
And they couldn't understand it
00:13:40.16\00:13:41.84
anymore than the Roman
soldiers could understand it
00:13:41.87\00:13:44.61
and so they
preserved it and look after it
00:13:44.64\00:13:47.07
so that we can have it today.
00:13:47.10\00:13:50.10
And so there's
a very good reason
00:13:50.13\00:13:51.74
that God has written
this book in signs and symbols
00:13:51.77\00:13:56.17
or in code language.
00:13:56.20\00:13:58.59
And while the code
language has been written,
00:13:58.62\00:14:01.67
God has given to us the
key to unlocking that code.
00:14:01.70\00:14:06.53
And that code is in
the rest of the Bible.
00:14:06.56\00:14:10.23
Sometimes it's
even in the same book,
00:14:10.26\00:14:12.52
the Book of Revelation
but more often than not
00:14:12.55\00:14:15.55
the code is found in
other places of the Bible,
00:14:15.58\00:14:18.15
unless the person is serious
about the study of the Bible,
00:14:18.18\00:14:21.31
they'll never be
able to work it out.
00:14:21.34\00:14:23.48
And that's why the vast
majority of people today
00:14:23.51\00:14:26.40
when it comes to
the Book of Revelation
00:14:26.43\00:14:28.99
either never read it,
00:14:29.02\00:14:30.38
they're not interested in it
00:14:30.41\00:14:33.56
and it's a
completely closed book to them.
00:14:33.59\00:14:37.93
The vast majority of
people that come along
00:14:37.96\00:14:40.50
to meetings that I'm running,
00:14:40.53\00:14:43.00
I find have no idea
00:14:43.03\00:14:45.12
about the Book of
Revelation whatsoever.
00:14:45.15\00:14:48.30
They've hardly ever read it.
00:14:48.33\00:14:52.92
And as it said by comparing
scripture with scripture
00:14:52.95\00:14:55.88
and allowing the Bible
to be its own interpreter,
00:14:55.91\00:14:59.52
then Revelation is not
difficult to understand.
00:14:59.55\00:15:02.56
You see, when Jesus came
the first time to this world,
00:15:02.59\00:15:06.80
God had His messenger
00:15:06.83\00:15:09.84
to prepare the world
00:15:09.87\00:15:11.20
for the coming of
Jesus the first time.
00:15:11.23\00:15:16.58
In these last days
when God has a message
00:15:16.61\00:15:19.45
which is going
to the every nation,
00:15:19.48\00:15:23.26
kindred, tongue and people,
00:15:23.29\00:15:25.05
we notice that God
has three messages.
00:15:25.08\00:15:27.32
Let's go back to
Malachi Chapter 3.
00:15:27.35\00:15:30.26
Malachi is the last
book of the Old Testament.
00:15:30.29\00:15:32.57
Malachi Chapter...
00:15:32.60\00:15:36.40
let's just find
it there, Malachi...
00:15:36.43\00:15:41.05
just before Matthew
and we find Malachi 3:1.
00:15:41.08\00:15:48.75
Malachi 3:1.
00:15:48.78\00:15:53.39
Now it says this,
00:15:53.42\00:15:54.45
"Behold, I send My messenger,
and he will prepare the way...
00:15:54.48\00:16:02.12
what? Before me."
00:16:02.15\00:16:05.14
Here was a prediction made
00:16:05.17\00:16:07.75
over 400 years
before Christ was born
00:16:07.78\00:16:11.40
that God was going
to send My messenger,
00:16:11.43\00:16:14.46
you'll notice in your Bible
00:16:14.49\00:16:15.78
that the My will
be in capital letters
00:16:15.81\00:16:17.96
and messenger in small letters.
00:16:17.99\00:16:21.04
The My is representing God,
00:16:21.07\00:16:25.35
He is the one that's speaking
00:16:25.38\00:16:26.85
but He is going to send
His messenger in a small m
00:16:26.88\00:16:30.77
and he will
prepare the way before Me.
00:16:30.80\00:16:36.78
So here was a prediction.
00:16:36.81\00:16:39.67
Who was that messenger
00:16:39.70\00:16:41.49
that God raised up
to prepare the coming
00:16:41.52\00:16:44.56
of Jesus the first time?
00:16:44.59\00:16:48.04
Well, I'm sure you all know
00:16:48.07\00:16:49.31
but let me just
give you the evidence.
00:16:49.34\00:16:50.91
Come over to
the Book of Matthew,
00:16:50.94\00:16:55.01
Matthew 11:10.
00:16:55.04\00:16:59.10
Matthew 11:10.
00:16:59.13\00:17:05.08
Matthew 11:10 where it says,
00:17:05.11\00:17:08.62
"Assuredly, I say to you,
00:17:08.65\00:17:10.83
among those born of women
00:17:10.86\00:17:12.65
there have not
risen one greater than
00:17:12.68\00:17:16.47
John the Baptist."
00:17:16.50\00:17:17.53
Now if you go back to verse 10,
00:17:17.56\00:17:21.47
it quotes from
where we just read.
00:17:21.50\00:17:23.97
Have a look at verse 10.
00:17:24.00\00:17:25.40
"For this is he of
whom it is written, Behold,
00:17:25.43\00:17:28.94
I send My messenger
00:17:28.97\00:17:33.51
and who will prepare
your way before you."
00:17:33.54\00:17:36.76
That's an exact
quote from where?
00:17:36.79\00:17:39.71
From Malachi, we've
just read that in Malachi
00:17:39.74\00:17:42.21
and Jesus picks
up that statement
00:17:42.24\00:17:44.98
and He applies it
to John the Baptist.
00:17:45.01\00:17:48.23
So John the Baptist
fulfilled Malachi 3:1.
00:17:48.26\00:17:53.07
That's why it says
that the purpose of John
00:17:57.13\00:17:59.30
the Baptist was like a
voice crying in the wilderness,
00:17:59.33\00:18:02.08
prepare ye the way of the Lord.
00:18:02.11\00:18:04.80
And John the
Baptist was God's messenger
00:18:04.83\00:18:07.91
to prepare the
world that then was
00:18:07.94\00:18:10.42
particularly Palestine or Israel
00:18:10.45\00:18:12.87
for the coming of
Jesus, the first time.
00:18:12.90\00:18:16.39
Now in these last
days when God has a message
00:18:16.42\00:18:19.47
which is going not just
to one nation Palestine,
00:18:19.50\00:18:24.58
but this message is
going to every nation,
00:18:24.61\00:18:28.08
kindred, tongue and people.
00:18:28.11\00:18:30.23
He has three.
00:18:30.26\00:18:31.79
So let's go back to
Revelation Chapter 14
00:18:31.82\00:18:34.77
and I just want to have a
look closely at this message
00:18:34.80\00:18:37.64
because this message
is very, very important.
00:18:37.67\00:18:41.85
In fact I'm gonna say
that the giving of this message
00:18:41.88\00:18:46.04
is the most important thing
00:18:46.07\00:18:47.85
that's going on
in the world today.
00:18:47.88\00:18:51.38
The most important.
00:18:51.41\00:18:54.73
And Revelation 14:6 says,
00:18:54.76\00:18:57.48
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:18:57.51\00:19:01.82
having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those
00:19:01.85\00:19:05.31
who dwell on the
earth to every nation,
00:19:05.34\00:19:07.41
kindred, tongue, and people."
00:19:07.44\00:19:10.45
This is a worldwide message,
00:19:10.48\00:19:12.52
this is not something
00:19:12.55\00:19:13.58
which is just done in
the backyard somewhere,
00:19:13.61\00:19:16.15
this is not something which
is some little small movement,
00:19:16.18\00:19:19.82
this is a worldwide movement.
00:19:19.85\00:19:22.74
And it's the everlasting gospel,
00:19:22.77\00:19:24.71
the gospel that
has always been true.
00:19:24.74\00:19:28.38
Only it's given in the
setting of the last days.
00:19:28.41\00:19:32.81
It is the last message
that goes to the world.
00:19:32.84\00:19:36.43
How do I know that?
00:19:36.46\00:19:37.56
Because if you
go down to verse 13,
00:19:37.59\00:19:41.09
we'll notice that after the
giving of these three messages,
00:19:41.12\00:19:44.42
John sees these three
angels flying in mid-heaven,
00:19:44.45\00:19:49.49
then the very next
thing that he sees,
00:19:49.52\00:19:51.78
in verse 13, he says,
00:19:51.81\00:19:53.89
"Then I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, 'Write,
00:19:53.92\00:19:58.67
Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord from now on.'
00:19:58.70\00:20:01.99
'Yes,' said the Spirit,
00:20:02.02\00:20:03.05
that they may
rest from their labors,
00:20:03.08\00:20:04.89
and their works follow them.'
00:20:04.92\00:20:06.74
Then I looked, and
behold, a white cloud,
00:20:06.77\00:20:09.66
and on the cloud sat
One like the Son of Man,
00:20:09.69\00:20:12.76
having on His
head a golden crown,
00:20:12.79\00:20:14.78
and in His hand a sharp sickle.
00:20:14.81\00:20:17.54
And another angel
came out of the temple,
00:20:17.57\00:20:19.66
crying with a loud voice
to Him who sat on the cloud,
00:20:19.69\00:20:22.82
'Thrust in Your sickle and reap,
00:20:22.85\00:20:25.05
for the time has
come for You to reap,
00:20:25.08\00:20:27.44
for the harvest of
the earth is ripe.'"
00:20:27.47\00:20:31.75
In other words as John
sees these three messages
00:20:31.78\00:20:37.01
being taken to every nation,
00:20:37.04\00:20:39.03
kindred, tongue and people,
00:20:39.06\00:20:41.56
the very next event he
sees in point of chronology is
00:20:41.59\00:20:46.29
the coming of the Son of
Man with a sickle in His hand,
00:20:46.32\00:20:49.28
ready to reap the
harvest of the earth.
00:20:49.31\00:20:54.61
And the Book of Matthew
in the 13th chapter tells us
00:20:54.64\00:20:58.06
that the harvest of
the earth represents
00:20:58.09\00:21:02.21
the end of the world.
00:21:02.24\00:21:06.04
In other words
these three messages
00:21:06.07\00:21:08.85
are the last message
00:21:08.88\00:21:11.22
that goes to the
world before Jesus returns.
00:21:11.25\00:21:14.61
That's why I
said a few moments ago
00:21:14.64\00:21:17.09
this is the most important thing
00:21:17.12\00:21:18.69
that's going on
in the world today,
00:21:18.72\00:21:20.38
nothing can
eclipse this message.
00:21:20.41\00:21:23.48
The getting of this
message, it is the last,
00:21:23.51\00:21:26.97
because as soon as
these three messages come,
00:21:27.00\00:21:29.81
John saw in point of chronology
00:21:29.84\00:21:32.79
the return of Jesus
with a sickle in His hand
00:21:32.82\00:21:35.26
and by the way every
Bible writer back at those time,
00:21:35.29\00:21:40.64
every Bible student
back in the beginning
00:21:40.67\00:21:43.88
of the Christian era
understood clearly the sickle
00:21:43.91\00:21:47.15
because even today
00:21:47.18\00:21:48.30
there are still many
countries in the world
00:21:48.33\00:21:50.36
that cut their
lawn with a sickle.
00:21:50.39\00:21:53.64
I can't afford a Victa lawnmower
00:21:53.67\00:21:56.37
but you'll find
them down on their knees
00:21:56.40\00:21:58.26
cutting their
grass with a sickle
00:21:58.29\00:22:00.78
because the sickle was
the implement that was used
00:22:00.81\00:22:04.71
back in the ancient
world to reap their harvests
00:22:04.74\00:22:08.23
and so when the Bible
uses the same picture,
00:22:08.26\00:22:12.50
the same
symbolism, it's very clear
00:22:12.53\00:22:15.54
that this is referring
to the end of the world
00:22:15.57\00:22:18.00
when the reaping of
the harvest takes place
00:22:18.03\00:22:21.11
and the division takes place
00:22:21.14\00:22:22.53
between the wheat and the tares,
00:22:22.56\00:22:24.29
the sheep and the goats
00:22:24.32\00:22:26.48
and Jesus is coming.
00:22:26.51\00:22:28.90
That's why I can be so certain
00:22:28.93\00:22:31.23
that these three
messages are the last message
00:22:31.26\00:22:34.82
that goes to the world.
00:22:34.85\00:22:37.57
And as soon as these three
messages do go to the world,
00:22:37.60\00:22:41.71
then Jesus returns.
00:22:41.74\00:22:43.54
Let's just go back to
verse 6 again and notice it.
00:22:43.57\00:22:47.37
John writes, then
I saw another angel.
00:22:47.40\00:22:50.06
By the way I think
that if John was alive today
00:22:50.09\00:22:52.98
under the
symbolism of three angels,
00:22:53.01\00:22:55.62
you imagine he is
living 2,000 years ago,
00:22:55.65\00:22:57.78
how does he picture message
going all around the world,
00:22:57.81\00:23:02.13
well, poor old John the
best that he could think of
00:23:02.16\00:23:04.41
to be able to do
that would be an angel
00:23:04.44\00:23:07.32
because he'd never
heard of satellites,
00:23:07.35\00:23:10.04
he'd never
heard of the internet,
00:23:10.07\00:23:15.02
he'd never heard of iPads,
00:23:15.05\00:23:19.55
maybe fortunately...
00:23:19.58\00:23:22.78
but, but he
understood that an angel
00:23:22.81\00:23:29.66
would be able to
fly through mid-heaven.
00:23:29.69\00:23:32.53
Maybe if John was writing today
00:23:32.56\00:23:34.61
he would call instead
of three angels messages,
00:23:34.64\00:23:37.73
we might have
three satellite messages
00:23:37.76\00:23:40.98
using our common
terminology today
00:23:41.01\00:23:43.56
but that was the best
that John could come up with,
00:23:43.59\00:23:45.75
because this angel
represents a message
00:23:45.78\00:23:49.68
flying through mid-heaven,
00:23:49.71\00:23:51.58
given to every person
that lives on the earth
00:23:51.61\00:23:55.82
and you'll notice it's
the everlasting gospel,
00:23:55.85\00:23:58.42
this is not some
new fangled idea,
00:23:58.45\00:24:00.54
it's the same
gospel that was true
00:24:00.57\00:24:02.97
back in the beginning of time.
00:24:03.00\00:24:05.16
It was true in Noah's day,
00:24:05.19\00:24:07.23
it was true in Moses' day,
00:24:07.26\00:24:09.60
it was true in Abraham--
00:24:09.63\00:24:11.87
in Isaiah's day, it
was true in Jeremiah's day,
00:24:11.90\00:24:15.40
it was true in Jesus' day,
00:24:15.43\00:24:17.34
it was true in the Middle Ages
00:24:17.37\00:24:20.52
and it's still true today,
00:24:20.55\00:24:22.39
it is the everlasting gospel
00:24:22.42\00:24:24.82
because the gospel
has never been changed.
00:24:24.85\00:24:28.13
The only difference is
00:24:28.16\00:24:29.44
that it's given in the
setting of the last days,
00:24:29.47\00:24:32.82
that is the gospel
is going to be given
00:24:32.85\00:24:36.07
with the emphasis that is
relevant for the last days.
00:24:36.10\00:24:41.15
Hence as we begin to
read these three messages,
00:24:41.18\00:24:44.23
we find the emphasis
that need to be given
00:24:44.26\00:24:48.65
in preaching the
everlasting gospel,
00:24:48.68\00:24:52.15
these three
messages are the message,
00:24:52.18\00:24:56.78
that is the teaching
that needs to be emphasized
00:24:56.81\00:25:01.39
as part of the
everlasting gospel.
00:25:01.42\00:25:04.27
The messages that are
given here in Revelation 14
00:25:04.30\00:25:07.37
are not apart from the gospel,
00:25:07.40\00:25:09.82
they are the gospel.
00:25:09.85\00:25:12.73
Let's notice the first one.
00:25:12.76\00:25:15.46
"The everlasting
gospel to preach to those
00:25:15.49\00:25:17.66
who dwell on the
earth to every nation,
00:25:17.69\00:25:19.25
kindred, tongue, and people,
00:25:19.28\00:25:20.64
saying with a loud voice,
00:25:20.67\00:25:22.02
'Fear God, and
give glory to Him,
00:25:22.05\00:25:24.01
for the hour of His
judgment has come,'"
00:25:24.04\00:25:27.72
The judgment message is
part of the everlasting gospel.
00:25:27.75\00:25:30.94
Listen, if you
were rotting in jail
00:25:30.97\00:25:35.55
and you knew you were innocent,
00:25:35.58\00:25:37.71
the judge had already told
you that when the court sits,
00:25:37.74\00:25:42.79
you are going to be exonerated
and shown to be not guilty,
00:25:42.82\00:25:49.21
would it be good news
for you in jail to hear
00:25:49.24\00:25:53.41
that very soon you are
going to appear in court,
00:25:53.44\00:25:57.79
would that be
good news or bad news?
00:25:57.82\00:26:00.71
It would be the best
news that you could hear,
00:26:00.74\00:26:02.55
isn't that right?
00:26:02.58\00:26:04.26
That's why all
through the Bible,
00:26:04.29\00:26:06.51
the teaching of the
judgment is such good news,
00:26:06.54\00:26:09.64
because we can
carry into the judgment
00:26:09.67\00:26:11.71
our own acquittal.
00:26:11.74\00:26:13.40
We have already being told
that if we confess our sins,
00:26:13.43\00:26:16.39
He is faithful and
just to forgive our sins
00:26:16.42\00:26:18.89
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
00:26:18.92\00:26:20.78
That's why the
judgment is such good news,
00:26:20.81\00:26:22.96
no matter what Bible write
or talks about the judgment,
00:26:22.99\00:26:25.75
he'll always talk about it
00:26:25.78\00:26:27.33
as far as good
news for God's people.
00:26:27.36\00:26:30.17
We have nothing to
fear for the judgment
00:26:30.20\00:26:32.46
because I'm carrying into
the judgment my own acquittal,
00:26:32.49\00:26:36.56
and so the first
part of this message
00:26:36.59\00:26:39.14
is to emphasize to the world
00:26:39.17\00:26:40.94
the hour of God's
judgment has come at last,
00:26:40.97\00:26:44.22
wrongs are going to be righted.
00:26:44.25\00:26:47.07
At last truth
is going to prevail
00:26:47.10\00:26:51.07
and it's been on the scaffold
00:26:51.10\00:26:55.05
and error has been on
the throne for so long
00:26:55.08\00:26:57.40
but at last wrong is going
to be shown for being wrong
00:26:57.43\00:27:02.35
and right is
going to be elevated
00:27:02.38\00:27:04.34
and finally put on the throne.
00:27:04.37\00:27:06.04
That's why the
judgment is such good news.
00:27:06.07\00:27:09.45
and part of the message
00:27:09.48\00:27:10.80
that God has for these last days
00:27:10.83\00:27:12.76
is for you and for me
00:27:12.79\00:27:14.33
to be teaching people about the
hour of God's judgment has come
00:27:14.36\00:27:17.69
and that's why the devil
today is attacking the judgment.
00:27:17.72\00:27:22.18
And if you know
anything about those
00:27:22.21\00:27:23.87
who want to attack
the Adventist message,
00:27:23.90\00:27:25.51
they always
attack it in this area.
00:27:25.54\00:27:28.44
And unfortunately many of
us know so little about it,
00:27:28.47\00:27:33.02
we become easy victims to it
because we've never studied it.
00:27:33.05\00:27:37.79
and so the first
emphasis in this message
00:27:37.82\00:27:41.84
to go to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people
00:27:41.87\00:27:44.27
as the hour of the
God's judgment is come,
00:27:44.30\00:27:46.37
and then it says,
00:27:46.40\00:27:48.96
and worship Him who
made heaven and earth,
00:27:48.99\00:27:55.27
the sea and the
springs of water,
00:27:55.30\00:27:57.41
which is an exact quote
from the fourth commandment.
00:27:57.44\00:28:01.77
And today if you
want to remain popular,
00:28:01.80\00:28:04.60
you will not teach
a seven day creation
00:28:04.63\00:28:09.47
because if you teach and believe
00:28:09.50\00:28:12.26
the seven day creation,
00:28:12.29\00:28:14.79
you're almost looked
upon as an ignoramus today,
00:28:14.82\00:28:17.39
isn't that right?
00:28:17.42\00:28:18.51
Surely I don't
believe that nonsense.
00:28:18.54\00:28:21.83
Because evolution has made
such inroads into our thinking
00:28:21.86\00:28:26.40
and our education system today,
00:28:26.43\00:28:28.58
all of those you who
not only at high school
00:28:28.61\00:28:31.57
but into university know
00:28:31.60\00:28:33.38
that that's what's
being pushed all the time
00:28:33.41\00:28:37.14
and it takes someone
00:28:37.17\00:28:38.52
who's their heart
exaggerated in God's word
00:28:38.55\00:28:43.63
to stay firm on this matter
00:28:43.66\00:28:46.95
and part of the
message in the last days
00:28:46.98\00:28:49.91
is to emphasize the
fact that God is the creator.
00:28:49.94\00:28:54.65
You know, one of the things that
00:28:54.68\00:28:56.75
the reason the devil
hates the Book of Revelation
00:28:56.78\00:28:58.98
is because Revelation
exposes the devil's counterfeit.
00:28:59.01\00:29:03.45
In fact if you come over to
the 16th chapter of Revelation,
00:29:03.48\00:29:06.42
we find that the
devil has three messages
00:29:06.45\00:29:08.61
going to the whole
world, did you know that?
00:29:08.64\00:29:10.65
Just as God has three
messages going to every nation,
00:29:10.68\00:29:13.32
kindred, tongue and people,
00:29:13.35\00:29:14.54
did you know that the
devil has three messages
00:29:14.57\00:29:16.48
going to every nation,
kindred, tongue and people?
00:29:16.51\00:29:18.54
Let me read it to
you, Revelation 16
00:29:18.57\00:29:20.97
and here, now this verse... 13,
00:29:21.00\00:29:24.73
just to get the context.
00:29:24.76\00:29:26.47
Chapter 16 verse 13 it says,
00:29:26.50\00:29:28.94
"And I saw three
unclean spirits like frogs
00:29:28.97\00:29:33.43
coming out of the
mouth of the dragon,
00:29:33.46\00:29:38.11
out of the mouth of the beast,
00:29:38.14\00:29:41.32
and out of the mouth
of the false prophet."
00:29:41.35\00:29:44.33
There is the devil's trinity.
00:29:44.36\00:29:48.47
The dragon, the
beast, and the false prophet.
00:29:48.50\00:29:51.79
God has three,
the devil has three.
00:29:51.82\00:29:56.19
Then it says, verse 14,
00:29:56.22\00:29:58.89
"For they are the
spirits of demons or devils,
00:29:58.92\00:30:04.97
performing what?
00:30:05.00\00:30:07.34
Miracles or signs."
00:30:07.37\00:30:08.73
You see, in order to give
the devil's teaching credence,
00:30:08.76\00:30:13.98
what he is using is so
called signs and miracles,
00:30:14.01\00:30:20.35
they are going
to appear everywhere
00:30:20.38\00:30:23.05
to substantiate
his false teachings.
00:30:23.08\00:30:27.69
And if there's one thing
human beings are very adapt at
00:30:27.72\00:30:33.95
and very impressed by
is so called miracles,
00:30:33.98\00:30:36.79
isn't that right?
00:30:36.82\00:30:38.20
Absolutely.
00:30:38.23\00:30:40.45
It's very hard, I have
talked to so many people
00:30:40.48\00:30:43.04
who say to me, "Well, Geoff,
what you teach from the Bible,
00:30:43.07\00:30:46.12
I cannot fault but..."
00:30:46.15\00:30:50.27
When they say but, you know,
something is going to come,
00:30:50.30\00:30:54.02
but, in our
church we have miracles
00:30:54.05\00:30:57.74
and I believe that God is
with us with these miracles.
00:30:57.77\00:31:01.64
Nothing could be more dangerous
than to take that position
00:31:01.67\00:31:05.07
because the
devil can counterfeit
00:31:05.10\00:31:07.60
every miracle
that God can perform.
00:31:07.63\00:31:11.35
For example, let me give
you a biblical quote for that.
00:31:11.38\00:31:13.79
You remember that
Moses went in before Pharaoh,
00:31:13.82\00:31:17.67
threw his staff
down on the ground
00:31:17.70\00:31:19.94
and what did
Pharaoh's magicians do?
00:31:19.97\00:31:23.90
Threw their
staffs down on the ground
00:31:23.93\00:31:25.53
and they became snakes.
00:31:25.56\00:31:29.64
So we cannot tell the difference
00:31:29.67\00:31:31.70
between the right and the wrong
on the basis of the miracle
00:31:31.73\00:31:35.52
because even a
magician can deceive your eyes,
00:31:35.55\00:31:38.21
let alone the devil who's
had 6,000 years of practice.
00:31:38.24\00:31:44.20
So if we're
going to test the thing
00:31:44.23\00:31:47.42
by the so called miracle,
we'll be deceived every time.
00:31:47.45\00:31:52.93
That's why we must go to
something higher than that.
00:31:52.96\00:31:56.53
We've got to test them by
00:31:56.56\00:31:57.63
what they teach
and what they believe.
00:31:57.66\00:32:02.33
And here the Book
of Revelation tells us
00:32:02.36\00:32:04.86
that the deception
is going to use signs
00:32:04.89\00:32:07.68
which go out to
the kings of the earth
00:32:07.71\00:32:09.69
and to the whole
world, every nation,
00:32:09.72\00:32:13.20
kindred, tongue and people,
00:32:13.23\00:32:14.71
to gather them to
that battle of that
00:32:14.74\00:32:16.49
great day of God almighty.
00:32:16.52\00:32:20.24
"Behold, I'm coming as a thief.
00:32:20.27\00:32:22.40
Blessed is he who
watches, and keeps his garments,
00:32:22.43\00:32:25.04
lest he walks naked
and they see his shame."
00:32:25.07\00:32:27.12
So this is talking here
about the coming of Jesus
00:32:27.15\00:32:30.00
and the message of the devil is
00:32:30.03\00:32:31.80
pumping out by
his three agencies,
00:32:31.83\00:32:34.53
is going to the whole
world at the same time
00:32:34.56\00:32:37.26
that God's message is
going out to the whole world.
00:32:37.29\00:32:40.19
We are in the midst of a battle,
00:32:40.22\00:32:43.83
a controversy, a war.
00:32:43.86\00:32:47.94
And we are actors
in the great scene,
00:32:47.97\00:32:50.80
we are not just
viewers, we are actors ourselves
00:32:50.83\00:32:55.34
and we're either standing up
for God and His three messages
00:32:55.37\00:32:59.02
or we are standing for
the devil and his deception.
00:32:59.05\00:33:04.67
Well, let's just go
back to Revelation 14
00:33:04.70\00:33:06.69
because tonight I'm not
talking about the counterfeit,
00:33:06.72\00:33:09.75
that's another section and
another time and another place.
00:33:09.78\00:33:15.31
But here in Revelation
Chapter 14 as we read on,
00:33:15.34\00:33:19.19
there's a second
message and it says
00:33:19.22\00:33:21.73
"And another
angel followed saying,
00:33:21.76\00:33:24.07
'Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city,
00:33:24.10\00:33:27.74
because she has
made all nations drink
00:33:27.77\00:33:30.84
of the wrath of
her fornication.'"
00:33:30.87\00:33:33.46
Now whatever that's about,
it doesn't sound very good.
00:33:33.49\00:33:37.46
And the Bible says that Babylon
has made the whole world drunk.
00:33:37.49\00:33:43.91
You know, I've had drunk
people coming to my meetings
00:33:43.94\00:33:47.15
over the years
particularly in the winter,
00:33:47.18\00:33:48.93
they want to
come into the meeting
00:33:48.96\00:33:50.00
because it's warm and so forth
00:33:50.03\00:33:51.86
and I often come down
right down to the front seat
00:33:51.89\00:33:55.34
and they sit there
and of course by the time
00:33:55.37\00:33:57.84
they've been
there for about an hour,
00:33:57.87\00:33:59.38
they somewhat
soap it up a little
00:33:59.41\00:34:03.18
and when you get down
and have to talk them,
00:34:03.21\00:34:05.44
oh, they never
gonna touch it again,
00:34:05.47\00:34:07.63
they're sorry
for what they've done
00:34:07.66\00:34:08.95
and then you go
visit them the next day
00:34:08.98\00:34:11.76
to see how they're getting on,
00:34:11.79\00:34:15.17
they can't remember a
single thing that happened.
00:34:15.20\00:34:20.17
Did I go to a meeting?
00:34:20.20\00:34:22.70
In other words
alcohol confuses the brain.
00:34:22.73\00:34:27.27
And that's why the Bible
is giving us a picture here
00:34:27.30\00:34:29.60
that Babylon has
made the world drunk.
00:34:29.63\00:34:34.24
And unless we have the
spirit of God in our hearts,
00:34:34.27\00:34:36.89
we'll never be able to lead men
and women to accept the truth
00:34:36.92\00:34:42.26
and that sets
system of religion,
00:34:42.29\00:34:44.05
Babylon represents
that system of religion
00:34:44.08\00:34:46.42
that began back
there in the beginning
00:34:46.45\00:34:48.05
in the ancient city of Babylon
00:34:48.08\00:34:50.16
and has continued
down through the years
00:34:50.19\00:34:52.30
and is still at the
basis of every false religion.
00:34:52.33\00:34:56.82
Then it talks in verse 9, 10
and 11 about the third message.
00:34:56.85\00:35:02.62
"Then a third
angel followed them
00:35:02.65\00:35:04.21
saying with a loud voice,
00:35:04.24\00:35:05.28
'If anyone worships
the beast and his image
00:35:05.31\00:35:08.35
and receives his mark on
his forehead or on his hand...'"
00:35:08.38\00:35:12.42
This, the fact that
the Bible talks here
00:35:12.45\00:35:15.01
about worship indicates
00:35:15.04\00:35:17.22
that the mark of the beast has
something to do with religion
00:35:17.25\00:35:20.42
because you don't worship...
00:35:20.45\00:35:24.28
Mr. Abbott, do we?
00:35:24.31\00:35:29.12
Then you weren't
tempted to worship Miss Gillard,
00:35:29.15\00:35:32.35
I don't think so.
00:35:32.38\00:35:34.32
Because worship
is not associated
00:35:34.35\00:35:36.70
with the political being,
00:35:36.73\00:35:38.17
worship is associated
with religion and with God.
00:35:38.20\00:35:41.20
Get the idea?
00:35:41.23\00:35:42.77
And here it says that
00:35:42.80\00:35:47.51
if any man worships
the beast and his image,
00:35:47.54\00:35:51.65
its religion, it's
the false religion.
00:35:51.68\00:35:55.97
Remember this is part
of the everlasting gospel.
00:35:56.00\00:35:58.47
I meet some
church members who think
00:35:58.50\00:36:02.12
that the preaching of
this is not that important.
00:36:02.15\00:36:05.56
Let me tell you something.
00:36:05.59\00:36:07.35
If you think that you
are open for deception,
00:36:07.38\00:36:11.10
because this is the last message
00:36:11.13\00:36:12.95
that Jesus gives, remember?
00:36:12.98\00:36:14.69
This message is not from
me or from some other person,
00:36:14.72\00:36:18.23
this is a message from Jesus
00:36:18.26\00:36:20.41
and He wants us to
understand the issues
00:36:20.44\00:36:23.23
because unless we
understand the issues,
00:36:23.26\00:36:25.79
we will be deceived.
00:36:25.82\00:36:28.13
There's nothing more certain.
00:36:28.16\00:36:30.42
And then God talks about those
who get the mark of the beast
00:36:30.45\00:36:33.88
and then He contrasts
it in verse 12 with those
00:36:33.91\00:36:36.68
who get and keep
the commandments of God.
00:36:36.71\00:36:39.93
And whatever the
mark of the beast is,
00:36:39.96\00:36:41.74
it's the very opposite
to the commandments of God.
00:36:41.77\00:36:46.21
If I keep the
commandments of God,
00:36:46.24\00:36:48.74
then I'll never get
the mark of the beast.
00:36:48.77\00:36:51.07
On the other hand if I play fast
00:36:51.10\00:36:53.64
and loose with the commandments,
00:36:53.67\00:36:55.67
then I'm going to
be amongst that group
00:36:55.70\00:36:57.57
who get the mark of the
beast because in the last days,
00:36:57.60\00:37:01.25
there's only two
groups of people,
00:37:01.28\00:37:04.25
before the last
days there's three,
00:37:04.28\00:37:07.47
there's the hot, and the cold
00:37:07.50\00:37:10.58
and what other group is there?
00:37:10.61\00:37:12.54
The lukewarm.
00:37:12.57\00:37:14.27
As we get closer to the
end, the lukewarm disappears,
00:37:14.30\00:37:20.60
and they go one
way or the other.
00:37:20.63\00:37:23.96
They go into the hot
camp or the cold camp
00:37:23.99\00:37:28.88
because in the last
days there's only two groups.
00:37:28.91\00:37:32.86
The hot and the cold.
The sheep and the goat.
00:37:32.89\00:37:35.87
The wheat and the tares.
00:37:35.90\00:37:39.90
And there's
something which divides us all
00:37:39.93\00:37:41.85
into those two
groups and it's this message
00:37:41.88\00:37:45.99
that God has given
to the whole world,
00:37:46.02\00:37:50.63
that's why Peter calls a
message God's present truth.
00:37:50.66\00:37:56.85
What do we mean by
God's present truth?
00:37:56.88\00:38:00.14
Well, there are truths in
the Bible that are always true.
00:38:00.17\00:38:03.10
For example,
00:38:03.13\00:38:05.07
that this book is
God's inspired word
00:38:05.10\00:38:07.01
is always true, isn't it?
00:38:07.04\00:38:08.82
Doesn't matter
what period in history.
00:38:08.85\00:38:11.69
That Jesus died a
complete atoning death
00:38:11.72\00:38:14.73
on the cross is always true.
00:38:14.76\00:38:18.38
But there are
some truths in the book
00:38:18.41\00:38:20.74
that are only true
for a particular period.
00:38:20.77\00:38:23.79
For example, if I came preaching
00:38:23.82\00:38:25.99
the same message
that Noah preached,
00:38:26.02\00:38:27.79
would that be true now?
00:38:27.82\00:38:29.70
The world is going to
be destroyed by a flood,
00:38:29.73\00:38:31.57
would that be true now?
00:38:31.60\00:38:32.64
No.
00:38:32.67\00:38:33.96
But it was true when
Noah preached it, wasn't it?
00:38:33.99\00:38:36.79
It was present truth then
but it's not present truth now.
00:38:36.82\00:38:41.03
And the same is true if I came
and preached the same message
00:38:41.06\00:38:43.73
that John the Baptist preached,
00:38:43.76\00:38:45.62
that's not present truth now.
00:38:45.65\00:38:46.98
It was when John preached it,
but it's not present truth now
00:38:47.01\00:38:50.43
because Jesus has
come the first time.
00:38:50.46\00:38:54.33
This message is
God's present truth today
00:38:54.36\00:38:57.69
because this message has
not been true in the past.
00:38:57.72\00:39:01.42
For example,
00:39:01.45\00:39:03.53
I was brought up in
the Presbyterian Church.
00:39:03.56\00:39:09.40
I don't remember ever hearing
00:39:09.43\00:39:11.68
a single sermon from
the Book of Revelation,
00:39:11.71\00:39:15.06
not a single one, ever.
00:39:15.09\00:39:18.01
And certainly I'd never heard
00:39:18.04\00:39:19.77
of these three angels' messages,
00:39:19.80\00:39:21.69
never.
00:39:21.72\00:39:23.67
It was a shock to me when
I first began to study it,
00:39:23.70\00:39:27.11
I couldn't believe
that it was in the Bible
00:39:27.14\00:39:29.30
and I'd never heard about it.
00:39:29.33\00:39:33.01
And I have looked
through the writings of men
00:39:33.04\00:39:35.15
like Martin Luther
00:39:35.18\00:39:37.82
and John Knox and John Calvin.
00:39:37.85\00:39:43.27
And these-- and John Wesley,
00:39:43.30\00:39:46.03
wonderfully good men,
outstanding individuals,
00:39:46.06\00:39:51.36
but I have never
ever found an emphasis
00:39:51.39\00:39:54.45
on these three
messages in their writings.
00:39:54.48\00:39:57.92
Does that mean that
they weren't good men?
00:39:57.95\00:40:00.86
Does that mean that I
didn't study their Bibles?
00:40:00.89\00:40:04.08
No, I don't think so
and either of those reasons.
00:40:04.11\00:40:08.28
Why didn't Martin
Luther for example
00:40:08.31\00:40:11.45
emphasize the three messages?
00:40:11.48\00:40:15.40
What do you
think? Why didn't he?
00:40:15.43\00:40:17.77
Why didn't Knox
and Calvin talk about?
00:40:17.80\00:40:20.50
In fact, John
Calvin wrote a commentary
00:40:20.53\00:40:22.19
on every book of the Bible
except the Book of Revelation,
00:40:22.22\00:40:24.71
he said I can't understand
the Book of Revelation
00:40:24.74\00:40:26.71
so he never wrote a commentary
on the Book of Revelation.
00:40:26.74\00:40:30.92
So those who
followed John Calvin,
00:40:30.95\00:40:33.00
the Book of
Revelation is closed.
00:40:33.03\00:40:35.34
I notice you've got a
church just up the road here,
00:40:35.37\00:40:37.00
the reform church,
they're Calvinists.
00:40:37.03\00:40:41.70
So why didn't
they? Why didn't they?
00:40:41.73\00:40:49.46
We all admit it's not
because they weren't good men,
00:40:49.49\00:40:52.08
wasn't because they
didn't study their Bible.
00:40:52.11\00:40:54.04
Why didn't they
preach the three messages?
00:40:54.07\00:40:58.44
Yes, because it
wasn't yet due, that's why?
00:40:58.47\00:41:02.61
God didn't lay that
burden upon their hearts
00:41:02.64\00:41:05.43
because that
message wasn't yet due.
00:41:05.46\00:41:08.85
There are other
essential messages
00:41:08.88\00:41:10.65
that had to be laid down first
00:41:10.68\00:41:12.66
before this
message could be given.
00:41:12.69\00:41:15.68
That's why they never told it,
00:41:15.71\00:41:17.40
that's why you can
read in their messages
00:41:17.43\00:41:20.21
and listen to their sermons
00:41:20.24\00:41:21.52
and you'll never
find any reference to it.
00:41:21.55\00:41:24.01
But I believe if
they were alive today,
00:41:24.04\00:41:26.14
they would be amongst
the foremost preachers
00:41:26.17\00:41:28.42
of these messages.
00:41:28.45\00:41:31.60
Because now the time is due,
00:41:31.63\00:41:33.90
it wouldn't be true
in Luther's day to say
00:41:33.93\00:41:35.58
that Jesus is coming soon.
00:41:35.61\00:41:38.26
But now it is.
00:41:38.29\00:41:41.17
And I know that this
message is going to triumph,
00:41:41.20\00:41:43.16
how do I know that?
00:41:43.19\00:41:44.22
Just come over to Revelation
Chapter 15, look at this.
00:41:44.25\00:41:47.21
Revelation Chapter 15...
00:41:47.24\00:41:51.19
and verse 2 and 3, look,
Revelation 15 and it says,
00:41:51.22\00:41:57.11
"And I saw something like a
sea of glass mingled with fire
00:41:57.14\00:42:00.75
and those who had the
victory over the beast,
00:42:00.78\00:42:04.63
over his image,
and over his mark,
00:42:04.66\00:42:06.43
and over the number of his name,
00:42:06.46\00:42:08.46
standing on the sea of
glass, having the harps of God,
00:42:08.49\00:42:11.75
they sing the song of
Moses the servant of God,
00:42:11.78\00:42:14.82
and the song of the Lamb."
00:42:14.85\00:42:16.09
The only people that are
saved in the last days are those
00:42:16.12\00:42:19.95
who get the victory over
the beast and over his image
00:42:19.98\00:42:22.64
and over the number of his name.
00:42:22.67\00:42:24.31
It's the only
message that tells people
00:42:24.34\00:42:26.90
about those things
is these three messages.
00:42:26.93\00:42:31.34
And that's the responsibility
00:42:31.37\00:42:32.80
that God has given
to us as His people.
00:42:32.83\00:42:37.28
That's the special message
that Seventh-day Adventist have
00:42:37.31\00:42:40.89
to give to the world.
00:42:40.92\00:42:42.35
That's why God has
raised this message up,
00:42:42.38\00:42:46.41
to preach these three messages.
00:42:46.44\00:42:48.38
That's what makes us
different to the Baptists
00:42:48.41\00:42:50.25
and the Pentecostals.
00:42:50.28\00:42:53.32
We have a different message
00:42:53.35\00:42:55.52
and you'll never find
this message in those churches.
00:42:55.55\00:42:58.42
And I'm not
saying that critically,
00:42:58.45\00:42:59.79
I'm just telling you the truth.
00:42:59.82\00:43:02.15
Only as we
understand these three messages,
00:43:02.18\00:43:05.11
this is the message
that Jesus has given to us,
00:43:05.14\00:43:08.22
to preach to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:43:08.25\00:43:13.10
It's more than what
those churches teach.
00:43:13.13\00:43:20.49
That's why God is
laying upon men and women today
00:43:20.52\00:43:24.09
a tremendous burden in God's
church to share this truth.
00:43:24.12\00:43:29.89
And I want to tell you friends
that the things are heating up,
00:43:29.92\00:43:35.67
I just want to share
with you one or two things
00:43:35.70\00:43:37.60
to encourage you tonight
00:43:37.63\00:43:39.28
that we're not following
cunningly devised fables.
00:43:39.31\00:43:42.06
I want to read you
just a couple of headlines
00:43:42.09\00:43:44.57
that'd been in
the papers recently.
00:43:44.60\00:43:48.69
Says here, the Catholic Church
recognizes Protestant baptism.
00:43:48.72\00:43:53.57
It's one of the headings.
00:43:53.60\00:43:54.73
Another heading,
00:43:54.76\00:43:55.82
3.5 million Protestants take
a step in reconciling with Rome
00:43:55.85\00:44:01.60
with many others to follow.
00:44:01.63\00:44:06.04
Now we ought to understand
that this is a wake up call.
00:44:06.07\00:44:11.66
You know, if you
were being living
00:44:11.69\00:44:12.72
back in the days of Noah,
00:44:12.75\00:44:13.95
and I've often
thought about this,
00:44:13.98\00:44:15.23
and I'm sure you've
thought about it too.
00:44:15.26\00:44:16.97
You imagine you're living in
the time of Noah and suddenly,
00:44:17.00\00:44:20.96
you see all these
animals walking along the road,
00:44:20.99\00:44:23.61
some by sevens and some by twos,
00:44:23.64\00:44:26.12
you see
elephants and rhinoceroses,
00:44:26.15\00:44:30.03
and you see zebras and donkeys,
00:44:30.17\00:44:35.21
and all these animals all
walking in a file going up
00:44:35.24\00:44:40.28
directed by nobody
seemingly going up into the Ark.
00:44:40.31\00:44:45.16
If you'd been living
there, what would you say?
00:44:45.19\00:44:46.79
What's going on?
Wouldn't you say that?
00:44:46.82\00:44:50.22
I would have, I'm sure.
00:44:50.25\00:44:52.41
Whatever is going on?
00:44:52.44\00:44:54.02
This has never happened before.
00:44:54.05\00:44:55.90
Whatever is this?
00:44:55.93\00:45:00.37
I would like to say today
00:45:00.40\00:45:01.87
that we see the
animals walking into the Ark
00:45:01.90\00:45:05.32
and we ought to be
saying, what's going on?
00:45:05.35\00:45:08.59
This is a sign to us
00:45:08.62\00:45:10.77
like the animals were to
the ancient diluvium world,
00:45:10.80\00:45:13.97
this is sign to us.
00:45:14.00\00:45:17.94
Yet many of us
00:45:17.97\00:45:20.11
find regular Bible
study and prayer difficult.
00:45:20.14\00:45:23.74
We're never late for work
but we find it very difficult
00:45:23.77\00:45:26.44
to get to
Sabbath school on time.
00:45:26.47\00:45:32.10
And I want to
tell you something,
00:45:32.13\00:45:33.49
that's a breed of young people.
00:45:33.52\00:45:38.33
It's one of the
faults of young people.
00:45:38.36\00:45:41.72
Now you don't have many
faults, but that's one of them,
00:45:41.75\00:45:44.43
to be late for Sabbath school.
00:45:44.46\00:45:46.34
Some folk find it very hard
even to get to church on time.
00:45:46.37\00:45:51.78
And yet you'd
never be late for work
00:45:51.81\00:45:55.24
because you may get the sack.
00:45:55.27\00:45:58.02
But we're so casual
when it comes to God,
00:45:58.05\00:46:00.02
what is the matter
with half an hour late
00:46:00.05\00:46:02.03
or an hour late,
00:46:02.06\00:46:03.27
what does it matter?
00:46:03.30\00:46:07.13
We're getting ready
for the coming of Jesus,
00:46:07.16\00:46:08.97
don't lie to yourself.
00:46:09.00\00:46:13.08
The only person you
are deceiving is yourself.
00:46:13.11\00:46:18.06
I was over in Zagreb
running some meetings
00:46:18.09\00:46:20.91
couple of years
ago, two-three years ago,
00:46:20.94\00:46:24.34
while I was there in
mid winter in January,
00:46:24.37\00:46:30.23
they passed a law in
Zagreb, a Sunday law,
00:46:30.26\00:46:37.51
that Sunday law was to
close all the shops on Sunday.
00:46:37.54\00:46:42.39
Now any Adventist that
hears such a law being passed,
00:46:42.42\00:46:47.06
the bells begin to
ring, isn't that right?
00:46:47.09\00:46:50.09
Now there was a very good reason
00:46:50.12\00:46:51.76
why they said that they
were closing the shops on Sunday
00:46:51.79\00:46:55.19
and it wasn't because they said
00:46:55.22\00:46:57.20
we want to bring the
mark of the beast in.
00:46:57.23\00:47:01.03
That's not the
reason they gave at all.
00:47:01.06\00:47:04.37
The reason they gave
was that shopkeepers ought
00:47:04.40\00:47:07.88
to have one day a rest a week.
00:47:07.91\00:47:10.08
Doesn't that sound reasonable?
00:47:10.11\00:47:13.06
It does sound reasonable
00:47:13.09\00:47:15.07
and you find it very
hard to argue against that.
00:47:15.10\00:47:19.15
But this is the way
it's going to brought in,
00:47:19.18\00:47:20.92
it's not gonna be--
00:47:20.95\00:47:22.48
suddenly we go to bed by night
00:47:22.51\00:47:23.94
and then we wake
up in the morning
00:47:23.97\00:47:25.31
and the Sunday law is in.
00:47:25.34\00:47:27.70
It's not going to be like that.
00:47:27.73\00:47:29.68
It's gradually,
gradually, gradually gets in.
00:47:29.71\00:47:32.14
You may have seen this headline.
00:47:32.17\00:47:34.76
Catholic Church and trade unions
00:47:34.79\00:47:37.23
form a holy alliance to
enforce Sunday observance
00:47:37.26\00:47:40.82
in the battle for Sunday.
00:47:40.85\00:47:42.42
And as you read on it
says, trade unions across Europe
00:47:42.45\00:47:45.18
held small protests calling for
governments to force companies
00:47:45.21\00:47:49.72
and shops to shut on Sunday,
00:47:49.75\00:47:52.09
as Catholic preachers supported
the campaign from the pulpit.
00:47:52.12\00:47:57.31
Religious groups
and trade unions,
00:47:57.34\00:47:58.90
organized under the banner
of the European Sunday Alliance,
00:47:58.93\00:48:02.09
then it gives you
all the reference for
00:48:02.12\00:48:04.66
the www and so forth.
00:48:04.69\00:48:06.57
We believe they'll go on to say,
00:48:06.60\00:48:08.88
that all citizens
of the European Union
00:48:08.91\00:48:11.24
are entitled to benefit
from decent working hours that,
00:48:11.27\00:48:14.19
as a matter of principle,
exclude working late evenings,
00:48:14.22\00:48:17.23
nights, public
holidays and Sundays,
00:48:17.26\00:48:19.97
wrote the
European Sunday Alliance.
00:48:20.00\00:48:22.94
Only essential services
should operate on Sundays.
00:48:22.97\00:48:28.19
That's going on today.
00:48:28.22\00:48:31.01
And gradually, gradually,
00:48:31.04\00:48:32.43
the frog that's been boiled,
00:48:32.46\00:48:34.83
the water is getting
hotter and hotter and hotter.
00:48:34.86\00:48:41.43
We have a new
pope, a Jesuit pope.
00:48:41.46\00:48:47.21
The first time in history
00:48:47.24\00:48:51.93
that a Jesuit
has become the pope.
00:48:51.96\00:48:56.57
And I tell you he's
an impressive person
00:48:56.60\00:48:58.87
because he is selling himself
00:48:58.90\00:49:01.10
on the fact that
he takes the bus.
00:49:01.13\00:49:04.08
He doesn't even
drive in the pope mobile.
00:49:04.11\00:49:06.85
He catches the bus
00:49:06.88\00:49:08.28
because he wants to
be like everybody else.
00:49:08.31\00:49:10.63
When they offered him a
beautiful apartment in Rome,
00:49:10.66\00:49:13.00
no, he said I just
want a very simple one.
00:49:13.03\00:49:19.01
People said what a
marvelous man is this?
00:49:19.04\00:49:24.02
What a humble man he is.
00:49:24.05\00:49:26.91
Another picture
I saw in the paper
00:49:26.94\00:49:28.82
was he went to a juvenile prison
00:49:28.85\00:49:31.49
and there he is washing
the juvenile's prisoner's feet
00:49:31.52\00:49:37.14
and he is kissing their feet.
00:49:37.17\00:49:40.82
A humble man.
00:49:40.85\00:49:44.04
Now I want to
read you something.
00:49:44.07\00:49:47.28
Listen to this.
00:49:47.31\00:49:51.88
"Throughout Christendom,
00:49:51.91\00:49:52.95
Protestantism was
menaced by formidable foes.
00:49:52.98\00:49:56.55
The first triumphs
of the Reformation past,
00:49:56.58\00:49:58.90
Rome summoned new forces,
00:49:58.93\00:50:00.66
hoping to
accomplish its destruction.
00:50:00.69\00:50:02.79
At this time, the order
of the Jesuits was created,
00:50:02.82\00:50:05.74
the most cruel, unscrupulous,
00:50:05.77\00:50:07.94
and powerful of all
the champions of popery.
00:50:07.97\00:50:11.56
Cut off from earthly
ties and human interests,
00:50:11.59\00:50:13.98
dead to the claims
of natural affection,
00:50:14.01\00:50:16.26
reason and
conscience wholly silenced,
00:50:16.29\00:50:18.77
they knew no rule, no
tie, but that of their order,
00:50:18.80\00:50:22.32
and no duty but
to extend its power.
00:50:22.35\00:50:25.52
The gospel of Christ
had enable its adherents
00:50:25.55\00:50:27.79
to meet danger
and endure suffering,
00:50:27.82\00:50:30.12
undismayed by cold,
hunger, toil, and poverty,
00:50:30.15\00:50:32.98
to uphold the banner of
truth in the face of the rack,
00:50:33.01\00:50:35.61
and the dungeon, and the stake.
00:50:35.64\00:50:36.99
There was no crime too
great for them to commit,
00:50:37.02\00:50:39.95
no deception too
base for them to assume."
00:50:39.98\00:50:43.46
Then it says over here,
00:50:43.49\00:50:44.67
"When appearing as
members of their order,
00:50:44.70\00:50:47.39
they wore a garb of sanctity,
visiting prisons and hospitals,
00:50:47.42\00:50:54.68
ministering to
the sick and the poor,
00:50:54.71\00:50:56.56
professing to have
renounced the world,
00:50:56.59\00:50:58.70
and bearing the
sacred name of Jesus,
00:50:58.73\00:51:00.78
who went about doing good.
00:51:00.81\00:51:02.39
But under this
blameless exterior
00:51:02.42\00:51:04.19
the most criminal
and deadly purposes
00:51:04.22\00:51:06.59
were often concealed.
00:51:06.62\00:51:07.78
It was a fundamental
principle of the order
00:51:07.81\00:51:09.91
that the end
justifies the means."
00:51:09.94\00:51:12.16
You know where that comes from?
00:51:12.19\00:51:14.36
Great Controversy.
00:51:14.39\00:51:17.71
She wrote that
over 100 years ago,
00:51:17.74\00:51:20.30
that's what the
purpose of the Jesuits,
00:51:20.33\00:51:22.43
today this pope is
doing the very thing
00:51:22.46\00:51:25.37
that she has outlined
there in Great Controversy.
00:51:25.40\00:51:28.95
Today we are seeing
the frog is being boiled,
00:51:28.98\00:51:32.10
bit by bit by bit.
00:51:32.13\00:51:34.97
And today in view of the fact
00:51:35.00\00:51:37.77
that we are living in
the hours in which we live
00:51:37.80\00:51:42.14
God is calling
upon us to be faithful
00:51:42.17\00:51:44.45
and to give our
hearts in service for Him.
00:51:44.48\00:51:47.91
And as young people
00:51:47.94\00:51:48.99
God wants us to give
our life in service for Him
00:51:49.02\00:51:52.12
and you have energy and drive
00:51:52.15\00:51:54.24
and everything else that's
good to give to God's service
00:51:54.27\00:51:57.06
and if there's ever an
hour in earth's history
00:51:57.09\00:51:59.07
when God needs you, it is today,
00:51:59.10\00:52:01.81
while we have an opportunity.
00:52:01.84\00:52:03.71