What does the future hold?
00:00:01.36\00:00:02.70
Where can we find certainty
in a world of uncertainty?
00:00:02.73\00:00:05.47
The book of Revelation provides
helpful answers for today,
00:00:05.50\00:00:09.24
tomorrow, and forever.
00:00:09.27\00:00:10.97
Join Mark Finley, author
and world renowned speaker,
00:00:11.01\00:00:14.61
on a journey
into the future with
00:00:14.64\00:00:16.88
Welcome back. We're
journeying through the book
00:00:23.49\00:00:25.59
of Revelation together.
00:00:25.62\00:00:26.96
One of the topics in the
book of Revelation that really
00:00:26.99\00:00:30.53
confuses many people is
the topic of Armageddon.
00:00:30.56\00:00:33.83
What is Armageddon?
00:00:33.86\00:00:35.20
Is it an earthly conflict?
00:00:35.23\00:00:37.23
Is it nations going at
war, facing one another?
00:00:37.27\00:00:42.44
Will Armageddon begin in
Jerusalem and then burst forth
00:00:42.47\00:00:46.81
throughout the world?
00:00:46.88\00:00:48.21
We're going to study the
book of Revelation, chapters 15
00:00:48.24\00:00:51.71
and 16 especially, and discover
the truth about Armageddon.
00:00:51.75\00:00:55.38
Let's pray. Father in Heaven, we
thank You so much that in spite
00:00:55.42\00:01:00.12
of this world's
confusion and conflict,
00:01:00.16\00:01:02.82
that Jesus is still in control.
00:01:02.86\00:01:04.89
As we study this topic of
Armageddon, we pray that You
00:01:04.93\00:01:09.30
would enlighten our
minds, and give us hope.
00:01:09.33\00:01:11.90
In Christ's name, Amen.
00:01:11.93\00:01:14.50
This presentation is entitled,
00:01:14.54\00:01:17.44
As you look around the world
there are some traumatic things
00:01:22.58\00:01:27.48
that are taking place:
earthquakes, hurricanes,
00:01:27.52\00:01:32.05
tornadoes, Tsunami disasters.
00:01:32.09\00:01:35.86
And in this context
people are wondering,
00:01:35.89\00:01:38.96
what does the future hold?
00:01:38.99\00:01:41.56
Where is this world headed?
00:01:41.60\00:01:44.10
Think of some of
the conflagrations,
00:01:44.13\00:01:46.90
the fires that have taken
place, particularly in the
00:01:46.94\00:01:50.27
West Coast of America: hundreds,
thousands of acres that have
00:01:50.31\00:01:55.58
been burned, or consider
the rumbling of the earth,
00:01:55.61\00:02:00.82
volcanic eruptions that
have destroyed entire villages.
00:02:00.85\00:02:05.99
What does the future hold?
00:02:06.02\00:02:08.46
Where is this world headed?
00:02:08.49\00:02:10.86
In the book of Revelation the
16th chapter, the Bible talks
00:02:10.89\00:02:15.86
about the battle of
Armageddon; earth's last war.
00:02:15.90\00:02:19.80
But that does lead
us to some questions.
00:02:19.83\00:02:22.60
What is Armageddon?
00:02:22.67\00:02:24.47
Where will it be fought?
00:02:24.51\00:02:26.37
Who will fight? Truth
is stranger than fiction.
00:02:26.41\00:02:30.65
And to understand the battle
of Armageddon, it's necessary to
00:02:30.68\00:02:34.18
understand a larger conflict, a
conflict between good and evil,
00:02:34.22\00:02:38.62
a conflict
between Christ and Satan.
00:02:38.65\00:02:41.22
We are on the verge in the
world of a financial crisis.
00:02:41.29\00:02:46.26
Will that economic collapse lead
nations to coalesce and come
00:02:46.29\00:02:53.00
together with a political,
religious, and financial union
00:02:53.03\00:02:58.74
to try to save the world?
00:02:58.77\00:03:00.11
When you consider earthquakes,
famines, fires, flood,
00:03:00.14\00:03:03.65
when you consider
worldwide terrorism,
00:03:03.68\00:03:06.28
when you consider the financial
issues that our world is facing,
00:03:06.31\00:03:10.52
and when you add to that the
tension between nations and the
00:03:10.55\00:03:14.69
global conflict, you almost
wonder if the stage is being set
00:03:14.72\00:03:19.46
for the rise of a
universal world ruler.
00:03:19.49\00:03:23.37
You also wonder if
these economic problems,
00:03:23.40\00:03:27.24
the global conflict, the natural
disasters, will bring together
00:03:27.27\00:03:31.57
a coordination, a
consolidation of nations?
00:03:31.61\00:03:35.44
And then will that break
apart and lead to Armageddon?
00:03:35.48\00:03:38.28
How will earth's
last scenes develop?
00:03:38.31\00:03:41.45
Now fortunately we
don't have to guess.
00:03:41.48\00:03:44.52
Fortunately, the book of
Revelation reveals to us the
00:03:44.55\00:03:48.72
last scenes of earth's history.
00:03:48.76\00:03:50.09
Let's go back to
Revelation, the 14th chapter.
00:03:50.13\00:03:52.83
We've been studying
that in this series.
00:03:52.86\00:03:54.90
This is the very heart
of the book of Revelation.
00:03:54.93\00:03:57.33
Now notice, an angel
flies in the middle of heaven.
00:04:10.01\00:04:13.68
Here's an urgent
end time message.
00:04:13.72\00:04:16.25
This message is to leap
across geographical boundaries.
00:04:16.28\00:04:19.75
It's to go to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:04:19.79\00:04:23.22
It is a universal message.
00:04:23.26\00:04:25.16
But the Bible goes on.
00:04:25.19\00:04:27.06
The angel says with
a loud voice, Fear,...
00:04:27.10\00:04:30.23
Respect, give
reverence, or obey God.
00:04:30.27\00:04:32.67
So here's a
message for end time.
00:04:43.35\00:04:45.78
It's a message for all humanity.
00:04:45.81\00:04:48.18
It's a judgment hour
message for a people on
00:04:48.25\00:04:51.85
the verge of eternity.
00:04:51.89\00:04:53.56
Then in this message, deeply
embedded within the heart of
00:04:53.62\00:04:57.93
this message there
is a call, a call to
00:04:57.96\00:05:01.70
So here's a call to worship
00:05:06.94\00:05:09.60
Here's a call, in an age of
evolution, to worship the One
00:05:11.57\00:05:16.14
that made heaven, and earth, and
sea, and fountains of waters.
00:05:16.21\00:05:20.38
How do we worship the Creator?
00:05:20.42\00:05:22.95
You remember Revelation 4:11
says, Thou art worthy, O Lord,
00:05:22.98\00:05:28.02
to receive glory,
and honor, and power,
00:05:28.06\00:05:30.69
for You've created all things.
00:05:30.73\00:05:32.56
How do we worship the Creator?
00:05:32.59\00:05:34.33
Has our Lord given us a
sign of His creative authority?
00:05:34.36\00:05:39.27
The seventh day of the
week, given by God at creation,
00:05:40.90\00:05:45.24
reveals just how we
worship the Creator.
00:05:45.27\00:05:49.91
The Sabbath is the sign
of God's creative authority.
00:05:49.94\00:05:54.45
The Sabbath is the sign,
or symbol, that God created
00:05:54.48\00:05:58.95
the world in six days,
and rested the seventh,
00:05:58.99\00:06:01.82
and that we did not evolve.
00:06:01.89\00:06:05.13
There is a conflict over worship
in the book of Revelation.
00:06:05.16\00:06:09.83
In fact, in Revelation
there are two worships.
00:06:09.86\00:06:12.97
Now notice in the book of
00:06:29.68\00:06:32.35
So the final conflict in this
earth's history comes over the
00:06:42.36\00:06:46.17
subject of worship.
00:06:46.20\00:06:48.90
between two kinds of worship.
00:06:51.74\00:06:53.61
That has been true
down thru the centuries.
00:06:55.98\00:06:59.18
When you look at the Old
Testament, men and women had a
00:06:59.21\00:07:03.18
conflict over worship.
00:07:03.22\00:07:05.39
It's not so much a physical
battle between nations, but
00:07:10.99\00:07:15.93
Think about it. Down through
the centuries the Israelites
00:07:21.24\00:07:25.11
worshipped the true God.
00:07:25.14\00:07:26.47
The pagan heathen
tribes worshipped idols;
00:07:26.51\00:07:30.81
a struggle over worship.
00:07:30.85\00:07:32.61
The Israelites
worshiped on the Sabbath.
00:07:32.65\00:07:36.52
Their opposition, the
heathen, worshipped the sun god.
00:07:36.55\00:07:43.02
So, again, this
struggle over worship.
00:07:43.06\00:07:46.33
The false gods,
and the true God.
00:07:46.36\00:07:48.60
The false Sabbath,
and the true Sabbath.
00:07:48.63\00:07:52.60
Each of these was
00:07:52.63\00:07:54.60
Worshipping the
true God, or false gods.
00:07:56.30\00:07:58.87
Worshipping on the true
Sabbath, or false Sabbath.
00:07:58.94\00:08:01.54
There was a much
larger issue here.
00:08:01.61\00:08:03.65
In the great controversy between
good and evil, in the great
00:08:03.68\00:08:07.25
controversy
between Christ and Satan,
00:08:07.28\00:08:09.15
in this great controversy
that began millenniums ago
00:08:09.18\00:08:13.92
in Heaven, that focused
on earth, with Adam and Eve
00:08:13.96\00:08:18.59
in the garden, the issue has
always been, Will I trust God,
00:08:18.66\00:08:23.67
will I sense
that God is supreme?
00:08:23.70\00:08:26.77
Will I give my
allegiance to Him?
00:08:26.80\00:08:29.77
Will I obey Him? And
will I worship Him alone?
00:08:29.80\00:08:33.61
When Adam and Eve
sinned in the Garden of Eden,
00:08:33.64\00:08:37.41
and disobeyed God,
they aligned themselves
00:08:37.45\00:08:40.82
with Satan in false worship.
00:08:40.85\00:08:43.32
Fortunately, God
did not let them go,
00:08:43.35\00:08:46.02
and He came to the garden
and gave them that Eden promise;
00:08:46.05\00:08:48.99
the promise of a Messiah.
00:08:49.02\00:08:50.63
When Israel drifted away
from God, and they worshipped
00:08:50.66\00:08:55.06
in harmony with the heathen,
and intermarried, and at times
00:08:55.10\00:08:59.00
worshipped idols, when that
happened they aligned themself
00:08:59.03\00:09:02.87
with false worship
rather than true worship.
00:09:02.90\00:09:06.07
In the controversy throughout
the Old Testament between the
00:09:06.11\00:09:11.35
people of God, and the heathen,
when you look at the whole idea
00:09:11.38\00:09:16.58
of sun worship of the Egyptians,
and sun worship of the
00:09:16.62\00:09:19.99
Babylonians, and sun worship
of the Persians, and you compare
00:09:20.06\00:09:23.73
that to Sabbath worship, again
the issue is a test of loyalty
00:09:23.76\00:09:29.43
between the true
God, and the false gods.
00:09:29.46\00:09:33.20
You find that in Daniel 3, when
Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden
00:09:33.23\00:09:38.67
image, and
commands all to come before
00:09:38.71\00:09:42.64
that image to worship.
00:09:42.68\00:09:44.75
There was a universal decree
established by a universal
00:09:44.78\00:09:50.35
world ruler inviting, I said
inviting? commanding all the
00:09:50.39\00:09:55.92
nation to come to
worship the golden image.
00:09:55.96\00:09:58.83
Now you remember, in
Daniel 2, God had given an
00:09:58.86\00:10:01.66
outline of history, an
image whose head was of gold,
00:10:01.70\00:10:04.93
breast and arms of silver,
thighs of brass, legs of iron,
00:10:04.97\00:10:08.47
and feet of iron and clay.
00:10:08.50\00:10:09.84
God's directions throughout
history, God's unfolding of
00:10:09.87\00:10:15.21
history was given in Daniel 2.
00:10:15.24\00:10:17.75
But
Nebuchadnezzar didn't like that.
00:10:17.78\00:10:20.12
He didn't want the head to
be of gold, then another nation,
00:10:20.18\00:10:22.75
breasts and iron of
silver, Medo Persia.
00:10:22.78\00:10:24.65
He wanted the whole image to be
of gold, because he wanted his
00:10:24.69\00:10:27.69
kingdom to rule
forever, and ever.
00:10:27.72\00:10:30.33
So he sets up a counterfeit
image, commands worship
00:10:30.36\00:10:34.20
to that image, and
there is a test of loyalty.
00:10:34.23\00:10:37.37
Now on that point the first
and second commandments were the
00:10:37.40\00:10:42.80
visible manifestation of that
test: Thou shalt have no other
00:10:42.84\00:10:45.77
Gods before Me, and
Thou shalt not make unto
00:10:45.84\00:10:48.24
thee any graven image.
00:10:48.28\00:10:49.61
For Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, the three Hebrews
00:10:49.64\00:10:53.42
to bow down, they would
have been bowing down in false,
00:10:53.45\00:10:57.45
or in counterfeit worship.
00:10:57.49\00:10:59.22
They could not do this.
00:10:59.25\00:11:00.92
So down through the centuries,
the real issue is worship.
00:11:00.96\00:11:04.79
We will see again the
issue will be worship,
00:11:18.64\00:11:22.64
true and false worship.
00:11:22.68\00:11:24.48
Now there is something that's
a little confusing to some
00:11:24.51\00:11:27.52
people here, because they say
the wrath of God is complete.
00:11:27.55\00:11:30.55
Is God's wrath His anger?
00:11:32.89\00:11:36.56
Is God an angry God?
00:11:36.59\00:11:39.29
In the Bible the expression,
00:11:39.33\00:11:41.86
So God's wrath is
always God's judgment.
00:11:49.57\00:11:52.87
God is just, and He's merciful.
00:11:52.94\00:11:56.08
At the cross we
see the justice of God.
00:11:56.11\00:11:59.31
Christ bears the sins
of this world Himself.
00:11:59.38\00:12:01.88
But we also see on the
cross the mercy of God reaching
00:12:01.95\00:12:06.69
out to save lost sinners.
00:12:06.72\00:12:08.52
So what is God's wrath?
00:12:08.56\00:12:10.86
It's His judgment upon sin.
00:12:10.89\00:12:13.09
Now according to the book
of Revelation, how will these
00:12:13.13\00:12:17.33
events unfold at end
time, and what are these
00:12:17.37\00:12:22.80
events that will unfold?
00:12:22.84\00:12:25.14
Often you'll read about
certain events that supposedly
00:12:25.17\00:12:30.08
are going to unfold.
00:12:30.11\00:12:31.45
Some people say
there will be a rapture,
00:12:31.48\00:12:34.88
then there'll be a tribulation,
that God's people will not go
00:12:34.92\00:12:38.69
through the seven
last plagues, and they will
00:12:38.72\00:12:41.42
not face Armageddon.
00:12:41.46\00:12:42.96
Other people have
various scenarios.
00:12:42.99\00:12:46.09
But I love that old
poem, What Says the Bible,
00:12:46.13\00:12:49.40
the Blessed Bible To Me?
00:12:49.43\00:12:51.20
This, my only question
be, What says the Bible,
00:12:51.23\00:12:55.70
the blessed Bible to me?
00:12:55.77\00:12:58.34
What are the end
events outlined in Scripture?
00:12:58.37\00:13:01.21
before the end. Matthew 24:14
says, This gospel of the kingdom
00:13:04.91\00:13:10.19
will be preached to all
the world as a witness to all
00:13:10.22\00:13:13.42
nations; then the end will come.
00:13:13.46\00:13:15.42
2 Peter 3:9 says that
God is long suffering,
00:13:15.46\00:13:20.13
not willing that any should
perish, but that all should
00:13:20.16\00:13:24.10
come to repentance.
00:13:24.13\00:13:25.47
Revelation 14:6 says, I saw
another angel fly in the midst
00:13:25.50\00:13:28.80
of heaven, with the everlasting
gospel to preach to those that
00:13:28.84\00:13:32.34
dwell on the earth,
to every nation, kindred,
00:13:32.37\00:13:34.08
tongue, and people.
00:13:34.11\00:13:35.44
So before the coming of
Christ, it's clear in the Bible,
00:13:35.48\00:13:37.91
that Jesus wants to
save every human being.
00:13:37.95\00:13:40.62
And so the message of His love,
and grace, and truth goes out
00:13:40.65\00:13:47.32
to the end of the world.
00:13:47.36\00:13:50.09
Every human being on planet
earth will have sufficient
00:13:54.76\00:13:59.23
evidence to make a
choice for or against Christ,
00:13:59.27\00:14:02.90
to make a choice for
true worship or false worship,
00:14:02.94\00:14:06.44
to make a choice over
who they're going to worship.
00:14:06.47\00:14:09.91
When every human
being has had that choice,
00:14:09.94\00:14:12.61
Do you remember again Revelation
14:7, Fear God, and give glory
00:14:17.65\00:14:22.39
to Him; for the hour of His
judgment is come: and worship
00:14:22.42\00:14:25.26
Him... Worship the Creator,
who made heaven and earth.
00:14:25.29\00:14:28.06
Revelation 14:9, If
any man worships the beast,
00:14:28.10\00:14:32.33
he will receive
the wrath of God.
00:14:32.40\00:14:34.57
And what's that?
That's the judgment of God.
00:14:34.60\00:14:36.74
Revelation 14:12. Here are
they that keep the commandments
00:14:36.77\00:14:42.74
of God, and have
the faith of Jesus.
00:14:42.78\00:14:44.88
So verse 7, Revelation
14, Worship the Creator.
00:14:44.91\00:14:48.48
Verse 9, Revelation
14, Don't worship the what?
00:14:48.52\00:14:52.05
That's right!
Don't worship the beast.
00:14:52.09\00:14:53.62
And those that worship the
Creator, and don't worship the
00:14:53.66\00:14:56.83
beast, what do they do?
00:14:56.86\00:14:58.39
They have the faith of Jesus.
00:14:58.43\00:15:00.63
The quality of faith of Christ
is living in their hearts,
00:15:00.66\00:15:03.13
and they keep the
commandments of God.
00:15:03.16\00:15:07.00
So before Armageddon,
before the seven last plagues,
00:15:07.04\00:15:13.58
every human being will have an
opportunity to decide who they
00:15:13.61\00:15:19.11
are going to worship.
00:15:19.15\00:15:20.48
They've heard the call of God.
00:15:25.35\00:15:27.86
Revelation 12:17, The dragon,
Satan, is angry with the woman,
00:15:27.89\00:15:33.46
and goes to make war
with the remnant of her seed,
00:15:33.50\00:15:36.56
those who keep the
commandments of God,
00:15:36.60\00:15:39.33
and have the testimony of Jesus.
00:15:39.37\00:15:40.84
So the devil is
going to be really angry.
00:15:40.87\00:15:43.34
He is going to be stirred up.
00:15:43.37\00:15:45.01
He's going to want to
destroy the people of God.
00:15:45.04\00:15:48.48
That's why he prompts
nations at a time of economic,
00:15:48.51\00:15:53.15
political chaos,
and natural disasters,
00:15:53.18\00:15:57.35
to come together
in a confederacy.
00:15:57.39\00:16:00.39
But what does the Bible
say as that confederacy forms?
00:16:00.42\00:16:03.09
Isaiah 8:20, To the law and
to the testimony; if they speak
00:16:03.12\00:16:07.76
not according to His
Word, there is no light in them.
00:16:07.80\00:16:10.20
So this coordination
of nations comes together.
00:16:10.23\00:16:14.37
A powerful world ruler
arises, chaos is everywhere,
00:16:14.40\00:16:18.37
economic disaster
everywhere, political disaster,
00:16:18.41\00:16:22.31
uncertainty
everywhere in this world,
00:16:22.34\00:16:25.31
financial
collapse, natural disasters.
00:16:25.35\00:16:28.25
And as this large coordination
consolidation takes place,
00:16:28.28\00:16:33.62
with a single world ruler, Jesus
says, A confederacy shall they
00:16:33.66\00:16:39.23
not make, Isaiah 8.
00:16:39.26\00:16:40.86
You, My people, lovingly obey
Me, follow the light of My law.
00:16:40.90\00:16:45.77
So men and women committed
to Christ, sold out to Christ,
00:16:45.83\00:16:50.67
are not intimidated.
00:16:50.71\00:16:52.04
There is a false decree passed
over the whole issue of worship.
00:16:52.07\00:16:56.01
And when every human being has
had their opportunity to make
00:16:56.04\00:17:00.05
their final choice, the seven
last plagues are poured out.
00:17:00.12\00:17:03.79
Now very many people have a
very difficult time with the
00:17:03.82\00:17:07.49
plagues because they
say, How do you harmonize
00:17:07.52\00:17:09.62
the seven last
plagues with the love of God?
00:17:09.66\00:17:12.33
And I want to share
with you how you can see in
00:17:12.36\00:17:15.00
those plagues God's love.
00:17:15.03\00:17:17.27
At the end of those
plagues Christ comes to
00:17:17.30\00:17:19.77
deliver His people.
00:17:19.80\00:17:21.14
Now somebody says, Pastor
Mark, do you mean that the
00:17:21.17\00:17:24.07
people of God actually
go through the plagues?
00:17:24.11\00:17:27.24
What we'll see is
that our faith deepens.
00:17:27.28\00:17:30.75
God's people are not
delivered before the plagues...
00:17:30.78\00:17:35.32
And we'll show you that from
the Bible in this presentation.
00:17:35.38\00:17:37.75
...but they are
protected during the plagues.
00:17:37.79\00:17:41.52
The plagues do not
afflict them and destroy them,
00:17:41.56\00:17:45.23
because Jesus is
there to protect them.
00:17:45.29\00:17:47.80
Now notice clearly
what the Bible says.
00:17:47.83\00:17:50.30
What does it say?
how many? everyone? no.
00:17:53.30\00:17:56.50
So the Bible is very clear.
00:18:03.35\00:18:05.18
If we were raptured before the
plagues, we would be entering
00:18:05.21\00:18:09.58
into heaven, and
enter the temple.
00:18:09.62\00:18:11.22
But nobody can enter the temple.
00:18:11.25\00:18:12.82
Just before Jesus comes, every
human being has the opportunity
00:18:12.85\00:18:18.83
to make their
decision for or against Christ.
00:18:18.86\00:18:21.76
Once that decision has been
made, the High Priestly ministry
00:18:21.80\00:18:26.67
of Jesus in
Heaven's sanctuary ceases.
00:18:26.70\00:18:30.17
The Bible then says in
00:18:30.21\00:18:31.67
In other words, before the
coming of Jesus there are two
00:18:47.22\00:18:50.26
classes that are developed.
00:18:50.29\00:18:51.63
The 12th verse of Revelation
22 says, Behold, I come quickly.
00:18:51.66\00:18:56.23
My reward is with Me.
00:18:56.26\00:18:57.60
So before Jesus comes
two classes are developed:
00:18:57.63\00:19:01.44
the righteous
and the unrighteous,
00:19:01.50\00:19:03.10
the holy and the
unholy, the pure and the impure.
00:19:03.14\00:19:06.88
Once everybody has made their
decision then the judgments of
00:19:06.91\00:19:13.01
God fall upon the earth.
00:19:13.05\00:19:15.32
Now human probation...
00:19:15.35\00:19:17.55
And what do we
mean by human probation?
00:19:17.59\00:19:19.85
We mean an
opportunity for salvation.
00:19:19.89\00:19:22.06
You see, when Christ comes
everybody will have made their
00:19:22.12\00:19:26.46
final, irrevocable decision.
00:19:26.49\00:19:29.36
Now let me make it very plain.
00:19:37.77\00:19:40.68
When the decree goes
forth, he that is righteous,
00:19:40.71\00:19:44.88
let him be righteous still,
and he that is unrighteous
00:19:44.91\00:19:47.08
let him be unrighteous
still, and he that is holy
00:19:47.12\00:19:49.12
let him be holy still,
00:19:49.15\00:19:52.72
When that decree goes forth,
it is not some arbitrary act
00:19:52.75\00:19:57.36
on the part of God.
00:19:57.39\00:19:58.73
It's not God
saying, Okay, ready or not.
00:19:58.76\00:20:00.73
You're either ready
or you're not ready.
00:20:00.76\00:20:02.83
It is rather heaven's decree
follows the eternal decision
00:20:02.86\00:20:08.60
that has taken
place on planet earth.
00:20:08.64\00:20:10.74
The decisions that human beings
make in that final crisis are
00:20:10.77\00:20:16.11
the culmination of
decisions they've been
00:20:16.14\00:20:18.38
making all their lives,
and their destiny is fixed
00:20:18.41\00:20:22.15
in that final moment
they make their choice.
00:20:22.18\00:20:24.62
So if probation were open
for another 10 years, 50 years,
00:20:24.65\00:20:29.42
a 100 years, a 1000 years, it
would make no difference at all,
00:20:29.46\00:20:32.79
because two classes
have been developed.
00:20:32.86\00:20:35.43
And these two classes have made
their final decision completely
00:20:35.46\00:20:40.40
for Christ, or
completely against Christ.
00:20:40.44\00:20:43.27
Once that takes
place, according to
00:20:43.30\00:20:46.24
What are the bowls
of the wrath of God?
00:20:57.09\00:21:00.26
They are the seven last
plagues, and they are God's
00:21:00.29\00:21:04.39
judgments upon the earth.
00:21:04.43\00:21:06.09
You remember in Revelation
7 the angels are holding back
00:21:06.13\00:21:11.50
the winds of strife,
the winds of destruction,
00:21:11.53\00:21:15.24
and calamity on earth.
00:21:15.27\00:21:17.87
When God withdraws His
protective hand this earth is
00:21:17.91\00:21:24.11
plunged into a time of trouble
that we could not imagine.
00:21:24.15\00:21:29.45
Now the question is
00:21:29.48\00:21:30.82
Are they raptured before it?
00:21:33.99\00:21:37.03
Let's notice the
clear text of the Bible.
00:21:37.09\00:21:40.23
The Israelites
were not delivered
00:21:46.53\00:21:49.94
until after the plagues.
00:21:49.97\00:21:51.84
And you recall in 1 Corinthians,
the Bible says this;
00:21:51.87\00:21:55.94
it says, all those
things that happened to them
00:21:55.98\00:21:59.31
happened as examples.
00:21:59.35\00:22:01.18
That's everything that happened
to Israel happened as examples,
00:22:01.22\00:22:03.45
and they're written for
our admonition, upon whom the
00:22:03.49\00:22:05.92
ends of the world were come.
00:22:05.95\00:22:07.66
When the Red Sea
opened, and they went through,
00:22:15.20\00:22:16.93
and the Egyptians were killed.
00:22:16.97\00:22:18.30
The journey of Israel
from Egypt to the promised land
00:22:24.11\00:22:27.71
is reminiscent, it is symbolic
of the journey of God's people
00:22:27.74\00:22:33.48
today, from earth, our
Egypt, our Babylon of the earth,
00:22:33.52\00:22:38.69
to the promised land.
00:22:38.72\00:22:40.82
So once again this
parallel finds fulfillment
00:22:40.86\00:22:46.19
in the seven last plagues.
00:22:46.23\00:22:48.56
God's people are present during
the plagues, just like Israel.
00:22:48.60\00:22:52.73
They are
delivered after the plagues.
00:22:52.77\00:22:56.10
You remember also, we mentioned
earlier, the image that
00:22:56.14\00:23:00.58
Nebuchadnezzar set
up on the plains of Dura
00:23:00.61\00:23:03.61
that was all of gold.
00:23:03.65\00:23:04.98
This universal world
ruler passes a death decree,
00:23:05.01\00:23:08.78
and Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego will not break
00:23:08.82\00:23:12.82
the commandments of God.
00:23:12.85\00:23:14.19
They stand loyally, but they are
not raptured before the test,
00:23:14.22\00:23:22.03
they go through the test,
and are cast into the flames,
00:23:22.06\00:23:27.34
and Christ is there
in the flames with them,
00:23:27.37\00:23:31.17
protecting them, and not a
hair of their head is singed.
00:23:31.21\00:23:36.41
Here is the
incredible good news!
00:23:36.44\00:23:38.15
You see, there is a theology,
there is a Bible teaching today
00:23:38.18\00:23:43.02
that says, If you're righteous,
you're going to be healthy.
00:23:43.05\00:23:47.86
If you're righteous,
you're going to be wealthy.
00:23:47.89\00:23:50.33
If you're righteous, you're
not going to have any problems.
00:23:50.36\00:23:52.99
That's not the
teaching of Scripture.
00:23:53.06\00:23:55.10
Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, were righteous.
00:23:55.13\00:23:58.83
They were faithful to
God, but they were not
00:23:58.87\00:24:02.50
delivered from the flames.
00:24:02.54\00:24:03.97
They went through those flames,
and Jesus Christ was with
00:24:04.01\00:24:07.28
them in the flames.
00:24:07.31\00:24:08.64
Here's the good news: if
you're going through the flames
00:24:08.68\00:24:11.41
of your life; you're
going a through a very
00:24:11.45\00:24:14.38
difficult time right now.
00:24:14.42\00:24:15.75
It could be with cancer.
00:24:15.78\00:24:17.12
It could be with
a marriage problem.
00:24:17.15\00:24:19.22
It could be
something in the family.
00:24:19.25\00:24:21.66
It could be an economic problem.
00:24:21.69\00:24:23.69
Christ is there with you.
00:24:23.73\00:24:25.69
He's there in the
flames of your life.
00:24:25.73\00:24:28.30
He's there in the
heartache of your life.
00:24:28.33\00:24:30.47
He's there when
your heart is broken,
00:24:30.50\00:24:32.40
and tears are
running down your face.
00:24:32.43\00:24:34.24
Christ is there. He is
going to get you through this.
00:24:34.30\00:24:38.21
And in the last days of
earth's history, Jesus is there.
00:24:38.24\00:24:42.11
Just when I need
Him, Jesus is near.
00:24:42.14\00:24:44.85
Just when I
falter, just when I fear.
00:24:44.88\00:24:47.52
Just when I need Him most.
00:24:47.55\00:24:49.58
Christ is there in the flames
of your life, just like He was
00:24:49.62\00:24:55.69
there with Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego in the
00:24:55.72\00:24:58.99
flames of their life.
00:24:59.03\00:25:00.70
Now do God's people go
through the tribulation?
00:25:00.76\00:25:05.03
What does the Bible say in
00:25:05.07\00:25:06.40
It talks about the deliverance
of God's people, and it says
00:25:08.44\00:25:11.54
So if you come out of great
tribulation you must have gone
00:25:15.41\00:25:19.28
into great tribulation.
00:25:19.31\00:25:21.28
The Bible teaches that we will
go through that tribulation.
00:25:21.32\00:25:25.95
But we will go through that
tribulation protected by God.
00:25:25.99\00:25:30.56
We will go through that
tribulation with God as our
00:25:30.59\00:25:33.80
refuge and our strength.
00:25:33.83\00:25:35.46
So the seven last
plagues are poured out.
00:25:35.50\00:25:38.43
God's people
have made their final,
00:25:38.47\00:25:41.60
irrevocable decision for Him.
00:25:41.67\00:25:43.54
The righteous are righteous,
and the wicked are wicked.
00:25:43.57\00:25:47.34
Christ then pours out
His judgments upon the world.
00:25:47.38\00:25:51.51
He withdraws His protective
hand, and this world is
00:25:51.55\00:25:55.65
plunged into chaos.
00:25:55.68\00:25:57.02
What are those
seven last plagues?
00:25:57.05\00:26:00.79
The first plague is
sores. The Bible says,
00:26:00.82\00:26:04.79
on those that receive
the mark of the beast;
00:26:07.96\00:26:11.33
this sore from head to toe.
00:26:11.40\00:26:13.10
Now how do you
harmonize a sore like that
00:26:13.13\00:26:18.51
with the love of God?
00:26:18.54\00:26:20.14
Why would God ever allow
this sore that is grievesome,
00:26:20.18\00:26:26.72
loathsome,
putrefying, painful...
00:26:26.75\00:26:30.32
Why would God ever
withdraw His hand, and allow an
00:26:30.35\00:26:34.72
affliction, or a
disease to come that way?
00:26:34.76\00:26:37.93
Here's why. You remember
what those who enforced the
00:26:37.96\00:26:43.40
mark of the beast said?
00:26:43.43\00:26:45.07
Do you remember that?
00:26:45.10\00:26:46.70
The Bible says, in Revelation
13, that they said unless you
00:26:46.74\00:26:52.44
take the mark of the beast, you
will be physically oppressed.
00:26:52.47\00:26:58.15
You will be
physically tormented.
00:26:58.21\00:27:01.78
In fact, you
know, the seal of God is
00:27:01.82\00:27:06.79
received only in the mind.
00:27:06.82\00:27:08.26
What is the seal of God?
00:27:08.32\00:27:09.69
It is the settling into
God's truth so strongly,
00:27:09.72\00:27:14.53
and the commitment to
worship Him so totally,
00:27:14.56\00:27:19.33
that nothing can move us.
00:27:19.37\00:27:21.70
What is the mark of the beast?
00:27:21.74\00:27:23.51
We'll study that in much
more detail in this series,
00:27:23.54\00:27:27.54
but it is accepting human
decrees, and human commands,
00:27:27.58\00:27:31.58
before the command of God.
00:27:31.61\00:27:33.28
So the mark of the
beast can be received
00:27:33.31\00:27:35.72
either in the forehead...
00:27:35.75\00:27:37.09
People are
intellectually convinced.
00:27:37.12\00:27:38.79
...or it can be
received in the hand.
00:27:38.82\00:27:40.79
The seal of God, or
allegiance to God, can never be
00:27:40.82\00:27:44.39
received in the hand. Why not?
00:27:44.43\00:27:46.53
In Revelation the
hand is a symbol of power.
00:27:46.59\00:27:49.03
It's a symbol of coercion.
00:27:49.06\00:27:50.83
So here these people who receive
the sore say, Either you take
00:27:50.87\00:27:55.30
the mark of the beast,
or else we are going to
00:27:55.34\00:27:59.07
physically oppress you.
00:27:59.11\00:28:00.44
That which they
claim to do to others...
00:28:00.48\00:28:03.68
The Bible says, Whatever
you sow, you're going to reap.
00:28:03.71\00:28:06.05
They receive a physical sore.
00:28:06.08\00:28:09.18
What does the first
plague say? It says,
00:28:09.22\00:28:11.75
It says, Come and give your body
to Christ, like Paul says in
00:28:15.12\00:28:19.46
Romans 12:1. I beseech you
therefore, brethren, to present
00:28:19.49\00:28:23.80
your bodies a living
sacrifice before Christ.
00:28:23.83\00:28:27.04
In other words, the first
plague is a physical plague
00:28:27.07\00:28:30.31
that afflicts the body.
00:28:30.34\00:28:31.81
Those who enforce the mark of
the beast say, You either take
00:28:31.84\00:28:35.14
the mark, or we're
going to torment your body.
00:28:35.21\00:28:36.95
But in the first plague Jesus
says, All physical security
00:28:36.98\00:28:41.05
is where? in Christ.
00:28:41.08\00:28:43.39
Notice what Scripture says.
00:28:55.03\00:28:56.67
We have our
physical security in Christ.
00:28:59.23\00:29:01.44
We're not going to
yield to the threats.
00:29:01.50\00:29:03.61
We're not going to
yield to the intimidation.
00:29:03.64\00:29:05.94
We're not going to
yield to the pressure. Why?
00:29:05.97\00:29:08.24
Because we are strong? no.
00:29:08.28\00:29:09.91
But because our
physical security...
00:29:09.94\00:29:12.71
We've given our
bodies to Christ.
00:29:12.75\00:29:15.48
Now notice the second
plague: the sea turns to blood.
00:29:15.52\00:29:18.95
If anything like that ever
happened, if anything like that
00:29:18.99\00:29:23.19
ever happened, what
would take place to the
00:29:23.22\00:29:27.70
economy of the world?
00:29:27.76\00:29:29.10
When a hurricane is
coming across the Atlantic,
00:29:29.13\00:29:33.70
what do people typically do?
00:29:33.74\00:29:37.34
They go to stores once
they see the weather report,
00:29:37.37\00:29:41.08
and they buy up all
their food, right? Why?
00:29:41.11\00:29:43.88
Because commerce takes
place on the sea, and of course,
00:29:43.91\00:29:47.92
the great trucking lines.
00:29:47.95\00:29:49.88
Now notice what
the Bible says in
00:29:49.92\00:29:51.89
If anything like
that ever happened...
00:30:02.36\00:30:04.80
Now just imagine it.
00:30:04.83\00:30:06.43
Let your mind grasp it.
00:30:06.47\00:30:08.00
If the sea ever became like
blood; if every living creature
00:30:08.04\00:30:14.61
in the sea died, think
of the stinking, putrefying,
00:30:14.64\00:30:20.35
absolutely horrible stench.
00:30:20.42\00:30:24.45
Think of the inability of
the shipping lines to be able
00:30:24.49\00:30:29.82
to bring any kind of commerce.
00:30:29.86\00:30:32.19
What would happen? The
grocery stores would be jammed.
00:30:32.23\00:30:36.83
Soon they would be out of food.
00:30:36.87\00:30:38.93
I am told that most grocery
stores, in the United States
00:30:39.00\00:30:45.17
anyway, have about four,
or at most five days of food.
00:30:45.21\00:30:51.35
If that is true, think
of what would happen if
00:30:51.38\00:30:55.48
you had a run on food.
00:30:55.55\00:30:56.89
Think of what would
happen if the sea couldn't
00:30:56.92\00:30:59.09
transport any food.
00:30:59.15\00:31:00.49
Think of what would
happen if every one of our
00:31:00.52\00:31:02.66
ports were shut down.
00:31:02.69\00:31:04.26
There would be economic chaos.
00:31:04.29\00:31:07.53
What does the second plague say?
00:31:07.56\00:31:10.77
Remember the enforcers of
the mark of the beast said,
00:31:13.90\00:31:17.47
You'd better receive the
mark of the beast or else,
00:31:17.51\00:31:21.04
Revelation 13, you
will not be able to buy,
00:31:21.08\00:31:24.85
or you won't be able to sell.
00:31:24.91\00:31:26.92
But here, in the second
plague, they cannot deliver,
00:31:26.95\00:31:32.35
because that which
they promised never occurs.
00:31:32.39\00:31:36.42
First plague, all
physical security is in Christ.
00:31:36.46\00:31:40.93
Second plague, all
economic security is in Christ.
00:31:40.96\00:31:45.43
Third plague, the
rivers turn to blood.
00:31:45.47\00:31:48.47
What's this all about?
the rivers turning to blood?
00:31:48.50\00:31:51.24
Now here's where you
get your clue to the deeper
00:31:51.27\00:31:53.98
meaning of the plagues.
00:31:54.01\00:31:55.34
When you're studying the Bible,
often Scripture will give you a
00:31:55.38\00:31:58.15
clue to understand
the deeper meaning.
00:31:58.21\00:32:01.85
In the Bible water
is a symbol of life.
00:32:01.88\00:32:05.52
And so when you take a
look at this third plague,
00:32:16.50\00:32:20.54
See Jesus was; He's eternal.
00:32:31.51\00:32:34.72
Jesus is; He conquered the
grave, and conquered death.
00:32:34.75\00:32:38.65
This is taken from Revelation 1,
and reiterated, or restated in
00:32:38.69\00:32:43.99
Revelation 16, and
He is the One to be.
00:32:44.03\00:32:46.49
So Christ is the One
who was there yesterday,
00:32:46.53\00:32:49.10
who is there today, and
He'll be there tomorrow.
00:32:49.13\00:32:51.67
He is the source of life.
00:32:51.70\00:32:53.37
Then the Scripture says,
00:32:53.40\00:32:55.04
So why does He give
them blood to drink?
00:33:00.44\00:33:03.35
Because they have shed the
blood of saints and prophets.
00:33:03.41\00:33:08.25
In other words, Jesus says
to them, You have thought that
00:33:08.28\00:33:13.12
you have power over
life, but you don't.
00:33:13.15\00:33:17.76
I am the source of life.
00:33:17.79\00:33:20.70
So the rivers and waters turning
to blood, literally like blood,
00:33:20.73\00:33:25.53
are symbolic of the life
that only Christ can give.
00:33:25.60\00:33:30.51
He is the river
of the water of life.
00:33:30.54\00:33:32.87
So there's a much
deeper meaning here.
00:33:32.91\00:33:35.21
Are the plagues
physical plagues? Yes they are.
00:33:35.24\00:33:38.75
Do people really
get sores? Yes, they do.
00:33:38.81\00:33:42.08
Does the sea actually
turn to something like blood
00:33:42.12\00:33:44.82
with everything that
dies in it? Yes, it is.
00:33:44.85\00:33:47.06
Do the rivers actually
become like blood? Yes, they do.
00:33:47.09\00:33:50.23
But what is the
lesson behind that?
00:33:50.26\00:33:53.60
Often we look at the
physical aspects of it,
00:33:53.63\00:33:55.96
and totally fail to
see what's going on.
00:33:56.00\00:33:58.27
The first plague says, All
physical security is in Christ.
00:33:58.30\00:34:03.67
The beast power says,
I'm going torment you.
00:34:03.71\00:34:06.88
What does Jesus say? Trust Me.
00:34:06.91\00:34:08.58
Physical security is in Me.
00:34:08.64\00:34:10.25
The beast power says you
won't be able to buy or sell.
00:34:10.28\00:34:13.11
What does Jesus say? Trust Me.
00:34:13.18\00:34:15.58
I will feed you
during that time.
00:34:15.62\00:34:17.75
Your bread and
waters will be sure.
00:34:17.79\00:34:20.19
All economic security is in Me.
00:34:20.22\00:34:22.52
The beast power says,
If you don't worship me,
00:34:22.56\00:34:25.73
I'm going to take your life.
00:34:25.76\00:34:27.10
And what does Jesus say?
00:34:27.13\00:34:28.46
Your life is hid
with Christ in God.
00:34:28.50\00:34:31.23
Why does He give them blood
to drink? What does it say?
00:34:31.27\00:34:33.97
In other words, they
persecuted the people of God,
00:34:36.54\00:34:39.34
and therefore
life is only in Him.
00:34:39.37\00:34:43.31
All of our life is in Christ.
00:34:43.35\00:34:46.51
Colossians 3:2 says, Set
your affections on things above,
00:34:46.55\00:34:50.85
because your life is
hidden with Christ in God.
00:34:50.89\00:34:55.39
In this time of crisis
00:35:00.36\00:35:03.33
You and I will go through
this time of tribulation.
00:35:08.40\00:35:11.71
You and I will go
through this time of difficulty,
00:35:11.74\00:35:15.04
this time of challenge.
00:35:15.08\00:35:16.71
All around us we will
see chaos and disaster,
00:35:16.75\00:35:20.52
but Jesus will
manifest His hand.
00:35:20.55\00:35:24.12
Our bread, and our water, the
essentials of life will be sure.
00:35:24.15\00:35:30.23
The answer to that is that
our bodies are given to Christ.
00:35:32.76\00:35:38.10
All physical
security is in Christ.
00:35:38.13\00:35:40.17
The issue here is much deeper
than the sea turning to blood;
00:35:42.50\00:35:46.47
is that economic
security is in Christ.
00:35:46.51\00:35:48.98
We trust Him for
everything in our life.
00:35:49.01\00:35:51.45
The issue here is that
our life is in His hands.
00:35:53.98\00:35:56.45
Notice the fourth plague.
00:35:56.48\00:35:58.19
Remember what the
issue is in the last days?
00:36:00.26\00:36:03.26
The issue in the last days is
over what? It is over worship.
00:36:03.29\00:36:08.76
And what have some done?
00:36:08.80\00:36:10.70
They've turned from
the true Bible Sabbath.
00:36:10.73\00:36:14.30
They've turned to
the day of the sun.
00:36:14.34\00:36:18.31
Why is it that
the sun scorches men?
00:36:30.32\00:36:34.66
The largest luminous body in
the heavens has been the object
00:36:34.69\00:36:39.46
of worship for men and women
down through the centuries.
00:36:39.49\00:36:44.27
Every pagan society
has given reverence,
00:36:44.30\00:36:49.77
and worship to the sun.
00:36:49.80\00:36:51.94
In the last days there is
a great controversy between
00:36:51.97\00:36:56.54
sun worship and Sabbath worship,
between worshipping the Creator,
00:36:56.61\00:37:01.98
and worshipping the object
of creation, between worshipping
00:37:02.02\00:37:06.09
the One that made,
and worshipping by some,
00:37:06.12\00:37:09.29
the things that have been made.
00:37:09.32\00:37:11.89
And so the Bible says,
00:37:11.93\00:37:13.80
Now this is a
very critical text.
00:37:25.11\00:37:28.01
They did not
repent and give Him glory.
00:37:28.04\00:37:29.71
Four plagues have already
taken place, and you would think
00:37:29.74\00:37:34.95
that these who have turned from
His love, rejected His grace,
00:37:34.98\00:37:40.16
those who are
seeing the plagues,
00:37:40.19\00:37:42.79
you'd think that they would
repent, and get on their knees
00:37:42.82\00:37:45.79
and say, God, we're so sorry!
00:37:45.83\00:37:47.56
God, forgive us, but they don't.
00:37:47.60\00:37:49.26
It says they
didn't repent. Why not?
00:37:49.30\00:37:51.23
Because remember at the
beginning of the plagues,
00:37:51.27\00:37:53.17
He that is unjust,
let him be unjust still.
00:37:53.20\00:37:54.97
And he that is righteous,
let him be righteous still.
00:37:55.00\00:37:57.64
And he that is unholy,
let him be unholy still.
00:37:57.67\00:37:59.84
And he that is holy,
let him be holy still.
00:37:59.87\00:38:03.65
So we see that they
have fixed their character.
00:38:03.68\00:38:07.42
They had made
their eternal decision.
00:38:07.45\00:38:10.02
So the sun scorches men.
00:38:10.09\00:38:12.32
The plagues reveal
that they have worshipped
00:38:16.02\00:38:18.56
at the wrong shrine.
00:38:18.59\00:38:19.93
The plagues reveal that there
is only One that can deliver us
00:38:19.96\00:38:24.93
during those plagues,
and He is the Creator God.
00:38:24.97\00:38:28.10
What does this
fourth plague say?
00:38:28.17\00:38:30.54
That He is the
object of our worship.
00:38:34.38\00:38:37.58
Remember in Genesis 2:1,
2, And on the seventh day
00:38:37.61\00:38:44.95
God ended His
work which He had made.
00:38:44.99\00:38:47.46
And God blessed the
seventh day, and God did what?
00:38:47.49\00:38:52.29
He sanctified the
seventh day, and God rested
00:38:52.33\00:38:56.97
upon the seventh day.
00:38:57.00\00:38:58.67
And there at creation, back at
the beginning, God invited Adam
00:38:58.70\00:39:03.81
and Eve to find true meaning,
true purpose, true rest,
00:39:03.84\00:39:08.04
true blessing,
true sanctification,
00:39:08.08\00:39:10.11
true worship in Him.
00:39:10.15\00:39:12.08
And so in the last
days of earth's history that
00:39:12.11\00:39:14.55
crisis over worship.
00:39:14.58\00:39:16.32
What is the secret place of the
Most High? It's His sanctuary!
00:39:22.49\00:39:25.86
And what is in His
sanctuary? the law of God.
00:39:25.89\00:39:29.13
And what's in the heart
of the law? the Sabbath.
00:39:29.16\00:39:32.40
When the sun scorches
men, the shadow of the
00:39:39.77\00:39:43.85
Almighty protects us.
00:39:43.88\00:39:45.55
His law is over us just
like that cloud guiding Israel
00:39:45.58\00:39:50.69
through the deserts protected
them from the scorching sun.
00:39:50.72\00:39:55.99
So God, our shadow, His law
over us, His love within us,
00:39:56.02\00:40:01.23
protects us in
those times. He says,
00:40:01.26\00:40:03.87
When the crisis
breaks in this earth's
00:40:09.94\00:40:12.24
history, we can trust Him.
00:40:12.27\00:40:13.88
Now notice
where the darkness is.
00:40:16.28\00:40:19.01
Now notice where the
darkness is. It says,
00:40:32.99\00:40:36.20
Now by this time all the world
has wandered after the beast.
00:40:41.64\00:40:46.34
By this time the beast power's
kingdom is throughout the earth,
00:40:46.37\00:40:51.08
so there is darkness.
00:40:51.11\00:40:52.58
They looked to the beast power,
a human religious authority,
00:40:52.61\00:40:59.79
who's united church and state.
00:40:59.82\00:41:02.22
They looked to
that power for light.
00:41:02.26\00:41:05.79
They looked to that power
for truth, but they only found
00:41:05.83\00:41:09.66
tradition,
falsehood, and darkness.
00:41:09.70\00:41:12.43
The literal darkness, and the
darkness is a literal darkness,
00:41:12.47\00:41:17.31
that literal darkness
is symbolic of a deeper
00:41:17.34\00:41:21.21
spiritual darkness.
00:41:21.24\00:41:23.41
What's God saying
in that fifth plague?
00:41:23.45\00:41:26.61
He's saying all
light is only in Jesus.
00:41:26.68\00:41:29.82
If you want the light of
truth, you come to Jesus.
00:41:29.88\00:41:32.92
If you want the
light that shines in the
00:41:32.95\00:41:35.56
darkness, you come to Jesus.
00:41:35.62\00:41:37.89
So God's Word
illuminates the future.
00:41:46.47\00:41:49.74
God's Word
enlightens the future.
00:41:49.77\00:41:52.97
The human beings follow a false
religious leader at the time
00:41:53.01\00:41:58.01
of the end, and as they do
they're led into superstition,
00:41:58.05\00:42:02.98
falsehood,
deception, and tradition.
00:42:03.02\00:42:06.35
But God's people exalt His Word.
00:42:06.39\00:42:09.72
God's people follow in the
light of the truth of His Word.
00:42:09.76\00:42:14.80
Jesus says,
00:42:14.83\00:42:16.16
So the question is, if we walk
in the darkness of superstition
00:42:21.30\00:42:27.18
now, if we walk in the darkness
of falsehood and error now,
00:42:27.21\00:42:33.01
we'll be engulfed
in that darkness within
00:42:33.05\00:42:36.58
the seven last plagues.
00:42:36.62\00:42:37.95
But if we walk in the
light of God's truth now,
00:42:37.99\00:42:42.72
we will be engulfed
with the light of Jesus;
00:42:42.76\00:42:46.29
the light of the
world during the plagues.
00:42:46.33\00:42:49.80
Their decisions fixed
their destiny. You know,
00:42:58.04\00:43:00.78
The only safety is to walk
in the truth of God's Word.
00:43:09.65\00:43:14.22
The only safety is to walk
in the light of God's Word.
00:43:14.26\00:43:18.73
The only safety is to walk in
the joy and peace of God's Word.
00:43:18.79\00:43:23.60
The sixth plague: Armageddon.
00:43:23.63\00:43:25.87
What is Armageddon? and what's
the meaning of Armageddon?
00:43:38.58\00:43:43.95
In the last days of earth's
history, in this conflict
00:43:53.40\00:43:57.57
between good and evil, in
this conflict between Christ and
00:43:57.60\00:44:01.34
Satan, all of the world
is marshalling its forces
00:44:01.37\00:44:06.04
against the people of God.
00:44:06.07\00:44:08.61
So Armageddon, Har Megiddo,
the mountain of slaughter,
00:44:18.55\00:44:22.32
the plains of Megiddo were
the place where it appeared that
00:44:22.36\00:44:27.30
God's people had no way
out, around, or through.
00:44:27.36\00:44:30.47
It looked like they
certainly would be defeated,
00:44:30.50\00:44:33.54
but God brought reinforcements
to deliver His people.
00:44:33.57\00:44:38.14
So in the last days of earth's
history... Follow me closely.
00:44:38.17\00:44:41.44
...there is war,
conflict, famine, and strife.
00:44:41.48\00:44:46.45
There's economic disaster.
00:44:46.48\00:44:48.48
As this world is falling apart,
a powerful world leader arises
00:44:48.52\00:44:54.69
to bring the world together.
00:44:54.72\00:44:56.49
The masses of people in this
world, the legislators of this
00:44:56.52\00:45:00.96
world, yield to those masses.
00:45:01.00\00:45:03.16
They yield to
the popular demand.
00:45:03.20\00:45:05.27
And so a common day
of rest and worship is
00:45:05.30\00:45:09.47
enforced upon humanity.
00:45:09.50\00:45:11.71
Those who worship the Creator
cannot go along, therefore,
00:45:11.74\00:45:15.48
they worship on
the true Sabbath.
00:45:15.54\00:45:17.71
As the result of this, every
human being is catapulted to
00:45:17.75\00:45:21.68
make a final, eternal
decision for or against Christ.
00:45:21.72\00:45:25.65
When that decision is made the
judgments of God are poured out.
00:45:25.69\00:45:29.89
Those judgments come rapidly,
one right after the other.
00:45:29.92\00:45:34.23
They're called the
seven last plagues.
00:45:34.26\00:45:36.13
By the time of the sixth plague,
those who followed the beast
00:45:36.16\00:45:41.67
in this unity movement, this
confederacy, recognize that what
00:45:41.70\00:45:47.14
they thought would happened,
hasn't happened at all.
00:45:47.18\00:45:50.58
They thought they could bring
unity, and bring peace to earth,
00:45:50.61\00:45:53.48
but how there's
total chaos and calamity.
00:45:53.52\00:45:55.88
So they marshal their forces;
all the forces of hell are
00:45:55.92\00:45:59.69
marshalled
against the people of God.
00:45:59.72\00:46:01.66
What is the
battle of Armageddon?
00:46:01.72\00:46:03.59
It's not a
local military battle.
00:46:03.63\00:46:05.43
It is rather a Titanic struggle
between the forces of good,
00:46:05.46\00:46:09.76
and the forces of
evil; where evil tries to
00:46:09.80\00:46:11.90
destroy righteousness.
00:46:11.93\00:46:13.77
But what does the Bible say in
00:46:13.84\00:46:15.37
Christ is going to step
down the corridor of the sky.
00:46:33.32\00:46:36.19
He's going to come with power.
00:46:36.22\00:46:37.76
He's going to come with glory.
00:46:37.79\00:46:39.26
He's going to come
to deliver His people.
00:46:39.29\00:46:41.80
See, what is the
message of Armageddon?
00:46:41.83\00:46:44.33
that Jesus Christ is going
to come to deliver His people.
00:46:49.50\00:46:54.11
What is Armageddon? the final
conflict in the universe between
00:47:00.52\00:47:04.82
good and evil; where wickedness
tries to destroy righteousness,
00:47:04.85\00:47:09.12
where the people of
God are facing destruction.
00:47:09.16\00:47:11.79
But God, like He
did for ancient Israel,
00:47:11.83\00:47:14.50
miraculously delivers them.
00:47:14.53\00:47:16.73
Notice what Jesus says right
after the verse in chapter 16,
00:47:16.77\00:47:22.80
verse 14 on Armageddon.
00:47:22.84\00:47:24.17
What does it say in
00:47:24.21\00:47:25.54
Armageddon is come,
but behold, look see!
00:47:27.44\00:47:30.65
Quickly, rapidly.
00:47:31.91\00:47:33.42
In other words, hold on!
00:47:39.35\00:47:40.72
Don't give up your righteous
commitment to Christ now.
00:47:40.76\00:47:45.23
Do not cast off your
faith, your trust in Christ now.
00:47:45.26\00:47:49.70
By the way, what sense would it
make to say after six plagues,
00:47:49.73\00:47:58.07
that I'm coming as a
thief, if He already had come
00:47:58.11\00:48:03.11
at the beginning of the plagues?
00:48:03.14\00:48:04.78
After six plagues. You and
I lived through those plagues,
00:48:12.72\00:48:16.26
but we are protected by God.
00:48:16.29\00:48:18.69
And during that period
of the plagues we are His.
00:48:18.76\00:48:24.57
We are secure. Our
physical security is in Christ.
00:48:24.60\00:48:30.41
Our economic
security is in Christ.
00:48:30.44\00:48:33.81
Our life is in Christ.
00:48:33.88\00:48:36.14
Our true worship is
not with the sun god,
00:48:36.18\00:48:39.21
fourth plague, it's in Christ.
00:48:39.25\00:48:40.75
True light is not at the throne
of the beast, it's in Christ.
00:48:40.78\00:48:44.75
Our security and
hope is in Christ.
00:48:44.79\00:48:48.22
Our deliverance
is in Jesus Christ.
00:48:48.26\00:48:51.66
One day He will come again.
00:48:51.69\00:48:54.00
The heavens will be pierced
with the lightening that flashes
00:48:54.03\00:48:58.20
from the east to the west.
00:48:58.23\00:48:59.70
The dead will be
resurrected who are in Christ.
00:48:59.73\00:49:02.34
The righteous will be
changed, and be caught up
00:49:02.37\00:49:04.94
to meet Him in the sky.
00:49:04.97\00:49:06.81
It is finished. It is over.
00:49:19.15\00:49:21.52
Jesus Christ comes again!
00:49:21.56\00:49:23.93
The earth shakes and trembles,
every mountain and island
00:49:33.13\00:49:36.24
cast out of their
places, according to the Bible.
00:49:36.27\00:49:40.01
According to Scripture
every island, every mountain
00:49:40.04\00:49:43.75
shaking of the earth.
00:49:43.78\00:49:45.41
It's over sixty pounds.
00:49:48.32\00:49:49.78
The artillery from heaven comes.
00:49:49.82\00:49:51.72
It's Armageddon. Wickedness
is destroyed, evil is destroyed.
00:49:51.75\00:49:56.79
Satan and his angels are bound
to this earth at that time,
00:49:56.83\00:50:01.83
at the beginning
of the millennium.
00:50:01.86\00:50:03.20
We'll study that next time.
00:50:03.23\00:50:04.57
All of the wicked are destroyed;
their bodies strewn across the
00:50:04.60\00:50:08.30
earth, the
righteous are resurrected,
00:50:08.37\00:50:10.24
caught up to meet
Christ in the sky.
00:50:10.27\00:50:12.11
sheltered by
Him, delivered by Him.
00:50:15.11\00:50:18.81
In the crisis of
this earth we can have our
00:50:18.85\00:50:21.68
confidence in Jesus Christ.
00:50:21.72\00:50:24.05
In the confidence, in the crisis
of this earth, we can know
00:50:24.09\00:50:27.69
that He is coming to deliver us.
00:50:27.72\00:50:30.23
A number of years ago
an Australian woodsman,
00:50:30.26\00:50:34.70
who had a little cabin out in
the woods, went out one day to
00:50:34.73\00:50:39.07
chop wood for his fireplace.
00:50:39.10\00:50:41.40
And on the way
back he saw smoke.
00:50:41.44\00:50:43.77
He was amazed! He picked
up his pace and began to run,
00:50:43.81\00:50:46.07
and then he noticed that it
was his cabin that was on fire.
00:50:46.11\00:50:51.11
By the time he got
back the cabin was burned,
00:50:51.15\00:50:54.95
burned to the ground completely.
00:50:54.98\00:50:57.62
All of his
livestock burned, consumed.
00:50:57.65\00:51:02.32
The man walked
in so discouraged.
00:51:02.36\00:51:06.23
He didn't have much in life.
00:51:06.26\00:51:08.20
That cabin was about all he had.
00:51:08.23\00:51:10.07
He looked down. He
saw all his chickens.
00:51:10.13\00:51:12.93
They were burned to death.
00:51:12.97\00:51:15.10
He said, This is it,
over, I... everything I had
00:51:15.14\00:51:21.84
I put into this cabin.
00:51:21.91\00:51:23.24
This is it, it's over.
00:51:23.28\00:51:24.61
As he walked he saw
some charred charcoal boards,
00:51:24.65\00:51:30.35
and he just
kicked them a little bit,
00:51:30.39\00:51:33.12
and he noticed
a dead mother hen.
00:51:33.15\00:51:35.82
He was kind of angry and he
kicked that old dead mother hen.
00:51:35.86\00:51:39.26
And out from under her
came four little chicks.
00:51:39.29\00:51:45.43
She had sheltered those chicks.
00:51:45.47\00:51:50.07
They scampered around,
and he smiled, and he said,
00:51:50.11\00:51:55.11
This is my symbol
of a new beginning.
00:51:55.14\00:51:59.01
Jesus says to you, In the time
of tribulation in the future,
00:51:59.05\00:52:06.09
and in the time of
your tribulation today,
00:52:06.12\00:52:09.69
He says, I'll be with
you. The Bible says in
00:52:09.72\00:52:13.23
In the trials of life today, in
the tribulation of life today,
00:52:24.94\00:52:30.41
you have One that is there.
00:52:30.45\00:52:32.78
And in the future, according to
00:52:32.81\00:52:35.15
He holds you in his arms.
00:52:42.29\00:52:44.89
He'll never let you go!
00:52:44.93\00:52:47.46
He's with you in
the trials today,
00:52:47.50\00:52:49.53
and tomorrow, and forever.
00:52:49.56\00:52:53.30
You are safe in Him, secure
in Him, your hope is in Him.
00:52:53.34\00:53:01.48
Listen as Tim
sings, I Am Thine O Lord.
00:53:01.51\00:53:06.92
I am Thine O Lord, I
have heard Thy voice,
00:53:11.09\00:53:18.13
and it told Thy love to me.
00:53:18.16\00:53:23.37
But I long to rise
in the arms of faith,
00:53:25.20\00:53:31.51
and be closer drawn to Thee.
00:53:31.57\00:53:38.85
Draw me nearer,
nearer blessed Lord,
00:53:38.91\00:53:46.29
to the cross
where Thou hast died.
00:53:46.35\00:53:55.03
Draw me nearer,
nearer blessed Lord,
00:53:55.06\00:54:03.71
to Thy precious bleeding side.
00:54:03.74\00:54:15.32
Consecrate me now
to Your service Lord,
00:54:15.35\00:54:20.82
by the power of grace divine.
00:54:20.86\00:54:27.10
Let my soul look up
with a steadfast hope,
00:54:28.26\00:54:34.37
and my will be lost in Thine.
00:54:34.40\00:54:41.91
Draw me nearer,
nearer blessed Lord,
00:54:41.94\00:54:49.05
to the cross
where Thou hast died.
00:54:49.08\00:54:58.79
Draw me nearer,
nearer blessed Lord,
00:54:58.83\00:55:08.50
to Thy precious bleeding side.
00:55:08.57\00:55:19.61
You might be thinking, Pastor
Mark, I don't have to wait
00:55:21.12\00:55:25.15
for the great tribulation,
because I'm going through a
00:55:25.19\00:55:29.16
tribulation right now.
00:55:29.19\00:55:30.96
I don't have to wait
for some future trials,
00:55:30.99\00:55:34.13
or future difficulties, because
I don't know if I'm going to
00:55:34.20\00:55:37.67
make it through today, this
week, this month, this year.
00:55:37.70\00:55:41.14
Here is the
incredibly good news for you.
00:55:41.17\00:55:44.11
Jesus is there. He says, I am
your refuge and your strength.
00:55:44.14\00:55:49.84
He says, Come unto Me all
you that are burdened and heavy
00:55:49.88\00:55:55.52
laden, and I will give you rest.
00:55:55.55\00:55:58.35
Take My yoke upon you, and
learn of Me, and you shall find
00:55:58.39\00:56:03.69
rest for your souls.
00:56:03.73\00:56:05.19
Jesus is there
for you right now.
00:56:05.23\00:56:08.93
Will you reach
out to Him right now?
00:56:08.96\00:56:12.57
Will you open your
heart to Him right now?
00:56:12.63\00:56:15.94
Will you say to Jesus right now,
I am Thine, and Thine O Lord.
00:56:15.97\00:56:21.98
Let's pray together.
00:56:22.04\00:56:23.38
Oh my Father, there's a time
of trouble coming in the future.
00:56:23.41\00:56:27.65
The great time of tribulation.
00:56:27.68\00:56:29.72
But we're thankful that You
were with Shadrach, Meshach,
00:56:29.78\00:56:33.82
and Abednego as they
went into the flames,
00:56:33.86\00:56:35.52
and You'll be with us.
00:56:35.56\00:56:36.89
We're thankful that
You're our refuge and strength.
00:56:36.93\00:56:39.63
We're thankful
that we need not fear.
00:56:39.66\00:56:42.90
And, Father, I'm praying
for somebody going through
00:56:42.93\00:56:46.03
tribulation today;
somebody facing trial today.
00:56:46.07\00:56:49.14
I pray that
You'd come near them.
00:56:49.17\00:56:51.31
Warm their heart
with Your presence.
00:56:51.34\00:56:53.68
Give them a sense of
hope, and help them to know
00:56:53.74\00:56:57.48
that You'll never let them go.
00:56:57.51\00:56:59.11
In Christ's name, Amen.
00:56:59.15\00:57:02.18
Thank you for joining
us for this series called
00:57:02.22\00:57:06.59
Revelation's
Ancient Discoveries.
00:57:06.62\00:57:09.72
As the series continues, we
are going to delve very deeply
00:57:09.76\00:57:14.20
into Bible prophecy.
00:57:14.23\00:57:15.56
We're going to study Babylon in
Revelation; study why there are
00:57:15.60\00:57:18.93
so many different denominations,
and also examine the beast
00:57:18.97\00:57:22.34
in Bible prophecy, and look at
the United States in prophecy.
00:57:22.37\00:57:25.71
Stay with us for this
series and you will be blessed.
00:57:25.74\00:57:30.11