What does the future hold?
00:00:01.36\00:00:02.70
Where can we find certainty
in a world of uncertainty?
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The Book of Revelation provides
hopeful answers for today,
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tomorrow and forever.
00:00:09.17\00:00:11.17
Join Mark Finley,
00:00:11.21\00:00:12.64
author and
world renowned speaker
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on a journey into the future
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with Revelation's
Ancient Discoveries.
00:00:16.38\00:00:19.38
When you look at
the Book of Revelation,
00:00:23.02\00:00:26.02
one of the major
topics in Revelation
00:00:26.05\00:00:28.62
is this conflict over worship,
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conflict between righteousness
and unrighteousness,
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conflict
between truth and error.
00:00:35.03\00:00:38.13
And at the
heart of that conflict
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is a crisis over worship.
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There are two signs in
the Book of Revelation,
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the seal of God and
the mark of the beast.
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And in this presentation,
we're going to probe both,
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what is the mark of the
beast, what is the seal of God.
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And how can we avoid
the mark of the beast.
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Let's pray as we enter
into this most significant,
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vitally important presentation.
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Father in heaven,
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reveal to us clearly Your truth.
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Help us to see
the truth of Your Word
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and may it make a difference
in our lives in Christ name.
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Amen.
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The title of this program
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is Revelation's Mark
of the Beast Exposed.
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This is part of a
series of telecasts called
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Revelation's Ancient
Discoveries aired here
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on Three Angels Broadcasting.
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When I was asked
to do this series
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on the Book of Revelation,
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I knew that one of
the key topics was the one
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we're going to be
presenting right now,
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Revelation's Mark
of the Beast Exposed.
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Many people are quite confused
about the mark of the beast.
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They have the idea
that it is 666 branded
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on somebody's forehead.
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And so, they've
often said as I've lectured
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on the Book of Revelation.
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I don't want anybody,
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I'm not gonna let anybody
brand 666 on my forehead,
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much more subtle than that.
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Some have felt that
maybe it's the bar code on cans
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or that which we
scan on consumer goods.
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And they have said, you
know, that has to do with 666,
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a time when you
cannot buy or sell.
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But we need to go
to Revelation itself
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and discover some basic
things like who is the beast,
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what is the mark of the beast,
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and how can you avoid
the mark of the beast.
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The Book of Revelation is
the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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So as we study this
issue of the beast power
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and discover who the beast is,
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we want to be sure
that Jesus is central.
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Whoever the beast is or
whatever the beast power is,
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whatever that
antichrist power is,
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it's something
opposite of who Christ is.
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It teaches teachings
not in harmony with Jesus.
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So Jesus is
always front and center
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in the Book of Revelation.
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But Revelation
reveals Jesus' truth
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and exposes Satan's deceptions.
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If there is a pathology or
sickness in the human body,
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it's not always
pleasant to have a diagnosis
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by a physician
that you are sick.
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Let's suppose you had
cancer and let's suppose
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that you need a
diagnosis before treatment
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which of course you would.
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And let's suppose
in that diagnosis,
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the cancer was worse than you
thought but the physician said,
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"If you have a
very painful operation,
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I know that
cancer can be removed.
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We can get it.
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It has not yet metastasized,
the growth is growing.
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We need to cut it out."
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You and I wouldn't
look forward to surgery,
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but we would look
forward to saving our life.
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Sometimes in life, you
have to go through things
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that are quite painful
for the ultimate result
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of saving your life.
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So the subject of
the mark of the beast
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is not a pleasant
one at times to discuss
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because we're looking
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at some long
cherished religious opinions.
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And I want to do this as
kindly, as lovingly as I can,
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but wouldn't you expect me
as a preacher of the Word of God
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to share truth with you
even at times if that truth
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were painful if it
could save your very life.
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Revelation 13:1 says,
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"Then I stood on
the sand of the sea.
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And I saw a beast
rising up out of the sea,
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having seven
heads and ten horns,
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and on his horns ten crowns,
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and on his heads
a blasphemous name.
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Now the beast which I
saw was like a leopard,
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his feet were like
the feet of a bear,
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his mouth like
the mouth of a lion."
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"The waters which
you saw..." Now water...
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You see, this beast
comes up out of the water,
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so let's pause
here for a moment.
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We have to let Revelation
describe its own symbols.
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So remember the beast
comes up out of the water,
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what do the waters represent?
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Revelation 17:15,
"The waters which you saw,
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where the harlot sits,
are peoples, multitudes,
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nations, or tongues."
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We've studied about that harlot,
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that false religious
system in Revelation 17.
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But what do the
waters represent?
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They represent peoples.
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So a beast coming
up out of the sea,
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like we saw in
Revelation 13 that we just read,
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represents
something, a power coming up
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out of the
peopled area of the world,
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out of a population
based, not of an area
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that is not populated.
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So in Bible prophecy,
we look at the symbols
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and the symbols
explain themselves.
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Waters represent people.
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We sometimes use the expression
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"the great sea of humanity",
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and so it's a
very common symbol.
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Now in the Book of Revelation,
not only in Revelation
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but throughout Bible prophecy,
what does a beast represent?
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A beast represents
a king or a kingdom.
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Daniel 7:23, "Thus he
said, 'The fourth beast
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shall be the fourth," what?
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"Kingdom on earth."'
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When you read
these prophetic symbols,
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they are quite
common throughout scripture
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and they are consistent.
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You read about a
beast representing
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a king or a kingdom in the Book
of Daniel, you carry that over
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to the Book of
Revelation, a beast represents
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a king or a kingdom.
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So the beast
coming up out of the sea
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represents a kingdom
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arising in a
populated area of the world.
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So a beast
represents a political power
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or it could represent a
political religious power
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but something
that has authority.
00:07:07.72\00:07:10.23
Now where does this new
power get its authority from?
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Revelation 13:2, "The
dragon gave him his power,
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his throne, and
great authority."
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So his throne of
rulership comes from the dragon.
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This is Revelation 13.
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If you go back to Revelation 12,
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you'll notice
something about this dragon.
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In Daniel 7, you
have four beasts.
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You have lion with
eagle's wings, Babylon.
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You have a bear with
three ribs, Medo-Persia.
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You have a Greece
with the leopard like
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beast describing Greece.
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And then you have
this really non-descript
00:07:52.63\00:07:54.77
dragon like beast
representing Rome.
00:07:54.80\00:07:57.64
So back in Daniel 7,
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the fourth
beast represents Rome.
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The beast that
comes up in Revelation 13
00:08:03.35\00:08:05.61
is this composite beast.
00:08:05.65\00:08:07.15
You remember how it read,
00:08:07.18\00:08:08.52
"I stood upon
the sand of the sea,
00:08:08.55\00:08:10.35
saw another beast
come up out of the sea
00:08:10.39\00:08:12.25
having seven
heads and ten horns.
00:08:12.29\00:08:14.09
Upon his horns ten crowns,
00:08:14.12\00:08:15.59
upon his head the
name of blasphemy.
00:08:15.62\00:08:17.26
The beast which you
saw was like," unto a what?
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"Leopard," there you see it,
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"feet like the feet of a," what?
00:08:20.90\00:08:22.23
"Bear, mouth like
the mouth of a," what?
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"Lion and the dragon."
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See again, it's
describing the Babylon,
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Medo-Persia, Greece,
pagan Rome of Daniel 7.
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There is another interesting
aspect of this dragon's work.
00:08:33.01\00:08:38.58
You look at Revelation 12:4-5,
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"The dragon
stood before the woman
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who was ready to give birth,"
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So now this is the
dragon in Revelation 12.
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Who do they represent?
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"To devour her Child
as soon as it was born."
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So the dragon to
devour the Child.
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Who is the Child?
Child is Jesus, of course.
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And who is the
dragon in Revelation 12?
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It says the dragon
which you saw is Satan.
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So how do you
harmonize the dragon being Satan
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and the dragon being pagan Rome?
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Satan always works
through some earthly power.
00:09:11.88\00:09:15.88
So in Revelation 12,
the dragon is working
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through pagan
Rome to destroy Jesus.
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In Revelation 12,
00:09:23.63\00:09:25.26
the dragon Satan is
bent on destroying Christ.
00:09:25.29\00:09:29.86
Now remember, it was
a Roman official Herod
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that passed a decree that
all male children be killed.
00:09:32.80\00:09:37.07
The dragon, Satan
working through pagan Rome
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to destroy Jesus.
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It was a Roman governor Pilate
that sentenced Christ to death
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and ordered His crucifixion.
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Again, the dragon, Satan
00:09:48.38\00:09:50.99
working through pagan
Rome to destroy Jesus.
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You look again, it was a Roman
emblem that sealed Jesus' tomb
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and Roman
soldiers that guarded it.
00:09:59.19\00:10:01.10
Again, the dragon
working through pagan Rome
00:10:01.13\00:10:04.77
to destroy Jesus.
00:10:04.80\00:10:06.57
So when you
come to Revelation 13
00:10:06.60\00:10:09.74
and you see the
dragon gave the power
00:10:09.77\00:10:13.78
and great authority
to this beast coming up,
00:10:13.81\00:10:17.15
this new power that's
rising in Revelation 13.
00:10:17.18\00:10:20.12
You have to raise a question,
00:10:20.15\00:10:21.48
since in Daniel 7,
the dragon-like beast,
00:10:21.52\00:10:24.62
non-descript
beast is pagan Rome.
00:10:24.65\00:10:27.52
Since in Revelation 12,
00:10:27.56\00:10:29.89
the Satan works
through pagan Rome.
00:10:29.92\00:10:34.03
Who did pagan
Rome give its power,
00:10:34.06\00:10:36.13
throne, and great authority to?
00:10:36.16\00:10:38.10
Let's go to history.
00:10:38.13\00:10:39.73
We'll find six
identifying characteristics
00:10:39.77\00:10:43.71
of this beast power
that leave no question,
00:10:43.74\00:10:47.18
no shadow of a doubt
what the beast power is.
00:10:47.21\00:10:50.08
First, it gets its
authority from pagan Rome.
00:10:50.11\00:10:54.65
Professor Labianca,
the Professor of History
00:10:54.68\00:10:58.09
in the University
of Rome said this,
00:10:58.12\00:11:00.39
"To the
succession of the Caesar's
00:11:00.42\00:11:02.76
came the succession
of the Pontiffs in Rome.
00:11:02.79\00:11:07.50
When Constantine left Rome..."
00:11:07.53\00:11:10.17
Now this is Professor Labianca,
00:11:10.20\00:11:12.03
Professor of
History, University of Rome.
00:11:12.07\00:11:13.84
"He gave his
seat to the Pontiff."
00:11:13.87\00:11:16.17
What did Revelation 13 say?
00:11:16.20\00:11:19.14
That this beast power would
get its seat of government,
00:11:19.17\00:11:23.71
its authority from pagan Rome.
00:11:23.75\00:11:27.12
So who got its
authority from pagan Rome?
00:11:27.15\00:11:29.88
It was, of course,
papal Rome or the Pontiff.
00:11:29.92\00:11:32.99
So the beast power
identified here in Revelation 13
00:11:33.02\00:11:39.33
would have to be papal Rome
00:11:39.36\00:11:41.60
because it got its seat of
government from pagan Rome.
00:11:41.63\00:11:45.67
The Pontiffs sat there in
the throne of the emperors
00:11:45.70\00:11:50.94
or the Caesars.
00:11:50.97\00:11:52.61
Stanley's History, page 40,
00:11:52.64\00:11:54.98
again we go to
history says this,
00:11:55.01\00:11:57.21
"The popes filled the place
of the vacant emperors of Rome,
00:11:57.25\00:12:02.55
inheriting again
their power, prestige,
00:12:02.58\00:12:06.45
and titles from paganism.
00:12:06.49\00:12:10.03
The papacy is but the ghost
of the deceased Roman Empire,
00:12:10.06\00:12:14.26
sitting crowned upon its grave."
00:12:14.30\00:12:17.23
This is not a preacher,
this is Stanley's History.
00:12:17.27\00:12:19.93
Now let me assure you,
the beast is not a person.
00:12:19.97\00:12:24.44
The Bible doesn't say
the beast is a person.
00:12:24.47\00:12:26.88
The beast is always a power,
00:12:26.91\00:12:28.78
a political power
or a religious power.
00:12:28.81\00:12:32.05
It is a
religious- political system.
00:12:32.08\00:12:35.65
Let me pause as well here.
00:12:35.68\00:12:38.49
In our Ancient
Discoveries series
00:12:38.52\00:12:42.62
on the Book of Revelation,
00:12:42.66\00:12:43.99
in our Revelation's
Ancient Discovery series,
00:12:44.03\00:12:46.49
it's not our goal to condemn,
00:12:46.53\00:12:49.83
blaspheme any
religious organization.
00:12:49.86\00:12:54.47
There are many wonderful,
wonderful godly people
00:12:54.50\00:12:58.97
in the Roman Catholic community.
00:12:59.01\00:13:01.18
I was brought up in
a lovely Catholic home.
00:13:01.21\00:13:04.51
My mom was Roman Catholic,
00:13:04.55\00:13:06.65
and I was educated by the priest
00:13:06.68\00:13:08.88
and the nuns
for much of my life,
00:13:08.92\00:13:11.15
the first eight
years of my education.
00:13:11.19\00:13:13.09
And I look back at that
with deep thanks giving.
00:13:13.12\00:13:16.42
One of the things that I
really appreciate is learning
00:13:16.46\00:13:20.46
to memorize my
Roman Catholic teachers,
00:13:20.50\00:13:24.13
my nuns really taught me
how to memorize a great deal.
00:13:24.17\00:13:26.47
So I thank God for that,
and I remember the first time
00:13:26.50\00:13:29.60
I heard a message like this.
00:13:29.64\00:13:30.97
It really tore me apart inside.
00:13:31.01\00:13:33.71
But, you know, when
you look at Scripture,
00:13:33.74\00:13:36.68
you have to say, "I
don't want to go the easy way."
00:13:36.71\00:13:40.22
We have to say, "What is truth?
00:13:40.25\00:13:42.02
And if this is clear
truth, I want to follow it."
00:13:42.05\00:13:45.09
So let's look at the
identifying characteristics
00:13:45.12\00:13:48.32
of this beast power.
00:13:48.36\00:13:50.16
Then let's look at
the mark of the beast,
00:13:50.19\00:13:52.03
let's look at the seal of God,
00:13:52.06\00:13:53.40
and try to put all
that together tonight.
00:13:53.43\00:13:54.96
The Beast of Revelation 13
00:13:55.00\00:13:56.33
describes a religious
political power system
00:13:56.36\00:13:58.93
that would grow up out of Rome
00:13:58.97\00:14:00.94
after the fall
of the Roman Empire.
00:14:00.97\00:14:04.01
Now notice
another characteristic.
00:14:04.04\00:14:06.34
Revelation 13:8,
00:14:06.37\00:14:07.78
"All who dwell on the
earth will worship him..."
00:14:07.81\00:14:10.58
In other words, it is a
system of religious authority
00:14:10.61\00:14:15.52
or worship.
00:14:15.55\00:14:17.45
It talks about
all over the world,
00:14:17.49\00:14:20.19
there would be this
worldwide religious power.
00:14:20.22\00:14:22.22
So whoever the beast
power is in Revelation 13.
00:14:22.26\00:14:25.03
It can't be
something done in a corner.
00:14:25.06\00:14:27.53
It's not an individual.
00:14:27.56\00:14:29.00
It's a political, religious
system that spans the globe.
00:14:29.03\00:14:34.47
There's another characteristic
of this power as well.
00:14:34.50\00:14:38.47
Revelation 13:5 said,
00:14:38.51\00:14:40.64
"He was given a mouth speaking
great things and blasphemies."
00:14:40.68\00:14:44.41
According to the
Bible, what is blasphemy?
00:14:44.45\00:14:48.62
How does the Bible
itself define blasphemy?
00:14:48.65\00:14:53.02
What does the Bible
say that blasphemy is?
00:14:53.05\00:14:55.92
Jesus was
charged with blasphemy,
00:14:55.96\00:14:58.86
He certainly
wasn't a blasphemer.
00:14:58.89\00:15:01.36
But John 10:33,
00:15:01.40\00:15:03.40
"The Jews answered Him, saying,
00:15:03.43\00:15:05.23
'For a good work we do not
stone You, but for blasphemy,
00:15:05.27\00:15:09.37
and because You being a
Man, make Yourself God.'
00:15:09.40\00:15:12.67
So any human being that
claims the authority of God
00:15:12.71\00:15:18.18
is indeed a
blasphemer because blasphemy
00:15:18.21\00:15:22.15
is what a human being
claims authority of God.
00:15:22.18\00:15:25.89
Does the Roman
Church make that claim?
00:15:25.92\00:15:29.26
One must be fair with history.
00:15:29.29\00:15:31.79
And so let's go to
the original sources.
00:15:31.83\00:15:36.33
In Encyclical
Letters of Leo XIII,
00:15:36.36\00:15:39.13
of course, pope,
00:15:39.17\00:15:40.50
"We hold upon this earth
the place of God Almighty."
00:15:40.54\00:15:46.07
Another aspect of blasphemy
is found in Mark 2:7, again,
00:15:46.11\00:15:50.65
the Pharisees, Scribes say,
religious leaders of Judaism,
00:15:50.68\00:15:55.28
"Why does this Man, Jesus,
speak blasphemies like this?
00:15:55.32\00:15:58.92
Who can forgive
sins but God alone?"
00:15:58.95\00:16:01.62
So they are claiming
Christ as a blasphemer, why?
00:16:01.66\00:16:05.06
Because He has the
power to forgive sins.
00:16:05.09\00:16:07.60
Was Jesus a blasphemer?
00:16:07.63\00:16:09.63
No, not at all. Why not?
00:16:09.66\00:16:11.30
Because He was God
00:16:11.33\00:16:13.84
and therefore could claim
the power to forgive sins.
00:16:13.87\00:16:18.61
But yet, any earthly
power that would claim
00:16:18.64\00:16:21.31
the power to forgive sins
00:16:21.34\00:16:23.04
would enter into what
the Bible calls blasphemy.
00:16:23.08\00:16:26.05
In the book The Dignities
and Duties of the Priest,
00:16:26.08\00:16:30.69
we read this sentence,
00:16:30.72\00:16:34.16
and this is volume 12, page 2,
00:16:34.19\00:16:36.62
Dignities and
Duties of the Priest
00:16:36.66\00:16:38.39
is a book that priests get
to study their responsibilities
00:16:38.43\00:16:43.06
as a priest for the priesthood.
00:16:43.10\00:16:45.20
"God Himself," this is amazing,
00:16:45.23\00:16:48.20
"God Himself is obliged to abide
00:16:48.24\00:16:49.94
by the judgment of His priest,
00:16:49.97\00:16:52.21
and either not to
pardon or to pardon,
00:16:52.24\00:16:55.91
according as they
refuse or give absolution...
00:16:55.94\00:16:59.21
The sentence of
the priest precedes,
00:16:59.25\00:17:02.02
and God subscribes to it."
00:17:02.05\00:17:04.75
Again, I'll let
you judge for yourself.
00:17:04.79\00:17:08.26
The Bible says
blasphemy is claiming
00:17:08.29\00:17:10.43
to be equal with God.
00:17:10.46\00:17:12.26
Does the church do
that? They claim to.
00:17:12.29\00:17:15.36
The Bible says blasphemy
00:17:15.40\00:17:17.00
is claiming the
power to forgive sins.
00:17:17.03\00:17:19.07
You've seen the clear statement.
00:17:19.10\00:17:20.74
I need not comment on it.
00:17:20.77\00:17:23.00
Honest hearted people
00:17:23.04\00:17:25.17
guided by the
Spirit hear the call of God
00:17:25.21\00:17:28.84
to their hearts
and want to step out
00:17:28.88\00:17:32.01
from falsehood and tradition.
00:17:32.05\00:17:34.75
Jesus is our only priest.
00:17:34.78\00:17:37.59
And I remember a time
00:17:37.62\00:17:39.75
when my mother was sitting
in the backyard of our home
00:17:39.79\00:17:43.79
there in Norwich, Connecticut.
00:17:43.83\00:17:46.43
And I came out in the back,
it was a hot sunny July day,
00:17:46.46\00:17:50.07
I had come to Jesus,
00:17:50.10\00:17:51.87
I had heard and
understood these truths
00:17:51.90\00:17:54.14
that I so wanted to
share them with mom,
00:17:54.17\00:17:56.50
my dad had
already accepted them,
00:17:56.54\00:17:58.51
came out in the
back porch and I said,
00:17:58.54\00:18:00.44
"You know, mom..."
00:18:00.48\00:18:01.81
When I was taught in catechism,
00:18:01.84\00:18:03.78
I was taught
that I needed a priest
00:18:03.81\00:18:06.05
because the priest would be
a mediator between God and me,
00:18:06.08\00:18:10.55
that I was not good
enough to approach God,
00:18:10.59\00:18:12.72
but mother let me
read your Bible text.
00:18:12.75\00:18:14.76
And I read here 1
Timothy where it says,
00:18:14.79\00:18:17.49
"There is only one
mediator between God and man,
00:18:17.53\00:18:19.66
the man Jesus Christ."
00:18:19.69\00:18:21.26
And I noticed tears
coming out of her eyes
00:18:21.30\00:18:23.50
because she began to understand,
00:18:23.53\00:18:25.37
maybe for the
first time in her life,
00:18:25.40\00:18:27.37
the all supremacy of Christ.
00:18:27.40\00:18:29.37
We are not good
enough to appear before God,
00:18:29.40\00:18:31.31
we need a priest.
00:18:31.34\00:18:32.67
But Jesus is our priest.
00:18:32.71\00:18:34.84
So here are
three characteristics
00:18:34.88\00:18:36.28
of the beast power.
00:18:36.31\00:18:37.65
They have authority,
00:18:37.68\00:18:39.01
the beast power
gets its authority from
00:18:39.05\00:18:40.38
pagan Rome, papal Rome did.
00:18:40.42\00:18:41.75
It is a
worldwide religious power,
00:18:41.78\00:18:43.49
papal Rome is.
00:18:43.52\00:18:44.85
It claims equality
with God, papal Rome does.
00:18:44.89\00:18:48.19
But notice, Revelation 13:7,
00:18:48.22\00:18:50.73
"It was granted to him
00:18:50.76\00:18:52.09
to make war with the
saints and to overcome them."
00:18:52.13\00:18:53.90
In other words, during
the Middle or Dark Ages,
00:18:53.93\00:18:56.63
church and state would unite
and this power would become
00:18:56.67\00:18:59.20
a persecuting power.
00:18:59.23\00:19:01.30
Did church and
state unite under Rome
00:19:01.34\00:19:03.64
and persecute those
00:19:03.67\00:19:05.01
that didn't go
along with its teachings?
00:19:05.04\00:19:06.68
There is only
one answer to that.
00:19:06.71\00:19:08.04
You look at history
00:19:08.08\00:19:09.41
and certainly the answer is yes.
00:19:09.44\00:19:12.55
This would be a
persecuting power
00:19:12.58\00:19:15.25
during the Dark or Middle Ages.
00:19:15.28\00:19:18.15
There is a fifth characteristic.
00:19:18.19\00:19:21.52
It says, Revelation 13:5,
00:19:21.56\00:19:23.83
"He was given a mouth speaking
great things and blasphemies."
00:19:23.86\00:19:26.49
In other words, the
power to forgive sins,
00:19:26.53\00:19:28.66
exalting one's authority
above the authority of God.
00:19:28.70\00:19:32.20
"And he was given authority
to continue for 42 months."
00:19:32.23\00:19:35.57
Now what's that all about,
00:19:35.60\00:19:37.24
authority to continue 42 months.
00:19:37.27\00:19:41.24
Here is mathematical
proof of this identity.
00:19:41.28\00:19:46.08
In Bible
prophecy, one prophetic day
00:19:46.11\00:19:49.12
equals one literal year.
00:19:49.15\00:19:50.85
You read that in
Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34.
00:19:50.89\00:19:57.39
He says, "I have given
you one day for a year."
00:19:57.43\00:19:59.63
Now every time
you read about a day
00:19:59.66\00:20:01.00
in Bible prophecy,
00:20:01.03\00:20:02.36
in the Bible,
rather, it's not a year,
00:20:02.40\00:20:04.33
but when you read
about it in Bible prophecy,
00:20:04.37\00:20:06.97
it is a symbol.
00:20:07.00\00:20:08.34
You have symbolic prophecy.
00:20:08.37\00:20:10.04
You have beast
coming up out of the sea,
00:20:10.07\00:20:12.04
you have like a
lion with eagle's wings,
00:20:12.07\00:20:13.78
nothing like that
in natural phenomenon.
00:20:13.81\00:20:16.75
You have a bear
raising itself up on
00:20:16.78\00:20:19.55
one side with
three ribs in its mouth.
00:20:19.58\00:20:21.82
You have these symbols,
00:20:21.85\00:20:23.18
you have the
leopard with four heads,
00:20:23.22\00:20:24.89
and the wings, and
this dragon-like beast.
00:20:24.92\00:20:27.66
And then you have time prophecy
00:20:27.69\00:20:29.59
in the context of those symbols.
00:20:29.62\00:20:31.79
And so where you
have symbolic prophecy,
00:20:31.83\00:20:35.33
you have symbolic
time prophecy as well,
00:20:35.36\00:20:37.73
so one prophetic
day equals a year.
00:20:37.77\00:20:40.34
So in the Bible,
00:20:40.37\00:20:42.07
there are 30 days
in a prophetic month.
00:20:42.10\00:20:44.47
So this power would
reign for 42 months,
00:20:44.51\00:20:47.58
or 1260 prophetic days,
00:20:47.61\00:20:50.28
or 1260 literal years,
00:20:50.31\00:20:53.18
what is that all about?
00:20:53.21\00:20:55.75
The papal power
rose to its ascendancy.
00:20:55.78\00:20:59.99
When Vigilius II was
crowned by Justinian,
00:21:00.02\00:21:06.13
the pagan Roman
emperor, there in 538 A.D.
00:21:06.16\00:21:10.00
Now before that time,
00:21:10.03\00:21:11.63
the last of the
Barbarian or the Arian tribes
00:21:11.67\00:21:14.50
are driven out of Rome
and here the significance
00:21:14.54\00:21:18.37
of this day is papal authority
00:21:18.41\00:21:22.11
is given at this point.
00:21:22.14\00:21:24.75
The papacy ruled for 1260 years,
00:21:24.78\00:21:27.98
certainly there
was the reformation
00:21:28.02\00:21:30.19
during this time
with Luther, and Zwingli,
00:21:30.22\00:21:33.36
and Hus, and Jerome,
and the other reformers,
00:21:33.39\00:21:35.92
but if you take 1260 years
and you add it to A.D. 538,
00:21:35.96\00:21:39.46
you come to A.D. 798.
00:21:39.49\00:21:42.30
What happened in A.D. 798?
00:21:42.33\00:21:44.93
The Bible is very, very plain.
00:21:44.97\00:21:47.54
Napoleon looking
down to the South
00:21:47.57\00:21:51.07
sees the pope
of Rome as a rival.
00:21:51.11\00:21:53.27
And so he sends his General...
00:21:53.31\00:21:54.74
He actually sent
him the year earlier
00:21:54.78\00:21:59.25
but the General
came back empty-handed.
00:21:59.28\00:22:01.05
He goes down in
1798, it's Berthier,
00:22:01.08\00:22:04.32
exactly in that year
that Bible prophecy predicted.
00:22:04.35\00:22:08.72
General Berthier enters Rome,
00:22:08.76\00:22:10.53
takes the papacy
captive during that time,
00:22:10.56\00:22:14.80
takes the pope captive.
00:22:14.83\00:22:16.16
The pope
eventually dies in captivity.
00:22:16.20\00:22:18.63
There are a number of rivals
that battle for the papacy
00:22:18.67\00:22:23.67
and that's an
interesting history in itself.
00:22:23.71\00:22:25.34
But here is the
point that in 1798,
00:22:25.37\00:22:29.14
the pope is taken captive.
00:22:29.18\00:22:31.31
What does history tell us
about these remarkable events?
00:22:31.35\00:22:34.85
Church History, page 24,
00:22:34.88\00:22:37.45
"The murder of a
Frenchman in Rome in 1798
00:22:37.49\00:22:41.12
gave the French an excuse
for occupying the Eternal City
00:22:41.16\00:22:44.93
and putting an end to
the Papal temporal power.
00:22:44.96\00:22:48.56
The aged Pontiff himself
00:22:48.60\00:22:50.27
was carried into
exile into Valence...
00:22:50.30\00:22:53.13
The enemies of
the Church rejoiced."
00:22:53.17\00:22:55.17
They fought of course,
00:22:55.20\00:22:56.54
"The last pope, they
declared has resigned."
00:22:56.57\00:22:59.24
So 538 A.D. French
put a crown on the king.
00:22:59.27\00:23:05.01
Their emperor
Justinian, enables the king,
00:23:05.05\00:23:10.29
rather enables the
pope to sit upon his throne
00:23:10.32\00:23:15.42
and gives him civil
authority at that time.
00:23:15.46\00:23:19.49
Then 1798
occurs, what takes place?
00:23:19.53\00:23:24.17
Napoleon sends his
French General down.
00:23:24.20\00:23:26.97
He overthrows Rome,
takes the pope captive.
00:23:27.00\00:23:31.01
So from 538 to 1798,
00:23:31.04\00:23:33.48
the receiving of authority,
00:23:33.51\00:23:34.98
the removing of authority
00:23:35.01\00:23:36.41
exactly like the Bible
says in that 1260 year period.
00:23:36.44\00:23:41.98
Now what does the
Bible say about this.
00:23:42.02\00:23:43.75
Let's look at
it, very carefully.
00:23:43.79\00:23:46.05
"And I saw one of his heads
00:23:46.09\00:23:47.42
as if it had been
mortally wounded..."
00:23:47.46\00:23:49.42
In fact, that's
what many people thought
00:23:49.46\00:23:51.19
that the papacy
was mortally wounded.
00:23:51.23\00:23:53.63
"And his deadly
wound would eventually,
00:23:53.66\00:23:55.43
of course, be healed.
00:23:55.46\00:23:56.80
And all the world would marvel
or follow the beast again."
00:23:56.83\00:24:00.30
So the Bible predicted
00:24:00.34\00:24:01.77
that the pope
would go into captivity,
00:24:01.80\00:24:03.71
it would be a deadly wound,
00:24:03.74\00:24:05.21
but that deadly
wound would be healed
00:24:05.24\00:24:07.08
and the pope
eventually would achieve
00:24:07.11\00:24:09.58
worldwide
prominence or authority again.
00:24:09.61\00:24:12.25
So here are
five characteristics,
00:24:12.28\00:24:15.55
five identifying characteristics
00:24:15.58\00:24:17.99
of the beast
power of Revelation 13.
00:24:18.02\00:24:20.86
It would get its authority
from pagan Rome, it did.
00:24:20.89\00:24:24.06
It would be a worldwide
religious power, it was.
00:24:24.09\00:24:27.23
It would claim equality
with God, it indeed did.
00:24:27.26\00:24:30.70
It was a persecuting power
00:24:30.73\00:24:32.43
during those Dark Ages, it was.
00:24:32.47\00:24:34.57
It would reign for
1260 years, exactly,
00:24:34.60\00:24:37.11
historically
like the Bible says.
00:24:37.14\00:24:39.24
But there is another
identifying characteristic
00:24:39.27\00:24:41.94
found in Revelation 13:18.
00:24:41.98\00:24:43.98
It says, "Here is wisdom.
00:24:44.01\00:24:45.78
Let him who has
understanding calculate,"
00:24:45.81\00:24:47.98
or compute, "the
number of the beast,
00:24:48.02\00:24:50.95
for it is the number
of a man and His number
00:24:50.99\00:24:54.16
is six hundred and sixty-six."
00:24:54.19\00:24:56.96
So when you look at
that, it says let's calculate.
00:24:56.99\00:25:00.23
Now I want to, here,
be sure we understand,
00:25:00.26\00:25:03.53
666 is not the only
identification of the beast.
00:25:03.57\00:25:08.27
In fact, if we didn't have 666,
00:25:08.30\00:25:10.01
we could still easily
identify the beast from those
00:25:10.04\00:25:13.01
five characteristics
outlined in Revelation 13.
00:25:13.04\00:25:17.51
But it does help to
confirm that identity.
00:25:17.55\00:25:20.82
Now in the Bible
prophecy, of course,
00:25:20.85\00:25:22.62
seven equals perfection,
00:25:22.65\00:25:25.35
the six equals
apostasy or rebellion
00:25:25.39\00:25:28.66
throughout Scripture.
00:25:28.69\00:25:30.73
One of the official
titles of the papacy
00:25:30.76\00:25:33.50
is Vicarius Filii Dei
or Vicar, the Son of God.
00:25:33.53\00:25:37.53
This is one of the
very authoritative,
00:25:37.57\00:25:41.44
one of the official
titles of the papacy,
00:25:41.47\00:25:44.71
Vicarius Filii Dei.
00:25:44.74\00:25:47.51
In fact, it's one of
the most exalted titles
00:25:47.54\00:25:49.64
because it means
Vicar, the Son of God.
00:25:49.68\00:25:52.95
If you take Vicarius Filii Dei
00:25:52.98\00:25:56.28
and you compute
that in Roman numerals.
00:25:56.32\00:26:00.86
And, of course,
in the days of John,
00:26:00.89\00:26:04.36
you had the use of
these Roman numerals
00:26:04.39\00:26:07.43
and Roman numerals
are very common symbol
00:26:07.46\00:26:10.13
or common system of computation.
00:26:10.17\00:26:13.20
V would equal
5, I would equal 1,
00:26:13.23\00:26:16.67
C would equal a
100, A would equal 0,
00:26:16.71\00:26:19.77
R would equal
0, I would equal 1,
00:26:19.81\00:26:23.98
U, that's same as
V, that would equal 5,
00:26:24.01\00:26:26.95
S would equal 0.
00:26:26.98\00:26:28.55
So you just have
5, and 1, and 100, 1,
00:26:28.58\00:26:30.95
and 5 that is 112.
00:26:30.99\00:26:34.19
Then F, Filii, would equal 0,
00:26:34.22\00:26:37.46
I would equal 1,
L would equal 50,
00:26:37.49\00:26:40.53
I would equal 1, and
I would equal 1 again.
00:26:40.56\00:26:42.83
You've got 53.
00:26:42.86\00:26:44.37
D in the Dei, Vicarius, Vicar,
the Son of Filii Dei, God.
00:26:44.40\00:26:50.27
D would equal
500, E will equal 0,
00:26:50.31\00:26:53.48
and I would equal 1.
00:26:53.51\00:26:54.84
That's 501.
00:26:54.88\00:26:56.21
If you add them
up, 112, 53, and 501,
00:26:56.24\00:27:00.55
here's wisdom that human
would have understanding,
00:27:00.58\00:27:03.42
calculate or compute
the number of the beast.
00:27:03.45\00:27:05.79
It's the number of its name
00:27:05.82\00:27:08.26
and that is the number of a man.
00:27:08.29\00:27:10.16
So notice the name
or title of the papacy,
00:27:10.19\00:27:13.09
Vicarius Filii Dei,
you'll get 2, and 3, and 1,
00:27:13.13\00:27:15.83
that's 6, 1, and 5, and 0,
that's 6, and 5 and 1 is 6.
00:27:15.86\00:27:19.93
So you have 666.
00:27:19.97\00:27:21.57
So the beast power outlined
00:27:21.60\00:27:23.91
in Revelation 13
is a religious power.
00:27:23.94\00:27:28.94
It's a power that
would rise out of Rome
00:27:28.98\00:27:31.88
and assert religious authority.
00:27:31.91\00:27:34.72
Now notice what Scripture says.
00:27:34.75\00:27:38.12
Each of these
identifying characteristics
00:27:38.15\00:27:40.49
must be present.
00:27:40.52\00:27:42.02
They are, of
course, in the papacy.
00:27:42.06\00:27:45.26
"He causes all,
both small and great,
00:27:45.29\00:27:47.93
rich and poor, free and slave,
00:27:47.96\00:27:51.13
to receive a mark
on their right hand
00:27:51.17\00:27:53.07
or on their foreheads,
00:27:53.10\00:27:55.04
that no one may buy or sell
00:27:55.07\00:27:57.27
except the one who has the
mark or the name of the beast,
00:27:57.31\00:28:00.34
or the number of his name."
00:28:00.38\00:28:02.01
What is this talking about?
00:28:02.04\00:28:05.05
The mark of papal authority,
00:28:05.08\00:28:08.18
the mark of papal
authority that would be
00:28:08.22\00:28:10.05
enforced at a time
of universal crisis,
00:28:10.09\00:28:14.59
famine, fire, flood,
00:28:14.62\00:28:17.66
earthquake, hurricane,
00:28:17.69\00:28:19.59
natural disaster, war, conflict,
00:28:19.63\00:28:23.43
strife, economic disaster.
00:28:23.47\00:28:26.80
So around the
world, the Bible teaches
00:28:26.84\00:28:29.77
that before the coming of Jesus,
00:28:29.80\00:28:31.14
there would be great disaster.
00:28:31.17\00:28:32.91
And the human
race would look for
00:28:32.94\00:28:34.51
a single world-ruling authority
00:28:34.54\00:28:37.88
to bring human beings together
00:28:37.91\00:28:40.48
to bring peace back to the world
00:28:40.52\00:28:42.58
under the auspices
00:28:42.62\00:28:44.25
of the sign or
mark of that authority.
00:28:44.29\00:28:47.66
Now in Bible prophecy,
00:28:47.69\00:28:50.36
what is indeed
this mark of the beast?
00:28:50.39\00:28:54.20
To understand the
mark of the beast,
00:28:54.23\00:28:56.63
we must first understand
God's sign, seal, or mark.
00:28:56.67\00:29:01.40
In the Book of Revelation,
00:29:01.44\00:29:03.07
you have both the mark of
the beast and the seal of God.
00:29:03.10\00:29:07.41
So you can't fully
understand the mark of the beast
00:29:07.44\00:29:11.18
unless you
understand the seal of God.
00:29:11.21\00:29:13.35
So in Revelation 7:2-3, it says,
00:29:13.38\00:29:17.19
"Then I saw another
angel ascending from the east,
00:29:17.22\00:29:21.02
having the seal
of the living God."
00:29:21.06\00:29:24.46
So what is this
seal of the living God?
00:29:24.49\00:29:27.43
"Then the angel says,
00:29:27.46\00:29:28.83
'Hurt not earth or the
sea until we have sealed
00:29:28.86\00:29:32.27
the servants of God
in their foreheads."'
00:29:32.30\00:29:36.27
Now notice, "He
cries with a loud voice
00:29:36.30\00:29:38.64
to the four angles
to whom it was granted
00:29:38.67\00:29:40.31
to harm the
earth and the sea..."
00:29:40.34\00:29:41.68
In other words,
00:29:41.71\00:29:43.04
hold the strife back,
hold the destruction back,
00:29:43.08\00:29:46.68
hold the
calamity, the conflict back
00:29:46.72\00:29:49.52
until something happens,
00:29:49.55\00:29:50.99
till we've sealed the
servants of God, where?
00:29:51.02\00:29:53.92
In their foreheads.
00:29:53.96\00:29:55.29
"saying, 'Do not harm the earth,
00:29:55.32\00:29:57.33
the sea, or the trees
00:29:57.36\00:29:59.09
till we have
sealed the servants of God
00:29:59.13\00:30:01.03
in their foreheads."'
00:30:01.06\00:30:02.40
'Did you notice
something interesting?
00:30:02.43\00:30:03.80
The mark of the beast is
received either in the forehead
00:30:03.83\00:30:05.87
or in the hand,
00:30:05.90\00:30:07.24
the seal of God
only in the forehead.
00:30:07.27\00:30:09.34
We will
understand that why shortly.
00:30:09.37\00:30:11.31
So what is God saying here?
00:30:11.34\00:30:13.07
He is saying,
"Before the mark of the beast
00:30:13.11\00:30:14.44
goes forth,
00:30:14.48\00:30:15.81
I want My people
to receive My seal,
00:30:15.84\00:30:17.78
the seal that they are
mine, the seal that I own them,
00:30:17.81\00:30:21.28
the seal that they belong to me,
00:30:21.32\00:30:23.25
the seal that
they are the creators."
00:30:23.28\00:30:27.02
The mark of the beast is
enforced either in the hand
00:30:27.06\00:30:30.79
or in the forehead.
00:30:30.83\00:30:32.16
The forehead is a
sign of the brain.
00:30:32.19\00:30:35.10
It's a sign of conscience,
reason, and judgment.
00:30:35.13\00:30:38.23
It's a symbol of the
intellect, the forebrain.
00:30:38.27\00:30:42.10
So the devil
either deceive people
00:30:42.14\00:30:44.97
by the millions
into following him
00:30:45.01\00:30:46.78
in their mind,
00:30:46.81\00:30:48.18
whereas the hand
is a symbol of force,
00:30:48.21\00:30:51.61
coercion, power.
00:30:51.65\00:30:53.25
So the devil doesn't care
00:30:53.28\00:30:54.62
if he deceives
you like the serpent,
00:30:54.65\00:30:57.59
or he forces or
coerces you like the dragon
00:30:57.62\00:31:01.22
and since you can't buy or sell
00:31:01.26\00:31:03.09
and there's
this economic boycott
00:31:03.12\00:31:05.29
or there's this death degree.
00:31:05.33\00:31:06.90
The devil doesn't
care which way he gets you.
00:31:06.93\00:31:09.33
God never appeals to us
through force or coercion,
00:31:09.36\00:31:14.00
but He only appeals to
us through truth and love.
00:31:14.04\00:31:19.07
The devil can
use force and fear.
00:31:19.11\00:31:22.98
Jesus only uses love and truth.
00:31:23.01\00:31:27.48
Forehead means
you're convicted it's right.
00:31:27.52\00:31:30.89
The hand means you're
conversed to go along,
00:31:30.92\00:31:33.52
you're coerced
to go along with it.
00:31:33.56\00:31:36.19
Jesus only appeals to our logic.
00:31:36.22\00:31:40.16
God never ever use His force.
00:31:40.20\00:31:43.20
He wins us by love.
00:31:43.23\00:31:45.33
Now what is this seal?
00:31:45.37\00:31:46.97
What's another
name for the seal?
00:31:47.00\00:31:48.80
Romans 4:11,
talking about Abraham,
00:31:48.84\00:31:51.41
"He received the
sign of circumcision,
00:31:51.44\00:31:54.14
or a seal of righteousness..."
00:31:54.18\00:31:56.14
In the Bible, a sign or a seal
00:31:56.18\00:31:59.78
is the same thing.
00:31:59.81\00:32:02.35
A seal authenticates a document.
00:32:02.38\00:32:06.42
Where do we find God's
eternal code of conduct?
00:32:06.45\00:32:09.66
Of course, in His law.
00:32:09.69\00:32:11.23
So the Holy Spirit
which is the sealing agency.
00:32:11.26\00:32:14.40
The Bible says in
the Book of Ephesians,
00:32:14.43\00:32:16.90
"Grieve not the Holy
Spirit," Ephesians 4:30,
00:32:16.93\00:32:19.27
"Whereby you're sealed
until the day of redemption."
00:32:19.30\00:32:22.30
So the Holy Spirit seals
00:32:22.34\00:32:23.87
in your heart loyalty to Christ,
00:32:23.91\00:32:26.34
seals in your heart
commitment to God's law.
00:32:26.37\00:32:29.61
The Holy Spirit
places within you that power,
00:32:29.64\00:32:32.61
that strength, that
desire to serve Christ
00:32:32.65\00:32:34.38
and Him alone.
00:32:34.42\00:32:35.75
Look, Isaiah 8:16,
00:32:35.78\00:32:37.95
"Seal the law
among my disciples."
00:32:37.99\00:32:41.32
So God's seal is
found in His law.
00:32:41.36\00:32:44.96
The Holy Spirit seals the law
in our hearts or in our lives.
00:32:44.99\00:32:49.96
What's another name for seal?
00:32:50.00\00:32:51.90
It's sign.
00:32:51.93\00:32:53.27
Ezekiel 20:12,
00:32:53.30\00:32:55.10
"Moreover I also
gave them My Sabbaths,
00:32:55.14\00:32:57.97
to be a sign
between Me and them..."
00:32:58.01\00:33:00.78
So God's Sabbath is His
sign or His seal of ownership
00:33:00.81\00:33:06.55
and authority.
00:33:06.58\00:33:08.42
In all of the
Ten Commandment law,
00:33:08.45\00:33:10.99
there's only one
commandment that tells us
00:33:11.02\00:33:13.89
why we keep the commandments.
00:33:13.92\00:33:16.49
You read the commandment,
00:33:16.52\00:33:17.86
it says, "Honor
your father and mother."
00:33:17.89\00:33:19.23
Why you should that?
00:33:19.26\00:33:20.60
I mean, it's the
right thing to do, yes.
00:33:20.63\00:33:21.96
Thou shall not kill, why not?
00:33:22.00\00:33:23.50
Thou shall not steal, why not?
00:33:23.53\00:33:24.87
Don't commit
adultery, don't covet, why not?
00:33:24.90\00:33:26.74
Don't have any other
gods before you, why not?
00:33:26.77\00:33:28.80
Don't take the name of the Lord,
00:33:28.84\00:33:30.31
your God in vain, why not?
00:33:30.34\00:33:31.67
No images, why not?
00:33:31.71\00:33:33.04
Why not?
00:33:33.07\00:33:34.41
Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:33:34.44\00:33:36.08
"Six days shall thou
labor into all thy work
00:33:36.11\00:33:38.48
but the seventh
day is the Sabbath
00:33:38.51\00:33:40.58
of the Lord, thy God.
00:33:40.62\00:33:42.08
In it, thou
shalt not do any work.
00:33:42.12\00:33:44.55
For the Lord made the
heaven, the earth, the sea,
00:33:44.59\00:33:47.52
and all that in the midst."
00:33:47.56\00:33:48.89
Why not?
00:33:48.92\00:33:50.26
Because God created you,
because God fashioned you.
00:33:50.29\00:33:53.96
Revelation 4:11,
"Thou art worthy, O Lord,
00:33:54.00\00:33:57.17
to receive glory,
and honor, and power,
00:33:57.20\00:33:59.33
for You created all things."
00:33:59.37\00:34:01.17
So the Sabbath is the
symbol of the Creator God.
00:34:01.20\00:34:05.07
It's the symbol
that we belong to Him.
00:34:05.11\00:34:07.78
It's the symbol
of His ownership.
00:34:07.81\00:34:10.25
So the seal of God is
really the Holy Spirit
00:34:10.28\00:34:14.92
placing within
our heart and mind
00:34:14.95\00:34:16.69
the desire to
be loyal to Christ.
00:34:16.72\00:34:18.75
"666 symbolizes man's
rebellion in changing God's law
00:34:18.79\00:34:24.39
which is His sign, His
seal, or His mark of authority."
00:34:24.43\00:34:29.30
Now, royal seals
were commonly used
00:34:29.33\00:34:33.00
throughout the Old
and New Testament period.
00:34:33.03\00:34:36.50
Royal seals always would
have the name of the sealer,
00:34:36.54\00:34:41.24
the title of the
sealer, and his territory.
00:34:41.28\00:34:43.68
So if you have a
royal seal for Constantine,
00:34:43.71\00:34:46.35
for example, it would
say name, Constantine,
00:34:46.38\00:34:48.88
title, Emperor, and
territory, Roman Empire.
00:34:48.92\00:34:52.92
If you had a seal
of the United States
00:34:52.95\00:34:54.99
for say Abraham Lincoln,
00:34:55.02\00:34:56.36
it would say
name, Abraham Lincoln,
00:34:56.39\00:34:58.93
title, President,
00:34:58.96\00:35:00.30
his domain or
territory, United States.
00:35:00.33\00:35:03.13
So seals were commonly
used to authenticate a document.
00:35:03.16\00:35:07.84
Even now if you go down
to a justice of the peace,
00:35:07.87\00:35:13.31
if you go down
to a notary public,
00:35:13.34\00:35:15.34
you have a seal.
00:35:15.38\00:35:16.71
You have an important document
bring it down to the notary,
00:35:16.75\00:35:20.22
and the notary will
put their seal on it.
00:35:20.25\00:35:21.88
The seal will have
the name of the notary,
00:35:21.92\00:35:24.55
it'll have the
titlen of the notary,
00:35:24.59\00:35:27.06
and it will also have
the territory of that notary.
00:35:27.09\00:35:32.33
Now God's seal in
His law, the Sabbath,
00:35:32.36\00:35:36.40
has His name, His
title, and His territory.
00:35:36.43\00:35:39.77
It says,
"Remember the Sabbath day
00:35:39.80\00:35:41.37
to keep it holy."
00:35:41.40\00:35:42.74
"Six days shall thou
labor and do all thy work,
00:35:42.77\00:35:44.74
but the seventh
day is the Sabbath
00:35:44.77\00:35:46.11
of the Lord, thy God."
00:35:46.14\00:35:47.48
So what's His name?
00:35:47.51\00:35:48.84
It's the Lord, thy God.
00:35:48.88\00:35:50.35
What is His function?
00:35:50.38\00:35:52.48
It is Creator, the one who made.
00:35:52.51\00:35:55.88
And what's His
territory? Heaven and earth.
00:35:55.92\00:35:58.49
Look, "For in
six days the Lord,"
00:35:58.52\00:36:00.46
that's His name,
"made," that's His title.
00:36:00.49\00:36:03.32
He is the maker, the creator,
"the heavens and the earth,
00:36:03.36\00:36:06.66
the sea, and all
that is in the midst,"
00:36:06.70\00:36:08.03
that's His territory,
00:36:08.06\00:36:09.40
"and He rested the seventh day."
00:36:09.43\00:36:11.60
So the Holy Spirit
leads us to conversion.
00:36:11.63\00:36:15.90
The Holy Spirit is
the sealing agency.
00:36:15.94\00:36:19.17
The Holy Spirit writes
the law of God in our mind,
00:36:19.21\00:36:22.34
so we know it in our
heart, so we love it.
00:36:22.38\00:36:25.91
The Holy Spirit then
places within our dis-hearts
00:36:25.95\00:36:29.85
the desire to follow Christ.
00:36:29.88\00:36:31.69
The Sabbath
becomes the visible symbol
00:36:31.72\00:36:35.02
that we desire through
00:36:35.06\00:36:36.62
His grace to be
loyal and committed to Him.
00:36:36.66\00:36:39.93
"He has blessed the Sabbath
day and He's hallowed it."
00:36:39.96\00:36:43.37
It is His divine seal
00:36:43.40\00:36:45.37
in the last days
of earth's history.
00:36:45.40\00:36:48.10
At a time when there is
war, terrorism, conflict,
00:36:48.14\00:36:51.27
strife on every hand.
00:36:51.31\00:36:53.31
God has a group of
people that will stand for Him.
00:36:53.34\00:36:55.71
On the other hand,
00:36:55.74\00:36:57.08
there will be this
mass ecumenical movement
00:36:57.11\00:36:59.31
to bring people
together to have world peace.
00:36:59.35\00:37:04.29
God's seal His
name, the Lord your God,
00:37:04.32\00:37:07.16
His, title the
Creator, His territory,
00:37:07.19\00:37:08.52
heaven and earth.
00:37:08.56\00:37:09.89
He is gathering men and women
under His banner to serve Him.
00:37:09.92\00:37:14.73
He says in Ezekiel
20:20, " Hallow My Sabbaths,
00:37:14.76\00:37:18.20
and they shall be a
sign between Me and you,
00:37:18.23\00:37:20.60
that you may know that
I am the Lord your God."
00:37:20.64\00:37:22.70
Just as the
Sabbath is the sign of God,
00:37:22.74\00:37:26.61
just like a seal was the
sign of the ancient king,
00:37:26.64\00:37:30.11
the ancient
emperor, the ancient ruler,
00:37:30.15\00:37:32.55
the Sabbath is
God's sign of loyalty,
00:37:32.58\00:37:35.52
God's sign of faithfulness,
00:37:35.55\00:37:37.85
God's sign that He
indeed is the creator,
00:37:37.89\00:37:41.62
and we want to worship Him.
00:37:41.66\00:37:43.02
The central issue
00:37:43.06\00:37:45.33
regarding the mark
of the beast is worship.
00:37:45.36\00:37:48.66
Whose shrine will we worship at?
00:37:48.70\00:37:51.87
Will we worship at the shrine
of man or the shrine of Jesus?
00:37:51.90\00:37:55.54
Whose authority will we accept?
00:37:55.57\00:37:57.87
The authority of man,
the authority of Jesus.
00:37:57.91\00:38:00.88
It's not a matter of
days, my friends, simply,
00:38:00.91\00:38:04.38
it's a matter of allegiance,
it's a matter of loyalty,
00:38:04.41\00:38:07.12
it's a matter of a
conflict over the law of God,
00:38:07.15\00:38:11.02
a conflict
between the seal of God
00:38:11.05\00:38:14.16
and the mark of the beast.
00:38:14.19\00:38:16.16
Now what does the
church of Rome claim
00:38:16.19\00:38:19.26
is the sign of its authority.
00:38:19.29\00:38:22.13
What does the
Church of Rome claim
00:38:22.16\00:38:24.17
that it's the
sign of its authority?
00:38:24.20\00:38:26.00
Notice.
00:38:26.03\00:38:27.37
In the Catholic Record,
September 1, 1923, I read,
00:38:27.40\00:38:31.51
"Sunday is our
mark of authority...
00:38:31.54\00:38:34.54
The Church is above the
Bible, and this transference
00:38:34.58\00:38:39.18
of Sabbath observance
is proof of that fact."
00:38:39.21\00:38:42.78
So what does the
church itself claim?
00:38:42.82\00:38:45.89
That it's his mark of authority,
00:38:45.92\00:38:47.42
of course, Sunday.
00:38:47.46\00:38:48.79
Now somebody
says, "Pastor, Mark,
00:38:48.82\00:38:50.33
please make this plain."
00:38:50.36\00:38:52.79
Does everybody who keeps Sunday
have the mark of the beast?
00:38:52.83\00:38:56.16
Not at all.
00:38:56.20\00:38:58.33
Let me repeat that.
00:38:58.37\00:38:59.90
Everyone who keeps Sunday
00:38:59.93\00:39:01.77
does not have the
mark of the beast.
00:39:01.80\00:39:04.64
There are so many
conscientious Christians,
00:39:04.67\00:39:08.01
they are Catholic Christians,
they are Baptist Christians,
00:39:08.04\00:39:11.48
they are Pentecostal Christians,
00:39:11.51\00:39:13.42
they are Lutheran Christians,
00:39:13.45\00:39:15.28
they are
non-denominational Christians.
00:39:15.32\00:39:17.89
I meet them
everywhere. They love Jesus.
00:39:17.92\00:39:20.82
They are totally
committed to Chris
00:39:20.86\00:39:23.12
and they do not have
the mark of the beast
00:39:23.16\00:39:25.29
by keeping Sunday.
00:39:25.33\00:39:26.66
But look, in the future,
church and state will unite.
00:39:26.70\00:39:32.00
In the future at
the time of crisis,
00:39:32.03\00:39:34.50
when this world
appears to be falling apart,
00:39:34.54\00:39:37.74
in an attempt to
unite all the world,
00:39:37.77\00:39:40.31
a decree will be passed
leading people to worship
00:39:40.34\00:39:43.78
on the first day of the week.
00:39:43.81\00:39:46.25
Denominational
differences will be dropped
00:39:46.28\00:39:49.82
for the sake of political unity
00:39:49.85\00:39:52.85
and the sake of
trying to save the world.
00:39:52.89\00:39:54.62
Now that doesn't mean
00:39:54.66\00:39:55.99
that each religious denomination
00:39:56.02\00:39:57.66
is going to blend into one,
00:39:57.69\00:39:59.33
but they will find at
least two points in common.
00:39:59.36\00:40:03.03
One, Sunday worship and second,
00:40:03.06\00:40:05.67
the idea of the
soul being immortal,
00:40:05.70\00:40:08.07
and they'll be led
on those two points
00:40:08.10\00:40:11.04
in this great unity movement.
00:40:11.07\00:40:13.94
But God will have other people,
a people that are loyal to Him,
00:40:13.98\00:40:18.21
a people that
are faithful to Him,
00:40:18.25\00:40:20.62
a people that will never
give up their conscientious
00:40:20.65\00:40:25.32
convictions to Him.
00:40:25.35\00:40:27.12
God has a mark and that
mark is the divine Sabbath.
00:40:27.16\00:40:32.73
The Roman Church has a
mark of its authority, Sunday.
00:40:32.76\00:40:37.63
And the church
claims that its authority
00:40:37.67\00:40:40.64
is above the
authority of the Bible.
00:40:40.67\00:40:42.90
If you read Peter
Geierman Catechism,
00:40:42.94\00:40:46.14
it says, "Which
day is the Sabbath day?
00:40:46.17\00:40:49.98
Answer: Saturday
is the Sabbath day.
00:40:50.01\00:40:52.58
Why then do we keep
Sunday instead of Saturday?"
00:40:52.61\00:40:55.82
Geierman Catechism says,
00:40:55.85\00:40:57.45
"Because the
church changed the day
00:40:57.49\00:40:59.52
from Saturday to Sunday."
00:40:59.55\00:41:01.09
Why did the church do
this, because of its authority.
00:41:01.12\00:41:04.59
If you look at The
Convert's Catechism,
00:41:04.63\00:41:07.20
very similar statements.
00:41:07.23\00:41:08.83
Catholic encyclopedia,
very similar statements.
00:41:08.86\00:41:12.00
You'll get the
statements of Edward Hiscox,
00:41:12.03\00:41:15.20
author of the
Baptist Manual, points out
00:41:15.24\00:41:17.84
that Sunday came into the church
00:41:17.87\00:41:19.91
through pagan
sources, adopted by the papacy,
00:41:19.94\00:41:24.38
and that it then has
come into Protestantism.
00:41:24.41\00:41:27.68
So the Roman churches
are a mark of its authority,
00:41:27.72\00:41:31.32
not based on biblical
authority but based on its claim
00:41:31.35\00:41:35.12
that it can exalt
the Sunday Sabbath
00:41:35.16\00:41:39.03
above the true
Sabbath of the Bible.
00:41:39.06\00:41:41.43
In Saint Catherine's
Catholic Church Sentinel,
00:41:41.46\00:41:45.00
May 21, 1995,
00:41:45.03\00:41:47.64
they were discussing the
issue of the Bible Sabbath.
00:41:47.67\00:41:52.07
And why the
Catholic Church keeps Sunday
00:41:52.11\00:41:54.81
rather than the Sabbath.
00:41:54.84\00:41:56.18
And look at what this
Catholic journal said,
00:41:56.21\00:42:00.32
May 21, 1995,
00:42:00.35\00:42:02.22
"Perhaps the boldest thing,
00:42:02.25\00:42:04.85
the most revolutionary change
00:42:04.89\00:42:07.12
the Church ever did
happened in the first century."
00:42:07.16\00:42:11.26
Not quite historically accurate,
00:42:11.29\00:42:12.66
it happened in about
the third or fourth century.
00:42:12.69\00:42:15.06
"The holy day, the
Sabbath, was changed
00:42:15.10\00:42:17.77
from Saturday to Sunday...
00:42:17.80\00:42:19.57
not from any directions
noted in the Scriptures..."
00:42:19.60\00:42:22.80
Now note,
00:42:22.84\00:42:24.17
this is Saint Catherine's
Catholic Church Sentinel,
00:42:24.21\00:42:27.01
May 21, 1995 and what's it say?
00:42:27.04\00:42:30.61
What's it talking about?
00:42:30.65\00:42:32.05
It says that the church changes
00:42:32.08\00:42:34.68
the Sabbath from
Saturday to Sunday
00:42:34.72\00:42:37.29
not based on Scripture.
00:42:37.32\00:42:38.99
What's it based on?
00:42:39.02\00:42:40.36
We go on,
00:42:40.39\00:42:41.72
"But from the Church's
sense of its own power...
00:42:41.76\00:42:46.96
People who think
that the Scriptures
00:42:47.00\00:42:49.23
should be the sole authority,
00:42:49.26\00:42:51.47
should logically
become Seventh-day Adventists,
00:42:51.50\00:42:54.80
and keep Saturday holy."
00:42:54.84\00:42:56.44
Isn't that amazing?
00:42:56.47\00:42:58.71
Isn't that an
incredible statement
00:42:58.74\00:43:01.18
from the monastery,
00:43:01.21\00:43:03.91
from the Catholic
Church saying people
00:43:03.95\00:43:07.42
that want to keep Sabbath
00:43:07.45\00:43:09.48
should become
Seventh-day Adventists?
00:43:09.52\00:43:11.89
A friend of mine, I
don't know about you,
00:43:11.92\00:43:13.92
but I want to follow Jesus.
00:43:13.96\00:43:15.76
And I know that's why you
are watching this telecast
00:43:15.79\00:43:19.63
because deep within your
heart, you want to follow Jesus.
00:43:19.66\00:43:23.80
Deep within your
heart, you want to hang on
00:43:23.83\00:43:27.07
to the truth of Scripture.
00:43:27.10\00:43:28.87
Deep within your heart,
you know that Jesus indeed
00:43:28.90\00:43:33.74
is your Lord, Jesus
indeed is your savior,
00:43:33.78\00:43:37.25
and that the Bible
is your only guide.
00:43:37.28\00:43:40.82
You see, the final
issue is one of loyalty.
00:43:40.85\00:43:44.79
The final issue is one
of commitment to Christ,
00:43:44.82\00:43:48.59
and the final issue
will deal about worship.
00:43:48.62\00:43:52.96
The issue in heaven
00:43:52.99\00:43:54.33
had to do with
worship and loyalty.
00:43:54.36\00:43:56.53
The issue in the
Garden of Eden had to do
00:43:56.56\00:43:58.77
whose voice would you listen to
00:43:58.80\00:44:00.64
with Adam and Eve
had to do with loyalty.
00:44:00.67\00:44:03.77
Down through the centuries,
00:44:03.81\00:44:05.91
the human race has
been tested on this area
00:44:05.94\00:44:08.61
of obedience, tested
in this area of loyalty,
00:44:08.64\00:44:12.21
tested in this area of worship.
00:44:12.25\00:44:14.38
When men and
women come to Jesus,
00:44:14.42\00:44:16.85
when they are
saved by His grace,
00:44:16.89\00:44:19.15
when they are
redeemed by His love,
00:44:19.19\00:44:21.66
they long to be obedient to Him.
00:44:21.69\00:44:24.86
You see, in every age,
00:44:24.89\00:44:26.83
God has had called men
and women to take a stand.
00:44:26.86\00:44:32.70
In the days of the
early Roman Empire,
00:44:32.73\00:44:35.97
Perpetua Vibia
took a stand for Christ.
00:44:36.00\00:44:40.74
It was not popular to
take that stand in those days,
00:44:40.78\00:44:44.51
not common to take that stand.
00:44:44.55\00:44:46.85
But she took a stand for Christ.
00:44:46.88\00:44:49.18
This young woman in her 20s
00:44:49.22\00:44:52.02
would not burn
incense to Caesar.
00:44:52.05\00:44:54.76
Christ was her Lord.
00:44:54.79\00:44:57.06
As the result of that,
she was cast into prison.
00:44:57.09\00:45:01.93
She had just borne a baby
and the Roman authorities,
00:45:01.96\00:45:05.90
the pagan Roman
authorities took that baby
00:45:05.93\00:45:09.47
and held it
outside of the prison bars,
00:45:09.50\00:45:15.01
and she could hear
her baby crying for milk.
00:45:15.04\00:45:18.51
And they said, "If
you renounce Christ,
00:45:18.55\00:45:21.85
we will open the
doors of the prison,
00:45:21.88\00:45:24.82
open the gates of the prison,
and we will give you your baby
00:45:24.85\00:45:28.12
and you can nurse it."
00:45:28.16\00:45:30.53
She could not renounce Christ.
00:45:30.56\00:45:33.43
They did everything they could
00:45:33.46\00:45:35.83
from starving her, beating her,
00:45:35.86\00:45:38.13
and one day they
came in and they said,
00:45:38.17\00:45:39.83
"You are foolish. Why
won't you renounce Christ?"
00:45:39.87\00:45:42.30
Perpetua Vibia
pointed to a clay pot
00:45:42.34\00:45:45.27
and she said, "What's that?"
00:45:45.31\00:45:46.84
They said, "A clay pot."
00:45:46.88\00:45:48.54
She said, "If we
call it by any other name
00:45:48.58\00:45:51.61
than a clay pot,
00:45:51.65\00:45:53.38
will it make it anything else?"
00:45:53.42\00:45:56.55
They said, "No,
it's a clay pot."
00:45:56.58\00:45:58.22
She said, "If I am
called by any other name
00:45:58.25\00:46:00.32
than a Christian, I
can't change who I am,
00:46:00.36\00:46:05.99
I'm still a Christian."
00:46:06.03\00:46:07.86
She died because of her
faith. She took that courage.
00:46:07.90\00:46:12.43
And God is calling men and women
00:46:12.47\00:46:14.90
in this crisis
hour of earth's history
00:46:14.94\00:46:17.97
to take a stand.
00:46:18.01\00:46:19.97
In these last days
of earth's history,
00:46:20.01\00:46:22.94
God invites His
people to take a stand.
00:46:22.98\00:46:27.62
I've spent many
weeks, months, years
00:46:27.65\00:46:31.12
traveling in Eastern Europe,
00:46:31.15\00:46:33.79
traveling in the
former Soviet Union.
00:46:33.82\00:46:36.89
I've talked to
scores of men and women
00:46:36.93\00:46:40.50
who have been
imprisoned for their faith.
00:46:40.53\00:46:43.60
I've talked to people
00:46:43.63\00:46:45.33
who have
suffered for their faith.
00:46:45.37\00:46:48.20
I remember my dear friend,
Mikhail Kulakov, he's died now.
00:46:48.24\00:46:52.31
This great man of faith,
00:46:52.34\00:46:54.54
this tremendous man of God
00:46:54.58\00:46:57.21
who told me about
his father's trial,
00:46:57.25\00:47:00.32
his father was a Sabbath
keeping Adventist minister.
00:47:00.35\00:47:03.52
He was tried by the
communist government
00:47:03.55\00:47:06.12
for what they called
00:47:06.15\00:47:07.49
counter
revolutionary activities.
00:47:07.52\00:47:09.22
He had baptized some
young people at night.
00:47:09.26\00:47:11.99
One of them was a
communist informer
00:47:12.03\00:47:13.93
who told on the
father, said he was coerced,
00:47:13.96\00:47:16.36
he wasn't of course.
00:47:16.40\00:47:17.73
But he was often
manipulated, this young man
00:47:17.77\00:47:21.00
was by the
government to do that.
00:47:21.04\00:47:23.30
Pastor Mikhail Kulakov's father
was imprisoned for his faith.
00:47:23.34\00:47:28.38
He was tried, falsely
accused after the trial
00:47:28.41\00:47:32.25
which none of the
family could be in.
00:47:32.28\00:47:34.05
Pastor Kulakov told me,
I went down to his cell.
00:47:34.08\00:47:36.22
There was a young Russian guard
about his age in his early 20s
00:47:36.25\00:47:40.96
guarding the cell.
00:47:40.99\00:47:42.32
Pastor Kulakov said,
"Can I talk to my father?"
00:47:42.36\00:47:45.83
The guard looked one way,
the guard looked another way,
00:47:45.86\00:47:47.56
he said, "I'll
give you five minutes."
00:47:47.60\00:47:49.23
Pastor Kulakov when he
said, "My father embraced me.
00:47:49.26\00:47:51.60
We cried and cried together.
00:47:51.63\00:47:53.64
I didn't know if
I'd ever see him again."
00:47:53.67\00:47:55.77
I said, "What
did he say to you?"
00:47:55.80\00:47:57.57
He said, "Oh, son,
how much I love you.
00:47:57.61\00:47:59.64
Be faithful to Christ."
00:47:59.67\00:48:01.01
Then he took his hand,
he ran it through my hair.
00:48:01.04\00:48:02.98
He said, "Look, the
court records indicate
00:48:03.01\00:48:06.05
they are going to
come and arrest you next.
00:48:06.08\00:48:08.12
The court records indicate
00:48:08.15\00:48:10.29
that you too will
be sent to prison.
00:48:10.32\00:48:13.19
But don't worry, they
will cut-off all your hair
00:48:13.22\00:48:15.02
but it'll grow again."
00:48:15.06\00:48:16.39
Pastor Kulakov was sent
to five years in prison.
00:48:16.42\00:48:19.79
When I talked to him after that,
00:48:19.83\00:48:21.96
his father was in one prison,
he was in another prison,
00:48:22.00\00:48:25.00
his brother was
in another prison,
00:48:25.03\00:48:26.67
his brother never made it out
of prison, he died in prison,
00:48:26.70\00:48:29.27
but I said to Pastor Kulakov,
00:48:29.30\00:48:31.21
"Pastor Kulakov, how
did you survive in prison?"
00:48:31.24\00:48:33.68
He said, "I knew
there was something beyond.
00:48:33.71\00:48:35.71
I knew that I
was going to a land
00:48:35.74\00:48:37.55
where there is no
sickness, suffering, or death.
00:48:37.58\00:48:39.68
I knew that God
would get me through."
00:48:39.71\00:48:41.68
And he said, "By the way,
00:48:41.72\00:48:43.35
in prison there
were many Jewish rabbis.
00:48:43.39\00:48:45.32
And, you know what?
00:48:45.35\00:48:46.69
I took those five years
and I learned Hebrew in prison
00:48:46.72\00:48:48.92
and God worked it out for good
00:48:48.96\00:48:50.29
because now I've
been able to translate
00:48:50.33\00:48:52.19
the old Russian
Bible into modern Russian
00:48:52.23\00:48:56.06
because I learned
Hebrew and I could translate it
00:48:56.10\00:48:57.93
from the original languages."
00:48:57.97\00:48:59.67
My friend, this moment,
00:48:59.70\00:49:03.10
God is calling
you to take a stand.
00:49:03.14\00:49:05.17
This moment, God is
calling you to follow His truth.
00:49:05.21\00:49:08.04
This moment, God is calling
you to look beyond what He is
00:49:08.08\00:49:11.28
to what will be, to
look beyond time to eternity.
00:49:11.31\00:49:14.52
And God is
calling you to follow Him.
00:49:14.55\00:49:18.19
Jesus says to you just now,
00:49:18.22\00:49:20.72
"Do you like to live in a
land where there is no sickness,
00:49:20.76\00:49:22.42
suffering, and death, a land
where there is no more night?"
00:49:22.46\00:49:24.33
Listen as Celestine
sings about that glorious land,
00:49:24.36\00:49:28.56
about that marvelous land,
00:49:28.60\00:49:30.77
about that time
00:49:30.80\00:49:32.43
that all of our
trials will be over,
00:49:32.47\00:49:34.70
all of our
sufferings will be over,
00:49:34.74\00:49:36.84
all of our
heartache will be over,
00:49:36.87\00:49:38.21
there will be no more night.
00:49:38.24\00:49:39.57
The timeless theme
00:49:44.35\00:49:47.35
Earth and heaven
00:49:47.38\00:49:50.09
Will pass away
00:49:50.12\00:49:54.26
It's not a dream
00:49:54.29\00:49:56.86
God will make all things new
00:49:56.89\00:50:02.33
That day gone is the curse
00:50:02.36\00:50:08.94
From which I stumbled and fell
00:50:08.97\00:50:15.64
Evil is banished
00:50:15.68\00:50:19.61
To eternal hell
00:50:19.65\00:50:24.45
No more night
00:50:27.82\00:50:32.33
No more pain
00:50:32.36\00:50:37.83
No more tears
00:50:37.87\00:50:42.14
Never crying again
00:50:42.17\00:50:47.58
And praises to the great
00:50:47.61\00:50:53.85
I Am We will live
00:50:53.88\00:50:59.42
In the light
00:50:59.45\00:51:01.62
Of the risen
00:51:01.66\00:51:05.49
Lamb
00:51:05.53\00:51:10.77
See all around, now the nations
00:51:18.97\00:51:24.28
Bow down to sing
00:51:25.61\00:51:29.02
The only sound
00:51:29.05\00:51:31.75
Is the praises to Christ,
00:51:31.79\00:51:37.16
Our King Slowly
00:51:37.19\00:51:42.40
The names from the book
00:51:42.43\00:51:46.80
Are read
00:51:46.84\00:51:50.64
I know the King,
so there's no need
00:51:50.67\00:51:57.05
No need to dread
00:51:57.08\00:52:02.85
No more night
00:52:02.88\00:52:06.89
And no more pain
00:52:06.92\00:52:12.13
And no more tears
00:52:12.16\00:52:16.77
Never crying again
00:52:16.80\00:52:22.24
And praises to the great
00:52:22.27\00:52:28.58
I Am We will live
00:52:28.61\00:52:34.78
In the light of the risen
00:52:34.82\00:52:40.09
Lamb
00:52:40.12\00:52:41.46
See over there
00:52:41.49\00:52:44.46
There's a mansion oh
00:52:44.49\00:52:47.40
That's prepared just for me
00:52:47.43\00:52:51.13
Where I will live with my savior
00:52:51.17\00:52:56.97
Eternally
00:52:57.01\00:53:02.14
So there will be no more
00:53:03.41\00:53:05.98
Night
00:53:06.01\00:53:07.35
And no more pain
00:53:13.59\00:53:16.76
And no more tears
00:53:18.19\00:53:23.53
Never crying again
00:53:23.57\00:53:27.40
And praises to
00:53:27.44\00:53:31.44
The great I Am
00:53:31.47\00:53:35.91
We will live
00:53:35.94\00:53:38.15
In the light
00:53:38.18\00:53:40.28
Of the risen Lamb
00:53:40.32\00:53:45.35
And praises
00:53:45.39\00:53:47.89
To the great I Am
00:53:47.92\00:53:53.86
We will live
00:53:53.90\00:53:56.30
In the light
00:53:56.33\00:53:58.67
Of the risen Lamb
00:54:03.61\00:54:10.01
The risen Lamb
00:54:17.05\00:54:22.62
It will be worth it
on that day, my friend.
00:54:26.96\00:54:32.10
Whatever sacrifice
you have to make now,
00:54:32.13\00:54:35.87
whatever commitment that
God is calling you to make,
00:54:35.90\00:54:40.38
whatever stand He's
inviting you to take,
00:54:40.41\00:54:44.01
whatever decision
He's leading you to,
00:54:44.05\00:54:47.48
it'll be worth it on that day.
00:54:47.52\00:54:49.75
No more night,
no more heartache,
00:54:49.78\00:54:53.19
no more pain, no more suffering.
00:54:53.22\00:54:56.52
You know, when I
heard a message like this
00:54:56.56\00:54:59.09
for the very first time,
00:54:59.13\00:55:01.26
it really steered me
to the depth of my soul
00:55:01.30\00:55:04.43
because as I
mentioned, I was brought up
00:55:04.47\00:55:06.94
in a very lovely
Roman Catholic home.
00:55:06.97\00:55:10.67
My father had become
a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:55:10.71\00:55:13.78
my mother educated
us in Catholic schools
00:55:13.81\00:55:17.91
but yet I began
to study the Bible.
00:55:17.95\00:55:20.32
I knew there was
something missing in my life.
00:55:20.35\00:55:23.25
I knew there was a
deep down longing within
00:55:23.28\00:55:25.62
that wasn't being satisfied
00:55:25.65\00:55:27.92
by the traditions of the church.
00:55:27.96\00:55:30.89
And I came to a point
00:55:30.93\00:55:32.76
where I heard a message
00:55:32.79\00:55:34.13
just like the one you've
heard that really gripped me,
00:55:34.16\00:55:37.27
that really moved me.
00:55:37.30\00:55:38.80
And I knew I had to
do something with it.
00:55:38.83\00:55:41.60
I had to make a
decision, to make that decision
00:55:41.64\00:55:44.71
meant to step
out from my friends,
00:55:44.74\00:55:47.54
to make that
decision meant to step out
00:55:47.58\00:55:49.64
from much of my family,
00:55:49.68\00:55:52.15
to make that
decision meant to step out
00:55:52.18\00:55:55.32
from everything that
was comfortable for me.
00:55:55.35\00:55:59.09
But I sensed the
conviction of the Spirit of God.
00:55:59.12\00:56:03.09
I sensed the
moving of the Holy Spirit
00:56:03.12\00:56:06.03
and I knew that
for me, personally,
00:56:06.06\00:56:09.36
to be faithful to Christ,
00:56:09.40\00:56:12.00
I needed to make that decision.
00:56:12.03\00:56:14.37
I'd like you to pray
about what God wants you to do.
00:56:14.40\00:56:17.67
Just forget about
the influence of others,
00:56:17.71\00:56:21.84
forget about your
legacy, your past,
00:56:21.88\00:56:25.65
forget about how
you've been brought up,
00:56:25.68\00:56:28.08
and just say,
00:56:28.12\00:56:29.45
"Jesus, whatever
You want me to do,
00:56:29.48\00:56:33.56
that's what I want to do."
00:56:33.59\00:56:35.56
Ask Jesus to bring deep
conviction to your heart.
00:56:35.59\00:56:39.66
Be honest with Christ.
00:56:39.69\00:56:41.56
Listen for His voice
speaking through His Word.
00:56:41.60\00:56:46.60
Play fair with God.
00:56:46.63\00:56:47.97
Tell Him, "Lord,
whatever You want me to do,
00:56:48.00\00:56:52.01
make it plain to
me and I will do it
00:56:52.04\00:56:54.38
because I'm
dedicated to following You
00:56:54.41\00:56:56.24
and Your Word."
00:56:56.28\00:56:57.61
Why not make that
decision as we pray.
00:56:57.65\00:56:59.68
Father in
heaven, thank You so much
00:56:59.71\00:57:02.78
that You are
faithful to Your Word.
00:57:02.82\00:57:06.39
You'll never let us down.
00:57:06.42\00:57:08.02
You'll guide us,
You'll strengthen us
00:57:08.06\00:57:09.89
for the decisions ahead.
00:57:09.92\00:57:11.33
And we thank You for
that, in Christ name, amen.
00:57:11.36\00:57:15.00
Thank you for joining us
00:57:15.03\00:57:16.67
for Revelation's
Ancient Discoveries.
00:57:16.70\00:57:19.80
God has an
amazing plan for your life
00:57:19.83\00:57:23.94
as you continue in Christ,
00:57:23.97\00:57:26.81
to follow Him now and forever.
00:57:26.84\00:57:29.91
Amen.
00:57:29.94\00:57:31.45