And welcome to The
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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We're very happy to
have you with us today
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as we continue this study
on the book of Revelation.
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And our presentation today is
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The Church of
Thyatira... the fourth church
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in the series of seven.
And so we hope that it has been
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a blessing to you
as we have gone along
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so far in our study of
the book of Revelation.
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We just want to welcome
all of you that are joining us
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by television or by
radio or on the Internet.
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We're happy that you're here.
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And as I have told the
people each presentation,
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be sure and get your Bible.
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You need to have your
Bible because this is a study
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of the book of
Revelation chapter by chapter.
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So you are going to
want to follow in your Bible.
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Even though we
have it on the screen
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you'll want to
follow in your Bible.
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And it's good if
you have a highlighter
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so you can highlight texts
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or some pencil and paper
so you can take some notes
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because we'll look at
things that I think you'll find
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to be very, very helpful as
we continue through the book
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and taking a look at
the different churches.
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These are personal
letters that Jesus wrote
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to those seven churches.
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That makes them
very, very important.
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And there's much for you
and I to learn about the church
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back then but also about
what it means to us personally.
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The counsel that
Christ is giving...
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what does that say to you
and to me in our own lives?
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And then it helps us get a view
of the whole plan of salvation
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as far as the
church is concerned
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down through the ages.
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So this is what
you want to follow
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as we study God's Word together.
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Our next presentation
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is going to be about
the church of Sardis.
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A church that
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Christ said is "dead. "
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And we want to take
a look at that church
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and what it has to say about it.
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So that's the one we'll be look-
ing at in the next presentation.
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And then today we're
taking a look at Thyatira.
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So these are the different
churches that we're studying.
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We're very happy to
have with us Joe Pearles...
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who has worked with us.
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We were looking at...
just talking the other day
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and Joe has been
actually working with us
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and singing
with us for 18 years.
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And it's been a blessing
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as he's continued to
have his ministry of music
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going many different places
and cities and singing for them.
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And he's always blessed
me personally very much,
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and I hope he's
been a blessing to you.
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Today he's going
to sing a song that
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carries a very,
very special message.
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It's called The Sparrow,
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and I think you'll
enjoy it as he sings it.
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Also we're happy that Chuck
Allgaier each evening has been
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reading to us the scripture that
we're looking at for that day.
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In other words,
he's going to read to us
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what the Bible has to say
about the church of Thyatira.
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So, Chuck, come and share
that with us at this time.
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If you have your
Bibles this morning,
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please turn them to
the book of Revelation
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the second chapter
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verses 18 through 29.
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Revelation chapter 2
verses 18 through 29.
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I hope you'll
read together with me.
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He sees the sparrow
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fall to the ground.
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His eyes go misty
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as He reaches down.
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Gently He lifts it
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from somewhere below.
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Touches and heals it
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and then lets it go.
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How much more
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does my Father on high
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care when I'm burdened?
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Care when I cry?
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Sometimes I forget
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that He knows all my sorrows.
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Oh, but then I rejoice
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when I remember the sparrow.
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Why should I covet
earth's treasures today?
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In the space of a heartbeat
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they'll all pass away.
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And why should I carry
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this burden of doubt?
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I'll give it to Jesus
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and He'll work it out.
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How much more
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does my Father on high
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care when I'm burdened?
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Care when I cry?
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Sometimes I forget
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that He knows all my sorrows.
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Oh, but then I rejoice
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when I remember the sparrow.
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Oh, but then I rejoice
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when I remember
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the sparrow.
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Heavenly Father,
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we ask this morning that our
lives may be surrendered to You.
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Lord bless us as we
look at this letter that You
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wrote to the church in Thyatira.
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May we learn the
lessons that You have there.
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We pray that the Holy Spirit
may give us understanding.
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That our hearts may be
open, and that each one of us
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may purpose to walk
with You and to follow You
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all the way into Your kingdom.
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This we pray in
Christ's name, Amen.
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The church of Thyatira.
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As Christ walked among
the seven golden candlesticks
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and with a special message
to each one of these churches...
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We've looked at
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos,
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and now Thyatira.
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This is a message from
Christ to them, and He addresses
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the church with
these words and says:
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To this particular
church, He's saying:
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"I'm writing you a letter.
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I have a special
message just for you. "
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Thyatira actually
means sweet savor of labor.
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Now the reason for that
is... different than Ephesus
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and different than
Smyrna and Pergamos...
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these were cites
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and they were
pretty good-sized cities.
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They numbered in the
hundreds of thousands of people
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and therefore
they were large cities.
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And they had marvelous theatres
and temples and all that.
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But Thyatira doesn't have that.
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It sits out on the plain,
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and most of the people that
worked there were poor laborers.
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And therefore, labor
was very, very real to them.
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These were not people
that had a lot of money.
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They were people that had
to work day by day hard labor
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for their work, and that's
the reason this is a sweet savor
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of labor to them.
So this is the church
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that He's addressing there.
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As you can see on the map, uh...
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Ephesus sat right on the
coast there of the Aegean Sea.
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And if you went north a
little bit you came to Smyrna
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which also had a marvelous
port there on the Aegean Sea.
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And if you go on up about
50 miles you come to Pergamos
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who also was close to the sea.
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So all these used the port there
as a means of their livelihood.
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But all of a sudden
now, we move southeast
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about 30 miles from
Pergamos to Thyatira.
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Thyatira sits
out on the plains...
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it's just plains there.
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And strange,
folks, as it may sound,
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the longest
letter that Christ wrote
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was to the church of Thyatira.
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More is said to them
than anyone else... and yet,
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we have less historical
information on the city
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of Thyatira than
any of the others.
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Just not much
there we know about it.
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This is some of the ruins
of the city that was there.
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It was not a large city.
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It was very medium in size,
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and from the excavation that
they have been able to do there
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and some of the
things they've found,
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it evidently was
kind of an outpost.
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It was... stables and
all there for cavalry.
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And they... they were
the ones that were there
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and worked in Thyatira.
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And so it's not
a big city at all.
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There are a few ruins
there, but most of it is buried
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and we just don't know much
about it... not a great lot.
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There are a few things
that we DO know about it.
00:14:01.16\00:14:03.44
One we know is the fact
that they, uh, developed
00:14:03.75\00:14:09.28
the color purple. And you
have the incident in the Bible
00:14:09.48\00:14:13.82
here in Acts where Paul
meets this woman. And says:
00:14:14.02\00:14:18.22
So she's there.
She's a seller of purple.
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You see, purple was a very,
very hard color to come by.
00:14:29.78\00:14:35.11
There just wasn't much of it.
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And here in Thyatira they had...
up until a certain time...
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the only place they got purple
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was a few drops of the
color purple from shellfish.
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And that's where they got it.
00:14:50.65\00:14:52.51
But here in Thyatira,
they developed the color purple
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from the madder root, and
they were able to put it out
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in much, much greater
supply. And so Lydia here
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was there with Paul
and them. And it says:
00:15:03.86\00:15:07.20
And so she accepted the Lord.
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And most theologians
and historians agree that
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the church here in Thyatira
probably had its beginnings
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with her witness. That she went
back and witnessed to the church
00:15:22.44\00:15:25.82
and all there. So
this is the background
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for the city of
Thyatira and the church there.
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Christ identifies Himself,
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and the way He identifies
Himself is most interesting
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because this is
what He says to them:
00:15:39.79\00:15:41.42
Uh, two things in
this text that's different,
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and that is, it says here:
00:15:52.60\00:15:54.31
"These things
says the Son of God. "
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That's the only
place in the seven churches
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where that phrase
"the Son of God" is used.
00:16:03.71\00:16:06.33
In fact, that's the only
place that phrase is used
00:16:07.31\00:16:11.13
in the book of Revelation.
00:16:11.33\00:16:12.79
Says "the Son of God"
00:16:13.09\00:16:16.36
emphasizing that
He was the Son of God
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and that their
worship needed to be of Him.
00:16:21.98\00:16:25.19
Also it goes on here and says:
00:16:25.49\00:16:28.02
That was particularly
meaningful to these people
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because in Thyatira
another thing they did
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is they had foundries
where they produced brass
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and so forth. And so
they were used to seeing
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flames of fire and all.
00:16:47.04\00:16:49.43
And so it had a
particular meaning to them
00:16:49.64\00:16:51.98
when He says that He
was the One who had eyes
00:16:52.28\00:16:54.62
like the flame of
fire and feet as brass.
00:16:54.82\00:16:58.25
I told you the first night
00:16:58.45\00:17:02.14
when He uses
that word brass there
00:17:02.44\00:17:04.95
that is a
particular type of brass.
00:17:05.15\00:17:07.88
And it was what they
called Corinthian brass
00:17:08.18\00:17:11.66
which was of
more value than gold
00:17:11.97\00:17:15.55
because it was made out
of copper, silver, and gold
00:17:15.75\00:17:20.29
and the refining of it was
a very, very special process.
00:17:20.59\00:17:24.32
And so this is Christ
as He greets the churches.
00:17:24.62\00:17:27.97
This outline that you
are following here is what...
00:17:28.27\00:17:31.54
is the same outline you find
in every one of the churches.
00:17:31.74\00:17:35.11
And He now talks about the
condition of the church there
00:17:35.41\00:17:38.95
in Thyatira.
00:17:39.15\00:17:40.83
So He says: "I
know your works. "
00:17:52.28\00:17:55.20
And really their
works were quite good
00:17:55.51\00:17:58.45
because He said:
"You have service,
00:17:58.75\00:18:01.87
faith, patience. "
This was all there. "Love. "
00:18:02.17\00:18:07.40
Those were there.
You'll find that these
00:18:07.60\00:18:10.56
particular attributes
that they're talking about
00:18:10.76\00:18:13.25
that the church
members had there...
00:18:13.45\00:18:14.97
they always go in pairs
00:18:15.17\00:18:18.59
because you always
have it love and service.
00:18:18.89\00:18:22.64
Those go in pairs.
00:18:22.84\00:18:24.40
If you have love,
you will have service.
00:18:24.70\00:18:28.91
Doesn't come any other way.
00:18:30.34\00:18:32.41
You know? If you
love... If you love somebody,
00:18:33.45\00:18:37.16
is it hard to
be of help to them?
00:18:37.36\00:18:39.66
No. Comes
naturally. You want to.
00:18:39.96\00:18:43.85
It's part of it, and so
those always happen together:
00:18:44.15\00:18:47.97
love and service. If you
love the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:18:48.27\00:18:51.80
then what are you going to do?
00:18:52.23\00:18:54.52
You're going to serve Him
00:18:54.82\00:18:56.65
because you want to,
because you desire to,
00:18:56.95\00:18:59.52
because you love Him.
That's part of the process.
00:18:59.72\00:19:02.43
And so here they
have love and service...
00:19:02.73\00:19:06.27
they go together.
00:19:06.47\00:19:07.86
Also when it comes to faith and
patience, those two go together.
00:19:08.16\00:19:13.59
If you have faith,
then you will have patience.
00:19:13.89\00:19:18.23
See? You trust the
person, and that's not hard.
00:19:18.53\00:19:23.25
If you have faith
or you trust them,
00:19:23.39\00:19:26.20
then it's not hard to be patient
00:19:26.50\00:19:28.63
because you believe in them.
00:19:28.83\00:19:30.10
You know, and
therefore you accept that.
00:19:30.30\00:19:32.41
Those are two of the attributes
that always go together.
00:19:32.71\00:19:35.78
These people in
Thyatira had those attributes,
00:19:36.09\00:19:39.76
and Christ praised
them for them. He said:
00:19:39.96\00:19:42.30
"I know your works. "
00:19:42.50\00:19:43.70
By the way, in this church
He comes back to that word works
00:19:44.00\00:19:46.98
twice and talks about
their works particularly.
00:19:47.18\00:19:50.97
All right, now we
come to the problem...
00:19:52.20\00:19:55.99
the problem that this church has
00:19:56.29\00:19:59.08
and what He tells
them about their problem.
00:19:59.38\00:20:02.58
And said: "I
have this against you
00:20:14.76\00:20:17.55
because you suffer
this woman Jezebel... "
00:20:17.85\00:20:20.82
Now folks, this cannot
be talking about Jezebel
00:20:21.02\00:20:25.05
in flesh and blood.
00:20:25.25\00:20:27.02
Jezebel has been
dead for 500 years,
00:20:27.32\00:20:32.86
so no way is this talking about
Jezebel in flesh and blood.
00:20:33.16\00:20:36.98
He's talking
about something else,
00:20:37.28\00:20:38.90
and He's making an
application to her here...
00:20:39.10\00:20:41.65
"this woman Jezebel that
calls herself a prophetess,
00:20:41.85\00:20:45.33
who teaches and
seduces My servants... "
00:20:45.53\00:20:48.17
Now... now I'll talk
about that in just a little bit.
00:20:56.28\00:21:01.25
But if it's not talking about
Jezebel in flesh and blood,
00:21:01.55\00:21:05.88
then how do they
commit sexual immorality?
00:21:06.18\00:21:10.65
You think about that.
00:21:11.05\00:21:13.58
How do they do that? OK?
00:21:13.88\00:21:17.10
And He says: "causes them to
eat things sacrified to idols...
00:21:17.41\00:21:22.00
to other gods. "
00:21:22.10\00:21:23.31
Said: "I gave her a
space of time to repent
00:21:35.33\00:21:39.33
and she did not repent. "
00:21:39.53\00:21:42.79
What she did?
00:21:43.09\00:21:45.17
Severe. Said: "If you
don't repent of your deeds,
00:21:55.29\00:22:00.02
I'll cast you into a sickbed
00:22:00.22\00:22:02.17
and those who
commit adultery with you. "
00:22:02.37\00:22:05.42
OK...
00:22:05.62\00:22:06.67
He said: "I'll
give to each one of you
00:22:22.37\00:22:25.27
according to your works. "
00:22:25.57\00:22:29.22
OK, what is He
talking about here?
00:22:29.52\00:22:31.59
Well, we talked about each
night that this church age...
00:22:31.90\00:22:35.50
Again I want to stress, folks,
when we talk about a church age
00:22:35.80\00:22:39.79
even though I put it on the
screen, do not try necessarily
00:22:40.09\00:22:44.57
to tie it down to a date.
00:22:44.78\00:22:47.35
It's talking
about a period of time,
00:22:47.65\00:22:50.62
and you'll find
that they overlap.
00:22:50.83\00:22:53.65
One will overlap the
other, so don't try necessarily
00:22:53.95\00:22:58.07
to put it to a date.
I'm putting this to a date
00:22:58.27\00:23:01.33
because there's
certain events within this
00:23:01.53\00:23:04.46
that tie it to a date.
00:23:04.66\00:23:06.32
But they still overlap, and you
need to look at it in this way.
00:23:06.62\00:23:10.78
This was the
church age from 538 AD
00:23:11.08\00:23:15.26
to 1798 AD, and you'll
see why those dates are there.
00:23:15.44\00:23:21.07
538 AD was the time in which
00:23:21.37\00:23:25.78
the Bishop of Rome,
00:23:26.08\00:23:30.87
Virgilius... let me
back up just a little bit.
00:23:31.17\00:23:35.44
The Bishop of Rome
before that was Sylverius.
00:23:35.74\00:23:40.67
He was a godly man...
00:23:40.87\00:23:42.20
a man that loved the
people and served the Lord...
00:23:42.50\00:23:45.20
but he refused to go
along with the Emperor Justinian
00:23:45.50\00:23:50.69
in his battle or his
fight with the Goths,
00:23:50.90\00:23:54.16
and Justinian
wanted to replace him.
00:23:54.46\00:23:57.62
And when they
got inside the city,
00:23:57.82\00:23:59.84
he had his general Belisarius
to replace Sylverius...
00:23:59.98\00:24:04.37
and replaced him with Virgilius.
00:24:04.50\00:24:07.82
Justinian didn't...
I'm sure he didn't dream
00:24:10.23\00:24:13.61
this would happen.
00:24:13.76\00:24:14.83
I'm sure it was
something totally against
00:24:15.03\00:24:16.87
what he thought
would take place.
00:24:16.97\00:24:18.56
But when Virgilius got there,
00:24:18.86\00:24:22.06
history says that
the Bishop of Rome
00:24:22.36\00:24:24.75
stepped to the seat of Caesar
00:24:24.95\00:24:27.45
and seized the scepter.
00:24:27.75\00:24:29.83
And thus all of a
sudden you find that
00:24:30.13\00:24:34.30
the church - which had
been favored by the state -
00:24:34.60\00:24:39.14
all of a sudden
became the head of the state
00:24:39.44\00:24:44.43
as well as the church.
00:24:44.54\00:24:46.59
And so that took place 538 AD,
00:24:46.89\00:24:51.52
and that's the
reason for that date.
00:24:51.82\00:24:53.74
And we'll give more reason
for that as we go along here
00:24:53.94\00:24:57.24
this morning. OK.
00:24:57.48\00:24:59.96
You remember a man
by the name of Elijah?
00:25:00.26\00:25:03.24
Hmmm? And you remember
the Lord told Elijah...
00:25:03.54\00:25:06.37
He said: "You go
see Ahab and Jezebel
00:25:06.57\00:25:08.95
and you tell them
if they don't repent
00:25:09.15\00:25:12.16
it will not rain for?
00:25:12.36\00:25:17.63
3-1/2 years...
00:25:17.84\00:25:19.31
will not rain. " And he went
in and told Ahab and Jezebel
00:25:19.61\00:25:23.91
"change your ways, repent... "
00:25:24.11\00:25:26.35
but they said: "Who
is this crazy old man?
00:25:26.55\00:25:29.97
Get him out of here. "
00:25:30.27\00:25:31.92
Well, uh, Elijah
walked out of the palace
00:25:34.29\00:25:40.03
of Ahab, but let
me tell you something.
00:25:40.23\00:25:43.96
When Elijah
prayed, he locked heaven.
00:25:45.33\00:25:51.14
And when he
walked out of that palace
00:25:51.54\00:25:56.17
he walked out with the keys...
00:25:56.47\00:25:58.70
because it did not
rain for 3-1/2 years.
00:25:59.00\00:26:03.92
I mean, stopped.
00:26:04.22\00:26:05.96
No rain for 3-1/2 years.
00:26:06.26\00:26:10.68
And they didn't
think too much about it.
00:26:10.98\00:26:13.32
Now the Bible tells us some
interesting things about Elijah.
00:26:13.62\00:26:16.37
It says "Elijah was a man
with a nature like ours. "
00:26:16.57\00:26:20.49
That should be
encouraging to you.
00:26:20.69\00:26:22.46
Prayed earnestly
that it wouldn't rain,
00:26:34.43\00:26:37.03
and it didn't rain for
three years and six months.
00:26:37.23\00:26:41.84
And it goes on and says...
00:26:42.14\00:26:43.97
Let me ask you a question. Why?
00:26:44.27\00:26:46.94
What right? Now what
right did Elijah have
00:26:47.14\00:26:50.97
to walk into that
palace room where Ahab was
00:26:51.17\00:26:55.14
and say: "Listen, you
change your ways, you repent.
00:26:55.34\00:26:58.67
And if you don't, it's not
going to rain for 3-1/2 years. "
00:26:58.87\00:27:02.25
What right did
he have to do that?
00:27:02.55\00:27:04.30
What... what basis
did he have to do that?
00:27:06.92\00:27:09.59
Let me tell you something.
00:27:14.38\00:27:16.16
What God says in
this book is sure.
00:27:18.69\00:27:23.37
It doesn't fail,
00:27:24.61\00:27:26.72
and you can
stake your life on it.
00:27:27.84\00:27:32.46
And so Elijah
went in there and said:
00:27:33.63\00:27:35.43
"Listen, it's not going
to rain for 3-1/2 years. "
00:27:35.63\00:27:37.60
Why? Because he understood
what the scripture said.
00:27:37.90\00:27:42.06
Listen to what it
says here in Leviticus.
00:27:42.36\00:27:45.19
He said: "Now one
thing I do not want you doing
00:28:03.03\00:28:06.26
is setting up images.
00:28:06.46\00:28:08.30
I don't want
you worshiping them.
00:28:08.61\00:28:10.65
Don't do that! "
00:28:10.95\00:28:12.27
He said: "The other
thing I want you to do
00:28:19.64\00:28:21.77
is I want you to
keep the Sabbath.
00:28:21.97\00:28:24.45
I want you to
reverence My sanctuary. "
00:28:25.70\00:28:28.41
Don't treat it as
something that's light.
00:28:28.74\00:28:33.91
Don't treat going to church
00:28:35.67\00:28:40.65
as something
that's not important.
00:28:42.10\00:28:44.65
"Reverence My sanctuary. "
00:28:44.95\00:28:47.95
He said: "I want
you to walk with Me.
00:28:54.49\00:28:56.91
I want you to
keep My commandments;
00:28:57.11\00:28:58.42
I want you to follow My way.
00:28:58.62\00:29:00.07
If you will do this,
00:29:00.28\00:29:02.44
if you'll not worship idols,
00:29:02.75\00:29:05.01
if you'll remember My Sabbath,
00:29:05.21\00:29:07.31
if you'll
reverence My sanctuary,
00:29:07.51\00:29:09.33
if you will keep My
commandments, " listen...
00:29:09.53\00:29:12.80
What was Israel doing?
00:29:27.29\00:29:30.10
Just the opposite.
00:29:31.65\00:29:33.68
None of the things that
God said "I want you to do. "
00:29:33.98\00:29:37.23
They were doing
just the opposite.
00:29:37.53\00:29:39.42
Ahab had come to power...
00:29:39.82\00:29:44.33
Any time... any time in history
00:29:44.93\00:29:50.90
that there has
risen a man like Ahab
00:29:51.20\00:29:55.09
who led God's people
00:29:56.69\00:29:59.91
to turn away from the Lord
and not keep His commandments
00:30:00.41\00:30:04.08
and to go contrary...
00:30:04.11\00:30:06.93
any time that's happened,
God's always had an Elijah.
00:30:07.23\00:30:12.35
This is what it says about Ahab:
00:30:13.65\00:30:16.56
Man... when it says
that, that takes in a lot.
00:30:23.43\00:30:26.57
All you've got to
do is go back and read
00:30:26.87\00:30:28.79
those that were before him
00:30:28.97\00:30:30.37
and I mean that
covers a lot of ground.
00:30:30.57\00:30:32.76
Turned... turned from
the God of his fathers.
00:30:54.76\00:30:58.35
Turned from all the
counsel he had been given
00:30:58.66\00:31:00.88
and began to worship Baal.
00:31:01.18\00:31:04.05
Said: "Worse than any of the
kings that were before him. "
00:31:19.10\00:31:22.55
Ahab did all this.
00:31:22.95\00:31:26.01
And so God said: "OK, he's not
doing what I asked him to do.
00:31:26.31\00:31:30.73
He's not
reverencing My sanctuary;
00:31:30.93\00:31:32.53
he's not keeping the Sabbath;
00:31:32.64\00:31:33.65
he's not keeping
the commandments.
00:31:33.85\00:31:35.14
Elijah, go tell him
it's not going to rain. "
00:31:35.44\00:31:38.44
So he went and
said: "It won't rain. "
00:31:38.85\00:31:42.21
Listen:
00:31:45.26\00:31:46.84
Hmmm.
00:31:54.57\00:31:56.22
How long?
00:31:57.64\00:31:59.53
How long did God
give Ahab and Jezebel
00:32:00.33\00:32:06.25
to repent?
00:32:06.55\00:32:07.85
Three and a half years.
00:32:09.58\00:32:13.16
Said: "It won't
rain for 3-1/2 years
00:32:13.46\00:32:18.27
unless you repent,
change your ways. "
00:32:18.58\00:32:22.14
Three and a half years.
00:32:22.44\00:32:25.05
Well, says in scripture:
00:32:25.35\00:32:29.59
So if I've got 3-1/2 years,
00:32:36.13\00:32:38.87
and in a Biblical
year there are 360 days,
00:32:39.48\00:32:45.41
and if you need proof
that a day represents a year
00:32:45.71\00:32:49.73
watch this. And in
Genesis the 7th chapter
00:32:50.03\00:32:52.82
it will tell you there are
360 days in a Biblical year
00:32:53.02\00:32:56.88
if you need proof for
that. So it tells you clearly
00:32:56.98\00:33:00.26
360 days in a Biblical year.
00:33:00.46\00:33:03.21
So if I've got 3-1/2 years
00:33:03.51\00:33:05.64
and there's 360
days in each year,
00:33:05.84\00:33:09.22
if I multiply it
by three and a half
00:33:09.52\00:33:12.14
what does it give me?
00:33:12.44\00:33:13.77
1260... 1260 years.
00:33:15.33\00:33:21.11
Now He says: "I have
her a space to repent
00:33:21.41\00:33:25.96
and she repented not. "
00:33:26.27\00:33:29.60
He gave Jezebel 3-1/2 years.
00:33:29.90\00:33:34.00
But it can't be talking
about Jezebel in flesh and bl...
00:33:34.30\00:33:37.74
flesh and blood... here in
Revelation the 2nd chapter.
00:33:37.95\00:33:41.18
It's got to be
talking about something else.
00:33:41.48\00:33:44.34
OK. It's talking
about the time that He gave
00:33:44.64\00:33:50.34
her to repent: 538 AD...
00:33:50.65\00:33:54.20
if you add 1260 years to that
00:33:54.51\00:33:56.99
it takes you to 1798 AD.
00:33:57.29\00:34:01.85
This was the time that
God gave her to repent.
00:34:02.15\00:34:07.10
This is what it's talking about.
00:34:07.60\00:34:09.50
In Bible prophecy, a
woman represents what?
00:34:09.70\00:34:13.34
A church... a woman
represents a church.
00:34:13.64\00:34:16.82
God has always used that, for
we read in the scripture here:
00:34:17.02\00:34:20.88
Talks about the
church as His bride.
00:34:28.33\00:34:31.84
So in Revelation
the 12th chapter that
00:34:37.81\00:34:40.99
we're going to be coming to,
00:34:41.19\00:34:42.74
in that chapter we
have a good woman...
00:34:43.04\00:34:45.56
clothed with the
sun, moon under her feet.
00:34:45.86\00:34:49.36
In that case in Bible prophecy
00:34:49.66\00:34:51.45
that woman
represents a good church.
00:34:51.65\00:34:55.25
But in
Revelation the 17th chapter
00:34:55.55\00:34:58.98
we have a woman of
a different nature.
00:34:59.28\00:35:02.24
This woman the scripture
describes as a bad woman.
00:35:02.54\00:35:08.52
OK? Talks of some of
the things that she does...
00:35:08.82\00:35:13.69
this woman. And this is Jezebel.
00:35:13.99\00:35:17.67
This is the Jezebel that's being
talked about in Revelation 2
00:35:17.97\00:35:22.61
is the one here
in the 17th chapter.
00:35:22.71\00:35:26.04
How does she
commit sexual immorality?
00:35:42.32\00:35:47.23
How is that possible?
00:35:47.53\00:35:50.23
How can that take place?
00:35:50.53\00:35:52.04
Well it says here in the
book of James... It says:
00:35:52.34\00:35:56.44
When I do something
00:36:17.31\00:36:21.56
to lessen the
teachings of God's Word...
00:36:22.16\00:36:27.61
when I do
something to go contrary
00:36:29.07\00:36:33.90
to what this book says...
00:36:34.10\00:36:36.51
that is spiritual adultery.
00:36:37.01\00:36:40.36
I am
adulterating the Word of God.
00:36:41.48\00:36:44.68
Secondly, I am...
how should I say this?
00:36:44.88\00:36:49.37
I am being
unfaithful to the relationship.
00:36:49.57\00:36:54.30
Being unfaithful
to the relationship.
00:36:56.00\00:36:57.94
Therefore I am
committing spiritual fornication
00:36:58.14\00:37:02.05
or spiritual adultery.
00:37:02.25\00:37:04.80
And Jezebel was there - her
and Ahab - leading the people
00:37:05.10\00:37:09.75
away from God's Word.
Not keeping His commandments,
00:37:09.95\00:37:12.99
not following Him,
not walking with Him.
00:37:13.19\00:37:15.60
And this was
what they were doing
00:37:15.91\00:37:17.99
that was
classified as immorality.
00:37:18.19\00:37:21.61
And here in Revelation
2 this woman Jezebel -
00:37:21.91\00:37:25.85
which represents the
church at that time -
00:37:26.05\00:37:30.03
was leading people
away from God's Word
00:37:30.33\00:37:33.87
saying "You don't
have to do these things.
00:37:34.17\00:37:36.96
That this isn't what
the scripture means. "
00:37:37.26\00:37:39.72
And when a church does that
00:37:39.92\00:37:41.65
and a church teaches contrary
to the teachings of God's Word,
00:37:41.75\00:37:45.52
that is spiritual adultery.
00:37:45.82\00:37:48.72
And God said she was guilty of
committing spiritual adultery.
00:37:49.33\00:37:55.25
"Cast her into a sickbed. "
00:37:55.66\00:37:59.40
Describing it that in her
hand she had this golden cup
00:38:19.67\00:38:24.15
which was full
of the abominations
00:38:25.50\00:38:28.27
and filthiness
of her fornication.
00:38:28.57\00:38:31.53
The church had been
accepted by the state.
00:38:31.83\00:38:37.41
The state had opened its
arms and made Christianity
00:38:37.71\00:38:42.29
the religion of the state.
00:38:43.66\00:38:45.53
And thus the
church took in itself
00:38:46.72\00:38:50.85
all the customs of the
pagans and what they believed
00:38:51.15\00:38:55.04
and brought them into
the church and baptized them
00:38:55.34\00:38:58.84
and put them out as Christian
rites, Christian beliefs.
00:38:59.15\00:39:04.63
And you find that the
whole teaching of God's Word
00:39:04.93\00:39:08.02
was adulterated and changed.
00:39:08.22\00:39:10.67
You find that she
had this cup in her hand.
00:39:10.98\00:39:14.07
And we find things like
holy water and sprinkling,
00:39:14.27\00:39:18.04
mass, Christmas, Easter.
00:39:19.38\00:39:23.03
All those had
their origin in paganism
00:39:23.33\00:39:26.41
and was taken into the church.
00:39:26.71\00:39:29.34
Handed to the
people as a Christian rite
00:39:30.80\00:39:33.39
and a Christian custom.
00:39:33.59\00:39:35.20
No! God said: "This
is contrary to My Word.
00:39:35.51\00:39:40.89
This is not what I
want My people doing. "
00:39:41.19\00:39:45.20
Dear friend, there has to be...
00:39:45.40\00:39:46.95
there has to be a clear line
00:39:47.25\00:39:50.21
drawn between
the world and Christ.
00:39:50.41\00:39:53.07
There has to be!
You can't merge it in.
00:39:54.37\00:39:58.04
And as we found out
last night, you can't take in
00:39:58.35\00:40:02.35
Balaam and the women
of Moab and mix with them
00:40:02.55\00:40:06.50
and find yourself doing
what God wants you to do.
00:40:06.60\00:40:09.69
You cannot take in the
world and all that it has
00:40:09.89\00:40:14.63
and claim to be a
follower of Jesus Christ.
00:40:14.83\00:40:17.69
They are not compatible.
00:40:17.80\00:40:19.28
They will not fit
one with the other.
00:40:19.48\00:40:21.53
I cannot believe things
that the world holds out.
00:40:21.84\00:40:27.10
I have to be willing to build
my faith on the Word of God
00:40:27.40\00:40:30.99
and stand on the Word of God and
not be moved from that point.
00:40:31.19\00:40:35.95
When I do that, then I'm
doing what God asks me to do.
00:40:36.45\00:40:41.24
But unfortunately, this
was a very, very hard time.
00:40:43.23\00:40:49.17
Now I want to say that God
00:41:00.66\00:41:06.36
is merciful,
00:41:06.56\00:41:08.49
longsuffering,
00:41:10.07\00:41:12.44
and He waited, dear friends,
for this church to change
00:41:12.74\00:41:17.97
for 1260 years.
00:41:18.27\00:41:22.30
For 1260 years pled with them.
00:41:23.55\00:41:26.55
And dear friend, you can go back
in history and where you can see
00:41:26.75\00:41:29.29
one person... I can
read to you where cardinals
00:41:29.49\00:41:32.33
and bishops and
all kinds of people
00:41:32.53\00:41:35.54
stood up and tried to
get her to change her way...
00:41:35.74\00:41:39.05
and she would not!
00:41:39.35\00:41:41.51
Just wouldn't think of changing
the way in which she was
00:41:41.82\00:41:47.74
going. And we moved
into a period in history
00:41:47.94\00:41:52.26
called the Dark Ages...
00:41:52.46\00:41:55.50
also referred to
as the Middle Ages.
00:41:56.10\00:42:00.45
Interesting that they
use that term Middle Ages
00:42:00.75\00:42:03.65
because this was the
middle church of the seven.
00:42:03.95\00:42:08.09
We moved into the Dark Ages,
00:42:08.32\00:42:10.86
and when He talks about casting
her children into a sickbed...
00:42:11.16\00:42:16.01
horrible time!
00:42:16.32\00:42:17.99
I mean, unbelievable
what the poor people suffered
00:42:18.19\00:42:22.80
and went through during
that period of time in history.
00:42:22.93\00:42:26.04
Do you realize
00:42:26.54\00:42:28.63
that the gospel had expanded
and grown so fantastically
00:42:28.93\00:42:33.46
that by the
time you reach 500 AD
00:42:33.76\00:42:38.13
that the scripture had
been translated in over
00:42:39.21\00:42:44.49
500 different languages?
00:42:44.69\00:42:46.95
Just listen to that.
00:42:49.85\00:42:52.34
Been translated...
and men and women had it
00:42:52.64\00:42:55.89
in over 500 different languages
and it spread across the world.
00:42:56.19\00:43:01.41
And 100 years after that
00:43:05.78\00:43:08.11
there was only one
language it was available in.
00:43:08.52\00:43:13.30
All the others had been crushed
00:43:15.14\00:43:17.90
and the only thing that was
available to any man or woman
00:43:18.20\00:43:22.26
was Latin...
00:43:22.56\00:43:24.28
and the vast
majority could not read Latin.
00:43:25.68\00:43:31.60
And so the Word of God
was taken from the people
00:43:31.83\00:43:35.83
and the whole world
moved into the Dark Ages.
00:43:36.13\00:43:40.33
People that didn't
want to go along with this,
00:43:40.83\00:43:44.77
didn't want to
follow it... they moved out.
00:43:45.07\00:43:47.06
They moved up into the
mountains into Northern Italy
00:43:47.26\00:43:50.18
and all and got away from it.
00:43:50.38\00:43:52.56
They were people like the
Waldensians and the Albigenses
00:43:52.66\00:43:55.53
and the Huguenots.
00:43:55.74\00:43:56.76
And these people moved
out and they hung on to what
00:43:56.96\00:44:01.04
they believed. And the
scriptures speaks of that
00:44:01.24\00:44:04.41
because He gives this counsel:
00:44:04.61\00:44:07.28
As many as do not hang onto
this doctrine and this belief...
00:44:15.04\00:44:18.99
Now He said: "Those of
you that are willing to stand,
00:44:33.72\00:44:37.04
you haven't known
the depths of Satan...
00:44:37.24\00:44:39.01
hang on to what you have
00:44:39.21\00:44:40.96
till I come. "
00:44:42.57\00:44:44.18
Marvelous
promise given to those...
00:44:44.48\00:44:46.77
Those people that went out
and stood up for God's Word
00:44:46.97\00:44:50.58
and many gave
their lives for it.
00:44:50.78\00:44:55.76
He said: "Just hang
on to what you have. "
00:44:56.07\00:44:58.56
The promise.
00:44:58.86\00:45:01.46
That person who overcomes,
00:45:09.04\00:45:11.84
hangs on to the end,
00:45:12.14\00:45:14.52
"I'll give him
power over nations... "
00:45:14.82\00:45:17.65
He said: "Those of
you that have hung on,
00:45:32.47\00:45:35.53
been faithful... just
continue to stand firm
00:45:35.83\00:45:40.77
and I'm going to give
you the Morning Star. "
00:45:41.07\00:45:45.00
Marvelous promise that
God would give to His people.
00:45:45.30\00:45:49.82
And of course we
know... the scripture tells us
00:45:50.12\00:45:54.48
who the Morning Star is.
00:45:54.68\00:45:56.34
And it says:
00:45:56.64\00:45:58.09
Oh, when you
come to know Christ...
00:46:04.19\00:46:08.50
I can remember my own experience
00:46:10.83\00:46:13.09
when I came to know Christ.
00:46:15.07\00:46:17.16
And I picked up His Word...
00:46:17.46\00:46:20.44
began to read and
understand what it was about.
00:46:23.06\00:46:28.49
It's like the day broke.
00:46:28.79\00:46:32.58
Like a morning star.
00:46:32.88\00:46:34.90
The morning star
always tells you what?
00:46:35.20\00:46:37.85
Hmmm?
00:46:39.59\00:46:41.14
It tells you night is ending.
00:46:41.44\00:46:43.05
They day is
coming... about to break.
00:46:43.35\00:46:46.54
And oh, what a
marvelous, marvelous experience.
00:46:46.85\00:46:51.08
I can remember it
seemed like the light came on.
00:46:51.38\00:46:56.15
Did it happen that way to you?
00:46:56.46\00:46:57.63
When you picked up God's Word
00:46:57.93\00:47:00.07
and for the first time you read
it and it began to make sense.
00:47:00.27\00:47:04.35
You saw things you
had never seen before.
00:47:04.65\00:47:06.85
Marvelous light broke and
you could see and understand.
00:47:07.15\00:47:11.98
And I have people
say: "Oh, Brother Cox,
00:47:12.21\00:47:14.40
I don't understand. "
00:47:14.70\00:47:16.26
And I say to myself
00:47:16.46\00:47:18.30
"The light hasn't dawned. "
00:47:18.60\00:47:20.09
When it dawns, you see...
00:47:20.39\00:47:23.52
you see and you understand
what the Lord is talking about.
00:47:23.82\00:47:27.60
Tells us that Jesus...
00:47:27.90\00:47:29.54
He is that, and when
He comes into your life
00:47:36.35\00:47:39.29
I can assure you, friend,
there's none other like it.
00:47:39.59\00:47:43.35
Nothing in this world
compares to Jesus Christ.
00:47:43.66\00:47:48.13
He is all together
the light of this world
00:47:48.43\00:47:52.94
and you and I can be illuminated
by what He gives to us.
00:47:53.24\00:47:58.47
But that... speaking to those
people in that period of time
00:47:58.77\00:48:02.80
that had gone through the
Dark Ages and faced so much
00:48:03.10\00:48:06.58
He said: "I'm going to
give you the Morning Star. "
00:48:06.78\00:48:09.39
And true to God's Word
it began to take place.
00:48:09.69\00:48:13.83
In the 1500s you have the
Morning Star of the Reformation
00:48:14.06\00:48:18.99
coming on the scene of action.
00:48:19.19\00:48:20.71
All of a sudden the
light began to break.
00:48:21.01\00:48:24.02
They began to see things
they had never seen before.
00:48:24.32\00:48:27.88
Those people that
had been in darkness -
00:48:28.08\00:48:29.65
they hadn't had
anything - all of a sudden
00:48:29.85\00:48:32.24
it began to give them hope.
00:48:32.44\00:48:34.23
And rose people like Wycliffe.
00:48:34.53\00:48:36.99
"Last is more than the first. "
00:48:43.26\00:48:44.93
Wycliffe came on
the scene of action.
00:48:45.23\00:48:48.53
Began to translate the Bible
00:48:48.83\00:48:52.73
into the language of the people.
00:48:53.04\00:48:55.81
Began to bring back the
teachings of God's Word.
00:48:56.84\00:49:02.76
That they began to see
the beauty of God's Word
00:49:02.96\00:49:06.30
and what it had to say.
00:49:06.50\00:49:08.08
I fear today...
you know... I fear
00:49:08.38\00:49:11.56
that many of us have
lost the beauty of God's Word.
00:49:11.86\00:49:17.32
That we don't... we don't see
00:49:17.62\00:49:20.48
how marvelous it is
and how wonderful it is
00:49:20.79\00:49:23.49
and how beautifully the truths
of God's Word all fit together.
00:49:23.69\00:49:27.52
Oh dear friend, if
you don't know that,
00:49:27.82\00:49:29.76
I just want to tell you
you're missing something.
00:49:30.06\00:49:32.07
You're missing something
that's very, very precious
00:49:32.37\00:49:34.84
and very, very real.
00:49:35.04\00:49:36.36
Wycliffe began to make
that available to the people.
00:49:36.56\00:49:40.85
And they sought him and tried
to kill him and everything else.
00:49:41.15\00:49:44.35
Arrested him and were
going to burn him at the stake
00:49:44.59\00:49:48.96
but he died before
they got him to the stake.
00:49:49.36\00:49:52.34
But these men
were great, great men.
00:49:52.64\00:49:55.20
Along came John Huss,
00:49:55.40\00:49:57.68
taking the writings of Wycliffe
and beginning to read them.
00:49:57.99\00:50:02.38
And he began to see,
and it opened his eyes
00:50:02.58\00:50:05.50
like he had never seen before.
00:50:05.70\00:50:07.91
And because he was faithful,
because he preached God's Word,
00:50:08.31\00:50:13.21
he stood up and said
"This is what is right, "
00:50:13.41\00:50:15.93
they burned him at the stake.
00:50:18.01\00:50:20.04
His fellow companion, Jerome,
00:50:20.44\00:50:25.06
who stood up and
said: "This is God's Word, "
00:50:27.19\00:50:29.93
and they put such terrible,
terrible pressure upon him.
00:50:30.13\00:50:34.80
Threw him into prison
00:50:35.10\00:50:37.74
and treated him
absolutely horrible
00:50:38.04\00:50:41.08
under such adverse
conditions it's hard to believe.
00:50:41.28\00:50:45.01
And told him he had to recant,
00:50:45.21\00:50:47.18
and in a time of
weakness gave up.
00:50:47.38\00:50:50.11
But when he thought about
it he said: "I can't do that. "
00:50:50.31\00:50:53.25
Came back and stood firm.
00:50:53.55\00:50:57.61
They gave him the same
thing they gave his friend:
00:50:57.91\00:51:00.93
they burned him at the stake.
00:51:01.23\00:51:03.84
But dear friends,
the light had dawned.
00:51:04.15\00:51:06.48
The light had dawned;
the Morning Star had risen.
00:51:07.58\00:51:11.40
They had seen it;
few had caught hold of it
00:51:11.60\00:51:15.41
and said "Yes. " And out of that
00:51:15.61\00:51:18.14
Reformation began to take place
00:51:18.34\00:51:20.20
and along came men like Luther.
00:51:20.40\00:51:22.90
Stood up, said: "No, this
is what God's Word teaches"
00:51:23.10\00:51:27.61
and nailing it to
the door of the church.
00:51:27.81\00:51:30.58
Then came Knox... the
great, great preacher...
00:51:30.88\00:51:36.11
standing for
what God's Word says.
00:51:36.41\00:51:39.63
Calvin teaching that
God was a God of sovereignty
00:51:40.03\00:51:45.98
and where he stood. And
the trues of God and His nature
00:51:46.19\00:51:49.14
began to come
forth. Along came Zwingli.
00:51:49.35\00:51:52.71
Began to also
preach. These are reformers
00:51:53.01\00:51:56.91
that stood up and
preached the Word of God
00:51:57.11\00:51:59.22
and stood for it. And
the light of the Reformation
00:51:59.42\00:52:02.85
broke and moved
across the world.
00:52:03.05\00:52:05.94
We come to the close.
00:52:07.91\00:52:10.35
To this church of Thyatira
00:52:18.33\00:52:22.26
who went through a terrible
period of time, folks...
00:52:23.44\00:52:29.42
a time that was dark...
00:52:29.72\00:52:34.69
there was no light. A time
in which people were treated
00:52:35.09\00:52:41.09
as animals.
Referred to, if you please,
00:52:41.29\00:52:46.26
as animals.
00:52:46.56\00:52:48.09
And the Bible was taken
and chained to library walls
00:52:48.19\00:52:53.86
and the people were told that
00:52:54.16\00:52:55.98
they were too
ignorant to read it.
00:52:56.18\00:52:58.17
Today, we're not
treated that way.
00:52:59.51\00:53:04.80
Today we just have been invaded
00:53:06.82\00:53:11.79
with so much commercialism
00:53:12.10\00:53:15.71
and so much things
from the television
00:53:16.01\00:53:21.16
invaded our home until we don't
have time for the Word of God.
00:53:21.46\00:53:25.55
We don't spend time in it.
00:53:25.85\00:53:27.91
And true, it hasn't
been taken away from us.
00:53:28.21\00:53:33.25
But what difference does it make
00:53:33.55\00:53:34.92
if you don't pick
it up and read it?
00:53:35.23\00:53:37.04
What... what
difference is there?
00:53:37.34\00:53:40.19
If you just leave it laying
there and you don't have time
00:53:40.49\00:53:44.52
to think about it and to read it
and to meditate on God's Word,
00:53:44.72\00:53:47.88
what difference is there?
00:53:48.18\00:53:49.58
If you life is no different
00:53:50.99\00:53:55.67
than that person who
doesn't know Jesus Christ...
00:53:57.36\00:54:00.18
if there's no difference...
00:54:03.22\00:54:04.54
if a person can't
look at you and what you do
00:54:04.85\00:54:07.69
and tell there is a
decided difference between you
00:54:07.99\00:54:10.64
and the person that
doesn't know Jesus Christ,
00:54:10.84\00:54:13.20
then what's wrong?
00:54:13.50\00:54:14.90
They ought to
see... they ought to know
00:54:15.21\00:54:19.96
that you and I walk with
the Lord, we follow the Lord.
00:54:20.26\00:54:23.54
That He is all
in all in our lives.
00:54:23.84\00:54:27.36
Oh dear friend, I pray today
00:54:27.66\00:54:30.09
the light that
Jesus Christ gives
00:54:30.39\00:54:34.30
will break forth into your life.
00:54:34.61\00:54:36.92
Let us pray.
00:54:37.23\00:54:38.58
Heavenly Father,
00:54:38.88\00:54:41.28
we pray that we may
hold on to what we have.
00:54:41.58\00:54:46.84
That we won't let it go
00:54:47.14\00:54:49.86
and that we'll be
faithful until Your coming.
00:54:50.16\00:54:53.15
Grant to us, Lord, Your Spirit.
00:54:53.45\00:54:58.19
May it fill our
lives, and may each one of us
00:54:58.43\00:55:02.62
rejoice in Your salvation.
00:55:02.92\00:55:05.44
For this we pray in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:55:05.74\00:55:08.84
May God bless you.
00:55:09.34\00:55:11.64
Continue, dear
friend, I plead with you...
00:55:11.94\00:55:14.24
continue to
study the Word of God.
00:55:14.54\00:55:16.64
Hello, folks.
00:55:17.89\00:55:19.18
One of my favorite
things to do in the springtime
00:55:19.48\00:55:21.90
is to take a walk and
look at all the new growth.
00:55:22.10\00:55:25.52
The earth seems so fresh,
00:55:25.82\00:55:27.41
and each tree bursts
forth with buds and flowers.
00:55:27.61\00:55:30.49
That reminds me of a parable
that Jesus told His followers
00:55:30.79\00:55:34.65
in Luke 21.
00:55:34.85\00:55:36.25
You see, He had just described
the events which will happen
00:55:36.55\00:55:40.00
immediately
before His second coming.
00:55:40.20\00:55:42.48
But in verse 29
Jesus turns their attention
00:55:55.67\00:56:00.20
to the fig tree.
00:56:00.30\00:56:01.44
And ever since then, budding
trees have served as a permanent
00:56:01.67\00:56:05.47
reminder that our
time here is very short
00:56:05.67\00:56:08.65
and the second
coming is very near.
00:56:08.85\00:56:11.60
Folks, many of these
signs are already upon us.
00:56:26.67\00:56:30.46
The earth groans from
the greed of those who have
00:56:30.76\00:56:33.31
exploited her
resources, ravaged her land
00:56:33.41\00:56:37.10
and destroyed plants and
animals and atmosphere alike
00:56:37.30\00:56:40.21
in a selfish pursuit of wealth.
00:56:40.41\00:56:42.99
Have you seen the signs?
00:56:43.29\00:56:44.87
Have you seen men's
hearts failing with fear?
00:56:45.17\00:56:47.56
If you haven't, then I'm
afraid you're not watching
00:56:47.86\00:56:50.73
very closely. However, the
Holy Spirit is hard at work
00:56:50.93\00:56:54.75
and so are many Christians
who long for an end to sin
00:56:55.05\00:56:58.55
and look forward to
their soon-coming Savior.
00:56:58.75\00:57:01.76
That's why we
continue to preach the gospel
00:57:02.06\00:57:04.54
to as many as we can
through any means that we can
00:57:04.74\00:57:08.75
as often as we can.
00:57:08.95\00:57:10.93
Our ministry team
is supported solely
00:57:11.23\00:57:13.53
by your contributions...
and we thank you for your
00:57:13.73\00:57:17.00
faithful prayers
and financial support.
00:57:17.03\00:57:20.47
May God richly bless you.
00:57:20.77\00:57:22.95
Please consider what you can do
for those who still don't know
00:57:23.25\00:57:26.47
about Jesus. As the
Holy Spirit impresses,
00:57:26.60\00:57:29.28
please send your
tax-deductible gifts to:
00:57:29.48\00:57:31.52
Thank you for helping us
spread the light of God's Word
00:57:43.64\00:57:45.99
through television and radio.
00:57:46.19\00:57:47.93
Your gifts help bring
the blessed hope of salvation
00:57:48.13\00:57:50.20
to millions around the world.
00:57:50.40\00:57:52.77