Martin Luther made a
incredibly insightful
00:01:05.21\00:01:13.61
statement among many,
but this particular one he
00:01:13.64\00:01:18.87
said, if I declare with
the loudest voice and the
00:01:18.90\00:01:25.54
clearest exposition
every portion of God's truth
00:01:25.57\00:01:29.93
except for the one
little bit, which the world and
00:01:30.85\00:01:36.40
the devil are at that
moment attacking, then
00:01:36.43\00:01:40.42
I am not confessing
Christ at all. Isn't that
00:01:40.45\00:01:47.36
interesting? If I declare
with the loudest voice and
00:01:47.39\00:01:52.98
the clearest exposition
of every truth in scripture,
00:01:53.01\00:01:56.66
except the one little
point that God, that the devil
00:01:57.58\00:02:01.97
and the world are
attacking then I am not
00:02:02.00\00:02:04.09
confessing Christ. What
is that one point that the
00:02:04.12\00:02:13.55
dragon, the devil is
so focused and intent on
00:02:13.58\00:02:17.66
attacking in the last
days. Revelation chapter 12,
00:02:17.69\00:02:22.61
verse 17, the dragon
was angry at the woman and
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he went off to make war
against the remnant of her
00:02:27.11\00:02:30.84
offspring those who
obey God's commandments
00:02:30.87\00:02:34.94
and have the testimony
of Jesus. The dragon is at
00:02:36.32\00:02:40.61
war with the commandments of the
00:02:40.64\00:02:43.46
law of God. And if I
preach every truth in the
00:02:43.49\00:02:48.74
Bible from Genesis to
Revelation except the fact
00:02:48.77\00:02:52.90
that the dragon is
attacking the law of God
00:02:52.93\00:02:55.94
then I am not
confessing Christ according to
00:02:55.97\00:02:59.12
Martin Luther. The
Bible, Revelation also predicts
00:02:59.15\00:03:04.33
that there will be a
massive revival in the last
00:03:04.36\00:03:08.21
days. Verse 8, chapter
13, all of the inhabitants of
00:03:08.24\00:03:13.39
the earth will worship
the beast all except those
00:03:13.42\00:03:16.37
whose names are
written in the book of life
00:03:16.40\00:03:17.65
belonging to the Lamb,
slain from the creation of
00:03:17.68\00:03:20.19
the world. The whole
world is going to worship
00:03:20.22\00:03:23.02
the beast expect for
the few that worship the
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lamb. We are looking
at a massive, at a global
00:03:25.55\00:03:30.62
revival in worship,
but it is a false worship,
00:03:30.65\00:03:34.43
a counterfeit revival
because they worship the
00:03:34.46\00:03:37.49
beast instead of God.
God isn't silent during this
00:03:37.52\00:03:44.22
time. God has much to
say and the Bible also
00:03:44.25\00:03:49.48
predicts that there will
be a massive revival of the
00:03:49.51\00:03:52.68
true worship of the
true God in the last days.
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Look at it with me all
the way back in the Book of
00:03:56.52\00:03:59.34
Isaiah. In Isaiah
chapter 2, verse 2, in the last
00:03:59.37\00:04:04.69
days, now we should ask
ourselves first of all when
00:04:04.72\00:04:09.36
are the last days because
this prophecy the prophet
00:04:09.39\00:04:12.83
Isaiah is looking forward
into the future, into the
00:04:12.86\00:04:15.98
last days, one of the
last days. Hebrews chapter 1,
00:04:16.01\00:04:19.17
verse 1, in the past
God spoke to our forefathers
00:04:19.20\00:04:22.42
through the prophets
and many times in various
00:04:22.45\00:04:25.20
ways, but in these last
days he has spoken to us
00:04:25.23\00:04:31.53
by his son. So Isaiah
is looking ahead in time to
00:04:31.56\00:04:32.53
when God speaks to us by
his son and calls it the last
00:04:37.41\00:04:41.58
days in other words he
is looking in our time now
00:04:41.61\00:04:45.77
We are living in the
last days today. Amen.
00:04:45.80\00:04:49.20
So what's gonna happen
in the last days? What's
00:04:49.73\00:04:52.42
going on, that Isaiah sees
that's so important, in the
00:04:52.45\00:04:56.05
last days the mountain
of the Lord's temple will be
00:04:56.08\00:05:00.09
established as chief
among the mountains, it
00:05:00.12\00:05:03.25
will be raised up above
all the hills, and all of the
00:05:03.28\00:05:07.52
nations will stream into
it. Many people will come
00:05:07.55\00:05:11.64
and say, "Come and let
us go up to the mountain of
00:05:11.67\00:05:15.14
the Lord, to the house
of the God of Jacob and he
00:05:15.17\00:05:18.55
will teach us his
ways, that we may walk in his
00:05:18.58\00:05:22.45
paths and the law will
go out from Zion, the word
00:05:22.48\00:05:27.95
of the Lord from
Jerusalem. Now that is
00:05:27.98\00:05:31.74
revival. Amen.
That's when men come to God
00:05:31.77\00:05:36.32
to learn his ways and
notice in the last days
00:05:36.35\00:05:40.72
Isaiah sees the time,
when the Lord goes out from
00:05:40.75\00:05:44.68
Zion, when the
light, when the Lord's
00:05:44.71\00:05:47.00
mountain, the Holy
Mountain, is raised up
00:05:47.03\00:05:49.67
above all of the
others. Now this does not mean
00:05:49.70\00:05:53.85
that the Holy Mountain
over there in Israel Mount
00:05:56.23\00:06:00.63
Zion is going to
grow in the last days.
00:06:00.66\00:06:04.38
And become taller then
the tallest mountain on earth.
00:06:04.41\00:06:07.67
That isn't what he's
talking about at all. So
00:06:08.39\00:06:11.88
what is this mountain
and what does it mean when it
00:06:11.91\00:06:15.77
says the law goes
forth from Zion. The mountain
00:06:15.80\00:06:19.52
is Mount Zion. In the
Old Testament times that was
00:06:19.55\00:06:22.99
the temple mountain,
that was the place where the
00:06:23.02\00:06:25.51
temple was. It was the
focal point of Israel's
00:06:25.54\00:06:29.11
worship. The true
worship of the true God
00:06:29.14\00:06:31.90
centered on Mount
Zion, but that was in the
00:06:31.93\00:06:36.98
Old Testament. In the
New Testament, we find
00:06:37.01\00:06:41.16
something different.
Paul again in the Book of
00:06:41.19\00:06:45.62
Hebrews, turn with me
to Hebrews, this time the
00:06:45.65\00:06:49.06
12th chapter, in
Hebrews chapter 12, verse 22,
00:06:49.09\00:06:50.06
actually in verse 18
he says you have not come
00:06:55.17\00:06:59.00
to a mountain that
can be touched comparing
00:06:59.03\00:07:02.84
Mount Zion to Mount
Sinai where Moses went
00:07:02.87\00:07:07.46
up on the mountain
remember with the two
00:07:07.49\00:07:09.26
tables of stone. You
haven't come to that kind
00:07:09.29\00:07:11.80
of a mountain. That's
a mountain that can be
00:07:11.83\00:07:14.15
touched, you have
come, verse 22, you have come
00:07:14.18\00:07:18.20
to Mount Zion. Now
what is this Mount Zion,
00:07:18.23\00:07:23.07
watch, to the heavenly
Jerusalem, to the city of
00:07:23.10\00:07:29.91
the living God. You
have come to Mount Zion.
00:07:29.94\00:07:34.71
You have come to
the heavenly Jerusalem.
00:07:34.74\00:07:37.91
You have come to the city
of the living God. You have
00:07:37.94\00:07:42.53
come to the church of
the firstborn, whose names
00:07:42.56\00:07:46.52
are written in heaven
in the Lamb's Book of Life.
00:07:46.55\00:07:49.89
You have come to
Jesus, the mediator of a new
00:07:49.92\00:07:53.46
covenant. So,
according to the Bible in the
00:07:53.49\00:07:57.74
New Testament, Mount
Zion, in the Old Testament,
00:07:57.77\00:08:01.20
in the New Testament is
a symbol of God's Church.
00:08:01.23\00:08:05.34
The heavenly Zion, the
heavenly Jerusalem, the
00:08:05.37\00:08:08.26
church of the living God,
the church of the firstborn
00:08:08.29\00:08:11.11
to Jesus Christ. We,
New Testament believers are
00:08:11.14\00:08:14.97
on Mount Zion when we
are in Jesus Christ. And
00:08:15.00\00:08:21.86
the law he saw would
go forth from Mount Zion.
00:08:21.89\00:08:26.20
And the nations
would come and learn about
00:08:26.93\00:08:30.37
God's ways. So Isaiah
sees a genuine Revival,
00:08:30.40\00:08:36.19
a true revival, where
people come to Christ, to his
00:08:36.93\00:08:41.69
church, his church is
lifted up and then they
00:08:41.72\00:08:45.58
learn God's ways and
the law goes forth even from
00:08:45.61\00:08:49.65
the church of Jesus
Christ. Isaiah sees the
00:08:49.68\00:08:54.93
true revival and we
find that prophesy being
00:08:54.96\00:08:58.85
fulfilled in the Book of
Revelation. In Revelation
00:08:58.88\00:09:04.31
chapter 14, verse 1,
and then I looked and there
00:09:04.34\00:09:09.34
before me was the
Lamb standing on Mount Zion
00:09:09.37\00:09:14.62
and with him
144,000, anyone who has ever
00:09:14.65\00:09:23.22
casually read the Book
of Revelation has wondered
00:09:23.25\00:09:26.86
who are the 144,000.
Does it mean that only
00:09:26.89\00:09:32.12
a 144,000 people are
going to be saved in heaven, if
00:09:32.15\00:09:36.36
so boy that doesn't
leave much of an opportunity
00:09:36.39\00:09:39.59
for us, well we can't go
into all that the 144,000
00:09:39.62\00:09:44.49
means tonight, that's a
special topic reserve for
00:09:44.52\00:09:48.06
our advanced seminar.
But lets take a look just at
00:09:48.09\00:09:52.00
the surface of the
prophesy and you can see
00:09:52.03\00:09:55.70
much there in chapter
14, verse 1, there before me
00:09:55.73\00:09:58.96
was the Lamb standing
on Mount Zion. Now the
00:09:58.99\00:10:02.65
lamb is not a real
lamb, but the lamb is a symbol
00:10:02.68\00:10:07.50
for Jesus Christ.
Amen. So remember the Book of
00:10:07.53\00:10:11.93
Revelation is a
symbolic book and it has to be
00:10:11.96\00:10:15.32
understood symbolically,
so he is not saying. Well,
00:10:15.35\00:10:18.72
there is going to be a
real lamb in heaven walking,
00:10:18.75\00:10:21.01
there may be, but
that's not what John is looking
00:10:21.04\00:10:23.79
at right now. He
sees the Lamb of God,
00:10:23.82\00:10:27.77
Jesus Christ. On Mount
Zion, where Mount Zion we
00:10:27.80\00:10:32.21
have already seen
in the New Testament is
00:10:32.24\00:10:34.12
symbolic for the
church of the living God for
00:10:34.15\00:10:36.79
Jesus. So there is
Jesus standing on Mount Zion
00:10:36.82\00:10:40.00
in the center of his
church where Jesus always
00:10:40.03\00:10:43.19
belongs. Remember
the Book of Revelation is
00:10:43.22\00:10:46.74
revelation of Jesus
Christ. And he is the head
00:10:46.77\00:10:51.94
the body is the
church. And so here we see the
00:10:51.97\00:10:55.81
church, Jesus among
his church standing on
00:10:55.84\00:11:00.20
Mount Zion and with
him 144,000. If the lamb is
00:11:00.23\00:11:05.98
a symbol and Mount
Zion is a symbol, then the
00:11:06.01\00:11:09.10
144,000 must be a
symbol also and so there
00:11:09.13\00:11:13.62
they are surrounding
Jesus, he is standing in
00:11:13.65\00:11:17.24
his church, the 144,000's
with him. There is much
00:11:17.27\00:11:20.00
more that we can look
at about them tonight is
00:11:20.03\00:11:22.51
enough for us to know
just one thing and that's
00:11:22.54\00:11:24.71
found in verse 4, who are
the 144,000, verse 4, they
00:11:24.74\00:11:29.25
follow the lamb
wherever he goes. That's all you
00:11:29.28\00:11:33.93
need to know about the
144,000. They follow the
00:11:33.96\00:11:37.33
lamb wherever he goes.
Wherever Jesus goes they
00:11:37.36\00:11:40.31
are, wherever they
are Jesus is there. Now it
00:11:40.34\00:11:48.60
isn't going to be that
easy in the last days to follow
00:11:48.63\00:11:54.81
the lamb. Why not,
because in verse 11,
00:11:54.84\00:12:00.45
another beast comes up
out of the earth. He had
00:12:00.48\00:12:03.14
two horns like a lamb,
but he spoke like a dragon.
00:12:03.17\00:12:06.97
And this beast
performs miracles, signs and
00:12:08.43\00:12:11.66
wonders and because of
the signs and wonders he
00:12:11.69\00:12:14.93
was given power to do on
behalf of the first beast, it
00:12:14.96\00:12:17.61
says in verse 14, he
deceived the inhabitants
00:12:17.64\00:12:20.98
of the earth. He sets up
an image in honor of the first
00:12:21.01\00:12:24.13
beast and he forces
everyone to worship the
00:12:24.16\00:12:27.39
image or there will be
threatened with the death
00:12:27.42\00:12:29.63
decree and no one can
buy or sell unless he takes
00:12:29.66\00:12:33.59
the mark of the
beast, which is the number of
00:12:33.62\00:12:36.28
the beast or the number
of his name. We'll look at
00:12:36.31\00:12:39.83
that one coming up on
Sunday night, but we can
00:12:39.86\00:12:42.46
easily see what's
happening now. The first
00:12:42.49\00:12:45.29
beast comes up out of
the water. The second beast
00:12:45.32\00:12:47.86
comes up out of the
earth. He has two horns like
00:12:47.89\00:12:50.22
a lamb. He looks like
the lamb, those who follow
00:12:50.25\00:12:53.85
him are deceived by
the miracles, they think
00:12:53.88\00:12:56.97
they're following the
lamb, but they're actually
00:12:57.00\00:12:59.36
following the beast.
That's why it isn't always
00:12:59.39\00:13:05.74
easy to follow the
lamb. How can we tell the
00:13:05.77\00:13:10.64
difference between the
counterfeit lamb and the
00:13:10.67\00:13:14.17
true lamb? It says he
spoke like the dragon.
00:13:14.20\00:13:20.14
You judge the difference
not by what you feel and
00:13:21.49\00:13:26.07
not by what you see
and not by any emotions you
00:13:26.10\00:13:30.40
may have, you judge the
difference by the word of
00:13:30.43\00:13:33.38
God. That's why we must
understand the scripture
00:13:33.41\00:13:38.36
for the last day
because the lamb, because the
00:13:38.39\00:13:42.71
beast looks like the
lamb and almost the whole
00:13:42.74\00:13:47.10
world goes after him.
In fact using deception and
00:13:47.13\00:13:54.16
force, he is so
powerful that everyone except
00:13:54.19\00:14:00.37
those whose names
are written in the Lamb's
00:14:00.40\00:14:01.92
Book of Life will
worship the beast. And those who
00:14:01.95\00:14:06.66
worship the beast, the
Bible says in verse 4, also
00:14:06.69\00:14:10.40
worship the dragon
because he gave his
00:14:10.43\00:14:13.27
authority to the beast.
He is so powerful and so
00:14:13.30\00:14:20.20
effective that the
whole world cries out, who is
00:14:20.23\00:14:24.47
like the beast, who
can make war against him,
00:14:24.50\00:14:27.46
who can stand against
the beast, well the answer is
00:14:27.49\00:14:32.87
found in Revelation 14.
I looked and there before
00:14:32.90\00:14:37.36
me was the lamb who can
stand against the beast?
00:14:37.39\00:14:42.30
The lamb. Who can
make war against the beast?
00:14:42.33\00:14:46.35
The lamb. Where is the
lamb? He is standing on
00:14:46.38\00:14:49.80
Mount Zion. In his
church, who is with him?
00:14:49.83\00:14:52.44
The 144,000. You want
to be among the 144,000,
00:14:52.47\00:14:59.34
just follow the lamb.
You want to be victories over
00:14:59.37\00:15:02.56
the beast follow the
lamb. Yes, there will be
00:15:02.59\00:15:05.26
massive world
wide global revival,
00:15:05.29\00:15:08.61
a counterfeit revival in
the last days. But God's lips
00:15:08.64\00:15:12.28
are not sealed. God
has something to say.
00:15:12.31\00:15:16.10
In chapter 14, verse 6, I
saw another angel flying in
00:15:16.63\00:15:20.02
the midair, he had the
eternal gospel to proclaim
00:15:20.05\00:15:23.37
to those who live on
the earth to every nation,
00:15:23.40\00:15:26.03
tribe, language and
people. He said in a loud
00:15:26.06\00:15:28.94
voice, "Fear God and
give him glory, because the
00:15:28.97\00:15:32.73
hour of his judgment
has come. Worship him who
00:15:32.76\00:15:35.80
made the heavens, the
earth, the sea and the
00:15:35.83\00:15:38.24
springs of water." At
the same time that the
00:15:38.27\00:15:40.77
counterfeit, the false
prophet, who looks like
00:15:40.80\00:15:43.29
a lamb is deceiving
the whole world into
00:15:43.32\00:15:45.83
worshiping the beast.
God has a message "Fear God
00:15:45.86\00:15:49.79
not the beast,"
worship the creator not the
00:15:49.82\00:15:52.38
creature. Problem is
that most people are gonna go
00:15:52.41\00:16:02.48
after the counterfeit. So
we had better be sure that
00:16:02.51\00:16:09.32
we know the truth.
Before we go into the three
00:16:09.35\00:16:15.00
angels messages in
anymore depth, I want to
00:16:15.03\00:16:18.63
take a look at the
setting. When do these three
00:16:18.66\00:16:23.13
angels sound their
three messages to the world.
00:16:23.16\00:16:27.42
If you look at the last part
of chapter 14 in Revelation,
00:16:28.83\00:16:33.57
the last part of Revelation
14, the 14th verse gives
00:16:33.60\00:16:38.97
us the time frame, the
time setting for this, for
00:16:39.00\00:16:43.34
this, see in this battle,
this cosmic conflict over the
00:16:43.37\00:16:48.41
true worship of
the true God versus the
00:16:48.44\00:16:50.75
counterfeit worship of
the counterfeit God, take
00:16:50.78\00:16:53.75
a look, verse 14 of
Revelation 14, I looked
00:16:53.78\00:16:57.08
and there before me was a
white cloud, seated on the
00:16:57.11\00:17:00.96
cloud was one like the
son of man, who's that?
00:17:00.99\00:17:03.74
That's Jesus and with a
crown of gold on his head
00:17:04.90\00:17:08.05
and a sharp sickle in
his hand. And then another
00:17:08.08\00:17:10.37
angel came out of
the temple and he said in
00:17:10.40\00:17:12.32
a loud voice to him who
was sitting on the cloud,
00:17:12.35\00:17:16.01
take your sickle and
reap, because the time to reap
00:17:16.04\00:17:20.24
has come, for the
harvest of the earth is ripe.
00:17:20.27\00:17:23.87
And so he who was
seated on the cloud, swung the
00:17:23.90\00:17:27.63
sickle on the earth and
the earth was harvested.
00:17:27.66\00:17:30.25
Mathew, in Mathew the
13th chapter, Jesus said
00:17:31.76\00:17:35.30
the harvest is the end
of the world. Now there is
00:17:35.33\00:17:42.51
another harvest that
goes on at the same time. Look
00:17:42.54\00:17:47.23
at verse 17, another
angel came out of the temple in
00:17:47.26\00:17:52.92
heaven and he too had
a sharp sickle. And still
00:17:52.95\00:17:57.26
another angel, who had
charge of the fire came
00:17:57.29\00:17:59.37
from the altar and called
in a loud voice to the one
00:17:59.40\00:18:02.99
who had the sharp
sickle he said take your sharp
00:18:03.02\00:18:06.43
sickle and gather the
cluster of grapes from the
00:18:06.46\00:18:10.68
earth's wine, because
the grapes are ripe. And the
00:18:10.71\00:18:14.76
angel swung his sickle
on the earth and he gathered
00:18:14.79\00:18:18.00
the grapes, and he
threw them into the great wine
00:18:18.03\00:18:20.99
press of God's wrath.
And they were trampled in the
00:18:21.02\00:18:24.50
wine press outside
the city, and blood flowed
00:18:24.53\00:18:28.10
from the press. You see
there are two harvests, the
00:18:28.13\00:18:33.62
harvest of the grain and
the harvest of the grapes.
00:18:33.65\00:18:38.53
I think it's safe to say
that we want to be harvested
00:18:42.52\00:18:46.26
with the grain. Amen. "Amen."
00:18:46.29\00:18:48.72
So when are these three
angels messages sounding
00:18:49.46\00:18:53.41
to the world immediately
before the harvest, right
00:18:53.44\00:18:56.95
before the end of
the world. God has three
00:18:56.98\00:18:59.85
messages for the whole
world, but notice that the
00:18:59.88\00:19:03.83
world is divided into
two camps, the grain and the
00:19:03.86\00:19:09.32
grapes, the righteous
and the wicked, the believers
00:19:09.35\00:19:12.66
and the sinners. Two
camps, there is no one in
00:19:12.69\00:19:18.85
between. You see there
are two things that have
00:19:18.88\00:19:24.18
to happen before
Jesus comes. Remember we
00:19:24.21\00:19:29.69
learned way back at
the beginning of Revelation
00:19:29.72\00:19:32.57
Now that God could have
just wiped out the devil
00:19:32.60\00:19:37.03
instantly the moment he
rebelled in heaven against
00:19:37.06\00:19:40.80
him. God could have
done that, he certainly
00:19:40.83\00:19:43.59
had the power to do
it, why didn't he? The
00:19:43.62\00:19:46.70
reason was because if he
did just zap Lucifer, that
00:19:46.73\00:19:51.73
perfect angel, the
moment he rebelled in heaven. If
00:19:51.76\00:19:55.19
he would have just
zapped him out then all of
00:19:55.22\00:19:58.28
the other beings in
the universe would be
00:19:58.31\00:20:00.40
worshiping God out
of fear instead of love.
00:20:00.43\00:20:03.70
And so God had to let
him go. Remember, he had to
00:20:05.36\00:20:08.34
give him some slack,
he had to give him room to
00:20:08.37\00:20:11.54
demonstrate how ugly
and how awful and how
00:20:11.57\00:20:15.92
terrible sin is. So
that when sin is finally
00:20:15.95\00:20:20.09
destroyed and removed
from the universe forever,
00:20:20.12\00:20:22.94
everyone will know
that it was an act of love.
00:20:22.97\00:20:26.26
So two things have to
happen. First of all, the
00:20:27.28\00:20:30.54
grapes have to ripen.
Wickedness, sin and evil
00:20:30.57\00:20:34.65
has to blossom and ripen
fully so that everyone can
00:20:34.68\00:20:38.79
see how wicked sin
is and how no one would
00:20:38.82\00:20:42.13
ever want to live in
a kingdom ruled by sin.
00:20:42.16\00:20:45.49
And that's the harvest
of the grapes, but the other
00:20:46.93\00:20:51.33
thing that has to
happen the grain has to ripen.
00:20:51.36\00:20:55.62
God needs men and
women on this earth to
00:20:57.19\00:21:00.58
demonstrate that human
beings can in fact follow
00:21:00.61\00:21:07.90
the lamb, can in fact
love God, can in fact serve
00:21:07.93\00:21:14.82
God, obey him, keep
his commandments. No it
00:21:14.85\00:21:19.38
doesn't mean that
they're perfect not yet, but we
00:21:19.41\00:21:22.44
will be perfect soon.
Jesus is going to change
00:21:22.47\00:21:26.48
us when he comes and
this corruption will put on
00:21:26.51\00:21:29.47
incorruptibility, but
those the grain of the ones who
00:21:29.50\00:21:34.30
truly and
completely surrender and submit
00:21:34.33\00:21:37.26
their lives to their
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
00:21:37.29\00:21:40.43
they follow the
lamb wherever he goes.
00:21:40.46\00:21:44.09
The grain is ripe. In
the face of the severest
00:21:44.12\00:21:48.07
persecution, in the face
of death they still follow the
00:21:48.10\00:21:53.28
lamb. And once the
world, the grain is ripe
00:21:53.31\00:21:58.92
and the grapes are
ripe then Jesus can come.
00:21:58.95\00:22:02.15
What is it that brings
about the ripening of the
00:22:03.17\00:22:07.27
grain and the grapes
and that's the three angels
00:22:07.30\00:22:13.84
messages? Notice that
the world is divided into two
00:22:13.87\00:22:17.77
groups either the grain or
the grapes, there is no one
00:22:17.80\00:22:21.05
in between. When
Jesus comes, good news, when
00:22:21.08\00:22:25.60
Jesus comes, no one will
be able to say God I never
00:22:25.63\00:22:30.25
heard of you before.
God says too bad, you're in
00:22:30.28\00:22:34.18
the grapes. It's not
going to be that way. The whole
00:22:34.21\00:22:39.02
world will be divided
into two groups, the grain and
00:22:39.05\00:22:43.15
the grapes. How does it
happen, now we are ready
00:22:43.18\00:22:50.11
to understand the three
angels messages. Back to
00:22:50.14\00:22:53.61
Revelation chapter 14
verse 6, I saw another
00:22:53.64\00:22:58.95
angel flying in the midair,
he had the eternal gospel
00:22:58.98\00:23:03.53
to proclaim to those
who live on the earth.
00:23:03.56\00:23:06.83
I stopped here for a
second. There is one more symbol
00:23:08.36\00:23:11.54
we need to
understand. Remember the Book of
00:23:11.57\00:23:13.38
Revelation is a symbolic
book. And here we see an
00:23:13.41\00:23:17.13
angel flying through
the air proclaiming the
00:23:17.16\00:23:20.18
Gospel, which is the
good news of Jesus Christ.
00:23:20.21\00:23:22.59
Now God never told
angels to preach the
00:23:23.51\00:23:27.87
Gospel. In fact as we
learned last night, the
00:23:27.90\00:23:32.75
very last words that
Jesus had for his church before
00:23:32.78\00:23:36.24
he ascended to heaven
was to what, to go to the
00:23:36.27\00:23:39.62
whole world and
preach the Gospel to every
00:23:39.65\00:23:43.09
nation. Now we see
the fulfilling of that
00:23:43.12\00:23:47.04
command that Jesus
gave to his church before he
00:23:47.07\00:23:50.25
ascended to heaven, I
saw another angel flying in
00:23:50.28\00:23:53.23
the midair, he had
the eternal Gospel to
00:23:53.26\00:23:55.75
proclaim to those who
live on the earth to every
00:23:55.78\00:23:58.27
nation, tribe,
language and people. God did not
00:23:58.30\00:24:01.15
commission angels
to preach the Gospel.
00:24:01.18\00:24:03.38
He told the church to
preach the Gospel. Angels are
00:24:08.20\00:24:09.17
symbols, in the Book of
Revelation like all other
00:24:09.18\00:24:11.36
things. He told in the
first two chapters, the second
00:24:11.39\00:24:17.63
and third chapter of
Revelation, he mentions
00:24:17.66\00:24:20.08
to the angel of the
church in Ephesus, write this
00:24:20.11\00:24:23.56
message to the angel
of the church in Sardis,
00:24:23.59\00:24:26.56
write this message, to
the angel of the church in
00:24:26.59\00:24:29.63
Thyatira, to the angel
of the church in Pergamum,
00:24:29.66\00:24:32.33
to the angel of the
church in Philadelphia, to the
00:24:32.36\00:24:35.38
angel of the church
in Laodicea, write this
00:24:35.41\00:24:37.72
message, so the angels
are messengers, in fact
00:24:37.75\00:24:41.31
the word angel in
Greek Angelos means
00:24:41.34\00:24:43.45
messenger. They had
God's messages to give to
00:24:43.48\00:24:49.12
the churches so the
church could proclaim it
00:24:49.15\00:24:51.77
to the world. Now
the church becomes the
00:24:51.80\00:24:54.97
messenger.
Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus
00:24:55.00\00:24:59.15
Christ, flying through
the air, in other words we see
00:24:59.18\00:25:02.09
an intensifying of
the proclamation of the
00:25:02.12\00:25:05.13
Gospel, a massive global
revival of the truth in the
00:25:05.16\00:25:08.88
last days just before
Jesus comes. So no one can say
00:25:08.91\00:25:15.23
God I didn't know
this? Because every tribe,
00:25:15.26\00:25:21.12
every language, every
people, every nation will
00:25:21.15\00:25:24.66
hear the truth about
God before Jesus comes.
00:25:24.69\00:25:28.01
And then it says in a
loud voice fear God and give
00:25:29.35\00:25:34.64
him glory because the
hour of his judgment has
00:25:34.67\00:25:37.43
come. Now remember the
two points of attack that
00:25:37.46\00:25:41.02
the beast launches
against the church are the
00:25:41.05\00:25:43.81
commandments of
God and the Gospel of
00:25:43.84\00:25:45.59
Jesus Christ. The first angel
has the everlasting Gospel.
00:25:45.62\00:25:49.66
The good news
that would say by grace
00:25:49.69\00:25:51.59
through faith in Jesus,
but he also announces that the
00:25:51.62\00:25:54.80
hour of God's judgment
has come. James said, we
00:25:54.83\00:25:59.15
saw it the other night.
James said in chapter 2,
00:25:59.18\00:26:01.58
verse 11, that we as a
church should speak and
00:26:01.61\00:26:04.56
act as those who are
going to be judged by the
00:26:04.59\00:26:07.69
law. And so now we see
again a blending of the
00:26:07.72\00:26:11.79
grace of God, the Gospel
and the law of God in the
00:26:11.82\00:26:15.45
proclamation of the
first angel's message that goes
00:26:15.48\00:26:17.98
to the whole world and
as a result he says worship
00:26:18.01\00:26:21.16
him who made the
heavens, the earth, the sea
00:26:21.19\00:26:24.05
and the fountains of
water. In other words, the
00:26:24.08\00:26:26.38
proclamation of the
Gospel in the setting of
00:26:26.41\00:26:29.31
the judgment hour
results in the call to worship
00:26:29.34\00:26:32.70
God, the creator of
the heavens and the earth.
00:26:32.73\00:26:35.28
The God who made
this world in six days and
00:26:35.31\00:26:39.40
then rested on the
seventh day, blessed the seventh
00:26:39.43\00:26:42.53
day and made it holy.
Worship that God, can't
00:26:42.56\00:26:45.98
you see how the Gospel,
the law and the grace of
00:26:46.01\00:26:49.49
God are all entwined
together in this last
00:26:49.52\00:26:53.16
message to the last
world, to the perishing world.
00:26:53.19\00:26:56.62
And you wonder why we
need to talk about the
00:26:59.32\00:27:01.45
law. You can't separate
the law from the Book of
00:27:01.48\00:27:05.65
Revelation. That's why
so many desperately try,
00:27:05.68\00:27:09.34
because at the heart
of the law of God is the
00:27:09.37\00:27:12.14
Sabbath, the reminder
that God is the creator.
00:27:12.17\00:27:15.59
Then we go to the next
angel in verse 9, in verse
00:27:18.22\00:27:23.06
8, a second angel
followed, now you would
00:27:23.09\00:27:26.22
think, bare with me,
you would think that if the
00:27:26.25\00:27:30.67
whole world hears the
truth about God and the
00:27:30.70\00:27:34.53
whole world learns the
Gospel of the Jesus Christ
00:27:34.56\00:27:37.17
and the whole world
is called to obey God and
00:27:37.20\00:27:40.60
not the beast, and the
whole world is called to
00:27:40.63\00:27:43.28
worship the creator
then you think that should be
00:27:43.31\00:27:45.65
the last thing that God
should ever have to say to
00:27:45.68\00:27:47.72
the world that ought to
be enough. You would think
00:27:47.75\00:27:51.92
the power of truth is
enough. Well it is, but it's
00:27:51.95\00:27:59.86
not the last thing
that God has to say because
00:27:59.89\00:28:03.74
remember the beast with
two horns looks like the
00:28:03.77\00:28:07.59
lamb and he claims to
have the truth from God
00:28:07.62\00:28:12.88
and so that makes it
necessary for two more
00:28:13.88\00:28:16.37
angels to follow after
the announcing of the true
00:28:16.40\00:28:20.05
worship of a true God,
the second angel follows and
00:28:20.08\00:28:23.42
says "Fallen, fallen is
Babylon the Great, which
00:28:23.45\00:28:26.32
made all the nations
drink the maddening wine of
00:28:26.35\00:28:28.79
her adulteries." In
other words Babylon forces all
00:28:28.82\00:28:32.17
the nations to be
unfaithful to God.
00:28:32.20\00:28:34.94
Now we are going to
spend about five nights looking
00:28:36.60\00:28:39.62
at the prophecies
about Babylon because they're
00:28:39.65\00:28:42.41
a major part of the Book
of Revelation. Tonight it's
00:28:42.44\00:28:46.38
enough for us to
recognize that if on
00:28:46.41\00:28:48.61
Mount Zion, men
and women worship the
00:28:48.64\00:28:51.42
creator of the heavens
and the earth, then in Mount,
00:28:51.45\00:28:53.92
in Babylon they must be
worshiping someone else,
00:28:53.95\00:28:58.13
because Babylon has
fallen. You see it's not,
00:28:58.16\00:29:01.85
it's no longer sufficient
to merely announce the truth
00:29:01.88\00:29:06.33
God is saying in the
last days I've got a message
00:29:06.36\00:29:10.61
that points out the
errors of Babylon. Now no
00:29:10.64\00:29:15.33
wonder that's
considered politically incorrect
00:29:15.36\00:29:19.65
today. But never the
less God has spoken and he is
00:29:19.68\00:29:25.30
saying it's not
enough to simply announce the
00:29:25.33\00:29:27.17
truth, we need to point
out the errors, then even
00:29:27.20\00:29:33.84
that isn't enough. The
third angel follows and he
00:29:33.87\00:29:38.60
said in a loud
voice, notice God's messages
00:29:38.63\00:29:42.77
always come in a loud
voice. If anyone worships
00:29:42.80\00:29:47.23
the beast and his
image, and receives his mark on
00:29:47.26\00:29:51.74
the forehead or on the
hand, he will also drink
00:29:51.77\00:29:56.59
the wine of God's
fury which has been poured
00:29:56.62\00:30:00.23
full strength into the
cup of his wrath and he will
00:30:00.26\00:30:04.66
be tormented with
burning sulfur in the
00:30:04.69\00:30:07.91
presence of the holy
angels and the lamb and
00:30:07.94\00:30:10.85
the smoke of their
torment rises forever and
00:30:10.88\00:30:13.70
ever. There is no rest,
day or night for those who
00:30:13.73\00:30:19.67
worship the beast and
his image or anyone who
00:30:19.70\00:30:23.03
receives the mark of
his name. No rest, day or
00:30:23.06\00:30:29.21
night, is it a coincidence
that Jesus said, ''come to
00:30:29.24\00:30:36.57
me and I will give you
rest,'' is it a coincidence
00:30:36.60\00:30:42.59
that Jesus said six days
you will labor and do all
00:30:42.62\00:30:46.63
of your work, but the
seventh day is the day of
00:30:46.66\00:30:49.10
rest on it you
won't do any work, is it
00:30:49.13\00:30:52.74
a coincidence that after
this massive assault on those
00:30:52.77\00:30:57.02
massive assault on those
who want to be faithful to
00:30:57.05\00:30:58.39
the law and the
commandments of God,
00:30:58.42\00:31:00.46
that John calls out,
this calls in verse 12, for
00:31:00.49\00:31:05.16
patient endurance on
the part of the saints who
00:31:05.19\00:31:08.88
obey God's commandments
and remain faithful to Jesus.
00:31:08.91\00:31:12.75
And there you see the
cosmic conflict laid out
00:31:15.86\00:31:18.65
before you, the issue
is who will you worship
00:31:18.68\00:31:24.42
or it is easy for us to
say I'll worship the lamb,
00:31:27.43\00:31:32.47
I'll worship God. I don't
care if they point a gun to my
00:31:33.76\00:31:38.12
head, I'll worship
God. Kind of reminds me of
00:31:38.15\00:31:42.16
what Peter said. Not me
Lord, I'll never deny you.
00:31:42.19\00:31:46.86
But most of the world
worships the beast, they
00:31:50.86\00:31:55.28
are deceived by the
miracles, but that isn't all
00:31:55.31\00:31:57.98
he uses his force. He
erects an image in honor
00:31:58.01\00:32:02.36
of the beast and causes
all to worship the image and
00:32:02.39\00:32:05.04
those who refuse will
be put to death. Now I want
00:32:05.07\00:32:09.28
you to see the force
of what's happening and
00:32:09.31\00:32:12.69
how the world is
divided into two groups. Right
00:32:12.72\00:32:17.65
now people can hear
the truth about God and the
00:32:17.68\00:32:21.38
true worship of the
true God and they can say
00:32:21.41\00:32:23.60
Well, you know, let me
think about it a little bit or
00:32:23.63\00:32:28.14
Pastor, I just can't
decide what to do, I can't make
00:32:28.17\00:32:32.34
up my mind. Well,
bless your heart if you can't
00:32:32.37\00:32:36.87
make up your mind
someone else is going to
00:32:36.90\00:32:38.59
make it up for you and
it won't be God because he
00:32:38.62\00:32:40.61
doesn't work by force. I
just can't decide, not at
00:32:40.64\00:32:49.03
this point, the time
is coming when the whole
00:32:49.06\00:32:52.35
world will be forced to
worship the image of the
00:32:52.38\00:32:56.01
beast and we'll
identify that on another night.
00:32:56.04\00:32:58.23
Forced to worship the
image with the threat of
00:32:59.29\00:33:02.55
a death decree. You
see no straddling the fence
00:33:02.58\00:33:06.28
anymore. Who are you
for, are you gonna follow
00:33:06.31\00:33:10.76
the lamb or you
gonna follow the beast, you
00:33:10.79\00:33:12.69
can't say I can't
decide. It'll be a death decree.
00:33:12.72\00:33:17.89
The problem is that
those who do worship the beast
00:33:20.54\00:33:24.46
will also receive the
wine of the wrath of God.
00:33:26.02\00:33:30.64
We may and some will, I
wish, some will lose their
00:33:32.94\00:33:40.09
lives, I wish I could
tell you that everyone who
00:33:40.12\00:33:42.51
follows the lamb will
never die, but no, the
00:33:42.54\00:33:46.47
Bible says some are
gonna lose their lives.
00:33:46.50\00:33:48.51
You'll see it happen, if
you're here on this earth
00:33:51.04\00:33:54.12
at that time. Everyone
present will be brought to
00:33:54.15\00:33:58.46
that point, worship
the lamb or worship the
00:33:58.49\00:34:02.17
beast. If you worship the
beast, you get his mark, if
00:34:02.20\00:34:06.98
you refuse a death
decree. If you get the mark then
00:34:07.01\00:34:10.43
the wine of the wrath
of God. Now, we know that
00:34:10.46\00:34:13.30
men and women are
gonna die. They can take
00:34:13.33\00:34:17.17
our lives here on this
earth, but they can't take
00:34:17.20\00:34:20.56
our lives up
there. Amen. "Amen."
00:34:20.59\00:34:22.63
We may die here, but
we rise again. The Bible's
00:34:22.66\00:34:27.00
clear about that and
we know that by faith. You
00:34:27.03\00:34:30.26
see how important it is
to know God and to trust
00:34:30.29\00:34:32.80
God. And that's how the
world is divided into two
00:34:32.83\00:34:37.97
groups, who can stand
against the beast. I looked
00:34:38.00\00:34:47.88
and there before me
was the lamb standing on
00:34:47.91\00:34:50.77
Mount Zion and with him
the 144,000. Oh! I long to
00:34:50.80\00:34:55.31
be among those who
follow the lamb all the
00:34:55.34\00:34:58.54
way through to the end.
But it won't be easy and
00:34:58.57\00:35:05.36
folks we need to be
preparing ourselves right
00:35:05.39\00:35:08.21
now. Because I
believe that time is rapidly
00:35:08.24\00:35:13.21
approaching and as we
finish this next couple of
00:35:13.24\00:35:16.31
few nights
together you're gonna to be
00:35:16.34\00:35:18.06
stunned at how fast
it's happening. We need to be
00:35:18.09\00:35:21.82
preparing now, how
can we prepare to stand
00:35:21.85\00:35:26.09
against the beast, the
first and foremost is the
00:35:26.12\00:35:29.10
Gospel of Jesus Christ,
that's the first angel's
00:35:29.13\00:35:31.56
message. You need
to have assurance of
00:35:31.59\00:35:33.94
salvation in Jesus
Christ. What's the Gospel, it's
00:35:33.97\00:35:36.65
the good news that
we're saved by grace.
00:35:36.68\00:35:38.86
In Ephesians, chapter 2,
verse 8 and 9, that's one
00:35:38.89\00:35:41.88
of the favorite verses
in the Bible, we are saved
00:35:41.91\00:35:44.32
by grace through faith
and not by works, it is
00:35:44.35\00:35:46.78
gift of God. The Gospel
is the good news, that God
00:35:46.81\00:35:50.44
demands perfect
obedience of the law, we
00:35:50.47\00:35:52.52
can't render that
obedience. Jesus came as
00:35:52.55\00:35:54.68
a human being, he kept
the law perfectly, he died
00:35:54.71\00:35:57.65
on the cross in your
place, he was buried and raised
00:35:57.68\00:36:01.52
again on the third
day ascended to heaven and
00:36:01.55\00:36:04.00
one day soon the Bible
says he is gonna come to
00:36:04.03\00:36:06.46
crush the head of the
serpent. In the meantime,
00:36:06.49\00:36:08.92
if we confess that we
are sinners, if we repent of
00:36:08.95\00:36:11.48
ours sins then God
forgives us and gives us
00:36:11.51\00:36:14.89
the free gift of eternal
life, that's the good news
00:36:14.92\00:36:17.58
of the Gospel. Amen. "Amen."
00:36:17.61\00:36:19.62
And you know many
want to just stop there,
00:36:19.65\00:36:21.56
I say all it means is
that you're forgiven for your
00:36:21.59\00:36:24.28
sins, but the verse
doesn't stop there it says we're
00:36:24.31\00:36:27.05
saved by grace through
faith, it's a gift of God
00:36:27.08\00:36:29.26
not by works so that no
one can boast for we are
00:36:29.29\00:36:33.25
God's workmanship
created in Christ Jesus to
00:36:33.28\00:36:37.07
do good works which
God prepared in advance
00:36:37.10\00:36:40.05
for us to do. The
reason that he saves us, the
00:36:40.08\00:36:43.10
reason he forgives us,
the reason we are born again
00:36:43.13\00:36:45.96
is in order to do the
good works that God wants us
00:36:45.99\00:36:49.30
to do. Yes, he
saves us unmerited and
00:36:49.33\00:36:50.30
undeserved, but he
saved us in order to obey him.
00:36:54.16\00:36:57.53
In fact in Hebrews,
the 8th chapter, in Hebrews
00:36:57.56\00:37:01.60
chapter 8 verse, verse,
lets start with verse 8,
00:37:01.63\00:37:05.56
God found fault with
the people and he said the
00:37:05.59\00:37:10.28
time is coming,
declares the Lord when I'll make
00:37:10.31\00:37:12.53
a new covenant with the
house of Israel, the old
00:37:12.56\00:37:15.32
covenant, there
was nothing wrong with
00:37:15.35\00:37:17.11
God's promise, there
was nothing wrong with God's
00:37:17.14\00:37:18.92
law, the problem was
the people, they kept
00:37:18.95\00:37:21.25
breaking the law, so
now he said I'm gonna make
00:37:21.28\00:37:23.73
a new covenant with the
house of Israel verse 10,
00:37:23.76\00:37:26.20
this is the covenant
that I'll make with the house
00:37:26.23\00:37:29.12
of Israel after that time,
declares the Lord, I'll put
00:37:29.15\00:37:32.04
my law in their minds,
I'll put it on their hearts,
00:37:32.07\00:37:34.94
instead of writing it on
stone he writes it on our
00:37:34.97\00:37:37.50
hearts, instead of writing
it on stone, he writes it on
00:37:37.53\00:37:40.16
our minds. The same law
that was written on stone,
00:37:40.19\00:37:43.47
now he puts in our
minds, in our hearts, that's the
00:37:43.50\00:37:48.44
Gospel. We're saved in
order to be obedient to
00:37:48.47\00:37:52.84
the law of God. Why
it's so important about the
00:37:52.87\00:37:55.41
law of God, because it
defines love for us, all of
00:37:55.44\00:38:02.65
his commandments
including the fourth
00:38:02.68\00:38:05.10
commandment remember
the Sabbath day to keep it
00:38:05.13\00:38:07.90
Holy, so that would be
a great revival of genuine
00:38:07.93\00:38:13.38
Godliness in the last
days. How do we stand against
00:38:13.41\00:38:16.59
the beast, by grace
through faith in Jesus
00:38:16.62\00:38:21.87
Christ. But it means
more than just claiming the
00:38:21.90\00:38:26.04
promise. He wants us to
do God's will. In Titus the
00:38:26.07\00:38:31.30
2nd chapter, the little
book of Titus chapter 2,
00:38:31.33\00:38:33.68
we find another secret to
standing in the last days.
00:38:33.71\00:38:37.13
For the grace of God,
verse 11, I am reading
00:38:39.00\00:38:42.23
now, for the grace of
God that brings salvation has
00:38:42.26\00:38:47.09
appeared to all men. It
teaches us to say "no" to
00:38:47.12\00:38:53.56
ungodliness and
worldly passion, and to live
00:38:53.59\00:38:56.89
self-controlled, upright
Godly lives in this present
00:38:56.92\00:39:00.49
age, while we wait for
the blessed hope, the glorious
00:39:00.52\00:39:03.82
appearing of our
great God and Savior,
00:39:03.85\00:39:05.76
Jesus Christ, who gave
himself up for us, to redeem us
00:39:06.15\00:39:09.97
from all wickedness
and purify for himself
00:39:10.00\00:39:13.92
a people that are eager
to do what is good. In other
00:39:13.95\00:39:20.11
words, the Gospel, the
grace of God teaches us
00:39:20.14\00:39:23.57
to say no to ungodliness.
Now it teaches us to live
00:39:23.60\00:39:28.85
self-controlled upright
lives. Now, while we wait
00:39:28.88\00:39:32.10
for the glorious appearing
of Jesus Christ. So what
00:39:32.13\00:39:36.40
is some of the
ungodliness the Gospel
00:39:36.43\00:39:38.49
teaches us to say no
to. Well, you don't have to
00:39:38.52\00:39:42.64
go very far just
look at the Marquis on the
00:39:42.67\00:39:46.53
neighborhood theater
and see the filth, the
00:39:46.56\00:39:49.54
immorality, the things
that are portrait on the
00:39:49.57\00:39:54.22
movie screens today
as something that are
00:39:54.25\00:39:56.47
beautiful and wholesome
and good. The Bible says
00:39:56.50\00:40:00.12
to flee all immorality,
but many Christians bring it
00:40:00.15\00:40:04.48
into their own homes
feeding themselves on the
00:40:07.73\00:40:08.70
filth and the cesspools
of this world. I believe that
00:40:08.71\00:40:13.43
as Christians, we
should control what we put into
00:40:13.46\00:40:18.13
our minds, in our
brains. Did you know that the
00:40:18.16\00:40:22.89
average young
person watches hundreds of
00:40:22.92\00:40:28.50
thousands of brutal
cold blooded murders before
00:40:28.53\00:40:34.87
he ever goes to
school and we wonder why our
00:40:34.90\00:40:39.19
children don't get
turned on anymore by a man
00:40:39.22\00:40:42.35
dying on the cross.
Bible says we should say no to
00:40:42.38\00:40:57.12
ungodliness and worldly
passions. Movies portray
00:40:57.15\00:41:05.49
drugs, crime, immorality,
homosexuality, adultery
00:41:06.82\00:41:12.15
as something
beautiful and special. And today
00:41:12.97\00:41:19.21
modern music and songs,
songs about drugs, songs
00:41:22.29\00:41:30.25
about cheating on
your wife, songs about
00:41:30.28\00:41:32.54
adultery, songs about
immorality, songs about
00:41:32.57\00:41:35.92
demons, many popular
songwriters even boast
00:41:35.95\00:41:39.22
about getting their
music from demons. And we
00:41:39.25\00:41:43.40
hear the same music
played in church socials
00:41:43.43\00:41:46.87
in Christian homes.
And then you take the same
00:41:46.90\00:41:53.41
music and put it on a
dance floor along with the
00:41:53.44\00:41:59.80
suggestive beat and the
suggestive motions and it
00:41:59.83\00:42:06.40
only breeds one
kind of thought. You know
00:42:06.43\00:42:10.80
Ann Landers wrote
years ago not even writing as
00:42:10.83\00:42:15.82
a Christian author, but
just from a common decent
00:42:15.85\00:42:19.90
person's point of view.
She wrote years ago that
00:42:19.93\00:42:23.82
the modern dance floor
is no place for decent young
00:42:23.85\00:42:28.54
people to be anymore,
she said 90% of young ladies
00:42:28.57\00:42:35.31
who find themselves in
moral difficulty can trace
00:42:35.34\00:42:38.98
the beginning of their
downfall to the dance floor.
00:42:39.01\00:42:42.51
And so I wonder
why should we have to
00:42:44.94\00:42:49.85
read in the
newspaper, what ought to be
00:42:49.88\00:42:53.11
sounding from Christian
pulpits, but why is it that
00:42:53.14\00:42:57.79
so many today seem
tongue-tied, afraid to say
00:42:57.82\00:43:01.85
that you shouldn't
be watching X-rated and
00:43:01.88\00:43:05.61
R-rated and even PG-rated
movies, because they take
00:43:05.64\00:43:09.42
God's name in vain,
they portray immorality, they
00:43:09.45\00:43:12.58
portray violence,
you shouldn't even be
00:43:12.61\00:43:14.57
watching it in your
own homes. Why is it that
00:43:14.60\00:43:18.20
people seem afraid
to standup and say no to
00:43:18.23\00:43:22.13
ungodliness and
worldly passion. People have
00:43:22.16\00:43:29.03
asked me sometime, well,
Pastor, if you don't go to
00:43:29.06\00:43:32.18
dirty movies and you
don't go to nightclubs and
00:43:32.21\00:43:34.73
lounges and listen to
hard rock music, what you do
00:43:34.76\00:43:39.86
to have fun? You know,
it's interesting, I used to
00:43:39.89\00:43:44.61
ask the same
question, before I became
00:43:44.64\00:43:47.48
a Christian, I would ask
the same question, how do
00:43:47.51\00:43:49.27
you, how do you
Christians ever have fun?
00:43:49.30\00:43:51.61
What do you do? You
know since I've become
00:43:51.64\00:43:54.76
a Christian, the question
to me now has never been
00:43:54.79\00:43:58.47
what do you do to have
fun, because you see they
00:43:58.99\00:44:01.99
don't understand when
you become a Christian,
00:44:02.02\00:44:04.10
God changes the heart,
doesn't he. I found out the
00:44:04.13\00:44:07.65
things that I used to
really enjoy, I don't care about
00:44:07.68\00:44:10.26
anymore and the things
I never care about before
00:44:10.29\00:44:12.80
I find myself
enjoying and wanting to do. God
00:44:12.83\00:44:15.36
changes us. The
question is never what you do to
00:44:15.39\00:44:18.04
have fun, the
question now is how do you find
00:44:18.07\00:44:20.51
time to do everything
that you want to do, Amen.
00:44:20.54\00:44:22.89
You see, we need
to understand when you
00:44:24.52\00:44:26.96
come to Christ, he
changes us and he puts
00:44:26.99\00:44:30.64
within us a desire to
say no to ungodliness and
00:44:30.67\00:44:35.55
worldly passion, even
now while we wait for the
00:44:35.58\00:44:37.92
blessed hope, the
return of our Lord and Savior
00:44:37.95\00:44:40.88
Jesus Christ. Well, there's
a little more that I could
00:44:40.91\00:44:44.72
say about preparation
for the last days. Do you
00:44:44.75\00:44:51.52
want me to tell you?
Well I need a little bit
00:44:51.55\00:44:57.03
more reassurance
than that. If you want to
00:44:57.06\00:44:59.76
hear more raise your
hand, nod your head say Amen or
00:44:59.79\00:45:02.94
something. "Amen."
That's not enough, I need
00:45:02.97\00:45:06.11
to see a few more hands. "Amen."
00:45:06.14\00:45:08.50
Remember now, you
asked for it, right?
00:45:08.53\00:45:11.58
We should not be
afraid of knowing the truth,
00:45:13.19\00:45:17.93
Amen. God will never
take anything away from us
00:45:17.96\00:45:22.77
that we wouldn't
readily give up ourselves, if we
00:45:24.61\00:45:28.08
knew what he knew,
and we can trust God.
00:45:28.11\00:45:31.65
Bible even tells us in
First Corinthians chapter 3
00:45:32.91\00:45:36.04
verse 16, don't you
know that you yourselves are
00:45:36.07\00:45:38.60
God's temple, that
God's spirit lives in you? If
00:45:38.63\00:45:42.78
anyone destroys God's
temple, God will destroy
00:45:42.81\00:45:46.75
him, for God's temple
is sacred and you are that
00:45:46.78\00:45:50.28
temple. In other words
if anybody destroys your
00:45:50.31\00:45:54.03
body then the Bible
says God will destroy him,
00:45:54.06\00:45:58.82
because your body is
a temple of God we've
00:45:59.17\00:46:00.98
already learned that
didn't we. And the Holy Spirit
00:46:01.01\00:46:03.49
wants to live in you.
Look at chapter 6, verse, let's
00:46:03.52\00:46:07.05
look at verse 20, you
are not your own, you are
00:46:07.08\00:46:10.40
bought at a price,
therefore honor God with
00:46:10.43\00:46:12.46
your body. One lady
told me one time, well my
00:46:12.49\00:46:14.91
body isn't anything,
it's just a sack that holds my
00:46:14.94\00:46:18.30
soul. God doesn't
care what happens to my
00:46:18.33\00:46:20.77
body, I said where did
you read that? Your body
00:46:20.80\00:46:24.67
is not even your own,
it was bought with the
00:46:24.70\00:46:27.00
price, the blood of
Jesus. God created the body and
00:46:27.03\00:46:30.65
he breathe into the body
the breath of life and it
00:46:30.68\00:46:33.04
became a living being
and God said it was very good
00:46:33.07\00:46:36.80
and he wants us to
take care of our bodies
00:46:38.99\00:46:41.23
because the Holy Spirit
lives in us and then again
00:46:41.26\00:46:45.09
in chapter 10, three
times in the same letter he
00:46:45.12\00:46:48.26
warns us, you think he is
trying to make a point, so
00:46:48.29\00:46:50.80
whatever you eat, verse
31, whatever you drink or
00:46:50.83\00:46:53.61
whatever you do, do it
all to the glory of God.
00:46:53.64\00:46:56.07
God is interested in how
we care for our bodies, he is
00:46:57.44\00:47:00.50
interested in the way
we take care of ourselves.
00:47:00.53\00:47:02.62
He lives in us that means
that he doesn't want to be
00:47:02.65\00:47:06.72
breathing all that
smoke that we pour into our
00:47:06.75\00:47:09.38
lungs, because
smoking causes lung cancer and
00:47:09.41\00:47:15.94
God has something
better in store for you. Than
00:47:15.97\00:47:20.74
lying in a hospital bed
with tubes coming out of
00:47:20.77\00:47:23.38
your chest, gasping
for every breath. God has
00:47:23.41\00:47:27.53
something better for us,
he wants our brains to be
00:47:27.56\00:47:32.09
alert and clear, alcohol
clogs the brain and makes
00:47:32.12\00:47:38.58
it difficult to understand
the wishes and the will of
00:47:38.61\00:47:42.48
God. Drugs do the same,
even worse. As Christians
00:47:42.51\00:47:48.66
we should be health
conscious, we should take
00:47:48.69\00:47:51.24
care of our bodies. I
see worldly people before we
00:47:51.27\00:47:54.85
were on the road, my
wife and I would go to a gym
00:47:54.88\00:47:57.24
that we belong to and
we would see worldly people
00:47:57.27\00:48:00.06
working out with
weights and jogging and running,
00:48:00.09\00:48:02.88
taking care, beating
their bodies into submission,
00:48:02.91\00:48:05.79
Christians ought to be
at the front of the pack,
00:48:05.82\00:48:08.26
Amen. Because your body is
the temple of the Holy Spirit,
00:48:08.29\00:48:11.84
honor God with your
body. And then there is
00:48:11.87\00:48:18.92
a little more about the
body that God is interested in.
00:48:18.95\00:48:22.32
Now, let's take a look
at First Timothy, First
00:48:24.91\00:48:28.57
Timothy chapter 2
verse 9, I also want women to
00:48:28.60\00:48:33.47
dress modestly now
I think that if he was
00:48:33.50\00:48:36.08
writing today he
would say men too.
00:48:36.11\00:48:38.34
Dress modestly, men
too, now it seems like men
00:48:38.37\00:48:45.44
want to run around
with their pants down so low
00:48:45.47\00:48:48.79
their underwear is
hanging out and God says
00:48:48.82\00:48:52.23
dress modestly. He
doesn't want us to look
00:48:52.26\00:48:55.57
like that. Women,
dress modestly and decently,
00:48:55.60\00:48:58.49
that means none of these
long-slits to come all the
00:48:58.52\00:49:01.61
way up to here and
plunging neck lines that
00:49:01.64\00:49:03.86
go down to there. Dress
modestly, so that men can
00:49:03.89\00:49:08.32
look at you and think
about God and not other
00:49:08.35\00:49:11.59
things. He makes us
responsible for the way
00:49:11.62\00:49:15.41
we dress, dress decently,
the Bible says, and then
00:49:15.44\00:49:20.55
he goes on though not
with braided hair, gold or
00:49:20.58\00:49:24.13
pearls or expensive
clothes, but with good
00:49:24.16\00:49:26.44
deeds appropriate
for women who profess to
00:49:26.47\00:49:29.94
worship God. You see
that's what it's all about,
00:49:29.97\00:49:33.80
we need to dress like
men and women who worship
00:49:34.46\00:49:38.04
God, the creator, not
the creature. So, God is
00:49:38.07\00:49:46.52
interested in what we
eat, he is interested in even
00:49:46.55\00:49:51.92
what we wear, he is
interested in what we
00:49:51.95\00:49:56.12
watch, what we do, how
we entertain ourselves,
00:49:56.15\00:50:00.66
what we put into our
brains? God is interested
00:50:00.69\00:50:04.97
in everything about
us, why? Because he wants
00:50:05.00\00:50:08.20
to take away everything
that's fun. No, because he
00:50:08.23\00:50:11.30
wants you to stand
against the beast. Well,
00:50:11.33\00:50:19.80
Preacher, one lady told
me, I really been enjoying
00:50:19.83\00:50:24.30
Revelation Now up until
now. But tonight you just
00:50:24.33\00:50:31.86
quit preaching and
you're gone to meddling.
00:50:31.89\00:50:33.62
Sometimes people don't
like what I've said here
00:50:36.09\00:50:40.51
tonight. When the
Gospel touches our heart and
00:50:40.54\00:50:44.99
changes our lives,
people sometimes don't like it.
00:50:45.02\00:50:48.44
Here the Bible talks
about that too. Paul mentions
00:50:50.79\00:50:54.25
those who gather
around them preachers who
00:50:54.28\00:50:57.33
preach what the
itching ear wants to hear. And
00:50:57.36\00:51:02.39
they don't want
sound doctrine. Well I feel
00:51:02.42\00:51:05.77
pretty safe because I
know that you are here
00:51:05.80\00:51:08.26
because you want to
know the truth, Amen.
00:51:08.29\00:51:10.40
And I would rather
preach the truth and have
00:51:11.96\00:51:14.00
somebody stop coming
then to not preach the
00:51:14.03\00:51:17.48
truth, and have to
meet him in the judgment day
00:51:17.51\00:51:20.39
and answer the question,
Pastor, why didn't you tell
00:51:20.42\00:51:23.20
me? We're here
because we want to know the
00:51:23.23\00:51:28.26
truth. Jesus said,
you know the truth and the
00:51:28.29\00:51:30.09
truth will set you
free. You see the time is
00:51:30.12\00:51:34.00
coming when the truth
is going to look like error
00:51:34.03\00:51:40.15
and error looks like
the truth. The false prophet
00:51:42.28\00:51:48.69
works miracles. The
false prophet can confuse the
00:51:48.72\00:51:52.74
brain into thinking
that right is wrong and wrong
00:51:52.77\00:51:55.73
is right. He's been doing
it for 6000 years and he is
00:51:55.76\00:52:00.53
getting pretty good at
it. That's why we need to
00:52:00.56\00:52:05.52
have our minds clear. My
wife just found an article
00:52:05.55\00:52:10.01
in the Seattle
Newspaper that I thought was
00:52:10.04\00:52:14.39
appropriate for what
we are looking at tonight.
00:52:14.42\00:52:16.20
A group of Dutch scientists
discovered that just one
00:52:17.04\00:52:20.32
drink impairs
reasoning. Listen to this even
00:52:20.35\00:52:25.24
a single drink of
alcohol is enough to impair
00:52:25.27\00:52:27.49
someone's ability to
reason quickly and detect
00:52:27.52\00:52:30.18
errors. According to
this study, changes in brain
00:52:30.21\00:52:34.91
action were quickly
detected even after one
00:52:34.94\00:52:37.59
single drink.
Leading researchers have
00:52:37.62\00:52:40.65
concluded that alcohol
even in modest doses was
00:52:40.68\00:52:44.45
enough to erode the
mind's ability to detect
00:52:44.48\00:52:47.34
and correct errors.
One drink, folks the
00:52:47.37\00:52:51.99
counterfeit is gonna
seem so close to the real.
00:52:52.02\00:52:54.99
The power of the miracle
is going to be so overwhelming
00:52:55.02\00:52:58.26
The threat against life
is going to be so powerful.
00:52:58.29\00:53:01.74
That everything inside
of you is going to be saying
00:53:01.77\00:53:05.00
that it must be true,
but the word of God is saying
00:53:05.03\00:53:08.55
that it's false and I
don't want one drop of
00:53:08.58\00:53:11.34
anything in my mind
or on my body that will
00:53:11.37\00:53:14.14
impair my ability to
hear that still small voice of
00:53:14.17\00:53:17.58
God saying "this is the
way, walk in it," that's
00:53:17.61\00:53:22.32
why God says, not
because he doesn't want
00:53:22.35\00:53:25.27
you to have fun. He wants
you to be in that city and
00:53:25.30\00:53:29.61
that's when we'll
have fun, Amen. You know
00:53:29.64\00:53:32.71
some people get it
all backwards though and
00:53:32.74\00:53:35.91
they think that they
are better than other
00:53:35.94\00:53:39.25
Christians because
they watch what they put in
00:53:39.28\00:53:41.54
their bodies and they
watch what they wear and
00:53:41.57\00:53:43.16
they don't watch
television and they don't
00:53:43.19\00:53:45.25
go here or go there or
do this or do that and they
00:53:45.28\00:53:48.62
think they're so
much better than other
00:53:48.65\00:53:50.41
Christians. The
Bible doesn't say that.
00:53:50.44\00:53:53.27
Bible says that we are
all wretched in the eyes of
00:53:54.60\00:53:56.71
God and our righteousness
is the righteousness of Christ
00:53:56.74\00:54:00.44
himself. There's not a
righteous one among you.
00:54:00.47\00:54:04.35
These things don't make
us better. They prepare us
00:54:05.26\00:54:09.30
to determine the
deceptions of the enemy,
00:54:09.33\00:54:12.59
but they don't make
us better. And there are
00:54:12.99\00:54:17.53
others who take the
opposite extreme, it
00:54:17.56\00:54:19.63
doesn't matter become a
Christian, Oh! It's a big
00:54:19.66\00:54:21.82
party, Hallelujah,
Praise the Lord and I'm saved
00:54:21.85\00:54:23.76
and I can do whatever
I want to do because I'm
00:54:23.79\00:54:25.82
saved by the blood of
the Lamb, that isn't what the
00:54:25.85\00:54:28.00
Bible teaches either.
You were saved by grace
00:54:28.03\00:54:30.53
through faith in order
to do the good works of
00:54:30.56\00:54:33.14
God. You know I think
that if you just focused on
00:54:33.17\00:54:40.19
Christ everything comes
into focus. We just keep
00:54:40.22\00:54:46.52
our eyes on him. A
man was on his way home
00:54:46.55\00:54:52.72
from work one Friday
and it had been a rough week
00:54:52.75\00:54:56.70
and he was tired and all
he wanted to do is just get
00:54:56.73\00:54:59.27
home, take his shoes off,
put his feet up on the fire
00:54:59.30\00:55:01.28
place, read the newspaper
and relax, but he had two
00:55:01.31\00:55:03.74
small children, and
he knew that would be
00:55:03.77\00:55:06.32
impossible. Sure
enough, so he started thinking
00:55:06.35\00:55:09.33
about it and on his
way home he stopped at his
00:55:09.36\00:55:12.14
little store and he bought
a present for them, and it
00:55:12.17\00:55:17.27
was a puzzle, a map
of the United States, he
00:55:17.30\00:55:19.07
made sure that the age of
that puzzle was older than
00:55:19.10\00:55:20.94
his children. So, he
got home and sure enough the
00:55:20.97\00:55:25.79
kids come running up
to the door, "Daddy, Daddy
00:55:25.82\00:55:27.67
lets play, lets
play." Okay, Hey good, look,
00:55:27.70\00:55:30.68
kids I got a present
for you. Oh! Good Daddy
00:55:30.71\00:55:32.73
what is in it? Gives
them this puzzle, and he says
00:55:32.76\00:55:34.76
now look, you run
upstairs and you put this
00:55:34.79\00:55:36.72
puzzle together,
when you get finished come
00:55:36.75\00:55:38.11
call me. So feeling
smug, he settles in his easy
00:55:38.14\00:55:41.32
chair, puts his feet
up, shoes off, reading the
00:55:41.35\00:55:43.64
newspaper in front of
fire place and just a few
00:55:43.67\00:55:46.36
minutes later, he
hears them running down the
00:55:46.39\00:55:49.05
steps; "Daddy, Daddy
we're finished, we're
00:55:49.08\00:55:50.46
finished." Feeling
sabotaged he said who
00:55:50.49\00:55:54.61
helped you, your mother.
No, no, no, we did it all
00:55:54.64\00:55:58.01
by ourselves, how do you
do it? Well, we started to
00:55:58.04\00:56:02.93
put that map together
and we don't know where
00:56:05.27\00:56:06.24
those states go. It was
too hard for us. Though one
00:56:06.25\00:56:10.70
of those pieces
accidentally flipped over
00:56:10.73\00:56:12.98
and on the back was a
ear and so we turn the other
00:56:13.01\00:56:19.99
ones over and they all
had different parts of a man's
00:56:20.02\00:56:22.56
face. We know how the
face looks, so we put the
00:56:22.59\00:56:25.83
face together and
turned it over and it was done.
00:56:25.86\00:56:28.13
You see sometimes we get
I think a little too worried
00:56:31.58\00:56:35.22
about the different
pieces, what we eat and what we
00:56:35.25\00:56:41.04
wear, what we drink
and what we do and go?
00:56:41.07\00:56:43.73
If you just fix your sights
on the lamb and follow him
00:56:45.21\00:56:51.97
then all of those
pieces will come together. Just
00:56:53.46\00:57:00.79
turn your eyes upon
Jesus, look full in his
00:57:02.38\00:57:08.59
wonderful face and the
things of earth will grow
00:57:08.62\00:57:13.37
strangely dim in the
light of his glory and grace.
00:57:13.40\00:57:21.09
Just follow the lamb.
00:57:22.56\00:57:24.10