Participants: Pr. Jac Colon
Series Code: RN
Program Code: RN000020
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01:03 Elijah, the return of Elijah and the fall of Babylon.
01:09 Let's pray together before we begin. 01:16 Dear Lord we just once again 01:18 pause for a moment, about to open your word 01:25 and anxiously seeking your truth, 01:28 for these last days that we know we are living in. 01:34 But tonight Lord I again plead for 01:36 for a special outpouring of your Holy Spirit, 01:41 that you'll enable me to be clear. 01:44 The message be understood and yet to speak it in love 01:51 because all we want to do is to follow the lamb. 01:54 So we thank you and we praise you in Jesus name, Amen. 02:04 Elijah, what a man, he entered the Bible story 02:12 in one giant stride and left in a flaming chariot. 02:17 Elijah, what a name, it means the Lord is my God 02:26 and what an appropriate name it was. 02:30 Because the Elijah lived at a time 02:33 when Israel was at a low point 02:36 in her relationship with God. 02:39 The spineless vacillating King Ahab 02:42 had married a wicked Phoenician princess Jezebel 02:46 and Jezebel somehow managed to deceive God's people 02:51 into mixing the worship of her God Baal 02:55 together with the worship of the Lord. 02:58 And so we find the people of God worshiping Baal 03:03 and the Lord at the same time 03:05 and that has always and forever been 03:08 the method that the old devil uses. 03:10 He takes a lot of truth and sprinkles in a little error 03:16 and manages to corrupt and distraught 03:20 the true worship of God. 03:22 Elijah did the only thing that a man of God 03:24 can do in a time like that, 03:27 he prayed and God gave him a message. 03:31 So picture in your mind, 03:33 in First Kings chapter 17 verse 1, 03:37 Elijah dressed in his camel haired robe, 03:44 marching past the temple guards 03:47 into the king's chamber appearing before 03:50 before the king saying in verse 1, 03:53 as the Lord God of Israel lives, 03:56 whom I serve, there will be neither dew 03:59 nor rain in the land in the next few years 04:02 except at word and just as mysteriously 04:05 as Elijah had appeared, he disappeared, 04:07 leaving the king and his men scratching their heads, 04:11 wondering what was that. 04:15 Who did he think he was and did you notice that funny 04:18 looking camel haired robe he was wearing, 04:21 that went out in the 50s. 04:24 How can he lockup the keys, how can he lockup the heaven, 04:29 so that there will be no rain, no dew in the land. 04:32 But those weeks passed into months, 04:35 the months into years 04:38 and after three years there were still 04:41 not a drop of rain in the land. 04:43 The crop had failed, 04:44 the cattle dying, people dying, 04:46 people leaving by the droves, 04:49 until finally Elijah summoned 04:54 King Ahab for a meeting 04:57 and you can read about it, 04:58 it's in First Kings chapter 18, 05:00 Ahab verse 16 went to meet Elijah, 05:04 in verse 17 when he saw Elijah he said to him, 05:07 you're the one, you troubler of Israel? 05:10 Now imagine Ahab in his finest chariot 05:14 with his shiniest white horses 05:16 trying to maintain his kingly composure, 05:19 he sees Elijah and immediately points his fingers saying, 05:23 you're the one, you troubler of Israel, 05:25 notice that those who do right 05:30 right are always blamed for the problems. 05:34 But Elijah was not one to be intimated, 05:37 not even by the king himself 05:40 immediately seizing control, Elijah said in verse18, 05:44 no I've not made trouble for Israel, 05:46 but you and your father's family have, 05:49 you've abandoned the Lord's commands 05:51 and followed the Baals, 05:53 now summon the people from all over Israel 05:56 to meet me on Mount Carmel 05:58 and bring the 450 prophets of Baal. 06:01 Go head and bring the 400 prophets of Asherah 06:03 who eat at Jezebel's table, 06:06 what else could he do. 06:07 He had no choice, so he accepted the challenge 06:09 and the day arrived on Mount Carmel. 06:14 It was King Ahab, all of his guards 06:18 dressed in their finest robes 06:21 and then there were the 450 false prophets of Baal. 06:26 The 400 false prophets of Asherah, 06:29 850 false prophets, 850 of the most powerful, 06:36 most respected, religious leaders in the land 06:39 and the king himself on one side with all 06:43 of the people of Israel and on the other side 06:46 was one man of God dressed in his funny looking 06:50 camel haired robe. 06:56 Which side would you've been on if you were that day, 07:01 would you've stood with the Elijah, 07:06 the one man of God or would you've gone along 07:10 with the crowd, 07:14 where would you have been. 07:16 Well I like the thing that each one of us here 07:20 would be standing with Elijah, 07:23 that's why you're here 07:24 because you want to know the truth 07:25 and you're committed to know the truth. 07:28 The Elijah stood for the truth, 07:30 I think you would be standing with Elijah, 07:32 but what I want you know is 07:35 that it would not have been easy, 07:39 it's never easy to go against the crowd, 07:43 it's never easy to stand alone for God, 07:47 it wouldn't have been easy. 07:51 So Elijah preaches shortest sermon in the Bible 07:56 and probably, at least I think 07:58 one of the most powerful sermons. 08:01 He stands there before those 850 false prophets 08:03 and all the people of Israel and he says in verse 21 08:07 how long will you waiver between two opinions, 08:12 if the Lord is God then follow him, 08:16 but if Baal is God then follow him. Amen. 08:20 Sermon over. 08:22 What a Sermon? 08:26 If the Lord is God then follow God, 08:31 if Baal is God then follow Baal, 08:35 but stop claiming to worship God 08:38 while you're going after Baal, 08:41 how long will you waiver between two opinions, 08:44 how long will you claim to serve God, 08:47 while you mixing the worship of God 08:49 with the traditions of man. 08:51 How long will you waiver between two opinions. 08:54 If the Lord is God then follow him, 08:56 if Baal is God then follow Baal, 08:58 but quit claiming to follow God, 09:00 while you're going after Baal. 09:05 What a Sermon. 09:07 And then he proposed the test, 09:10 he said look you build an altar to Baal 09:13 and I build an altar to God, 09:14 you pray to Baal that he'll send fire 09:18 to consume the offering, I'll pray to God 09:19 that he sends fire to consume the offering 09:21 they said fair enough because Baal 09:23 was supposed to be a God of fire 09:26 and that he was also supposed to be 09:27 the God of rain, hadn't been unable to do 09:30 anything about that for 3-1/2 years, 09:32 let's see what he can do with the fire, 09:34 so they build their altar, 09:35 they put the offering on it and then he began to pray, 09:38 Oh Baal, Oh Baal send the fire, send the fire 09:42 and they prayed on and on and on 09:45 screaming into the heavens, 09:46 Oh Baal. Finally, Elijah stood up, 09:49 the Bible says Elijah stood up and he taunted them, 09:53 well, may be he is taking a trip, cry a little louder, 09:55 may be he's taking a nap, wake him up, 09:57 maybe he stepped out back for a moment, 09:59 just cry out a little louder 10:02 and then after a while it was obvious that Baal 10:04 wasn't gonna answer. 10:07 So Elijah said that's enough, 10:09 prepare the old broken down altar to the Lord, 10:12 put an offering on it 10:16 and the Bible says that he had them douse 10:19 that offering with water, 10:20 they went down to the sea filled the big jars 10:23 with water and dumped it on that altar, 10:26 it was standing in a ditch, 10:27 a trench around the altar just to be sure, 10:29 no one could ever say that there was a hidden spark 10:32 in the wood. 10:34 and then at the time of the evening sacrifice 10:38 Elijah stepped forward to pray, in verse 36, 10:42 he said, Oh! Lord God of Abraham, 10:45 Isaac and Israel, let it be known today 10:49 that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant 10:54 and I've done all of these things at your command, 10:56 answer me Oh Lord, answer me, 10:59 so that these people will know that 11:01 that you Oh! Lord are God and that your 11:04 turning their hearts back again 11:05 and they heard a loud roar, they looked up and saw 11:08 a big ball of fire came down from heaven 11:11 and it burned the offering, 11:12 it burned the altar, it burned the water 11:15 and the trench around it 11:17 and the people fell to the ground across straight, 11:19 they cried out. The Lord he is God, 11:22 the Lord he is God and there was a mighty revival 11:28 in Israel led by Elijah, 11:32 the man of God. 11:33 Elijah the man who restored the true worship 11:37 of the true God in the face of 850 false prophets, 11:41 in the face of the king himself, 11:44 he was willing to stand alone for God, Elijah. 11:52 And Elijah commanded them seize the prophets of Baal, 11:55 don't let anyone get away, they seized them 11:58 and Elijah had them brought to the Kishon Valley 12:01 and slaughtered there. 12:04 What we see here is an intense spiritual battle, 12:10 a clash between the true worship of the true God 12:14 and the false worship of a false God, 12:16 and a climax is in sudden divine glory 12:19 and the destruction of the false prophets. 12:23 Just a little glimpse of the future in the end time. 12:30 Elijah stuck his cloak under his belt, 12:35 and the Bible says, after he prayed for rain 12:38 and the clouds came on, 12:39 and he ran ahead of King Ahab all the way to Jezreel. 12:44 Elijah was the forerunner to the king 12:50 and the amazing thing is that the prophesy tells us 12:54 that again two times in the future Elijah will return 12:59 and this time both times he will be the forerunner 13:02 to a greater king then Ahab, 13:04 he would be forerunner to king Jesus. 13:08 I want to read that prophesy it's in Malachi, 13:10 in Malachi chapter 4, 13:12 this is the last chapter of the last book 13:15 in the Old Testament before Jesus would come. 13:19 The last book in the Old Testament, 13:21 in Malachi chapter 4 verse 4, 13:25 remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees 13:29 and laws that I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. 13:32 Behold I will send you the prophet Elijah 13:36 before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 13:43 So Malachi says that two times again 13:46 in the future Elijah will come, 13:50 but I want you to notice something else. 13:52 First in verse 4, he said remember the law 13:57 of my servant Moses, the decrees and the laws 14:01 I gave him at Horeb for all Israel, 14:02 the return of Elijah presupposes a falling 14:07 away from the law of God and Elijah is a restorer, 14:11 restoration of the Law of God, 14:14 before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 14:19 In others words the prophet is looking ahead 14:21 to the time, when everyone practically on earth 14:23 will be saying wow! 14:24 The law has been done away 14:25 with that's old covenant, that's for the Jews, 14:28 Ten Commandments, don't bother. 14:29 God will raise up another Elijah saying 14:33 remember the law of my servant Moses 14:37 that I gave him at Horeb, 14:39 in another words the return of Elijah is the restoration 14:41 of the law of God in the last days, 14:43 two times again in the future it says, 14:46 you say well I don't see two times there, 14:50 he says one time before the great and dreadful day 14:53 of the Lord comes. 14:56 Well, then let's ask, the best interpreter 15:02 of the Old Testament prophesies, 15:05 let's ask the best interpreter, 15:07 who is the best interpreter. 15:09 I want you listen carefully to 15:10 what I am saying right now, 15:12 don't miss a thing. 15:13 Because this is crucial for us, 15:15 who is the best interpreter 15:17 of the Old Testament prophesy. 15:20 Jesus, can you trust him? 15:21 If we can't trust him, who can we trust. 15:23 So lets ask Jesus what about Elijah, 15:26 what about that. 15:27 In Mathew chapter 17, 15:29 the disciples asked him that very question, 15:31 they said in verse 10, 15:32 the disciple asked him why does it teach us 15:34 a law saying Elijah must come first. 15:37 Jesus replied to be sure, 15:40 Elijah comes and he will restore all things. 15:44 Now that's future isn't it, 15:47 Elijah will come and Elijah will restore all things. 15:54 But Jesus said I tell you, Elijah has already come. 16:04 They didn't recognize him, 16:05 they did to him whatever they wished 16:07 and in the same way the son of man 16:09 is gonna suffer in their hands. 16:11 Verse 13, then the disciples understood 16:13 he was talking to them about John the Baptist, 16:18 now notice Elijah will come in future 16:23 and he will restore all things in future, 16:26 but I tell you Elijah has already come, 16:29 past and it was John the Baptist, 16:33 so you see Jesus is saying 16:35 they will be a two full fulfillment 16:37 of the Elijah prophesy. 16:39 Jesus comes two times, one as a baby in a manger 16:42 and the second time when the clouds of glory 16:44 and both times there will be Elijah to prepare the way 16:49 for the king just as surely as he was forerunner 16:52 to the King Ahab, 16:53 he will be forerunner to Jesus Christ both times. 16:57 It wasn't necessary to raise up the man Elijah, 17:01 the prophet Elijah. 17:04 It wasn't necessary to reincarnate Elijah, 17:09 but in John, in the Gospel of Luke, 17:13 in the Gospel of Luke the 3rd chapter, 17:16 he says that Elijah in verse 3 went through out all, 17:19 John the Baptist, in verse 3 went through out all 17:21 country around the Jordan preaching of baptism 17:23 of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 17:26 as it is written in the book of the words 17:28 of Isaiah the prophet, a voice of one calling out 17:32 in the wilderness makes straight the way of the Lord, 17:35 makes straight pass for him, every valley will be 17:38 filled in, every mountain and hill made low, 17:41 the crooked roads will become straight, 17:42 it wasn't necessary to bring the man Elijah, 17:45 but it was the message of Elijah with the spirit 17:48 and the power of Elijah that God brings 17:51 back through John the Baptist, 17:53 and again before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 17:58 What did John have to say to the crowds, 18:00 in verse 7, John said to the crowds coming out 18:03 to be baptized by him, you brood of vipers, 18:07 you bunch of rattlesnakes, he said. 18:11 Wow! how was that for 18:14 winning friends and influencing people, 18:16 you brood of vipers, 18:18 who warned you to flee from the coming wrath. 18:21 You see, they only wanted to be baptized 18:23 to escape burning in hell, 18:24 not out of the burning love for God, 18:26 not out of the desire to do what is right, 18:28 they just didn't want to burn in hell. 18:29 Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath, 18:33 produce fruit in keeping with repentance 18:36 and do not begin to say to yourselves, 18:38 we have Abraham as our father, 18:40 I'll tell you out of these stones God 18:42 can raise up children of Abraham. 18:44 So many times people come to me 18:45 and they say you know Pastor Jac, 18:47 I understand what you saying, 18:48 I want to be baptized, 18:50 but I don't wanna to give up the work that I'm doing, 18:53 I don't think that I need to keep the Sabbath 18:56 because my church doesn't 18:57 or I don't need to be baptized by immersion 18:59 because my church just sprinkles 19:01 or I don't need to worry 19:02 about stopping smoking cigarettes 19:04 because my pastor does and a little beer once 19:06 in a while doesn't matter, 19:09 because my church says it's okay. 19:13 God can raise up church members out of stone, 19:17 nobody is gonna be saved because they follow a church. 19:23 Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, 19:25 Catholic even Seventh-Day Adventist, 19:28 we're saved because we follow the Lamb. 19:33 They were relying on their tradition, 19:35 they were relying on their heritage, 19:36 but they weren't following the lamb. 19:38 The lamb kept going places that they didn't want to go 19:41 and the same thing happens today 19:44 the lamb goes places where many don't want to go. 19:49 So what did he say in verse 10, 19:52 what should we do then the crowd asked, 19:54 John answered in verse 11 share, 19:56 says the man with two tunics should share, 19:59 thou shalt not covet. 20:00 Verse 13, don't collect anymore than 20:02 you're required to. 20:03 Verse 14, don't extort money, thou shalt not steal, 20:07 don't accuse people falsely, thou shalt not lie, 20:10 be contempt with your pay, 20:12 thou shalt not covet, 20:13 even when after the King Herod perhaps committing 20:16 adultery with his brother's wife. 20:19 In other words, remember the law of my servant Moses, 20:23 John the Baptist restored the law of God. 20:28 And Elijah comes again before Jesus comes the second time, 20:34 where can we find Elijah. 20:36 Who is Elijah? 20:37 We better understand that because already 20:40 men have come claiming to be Elijah. 20:45 So where can we find Elijah? 20:47 We already know that we don't need to look for 20:49 the man, we look for the message of Elijah given in 20:52 the spirit and the power of Elijah. 20:56 Where does the Bible talk about of the return of Elijah? 20:59 The message of Elijah given 21:00 in the spirit and power of Elijah before Jesus comes 21:03 the second time, you should know the answer 21:05 to that question now, 21:06 you should know the answer. 21:08 It's in Revelation chapter 14 verse 6, 21:12 and then I saw another angel flying in the mid-air, 21:14 he had the everlasting Gospel to proclaim 21:16 to those who live on the earth to every nation, tribe, 21:19 language and people and he said in a loud voice, 21:21 fear God and give him glory because 21:24 the hour of his judgment has come, 21:26 in another words this is the message that church 21:28 has for the last days, it's the Elijah message, 21:31 it goes to every tribe, every language, 21:33 every person on earth will hear the everlasting Gospel 21:36 of Jesus, every living soul on this earth will be called 21:39 to the recognition of the judgment hour. 21:42 The hour of God judgment has begun 21:44 nd the standard of the judgment is the law of God. 21:47 Remember the law of my servant Moses, don't let 21:50 anyone tell you that the law has been abolished, 21:53 that the law has been done away with, 21:55 that it doesn't apply to Christians today. 21:57 God has an Elijah for the last days 21:59 and Elijah restores the law of Moses 22:02 that has been brushed aside for so many years. 22:04 He is calling the world to be obedient to God, 22:07 but not only that he says worship God 22:09 who made the heavens and the earth. 22:11 In other words, the Elijah message restores the 22:13 true worship of the true God. 22:15 When so many people are mixing the traditions 22:17 of man with the worship of God. 22:19 If our Lord is God then follow him, 22:21 If Baal is God then follow him. 22:24 But stop claiming to follow God while you're going after 22:27 the traditions of the beast. 22:30 God has an Elijah message for the last days 22:34 and you have been hearing it. 22:35 I am not Elijah, God doesn't need a man Elijah, 22:38 he needs is the message of Elijah 22:40 in the spirit and the power of Elijah. 22:45 And then the second angel says Babylon has fallen. 22:52 Babylon has fallen, 22:56 she made the nations drink the maddening wine 22:58 of her adulteries. 23:03 You know, this is the first time that Babylon 23:06 is mentioned in the Book of Revelation. 23:10 So John assumes that the people are going to 23:13 understand what he means when he says Babylon 23:15 has fallen. 23:17 Well, how could they possibly understand it. 23:22 You know, the Book of Revelation quotes 23:23 the Old Testament how many times? 23:25 Over 600 times and here is one of those places, 23:29 the only way to understand the fall of Babylon 23:31 here in the Book of Revelation is to 23:32 understand the fall of Babylon in the Old Testament. 23:35 So, if you would turn with me now to the Book of Daniel, 23:38 actually I'm gonna start in Daniel I 23:40 this is where we began Revelation Now 23:42 on the very first night. 23:43 Daniel chapter 1 verse 1, 23:45 in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, 23:49 the King of Judah, that's Jerusalem. 23:51 Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon came to Jerusalem 23:54 and besieged it and the Lord delivered Jehoiakim 23:57 the King of Judah into his hands 24:00 along with some of the articles from the temple 24:02 of God and these he carried off to he temple of his God 24:07 in Babylon and put them in the treasure house of his God. 24:10 So picture clearly what's happening. 24:12 Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon 24:15 sends his armies into Jerusalem, 24:17 they capture the city, they capture the people, 24:20 but even more importantly they went into the temple 24:23 and they took the golden cups that would 24:26 have been used only to worship the Lord God, 24:28 the creator of the heavens and the earth 24:30 and they brought them back to Babylon 24:32 and they put them in the Babylonian temple 24:35 and they used them to worship the Babylonian Gods. 24:38 They took those cups that God had set aside, 24:41 that God had sanctified, that God had blessed 24:45 and made Holy and they used them 24:47 in a common ordinary way. 24:49 They profaned the things that God 24:52 had set aside as Holy. 25:01 In chapter 5 of Daniel verse 1, 25:03 Belshazzar's now the king and he had a great banquet 25:06 in his banquet hall, he and his nobles drank 25:09 wine and while Belshazzar was drinking, 25:11 he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets, 25:14 so they brought those golden cups, holy cups, 25:16 they were to be used only to worship the Lord God, 25:20 they filled them with Babylonian wine 25:22 and begun to drink to the Babylonian Gods, 25:24 when suddenly God sent a hand, 25:27 just a man's to hand cut off all by itself 25:30 and it began to write on the wall with its finger 25:33 a special message Belshazzar saw that, 25:37 the cup drops from his hand, his knees knocked, 25:39 the Bible says, his face turns white. 25:41 How's that for a kingly image. 25:48 And he asked someone To read the message, 25:50 nobody could read it and then they remember Daniel, 25:53 so they brought the prophet Daniel down, 25:54 Daniel said in verse 18 Oh! King, 26:00 the Most High God gave 26:01 your father Nebuchadnezzar 26:03 sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor, 26:07 it was God who put him on his thrown 26:10 and even acknowledged it in verse 21, 26:12 he acknowledged that the 26:14 Most High God is 26:15 Sovereign over all the kingdoms of men 26:17 and sets over them anyone he wishes, 26:19 but you his son, Oh! 26:21 Belshazzar, you have not humbled yourself, 26:24 though you knew all of this 26:28 You see it wasn't as though Belshazzar was ignorant, 26:33 it wasn't as though oh! those look like nice cups, 26:36 I wonder where they came from, 26:37 I think I'll use them for my party tonight. 26:40 Belshazzar knew exactly what he was doing 26:43 when he profaned something that 26:45 God had said was Holy. He knew, 26:49 in fact verse 23, instead you've set 26:53 yourself up against the Lord of heaven. 26:56 How did he set himself up against the Lord of heaven. 27:00 You have the goblets from his temple brought to you, 27:02 you and your nobles, your wives, 27:04 your concubines, you drank wine from them, 27:06 you praised the God of silver, 27:08 gold and bronze, iron, wood and stone 27:09 which can't see, hear, understand, 27:11 but you did not honor the God, 27:13 who holds in his hand your life and your ways. 27:15 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription 27:19 and this is the inscription written on the wall. 27:21 The reason God sent that message was 27:23 Belshazzar had the audacity to take something 27:27 that God said was Holy and say it is not Holy. 27:31 That's why he sent the message, 27:37 what did the message say, 27:39 MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 27:43 And this is what these words mean 27:44 Daniel went on to say, 27:45 MENE: God has numbered the days of your reign 27:49 and brought it to an end. 27:52 You have been weighed in the balances 27:56 and found wanting. In others words 27:58 after a definite period of time, 28:02 the hour of his judgment came. 28:06 He was judged, he was found guilty, 28:10 PERES: Your kingdom is divided 28:13 and given to the Medes and the Persians, 28:15 in other words Babylon has fallen. 28:23 Belshazzar knew what he was doing, 28:27 he deliberately profaned the things 28:29 that God had set aside as holy, 28:32 used them in a common ways, 28:34 said it wasn't holy, it doesn't matter anymore, 28:36 that's all been changed. 28:41 You've been judged Belshazzar, 28:43 you're guilty and Babylon has fallen. 28:50 In the Old Testament, Israel was a nation, 28:55 the Israel of God was a nation 28:57 that was supposed to be committed to God. 29:01 Babylon was another nation, 29:04 the enemy to the Israel of God, 29:08 but in the New Testament 29:10 the Israel of God is the Church of Jesus Christ. 29:17 Babylon is the enemy to the Church of Jesus Christ. 29:25 Babylon isn't located in Baghdad only, 29:31 it's there, it's only there 29:34 because wherever there is a believer in Jesus 29:36 there's an enemy to the church. 29:37 Babylon is everywhere. Babylon is where ever 29:44 there is someone who opposes 29:45 the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the law of God, 29:50 because Babylon disregarded 29:53 God's commands, Babylon trampled on the things 29:56 that God said was Holy. Now we can understand 30:00 the fall of Babylon in the New Testament. 30:02 We find it in the 17th chapter of Revelation. 30:06 Revelation chapter 17 verse 1, 30:09 one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, 30:11 that's the seventh last plagues, 30:13 we're gonna take a look at those coming up 30:14 on Friday night. I've got some new things 30:17 now, the way things are unfolding around us 30:19 in the world today, I've got some new stuff 30:21 that you are just gonna be stunned 30:23 Friday night when we look at the seven last plagues, 30:26 but tonight let's just take a look this 7th one, 30:29 this 17th chapter. One of the angels 30:31 who had the seven bowls came and he said to me, 30:33 come and I'll show you the punishment 30:35 of the great prostitute who sits on many waters. 30:38 The waters in verse 15, it says where the prostitute 30:41 sits are multitudes, nations, languages, people. 30:44 So here is this harlot 30:46 sitting on water symbolizing people. 30:48 A woman in the Bible, 30:50 the woman always symbolizes a church, 30:53 a pure woman a true church, 30:55 a fallen woman, a corrupt woman, 30:57 a prostitute a false church, a fallen church. 30:59 So here is a false church, 31:01 a counterfeit church and multitudes are supporting 31:04 or multitudes doing her bidding 31:06 and she sits on many waters. 31:08 Verse 2, with her 31:09 the kings of the earth committed adultery, 31:11 she even manages to take the political powers 31:13 of the earth and use them to enforce her doctrines 31:16 and her decrees and the people of the earth 31:18 are intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries, 31:21 what's her name? Verse 5, 31:23 she has this title written on her forehead, 31:25 mystery Babylon the great, 31:28 and there she is, false church. 31:33 But notice he goes on to say 31:35 the mother of prostitutes 31:37 and abominations of the earth. 31:40 She has daughters with her, who are they? 31:45 Look, verse 3, 31:46 the angel carried me away in the desert, 31:48 in the spirits of the desert and I saw a woman 31:50 sitting on a scarlet beast 31:51 covered with blasphemous names, 31:52 it had seven heads and ten horns, 31:54 we know that beast don't we? 31:56 Remember the deadly wound 31:57 would be healed and so here we see another power, 32:00 another church raising to power, 32:02 her name is Babylon, built on the foundations 32:05 that was established in the church of the Dark Ages 32:07 during the Roman time 32:08 and the name of the church is Babylon, 32:11 the harlot is named Babylon, 32:13 but she has daughters, 32:14 she has Protestant daughters who join with her 32:18 in the filth of her adulteries 32:20 and her unfaithfulness to God. 32:22 What does a harlot symbolize in the Bible? 32:24 For woman symbolizes a Church 32:26 then a harlot has to be a fallen church, 32:28 but there is even more to it than that. 32:30 Compare scripture with scripture, 32:31 Judges chapter 2, this time in verse 17, 32:35 they would not listen to their judges 32:37 but they prostituted themselves to other Gods 32:40 and worshiped other Gods, unlike their fathers 32:44 they quickly turned from 32:45 the way in which their fathers had walked, 32:47 the way of obedience to the Lord's commands. 32:50 So the Bible shows that any church 32:53 who is unfaithful to the commandments of God 32:55 is symbolized by the harlot. Mystery, Babylon the great, 33:02 the mother of prostitutes 33:03 and abominations of the earth, 33:05 simply shows that in the future 33:06 and now it's happening 33:08 that a new super church will arise, 33:10 built on the foundation of the Roman church, 33:12 but the Roman church will reach across 33:14 the gulf to her Protestant daughters, 33:16 bringing her back into the full 33:17 and what is the one thing that holds them together, 33:20 that binds them together? 33:21 She has a golden cup in her hand. 33:29 A golden cup! That was made Holy by God, 33:33 trampled upon and treated 33:36 in a common way in the Babylon of old. 33:38 Now the new Babylon, 33:40 the church has a golden cup, 33:42 something made Holy by God is trampled 33:44 on in a common way not a cup, but a day, a time, 33:48 the Sabbath and the whole world 33:52 joins together with her, even the kings of the earth. 33:56 A super church, where all of the churches 33:58 will unite together, except for those 34:01 whose names are written in the Book of Life 34:03 belonging to the lamb. 34:06 There are four things that have to happen for this 34:08 prophesy to be fulfilled. First of all, 34:11 all the Protestant churches need to unite. 34:15 Secondly, the Protestant churches 34:21 need to reach across the gulf, 34:22 join hands with the Church of Rome 34:24 and form a super Church. Third, 34:27 this super church must reach out 34:30 to other worship entities and other religious entities 34:36 and bring them into the fold, 34:39 and number four, once that worldwide, 34:42 once that global super church is formed, 34:44 they must somehow manage to secure 34:46 the political powers of the state 34:48 and the nations of the earth to enforce 34:50 her doctrines and her decrees. 34:53 How can that ever happen? Wrong question, 34:57 it is happening, it's happening now. 35:02 Associated press report of January 24, 1999, 35:05 nine Christian denominations voted 35:08 Sunday to move towards 35:09 the broader affiliation of churches and unite 35:12 20 million Protestants despite their differences. 35:17 Now I believe that Jesus wants unity, 35:20 he wants his Church together. 35:21 Jesus never Intended to have 35:23 so many different denominations 35:25 and so many different churches, 35:26 he established his Church to be the one Church 35:28 on earth that maintain the 35:30 truth as it is in Jesus Christ 35:32 and he wants one Church, but never 35:34 at the cost of compromising the truth 35:38 and when church is unite 35:39 without resolving their differences, 35:41 then the people get confused 35:43 and they don't know right from wrong, 35:45 and they don't know what's true and the true worship 35:47 of the true God gets lost in the shuffle. 35:52 Those churches that are involved, 35:54 the nine churches that signed the document, 35:56 Presbyterian, Episcopal, Disciples of Christ, 35:59 International Council of Community Churches, 36:01 United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, 36:05 African Methodist Episcopal Church, 36:07 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 36:09 and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. 36:14 The march has started, in another paper 36:16 Evangelicals and Catholics together, 36:18 leading Catholic and Evangelical scholars 36:20 outlined their plans to bring 36:22 the two wings of Christianity together. 36:26 Signed by leading Evangelical, 36:28 Protestant scholars and leading Catholic scholars 36:33 and in the years leading up to the year 2000, 36:37 Pope John Paul II launched his plan in a document 36:41 that I had obtained almost 10 years ago now in 1994 36:46 as soon as it came off the press I got a copy of it, 36:49 it's called as the Third Millennium Draws 36:51 Near and this outlines 36:52 John Paul II plans to bring all of the denominations 36:56 together not just Christian 36:57 but Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim. 37:00 He planned a series of meetings in Jerusalem, 37:03 in Bethlehem and on Mount Sinai, 37:05 reaching out to each of the groups, 37:07 trying to bring them together, 37:08 the final goal of his plan we can read in this regard, 37:12 attention is being given to finding ways 37:14 of arranging historical meetings 37:16 in places of symbolic importance like Bethlehem, 37:19 Jerusalem, and Mount Sinai is the means 37:21 of further dialogue with Jews and Islam 37:24 in arranging similar meetings 37:25 with religious leaders elsewhere. 37:27 The International Eucharistic Conference 37:30 would take place in Rome 37:31 on the occasion of the great Jubilee and it did, 37:34 the Ecumenical and universal character 37:37 of the scared Jubilee can be fittingly reflected 37:40 by a meeting of all Christians 37:42 and then he concludes and here it is, listen, 37:45 "all are called to be a part of this Catholic Unity, 37:49 the new people of God." 37:52 This is John Paul II's plan folks 37:55 and it's already being unfolded 37:57 just exactly the way he envisioned 37:59 that it would happen. 38:04 Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit said, 38:06 this is a very important document, 38:08 the Holy Father wants to bring all face together 38:10 to try to find the common denominators in 38:12 all of our faiths that will allow us to work together. 38:14 The Pope wants to move rapidly and to breakdown 38:18 The barriers between the churches, 38:20 he wants temporary agreements 38:22 to allow members to worship 38:23 together in special Jubilee programs, 38:26 but beyond that the Pope hopes to move quickly 38:29 toward full communion with the churches. 38:33 I don't know how he can say it any planer than that. 38:35 Well how does Islam feel about this? 38:38 Mohammed Ali Elahi, of 38:40 Detroit Islamic Center of America said, 38:42 'the whole idea of inter faith communication 38:44 between religious scholars is an excellent idea, 38:47 we need to talk more about how Islam, 38:49 Christianity and Judaism can contribute to society 38:52 and help in the healing process of the world. 38:54 What do Protestant scholars have to say about all this? 38:57 Bishop J. Philip Wahl of the 39:00 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said, 39:03 'personally, I think it is a wonderful idea, 39:06 in our proposed statement 39:08 of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 39:10 we will declare that the conditions existing 39:13 within the Church at the time 39:15 of the reformation no longer exist. 39:20 I don't know if you understand 39:21 the significance of what you've just heard, 39:25 but all of the things that Martin Luther stood 39:27 for are no longer important. 39:32 In fact November 1, 1999, the Everett Herald 39:36 in Everett Washington reported, 39:38 482 years ago Sunday the blunt speaking monk 39:42 Martin Luther nailed his legendary attack 39:44 on the Catholic Church practices to a Church door 39:47 in Germany and triggered the Protestant Reformation. 39:51 Sunday, the leaders of the modern Lutheran 39:54 and Roman Catholic churches 39:56 signed a document that officially settles 39:59 the central argument about 40:01 the nature of faith that Luther provoked. 40:03 The agreement declares in effect 40:06 that it was all just a misunderstanding, 40:13 but all isn't happy in the Lutheran camp. 40:17 Dr A. L. Barry, president of the more conservative, 40:19 Missouri Lutheran Synod said, 40:22 'the Catholic Church has not budged 40:24 since the Council of Trents insistence 40:26 on justification by work. 40:28 ' Who caved in, it wasn't Rome, 40:32 the Council of Trent said if anyone says 40:34 that salvation is trusting through faith alone, 40:38 that we are justified let him be a cursed 40:40 and not one word is changed. 40:43 Just a misunderstanding. 40:51 What about the Pope's plan to bring other groups 40:54 into the fold of the Church. 40:58 Seattle times reported on Sunday, 41:00 August the 8th, 1999, unprecedented meeting 41:03 where two Catholic bishops sat cross legged on a stage 41:06 and smoked the ceremonial peace pipe 41:08 with Indian religious leaders. 41:11 The purpose of the meeting was to explore ways 41:13 to bring unity between the two groups 41:16 and Bishop Albert Andrews said 41:19 there is a rope from heaven and it unravels 41:24 and each strand in the rope is a different religion. 41:30 Wrong, wrong, wrong! 41:34 There is a rope from heaven, 41:37 but there is only one strand and that's Jesus Christ. 41:45 News Week Magazine April 16th, 2001, 41:48 Pope through a curve ball at me I'll have to confess, 41:52 I thought I had it all figured out. 41:54 Folks, you'll never have it all figure it out, 41:56 I thought that this new church would insist 41:58 on towing the line and adopting all of the doctrines 42:01 taught by the church in the Dark Ages, 42:04 but he threw me a curve ball, 42:06 in an article in news week entitled, 42:08 'the changing face of Christian church, 42:11 'talking about the explosive growth of the church 42:13 in third world countries, here's what he said. 42:19 News week Tributes 42:21 The growth of the Christian church 42:24 to a growing syncretism that tends to mix tradition 42:28 with the trues of scripture. 42:30 Syncretism means joining together, 42:34 taking the truth and mixing in a little tradition 42:37 and they work together. 42:41 As in the past today's New Christians, 42:43 listen to this folks, as in the past 42:46 today's new Christians tend to take from the Bible 42:50 whatever fits their needs and ignore 42:52 whatever fails to resonate 42:54 with their own religious traditions. 42:57 I see that all the time here, 42:59 not just in third world countries. 43:02 For example in India, Vandana Mataji, 43:06 a Catholic nun in India sings and prays of Jesus 43:10 and Hari Krishna four times a day. 43:15 Notice the blending together, 43:19 taking the pagan thoughts and 43:21 bringing them into the Christian church. 43:25 In Africa, many theologians insist 43:30 that tribal witchcraft and ideal worship are simply 43:35 the spade work of the Holy Spirit. 43:39 In fact Archbishop Peter Kwasi Sarpong, 43:42 Catholic Archbishop Peter Kwasi Sarpong 43:44 of Ghana said, the problem is not 43:46 how do we Christianize Africa, 43:49 but how do we Africanize Christianity. 43:54 You see the church is desperately reaching out 43:57 to the non-Christian groups and it's even 43:59 willing to compromise some of the very principles 44:03 that it stood for in order to make itself 44:05 appealing and attractive, but 44:06 they will never compromise on one thing, 44:09 her authority to change the law of God 44:12 from the seventh day to the first day of the week. 44:17 She will think to change the set times in the laws. 44:21 September 11th has changed the landscape 44:24 of the religious theme forever, 44:27 I don't know if you remember that view 44:30 in the National Cathedral Friday 44:31 following the attack on September 11th. 44:34 I don't know if you remember it, 44:35 but I can still see it 44:36 vividly a Protestant minister, 44:39 a Roman Catholic bishop, a Jewish Rabbi 44:42 and a Muslim minister all on the platform 44:45 together for a national day of prayer. 44:48 On the surface it Sounds good, 44:52 our country needs to comes together and pray, 44:55 don't misunderstand me, but I couldn't help 44:58 but wondering how long will it be 45:00 until the calls for a national day of prayer 45:04 becomes calls for a national day of worship. 45:10 It's already sounding. In fact in a joint 45:17 Anglican Roman Catholic 45:18 International Commission report three, 45:22 it stated within his wider ministry, 45:25 this is Protestant and Catholic agreement, 45:28 within his wider ministry the Bishop of Rome 45:31 offers a specific ministry concerning 45:35 the discernment of truth as an expression of his 45:39 universal primacy in other words 45:41 he is the final authority, the final voice of truth, 45:45 the Bishop of Rome. We joint declaration 45:50 Protestant and Catholic, we believe 45:52 that this gift is to be received 45:55 by all of the Churches. 46:02 Thank God there's one religious world leader 46:05 who refuses to go along 46:06 with the politically correct notions of the day 46:10 and he said we affirm that our historical position, 46:14 the spiritual authority is vested in the Bible 46:17 and the Bible only as a word to God 46:19 and not as an individual for Seventh-Day Adventists, 46:23 the authority of scripture and the authority 46:25 of the Bishop of Rome are incompatible. 46:28 Jan Paulsen, President of the 46:30 Worldwide Seventh-Day Adventist church. 46:32 Thank God that at least one man is not afraid 46:35 to stand up and say that there is 46:38 a truth in this world today and we must 46:40 follow the lamb and not the traditions of man. 46:49 Speaking on the eve of the dedication 46:51 to John Paul II Cultural Center, 46:54 President George W. Bush said in a tribute 46:57 that we should listen to his teachings 47:01 and put his teachings to action in America. 47:06 I'm not sure what he meant, I don't know for sure 47:12 what he meant, but I can't help but wonder 47:16 if he would include the call for a national legislation 47:23 to enforce Sunday worship, may be he didn't mean that, 47:29 I hope he didn't, but folks one day soon 47:33 it's gonna come and we are on the march today. 47:40 The last step not only do the 47:42 Protestant churches unite, not only do 47:44 the Protestant and Catholic churches unite, 47:47 and not only they bring in the 47:48 non-Christian religions into the fold. 47:51 The last step is somehow they must secure 47:53 the political cloud, the political power 47:56 of the state to enforce the doctrines of Babylon 47:58 as worldwide super church. 48:00 October 11 and 12 and the Christian coalition held 48:04 its road to victory rally 48:05 at the Washington Convention Center, 48:06 Joyce Meyer popular television preacher stated, 48:10 the separation of church 48:11 and state is a deception of Satan. 48:16 Folks the separation of the church and state 48:18 is that provision that allows you to have the freedom 48:21 to worship and the government 48:22 cannot form any establishment 48:23 having to do with religion. 48:25 She is saying that is a deception of Satan 48:27 and we are bringing the 48:29 political and the spiritual together. 48:33 In fact, Senator Inhofe promised 48:36 the cheering crowd that we are winning 48:39 and he noted that the 48:40 Christian coalition is fighting in the holiest 48:42 of all wars and we are a clear majority. 48:46 The rally was a celebration 48:47 of a union of church and state, 48:49 an impressive flexing of political muscle fueled by 48:53 religious fervor, reminds me of the crusades, 48:57 the inquisition, the Saint Bartholomew Massacre. 49:02 Haven't learned our lessons yet. 49:07 Time is coming the prophet said and Elijah warns 49:10 that there will be a super church. 49:13 The Protestant churches will unite 49:15 with the Catholic Church 49:16 and non Christian religions will all unite together 49:19 and they'll unite under the banner of that golden cup, 49:22 trampling on the things that God said are Holy, 49:25 bringing in the traditions of the world and 49:27 establishing them over the commandments of the God. 49:30 Babylon the great will solicit the powers 49:33 of the kings of the earth to enforce her filthy 49:36 doctrines and her decrees 49:37 What should I do, people ask? 49:41 What can I do? I belong to a church 49:45 that goes along with the teachings of Babylon. 49:48 My church doesn't say that 49:50 we should obey the commandments of God. 49:52 My church says that the Sabbath isn't holy, 49:55 what should I do? 49:56 I'm thankful that I don't have to answer 49:59 that question for you, 50:01 because I would never have the courage 50:02 to do it, but God does. 50:06 In Revelation chapter 18 in verse 1, 50:09 I saw another angel coming down from heaven, 50:11 he had great authority and the earth 50:13 was illuminated by it's splendor, 50:14 noticed this is a angel from heaven with a loud voice 50:18 and with great authority he shouted, 50:20 fallen-fallen is Babylon the great, 50:23 she's become a home for demons 50:25 and a haunt for every evil spirit. 50:27 Verse 4, then I heard another voice from heaven, 50:30 this is not Jac Colon, this is not my church, 50:33 this is not anybody's church on earth, 50:35 this is a voice from heaven, 50:37 'Babylon has fallen, come out of her my people,' 50:42 come out of her. 50:46 What can I do? 50:47 My church is going along with this come out of her, 50:50 my people, you see God has people in Babylon. 50:59 I said last night 51:00 that you don't have to be a Seventh-Day Adventist 51:03 to be saved, 51:04 you need to follow the lamb 51:06 and there are many people who never heard 51:08 of Seventh-Day Adventists, but they spent their life 51:10 following the lamb and they're gonna follow the lamb 51:13 all the way into the kingdom, 51:14 but in the last days God has a message 51:17 in the spirit and the power of Elijah 51:19 and he says I have people, but they are in Babylon 51:23 and Babylon is about to be destroyed 51:26 come out of her my people. 51:29 Jesus even said it when he was on this earth in John, 51:33 the Gospel of John the 10th chapter 51:35 one of our favorite passages of about Jesus, 51:37 he said in chapter 10 verse 14, 51:40 "I'm the good shepherd, 51:42 I know my sheep and my sheep know me, 51:48 just as my father knows me I know the father 51:51 and I lay down my life for the sheep." 51:56 Now listen, I have other sheep 51:59 that are not a part of this fold, 52:03 but I must bring them also, 52:06 they too will listen to my voice 52:09 and they will be one flock and one shepherd. 52:13 What is the fold? 52:15 Those who obey the commandments of God 52:18 and the testimony of the Jesus. 52:21 Come out of her my people, 52:23 my sheep know my voice they'll hear my voice 52:28 and they will come. 52:30 Those who are following the lamb know the lamb 52:34 and they're gonna follow him where ever they go. 52:37 Some say, well pastor, I can't do that, 52:40 I've been in this church for 50 years, I can't just go. 52:43 Jesus says come out of her my people, 52:45 lest you share in her plagues. 52:50 But I want to change my church, 52:51 you can't change your church. 52:52 Babylon has fallen, 52:54 she's not gonna change, it's time to come out. 52:57 Jesus couldn't even change 52:59 the religious institutions of his day. 53:02 He had to call out his church, 53:06 but my grandma and my grandpa were there 53:09 and my mom and dad were there 53:10 and I promised them 53:12 that I would always stay faithful to that church. 53:16 Your promise is to follow the lamb 53:20 and stay faithful to him, 53:23 but I can't leave all of my friends behind, 53:26 don't leave them behind, leave them out. 53:32 Come out of her my people, 53:36 how long will you waiver between two opinions. 53:39 If the Lord is God then follow God, 53:42 if the beast is God then follow the beast, 53:45 but how can you claim to follow God 53:48 when you're taking the traditions of the beast 53:50 and putting them over the commandments of God. 53:53 How long will you waiver, 53:57 come out of her my people, 54:03 there is only one way into the kingdom of God, 54:10 there's not a rope with multiple strands. 54:14 It's not a lot of voices calling out 54:16 in many different directions, 54:18 all roads do not lead to Rome 54:21 and all past do not lead to that city. 54:25 There is only one way into the city 54:28 and that is to follow the lamb. 54:32 Sometimes it isn't easy, 54:35 sometimes the lamb goes in places we don't wanna go, 54:41 but I know this that every time he's tried to lead 54:44 me some place I didn't wanna go, 54:46 once I go I can look back and say wow! 54:50 That's what I would have chosen if I knew. 54:53 You'll always be safe if you follow the lamb, 54:57 how long will you waiver. 55:00 For Lord's day, is the Lord's day then go ahead 55:04 and follow it, but if Sabbath is Saturday 55:06 then follow that. 55:08 How long can you claim to worship God 55:12 and observe the traditions of the Rome, 55:17 follow the lamb. 55:21 Now I want to take a minute to talk to you 55:23 out in the television audience, 55:25 night after night we've been studying the Bible 55:28 and many of you have been learning some new things. 55:31 Things that you've never heard before, 55:34 things that have made an impact on your life 55:37 and you've been making decisions right along with us. 55:41 You've learned about the Sabbath day, 55:43 you learned what happened when people die, 55:45 you've learned about the second coming of Jesus, 55:47 you've learned that God has a remnant church. 55:50 He raised up in the last days for the purpose 55:53 of proclaiming the three angels messages 55:55 and you want to start keeping the Sabbath. 55:57 And some of you would like to find a church 56:00 that you could attend that teaches the things 56:02 we have learned at Revelation Now. 56:03 So, I want to just challenge you 56:05 and appeal to you if you would, 56:06 as soon as we go off the air, 56:09 pickup your telephone book, 56:11 turn to the yellow pages and look up 56:14 the nearest Seventh Day Adventist church 56:17 in your community, in your town, 56:21 call the pastor, talk to him, 56:24 tell him that you have been watching Revelation 56:26 Now on the broadcast, the 3ABN broadcast 56:30 and that you are interested in learning more 56:33 about the Seventh Day Adventist church. 56:34 Would you do that, just look up the phone number, 56:38 call the pastor and get the instructions to go 56:41 and next Sabbath morning you just purpose 56:45 in your heart to be worshiping with those 56:47 who obey the commandments of God 56:49 and have the testimony of the Jesus 56:51 and I know that God will bless you in a wonderful way. 56:54 Thank you so much and God bless you, 56:57 just remember to follow the lamb. |
Revised 2014-12-17