Our message tonight is entitled
Revelations Spirit of Prophecy.
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We're talking about personal
testimony of Jesus Christ.
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Brothers, just as
when you study the Bible
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you can't help but notice
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that our God is a
God of connection,
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a God of personal relationship,
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a God that loves to commune
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and communicate
with His children.
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Can you say, amen?
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In fact we see this in
a very beginning of time
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in the Book of
Genesis Chapter 1.
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We read how this world came
from the hands of the Creator.
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It was a perfect environment.
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Mankind had face
to face fellowship,
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face to face communion and
communication with his maker.
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This was God's original plan
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and His original
relationship that desired--
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that He desired with man.
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But sadly and tragically sin had
interrupted this perfect plan,
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this perfect
relationship and because of sin
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man was now unfit to dwell
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in the presence
of the purity of God.
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Sin had cut us off from God.
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As result we could
no longer have that
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face to face
communion and communication,
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but friends, God in love
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still wanted to
communicate with His children
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though they have rebelled
against Him and His holy law.
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And so He found another way
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to keep in touch
with the human race.
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Notice what that way was.
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In the Book of Acts
3:21 the Bible says,
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that "God has spoken
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by the mouth of
all his holy prophets"
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since when?
"Since the world began."
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In other words since
the very beginning of time
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when sin came into the world,
God then found another way
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to keep in touch
with His children
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and that was through the
mouth of His holy prophets.
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In fact the Bible tells
us in the Book of Amos 3:7,
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"Surely the Lord
God does nothing,
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unless He reveals
His secrets to" who?
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"His servants the prophets."
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And so we find that
this was God's means
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of communication
with the human race,
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because of sin He could no
longer commune face to face.
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And so he would handpick
people whom He can trust,
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these were called
in the Bible prophets,
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these were the spokesmen
and the spokeswomen of God.
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God will reveal His
secret plans to them
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and they in turn
would communicate them
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to the entire human race.
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Now friends, I want you
to notice the next question.
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Now what happened to
the gifts of the spirit
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after all the apostles
died and passed off the scene?
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After early Apostolic
Church came in and went,
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what happened to all the
gifts of the Holy Spirit?
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Oh friends,
history makes it clear
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that not many generations past
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onto the church began to
compromise with pagan teachings.
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During this time
known as the Dark Ages,
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the church began
to adopt pagan rights
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discarding
fundamental Bible truths
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they compromised with the Word
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and during this time
known as the Dark Ages
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as I mentioned,
Bibles were literally changed
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to monastery
purpose, did you know that?
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And the common
people were forbidden
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to read or even own a Bible.
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In fact if you're caught
with portion of the scripture
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during the Dark Ages
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you and your family
could be burnt alive.
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Can you imagine that, friends?
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That's why it was the Dark Ages
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because when you take with
the light of the word of truth
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what do you have as a result?
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You have the Dark Ages.
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And only the priest were
allowed to read an interpret it
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and during this time of
compromise we learned before
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that the law of
God, the Ten Commandments
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was replaced with the traditions
of man and the church,
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totally disregarded
the Holy Law of God.
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Now here's the question.
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What happens to the
gifts of the spirit,
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specifically the prophetic gifts
of spirits, prophetic vision,
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what happens to
it when the church
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or any church
disregards the Law of God?
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Friends, this is what happens.
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God removes the
gifts of the spirit
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because when a church is not
living and teaching the truth,
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God is not going to
bless them with gifts
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that will enable
them to reach out
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to the world with
the false message.
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He wouldn't do that, friends.
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And so God would
remove the gifts of the spirit
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including the gift of
prophets if the church
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or if the people
disregards His Holy Law.
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How do we know?
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Because the Bible tells
us so in Lamentations 2:9.
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Please write it down.
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The Bible says,
"The law is no more,
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and her prophets
no longer find" what?
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"Visions from the Lord."
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Friends, what happens when
the church, the people of God
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what happens when they
say the law is no more?
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What happens when
they break God's law
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and disregard
the Ten Commandments?
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Gods removes
the prophetic gifts.
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And the prophets no longer
find visions from the Lord.
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And here is the reason, friends,
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God is not gonna
give us more light
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if we're not already
living up to the light
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that He has already given to us.
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He's not gonna give us
more unless we start to apply
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the things He's
already given to us.
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And here's the
reason it's not the mercy.
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Here's is the
reason because information
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without application
results in condemnation.
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Did you catch that?
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If God was to give
us more information
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and He knows that we're
not gonna apply to our lives
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that information instead of
being a blessing will be a curse
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because it will result
in more condemnation upon us
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if we're not living up to it
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because Jesus said, to whom
much is given much is required.
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God holds us
accountable to follow the truth
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that He has so
graciously given to us.
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And so if the church has
disregarded the law of God
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and not following the teachings
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that God has
already given to them
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God is gonna
remove the prophetic gift,
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He's not gonna
give them more truth
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because that truth will end
up condemning them even more.
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Jesus said in John 3:19,
"This is the condemnation
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that light is
coming to the world
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but men love
darkness rather than light."
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You see friends, when
we say no to the light
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and we choose darkness
that light is gonna end up
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condemning us even
more in the judgment.
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And so friends
during the Dark Ages
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many of the gifts of the spirit
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including the
gift of the prophets
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was absent in
the medieval church,
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because the church
disregarded the law of God.
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They replaced Sabbath worship,
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Saturday,
seventh day of the week
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with Sunday the
first day of the week.
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They governed
this, the second command
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that had to do with bowing
down and worshiping image.
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And so therefore God
remove the prophetic gift.
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And by the way, friends,
that prophetic gift is absent
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in most churches in
our world today, why?
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Because the law of God
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is still being broken
by most churches today.
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Isn't that right?
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I mean most churches all
they keep is nine commandments
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but in breaking
the fourth commandment
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the Sabbath commandment
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they're
disregarding the law of God
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and when they teach that
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oh, we don't have
to obey God's law,
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we're not under
the law but under grace
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or the law was
nailed to the cross.
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This is the same
antinomian spirit of a Lucifer.
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And so because most churches are
still breaking in the law of God
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no wonder why
there is an absence
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of the true gifts of the spirit.
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And, friends, in
many of these churches
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only the
counterfeit gifts exist.
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I want you to remember, friends,
for every truth there is what?
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A counterfeit and that includes
the gifts of the spirit,
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the gifts of tongues,
the gifts of prophesying,
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the gifts of
healing, the gifts of--
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all of the gifts, friends,
there is a truth and genuine
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and there is a
false counterfeit.
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And we're gonna talk
about the gift of tongues.
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I believe that there
is a true gift of tongues
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but friends, let me tell
you there is also a counterfeit
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in the world, in a
Christian world today.
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We will look at that more
in detail on another night.
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But, friends, I
want you to notice,
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would this special gift be
lost to God's people forever?
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Absolutely not.
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The Bible prophesies
that in the Book of Acts 2:17,
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the Lord says, "It shall
come to pass in the" which days?
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"The last days, says the Lord,
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that I will pour out
my Spirit on all flesh,
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your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy,
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and your old men
shall dream dreams
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and your young men
shall see visions."
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So God is saying
that in these last days
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in the final hours
of this world's history
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God is gonna pour
out the Holy Spirit
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and He is going to
restore the gifts of the spirit
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to His remnant
church, His people
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that are keeping the law
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and the people that have
the faith of Jesus Christ.
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Now friends, listen,
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this prophecy was
partially fulfilled
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on the day of Pentecost.
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That's what Peter is hoarding
it on the day of the Pentecost.
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It was partially fulfilled then
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but its greater fulfillment
is at the end of time
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with the remnant of
that early Apostolic Church
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that was there during
the time of Pentecost.
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And how do we know?
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Because the Bible prophesize
it about it in Revelation 12:17.
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Notice with me, "And the dragon
was wroth with the woman,"
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friends, who is the woman?
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But which church specifically?
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The early Apostolic Church,
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the church
during the wilderness.
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In other words the
church the original church,
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the bride of Christ,
the church of the apostles.
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Satan the dragon was
angry with that church
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but then notes, "and
went to make war" with who?
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Not the woman because she
has already passed off the seed.
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"But now the dragon seeks
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to make war with the
remnant of her seed,"
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that is her off spring.
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And notice how
they're described?
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"Which keep the
commandments of God,
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and have," the what?
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"The testimony of Jesus Christ."
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So we find that just as
God had an original church,
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the early
Apostolic, Church the woman
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they had all the
gifts of the spirit
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and they had a pure faith
directly from the lips of Jesus.
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So to God is
gonna have all remnant
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or an end time church
that is just like the original.
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Because remind me what
is the word remnant mean?
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Do you remember?
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The word remnant
means that which remains
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or the leftovers, the last part
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and is just like the original.
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Do you remember that
we studied it before.
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And how when you
go to a fabric store
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you find a remnant sale,
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the remnant is the
last piece of cloth
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on the board of cloth
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and that last
piece is the exact same
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as the first
piece or the original.
00:10:49.93\00:10:53.01
So God had a original church
the early Apostolic Church,
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the church of the disciples,
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that had all the
gifts of the spirit,
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they had a pure faith so
to there's gonna be remnant
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and the
characteristic of the remnant
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is that they are the last ones
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but they have
the same pure faith
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just like the
early Apostolic Church,
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this is the beloved bride
of Christ, the church of God
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they have all the
gifts of the spirit
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because the original had
all the gifts of the spirit
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and they are just
like the original.
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And friends, if that's clear
would you please say, amen.
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Now notice this is not a church
00:11:22.81\00:11:24.79
that is
disregarding the law of God.
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They are not saying what
other churches are saying.
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Oh, you don't have
to worry about the law
00:11:29.37\00:11:30.52
it's been nailed to cross.
00:11:30.55\00:11:31.91
The Bible tells that the remnant
keep the commandments of God
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and because they have the law
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they're gonna have
the prophets as well.
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They keep the
commandments of God
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and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ
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and remind me what is that?
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It's the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:11:46.62\00:11:47.65
Let's read it
again, Revelation 19:10,
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"I am thy fellow
servant, and of thy brethren
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that have the
testimony of Jesus."
00:11:52.62\00:11:54.45
Stop right there.
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Tell me in that verse who
has the testimony of Jesus?
00:11:55.54\00:11:59.48
Who has it? Thy
brethren, is that right?
00:11:59.58\00:12:03.58
So keep that in mind,
the brethren are the ones
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that have the
testimony of Jesus.
00:12:06.70\00:12:08.74
And then it says, "Worship God
00:12:08.77\00:12:10.22
for the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy."
00:12:10.25\00:12:14.16
So when the Bible
tells us that the remnant
00:12:14.19\00:12:15.60
has the testimony of
Jesus it simply means
00:12:15.63\00:12:17.92
they a have the
Spirit of Prophecy.
00:12:17.95\00:12:19.55
They not only have pastors
and teachers and apostles
00:12:19.58\00:12:21.94
and evangelists,
they also have prophets.
00:12:21.97\00:12:24.48
Because God's gifts all them
00:12:24.51\00:12:26.63
would remain in His
church to the very end of time.
00:12:26.66\00:12:29.16
And it says in this verse
00:12:29.19\00:12:30.74
that it's the brethren
that has this testimony.
00:12:30.77\00:12:34.74
It is the who, again?
00:12:34.77\00:12:36.44
Now here's the
question, who's the brethren?
00:12:36.47\00:12:38.24
Notice what the Bible
says, Revelation 22:9.
00:12:38.27\00:12:41.37
"For I am your fellow servant,
00:12:41.40\00:12:42.43
and of your
brethren the prophets,"
00:12:42.46\00:12:46.83
So who is the brethren, friends?
00:12:46.86\00:12:48.77
We'll let the
Bible interpret itself,
00:12:48.80\00:12:51.21
the brethren have
the testimony of Jesus,
00:12:51.24\00:12:54.81
the testimony of Jesus
is the Spirit of Prophecy
00:12:54.84\00:12:57.14
and the Bible makes it clear
00:12:57.17\00:12:58.20
that the brethren
are called the prophets.
00:12:58.23\00:13:02.56
And when you study the Bible
00:13:02.59\00:13:03.62
you'll notice that
at every major event
00:13:03.65\00:13:06.43
God always rose a prophet
00:13:06.46\00:13:09.42
and He reviewed to that
prophet what He was going to do
00:13:09.45\00:13:13.16
so that the prophet
could warn the world
00:13:13.19\00:13:15.68
so that they could
be ready for that event.
00:13:15.71\00:13:17.72
Do you remember
during the time of Noah?
00:13:17.75\00:13:19.75
God was going to
send a worldwide flood.
00:13:19.78\00:13:22.23
But before He did it he rose up
a prophet by the name of Noah,
00:13:22.26\00:13:25.26
revealed to know His
plans and Noah preached
00:13:25.29\00:13:27.89
and prophesied to the world
00:13:27.92\00:13:29.59
because he wanted the
world to be ready for the event.
00:13:29.62\00:13:32.59
Not only that but when
God was going to deliver
00:13:32.62\00:13:34.28
His people out
of Egyptian bondage
00:13:34.31\00:13:36.10
He also rose a
prophet, his name was what?
00:13:36.13\00:13:39.29
Moses was risen
up to tell the people
00:13:39.32\00:13:41.29
so that they could
get ready for the Exodus
00:13:41.32\00:13:43.98
for leaving Egyptian bondage.
00:13:44.01\00:13:46.47
When Jerusalem and God's people
00:13:46.50\00:13:48.59
were about to be
destroyed by the Babylonians,
00:13:48.62\00:13:51.26
God also rose
up another prophet,
00:13:51.29\00:13:52.94
what was his
name, do you remember?
00:13:52.97\00:13:54.49
Jeremiah, amongst others
00:13:54.52\00:13:56.59
Jeremiah was
called the weeping prophet
00:13:56.62\00:13:58.63
God used him to tell
the people, to warn them
00:13:58.66\00:14:03.36
so that they could
get ready for this event.
00:14:03.39\00:14:05.81
And, friends, you remember
what they did to Jeremiah.
00:14:05.84\00:14:07.59
They threw him in a pit.
00:14:07.62\00:14:09.00
What did they do to Noah?
00:14:09.03\00:14:10.08
They laughed at
him and mocked at him.
00:14:10.11\00:14:12.20
Oh, you see friends,
all throughout the Bible
00:14:12.23\00:14:13.77
the prophets were
always persecuted,
00:14:13.80\00:14:15.65
their words were always twisted
and taken out of context.
00:14:15.68\00:14:19.41
You see it wasn't a popular
or easy job to be a prophet.
00:14:19.44\00:14:22.32
Can you say, amen?
00:14:22.35\00:14:23.66
We see this over and over
00:14:23.69\00:14:24.72
and by the way that's the same
thing with the last day prophet.
00:14:24.75\00:14:27.46
It's not an easy job.
00:14:27.49\00:14:28.90
Now, I want you to notice
00:14:28.93\00:14:29.96
when Jesus was going
to come into the world
00:14:29.99\00:14:31.47
God also rose up another
prophet to tell the world
00:14:31.50\00:14:35.36
so that they could be ready
for the first coming of Jesus
00:14:35.39\00:14:37.71
that prophet name
was John the Baptist
00:14:37.74\00:14:39.88
the forerun of Christ.
00:14:39.91\00:14:42.34
Don't you see, friends,
before every major event
00:14:42.37\00:14:44.89
God always raise up a
prophet to warn the people,
00:14:44.92\00:14:47.13
to give a present truth message?
00:14:47.16\00:14:49.10
Hey, what kind of message?
00:14:49.13\00:14:50.72
A present truth
message for the time
00:14:50.75\00:14:53.32
that builds upon the messages
that God had given in the past
00:14:53.35\00:14:58.34
through the previous prophets.
00:14:58.37\00:15:00.40
So God always rose up a prophet,
00:15:00.43\00:15:01.83
they give a
present truth message.
00:15:01.86\00:15:03.55
When probation was about to
close upon the Jewish nation,
00:15:03.58\00:15:06.34
when the 70 week
prophecy was almost fulfilled
00:15:06.37\00:15:08.34
and God was gonna take
the gospel to the Gentiles,
00:15:08.37\00:15:11.42
during that time God
rose up another prophet
00:15:11.45\00:15:13.45
his name the Apostle Paul.
00:15:13.48\00:15:15.64
As an apostle as well as
a prophet to the Gentiles
00:15:15.67\00:15:18.70
before every major event,
00:15:18.73\00:15:20.18
God raise up a
prophet to warn the people.
00:15:20.21\00:15:22.34
And, friends, if this
is the consistent pattern
00:15:22.37\00:15:24.72
tell me why would God change
00:15:24.75\00:15:27.56
and not send a prophet
before the main event of it all
00:15:27.59\00:15:32.13
which is the second coming
of Christ in the last days?
00:15:32.16\00:15:36.24
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:15:36.27\00:15:37.70
I mean surely if God
did it for other events,
00:15:37.73\00:15:40.37
surely He is gonna do it
for the main event of it all,
00:15:40.40\00:15:42.61
the second coming of Christ.
00:15:42.64\00:15:44.71
He would raise up a
prophet in these last days
00:15:44.74\00:15:47.55
with a present truth message
that builds upon the messages
00:15:47.58\00:15:51.10
that God has
already given in the past
00:15:51.13\00:15:52.77
so that people could be ready
for the second coming of Christ.
00:15:52.80\00:15:56.01
And friends, we
are gonna see tonight
00:15:56.04\00:15:57.07
that indeed God rose up
an end time last day prophet.
00:15:57.10\00:16:01.02
Can you say, amen?
00:16:01.05\00:16:02.27
Not to take the
place of the Bible,
00:16:02.30\00:16:03.89
not to be in
addition to the Bible
00:16:03.92\00:16:05.82
but simply to bring
God's people back to the Bible
00:16:05.85\00:16:09.14
just as every
prophet that God rose up
00:16:09.17\00:16:11.65
always built upon the work
of those who came before Him.
00:16:11.68\00:16:15.92
And so, here's
the next question,
00:16:15.95\00:16:17.01
now that we laid that
solid rock foundation,
00:16:17.04\00:16:21.60
the next question is this,
00:16:21.63\00:16:23.00
how can you spot a
true prophet of God?
00:16:23.03\00:16:26.63
How can you tell between
the genuine and a counterfeit
00:16:26.66\00:16:29.48
because remember Jesus
warned us in Matthew 24
00:16:29.51\00:16:31.70
that there will be many
false prophets in the last days.
00:16:31.73\00:16:34.52
Now, friends, think
about that for a moment.
00:16:34.55\00:16:35.85
If there is gonna be
false prophets in the last days
00:16:35.88\00:16:38.65
that implies that there also
00:16:38.68\00:16:39.72
is going to be
true prophets, right?
00:16:39.75\00:16:42.45
Otherwise, Jesus would have
said, don't listen to anyone.
00:16:42.48\00:16:44.94
But He didn't say that, He
said, beware of false prophets.
00:16:44.97\00:16:48.39
If there are false ones,
there also has to be true ones
00:16:48.42\00:16:51.09
and so how can we
tell a true prophet.
00:16:51.12\00:16:53.66
Not based upon on their claims
or their following or miracles
00:16:53.69\00:16:58.85
but based upon the
tests of the word of God.
00:16:58.88\00:17:02.56
Notice what Bible
says, in 1 John 4:1.
00:17:02.59\00:17:05.98
Please write it down.
00:17:06.01\00:17:07.22
1 John 4:1, the Bible says,
00:17:07.25\00:17:08.80
"Beloved,
believe not every spirit,
00:17:08.83\00:17:11.22
but try the
spirits," but do what?
00:17:11.25\00:17:14.58
Another word for try
is test, test the spirits.
00:17:14.61\00:17:18.45
"Whether they are of God
because many false prophets
00:17:18.48\00:17:22.41
are gone out into the world."
00:17:22.44\00:17:24.58
So the Bible tells us don't
believe everything you hear,
00:17:24.61\00:17:26.45
don't be so gullible,
friends, don't be so naive.
00:17:26.48\00:17:29.68
You must test it out.
00:17:29.71\00:17:31.57
Use your brain, test it out
00:17:31.60\00:17:33.22
because there are
many false prophets
00:17:33.25\00:17:35.22
and deceptions
in these last days.
00:17:35.25\00:17:38.01
And then it says in 1
Thessalonians 5:20, 21.
00:17:38.04\00:17:41.59
Now this is an important
verse for our study tonight.
00:17:41.62\00:17:43.32
We are gonna read it at
least three times tonight.
00:17:43.35\00:17:45.38
And in this passage,
there are three steps
00:17:45.41\00:17:48.74
that we need to
follow this evening.
00:17:48.77\00:17:50.29
How many steps?
00:17:50.32\00:17:51.56
Notice what it says, 1
Thessalonians 5:20, 21.
00:17:51.59\00:17:54.29
Step 1, "Do not
despise prophesying."
00:17:54.32\00:17:59.56
In other words,
don't close your mind to it
00:17:59.59\00:18:01.36
because I know,
in our day and age
00:18:01.39\00:18:03.23
prophets have a cultic
connotation, is that right?
00:18:03.26\00:18:06.31
When we talk about
prophets oh, they're so cultish.
00:18:06.34\00:18:09.94
No friends, Bible says,
"Do not despise prophesying,"
00:18:09.97\00:18:13.71
That's first step.
00:18:13.74\00:18:15.01
Number 2, "Test all things."
00:18:15.04\00:18:18.51
And then number 3, "Hold
on to that which is good."
00:18:18.54\00:18:23.52
Can you say, amen?
00:18:23.55\00:18:24.86
So when it comes to
the claims of prophets
00:18:24.89\00:18:27.40
these are the three
things God expects us to do.
00:18:27.43\00:18:29.93
Don't despise it,
don't close your mind to it
00:18:29.96\00:18:32.28
but rather test it.
00:18:32.31\00:18:33.90
But, friends, don't
open your mind so much
00:18:33.93\00:18:36.71
that your brain falls out.
00:18:36.74\00:18:39.15
Amen. Amen.
00:18:39.18\00:18:40.81
Some times people
open their minds so much
00:18:40.84\00:18:42.11
that their brain
literally falls out.
00:18:42.14\00:18:43.76
They accept
anything. No, don't do that.
00:18:43.79\00:18:45.74
Don't despise it
but at the same time
00:18:45.77\00:18:47.48
don't open your mind so much
00:18:47.51\00:18:48.54
that you accept any
thing but rather test it
00:18:48.57\00:18:50.89
and if it passed the test then
receive it as a gift of God.
00:18:50.92\00:18:55.37
Hold on to that which is good.
00:18:55.40\00:18:57.70
And if that makes sense
would you please say, amen?
00:18:57.73\00:18:59.80
And so now the
next question is this,
00:18:59.83\00:19:01.46
what then are the tests
00:19:01.49\00:19:03.80
of how to tell a
true prophet from a false?
00:19:03.83\00:19:08.12
Friends, I want to give you
five biblical texts tonight.
00:19:08.15\00:19:11.02
How many?
00:19:11.05\00:19:12.78
And friends, notice
what the first one is,
00:19:12.81\00:19:14.34
and I hope
you'll write them down.
00:19:14.37\00:19:16.05
Biblical test of a true prophet.
00:19:16.08\00:19:17.67
Test number one, of a
prophet is truly of God.
00:19:17.70\00:19:20.02
Their prophecies
will be accurate.
00:19:20.05\00:19:22.30
In other words they
will prophesy accurately
00:19:22.33\00:19:25.25
because God does
not make mistakes.
00:19:25.28\00:19:27.64
Notice in Jeremiah 28:9,
Jeremiah 28:9, it tells us,
00:19:27.67\00:19:32.77
"When the word of the
prophet shall come to pass,
00:19:32.80\00:19:35.73
then shall the prophet be known,
00:19:35.76\00:19:37.94
that the Lord
hath truly sent him."
00:19:37.97\00:19:41.17
So when a prophet
claims to be speaking for God,
00:19:41.20\00:19:43.74
what they say must come to pass.
00:19:43.77\00:19:46.14
In other words a true prophet
must be 100 percent accurate,
00:19:46.17\00:19:49.62
100 percent of the time
00:19:49.65\00:19:51.90
because as I mentioned,
God does not make mistakes.
00:19:51.93\00:19:55.02
You see, Satan
also gives prophecies.
00:19:55.05\00:19:58.39
He can-- you know,
people can guess the future
00:19:58.42\00:20:01.23
and sometimes be right.
00:20:01.26\00:20:03.14
But a true prophet is
gonna be right all the time
00:20:03.17\00:20:05.88
because God
doesn't make mistakes.
00:20:05.91\00:20:07.36
That's the first
test. Now friends,
00:20:07.39\00:20:09.28
in this test you must remember
something very important.
00:20:09.31\00:20:12.06
And that is that
some of God's prophecies
00:20:12.09\00:20:15.06
are conditional in nature.
00:20:15.09\00:20:18.43
Some of God's
prophecies are what?
00:20:18.46\00:20:20.64
In other words they
don't always come to pass
00:20:20.67\00:20:24.26
because the people whom
it is given to receives it
00:20:24.29\00:20:28.38
and repents
because of the message
00:20:28.41\00:20:30.59
therefore it's a
conditional prophecy.
00:20:30.62\00:20:32.61
Let me give you a primary one,
00:20:32.64\00:20:35.38
prime example of
this in the Bible.
00:20:35.41\00:20:37.38
The Bible tells us, that
Jonah was a prophet of God.
00:20:37.41\00:20:40.98
Jesus even said it that
Jonah was a true prophet.
00:20:41.01\00:20:43.89
Now Jonah
prophesied that Nineveh
00:20:43.92\00:20:45.86
was gonna be
destroyed in 40 days.
00:20:45.89\00:20:48.09
But was Nineveh
destroyed in 40 days, yes or no?
00:20:48.12\00:20:50.94
No, his prophecy
did not come to pass.
00:20:50.97\00:20:53.82
Would that make
him a false prophet?
00:20:53.85\00:20:56.33
No. Why? Because his
prophecy was conditional.
00:20:56.36\00:21:00.67
You see the people that
he preached to received it
00:21:00.70\00:21:02.96
and repented therefore the
prophecy didn't come to pass
00:21:02.99\00:21:06.06
because there was a
conditional prophecy.
00:21:06.09\00:21:07.70
And please write
down Jeremiah 18:7-10
00:21:07.73\00:21:10.85
and there in that passage
00:21:10.88\00:21:12.11
you will find the
conditional nature of prophecy.
00:21:12.14\00:21:14.71
That's Jeremiah 18:7-10
00:21:14.74\00:21:17.82
and so we see that with this
first test prophetic accuracy
00:21:17.85\00:21:23.26
this test by itself
would be insufficient
00:21:23.29\00:21:26.87
to really tell you
true from a false prophecy
00:21:26.90\00:21:29.46
because of the
conditional nature
00:21:29.49\00:21:31.18
of some of God's prophecies.
00:21:31.21\00:21:32.55
And that's the reason why
there is more than one test.
00:21:32.58\00:21:34.34
Could you say, amen?
00:21:34.37\00:21:35.40
That's why there's five because
00:21:35.43\00:21:36.95
the true prophet
must past all of them.
00:21:36.98\00:21:38.78
So notice the second one,
00:21:38.81\00:21:40.03
the second test is
that a true prophet
00:21:40.06\00:21:41.68
will be faithful to what
God has reviewed in the past,
00:21:41.71\00:21:45.81
through His previous prophets.
00:21:45.84\00:21:47.21
In other words
biblical faithfulness.
00:21:47.24\00:21:50.30
They will not
teach anything that would
00:21:50.33\00:21:51.71
contradict the word of
God and the revelations
00:21:51.74\00:21:54.35
that the Lord has
given in the past.
00:21:54.38\00:21:56.78
Notice what it says in
1 Corinthians 14:32-33"
00:21:56.81\00:22:02.79
And the spirits of the prophets
are subject to their own ideas."
00:22:02.82\00:22:08.25
Is that what it says?
00:22:08.28\00:22:10.07
The spirits of the
prophets are subject to miracles
00:22:10.10\00:22:13.61
and healings and
signs and wonders.
00:22:13.64\00:22:16.95
No, friends,
what is it subject do?
00:22:16.98\00:22:19.39
"The spirit of the prophets
are subject to the prophets."
00:22:19.42\00:22:24.09
In other words, the truthfulness
the test of their ministry
00:22:24.12\00:22:27.34
is subject to what God has
already reviewed in the past
00:22:27.37\00:22:31.45
through His previous prophets.
00:22:31.48\00:22:33.22
The spirit of prophets is
subject to the prophets why?
00:22:33.25\00:22:36.10
"For God is not
the author of" what?
00:22:36.13\00:22:38.91
"Confusion, but of peace, as
in all churches of the saints."
00:22:38.94\00:22:42.75
In other words, a
true prophet of God
00:22:42.78\00:22:44.32
would not contradict
the prophets of the past.
00:22:44.35\00:22:47.74
You see, God's
prophets in the Bible
00:22:47.77\00:22:49.32
always pointed back to the
words of previous prophets.
00:22:49.35\00:22:52.54
In other words, the new
light that God would give
00:22:52.57\00:22:54.97
would never contradict
or do away with old light.
00:22:55.00\00:22:58.78
Let me give you
an example of this.
00:22:58.81\00:23:00.32
Here's a little
lantern that someone gave me
00:23:00.35\00:23:02.29
and if I had to
turn on this lantern
00:23:02.32\00:23:05.67
the light
shining from this lantern
00:23:05.70\00:23:08.16
this is new light, isn't it?
00:23:08.19\00:23:11.15
Now, as I turn this light on
did it do away with the lights
00:23:11.18\00:23:13.68
that are already
shining in this room, yes or no?
00:23:13.71\00:23:15.51
No, it didn't get rid of
the light that is already here.
00:23:15.54\00:23:18.55
It simply added to the
brightness of the light
00:23:18.58\00:23:23.10
that was already
shining to begin with.
00:23:23.13\00:23:26.06
And, friends, in the same way
00:23:26.09\00:23:27.89
the new light from new prophets
00:23:27.92\00:23:31.14
would never
contradict old light,
00:23:31.17\00:23:33.54
because if it did
that would be confusion
00:23:33.57\00:23:36.74
and God is not the
author of confusion
00:23:36.77\00:23:40.65
but of peace in all
the churches of the saints.
00:23:40.68\00:23:44.08
And if that make sense
would you please say, amen?
00:23:44.11\00:23:46.55
And so we find
that's our second test.
00:23:46.58\00:23:48.96
It would be in a
harmony with every thing
00:23:48.99\00:23:51.40
that God has spoken in the past.
00:23:51.43\00:23:52.68
Now, the third test, is
that a true prophet of God
00:23:52.71\00:23:55.05
would always exalt Jesus Christ
00:23:55.08\00:23:58.20
not himself, not a man, not
a church but the blessed Jesus.
00:23:58.23\00:24:02.91
Notice in 1 John 4:2 "By
this you know the Spirit of God,
00:24:02.94\00:24:07.53
every spirit that
confesses that Jesus Christ
00:24:07.56\00:24:10.77
has come in the
flesh is of God."
00:24:10.80\00:24:14.32
And so a true prophet
of God would point to Jesus
00:24:14.35\00:24:17.15
the reality of Christ
coming in the flesh that thy
00:24:17.18\00:24:20.34
as a vicarious
substitute a sacrifice
00:24:20.37\00:24:24.12
for the sins of
the entire human race.
00:24:24.15\00:24:27.40
It would always-- a true prophet
00:24:27.43\00:24:28.77
will always point
to Christ not to self.
00:24:28.80\00:24:30.55
Why? Because remember,
it's the testimony of Jesus.
00:24:30.58\00:24:34.58
It's Jesus testimony, His words.
00:24:34.61\00:24:36.73
And so if its Jesus testimony
who it's gonna lead us to?
00:24:36.76\00:24:40.39
It's gonna lead us to Jesus.
00:24:40.42\00:24:42.60
And so a true prophet
just like John the Baptist
00:24:42.63\00:24:45.01
they are not gonna do
it to glorify themselves,
00:24:45.04\00:24:47.73
they are not gonna do
it to try to make money.
00:24:47.76\00:24:49.70
They are gonna do
it to point people
00:24:49.73\00:24:51.23
and lead people to Jesus Christ.
00:24:51.26\00:24:53.55
John the Baptist
said in John 3:30
00:24:53.58\00:24:55.62
"He must increase,
but I must decrease."
00:24:55.65\00:24:59.97
So a true prophet
will always point to Jesus
00:25:00.00\00:25:02.30
as the Savior the
sacrifice the Lord of the word.
00:25:02.33\00:25:06.70
And friends, so any prophet
00:25:06.73\00:25:08.82
that says Jesus was just a
prophet is a false prophet.
00:25:08.85\00:25:11.92
And here is the
reason why, friends.
00:25:11.95\00:25:13.64
Based upon the claims
of Jesus Christ Himself,
00:25:13.67\00:25:17.80
Jesus claimed to be God.
00:25:17.83\00:25:20.47
There is no reading
around that, friends.
00:25:20.50\00:25:22.74
This was the basis
of His crucifixion.
00:25:22.77\00:25:25.26
He claimed to be God. He
claimed deity as His own.
00:25:25.29\00:25:30.13
And so any one that says,
oh, Jesus was just a prophet
00:25:30.16\00:25:33.06
doesn't know what
they are talking about
00:25:33.09\00:25:34.77
because based
upon his own claims
00:25:34.80\00:25:37.02
either he is
God or he is a liar.
00:25:37.05\00:25:40.15
And if he is a liar then
he can't be a prophet of God.
00:25:40.18\00:25:42.36
Are you with me?
00:25:42.39\00:25:43.54
And so a true
prophet always point to Jesus
00:25:43.57\00:25:45.86
as the way the
truth and the life
00:25:45.89\00:25:47.63
because its Jesus own testimony.
00:25:47.66\00:25:49.97
Their attitude to be
like John the Baptist
00:25:50.00\00:25:51.93
He must increase
but I must decrease.
00:25:51.96\00:25:55.52
Then test number
four, a prophet of God
00:25:55.55\00:25:58.72
would always lead God's
people back to obedience
00:25:58.75\00:26:01.54
to the holy law of God.
00:26:01.57\00:26:02.71
In other words, they
would be commandment keeping
00:26:02.74\00:26:04.82
in harmony with the law.
00:26:04.85\00:26:06.28
Notice what it
says, in Isaiah 8:20,
00:26:06.31\00:26:10.08
"To the law and
to the testimony!
00:26:10.11\00:26:12.95
If they do not speak
according to this word,
00:26:12.98\00:26:16.04
it is because there"
is how much light in them?
00:26:16.07\00:26:18.68
"No light in them."
00:26:18.71\00:26:20.16
And you could read the same
thing in Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
00:26:20.19\00:26:22.95
Write that down
look it up later.
00:26:22.98\00:26:24.69
So a true prophet must
speak according to the law
00:26:24.72\00:26:28.25
that's the Ten
Commandments and the testimony
00:26:28.28\00:26:30.83
that's the prophets of the
past who belong to the testimony
00:26:30.86\00:26:34.54
it would be in harmony.
00:26:34.57\00:26:35.97
And friends, when you
look upon and study the-
00:26:36.00\00:26:38.52
the lives of the
prophets of the Bible
00:26:38.55\00:26:40.70
you will find that,
they are always bringing
00:26:40.73\00:26:42.52
the disobedient people of God
00:26:42.55\00:26:45.58
back into obedience to
God and to the law of God.
00:26:45.61\00:26:49.92
And so test number four it
would be commandment keeping.
00:26:49.95\00:26:53.31
Now the fifth
test, that a true prophet
00:26:53.34\00:26:55.62
would bear good
fruit to the glory of God.
00:26:55.65\00:26:59.48
Jesus said in the
Book of Matthew 7:20
00:26:59.51\00:27:02.38
"Wherefore by their
fruits, you shall know them."
00:27:02.41\00:27:05.93
Not by their
following not by-- not by
00:27:05.96\00:27:08.36
what people are saying
but by their own fruits
00:27:08.39\00:27:10.86
you shall know if
it's a good or a bad tree.
00:27:10.89\00:27:13.00
In other words, their
life and their message
00:27:13.03\00:27:16.81
must bear good
fruit to the glory of God.
00:27:16.84\00:27:19.19
The end result of
their life in ministry
00:27:19.22\00:27:21.51
is the salvation of souls,
00:27:21.54\00:27:25.91
the blessing of humanity
and it's not going to be
00:27:25.94\00:27:26.99
for their own personal game.
00:27:27.02\00:27:29.97
And so there we find, there
we find five biblical texts
00:27:30.00\00:27:33.25
of how to tell a true prophets.
00:27:33.28\00:27:35.33
So now back to the question.
00:27:35.36\00:27:36.39
How do you--how do
you spot a true prophet?
00:27:36.42\00:27:38.04
Once again not
based upon their claims,
00:27:38.07\00:27:40.25
not based upon miracles,
00:27:40.28\00:27:41.87
not based upon
what other are saying
00:27:41.90\00:27:43.73
or they are flowing or
how much money they have
00:27:43.76\00:27:46.11
but based upon the
tests of the word of God.
00:27:46.14\00:27:49.38
Now friends, if
someone claims to be a prophet
00:27:49.41\00:27:51.04
and they've only
passed four of the five tests
00:27:51.07\00:27:53.09
are they a true
prophet? Yes or no.
00:27:53.12\00:27:54.58
Absolutely not.
00:27:54.61\00:27:56.29
They must pass how
many of the five tests?
00:27:56.32\00:27:58.91
All five, in order to
be a true prophet of God.
00:27:58.94\00:28:02.60
And, friends, if
that's clear so far,
00:28:02.63\00:28:04.43
would you please say amen?
00:28:04.46\00:28:06.14
Now friends, here
is the next question,
00:28:06.17\00:28:07.76
"Are the
teachings of modern prophets
00:28:07.79\00:28:10.84
meant to be an
addition to the Bible
00:28:10.87\00:28:14.02
or to take the
place of the Bible?"
00:28:14.05\00:28:16.29
Absolutely not, friends.
00:28:16.32\00:28:18.27
The word of God stands alone.
00:28:18.30\00:28:20.56
The biblical canon was closed
in the Book of Revelation.
00:28:20.59\00:28:23.89
The Bible stands all by itself
00:28:23.92\00:28:25.85
above any of the
book in the world.
00:28:25.88\00:28:28.01
And friends, so the
teachings of modern prophets
00:28:28.04\00:28:31.14
are not meant to be
an addition to the Bible,
00:28:31.17\00:28:33.59
not to take the
place of the Bible
00:28:33.62\00:28:35.44
but simply to lead God's
people back to the word of God.
00:28:35.47\00:28:40.20
Can you say, amen?
00:28:40.23\00:28:41.94
And so here is
the next question,
00:28:41.97\00:28:43.31
now that we have laid
that solid foundation."
00:28:43.34\00:28:45.93
Does God's remnant church
00:28:45.96\00:28:48.80
have the gift of prophets
or prophecy in their midst."
00:28:48.83\00:28:54.84
If they didn't it wouldn't
Be the remnant church, friends,
00:28:54.87\00:28:57.72
because the remnant church
is just like the original,
00:28:57.75\00:29:00.16
the original had all
the gifts including prophets
00:29:00.19\00:29:02.61
and if the remnant is
true like the original
00:29:02.64\00:29:04.82
they too would have the prophet
in the last days and so friends,
00:29:04.85\00:29:08.28
I have good
news for you tonight.
00:29:08.31\00:29:10.28
The last church is the
exact same as the first church.
00:29:10.31\00:29:13.69
The Seventh-day Adventist church
00:29:13.72\00:29:14.97
does have the
special gift in their midst.
00:29:15.00\00:29:20.19
And allow me to
share with you tonight
00:29:20.22\00:29:22.40
the history of how God
sought to keep in touch
00:29:22.43\00:29:26.30
with His people
in a very special way
00:29:26.33\00:29:28.27
here in these last days
through His prophetic gift.
00:29:28.30\00:29:30.37
Here is the question.
00:29:30.40\00:29:31.43
"Has God blessed the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:29:31.46\00:29:34.17
with the gift of
prophecy in the last days?"
00:29:34.20\00:29:37.50
Let me give you the history now.
00:29:37.53\00:29:38.84
God began to give visions
through a weak and feeble girl
00:29:38.87\00:29:43.27
by the name of Ellen Harmon
00:29:43.30\00:29:44.96
later to be known
as Ellen G. White.
00:29:44.99\00:29:47.44
God handpicked her,
00:29:47.47\00:29:48.86
to do a very special
work in these last days.
00:29:48.89\00:29:51.89
And friends,
Seventh-day Adventists believe
00:29:51.92\00:29:53.25
that God gave
her a special gift.
00:29:53.28\00:29:55.42
She is not God, she is not to be
reviewed or worship or pray to
00:29:55.45\00:29:58.95
she is simply the recipient
of a very special gift.
00:29:58.98\00:30:02.58
And friends, listen
many have misunderstandings
00:30:02.61\00:30:05.58
about the ministry and
the role of Ellen White
00:30:05.61\00:30:08.86
in the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:30:08.89\00:30:10.01
And so let me just
introduce you to her
00:30:10.04\00:30:12.17
if you never
heard about her before.
00:30:12.20\00:30:13.94
She was born on November 26
00:30:13.97\00:30:16.83
in the year 1827
in the state of Maine.
00:30:16.86\00:30:19.78
She was born into
a Methodist family.
00:30:19.81\00:30:21.81
She belonged to
the Methodist church.
00:30:21.84\00:30:23.53
And she was the
youngest of eight children.
00:30:23.56\00:30:25.97
And when she was in
third grade, which grade?
00:30:26.00\00:30:28.82
She suffered a terrible injury
that left her in the hospital
00:30:28.85\00:30:33.95
and forced her to
have to dropout of school.
00:30:33.98\00:30:36.62
She could no longer
continue in her education
00:30:36.65\00:30:39.52
so the highest grade
she went to is third grade.
00:30:39.55\00:30:42.88
And the doctor said that
she didn't have long to live
00:30:42.91\00:30:45.34
but God preserved her life.
00:30:45.37\00:30:46.97
He chose the
weakest of the weak.
00:30:47.00\00:30:48.90
And by the time she
was age 17 about two months
00:30:48.93\00:30:52.55
after the great
disappointment in 1844,
00:30:52.58\00:30:55.21
God began to give her visions
00:30:55.24\00:30:56.85
to share with the
disappointed people
00:30:56.88\00:30:59.77
that believe that
Christ was going to come.
00:30:59.80\00:31:01.88
And in her first
vision she saw God's people,
00:31:01.91\00:31:04.79
the advent people walking on
a narrow road leading to heaven.
00:31:04.82\00:31:10.08
And there was a great light
in--at the end of the path.
00:31:10.11\00:31:13.39
And in vision she saw
that as long as the people
00:31:13.42\00:31:15.82
kept their eyes on the
light, kept their eyes on Jesus
00:31:15.85\00:31:19.12
they were able to
walk safely and securely
00:31:19.15\00:31:21.51
on the narrow road through the
darkness of their disappointment
00:31:21.54\00:31:24.60
but she didn't saw in vision
00:31:24.63\00:31:26.51
that all those who took
their eyes off of Jesus,
00:31:26.54\00:31:29.22
off of the light
they fell off of the path.
00:31:29.25\00:31:32.28
And, friends, I
want you to notice how
00:31:32.31\00:31:33.53
Ellen White felt when she
first received the vision.
00:31:33.56\00:31:36.26
"When this work
was first given me,
00:31:36.29\00:31:38.25
I begged the Lord to lay
the burden on some one else."
00:31:38.28\00:31:41.08
Friends, she
didn't ask for it even.
00:31:41.11\00:31:42.52
She didn't want it.
00:31:42.55\00:31:43.95
God is the one that
chooses who gets what gift.
00:31:43.98\00:31:46.74
She says, "The work was
so large and broad and deep
00:31:46.77\00:31:49.52
that I feared I could not do it.
00:31:49.55\00:31:51.94
But by his Holy Spirit
the Lord has enabled me
00:31:51.98\00:31:54.75
to perform the work
which He gave me to do."
00:31:54.78\00:31:58.39
Remember friends, God
is the one that determines
00:31:58.42\00:32:00.83
who gets what gifts.
00:32:00.86\00:32:02.22
And when a person is
humble and weak and feeble,
00:32:02.25\00:32:05.43
our weakness can be made
perfect in the strength of God
00:32:05.46\00:32:08.85
and that's one of the
reasons why I believe that
00:32:08.88\00:32:10.20
the Lord chose her one
of the weakest of the weak.
00:32:10.23\00:32:12.81
And so, even
though she felt inadequate
00:32:12.84\00:32:15.50
and physically
incapable by faith
00:32:15.53\00:32:18.29
she accepted a mission from God
00:32:18.32\00:32:19.67
that will last
the rest of her life.
00:32:19.70\00:32:21.26
Ellen White received
00:32:21.29\00:32:22.32
more than 2,000
prophetic visions and dreams.
00:32:22.35\00:32:25.40
Some of them lasting a few
minutes others several hours.
00:32:25.43\00:32:28.85
Not only that but she
wrote over 100,000 pages
00:32:28.88\00:32:33.66
contained in over 50 books
00:32:33.69\00:32:35.77
and she lectured the thousands
on three different continents.
00:32:35.80\00:32:39.79
Some of the last
years of her life
00:32:39.82\00:32:41.10
were spent in the
state of California.
00:32:41.13\00:32:43.05
And I want you to notice
what one Californian historian
00:32:43.08\00:32:46.03
have to say concerning
the ministry of Ellen White.
00:32:46.06\00:32:48.29
Now, friends,
George Wharton James
00:32:48.32\00:32:50.21
he was not a
Seventh-day Adventist
00:32:50.24\00:32:52.37
but yet in his
book about California
00:32:52.40\00:32:55.05
he commented about Ellen White
00:32:55.08\00:32:56.51
because she lived in
California during this time
00:32:56.54\00:32:58.60
and I want you notice
what he said concerning her.
00:32:58.63\00:33:00.89
"This remarkable woman, though
almost entirely self-educated,
00:33:00.92\00:33:05.00
has written and published
more books and in more languages
00:33:05.03\00:33:08.94
which circulate to a greater
extent than the written works
00:33:08.97\00:33:12.54
of any other woman in history."
00:33:12.57\00:33:15.48
Friends, you need to know
that the writings of Ellen White
00:33:15.51\00:33:18.10
she is the most translated
woman author of all time period.
00:33:18.13\00:33:23.13
She is the most translated
American author of all time
00:33:23.16\00:33:26.57
and her writings
are the fourth most
00:33:26.60\00:33:29.00
translated piece of
literature in the world.
00:33:29.03\00:33:31.41
Friends, you know
what the most translated
00:33:31.44\00:33:32.51
piece of literature is,
the Bible. Can you say, amen?
00:33:32.54\00:33:35.43
The second dictionaries,
the third encyclopedias
00:33:35.46\00:33:40.26
and then right
after that the fourth
00:33:40.29\00:33:42.02
the writings of Ellen G. White
00:33:42.05\00:33:43.68
and friends, listen she only
had a third grade education.
00:33:43.71\00:33:48.91
How could this be
unless God was the one
00:33:48.94\00:33:51.85
that gave to her
this special gift.
00:33:51.88\00:33:54.09
Can you say, amen?
00:33:54.12\00:33:55.37
Now friends, I
want to make it clear
00:33:55.40\00:33:57.06
what her role is in the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:33:57.09\00:33:59.65
The Seventh-day Adventist
church doesn't revere her
00:33:59.68\00:34:01.47
as a saint or pray to her or
worship her in any such ways.
00:34:01.50\00:34:04.76
No, friends. You
see in these last days.
00:34:04.79\00:34:07.21
Satan has spread
many lies concerning
00:34:07.24\00:34:10.22
the gift in her life.
00:34:10.25\00:34:12.79
And so, what is the truth?
00:34:12.82\00:34:13.90
Here is the truth, friends,
Ellen White didn't found
00:34:13.93\00:34:15.75
the Seventh-day
Adventist church.
00:34:15.78\00:34:17.30
The Holy Spirit rose it
up by a group of many people
00:34:17.33\00:34:19.87
from many
different denominations.
00:34:19.90\00:34:21.72
The Seventh-day
Adventist church doesn't hold
00:34:21.75\00:34:23.69
and esteem the writings of
Ellen White above the Bible
00:34:23.72\00:34:25.99
and not even equal to the Bible.
00:34:26.02\00:34:27.75
We receive our doctrine
directly from the word of God.
00:34:27.78\00:34:30.37
In fact, I want you to notice
Seventh-day Adventist believe,
00:34:30.40\00:34:33.08
here's the book that
states our official stands
00:34:33.11\00:34:36.30
upon the writings of Ellen
White and this is what it says.
00:34:36.33\00:34:39.88
"The writings of Ellen White are
not a substitute for Scripture.
00:34:39.91\00:34:44.54
They cannot be
placed on the same level.
00:34:44.57\00:34:46.75
The Holy Scriptures stand
alone." Can you say, amen?
00:34:46.78\00:34:51.30
"The unique
standard by which her
00:34:51.33\00:34:53.94
and all other
writings must be judged
00:34:53.97\00:34:56.63
and to which they
must be subject to.
00:34:56.66\00:34:59.74
The Bible is the
supreme standard.
00:34:59.77\00:35:02.01
Seventh-day
Adventists fully support
00:35:02.04\00:35:03.77
the reformation
principle of sola scriptura,
00:35:03.80\00:35:05.83
the Bible as its own interpreter
00:35:05.86\00:35:08.26
and the Bible alone as
the basis of all doctrines."
00:35:08.29\00:35:13.08
And friends-- it's
clear the Bible is clear
00:35:13.11\00:35:16.24
we are clear that the word
of God is the chief authority.
00:35:16.27\00:35:18.88
Can you say, amen?
00:35:18.91\00:35:20.05
In this seminar
we've been teaching
00:35:20.08\00:35:21.51
from the Bible
and the Bible alone.
00:35:21.54\00:35:23.23
We are not concerned
what a church teaches
00:35:23.26\00:35:24.91
or what a person
says. Only what God says.
00:35:24.94\00:35:27.39
But friends, listen
the same Bible also says,
00:35:27.42\00:35:31.45
that in the last days
God's church is gonna have
00:35:31.48\00:35:34.35
all the gifts of the
spirit. Can we say, amen?
00:35:34.38\00:35:36.72
This same Bible says that
God will restore this gift
00:35:36.75\00:35:39.97
that it will
remain and be conformed
00:35:40.00\00:35:41.39
in the church to the last days.
00:35:41.42\00:35:43.45
And so we believe that
part of the Bible too, amen.
00:35:43.48\00:35:45.98
I mean we don't pick and choose
we believe the whole thing.
00:35:46.01\00:35:48.74
And so if the Bible
teaches it then we must look for
00:35:48.77\00:35:51.33
the fulfillment of
it in these last days.
00:35:51.36\00:35:54.72
And so the question is
how does the church view
00:35:54.75\00:35:57.54
the writings of Ellen White?
00:35:57.57\00:35:59.33
We view it like this, friends.
00:35:59.36\00:36:02.50
We view it as a
magnifying glass.
00:36:02.53\00:36:05.44
And friends, what is the
purpose of a magnifying glass?
00:36:05.47\00:36:08.90
A magnifying glass purpose
is simply to make clearer
00:36:08.93\00:36:13.12
and larger, isn't that right?
00:36:13.15\00:36:14.71
If I take this magnifying glass
00:36:14.74\00:36:16.07
and put it over the
Bible is this magnifying glass
00:36:16.10\00:36:18.79
gonna change the
Bible, yes or no?
00:36:18.82\00:36:21.72
Is it gonna add
something into the Bible
00:36:21.75\00:36:23.32
that is not already there?
00:36:23.35\00:36:25.06
Is it gonna take away
something that's in the Bible?
00:36:25.09\00:36:27.81
What is it gonna do?
00:36:27.84\00:36:29.38
It simply gonna make
it clearer and larger
00:36:29.41\00:36:32.38
that which is
already in the Bible.
00:36:32.41\00:36:34.71
That's how we view the
writing of Ellen White, friends.
00:36:34.74\00:36:36.45
It's a magnifying glass.
00:36:36.48\00:36:38.82
Not like the Mormon's
who esteem Joseph Smith
00:36:38.85\00:36:40.76
as a more of an
authority over the Bible no way.
00:36:40.79\00:36:44.34
It's a magnifying glass,
00:36:44.37\00:36:45.95
to bring us back
to the word of God.
00:36:45.98\00:36:48.09
And, friends, listen the only
thing left one on this man to do
00:36:48.12\00:36:52.32
in hearing a message
like this is to do exactly
00:36:52.35\00:36:55.38
what the Bible teaches when
it comes to end time prophets
00:36:55.41\00:36:59.91
and what is that?
00:36:59.94\00:37:01.08
Three things, let's
review, 1 Thessalonians 5:20,21
00:37:01.11\00:37:05.38
three steps, notice what it is.
00:37:05.41\00:37:07.19
"Do not let
despise prophesying."
00:37:07.22\00:37:10.30
In other words don't
close your mind to it, friends.
00:37:10.33\00:37:11.93
It may sound strange
you've never heard this before
00:37:11.96\00:37:14.23
but don't close your
mind, don't despise prophesying.
00:37:14.26\00:37:16.71
Number two, test all things.
00:37:16.74\00:37:20.14
And how do we test it?
00:37:20.17\00:37:21.53
By the word of
God. Can you say, amen?
00:37:21.56\00:37:23.81
And then if it pass,
"The test of the Bible."
00:37:23.84\00:37:26.07
Number three, "Hold on
to that which is good."
00:37:26.10\00:37:30.12
And so this is what God
is calling us to do tonight.
00:37:30.15\00:37:32.61
Can you say, amen?
00:37:32.64\00:37:33.93
And by the way we
compare her writings
00:37:33.96\00:37:36.74
with the Bible
test and teachings.
00:37:36.77\00:37:38.79
We don't test
her or anything else,
00:37:38.82\00:37:41.24
by what others
have said about her.
00:37:41.27\00:37:43.33
Because let me tell me friends,
00:37:43.36\00:37:44.53
Satan has--has put
together many websites
00:37:44.56\00:37:47.82
that have
completely taken her words
00:37:47.85\00:37:49.90
and writings out of context.
00:37:49.93\00:37:51.81
Twisted her writings
and even fled a light
00:37:51.84\00:37:54.68
about things that
she had written and said.
00:37:54.71\00:37:57.21
And friends, Satan
has attacked and so
00:37:57.24\00:37:58.71
we don't test someone
based upon what websites
00:37:58.74\00:38:01.26
or what other people
have said about that person.
00:38:01.29\00:38:03.45
No, friends, we go to
the horse's mouth, right?
00:38:03.48\00:38:06.79
We go to the source and we
read the writing for ourselves
00:38:06.82\00:38:11.02
and we compare it with
what the Bible has to say.
00:38:11.05\00:38:14.42
Because friends,
listen that Satan has always
00:38:14.45\00:38:16.31
attacked the
true prophets of God.
00:38:16.34\00:38:18.55
Jeremiah as we
mentioned was thrown into a pit.
00:38:18.58\00:38:21.49
John the revelator
was exiled to the--
00:38:21.52\00:38:23.73
to the island of Patmos.
00:38:23.76\00:38:24.79
You see all the prophets
of-- the true prophets of God
00:38:24.82\00:38:27.65
were always persecuted by Satan
00:38:27.68\00:38:29.56
and if that's what happened
to the prophets of the past,
00:38:29.59\00:38:31.96
why should we
expect anything different
00:38:31.99\00:38:34.03
for an end time prophets.
00:38:34.06\00:38:35.48
Are you with me, yes or no?
00:38:35.51\00:38:37.06
And notice what it
says in 2 Chronicles 24:19
00:38:37.09\00:38:41.14
the Bible says, "Yet
he sent prophets to them,
00:38:41.17\00:38:44.12
to bring them
again unto the Lord
00:38:44.15\00:38:45.91
and they testified against them
00:38:45.94\00:38:47.80
but they would not" what?
"They would not give ear."
00:38:47.83\00:38:51.67
They wouldn't listen
to the words of prophets.
00:38:51.70\00:38:53.69
You see friends, to
be a spokesperson for God
00:38:53.72\00:38:56.02
is never easy
especially in the last days
00:38:56.05\00:39:00.03
when the world is most wicked.
00:39:00.06\00:39:01.81
Satan you can be sure
will attack like never before
00:39:01.84\00:39:04.72
and that's exactly what's
happened with many websites
00:39:04.75\00:39:07.22
and many lies that are
being spread in the world today.
00:39:07.25\00:39:10.58
And so, friends,
I want you to notice
00:39:10.61\00:39:12.63
Mrs. White was never one
that put herself out there
00:39:12.66\00:39:15.94
and said you
need to listen to me
00:39:15.97\00:39:17.07
because I'm a prophetess of God.
00:39:17.10\00:39:18.63
Never friend, she was
humble like John the Baptist.
00:39:18.66\00:39:21.32
In fact, notice what she
said, "I have felt for years
00:39:21.35\00:39:25.41
that if I could have my
choice and please God as well,
00:39:25.44\00:39:29.93
I would rather die
than have a vision,
00:39:29.96\00:39:33.58
for every vision places
me under great responsibility
00:39:33.61\00:39:36.78
to bear testimonies of
reproof and of warning."
00:39:36.81\00:39:39.81
She said, if she could have
her choice and still please God,
00:39:39.84\00:39:42.52
she would rather
die than have a vision.
00:39:42.55\00:39:44.45
I mean this is not
something that she wanted.
00:39:44.48\00:39:46.20
It was something that
God could trust her with.
00:39:46.23\00:39:48.45
And then she says, "Which has
ever been against my feelings,
00:39:48.48\00:39:52.74
causing me affliction of
soul that is inexpressible.
00:39:52.77\00:39:55.79
Never have I
coveted my position,
00:39:55.82\00:39:58.36
and yet I dare not
resist the Spirit of God
00:39:58.39\00:40:01.46
and seek an easier position."
00:40:01.49\00:40:04.38
And so she is
very humble, friends.
00:40:04.41\00:40:06.20
She said I'm just
the messenger of the Lord
00:40:06.23\00:40:08.89
and even though I'm not worthy
00:40:08.92\00:40:10.90
I dare not
resist the spirit of God
00:40:10.93\00:40:12.69
that is placing this
special gift upon me.
00:40:12.72\00:40:14.84
Now let's put
some of her writings
00:40:14.87\00:40:17.02
and some of her teachings
to the test, the biblical test.
00:40:17.05\00:40:20.04
Here is the first one.
00:40:20.07\00:40:21.18
Did she ever place
her words above the Bible?
00:40:21.21\00:40:23.97
If she did she
will be a false prophet.
00:40:24.00\00:40:26.72
Just like Joseph Smith
is a false prophet friends,
00:40:26.75\00:40:28.74
because those who claim
to believe those writings say
00:40:28.77\00:40:31.98
it's above the Bible.
00:40:32.01\00:40:33.67
That's false, friends.
00:40:33.70\00:40:35.21
She never did,
in fact notice what
00:40:35.24\00:40:36.65
she said in her own writings.
00:40:36.68\00:40:38.53
"Little heat is
given to the Bible
00:40:38.56\00:40:40.60
and the Lord has
given a" what kind of light?
00:40:40.63\00:40:43.42
"A lesser light
to lead men and women
00:40:43.45\00:40:45.91
to the 'Greater Light.'"
00:40:45.94\00:40:47.45
Friends, what is
the greater light?
00:40:47.48\00:40:48.59
Jesus and the Bible
00:40:48.62\00:40:50.48
and she says that
she is a lesser light
00:40:50.51\00:40:52.40
to lead men and
women to the greater light
00:40:52.43\00:40:54.28
that is Christ Jesus and
the word of God. Friends,
00:40:54.31\00:40:56.79
she championed the
Bible as the final authority
00:40:56.82\00:40:59.89
on all doctrinal issues.
00:40:59.92\00:41:02.36
In fact, notice what
she wrote in the book
00:41:02.39\00:41:04.01
The Faith I Live By,
00:41:04.04\00:41:05.19
she said that,
"The Holy Scriptures
00:41:05.22\00:41:06.85
are to be accepted
as an authoritative,
00:41:06.88\00:41:10.35
infallible
revelation of His will.
00:41:10.38\00:41:13.09
They are the
standard of character,
00:41:13.12\00:41:15.24
the revealer of doctrines,
and the test of experience."
00:41:15.27\00:41:19.10
And, friends, if you can believe
00:41:19.13\00:41:20.16
that would you please say, amen.
00:41:20.19\00:41:21.35
It's the Bible, friends.
00:41:21.38\00:41:22.45
In fact notice
another one, in another book,
00:41:22.48\00:41:24.06
Fundamentals of
Christian Education,
00:41:24.09\00:41:26.08
she said that,
"The Bible is the only
00:41:26.11\00:41:28.42
rule of faith and doctrine.
00:41:28.45\00:41:29.93
And there is
nothing more calculated
00:41:29.96\00:41:32.18
to energize the mind,
and strengthen the intellect,
00:41:32.21\00:41:34.61
than the study
of the word of God.
00:41:34.64\00:41:36.33
No other book is so
potent to elevate the thoughts,
00:41:36.36\00:41:40.16
to give vigor to the
faculties, as the broad,
00:41:40.19\00:41:42.46
ennobling truths of the Bible.
00:41:42.49\00:41:44.14
If God's word were
studied as it should be,
00:41:44.17\00:41:46.25
men would have
a breadth of mind,
00:41:46.28\00:41:47.71
a nobility of character,
and a stability of purpose,
00:41:47.74\00:41:50.26
that is rarely
seen in these times."
00:41:50.29\00:41:53.22
Can you say, amen, friends?
00:41:53.25\00:41:54.81
She championed the word of God
00:41:54.84\00:41:56.00
as the final authority
on all doctrinal issues.
00:41:56.03\00:41:59.20
She said no other book
is like the word of God.
00:41:59.23\00:42:02.02
She did not say read my writings
about the Bible absolutely not.
00:42:02.05\00:42:05.74
Now here is the next question,
00:42:05.77\00:42:06.80
do her writings
harmonize with the Bible?
00:42:06.83\00:42:08.75
Absolutely, yes.
00:42:08.78\00:42:10.16
But don't take my word for it.
00:42:10.19\00:42:11.81
Read yourself
friends, and you will find that
00:42:11.84\00:42:14.13
she always is pointing us
back to Jesus in the word.
00:42:14.16\00:42:17.36
Now, friends, she has
written as I mentioned
00:42:17.39\00:42:18.93
over 100,000 pages,
over 50 different books
00:42:18.96\00:42:23.80
and friends, I want to share
with you a few of those books
00:42:23.83\00:42:25.77
I have up here tonight.
00:42:25.80\00:42:27.52
One of my favorite
books that she wrote
00:42:27.55\00:42:29.26
a master piece it's
called "The Desire of Ages."
00:42:29.29\00:42:32.94
It's a book on
the life of Christ.
00:42:32.97\00:42:34.64
It takes Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John
00:42:34.67\00:42:35.93
puts it all
together into chapter form
00:42:35.96\00:42:37.80
and it just magnifies
the beauty of the gospels
00:42:37.83\00:42:41.69
and friends, in
the Library of Congress
00:42:41.72\00:42:44.17
they said there are
the ten thousand volumes
00:42:44.20\00:42:46.71
they had on the life of Christ
00:42:46.74\00:42:48.52
the very best one for personal
00:42:48.55\00:42:51.53
discernment and
spirit application
00:42:51.56\00:42:53.42
is the Desire of Ages
written by Ellen G. White.
00:42:53.45\00:42:57.19
Friends, listen there is 800--
there is 835 pages in this book
00:42:57.22\00:43:03.42
and in 835 pages
there are 3,955 Bible texts
00:43:03.45\00:43:11.24
all in its contexts.
00:43:11.27\00:43:13.31
Friends, you'd
be hard justifying
00:43:13.34\00:43:14.52
any of the book in the world
00:43:14.55\00:43:15.60
that has that
amount of scripture
00:43:15.63\00:43:17.37
than the Bible itself.
00:43:17.40\00:43:18.43
Can you say, amen?
00:43:18.46\00:43:19.60
And friends, I have
read this book over and over
00:43:19.63\00:43:21.12
its one of most beautiful books.
00:43:21.15\00:43:22.28
It always leads
me back to the Bible
00:43:22.31\00:43:24.00
and it brings me close to Jesus.
00:43:24.03\00:43:25.28
Friends, you need
to pick up this book,
00:43:25.31\00:43:26.44
it is a powerful book on
the life of Jesus Christ.
00:43:26.47\00:43:29.90
Oh, friends, it
will cause you to weep.
00:43:29.93\00:43:31.15
It will bring you back to--
00:43:31.18\00:43:32.84
it will cause you to
fall in love with Jesus.
00:43:32.87\00:43:35.02
It is a powerful book.
00:43:35.05\00:43:36.21
Now friends, she wrote a
book-- another book entitled
00:43:36.24\00:43:38.31
the book called Education.
00:43:38.34\00:43:41.14
And this is a
powerful book that is used
00:43:41.17\00:43:42.97
even by many
secular professionals
00:43:43.00\00:43:46.29
in the educational field
00:43:46.32\00:43:47.77
as one of the best
guides to true education,
00:43:47.80\00:43:50.47
because she wrote not
just while educating the mind
00:43:50.50\00:43:53.07
but also the hand and the
heart and the whole being.
00:43:53.10\00:43:57.05
And friends, she wrote
many books on education.
00:43:57.08\00:43:59.51
When she herself only
had a third grade education
00:43:59.54\00:44:03.47
how could that be,
unless God was the one
00:44:03.50\00:44:05.91
that gave her the vision.
00:44:05.94\00:44:06.97
Can you say, amen?
00:44:07.00\00:44:08.03
Powerful book on education,
00:44:08.06\00:44:09.32
brilliant pick it
that up take a look at it.
00:44:09.35\00:44:11.41
She wrote another book
called the Great Controversy.
00:44:11.44\00:44:13.63
And, friends, of
all her books that's--
00:44:13.66\00:44:15.06
she said that one is
the most important one
00:44:15.09\00:44:17.27
is the book the
Great Controversy
00:44:17.30\00:44:19.26
magnifies the prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation
00:44:19.29\00:44:23.56
and it gives us in detail
00:44:23.59\00:44:24.82
what's going to
happen in these last days.
00:44:24.85\00:44:26.65
And friends, she went
through much affliction
00:44:26.68\00:44:28.86
in trying to get
this book out there.
00:44:28.89\00:44:30.22
In fact, she
said in her own words
00:44:30.25\00:44:31.82
that she could only
write about one page a day
00:44:31.85\00:44:33.70
because she was so sickly
and the devil was attacking her,
00:44:33.73\00:44:36.11
she had to
write one page one day
00:44:36.14\00:44:37.79
and she would have
to rest like three days.
00:44:37.82\00:44:39.67
And through great pains
00:44:39.70\00:44:41.55
the book the Great
Controversy was given to us.
00:44:41.58\00:44:44.77
And friends, that
is a very powerful,
00:44:44.80\00:44:46.75
very solemn book
talking about church history,
00:44:46.78\00:44:49.17
magnifying the prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation.
00:44:49.20\00:44:51.85
She wrote another book,
00:44:51.88\00:44:52.99
a beautiful book
one of my favorites
00:44:53.02\00:44:54.30
a small classic book
called Steps to Christ.
00:44:54.33\00:44:57.39
Thirteen chapters
which are 13 steps
00:44:57.42\00:45:00.63
of how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus.
00:45:00.66\00:45:04.49
This book has
been translated in over
00:45:04.52\00:45:05.98
a 150 languages
around the world.
00:45:06.01\00:45:08.51
Billions of copies
all around the world
00:45:08.54\00:45:11.56
had lead millions of
people to a deeper understanding
00:45:11.59\00:45:14.98
of how to have a personal daily
abiding relationship with Jesus.
00:45:15.01\00:45:19.48
Friends, I have read this book
I can't tell you how many times.
00:45:19.51\00:45:21.85
Every time I read it
I learn something new,
00:45:21.88\00:45:24.19
takes me back to the Bible
00:45:24.22\00:45:25.34
and I learn to
get closer to Christ.
00:45:25.37\00:45:27.25
In fact we are
gonna give each one of you
00:45:27.28\00:45:30.14
this book on
your way out tonight
00:45:30.17\00:45:31.70
so that you can
see for yourself,
00:45:31.73\00:45:33.48
just how
beautiful and how in harmony
00:45:33.51\00:45:35.92
it is with the word of God.
00:45:35.95\00:45:37.64
She wrote another book
called Ministry of Healing
00:45:37.67\00:45:39.51
talking about the
healing ministry of Jesus.
00:45:39.54\00:45:41.25
Very powerful book.
00:45:41.28\00:45:42.31
Another book
called, Councils on Health,
00:45:42.34\00:45:44.41
magnifying biblical
principles of health.
00:45:44.44\00:45:46.91
And friends, those who applied
the teachings in this book
00:45:46.94\00:45:50.28
secular magazines have said that
00:45:50.31\00:45:52.95
those who apply these principles
00:45:52.98\00:45:54.95
live on average 10 years longer,
00:45:54.98\00:45:57.48
than the average person.
00:45:57.51\00:45:59.11
How many would like to
add a decade to your life?
00:45:59.14\00:46:01.62
Friends, God has
given us these things
00:46:01.65\00:46:03.60
and it's beautiful.
00:46:03.63\00:46:04.66
Now, friends as we continue
here is the next question.
00:46:04.69\00:46:07.01
Do her writings uplift Jesus?
00:46:07.04\00:46:10.88
Absolutely, yes.
00:46:10.91\00:46:12.20
Let me share with you
a quotation from a book
00:46:12.23\00:46:13.74
she wrote called Gospel Workers.
00:46:13.77\00:46:15.53
This was a book
to teach God's people
00:46:15.56\00:46:17.70
how to be more
effective gospel workers,
00:46:17.73\00:46:20.35
missionaries and
witness for Christ.
00:46:20.38\00:46:23.06
How to win our loved ones
00:46:23.09\00:46:24.46
and she said one
of the greatest things
00:46:24.49\00:46:25.92
you can do to win your
loved ones is this, notice.
00:46:25.95\00:46:28.25
"Lift up Jesus,
00:46:28.28\00:46:31.33
you that teach the people,
00:46:31.36\00:46:32.95
lift Him up in
sermons, in songs, in prayer
00:46:32.98\00:46:35.25
let all your powers be
directed to pointing souls,
00:46:35.28\00:46:38.46
confused, bewildered, and
lost, to 'the Lamb of God.'"
00:46:38.49\00:46:43.15
Friends, she was a
woman that truly love Jesus
00:46:43.18\00:46:46.67
and she always
was pointing people
00:46:46.70\00:46:48.00
not to herself not to a church
00:46:48.03\00:46:49.80
but to Jesus alone.
00:46:49.83\00:46:50.89
She passed that test. Next test.
00:46:50.92\00:46:52.66
Did she accurately
predict the future?
00:46:52.69\00:46:54.78
Absolutely, yes.
00:46:54.81\00:46:56.64
Though her
writings most of it is
00:46:56.67\00:46:58.49
over a 100 years old only
now is science catching up
00:46:58.52\00:47:03.76
on some of the things
she wrote 100 years ago.
00:47:03.79\00:47:05.88
Let me give you an example,
00:47:05.91\00:47:07.11
back in the 1800s
when she lived and wrote
00:47:07.14\00:47:09.40
people had no
idea that sugar and fat
00:47:09.43\00:47:12.59
contributed to
coronary heart disease.
00:47:12.62\00:47:16.00
They had no idea that
our diet affects our--
00:47:16.03\00:47:18.56
the quality of our lives.
00:47:18.59\00:47:20.89
And during this
time of gross ignorance--
00:47:20.92\00:47:23.10
ignorance on health
she wrote about a diet
00:47:23.13\00:47:25.79
of whole grains,
fruits, nuts and vegetables
00:47:25.82\00:47:29.58
and this is the same diet
00:47:29.61\00:47:31.48
that now the American
Heart Association recommends.
00:47:31.51\00:47:34.70
It is an anticancer diet
00:47:34.73\00:47:36.72
that can
actually reverse diabetes
00:47:36.75\00:47:38.66
and get you off
of much medication
00:47:38.69\00:47:41.52
and she wrote this when doctors
were actually prescribing
00:47:41.55\00:47:45.48
swine's flesh to their patients
00:47:45.51\00:47:47.92
to help them get healthy.
00:47:47.95\00:47:50.87
And, friends, God
used her to expound upon
00:47:50.90\00:47:52.71
the principles of health
that are in the word of God
00:47:52.74\00:47:55.36
and why because God loves us
00:47:55.39\00:47:57.53
he wants us to be
healthy, happy and holy people.
00:47:57.56\00:48:00.98
He wants us to be the
head and not the tail.
00:48:01.01\00:48:02.94
Can you say, amen?
00:48:02.97\00:48:04.00
In fact, I want you to notice
00:48:04.03\00:48:05.06
what one professor of nutrition
00:48:05.09\00:48:06.74
at Cornell University had to say
00:48:06.77\00:48:08.99
concerning the
writings of Ellen White.
00:48:09.02\00:48:10.82
Dr. Clive McCay he was
not a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:48:10.85\00:48:14.95
he was a secular
professor of nutrition
00:48:14.98\00:48:17.11
and notice what he said
00:48:17.14\00:48:18.42
concerning the
writings of a third grader.
00:48:18.45\00:48:20.60
Here is what he said,
00:48:20.63\00:48:21.66
"In spite of the
fact that the works
00:48:21.69\00:48:23.35
of Mrs. White were
written long before
00:48:23.38\00:48:26.15
the advent of modern
scientific nutrition,
00:48:26.18\00:48:29.79
no better over-all
guide is available today."
00:48:29.82\00:48:35.11
Friends, this is a
professor at a heart university
00:48:35.14\00:48:39.81
talking about the
writings of a third grader.
00:48:39.84\00:48:43.47
Friends, God was the one
00:48:43.50\00:48:44.88
that revealed
these things to her.
00:48:44.91\00:48:45.97
Can you say, amen?
00:48:46.00\00:48:47.68
How do the third
grader know so much?
00:48:47.71\00:48:49.79
Because she had God as her guide
00:48:49.82\00:48:51.90
and friends, as a
result National Geographic
00:48:51.93\00:48:54.20
I have this magazine right here,
00:48:54.23\00:48:55.38
you can see it if you want.
00:48:55.41\00:48:56.69
It ran an article,
this is a secular magazine
00:48:56.72\00:48:59.55
and few years ago
they run an article
00:48:59.58\00:49:01.41
the secrets of living longer
00:49:01.44\00:49:03.14
and they talked
about three people groups
00:49:03.17\00:49:05.64
that live a lot longer than
the average person in the world.
00:49:05.67\00:49:08.31
And off the three
people groups that they--
00:49:08.34\00:49:10.08
that they showed in the article
00:49:10.11\00:49:11.71
only one was religious group
00:49:11.74\00:49:13.10
it was the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:49:13.13\00:49:16.40
and this secular
article made it clear
00:49:16.43\00:49:19.43
that the Seventh-day
Adventist church members who--
00:49:19.46\00:49:22.59
because of their faith in Jesus
00:49:22.62\00:49:24.30
and because of the
principles of health
00:49:24.33\00:49:25.90
that they apply to their lives
00:49:25.93\00:49:27.21
magnify by the
writings of Ellen White
00:49:27.24\00:49:29.47
they live on average
from seven to ten years longer
00:49:29.50\00:49:33.45
than the average American.
00:49:33.48\00:49:34.51
Friends, you want to
add a decade to your life?
00:49:34.54\00:49:36.89
God has given us the secret
00:49:36.92\00:49:39.00
the healing ministry of Christ.
00:49:39.03\00:49:42.35
And friends,
back-- way back in 1864,
00:49:42.38\00:49:46.16
Ellen White wrote,
00:49:46.19\00:49:47.31
"Tobacco is a poison of the most
deceitful and malignant kind.
00:49:47.34\00:49:50.89
It is all the more dangerous
00:49:50.92\00:49:51.95
because its effects
upon the system are so slow,
00:49:51.98\00:49:54.58
and scarcely perceivable."
00:49:54.61\00:49:56.81
Now, friends, this is
not a surprise to us, right?
00:49:56.84\00:49:59.00
But in 1864 the
doctors laughed at her.
00:49:59.03\00:50:02.96
They said, you don't know
what you are talking about.
00:50:02.99\00:50:04.34
You know why because
in 1864 medical doctors
00:50:04.37\00:50:07.84
were actually prescribing
tobacco smoke to their patients
00:50:07.87\00:50:11.80
that have problems breathing.
00:50:11.83\00:50:14.03
They said this is
gonna help you out.
00:50:14.06\00:50:16.77
And here is the
third grader is saying no,
00:50:16.80\00:50:18.45
this is wrong she was
going against the doctors
00:50:18.48\00:50:20.80
they laughed at
her and it was only a--
00:50:20.83\00:50:23.87
it took the world about
100 years to finally catch up
00:50:23.90\00:50:27.85
to what God had
already revealed.
00:50:27.88\00:50:29.65
And it wasn't until 1957
00:50:29.68\00:50:31.87
that the American
Heart Association concluded
00:50:31.90\00:50:34.30
that smoking was not
a-- was not a curative
00:50:34.33\00:50:37.23
it was a causative
factor in lung cancer.
00:50:37.26\00:50:40.22
Once gain God's prophet was
one step ahead of the world.
00:50:40.25\00:50:43.13
She even
predicted natural disasters.
00:50:43.16\00:50:44.76
I want you to notice,
00:50:44.79\00:50:45.82
"In 1903, Ellen White
warned that San Francisco
00:50:45.85\00:50:48.24
and Oakland would
be visited by the Lord
00:50:48.27\00:50:49.51
because they were fast
00:50:49.54\00:50:50.57
becoming like
Sodom and Gomorrah."
00:50:50.60\00:50:52.13
The wickedness
taking place in these cities
00:50:52.16\00:50:54.21
that judgments
would fall she said
00:50:54.24\00:50:55.92
that she saw this in
vision she wrote this in 1903
00:50:55.95\00:50:58.62
in a book Last Day
Events and then in 1906,
00:50:58.65\00:51:01.59
the great San
Francisco earthquake took place,
00:51:01.62\00:51:04.69
the city was destroyed and burnt
00:51:04.72\00:51:06.71
the prediction came
true and the prophet wept.
00:51:06.74\00:51:10.83
She even predicted
the American Civil War.
00:51:10.86\00:51:14.68
God showed her in vision
American killing other Americans
00:51:14.71\00:51:17.79
and she said that a war would
take place long in its duration
00:51:17.82\00:51:21.41
and she was saying this
when the politicians of her day
00:51:21.44\00:51:25.59
including President Lincoln,
00:51:25.62\00:51:27.68
they were certain
that there would be no war
00:51:27.71\00:51:30.10
and if there was it
would be very short.
00:51:30.13\00:51:32.55
That's what the
politicians were saying.
00:51:32.58\00:51:34.31
But she was going against
it all she was saying, no.
00:51:34.34\00:51:36.38
God showed me that
there is gonna be war
00:51:36.41\00:51:38.42
and it's gonna be
long in its duration.
00:51:38.45\00:51:40.88
You see the prophet was right,
00:51:40.91\00:51:43.06
even when the specialists
were saying otherwise.
00:51:43.09\00:51:46.06
There are many other things
00:51:46.09\00:51:47.19
she prophesized of that
house and is coming a pass,
00:51:47.22\00:51:50.27
we don't have time
to go through tonight
00:51:50.30\00:51:51.48
but I'm gonna let you study
it and read it for yourself.
00:51:51.51\00:51:53.57
Next question, do her
writings bear good fruit?
00:51:53.60\00:51:58.58
Absolutely, yes.
00:51:58.61\00:52:00.58
Her writings, her
council and her leadership
00:52:00.61\00:52:03.31
has lead to the fastest growing
00:52:03.34\00:52:06.45
Christian denomination
in the world right now.
00:52:06.48\00:52:09.49
The Seventh-day Adventist
church is the fastest growing
00:52:09.52\00:52:10.93
Christian
denomination in the world
00:52:10.96\00:52:12.67
and it's because
of our faith in Jesus
00:52:12.70\00:52:14.57
but also the
principles of evangelism
00:52:14.60\00:52:16.79
that she wrote in many books.
00:52:16.82\00:52:18.00
Not only that but here writings
00:52:18.03\00:52:19.81
in council
leadership has lead to the--
00:52:19.84\00:52:21.57
denomination that
has the farthest reach
00:52:21.60\00:52:24.66
more than any
other church in the world
00:52:24.69\00:52:26.50
reaching more
countries with the gospel
00:52:26.53\00:52:28.57
than any other church.
00:52:28.60\00:52:29.93
Not only that
00:52:29.96\00:52:30.99
but her ministry has
also led to the largest
00:52:31.02\00:52:33.31
protestant
educational system in the world,
00:52:33.34\00:52:36.88
Adventist education largest part
00:52:36.91\00:52:38.35
of educational
system in the world.
00:52:38.38\00:52:40.14
And her ministry is also led
00:52:40.17\00:52:41.29
to the largest
protestant health system
00:52:41.32\00:52:44.00
in the United States of America.
00:52:44.03\00:52:45.95
In fact, I want you
notice some of these comparisons
00:52:45.98\00:52:48.97
in 1915, in the year
that Ellen White died
00:52:49.00\00:52:51.84
this is-- this was
the-- was taking place
00:52:51.87\00:52:54.34
in the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:52:54.37\00:52:55.40
The membership
was about 100,000,
00:52:55.43\00:52:57.36
we had about 37
publishing houses,
00:52:57.39\00:52:59.85
34 sanitariums those
were health institutions.
00:52:59.88\00:53:02.76
There are about 70
colleges and academies.
00:53:02.79\00:53:05.09
Over 500 elementary
schools and the writings--
00:53:05.12\00:53:09.32
her writings were
translated in over 36 languages
00:53:09.35\00:53:12.38
this was in 1915 in
the year that she died.
00:53:12.41\00:53:15.50
But since then the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:53:15.53\00:53:18.01
has grown
explosively in fruitfullness.
00:53:18.04\00:53:21.77
We have over 71,000
churches around the world.
00:53:21.80\00:53:25.35
A membership of over 17 million
00:53:25.38\00:53:27.45
we are in over a 209
countries in the world.
00:53:27.48\00:53:30.75
We have over 7,800 schools,
00:53:30.78\00:53:34.17
over a 173
hospitals and sanitariums,
00:53:34.20\00:53:36.88
14 media centers spreading
the gospel through satellite,
00:53:36.91\00:53:40.79
internet and radio
throughout the whole world.
00:53:40.82\00:53:43.24
Publishing houses we
have over 63 around the world
00:53:43.27\00:53:45.64
and ADRA stands
for Adventist Disaster
00:53:45.67\00:53:48.67
and Relief
Association we've done over
00:53:48.70\00:53:51.55
1,889 projects have
been funded by ADRA.
00:53:51.58\00:53:56.24
Beneficiaries over 40 million
people and over $281 millions
00:53:56.27\00:54:00.59
have been spend to
bring relief to places
00:54:00.62\00:54:03.94
that have experienced disasters,
00:54:03.97\00:54:05.54
natural disasters
all around the world.
00:54:05.57\00:54:07.85
Friends, I don't know about you
00:54:07.88\00:54:08.91
but that sounds a good fruit.
00:54:08.94\00:54:10.23
Can you say, amen?
00:54:10.26\00:54:11.29
In fact, it
sounds like great fruit.
00:54:11.32\00:54:14.43
And friends, listen the ministry
00:54:14.46\00:54:15.73
of the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:54:15.76\00:54:17.51
touches people
not just spiritually
00:54:17.54\00:54:20.42
but in every
single aspect of our lives
00:54:20.45\00:54:22.64
because you know why
Jesus not only preach
00:54:22.67\00:54:25.47
He also healed people.
00:54:25.50\00:54:26.53
Can you say, amen?
00:54:26.56\00:54:27.63
In fact, did you know right here
00:54:27.66\00:54:28.69
in Kahului
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:54:28.72\00:54:30.43
we have one of the
strongest health programs
00:54:30.46\00:54:33.37
in the United States
00:54:33.40\00:54:34.70
the CHIP program complete
health improvement program
00:54:34.73\00:54:37.57
some of you
have been through it.
00:54:37.60\00:54:38.65
Nancy Laura has been
leading out amongst others
00:54:38.68\00:54:41.01
and friends it's a
powerful, powerful program.
00:54:41.04\00:54:43.21
If you want to help
reverse type two diabetes
00:54:43.24\00:54:45.88
and start getting off medication
00:54:45.91\00:54:47.91
and just living a
more vibrant healthy life.
00:54:47.94\00:54:51.58
God has given us the
answers through His word
00:54:51.61\00:54:54.49
and through the special insight
00:54:54.52\00:54:55.62
He has given to us
in these last days.
00:54:55.65\00:54:57.44
Can you say, amen?
00:54:57.47\00:54:59.12
And her council on family
00:54:59.15\00:55:01.43
and parenting has
mended many broken homes.
00:55:01.46\00:55:05.02
Friends if you any
problems in your marriage
00:55:05.05\00:55:06.23
pick up the book
Adventist Home read it.
00:55:06.26\00:55:08.01
Friends, it expounds upon
00:55:08.04\00:55:09.07
the principles of
relationships in the Bible.
00:55:09.10\00:55:11.37
Powerful book if you are having
problems with your children
00:55:11.40\00:55:13.58
pick up the book Child Guidance,
00:55:13.61\00:55:15.95
powerful book that talks
about prenatal care giving.
00:55:15.98\00:55:18.79
And how to raise
our children in the fear
00:55:18.82\00:55:20.24
and admonition of
the Lord and friends,
00:55:20.27\00:55:22.39
even those in the world
recognize a special gift
00:55:22.42\00:55:26.42
has been given through
the ministry of Ellen White.
00:55:26.45\00:55:28.46
I want you to notice what U.S
00:55:28.49\00:55:29.76
News and world
report had to say,
00:55:29.79\00:55:31.23
this was in 2009
this article they brought
00:55:31.26\00:55:34.18
they came out with
and in this article
00:55:34.21\00:55:36.67
they talked
about 11 health habits
00:55:36.70\00:55:39.44
that help you live to 100.
00:55:39.47\00:55:41.37
And notice what one of
those health habits was,
00:55:41.40\00:55:43.67
they said, if you
want to live to a 100,
00:55:43.70\00:55:46.01
"Live like a
Seventh Day Adventist.
00:55:46.04\00:55:48.35
Americans who define themselves
as Seventh-day Adventists
00:55:48.38\00:55:51.54
have an average
life expectancy of 89,
00:55:51.57\00:55:54.17
about a decade longer
than the average American.
00:55:54.20\00:55:56.84
One of the basic
tenets of the religion
00:55:56.87\00:55:58.58
is that it's
important to cherish the body
00:55:58.61\00:56:00.99
that's on loan from God."
00:56:01.02\00:56:02.66
Which means no
smoking, alcohol abuse,
00:56:02.69\00:56:06.00
or
overindulging in sweets. Amen.
00:56:06.03\00:56:08.83
Oh, some of you didn't say
00:56:08.86\00:56:09.89
amen on that
one, that's all right.
00:56:09.92\00:56:10.95
Followers typically
stick to a vegetarian diet
00:56:13.83\00:56:18.62
based on fruits,
vegetables, beans, and nuts,
00:56:18.65\00:56:20.97
and get plenty of exercise.
00:56:21.00\00:56:22.98
They're also very focused
on family and community."
00:56:23.01\00:56:26.77
And friends this is
exactly what the Bible teaches
00:56:26.80\00:56:29.79
and God has blessed
in a very special way.
00:56:29.82\00:56:32.96
Now friends, as we close tonight
00:56:32.99\00:56:34.79
we see very clearly
that both the Christian
00:56:34.82\00:56:37.30
as well as the non-Christian
world has benefited
00:56:37.33\00:56:40.76
by the ministry
of Ellen G. White.
00:56:40.79\00:56:43.33
Her life and
labors closed in 1915
00:56:43.36\00:56:45.78
when she died at the old
ripe age of 87 years old.
00:56:45.81\00:56:49.97
Remember when she
was in third grade,
00:56:50.00\00:56:51.03
doctor said she
only has months to live.
00:56:51.06\00:56:53.72
But God preserved her life
00:56:53.75\00:56:56.13
because of her faith and trust
in her Savior Jesus Christ.
00:56:56.16\00:56:59.99
She is buried at
the Oak Hill Cemetery,
00:57:00.02\00:57:01.70
in Battle Creek, Michigan.
00:57:01.73\00:57:02.76
If you notice her
grave very simple,
00:57:02.79\00:57:04.97
very simple, friends.
00:57:05.00\00:57:06.98
She is not reviewed
as a God or a saint.
00:57:07.01\00:57:08.74
No, she was simply a
messenger of the Lord.
00:57:08.77\00:57:11.68
In a few weeks, after she
passed away a news paper said,
00:57:11.71\00:57:14.74
"She showed no spiritual pride
and she sought no filthy lucre."
00:57:14.77\00:57:18.97
In other words, she
didn't get rich friends,
00:57:19.00\00:57:20.49
she was only sacrifice.
00:57:20.52\00:57:22.45
Giving of her own means
to just pouring out her life
00:57:22.48\00:57:25.77
for the work with Jesus.
00:57:25.80\00:57:27.89
And the secular
news papers said,
00:57:27.92\00:57:29.05
she lived the
life and did the work
00:57:29.08\00:57:30.55
of a worthy
prophetess the most admirable
00:57:30.58\00:57:33.57
of the American succession.
00:57:33.60\00:57:36.07
She is simply a humble servant
of the Lord that love people.
00:57:36.10\00:57:40.63
She is not the
Sprit of Prophecy friends
00:57:40.66\00:57:42.94
the Holy Spirit is
the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:57:42.97\00:57:45.34
She was simply the
recipient of a special gift
00:57:45.37\00:57:48.13
and her legacy to the
world is a gift from God.
00:57:48.16\00:57:51.51
A good God who
wants to keep in touch
00:57:51.54\00:57:54.22
with you and I in a special
intimate way in the last days.
00:57:54.25\00:57:57.57
And friends, in
closing how shall we respond
00:57:57.60\00:58:00.81
to God's end time gift.
00:58:00.84\00:58:02.68
How shall we respond
00:58:02.71\00:58:04.21
to that which we
have heard tonight?
00:58:04.24\00:58:05.61
Friends, tonight
I'm not going to ask you
00:58:05.64\00:58:06.83
to accept Ellen
White as a prophet
00:58:06.86\00:58:09.09
but what I'm
going to ask you to do
00:58:09.12\00:58:10.79
is exact with the
Bible tells us to do.
00:58:10.82\00:58:13.92
Three things friends
before we close here,
00:58:13.95\00:58:15.59
1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21
let's read it together shall we?
00:58:15.62\00:58:19.15
The Bible says, "Do
not despise prophesying.
00:58:19.18\00:58:23.96
Test all things, Hold
on that which is good."
00:58:23.99\00:58:29.73
Three things, friends,
00:58:29.76\00:58:31.04
don't close your
mind don't be despise it,
00:58:31.07\00:58:32.62
don't let it
off don't ignore it.
00:58:32.65\00:58:34.08
Number two, test it,
read it, check it out
00:58:34.11\00:58:37.60
compare with the
teachings of the Bible
00:58:37.63\00:58:40.24
and if it pass the test hold on
00:58:40.27\00:58:43.02
we see it as a gift from God.
00:58:43.05\00:58:44.08
And friends, the reason
00:58:44.11\00:58:45.14
I'm not gonna ask
you accept Ellen White
00:58:45.17\00:58:46.20
because it takes
time, to do this.
00:58:46.23\00:58:48.71
It takes a personal
investment of your time,
00:58:48.74\00:58:52.11
but friends, let me
bare my testimony tonight.
00:58:52.14\00:58:54.97
I have done exactly
what the Bible have said,
00:58:55.00\00:58:57.62
I have read her
writings compared with scripture
00:58:57.65\00:58:59.83
and she meets the
tests of the prophets.
00:58:59.86\00:59:02.84
She did the work of a prophet.
00:59:02.87\00:59:04.66
God's end time
church will have a prophet,
00:59:04.69\00:59:06.84
you are not going to know that
00:59:06.87\00:59:08.24
until you test for yourself.
00:59:08.27\00:59:10.91