male announcer: "The
Voice of Prophecy" presents
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"Midnight
Approaches" by Shawn Boonstra
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at the yearly Palm
Springs sponsorship weekend,
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where supporters and
friends learn about our mission,
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ministry, and God's leading.
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Shawn Boonstra: This
morning, I want to start
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in 2 Thessalonians chapter
2, which goes without saying
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is Paul's second letter to
the church at Thessalonica.
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And the verses we're going
to read will be on the screen,
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but I would still
encourage you this morning
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that if you have an
actual copy of the Bible,
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open it up on the
tables and follow along anyway
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because you'll probably notice
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context that we
don't have time to cover,
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or you'll notice
details in a verse
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that we don't have time
to talk about this morning.
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And all of those
details are important.
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We will provide
it on the screen,
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but it's still a
good idea to follow along.
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We're going to start in
2 Thessalonians chapter 2
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and verse 1.
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This is Paul
writing, and he says,
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"Now, brethren, concerning the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
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and our
gathering together to Him,
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we ask you not to be
soon shaken in mind," or what?
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Well, it's up there on the
screen and it's underlined.
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It's a really
easy test, or what?
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"Troubled, either by
spirit or by word or by letter,
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as if from us, as though
the day of Christ had come."
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Now, I want to pause.
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This is not the major theme
that we're going to be studying,
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but I want you to
notice the attitude Paul uses
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when he discusses last
day events, Bible prophecy,
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the Second Coming of Christ,
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he uses the same
attitude that Jesus has
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when Jesus looks
down to the future.
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You'll notice that many
times throughout the gospel,
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Jesus says, "Fear not.
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Why do you allow
fears to rise in your heart?
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You believe in
God; believe also in me.
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Let not your heart be troubled."
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It's always in the New Testament
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with this attitude
of calm reassurance.
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It's always with
this attitude of hope,
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and that tells me
something important.
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It tells me that if
preachers are always and forever
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using last day events
to just scare the stuffing
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out of the congregation,
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there might be something
wrong with that approach.
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It might not be the
New Testament approach.
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Now, that's not to
say that once in a while
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it doesn't have its place.
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Once in a while, a
preacher just needs to lay out
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a little bit of
straight talk and say,
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"Look, if you do this,
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the consequence
is going to be this."
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Every preacher knows
that once in a while,
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you have to do it.
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Every parent knows
that once in a while,
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you have to do that.
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You have to say,
"Johnny, if you put that knife
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in the electric outlet,
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you're going to
get a nasty burn,
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or a shock, or even worse."
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Sometimes, you just have to
lay out the scary consequences
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of what
somebody might do, right?
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"Young lady, if
you drink and drive,
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you're not only
going to get hurt,
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you might kill
somebody or kill yourself."
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Sometimes, a little
straight talk is good.
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"Young lady, if you
date before the age of 30,
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it's going to
turn out to be no good.
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Don't trust a man before
they're 35 with a career."
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You have to lay out
the bald truth sometimes.
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Once in a while, it's
a perfectly valid method
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to make a biblical point.
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But that having been said,
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if somebody is
always and forever
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selling the
gospel to an audience
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by trying to scare
people into the kingdom,
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if everything they preach
is always about the beast,
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and it's always
about persecution,
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it's always about
the little horn power,
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it's always
about the last crisis,
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then I'd like to suggest that,
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based on what we
find in the New Testament,
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that might not be
a biblical approach.
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So, Paul writes to
Thessalonians, and he says,
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"Look, I don't want you
to be troubled by anything
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that I might write
to you in a letter."
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Now, we don't know
exactly why he had to say that,
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but we suspect
that Paul had to say,
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"Look, I don't want you to
be troubled by my letters,"
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because he's afraid
that he might have given
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these people the wrong
idea with his first letter.
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And that's the
letter where he describes
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the Second Coming of
Christ in amazing, vivid detail.
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It's a passage you know
well because you've heard it
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at every funeral
you've ever gone to.
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1 Thessalonians 4, Paul writes
and says, "When Jesus comes,
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he descends from
heaven with a mighty shout,
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and the trumpet of God, and
the graves start popping open,
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and the dead come
out of the ground,
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and we're all
caught up in the air
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to be with Jesus forever."
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Back in the first century,
before they had YouTube,
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before they had Netflix,
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before they had a
special effects department,
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that was the
most vivid description
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of the Second Coming possible.
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And it was so
powerful that we suspect
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it actually caused a panic
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in the early
first century church.
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"Did you hear what Paul wrote?
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The pastor read it
from the pulpit on Sabbath.
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Jesus is coming
back any minute."
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"Oh, that's good news.
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You know, the
Roman tax collector
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is coming through
town this afternoon,
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and I'm not going
to pay him the taxes
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because if Jesus is
coming back that soon,
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they won't even
have time for a trial.
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They'll never have
time to crucify me,
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and it will feel really
good to just say no to that guy.
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And I'm not putting in
my crops this week either
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because if there's
not going to be a harvest,
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forget it, Jesus is
coming back any minute.
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We've only got a few days left."
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Somehow, they
got the wrong idea.
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So, Paul sits down and he
writes this second letter.
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"Not so fast," he says.
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"There is something
that has to happen first
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before Jesus comes."
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Now, we're going to get to
our key thought for the morning,
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verse 3, follow carefully.
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"Let no one deceive you
by any means; for that day,"
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the Second Coming of Christ,
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"will not come unless the
falling away comes first."
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Now, he's looking down
through the corridors of time
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and predicting that
the Christian church itself
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would move into
an age of apostasy.
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He's looking at the dark
horse of Revelation chapter 6
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and the pale horse
of Revelation chapter 6,
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"That Day will not come unless
the falling away comes first,"
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apostasy within Christianity,
"and the man of sin is revealed,
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the son of perdition, who
opposes and exalts himself
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above all that is called
God or that is worshiped,
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so that he sits as
God in the temple of God,
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showing himself that he is God."
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Now, I'm
convinced that that passage,
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especially the underlined bit,
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that passage describes
the greatest challenge,
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the greatest
threat you and I face
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between this moment this morning
and the Second Coming of Christ,
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but maybe not the
way that you think.
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Usually when we read this,
we read it with external eyes.
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We read a passage like that,
we run to the bedroom window,
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we open the
drapes, we look outside,
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"Where is that man of
sin, that son of perdition?"
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And he's not hard to find
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if you gather the
biblical evidence.
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It's pretty obvious who or
what this is talking about.
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But I want you to
look at this verse
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with a new set of
eyes this morning,
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and maybe read it just
a little more personally.
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And in order to help
us do that this morning,
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I want to take you to the
pages of the Old Testament.
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And I want to look at the
story of Saul, the son of Kish,
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this very ordinary young man
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who's doing something
very ordinary, very average
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the first time that
you meet him in the story.
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He's just out
combing the countryside,
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looking for his
dad's missing donkeys
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that escaped last
night and disappeared.
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He's like every other
farm kid you've ever met
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who had to go
chase a missing cow
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that got out of the pen
last night, and is somewhere
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down the freeway or
in somebody else's field.
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He's like every other
little boy you've ever met
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who had to go down
the neighborhood hanging
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"Have you seen my
puppy?" signs on every lamppost.
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It's a very
average, very ordinary story
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because every story
in the Bible is average
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and ordinary when it starts.
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It deals with real,
ordinary, average people,
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and then God intervenes and
does something extraordinary.
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And when you start to read
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the story of
Saul very carefully,
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you quickly notice that Saul
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is not like every
other boy you've ever met.
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In fact, in some
regards, and you may want
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to contemplate this for
the next few weeks or months
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because it may
apply very closely
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to the day and age we live in,
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in some regards Saul
looks a lot like Lucifer
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just before
Lucifer falls from grace.
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He looks like the
description of Lucifer
00:07:34.82\00:07:36.42
in Ezekiel chapter 28.
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The Bible says that Saul
the son of Kish is very gifted.
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It uses the word "choice."
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And the Bible says
that he's very attractive,
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he's very easy on the eyes.
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This is the kind of young man
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that, when he
walks into the room,
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the head of
every young lady turns.
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They all notice him
making his entrance.
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This is the kind of guy I hated
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when I was out
shopping for a wife
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because when he
showed up in the room,
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you didn't stand
a chance anymore.
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He's good looking,
a walking work of art.
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The Bible says, 1
Samuel 9, verse 2,
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"And he," that's
Kish, "had a choice
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and handsome son
whose name was Saul."
00:08:10.72\00:08:13.15
How handsome was he?
00:08:13.19\00:08:14.72
"There was not a more
handsome person than he
00:08:14.76\00:08:17.29
among the children of Israel."
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And suddenly, one day,
according to the story,
00:08:18.76\00:08:21.03
the best looking
man in the whole country
00:08:21.06\00:08:22.66
goes out to find
some missing donkeys.
00:08:22.70\00:08:25.97
But what stud muffin
Saul doesn't realize,
00:08:26.00\00:08:28.20
at least at the very
beginning of the story,
00:08:28.24\00:08:30.07
is that those donkeys
aren't missing by accident,
00:08:30.11\00:08:31.97
mm-mm.
00:08:32.01\00:08:33.41
In fact, it's
entirely possible that an angel
00:08:33.44\00:08:35.68
has broken a few
boards off of Kish's fence
00:08:35.71\00:08:38.08
and led those donkeys
out into the wilderness
00:08:38.11\00:08:40.55
because this is the
story of a divine intervention.
00:08:40.58\00:08:43.52
God needs Saul to come to a
certain spot at a certain time.
00:08:43.55\00:08:48.36
Where does he need him?
00:08:48.39\00:08:49.69
He needs him in a little village
called Ramah of Benjamin,
00:08:49.72\00:08:52.63
where the elders of
Israel have just called
00:08:52.66\00:08:54.73
an emergency
meeting with Samuel,
00:08:54.73\00:08:56.67
the aging prophet of God.
00:08:56.70\00:08:58.90
This is a story that takes
place late in Samuel's career,
00:08:58.93\00:09:01.37
years, decades after Samuel
first hears the voice of Christ
00:09:01.40\00:09:05.37
calling him in the
night, "Samuel, Samuel."
00:09:05.41\00:09:08.78
It was our favorite story
when the girls were little.
00:09:08.81\00:09:11.05
I'd just say, "Samuel, Samuel,"
and little voices would pipe up,
00:09:11.08\00:09:14.72
"Speak, Lord,
for your servant--"
00:09:14.75\00:09:16.18
It was one of
our favorite stories.
00:09:16.22\00:09:18.42
And it's one of
my favorite stories
00:09:18.45\00:09:20.12
because the personality of
Jesus shines through the story.
00:09:20.16\00:09:23.02
I don't know if
you've ever noticed,
00:09:23.06\00:09:24.79
but Jesus seems to
have this personality trait
00:09:24.83\00:09:27.23
where he uses
people's first names twice.
00:09:27.23\00:09:30.17
"Mary, Mary.
00:09:30.20\00:09:32.30
Saul, Saul, why
do you persecute me?
00:09:32.33\00:09:34.27
Samuel, Samuel,"
you know it's Jesus
00:09:34.30\00:09:36.94
before you finish the story.
00:09:36.97\00:09:38.91
Now, it's years,
decades after that night.
00:09:38.94\00:09:41.71
And in obedience
to the call of Jesus,
00:09:41.74\00:09:43.75
Samuel has spent his entire life
helping the children of Israel
00:09:43.78\00:09:47.12
understand what it
means to live as ex-slaves,
00:09:47.15\00:09:50.32
what it means to
live as a free people
00:09:50.35\00:09:52.35
in a covenant
relationship with God,
00:09:52.39\00:09:54.16
what it means to
build a God-fearing nation
00:09:54.19\00:09:56.59
in the land of promise,
00:09:56.62\00:09:57.96
surrounded by all these heathen,
idol worshiping countries.
00:09:57.99\00:10:02.53
And now, in 1 Samuel chapter 8,
00:10:02.56\00:10:04.73
Samuel's getting up
there, he's getting old.
00:10:04.77\00:10:06.94
And the children of Israel
are watching him deteriorate,
00:10:06.97\00:10:09.64
and they're wondering
what's going to happen
00:10:09.67\00:10:11.24
when this guy is gone.
00:10:11.27\00:10:12.57
What are we going
to do about leadership
00:10:12.61\00:10:14.18
in the nation of Israel?
00:10:14.21\00:10:15.94
So, they call a
meeting in Ramah,
00:10:15.98\00:10:17.98
and about the same time
that the donkeys go missing.
00:10:18.01\00:10:20.38
"We kind of notice that lately,
you're not what you used to be.
00:10:20.42\00:10:24.35
We noticed you're getting tired,
you're tired all the time.
00:10:24.39\00:10:27.02
You forget stuff.
00:10:27.06\00:10:28.36
The other day
after council meeting,
00:10:28.39\00:10:29.69
you went looking for
the keys to your ox cart,
00:10:29.72\00:10:31.29
and it took you
an hour to find them,
00:10:31.33\00:10:32.66
and they were in your hand
00:10:32.69\00:10:34.00
the whole time you
were looking, Samuel.
00:10:34.03\00:10:35.90
And the reason
you couldn't see them
00:10:35.93\00:10:37.23
is because you couldn't
find your glasses either.
00:10:37.27\00:10:38.77
They were on your
head the whole time.
00:10:38.80\00:10:41.14
And we've noticed that even when
you're not forgetting stuff,
00:10:41.17\00:10:43.51
you fall asleep in
the council meeting.
00:10:43.54\00:10:45.74
We have seen it.
00:10:45.77\00:10:47.08
No, Samuel, we have
heard you fall asleep
00:10:47.11\00:10:49.11
in the council meeting.
00:10:49.14\00:10:50.58
And even when you are awake,
we have to repeat ourselves
00:10:50.61\00:10:52.85
all the time because you
can't hear what we're saying.
00:10:52.88\00:10:55.18
So, we've been
talking, and we kind of think
00:10:55.22\00:10:57.45
that maybe now
before it's too late,
00:10:57.49\00:10:59.39
while you're still around
to help with the decision,
00:10:59.42\00:11:01.22
it might be time to
draft a succession plan.
00:11:01.26\00:11:05.03
You know, just in case."
00:11:05.06\00:11:06.80
"Well, guys, if
it's a succession plan
00:11:06.83\00:11:08.23
you're thinking of, don't
worry, I've got that covered.
00:11:08.26\00:11:09.96
You don't think I
know I'm getting older?
00:11:10.00\00:11:11.67
I have a succession plan.
00:11:11.70\00:11:13.17
Have you not noticed my
two boys, Abijah and Joel?
00:11:13.20\00:11:15.17
They're already
working as judges
00:11:15.20\00:11:16.81
here in the nation of Israel,
00:11:16.84\00:11:18.31
and I'm prepping
them to take my place."
00:11:18.34\00:11:21.74
"Well, that's
the problem, Samuel.
00:11:21.78\00:11:24.78
We don't like them."
00:11:24.81\00:11:26.31
"Why don't you like them?"
"You can't trust those guys."
00:11:26.35\00:11:28.18
And according to the
Bible, they kind of had a point.
00:11:28.22\00:11:30.59
1 Samuel 8, verse 3
says that the sons of Samuel
00:11:30.62\00:11:32.72
did not walk in the
ways of their father.
00:11:32.75\00:11:34.89
In fact, it says
that they turned aside
00:11:34.92\00:11:37.36
after dishonest
gain, they took bribes,
00:11:37.39\00:11:40.70
and they perverted justice.
00:11:40.73\00:11:43.03
Now, that might be
perfectly acceptable
00:11:43.06\00:11:44.83
if you're running for
office in 21st century America,
00:11:44.87\00:11:47.17
at least it's
starting to seem that way.
00:11:47.20\00:11:49.80
But in the camp of Israel,
that is totally unacceptable
00:11:49.84\00:11:52.87
because the only
role for human leadership
00:11:52.91\00:11:54.68
in God's system
00:11:54.71\00:11:56.38
was to stand between
the people of God and God,
00:11:56.41\00:11:58.65
and point them back to the
only true king in the universe.
00:11:58.68\00:12:01.98
It was a mediatorial role.
00:12:02.02\00:12:04.09
If you read
your Bible carefully,
00:12:04.12\00:12:05.62
you'll notice
that before this story,
00:12:05.65\00:12:07.06
before Saul the son of Kish,
00:12:07.09\00:12:08.59
the leaders of
Israel didn't pass any laws.
00:12:08.62\00:12:10.89
They didn't.
They didn't legislate.
00:12:10.93\00:12:12.93
They didn't get rich on
the proceeds of public office.
00:12:12.96\00:12:15.20
They didn't
really make any decisions
00:12:15.23\00:12:17.07
because only God made
decisions in the camp of Israel.
00:12:17.10\00:12:20.74
Human leadership
was a coaching role.
00:12:20.77\00:12:22.87
Human
leadership was mediatorial.
00:12:22.90\00:12:25.07
And if Samuel's boys were
morally compromised in any way,
00:12:25.11\00:12:28.58
there's no way they
could stand before the people
00:12:28.61\00:12:31.21
and relay the
will of God to them
00:12:31.25\00:12:32.88
because they don't understand
the will of God themselves.
00:12:32.91\00:12:36.75
So, I imagine Samuel has
to fall quiet for a moment,
00:12:36.79\00:12:40.12
same way you would
be if somebody told you
00:12:40.16\00:12:41.56
you've just
outlived your usefulness,
00:12:41.59\00:12:43.19
and your one
legacy, your children,
00:12:43.22\00:12:45.43
are an unmitigated disaster.
00:12:45.46\00:12:48.76
"Well, what do you guys
think we should do then?
00:12:48.80\00:12:50.83
If you don't want my
boys, what's your suggestion?"
00:12:50.87\00:12:52.73
"Well, here's
what we think, Samuel.
00:12:52.77\00:12:54.30
And I'm glad you asked because
we've spent a lot of time
00:12:54.34\00:12:55.97
talking about this this week.
00:12:56.00\00:12:57.47
Now that we've been
here for a few generations
00:12:57.51\00:12:59.21
and we're all settled
into the land of Canaan,
00:12:59.24\00:13:01.11
and we're free and
respectable people,
00:13:01.14\00:13:03.55
and we have
culture, and industry,
00:13:03.58\00:13:05.75
and college degrees,
00:13:05.78\00:13:07.28
we're even getting a
stoplight in Jerusalem
00:13:07.32\00:13:09.62
and maybe a symphony orchestra.
00:13:09.65\00:13:11.45
We have really
grown up as a people,
00:13:11.49\00:13:13.36
and we're
thinking that at long last,
00:13:13.39\00:13:15.02
it might be time to
become a real country."
00:13:15.06\00:13:17.76
"Well, you guys
are a real country.
00:13:17.79\00:13:19.36
You're the children of
Abraham. God gave you this land.
00:13:19.39\00:13:21.96
You're a real nation."
00:13:22.00\00:13:23.30
"No, listen Samuel, that's
just the past talking from you.
00:13:23.33\00:13:26.17
This is not a real country.
00:13:26.20\00:13:27.97
You need to
start paying attention.
00:13:28.00\00:13:29.54
Every other nation
without exception has a king.
00:13:29.57\00:13:33.07
how do you not notice that?
00:13:33.11\00:13:34.51
Every other
respectable religion,
00:13:34.54\00:13:36.11
every other church has
a responsible human being,
00:13:36.14\00:13:38.95
a highly trained professional
00:13:38.98\00:13:40.65
sitting at the top
of the organization
00:13:40.68\00:13:42.12
telling people what to do.
00:13:42.15\00:13:44.35
And we have noticed it,
00:13:44.39\00:13:45.69
and we're getting a
little bit embarrassed.
00:13:45.72\00:13:47.22
We're starting to look
like a country of peasants,
00:13:47.26\00:13:49.22
and we think maybe at long last,
00:13:49.26\00:13:51.33
it's time to graduate
from prophets and judges,
00:13:51.36\00:13:54.60
and get ourselves a king."
00:13:54.63\00:13:56.56
"A king?
00:13:56.60\00:13:57.90
That's not a good
idea at all, guys.
00:13:57.93\00:13:59.23
That's not what God wants."
00:13:59.27\00:14:00.67
"Okay, listen Samuel,
00:14:00.70\00:14:02.00
we know you have
the gift of prophecy,
00:14:02.04\00:14:03.34
but that doesn't mean everything
you say is right every time.
00:14:03.37\00:14:05.97
You're just from
another generation.
00:14:06.01\00:14:07.54
You don't understand
this. You're the past.
00:14:07.58\00:14:09.94
We wish you would
get cable in your hut
00:14:09.98\00:14:12.35
so you could watch CNN
00:14:12.38\00:14:13.75
and see what's
going on in the world.
00:14:13.78\00:14:15.25
We wish you would
open a Twitter account
00:14:15.28\00:14:16.85
and follow what people are doing
00:14:16.89\00:14:18.29
because they're all making
fun of us all over the planet.
00:14:18.32\00:14:21.29
On Twitter, it's
#Israelbabynation.
00:14:21.32\00:14:24.43
All the time, they just mock us.
00:14:24.46\00:14:26.46
We wish you would get out there
and read some Barna studies,
00:14:26.49\00:14:28.83
and talk to a few millennials.
00:14:28.86\00:14:30.73
And if you did, you
would see that we're right.
00:14:30.77\00:14:32.93
Everybody knows that
in the 12th century BC,
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.34
good professional
leadership requires a king.
00:14:35.37\00:14:38.14
It's how everybody does it."
00:14:38.17\00:14:41.64
And they were right,
00:14:41.68\00:14:43.61
it is exactly how
everybody else was doing it.
00:14:43.65\00:14:47.12
But follow me carefully
because this is important.
00:14:47.15\00:14:50.19
Everybody else was
not the kingdom of God.
00:14:50.22\00:14:53.56
Everybody else was
not the chosen people.
00:14:53.59\00:14:56.02
Everybody else was
not God's remnant church
00:14:56.06\00:14:58.59
because God's people
have never been called
00:14:58.63\00:15:00.70
to be like everybody else.
00:15:00.73\00:15:02.56
God's people
have never been called
00:15:02.60\00:15:04.03
to get their marching
orders from the popular culture.
00:15:04.07\00:15:06.17
God's people
have always been told
00:15:06.20\00:15:07.77
to stand in the
stream facing upstream,
00:15:07.80\00:15:09.74
resisting the tide of
worldliness in this world.
00:15:09.77\00:15:13.07
God's people have
never been cultural.
00:15:13.11\00:15:15.08
God's people have
always been countercultural.
00:15:15.11\00:15:18.51
And that's why it
ought to bother us
00:15:18.55\00:15:20.48
when people start looking
outside of our own church,
00:15:20.52\00:15:23.18
and they begin to covet
what everybody else has.
00:15:23.22\00:15:26.09
"Pastor, did you see
that new church in town?
00:15:26.12\00:15:29.19
They call that a megachurch.
00:15:29.22\00:15:30.53
That's a big place,
and it's very successful,
00:15:30.56\00:15:32.59
and they have 25
trained pastors on staff.
00:15:32.63\00:15:34.83
They have a
full-time marriage counselor.
00:15:34.86\00:15:36.63
They have a
full-time psychologist.
00:15:36.67\00:15:38.50
They turn out a bestselling book
every 6 months without fail.
00:15:38.53\00:15:42.10
They put a Starbucks in
the lobby of the church,
00:15:42.14\00:15:44.74
isn't that brilliant?
00:15:44.77\00:15:46.14
Because
everybody loves Starbucks,
00:15:46.17\00:15:47.78
and if they come
in for Starbucks,
00:15:47.81\00:15:49.21
they might stay for church.
00:15:49.24\00:15:50.61
they have so many
people coming every week
00:15:50.65\00:15:52.28
that they don't even have
a church building anymore,
00:15:52.31\00:15:54.38
they use a stadium.
00:15:54.42\00:15:55.72
It's 20,000 people, have
you seen what they have?"
00:15:55.75\00:16:00.12
And my answer is
yes, I have. So what?
00:16:00.16\00:16:05.09
Is that what God asked
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.93
the Seventh Day
Adventist movement to be?
00:16:06.96\00:16:09.83
Is that what he asked us to do?
00:16:09.86\00:16:11.63
When we always talk
about what other churches have,
00:16:11.67\00:16:14.04
and what other churches do,
and what other churches teach,
00:16:14.07\00:16:16.37
and we wish longingly that
we could be more like them.
00:16:16.40\00:16:18.97
And we start to talk
and we start to behave
00:16:19.01\00:16:21.11
like God somehow
forgot and shortchanged
00:16:21.14\00:16:23.68
his Seventh Day
Adventist church.
00:16:23.71\00:16:25.55
Then it's time to
crack open a Bible again
00:16:25.58\00:16:27.88
and remember that
this is not another church.
00:16:27.92\00:16:30.29
This is not just
some other denomination.
00:16:30.32\00:16:32.65
This is the
prophetic movement of God,
00:16:32.69\00:16:35.89
the remnant
church of Bible prophecy,
00:16:35.92\00:16:37.76
and we were never called
to be like everybody else.
00:16:37.79\00:16:39.86
We were called to be unique.
00:16:39.89\00:16:42.90
"Samuel,
everybody else has a king.
00:16:42.93\00:16:45.53
That's what we
want, we want a king."
00:16:45.57\00:16:48.30
Verse 6, "But the
thing displeased Samuel
00:16:48.34\00:16:51.01
when they said, 'Give
us a king to judge us.'
00:16:51.04\00:16:52.91
So Samuel prayed to the Lord."
00:16:52.94\00:16:56.41
Verse 7, "The
Lord said to Samuel,
00:16:56.44\00:16:58.58
'Heed the voice of the people
in all that they say to you.'"
00:16:58.61\00:17:01.72
Go ahead, Samuel,
give them what they want.
00:17:01.75\00:17:03.65
We would never
come to that conclusion.
00:17:03.69\00:17:05.62
"They have not rejected
you, they've rejected Me,
00:17:05.65\00:17:08.12
that I should
not reign over them."
00:17:08.16\00:17:10.26
Now, there it is again,
our key thought this morning.
00:17:10.29\00:17:12.36
It's the same thought that
is in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.
00:17:12.39\00:17:15.66
It's said a little differently.
00:17:15.70\00:17:17.03
It's said to a
different generation,
00:17:17.07\00:17:18.63
but it's still the same issue.
00:17:18.67\00:17:20.44
It's still the man of sin issue.
00:17:20.47\00:17:21.97
It's all about
the throne of God,
00:17:22.00\00:17:23.77
and whether or not we believe
God belongs on that throne.
00:17:23.81\00:17:27.24
"Give them what
they want, Samuel."
00:17:27.28\00:17:28.91
"Lord, how could you tell
me to give them what they want?
00:17:28.94\00:17:30.71
I don't like it, it's wrong."
00:17:30.75\00:17:32.91
"Samuel, trust me.
00:17:32.95\00:17:34.25
I don't like it
either, and I know this hurts.
00:17:34.28\00:17:37.12
Believe me, I know it hurts.
00:17:37.15\00:17:38.59
It's like discovering
my wife is cheating on me,
00:17:38.62\00:17:40.39
the bride of
Christ is unfaithful.
00:17:40.42\00:17:42.29
But listen to me,
if they want a king,
00:17:42.32\00:17:43.66
I'm going to let them do it
00:17:43.69\00:17:45.03
because I'm not going to
force people into my kingdom.
00:17:45.06\00:17:46.86
That's not who I am.
00:17:46.90\00:17:48.26
I don't force
anybody into anything.
00:17:48.30\00:17:50.67
If they want slavery,
00:17:50.70\00:17:52.10
and that's what
they're asking for,
00:17:52.13\00:17:53.54
if they want slavery,
00:17:53.57\00:17:54.87
they'll have to go
somewhere else to get that
00:17:54.90\00:17:56.20
because that's
not what I offer."
00:17:56.24\00:17:58.71
That is what
they were asking for.
00:17:58.74\00:18:01.04
Begging to go back to
Pharaoh, become slaves again.
00:18:01.08\00:18:03.51
They want a king.
00:18:03.55\00:18:05.21
And it's mind
boggling, it's amazing to me
00:18:05.25\00:18:07.82
that when we're a
little bit fearful,
00:18:07.85\00:18:09.22
what we're willing to do,
what we're willing to give up,
00:18:09.25\00:18:11.05
what we're willing to sacrifice
00:18:11.09\00:18:12.69
because we just can't
bring ourselves to believe
00:18:12.72\00:18:14.52
that God might
actually know what he's doing,
00:18:14.56\00:18:17.39
that he might actually be
in control of this universe,
00:18:17.43\00:18:19.53
that he might actually be
all the leadership we need,
00:18:19.56\00:18:22.66
and that he might actually
00:18:22.70\00:18:24.03
keep the promises
that he made in this book.
00:18:24.07\00:18:26.03
And he'll keep
them on his schedule,
00:18:26.07\00:18:27.77
and he'll keep them perfectly.
00:18:27.80\00:18:30.31
Look at the people in the story.
00:18:30.34\00:18:32.17
They have a direct
connection with the God
00:18:32.21\00:18:33.61
who made the
heavens and the earth.
00:18:33.64\00:18:34.94
They have the
spirit of prophecy,
00:18:34.98\00:18:36.28
a living, breathing
prophet in their midst,
00:18:36.31\00:18:38.68
giving them counsel
directly from God himself.
00:18:38.71\00:18:41.72
But in spite of all that,
00:18:41.75\00:18:43.69
they're begging for more
slavery under a new Pharaoh.
00:18:43.72\00:18:47.99
And before we cluck our
tongues, wag our fingers, say,
00:18:48.02\00:18:50.89
"What a bunch of
dummies those Israelites were,"
00:18:50.93\00:18:52.66
we should probably remember
00:18:52.69\00:18:54.00
that this is the story
of the whole human race.
00:18:54.00\00:18:55.50
We all do this.
00:18:55.53\00:18:57.23
We've been doing it since
the moment we fell into sin.
00:18:57.27\00:18:59.83
It's what we did
in the garden of Eden.
00:18:59.87\00:19:01.47
We were perfectly happy.
00:19:01.50\00:19:03.64
There was no election
cycle, there was no tax time,
00:19:03.67\00:19:06.01
no April 15.
00:19:06.04\00:19:07.44
There's food
falling off of the trees.
00:19:07.48\00:19:09.91
All of our needs are
being met, and what do we do?
00:19:09.94\00:19:11.98
We hand the keys
to a fallen angel,
00:19:12.01\00:19:13.42
who enslaves us
for thousands of years.
00:19:13.45\00:19:16.18
It's what we do all the time.
00:19:16.22\00:19:17.52
It's the story of
the whole human race.
00:19:17.55\00:19:19.19
"Abraham."
00:19:19.22\00:19:20.59
"What is it, Sarah, what
is it? You don't look happy."
00:19:20.62\00:19:22.59
"No, I'm not happy,
I'm a little concerned.
00:19:22.62\00:19:24.16
Listen, Abraham, God said
you're going to be the father
00:19:24.19\00:19:25.96
of this massive nation, right?"
00:19:25.99\00:19:27.46
"Yeah, that's
exactly what he said,
00:19:27.50\00:19:28.83
like the sand of the
sea and the stars in the--"
00:19:28.86\00:19:30.40
"And God said that Messiah
would come from your line,
00:19:30.43\00:19:33.27
right Abraham?"
00:19:33.30\00:19:34.60
"Yeah, that's what he said.
00:19:34.64\00:19:35.94
What's your point, Sarah?"
00:19:35.97\00:19:37.41
"Well, I've been
thinking about this,
00:19:37.44\00:19:39.01
and I don't want
to hurt your feelings
00:19:39.04\00:19:40.34
because in my mind's eye,
00:19:40.38\00:19:41.68
you're always going to be
the handsome young Abraham
00:19:41.71\00:19:43.21
who got down on one
knee and proposed to me.
00:19:43.24\00:19:44.91
I'll always love you like that.
00:19:44.95\00:19:48.25
I don't want to
hurt your feelings,
00:19:48.28\00:19:49.65
but have you looked in
a mirror lately, Abraham?
00:19:49.68\00:19:51.65
Have you looked?
00:19:51.69\00:19:53.69
You're so old,
you're as good as dead."
00:19:53.72\00:19:55.26
That's the language
from Hebrews chapter 11.
00:19:55.29\00:19:56.83
He's as good as--
00:19:56.86\00:19:58.16
"You're so old,
you're as good as dead,
00:19:58.19\00:19:59.49
and I'm old too.
00:19:59.53\00:20:00.83
And I don't know how
we're supposed to have a baby.
00:20:00.86\00:20:02.13
It doesn't make sense to me.
00:20:02.16\00:20:03.47
And so, I've been
thinking about this.
00:20:03.50\00:20:04.73
God is probably waiting for us
to contribute to the equation.
00:20:04.77\00:20:06.77
After all, God helps
those who help themselves."
00:20:06.80\00:20:08.97
That's not in the
Bible, by the way.
00:20:09.00\00:20:10.31
That's Benjamin
Franklin, it's not Scripture.
00:20:10.34\00:20:12.01
"God helps those
who help themselves."
00:20:12.04\00:20:13.78
"Well, what do
you suggest, Sarah?"
00:20:13.81\00:20:15.91
And this is the part
that boggles my mind,
00:20:15.94\00:20:18.08
that Abraham went for this.
00:20:18.11\00:20:19.75
"Well, I've been
thinking about this,
00:20:19.78\00:20:21.08
and I think maybe you
should sleep with the help."
00:20:21.12\00:20:23.75
Now, let me ask you ladies,
00:20:23.79\00:20:25.09
in what universe does
that sound like a good idea?
00:20:25.12\00:20:28.56
In what universe, gentlemen,
does that sound like--
00:20:28.59\00:20:30.73
"I want you to
sleep with the help."
00:20:30.76\00:20:32.13
And Abraham said, "Well, okay,
that seems like a good idea.
00:20:32.16\00:20:33.86
I'll just climb up
here on the throne of God
00:20:33.90\00:20:35.56
just for a couple of seconds.
00:20:35.60\00:20:36.90
We'll make this one decision
and get right back off."
00:20:36.93\00:20:39.00
And it always leads to disaster.
00:20:39.03\00:20:40.90
Our whole world is
still paying for that mistake.
00:20:40.94\00:20:43.17
I don't know if you've noticed,
but the descendants of Ishmael
00:20:43.20\00:20:45.44
and the descendants of Israel--
00:20:45.47\00:20:46.94
of Isaac still
hate each other's guts.
00:20:46.98\00:20:49.54
You can see it every
night when you turn on the TV,
00:20:49.58\00:20:51.31
and they're lobbing
rockets at each other.
00:20:51.35\00:20:53.85
And it's a disaster
because it never works
00:20:53.88\00:20:55.62
when you try to
take over for God.
00:20:55.65\00:20:57.32
It doesn't work when
you sit on God's throne
00:20:57.35\00:20:59.12
even for one minute.
00:20:59.15\00:21:01.36
And yes, the man of sin,
00:21:01.39\00:21:02.69
the son of perdition might
be the ringleader in the end.
00:21:02.72\00:21:05.06
He might be the
one who leads the way,
00:21:05.09\00:21:07.23
but he is not the
only one who does it,
00:21:07.30\00:21:09.73
not by a long shot.
00:21:09.76\00:21:11.30
The biggest problem
you face between now
00:21:11.33\00:21:12.93
and the Second Coming of Christ,
00:21:12.97\00:21:14.40
listen to me carefully,
the biggest problem you face
00:21:14.44\00:21:16.77
is not the little horn
power of Daniel chapter 7,
00:21:16.81\00:21:19.71
even though that's
a very real problem.
00:21:19.74\00:21:21.24
"Pastor, you don't
believe in little horn--"
00:21:21.28\00:21:22.58
Yes, I do.
00:21:22.61\00:21:23.91
I think you should pay attention
to the little horn power,
00:21:23.95\00:21:25.25
especially right now.
00:21:25.28\00:21:27.12
But it's not your
biggest personal problem,
00:21:27.15\00:21:28.68
not by a long shot.
00:21:28.72\00:21:30.49
Your biggest problem
isn't the rapid decline
00:21:30.52\00:21:32.49
of western civilization,
00:21:32.52\00:21:33.96
even though that
should concern anybody
00:21:33.99\00:21:35.39
trying to raise
godly kids in these days.
00:21:35.42\00:21:37.63
There are so many temptations,
so many influences fighting you.
00:21:37.66\00:21:41.10
But it's not your
biggest personal problem,
00:21:41.13\00:21:43.20
the decline of
western civilization.
00:21:43.23\00:21:45.77
Your biggest
problem is not what happens
00:21:45.80\00:21:47.87
or doesn't
happen in an election.
00:21:47.90\00:21:49.60
Your biggest
problem is not a decision
00:21:49.64\00:21:51.14
out of the Supreme Court.
00:21:51.17\00:21:52.61
Your biggest problem
is not an executive order
00:21:52.64\00:21:54.24
coming out of the White House.
00:21:54.28\00:21:55.58
Your biggest problem is
not another stupid decision
00:21:55.61\00:21:57.95
coming out of Congress.
00:21:57.98\00:21:59.45
Your biggest
problem is not the people
00:21:59.48\00:22:01.12
who sit beside you in church.
00:22:01.15\00:22:02.68
Your biggest
problem is not your wife,
00:22:02.72\00:22:04.52
it's not your
husband, it's not your kids,
00:22:04.55\00:22:06.19
it's not your boss,
it's not your parole officer.
00:22:06.22\00:22:08.36
It's not even
your mother-in-law.
00:22:08.39\00:22:11.43
You're the
biggest problem you face.
00:22:11.46\00:22:13.16
It's this tendency you
have to try and take control,
00:22:13.19\00:22:15.00
behave exactly
like the man of sin,
00:22:15.03\00:22:16.43
climb up on the throne of God,
00:22:16.46\00:22:18.07
and sit there even for a minute
00:22:18.10\00:22:19.67
and pretend that you're in
charge of even a little bit.
00:22:19.70\00:22:23.00
If you can't get that
impulse under control,
00:22:23.04\00:22:24.87
if you can't let God
be the king of your heart,
00:22:24.91\00:22:27.78
if you can't learn to trust him
with everything that he said,
00:22:27.81\00:22:30.48
then you're headed
for a world of hurt.
00:22:30.51\00:22:33.05
I mean, pay attention to
what's going on in our world.
00:22:33.08\00:22:36.35
Pay attention to what's going on
all over this globe right now.
00:22:36.38\00:22:39.25
What do you think
you're going to do
00:22:39.29\00:22:40.92
when it finally comes to a
head and the last crisis breaks?
00:22:40.96\00:22:43.76
How are you going to
react? Look at what's going on.
00:22:43.79\00:22:46.39
The world is
falling apart all around us.
00:22:46.43\00:22:49.03
Right now, there are
people driving trucks
00:22:49.06\00:22:51.20
through
pedestrian crowds in France
00:22:51.23\00:22:52.93
and on college campuses in Ohio.
00:22:52.97\00:22:55.07
There are bombs in the airport,
00:22:55.10\00:22:56.50
there are planes
hitting buildings,
00:22:56.54\00:22:58.07
there are
shootings at office parties
00:22:58.11\00:22:59.61
here in San Bernardino,
in nightclubs in Orlando.
00:22:59.64\00:23:02.21
There are
shootings in the classrooms
00:23:02.24\00:23:03.88
of our public schools.
00:23:03.91\00:23:05.21
There are shootings
in the shopping malls.
00:23:05.25\00:23:06.55
There are gun battles
in the streets of America.
00:23:06.58\00:23:08.42
The economy is
rising to an all-time high,
00:23:08.45\00:23:11.02
and everybody's a
little bit nervous
00:23:11.05\00:23:13.05
because the fundamentals
don't match what's happening,
00:23:13.09\00:23:15.29
and we may be facing another
collapse again any day now.
00:23:15.32\00:23:18.06
The Bible
guarantees it'll happen.
00:23:18.09\00:23:20.23
NATO is piling up forces against
the Polish border with Russia
00:23:20.26\00:23:23.23
ever since July
because they don't know
00:23:23.26\00:23:25.23
what to expect from Putin.
00:23:25.27\00:23:26.80
Putin, in the last 2 months,
00:23:26.84\00:23:28.20
has started
calling his diplomats home,
00:23:28.24\00:23:29.70
saying, "Get your kids
out of foreign schools,"
00:23:29.74\00:23:31.31
and nobody's sure why.
00:23:31.34\00:23:32.91
There are people
getting beheaded, and drowned,
00:23:32.94\00:23:35.18
and burned alive in
cages right on YouTube,
00:23:35.21\00:23:38.05
and it's making
everybody nervous.
00:23:38.08\00:23:39.61
The city of Aleppo is on fire.
00:23:39.65\00:23:41.48
Millions are
fleeing their homes.
00:23:41.52\00:23:43.18
We are finally figuring out that
our highest public officials
00:23:43.22\00:23:45.99
have been lying to
us our entire lives,
00:23:46.02\00:23:48.22
and the system might
be rotten to the core.
00:23:48.26\00:23:50.19
What do you think
is going to happen
00:23:50.23\00:23:51.53
when it all blows up,
00:23:51.56\00:23:52.86
when it seems
like the Spirit of God
00:23:52.89\00:23:54.36
has finally been
lifted from the earth,
00:23:54.40\00:23:56.20
and Moses might never come
back down from the mountain?
00:23:56.23\00:23:59.30
At that moment, when the earth
00:23:59.33\00:24:02.37
is finally
plunged into midnight,
00:24:02.40\00:24:04.21
the last crisis, how
are you going to respond?
00:24:04.24\00:24:08.61
Because if you have not yet
00:24:08.64\00:24:10.01
given up your
claim to God's throne,
00:24:10.05\00:24:12.98
if you think you have something
to contribute to the solution,
00:24:13.01\00:24:15.42
you will latch
onto the first person
00:24:15.45\00:24:16.95
who comes along
and offers this world
00:24:16.99\00:24:18.39
a little bit of
peace and security.
00:24:18.42\00:24:19.85
You'll think you can help.
00:24:19.89\00:24:21.59
And he's going to be convincing.
00:24:21.62\00:24:23.06
The Bible says
he'll even make fire
00:24:23.09\00:24:24.39
come down from
heaven in the sight of men.
00:24:24.43\00:24:27.86
And if you're still trying
to run the show at that point,
00:24:27.93\00:24:29.83
then you will stumble.
00:24:29.86\00:24:31.87
You'll stumble, how do I know?
00:24:31.90\00:24:33.20
Because we've done it
again and again and again.
00:24:33.23\00:24:36.71
Now, I want you to pay attention
00:24:36.74\00:24:38.04
to what happens
next in the story.
00:24:38.07\00:24:39.41
We're about to read verse 11.
00:24:39.44\00:24:41.78
And in 1 Samuel 8 and verse 11,
00:24:41.81\00:24:43.21
there's a story there
that has completely shaped
00:24:43.24\00:24:45.31
the history of the
world since it's happened.
00:24:45.35\00:24:47.02
It's changed the
entire course of history.
00:24:47.05\00:24:49.32
This is one of the most
important stories in the Bible
00:24:49.35\00:24:51.32
if you want to understand the
major themes of Bible prophecy.
00:24:51.35\00:24:54.39
And just before we read it,
00:24:54.42\00:24:56.06
I want to have a
little history lesson
00:24:56.09\00:24:57.53
if that's okay with you.
00:24:57.56\00:24:58.86
I know you thought you
were done with history class
00:24:58.89\00:25:00.33
after you left college, but
the professor called and said,
00:25:00.36\00:25:02.50
"One more class."
00:25:02.53\00:25:04.20
So, here we go.
00:25:04.23\00:25:05.70
Back in the 1500s,
right after Martin Luther
00:25:05.73\00:25:08.04
nails the 95 Theses to
the church door in Wittenberg,
00:25:08.07\00:25:10.37
just under/over
499 years ago now,
00:25:10.41\00:25:13.48
the Reformers began
to think about everything
00:25:13.51\00:25:15.28
that has happened
since that awful moment
00:25:15.31\00:25:17.25
in the fourth century
when we actually as Christians
00:25:17.28\00:25:19.65
begged the Roman
emperor, Constantine,
00:25:19.68\00:25:21.65
to come in and
take over the church.
00:25:21.68\00:25:23.45
We did in the fourth
century exactly what Israel did
00:25:23.49\00:25:25.99
when they begged
for a king from Samuel.
00:25:26.02\00:25:28.72
We brought a
king into the church.
00:25:28.76\00:25:30.56
Constantine marches
into the city of Rome 312 AD.
00:25:30.59\00:25:33.26
He ends persecution
against the Christian church
00:25:33.29\00:25:35.43
just as Revelation
chapter 2 predicted he would
00:25:35.46\00:25:38.47
after a 10-year persecution.
00:25:38.50\00:25:40.50
And he looks at
these Christians and says,
00:25:40.54\00:25:42.14
"These people are so
united, they're so principled.
00:25:42.17\00:25:44.94
These people would be the glue
00:25:44.97\00:25:46.98
that holds my
new empire together,"
00:25:47.01\00:25:49.18
so he favors the Christians.
00:25:49.21\00:25:50.55
He thinks they're united.
00:25:50.58\00:25:52.31
He probably should have
gone to a church board meeting
00:25:52.35\00:25:54.08
before he came
to that conclusion,
00:25:54.12\00:25:55.52
but he thinks
that they're united.
00:25:55.55\00:25:57.99
And suddenly, after that moment,
suddenly in North Africa,
00:25:58.02\00:26:00.79
there's this crisis.
00:26:00.82\00:26:02.12
All the clergy who left the
church during the persecution,
00:26:02.16\00:26:04.59
they gave up their Bibles,
00:26:04.63\00:26:06.09
turned them over
to the authorities,
00:26:06.13\00:26:07.40
renounced the name of Christ.
00:26:07.46\00:26:08.73
They want their jobs back.
00:26:08.76\00:26:10.07
And they show up at
church, and the church says,
00:26:10.10\00:26:11.53
"We don't want you.
00:26:11.57\00:26:12.87
You're cowards, you ran away."
00:26:12.90\00:26:14.20
And it's this massive argument.
00:26:14.24\00:26:15.80
And they can't
settle the argument,
00:26:15.84\00:26:17.14
so the Christians make a
direct appeal to Constantine.
00:26:17.17\00:26:19.24
They say, "You
know, he likes Christians.
00:26:19.27\00:26:20.64
Let's ask the
emperor to make a decision."
00:26:20.68\00:26:23.38
And Constantine gets irritated.
00:26:23.41\00:26:24.78
He says, "I've got
a whole empire to run.
00:26:24.81\00:26:26.11
I can't solve
this issue for you."
00:26:26.15\00:26:27.62
He actually writes them
a letter in North Africa
00:26:27.65\00:26:29.52
that basically says something
your mom used to say a lot,
00:26:29.55\00:26:32.35
"If I have to come down there,
you're going to be sorry."
00:26:32.39\00:26:36.09
He wrote the--
I've got the letter.
00:26:36.12\00:26:38.83
And they couldn't
solve it themselves,
00:26:38.86\00:26:40.56
so he appoints
the bishop of Rome
00:26:40.60\00:26:42.86
to settle the issue.
00:26:42.90\00:26:44.57
And for the
first time in history,
00:26:44.60\00:26:46.17
the bishop of Rome
begins to rise in prominence.
00:26:46.20\00:26:48.10
He becomes a first among equals.
00:26:48.14\00:26:49.60
It's an important precedent.
00:26:49.64\00:26:51.21
Soon after that,
there's another controversy.
00:26:51.24\00:26:53.61
Another controversy
takes place in the church
00:26:53.64\00:26:55.61
when a renegade
priest down in North Africa
00:26:55.64\00:26:58.18
by the name of
Arias starts to teach
00:26:58.21\00:27:00.12
an unbiblical view
of the nature of Christ.
00:27:00.15\00:27:02.15
And again when the church can't
settle the dispute themselves,
00:27:02.18\00:27:04.35
they make an
appeal to Constantine.
00:27:04.39\00:27:06.35
So, he calls the big
council in Nicaea in 325 AD,
00:27:06.39\00:27:09.62
and yet again the bishop of Rome
begins to rise in prominence.
00:27:09.66\00:27:13.06
Do you know what we
did in the fourth century?
00:27:13.09\00:27:14.46
We actually asked
the emperor to come in
00:27:14.46\00:27:16.00
and take over the church.
00:27:16.03\00:27:17.33
He didn't push his way in.
00:27:17.37\00:27:18.67
We asked him to come in
because every crisis happens
00:27:18.70\00:27:20.00
when God's people
start it from the bottom.
00:27:20.04\00:27:23.71
It's like we have a
big debate on the floor
00:27:23.74\00:27:25.24
of the general conference
session in San Antonio,
00:27:25.27\00:27:26.91
and we can't come to a--
00:27:26.94\00:27:28.24
I mean, I know
that's hard to imagine,
00:27:28.28\00:27:29.58
but we have a big
debate on the floor
00:27:29.61\00:27:30.91
of the general conference
session in San Antonio,
00:27:30.95\00:27:32.51
and we can't come
to any resolution,
00:27:32.55\00:27:33.85
so we put in a
call to the Oval Office,
00:27:33.88\00:27:36.18
"Maybe you could come solve it."
00:27:36.22\00:27:37.95
It's about what we
did in the fourth century.
00:27:37.99\00:27:39.95
And listen to me carefully,
00:27:39.99\00:27:41.29
once the government
sets foot in your church,
00:27:41.32\00:27:44.19
you will never get rid of it.
00:27:44.23\00:27:46.70
And the new model we established
in the fourth century
00:27:46.73\00:27:48.56
is not what Jesus wanted.
00:27:48.60\00:27:50.40
He wanted a church where people
were directly accountable to God
00:27:50.43\00:27:52.73
the way it was supposed to
be in the nation of Israel.
00:27:52.77\00:27:54.67
He even says in Luke
chapter 22 to his disciples,
00:27:54.70\00:27:57.61
"The kings of the Gentiles
exercise lordship over them,
00:27:57.64\00:28:00.58
but I don't want that for you."
00:28:00.61\00:28:02.84
There was never supposed
to be a king in Christianity,
00:28:02.88\00:28:05.01
but we begged for one, and
we married church and state.
00:28:05.05\00:28:08.22
And that marriage of Roman
politics and Christian faith
00:28:08.25\00:28:10.79
led to more than
1,000 years of darkness,
00:28:10.82\00:28:12.69
that much you know.
00:28:12.72\00:28:14.32
Came complete
with waterboarding,
00:28:14.36\00:28:16.32
favorite
punishment of the inquisition.
00:28:16.36\00:28:18.29
Waterboarding, torture chambers,
burning people at the stake.
00:28:18.33\00:28:21.53
Everybody following,
are you still with me?
00:28:21.56\00:28:23.57
We go down about 1,000
years after this big mistake
00:28:23.60\00:28:25.87
to the 1300s, the
1400s, and the 1500s.
00:28:25.90\00:28:28.54
Now, we're into the period of
the fifth seal in Revelation 6.
00:28:28.57\00:28:31.21
Souls under the
altar are crying out,
00:28:31.24\00:28:32.54
"How much longer, O Lord?"
00:28:32.57\00:28:34.84
And God answers their prayers,
and he starts turning on lights
00:28:34.88\00:28:37.18
all over the former
western Roman Empire,
00:28:37.21\00:28:39.88
and we suddenly get
Tyndale, and Wycliffe, and Huss,
00:28:39.91\00:28:42.68
and Luther, and
all these reformers.
00:28:42.72\00:28:45.39
And what those
reformers did was open the Bible
00:28:45.42\00:28:47.72
for the first time in centuries,
00:28:47.76\00:28:49.39
and they realized what it was
we had done back in the 300s.
00:28:49.42\00:28:54.10
We invited the Roman
emperor into the church,
00:28:54.10\00:28:56.67
so the reformers
tried to free the church
00:28:56.70\00:28:58.23
from the biggest
mistake we had ever made.
00:28:58.27\00:29:00.74
Now, the Reformation was
about all kinds of things.
00:29:00.77\00:29:02.90
Sola scriptura, sola fide,
it was about all those things.
00:29:02.94\00:29:05.81
But underneath it all,
the essence of the Reformation
00:29:05.84\00:29:08.98
was an attempt to evict
Caesar from the church again.
00:29:09.01\00:29:11.68
Now, over the waters in England,
Henry VIII is watching this,
00:29:12.68\00:29:15.68
and he gets a little jealous.
00:29:15.72\00:29:17.19
"All those German princes are
free from the oversight of Rome.
00:29:17.22\00:29:18.82
I wish I could be free
from the oversight of Rome."
00:29:18.85\00:29:21.76
Not because he's religious,
no, it's because he doesn't have
00:29:21.79\00:29:24.73
a male heir, and he
wants to change wives.
00:29:24.76\00:29:26.86
And he can't get an annulment
from the bishop of Rome,
00:29:26.90\00:29:28.93
so what he does is he says,
00:29:28.96\00:29:30.27
"Well, if they can
pull out, I'm pulling out."
00:29:30.30\00:29:31.73
And he starts the
church of England.
00:29:31.77\00:29:33.07
And all across England,
00:29:33.10\00:29:34.90
Bible believing
British Christians
00:29:34.94\00:29:36.57
suddenly get their hopes up,
00:29:36.60\00:29:37.91
"We're going to
have religious liberty.
00:29:37.94\00:29:39.24
At long last,
we're going to be free."
00:29:39.27\00:29:41.78
But it doesn't happen
because Henry's church
00:29:41.81\00:29:44.21
was built for all
the wrong reasons.
00:29:44.25\00:29:45.68
And 100 years
later in the 1600s,
00:29:45.71\00:29:47.35
it's every bit
as bad as Rome is.
00:29:47.38\00:29:49.42
There's no real
freedom in England.
00:29:49.45\00:29:51.22
And so, to avoid going to
jail, some of the dissenters
00:29:51.25\00:29:53.32
packed their bags and they
start to leave the country,
00:29:53.36\00:29:55.39
people like the early Baptists.
00:29:55.42\00:29:56.93
People like the Barrowists,
who had read the Bible
00:29:56.96\00:29:58.69
and realized this never says
00:29:58.73\00:30:00.03
we need permission from
the state for what we believe.
00:30:00.06\00:30:02.20
People like the
Fifth Monarchists,
00:30:02.23\00:30:04.20
who had read Daniel chapter 2
and realized the fifth monarch
00:30:04.23\00:30:06.37
wasn't the Holy Roman Emperor,
00:30:06.40\00:30:08.30
the fifth empire was going
to be the kingdom of Christ.
00:30:08.34\00:30:11.24
People like the
Puritans, and the Quakers,
00:30:11.27\00:30:13.21
and the
Sabbatarians, all these people,
00:30:13.24\00:30:15.88
mark my words
carefully, all these people
00:30:15.91\00:30:17.88
who would eventually
pass down their beliefs
00:30:17.91\00:30:19.68
to God's last
day remnant church,
00:30:19.71\00:30:21.32
we're talking about
our spiritual grandparents.
00:30:21.35\00:30:24.55
They went to the Dutch Republic,
00:30:25.42\00:30:26.79
which was the
freest country of the day.
00:30:26.82\00:30:28.66
They ran into the Jews,
who were running from Spain
00:30:28.69\00:30:31.13
to get away
from the Inquisition.
00:30:31.16\00:30:33.16
Now, this is important.
00:30:33.19\00:30:34.73
The Jews and these English
dissenters, these Reformers,
00:30:34.76\00:30:37.63
are both hiding
in the Netherlands.
00:30:37.67\00:30:39.07
And they meet each
other, and they start to talk,
00:30:39.10\00:30:40.80
and they start to compare notes.
00:30:40.84\00:30:42.27
And for the first
time in hundreds of years,
00:30:42.30\00:30:44.07
Christians begin
to read the Scriptures
00:30:44.11\00:30:45.61
in the original Hebrew,
and they suddenly have access
00:30:45.64\00:30:47.74
to some very old
Hebrew commentaries.
00:30:47.78\00:30:51.08
And as they're
studying together,
00:30:51.11\00:30:52.58
they suddenly come
across our story for today.
00:30:52.61\00:30:54.98
And they find 1 Samuel
chapter 8 and verse 11.
00:30:55.02\00:30:59.89
Here's what they read.
00:30:59.92\00:31:01.69
"This will be the behavior,"
God told the Israelites.
00:31:01.72\00:31:04.06
"This will be the
behavior of the king
00:31:04.09\00:31:05.39
who will reign over you.
00:31:05.43\00:31:06.73
He will take your
sons and appoint them
00:31:06.76\00:31:08.03
for his own chariots."
00:31:08.06\00:31:09.36
King's going to
make you work for him,
00:31:09.40\00:31:10.70
God warned them.
00:31:10.73\00:31:12.03
Verse 12, "He
will appoint captains
00:31:12.07\00:31:13.37
over his thousands and
captains over his fifties."
00:31:13.40\00:31:15.27
There's going to be
military conscription
00:31:15.30\00:31:16.87
and wars you
don't want to fight.
00:31:16.91\00:31:18.67
"He will take the
best of your fields,
00:31:18.71\00:31:20.14
your vineyards,
your olive groves,
00:31:20.18\00:31:21.48
give them to his servants."
00:31:21.51\00:31:22.81
There's going to be
redistribution of wealth,
00:31:22.84\00:31:24.15
there's going
to be confiscation,
00:31:24.18\00:31:25.48
there's going
to be taxes to pay.
00:31:25.51\00:31:26.82
"And you," God says,
"will no longer be my servants.
00:31:26.85\00:31:29.62
You will be his servants."
00:31:29.65\00:31:31.99
The Reformers are reading this
and their jaws are on the floor.
00:31:32.02\00:31:34.82
"Do you think," they
said, "this might be the reason
00:31:34.86\00:31:37.26
we're still having
trouble with human kings
00:31:37.29\00:31:39.26
2,900 years later?"
00:31:39.29\00:31:42.86
So, based on this passage,
they begin to dream of a world
00:31:42.90\00:31:45.23
that doesn't have a king,
00:31:45.27\00:31:46.90
a place where you could
live directly beneath God
00:31:46.94\00:31:48.70
the way Israel was supposed to.
00:31:48.74\00:31:50.41
And this becomes one
of the hottest topics
00:31:50.44\00:31:52.27
of the 17th and
the 18th centuries.
00:31:52.31\00:31:54.11
Everybody's talking about it.
00:31:54.14\00:31:55.61
They all are talking about
this in the 1600s, in the 1700s.
00:31:55.64\00:31:59.51
And they begin
to pray for a place
00:31:59.55\00:32:01.15
where God could
be the only king.
00:32:01.18\00:32:03.82
And that's when
they suddenly discover
00:32:03.85\00:32:05.25
another passage of
the Bible, Deuteronomy 17.
00:32:05.29\00:32:07.69
You should go back and see
what these people were writing.
00:32:07.72\00:32:10.06
And they realize as
they look at Deuteronomy 17,
00:32:10.09\00:32:12.56
and this is the
language they used,
00:32:12.59\00:32:14.20
that Israel in its first
form had been a republic,
00:32:14.23\00:32:18.77
a constitutional
republic in fact,
00:32:18.80\00:32:20.80
because it had no human king
00:32:20.84\00:32:23.27
and it had a
supreme written law,
00:32:23.30\00:32:25.01
the first five books of Moses.
00:32:25.04\00:32:28.68
And they saw in
Deuteronomy 17 that God knew
00:32:28.71\00:32:30.95
that his republic
would one day ask for a king,
00:32:30.98\00:32:33.38
so he puts up a
guardrail centuries in advance,
00:32:33.42\00:32:35.85
warning them, "Okay,
you're going to ask for a king,
00:32:35.88\00:32:37.79
but here are the
rules when you do that."
00:32:37.82\00:32:39.99
Deuteronomy 17,
verse 15, watch this.
00:32:40.02\00:32:43.46
"You shall surely
set a king over you
00:32:43.49\00:32:45.36
whom the Lord your God chooses,
one from among you brethren."
00:32:45.39\00:32:47.60
He has to be a commoner.
00:32:47.66\00:32:49.33
"You shall set as king over you.
00:32:49.36\00:32:51.27
You may not set a
foreigner over you."
00:32:51.30\00:32:53.90
He can't be born
outside this country
00:32:53.94\00:32:55.57
because he'll never understand
the culture of this place,
00:32:55.60\00:32:57.17
and he'll bring
foreign influence in.
00:32:57.21\00:32:58.94
He has to be born here.
00:32:58.97\00:33:00.88
"Neither shall he
multiply wives for himself,
00:33:00.91\00:33:02.71
lest his heart turn away.
00:33:02.74\00:33:04.31
Nor shall he greatly multiply
silver and gold for himself."
00:33:04.35\00:33:06.48
There were legal checks
and balances put in place
00:33:06.51\00:33:08.52
in an attempt to
prevent corruption.
00:33:08.55\00:33:10.99
Now, here comes the big part.
00:33:11.02\00:33:12.69
"Also it shall be, when he sits
on the throne of his kingdom,
00:33:12.72\00:33:15.79
that he shall write for himself
a copy of this law in a book,
00:33:15.82\00:33:19.43
and he shall read it
all the days of his life,
00:33:19.46\00:33:21.33
that he may learn to
fear the Lord his God
00:33:21.36\00:33:23.20
and be careful to observe
all the words of this law."
00:33:23.23\00:33:26.00
A supreme written
law, all equal before it.
00:33:26.03\00:33:29.00
Let me ask you a question.
00:33:29.04\00:33:30.34
As we go down through
the 1600s and the 1700s,
00:33:30.37\00:33:32.04
have you ever
heard of a republic
00:33:32.07\00:33:34.58
where the chief
executive has to be a commoner,
00:33:34.61\00:33:36.48
he's not even
allowed to be a foreigner?
00:33:36.51\00:33:38.58
You ever heard of a place
00:33:38.61\00:33:39.98
where there were
legal checks and balances
00:33:40.02\00:33:41.32
trying to prevent corruption?
00:33:41.35\00:33:42.95
You ever heard of a republic
00:33:42.98\00:33:44.29
where the ruler
must always be subject
00:33:44.32\00:33:45.62
to the supreme
written law of the land?
00:33:45.65\00:33:47.32
Is there anything on this
planet that looks like that?
00:33:47.36\00:33:50.03
Listen to me carefully,
it is not a coincidence
00:33:51.09\00:33:54.20
that the American constitution
00:33:54.20\00:33:55.63
describes a
republic without a king.
00:33:55.66\00:33:57.30
It is not a coincidence that
it guarantees religious liberty
00:33:57.33\00:34:00.30
under a supreme written law.
00:34:00.34\00:34:01.74
Where do you think the founding
fathers got those ideas?
00:34:01.77\00:34:04.07
Yes, they'd been
reading Thomas Paine.
00:34:04.11\00:34:06.27
Yes, they'd been
reading revolutionaries.
00:34:06.31\00:34:08.01
Yes, they'd been
reading Voltaire.
00:34:08.04\00:34:09.88
But do you know what
else they were reading?
00:34:09.91\00:34:11.25
They were reading the work
of those English dissenters.
00:34:11.28\00:34:13.21
Every single one of them
had been reading those works,
00:34:13.25\00:34:15.22
and they used those writings
quite literally to craft
00:34:15.25\00:34:17.89
the United States of America.
00:34:17.92\00:34:19.89
And that's why, in
"Testimonies Volume 5,"
00:34:19.92\00:34:22.92
Ellen White says that this
constitution of ours gave us
00:34:22.96\00:34:25.49
a Protestant and
republican form of government.
00:34:25.53\00:34:28.30
She said that because there
is an unbroken chain of thought
00:34:28.33\00:34:30.93
leading directly from
the Protestant Reformation
00:34:30.97\00:34:33.44
to the very birth of America.
00:34:33.47\00:34:35.37
This is the reason
the book of Revelation
00:34:35.40\00:34:37.04
describes the birth of
America the way that it does.
00:34:37.07\00:34:39.34
It says the earth would
open up to give the persecuted
00:34:39.37\00:34:41.91
a place to go in
Revelation chapter 12.
00:34:41.94\00:34:44.21
And then it says
that this brand new power,
00:34:44.25\00:34:46.08
this brand new nation
would be Christlike, lamb-like.
00:34:46.11\00:34:48.92
It doesn't even have
crowns on its two horns
00:34:48.95\00:34:51.55
the way the first beast has
a crown on every single horn
00:34:51.59\00:34:53.96
because this new
power doesn't have a king.
00:34:53.99\00:34:58.99
Follow this carefully.
00:34:59.03\00:35:00.83
The founders of America knew
exactly what they were building,
00:35:00.86\00:35:04.93
I can demonstrate.
00:35:04.97\00:35:06.67
Back in 1787 at the
Constitutional Convention,
00:35:06.70\00:35:09.17
the delegates started to fight
about state representation,
00:35:09.20\00:35:11.74
how states would be represented
at the federal level.
00:35:11.77\00:35:14.21
And the debate got very
heated, and it almost broke up,
00:35:14.24\00:35:17.15
and we came this close
to never becoming a nation.
00:35:17.18\00:35:20.95
Then something unusual happens.
00:35:20.98\00:35:22.42
Benjamin Franklin stands up
in the assembly and he says,
00:35:22.45\00:35:24.92
"Gentlemen, I think we
should take a few days off.
00:35:24.95\00:35:26.65
Everybody find
somebody you disagree with
00:35:26.69\00:35:28.56
and talk to them for a few
days, then we'll reconvene."
00:35:28.59\00:35:31.43
Then he does
something very unusual.
00:35:31.46\00:35:34.40
He quotes the Bible by
memory for the next 2 minutes
00:35:34.46\00:35:37.07
about a dozen times,
one verse after the other,
00:35:37.10\00:35:39.73
even though he's a deist.
00:35:39.77\00:35:41.54
He quotes the Bible, and then
he makes a radical suggestion.
00:35:41.57\00:35:43.81
He says this,
"Before I sit down,"
00:35:43.84\00:35:46.11
he says, "I will
suggest, Mr. President,"
00:35:46.14\00:35:47.78
the chair of the convention,
"I will suggest, Mr. President,
00:35:47.81\00:35:50.05
that propriety of nominating and
appointing before we separate,
00:35:50.08\00:35:53.75
a chaplain to this Convention."
00:35:53.78\00:35:56.42
You ever wonder why we
have a chaplain on Capitol Hill?
00:35:56.45\00:35:58.95
There it is.
00:35:58.99\00:36:00.52
"Whose duty it
shall be uniformly
00:36:00.56\00:36:01.89
to introduce the
business of each day
00:36:01.92\00:36:03.49
by an address to the
Creator of the universe."
00:36:03.53\00:36:06.13
There's the first inkling
of the three angel's messages
00:36:06.16\00:36:08.16
as this nation is being born.
00:36:08.20\00:36:10.20
"And the
Governor of all nations,"
00:36:10.23\00:36:12.43
that's how Jesus is described
in Daniel 2, Daniel 4, Daniel 7,
00:36:12.47\00:36:15.90
as the one who
replaces every human kingdom.
00:36:15.94\00:36:17.94
You tell me if you go
back and look at the evidence,
00:36:17.97\00:36:20.48
who did these people believe
00:36:20.51\00:36:21.98
was the only true
king of all nations?
00:36:22.01\00:36:25.28
America was born without a king,
00:36:25.31\00:36:26.88
and that's
because the founders knew
00:36:26.92\00:36:28.65
the universe already had one,
00:36:28.68\00:36:30.15
and they wanted nobody between
you and the heavenly king.
00:36:30.19\00:36:33.86
Newport, Rhode Island,
there's a synagogue, 1790.
00:36:33.89\00:36:36.29
They're getting nervous.
00:36:36.32\00:36:37.66
"Well, they've just
established a Christian nation.
00:36:37.69\00:36:39.46
And back in the Old World,
00:36:39.49\00:36:40.80
Christian nations
meant we got persecuted."
00:36:40.83\00:36:42.60
George
Washington hears about it,
00:36:42.63\00:36:44.13
so he writes them a letter,
put their minds at ease, 1790.
00:36:44.17\00:36:46.67
He says, "Look,
in this new world,
00:36:46.70\00:36:48.14
this new Christian
nation, it's different.
00:36:48.17\00:36:49.94
This is where
you're going to be free.
00:36:49.97\00:36:51.27
You can live, it's
just between you and God.
00:36:51.31\00:36:53.04
You live however you
think you need to live with God.
00:36:53.07\00:36:55.68
You're going to
be perfectly free."
00:36:55.71\00:36:57.01
And then he says this.
00:36:57.05\00:36:58.51
"Every one shall sit in safety
under his one vine and fig tree.
00:36:58.55\00:37:01.58
There shall be none
to make him afraid."
00:37:01.62\00:37:03.22
Do you know what that is?
00:37:03.25\00:37:04.65
That's a quote
from Micah chapter 4.
00:37:04.69\00:37:06.45
And that passage is God
describing his ideal kingdom,
00:37:06.49\00:37:09.46
where everybody
is free and safe,
00:37:09.49\00:37:11.23
and there will be no human
domination of other people.
00:37:11.26\00:37:14.86
The founding fathers of
America knew they were crafting
00:37:14.93\00:37:17.87
a new kind of Christian nation.
00:37:17.90\00:37:19.83
But what they were really
trying to do was reset the clock
00:37:19.87\00:37:22.37
to one day before Saul becomes
the first king of Israel.
00:37:22.40\00:37:25.94
And what's really
interesting about it all
00:37:25.97\00:37:27.68
is how Saul the son of Kish
00:37:27.71\00:37:29.14
kind of foreshadows
the fate of America itself.
00:37:29.18\00:37:32.18
Because in the very
beginning, Saul is lamb-like.
00:37:32.21\00:37:34.82
The Bible says that
Samuel anoints him privately,
00:37:34.85\00:37:37.22
but he doesn't get his crown
00:37:37.25\00:37:38.55
till he proves
himself on the battlefield.
00:37:38.59\00:37:39.89
The way Jesus is anointed,
00:37:39.92\00:37:41.39
the minute he
gets back to heaven,
00:37:41.42\00:37:42.72
Acts chapter 2 and verse 33,
00:37:42.76\00:37:44.33
but he doesn't
actually get his kingdom
00:37:44.36\00:37:45.79
till the controversy is
finished and the battle is won.
00:37:45.83\00:37:48.26
There is a parallel.
00:37:48.30\00:37:50.07
Saul, it says in 1 Samuel 10,
was filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:37:50.10\00:37:53.23
gets the gift of prophecy,
and he becomes another man.
00:37:53.27\00:37:55.67
And Jesus, of course,
also becomes someone else.
00:37:55.70\00:37:57.94
He becomes one of us, and
the Holy Spirit descends on him
00:37:57.97\00:38:00.98
publicly at the
beginning of his ministry.
00:38:01.01\00:38:03.41
Saul in the
beginning is lamb-like.
00:38:03.45\00:38:06.28
But then as the story continues,
00:38:06.31\00:38:08.08
you realize he doesn't
actually look like Jesus,
00:38:08.12\00:38:10.99
he looks like the
United States of America.
00:38:11.02\00:38:14.12
He even has to be
replaced by one who comes
00:38:14.16\00:38:15.89
and sits on
David's messianic throne.
00:38:15.92\00:38:18.83
Two years into his
reign, Saul was getting ready
00:38:18.86\00:38:20.56
to fight the Philistines,
00:38:20.60\00:38:21.86
and he wants to
have a sacrifice.
00:38:21.90\00:38:23.20
But Samuel is delayed.
He takes a week coming.
00:38:23.23\00:38:25.23
It's 7 days, the perfect delay.
00:38:25.27\00:38:27.00
It's the language
of the Second Coming.
00:38:27.04\00:38:29.24
So, Saul says, "Well, if
Samuel's not going to come,
00:38:29.27\00:38:31.27
I'll just take
control for a minute.
00:38:31.31\00:38:32.84
I'll bring fire on
this altar myself."
00:38:32.87\00:38:34.91
And that's exactly
what the second beast does,
00:38:34.94\00:38:37.51
"Makes fire come down
from heaven on the earth
00:38:37.55\00:38:39.11
in the sight of men."
00:38:39.15\00:38:40.95
This nation was born
lamb-like, exactly on time,
00:38:40.98\00:38:43.62
exactly the way God
intended for the appearance
00:38:43.65\00:38:46.39
of his last day remnant church.
00:38:46.42\00:38:48.29
But then, over the
course of the 20th century,
00:38:48.32\00:38:50.36
as this nation
rejected the light
00:38:50.39\00:38:52.06
of the third angel's message,
00:38:52.09\00:38:53.40
the whole character of
America began to change
00:38:53.43\00:38:55.90
throughout the 1900s and
now into the 21st century.
00:38:55.93\00:38:59.07
And why has it changed so much?
00:38:59.10\00:39:00.97
It's because this republic
00:39:01.00\00:39:02.44
has been the special
interest of the devil's career
00:39:02.47\00:39:03.94
ever since it gave
birth to the remnant church,
00:39:03.97\00:39:06.21
and so here we are, just
a heartbeat from midnight.
00:39:06.24\00:39:09.34
And Ellen White
describes it like this,
00:39:09.38\00:39:11.11
"When our
country shall repudiate
00:39:11.15\00:39:12.55
every principle
of its Constitution."
00:39:12.58\00:39:14.82
Heard that lately?
00:39:14.85\00:39:17.02
"As a Protestant and
republican government.
00:39:17.05\00:39:18.75
Then we may know
that the time has come
00:39:18.79\00:39:20.29
for the marvelous
working of Satan."
00:39:20.32\00:39:23.29
Let it sink in.
00:39:23.32\00:39:25.79
Government is listening to
your phone calls, you know that.
00:39:25.83\00:39:28.46
I even greet the NSA sometimes
when I'm making a phone call,
00:39:28.50\00:39:30.87
"Hey, I hope you're having a
nice day over there at the NSA."
00:39:30.90\00:39:34.57
They're reading your
emails, you know that much.
00:39:34.60\00:39:36.71
They're forcing people
00:39:36.74\00:39:38.04
to participate in
religious ceremonies
00:39:38.07\00:39:39.37
even if it
violates their conscience.
00:39:39.41\00:39:40.74
And if you don't participate,
you'll be run out of business.
00:39:40.78\00:39:43.35
They're forcing people to buy
things they don't want to buy.
00:39:43.38\00:39:45.45
They're silencing people who
say the wrong things on YouTube
00:39:45.48\00:39:47.75
or a college campus.
00:39:47.78\00:39:49.15
The newspapers, you know it,
00:39:49.18\00:39:50.55
aren't telling
you the whole story
00:39:50.59\00:39:51.89
not even half of
the time anymore.
00:39:51.92\00:39:53.22
And that's just the
last 15 years or so.
00:39:53.25\00:39:55.69
And the last 15
years, mark my words,
00:39:55.72\00:39:57.29
is a run-up for
the last big play.
00:39:57.33\00:39:59.26
Because we've been
counseled that by the time
00:39:59.29\00:40:01.00
you actually
see what's going on,
00:40:01.03\00:40:02.40
it is so far
gone, it's too late.
00:40:02.43\00:40:05.47
It's a--how much time do
you think we have left, folks?
00:40:05.50\00:40:08.67
How much time do
you think we have left?
00:40:08.70\00:40:10.64
How much time do
you think we have left
00:40:10.67\00:40:13.68
when we have already seen Caesar
00:40:13.71\00:40:15.18
standing at the
podium of God's republic?
00:40:15.21\00:40:19.18
Because we ran out of
answers a long time ago
00:40:19.21\00:40:21.48
and we're hoping somebody
can tell us what to do next.
00:40:21.52\00:40:24.62
How much time is left?
00:40:24.65\00:40:26.62
After Saul, the kings
of Israel become so wicked
00:40:26.65\00:40:28.69
that 2 Chronicles 36
says that their abominations
00:40:28.72\00:40:31.39
caused the
desolation of the temple.
00:40:31.43\00:40:33.03
They literally lead to
the abomination of desolation.
00:40:33.06\00:40:35.63
And then it says--God says,
"You want to try your own kings?
00:40:35.66\00:40:37.77
Okay, how did that
work out? Not so good?
00:40:37.80\00:40:39.57
Let's try on a few other things.
00:40:39.60\00:40:41.24
Let's try Babylon,
Persia, Greece, Rome,
00:40:41.27\00:40:43.37
try the little horn power."
00:40:43.41\00:40:45.04
Finally, we get a
Christ-like republic,
00:40:45.07\00:40:46.74
something that
almost gets it right.
00:40:46.78\00:40:49.01
But even that eventually
fails because the only solution
00:40:49.04\00:40:52.01
for what we have
done to this planet
00:40:52.05\00:40:53.75
is for Jesus Christ
to be back on the throne.
00:40:53.78\00:40:57.29
That's it.
00:40:57.32\00:40:58.79
It didn't matter
who won on November 8.
00:40:58.82\00:41:00.79
It didn't matter.
00:41:00.82\00:41:02.12
It won't matter who
wins the next midterms,
00:41:02.16\00:41:03.46
it won't matter
who wins in 2020.
00:41:03.49\00:41:05.03
Whoever it is will never be
the solution this world needs,
00:41:05.06\00:41:07.86
they won't be.
00:41:07.86\00:41:09.60
Saul is not your king.
00:41:09.63\00:41:11.50
At the end of his life,
00:41:11.53\00:41:12.83
he actually throws
himself on his own sword
00:41:12.87\00:41:14.44
because if you
insist on running the show,
00:41:14.47\00:41:16.50
then you have to mop
up your own problems.
00:41:16.54\00:41:18.61
He kills himself.
00:41:18.64\00:41:20.61
Then it says the
Philistines find his body
00:41:20.64\00:41:22.28
in the rubble of war
and they cut off his head,
00:41:22.31\00:41:24.31
which means he's no longer
00:41:24.35\00:41:25.78
head and shoulders
above everybody else.
00:41:25.81\00:41:28.65
Saul and everybody like
him, that's not your king.
00:41:28.68\00:41:32.42
But you move forward 1,200 years
and you see a man in the dark
00:41:32.45\00:41:37.49
at Gethsemane begging,
00:41:37.53\00:41:39.79
"If it's possible,
Father, please no, let it pass."
00:41:39.83\00:41:45.73
But because there's no escaping
the cost of your salvation,
00:41:45.77\00:41:48.24
he lets us take
him, we torture him.
00:41:48.27\00:41:53.11
He has human saliva
running off his face.
00:41:53.14\00:41:56.61
We push a crown of
thorns on his head,
00:41:56.64\00:41:58.35
mocking his dignity
and his eternal kingdom.
00:41:58.38\00:42:01.75
And still, as
he's writhing on agony
00:42:01.78\00:42:03.79
on a pagan Roman cross,
00:42:03.82\00:42:05.59
with his dying
breath he begs for you,
00:42:05.62\00:42:07.49
"Father, don't punish them,
they don't what they're doing."
00:42:07.52\00:42:13.19
That's your king.
00:42:13.23\00:42:17.20
Head and shoulders
above all else, every day,
00:42:17.23\00:42:19.07
every knee--one
day, every knee will bow,
00:42:19.10\00:42:20.74
every tongue confess.
00:42:20.77\00:42:23.37
When I was a younger guy,
17, I used to cut class a lot.
00:42:23.41\00:42:27.51
It's hard to believe, but I did.
00:42:27.54\00:42:29.34
My kids aren't here, so
we can tell these stories.
00:42:29.38\00:42:32.91
I used to cut class from
the University of Victoria,
00:42:32.95\00:42:34.72
go down to the
legislative buildings.
00:42:34.75\00:42:36.15
I was a political junkie.
00:42:36.18\00:42:38.25
And it was a
parliamentary system.
00:42:38.29\00:42:39.89
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
00:42:39.92\00:42:41.22
they had something
called question period,
00:42:41.26\00:42:42.56
and the politicians
would assault each other
00:42:42.59\00:42:44.86
verbally for half an hour.
00:42:44.89\00:42:46.23
It was sheer
entertainment, I loved it.
00:42:46.26\00:42:47.73
They were very
creative in their insults.
00:42:47.76\00:42:49.20
Now, technically in parliament,
00:42:49.23\00:42:50.83
you're not allowed
to insult each other.
00:42:50.87\00:42:52.40
So, they would do it through
the speaker of the house.
00:42:52.43\00:42:53.84
"Mr. Speaker,
would it be all right
00:42:53.87\00:42:55.17
if I called the honorable
member from so and so an idiot?"
00:42:55.20\00:42:58.04
"No, you can't do that."
00:42:58.07\00:42:59.37
"All right, Mr.
Speaker, that's what I thought."
00:42:59.41\00:43:01.68
I loved it.
00:43:01.71\00:43:03.01
And one day, I came down
out of the speakers gallery
00:43:03.04\00:43:04.51
up above the
seat, and I went down
00:43:04.55\00:43:06.11
out into the rotunda of
the parliament buildings,
00:43:06.15\00:43:08.25
the legislative assembly.
00:43:08.28\00:43:10.19
And as I got there, there's
the premier of British Columbia.
00:43:10.22\00:43:13.39
It's kind of like the
governor of the state.
00:43:13.42\00:43:14.89
It's not an exact
analogue because we have a fused
00:43:14.92\00:43:16.99
executive and
legislative function up there.
00:43:17.03\00:43:18.96
But there he is,
I can't believe it,
00:43:18.99\00:43:20.80
he's in this scrum
of hostile reporters,
00:43:20.83\00:43:22.90
reporters hated this guy.
00:43:22.93\00:43:24.87
And I'm about 20 feet away,
and he looks up, and he sees me,
00:43:24.90\00:43:28.27
and he sees me as his
opportunity to escape,
00:43:28.30\00:43:30.47
he yells out, "Hey,
it's good to see you."
00:43:30.51\00:43:32.87
He doesn't know me from
Adam, "It's so good to see you."
00:43:32.91\00:43:35.18
And he comes over,
puts his arm around me,
00:43:35.21\00:43:37.01
even though I'm wearing
a ratty, old, grey sweater,
00:43:37.05\00:43:39.08
and I have holes in
the knees of my jeans.
00:43:39.11\00:43:41.38
The reporters are wondering,
00:43:41.42\00:43:42.72
"Who is this kid
that he knows so well?"
00:43:42.75\00:43:44.49
He doesn't know me.
00:43:44.52\00:43:45.82
He's walking me
down the hallway,
00:43:45.85\00:43:47.19
out the door, across a breezeway
into his executive offices.
00:43:47.22\00:43:50.89
And when we get in there,
00:43:50.93\00:43:52.23
there were three
men waiting for him.
00:43:52.26\00:43:53.56
They stand up, the
most powerful men I knew of.
00:43:53.60\00:43:55.43
I'd only ever seen them on TV.
00:43:55.46\00:43:57.53
"Mr. Premier, we're so
glad to see you today."
00:43:57.57\00:44:00.44
He said,
"Gentlemen, you sit down,
00:44:00.47\00:44:02.10
I'll be right with you.
00:44:02.14\00:44:03.44
I've got something
very important to do."
00:44:03.47\00:44:04.77
And he walks me
right into his office,
00:44:04.81\00:44:06.11
sits me in a chair,
closes the door, and says,
00:44:06.14\00:44:07.44
"I don't want to
talk to those guys anyway,
00:44:07.48\00:44:08.81
let's hang out."
00:44:08.84\00:44:11.95
And I'm sitting
there and we talk
00:44:11.98\00:44:13.35
for, I don't know, 10 minutes,
00:44:13.38\00:44:14.68
"What are you
taking in college?"
00:44:14.72\00:44:16.02
"I'm taking political science."
00:44:16.05\00:44:17.35
He said, "That's a
really good program."
00:44:17.39\00:44:18.69
Only a politician
thinks that political science
00:44:18.72\00:44:20.06
is a good degree to get.
00:44:20.09\00:44:21.39
He says-- I'm
taking political--he says,
00:44:21.42\00:44:23.16
"That's wonderful, how
long do you have to go?"
00:44:23.19\00:44:24.49
And I worked for
that guy for free
00:44:24.53\00:44:26.46
to the day he left
office because he walked me
00:44:26.49\00:44:29.53
right past all
those powerful people
00:44:29.56\00:44:31.47
into the most powerful
office in the entire province.
00:44:31.50\00:44:34.37
Just like God says,
in the kingdom of heaven,
00:44:34.40\00:44:38.01
it's the tax collectors and
the prostitutes who go first
00:44:38.04\00:44:42.31
because they know they
don't have anything to offer.
00:44:42.34\00:44:45.88
I worked for him for
free because he took a nobody
00:44:45.91\00:44:48.52
and sat me right next to him.
00:44:48.55\00:44:51.55
So, here we are this
morning, I'm not 17 anymore,
00:44:51.59\00:44:54.29
and neither are you.
00:44:54.32\00:44:56.32
I mean, look around.
00:44:56.36\00:44:59.23
And in the last,
final gasp of history,
00:45:02.23\00:45:04.37
the rightful
king of the universe,
00:45:04.40\00:45:06.37
in spite of your ratty, old,
grey sweater and ripped jeans,
00:45:06.40\00:45:08.87
has just slipped his
arm around your shoulder.
00:45:08.90\00:45:12.91
He says, "If you'd
just open the door,
00:45:12.94\00:45:14.44
we'd have dinner together."
00:45:14.48\00:45:16.11
And then he says the
most remarkable thing,
00:45:16.14\00:45:18.15
"To him who overcomes
00:45:18.18\00:45:19.78
I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne."
00:45:19.81\00:45:24.49
All this time,
you've been trying
00:45:24.52\00:45:25.82
to take even a little piece
of God's throne for yourself,
00:45:25.85\00:45:27.79
you've been trying to
take some kind of control.
00:45:27.82\00:45:29.52
And all this time, as you're
trying to claim it as your own,
00:45:29.56\00:45:31.83
Jesus has been
intending to share that throne
00:45:31.86\00:45:34.00
with you anyway, he
wants to give it to you.
00:45:34.00\00:45:38.50
Why are you fighting him?
00:45:38.53\00:45:41.97
The only thing
that stands in the way
00:45:42.00\00:45:43.41
between this
moment and that moment
00:45:43.44\00:45:45.04
when he shares
his throne with you,
00:45:45.07\00:45:46.61
the only thing that
stands in the way is you
00:45:46.64\00:45:50.11
and those things you
know you're hanging onto.
00:45:50.15\00:45:53.82
It is time to let go.
00:45:53.85\00:45:57.69
Quit trying to run the show.
00:45:57.72\00:46:00.19
Quit letting
yourself get distracted
00:46:00.22\00:46:02.09
from the one thing God
told this church to do.
00:46:02.12\00:46:04.16
I'm concerned
about our distractions.
00:46:04.19\00:46:06.73
We run from one
movement to the next,
00:46:06.76\00:46:10.67
one controversy to the next,
00:46:10.70\00:46:13.74
but that's not
what God asked us to do,
00:46:13.77\00:46:15.27
not settle
every little question,
00:46:15.30\00:46:16.60
every little dispute.
00:46:16.64\00:46:17.94
He didn't ask us
to play politics,
00:46:17.97\00:46:19.27
he didn't ask us to
set up power structures,
00:46:19.31\00:46:20.74
he didn't ask us to sit
in judgment, make up rules.
00:46:20.78\00:46:22.98
We've been asked to do
just one thing, one thing.
00:46:23.01\00:46:27.68
Get out there,
get off the throne.
00:46:29.45\00:46:32.72
Get out there and
find God's children.
00:46:32.75\00:46:37.19
They don't
understand what you understand.
00:46:37.23\00:46:38.76
Jesus is about to
share his throne with them,
00:46:38.79\00:46:40.50
and they need to know.
00:46:40.53\00:46:42.56
It's the one thing
we were asked to do,
00:46:42.60\00:46:44.83
and it's time to
get back to business
00:46:44.87\00:46:47.54
before midnight falls.
00:46:47.57\00:46:49.40
Shawn: Hey, I'm Shawn Boonstra,
00:46:50.37\00:46:51.67
speaker/director for
"The Voice of Prophecy,"
00:46:51.71\00:46:53.58
the oldest faith-based
radio broadcast in the world.
00:46:53.61\00:46:57.58
Now, whether you're a longtime
friend of "Voice of Prophecy,"
00:46:57.61\00:47:00.05
or someone
learning about this ministry
00:47:00.08\00:47:01.38
for the very first time,
00:47:01.42\00:47:02.82
you really don't want to
miss these next few minutes
00:47:02.85\00:47:05.55
because I think you'll
be encouraged and inspired
00:47:05.59\00:47:08.19
to hear what God is doing
through this frontline ministry.
00:47:08.22\00:47:11.73
Now, this ministry is
old, very old, in fact.
00:47:11.76\00:47:15.00
We've been around since 1929.
00:47:15.03\00:47:17.70
But in spite of that
age, we've always lived
00:47:17.73\00:47:20.97
on the cutting
edge of technology,
00:47:21.00\00:47:22.87
finding new ways to
share the good news of Christ
00:47:22.90\00:47:25.77
with people of all ages,
and that includes your kids.
00:47:25.81\00:47:30.35
If there are
children in your life
00:47:30.38\00:47:31.78
between the ages of 5 and
12, I've got something I think
00:47:31.81\00:47:34.65
you're going to
find pretty exciting.
00:47:34.68\00:47:37.22
"Discovery Mountain" is a
brand new adventure series
00:47:37.25\00:47:40.22
for the radio that's
spreading like wildfire
00:47:40.26\00:47:42.22
all over the world.
00:47:42.26\00:47:44.33
In fact, I know
the program is good,
00:47:44.36\00:47:47.76
but I've been
shocked at how fast
00:47:47.83\00:47:49.23
this is spreading
among young people.
00:47:49.26\00:47:50.97
Kids are loving
this weekly drama
00:47:51.00\00:47:52.67
set at a camp in the mountains.
00:47:52.70\00:47:54.80
And parents are
loving the show too
00:47:54.84\00:47:56.81
because, well, their kids are
eagerly doing all their chores
00:47:56.84\00:47:59.64
just so that they can
listen to this week's episode.
00:47:59.67\00:48:02.74
It's well produced,
it's exciting to listen to,
00:48:02.78\00:48:05.51
and best of all,
kids from any background
00:48:05.55\00:48:08.12
can listen to this
program and get to know Jesus.
00:48:08.15\00:48:11.29
So, where do you get a
copy of "Discovery Mountain"?
00:48:11.32\00:48:13.82
It's really pretty easy.
00:48:13.86\00:48:15.26
You'll find it at
DiscoveryMountain.com.
00:48:15.29\00:48:18.03
¤¤¤
00:48:18.63\00:48:21.33
Shawn: Now, I know
what you're thinking,
00:48:22.80\00:48:24.20
"Well, that's great for
my kids, but what about me?
00:48:24.23\00:48:26.53
What do I get to listen to?"
00:48:26.57\00:48:28.14
Well, I've got
you covered there too.
00:48:28.17\00:48:30.04
See, I might not
be quite as dramatic
00:48:30.07\00:48:32.74
as "Discovery Mountain,"
even though my wife says
00:48:32.77\00:48:34.64
I can be plenty
dramatic at home,
00:48:34.68\00:48:37.18
but I do have a
weekly radio show
00:48:37.21\00:48:39.61
called "Disclosure" that
my wife and I do together.
00:48:39.65\00:48:42.82
Now, I'm there on the
show to get things going,
00:48:42.85\00:48:44.72
and my wife is there to, well,
reign me in from time to time.
00:48:44.75\00:48:49.06
It's a great show.
00:48:49.09\00:48:50.49
It's Christian talk radio
the way that faith-based radio
00:48:50.53\00:48:52.89
should be done
in the 21st century,
00:48:52.93\00:48:55.46
with an emphasis
on current events,
00:48:55.50\00:48:57.77
Bible study, and of
course, Bible prophecy.
00:48:57.80\00:49:01.37
Because after
all, it is sponsored
00:49:01.40\00:49:03.17
by "The Voice of Prophecy,"
00:49:03.20\00:49:05.91
and prophecy happens to be
one of my favorite subjects
00:49:05.94\00:49:08.44
because prophecy
is mostly the reason
00:49:08.48\00:49:10.95
that I'm a
Christian believer today.
00:49:10.98\00:49:13.78
So, what do we talk
about on "Disclosure"?
00:49:13.82\00:49:15.85
Well, just about
everything: what's in the news,
00:49:15.88\00:49:18.89
the Bible's
perspective on real issues
00:49:18.92\00:49:21.26
that people are dealing with,
00:49:21.29\00:49:22.59
things like
anxiety or forgiveness.
00:49:22.62\00:49:24.86
We talk about how to make
sense of the prophetic portions
00:49:24.89\00:49:27.13
of the Bible, like
Daniel or Revelation.
00:49:27.20\00:49:29.20
And we even
answer questions like,
00:49:29.23\00:49:31.47
"Does the Bible
ever mention marijuana?"
00:49:31.50\00:49:35.24
Sometimes, you even
get to be part of the show
00:49:35.27\00:49:37.27
because nobody knows
what you're dealing with
00:49:37.31\00:49:39.71
better than you.
00:49:39.74\00:49:41.51
So, once in a while,
I take your questions
00:49:41.54\00:49:43.45
and answer them on the air.
00:49:43.48\00:49:45.11
And sometimes, it turns
out I actually know an answer.
00:49:45.15\00:49:47.72
So, look for
"Disclosure" on the radio,
00:49:47.75\00:49:50.29
or find the latest
episode at vop.com,
00:49:50.32\00:49:52.82
and look under the Media tab.
00:49:52.85\00:49:55.92
Now, this is going to come as
a surprise to a lot of people,
00:49:55.96\00:49:58.76
but radio
broadcasts, and we're on our way
00:49:58.79\00:50:00.86
to actually having
five different broadcasts,
00:50:00.90\00:50:03.37
but radio broadcasts are really
only the tip of the iceberg
00:50:03.40\00:50:06.53
here at "The Voice of Prophecy."
00:50:06.57\00:50:08.40
In fact, I'm not even
sure it's most of what we do.
00:50:08.44\00:50:12.11
You see, the VOP
exists to bring people
00:50:12.14\00:50:14.88
into a relationship with Jesus,
00:50:14.91\00:50:16.91
to help them understand
that Jesus is quite real.
00:50:16.95\00:50:19.91
So, we'd like to get out there
00:50:19.95\00:50:21.62
and meet people
face to face, in person.
00:50:21.65\00:50:24.89
So, every year, we
conduct a month-long series
00:50:24.92\00:50:27.96
on Bible prophecy somewhere
in the world for the public.
00:50:27.99\00:50:31.79
That series is called
"Revelation Speaks Peace,"
00:50:31.83\00:50:34.56
and it's a full-blown,
free-to-the-public seminar
00:50:34.60\00:50:37.27
on the subject
of Bible prophecy.
00:50:37.30\00:50:39.23
And every
single year just about,
00:50:39.27\00:50:41.47
we bring it to
some major urban center.
00:50:41.50\00:50:44.17
In recent years, for
example, I think we've done it
00:50:44.21\00:50:45.94
in Seattle,
Minneapolis, Indianapolis,
00:50:45.97\00:50:48.98
and I think the
next place we're going
00:50:49.01\00:50:50.75
is the mile-high
city of Denver, Colorado.
00:50:50.78\00:50:53.58
Now, the great thing about
these public seminars is that,
00:50:53.62\00:50:56.42
thanks to
generous donor support,
00:50:56.45\00:50:58.49
we're actually able to
offer them free to the public,
00:50:58.52\00:51:01.16
the way it should be.
00:51:01.19\00:51:02.89
I mean, you and I have been
charged with sharing the gospel
00:51:02.92\00:51:05.59
and leading people to Christ.
00:51:05.63\00:51:07.10
So, this is a great way
for us to bring the good news
00:51:07.13\00:51:10.13
of Christ's soon
return to the world
00:51:10.17\00:51:11.93
in a way that
captivates the imagination
00:51:11.97\00:51:14.27
and leads thousands of people
00:51:14.30\00:51:16.37
to become part of
God's remnant church.
00:51:16.40\00:51:18.91
Of course, holding
a seminar once a year
00:51:18.94\00:51:22.28
isn't going to
fulfill the gospel commission
00:51:22.31\00:51:24.28
the way Jesus envisioned.
00:51:24.31\00:51:26.31
For that to
happen, for every nation,
00:51:26.35\00:51:28.68
kindred tongue,
and people to hear
00:51:28.72\00:51:30.02
what God has planned for
us, we need all hands on deck.
00:51:30.05\00:51:34.26
So, probably our biggest
passion is to equip your church
00:51:34.29\00:51:38.53
here in North America
00:51:38.56\00:51:40.23
not to partner with
"The Voice of Prophecy,"
00:51:40.26\00:51:42.66
but to actually
become a local branch
00:51:42.70\00:51:45.17
of "The Voice of Prophecy"
00:51:45.20\00:51:46.60
in the community
where God has placed you.
00:51:46.63\00:51:48.70
What I really want to do
00:51:48.74\00:51:50.34
is give you all the
resources and tools you need
00:51:50.37\00:51:53.34
to become a far more
effective outreach mechanism
00:51:53.38\00:51:56.08
in your town, your
city, your neighborhood.
00:51:56.11\00:52:00.42
So, we're already
producing first-rate, cohesive,
00:52:00.45\00:52:02.88
soul-winning
resources that make good sense,
00:52:02.92\00:52:05.92
resources that
actually let you and me
00:52:05.95\00:52:07.76
partner together in
really effective ways.
00:52:07.79\00:52:10.96
So, for example,
I've been holding
00:52:10.99\00:52:13.16
the "Revelation Speaks
Peace" seminar now for, oh,
00:52:13.19\00:52:15.56
about a quarter
century, and I've discovered
00:52:15.60\00:52:18.00
that it works really well.
00:52:18.03\00:52:19.60
I've tried it on six continents.
00:52:19.63\00:52:21.50
It works across every
imaginable age demographic,
00:52:21.54\00:52:24.41
every cultural demographic,
every religious demographic.
00:52:24.44\00:52:27.68
You name it, it
just seems to work.
00:52:27.71\00:52:30.28
But I can only put that seminar
on once or maybe twice a year.
00:52:30.31\00:52:34.72
So, what if we all did it?
00:52:34.75\00:52:38.35
Right now, I'm
actually working hard
00:52:38.39\00:52:39.92
to create a full-blown version
of "Revelation Speaks Peace"
00:52:39.95\00:52:42.42
that your church can use.
00:52:42.46\00:52:44.53
Not a scaled
down, minimized version,
00:52:44.56\00:52:46.83
but the very same thing I use.
00:52:46.86\00:52:49.33
Because what if we had 1,000
locations every single year,
00:52:49.36\00:52:53.40
and you and I
started doing this together?
00:52:53.44\00:52:56.47
Now, I'm getting really
close to producing that.
00:52:56.50\00:52:58.87
I just have to
raise the money we need
00:52:58.91\00:53:00.64
to actually produce the product,
00:53:00.68\00:53:02.28
and then you and I
need to work together
00:53:02.31\00:53:03.98
to understand how
it's used most effectively,
00:53:04.01\00:53:06.95
and then it's going to be ready.
00:53:06.98\00:53:09.12
And in the
meantime, we've already got
00:53:09.15\00:53:10.85
online training sessions
00:53:10.89\00:53:12.32
and monthly webinars in place.
00:53:12.35\00:53:14.22
And we've also produced
00:53:14.26\00:53:15.56
some award-winning
community media events
00:53:15.59\00:53:17.56
that you can use
00:53:17.59\00:53:19.39
to invite people
to visit your church.
00:53:19.43\00:53:22.50
Recently, we put on a
short, four-part series
00:53:22.53\00:53:25.47
about the life of Constantine
called "Shadow Empire,"
00:53:25.50\00:53:29.20
which tapped into this
general sense of discomfort
00:53:29.24\00:53:31.94
the public has
with organized religion.
00:53:31.97\00:53:35.01
And without making
people feel uncomfortable,
00:53:35.04\00:53:37.55
without pointing
fingers at anybody,
00:53:37.58\00:53:40.02
we vindicated
people's sense of discomfort
00:53:40.05\00:53:42.65
and gave them real reasons
00:53:42.68\00:53:44.42
to believe in the
Jesus of the Bible.
00:53:44.45\00:53:47.39
The results were astounding.
00:53:47.42\00:53:49.79
In fact, it went far better
than we ever dreamed possible.
00:53:49.82\00:53:52.93
So, we're already
producing our next series,
00:53:52.96\00:53:55.60
"A Pale Horse Rides,"
00:53:55.63\00:53:57.60
which will focus on a
remarkable untold story,
00:53:57.63\00:54:00.54
something that very
few of your neighbors
00:54:00.57\00:54:03.00
have ever heard, I promise.
00:54:03.04\00:54:05.04
A story that set the stage for
the appearance of Martin Luther.
00:54:05.07\00:54:09.14
We're going to look at
stories from beyond the fringes
00:54:09.18\00:54:11.51
of the Roman empire
that reveal the amazing tale
00:54:11.55\00:54:14.52
of a biblical Christianity
that somehow survived
00:54:14.55\00:54:18.39
the darkest
hours of the dark ages.
00:54:18.42\00:54:21.36
Now, you can find out
more about this amazing project
00:54:21.39\00:54:23.96
at PaleHorseRides.com,
00:54:23.99\00:54:26.86
and sign up so that
your church can take part,
00:54:26.90\00:54:28.80
and invite your neighbors over.
00:54:28.83\00:54:31.23
Of course, once your neighbors
00:54:31.27\00:54:32.73
have come to one
of these short events,
00:54:32.77\00:54:34.34
a lot of them are going
to be hungry to learn more.
00:54:34.37\00:54:37.31
Believe me, they will be,
I've seen it every single time.
00:54:37.34\00:54:40.08
So, we wouldn't be
"The Voice of Prophecy"
00:54:40.11\00:54:43.48
if we didn't also
run the world's oldest
00:54:43.51\00:54:45.85
and biggest Bible
correspondence school.
00:54:45.88\00:54:49.25
Right now, more than 2,000
churches here in North America
00:54:49.28\00:54:52.69
actually host their
own "Discover" school.
00:54:52.72\00:54:55.56
And on top of that,
there are now schools open
00:54:55.59\00:54:58.56
in 140 countries.
00:54:58.59\00:55:01.50
As of right now, there are
more than 12 million people
00:55:01.53\00:55:05.37
who have enrolled
in the Bible course,
00:55:05.40\00:55:07.37
and that's a number that
just defies the imagination.
00:55:07.40\00:55:10.57
It's like eight
cities the size of Manhattan
00:55:10.61\00:55:13.71
all studying the Bible.
00:55:13.74\00:55:15.64
And I know, some of you think
00:55:15.68\00:55:17.65
you've seen the
"Discover" Bible lessons,
00:55:17.68\00:55:19.61
but you haven't
seen the new ones.
00:55:19.65\00:55:22.22
We've just finished a
complete rewrite and redesign
00:55:22.25\00:55:24.79
to bring them up
to the 21st century.
00:55:24.82\00:55:27.09
And we've made
them even more effective
00:55:27.12\00:55:29.12
and accessible than before.
00:55:29.16\00:55:31.13
The Discover Bible School
is not just for correspondence,
00:55:31.16\00:55:34.50
it's perfect for
relational outreach
00:55:34.56\00:55:36.60
because they're
actually designed to use
00:55:36.63\00:55:38.47
for one-on-one Bible
studies, small groups,
00:55:38.50\00:55:41.40
and larger Bible schools.
00:55:41.44\00:55:43.71
This is something
you've got to check out.
00:55:43.74\00:55:45.51
So again, go to vop.com.
00:55:45.54\00:55:47.94
Now, I know that's a lot,
00:55:47.98\00:55:49.44
it sounds like we're up
to an awful lot of things.
00:55:49.48\00:55:51.48
But there's even more that
your new "Voice of Prophecy"
00:55:51.51\00:55:54.15
is doing right now.
00:55:54.18\00:55:55.78
I don't know if you've noticed,
but in addition to the command
00:55:55.82\00:55:58.05
to carry the
gospel to the whole world
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.09
in Matthew 28 and Matthew 24,
00:56:00.12\00:56:02.72
Jesus also mentions
the need of Christians
00:56:02.76\00:56:05.66
to just care about people.
00:56:05.69\00:56:07.76
You'll find that in Matthew 25.
00:56:07.76\00:56:09.86
So, in addition to
meeting the spiritual needs
00:56:09.90\00:56:11.93
of people all over the world,
00:56:11.97\00:56:13.54
"The Voice of Prophecy" is also
meeting their physical needs,
00:56:13.57\00:56:16.97
their immediate needs.
00:56:17.01\00:56:18.57
And we're involved
in all sorts of things,
00:56:18.61\00:56:20.88
from
groundbreaking work in Myanmar
00:56:20.91\00:56:23.08
to the remotest
regions of the arctic,
00:56:23.11\00:56:25.41
stuff that you can
read about on our website.
00:56:25.45\00:56:28.05
But for just one
moment, I want to tell you
00:56:28.08\00:56:30.09
about one very
special outreach project
00:56:30.12\00:56:32.55
we're partnering with
in the country of India.
00:56:32.59\00:56:35.72
This is a
project that is literally
00:56:35.76\00:56:38.43
changing lives on a daily basis.
00:56:38.46\00:56:41.10
We're teaming
up with Asian Aid's
00:56:41.13\00:56:42.66
Operation Child
Rescue to save young girls
00:56:42.70\00:56:45.93
who are the victims
of human trafficking,
00:56:45.97\00:56:48.94
kids who have been
forced to work in brothels.
00:56:48.97\00:56:52.94
Honestly, I don't know if
there's a more desperate need
00:56:52.97\00:56:55.88
for Christians to do something
00:56:55.91\00:56:57.41
anywhere on the
planet right now.
00:56:57.45\00:56:59.38
So, we've opened a
special rehabilitation home
00:56:59.41\00:57:02.18
where these kids
receive medical attention,
00:57:02.22\00:57:04.75
get vocational
training, and learn about a God
00:57:04.79\00:57:08.62
who loves and values them.
00:57:08.66\00:57:11.33
The results have
been so incredible
00:57:11.36\00:57:13.63
that the
government is actually asking
00:57:13.66\00:57:15.53
if we can open more homes
because nobody has ever done
00:57:15.56\00:57:19.50
something like this before.
00:57:19.53\00:57:21.60
If you've ever had the urge
00:57:21.64\00:57:23.30
to really make a
difference in this world,
00:57:23.34\00:57:25.24
to save people, to turn back
the tide of evil on this planet,
00:57:25.27\00:57:29.61
this is something you can
become involved in right now.
00:57:29.64\00:57:33.05
Just take a look at
our website, vop.com/india,
00:57:33.08\00:57:37.32
and I think you'll be
blown away by what's possible.
00:57:37.35\00:57:42.19
Well, that's honestly about
all the time I've got for today,
00:57:42.22\00:57:44.29
but I'm hoping
it's really obvious
00:57:44.33\00:57:46.09
that we're really excited about
this new "Voice of Prophecy."
00:57:46.13\00:57:49.70
If you're looking
to make a difference,
00:57:49.73\00:57:52.20
if you want to leave a mark
on this world, I've got to say
00:57:52.23\00:57:55.94
that this is probably
your best bet to get started.
00:57:55.97\00:57:59.64
Just take a look at vop.com,
check our free programming,
00:57:59.67\00:58:02.74
our resources, and some
of our incredible projects.
00:58:02.78\00:58:06.31
And don't forget to
click on the donate button,
00:58:06.35\00:58:09.42
you'll find it up at the top
right-hand side of the webpage.
00:58:09.45\00:58:11.89
Or just go to vop.com/give
00:58:11.92\00:58:15.19
because this really isn't
just an opportunity to give,
00:58:15.22\00:58:18.89
it's an opportunity
to change everything.
00:58:18.93\00:58:22.80
Once you've seen
the possibilities,
00:58:22.83\00:58:24.27
I'm guessing you
might be really interested
00:58:24.30\00:58:26.40
in partnering
more closely with us,
00:58:26.43\00:58:28.34
which is something our
sponsors do every single year
00:58:28.37\00:58:31.44
when they meet with
Jean and me in person
00:58:31.47\00:58:34.01
to dream about where
God would have us go next.
00:58:34.04\00:58:36.81
You'll find a link to
sponsors on the webpage as well.
00:58:36.85\00:58:40.55
Well, that is enough, and
I'll see you at the website,
00:58:40.58\00:58:43.52
and I'll be
praying that you decide
00:58:43.55\00:58:45.75
to become part of
something phenomenal
00:58:45.79\00:58:48.12
here at "The Voice of Prophecy."
00:58:48.16\00:58:50.76
¤¤¤
00:58:51.63\00:58:57.27