Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Our Father and our God,
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what a joy it is to
be in Your presence.
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And we thank You,
Father, for Your word,
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because it's a
sure guide in a world
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that is totally confused.
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We ask, Father,
that as we open that word
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today that Your Holy
Spirit will be with us.
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Give us divine
thoughts for our human wisdom
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is not able to grasp the great
things from Your Holy Word.
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So we place
ourselves in Your hands.
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And we thank You, Father,
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for hearing and
answering our prayer
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for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus,
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Your beloved Son. Amen.
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In our study today,
we are going to deal
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with the biblical
concept of false prophets.
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And I would like to begin
by reading a couple of texts
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that we find in the chapter that
we're studying in this series,
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Matthew Chapter 24.
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You see in Matthew
24, it is emphasized
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that the false prophets
played a very important role
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before the
destruction of Jerusalem
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and they will
play a significant role
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shortly before the close
of probation of planet earth.
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Now I would like to
read Matthew 24:9-11.
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Matthew 24:9-11.
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In this passage we find
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the first
reference to false prophets.
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It says there, "Then they will
deliver you up to tribulation
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and kill you,
and you will be hated
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by all nations
for My name's sake.
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And then many will be offended,
will betray one another,
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and will hate one another."
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And here comes the key verse.
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"Then many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many."
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So you notice here a
reference to false prophets
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who will deceive many.
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The second
reference to false prophets
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in Matthew Chapter
24 is found in verse 24.
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And this is a
very significant verse.
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It has several elements
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that we're going to come
back to later on in our study.
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Matthew 24:24. It says there.
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"For false christs and
false prophets will rise."
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And now I want
you to notice this.
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"False christs and
false prophets and show,"
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what? "Great signs and wonders
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to deceive, if
possible, even the elect."
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So I want you to
remember that in Matthew 24:24
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there is a
reference to false prophets
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and we're told that they
will perform signs and wonders
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with a purpose of deceiving,
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if possible,
even the very elect.
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Now we need to ask the question,
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what will these false prophets
be like in the end time?
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Well, in order
to understand this,
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we need to go back to
the Mosaic Legislation.
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In other words, we need to
go back to the writings of Moses
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where the ground
rules are laid down
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as to the identity
of a false prophet.
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Allow me to say first of
all before we go to that passage
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that these false prophets
are not like Jean Dickson.
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They are not secular
false prophets that predict
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who the Hollywood celebrities
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are going to
marry next, so to speak.
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It's not--the false prophets are
not the type of David Koresh.
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You know, false
prophets that are whackos.
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Excuse the expression but
I'm sure you'll understand
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what I'm talking about.
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This is a special
type of false prophet
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who arises within the church,
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within the
congregation of the Lord,
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and has great
power and deceives people
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into thinking that he
is speaking for the Lord.
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So we're going to notice
as we go to Deuteronomy 13:1-5
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what Moses had to
say about false prophets.
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How to identify them
and how they would act?
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Deuteronomy Chapter 13
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and I want to
read verses 1 to 5.
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This is foundational.
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It says, "If
there arises among you,"
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now I want you
to underline that.
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Where do the
false prophets arise?
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Among the Israelites.
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In other words,
they are Israelites
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and they claim to
belong to God's people.
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"If there arises
among you a prophet
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or a dreamer of dreams,
and he gives you a," what?
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Did we just read that somewhere?
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Yes, we did in Matthew 24:24.
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That's why we have to go
back to the Mosaic Legislation.
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Notice, it says, "And he
gives you a sign or a wonder,
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and the sign or the
wonder comes to pass,"
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now notice, "Of which
he spoke to you, saying,
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'Let us go after other gods'
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which you have not
known and let us serve them.'"
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We begin to notice that
the first characteristic
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of a false prophet
is that a false prophet
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performs signs and wonders
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and he encourages God's
people to go after other Gods
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and to serve them
which means to worship them.
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In other words, obey false
gods and practice false worship.
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Now notice what
we find in verse 3.
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"You shall not listen to
the words of that prophet
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or that dreamer of dreams,
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for the Lord your
God is testing you
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to know whether
you love the Lord."
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Now there are several
synonymous expressions here.
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"Whether you
love the Lord your God
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with all your heart
and with your soul."
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And now notice verse 4.
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"You shall walk after the
Lord your God and fear Him."
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And then what
does it say? And what?
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"And keep His commandments."
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Is there a similar expression to
that in the Book of Revelation?
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Most certainly.
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"And keep His
commandments and obey His voice,
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and you shall serve
Him and hold fast to Him."
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Do you notice all the synonymous
expressions that we have here?
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Walk after the Lord, fear
Him, keep His commandments,
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obey His voice, serve
Him, hold fast to Him.
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Notice, verse 5,
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"But that prophet or
that dreamer of dreams
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shall be put to
death," very severe punishment.
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"Because he has
spoken in order,"
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now notice the reason,
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"To turn you away
from the Lord your God,
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who brought you out
of the land of Egypt
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and redeemed you
from the house of bondage,
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to entice you
from the way in which
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the Lord your God
commanded you to walk.
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So you shall put away
the evil from your midst."
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Do you begin to discern
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what the characteristics
of a false prophet
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are in the Mosaic Legislation
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which is foundational to
all of the rest of the Bible?
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The false prophet
leads God's people
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because he rises
among God's people.
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He leads God's people
to practice false worship
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and to disobey the
commandments of the Lord
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and to turn away from the path
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that God has established
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and commanded
His people to walk.
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And yet they claim
to be true prophets.
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And we're gonna notice
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that they claim to
speak in the name of the Lord.
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Now every false prophet
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that rises after this
is going to be defined
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and is going to be
established by what we find
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here in this
foundational passage
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of Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
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Now before we read several
verses from the Old Testament
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that illustrate
what Moses spoke about.
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We need first of all to speak
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about the role of a
true prophet in Scripture.
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Prophets, folks,
were not innovators.
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Prophets were restorers.
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In other words, it's--if Israel
had not gone out of the way
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in the service of God,
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God would have
never raised up prophets.
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Because the
purpose of the prophets
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was to bring God's people
back to the old landmarks.
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When God's people
started disobeying the Lord
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and they started
worshiping other gods,
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God raised up
prophets to call them
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back to the straight and narrow.
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In other words,
prophets were not raised up
00:10:04.04\00:10:06.42
to bring new truth.
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Prophets were raised
up to bring God's people
00:10:08.02\00:10:11.73
back to the old
truth that truths
00:10:11.76\00:10:15.11
that they had forgotten
and that they were disobeying.
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You know, the prime
example of this would be Elijah.
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He will turn the hearts of
the fathers to the children
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and the children to the fathers.
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He will turn the
children of Israel
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back to the Lord their God.
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Is the story that the Bible
gives about the Prophet Elijah.
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Now let's read
Jeremiah 35 verses 15 and 16
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on what the role of the true
prophet was in biblical times.
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Jeremiah 35:15-16.
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Here God is
speaking and He says this.
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"I have also sent to you
all My servants the prophets,
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rising up early and
sending them, saying,
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'Turn now everyone from his
evil way, amend your doings,
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and do not go after
other Gods to serve them,
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then you will dwell in the land
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which I have given
you and your fathers.
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But you have not inclined
your ear, nor obeyed Me.'"
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What are the true prophets
doing in these two verses?
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Notice once again.
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They are calling
God's people to turn
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from their evil ways
to amend their doings,
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to not go after
other Gods to serve them,
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in other words, to
return to their obedience
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and to their
worship of the true God.
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Now let's examine a few other
passages in the Old Testament
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that speak about what
the false prophets do.
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By the way, there were many
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false prophets
that arose between
00:12:02.06\00:12:04.70
when the Romans first
laid seize to Jerusalem
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and when Jerusalem was
actually finally destroyed.
00:12:08.46\00:12:12.12
In fact, those
prophets, as we've studied,
00:12:12.15\00:12:14.50
were telling the
people, "peace, peace."
00:12:14.53\00:12:16.91
You know, you can still remain
in this obedience to the Lord.
00:12:16.94\00:12:19.82
Of course, they
didn't say it that way,
00:12:19.85\00:12:21.53
but that's what they
were actually teaching
00:12:21.56\00:12:23.98
and there is
still gonna be peace
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and God is still
going to deliver this city.
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In fact, we're going to notice
00:12:30.59\00:12:32.77
as we look at the false
prophet in the Old Testament
00:12:32.80\00:12:36.69
that the false
prophets do exactly
00:12:36.72\00:12:39.81
the opposite of
the true prophets.
00:12:39.84\00:12:41.80
They lead God's
people astray from God's law
00:12:41.83\00:12:46.00
and they encourage God's people
to practice false worship.
00:12:46.03\00:12:50.67
I want you to remember
those two prime characteristics.
00:12:50.70\00:12:53.81
They lead God's people
astray from keeping God's law
00:12:53.84\00:12:57.97
and in the second place
00:12:58.00\00:12:59.47
they lead God's
people into false worship.
00:12:59.50\00:13:03.46
Now one interesting
detail about false prophets
00:13:03.49\00:13:06.35
according to Isaiah 28:7
00:13:06.38\00:13:09.34
is that the false
prophets were drinking wine
00:13:09.37\00:13:12.79
and therefore they were
not able to tell God's people
00:13:12.82\00:13:17.29
how to return to the Lord.
00:13:17.32\00:13:19.73
In fact, they
directed God's people
00:13:19.76\00:13:21.96
to go astray from the Lord.
00:13:21.99\00:13:23.37
Notice Isaiah 28:7.
00:13:23.40\00:13:27.15
It says there, "But they
also have erred through wine,
00:13:27.18\00:13:32.06
and through intoxicating
drink are out of the way.
00:13:32.09\00:13:36.99
The priest and the prophet
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have erred through
intoxicating drink,
00:13:39.16\00:13:43.16
they are swallowed up by wine,
00:13:43.19\00:13:47.36
they are out of the way
through intoxicating drink,
00:13:47.39\00:13:51.57
they err in vision,
they stumble in judgment."
00:13:51.60\00:13:56.11
So what were the
false prophets doing?
00:13:56.14\00:13:57.91
They were drinking what?
00:13:57.94\00:13:59.39
They were drinking wine
00:13:59.42\00:14:00.79
and as a result
they were not able
00:14:00.82\00:14:03.01
to distinguish between
righteousness and evil.
00:14:03.04\00:14:08.16
In fact, they
stumbled in judgment
00:14:08.19\00:14:10.67
and they erred in their visions.
00:14:10.70\00:14:13.37
Let me ask you, in the end time,
00:14:13.40\00:14:15.51
will wine be a very
00:14:15.54\00:14:17.78
severe problem in
Christendom? Absolutely.
00:14:17.81\00:14:21.91
In Revelation Chapter 17,
00:14:21.94\00:14:24.10
we find a great harlot
00:14:24.13\00:14:26.02
who actually gives
wine to the nations
00:14:26.05\00:14:29.62
which are her false teachings
00:14:29.65\00:14:31.63
and as a result she
leads God's people astray
00:14:31.66\00:14:34.99
from keeping God's law and
leads them into false worship.
00:14:35.02\00:14:40.35
Now notice Jeremiah 6:13-15.
00:14:40.38\00:14:44.15
You're going to
notice that I'm going to read
00:14:44.18\00:14:46.18
mostly
statements from Jeremiah now
00:14:46.21\00:14:48.42
and the reason is very simple.
00:14:48.45\00:14:50.44
Jeremiah lived right before
00:14:50.47\00:14:53.91
the first
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:14:53.94\00:14:56.11
And more than any other prophet,
00:14:56.14\00:14:58.01
he speaks about
the false prophets
00:14:58.04\00:15:00.61
that led up to the destruction
00:15:00.64\00:15:03.38
of the first city of
Jerusalem in the year 586.
00:15:03.41\00:15:06.91
So if we know what characterized
those false prophets
00:15:06.94\00:15:11.05
before the first
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:15:11.08\00:15:13.35
we're going to know
00:15:13.38\00:15:14.75
also what characterized
these false prophets
00:15:14.78\00:15:16.69
in the second
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:15:16.72\00:15:18.74
and what will characterize these
00:15:18.77\00:15:21.21
false prophets
at the end of time.
00:15:21.24\00:15:24.06
Jeremiah 6:13-15 tells us
00:15:24.09\00:15:28.09
that false prophets
practice covetousness.
00:15:28.12\00:15:33.44
They cry out, "Peace, peace."
00:15:33.47\00:15:36.62
And they teach God's people
00:15:36.65\00:15:38.16
to practice the
abominations of the nations.
00:15:38.19\00:15:41.76
Let's read that passage.
00:15:41.79\00:15:44.23
"Because from the least of them
even to the greatest of them,
00:15:44.26\00:15:49.29
everyone is
given to covetousness.
00:15:49.32\00:15:53.99
And from the
prophet even to the priest,
00:15:54.02\00:15:57.75
everyone deals falsely."
00:15:57.78\00:16:00.40
And it's speaking here about
economic business transactions.
00:16:00.43\00:16:05.53
Notice verse 14.
00:16:05.56\00:16:07.53
"They have also healed the
hurt of My people slightly,
00:16:07.56\00:16:12.20
saying, 'Peace,
peace!' when there is no peace.
00:16:12.23\00:16:18.54
Were they ashamed
when they had committed?"
00:16:18.57\00:16:20.86
Now notice this,
"Abomination? No!
00:16:20.89\00:16:24.60
They were not at all ashamed,
nor did they know how to blush.
00:16:24.63\00:16:29.80
Therefore they shall
fall among those who fall,
00:16:29.83\00:16:33.15
at the time I punish them,
00:16:33.18\00:16:35.17
they shall be cast
down, says the Lord."
00:16:35.20\00:16:39.04
So we notice
several characteristics
00:16:39.07\00:16:40.80
about false prophets here.
00:16:40.83\00:16:42.22
Number one, they are covetous
00:16:42.25\00:16:44.37
and they are deceitful in
their business transactions.
00:16:44.40\00:16:49.19
We notice also that
instead of telling the people
00:16:49.22\00:16:52.16
a great calamity is coming,
00:16:52.19\00:16:53.90
you need to prepare
and return to your God,
00:16:53.93\00:16:56.36
they preach, "Peace, peace."
00:16:56.39\00:16:59.44
And they actually practice
and encouraged God's people
00:16:59.47\00:17:03.42
to practice the
abominations of the nations.
00:17:03.45\00:17:06.55
And by the way,
Ezekiel Chapter 8 tells us
00:17:06.58\00:17:09.22
that the worst abomination
that was being committed
00:17:09.25\00:17:12.69
inside the city of Jerusalem,
specifically in the temple,
00:17:12.72\00:17:16.35
was that the
leading men of the nation
00:17:16.38\00:17:20.28
had their backs
to the temple of God
00:17:20.31\00:17:22.76
and they were
worshiping the sun.
00:17:22.79\00:17:25.85
Notice Jeremiah
23:17. Jeremiah 23:17.
00:17:25.88\00:17:31.16
Once again they
cried out, "Peace, peace."
00:17:31.19\00:17:33.69
It says there, "They continually
say to those who despise me.
00:17:33.72\00:17:39.57
The he Lord has said,
'You shall have peace.'
00:17:39.60\00:17:43.87
And to for everyone who walks
00:17:43.90\00:17:45.27
according to the dictates
of his own heart, they say,
00:17:45.30\00:17:48.86
'No evil shall come upon you.'"
00:17:48.89\00:17:52.94
You know, it makes me think
about those preachers today
00:17:52.97\00:17:56.12
that are people pleasers.
00:17:56.15\00:17:57.98
You know, they stand
up and they tell people,
00:17:58.01\00:17:59.96
"It's all right. You're okay.
00:17:59.99\00:18:01.36
You know, God will understand."
00:18:01.39\00:18:03.21
And they try to
meet peoples felt wants.
00:18:03.24\00:18:07.60
I'm not talking
about felt needs, now.
00:18:07.63\00:18:09.57
They want to meet
people's felt wants.
00:18:09.60\00:18:12.29
And yet those
people despise the Lord
00:18:12.32\00:18:15.56
by the way in which they live.
00:18:15.59\00:18:18.72
And so you'll find here
that the false prophets say,
00:18:18.75\00:18:21.47
"You shall have peace.
00:18:21.50\00:18:23.80
And you can walk according to
the dictates of your own heart.
00:18:23.83\00:18:27.38
And no evil will come upon you."
00:18:27.41\00:18:31.25
Another interesting thing
about these false prophets
00:18:31.28\00:18:33.65
is that they spoke
in the Lord's name.
00:18:33.68\00:18:36.26
That means that they
arose among God's people
00:18:36.29\00:18:38.42
and they claimed to
be spokesman for God.
00:18:38.45\00:18:42.65
Notice Jeremiah 14:13-16.
00:18:42.68\00:18:46.95
Jeremiah 14:13-16.
00:18:46.98\00:18:51.90
Jeremiah has a lot to
say about false prophets.
00:18:51.93\00:18:56.32
"Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God!
00:18:56.35\00:19:01.08
Behold, the
prophets say to them,
00:19:01.11\00:19:03.12
'You shall not see the sword,
now shall you have famine,
00:19:03.15\00:19:07.42
but I will give you
assured peace in this place.''
00:19:07.45\00:19:12.24
And the Lord said to me,
'The prophets prophesy lies,'"
00:19:12.27\00:19:16.42
notice this, "In my name.
00:19:16.45\00:19:20.58
I have not sent
them, commanded them,
00:19:20.61\00:19:23.26
nor spoken to them,
00:19:23.29\00:19:25.06
they prophesy to
you a false vision,
00:19:25.09\00:19:27.72
divination, a worthless thing,
00:19:27.75\00:19:30.42
and the deceit of their heart.
00:19:30.45\00:19:32.90
Therefore thus says the
Lord concerning the prophets,"
00:19:32.93\00:19:36.20
now notice again,
"Who prophesy in My name,
00:19:36.23\00:19:39.82
whom I did not
send, and who say,
00:19:39.85\00:19:42.45
'Sword and famine
shall not be in this land.
00:19:42.48\00:19:46.06
By sword and famine those
prophets shall be consumed!
00:19:46.09\00:19:50.14
And the people to
whom they prophesy
00:19:50.17\00:19:52.48
shall be cast out in
the streets of Jerusalem
00:19:52.51\00:19:55.13
because of the
famine and the sword,
00:19:55.16\00:19:57.30
they will have
no one to bury them
00:19:57.33\00:19:59.64
-them nor their wives,
00:19:59.67\00:20:01.36
nor their sons
nor their daughters
00:20:01.39\00:20:03.53
-for I will pour
their wickedness on them.'"
00:20:03.56\00:20:08.02
Notice that in this
passage the false prophets
00:20:08.05\00:20:10.61
claim to speak in
the name of the Lord.
00:20:10.64\00:20:13.72
They prophesy
in the Lord's name.
00:20:13.75\00:20:16.08
This means that these
are not secular prophets
00:20:16.11\00:20:18.77
that predict all
kinds of curiosities.
00:20:18.80\00:20:21.32
These are religious
prophets who tell the people
00:20:21.35\00:20:24.91
that God is gonna
preserve their nation
00:20:24.94\00:20:28.00
that they are not
gonna be destroyed
00:20:28.03\00:20:29.86
that they can follow the
deceitfulness of their hearts
00:20:29.89\00:20:32.60
and God will still be with them.
00:20:32.63\00:20:36.13
Notice Jeremiah 27:9-10.
00:20:36.16\00:20:39.28
Once again Jeremiah emphasizes
00:20:39.31\00:20:41.14
that the false prophets
speak in the Lord's name.
00:20:41.17\00:20:44.12
Jeremiah 27:9-10 and then we'll
jump down to verses 14 and 15.
00:20:44.15\00:20:50.61
"Therefore do not
listen to your prophets,
00:20:50.64\00:20:54.09
your diviners, your
dreamers, your soothsayers,
00:20:54.12\00:20:58.73
or your sorcerers,
who speak to you, saying,
00:20:58.76\00:21:02.16
'You shall not serve
the king of Babylon.'
00:21:02.19\00:21:04.68
For they prophesy a lie to you,
to remove you from your land,
00:21:04.71\00:21:10.01
and I will drive you
out, and you will perish.
00:21:10.04\00:21:13.65
Therefore do not listen
to the words of the prophets
00:21:13.68\00:21:16.42
who speak to you, saying,
00:21:16.45\00:21:17.96
'You shall not serve
the king of Babylon,'
00:21:17.99\00:21:20.48
for they prophesy a lie to you,
00:21:20.51\00:21:23.48
for I have not sent
them,' says the Lord,
00:21:23.51\00:21:26.34
'Yet they
prophesy,'" and now notice this,
00:21:26.37\00:21:28.80
"Yet they
prophesy a lie in My name,
00:21:28.83\00:21:33.99
that I may drive you out,
00:21:34.02\00:21:35.69
and that you may
perish, you and the prophets
00:21:35.72\00:21:38.99
who prophesy to you."
00:21:39.02\00:21:42.95
In fact, the false prophets
00:21:42.98\00:21:44.62
actually
strengthened the evildoers.
00:21:44.65\00:21:48.03
Notice Jeremiah 23:14.
00:21:48.06\00:21:51.43
Jeremiah 23:14.
00:21:51.46\00:21:56.36
"Also I have
seen a horrible thing
00:21:56.39\00:21:59.70
in the prophets of Jerusalem.
00:21:59.73\00:22:01.96
They commit
adultery and walk in lies,"
00:22:01.99\00:22:06.90
and now notice this,
00:22:06.93\00:22:08.42
"They strengthen the
hands of the evildoers,
00:22:08.45\00:22:13.21
so that no one turns
back from his wickedness.
00:22:13.24\00:22:17.88
All of them are
like Sodom to Me,
00:22:17.91\00:22:20.69
and her
inhabitants like Gomorrah."
00:22:20.72\00:22:24.29
What did the false prophets do?
00:22:24.32\00:22:26.20
They strengthened
the people in their what?
00:22:26.23\00:22:29.75
In their wickedness.
00:22:29.78\00:22:31.18
They did not turn God's
people back to the Lord.
00:22:31.21\00:22:36.20
Now notice a
passage that speaks about
00:22:36.23\00:22:39.25
what the true prophet did.
00:22:39.28\00:22:41.61
Jeremiah Chapter 23:20-22.
00:22:41.64\00:22:45.93
Jeremiah 23:20-22.
00:22:45.96\00:22:49.82
It says there,
"The anger of the Lord
00:22:51.24\00:22:53.72
will not turn back until
00:22:53.75\00:22:55.99
He has executed and performed
the thoughts of His heart.
00:22:56.02\00:23:00.55
In the latter days you
will understand it perfectly.
00:23:00.58\00:23:04.55
'I have not sent these
prophets, yet they ran.
00:23:04.58\00:23:08.65
I have not spoken to
them, yet they prophesied,'"
00:23:08.68\00:23:12.76
now notice this, "But if
they had stood in My counsel,
00:23:12.79\00:23:17.72
and caused My
people to hear My words,
00:23:17.75\00:23:21.85
then they would have
turned them from their evil way,
00:23:21.88\00:23:26.30
from the evil of their doings."
00:23:26.33\00:23:29.38
What do true prophets do?
00:23:29.41\00:23:31.49
They turn God's people
back from their evil ways.
00:23:31.52\00:23:36.11
What do the false prophets do?
00:23:36.14\00:23:38.28
They confirm the
people in their wickedness
00:23:38.31\00:23:41.63
and they actually
say, "Peace, peace.
00:23:41.66\00:23:45.28
Destruction will
not come upon us.
00:23:45.31\00:23:48.07
Everything is okay."
00:23:48.10\00:23:50.67
Notice Jeremiah 23:14.
00:23:50.70\00:23:54.49
Jeremiah 23:14.
00:23:54.52\00:23:58.68
"Also I have
seen a horrible thing
00:23:58.71\00:24:03.08
in the prophets of Jerusalem.
00:24:03.11\00:24:05.27
They commit
adultery and walk in lies,
00:24:05.30\00:24:08.37
they also strengthen
the hands of evildoers
00:24:08.40\00:24:11.82
and no one turns
back from his wickedness.
00:24:11.85\00:24:14.94
All of them are
like Sodom to Me,
00:24:14.97\00:24:17.37
and her
inhabitants like Gomorrah."
00:24:17.40\00:24:21.74
Now notice also Jeremiah 26:4-6.
00:24:21.77\00:24:28.42
Jeremiah 26:4-6.
00:24:28.45\00:24:33.07
The false prophets
also tell God's people
00:24:33.10\00:24:35.58
that they don't
have to keep God's law.
00:24:35.61\00:24:37.35
They turn God's
people away from the law.
00:24:37.38\00:24:40.10
Jeremiah 26:4.
00:24:40.13\00:24:42.53
"And you shall say to
them, 'Thus says the Lord,
00:24:42.56\00:24:46.47
'If you will not listen
to Me, to walk in My law,''
00:24:46.50\00:24:50.84
notice, "To walk in My law
which I have set before you,
00:24:50.87\00:24:55.43
to heed the words of My servants
00:24:55.46\00:24:57.48
the prophets whom I sent to you,
00:24:57.51\00:25:00.05
both rising up
early and sending them
00:25:00.08\00:25:03.36
but you have not heeded,
00:25:03.39\00:25:04.99
then I will make
this house like Shiloh,
00:25:05.02\00:25:07.62
and will make this city a curse
00:25:07.65\00:25:09.75
to all the
nations of the earth."
00:25:09.78\00:25:12.90
So the true
prophet leads God's people
00:25:12.93\00:25:15.32
to walk in the
law as it says there,
00:25:15.35\00:25:17.74
"The false prophets lead God's
people astray from His law."
00:25:17.77\00:25:23.10
Notice Jeremiah 28:15-17.
00:25:23.13\00:25:26.99
Jeremiah 28:15-17.
00:25:27.02\00:25:30.88
This theme comes
through time and again,
00:25:30.91\00:25:33.28
the false prophets claim to
speak in the name of the Lord
00:25:33.31\00:25:36.83
and yet in reality
they teach God's people
00:25:36.86\00:25:40.19
to go astray from the law
and they teach God's people
00:25:40.22\00:25:43.87
to practice false worship.
00:25:43.90\00:25:46.20
Notice Jeremiah 28:15.
00:25:46.23\00:25:49.61
"Then the prophet Jeremiah
said to Hananiah the prophet,
00:25:49.64\00:25:54.30
'Hear now, Hananiah,
the Lord has not sent you,
00:25:54.33\00:25:58.81
but you make this
people trust in a lie.
00:25:58.84\00:26:02.52
Therefore thus says the Lord,
00:26:02.55\00:26:04.61
'Behold, I will cast you
from the face of the earth.
00:26:04.64\00:26:08.38
This year you shall die,'''
00:26:08.41\00:26:10.99
now notice this,
"'Because you have taught,'
00:26:11.02\00:26:14.73
what? "'Rebellion
against the Lord.'
00:26:14.76\00:26:17.99
So Hananiah the prophet died
00:26:18.02\00:26:20.80
that same year in
the seventh month."
00:26:20.83\00:26:23.76
Are you starting
to catch a picture
00:26:23.79\00:26:25.40
of what characterizes
the false prophets?
00:26:25.43\00:26:28.36
You know, the
prime characteristics
00:26:28.39\00:26:32.12
of these false prophets is
not that they utter a prophecies
00:26:32.15\00:26:36.74
that are not fulfilled.
00:26:36.77\00:26:38.20
Although, that's true
also because they say,
00:26:38.23\00:26:40.29
"peace, peace"
when there is no peace.
00:26:40.32\00:26:42.46
They say that God's people
00:26:42.49\00:26:43.86
are not going to
be taken to Babylon
00:26:43.89\00:26:45.32
and they were taken to Babylon.
00:26:45.35\00:26:47.42
But the primary characteristic
of these false prophets
00:26:47.45\00:26:50.74
is that instead of
rebuking wickedness,
00:26:50.77\00:26:54.44
instead of rebuking the
transgression of the law,
00:26:54.47\00:26:58.58
instead of getting God's
people to turn back to the Lord,
00:26:58.61\00:27:02.72
they do just the opposite.
00:27:02.75\00:27:04.32
They lead God's
people astray from the Lord,
00:27:04.35\00:27:07.12
astray from His law,
00:27:07.15\00:27:08.78
and they lead them to
practice false worship.
00:27:08.81\00:27:13.36
Now let's notice a text
that we find in Ezekiel.
00:27:13.39\00:27:16.93
Ezekiel 22:25-26
and I have included this
00:27:16.96\00:27:21.18
because Ezekiel
also lived shortly before
00:27:21.21\00:27:24.07
the first
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:27:24.10\00:27:26.08
So he would know
what he's talking about.
00:27:26.11\00:27:28.53
Ezekiel 22:25-26 and there
are several characteristics
00:27:28.56\00:27:33.83
here about the false prophets.
00:27:33.86\00:27:37.06
It says there, "The
conspiracy of her prophets
00:27:37.09\00:27:42.02
in her midst is like a
roaring lion tearing the prey.
00:27:42.05\00:27:48.01
They have devoured My people.
00:27:48.04\00:27:51.39
They have taken
treasure and precious things.
00:27:51.42\00:27:55.13
They have made many widows
in her midst." Let me ask you.
00:27:55.16\00:27:59.32
Are they covetous
according to this?
00:27:59.35\00:28:02.17
Do they ransack the
treasury of God's people?
00:28:02.20\00:28:06.86
Yes, in fact, it says
00:28:06.89\00:28:08.26
that they have made
many widows in her midst.
00:28:08.29\00:28:11.10
Why? Why do they do that?
00:28:11.13\00:28:12.50
Because they have taken
treasure and precious things.
00:28:12.53\00:28:15.66
In other words, they
are in it for the what?
00:28:15.69\00:28:17.96
They are in it for the money.
00:28:17.99\00:28:19.74
Notice verse 26.
00:28:19.77\00:28:21.62
"Her priests
have violated My law
00:28:21.65\00:28:25.88
and profaned My holy things."
00:28:25.91\00:28:28.94
And now notice, "They
have not distinguished
00:28:28.97\00:28:31.97
between the holy and unholy,
00:28:32.00\00:28:35.36
nor have they made
known the difference
00:28:35.39\00:28:37.98
between the
unclean and the clean,
00:28:38.01\00:28:40.45
and they have hidden
their eyes from My," what?
00:28:40.48\00:28:43.39
"From My Sabbaths,
00:28:43.42\00:28:44.80
so that I am
profaned among them."
00:28:44.83\00:28:48.96
No distinction between
the holy and the common.
00:28:48.99\00:28:52.02
Trampling, according to
this, upon God's holy Sabbath.
00:28:52.05\00:28:56.21
Trampling upon God's law
00:28:56.24\00:28:59.52
filled with covetousness
and a desire for material goods
00:28:59.55\00:29:04.74
in their
ministration or in their work.
00:29:04.77\00:29:08.10
Notice Daniel 9:10. Daniel 9:10.
00:29:08.13\00:29:13.59
Once again it's emphasized
that the false prophets
00:29:13.62\00:29:16.85
turn God's people
away from God's law.
00:29:16.88\00:29:21.42
It says there,
Daniel is praying,
00:29:21.45\00:29:24.83
"We have not obeyed the
voice of the Lord our God,
00:29:24.86\00:29:28.61
to walk in His," what?
00:29:28.64\00:29:30.54
"To walk in His laws,
which He set before us
00:29:30.57\00:29:34.83
by His servants the prophets."
00:29:34.86\00:29:37.85
Once again the emphasis
of walking in God's laws.
00:29:37.88\00:29:42.12
Let's notice another
text, Zechariah 7:12-13.
00:29:42.15\00:29:46.68
This is taking place
after the Babylonian captivity.
00:29:46.71\00:29:50.14
Zechariah 7:12-13,
speaking about the experience
00:29:50.17\00:29:55.36
of Israel before the captivity.
00:29:55.39\00:29:58.11
"Yes, they made
their hearts like flint,
00:29:58.14\00:30:02.50
refusing to hear," what?
00:30:02.53\00:30:06.48
"The law and the words
which the Lord of hosts
00:30:06.51\00:30:10.31
had sent by His Spirit
through the former prophets.
00:30:10.34\00:30:14.51
Thus great wrath came
from the Lord of hosts."
00:30:14.54\00:30:18.74
So once again the idea
is refusing to hear the law
00:30:18.77\00:30:22.46
and the words which
the Lord had spoken.
00:30:22.49\00:30:26.34
Now you might say,
"Well, then the destruction
00:30:26.37\00:30:28.60
of Jerusalem was
due to the leaders.
00:30:28.63\00:30:30.98
You know, because
they taught false worship,
00:30:31.01\00:30:33.29
they taught God's people
to go astray from the law.
00:30:33.32\00:30:36.33
They didn't distinguish
between the holy and the common.
00:30:36.36\00:30:39.04
They trampled upon
God's Holy Sabbaths.
00:30:39.07\00:30:41.46
So the fault
rests with the leaders."
00:30:41.49\00:30:43.91
Well, the fact is
that Jeremiah says
00:30:43.94\00:30:46.79
that the fault
actually rested with the people.
00:30:46.82\00:30:49.46
Notice what Jeremiah
has to say in Chapter 5:31.
00:30:49.49\00:30:54.27
Jeremiah Chapter 5:31.
00:30:54.30\00:30:57.54
"The prophets prophesy falsely,
00:30:59.13\00:31:04.00
and the priests
rule by their own power."
00:31:04.03\00:31:09.46
And now notice.
"And My people," what?
00:31:09.49\00:31:13.06
"Love to have it so.
00:31:13.09\00:31:15.87
But what will
you do in the end?"
00:31:15.90\00:31:20.23
Isn't that a telling verse?
00:31:20.26\00:31:22.43
"My people love to have it so."
00:31:22.46\00:31:26.40
They love the
prophets to tell them
00:31:26.43\00:31:28.31
what they want to hear.
00:31:28.34\00:31:29.71
And so God says, don't tell me
that the leaders are to blame,
00:31:29.74\00:31:33.72
because you are to blame.
00:31:33.75\00:31:35.36
Because you
gathered these leaders
00:31:35.39\00:31:37.96
to tell you what you
wanted to hear from them.
00:31:37.99\00:31:42.16
Now we need to go
to the New Testament.
00:31:42.19\00:31:43.99
Is this picture clear
00:31:44.02\00:31:45.39
about the false
prophets in the Old Testament?
00:31:45.42\00:31:47.19
You know, we could have read
00:31:47.22\00:31:48.59
many other statements
from the Old Testament.
00:31:48.62\00:31:50.54
They are all based on
the legislation of Moses.
00:31:50.57\00:31:53.71
Do you remember
Deuteronomy Chapter 13:1-5?
00:31:53.74\00:31:56.79
There is the key.
00:31:56.82\00:31:58.19
Everything that comes after that
00:31:58.22\00:31:59.73
is a development of
Deuteronomy Chapter 13.
00:31:59.76\00:32:02.70
And the two basic ideas
there in Deuteronomy 13 were,
00:32:02.73\00:32:06.23
number 1, that the false
prophet does signs and wonders
00:32:06.26\00:32:10.88
to lead God's people away
from the Commandments of Lord,
00:32:10.91\00:32:14.98
away from the law of the
Lord and they lead God's people
00:32:15.01\00:32:19.51
to serve and to
worship false gods.
00:32:19.54\00:32:23.09
That is basic to the legislation
which was given by Moses.
00:32:23.12\00:32:28.06
Now we must remember
that the New Testament
00:32:28.09\00:32:30.32
is a continuation
of the Old Testament.
00:32:30.35\00:32:33.10
So we not--we're not going
to find in the New Testament
00:32:33.13\00:32:36.63
a brand new definition
of what a false prophet is
00:32:36.66\00:32:40.25
because false
prophets in the New Testament
00:32:40.28\00:32:42.88
have the same characteristics
00:32:42.91\00:32:44.90
that the false prophets
had in the Old Testament.
00:32:44.93\00:32:48.38
Go with me to a
very interesting passage
00:32:48.41\00:32:50.76
that we find in
Matthew Chapter 7,
00:32:50.79\00:32:53.56
we'll read verses 15 and 16
00:32:53.59\00:32:55.69
and then we'll jump
down to verses 21 to 23.
00:32:55.72\00:32:59.66
Matthew Chapter
7:15-16 and also verses 21-23.
00:32:59.69\00:33:05.83
Notice what Jesus had to say.
00:33:05.86\00:33:08.62
"Beware of false prophets,
who come to you," in what?
00:33:08.65\00:33:16.21
"Sheep's clothing," so did
they look like sheep outside?
00:33:16.24\00:33:21.38
Yes they do, remember that.
00:33:21.41\00:33:22.78
By the way what does a sheep
00:33:22.81\00:33:24.18
or what does a lamb
represent in Scripture?
00:33:24.21\00:33:27.16
Represents Jesus.
Thank you, very much.
00:33:27.19\00:33:28.78
So that they claim
to speak for Jesus?
00:33:28.81\00:33:31.06
Oh, yes they do,
we're gonna notice that.
00:33:31.09\00:33:33.21
"Beware of false prophets,
00:33:33.24\00:33:34.61
who come to you
in sheep's clothing,
00:33:34.64\00:33:36.37
but inwardly they are,"
what? "Ravenous wolves."
00:33:36.40\00:33:39.91
Have you ever
read in Revelation,
00:33:39.94\00:33:41.31
a beast that comes
up out of the earth
00:33:41.34\00:33:43.54
and it has two horns like a lamb
but it speaks like a dragon?
00:33:43.57\00:33:47.49
Here we have false prophets
00:33:47.52\00:33:49.52
that are clothed
in sheep's clothing
00:33:49.55\00:33:52.17
but inside they are
what? Ravenous wolves.
00:33:52.20\00:33:54.90
In other words their profession
00:33:54.93\00:33:57.17
and what they really
are are contradictory.
00:33:57.20\00:34:00.62
Now notice what it
continuous saying in verse 16.
00:34:00.65\00:34:03.98
"You will know
them by their," what?
00:34:04.01\00:34:06.73
"By their fruits."
00:34:06.76\00:34:08.13
Now let's jump down to verse 21.
00:34:08.16\00:34:10.75
"Not everyone who
says to Me, 'Lord, Lord.'"
00:34:10.78\00:34:15.88
Do these false prophets claim
to speak in the name of Jesus?
00:34:15.91\00:34:19.25
Yes.
00:34:19.28\00:34:20.65
"Not everyone who says to Me,
00:34:20.68\00:34:22.05
'Lord, Lord,' shall
enter the kingdom of heaven,
00:34:22.08\00:34:25.12
but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven.
00:34:25.15\00:34:29.80
Many will say to Me in that day,
00:34:29.83\00:34:32.37
'Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name.'"
00:34:32.40\00:34:37.82
Did we find that
in the Old Testament?
00:34:37.85\00:34:39.28
We certainly did.
00:34:39.31\00:34:40.70
"'Cast out demons in Your name,
00:34:40.73\00:34:43.81
and done many
wonders in Your name?'"
00:34:43.84\00:34:46.61
Did false prophets
in the Old Testament
00:34:46.64\00:34:48.20
also do signs and wonders?
00:34:48.23\00:34:50.25
Did they claim to speak
in the name of the Lord? Yes.
00:34:50.28\00:34:53.56
Are they
identified as false prophets?
00:34:53.59\00:34:55.93
Yes, they are.
Now notice verse 23.
00:34:55.96\00:34:59.28
"Then I will declare to them,
00:34:59.31\00:35:01.59
I never knew
you, depart from Me,
00:35:01.62\00:35:04.75
you who practice lawlessness!"
00:35:04.78\00:35:09.71
Now isn't that interesting?
00:35:09.74\00:35:11.81
What characterizes
the false prophets?
00:35:11.84\00:35:14.29
They practice what? Lawlessness.
00:35:14.32\00:35:18.29
Is that related
to what we studied
00:35:18.32\00:35:19.89
about the false
prophets in the Old Testament?
00:35:19.92\00:35:22.48
They teach God's people to what?
00:35:22.51\00:35:24.49
To go astray
from the law of God.
00:35:24.52\00:35:28.53
Now let's go to
Matthew 24:11-13.
00:35:28.56\00:35:31.56
And I want you to notice a
very interesting word here.
00:35:31.59\00:35:34.90
Matthew 24 and verses--
00:35:34.93\00:35:37.35
actually we'll
read verses 11 and 12.
00:35:37.38\00:35:41.54
It says here,
"Then many false prophets
00:35:41.57\00:35:44.75
will rise up and deceive many.
00:35:44.78\00:35:49.60
And because," what?
00:35:49.63\00:35:51.93
"Lawlessness will abound,
00:35:51.96\00:35:54.53
the love of
many will grow cold."
00:35:54.56\00:35:59.94
Is there a link here between
false prophets deceiving many
00:35:59.97\00:36:03.61
and the abundance of lawlessness
00:36:03.64\00:36:05.55
that arises in
society? Absolutely.
00:36:05.58\00:36:09.06
You see the
religious leaders today
00:36:09.09\00:36:11.22
they cry out and they say,
00:36:11.25\00:36:12.62
"We need to
moralize the United States,
00:36:12.65\00:36:15.31
we need to return to God's law."
00:36:15.34\00:36:17.23
But where do they
go to change people?
00:36:17.26\00:36:19.45
They go to Capitol Hill.
00:36:19.48\00:36:21.85
But Capitol Hill can't
change the hearts of people.
00:36:21.88\00:36:24.60
You see, for obedience
to be acceptable to God
00:36:24.63\00:36:28.04
it has to come from inside.
00:36:28.07\00:36:29.63
It cannot be
imposed from outside.
00:36:29.66\00:36:33.20
And so as a result of not
doing the work from within
00:36:33.23\00:36:37.44
so that
righteousness can come out
00:36:37.47\00:36:40.36
society gets worse
and worse and worse.
00:36:40.39\00:36:44.09
Lawlessness
abounds according to this.
00:36:44.12\00:36:47.96
Now notice
Matthew Chapter 24:24.
00:36:47.99\00:36:51.56
Matthew 24:24.
00:36:51.59\00:36:53.54
We not only notice
that these false prophets,
00:36:53.57\00:36:55.98
by what they teach,
cause lawlessness in society
00:36:56.01\00:37:00.39
but we also notice that these
false prophets will perform
00:37:00.42\00:37:03.18
signs and wonders just like we
read in Deuteronomy Chapter 13.
00:37:03.21\00:37:07.33
It says there,
"For false christs
00:37:07.36\00:37:09.92
and false prophets will rise
00:37:09.95\00:37:12.14
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive,
00:37:12.17\00:37:17.84
if possible,"
whom? "Even the elect."
00:37:17.87\00:37:21.65
By the way, do the
prophets in the New Testament
00:37:21.68\00:37:24.08
also want to please people?
00:37:24.11\00:37:27.45
Notice what Jesus had to
say in Luke Chapter 6:26.
00:37:27.48\00:37:31.74
Luke Chapter 6:26.
00:37:31.77\00:37:35.96
Jesus had a dire warning here.
00:37:35.99\00:37:37.94
He said, "Woe to you when
all men speak well of you,
00:37:37.97\00:37:45.71
for so did their
fathers," to whom?
00:37:45.74\00:37:49.38
"To the false prophets."
00:37:49.41\00:37:52.53
You know, ministers
have not been called
00:37:52.56\00:37:54.47
to win a popularity contest.
00:37:54.50\00:37:57.33
They've been raised up
by God to speak the truth.
00:37:57.36\00:38:01.25
Have you ever found
a prophet in scripture
00:38:01.28\00:38:03.65
that the people loved?
00:38:03.68\00:38:05.49
You know, I don't know
of one prophet in the Bible
00:38:05.52\00:38:08.03
that the people actually loved
00:38:08.06\00:38:10.04
when God sent that
prophet to the people.
00:38:10.07\00:38:12.52
Do you know why the people
did not love the true prophet?
00:38:12.55\00:38:16.25
Because the true
prophet was a meddler.
00:38:16.28\00:38:18.89
The true
prophet stepped on toes.
00:38:18.92\00:38:21.89
The true prophet
ruffled feathers.
00:38:21.92\00:38:24.55
In other words, the prophet--
00:38:24.58\00:38:25.95
the true prophet told people
what they didn't want to hear.
00:38:25.98\00:38:29.57
As the apostle Paul
says, "Then in the last days
00:38:29.60\00:38:32.54
people will pile up
teachers who will teach them
00:38:32.57\00:38:35.20
what they want to hear.
00:38:35.23\00:38:36.96
And they will turn away
their ear from the truth
00:38:36.99\00:38:40.07
and they will be
turned on to fables."
00:38:40.10\00:38:42.05
The apostle Paul speaks
00:38:42.08\00:38:43.45
about these false
prophets in the end time.
00:38:43.48\00:38:47.04
Now I want us to go
to Revelation Chapter 13
00:38:47.07\00:38:51.61
and notice
something very interesting
00:38:51.64\00:38:53.86
here in
Revelation Chapter 13:11.
00:38:53.89\00:38:57.98
Revelation Chapter 13:11.
00:38:58.01\00:39:02.55
This is speaking
about a second beast.
00:39:02.58\00:39:06.31
You know, there are two beasts
00:39:06.34\00:39:07.71
in Revelation
Chapter-- actually Chapter 13.
00:39:07.74\00:39:11.02
There are two
beasts in Chapter 13.
00:39:11.05\00:39:13.88
The first beast
comes up from where?
00:39:13.91\00:39:16.56
Comes up from the sea.
00:39:16.59\00:39:18.47
The second beast
comes up from the earth.
00:39:18.50\00:39:22.59
And the second beast
actually helps the first beast
00:39:22.62\00:39:26.00
to get its power back.
00:39:26.03\00:39:27.40
Have you noticed that?
00:39:27.43\00:39:28.80
Now let's talk a little
bit about this second beast.
00:39:28.83\00:39:32.99
It says, "I saw
another beast rise,"
00:39:33.02\00:39:35.47
out of the what?
"Out of the earth.
00:39:35.50\00:39:38.37
And he had two horns like a lamb
and yet he spoke as a," what?
00:39:38.40\00:39:44.54
"He spoke as a dragon."
00:39:44.57\00:39:47.26
Now hold that for a moment.
00:39:47.29\00:39:49.76
And I want you to notice
00:39:49.79\00:39:52.48
what this
second beast is called.
00:39:52.51\00:39:54.73
This second beast
has a special name.
00:39:54.76\00:39:56.70
In Revelation 16:13.
00:39:56.73\00:40:00.76
Here John inspired
by the Holy Spirit.
00:40:00.79\00:40:03.46
It says, "I saw
three evil spirits
00:40:03.49\00:40:07.71
like frogs coming out
of the mouth of the dragon,
00:40:07.74\00:40:11.97
out of the mouth of the beast,
00:40:12.00\00:40:13.95
and out of the mouth of the,"
what? "Of the false prophet."
00:40:13.98\00:40:17.94
So what is this
second beast called?
00:40:17.97\00:40:20.29
This second beast is
called the false prophet.
00:40:20.32\00:40:25.32
Now do you suppose that
there might be any relationship
00:40:25.35\00:40:27.55
between this end
time false prophet
00:40:27.58\00:40:29.94
and the false
prophets that we studied about
00:40:29.97\00:40:32.37
in the Old Testament
and in the New Testament?
00:40:32.40\00:40:35.66
Absolutely.
00:40:35.69\00:40:37.23
Now I want to for a few moments
about the two horns like a lamb.
00:40:37.26\00:40:42.24
Do you know the
word lamb is used
00:40:42.27\00:40:43.92
29 times in the
Book of Revelation?
00:40:43.95\00:40:46.96
28 of those times
it applies to Jesus.
00:40:46.99\00:40:51.88
In this one case it
applies to this beast
00:40:51.91\00:40:55.57
that has two horns like a
lamb, but speaks like a dragon.
00:40:55.60\00:40:59.19
Let me ask you then.
00:40:59.22\00:41:00.66
Would this false prophet claim
to be spokesman for Christ?
00:41:00.69\00:41:04.76
Absolutely.
00:41:04.79\00:41:06.16
Because
invariably, in Revelation,
00:41:06.19\00:41:08.56
the lamb is the
symbol of Jesus Christ.
00:41:08.59\00:41:11.80
So this beast that
rises from the earth
00:41:11.83\00:41:14.84
is actually going to claim
to speak in the name of Jesus.
00:41:14.87\00:41:20.31
Now let's talk a little bit
about the two horns like a lamb.
00:41:20.34\00:41:24.63
What do horns
represents in Bible prophecy?
00:41:24.66\00:41:28.96
You know what horns
represents in Bible prophecy?
00:41:28.99\00:41:32.14
They represent kingdoms.
00:41:32.17\00:41:36.42
You say, "How do we know that?"
00:41:36.45\00:41:38.34
Well, you remember
Daniel Chapter 8 we have a ram.
00:41:38.37\00:41:42.95
And the ram has two horns.
00:41:42.98\00:41:45.66
And one of the horns
is higher than the other
00:41:45.69\00:41:48.73
and the highest
horn comes out last.
00:41:48.76\00:41:51.81
What do those
two horns represent?
00:41:51.84\00:41:54.85
They actually represent,
according to Daniel 8:20,
00:41:54.88\00:41:59.01
the Kings of Media and Persia.
00:41:59.04\00:42:03.84
And the lamb
represents the kingdom.
00:42:03.87\00:42:07.33
In other words there
is actually one nation
00:42:07.36\00:42:11.34
composed of two
nations or two kingdoms.
00:42:11.37\00:42:14.80
In other words-- I don't know
00:42:14.83\00:42:16.20
if you're
understanding what I'm saying,
00:42:16.23\00:42:17.60
but what I'm saying
is that there is actually
00:42:17.63\00:42:19.84
one united nation that
is composed of two kingdoms,
00:42:19.87\00:42:23.63
the Medes and the Persians.
00:42:23.66\00:42:25.81
So in other words, the two
horns represent two kingdoms.
00:42:25.84\00:42:30.79
This must mean that
this beast that has two horns
00:42:30.82\00:42:33.99
like a lamb is a beast
that recognizes two, what?
00:42:34.02\00:42:41.23
Two kingdoms.
00:42:41.26\00:42:42.78
And there must be kingdoms
that were taught by, whom?
00:42:42.81\00:42:47.09
They were taught by Jesus
00:42:47.12\00:42:48.84
because Jesus is the lamb
in the Book of Revelation.
00:42:48.87\00:42:53.60
Now the question
is which two kingdoms
00:42:53.63\00:42:56.59
did Jesus recognize
and did Jesus teach about?
00:42:56.62\00:43:01.22
I'm sure you know.
00:43:01.25\00:43:02.66
Once He said, "Render therefore
unto Caesar the things Caesar's
00:43:02.69\00:43:09.08
and unto God the
things that are God's."
00:43:09.11\00:43:13.50
How many kingdoms
that Jesus recognize?
00:43:13.53\00:43:15.87
He recognized two kingdoms.
00:43:15.90\00:43:17.94
He recognized
the kingdom of earth,
00:43:17.97\00:43:21.04
the kingdom of a state.
00:43:21.07\00:43:22.78
And He also recognized
00:43:22.81\00:43:24.72
and He was the representative
of the kingdom of God.
00:43:24.75\00:43:28.20
In fact, Jesus said to Pilate,
00:43:28.23\00:43:30.07
"My kingdom is
not of this world."
00:43:30.10\00:43:32.66
He is saying,
"You have a kingdom
00:43:32.69\00:43:34.77
and your kingdom
is of this world."
00:43:34.80\00:43:36.55
He says, "But my
kingdom is not of this world."
00:43:36.58\00:43:39.06
So how many kingdoms
is Jesus recognizing?
00:43:39.09\00:43:41.86
He's recognizing
two kingdoms here,
00:43:41.89\00:43:45.47
the civil power and
the religious power.
00:43:45.50\00:43:48.74
By the way, we're sitting
in a church this evening.
00:43:48.77\00:43:52.28
Do you know that we are actually
citizens of two kingdoms?
00:43:52.31\00:43:56.01
You know, right now
we're sitting in a place
00:43:56.04\00:43:59.57
that is the kingdom of Jesus.
00:43:59.60\00:44:02.89
But, you know,
when we go to vote
00:44:02.92\00:44:04.95
and when we pay our taxes
00:44:04.98\00:44:07.13
which kingdom
are we recognizing?
00:44:07.16\00:44:09.30
We're recognizing the
kingdom of Caesar, so to speak.
00:44:09.33\00:44:12.70
In other words,
we are respectful
00:44:12.73\00:44:15.06
of the civil authorities
and we are also citizens
00:44:15.09\00:44:18.99
of the Kingdom of Christ which,
by the way, is the church.
00:44:19.02\00:44:22.34
You remember that
Jesus said to Peter,
00:44:22.37\00:44:24.14
"Upon this rock I
will build my church."
00:44:24.17\00:44:26.13
And then He says, "I will
give you the keys," of the what?
00:44:26.16\00:44:29.62
"The keys of the kingdom."
00:44:29.65\00:44:31.02
So the church is a kingdom.
00:44:31.05\00:44:33.10
So basically what I'm
saying is that this beast
00:44:33.13\00:44:36.03
that rises from the
earth is going to have
00:44:36.06\00:44:40.08
two Christ like
kingdoms that it recognizes.
00:44:40.11\00:44:45.94
And what are those
two Christ like kingdoms?
00:44:45.97\00:44:48.71
It is the civil power and
it is the religious power,
00:44:48.74\00:44:53.86
but not joint
together, but separate.
00:44:53.89\00:44:58.99
Now let me ask you,
what nation on planet earth
00:44:59.02\00:45:02.41
which is a worldwide power arose
00:45:02.44\00:45:06.40
and in its bill
of rights recognizes
00:45:06.43\00:45:10.95
the existence of two kingdoms,
00:45:10.98\00:45:13.40
the civil power and the church
00:45:13.43\00:45:15.95
separate from one
another repeating the principle
00:45:15.98\00:45:19.96
that Jesus taught when He said,
00:45:19.99\00:45:21.82
"Render unto
Caesar, that which is Caesar
00:45:21.85\00:45:24.13
and unto God
that which is God's"
00:45:24.16\00:45:26.33
What nation is that?
00:45:26.36\00:45:28.52
It's the United
States of America.
00:45:28.55\00:45:30.95
And of course
we've been studying
00:45:30.98\00:45:32.46
in this series on
Matthew Chapter 24
00:45:32.49\00:45:35.19
about the
abomination of desolation,
00:45:35.22\00:45:37.21
about the eagles of Rome,
00:45:37.24\00:45:38.87
and about the eagle
of the United States.
00:45:38.90\00:45:41.25
About the sun wreath
that was around the eagle
00:45:41.28\00:45:44.63
on the Roman standard.
00:45:44.66\00:45:46.03
And about the
imposition of the day of the sun
00:45:46.06\00:45:51.03
in the United
States in the future.
00:45:51.06\00:45:53.52
In other words,
what is going to happen
00:45:53.55\00:45:55.99
in the United
States is that this beast,
00:45:56.02\00:45:58.46
who originally
recognized two kingdoms
00:45:58.49\00:46:01.68
separate from one another,
00:46:01.71\00:46:03.25
the power of the state
and the power of the church,
00:46:03.28\00:46:06.15
suddenly this kingdom is going
to start speaking like, what?
00:46:06.18\00:46:11.61
He is going to start
speaking like a dragon.
00:46:11.64\00:46:13.96
In other words He is gonna
set aside these basic principles
00:46:13.99\00:46:17.71
upon which this nation was built
00:46:17.74\00:46:20.86
and He is going to
speak like the dragon.
00:46:20.89\00:46:23.66
He is going to speak like Satan.
00:46:23.69\00:46:26.26
You say, "Well, Pastor Bohr,
00:46:26.29\00:46:27.66
this could never
happen in the land of the free
00:46:27.69\00:46:29.36
and the home of the brave."
00:46:29.39\00:46:30.76
You know, we've studied
all ready that in the 1880s
00:46:30.79\00:46:34.00
there was an
agitation to establish
00:46:34.03\00:46:36.01
a National Sunday
Law in the United States.
00:46:36.04\00:46:38.41
We've also studied how
the conservative Protestants
00:46:38.44\00:46:42.98
in the United States--
00:46:43.01\00:46:44.38
we dedicated a
whole lecture to this.
00:46:44.41\00:46:46.32
How the conservative
Protestants in the United States
00:46:46.35\00:46:49.16
are joining church and state.
00:46:49.19\00:46:51.27
They're joining the
papacy with Protestantism
00:46:51.30\00:46:55.02
and they are
speaking like the dragon.
00:46:55.05\00:46:57.89
They are saying that
this idea of church and state
00:46:57.92\00:47:00.51
is a figment of
someone's imagination.
00:47:00.54\00:47:03.17
In other words, they are getting
00:47:03.20\00:47:04.63
rid of the two
foundational principals
00:47:04.66\00:47:07.36
upon which the
United States was built.
00:47:07.39\00:47:10.94
By the way, I'm
gonna give you now
00:47:10.97\00:47:14.03
several passages
from Scripture that show
00:47:14.06\00:47:16.42
that this end time apostasy
has to do with God's holy law.
00:47:16.45\00:47:21.89
You say, how is this?
00:47:21.92\00:47:23.73
Allow me to mention the text.
00:47:23.76\00:47:26.11
We read from Matthew 24
00:47:26.14\00:47:28.87
that there would be a great
increase in, what? Lawlessness.
00:47:28.90\00:47:34.49
And the immediately
preceding verse speaks
00:47:34.52\00:47:37.31
about the false prophets,
the work of the false prophets.
00:47:37.34\00:47:41.55
In 2 Thessalonians Chapter
2 we have the expression,
00:47:41.58\00:47:47.76
"The man of sin"
speaking about the Antichrist.
00:47:47.79\00:47:51.77
And the man of sin is
called the mystery of, what?
00:47:51.80\00:47:57.01
The king James says,
the mystery of iniquity,
00:47:57.04\00:47:59.31
but many modern version
say, the mystery of lawlessness.
00:47:59.34\00:48:03.51
It is the same word
that use in Matthew 24
00:48:03.54\00:48:06.22
and is used also
in Matthew Chapter 7.
00:48:06.25\00:48:10.09
So in other
words, the antichrist
00:48:10.12\00:48:12.50
somehow is going to
emphasis lawlessness.
00:48:12.53\00:48:16.54
We've read in Matthew
Chapter 7 where Jesus says,
00:48:16.57\00:48:19.59
"Depart from me you who
work," what? "Lawlessness."
00:48:19.62\00:48:25.26
In Revelation we find
that this second beast imposes
00:48:25.29\00:48:28.40
the mark of the first beast.
00:48:28.43\00:48:30.06
Which is what?
00:48:30.09\00:48:31.80
The idea that
Sunday is the day of rest.
00:48:31.83\00:48:35.08
And by the way, Daniel 7:25
00:48:35.11\00:48:37.79
speaking about
this same power says,
00:48:37.82\00:48:40.09
"That He thought that He
could change times," and what?
00:48:40.12\00:48:43.97
"And law."
00:48:44.00\00:48:45.37
So in all of these
antichrist passages,
00:48:45.40\00:48:48.02
the Abomination of
Desolation in Matthew 24,
00:48:48.05\00:48:50.58
2 Thessalonians,
to the man of sin,
00:48:50.61\00:48:52.93
Matthew 7, the false prophets,
00:48:52.96\00:48:55.01
Revelation, the
beast and the lamb beast,
00:48:55.04\00:48:59.12
and Daniel Chapter
7, the little horn,
00:48:59.15\00:49:01.66
all emphasize
that the final apostasy
00:49:01.69\00:49:04.54
will have to do
with the holy law of God.
00:49:04.57\00:49:07.95
And incidentally that's
why Revelation says that,
00:49:07.98\00:49:11.17
God will have a people who
keep the commandments of God.
00:49:11.20\00:49:15.96
God will have a
people who fear God
00:49:15.99\00:49:18.40
and give glory to Him,
00:49:18.43\00:49:20.23
recognize that we're in
the hour of the judgment
00:49:20.26\00:49:22.80
and worship Him who
created the heavens,
00:49:22.83\00:49:25.44
the earth, the seas,
and the fountain of waters.
00:49:25.47\00:49:28.71
In other words, they will
recognize God as the creator.
00:49:28.74\00:49:33.45
I want you to
notice in Revelation 19:20,
00:49:33.48\00:49:39.50
a very interesting detail.
00:49:39.53\00:49:41.95
Revelation 19:20.
00:49:41.98\00:49:47.22
It's speaking here
about this lamb beast.
00:49:47.25\00:49:51.81
And I want you to notice what
it says about the false prophet
00:49:51.84\00:49:55.59
as well as the first
beast of Revelation Chapter 13.
00:49:55.62\00:49:59.29
It says, notice.
00:49:59.32\00:50:01.20
"Then the beast was captured,
and with him the false prophet
00:50:01.23\00:50:07.09
who had worked
signs in his presence."
00:50:07.12\00:50:11.57
And now comes the key portion.
00:50:11.60\00:50:13.81
"Who work signs in his
presence, by which he," what?
00:50:13.84\00:50:19.24
"He deceived those who
received the mark of the beast
00:50:19.27\00:50:24.31
and those who
worshiped his image."
00:50:24.34\00:50:26.96
Now let me ask you.
00:50:26.99\00:50:29.78
What is it that the
beast and the false prophet do
00:50:29.81\00:50:34.65
in order to deceive people?
00:50:34.68\00:50:37.65
They perform
what? Signs and wonders.
00:50:37.68\00:50:41.20
But the purpose of
the sings and wonders
00:50:41.23\00:50:43.31
is to get people
to receive, what?
00:50:43.34\00:50:45.89
The mark of the beast
and to worship his image.
00:50:45.92\00:50:50.91
Let me ask you, is
the end time crisis
00:50:50.94\00:50:53.27
than going to have
to do with the issue
00:50:53.30\00:50:56.04
of obedience and
worship? Absolutely.
00:50:56.07\00:51:00.76
So what I'm saying is
that the false prophet
00:51:00.79\00:51:03.21
is going to encourage people
00:51:03.24\00:51:06.30
and he is actually
gonna deceive people
00:51:06.33\00:51:08.35
into receiving
the mark of the beast
00:51:08.38\00:51:10.68
which by the way is a
sign of disobedience to God.
00:51:10.71\00:51:14.93
Now I want to end by
reading a statement that we find
00:51:14.96\00:51:17.76
in "Signs of the
Times" March 31, 1898.
00:51:17.79\00:51:23.18
Here Ellen White is speaking
00:51:23.21\00:51:25.48
about the story
of Nadab and Abihu.
00:51:25.51\00:51:28.83
Do you remember that I read
a text in the Old Testament,
00:51:28.86\00:51:31.09
where it says that the
priest and the prophets
00:51:31.12\00:51:33.44
did not distinguish
between the holy and the common
00:51:33.47\00:51:35.86
and they trample
upon God's holy Sabbath?
00:51:35.89\00:51:38.70
Now notice this very
significant statement.
00:51:38.73\00:51:42.69
"Those who ignore
the Lord's Sabbath
00:51:42.72\00:51:46.16
to keep holy the
first day of the week,
00:51:46.19\00:51:50.22
offer strange fire to God."
00:51:50.25\00:51:53.42
Notice what she
continues saying.
00:51:57.67\00:51:59.78
"It is a strange Sabbath,
00:51:59.81\00:52:02.63
which He has commanded them not.
00:52:02.66\00:52:05.94
Will He accept
it at their hands?
00:52:05.97\00:52:10.14
Men have sought
out many inventions.
00:52:10.17\00:52:13.21
They have taken a common day,
00:52:13.24\00:52:15.79
upon which God has
placed no sanctity,
00:52:15.82\00:52:19.04
and have clothed it
with sacred prerogatives.
00:52:19.07\00:52:23.64
They have declared
it to be a holy day,
00:52:23.67\00:52:26.76
but this does not give
it a vestige of sanctity.
00:52:26.79\00:52:31.09
They dishonor God by
accepting human institutions
00:52:31.12\00:52:35.70
and presenting to the world
as the Christian Sabbath a day
00:52:35.73\00:52:40.78
which has no 'Thus saith
the Lord' for its authority.
00:52:40.81\00:52:46.03
As did Nadab and Abihu,
00:52:46.06\00:52:48.36
they offer the common
in place of the sacred."
00:52:48.39\00:52:53.82
You remember what
Nadab and Abihu did?
00:52:53.85\00:52:57.49
God had said that
that whenever the priest
00:52:57.52\00:52:59.58
brought incense with
fire they were to get the fire
00:52:59.61\00:53:02.40
from the Altar of Sacrifice,
00:53:02.43\00:53:03.84
because that fire had
been rained from heaven.
00:53:03.87\00:53:05.74
That fire was holy.
00:53:05.77\00:53:07.90
But Nadab and Abihu, it says,
00:53:07.93\00:53:09.72
under the influence of alcohol--
00:53:09.75\00:53:12.22
you can read it there
at Leviticus Chapter 10.
00:53:12.25\00:53:14.71
"They decided that
they would bring common fire
00:53:14.74\00:53:17.47
and offer the
incense with common fire."
00:53:17.50\00:53:19.95
And so the Bible
says that they brought
00:53:19.98\00:53:21.44
the common fire
in before the Lord.
00:53:21.47\00:53:24.70
And of course the Lord said,
"Oh, who cares fire is fire."
00:53:24.73\00:53:29.01
Is that what the Lord said? No.
00:53:29.04\00:53:31.73
The Lord was
offended by the fact
00:53:31.76\00:53:33.41
that they
brought something common
00:53:33.44\00:53:35.14
and they presented
it as if it was holy.
00:53:35.17\00:53:38.45
And the Bible
says that a fire came
00:53:38.48\00:53:40.26
from the presence of the Lord
and consumed Nadab and Abihu.
00:53:40.29\00:53:44.53
Because they took the common
00:53:44.56\00:53:46.76
and they present it
to God as if it was holy.
00:53:46.79\00:53:50.03
But you know, that
there is another story
00:53:50.06\00:53:51.70
that we find in Daniel 5
about the fall of Babylon.
00:53:51.73\00:53:55.43
There we have the
other side of the coin.
00:53:55.46\00:53:58.27
There it says that Belshazzar,
00:53:58.30\00:54:00.47
the king-- the
apostate Babylonian king,
00:54:00.50\00:54:03.11
took the sacred vessels
that Nebuchadnezzar had brought
00:54:03.14\00:54:07.32
from the temple and he used them
00:54:07.35\00:54:10.40
for common
purposes in his banquet.
00:54:10.43\00:54:12.77
In other words, he
desecrated the holy vessels
00:54:12.80\00:54:15.46
by using them
for a common propose.
00:54:15.49\00:54:18.29
And the Bible tells us that
as a result Belshazzar was slain
00:54:18.32\00:54:22.62
and Babylon
fell that very night.
00:54:22.65\00:54:26.19
So in other words,
God does not accept
00:54:26.22\00:54:30.39
something common
from us as if it was holy
00:54:30.42\00:54:33.98
and He expects us
to take what is holy
00:54:34.01\00:54:36.49
and never treated
as if it was common.
00:54:36.52\00:54:40.09
You know if God
accepts the observance
00:54:40.12\00:54:42.55
of the first day of
the week from Christians
00:54:42.58\00:54:45.61
then God is going to have to
apologize to Nadab and Abihu.
00:54:45.64\00:54:49.87
You say, why is that?
00:54:49.90\00:54:51.52
Because Nadab and
Abihu took common fire
00:54:51.55\00:54:55.09
and they presented
it as if it was holy.
00:54:55.12\00:54:58.93
Now you tell me, in principle,
00:54:58.96\00:55:00.53
how is that different
from taking a common day...
00:55:00.56\00:55:04.72
Sunday and present it
to God as if it was holy?
00:55:07.01\00:55:10.79
Is there any difference?
00:55:10.82\00:55:12.19
There is no difference at all.
00:55:12.22\00:55:13.76
Because when God
says that we're supposed
00:55:13.79\00:55:15.40
to present to Him
what He has made holy
00:55:15.43\00:55:18.62
He means what He has made holy.
00:55:18.65\00:55:21.22
How do you
suppose the Lord feels
00:55:21.25\00:55:23.24
when people
take the holy Sabbath
00:55:23.27\00:55:26.49
and they treat it
as if it was common?
00:55:26.52\00:55:29.71
Now let me ask
you, who are those
00:55:29.74\00:55:31.73
who are spearheading this idea
00:55:31.76\00:55:34.33
of trampling upon one
commandment of God's law?
00:55:34.36\00:55:38.95
It is the
ministers who are preaching.
00:55:38.98\00:55:40.61
People constantly come to me
00:55:40.64\00:55:42.11
when I have
evangelistic meetings.
00:55:42.14\00:55:43.72
They say, "Well, you
know what my preacher says?"
00:55:43.75\00:55:46.71
And I say, "What
does your Bible say?"
00:55:46.74\00:55:48.96
That's the key,
what does the Bible say.
00:55:48.99\00:55:52.24
Maybe you're being
deceived to disobey God's law
00:55:52.27\00:55:55.58
just like the false prophets
did in the Old Testament,
00:55:55.61\00:55:58.16
in the New Testament,
in the Book of Revelation.
00:55:58.19\00:56:00.82
Maybe he is preparing you
00:56:00.85\00:56:03.47
to receive the
mark of the beast.
00:56:03.50\00:56:06.47
I know that's strong language.
00:56:06.50\00:56:08.51
But I'll tell you, folks,
00:56:08.54\00:56:09.91
that what's going
to happen at the end
00:56:09.94\00:56:11.84
happened in New Testament times
00:56:11.87\00:56:13.73
and also happened
in Old Testament times.
00:56:13.76\00:56:16.67
There is noting
new under the sun.
00:56:16.70\00:56:18.96
By the way,
Revelation Chapter 13 tells us,
00:56:18.99\00:56:22.27
that this false prophet
will perform great signs.
00:56:22.30\00:56:26.35
Remember Deuteronomy 13,
00:56:26.38\00:56:28.03
he will perform great signs
even to the point of making fire
00:56:28.06\00:56:32.98
fall from heaven
in the sight of men.
00:56:33.01\00:56:38.27
And so the false
prophet is distinguished
00:56:38.30\00:56:43.21
from the true prophet by
two central characteristics.
00:56:43.24\00:56:47.12
The true prophet will
always call God's people
00:56:47.15\00:56:50.60
to obey God's law out
of love and to worship God
00:56:50.63\00:56:55.33
in the way in which
God has established.
00:56:55.36\00:56:58.33
The false
prophet on the other hand
00:56:58.36\00:57:00.49
will teach people that it's
okay to violate one commandment
00:57:00.52\00:57:07.52
or other
commandments of God's law
00:57:07.55\00:57:10.32
and leads them
into false worship.
00:57:10.35\00:57:13.88
And we have to decide today
00:57:13.91\00:57:16.59
which voice we are
going to listen to.
00:57:16.62\00:57:18.90
Whether we're going to
hear the voice of the Lord,
00:57:18.93\00:57:21.92
or whether we're going to listen
00:57:21.95\00:57:23.32
to the voice of
religious authorities
00:57:23.35\00:57:25.27
who do not have a
"Thus saith the Lord."
00:57:25.30\00:57:30.05