Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Father in heaven, what a joy
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it is to be in Your presence.
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How wonderful it
is to have Your word.
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We can't imagine
what it would be like
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to be in this world
without any guidance
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as to where things are going,
where things are moving to.
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We thank You
that You've given us
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the sure word of prophecy,
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so that we can know where we are
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and where we're going.
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Father we ask that as we
open Your word this afternoon,
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that Your
spirit will be with us.
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Give us clear minds
and receptive hearts.
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And we thank You for hearing
and answering our prayer,
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for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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I'd like to begin
in our study today
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by reading the passage
that we are going to take
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a look at in the next
hour that we will be together.
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Matthew Chapter
24 and I want to read
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all of the verses that
we will be dealing with.
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Matthew 24 and beginning
with verse, actually 14.
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"And this gospel of the kingdom
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will be
preached in all the world
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as a witness to all the nations,
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and then the end will come.
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Therefore when you see the
'abomination of desolation,'
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spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
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standing in the holy place"
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whoever reads,
let him understand,
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let them who are in
Judea flee to the mountains.
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Let him who is on the housetop
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not go down to take
anything out of his house.
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And let him who is in the field
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not go back to get his clothes.
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But woe to
those who are pregnant
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and to those who are
nursing babies in those days!
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And pray that your flight
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may not be in
winter or on the Sabbath.
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For then there will
be great tribulation,
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such as has not been
since the beginning of the world
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until this time,
no, nor ever shall be.
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And unless those
days were shortened,
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no flesh would be saved,
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but for the elect's sake
those days will be shortened.
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Then if anyone says to you,
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'Look, here is the Christ!'
or 'There!' do not believe it.
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For false christs and
false prophets will rise
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and show great signs
and wonders to deceive,
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if possible, even the elect.
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See, I have told you beforehand.
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Therefore if they say to you,
'Look, He is in the desert!'
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do not go out, or 'Look,
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He is in the inner
rooms!' do not believe it.
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For as the
lightning comes from the east
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and flashes to the west,
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so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be.
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For wherever the carcass is,
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there the eagles
will be gathered together.
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Immediately after the
tribulation of those days
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the sun will be darkened,
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and the moon will
not give its light,
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and the stars
will fall from heaven,
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and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken.
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Then the sign of the Son
of Man will appear in heaven,
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and then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn,
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and they will see the Son of Man
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coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.
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And He will send His angels
with a great sound of a trumpet,
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and they will gather His
elect from the four winds,
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from one end of
heaven to the other."
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This is the long
passage that we're gonna
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take a look at
in our study today.
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There're many things
that we need to cover
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and we are
going to try and do it
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within the time constraints that
we have which is one lecture.
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We could actually
dedicate many lectures
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to each one of these
topics that we've been studying.
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But unfortunately when you're
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producing
programming for television
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you have to stay within
strict parameters of time.
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Now the first thing that
I would like us to notice
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is the sequence of
events that we find here
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in Matthew Chapter 24.
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And I want to
compare the sequence
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with the Book of Revelation.
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The first thing
that I want us to notice
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is that verse 14 speaks about
the preaching of the gospel.
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Remember that, the
preaching of the gospel.
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Immediately after that verse,
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in verse 15 we
find the setting up
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of the abomination of desolation
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which we have
interpreted by our study
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as a National Sunday law.
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We notice however
that there is gonna be
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a group of people at this time
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who will be
keeping God's Holy Sabbath.
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And so you'll notice, we have
the preaching of the gospel,
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then we have the
abomination of desolation
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which separates two groups.
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It separates
those who leave the city
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from those who
stay within the city.
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It separates those
who keep the Sabbath,
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who flee and those who
stay in the city and are there
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when the abomination
of desolation is set up.
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Then I want you to notice
that immediately after this,
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you have the great
tribulation that we read about.
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Then at the end
of the tribulation,
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you have signs in the heavens.
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And then you have the coming
of Jesus to pick up His people.
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Now it's interesting to notice
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that this very
sequence of events
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we find in the
Book of Revelation.
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And you say how is that?
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Allow me to make the parallel.
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speaks about
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the preaching of
the everlasting gospel
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to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
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Interestingly enough
after the Three Angels' messages
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are proclaimed after the gospel
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in this new context is
presented to the world,
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we find at the end of
chapter 14 two groups.
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There are those who are
sealed with the seal of God
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which is God's Holy
Sabbath and we find those
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who are marked with
the mark of the beast.
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This is parallel to what we
found in Matthew Chapter 24.
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Interestingly enough once
God's people have been sealed
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and once the
followers of the beast
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have been marked,
then in Revelation 15
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you have the close of probation
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and beginning in chapter 16
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you have the falling of
the plagues upon the earth.
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A terrible time of
trouble and crisis on the planet
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when the plagues are
falling upon the earth.
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Then interestingly enough,
when you get to chapter 19
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you see Jesus Christ
seated on the white horse
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and the angels of
heaven are on white horses
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following Jesus to come to this
world to pick up His people.
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Now a careful study reveals then
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that the sequence of
events of Matthew Chapter 24
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is the same sequence of events
of the Book of Revelation.
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Only difference
symbols are actually used.
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Now notice
Matthew 24 and verse 21.
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It says there, "Then there
shall be great tribulation,"
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he said, "such as has not
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since the beginning of
the world to this time,
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no, nor ever shall be."
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Now before we study this verse
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and the succeeding
verses, there's something
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very important
that I need to explain.
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And that is that the
abomination of desolation,
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the tribulation and
the signs in the heavens
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have two
fulfillments or actually
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they are
fulfilled in two stages.
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You're saying how is
this? Well, let me explain it.
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The Book of
Revelation speaks about a beast.
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And we're told that
this beast rules 42 months.
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But we're told that at
the end of the 42 months
00:09:04.56\00:09:07.16
when this beast persecutes
the saints of the Most High,
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the beast
receives a deadly wound.
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And for a while the
beast is out of commission,
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it doesn't function.
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But after a period, we're told
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that his deadly wound is healed.
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And the whole world
marvels after the beast
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and once again
the beast persecutes.
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So what I'm saying
is that this beast power
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has two stages of dominion.
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It has a past stage
during the 42 months
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and it will have a future stage
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when the deadly wound
of this beast is healed.
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The same could be
said of Daniel 7:25.
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It speaks about the little horn.
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The little horn persecutes
the saints of the Most High.
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The little horn things,
it can change God's law.
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And we know that the
Roman Catholic papacy
00:10:00.39\00:10:02.34
attempted to change the Sabbath.
00:10:02.37\00:10:04.85
Now when you get to
the Book of Revelation,
00:10:04.88\00:10:07.18
you have a future fulfillment
to what the little horn did.
00:10:07.21\00:10:10.85
Once again God's
people will be persecuted,
00:10:10.88\00:10:14.90
and we find also
that the mark of the beast
00:10:14.93\00:10:18.16
is going to be
imposed in the end time
00:10:18.19\00:10:21.33
upon God's
people on pain of death.
00:10:21.36\00:10:24.27
In other words the
change in God's law
00:10:24.30\00:10:27.75
or the attempt to
change in God's law
00:10:27.78\00:10:29.78
in Daniel 7:25 in the
past during the 1260 years
00:10:29.81\00:10:35.34
represents the future period
when the mark of the beast,
00:10:35.37\00:10:39.94
which is a change in the law,
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which is the
counterfeit day of worship
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will be imposed upon
people by force of law.
00:10:44.35\00:10:48.19
You know, we've been studying
the seals in prayer meeting.
00:10:49.37\00:10:52.12
And it's interesting to
notice that there are also
00:10:52.15\00:10:54.52
two stages of martyrs in
the seven seals of Revelation.
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You have the first four seals.
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The first one
represents the Apostolic Church.
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The second seal
represents the Persecuted Church
00:11:03.01\00:11:06.73
on to the Roman emperors.
00:11:06.76\00:11:08.13
The third church
represents when darkness
00:11:08.16\00:11:10.31
entered the church in
the days of Constantine.
00:11:10.34\00:11:12.62
The fourth
church-- the fourth seal
00:11:12.65\00:11:15.27
represents the period when
death came into the church,
00:11:15.30\00:11:19.31
the period of the Inquisition.
00:11:19.34\00:11:21.30
And then in the fifth
seal which is equivalent
00:11:21.33\00:11:24.51
by the way to the
fifth church as well.
00:11:24.54\00:11:27.99
In the fifth seal you
have these martyrs crying out.
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They are crying out and
tell Lord--tell when Lord,
00:11:31.98\00:11:34.63
don't you judge
and avenge our blood
00:11:34.66\00:11:37.41
on those who shed
our blood upon the earth.
00:11:37.44\00:11:39.90
And this first group of
martyrs that is crying out
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is told to rest a little while
until the rest of the martyrs
00:11:42.80\00:11:48.06
is complete which will be
killed as they were killed.
00:11:48.09\00:11:51.60
Once again the fourth
seal represents the period
00:11:51.63\00:11:56.45
when God's people were
slain during the 1260 years.
00:11:56.48\00:12:00.73
But when the
deadly wound is healed,
00:12:00.76\00:12:03.69
there is going to be
another group of martyrs
00:12:03.72\00:12:05.78
before the close of probation
00:12:05.81\00:12:07.49
and then the number of
the martyrs will be complete.
00:12:07.52\00:12:11.56
So what I want us to
realize is that this period
00:12:11.59\00:12:15.78
of tribulation has two stages.
00:12:15.81\00:12:19.20
The first stage is
during the 1260 years,
00:12:19.23\00:12:22.19
the second
stage is in the future
00:12:22.22\00:12:24.79
after the
deadly wound is healed.
00:12:24.82\00:12:27.01
The first stage
are those martyrs
00:12:27.04\00:12:28.60
that were slain
during the 1260 years.
00:12:28.63\00:12:31.20
The second stage is when
God's people will be slain
00:12:31.23\00:12:34.88
if they do not
receive the mark of the beast.
00:12:34.91\00:12:37.96
The first stage is where
the beast rules for 42 months.
00:12:37.99\00:12:41.50
The second stage is where
its deadly wound is healed
00:12:41.53\00:12:44.52
and it will persecute again.
00:12:44.55\00:12:47.33
So the abomination of desolation
00:12:47.36\00:12:49.29
has a past application
and a future application.
00:12:49.32\00:12:52.51
The past application
is when the little horn
00:12:52.54\00:12:54.89
thought he could
change God's law.
00:12:54.92\00:12:56.88
The future application
is when the same power
00:12:56.91\00:12:59.92
imposes the day of worship,
the false day of worship
00:12:59.95\00:13:03.35
which is Sunday upon the world.
00:13:03.38\00:13:06.34
Not only does the
abomination of desolation
00:13:06.37\00:13:08.55
have a twofold application,
but the tribulation as well.
00:13:08.58\00:13:12.10
During the 42 months,
this beast or this little horn
00:13:12.13\00:13:15.37
persecuted God's people.
00:13:15.40\00:13:16.79
In the future it is once again
00:13:16.82\00:13:18.83
going to persecute God's people.
00:13:18.86\00:13:20.95
In the past
during the Middle Ages,
00:13:20.98\00:13:23.10
God's people had to flee.
00:13:23.13\00:13:24.56
In the end time,
00:13:24.59\00:13:25.96
God's people are
going to have to flee.
00:13:25.99\00:13:28.62
In both cases we
find signs in the heavens
00:13:28.65\00:13:31.98
that marked the end
of the great tribulation.
00:13:32.01\00:13:35.69
You know, there were signs in
the heaven we're going to notice
00:13:35.72\00:13:38.35
when the 1260 years
were coming to an end.
00:13:38.38\00:13:42.22
But the Bible tells
us that in connection
00:13:42.25\00:13:44.19
with the second coming of Jesus,
00:13:44.22\00:13:45.92
there will be great
signs in the heavens
00:13:45.95\00:13:48.39
announcing the coming of Jesus,
00:13:48.42\00:13:51.08
signs in the sun,
the moon and the stars.
00:13:51.11\00:13:54.50
Are you
understating what I'm saying?
00:13:54.53\00:13:56.15
Now allow me to read you
00:13:56.18\00:13:57.94
a couple of very
interesting statements
00:13:57.97\00:14:01.39
that we find in
the Spirit of Prophecy
00:14:01.42\00:14:04.40
in the writings
of the Ellen White,
00:14:04.43\00:14:05.87
where it shows
that she understood,
00:14:05.90\00:14:08.08
she caught this
idea of two stages
00:14:08.11\00:14:11.55
to the great tribulation.
00:14:11.58\00:14:13.47
The first is in
Desire of Ages page 631.
00:14:13.50\00:14:17.31
This is the
past stage, she says,
00:14:17.34\00:14:20.27
"For more than a thousand years
00:14:20.30\00:14:23.28
such persecution as the
world had never before known
00:14:23.31\00:14:27.67
was to come upon
Christ's followers.
00:14:27.70\00:14:31.34
Millions upon millions
00:14:31.37\00:14:33.36
of His faithful
witnesses were to be slain.
00:14:33.39\00:14:37.33
Had not God's
hand been stretched out
00:14:37.36\00:14:40.13
to preserve His people,
all would have perished.
00:14:40.16\00:14:44.12
"But for the
elect's sake," He said,
00:14:44.15\00:14:46.79
"those days shall be shortened."
00:14:46.82\00:14:50.19
So she is talking
about the first stage.
00:14:50.22\00:14:51.92
By the way we
can't refer to this
00:14:51.95\00:14:54.42
as two separate tribulations.
00:14:54.45\00:14:56.38
They are two
tribulations, they are actually
00:14:56.41\00:14:59.92
two tribulations in
one, because the future one
00:14:59.95\00:15:03.07
is a
continuation of the past one
00:15:03.10\00:15:05.46
with a short
interruption in between.
00:15:05.49\00:15:08.10
Are you
understanding, what I'm saying?
00:15:08.13\00:15:09.84
During the time that the
deadly wound is in force.
00:15:09.87\00:15:13.24
Now notice what she says
00:15:13.27\00:15:14.64
about the future application
of this period of tribulation.
00:15:14.67\00:15:19.58
Review and
Herald, November 22, 1892.
00:15:19.61\00:15:24.90
She says, "We are to realize
that the judgments of God
00:15:24.93\00:15:28.09
are about to
fall upon the earth,
00:15:28.12\00:15:30.99
and we should most earnestly
present before the people
00:15:31.02\00:15:35.00
the warning that the Lord
has commissioned us to give..."
00:15:35.03\00:15:39.82
And then notice the quotation.
00:15:39.85\00:15:41.67
"For then shall
be great tribulation
00:15:41.70\00:15:44.86
such as was not since
the beginning of the world
00:15:44.89\00:15:48.00
to this time, no,
nor ever shall be."
00:15:48.03\00:15:51.04
Now some people
say, but Pastor Bohr,
00:15:51.07\00:15:54.68
it says in Matthew Chapter 24
00:15:54.71\00:15:56.65
that this is such a
terrible tribulation
00:15:56.68\00:15:58.87
that it has never been seen
00:15:58.90\00:16:00.86
and it never will be seen again.
00:16:00.89\00:16:02.82
So how can you say
that this tribulation
00:16:02.85\00:16:05.79
during the 1260
years was the worst
00:16:05.82\00:16:08.12
and then say that
the future tribulation
00:16:08.15\00:16:10.29
is also gonna be the worst?
00:16:10.32\00:16:12.48
The fact is that the
persecution and the tribulation
00:16:12.51\00:16:16.13
during the Middle Ages
00:16:16.16\00:16:17.53
was the worst
with regards to length.
00:16:17.56\00:16:21.84
Where as the
tribulation at the end of time
00:16:21.87\00:16:24.18
is gonna be the worst
with respect to intensity.
00:16:24.21\00:16:28.57
So there are two
emphases in other words.
00:16:28.60\00:16:31.12
The tribulation during the
Middle Ages was the longest,
00:16:31.15\00:16:34.29
it lasted over a
1000 years in length.
00:16:34.32\00:16:37.62
But the end time tribulation
is going to be more intense
00:16:37.65\00:16:42.76
such as the
world has never seen.
00:16:42.79\00:16:45.20
Now I want you to
notice Matthew 24:22.
00:16:45.23\00:16:50.99
We just mentioned verse
21, let's read verse 22.
00:16:51.02\00:16:55.30
It says, "And unless
those days were shortened,
00:16:55.33\00:16:59.01
no flesh would be" What?
00:16:59.04\00:17:01.75
"No flesh would be saved,
00:17:01.78\00:17:03.66
but for the elect's sake
those days will be shortened."
00:17:03.69\00:17:09.59
Who are the elect?
00:17:11.15\00:17:13.20
You know, you read the
books that have been written
00:17:13.23\00:17:15.28
on Bible prophecy today
that you'll find in bookstores.
00:17:15.31\00:17:18.97
They'll tell you that
the elect are the Jews.
00:17:19.00\00:17:23.01
They will remain on planet earth
00:17:23.04\00:17:25.80
after the church has
been raptured to heaven.
00:17:25.83\00:17:29.77
But unfortunately
or fortunately rather,
00:17:29.80\00:17:32.52
that explanation does
not square with scripture.
00:17:32.55\00:17:37.05
Do you know for
example that this word elect
00:17:37.08\00:17:39.86
is the same word
that is translated
00:17:39.89\00:17:41.77
in the New Testament chosen?
00:17:41.80\00:17:45.18
In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter says,
"You are a chosen generation."
00:17:45.21\00:17:53.09
It's interesting to notice
also that in Romans Chapter 8,
00:17:53.12\00:17:57.20
it says that the elect are
those that have been justified,
00:17:57.23\00:18:01.34
those that have been sanctified.
00:18:01.37\00:18:03.57
In other words, the elect
are those who have received
00:18:03.60\00:18:06.81
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
00:18:06.84\00:18:10.91
Now let me ask you.
00:18:10.94\00:18:12.31
Are God's elect going to go
00:18:12.34\00:18:16.09
through the end
time tribulation?
00:18:16.12\00:18:18.30
Obviously, because it says here
00:18:18.33\00:18:21.18
that unless these
days were shorted,
00:18:21.21\00:18:25.06
not one person
would remain alive
00:18:25.09\00:18:27.90
but they're going to be
shortened because of whom?
00:18:27.93\00:18:30.36
The elect, if the elect aren't
going to go through this period,
00:18:30.39\00:18:33.77
why would God need
to shorten these days?
00:18:33.80\00:18:37.26
You know, who wants us to think
00:18:37.29\00:18:38.77
that we're not going to
go through the tribulation?
00:18:38.80\00:18:41.42
It's the devil,
because the devil knows
00:18:41.45\00:18:44.15
that we're going to
need a special faith
00:18:44.18\00:18:46.83
to get through the tribulation.
00:18:46.86\00:18:48.76
It's going to be a
faith that needs to be strong
00:18:48.79\00:18:53.56
in the face of opposition,
in the face of hunger,
00:18:53.59\00:18:56.79
in the face of loss of liberty,
00:18:56.82\00:18:58.83
in the face of even the
risk of losing our lives,
00:18:58.86\00:19:02.62
the devil knows that.
00:19:02.65\00:19:04.02
And so the devil
tells Christians, hey,
00:19:04.05\00:19:06.40
you're not going to be on planet
earth during the tribulation.
00:19:06.43\00:19:09.69
You're going to be
enjoying the glories of heaven
00:19:09.72\00:19:12.52
and the Jews on
earth are the ones
00:19:12.55\00:19:14.90
that are going to go
through the tribulation.
00:19:14.93\00:19:17.93
In fact, do you
know that most of those
00:19:17.96\00:19:19.85
who expound upon
Bible prophecy today,
00:19:19.88\00:19:22.19
say that Revelation 4
through Revelation Chapter 20
00:19:22.22\00:19:26.47
will be
fulfilled after the church
00:19:26.50\00:19:28.65
has been raptured to heaven,
00:19:28.68\00:19:30.68
and it is going to
take place with the Jews.
00:19:30.71\00:19:33.55
If that is the case, folks,
00:19:33.58\00:19:35.29
we might as
well pack up our bags
00:19:35.32\00:19:38.10
and cease being
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:19:38.13\00:19:40.12
because we say
that the reason we exist
00:19:40.15\00:19:42.65
is to proclaim the
Three Angels' Messages.
00:19:42.68\00:19:45.07
But if those messages
are going to be proclaimed
00:19:45.10\00:19:47.35
after the church has
been ruptured to heaven,
00:19:47.38\00:19:49.63
why bother to proclaim them,
00:19:49.66\00:19:51.90
if they apply to the
Jews after the church is gone?
00:19:51.93\00:19:55.88
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:19:55.91\00:19:57.87
In other words this
text makes it very clear
00:19:57.90\00:20:00.27
that God's people are going
to go through the tribulation.
00:20:00.30\00:20:05.22
But God will protect them in
the midst of the tribulation.
00:20:05.25\00:20:08.63
In fact like in the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:20:08.66\00:20:10.98
those who obeyed and fled
and who were Sabbath keepers,
00:20:11.01\00:20:15.06
not one of them perished.
00:20:15.09\00:20:17.20
In the same way,
those who go through
00:20:17.23\00:20:19.14
the tribulation,
not one will perish.
00:20:19.17\00:20:22.98
By the way, is it possible
to go through tribulation
00:20:23.01\00:20:25.65
and for God to protect you
in the midst of tribulation?
00:20:25.68\00:20:28.36
Of course. Wasn't Israel
and Egypt during the plagues?
00:20:28.39\00:20:31.46
Of course they were.
00:20:31.49\00:20:33.31
Didn't the three young men
go through the fiery furnace
00:20:33.34\00:20:35.69
and they were protected?
00:20:35.72\00:20:37.09
Sure. How about
Daniel in the lion's den?
00:20:37.12\00:20:39.59
Was he protected
by the power of God?
00:20:39.62\00:20:41.84
So why can't God
protect His people
00:20:41.87\00:20:43.92
that are going
through tribulation?
00:20:43.95\00:20:45.52
He can do it, in
fact He's going to do it.
00:20:45.55\00:20:47.80
And He's going to
shortened those days
00:20:47.83\00:20:49.76
because if He didn't
00:20:49.79\00:20:51.17
there would be
absolutely no flesh left alive.
00:20:51.20\00:20:56.11
Now allow me to read you
a very interesting statement
00:20:56.14\00:20:59.16
that we find in
Great Controversy page 631,
00:20:59.19\00:21:03.10
where Ellen White draws upon
00:21:03.13\00:21:05.63
much of the language
of Matthew Chapter 24.
00:21:05.66\00:21:08.82
You know it says
there that-- that when the--
00:21:08.85\00:21:12.10
you know when you see
the abomination of desolation
00:21:12.13\00:21:14.33
you should flee to the mountains
00:21:14.36\00:21:15.86
and vow to those who
were with child in those days
00:21:15.89\00:21:18.73
and pray that your flight
not be on the Sabbath and so on.
00:21:18.76\00:21:21.47
Notice Ellen White's
comment on this in the chapter
00:21:21.50\00:21:24.31
on the time of trouble
in the Great Controversy.
00:21:24.34\00:21:26.93
She says, "Yet
for the elect's sake
00:21:26.96\00:21:31.39
the time of trouble
will be shortened..."
00:21:31.42\00:21:33.79
So we know what
she's referring to.
00:21:33.82\00:21:36.24
She says, "The
heavenly sentinels,
00:21:36.27\00:21:38.65
faithful to their
trust, continue their watch.
00:21:38.68\00:21:42.58
Though a general
decree has fixed the time
00:21:42.61\00:21:46.13
when commandment
keepers may be put to death,
00:21:46.16\00:21:49.26
their enemies will in some
cases anticipate the decree,
00:21:49.29\00:21:53.94
and before the time specified,
00:21:53.97\00:21:56.27
will endeavor to
take their lives.
00:21:56.30\00:21:59.30
But none can pass
the mighty guardians
00:21:59.33\00:22:02.35
stationed about
every faithful soul.
00:22:02.38\00:22:06.56
Some" notice this
"Some are assailed
00:22:06.59\00:22:10.04
in their flight from
the cities and villages."
00:22:10.07\00:22:13.34
Does Matthew Chapter
24, speak about God's people
00:22:13.37\00:22:16.85
fleeing from the
city into the country?
00:22:16.88\00:22:19.40
Absolutely. "Some are
assailed in their flight
00:22:19.43\00:22:22.76
from the cities and
villages, but the swords raised
00:22:22.79\00:22:26.32
against them break and
fall powerless as straw.
00:22:26.35\00:22:31.65
Others are defended by angels
in the form of men of war."
00:22:31.68\00:22:38.33
So are we supposed
to fear the tribulation?
00:22:38.36\00:22:40.67
Are we supposed to
shake in our shoes because oh,
00:22:40.70\00:22:43.64
we're going to go through
this terrible tribulation?
00:22:43.67\00:22:45.84
No, because God says,
00:22:45.87\00:22:48.73
though you walk in the
shadow of the valley of death
00:22:48.76\00:22:51.74
you shall fear what? No evil.
00:22:51.77\00:22:54.45
A 1000 will fall to one
side, 10,000 to the other side,
00:22:54.48\00:22:58.56
but no plague will come
and touch your dwelling.
00:22:58.59\00:23:02.59
In other words, God's people
will go through the tribulation.
00:23:02.62\00:23:05.60
God will shorten that period,
00:23:05.63\00:23:07.82
but God's people will be
protected by mighty angels
00:23:07.85\00:23:12.07
who will not allow the
wicked to touch His people.
00:23:12.10\00:23:16.75
And then in Matthew
24, we have the counterfeit
00:23:16.78\00:23:21.48
second coming of Jesus.
00:23:21.51\00:23:23.78
Go with me to Matthew Chapter
24 and let's read verse 23.
00:23:23.81\00:23:29.03
Matthew 24:23,
then by the word--
00:23:29.06\00:23:33.96
the word then indicates
that this is taking place
00:23:33.99\00:23:36.44
after the close of probation.
00:23:36.47\00:23:37.84
Do you see the sequence?
00:23:37.87\00:23:39.24
Preaching of the gospel,
abomination of desolation,
00:23:39.27\00:23:42.56
the two groups are divided,
00:23:42.59\00:23:44.20
the great
tribulation, and then it says,
00:23:44.23\00:23:46.65
then comes this falsification
of the second coming.
00:23:46.68\00:23:51.88
So the counterfeiting
of the second coming
00:23:51.91\00:23:53.62
is going to take place
after the close of probation.
00:23:53.65\00:23:55.87
And people always
ask, they say, Pastor Bohr,
00:23:55.90\00:23:58.59
if the tribulation is
after probation closes
00:23:58.62\00:24:02.48
and the devil counterfeits
the second coming of Jesus
00:24:02.51\00:24:05.43
after the close of
probations, why would He do it?
00:24:05.46\00:24:08.37
All of God's people are saved
00:24:08.40\00:24:10.59
and all of the
wicked are already lost.
00:24:10.62\00:24:13.02
So the devil knows that if he
counterfeits the second coming,
00:24:13.05\00:24:16.07
he's not going to be
able to fool God's people.
00:24:16.10\00:24:18.12
Well, the fact is, folks,
that the devil is the devil.
00:24:18.15\00:24:21.67
He knows that God says,
00:24:21.70\00:24:23.59
that God's people
will not be deceived.
00:24:23.62\00:24:26.32
But ever since he
sinned, he harbors this thought
00:24:26.35\00:24:30.14
that perhaps once, some moment,
00:24:30.17\00:24:33.29
I can counteract
what God says in His word.
00:24:33.32\00:24:36.92
By the way the same
thing is going to happen
00:24:36.95\00:24:38.34
after the millennium.
00:24:38.37\00:24:39.74
Does the devil know that
00:24:39.77\00:24:41.14
it's written in
Revelation Chapter 20,
00:24:41.17\00:24:42.65
that he's going to
prepare to attack the city?
00:24:42.68\00:24:44.74
That the wicked are
going to turn against him
00:24:44.77\00:24:46.47
before they go against the city?
00:24:46.50\00:24:48.02
The devil knows all of that.
00:24:48.05\00:24:49.75
So why waste this time,
00:24:49.78\00:24:52.22
gathering the wicked around
the city to attack the city?
00:24:52.25\00:24:55.20
Because the devil is the devil.
00:24:55.23\00:24:57.94
Because the devil's never
gonna give up without a fight.
00:24:57.97\00:25:01.13
He thinks that at some point,
00:25:01.16\00:25:02.94
he can
counteract the word of God.
00:25:02.97\00:25:05.37
He says, maybe this one time,
I can go against God's word
00:25:05.40\00:25:08.89
and I can prevail,
although by his track record
00:25:08.92\00:25:13.10
it becomes very clear that he's
not going to be able to do it.
00:25:13.13\00:25:17.45
Now notice here, then
if anyone says to you,
00:25:17.48\00:25:21.98
look, here is the
Christ or there, do not what?
00:25:22.01\00:25:26.65
Do not believe it.
00:25:26.68\00:25:30.23
Now you'll notice that
this is a general statement
00:25:30.26\00:25:33.61
then if anyone says to you,
00:25:33.64\00:25:35.37
look here is the Christ
or there, do not believe it.
00:25:35.40\00:25:38.74
Let's go to Matthew
24:24, the very next verse.
00:25:38.77\00:25:43.33
"For false christs and
false prophets will rise"
00:25:43.36\00:25:46.89
Notice Christ in
plural did you catch that?
00:25:46.92\00:25:49.58
False Christ in plural
and false prophets will rise
00:25:49.61\00:25:53.81
and what will they do?
00:25:53.84\00:25:55.21
"They will show great
signs and wonders to deceive,
00:25:55.24\00:25:58.33
if possible," Whom? "The elect."
00:25:58.36\00:26:01.10
Who is the target of
the devil? The elect.
00:26:01.13\00:26:03.86
By the way is the
group of the elect
00:26:03.89\00:26:05.68
already clearly
defined at this point?
00:26:05.71\00:26:08.38
Obviously, yes. Has
the sealing taken place?
00:26:08.41\00:26:11.81
Those who have fled,
are they Sabbath keepers
00:26:11.84\00:26:14.05
according to Matthew Chapter
24 and the Book of Revelation?
00:26:14.08\00:26:17.33
Absolutely. Are
God's people fleeing
00:26:17.36\00:26:20.16
because their
lives are in danger? Yes.
00:26:20.19\00:26:22.79
Will they be
protected by God? Certainly.
00:26:22.82\00:26:25.39
What is the devil
gonna do as a last resort?
00:26:25.42\00:26:28.75
He's going to counterfeit
the second coming of Jesus.
00:26:28.78\00:26:31.29
Notice what he continue saying.
00:26:31.32\00:26:33.19
For false christs and
false prophets will rise
00:26:33.22\00:26:35.60
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive,
00:26:35.63\00:26:37.70
if possible, even the elect.
00:26:37.73\00:26:39.67
And now I want you
notice from false christs,
00:26:39.70\00:26:42.84
plural, suddenly the false
christs becomes an individual.
00:26:42.87\00:26:48.42
Notice what we find in verse 26.
00:26:48.45\00:26:52.05
"Therefore if
they say to you," What?
00:26:52.08\00:26:56.01
"Look, he" Singular.
00:26:56.04\00:27:01.21
There's gonna be false Christ
00:27:01.24\00:27:02.81
but this is the
counterfeiting of Christ
00:27:02.84\00:27:05.90
coming by one individual.
00:27:05.93\00:27:08.11
It says,
"Therefore if they say to you,
00:27:08.14\00:27:10.17
'Look, He is in the desert!'
00:27:10.20\00:27:12.75
do not go out, or 'Look,
He is in the inner rooms!'
00:27:12.78\00:27:16.85
do not believe it."
00:27:16.88\00:27:18.65
In other words verse
26 makes it very clear
00:27:18.68\00:27:21.75
that there will be
one particular individual
00:27:21.78\00:27:24.73
who will claim to be Christ
00:27:24.76\00:27:27.43
with the intention of
deceiving God's elect.
00:27:27.46\00:27:31.88
Now it's
interesting to find in scripture
00:27:31.91\00:27:35.37
that this
counterfeit second coming
00:27:35.40\00:27:38.39
is not going to
deceive God's people
00:27:38.42\00:27:40.47
and it's not going
to deceive God's people,
00:27:40.50\00:27:42.68
because the Bible makes it very,
very clear in multiple places
00:27:42.71\00:27:46.45
that when Jesus
returns the second time,
00:27:46.48\00:27:48.76
He's not going
to touch this earth.
00:27:48.79\00:27:51.37
Allow me to share quickly
some of those verses with you.
00:27:51.40\00:27:55.64
Notice 1 Thessalonians 4:17,
I'm not going to read them,
00:27:55.67\00:27:58.93
probably you know these verses.
00:27:58.96\00:28:00.99
It says, the Lord
Himself will descend
00:28:01.02\00:28:02.62
from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel,
00:28:02.65\00:28:04.81
with the trumpet of God,
00:28:04.84\00:28:06.21
the dead in
Christ will rise first,
00:28:06.24\00:28:07.69
then we who are alive
and remain shall be what?
00:28:07.72\00:28:10.63
Shall be caught up
together with Him in the clouds
00:28:10.66\00:28:13.35
to meet the Lord, where?
00:28:13.38\00:28:14.97
To meet the Lord in the air.
00:28:15.00\00:28:16.38
If you're going to
meet him in the air,
00:28:16.41\00:28:18.01
He did not come
all the way down.
00:28:18.04\00:28:20.79
Matthew 24:30 says that Jesus
00:28:20.82\00:28:23.80
will send His
angels to gather His elect.
00:28:23.83\00:28:28.05
Notice that He is in the air
00:28:28.08\00:28:29.67
and He's sending His
angels to gather His elect.
00:28:29.70\00:28:34.41
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1,
the Apostle Paul speaking
00:28:34.44\00:28:38.50
about the second coming
00:28:38.53\00:28:39.90
and He speaks about
our gathering to Him,
00:28:39.93\00:28:42.41
not His gathering to us,
but our gathering to Him.
00:28:42.44\00:28:47.44
And of course, you know,
John 14:3, where Jesus said,
00:28:47.47\00:28:50.96
"In my Father's
house are many mansions,
00:28:50.99\00:28:53.08
if it were not so,
I would have told you.
00:28:53.11\00:28:55.41
I go to prepare a place for you.
00:28:55.44\00:28:57.50
And if I go to
prepare a place for you,
00:28:57.53\00:28:59.61
I will come again, and
stay with you forever."
00:28:59.64\00:29:03.59
That's not what He says,
I will come again and what?
00:29:03.62\00:29:07.05
And receive you to myself
00:29:07.08\00:29:09.67
that where I am
there you maybe also.
00:29:09.70\00:29:12.50
Jesus promised Peter, He says,
00:29:12.53\00:29:14.12
"Where I'm going
you can't follow me now
00:29:14.15\00:29:16.47
but you'll follow me later.
00:29:16.50\00:29:18.77
"He says, I'm going
to my Father's house."
00:29:18.80\00:29:21.37
So is Jesus promising His people
00:29:21.40\00:29:24.44
that He's gonna
take them to heaven? Yes.
00:29:24.47\00:29:27.11
By the way, do you know
why the Protestant churches
00:29:27.14\00:29:30.75
invented the
theory of the rapture?
00:29:30.78\00:29:35.58
You see, Jesus
made two promises.
00:29:35.61\00:29:38.42
He promised first of all that
He was gonna take His people
00:29:38.45\00:29:40.82
to His Father's
house, that's heaven.
00:29:40.85\00:29:43.24
But He made another promise
00:29:43.27\00:29:45.17
that the meek
shall inherit the earth.
00:29:45.20\00:29:47.80
So Jesus had to
fulfill two promises.
00:29:47.83\00:29:50.75
He had to fulfill
first of all the promise
00:29:50.78\00:29:52.39
to take His people to heaven
00:29:52.42\00:29:53.79
and secondly the
promise to give them
00:29:53.82\00:29:56.09
the earth as the inheritance.
00:29:56.12\00:29:58.18
So those who teach
a rapture they say,
00:29:58.21\00:29:59.88
now how could Jesus
fulfill both of those promises.
00:29:59.91\00:30:03.14
Well, the only way
is, if Jesus comes back
00:30:03.17\00:30:06.88
seven years before
His glorious coming
00:30:06.91\00:30:09.30
and He takes His people
to heaven for seven years,
00:30:09.33\00:30:11.83
the church to
heaven for seven years,
00:30:11.86\00:30:13.44
that fulfills
promise number one.
00:30:13.47\00:30:15.47
And then seven years later,
He comes in His glorious coming,
00:30:15.50\00:30:18.74
He sets up His kingdom here
00:30:18.77\00:30:20.48
and there He
fulfills His second promise.
00:30:20.51\00:30:23.60
But as Adventist we believe
that both of those promises
00:30:23.63\00:30:26.34
can be fulfilled
in a different way.
00:30:26.37\00:30:28.58
We believe that there's
only one second coming of Jesus,
00:30:28.61\00:30:31.00
His glorious coming
on the clouds of heaven.
00:30:31.03\00:30:33.88
At that time Jesus will
fulfill His first promise
00:30:33.91\00:30:37.42
by taking His people to
heaven for a 1000 years.
00:30:37.45\00:30:41.48
And then after the 1000 years,
00:30:41.51\00:30:43.63
He will come back and then
the meek will inherit the earth.
00:30:43.66\00:30:46.94
In another words,
it is not necessary
00:30:46.97\00:30:48.69
to have a pre-tribulation
rapture for Jesus
00:30:48.72\00:30:51.63
to fulfill both
of those promises.
00:30:51.66\00:30:54.13
The key is, that the millennium
00:30:54.16\00:30:57.05
will be the period
of God's people where
00:30:57.08\00:30:59.89
the period of
God's people in heaven.
00:30:59.92\00:31:03.80
By the way did you know that
according to 2 Thessalonians 2,
00:31:03.83\00:31:07.98
there is going to
be a counterfeiting
00:31:08.01\00:31:09.99
of the second coming of Jesus?
00:31:10.02\00:31:12.50
You know, one of the
words that is used to describe
00:31:12.53\00:31:14.81
the second coming
is the word parousia
00:31:14.84\00:31:19.21
that's translated coming.
00:31:19.24\00:31:22.90
Do you know that in 2
Thessalonians 2:2 and 3,
00:31:22.93\00:31:29.56
it speaks about the fact that
Jesus will not come parousia
00:31:29.59\00:31:34.05
until the man
of sin is revealed,
00:31:34.08\00:31:36.58
the son of perdition who
sits in the temple of God.
00:31:36.61\00:31:40.31
In other words
Jesus will not come,
00:31:40.34\00:31:41.97
His parousia
will not take place.
00:31:42.00\00:31:44.54
But later on in the
chapter you find the antichrist,
00:31:44.57\00:31:50.70
who according to 2 Thessalonians
Chapter 2 also has a parousia,
00:31:50.73\00:31:55.53
the word is used for him also.
00:31:55.56\00:31:57.62
It says, whose coming,
it with signs and wonders
00:31:57.65\00:32:02.08
and all kind of lying miracles.
00:32:02.11\00:32:05.30
In other words,
before Jesus comes,
00:32:05.33\00:32:08.64
there is going to
be a false parousia
00:32:08.67\00:32:11.40
or a false coming of Satan,
00:32:11.43\00:32:15.96
counterfeiting the
second coming of Jesus.
00:32:15.99\00:32:18.66
By the way, do you know
that most of the Christian world
00:32:18.69\00:32:20.64
is going to
receive Satan as Christ?
00:32:20.67\00:32:25.06
Do you know why?
00:32:25.09\00:32:26.54
Because they're expecting
when Jesus comes gloriously
00:32:26.57\00:32:29.32
they're expecting--expecting
Him to set up His kingdom here.
00:32:29.35\00:32:33.66
So when Satan
walks upon the earth
00:32:33.69\00:32:35.90
and he does miracles
00:32:35.93\00:32:37.30
and he speaks some
of the beautiful words
00:32:37.33\00:32:39.25
that Jesus spoke,
they're gonna say,
00:32:39.28\00:32:41.11
oh, this is the Christ,
00:32:41.14\00:32:42.51
because they're expecting
Christ to come to the earth.
00:32:42.54\00:32:45.16
But God's people
will not be deceived,
00:32:45.19\00:32:47.37
because we know
that when Jesus comes,
00:32:47.40\00:32:49.32
He is not coming all
the way to the earth.
00:32:49.35\00:32:51.41
So is it
important for us to know
00:32:51.44\00:32:53.33
where we're going to
spend the millennium?
00:32:53.36\00:32:55.86
Of course it's
vitally important.
00:32:55.89\00:32:57.89
Is it important
for us to realize
00:32:57.92\00:33:00.28
that there's not going to
be a pre-tribulation rapture?
00:33:00.31\00:33:03.54
It's a matter of life and death.
00:33:03.57\00:33:05.55
Now allow me to read you,
Ellen White's vivid description
00:33:05.58\00:33:08.58
of the counterfeit
second coming of Jesus by Satan.
00:33:08.61\00:33:13.15
This is found in the
book the Great Controversy,
00:33:13.18\00:33:16.85
pages let me see if I
can find it here page 625,
00:33:16.88\00:33:22.00
"As the crowning act in
the great drama of deception,
00:33:22.03\00:33:26.28
Satan himself
will personate Christ."
00:33:26.31\00:33:32.02
In other words, he'll
present himself as Christ.
00:33:32.05\00:33:36.67
"The church has long professed
to look to the Savior's advent
00:33:36.70\00:33:40.26
as the
consummation of her hopes.
00:33:40.29\00:33:42.87
Now the great
deceiver will make it appear
00:33:42.90\00:33:45.32
that Christ has come.
00:33:45.35\00:33:47.51
In different parts of the earth,
00:33:47.54\00:33:49.47
Satan will
manifest himself among men
00:33:49.50\00:33:52.16
as a majestic being
of dazzling brightness."
00:33:52.19\00:33:55.42
By the way she's
commenting on 2 Thessalonians 2.
00:33:55.45\00:33:59.54
She says, "Satan will
manifest himself among men
00:33:59.57\00:34:02.04
as a majestic being
of dazzling brightness,
00:34:02.07\00:34:04.31
resembling the
description of the Son of God
00:34:04.34\00:34:06.60
given by John in Revelation."
00:34:06.63\00:34:09.78
Listen to this, "The
glory that surrounds him
00:34:09.81\00:34:13.19
is unsurpassed by anything that
mortal eyes have yet beheld.
00:34:13.22\00:34:19.77
The shout of triumph
rings out upon the air.
00:34:19.80\00:34:22.96
"Christ has
come! Christ has come!"
00:34:22.99\00:34:25.90
The people prostrate themselves
in adoration before him,
00:34:25.93\00:34:29.63
while he lifts up his hands
00:34:29.66\00:34:31.51
and pronounces a
blessing upon them,
00:34:31.54\00:34:33.93
as Christ blessed His disciples
when He was upon the earth.
00:34:33.96\00:34:38.28
His voice is soft and
subdued, yet full of melody."
00:34:38.31\00:34:44.79
See the devil can
talk full of melody too.
00:34:44.82\00:34:48.15
"In gentle, compassionate tones
00:34:48.18\00:34:52.00
he presents some
of the same gracious,
00:34:52.03\00:34:55.62
heavenly truths
which the Savior uttered."
00:34:55.65\00:34:58.68
Is he gonna speak
truth? He most certainly is.
00:34:58.71\00:35:01.59
Some of them, he heals
the diseases of the people.
00:35:01.62\00:35:06.52
By the way 2
Thessalonians 2 says,
00:35:06.55\00:35:08.70
that this
antichrist will perform signs
00:35:08.73\00:35:12.54
and wonders and miracles.
00:35:12.57\00:35:16.16
She continues saying, "He heals
the diseases of the people,
00:35:16.19\00:35:19.49
and then, in his
assumed character of Christ,
00:35:19.52\00:35:24.49
he claims to have
changed the Sabbath to Sunday,
00:35:24.52\00:35:28.70
and commands all to hallow
the day which he has blessed.
00:35:28.73\00:35:33.24
He declares that
those who persist
00:35:33.27\00:35:34.81
in keeping holy the seventh day
00:35:34.84\00:35:36.81
are blaspheming his name by
refusing to listen to his angels
00:35:36.84\00:35:41.39
sent to them
with light and truth.
00:35:41.42\00:35:44.65
And then she says this.
00:35:44.68\00:35:46.46
"This is the strong,
almost overmastering delusion."
00:35:46.49\00:35:53.42
Almost overmastering delusion.
00:35:53.45\00:35:55.75
By the way that expression,
00:35:55.78\00:35:58.00
God will send them strong
delusion comes from where,
00:35:58.03\00:36:01.08
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2.
00:36:01.11\00:36:03.39
We need to study that
chapter because it describes
00:36:03.42\00:36:06.82
how the devil is
going to counterfeit
00:36:06.85\00:36:08.74
the second coming of Jesus?
00:36:08.77\00:36:10.35
Now how are God's
people going to be protected
00:36:10.38\00:36:13.10
from this almost
overmastering delusion?
00:36:13.13\00:36:17.52
Allow me to continue
reading the statement
00:36:17.55\00:36:20.09
and I'll give you the answer
00:36:20.12\00:36:21.52
and then I'll read
the rest of the statement.
00:36:21.55\00:36:23.40
Two things, number one,
00:36:23.43\00:36:26.53
Satan will not be
allowed to counterfeit
00:36:26.56\00:36:29.48
the manner of Christ's coming,
00:36:29.51\00:36:32.56
the way in which He
comes, according to the Bible.
00:36:32.59\00:36:35.54
And secondly, the content of
his teachings will unmask him,
00:36:35.57\00:36:43.34
the manner of his coming and
the content of his teachings.
00:36:43.37\00:36:46.62
Now look for this in the
last part of this statement.
00:36:46.65\00:36:49.63
She says, "But the people
of God will not be misled."
00:36:49.66\00:36:54.54
The teachings, notice this.
00:36:54.57\00:36:56.46
"The teachings
of this false Christ
00:36:56.49\00:36:58.86
are not in
accordance with the Scriptures.
00:36:58.89\00:37:02.83
His blessing is pronounced
upon the worshipers of the beast
00:37:02.86\00:37:07.10
and his image, the very class
00:37:07.13\00:37:09.58
upon whom the Bible declares
00:37:09.61\00:37:11.64
that God's unmingled
wrath shall be poured out.
00:37:11.67\00:37:15.95
In other words, he
blesses those upon whom--
00:37:15.98\00:37:18.25
upon whom the wrath of
God is going to be poured out.
00:37:18.28\00:37:22.69
Then she says,
"And, furthermore,
00:37:22.72\00:37:25.37
Satan is not
permitted to counterfeit
00:37:25.40\00:37:28.17
the manner of Christ's advent.
00:37:28.20\00:37:32.30
The Savior has warned His people
00:37:32.33\00:37:34.06
against
deception upon this point,
00:37:34.09\00:37:36.78
and has clearly foretold
the manner of His second coming.
00:37:36.81\00:37:40.76
'There shall arise false
Christ, and false prophets,
00:37:40.79\00:37:43.58
and shall show
great signs and wonders,
00:37:43.61\00:37:45.75
insomuch that,
if it were possible,
00:37:45.78\00:37:47.90
they shall
deceive the very elect.
00:37:47.93\00:37:50.65
Wherefore if they
shall say unto you,
00:37:50.68\00:37:53.09
Behold, He is in the desert."
00:37:53.12\00:37:54.49
Notice what she's quoting here
00:37:54.52\00:37:56.70
as she's spoken about
this counterfeit second coming.
00:37:56.73\00:38:00.59
Here's it's again, "The
Savior has warned His people
00:38:00.62\00:38:03.93
against
deception upon this point,
00:38:03.96\00:38:05.76
and has clearly foretold
the manner of His second coming.
00:38:05.79\00:38:08.80
'There shall arise false
christs, and false prophets,
00:38:08.83\00:38:11.14
and shall show
great signs and wonders,
00:38:11.17\00:38:13.29
insomuch that,
if it were possible,
00:38:13.32\00:38:15.69
they shall
deceive the very elect.
00:38:15.72\00:38:17.74
Wherefore if they
shall say unto you,
00:38:17.77\00:38:19.73
Behold, He is in the
desert, go not forth,
00:38:19.76\00:38:22.49
behold, He is in the
secret chambers, believe it not.
00:38:22.52\00:38:25.84
For as the lightning
cometh out of the east,
00:38:25.87\00:38:28.48
and shineth even unto the west,
00:38:28.51\00:38:30.72
so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be.
00:38:30.75\00:38:34.98
And then she
concludes by saying this.
00:38:35.01\00:38:37.35
"This coming there is no
possibility of counterfeiting.
00:38:37.38\00:38:43.75
It will be universally known--
witnessed by the whole world."
00:38:43.78\00:38:50.83
So what are the two
ways in which God's people
00:38:50.86\00:38:52.90
are gonna protect themselves
00:38:52.93\00:38:54.30
from this almost
overmastering delusion.
00:38:54.33\00:38:57.05
Number one,
00:38:57.08\00:38:59.33
because of the content of the
teachings of this false Christ.
00:38:59.36\00:39:04.06
He's gonna teach that
Sunday is the day of rest,
00:39:04.09\00:39:06.95
when the Bible says
that it's the Sabbath.
00:39:06.98\00:39:10.03
And secondly,
he's gonna be walking
00:39:10.06\00:39:12.38
upon the earth
as a glorious beam.
00:39:12.41\00:39:15.22
He is not gonna be able to
counterfeit the coming of Jesus
00:39:15.25\00:39:17.93
on the clouds to planet
earth in power and great glory.
00:39:17.96\00:39:21.71
But folks, we say, oh,
this will be easy piece of cake,
00:39:21.74\00:39:26.03
don't you think so.
00:39:26.06\00:39:27.90
The devil can
counterfeit things perfectly,
00:39:27.93\00:39:31.28
believe it or not,
the voice of Jesus.
00:39:31.31\00:39:33.70
He's heard the
voice of Jesus many times.
00:39:33.73\00:39:36.27
He heard it in heaven,
00:39:36.30\00:39:37.67
he heard it while
Jesus was on earth.
00:39:37.70\00:39:39.66
He is able to counterfeit
the description of Jesus
00:39:39.69\00:39:43.00
of the second
coming in scripture.
00:39:43.03\00:39:45.42
And if we go by our
eyes, and by our ears,
00:39:45.45\00:39:48.64
and by our
feelings, and emotions,
00:39:48.67\00:39:50.93
and experiences, we will
be deceived in an instant.
00:39:50.96\00:39:54.76
We must check everything
by what the word of God says.
00:39:54.79\00:39:59.54
And then I want you
to notice Matthew 24:28,
00:39:59.57\00:40:03.21
this is a very
interesting verse.
00:40:03.24\00:40:04.74
You remember the eagles,
00:40:04.77\00:40:06.34
that were the sign of the
destruction, the abomination
00:40:06.37\00:40:08.98
that was going to lead to
desolation and destruction.
00:40:09.01\00:40:11.65
Notice Matthew 24:28
"For wherever the carcass is,
00:40:11.68\00:40:16.83
there the what, there the eagles
will be gathered together."
00:40:16.86\00:40:22.32
And we've already
studied about the eagle,
00:40:22.35\00:40:24.73
the eagle of ancient Rome,
00:40:24.76\00:40:27.33
the eagle which was adopted
00:40:27.36\00:40:29.02
by the United States
of America as a symbol.
00:40:29.05\00:40:31.97
The golden
wreath around the eagle
00:40:32.00\00:40:34.13
representing the sun god Mithra,
00:40:34.16\00:40:36.76
and what we find on the
great seal of the United States,
00:40:36.79\00:40:40.34
the eagle with its face
turned towards the right,
00:40:40.37\00:40:45.17
arrows in its talons and
a sunburst above its head.
00:40:45.20\00:40:50.11
By the way,
during the Middle Ages,
00:40:50.14\00:40:52.54
you also see this great
abomination of the sun God.
00:40:52.57\00:40:56.67
You know, you look in
Roman Catholic cathedrals,
00:40:56.70\00:41:00.63
you look for example
in St. Peter's Basilica
00:41:00.66\00:41:02.85
or in the Vatican Museum.
00:41:02.88\00:41:05.38
It is incredible, the
number of illustrations,
00:41:05.41\00:41:10.37
the number of pictures,
00:41:10.40\00:41:12.13
the number of artifacts
that contain sunbursts.
00:41:12.16\00:41:17.15
Once when you
enter St. Peters Basilica
00:41:17.18\00:41:19.49
the first thing that
catch-- at least the first thing
00:41:19.52\00:41:21.42
that caught my eye
is that huge sunburst
00:41:21.45\00:41:25.09
at the front of
St. Peter's Basilica.
00:41:25.12\00:41:28.01
In other words
the sun is everywhere
00:41:28.04\00:41:31.49
and of course the
Roman Catholic Church claims
00:41:31.52\00:41:34.03
that they have
changed the day of worship
00:41:34.06\00:41:35.87
from God's Sabbath
to the day of the sun.
00:41:35.90\00:41:39.80
Protestants have adopted this.
00:41:39.83\00:41:42.14
And Bible prophecy
says that, believe or not
00:41:42.17\00:41:44.70
in the United States of America
00:41:44.73\00:41:46.92
this nation
represented by the eagle,
00:41:46.95\00:41:49.48
that day of the
sun will be enforced
00:41:49.51\00:41:52.70
and those who
do not receive this
00:41:52.73\00:41:56.02
will not be able to buy or sell
00:41:56.05\00:41:58.04
and eventually a death decree
will be uttered against them.
00:41:58.07\00:42:02.91
And probably some of those
00:42:02.94\00:42:04.31
who are watching
are saying Pastor Bohr,
00:42:04.34\00:42:05.82
this is preposterous,
00:42:05.85\00:42:07.22
it could never happen
in these United States.
00:42:07.25\00:42:09.59
Well, we've studied that
once before it almost happened.
00:42:09.62\00:42:14.53
And we also had
wonderful lecture
00:42:14.56\00:42:16.59
where I read quotations
about what the religious right
00:42:16.62\00:42:19.80
in the United States is saying
00:42:19.83\00:42:22.11
about the union between
Protestants and Catholics,
00:42:22.14\00:42:25.14
about the
separation of church and state,
00:42:25.17\00:42:28.37
about the importance of Sunday
for them as a day of rest.
00:42:28.40\00:42:32.22
We've noticed not
only that this is possible,
00:42:32.25\00:42:35.12
but it's
happening before our eyes.
00:42:35.15\00:42:37.38
And once before in the 1880s
00:42:37.41\00:42:39.74
it took place in
the United States,
00:42:39.77\00:42:42.15
there was a Sunday
law that was proposed
00:42:42.18\00:42:44.26
that was almost passed.
00:42:44.29\00:42:46.43
And so before we say that
00:42:46.46\00:42:47.83
this is a
preposterous interpretation,
00:42:47.86\00:42:50.05
perhaps we should
go back to scripture
00:42:50.08\00:42:52.01
and study
scripture more carefully.
00:42:52.04\00:42:54.24
Now let's read verses
29 to 31 of Matthew 24,
00:42:54.27\00:43:00.05
it says there in verse 29,
00:43:00.08\00:43:02.75
"Immediately after the
tribulation of those days."
00:43:02.78\00:43:06.70
Remember that I've said that,
00:43:06.73\00:43:08.20
the signs in the heavens
have how many fulfillments?
00:43:08.23\00:43:12.00
They have a
preliminary fulfillment
00:43:12.03\00:43:14.12
when the first period of
tribulation is coming to an end.
00:43:14.15\00:43:17.79
And they will have
another greater fulfillment
00:43:17.82\00:43:19.96
on a worldwide scale announcing
the second coming of Jesus
00:43:19.99\00:43:24.31
at the end of the second
stage of the tribulation.
00:43:24.34\00:43:27.15
Now let's read this passage,
00:43:27.18\00:43:28.87
"Immediately after the
tribulation of those days
00:43:28.90\00:43:31.64
the sun will be darkened,
00:43:31.67\00:43:33.04
and the moon will
not give its light,
00:43:33.07\00:43:35.15
the stars will fall from heaven,
00:43:35.18\00:43:37.18
and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken."
00:43:37.21\00:43:41.99
These are signs that announced
that Jesus is about to come,
00:43:42.02\00:43:46.68
signs in the sun, in
the moon and in the stars.
00:43:46.71\00:43:51.04
And then notice verse 30
00:43:51.07\00:43:52.90
"Then the sign of the Son
of Man will appear in heaven,
00:43:52.93\00:43:56.05
and that all the tribes
of the earth will mourn,
00:43:56.08\00:43:58.95
and they will see the Son of Man
00:43:58.98\00:44:00.46
coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.
00:44:00.49\00:44:04.36
And He will send His angels
with a great sound of a trumpet,
00:44:04.39\00:44:08.00
and they will gather together
His elect from the four winds,
00:44:08.03\00:44:11.42
from one end of the
earth even on to the other."
00:44:11.45\00:44:15.25
I want to underline folks,
that the papacy has two stages.
00:44:15.28\00:44:20.60
Therefore the tribulation
through which God's people
00:44:20.63\00:44:24.11
go has two stages.
00:44:24.14\00:44:27.24
The signs in the
heavens also have two stages
00:44:27.27\00:44:31.21
indicating that the
tribulation is coming to an end
00:44:31.24\00:44:34.79
and the coming of Jesus is near.
00:44:34.82\00:44:38.48
Now as Adventist
we've always said that
00:44:38.51\00:44:41.58
there were signs that
took place towards the end
00:44:41.61\00:44:44.54
of the 1260 years which
fulfilled Bible prophecy.
00:44:44.57\00:44:49.30
We have for example the
Great Lisbon Earthquake in 1755.
00:44:49.33\00:44:54.48
We have also the
Dark Day in 1780.
00:44:54.51\00:44:58.23
Actually, the day
got dark and that night
00:44:58.26\00:45:01.00
the moon look like
it was what? Blood.
00:45:01.03\00:45:04.97
And then in 1833,
00:45:05.00\00:45:07.00
we have the falling
of the stars from heaven.
00:45:07.03\00:45:10.08
Now interestingly enough,
00:45:10.11\00:45:11.50
if you look at
the order of the signs
00:45:11.53\00:45:14.03
as they're given
in Revelation 6:12-13,
00:45:14.06\00:45:17.49
you'll notice that
there the signs are
00:45:17.52\00:45:19.56
in the identical order as when
they took place chronologically
00:45:19.59\00:45:23.87
at the end of the first
period of the tribulation.
00:45:23.90\00:45:28.09
You have first of
all, a great earthquake.
00:45:28.12\00:45:31.21
It says there
in Revelation 6:12.
00:45:31.24\00:45:34.44
Then it says that the
sun would not give its light,
00:45:34.47\00:45:38.81
then it says that
the moon would be turned
00:45:38.84\00:45:41.58
into blood or
would look like blood,
00:45:41.61\00:45:44.07
and the stars
would fall from heaven.
00:45:44.10\00:45:46.21
That is the exact
chronological sequence
00:45:46.24\00:45:49.09
of what happened in
1755, 1780, and 1833,
00:45:49.12\00:45:55.36
exactly chronologically the
way we find it in scripture.
00:45:55.39\00:46:00.33
So were there signs
in the sun, the moon,
00:46:00.36\00:46:03.27
and the stars marking the end
of the period of tribulation?
00:46:03.30\00:46:07.33
Absolutely, but let me ask you,
00:46:07.36\00:46:09.67
when God's people
are being persecuted
00:46:09.70\00:46:12.56
in the end time tribulation,
when this beast system,
00:46:12.59\00:46:17.39
when this little horn
resurrects to power again,
00:46:17.42\00:46:20.41
are there going to
be signs in the heavens
00:46:20.44\00:46:22.90
that announce the
second coming of Jesus
00:46:22.93\00:46:25.65
in power and glory and the end
00:46:25.68\00:46:28.03
of the captivity of
God's people. Absolutely.
00:46:28.06\00:46:32.49
Now, you'll notice
that in Revelation 6:12-13,
00:46:32.52\00:46:39.68
it says, "That the
moon would be turned
00:46:39.71\00:46:42.88
into blood and the
stars would fall from heaven."
00:46:42.91\00:46:46.80
But you'll
notice it in Matthew 24,
00:46:46.83\00:46:49.85
we're told that "The sun
would not give its light."
00:46:49.88\00:46:54.82
It says, "That the moon
would got not give its light
00:46:54.85\00:46:58.33
and the stars of heaven
would not give their light."
00:46:58.36\00:47:01.44
In other words,
they would be darkened.
00:47:01.47\00:47:03.37
The signs are a
little bit different.
00:47:03.40\00:47:05.71
The signs of Revelation 6:12-13
are the preliminary signs.
00:47:05.74\00:47:11.37
The darkening of the
sun, the great earthquake,
00:47:11.40\00:47:14.51
the moon looking like blood,
00:47:14.54\00:47:15.99
and the falling of
the stars from heaven.
00:47:16.02\00:47:18.01
In Matthew 24, the emphasis
is upon the end time signs
00:47:18.04\00:47:22.96
because they're a
little bit different.
00:47:22.99\00:47:24.92
There is the
darkening of the sun,
00:47:24.95\00:47:26.54
there is the
darkening of the moon,
00:47:26.57\00:47:28.47
and there is also the
stars not giving their light.
00:47:28.50\00:47:32.53
The stars, in other words,
disappearing from the firmament,
00:47:32.56\00:47:35.74
disappearing from the sky.
00:47:35.77\00:47:38.81
It says there in Matthew 24,
00:47:38.84\00:47:40.60
that the powers of the
heavens will be shaken.
00:47:40.63\00:47:44.54
What are the
powers of the heavens?
00:47:44.57\00:47:47.91
The powers of the heavens--
00:47:47.94\00:47:50.27
What did God
create to rule the day?
00:47:50.30\00:47:53.60
See, the rule is the word
that's used in Genesis 1:16.
00:47:53.63\00:47:56.90
The sun rules the
day. What rules the night?
00:47:56.93\00:48:00.23
The night is ruled by the moon.
00:48:00.26\00:48:02.68
So the powers of
heaven that that are moved
00:48:02.71\00:48:06.22
or that don't give
their light are what?
00:48:06.25\00:48:09.52
The sun, the
moon, and the stars.
00:48:09.55\00:48:12.98
Interestingly enough,
Ellen White explains that
00:48:13.01\00:48:15.35
in Early Writings, page 41,
00:48:15.38\00:48:18.28
that when God utters His
voice, delivering His people.
00:48:18.31\00:48:22.06
When he says, "It is done.
The tribulation is finished."
00:48:22.09\00:48:27.48
She says there that it--
that God's voice is so powerful,
00:48:27.51\00:48:30.63
you know, the
voice of Enrico Caruso
00:48:30.66\00:48:32.59
could break glasses.
00:48:32.62\00:48:35.06
And we says,
"Wow! What a voice?"
00:48:35.09\00:48:38.03
That the vibrations
could actually breaks glasses.
00:48:38.06\00:48:42.75
Well, I'll tell you, folks.
00:48:42.78\00:48:44.15
The voice of God is
gonna be so powerful
00:48:44.18\00:48:46.71
according to
Early Writings, page 41,
00:48:46.74\00:48:49.11
she says, "The sun, the moon,
00:48:49.14\00:48:51.56
and the stars will be
moved out of their places."
00:48:51.59\00:48:56.77
That's the reason
why during the millennium
00:48:56.80\00:48:58.45
the planet is in darkness,
because the sun has been
00:48:58.48\00:49:02.70
moved out of its place.
00:49:02.73\00:49:04.77
The moon has been
moved out of its place.
00:49:04.80\00:49:07.36
The stars no longer
shine upon planet earth,
00:49:07.39\00:49:11.25
because at the voice of God,
00:49:11.28\00:49:12.69
when God's people are delivered
00:49:12.72\00:49:14.15
at the end of the second
stage of the tribulation.
00:49:14.18\00:49:17.58
The voice of God is so
powerful that the powers
00:49:17.61\00:49:20.33
of the heavens are
moved out of their places.
00:49:20.36\00:49:24.07
And that's the reason why
when God makes a new heavens
00:49:24.10\00:49:26.82
and a new earth, He is going
to once again place the sun,
00:49:26.85\00:49:31.61
the moon, and
the stars in a place
00:49:31.64\00:49:35.10
where they will
benefit planet earth.
00:49:35.13\00:49:38.71
Finally, I would like
to deal with one point
00:49:38.74\00:49:41.22
before we draw this to an end.
00:49:41.25\00:49:44.03
It says "That the
sign of the Son of man
00:49:44.06\00:49:47.10
will be seen in heaven."
00:49:47.13\00:49:50.21
And He will send His angels,
00:49:50.24\00:49:53.39
and His angels will
go to the four winds
00:49:53.42\00:49:56.16
and they will gather His
elect from the four winds."
00:49:56.19\00:50:00.44
Not only those who
are alive and remain,
00:50:00.47\00:50:03.68
but those who died in
Christ will be raised up.
00:50:03.71\00:50:07.62
The angels will be
sent to gather God's people.
00:50:07.65\00:50:11.07
Those who died in
Christ and those who are
00:50:11.10\00:50:13.37
alive and remain
will be gathered together
00:50:13.40\00:50:16.01
by the holy angels
to be taken up to meet
00:50:16.04\00:50:19.42
the Lord Jesus in the air.
00:50:19.45\00:50:21.75
Now allow me to talk about
that sign of the second coming.
00:50:21.78\00:50:25.19
You know, what the sign
is? I'll just be very brief.
00:50:25.22\00:50:28.35
All we have to do is go
back to the story of Elijah.
00:50:28.38\00:50:31.70
You know, after Elijah
went through his experience
00:50:31.73\00:50:34.13
with the three
fold union, you know,
00:50:34.16\00:50:36.23
with Ahab and Jezebel and
the false prophets of Baal.
00:50:36.26\00:50:39.78
By the way, that
whole story symbolizes
00:50:39.81\00:50:41.90
what's gonna be
happen in the end time.
00:50:41.93\00:50:44.00
After Elijah went
through this experience,
00:50:44.03\00:50:45.56
that was a death
decree given against him.
00:50:45.59\00:50:47.83
He fled to the wilderness.
00:50:47.86\00:50:49.23
He went through a
period of tribulation.
00:50:49.26\00:50:50.67
God fed him while he was
in the wilderness and so on.
00:50:50.70\00:50:53.66
Immediately after
that, the Bible says
00:50:53.69\00:50:56.64
that he saw in
heaven, a little what?
00:50:56.67\00:51:01.72
A little cloud.
00:51:01.75\00:51:04.90
He goes and looks, actually
he goes and looks six times.
00:51:04.93\00:51:08.13
When he goes and he
looks the seventh time,
00:51:08.16\00:51:12.03
he sees a little cloud
about the size of a man's fist.
00:51:12.06\00:51:17.94
Do you know what that was?
00:51:17.97\00:51:20.73
That was the chariot
that was coming from heaven
00:51:20.76\00:51:26.70
to pick up Elijah.
00:51:26.73\00:51:30.79
Interesting. The story
is told in 2nd Kings 2.
00:51:30.82\00:51:36.08
You know, Elijah and
Elisha crossed the Jordan River.
00:51:36.11\00:51:40.02
Elijah had seen the sign.
00:51:40.05\00:51:41.83
It was the sign that announced
00:51:41.86\00:51:43.37
that the chariot was coming
and he was gonna be picked up
00:51:43.40\00:51:46.32
by the Lord to be
taken to heaven to glory.
00:51:46.35\00:51:50.54
And then of course,
we know what happened
00:51:50.57\00:51:51.94
when they crossed the Jordan.
00:51:51.97\00:51:53.61
The Bible says
there in--in 2nd Kings 2,
00:51:53.64\00:51:58.21
that a glorious
chariot descended from heaven.
00:51:58.24\00:52:00.27
Do you know what
the chariot of God is?
00:52:00.30\00:52:02.88
The Bible says that,
00:52:02.91\00:52:04.28
"The chariots of God
are His glorious angels."
00:52:04.31\00:52:08.98
And so the glorious angels
who--who drive this chariot,
00:52:09.01\00:52:13.84
they're the wheels
that drive the chariot,
00:52:13.87\00:52:16.20
according to
Ezekiel 1 will come.
00:52:16.23\00:52:20.16
They will pick up God's elect
and put them in the chariot
00:52:20.19\00:52:24.31
and then they will take it--
00:52:24.34\00:52:25.71
be taken to Christ's heavenly
kingdom to dwell with Him
00:52:25.74\00:52:29.50
for a period of a 1,000 years.
00:52:29.53\00:52:31.65
By the way, this is
the scene that inspired
00:52:31.68\00:52:35.95
that famous Negro spiritual,
00:52:35.98\00:52:38.90
"Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot. Comin' for to what?
00:52:38.93\00:52:45.26
Comin' for to carry me home."
00:52:45.29\00:52:47.75
You know, that song was composed
00:52:47.78\00:52:49.40
in the midst of
great tribulation
00:52:49.43\00:52:51.75
and great persecution
by the African-Americans
00:52:51.78\00:52:54.48
in United States, when
they were going through
00:52:54.51\00:52:56.15
a period of terrible slavery,
these songs were composed,
00:52:56.18\00:53:00.75
that were the song of
their experience and their--
00:53:00.78\00:53:03.71
their desire,
their intense desire
00:53:03.74\00:53:06.43
for the suffering to
come to an end and for Jesus
00:53:06.46\00:53:09.60
to return for the chariot to
come to take His people home.
00:53:09.63\00:53:15.15
Well, the time is
coming when God's people
00:53:15.18\00:53:17.73
are going to be
enslaved upon planet earth.
00:53:17.76\00:53:21.81
Once again, jailed, forbidden
from buying and selling,
00:53:21.84\00:53:26.03
under the sentence of death.
00:53:26.06\00:53:28.30
And then God's people will be
able probably to compose songs
00:53:28.33\00:53:33.04
during that period or
perhaps even sing this song,
00:53:33.07\00:53:36.97
because now it will be the song
00:53:37.00\00:53:38.70
of the experience
of all of God's people.
00:53:38.73\00:53:41.06
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
Comin' for to carry me home."
00:53:41.09\00:53:47.45
This is the glorious
hope of the church, folks.
00:53:47.48\00:53:50.69
This is the
reason for our existence.
00:53:50.72\00:53:53.89
Unfortunately, we have
been distracted from our hope.
00:53:53.92\00:53:57.77
We have been
distracted from our roots.
00:53:57.80\00:54:00.37
We have been
distracted from our message.
00:54:00.40\00:54:02.63
We have been
distracted from our mission
00:54:02.66\00:54:05.14
and we have been
distracted from our hope.
00:54:05.17\00:54:08.04
We're so caught
up in this world.
00:54:08.07\00:54:10.56
We're so caught up in
our things, in our toys,
00:54:10.59\00:54:13.80
in our houses, in our
money, in our automobiles,
00:54:13.83\00:54:18.01
in so many things
that are gonna be destroyed
00:54:18.04\00:54:20.99
when Jesus comes.
00:54:21.02\00:54:22.39
None of these counts,
none of these matters.
00:54:22.42\00:54:25.84
What shall it profit a man,
00:54:25.87\00:54:27.97
if he gains the whole
world and loses his soul.
00:54:28.00\00:54:33.24
Folks, there is a
very important preparation
00:54:33.27\00:54:35.87
that needs to take place
before the coming of Jesus.
00:54:35.90\00:54:40.00
God's people, if we
should be alive will go
00:54:40.03\00:54:43.32
through this great tribulation,
00:54:43.35\00:54:45.37
the most intense
spirit of persecution
00:54:45.40\00:54:47.83
in the history of the world.
00:54:47.86\00:54:49.64
There will only be two
groups on planet earth.
00:54:49.67\00:54:52.64
Those who keep God's
holy Sabbath and those
00:54:52.67\00:54:56.39
who keep the
first day of the week.
00:54:56.42\00:54:59.09
Both of those will be signs,
00:54:59.12\00:55:01.10
either of
obedience or of disobedience.
00:55:01.13\00:55:04.74
Those who flee will
not flee in the winter
00:55:04.77\00:55:09.12
or on the Sabbath,
00:55:09.15\00:55:10.52
because the
Sabbath is the day of rest.
00:55:10.55\00:55:12.96
All the rest will
remain where they are.
00:55:12.99\00:55:17.53
And when they see the
abomination of desolation,
00:55:17.56\00:55:20.36
it will be too late,
00:55:20.39\00:55:21.95
because they have not
escaped from the general ruin
00:55:21.98\00:55:25.88
which is about to come.
00:55:25.91\00:55:28.03
And so God calls
upon us to prepare
00:55:28.06\00:55:30.96
a character fit for eternity.
00:55:30.99\00:55:34.46
A character that
will withstand everything
00:55:34.49\00:55:38.54
and anything that will come.
00:55:38.57\00:55:41.23
You know, that's not
going to come automatically,
00:55:41.26\00:55:43.81
it's not gonna be easy,
it's gonna be difficult.
00:55:43.84\00:55:46.80
But Jesus promises to
walk with us all the way.
00:55:46.83\00:55:50.48
It reminds me of
the three young men
00:55:50.51\00:55:52.39
who were thrown
into the fiery furnace.
00:55:52.42\00:55:54.54
You know, the
firmness of their character
00:55:54.57\00:55:57.38
was not formed in that crises,
it was exhibited in that crises.
00:55:57.41\00:56:03.56
They had their
minds made up beforehand.
00:56:03.59\00:56:06.70
They had a close relationship
with Jesus beforehand,
00:56:06.73\00:56:09.60
before going
through that tribulation,
00:56:09.63\00:56:11.45
the period of the--
00:56:11.48\00:56:13.63
of the furnace heated
harder than ever before,
00:56:13.66\00:56:16.42
just like the
final tribulation will be
00:56:16.45\00:56:18.13
the worst in
history, in intensity.
00:56:18.16\00:56:20.49
And when they
appeared before Nebuchadnezzar,
00:56:20.52\00:56:22.68
who raised this--this image
in honor of himself, the beast,
00:56:22.71\00:56:27.00
and commanded everyone
to worship on pain of death.
00:56:27.03\00:56:30.03
The young man
said, "We will not.
00:56:30.06\00:56:32.81
We worship the true God.
00:56:32.84\00:56:34.54
And the God whom we
serve is able to deliver us,
00:56:34.57\00:56:37.46
but if He doesn't, we
still are His servants."
00:56:37.49\00:56:41.62
That's the kind of faith
that God wants us to have.
00:56:41.65\00:56:44.08
A service of love.
00:56:44.11\00:56:45.75
That even if nothing good comes,
00:56:45.78\00:56:48.23
we would still serve
God because God is our Lord,
00:56:48.26\00:56:52.79
and because we love Him.
00:56:52.82\00:56:55.53
That's the kind of character
that God is expecting from us
00:56:55.56\00:56:59.39
who will go through
this period of tribulation.
00:56:59.42\00:57:02.66
And so we must make decisions
00:57:02.69\00:57:05.30
that will last on to eternity.
00:57:05.33\00:57:08.01
We must place our
priorities in order.
00:57:08.04\00:57:11.22
We must take that
which we consider primary
00:57:11.25\00:57:14.98
and put it as secondary,
00:57:15.01\00:57:16.92
and take that that we
have considered secondary,
00:57:16.95\00:57:19.95
and place it as
primary in our lives,
00:57:19.98\00:57:23.65
and I pray to God that,
00:57:23.68\00:57:25.46
that will be the
experience of each one of us.
00:57:25.49\00:57:29.41