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Jean Ross: Good morning,
friends, and welcome again to
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"Sabbath School Study Hour"
here at the Granite Bay Seventh
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Adventist Church in
Sacramento, California.
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I'd like to welcome our
online members and those who are
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joining us across the
country and around the world,
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part of our extended
Sabbath school class.
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We also want to welcome our
regular Sabbath school members
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and those that might
be visiting with us today.
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We're looking forward
to our study time today.
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As many of you know,
we've been studying through the
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book of Daniel, that is our
theme for the entire quarter.
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Today, we find ourselves on
lesson number five, which is
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entitled "From
Pride to Humility."
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We're going to be looking at
a particular chapter that has
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to do with an ancient
king, King Nebuchadnezzar.
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Well, you'll learn
more about that here
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as we get into our study.
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We do have a free offer we'd
like to let our friends know
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about, those who are
joining us, a book entitled
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"The Armor of God," and this
is our free offer for today.
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If you'd like to receive this,
all you need to do is call the
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number 866-788-3966, and
you can ask for Offer 173,
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that is "The Armor of
God," or you can text the code
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"SH101" to the number 40544.
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And you'll be able to
download a copy of the book
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and read it online.
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Again, it's called
"The Armor of God."
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But before we get to our study
this morning, as we always do,
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I'd like to invite our
song leaders to come forward
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and now lead us in
our Sabbath School song.
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male: Good morning,
we're going to sing number 286,
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"Wonderful Words of Life."
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We'll sing all three verses.
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¤¤¤
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¤ Sing them over again to me, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Let me more of
their beauty see, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Words of life and beauty ¤
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¤ teach me faith and duty. ¤
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¤ Beautiful
words, wonderful words, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Beautiful
words, wonderful words, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Christ, the
blessed One, gives to all ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Sinner, list to
the loving call, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ All so freely given, ¤
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¤ wooing us to heaven. ¤
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¤ Beautiful
words, wonderful words, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Beautiful
words, wonderful words, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Sweetly echo
the Gospel call, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Offer pardon
and peace to all, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Jesus, only Savior, ¤
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¤ sanctify forever. ¤
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¤ Beautiful
words, wonderful words, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤
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¤ Beautiful
words, wonderful words, ¤
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¤ wonderful words of life. ¤¤
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Jean: Let us
have a Word of prayer.
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Dear Father in heaven, we thank
you once again that we're able
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to gather together in your house
to open up your Word and study.
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Today we have an important
subject and we do pray that
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you'd guide us as we look back
at the lessons that we find in
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the Old Testament in particular
an experience that have happened
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to King Nebuchadnezzar that
we would learn those lessons
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that you'd have for us.
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So, bless our time
together, for we ask this
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in Jesus's name, amen.
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Our lesson today is going to
be brought to us by Pastor Doug.
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Doug Batchelor:
Good morning, everybody.
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We have a really good
lesson today, and I'm praying
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that I can do it justice.
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It's based on Daniel chapter 4.
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I think folks maybe have been a
little confused as we go through
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our study guide because we're on
lesson five, studying Daniel 4.
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And that's happened a
few times along the way.
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I want to welcome our
friends who are watching online.
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We have a lot who watch this
program and study with us live
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on Facebook, and we have folks
who are watching the satellite
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feed from around the
world, and some who are watching
00:05:30.63\00:05:33.09
are some of our online
members are Granite Bay.
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And I should just mention
at this point, if you have been
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tuning in and if you
do not have a local church
00:05:38.63\00:05:40.90
where you can
attend, if you'd like to know
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how you could be one of
our online members, simply go
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to our website and
you can inquire there.
00:05:45.74\00:05:48.18
There's a place where
you can contact us, say,
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"What's involved in that?
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And what do I need to do?"
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And Kathy and/or
Karen will get back to you
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and talk to you about that.
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So, welcome.
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Daniel chapter 4 is our
study today, and you pray for me
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because I'm going to be
preaching, teaching speeching,
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and I have a lot
of, what I think is
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great material to cover.
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This is one of the
central chapters in Daniel.
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The whole book sort of comes
together in this experience
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of King Nebuchadnezzar.
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And so, if you get your
lesson, go to the memory verse.
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Let's start with that.
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The lesson is called
"From Pride to Humility."
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Just right there from
pride to humility covers a great
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controversy, starts with
the devil's pride and it is
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redeemed through the
humiliation of Christ.
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So, you've got the crux of
the whole gospel in this lesson.
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Memory verse is Daniel
4, verse 3, and that's from
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the New King James Version.
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Daniel 4:3, if you'd say
that with me, that'd be great.
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You ready?
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"How great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
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His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom,
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and His dominion is from
generation to generation."
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Now, as we go through our study,
go ahead, just take your Bibles
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now and you want to
turn to Daniel chapter 4.
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I've been studying this
and there's a key message.
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This is the last chapter
where Nebuchadnezzar appears.
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Nebuchadnezzar's in
chapter 1, he's in chapter 2,
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he's in chapter
3, he's in chapter 4.
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This takes place probably
about ten years before his death
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because from the time of
the dream, seven years go by
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and he gets his mind
back again, he only lives
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two or three years beyond that.
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And so, you've got several
years ago from Daniel captivity
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chapter 1 until Daniel
chapter 2, and the king has
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that dream nobody can
interpret except Daniel.
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And then in chapter 3,
oh, probably another eight,
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ten years go by, he
builds the golden image.
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And now this is taking
place about 20 years later.
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Nebuchadnezzar
reigned for about 40 years.
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He's sort of like a parallel
of Solomon in some ways,
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who also reigned for 40 years.
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And this is a unique chapter
in the Bible if for no other
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reason, it's one of the few
places you're going to open your
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Bible, you're going to read
an address that's coming to you.
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It's a testimony from a pagan.
It is not written by a Jew.
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It's written by a Gentile,
but he's giving glory to God.
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And I'm going to just
point out some high points.
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Notice what one of the central
messages of this chapter is.
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It's one of the
longer chapters in Daniel.
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He had about 37 verses, about
1,290 words that are in here.
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Go to verse 3.
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His dominion is from
generation to generation.
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You can look in
verse 2, "Most High God."
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And you go to verse
17, "The Most High rules."
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Stay with me now, I'm just
going to jump down to verse 24,
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"The Most High."
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You look now in in verse
25, "The Most High rules."
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Go to verse 26,
"Come to know the Most High
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that heaven rules."
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You go to verse 32,
"The Most High rules."
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Go to verse 34, "I bless
the Most High, his dominion
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is an everlasting dominion."
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And then you go to his final
testimony in verse 36, "Now
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I Nebuchadnezzar
praise and extol and honor the
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King of heaven, whose
works are works of truth."
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Now, I'm going to just tell you
the chapter quick overview, then
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we're going to go back and
we're going to break it apart.
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I want to make sure
I give you the story.
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Nebuchadnezzar relates this
experience says, "I'm at ease
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in my palace,
things are going well."
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Takes place after
he had conquered Egypt.
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Nebuchadnezzar had conquered
Assyria, conquered Israel,
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conquered several kingdoms.
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One of the big, difficult
battles for him was when he
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fought against the Egyptian
empire, and he conquered them.
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At that point, he controlled
the crux of three continents.
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That's why he calls
it a worldwide empire.
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The trade that went through
Asia from India, and Europe,
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and Africa, all
through the Middle East, he
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got the revenue from that.
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It was a golden kingdom.
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Count up how much gold
was in Solomon's temple.
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David talks about all that
he gave to the building of the
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temple, Nebuchadnezzar
carried all that to Babylon.
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That's just a small
piece of all that he had.
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It was the Golden Empire.
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Now, he's finally
conquered these kingdoms,
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he's got a little
bit of rest and ease.
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By the way, what happens when
kings get a little bit of rest?
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David was walking on
the roof after a nice rest,
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he got into
trouble with Bathsheba.
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So, you always have
to brace yourself when
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a king says
everything was going great,
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then he has this
dream that terrifies him.
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This king had been through wars.
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He was a hardened
soldier, little terrified him,
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but this dream terrifies him.
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And he has his dream,
and the dream in a nutshell,
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and the dream is rehearsed two
or three times in the chapter,
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so I won't read it every time.
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Basically, he dreams about
this great tree that reaches
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under the heavens, great
branches full of fruit, all the
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birds find shade, the beasts
are comforted in the shade.
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The birds in the air and
the beasts are fed by the fruit
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that comes from this tree.
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This is a tree
that gives a life.
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It is a tree of life, and
it's above all the other trees,
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it's exalted.
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And then there's a voice
comes from heaven, the Holy One,
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The Watcher it says, "Cut down
the tree, chop off its branches,
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scatter its fruit, and surround
it with a band of bronze
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and iron until
seven times Pass over it."
00:12:00.15\00:12:04.65
And the everyone knows
that the Most High rules
00:12:04.69\00:12:06.52
in the children of men.
00:12:06.55\00:12:08.59
Nebuchadnezzar thought
that he had done it all, and
00:12:08.62\00:12:11.69
he's wondering what this
means, calls in the wise men.
00:12:11.73\00:12:15.93
Wise men can't
understand what it is.
00:12:15.96\00:12:19.37
Now, you know, it's interesting
that in Daniel chapter 2, the
00:12:19.40\00:12:22.14
wise men of Nebuchadnezzar
say, "Just tell us the dream,
00:12:22.17\00:12:25.07
and we will certainly
give you the interpretation."
00:12:25.11\00:12:27.28
This time Nebuchadnezzar
tells them the dream, they still
00:12:27.31\00:12:30.05
can't interpret it
like a wise men of Pharaoh.
00:12:30.08\00:12:34.82
And then it says,
finally Daniel comes in.
00:12:34.85\00:12:37.15
Daniel's a little older now.
00:12:37.19\00:12:38.52
Maybe Daniel waited until
they exhausted their resources
00:12:38.55\00:12:41.22
so that God would get the glory.
00:12:41.26\00:12:43.43
He comes in and then
he interprets the dream.
00:12:43.46\00:12:46.13
And he basically says,
"King, you are the tree."
00:12:46.16\00:12:50.93
Now, I want to
show you something.
00:12:50.97\00:12:52.83
This is not the first time
in the Bible this has happened.
00:12:52.87\00:12:56.71
Go to the book of Ezekiel.
Go to Ezekiel chapter 31.
00:12:56.74\00:13:04.35
I told you Ezekiel first so
you'd find the neighborhood,
00:13:04.38\00:13:06.85
now I want you to go
to chapter 31, and then
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I want you to
start with verse 3.
00:13:09.28\00:13:11.55
See if you see some similarities
between the vision of Ezekiel,
00:13:11.59\00:13:14.96
which happens not long after
Nebuchadnezzar's experience.
00:13:14.99\00:13:20.20
And it tells us, "Indeed
Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,"
00:13:20.23\00:13:26.77
he's talking about the Assyrian
empire, it's compared to a tree.
00:13:26.80\00:13:30.54
"With fine branches
that shaded the forest,
00:13:30.57\00:13:33.21
And of high
stature," a tall tree.
00:13:33.24\00:13:36.34
"Its top was
among the thick boughs.
00:13:36.38\00:13:38.95
The waters made it grow;
Underground waters gave it
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height," again a tall
tree, "With their rivers running
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around the place where
it was planted, and sent
00:13:45.89\00:13:48.52
out rivulets to all
the trees of the field.
00:13:48.56\00:13:51.36
Therefore its height was
exalted above all the trees
00:13:51.39\00:13:54.00
of the field," a very tall
tree, higher than any tree.
00:13:54.00\00:13:56.53
"Its boughs were multiplied;
its branches became long because
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of the abundance of
water, and it sent them out.
00:13:59.93\00:14:03.61
All the birds of the heavens
made their nests in its boughs."
00:14:03.64\00:14:06.31
Does that sound familiar?
00:14:06.34\00:14:08.44
"Under its branches the beasts,"
this is almost identical
00:14:08.48\00:14:11.18
to Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
00:14:11.21\00:14:13.21
"Of the field brought
forth their young," they gave
00:14:13.25\00:14:16.12
birth under its shadow.
00:14:16.15\00:14:19.65
"Thus it was beautiful in
greatness and in the length of
00:14:19.69\00:14:22.19
its branches, because its roots
reached to abundant waters."
00:14:22.22\00:14:25.49
It's well nourished
like Psalm 1:3, planted
00:14:25.53\00:14:28.40
by the rivers of waters.
00:14:28.43\00:14:30.13
"The cedars in the garden
of God could not hide it."
00:14:30.17\00:14:33.07
No other tree could eclipse it.
00:14:33.10\00:14:35.47
"The fir trees were not like its
boughs, and the chestnut trees
00:14:35.50\00:14:38.37
were not like its branches;
no tree in the garden of
00:14:38.41\00:14:41.84
God was like it in beauty."
00:14:41.88\00:14:44.55
Of course, it's a prophecy.
00:14:44.58\00:14:46.98
"I made it beautiful with a
multitude of branches, so that
00:14:47.02\00:14:49.45
all the trees of Eden
envied it," she's talking about
00:14:49.48\00:14:53.29
the kingdom of Assyria, "that
we're in the garden of God."
00:14:53.32\00:14:56.16
But look what happens verse 10,
"Therefore thus says the Lord
00:14:56.19\00:14:59.33
God: 'Because you have increased
in height, and it set its top
00:14:59.36\00:15:02.56
among the thick boughs, and
its heart was lifted up in its
00:15:02.60\00:15:05.33
height, therefore I will deliver
it into the hand of the mighty
00:15:05.37\00:15:08.27
one of the nations, and he
shall surely deal with it.'"
00:15:08.30\00:15:11.31
Assyria was
delivered to Nebuchadnezzar.
00:15:11.97\00:15:14.54
"And I have driven it
out for its wickedness."
00:15:14.58\00:15:16.51
Because of its pride.
00:15:16.54\00:15:18.31
"And aliens, the most terrible
of the nations, have cut it down
00:15:18.35\00:15:21.22
and left it; its branches have
fallen on the mountains and in
00:15:21.25\00:15:25.02
all the valleys; it is broken by
the rivers in the land; and all
00:15:25.05\00:15:29.09
the peoples of the earth have
gone from under its shadow."
00:15:29.12\00:15:32.89
And then go to,
you go to verse 16.
00:15:32.93\00:15:37.47
"I made the nations shake at
the sound of its fall," timber
00:15:37.50\00:15:41.40
is a picture, you know,
this big tree falls and crashes.
00:15:41.44\00:15:44.81
"When I cast it
down into the pit."
00:15:44.84\00:15:48.28
And it's basically it says
this because it was lifted up
00:15:48.31\00:15:51.25
because of pride.
00:15:51.28\00:15:52.75
This is what happens
to Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
00:15:52.78\00:15:54.32
By the way, at the end of this
chapter, if you go to Ezekiel
00:15:54.35\00:15:57.49
31, verse 18, very last
and says, "This is Pharaoh,
00:15:57.52\00:16:06.06
all his multitude,
says the Lord God."
00:16:06.09\00:16:07.96
So, this is a prophecy given
to the Pharaoh of Egypt saying,
00:16:08.00\00:16:11.13
look what happened to Assyria
because of its pride it was big,
00:16:11.17\00:16:14.84
tall, thought it would
last forever, and it fell.
00:16:14.87\00:16:18.34
And God is telling through
a Ezekiel, "Pharaoh, you will
00:16:18.37\00:16:21.41
fall just like that tree fell."
00:16:21.44\00:16:24.25
So, trees are
often symbols of nations.
00:16:24.28\00:16:26.51
Does Jesus say, "Behold,
the fig tree and all the trees
00:16:26.55\00:16:30.22
when its branch is yet
tender and it puts forth shoots,
00:16:30.25\00:16:33.19
you know that summer is nigh."
00:16:33.22\00:16:35.02
So, likewise, when you see
all these things come to pass,
00:16:35.06\00:16:37.43
know that is even
near the door, right?
00:16:37.46\00:16:39.76
He compares Israel to a tree.
00:16:39.79\00:16:42.63
When he cursed the fig
tree, what was that a type of?
00:16:42.66\00:16:46.30
It had leaves and no
fruit, a fruitless tree.
00:16:46.33\00:16:49.97
They had all the forms of
religion, but they didn't have
00:16:50.01\00:16:51.87
the fruits of the Spirit
and Jesus cursed that tree.
00:16:51.91\00:16:54.61
And we, you know, read
that as a type of Israel.
00:16:54.64\00:16:57.71
So, back to the
dream in Daniel chapter 4.
00:16:57.75\00:17:04.75
So, you got this great tree.
00:17:04.79\00:17:07.09
You know, the Bible begins
with a tree, tree of Life.
00:17:07.12\00:17:10.33
This tree is a tree of life.
00:17:10.36\00:17:11.93
It's like the tree of
Assyria, everything's fed by it.
00:17:11.96\00:17:14.73
And this great tree
that is dreamed about
00:17:14.73\00:17:17.47
is like a tree of life.
00:17:17.50\00:17:18.80
Let me get in and
let Nebuchadnezzar
00:17:18.83\00:17:20.74
speak for himself.
00:17:20.77\00:17:22.07
He doesn't say
much in the Bible,
00:17:22.10\00:17:23.41
so I shouldn't rob his time.
00:17:23.44\00:17:25.37
Go to verse 1, " Nebuchadnezzar
the king, to all peoples,
00:17:25.41\00:17:30.08
nations, and languages
that dwell in all the earth."
00:17:30.11\00:17:32.78
He's sending out this
testimony to everybody.
00:17:32.81\00:17:36.89
"Peace be multiplied to
you," pronounces a benediction.
00:17:36.92\00:17:39.82
"I thought it good to
declare the signs and wonders
00:17:40.99\00:17:44.33
that the Most High
God has worked for me.
00:17:44.36\00:17:47.86
How great are His
signs, How mighty His wonders!
00:17:47.93\00:17:50.87
His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, His dominion
00:17:50.90\00:17:53.87
is from
generation to generation.
00:17:53.90\00:17:56.37
I, Nebuchadnezzar,
was at rest in my house,
00:17:56.40\00:17:58.47
and flourishing in my palace.
00:17:58.51\00:18:00.88
I saw a dream which made
me afraid, and the thoughts
00:18:00.91\00:18:03.85
on my bed and the
visions of my head troubled me.
00:18:03.88\00:18:06.68
Therefore I issued a decree
to bring in all the wise men
00:18:06.72\00:18:09.88
of Babylon before me,
that they might make known
00:18:09.92\00:18:12.19
to me the
interpretation of the dream.
00:18:12.22\00:18:15.12
Then the magicians, the
astrologers, the Chaldeans,
00:18:15.16\00:18:17.93
and the soothsayers came
in, and I told them the dream."
00:18:17.96\00:18:21.33
And they went through their
incantations, and they cut open
00:18:21.36\00:18:23.57
an animal and tried to read its
entrails, and they put up the
00:18:23.60\00:18:27.17
tea leaves, and they read
his palm, and they went through
00:18:27.20\00:18:30.01
all their goofy
things that they go through.
00:18:30.04\00:18:31.91
They said, "Let us
look at the stars tonight,
00:18:31.94\00:18:33.68
and we'll tell you
what the dream means."
00:18:33.71\00:18:36.11
And either they couldn't agree
or they had no answer at all,
00:18:36.14\00:18:38.81
but they couldn't
tell him what it meant.
00:18:38.85\00:18:42.42
Sometimes God waits until we
exhaust all the earthly means
00:18:42.45\00:18:45.49
before we turn to heaven.
00:18:45.52\00:18:49.12
"They couldn't make
known to me the dream,
00:18:49.16\00:18:50.93
but at last Daniel
came in before me."
00:18:50.96\00:18:54.93
It's interesting, the
king mentions his Hebrew name.
00:18:54.96\00:18:59.33
He doesn't, usually
they skip right past that.
00:18:59.37\00:19:02.84
King mentions his Hebrew name.
00:19:02.87\00:19:05.61
And this, by the way, this
chapter is written in Aramaic,
00:19:05.64\00:19:08.21
not in Hebrew.
00:19:08.24\00:19:10.08
Daniel (his name is
Belteshazzar, according
00:19:10.11\00:19:12.25
to the name of my god),"
Nebuchadnezzar's confessing,
00:19:12.28\00:19:14.15
"I gave him a name according to
my God when we first hired him."
00:19:14.18\00:19:17.02
And it says, "The Spirit
of the Holy God is in him.
00:19:18.52\00:19:22.49
And I told the dream before him,
saying: 'Belteshazzar, chief of
00:19:22.52\00:19:25.66
the magicians, because I know
that the Spirit of the Holy God
00:19:25.69\00:19:28.90
is in you, and no secret
troubles you, explain to me the
00:19:28.93\00:19:32.77
visions of my dream that I have
seen, and its interpretation.'"
00:19:32.80\00:19:36.20
By the way, as some of you in
your Bibles, it'll say, "I know
00:19:36.24\00:19:39.07
the spirit of the holy
God is in you," is that right?
00:19:39.11\00:19:42.64
Some of you it says,
"God," some is singular.
00:19:42.68\00:19:44.61
That word can be
either singular or plural,
00:19:44.65\00:19:46.98
depending on the context.
00:19:47.02\00:19:48.48
So, he may have said, "The
spirit of the holy gods, or God
00:19:48.52\00:19:52.12
is in you," but I think that
because everywhere else in the
00:19:52.15\00:19:56.36
chapter he says, 'His
dominion the Most High rules,"
00:19:56.39\00:19:59.89
whenever
Nebuchadnezzar talks about God,
00:19:59.93\00:20:02.06
the other places
he uses the singular.
00:20:02.10\00:20:04.50
We think he has been
converted from polytheism
00:20:04.53\00:20:07.47
to monotheism in this chapter.
00:20:07.50\00:20:10.07
And he has come to
realize the gods of Babylon
00:20:10.11\00:20:12.07
are powerless and
it's the Holy God.
00:20:12.11\00:20:16.48
He says, "I've had this dream.
00:20:16.51\00:20:18.91
These were the visions
of my head while on my bed,"
00:20:18.95\00:20:22.88
and then he describes a dream.
00:20:22.92\00:20:24.22
I'll read it to you once again.
00:20:24.25\00:20:26.12
I'm in chapter 4,
verse 10 of Daniel.
00:20:26.15\00:20:28.36
"I was looking, and behold, a
tree in the midst of the earth,
00:20:28.39\00:20:32.03
and its height was great.
00:20:32.06\00:20:33.50
The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the
00:20:33.53\00:20:37.03
heavens, and it could be seen
to the ends of all the earth.
00:20:37.07\00:20:40.74
Its leaves were
lovely, its fruit abundant,
00:20:40.77\00:20:44.61
and in it was food for all.
00:20:44.64\00:20:46.74
The beasts of the field found
shade under it, the birds of the
00:20:46.78\00:20:49.38
heavens dwelt in its branches,
and all flesh was fed from it.
00:20:49.41\00:20:54.68
While I saw in the visions of
my head while on my bed, there
00:20:54.72\00:20:58.09
was a watcher, a holy
one, coming down from heaven.
00:20:58.12\00:21:01.82
And he cried aloud and
said thus: 'Chop down the tree
00:21:01.86\00:21:05.96
and cut off its
branches, strip off its leaves
00:21:05.99\00:21:08.73
and scatter its fruit.
00:21:08.76\00:21:10.67
Let the beasts
get out from under it,
00:21:10.70\00:21:12.33
and the birds from its branches.
00:21:12.37\00:21:14.57
Nevertheless leave the stump and
roots in the earth, bound with
00:21:14.60\00:21:18.77
a band of iron and bronze, in
the tender grass of the field.
00:21:18.81\00:21:24.55
Let it be wet with the dew
of heaven, and let him graze
00:21:25.25\00:21:28.28
with the beasts and on
the grass of the earth.
00:21:28.32\00:21:31.99
Let his heart be changed from
that of a man, let him be given
00:21:32.02\00:21:35.36
the heart of a beast, and
let seven times pass over him.
00:21:35.39\00:21:40.63
This decision is by the
decree of the watchers, and the
00:21:40.66\00:21:43.00
sentence by the word of the holy
ones, in order," this is all
00:21:43.03\00:21:46.47
happening, "that the living may
know that the Most High rules in
00:21:46.50\00:21:51.01
the kingdom of men," sometimes
we think we rule, "and gives it
00:21:51.04\00:21:55.18
to whomever He will, and
sets over it the lowest of men."
00:21:55.21\00:21:59.38
Just because God gives us a
position of authority doesn't
00:21:59.41\00:22:02.52
mean we should be proud because
God sets over the lowest of men.
00:22:02.55\00:22:06.62
Now, notice something,
the decree is that he's going
00:22:06.65\00:22:10.03
to go from the heart of a
man to the heart of a beast.
00:22:10.06\00:22:14.73
When you get to
Daniel chapter 7,
00:22:14.73\00:22:17.63
you've got these seven animals.
00:22:17.67\00:22:19.93
You remember what they are?
00:22:19.97\00:22:21.44
I know I'm jumping ahead,
but this ties together here.
00:22:21.47\00:22:24.57
What's the first animal?
00:22:24.61\00:22:26.54
Lion, and the bear, leopard, and
this nondescript monster beast.
00:22:26.57\00:22:34.72
So, who is the lion?
Babylon starts out as a beast.
00:22:34.75\00:22:42.06
But what happens to that lion?
00:22:42.09\00:22:44.53
It says a man's heart is
given to it and it stands
00:22:44.56\00:22:48.33
on its feet like a man.
00:22:48.36\00:22:50.23
Nebuchadnezzar is babbling.
00:22:50.27\00:22:52.97
In this parable here,
he goes from man to beast.
00:22:53.00\00:22:56.40
In Daniel, it
says he was converted,
00:22:56.44\00:22:59.11
he went from beast to man.
00:22:59.14\00:23:01.71
Have you noticed that?
00:23:01.74\00:23:03.58
And so, the end of the
story he is glorifying God.
00:23:03.61\00:23:08.02
Man was made originally, how?
00:23:08.05\00:23:11.09
In the image of God, but
with the fall, what happened?
00:23:11.12\00:23:15.89
Started to act like beasts.
00:23:15.92\00:23:18.66
The purpose of the devil is to
erase the image of God from men.
00:23:18.69\00:23:23.16
The most lost men in the Bible,
have you read it in chapter 5
00:23:23.20\00:23:26.47
of Mark about the demoniac?
00:23:26.50\00:23:28.80
He is the most hopeless case in
the Bible, surrounded by pigs,
00:23:28.84\00:23:31.97
living in a tomb, covered with
chains, naked, cutting himself,
00:23:32.01\00:23:35.28
crying aloud, running around
like an animal 'cause this is
00:23:35.31\00:23:40.28
what the devil wants to
do is turn men into beasts.
00:23:40.32\00:23:44.35
You know, you can find
examples of this in several
00:23:44.39\00:23:48.89
places in the Bible.
00:23:48.92\00:23:50.16
You look 1 Corinthians 15, verse
32, Paul says, "If in the manner
00:23:50.19\00:23:54.46
of men, I have fought
with beasts at Ephesus."
00:23:54.46\00:23:58.30
What Paul is saying that I went
into a pit, and I fought with
00:23:58.33\00:24:01.54
wild lions, and beasts, and
bears and--no, saying the people
00:24:01.57\00:24:05.61
that he worked with were beasts
that he fought with in Ephesus.
00:24:05.64\00:24:09.91
Look at 2 Peter 2, verse 12,
"But these, like natural brute
00:24:09.94\00:24:14.38
beasts made to be caught
and destroyed, speak evil
00:24:14.42\00:24:18.39
of the things they do not
understand, and will utterly
00:24:18.42\00:24:20.66
perish in their own corruption."
00:24:20.69\00:24:22.56
Romans 8:13 ties it all for us.
00:24:22.59\00:24:24.93
"If you live according to the
flesh, a beast, you will die;
00:24:24.96\00:24:29.53
but by the Spirit like the
Son of Man," says you will put
00:24:29.56\00:24:33.03
to death the deeds of
the body, you will live.
00:24:33.07\00:24:37.51
And so, what you have here
is you get this transition of
00:24:37.54\00:24:40.41
someone who is supposed to be a
king, made in the image of God,
00:24:40.44\00:24:44.05
but because of
pride, he becomes a beast.
00:24:44.08\00:24:48.08
This is what you see
happening all through the Bible.
00:24:48.12\00:24:50.02
People like Esau say, "I'm going
to sell my birthright because
00:24:50.05\00:24:52.85
I'm controlled by the
flesh instead of the Spirit."
00:24:52.89\00:24:56.83
Am I making sense?
00:24:56.86\00:24:58.99
That beast-like man that
was filled with devils came
00:24:59.03\00:25:01.20
to Jesus, he set him free.
00:25:01.23\00:25:03.53
And his mind, his
reason returned to him.
00:25:03.57\00:25:06.43
And so, everybody, we
all feel we're part animal
00:25:06.47\00:25:09.24
and we're part Spirit.
00:25:09.27\00:25:11.01
The question is
what has control?
00:25:11.77\00:25:13.58
Are we led by the
Spirit or the flesh.
00:25:13.61\00:25:15.51
Nebuchadnezzar,
because of pride,
00:25:15.54\00:25:18.31
ends up becoming like a beast.
00:25:18.35\00:25:19.95
Now, I know I'm not going
through the exact sections
00:25:20.58\00:25:22.72
of the lesson, but you'll see
what we'll be covering them all.
00:25:22.75\00:25:25.15
I'm just mixing
them up a little bit.
00:25:25.19\00:25:27.56
And he says here, "Until
he knows, you're going to go
00:25:27.59\00:25:30.76
through this seven times will
pass over you until you know
00:25:30.79\00:25:34.36
the Most High rules
in the kingdom of men
00:25:34.40\00:25:36.87
and gives it to
whoever He will."
00:25:36.90\00:25:39.57
Verse 18, Daniel
4, "This dream I,
00:25:39.60\00:25:42.27
Nebuchadnezzar, have seen.
00:25:42.30\00:25:43.64
Now you, Belteshazzar, declare
its interpretation, since all
00:25:43.67\00:25:46.78
the wise men of my kingdom
are not able to make known to me
00:25:46.81\00:25:49.24
the interpretation;
but you are able, for the
00:25:49.28\00:25:51.41
Spirit of the
Holy God is in you.
00:25:51.45\00:25:54.35
Then Daniel, whose name
was Belteshazzar," it says it
00:25:54.38\00:25:56.99
several times, "was
astonished for a time."
00:25:57.02\00:25:59.82
It doesn't mean he was
flummoxed that he didn't know.
00:25:59.85\00:26:03.59
He is quiet and he's thinking,
"Wow, this is going to be heavy.
00:26:03.63\00:26:06.86
How do I tell the king this?"
00:26:06.90\00:26:09.00
He knows what it says.
00:26:09.03\00:26:11.23
It's like when the baker says
to Joseph, "I've had this dream
00:26:11.27\00:26:15.40
and the ravens pluck the
food off my head," Joseph's
00:26:15.44\00:26:18.14
thinking, "How do I
tell this guy you're going to
00:26:18.17\00:26:20.41
lose your head in three days?"
00:26:20.44\00:26:22.61
It's not easy. He does tell him.
00:26:22.64\00:26:25.48
Remember, Samuel got a dream.
00:26:25.51\00:26:27.98
The little boy, he's told to
go tell Eli that, "your sons are
00:26:28.02\00:26:33.56
going to die in one day, and
your house is going to be cursed
00:26:33.59\00:26:37.26
because you did not follow me
and your sons live like beasts."
00:26:37.29\00:26:41.10
That's pretty much what it says.
00:26:41.13\00:26:43.47
Samuel didn't want to
give that message, and
00:26:43.50\00:26:46.97
Daniel doesn't
want to tell the king.
00:26:47.00\00:26:48.50
It's not happy.
00:26:48.54\00:26:50.11
I mean, sometimes prophets
have to give a tough message.
00:26:50.14\00:26:53.07
It cost John the
Baptist his head.
00:26:53.11\00:26:56.78
"Daniel was astonished for a
time, his thoughts troubled him.
00:26:56.81\00:26:59.21
So the King said, "Belteshazzar,
don't be troubled.
00:26:59.25\00:27:03.42
I can tell from your
expression," I'm paraphrasing,
00:27:03.45\00:27:06.69
"You know what it means."
What is the interpretation?
00:27:06.72\00:27:10.63
He said, 'My Lord, the dream
concerns those who hates you.
00:27:10.66\00:27:14.00
Its interpretation
concerns your enemies.
00:27:14.00\00:27:17.00
This is going to
make your enemies happy.
00:27:17.03\00:27:19.83
The tree that you saw that grew
and became strong whose height
00:27:19.87\00:27:22.74
reached to the heavens and which
could be seen by all the earth,
00:27:22.77\00:27:26.34
whose leaves were lovely and
its fruit abundant, in which was
00:27:26.37\00:27:29.18
food for all, under which
the beasts of the field dwelt,
00:27:29.21\00:27:32.41
and in whose branches
the birds of the heaven
00:27:32.45\00:27:34.38
had their home,
it is you, O king."
00:27:34.42\00:27:36.69
Now, doesn't that sound
like chapter 2 where he says,
00:27:36.72\00:27:38.85
"Nebuchadnezzar, you
are the head of gold"?
00:27:38.89\00:27:40.72
That made Nebuchadnezzar
feel pretty good, and this makes
00:27:40.76\00:27:44.49
Nebuchadnezzar feel apprehensive
because he knows it's nice,
00:27:44.53\00:27:47.86
I'm a big tree, but I
know what happens to that tree.
00:27:47.93\00:27:51.63
And the same way Daniel said
another kingdom will follow you,
00:27:51.67\00:27:54.64
now Daniel says you're
going to get chopped down.
00:27:54.67\00:27:57.74
But there's also a good part.
00:27:57.77\00:28:00.71
It says the stump
is left in the earth.
00:28:00.74\00:28:05.21
"It is you, O king, who
have grown and become strong;
00:28:05.25\00:28:08.68
for your greatness has grown
and reaches to the heavens,
00:28:08.72\00:28:10.72
and your dominion to
the end of the earth.
00:28:10.75\00:28:13.79
And in that you saw a
holy one coming down saying,
00:28:13.82\00:28:16.76
'Chop down the tree.'"
00:28:16.79\00:28:19.56
And that angel's
name was Paul Bunyan.
00:28:19.59\00:28:23.23
"But leave its stump
and its roots in the earth,
00:28:23.26\00:28:26.23
bound with a band
of iron and bronze.
00:28:26.27\00:28:29.37
In the tender grass of
the field, let it be wet
00:28:29.40\00:28:32.21
with the dew of heaven."
00:28:32.24\00:28:33.58
Now, I want to pause here and
tell you, I speak to you as one
00:28:33.61\00:28:38.25
who has cut down many trees and
I know something about trees.
00:28:38.28\00:28:43.75
There are some trees you
cut them down and they are dead.
00:28:43.79\00:28:47.19
You cut down a fir
tree, it ain't coming back.
00:28:47.22\00:28:50.56
But if you cut down a madrone
tree and some trees, if the
00:28:50.59\00:28:53.56
ground is still moist and the
roots stay alive, a whole other
00:28:53.60\00:28:57.93
tree can come out of the roots
of that tree in the same spot.
00:28:57.97\00:29:02.17
If the roots are dry and
dead then you know it says root
00:29:02.20\00:29:05.37
and branch that means it's gone.
00:29:05.41\00:29:08.18
So, this is some kind of
tree that has the the ability
00:29:08.21\00:29:10.78
to spring up from the roots.
00:29:10.81\00:29:12.78
I've cut down oak trees before,
and those things, they're just,
00:29:12.81\00:29:16.42
they drive you crazy because
instead of one tree coming up,
00:29:16.45\00:29:18.75
ten come up where
you cut down that one.
00:29:18.79\00:29:21.49
I can take you to places in the
woods where I logged some oaks
00:29:21.52\00:29:24.13
years ago, and I cut down one
tree and now there's just like,
00:29:24.16\00:29:28.33
all these trees came out.
00:29:28.36\00:29:29.90
You've probably
seen them before.
00:29:29.93\00:29:31.23
They all get big.
They all branch out.
00:29:31.27\00:29:33.27
And this is what he's
saying is going to happen.
00:29:33.30\00:29:35.57
The reason that it's bound with
a band of iron and bronze, and
00:29:35.60\00:29:39.04
I'm not sure exactly why iron
and bronze, but the bands are
00:29:39.07\00:29:42.34
there because when you're
working and when you're farming
00:29:42.38\00:29:44.55
and there's a stump,
you keep knocking down
00:29:44.58\00:29:46.98
and beaten it down,
eventually it'll die.
00:29:47.02\00:29:48.45
It's almost like
it's protecting it.
00:29:48.48\00:29:51.05
It's being banded so
that it'll stay in one place
00:29:51.09\00:29:54.36
and it'll come back again.
00:29:54.39\00:29:57.59
And again, it doesn't say
exactly the species of tree,
00:29:57.63\00:29:59.83
but it's one of those trees
that will come back if its moist
00:29:59.86\00:30:02.43
with the dew of heaven.
00:30:02.46\00:30:05.20
And it says, "This is
the interpretation, O king,
00:30:05.23\00:30:07.80
verse 24, "the
decree of the Most High."
00:30:07.84\00:30:11.31
Again, that's the central theme.
00:30:11.34\00:30:13.61
"which has come upon my lord the
king: They shall drive you from
00:30:13.64\00:30:16.54
men, your dwelling will be
with the beasts of the field,
00:30:16.58\00:30:20.48
and they'll make
you eat grass like oxen.
00:30:20.52\00:30:23.59
You will be wet
with the dew of heaven,
00:30:23.62\00:30:25.79
and seven times
shall pass over you."
00:30:25.82\00:30:29.19
Now, a time was a complete cycle
of the seasons, it meant a year.
00:30:29.22\00:30:35.83
Other places in Daniel and
Revelation, it talks about a
00:30:35.86\00:30:38.70
time, a times, and the dividing
of time, that meant one complete
00:30:38.73\00:30:43.54
year, a pair, or a couple
of years, which is two more,
00:30:43.57\00:30:48.11
and be three, and
the dividing of one.
00:30:48.14\00:30:49.71
So, it's three and a half years
because you're using the day
00:30:49.74\00:30:51.51
for a year, but you don't use a
day for a year in this prophecy
00:30:51.55\00:30:55.22
because it tells you
what the fulfillment is.
00:30:55.25\00:30:57.59
Matter of fact, I should
probably pause at this point and
00:30:57.62\00:31:00.62
let you know these seven
times, this chapter, friends,
00:31:00.66\00:31:04.39
I'll tell you, it
is talked about a lot,
00:31:04.43\00:31:08.10
especially among
those that like prophecy.
00:31:08.13\00:31:11.00
Many people take the seven times
and they apply a day for a year.
00:31:11.03\00:31:16.47
Now, if three-and-a-half
years is how many days?
00:31:16.50\00:31:21.91
Every adventist
ought to go, "1,260."
00:31:21.94\00:31:24.88
You ought to know that, 42
months, three-and-a-half years,
00:31:24.91\00:31:26.92
it's just 1,260, 1,260,
1,260; so that's a big number.
00:31:26.95\00:31:30.35
How long did Elijah
preach? Twelve-sixty.
00:31:30.39\00:31:33.15
How long did Jesus teach?
00:31:33.19\00:31:34.86
Three-and-a-half
years: 1,260; 42 months.
00:31:34.89\00:31:37.86
How long does that
woman flee in Revelation?
00:31:37.89\00:31:39.89
Forty-two months, three,
three-and-a-half years, 1,260.
00:31:39.93\00:31:43.20
It's half of seven.
00:31:43.23\00:31:45.47
How long from the time of the
cross until Stephen is stoned?
00:31:45.50\00:31:49.17
Twelve-sixty.
00:31:49.20\00:31:51.34
How long till Vashti is deposed?
Have you ever read Esther?
00:31:51.37\00:31:56.08
In the third year of
the reign of Ahasuerus, he
00:31:56.11\00:31:58.55
has a feast that is 180 days.
00:31:58.58\00:32:02.28
By the end of that
feast, they call forth Vashti
00:32:02.32\00:32:04.72
and she doesn't come,
and the process begins
00:32:04.75\00:32:07.52
and they get a Jewish queen.
00:32:07.56\00:32:08.86
It's after
three-and-a-half years.
00:32:08.89\00:32:10.63
Three plus
one-eighty is how much?
00:32:10.66\00:32:14.03
Twelve-sixty.
00:32:14.10\00:32:15.93
All right, now what
if you say seven times,
00:32:15.96\00:32:18.43
not three-and-a-half,
but three-and-a-half,
00:32:18.47\00:32:20.07
and three-and-a-half is seven.
00:32:20.10\00:32:22.97
So, what's that?
00:32:23.00\00:32:25.14
Two-thousand
five-hundred and twenty.
00:32:25.17\00:32:28.41
Now, a lot of people have
taken that time period and said,
00:32:28.44\00:32:30.68
"What if we
apply a day for a year?
00:32:30.71\00:32:32.98
What does this mean?"
00:32:33.01\00:32:34.48
And I'll just tell you
some of the different theories.
00:32:34.52\00:32:36.42
For those who are watching,
people have sometimes taken
00:32:36.45\00:32:38.25
things I say, they cut it and
they put it online and they say,
00:32:38.29\00:32:43.22
"Here's what Pastor Doug
believes," and they don't have
00:32:43.26\00:32:45.33
my preliminary marks that says,
"This isn't what I believe,
00:32:45.36\00:32:47.60
these are beliefs
that are out there."
00:32:47.66\00:32:49.83
So, I hope nobody does that.
00:32:49.86\00:32:51.80
The Jehovah Witnesses apply
a day for a year, they take
00:32:51.83\00:32:54.80
this time period, and
this is what they use to
00:32:54.84\00:32:56.94
predict the Second
Coming of the Lord 1914.
00:32:56.97\00:32:59.84
They said that in 607 with
the destruction of Jerusalem,
00:32:59.87\00:33:02.78
that's the starting
point, if you go 2,520 years,
00:33:02.81\00:33:08.45
that takes you to 1914.
00:33:08.48\00:33:10.52
When Jesus did not
come in 1914, I think they
00:33:10.55\00:33:13.66
may have tried
to reset the date.
00:33:13.69\00:33:15.22
And then they
said, "Well, he did come,
00:33:15.26\00:33:16.56
but it was a spiritual coming."
00:33:16.59\00:33:18.83
Then you've got evangelicals
that apply the day for a year,
00:33:18.86\00:33:22.86
Adventists are not
the only ones that know
00:33:22.90\00:33:24.30
about a day for a year.
00:33:24.33\00:33:25.83
That's a pretty
solid biblical principle.
00:33:25.87\00:33:27.97
A lot of evangelicals say
that this is a prophecy that
00:33:28.00\00:33:32.77
is talking about when
Nebuchadnezzar's dream takes
00:33:32.81\00:33:36.48
place, which is about 572
B.C., do you know if you go
00:33:36.51\00:33:40.22
from the dream of
Nebuchadnezzar in 572
00:33:40.25\00:33:42.52
and you go 2,520
years, it comes to 1948?
00:33:42.55\00:33:49.22
What happened then?
Israel's formed as a nation.
00:33:49.26\00:33:54.03
They say Israel was a type
of the tree that was cut down
00:33:54.10\00:33:57.73
because Israel is that tree
of life that fed all the world.
00:33:57.77\00:34:00.40
And you can understand why
they got excited about that.
00:34:00.44\00:34:03.27
And so they look at it as they
say, "This is about Israel."
00:34:03.30\00:34:06.98
And then there are others
that say it reaches to 1844.
00:34:07.01\00:34:14.95
And it's like everyone
picks their starting point.
00:34:14.98\00:34:17.82
William Miller, he
had this reaching to 1844.
00:34:17.85\00:34:21.02
And so, everyone
picks their kind of,
00:34:21.06\00:34:22.86
their favorite starting point.
00:34:22.89\00:34:24.46
And let me see, yeah,
the Miller and there's
00:34:24.49\00:34:28.50
still some people out
now that do the 2,520.
00:34:28.53\00:34:31.27
You've probably heard of that.
00:34:31.30\00:34:32.60
They start 677 when King
Manasseh was taken to Babylon,
00:34:32.63\00:34:35.17
and they say it starts then,
that's an odd place to start it.
00:34:35.20\00:34:38.14
And then it goes to 1844.
00:34:38.17\00:34:40.31
So, there's a lot of
people that apply the day
00:34:40.34\00:34:42.28
for the year to this prophecy.
00:34:42.31\00:34:43.91
But should we do
that, or do we already know
00:34:43.95\00:34:47.28
what the fulfillment is?
00:34:47.32\00:34:48.92
Does Daniel tell us
what the fulfillment is?
00:34:48.95\00:34:51.39
It's King Nebuchadnezzar because
these are literal years that are
00:34:51.42\00:34:55.56
in this prophecy and you see the
fulfillment of the time in here.
00:34:55.59\00:34:59.83
So, when Daniel
explains this to Nebuchadnezzar,
00:34:59.86\00:35:03.80
Nebuchadnezzar is,
he's a little worried.
00:35:03.83\00:35:10.11
Daniel is telling the
king, "Therefore my advice,"
00:35:10.14\00:35:15.31
this is verse 27.
00:35:15.34\00:35:17.61
"My advice to you, O
King, break off your sins,"
00:35:17.65\00:35:21.32
one of the most
important parts of the chapter.
00:35:21.35\00:35:23.69
"Break off your sins by being
righteous, doing righteousness,
00:35:23.72\00:35:28.19
and your iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor."
00:35:28.22\00:35:31.26
Now, you might
want to underline that.
00:35:31.29\00:35:33.93
It says, "Perhaps
this might be a lengthening
00:35:33.96\00:35:35.76
to your prosperity."
00:35:35.80\00:35:37.17
Let's presume that Daniel
is a doctor and he's going
00:35:37.20\00:35:39.43
to tell you now how to
lengthen your prosperity.
00:35:39.47\00:35:41.80
How many of you want to
lengthen your tranquility?
00:35:41.84\00:35:45.11
Break off your sins
by doing righteousness,
00:35:45.14\00:35:46.91
show mercy to the poor.
00:35:46.94\00:35:48.51
The Bible says,
"Blessed are the merciful,
00:35:48.54\00:35:50.55
they will obtain mercy."
00:35:50.58\00:35:53.08
It will be a
lengthening. Humble yourself.
00:35:53.11\00:35:55.88
It will be a
lengthening of your tranquility,
00:35:55.92\00:35:59.69
of your
prosperities, is a similar word.
00:35:59.72\00:36:02.79
Nebuchadnezzar
probably sat up and
00:36:02.82\00:36:04.29
paid attention
to Daniel's advice.
00:36:04.33\00:36:05.86
You don't give a king a lot
of advice if it's not asked for.
00:36:05.89\00:36:08.90
But Nebuchadnezzar said, "Okay."
00:36:08.93\00:36:11.17
He behaved himself,
and he humbled himself,
00:36:11.20\00:36:13.64
and the dream shook him up.
00:36:13.67\00:36:15.10
Remember, he was scared.
00:36:15.14\00:36:17.31
But after a while,
he couldn't help it.
00:36:17.34\00:36:20.68
He's walking after 12
months, I'm in verse 28.
00:36:20.71\00:36:23.21
"All this came upon the
King Nebuchadnezzar," and
00:36:23.24\00:36:27.08
he's speaking of himself in
like the second person here.
00:36:27.12\00:36:30.15
"At the end of the
twelve months he was walking
00:36:30.19\00:36:32.59
about the royal
palace of Babylon.
00:36:32.62\00:36:35.72
He's walking about the royal
palace, and the king spoke."
00:36:35.76\00:36:40.96
Now, let me just
tell you about Babylon
00:36:40.96\00:36:42.40
before I tell you what he said.
00:36:42.43\00:36:44.17
It's called the golden kingdom.
00:36:44.20\00:36:46.67
It's the lion, it's
the king of the beasts.
00:36:46.70\00:36:49.10
When you get to the
beast, it's the gold
00:36:49.14\00:36:50.57
when you get to the metals.
00:36:50.61\00:36:52.64
One of the seven wonders
of the world, the Hanging
00:36:52.67\00:36:54.64
Gardens of Babylon was
there of the ancient world.
00:36:54.68\00:37:00.92
By the way, the only
surviving memorial in, I think,
00:37:00.95\00:37:05.25
Herodotus had the seven
wonders of the ancient world
00:37:05.29\00:37:07.16
is the great pyramids,
everything else is gone.
00:37:07.19\00:37:09.62
It's like the Colossus of
Rhodes and there was a number
00:37:09.66\00:37:11.93
of Temple of Jupiter and
the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
00:37:11.96\00:37:15.66
His wife, Nebuchadnezzar's
wife he acquired
00:37:15.70\00:37:18.87
was from the mountains.
00:37:18.90\00:37:21.37
And when she came to
the plains of Babylon,
00:37:21.40\00:37:23.51
she just used to get homesick.
00:37:23.54\00:37:25.01
She says,
"There's no mountains here.
00:37:25.04\00:37:26.57
It's all flat."
00:37:26.61\00:37:28.08
It's kind of like when
you go to the plains of Texas,
00:37:28.11\00:37:31.88
all the
mountains are upside down.
00:37:31.91\00:37:33.21
They got these
valleys but there's no--
00:37:33.25\00:37:34.55
everything else is flat.
00:37:34.58\00:37:36.58
And remember some--one
of my friends that lived
00:37:36.62\00:37:38.52
in Texas went to California.
00:37:38.55\00:37:39.99
She said, "I couldn't
wait to get out of California.
00:37:40.02\00:37:41.66
You can't see anything,
there's mountains in the way."
00:37:41.69\00:37:46.83
So, she went and she
said, "There's no mountains,"
00:37:46.86\00:37:49.40
and she was homesick.
00:37:49.43\00:37:50.73
He said, "I will
build you a mountain."
00:37:50.77\00:37:52.97
So, he made this
great multi-step pyramid.
00:37:53.00\00:37:55.77
He terraced it with wonderful
gardens from the most exotic,
00:37:55.80\00:38:00.81
beautiful plants
around the world.
00:38:00.84\00:38:02.91
And it was the climate
in Babylon back then wasn't
00:38:02.94\00:38:05.15
as much of the
desert as it is today.
00:38:05.18\00:38:08.05
It was a little more mild.
00:38:08.08\00:38:10.22
And he had devised these
very ingenious mechanical pumps
00:38:10.25\00:38:15.19
that could be driven
that would bring the water
00:38:15.22\00:38:16.76
from the river up to the
top, and there were fountains
00:38:16.79\00:38:19.13
that were flowing down.
00:38:19.16\00:38:21.00
And it was described as one
of the most beautiful places.
00:38:21.03\00:38:22.86
You walked, and then you
could spiral down through
00:38:22.90\00:38:25.10
the gardens on
this manmade mountain.
00:38:25.13\00:38:28.37
And so, this is
just a small thing.
00:38:28.40\00:38:30.17
Gold was everywhere.
00:38:30.21\00:38:31.97
They said the walls
were so high that you could
00:38:32.01\00:38:34.04
ride five chariots
abreast, on top of the walls and
00:38:34.08\00:38:37.85
you could turn a chariot around.
00:38:37.88\00:38:39.41
I mean, and there
were towers everywhere.
00:38:39.45\00:38:42.58
Many believe Herodotus
the historian exaggerated,
00:38:42.62\00:38:46.35
but he said it was 60
miles around the city.
00:38:46.39\00:38:51.49
You know, it says the Nineveh
was an exceeding great city
00:38:51.53\00:38:54.00
of three days'
journey and the book of Jonah.
00:38:54.00\00:38:57.17
So, there may have been things
a little bigger than we can
00:38:57.20\00:39:00.10
even imagine right now,
and he's got gold everywhere.
00:39:00.14\00:39:03.97
It's all gold,
blended with gold.
00:39:04.01\00:39:05.74
Remember, he had
that big statue of gold.
00:39:05.77\00:39:07.24
And so, he wakes up one morning
and he's walking around the
00:39:07.28\00:39:10.41
palace, and he sees everything
gilded, and sparkling.
00:39:10.45\00:39:13.38
It's wonder, it's inspiring.
His musicians are playing.
00:39:13.42\00:39:16.08
He takes a deep breath, he goes,
00:39:16.12\00:39:17.72
"Ha, ha, ha, ha,
I built all this.
00:39:17.75\00:39:20.96
Is not this the great
Babylon that I have made?"
00:39:20.99\00:39:23.96
Let me give it to
you in his own words.
00:39:23.99\00:39:28.06
It tells us here--said
verse--yeah, thank you,
00:39:28.10\00:39:31.97
verse 30: "The
king spoke, saying,
00:39:32.00\00:39:35.04
'Is not this great Babylon,
that I have built for a royal
00:39:35.07\00:39:40.24
dwelling by my mighty power and
for the honor of my majesty?'"
00:39:40.28\00:39:45.65
Who does that sound like?
00:39:45.68\00:39:47.68
"I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God,"
00:39:47.72\00:39:51.19
it's like the devil.
00:39:51.22\00:39:52.95
He is full of
himself. He's full of pride.
00:39:52.99\00:39:57.26
What goes before a fall? Pride.
00:39:57.29\00:40:01.46
And no sooner had he said
that, "The word was still in
00:40:01.50\00:40:03.50
the king's mouth, a
voice fell from heaven:
00:40:03.53\00:40:07.90
'King Nebuchadnezzar,
to you it is spoken:
00:40:07.94\00:40:10.07
the kingdom has
departed from you!'"
00:40:10.11\00:40:12.61
That fast.
00:40:12.64\00:40:15.28
"And they shall drive you
from men, and your dwelling
00:40:15.31\00:40:17.28
shall be with the
beasts of the field.
00:40:17.31\00:40:19.45
They shall make you eat grass
like oxen; and seven times shall
00:40:19.48\00:40:22.65
pass over you, until you know,"
you're going to be punished
00:40:22.68\00:40:25.32
seven times, "Until you know
that the Most High rules in the
00:40:25.35\00:40:29.09
kingdom of men, and gives
it to whomever He chooses.
00:40:29.12\00:40:31.86
That very hour the word
was fulfilled concerning
00:40:31.89\00:40:35.93
Nebuchadnezzar; he
was driven from men
00:40:35.96\00:40:38.60
and ate grass like oxen."
00:40:38.63\00:40:40.90
He went mad.
00:40:41.40\00:40:43.17
"His body was wet with the
dew of heaven till his hair had
00:40:43.20\00:40:46.07
grown like eagles' feathers and
his nails like birds' claws."
00:40:46.11\00:40:49.81
There's been a few documents
that were written and some of
00:40:49.84\00:40:53.48
them are dubious, but one
says that one of his servants
00:40:53.52\00:40:58.69
basically was able take charge
and hide what had happened to
00:40:58.72\00:41:01.69
the king, and he ruled Babylon
for seven years that he didn't
00:41:01.72\00:41:04.36
want anyone to know
the king had lost his mind.
00:41:04.39\00:41:06.46
They pretty much hid it
from the people and that's why
00:41:06.49\00:41:10.03
his kingdom was preserved.
00:41:10.07\00:41:12.17
He said, Lord puts over the
basis to people and when they
00:41:12.20\00:41:14.67
finally discovered that a
servant was saying, "Yeah,
00:41:14.70\00:41:17.14
the king says this, the
king says that," and sealing
00:41:17.17\00:41:18.77
documents, there was a
little conspiracy of servants
00:41:18.81\00:41:22.44
that hid the king's
deranged condition for years.
00:41:22.48\00:41:26.28
And when it says his hair became
like eagle feathers, it doesn't
00:41:26.31\00:41:28.98
mean that that was a figure
of speech when someone's out of
00:41:29.02\00:41:32.69
their mind and they don't trim
themselves or hair gets matted,
00:41:32.72\00:41:35.69
and it starts to
look like eagle feathers.
00:41:35.72\00:41:38.09
Actually, the the
Aramaic version of the Bible in
00:41:38.13\00:41:41.70
this story, it says his
hair became like a lion's mane.
00:41:41.73\00:41:45.30
It's actually a different
phrase, and his fingernails
00:41:45.33\00:41:47.90
became long and
untrimmed, that's all it means.
00:41:47.94\00:41:49.87
It's little claws like eagles.
00:41:49.90\00:41:51.44
He became like an animal, a
beast, and people get hungry
00:41:51.47\00:41:54.84
enough, he may not have
been eating just alfalfa hay,
00:41:54.88\00:41:58.45
but they start eating
weeds and plants in the field.
00:41:58.48\00:42:01.92
And it's amazing
that he survived.
00:42:01.95\00:42:03.75
Now, I don't know if
you've read the story,
00:42:03.79\00:42:07.02
1738 to 1820
was King George III.
00:42:07.06\00:42:12.76
Have you heard
about King George III?
00:42:12.79\00:42:15.10
That's during the time
of the American Revolution.
00:42:15.13\00:42:17.27
He was a pretty
brilliant guy and he was king.
00:42:17.30\00:42:20.57
But later in his life,
they're not sure exactly what
00:42:20.60\00:42:22.64
it was so it could
have been some disease.
00:42:22.67\00:42:24.44
It could have been some
kind of bipolar disorder.
00:42:24.47\00:42:26.64
But he went crazy,
just stark-raving mad.
00:42:26.68\00:42:30.05
And this court was trying to
hide it from the people because
00:42:30.08\00:42:32.38
they were going to lose
their positions and their power.
00:42:32.41\00:42:35.22
And part of the reason I think
this all happened was, it was
00:42:35.25\00:42:38.25
in the midst of all
this madness, and bad orders
00:42:38.29\00:42:41.66
that he gave, America was
able to obtain its freedom.
00:42:41.69\00:42:46.90
The king went crazy.
00:42:46.93\00:42:48.63
How many of you have
heard this in history?
00:42:48.66\00:42:50.93
King George III,
yeah, he would start talking
00:42:50.97\00:42:54.07
and he would give 400
words in one sentence.
00:42:54.10\00:42:56.91
And he'd keep
talking and talking until
00:42:56.94\00:42:58.54
he wouldn't take a breath.
00:42:58.57\00:42:59.87
He was foaming at the
mouth. And he'd go around naked.
00:42:59.91\00:43:04.51
And it just, they don't--
00:43:04.55\00:43:06.41
Everyone's tried to theorize
it was a medical--they said
00:43:06.45\00:43:08.72
that his urine
was blue or purple.
00:43:08.75\00:43:11.02
And they say, "Oh,
that's typical of this,
00:43:11.05\00:43:12.62
and that can make you crazy."
00:43:12.65\00:43:14.06
And had all these ideas of
what happened, but he would
00:43:14.09\00:43:17.89
have these bouts of insanity
that would last for months.
00:43:17.93\00:43:20.66
And then all sudden, he'd
wake up and he'd start seeming
00:43:20.70\00:43:23.03
coherent and lucid again, and
then he died pretty much crazy.
00:43:23.06\00:43:30.24
That's a nice way
to put it, but yeah.
00:43:30.27\00:43:33.31
And some of it was
dementia at that point.
00:43:33.34\00:43:35.91
But anyway, they hid it from the
people so that he could stay on
00:43:35.94\00:43:40.32
the throne, and this is not the
first time this has happened.
00:43:40.35\00:43:44.52
It happened with
Nebuchadnezzar, of course.
00:43:44.55\00:43:46.72
Now, what was the
main reason for his fall?
00:43:46.76\00:43:50.26
"I, I," pride goes
before destruction,
00:43:50.29\00:43:53.86
the haughty
spirit before a fall.
00:43:53.90\00:43:55.93
What was it that
brought down King Herod?
00:43:55.96\00:43:58.63
You know, the Herod--I'm
sorry, in Acts chapter 12.
00:43:58.67\00:44:02.97
The people said it's the
voice of a God and not a man,
00:44:03.00\00:44:06.11
and he did not
give God the glory.
00:44:06.14\00:44:07.61
The angel of the Lord
struck him that very moment
00:44:07.64\00:44:09.68
and he died and
was eaten of worms.
00:44:09.71\00:44:13.18
Be careful about pride.
00:44:13.21\00:44:16.05
Someone said, "Never
are you more like the devil
00:44:16.08\00:44:18.05
than when you're proud."
00:44:18.09\00:44:21.12
And I remember hearing
John Knox, the great reformed
00:44:21.16\00:44:24.56
preacher, he was
preaching in this church one day
00:44:24.59\00:44:27.10
and after church, folks
were greeting him at the door.
00:44:27.13\00:44:29.36
And this lady met him at the
door and she said, "Pastor Knox,
00:44:29.40\00:44:33.07
you are the greatest
preacher in all of Scotland."
00:44:33.10\00:44:37.11
He said, "I know,
madam, the devil tells me
00:44:37.14\00:44:38.64
that all the time."
00:44:38.67\00:44:42.68
And so, what was it that
brought down King Uzziah?
00:44:42.71\00:44:47.65
King Uzziah walked into the
temple of the Lord, he said,
00:44:47.68\00:44:49.98
"All these other kings,
they can go into their temples,
00:44:50.02\00:44:52.12
how come I can't go
into the holy place?"
00:44:52.15\00:44:54.82
Not even the most holy place.
00:44:54.86\00:44:56.73
King wasn't supposed
to go into the holy place,
00:44:56.76\00:44:58.79
and he got a censer,
and he started walking,
00:44:58.83\00:45:00.53
and the priest stopped him
and said, "It's not for you,
00:45:00.56\00:45:02.86
Uzziah, it's only
for the sons of Aaron."
00:45:02.90\00:45:05.67
He got mad and his
pride was offended.
00:45:05.70\00:45:09.44
Leprosy broke out
in his forehead, pride.
00:45:09.47\00:45:13.07
What brought down King Saul?
00:45:13.11\00:45:15.41
He was more worried about
what the people thought of him
00:45:15.44\00:45:17.98
than what God
thought of him, pride.
00:45:18.01\00:45:20.38
Pride is really a form
of selfishness, isn't it?
00:45:20.42\00:45:24.59
It's just like
selfishness to the extreme.
00:45:24.62\00:45:27.49
It's like these folks in
Hollywood, their lives are all
00:45:27.52\00:45:29.66
built around making them
idols, and they sit around
00:45:29.69\00:45:32.53
at their cocktail
parties, and they talk to each
00:45:32.56\00:45:34.46
other and one person
says, "Oh, I'm so sorry,
00:45:34.46\00:45:37.23
I've been talking
about nothing but me.
00:45:37.27\00:45:39.37
Let's talk about you.
What do you think of me?"
00:45:39.40\00:45:42.90
And pride is an arrow
that always points to self.
00:45:44.57\00:45:48.14
Listen to this, Christ's
object lessons page 154.
00:45:48.18\00:45:51.98
"The evil that led to
Peter's fall and shut out
00:45:52.01\00:45:54.98
the Pharisee from
communion with God is proving
00:45:55.02\00:45:57.89
the ruin of thousands today.
00:45:57.92\00:46:00.09
There is nothing so
offensive to God, so dangerous
00:46:00.12\00:46:04.03
to the human soul, as
pride and self-sufficiency.
00:46:04.06\00:46:07.56
Of all sins, it
is the most hopeless
00:46:07.60\00:46:09.83
and the most incurable."
00:46:09.86\00:46:12.57
Well, the good news is
that after seven times of
00:46:12.60\00:46:15.34
Nebuchadnezzar living like
this, when the time was up,
00:46:15.37\00:46:20.41
his reason was restored.
00:46:20.44\00:46:22.78
He suddenly realized
that the dream had come true.
00:46:22.81\00:46:24.95
He looks at
himself, he's on all four.
00:46:24.98\00:46:26.55
His fingernails are grown,
his hair is dirty, he stinks.
00:46:26.58\00:46:30.29
But his mind is come back.
00:46:30.32\00:46:32.59
And he said, "I
guess I wasn't so great."
00:46:32.62\00:46:34.26
You know, the last
thing he remembered,
00:46:34.29\00:46:35.59
"Isn't this the great
Babylon I've created?"
00:46:35.62\00:46:37.46
He finally wakes up
and says, "Now look at me."
00:46:37.49\00:46:40.76
And he came to his senses.
00:46:40.80\00:46:43.23
Martin Luther said, God
creates from nothing and
00:46:43.26\00:46:45.93
until we become nothing,
he can do nothing with us.
00:46:45.97\00:46:49.27
It's when we humble
ourselves he will lift us up.
00:46:49.30\00:46:53.04
As long as we are
selfish and proud, it is so hard
00:46:53.07\00:46:56.31
for God to work with us.
00:46:56.34\00:46:57.58
What was the first thing Jesus
said to the religious leaders?
00:46:57.61\00:47:00.68
You pray to be seen,
you fast to be seen of man,
00:47:00.72\00:47:03.92
you give to be seen of man.
00:47:03.95\00:47:05.25
You're only worried
about what people think of you,
00:47:05.29\00:47:07.59
and you don't care
what God thinks of you.
00:47:07.62\00:47:09.99
It is the most hopeless thing.
00:47:10.03\00:47:11.36
Until we come to the place
where we can humble ourselves,
00:47:11.39\00:47:14.83
there's not much
God can do with us.
00:47:14.86\00:47:17.43
Finally, he lifts
his eyes to heaven.
00:47:17.47\00:47:21.87
You know, definition of
love, 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is
00:47:21.90\00:47:24.67
patient, love is kind, love does
not envy, it does not boast.
00:47:24.71\00:47:28.48
It is not proud."
00:47:28.51\00:47:30.75
Jesus, God is
love. He is humble.
00:47:30.78\00:47:33.62
Christ said, "He
that his greatest among
00:47:33.65\00:47:35.42
you will be your servant.
00:47:35.45\00:47:37.82
He who exalts
himself will be humbled,
00:47:37.85\00:47:39.75
but he who humbles
himself will be exalted."
00:47:39.79\00:47:45.23
If you look in 2 Chronicles
7:14, "If My people who are
00:47:45.26\00:47:50.47
called by My
name will," do what?
00:47:50.50\00:47:53.44
"Humble themselves and
pray." Then what will God do?
00:47:53.47\00:47:57.74
It starts if you want to have a
revival in your life, or in the
00:47:57.77\00:48:00.78
church, or among your people,
we gotta humble ourselves.
00:48:00.81\00:48:05.18
It wasn't until the disciples
put aside their differences
00:48:05.21\00:48:07.65
and humbled themselves.
00:48:07.68\00:48:08.98
Micah 6:8, "He has shown
you, O man, what is good;
00:48:09.02\00:48:11.49
and what does the Lord
require of you but to do justly,
00:48:11.52\00:48:14.79
to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God?"
00:48:14.82\00:48:20.16
You know, this to me
is such a powerful truth.
00:48:20.20\00:48:23.80
Even King Ahab, after he
killed Naboth, and did all these
00:48:23.83\00:48:27.44
terrible things, and persecuted
the prophets, he tore his
00:48:27.47\00:48:30.94
clothes after Elijah
pronounced judgment on him.
00:48:30.97\00:48:33.44
He wore sackcloth.
00:48:33.48\00:48:34.84
And listen to what God says
to Elijah, 1 Kings 21, verse 29.
00:48:35.48\00:48:41.58
"See how Ahab has
humbled himself before Me.
00:48:41.62\00:48:44.72
Because he has humbled himself,
00:48:44.75\00:48:47.66
I will not bring
calamity in his days."
00:48:47.69\00:48:51.63
When Rehoboam humbled himself,
God lengthened his tranquility.
00:48:51.66\00:48:56.33
The Bible says the
humble he guides in justice.
00:48:56.36\00:49:00.50
You can read 2 Chronicles
12, verse 6, "So the leaders
00:49:00.54\00:49:03.04
of Israel, the kings,
they humble themselves.
00:49:03.07\00:49:06.17
They said, 'The
Lord is righteous.'
00:49:06.21\00:49:07.91
When the Lord saw that
they humbled themselves,
00:49:07.94\00:49:10.95
the Word of the Lord
came to Shemaiah saying,
00:49:10.98\00:49:12.65
'They've humbled
themselves, therefore I will not
00:49:12.68\00:49:14.82
destroy them, but I will
give them some deliverance."
00:49:14.85\00:49:17.59
Do you want a
lengthening of your tranquility?
00:49:18.19\00:49:19.95
It's a very consistent
Bible teaching, humble yourself.
00:49:19.99\00:49:23.69
You know what's
stops evangelism?
00:49:23.73\00:49:25.63
Pride.
00:49:25.66\00:49:27.93
Ellen White says if we would
humble ourselves before the
00:49:27.96\00:49:30.17
Lord, if we would humble
ourselves before the Lord,
00:49:30.20\00:49:33.37
be kind, and courteous,
and tenderhearted, and pitiful,
00:49:33.40\00:49:36.10
there would be 100
conversions to the truth
00:49:36.14\00:49:39.34
where now there is only one.
00:49:39.37\00:49:41.94
So, let us humble
ourselves before the Lord.
00:49:41.98\00:49:44.98
Nebuchadnezzar's last words,
"The heart of the beast is taken
00:49:45.01\00:49:48.92
away and he's given
back the heart of a man."
00:49:48.95\00:49:52.09
And he says, "My reason returned
to me," in verse 36, "and the
00:49:52.12\00:49:57.33
glory of my kingdom, my honor,
my splendor returned to me.
00:49:57.36\00:50:00.63
My counselors and
nobles came to me."
00:50:00.66\00:50:02.63
He's counseling others.
00:50:02.66\00:50:04.33
"I was restored to
my kingdom and excellent
00:50:04.37\00:50:06.57
majesty was added to me.
00:50:06.60\00:50:08.54
But now I don't take the credit,
now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise,
00:50:08.57\00:50:13.27
and extol, and
honor the king of heaven.
00:50:13.31\00:50:16.28
Doesn't say, "Is
this my great Babylon?"
00:50:16.31\00:50:18.48
"All of whose works are
truth, and his ways justice.
00:50:18.51\00:50:22.58
And those who walk in
pride, he's able to put down."
00:50:22.62\00:50:26.12
And he's saying, "I'm Exhibit A.
00:50:26.15\00:50:28.29
God has given me a position of
glory, but I don't glory in it."
00:50:28.32\00:50:32.96
Nothing's more majestic
than a great king who is humble.
00:50:32.99\00:50:37.53
Now, who is the greatest
king that was the most humble?
00:50:37.57\00:50:42.00
I'll close with this verse,
Philippians 2, verse five,
00:50:42.04\00:50:46.78
"Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus,
00:50:46.81\00:50:51.61
who being in the form
of God did not consider it
00:50:51.65\00:50:54.55
robbery to be equal with God.
00:50:54.58\00:50:56.08
He's in God's form, he's
in equality with God, but made
00:50:56.12\00:50:58.95
Himself of no reputation, taking
the form of a bondservant,
00:50:58.99\00:51:03.53
and coming in
the likeness of men.
00:51:03.56\00:51:05.79
And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself
00:51:05.83\00:51:10.00
and became obedient
to the point of death,
00:51:10.03\00:51:12.70
even the death of the cross.
00:51:12.73\00:51:14.44
Because he did
this, therefore God also
00:51:14.47\00:51:16.74
has highly exalted Him."
00:51:16.77\00:51:18.44
He who humbles
himself will be exalted.
00:51:18.47\00:51:20.98
"God has highly exalted Him and
given Him a name which is above
00:51:21.01\00:51:23.45
every name, that at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow,
00:51:23.48\00:51:28.25
of those in heaven, and of
those on earth, and of those
00:51:28.28\00:51:30.72
under the earth, those
in the branches and those
00:51:30.75\00:51:33.32
under the tree, that
every tongue should confess that
00:51:33.36\00:51:36.86
Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father."
00:51:36.89\00:51:40.03
Can you say amen?
00:51:40.06\00:51:41.60
And is Christ now
proud of his glory in heaven,
00:51:41.63\00:51:44.80
or is he still humble?
00:51:44.83\00:51:46.87
He's humble still.
00:51:46.90\00:51:48.20
That was a great study
and a great story, amen?
00:51:48.24\00:51:51.71
Now, we're out of time, but
I want to remind our friends
00:51:51.74\00:51:53.78
that are watching
before we go off the air,
00:51:53.81\00:51:55.41
we have a free offer
called "The Armor of God."
00:51:55.44\00:51:57.81
We'll send it to you for free.
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You can do call, ask
for it, 866-788-3966.
00:51:59.55\00:52:04.25
Or if you want to now you
can download it by texting,
00:52:04.29\00:52:07.19
just fill in the information,
text SH101, text that to 40544,
00:52:07.22\00:52:14.66
ask for Offer
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That's a gift from us to you.
00:52:17.17\00:52:20.14
Let's close with prayer.
00:52:20.17\00:52:23.27
Father in heaven, we thank
you for this magnificent story
00:52:23.30\00:52:26.64
in the Bible that it just tells
us about the battle between
00:52:26.68\00:52:30.18
pride and humility,
what the consequences are,
00:52:30.21\00:52:33.15
and ultimately, only
you deserve the glory and
00:52:33.18\00:52:36.15
the honor as the High God.
00:52:36.18\00:52:38.39
Lord, I pray that we can learn
the lesson of Nebuchadnezzar
00:52:38.42\00:52:41.82
without having to go
through that experience.
00:52:41.86\00:52:45.23
And I pray that you'll bless
us with the mind of Christ.
00:52:45.26\00:52:48.46
Be with us in our service
that follows, please bless
00:52:48.50\00:52:51.20
the offering
we're about to receive.
00:52:51.23\00:52:53.27
And we thank you for
all of your goodness.
00:52:53.30\00:52:55.44
In Jesus's name we pray, amen.
00:52:55.47\00:52:57.81
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announcer: Amazing
Facts, "Changed Lives."
00:53:36.08\00:53:39.08
Steve Johnson: I was
heading south on Interstate 5.
00:53:46.22\00:53:48.92
This commercial come on
KFBK radio about a revelation
00:53:48.96\00:53:53.16
seminar by Amazing Facts.
00:53:53.19\00:53:55.16
I began--my chest
began to tighten up.
00:53:55.20\00:53:58.00
I began sweating profusely.
I had difficulty in breathing.
00:53:58.03\00:54:03.14
There was this big rest area
and at this time, I pulled into
00:54:03.17\00:54:06.31
there I thought, well,
maybe I'm having a heart attack.
00:54:06.34\00:54:09.34
I got out of my truck, walked
into the men's restroom there,
00:54:09.38\00:54:13.31
and put cold water on my face.
00:54:13.35\00:54:15.52
And then
finally things subsided.
00:54:15.55\00:54:17.59
A week later, again, I
heard this Amazing Facts
00:54:17.62\00:54:20.46
commercial come on the radio.
00:54:20.49\00:54:21.96
In fact, the meetings were
going to start that very night.
00:54:21.99\00:54:24.46
And again, immediately
I had these same symptoms.
00:54:24.49\00:54:28.00
I thought, you
know, this isn't my heart.
00:54:28.03\00:54:30.30
I have to go to that meeting.
00:54:30.33\00:54:32.60
And as I was going
down to Sacramento,
00:54:32.63\00:54:34.67
I decided to park and go inside.
00:54:34.70\00:54:37.97
Well, I got in and walked
into the furthermost rear seat
00:54:38.01\00:54:42.24
they had in the pew there.
00:54:42.28\00:54:44.95
And this particular evangelist,
his name was Kim Kjaer.
00:54:44.98\00:54:50.99
It was like taking one
layer off at a time of an onion.
00:54:51.02\00:54:55.02
He laid it out so perfectly
that we could all understand it.
00:54:55.06\00:54:58.23
And I was really motivated.
I couldn't believe it.
00:54:58.26\00:55:00.93
Well, I finished, I
didn't miss a meeting.
00:55:00.96\00:55:02.90
In fact, on the fifth night they
had an altar call and my knees
00:55:02.93\00:55:07.54
stood right up, and
I walked forward and
00:55:07.57\00:55:09.54
I gave my heart to Jesus Christ.
00:55:09.57\00:55:12.54
I've learned throughout
this whole thing that when you
00:55:12.57\00:55:16.38
leave the devil's
territory, he gets pretty active
00:55:16.41\00:55:19.75
and causing a lot of problems.
00:55:19.78\00:55:22.35
Well, I had the evangelists
come out, and they had prayer
00:55:22.38\00:55:25.92
with me about my business,
I would find a sick business
00:55:25.95\00:55:29.72
and make it well,
and then market it.
00:55:29.76\00:55:32.93
I finally ended up with a
business that I really enjoyed.
00:55:32.96\00:55:35.96
It was one that was
building equestrian centers.
00:55:36.00\00:55:39.50
And they said to
me, "Steve," he said,
00:55:39.53\00:55:41.54
"You know, if you're going
to really keep the Sabbath,
00:55:41.57\00:55:43.54
you've got to shut
your doors on the Sabbath."
00:55:43.57\00:55:45.84
Well, I did.
00:55:45.87\00:55:47.61
And so, I sold the business
to my brother, took me 22 years
00:55:47.64\00:55:50.65
to build that business,
and he lost it in 33 months.
00:55:50.68\00:55:55.85
My son, who was my business
partner, I've been giving
00:55:55.88\00:55:58.35
him 10% of the
business here every year.
00:55:58.39\00:56:01.32
He thought I just
fallen off the bridge.
00:56:01.36\00:56:04.76
My son didn't talk to me
for five-and-a-half years.
00:56:05.69\00:56:09.03
And then a few
other things happened.
00:56:09.06\00:56:11.10
So, I had an ex-employee
living in my guest house,
00:56:11.13\00:56:13.54
he kind of
watched after our place.
00:56:13.57\00:56:16.57
And he said, "Steve," he said,
"There's an Allied moving van
00:56:16.60\00:56:20.11
backed up to your
front door in your home."
00:56:20.14\00:56:22.34
I said, "You're kidding."
I said, "What do you mean?"
00:56:22.38\00:56:25.41
He said, "They're moving
everything out of your house
00:56:25.45\00:56:27.72
into this truck, and your wife
is out there supervising them."
00:56:27.75\00:56:31.95
And when I went home
and opened the front door,
00:56:31.99\00:56:34.12
my voice echoed in that house.
00:56:34.16\00:56:35.89
There wasn't any
furniture left anywhere.
00:56:35.92\00:56:37.79
There was one bed
left in the house.
00:56:37.83\00:56:40.76
I knew my wife was upset because
of my coming to this church,
00:56:40.80\00:56:45.17
but I had no idea that
she would move out like this.
00:56:45.20\00:56:48.07
That was a total shock to me.
00:56:48.10\00:56:50.54
It was some time there I
locked myself in the bedroom,
00:56:50.57\00:56:53.34
and I began reading the Bible.
00:56:53.38\00:56:55.21
I spent about a half a year
just every night getting home,
00:56:55.24\00:56:58.78
and I would study.
00:56:58.81\00:57:01.85
It allowed me to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:57:01.88\00:57:05.49
Well, to make a long
story short, I met Crystal,
00:57:05.52\00:57:08.89
and she was a godly woman.
00:57:08.92\00:57:11.19
That was the
Lord's doing, not mine.
00:57:11.23\00:57:13.63
And he was just
there to let me know that,
00:57:13.66\00:57:15.70
"I'm with you all the way."
00:57:15.73\00:57:17.10
Even though you're going to have
some trials, you're going to
00:57:17.13\00:57:18.93
have some hardships, I want you
to know that I'll be with you."
00:57:18.97\00:57:23.20
Because no matter what I
do know, he is my leader.
00:57:23.24\00:57:27.91
He's the leader of my marriage.
00:57:27.94\00:57:29.54
He's the leader of
everything in my life today.
00:57:29.58\00:57:32.35
That one meeting with
the Amazing Facts seminar
00:57:32.38\00:57:34.62
changed my entire life.
00:57:34.65\00:57:37.05
And to this day, I'm
still on fire for God.
00:57:37.09\00:57:40.09
I'm still
witnessing to my neighbors.
00:57:40.12\00:57:42.26
My name is Steve
Johnson, and it's because of you
00:57:42.29\00:57:45.03
that Amazing Facts
has changed my life.
00:57:45.06\00:57:47.86
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