Jesus said: "If you love Me, keep My commandments. " 00:00:01.98\00:00:05.66 Now people all over the world are turning back to God's 00:00:05.69\00:00:08.62 eternal moral law, claiming His promise to write them 00:00:08.65\00:00:12.45 in our hearts and our minds. Live from Sacramento, California 00:00:12.48\00:00:17.02 3ABN presents 00:00:17.05\00:00:19.37 The Commandments Weekend. 00:00:19.40\00:00:22.48 I want to welcome our friends who have been watching 00:00:26.18\00:00:27.80 across the country and around the world 00:00:27.83\00:00:29.40 from Washington DC, from the East Coast to the capital 00:00:29.43\00:00:33.30 of the west coast, and it is very exciting what we've 00:00:33.33\00:00:36.25 seen that has been happening as the word of God 00:00:36.28\00:00:39.11 has been shared. The Law of the Lord 00:00:39.14\00:00:41.36 is perfect, converting the soul, and we believe that power 00:00:41.39\00:00:44.57 is going to be witnessed tonight as well. 00:00:44.60\00:00:46.95 My name is Pastor Doug Batchelor, I am one of 00:00:46.98\00:00:49.97 the pastors of the Sacramento Central SDA Church. 00:00:50.00\00:00:53.58 And I'm Karen Batchelor, your wife. 00:00:53.61\00:00:56.40 And we're very happy that we could be here 00:00:56.43\00:00:59.21 to welcome those who are here in Sacramento and those 00:00:59.24\00:01:01.80 who are watching on 3ABN and around the world. 00:01:01.83\00:01:05.44 This is a special opportunity for us to gather together, 00:01:05.47\00:01:08.73 to hear what God says as Christ is lifted up through His word, 00:01:08.76\00:01:12.49 and His law. 00:01:12.52\00:01:14.48 The law is good, it is just and it's holy, 00:01:14.51\00:01:17.94 and I believe that God will honor and bless His people 00:01:17.97\00:01:21.20 as we extol His law, which is a representation 00:01:21.23\00:01:24.07 of His character. Before we begin this segment 00:01:24.10\00:01:26.71 of the program, I'd like to ask those that are here 00:01:26.74\00:01:29.67 and those who are watching if you would join us 00:01:29.70\00:01:31.76 in a word of prayer. 00:01:31.79\00:01:33.67 Father in heaven, we want to thank You 00:01:34.06\00:01:36.25 for the blessing and privilege of this technology 00:01:36.28\00:01:39.30 that makes it possible to proclaim the word of truth, 00:01:39.33\00:01:43.78 and to send the message of Jesus via satellite 00:01:43.81\00:01:47.28 and through cable and the internet, all over the planet. 00:01:47.31\00:01:51.51 Lord, we pray that through Your divine providence 00:01:51.54\00:01:53.75 You will arrange appointments where people will be here 00:01:53.78\00:01:56.75 to hear Your word this evening. 00:01:56.78\00:01:58.91 We pray that You'll be with the one who is to speak, 00:01:58.94\00:02:01.44 and pour out Your Spirit upon him in double portion 00:02:01.47\00:02:04.53 as he proclaims the truth from Your words 00:02:04.56\00:02:07.37 that were written by Your finger and spoken 00:02:07.40\00:02:10.06 by Your voice. We thank You and ask this 00:02:10.09\00:02:13.11 in Jesus' name, Amen. 00:02:13.14\00:02:16.05 I am very happy that tonight I have the privilege 00:02:16.95\00:02:19.21 of introducing one of our associates who is a name 00:02:19.24\00:02:23.12 that is known on 3ABN and also here in California. 00:02:23.15\00:02:26.82 When I say associate, I mean a California associate, 00:02:26.85\00:02:29.68 he's actually the pastor of the Fresno Central SDA Church, 00:02:29.71\00:02:34.22 and he's also the speaker of "Secrets Unsealed", 00:02:34.25\00:02:37.86 and in just a moment Pastor Steven Bohr will be 00:02:37.89\00:02:39.97 bringing the word of God on the third commandment. 00:02:40.00\00:02:43.68 But before Pastor Bohr speaks we have some special music 00:02:43.71\00:02:47.09 brought to us by our dear friend Margie Salcedo-Rice. 00:02:47.12\00:02:50.29 She'll be singing "Prepare Ye the Way". 00:02:50.32\00:02:53.95 Prepare Ye the way of the Lord, 00:03:27.82\00:03:31.65 make straight a path for Him. 00:03:31.75\00:03:36.15 For when He comes mighty things begin. 00:03:36.65\00:03:43.65 Every fountain shall be exulted 00:03:43.83\00:03:47.10 and every mountain made low, 00:03:47.13\00:03:50.50 the crooked straight, the rock places plain, 00:03:50.53\00:03:53.91 and everyone will know 00:03:53.94\00:03:58.84 that the glory of the Lord has been revealed 00:03:58.87\00:04:05.80 by the lives that are redeemed 00:04:05.83\00:04:08.67 and the hearts that are healed. 00:04:08.70\00:04:12.97 So lift up your heart and look for the Lord 00:04:13.00\00:04:16.54 our praises draw Him here. 00:04:16.57\00:04:21.46 He is ready to come, prepare ye the way 00:04:21.56\00:04:24.82 for Him here. 00:04:24.85\00:04:30.94 The glory of the Lord has been revealed 00:04:32.10\00:04:38.75 by the lives that are redeemed 00:04:38.78\00:04:41.62 and the hearts that are healed. 00:04:41.65\00:04:45.94 So lift up your hearts and look for the Lord 00:04:45.97\00:04:49.50 our praises draw Him here. 00:04:49.53\00:04:54.44 He is ready to come, 00:04:54.47\00:04:57.90 He is ready to come, prepare ye the way 00:04:57.93\00:05:04.78 for Him here. 00:05:04.81\00:05:08.10 For when He comes 00:05:08.48\00:05:11.90 mighty things begin, 00:05:11.93\00:05:15.53 prepare ye the way for the Lord. 00:05:15.56\00:05:21.66 [Audience] Amen. 00:05:26.39\00:05:28.81 Good evening. [Audience] Good evening. 00:05:37.72\00:05:40.60 It's good to see so many of you out here 00:05:40.63\00:05:43.01 in Sacramento this evening. 00:05:43.04\00:05:45.26 And it's also nice to know that there are people 00:05:45.29\00:05:47.95 from all over the world watching the special celebration 00:05:47.98\00:05:51.66 of the 10 commandments. 00:05:51.69\00:05:53.85 The assignment which I have been given, which is really exciting 00:05:53.88\00:05:57.18 to me is to speak on the 3rd commandment 00:05:57.21\00:06:01.00 of God's holy law, written with His own finger. 00:06:01.03\00:06:04.65 So I invite you to open your Bibles with me 00:06:04.68\00:06:06.45 to the book of Exodus 20:7. 00:06:06.48\00:06:14.01 It says there: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord" 00:06:17.25\00:06:23.39 "thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless" 00:06:23.42\00:06:29.28 "that taketh His name in vain. " 00:06:29.31\00:06:32.26 Now, in our study I would like to deal with 3 specific issues 00:06:32.79\00:06:37.33 concerning this commandment. 00:06:37.36\00:06:39.37 Nr. 1- I would like us to speak about the meaning 00:06:39.40\00:06:42.68 of this commandment. Secondly, we want to deal 00:06:42.71\00:06:46.11 with the breadth of this commandment, 00:06:46.14\00:06:49.65 and I want to dedicate most of the time to speaking 00:06:50.10\00:06:53.50 about the end time implications, the prophetic implications 00:06:53.53\00:06:58.54 of this 3rd commandment. 00:06:58.57\00:07:00.72 Let's talk, first of all, about the name. 00:07:01.21\00:07:04.04 You notice it says here: "Thou shalt not take the name" 00:07:04.07\00:07:07.68 "of the Lord, thy God in vain. " 00:07:07.71\00:07:10.57 Now, God's name is really a revelation of His character. 00:07:10.61\00:07:14.95 His name is an indication of who He is, 00:07:14.98\00:07:19.79 and so, along with His name goes also His reputation, 00:07:20.12\00:07:25.00 because the name is a reflection of who He is, 00:07:25.03\00:07:28.94 of His character. I would like to read 00:07:28.97\00:07:31.99 some verses where we find this clearly revealed. 00:07:32.02\00:07:36.61 Exodus 33:19 says this: 00:07:36.64\00:07:44.10 "Then He said: I will make all My goodness pass before you," 00:07:46.62\00:07:53.04 "and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. " 00:07:53.54\00:07:58.82 "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious," 00:07:59.15\00:08:01.96 "and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. " 00:08:01.99\00:08:07.17 So you notice here that God says that He's going to proclaim 00:08:07.74\00:08:10.42 His name, but what He proclaims is His goodness and the fact 00:08:10.45\00:08:14.23 that He has compassion and He is gracious, 00:08:14.26\00:08:17.34 In other words, the proclamation of His name is the proclamation 00:08:17.37\00:08:20.80 of His character. 00:08:20.83\00:08:23.27 So His name is a very serious thing because His name 00:08:23.67\00:08:26.77 is a reflection of who He is. 00:08:26.80\00:08:31.40 Now, the name of God, according to scripture, is awesome. 00:08:31.43\00:08:36.37 Notice Psalm 99:3. 00:08:36.40\00:08:41.52 Here God invites His people by saying: 00:08:42.96\00:08:45.15 "Let them praise Your great and awesome name," 00:08:45.18\00:08:50.32 "He is holy. " 00:08:50.61\00:08:53.20 Also Psalm 111:9, we're told "He sent redemption" 00:08:53.23\00:08:59.03 "unto His people, He hath commanded His covenant" 00:08:59.06\00:09:02.87 "forever. Holy and reverend is His name. " 00:09:02.90\00:09:08.66 Notice that God's name is holy, God's name is reverend, 00:09:09.15\00:09:13.59 God's name is an indication of His character, who He is. 00:09:13.62\00:09:18.53 Therefore, we must be very careful about the way 00:09:18.56\00:09:22.56 in which we use His name. 00:09:22.59\00:09:26.09 So you'll notice that in this commandment it speaks 00:09:26.61\00:09:29.21 about the name of God and then it tells us that we are 00:09:29.24\00:09:31.88 supposed to be careful about taking that name in vain. 00:09:31.91\00:09:36.70 The question is: what does the word "taking" mean, 00:09:36.73\00:09:39.77 to take His name? Well, you know when a child 00:09:39.80\00:09:43.33 is born the child takes on the family name. 00:09:43.36\00:09:48.23 I have 2 children, both of them are Bohrs: 00:09:49.29\00:09:54.33 Jennifer and Steve. In other words, when they were 00:09:54.92\00:09:58.73 born they took on the family name. 00:09:58.76\00:10:02.52 And so it is when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, 00:10:03.05\00:10:07.76 we take on the name Christian. In other words, we identify 00:10:07.79\00:10:12.92 with the bearer of the name. 00:10:12.95\00:10:15.69 And of course, the bearer of the name wants us to 00:10:15.88\00:10:20.85 reflect the meaning of that name in our lives. 00:10:20.88\00:10:25.40 When I speak in the name of the Lord, I am actually 00:10:26.80\00:10:32.77 speaking for Him because I am bearing His name, 00:10:32.80\00:10:37.23 so if I say that I'm a Christian or I'm a follower of God, 00:10:37.26\00:10:42.84 the honor of God is at stake because when I take His name 00:10:43.46\00:10:49.07 I represent Him, I speak for Him, in other words. 00:10:49.10\00:10:54.44 I'm sure you've heard the expression: 00:10:54.65\00:10:56.92 "He disgraced the family name. " 00:10:56.95\00:10:59.83 Or the expression: "That individual ruined my good name. 00:11:00.66\00:11:06.90 " In other words, when we take the name of God 00:11:07.49\00:11:10.94 we are supposed to make sure that in our lives 00:11:10.97\00:11:14.05 we reflect what that name means, what that name represents. 00:11:14.08\00:11:21.03 To take that name and to live like the Devil 00:11:21.06\00:11:25.22 would actually make God look bad, it would actually 00:11:25.78\00:11:31.68 be a reflection, so to speak, on God's character. 00:11:31.71\00:11:36.46 So we find in this commandment that we are supposed to be 00:11:36.90\00:11:41.18 very careful about taking the name of the Lord, God. 00:11:41.21\00:11:47.48 Taking it how? In vain. 00:11:48.05\00:11:51.25 Now that does that word "vain" mean? 00:11:51.77\00:11:55.14 I looked for every reference in the Old Testament 00:11:55.40\00:11:57.96 that uses this Hebrew word 00:11:57.99\00:12:00.35 and basically what the word means is using the name 00:12:00.60\00:12:07.26 in a meaningless fashion, in an empty fashion. 00:12:07.70\00:12:12.28 For example, it's used in Psalms 60:11 where we are told 00:12:12.75\00:12:17.42 that "vain is the help of man", in other words, 00:12:17.45\00:12:20.47 the help of man is useless. The word "vain" means useless. 00:12:20.50\00:12:25.80 It's used in Isaiah 1:13 where we're told that Israel 00:12:25.86\00:12:29.86 was bringing vain sacrifices, in other words, 00:12:29.89\00:12:33.40 sacrifices that had no meaning, they were meaningless, 00:12:33.43\00:12:37.32 they were useless, and probably this is the reason why 00:12:37.35\00:12:41.28 the New International Version translates this commandment 00:12:41.31\00:12:44.67 by saying: "You shall not misuse God's name. " 00:12:44.70\00:12:49.20 It means to use God's name carelessly; 00:12:49.82\00:12:53.20 to use His name without thinking. 00:12:53.23\00:12:56.11 It means using His name uselessly. 00:12:56.14\00:12:59.77 Now this commandment is very broad then. 00:13:01.29\00:13:04.98 Allow me to share with you some individual implications 00:13:05.66\00:13:10.52 of this commandment before we speak about the end time 00:13:10.55\00:13:14.03 prophetic dimensions of this commandment. 00:13:14.06\00:13:17.70 This commandment forbids people from using God's name 00:13:18.30\00:13:24.34 in profanity. It forbids using God's name 00:13:24.37\00:13:28.90 in common, ordinary conversation. 00:13:28.93\00:13:32.68 It forbids using God's name in hymns 00:13:33.77\00:13:36.72 when we're not really thinking about what we're singing. 00:13:36.75\00:13:41.06 It includes uttering prayers, 00:13:41.09\00:13:44.10 repetitious prayers where we're using God's name 00:13:44.64\00:13:48.41 but we're not really thinking about what we're saying 00:13:48.44\00:13:50.92 in our prayers. 00:13:50.95\00:13:53.14 It includes claiming the name of God, and in our lives 00:13:53.17\00:13:57.80 denying His character. It includes swearing in God's 00:13:57.83\00:14:02.01 name, say in court, and then lying; that's a reflection 00:14:02.04\00:14:06.74 on God because we're using His name to indicate 00:14:06.77\00:14:10.71 that we are telling the truth. It includes using slang words, 00:14:10.74\00:14:16.86 such as, and I'll mention them, even though we shouldn't, 00:14:17.49\00:14:22.37 such as Gee, Gosh, My God, Golly, we all get caught up 00:14:22.40\00:14:31.74 in using slang words which are really slang words 00:14:31.77\00:14:34.83 which refer to the name of God. 00:14:34.86\00:14:37.80 This commandment also involves making a vow in God's name 00:14:38.82\00:14:43.96 and now living up to our vow. It also includes blaspheming 00:14:43.99\00:14:48.39 God's name, and by the way, it also includes the fact 00:14:48.42\00:14:52.85 that no one on earth is to be called "reverend" 00:14:52.88\00:14:57.22 because in scripture it is God's name which is holy 00:14:57.25\00:15:01.88 and reverend. So this commandment 00:15:01.91\00:15:04.87 is very broad, it includes many aspects of our lives. 00:15:04.90\00:15:09.75 If we take a look at the list that I've mentioned 00:15:10.35\00:15:13.43 of violations of this commandment, I'm sure that 00:15:13.46\00:15:16.13 all of us at one point or another have been transgressors 00:15:16.16\00:15:19.11 of this commandment. It is very very broad. 00:15:19.14\00:15:23.09 So this commandment is telling us: "be careful about the way" 00:15:23.76\00:15:28.00 "in which you use God's name. Don't use it meaninglessly. " 00:15:28.03\00:15:32.87 "Don't use it in an empty fashion. " 00:15:32.90\00:15:35.56 "Make sure you think about what you're doing," 00:15:35.59\00:15:37.51 "respect His name for His name is reverend, His name is holy. " 00:15:37.54\00:15:43.21 I would like to dedicate most of my time this evening 00:15:43.96\00:15:48.89 to speak about the prophetic implications 00:15:49.11\00:15:52.83 of the 3rd commandment. 00:15:53.15\00:15:55.25 We've all noticed in the book of Revelation 00:15:55.80\00:15:58.34 that the end time crisis in this world is going to involve, 00:15:58.37\00:16:03.03 primarily, the first 4 commandments of the law of God, 00:16:03.06\00:16:08.28 what is known as the first table of the law. 00:16:08.31\00:16:11.09 For example, we know that the beast of Revelation 13 00:16:11.12\00:16:15.02 is going to demand worship. This is a violation 00:16:15.05\00:16:18.50 of the 1st commandment which says that we are only 00:16:18.53\00:16:21.84 to worship God. The 2nd commandment 00:16:21.87\00:16:26.11 is involved because there's an image of the beast 00:16:26.14\00:16:30.00 and the beast commands everyone to worship the image, 00:16:30.03\00:16:32.72 the Bible says that we're not supposed to bow down 00:16:32.75\00:16:35.35 before graven images. 00:16:35.38\00:16:39.30 We all know that it involves the 4th commandment, 00:16:39.62\00:16:43.16 primarily the 4th commandment, that's why the first angel's 00:16:43.19\00:16:46.58 message tells us that we're supposed to honor 00:16:46.61\00:16:49.05 the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the seas 00:16:49.08\00:16:51.86 and the fountains of waters. That's why the commandment 00:16:51.89\00:16:54.63 tells us: "beware of worshipping the beast and his image. " 00:16:54.66\00:16:59.91 But you know, when I was asked to make this presentation 00:17:01.53\00:17:04.74 I had to sit down for a while and think about how 00:17:04.77\00:17:08.48 the 3rd commandment is involved in the end time crisis. 00:17:08.51\00:17:13.52 We don't usually think about the 3rd commandment being involved. 00:17:13.67\00:17:17.04 Oh yes, worship, images, the Sabbath, all of those 00:17:17.07\00:17:22.43 are very clearly revealed in Revelation, but what about 00:17:22.46\00:17:25.43 the 3rd commandment of the law of God? 00:17:25.46\00:17:30.61 I'm going to share with you some very clear Biblical 00:17:32.11\00:17:35.70 testimony that this commandment is very much involved 00:17:35.73\00:17:40.48 in the final crisis. And I would like to approach it 00:17:40.54\00:17:44.23 from the perspective of the Biblical concept 00:17:44.26\00:17:47.33 of a true prophet and a false prophet. 00:17:47.36\00:17:51.07 First of all, I would like to talk about a true prophet. 00:17:52.04\00:17:56.43 A true prophet is God's mouthpiece. 00:17:56.46\00:17:59.95 In other words, a true prophet speaks in God's name. 00:18:00.69\00:18:05.57 In fact, the Hebrew word "nabi", where we get 00:18:06.00\00:18:08.41 the word prophet from, means an "announcer", 00:18:08.44\00:18:11.97 or a "declarer", and all scholars that I have read 00:18:12.00\00:18:16.60 say that he is an announcer or a declarer of God's words. 00:18:16.63\00:18:21.22 In other words, he's God's mouth piece, 00:18:21.25\00:18:23.31 he claims to speak for God. 00:18:23.34\00:18:26.40 In the New Testament the Greek word "prophetes", 00:18:26.61\00:18:30.15 where we get our word "prophet" from, 00:18:30.18\00:18:32.01 means, literally, "one who speaks for another. " 00:18:32.04\00:18:36.26 So the true Biblical prophet claims to speak 00:18:36.42\00:18:40.48 to the people in God's name. 00:18:40.78\00:18:44.90 Now, in the Old Testament we find repeated references 00:18:46.39\00:18:49.43 to prophets who claimed to speak in God's name, 00:18:49.46\00:18:53.63 but they were false prophets, and this is the ultimate 00:18:53.66\00:18:57.92 taking of God's name in vain, we're going to find, 00:18:57.95\00:19:00.35 prophetically speaking. 00:19:00.38\00:19:02.30 Notice, for example, Deuteronomy 18:20. 00:19:02.33\00:19:08.14 It says here: [text on screen] 00:19:08.87\00:19:11.71 Notice that a prophet who claims in God's name, 00:19:32.47\00:19:35.86 but is not really in tune with God, in the Old Testament 00:19:35.89\00:19:40.29 that prophet was to die. 00:19:40.32\00:19:42.71 Notice also Jeremiah 14:14, it says there: 00:19:42.74\00:19:50.94 [text on screen] 00:19:50.97\00:19:53.91 Once again, the idea of the false prophet speaking 00:20:21.20\00:20:24.94 in God's name. Now let me ask you, 00:20:24.97\00:20:28.42 is the false prophet taking God's name in vain? 00:20:28.45\00:20:31.74 Yes or no? Absolutely. 00:20:31.77\00:20:34.96 Let's read one more verse, Jeremiah 23:25, on the concept 00:20:35.55\00:20:39.54 of the false prophet, and there are many references, 00:20:39.57\00:20:42.26 particularly in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. 00:20:42.29\00:20:46.15 We're told in Jeremiah 23:25: [text on screen] 00:20:46.18\00:20:51.51 Do false prophets have dreams and visions? 00:21:06.43\00:21:09.35 They most certainly do. 00:21:09.38\00:21:11.25 Do they claim to speak in God's name? 00:21:11.28\00:21:14.16 They most certainly do. 00:21:14.19\00:21:16.26 True prophets also claim to speak in God's name. 00:21:16.29\00:21:20.47 Now here's the big question: how do you know whether 00:21:20.50\00:21:24.79 a prophet is false or whether a prophet is true? 00:21:24.82\00:21:29.27 How do you know whether a prophet is using God's name 00:21:29.52\00:21:33.65 legitimately and speaking for Him, or whether a prophet 00:21:33.68\00:21:38.64 is speaking in God's name, but is actually speaking of visions 00:21:38.67\00:21:43.71 and dreams which he has had himself, which God has not 00:21:43.74\00:21:47.89 given him; how do we know the difference? 00:21:47.92\00:21:51.71 In the book of Deuteronomy we have the answer. 00:21:52.10\00:21:55.77 Deuteronomy 13:1-5, it's a lengthy passage, 00:21:55.80\00:21:59.63 but a very important passage. Notice this: 00:21:59.66\00:22:04.75 [text on screen] 00:22:04.78\00:22:06.59 I want you to notice that this is not some prophet 00:22:10.29\00:22:12.60 from some other nation, this is someone who arises 00:22:12.63\00:22:16.11 in the nation of Israel, within Israel, 00:22:16.14\00:22:19.72 [text on screen] 00:22:19.75\00:22:21.29 Do you notice here that there are false prophets 00:22:31.00\00:22:33.33 who do signs and wonders? 00:22:33.36\00:22:35.64 Very important to remember all of these things 00:22:35.83\00:22:38.06 because in a moment we're coming to the New Testament. 00:22:38.09\00:22:41.07 [text on screen] 00:22:41.10\00:22:42.63 And now notice the litmus test, notice the synonyms: 00:23:08.28\00:23:15.56 [text on screen] 00:23:15.59\00:23:17.54 Do you notice all the synonyms we have here? 00:23:36.89\00:23:40.42 Love, fear, keep the commandments, 00:23:40.45\00:23:44.00 obey His voice, serve Him, hold fast to Him. 00:23:44.03\00:23:48.14 That's what the true prophet teaches, 00:23:48.41\00:23:51.15 now notice what the passage continues saying: 00:23:51.18\00:23:54.79 [text on screen] 00:23:54.82\00:23:56.91 So basically, a true prophet can perform signs and wonders, 00:24:22.52\00:24:28.31 but he teaches God's people, because he rises among them, 00:24:28.57\00:24:32.15 he teaches God's people to obey the commandments of God. 00:24:32.18\00:24:37.32 He teaches them to fear the Lord, to walk in His ways, 00:24:37.52\00:24:40.77 to love God. 00:24:40.80\00:24:42.51 The false prophet, on the other hand, also performs 00:24:43.06\00:24:46.90 signs and wonders, but his message is false because 00:24:46.93\00:24:51.45 he leads God's people astray from God's commandments 00:24:51.48\00:24:55.46 and from fearing God, and from loving God, 00:24:55.49\00:24:58.89 and from following His will and obeying His voice. 00:24:58.92\00:25:02.65 In other words, the test is not the signs and wonders, 00:25:02.68\00:25:05.04 the test is whether there is obedience to God's law 00:25:05.07\00:25:08.95 taught by the prophet. 00:25:08.98\00:25:11.43 I want you to notice a very interesting passage 00:25:13.03\00:25:15.54 that we find in the New Testament, 00:25:15.57\00:25:17.41 moving on to the New Testament. 00:25:17.44\00:25:20.33 Are there individuals who claim to be prophets, 00:25:21.30\00:25:25.40 who take God's name in vain? 00:25:25.43\00:25:28.13 We just noticed that in the Old Testament. 00:25:28.77\00:25:31.47 Are there prophets who use God's name, but they don't 00:25:31.50\00:25:34.17 speak in vain, with God's name in vain? 00:25:34.20\00:25:37.88 Absolutely. 00:25:38.24\00:25:39.93 Now go with me to Matthew 7:15. 00:25:40.04\00:25:44.59 We're going to look at several verses beginning with verse 15, 00:25:44.62\00:25:47.68 and there's several details that I want to underline; 00:25:47.71\00:25:50.29 please follow the train of thought. 00:25:50.32\00:25:53.54 Matthew 7:15 says: [text on screen] 00:25:53.78\00:25:59.05 What did sheep represent in the Old Testament? 00:26:05.18\00:26:09.40 Jesus. 00:26:09.77\00:26:11.77 [continues to read text] 00:26:12.20\00:26:15.99 Do you see the difference? 00:26:20.82\00:26:22.83 Outside, they're false prophets, they appear in sheep's clothing, 00:26:22.86\00:26:28.79 but they are really ravenous wolves. 00:26:28.82\00:26:32.61 Now notice Matthew 7:21, is this speaking 00:26:33.57\00:26:36.58 about false prophets of the Jeane Dixon type? 00:26:36.61\00:26:40.25 Absolutely not. 00:26:40.28\00:26:42.15 This is speaking about people who claim to follow the Lord. 00:26:42.18\00:26:46.94 Notice verse 21: [text on screen] 00:26:46.97\00:26:50.03 Are these professed Christians? 00:26:54.47\00:26:56.13 Sure, because only a professed Christian would call 00:26:56.16\00:26:58.21 Jesus "Lord, Lord. " 00:26:58.24\00:26:59.93 [text on screen] 00:26:59.96\00:27:01.70 And now notice verse 22: [text on screen] 00:27:10.72\00:27:15.52 By the way, this is speaking about the end time, 00:27:15.55\00:27:17.95 [continues to read text] 00:27:17.98\00:27:20.13 Are they false prophets? Yes they are. 00:27:29.21\00:27:32.78 Do they look like sheep outside? 00:27:33.34\00:27:35.38 Yes. 00:27:35.41\00:27:36.83 Are they really ravenous wolves? Absolutely. 00:27:37.91\00:27:41.08 Now notice: "Many will say to Me in that day:" 00:27:41.11\00:27:43.47 "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?" 00:27:43.50\00:27:46.60 Are they taking God's name in vain, yes or no? 00:27:46.63\00:27:48.74 Absolutely. 00:27:48.77\00:27:50.49 [text on screen] 00:27:50.87\00:27:53.09 Do these false prophets have what appear to be 00:28:04.54\00:28:06.96 genuine spiritual gifts? 00:28:06.99\00:28:09.73 Absolutely, just like the prophets in the Old Testament 00:28:10.02\00:28:13.75 who did signs and wonders. 00:28:13.78\00:28:16.14 Here there's a group of individuals who look like sheep 00:28:16.17\00:28:19.01 outside, inside they're ravenous wolves, they call Jesus 00:28:19.04\00:28:23.66 "Lord, Lord", they claim to speak in His name, 00:28:23.69\00:28:27.15 they perform signs and wonders, 00:28:27.18\00:28:30.02 now the big question is: why were they false if they spoke 00:28:30.95\00:28:35.57 in the name of Jesus, if they did signs and wonders, 00:28:35.60\00:28:38.07 what was the problem? 00:28:38.10\00:28:39.07 Do you remember in the Old Testament that the false 00:28:39.10\00:28:41.35 prophets were distinguished because they did not teach 00:28:41.38\00:28:43.71 God's people to obey God's holy commandments? 00:28:43.74\00:28:47.31 And to follow His voice? 00:28:47.34\00:28:49.53 And to love Him, and to fear Him, and to respect Him? 00:28:49.56\00:28:52.45 The false prophets didn't teach that, only the true 00:28:52.48\00:28:55.41 prophets, now I want you to notice verse 23, 00:28:55.44\00:28:58.28 this is a critically important verse. 00:28:58.31\00:29:00.99 Still speaking about these false prophets, it says: 00:29:01.02\00:29:04.22 [text on screen] 00:29:04.25\00:29:05.86 What characterized these false prophets? 00:29:27.50\00:29:30.44 They claimed to speak in the name of Jesus, 00:29:30.47\00:29:32.99 they claimed to cast out demons in the name of Jesus, 00:29:33.02\00:29:36.07 they performed miracles in the name of Jesus, 00:29:36.10\00:29:38.52 in other words, they were taking the name of Jesus, 00:29:38.55\00:29:40.81 but they were doing it in vain because we are told here 00:29:40.84\00:29:44.71 that they were what? They practiced lawlessness. 00:29:44.74\00:29:49.51 Do you know that there's an interesting verse that as 00:29:51.80\00:29:54.84 SDAs we have used very frequently 00:29:54.87\00:29:59.44 to speak about the definition of sin. 00:29:59.47\00:30:02.92 1 John 3:4. 00:30:03.20\00:30:05.66 What does that say? 00:30:06.50\00:30:07.80 Everyone who sins - what? 00:30:07.83\00:30:10.11 "Whosoever commiteth sin" - what? 00:30:11.27\00:30:13.60 "transgreseth also the law, for sin is a transgression" 00:30:13.63\00:30:19.42 "of the law. " Do you know that that expression 00:30:19.45\00:30:20.71 "transgression of the law" is the identical expression 00:30:20.74\00:30:24.66 that translates the word "lawlessness"? 00:30:24.69\00:30:28.35 In other words, the New King James says "lawlessness", 00:30:28.68\00:30:31.15 the King James Version says "transgression of the law", 00:30:31.18\00:30:33.83 it's the same word. 00:30:33.86\00:30:35.66 What characterizes these false prophets who speak 00:30:36.56\00:30:39.22 in Christ's name and who perform signs and wonders, 00:30:39.25\00:30:43.99 what distinguishes them from true prophets? 00:30:44.02\00:30:47.01 The fact that they practice and teach what? 00:30:47.04\00:30:50.69 They practice and they teach lawlessness. 00:30:50.72\00:30:54.69 Is this right in line with what we found 00:30:55.22\00:30:57.65 concerning the Old Testament prophets? 00:30:57.68\00:31:00.25 Those who claimed to speak in God's name? 00:31:00.28\00:31:03.16 Absolutely. 00:31:03.19\00:31:04.55 Now let's summarize what we've studied from the Old 00:31:04.92\00:31:06.80 and from the New Testament. 00:31:06.83\00:31:09.27 Matthew 7 is speaking about things that are going to happen 00:31:10.46\00:31:13.47 in the end time, right? 00:31:13.50\00:31:15.13 "Many will say to me in that day... " 00:31:15.16\00:31:18.55 Both passages in the Old Testament and the New Testament 00:31:18.98\00:31:21.37 speak about false prophets. 00:31:21.40\00:31:23.79 As we noticed in the passage in Matthew, 00:31:25.20\00:31:27.63 the false prophets come clothed in sheep's clothing, 00:31:27.66\00:31:31.61 but inside they are ravenous wolves, and they perform 00:31:31.64\00:31:36.14 signs and wonders, and what is the issue? 00:31:36.17\00:31:39.67 The issue is the law of God, 00:31:39.70\00:31:42.67 your attitude towards the law of God. 00:31:42.88\00:31:45.21 You see, it's possible for a person to claim 00:31:45.24\00:31:47.23 to be Christian, and to speak in the name of Jesus, 00:31:47.26\00:31:50.27 and to do signs and wonders and miracles, and still 00:31:50.30\00:31:53.58 not be on God's side, that is the ultimate use 00:31:53.61\00:31:57.42 of God's name in vain: to claim to speak in His name 00:31:57.45\00:32:02.74 when God has not spoken. 00:32:02.77\00:32:05.30 And by the way, what we're speaking about is extremely 00:32:05.62\00:32:09.44 important because this is dealing with the end time. 00:32:09.47\00:32:14.62 Notice the passage that continues after verse 23. 00:32:14.65\00:32:18.60 It says in verse 24: "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings" 00:32:18.63\00:32:21.84 "of Mine, and does them" - see that's what 00:32:21.87\00:32:26.15 the true prophet does - hears the words, does them - 00:32:26.18\00:32:30.84 [continues to read] 00:32:30.87\00:32:32.57 - of course, the Rock is Jesus - 00:32:35.07\00:32:36.87 [continues to read] 00:32:36.90\00:32:38.88 This is speaking about the final tribulation, 00:32:42.02\00:32:45.44 the releasing of the winds, the flooding and overflowing 00:32:45.47\00:32:49.46 of the river Euphrates in Revelation 16. 00:32:49.49\00:32:52.33 [text on screen] 00:32:52.36\00:32:54.10 What does it mean to be founded on the Rock? 00:33:03.53\00:33:05.48 "Whoever hears these words of Mine and does them. " 00:33:05.51\00:33:10.07 Now what about the other side, what about the false 00:33:11.44\00:33:13.08 prophets who use God's name, but they do it in vain? 00:33:13.11\00:33:17.24 Notice the other side of the equation, verse 26: 00:33:17.27\00:33:19.93 [text on screen] 00:33:19.96\00:33:21.57 So you have the 2 groups: those who truly have the name 00:33:39.75\00:33:43.80 of Jesus, who keep His law, and those who claim 00:33:43.83\00:33:46.92 to prophecy in the name of Jesus, but they encourage 00:33:46.95\00:33:50.89 people to break, and to transgress, and disobey 00:33:50.92\00:33:54.24 God's holy law. 00:33:54.27\00:33:55.95 You might say you have the commandments of God 00:33:57.12\00:33:59.21 and the traditions of men. 00:33:59.24\00:34:01.68 Notice in this context, Matthew 7:28,29. 00:34:01.74\00:34:08.65 The conclusion of this passage says: 00:34:09.35\00:34:11.27 [text on screen] 00:34:11.30\00:34:12.87 Do you see the contrast here? 00:34:23.43\00:34:26.19 The scribes played the role of the false prophet. 00:34:26.32\00:34:29.48 Jesus is playing the role of the true prophet. 00:34:29.51\00:34:34.02 The conflict is between the commandments of God 00:34:34.05\00:34:38.48 and the traditions of men. 00:34:38.51\00:34:41.70 Do you know that Jesus never quoted the Rabbis of His day 00:34:42.32\00:34:44.88 and age? 00:34:44.91\00:34:46.10 Every time that Jesus spoke He said: "It is written", 00:34:48.07\00:34:52.71 or "what do the scriptures say?" 00:34:52.74\00:34:55.72 I want you to go with me to Matthew 24:11,12. 00:34:57.64\00:35:06.12 This same idea of the false prophet and lawlessness. 00:35:06.15\00:35:10.74 Matthew 24:11,12 says: [text on screen] 00:35:10.77\00:35:16.03 Now notice what verse 12 says: [continues to read] 00:35:21.29\00:35:25.88 Are false prophets once again connected with lawlessness? 00:35:37.94\00:35:42.14 Absolutely, 00:35:42.17\00:35:44.04 and you'll notice that we're told that because 00:35:44.22\00:35:46.73 of lawlessness love will grow cold, 00:35:46.76\00:35:51.82 because love is the fulfilling of the law, 00:35:52.72\00:35:56.46 so if you have lawlessness you have no love. 00:35:56.49\00:36:00.29 Then I want you to notice that these false prophets 00:36:00.32\00:36:02.53 in the end time will perform signs and wonders. 00:36:02.56\00:36:06.88 Matthew 24:23,24: [text on screen] 00:36:07.95\00:36:11.80 Who's going to arise? False Christs and false prophets. 00:36:21.70\00:36:24.67 And what are the false prophets and Christs going to do? 00:36:24.70\00:36:27.35 [text on screen] 00:36:27.38\00:36:30.31 Is this in line with what the false prophets did 00:36:35.75\00:36:37.55 in the Old Testament? Yes it is. 00:36:37.58\00:36:39.99 Is it in line with what Jesus spoke about the false prophets 00:36:40.02\00:36:42.85 in Matthew 7? Absolutely. 00:36:42.88\00:36:45.27 And the context is the end time. 00:36:45.30\00:36:48.27 Now, I'd like to dedicate the rest of the time that I have 00:36:50.46\00:36:53.58 to speak about the book of Revelation. 00:36:53.61\00:36:57.11 The book of Revelation is in perfect harmony 00:36:58.42\00:37:00.75 with what we've studied from the Old Testament, 00:37:00.78\00:37:02.93 what we've studied from Matthew 7, and Matthew 24, 00:37:02.96\00:37:07.33 and the rest of the passages in the New Testament. 00:37:07.36\00:37:11.97 Notice Revelation 13:11. 00:37:12.00\00:37:18.20 It says: [text on screen] 00:37:19.47\00:37:24.42 Does that sound similar to the false prophets of Matthew 7? 00:37:33.09\00:37:38.14 Outwardly in sheep's clothing, but inside ravenous wolves? 00:37:38.17\00:37:43.49 Here it says: "2 horns like a lamb," 00:37:44.22\00:37:46.04 "but he spoke like a dragon. " 00:37:46.07\00:37:49.36 Do you know what this beast is called in Revelation 16:13? 00:37:50.25\00:37:56.31 Oh yes, I heard the answer. In Revelation 16:13 00:37:56.34\00:38:01.82 this beast that has horns like a lamb, 00:38:02.08\00:38:05.71 but speaks as a dragon, just like you have false prophets 00:38:06.91\00:38:10.22 in sheep's clothing, but they inwardly are ravenous wolves, 00:38:10.25\00:38:14.66 this beast is called "the false prophet". 00:38:14.69\00:38:19.34 Does this false prophet perform signs and wonders 00:38:22.35\00:38:25.67 in the end time? 00:38:25.70\00:38:27.44 Go with me to Revelation 13:13, speaking about this false 00:38:27.47\00:38:30.99 prophet that claims to be one thing, but really is another. 00:38:31.02\00:38:35.83 Claims to speak for Jesus, but speaks for the dragon. 00:38:35.86\00:38:39.82 It says in Revelation 13:13: "He performs great signs," 00:38:39.85\00:38:46.46 "so that he even makes fire come down from heaven" 00:38:47.41\00:38:50.09 "on the earth in the sight of men. " 00:38:50.12\00:38:53.73 Do you see the similarity between this passage 00:38:55.42\00:38:58.03 in Revelation, this concept in Revelation and Matthew 7? 00:38:58.06\00:39:01.35 And also the false prophet in the Old Testament? 00:39:01.38\00:39:05.06 You see, the book of Revelation can not be interpreted 00:39:05.09\00:39:08.26 isolated from the Old Testament and the rest 00:39:08.29\00:39:10.54 of the New Testament. 00:39:10.57\00:39:12.08 It's the culmination of previous revelation. 00:39:12.11\00:39:16.09 Just like in Matthew 7 you have false prophets, 00:39:17.93\00:39:22.08 you have the lamb in sheep's clothing, you have the wolf 00:39:22.11\00:39:28.28 speaking as a dragon, 00:39:28.31\00:39:30.25 you have signs and wonders. 00:39:30.36\00:39:32.91 Now let's talk a little bit more about this false 00:39:33.78\00:39:35.65 prophet that performs signs and wonders; 00:39:35.68\00:39:40.30 who apparently has lamblike characteristics, 00:39:41.23\00:39:45.72 but really is a dragon. 00:39:46.33\00:39:49.58 Go with me to Daniel 8:20. 00:39:50.42\00:39:55.60 Folks, we are speaking about extremely important things. 00:39:55.63\00:40:00.65 I could have dedicated the whole talk this evening 00:40:00.68\00:40:02.71 to read all of the verses where it says that individually 00:40:02.74\00:40:05.93 we're not supposed to take the name of the Lord, God, in vain, 00:40:05.96\00:40:08.27 that's very good and I went over it briefly, 00:40:08.30\00:40:10.98 but this is so critically important because 00:40:11.01\00:40:13.07 we're living in those days and we need to be able 00:40:13.10\00:40:16.02 to distinguish the false from the true. 00:40:16.05\00:40:19.63 And the false and true are distinguished by the attitude 00:40:19.88\00:40:23.10 towards God's holy law. 00:40:23.13\00:40:26.83 Notice Daniel 8:20, speaking about a ram: 00:40:26.86\00:40:32.49 [text on screen] 00:40:32.52\00:40:35.92 How many horns does a ram have? 00:40:37.99\00:40:40.94 2. 00:40:40.97\00:40:41.94 How many horns did the beast of Revelation 13 have? 00:40:41.95\00:40:44.81 2. 00:40:44.84\00:40:46.25 "They are the kings of Media and Persia. " 00:40:47.14\00:40:51.98 Now, I'm not saying that this is the same beast 00:40:52.41\00:40:54.28 as the one in Revelation 13, but I'm bringing it to view 00:40:54.31\00:40:58.03 because of what we're going to say about that beast 00:40:58.06\00:41:00.11 of Revelation 13. 00:41:00.14\00:41:01.95 What does a beast represent in prophecy? 00:41:02.11\00:41:05.80 A beast in prophecy represents a nation, 00:41:05.89\00:41:10.06 a kingdom. 00:41:11.41\00:41:12.89 What do horns represent in Bible prophecy? 00:41:13.90\00:41:17.75 Horns represent divisions of kingdoms? 00:41:18.74\00:41:24.33 You'll notice in Daniel 8, how many beasts do you have? 00:41:25.57\00:41:29.47 The ram is 1 beast, but it has 2 horns. 00:41:29.50\00:41:34.46 That means that this 1 nation is going to be composed 00:41:34.49\00:41:38.49 of how many kingdoms? 2 kingdoms. 00:41:38.52\00:41:41.89 Are you following me? 00:41:43.00\00:41:44.94 Now, with this in mind, let's go to Revelation 13 00:41:45.49\00:41:48.91 and talk a little more about this beast 00:41:48.94\00:41:51.59 with lamblike horns. 00:41:51.62\00:41:53.62 Do you know that the word "lamb" is used 29 times 00:41:54.40\00:41:57.63 in the book of Revelation. And every single time, 00:41:57.66\00:42:02.49 with this possible exception, every single time that the word 00:42:02.52\00:42:06.72 "lamb" is used, it applies to Jesus Christ. 00:42:06.75\00:42:10.70 I believe that this beast that has horns like a lamb, 00:42:10.73\00:42:14.22 actually gives the impression, or wants to give the impression 00:42:14.25\00:42:18.79 that it is a Christian power, or else you wouldn't 00:42:18.82\00:42:23.83 have 2 horns like a lamb if the lamb represents Jesus 00:42:23.86\00:42:28.62 28 times in the book of Revelation. 00:42:28.65\00:42:31.92 Of course, the big question is this: 00:42:33.76\00:42:37.13 if the horns 00:42:38.02\00:42:41.18 are Christlike, and they represent kingdoms 00:42:41.21\00:42:48.93 within 1 kingdom, in other words, the duality 00:42:50.89\00:42:55.00 of 1 kingdom, 1 nation with 2 kingdoms, 00:42:55.03\00:42:58.78 the question is: which 2 kingdoms did Jesus recognize? 00:42:58.81\00:43:03.98 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 00:43:04.70\00:43:07.71 The horns are like horns of a what? 00:43:07.74\00:43:10.67 Of a lamb. 00:43:10.70\00:43:12.20 And the lamb represents whom? 00:43:12.70\00:43:14.51 Jesus. And the horns represent? 00:43:14.54\00:43:17.18 Kingdoms within 1 kingdom. 00:43:17.21\00:43:20.61 So the question is, which 2 kingdoms did Jesus recognize? 00:43:20.64\00:43:25.84 The fact is that if you go through the New Testament 00:43:26.34\00:43:28.39 you'll discover that Jesus recognized 2 kingdoms. 00:43:28.42\00:43:32.85 He recognized the secular kingdom, the civil power; 00:43:33.15\00:43:38.48 and He also recognized the realm of the church, 00:43:39.05\00:43:41.59 the religious power. 00:43:41.62\00:43:43.44 We're all acquainted with that text in Matthew 22:21 00:43:44.08\00:43:47.43 where Jesus said: "Render therefore unto Caesar" 00:43:47.46\00:43:49.91 "what that which is Caesar's, and unto God" 00:43:49.94\00:43:51.71 "that which is God's. " Did Jesus recognize 00:43:51.74\00:43:56.64 that there are 2 kingdoms? 00:43:56.67\00:43:58.45 Absolutely. 00:43:58.48\00:44:00.00 Jesus said in John 18:36: "My kingdom is not of this world. " 00:44:01.59\00:44:07.18 But He says to Pilate: "You wouldn't be ruling" 00:44:07.21\00:44:09.11 "unless God had placed you there to rule. " 00:44:09.14\00:44:10.99 So Jesus is recognizing that He has a kingdom 00:44:11.02\00:44:13.25 which is not of this world, and at the same time 00:44:13.28\00:44:16.12 there is a kingdom that God gives to govern in this world. 00:44:16.15\00:44:21.50 Jesus, in other words, recognizes 2 kingdoms. 00:44:21.91\00:44:25.42 The question is: is there a nation in the world 00:44:25.45\00:44:29.57 that was established in recognition of these 2 kingdoms, 00:44:29.60\00:44:33.60 separate, one from another? Absolutely. 00:44:33.63\00:44:37.45 Allow me to amplify what I mean. 00:44:38.83\00:44:41.88 As we sit here in the Sacramento Central Church this evening 00:44:44.37\00:44:49.86 we are actually citizens of 2 kingdoms 00:44:50.51\00:44:53.37 in 1 country. 00:44:53.40\00:44:55.62 You say: "hows that?" 00:44:55.85\00:44:57.79 Well, right now we're sitting in church, which is God's 00:44:58.10\00:45:03.21 spiritual kingdom, and we pledged allegiance 00:45:03.24\00:45:05.79 to His kingdom, 00:45:05.82\00:45:07.36 but at the same time we're citizens of the US, 00:45:09.03\00:45:13.22 and we pledge allegiance to the American flag 00:45:13.25\00:45:16.77 if we're citizens of the US. 00:45:16.80\00:45:19.42 In other words, even though we live in 1 nation, 00:45:19.83\00:45:23.45 in that 1 nation there's a recognition that there are 00:45:23.48\00:45:27.15 actually 2 kingdoms. 00:45:27.18\00:45:30.54 The kingdom of God, which is the church, 00:45:30.90\00:45:34.54 and the kingdom of man, which is the civil government. 00:45:34.57\00:45:38.56 Are you following me? 00:45:38.59\00:45:40.51 It's no coincidence that in the 1st amendment 00:45:42.36\00:45:45.95 to the constitution of the USA 00:45:45.98\00:45:50.82 we have a recognition of 2 kingdoms in 1 nation. 00:45:50.85\00:45:57.36 You say: "How is that?" 00:45:58.44\00:46:00.59 The 1st amendment to the constitution actually guarantees 00:46:00.73\00:46:06.04 religious and civil rights. 00:46:06.07\00:46:08.82 That's 2 kingdoms. 00:46:09.67\00:46:10.96 Allow me to read you the first amendment: 00:46:10.99\00:46:14.47 "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment" 00:46:14.50\00:46:20.00 "of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" 00:46:20.03\00:46:25.28 Is that a recognition that there's a kingdom 00:46:26.27\00:46:28.75 over which the civil power has no rule? 00:46:28.78\00:46:31.86 Absolutely. 00:46:31.89\00:46:33.39 So would it be inappropriate for the government 00:46:33.42\00:46:36.46 to want to legislate, with regards to religion? 00:46:36.49\00:46:41.88 Absolutely. 00:46:42.39\00:46:44.07 But the second part of the first amendment guarantees 00:46:44.27\00:46:48.00 civil rights - the rights of the state - as citizens. 00:46:48.03\00:46:52.04 It continues saying, "or abridging" 00:46:52.07\00:46:54.66 "the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right" 00:46:54.69\00:46:57.60 "of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition" 00:46:57.63\00:47:00.33 "the government for a redress of grievances. " 00:47:00.36\00:47:04.73 In other words, within this 1 nation, the USA, 00:47:05.79\00:47:09.31 there's a clear recognition in the first amendment 00:47:09.34\00:47:11.92 that we have 2 kingdoms: the kingdom of Caesar, so to speak, 00:47:11.95\00:47:16.57 the secular kingdom, and the realm of the church 00:47:16.60\00:47:20.98 over which the secular power has no realm, 00:47:21.01\00:47:24.09 or no authority. 00:47:24.12\00:47:25.74 Are you following me? 00:47:26.70\00:47:28.64 As Adventists, many times in the past we've said 00:47:29.20\00:47:31.57 "Well, you know, the 2 horns represent 2 principles", 00:47:31.60\00:47:36.22 but then we run into trouble because if they're 2 principles 00:47:36.25\00:47:39.45 then how can you say that in Daniel 8 they're 2 kingdoms, 00:47:39.48\00:47:42.19 but in Revelation they're 2 principles? 00:47:42.22\00:47:45.80 They're really 2 principles that are based on the idea 00:47:46.19\00:47:48.56 of 2 kingdoms. 00:47:48.59\00:47:50.28 In Revelation 13, the idea, still, is of 2 kingdoms. 00:47:50.31\00:47:53.98 By the way, separate from 1 another, 2 separate horns. 00:47:54.01\00:47:58.95 Now, the book of Revelation says that this beast 00:47:59.26\00:48:03.69 that has lamblike horns is going to end up speaking 00:48:04.67\00:48:09.46 like a dragon. 00:48:09.49\00:48:12.50 Is it just possible that this nation claims to speak 00:48:12.77\00:48:15.62 in the name of Jesus, but is actually leading 00:48:15.65\00:48:19.98 God's people astray? 00:48:20.01\00:48:22.34 Is it just possible that this is the ultimate taking 00:48:25.11\00:48:27.80 of God's name in vain? 00:48:27.83\00:48:30.19 Now, if somebody might say "Pastor Bohr, that's not" 00:48:31.70\00:48:34.20 "happening in the US, this weekend the churches" 00:48:34.23\00:48:37.07 "are celebrating 10 commandments weekend. " 00:48:37.10\00:48:41.26 "Then were supposed to keep the 10 commandments," 00:48:41.80\00:48:45.09 "so how is it that you say that within the US" 00:48:45.12\00:48:47.61 "you have these 2 principles, and some day these 2 principles" 00:48:47.64\00:48:50.45 "are going to be forgotten, 2 Christ like principles," 00:48:50.48\00:48:53.14 "and this country's going to speak as a dragon?" 00:48:53.17\00:48:58.19 "How do you say that?" 00:48:58.22\00:49:00.41 Well, the fact is folks, that the scripture teaches 00:49:00.44\00:49:04.40 that God has given 10 commandments, 00:49:04.43\00:49:08.59 and scriptures tells us that whoever tramples on 1, 00:49:08.62\00:49:11.94 tramples on them all. 00:49:11.97\00:49:14.44 Notice James 2:10, it says: "For whoever shall keep" 00:49:15.72\00:49:21.13 "the whole law, and yet stumble in 1 point," 00:49:21.16\00:49:25.59 "he is guilty of all. " 00:49:25.62\00:49:30.00 So it doesn't have to be that this nation, through it's 00:49:31.38\00:49:35.09 religious leaders, would say: "You have to trample on all" 00:49:35.12\00:49:37.91 "of the law of God to be the false prophet", 00:49:37.94\00:49:40.11 it would be enough to trample on just one. 00:49:40.14\00:49:44.06 Correct? 00:49:44.72\00:49:46.28 Absolutely. 00:49:46.31\00:49:48.33 Now let me exemplify what I mean. 00:49:48.36\00:49:51.49 In the US now, there are 2 sides in the political debate: 00:49:53.60\00:49:58.91 there's the left and there's the right. 00:49:58.94\00:50:02.65 And it's interesting that the left, generally speaking, 00:50:03.58\00:50:06.01 not everyone, but most of the people on the left 00:50:06.04\00:50:09.20 want to redefine the 7th commandment; 00:50:09.23\00:50:13.49 they want to redefine marriage. 00:50:14.73\00:50:17.99 They want to change the commandment that speaks 00:50:18.53\00:50:22.44 about marriage. 00:50:22.47\00:50:24.61 But on the other hand, those who are on the right 00:50:26.23\00:50:30.84 also believe that one of the commandments has been changed, 00:50:31.49\00:50:36.85 which commandment is that? 00:50:36.88\00:50:38.96 The 4th commandment. 00:50:38.99\00:50:41.57 Even those both of these commandment are creation 00:50:41.60\00:50:43.98 institutions because God made marriage before sin, 00:50:44.01\00:50:48.53 and God made the Sabbath before sin. 00:50:48.56\00:50:51.54 And, by the way, both of them, in scripture, are symbols 00:50:51.57\00:50:55.94 of the relationship between God and His people. 00:50:55.97\00:50:59.87 God says He is the husband, the church is the bride. 00:50:59.90\00:51:02.67 See, it's a symbolic representation of 00:51:02.70\00:51:04.92 the relationship between God and His people. 00:51:04.95\00:51:08.09 And the Sabbath is the sign between God and His people. 00:51:08.12\00:51:12.12 So it's no coincidence that today there's an attempt 00:51:12.15\00:51:15.43 to destroy both of these commandments 00:51:15.46\00:51:17.67 from both sides of the political spectrum. 00:51:17.70\00:51:20.41 If I might wax bold for a few moments, 00:51:20.44\00:51:24.28 but one side is not any more guilty than the other side. 00:51:25.37\00:51:29.11 What difference is there between redefining and changing 00:51:29.14\00:51:32.26 the 7th commandment, or redefining and changing 00:51:32.29\00:51:36.18 the 4th commandment? 00:51:36.21\00:51:38.25 There really is absolutely no difference. 00:51:38.66\00:51:43.81 And so, the book of Revelation speaks about this ultimate 00:51:45.26\00:51:49.69 taking of God's name in vain. The false prophet 00:51:49.72\00:51:54.31 claiming to speak in God's name, 00:51:54.90\00:51:57.95 having 2 horns like a lamb, 00:51:58.77\00:52:01.87 the recognition of 2 kingdoms within 1 nation, 00:52:03.18\00:52:07.40 these 2 kingdoms separated from one another, 00:52:07.52\00:52:11.11 but ultimately speaking like a dragon. 00:52:11.14\00:52:15.24 I'm going to mention something that I saw on TV, 00:52:16.24\00:52:21.46 this was on a Christian broadcasting network. 00:52:21.49\00:52:26.11 I was watching, November 13, 2001, 00:52:28.22\00:52:31.56 in Arizona, and there was an individual who was giving 00:52:32.59\00:52:38.99 his testimony about how God had led in his life. 00:52:39.02\00:52:46.09 And he said this: "Before I was a Christian" 00:52:49.27\00:52:54.42 "I had visions of myself preaching in stadiums" 00:52:55.88\00:53:00.18 "and before thousands of people. " 00:53:00.48\00:53:03.99 That was before he was a Christian. 00:53:04.58\00:53:06.99 Then he said this: "In the last 12 months" 00:53:07.02\00:53:12.66 "I have been having some new dreams and visions," 00:53:12.69\00:53:17.20 "some amazing dreams. " 00:53:19.85\00:53:22.83 "I have been seeing fire, I have seen myself in stadiums" 00:53:23.79\00:53:29.84 "where literal fire was falling from heaven. " 00:53:29.87\00:53:33.96 "The glory of God is about to be revealed visibly. " 00:53:34.09\00:53:38.81 And then he referred to the Day of Pentecost, 00:53:40.09\00:53:44.48 and the experience of Elijah on Mt. Carmel, 00:53:44.51\00:53:46.92 and the Pillar of Fire in the wilderness, 00:53:46.95\00:53:50.03 to say that this was what was going to happen 00:53:50.06\00:53:54.27 as he preached in huge stadiums before thousands 00:53:54.82\00:53:58.14 and thousands of people. 00:53:58.17\00:54:00.52 But this same individual teaches that we are supposed 00:54:01.88\00:54:07.72 to keep Sunday holy, 00:54:07.75\00:54:11.65 in honor of the resurrection of Jesus. 00:54:12.93\00:54:16.46 Does the book of Revelation speak about the false prophet 00:54:18.03\00:54:20.69 bringing fire down from heaven in the sight of men? 00:54:20.72\00:54:24.19 I know I'm speaking boldly, 00:54:24.22\00:54:26.72 but it's important that we have these things in mind. 00:54:27.50\00:54:31.41 Because in the book of Isaiah 4:1 we're told 00:54:31.44\00:54:34.99 that in the last days 00:54:35.02\00:54:37.47 7 women will lay hold of 1 man. 00:54:42.10\00:54:45.12 Of course, women represent churches: 00:54:45.54\00:54:47.43 7- totality - 00:54:47.46\00:54:50.33 and they will lay hold of 1 man. 00:54:50.54\00:54:52.97 They will say: "We will eat our own bread. " 00:54:53.00\00:54:57.08 "We will garb ourselves with our own clothing," 00:54:58.69\00:55:03.13 "only let Your name be called upon us," 00:55:04.16\00:55:10.78 "let us be called by Your name. " 00:55:10.81\00:55:14.97 And that man, of course, if Jesus. 00:55:15.55\00:55:18.76 I praise God that the book Revelation tells us 00:55:19.53\00:55:22.97 that there's going to be a faithful remnant. 00:55:23.00\00:55:27.28 A faithful remnant who does not have the name 00:55:27.31\00:55:31.50 on the lips, who does not have the name of God, 00:55:31.53\00:55:36.04 the name of Christ, on the lips, 00:55:36.07\00:55:39.12 but who has the name of Christ 00:55:39.53\00:55:42.96 in the forehead. 00:55:43.74\00:55:46.34 Revelation 14:1, it speaks about a group, 00:55:47.00\00:55:50.13 the 144,000, which are those who will be alive 00:55:50.16\00:55:52.77 when Jesus comes. 00:55:52.80\00:55:54.56 And we're told that these individuals were standing 00:55:55.00\00:55:58.35 with the lamb on Mt. Zion. 00:55:58.38\00:56:01.03 And we're told that they had the seal of God 00:56:03.26\00:56:07.07 in their forehead. 00:56:07.10\00:56:09.37 I praise God that God is going to have a group of people 00:56:09.90\00:56:12.57 in this world, who, because they love the Lord, 00:56:12.60\00:56:16.70 will obey all of the commandments, 00:56:16.73\00:56:19.31 who will teach everyone in the world to keep 00:56:19.34\00:56:22.22 God's commandments, to preach them, 00:56:22.25\00:56:26.98 not from Capital Hill, 00:56:27.41\00:56:29.43 not from the Supreme Court, 00:56:31.44\00:56:33.91 but in the pulpits of the churches, 00:56:34.15\00:56:37.32 and that that law might not be written on stone, 00:56:37.35\00:56:42.15 but that law will be written on the heart. 00:56:42.18\00:56:46.13 Jesus said that the mouth speaks from the abundance 00:56:46.99\00:56:52.63 of the heart. 00:56:52.66\00:56:56.10 So if Jesus is in our heart, our mouth will speak 00:56:56.13\00:57:00.73 what's in our heart. 00:57:00.76\00:57:02.81 We will not take the name of Jesus in vain, 00:57:03.08\00:57:07.16 but we will use the name of Jesus reverently, 00:57:07.54\00:57:11.08 and the greatest reverence that we can show for Jesus 00:57:11.11\00:57:15.92 is the fact that we teach people that we are supposed 00:57:15.95\00:57:18.88 to obey His commandments because Jesus said: 00:57:18.91\00:57:22.40 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. " 00:57:22.43\00:57:26.91 Father in heaven, we thank you for the time that we've 00:57:27.42\00:57:29.16 been able to spend together. 00:57:29.19\00:57:31.39 We ask, Father, for the guidance of your Holy Spirit, 00:57:31.42\00:57:35.17 and that You truly might write Your law in our hearts 00:57:35.20\00:57:37.36 and in our minds, we pray in Jesus' name, Amen. 00:57:37.39\00:57:41.76 [Music for Credits] 00:57:41.79\00:57:43.73