Welcome back. I'm glad
you've joined us for this series
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called Three Cosmic Messages.
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We've been unfolding
the prophetic messages
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of the book of Revelation...
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especially the messages of
Revelation chapter 14 verses 6
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to 12 that discuss God's
last message for humanity.
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In that first angel's message
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we have a call
to come to Christ.
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A call to the
everlasting gospel:
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the gospel of His grace & power.
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The gospel which
provides for us forgiveness.
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The gospel which
provides for us pardon and mercy
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and changes our lives.
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The angel says: "Fear
God... " That's obey God,
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reverence God, respect God.
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Obey Him in service.
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Keep His commandments.
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And then it says:
"Give glory to Him"
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in our lifestyles... in whatever
we think and whatever we do.
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We do that in light
of the judgment hour.
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The verse says
in Revelation 14:7
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"Saying with a
loud voice: 'Fear God;
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give glory to Him, for the hour
of His judgment has come. ' "
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This is an urgent, end-time
message for all humanity
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to prepare for
the coming of Jesus.
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Then there is a call
to worship the Creator.
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In the great controversy
between good and evil
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the great issue is over worship.
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The second angel's
message calls us to flee
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from what the Bible
calls spiritual Babylon.
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Babylon in the Bible
is a term used to describe
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in the book of
Revelation spiritual apostasy,
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error, falsehood, and deception.
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As a result of the rejection
of the first angel's message
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the world has drunk of
the wine cup of Babylon
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and has entered into
falsehoods and deception.
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God calls us to truth.
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The third angel's message
is a warning against the beast
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and the mark of the beast.
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You may have
wondered about that.
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We're going to
explore it in this session
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and in the next one. Let's pray.
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Father in heaven,
thank you so much for Jesus!
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Thank you for His
grace and His mercy.
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Thank you for these messages
of warning that are messages
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of encouragement. Give
us hope and encouragement
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as we study and open our eyes
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so we can see
marvelous things from Your Word.
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In Christ's name, Amen.
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My topic in
this presentation is:
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We divided this into two parts
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because it's such a
vitally important topic.
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Some time ago I was
reading the healthcare section
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in the NBC news, and this
title captured my attention:
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FDA approves
computer chip for humans.
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I was then interested
in the first sentence:
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Medical milestone
or privacy invasion?
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What was that all about?
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The question was:
is this computer chip
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that's planted in one's
wrist to get medical information
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is that really an
invasion of privacy?
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There are some people who
believe in certain conspiracies
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who believe that that
chip planted beneath the skin
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is going to detect
information for the government
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and that has to do
with the mark of the beast.
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That radiofrequency is
picked up by a scanner.
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It only can deal with a small
amount of information today
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but there are companies
that are working on enlarging
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that amount of information
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so if you have that biochip
implanted your medical info
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and really everything about you
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can be stored in an
amazingly small amount of space
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in a computer database.
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Does this have something to
do with the mark of the beast?
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Does this have
something to do eventually
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with the rise of the
antichrist and enforced worship?
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It's fascinating when you
take a look at all the different
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ideas about the
mark of the beast.
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Some have the idea
that this is information
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stored beyond our
medical records in a computer.
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But there are other people
who believe that this idea
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of the mark of the beast has to
do with black police helicopters
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from the U.N.
landing in America.
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Some people believe it
has to do with barcodes
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on cans that are
scanned at the grocery store.
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Other people believe it
has to do with strange numbers
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on the dollar bill. You
know one of the funniest ones
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is for many years I was
the speaker of It Is Written
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television, and one
day a lady wrote to me.
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And she said: "Pastor Mark!
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I'm sending you a new
tie. " Now I'm always thankful
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for a new tie. But then
she said: "The reason I am
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is I looked at the
pattern on your old tie
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and it had 666 on the pattern
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and I didn't want you to be
wearing the mark of the beast. "
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Well let me assure you that the
issue of the mark of the beast
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is not a pattern on my tie,
your tie, or a pattern on some
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ladies' dress. It is
much more beyond that.
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It's more than
mystic ideologies.
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It's more than weird beasts.
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What is the central
issue in this whole subject
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of the mark of the beast?
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Because once you
understand the foundation,
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once you understand the
basic essence of what it is,
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everything else
will fall in place.
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Let's go back to
the book of Revelation
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and these three messages
- three cosmic messages -
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that lead us to a
deeper commitment to Christ
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and an
understanding of divine truth
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in earth's final conflict.
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You'll recall that the
first angel flies in mid heaven.
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He does not float... he flies.
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It's an urgent, swift message
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carried to the
ends of the earth.
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The very essence of
the first angel's message
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is a call to
worship the Creator.
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And in that very expression
where it says: "Worship the One
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who made heaven, earth, the
sea and the springs of waters"
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that phrase is a quote
from the fourth commandment:
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"Remember the Sabbath
Day to keep it holy. "
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Why? "For in six days the
Lord created heaven and earth
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and the sea and
all that in them is. "
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So John quotes the
fourth commandment -
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the Sabbath commandment -
that is an appeal to worship
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the Creator. So this
first angel's message,
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this message of eternal destiny
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about worshiping the Creator,
has something to do with
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the seventh-day Sabbath.
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Now when you look,
though, at verse 8 it says:
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Babylon: false religion.
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In the Bible wine
represents doctrine.
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Fermented wine
represents false doctrine.
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So Babylon - a
fallen religious system -
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passes around the wine
cup of her false doctrine.
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People are inebriated with that
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and they fail to
understand or comprehend
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the first angel's message...
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the message of
the gospel of Christ,
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the message of
dependence on Christ,
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the message of
obedience to Christ,
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the message of the
second coming of Christ,
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the message about
worshiping the Creator
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and the Bible Sabbath. A
third angel flies and it says
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in Revelation 14 verse 9:
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Now you remember in verse 7
it said: "If anybody worships
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the Creator... "
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So here you have another
class in contradistinction
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to those that worship the beast.
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Here you have another class who
obediently worship the Creator.
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How are they described?
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So the message
of the three angels
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comes to a focal
point... it comes to a climax
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with a body of believers
who do not worship the beast
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but who worship the Creator.
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And this body of believers
who worship the Creator God
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observe His commandments
including the symbol of creation
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which is the
Sabbath commandment.
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Notice the contrast:
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So here we have
outlined the basic issues
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in the great controversy
between good and evil.
00:10:10.87\00:10:12.57
The basic issues in
this cosmic conflict,
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this intergalactic
struggle, this star-wars drama.
00:10:15.94\00:10:20.45
A rebel angel
rebelled against God in heaven.
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He challenged God's authority...
disobeyed God's law.
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He came to Eden;
tempted Adam and Eve
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by saying: "You
don't have to obey. "
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And down through the
ages this rebel angel,
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this being of
dazzling brightness,
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has deceived men and
women into thinking obedience
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was unnecessary.
This is a cosmic struggle
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over worship, and God
will have an end-time people
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who are loyal to Him in the
face of the greatest opposition
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and the fiercest persecution
in the history of the world.
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This is what the mark of
the beast issue is all about.
00:11:00.89\00:11:03.46
It's about where
is our allegiance.
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It's about where is our loyalty.
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The mark of the beast
issue is about the authority
00:11:08.50\00:11:12.30
of Christ and
worshiping the Creator.
00:11:12.50\00:11:15.54
And the sign of His creative
authority is the commandment
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that says:
"Remember the Sabbath Day"
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in spite of a decree that
says according to Revelation 13
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that "no man can buy or sell. "
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In spite of persecution,
in spite of oppression
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God will have a group of people
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that through His
power will be obedient.
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And the scripture says:
"Here are they that keep the
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commandments of
God and... " What?
00:11:39.33\00:11:41.86
"they have the faith of Jesus. "
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They worship the Creator and
they do not worship the beast.
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And really when you actually
look at the book of Revelation
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there are only one of
two choices at end time.
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There is no middle
ground; there is no neutrality.
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Revelation calls us to a choice.
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Revelation calls
us to a decision.
00:12:00.82\00:12:03.08
Revelation calls us to get
off the fence of mediocrity
00:12:03.28\00:12:07.02
and neutrality. It is
either "I worship the Creator"
00:12:07.22\00:12:10.23
or "I worship the beast. "
God is doing everything He can
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to lead men and women
from the falsehood to truth.
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From the worship
of human idolatries
00:12:19.93\00:12:24.11
and human
ideologies to His Word.
00:12:24.31\00:12:27.21
God is doing everything He can
00:12:27.41\00:12:29.24
sending His Holy
Spirit to your heart.
00:12:29.44\00:12:31.65
Leading you to deeply
sense the truths of His Word.
00:12:32.71\00:12:37.95
God is doing everything He can
00:12:38.35\00:12:40.66
to lead us back to
the truths of Scripture.
00:12:40.86\00:12:43.46
He has sent His Holy Spirit.
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He brings
conviction to our hearts.
00:12:46.56\00:12:48.90
He reveals truth to our minds.
00:12:49.10\00:12:51.27
He illuminates the darkness
with the light of His Word.
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In fact, Psalm 119:105 says:
00:12:56.20\00:12:58.31
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
00:12:58.51\00:13:00.98
and a light unto my path. "
00:13:01.18\00:13:02.51
The light of truth
is shining upon you
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as you've watched these
presentations. It's no accident.
00:13:05.08\00:13:09.08
God in the divine drama
of destiny has brought you
00:13:09.28\00:13:12.89
to this place to
understand His Word,
00:13:13.09\00:13:15.52
to have a deeper
appreciation for Christ,
00:13:15.72\00:13:18.53
to have a deeper
appreciation for the cross,
00:13:18.73\00:13:21.36
to understand what it
means to be saved by grace:
00:13:21.56\00:13:25.03
to be delivered from the grip
of sin as well as the penalty
00:13:25.23\00:13:31.17
for a broken law.
God's Word speaks to us.
00:13:31.37\00:13:35.41
His grace-filled
Word - His Word of love
00:13:35.61\00:13:39.18
and gentleness - appeals to us
00:13:39.38\00:13:41.52
to make a decision to
step out from the majority.
00:13:41.72\00:13:45.02
Because if we
conform to the majority today
00:13:45.22\00:13:48.49
because it's easy to do
that one day we will accept
00:13:48.69\00:13:52.53
the mark of the beast because
we want to be able to buy
00:13:52.73\00:13:56.10
and we want to be able to sell
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.67
and we don't want the
persecution and the oppression.
00:13:58.87\00:14:01.40
Now notice what the Bible says.
00:14:01.60\00:14:03.61
It says they "keep
the commandments of God
00:14:03.81\00:14:05.74
and they have
the faith of Jesus. "
00:14:05.94\00:14:07.68
What is the faith of Jesus?
00:14:08.08\00:14:10.45
It is not OUR faith that carries
us through the crisis ahead.
00:14:18.39\00:14:22.02
It is Jesus' faith.
It is not OUR strength
00:14:22.22\00:14:25.53
that carries us
through the crisis ahead.
00:14:25.73\00:14:27.40
It is the faith of
Jesus that takes us through
00:14:27.60\00:14:31.20
these dark periods ahead.
00:14:31.40\00:14:33.17
In this cosmic
struggle between good and evil
00:14:33.37\00:14:37.14
it is Christ living in
us, Christ sustaining us,
00:14:37.34\00:14:41.21
Christ strengthening
us, Christ empowering us.
00:14:41.41\00:14:44.71
It is this trust in
Jesus that takes us through
00:14:44.91\00:14:48.45
so that one day we
stand on the sea of glass
00:14:48.65\00:14:51.72
and we don't say: "I am
worthy because I made it through
00:14:51.92\00:14:55.02
the great crisis! " We sing:
00:14:55.22\00:14:57.09
We live in His
honor; we live in His glory.
00:15:05.27\00:15:08.80
We live in His power
00:15:09.00\00:15:10.54
and we live FOR the One
that created heaven and earth
00:15:10.74\00:15:14.68
and the sea and the
fountains of waters.
00:15:14.88\00:15:16.48
So when we worship on Sabbath
00:15:24.25\00:15:26.86
in harmony with
the Creator's power
00:15:27.06\00:15:29.89
it is an
acknowledgement of the Creator.
00:15:30.09\00:15:31.89
We are actually worshiping
Jesus Christ, who, according to
00:15:32.09\00:15:36.43
Ephesians 3:9 was the
active agent in creation.
00:15:36.63\00:15:40.50
So the call to
worship the Creator
00:15:40.70\00:15:43.10
is a call to worship Jesus.
00:15:43.30\00:15:45.17
And the call to remember the
Sabbath is a call to remember
00:15:45.37\00:15:48.61
Jesus as the Creator in
opposition to the beast power.
00:15:48.81\00:15:52.88
It's at the very
heart of a titanic struggle.
00:15:59.19\00:16:02.22
It's at the very heart
of the great controversy
00:16:02.42\00:16:04.53
between good and evil.
00:16:04.73\00:16:06.63
The Sabbath is an oasis
in the desert of this world.
00:16:07.50\00:16:11.13
In a world that has largely ac-
cepted evolutionary hypothesis.
00:16:11.53\00:16:17.07
In a world that believes
that we evolved from lower
00:16:17.31\00:16:20.78
forms of live... from
some primeval slime...
00:16:20.98\00:16:24.31
that we came
together by accident.
00:16:24.51\00:16:26.92
in THIS WORLD the
Sabbath becomes an oasis.
00:16:27.12\00:16:30.45
We rest in His love
and His power and His care.
00:16:30.65\00:16:34.62
We come to the Creator who
has formed us and shaped us.
00:16:34.82\00:16:38.09
We sense that we're not
some speck of cosmic dust.
00:16:38.29\00:16:41.56
We sense that we are
not alone in the universe.
00:16:41.76\00:16:45.13
We sense that we're not a
random collection of atoms but
00:16:45.33\00:16:49.40
He created us; He fashioned us;
He cares for us; He loves us!
00:16:49.60\00:16:53.07
THIS is the essence
of the great controversy
00:16:53.27\00:16:56.08
between good and evil.
00:16:56.28\00:16:57.61
We are created by God!
We are sons and daughters
00:17:00.82\00:17:04.52
of God. We are
connected by a common creation
00:17:04.72\00:17:08.79
to one another,
and by that creation
00:17:08.99\00:17:11.39
we are united to
our heavenly Father.
00:17:11.59\00:17:13.83
We are twice
Christ's: we are His by creation
00:17:14.03\00:17:17.30
and we are His by redemption.
00:17:17.50\00:17:19.33
He created us
and He redeemed us.
00:17:19.53\00:17:22.54
Therefore Satan challenges it
00:17:27.28\00:17:29.34
because Satan knows if he
can do away with the Sabbath
00:17:29.54\00:17:32.55
he can do away with the
authority of Christ as Creator
00:17:32.75\00:17:35.92
and there is no
basis for worship at all.
00:17:36.12\00:17:38.32
Because if we evolved
and we are products of chance
00:17:38.52\00:17:41.79
why worship God at all?
00:17:41.99\00:17:44.36
So the Sabbath
becomes that central figure
00:17:44.56\00:17:48.20
in this battle
between good and evil,
00:17:48.40\00:17:50.97
between Christ and Satan.
00:17:51.13\00:17:52.60
It's the issue in the conflict
over the mark of the beast.
00:17:52.80\00:17:57.51
These committed followers of
Jesus... Remember? Here are they
00:17:57.71\00:18:01.38
that do what? "Keep
the commandments of God. "
00:18:01.58\00:18:03.81
Here are they that
have "the faith of Jesus. "
00:18:04.01\00:18:06.38
These committed followers
of Jesus who not only have
00:18:06.58\00:18:09.55
faith IN Jesus but they
have the faith what? OF Jesus.
00:18:09.75\00:18:15.02
Now what is the faith of Jesus?
00:18:15.22\00:18:16.89
When Jesus is hanging on
the cross with a crown of thorns
00:18:17.09\00:18:20.80
upon His head with
blood running down His face
00:18:20.96\00:18:23.53
with nails in His hands
00:18:23.73\00:18:25.83
and Peter has denied Him
and Judas has betrayed Him
00:18:26.03\00:18:30.51
and His own people have turned
their backs and forsaken Him
00:18:31.01\00:18:34.91
and the disciples
have forsaken Him and fled
00:18:35.11\00:18:38.01
darkness enshrouds that
cross. The thunder crashes,
00:18:38.21\00:18:42.48
the lightning flashes,
and Jesus hangs there alone.
00:18:42.68\00:18:46.29
But He reaches
out and says: "Father,
00:18:46.49\00:18:49.09
into Thy hands I
commend My spirit. "
00:18:49.29\00:18:51.06
What is the faith of Jesus?
00:18:51.26\00:18:52.99
And in the days ahead
when every earthly support
00:18:57.07\00:19:01.60
is cut off... in the days ahead
00:19:01.80\00:19:04.47
when there is
oppression and persecution,
00:19:04.67\00:19:07.48
when we cannot buy or sell
based on Rev. 13's prophecy,
00:19:07.64\00:19:12.11
in the days ahead we,
too, trust. We hang on
00:19:12.31\00:19:16.58
in the darkness, we
hang on in the persecution.
00:19:16.79\00:19:19.72
We hang on in imprisonment;
we hang on in the face of death
00:19:19.92\00:19:23.56
because we believe that one day
Jesus will come and deliver us.
00:19:23.76\00:19:28.63
What is the faith of Jesus?
00:19:28.83\00:19:30.17
It is the quality of
Christ's faith living in us
00:19:30.37\00:19:33.54
in which we trust Him and
do not betray Him in that time.
00:19:33.74\00:19:39.27
So what is the faith of Jesus?
00:20:18.81\00:20:20.88
It is that rest;
it is that trust;
00:20:21.08\00:20:24.19
it is that confidence; it
is that security in the Father.
00:20:24.39\00:20:27.92
Christ by faith
trusted the Father.
00:20:28.32\00:20:32.89
He gives us that
faith to take us through
00:20:33.09\00:20:36.90
the trying times ahead.
00:20:37.10\00:20:39.33
How will we be victors when ev-
ery earthly support is cut off?
00:20:50.05\00:20:53.48
How will we survive?
00:20:53.68\00:20:55.35
Just as by faith
Christ was victor
00:20:55.55\00:20:58.59
we hang on by faith.
00:20:58.79\00:21:00.89
When our eyes cannot see
our hearts still can believe.
00:21:01.09\00:21:04.03
When all around
us there is darkness
00:21:04.43\00:21:07.40
by faith we can
pierce that darkness
00:21:07.60\00:21:10.20
and know that
although we cannot see Him
00:21:10.40\00:21:13.03
He can see us!
00:21:13.23\00:21:14.74
And He's still there
to strengthen, to guide,
00:21:14.94\00:21:17.24
and to encourage us.
00:21:17.44\00:21:18.77
... that will get us
through the final crisis.
00:21:32.45\00:21:35.86
And that, my friend,
is incredibly good news!
00:21:36.06\00:21:38.76
... because it says to us that
God WILL have a group of people
00:21:48.50\00:21:53.21
who have the quality of faith
- that gift by God to them -
00:21:53.41\00:21:57.91
that enables them to
hang on in the crisis
00:21:58.11\00:22:00.78
and obediently they
keep His commandments.
00:22:00.98\00:22:03.08
Christ is living within them
00:22:23.20\00:22:25.41
and they speak of His love
and His goodness and His grace
00:22:25.61\00:22:28.54
and His mercy.
00:22:28.74\00:22:30.08
This prophecy tells us
that Satan will do everything
00:22:47.76\00:22:52.73
possible to destroy and wipe
out every vestige of goodness
00:22:52.93\00:22:58.57
on earth. But thank God
he did not destroy Christ
00:22:58.77\00:23:03.75
on the cross, and on the
cross Christ came forth victor.
00:23:03.95\00:23:08.05
Jesus hung on by faith,
00:23:08.25\00:23:10.92
and God's people
in the name of Jesus,
00:23:11.12\00:23:14.49
because of Jesus, through Jesus,
00:23:14.69\00:23:17.63
by Jesus' grace; in Jesus' power
00:23:17.83\00:23:20.93
will, too, hang on by faith
and be victorious & triumphant.
00:23:21.13\00:23:26.27
Now the devil has
two major strategies:
00:23:26.47\00:23:28.87
deception and force.
00:23:29.07\00:23:30.94
In the Garden of Eden he
came to Eve as a great deceiver.
00:23:31.71\00:23:35.94
Down through the centuries
he's used deception and force.
00:23:36.34\00:23:40.45
The devil is a liar
and the father of lies
00:23:40.65\00:23:44.55
and the devil is a murderer.
In fact, in the book of John
00:23:44.75\00:23:48.39
the 8th chapter the 44th
verse I read these words:
00:23:48.59\00:23:53.73
Jesus says: "You are
of your father, the devil,
00:23:54.53\00:23:57.17
and the desires of
your father you want to do.
00:23:57.37\00:23:59.50
He was a murderer
from the beginning
00:23:59.90\00:24:01.87
and does not stand in the truth.
00:24:02.07\00:24:04.67
He is a liar and
the father of lies. "
00:24:04.87\00:24:07.08
Now look, friend...
this is the devil's strategy:
00:24:07.28\00:24:09.94
the devil will
either try to deceive you
00:24:10.95\00:24:13.72
with his lies or, if
he cannot deceive you,
00:24:13.92\00:24:17.82
he'll force,
coerce, and pressure you
00:24:18.02\00:24:21.16
to yield to his commands.
00:24:21.36\00:24:23.36
He's done it
down through the ages
00:24:23.56\00:24:25.46
and he will do it at end time...
00:24:25.66\00:24:27.80
only at end time
it's going to intensify.
00:24:28.00\00:24:30.70
He's going to use human agents
as he has down through the ages.
00:24:30.90\00:24:35.27
You remember in
the book of Genesis
00:24:35.67\00:24:39.34
God told Cain and Abel
each to offer an offering.
00:24:39.74\00:24:43.78
Abel obeyed God; Cain disobeyed.
00:24:44.75\00:24:47.88
And Cain viciously,
angrily killed his brother.
00:24:48.08\00:24:53.25
Again, a human
agent that Satan used.
00:24:53.46\00:24:57.43
He deceived him, and then
this human agent used force
00:24:57.63\00:25:01.16
in the context
of that deception.
00:25:01.36\00:25:03.16
Down through the ages
this has always been true.
00:25:03.37\00:25:06.00
In fact, Jesus
said in John 16 verse 2:
00:25:06.20\00:25:09.20
"the time is coming... "
00:25:09.40\00:25:10.74
Jesus predicted that
there would be periods of time
00:25:10.77\00:25:13.94
of great persecution
for the people of God.
00:25:14.14\00:25:16.64
Jesus said that
to the disciples.
00:25:21.28\00:25:24.42
They experienced persecution.
Most of those disciples
00:25:24.62\00:25:27.56
died a martyr's death.
00:25:27.76\00:25:29.99
Jesus predicted
that that would happen.
00:25:30.96\00:25:33.13
Down through this
period called the Dark Ages
00:25:33.33\00:25:35.70
church and state united.
00:25:35.90\00:25:38.27
And any time you have a
union of church and state
00:25:38.57\00:25:41.00
there is the possibility
- strong possibility -
00:25:41.20\00:25:44.97
of religious intolerance, bigo-
try and oppression that follows.
00:25:45.17\00:25:50.28
A good example of that is what
happened during the Dark Ages...
00:25:50.48\00:25:53.48
this 1,260-year
period that we studied
00:25:53.68\00:25:57.25
when church and state united
00:25:57.45\00:25:59.55
and those that did not go
along with the church powers
00:25:59.75\00:26:02.86
were persecuted.
00:26:03.06\00:26:04.43
Here there was a
group called the Waldenses.
00:26:04.83\00:26:07.73
They were
Bible-believing Christians.
00:26:07.93\00:26:09.83
They lived in northern
Italy and southern France.
00:26:10.03\00:26:13.40
And as they fled
back into those mountains
00:26:13.80\00:26:16.64
they were oppressed and
persecuted for their loyalty
00:26:16.84\00:26:20.64
to God's Word.
00:26:20.84\00:26:22.28
Now what's a colporteur?
00:26:26.05\00:26:27.42
It's one who takes literature
and gives it away or sells it.
00:26:27.62\00:26:30.79
"to spread the gospel news
00:26:30.99\00:26:32.75
that salvation is a
gift of God's love. "
00:26:32.95\00:26:35.02
So these Waldenses - these
Bible-believing Christians -
00:26:35.22\00:26:37.99
lived far back in the
mountains of northern Italy
00:26:38.19\00:26:41.53
and southern France.
00:26:41.73\00:26:43.10
They shared the Word of God.
00:26:43.30\00:26:45.93
When they were
hunted and tracked down
00:26:46.13\00:26:48.80
they were often persecuted.
00:26:49.00\00:26:50.34
And the soldiers actually
set fire in front of the cave,
00:27:00.98\00:27:05.19
smoked them out, and 3,000 died.
00:27:05.39\00:27:07.92
I have actually
climbed into this very cave
00:27:08.12\00:27:11.59
and we have sung there a
great hymn: A Mighty Fortress
00:27:11.79\00:27:15.83
Is Our God: A
Bulwark Never Failing.
00:27:16.03\00:27:18.43
And we recounted the story
of these faithful men, women,
00:27:18.63\00:27:23.00
and children who
indeed died for their faith.
00:27:23.20\00:27:26.14
They copied Scripture
in those mountain retreats
00:27:26.34\00:27:29.94
and sent their young
people with the Scripture hidden
00:27:30.15\00:27:33.72
in their long
robes down into Europe
00:27:33.92\00:27:36.45
and a mighty revival took place.
00:27:36.65\00:27:38.62
What did Jesus say?
00:28:02.64\00:28:03.98
He said: "They will kill
you and think... " John 16:2...
00:28:04.01\00:28:08.02
"that they are
doing God a service. "
00:28:08.22\00:28:10.72
Down through the
ages Satan has used
00:28:11.52\00:28:14.92
various
entities and human beings
00:28:15.12\00:28:18.39
to persecute the people of God.
00:28:18.59\00:28:20.23
But the light of
truth has shown brightly.
00:28:20.43\00:28:24.10
Sometimes
flickered... almost dimmed...
00:28:24.30\00:28:26.30
but it shone brightly. And
God has always had a people
00:28:26.50\00:28:29.37
that have been
loyal and faithful to Him.
00:28:29.57\00:28:31.24
And He will have
that people at end time.
00:28:31.44\00:28:34.04
It is the final link in
this chain of oppression.
00:28:42.42\00:28:46.35
... that unless men and women
believe and accept the beast
00:28:51.89\00:28:57.57
power's teachings that they
will not be able to buy or sell.
00:28:57.73\00:29:01.67
There'll be an economic boycott
if they do not have the mark.
00:29:01.87\00:29:06.57
Did you notice the
significance of that statement?
00:29:48.62\00:29:51.19
Those who have step by
step yielded to worldly demands
00:29:51.39\00:29:56.83
and customs. We do not walk
from godliness to worldliness
00:29:57.03\00:30:01.26
in one swoop
generally... it is step by step.
00:30:01.46\00:30:04.63
What is the devil
tempting you with to lead you
00:30:05.03\00:30:10.14
step by step... slowly,
imperceptibly... from Christ?
00:30:10.34\00:30:16.14
What is God leading
you to surrender to Him
00:30:16.54\00:30:21.38
and say: "Lord, I don't
want anything between my soul
00:30:21.58\00:30:23.95
and my Savior. "
"Lord, if this displeases You,
00:30:24.15\00:30:26.52
it may seem so small but it
may be the noose around my neck
00:30:26.72\00:30:29.99
that strangles
out my spirituality. "
00:30:30.19\00:30:32.29
"Lord, I don't want to step
by step yield to worldly customs
00:30:32.49\00:30:36.20
and demands. "
00:30:36.40\00:30:38.17
God will have a group of people
00:30:38.37\00:30:40.47
who respond to His message
00:30:40.67\00:30:43.00
of the last days
of earth's history.
00:30:43.20\00:30:45.01
A message that we're
living in the judgment hour.
00:30:45.21\00:30:47.58
A message to
prepare for His coming.
00:30:47.78\00:30:50.01
A message of deep spirituality
that transforms the life.
00:30:50.41\00:30:56.15
We need not fear what is coming
00:30:59.29\00:31:01.79
because we can
be secure in Christ.
00:31:01.99\00:31:04.16
But the three angel's
messages are messages of love.
00:31:04.36\00:31:08.30
These three cosmic messages
come from the heart of God
00:31:08.50\00:31:12.83
who wants us saved in His king-
dom to live with Him forever.
00:31:13.03\00:31:17.27
We can be one of that
group in Revelation 14 verse 12
00:31:17.47\00:31:21.44
that we read about:
00:31:21.64\00:31:22.98
... and not accept the author-
ity, oppression, deception,
00:31:45.60\00:31:49.77
lies, of the beast power.
00:31:49.97\00:31:52.51
They will one day
stand on the sea of glass
00:31:52.71\00:31:55.64
and sing in Revelation 15:3:
00:31:55.84\00:31:57.91
They will sense one day
that it has been worth it all.
00:32:02.52\00:32:07.16
They've been through
a period of darkness;
00:32:07.36\00:32:08.76
they've been through
a period of oppression.
00:32:08.96\00:32:10.29
They've been through a period
where nobody could buy or sell.
00:32:10.69\00:32:13.76
They faced a death decree.
00:32:13.96\00:32:15.66
But because of
their trust in Jesus,
00:32:15.86\00:32:18.10
because of Jesus'
faith living in their hearts,
00:32:18.30\00:32:20.94
because they've
been charmed by His love
00:32:21.14\00:32:24.64
and His love has
motivated their obedience
00:32:24.84\00:32:27.74
it will be written of
them: "Here are they that keep
00:32:27.94\00:32:30.48
the commandments of God. "
And one day they will sing:
00:32:30.68\00:32:33.65
In spite of persecution,
00:32:36.62\00:32:38.95
in spite of oppression,
00:32:39.15\00:32:40.49
in spite of economic boycott,
00:32:40.62\00:32:42.59
in spite of decrees
00:32:42.79\00:32:44.39
we, through Your grace,
have stood! "Great and marvelous
00:32:44.59\00:32:49.36
are Your ways, O God,
00:32:49.56\00:32:51.40
because through Your grace and
by Your power we are victors. "
00:32:51.60\00:32:55.20
Now you might ask the question
00:32:55.40\00:32:57.04
and we introduce it
in this presentation
00:32:57.24\00:32:59.94
to develop it
further in the next:
00:33:00.14\00:33:01.54
Let's go directly
and take a look at it.
00:33:05.31\00:33:07.58
We have seen that the
issue in the mark of the beast
00:33:13.29\00:33:15.79
is an issue over worship:
00:33:15.99\00:33:17.33
worshiping the Creator
or worshiping the beast.
00:33:17.36\00:33:19.69
We've seen that that
finds it's focal point
00:33:19.89\00:33:22.03
in a group of people
who have the faith of Jesus
00:33:22.23\00:33:24.10
and keep the
commandments of God.
00:33:24.30\00:33:26.10
But what is this beast power?
00:33:26.50\00:33:28.67
The Bible would not
simply mention the beast without
00:33:28.87\00:33:31.71
identifying the beast.
00:33:31.91\00:33:33.24
So we go to
Revelation 13 verses 1 and 2.
00:33:33.27\00:33:35.88
Revelation 14 in the
third angel's message
00:33:36.08\00:33:39.55
describes the beast and its
mark but it doesn't identify it.
00:33:39.75\00:33:44.72
Because that identification
is found in the chapter before:
00:33:44.92\00:33:47.72
Revelation 13.
00:33:47.92\00:33:49.26
Now we pause there.
00:34:12.61\00:34:14.32
In the book of Daniel
chapter 7 you have four beasts:
00:34:14.68\00:34:18.02
a lion, a bear, a
leopard, and a dragon.
00:34:18.22\00:34:21.06
This is a composite beast
00:34:21.46\00:34:23.83
that follows those
four great empires:
00:34:24.03\00:34:26.13
Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
00:34:26.33\00:34:28.60
Now notice the Bible says
00:34:29.00\00:34:30.63
that: "On his head
he has ten horns. "
00:34:30.83\00:34:34.64
Well these horns, of
course, represent the divisions
00:34:35.04\00:34:37.57
of the Roman Empire.
00:34:37.77\00:34:39.37
But the next
identifying phrase is the key:
00:34:39.57\00:34:42.41
So whoever the beast
is that follows Babylon,
00:34:48.05\00:34:51.52
that follows Medo-Persia,
00:34:51.72\00:34:53.29
that follows
Greece, that follows Rome,
00:34:53.49\00:34:55.56
that follows the
break-up of the Roman Empire...
00:34:55.76\00:34:57.13
whoever he is he gets his
authority from the dragon.
00:34:57.33\00:35:02.60
Now, who is that dragon
00:35:02.80\00:35:05.23
that would give
him his authority?
00:35:05.43\00:35:06.94
Well, Revelation 12:9 tells you.
00:35:07.14\00:35:10.41
Now notice: the
devil is the great dragon
00:35:22.25\00:35:25.45
because he destroys and
he is the serpent because
00:35:25.65\00:35:28.62
he deceives. But
notice: it identifies
00:35:28.82\00:35:31.49
who this great dragon is
00:35:31.69\00:35:34.10
that gives the
authority to that beast power.
00:35:34.30\00:35:37.63
What does it call him?
00:35:37.83\00:35:39.17
He's called the devil and Satan.
00:35:39.20\00:35:41.14
But the devil always
works through an earthly power.
00:35:41.34\00:35:46.21
The devil does
not work in a vacuum.
00:35:46.61\00:35:49.24
He works through
an earthly power.
00:35:49.44\00:35:50.78
Do we learn anything
in Revelation chapter 12
00:35:59.49\00:36:03.89
about who the dragon
really was working through?
00:36:04.09\00:36:08.70
We do! In Revelation chapter 12
00:36:09.10\00:36:11.83
the Bible says the dragon tried
"to destroy the Man Child. "
00:36:12.03\00:36:14.80
Satan worked through
pagan Rome to destroy Christ
00:36:15.00\00:36:19.41
when He was born.
Herod passed a decree
00:36:19.61\00:36:21.78
that male children
under 2 would be killed.
00:36:21.98\00:36:24.48
Satan stalked
Jesus all of His life.
00:36:25.35\00:36:27.88
Roman soldiers
nailed Jesus to the cross.
00:36:28.28\00:36:31.35
Roman soldiers guarded His tomb.
00:36:31.75\00:36:34.12
So in Revelation
chapter 12 the dragon
00:36:34.52\00:36:37.66
primarily represents Satan
00:36:37.86\00:36:39.79
but it represents Satan
working through pagan Rome.
00:36:40.00\00:36:42.96
So whoever the beast
power is of Revelation 13
00:36:43.60\00:36:48.47
the dragon, pagan Rome
who Satan works through,
00:36:48.67\00:36:52.74
gives to that beast power
the seat of its authority.
00:36:52.94\00:36:56.24
Who did pagan Rome give
the seat of its authority to
00:36:57.08\00:37:01.45
when the pagan Roman
Empire was falling apart?
00:37:01.65\00:37:03.92
Remember what it says
in Revelation 13 verse 2:
00:37:04.12\00:37:06.79
When the Roman
Empire was falling apart
00:37:15.33\00:37:17.57
Constantine recognized
that he had to move his capitol.
00:37:17.73\00:37:21.30
And so he decided to move it
00:37:21.70\00:37:23.84
to what we now call Istanbul
00:37:24.04\00:37:27.11
but it was named after
Constantine. In those years
00:37:27.81\00:37:31.31
in Turkey called Constantinople.
00:37:31.51\00:37:33.42
But there's a problem.
00:37:33.82\00:37:35.15
When you move your capitol
00:37:35.45\00:37:38.02
to leave a vacancy in Rome
00:37:38.22\00:37:41.02
would have been
fatal to the Empire.
00:37:41.22\00:37:43.46
So who usurped? Who took over?
00:37:43.86\00:37:48.46
Who received the
throne of Constantine,
00:37:48.66\00:37:52.30
the seat of the
pagan Roman government?
00:37:52.50\00:37:54.94
Professor Labianca of
the University of Rome
00:38:07.68\00:38:11.35
who spent a lifetime studying
the history of Rome said this:
00:38:11.55\00:38:15.76
Absolutely amazing statement!
00:38:36.68\00:38:39.01
Historically you've got Babylon.
00:38:39.31\00:38:41.75
Then you've got Medo-Persia;
then you've got Greece;
00:38:41.95\00:38:45.35
then Rome; then the
break-up of the Roman Empire.
00:38:45.55\00:38:47.66
Constantine shifts his
empire to Constantinople.
00:38:47.92\00:38:51.79
Vacancy... and
upon that vacant throne
00:38:51.99\00:38:55.23
the popes arise. So
the beast power then
00:38:55.43\00:38:58.50
is not an individual.
It is a power that rises
00:38:58.70\00:39:02.00
out of Rome in the papal power.
00:39:02.20\00:39:04.64
Now Arthur P.
Stanley, a famous lecturer on
00:39:04.84\00:39:07.98
the history of the eastern
church wrote in 1884, p. 197
00:39:08.18\00:39:12.11
of his book:
00:39:12.31\00:39:13.65
There are numerous
identifying characteristics
00:39:20.46\00:39:24.23
of the beast power
there in Revelation 13.
00:39:24.43\00:39:29.00
We're going to introduce
a couple of those today
00:39:29.40\00:39:31.70
and then further on that
in our next presentation.
00:39:31.90\00:39:35.47
The first
identifying mark is this:
00:39:35.67\00:39:38.07
It grows out of Rome, and
the seat of its government
00:39:46.25\00:39:50.29
has been given by pagan Rome.
00:39:50.49\00:39:52.62
That clue - that
first identifying mark -
00:39:52.82\00:39:55.62
is clearly outlined both
in the Bible and in history.
00:39:55.82\00:40:00.56
But then we go on.
Revelation 13 verse 3 and 5:
00:40:00.76\00:40:04.30
Remember the conflict
between good and evil?
00:40:25.72\00:40:28.19
You remember Revelation
14:7 "worship the Creator? "
00:40:28.39\00:40:31.49
Revelation 14:9.. "Do
not worship the beast. "
00:40:31.69\00:40:34.76
Revelation 14:12: "Here are
they that keep the commandments
00:40:34.96\00:40:38.03
of God. " And
worshiping the beast has to do
00:40:38.23\00:40:41.74
with the counter sign
to worshiping the Creator:
00:40:41.94\00:40:44.84
the counter sign...
the counterfeit Sabbath...
00:40:45.04\00:40:47.48
rather than the
true seventh-day Sabbath.
00:40:47.68\00:40:50.65
So the issue is worship.
00:40:50.85\00:40:52.68
So what then is
Revelation 13 describing?
00:40:52.88\00:40:56.25
It's describing a power
that would rise out of Rome
00:40:56.45\00:40:59.49
and that would become a
"Catholic" or a universal
00:40:59.69\00:41:03.93
system of worship.
00:41:04.13\00:41:05.76
Now let me assure you:
we're not here to condemn
00:41:05.96\00:41:09.76
any system. I personally
was brought up in a lovely
00:41:09.96\00:41:14.17
Roman Catholic home.
00:41:14.37\00:41:15.70
Worshiped on the altar with
priests for many many years.
00:41:15.80\00:41:18.77
Never knew anything about
these three cosmic messages.
00:41:18.97\00:41:23.31
But as I began to
understand Bible prophecy,
00:41:23.51\00:41:26.45
began to understand
the overwhelming truth
00:41:26.65\00:41:30.62
of Scripture,
began to understand
00:41:30.82\00:41:33.39
the messages of these 3 angels
00:41:33.59\00:41:35.82
and God's appeal, His last-day
appeal to worship the Creator
00:41:36.02\00:41:40.13
and not worship the beast,
00:41:40.33\00:41:41.66
I sensed the call
of God to my heart.
00:41:41.70\00:41:44.40
You may be sensing the
call of God to your heart.
00:41:44.80\00:41:47.30
We're living on the
knife edge of eternity.
00:41:47.50\00:41:51.44
Living in what the Bible
calls "the judgment hour. "
00:41:51.84\00:41:54.51
And Jesus is making an appeal
to you to follow the Creator.
00:41:54.91\00:41:58.85
This system would be a
worldwide system of worship.
00:41:59.35\00:42:03.05
But the Bible goes on: a third
identifying characteristic.
00:42:03.25\00:42:05.72
We'll study the
42 months next time.
00:42:11.69\00:42:13.46
But I want to take a
look at what this means:
00:42:13.66\00:42:15.26
"A mouth speaking great
things and blasphemies. "
00:42:15.46\00:42:17.50
It becomes a power
00:42:28.21\00:42:30.88
that leads us back
really when you think about this
00:42:31.08\00:42:35.78
back to the rebellion in heaven.
00:42:35.98\00:42:37.82
When Lucifer rebelled in heaven
00:42:38.02\00:42:40.39
what did Lucifer
rebel over in heaven?
00:42:40.59\00:42:43.83
The authority of God.
00:42:44.03\00:42:45.79
What did Lucifer
rebel over in heaven?
00:42:45.99\00:42:48.43
The commands of God.
00:42:48.63\00:42:49.96
A created being did not
want to worship the Creator.
00:42:50.17\00:42:54.00
And so again you have
that conflict over worship
00:42:54.20\00:42:57.31
exactly like will happen in the
last days of earth's history.
00:42:57.51\00:43:00.74
But with Jesus
there is no force.
00:43:08.98\00:43:13.39
With Jesus there is no coercion.
00:43:13.59\00:43:16.69
Let me make it plain to you.
00:43:17.09\00:43:18.63
The Bible describes three
angels flying in mid heaven.
00:43:19.13\00:43:24.43
They are God's
last-day message for humanity.
00:43:24.93\00:43:27.84
The first angel
flies in mid heaven.
00:43:28.24\00:43:31.57
It says: "I saw another
angel flying in mid heaven with
00:43:31.77\00:43:34.34
the everlasting
gospel. " This angel who flies
00:43:34.54\00:43:38.01
leads us from all human folly,
00:43:38.21\00:43:42.35
from all human works,
00:43:42.55\00:43:45.05
leads us to come to Jesus.
00:43:45.25\00:43:47.82
To accept Him by grace; to
allow Him to change our lives.
00:43:48.49\00:43:53.46
This first angel leads us
00:43:54.50\00:43:56.56
to reverence or respect God.
00:43:57.67\00:44:00.27
To obey Him. To desire to
do whatever He wants us to do.
00:44:00.47\00:44:05.17
This first angel leads
us to give glory to God
00:44:05.97\00:44:09.84
in our lives. This first angel
leads us to sense we're living
00:44:10.05\00:44:14.45
in the judgment
hour. This first angel
00:44:14.65\00:44:17.05
points us to the
second coming of Christ.
00:44:17.25\00:44:20.12
The second coming of Christ is
mentioned throughout Scripture.
00:44:20.52\00:44:24.13
In fact, the Bible talks about
the second coming of Christ
00:44:24.33\00:44:27.30
at least 1,500 times.
00:44:27.50\00:44:29.13
In the Old Testament, for every
prophecy on the first coming
00:44:29.53\00:44:34.04
of Christ there are eight
on the second coming of Christ.
00:44:34.24\00:44:36.71
Throughout the New
Testament every single author
00:44:37.11\00:44:39.74
talks about the
second coming of Christ.
00:44:39.94\00:44:42.81
The book of
Revelation comes to a climax
00:44:43.21\00:44:46.21
leading us to be ready
for that day when Jesus comes.
00:44:46.41\00:44:50.69
The whole purpose of
the first angel's message
00:44:50.89\00:44:53.79
is to get an end-time
people ready for His appearing.
00:44:53.99\00:44:57.73
The first angel's message
calls us back to true, genuine
00:44:58.13\00:45:03.03
worship of the Creator.
00:45:03.23\00:45:04.93
The second angel's message:
"Babylon is fallen! Is fallen! "
00:45:05.13\00:45:09.10
leads us from the
falsehoods of this world.
00:45:09.30\00:45:12.81
And this message
we're talking about now
00:45:13.01\00:45:15.21
on the mark of the
beast discusses the very heart
00:45:15.41\00:45:19.88
of the controversy
between good and evil.
00:45:20.08\00:45:21.88
The beast uses force;
the beast uses coercion.
00:45:22.08\00:45:27.76
The beast uses
falsehoods; the beast uses lies.
00:45:27.96\00:45:31.69
Our God is a God of freedom.
00:45:32.69\00:45:35.50
He is a God that
appeals to us through His Word.
00:45:35.70\00:45:39.50
He is a God that appeals
to the highest consciousness
00:45:39.70\00:45:42.97
of the brain. He is a
God that reveals truth.
00:45:43.17\00:45:46.44
And truth speaks to our hearts.
00:45:46.84\00:45:50.31
Truth transforms our lives.
00:45:50.51\00:45:52.95
Truth changes us
and makes us over again.
00:45:53.15\00:45:56.32
Jesus said in
John 14 "I am the Way,
00:45:56.52\00:46:00.12
the Truth, and the Life. "
00:46:00.32\00:46:01.66
Jesus is the way of salvation.
00:46:01.69\00:46:03.56
Jesus' truth
illuminates the darkness.
00:46:03.76\00:46:07.26
And Jesus is the Life. He
is the One who is an example
00:46:07.46\00:46:11.90
for us. The whole issue
with the mark of the beast
00:46:12.10\00:46:14.70
is not to follow man,
not to follow his traditions.
00:46:14.90\00:46:18.37
Not to follow his authority;
not to follow his opinion.
00:46:18.57\00:46:22.08
It is to follow Jesus and be
committed to Jesus and His Word.
00:46:22.28\00:46:26.85
God's people in the
last days of earth's history
00:46:31.22\00:46:34.62
are motivated not
because they cannot buy or sell.
00:46:34.82\00:46:38.73
They're not motivated by the
material things of this world.
00:46:38.93\00:46:42.16
If the materialism of
this world attracts you,
00:46:42.36\00:46:45.87
if the things of
this world strangle out
00:46:46.07\00:46:49.97
your love for Christ today,
00:46:50.17\00:46:51.77
if the things of
this world enamor you,
00:46:51.97\00:46:54.64
if the things of
this world charm you,
00:46:54.84\00:46:57.08
if the things of this
world have captured your love,
00:46:57.28\00:47:00.42
then it will be easy then to
receive the mark of the beast.
00:47:00.62\00:47:05.02
If you feel pressured
by friends to do something
00:47:05.42\00:47:09.79
that you know is not in
harmony with God's will,
00:47:09.99\00:47:12.59
if you feel coerced by others,
00:47:12.79\00:47:15.20
if you cannot stand alone,
00:47:15.40\00:47:17.50
if the crowd and the cry
of the crowd attracts you
00:47:17.70\00:47:21.80
and stimulates you
and therefore you yield
00:47:22.00\00:47:25.51
your conscientious
conviction for the crowd,
00:47:25.71\00:47:28.94
how will you stand in the
days of the mark of the beast?
00:47:29.14\00:47:32.85
You see, the whole
issue is an appeal...
00:47:33.05\00:47:36.28
an appeal to
worship Christ supremely.
00:47:36.48\00:47:39.09
An appeal to
worship Christ completely.
00:47:39.29\00:47:41.29
An appeal to worship
Christ totally and absolutely.
00:47:41.49\00:47:45.36
"Thou wilt grant to me
or give me the path of life.
00:47:55.57\00:47:59.37
Thou wilt lead me
into pleasures forevermore"
00:47:59.57\00:48:02.34
the Psalmist says.
00:48:02.54\00:48:03.88
Jesus says in
John 10:10 "I have come
00:48:03.91\00:48:07.28
and I have come that they might
have life more abundantly. "
00:48:07.48\00:48:10.12
The beast offers us a barrage.
00:48:10.85\00:48:14.19
The powers of this
world offer us simply tawdry
00:48:14.39\00:48:19.53
trinkets when Jesus
wants to offer us Himself...
00:48:19.73\00:48:23.23
the pearl of great price.
00:48:23.43\00:48:24.93
Are you a truth seeker?
00:48:25.13\00:48:28.77
Some time ago the story is told
00:48:28.97\00:48:32.44
of a young man
coming to Socrates.
00:48:32.84\00:48:35.91
And this young man
said to Socrates: "Socrates,
00:48:36.11\00:48:39.08
you're a brilliant scholar.
You're a deep philosopher.
00:48:39.28\00:48:43.28
Socrates, I want to know
00:48:43.69\00:48:46.55
your secret of finding truth. "
00:48:46.76\00:48:50.63
Socrates said: "Come with me. "
00:48:51.03\00:48:52.59
He took the young man.
They walked through the streets
00:48:52.79\00:48:56.23
of Athens. They
came there to the port.
00:48:56.43\00:49:00.87
As they came to the port
they walked out into the water.
00:49:01.80\00:49:05.31
It was a beautiful day.
00:49:05.51\00:49:06.84
The sun was shining...
puffy white clouds in the sky.
00:49:07.04\00:49:11.35
Deep blue sky.
Socrates kept walking.
00:49:11.75\00:49:14.48
The young man said: "All I
wanted to do was find truth.
00:49:14.68\00:49:16.28
What's going on here? "
00:49:16.48\00:49:17.82
They came out to the
water about up to their chests.
00:49:17.89\00:49:20.26
Socrates said to the man:
"Put your hands on your head. "
00:49:20.46\00:49:22.92
The man did.
Socrates took his hands
00:49:23.12\00:49:25.29
and he put them on the
man's head, pushed the man under
00:49:25.49\00:49:27.23
the water. The man
came up: "ah-ha, ah-ha... "
00:49:27.43\00:49:29.56
Pushed him down
again. He came and
00:49:29.76\00:49:31.33
he said: "All I wanted
to do was find truth! "
00:49:31.53\00:49:32.97
And Socrates said:
00:49:33.37\00:49:34.77
"When you want to find
truth as much as you wanted
00:49:34.97\00:49:39.14
that breath of fresh
air come and talk to me
00:49:39.34\00:49:43.41
and I'll reveal to you
the secret of finding truth. "
00:49:43.61\00:49:47.78
You know Jesus speaks to you
00:49:48.18\00:49:51.12
and He says: "Do you
have a heart longing? "
00:49:51.52\00:49:54.92
"Has the television special
so attracted your attention
00:49:55.32\00:49:59.09
you have little time
to study God's Word? "
00:49:59.29\00:50:02.43
"Have the things of time for you
00:50:02.83\00:50:05.93
crowed out the
things of eternity? "
00:50:06.13\00:50:10.61
Jesus is speaking to
you. His people find their
00:50:10.81\00:50:15.64
greatest joy, their highest
delight in worshiping Him.
00:50:15.84\00:50:19.78
When Christ appeals to you
00:50:20.18\00:50:22.42
would you like to say:
"Jesus, open my eyes? "
00:50:22.62\00:50:25.12
"I long to know Your truth. "
00:50:25.52\00:50:27.29
"Open my eyes that I
can see Your truth. "
00:50:27.69\00:50:30.33
"Open mine ears so I
can hear Your Word. "
00:50:31.19\00:50:33.80
"Jesus, all I want is to worship
the Creator of the universe.
00:50:34.20\00:50:38.80
To worship the
One that lives for me,
00:50:39.30\00:50:43.41
that died for me,
that intercedes for me,
00:50:43.61\00:50:46.71
that's coming again for me. "
00:50:46.91\00:50:48.78
Listen as Charles sings that
wonderful song Open mine eyes
00:50:49.18\00:50:53.52
that I can see glimpses
of truth... illumine me.
00:50:53.72\00:50:58.09
Open my eyes
00:51:01.79\00:51:04.49
that I may see
00:51:04.69\00:51:08.20
glimpses of truth
00:51:08.60\00:51:11.33
Thou hast for me.
00:51:11.53\00:51:14.84
Place in my hand
00:51:15.14\00:51:18.17
the wonderful key
00:51:18.37\00:51:21.44
that shall unclasp
00:51:21.64\00:51:24.21
and set me free.
00:51:24.41\00:51:29.68
Silently now
00:51:29.98\00:51:33.02
I wait for Thee.
00:51:33.22\00:51:36.79
Ready, my God,
00:51:36.99\00:51:39.93
Thy will to see.
00:51:40.13\00:51:43.87
Open my eyes,
00:51:44.27\00:51:47.40
illumine me
00:51:47.60\00:51:51.07
Spirit divine.
00:51:51.81\00:51:57.78
Open my ears
00:51:58.81\00:52:01.58
that I may hear
00:52:01.78\00:52:04.85
voices of truth
00:52:05.25\00:52:07.99
Thou sendest clear.
00:52:08.19\00:52:11.49
And while the wave notes
00:52:11.79\00:52:15.06
fall on my ear
00:52:15.26\00:52:18.17
everything false
00:52:18.37\00:52:21.07
will disappear.
00:52:21.27\00:52:26.31
Silently now
00:52:27.08\00:52:29.88
I wait for Thee.
00:52:30.28\00:52:33.52
Ready, my God,
00:52:33.92\00:52:36.55
Thy will to see.
00:52:36.85\00:52:40.09
Open my ears,
00:52:40.72\00:52:43.89
illumine me
00:52:44.09\00:52:47.56
Spirit divine.
00:52:48.13\00:52:54.14
Open my mouth
00:52:55.40\00:52:57.87
and let me bear
00:52:58.07\00:53:01.58
gladly the warm
truth everywhere.
00:53:02.08\00:53:08.08
Open my heart
00:53:08.28\00:53:10.85
and let me prepare
00:53:11.05\00:53:14.79
love with Thy children
00:53:14.99\00:53:18.29
thus to share.
00:53:18.69\00:53:23.10
Silently now
00:53:23.87\00:53:27.04
I wait for Thee.
00:53:27.94\00:53:30.97
Ready, my God,
00:53:31.27\00:53:34.54
Thy will to see.
00:53:34.74\00:53:38.21
Open my heart,
00:53:38.51\00:53:41.85
illumine me
00:53:42.25\00:53:47.89
Spirit
00:53:49.89\00:53:54.10
divine.
00:53:54.50\00:54:00.40
Is that your desire
00:54:05.07\00:54:07.84
that Jesus will speak to you?
00:54:08.34\00:54:12.68
You say: "Pastor Mark,
00:54:13.52\00:54:16.12
I really want to know truth
00:54:16.42\00:54:18.82
but I'm not sure
how to distinguish
00:54:19.22\00:54:22.62
between truth and error.
00:54:22.82\00:54:24.43
There is so much
falsehood in the world.
00:54:25.29\00:54:29.23
How can I know truth? "
00:54:29.43\00:54:31.07
Jesus gives us
really two characteristics
00:54:31.47\00:54:34.57
in knowing truth. First,
00:54:34.77\00:54:37.27
He says: "If any
man will do His will
00:54:37.47\00:54:40.61
he shall know of the doctrine. "
00:54:40.81\00:54:42.94
Are you willing
to do God's will?
00:54:43.14\00:54:46.85
Are you willing to do
whatever Christ asks you to do?
00:54:47.25\00:54:52.95
Get on your
knees... play fair with God.
00:54:53.36\00:54:56.62
Say: "God, I'm
willing to do Your will. "
00:54:57.03\00:54:59.89
"I'm willing to do
whatever You ask me to do. "
00:55:00.30\00:55:05.63
Secondly the Bible says
00:55:06.47\00:55:08.34
"Sanctify them...
sanctify them through Thy Word.
00:55:08.74\00:55:13.27
Thy Word is truth. "
00:55:13.48\00:55:16.68
The second characteristic
of doing God's will
00:55:17.51\00:55:21.75
is opening your
heart to His Word.
00:55:21.95\00:55:26.09
Whatever His Word says
00:55:26.29\00:55:29.56
say: "Lord, that's
what I want to do. "
00:55:29.76\00:55:34.13
"Whatever Your Word says
Lord I want to follow You. "
00:55:34.53\00:55:37.73
How do we know truth?
00:55:38.13\00:55:39.50
A willing heart
to do what He says
00:55:40.44\00:55:42.64
and an informed mind.
00:55:42.84\00:55:45.27
Now there are times that
God is going to ask us to do
00:55:45.47\00:55:47.98
things that are...
that seem to us impossible.
00:55:48.18\00:55:53.85
But remember:
He is your Creator.
00:55:54.05\00:55:57.52
He is the all-powerful God.
00:55:57.92\00:56:01.02
He is the One that made you,
00:56:01.22\00:56:03.39
the One that fashioned
you, the One that shaped you.
00:56:03.59\00:56:06.03
He is the One that
has a plan for your life
00:56:06.23\00:56:08.43
and a destiny for your life.
00:56:08.63\00:56:09.96
He is the One that died for you.
00:56:10.13\00:56:13.50
He is the One that
intercedes for you.
00:56:13.90\00:56:16.04
He's the One that's
coming again for you.
00:56:16.24\00:56:18.21
When we make a
decision to follow Christ
00:56:18.51\00:56:20.64
we do not make that
decision in some vacuum.
00:56:20.84\00:56:24.25
He is there to
strengthen us, to encourage us.
00:56:24.45\00:56:28.48
He is there to empower us.
00:56:29.05\00:56:31.55
Right now wherever you are
00:56:32.05\00:56:34.19
would you like to
bow your head with me
00:56:34.59\00:56:36.69
as we pray?
00:56:36.89\00:56:38.26
Our Father in heaven,
00:56:39.23\00:56:41.50
thank you for the
reality that You're there.
00:56:41.90\00:56:46.90
Thank you that
You are our Creator.
00:56:47.10\00:56:49.00
We come to worship
You... the One that made us.
00:56:49.40\00:56:52.31
The One that created us.
00:56:52.71\00:56:54.34
You are the all-powerful
God, the infinite God.
00:56:55.48\00:56:59.28
You're the One that redeemed us,
00:57:00.48\00:57:02.88
that longs to
save us by Your grace.
00:57:03.28\00:57:06.12
And You're the One
who's coming again for us.
00:57:06.52\00:57:08.76
Give us Your
strength to follow Your truth.
00:57:08.96\00:57:11.16
In Your name, Amen.
00:57:11.36\00:57:13.26
My friend, He loves
you more than you know.
00:57:13.46\00:57:17.90
See you next time.
00:57:18.10\00:57:19.43