Participants: Lawrence Dorsey
Series Code: UR
Program Code: UR000010
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00:01 Music...
00:06 More music... 00:12 Seagulls... 00:17 Scene of the horizon... 00:23 Scenes from history... 00:29 More scenes from history... 00:38 Scenes... 00:46 Turning the pages of Revelation... 00:51 Turning the pages of Revelation. 00:55 Good evening Ambassador Family, 00:58 and good evening to our Viewers, 01:02 I am Henoc Paulicin, 01:03 Pastor of the Ambassador Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:06 We are located in the city of Lauderdale Lakes Florida 01:10 and for those who are not familiar with Florida, 01:13 you know, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 01:14 we're not too far away from the Fort Lauderdale airport. 01:18 We're a friendly and growing church 01:21 and if you're in the Fort Lauderdale area... 01:23 or even in Miami... which isn't too far away... 01:26 we'd like to invite you to come and worship with us. 01:29 This evening, I have with me 01:32 someone who is a hardworking individual at Ambassador Church 01:36 she is our Church Clerk and so, 01:38 I'd like to introduce her right now. 01:40 Thank you Pastor Paulicin, I'm Barbara Morgan, 01:44 Clerk for the Ambassador Seventh-day Adventist Church, 01:47 on behalf of the administrative staff 01:50 it is my pleasure to welcome you, our audience, 01:53 to the Ambassador Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:56 We're looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night 01:59 as we enter the final week 02:02 of "Unfolding the Revelation through the Eyes of John. " 02:05 I pray that as we come to the end of the Series, 02:09 that our hearts will be closely drawn 02:11 to our Savior and King 02:13 and we will be richly blessed 02:15 and make our best to make it to the Kingdom. 02:18 Audience: "Amen. " 02:20 To our Viewers at home, 02:21 we thank you for tuning in to our Program, 02:25 we pray that the Program 02:27 has been an inspiration to you night after night... 02:31 and it was our hope that the Holy Spirit's presence 02:35 will dwell within your homes. 02:36 If you'd like to make a donation 02:39 to the Ambassador Seventh-day Adventist Church, 02:41 please feel free to do so. 02:44 You may send your donations to 02:47 the Ambassador Seventh-day Adventist Church 02:49 3245 West Oakland Park Boulevard Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 02:56 again, you may send your donations to 02:59 3245 West Oakland Park Boulevard Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 03:06 thank you and may God continue to bless you. 03:10 Now, for those who have not been watching, 03:14 we have been going through a Series, 03:16 "Through the Eyes of John: 03:18 Unfolding the Book of Revelation. " 03:20 The Speaker has been none other than 03:22 Pastor Lawrence S. Dorsey Sr. 03:25 who is the Pastor of the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church 03:28 in Los Angeles, California, 03:30 The Lord has tremendously blessed us, 03:33 what do you say, Church? 03:34 Audience: "Amen. " 03:36 And I believe that tonight will be no disappointment 03:38 but before we begin, 03:40 we'd like to invite the presence of the Lord 03:42 in this place, so would you please bow your heads as we pray 03:45 "Our Heavenly Father, we thank you 03:49 for having been with us, 03:50 we thank you that your Spirit has poured out 03:53 upon your manservant 03:55 night after night, 03:56 and once again, we await the message that you have for us. 04:01 Put him on fire as never before 04:05 and when all is said and done, may Jesus be seen... 04:09 Jesus be heard and Jesus be felt. 04:12 This we ask in Jesus' name, amen. " 04:15 Walking off the stage. 04:24 Piano playing... 04:30 Piano playing more... 04:33 I will lift up mine eyes to the hills 04:38 from whence cometh my help, 04:43 My help cometh from the Lord, 04:48 The Lord which made Heaven and Earth, 04:53 He said He will not suffer thy foot, 04:58 Thy foot to be moved, 05:02 The Lord that keepeth thee, 05:08 Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 05:12 Oh the Lord is thy keeper, 05:17 The Lord is thy shade 05:22 Upon thy right hand, 05:27 Upon thy right hand... 05:32 No, the sun shall not smite thee by day, 05:38 Nor the moon by night, 05:43 He shall preserve thy soul 05:47 Even forever more. 05:55 My help... 05:59 my help, 06:05 my help 06:08 All of my help 06:12 cometh from the... 06:16 from the Lord. 06:21 I will lift up mine eyes to the hills 06:27 From whence cometh my help, 06:32 My help cometh from the Lord, 06:36 The Lord which made Heaven and Earth... 06:41 He said He would not suffer thy foot, 06:46 Thy foot to be moved, 06:50 The Lord that keepeth thee, 06:55 He shall neither slumber nor sleep. 07:01 Oh the Lord is thy keeper, 07:05 The Lord is thy shade 07:10 Upon they right hand, 07:15 Upon thy right hand. 07:19 No, the sun shall not smite thee by day, 07:25 Nor the moon by night, 07:30 He shall preserve thy soul 07:34 Even forever more. 07:42 My help... 07:46 my help, 07:50 Oh my help, 07:53 All of my help 07:57 cometh from the Lord. 08:02 My help, 08:05 my help, 08:09 my help 08:12 All of my help 08:15 cometh from... 08:20 the Lord. 08:25 Audience: "Amen. " 08:29 Praise God to know that our help comes from the Lord. 08:33 Audience: "Amen. " 08:35 The Lord God who is mighty, 08:37 the Lord God who is majestic 08:38 the Lord God who never sleeps nor slumbers. 08:42 The Lord God who loves us so much that He died for us 08:45 and then He didn't stay dead, somebody say, "Amen... " 08:48 Audience: "Amen. " 08:49 He came forth from the grave conquering death 08:51 and conquering the devil 08:53 and conquering our fears 08:55 all of the things that He needed to do, 08:57 He did for us on Calvary 08:58 and friends, one day He is coming soon 09:01 and very soon. 09:03 I'm so happy to again be here tonight 09:05 to be able to open the Word of God 09:07 and especially to enjoy this Series, 09:11 "Through the Eyes of John... " 09:13 to get a new look at the book of Revelation. 09:15 Haven't we discovered that 09:17 as something that we can understand? 09:19 Something that's very practical? 09:21 Something that's a very part of the very Bible 09:25 that we love and cherish, 09:27 it's something that we should not be afraid of 09:29 but something that we should dig into 09:32 and study and know for as the Bible says 09:35 and as Revelation says, 09:36 the things that we have been reading about 09:39 are the things that even are at hand today. 09:42 Now, I just want to do this in our timeframe 09:45 where we look at those individuals 09:47 and just acknowledge some of them 09:48 who have written in to us and have called... 09:51 we got a call from a Liz Smith from Huntsville, Alabama 09:56 and she is watching 09:57 and she is asking for us to continue to pray for her, 09:59 and to continue these messages coming forward, 10:02 we got a call from a Kim Pilgrim 10:06 all the way in Trinidad, West Indies, 10:09 at one time it seemed like all the calls 10:11 were coming from Jamaica, amen, 10:12 but that's great to have someone calling from the Trinidad Island 10:17 and then also, from the Cayman Islands, 10:19 we have a call... or an e-mail... 10:23 that came all the way from Tasmania, Australia, 10:27 from a Mo Cargen, Mo, I hope you're watching 10:31 and I found out from some individuals in New Zealand, 10:35 a threesome... Henny, Suzanna and Joseph 10:39 they are watching in New Zealand at their lunch time 10:43 so we hope that you enjoy having lunch with us over here 10:47 and Eastern Standard Time 10:49 and that the Lord is even indeed blessing you. 10:53 God is spreading His message all over the world 10:56 and I am so thankful that the Ambassador Church 11:00 and 3ABN have allowed this budding ministry... 11:03 "The Living Word Ministry" to be able to go on the air, 11:07 to be able to take this message to so many people, 11:10 now, I have to say this, we have received individuals 11:13 who have given us different donations and things like that 11:16 and that's just been wonderful 11:18 but today, we got our first online... 11:21 online contribution from a... 11:25 I'll just give the e-mail address 11:26 and I just want to let her know that she was the first one 11:29 to send a loving, supporting contribution 11:32 a CDWeb7... that's all I'm going to say, 11:35 I'm not going to say the rest of it 11:37 but we want to thank you CDWeb7... 11:39 for our very first online contribution, 11:43 God has been so good to us. 11:45 Tonight, we will look at the subject entitled, 11:49 "Heaven's seal of approval" 11:51 Heaven's seal of approval... do you want it? 11:54 Well, let's see how we can receive it. 11:57 Let us pray, "Father in heaven, 11:58 again, we're so thankful that you love us with a love 12:01 that would not let us go, we are thankful Lord, 12:04 that you are our help... 12:05 a very present help in time of trouble, 12:08 which allows us to have time of peace, 12:11 and even now, tonight, as we open thy Word, 12:14 we ask that your sweet angels will be here with us 12:16 to protect us from dangers seen and the unseen, 12:19 we pray that your Holy Spirit will be poured out upon us 12:22 that might enlighten us and empower us 12:24 and encourage us in righteousness, 12:26 and Lord, we ask that you would just draw us to yourself, 12:30 and that as we study these things, 12:32 we will not wait to some time in the future 12:34 to make a decision for you, 12:36 but we will decide to serve you even from this day on, 12:40 be with those who are watching online, 12:42 those who are watching in their homes 12:43 and even those who are watching at their lunch hours, 12:46 let your Spirit reign across this world 12:49 and let this message be a message of hope 12:52 in Jesus' name, amen and amen. " 12:55 I'd like for you to turn quickly with me 12:57 to the book of Revelation 12:59 chapter 7... Revelation 7 13:01 beginning with verses 1 through 3 13:04 tonight we will see the Bible as its own expositor, 13:09 tonight we will see how examples in the past 13:13 give us the faith and the steadfastness that we need 13:18 to face the very future... a future that is even now. 13:23 Tonight we will see the Bible stacking up against the Bible 13:28 letting us know that the theme of the Bible is Jesus 13:32 and that He is... very soon to come. 13:34 Revelation chapter 7 beginning with verse 1. 13:38 "And after these things I saw four angels 13:42 standing on the four corners of the earth, 13:45 holding the four winds of the earth, 13:48 that the wind should not blow on the earth, 13:51 nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 13:55 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, 13:58 having the seal of the living God: 14:01 and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, 14:05 to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 14:10 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, 14:13 nor the trees, till we have sealed 14:16 the servants of our God in their foreheads. " 14:20 Ladies and Gentlemen, 14:22 we looked at the very first night... 14:23 the definition of a servant of God from the Bible perspective. 14:27 If you would turn with me to your Bibles 14:29 to Romans chapter 6 verse 16, 14:32 it lets you know what a servant of God is. 14:35 Romans 6 verse 16, 14:37 "Know ye not, 14:39 that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, 14:43 his servants ye are to whom you obey; 14:46 whether of sin unto death, 14:49 or of obedience unto righteousness?" 14:51 In other words, 14:53 if we would truly be the servants of God, 14:56 we must be obedient to His Word. 14:58 I go back to this text, Revelation chapter 7 15:03 and I'm seeing the book of Revelation 15:06 showing itself with things that are literal 15:09 and things that are symbolic 15:10 and we said that about the book of Revelation, 15:12 there are some things that are literal, 15:14 there are some things that are symbolic, 15:17 there are some things that the Lord has given to us 15:19 for encouragement, 15:20 the book of Revelation has it all. 15:23 All the books in the Bible end and meet there. 15:26 505 direct or indirect quotations 15:30 from other books of the bible 15:31 of the 39 of the other 65 books all end here 15:36 and as you have seen night after night, Ladies and Gentlemen, 15:38 we go back to different portions of Scripture 15:41 and we see the same principle and the same doctrine 15:44 supported in Revelation 15:46 supported in the other parts of the Book 15:48 so when we come to this scene, 15:51 we see four angels standing on the four corners of the earth 15:55 we understand that the earth is not square 15:58 and it doesn't have four corners 16:01 but we understand that this is being symbolic 16:04 of the entire earth... 16:06 the north the south, the east and west. 16:08 In other words, it is said in symbolic language 16:12 that these four angels are covering the entire earth 16:18 all the points of the compass, 16:19 the north, the south, the east and west. 16:22 It says they are holding the four winds of the earth, 16:26 Ladies and Gentlemen 16:27 and when we let the Bible be its own expositor, 16:30 when we use Scripture to define Scripture, 16:34 we know that Jeremiah 25 verse 32 tells us 16:38 that winds denote stress and trouble 16:43 and Folks, everywhere we look, there is trouble, 16:45 everywhere we look there is strife, 16:48 everywhere we look we see the world is in convulsions 16:52 and we know that the king in glory is going to come 16:56 and so we find ourselves reading these verses in chapter 7 17:00 of the book of Revelation 17:02 and what they are describing 17:03 is the time in which we live right now. 17:07 I thank God that He has told us in chapter 17 17:13 verse 17 of the book of John 17:15 that we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free. 17:19 The truth is... the Word of God is the truth, 17:24 so when I look at this scene here 17:27 and I begin to compare Scripture with Scripture 17:31 and I see the winds being let loose... 17:33 the winds of trouble and strife on the earth, 17:37 it takes me back to what Jesus was saying 17:40 in Matthew chapter 24. 17:42 You see, the Bible is connected, 17:45 they are not just separate books that are there 17:48 to read and study in its own vacuum, no, 17:51 they are there as a complete book for us 17:54 it says, "All Scripture... " 17:56 2nd Timothy 3 verse 16, 17:58 "All Scripture comes from inspiration of God... 18:02 and it is profitable to us for doctrine" 18:05 so when you look at the doctrines of last-day events 18:09 it's not just one book... it's not just two books... 18:14 but it's the entire Bible as a massive love letter from Christ 18:18 that has been given to us to help us be prepared 18:21 for the things that we will see in the last days. 18:25 I go back now in my Bible to the book of Matthew... 18:28 Matthew 24... I begin to read these things, 18:31 and we've heard them before and we've read them 18:33 but we're going to see them in a different light tonight, 18:36 we begin with verse 5 and it says, 18:39 "And many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; 18:42 and shall deceive many. 18:43 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: 18:46 see that you be not troubled: 18:48 for all these things must come to pass, 18:51 but the end is not yet. 18:52 For nation shall rise against nation, 18:55 and kingdom against kingdom: 18:57 and there shall be famines, and pestilences, 18:59 and earthquakes, in different places... " 19:02 and then verse 8 says, 19:04 "these are the beginning of sorrows. " 19:07 In other words, Ladies and Gentlemen, 19:11 these signs that we see in our time 19:16 are the early "time of trouble" signs 19:20 that will intensify... 19:22 for verse 8 says here clearly and plainly, 19:25 that these are the beginning of sorrows... 19:28 in other words, it's not going to get better 19:30 it's going to get worse. 19:32 Pause... 19:33 I turn in my Bible to the book of Luke. 19:36 Luke chapter 21 and we see what he has to say 19:40 on this subject, Luke chapter 21... 19:42 we look at this and see verse 25 19:45 this is very encouraging, Ladies and Gentlemen, 19:48 because we're going to see a link 19:50 not only with Jesus saying, what He's says here 19:52 and what He has said in Matthew but will show us 19:55 what John saw in the book of Revelation. 19:58 It says in verse 25 of Luke 21, 20:01 "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, 20:04 and in the stars; 20:06 and upon the earth distress of nations, 20:08 with perplexity; 20:10 the sea and the waves roaring; 20:13 Men's hearts failing them for fear, 20:17 and looking after those things 20:18 which are coming on the earth: 20:20 for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 20:23 And then shall they see the Son of man coming 20:26 in a cloud with power and great glory. 20:29 And when these things begin to come to pass, 20:32 then look up, and lift up your heads; 20:36 for your redemption draweth nigh. " 20:39 What does that say? 20:41 That's saying that when you see these signs happening... 20:44 wars and rumors of wars... famines and pestilence... 20:47 when you see all of this unrest... 20:50 when you see the signs happening in the heavens, 20:52 Ladies and Gentlemen, 20:54 it tells us to look up because our redemption... 20:57 our salvation... our deliverance... is coming... 21:00 Audience: "Amen. " 21:01 Now Folks, the book of Revelation 21:04 lets us know how far we are down the line 21:07 and how close we are to that timeframe. 21:12 In chapter 7, we see the sealing begin 21:15 but when we turn to chapter 8 21:18 and just go back one chapter, 21:20 I mean, chapter 6... 21:22 we got back to chapter 6, 21:23 and we begin with verse 12, 21:24 we see some of the signs that Jesus talked about 21:28 being mentioned in Revelation 21:31 to let us know that we are in the time of the end... 21:34 to let us know that we are in the time 21:37 of the beginning of sorrows... 21:38 to let us know that we are in the time 21:41 of the early time of trouble... 21:43 that will intensify until we hit that timeframe 21:47 which will be the time of trouble 21:49 like there never was... that is talked about 21:52 in Daniel chapter 12 verse 1 21:55 and when that timeframe comes in 21:57 it will be when probation's time is over 22:01 when everyone has decided who we will serve. 22:05 We come back now to Revelation 6 verse 12 and we read, 22:11 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, 22:14 and, lo, there was a great earthquake; 22:16 and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, 22:19 and the moon became as blood; 22:20 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, 22:24 even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, 22:26 when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 22:29 And the heaven departed as a scroll 22:30 when it is rolled together; 22:32 and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 22:34 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, 22:37 and the rich men, and the chief captains, 22:38 and the mighty men, and every bondman, 22:40 and every free man, hid themselves in the dens 22:43 and in the rocks of the mountains; 22:44 And said to the mountains and rocks, 22:46 Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him 22:49 that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 22:52 For the great day of His wrath is come; 22:56 and who shall be able to stand?" 22:58 Now Folks, before I answer that question with the Bible, 23:02 I wanted us to just back up a little bit... 23:05 these signs that Jesus gave us in Matthew 24, in Mark 13, 23:12 in Luke 21... they are letting us know 23:15 that Jesus is coming soon. 23:16 There are signs that we read and see happening 23:20 or have already happen to unmistakenly know 23:24 that we are in the very last days. 23:26 The last things that Jesus gave us in His signs of the times 23:30 were the signs in nature. 23:33 In Revelation chapter 6 we read, 23:36 "And when he had opened the sixth seal, 23:38 there was a great earthquake; 23:40 and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, 23:43 and the moon became as blood... " 23:45 Ladies and Gentlemen, 23:46 theologians and historians have said to us 23:49 that this has already happened. 23:52 It's not something we're looking forward to, 23:56 it's already happened. 23:58 The great Lisbon earthquake of November 1st, 1755, 24:02 Ladies and Gentlemen, 24:04 the greatest earthquake that has been seen and recorded 24:06 coming in three parts... 24:08 one part came at 9:40 a. m. 24:10 the next one at 10:00 a. m. 24:12 and then at 12 noon... the shock came through 24:17 and shook the earth for six minutes. 24:20 This earthquake was four times the size of Europe, 24:24 30,000 people died in the first six minutes, 24:28 fires burned for six days, 24:31 islands were swept away by the Tsunamis 24:33 that were generated from the earthquake 24:35 and we find all of this not in the Bible that documented... 24:39 the Bible speaks of it 24:41 but when you look at the Encyclopedia Britannica 24:44 volume 7 page 848, it talks about it. 24:48 The first time... 1755... 24:53 it goes on to say, 24:55 "and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair 24:57 and the moon became as blood" 24:59 and Ladies and Gentlemen, when we look through history 25:01 we see the unexplainable event 25:03 when May 19, 1780... 25:06 it just became dark in the middle of the day. 25:10 For almost the whole day with the supernatural darkness 25:14 that men, women, boys and girls across this country 25:18 could not move... could not do anything... 25:21 they felt this oppressive darkness 25:24 just like Egypt felt for three days. 25:27 They said you couldn't read a newspaper 25:30 in front of your face with the light of a candle. 25:33 Pause... 25:34 It was as though God fixed the clock 25:37 when He let the sun stay up for 12 hours... 25:39 when He shut the sun down 12 hours... 25:41 because He's able... because He's God... 25:44 and then that night a supernatural darkness 25:47 the moon now sinks in the sky like an avenging red eye 25:53 looking at the inhabitants of Planet Earth. 25:57 Verse 13... "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, 26:01 like a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, 26:04 when she is shaken of a mighty wind. " 26:06 And that too happened, November 13, 1833... 26:09 Ladies and Gentlemen, 26:11 and look at these dates: 1755... 1780... 1833... 26:16 all of these... just before 26:20 the longest Bible time prophecy was about to end 26:25 to let us know that we're in the last days 26:27 which ended in 1844. 26:30 Pause... 26:32 Longest time prophecy in the Bible... 26:34 ending in 1844... 26:37 letting us know... we're in the last days 26:40 and these physical signs in nature and in the heavens 26:44 are there to let us know that there might be wars 26:48 and rumors of wars all through earth 26:50 there may have been upheavals... 26:51 there may have been famines and pestilence 26:54 and all of these different things 26:55 but what comes after this, the Bible is telling us 26:58 and history is showing us 27:00 it is letting us know that we are really in the end of time. 27:04 Audience: "Amen. " 27:05 It's to open our eyes... 27:08 Ladies and Gentlemen, the next thing John sees 27:11 after all of that... 27:13 the next thing John sees is "the heavens depart as a scroll 27:17 when it is rolled together; 27:18 and every mountain and island are moved out of their places, 27:20 and the kings of the earth, and the great men, 27:22 and the rich men, and the chief captains, 27:24 and the mighty men, and every bondman, 27:25 and every free man, hid themselves in the dens 27:27 and in the rocks of the mountains; 27:29 and in the rocks of the mountains... 27:30 And they said, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him 27:34 that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 27:38 For the great day of his wrath is come... '" 27:40 and the question is asked, "who shall be able to stand?" 27:43 Then John sees in chapter 7 27:46 with all of this turmoil happening on Planet Earth, 27:49 he sees who's going to stand... 27:51 those who have heaven's seal of approval. 27:56 Audience: "Amen. " 27:58 You see, the book of Revelation is not for us to be afraid of... 28:01 it's for us to study and cherish 28:03 for when we see all of these things happening on Planet Earth 28:06 it tells us, "Don't worry children of God... 28:10 I will take care of you, 28:12 I won't come before you have the time to get ready, 28:15 I am giving you my Spirit, I am drawing you in love 28:19 and I will send my angels 28:21 to seal you with the seal of the living God 28:24 that you might be able to stand... " 28:27 someone ought to say, "Thank you Jesus. " 28:29 The Seal of the Living God... 28:33 to show a distinction of those who belong to Him 28:39 and those who do not belong to Him... 28:40 to show those who come with the avenging power of God 28:45 to pour out His wrath as we read later on this Series 28:50 in Revelation chapter 16... 28:51 the Seal of the Living God will protect us... 28:55 Ladies and Gentlemen... 28:56 from the seven last plagues that will be poured out 28:58 by seven angels from seven vials... 29:00 Pause... 29:02 My Bible tells me 29:04 that these angels were about to give up their work... 29:08 but then another angel came from the east, 29:11 and he told them, "Don't stop... don't stop... 29:13 continue until the servants of our God 29:17 are sealed in their forehead. " 29:19 Pause... 29:22 My Lord always makes a difference 29:25 between His people and those who are not His people 29:28 but there's something that we have to understand, 29:32 He gives us the choice to line up on His side 29:37 pause... 29:39 or go on the other side... 29:41 Pause... 29:42 Again I say this text over and over... 29:44 Romans 15 verse 4, 29:46 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime 29:49 were written for our learning, 29:50 that we though patience and comfort of the scriptures 29:52 might have hope... " 29:54 My mind goes back to the children of Israel, 29:56 when they are about to be delivered from the country 29:59 and the kingdom of Egypt, 30:01 and all of the other plagues that came out... 30:04 they just watched what God would do... 30:07 but when it came down to plague number 10, 30:09 when He said that He was going to take 30:11 the firstborn of the Egyptians, 30:14 He told the children of Israel to take that lamb... 30:19 the sacrificial lamb that represented Him because you see, 30:22 from the beginning we've been saved by the blood. 30:24 Somebody ought to say, "Amen. " Audience: "Amen. " 30:26 From the beginning we have been saved by the blood 30:28 and He said to take the blood of that lamb 30:31 and we want you to put it on your doorpost... 30:34 on the top of your doorpost... 30:35 and put it on the sides of the doorposts 30:37 and those who are on the inside would be protected 30:40 and Ladies and Gentlemen, when I read the Word of God 30:43 and I see what God can do... 30:45 those individuals who were there... 30:46 the faithful Israelites that were inside their homes 30:51 with the blood posted on their doors, 30:53 they were protected 30:54 but God is so compassionate and so merciful 30:57 that those Egyptians who had seen enough... 30:59 you see, God let them see how mighty He was 31:02 with all of those plagues that He used against Egypt, 31:05 He did not let them die if they had faith to believe 31:09 that God is able and that God cares... 31:11 and that God is merciful and the record tells me 31:14 that those Egyptians that came into the homes of those Jews, 31:19 even though they were firstborn... 31:22 but they had the faith, Ladies and Gentlemen, 31:24 to believe that God is kind and God is merciful 31:27 and God is compassionate and God would save them, 31:30 they were sealed with Heaven's seal of approval 31:33 for just being on the inside. 31:35 Audience: "Amen... 31:36 Amen... " 31:38 We look throughout the Bible 31:42 and we see another example which is very interesting 31:45 because this one is more 31:48 like what we are experiencing in our time. 31:51 Turn with me to the book of Ezekiel... 31:55 the book of Ezekiel... Ezekiel chapter 9 31:58 we see the scenario played out with ancient Israel. 32:03 Ezekiel chapter 9 beginning with verse 4, 32:08 "And the LORD said unto him, 32:12 Go through the midst of the city, 32:15 through the midst of Jerusalem, 32:18 and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh 32:26 and that cry for all the abominations 32:29 that be done in the midst thereof. " 32:31 In other words, 32:33 those individuals who are looking at the things 32:36 that are happening in my city, 32:38 with my people with this nation 32:40 and my heart is broken because 32:43 they have wandered so far away from God 32:45 and they have protested against the evil 32:48 and Ladies and Gentlemen, you know what I know 32:50 that those individuals that protested against the evil 32:53 when the Government and those individuals 32:55 who are not serving the Lord... 32:57 they would take the lives of those prophets, 33:00 they put them in jail, they destroyed their homes 33:04 they destroyed their families 33:06 and they continue to worship other gods... 33:08 after the God of Israel... 33:10 the living God... had done so much for them 33:13 and it said God had enough 33:18 and He's going to have enough with this world, 33:20 Ladies and Gentlemen, when people ignore Him, 33:23 when people make fun of Him, when people disrupt His children 33:27 when individuals are filled with the spirit of Satan, 33:30 He's going to have enough of this world, 33:32 He longs to take us home, 33:34 and it tells us here, Ladies and Gentlemen, 33:38 that these individuals who have a longing... 33:42 and a desire for things that to be right with God 33:45 and not only for God but for His people, 33:47 He says that He is going to save an angel in the midst of them 33:52 and set a mark on their foreheads 33:55 that those individuals who sigh and cry 33:58 for the abominations of Israel, 33:59 will be sealed with heaven's seal of approval 34:03 and it says in verse 5, 34:05 "And to the others he said in my hearing, 34:07 Go ye after him through the city, and smite: 34:12 let not your eye spare, neither have pity: 34:16 Slay utterly old and young, 34:19 both maids, and little children, and women: 34:21 but come not near any man upon whom is the mark... " 34:26 and then He says something here, we need to understand... 34:29 and it says, "and begin at my sanctuary. 34:33 Then they began at the ancient men 34:36 which were before the house. " 34:39 In other words, as I've said to you before 34:42 1st Peter 4 verse 17 that the judgment of God... 34:45 that's going on now, Ladies and Gentlemen, 34:48 the judgment of God begins with God's people. 34:51 Pause... 34:53 When I was a kid, we lived on a nice little block 34:58 and we used to play baseball in the street 35:01 and my mother would tell me to stay out of the street 35:06 and I would say, "Okay" 35:08 but when she would go on to the store and do what she'd do... 35:13 I'd tell the guys, 35:15 "Well, you know the drill... I'll play first base... " 35:16 because my gate was near first base 35:18 and I was able to stay on the first base 35:22 in case Mom turned the corner, 35:24 or in case Pop came down the street, 35:27 I could just be you know, like... coming through the gate. 35:29 Oh, we were something else as kids, weren't we? 35:32 But sometimes the game would get intense 35:35 and you know how this person is going to hit 35:37 when the ball is coming to him 35:39 and you couldn't just stay close to the bag at first base, 35:41 you had to move over and be in the street 35:44 so you can field properly... 35:45 and that takes away your "watching the horizon" 35:50 for unsuspecting parents 35:52 and on different occasions, Ladies and Gentlemen, 35:57 different occasions... 35:59 Ma would turn the corner and I wouldn't even see her 36:02 until she's right up on me. 36:05 Audience: Laughter... 36:06 And she would say... 36:08 just say my name, "Lawrence... " 36:10 you know it's not like today, kids today... 36:12 kids today... bless you, 36:15 if we did the things you did, 36:18 you would have a different preacher standing here. 36:20 Audience: Laugher. 36:22 And she would just say, "Lawrence, inside... " 36:23 and I knew I was going to have it... 36:25 I said, "Mom, but everybody is out there... 36:29 the whole block... 36:30 everybody is doing it... " 36:32 and you know what she would say to me? 36:34 "All of those children don't belong to everybody 36:38 you belong to me, 36:42 if a car comes down the street and it's brakes fail 36:46 or something else happens and you get hit, 36:48 you're my son... 36:51 you belong to me... " 36:53 Ladies and Gentlemen, we belong to God 36:55 and in the judgment, in its three phases 36:57 and we're going to look at it one night, 37:00 the first people that He is concerned with, 37:03 with those who say, "We belong to Him... " 37:06 Audience: "Amen. " 37:08 That's why our names are written in the Lamb's book of life 37:10 but it doesn't take your name being written 37:13 in the Lamb's book of life to stay there, 37:15 it's what's written in the other books and how we live 37:18 and how we act and how we live and move 37:20 how we keep our names in that Lamb's book of life 37:25 and we see here... the precedent has been set forth 37:28 where not only... do we put a mark on it ourselves 37:32 by making a conscious decision 37:34 to be obedient and intentional to God, 37:36 it tells us that we will have an angel of the living God 37:41 give us what we need 37:43 to place upon us heaven's seal of approval 37:46 because some of us would not truly be honest, 37:49 because everybody says, 37:52 "Oh yeah, we're all going, give us the seal" 37:53 but it tells us in Revelation chapter 7 37:57 that we said, that the angel of God 38:00 will seal the servants of God in their foreheads. 38:03 Now, what does that mean? 38:04 Are we going to receive a tattoo? 38:06 Pause... 38:08 Hollywood has given us so many fanciful ways 38:10 of how the seal and the Mark of the Beast 38:12 and all those things are going to go, 38:14 has us so mixed up, 38:16 when bar codes first came out on food, 38:19 people were yelling, "That's the Mark of the Beast. " 38:21 Audience: Smiling. 38:23 People have chips for their dogs and cats... 38:25 the ASPCA... "Oh, they're going to give us that, 38:27 that's the Mark of the Beast. " 38:28 Audience: Laughter. 38:30 Ladies and Gentlemen, it says here 38:32 that the children of God will receive the Seal of God 38:36 in their foreheads. 38:37 Ladies and Gentlemen, it is saying to us 38:39 this is the Bible speaking 38:41 that it means that the seal of God 38:44 will be sealed in our foreheads 38:46 which is literally meaning... in our minds. 38:49 Audience: "Amen. " Nodding in agreement. 38:52 Our minds are made up. 38:53 When we look at the whole armor of God 38:57 there's one thing that we must all have 39:00 and that's in Ephesians 6, one thing we must all have 39:02 we must have on the helmet of salvation. 39:05 You have to be able to know 39:08 no matter what the devil does to you 39:09 and he might hit you in your head, come on now... 39:12 you have that helmet of salvation 39:14 to know... that no matter what you're going through... 39:16 good times and bad times... 39:18 no matter what you're going through, 39:19 that you are still a child of God... 39:22 you have to know that even though 39:23 things are happening to you... 39:25 bad things do happen to good people, 39:28 don't get despondent, 39:29 don't get discouraged, don't give up, 39:31 God has seen in you... something 39:35 that allowed Him to let this temptation and trial come to you 39:39 that if you just hold on and be victorious, 39:42 it will work out as a blessing for you. 39:44 Audience: "Amen. " 39:46 When things go bad in your life, don't give up 39:49 don't give out... remember Job... 39:52 Audience: "Amen. " 39:53 In one day he lost everything including his children. 39:57 He lost his riches, he was spiritually... 40:00 no not spiritually... 40:02 he was financially bankrupt, 40:05 read about it, 40:07 it says, all of his oxen 40:11 and his land... 40:12 those things were destroyed by fire, 40:14 all of those things... and I understood it now, 40:16 the reason why the devil burnt those things out 40:18 is because those are the objects that Job used 40:21 in his worship with God. 40:22 He was trying to even break that relationship. 40:25 Job had such a relationship with God 40:26 that in the morning when he got up 40:28 he didn't just pray for himself, 40:30 he prayed for all of his children 40:32 and can you imagine doing all of those things 40:35 and then all of this happens to him, 40:37 some of us would have given up but Job said, 40:40 "God gives... God taketh away... 40:42 blessed be the name of the Lord. " 40:44 And then when the next wave of things came back to him 40:46 and the devil touched him from his head to his toe, 40:49 my Bible tells me that Job was faithful 40:53 and when his wife said, "Curse God and die... " 40:58 he said, "though He slay me, though He slay me, 41:01 yet would I trust Him, I know my God is able, 41:04 I know He has the power to bring me back, 41:07 I don't know why He's doing this 41:09 and I don't know what people are saying 41:11 and they can say what they wanted 41:13 and I do wish that I wasn't born when I go through all of this 41:17 but I know one thing I can't do, I can't give up on my God 41:21 because I know He's just and He's kind 41:23 and He's merciful and He's compassionate, 41:25 though He slay me, yet will I trust Him 41:28 for I know that one day, I will stand on this earth 41:31 and with my own eyes, I will see Him 41:33 and with my own tongue, I will praise Him 41:35 and give glory to my God. " 41:38 Audience: "Amen. " 41:40 He had on the helmet of salvation 41:41 nice and slow... come on now... 41:43 his mind was made up 41:45 now when we look through the Bible... 41:47 the Bible as our own expositor. 41:49 It tells us what the Seal of God is. 41:54 Turn in your Bibles to Isaiah, what book did I say? 41:58 Isaiah chapter 8 and we see here again 42:02 the principles of Scripture, here a little, there a little... 42:05 line upon line and precept upon precept, 42:08 we see the things here in our Bible 42:11 to give us what we need to make it in these last days 42:15 it says in verse 16 of chapter 8 of Isaiah, 42:18 "Bind up the testimony, 42:21 seal the law among my disciples. " 42:26 Seal the law among my disciples, 42:31 my Bible tells me in Ephesians 4 verse 30, 42:35 "Grieve not the Holy Spirit... 42:38 whereby we are sealed unto the day of... " what? 42:42 "Sealed unto the day of redemption. " 42:45 The Holy Spirit will do the sealing for us, 42:51 my Bible says, "Bind up the testimony, 42:55 seal the law among my disciples... " 42:59 In other words, the principles of God's law, 43:01 we must seal them up in our heart 43:05 and allow them to be the very principles that guide us. 43:10 I look at Psalm 19... Psalm 19 verse 7 43:13 and I read these words, Psalm 19 verse 7, 43:16 it says, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: 43:21 the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 43:25 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: 43:30 the commandment of the LORD is pure, 43:32 enlightening the eyes. 43:33 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: 43:37 the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 43:42 More to be desired are they than gold, 43:45 yea, than much fine gold: 43:47 sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. " 43:50 And here's what I like, verse 11, 43:52 we're going to see how this connects with Revelation 43:55 it says, Moreover by them is thy servant warned: 43:59 and in keeping of them there is great reward. " 44:03 Turn to Revelation 22, looking at verse 14 44:07 and we see this sweet, sweet text, 44:10 "Blessed are they 44:14 that do His commandments, 44:17 that they may have a right 44:20 to the tree of life, 44:22 and enter in through the gates of the city. " 44:24 Audience: "Amen. " 44:25 Pastor: "Amen. " Audience: "Amen. " 44:27 It's telling us to bind up the testimony 44:30 and seal the Law among His disciples. 44:34 The Law of God is perfect, it's there for us... 44:39 transforming... changing and converting our soul 44:45 the very principles of it. 44:47 When we look in the book of Ecclesiastes, 44:49 Ladies and Gentlemen, 44:50 the book of Ecclesiastes, looking at chapter 12, 44:53 looking at verses 13 and 14, it says this, 44:57 verse 13, "Let us hear the conclusion of whole matter... " 45:01 in other words, the bottom line is this, 45:04 "Fear God... " not being fearful of Him 45:08 but giving respect and honor, 45:09 "Fear God and keep His commandments, 45:12 for this is the whole duty of man, 45:15 for God shall bring every work into the judgment... 45:18 with every secret thing, 45:19 whether it be good or whether it be evil. " 45:22 Ladies and Gentlemen, we know that the Law of God 45:25 is the standard of the judgment 45:27 and it also defines what sin is 45:29 for 1st John verse 3 verse 4 tells us 45:32 that sin is the transgression of God's law 45:34 and the penalty for sin, Romans 6 verse 23, 45:37 it says, "The wages of sin is death... " 45:39 so when we look at this, Ladies and Gentlemen, 45:42 when we look at the commandments of God, 45:43 and we saw last night that the commandments of God 45:46 Exodus 31 verse 8, Ladies and Gentlemen, 45:48 18... Exodus 31 verse 18... 45:51 that the Commandments of God were written by Jesus Himself 45:55 with His own finger 45:56 the only portion of the Bible that is written by God Himself. 46:00 2nd Peter 1:19 through 21 it tells us 46:04 that men were moved by inspiration of God 46:08 and we looked at the text already 46:09 in 2nd Timothy 3 verse 16 that all Scripture is given by God 46:13 and when we look at Exodus 31 verse 18, 46:16 the Commandments were written by Jesus Himself. 46:19 Pause. 46:21 So, we look at the Commandments of God and see 46:23 what of these commandments... 46:25 which one of them has the Seal of God? 46:27 You see, a seal must have three things to make if official, 46:31 It must have the name, the title and the territory 46:34 of the person who is issuing this edict, 46:37 I look at chapter 20 of the book of Exodus, 46:41 I begin to see verse 3 which is the first commandment 46:47 that goes through verse 17, 46:49 it tells us in verse 3... the first commandment, 46:52 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. " 46:54 It doesn't even tell us whose god name is... 46:56 second commandment tells us, 46:58 "Thou shalt not make any graven image, 46:59 or any likeness of any thing is in heaven, in earth, the sea 47:01 of water... " boom, keep continuing... 47:03 doesn't tell us who God is, it tells us what He wants, 47:06 Commandment number 3, verse 7 tells us, 47:10 "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; 47:12 for the LORD will not hold him guiltless 47:13 that taketh his name in vain. " 47:15 Again, it doesn't tell you who it is, 47:16 it doesn't tell you His title, 47:18 it doesn't tell you His territory, 47:19 you skip the fourth commandment 47:21 and you move over to the rest of the commandments 47:23 and we see... it says, 47:24 "Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother 47:26 that your days may be long upon the land. 47:28 Thou shalt not kill. 47:29 Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal. 47:31 Thou shalt not bear false witness. 47:32 Thou shalt not covet. " 47:34 When you come to the fourth commandment, 47:36 Ladies and Gentlemen, we see in that Sabbath commandment 47:39 and we looked at it last night as God... 47:40 God's forgotten revelation 47:43 that the world needs to know about now, 47:46 we see in verse 11 it tells us plainly... 47:49 verse 8 through 11, it tells us, 47:53 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy... " 47:55 out of all the commandments, 47:57 that is the only one that tells us to remember... 47:58 I mean, we're to remember them all, 48:00 but this one has a special emphasis on it... 48:03 it says, "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work 48:06 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God... " 48:08 okay, we see something identifying here... 48:10 this Sabbath commandment... this seventh day... 48:14 is related to the Lord God who has... what? 48:17 verse 11 says, "who made the heaven and earth, 48:21 the sea, and fountains of water" 48:23 so the Lord God is His name. 48:25 His title is "Creator" 48:29 everything that was made and is made was made by God. 48:34 "In the beginning... " it tells us in John 1:1 48:37 "was the word and the word was God 48:39 and the word was with God. " 48:40 In Colossians 3 verses 16 and 17 it tells us, 48:44 everything that was made invisible... 48:46 and visible things were made by the same God. 48:49 We see in chapter 2 of the book of Genesis 48:52 verses 1 through 3 48:54 that in the very first week before sin 48:56 was even instituted into our lifestyle... into our world... 49:00 we see that man came together and worshipped God 49:04 on His blessed Sabbath. 49:07 It's not a Jewish Sabbath, 49:09 it was a Sabbath given to mankind 49:12 as a memorial. 49:13 Ladies and Gentlemen, 49:15 we are living in the last days where the cry has gone forth 49:19 and we looked at it last night also in Revelation chapter 14 49:23 beginning with verse 6 and 7 49:25 and it tells us to fear God and give glory to Him, 49:27 for the hour of His judgment is come, 49:29 and worship Him 49:31 who made heaven, and earth, the sea, and fountains of waters 49:33 it's a call for reform for the people of God 49:37 to give God His honor now. 49:40 Audience: "Amen. " 49:42 So when we take it upon ourselves 49:44 to keep the commandments of God 49:47 all of them... including the fourth commandment 49:51 that has in it the memorial of creation 49:56 that has His name, His title and His territory, 50:00 it gives us a totally different perspective 50:04 in our relationship with Him 50:06 because we are now saying 50:08 we worship God not because of what people say 50:11 but what the Bible says that God desires from us 50:15 and Jesus says in verse 14:15 50:17 "If you love me, keep my commandments. " 50:22 Not one... not two... not three... not four... 50:24 but all of them... 50:26 and when we do that, Ladies and Gentlemen, 50:30 in these last days, when we say it... 50:32 this conflict with the enemy, this conflict with Satan... 50:35 that it's all about worship... 50:37 it's all about worship, we saw it in Matthew 4... 50:43 Matthew chapter 4... 50:45 looking at verse 8 when Satan came to Jesus 50:49 and he told him, 50:50 "I will give you all the kingdoms of this world, 50:52 if you would bow down and worship me... " 50:55 and Jesus said to him, "Get behind me Satan, 50:58 the Bible says... the Word says 51:00 that you should worship no one but God 51:03 and that's the first commandment. " 51:05 Pause... 51:08 No other person should we worship but God 51:10 and when we look at that fourth commandment 51:14 it not only is His Seal of approval 51:16 that has His name, title and territory 51:19 but it also lets us know as human beings 51:22 who we are worshipping and whose commandments these are 51:27 for if you take the fourth commandment 51:29 out of those ten commandments that were written 51:32 with God's own finger, 51:34 you don't know who God is. 51:36 There's no identifying mark... 51:38 but when you place it in the heart of it 51:41 Ladies and Gentlemen, when you see that commandment there, 51:44 it lets us know that God the Creator said, 51:46 "You should have no other gods before Him. " 51:48 It lets you know, Commandment number 2... 51:50 that you are not to make any graven image 51:52 before the God of heaven the Creator. 51:54 It says, "Thou shalt not take 51:56 the name of the Lord thy God in vain... " 51:57 He's not talking about some other god, 51:59 He's talking about the living God 52:01 who put our tongues in our mouths. 52:03 Audience: "Amen. " 52:04 I look at that and I say, 52:06 "In this day and age, this is a test of royalty. " 52:11 Pause. 52:13 In Matthew chapter 15 verse 9 52:18 these words are recorded by Jesus... 52:23 He says, "In vain they do worship me, 52:27 teaching for doctrines the commandments of man. " 52:33 Friends, tonight, we're not talking about man's commandments 52:39 we're talking about the commandments of the living God 52:43 and I don't know about you but I want to serve my Lord, 52:47 my God, my Savior, my friend, by keeping His commandments 52:52 as He has asked me to. 52:55 In my heart, I will say, like Joshua said, 53:01 "As for me and my house, I will follow the Lord. 53:07 I have decided to follow Jesus. " 53:11 Piano playing... 53:14 I'd rather have Jesus 53:21 than silver or gold; 53:31 I'd rather be His 53:34 than have riches untold; 53:41 I'd rather have Jesus 53:47 than houses or lands, 53:53 I'd rather be led 53:59 by His nail-pierced hand. 54:06 Than to be the queen 54:12 of a vast domain 54:19 Or be held in sin's 54:25 dreadful sway; 54:31 Piano... 54:34 I'd rather have Jesus 54:40 than anything 54:45 This world 54:53 affords today. 55:00 My friends, Jesus knows our hearts 55:05 and I know for some of you 55:07 you might have been hearing this message 55:09 for the very first time 55:10 but let me say this to you... Jesus knows you... 55:14 and he knows that you have served Him with a full heart 55:19 to the best of your ability 55:20 and He says unto us... in the time of our ignorance 55:24 when we didn't know, God winked at it, 55:27 you see, that is where grace is applied again 55:32 and when we serve Him with all of our hearts, 55:36 with all of our minds, to the best of our ability, 55:40 it is accredited to us as righteousness 55:44 because we were doing what we knew and thought to do 55:49 that was right and pleasing in His sight 55:51 but Ladies and Gentlemen, we're living in these last days, 55:55 in these last times, where the cry is going forth... 55:59 this loud cry... 56:01 this third angel's message 56:03 to let men, women, boys and girls know, 56:07 that the commandments of God are still in effect, 56:10 to let them know that the cross is still there 56:13 and to let them know that Jesus' second coming 56:15 is nearer than when we first believed 56:18 but we have to be ready 56:20 and we have to bring our lives in order with the will of Jesus 56:26 for this is our test in these last days. 56:30 Won't you allow Jesus to come into your heart 56:35 to bring you His truth, to study even more, 56:39 that you and your families will be able to stand up and say, 56:44 "This is our God, we have waited for Him 56:47 and He will save us" 56:49 as we point to Him in the sky 56:51 and we will know that we have been faithful 56:54 because the God that we serve has been faithful. 56:57 God bless you. |
Revised 2017-03-29