Good evening
ladies and gentlemen.
00:00:32.43\00:00:34.46
What in heaven's name
00:00:34.46\00:00:36.56
is happening to
Planet Earth tonight?
00:00:36.56\00:00:40.56
For five weeks, millions of us
00:00:40.56\00:00:42.90
have been glued to our
television sets in shock
00:00:42.90\00:00:45.33
and awe watching
blitzkrieg over Baghdad.
00:00:45.33\00:00:49.96
Tomahawk Cruise
missiles, tanks, harriers,
00:00:49.96\00:00:53.60
B-52s, stealth bombers,
00:00:53.60\00:00:55.16
the most devastating war machine
00:00:55.16\00:00:57.00
assembled on earth ever.
00:00:57.00\00:00:59.90
All fixating their
cross-hairs on one place,
00:00:59.90\00:01:03.30
Saddam Hussein's bedroom.
00:01:03.30\00:01:06.76
And understandably,
00:01:06.76\00:01:07.73
people everywhere are
wondering what's next?
00:01:07.73\00:01:11.10
The end? Is this
the final showdown?
00:01:11.10\00:01:14.23
Are today's headlines
foretold in scripture?
00:01:14.23\00:01:17.96
I don't need to tell you
00:01:17.96\00:01:18.93
that the internet is
buzzing with questions.
00:01:18.93\00:01:21.13
And in fact the
fine print will tell you,
00:01:21.13\00:01:23.70
that you'll find
out what's happening
00:01:23.70\00:01:25.06
if you will pay
and subscribe to the,
00:01:25.06\00:01:27.00
"Left Behind Prophecy
Club." You just click right here
00:01:27.00\00:01:30.76
and your
questions to be answered.
00:01:30.76\00:01:32.33
In fact, here is a
full page ad magazine
00:01:32.33\00:01:35.10
that I personally tour out.
00:01:35.10\00:01:36.30
It says "This Spring, No
One Will Escape Armageddon."
00:01:36.30\00:01:41.93
Well, say ladies and gentlemen,
00:01:41.93\00:01:43.16
we're in the middle of spring,
00:01:43.16\00:01:44.36
summer is coming in
just a few weeks away.
00:01:44.36\00:01:46.70
Hey! Does this mean,
we're almost in for it?
00:01:46.70\00:01:50.36
Maybe you've seen,
00:01:50.36\00:01:51.73
Tim LaHaye's and Jerry Jenkins',
00:01:51.73\00:01:53.80
brand new book
that was just released.
00:01:53.80\00:01:55.46
I was the first one in line
00:01:55.46\00:01:56.90
at Casco in Southern California.
00:01:56.90\00:01:58.60
This is the
eleventh in the series
00:01:58.60\00:02:00.26
of Left Behind religious
fiction about end time events.
00:02:00.26\00:02:05.00
By the way,
Tyndale Publishing House,
00:02:05.00\00:02:07.40
spent a whopping
$5 million advertising
00:02:07.40\00:02:11.10
our opening
nights meetings tonight,
00:02:11.10\00:02:12.70
what do you think?
00:02:12.70\00:02:14.50
But people are gobbling this up,
00:02:14.50\00:02:17.30
not because of the
public's red-hot interest,
00:02:17.30\00:02:20.33
in the war in the Middle East.
00:02:20.33\00:02:22.80
But people are concerned
00:02:22.80\00:02:24.60
if this is Bible
prophecy talking.
00:02:24.60\00:02:28.10
People want to know
then what lies ahead.
00:02:28.10\00:02:31.96
What's coming next?
00:02:31.96\00:02:34.00
When terrorist destroyed
the, World Trade Center,
00:02:34.00\00:02:37.03
interest in
Bible prophecy zoomed
00:02:37.03\00:02:39.66
and it has hit fever pitch,
00:02:39.66\00:02:41.83
fuelling even
greater speculation about
00:02:41.83\00:02:44.60
how this world might end.
00:02:44.60\00:02:47.40
A few Sunday evenings
ago, the CBS Evening News,
00:02:47.40\00:02:50.23
there was the man
in Fort Worth, Texas,
00:02:50.23\00:02:51.56
I happen to see this happen.
00:02:51.56\00:02:52.96
He leaned into the
microphone and he wailed
00:02:52.96\00:02:55.40
"The economy, Iraq,
now the Space Shuttle.
00:02:55.40\00:03:00.30
What's next? What is next?
00:03:00.30\00:03:05.76
You know, even in
the secular world,
00:03:05.76\00:03:08.33
the word
Armageddon, is a hot button.
00:03:08.33\00:03:12.20
Even irreligious, Ted
Turner is using the term,
00:03:12.20\00:03:17.33
Armageddon, on CNN.
00:03:17.33\00:03:20.13
Los Angeles television station
00:03:20.13\00:03:21.80
KCET Channel 28 ran a PBS series
00:03:21.80\00:03:25.53
special from Monday to
Thursday all of last week,
00:03:25.53\00:03:28.03
I saw part of it on primetime
hosted by Walter Cronkite,
00:03:28.03\00:03:32.40
two hours every night
from 9 to 11 pm called
00:03:32.40\00:03:36.03
"Avoiding Armageddon."
00:03:36.03\00:03:39.40
So ladies and gentlemen
00:03:39.40\00:03:40.40
wherever you're
listening tonight
00:03:40.40\00:03:42.30
from Australia in the
Pacific Rim to South America,
00:03:42.30\00:03:45.03
you know it doesn't
take a rocket scientist
00:03:45.03\00:03:48.40
to look at today's headlines
00:03:48.40\00:03:49.73
and realize that the speed with
00:03:49.73\00:03:51.33
which our world is
tobogganing into the Apocalypse
00:03:51.33\00:03:54.46
takes ones breadth away.
00:03:54.46\00:03:56.70
People are worried,
prominent world leaders
00:03:56.70\00:04:00.40
are voicing serious
concern about what lies ahead.
00:04:00.40\00:04:04.20
Former Vice
President Al Gore said,
00:04:04.20\00:04:06.76
and I quote, "Two
world wars, the Holocaust,
00:04:06.76\00:04:10.96
the invention
of nuclear weapons,
00:04:10.96\00:04:13.06
and now the environmental crisis
00:04:13.06\00:04:14.80
have led many of us to
wonder if survival is possible."
00:04:14.80\00:04:20.80
I believe Al Gore
was absolutely right.
00:04:20.80\00:04:24.70
In fact many serious
leaders like Giscard d'Estaing,
00:04:24.70\00:04:29.16
former French President wonder,
00:04:29.16\00:04:31.90
if our world isn't
just headed for disaster.
00:04:31.90\00:04:35.03
You know, the Los
Angeles Times says,
00:04:35.03\00:04:37.30
that Tim La
Haye's book is rattling
00:04:37.30\00:04:40.20
the gates everywhere.
00:04:40.20\00:04:42.70
Millions say prophecy is
being fulfilled in Iraq. Is it?
00:04:42.70\00:04:48.30
Well, the British
Press and the BBC saying,
00:04:48.30\00:04:51.23
no those Americans are all going
00:04:51.23\00:04:52.70
after some strange fiction.
00:04:52.70\00:04:54.86
But perhaps, Time magazine's
fiery cover said it all.
00:04:54.86\00:04:59.66
The Bible and the Apocalypse,
the end of the world?
00:04:59.66\00:05:05.26
Now the Apocalypse
00:05:05.26\00:05:06.23
is just another name
for the word Revelation
00:05:06.23\00:05:09.56
which happens to be
the last book in the Bible
00:05:09.56\00:05:12.40
where we read about
this term called Armageddon.
00:05:12.40\00:05:17.23
You know, folks
I think one lesson
00:05:17.23\00:05:18.86
that we need to
prayerfully learn
00:05:18.86\00:05:20.90
and maybe just in
these past few weeks,
00:05:20.90\00:05:23.10
we already have
learned it, is how humble
00:05:23.10\00:05:25.76
we need to be about interpreting
00:05:25.76\00:05:27.20
Bible prophecies. Amen.
00:05:27.20\00:05:29.53
Because I think we'll all agree
00:05:29.53\00:05:31.00
tonight that
clearly the recent conflict
00:05:31.00\00:05:33.46
in Iraq was not Armageddon?
00:05:33.46\00:05:37.60
I mean there was bloodshed,
00:05:37.60\00:05:39.06
there were black
hawk helicopters,
00:05:39.06\00:05:41.13
there was all kinds of
thinking's taking place,
00:05:41.13\00:05:43.66
but in three short weeks
00:05:43.66\00:05:44.83
the worst was
already over, wasn't it.
00:05:44.83\00:05:47.33
And it was not
a global conflict.
00:05:47.33\00:05:50.53
And so many of us Christians
00:05:50.53\00:05:52.03
who often tend to
look at the headlines
00:05:52.03\00:05:53.46
and want to say, oh, this is it,
00:05:53.46\00:05:55.50
now for sure we're
facing final Armageddon.
00:05:55.50\00:05:57.93
We have to remember
that leaders and preachers,
00:05:57.93\00:05:59.93
both camps have played
that card for major wars
00:05:59.93\00:06:04.76
and minor discrepancies all
over the globe for centuries.
00:06:04.76\00:06:07.56
Oh, this is Armageddon.
00:06:07.56\00:06:09.06
Sir Winston Churchill did it,
00:06:09.06\00:06:10.90
so did General
Douglas MacArthur,
00:06:10.90\00:06:12.63
Dwight Eisenhower, Ronal Ragan.
00:06:12.63\00:06:15.36
And Armageddon
simply hasn't happened yet.
00:06:15.36\00:06:20.73
So my question tonight
is, how do we sort it all out?
00:06:20.73\00:06:25.03
Well with all of the
interest in prophecy, I say,
00:06:25.03\00:06:28.76
why don't we go to the source
that the Los Angeles Times,
00:06:28.76\00:06:31.63
refers to for all
reliable prophecy.
00:06:31.63\00:06:35.20
Why not go to the
source that our radio ministry,
00:06:35.20\00:06:37.56
Voice of Prophecy, has
relayed on for 74 years.
00:06:37.56\00:06:41.63
Why not go to directly,
00:06:41.63\00:06:43.53
where we ought to go
to learn about the future.
00:06:43.53\00:06:46.10
And if you're at home
tonight watching on satellite
00:06:46.10\00:06:48.96
or you are listening
on the radio right now,
00:06:48.96\00:06:50.96
I invite you wherever you
are to go and get your Bible,
00:06:50.96\00:06:54.20
right now go ahead and
turn with me to the very last
00:06:54.20\00:06:56.76
book of the amazing Book
of Revelation Chapter one.
00:06:56.76\00:07:02.80
Now before we read
anything about Armageddon,
00:07:02.80\00:07:06.50
I want it all like a big class
00:07:06.50\00:07:08.20
and we will have
it on the screen,
00:07:08.20\00:07:09.20
so you can read it with me.
00:07:09.20\00:07:11.36
I want us to
read together out loud
00:07:11.36\00:07:12.96
wherever you are seated,
00:07:12.96\00:07:13.93
whatever
location on this planet.
00:07:13.93\00:07:16.00
I want us to read
verse three, okay everyone.
00:07:16.00\00:07:18.30
This is going
to be our hallmark.
00:07:18.30\00:07:20.10
This will be the cornerstone,
the benchmark foundation
00:07:20.10\00:07:23.63
that I'm gonna build on
tonight and tomorrow night
00:07:23.63\00:07:25.83
and every night
during these presentations.
00:07:25.83\00:07:28.00
Are we ready?
00:07:28.00\00:07:28.96
Everyone read
together out loud all together
00:07:28.96\00:07:31.96
"cursed is he" oh did
I say something wrong?
00:07:31.96\00:07:36.83
You better keep an eye on
me. What did your Bible say?
00:07:36.83\00:07:40.96
All right, let's read together.
00:07:40.96\00:07:42.63
"Blessed is the one who reads
the words of this prophecy,
00:07:42.63\00:07:47.20
and blessed are
those who hear it
00:07:47.20\00:07:49.86
and take to heart
00:07:49.86\00:07:51.20
what is written
in it because" what?
00:07:51.20\00:07:53.40
"The time is near."
00:07:53.40\00:07:57.23
This book the Apocalypse,
about Armageddon folks
00:07:57.23\00:08:01.03
isn't just a
sci-fi thriller chiller.
00:08:01.03\00:08:04.40
No need to get scared
when we read this book.
00:08:04.40\00:08:07.73
If we read and we hear
and we listen to this book.
00:08:07.73\00:08:11.36
In other words if
we take it seriously,
00:08:11.36\00:08:13.33
what does the Bible
say we receive a blessing.
00:08:13.33\00:08:16.66
Do you believe
that? Let's hear it.
00:08:16.66\00:08:19.63
Okay, then let's plunge right
00:08:19.63\00:08:21.30
into the heart of
Revelation Chapter 16.
00:08:21.30\00:08:24.60
Oh, but you maybe
surprised to discover
00:08:24.60\00:08:27.30
that the word Armageddon
00:08:27.30\00:08:29.33
only appears in
the Bible one time.
00:08:29.33\00:08:33.36
That's right,
just one solitary time
00:08:33.36\00:08:36.13
in the entire
Book of Revelation.
00:08:36.13\00:08:37.90
You know, perhaps
that's why there are
00:08:37.90\00:08:39.20
so many
different interpretations
00:08:39.20\00:08:40.53
and theories about what
Armageddon is all about.
00:08:40.53\00:08:43.23
No two prophecy
experts seem to agree.
00:08:43.23\00:08:46.60
And you know that's right
00:08:46.60\00:08:48.13
where the big problem
about Armageddon hinges.
00:08:48.13\00:08:51.86
You see the
problem about Armageddon
00:08:51.86\00:08:54.36
and the fiction about Armageddon
00:08:54.36\00:08:56.30
isn't with the Bible prophecies.
00:08:56.30\00:08:58.96
The problem is with
our human interpretations,
00:08:58.96\00:09:02.30
our speculations about them.
00:09:02.30\00:09:04.73
But the very first thing
00:09:04.73\00:09:06.06
that Revelation
Chapter one tells us
00:09:06.06\00:09:07.96
that we just read about
00:09:07.96\00:09:09.33
is that Revelation is
a book we can count on.
00:09:09.33\00:09:13.60
Learn, stay
cool, God's in control,
00:09:13.60\00:09:16.86
get into more
details from the Bible.
00:09:16.86\00:09:20.60
But someone says, wait a minute
00:09:20.60\00:09:21.66
what about
Revelation Chapter 16's
00:09:21.66\00:09:23.70
comment that
the Euphrates River.
00:09:23.70\00:09:25.73
You know, that river that troops
00:09:25.73\00:09:27.73
where hunkered down by
for the last six weeks.
00:09:27.73\00:09:29.90
That river headlined
every night in the news.
00:09:29.90\00:09:33.10
Doesn't that play a role,
00:09:33.10\00:09:34.86
a major role in
these final events?
00:09:34.86\00:09:36.80
Well, let's go to the Bible
00:09:36.80\00:09:38.13
and let's let this
passage in Revelation 16
00:09:38.13\00:09:40.93
speak for itself
beginning at verse 12.
00:09:40.93\00:09:45.00
Now this is talking
about the seven last plaques
00:09:45.00\00:09:46.86
and it says this,
"The sixth angel poured out
00:09:46.86\00:09:50.50
his bowl on the
great river Euphrates,
00:09:50.50\00:09:53.96
and its water was dried up
00:09:53.96\00:09:56.20
to prepare the way for
the kings of the East."
00:09:56.20\00:09:59.86
Oh, bingo say many books see
that means that various kings
00:09:59.86\00:10:04.06
and statesman and
maybe even Tony Blair,
00:10:04.06\00:10:06.13
he's a king or almost
will move their armies up
00:10:06.13\00:10:08.80
through the Euphrates
Valley en-route to Har Magedon
00:10:08.80\00:10:12.30
or Armageddon up
there in northern Israel.
00:10:12.30\00:10:15.36
And then they quote
Revelation 9:14 and they said,
00:10:15.36\00:10:18.33
"Look out God's going
to release the four angels
00:10:18.33\00:10:20.83
who were bound at
the great river Euphrates
00:10:20.83\00:10:23.23
and the angels
purportedly unleashed anthrax
00:10:23.23\00:10:26.70
and nerve gas
and chemical warfare
00:10:26.70\00:10:29.10
and that mysterious
new flu like SARS disease.
00:10:29.10\00:10:32.43
Agents of death and then they
flip over to Revelation 9:15.
00:10:32.43\00:10:35.93
These agents that have been
kept ready for this very hour
00:10:35.93\00:10:38.83
and day and month and year
00:10:38.83\00:10:40.76
were released to
kill a third of mankind.
00:10:40.76\00:10:45.16
Los Angeles Times says,
00:10:45.16\00:10:47.43
that then these
prophecy doomsayer say,
00:10:47.43\00:10:50.63
aha, now if you turn
over to the Revelation 9:11.
00:10:50.63\00:10:55.26
That's right
9:11, John says that,
00:10:55.26\00:11:01.50
"The leader of
an army of locusts
00:11:01.50\00:11:02.90
released to a five
humans and his name is Abaddon
00:11:02.90\00:11:06.70
and in Greek that's in Hebrew
Abaddon, Apollyon in Greek.
00:11:06.70\00:11:11.33
But both of those
names mean destroyer
00:11:11.33\00:11:14.53
which hold on to your seats,
00:11:14.53\00:11:17.26
folks is one of the
meanings for the name Saddam.
00:11:17.26\00:11:24.26
Wow, isn't that impressive?
00:11:24.26\00:11:26.70
Well, then there
is a certain gentleman
00:11:26.70\00:11:27.86
by the name of Irvin Baxter.
00:11:27.86\00:11:28.96
He's the founder of
what's called Endtime magazine,
00:11:28.96\00:11:31.60
some of you may subscribe to it.
00:11:31.60\00:11:33.30
He's pastor of the Oak
Park Church in Richmond Indiana.
00:11:33.30\00:11:36.90
He predicts that then,
00:11:36.90\00:11:38.06
"There's going to
be a nuclear holocaust
00:11:38.06\00:11:40.00
that takes the lives
of two billion people."
00:11:40.00\00:11:42.53
The one-third of mankind
00:11:42.53\00:11:44.13
that we just quoted
back up there in Revelation.
00:11:44.13\00:11:47.13
You know, on and
on and on it goes.
00:11:47.13\00:11:50.23
Where does it end?
Who do you believe?
00:11:50.23\00:11:53.10
Do we believe what's
behind door number one,
00:11:53.10\00:11:55.06
or door number two or
behind what's door number three,
00:11:55.06\00:11:57.83
or maybe behind
what's door number four.
00:11:57.83\00:12:00.76
Now let's watch out folks.
00:12:00.76\00:12:02.73
Before you and I
jump to conclusion
00:12:02.73\00:12:04.53
that could get us
into real trouble,
00:12:04.53\00:12:06.20
I mean really
deep dead end trouble.
00:12:06.20\00:12:10.30
Why don't we let the Bible do
00:12:10.30\00:12:11.56
what Paul Harvey says
00:12:11.56\00:12:12.46
and let it tell us
the rest of the story?
00:12:12.46\00:12:15.66
Amen. The whole story.
00:12:15.66\00:12:18.90
See its very risky
to takes statements
00:12:18.90\00:12:21.66
from different parts of
the Bible out of context
00:12:21.66\00:12:24.90
especially parts
that are highly symbolic
00:12:24.90\00:12:28.03
and force them to support
00:12:28.03\00:12:29.90
something that
they really don't say.
00:12:29.90\00:12:33.10
Because listen
Revelation is a book
00:12:33.10\00:12:34.73
that is full of
symbols, it's highly symbolic,
00:12:34.73\00:12:39.56
a highly think figurative book.
00:12:39.56\00:12:41.63
I want you to look with me
00:12:41.63\00:12:42.73
at the next verse
here in this passage
00:12:42.73\00:12:44.20
in Revelation
Chapter 16, verse 13.
00:12:44.20\00:12:46.86
And you tell me how literal
00:12:46.86\00:12:50.20
and how real is this
language of the Apocalypse.
00:12:50.20\00:12:55.53
"Then I saw three evil
spirits that looked like frogs,
00:12:55.53\00:13:01.53
they came out of
the mouth of the dragon,
00:13:01.53\00:13:03.60
and out of the
mouth of the beast
00:13:03.60\00:13:05.13
and out of the mouth
of the false prophet."
00:13:05.13\00:13:08.70
When I was Armageddon,
00:13:08.70\00:13:10.33
they battled featuring
real frogs and real dragons,
00:13:10.33\00:13:17.36
or are we possibly
dealing with some symbols here,
00:13:17.36\00:13:21.80
obviously symbols.
00:13:21.80\00:13:23.40
Well who are these evil spirits?
00:13:23.40\00:13:25.63
Good question
I'm glad you asked.
00:13:25.63\00:13:28.30
Let's let the
Bible answer again.
00:13:28.30\00:13:30.30
We don't want speculation,
00:13:30.30\00:13:31.50
we don't want some wild guesses.
00:13:31.50\00:13:33.16
We want an answer and
the Bible gives it clearly,
00:13:33.16\00:13:35.93
in fact that's the only
way we can draw conclusions,
00:13:35.93\00:13:38.33
what do you say? Amen.
00:13:38.33\00:13:39.83
the next verse says,
00:13:39.83\00:13:42.60
"They are the
spirits of demons."
00:13:42.60\00:13:45.63
Who are these evil
spirits? The spirits of demons.
00:13:45.63\00:13:50.66
Well, now we know that,
demons are Satan's stooges.
00:13:50.66\00:13:54.86
Evil angels who with
Satan rebelled against God
00:13:54.86\00:13:58.00
and tried to stage
a coup up in heaven
00:13:58.00\00:13:59.96
a kind of cosmic stuff
talk about celestial Star Wars.
00:13:59.96\00:14:05.00
We'll discover
another night by way
00:14:05.00\00:14:06.90
that the Bible
clearly says in Revelation 12,
00:14:06.90\00:14:10.00
that the coup of this
axis of evil up there failed
00:14:10.00\00:14:14.03
and Satan and his
cronies were cast out of heaven.
00:14:14.03\00:14:17.20
He came down to this world
00:14:17.20\00:14:18.33
where he works
subtlety to manipulate
00:14:18.33\00:14:20.43
people to
reject truth about God.
00:14:20.43\00:14:22.76
But I want you to notice
now Revelation 16:14 to 16.
00:14:22.76\00:14:26.76
Who is it that leads the entire
world into final conflict?
00:14:26.76\00:14:34.30
It isn't Antichrist,
00:14:34.30\00:14:36.23
it isn't Saddam
or Osama Bin Laden,
00:14:36.23\00:14:40.40
its Satan and his evil angels.
00:14:40.40\00:14:43.16
And look it's not at all a war
00:14:43.16\00:14:45.40
that confined just
to the Middle East.
00:14:45.40\00:14:48.60
It says
"Performing miraculous signs
00:14:48.60\00:14:51.46
and they go out to the kings"
00:14:51.46\00:14:53.20
of what "the whole
world to gather them
00:14:53.20\00:14:57.13
for the battle of the
great day of God Almighty."
00:14:57.13\00:14:59.96
Where do they go?
00:14:59.96\00:15:00.93
Just to Saddam Hussein's bedroom
00:15:00.93\00:15:02.16
over there in
the Euphrates valley.
00:15:02.16\00:15:04.46
No, they go out
to the whole world.
00:15:04.46\00:15:09.80
So you help me out now,
00:15:09.80\00:15:11.53
what's already very clear here.
00:15:11.53\00:15:13.96
Revelation 16 says that this
is final mother of all battles
00:15:13.96\00:15:20.13
between God Almighty
and the spirits of demons,
00:15:20.13\00:15:24.06
let me restate this,
this ultimate Star Wars
00:15:24.06\00:15:27.50
is a showdown
between God and Satan.
00:15:27.50\00:15:33.23
But that isn't all, hold on.
00:15:33.23\00:15:36.06
It says "For they
are the spirits of demons
00:15:36.06\00:15:39.76
performing signs which
go out to the kings of earth
00:15:39.76\00:15:42.60
and of the whole
world to gather them
00:15:42.60\00:15:44.23
to the battle of that
great day of God Almighty.
00:15:44.23\00:15:47.16
Behold I'm coming as a thief
00:15:47.16\00:15:50.63
and they gathered
them together in the place
00:15:50.63\00:15:53.30
called in the
Hebrew, Armageddon."
00:15:53.30\00:15:56.66
And notice with me already
00:15:56.66\00:15:57.73
these careful
crystal clear points
00:15:57.73\00:15:59.90
about Armageddon from your Bible
00:15:59.90\00:16:01.73
that we've learned tonight.
00:16:01.73\00:16:03.13
What is it? When
is it? Where is it?
00:16:03.13\00:16:06.86
Not what Lonnie
thinks? What your Bible says?
00:16:06.86\00:16:11.70
The battle of Armageddon
00:16:11.70\00:16:12.83
is called the battle of
the great day of God Almighty.
00:16:12.83\00:16:17.43
That's verse 14.
00:16:17.43\00:16:18.40
What is this
battle called? Come on?
00:16:18.40\00:16:21.73
Battle of the great
day of God almighty.
00:16:21.73\00:16:24.26
Speak right up
after me the next verse.
00:16:24.26\00:16:27.10
The battle of Armageddon occurs
00:16:27.10\00:16:28.76
just before Jesus
comes as a thief verse 15.
00:16:28.76\00:16:33.13
When does this battle occur?
00:16:33.13\00:16:36.26
Just before Jesus comes.
00:16:36.26\00:16:38.63
And the Bible says
00:16:38.63\00:16:39.60
"Then they
gathered together in a place
00:16:39.60\00:16:41.93
in the Hebrew
tongue called Armageddon."
00:16:41.93\00:16:45.06
Where is this
battle fought? Armageddon.
00:16:45.06\00:16:49.73
Now let me interject
something very, very important.
00:16:49.73\00:16:53.33
We must not
miss this point here.
00:16:53.33\00:16:55.63
We must not leap frog
from verse 14 and over 15
00:16:55.63\00:16:59.70
to get to the good part of
the Armageddon in verse 16.
00:16:59.70\00:17:02.83
In fact Jesus
himself injected right here
00:17:02.83\00:17:05.96
at verse 15 at this point,
00:17:05.96\00:17:07.23
so that we won't get
mixed up. So that we won't get
00:17:07.23\00:17:10.50
so caught up in lot of
these deceptive fiction,
00:17:10.50\00:17:13.13
that all of the evil
angels and the violence
00:17:13.13\00:17:14.96
and by the way I read that book,
00:17:14.96\00:17:15.93
it's got some
interesting good things.
00:17:15.93\00:17:18.13
But He is-- He doesn't want us
00:17:18.13\00:17:19.16
to get mixed up in all
of the gathering of armies
00:17:19.16\00:17:21.56
in final cosmic spectacular,
00:17:21.56\00:17:24.00
so that we lose the perspective
00:17:24.00\00:17:25.56
and miss the point.
00:17:25.56\00:17:28.00
That this whole stirring,
00:17:28.00\00:17:29.80
frightening
picture is just a prelude
00:17:29.80\00:17:33.76
to the very coming of Jesus.
00:17:33.76\00:17:36.43
Unmistakably clear in verse 15.
00:17:36.43\00:17:39.03
Remember Jesus
Himself is speaking here.
00:17:39.03\00:17:41.36
"Behold I come as a thief.
00:17:41.36\00:17:44.53
Blessed is he who stays awake
00:17:44.53\00:17:47.20
and keeps his clothes with him.
00:17:47.20\00:17:48.93
So he may not go naked
and be shamefully exposed."
00:17:48.93\00:17:53.56
Now listen folks in
dealing with Armageddon,
00:17:53.56\00:17:56.56
here is the good news tonight.
00:17:56.56\00:17:58.10
The Book of
Revelation turns the spotlight
00:17:58.10\00:18:01.03
when we're
looking at Armageddon,
00:18:01.03\00:18:02.46
the spotlight
is turned on Jesus,
00:18:02.46\00:18:05.06
on His
righteousness, on His grace,
00:18:05.06\00:18:07.60
on His gift of life,
that's what the Bible means,
00:18:07.60\00:18:10.66
when it talks about a person
keeping his clothes with him.
00:18:10.66\00:18:14.46
Armageddon speaks of
victory, not victims.
00:18:14.46\00:18:18.80
It speaks of
deliverance not doom,
00:18:18.80\00:18:21.56
it speaks of
hope, not hopelessness.
00:18:21.56\00:18:24.26
It speaks of Satan's
final futile attempts to unite
00:18:24.26\00:18:27.40
all the forces of hell
against God and his people.
00:18:27.40\00:18:30.60
Question is tonight
are you ready for this?
00:18:30.60\00:18:34.43
Or you can be?
Bible says without it,
00:18:34.43\00:18:39.23
you're exposed naked
and what does that mean.
00:18:39.23\00:18:44.23
It isn't
talking about streakers,
00:18:44.23\00:18:46.73
trying to get attention.
00:18:46.73\00:18:48.23
No, it's pointing out
serious spiritual emptiness
00:18:48.23\00:18:51.76
and a very real possibility
00:18:51.76\00:18:53.76
that some good people
will not survive Armageddon,
00:18:53.76\00:18:57.10
it's just that vital.
00:18:57.10\00:18:59.36
But thank God, you
can have assurance.
00:18:59.36\00:19:03.03
You don't need Lon,
00:19:03.03\00:19:04.30
to be blown away
if you stay awake.
00:19:04.30\00:19:07.43
If you find Jesus as your friend
00:19:07.43\00:19:09.20
and wear the
clothing He has for you,
00:19:09.20\00:19:11.23
you can have life
that lasts forever.
00:19:11.23\00:19:14.73
What God is telling us here is,
00:19:14.73\00:19:17.10
He's not
someone to be afraid of.
00:19:17.10\00:19:20.30
He's someone to be a friend of.
00:19:20.30\00:19:22.40
In fact, He's on our side.
00:19:22.40\00:19:25.00
And I want that to
stand out as clear as a beacon
00:19:25.00\00:19:27.33
in this seminar
study series on the Bible.
00:19:27.33\00:19:30.23
God friend wants to
be your best friend.
00:19:30.23\00:19:35.40
You know, after 9/11
Americans particularly learned
00:19:35.40\00:19:39.76
what it really
means to be afraid.
00:19:39.76\00:19:42.73
Terrorists cell groups
00:19:42.73\00:19:44.60
continue to hide in our shadows.
00:19:44.60\00:19:46.90
Snipers are out there.
00:19:46.90\00:19:48.93
Economy is looking like
its careening downhill faster,
00:19:48.93\00:19:51.36
and faster everyday.
00:19:51.36\00:19:53.13
And do you know
what else the Bible says,
00:19:53.13\00:19:55.40
the Bible itself in the
mysterious book of Daniel
00:19:55.40\00:19:59.23
seems to
describe an enormous stone
00:19:59.23\00:20:02.10
hurdling through deep space
00:20:02.10\00:20:03.70
and blowing this
planet into oblivion.
00:20:03.70\00:20:05.83
Does that sound like good news,
00:20:05.83\00:20:08.60
or the greatest cosmic
terrorist attack of all time?
00:20:08.60\00:20:12.30
Well, tomorrow
night here's our topic,
00:20:12.30\00:20:15.06
what's next
signs you can't ignore.
00:20:15.06\00:20:20.70
We'll learn
about Bible prophecies
00:20:20.70\00:20:22.36
being fulfilled
right now in 2003.
00:20:22.36\00:20:25.80
And I hope every
one of you will decide,
00:20:25.80\00:20:27.43
I'm gonna be here to this
satellite seminar location
00:20:27.43\00:20:30.43
with my own Bible under my arm.
00:20:30.43\00:20:32.00
And I'm gonna bring a piece
of paper and take some notes.
00:20:32.00\00:20:34.93
And now back to the final
cosmic battle of the ages.
00:20:34.93\00:20:39.66
Where and when
does this take place?
00:20:39.66\00:20:44.16
Lets look now to
Revelation 16, verse 16.
00:20:44.16\00:20:46.53
It says, "Then
they gathered the kings
00:20:46.53\00:20:49.70
together to the place that
in Hebrew is called Armageddon."
00:20:49.70\00:20:55.10
Another question for
you to speak right out loud.
00:20:55.10\00:20:57.53
Does it say that this is
going to happen this spring?
00:20:57.53\00:21:01.76
Does the text say
that? No. Does it say,
00:21:01.76\00:21:04.60
maybe it will happen
in the next few weeks?
00:21:04.60\00:21:06.80
No. Doesn't say that either.
00:21:06.80\00:21:08.30
What does the
Bible actually say?
00:21:08.30\00:21:09.93
It says, "Then, then
there is a spiritual showdown
00:21:09.93\00:21:17.06
coming between the forces
of right forces of wrong."
00:21:17.06\00:21:20.96
Well someone asks Lon,
00:21:20.96\00:21:22.73
does this
eliminate the possibility
00:21:22.73\00:21:24.80
of some earth-shaking
physical military conflict
00:21:24.80\00:21:27.86
somewhere on this planet.
00:21:27.86\00:21:28.90
No. In fact, I like to suggest
00:21:28.90\00:21:31.26
that its unimaginable
human nature being what it is.
00:21:31.26\00:21:35.46
That there won't be
fierce military carnages
00:21:35.46\00:21:39.03
humanity reaches
its final chapter.
00:21:39.03\00:21:42.16
After all in the last
century alone an estimated
00:21:42.16\00:21:44.33
221 million human
beings were murdered or killed.
00:21:44.33\00:21:50.53
You know, as these
sands of time here run out.
00:21:50.53\00:21:55.40
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:21:55.40\00:21:56.53
I don't think things in
this world are going to improve.
00:21:56.53\00:22:00.10
Because when it
all finally does end
00:22:00.10\00:22:02.20
the final approach
on the runway of time,
00:22:02.20\00:22:04.70
it will be God
Himself stepping in,
00:22:04.70\00:22:07.70
awesome empower and majesty,
00:22:07.70\00:22:09.70
you talk about shock and all,
00:22:09.70\00:22:12.73
but then the Bible
says and not till then.
00:22:12.73\00:22:15.86
Remember something
important Jesus says here.
00:22:15.86\00:22:18.13
He says, you disciples
will see a lot of these events,
00:22:18.13\00:22:20.86
you'll see the
carnage, you'll see the famines,
00:22:20.86\00:22:22.70
you'll see the
disaster and you'll think, okay.
00:22:22.70\00:22:26.93
This is got to be
it. This is Armageddon,
00:22:26.93\00:22:29.86
but Jesus says
no, not yet, not yet.
00:22:29.86\00:22:34.86
First he says "You will
hear of wars and rumors of wars,
00:22:34.86\00:22:40.70
but see to it that
you are not alarmed.
00:22:40.70\00:22:43.33
Such things must happen."
00:22:43.33\00:22:45.30
But what? "The
end is still to come."
00:22:45.30\00:22:51.33
Jesus says Lon,
"Hang loose! Stay cool!"
00:22:51.33\00:22:53.93
We might think Iraq is
the trigger for Armageddon.
00:22:53.93\00:22:56.66
But Mathew 24 verse
8 says all these things
00:22:56.66\00:22:59.83
are the
beginning of birth pains.
00:22:59.83\00:23:04.36
We got a staff member
00:23:04.36\00:23:05.30
that's on a deliver
room table right now.
00:23:05.30\00:23:08.13
And I'll be honest
with you I'll confess
00:23:08.13\00:23:09.90
I've never experienced
birth pains myself personally.
00:23:09.90\00:23:14.73
But you who are
mothers you certainly know
00:23:14.73\00:23:17.60
how the increase in frequency
00:23:17.60\00:23:19.80
and intensity they put
you on noticed, on alert.
00:23:19.80\00:23:25.06
They keep you on your toes,
something is going to happen.
00:23:25.06\00:23:28.40
Yes sir, it's going to happen.
00:23:28.40\00:23:30.50
So the Bible says, something
is going to happen, when?
00:23:30.50\00:23:35.56
Okay, now the question is where?
00:23:35.56\00:23:39.93
Revelation 16:16, "And
he gathered them together
00:23:39.93\00:23:42.56
into a place called in the
Hebrew tongue, Armageddon."
00:23:42.56\00:23:49.40
I want you to look this way
00:23:49.40\00:23:50.46
and I want you to
listen very carefully.
00:23:50.46\00:23:52.50
You can go home,
00:23:52.50\00:23:53.50
you can get your
Rand McNally atlases out
00:23:53.50\00:23:56.00
or you can get your
national geographic maps.
00:23:56.00\00:23:59.06
You can search
the face of the earth
00:23:59.06\00:24:00.80
and you'll not find any
place called Armageddon.
00:24:00.80\00:24:05.16
There is no such place.
00:24:05.16\00:24:07.06
But this scripture
gives us a little hint.
00:24:07.06\00:24:10.46
It offers some suggestions
00:24:10.46\00:24:12.13
and says that
these word Armageddon
00:24:12.13\00:24:14.36
comes from a Hebrew
word. I took Hebrew,
00:24:14.36\00:24:17.33
I can't remember
very much about it,
00:24:17.33\00:24:18.80
but I know this much
00:24:18.80\00:24:20.00
that this word
Armageddon is really
00:24:20.00\00:24:21.70
the combination of two words
00:24:21.70\00:24:23.80
Har meaning mountain and Magedon
00:24:23.80\00:24:29.80
which doesn't have
any real definition
00:24:29.80\00:24:32.16
but it appears to us to link
00:24:32.16\00:24:35.16
with a place there in
Israel called Megiddo.
00:24:35.16\00:24:39.43
The name Armageddon
could literally mean
00:24:39.43\00:24:42.33
mountain or
"Mountains of Megiddo."
00:24:42.33\00:24:46.06
All right this gives
us something to work with,
00:24:46.06\00:24:48.90
but do you know what,
I've stood over there.
00:24:48.90\00:24:51.06
I have some of you have too
00:24:51.06\00:24:52.20
over there in Northern Israel.
00:24:52.20\00:24:54.70
At Megiddo, you know what it is?
00:24:54.70\00:24:57.80
It's a valley. It's a plain,
00:24:57.80\00:25:00.43
usually called
the Plain of Esdraelon
00:25:00.43\00:25:02.40
but with Zechariah
Chapter 12:11 calls Megiddo.
00:25:02.40\00:25:05.80
It's a triangular shaped swamp
00:25:05.80\00:25:08.40
basically about
20 miles on a side,
00:25:08.40\00:25:11.80
about two-third
the size of Lake Tahoe
00:25:11.80\00:25:14.13
there in Northern California,
00:25:14.13\00:25:15.30
where my parents
are watching tonight.
00:25:15.30\00:25:17.66
It's just a little
north of Jerusalem.
00:25:17.66\00:25:19.76
That is the closest
thing that scholars can come up
00:25:19.76\00:25:23.03
with that might
resemble "Har Magedon." Megiddo.
00:25:23.03\00:25:28.20
In fact I remember
there is a tourist sign there,
00:25:28.20\00:25:31.86
that says Armageddon.
00:25:31.86\00:25:34.23
Not very impressive,
not a very big place,
00:25:34.23\00:25:37.60
in fact it's so small
our Israeli guide pointed out
00:25:37.60\00:25:40.56
that if you're
thinking this is Armageddon,
00:25:40.56\00:25:42.50
two Israeli jets
couldn't even turn around
00:25:42.50\00:25:44.70
in the skies above that valley.
00:25:44.70\00:25:47.50
Oh, granted some
impressive battles
00:25:47.50\00:25:50.16
were fought there long, long ago
00:25:50.16\00:25:51.76
but it obviously does not offer
00:25:51.76\00:25:53.76
much room for
modern armies or the kings
00:25:53.76\00:25:56.06
of the whole
world to assemble there.
00:25:56.06\00:25:59.73
But hold on to your seat,
because now the plot thickens.
00:25:59.73\00:26:03.43
You see, unfortunately
it doesn't make sense
00:26:03.43\00:26:06.03
for Revelation 16 to
call Megiddo a mountain.
00:26:06.03\00:26:11.93
Har Magedon, Megiddo
isn't a mountain at all,
00:26:11.93\00:26:16.96
it's a flat marshy valley.
00:26:16.96\00:26:19.36
So it's what we call an oxymoron
00:26:19.36\00:26:21.73
to call Megiddo a mountain.
00:26:21.73\00:26:23.40
It's kind of like for
you folks watching tonight
00:26:23.40\00:26:25.23
over there in Omaha, Nebraska.
00:26:25.23\00:26:27.66
It's like calling Omaha
00:26:27.66\00:26:29.33
on the flat plains of
Nebraska, mount Omaha.
00:26:29.33\00:26:34.40
No, it doesn't fit,
00:26:34.40\00:26:35.60
doesn't work, seems confusing.
00:26:35.60\00:26:38.53
But let's
patiently and prayerfully
00:26:38.53\00:26:39.73
look for an answer
tonight, what would you say.
00:26:39.73\00:26:42.30
The whole context of Armageddon
00:26:42.30\00:26:45.26
in the Book of Revelation
is that there is a situation
00:26:45.26\00:26:50.83
in which a divided world reaches
00:26:50.83\00:26:53.80
its final mountain top summit
against the mountain of God.
00:26:53.80\00:27:01.40
The battle of Armageddon,
00:27:01.40\00:27:02.50
Revelation 16 speaks
of a God on His mountain
00:27:02.50\00:27:06.76
who is powerful enough,
a God who is strong enough,
00:27:06.76\00:27:10.06
a God who is mighty in battle,
00:27:10.06\00:27:11.80
a God who has
never lost to Satan yet
00:27:11.80\00:27:13.80
and He won't now either.
00:27:13.80\00:27:15.73
Which leads to question tonight,
00:27:15.73\00:27:17.23
what kind of a
battle are you facing
00:27:17.23\00:27:19.36
ladies and gentlemen.
00:27:19.36\00:27:20.50
Are you perhaps tonight
facing a battle with disease?
00:27:20.50\00:27:24.26
It seems to be
getting the best of you.
00:27:24.26\00:27:27.00
Are you going
to win that battle?
00:27:27.00\00:27:29.10
Well, the Bible says you are.
00:27:29.10\00:27:31.13
What kind of a battle
are you facing tonight?
00:27:31.13\00:27:32.93
Are you facing a battle
00:27:32.93\00:27:35.13
perhaps with discouragement?
00:27:35.13\00:27:37.60
Well, hey friend you
and God are gonna win,
00:27:37.60\00:27:40.13
if Jesus is in your life.
00:27:40.13\00:27:42.53
Are you facing a battle
00:27:42.53\00:27:43.80
with some habit or
attitude in your life
00:27:43.80\00:27:46.36
that you just
wish you could give up?
00:27:46.36\00:27:48.66
Good news, as you
and God are gonna win.
00:27:48.66\00:27:51.50
Are you facing some
battle with temptation?
00:27:51.50\00:27:53.80
You and God are going to win.
00:27:53.80\00:27:56.06
Oh, yes, at end time
the battle will be fierce.
00:27:56.06\00:27:59.40
The dragon will roar,
the beast will oppress,
00:27:59.40\00:28:02.46
the antichrist will persecute,
00:28:02.46\00:28:04.13
but Jesus Christ
enters the battle
00:28:04.13\00:28:06.53
and He is triumphant
00:28:06.53\00:28:08.43
and you will be
triumphant too. Amen.
00:28:08.43\00:28:11.50
So my question tonight is this,
00:28:11.50\00:28:14.16
was General
Douglas MacArthur right?
00:28:14.16\00:28:18.10
Some of you
honored veterans of war.
00:28:18.10\00:28:24.50
Was he right when he stood
on the deck of the battleship
00:28:24.50\00:28:26.96
Missouri on September 02, 1945,
00:28:26.96\00:28:29.30
after we dropped the atomic
bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
00:28:29.30\00:28:33.20
to end the most terrible
war in the history of mankind?
00:28:33.20\00:28:36.20
Was McCarthy
right to warn the world,
00:28:36.20\00:28:39.56
"We have had our last chance."
00:28:39.56\00:28:43.63
If we do not device some greater
00:28:43.63\00:28:46.10
and more equitable system,
00:28:46.10\00:28:48.53
Armageddon will be at our door.
00:28:48.53\00:28:53.63
Perhaps he was more
right than we realized.
00:28:53.63\00:28:57.60
Because let me say
again very clearly,
00:28:57.60\00:28:59.86
the final struggle
between good and evil,
00:28:59.86\00:29:03.40
the Armageddon
battle for planet earth
00:29:03.40\00:29:05.93
is going to be the
mother of all battles.
00:29:05.93\00:29:09.26
Spiritually, morally,
physically, militarily
00:29:09.26\00:29:13.33
and it will not take place
00:29:13.33\00:29:14.80
only in a
Northern Israeli swamp no.
00:29:14.80\00:29:18.46
Armageddon will take
place all over planet earth,
00:29:18.46\00:29:23.50
but right in the
middle of this chaos.
00:29:23.50\00:29:25.90
Notice what Jesus
said in Mathew 24 verse 30,
00:29:25.90\00:29:29.23
He said "Then the
sign of the Son of Man
00:29:29.23\00:29:32.30
will appear in the heaven,
00:29:32.30\00:29:33.70
and all the tribes
of the earth will mourn
00:29:33.70\00:29:35.93
and they will see
00:29:35.93\00:29:36.93
the son of Man coming
on the clouds of heaven
00:29:36.93\00:29:39.76
with power and great glory."
00:29:39.76\00:29:42.86
Revelation 19:11 says,
Armageddon finally comes
00:29:42.86\00:29:46.60
to its climax at
the coming of Jesus.
00:29:46.60\00:29:49.00
Notice what it says, "I
saw heaven standing open
00:29:49.00\00:29:52.46
and there before
me was a white horse,
00:29:52.46\00:29:55.10
whose rider is
called Faithful and True.
00:29:55.10\00:29:57.33
The armies of
heaven were following him,
00:29:57.33\00:29:59.16
riding on white horses
and dressed in fine linen,
00:29:59.16\00:30:02.16
white and clean.
00:30:02.16\00:30:03.30
Now who is this one
riding on the white horse
00:30:03.30\00:30:06.13
and leading the
armies of heaven?
00:30:06.13\00:30:08.53
Come on, Jesus,
00:30:08.53\00:30:10.50
right none other
than Jesus Himself.
00:30:10.50\00:30:12.46
Revelation 19:16, "On His robe
00:30:12.46\00:30:15.10
and on His thigh He
has this name written,
00:30:15.10\00:30:17.50
King of Kings
and Lord of Lords."
00:30:17.50\00:30:20.63
I mean there is no
mistaking who this is,
00:30:20.63\00:30:22.83
it's Jesus Himself
and why does He come.
00:30:22.83\00:30:26.10
To deliver His
saints in tribulation.
00:30:26.10\00:30:29.80
Jesus wins, that is the message
00:30:29.80\00:30:34.03
underlined in the
Book of Revelation
00:30:34.03\00:30:35.66
and impressed in our minds
with triple exclamation points.
00:30:35.66\00:30:39.96
And we who accept
Him, win with Him.
00:30:39.96\00:30:44.23
Revelation 19:20 says,
"But the beast was captured
00:30:44.23\00:30:47.76
and with him the false prophet
00:30:47.76\00:30:49.76
who performed the
miraculous signs on his behalf."
00:30:49.76\00:30:53.46
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:30:53.46\00:30:55.46
the cosmic battle of
the ages will be the biggest
00:30:55.46\00:31:01.30
cliffhanger battle of them all.
00:31:01.30\00:31:03.76
Because you see
Armageddon, is about two camps,
00:31:03.76\00:31:08.23
two different universe systems,
00:31:08.23\00:31:10.73
the final showdown.
00:31:10.73\00:31:13.76
Once those two are
unequivocally differentiated,
00:31:13.76\00:31:16.80
there is no
reason for further delay.
00:31:16.80\00:31:18.70
The battle lines will be drawn.
00:31:18.70\00:31:20.60
There is nothing
more that God can do,
00:31:20.60\00:31:22.36
to save the wicked
00:31:22.36\00:31:23.76
and nothing more He
needs to do for the righteous,
00:31:23.76\00:31:25.76
except deliver them.
00:31:25.76\00:31:27.70
This is the
moment of truth. Amen.
00:31:27.70\00:31:31.83
More than an ultimatum
00:31:31.83\00:31:32.93
from President George
Bush or Tony Blair's date on.
00:31:32.93\00:31:38.16
Revelation says, the way is paid
00:31:38.16\00:31:40.63
by God for Jesus to return.
00:31:40.63\00:31:44.73
Satan over here
has his access of evil
00:31:44.73\00:31:47.53
the triple
alliance of the dragon
00:31:47.53\00:31:49.30
and the beast and
the false prophet.
00:31:49.30\00:31:51.66
But Jesus warned in
Mathew 24 verses 3 and 4
00:31:51.66\00:31:54.73
"Take heed lawn that
no one deceives you."
00:31:54.73\00:31:57.90
Mathew 24:24,
"For false christs,
00:31:57.90\00:32:01.23
and false prophets will
rise and show great signs
00:32:01.23\00:32:04.50
and wonder to deceive if
possible, even the elect."
00:32:04.50\00:32:08.33
There will be a miracle mania
00:32:08.33\00:32:10.70
that will overwhelm people on TV
00:32:10.70\00:32:12.83
and in the state of religion.
Signs and wonders, wow!
00:32:12.83\00:32:16.40
So scientific and stunning
00:32:16.40\00:32:17.86
they almost deceive
even the very elect.
00:32:17.86\00:32:20.76
False christs, false prophets,
00:32:20.76\00:32:23.20
plus Satan's biggest lie set
00:32:23.20\00:32:26.00
the stage for
the final showdown.
00:32:26.00\00:32:29.06
I won't be at all
surprised perhaps to discover
00:32:29.06\00:32:31.53
that one of his
demons impersonating
00:32:31.53\00:32:34.06
an angel of light will appear
to resurrect a dead person.
00:32:34.06\00:32:38.46
I won't be all
surprised one day to look
00:32:38.46\00:32:40.30
and see someone
talking on television
00:32:40.30\00:32:42.40
to Lady Diana or Mother Theresa.
00:32:42.40\00:32:46.60
Satan's final delusions
to deceive and mislead.
00:32:46.60\00:32:51.06
We're gonna to be
talking a lot about
00:32:51.06\00:32:52.16
some of these
things in coming night.
00:32:52.16\00:32:55.00
So the question is what's next,
00:32:55.00\00:32:57.56
Revelation 7:1 to 3 says,
00:32:57.56\00:32:59.60
"After this I saw
four angels standing
00:32:59.60\00:33:03.73
at the four
corners of the earth,
00:33:03.73\00:33:05.70
holding back the four
winds of the earth to prevent
00:33:05.70\00:33:08.36
any wind from
blowing on the land
00:33:08.36\00:33:10.23
or on the sea or any tree.
00:33:10.23\00:33:12.23
Then I saw another
angel coming up from the east,
00:33:12.23\00:33:16.16
having the seal
of the living God.
00:33:16.16\00:33:19.20
And he called out with
00:33:19.20\00:33:20.33
a loud voice to the four angels
00:33:20.33\00:33:21.83
who had been given power
to harm the land and the sea.
00:33:21.83\00:33:24.06
"Do not harm the land
or the sea or the trees
00:33:24.06\00:33:26.53
until we put a seal
00:33:26.53\00:33:29.43
on the foreheads of
the servants of our God."
00:33:29.43\00:33:34.63
You see in mercy tonight
00:33:34.63\00:33:36.20
God says hold on
just a little bit longer,
00:33:36.20\00:33:40.20
don't let the
curtain of time ring down
00:33:40.20\00:33:42.40
yet or the hour is now at
the sand in the hourglass,
00:33:42.40\00:33:45.26
because there are still
people there on planet earth,
00:33:45.26\00:33:47.73
still responding to me.
00:33:47.73\00:33:49.36
God wants
something else to happen
00:33:49.36\00:33:51.43
before the final
winds of Armageddon
00:33:51.43\00:33:54.63
theory blow in all of
their force on this planet.
00:33:54.63\00:33:57.70
Jesus himself said,
00:33:57.70\00:33:59.66
this final thing is
the biggest sign of all,
00:33:59.66\00:34:03.13
but He's just about to return.
00:34:03.13\00:34:05.23
One of my favorite
text Mathew 24, verse 14.
00:34:05.23\00:34:08.43
He said first, "This
gospel of the kingdom
00:34:08.43\00:34:12.10
must be
preached in all the world
00:34:12.10\00:34:13.90
as a testimony to all nations,
00:34:13.90\00:34:15.66
and then the end
will come." Amen.
00:34:15.66\00:34:19.93
Well, now that doesn't mean
00:34:19.93\00:34:20.93
we can sit back
tonight and say well,
00:34:20.93\00:34:22.40
preacher you just made
feel a whole lot better.
00:34:22.40\00:34:24.60
No need to get all
concerned about Armageddon,
00:34:24.60\00:34:27.13
because I happen to know
00:34:27.13\00:34:28.13
that gospel hasn't
gone to the whole world yet.
00:34:28.13\00:34:31.26
Because friend, the gospel
is making amazing advances
00:34:31.26\00:34:35.70
throughout the world
00:34:35.70\00:34:36.66
in Africa and Asia
and India and every where.
00:34:36.66\00:34:40.43
I was reading from
the New York Times,
00:34:40.43\00:34:43.06
it says that
even in China tonight
00:34:43.06\00:34:46.30
with foreign missionaries banned
00:34:46.30\00:34:48.30
and underground
churches persecuted,
00:34:48.30\00:34:50.66
the New York Times says,
00:34:50.66\00:34:52.63
Christianity is flourishing with
00:34:52.63\00:34:55.16
tens of millions of believers.
00:34:55.16\00:34:58.40
Never in history that been more
00:34:58.40\00:34:59.90
overwhelming globing circling
proclamation of the gospel
00:34:59.90\00:35:03.40
in corresponding response.
00:35:03.40\00:35:05.63
It's on the internet,
on TV, on worldwide radio.
00:35:05.63\00:35:10.06
It's bouncing off satellites
tonight in South America
00:35:10.06\00:35:12.66
and New Guinea,
Australia and Pacific Rim.
00:35:12.66\00:35:15.53
And this summer
we'll be over there
00:35:15.53\00:35:16.90
in Africa and
Europe and Asia thereafter.
00:35:16.90\00:35:19.70
See people are getting
the message about Jesus'
00:35:19.70\00:35:21.83
warning in Mathew 24:42 and 44.
00:35:21.83\00:35:24.90
Lon "Watch therefore,
00:35:24.90\00:35:27.90
for you do not know what
hour your Lord is coming.
00:35:27.90\00:35:31.80
So you also must be ready,
00:35:31.80\00:35:36.30
because the Son of
Man is coming at an hour
00:35:36.30\00:35:38.40
when you do not expect Him."
00:35:38.40\00:35:42.06
For the past six weeks,
00:35:42.06\00:35:43.60
we've all had front row
seats, a war in your face.
00:35:43.60\00:35:49.63
Five hundred
embedded news reporters
00:35:49.63\00:35:51.76
with live
television pictures of capture,
00:35:51.76\00:35:54.03
torture of prisoners,
00:35:54.03\00:35:56.03
parading some of
the most grotesque
00:35:56.03\00:35:57.90
and gruesome violations
of the Geneva Convention.
00:35:57.90\00:36:01.16
We've had Ted
Koppel from "Nightline"
00:36:01.16\00:36:03.03
news writing in his
Humvee Wolfe Blitzer from CNN
00:36:03.03\00:36:05.96
and even CBS's Diane Sawyer
00:36:05.96\00:36:08.23
donning her gas mask
and scrambling for cover,
00:36:08.23\00:36:11.03
I remember during one of
those air raids in Kuwait.
00:36:11.03\00:36:13.93
But do you know, all
of these terrible things
00:36:13.93\00:36:16.43
just introduced
God's finest hour.
00:36:16.43\00:36:20.56
Folks, God is not up
there tonight ringing His hands.
00:36:20.56\00:36:24.46
The best is yet to come,
00:36:24.46\00:36:26.80
the best days for
God are just ahead.
00:36:26.80\00:36:29.73
Yes, we maybe
afraid, yes, we've had 9/11
00:36:29.73\00:36:33.70
and the world is more
dangerous place to live.
00:36:33.70\00:36:35.86
Yes, we may not
know what's ahead,
00:36:35.86\00:36:38.03
but should we
led fear paralyze us.
00:36:38.03\00:36:41.03
No, Revelation tells us
00:36:41.03\00:36:42.53
Armageddon isn't the
message of doom and gloom,
00:36:42.53\00:36:44.70
it's a message of hope.
00:36:44.70\00:36:46.30
God's people don't
need to live in fear.
00:36:46.30\00:36:48.76
They can live in faith.
00:36:48.76\00:36:50.83
Fear paralyses, fear
cripples, faith inspires hope.
00:36:50.83\00:36:55.93
Faith lifts our spirits,
faith encourages our hearts.
00:36:55.93\00:37:00.10
Luke 21:26, says
that this very time when,
00:37:00.10\00:37:02.86
"Men's hearts are
failing them for fear,
00:37:02.86\00:37:04.96
and for looking
after those things
00:37:04.96\00:37:06.46
which are coming on the earth."
00:37:06.46\00:37:08.23
God's people react differently,
00:37:08.23\00:37:10.03
Second Timothy 1:7.
00:37:10.03\00:37:12.10
"God has not given
us the spirit of fear,
00:37:12.10\00:37:14.53
but of power and of love
and of a sound mind." Amen.
00:37:14.53\00:37:19.33
As we go into our
homes in just a moment
00:37:19.33\00:37:20.93
tonight Jesus to us Lonnie,
00:37:20.93\00:37:24.30
you tell them Luke
19:13 to "Occupy till I come."
00:37:24.30\00:37:30.83
Go out there and stay on track.
00:37:30.83\00:37:32.96
Don't lose your head.
Don't give up your day job.
00:37:32.96\00:37:36.13
Don't throw in the towel.
Don't be overcome with fear.
00:37:36.13\00:37:38.90
Yes, Luke 21:25 to 28 says,
00:37:38.90\00:37:41.13
"There will be signs in
the sun and moon and the stars,
00:37:41.13\00:37:43.43
and on the earth,
nations will be in anguish
00:37:43.43\00:37:45.90
and men will faint from terror,
00:37:45.90\00:37:47.26
apprehensive of what
is coming on the world."
00:37:47.26\00:37:49.36
When these things
begin to take place,
00:37:49.36\00:37:51.06
it says Lon, stand
up lift up your heads"
00:37:51.06\00:37:53.86
because what "your
redemption is drawing near."
00:37:53.86\00:37:58.16
Not a time to
cower, not a time to fear,
00:37:58.16\00:38:00.53
not a time to crawl in a hole
00:38:00.53\00:38:01.90
and put a color
tape over our eyes.
00:38:01.90\00:38:03.96
It's not a time for pessimism,
00:38:03.96\00:38:05.43
no its time to lift
up your head and shout,
00:38:05.43\00:38:08.06
praise the
Lord, Jesus is coming.
00:38:08.06\00:38:11.46
Good news tonight Jesus promises
00:38:11.46\00:38:13.33
is just nine words long.
00:38:13.33\00:38:17.60
"But he who endures to
the end shall be saved."
00:38:17.60\00:38:25.63
How you are doing in the
endurance department tonight.
00:38:25.63\00:38:28.60
You're still holding on.
00:38:28.60\00:38:30.46
Let me tell you a brief
00:38:30.46\00:38:31.46
and incredible story of someone
00:38:31.46\00:38:32.56
who endured and
was saved on 9/11,
00:38:32.56\00:38:35.33
trapped inside those
World Center Trade Towers,
00:38:35.33\00:38:38.03
when the planes hit.
00:38:38.03\00:38:39.13
True story I want you to
meet, Genelle Guzman-McMillan.
00:38:39.13\00:38:42.93
On the morning of 9/11
00:38:42.93\00:38:44.16
Genelle was on the 64th
floor of the North Tower
00:38:44.16\00:38:46.63
and suddenly of course
there was big jolt there
00:38:46.63\00:38:49.13
that sent everyone scrambling.
00:38:49.13\00:38:50.76
State puts at the authorities
and she did for a while.
00:38:50.76\00:38:54.23
But finally she realized
she had to go down, down,
00:38:54.23\00:38:56.63
down the circular staircase.
00:38:56.63\00:38:57.70
She ran past floor after
floor 40th floor, 30th floor
00:38:57.70\00:39:01.03
when she got to the 13th floor
00:39:01.03\00:39:02.66
suddenly all hell
seem to break loose
00:39:02.66\00:39:04.73
and Genelle found herself
entombed with her legs pinned,
00:39:04.73\00:39:07.90
her head trapped
between concrete slabs.
00:39:07.90\00:39:11.13
Somewhere nearby a man
cried pitifully for short while
00:39:11.13\00:39:14.53
but then he stopped
and Genelle was all alone.
00:39:14.53\00:39:17.83
Alone with her thoughts,
00:39:17.83\00:39:20.60
but you know,
someone else was there,
00:39:20.60\00:39:23.30
God was there.
00:39:23.30\00:39:25.36
Now Genelle, knew
something about the Lord,
00:39:25.36\00:39:27.36
she was convicted of
her sin and of Gods grace
00:39:27.36\00:39:29.60
she had gone to
church a few times.
00:39:29.60\00:39:30.90
That she hadn't really
been willing to give up
00:39:30.90\00:39:32.26
some things like inappropriate,
00:39:32.26\00:39:34.20
inappropriate
romantic relationship.
00:39:34.20\00:39:36.16
She was living
with her boyfriend.
00:39:36.16\00:39:38.26
Then came 9/11 and
everything changed.
00:39:38.26\00:39:41.30
Buried there in
that twisted steel,
00:39:41.30\00:39:43.43
Genelle thought
about her hardened heart,
00:39:43.43\00:39:45.33
and twisted wayward life.
00:39:45.33\00:39:47.76
Was she really ready to die?
00:39:47.76\00:39:48.80
No way, she knew her
life was buried in confusion
00:39:48.80\00:39:51.66
and lack purpose
and she was dying.
00:39:51.66\00:39:53.63
She was trapped and
feeling utterly hopeless.
00:39:53.63\00:39:56.30
Genelle drifted off to sleep
00:39:56.30\00:39:58.76
and she was awaken by
a little sliver of light
00:39:58.76\00:40:02.00
with the morning sun,
00:40:02.00\00:40:03.06
somehow penetrating those
tones and tones of rubble.
00:40:03.06\00:40:06.50
Light, she thought of Jesus,
00:40:06.50\00:40:08.00
who lights the world with grace
and she was asking herself.
00:40:08.00\00:40:12.13
Am I finally willing
now to follow that light,
00:40:12.13\00:40:14.56
which she accept the death
00:40:14.56\00:40:15.73
and resurrection of Jesus
as God's salvation for her sin.
00:40:15.73\00:40:19.53
And this time the answer was yes
00:40:19.53\00:40:22.53
and right then and
there buried beneath
00:40:22.53\00:40:24.43
the rubble with nothing to
lose Genelle accepted Jesus.
00:40:24.43\00:40:27.53
Whether she lived or
died she was now the Lords.
00:40:27.53\00:40:31.03
Her body was still trapped
there in that horrifying tomb,
00:40:31.03\00:40:33.30
but her spirit found sweet peace
00:40:33.30\00:40:35.30
in God's
forgiveness and acceptance.
00:40:35.30\00:40:37.60
And after laying
there a long while
00:40:37.60\00:40:39.03
she was buried in
that rubble for 26 hours.
00:40:39.03\00:40:42.36
She heard noises, rescuers
searching for survivors.
00:40:42.36\00:40:47.26
And Genelle called up
I'm here, I'm right here.
00:40:47.26\00:40:50.96
Do you see any
light they asked her?
00:40:50.96\00:40:53.06
Not realizing the
spiritual significance
00:40:53.06\00:40:55.10
to that question to Genelle.
00:40:55.10\00:40:57.36
She stretched out her
hand believe it or not
00:40:57.36\00:40:59.13
through a little tiny
crack in her concrete tomb
00:40:59.13\00:41:01.60
and one of those
incredible New York firefighters
00:41:01.60\00:41:04.56
reached out and grabbed
and he said I've got you
00:41:04.56\00:41:06.50
and indeed he did and
he wouldn't let her go.
00:41:06.50\00:41:08.90
And everybody
cheered as the rescuers
00:41:08.90\00:41:10.66
there sent her
off to the hospital.
00:41:10.66\00:41:12.16
She was dehydrated,
00:41:12.16\00:41:13.13
she was
injured, she was bruised,
00:41:13.13\00:41:15.16
but Genelle received
00:41:15.16\00:41:16.10
God's healing touch
not only in her body,
00:41:16.10\00:41:18.70
but in the deeper
sense in her life.
00:41:18.70\00:41:20.90
She is thankful for that
terrifying wake up call on 9/11.
00:41:20.90\00:41:24.10
She says, you
know, I'll never go back
00:41:24.10\00:41:26.23
to that life I
lived before. Amen.
00:41:26.23\00:41:28.66
And people tell me
I'm lucky I respond,
00:41:28.66\00:41:30.33
God has nothing to do
with it God had a plan.
00:41:30.33\00:41:34.63
And tonight right now
00:41:34.63\00:41:36.53
we're gonna bring
Genelle on this station,
00:41:36.53\00:41:38.43
but she has gotten
married to that young man.
00:41:38.43\00:41:40.73
She has accepted the Lord,
00:41:40.73\00:41:41.66
she has been
baptized and she is pregnant.
00:41:41.66\00:41:43.53
And her doctor said she
couldn't be here this moment.
00:41:43.53\00:41:46.03
But friend, when there
seems no way out for you,
00:41:46.03\00:41:49.66
God has a plan.
00:41:49.66\00:41:52.33
Listen to this
song by Joey Draper.
00:41:52.33\00:41:54.70
I don't understand why
some people must suffer
00:42:01.43\00:42:07.23
Or why children
or young people die
00:42:07.23\00:42:13.96
I don't understand why
some people have plenty
00:42:13.96\00:42:19.80
While other
just barely get pride
00:42:19.80\00:42:25.63
Why the new waves of
trouble keep pounding around us
00:42:25.63\00:42:31.80
Before yesterday's ways ebb away
00:42:31.80\00:42:38.26
But at moments like these
00:42:38.26\00:42:41.16
when my hearts starts to falter
00:42:41.16\00:42:44.63
God's Spirit will
tenderly whisper and say
00:42:44.63\00:42:53.76
There's a reason, there's a plan
00:42:53.76\00:43:00.66
There's a purpose
and there's a goal
00:43:00.66\00:43:07.16
And Jesus who loves
us more than anyone can
00:43:07.16\00:43:15.80
Is still very much in control
00:43:15.80\00:43:25.36
Yes, He's still very
much, very much, in control
00:43:25.36\00:43:41.80
Let us pray together.
00:43:43.16\00:43:45.80
Wonderful Savior, thank
you for Your wonderful plan.
00:43:45.80\00:43:49.50
And tomorrow night bring us
00:43:49.50\00:43:50.73
back to discover
signs we can't ignore.
00:43:50.73\00:43:54.46
Keep us in Your heart of
love until we meet again,
00:43:54.46\00:43:56.70
in Your wonderful name we
pray and the church said, amen.
00:43:56.70\00:44:01.00
Good night remember friend,
God really does love you.
00:44:01.00\00:44:04.90