Our subject
tonight is one of the most
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fascinating
spectaculars in all the Bible.
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World Blackout Coming.
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A thousand years of darkness
when God finally, fairly,
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and justly deals
with the sin problem
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in His big universe.
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You know, every now and then,
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a judge in one of
our courts sentences
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someone to an
impossibly long prison term
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to express horror or
outrage about the crime.
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Or a jury hands down a sentence
of three or four life sentences
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in a row when that criminal
is already of retirement age
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with no
expectation it could possibly
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ever be served in
several lifetimes.
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But you see,
through that judge's
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unimaginably
impossible sentence,
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our society
expresses anger and disgust
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for particularly heinous crimes.
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Well, are you aware
that a time is soon coming
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when a judge will hand down
a sentence of thousand years?
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And the criminal will serve
out every day of that sentence?
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Now granted, people's opinions
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about the 20th chapter
of the Book of Revelation
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and the millennium can
be very, very confusing.
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In fact, people
have argued and debated
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about that
chapter for centuries.
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In fact, this is true.
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Once a bishop, I
won't tell you which church,
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but you all heard of it.
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This bishop got so upset about
the 20th chapter of Revelation,
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he actually tore it
out of that church's book.
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And didn't get back
into his denominations Bible
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for hundreds and
hundreds of years.
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Well, folks, this is
such an important subject.
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Let's get out our Bible
and discover what's next
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as once again the
Voice of Prophecy speaks.
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Let's start with the Book
of Revelation, Chapter 20.
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And I want you to
follow very, very carefully.
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It says in the
beginning of verse 1-3.
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"Then I saw an angel
coming down from heaven,
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having the key to
the bottomless pit
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and a great chain in his hand.
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He laid hold of the dragon,
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that serpent of old,
who is the Devil and Satan,
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and bound him
for a thousand years,
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And he cast him
into the bottomless pit,
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and shut him up,
and set a seal on him,
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that he should
deceive the nations no more
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until the thousand
years were finished.
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But after these
things--" He must be what?
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"Released for a little while."
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All right, the first firm
fact about the millennium.
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We can nail this down.
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God has a plan to deal
with the greatest criminal
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that this
universe has ever known
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when the Devil
will be imprisoned
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for a thousand
years, chained up.
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Amen? Amen.
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Second fact,
Bible prophecy tells us
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after Satan is in
prison for a thousand years,
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he will be paroled.
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Released, it says,
for a little while.
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But his parole evidently proves
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that even after a thousand
years he hasn't reformed.
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He's still the Devil,
still up to his same tricks.
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Third fact,
according to the Scripture,
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the millennium is
tied in very, very closely
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with the resurrection at
the Second Coming of Jesus.
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In fact, we'll find in a moment
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that the
millennium is actually bound
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by two separate and
distinct resurrections.
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"The
resurrection of eternal life
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at the beginning
of the millennium
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and the
resurrection of damnation
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at the end of
the thousand years."
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Jesus said once
in John 5:25 and on,
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He said, "Most
assuredly, I say to you,
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the hour is coming and now is,
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when the dead will hear
the voice of the Son of God,
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and all those
who hear will live."
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So there you have
it, the resurrection.
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But I want you to notice now
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how Christ explains this
in the 28th and 29th verses.
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He says, "Lonnie,
do not marvel at this,
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for the hour is coming in
which all are in the grave,
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who in the graves will
hear His voice and come forth."
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Notice now, "Those
who have done good,
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to the resurrection of life,
and those who have done evil
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to the
resurrection of damnation."
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He talks about
two resurrections.
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First, the resurrection of those
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who have done good.
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The second, the
resurrection of damnation.
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And Revelation 20:5-6
says that it's the good people
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who come up in the
first resurrection.
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Here's what it says.
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"This is the first resurrection.
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Blessed and holy is he
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who has part in
the first resurrection.
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Over such the
second death has no power,
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but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ,
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and shall reign
with Him--" How long?
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"A thousand years."
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In fact Paul
told the Thessalonians
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in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
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"For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven
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with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel
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with the trumpet of God.
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And the dead in
Christ--" Will what?
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"Rise" What? "First."
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Then He says and continues,
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"Then we who
are alive and remain
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shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds
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to meet the Lord in the air.
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And thus we shall
always be with the Lord."
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Amen? Amen.
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So this first resurrection,
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this glorious
resurrection morning,
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the first one is for whom?
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The first group of dead people.
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The dead in Christ,
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the righteous, the
saints, that's right.
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They are the ones
who are raised first.
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And by the way,
all of us Christians
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if we haven't died by that time,
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if we're still
alive at Christ's coming,
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it says we will be caught
up with them in the clouds
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to meet the Lord in the air.
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And on that day,
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Jesus' promises
will finally be fulfilled
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that He said in John 11:25.
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"He that believeth in me,
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though he were
dead, yet shall he live."
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So all of the righteous
dead sleeping in the grave
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will be raised
from their graves, when?
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As Jesus returns.
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In fact, Isaiah even
tells us the very words
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that Jesus shouts,
with a voice of thunder.
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"Awake, awake, ye
that sleep in the dust
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and earth shall cast
out the dead," it says.
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What a glorious day that will be
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to be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
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Angels scurrying
around with little babies,
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reuniting them with
their parents over there
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in Arlington National
Cemetery in Washington.
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Husbands who died in
Vietnam or World War II
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or the Gulf Wars,
reunited with their wives.
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Todd Beamer, who perished
because terrorists sabotaged
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United Airlines Flight
number 93, September 11,
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he will be reunited
with his precious Lisa.
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I wish you could
read that Book of Lisa's
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and that precious
little baby Morgan.
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You know, folks,
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cemeteries will be the
happiest places on this planet.
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The most moving,
touching scene ever in history.
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Christ's wonderful
promise made so long ago
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will be
fulfilled in John 14:2, 3.
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"I go to
prepare a place for you.
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And if I go and
prepare a place for you,
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I will come again and
receive you to Myself,
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that where I am,
there Ye may be also."
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All the saved on
resurrection morning,
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finally, we rise up and we go
to Paradise, to be with Jesus,
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which leads us now
to our next major point
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that we can nail down.
00:08:12.59\00:08:14.66
We're not going to be tearing
out the Book of Revelation
00:08:14.69\00:08:16.49
from our Bibles tonight.
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We're gonna find
out what it says.
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What is next, then?
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What will we do
up there in Paradise
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for a thousand years?
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Ah, that's a crucial question.
00:08:26.12\00:08:29.13
Because, friend,
it has something to do
00:08:29.16\00:08:31.20
with God's plan
to close the book
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on the problem of sin.
00:08:34.46\00:08:37.34
In Revelation 20:6,
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prophecy reveals
an amazing insight
00:08:40.29\00:08:42.61
about what we do up
there during the millennium.
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Listen, "Blessed and holy is He
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who has part in
the first resurrection.
00:08:50.40\00:08:53.36
Over such the
second death has no power,
00:08:53.39\00:08:56.36
but they shall be--" What?
00:08:56.39\00:08:58.29
"Priests of God and of Christ,
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and shall reign with
Him a thousand years."
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It says, we're priests,
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another translation in
some Bible says we are judges,
00:09:05.74\00:09:09.55
we reign or we hold
court for a thousand years.
00:09:09.58\00:09:15.63
What does this mean?
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Now aside from Heaven,
00:09:17.78\00:09:18.91
aside from the unspeakable
joy when we finally get there,
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getting
acquainted with everyone,
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aside from the
travel and all of the glory,
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John gives this unique
insight as to what we saints do
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for God during the millennium.
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Notice verse 4
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"And I saw thrones,
and they sat upon them.
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And judgment was
committed to them."
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You see before God
finally eradicates sin
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and burns up this
old ball of mud here,
00:09:46.82\00:09:49.00
God first insists
that every human being
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who has ever
lived on planet earth,
00:09:52.14\00:09:54.47
clearly understands why
He's going to destroy it.
00:09:54.50\00:09:58.31
And we help God finally
resolve the sin problem.
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The thousand year millennium
opens up an altogether
00:10:03.65\00:10:07.00
different final
phase to the last judgment
00:10:07.03\00:10:10.16
that we discovered
began back in 1844.
00:10:10.19\00:10:13.84
But God won't carry out
what the Bible calls His
00:10:13.87\00:10:16.53
"strange act,"
00:10:16.56\00:10:18.46
His final ultimate sentence
of judgment and destruction,
00:10:18.49\00:10:23.00
eradicating sin and sinners.
00:10:23.03\00:10:25.17
No, not until all the
universe sits as grand jury
00:10:25.20\00:10:29.71
and together renders
the verdict and understands
00:10:29.74\00:10:32.80
why God must do
this and destroy.
00:10:32.83\00:10:36.86
God is gonna wait
until you understand.
00:10:36.89\00:10:41.00
So Revelation 20
describes this time
00:10:41.03\00:10:43.94
when God amazingly includes us,
mortals, in the final verdict.
00:10:43.97\00:10:50.85
Feeble men and women, you and I
00:10:50.88\00:10:53.16
are assigned the
solemn task of judging
00:10:53.19\00:10:56.60
fallen angels and
the wicked unsaved.
00:10:56.63\00:11:00.70
You see, before God
finally annihilates them,
00:11:00.73\00:11:03.18
including Satan, in the
"executive phase" of Hell fire,
00:11:03.21\00:11:07.39
this one thousand
year period is when the
00:11:07.42\00:11:10.20
"sentencing of the
wicked" takes place.
00:11:10.23\00:11:14.48
Now, folks, I'm
not making this up.
00:11:14.51\00:11:16.40
Paul states in 1
Corinthians 6:2, 3.
00:11:16.43\00:11:21.60
He says, "Do you not know
00:11:21.63\00:11:23.27
that the saints
will judge the world?
00:11:23.30\00:11:26.83
Do you not know that
we shall judge angels?"
00:11:26.86\00:11:31.03
You see, friend, God
wants to secure His universe
00:11:31.06\00:11:34.59
so that as Nahum 1:9 says,
00:11:34.62\00:11:36.45
"Affliction shall not
arise the second time."
00:11:36.48\00:11:40.20
Aren't you glad
for that promise?
00:11:40.23\00:11:42.14
Guaranteed God says, it
will be sinless forever.
00:11:42.17\00:11:47.26
How can He do that?
00:11:47.29\00:11:49.26
It must become
crystal clear once and for all
00:11:49.29\00:11:52.07
to every created
being that's ever lived,
00:11:52.10\00:11:55.80
that God is
just, that He is fair,
00:11:55.83\00:11:58.16
that He is good.
00:11:58.19\00:12:00.65
You see, for
over 6, 000 years now
00:12:00.68\00:12:02.98
Satan has been
leveling the accusation,
00:12:03.01\00:12:05.40
God's unfair, God's unfair.
00:12:05.43\00:12:08.75
The thousand year millennium
00:12:08.78\00:12:10.59
must finally put
this notion to rest.
00:12:10.62\00:12:14.08
But how is that gonna happen?
00:12:14.11\00:12:16.00
Why do we need to
judge the evil angels
00:12:16.03\00:12:18.95
and the wicked sinners?
00:12:18.98\00:12:20.01
I mean, haven't
they already been judged
00:12:20.04\00:12:21.97
before Christ comes?
00:12:22.00\00:12:24.42
True, in the sense
00:12:24.45\00:12:27.06
that they didn't
get to go up to Heaven.
00:12:27.09\00:12:30.25
But if you ever
wondered what your reaction
00:12:30.28\00:12:32.32
might be up in Heaven.
00:12:32.35\00:12:34.18
If you went up there
looking for someone you expected
00:12:34.21\00:12:36.64
to find there only to discover,
00:12:36.67\00:12:40.61
they are not here,
they are lost forever.
00:12:40.64\00:12:45.01
God, how come?
00:12:45.04\00:12:48.49
You might call the fairness
of God's justice into question.
00:12:48.52\00:12:53.16
And you know
wonderful, merciful God,
00:12:53.19\00:12:56.69
during the
millennium, Bible says,
00:12:56.72\00:12:58.92
He opens the records of all
of the lost for our scrutiny.
00:12:58.95\00:13:03.76
And God patiently sits
there and He waits for us
00:13:03.79\00:13:07.26
to make up our minds
that He was right in judging
00:13:07.29\00:13:09.69
every person
the way that He did.
00:13:09.72\00:13:12.25
We get to
investigate the evidence
00:13:12.28\00:13:14.20
to see why He judged how He did.
00:13:14.23\00:13:17.89
You see, before He eliminates
and eradicates sinners,
00:13:17.92\00:13:21.12
the most
guarded secrets harbored
00:13:21.15\00:13:23.15
in each evil
person's mind will be exposed.
00:13:23.18\00:13:26.18
And as we, we go
through the records,
00:13:26.21\00:13:27.83
we inspect them.
00:13:27.86\00:13:30.17
Bible says, we are gonna be
left with only one response,
00:13:30.20\00:13:33.54
we'll get down on our
knees and we'll say, "God,
00:13:33.57\00:13:36.88
we agree with Your
love, we know You were just.
00:13:36.91\00:13:41.12
We bow in tears and worship."
00:13:41.15\00:13:43.62
Revelation 16:7 we will say,
"Even so, Lord God Almighty,
00:13:43.65\00:13:48.58
true and righteous
are Your judgments."
00:13:48.61\00:13:53.22
But now wait a minute.
00:13:53.25\00:13:56.24
How did the wicked
settle their score with God?
00:13:56.27\00:14:00.40
How do they have their say
00:14:00.43\00:14:01.62
whether God's
been just and fair?
00:14:01.65\00:14:03.69
They're all dead.
00:14:03.72\00:14:05.59
Revelation 19:21
describes that when Jesus comes,
00:14:05.62\00:14:10.30
the impact of
course destroys them.
00:14:10.33\00:14:12.86
It flattens
everyone who rejects God.
00:14:12.89\00:14:15.88
It says here "And the
rest of the dead were killed
00:14:15.91\00:14:19.83
with the sword which
proceeded from the mouth of Him
00:14:19.86\00:14:22.15
who sat on the horse."
00:14:22.18\00:14:24.23
You see, the
splendor and the beauty
00:14:24.26\00:14:25.97
and the brilliance of
millions and millions of angels
00:14:26.00\00:14:28.20
and God and Jesus
and the Holy Spirit,
00:14:28.23\00:14:30.29
when they all come
together is so overwhelming,
00:14:30.32\00:14:32.53
2 Thessalonians 2:8 says
"That the wicked are destroyed
00:14:32.56\00:14:36.82
by the
brightness of His coming."
00:14:36.85\00:14:39.70
In fact, you remember
when Jesus rose from the grave,
00:14:39.73\00:14:42.33
one angel on
Easter Sunday morning,
00:14:42.36\00:14:44.97
that one angel caused a
100 Roman soldiers to collapse
00:14:45.00\00:14:49.39
in a heap like dead men.
00:14:49.42\00:14:52.29
Jeremiah 25:33
says, about this day
00:14:52.32\00:14:56.50
when Jesus comes and the
impact on the wicked people,
00:14:56.53\00:14:59.26
it says, "And at that
day the slain of the Lord
00:14:59.29\00:15:02.90
shall be from
one end of the earth
00:15:02.93\00:15:04.19
even to the other
end of the earth."
00:15:04.22\00:15:06.70
What that means is every single
wicked person is now dead.
00:15:06.73\00:15:10.67
And it goes on and says.
00:15:10.70\00:15:11.99
"They shall not be lamented,
nor gathered, or buried,
00:15:12.02\00:15:15.91
they shall become
refuse or fertilizers--"
00:15:15.94\00:15:20.65
somebody who
translated it, "--on the earth."
00:15:20.68\00:15:24.20
The righteous,
remember they went up to heaven,
00:15:24.23\00:15:26.52
to be with Jesus
at His second coming.
00:15:26.55\00:15:28.29
But all the unsaved who
are alive when Jesus comes,
00:15:28.32\00:15:31.28
they are slain by the
brightness of His coming.
00:15:31.31\00:15:34.41
So we can nail this down, too.
00:15:34.44\00:15:37.36
All of the wicked are now dead.
00:15:37.39\00:15:40.69
Revelation 20:5,
let's look at that again.
00:15:40.72\00:15:44.12
"But the rest of
the dead lived not again
00:15:44.15\00:15:47.04
until the thousand
years were finished."
00:15:47.07\00:15:52.03
And now, folks, we're
gonna see from Scripture
00:15:52.06\00:15:54.53
an amazing revelation
how God finally resolves
00:15:54.56\00:15:57.85
and ends the problem of
sin in this universe forever.
00:15:57.88\00:16:02.46
How the wicked will
have their day in court
00:16:02.49\00:16:05.77
and they too will have
their turn to judge God.
00:16:05.80\00:16:10.49
But first, let's
quickly review the events
00:16:10.52\00:16:12.67
that prophecy reveals
take place at Christ's coming.
00:16:12.70\00:16:17.11
1. Jesus returns,
00:16:17.14\00:16:19.08
with all of the
holy angels, Mathew 25:31
00:16:19.11\00:16:22.57
2. The dead in Christ
rise, 1Thessalonians 4:16
00:16:22.60\00:16:26.93
3. The living are caught
up to meet Jesus in the air.
00:16:26.96\00:16:30.55
1 Thessalonians 4:17
00:16:30.58\00:16:32.93
4. And the saved,
00:16:32.96\00:16:34.00
they all go home with
Jesus and reign with Him.
00:16:34.03\00:16:36.09
How long? Thousand
years. Revelation 20:4, 5.
00:16:36.12\00:16:40.86
The unsaved are slain
00:16:40.89\00:16:45.28
by the brightness of His coming
00:16:45.31\00:16:46.86
2 Thessalonians
2:8, Jeremiah 25:33
00:16:46.89\00:16:50.50
6. And the wicked dead stay dead
00:16:50.53\00:16:53.97
during the thousand
years. Revelation 20:5
00:16:54.00\00:16:57.72
7. And Satan is bound for
a thousand years by a chain.
00:16:57.75\00:17:03.29
It's really a
chain of circumstances
00:17:03.32\00:17:05.15
because he has
nobody left to tempt,
00:17:05.18\00:17:07.08
nobody to destroy.
00:17:07.11\00:17:08.14
That's Revelation 20:2.
00:17:08.17\00:17:10.41
8. Since all of the righteous
are up there in heaven,
00:17:10.44\00:17:13.19
and all the wicked are
dead, everybody is gone.
00:17:13.22\00:17:17.43
Everywhere,
there is absolute ruin,
00:17:17.46\00:17:19.33
Jeremiah 24:23-26.
00:17:19.36\00:17:23.94
Let's look at
prophecy and what it says now
00:17:23.97\00:17:27.00
about what's happening
down here on planet earth
00:17:27.03\00:17:30.20
during the millennium?
00:17:30.23\00:17:32.44
Ladies and
Gentlemen, I must tell you this,
00:17:32.47\00:17:34.03
it is not at all
like Tim LaHaye's
00:17:34.06\00:17:36.42
"Left Behind" fiction.
00:17:36.45\00:17:39.86
The Bible tells the truth.
00:17:39.89\00:17:42.32
This earth,
during the millennium,
00:17:42.35\00:17:45.18
becomes the Devil's prison.
00:17:45.21\00:17:48.35
Satan is chained
up to this abyss.
00:17:48.38\00:17:51.81
He is bound, the Bible
says for a thousand years.
00:17:51.84\00:17:54.47
How is Satan chained?
00:17:54.50\00:17:57.82
I believe it's a
simple chain of circumstances
00:17:57.85\00:18:00.98
because it's impossible
for him to go anywhere.
00:18:01.01\00:18:03.38
There's nobody left to tempt.
00:18:03.41\00:18:04.70
No one to destroy.
There's nobody here.
00:18:04.73\00:18:07.12
The saved are up with
Jesus for a thousand years.
00:18:07.15\00:18:09.03
The wicked, they are all dead.
00:18:09.06\00:18:10.92
So this earth
becomes his prison.
00:18:10.95\00:18:14.80
Now remember,
this is important, too,
00:18:14.83\00:18:16.57
in God's final plan.
00:18:16.60\00:18:18.19
Because you see
ever since creation,
00:18:18.22\00:18:21.21
Lucifer always jealously
wanted to show everybody
00:18:21.24\00:18:24.92
how he would rule a world.
00:18:24.95\00:18:28.38
Now God finally
gives him his chance.
00:18:28.41\00:18:31.44
And the watching universe
00:18:31.47\00:18:32.51
is able to see
in vivid technicolor
00:18:32.54\00:18:34.66
what kind of a
ruler he really is
00:18:34.69\00:18:36.39
when given complete
control of a planet.
00:18:36.42\00:18:40.16
But you know what, it
looks like ground zero.
00:18:40.19\00:18:43.05
Destroyed, little curls of smoke
00:18:43.08\00:18:44.97
and stench and death,
00:18:45.00\00:18:46.46
chaos like a bombed out
00:18:46.49\00:18:48.79
bottomless pit, if you wish.
00:18:48.82\00:18:51.79
In fact, for those
of you English majors,
00:18:51.82\00:18:54.42
let me do just a little
00:18:54.45\00:18:55.84
etymological word study for you.
00:18:55.87\00:18:57.72
That Greek word "bottomless pit"
00:18:57.75\00:19:00.54
in Greek is "Abussos"
00:19:00.57\00:19:04.35
from which we get
our English word "abyss".
00:19:04.38\00:19:07.25
By the way, that is the same
exact word used in Genesis 1
00:19:07.28\00:19:10.20
when God first created
the heavens and the earth
00:19:10.23\00:19:12.31
out of chaos.
00:19:12.34\00:19:13.67
It says,
"Without form and void."
00:19:13.70\00:19:17.23
That's Abussos.
00:19:17.26\00:19:19.98
In fact the Prophet Jeremiah,
00:19:20.01\00:19:21.93
he foresaw this bottomless pit
00:19:21.96\00:19:24.73
during the thousand
years in Jeremiah 4:23,
00:19:24.76\00:19:28.59
he says, "I beheld the earth,
00:19:28.62\00:19:31.50
lo, it was without form
and void; and the heavens,
00:19:31.53\00:19:35.23
they had no light."
00:19:35.26\00:19:37.31
You see it there,
friend, it's coming.
00:19:37.34\00:19:39.44
Complete world blackout
00:19:39.47\00:19:42.15
on this Abussos or
this bottomless pit.
00:19:42.18\00:19:44.84
And it is going
to be totally dark.
00:19:44.87\00:19:48.16
Jeremiah 4:24-26,
00:19:48.19\00:19:50.68
"I beheld the mountains,
and lo, they trembled,
00:19:50.71\00:19:53.96
all the hills moved lightly.
00:19:53.99\00:19:56.61
I beheld, and
lo, there was no man,
00:19:56.64\00:19:59.16
all the birds of
the heavens were fled.
00:19:59.19\00:20:00.79
I beheld, and lo,
00:20:00.82\00:20:01.95
the fruitful
place was a wilderness,
00:20:01.98\00:20:03.50
and all the cities
thereof were broken down
00:20:03.53\00:20:05.51
at the presence of the Lord,
00:20:05.54\00:20:06.89
and by His fierce anger."
00:20:06.92\00:20:11.08
Pretty grim
place for the old Devil
00:20:11.11\00:20:12.56
to take a
thousand year vacation,
00:20:12.59\00:20:14.25
wouldn't you say?
00:20:14.28\00:20:16.33
Satan has
nothing to do down here.
00:20:16.36\00:20:18.50
Except walk to and fro
over this dark, devastated,
00:20:18.53\00:20:21.17
lonely planet and
do a lot of reflecting.
00:20:21.20\00:20:24.78
You know, I've tried to
imagine Satan down there
00:20:24.81\00:20:27.88
during the thousand
years all by himself.
00:20:27.91\00:20:31.24
Everything is
absolutely pitch black.
00:20:31.27\00:20:33.60
The old Devil's
walking all over this earth,
00:20:33.63\00:20:35.37
nothing to do.
00:20:35.40\00:20:36.93
So here he is on this banged up,
00:20:36.96\00:20:38.84
burned out, broken
down, bottomless pit,
00:20:38.87\00:20:41.14
just kind of kicking at things.
00:20:41.17\00:20:43.98
And suddenly
perhaps he looks down
00:20:44.01\00:20:45.69
and somehow he can see the face,
00:20:45.72\00:20:50.95
the face of a man,
00:20:50.98\00:20:53.75
slain by the glory of the Lord.
00:20:53.78\00:20:57.01
He recognizes that man.
00:20:57.04\00:20:59.45
That's someone he
knew well, that's Joe Cool.
00:20:59.48\00:21:03.55
He was a good
citizen, everybody liked him.
00:21:03.58\00:21:06.18
He was honest.
He paid his debts.
00:21:06.21\00:21:07.72
People were attracted to him.
00:21:07.75\00:21:09.27
He had a fine
personality, great neighbor.
00:21:09.30\00:21:12.91
And there were times
when Joe really wanted to make
00:21:12.94\00:21:15.79
a decision to follow
the Lord Jesus all the way,
00:21:15.82\00:21:18.08
but the Devil was
right there to say,
00:21:18.11\00:21:20.55
"No, Joe, not now.
00:21:20.58\00:21:23.97
This is only the year 2003.
00:21:24.00\00:21:26.62
Just give yourself
a little more time.
00:21:26.65\00:21:28.79
Things will look better.
00:21:28.82\00:21:29.85
You'll have a better chance
later to become a Christian."
00:21:29.88\00:21:34.47
So Joe didn't make his decision.
00:21:34.50\00:21:37.34
But then you see the
Devil arranged an accident
00:21:37.37\00:21:39.54
on the highway to
snuff out Joe's life.
00:21:39.57\00:21:43.18
And now there's a hideous
smile on the face of the Devil
00:21:43.21\00:21:45.88
as he looks on the
countenance of this man Joe.
00:21:45.91\00:21:49.15
Satan knows he is lost forever!
00:21:49.18\00:21:53.89
Friends, Revelation 20
00:21:57.05\00:21:58.42
is trying to tell
us something tonight.
00:21:58.45\00:22:01.36
Don't postpone your
decision for Jesus Christ.
00:22:01.39\00:22:05.07
Don't put it off.
00:22:05.10\00:22:06.72
It will be too late
during the millennium.
00:22:06.75\00:22:09.38
So in review, the
events that take place
00:22:10.42\00:22:13.78
during the
millennium on this earth.
00:22:13.81\00:22:16.22
It is absolutely
desolate, devastated.
00:22:16.25\00:22:19.90
All the unsaved are dead,
00:22:19.93\00:22:23.20
slain by the
brightness of Jesus' coming.
00:22:23.23\00:22:25.60
All the saved are
up there in heaven,
00:22:25.63\00:22:27.34
reigning with Christ.
00:22:27.37\00:22:29.24
And, Satan,
00:22:29.27\00:22:30.52
well, he is bound down here
on this dark devastated planet.
00:22:30.55\00:22:34.29
He gets to reflect a
little bit on his rebellion.
00:22:34.32\00:22:38.86
Now someone asks, "Lonnie,
will Satan perhaps reform?"
00:22:38.89\00:22:44.01
Maybe he will change
00:22:44.04\00:22:45.21
after a thousand years
of solitude down there?
00:22:45.24\00:22:46.98
Will he have any regrets?
00:22:47.01\00:22:49.44
Believe it or not that there
are churches in North America
00:22:49.47\00:22:53.34
and outside of this
country who worship Satan.
00:22:53.37\00:22:57.77
They worship the Devil.
00:22:57.80\00:22:59.13
Now because they believe that
00:22:59.16\00:23:01.43
Satan is gonna be
converted during the millennium.
00:23:01.46\00:23:04.88
Will he?
00:23:04.91\00:23:07.07
You see, one of
God's crucial reasons
00:23:07.10\00:23:09.53
for putting the millennium
into His prophetic timetable
00:23:09.56\00:23:12.42
is to help us
understand something.
00:23:12.45\00:23:15.06
God's going to
demonstrate to the universe
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.36
that given another
chance, any evil being
00:23:17.39\00:23:21.20
would still make the
same decision all over again.
00:23:21.23\00:23:24.28
They choose the same
master. They'd still reject God.
00:23:24.31\00:23:28.78
And now here it
comes, a second chance,
00:23:28.81\00:23:33.59
for the Devil and
for all of the wicked.
00:23:33.62\00:23:37.00
I want you to notice
carefully what happens,
00:23:37.03\00:23:38.81
and profoundly what
it tells us about God
00:23:38.84\00:23:42.00
when the millennium closes.
00:23:42.03\00:23:44.40
What does Bible say
in Revelation 20:7, 8?
00:23:44.43\00:23:48.56
"Now when the
thousand years have expired,
00:23:48.59\00:23:53.50
Satan will be
released out of his prison,
00:23:53.53\00:23:56.46
will go out to
deceive the nations
00:23:56.49\00:23:57.91
which are in the
four corners of the earth
00:23:57.94\00:23:59.58
to gather them
together to battle,
00:23:59.61\00:24:01.54
whose number is as
the sand of the sea."
00:24:01.57\00:24:04.96
Well, you say,
where do all of these
00:24:04.99\00:24:06.45
wicked people come from?
00:24:06.48\00:24:07.81
How can they be in this
battle if they are all dead?
00:24:07.84\00:24:10.57
Ah, remember,
Revelation 20:5 says,
00:24:10.60\00:24:13.16
"But the rest of
the dead lived not again
00:24:13.19\00:24:16.57
until the thousand
years were finished."
00:24:16.60\00:24:21.18
So right here God
raises up the rest of the dead
00:24:21.21\00:24:25.42
in the second resurrection.
00:24:25.45\00:24:28.10
The resurrection
as Jesus called it,
00:24:28.13\00:24:30.22
of damnation, at the
end of the millennium,
00:24:30.25\00:24:33.57
that's for the unsaved dead.
00:24:33.60\00:24:35.77
Notice Revelation 20:8,
00:24:35.80\00:24:38.46
"The number of whom is
as the sand of the sea."
00:24:38.49\00:24:42.46
You know, what a sight as
they come up from their graves
00:24:42.49\00:24:45.58
identically the same,
still with pain and sickness,
00:24:45.61\00:24:48.95
in wheel chairs,
still cursing and swearing,
00:24:48.98\00:24:51.56
doing drugs, smoking
weed, toting guns, terrible,
00:24:51.59\00:24:54.52
horrible, an
awful mess of humanity.
00:24:54.55\00:24:57.02
They are anti-God
and they are the lost.
00:24:57.05\00:25:01.82
Revelation 21:2 says,
00:25:01.85\00:25:04.72
at precisely this
identically same time
00:25:04.75\00:25:07.26
that they are raised up,
00:25:07.29\00:25:09.10
the Holy City,
the New Jerusalem,
00:25:09.13\00:25:10.83
with all of
God's saints and Jesus,
00:25:10.86\00:25:13.77
all of God's holy angels inside,
00:25:13.80\00:25:16.09
that begins to descend
down from heaven to earth
00:25:16.12\00:25:19.60
right at the end
of the millennium.
00:25:19.63\00:25:21.75
In fact, Zechariah 14 describes
00:25:21.78\00:25:23.88
how God prepares a great
big special landing place
00:25:23.91\00:25:26.96
for that big city, over
there in the Mount of Olive
00:25:26.99\00:25:29.92
located just
outside Old Jerusalem.
00:25:29.95\00:25:33.30
The gorgeous New
Jerusalem comes down,
00:25:33.33\00:25:35.95
God's eternal,
splendiferous city.
00:25:35.98\00:25:38.44
Whoa, think the wicked, awesome.
00:25:38.47\00:25:43.03
Whoa, amazing.
00:25:43.06\00:25:44.73
This City then
becomes the focal point,
00:25:44.76\00:25:47.41
the final target of Satan's
00:25:47.44\00:25:49.38
last cunning
campaign of conniving.
00:25:49.41\00:25:53.26
Notice what it
says, Revelation 20:7, 8,
00:25:53.29\00:25:56.04
"And when the
thousand years are expired,
00:25:56.07\00:25:58.41
Satan shall be
loosed out of his prison,
00:25:58.44\00:26:00.96
he shall go out to
deceive the nations
00:26:00.99\00:26:02.59
which are in the
four quarters of the earth
00:26:02.62\00:26:04.27
to gather them
together to battle."
00:26:04.30\00:26:08.01
Of course, Satan is loosed
00:26:08.04\00:26:10.28
because when that
second resurrection
00:26:10.31\00:26:12.00
raises up the wicked, well,
that automatically triggers
00:26:12.03\00:26:14.50
Satan's release
from being chained up
00:26:14.53\00:26:16.31
in this bottomless pit.
00:26:16.34\00:26:17.83
He's free again to
tempt, to fool, to beguile
00:26:17.86\00:26:21.27
with his old
scheming bag-of-tricks.
00:26:21.30\00:26:23.98
You know what? He is
the same old deceiver.
00:26:24.01\00:26:26.35
He hasn't
changed, hasn't reformed.
00:26:26.38\00:26:29.33
He goes out, the Bible says,
00:26:29.36\00:26:30.57
to deceive these
billions of wicked people.
00:26:30.60\00:26:33.36
"Listen up, Saddam, he
says listen up, Hitler.
00:26:33.39\00:26:36.64
Hey, Judas, Benedict
Arnold, Jezebel, Sennecharib.
00:26:36.67\00:26:40.61
Look at you.
00:26:40.64\00:26:43.22
Oh, you're
resurrected from the dead.
00:26:43.25\00:26:45.62
Do you know who
raised you from the dead?
00:26:45.65\00:26:48.58
I did. You see
that city over there?
00:26:48.61\00:26:53.60
I was once a great
prince in that city.
00:26:53.63\00:26:56.67
They threw me out.
They didn't treat me right.
00:26:56.70\00:27:00.27
I want you to help me
capture it and we'll rule.
00:27:00.30\00:27:04.82
We've still got a chance.
00:27:04.85\00:27:06.16
Verses 8-9 says,
billions of these people,
00:27:06.19\00:27:08.56
they listen to him and
somehow he convinces them
00:27:08.59\00:27:11.21
they can take the city.
00:27:11.24\00:27:13.29
So you see, they
haven't changed either.
00:27:13.32\00:27:16.65
Again they choose
Satan as their leader.
00:27:16.68\00:27:19.18
And so they start marching,
00:27:19.21\00:27:20.72
advancing closer and
closer to this massive city,
00:27:20.75\00:27:24.75
this mighty army
00:27:24.78\00:27:25.92
in earth's last cosmic
final battle of Armageddon.
00:27:25.95\00:27:32.15
Verse 9 says, notice.
00:27:32.18\00:27:34.44
"They went up on
the breadth of the earth
00:27:34.47\00:27:36.61
and surrounded
the camp of the saints
00:27:36.64\00:27:38.69
and the beloved city."
00:27:38.72\00:27:41.64
Can you picture them?
00:27:41.67\00:27:43.34
All of the wicked
of all of the ages.
00:27:43.37\00:27:46.11
Satan, the grand
marshal lines them all up
00:27:46.14\00:27:48.34
with their
devastating nuclear weapons,
00:27:48.37\00:27:50.79
they've got atomic
missiles, B-1, B-52 bombers,
00:27:50.82\00:27:54.35
loaded to the nuclear teeth
with smart bombs and anthrax
00:27:54.38\00:27:57.51
and all other
destructive explosive weapons
00:27:57.54\00:27:59.93
that could
seemingly shatter that city
00:27:59.96\00:28:01.71
and blow it into smithereens.
00:28:01.74\00:28:04.11
Picture all of
these men and women,
00:28:04.14\00:28:06.07
they're raised up with
the same diseased bodies,
00:28:06.10\00:28:08.22
same evil characters,
00:28:08.25\00:28:09.58
still cursing and
swearing and everything else.
00:28:09.61\00:28:12.34
And Satan finally
gives the order, "March!
00:28:12.37\00:28:16.22
Take the city!"
00:28:16.25\00:28:19.72
Now God suddenly intervenes
00:28:19.75\00:28:23.97
with the final
cosmic "moment of truth."
00:28:24.00\00:28:29.19
God unveils what the
Bible calls his "strange act."
00:28:29.22\00:28:33.76
And all of a sudden,
00:28:33.79\00:28:34.91
these billions of wicked
men and wicked angels and women,
00:28:34.94\00:28:38.27
who ever they are there,
they stop in their tracks,
00:28:38.30\00:28:40.80
the Bible tells us, because
00:28:40.83\00:28:42.11
now you see it's the wicked
people's chance to judge God.
00:28:42.14\00:28:48.14
Jesus starts to ascend higher
and higher above that city,
00:28:48.17\00:28:52.96
suspended up there in
space, and He begins to radiate
00:28:52.99\00:28:56.34
brighter and brighter in
glory and majesty and power.
00:28:56.37\00:28:59.61
And I believe that first at the
Book of Philippians Chapter 2
00:28:59.64\00:29:03.43
describes this scene
specifically in something
00:29:03.46\00:29:06.07
like a fantastic replay
of a cosmic video screen,
00:29:06.10\00:29:12.96
where every evil eye will
suddenly look at his own life
00:29:12.99\00:29:17.77
replayed in virtual reality.
00:29:17.80\00:29:19.78
His whole life
portrayed in 3-D Cinerama.
00:29:19.81\00:29:23.22
And every wicked person
will see their entire life,
00:29:23.25\00:29:26.36
every wicked deed and
what they are really like
00:29:26.39\00:29:29.76
when they stand before our
holy God and before the saints,
00:29:29.79\00:29:32.90
and before that Holy City
00:29:32.93\00:29:34.07
filled with all the holy angels.
00:29:34.10\00:29:36.48
And they see the
awful difference.
00:29:36.51\00:29:38.99
They see the saints
there with perfect bodies,
00:29:39.02\00:29:41.31
perfect health,
perfect happiness,
00:29:41.34\00:29:43.48
full of love and joy and smiles
and radiant with holy glory.
00:29:43.51\00:29:47.21
And they see themselves,
00:29:47.24\00:29:50.15
their
wretchedness, their misery,
00:29:50.18\00:29:52.27
and their
ugliness, their hopelessness.
00:29:52.30\00:29:56.39
You see, God is
now giving the wicked
00:29:56.42\00:29:59.15
their chance to judge Him, too.
00:29:59.18\00:30:02.74
And the record says
in Philippians 2:10-11,
00:30:02.77\00:30:06.53
that becomes the
molten moment, the flashpoint
00:30:06.56\00:30:11.62
of total
self-realization for the wicked.
00:30:11.65\00:30:16.00
God, You were
right. You were right.
00:30:16.03\00:30:22.54
Bible says that at
the knee of Jesus--
00:30:22.57\00:30:25.86
"At the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
00:30:25.89\00:30:29.67
those in heaven
and those on earth,
00:30:29.70\00:30:31.31
and of those under the earth,
even Satan and his angels,
00:30:31.34\00:30:34.31
that every tongue should
confess Jesus Christ is Lord,
00:30:34.34\00:30:39.56
to the glory of God the Father."
00:30:39.59\00:30:42.76
Before the entire universe,
00:30:42.79\00:30:44.49
they finally admit
God, Your justice was fair.
00:30:44.52\00:30:49.24
We worship You in
spite of our wicked selves.
00:30:49.27\00:30:51.28
We really don't want to change.
00:30:51.31\00:30:52.57
We'd rather go to
hell than live on with You.
00:30:52.60\00:30:55.10
We're not sorry for our sins.
00:30:55.13\00:30:57.15
We're just sorry we got caught.
00:30:57.18\00:30:59.74
You're right. God
just get rid of us.
00:30:59.77\00:31:02.89
Put us out of our misery.
00:31:02.92\00:31:05.63
But that awful dramatic
moment lingers a little longer.
00:31:05.66\00:31:09.27
Because God for
the first and last time
00:31:09.30\00:31:11.63
gives all of those wicked now
00:31:11.66\00:31:13.45
a chance to see
Him as He really is.
00:31:13.48\00:31:17.46
Not that they'd change.
00:31:17.49\00:31:19.63
But He says, "My children,
00:31:19.66\00:31:23.53
you still don't understand Me.
00:31:23.56\00:31:25.94
You don't know Me.
I need to show you."
00:31:25.97\00:31:30.88
And the wicked watch transfixed
00:31:30.91\00:31:33.88
as God no longer
conceals His glory,
00:31:33.91\00:31:36.37
but now He permits it to
shine brighter and brighter.
00:31:36.40\00:31:39.40
And it becomes
like intense heat,
00:31:39.43\00:31:41.46
flames of fire to
these wicked people.
00:31:41.49\00:31:44.29
And in anguish they realize,
00:31:44.32\00:31:45.67
oh, how awful
their sinful selves
00:31:45.70\00:31:47.57
are compared to this
fantastic and perfect being.
00:31:47.60\00:31:50.80
And they begin to turn
and fight with each other,
00:31:50.83\00:31:53.36
and attacking Satan as the fire
of God's glory shines brighter,
00:31:53.39\00:31:56.69
and more powerful than ever.
00:31:56.72\00:31:58.18
And the whole earth
erupts in seething flames,
00:31:58.21\00:32:01.04
a great big lake of fire.
00:32:01.07\00:32:03.86
This is what Revelation 20:9
is talking about when it says
00:32:03.89\00:32:07.49
"And fire came down
00:32:07.52\00:32:09.61
from God out of
heaven and devoured them."
00:32:09.64\00:32:13.22
Completely burning up
all evidence of sinful life
00:32:13.25\00:32:17.04
here on earth once and for all.
00:32:17.07\00:32:18.84
In fact the Bible says
it's so hot, in 2 Peter 3:10
00:32:18.87\00:32:22.27
it melts the
surface of the earth.
00:32:22.30\00:32:24.93
Notice, "The heavens shall
pass away with a great noise,
00:32:24.96\00:32:28.22
and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat,
00:32:28.25\00:32:30.59
the earth also and the works
00:32:30.62\00:32:32.39
that are therein
shall be burned up."
00:32:32.42\00:32:36.12
Revelation 20:10, 14, 15 says
00:32:36.15\00:32:39.01
even "The devil,
who deceived them,
00:32:39.04\00:32:41.20
was cast into the
lake of fire and brimstone.
00:32:41.23\00:32:43.72
Then Death and Hades were
cast into the lake of fire.
00:32:43.75\00:32:47.35
This is the second death.
00:32:47.38\00:32:49.24
Anyone not found
written in the Book of Life
00:32:49.27\00:32:51.44
was cast into the lake of fire."
00:32:51.47\00:32:54.59
Forever gone.
00:32:54.62\00:32:57.79
The cosmic battle
of the ages is over.
00:32:57.82\00:33:01.66
Sin and sinners are no more.
00:33:01.69\00:33:04.60
Only the saints
and the Holy City
00:33:04.63\00:33:07.24
are miraculously
spared in that big holocaust.
00:33:07.27\00:33:12.23
You know, sadly,
we may have relatives.
00:33:12.26\00:33:16.29
We may have some friends,
00:33:16.32\00:33:18.36
whom we love dearly, who
will perish in that fire.
00:33:18.39\00:33:22.67
You know, I believe
that there is gonna be
00:33:22.70\00:33:23.79
some agonizing
scenes as they burn.
00:33:23.82\00:33:26.97
You know, the Bible says
that the walls of the city
00:33:27.00\00:33:28.92
are made of transparent jasper.
00:33:28.95\00:33:32.00
The wicked just might be able
to come up right to the city
00:33:32.03\00:33:34.58
and see right inside.
00:33:34.61\00:33:37.75
Maybe as one man
runs up to the walls,
00:33:37.78\00:33:39.81
God's glory is
getting brighter and brighter,
00:33:39.84\00:33:42.35
turning him into fire
and starting to burn him.
00:33:42.38\00:33:44.91
He sees the very
throne of God inside it,
00:33:44.94\00:33:47.43
the rainbow of
promise encircling it.
00:33:47.46\00:33:49.72
He sees the River of
Life, the Tree of Life, bright,
00:33:49.75\00:33:54.07
glorious angels
radiant and happy.
00:33:54.10\00:33:56.33
Can you picture him
seeing the streets of gold,
00:33:56.36\00:33:58.63
and standing
spellbound wondering
00:33:58.66\00:34:00.88
why he was such a
fool to lose all of that?
00:34:00.91\00:34:04.59
Then picture that man
suddenly freezing in his track
00:34:04.62\00:34:07.77
as he sees someone
coming who looks very familiar.
00:34:07.80\00:34:13.82
It's his own wife and children.
00:34:13.85\00:34:16.57
He remembers how
they used to pray for him
00:34:16.60\00:34:18.08
to give his heart to the Lord
but he never made his decision.
00:34:18.11\00:34:21.59
He never said yes to Jesus.
Now there is that wall between.
00:34:21.62\00:34:27.04
He wants to escape the hot fire
00:34:27.07\00:34:28.59
and he just goes to
pieces and he falls down
00:34:28.62\00:34:30.58
and he screams and he cries out,
00:34:30.61\00:34:32.41
begs God that,
00:34:32.44\00:34:33.76
would you just
give me one more chance.
00:34:33.79\00:34:36.68
But there will
never be another chance.
00:34:36.71\00:34:39.94
You see, He's not
sorry, really, for his choice.
00:34:39.97\00:34:43.17
He's sorry he got caught,
00:34:43.20\00:34:45.60
and he only
regrets the awful result.
00:34:45.63\00:34:49.81
It's too late.
00:34:49.84\00:34:52.86
Friend, I wish I
could paint this picture
00:34:52.89\00:34:54.72
so graphically and
share this so tenderly,
00:34:54.75\00:34:57.09
concerning
surrender and its importance.
00:34:57.12\00:34:59.75
I don't wish to be melodramatic.
00:34:59.78\00:35:02.14
I'm not trying to scare you.
00:35:02.17\00:35:04.40
True love must be your motive
for choosing Jesus Christ.
00:35:04.43\00:35:09.64
But right now Jesus invites
you to settle it with God.
00:35:09.67\00:35:14.42
He pleads.
00:35:14.45\00:35:16.14
You know, I'm
amazed how we preachers
00:35:16.17\00:35:18.44
sometimes soft-pedal
this business of hell fire,
00:35:18.47\00:35:21.00
and we say
well-meaning things to people
00:35:21.03\00:35:22.75
that we know should
make a definite decision.
00:35:22.78\00:35:26.19
Sometimes, people are held back
00:35:26.22\00:35:28.14
by their possessions, or
may be their family or job,
00:35:28.17\00:35:31.42
some friends, bank account.
00:35:31.45\00:35:34.11
Folks, what
comfort will those be
00:35:34.14\00:35:35.86
if you're looking on
the outside into the city?
00:35:35.89\00:35:41.13
Where are you
going to be then, friend?
00:35:41.16\00:35:43.79
At the end of the millennium,
00:35:43.82\00:35:45.40
you and I are going to
be in one of two places.
00:35:45.43\00:35:48.59
We'll be either
inside that city,
00:35:48.62\00:35:50.93
reigning with
Christ, immortal forever,
00:35:50.96\00:35:54.67
or we'll be on the outside
with the ranks of the wicked,
00:35:54.70\00:35:57.62
lost, left out eternally.
00:35:57.65\00:36:01.99
We have the opportunity today
00:36:02.02\00:36:04.18
to make our decision
before it's forever too late.
00:36:04.21\00:36:09.57
But I haven't
quite finished yet.
00:36:09.60\00:36:12.09
This isn't the end,
00:36:12.12\00:36:14.08
that flaming
holocaust burning up the earth.
00:36:14.11\00:36:17.44
Yes, there will be tears.
00:36:17.47\00:36:19.44
How could it be otherwise?
00:36:19.47\00:36:21.61
But here's the good news
of the Voice of Prophecy,
00:36:21.64\00:36:24.44
Revelation 21:4 says,
00:36:24.47\00:36:26.32
"And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes,
00:36:26.35\00:36:30.87
and there shall
be no more death,
00:36:30.90\00:36:32.36
nor sorrow, nor crying.
00:36:32.39\00:36:33.77
There shall be no more pain,
00:36:33.80\00:36:35.13
for the former
things have-" What?
00:36:35.16\00:36:37.59
"Passed away."
00:36:37.62\00:36:39.42
We're gonna
discover on another night
00:36:39.45\00:36:41.22
that hellfire
isn't forever and ever
00:36:41.25\00:36:43.57
an eternal fry in
the sky by and by.
00:36:43.60\00:36:45.87
God's saints won't have to look
00:36:45.90\00:36:47.06
on this ghastly
holocaust scene forever.
00:36:47.09\00:36:49.13
No.
00:36:49.16\00:36:50.19
Those fires will become--
go out and the Bible says
00:36:50.22\00:36:52.58
they become
ashes under our feet.
00:36:52.61\00:36:54.57
And in Revelation 21:5 God says,
00:36:54.60\00:36:57.32
"Behold, I make all things new."
00:36:57.35\00:37:01.76
New heaven, new earth.
00:37:01.79\00:37:03.58
Only you know what, this time,
00:37:03.61\00:37:05.48
you and I will
be there to watch.
00:37:05.51\00:37:09.28
Friend, I'm here
tonight to tell you that
00:37:09.31\00:37:10.61
no one seated here needs to
be caught in that lake of fire.
00:37:10.64\00:37:15.59
You know, my Bible says
that that's being prepared
00:37:15.62\00:37:17.71
for the Devil and his angels.
00:37:17.74\00:37:20.18
God isn't stoking
that fire for people.
00:37:20.21\00:37:23.31
The only way you
can possibly get there
00:37:23.34\00:37:25.64
is if you
choose not to be saved.
00:37:25.67\00:37:30.76
Right now tonight I
want to invite all of you
00:37:30.79\00:37:32.50
wonderful people
seated in auditoriums
00:37:32.53\00:37:34.42
all across North
America and around the world.
00:37:34.45\00:37:37.48
Friend, I want
you to meet me there
00:37:37.51\00:37:39.84
inside those pearly gates.
00:37:39.87\00:37:42.66
Will you plan to meet
me at the Tree of Life?
00:37:42.69\00:37:44.96
Voice of Prophecy has
got a very special place
00:37:44.99\00:37:46.71
staked out, we're gonna
meet all of our friends there.
00:37:46.74\00:37:49.89
Won't you surrender
your life to Jesus right now
00:37:49.92\00:37:52.29
and make your decision?
00:37:52.32\00:37:54.60
Today, I want to
invite you to come forward
00:37:54.63\00:37:56.47
here at the front
of this auditorium,
00:37:56.50\00:37:58.32
I want you to stand in
front of this great big screen
00:37:58.35\00:38:00.41
on either side
wherever you are down there,
00:38:00.44\00:38:03.04
and your downlink locations,
00:38:03.07\00:38:04.63
take your
decision card with you.
00:38:04.66\00:38:06.10
The row captains are
passing those down right now.
00:38:06.13\00:38:09.00
Take that decision card,
00:38:09.03\00:38:12.38
bring it with you as
Joey sings in just a moment.
00:38:12.41\00:38:15.29
If you're watching at
home, watching on a video
00:38:15.32\00:38:18.21
you might want to
slip to your knees,
00:38:18.24\00:38:19.59
or move down toward
that television set.
00:38:19.62\00:38:22.57
Friend, if you have some habit
that you need victory over,
00:38:22.60\00:38:25.59
come forward for prayer
and if you're struggling
00:38:25.62\00:38:27.55
with the temptations
come on down to the front
00:38:27.58\00:38:30.05
and turn your
life over to Jesus.
00:38:30.08\00:38:32.60
If you want to
receive Jesus Christ,
00:38:32.63\00:38:34.18
friend, please come,
00:38:34.21\00:38:35.62
Jesus will hear
you, Jesus will answer.
00:38:35.65\00:38:38.83
I'm going to wait a few
minutes as you come forward
00:38:38.86\00:38:40.83
and then I'll have
prayer with you but please
00:38:40.86\00:38:42.74
get out of your seats right now,
00:38:42.77\00:38:44.14
come on down to the
front as Joey sings.
00:38:44.17\00:38:47.71
Right now in the
quiet of this moment
00:38:47.74\00:38:55.67
Right now He is near
00:38:55.70\00:39:02.95
Right now you can find Him
00:39:02.98\00:39:08.34
If you seek him
00:39:08.37\00:39:10.60
Right now He is here
00:39:10.63\00:39:16.26
Right now He is
waiting to forgive your sin
00:39:16.29\00:39:23.86
Right now you can know
His perfect peace within
00:39:27.07\00:39:35.07
Right now as you
hear Him gently calling
00:39:38.16\00:39:46.14
Right now don't wait
00:39:46.17\00:39:52.37
Right now He is
waiting to receive you
00:39:52.40\00:39:59.86
It's not too late
00:39:59.89\00:40:05.35
Right now if you'll open
up the door Of your heart
00:40:05.38\00:40:13.31
And let Him in
00:40:13.34\00:40:19.27
New life will come to you
00:40:19.30\00:40:27.25
Right now
00:40:27.28\00:40:34.40
Amen, amen.
00:40:34.43\00:40:36.29
What a beautiful
sight here in our Dallas
00:40:36.32\00:40:38.38
oblique location in Colombia.
00:40:38.41\00:40:41.04
Many, many people and I
hope in your downlink location
00:40:41.07\00:40:43.63
you would join
us even as I pray.
00:40:43.66\00:40:45.21
Let's bow our heads but
please move to the screens,
00:40:45.24\00:40:47.85
wherever you are as
we pray this prayer.
00:40:47.88\00:40:50.24
Heavenly Father,
Lord I want to thank You
00:40:50.27\00:40:52.01
for the glorious picture of
how sin will end one day soon.
00:40:52.04\00:40:58.53
But, Lord, it means the moment
of truth has come right now.
00:40:58.56\00:41:04.72
Father, there are people here
00:41:04.75\00:41:05.80
who need to make
that full surrender
00:41:05.83\00:41:08.94
and I want to
pray for them just now
00:41:08.97\00:41:10.46
that You'll
speak to their hearts
00:41:10.49\00:41:11.66
as I am praying this prayer.
00:41:11.69\00:41:14.05
Just speak as
earnestly as you know how
00:41:14.08\00:41:16.94
that trouble our
souls and realize
00:41:16.97\00:41:18.73
that if we choose to hold back,
00:41:18.76\00:41:22.29
we're rejecting You, not me.
00:41:22.32\00:41:25.91
Lord, this isn't my
appeal, it's the Savior's.
00:41:25.94\00:41:30.52
So, Lord, right now
we want to make a choice.
00:41:30.55\00:41:33.52
We choose You.
00:41:33.55\00:41:36.30
We choose to make that
eternally important decision
00:41:36.33\00:41:39.07
before it's for ever too late.
00:41:39.10\00:41:41.90
Friend, out there
whatever your congregation,
00:41:41.93\00:41:44.84
wherever you're
sitting and watching
00:41:44.87\00:41:46.21
these satellites tonight,
00:41:46.24\00:41:48.32
all our heads are bowed and
that organ is still playing.
00:41:48.35\00:41:51.96
Heaven is cheap enough,
please make your decision.
00:41:51.99\00:41:56.66
Time is short.
Choose to follow Jesus.
00:41:56.69\00:42:01.84
Maybe you are someone
that's not been baptized
00:42:01.87\00:42:04.92
or you haven't made a
public profession of Jesus,
00:42:04.95\00:42:07.14
would you settle that tonight?
00:42:07.17\00:42:10.64
Just stand up to your feet
00:42:10.67\00:42:11.70
and come on down
to the front here.
00:42:11.73\00:42:13.65
Your instructors and hostesses
will be there waiting for you
00:42:13.68\00:42:16.63
and as the spirit speaks,
00:42:16.66\00:42:17.73
friend, don't pass
another opportunity to stand up
00:42:17.76\00:42:21.17
and profess Jesus
Christ right now, come forward.
00:42:21.20\00:42:26.80
Maybe some have already stood,
00:42:26.83\00:42:28.08
you've already made a
decision for Jesus Christ.
00:42:28.11\00:42:30.10
You come on down too and be an
encouragement to someone else.
00:42:30.13\00:42:33.82
Or maybe you want to
slip back to the seat
00:42:33.85\00:42:35.29
and encourage them that you'd be
00:42:35.32\00:42:36.45
willing to walk up with them.
00:42:36.48\00:42:38.59
I see number of people standing,
00:42:38.62\00:42:39.96
God bless each of you.
00:42:39.99\00:42:41.26
Would you take that
response card right now,
00:42:41.29\00:42:44.34
let's fill it in together.
00:42:44.37\00:42:46.31
Those of you here at the
front if you need to go back
00:42:46.34\00:42:48.33
later in a
moment that's all right.
00:42:48.36\00:42:49.71
We'll let you fill it out then.
00:42:49.74\00:42:51.43
The first choice says,
I want to be with Jesus
00:42:51.46\00:42:54.49
during the thousand
years inside the New Jerusalem.
00:42:54.52\00:42:57.72
I hope every one
will check number one.
00:42:57.75\00:43:00.63
Secondly, I
accept Jesus into my life
00:43:00.66\00:43:03.87
for the first time today.
00:43:03.90\00:43:06.23
You check that if that's
appropriate in your decision.
00:43:06.26\00:43:10.10
The next one is I want
to prepare for baptism soon.
00:43:10.13\00:43:14.30
I hope many people who
have been thinking about this
00:43:14.33\00:43:16.45
would put a check there.
00:43:16.48\00:43:17.51
We will be in touch with you
to plan how and when for you.
00:43:17.54\00:43:20.71
And finally number four,
there may be someone who says
00:43:20.74\00:43:23.71
I really need some
prayers for my life,
00:43:23.74\00:43:25.97
please pray for me.
00:43:26.00\00:43:27.03
Would you check that and
you can have a place there
00:43:27.06\00:43:28.72
to put your prayer request,
do that just now as Joey sings.
00:43:28.75\00:43:33.46
Right now as you
hear Him gently calling
00:43:33.49\00:43:41.41
Right now don't wait
00:43:41.44\00:43:47.84
Right now He is
waiting to receive you
00:43:47.87\00:43:55.55
It's not too late
00:43:55.58\00:44:00.62
Right now if
you'll open up the door
00:44:00.65\00:44:06.63
Of your heart and let Him in
00:44:06.66\00:44:14.61
New life will come to you
00:44:14.64\00:44:22.55
Right now
00:44:22.58\00:44:30.25
Father in heaven,
00:44:30.28\00:44:31.31
as we close this prayer
time and our commitment time,
00:44:31.34\00:44:35.38
there are
individuals still seated
00:44:35.41\00:44:36.58
and I would like to
invite them to participate
00:44:36.61\00:44:39.94
in standing to their
feet wherever they are to say,
00:44:39.97\00:44:42.49
Lord, I'm making myself
Your subject of Your kingdom.
00:44:42.52\00:44:48.30
I'm declaring that
I'm on Jesus' side.
00:44:48.33\00:44:51.06
Just stand where you are
00:44:51.09\00:44:52.12
and you're all
across the congregation,
00:44:52.15\00:44:54.25
many, many people
almost every person is standing
00:44:54.28\00:44:57.09
or you're raising
your hand, God bless you,
00:44:57.12\00:44:58.89
if you can't
stand, raise your hand,
00:44:58.92\00:45:00.69
God will see your
hand. God bless you.
00:45:00.72\00:45:03.84
Lord, here we are,
Your people, God's saints,
00:45:03.87\00:45:10.11
please bless each commitment
and seal them for eternity
00:45:10.14\00:45:14.09
for we pray this in
the wonderful name of Jesus
00:45:14.12\00:45:17.51
and the church
said amen, amen, amen.
00:45:17.54\00:45:22.04
I'm gonna invite you quietly
to move back to your seats
00:45:22.07\00:45:24.65
in all the locations.
00:45:24.68\00:45:25.90
I have a brief announcement
before we go off the satellite.
00:45:25.93\00:45:28.35
Remember that
tomorrow is a double header,
00:45:30.66\00:45:34.26
11 o'clock, Turn Back The Clock.
00:45:34.29\00:45:38.20
And we're gonna
have a thrilling,
00:45:38.23\00:45:39.42
healing and anointing
service for any one who would
00:45:39.45\00:45:41.86
like to participate right here
and in your downlink locations.
00:45:41.89\00:45:46.34
That's at 11 o'clock.
00:45:46.37\00:45:47.40
Of course there is a
study time called Sabbath school
00:45:47.43\00:45:49.79
begins at 9:15,
9:30 some places,
00:45:49.82\00:45:52.71
a little later,
here it's at 9:30.
00:45:52.74\00:45:55.13
But then tomorrow night,
the Bible's grand finale,
00:45:55.16\00:45:58.76
The Best Is Yet To Come.
00:45:58.79\00:46:02.08
We're about to
have a graduation here
00:46:02.11\00:46:03.53
in our site in Colombia.
00:46:03.56\00:46:05.33
All of the sites down there
00:46:05.36\00:46:06.74
wherever you are
across the globe,
00:46:06.77\00:46:09.01
this is the
chance for you to meet
00:46:09.04\00:46:10.41
the discover
Bible school students
00:46:10.44\00:46:11.92
who've completed
most of the lessons,
00:46:11.95\00:46:13.79
some of them not quite finished,
00:46:13.82\00:46:15.05
but we're gonna give
you diploma just the same,
00:46:15.08\00:46:17.46
because we want you to get
a graduation diploma tonight.
00:46:17.49\00:46:20.90
As we leave, let me say
00:46:20.93\00:46:21.96
as we always
close our broadcast,
00:46:21.99\00:46:24.28
friend, whoever you are,
00:46:24.31\00:46:26.05
wherever you are in
your spiritual journey,
00:46:26.08\00:46:28.67
please remember, God
really does love you.
00:46:28.70\00:46:34.51
Good night. God bless.
00:46:34.54\00:46:36.72