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Series Code: MAT
Program Code: MAT000006S
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00:21 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
00:24 Father in heaven, we come before Your throne 00:26 in the powerful name of Jesus. 00:29 We need the help of the Holy Spirit now, 00:31 as we open Your Holy Word, 00:33 I ask that You will remove from our hearts any obstacle 00:37 that would keep us from hearing Your voice. 00:40 I ask that You will give us a sincere heart 00:43 to receive what we study 00:46 to investigate it 00:47 and to apply it to our lives. 00:50 Thank You for being with us and for hearing our prayer, 00:53 for we ask it in Jesus' name. 00:56 Amen. 00:59 In our last study together, 01:00 we looked at the historical fulfillment 01:04 of Matthew Chapter 24 01:08 and the prophetic fulfillment of the same chapter, 01:13 but we only studied 01:14 Matthew 24:4-14. 01:19 Now, we are going to study 01:20 the abomination of desolation, part one. 01:25 In our next lecture, 01:26 we will take a look 01:27 at the abomination of desolation, part two. 01:30 So it's going to take us two sessions 01:33 to deal with the abomination of desolation 01:36 in the end time, 01:38 because we've already looked at its fulfillment 01:41 in the destruction of Jerusalem. 01:43 Now, in order to know where the context is 01:48 for the abomination of desolation, 01:50 we need to review the sequence of events 01:54 that we studied in our last presentation. 01:58 So I'm quickly going to go through the different events 02:02 in chronological order, 02:04 as they will occur at the end of time. 02:08 First of all, we noticed that false messiahs will arise, 02:13 and there have been false messiahs 02:15 that have arisen. 02:17 And I'm sure that we will be seeing more 02:20 as time passes. 02:22 Then we have wars and rumors of wars, 02:25 nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom. 02:29 And then also we have a mention of pestilences, 02:33 famines, earthquakes, and troubles in society. 02:38 Now, these things are going to get worse and worse 02:42 because Matthew 20:8, 24:8 says 02:47 that these things are only the beginning of sorrows. 02:53 And in Great Controversy, page 590. 02:56 Ellen White wrote, 02:57 that these visitations or these disasters 03:01 are to become more and more frequent 03:05 and disastrous. 03:07 Now, where are we in the fulfillment 03:10 of Matthew 24? 03:12 We are at verse 8. 03:15 We are between verse 8 and verse 9. 03:19 And somebody might say, 03:20 "Oh well, so there's still a long time 03:22 before the end of the chapter, 03:25 you know, from verse 8 all the way to verse 31, 03:29 where it speaks about Jesus sending the angels 03:31 to pick up the elect. 03:33 Oh, we have plenty of time to spare yet." 03:35 No, because we are told that the final movements 03:41 will be rapid ones. 03:44 In other words, we can't say 03:45 that just because eight verses have been fulfilled 03:48 and verse 8 through verse 31 03:53 have not yet been fully fulfilled 03:55 that we have plenty of time to get ready. 03:58 Now we notice the reason 03:59 why these disasters in society and in nature 04:04 are going to occur. 04:05 It's because Satan wants to blame God's people. 04:10 Now, how do we know that we are now between verse 8 04:14 and verse 9? 04:15 Well, because verse 8 says that the nation against nation, 04:20 kingdom against kingdom, 04:21 famines, pestilences, and earthquakes 04:23 are the beginning of sorrows. 04:25 And then verse 9 begins by saying, 04:27 then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you. 04:31 And you will be hated by all nations 04:33 for My name's sake. 04:34 That hasn't happened yet. 04:36 You know, God's, people 04:38 are not being persecuted at this time, 04:40 going into tribulation 04:42 and having all nations hate them. 04:44 It's just not happening right now. 04:46 So we are between verse 8 and verse 9. 04:50 The disasters are going to get more and more frequent, 04:54 and they're going to be worse and worse 04:56 until the point 04:58 where Satan will convince the populace of the world 05:01 that God's people are causing these problems. 05:05 And then you notice in verse 9 05:07 that God's people will be thrown 05:10 into tribulation. 05:12 I want you to notice 05:13 it doesn't say the great tribulation. 05:15 It says tribulation. 05:17 The Great Tribulation comes later. 05:19 This is a preliminary time of trouble 05:22 or little time of trouble for God's people 05:25 when they will be blamed for the disasters 05:28 that are taking place. 05:31 And then we noticed that during this period, 05:33 family members will betray family members 05:35 and friends will betray friends. 05:38 And the prophecy tells us that at this time, 05:41 when persecution comes many will be offended. 05:44 In other words, many of those who walked with the Lord, 05:47 many of those who profess to be followers of Jesus 05:50 in order to spare themselves some persecution, 05:53 they will be offended 05:55 and they will forsake the truth. 05:57 At this same time, there will be false prophets, 06:00 according to verse 11, 06:01 and the false prophets are those 06:03 who went astray from God's people. 06:05 And now they will use all of their powers 06:08 to try and deceive the elect 06:11 and to speak against them in tribunals, 06:14 and before the great leaders of the world. 06:17 This brings me to my next point. 06:19 God's people would be required to give testimony 06:24 before great political leaders of the world, 06:27 before presidents, legislators, rulers, and magistrates. 06:32 And God's people will not have to be concerned 06:35 because God will pour out the latter rain power 06:38 for them to be able to give the loud cry. 06:41 And they won't have to worry about what to say, 06:44 because the Holy Spirit will enlighten them, 06:47 will give them wisdom and words to speak. 06:50 And we found in our last study 06:52 that thousands upon thousands will accept the truth 06:56 as a result of the proclamation of the loud cry 06:59 under the power of the Holy Spirit. 07:02 Then we're told that because of transgression of the law, 07:06 the love of many will grow cold. 07:09 And we read a statement where it says 07:12 that these people whose love grows cold, 07:15 they once had a high spiritual experience with Jesus, 07:20 but they will apostatize because of lawlessness 07:24 or because of the transgression of the law. 07:26 Then the prophecy tells us 07:28 that during this time 07:29 God's people are going to need perseverance. 07:32 They're going to need patience. 07:34 And we are told, 07:35 we are given the promise that those who persevere 07:38 or those who endure till the end 07:40 will be saved. 07:43 And then final sign that we looked at 07:45 is the preaching of the gospel to all the world, 07:49 and then the end will come. 07:51 And we connected this with the first angel's message. 07:54 The first angel takes the everlasting gospel 07:57 to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. 08:00 But it's the presentation of the gospel 08:02 in a special end time context 08:07 where the hour of God's judgment 08:09 is proclaimed. 08:10 In other words, God's people will say, 08:12 we are now in the hour of God's judgment. 08:15 You have to make your decision now, 08:17 like those who were in Jerusalem 08:19 had to make their decision to leave or to stay. 08:23 And then the first angel's message 08:24 also calls people to worship 08:27 the one who created the heavens, the earth, 08:29 the seas, and the fountains of waters. 08:31 In other words, it is a call to worship the Creator 08:35 and the sign of the Creator is the Holy Sabbath. 08:40 So basically this is the context, 08:42 the previous context 08:44 to what we are going to study here 08:46 in part one of the abomination of desolation, 08:49 the end time fulfillment. 08:52 So now we are going to take a look 08:54 at verses 15 to 20 08:57 of Matthew Chapter 24. 08:59 And we're going to see that there are several things 09:01 that are mentioned in those verses. 09:03 Number one, the abomination of desolation. 09:07 It will divide the human race into two groups, 09:11 just like the sign outside Jerusalem 09:14 in the year AD 70 09:16 divided the city into two groups, 09:18 those who left and those who stayed. 09:21 Secondly, as a result of seeing the abomination of desolation, 09:26 then there is the flight. 09:27 God's people will have to flee from the cities 09:31 because they will be persecuted. 09:33 And then you have the great tribulation. 09:37 The word great is added. 09:39 This is not the preliminary tribulation, 09:41 the little time of trouble or the short time of trouble 09:45 where God's people would be persecuted 09:47 and there will be martyrs. 09:48 No, the Great Tribulation there will be no martyrs, 09:52 because the great tribulation, 09:54 when it comes, probation has closed. 09:57 So then you have the Great Tribulation 09:59 and a very interesting detail 10:01 is that all of those who flee at this time 10:05 are Sabbath keepers, 10:07 because we are told by Jesus, 10:10 pray that your flight not be in the winter 10:13 or on the Sabbath day. 10:16 Now, what we need to do is then to understand 10:19 the abomination of desolation, 10:21 as it fulfills in the end time in Bible prophecy. 10:27 And for this, we need to go back 10:29 and review what we studied in the historical application 10:34 of the abomination of desolation to any events 10:37 that led up to the year 70, 10:40 between 66 and year, the year 70. 10:43 So I'm going to review now 10:45 the abomination of desolation 10:47 that surrounded Jerusalem 10:49 before the destruction of the city 10:51 in the year 70 AD. 10:54 Now, I'm going to talk about the Roman Eagle standard. 10:58 If you want a picture of this standard 11:01 in the interpreter's dictionary of the Bible, 11:03 volume one, page 347, 11:07 there's a picture of the Roman standard. 11:09 Let me describe what is on that standard. 11:12 There is an eagle. 11:15 The head of the eagle is facing right. 11:19 The wings of the eagle are outstretched. 11:23 And in his talons, 11:26 the eagle has arrows. 11:30 Surrounding the eagle is a golden wreath 11:35 representing the orb of the sun. 11:38 And we know that when the Roman legions surrounded a city, 11:43 besieged the city, 11:45 the first thing that they would do 11:46 after they surrounded the city 11:48 was to put their Roman standards 11:51 into the ground. 11:52 And then they would kneel 11:54 and they would render them 11:55 worship according to Flavius Josephus. 11:59 They were actually rendering worship 12:01 to the sun God Mithra, 12:04 because in the year 63 BC Pompey adopted the eagle 12:09 as the sole beast on the Roman standard. 12:15 And so you find this information 12:19 on the standard of the Roman legions. 12:24 So what Jesus was saying is 12:26 when you see the abomination of desolation, 12:30 that was prophesied by Daniel, 12:32 he was saying to his faithful followers flee. 12:36 Now, what is the abomination of desolation? 12:38 As we noticed in Luke 21:20, Jesus said, 12:43 when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies. 12:47 So the abomination of desolation 12:50 is the surrounding of Jerusalem by the Roman legions. 12:55 At that moment, the faithful, 12:57 when they saw the sign of the Romans, 13:01 of the Roman legions 13:02 placing their standards in the ground 13:04 and kneeling and rendering worship 13:06 to the sun God, 13:07 they were to take that as a sign 13:09 to flee from the city. 13:12 However, there was a problem 13:14 when Cestius Gallus came to the city of Jerusalem 13:17 in the year 66 13:20 and besieged the city, 13:22 it looked like he was going to be successful 13:24 in conquering the city at that point. 13:27 Everything seemed to indicate 13:30 that the city was going to fall, 13:32 but then something strange happened. 13:35 Josephus says without any explanation, 13:38 we know that there's an explanation 13:40 because Jesus had prophesied 13:42 that there was going to be a sign 13:44 that would indicate that His people 13:46 were supposed to flee. 13:48 What happened was that Cestius Gallus 13:52 suddenly withdrew from the siege of the city. 13:57 All of the Roman legions, 13:59 along with their general left the city 14:02 and fled back to Rome. 14:05 The unfaithful 14:07 who were within the city of Jerusalem said, 14:09 this is clearly a sign that God is blessing us, 14:14 and God is giving us the victory. 14:17 And, of course, the false prophets in the city, 14:19 they said, we told you 14:20 that there was going to be peace. 14:22 We told you that this city would never fall. 14:25 And so, and so at that time 14:28 Cestius Gallus goes back to Rome 14:31 and the Jewish armies, 14:35 if you please go after him. 14:38 And according to Josephus, 14:40 several of the Roman soldiers perished 14:44 when they were attacked by the Jews. 14:47 However, the Christians that were within the city 14:51 that knew what Jesus had said in this very sermon. 14:55 When you see the abomination of desolation, 14:57 when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, 15:00 you know, that its desolation is near. 15:03 That is the time to flee. 15:05 And so the Christians at that moment fled the city 15:09 because the city was no longer besieged. 15:12 Well, it just so happens 15:14 that just three years later 15:18 Vespasian came against the city. 15:22 And then after him Titus, 15:25 and they surrounded the city, 15:27 they besieged it like a wall where there was no escape 15:31 and everyone in the city perished. 15:36 Very interesting, 15:38 but not one Christian perished 15:42 in the destruction of Jerusalem. 15:45 When I say that everyone in the city perished, 15:47 I'm not saying that they were killed. 15:49 What I'm saying is that they were either killed 15:52 or they were sold as slaves 15:54 to different nations by the Romans. 15:57 Now you say, 15:59 what does this have to do 16:00 with the end time abomination of desolation. 16:06 In order to understand this, 16:07 we need to comprehend that 16:10 what happened with literal Jerusalem 16:13 in a literal location with the literal Jews 16:19 symbolizes global events with God's spiritual people, 16:24 no longer literal Jerusalem, 16:27 but with God's spiritual people 16:28 at the four angles of the earth. 16:31 There also has to be a connection 16:33 between the Roman standard 16:36 and the sign that God's people 16:38 are going to see at the end of time 16:39 that indicates that they're supposed to flee. 16:42 It must have something to do with an eagle and the sun. 16:47 The final sign must have something to do 16:50 with the eagle and the sun, 16:52 because that was the sign that led the faithful 16:56 to flee Jerusalem 16:57 when they left the first time. 17:00 So now you say, 17:02 well, how do you explain then this in the end time? 17:06 What is the abomination of desolation 17:09 at the end of time? 17:10 In order to understand this, 17:12 we need to look at The Great Seal 17:16 of the United States of America. 17:19 Now, if you have a $1 bill, I just have a $1 bill here. 17:23 And you'll find on one side of the $1 bill, 17:27 not on the side where George Washington is, 17:29 but on the other side you'll find two circles. 17:32 One on the left and one on the right. 17:34 These two circles are both sides 17:36 of what is known as The Great Seal 17:39 of the United States. 17:41 How important is The Great Seal 17:43 of the United States of America? 17:46 Well, let me read you a quotation 17:48 on someone who's an expert on United States, 17:51 the United States flag, and also other insignia. 17:54 This is the explanation 17:56 of the importance of The Great Seal, 17:58 also known as the State of Arms of the United States. 18:03 It reads like this. 18:04 "The Great Seal or State of Arms 18:09 is the official emblem of the United States. 18:14 All judicial, 18:15 legislative and executive proclamations 18:20 bear this seal." 18:23 So you have the three branches of government, 18:25 the executive, the judicial, 18:28 and the legislative branches of the government. 18:33 So it says, it's the official emblem 18:35 in all judicial, legislative 18:37 and executive proclamations bear this seal. 18:40 Then it says, 18:41 "It certifies and authenticates 18:45 all official acts of the federal government. 18:50 It must appear on all 18:52 its authoritative laws and statutes." 18:56 Wow, interesting. 18:58 What are the main points? 19:00 It is the official emblem. 19:02 It must be in all judicial, 19:03 legislative and executive proclamations. 19:07 It certifies and authenticates official acts, 19:10 and it must be on all laws and statutes 19:14 of the United States of America. 19:17 So let's take a look 19:18 at a little history of The Great Seal 19:21 of the United States. 19:23 On July 4th, 1776, of course, as probably most of you know, 19:28 the Declaration of Independence of the United States 19:31 from England was signed. 19:35 And at that time, the very time, 19:38 a Great Seal Committee was created 19:41 to adopt a national official seal 19:45 for the newborn nation. 19:47 Among the members of that Great Seal Committee 19:51 were Benjamin Franklin, 19:53 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, 19:56 three of the very famous founders 19:59 of the Republic of the United States. 20:01 Now in that meeting, 20:03 Benjamin Franklin suggested 20:06 that the country should adopt a turkey 20:09 as its national emblem. 20:11 And I praise the Lord 20:13 that the committee did not listen 20:15 to Benjamin Franklin. 20:17 The committee tabled its deliberations 20:21 after a lengthy discussion. 20:23 And so three additional committees 20:26 convened after this and our presence seal, 20:30 as it's found on the $1 bill 20:32 was adopted on June 28th, 1772, 20:38 just six years 20:40 after the Declaration of Independence. 20:43 This seal was adopted 20:45 before the Constitution was ratified in 1787. 20:50 And before the Bill of Rights was enacted in the year 1791. 20:55 In other words, The Great Seal is not a recent innovation. 20:59 The Great Seal goes all the way back 21:03 to the roots of our Republic, 21:05 adopted once again in 1772. 21:09 So it would be a good idea 21:11 for us to take a look at The Great Seal, 21:14 both sides of The Great Seal 21:17 of the United States of America. 21:20 So let's take a look, 21:21 first of all, at the front side of the seal, 21:25 and that's the circle 21:27 that you have on the right side of the bill 21:28 if you have it right before you. 21:30 You'll notice there that there is 21:33 a native bald eagle. 21:38 The face of the eagle is facing right. 21:43 You'll notice also 21:44 that the wings of the eagle are outstretched. 21:49 And in the talons of the eagle, you have arrows. 21:54 Now that's notable because in that day, 21:58 the actual weapon that was used was muskets, 22:03 not bows and arrows. 22:06 And so there's something very significant about the fact 22:09 that you have arrows here. 22:13 Now, what is the meaning? 22:14 Oh, by the way, you'll notice also that above the eagle, 22:17 you have the rays of the sun breaking through the clouds. 22:21 Now, what is the meaning of the sun rays 22:26 breaking through the clouds? 22:28 Well, we find in a book about flags 22:32 the following explanation. 22:34 In a large number of lands, 22:37 the sun is associated 22:39 not so much with independence, 22:42 but with the promises it brings 22:44 in the dawn of a new day. 22:48 So notice that the sun was a symbol 22:51 of the dawn of a new day, 22:53 because the United States was just beginning, 22:56 was the dawn of a new nation. 22:58 Toward the end 23:00 of the Constitutional Convention 23:01 in Philadelphia in 1787, 23:05 George Washington, 23:07 the first president of the United States 23:10 sat in a special chair 23:12 and presided over the convention. 23:16 The name of the chair was the rising sun chair. 23:21 And on the backrest of this chair 23:24 is a beautifully carved sun. 23:29 Benjamin Franklin, 23:30 who sat among the delegates 23:32 to the Constitutional Convention, 23:34 had a very interesting comment about this particular chair. 23:40 This is what Benjamin Franklin said. 23:43 I have often looked at that sun 23:47 behind the president 23:49 without being able to tell 23:52 whether it was a rising or setting sun, 23:56 but now at length, 23:58 I have the happiness to know that 24:01 it is a rising and not a setting sun, 24:07 because it was the dawn of a new day. 24:10 In other words, 24:11 a new nation 24:13 with great promise of peace and prosperity 24:16 had just been founded. 24:18 Now, let me just get ahead of myself a little bit now. 24:22 In the midst of the terrible disasters 24:24 that are going to become more frequent and more terrible 24:27 according to what we read in the great, 24:29 in the book The Great Controversy, 24:31 things are going to fall apart 24:33 in the United States of America. 24:36 However, Ellen White states, 24:40 that the government will believe instigated 24:43 by the religious powers of the United States 24:46 that enforcing the day of the sun, 24:48 enforcing Sunday 24:50 will bring back peace and prosperity 24:54 to the United States. 24:55 That's in Great Controversy, 24:57 pages 588 and 589. 25:02 Now somebody might say, 25:03 "Well, Pastor Bohr, 25:04 all of these details 25:06 that are similar on the US seal 25:09 to what the Roman standard have had. 25:12 It must be coincidental. 25:14 It must be an accident." 25:16 But it's not. 25:18 Let me share with you four reasons 25:21 why the connection between the Roman standard 25:25 and The Great Seal of the United States of America 25:28 are linked or connected together. 25:31 Number one, 25:32 we've already noticed that Matthew Chapter 24 25:35 has a dual fulfillment. 25:38 In other words, it is fulfilled in events that lead up 25:40 to the destruction of Jerusalem, 25:42 and it will be fulfilled on a larger and greater scale 25:46 at the end of time. 25:48 What does that mean? 25:50 It means that in some sense, 25:52 the eagle and the sun in the end time 25:54 must be a sign as it was previous 25:58 to the destruction of Jerusalem. 26:00 Secondly, 26:02 the United States itself testifies 26:06 that it got its emblems from the Roman Empire. 26:10 So the United States says, 26:11 we got these from the Roman Empire. 26:13 Let me read you another quotation 26:16 from an expert in flags across the world. 26:21 This is how it reads, 26:22 "The neoclassical spirit of america 26:26 at the end of the 18th century, 26:28 looked to the ancient," now, listen carefully, 26:31 "looked to the ancient Republic for many symbols." 26:35 So once again, 26:37 the neoclassical spirit of America 26:38 at the end of the 18th century 26:40 looked to the ancient Roman Republic 26:43 for many symbols, 26:44 "including the name 26:46 of the Upper Chamber of Congress." 26:48 That is the Senate. 26:50 "In Rome, the eagle began as a Republican symbol, 26:55 hence Americans chose their native bald eagle 26:59 for the National Arms in 1782." 27:03 So you'll notice that the United States itself says, 27:06 we got the emblems on our Great Seal from Rome. 27:11 And we also noticed that 27:12 because Matthew 24 has a dual fulfillment, 27:15 the eagle and sun of the Roman standards 27:17 must have something to do 27:19 with the end time fulfillment. 27:21 Point number three. 27:23 In 1891, AT Jones published a very important volume. 27:29 It is a massive volume. 27:30 I think it has around a thousand pages. 27:33 The name of this book is The Two Republics 27:37 or Rome and the United States of America. 27:40 In this fascinating books, 27:42 he shows the parallels 27:44 between the ancient Roman Republic 27:47 and the Republic of the United States. 27:49 There are so many striking similarities 27:52 between the two. 27:54 And number four, 27:55 as we shall see 27:57 towards the end of our study together, 27:59 Ellen White explicitly linked the Roman standards 28:04 that surrounded Jerusalem 28:06 with the national day of the sun 28:09 at the end of time. 28:11 Now we need to take a look also at the reverse side 28:15 of The Great Seal on the $1 bill. 28:18 You find in the circle 28:19 on the left-hand side of the $1 bill, 28:23 a secret, a tower that is unfinished. 28:28 You'll notice that the top is unfinished. 28:30 At the top of the pyramid, 28:32 you have what is known as the Eye of Providence. 28:36 It's really the eye of Lucifer. 28:39 And coming forth from the eye are the rays of the sun. 28:43 Once again, everybody agrees that this is a Masonic symbol. 28:49 Now you'll notice also that you have here some inscriptions 28:54 on this side of the seal. 28:57 You'll notice for example 29:00 the expression 29:02 Novus Ordo Seclorum. 29:06 You say, "What does that mean, Novus Ordo Seclorum?" 29:10 Well, it means new world order. 29:14 And you thought that that was something recent. 29:17 And you'll also notice that above it, 29:19 you have the inscription, Annuit Coeptis, 29:22 which means he has blessed our undertaking. 29:27 He has blessed our undertaking. 29:29 So, you'll notice here 29:32 another very interesting details, 29:34 and you have to really have good eyesight to catch this. 29:37 You'll notice at the bottom of the pyramid, 29:40 you have the year 1776 in Roman numerals. 29:45 So you have all of these inscriptions in Latin, 29:49 which is the language of ancient Rome. 29:51 Annuit Coeptis, he has favored our undertaking. 29:54 Novus Ordo Seclorum, there is a new world order. 29:58 And by the way, on the other side of the seal, 30:00 which I failed to mention, 30:02 you have the words E pluribus unum, 30:06 which in Latin means out of the many, one. 30:09 And so, you find these Latin inscriptions, 30:12 you have Roman numerals, 30:14 you have the sunburst above the eagle, 30:17 the sunburst coming forth from the eye. 30:20 You have the eagle looking right, 30:23 wings spread out, talons with arrows. 30:28 Clearly, there is a connection between the two. 30:32 Now let me tell you something about this particular seal. 30:38 Henry Wallace was vice president 30:41 during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. 30:45 We know that Henry Wallace was a 32nd degree Mason. 30:50 So you might be wondering 30:51 how these two sides of the seal ended up on a $1 bill. 30:56 Well, Henry Wallace suggested minting a coin 31:02 that would have The Great Seal on it. 31:04 Instead, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 31:08 who was also a 32nd degree Freemason, 31:12 placed The Great Seal 31:14 on the $1 bill in the year 1935. 31:19 And once again, I emphasize 31:21 that you have the sun, 31:23 you have the eagle, 31:24 you have the outstretched wings, 31:26 you have the eagle looking right. 31:28 You have arrows in the talons. 31:30 You have inscriptions in Latin, 31:32 and you have the date 31:34 for the Declaration of Independence 31:35 in Roman numerals. 31:37 There is clearly a connection 31:39 between the Roman standards and The Great Seal 31:44 of the United States of America. 31:47 Now, what about the architecture 31:49 of Washington, DC? 31:52 Well, if you've been to Washington, DC, 31:54 something is very striking 31:56 and that is that the main government buildings 32:01 are composed of Roman architectural structures. 32:06 For example, The Capitol, The White House, 32:09 The Supreme Court, The Lincoln Memorial, 32:12 The Jefferson Memorial, 32:14 all hark back to the architecture 32:16 of ancient Rome. 32:18 Let me read you a statement 32:20 that appears on a government site 32:22 about the reason why these buildings 32:25 have a Roman architectural structure. 32:30 This is how it reads. 32:32 "The definitive architectural style 32:34 on Capitol Hill 32:36 is neoclassical 32:39 inspired by the use of ancient Greek 32:41 and Roman styles 32:43 in the design of great, great public buildings. 32:47 These styles are recognized by the use of tall columns, 32:52 symmetrical shapes, triangular pediments, 32:58 that's the triangle at the top of the building, 33:00 and domed roofs." 33:04 The statement continues. 33:05 "Thomas Jefferson wanted Congress housed 33:09 in a replica of an ancient Roman temple." 33:13 Wow! 33:15 So what did Jefferson want? 33:17 He wanted Congress housed in a replica 33:20 of an ancient Roman temple. 33:22 "Since the capitol in Richmond, Virginia, 33:25 was an example of Roman cubic architecture, 33:29 he thought the federal Capitol 33:32 should be modeled after a spherical temple. 33:35 The US Capitol's designs, 33:38 derived from ancient Greece and Rome, 33:40 evoke the details that guided the nation's founders 33:44 as they framed their new republic." 33:47 The architecture in Washington, DC is a Roman, 33:52 not only that, but you find in Washington, DC 33:56 monuments everywhere you go. 33:59 These monuments and statues 34:01 remember great historical events 34:04 in the course of US history, 34:07 and you'll have heroes on those particular statues 34:11 and they can commemorate great historical events, 34:13 just like Rome was filled with statues 34:17 of its heroes and of historical events. 34:20 Many times the inscriptions on these statues are in Latin. 34:25 In other words, in Roman numerals as well. 34:28 The date is given in Roman numerals. 34:31 Now, what is the name of the Upper Chamber 34:33 of Congress of the United States? 34:35 It's called the Senate. 34:37 Where does that come from? 34:39 Well, obviously it comes from ancient Rome, 34:42 because the Romans had a Senate and the representatives 34:46 who serve in the Senate are called senators, 34:51 just like in ancient Rome. 34:54 There's another interesting detail. 34:56 In the wars of independence of the United States, 35:00 the name troops in the United States 35:03 was not very well received. 35:06 They preferred to call the Army's Legions. 35:11 And today we still have as a fruit of that, 35:14 the American Legion. 35:16 Let me read you a statement here 35:18 that we find in a book by Kochan James, 35:23 where it says the following, 35:25 "The Legion of the United States 35:27 was a reorganization 35:28 and extension of the Continental Army 35:32 from 1792 to 1796, 35:35 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne. 35:39 It represented a political shift 35:41 in the new United States, 35:43 which had recently adopted the United States Constitution. 35:48 The new Congressional 35:50 and Executive branches 35:52 authorized a standing army 35:54 composed of professional soldiers, 35:56 rather than relying on state militias." 35:58 In other words, 36:00 they preferred the armies to be recalled legions. 36:04 At this time, 36:05 General Knox suggest that the creation of a super flag 36:11 with a life-sized eagle, 36:13 which would be called the standard of the Legion. 36:17 Although the flag never came into existence, 36:19 it shows the fascination of the United States Republic 36:24 with Rome in antiquity. 36:27 In 1791, a similar flag was created 36:32 and given the name, "The Standard of The Eagle." 36:35 Interestingly enough, 36:37 this flag has an eagle without stretched wings, 36:41 facing right with arrows in its talons 36:45 and a huge sunburst coming forth from its body. 36:50 Somebody might object and say, Pastor Bohr, 36:53 what right do you have to link the Roman eagle 36:56 with eagle of the United States? 36:59 There are so distant in time and place. 37:03 After all Mexico also has an eagle 37:07 as its national emblem. 37:09 Wouldn't we have to connect 37:11 the English lion with a Babylonian lion? 37:14 Wouldn't we have to connect 37:16 the Russian bear with the Medo-Persian bear? 37:18 Wouldn't we have to connect 37:19 the Chinese dragon with the Roman dragon 37:22 if we connect the Roman eagle 37:24 with the eagle of the United States? 37:26 The answer is no on four counts. 37:29 First of all, England, Russia, and China 37:33 do not claim to have gotten their mascots 37:35 from Babylon, Medo-Persia or Rome. 37:39 Second, 37:40 there is no historical connection 37:42 between the religion 37:44 of ancient Babylon and England, 37:46 the religion of Russia and ancient Medo-Persia, 37:49 and the religion of Rome and China. 37:52 Number three, AT Jones, as I mentioned before, 37:56 wrote this massive book, The Two Republics 37:59 or Rome, and the United States of America, 38:02 where he described in minute detail 38:05 the similarity of the Republic of Rome 38:08 with the Republic 38:10 of the United States of America. 38:12 And number four, 38:13 we know that there is a connection 38:16 because Ellen White wrote 38:17 two extremely significant statements. 38:21 And now I want to read those statements 38:23 where Ellen White states that 38:26 the eagle and the sun 38:29 and the Roman standard 38:31 as the sign for Christians to flee Jerusalem 38:35 has an end time application 38:37 where the United States with the eagle and the sun 38:41 also have this sign 38:44 of the need for God's people to flee 38:48 when this sign is seen. 38:50 The first statement is in volume five 38:52 of the Testimonies, page 451. 38:56 "As the approach of the Roman armies 38:59 was a sign to the disciples 39:02 of the impending destruction of Jerusalem." 39:06 So notice, 39:07 "As the approach of the Roman armies 39:08 was a sign to the disciples 39:10 of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, 39:12 so may this apostasy..." 39:14 If you read the paragraph before, 39:16 it's talking about the apostasy concerning the day of worship, 39:19 Sunday that Protestants embraced by tradition 39:23 from Roman Catholicism. 39:24 So once again, 39:25 "As the approach of the Roman armies 39:27 was a sign to the disciples 39:28 of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, 39:30 so may this apostasy, concerning Sunday, 39:33 be a sign to us 39:36 that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, 39:38 that the measure of our nations iniquity is full 39:43 and that the angel of mercy 39:44 is about to take her flight never to return." 39:48 In other words, this is the last thing 39:50 before the close of probation, 39:52 the sign, the abomination of desolation. 39:54 That will divide the world into two groups, 39:57 those who stay and those who flee. 40:01 Once again, I go back a little ways. 40:03 She continues saying, 40:07 "The people of God 40:08 will then be plunged 40:10 into those scenes of affliction and distress 40:12 which prophets have described 40:14 as the time of Jacob's trouble," 40:16 which is the Great Tribulation that's mentioned in verse 21 40:21 after that abomination of desolation is described 40:24 in verses 15 through 20. 40:28 Now there's another statement that is even more explicit. 40:31 This one is in Five Testimonies, 40:33 464 and 465. 40:37 464 and 465. 40:41 "It is no time now for God's people 40:44 to be fixing their affections 40:46 and laying up treasure in the world." 40:50 In other words, that's not time for us 40:51 to be accumulating money and possessions. 40:56 As you know, 40:57 they're very uncertain in these days of a Coronavirus, 41:01 what's happening to the stock market and so on. 41:03 There's only one place 41:05 that we can truly invest our means. 41:07 And that is in the bank of heaven 41:09 by using our resources to win souls to the kingdom. 41:13 So she continues, 41:14 "The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, 41:20 we shall be forced to seek a refuge 41:24 in desolate and solitary places." 41:27 And now comes to comparison. 41:29 "As the siege of Jerusalem 41:31 by the Roman armies 41:33 was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians." 41:38 So, now comes the application to the end time. 41:41 "So the assumption of power on the part of our nation 41:46 in the decree enforcing the papal Sabbath 41:49 will be a warning to us." 41:52 So as the Roman standard had the sun and the eagle, 41:55 and it was the sign for God's people to flee. 41:58 At the same time, 41:59 by the way, they rendered worship 42:01 to their sun standard, their eagle standard. 42:05 She says, so the sign of the Sunday law 42:09 in the United States 42:11 will be a sign that we are supposed to do 42:13 what the original Christians did. 42:15 What did they do? 42:16 They fled. 42:18 So once again, I go back a little ways 42:19 in this quotation, 42:21 as the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies 42:23 was a signal for flight to the Judean Christians, 42:26 so the assumption of power 42:28 on the part of our nation in the decree 42:31 enforcing the papal Sabbath 42:33 will be a warning to us. 42:34 Let me just stop there once. 42:36 There's a lot of talk 42:37 in Seventh-day Adventist circles 42:38 about when we are supposed to leave the cities. 42:41 Now it's always best to live in the country. 42:44 As you've noticed, 42:46 what has been happening in the cities 42:47 during this time of the Coronavirus, 42:49 and during this time of unrest? 42:52 You know, it's a pretty risky thing 42:53 to have a business in the city or to live in the city. 42:56 So it's always best to live out in the country. 43:00 But when is the moment that God indicates 43:02 that it is the last opportunity to leave the cities. 43:06 She states once again 43:12 as the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies 43:14 was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, 43:16 so the assumption of power 43:18 in the part of our nations in the decree, 43:20 now notice, enforcing the papal Sabbath. 43:22 So it's not talking about, 43:24 they're talking about a Sunday law. 43:25 The Congress is debating a Sunday law. 43:27 No, this is when the Sunday law has already been written 43:30 and approved and stamped. 43:33 So it says it, enforcing the papal Sabbath 43:36 will be a warning to us. 43:38 And then she states this, 43:40 "It will then be time to leave the large cities, 43:44 preparatory to leaving the smaller ones 43:48 for retired homes in secluded places 43:51 among the mountains." 43:52 And then she gives this counsel to us. 43:56 "And now, 43:59 instead of seeking expensive dwellings here, 44:04 we should be preparing to move to a better country, 44:08 even a heavenly. 44:10 Instead of spending our means in self-gratification, 44:14 we should be studying to economize." 44:18 So just as Ellen White presents her sequence of events 44:22 is what we find in Matthew Chapter 24. 44:26 You have the sign, then you have the flight, 44:31 then you have the Great Tribulation. 44:33 That's in Matthew Chapter 24. 44:36 The sign is in Matthew 24:15-20, 44:41 and then verse 21 and following, 44:45 you have the Great Tribulation that ensues. 44:49 Now let's go back to Matthew Chapter 24 44:52 and notice verses 16 through verse 20, 44:57 because we only notice verse 15 so far. 45:00 So Jesus says, 45:02 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation 45:05 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 45:08 standing in the holy place, 45:11 whoever reads, let him understand then." 45:15 So when the sign is seen, 45:17 something needs to happen 45:18 after that, immediately after that. 45:20 Remember the word then, 45:21 it is the Greek word called tote, 45:23 which describes an event 45:25 that occurs immediately after another event. 45:29 So once again, it says in verse 16, 45:31 "Then let those who are in Judea flee 45:34 to the mountains." 45:35 In our case, that would be those 45:37 who are in the great cities 45:38 flee, go to desolate places of the earth. 45:42 And then in verse 17, we find these words, 45:45 "Let him who is on the housetop not go down 45:49 to take anything out of his house." 45:52 We've noticed this before. 45:54 In other words, don't think about all the toys 45:56 that are left in your house, 45:57 your beautiful car that's left in your house, 46:00 the money that you have under the mattress of your bed. 46:02 No, because now it is urgent to flee 46:06 because the abomination of desolation has been seen. 46:09 Probation is about to close. 46:13 It says in verse 18, 46:15 "And let him who is in the field 46:17 not go back to get his clothes." 46:20 In other words, don't think about the past 46:22 what you have in terms of material possessions. 46:25 It is time now to flee 46:26 because those material possessions 46:28 are not going to do you any good. 46:31 And then we find in verse 19, the difficulty of this flight. 46:37 It says in verse 19, 46:39 "But woe to those who are pregnant 46:43 and to those who are nursing babies 46:45 in those days." 46:47 You know, fleeing, 46:49 when a person, when a woman is pregnant 46:51 or nursing, a baby 46:53 would be a great trial fleeing, 46:56 and at the same time 46:57 taking care of the pregnancy or of the baby. 47:01 And then we find this very significant verse. 47:04 You know, many times 47:06 Adventist evangelists use this verse to prove 47:08 that the Sabbath was kept 47:11 long after Jesus died on the cross. 47:13 It was still being kept in the year 70 47:15 when Jerusalem was destroyed. 47:18 However, it's important for us to take into account 47:21 the context in which this verse appears. 47:24 Very interesting context. 47:26 It appears in the context 47:29 of the Great Tribulation of the flight, 47:32 because the sign of a Sunday law 47:35 has been seen. 47:36 In contrast to those who observe Sunday, 47:40 what are God's true people going to be doing? 47:44 We find in Matthew 24:20, these words, 47:48 "And pray that your flight 47:52 may not be in winter," 47:55 because it gets very cold in winter, 47:58 in Jerusalem, by the way, 47:59 I've been there in late fall and it, 48:03 you know, it's rainy and it's very, very miserable, 48:06 but not only pray that your flight not be in winter, 48:09 it says or on what? 48:13 "Or on the Sabbath." 48:17 So those who flee are Sabbath keepers. 48:21 They keep the Seventh-day Sabbath in contrast to those 48:26 who see the sign and ignore it. 48:29 The sign of Sunday are those 48:33 who observe God's seventh day Sabbath. 48:38 Now there are those who say, 48:39 well, you know, the Sabbath was of the Jews. 48:43 The Sabbath is not for Christians. 48:45 Well, where do they get that from? 48:47 Well, they get it from certain verses, 48:49 such as Exodus 31:16-17. 48:55 Exodus 31:16-17. 48:59 It says there, 49:02 speaking about the Sabbath, 49:03 it is a sign God says between Me 49:07 and the children of Israel forever. 49:09 So they say, see, the Sabbath is a sign, 49:12 yes, between the children of Israel and God. 49:15 It's a sign between the Jews and God, 49:17 it doesn't apply to us. 49:19 However, the text does not say it is thus exclusively a sign 49:25 between Me and the children of Israel forever. 49:29 By the way, who is Israel today? 49:31 Well, in Galatians 3:29, 49:35 we find who Israel is today. 49:39 I will go there in a moment. 49:41 It says, 49:42 "If you are Christ's, you are Abraham's seed 49:47 and heirs, according to the promise. 49:49 So Jews today, Israel today 49:52 are those who have accepted Jesus Christ 49:55 as Savior and Lord. 49:57 So when it says that the Sabbath is a sign 49:59 between the children of Israel and God forever. 50:03 The children of Israel are those 50:05 who are joined to Christ. 50:06 So the Sabbath must still be the same day 50:09 that we are supposed to keep, 50:12 The text in Exodus continues. 50:14 It is a sign 50:15 between Me and the children of Israel forever. 50:17 And then we had the reason, 50:19 the reason is not because God took Israel out of Egypt, 50:22 primarily, although the Sabbath has a secondary dimension, 50:26 which has to do with the Exodus. 50:28 The reason that it's given here is very clear. 50:32 It says, 50:34 "For in six days, 50:35 the Lord made the heavens and the earth, 50:38 and on the seventh day, He rested and was refreshed." 50:41 So why is the sign, a sign between God and Israel? 50:47 It's because God created this world 50:51 and rested on the seventh day. 50:53 Now, the question is, 50:54 does the creation of the world 50:56 apply only to the Jews 50:58 as a sign of remembrance of the true Creator God? 51:01 Absolutely not. 51:03 If you go back to Genesis, 51:04 you'll find that God rested or ceased 51:07 on the seventh day of the week. 51:09 Three times that's mentioned there 51:10 that God rested, God sanctified, 51:12 and God blessed the seventh day of the week. 51:16 And in the fourth commandment, 51:18 it says that God established a Sabbath 51:20 in commemoration of His work as the Creator. 51:24 And so the Sabbath is not only a sign for the Jews 51:27 that God is the Creator. 51:29 The Sabbath is a sign for Christians 51:31 that God is the Creator as well. 51:34 Now I mentioned Galatians 3:29. 51:37 So let's go there very quickly. 51:39 Galatians Chapter 3. 51:41 In fact, let's read beginning with verse 26. 51:44 Galatians 3:26. 51:49 It says there in Galatians 3:26, the following. 51:53 It's referring to Christians, 51:55 "For you are all sons of God through faith 51:58 in Christ Jesus. 52:00 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ 52:04 have put on Christ. 52:07 There is neither Jew nor Greek, 52:09 there is neither slave nor free, 52:12 there is neither male nor female, 52:14 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 52:19 And if you are Christ's, 52:22 then you are Abraham's seed 52:25 and heirs, according to the promise." 52:27 So who is the seed of Abraham? 52:29 The literal Jews who lived in Jerusalem, 52:32 physically, maybe, but spiritually speaking, 52:36 clearly the Apostle Paul states 52:38 that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 52:42 are children of Abraham, 52:44 even though they are not literally so, 52:46 which means that the Sabbath applies 52:50 to God's spiritual Israel today as well. 52:54 Let's notice a couple of other verses 52:55 before we bring this to a close. 52:58 Romans 2:28-29. 53:02 Romans 2:28-29, 53:06 here the Apostle Paul says something very strange. 53:09 He says, 53:10 "For he is not a Jew 53:12 who is one outwardly." 53:16 What is an outward Jew? 53:17 One who has practiced circumcision. 53:20 So it says, 53:21 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly 53:25 nor is circumcision 53:27 that which is outward in the flesh, 53:30 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly 53:34 and circumcision is that of the heart 53:37 in the spirit, not in the letter 53:39 whose praise is not from men, 53:42 but from God." 53:43 Once again, circumcision is of the heart. 53:45 When a person is converted to Jesus Christ, 53:48 that person becomes according to the Apostle Paul, a Jew. 53:52 A spiritual Jew. 53:54 So the Sabbath must apply to the spiritual Jew 53:56 as it applied to the literal Jew in the past. 54:00 Notice also Romans Chapter 9. 54:02 Romans 9:6-8, 54:06 "But it is not that the word of God 54:08 has taken no effect." 54:10 Now, he says something really strange." 54:12 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel." 54:17 You say not all Israelites are Israel. 54:19 Now that seems to be contradictory. 54:21 What did he mean? 54:23 Verse 7, 54:24 "Nor are they all children 54:27 because they are the seed of Abraham." 54:29 Not all children of Abraham are children of Abraham 54:32 is what the Apostle Paul is saying. 54:34 "But in Isaac, your seed shall be called," 54:37 because the Messiah came from Isaac. 54:39 Verse 8, 54:41 "That is, those who are the children of the flesh, 54:45 these are not the children of God, 54:47 but the children of the promise," 54:49 that is of the promise of the Messiah, 54:51 "are counted as seed." 54:55 Now do you know that in the Bible, 54:57 the Sabbath is never called the Sabbath of the Jews? 54:59 Not once. 55:01 It's always the Sabbath of the Lord, your God. 55:04 It's spoken of, 55:05 God speaks of it as My holy day. 55:09 He says, it is a sign between Me and Israel. 55:12 And Israel includes not only literal Israelites, 55:15 but the Israel that has joined Jesus Christ. 55:18 They are children of Abraham. 55:20 There are certain celebrations of the Old Testament 55:23 that are referred to as of the Jews. 55:27 If you got to the Gospel of John, for example, 55:29 you'll find that several times 55:31 it speaks of the Passover of the Jews. 55:34 You'll find the expression, 55:37 it was the Feast of Tabernacles of the Jews. 55:41 So when it came to the feasts that were fulfilled, 55:44 when Jesus actually accomplished 55:48 those things in person, 55:50 then those things are called of the Jews. 55:52 But the Sabbath is never referred to 55:55 as the Sabbath of the Jews. 55:58 So when Christians today say, 56:00 "Oh no, you Adventist, you keep that Jewish Sabbath. 56:03 We keep the Christian Sabbath, which is Sunday." 56:06 Nowhere in the Bible does it say 56:09 that Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. 56:11 We're going to notice in our next study 56:13 that the idea of the observance of Sunday 56:16 comes from the Roman Empire 56:18 through the papacy to apostate Protestantism. 56:23 In other words, 56:24 this celebration of Sunday 56:26 has no biblical foundation whatsoever. 56:28 You can look from Genesis to Revelation. 56:31 You'll never find that it says that Sunday as holy, 56:34 that we're supposed to go to church on Sunday, 56:37 that Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ. 56:40 You'll find that absolutely nowhere. 56:42 It is a human tradition that has been handed down 56:46 from generation to generation. 56:48 And Christians simply accept that as fact, 56:52 because their ministers say so, because their priests say so. 56:56 The question is, are we going to be faithful to the Lord? 56:59 Or are we going to be faithful to tradition? 57:03 You know, once again, 57:05 the sign that the people in Jerusalem saw 57:08 was the eagle and the sun, 57:12 the Romans worshiping the sun. 57:13 At the end of time, 57:15 the nation represented by an eagle 57:17 is going to proclaim a national Sunday law. 57:20 You'll say, "Pastor Bohr, you're crazy. 57:22 That's never going to happen." Just watch. 57:24 Remember what I'm telling you today. 57:26 The United States will impose a national Sunday law, 57:31 a day of worship, 57:33 which the Bible does not say is a day of worship 57:36 and it will enforce it by law. 57:39 And whoever does not abide by it, 57:41 scripture says that they will be persecuted. 57:45 And even the Book of Revelation says 57:48 that a death decree 57:49 will be given against God's people. 57:51 They will not be able to buy or sale 57:54 unless they receive the mark or the sign of the beast, 57:58 which is the opposite of the sign 58:01 or the mark of God, His Holy Sabbath. |
Revised 2021-07-19