Participants:
Series Code: TCM
Program Code: TCM200012S
|
00:41 Welcome! Thank you for joining us again.
00:44 Three Cosmic Messages is a series of presentations 00:48 on the book of Revelation. 00:49 We are actually on #12. 00:51 We have journeyed through the great messages 00:55 of the three angels outlined in Revelation 14:6-12. 01:01 If this your first time with us, be sure to go back and pick up 01:05 and watch the other 11 presentations 01:09 so that you can kind of get caught up where we are. 01:12 There are three messages pictured as being carried 01:16 by angels in mid heaven 01:18 outlined in Revelation 14 verses 6 to 12. 01:22 We are on the last of those three angels' messages 01:26 or the third angel's message. 01:28 That message says, outlined here in Revelation chapter 14 01:32 verse 9: "Then a third angel followed them 01:36 saying with a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast 01:40 and his image and receives his mark 01:42 on his forehead or in his hand 01:44 he himself shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God 01:48 which is poured out full strength 01:50 into the cup of His indignation. ' " 01:52 This is a solemn warning from a God 01:57 who has a heart of immense 02:00 infinite incomprehensible love. 02:03 So as we go through this second message on the mark of the beast 02:09 you'll remember that I presented one last time 02:11 and this is the second part of that message... 02:13 a two-part message. 02:15 Remember where the message is coming from. 02:17 It's coming from the heart of One that loves His people 02:21 beyond what we possibly could ever imagine. Let's pray. 02:25 Father in heaven, as we launch into this message 02:28 help it be saturated with, dripping with love. 02:31 Help it be filled with grace. 02:33 But Lord, we know that Your warnings sometimes are 02:36 straight forward... they are urgent. 02:39 You pull the curtain aside and help us see truth from error. 02:42 So help us understand that as we study. 02:45 In Christ's name, Amen. 02:46 The topic of this presentation is: 02:53 These three angels flying in mid heaven 02:56 give God's last message for humanity. 03:00 This message is a message to prepare a people 03:03 to stand when Jesus comes... 03:05 to prepare a people for earth's final crisis. 03:08 A crisis that's going to break upon this world 03:11 as an overwhelming surprise. 03:14 The central issue in this final conflict - 03:17 this age-long controversy between good and evil - 03:19 is over worship. 03:21 This battle began in heaven. 03:32 The creature - the one created by God - 03:36 this angel of dazzling bright- ness that was created perfect 03:40 in the heavenly realms - chose to rebel against God. 03:45 Now how rebellion occurs in a perfect world? 03:48 That's what the Bible calls "the mystery of iniquity. " 03:51 But the Bible tells us what went on behind the scenes, 03:54 what went on in Lucifer's mind. 03:57 That he wanted to rule... wanted to set his throne 04:01 above the throne of God. 04:03 So the issue was one of authority; 04:05 the issue was one of worship and one of obedience. 04:17 In heaven the devil said to the angels: 04:20 "It's not necessary to obey. " One-third of the angels 04:23 accepted his lie and followed his delusions. 04:27 When Lucifer came to earth he said to Eve: 04:31 "Is it necessary to obey? 04:33 Has God said you can't eat of that tree? " And again 04:35 the issue was one of obedience or disobedience. 04:38 Down through the Old Testament and into the New Testament era 04:43 the same issue: obedience, worship, loyalty, 04:47 the authority of God. 04:49 These are great issues in the controversy 04:51 between good and evil and Christ and Satan. 05:00 We do not keep the commandments of God in order to be saved 05:05 but because we ARE saved. 05:07 So our obedience springs from a heart of love. 05:11 We love Him because He first loved us. 05:16 Now who is this beast power? We introduced this last time. 05:20 What is the mark of the beast and what are the real issues 05:23 over worship in the last days of earth's history? 05:26 The beast we pointed out is not a political power 05:30 but it's rather a religious political power 05:34 or a religious counterfeit power. 05:36 We showed that last time. 05:38 It would arise out of Rome. 05:40 The dragon - Satan - working through pagan Rome 05:44 would give the seat of government or authority 05:47 to this new power. That happened with papal Rome. 05:51 It would become a worldwide system of worship. 05:54 That, as well, happened with papal Rome. 05:58 It was described as a blasphemous power. 06:00 Now that seems rather strange. 06:03 Why would a religious power be claimed a blasphemous power? 06:08 You'd think that a blasphemous power would be an atheistic 06:10 power. But that word blasphemy is used to identify 06:15 the beast power and the fallen religious power 06:18 the same as the beast power 06:19 called Babylon or the antichrist. 06:21 Let's look at some of the references in the Bible 06:24 that explain to us the use of this word blasphemy 06:28 and what's it all about. 06:46 Again you have that idea of blasphemy on the name of this 06:50 beast. 06:57 So you have blasphemy associated with the beast power. 07:01 This is true also in Revelation 17 verse 3. 07:08 Remember? We studied that a woman in Bible prophecy 07:11 represents the church. A fallen woman, a harlot woman 07:15 who has left her true lover, 07:17 represents a church in apostasy. 07:19 So this woman, sitting on the scarlet-colored beast, 07:22 the fallen church directing the beast power, the state, 07:27 has a cup full of names of blasphemy. 07:31 Again, blasphemy is associated with the beast, 07:34 with the antichrist, with this fallen power that has 07:38 MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT on her forehead. 07:40 Now how do you define blasphemy? 07:43 Let's go to the Bible. 07:49 Was Jesus a blasphemer? 07:51 Absolutely not! He was all He claimed to be. 07:54 But the Jewish leaders accused Him of blasphemy. Why? 08:09 So any human being that claims the privileges 08:13 and prerogatives of God's equal is guilty of blasphemy. 08:17 Was Jesus a blasphemer? Certainly not! 08:20 Why not? Because He was the divine Son of God 08:23 tabernacled in human flesh. 08:37 In Luke chapter 5 verse 21 08:39 we find another claim by the scribes and Pharisees 08:43 that Jesus was a blasphemer. They said: 08:51 So there are two characteristics of blasphemy, 08:55 two Biblical examples. 09:09 Why so? Why is that so? 09:11 It's because that human being exalts themself above God 09:17 or that human being takes the place of God. 09:20 Does the Roman church that we've identified as this beast power 09:26 growing out of pagan Rome 09:28 and becoming a worldwide system of worship 09:30 does its leader claim the privilege and prerogatives 09:34 of God's equal. Do its priests claim the authority 09:38 to forgive sins? 09:55 Now let's go directly to some church sources. 10:00 If you want to find out anything about an individual organization 10:05 that is true, you should definitely go directly 10:08 to their sources. So let's look at the sources. 10:10 One source written for Catholic priests says this: 10:30 Now this is a Catholic manuscript - Catholic book... 10:34 document - that is saying this. I continue: 10:47 So it's linking Pharisees of the past - 10:52 first century - with what they call Pharisees of today. 10:55 They're asking who can forgive sins? 10:57 Now this is Michael Mueller in the book The Catholic Priest 11:00 printed in Baltimore, Catholic Informata, 1876, 11:05 pages 78 and 79. Now he answers the question this way: 11:13 We go on, though. That's not one isolated statement. 11:17 In the Bible in contrast to that we find: 11:32 See, what led to this idea 11:35 that the Catholic priest was the medium between God and man 11:39 that could forgive sin? The idea was that human beings 11:42 were not righteous enough. 11:44 Human beings were not holy enough. 11:45 We could not approach God so we needed a mediator. 11:48 That idea is true... we ARE unholy. 11:51 We ARE unrighteous. We cannot approach God... 11:54 we need a mediator. But thank God 11:57 there is one Mediator between God and man 12:00 and that is Jesus Christ. 12:02 You know, I mentioned in an earlier presentation that 12:05 I was brought up in a lovely Roman Catholic home. 12:08 And this text means a great deal to me 12:11 because I will never forget the hot July day 12:15 in Norwich, CT, when my mom 12:17 was sitting in the back yard. I had accepted Jesus Christ. 12:21 I had accepted Him as my true Mediator 12:24 but my mother was still locked in many of the superstitions 12:27 and falsehoods of Catholicism. 12:30 And I remember going to her and saying: "Mom, you know 12:33 I was taught from the Catechism by the priest 12:37 that there's one mediator between God and man 12:39 and that's the priest. And I couldn't approach God 12:42 'cause I needed a mediator. But I opened my Bible 12:45 and I read I Timothy chapter 2 verse 5: 12:49 "There is one Mediator between God and man 12:52 Jesus Christ. " And I said: "Mom, 12:54 we have a Mediator and that's Jesus. " 12:57 "Mom, you can kneel by your bed 12:59 and come directly to Jesus. " 13:00 And I can remember her glossy eyes and the little tear that 13:03 came down her cheeks. 13:05 To understand for the first time in her life 13:09 that Jesus was her Redeemer. 13:11 Jesus was her Savior. 13:13 Jesus was the One that could forgive her sins. 13:16 No human being could do that. 13:26 You know, not long ago... In fact, not so many years ago 13:30 in the late 20th century, in the late 1900's... 1984 in fact, 13:35 this is not some ancient document. 13:39 The pope said that there was no forgiveness directly from God. 13:44 We find that as a headline by one of the staff writers 13:47 in the Los Angeles Times. 13:49 "No forgiveness comes directly from God the Pope says. " 13:52 Well, the Bible says something different. 13:54 What does the Bible say? 14:06 If we do the confessing, God will do the forgiving. 14:11 We need a sacrifice. Not the sacrifice of the mass 14:15 but the sacrifice of Christ. 14:17 We need a priest. We cannot come before God 14:20 and Jesus indeed is our Priest. 14:31 In Christ, by Christ, because of Christ 14:35 we are made at one with God. 14:38 He is our dying Lamb. 14:41 He is our living Priest. 14:43 He appears before the very throne of God 14:47 for you and for me. 14:49 But yet the church teaches something quite different 14:55 and amazing. It says: 15:08 Remember one of the definitions of blasphemy 15:11 is when one exalts them self above God or takes 15:17 the privileges and prerogatives of God, 15:20 claims equality with God. 15:22 Notice... I go on reading this statement: 15:47 That's Lucius Ferraris in his article on the Pope 15:51 in Prompta Bibliotheca volume 6. Comes directly from Italy - 15:57 this Catholic document - defining the Pope's role 16:01 as indeed God on earth. 16:19 Pope Leo the XIII also said 16:22 in an Encyclical Letter June 20, 1894: 16:31 So it's very very clear that the papacy 16:35 fits the description of Revelation 13. 17:09 So here Revelation 14 17:13 describes the beast power 17:16 and eventually the mark of the beast. 17:18 Revelation 13 describes the characteristics 17:22 of the beast. II Thessalonians says that 17:25 there would be a power that would rise up claiming 17:28 equality with God. We see that indeed in the Roman system. 18:00 But yet there's another proof... a mathematical proof. 18:14 What does that mean? 18:16 The authority "to continue forty-two months? " 18:20 Well in the Bible as we've studied in this series 18:24 one prophetic day equals one literal year. 18:28 We call that the day/year principle. 18:30 Each prophetic day in the Bible equals a literal year. 18:34 Now that's not every time a day is mentioned in the Bible. 18:37 In the Bible when a day is mentioned it's a day. 18:40 But when you have prophetic beasts... 18:42 when the Bible says: "I stood upon the sand of the sea; 18:44 saw a great beast rise up out of the sea 18:47 and his mouth was a mouth like a lion, 18:50 feet like the feet of a bear 18:51 and he was like a dragon and like a leopard... " 18:57 When you see all of those composite symbols 19:01 then you know that's not a literal animal. 19:03 So when you have symbolic prophecy 19:06 you also have symbolic time periods. 19:10 Now in the Bible one prophetic day as we've mentioned 19:14 equals one literal year. Numbers 14:34 says: 19:24 One prophetic day equals a year. 19:27 Now in Biblical times there were 30 days in a literal month. 19:33 So if you have 42 months where this beast power would reign, 19:37 42 times 30 would equal 1,260 prophetic days 19:43 or 1,260 literal years. 19:55 We didn't begin to develop the 365 and 1/4-day calendar 19:59 till later. So the point is 20:01 they had 30 days often in 12 equal months: 20:06 1,260 years of literal time or 1,260 days 20:11 prophetic time. Now let me give you a little history 20:13 of Christianity... what happened. 20:15 Babylon rules; Medo-Persia rules; 20:17 Greece rules; Rome rules; 20:20 the Roman Empire is broken up. 20:22 As the Roman Empire ruled from 168 BC 20:26 to about 351 AD. 20:28 In the days of Constantine 30 years before that 20:32 when the Barbarian tribes were attacking 20:34 Europe and coming down Christianity is legalized 20:39 by Constantine throughout the empire. 20:41 Now the reason he does that is he wants to unite 20:44 the empire: he wants to unite paganism and Christianity 20:47 so he doesn't lose his empire. 20:49 But as things continue to fall apart 20:52 Constantine moves his capitol 20:54 in AD 330 from Rome to Constantinople 20:59 which is now Istanbul, Turkey. 21:00 As he does that he leaves this leadership vacuum 21:03 in Rome. And the pope then fills this void 21:07 and becomes not only a powerful religious leader 21:10 but a powerful political force to be reckoned with 21:13 in Europe. So for this period of time 21:15 you have the papacy which is strong in its leadership 21:19 and you still have Roman emperors. 21:35 It is in this year that the last of the Barbarian tribes 21:39 who do not accept the papacy are driven out of Rome. 21:43 And in 538 AD the pope becomes the supreme ruler 21:48 of the Roman church and the church throughout Christendom. 21:52 And at that period church and state unite 21:57 and this period called the Dark Ages begins. 22:00 So if this 1,260-year period 22:03 of papal supremacy, of church-state union, begins 22:07 in 538 AD and you go down the timeline 1,260 years 22:10 it would take you to 1798 AD. 22:12 Who was ruling Europe in 1798 AD? 22:16 What did the Bible predict? 22:23 The Bible predicted that the papal power would have a deadly 22:26 wound and go into captivity then in 1798 AD. 22:30 Napoleon is ruling. He looks to the south. 22:33 He sees his rival power in the pope of Rome. 22:36 Sent Berthier, his general, down to Rome in 1797 AD. 22:42 Berthier comes back empty-handed. 22:44 The prophecy wasn't to be fulfilled until 1798 AD. 22:47 1798 AD Berthier returns. 22:50 He takes the pope captive and Pius VI dies in exile 22:53 in Valencia, France, in 1799 AD 22:56 exactly fulfilling the prophecy. 22:59 So as we look at this prophecy what do we see? 23:03 We see a power, the papacy, growing out of pagan Rome. 23:07 We see it becoming a worldwide system of worship. 23:11 We see its priests claiming that they can forgive sins, 23:14 its leader claiming the authority of God, 23:17 and we see it ruling for 1,260 years. 23:20 We see then the papal power going into captivity 23:22 and many people at that time felt that the papacy was dead. 23:25 But the Bible predicted a revival of papal power. 23:29 It predicted at the time of the end 23:32 that once again church and state would unite. 23:34 Do we see that taking place? 23:37 Revelation 13:12 says that the deadly wound would be healed. 23:42 That the papacy would rise again to prominence. 23:46 And today we see that prophecy fulfilled around the world 23:51 as the pope travels the world as an ambassador of peace. 23:56 As he travels the world and thousands and millions gather. 24:01 As political leaders kneel to kiss his ring. 24:05 As he addresses congresses around the world... 24:08 Parliaments around the world. 24:11 As presidents come to greet him with their families. 24:15 As he comes to address even Congress in the United States 24:19 and bless America. The pope has arisen 24:23 as an ambassador of peace. Even atheistic countries 24:28 welcome him there. He is recognized as the moral 24:32 leader of the world. 24:47 With politicians today 24:51 losing the confidence of the population 24:54 with politicians facing moral falls and dishonesty 25:00 with corruption in government 25:02 with the institutions of society failing 25:06 men and women are looking for moral leadership. 25:18 Could it be that the devil himself 25:22 is preparing an amazing deception? 25:26 The word antichrist doesn't mean against Christ 25:29 it means another Christ. 25:30 Could it actually be that the devil is preparing a deception 25:35 where church and state will unite again 25:39 in a time of chaos and calamity where the pope of Rome 25:43 will appear as the moral leader of the world? 25:47 Where human decrees and commands will be passed 25:51 compelling worship? 25:57 ... the devil is planning one of his greatest deceptions 26:00 for humanity. 26:05 ... there is the need for moral leadership. 26:14 ... and certainly in a world where pandemics run wild 26:18 and viruses seem to be out of control 26:21 threatening the lives of millions 26:24 there is the need for somebody to step forward. 26:27 There is the need for moral leadership in our world. 26:30 At a time of economic crisis where the world's economy 26:34 hangs on a slender thread 26:36 there is the need for moral leadership. 26:38 And what does the Bible predict? 26:40 The Bible predicts that the solution to the problems 26:44 of this world is not a human being in a church/state union 26:49 but it is rather the coming of the Prince of Peace! 26:52 There will never be peace on earth until the Prince of Peace 26:55 comes: the leader that we are looking for. 26:58 The true moral leader is Jesus Christ! 27:01 He is the Blessed Hope of the world! 27:03 He is the One that will come as King of kings 27:05 and Lord of lords. 27:07 He is the One who will stream down the corridors of time. 27:10 Every human leader will let us down. 27:12 Every human leader will fail us 27:14 but there is One that will never fail us! 27:16 He is the One that came... tabernacled in human flesh. 27:20 He is the One that defeated Satan. 27:22 He is the One that died on the cross. 27:24 He is the One that rose from the dead. 27:26 He is the One that intercedes in heaven. 27:28 He is our Lord and Savior that will come 27:30 in the clouds of heaven. 27:32 Now what vehicle do you think the devil might suggest 27:36 to unify society? 27:38 What vehicle might the beast power use 27:41 to unite the entire world? 27:45 Maybe history will give us a lesson. 27:51 The Roman Empire was crumbling 27:54 and as it was Constantine - the pagan Roman emperor - 27:59 tried to unite church and state. 28:07 I wonder: in a world that has a shaky foundation, 28:12 in a world that is falling apart 28:14 could it possibly be that the world, at a time of 28:19 economic political crisis, 28:22 natural disasters... At a time with the threat of thermonuclear 28:27 war and viruses and pandemics, 28:30 at a time of such uncertainty, 28:32 could it be that men and women would turn to religion 28:36 as the savior of the world? 28:38 That happened back in the days of Constantine. 28:41 But something more specific. 28:43 Constantine attempted to blend pagan ideas 28:48 and ideas from Christianity. 28:51 And one of those things that he attempted to do 28:54 was establish a common day of worship 28:59 as a day of rest and peace for the world. 29:51 And a common day of worship 29:53 could be the very strategy that Satan is using 29:58 at a time of enormous crisis in an attempt to unite the world. 30:31 How did this change of the Bible Sabbath ever take place? 30:34 It took place in the early centuries 30:36 through amalgamation... union of church and state... 30:40 where pagan practices were brought in. 30:42 That's how it took place. 30:44 And the church actually acknowledges this. 31:12 See, the church changed the Sabbath - 31:14 falsely - from the seventh day of the week 31:17 that was written with the finger of God on the tables of stone 31:21 never to be changed and God said: "Remember it. " 31:22 The church changed it in the early centuries 31:25 to accommodate paganism 31:27 in a divided empire that was falling apart. 31:30 Could that ever happen again? We shall see. 31:34 Now notice: this statement goes on: 31:53 So the beast power that rose out of Rome 31:58 is identified as the papacy... the Roman church. 32:01 Not certainly an individual pope 32:03 but the system that grew out of there. 32:06 Are there many Roman Catholics that love Christ? There are. 32:09 Are there many that have never heard these things... 32:11 some possibly watching this broadcast? 32:14 Absolutely! Certainly! 32:16 Do they have the mark of the beast today? Definitely not. 32:19 Nobody today has the mark of the beast. 32:22 What does Revelation 14 predict? 32:25 Revelation 14 is God's final call 32:28 to come out of every law-breaking church. 32:31 Revelation 14 is God's appeal 32:34 NOT TO receive the mark of the beast. 32:36 It comes from the heart of a loving God... 32:39 a heart of God that overflows with love for you and for me. 32:43 The heart of a God that wants you saved. 32:45 The heart of a God that wants you with Him in eternity 32:48 more than anything else. 32:50 The mark of the beast is the change of the Sabbath 32:54 substituting man's authority for God's authority. 32:59 So the issue is much more than the issue of a day. 33:04 Some people say to me: "What difference does a day make? " 33:07 It's the issue of authority. 33:10 Does any human power have the authority to change 33:13 the very law of God? 33:15 It's an issue of worship. 33:17 Who do we worship: the Creator or the creature? 33:22 Whose laws are supreme? 33:24 The laws of man or the laws of God? 33:51 Pope Benedict XVI on June 6, 2012 said this... 33:57 You say: "Well how could that ever happen? " 33:59 Look at this encyclical. He says: 34:06 And then he goes on to say: 34:23 So here the pope of Rome is suggesting 34:26 that Sunday should be a day off. 34:29 It should be a day for social interaction. 34:32 He even says it should be a day for nations to rest 34:37 so the earth can rest in a time of climate change. 34:41 He also says it should be a day with our families 34:44 and a day of worship. 34:46 So the pope, who is emerging as the great moral leader 34:50 of the world at a time of insecurity and international 34:54 crisis suggests that Sunday, the first day of the week, 34:57 can be one of those vehicles that unites all humanity. 35:03 He goes on to say: 35:06 The Bible says that the Sabbath is the Lord's day. 35:09 Mark chapter 22 verses 27-28 it says: 35:12 "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. " 35:14 Luke chapter 6 verse 5 says "The Son of Man 35:16 is Lord of the Sabbath. " 35:18 Matthew 12:8 says "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. " 35:20 I go on with the quote: 35:32 So the pope presents the Sabbath 35:34 that he calls Sunday... the Sunday Sabbath, 35:37 not the true Bible Sabbath... 35:38 but he presents that as a day of freedom. 35:42 So the idea is the whole world unites 35:45 and there is freedom for everybody. 35:48 Freedom from work... freedom to be with your family. 35:52 Freedom to worship God. 35:54 What about those that eventually conscientiously 35:58 could not go along? 36:00 Ellen White in the book Great Controversy pages 592 and onward 36:04 makes this observation. 36:06 She really echoes the words of Revelation 13 36:11 about the beast and no man being able to buy or sell. 36:14 She expands on that. She says: 37:06 Isn't this exactly what Revelation 13 says? 37:09 It says unless they receive the mark of the beast 37:11 they cannot buy; they cannot sell. 37:15 That eventually a death decree will hang over their head. 37:18 But God's people will be sealed for eternity. 37:22 In this time of crisis rather than accepting 37:26 the mark of human authority, 37:28 rather than accepting a false Sabbath, 37:32 God's people indeed will be sealed for eternity. 37:44 In the heart of those commandments is God's seal. 37:55 Every king would have his seal. 37:58 Every political leader would have their seal 38:02 and when they stamped that seal they stamped authenticity 38:06 upon a document. The seal indicated that the document 38:11 was genuine. 38:25 The seal in essence had to identify the one 38:31 whose authority it was. 38:41 So God's seal is found in the heart of His law. 38:47 In Exodus 20:8, 9, 11 we find that the Sabbath - 38:51 right in the center of God's law - 38:54 has the identifying characteristics of the seal. 39:10 He is our sealer. 39:13 He is the One who has authority. He's the Lord. 39:16 He is the Maker of heavens and earth. 39:19 That's His title: the Maker of heavens and earth. 39:21 The Creator. And what did He create? 39:23 Here's His territory: 39:30 Let's look at it this way. Here are the elements 39:32 of the authentic seal found in the heart of God's law: 39:49 So here in the book of Revelation 39:51 there are two worships: worship of the Creator, 39:55 coming and worshiping Him on the Sabbath, 39:58 entering into that Sabbath rest, 40:01 resting from our works trusting in His, 40:04 resting in His grace, resting in the One that made us, 40:07 having a sense that we're not some speck of cosmic dust 40:11 but He created us, He made us, He fashioned us. 40:14 We are anchored in Him. 40:17 We are sons and daughters of the King of the universe, 40:20 the Creator. We rest in the fact He created us. 40:23 We rest in the fact that He redeemed us. 40:26 We rest in the fact that He's coming again for us. 40:29 True Sabbath worship is worship of the Creator. 40:32 But there's also worship of the beast. The acceptance 40:35 of a counterfeit Sabbath that's a substitute 40:38 that came into the church in the time of compromise 40:42 that will be a vehicle of unity in the last days 40:45 with a church/state union. 40:57 Now notice: the seal is received only in the forehead. 41:00 Why? Because the forehead is a symbol of reason. 41:04 It's a symbol of conscience; it's a symbol of judgment. 41:07 It's a symbol of the freedom of choice. 41:09 God never coerces. The devil either deceives you 41:12 by putting the mark of the beast in the forehead 41:14 or he deceives you by putting it on your hand. 41:17 That is to say he pressures you... he coerces you. 41:20 But God never pressures the seal of God, 41:23 So the plagues do not fall on the earth - 41:27 the seven last plagues - until the message of God goes out 41:30 leading men and women back to Jesus, 41:33 leading them to the authority of Scripture, 41:36 leading them to worship Him as Creator. 42:11 ... to accept the mark of the beast 42:14 through an economic boycott or the threat of death. 42:30 ... undermine the authority of the Creator. 42:38 Satan hates the Creator. He hates the fact that Jesus 42:42 can create and he cannot. 42:44 And so he's attacked Christ, he's attacked the Creator. 42:47 He's attacked the authority of creation. 42:50 The great controversy between good and evil will bring 42:53 all humanity to a test, and that's what these three cosmic 42:57 messages are about. They're messages of love 43:00 to your heart and to mine 43:03 by a God that wants you with Him forever. 43:14 ... and we open our hearts to serve Him as our Lord. 43:42 Church and state will unite. 43:46 Like in the days of Constantine 43:49 like in the days of the Dark Ages 43:52 the powerful church will superimpose 43:57 its laws on humanity. 44:01 State powers, government powers, political powers 44:05 desiring to forego a crisis 44:08 with this world falling apart 44:10 thinking indeed that if they unify 44:15 God's blessing will be upon the world. 44:19 Satan fuels this false revival with counterfeit miracles. 44:24 The sick are miraculously healed. 44:27 Now God's going to work miracles at the time of the end. 44:30 Don't misunderstand me. 44:31 But the devil is going to use false miracles. 44:35 How do you tell the difference between the false and the true? 44:38 In genuine miracles we are always led back to obedience. 44:43 In false miracles men and women are led to be emboldened 44:47 in disobedience... disobedience to the laws of health 44:52 in every nerve and tissue in their body. 44:53 Disobedience to the law of God including the Sabbath. 44:57 Genuine miracles lead us to allegiance to God 45:00 and accept His authority in genuine obedience. 45:03 False miracles lead us to be emboldened 45:05 in the sensational caught up in the miraculous 45:11 rather than the clear teachings of the living Word of God. 45:16 God is looking for a group of people 45:19 who demonstrate the triumph of His grace. 45:23 In the darkest hours of earth's history 45:26 the light of Jesus' grace is going to shine thru His people. 45:29 In the most fierce times of persecution 45:32 just like Jesus on the cross trusted the Father in darkness 45:36 they - through their faith of Jesus living in their hearts - 45:41 because their faith in Christ brings the faith OF Christ 45:45 into their lives. Because the spirit of Christ 45:48 lives within them they are strengthened and empowered. 45:52 It is written of this group of people in Rev. 14 verse 12: 46:05 They are God's honor convoy. 46:09 They are God's light in a world of darkness. 46:12 They are God's people. 46:15 A number of years ago, 1741, 46:20 you remember the story of the writing of Handel's Messiah. 46:26 You may have at Christmas time or some other time 46:30 of the year listened to that fabulous, fabulous 46:34 orchestra rendition with the choruses and the choirs 46:40 singing Handel's Messiah. 46:43 And your heart thrills with that, but you may not be aware 46:46 of the story behind the writing 46:51 of Handel's Messiah. 46:53 At the time that Handel wrote the Messiah 46:56 he was quite discouraged. 46:59 In fact, he was quite depressed. 47:04 He was bankrupt or near bankrupt. 47:07 He had a few dollars left but very very little. 47:11 The creditors were coming after him. 47:14 He was right on the verge of bankruptcy. 47:18 His health had really broken; 47:20 he hadn't had much success in the last musical scores 47:24 that he wrote. He was about ready to give up. 47:28 But as he was he began to think of Jesus 47:33 and he read the book of Revelation. 47:35 And as he read the book of Revelation 47:38 he was impressed with Revelation 11 verse 15. 47:50 In the darkness that comes in the future 47:53 when we hang on by faith in the time of greatest challenges 47:58 this promise will inspire our hearts as it inspired Handel's 48:02 heart: "The kingdoms of this world have become 48:04 the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ 48:07 and He shall reign forever and ever. " 48:09 Handel continued to read 48:10 and he read Revelation 19:6. 48:23 You remember that from Handel's Messiah. 48:25 "Alleluia! The Lord our God omnipotent reigns! " 48:30 When the beast power enforces his will upon humanity 48:34 we can sense that we are on the winning side. 48:39 That the power of the living Christ will deliver us 48:42 and one day He will reign. 48:43 Handel read further: 48:50 He then began to write, and as he wrote 48:54 it was as if his pen was divinely guided... 48:58 and it was! When one of his associates 49:02 a servant came in after Handel had finished the Messiah 49:06 in a very short amount of time George Frideric Handel's 49:12 head was in his hands. 49:14 He looked up with tears coming down his face and he said: 49:24 Jesus comes. He streams down the corridors of the sky. 49:28 One day you and I WILL see the face of God. 49:31 Hang on, my brother! Hang on, my sister! 49:34 Maybe for you the time of trouble is right now. 49:37 Maybe for you the time of trouble is in your home. 49:40 Maybe for you the time of trouble is with your health. 49:42 Maybe for you the time of trouble is with your finances. 49:46 But you're going through sometime of trouble right now! 49:49 And you might say to me: "Pastor, don't talk to me about 49:52 a future time of trouble because I'm overwhelmed now. " 49:54 One day Jesus will come. 49:56 Look beyond what is to what will be. 49:58 Look beyond the darkness to the light that is dawning 50:01 in your life through Christ right now. 50:03 Cling to the promise. This life is not all there is. 50:07 Jesus Christ is coming again! 50:09 He WILL stream down the corridors of time. 50:12 He IS our Blessed Hope. 50:14 Listen as Charles comes and sings 50:19 a song about the return of Jesus. 50:23 The Savior can't be far away! 50:25 The signs of the times all indicate that. 50:28 The signs of the times are revealing 50:31 that we are headed for crisis. 50:33 But the message of the 3 angels speaks to this generation. 50:36 It calls us to prepare for the soon coming of Christ. 50:39 It calls us on our knees; it calls us to seek God. 50:43 It calls us to open our hearts to His grace. 50:45 It calls us to receive His power. 50:47 It calls us to the faith of Jesus. Listen as Charles sings: 50:57 There'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes; 51:02 there'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes; 51:07 there'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes 51:11 to gather His loved ones home. 51:16 To gather His loved ones home; 51:20 to gather His loved ones home... 51:25 there'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes 51:29 to gather His loved ones home. 51:34 There'll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes; 51:38 there'll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes 51:43 but a glorious morrow when Jesus comes 51:48 to gather His loved ones home. 51:52 To gather His loved ones home; 51:56 to gather His loved ones home... 52:01 There'll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes 52:06 to gather His loved ones home. 52:10 And there'll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes; 52:15 there'll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes 52:19 and a joyful meeting when Jesus comes 52:24 to gather His loved ones home. 52:28 To gather His loved ones home; 52:32 to gather His loved ones home... 52:37 there'll be songs of greeting 52:40 when Jesus comes to gather His loved ones home. 52:46 Now there'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes; 52:51 there'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes; 52:55 there'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes 53:00 to gather His loved ones home. 53:04 To gather His loved ones home; 53:09 to gather His loved ones home; 53:13 there'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes 53:18 to gather His loved ones home... 53:22 to gather His loved ones 53:27 home! 53:35 And that's why He's coming: 53:38 to gather His loved ones home. 53:41 Jesus is lonely without you. 53:46 Heaven would be a lonely place for Him 53:48 if you were not there. 53:51 There's a place in His heart only for you. 53:55 You say: "Mark, how can that be true? 53:58 Seven billion people on earth 54:01 clawing at one another for living space. 54:03 How can it be true 54:05 that there's a place in Jesus' heart only for me? " 54:11 Are you a mother or a father? 54:14 Do you have one child? Two children? Three children? 54:18 Let's suppose tragically so 54:22 that you lost a child. 54:25 Do the other two's love make up for the one you lost? 54:30 If you had five children and one child died, 54:33 would the love of four make up for the one that died? 54:37 That one that died is special. 54:40 That one that died has a place in your heart 54:44 that nobody else can fill. 54:48 But who is it that put in the heart of a father or a mother 54:54 the capacity to love 54:57 two children, three children, five or seven or eight? 55:00 Who did that? It is God. 55:02 And in God's heart there's a heart of infinite love. 55:07 There is an ocean of love in God's heart. 55:10 And the God that placed in a mother's heart the ability 55:16 to love two children or three or more 55:20 has in His heart the capacity 55:23 to love an infinite amount. 55:25 And if you're not there, 55:27 He's going to miss you forever. 55:29 The reason He gave these three cosmic messages, 55:33 the reason He gave them in Revelation, 55:36 is because He knew in the last generation 55:40 you would be there. 55:42 In His foreknowledge and His wisdom He saw you. 55:46 And He's appealing to you to step out and follow Him. 55:50 This may be new for you, 55:53 but He invites you today to step out from the majority 55:57 and follow Him. You may be an Adventist 56:01 and have heard these messages before 56:04 but there's some decision God wants you to make. 56:07 It's not only intellectual material for our minds... 56:10 it's for our heart. It's the message of Christ 56:14 to change our life. 56:16 Is there some cherished idol in your life? 56:19 Some sin you've been clinging to? 56:21 Some habit you've not given up? 56:23 The appeal of God is to worship the Creator 56:28 and find power in Him to overcome. Let's pray: 56:32 Father in heaven, we come to You just now. 56:37 We come from varied backgrounds, 56:38 we come from different understandings 56:41 but Lord... we come. 56:42 We come to You as our Creator 56:44 and ask you to re-create our hearts. 56:46 We come to You as our Redeemer 56:48 asking You to give us peace and grace and forgiveness. 56:52 We come to You in hope of the coming King 56:55 and we long to be caught up with You and meet You in the air 56:58 and live with You forever. 56:59 In Jesus' name, Amen. 57:01 May the grace of Christ and the power of Christ 57:06 and the love of Christ daily fill your life 57:11 until He comes again in Jesus' name is my prayer. |
Revised 2020-08-25