Participants:
Series Code: TMC
Program Code: TMC000009A
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00:14 We pray that You will give us the understanding that we need,
00:19 that we might see Your hand, 00:22 how You have guided, lay it, 00:27 that we might understand the blessings 00:31 that You've poured out. 00:33 We pray, Lord, 00:35 that each one of us here tonight 00:37 may simply open our hearts to You, 00:43 follow the leading of Your Spirit, 00:46 and that all of us may rejoice salvation 00:51 that we find in Christ, for this we pray in Your name. 00:54 Amen. 01:04 There has never been a nation in the history of mankind 01:09 that's been as blessed 01:11 as the United States of America. 01:14 Actually, this country 01:16 has received the blessing of God, 01:20 even Israel in the height of the reign of David 01:25 and Solomon never saw the blessings 01:29 that you have had the privilege of seeing. 01:32 God has abundantly, 01:34 marvelously blessed this country. 01:38 God mentions nations primarily for two reasons. 01:43 He mentioned them because of the influence 01:46 they have upon the world. 01:47 And secondly, because of their affect 01:50 upon the people of God. 01:53 United States is no different as we have looked 01:57 at the scripture night after night, 01:58 it speaks of these different nations. 02:01 Revelation 17:10, and it says, 02:05 "There are also seven kings. 02:08 Five have fallen, one is, 02:12 the other has not yet come. 02:15 And when he comes, he must continue a short time." 02:19 And so, as we have looked at God's Word, 02:23 and we've looked at these beasts, 02:25 one after another, we have found out 02:27 that they represent different nations. 02:30 You remember, we found out 02:31 that Babylon of old represented as the image, 02:36 the head of the image also as the lion, 02:39 scripture represented Babylon. 02:41 That's one head of the lion. 02:44 You remember, then we came to Medo-Persia. 02:47 Medo-Persia was the arms 02:49 and breast of silver on the image. 02:51 And you remember as we studied Daniel Chapter 7, 02:54 it was presented as a bear that is the second head, 02:58 and put it together, folks, Babylon fell to Medo-Persia. 03:04 Babylon fell to Medo-Persia. 03:07 All right. 03:08 Then came the country of Greece, 03:10 represented on the image 03:11 as the belly and thighs of bronze. 03:14 And you remember in Daniel Chapter 7, 03:18 it was presented as a leopard that had four wings 03:21 and four heads, 03:23 represented the swiftness with which Alexander the Great 03:26 took everything that was before him. 03:28 And then, you remember, we came to the fourth kingdom, 03:32 the legs of iron represented in Daniel 7 as a dragon. 03:39 Pagan Rome ruled that period of time. 03:42 And then you remember, 03:43 we came to a fifth beast in Revelation Chapter 13 03:49 as a nondescript beast that I'm going to be saying 03:52 a little more about tonight. 03:54 We'll talk about it 03:55 in reference to our subject tonight. 03:57 And then you remember, 03:58 if you were with me the other night, 04:00 we talked about the sixth beast, 04:02 and that sixth beast was that of atheism 04:06 or communism that rose, you remember, 04:09 it came in when Napoleon came in and overthrew... 04:15 Overthrew the papal power. 04:17 And then you remember, 04:19 after that we came to our subject for tonight. 04:24 That's what we're looking at tonight. 04:26 Now, as we take a look at that, it tells us this very clearly 04:30 in Revelation 17:10, 04:32 "And when he comes, he must continue a, " what? 04:39 "Short time." 04:40 So it says that this seventh beast 04:42 that you and I are going to look at tonight 04:44 that when he comes, he must continue a short time. 04:50 Okay, so we want to put that together and see exactly 04:53 what the scripture is saying about it. 04:55 Now, you remember, when we studied this beast 04:57 in Revelation Chapter 13, this nondescript beast 05:01 that had seven heads, ten horns. 05:04 We identified that as the papal power, 05:08 because it makes it very clear in scripture and in history 05:11 that the papal power fell to pagan Roman 05:15 or pagan Rome fell to the papal power. 05:18 Okay, I want to put 05:21 things in a time sequence for us tonight, 05:24 so that you can see exactly how this fits together. 05:27 So we're going to go to Revelation 13, 05:29 and let's read a few texts here. 05:32 It says here in Revelation 13:1, 05:34 "Then I stood on the sand of the sea. 05:37 And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, 05:43 having seven heads and ten horns, 05:45 and on his horns ten crowns, 05:47 and on his heads a blasphemous name." 05:50 So this is this nondescript beast 05:53 that rose up out of the sea that we identified, 05:56 we gave you eight points of identification 05:58 that the scripture identified without any question of doubt 06:01 as that of papal Rome. 06:04 "Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, 06:08 his feet were like the feet of a bear, 06:10 and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. 06:13 And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, 06:16 and his great authority." 06:17 And you remember, as we studied that, 06:19 we found that papal Rome got its power, 06:22 its seat and its authority from that of pagan Rome. 06:26 Okay, that all took place step by step. 06:30 Now, as we continue, watch what happens here, 06:35 because it says in verse 10, 06:38 "He who leads into captivity will," what? 06:43 "Go into captivity, he who kills with the sword 06:47 must be killed with the sword. 06:50 Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." 06:53 So the scripture is saying clearly 06:55 that this beast in Revelation 13 06:59 which was that of the papal power, 07:01 it said that it took people into captivity, 07:03 it would go into captivity. 07:05 It says that it killed with the sword, 07:07 therefore it would be killed with the sword. 07:10 And we find out that Napoleon, 07:14 Napoleon is wanting to control Europe. 07:17 But Napoleon knows that he cannot control Europe 07:20 unless he can break the back of the papal power. 07:24 So Napoleon on February 15, 1798, 07:29 sent his General Berthier into Rome 07:33 and which he overthrew the papal power 07:36 and as history says, he established a secular one. 07:41 Okay, you with me? 07:42 Now, I want you to watch very, very carefully 07:47 because this is the first beast of Revelation 13, 07:51 but in that 13th Chapter is a second beast 07:55 that it says this about it. 07:57 Revelation 13, verse what? Eleven. 08:01 I just read to you verse 10 that says, 08:04 "He that goeth into captivity or leadeth into captivity 08:08 shall go into captivity, 08:09 he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword." 08:12 That is verse 10. Verse 11 reads this way. 08:15 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. 08:20 He had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." 08:25 So what it is saying here is just as this one beast 08:30 in Revelation 13 is going down, going into captivity, 08:35 he said, I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. 08:41 He had two horns like a lamb, spake as a dragon. 08:44 What I am trying to tell you tonight, 08:46 dear friend, is there is only one power 08:49 on the face of the whole earth that fits that time sequence. 08:54 No other power does. 08:56 I don't care how much you want to talk about it. 08:58 You can take God's Word, and there is only one nation, 09:02 one power that will fit that time sequence and none other. 09:07 You watch very carefully. 09:09 Napoleon sent his General Berthier into Rome 09:12 on February 15, 1798, and that power, 09:17 the nondescript beast, 09:19 the first beast of Revelation 13 09:21 went into captivity. 09:23 Watch what happens now as this beast here... 09:28 As this beast in Revelation 13 is going into captivity, 09:33 the scripture says this beast is coming up. 09:36 I saw another beast rising out of the earth. 09:41 Are you acquainted with a man by the name of John Wesley? 09:45 Do you know who I'm talking about? 09:48 You know who I'm talking about? 09:49 I'm talking about John Wesley. 09:51 John Wesley is basically the one 09:52 that started the Methodist Church, 09:55 a great preacher, 09:57 a great preacher of righteousness. 09:59 John Wesley, as he studied the scripture, 10:01 and he studied particularly 10:03 the books of Daniel and Revelation. 10:05 John Wesley would make notes about it. 10:08 I don't know, he just wrote it on pieces of paper, notes. 10:11 And when John Wesley died, 10:14 they gathered all those notes up 10:16 and published them. 10:18 And so you can buy a book called Notes on Revelation 10:21 by John Wesley. 10:23 When you read what John Wesley 10:25 has to say about these two beasts 10:27 that we're looking at tonight, 10:29 I want you to notice something very interesting 10:31 because this is what John Wesley says. 10:33 "He is not yet come..." 10:36 Now, John Wesley is saying that second beast of Revelation 13, 10:41 the two-horned beast is not yet come, 10:44 "though he cannot be far off, 10:48 for he is to appear at the end of the forty-two months 10:53 of the first beast." 10:55 He said, "He can't be very far off 10:58 because he is to appear at the end of the 42 months 11:02 of the first beast." 11:03 The 42 months of the first beast 11:05 came to an end when, friends? 11:08 1798. 11:10 Did you notice when John Wesley wrote this? 11:14 1754. 11:17 1754, John Wesley wrote, "Can't be very far off 11:21 'cause he's got to come at the end of the 42 months 11:25 of the first beast. 11:26 In other words, John Wesley understood 11:29 what God's Word was saying. 11:30 He was right there, he knew what was taking place. 11:35 So just exactly as one was going down, 11:39 the other one, scripture says, was going to come up, watch. 11:44 For you remember, trouble has developed 11:50 between the colonies in England. 11:53 England has not given to our forefathers 11:59 the right to governance, they like to govern. 12:03 And you remember, they decided they wanted to be 12:06 a independent nation. 12:09 You remember that, huh? 12:11 And so they wrote up something 12:13 called the Declaration of Independence. 12:19 Remember that? 12:20 You remember, our forefathers, 12:22 our forefathers came over to this country 12:25 looking for a place where they could worship 12:29 as they pleased, 12:30 where they could build a new life. 12:33 And those people were called pilgrims. 12:37 And they came over here and they landed at a place 12:40 called Plymouth Rock. 12:43 You remember they moved there on Plymouth Rock. 12:46 Now, if you don't think that God had a hand in this, 12:50 let me share something with you. 12:53 If you ever get the opportunity, 12:55 you should go up to Plymouth, and go there and take a look. 12:59 They rebuilt the village there where the people lived. 13:02 And when you go in and talk to them, 13:04 you can only talk to them about things back then, 13:06 that what's most interesting. 13:09 But by the way, you remember there was another town 13:12 that was established here in this country. 13:15 You know what the name of it was? 13:17 Jamestown. 13:19 Jamestown completely 13:23 was wiped out three times. 13:27 So how was it that Plymouth Rock 13:29 was able to make it is 13:31 because when those people got off the ship, folks, 13:34 they found buildings there with food in 13:38 and nobody living there. 13:41 Talking about the hand of God and what He did. 13:45 The pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock when? 13:50 1620. 13:52 1620, they landed at Plymouth Rock 13:55 and they begin to set up their livelihood, 13:58 they begin to build and then as it developed, 14:03 as I mentioned, 14:04 England was not given the right to rule like 14:06 they thought they ought to be able to. 14:08 And so we decided 14:10 that we wanted to be a independent nation 14:12 and we drew up the Declaration of Independence 14:17 when? 14:20 1776. 14:23 Are you putting things together? 14:26 1776, you have the Declaration of Independence. 14:30 1789, you have the Bill of Rights. 14:35 1791, you have the Bill of Rights Adopted. 14:40 1798, that first beast goes into captivity, 14:46 and you have another nation rising. 14:49 Dear friends, there's not another power, 14:52 not another nation on earth that fits that time sequence, 14:56 only the United States. 14:58 So is this one is coming up out of the earth. 15:03 Now this text that we read in Revelation 13:11 15:08 is a very important one, 15:09 it has a lot of information in it. 15:11 And it says this, 15:13 "Then I saw another beast coming up 15:15 out of the earth, he had two horns like a lamb, 15:20 spake as a dragon." 15:24 Had two horns like a lamb, right? 15:29 Now you see, all the beasts that we've been studying about, 15:33 they came up out of the what? 15:36 Huh? Out of water. 15:39 But this beast is coming up out of the earth. 15:41 And we read here in Revelation 17:15, it says, 15:47 "And he said unto me, 'The waters which you saw, 15:50 where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, 15:55 nations, and tongues.'" 15:57 One beast after another rose up out of a revolution, 16:03 a war, that's the way they came into being. 16:06 Now all of a sudden, 16:07 we have a beast that is coming up 16:09 out of the earth. 16:12 You see this country, 16:14 this country came into existence, 16:17 just exactly like it says on the Statue of Liberty. 16:22 The Statue of Liberty has this to say about it. 16:27 "Give me your tired, your poor, 16:31 your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, 16:34 the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. 16:37 Send these the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. 16:41 I lift up my lamp beside the golden door." 16:44 That's exactly how this country was settled. 16:48 Your forefathers, my forefathers, 16:51 they came over this country and they settled it. 16:54 That's why it says that it rose up out of the earth. 16:59 It wasn't the result of a revolution 17:01 among the people, 17:02 it was because they came over here 17:04 and they settled this country, 17:06 moved here because they wanted to be able to worship, 17:09 and they wanted to be able to rule as they thought 17:11 they ought to be able to. 17:13 That's why the scripture says that it rose up 17:16 out of the earth. 17:17 Then again in Revelation 13:11, it says, 17:22 "I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 17:26 he had two horns like a lamb, spake as a dragon." 17:32 You see in the Bible, 17:35 horns on a beast represent the source of power. 17:42 Sometimes those horns have crowns on them, 17:45 meaning that that particular power 17:47 would be ruled by a monarch. 17:49 Sometimes they don't have crowns on them, 17:52 and so that those horns just represent the type of power 17:56 that it's based on. 17:57 This country was established on two principles, 18:03 two principles. 18:05 Our forefathers came over here and they said, 18:08 "We want government by the people, 18:12 for the people and through the people." 18:15 They said, "This is the kind of government that we want." 18:18 That was one principle upon which 18:20 our country was established. 18:22 The other principle that our country 18:24 was established upon was that, 18:26 that they would give to every man 18:28 and every woman the right to worship 18:31 according to the dictates of their conscience. 18:33 And those were the two principles 18:35 that this country was built on 18:38 was that we would have a country. 18:40 They said, "We want a country without a king. 18:44 We want government by the people." 18:48 I don't know what you learn when you went to school, 18:52 but when I was going to school, 18:54 they told me that the reason 18:57 our forefathers rebelled against England 19:01 was over taxation. 19:03 Is that what you were told? 19:06 Didn't you read about the Boston Tea Party? 19:09 Yeah, they said that, 19:10 you know, the taxation was heavy. 19:12 Have you ever gone back 19:14 and read the taxation back then? 19:17 Huh? Have you ever done that? 19:19 You ought to, it's very interesting. 19:20 Man, I would accept it today with open arms. 19:24 I can tell you for sure, gladly. 19:26 But I want you to listen. 19:28 This is what our forefathers tell us was the problem. 19:31 I don't know if you've ever read about a man 19:32 by the name of Josiah Quincy. 19:35 But Josiah Quincy is also one of those 19:37 that signed the Declaration of Independence. 19:40 And this is what he had to say in defense of our civil 19:46 and religious rights. 19:49 Are you seeing the two principles 19:51 that our country was established upon. 19:52 "In defense of our civil and religious rights 19:56 with the God of army on our side, 19:58 we fear not the hour of trial, though the host of our enemies 20:02 should cover the field like locusts, 20:05 yet the sword of the Lord and of Gideon shall prevail." 20:08 Those were the two principles 20:10 upon which our country was established. 20:12 And England was not given the right 20:15 to govern as they should. 20:17 And it was not given the right to worship 20:19 like they wanted to and thus they said, 20:21 "We will have our own country." 20:23 Do you remember another man by the name of Patrick Henry? 20:28 You remember him? 20:29 Do you remember what he said? 20:33 "Give me liberty or give me death." 20:36 What else did he say? 20:39 Nobody never knows. 20:41 They know that and that's it. 20:43 I want to read to you what Patrick Henry had to say. 20:48 "We shall not fight alone. 20:51 God presides over the destiny of nations 20:56 and will raise up friends for us. 20:59 The battle is not to the strong alone. 21:01 It is to the vigilant, the active, the brave... 21:05 Is life so dear, or peace so sweet 21:08 as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? 21:13 You see, this is the problem. 21:15 England was not given the right to governance. 21:18 They felt they wanted to govern. 21:19 England was not given the right to worship 21:21 like they felt they should be able to worship, 21:24 and they said, "No, we won't do this. 21:28 We'll have our own nation." 21:30 "Forbid it, Almighty God, 21:33 give me liberty or give me death." 21:38 Those were the two principles upon which 21:41 this nation was established. 21:43 Those two principles, dear friends, 21:45 have held us in good stead down through the years, 21:48 and God help us if we give them up. 21:53 Stand on those two principles, but it goes on, 21:56 speaking of this two-horned beast, 21:59 and it says, 22:01 "Then I saw another beast coming out of the earth, 22:04 he had two horns like a lamb 22:09 and spoke like a dragon." 22:14 Now, when you pick up God's Word, 22:18 and you begin to study it. 22:20 What does a lamb represent? 22:27 In the Bible, what does the lamb represent? 22:30 Well, let's look. 22:32 This is kind of what it tells us it represents. 22:34 1 Peter 1:19, 22:37 "But with the precious blood of Christ, 22:41 as of a lamb without blemish 22:46 and without spot." 22:48 You see, it represents Jesus Christ. 22:52 Revelation 5:12, "Saying with a loud voice: 22:56 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power 23:01 and riches and wisdom." 23:03 In the Bible, the lamb represents Jesus. 23:05 And when it says that this beast that rose up 23:07 out of the earth had two horns like lamb, 23:10 it meant that it would be young. 23:13 It meant that it would be gentle. 23:15 But it also meant that it would be Christlike. 23:18 You see, our forefathers that came over here 23:21 were God-fearing men and women. 23:24 They believed in the Word of God, 23:26 and they built this nation 23:28 and established it upon biblical principles. 23:31 And, dear friend, tonight, if you go to Washington, DC, 23:34 and you walk through the halls of Congress, 23:36 and you visit the Senate and walk through the Capitol, 23:39 you'll find God written everywhere. 23:42 You can walk through the parks, and it's written everywhere, 23:45 because our forefathers were God-fearing men and women, 23:49 and they believed in God, 23:50 and they took their stand there. 23:55 When the war took place 23:58 between the United States and England. 24:03 That revolution was so hard on the colonies, 24:09 that it separated all of them. 24:11 I mean, it separated the communication 24:14 between the colonies. 24:16 And you may not have realized it, friends, 24:18 but that war bankrupt every one of the colonies. 24:22 I mean, just totally bankrupt them. 24:25 And each one of the colonies felt like 24:28 that they had lost everything. 24:30 And they had put everything into the war 24:33 and they couldn't communicate with the other colonies. 24:36 And so they felt like 24:37 they had borne the weight of the war themselves. 24:42 So when the war was over, 24:46 and they called a Constitutional Congress 24:50 and delegates came from the 13 colonies. 24:54 When they arrived, 24:56 they were not in any frame of mind to get along. 25:03 They got in argument, after argument, after argument 25:06 until finally the delegation from New York went home. 25:10 And it looked like that whole Constitutional Congress 25:14 was going to fall apart when a little man 25:19 wearing glasses stood up. 25:23 And he had this to say. 25:28 "We have not hitherto once 25:31 thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights 25:34 to illuminate our understanding. 25:38 In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, 25:42 we were sensible to danger, 25:45 and we had daily," what? 25:50 "Prayer." 25:52 I'm talking about these were God-fearing men and women 25:55 and when they were in the midst of that conflict, 25:58 "They had daily prayer in this room 26:02 for divine protection. 26:04 Our prayers, sir, were heard, 26:06 and they were graciously answered. 26:11 Do we imagine that 26:12 we no longer need His assistance? 26:15 I have lived, sir, a long time, 26:18 and the longer I live the more convincing proofs 26:21 I see of this truth 26:23 that God governs the affairs of men." 26:26 And with that speech, 26:27 Benjamin Franklin was able to congeal 26:31 that whole Constitutional Congress and those men sat down 26:36 and they wrote one of the greatest documents 26:40 that has ever been written by man. 26:43 Why? 26:45 Because they were God-fearing men and women, 26:49 they believed in the Lord. 26:51 That's why the beast is lamblike, 26:56 even when they came to electing the first president 27:00 of this country. 27:02 And George Washington stood and gave his inaugural address. 27:08 I want you to listen to a few paragraphs from it. 27:14 "It would be particularly improper to omit, 27:18 in the first official act of my fervent supplication 27:22 to the Almighty Being, who rules over the Universe, 27:28 who presides in the councils of nations 27:30 and whose providential aid can supply every human defect, 27:37 that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties 27:41 and happiness of the people of the United States. 27:45 No people," listen. 27:48 "No people can be bound to acknowledge 27:51 and adore the invisible hand 27:52 which conducts the affairs of men 27:55 more than the people of the United States." 27:58 Oh, he said, "If there's any people on earth 28:01 that ought to be aware of God and what God has done, 28:06 it's the people of the United States. 28:09 "Every step, every step by which we have advanced 28:15 to an independent nation 28:17 seems to have been distinguished 28:19 by some token of providential agency." 28:23 He said, "Every step that we made, 28:26 there was evidence there always of what God was doing." 28:31 "We ought to be no less persuaded 28:33 that the propitious smile of heaven 28:35 can never be expected on a nation that disregards 28:40 the eternal rules of order and right, 28:43 which heaven itself has ordained. 28:46 "You see, they were men and women 28:50 that believed in God. 28:52 They were men and women 28:53 who believed in the Word of God, 28:55 and they built this nation on Christian principles. 28:59 That's why it says that it was lamblike. 29:06 Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. 29:11 I wish tonight that it did. 29:13 I wish that it just stopped right there 29:15 and I didn't have to say anymore. 29:18 But that text in Revelation 13:11 29:22 ends up by saying this. 29:25 "Then I saw another beast coming up out the earth, 29:28 he had two horns like a lamb 29:32 and spoke like a dragon." 29:36 Now, folks, if the lamb... 29:38 If the lamb represents Jesus, 29:42 who does the dragon represent? 29:46 Yeah, just the opposite. 29:48 Just the opposite. 29:50 Now, if you don't understand 29:53 what's been happening for the last 20-25 years, 29:58 then I would tell you tonight 30:00 that we're in the process of a changing character. 30:06 That's what's going on. 30:08 That it is moving from that of a lamb 30:11 to the place that it will speak as a dragon. 30:17 Now, nations are very much like men. 30:21 You see, nations are built on the wisdom 30:25 and the might of men. 30:27 That's how they're built. 30:28 And because nations are built on the wisdom 30:30 and the might of men, nations rise, and they go down. 30:35 That's the way all of them do. 30:38 Almost every nation 30:39 that has ever come into existence 30:42 has come into existence out of bondage. 30:46 We were in bondage to England, that's where we were. 30:52 You can find that Russia, 30:54 right tonight is just coming out of bondage 30:57 that she was in bondage to communism for 70 years, 31:01 but always out of bondage comes spiritual faith, 31:08 that always comes. 31:10 Our forefathers felt they were in bondage, 31:13 and they begin to pray and they begin to seek God, 31:17 that God would hear their prayer 31:19 and would open up the way and always, 31:22 always out of spiritual bondage comes, 31:26 my friends, courage, 31:29 like Patrick Henry said, listen, 31:32 "If I can't worship as I want to worship, 31:35 if I can't follow God, 31:37 if we cannot govern like we think we ought to govern, 31:41 then give me liberty or give me death." 31:45 That's great courage, and they stand up and they say, 31:48 "This is what we are going to do." 31:52 You find much of that happening in Russia today. 31:57 Spiritual faith. 31:59 There has been a tremendous revival 32:01 across Russia to God. 32:04 And as out of that has come spiritual faith. 32:08 And out of that has grown courage, 32:11 and out of courage always comes liberty. 32:17 Dear friend, let me tell you something, 32:18 there's no place on earth 32:21 where this Word has been preached, 32:25 where people have gone in 32:27 and they've taught the people the Word of God, 32:29 and people have accepted the Word of God 32:32 that there hasn't developed courage, 32:34 and out of that has come liberty. 32:37 No place on earth where that hasn't happened. 32:40 God's Word always, always brings liberty. 32:47 And out of liberty, 32:50 always comes abundance. 32:54 You have had the privilege of living in a society 33:00 where there has been an abundance. 33:03 You go down to the store, 33:06 there is infinite amount of choices. 33:09 I mean, not just in different items, 33:13 but tremendous amount of choices 33:15 concerning one particular item, because there is an abundance, 33:21 and you've lived in a time of abundance. 33:24 God has marvelously blessed you. 33:28 I mean, beyond what you and I can even imagine. 33:33 And if you don't think He hasn't, 33:36 then you need to travel a little bit. 33:39 Then you need to go in some other places in the world, 33:42 and you'll understand very clearly 33:45 that God has blessed you abundantly. 33:48 Unfortunately, you would think that 33:52 when people are blessed and people are given so much 33:56 that God has given, 33:57 you would think that their heart would overflow 34:00 with generosity and they would give. 34:03 But unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. 34:08 Out of abundance comes selfishness. 34:12 Instead of giving, they keep, 34:16 instead of sharing, they hoard. 34:22 Completely different thing. 34:24 Now, dear friends, 34:25 what I'm trying to tell you tonight, 34:27 and you be the judge, I want to ask you. 34:29 Do you think that 34:31 the United States is going up this side 34:37 or do you think she's coming down 34:38 on the other side? 34:42 You see, out of selfishness, because we're selfish 34:47 and we don't share and we don't give, 34:49 out of that grows compliance. 34:52 Now just going to go along. 34:56 Do you ever hear somebody say, "Ah, you can't City Hall." 35:03 Just go along with it, not going to change anything. 35:09 Compliance. 35:11 And out of compliance, just being willing to go along, 35:14 not willing to stand up and be counted, 35:17 not willing to make any kind of waves, 35:20 out of that always comes apathy, 35:24 always. 35:28 Just saying, you know, don't disturb me. 35:32 Don't get me out of my comfort zone. 35:36 I want to be right here. 35:38 Leave me alone. 35:39 Things are real good. 35:41 I don't want to be bothered. 35:43 And thus we have apathy, 35:46 and out of apathy always comes dependence. 35:53 Always comes dependence. 35:57 See, 35:59 96% of all of you here in this room 36:06 will retire dependent 36:09 upon the United States government, 36:13 dependent. 36:16 And out of dependency 36:19 always comes bondage. 36:24 And so we make a great circle, 36:27 we go from bondage into bondage. 36:31 And when it says, 36:33 that this beast would speak as dragon, then, dear friend, 36:38 this is what brings about 36:40 the beast speaking as a dragon. 36:46 There's another man 36:47 that signed your Declaration of Independence. 36:52 You may not be acquainted with him. 36:53 His name was Alexander Tyler. 36:56 He made a statement that's tremendously important. 37:00 I want you to listen to the statement that he made. 37:04 "Democracy cannot exist 37:08 as a permanent form of government." 37:14 Democracy cannot exist 37:17 as a permanent form of government. 37:20 Why not? Let's see why it can't. 37:24 "It can only exist until the voters discover 37:28 that they can vote themselves money 37:30 from the public treasury." 37:34 The moment that people understand 37:37 that they can vote themselves from money 37:40 from the public treasury, democracy is headed downhill. 37:44 Listen to this statement 37:45 because we're right in the middle of an election, 37:48 right? 37:50 You want to see something. 37:51 Watch this carefully. 37:55 "From that moment on, 37:56 the majority always votes for the candidate 37:59 who promises the most benefit from the public treasury." 38:04 So you want to take a look at the candidates. 38:06 You want to see which one's going to promise you the most, 38:08 and that's one you're going to vote for. 38:11 You say, ha-ha, he will give me more, 38:14 I'll vote for him. 38:18 And simply by doing that, 38:21 you're sending your nation downhill. 38:26 "As a result, 38:27 a democracy always collapses over loose 38:31 financial policy 38:33 and is always followed by dictatorship." 38:39 The nation you see wrecked itself financially, 38:42 and the only way it can be brought out of that 38:45 is by dictatorship. 38:49 "The average age of the world's greatest powers 38:53 has been 200 years." 38:55 You and I have had the blessing of going a little longer 38:59 than 200 years. 39:01 Okay. 39:03 So we find ourselves with this nation that rose 39:07 that was lamblike, 39:08 we find it now speaking as a dragon. 39:13 "I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 39:17 he had two horns like a lamb, and spake, 39:20 or spoke like a dragon." 39:25 Watch, watch very carefully, 39:28 because God is now going to show you 39:32 what's going to happen, friends. 39:34 He's going to show you exactly what's going to happen. 39:37 And let me tell you something, this book hasn't failed, 39:42 and it's not going to fail in the future. 39:44 And when God says, this is going to happen, 39:48 you better rest assured, it's going to take place 39:50 just as God said it would. 39:54 You remember President called Richard Nixon. 39:58 You know who he is, don't you? 39:59 You remember him? 40:01 He wrote a book called "Seize the Moment." 40:06 Not too concerned about the title, 40:08 it's the subtitle that I want you to look at. 40:11 The subtitle says this, 40:13 "America's Challenge in a One Superpower World." 40:21 You see when communism fell, 40:24 all of a sudden the United States found itself 40:27 as a superpower unchallenged. 40:31 How are we as a nation relating to that? 40:38 South Bend Tribune newspaper. 40:41 This is what it reported. 40:42 "In a broad new policy statement 40:45 that is in its final drafting state, 40:48 the Defense Department asserts that America's 40:52 political and military mission in the post Cold War era 40:57 will be to ensure that no rival superpower 41:03 is allowed to emerge in Western Europe, Asia, 41:07 or the territory of the former Soviet Union." 41:11 In other words, the United States says, 41:13 "We are a superpower. 41:17 And we're not going to let any other nation rise to rival us." 41:23 In other words, the scripture says that she will speak 41:27 as a dragon. 41:32 She will speak as a dragon. 41:36 And that's where we are. 41:38 Now watch, 41:40 because the scripture is going to help you 41:42 put some things together. 41:43 Revelation, we're still in the 13th Chapter, 41:46 we're looking at verse 14. 41:49 Watch very carefully what it says. 41:51 "And he deceives those 41:54 who dwell on the earth by those signs 41:56 which he was granted 41:58 to do in the sight of the beast." 42:03 Now, this is talking about the two-horned beast. 42:05 And it says that it was able to do certain things 42:08 in sight of this first beast. 42:12 Okay, which was the nondescript beast that had seven heads, 42:15 two horns. 42:16 Why, I mean seven heads and ten horns. 42:18 Watch. 42:20 "Telling those who dwell on the earth 42:23 to make an image to the beast 42:26 who was wounded by the sword and lived." 42:29 Now, it says that this first beast, 42:32 the one that went down led into captivity, 42:35 it was wounded by the sword and it what? 42:39 It lived, and therefore it says this two-horned beast 42:43 is going to make an image to it. 42:46 Well, that first beast we found out to be papal Rome. 42:52 That first beast, that two-horned beast 42:54 was papal Rome, not the two-horned beast, 42:57 excuse me, this, the beast with seven heads, ten horns, 43:00 the first beast of Revelation 13, 43:02 that was papal Rome. 43:04 And it says that this two-horned beast that we're 43:06 studying tonight 43:07 is going to make an image to that beast. 43:10 Now, I want to ask you something. 43:12 If it's going to make an image, 43:16 if you're going to make an image of a dog, 43:19 you make it look like a cat, right? 43:24 If you're going to make an image of a dog, 43:26 you make it look like what? 43:28 A dog. 43:30 Okay, so it says 43:31 that this beast is going to make an image 43:34 to this other beast. 43:35 The papal power stood for what? 43:39 What made it the papal power? 43:41 It made it the papal power because it was a union 43:44 of church and state. 43:45 It was a religio-political power. 43:48 So therefore, it says that if this country 43:50 is going to make an image to it, 43:52 you've got to have church and state coming together. 43:57 Watch, 43:59 'cause it says that this beast here 44:02 is going to make an image to this beast. 44:06 Okay. 44:11 Watch what's beginning to develop. 44:14 This is a statement taken from the Moral Majority. 44:17 This is what they have to say, 44:19 "Separation of church and state is a dangerous concept." 44:23 is a dangerous concept." 44:28 Separation of church and state, 44:30 they say is a dangerous concept. 44:32 "This is because the phrase 44:34 'separation of church and state' 44:36 is not found in the Constitution 44:39 and the misuse of the phrase leads to all sorts of trouble 44:43 such as trying to keep godly principles out of legislation." 44:48 Well, true enough, the word separation of church and state 44:51 is not in our Constitution, but that doesn't mean that 44:55 separation of church and state is a dangerous concept, 44:58 at least our forefathers didn't think it was. 45:01 It goes on and says, 45:03 "A thorough understanding of our Constitution 45:05 is vital to our survival. 45:07 Let's talk more like the Constitution 45:10 and less like bumper sticker." 45:13 So it says that we as a nation need to bring church and state 45:19 together. 45:20 Let me read you another one. 45:22 It says, "Wipe the phrase separation of church and state 45:26 out of your vocabulary." 45:29 I'm trying to tell you, 45:31 that there are moves today 45:33 to bring church and state together. 45:36 Another statement. 45:37 W.A. Chriswell, 45:39 he said, "I believe this notion of the separation 45:43 of church and state was a figment 45:45 of some infidel's imagination." 45:49 And today, there are many things happening 45:53 trying to bring church and state together. 45:56 I don't know if you've read this book called 45:58 "After the Revolution" by Ralph Reed. 46:01 Ralph Reed was the head of Christian coalition, 46:05 and which he said, 46:07 "We need to bring church and state together." 46:11 In fact, this is a statement that he made. 46:16 "If Christianity unite, we can do anything. 46:21 We can pass any law or any amendment 46:24 and that's exactly what we intend to do." 46:31 In other words, church today is becoming more involved. 46:36 Now, let me explain something. 46:39 This was a problem with our forefathers. 46:42 Our forefathers came over here, they were looking for a place 46:45 where they could worship as they wanted to. 46:48 They were God-fearing men women, 46:50 and they came over and they settled this country, 46:52 and when they settled it, 46:53 they build it on Christian principles. 46:56 And so when they got to putting together the Constitution, 46:59 there was some of them that said, 47:01 "If you're not Christian, you can't vote." 47:05 And there was a real movement 47:07 in our country to try to exclude 47:11 anybody who was not a Christian from voting. 47:15 And our President James Madison fought that. 47:19 And I mean, he fought it hard, and this is what he said. 47:23 I want you to listen to what he said, 47:25 "Because fifteen centuries of ecclesiastical establishment 47:30 has given birth to superstition, 47:32 bigotry, and persecution," 47:35 said that was religious persecution, 47:38 "And this bill could do the same." 47:42 You see there was a bill introduced into Congress 47:46 to try to say that only Christians could vote. 47:49 "Who does not see that if the same authority 47:52 which can establish Christianity in exclusion 47:57 of all other religions, 47:59 may establish with the same ease 48:01 any particular sect of Christianity, 48:04 in the exclusion of all other sects." 48:07 He said, "We can't do this." 48:09 And our forefathers put together a Constitution 48:12 that folks had balances and checks in it. 48:15 They put together a Constitution 48:17 so that you and I could have religious freedom, 48:20 and at the same time to keep our country 48:24 based on Christian principles. 48:26 This is how they put together our country. 48:29 And I think they did a pretty good job of it. 48:32 And I think you and I need to be very careful. 48:35 But listen, this is still speaking 48:37 of the two-horned beast. 48:39 Listen to what it says about him. 48:41 "And he was granted power to give, " 48:46 what? 48:47 "To give breath to the image of the beast, 48:50 that the image of the beast should both speak 48:53 and cause as many as would not worship 48:55 the image of the beast should be killed." 49:00 I've told you, anytime, anytime in history 49:05 that a church has taken over civil power, 49:09 it is always persecuted. 49:12 Don't care what church that is, always. 49:15 It says that this two-horned beast have power to give what? 49:20 Breath to the image, right? 49:24 Had breath. 49:25 If you give breath to something, 49:27 what do you have, what does that mean? 49:30 Huh? 49:31 Well, it means it came to life. 49:34 You've read the story of Pinocchio. 49:37 Okay, came to life. 49:40 Here he made an image of a boy, 49:43 and breath was given and he came to life. 49:45 That's what it's saying here that they made an image 49:47 to the beast and he had power to give breath to it, 49:51 and it came to life, 49:53 and it says that he would cause it to speak, right? 50:00 Speaking cause as many as would not worship 50:03 the beast should be killed. 50:04 Anytime in God's Word, friend, that you come across a beast 50:10 and it says concerning that particular beast 50:13 that it would speak, that means legislation. 50:19 This what it's talking about, 50:21 beast represent powers, nations. 50:23 So when it says it speaks, 50:24 that means it's going to legislate. 50:27 And anytime it says cause, that means enforcement. 50:32 And so the Bible is saying very clearly 50:35 in this dear country in which you and I live tonight. 50:39 The day will come in which you will find church 50:45 will rule and there will be religious persecution. 50:49 This is what it's saying. 50:51 It says that we are approaching that, 50:54 that day will come. 50:58 It will speak as a dragon. 51:02 You will have unification of church and state. 51:07 It would give life to the image of the beast, 51:10 that it would do things for that beast. 51:12 Is there anything happening that way today? 51:16 I hope, dear friend, that you're not just home 51:20 and you're letting some of these things pass by, 51:22 and you're not understanding what's going on. 51:27 Time Magazine, February 24, 1992. 51:33 "One of his earliest goals as President, Reagan says, 51:39 was to recognize 51:40 the Vatican as a" church. 51:47 No, "as a state and make them and ally." 51:52 If you recognize him as a state, 51:54 you have unification of what? 51:56 Church and state. 52:01 See, definitely movements that way. 52:05 United States, 52:08 probably blessed by God 52:12 like no other country has ever been blessed by God. 52:17 But it says that it will speak as a dragon. 52:22 "There are also seven kings. 52:26 Five have fallen, 52:29 one is, the other has not yet come. 52:33 And when he comes, he must continue a short time." 52:37 In other words, when it speaks 52:41 as a dragon, 52:45 it's only going to last a short time. 52:49 You and I are living right at the time 52:53 when the scripture says 52:54 it's going to speak as a dragon. 52:58 You and I have had the privilege 53:01 of living in a great nation. 53:06 Fortunately, 53:07 the wonderful thing about it is, 53:10 is it's the seventh one. 53:13 We're going to look at the eighth one, 53:16 but it's all right down here at the end. 53:18 And at the end it says that Jesus is going to come back. 53:23 It can't be far off. 53:25 Let me tell you, dear friend, it won't be long. 53:30 It won't be long 53:36 And we'll be leaving here 53:43 It won't be long 53:49 We'll be going home 53:56 Count the years as months 54:03 Count the months as weeks 54:10 Count the weeks as days 54:17 We'll be going home 54:34 Let us pray. 54:36 Heavenly Father, tonight, 54:39 as we've looked at this great nation, 54:43 one in which You have blessed in a very special way. 54:49 Lord, tonight we would pray 54:52 for the president of our country. 54:55 Lord, when he sit in there in the Oval Office, 55:01 and he has to make decision 55:05 and he's listened to all the council, 55:09 and he doesn't know what he should do, 55:12 we pray, Lord, that he might turn to you. 55:16 That he might seek You 55:19 in what You would have him to do. 55:22 We're in the time of election, Lord. 55:28 These two men are running as candidates. 55:31 We know that Your words says that You set up kings 55:34 and You take them down. 55:37 But, Lord, we pray that You'll bless them, 55:42 that You'll remember the senators, legislators, 55:47 the governors of our country. 55:50 Give them wisdom, give them understanding. 55:54 But, Lord, we pray that as people, 55:57 that each one of us here might humble ourselves before You, 56:02 that we might seek You, 56:07 that You might heal our land, 56:11 and that our lives 56:14 may be committed to following You 56:16 in all that we do, 56:19 for this we ask in Christ's name, 56:21 amen. 56:24 Water can be both inspiring and awesome. 56:28 As it flows through the hills, and the mountains, 56:31 water changes the destiny of every living creature 56:35 it comes in contact with. 56:38 Not a single living thing 56:40 can survive without water for long. 56:42 But despite its beauty, 56:44 the power of water can cut channels through rocks 56:48 and change the landscape forever. 56:51 In John Chapter 7, 56:53 Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 56:55 "If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. 56:59 He who believes in Me," as the scripture said, 57:03 "Out of his heart 57:04 will flow rivers of living water." 57:07 As He did so many times, 57:09 Jesus explained the spiritual things of God 57:12 through nature, like flowing water. 57:15 This living water is a life changing source 57:19 that can change the landscape of our lives 57:22 and flow through us to change the lives of others. 57:27 Folks, we all need water to live, 57:32 but we also need living water. 57:35 Jesus is that living water and through His Spirit, 57:39 we can bring life to those around us. 57:42 The only goal we have at this ministry is to offer 57:46 living water to all mankind. 57:49 There are thousands, no, millions 57:52 who still long for this water, 57:55 the living water of life. 57:57 Won't you help us quench their thirst? 58:00 Please consider what you can do 58:02 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 58:04 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 58:06 please send your tax deductible gifts 58:08 to Kenneth Cox Ministries, 58:10 P.O. 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Revised 2019-02-28