Participants: Stephen Bohr
Series Code: ASTPP
Program Code: ASTPP000006
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00:15 Well, now we want to continue our study about the importance
00:18 of the historical flow method, known also as historicism. 00:23 Let's just review briefly what futurism does with historicism. 00:28 First of all, if Revelation 4 through 19 takes place 00:33 in the future after the rapture of the church, 00:35 none of it is relevant for us today. 00:38 So what does that do with the three angels' messages? 00:41 It makes them irrelevant for today. 00:44 Secondly, futurism has the timing of the rise 00:48 of the antichrist wrong. 00:50 We believe that antichrist already arose within the flow 00:53 of Christian history. 00:55 Futurism teaches, "No, the antichrist will arise 00:58 in the future over in the Middle East." 01:01 And so basically, if the antichrist is going to arise 01:03 in the future, he has not risen in the course of church history. 01:09 In the third place, futurism is wrong about the place 01:13 where the antichrist will appear. 01:15 They say that the antichrist will appear in the Middle East. 01:19 We say that the antichrist appears in Rome. 01:23 In the fourth place, futurism has wrong the manner 01:27 in which the antichrist will appear. 01:30 According to futurism, it will be a blasphemous individual 01:33 who will blaspheme God and Christianity. 01:36 We believe that it is a power that will arise within 01:38 the Christian church and counterfeit the work of Christ. 01:44 Next, futurism gets the parties involved 01:48 in the controversy wrong. 01:50 Because we believe that the dragon, the beast, 01:52 and the false prophet are the parties involved on one side 01:56 and the wicked are on the other side. 01:58 And the issues have to do with worship. 02:01 Futurism teaches, "No, no, no, the parties involved are 02:05 the Arabs, who have allied themselves perhaps with 02:10 the Russians and with others, the Chinese, 02:13 that come and attack the Jews." 02:15 So in other words, the parties are shifted from Rome 02:20 and Protestantism in the United States to the Middle East. 02:24 Also we noticed that futurism has the issues 02:28 in the controversy wrong. 02:29 We believe that the issues are the law, 02:32 the Sabbath, and worship. 02:34 Futurism teaches, "No, No, it's the oil of the Middle East 02:38 and it is anti-Semitism." 02:41 We also noticed that futurism obliterates the timing 02:45 for the rise of the remnant church. 02:49 Because Revelation chapter 12 tells us exactly when, where, 02:53 and what characteristics the remnant church will have. 02:56 Futurism says, "No, Revelation 12 is future. 02:59 It has nothing to do with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 03:03 We also noticed that futurism destroys the prophecy 03:06 of the 2300 days. 03:07 And it destroys historicism, or the historical flow method, 03:12 as the method to properly interpret Bible prophecy. 03:16 Now the next point that I would like to deal with is that 03:20 futurism gives people a false sense of security. 03:26 You see, what futurism teaches is that if you don't 03:29 make it in the rapture, then you can still 03:33 make it during the tribulation. 03:36 And if you don't make it through the tribulation, 03:39 then there's still the opportunity, if you 03:41 survive the coming of Christ, to be converted 03:45 during the millennium. 03:47 And so basically, it's a doctrine that teaches 03:49 several chances for you to embrace Christ 03:53 and to reach salvation. 03:55 Whereas Scripture teaches that before the second coming 04:00 of Christ when probation closes, at that moment 04:04 probation closes for everyone and there is 04:07 no further probation. 04:09 You see, as Adventists, we believe that we are to prepare, 04:13 not so much for the second coming. 04:15 We are to prepare for the close of probation. 04:17 And when probation closes, that's it. 04:20 There are no more chances. 04:21 There are no chances after a rapture, 04:23 more chances during the millennium. 04:25 No, once a person dies, 04:27 that's the close of probation individually. 04:30 Or if the world reaches its moment of the corporate 04:33 close of probation, that's it. 04:36 There are no more chances after that. 04:39 And so the devil wants people to think that 04:40 they're going to have multiple chances to give themselves 04:43 to the Lord and to be saved. 04:46 The next point that I would like to deal with 04:48 is that futurism causes people to not prepare 04:55 for the time of trouble that is going to come upon the world. 05:00 The time of trouble that is going to come upon the world 05:02 is the worst in the history of planet earth. 05:06 It is going to be a tremendously trying period of time. 05:10 And we are going to need an unshakable and unbreakable 05:14 faith to go through the tribulation, 05:17 because our faith will be severely tested. 05:21 But what does futurism teach? 05:22 They say, "No, No, you don't have to worry about 05:24 going through the tribulation. 05:25 That's for the Jews, that's not for Christians." 05:27 You know, you're going to be whisked off to heaven, 05:30 and the tribulation is going to be for those 05:32 who are left behind. 05:33 So, you can have your cake now and you can eat it too. 05:37 In other words, people are not invited to prepare 05:42 for something that they don't believe that 05:44 they're going to go through. 05:45 Let me ask you, would you prepare for a hurricane 05:49 in Fresno? 05:53 I wouldn't. 05:54 There's no hurricanes in Fresno. 05:56 Would you prepare for a tsunami in Fresno? 05:59 No, you wouldn't prepare. Why not? 06:01 Because you say, "There's not going to be a tsunami in Fresno. 06:04 There's not going to be a hurricane in Fresno." 06:06 Because you don't believe that it's coming. 06:09 So you don't prepare for what you don't believe is coming. 06:11 Futurists don't believe that they're going to 06:14 go through the tribulation. 06:15 And so when probation closes and the tribulation begins, 06:18 they'll be in the midst of the tribulation 06:20 without any shelter whatsoever because they have not prepared. 06:25 Let me read you some statements from the spirit of prophecy 06:27 on this specific point. 06:30 The first statement is in, Great Controversy, page 594. 06:35 Ellen White says in this particular statement, 06:38 "Before his crucifixion, the Saviour explained to his 06:42 disciples that he was to be put to death, 06:46 and to rise again from the tomb; 06:48 and angels were present to impress his words 06:51 on minds and hearts." 06:52 Notice, angels were there. 06:55 "But the disciples were looking for temporal deliverance..." 06:58 Did they misinterpret Bible prophecy? 07:01 Did it make a difference? 07:03 Oh yeah, they were wrong about the way in which 07:06 prophecy was going to be fulfilled. 07:07 Of course, that wouldn't happen in connection with 07:09 the second coming, right? 07:12 She continues saying, "But the disciples were looking for 07:15 temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke, and they could not 07:19 tolerate the thought that he in whom all their hopes centered 07:22 should suffer an ignominious death. 07:25 The words which they needed to remember were banished 07:28 from their minds." 07:29 Who do you suppose banished them from their minds? 07:33 The devil. 07:34 "And when the time of trial came, it found them unprepared. 07:38 The death of Jesus as fully destroyed their hopes as if 07:41 he had not forewarned them." 07:43 And now comes the application. 07:45 "So..." Like it was back then. 07:48 She says, "So in the prophecies, the future is opened before us 07:54 as plainly as it was opened to the disciples 07:58 by the words of Christ. 07:59 The events connected with the close of probation 08:02 and the work of preparation for the time of trouble 08:05 are clearly presented. 08:08 But multitudes have no more understanding of these 08:12 important truths than if they had never been revealed. 08:16 Satan watches to catch away every impression that would 08:21 make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble 08:25 will find them unready." 08:28 If you're thinking that prophecy is going to be fulfilled 08:31 in the future after you've been whisked off to heaven, 08:34 would you think that it would be necessary to prepare 08:37 for the worst time of trouble in the history of the world? 08:40 Absolutely not. 08:41 The devil wants to lull people to sleep. 08:45 Notice this next statement, Great Controversy, page 622. 08:48 Isn't it true that we usually think that things are 08:51 going to be really bad, and we try to imagine 08:55 the worst case scenario? 08:58 Well, Ellen White says that we can imagine 09:01 the worst case scenario for the tribulation, 09:03 and it's still going to be worse. 09:04 Notice this next statement. 09:06 "The 'time of trouble such as never was' 09:09 is soon to open upon us; 09:11 and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess, 09:16 and which many are too indolent to obtain." 09:20 "Indolent," means lazy. 09:22 "It is often the case that trouble is greater in 09:25 anticipation than in reality; 09:28 but this is not true of the crisis before us. 09:33 The most vivid presentation cannot reach 09:36 the magnitude of the ordeal. 09:39 In that time of trial, every soul must stand 09:41 for himself before God." 09:43 So you can imagine the worst, and it's still going to be worse 09:47 than you can imagine. 09:48 That's what the time of trouble is going to be like. 09:51 Great Controversy, 621. 09:53 She says, "The season of distress and anguish before us 09:57 will require a faith that can endure weariness, 10:01 delay, and hunger; a faith that will not faint, 10:05 though severely tried. 10:07 The period of probation is granted to all 10:10 to prepare for that time." 10:12 Now, does what Ellen White say square with Scripture? 10:16 Absolutely. Let's notice a couple of text. 10:19 Matthew 24 verses 21 and 22. 10:22 Matthew 24:21-22. 10:26 Jesus says here, "For then there will be great tribulation, 10:31 such as has not been since the beginning of the world 10:37 until this time, no, nor ever shall be." 10:41 Does that sound pretty drastic? 10:44 And listen, "And unless those days were shortened, 10:48 no flesh would be saved; 10:50 but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." 10:53 It's going to be so severe that God is going to have to 10:55 shorten it, or else nobody would remain alive. 10:58 That's how bad it is. 11:00 And then we find in Daniel 12 verse 1 similar words. 11:03 Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1. 11:05 "At that time Michael shall stand up..." 11:09 That's the close of probation, when Michael stands up. 11:12 It's Jesus changes His garments from priestly garments 11:16 to His kingly garments. 11:18 "At that time Michael shall stand up, 11:20 the great Prince who stands watch over the 11:22 sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, 11:26 such as never was since there was a nation, 11:30 even to that time." 11:31 Once again, the emphasis; it's the worst time of trouble 11:34 in human history. 11:35 But here's the good news. 11:37 "And at that time your people shall be delivered, 11:40 everyone who is found written in the book." 11:45 You know, we have an illustration of this in the 11:47 historical sections of Daniel. 11:48 One of the materials you're going to receive is 11:51 that each of the stories of Daniel is a prophecy. 11:54 Not only are the prophecies of Daniel, like Daniel 2, Daniel 7, 11:57 Daniel 8 prophecies, but the stories in Daniel 12:01 are also prophecies. 12:03 The three young men in the valley of Dura. 12:06 See, Nebuchadnezzar for a while lived like a beast. 12:09 Didn't he? 12:10 And he raised up an image. 12:12 He commanded everyone to worship his image. 12:15 And whoever did not worship would be killed. 12:17 Does that sound familiar? 12:19 Revelation 13. 12:20 The beast raises an image. 12:23 He commands everyone to worship the image of the beast. 12:25 And whoever doesn't will be what? 12:28 Will be killed. 12:29 And so you know that there's a relationship between the 12:31 story in the Old Testament and the story at the end of time. 12:35 Only, at the end of time, you're dealing with a global event. 12:39 You're not dealing with a local thing that's happening 12:41 in the valley of Dura. 12:44 The experience of the three young men is an illustration 12:46 of what the time of trouble is going to be like. 12:50 What would you do if there was a burning fiery furnace 12:52 that was heated to the maximum heat... 12:54 That's what the number seven means. 12:55 I don't think Nebuchadnezzar had a thermometer. 12:58 But imagine a furnace, a kiln, heated to its maximum heat, 13:05 and they say to you, "You either receive the mark of the beast 13:08 or we're going to throw you in there." 13:10 Would that be a test of faith? 13:12 That would be a huge test of faith. 13:15 And Ellen White explains that the furnace that the 13:18 young men went through represents the furnace 13:21 of affliction of the time of trouble. 13:23 She says in the chapter in Great Controversy, 13:24 "In The Time of Trouble," she says the flames 13:27 will appear at the point of consuming God's people. 13:30 But they will come forth as pure gold. 13:33 That's what she says. 13:34 So the furnace is symbolic of the time of trouble. 13:37 The number seven represents the worst. 13:40 Totality complete, in other words. 13:42 It will be a terrible time of trouble. 13:44 And those who have not prepared will be found wanting. 13:49 So what does futurism do? 13:51 It says, "Don't worry about preparing for the tribulation. 13:53 You know, just enrich yourself. 13:54 Get lots of houses and lots of money." 13:56 This prosperity gospel, "Just prosper and, you know, 13:59 you can have your cake here and then God is going to 14:02 take you to continue enjoying bliss in heaven forever." 14:07 And so people are lulled to sleep. 14:09 They say, "Oh no, it's going to be easy. 14:10 Christianity is an easy thing." 14:12 And they don't realize that when probation closes, 14:14 the time of trouble will come. 14:16 And they will be totally unprepared. 14:18 Futurism lulls people to sleep. 14:20 It gives them a false sense of security, because they think 14:24 they can be saved beyond the moment of the rapture, 14:27 and also no preparation for the time of trouble 14:31 such as never has been seen. 14:33 Another very important point is that futurism sets itself up 14:40 for the counterfeit second coming of Christ. 14:43 Now futurism is based on two large errors. 14:50 Number one, a wrong comprehension of the 14:53 prophecy of the 70 weeks. 14:54 We've already discussed that. 14:55 A gap between week 69 and week 70, 14:58 which skews Bible prophecy. 15:01 And you know, basically, it eliminates the 2300 day prophecy 15:06 and its fulfillment in 1844. 15:09 But there's another pillar of futurism, and it's a pillar 15:13 that's build on sand. 15:14 And that is, that the millennium will be spent on earth. 15:19 In fact, all of futurism is based on a wrong 15:23 concept of the millennium. 15:25 Now let me explain how this is. 15:27 Jesus made two promises to His people. 15:31 The first promise is in John 14 verses 1 to 3. 15:34 You have this in your material if you're following along. 15:38 Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; 15:40 you believe in God, believe also in Me. 15:42 In My Father's house are many mansions; 15:45 if it were not so, I would have told you. 15:49 I go to prepare a place for you." 15:50 Where was Jesus going to go? To heaven. 15:53 He's talking about His Father's house. 15:55 He says, "In My Father's house are many mansions." 15:58 By the way, Jesus did not go to heaven to build mansions. 16:02 Jesus did not say, "In My Father's house 16:04 will be many mansions." 16:05 He said, "In My Father's house are many mansions." 16:08 They were there when He said it. 16:10 Jesus does not need 2000 years to do heavenly contracting 16:16 when He created the world in six days. 16:18 There's something far deeper here. 16:20 And so it continues saying in verse 3, 16:22 "And if I go and prepare a place for you..." 16:26 And we usually emphasize that He's planting flowers 16:28 and making everything beautiful up there. 16:31 Jesus doesn't need 2000 years to make the heavens beautiful. 16:34 So you say, "What does it mean, 16:35 He goes to prepare a place for us?" 16:37 It simply means that He prepares the place for us 16:40 by the work that He performs in the heavenly Sanctuary. 16:43 That's where the book of Hebrews comes in. 16:46 And the book of Revelation. 16:47 It's by His work in the Holy and Most Holy Place 16:50 that He's able to prepare a place for us. 16:54 And we miss that because we focus on, you know, 16:58 planting flowers and, you know, making the 17:00 place beautiful for us. 17:01 I'm sure He's going to make it very beautiful, 17:03 even more beautiful than Eden. 17:05 And I'm sure He's going to have mansions for us. 17:07 But there's something far deeper than that involved here. 17:10 And so in verse 3 He says, "And if I go and prepare a place 17:13 for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; 17:16 that where I am, there you may be also." 17:19 Did Jesus promise to take His people to heaven, yes or no? 17:21 Yes He did. 17:23 But He made another promise. 17:25 It's found in the beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 5. 17:29 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." 17:34 So Jesus promised His people to take them to heaven. 17:37 But He also promised them that they would inherit the earth. 17:40 Now how can Jesus fulfill both of those promises? 17:43 Futurists say that there's only one way that it can happen. 17:47 They say, "Listen, what happens is, 17:49 seven years before His glorious coming 17:53 Jesus raptures His people to heaven and they spend 17:57 seven years in heaven. 17:58 That fulfills the first promise. 18:01 He takes them to His Father's house for seven years. 18:05 And then after seven years in heaven, He comes back with them. 18:09 And then the meek inherit the earth. 18:11 Because the 1000 years will be spend here." 18:16 So their view is based on the millennium. 18:19 If you believe that the millennium is going to 18:21 be on earth, they say, then you have to believe in a 18:24 rapture where Jesus is going to take His people 18:26 to heaven for seven years. 18:27 Because if He doesn't, then He will not have fulfilled 18:30 the promise that He was going to take His people 18:32 to His Father's house. 18:33 Are you following me or not? 18:35 But I believe that there's another, the Adventist way, 18:38 for Jesus to fulfill both of those promises. 18:41 And that is, that Jesus is going to come in His second coming 18:44 gloriously in only one coming. 18:46 And He's going to take His people to heaven for 1000 years. 18:50 That fulfills the first promise. 18:52 And then He's going to bring them to the earth, 18:53 and the meek will inherit the earth. 18:56 You do not have to invent a rapture idea 18:58 to believe that Jesus is going to take His people to heaven, 19:02 and then you're going to have the new earth. 19:03 If you have the correct view of the millennium, 19:06 you will understand that the first promise 19:08 of the Father's house takes place when Jesus comes again 19:12 and takes His people to heaven for 1000 years. 19:14 The second promise is after the 1000 years 19:17 when He comes back, and then the meek 19:19 will inherit the earth. 19:21 So their wrong view of the millennium is what causes 19:25 them to invent the pre-tribulation rapture, 19:27 because there has to be some time when Jesus is going to 19:29 take His people to heaven. 19:32 Are you understanding me? 19:34 Now, those individuals who believe that Jesus is 19:37 going to spend the millennium here on earth 19:41 are setting themselves up for a huge deception. 19:47 Because the devil is going to counterfeit 19:48 the second coming of Christ. 19:51 And he's going to make it appear that the millennium has arrived. 19:55 And if you're expecting the millennium to be on earth, 19:58 you will be deceived. 20:00 Praise the Lord that God's people will not be deceived. 20:03 It says in Matthew, "He will deceive if possible 20:06 the very elect." 20:08 It's the elect that are the target 20:09 of the devil's deceptions. 20:12 He won't be able to deceive the elect. 20:15 "If it were possible..." That's very hypothetical. 20:17 If it were possible, he would deceive the very elect. 20:20 God's elect will not be deceived. 20:23 But it will be the intention of the devil to deceive them. 20:26 You see, the devil will see that there's a group of people 20:28 that are faithful to God. 20:31 And he's going to say, "As a last resort, I've got to 20:33 do something to get these people over to my side. 20:36 I haven't been able to, you know, through persecution, 20:38 through a death decree. 20:40 I have not been able to get them over to my side." 20:43 And so he says, "I know what I'll do. 20:45 What I will do is, I'll counterfeit the 20:47 second coming of Christ. 20:48 And they'll think that it's the real Christ, 20:50 and they'll accept me." 20:53 Are you following me or not? 20:55 But God's people won't be deceived. 20:57 Allow me to read you Matthew 24:26-27, 21:02 and then the description that Ellen White gives 21:04 of the counterfeit second coming. 21:07 "Wherefore if they say unto you, 'Behold, he is in the desert,' 21:13 go not forth. 21:15 'Behold, he is on CNN...'" 21:17 No, that's not what it says. 21:18 "'Behold, he is in the secret chambers,' believe it not." 21:25 Hey, if he's on television, don't even look. 21:28 Because it's going to be dazzling. 21:31 And then Jesus said, "For as the lightening 21:33 cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; 21:37 so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." 21:41 It will be visible to the whole world. 21:45 See, Christ will not appear in different parts of planet earth. 21:48 Now let me read you Ellen White's description. 21:51 This is found in the book, Great Controversy, 21:53 pages 624 and 625. 21:57 She says, "As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, 22:02 Satan himself will personate Christ. 22:05 The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent 22:08 as the consummation of her hopes. 22:11 Now the great deceiver will make it appear," that's important, 22:15 "will make it appear that Christ has come." 22:19 Here comes the key, "In different parts of the earth, 22:23 Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic 22:27 being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description 22:32 of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation." 22:36 Is the devil going to be able to counterfeit how Jesus looks? 22:39 Oh yeah. 22:41 His face is going to shine as the sun. 22:43 His legs are going to be like burnished bronze. 22:46 He's going to be clothed in a white garment. 22:47 People are going to say, "This is the Christ 22:49 of Revelation chapter 1. 22:51 It's what we've been waiting for." 22:52 Notice what she continues saying. 22:54 "The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything 22:59 that mortal eyes have yet beheld. 23:01 The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, 23:04 'Christ has come! Christ has come!' 23:06 The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, 23:10 while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them 23:13 as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth. 23:18 His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody." 23:22 Don't you think he's going to say, "I am the Christ." 23:25 No, no. 23:28 "His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody." 23:34 Now listen, "In gentle, compassionate tones 23:36 he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths 23:39 which the Saviour uttered." 23:41 He can utter the truth even. 23:44 But not the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 23:48 Notice what else, "He heals the diseases of the people. 23:52 And then, in his assumed character of Christ, 23:55 he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, 23:59 and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. 24:03 He declares that those who persist in keeping holy 24:05 the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen 24:09 to his angels sent to them with light and truth." 24:12 And then Ellen White says, "This is the strong, 24:15 almost overmastering delusion." 24:18 In fact, she has another statement where she states 24:21 that God's people will be crying out in anguish 24:24 for deliverance in the time of trouble. 24:26 And that's when Satan is going to 24:27 counterfeit the second coming. 24:29 He's going to say, "I have come to answer your pleas. 24:34 Wow. 24:36 That's why it's a strong almost overmastering delusion. 24:39 Now, will God's people be deceived? 24:41 Will the elect be deceived? 24:42 No. Why not? 24:44 Because they don't go by their eyes. 24:46 They don't go by their ears. 24:48 They don't go by their feelings. 24:51 They go by what God says. 24:53 Notice what she continues saying. 24:55 "But the people of God will not be misled. 24:59 The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance 25:03 with the Scriptures." 25:06 What is the key? 25:08 The Scriptures. 25:10 "His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers 25:12 of the beast and his image; the very class upon whom 25:15 the Bible declares that God's unmingled wrath 25:18 shall be poured out." 25:20 And now notice, "And furthermore, Satan is not 25:24 permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ's advent. 25:28 The Saviour has warned his people against deception 25:31 upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner 25:34 of his second coming." 25:36 Is it important to know how He will come? 25:38 Of course it is. 25:40 "'There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, 25:43 and shall show great signs and wonders; 25:45 insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall 25:48 deceive the very elect. 25:50 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, 25:52 "Behold, he is in the desert;" go not forth: 25:55 "Behold, he is in the secret chambers;" believe it not. 25:58 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, 26:00 and shineth even unto the west; 26:02 so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.' 26:05 This coming, there is no possibility of counterfeiting. 26:10 It will be universally known; witnessed by the whole world." 26:16 What will unmask the devil? 26:19 The Scriptures, folks. 26:21 That's the only thing that we can build our faith on, 26:24 is God's Holy Word. 26:27 If you don't know how He will come, 26:30 you will end up accepting the wrong who. 26:33 You see, we live in a post-modern world 26:37 where people are driven by experience theology. 26:41 "Truth," they say, "comes from inside, not from outside." 26:44 "Truth is subjective, not objective." 26:47 "Truth is personal, not biblical." 26:50 The importance of doctrine is downplayed. 26:54 You notice that on the Tony Palmer video. 26:56 He said, you know, "We'll sort out our doctrines 26:59 when we get up there." 27:01 Well if you don't sort them out here, you won't be there. 27:04 That's the bottom line. 27:06 But people say that doctrine isn't important. 27:09 "Let's just love one another. 27:10 Let's just come into unity, let's get along." 27:13 It's an artificial unity. 27:15 And by the way, he quoted the text where Jesus says 27:18 that He wanted us all to be one, but he also forgot to quote the 27:22 text that says, "Sanctify them in Your truth, 27:25 Your Word is truth." 27:29 See, that's called, selective quoting. 27:33 The devil is going to use the same method 27:35 that he used with Eve. 27:38 Do you know what the devil did with Eve? 27:40 He led her to follow the testimony of her heart. 27:44 Everything the devil did was based on the subjective. 27:49 First of all, here's a snake that's talking, 27:52 a serpent that's talking. 27:54 Do serpents talk? 27:55 Oh, that would be a miracle. Right? 27:57 So he performs a counterfeit miracle. 28:00 And then he misquotes the word of God. 28:03 And then he says to Eve, "Hey, Eve, you know, 28:06 you want to know the real reason why God 28:08 told you not to eat from the tree? 28:09 He told you, you were going to die, but that's not the reason." 28:12 And so Eve is saying, "Well, tell me what the reason is." 28:15 And he says, "God knows that if you eat from the tree, 28:17 you're going to be like Him. 28:18 And God doesn't want any rivals. 28:21 He's the only one who wants to be God. 28:23 So He's intimidating everybody to think that they'll 28:26 die if they eat from the tree. 28:27 But the real reason is that everybody 28:29 is going to be like Him." 28:32 And so Eve says, "Yeah, God didn't explain 28:34 why we couldn't eat from the tree. 28:35 Now I have an explanation." 28:37 The devil is playing mind games. 28:39 And then it says she sees the fruit and it looks good. 28:42 She's touching it because the serpent placed it in her hand, 28:45 and she didn't die. 28:46 And she said that God had said, "If you touch it, you'll die." 28:49 She added to the word of God. 28:50 It's dangerous to add to the word of God. 28:54 And so she's seeing the fruit, it looks good. 28:58 She thinks that it will be tasty. 29:01 She's hearing what the devil is saying. 29:03 So now she takes the fruit and she eats. 29:07 Her standard of deciding what to do was based on experience. 29:14 Her only protection was to say, "We live by every word 29:20 that proceeds out of the mouth of God." 29:23 Our only protection... 29:24 Ellen White has a chapter in, Great Controversy, 29:26 that says, our only safeguard will be to build our faith 29:30 upon the word of God; as it is written. 29:34 Now let's assume for a moment... 29:36 Bear with me on this. 29:38 ...that the futurist scenario that I have described at the 29:41 beginning of our study will unfold just like 29:45 futurists have said. 29:47 One day many people all over the world disappear into thin air. 29:51 A ten nation federation is established in Europe 29:54 led by a charismatic individual who signs a seven year 29:58 peace treaty with the Jews. 30:00 During the first three and a half years of his reign 30:03 things begin to deteriorate. 30:05 But during the last three and a half years, 30:07 the planet unravels at the seams. 30:09 There are unparalleled natural disasters, 30:12 devastating pandemics, warfare, social unrest, famines, 30:16 and criminality such as never has been seen 30:18 in the history of the world. 30:20 As the antichrist increases in power, this individual 30:23 receives a deadly wound. 30:25 But miraculously his deadly wound is healed. 30:28 At the beginning of the last three and a half years 30:30 of his reign, he breaks his peace treaty with the Jews 30:34 and moves his headquarters from Rome to Jerusalem, 30:36 and sits in the rebuilt Jerusalem temple 30:39 claiming to be God and demanding the worship of the world. 30:43 He builds a gigantic image of himself and commands everyone 30:46 to worship on pain of death. 30:49 The Jews and unsaved Christians who are left behind 30:51 after the rapture are persecuted mercilessly. 30:54 Finally after seven years past, a glorious individual 30:58 appears in different parts of the earth 30:59 with a radiance that outshines the noon day sun. 31:02 He heals the diseases of the people, 31:04 speaks in soft, subdued tones some of the truths 31:08 that Jesus spoke, and destroys the antichrist 31:11 as the enemies of the Jews and the Christians 31:14 who were left behind. 31:15 ...and the enemies of the Jews and the Christians 31:17 who were left behind. 31:19 I can just hear Christians saying at that time, 31:22 "We told you Seventh-day Adventists 31:25 that things were going to devolve in this way. 31:27 But you would not listen. 31:29 Now you see that we were right and you were wrong." 31:33 The question is, folks, how many people in the world 31:36 at that time would believe the historicist interpretation 31:38 of Bible prophecy? 31:41 How many would believe that the true enemies of God's people 31:45 are the Roman Catholic Papacy and apostate Protestantism 31:47 allied with the kings of the whole world 31:50 and the multitudes of the whole world? 31:54 The answer is that there would be very few, 31:56 only the elect, who would be willing to hold onto the 32:00 traditional view that is provided by 32:03 the historicist method of interpreting Bible prophecy. 32:07 Now somebody might say, "Pastor Bohr, you're somewhat insane. 32:11 What makes you think that Satan will be able to implement 32:13 the prophetic scenario that is taught by futurism?" 32:17 I'm not categorically saying that it will happen this way. 32:22 But when we remember that when the door of probation closes, 32:25 Satan will have full and complete control 32:28 of the impenitent. 32:30 It might just happen that way. 32:32 Why would the devil have this scenario preached 32:36 every Sunday morning on television if he did not 32:39 have an agenda in mind for the future? 32:44 God will withdraw His Spirit. 32:46 Satan will be allowed full reign to carry out his program, 32:50 except he will not be allowed to kill God's people. 32:54 Ellen White says in, Great Controversy, page 614, 32:57 that when probation closes, "The restraint which has been 33:01 upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control 33:07 of the finally impenitent." 33:10 And believe me, if the devil is able to make an 33:13 airplane disappear, he would not have much trouble 33:17 making people disappear as well. 33:20 Is it not time, folks, that as Adventists we should 33:23 give the trumpet a certain sound 33:25 and warn the world about these things? 33:28 Who the dangerous powers are? 33:30 What the issues in the final controversy are? 33:33 And how to be on the Lord's side? 33:36 And the fact that a time of trouble is coming 33:38 such as never has been seen? 33:40 And we need to prepare a character that is fit 33:43 to go through that period of human history 33:45 and receive Jesus when He comes in glory? 33:49 I believe that we have a special prophetic message 33:51 for the world for now, because we see things happening 33:54 in the world where things are winding down to the end. 33:59 I'm not giving dates. 34:00 I'm not saying that He's coming tomorrow 34:02 or next week, or even in a year or two. 34:05 But the signs in the world indicate that prophecy is 34:08 fulfilling the way that it is depicted 34:11 in Daniel and Revelation, and in the book, 34:13 The Great Controversy. 34:15 You see, Satan not only hates our message, 34:19 he hates our method. 34:21 Because our message is based on our method. 34:24 If you get rid of historicism, you get rid of our message. 34:29 And if you get rid of our message, 34:30 you get rid of our mission. 34:32 You've probably read the book, Futurism's Incredible Journey. 34:35 There it's portrayed in a simple way the devastating effects 34:39 of futurism on the message of the Adventist Church. 34:43 You see, we believe that we can observe the simple trajectory 34:48 of prophecy, and we can identify the antichrist 34:52 by looking at the flow of prophetic history. 34:55 We believe that there are no gaps. 34:57 It's a simple method that even children can understand. 35:01 The historical flow method helps us understand 35:04 who the antichrist is, when and where he will arise, 35:08 what he will do, who will help him recover his power. 35:13 Historicism shows what the issues are in the conflict. 35:17 Furthermore, it tells us when and where the remnant church 35:21 would arise in the course of human history. 35:24 It shows us what our message is, what our mission is. 35:29 Those who reject this message crawl around 35:33 in prophetic darkness. 35:36 If the antichrist is a literal future person, 35:40 and the time periods of his dominion are literal and future, 35:45 then the Roman Catholic Church has nothing to do with the 35:48 fulfillment of prophecy. 35:50 Protestantism as a fulfillment of prophecy disappears 35:52 in the midst as well. 35:55 Is that perhaps the reason why Protestants today 35:58 are wanting to join the Roman Catholic Church, 36:01 because they've lost their prophetic bearings? 36:03 Do you actually think that if Protestants today 36:06 understood this scenario of Bible prophecy, 36:10 which was sustained by the Protestant reformers that 36:13 founded these Protestant churches, do you think that 36:16 if they followed this prophetic method they would want 36:18 anything to do with the Roman Catholic Papacy 36:21 or with apostate Protestantism? 36:23 They would come out. 36:24 And folks, the book of Revelation chapter 18 36:27 says that multitudes will come out of Babylon 36:30 when this message is presented with power. 36:33 Ellen White had this to say about those individuals 36:36 who don't identify the antichrist according 36:39 to scriptural principles. 36:40 This is found in volume 7 of the Bible Commentary, page 949. 36:45 She says, "Those who become confused in their understanding 36:50 of the Word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, 36:55 will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist." 36:59 Is it important to know who the little horn is? 37:02 Is it important to know who the beast is? 37:05 Is it important to know what the image of the beast is 37:08 and the mark of the beast is? Yes. 37:10 Because the world needs to know, folks. 37:12 They need to make a decision for the Lord. 37:14 And if they don't know who the anti... 37:16 If they're looking for an antichrist in the Middle East, 37:19 they're looking in the wrong place. 37:21 If they're expecting to be gone for the tribulation, 37:25 they're not preparing a character fit for heaven 37:28 and fit for the tribulation. 37:30 And so, folks, this is a matter of life and death. 37:33 And so she continues saying, "Those who become confused 37:36 in their understanding of the Word, who fail to see 37:39 the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves 37:42 on the side of antichrist." 37:43 And then notice this, "There is no time now 37:46 for us to assimilate with the world." 37:48 Do you know when it is that we lose our conception of 37:52 who the antichrist is? 37:53 When we what? 37:54 When we assimilate with the world. 37:56 She continues saying, "Daniel is standing in his 37:59 lot and in his place. 38:01 The prophecies of Daniel and of John are to be understood. 38:05 They interpret each other. 38:07 They give to the world truths which every one 38:11 should understand. 38:12 These prophecies are to be witnesses in the world. 38:17 By their fulfillment in these last days they will 38:21 explain themselves." 38:24 And yet even in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 38:26 we have scholars, some of them teach in our 38:29 religious institutions, who are saying that 38:32 our views of Bible prophecy are mistaken. 38:37 Let me refer to two specific individuals. 38:41 And this is back in the 1990's, early 1990's. 38:45 A history teacher at La Sierra University 38:48 in southern California; teacher of Reformation Studies. 38:53 That's what's interesting. 38:54 His teaching was on the Protestant Reformation. 38:56 That was his strong suit. 38:59 He said, well the Roman Catholic Church of the past, 39:03 and now I quote, "was a contemptuous 39:06 and contemptible organization." 39:09 But then he goes on to say this, "But those days are over. 39:14 The world has changed. 39:16 The United States has changed. 39:19 And even the Roman Catholic Church has changed. 39:22 In the second half of our century, having reconciled 39:25 itself with progress, liberalism, 39:28 and modern civilization, it..." 39:30 That is the Roman Catholic Papacy. 39:32 "...is no longer the Bible suppressing, science resisting, 39:35 liberty opposing, Protestant hating, 39:36 culture ignoring, Latin mumbling, 39:39 obscurantism loving, ecclesiastical organization 39:42 of former years intent on ruling the world from Rome." 39:47 In other words, the papacy is not that any more, he's saying. 39:50 "Vatican Council II transformed all of that." 39:54 All that Vatican Council II did was give 39:56 the Roman Catholic Church a face lift. 40:01 And last I knew, that is cosmetic surgery. 40:06 He continues saying, "To ignore these new realities 40:09 and to refuse to come to terms with the contemporary 40:12 Roman church is to choose to remain stuck in a religious 40:15 no man's land, condemning a church that no longer exists, 40:19 using old labels and propaganda that only offend 40:23 and alienate deeply. 40:25 Instead, Seventh-day Adventists ought to involve themselves 40:28 in building bridges of understanding, 40:31 to reach out to Roman Catholics and developing bonds of love 40:35 to enable them, with us, to arrive at a full appreciation 40:38 and application of the gospel of Jesus Christ." 40:43 History teacher at La Sierra University. 40:49 Notice how Ellen White described it. 40:52 This is found in the book, Great Controversy, pages 571 and 572. 40:56 And incidentally, this is the best description 40:59 that I've ever found on what the papacy is; 41:02 what Ellen White is going to give now. 41:05 She says, "The papacy is just what prophecy declared 41:07 that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. 41:12 It is a part of her policy to assume the character 41:16 which will best accomplish her purpose." 41:19 And here comes the description. 41:20 "But beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon, 41:24 she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent." 41:29 Cosmetic external changes. 41:31 You tell me one dogma of the Roman Catholic Church 41:34 that has been changed. 41:36 Do they still believe that you're suppose to come 41:38 to Jesus through Mary? 41:40 Do they still believe that Jesus is sacrificed in the mass? 41:44 Do they still believe in purgatory? 41:46 Do they still believe in indulgences? 41:49 Do they still believe that hell is going to burn forever? 41:52 Do they still believe that Sunday is the day of worship? 41:56 Do they still believe that you can bow to idols? 41:59 So how has it changed? 42:01 Who has changed? 42:03 Protestants have changed. 42:05 And that's why they differ less from Catholics. 42:08 Not because Catholicism has changed, 42:11 but Protestantism has changed. 42:14 So she says, "Beneath the variable appearance of the 42:18 chameleon, she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. 42:22 'Faith ought not to be kept with heretics, 42:24 nor persons suspected of heresy,' she declares. 42:27 Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written 42:31 in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged 42:34 as a part of the church of Christ?" 42:36 Asked Ellen White. 42:38 "It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth 42:41 in Protestant countries that Catholicism differs less widely 42:45 from Protestantism than in former times. 42:48 There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. 42:53 Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism 42:57 that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly 43:02 degenerated since the days of the Reformers." 43:07 Is that a good description? 43:08 That is a fitting description. 43:10 And then Ellen White in, Review and Herald, June 1, 1886, 43:16 said that the union between Catholics and Protestants 43:20 "will not, however, be effected by a change in Catholicism; 43:25 for Rome never changes. 43:28 She claims infallibility. 43:31 It is Protestantism that will change." 43:35 And then she says, "The adoption of liberal ideas..." 43:38 When Ellen White speaks about liberal ideas, 43:40 she's talking about civil rights and human rights. 43:44 She's talking about being politically correct. 43:47 That's the terminology that we would use today. 43:50 In other words, the adoption of political correctness, 43:53 or liberal ideas, false charity she also calls it, 43:58 "on its part," that is on the part of Protestantism, 44:01 "will bring it where it can clasp the hand of Catholicism." 44:07 So who are we to believe? 44:10 Paul Landa or Ellen White? 44:12 No contest. 44:14 There's another teacher at La Sierra University 44:18 back in the early 90's by the name of Frank Knittel. 44:22 I believe that he taught in the English department 44:25 of the same university. 44:27 And he's had some interesting things to say about 44:29 Ellen White's book, The Great Controversy. 44:32 And I quote, this is from Adventist Today, 44:36 the July-August issue, 1993, page 11. 44:40 He says regarding, The Great Controversy, 44:42 "We must not base our spiritual warning to the world 44:45 on evidence which we feel is found in any book 44:49 other than the Bible. 44:51 White gave Adventism her interpretation of the Scripture, 44:55 and her view in not infallible." 44:57 He's pitting the Bible against Ellen White. 45:00 And listen carefully, he says that the view that the 45:04 papacy is the antichrist was the view of Ellen White. 45:07 So let me ask you, how did the reformers get their view 45:10 that the papacy was the antichrist? 45:12 They didn't have Ellen White. 45:13 They studied Scripture. 45:15 And they reached the same conclusions 45:17 as Ellen White from the Bible. 45:19 So to say that, "Oh, you can't trust Ellen White 45:22 what she says about the papacy, because that's her," 45:26 the fact is that Protestantism has gone astray from its roots. 45:31 If Martin Luther resurrected from the dead today, 45:34 he would die of a heart attack. 45:36 Because he would not recognize the Lutheran church. 45:40 If John Calvin resurrected today, he would not 45:43 believe what's before his eyes. 45:44 Because the Presbyterian church would not be the 45:46 church that he knew. 45:50 Blessing gay marriage, 45:53 and with gay clergy. 45:55 These reformers, they fought for the Bible with their lives. 46:02 And what they had to fight for with their lives 46:04 is being destroyed by a group of individuals 46:07 who no longer believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures. 46:14 Knittel continued saying, "Our message to the world, 46:18 as Paul declared for himself, is Jesus Christ and Him crucified; 46:23 and a detailed accounting of the prophecies 46:25 and an exposition of the Sabbath is secondary." 46:29 That sound like an Adventist? 46:32 "Whatever we wish to believe about prophecy 46:34 is our own right and responsibility. 46:37 But whatever we believe should be based totally upon 46:39 what we derive from our own study of the Bible, 46:42 and not upon anything written by anyone since the 46:45 canon of the Scriptures was established." 46:48 I would say, unless what that person wrote 46:50 is in harmony with Scripture. 46:53 He continues saying, "We have almost destroyed ourselves 46:55 by our passionate disinclination to search for ourselves, 46:59 and we wear out the pages of the Ellen G. White index 47:03 when we should instead be studying the Bible." 47:06 Basically what he's saying is, "Study the Bible, 47:09 discard Ellen White." 47:10 But eventually what happens is, people study the Bible, 47:13 if they studied the Bible the way they're suppose to, 47:16 they would reach the same conclusions as Ellen White 47:18 concerning Bible prophecy. 47:21 So Knittel says we need to preach the gospel, 47:23 we need to preach the true gospel. 47:24 And he mentions the first angel's message. 47:27 What he doesn't tell you is that the first angel's message 47:30 is not only Revelation 14 verse 6. 47:35 You know, people like to quote Revelation 14 verse 6, 47:37 "I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 47:39 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those 47:41 who dwell on the earth; to every nation, 47:43 kindred, tongue and people." 47:44 And they stop there. 47:47 But folks, the three angels' messages continue. 47:52 The first angel not only preaches the everlasting gospel, 47:55 he says, "Fear God and give glory to Him, 47:59 for the hour of His judgment is come. 48:01 And worship Him." 48:03 And then it appeals to the Creator, which is the Sabbath. 48:07 So Knittel says the Sabbath is secondary. 48:10 Folks, it's part of the same message where the angel is 48:13 preaching the everlasting gospel. 48:16 And by the way, part of the message is also calling 48:18 people out of Babylon. 48:21 That's the second message. 48:22 And the third message says, "Beware of receiving 48:25 the mark of the beast. 48:27 Rather than that, receive the seal of God." 48:29 Why does he stop at verse 6? 48:32 Why not continue the three angels' messages, 48:35 like Ellen White so eloquently does in her writings? 48:41 Is it any surprise to us that Billy Graham called the pope, 48:45 Pope John Paul II, the world's foremost moral leader. 48:50 Is it shocking that the late Paul Crouch, the founder of TBN, 48:55 would say, "I'm not protesting anything. 48:58 I'm deleting the word, 'Protestant,' 48:59 from my vocabulary." 49:02 Is it a surprise that Robert Schuller, who established 49:06 the Crystal Cathedral, would say that he hopes that the 49:09 day will come when the entire Christian world 49:12 will accept the pope as its leader? 49:15 Is it any surprise that Jack Van Impe, 49:18 as he looked at John Paul II, would with admiration say, 49:23 "What a man." 49:25 Is it any surprise that Lutherans and Catholics 49:28 signed a joint declaration on righteousness by faith? 49:31 Is it any surprise that prominent Protestant 49:35 and Catholic leaders signed the document, 49:38 "Evangelicals and Catholics Together," where basically 49:43 they said that they agreed on the common points. 49:50 The question is, are the common points an issue 49:53 at the end of time? 49:55 Is that present truth in the end time? 49:59 No, the issues have to do with where Jesus is. 50:02 Where is Jesus? 50:04 In the Most Holy Place. 50:06 So wherever Jesus is, that is present truth. 50:10 If you want to know what present truth is, 50:12 what we should be preaching, we should find out 50:15 where Jesus is and what Jesus is doing, 50:19 and preach that. 50:21 And that would involve, of course, preaching 50:24 that the heavenly Sanctuary is being cleansed. 50:27 And therefore, in parallel fashion, we should be 50:30 cleansing the temple of our soul. 50:33 It involves preaching that God's law is still binding. 50:36 It involves preaching that the Sabbath 50:38 is still God's day of rest. 50:40 It involves preaching health reform. 50:43 It involves preaching that the hour of His judgment is here. 50:48 In other words, it involves preaching a whole cluster 50:51 or a whole system of truth that is centered in the 50:54 Most Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary. 50:57 Why does the religious world reject 51:01 the Seventh-day Adventist message? 51:03 Folks, it's simple. 51:04 They have refused to enter the Most Holy Place 51:07 to discover the truths that are centered there. 51:12 It's that simple. 51:13 And I have a book that called, Worship At Satan's Throne. 51:17 It's an analysis of the message to the church of Philadelphia. 51:22 And I analyze also Ellen White's throne vision where she's 51:25 commenting on the message to Philadelphia, 51:27 on what happened with the Protestant world when the 51:30 Protestant world rejected the message of the Millerites. 51:34 You know, probation closed for the 51:37 Roman Catholic system in 1798. 51:41 Probation closed for Protestantism... 51:43 I'm not talking about individuals within the 51:45 Catholic church or individuals within the different 51:48 Protestant churches. 51:49 No, I'm not talking about that. 51:50 There are sincere loving Christians in all churches. 51:53 The Roman Catholic Church, Protestant churches, 51:56 even among non-Christians, there are people who 51:58 serve God to the best of their knowledge. 52:00 I'm talking about systems. 52:02 In 1844, when the Protestant churches disfellowshiped 52:07 Ellen White and her family and cast those who were preaching 52:11 the message of the second coming out of their churches, 52:15 the second branch of Babylon fell. 52:18 Which is the daughters. 52:21 And so Protestantism and Roman Catholicism are fallen systems. 52:26 Why do you suppose God would tell us to preach 52:30 from Revelation chapter 18, "Come out of her, My people." 52:36 Is it any surprise to us that people like Ralph Reed 52:40 and Pat Robertson, and others, would try to unite 52:44 Catholics and Protestants in voting blocks 52:48 to get certain candidates elected to office. 52:53 Candidates that are in harmony with their world view 52:57 and their scenario. 53:00 Folks, as Adventists we need to recover our prophetic roots. 53:04 We need to get back to the basics. 53:06 We need to get back to preaching present truth. 53:09 It has power to bring conviction to people. 53:12 I've seen it. Taj has seen it in his meetings. 53:15 I never cease to marvel, you know, he's come to our 53:18 church twice, the way people respond. 53:20 And he doesn't water down the message. 53:21 I mean, it's direct, everything. 53:23 Including jewelry, and health reform, and you name it. 53:27 It's all there. 53:28 And multitudes of people give their hearts to the Lord. 53:31 So this idea that if you preach prophecy, 53:33 if you preach doctrine, you know, people are going to 53:36 get scared and they're not going to want to come. 53:38 That's not true. 53:39 When it's presented in a beautiful way, 53:41 in a way that it makes sense, people embrace it 53:44 and they're excited about becoming Seventh-day Adventists. 53:49 I want to finish by mentioning the loud cry of Revelation 18. 53:53 You know what the loud cry is? 53:54 It's when the messages of the three angel's 53:57 are given a boost. 53:59 God will put jumper cables, 54:03 if you please, on the three angels' messages. 54:05 And they will be proclaimed with the utmost power. 54:09 What does the message of Revelation 18 say? 54:13 It says Babylon is fallen. 54:16 And she has become the habitation of demons. 54:18 And it says, "You better get out of there. 54:22 Because plagues are going to fall upon her. 54:25 Come out of her, My people, 54:28 so that you do not partake in her sins 54:30 and you do not receive her plagues." 54:33 I end this session by reading from, Great Controversy, 54:35 606 and 607, about what Ellen White says 54:39 concerning this loud cry. 54:41 It's very inspiring. 54:43 This is, Great Controversy, 606 and 607. 54:47 She says, "Thus the message of the third angel 54:49 will be proclaimed. 54:51 As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, 54:54 the Lord will work through humble instruments, 55:00 leading the minds of those who consecrate 55:02 themselves to His service. 55:04 The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His 55:08 Spirit than by the training of literary institutions." 55:14 No PhD needed. 55:18 The Holy Spirit is needed. 55:21 I'm not saying that education is bad. 55:22 Don't get me wrong, education can be good. 55:27 As long as education is in harmony with the philosophy 55:30 and beliefs of the Adventist church 55:32 and helps the church to fulfill its mission. 55:36 But God is not dependent upon great knowledge gained 55:42 in literary institutions. 55:44 She continues saying, "Men of faith and prayer 55:47 will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, 55:50 declaring the words which God gives them. 55:53 The sins of Babylon will be laid open. 55:57 The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church 56:00 by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, 56:05 the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power; 56:08 all will be unmasked." 56:11 Who's going to unmask these things? 56:14 The Holy Spirit through humble instruments. 56:17 She says, "By these solemn warnings the people 56:20 will be stirred. 56:22 Thousands upon thousands will listen who have 56:25 never heard words like these. 56:27 In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon 56:31 is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, 56:34 because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven. 56:38 As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, 56:41 'Are these things so?' 56:43 the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, 56:47 to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. 56:52 But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere 56:56 authority of men and demand a, 'Thus saith the Lord,' 57:00 the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, 57:02 filled with anger as their authority is questioned, 57:05 will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up 57:09 the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute 57:13 those who proclaim it." 57:16 That is what is ahead for the humble instruments 57:20 that God is going to use to finish His work on this earth; 57:24 to let everybody know what the issues are 57:28 and what powers are involved in the final controversy. 57:32 So I hope that we've been able to understand 57:34 how important the historical flow method is. 57:36 Have you grasped that our historical flow method is vital? 57:39 Without it, there is no Seventh-day Adventist Church. 57:42 And it comes from within Scripture. 57:45 It is not imposed on Scripture. |
Revised 2015-01-21