Participants: Stephen Bohr
Series Code: ASTPP
Program Code: ASTPP000029
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00:15 Well welcome once again.
00:17 We're going to take a look now at the battle of Armageddon 00:22 from three sources. 00:24 Source number one, Revelation 16. 00:28 Source number two, Exodus 14 and 15. 00:33 And source number three, the spirit of prophecy. 00:37 And my main objective is to illustrate how to discover 00:43 where Ellen White comments on different aspects of 00:47 Bible prophecy even though she does not quote the verses. 00:51 So let's begin at the top of the page. 00:52 The name of the document is, "The Battle of Armageddon; 00:57 The Importance of Literary Structure in the 00:59 Study of Typology." 01:01 How Ellen White interprets biblical typology. 01:07 Now let's go through some tips that we need to take into 01:11 account in order to understand the battle of Armageddon. 01:15 Number one, look for the pattern, 01:19 or the broader picture, and how all of the individual 01:23 pieces fit together. 01:26 Don't merely look for events, but rather for the sequence 01:30 or order of events. 01:32 For example, when you find Elijah passages in Scripture, 01:36 study the entire Elijah story. 01:38 So we're going to have to look at some Old Testament stories 01:40 in their entirety. 01:42 This will become clearer as we go along. 01:45 Secondly, learn the Old Testament story well. 01:50 Because it is the foundation for the typological application. 01:54 Number three, don't assume that Ellen White will 01:59 quote the verses or even necessarily use their language. 02:03 We illustrated that with the twenty-four elders. 02:06 And finally, learn to ask questions about the passage. 02:11 For example, I asked the question: 02:14 Why does Revelation 15 say that the 144,000 02:19 will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb? 02:22 What will the final deliverance have to do with Moses? 02:26 Is it possible that the final deliverance will follow 02:30 the same pattern as the deliverance of Israel 02:33 at the time of the exodus? 02:35 I believe that's the case. 02:38 Now let's introduce the subject by saying that the 02:40 book of Revelation describes seven devastating plagues 02:45 that will fall upon planet earth after the door 02:49 of human probation has closed. 02:53 And of course, that door of probation is described 02:55 in Revelation 15 verses 5 through 8. 03:00 Now these plagues will do much damage. 03:05 In fact, to a great degree they will return the earth 03:09 to the condition it was in before creation week. 03:13 Without form and void, darkness and empty. 03:19 In the present study, I would like us to study the final three 03:23 of these plagues that will decimate and desolate 03:27 planet earth slightly before the second coming of Christ. 03:32 We will study this subject from three different perspectives 03:36 and look for parallels in the thematic structure. 03:41 The first perspective that we're going to look at 03:44 is Revelation 16 verses 10 through 21. 03:49 That's where plagues number five, six, and seven 03:51 are mentioned in Revelation. 03:53 The second source is Exodus 14 and 15. 03:57 Those two chapters have a very close relationship 04:00 with the last three plagues of Revelation. 04:05 And then we're going to look at the book, The Great Controversy, 04:09 pages 635-637, because there is where Ellen White quotes 04:16 and actually comments on plagues number five, six, and seven. 04:22 Now let's go to model number one. 04:26 Revelation chapter 16 verses 10 and 11. 04:30 And you have the verse in your material, 04:32 so let's read that verse. 04:35 "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne 04:39 of the beast..." 04:40 I have underlined some very important words. 04:43 "The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, 04:47 and his kingdom became full of darkness; 04:52 and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 04:58 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their 05:01 pains and their..." What? 05:03 "...and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds." 05:08 Now there's several things that we need to take a look at 05:10 in these two verses. 05:12 We need to determine where the throne of the beast is, 05:16 what the kingdom of the beast is, 05:20 why this mentions them, you know, gnawing their tongues 05:25 in pain, and the fact that they did not repent 05:29 even when this plague fell. 05:32 So let's examine some important details about the fifth plague. 05:37 The beast under the sixth plague is the same as the beast 05:41 of Revelation 13. 05:43 In other words, the beast under the sixth and fifth plagues 05:46 is the same as the beast of Revelation 13 05:49 and the little horn of Daniel 7 that spoke blasphemies 05:53 against the Most High, persecuted the saints 05:56 of the Most High, thought it could change times and law, 06:00 and rules for a period of 1260 years. 06:05 In other words, the beast that is mentioned here in this plague 06:10 is the Roman Catholic papacy. 06:12 Because that's what the little horn 06:14 and that's what the beast represents. 06:17 So now we know what the beast represents. 06:20 It is a worldwide system of apostate Christianity. 06:27 Now the question is, where is the throne of the beast? 06:32 We know that the beast is the papacy, 06:33 but where is the throne of the beast? 06:37 Well, the throne is where the center of government is, right? 06:41 So where does this beast rule from? 06:44 The fact is that he rules from Vatican city 06:48 within the confines of the ancient city of Rome. 06:53 So when it speaks about the throne of the beast, 06:58 it's talking particularly about a darkness that falls 07:03 upon the throne of the beast. 07:05 In other words, the plague of darkness. 07:07 However, the darkness spreads. 07:10 It's not only over the throne. 07:12 It's over his entire kingdom. 07:14 And so we have to ask, where is the kingdom 07:17 of this beast that rules from his throne? 07:20 There are several verses that define his kingdom. 07:24 Notice Revelation chapter 13 and verse 3. 07:28 Revelation 13 and verse 3. 07:31 We're going to look at the kingdom of this beast 07:34 that rules from Rome. 07:36 And there are four verses that we're going to take a look at. 07:39 "And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, 07:44 and his deadly wound was healed. 07:49 And all of Fresno..." 07:52 Fresno too. 07:54 "And all the world marveled and followed the beast." 08:00 So let me ask you, where's the kingdom? 08:01 Over which territory does the beast rule? 08:05 Over the world. 08:07 Notice Revelation chapter 13 and verse 7, the same idea. 08:11 Speaking about the beast, it says, "It was granted to him 08:15 to make war with the saints and to overcome them. 08:18 And authority was given him over every tribe, 08:23 tongue, and nation." 08:25 So there you have the kingdom once again. 08:27 It is a global worldwide kingdom. 08:30 And then you have Revelation 17 and verses 1 and 2. 08:34 Once again, the same idea all over again. 08:37 "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls 08:41 came and talked with me, saying, 'Come, I will show you 08:45 the judgment of the great harlot who sits...'" Where? 08:49 "...who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the 08:54 earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth 08:58 were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 09:01 Now what do the waters represent? 09:04 Well we go to Revelation 17 verse 15. 09:06 The very context indicates what the waters represent. 09:10 It says in Revelation chapter 17 and verse 15, 09:13 "Then he said to me, 'The waters which you saw, 09:17 where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, 09:21 nations, and tongues.'" 09:24 What does the act of sitting represent? 09:28 The act of sitting means that she, what? 09:30 She rules. 09:32 In fact, we find in Revelation 17 verse 18, 09:35 it says that she rules over the kings of the earth. 09:37 It's the city that rules over the kings of the earth. 09:40 In other words, the beast represents the papacy. 09:44 The center of its government, or its throne, is in Rome. 09:48 And its kingdom covers the whole world. 09:51 Are you following me or not? 09:53 In other words, it is a global kingdom. 09:56 And what is the plague that falls upon the throne of the 09:59 beast and spreads across his entire kingdom? 10:03 It is a plague of darkness. 10:06 This is not normal darkness. 10:08 This is a supernatural and global darkness 10:12 that falls upon his entire kingdom. 10:15 Now when the darkness falls upon the throne of the beast system, 10:20 its members gnaw their tongues in pain. 10:24 And God sends them a panic that will lead them 10:28 to kill one another with weapons they intended on using 10:31 to destroy God's people. 10:33 Now for that, we need to go back to the Old Testament. 10:35 Because the Old Testament has the complete passage. 10:38 You know, Revelation has the sores, gnawing the tongue, 10:42 and it has sores on the body. 10:43 But the source for that is found in the Old Testament. 10:47 So we have to go to the book of Zechariah 10:49 chapter 14 and verses 12 and 13 where you find this plague 10:55 amplified or explained. 10:58 It says there in Zechariah 14:12-13, 11:01 "And this shall be the plague with which the Lord 11:06 will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem." 11:11 Now how do we understand Jerusalem here? 11:15 We understand Jerusalem as being God's worldwide church, right? 11:19 In other words, the book of Zechariah says Jerusalem. 11:23 But when this is applied in Revelation, 11:26 it is globalized and spiritualized. 11:29 You understand the principle? 11:31 It's vitally important. 11:32 And we apply it everywhere in Scripture. 11:36 And now notice what the plague is. 11:38 And the plague falls because they have 11:40 fought against Jerusalem, 11:41 they have fought against God's people. 11:43 It says, "Their flesh shall dissolve while they 11:46 stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, 11:52 and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." 11:56 Why do you suppose that it afflicts the tongue? 12:00 Because they use their tongue to utter lies. 12:05 And notice what else. 12:07 It says, "It shall come to pass in that day..." 12:09 Remember this, because we're going to come back to this 12:11 when we read from the spirit of prophecy. 12:13 "It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic 12:17 from the Lord will be among them." 12:21 Were they trying to fight against Jerusalem, yes or no? 12:24 Yeah, they were trying to fight against Jerusalem. 12:26 But lo and behold, something happens here. 12:28 They get sores all over their bodies, they get sores 12:31 in their mouth because they've spoken lies, 12:34 and we're told that God sends them a great panic. 12:38 And we're told in the last part of the verse, 12:40 "Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, 12:43 and raise his hand against his neighbor's hand." 12:47 In other words, they will not use the weapons 12:49 against God's people. 12:50 They will use the weapons against one another. 12:55 By the way, has probation closed at this point? 12:58 Yes. 12:59 Because we are told that when this plague fell, 13:02 they did not repent. 13:04 In other words, they are beyond repentance. 13:08 Now that's plague number five. 13:09 You have plague number five clear in your mind? 13:12 Now let's go to plague number six, plague number six. 13:16 We're not going to read the entire passage, 13:18 Revelation 16 verses 12 through 16. 13:21 It would take us far beyond where we have the time to go. 13:24 But the central themes of Revelation 16 13:28 verses 12 through 16 are the waters of the Euphrates 13:33 drying up to prepare the way for the Chinese 13:36 to come and attack Israel. 13:38 No, no, no. 13:40 You laugh because we've already been through 13:41 all of the principle, no. 13:43 The waters of the Euphrates are dried up to prepare the way 13:47 for the arrival of the kings from the east. 13:51 Incidentally, in the Greek it doesn't say, 13:53 "kings from the east." 13:55 In the Greek it says, "kings from the rising sun." 13:59 In other words, there are two words; anatole, helio. 14:02 In other words, for the kings that come from the sun rising. 14:05 You know, Louis Were has a book that's called, 14:07 The Kings that Come from the Sunrising. 14:09 It's a smaller book. 14:11 So let's read Revelation 16 and verse 12. 14:16 It says, "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the 14:20 great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up..." 14:25 So the plague falls on the Euphrates 14:28 and the water of the Euphrates is dried up. 14:31 And when the waters dried up, it's to prepare the way, 14:35 it says, for the kings from the east. 14:38 So those are the three main points I want you to remember. 14:41 It falls on the river Euphrates, the water is dried up 14:46 to prepare the way for the coming of the kings of the east. 14:50 Of course, we need to ask the question, 14:53 what is represented by the Euphrates? 14:55 We're not talking about the literal river Euphrates. 14:58 Because in the Old Testament it's the Euphrates. 15:01 But in the New Testament, this is globalized. 15:04 In other words, the Euphrates is a symbolic Euphrates. 15:07 It is not a literal Euphrates. 15:10 And so we need to determine what is represented 15:13 by the Euphrates. 15:16 The second point that we need to determine is, what is meant 15:19 by the drying up of its waters? 15:21 What does the drying up of the Euphrates mean? 15:25 And the third point that we want to take a look at is, 15:28 who are the kings from the east, or from the sun rising? 15:32 And how is the way prepared for their arrival? 15:36 Now the only way that we can answer these questions 15:39 is by going back to an Old Testament story. 15:43 We have to go back to the fall of Babylon in the days 15:47 of King Belshazzar. 15:49 Because that's one of the backgrounds that we find 15:52 to the drying up of the Euphrates and 15:55 the sixth plague of Revelation. 15:58 So in order to answer these questions, we must study 16:00 the story of the fall of ancient Babylon. 16:03 The story is found in Daniel 5, Jeremiah 50 and 51, 16:09 Isaiah 41, and also helpful are the stories given 16:14 by historians Xenophon and Herodotus. 16:19 Now all of these sources put together indicate 16:24 the way in which ancient Babylon, literal Babylon, fell. 16:27 By the way, literal Babylon was on the literal river Euphrates. 16:31 The waters of the river Euphrates literally dried up 16:34 to prepare the way for Cyrus and his armies 16:37 to come from the east. 16:38 You're dealing with literal realities 16:40 in the Old Testament story. 16:43 The Euphrates river in antiquity was the greatest 16:47 asset of Babylon. 16:49 But it was also its greatest potential liability. 16:54 You see, as long as the river flowed and the city was 16:57 seated on the waters, it was an asset. 17:00 But if the waters were ever dried up, 17:03 it would be a great liability. 17:06 Secondly, Babylon was practicing idolatry, 17:10 and false worship, and drinking wine the night of its fall. 17:16 Does that sound familiar? 17:18 Is that going to be happening worldwide at the end of time? 17:21 Absolutely. 17:22 Is there going to be false worship? 17:24 Sure, to the beast and his image. 17:26 Is there going to be idolatry? 17:28 Yeah, we talked, for example, about the counterfeit Sabbath 17:31 that has been created by the hands of man for worship. 17:34 Anything that man makes for worship is an idol, 17:37 because man cannot make anything for worship. 17:39 Only God can make things for worship. 17:42 And is there going to be wine involved at the end of time? 17:46 Oh yeah. 17:47 The harlot is going to be giving wine to all of the nations. 17:52 And so, you know that the story of ancient Babylon 17:54 is going to be repeated on a larger global scale. 17:58 Only that the wine is not Ernest and Julio Gallo. 18:04 The wine is representative. 18:06 It is symbolic. 18:08 It is not wine that you get from a winery. 18:10 It represents something. 18:13 Now the next point is that Cyrus came with his armies 18:16 from the north, but he arrived from the east. 18:20 And he dried up the riverbed of the Euphrates 18:24 by diverting it to the channels that had been 18:27 built outside the city. 18:29 You see, the Babylonians had built channels 18:32 outside the city because sometimes the Euphrates river 18:35 was at flood stage. 18:36 And so it would flood the city. 18:38 So what they did was build channels that went around 18:41 the city so that when there was too much water in the river, 18:44 part of the water would go down the channels 18:46 and it would not flood the city. 18:49 And so what happened is that Cyrus and his armies 18:55 dried up the riverbed of the Euphrates by diverting 18:58 the river into the channels that had been built outside the city. 19:03 And that night, the gates to the city had been left open. 19:08 The Greek historians tell us that. 19:11 And because the gates that went down to the bottom of the river 19:14 that protected Babylon had been left open, 19:20 Cyrus and his armies entered the city, Babylon fell, 19:24 and King Belshazzar was killed that very night. 19:28 And then God's people were delivered and they were able 19:32 to go back to Jerusalem. 19:35 Are you starting to catch an interesting picture? 19:38 Now this scenario is applied symbolically and globally 19:45 in Revelation chapter 17. 19:47 Let's ask some questions about Revelation 17. 19:51 Which of the seven angels speaks to John 19:55 in Revelation 17 verse 1? 19:57 We'll formulate the questions and then we'll 19:58 look for the answers. 20:00 It says there that one of the seven angels who had the 20:03 plagues came back to talk to John. 20:05 The question is, which of the seven came back to talk to John? 20:09 The next question, what does a harlot represent in Scripture? 20:13 Then we need to ask, what does prophecy mean when it says that 20:16 she fornicates with the kings of the earth? 20:20 What is the name of the harlot woman? 20:23 What are the waters upon which the harlot sits? 20:27 And what will the kings end up doing with the harlot? 20:30 The kings that supported her in her endeavor, 20:34 something is going to happen with those kings. 20:36 What are they going to eventually do with the harlot? 20:40 Let's seek for answers to our questions. 20:43 Revelation 17 verses 1 and 2. 20:47 It says there, "Then one of the seven angels who had 20:51 the seven bowls came and talked with me..." 20:54 So it's one of the seven plague angels that comes back 20:57 to talk with John. 20:58 And the question is, which of the seven? 21:01 You say, "How can we find out which of the seven angels it is? 21:04 Is it the angel that poured out the first bowl? 21:07 Is it the angel that poured out the third bowl? 21:09 Is it the angel that poured out the fifth bowl? 21:11 Or the seventh bowl? 21:13 How can we know which of the seven came back 21:15 to talk with John?" 21:16 We can know. 21:18 And you're going to see the reason why. 21:19 So it says, "Then one of the seven angels who had the 21:22 seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, 21:25 'Come, I will show you the judgment of the 21:28 great harlot who...'" What? 21:30 "...who sits on many waters..." 21:33 So the harlot sits on what? 21:35 On many waters. 21:37 And this chapter is about the judgment against her. 21:40 "...with whom the kings of the earth committed..." What? 21:44 "...fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth 21:47 were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 21:49 What is the wine? 21:51 False doctrine, false doctrine. 21:54 So were all nations contaminated with her doctrines? 21:58 Were they made drunk? 21:59 Yes they were. 22:01 And she sits on many waters. 22:03 Now what are the many waters? 22:05 The many waters are multitudes, nations, tongues, and peoples. 22:08 Now what is the name of this harlot? 22:11 Revelation 17 verse 5 tells us what her name is. 22:15 "And on her forehead a name was written: 22:18 Mystery..." 22:20 What is her name now? 22:21 "...Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots 22:25 and of the Abominations of the Earth." 22:28 So what is the name of the harlot? 22:30 Mystery. And then what? 22:32 Babylon. 22:34 The harlot's name is Babylon. 22:36 And where does she sit? 22:38 She sits on many waters. 22:40 And she gives wine to the waters. 22:43 Now what do the waters represent? 22:45 Well, Revelation 17 verse 15 22:48 tells us what the waters represent. 22:51 Let's read that verse, Revelation 17 verse 15. 22:55 "Then he said to me, 'The waters which you saw, 22:58 where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, 23:02 nations, and tongues.'" 23:05 So now we know what the waters represent. 23:07 So let's get this picture in our minds. 23:10 You have this harlot, and her name is what? 23:15 Babylon. 23:16 She's sitting upon multitudes, nations, tongues, and peoples. 23:20 The waters. 23:21 She sits upon the waters. 23:23 And she's giving wine to the multitudes. 23:26 Now let me ask you, what is the name of the waters 23:30 upon which the harlot sits? 23:34 Well it's very simple. 23:36 This is Babylon. 23:38 So where was Babylon seated in Old Testament 23:41 times, as well as today? 23:42 Where was Babylon seated? 23:45 On the Euphrates. 23:46 So let me ask you then, here in Revelation chapter 17 23:53 the harlot is sitting on many waters. 23:55 Which means that she is sitting on the Euphrates. 24:00 Ah, now we know which angel comes back in chapter 17. 24:05 We have to look for the angel who poured out his bowl 24:08 on the Euphrates. 24:11 Are you following me or not? 24:13 Yes, because if she's seated on many waters, 24:15 her name is Babylon, and the waters were the Euphrates, 24:18 then the angel that we have to find in chapter 16 24:22 is the one that poured out his bowl on the Euphrates. 24:25 And which was the angel that poured out his bowl 24:28 on the Euphrates? 24:30 Number six. 24:33 And so chapter 17 is an amplification 24:36 of the sixth plague. 24:38 Are you following me? 24:40 It is an amplification of the sixth plague. 24:43 Now for a while, if you read chapter 17, 24:46 the harlot and the kings are having a jolly good time. 24:50 The kings are supporting her, 24:52 they're doing what she tells them to do. 24:54 The multitudes, they're real happy following 24:57 what the harlot says. 24:59 They enjoy drinking the wine that she gives them. 25:01 But suddenly, something is going to happen. 25:04 Revelation chapter 17 and verse 16. 25:07 Notice this. 25:08 In Revelation 16, you have the drying up of the Euphrates. 25:12 In chapter 17, it is described in a different way. 25:16 It says there, Revelation 17 verse 16, 25:20 The kings will what? 25:24 "The ten horns which you saw on the beast, 25:27 these will hate the harlot, and make her desolate and naked, 25:36 and eat her flesh and burn her with fire." 25:40 That's a way of saying that they're pretty mad at her. 25:44 They are going to be infuriated. 25:46 Suddenly, what do they do? 25:48 They withdraw their support from the harlot. 25:52 Something happens that causes them to say, 25:56 "We're not going to support you anymore." 25:58 And so they withdraw their support. 26:01 That is what is meant by the drying up of the Euphrates. 26:05 You see, if the Euphrates represents multitudes, 26:08 nations, tongues, and peoples, as long as the river flows 26:11 and she sits on the waters, oh, everything goes well. 26:15 But at some point, those waters that she rules over; 26:18 multitudes, nations, tongues, and peoples, 26:20 are going to withdraw their support from her. 26:23 And they're going to leave her desolate and naked. 26:26 The kings are going to dry up on her. 26:28 Are you following me? 26:30 That's what is meant by the sixth plague. 26:34 And then you have the seventh plague. 26:36 Revelation 16:17-21, notice the details. 26:39 Are we doing well so far? 26:41 Notice the details. 26:43 "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, 26:47 and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, 26:51 from the throne, saying, 'It is done!'" 26:55 And when that voice speaks, 26:58 in other words, what that voice is saying, 26:59 "The persecution of My people is over. 27:01 That's it. 27:03 I'm going to deliver My people." 27:05 "And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; 27:10 and there was a great earthquake, 27:12 such a mighty and great earthquake as had not 27:15 occurred since men were on the earth. 27:17 Now the great city was divided into three parts..." 27:22 How many parts does Babylon have? 27:24 It has three. 27:26 The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 27:29 The kings, the papacy, and apostate Protestantism. 27:33 Was it united before this? 27:34 Were the three united? Yes. 27:37 But suddenly under the sixth and seventh plagues, 27:39 what is going to happen? 27:41 The city is going to be divided. 27:42 And they're all going to fight against each other. 27:46 So it says, "Now the great city was divided into three parts, 27:49 and the cities of the nations fell. 27:51 And great Babylon was remembered before God, 27:53 to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 27:56 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found." 28:00 Remember these details. 28:01 "And great hail from heaven fell upon men, 28:03 each hailstone about the weight of a talent. 28:05 Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, 28:08 since that plague was exceedingly great." 28:13 So under the seventh plague you have God's voice speaking, 28:16 you have noises, thundering, lightning, 28:19 an earthquake, and Babylon is divided into three parts. 28:23 Whereas before, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet 28:26 were on the same page, now the three are divided. 28:29 And then you have islands disappearing, 28:31 and you have mountains disappearing, 28:33 because of the wrath of God that is being poured out. 28:37 So that is the scenario that we find in Revelation chapter 16 28:42 and explanation in chapter 17. 28:44 Now we need to go to our second model 28:46 that helps us understand a little better what we just 28:49 studied about the fall of Babylon. 28:51 There's a second background to this story, 28:53 and it's found in Exodus chapters 14 and 15, 28:57 believe it or not. 28:58 You remember that we said that we need to study 29:00 the Elijah story? 29:03 And we need to study the exodus story? 29:06 And the fall of Babylon story? 29:08 See, these are recurring stories in the book of Revelation, 29:12 as well as in the book of Daniel. 29:14 We have to know these stories backwards and forwards. 29:17 Now, the fall of Babylon in the days of Belshazzar, 29:23 is in the background of the fifth, sixth, 29:26 and seventh plagues. 29:28 But I want to suggest that there is another story 29:31 in the Old Testament that also stands in the background. 29:35 The story of the exodus of Israel from Egypt. 29:39 Now let's review this story. 29:41 I only have the highlights here. 29:43 You need to read chapters 14 and 15 of Exodus. 29:47 Israel was in bondage in Egypt, correct? 29:51 Were God's people in bondage in Babylon too? 29:53 Absolutely. 29:55 Each plague that God poured out upon Egypt enraged Pharaoh 30:00 against God's people. 30:01 Is that true of the first four plagues of Revelation? 30:04 Absolutely. 30:06 God said to Pharaoh what? 30:08 "Let My people go." 30:09 Is that what God is going to say? 30:11 Is that the reason God sends the plagues at the end? 30:13 The purpose is to say, "Let My people go." 30:17 Now listen carefully. 30:18 The captivity was made more difficult when Israel 30:21 attempted to keep the Sabbath. 30:24 Do you know that when Moses said, "Thus says the Lord, 30:27 'Let My people go to the wilderness for three days 30:29 the we might worship the Lord,'" Ellen White explains that 30:32 what they wanted to do was go on Friday and celebrate 30:35 the Sabbath and then come back. 30:38 And Pharaoh complained. 30:40 Pharaoh said, "You make the people shabath." 30:44 That's the word that is used. 30:45 Same word as in Genesis. 30:47 "Moses, you're making the people shabath." 30:49 And so he made their bondage even worse 30:53 because they attempted to keep the Sabbath. 30:56 Now when God's people came out of Egypt, 30:58 the crescendo of Pharaoh's rage reached its climax, right? 31:03 So his rage is increasing and increasing and increasing 31:07 with each plague. 31:08 So Israel escapes from Egypt. 31:11 And after God's people come out of Egypt, 31:13 they're camped at the edge of the Red Sea, 31:16 and Pharaoh proclaims a death decree against them. 31:20 Is there going to be a death decree against God's people? 31:23 Yes there is. 31:24 After the close of probation. 31:26 Actually, the death decree is uttered immediately 31:29 after the second plague. 31:31 And you say, "How do we know that?" 31:33 Because the angel explains that the reason for the 31:35 second plague, which is the fresh waters turned into blood, 31:39 is because they intended on shedding the blood of 31:41 God's people, and God is giving them blood to drink 31:44 because they deserve it. 31:48 I wish we had more time to go through all of these details 31:50 and provide all the documentation. 31:52 So Pharaoh gives a death decree against God's people. 31:56 And Pharaoh, you know, he gathers all of his 31:59 armies together; 600 choice chariots. 32:03 Talk about overkill. 32:05 You know, he's coming against the people that have 32:07 no military strength, no military organization. 32:10 He gets all of his armies together 32:12 and he comes after Israel, and he's going to destroy Israel. 32:17 And Israel is shut in. 32:21 Because basically, the armies are coming from the west, 32:27 and to the south there's a big mountain range, 32:30 to the north there's desert, and to the east there is the sea. 32:35 This, by the way, is the Gulf of Aqaba. 32:38 This is a very deep gulf. 32:40 You know, the traditional place for the crossing of 32:43 the Red Sea is not the correct place. 32:45 And Sinai is not where people tell you Sinai is 32:50 down in the Sinai Peninsula. 32:52 The apostle Paul says that Sinai is in Arabia. 32:56 And so when you cross the Gulf of Aqaba, 32:58 you come to the other side, which is Arabia. 33:01 And that is Midian where Jethro lived. 33:05 So Moses went back afterwards to where Jethro lived. 33:08 In other words, Mount Sinai was actually in Arabia. 33:12 It wasn't on the Sinai Peninsula. 33:14 But that's a subject for another time. 33:16 So Israel is at the Red Sea. 33:19 They're caught in, they're shut in. 33:21 And Pharaoh says, "These people are going to be easy prey. 33:25 I'm going to destroy them." 33:27 And I want you to go back with me now to Exodus. 33:30 Exodus chapter 14. 33:32 And something very interesting happens here. 33:34 Exodus chapter 14. 33:36 When the Egyptians are advancing, and they are 33:40 about to fall upon the Israelites, 33:43 something spectacular happens. 33:45 Notice verse 19. 33:47 "And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, 33:51 moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud 33:54 went from before them and stood behind them." 33:58 And so basically what happens is, the pillar 34:01 comes from before them and it interposes between 34:05 Israel and the armies of the Egyptians. 34:07 Verse 20, "So it came between the camp of the Egyptians 34:12 and the camp of Israel. 34:13 Thus..." And now listen carefully. 34:15 "Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one..." 34:21 A plague of darkness, right? 34:23 "...darkness to the one, 34:24 and it gave light by night to the other..." 34:28 Darkness on the armies that wanted to destroy Israel; 34:31 light on Israel. 34:33 And it says, "...so that the one did not come near 34:36 the other all night." 34:39 So I want you to remember, what was the fifth plague? 34:41 Darkness. 34:43 When Israel is at the Red Sea, what do you have? 34:45 Darkness. And then what do you have? 34:48 Next, the waters of the Red Sea are dried up. 34:55 Two terms are used. 34:57 The waters are dried up, and the waters are divided. 35:03 Notice Exodus chapter 14 and verse 21. 35:06 Exodus chapter 14 and verse 21. 35:09 It says, "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; 35:13 and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind 35:16 all that night, and made the sea into..." What? 35:19 Dry land. 35:21 Did the sea dry up? 35:22 Did the Euphrates dry up? 35:24 Absolutely. 35:26 And it says, not only does it say that the sea 35:31 was made into a dry land, but it says, 35:34 "...and the waters were..." What? 35:36 Divided. 35:37 Is that the same terminology we found in the book of Revelation? 35:41 Babylon is divided. 35:42 And the Euphrates is dried up. 35:45 See, this is typology, folks. 35:47 And then... You know, the waters dry up. 35:51 And then what happens? 35:52 When the waters dry up, Israel passes through the sea. 35:56 A way is prepared for their escape. 35:59 And then the Egyptians, when they see that the waters 36:01 have been dried up, they come into the sea after Israel. 36:06 And the waters that have dried up now become the 36:09 enemies of the Egyptians. 36:12 And the waters that were an obstacle to the escape 36:15 of God's people now drown the Egyptians. 36:19 Notice Exodus 14 verses 26 through 28. 36:23 Exodus 14 verses 26 to 28. 36:26 "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand 36:29 over the sea, that the waters may come back upon 36:32 the Egyptians, on their chariots and on their horsemen.' 36:35 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; 36:37 and when the morning appeared..." 36:39 When did this happen? 36:40 At the sun rising. 36:44 When are the waters dried up? 36:46 At the sun rising. 36:47 Is there something in the sixth plague 36:49 that speaks of a sun rising? 36:52 Yes. 36:54 "...the sea returned to its full strength, while the Egyptians 36:58 were fleeing into it. 36:59 So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians 37:01 in the midst of the sea. 37:03 Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, 37:06 the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came 37:09 into the sea after them. 37:10 Not so much as one of them remained." 37:14 So the waters are dried up, 37:16 and then the waters drown the Egyptians. 37:20 Is it just possible that when the waters of the 37:22 Euphrates dry up, the waters will then drown the harlot? 37:27 Absolutely. 37:29 Now, that's the sixth plague, right? 37:32 Drying up of the waters? 37:33 The dividing of the waters? 37:35 What was the seventh plague? 37:37 The seventh plague were phenomena in nature, right? 37:42 An earthquake, thundering, lightning. 37:45 And you say, "Well, did that happen at the 37:47 edge of the Red Sea?" 37:49 Exodus doesn't say so, but Psalm 77 does. 37:53 Go with me to Psalm 77 and we'll read verses 16 through 20. 37:59 Psalm 77 and verses 16 through 20. 38:03 This is typology at its best. 38:07 Psalm 77. 38:09 See, we need to go all across Scripture. 38:11 When you find thunder, look up thunder in the concordance. 38:14 Look up lightning. 38:15 And then see what connections there are. 38:17 Psalm 77 and beginning with verse 16 says this, 38:22 "The waters saw You, O God; 38:25 the waters saw You, they were afraid; 38:27 the depths also..." What? 38:30 "...trembled. 38:31 The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound..." 38:35 What is that, "sent out a sound"? 38:38 Thunder. 38:39 "...the skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about." 38:44 What are the arrows? 38:45 Lightning. 38:47 "The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; 38:50 the lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook." 38:55 Is that the same thing as happened 38:56 under the seventh plague? 38:57 Yes. 38:59 And you say, "How do you know this deals with the exodus?" 39:00 Listen, it says, "Your way was in the sea, 39:03 Your path in the great waters, 39:04 and Your footsteps were not known. 39:06 You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." 39:12 That is the seventh plague. 39:16 Darkness. 39:17 Waters dried up. 39:19 The waters swallow up the Egyptians. 39:21 And in the context of lightning and thunder, an earthquake. 39:26 Noises. 39:28 Are you following me? 39:30 So this story is really an illustration of the end time. 39:34 It's an illustration of the last three plagues. 39:38 Now, do you know that while the Egyptians were in the sea, 39:41 a great panic fell on them? 39:44 Let's go back to Exodus 14. 39:48 Exodus chapter 14 and verses 23 to 25. 39:52 Exodus 14 verses 23 to 25. 39:57 It says, "And the Egyptians pursued and went after them 40:00 into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, 40:04 and his horsemen. 40:05 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord 40:07 looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the 40:10 pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled 40:13 the army of the Egyptians." 40:15 Is there a panic that falls upon the wicked at the sixth plague, 40:18 according to what we noticed? 40:20 Absolutely. 40:22 "And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they 40:25 drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said..." 40:28 Now listen here, here's the covenant concept. 40:30 Who is Pharaoh fighting against? 40:32 He was fighting against the people, 40:34 but he was really fighting against God. 40:36 And Pharaoh knew it. 40:38 It says there in verse 25, "And He took off their 40:41 chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; 40:44 and the Egyptians said, 'Let us flee from the face of Israel, 40:48 for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.'" 40:53 See, God was saying, "You mess with My people, 40:56 you're messing with Me." 40:59 "In that you have done it unto one of these the least, 41:02 My brethren, you have done it unto Me." 41:04 To touch one of God's children is to touch 41:07 the apple of His eye. 41:09 "Saul Saul, why do you persecute Me?" 41:12 He was persecuting the church, but in persecuting the church 41:15 he was persecuting Jesus. 41:18 And so Jesus, in the end time, they're not going to be shooting 41:21 nuclear weapons. 41:23 The wicked are not going to be shooting nuclear 41:25 weapons at Jesus. 41:27 No. 41:29 They're going to try and kill the people. 41:30 And in that way, they're fighting against God. 41:32 And God is going to say, 41:33 "Hey folks, I want you to know something. 41:35 These people, I am their Suzerain. 41:38 I am their Sovereign. 41:39 You're messing with My people. 41:41 They have a covenant with Me. 41:42 And I've committed Myself to protect them. 41:45 They're My sheep, and I'm their Shepherd. 41:47 So I'm going to do to you what David did to the 41:50 lion and to the bear." 41:53 And people say, "How could God destroy the wicked?" 41:57 Well if He doesn't destroy the wicked, 41:58 they'll destroy His people. 42:01 The wicked are not in a covenant with the Lord. 42:04 We have probation to make a covenant with God. 42:07 The covenant of His protection. 42:09 Now we need to advance very quickly here. 42:14 Now notice Exodus 14:17-18. 42:16 Exodus 14 verses 17 and 18. 42:22 Israel was to depend upon God. 42:25 The glory was for God. 42:26 It wasn't for them. 42:28 It says in verse 17, "And I indeed will harden the hearts 42:32 of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. 42:34 So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, 42:39 his chariots, and his horsemen." 42:40 God says, "I'm going to get the honor." 42:43 Verse 18, "Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, 42:48 when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, 42:52 his chariots, and his horsemen." 42:53 No glory for Israel. 42:56 All the glory is for the Lord. 42:59 And then what did Israel sing? 43:02 The song of Moses. 43:05 Of course, all of this is coincidence. 43:09 No, it's typology. 43:12 It's the key that unlocks Revelation. 43:16 Now we need to go to our third model, the spirit of prophecy, 43:21 to see how Ellen White understands this. 43:26 As I told you, we're going to skip what we did 43:27 on the twenty-four elders. 43:29 That was just an illustration of how to find 43:33 what Ellen White has to say about a passage 43:34 when she doesn't actually quote the verses. 43:36 So we're going to go to page 6 where it says, 43:39 "The fifth and sixth plagues in, Great Controversy, page 635." 43:44 Do you know that Ellen White, in that chapter, does not 43:46 quote Revelation 16:12, 43:50 where it says that the waters of the Euphrates were dried up? 43:52 She doesn't quote the verse. 43:54 So some people say, "See, Ellen White didn't 43:55 have anything to say about the drying up 43:57 of the Euphrates." 43:58 Yes she did. 44:00 She just doesn't use the language. 44:02 But when you look at the sequence of events, 44:04 you know that she's talking about that. 44:05 And when you look at some verse, she does not 44:08 quote Revelation 16:12, but she does quote Revelation 16:17. 44:14 And so you say, "Now wait a minute. 44:16 If she quotes 16:17, let's work our way backwards." 44:21 Let's read it. 44:23 "When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from 44:27 those who honor the law of God, there will be, 44:30 in different lands, a simultaneous movement 44:33 for their destruction." 44:34 Is that similar to Pharaoh, 44:37 who was gathering his armies to attack Israel? Yes. 44:40 "As the time appointed in the decree..." 44:43 Incidentally, this comes from Revelation 13:15 44:45 and the story of Esther. 44:47 So it's drawing from several context in Scripture. 44:51 "As the time appointed in the decree draws near, the people 44:56 will conspire to root out the hated sect. 45:01 It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, 45:05 which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof." 45:10 "The people of God, some in prison cells, some hidden in 45:14 solitary retreats in the forests and the mountains, 45:17 still plead for divine protection..." 45:20 Like Israel did at the edge of the Red Sea. 45:22 "...while in every quarter companies of armed men, 45:27 urged on by hosts of evil angels, are preparing 45:30 for the work of death." 45:32 Is there any escape? 45:34 Humanly speaking, any escape? 45:36 Nope. 45:38 Are God's people caught? 45:39 Yes they are. 45:41 Now listen to this. 45:43 "It is now, in the hour of utmost extremity, 45:48 that the God of Israel..." 45:51 Why is He called the God of Israel? 45:53 Which Israel? 45:56 It's God's people. 45:58 But God is called the God of Israel. 46:00 Because this is His spiritual Israel. 46:03 "It is now, in the hour of utmost extremity, 46:05 that the God of Israel will interpose for the 46:08 deliverance of His chosen." 46:11 And now listen to this. 46:13 This is before the fifth plague. 46:16 "With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, 46:21 throngs of evil men are about to..." What? 46:25 What do you think of when you say, "rush?" 46:29 What rushes? 46:31 Waters. 46:33 And these are peoples rushing. 46:36 That's the Euphrates upon which the harlot sits. 46:40 "With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, 46:42 throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, 46:47 when lo, a dense darkness, deeper than the darkness of 46:52 of the night, falls upon the earth." 46:58 Which plague is that? 47:00 Number five. 47:01 Do you remember at the edge of the Red Sea, 47:02 darkness for the Egyptians and light for God's people? 47:04 Now listen to this. 47:06 "Then a rainbow, shining with the glory from the 47:09 throne of God, spans the heavens, and seems to 47:12 encircle each praying company." 47:16 And now comes the drying up of the Euphrates. 47:19 "The angry multitudes..." 47:21 Remember, multitudes, nations, tongues, and people; the waters? 47:24 "The angry multitudes are suddenly arrested." 47:29 What does that mean? 47:32 The waters dry up. 47:35 The waters want to rush, and they're arrested. 47:40 "Their mocking cries die away. 47:43 The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten." 47:46 When are God's people delivered? 47:48 At the fifth plague. 47:50 "With fearful forebodings they gaze upon the symbol of 47:54 God's covenant, and long to be shielded from its 47:58 overpowering brightness." 48:01 Now in the next chapter, Ellen White further 48:03 describes this moment. 48:06 It's found in, Great Controversy, 655-656. 48:12 How are the people arrested when the darkness falls? 48:17 She says, "The people see that they have been deluded." 48:22 Who deluded them? 48:24 The preachers. 48:28 "The people see that they have been deluded. 48:31 They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; 48:34 but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation 48:37 upon the ministers." 48:41 The daughters of the harlot, folks. 48:43 And the harlot. 48:45 "Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things..." 48:51 This is why the fifth plague afflicts the tongue, by the way. 48:54 "...they have led their hearers to make void the law of God 48:57 and to persecute those who would keep it holy. 49:00 Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the 49:04 world their work of deception. 49:08 The multitudes are filled with fury." 49:10 What's going to happen with the waters now? 49:12 Remember at the edge of the Red Sea? 49:14 The waters not only dried up, but then the waters 49:17 slew the Egyptians. 49:22 And so it says, "The multitudes..." 49:24 Notice, "multitudes." 49:26 The harlot is seated upon multitudes. 49:29 "The multitudes are filled with fury. 49:34 'We are lost,' they cry, 'and you are the cause of our ruin.' 49:37 And they turn upon the false shepherds." 49:40 The waters are going to drown the shepherds. 49:42 "The very ones that once admired them most 49:45 will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. 49:48 The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised 49:52 for their destruction. 49:53 The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed 49:57 to destroy their enemies. 49:58 Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed." 50:03 Are God's people safe at this point? 50:06 At the fifth plague they're safe. 50:08 Once the glory covers them, and the darkness the wicked, 50:11 the jeopardy is over. 50:14 She further amplifies on page 657. 50:17 She quotes Zechariah 14 and says why their 50:20 tongues writhe in pain. 50:22 She says, "And this shall be the plague..." 50:23 She's quoting Zechariah 14. 50:25 "This shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will 50:27 smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem. 50:29 Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon 50:32 their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, 50:35 and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 50:37 And it shall come to pass in that day that a great tumult 50:40 from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold 50:43 everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall 50:45 rise up against the hand of his neighbor." 50:47 Do you see, killing one another? 50:51 And then she comments, "In the mad strife of 50:53 their own fierce passions, and by the awful outpouring 50:55 of God's unmingled wrath, fall the wicked inhabitants 50:58 of the earth; priests, rulers, and people, 51:01 rich and poor, high and low. 51:02 'And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day 51:04 from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; 51:07 they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried.'" 51:12 So the multitudes are arrested, and then they turn 51:15 upon the harlot and her daughters. 51:19 But now I want you to notice something very interesting. 51:23 You remember that we just read a few moments ago 51:26 from, Great Controversy, page 635? 51:30 I read only to where it says, "With fearful forebodings 51:34 they gaze upon the symbol of God's covenant, 51:36 and long to be shielded from its overpowering brightness." 51:38 But a little bit further ahead, Ellen White says this, 51:43 "In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space 51:47 of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God 51:51 like the sound of many waters, saying, 'It is done.' 51:54 Revelation 16 verse 17." 51:58 Are you following me? 52:00 So you see, she quotes Revelation 16:17, 52:04 which is the seventh plague. 52:07 And you say, now where would you expect her to 52:09 comment the sixth plague? 52:12 In the previous paragraphs. 52:15 See? 52:16 Don't just assume that because Ellen White doesn't quote 52:19 the verses that she's not commenting on those verses. 52:23 She is. 52:24 But she doesn't use the terminology, and many times 52:27 she won't even give the specific verse. 52:29 But if you see a verse that she uses before that passage 52:32 or after that passage, then you work backwards 52:34 or you work forwards. 52:38 Now notice, you remember that islands disappear 52:41 and mountain ranges disappear? 52:42 She continues saying, "That voice shakes 52:45 the heavens and the earth. 52:47 There is a mighty earthquake, 'such as was not since 52:50 men were upon the earth, so mighty an 52:52 earthquake and so great.' 52:54 The firmament appears to open and shut. 52:56 The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. 52:59 The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, 53:01 ragged rocks are scattered on every side. 53:04 There is a roar as of a coming tempest. 53:07 The sea is lashed into fury. 53:09 There is heard the shriek of the hurricane, 53:11 like the voice of demons upon a mission of destruction. 53:14 The whole earth heaves and swells 53:16 like the waves of the sea. 53:17 Its surface is breaking up. 53:19 Its very foundations seem to be giving way. 53:21 Mountain chains are sinking. 53:24 Inhabited islands disappear." 53:27 Is she commenting the seventh plague? 53:29 Yes she is. 53:31 "The seaports that have become like Sodom for wickedness 53:34 are swallowed up by the angry waters." 53:36 And then she quotes Revelation 16:19, 21. 53:43 The seventh plague. 53:45 She says, "The seaports that have become like Sodom 53:47 for wickedness are swallowed up by the angry waters. 53:50 Babylon the Great hath come in remembrance before God, 53:53 'to give unto her the cup of the wine of the 53:57 fierceness of his wrath.' 53:58 Great hailstones, every one 'about the weight of a talent,' 54:02 are doing their work of destruction. 54:04 Revelation 16:19, 21." 54:07 So if you know where the seventh plague is, 54:09 would you know where to find number six and number five? 54:11 Yeah. 54:12 So you have darkness, the multitudes arrested, 54:17 And then the seventh plague. 54:19 So does Ellen White have anything to say about the 54:21 battle of Armageddon? 54:23 What is the battle of Armageddon? 54:25 It's when the wicked try to destroy God's people. 54:30 And what is the drying up of the waters? 54:32 It's when God does not allow the peoples to rush upon His people. 54:38 And then after the waters are dried up, 54:41 or divided, then the waters avalanche themselves 54:44 upon the wicked and drown them. 54:45 Like at the edge of the Red Sea. 54:48 And then let me ask you this. 54:50 What will God's people do immediately after 54:54 the seventh plague after they're delivered? 54:58 They will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. 55:05 So is it important not only to look at the song, 55:09 but everything that happened before the song? 55:12 See, the only reason why in Revelation it mentions 55:16 the song of Moses and the Lamb is because 55:18 it's saying, "Hint, hint." 55:22 It's not only the song that's parallel. 55:25 It is all of the events that lead up to the song 55:29 that you have to study. 55:30 Because all of the pattern of the story from the Old Testament 55:34 is parallel to what's going to happen on a global scale 55:36 with spiritual Israel at the end of time. 55:38 And so don't only study the song. 55:40 Study what comes before the song. 55:44 And when you do that, suddenly a different panorama opens up. 55:51 And you're able to understand end time events. 55:54 It's not a battle... 55:56 Listen folks, how ridiculous to think that 55:58 this is a battle of the Arabs and the Russians 56:01 against the Jews. 56:03 How unspiritual. 56:07 That is a totally unspiritual interpretation 56:11 of Bible prophecy. 56:13 What does it have to do with God's law? 56:14 Nothing. 56:16 What does it have to do with worship? 56:18 Nothing. 56:19 What does it have to do with the Sabbath? 56:20 Nothing. 56:22 The final battle does not deal with economic, 56:25 political, ethnic issues. 56:27 The final battle is a spiritual battle of righteousness 56:30 against wickedness, good against evil, 56:33 true worship verses false worship, 56:35 those who keep the commandments of God and those who don't. 56:39 Those are the issues. 56:41 And that's what the world needs to know. 56:44 And the light that we have, folks, is the light that 56:47 the world needs. 56:48 People need to know where all this is leading. 56:51 People need to know how things are going to develop. 56:54 Because they're oblivious. 56:55 They have this love affair with the papacy. 56:59 Our politicians. 57:02 Oh, and Protestants say, "What a wonderful fellow." 57:05 They're oblivious. 57:07 Because they have lost their prophetic understanding. 57:11 And the only church in the world that has the 57:13 prophetic understanding is this church. 57:15 And woe to us if we just stand up and tell three stories 57:20 and read one verse, and say that's a sermon. 57:24 God wants His people to be instructed. 57:27 And God wants His people to go out and share this 57:30 end time message so that people can have certainty. 57:33 So that people can know that if they make a covenant 57:36 with the Lord, God will be with them, even in the 57:39 valley of the shadow of death. 57:42 Praise the Lord. |
Revised 2015-08-27