Participants: Pr. John Carter (Host), Graeme Bradford
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001009
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00:07 From Arcadia, California, The Carter report presents,
00:10 The Living Word around the world. 00:17 Hello, friend, I'm John Carter, 00:19 with a very special message just for you. 00:23 I believe that God has called you and me 00:26 to tell the world about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29 You know, friend, when I turn in my Bible 00:32 to Revelation Chapter 14, 00:34 I read there of a worldwide proclamation of the gospel 00:40 in the setting of some very amazing truths. 00:43 And that is why the Carter Report right now 00:45 is working in China isn't that amazing? 00:48 Also in India, we're telecasting in India 00:52 and very shortly, we're going to Africa. 00:55 And when we go to Africa the message of Christ 00:58 is going to be telecast right across 01:01 that great continent and millions of people 01:04 are going to have an opportunity 01:06 to come to the knowledge of Christ. 01:09 I am asking today for your help and your partnership. 01:14 I want you to write to me, please. 01:16 And I want you to support us in this worldwide evangelism. 01:22 And when you do so, 01:24 I want to send you two DVD's, two DVD's. 01:31 One is about how to survive the coming financial meltdown 01:37 and the second one is about the health crisis 01:40 that is just about blowing America apart, 01:43 but it concerns my friends, also in Australia. 01:48 So please, support us in this great work 01:50 and when you support us, I'll send you these two DVD's. 01:56 Write to me John Carter, P.O Box 1900, 01:59 Thousand Oaks, California, 91358. 02:02 In Australia, write to me at Terrigal. 02:06 Support us in this great outreach to the world, 02:10 let Christ be known and may God richly bless you. 02:15 Write to me please, today. 02:20 It's lovely to be here this morning with you. 02:23 And John and Beverly Carter have asked me 02:25 to pass on their regards to you, 02:26 both here in this congregation 02:29 and also to the people watching over 3ABN, 02:32 different parts of the world. 02:34 You know, it's a thrill to be able to come here and preach. 02:36 This church is a missionary church. 02:40 This church has spawned I believe 60 congregations 02:43 in different parts of the world 02:45 and has been the backbone 02:47 you might say for 25,000 baptisms. 02:50 I wish we had more churches like this. 02:53 It's very, very important 02:54 that we do not loose sight of the fact 02:56 that we are a missionary church. 02:58 And John and Beverly, I saw them week before last, 03:01 asked me to make sure I pass on their regards. 03:03 They'll be back here in a couple of weeks 03:05 and allow me to be back here again with you too. 03:07 Australia is a great place 03:08 but they think America is greater, they tell me. 03:13 I didn't argue, 03:14 we're both great aren't we, both countries? 03:16 You know, I'm preaching today 03:18 on "Revelation As A War Scroll." 03:21 That might be a funny title 03:23 but Revelation really is a call to war. 03:26 There is an army, there is a battle. 03:29 All war is terrible. It really is. 03:33 I have never had to fight in a war. 03:35 I did my national service that was bad enough. 03:38 But my father fought in a war 03:39 and he came home a broken man. 03:41 He was more like a grandfather. 03:43 His health was broken, coughing at night. 03:47 He was blown up with a shell and they patched him up 03:51 and sent him back to the frontline again. 03:54 My brother lied about his age, he was much older than me 03:57 and he went to war and his nerves were shattered too. 04:00 War is a terrible thing, the consequences of war. 04:04 You know Jesus said we will always have wars. 04:08 He said it will be like birth pains 04:10 coming upon a woman. 04:12 It's gonna become more and more severe, 04:14 more and more intense. 04:15 Wars, famines, earthquakes, 04:16 Jesus said it was always going to be like this. 04:20 But you know that word Armageddon 04:21 seems to standout a little bit. 04:23 Hollywood has given its own image of Armageddon. 04:27 But it isn't really the biblical image. 04:29 The biblical image is something far wide 04:31 or something far more important. 04:33 Many people today look across to the Middle East. 04:36 And they see over there, 04:37 the map of the Middle East and they say, 04:39 here is where that last battle will be fought, 04:41 right there in the Middle East. 04:43 And they believe that the armies of the world 04:45 will meet in that plain just about to Jerusalem, Easter Land 04:49 and the armies will meet in this great battle 04:51 will be the battle of Armageddon, 04:53 and that is a popular view for all eyes 04:56 are looking across to Israel as being the place 04:59 where this will happen. 05:00 But really if we go to our Bible, 05:03 we do get a different image of Armageddon 05:05 to what many people would think. 05:07 Let's have a look in Revelation Chapter 16, 05:09 because that's the only place in the Bible 05:11 where the word Armageddon really does appear. 05:15 And as we go through Revelation, 05:18 John the revelator guided by the Holy Spirit 05:21 does give us clues as to what he is saying. 05:24 And we've prepared for our new series, 05:27 Revelation, Hope/Meaning/Purpose, 05:29 we've actually prepared, John, Paul, and I, 05:31 a guide post article, 05:33 which you can download off the internet 05:35 and it will show you where at times 05:36 John the Revelator guided by the Holy Spirit 05:39 gives you clues as to what he is intending 05:42 you should understand. 05:44 And those clues are guide post, 05:46 we've written a whole article on guide posts. 05:48 The Revelation 16:12. 05:53 Says, "The sixth angel poured out his bowl 05:55 on the great river Euphrates, 05:58 and its water was dried up to prepare the way 06:00 for the kings from the east. 06:03 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs, 06:06 they came out of the mouth of the dragon, 06:08 out of the mouth of the beast 06:09 and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 06:12 For they are spirits of demons perform miraculous signs, 06:16 they go out to the kings of the whole world, 06:18 to gather them for the battle 06:21 on the great day of God Almighty. 06:24 Behold, I come like a thief! 06:26 Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, 06:30 so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed. 06:34 Then they gathered the kings together to the place 06:36 that in Hebrew was called Armageddon." 06:40 You know, there is no place in the world called Armageddon, 06:42 it never has been, supply upon two words Mount Megiddo. 06:47 That Megiddo was only like a little hill 06:49 where you have a city on it. 06:52 There is a hill a mountain near by 06:54 and may be that's the Carmel outrange 06:57 is perhaps what has in mind, here John has in mind. 07:00 You can read more about it in our series on Armageddon, 07:03 we have one on Armageddon. 07:05 But whatever John is saying, 07:07 it is very clear here in verse 15, 07:09 what he intends for us to understand, 07:12 because verse 15 is the key verse 07:16 to help us to understand 07:17 that this battle is not a battle 07:19 with tanks and guns and nuclear weapons. 07:23 There is something far wider, more vital, 07:26 more important which comes closer to home to you and I 07:30 than what is happening in some of the part of the world. 07:33 "Behold, I come like a thief! 07:35 Blessed is he who stays awake 07:37 and keeps his garments with him." 07:40 You know, he is not talking about 07:43 going to sleep in my sermon. 07:44 I could say blessed is he who stays awake and listen. 07:49 It is really saying here, 07:51 remain spiritually alive and alert. 07:55 Watch out Christian, you who do know Christ now, 08:00 could be deceived by miraculous signs 08:03 and wonders being done, 08:05 performed by evil demonic forces. 08:08 And these could cause you 08:10 to loose your hold upon Christ 08:12 for the battle is far wider, far more embracing. 08:16 Comes closer to you and I, 08:18 than just some mere battle in one part of this world. 08:22 And this should keep us on track. 08:24 Whatever is being actually said here, 08:26 in this statement here it is something to do 08:29 with your relationship to Christ. 08:32 And I believe with the heart 08:33 of the whole thing is this, the gospel. 08:38 Everything revolves around the gospel. 08:42 For when we open our Bibles to Revelation 1:1 08:45 and you probably hardly need 08:47 to open your Bibles to either Revelation 1:1. 08:50 It says, it is the Revelation of who? 08:54 All right, we need to keep that in mind. 08:56 Whatever this book is telling us, 08:58 it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ 09:02 and we are understanding this book correctly. 09:06 It's Revelation of Jesus Christ. 09:09 Then we know, we are understanding 09:11 the message that this book was supposed to give us. 09:14 It is not talking about mere nations 09:17 and mere political guns and battles. 09:20 Whatever we are understanding about this whole book, 09:23 all the prophetic parts of this book 09:26 it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. 09:28 Something covered to this now revealed in the way 09:31 we wouldn't have understood before. 09:33 So this should help to keep us on track 09:35 to make sure we are understanding 09:37 the prophecies of this book, it's a revealing of Jesus. 09:41 And if Jesus is not in any interpretation 09:45 then something is wrong. 09:47 We are learning more about Jesus. 09:49 We should understand Him better. 09:51 We should learn how to keep our hold upon Him 09:54 by staying spiritually live and alert, 09:56 for that is where you and I 09:58 fight our daily battle, isn't it? 10:00 Every day to keep your hold upon Jesus. 10:04 Yeah, it's beautiful to know that when we come to Him 10:07 we receive the gift of righteousness 10:08 the moment we believe. 10:10 That's the good news, isn't it? 10:12 Jesus died for us. 10:15 He is our substitute and He conquered the grave, 10:19 He lives in Heaven above now 10:20 and because He lives we will live for eternity as well. 10:24 That's what the Bible is all about. 10:26 That's what the Book of Revelation majors in. 10:29 But when the Book of Revelation talks, 10:32 it uses the experiences of Israel 10:34 in Old Testament times to illustrate 10:36 what is happening to the church. 10:39 And I know Pastor Carter, 10:40 has shared this with you in the past 10:42 because I have heard him. 10:44 I have watched one of his television programs. 10:47 The book Revelation talks about 10:49 the experiences of Israel in Old Testament times. 10:53 The language of Israel from the Old Testament 10:56 to explain what is happening to the Christian church. 10:59 It talks about Jezebel, 11:01 but you say why is Jezebel got to mentioned? 11:04 Why does river Euphrates got to mentioned? 11:07 Who is this Babylon spoke off in Revelation? 11:10 Not that old city in Iraq, 11:13 there is a spiritual Babylon 11:14 at the end of time, false religion. 11:17 False religion gathers together 11:20 all through demotic forces to make war 11:22 against God's people at the end of time. 11:25 The Bible majors in this concept. 11:28 You see, there is a bigger battle going on in Revelation, 11:31 in this world and in my life and your life, 11:35 and many would think. 11:36 Have a look at Revelation Chapter 12. 11:39 And hear it we come back to the big battle, 11:41 the battle that matters more than anything else. 11:45 Revelation Chapter 12, talks here, 11:47 it says here "And there was war in heaven" 11:52 Revelation 12:7. 11:55 "Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, 11:57 and the dragon and his angels fought back. 12:01 But he was not strong enough, 12:03 and they lost their place in heaven. 12:05 The great dragon was hurled down, 12:07 that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, 12:10 who leads the whole world astray. 12:12 He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 12:16 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, 12:19 'Now have come the salvation and the power 12:21 and the kingdom of our God, 12:23 and the authority of his Christ. 12:25 For the accuser of our brothers, 12:26 who accuses them before our God day and night 12:29 has been hurled down. 12:31 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb 12:35 and by the word of their testimony, 12:38 they did not love their lives so much 12:40 as to shrink from death.'" 12:43 You know, this is a very, very important battle 12:45 we're talking of today, a crucial battle. 12:48 War in heaven. 12:50 This angel said, I will be like the most high. 12:54 The issue was an issue over worship. 12:58 And this creature created by God 13:00 tried to replace the Creator himself. 13:03 But he couldn't win. 13:04 You can never win against the Creator. 13:06 But why would you want to fight? 13:08 He loves us far more than we love our children. 13:11 More than a husband loves his wife. 13:12 He loved us enough to come and die on Calvary. 13:15 Why would you want to rebel and fight? 13:18 Well, God is a God of love. 13:22 And this world we have to believe God 13:25 and trust Him and serve Him 13:27 and sometimes our lives can be like, just like Job. 13:31 We don't understand 13:32 why my life is going like it is. 13:34 I've tried to do what is right but someone's things go wrong. 13:37 But God is to be trusted. 13:41 Can we trust God? 13:43 There is a great controversy theme 13:44 which we know and understand very well, 13:47 a war between Christ and Satan. 13:50 And God allows this world to go on. 13:52 It is not enough that God be loving and fair, 13:55 He must also appear that way. 13:57 And you and I will never be happy 13:59 until we can trust God. 14:00 How do you like to live in heaven, 14:01 thinking that God can have bad moods and bad days? 14:05 Think of what He could do to you. 14:08 Where would you take your complaint? 14:12 We have to believe that God is trust worthy. 14:15 And mean while we live by faith in this world 14:17 where a lot of things just do not make sense. 14:21 They do not make sense. 14:23 But like Job, we trust in God. 14:26 You know, the real battle 14:28 is like the cold war many respects. 14:31 I remember when I went to Russia in the 70's 14:35 and I went to Russia and they were so proud 14:37 of what they had achieved through the revolution 14:39 and what communism had brought. 14:41 And they had these tall buildings, 14:43 this great tower, we have the worlds tallest tower. 14:46 We have the biggest swimming holes outdoors. 14:50 We can send rocket ships into space. 14:53 Every time they won an Olympic gold medal 14:56 they were saying that we have the best system. 14:59 This is what the world needs. It was a cold war, wasn't it? 15:02 I'm glad it didn't explode into a nuclear war. 15:06 But it was a cold war. 15:08 They didn't show you the places where, 15:10 their only approved spots that you could actually go to. 15:13 But with many respects, 15:14 what is happening in this universe 15:16 is like a cold war, many respects 15:19 because the Creator himself 15:20 was challenged by this creature, this angel. 15:24 And this angel with other angels 15:26 was cast out of the heaven. 15:27 And that war that began back in heaven 15:29 is carried on in this earth. 15:33 And that is the war that is far more embracing 15:36 and more significant than any other war 15:39 that has been fought or will be fought. 15:41 Jesus said there will be wars and rumors of wars 15:43 but the end is not yet, that always be wars. 15:47 But this one, this one is very wide embracing. 15:51 But then the devil in chapter 17 has problems 15:54 because God's people are trusting in Him. 15:58 Notice there are two ways how the saints overcome. 16:02 Have a look in Revelation Chapter 12 and see this. 16:05 They overcome, one, 16:08 by the blood of the Lamb. 16:14 Isn't that good news? 16:17 They overcome by the blood of the Lamb. 16:21 You know, it's not hard to join an army 16:23 if the victory is sure or even the victory is being won. 16:27 When Jesus died on Calvary, He won the victory. 16:31 Satan was exposed for what he has really like. 16:36 You can never trust him. He is a deceiver. 16:39 He was cast out of heaven. 16:41 And the blood of the Lamb 16:42 will cleanse you and I from all sin. 16:44 You don't have to worry about, what happened yesterday. 16:47 The only thing that God is worried about is, 16:48 what is your present attitude towards Him? 16:51 God doesn't hold your past against you, 16:53 bring it back against you. 16:55 God gives you full, complete forgiveness. 16:59 Hey, we are on the winning side. 17:00 Jesus defeated all these powers of evil. 17:03 But notice what the text goes on to say too. 17:06 And it says here, another way they overcome, 17:10 the word of... 17:15 their testimony. 17:23 The word of their testimony. 17:25 These are the ways, 17:26 my handwriting isn't as good as John. 17:31 A little girl in the front seat said, 17:32 when I was running an evangelistic program, 17:34 I don't know why Mr. Bradford 17:35 is always apologizing about his handwriting. 17:37 He can do it better than I can. 17:39 She hadn't even started school. 17:43 That's a nicest thing I've ever had said. 17:46 But these are the points 17:47 I wonder anchor in our minds this morning. 17:50 The blood of the Lamb. The word of their testimony. 17:53 Okay, and she could have said 17:56 that grand Bradford needs to spell little better too. 17:58 Now I have taken "I" in there. 18:00 And you were too polite to tell me, weren't you? 18:02 You are gracious. 18:04 All right, so these ate the ways 18:07 in which God's people overcome. 18:10 Saved by grace. 18:11 But there is also a witness we have as well. 18:15 And we are a vital part of this war 18:17 that is actually going on. 18:18 And all for the centuries 18:20 people have overcome by the blood of the Lamb, 18:22 received full free forgiveness to sin. 18:24 But people also have borne their testimony by the life 18:28 that they live they are actually saying, 18:30 we believe that God is right and Satan is wrong. 18:34 And that's why we are called in Revelation, 18:36 kings and priests. 18:38 We are a witness to the fact that God is right 18:42 and Lucifer is wrong. 18:44 And every time you and I sacrifice to follow Christ 18:47 and we don't sacrifice much. 18:49 Compared to what the creator went through 18:51 we don't sacrifice much, do we? 18:52 We don't give up much. 18:54 But every time we do stand for Christ, 18:57 we are giving the word of our testimony 19:00 and we are saying that we are, 19:01 well either, the God is right, Lucifer is wrong. 19:04 And that's a very powerful thing in this battle. 19:08 So we are kings and priests to live and reign 19:10 with Christ for eternity. 19:12 But the devil now comes up for one last great flea. 19:16 One last great attempt. 19:17 Have a look at Revelation 12:17, 19:22 "Then the dragon was enraged at the woman" 19:25 that's the church "and went to make war 19:28 against the rest of her offspring, 19:30 those who obey God's commandments 19:33 and hold to the testimony of Jesus." 19:36 Here the devil now is marshaling his forces 19:39 for one final effort. 19:43 And if he is going to go down, 19:44 he is going to bring down as many as he can. 19:45 He knows his time is short. 19:48 But he gets satisfaction 19:49 from bringing others down with him. 19:52 And now we are going to look at what happens 19:54 as we go to revelation 19:55 and there is what we call chiasm. 19:58 Now this chiasm really is the way 20:00 the book Revelation instructs him. 20:01 Don't worry about the Word but this chiasm here, 20:05 which you will see on the board, 20:07 right at the center there is a synopsis of the war, 20:11 Revelation 12 to 14. 20:13 Now when you and I write a book, 20:15 we so to go through chronologically, 20:17 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. 20:19 And when do all our movies have big shoot ups? 20:22 All the big dramatic action happens at the end, doesn't it? 20:25 That's where all our books go. 20:27 In the biblical literature 20:29 you'll find your prophetic books 20:30 and sometimes your Psalms 20:32 and even individual chapters and verses 20:34 have what we call a chiasm 20:36 where the center fort comes through. 20:40 You don't count the number of words, 20:41 you look at the fort, the ideas. 20:43 And this helps us to decode Revelation significantly. 20:47 So when we're talking about chiasm, 20:49 we're saying you got A, 20:50 A at each side and B, C, D in the center. 20:56 And the center fort of the chiasm 20:59 is the main purpose of what Revelation is all about. 21:03 And right at the center in chapters 12 to 14, 21:07 we have a final crisis over worship, 21:10 the issue that began back in the courts of heaven. 21:13 I will be like the Most High, 21:15 the same issue in the Garden of Eden 21:18 when you trust God the same issue 21:21 of Cain and Abel over how will you worship 21:23 it's also the big issue 21:25 which comes up for one last great conflict 21:28 in Revelation Chapter 13. 21:31 Will we worship God, the Creator or the creature? 21:36 And we find in the center of the storm, 21:38 we have on one side the Creator 21:40 and the other side a counterfeit trinity, 21:42 the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. 21:44 And a clue to how this battle is being fought, 21:47 we find in Revelation 14:12, a clue. 21:53 It says in Revelation 14:12. 21:57 Of those who are faithful God, 21:59 "This calls for patient endurance 22:01 on the part of the saints 22:03 who obey God commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." 22:08 Evidently in the Commandments of God 22:10 do play a prominent part in how this final, 22:14 you might say effort to bring down the church is fought. 22:18 The Commandments of God, 22:20 we find the devil goes off to make war 22:22 against the rest of her offspring or the remnant, 22:25 those remain loyal to God, 22:27 who keep the Commandments of God. 22:29 And then later on God says, here they are, 22:32 they have the patience of the saints, 22:33 they are keeping the Commandments of God. 22:36 So here are some clues to give us an idea 22:39 that this conflict is going to involve worship. 22:43 It is going to involve the Commandments of God. 22:46 And when we look at those Ten Commandments 22:48 we find the Ten Commandments here 22:50 and not mentioned by name in the book Revelation. 22:54 The Ten Commandments are not called, 22:56 that even called the law. 22:59 But John does give us other clues 23:01 as to how we move into the chiasm 23:03 we to see the Lord of God is coming 23:05 as a very prominent feature as a response to the gospel. 23:09 You overcome by the blood of the Lamb. 23:12 Salvation is a free gift. 23:13 But there is a testimony you give 23:15 when you receive Jesus 23:17 and that is obedience to the Commandments of God. 23:20 And God says, My people will keep My commandments then. 23:24 They have the patience and the fortitude of saints. 23:27 Now as we move into the chiasm, 23:30 before we get to the very center 23:31 you might say at the storm in Revelation 11:19 23:35 we have a dramatic scene. 23:37 I would like to have a PowerPoint done one day, 23:41 which would really picture Revelation 19 23:43 in a dramatic way. 23:45 Says here revelation 11:19, 23:48 "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, 23:50 and within his temple was seen ark of his covenant. 23:54 And there came flashes of lightings, 23:56 rumblings, peals of thunder, 23:58 an earthquake and a great hailstorm." 24:01 Many respects that resembles Sinai 24:04 and it is connected to Sinai. 24:06 When God gave the Ten Commandments 24:08 and people who know their Old Testament 24:12 and the people to whom this book 24:13 was first written obviously knew their Old Testament. 24:17 The readers and the hearers, 24:18 knew it very well indeed so much so that John, 24:21 guided by the Holy Spirit can refer 24:23 to times and places and events with a word or phrase 24:27 and the people himself will have look back and said, 24:30 now we know what he is talking about. 24:32 Today we don't know our Old Testament 24:33 well enough sometimes to click in. 24:36 But before we go to the center of the chiasm, 24:38 here is a guide post, 24:40 where God says now something momentous is about, 24:43 momentous is about to happen. 24:45 We are going to enter the hub core here now. 24:47 But here is a little flash picture ahead 24:50 to keep you on track. 24:53 The Ark of the Covenant is open. 24:55 Now would you take your Bibles 24:57 and turn with me Exodus 34. 24:59 In Exodus Chapter 34, Exodus 34 25:04 this is where a persons mind 25:07 who knew their Old Testament would go back to. 25:10 Moses came down from the mountain. 25:13 When Moses came down from the mountain 25:14 it says in verses 27-29 25:18 what he had in his hand 25:20 and notice the terms that he used. 25:22 In exodus 34:27, 25:28 "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write down these words, 25:31 in accordance with these words that I have made a covenant, 25:35 a covenant with you and with Israel.' 25:38 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights 25:41 without eating bread or drinking water. 25:44 And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, 25:48 the Ten Commandments. 25:50 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai 25:52 with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, 25:56 he was not aware that his face was radiant 25:59 because he had spoken with the Lord." 26:01 Now this is very, very important. 26:03 These, these terms, these terms, 26:07 Ten Commandments, Covenant, Testimony, 26:13 are all talking about the same thing. 26:16 Ten Commandments, 26:18 Moses came down with a two tablets of stone, 26:20 the Ten Commandments. 26:22 He had in his hand the Testimony, the Covenant. 26:27 And so when we find the temple of God is opened in heaven, 26:31 the Ark of the Covenant is seen. 26:34 It is another way as saying ark of the Ten Commandments. 26:39 And this is a clue, 26:41 before we head to the center of that storm, 26:43 that controversy over worship God gives us a flash picture, 26:47 a thunder and lightning, 26:48 the ark of the Ten Commandments to seen. 26:52 But it is also true that we come out 26:54 the other side in chapter 15 and verse 5, 26:58 Revelation 15:5, 27:00 it's almost like we could draw an arrow in 27:02 and an arrow out pointing back. 27:04 Make sure you have us clear understanding 27:07 of what this is happening 27:09 in the center of this storm over worship. 27:11 In Revelation 15:5, it says here, 27:17 "After this I looked and in heaven the temple, 27:20 that is, the tabernacle of the testimony" 27:23 and what is the testimony? 27:25 Ten Commandments. 27:27 And so on either side of this chiasm, 27:31 before we see the storm God is pointing forward 27:34 and He is pointing back. 27:36 The Lord of God, the Ten Commandments 27:38 are not mentioned by name but the Ark of the Covenant, 27:41 the Tabernacle of the Testimony 27:43 are mentioned and John is giving us these clues 27:46 as to what we should be understanding 27:48 as we read it through. 27:50 Now if you come across to Revelation Chapter 13 27:52 and we look at the Ten Commandments now. 27:55 And as we look at the Ten Commandments 27:57 and these two tablets of stone, 27:59 we say to ourselves now, what commandments are in mind. 28:04 We have seen the dragon is rough with the woman 28:07 and went off to make war, 28:08 the rendered her sea which keep the Commandments of God. 28:11 We have also seen that those who are faithful to God 28:13 have the patience of the saints 28:15 and they keep the Commandments of God. 28:17 And people will wonder now, 28:19 what commandments are in focus? 28:22 Well Revelation Chapter 13, 28:23 you may like to look for sometime 28:25 and you'll say to yourself, 28:26 this word worship comes again and again, doesn't it? 28:30 They worshiped the dragon, they worshiped the beast, 28:34 they worshiped the image. 28:35 And the word worship, 28:36 you may want to color it in your Bible sometime 28:39 because Revelation 13 is talking about worship. 28:42 And which commandments of the two tables 28:45 of stone deal with worship? 28:48 And when you look at the conflict 28:49 at the end of time in chapter 13 28:53 I don't think people get into trouble 28:54 because they honor their father and mother. 28:58 Or don't steal their neighbors wife. 29:02 They are getting into trouble because of how they worship. 29:06 And let's look at our next point here too, 29:09 as we look at these commandments here 29:11 and we look at the four actions 29:13 as they come through this image of counterfeit worship. 29:16 And he who can go for Revelation Chapter 13 29:19 and you can actually see commandments 29:20 one, two, three, four are mentioned. 29:23 In this respect they worshiped dragon, 29:26 what commandment are they breaking? 29:28 The first. 29:29 They worship the image, 29:31 what commandment are they breaking? 29:33 Second. 29:34 The beast blast things in the name of God? 29:37 Third. 29:38 But there is also a mark of the beast 29:42 which is a counterfeit of the Seventh-day Sabbath. 29:46 Now what I'm going to share with you, 29:48 I'm very much indebted 29:49 to a student at Avondale College, 29:51 who graduated just a few years ago. 29:53 Anthony McPherson. 29:56 He wrote an article for Andrew's seminary studies 30:00 and after I made a presentation to the pastors 30:02 in this conference about new seminar. 30:04 He said, I've something I would like to share with you. 30:07 And he sent me a copy of the article. 30:10 And this young man has seen something's 30:12 that I don't believe anyone else has ever seen. 30:15 So much of what I'm going to share with you now 30:17 comes from this young man and Jon Paulien, 30:20 the degrees of this man, 30:21 he had been close to at himself Jon Paulien, 30:23 but this young man went a little step further. 30:26 And showing that the anti mark of the beast. 30:30 When it's expressed in Revelation 13, 30:33 is a direct trust against the Seventh-day Sabbath 30:37 in the very way it's worth it. 30:39 So let's just have a look at this now 30:41 as we see how it is that the mark of the beast 30:44 is actually expressed 30:45 in anti Seventh-day Sabbath imagery. 30:48 We find first of all that 30:49 there are sign commandments in the Bible. 30:52 There are sign commandments. 30:53 If you take your Bible, look at Deuteronomy Chapter 6, 30:57 Deuteronomy Chapter 6. 31:02 In Deuteronomy Chapter 6 31:03 it says here in verses 6-8 about these sign commandments. 31:09 And this has been the giving of the Lord again, 31:11 the Ten Commandments have been given again. 31:14 And in Deuteronomy Chapter 6, it says here in verse 6, 31:20 "These commandments that I give you today 31:22 are to be upon your hearts. 31:24 Impress them on your children. 31:26 Talk about them when you sit at home, 31:27 when you walk along the road, 31:29 when you lie down, when you get up. 31:31 Tie them as symbols on your hands, 31:35 bind them on your foreheads. 31:37 Write them on your doorframes of your houses and your gates." 31:41 So these commandments 31:43 and the Ten Commandments certainly in mind 31:45 because they are just been given again before this time. 31:48 God says, I want them in your heart and in your mind. 31:51 So the mark of the beast 31:52 we find actually comes on the hand and the forehead. 31:56 The seal of God as an opposite can only be upon the forehead. 32:01 It's with your mind that you worship God. 32:04 And we will look now a few more points 32:06 where we find that these sign commandments 32:09 actually is focusing now on the Sabbath. 32:11 So let's have our next picture here 32:13 which shows the mark of the beast is anti-Sabbath. 32:18 Involves remembering the beast 32:20 has identity sign of obedience in worship. 32:23 We are, when we keep the Seventh-day Sabbath 32:25 remembering God as Creator 32:28 is expressed as being on the right hand 32:30 or the forehead. 32:31 Those who have it receive protection 32:34 and will be able to buy and sell 32:36 and the crisis comes at chapter 13. 32:39 If you can-- there of course, 32:40 if you keep the Seventh-day Sabbath you choose, 32:43 not to buy and sell. 32:45 Those who have it will never have rest, day or night. 32:50 But if you keep the Seventh-day Sabbath 32:51 you could only keep it 32:52 if you're resting in Jesus, can't you? 32:54 It's a beautiful response of the gospel. 32:57 This is not legalism, 32:58 this is worshiping God 32:59 with all your heart and soul and mind. 33:02 Christianity is a romance, loving God 33:04 and choosing to serve Him 33:06 and bearing your testimony for Jesus. 33:09 And you can only keep the Seventh-day Sabbath 33:11 if you first of all have that rest in Jesus. 33:14 And so let's look at our next one too 33:16 which brings up this point. 33:19 The mark of the beast is anti-Seventh-day Sabbath. 33:21 It has the name and number of the creator. 33:25 Not be able to buy or sell. 33:27 Well, keep the Sabbath you choose not to work. 33:31 But notice how everybody is included. 33:34 As far as the mark of the beast is concerned 33:36 He commands all of us small and great, 33:38 rich and bond free and bond everyone. 33:41 The Seventh-day Sabbath comes not to the person 33:44 who runs the house not only but your maid servant, 33:46 your man servant, your cattle. 33:49 You know, there is a very strong correlation there 33:51 between the two. 33:52 And so there's no wonder 33:53 when God gives His answer for the three angel's messages 33:57 to what has happening in chapter 13. 34:00 He does so in Revelation 14, 34:02 with these three angel's messages. 34:04 There is a crisis in chapter 13 34:08 but when God gives His answer 34:09 to this with three angels' messages in chapter 14, 34:13 it says here, Revelation 14:6, 34:18 "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, 34:21 he had the eternal gospel to proclaim 34:23 to those who live on the earth, 34:25 to every nation, tribe, language and people. 34:28 He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give Him glory, 34:33 because the hour of His judgment has come.' 34:35 Worship Him who made the heavens, 34:37 the earth, the sea and the springs of water." 34:41 You know, here is a call, 34:44 at the sunset hour of earth's history 34:47 to worship God as Creator, 34:49 the one who made heaven and earth, 34:51 the sea and the fountains of water. 34:54 Now if we know our Old Testament, 34:57 John the revelator guided by the Holy Spirit 35:00 refers to the Old Testament. 35:02 Names of people, names of places, 35:05 he puts them in here and there. 35:07 The most you ever get is a string of words together. 35:11 Jon Paulien, did his actual doctoral studies 35:14 in how the John the Revelator uses the Old Testament. 35:18 And the strongest you'll ever get is, 35:21 he never tells you book, 35:22 chapter and verse of the Old Testament, 35:23 he assumes you know that. 35:25 He will take a string of words together, 35:27 that's a strong elusion or statement 35:30 he ever gets from the Old Testament. 35:32 And those who know their Bible worship Him 35:35 who made the heaven, the earth, 35:37 the sea and the fountains of waters. 35:40 Your mind goes straight back to the fourth commandment. 35:44 Why do we keep the Sabbath? 35:46 God is the Creator who made the heavens, 35:48 the earth and the springs and the fountains of water. 35:51 Jon Paulien, has a whole presentation, 35:54 he made in a Jerusalem Bible conference 35:56 some years ago, I attended. 35:57 The Sabbath in the Book of Revelation 36:00 and he builds a very powerful case 36:03 that the wording of the first angels message 36:04 is coming right out of the Sabbath commandment. 36:07 And what's more, he makes this point too, 36:09 if you read his books you've seen this. 36:13 There is a center of the Book of Revelation in that chiasm. 36:16 The war over worship chapters 12-14 36:20 but if you want to go to the center of center, 36:22 the center of center is a three angels messages. 36:27 But if you want to go to the center of center of center, 36:31 worship Him, who made heaven and earth, 36:35 the sea and the fountains of water. 36:38 If you want to go to the hub 36:39 of what Revelation is calling for. 36:42 There is a war over worship, who you'll worship? 36:44 How you'll worship? When you'll worship? 36:46 Does the world need to hear a message 36:48 to call God Creator and worship Him as Creator? 36:53 It does. 36:54 And here is a message 36:55 at the sunset hour of earth's history, 36:58 a message to go to the world, 37:01 to call people to worship the Creator. 37:05 And this brings the world 37:06 to one last great final struggle and test. 37:10 The test of true religion in a very confused world 37:15 is they overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb 37:20 and the word of their testimony. 37:23 And all for the centuries 37:24 they've been young men and women 37:25 and all the people male and female 37:28 have all put their trust in Jesus 37:30 and the blood of the Lamb. 37:31 They have reached out by faith and that trust in Him. 37:34 But when they've done this 37:35 there's been a price to pay too. 37:37 And many of them have loved not their lives 37:39 for not just to shrink from death. 37:42 And one day many people in this world 37:44 will put through the same test. 37:45 They love their lives 37:47 not so much as to shrink from death. 37:50 But the struggle is going on in this world 37:52 and God has a message, 37:53 a final message to go to the world, 37:56 the three angel's messages. 37:57 It preaches the true gospel. 37:59 It calls people to worship God as Creator. 38:02 It warns against Babylon 38:04 and it calls people to a contest over 38:06 which will be the true religion. 38:09 This is Armageddon. 38:11 But this time the fire falls on the wrong altar. 38:15 It's a call like Elijah on Mount Carmel 38:18 when the fire came down from heaven. 38:19 But this time this fire is counterfeited for signs, 38:23 wonders and miracles and the world is deceived. 38:26 And church and state come together again. 38:29 You know, you and I are very privileged 38:31 to live in countries that know freedom. 38:34 Very few people who have lived 38:35 through human history have had the freedom 38:37 we enjoy and we seem to think this is the know. 38:40 This is better moment in history 38:42 and soon the world will return to how it's always has been. 38:47 Church and state united together, 38:49 religion and enforcement of religion, the end. 38:53 But there is a battle going on 38:54 which is far bigger, far broader, far wider 38:57 than merely one nation fighting another. 39:00 A war that began in heaven is carried on in this earth, 39:04 and you and I have a part in it. 39:07 I like you to look with me now 39:08 to the Creators army Revelation Chapter 7. 39:13 This is a language of battle military. 39:16 In Revelation Chapter 7 39:18 we have God's soldiers you might say, 39:20 soldiers for Christ. 39:23 And they pictured here in Revelation Chapter 7 39:26 as a people who are numbered as a 144,000. 39:31 And they are all the different tribes are here. 39:34 And it says here, in Revelation Chapter 7, 39:38 "That I heard the number of those who were sealed, 39:40 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel." 39:45 Now you know, I did not believe it's a literal number, 39:48 I believe this is another way 39:49 that John the revelator is describing the church, 39:52 the followers of Jesus. 39:53 They are sealed in their forehead, 39:55 as supposed to getting the mark of the beast 39:57 in the right hand or the forehead. 39:59 These are the people 40:00 who lived for to see Jesus come. 40:02 They go for that final conflict over worship, 40:04 who, how and when you'll worship. 40:06 And they are heavenly warriors in this sense 40:09 that they are the Creators army. 40:11 They are bearing witness to Jesus. 40:13 Now John the revelator has a habit of, 40:16 he gives you a literally clues as to what he is saying. 40:19 He hears and then he turns and he sees. 40:23 He hears the number but when he turns and he sees, 40:27 he sees in verse 9 a great multitude 40:30 that no one could number. 40:33 Now this is happening all the time in Revelation. 40:37 In chapter 5, he has told he hears 40:41 to look and see behold the line of the tribe of Judah. 40:46 But when he turns and sees, what does he see? 40:49 Not a lion, a lamb. 40:52 Jesus is the lion and he is a lamb. 40:55 In chapter 1, he hears about the voice of a trumpet, 40:58 when he turns doesn't see a trumpet, he sees Jesus. 41:03 In chapter 21, I will show you the bride of the Lamb. 41:08 He turns and he looks and he sees a city. 41:11 This is happening all through Revelation. 41:13 So he hears the number of these people 144,000 41:17 from all the different tribes. 41:18 This is another way of talking about the church. 41:20 We spiritually belong to a tribe. 41:22 It's a fascinating study. 41:24 All the gates of the New Jerusalem 41:26 have a tribes name on them. 41:28 But when he looks he sees in here, 41:30 in Revelation 7:9, 41:33 "A great multitude that no one could number 41:35 from every nation, tribe, people, language." 41:38 Well that's encouraging, isn't that? 41:41 If there is a 144,000 literal 41:43 I would be discouraged, wouldn't you? 41:44 I will be looking around I'll say, 41:46 you are a better Christian than me 41:47 and may be a few Americans 41:49 and America might make it number wise 41:51 and but Australia you can get one representative here. 41:55 Sure the New Zeeland would miss out. 41:58 I don't know. 42:00 But to think that 144,000 only were faithful 42:04 to Christ at the end that would be tragic, wouldn't it? 42:07 But these are people who have seal in their forehead 42:10 but notice these people-- 42:12 you know, I'm so thrilled Jon says 42:13 at the end there will be just so many of them, 42:15 you aren't be able to count them. 42:17 And God is not concerned about whether you are male or female, 42:21 you are all one in Christ, aren't you? 42:23 If you are Christ you are Abraham C 42:26 and A is according to the promise. 42:27 We are spiritual Israel. 42:28 So here is spiritual Israel the church lined up 42:31 like an army in battle formation. 42:34 But they are also described as a great multitude 42:36 that no one could number. 42:38 Verse 14, Revelation 7:14, 42:41 tells us more about this people. 42:43 "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation, 42:47 they have washed their robes 42:48 and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 42:52 Therefore, 'they are before the throne of God 42:54 and serve Him day and night in His temple.'" 42:56 Now you read on the next few verses. 42:58 "The sun will not beat on them the scorching heat." 43:01 This is the language of the plagues. 43:04 They've been through the plagues. 43:05 They've been faithful to God 43:08 and no longer will I ever have to endure that. 43:10 You know, the interesting thing 43:11 is that God brings His people through tribulation. 43:15 The popular concept in much of the Christian world today 43:18 is believe in Jesus now 43:19 and you will escape the tribulation. 43:21 You'll be rapture to heaven. 43:22 This not what the scripture is saying. 43:25 The scripture is saying be faithful to Christ. 43:29 They overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb 43:32 and by the word of their testimony. 43:34 They love not their lives so much 43:36 as to shrink from death. 43:37 God brings His people through, 43:38 He gives them strength to endure. 43:41 They don't escape the tribulation, 43:43 they come through it. 43:44 And they'll be so many people who'll be faithful to Christ, 43:48 who will not worship the beast and its image. 43:51 Some will loose their lives, the others will remain alive. 43:56 But these people who come through, 43:57 we see them again in chapter 14. 44:01 Chapter 14, Revelation 14. 44:05 And here they are in Revelation 14 44:07 and they are standing on Mount Zion with the lamb. 44:11 You know there are 144,000 and it's almost like 44:14 as if they are military formation, like an army. 44:18 They have not come near women, 44:20 this is David's troops before they go into battle would, 44:23 troops with an Old Testament times 44:24 would not go near women before they went into battle. 44:28 And first chronicles 27, 44:30 David divided his army into 12 divisions. 44:33 Each serving for a month at a time, 44:36 each tribe provided 12 battalions of 1,000 men. 44:39 This is Old Testament language. 44:42 Here are God's people, 44:43 who have seal in their foreheads. 44:45 In reality a great multitude that no one can number. 44:48 But they're described in military language 44:50 they are heavenly warriors for Christ. 44:53 They have born their testimony for Christ. 44:56 They had overcome by the blood of the Lamb 44:59 and by the word of their testimony. 45:01 Now come through the tribulation. 45:02 But this is military language used once again. 45:07 You know, when I realize this it really transformed 45:10 how I live my Christian life each day. 45:14 What I do each day does matter 45:17 as I bear my testimony for Jesus. 45:20 Look at Revelation 17:14, here's the imagery again. 45:26 And I want you to follow very, very closely 45:28 what I'm going to say now. 45:29 If you don't follow it closely you may misunderstand me. 45:34 Revelation 17:14, talking about Armageddon again. 45:40 The second half of Revelation 45:42 is majoring in the end time conflict 45:44 and it goes back and recapitulates. 45:47 It says about these powers, these wicked evil powers. 45:51 "They will make war against the Lamb, 45:53 but the Lamb will overcome them 45:56 he is Lord of lords and King of kings 45:59 and with him will be his called, 46:03 chosen and faithful followers." 46:07 When Jesus goes to war He will overcome, 46:11 and who is with Him? 46:13 His followers. 46:14 Keep that in mind as we look now 46:16 at Revelation and chapter 19. 46:19 For here we have two harvests of actually being produced. 46:23 The three angel's messages produce 46:25 two harvests at the end of time. 46:26 One who are faithful to God and one who rebel against Him. 46:31 There is a harvest of the grain, 46:33 there is a harvest of the wine. 46:36 But those who are faithful to Christ 46:38 are pictured here much different sorts of imagery. 46:41 So here we have Revelation 19, the coming of Jesus. 46:44 And it says in Revelation 19:11, 46:48 "I saw heaven standing open 46:50 and there before me was a white horse, 46:51 whose rider is called faithful and true. 46:54 With justice he judges and makes war, 46:57 his eyes are like blazing fire, 46:59 and on his head are many crowns. 47:01 He has a name written on him 47:03 that no one knows but he himself. 47:05 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, 47:07 his name is the word of God. 47:09 The armies of heaven were following him, 47:11 riding on white horses and dresses in fine linen, 47:14 white and clean. 47:16 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword 47:18 with which to strike down the nations. 47:20 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.'" 47:23 So let's look at Jesus now, coming in the heavens. 47:26 And it says here, He leads the armies of heaven. 47:30 Now literally when Jesus comes, 47:32 He comes with His angels. 47:34 I don't want you to miss this point. 47:37 Jesus said He will come with His angels, 47:39 He will resurrect the dead, 47:40 He will destroy wickedness when He comes. 47:43 But symbolically here in Revelation 47:46 when He comes to fight this battle of Armageddon 47:50 He has with Him an army from heaven, 47:53 an army of heaven. 47:54 And it says here, 47:55 they are clothed in white fine linen, 47:59 white and clean. 48:01 These are His heavenly warriors you might say 48:03 or His warriors going to battle with Him. 48:06 Who are these people, who come with Him? 48:08 They cloth in white linen 48:11 and this is in symbolic language, 48:13 we must not forget it's only symbolic. 48:15 Literally when Jesus comes, 48:16 He comes with His angels to gather up His people. 48:20 But John the revelator can use 48:21 this different form of symbolism 48:23 to describe what is happening. 48:24 Come back to chapter 19 and verse 7. 48:28 "Let us be glad and rejoice in giving glory! 48:31 For the wedding of the Lamb has come, 48:32 his bride has made herself ready." 48:35 Who is the bride? Church. 48:37 "Fine linen, bright, clean was given her to wear." 48:43 Fine linen stands 48:44 for the righteous acts of the saints. 48:47 You know, this is not legalism. 48:49 You overcome by the blood of the Lamb 48:51 and you bear your testimony. 48:52 But any testimony we give is by the grace of God. 48:55 God helps us and empowers us 48:57 and motivates us through His spirit. 48:59 Fine linen is given her to wear. 49:01 This is the deans of God's people. 49:03 And so in the language of Armageddon, 49:06 this is what is been spoken of as Armageddon. 49:09 This is the battle spoken of, 49:11 because later on Jesus goes to war against the dragon, 49:13 the beast, and the false prophet 49:15 in the rest of the chapter, and overcomes them. 49:18 But how was this battle fought? 49:20 The saints are clothed in their righteous acts. 49:24 Jesus takes their righteous acts 49:27 and He uses them in this battle. 49:30 That's interesting, isn't that? 49:32 Every time you and I do something 49:35 to sacrifice for Christ, deny ourselves, 49:39 take up our cross to follow Him out of gratitude and love 49:42 because He died for us on Calvary 49:44 and motive is always love to Jesus. 49:47 We don't earn salvation, that's a free gift. 49:49 We respond, we respond with loving deeds. 49:53 But Jesus takes these acts and He uses them in the war. 49:58 So you and I have a part to play. 50:01 The way we live our daily life is all part of Armageddon. 50:04 Notice out of His mouth comes a sharp sword, 50:09 this is a cold war, 50:10 this is not tanks and guns and battles. 50:13 This is a concept of who are you going to worship, 50:16 the creature or the Creator? 50:18 "Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword 50:21 with which he will smite the nations." 50:23 And you and I are heavenly warriors in this sense. 50:26 It does make a difference in how we live our life. 50:30 They overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb 50:32 and by the word of their testimony. 50:35 And they love not their lives so much 50:37 as to shrink from death. 50:39 When I realized this I thought what I do each day does matter. 50:44 How I live my Christian life, it does matter. 50:48 Every time I do something to Christ out of love, 50:52 Jesus can say of me as He can say of you 50:56 as He said of Job. 50:58 All right, they don't understand, 50:59 they have lost something's in life, 51:02 but see they still trust me. 51:04 God is trust worthy, isn't He? 51:07 Life can often be a puzzle. 51:09 Why does God remain partly revealed and partly hidden? 51:14 And why is it so often when you wanted to do what is right, 51:16 you often pay a price and you can think it's unfair. 51:19 And evils that people seem to prosper 51:22 and wicked good people seem to suffer. 51:25 We just trust God, don't we? 51:27 We trust in God. 51:28 And God will say at that final generation, 51:30 oh, the whole world seems to be against them. 51:34 Here are they that keep the Commandments of God, 51:36 they trust me. 51:37 And they are bearing their testimony. 51:39 So Armageddon is closer than we think. 51:43 We live our lives and God is so proud of us 51:48 when we faithfully follow Him. 51:50 They overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb. 51:52 Think of what Jesus has done for us. 51:55 Just think of how much 51:56 He suffered and died on Calvary. 51:59 If He went through all that 52:00 and we ought to be motivated to serve Him 52:03 and I'm casting my vote 52:04 on the side of the Creator, aren't you? 52:06 I want to be part of that battle. 52:08 I want to say Lord, I am gonna serve you, 52:11 no matter what the price, and what people will think. 52:15 Let's just bow our heads in prayer. 52:18 Our Father in heaven, 52:19 we are thankful for Your goodness to us. 52:22 We're thankful that Jesus, 52:23 the Lamb of God came into this world 52:26 and suffered and died that we by believing in Him 52:30 can have eternal life right now. 52:34 We're thankful that those who come to Jesus, 52:36 He has promised He will no ways turn away. 52:39 And we're told that when we come to Him 52:41 no one can pluck us out of His hand. 52:43 We're secure in Jesus. 52:46 But we can lose our covering, 52:49 we can for carelessness, neglect. 52:52 Oh Lord, there are warnings in the scripture 52:54 for those to stay spiritually alive and alert 52:57 unless they lose their covering. 52:59 The great battle, we're facing in our lives now 53:02 is to keep our hold upon Jesus, 53:04 to keep trusting, to keep our hand in His hand. 53:09 Oh Lord, bless every person here at this time 53:11 and those who are watching on the telecast. 53:14 Encourage them to know that God loves them 53:16 and God cares of them. 53:18 The blood of the Lamb, 53:19 was shed that they might live forever 53:22 and anyone can come to Him at this time 53:24 and believe in Him and have eternal life as a free gift. 53:29 Lord, we have received this free gift 53:31 and we thank You and praise You for it. 53:33 May our lives indeed be used in testimony, 53:37 that we worship the Creator and Him alone. 53:40 Bless us and encourage us 53:42 as we continue to encourage each other. 53:44 We pray in Jesus name, amen. 53:58 I had a dream 54:00 It was so real I couldn't take it 54:04 I was walking down Via Dolorosa 54:07 I was back in Old Jerusalem 54:10 Was loud and dusty 54:11 There were crowds of people following Him 54:15 And then He turned around 54:19 He turned around 54:23 He turned around and He looked at me 54:27 And He gently called my name 54:30 And He said follow Me 54:38 Come with Me on this road 54:42 He said follow Me 54:48 I need you here beside Me 54:52 He said follow Me 54:58 Come with Me on this road 55:02 He said follow Me 55:07 My love and peace will guide you 55:14 I was afraid 55:16 So afraid I wouldn't make it 55:19 So afraid to go 55:21 All the way up to Calvary 55:24 I went to back in the 21st century 55:28 I had a job, I had a home, responsibilities 55:34 What about my friends and family 55:37 But then He turned around 55:42 He turned around 55:46 He turned around and He looked at me 55:51 And He gently called my name 55:54 And He said follow Me 56:02 Come with Me on this road 56:06 He said follow Me 56:11 I need you here beside Me 56:15 He said follow Me 56:21 Come with Me on this road 56:25 He said follow Me 56:30 My love and peace will guide you 56:35 So I followed on 56:39 I followed in His foot steps 56:43 I followed in the way that He left for Me 56:46 To the strength of His love for all eternity 56:51 Then suddenly the fears came back to me 56:56 What if I made it all the way up that hill 56:59 And I actually saw Him 57:03 I actually saw Him 57:07 I actually saw Him dying on the cross 57:11 I actually saw Him dying for my sins 57:19 I could never, never turn back go again 57:25 And He said follow Me 57:33 Come with Me on this road 57:37 He said follow me 57:43 I need you here beside Me 57:47 He said follow Me 57:53 Come with Me on this road 57:57 He said follow Me |
Revised 2015-04-09