Participants: Pr. John Carter
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001723A
|
00:01 I'm John Carter in Moscow.
00:02 Now in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. 00:04 I'm John Carter in Petra. 00:06 Reporting from India. 00:08 In Columbia. 00:09 I'm John Carter. 00:11 Today, on the Carter Report, John Carter talks about 00:14 Great Balls of Fire and the signs of the times. 00:21 I'm just so glad to see you here today. 00:24 The topic is an amazing prophecy, 00:27 Great Balls of Fire. 00:30 I want to welcome our wonderful audience 00:33 here in Southern California, 00:36 our audience around the world 00:37 and specifically our new audience on FOX TV 00:43 in our nation's capital Washington, DC. 00:47 So the topic today is apocalyptic prophecy, 00:50 a tremendous thing, 00:52 it's entitled Great Balls of Fire, 00:57 with all apologies to Jerry Lee Lewis. 01:03 I want to read to you the words of a person 01:06 whom is considered by many Americans 01:08 to be a prophet, a modern day prophet. 01:12 This person wrote in 1906 right here 01:16 in the golden state of California. 01:19 "In the night I was, I thought in a room, 01:22 not in my own house. 01:25 I was in a city, where I knew not, 01:28 and I heard expression after expression. 01:33 I rose up quickly in bed and saw from my window 01:37 large balls of fire, jetting out were sparks 01:42 in the form of arrows, 01:44 and buildings were being consumed, 01:46 and in a few minutes, 01:48 the entire block of buildings was falling and mournful groans 01:52 came distinctly to my ears. 01:57 I cried out to learn what was happening, 02:01 then I awoke. 02:02 But I could not tell where I was for 02:05 I was in another place than home. 02:08 I said, "O Lord, where am I? 02:13 What shall I do?" 02:18 A voice spoke, "Be not afraid, nothing shall harm you." 02:25 Those words were written by an amazing woman 02:28 who had an impact upon the lives 02:30 of tens of millions of people, 02:33 an American by the name of Ellen White. 02:37 And she says that she had a vision given to her by God 02:42 and she saw these large balls of fire 02:47 that were consuming American cities. 02:52 Now what does it mean? 02:54 And most importantly, is it in harmony 02:58 with last day events as described in the Bible? 03:04 Now we ask this question, firstly, 03:06 what is the climax of history? 03:09 Because many people besides Christians believe 03:14 that we are approaching the great climax 03:17 in the history of the world. 03:20 I want you to take your Bible here in the studio 03:23 to John 14:1-3. 03:29 And this describes the climax of history. 03:33 Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled. 03:38 You believe in God, believe also in Me. 03:41 In My Father's house are many mansions. 03:44 If it were not so, I would have told you. 03:48 I go to prepare a place for you. 03:50 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 03:53 I will come again and receive you to Myself 04:00 that where I am, 04:01 there you may be also." 04:07 Jesus Christ said He would come again, 04:12 and this would be, He said, the very climax of history. 04:17 Now there is a pagan concept of time that I don't believe. 04:22 It is the idea that time is circular, 04:25 that everything repeats itself, ad nauseam. 04:29 This is the idea of the ancient Greeks, 04:31 the pagan world, and the Hindus today 04:35 that everything goes around and around. 04:38 That's why they have the doctrine of reincarnation, 04:42 but it leads to despair and hopelessness 04:45 because you can never really make a difference in the world. 04:48 Everything you're doing has already taken place. 04:52 But the Bible concept is entirely different 04:55 and it is entirely scientific. 04:58 It teaches that time had a beginning. 05:01 Listen to this, the Bible actually says 05:03 there was a time when there no was no time. 05:07 It says, "Before time began..." 05:12 We believe, from science and scripture, 05:16 that everything had a beginning and everything starts 05:20 with the divine Logos, the Word. 05:24 There was a debate that I watched between 05:26 the great Professor Dawkins and the great Professor Lennox 05:30 from Oxford University. 05:33 And Dawkins, being an agnostic or an atheist, said, 05:39 "Nothing, everything came from nothing." 05:44 And the great Professor Lennox, who is a committed Christian, 05:47 said, "No, everything came from intelligence. 05:52 It came from the Logos, 05:55 and everything moves towards a planned end. 06:00 And that end will be the return of Christ." 06:03 And the good news is this, my friends around the world, 06:09 there is coming a new heaven and a new earth 06:14 and then there will be the commencement 06:15 of billions of years of good times, 06:18 good times, perfect health, unlimited vitality 06:24 and energy, with family, friends, and loved ones, 06:29 and the personal presence of Christ, 06:32 and complete satisfaction. 06:36 This is why we have hope, 06:38 and this is why we are not suicidal. 06:44 I want you turn in the Bible to Book of Revelation, 06:46 the last book, Revelation 21:1-5. 06:50 Revelation 21:1-5, "Now I saw a new heaven 06:56 and a new earth, for the first heaven 06:58 and the first earth had passed away. 07:00 Also there was no more sea. 07:02 Then I, John, saw the holy city, 07:05 New Jerusalem, 07:06 coming down out of heaven from God, 07:08 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 07:12 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 07:14 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 07:17 and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. 07:21 God Himself will be with them and be their God. 07:24 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 07:29 there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. 07:34 There shall be no more pain, 07:37 for the former things have passed away.' 07:39 Then He who sat on the throne said, 07:42 'Behold, I make all things new.' 07:46 And He said to me, 'Write, for these words 07:48 are true and faithful.'" 07:50 So the Bible teaches there is a brand new, 07:54 beautiful, wonderful world coming. 07:58 It is so good, 08:00 it's going to be better than we can anticipate. 08:04 Twenty-five years ago, I brought a family 08:08 of Jewish refugees to the United States of America 08:12 and I brought them 08:14 to my hometown of Thousand Oaks. 08:17 I took them down to Albertsons 08:20 and took them through the supermarket. 08:22 This was a time when Russia, 08:25 the Russian economy had totally collapsed. 08:29 The atheistic system had absolutely fallen apart. 08:33 And I took them through, they said to me, 08:37 "It's so good, it's better than we expected." 08:42 They had come from a place of darkness and starvation 08:47 and now here they were 08:49 walking around America and they had freedom. 08:52 And they said, "It's better than anything 08:54 we had expected." 08:55 Heaven is going to be better than anything 08:58 that we can expect. 09:00 Everything moves towards this. This is the end. 09:03 But, now here's the but, before Christ returns, 09:08 there will be balls of fire and other great events. 09:12 Now I want you to take your Bible 09:14 and turn to Matthew 16:1-3. 09:18 Matthew 16:1-3, "Then the Pharisees 09:21 and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked 09:24 that He would show them a sign from heaven. 09:26 He answered and said to them, 'When it is evening you say, 09:29 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red', 09:32 and in the morning, 'it will be foul weather today, 09:34 for the sky is red and threatening.'' 09:36 Hypocrites! 09:37 You know how to discern the face of the sky, 09:41 but you cannot discern the signs of the times." 09:46 The signs of the times are written 09:50 in the prophecies of the Bible. 09:54 And one of those great signs 09:56 will be we're going to see balls of fire. 10:00 Jesus said, "You can predict the weather 10:03 by the face of the sky, 10:05 but you cannot discern the signs of the times." 10:09 And this expression could be used 10:12 concerning the religious world of today, 10:16 the signs of the times. 10:19 Our information will come largely from Matthew 24, 10:22 book on prophecy, Luke 21, chapter on prophecy, 10:26 Revelation 11, 10:28 and the Old Testament Book of Joel 10:31 which describes the last days. 10:33 Now turn with me, please, 10:35 to Matthew 24:1-3, 10:41 Matthew 24:1-3. 10:46 And this describes a conversation Jesus had 10:48 with His disciples. 10:50 "Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple. 10:53 His disciples came up to show Him 10:54 the buildings of the temple. 10:56 And Jesus said to them, 10:57 'Do you not see all these things? 10:59 Assuredly, I say to you, 11:00 not one stone shall be left here upon another, 11:03 that shall not be thrown down.'" 11:05 And then you notice verse 3, 11:08 "Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, 11:10 the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 11:12 'Tell us, when will these things be? 11:15 And what will be the sign of Your coming 11:18 and of the end of the age?'" 11:22 Or the end of the world. 11:26 And so listen carefully, 11:30 the Jewish temple was destroyed 11:33 by the Romans in 70 AD, AD 70. 11:40 It was symbolic of the end of the world 11:45 preceded by signs in the same way 11:48 the second coming of Christ will be preceded by signs. 11:55 And so the collapse of the Jewish city of Jerusalem 12:01 was a type of the end of the world. 12:05 And the disciples said, "What will be the sign 12:08 of Your coming and of the end of the world?" 12:11 Therefore the return of Christ will be the end of the age 12:15 and the end of the world. 12:18 And the Bible tells us it will be preceded 12:23 by the signs of the times. 12:27 The return of Christ equals the end of the world. 12:32 Notice now with me sign number one, 12:36 sign number one, here it is. 12:40 Signs, miracles, wonders, 12:45 lies, and deceptions. 12:48 Matthew 24:3-5, Jesus starts to preach. 12:54 Matthew 24:3-5, 12:58 "Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, 12:59 the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 13:01 'Tell us, when will these things be? 13:03 And what will be the sign of Your coming 13:06 and of the end of the age?' 13:07 And Jesus answered and said to them, 13:10 'Take heed that no one deceives you. 13:13 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' 13:18 and will deceive many.'" 13:23 Jesus said there'd be signs, 13:26 miracles, wonders, lies, 13:31 deceptions, false Christs. 13:37 In recent times, we have witnessed 13:40 millions and millions of people deceived 13:45 by preachers, politicians, 13:48 and gurus. 13:53 Almost all of Germany, about 95% of them, 13:57 the most educated people in the world, 14:02 Roman Catholics and Lutherans, 14:05 people who called themselves Christians, 14:09 95% of them 14:12 deceived by the Fuhrer. 14:16 Amazing, isn't it? 14:18 Amazing. 14:20 Yet people say today, we would not be deceived 14:24 like those foolish Germans 14:27 by the coming of a super personality. 14:34 Almost all Russia, I've been to Russia 48 times, 14:39 tens of millions, more than 100 million, 14:43 probably 200 million, 14:45 completely deceived by Lenin and Stalin. 14:48 Even though Stalin was killing people 14:51 by the millions, they were calling him, 14:54 our father. 14:56 Our father, what's wrong? 14:59 What is wrong? 15:00 Jesus said deception is one of the last signs. 15:05 In India, right now, 60 million are deceived 15:11 by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, 15:16 a convicted rapist, 15:18 convicted by the Indian Government 15:22 that did the right thing. 15:25 A convicted rapist, most likely a murderer 15:30 who pretends to be the voice of God 15:33 and 60 million people 15:36 fall down and worship. 15:41 Have mercy. 15:42 We may get it a little closer to us soon, so just hold on. 15:47 It is predicted that a person with great power 15:51 will counterfeit the return of Christ. 15:54 Please turn to II Thessalonians, 15:57 those of you who are watching, we quote from the Bible 16:01 because the Bible is the source of truth, 16:04 not the voice of the church, not the voice of the priest 16:08 or the pastor, anybody else, the voice of God's word. 16:12 II Thessalonians 2:7 and onwards, 16:16 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. 16:20 Only He who now restrains will do so 16:23 until He is taken out of the way. 16:26 And then the lawless one will be revealed 16:30 whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth 16:34 and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 16:40 The coming of the lawless one," the Antichrist, 16:43 "is according to the working of Satan, with all power, 16:48 signs, and lying wonders, 16:51 and with all unrighteous deception among those 16:55 who perish, because they did not receive 16:59 the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 17:03 And for this reason God will send them 17:08 strong delusion, 17:10 that they should believe the lie, 17:15 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth 17:19 but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 17:23 It's almost incomprehensible to the human mind to believe 17:28 that this great personality is going to come 17:31 and he's going to pretend to be Christ 17:34 and the whole world is going to bow down to him, 17:38 signs, miracles, wonders, 17:42 lies, and deceptions. 17:47 And I can show you in scripture where the Bible teaches 17:51 that the vast majority of people 17:54 who call themselves Christians 17:59 will worship the Antichrist. 18:02 Why? Why? 18:05 One primary reason is ignorance 18:09 that breeds gullibility. 18:13 Don't confuse me with the facts. 18:20 I believe what I believe. 18:22 I don't want anybody to disturb my thought processes. 18:29 Let me tell you folks something, 18:30 your safeguard and defense, 18:33 the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God, 18:37 that is why we encourage people 18:40 to personally read the Holy Scriptures. 18:43 That's why I say to people, "Read your Bible every day. 18:46 Read the bible." 18:47 Jesus said these words. 18:53 Jesus said that this is the very truth itself. 18:59 He said, "You shall know the truth 19:03 and the truth shall make you free." 19:09 I can tell you today that the world, 19:12 including the United States, is being prepared 19:17 for the coming 19:18 of the Antichrist. 19:24 Sign number two, 19:27 wars, famines, pestilences, 19:30 and earthquakes on an increasing intensity. 19:34 Matthew 24:6-8, 19:38 "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 19:41 See that you are not troubled for all these things 19:43 must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 19:45 For nation will rise against nation, 19:47 kingdom against kingdom. 19:49 There will be famines, pestilences, 19:52 and earthquakes in various places. 19:55 All these are the beginning of sorrows." 19:59 Look at me, the word sorrows means, 20:02 in the Greek, birth pains. 20:08 The birth pains become stronger, 20:13 more intense, 20:16 of greater intensity quicker and quicker and quicker 20:20 because there have always been wars and earthquakes 20:24 but they will increase. 20:28 I want you to come now, please, to Luke 21:25-27. 20:33 Luke 21:25-27, Jesus said, 20:37 "There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, 20:41 and in the stars, 20:42 and on the earth distress of nations, 20:45 with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, 20:50 men's hearts failing them from fear 20:53 and the expectation of those things 20:56 which are coming on the earth, 20:58 for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 21:02 Then they will see the Son of Man 21:03 coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 21:08 Jesus said on the earth, 21:13 the nations will be 21:14 in distress and perplexity. 21:20 The sea and the waves roaring, it seems, my friend, 21:26 to point to great hurricanes 21:29 as the sea heats up. 21:36 Something like we've never seen before. 21:40 Did you know this? 21:42 Remember this. 21:43 It is almost impossible to get someone to see a truth 21:46 when his salary depends upon his not seeing it. 21:52 It's almost impossible to get somebody to see 21:56 what's happening in the world 21:57 if it somehow tied to his paycheck. 22:07 These are the birth pains 22:08 that'll give birth to a new creation. 22:12 It's going to happen more and more and more. 22:15 And people who are atheists saying, 22:17 "What on earth is happening to the planet?" 22:21 The planet is groaning 22:23 and the planet is sending us a message, 22:26 and the message is Christ is coming, 22:29 Christ is coming. 22:30 Sign number three, 22:33 the great persecution 22:34 of the followers of Jesus Christ. 22:37 Please notice Matthew 24:9 and onwards, 22:42 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, 22:47 and you will be hated by all nations 22:48 for My name's sake. 22:50 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, 22:54 and will hate one another." 22:57 And then He says, "Then many false prophets 23:00 will rise up and deceive many." 23:06 The great persecution of the followers of Christ. 23:10 I have some facts for you that you won't hear 23:13 on too many television stations. 23:17 In our times, millions of Christians 23:20 in Russia have been killed by the communist atheists. 23:24 Millions have been killed in China 23:27 by the communist atheists in the times of Mao Zedong. 23:32 Today, today, tens of thousand of Christians 23:38 have been murdered 23:39 and are being murdered by Islamic terrorists. 23:45 Some people are afraid to use the term, 23:49 it is a fact. 23:53 Johan Candelin, the director 23:56 of Religious Liberty Commission wrote this, 24:00 "Hundreds of thousands of people today 24:02 are being killed, brutalized, sold as slaves, imprisoned, 24:08 tortured, threatened, discriminated against, 24:11 and arrested solely because they are Christians." 24:16 Today, there is a war against Christ and the Church. 24:22 "They are being subjected to persecution and sufferings, 24:25 the extent of which we can hardly begin to comprehend, 24:28 because of their faith... 24:31 more than 200 millions people in over 60 nations 24:36 are being denied their basic human rights 24:39 for one reason only, they are Christians." 24:44 You may not hear this on American television, 24:47 much of this suffering is happening in Africa 24:50 where churches are burning even as I speak, 24:54 it's happening in the Middle-East. 24:56 In Saudi Arabia, Christians are not allowed even to exist. 25:03 Didn't know that? 25:05 In Saudi Arabia, In China, and in India, 25:09 and in Indonesia, where the leader, 25:12 one of the leaders of the country 25:14 has just been thrown into prison 25:15 for one reason, he is a Christian. 25:21 But you know, God's church is no stranger to persecution, 25:26 and the church will survive, and the church will triumph. 25:32 I want you to notice this, Matthew 16:17-18, Jesus said, 25:39 He said to them, "Blessed are you, 25:41 Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood 25:43 has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 25:47 And I also say to you that you are Peter, 25:51 and on this rock I will build My church, 25:55 and the gates of hell, Hades, shall not prevail against it." 25:59 Let me tell you why you can't kill the church. 26:03 Now the church in Iraq has been decimated, 26:08 but I want you to know this, 26:11 you can't kill the church of Christ 26:14 because it is founded upon the rock 26:18 and the rock is Christ himself. 26:21 Now we'll be back in just a few moments 26:26 and I'm going to talk then about 26:28 the Great Balls of Fire 26:30 that have prophetically been seen 26:34 falling over American cities, back with some amazing truths. 26:52 Do you sometimes get lost in the crowd? 26:55 Do you feel there's just no love in the room, 26:57 like everybody is against you, 26:58 you're all alone with no one to lean on? 27:00 Do you need a word of encouragement? 27:02 Do you know God? 27:04 Have you tried prayer? 27:05 Pastor Carter would like to pray for you now. 27:08 Let us pray. 27:09 Call 1800-526-9777. 27:13 Nothing to buy, the call is free. 27:16 Call 1800-526-9777. 27:23 1.3 billion people live in India. 27:27 200 million of these are Dalits, 27:30 formerly called untouchables, 100% of your gift 27:34 will go to fund projects for Dalit girls 27:37 as an alternative. 27:39 Your gift of $600 will educate, clothe, 27:42 and feed one Dalit girl 27:44 between 5 and 15 years of age for 1 full year. 27:49 Go to Cartereport.org 27:51 or to the address on the screen. 27:56 For a copy of today's program, 27:58 please contact us at PO Box 1900, 28:01 Thousand Oaks, CA 91358, or in Australia, 28:07 contact us at PO Box 861, 28:11 Terrigal, NSW 2260. 28:15 This program is made possible 28:17 through the generous support of viewers like you. 28:20 We thank you for your continued support. 28:23 May God richly bless you. |
Revised 2017-11-28