Participants: Geoff Youlden
Series Code: FGW
Program Code: FGW000004
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00:27 Prior to the Second World War,
00:29 the tiny little island of Guam was controlled 00:31 by the United States of America. 00:33 And then you'll remember that at the beginning of the war, 00:36 Japan attacked the little island, and then it was taken 00:41 over by the Japanese until the Americans got it back 00:45 toward the end of the Second World War. 00:47 And for awhile they were rounding up Japanese soldiers 00:50 on the island of Guam and they put them 00:52 into an internment camp until the end of the war, 00:55 when they were released. 00:58 In 1960, which was 15 years after the end 01:02 of the Second World War, a Guamanian was out 01:06 in the bush when he thought he saw two Japanese soldiers. 01:10 Now he thought to himself that's impossible, 01:12 this is 1960. 01:15 Fifteen years after the end of the war, 01:17 but he was sufficiently convinced in his heart 01:19 that he had seen two Japanese soldiers. 01:23 So he reported to the authorities and they sent 01:25 out a search party, they believed 01:26 him enough to do that. 01:28 And within two days they found these two Japanese soldiers. 01:33 Now you can imagine what they look like after 15 years 01:36 with one suit of clothes, the uniform. 01:40 And they had lived more like animals than human beings, 01:42 you can imagine what their skin looked like, 01:45 sores and ulcers, they were in a bad way. 01:50 So they brought them in and they said to them, 01:52 "Look, gentlemen, the war is over, we're friends now." 01:56 But they wouldn't believe it, they thought this is just 01:58 another trick of the allies. 02:01 So they questioned them some more and they found that 02:03 one of the fellows claimed that he had a sister. 02:06 Now, of course, he didn't know and they didn't know 02:09 whether she was still alive, but they got 02:12 onto the authorities in Tokyo and they said, 02:14 "Look, we've found these two Japanese soldiers 02:17 and one claims that he has a sister, 02:20 by a certain name, try to find her." 02:23 Well, eventually they turned her up and they told her 02:26 that they had found her brother. 02:28 Now she was delighted because she had thought years ago 02:31 the he'd been killed in action. 02:34 So when she found out that he was still alive, 02:36 she was very, very happy. 02:38 They said, "Look, will you try to convince your brother 02:42 that the war is over, we can't convince him." 02:45 So she got on a telephone and tried to tell her brother 02:49 that the war was over that we were friends now, 02:51 but he wouldn't believe her either. 02:53 So finally, what they did is they put them on an airplane 02:56 and they flew them back to Tokyo. 02:59 Now as the plane was coming in and rounding and banking 03:02 and coming into land of the airport. 03:04 Of course it was quite low 03:06 and they could look out the window. 03:08 And they saw Tokyo in 1960, they remembered it in 1939. 03:16 And you can imagine the changes that took place 03:19 in those years and they could hardly believe 03:22 what they were seeing when they looked out the window. 03:25 Well, the plane pulled up and of course, all their families 03:28 were there to come out and meet them and to greet them 03:30 and there was a great happy reunion. 03:34 And I often thought about that story because that isn't true 03:37 story that actually happened. 03:41 And I often thought about those two fellows 03:43 and the regrets that they must have had in their hearts, 03:47 remembering that they could have been back 03:49 in relative comfort in Tokyo. 03:51 And here they were for 15 years living like animals. 03:56 And I have thought that it's like 03:59 an illustration of mankind today. 04:01 Most people do not know that peace has been declared 04:05 between God and man through Jesus. 04:08 Most people don't know that. 04:10 And they certainly don't know that 04:12 God has a special message in these last days 04:15 and this message is to go to the whole world to-- 04:18 In fact, to every person living on the Earth, 04:21 so that they can find out that Jesus is coming again soon. 04:27 And that's the message of the Book of Revelation. 04:30 And I'd like you to open your Bibles 04:33 tonight to Revelation Chapter 14. 04:36 Now the 14th Chapter of Revelation really is-- 04:39 has the center message of the Book of Revelation. 04:43 And tonight we're studying the question of 04:45 how to understand the Book of Revelation. 04:48 And right almost in the center of this book 04:52 is a very special message. 04:56 And this message starts in verse 6. 05:01 Revelation 14 verse 6, "Then I saw another angel 05:05 flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel 05:10 to preach to those who dwell on the Earth to every nation, 05:14 tribe, tongue, and people. 05:17 Saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God 05:20 and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment 05:23 has come, and worship Him who made heaven and Earth, 05:27 the sea and the springs of water.' 05:31 And another angel followed saying, 'Babylon is fallen, 05:34 is fallen, that great city, because she has made 05:38 all nations drink of the wine of the wrath 05:41 of her fornication.' 05:43 Then a third angel followed them, 05:44 saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships 05:47 the beast and his image, 05:49 and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 05:53 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 05:57 which is poured out full strength into the cup 06:00 of His indignation. 06:02 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 06:04 in the presence of the holy angels 06:06 and in the presence of the Lamb. 06:08 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, 06:12 and they have no rest day or night, 06:14 who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives 06:17 the mark of his name.' 06:20 Here is the patience of the saints, 06:23 here are those who keep the commandments of God 06:26 and the faith of Jesus." 06:28 And then after hearing these three messages, 06:31 John then further writes, "Then I heard a voice 06:34 from heaven, saying to me, 'Write, Blessed are the dead 06:37 who die in the Lord from now on,' "Yes," says the Spirit, 06:40 'that they may rest from their labors, 06:42 and their works follow them.' 06:44 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, 06:47 and on the cloud sat one like the Son of Man, 06:50 having on His head a golden crown, 06:52 and in His hand a sharp sickle. 06:54 And another angel came out of the temple, 06:57 crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, 07:00 'Thrust in Your sickle and reap, 07:02 for the time has come for You to reap, 07:05 for the harvest of the Earth is ripe." 07:10 Now you can see why people probably have turned away 07:13 from the Book of Revelation because it's just 07:15 full of code language, isn't it? 07:19 Full of imagery and people have said to me, 07:22 "Why is the Book of Revelation written like that? 07:26 Why wasn't it just written in straight forward language?" 07:31 Well, there's a very good reason that 07:33 God wrote the Book of Revelation in code language 07:36 and I'll tell you why? 07:37 You will remember that when the John wrote 07:39 the Book of Revelation, where was he? 07:42 Do you remember? 07:44 Yes, he was on a island of Patmos by invitation 07:47 of the Roman Government. 07:49 Because Patmos was the Alcatraz 07:53 of the ancient world, nobody got off Patmos. 07:57 The worst criminals were placed on Patmos, 08:00 the most troublesome. 08:02 That Rome regarded were exile to Patmos. 08:07 And John was considered to be troublesome 08:09 because of his beliefs, his Christian 08:12 understanding and his beliefs. 08:13 And so he was banished to the island of Patmos. 08:17 Now, you know, as well as I do that when you are a prisoner 08:20 and you are on the inside and you want to get 08:23 something on the outside. 08:27 What will happen to it before it gets 08:29 on the outside guaranteed? 08:32 Yes, it will be read, isn't that right? Absolutely. 08:38 So John gets the Revelation, God gives him the Revelation. 08:42 He writes it down, but John's got a major problem. 08:45 Because it's addressed to the seven churches in Asia, 08:49 how is he going to get it out of this maximum security prison 08:56 to the people that it's addressed to? 08:59 Major problem. 09:01 Because the Book of Revelation foretold 09:06 the demise of the Roman Empire. 09:09 So can you imagine that when the Roman's soldiers 09:11 begin to read the Book of Revelation. 09:13 And they read that the Roman Empire was going to crumble, 09:19 what do you think would have happened 09:20 to John and the Book of Revelation, 09:22 if they had realized that 09:23 that's what it was talking about? 09:27 It would have been destroyed 09:28 and John would have been killed. 09:30 So God has hidden the meaning from those who would 09:37 do it harm, get the thought. 09:39 On the other hand, if you go down through the Middle Ages, 09:42 you'll find that the Book of Revelation 09:43 exposes the false teachings of the great false church 09:48 of the middle ages. 09:49 And if that church had realized that the Book of Revelation 09:53 condemns its religious practices as it does, 09:57 instead of preserving the Bible, 09:59 they would have wiped it out too. 10:01 So God in His wisdom has written the Book of Revelation 10:05 in this language, this code language. 10:09 But for those who want to understand, the Bible explains 10:14 what the code language means. 10:18 But for those who have no other interest 10:20 but to harm Christianity and the Book of Revelation, 10:25 God has hidden it from them. 10:28 And that's why the Book of Revelation 10:30 is written in the language that it's written in. 10:33 But as I said, it's very easy to explain when we follow 10:36 the principles that we've been noticing so far 10:38 in our program of comparing scripture 10:41 with scripture of allowing the Bible 10:43 to be its own interpreter. 10:46 And here we find these three messages, 10:49 going to the whole world to every nation, 10:52 kindred, tongue, and people and they're given under 10:54 the figure of three angels. 10:56 Now why three angels? 10:59 Well, I guess when we understand the situation 11:03 or we cast our mind back to the time when John was writing. 11:07 If he was going to understand a message 11:09 that was going to go completely around the world. 11:14 The only thing that John understood 11:16 that could take a message all around the world 11:19 would be an angel. 11:23 He never heard of satellites, he never heard of airplanes. 11:29 So the only thing in his mind that could take a message 11:32 to every person living on the Earth would be angels. 11:36 And maybe, if John was writing today the Book of Revelation, 11:39 he wouldn't talk about three angels, he perhaps talk 11:42 about three satellites or something like that. 11:47 Because he would be talking in the language 11:50 that people understood at the time 11:52 when the Book of Revelation was being written. 11:56 And so under the figure of three angels 11:58 we had three mighty messages going all around the world 12:02 to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. 12:07 And as soon as these three messages go, because the word 12:11 angel simply means message or messenger. 12:16 And as soon as these three messages go, you'll remember 12:20 that we read about the harvest of the Earth being reaped, 12:24 with the Son of Man coming with the sickle in his hand 12:27 ready to reap the harvest of the Earth. 12:30 You know, it's interesting today when you travel 12:31 around the world, particularly in the east 12:33 you will still see people cutting their lawn 12:36 and their crops with a sickle. 12:41 You go to Indonesia, some parts of Asia, 12:44 they cut their lawn with a sickle still. 12:48 It's obviously cheaper than the lawn mower. 12:52 And so this language was very clearly understood 12:57 by those that John was writing to. 13:00 Three mighty messages under the figure of three angels 13:03 going to the whole world and then John 13:06 sees the Son of Man Jesus coming back ready to reap 13:10 the harvest of the Earth. 13:15 You know, everywhere I go people tell me that the world 13:17 is never going to come to an end. 13:19 Just come over to the Book of Matthew in the New Testament, 13:22 Matthew Chapter 13. 13:25 And I'll read you here a very interesting statement, 13:28 Matthew 13 and it's not surprising that Jesus 13:32 is the best one to interpret Revelation. 13:35 Actually the Book of Revelation 13:37 is known as the Revelation of Jesus 13:41 and if there's one book in the entire world 13:44 that Christians ought to understand, 13:46 it's the Book of Revelation. 13:49 Because you see Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John 13:51 are about Jesus, but Revelation, 13:54 it's the Revelation of Jesus. 13:57 It's Jesus' own Book and the tragedy is 14:00 that most Christians, even those who go to church 14:03 regularly hardly have any understanding 14:07 of the Book of Revelation. 14:09 And I'm going to explain to you in a few moments 14:11 why that is the case. 14:14 Because the devil has made sure 14:18 that we don't study the Book of Revelation. 14:21 But I'll say, as far as the books of the Bible 14:23 are concerned, the Book of Revelation really 14:26 is the most important because the whole of the Bible 14:29 ends and climaxes in the Book of Revelation. 14:33 It has the last message for a world, 14:37 just before Jesus comes back. 14:39 Just notice here, Revelation-- 14:41 Matthew Chapter 13 and verse 35, 14:45 Matthew 13 and verse 35, and Jesus makes a statement. 14:52 Matthew, the 13th Chapter and we'll pick it up in verse 38, 14:57 there it is, verse 38. 14:58 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons 15:02 of the kingdom, but the tares 15:04 are the sons of the wicked one. 15:06 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, 15:09 the harvest is," what? 15:12 "The end of the age, and the reapers are the angels." 15:17 So Jesus clearly taught that the world 15:20 is going to come to an end 15:23 and the harvest represents the end of the world. 15:26 So you see the purpose of these three messages 15:29 is to get the world ready for the harvest 15:31 or the end of the world or the coming of Jesus. 15:36 In fact, this is the last message that goes to the world 15:40 just before the Son of Man comes, ready to reap 15:43 the harvest of the Earth or bring the Earth to an end. 15:48 So you can sense that this is a very, 15:50 very important message. 15:52 If it's a last message that goes to the world. 15:56 Now, you remember that when Jesus came to the Earth, 15:59 the first time as a baby in Bethlehem. 16:01 God had his messenger to prepare the then known world, 16:07 particularly Israel, Palestine for the coming of the Messiah. 16:13 Let me read that to you from the Old Testament, 16:15 the Book of Malachi, which is just before Matthew, 16:19 Malachi is the last Book of the Old Testament, 16:21 Chapter 3 and verse 1. And here's a prophecy. 16:26 Malachi Chapter 3 verse 1, 16:28 and this is what the prophecy says, written over 400 years 16:33 before Jesus was born. 16:35 Malachi Chapter 3 and verse 1 says, 16:38 "Behold, I send My messenger, 16:41 and he will prepare the way before Me." 16:47 Now here is a prediction that 16:49 God is going to send His messenger, 16:51 you'll notice messenger is in small "m", my messenger, 16:56 that's God's messenger is going to be sent. 16:58 And he's going to prepare the way before Me, 17:01 "ME" is in capitals recognizing that this represents Jesus. 17:07 God was going to send His messenger and that messenger 17:10 was going to prepare the way before Me. 17:14 Now, who was the messenger that God sent in order 17:18 to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus, 17:21 the first time. 17:23 Well, I'm sure you know, 17:25 but let me read it to you and you'll see how wonderful 17:27 the Bible is and how simply the Bible 17:30 explains itself and interprets itself. 17:33 Just come over to Matthew Chapter 11 17:35 and we'll pick up verse 10. 17:37 Matthew 11 and verse 10. 17:42 And see if you, we've read these words before. 17:46 You'll notice they're in dented which means 17:47 that they're quoted, have a look at verse 10. 17:50 "For this is he of whom it is written, 17:53 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, 17:57 Who will prepare Your way before You."' 18:02 Where have we read that statement before? 18:05 That statement that's indented in the Bible 18:07 that you have there, because it's a quote, 18:10 where's Jesus quoting from? 18:13 Is he's quoting from Malachi? 18:16 He's picked up the very words that we read in Malachi 18:18 and now he is quoting them and he's applying them. 18:23 Who is the person that He's applying them to, verse 11, 18:27 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women 18:30 there hath not arisen one greater than," whom? 18:34 "John the Baptist." 18:35 So you see John the Baptist was God's messenger 18:40 and what was his job? 18:42 To prepare the way for the coming of Jesus, 18:45 the first time. 18:48 Now, in these last days when God has a message 18:52 which is not going to one nation now, but it's going 18:55 to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 19:00 The Book of Revelation says, God doesn't have one message. 19:03 He has three. 19:09 And I believe that that's the reason why we have such 19:11 amazing inventions today, like satellites. 19:15 The technology that has been discovered in these last days 19:20 while much of it is being abused 19:22 and used for bad purposes. 19:24 Nevertheless, it's also being used for good purposes. 19:28 And these discoveries have been made so that God's 19:32 message can be carried to every person, every nation, 19:35 kindred, tongue, and people, every person on the globe 19:39 can have an opportunity of hearing God's message. 19:46 Let's have a look back at this message 19:48 in a little more detail now. 19:49 Just come back to Revelation Chapter 14. 19:53 And we'll notice again these messages 19:57 as we go through them step-by-step. 19:59 Revelation Chapter 14 and verse 6. 20:06 Verse 6 says, "Then I saw another angel 20:09 flying in the midst of heaven, 20:12 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell 20:16 on the Earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people." 20:22 Let me just pause there for a moment. 20:24 This is the everlasting gospel, this is still 20:27 the gospel that has always been true. 20:31 The gospel that was true in Adam's day, the gospel 20:34 that was true in Moses' day, the gospel that was true 20:38 in the prophets' day, the gospel that was true 20:41 in Jesus' day, and the gospel that still true today, 20:46 the everlasting gospel. 20:47 This is not some new fangled idea. 20:50 Some clear teaching of some sect in the last days. 20:53 No, no, no. This is the everlasting gospel. 20:58 And it's to go to every person on the globe. 21:02 Listen, if it's to go to every nation, 21:04 kindred, tongue, and people does that mean 21:07 the message must be here in Australia? Absolutely. 21:11 Would it be in the South-Sea Islands? 21:14 Would it be in Africa? Would it be in Asia? 21:18 Would it be in Europe? Would it be in America? 21:22 Everywhere, because it's got to go to every nation, 21:25 kindred, tongue, and people. 21:28 You won't have any trouble identifying this message 21:31 because it is a worldwide message. 21:36 Not just being taught by someone here or there, 21:39 this is a great worldwide message. 21:44 All right, let's read on saying verse 7, 21:47 "Saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God, 21:50 and give glory to Him, 21:52 for the hour of his judgment has come 21:55 and worship Him who made heaven, and Earth, the sea, 22:00 and the springs of water." 22:02 Tell me why would that be relevant, do you think today 22:04 to worship Him who made the heavens and the Earth 22:08 and all that in them is? 22:09 Why would that be relevant today in our 21st century 22:15 to worship God as the Creator? 22:18 Is that relevant perhaps is the question to ask? 22:21 Why is it relevant? 22:24 What is the major teaching that is being taught 22:27 in just about every school of learning 22:30 around the world today, what is it? 22:32 Evolution. Evolution. 22:35 And the Bible says that, "Part of the three messages, 22:39 the last message that goes to the world and how up-to-date 22:43 this is when you consider that this was written 22:45 2000 years ago and God knew that one of the big issues 22:48 in the last days is going to be worshiping Him 22:51 who made the heavens and the Earth. 22:54 In other words, the theory of evolution 22:56 has no part whatsoever in God's 22:59 last message to the world. 23:01 Because it will be emphasizing a message that is to worship Him 23:06 who made the heavens and the Earth. 23:11 You know, there's something very interesting also about 23:14 the Book of Revelation and that is this. 23:19 For every truth that God has, the devil has a counterfeit. 23:26 Do you know what a counterfeit is? 23:29 A counterfeit is something that looks like the real thing, 23:34 but isn't the real thing, isn't that right? 23:37 For example, if I was to pass you around tonight 23:43 a $100 note and it was red and I gave it to you and I said, 23:49 "Look, just give me $80 back, you keep the change." 23:57 Would you fall for that? Would you? 24:02 Why not? 24:04 Because a $100 notes in Australia are not red. 24:09 Are they? They're green? 24:13 And you wouldn't fault for-- 24:14 that wouldn't be a counterfeit at all, 24:16 blind Harry would know that that wasn't 24:19 a $100 note almost. 24:22 But when if I handed you a green one, 24:26 and it had $100 on it and it felt like and it look like 24:31 in every way, it look like a $100. 24:35 But it was a counterfeit because there were some 24:37 slight changes made, this had no been printed 24:41 by the mint at all, this had been printed 24:44 by some counterfeiters. 24:48 And I'll guarantee this that if I didn't tell you 24:51 it was a counterfeit, hardly anyone if not probably nobody 24:56 here would know the difference. 24:59 Because unless you're trained to be able to tell 25:02 the difference between the genuine and counterfeit, 25:05 you would think that it feels like, 25:07 looks like the real thing, it is the real thing, 25:09 isn't that right? 25:11 That's what we would conclude 25:12 and that's why are deceived with counterfeit money. 25:17 Now that's the way the devil works. 25:20 For every truth that God has, the devil has a counterfeit. 25:24 And the counterfeit looks like and appears like 25:28 the real thing. 25:30 But there are subtle changes made. 25:34 And because the average person hardly studies 25:36 their Bible today, they wouldn't know the difference. 25:39 And because the counterfeit uses Biblical terminology 25:43 and Christian terms, people conclude. 25:46 Well, it must be from God 25:48 because it uses Christian language. 25:51 But that doesn't make it from God at all. 25:54 That's why it's so important for us to study the book. 25:58 Because unless we know what the Bible says, 26:03 I tell you, friend, you're going to be deceived. 26:05 Because only those people who have studied the Bible 26:08 are going to be saved from deception 26:12 because the deception is very subtle. 26:14 Now let me give you an illustration of how the devil 26:16 has a counterfeit just as God has three messages 26:20 so the devil has three messages, 26:21 let me read them to you. 26:22 Come over to Revelation Chapter 16, 26:25 Revelation Chapter 16 and notice down here in verse 13, 26:33 Chapter 16 and verse 13. 26:37 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs 26:42 coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 26:45 out of the mouth of the beast, 26:48 and out of the mouth of the false prophet." 26:53 So you see here is the devil's trinity, 26:57 just as God has three messages going, 27:01 so the devil has three messages going, 27:03 they're like unto frogs. 27:06 The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 27:10 Now let's read on verse 14, 27:12 "For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, 27:19 which go out the kings of the Earth and of the whole world, 27:22 to gather them to that battle 27:24 of that great day of God Almighty." 27:29 You see, just as God has three messages going out 27:32 to the whole world, so the devil has three messages 27:35 going out to the whole world. 27:38 Leading to the great battle of Armageddon 27:40 and as we read there verse 14, what methodology 27:46 is the devil going to use as his prime target of deception 27:52 in order to lead people into thinking 27:55 that this message is from God. 27:58 What is it? 28:00 He's going to use signs 28:02 or miracles and wonders, that's right. 28:05 That's going to be his trump card. 28:09 Miracles, you know, I've had people tell me 28:11 it must be from God because in our church we have miracles. 28:16 I want to tell you, friend, 28:17 that's the most dangerous position to take. 28:21 Because the devil can perform the same miracles 28:25 that God performs and the Bible gives us illustrations of that. 28:28 When Moses went in before Pharaoh, 28:30 he threw his staff down, it was changed to a snake, remember? 28:34 And Pharaoh's magicians not to be out done 28:36 threw their staff down and likewise 28:40 they would change into snakes. 28:44 People said to me, why would the devil heal someone? 28:48 Listen, the devil can make somebody sick 28:52 and then he can heal him, why would he do that? 28:55 To confirm that person more in the error 28:58 that they're already believing in. 29:01 And I've had people say to me, Geoff, 29:02 what you are teaching from the Bible 29:04 I can't contradict it, it's biblical but, they say, 29:09 in our church we have miracles. 29:11 I'm gonna tell you friend 29:12 that is a most dangerous position to take. 29:15 Because even a good magician can deceive your senses, 29:19 let alone the devil, who's had thousands of years of practice. 29:25 We don't base religion on so called miracles, 29:28 because the Bible has warned us over and over and over again 29:32 that that's going to be the devil's trump card 29:34 in the last days, 29:37 because everybody is impressed with a miracle. 29:43 I mean, people are entertained and impressed with a magician. 29:46 Let alone someone who performs, able to perform a miracle, 29:49 that really gets people's attention. 29:51 And the devil knows that, that's why he is using this 29:54 as his most cunning method of deception. 29:56 And just as God has three messages 29:58 going out to the world in the last days, 30:01 so the devil has three messages 30:02 going out to the world in the last days. 30:05 And so the world is divided and this is one of the reasons 30:08 why the devil hates the Book of Revelation. 30:10 Because the purpose of the Book of Revelation 30:12 is to expose the devil's counterfeit. 30:17 Because once you understand the Book of Revelation, 30:20 then you understand how the devil 30:22 is working in these last days. 30:25 Because God has foreseen the way 30:27 He was going to work and He's written it down 30:30 and he's explained to this all in very, very simple language. 30:35 And as I say, right through the Book of Revelation, 30:38 it exposes the devil's counterfeit. 30:41 Well, let's read on, come back to Revelation Chapter 14. 30:44 And we'll notice the second message now 30:46 just briefly have a look at the first message. 30:49 Let's have a look at verse 8 of Chapter 14 now. 30:52 Revelation 14 and verse 8, "And another angel followed, saying. 30:57 Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 31:01 because she has made all nations drink of the wine 31:06 of the wrath of her fornication.'' 31:09 Now the second message concerns the fall of Babylon. 31:15 Now obviously this is not the old city of the Babylon, 31:17 the Bible said, it would never be inhabited. 31:20 But you see Babylon was one of the earliest cities 31:23 that was ever built. 31:24 In fact, you will remember that after the flood, 31:26 God told the people to go out 31:29 and fill the Earth, populate the Earth. 31:31 But they said no, we're going to build the city. 31:35 And remember the city that they built and in the midst 31:37 there was a tower called the Tower of Babel. 31:42 They built the city called Babel. 31:46 And Babel simply means confusion, 31:48 because while they were building the tower of Babel. 31:50 Remember God confused their language 31:53 and so all through the Bible 31:54 Babylon is used as a symbol of confusion. 31:58 That which has been built up in direct opposition to God. 32:03 because Babylon was a very, very religious city, very religious. 32:11 And so in the last days we find that the same religion 32:15 that started back there in ancient Babylon 32:17 is going to take the world by storm. 32:22 And it says, "All the nations 32:25 have been made drunk on Babylon's maddening wine." 32:30 And you know, I've learned some things over the years 32:32 and that is you cant reason with a drunk person, is that right? 32:37 Because, alcohol befuddles a person's brain. 32:42 Once you've got alcohol in your brain, no more reasoning. 32:49 And so the Bible uses the symbol that Babylon 32:53 has made the world drunk on her teaching. 32:58 That's why we must have the spirit of God 33:00 when we go out to help people to understand, 33:02 because people's brains have become befuddled 33:06 with Babylon's false teachings. 33:11 Well, let's read on, verse 9, the third message. 33:15 "Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 33:18 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, 33:22 and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 33:26 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 33:30 which is poured out full strength 33:31 into the cup of His indignation. 33:34 He shall be tormented with fire 33:35 and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels 33:38 and in the presence of the Lamb. 33:40 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, 33:43 and they have no rest day or night, 33:45 who worship the beast and his image, 33:47 and whoever receives the mark of his name.'' 33:51 Now one thing is very certain I think, as we read these words 33:56 and that is if you get the mark of the beast 33:58 which way are you going? 33:59 Up or down, in a pretty big way isn't that right? 34:05 Language could never be plain within that. 34:08 And yet I would go so far as to saying that, 34:10 I don't want to sound critical when I say this, 34:12 but you could go along to the average church for 50 years 34:15 and never hear a sermon on the mark of the beast. 34:17 And yet the worst warning that's given 34:23 anyway in scripture is given against those 34:25 who get the mark of the beast and yet most people 34:28 have no idea about it whatsoever. 34:31 No wonder God has a message in these last days, 34:34 which is telling people about these issues. 34:39 And then it says in verse 12, 34:43 "Here is the patience of the saints, 34:46 here are those who keep 34:47 the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." 34:52 You know, it's an interesting thing that 34:53 whenever you find the mark of the beast 34:55 spoken off in the Book of Revelation in contrast 34:58 you always have God's people who are faithful to Jesus 35:02 and faithful to His commandments. 35:04 Because there's something about those commandments 35:07 that if we play fast and loose with them, 35:10 we'll get the mark of the beast. 35:12 On the other hand, if we're faithful to Jesus 35:14 and faithful to His commandments, 35:16 we will never get the mark of the beast. 35:19 And the tragedy is this. 35:22 Everywhere I go today, I find Christian people telling me 35:26 that the commandments have been done away with it. 35:31 Or they've been nailed to the cross. 35:34 You're not under the law any longer, 35:36 because you're under grace. 35:39 And I think that verse teaches us that 35:40 the commandments have been done way with 35:42 because we're saved by grace. 35:43 Listen, whenever you hear people talk like that 35:47 you know that they don't understand God's last message. 35:51 Because part of God's last message for these days 35:55 is an emphasis on being faithful to Jesus 35:59 and being faithful to His commandments. 36:01 Because the two things go together. 36:06 And I'm looking around for people 36:07 who are emphasizing faithfulness to Jesus 36:12 and faithfulness to His commandments. 36:14 And I think that you ought to be looking for that too. 36:17 Because God says that's one of the great 36:20 identifying marks of God's people in the last days. 36:27 Well, people said to me, Geoff, what church? 36:30 Well actually this is not a matter of church at all 36:33 because this is God's interdenominational message. 36:37 This is a message that God wants everybody around the world 36:41 to accept and not only everybody to accept, 36:45 but He wants everybody to give and to preach and to teach. 36:52 And this message is far bigger than just a church. 36:56 In fact, this message is the most important thing 36:59 that's going on in the world today by nothing. 37:03 Vastly more important to know 37:04 what happens over there in Iraq or in the Middle-East 37:07 or anywhere else around the world. 37:11 In fact, we might call this God's present truth, 37:14 you say, what do you mean by that? 37:15 Well, there are some things in the Bible 37:17 that are always true, for example, 37:19 the Bible is God inspired word is always true. 37:25 The Jesus died a complete atoning death 37:28 on the cross is always true. 37:32 But there are some things in the Bible 37:35 that are true only for a period. 37:38 For example, if I came preaching 37:41 that the world is going to be destroyed by a flood, 37:44 the same message that Noah preached, 37:46 would that be true now? 37:48 No, it was true when Noah preached it, 37:51 but it's not true now, get the thought? 37:53 It was present truth in Noah's day 37:55 but it's not present truth now. 38:00 And there are some things that are taught in the Bible 38:03 that are true only for a particular period, 38:06 that's why the Bible calls it present truth. 38:10 Peter calls it present truth. 38:14 And this message is present truth. 38:17 Because look, this message is to us 38:22 as important as the message that 38:24 Noah preached to the people of his day. 38:29 Remember that Noah preached the message 38:31 and if the people didn't accept that message, 38:33 they were lost, is that right? 38:36 It was God's last message 38:38 before the world was destroyed by water. 38:41 And Jesus said, as it was in the days of Noah 38:44 so it's going to be in the days of 38:46 the coming of the Son of Man. 38:47 And in these last days, the Book of Revelation says, 38:50 "God has a last message." 38:54 Like the message of Noah, for the last days 38:57 and it's encapsulated in Revelation 14:6-12, 39:01 that message that goes to every nation, 39:03 kindred, tongue and people. 39:04 Because as soon as those three messages go to the world, 39:08 then Jesus comes back, the harvest of the Earth is reaped. 39:13 And that's why it's so important for us 39:15 to understand this message and to accept this message. 39:19 This message is as important to us 39:22 as a message was of Noah to people of his days, 39:26 just as important. 39:30 Well, you say, who was preaching this message? 39:33 Well, when Jesus came the first time, 39:36 did the established church in His day accept the message 39:39 that Jesus had for that hour, the present truth 39:42 that He had for that moment. 39:43 Did they accept it? 39:45 No, they didn't unfortunately and they crucified Him. 39:49 Now listen, I've been through the writing of men like 39:51 Martin Luther, and John Knox, and John Wesley, and John Kelvin 39:57 and these great reformers, wonderful men of God. 40:02 But not one of them has had the burden 40:05 of these three messages, why? 40:09 Why didn't Luther, and Kelvin and Wesley, 40:12 and so forth and these great reformers, 40:14 why didn't they preach 40:16 this Book of Revelation and this message? 40:19 Was it because they weren't good men? 40:21 Was that the reason? No, that's not the reason. 40:24 Was it because they didn't study their Bible's properly? 40:28 No, that's not the reason. What is the reason? 40:32 Yes, because it wasn't yet due, that's why. 40:38 God never gave the burden to Martin Luther and to John Knox, 40:41 and to John Wesley and to John Kelvin. 40:43 Because it wouldn't have been true back 100 of years ago 40:47 to say that Jesus was coming soon. 40:50 And they never preached this message. 40:53 But in these last days, God has a special message, 40:59 like the message of Noah. 41:01 Because you cannot understand, you couldn't believe 41:04 that God would have a great calamity like 41:07 His second coming back to this Earth 41:10 without telling people about it. 41:12 As you couldn't imagine that God would not have a message 41:15 of warning before the flood came and of course, he did. 41:20 And in these last days God has a message of warning 41:23 before the world is going to be destroyed by fire, 41:27 as it was destroyed by water back in the days of Noah. 41:34 And so this message hasn't been preached in the past 41:37 and unfortunately those churches that have patterned their life 41:40 on those men have never embraced the Book of Revelation 41:44 that's why, if you have been brought up in those churches 41:46 you not heard hardly a whisper about it. 41:50 Not because those men were not good men 41:53 but simply they died before the time 41:56 was due to preach this message. 41:59 I believe if they were alive today, 42:01 they would be the foremost preachers of this message. 42:05 Because they were faithful to the message that 42:07 God gave them in their day and if they were alive today 42:10 they would be faithful to the message 42:11 that God has given to us in these last days. 42:17 Well, are the churches preaching it. 42:19 Let me illustrate, some years ago 42:20 I was over in New South Wales and I was about to run 42:24 some meetings and before I ran the meetings 42:26 I was doing a little collecting for medical missions 42:28 and I called on a lady's home. 42:30 I didn't know who was there until I knocked in the door 42:32 and she came and answered the door. 42:34 And she wants to know what I was about 42:35 and I explained and she said, "Why do you come here." 42:41 She was a little aggressive. "Why did you come here?" 42:43 Well, I said, because God has a special message 42:46 to preach in these last days and I've come to preach you. 42:49 Well, she said, "My minister's preaching it." 42:52 Oh! I said, I'd realized that 42:53 I would have gone somewhere else. 42:55 Well, she said, "You can go." 42:57 Well, now listen before I go, I said, 42:59 and I always, when I'm doing a work like this, 43:01 I always have one of those little Bibles 43:02 that I keep in my shirt pocket, and I pulled it out. 43:05 And I began to read her these three messages. 43:09 And I read her about the hour of God's judgment 43:12 has come and I say, "Tell me, what does it mean, 43:14 the hour of God's judgment has come?" 43:18 She just stood there looking at me, she had no idea. 43:21 Well, I said, with all due respect, 43:22 I don't think your minister's making that clear 43:24 because you don't seem to understand what that is? 43:26 I said, surely you'll be getting the next point 43:28 and I read her about Babylon. 43:30 Babylon is fallen, is fallen that great city, 43:33 because she's made all nation's drink of the wine 43:36 of the wrath of her fornication. 43:37 I said, tell me, who is Babylon? 43:41 She just stood there looking at me. 43:45 Well, I said, I don't think he's making that point clear either. 43:48 Surely, I said, you'll be getting the third point, 43:50 and I read her about the mark of the beast. 43:52 I said, tell me, what is the mark of the beast? 43:57 She had no idea. 43:59 I said, that's the reason I'm coming to town, 44:02 because with all due respect to you and your minister, 44:06 I don't believe he's preaching any of this message. 44:09 And listen, friends, nothing will stop this message. 44:11 The bamboo curtain wouldn't stop it, 44:13 the iron curtain hasn't stopped it, 44:15 and the purple curtain hasn't stopped it. 44:18 Because this is God's message and from Greenland's 44:21 icy mountains to India's coral strand, 44:24 this message is going tonight. 44:27 And it's the most important thing 44:28 that's happening in the world today. 44:32 Well, people say, is this message 44:35 going to convert the world? 44:39 Well, just come over to the Book of Acts, the 13th Chapter. 44:44 Acts Chapter 13. 44:47 And I want to read to you a warning, 44:48 because you know, whenever there is message of God 44:52 there is always things that we've got to be careful about. 44:56 And Paul warned the people in his day about human nature. 45:01 And I don't think that human nature is any different 45:03 now than it was in Paul's day, 45:06 then it was back in the Old Testament days. 45:09 We may have changed the country 45:11 and we may have changed some things 45:12 but we haven't changed our natures. 45:14 Have a look at verse 40, this is Acts 13 and verse 40 45:18 where Paul says, "Beware therefore, 45:20 lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:" 45:24 Now what was spoken in the prophets 45:25 that might come upon us? 45:26 Verse 41, "Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! 45:33 For I work a work in your days, 45:36 A work which you will by no means believe. 45:40 Though one were to declare it to you." 45:46 You see the great danger that we have is that 45:48 we won't accept God's message that he has in our day. 45:56 Human nature being what it is, we're always willing 46:00 to accept the messages of the past 46:03 but we're never willing to accept the message 46:05 that God has for the present, let me illustrate. 46:09 If you go back to the days of Moses, 46:11 the people wanted to stone Moses to death. 46:14 Come down to the time of Elijah, 46:16 the people accepted Moses but wanted to kill Elijah. 46:20 Come down to the time of Christ, the people accepted 46:22 Moses and Elijah but crucified Jesus. 46:26 Come down to these last days and the people say 46:29 they accept Jesus, but they don't accept the message 46:32 that Jesus has given in the book of Revelation. 46:36 They turn their back on him, they say, 46:38 they're not interested. 46:41 You see that's the trouble with human nature, 46:43 we're always willing to accept the past, 46:46 but when God wants to work, a work in our days, 46:49 a work which you won't believe 46:50 even though someone declares it to us. 46:54 And I pray tonight that God will help us all, 46:57 both our viewers and those who are here in a live situation, 47:01 we'll not to turn our back up on the truths that 47:04 God has reveal particularly in the Book of the Revelation. 47:12 And it's my plan, session by session to go 47:16 through these three messages. 47:21 In our seminar tonight 47:22 we haven't gone through each of those points. 47:25 But I want to tell you over the next few meetings 47:28 we're gonna go through each of these points 47:30 for example our next program together 47:33 we're going to deal with how to worship God as the Creator. 47:38 God has given us a sign. 47:41 And we're going to start to unravel this message. 47:43 We're gonna talk about the mark of the beast, 47:45 we're gonna talk about Babylon, 47:47 we're gonna talk about the commandments, 47:49 why are these issues in the last days? 47:52 Because, remember, all of these points 47:54 are part of the everlasting gospel. 47:57 The only thing different is that these three messages 48:00 own the emphasis of the everlasting gospel 48:03 to the contemporary situation in the last days. 48:07 All of these points are part of the everlasting gospel. 48:12 And if you and I wanna understand grace and the gospel, 48:16 then we need to understand all of these points. 48:19 Because, remember, this was the everlasting gospel to preach 48:23 unto those who dwell on the Earth to every nation, 48:25 kindred, tongue and people. 48:28 Well, is this message going to convert the world? 48:30 Let's come over to Revelation Chapter 12. 48:33 The last book in the Bible again Revelation 12 and verse 17. 48:38 And you'll notice what John says here. 48:40 Revelation Chapter 12 and verse 17, 48:44 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman." 48:48 Now, who is the dragon? 48:50 Well, if you go up the column to verse 9, 48:53 it tells you who the dragon is. 48:56 "See that says the great dragon was cast out, 48:59 that serpent of old, called whom, the Devil and Satan." 49:03 So the Bible and even Revelation interpret itself, can you see? 49:07 So when we read here 49:08 "And the dragon or the devil was enraged." 49:12 What does the word enrage mean? 49:15 Angry, not only angry but furious. 49:19 Absolutely livid with a passion. 49:25 "The devil was enraged with the woman." 49:27 What does a woman represent in Bible prophecy? Church. 49:30 Yes, in fact when we study Revelation in more depth, 49:33 we are going to notice that there are 49:34 two women mentioned in Revelation. 49:36 There is the pure woman, Revelation 12 49:38 that we've been reading about here 49:39 that represents the pure true church. 49:42 But when you go over to the Revelation 17, 49:44 you'll read about the impure harlot woman, 49:46 which represents the apostate Christendom, the counterfeit. 49:52 And so we have the true and the genuine 49:54 against the counterfeit and the false. 49:58 And so, it says, "The devil was enraged with the church, 50:02 and went to make war with the rest of her offspring," who? 50:08 Who is the church's offspring, who keep the commandments of God 50:13 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ? 50:15 Can you how those commandments are being emphasized again? 50:19 No wonder the devil hates Revelation. 50:22 Because continually God's people are identified 50:25 as those who are faithful to Jesus 50:28 and faithful to His commandments. 50:29 Because the two things go together, 50:31 you cannot separate one from the other. 50:34 And the tragedy of Christendom today, 50:36 is that they have separated those two things. 50:39 And I think there's an antagonism between Jesus 50:42 if you Love Jesus 50:43 you'll be antagonistic to the commandments. 50:45 And if you like the commandments 50:46 you won't even believe in Jesus properly. 50:50 Bible knows there is no such dichotomy. 50:52 The Bible says there are two things go together, 50:54 faithfulness to Jesus 50:56 and faithfulness to His commandments. 50:59 But the devil is happy with that group. 51:01 Is that what it says? The devil is enraged. 51:05 That's why he will do everything in his power 51:08 to stop you from attending the meetings. 51:11 We get about this far and people get sick 51:14 and the devil makes you busy so that in tired and so forth, 51:19 so that you can't listen to rest of the meetings, 51:21 because he doesn't want you to understand this. 51:24 Because remember it's a Revelation of Jesus. 51:27 He hates it. 51:29 And he's enraged with those who would dare 51:32 to be faithful to Jesus and faithful to His commandments? 51:36 And truth has always received opposition. 51:40 You know, John Wesley over there in England, 51:42 many years ago, he wasn't preaching for six weeks. 51:46 When the Anglican Church, Episcopal Church 51:49 put out 323 tracks against him in six weeks. 51:56 Now I happen to believe that Wesley had the truth 51:58 for that hour and truth has always been opposed. 52:03 And don't think that this message 52:05 is going to go unopposed. 52:08 The devil will even use Christian people. 52:11 And those in responsible position, he should know 52:14 a whole lot better to oppose this message. 52:18 Well, I wanna tell you its Jesus message. 52:21 And one of the clear indications is the opposition 52:23 that the devil has to this message. 52:27 You know, Woodrow Wilson. 52:29 He was once the President of United States, do you remember? 52:32 He made this statement. 52:34 He said, "I would rather perish in a movement 52:37 that I knew would triumph, then triumph in a movement 52:42 that I knew would perish." 52:45 And so would I. 52:47 And I know this message is going to triumph. 52:49 How do I know? 52:50 Have a look at Revelation Chapter 15 and verse 2 and 3. 52:54 Revelation Chapter 15 and verse 2 and 3, this is what it says. 53:02 This is Revelation 15:2, "And I saw something like 53:07 a sea of glass mingled with fire, 53:10 and those who have the victory over the beast, 53:12 over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, 53:18 standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." 53:23 Listen, how could you get the victory over the beast 53:28 and over his image and over the number of his name 53:32 if you have no idea about any of those things? 53:36 How could you get the victory over it? 53:39 Impossible, and friends, the only message that 53:43 I know in the entire world that explains to people 53:47 about the beast and about his image and about the 53:50 number of his name are these three messages, 53:54 I don't know of any other message. 53:57 It's the only message in the Bible that explains it, 54:00 there is no other statement in the Bible 54:01 about those things, these three messages. 54:06 It's the last message, it's God's message 54:10 and like everything else in the past whenever 54:13 it's God's message the devil has opposed it. 54:16 And this message is not going to be rushed, 54:18 don't think that this message is going to win 54:20 the popularity contest, it never has done. 54:24 God's truth has never ever been popular, is that right? 54:29 In the days of Noah, it wasn't popular was it? 54:32 In the days of Jesus it wasn't popular. 54:34 Don't think in these last days that 54:36 this message is going to be rushed, it's not. 54:39 It will be a few faithful people here, 54:42 a few faithful people there, and there, and there. 54:46 They are the ones who will stand faithful to Jesus 54:49 and faithful to His commandments, 54:51 the vast majority of people will not. 54:54 You know, so William Russell over there in England, 54:56 it was about to be executed, 54:57 because of his love for the Bible. 55:01 And he was standing there on the scaffold 55:03 and had the noose around his neck. 55:06 And he had a chain, a watch on his waist 55:10 and he undid it and gave it to his doctor. 55:12 He said, "Doctor, you can have my watch 55:15 because I'm about finished with time, about to face eternity." 55:19 And you and I friends are just about to finish with time 55:21 and about to face eternity because Jesus is coming soon. 55:25 And He has a message in these last days. 55:28 A message that's calling people from every nation, 55:32 and kindred, tongue and people to be faithful to Jesus 55:35 and faithful to all of His commandments. 55:38 And I trust that you and I will stand firm 55:42 for what we know to be right, that God will help us too. 55:45 As God reveals to us this message and night by night, 55:49 session by session, now we're going to 55:51 unveil these three messages. 55:53 That's the reason why we're preaching here 55:55 is to teach these three messages. 55:57 And all the past that are associated with these messages, 56:01 because this is the most important thing 56:03 that's happening in the world. 56:06 It's getting a people ready for the return of Jesus. 56:09 And I believe that God has brought you here, 56:11 I don't believe that you are here by chance, 56:13 God has brought you. 56:15 Those who are watching on satellite, 56:18 God has brought you and given you an opportunity 56:22 to understand these messages. 56:25 Never let it go, don't treat it as a light thing. 56:29 Let's just bow our heads together in prayer. 56:31 Our Father in heaven, I just want to thank you 56:33 again tonight for the wonderful Book of Revelation. 56:37 That marvelous book that has come to us 56:39 from Jesus, the Revelation of Jesus. 56:42 And I pray tonight that you will help us 56:44 to have a new understanding of it, 56:46 that we will sense that this book 56:48 has present truth for us in these last days. 56:51 Continue to be with us and bring us back 56:53 in our next program as we begin to study 56:55 one of those great commandments that has been rejected. 56:59 As we study the first part of these messages. 57:02 Blesses us to this end. 57:03 Keep us faithful, I pray, for Jesus sake, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17