Participants:
Series Code: GLM
Program Code: GLM200008S
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00:39 Hello, once again,
00:41 and a very sincere welcome to you 00:43 all to those of you who are present in the studio. 00:47 We've appreciated so much your presence, 00:48 and this is the last of the series. 00:51 And to those out there in TV land 00:53 or watching on YouTube, 00:56 it's not like Zoom, is it? 00:59 With Zoom, I can see the faces of those that you speak to, 01:03 but with Zoom, without Zoom, 01:05 it's just an unknown world out there. 01:07 But no matter where you're living in the world, 01:09 I'm glad that you're tuned in today 01:11 and welcome, 01:13 and we need, of course, 01:14 the presence of the Holy Spirit. 01:16 So let us bow our heads in a word of prayer. 01:19 Our loving Father in heaven, 01:22 we look back over the times 01:23 that we have been speaking on this very important subject, 01:26 the last message to go to the world. 01:29 We thank you for the evidence that we have 01:32 of the Holy Spirit being present. 01:34 We are opening Your Word 01:35 and we dare not do that 01:37 without asking for the guidance 01:39 of the one who inspired 01:40 these words to be written in the first place. 01:43 So we ask that he may be present today 01:45 to guide us into an understanding of truth 01:48 and to help us to get to know Jesus better 01:51 and the source and the origin and the finisher of our faith. 01:56 So, Lord, bless us now, we ask in Jesus' precious name. 02:00 Amen. 02:03 I'm sure that many of you have gone on a trip, 02:06 in a car or maybe with friends or family. 02:09 And in planning your trip, 02:10 you have found your book of maps. 02:14 For you wanted to know the names of the places 02:16 you were going to pass through in the car, 02:18 or maybe looking at the points of interest that were there 02:22 before you reached your destination. 02:25 On leaving home with your faithful map book, 02:27 you would have noticed 02:29 that the towns and the tourist sites 02:32 that you pass through 02:33 came in the same order as they were on the map. 02:38 And I'm sure that would have given you confidence 02:40 that you were on the right road 02:43 and that you would reach your destination 02:46 just as the map had shown you. 02:49 During this series we have been looking at a map. 02:53 If you can go back 02:54 to the first few presentations in this series, 02:57 we laid out a chart, a map if you like 03:00 of events that prophecy indicated 03:03 would happen, 03:04 particularly focusing on the time of the end. 03:07 And as you'll notice there on the chart, 03:10 there was the time of the end, 03:12 that crucial time that Daniel spoke about. 03:16 The Book of Daniel was to be opened 03:18 we noticed in the time of the end, 03:20 and how did we discover when the time of the end began? 03:23 We looked at another chapter 03:25 in the Book of Daniel Chapter 7, 03:27 which spoke about a prophetic time period 03:30 of 1, 260 years. 03:34 When that period ended 03:36 and it extended from 538 to 7098. 03:39 That was the beginning of the time of the end. 03:42 And as we've noticed in that early series, 03:44 when we started 03:45 to lay out this map of prophecy. 03:48 In the time of the end, 03:49 a prophecy was to be fulfilled that was to be proclaimed 03:53 and yet was sealed up until the time of the end. 03:57 And that was that longest time prophecy in the Bible, 04:00 the 2,300 days standing for 2,300 years. 04:06 We discovered when we looked at that prophecy 04:08 that it ended in the time of the end, 04:10 just as the angel had predicted to Daniel in the year 1844. 04:16 And then in 1844, the three angels' messages, 04:21 the last warning message 04:23 that God is ever going to send to this world 04:26 that began to be preached to the world, 04:29 reaching to the glorious coming of Jesus at the end. 04:35 Well, once we commenced in our journey in actual time, 04:40 we saw from the map 04:41 that the events and the places of interest 04:43 that were foretold in Bible prophecy 04:46 have all been passed through. 04:48 We have noticed that prophecy 04:50 pointed unerringly 04:52 to the events that we have seen as presented on the map. 04:57 Well, today we come to the last presentation 05:00 in this series 05:01 on the message 05:03 that God is sending to the world, 05:05 that message described in the Bible 05:07 as the message given by three angels 05:10 in Revelation14 05:12 has been the focus of our study so far. 05:15 Living as all of us are today in what the Bible called, 05:19 remember the "time of the end." 05:23 In our last presentation, 05:25 we began to look at the third angel's message, 05:28 the last one of those angels 05:31 and the message it bore to the world. 05:34 And so let us look in Revelation 14:9-10, 05:38 what it says, 05:40 "Then a third angel followed them 05:42 saying with a loud voice, 05:45 'If anyone worships the beast and his image." 05:48 Look at the wording of this 05:50 "and receives his mark 05:52 on his forehead or on his hand, 05:56 he himself also shall drink of the wine 05:59 of the wrath of God, 06:02 which is poured out full strength 06:04 into the cup of His indignation." 06:08 As you look at those words, dear friends, 06:10 here is a message 06:12 that carries the most severe 06:14 and terrible warning of any message 06:17 in the whole of the Bible. 06:20 And yet it comes from Jesus. 06:22 How do we reconcile that? 06:25 Because it comes to us from the one who loves us. 06:27 And I want to underscore that in your thinking. 06:30 And who also knows 06:31 the deceptions and the strategies 06:34 and the attacks 06:35 that Jesus' enemy Satan 06:38 is going to use in his final attempts 06:41 to have the world worshiping himself. 06:45 Since Jesus loves us all so much, 06:49 He doesn't want any of us to be deceived and involved 06:52 in Satan's final, terrifying deceptions. 06:57 He sends his last message to the world 06:59 from a heart of infinite compassion. 07:02 And I want you to remember that 07:03 as we go through our sharing this morning. 07:07 We've found that 07:09 the Bible clearly identifies the beast 07:12 as the symbol of the Church of Rome, 07:15 a church that began so well. 07:18 As I think I reminded you in our last presentation, 07:21 Paul, the Apostle Paul wrote one of his greatest letters 07:25 in the New Testament 07:27 to the church in Rome. 07:28 We call it the Book of Romans, a wonderful book. 07:32 But as time passed in the church in Rome, 07:36 they began to adopt teachings not found in the Bible. 07:41 And to persecute, and also to destroy 07:45 those who resisted the authority 07:49 that resided in the Bishop of Rome. 07:52 We have found too in Revelation 13, 07:54 that a nation was to arise in the time of the end. 07:58 Identified in the Bible, 08:00 as we noticed as the United States of America 08:03 that will eventually, 08:04 and this is prophesied 08:06 and it seems so unreasonable to us today, 08:09 but it's been prophesied that 08:11 this nation will finally force the world 08:14 to worship this beast. 08:17 And also to make an image 08:19 that was to be also worshiped as well. 08:22 But there is a third prediction 08:24 concerning the global influence of the United States. 08:27 And I want you to notice what it will finally force 08:31 upon the world as well. 08:34 And it's found in Revelation 13:16-17, 08:40 "He causes all..." 08:42 Now, the he is referring to this second beast, 08:44 the United States of America. 08:46 "He causes all, both small and great, 08:49 rich and poor, free and slave," 08:50 notice how universal it will be, 08:54 "he causes all," that's a force there, 08:58 "to receive a mark on their right hand 09:00 or on their fore heads, 09:02 and that no one may buy or sell." 09:05 An economic boycott is involved in this. 09:08 "Except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, 09:13 or the number of his name." 09:16 It's to this important subject, friends, 09:19 that we now turn the mark of the beast. 09:24 Just as the Bible teaches that there will be two worships, 09:28 as we move towards the days when Jesus will come. 09:33 And all the world must choose one of those two, 09:38 Jesus or the beast. 09:40 So the Bible also teaches that there will be two marks 09:44 or seals of authority 09:46 that will demonstrate people's allegiance 09:50 to their choice of worship. 09:53 Let's consider the first of these, 09:55 it's referred to in the Bible as the seal of God 10:00 placed on the foreheads of the servants of God. 10:04 In reading the Book of Revelation 10:06 from Jesus, 10:07 we read something very interesting 10:08 in Chapter 6 and 7, 10:11 that helps us to understand this seal. 10:14 So let's look together at the Book of Revelation 6:14, 10:21 "Then the sky receded as a scroll, 10:25 when it is rolled up 10:26 and every mountain was moved out of its place." 10:30 Now these verses that we're going to read 10:32 are describing the second coming of Christ 10:36 and its effect upon the world, 10:37 particularly upon those 10:39 who are not ready to meet Jesus. 10:42 And it goes on to say, 10:44 "And the kings of the earth, 10:45 the great men, the rich men, the commanders, 10:49 the mighty men, every slave, and every free man, " 10:52 notice this, 10:54 those who are not ready to meet Jesus, 10:56 "hid themselves in the caves 10:58 and in the rocks on the mountains 11:00 and said to the mountains and rocks, 11:03 'Fall on us and hide us 11:06 from the face of Him who sits on the throne 11:09 and from the wrath of the Lamb!' " 11:12 A terrible scene 11:13 with those who have delayed or not wanted 11:17 to give their lives over to Jesus 11:18 and worship Him. 11:20 When the second coming comes, 11:22 notice, they're crying on the rocks and the mountains 11:25 to fall on them 11:26 rather than face the one who is coming to earth 11:29 Jesus in His wonderful return. 11:33 Then we notice the next verse, 11:36 which points to what they will ask 11:39 and notice the question, 11:42 "For the great day, " 11:43 they call out, 11:45 "of his wrath has come 11:47 and who is able to stand?" 11:52 These people are not ready to meet Jesus, 11:55 but as they think of what they're about to suffer 11:58 when the great day of His wrath has come. 12:00 The question comes to their mind, 12:01 who will be able to stand in that day? 12:05 And the answer is given in the very next verse. 12:09 Now it's the next chapter, 12:10 but it's a continuation to answer that question. 12:14 Notice the Revelation 7:1, "After these things, " 12:19 the things that have just been described, 12:22 "I saw four angels standing 12:25 at the four corners of the earth, 12:28 holding the four winds," 12:29 notice this, 12:30 "of the earth, 12:32 that the wind should not blow on the earth, 12:34 on the sea or on any tree. 12:39 And then I saw another angel ascending from the east, 12:43 having the seal of the living God. 12:47 And he cried with a loud voice 12:49 to the four angels 12:51 to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 12:55 saying, 12:56 'Don't harm the earth or the sea or the trees 13:01 until we have sealed the servants of our God 13:06 on their forehead." 13:08 Now, remember, this is us answering that question, 13:11 who will be able to stand. 13:13 And John next he sees in vision, 13:15 this angel coming down to the earth, 13:18 the winds of strife that the angels are holding, 13:21 they're saying, 13:23 "Hold back those winds, 13:24 don't let them blow 13:26 because there's a work to be done." 13:28 And that work is that there's a seal 13:30 to be placed on the foreheads of God's people. 13:35 A great message. 13:37 Before Jesus comes, 13:38 He will hold back the winds of strife in the world 13:41 and send angels to seal His servants 13:45 with the seal of God in their foreheads. 13:48 What then is this seal? 13:51 In Bible times 13:53 and it's still true today I notice, 13:55 that kings and those in authority 13:58 always seal the laws with a seal 14:03 to indicate the authority behind the law. 14:07 In fact, in Isaiah 8:16, we read the Lord saying, 14:13 "Bind up the testimony, 14:15 seal the law among my disciples." 14:19 To be authentic, all such seals, 14:23 and I've looked at a few of them in my life. 14:25 All such seals must have three components 14:30 to be true seals, 14:32 to indicate the authority of the one giving this law. 14:38 And what are those three things? 14:40 First of all, they all must name the lawgiver 14:43 for obvious reasons. 14:45 Who's giving this law? 14:47 The name of the lawgiver must be given in the seal, 14:50 the title or the status. 14:53 Is he entitled to pass laws? 14:56 Is he just an ordinary common man? 14:58 Or is he the king who is passing this law? 15:01 And then two, 15:02 the seal must contain the territory 15:06 over which the lawgiver rules. 15:09 Have a look at this seal. 15:11 This seal on the left 15:13 is the seal of the father 15:15 of our present queen in England, 15:18 Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI. 15:22 And while it may be a little bit difficult for you 15:24 to see on that seal, 15:26 he's got three things written on that seal 15:30 to make it a seal of his authority. 15:32 First of all, his name George VI, 15:35 his title, he's king 15:38 that entitled him to pass this law. 15:41 And then the territory over Great Britain 15:44 and the dominions 15:45 is how they described his territory. 15:48 Three things, now notice on the right, 15:50 I put a picture of the seal of Australia. 15:55 When parliament here in Australia passes laws, 15:57 it goes across, the laws go across to the governor general 16:01 who puts the seal of authority on those laws 16:05 and notice what's on the seal of Australia? 16:08 Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. 16:13 The same three essentially items. 16:16 The name, the title, or the status, 16:20 and then the territory over which the lawgiver rules. 16:25 So God's law. 16:27 God's law must also be sealed 16:30 to show us who's the authority behind the Ten Commandments. 16:36 Is there a place in the Ten Commandments 16:37 where we find the name of the lawgiver, 16:40 the title of the lawgiver 16:43 and the territory over which the lawgiver rules. 16:46 It's interesting, dear friends, 16:48 that there's only one, 16:49 only one of the Ten Commandments 16:53 that contains all three. 16:56 And that one is the fourth commandment. 16:59 The fourth commandment is the only one 17:02 that shows by whose authority the law is given. 17:07 That is the creator of all. 17:10 I want you to look at therefore the fourth commandment. 17:13 And let's see if you can find the seal of God. 17:17 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 17:20 Six days, you shall labor and do all your work, 17:24 but the seventh day 17:25 is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 17:28 In it, you shall do no work, for in six days the Lord, " 17:34 there's the name, "made" 17:37 that indicates 17:39 we're hearing the words of the creator, 17:42 "made the heavens and the earth, the sea, 17:45 and all that is in them, 17:48 and He rested on the seventh day. 17:51 Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day 17:54 and hallowed it." 17:57 In that fourth commandment, we find the name, the title, 18:03 and the territory over which He rules. 18:07 And if you remove the fourth commandment 18:09 out of the ten, 18:11 a sun worshiper, somebody who's worshiping the sun god 18:14 could look at all the other nine commandments 18:17 and say, yes, I can accept those commandments 18:21 as coming from the sun god. 18:23 But when he reads the fourth commandment, 18:27 where it says that the Lord 18:28 who is giving these Ten Commandments 18:30 is the one who created the heavens 18:34 and everything that's in it, 18:36 he would have to say, 18:38 "Hold on. 18:39 That means the one who's giving these Ten Commandments 18:41 and giving us the fourth commandment 18:42 is the one who created the sun. 18:45 He's greater than the sun god." 18:47 This fourth commandment is so important in all the ten, 18:52 because it alone contains the name and the status 18:56 and the territory of the lawgiver. 18:58 Remove the fourth commandment, my friends, from the ten, 19:03 and we don't know who is giving this law 19:06 and why he should be giving it and why we should obey it. 19:10 But since he's identified in the fourth commandment 19:12 as the law, as the creator, 19:15 that nothing that's been made 19:17 was not made without Him making it. 19:19 That's what the Bible tells us. 19:21 Therefore, 19:22 the fact that He made everything in this universe, 19:25 everything in this world, 19:28 gives Him the authority for our worship. 19:32 The Sabbath is referred to in the Old Testament 19:35 as a sign or a seal. 19:37 And it's interesting that those two words 19:39 are used interchangeably in the Bible 19:42 to mean the same thing. 19:44 Have a look at a text 19:45 in Ezekiel 20:12. 19:51 "Moreover, I also gave them my Sabbaths." 19:55 The Lord is speaking here. 19:57 Why did He give us the Sabbaths? 19:59 "To be a sign between Me, them and Me, 20:03 that they might know that 20:04 I am the Lord who sanctifies them." 20:08 Here's a wonderful verse 20:09 that gives us the reason as to why God 20:11 or one reason 20:12 why God has given us the Sabbath. 20:15 "I have given them my Sabbaths 20:16 to be a sign between Me and them, 20:20 that they might know that 20:21 I am the Lord who sanctifies them." 20:24 Who's making us holy 20:26 as we progress in the Christian life. 20:28 The Sabbath was given as a sign. 20:30 Then too, we read in the next verse in verse 19, 20:35 "I am the Lord, your God: 20:37 walk in My statutes and keep My judgments, 20:41 and do them and hallow my Sabbaths," 20:44 notice, 20:46 "and they will be a sign between you, Me and you, 20:49 that you may know that I am the Lord your God." 20:53 Notice why He's given us the Sabbath 20:56 that we may know that He is the Lord our God. 21:02 As we look at those verses, 21:03 the Sabbath is clearly a sign for two very important ideas. 21:07 That we may know that 21:09 it is the Lord who is making us holy, 21:11 helping us to grow in living the Christian life. 21:14 And we may know that He is the Lord, our God. 21:20 It's interesting as you look through the Bible, 21:23 that the Bible calls the seventh day Sabbath 21:26 with a number of interesting descriptive titles. 21:29 It's called the Sabbath of the Lord. 21:33 It's called My holy day, 21:37 where God refers to the Sabbath as His holy day. 21:41 It's the only day in the seven, 21:43 where it says, 21:45 God blessed that day, and He sanctified it. 21:48 He made it holy. 21:50 And if it's the only day that God has blessed, 21:52 then we are going to receive that blessing 21:55 when we keep it. 21:56 I have found that to be so true 21:59 because He's given us this day 22:00 not only to provide us with physical rest, 22:03 six days you shall labor, but the seventh do no work. 22:08 We need that physical rest, 22:10 but we also need the spiritual rest 22:13 in this very stress filled world 22:16 in which we live today. 22:18 Revelation 7 tells us that 22:20 the seal of God is placed 22:22 on the foreheads of God's servants. 22:25 What does that mean? 22:27 Does it mean as I hear some people saying, 22:29 "Well, it's gonna be a chip 22:30 that is sort of inserted 22:31 beneath the skin on the forehead? 22:34 No. Nothing like that. 22:36 This is a symbolic vision 22:38 and all that is in a symbolic vision 22:40 must be symbols of something. 22:43 It's not gonna be a mark 22:44 that everybody's going to see 22:45 that is going to be imprinted on our foreheads. 22:48 What does it mean then? Why on the foreheads? 22:51 I'm reminded that in the new covenant 22:55 that God wants to make with those 22:57 who give their hearts to Him. 22:59 And we read of this in Hebrews 8:10, 23:02 that God has promised to put His laws in our minds 23:08 and write them on our hearts. 23:11 So under the new covenant, 23:12 God has promised to put His laws in our mind. 23:17 It's the mind where we remember things 23:20 just behind our forehead as it were. 23:23 And when it says that 23:24 the Lord is going to put His laws in our mind 23:27 and write them on our hearts. 23:29 It means that He's leading us to commit our lives to Him 23:34 as we remember with our mind, as the fourth commandment says, 23:38 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 23:41 And because it's written also in our hearts, 23:44 I'm reminded of those words of Jesus 23:46 when he said, "If you love Me," 23:48 we sometimes associate that with our hearts, don't we? 23:51 If we love Jesus, 23:52 "if you love Me, keep My commandments, " 23:55 Jesus said. 23:57 We don't keep the commandments, dear friends, 23:59 to earn our salvation. 24:01 We don't keep the Sabbath 24:03 in order that we might receive eternal life 24:07 and be saved. 24:09 It flows from our love for Jesus. 24:14 And by keeping the seventh day Sabbath 24:16 and the fourth commandment, 24:17 we acknowledge our acceptance of His authority. 24:21 Because the Sabbath was given as a memorial that 24:23 He's created the world, 24:25 and it's His creation of the world 24:27 that gives Him authority 24:30 to give us the Ten Commandments. 24:33 Since we've seen that God's enemy, Satan 24:38 has always wanted to be worshiped 24:39 in the place of God. 24:41 And we've talked about that in earlier presentations. 24:44 Satan therefore must change that commandment 24:49 that shows the reason why we should worship God 24:52 if he wants us to worship himself 24:54 rather than God. 24:57 And because the Sabbath was given 24:58 to give God His authority, 25:02 Satan, who wants the authority 25:05 for people to obey and worship him 25:08 must do something with that fourth commandment. 25:12 This means that Satan must produce his own seal 25:15 to represent his own authority. 25:19 If he's to persuade the world eventually 25:21 to worship the beast, 25:22 as we've noticed and himself, 25:24 he must supply a counterfeit mark 25:28 and have it placed on the foreheads 25:31 or in the hands 25:32 of those who choose to worship the beast. 25:38 I think it's important, friends, 25:39 as I think about counterfeits, 25:42 that we should remember this about a counterfeit, 25:45 the closer it is to the original, 25:50 the more likely we are to be deceived. 25:54 If I owed you ten dollars, 25:59 and if I met you one day and down the street 26:01 and got a bit of paper out of my pocket 26:03 and wrote on it, 26:04 "This is the $10 that I owe you." 26:07 And handed it to you. 26:09 I would hope you would not be deceived. 26:12 I can imagine the look you would give me, 26:14 handing me back that bit of paper. 26:17 But if I had access to all to make on a piece of paper 26:21 that had little clear spots in the paper 26:24 with lots of lines on the paper, 26:27 just like a $10 note, 26:29 but I was the one who was producing it. 26:32 Then if I handed that to you, 26:33 you are much more likely to be deceived 26:37 because the closer it is to the original, 26:40 the more successful it is as a counterfeit. 26:43 And the other point I want you to remember 26:45 about counterfeits, 26:46 is that counterfeits always come after the genuine, 26:53 think about that. 26:54 You can't have a counterfeit of something 26:55 that doesn't yet exist. 26:57 You've got to have the genuine, 26:59 and then you must have the counterfeit. 27:03 When we studied Daniel 7 27:05 and the work of the little horn, 27:08 we read something very important about 27:10 what the little horn power would do in the future. 27:16 And it's found in Daniel 7:25. 27:20 Now, if you look at Daniel 7:25, 27:22 in that same verse, 27:23 he talks about how this power would persecute God's people. 27:27 Make war upon them, 27:28 persecute them for 1,260 years. 27:31 It's in that same verse, 27:33 but in the middle of that verse 27:35 is the, are these interesting words. 27:38 "And he shall intend 27:41 to change times and law." 27:45 Now, this is referring to the little horn power, 27:47 which is the same power as the beast power. 27:50 Here is a prediction that was made 27:51 way back in the days of Daniel, 27:54 that this power when it rises up 27:56 will intend to change God's time and law. 28:03 Well, I don't think 28:06 this is in reference to man's laws. 28:09 Man's laws can change very easily. 28:12 It must refer to God's law 28:14 that this power would intend or think 28:17 as the one version of the Bible says, 28:20 think to change God's divine laws. 28:25 Here is a prediction 28:28 that the Church of Rome 28:30 one day would intend to modify 28:34 or change God's law. 28:38 I want you to notice these words 28:39 in a very reputable Roman Catholic encyclopedia. 28:43 It's called Prompta Bibliotheca 28:47 and in volume two, under the article Papa, 28:49 it says these surprising words. 28:53 "The Pope can modify divine law..." 28:56 Notice that, 28:58 the Pope can change divine law. 29:00 Why? Look at the statement. 29:02 "Since his power, is not of man, but of God, 29:07 and he acts in the place of God upon the earth." 29:12 Those are very strong and strange words, 29:14 dear friends. 29:16 That a mere man, because the pope is a mere man 29:20 can even think that he can change, 29:22 modify the Ten Commandments. 29:26 And that leads me therefore to ask the question, 29:28 has the church, 29:30 the Roman Church changed God's law? 29:34 And more particularly, 29:36 has it changed the law concerning times 29:40 and concerning God's seal of authority? 29:46 There are many quotes available from Catholic theologians, 29:49 even cardinals and popes 29:53 that the church changed the Sabbath to Sunday 29:58 early in its history. 30:00 And the claim is made that because the church, 30:03 notice what I'm using, 30:05 and these are words that I find in their writings. 30:09 Because the church believes it is above the Bible. 30:13 It has the authority, notice the word I'm using too, 30:17 to make changes even in God's law. 30:21 And the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13:1 that 30:25 "By the mouth of two or three witnesses, 30:28 every word is established." 30:31 And I'm just going to go beyond that by one 30:34 and give you four witnesses to what I'm about to say. 30:40 In 1895, 30:43 a letter was sent to Cardinal Gibbons 30:46 in the United States. 30:47 Now, he was the leading man, 30:49 the leading Roman Catholic cardinal 30:51 in America at the time. 30:53 And the question was asked, 30:55 and these are the words of the question. 30:57 "Does the Catholic Church, 31:00 Roman Catholic Church 31:01 claim the act of changing the observance of the Sabbath 31:06 from the seventh to the first day of the week 31:09 as a mark of her power? 31:11 Does she claim that 31:12 that change is a mark of her authority and power? " 31:15 How an amazing question. 31:17 Notice what the cardinal answered. 31:20 "Of course, 31:22 the Catholic Church claims that it was, 31:25 the change was her act. 31:27 It could not have been otherwise 31:29 as none in those days 31:30 would have dreamed of doing anything 31:33 in the matter of spiritual 31:35 and ecclesiastical and religious without her. 31:39 And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power 31:45 and authority in religious matters." 31:50 What a claim 31:51 that the changing of God's law 31:53 is a mark of the church as power to change. 31:59 That's number one, 32:01 but let's have a look at number two. 32:04 How do you prove 32:06 that the church has power to command festivals 32:10 and feasts rather and holy days? 32:12 How do you approve it? 32:14 That's the question that is asked in this book, 32:16 which is called a Manual of Christian Doctrine 32:20 interestingly. 32:21 How did that answer? 32:23 "By this very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, 32:29 which is admitted by Protestants 32:32 and therefore they contradict themselves 32:35 by keeping Sunday so strictly, 32:37 and breaking most other feasts 32:41 commanded by the same church." 32:45 That's quite an admission as well. 32:49 But look at the third witness that I give you. 32:53 This is written by Canon Cafferata 32:55 in a book entitled, 32:57 notice the title, The Catechism Simply Explained. 33:02 They give this to those 33:03 who are interested in the teachings of the church. 33:06 But notice what he said, 33:08 "A word about Sunday. 33:10 God said: 33:12 'Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day!' 33:14 The Sabbath was Saturday, not Sunday, 33:18 why then do we keep Sunday holy instead of Saturday?' " 33:23 And now notice the answer. 33:25 "The church altered the observance of the Sabbath 33:29 to the observance of Sunday." 33:32 And then it continues, 33:34 "Protestants who say they go by the Bible 33:38 and the Bible only, 33:41 and that they do not believe anything 33:42 that is not in the Bible, 33:44 must be rather puzzled by the keeping of Sunday 33:48 when God distinctly said, 33:50 'Keep holy the Sabbath day.' 33:54 The word Sunday does not come anywhere in the Bible, 33:57 so without knowing it, " 33:59 and look at that last part of this statement, 34:02 "without knowing it, 34:03 they are obeying the authority of the Catholic Church." 34:09 And my last witness is written by Father Enright 34:15 who at the time was president of Redemptorist College 34:20 in Kansas City in Missouri. 34:22 And he spoke these words in a lecture at Hartford 34:24 on February the 18th, 1884, 34:27 but these have never been rescinded. 34:29 So what does he say? 34:32 "Prove to me from the Bible alone 34:36 that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. 34:39 There is no such law in the Bible. 34:43 It is a law of the holy Catholic Church alone. 34:47 The Bible says, 34:49 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.' 34:54 The Catholic Church says, 34:56 'No. 34:57 By my divine power, 35:00 I abolish the Sabbath day 35:03 and command you to keep holy 35:05 the first day of the week.' 35:07 And lo! 35:09 The entire civilized world bows down 35:14 in reverend obedience 35:17 to the command of the Holy Catholic Church.'" 35:23 Dear friends, 35:24 these are solemn words I say again, 35:27 and I want you to understand, 35:28 as I've said several times in this series, 35:30 because I don't want you to misunderstand me. 35:34 God loves the church and loves people in the church 35:38 and loves those 35:39 who are living up to what they know to be true. 35:41 But at the same time, it has, God has seen what Satan will do 35:45 working through earthly agencies 35:48 to destroy the reason 35:50 as to why God has the authority to speak His laws so well. 35:57 It's clear that the Roman Church claims that 35:59 the changing of the biblical Sabbath 36:02 from Saturday to Sunday 36:04 is the mark of her authority. 36:08 She actually uses those words 36:11 just as the Sabbath is the seal of God 36:15 and is the sign of God's authority 36:18 as the creator. 36:21 As we saw in our last presentation, 36:25 the Book of Revelation predicts that in the future, 36:29 the United States will reach across the gulf 36:33 and clasp the hand of the Roman power 36:38 and force the world. 36:40 Do you notice those words? 36:43 Now we mustn't look today at the problems 36:46 that America is facing. 36:48 Things are going to change in the future 36:51 and its global influence will influence the world 36:56 by law to honor Sunday 37:00 as the day of rest. 37:03 And at that time, dear friends, 37:04 some people will obey 37:07 because they are convinced in their minds 37:10 that they should pay homage and render obedience to Rome. 37:15 And they received the mark on their forehead. 37:19 Remember what I said earlier. 37:21 But there are millions in the world 37:22 who are disinterested in religion, 37:25 but they will comply with the law 37:30 because of the requirements of the law 37:33 that you honor and rest on that day. 37:38 They will comply not by religious conviction, 37:42 but merely because they obey the law. 37:46 And that's why the mark of the beast 37:47 is given either in their forehead 37:50 or in the hand. 37:53 Did you notice that 37:54 the seal of God is placed only in the forehead 37:59 because you will have to believe here. 38:02 And if it's here, 38:03 it's not a matter of whether you comply for a law or not. 38:07 The only law that you feel committed to obey 38:11 will be the law 38:12 that God has placed in our minds. 38:16 I don't believe that 38:18 all the world is going to become religious, 38:19 dear friends, 38:21 but it's true that millions will, 38:23 at this time of this law, 38:26 give their allegiance to the beast. 38:30 They will accept the authority of the beast in their lives. 38:34 They will heed the voice of the beast 38:36 and obey the commands of the beast. 38:41 And in doing that, they've made a choice 38:44 not to worship and obey the commands of God. 38:49 All the world will be brought to the ultimate choice. 38:56 Will we obey Jesus? 38:59 And we have many, many wonderful reasons, 39:01 dear friends, to obey Jesus. 39:05 When we think of all that Jesus has done for us, 39:08 when we think of Him being equal with God, 39:12 as the Book of Philippians tells us, 39:14 "And yet He thought 39:15 it not robbery to be equal with God, 39:17 but made Himself of no reputation 39:19 and took upon Himself the form of man of humanity." 39:23 And eventually as the Bible says, 39:25 He became obedient unto death. 39:28 Here is the one who created the world, 39:30 created the universe 39:33 who by the miracle of that birth 39:35 became a helpless babe and grew a life among humanity. 39:40 And finally was crucified 39:44 by those whom He came to save. 39:47 Dear friends, what I've just said 39:49 that is essentially the gospel. 39:51 It's the good news about Jesus. 39:53 Those present to us, 39:55 those words, present to us the ultimate reason 39:57 why we should worship this wonderful Jesus. 40:01 That's our choice. 40:03 And will be the choice of all the world 40:07 before Jesus returns. 40:10 In Romans 6:16. 40:14 Look at these words 40:16 where the Apostle Paul, interestingly enough, 40:18 is writing to the church in Rome, notice. 40:22 "Do you not know 40:24 that to whom you present yourselves 40:27 slaves to obey, 40:30 you are that one's slaves whom you obey, 40:36 whether of sin leading to death 40:39 or of obedience leading to righteousness?" 40:43 You notice what Paul is saying there. 40:46 That, "Do you know, do you not know that 40:47 to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey 40:50 you're that one slaves whom you obey." 40:53 If you obey Jesus, 40:55 you become one of his slaves or servants, 40:58 but not slave in the sense that we normally use it. 41:02 You just love to obey Him because you love Him. 41:05 But if you choose to obey the commands 41:10 of another organization, 41:12 in this case the beast, 41:15 then you become slaves, servants of the beast. 41:21 It's the one you obey 41:23 that's going make the decision of the choice 41:27 of whom you worship. 41:29 It means, dear friends, 41:31 that when we keep Saturday holy, 41:33 the seventh day, 41:36 we're obeying what Jesus has commanded. 41:40 When we keep Sunday holy, the first day, 41:44 we are obeying what the church of Rome, 41:46 as we've seen has commanded. 41:50 I want you to notice some wonderful words 41:53 written in a very wonderful book. 41:56 The book Desire of Ages 41:59 has these words on page 763. 42:03 And may I just say a word about Desire of Ages 42:06 as a book on the life of Christ. 42:08 Some years ago, 42:10 the librarian working in the library of Congress. 42:13 That's one of the leading libraries, 42:15 if not the leading library in the United States. 42:18 In that library, they collect all the books that are printed, 42:23 no matter what they're dealing with. 42:24 And over the years, 42:26 they've accumulated many, many, many books 42:28 on the life of Jesus. 42:31 But not long ago, the librarian was asked, 42:34 "Of all the books that you've ever received 42:37 about the life of Christ. 42:38 Is there one book 42:40 that stands out in its spirituality 42:42 and its application?" 42:45 And the librarian said without hesitation, 42:48 "I would recommend the book Desire of Ages. 42:52 And I want you to notice, 42:54 therefore, the words that the author has written. 42:57 "The warfare against God's law, which was began in heaven..." 43:03 Notice those words. 43:05 It's referring there, of course, to the fact, 43:06 as the Bible says in Revelation 12, 43:09 that way, way back there was war in heaven. 43:11 And the two contenders were Michael or Jesus 43:14 and his angels fighting against Satan, 43:17 the dragon and his angels. 43:21 And the issue at that time 43:23 was that the leading angel, Lucifer or Satan said, 43:27 "We do not want to keep restricted 43:30 by Your laws." 43:32 The law of God was one of the issues 43:34 back in that war in heaven so long ago. 43:38 So the warfare against God's law, 43:40 which was began in heaven 43:42 will be continued until the end of time." 43:47 Every man, 43:49 every one that I'm looking at here 43:51 in this room today, 43:53 and those of you 43:54 who I'm looking at through television, 43:59 every one of us will be asked 44:03 or required to decide who we will obey. 44:08 The statement goes on to say, 44:10 "Every man will be tested. 44:12 Obedience or disobedience 44:14 is the question to be decided, " 44:17 not just locally, not just in Australia 44:20 or somewhere else in the world, 44:22 "but by the whole world. 44:25 All will be called 44:27 to choose between the law of God 44:31 and the laws of men." 44:34 There will be about how many classes? 44:37 Two. Just two. 44:39 And all again, will show 44:42 whether they have chosen the side of loyalty 44:47 or that of rebellion. 44:49 It's a simple choice, 44:52 but has very serious consequences. 44:56 Or, and that's one reason 44:58 why the third angel's message was sent by a loving God, 45:03 knowing the issues at the end of time, 45:05 knowing that Satan will use earthly forces and kingdoms 45:10 to work against God. 45:12 And when you realize that 45:14 creation is God's symbol of authority, 45:16 that's why we should obey Him. 45:20 And, dear friends, can I just say this too? 45:23 That that's why we're living at a time 45:26 when creation is being so severely attacked 45:30 in the media, in our university's education. 45:36 Why do we read and hear so much about 45:38 the fact that this world was not created? 45:41 It just happened millions of years ago 45:44 by accident 45:46 when single cells began to multiply 45:49 and gradually changed 45:50 to make the world that we know today 45:53 without a God guiding, 45:55 because there is no God in that theory. 45:57 It just happened by accident. 46:00 And we are accidents by chance. 46:03 Why do we read and hear so much about that today? 46:08 Because God is the creator 46:11 and Satan, one thing he hates is that 46:15 that gives God the authority of the world. 46:18 And that's the one thing 46:19 His enemy does not want to acknowledge. 46:23 All will decide. 46:26 This final conflict, dear friends 46:29 is more profound than just a matter of days. 46:34 I meet some people who say, 46:35 well, even if I give just one day in seven, 46:38 if I happen to choose Friday, does it really matter? 46:40 Can I choose Tuesday? 46:43 But the commandment was not given to us. 46:45 Remember one day in seven, 46:48 it was given very clearly 46:50 remember the seventh day 46:53 after the six days of work by the creator. 46:57 You know, we've have had some children 46:59 between my wife and myself. 47:00 And if, when they were young, 47:01 if I asked one of them 47:03 to go along into the medicine cabinet 47:06 and bring me the seventh bottle providing they, 47:08 I knew they could count. 47:11 If they looked at the bottles and saw that, 47:13 well, number one looked a much better bottle 47:15 than number seven. 47:17 "I'll take dad the first bottle." 47:20 You would know, 47:22 I'm sure that I would have every right to say, 47:24 "But you didn't obey me." 47:26 I said, "The seventh." 47:28 If I had said to you, 47:29 or I could have said to just choose 47:32 one of the bottles that are listed, 47:33 there are seven bottles in the shelf 47:35 and you choose, choose made the choice 47:37 of the most attractive one or the biggest one. 47:40 You had every right to bring me one bottle, 47:45 but not if I said, bring me the seventh bottle, 47:50 the seventh bottle. 47:53 The final conflict is so profound. 47:57 The day a person keeps is the sign of the authority 48:03 that person accepts 48:06 in his or her own life. 48:10 If we keep the Sabbath, 48:11 we're announcing to the world 48:12 that we accept the authority 48:15 of the one who created the Sabbath for worship. 48:20 If we keep Sunday, we're announcing to the world 48:22 that we have accepted the authority 48:25 of the one who has changed God's holy law 48:30 and made Sunday the day of rest. 48:35 It does that mean that when we keep Sunday today, 48:39 we have the mark of the beast. 48:42 I meet some people who are fearful 48:45 that because they have been keeping Sunday, 48:48 they say, 48:49 "Well, does that mean that 48:50 we have that mark of the beast?" 48:52 I've always answered that question 48:54 on the basis of what the Bible says, 48:55 dear friends, 48:57 no, a thousand times no. 49:00 No one has the mark of the beast today. 49:04 But as the Book of Revelation indicate, 49:06 in the future the United States of America 49:08 will influence its global power and influence to make a law. 49:14 And all the countries of the world, 49:16 the civilized countries of the world 49:18 will follow the lead of the United States. 49:22 And they too will make a law 49:25 enforcing the observance of the first day of the week. 49:31 When that happens, 49:33 those who yield 49:34 and make the choice to follow and obey the beast 49:38 on the basis of Bible evidence, 49:40 dear friends, receive the mark of the beast. 49:46 When we hear and understand the issues 49:48 and make our choice, 49:51 then the mark is received. 49:54 I know, dear friends, this seems impossible today, 49:58 but we are seeing a growing intimacy 50:01 between the Protestant churches in America 50:04 and the Roman Catholic church. 50:07 Prominent Catholic and evangelical leaders 50:10 have signed a document entitled 50:12 Evangelicals and Catholics together. 50:16 Lutherans and Catholics 50:19 and Lutherans who started the Protestant Reformation 50:23 have signed the joint declaration 50:25 on righteousness by faith. 50:28 On a state level, 50:29 President Reagan and Pope John II 50:32 team together to overthrow the Soviet Union. 50:36 You and I remember, 50:38 Washington has established for the first time 50:41 diplomatic relations with Vatican City. 50:45 We have seen three presidents and a secretary of state bowing 50:49 before the casket of Pope John II in Rome. 50:55 Recent popes, and I'm thinking particularly of these two men 51:00 Pope John Paul II 51:04 and the current Pope Francis 51:07 have been increasingly calling on the world 51:11 to legislate the keeping of Sunday. 51:15 Did you hear what I said? 51:17 These two popes are calling 51:19 in their official apostolic letters 51:22 calling upon the world to legislate, to make laws, 51:26 keeping Sunday as a day of rest. 51:28 The reason they give sounds plausible 51:31 for the sake of families 51:33 and to ease the pressure on global warming. 51:37 But there's something behind that 51:39 I believe. 51:41 To help the world to be ready for Jesus' soon return, 51:44 it's been God's plan to raise up a people, 51:49 knowing the issues 51:50 that the world is soon to confront. 51:52 A people to whom He's given 51:55 the messages of the three angels 51:58 as His last warning to the world. 52:02 These messages come, 52:03 as I've tried to explain in this series, 52:06 they come from a God of unending love 52:09 who wants each one of us in the kingdom. 52:13 You know, one day, dear friends, 52:15 He's planning on recreating a new earth. 52:19 What a world it will be. 52:21 I can't imagine. 52:23 In fact, the Bible says that we won't be able to imagine 52:26 the wonderful world that God will recreate. 52:30 A world that there'll be no more tears, 52:33 no more sorrows, no more pain. 52:36 It says in the Book of Revelation, 52:39 no more death. 52:41 And He wants all of us. 52:43 And those of you who are watching 52:46 to be a part of that new world for eternity. 52:51 So is there among the thousands of groups 52:53 within Christendom today, 52:56 a group of people 52:57 who are preaching the three angels' messages. 53:01 Yes, dear friends, there are. 53:04 Among the thousands of divisions in Christendom, 53:09 there is only one, only one group of people 53:14 who are preaching the messages of the three angels. 53:19 They are people who were raised up 53:21 out of that sweet bitter experience 53:23 of 1844. 53:26 Do you remember what we said at the very first, 53:29 from prophecy? 53:31 The other people who were told in Revelation 10, 53:34 after that sweet and bitter experience 53:36 that they had to preach again. 53:38 And this time 53:40 they had to take the messages of the three angels 53:43 to the whole world. 53:45 Who are they? 53:47 The people known 53:48 as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 53:51 who have grown from a handful of believers 53:54 in the 1840s 53:56 to a membership of more than 22 million today, 54:01 and are now taking these three messages 54:04 to 205 out of the 215 recognized countries 54:11 of the world. 54:13 There are people who are sharing Jesus 54:15 in each of these messages. 54:17 Jesus in the judgment is our advocate. 54:20 Jesus is the creator. 54:22 Jesus calling His people 54:23 out of the confusion of fallen churches, 54:25 known as Babylon. 54:27 Jesus, giving His seal to His servants 54:32 and warning the world of the false worship 54:34 of the beast 54:35 and the reception of its mark. 54:38 A people who are preaching 54:39 the everlasting gospel about Jesus 54:42 and are keeping all of God's commandments 54:45 out of love for Him. 54:47 And they have the faith of Jesus. 54:49 Do you remember in Revelation 14:12, 54:53 as we think of these three angels 54:55 and their messages to the cities 54:58 and the countries of the world. 55:00 How did dear God describe the people 55:04 who would be doing this preaching? 55:07 Revelation 14:12, 55:09 "Here is the patience of the saints, 55:11 here are those who keep the commandments of God 55:14 and have the faith of Jesus." 55:19 During this series, dear friends, 55:22 you have been listening to the words of Jesus, 55:25 particularly the words in this last message 55:27 that He's sending to the world. 55:29 And I just wanted to remind you before I close, 55:33 that in the sermon on the Mount, 55:34 Jesus told the story of two builders 55:39 and it speaks powerfully to us today. 55:41 When he said, therefore, 55:43 whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, 55:46 I would liken him to a wise man that built his house on a rock. 55:52 And the rain descended 55:53 and the floods came and the winds blew 55:55 and beat on that house, and it didn't fall, 55:58 for it was founded on the rock. 56:01 But everyone who hears these sayings of mine 56:04 and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man 56:07 who built his house on the sand. 56:10 And the rain descended 56:12 and the floods came and the winds blew 56:14 and beat on that house, 56:15 and it fell and great was its fall." 56:19 The only difference between these two, 56:21 both heard the sayings of Jesus. 56:24 Only one did them. 56:26 I leave the question with you. 56:29 Are you building your house? 56:31 Are you building your life on the rock? 56:35 Or are you building it on sand? 56:38 Because the day is soon to come 56:41 when there'll be such a time of trouble 56:42 in this world, 56:44 you will need to be sure you're building on Jesus. 56:49 Dear friends, to help you know more 56:51 about what we've been sharing with you in this series. 56:53 We'd like you to have the book, 56:56 The Great Controversy based on the Bible. 56:59 And it traces God's hand in history and prophecy 57:02 and it focuses on the issues 57:04 that we've been considering in this series. 57:06 For information, 57:08 how to obtain a copy of this book, 57:10 go to this website 57:12 that you will see on the screen, 57:13 glm.3abnaustralia.org.au, 57:19 or call 3ABN in Australia 57:22 on 0249733456. 57:30 That website will give you a lot of information, 57:33 including giving you access 57:35 to all the previous recordings of the series 57:39 that you have been hearing. 57:41 May the Lord bless you each one. 57:45 Let us pray. 57:46 Dear loving Father, we thank You 57:48 for all that You have revealed to us in Your Word. 57:51 Help us to open our hearts, 57:53 help us to open our hearts to Jesus 57:55 and open our hearts 57:57 to understanding the significance of Your law 58:01 and give us the desire to keep it 58:04 and be blessed 58:06 as we come to know the Lord of the Sabbath. 58:08 I pray in Jesus' precious name, amen. |
Revised 2021-03-04