Participants: John Stanton & C. A. Murray (Host)
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL110009
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00:01 Hello friends, grab a Bible and a friend and sit back
00:03 as we explore God's word together 00:05 on this edition of House Calls. 00:22 It's great to have you here with us again 00:24 for another edition of House Calls. 00:26 We're excited that you've joined us today 00:28 and we invite you into our study, 00:30 our living room to open God's word together 00:32 as we learn from Him and we pray 00:35 that each time we come together, that is exactly what we do. 00:38 And my name is Pastor John Stanton. 00:40 With me in the studio today is Pastor C.A Murray, 00:43 Pastor Murray, great to have you here again with me. 00:45 This is not a privilege that is often offered to me 00:47 but every time we get to study the word together 00:48 I'm blessed and good to be with you. 00:50 Yeah. Thank you very much. 00:51 And we appreciate again you joining us 00:54 and as we begin today 00:55 we're gonna get into our questions. 00:57 But we wanna start with a word of prayer. 00:58 So I would like to invite you Pastor 01:00 if you would share with us. Glad to do so. 01:02 Father God, we do thank you 01:03 and praise you for the power of your word. 01:06 We thank you for that when we study the word 01:08 we're drawn closer to you that we understand 01:11 and know your will for our lives. 01:13 And till before we open your word, 01:15 before we go to your word 01:16 we ask for your presence and power 01:18 that you're Spirit might surround us, 01:20 that it may quicken our minds and our thinking 01:23 so that those things that we say 01:25 will be pretty hardworking of your will through us 01:28 and to us for those who sit and listen and hear and watch. 01:33 Bless this program Father as we lift the name of Jesus 01:36 and we thank you in His dear name. Amen. 01:40 Well, we wanna make sure that 01:42 we get to a very important part of the program, 01:45 a big part because you're involved 01:47 and that is our questions today. 01:49 And so before we get into each of those questions 01:54 what I wanna do is give you our 01:56 options here for sending us them 01:57 either by snail mail which you're good at. 01:59 I got a question right here. 02:00 In fact we'll read that from, who is it, 02:04 Verna, this morning. 02:05 Thank you for writing in Verna. 02:07 But we also have email and so we want to give you 02:09 our email address, which is 02:11 housecalls@3abn.org housecalls@3abn.org 02:17 If you send those questions to us 02:18 we'll do our best to cover them on the program. 02:21 So thank you very much for you participation. 02:24 And Pastor Murray, why don't we 02:25 go ahead and jump in here with our questions. 02:27 Do you got one today to start of with? 02:29 Got one from Sesa a viewer from South Africa, 02:35 he wants to know dear Pastors, 02:37 is Allah the true God our creator or whose God is He. 02:42 We believe in a creation account 02:44 from Genesis 1, John 1:1 through 5. 02:48 In my opinion in studying this 02:52 I believe Allah is the true God. 02:54 I think the roots of Islam and the roots of Christianity 02:56 go back to a common ancestor. 02:59 They've followed sort of divergent theological alliance, 03:04 but when you scrape off of the theology 03:07 a lot of it is man imposed. 03:09 When you go back to the common ancestor, 03:11 we both revere Abraham, 03:14 both faiths revere Christ in a difference sense. 03:17 Of course we think Him as God they think Him as great prophet, 03:21 but I believe Allah and God are one and the same. 03:25 The names are different. 03:26 Of course with the different names comes a different theology 03:29 But I believe Allah is a true God, 03:31 listened to a very good Sermon sometime ago 03:34 by respected Adventist preacher who was saying that 03:37 there are some people in the Christian faith 03:39 who try to demonize the Muslim faith. 03:43 He was saying that is not fair and I agree. 03:46 And we talked about this. 03:48 I don't think that the extreme elements of a faith 03:50 should define the discussion. Right. 03:53 We should look a little closer. 03:55 So I believe Allah and God are one of the same. 03:57 I'm reading now, working my way through the Quran 04:01 which is quite a bit of work, 04:03 because it's a thick book, yeah, yeah. 04:05 and it doesn't particularly follow 04:06 a storyline like the Bible does. 04:08 So you got to really work at it. 04:10 When I get free time I had it on the plane the other day. 04:13 And a fellow looking at me got little nervous said 04:14 why you're reading a Quran on the plane. 04:16 You know, so I don't think I'll take 04:19 my Quran on the plane any more. 04:21 But I wanted to know more about the faith, 04:24 more about the religion. 04:25 And the religion I see Allah and God are one and the same. 04:30 The names are different and of course faith 04:31 with different names comes a different theology. 04:34 Christ says, No man cometh to the Father but by me. 04:39 And that is a very exclusive term if you wanna get to God. 04:43 If you wanna get to Jehovah God you go through Jesus Christ. 04:47 Islam has a different corridor. 04:49 But the person I'm trying to get is the same. 04:52 The theologies certainly are different. 04:54 Yeah. Yeah. 04:55 You know, when I think to I like what you said there 04:57 about not looking at the stream elements of any faith 05:01 and letting that define the faith as a whole. 05:03 Yes. I mean if we do that 05:04 with Christianity what would be, you know, 05:06 what would be the result. 05:07 If we go back into our history, 05:09 you don't have to go back too far 05:10 to find the crusades and some of the other things 05:13 where we in the name of God killed and wiped out many. 05:16 Yes, yes. You go not too far 05:18 in our history to find certain elements of our faith 05:20 that persecuted their own kind, 05:23 up towards a 40, 50 million murders 05:26 at the hands of Christianity. Yes. 05:29 So you know, we have to be careful not to do that. 05:31 Here at the same time I agree that, 05:34 you know boy, that Allah is God. 05:38 It ties to the same, the same ancestors we have there. 05:41 Yet there's a lot that comes with these names. 05:44 When you say Allah you don't think Christianity 05:46 you think of you know, Muslim or Islam. 05:49 When you hear Christ as Savior, that's Christianity. 05:52 Yes. And so these faiths 05:54 are very different and I don't think 05:56 we're suggesting that pick one. 05:59 You know, no not at all. 06:01 we defend the Christian faith 06:02 because it is significantly different. 06:06 In fact out of all religions I've found 06:09 and maybe you correct me if I am wrong, 06:11 but Christianity is the only religion 06:14 where by we cannot save ourselves. 06:16 There is no works we can do. There is nothing we can do. 06:19 Christ has saved us and He gives us that gift 06:22 of salvation free in response to our faith in Him. 06:26 And I think that's where you see the devil inserting himself 06:28 into some of the faith bases of the world 06:33 that there is this attitude of works or penance or something 06:39 you have to do to add to your own Salvation. 06:42 Christianity is very pure in that. 06:44 The complete work is done by Jesus Christ. 06:46 Yeah. You accept that by faith 06:48 and so it stands alone in that, in that, in that wise. 06:53 And that's why I said that with names 06:56 comes a theological package. 06:58 So when you say the name Allah 07:00 there is a theology that goes with that. 07:02 If you say any name, 07:04 Buddha, Confucianism, Jainism, Taoism 07:09 anyone of the main religions with that name 07:12 although God is God, 07:13 With a name comes a theological package. 07:15 As with Christianity when we say Jehovah God 07:18 we think Father, Son, Holy Ghost, 07:20 as theology that comes ahead. 07:21 There is a way to get to God. 07:23 There is a will that God has for us. 07:26 So the name may be the same or the person behind the name 07:29 but it is the theology that divides. 07:32 And that's where of course we change. 07:35 Yeah, yeah. Well, I appreciate that. 07:36 That's very good because that question comes up quite a bit. 07:39 Heard that several times 07:40 so that's why we wanted to cover it here. 07:42 There is a question here from Verna. 07:44 Again thank you Verna for sending in your question. 07:47 She is asking here a question about Revelation Chapter 15. 07:52 And so let me turn to Revelation 15 07:54 here to see if I can help with her question. 07:58 She writes here that in the Bible in Revelation 15:2 08:04 it says that I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire 08:09 and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, 08:12 over his image, and over his mark, 08:14 and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, 08:17 having the harps of God. 08:19 Then it says in verse 5 and after that 08:23 and she emphasizes after that, I looked, and, behold, 08:27 the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven 08:30 was opened and then it goes from there. 08:33 And she is saying here it doesn't seem 08:34 to at least eluding it doesn't seem to go 08:36 from one place to a truth after that 08:40 like it's a sequence of events here. 08:42 And I think she is exactly right. 08:44 And the Bible isn't trying to say from here 08:46 next what we find is in heaven 08:49 or we're back on earth so to speak in this case. 08:53 What John is saying is after this I saw. 08:55 Yes. In other words 08:56 after I saw that I saw this and so that's, 08:59 that's what we're finding here in this passage. 09:01 Just for a quick think here its kind of need of. 09:04 I enjoy this passage that you brought up, 09:06 I've studied that many times. 09:08 And you find in verse 2, 09:10 we're talking about sea of glass mingle with fire. 09:13 A sea in prophecy is a symbol is multitudes of people, 09:18 You know, when you're talking about a sea or waters. 09:22 That's what it is talking about. 09:23 And specifically it mentions here that within that sea 09:26 we find those who have victory over the beast, 09:29 over the image and over his mark, 09:31 referring to those specifically the end of time that 09:33 we see victory standing probably symbolically 09:36 with those of all through out all time 09:39 who are counted among the redeemed. 09:41 But notice here specifically in verse 3 and 4 09:45 the song that was sung it was the song of the lamb 09:49 or is the song of the lamb that will be sung 09:51 by this group of people who had victory over the beast, 09:56 over his image and over his mark. 09:58 And notice the language here in verse 3. 10:01 Great and marvelous are your works, 10:03 Lord God Almighty; 10:05 just and true are your ways, oh King of saints. 10:07 And then notice the Three Angels messages here. 10:11 Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? 10:16 You are in glorified. 10:17 For you alone are holy for all nations 10:19 shall come and worship before you, 10:22 for your judgments have been manifested. 10:25 All involved in the First Angels message. 10:28 All the elements. Yes. 10:29 And it's almost like the law Christ 10:31 has given by God's people to proclaim the everlasting Gospel. 10:35 Then those who receive the victory, 10:37 get the victory over the beast and over his image 10:40 and over his mark respond the echo, 10:42 of the call of the First Angels message. 10:46 And so in fact they're saying we heard the message, 10:49 we got the picture and we're with you. 10:51 And that's how they gain the victory. 10:53 And so after that scene then we find the scene shifts back 10:57 to a progression then from Chapter 14 on. 11:02 It's almost like this is a mini-interlude of sorts. 11:04 Then it progresses on after these things, 11:06 now let's continue with our study, 11:08 we find that the tabernacle, the temple of the tabernacle 11:12 of the testimony in heaven was opened and then came forth 11:16 from that the Seven Angels having the seven plagues. 11:20 And then the plagues are poured out. 11:21 So that's where we find in the progression in 15 11:25 and then it goes on into 16 with the seven last plagues as well. 11:29 That's about as best as I could, I could do on that. 11:32 I mean it's not a huge theological issue 11:34 but we do have to sometimes understand what John is saying 11:39 and then what God is saying happens in sequence. 11:42 Yes. Yeah. 11:44 Yeah. Well done. 11:45 All right. Do you have another question? 11:47 One more Dear John and John. 11:50 In this case John and C.A. Yeah. 11:52 I always thought God wrote the Ten Commandments. 11:55 Now I'm hearing that it was Jesus, the word. 11:58 I know they are three in one but please explain 12:02 was it the Father or the Son? Interesting question. 12:07 And I think I wanna look at this way. 12:10 When we talk about God, 12:15 Genesis 1:1, in the beginning 12:16 God created the Heaven and the Earth. 12:19 My Hebrew, a little rusty, Berashith Bara Elohim. 12:25 The term God does not designate an individual. 12:30 It is not a personal name for God, the Father. 12:33 Right. God is more of a title, 12:36 in office like Pastor or Elder. Right. 12:40 So and of course in Genesis 1:1, Elohim is a plural term. 12:46 The "im" is a plural ending. 12:47 So when we talk about God we can be talking 12:52 about either of the three or all three. 12:55 Because God is not a name for a person 12:58 it's a title it's an office. 12:59 The more personal names are Jehovah or Adonai 13:04 or names that come like that. 13:06 So when you say God or when you see the word God 13:10 it's really talking about the office or the title of God. 13:15 A text you show me that 13:16 I just looked up a little bit ago, 13:19 Exodus Chapter 3 verse 14. 13:21 Jesus Christ or rather Moses 13:24 and God at the, in verse 14 here, 13:31 And God said to Moses I Am Who I Am? 13:34 Or I'm, that I am, depending on what version you have. 13:36 He said, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 13:40 the 'I Am' has sent you. 13:41 Now if you go over the Luke 4, 13:44 Christ is standing up in the temple 13:46 and he is standing up 13:47 he is reading from the Book of Isaiah. 13:49 First four, beginning about verse 16 13:52 when He puts the book down 13:53 he says this day is fulfilled in your ears. 13:56 And of course immediately the Jews wanted to kill him 13:59 because they realized that He was saying I'm God. 14:02 I was I was the one that met Moses at that burning bush. 14:04 Precisely that's yeah. I'm the deliver. 14:06 That's what He is saying, that this is me. 14:09 So, Christ takes this claim on himself and the Jews realized 14:14 that he was taking that claim because they want to kill him. 14:16 For making that statement they want to take him out right then. 14:20 So, we see then that during this dispensation Christ 14:24 was part of this whole thing. 14:28 It was Christ that met Moses on the mountain. 14:30 It was Christ in the pillar of cloud by day 14:32 and the pillar of fire by night. 14:33 These were all done by Christ. 14:37 Once...man sinned, Christ sort of stepped in 14:43 and begin to takeover as far as 14:45 communication and work with God. 14:46 So we see by harmonizing this Exodus and Luke and Isaiah 14:51 and any number of other text that we're dealing with Christ, 14:55 and God does not designate God the Father, God the Son, 14:59 It is a title as supposed on office 15:01 a supposed to a person or name. 15:03 You know, it makes sense to, 15:04 would be that way because if you look at 15:07 even our theology the Redeemer is the creator. 15:10 Yes. Christ we find is the one 15:12 that created this world that brought 15:15 Adam and then Eve into existence. 15:17 That formed the world and everything in it. 15:20 And so it makes sense that as that world fell He would be the, 15:25 He would come to the forefront 15:26 to be its Redeemer its savior its deliverer. 15:29 So for Him to meet Moses and say I'm gonna deliver my people. 15:32 It's just like what He would do having lost His creation, 15:37 He then as the Redeemer or first of all 15:39 as the deliverer here of Israel would step in 15:43 and then lead them out of the land of Egypt. 15:45 Yes. And of course you know, 15:47 he led them to the wilderness and He comes all the way 15:50 to the point where they're down here at His first advent 15:54 where He becomes the Babe in the Manger 15:56 and it's just unfathomable for us 15:58 really to understand or comprehend this. 15:59 But He comes as a little baby and then of course 16:04 through the teaching that He has found in his word 16:08 through studying He grows up to realize and understand 16:10 His mission is the creator. I'm the, "I am." 16:16 When He makes that statement of course you're right, 16:18 I mean they knew exactly what he was saying 16:21 and sought to kill Him for it. And eventually did. 16:24 We get a little more justification for this 16:28 and I'm haven't told have my verse today. 16:30 In the Book of Colossians, you know, 16:33 Paul runs Church of Colosse and around verse 15, 16 16:37 he really sort of makes his left turn and goes into it. 16:40 He is the image of the invisible God, 16:42 firstborn over all creation. 16:43 For by Him all things are created and all things exist 16:46 Invisible, visible, thrones, demonic principalities, powers 16:50 all things are created through Him and for Him. 16:52 He is before all things and in all things 16:55 and in Him all things consist. 16:57 He is the head of the body of the Church who is the beginning, 17:00 the firstborn from the dead soul. 17:01 We have this idea that Christ is sort of step 17:05 He steps forward. 17:06 He was responsible for creation, He is going to preserve it, 17:09 He is going to redeem it, 17:11 He is the principle actor in this dispensation 17:16 if I can use that term in this age. 17:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell 17:24 So we see this stepping forward of Christ, 17:27 you know, during this time. 17:29 Creative, now giving a self to redeem it, 17:33 sent by the Father to do that and so this contact this "I am" 17:37 from Genesis through to Exodus through 17:40 to the New Testament its all Jesus. 17:42 You know, there is a saying, maybe it's too simplify 17:46 but I've used this analogy when it comes to Jesus as our creator 17:50 Because we struggle this, you know, 17:51 how do this creation works? With Jesus step forward, 17:54 you know, were His hands involved, 17:56 how is the Holy Spirit involved because clearly the Bible 17:58 says the Holy Spirit was involved in moving 18:01 upon the Earth to create it. Yeah. 18:03 And so I've kind of I guess living in Springfield, 18:07 Illinois for a while. 18:08 There is a Frank Lloyd Wright House there. 18:10 And I got to think about Frank Lloyd Wright. 18:11 You know, he is a, you know, 18:13 one of our famous architects in America. 18:15 Over years he has done many building 18:17 and he is revered for his work. 18:20 When you think of Frank Lloyd Wright 18:23 he doesn't takes on a project 18:25 unless he is commissioned to do that, right? 18:27 So I would call that the person commissioning, God the Father. 18:32 But then Frank Lloyd Wright gets together 18:33 and he is the architect. He creates it. 18:35 He forms it and it's in his mind. 18:37 He is gonna move forward now to 18:39 to make this thing become a reality. 18:42 But then as it begins to be built, 18:44 he is not actually swinging the hammer. 18:46 He is not building it, although we say 18:48 Frank Lloyd Wright built this house. 18:50 There are people that come forward to make it happen. 18:53 Jesus is that Frank Lloyd Wright and the builder 18:56 those building it are the Holy Spirit's work. 18:59 So in a way you've got kind of all three. 19:01 And in any construction project that happens you got commission, 19:04 architect and builders. 19:06 And you kind of see that with God and through our scripture 19:09 we find the Holy Spirit moving and things come to being. 19:11 But then you've Jesus speaking the words 19:14 and then the Holy Spirit makes it happen. 19:17 God is three in one because they work always together. 19:20 And even when it comes to the redemption 19:22 of His people God is working together, 19:25 the three in one making it happen. 19:27 Yeah, yeah. And it's that way though that. 19:29 You know, I like it, 19:30 Any analogy any parable that we use 19:33 is going to be some what flawed. 19:35 Because its humanity trying to explain the actions of divinity. 19:39 But I like that because it does simplify 19:41 kind of mix it kind of linear, 19:43 three working together to accomplish this goal. 19:46 Yeah, yeah. Well I've one more question 19:48 here before we get into our topic today 19:51 and I think it's a fairly, fairly quick one. 19:53 It comes from Carla. 19:57 And she writes if a pastor who calls himself a prophet 20:01 told me that God has a message for me. 20:03 should I believe him? 20:05 Are prophecies real in these times? 20:09 Very interesting question. 20:10 In fact for Carla and anyone who has had this question 20:15 in their minds who have heard this from a pastor 20:17 or someone who refers to themselves as a prophet, 20:19 I like to refer you to a program that we did not 20:21 too long ago on the biblical test of a prophet. 20:25 Yeah, because there are things in the Bible 20:28 that says a prophet there is a standard of test 20:30 that the prophet must meet. 20:32 And it's not just one test there are 12 that we gave there. 20:35 That he must meet a hundred percent 20:37 or she must meet a hundred percent to be referred 20:39 to as a prophet or prophetess. 20:41 So don't allow someone just to kind of, 20:44 I also see this as manipulation a bit too. 20:46 And I'm not trying to prejudge this person but to just say 20:49 I'm a prophet you got to hear me and follow me, 20:51 that to me is manipulative. 20:55 Because I don't even really find in scripture where a prophet 20:59 speaks of himself or testifies of himself 21:01 as having a message from God. 21:02 He always comes with credentials. 21:05 You know, he or she is known as a prophet or prophetess. 21:09 They're trusted. They already have 21:11 proven themselves and it's a hundred percent accurate. 21:14 And then they come forward to maybe 21:15 give a message to God's people or to a person. 21:17 You know, something that paused my mind John. 21:19 There are times when people are given a word 21:24 from the Lord for someone. 21:25 I'm impressed to say this to you, you know. 21:28 And you maybe dipping into the prophetic office 21:32 where you're not a prophet for say. 21:34 You know, you have a message for someone, 21:37 you know, I see something going on in your life 21:39 I'm trying to encourage you. 21:40 And the Lord says hey tell John you know, 21:43 he is feeling little bad today. 21:44 You know what a year from now, 21:46 this is going to behind you and you're gonna be fine. 21:49 Right. You know, 21:50 that doesn't make me a prophet. 21:52 I had a word from the Lord 21:53 to sort of encourage you along the way. 21:55 But I don't say I'm a prophet or have the prophetic office. 21:59 And I think that program really is one to refer to. 22:01 There are number of things, a number of tests 22:04 that need to go through and the person who claims that 22:06 office must pass all of them 100 percent at the time 22:09 as we establish in that particular program. 22:12 So we need to be very careful 22:13 who we take prophetic counsel from 22:17 because there are false Christ a plenty and people 22:20 who make claims but their life in the long run will show 22:23 if God is really speaking for them or through them. 22:26 That's right. 22:27 You know the last part of a question here 22:28 is are prophecy real in these times? 22:31 And that's part of actually what 22:32 we're covering in our topic today. 22:35 And just before we transition to that topic 22:38 I just like to give up or put up our email address 22:41 for House Calls one more time. 22:43 We wanna encourage you to continue to send in your letters 22:46 your questions to us to housecalls@3abn.org, 22:51 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 22:53 We do our best to read them and answer them for you. 22:57 Thank you so much for participating in the program. 23:02 The title of the study today is prophecy, 23:06 biblical rules and methodology of interpretation. 23:09 And we gonna take a couple programs to cover 23:11 this because it's a bit of material here. 23:14 There are some things that kind of coming out of the woodworks 23:17 that woodwork that people are talking about today. 23:19 But I like to touch on not just even within the Church 23:23 the Seventh-day Adventist Church itself. 23:24 But in general with regard to understanding prophecy 23:29 and reading the scriptures 23:31 and applying prophecy correctly, how do we do that, 23:34 what are some rules that we need to be very, 23:36 that our biblical rules very much that we need to honor 23:39 and respect and follow to be able to make sure 23:41 that we rightly divide the word of truth. 23:44 And so just we gonna share some things with you here 23:48 in the next couple of programs on these things. 23:50 And first of all I do want to start with a text. 23:53 And because some maybe asking Pastor Murray 23:57 why are they going into prophecy? 23:58 I mean what's gonna happen is gonna happen, right? 24:01 And we know when it happens. 24:04 Well let me share this word with you here 24:06 from Revelation Chapter 1 verse 3. 24:09 After of course the... or the step by step process 24:15 to which the Revelation is delivered to John 24:19 by Christ himself in verses 1 and 2. 24:22 We read in verse 3. 24:24 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words 24:28 of this prophecy, and keep those things 24:31 which are written in it for the time is near. 24:36 So there is a blessing for those who first of all 24:39 who read and there is a blessing for those who also hear 24:43 or listen to those words. 24:45 And so we want to say, let me start of with this, 24:48 I, Pastor I was in before I became a pastor 24:52 I was in the corporate world for 15 years almost. 24:55 And I sat down with the gentleman 24:57 who was in a Bible study with me at that place. 25:00 We had a Bible study during lunch and he was a member 25:02 of another denomination in another faith. 25:05 And we got to talking and he said you know, 25:09 Seventh-day Adventist they study prophecy a lot, don't they? 25:12 I said yeah. 25:14 We enjoy that topic and we think that biblically 25:18 we can find the Bible, the Bibles true explanation. 25:22 Not only the prophecy in symbols but the explanation of that 25:26 and it's a big part of our ministry its our message. 25:30 And he said you know what? 25:32 I just believe its gonna happen, 25:33 its gonna happen it doesn't matter. 25:34 When Jesus comes, He is gonna come doesn't matter. 25:37 And I shared that text with him. 25:38 I said so what do you say about that. 25:40 I mean if there is a blessing here do we just kind of ignore 25:42 the blessing and say whatever is gonna happen is gonna happen. 25:45 It doesn't seem like the Lord is really saying that. 25:48 And there are some other things that we talked about 25:50 there and he really didn't have any answer, 25:51 he talked around a little bit. 25:53 But I think it was really more of an effort 25:55 to kind of reflect or deflect any real discussion 26:00 of a need to read and to study 26:03 and to follow the prophetic books and writings. 26:08 You know, probably I've taken a stab here 26:11 but I think upwards of a quarter 26:13 to a third of all of scripture is prophetic, 26:16 is a book of prophecy it comes 26:18 from the prophets and their own testimony, 26:20 whether they're Major Prophets, Minor Prophets whatever 26:23 they may be is prophecy. 26:24 So if you gonna say lets throw our prophecy 26:26 you gonna throw it all an awful lot of scripture. 26:29 And I don't think any of us want to do that. 26:31 But with a fact that prophecy is important to read 26:35 and to understand especially I believe in the days 26:38 that we're living wouldn't it be just like the enemy 26:41 to center his attack on or focus his attack on, 26:46 rather the fact that we don't really 26:48 or his assertion that we don't really 26:49 need to study prophecy. Yeah. 26:51 Then we really don't need to know what's you know, 26:54 whether or not we're living in the last days 26:56 and what will happen in these last days. 26:58 You know, I turned very closely 27:00 to 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4 verse 13. 27:06 Paul saying to the Church of Thessalonians, 27:08 I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, 27:10 concerning those who are asleep. 27:11 Well just as Paul doesn't wants to be ignorant 27:15 about that particular topic. 27:18 God does not want his people to be ignorant. 27:20 There is nothing to be gained by being, by being ignorant. 27:23 God wants you people to know and there is a blessing 27:27 in knowing and there are some things 27:28 that we'll not know now 27:30 and some things we may never know. 27:31 But that which is to be known should be known. 27:35 And God's people are strengthened by knowing. 27:39 And the Bible says I'll tell you these things before hand 27:42 so that when they do happen you'll know, that I'm God. 27:47 So, there is a blessing in knowing what's coming. 27:50 You know, I'll tell a quick story. 27:51 When we were kids we used to watch this horror, 27:54 these B horror movies my sister and I on Saturday nights. 27:57 And she was not in the Church and I was and you know, 28:03 that Lord would be destroyed by giant ants 28:05 or some monster would come along and she would be horrified. 28:08 Do you think that's gonna happen? 28:09 And I was in Sabbath school I said, 28:11 nah it's not gonna happen 28:12 because I know it's not gonna happen you know. 28:15 So I said we're not to be scared 28:16 because it's not gonna end that way. 28:18 It's going to end with Christ coming. 28:19 I didn't know a lot but I knew it was going to end 28:21 with the Second Coming of the Lord 28:23 and things are going to be right, you know, 28:24 rather taking to heaven with Him. 28:27 So I would sit back and say I'm not scared 28:29 because it can't end like that. 28:31 Giant ants are not going to eat up the world. 28:32 You know, a 50 foot woman 28:33 is not going to stomp the world to death. 28:35 Because I know how it's going to end and that's not it. 28:37 It's that kind of thing. That's right. 28:38 So there is a comfort there is a blessing in knowing 28:40 what's gonna happen so that you can be prepared 28:43 for what is going to happen. 28:44 Particularly since there is an adversary 28:46 who wants to deceive so you'll not be caught up 28:49 in those deceptions because you know the truth. 28:52 I think it was probably the predominant reason 28:53 why Jesus is saying or He gives us these things before hand. 28:57 He is a deceiver is out there. 28:58 He has been a liar from the beginning, 29:00 He'll always lie and He is seeking to deceive. 29:03 In fact one verse comes to mind really very quickly 29:05 if you're thinking about prophecy if you look 29:07 at Revelation Chapter 13 29:13 verses 13 and 14 it says, 29:16 he and we're not go into who this he is 29:19 but the point is what he does. 29:22 He performs great signs, so that he even 29:24 makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men 29:27 He deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs 29:30 which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, 29:33 telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image 29:35 to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 29:38 Then of course it talks about then those who followed Him 29:40 and worship Him receive the mark of the beast. 29:44 So just in that, in that short scene there we see that 29:48 His whole motive for bringing the world... 29:53 down is deception. It's deception. Correct. 29:56 And he has always worked that, we can deceive Eve. 29:59 He tried his best to our history to deceive 30:01 Gods people in various ways. 30:04 He is doing it again in these last days. 30:05 And if you don't know the truth how you know 30:07 when deception comes? You'll not know. 30:10 Very much so. And so you know, 30:12 one of the things I like to do to start off here 30:14 and we have a little outline that we're gonna go through. 30:16 But I would like to go first to Daniel 30:21 and specifically couple of verses Daniel 8 verse 26 30:26 and then of course Daniel 12 verses 4 through 9. 30:30 And Daniel and Revelation are book ends of prophecy 30:35 of last day prophecies. 30:37 From my quick database check here in my mind. 30:42 I don't recall any other prophetic book 30:45 that really tells itself so much as being 30:47 a Latter day prophecy as the Book of Daniel. 30:50 Correct. You know at the end of Daniel 30:52 we read this here in a minute but the book is seal. 30:54 What is in it is sealed until the time of the end. 30:57 And so first of all, do you have Daniel 8:26 for us. 31:02 I've got Daniel 8:26. 31:03 You could you read that for us, that will be great thanks. 31:05 Let's see. And the vision of the evenings 31:09 and the mornings which was told is true: 31:12 Therefore seal up the vision, 31:15 for it refers to many days in the future. 31:19 And that of course ties back to the 2300 days, 31:23 we know that prophecy a day and prophecy a day 31:27 it was a year so its 2300 years. 31:29 So there will be a time period of 2300 years 31:32 from its beginning to end where prophecy 31:34 or these prophecies would not be known. 31:36 They would be sealed up 31:37 and people would not understand them. 31:40 Then now if you get to Daniel Chapter 12 31:45 and begin with verse 4 there and read 31:48 a little bit about how this... 31:52 Well, let's start with just Daniel 12:4 lets read that. 32:00 Daniel 12 and verse 4. 32:04 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, 32:06 and seal the book until the time of the end; 32:09 many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. 32:13 All right, you know, sometimes these verses read 32:16 and we talk about how knowledge increases in the world 32:18 but really contextually seal up the vision, 32:23 people will not know it but at the time 32:26 of the end people will know it. 32:28 Yes. Knowledge will increase. 32:30 Now that was people understanding a prophecy will, 32:33 will be known. It will be more widespread 32:35 that message that prophetic message will go out. 32:38 And in fact if you read on you'll find 32:40 in that same chapter, chapter 12. 32:43 There is a reference there to a man verse 5, 32:47 clothed in linen standing on a riverbank. 32:53 And then verse 6, He was above the waters of the river 32:57 and the questions asked how long shall the fulfillment 32:59 of these wonders be. So you know, 33:01 how far do we have to stretch to begin 33:02 to then understand these things. 33:04 And the answer comes from the man in linen 33:07 who was above the waters of the river when he held up 33:10 through his right hand and his left hand to have a, 33:13 and swore by Him. 33:15 That is a capital H in the translation 33:18 I've in King James Version. 33:19 Who lives for ever that it shall be for a time, 33:22 times, and an half; and when power of the Holy people 33:26 has been completely scatter 33:27 all these things shall be finished. 33:29 Yeah. Then now as I, and I said, 33:31 I made the comment here, 33:33 Daniel is a book in with Revelation. 33:35 So you go to Revelation Chapter 10 33:38 and you'll find the same vision or the same, 33:41 it brings us back to the same picture 33:44 where it says in Revelation 10 verse 5, 33:46 an angel whom I saw standing on the sea 33:49 and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 33:51 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever 33:53 who created heaven and the things that are in it, 33:56 The earth and the things that are in it, 33:57 and the sea and the things that are in it. 33:59 But there should be delay, no longer. 34:02 Interesting. There is this delay where the book is sealed, 34:05 the people will not understand 34:07 and then no long will there be a delay. 34:09 Yes, yes. 34:10 But in the days of sounding, verse 7. 34:12 Days of the sounding of the seventh angel, 34:14 when he is about to sound, 34:15 the mystery of God would be finished, 34:18 as He declared to His servants the prophets. 34:20 Now we tie that back to Daniel 12, 34:24 it says that sea love the vision because it won't become clear 34:28 until it's finished at the end. 34:30 Here it says that when this happens the mystery of God 34:33 will be finished as he declared to His servants the prophets. 34:38 So there was come a time and there really even more 34:41 come a time that becomes more evident 34:43 that prophets will speak again. Yes. 34:46 Prophecy is themselves will speak again 34:49 and a message will go forth to the inhabitants 34:51 of the earth that is no longer sealed 34:54 but open for understanding and that people will be 34:57 able to know the time in which way they live 35:00 and the things that are about to take place. 35:03 You know, its interesting too that though many times 35:05 as you really said this knowledge shall be 35:08 increased is applied to the secular world. 35:11 But a lot of these innovations, 35:15 this increase of knowledge has enabled us 35:18 to get more access to the Bible and to the work. 35:22 Surely printing and those kinds of things 35:25 and of course now you got the internet. 35:27 You can get the Bible, you can attack the Bible. 35:30 Dialogue with people on, can talk to people on, 35:32 like before we couldn't do that. 35:34 Now we get on a phone, we get on computers, 35:36 we can share information. 35:38 So a lot of this new knowledge has enabled us 35:41 really to delve into the word, to share what we have, 35:45 this program you know, 35:47 is a part of an increase in knowledge 35:49 so that we're sitting here talking and people are consuming 35:53 what we're saying around the world, 35:55 some agreeing, some disagreeing, 35:57 some being sent to the word for themselves to study 36:00 and to check and to pray about things. 36:02 So this is an attempt by God to get access to the word, 36:08 through out the world. Yeah. 36:12 In a prior program I know we read this first 36:14 but it comes from Amos, God does nothing unless 36:18 He first reveals His secrets unto his servants the prophets. 36:22 And we read here about that, 36:24 you know, His servants the prophets. 36:25 Same reference here in Revelation 10:7 36:27 that would be declaring the message, 36:31 the prophetic message in the last days. 36:34 And we can say it's the last days 36:35 because Daniel says that the things 36:36 become evident in the Latter days. 36:38 It's about the Latter days. 36:39 And so we've come to a time 36:43 and maybe I should not just ahead. 36:45 Have we come to a time 36:48 where we're in the Latter days after this 2300 year 36:51 which is you know day equals your period 36:54 where the word is being understood, 36:57 the prophetic message is being understood better. 36:59 It's being preached and people have an opportunity 37:02 either to read and to hear or like my dear brother 37:07 who I sat across in the cafeteria 37:09 with who says it doesn't matter. 37:11 And if that time is in fact today which I believe, 37:13 we believe is then its time that all of us, 37:17 that all of you are there also open the word 37:20 and being to study and see if whether these things 37:23 that are being said are actually true. 37:26 And so we want to give you some ammunition 37:30 so to speak to help guide 37:31 you in these couple next two programs to guide 37:34 you in your search to find out whether or not these prophecies 37:38 that are being talked about. 37:40 And there are prophecies that are coming from voices 37:42 around the world, that you heading right 37:44 voice gonna go, yeah. 37:45 What you doing in the context of the idea 37:48 that there is an enemy who is trying to muddle the waters. 37:52 Who is trying to confuse 37:54 and distract and dissuade and discourage. 37:58 So there are lot of people attacking prophecy. 38:02 Some for any number of reasons 38:04 but certainly Satan has an agenda also. 38:06 And he doesn't what this word to get out 38:08 and so there are false teacher and false doctrines 38:11 and the Bible says beware of those kinds of things 38:14 because you may run the risk of being deceived. 38:17 If you don't study the word of God 38:19 and the prophetic landscape 38:21 as we're beginning to look at today. 38:22 You know the other thing too 38:24 is I thought about some of the recent events 38:25 that have happened here with predicting things 38:28 then you know, come to pass, yes 38:30 In some ways I think the devil is happy every time a prophecy 38:34 that some one gives doesn't happen. 38:36 Oh I agree. Because now we deceived, 38:39 even mislead certain people. 38:41 He allows others to say well 38:43 look prophecy doesn't do any good. 38:45 And you kind of throw the baby out with the bath water 38:46 because I think we're well I'm not even look at prophecy 38:49 then because look how many times these people say 38:51 this and that and it doesn't happen. 38:53 And if you got offense setter 38:54 that will sort of push them off on the wrong side. 38:57 Well someone who was saying well those people 39:00 don't really know they are talking about. 39:01 Since the Father's fell asleep the word is gone on like it, 39:04 you know there's gonna be no changes 39:06 God predicted nothing happened. 39:07 this God predicts nothing happened 39:09 So why shall I listen to any of them 39:11 because the one's that are speaking the loudest 39:13 aren't saying something that is true. 39:15 And let me encourage those who are listening or viewing today, 39:19 the reason that they don't come to pass 39:21 is because they do not follow biblical rules of interpreting 39:25 and understanding prophecy. Yes. 39:27 They obliterate the way in which the Bible says 39:30 you should unfold these prophecies 39:32 or understand these prophecies. Yeah. 39:34 One of the things it's so clear, 39:35 I mean just you wonder why they miss it. 39:38 Jesus said no one knows the day or hour of my return. 39:43 Yet some recent prophecies have said or prophets 39:46 have said we know the day that He will return. 39:49 Now John what's important about that, 39:50 there are certain statements that are over arching statements 39:53 that are not mitigated they're not shaved off 39:58 or colored by any other statement 39:59 they stand, there I say naked. 40:01 I'm the way the truth and the life, 40:03 no one comes as the Father but by Me. 40:06 It's nothing you can do with that statement, 40:08 it is what it is. Right. 40:10 No man, no woman knows the day nor the hour. 40:14 There are no mitigating statements to go 40:16 along side that, that's a flat naked statement 40:19 that's you can do nothing to allow it, it stands alone. 40:22 Nobody knows you don't know I don't know. 40:25 So, someone says I got the day, I got the hour, 40:28 they're in direct contradiction to a statement by Jesus. Yeah 40:33 No body knows. Yeah. Yeah. 40:35 And what do we do according to the biblical test 40:37 of a prophet like that. We don't listen. 40:39 We got to reject it. We got to reject it. 40:41 Do reject the fact that prophecy exists and it's important, 40:44 reject the messenger because they're not following the Bible 40:47 and what it says about how to understand that. 40:49 Now, let's, let's give a little bit of a, 40:52 kind of a background, 40:53 kind of a foundation here, history lesson. 40:58 For many years after the early church was persecuted 41:04 and even at during persecution the Gospel grew. 41:08 It gained victory and was spread through out the world 41:11 and then we found in and even in John, 41:13 seven letters to the church is the beginning of Revelation. 41:16 That in end of itself shows that God's 41:17 people were being scattered everywhere 41:19 so that the Gospel might grow and spread. 41:23 And as that was happening 41:24 the devil saw it and he realized, 41:26 well killing Him doesn't do any good. 41:29 So, I might as well join Him. Yes. 41:31 And so we find that through out history 41:34 also as the church begins to grow 41:36 there was not only the church of God 41:39 but a counterfeit movement of church so to speak. 41:43 And so you've them kind of running 41:44 simultaneously along side each other 41:46 where truth was being preached, error was being preached. 41:50 And as they continue to travel down the time line 41:53 as we get closer and closer to our day, 41:55 we get to a point where prophecies 41:58 of the Latter days get closer and closer. 42:01 And so the devil knows okay, God's gonna speak here again. 42:04 See, the devil knows the Bible. Oh, yeah. 42:06 Better than we do. Yes, yes. 42:07 He knows what's gonna happen 42:09 so he tries to preempt a lot of these things. 42:11 So as that time comes about 42:13 as the time of the end approaches, 42:15 he knows God's gonna send a prophetic message out. 42:18 So, what does he do? 42:19 He sends false prophecy messages out. That's right. 42:22 False prophets out, unto the world 42:24 to kind of muddy the waters a little bit. 42:27 And what we found in as the message of truth 42:31 went forward that God saw fit to, 42:34 to bring the church back to a pure and a... 42:39 what do you say, just a pure truth, 42:41 following the Bible this is where Sola scriptura 42:44 came out which was kind of the mantra 42:46 of the Protestant movement. Yes. 42:49 The Bible and the Bible alone it wasn't Rome 42:51 that dictated the truths of God's verdict 42:53 was man looking at scripture, 42:55 the Holy-Spirit leading him to understand these things, 42:58 and so that began to go forward and through 43:01 the Protestant Reformation came many 43:03 of the truths that we've today. Yes. 43:06 Praise God for the Protestant Reformation. 43:10 But the devil kicked in the gear again 43:12 and he saw with the Protestant Reformation 43:15 these truths going out and coming back to the forefront. 43:17 He said I've got to establish 43:19 some kind of a Counter Reformation. 43:21 And it's known, there is very well known a Counter Reformation 43:25 that occurred that was initiated by the Church of Rome. Yes. 43:28 That was very, very prevalent in response to the truths 43:33 write out by the true Protestant Reformation. Yes. 43:36 And in many respects today we find protestant churches 43:39 going back into, they're no longer protesting 43:44 I guess you would say that doctrine's of Rome. Yeah. 43:47 They're kind of, just kind of both coming together 43:49 in this ecumenical movement that, 43:51 you know we just let's focus on what we agree with. 43:53 The Seven-day Adventist Church 43:55 does not agree with that approach. 43:56 So, we're not ecumenical in nature 43:58 with other face or the denominations 44:00 but yet we join or can unite 44:02 with them in the Gospel of Jesus. Oh, yes. 44:04 But according to His truth alone. 44:07 Now, I bring all that up 44:08 because as part of the Counter Reformation 44:12 there was also a specific plan to undo something 44:16 that the reformation did that God did through 44:18 the reformation was to bring out an understanding of prophecy. 44:23 And he did that through the study of God's word, 44:27 the study of prophecy and to see how God 44:30 in fact interpreted through his angles, 44:33 the prophetic messages given to His 44:35 prophets and specifically Daniel. 44:37 So, so what you have you here is Daniel 44:40 who receives the vision from God 44:42 and the angles coming to help him 44:44 give the interpretation of that vision 44:46 and what He does is He walks Daniel through a timeline 44:49 or at least give him a time element 44:51 that is written in history. Yes. 44:54 That carries on down through to the end of time 44:56 referred to as the Latter days. 44:58 And so you have in the Protestant Reformation 45:01 this on going study or beginning study of, 45:04 of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. 45:07 And an understanding being developed 45:09 because they understood where it began. Yes. 45:11 And where it was taking them. 45:14 So, Historicism is a frame work but it also a tool 45:19 that you can use as sort of unpackaged prophecy. 45:21 It is a something that allows you to look at it 45:25 in a sequential biblical way so that it makes sense. Yes. 45:28 It's a tool basically something that's in your hands 45:31 that will allow you to, to unravel something that can 45:35 be daunting and it can be tough. Yeah. 45:37 And make sense of it. 45:38 Yeah, and with that methodology 45:40 and you mentioned Historicism there. 45:42 That is the,the reformers understanding, 45:45 biblical understanding, how our prophecy went through. Correct. 45:48 From beginning to end along the timeline, unbroken. Yes. 45:51 And that allow them as they studied the prophecies 45:54 to pluginto advance along that 45:56 timeline with relative accuracy. 45:59 They're not perfect no we don't know exactly everything 46:02 but we generally know the time from beginning to end. 46:05 And that was there was safety in that. 46:08 But what happened as a result of or, 46:11 or in response to the reformation 46:12 was known as the Counter Reformation. Yes. 46:15 And in the Counter Reformation, 46:18 Rome sought to undo some of the, 46:20 many of the truths that were coming up 46:22 to the forefront again in the Reformation. 46:25 But also what many don't realize 46:27 is that they attacked the very foundation of 46:29 the understanding of the prophecy as well. 46:32 So, they sort to understand his Historicism, 46:34 a timeline from beginning to end unbroken, 46:39 with another couple of possibilities. 46:41 And they're two of them 46:42 but I liked to mention here just now. 46:44 First of all I mentioned Historicism 46:45 which is the Protestant Reformations 46:47 understanding of prophecy, their methodology 46:52 and then now you get to the, the other two 46:54 which are our part of the Counter Reformation. 46:55 The first being Preterism, and Preterism 46:59 is the interpretation of prophecy 47:02 that has its fulfillment back 47:04 in the period of the early church. 47:06 And for the most part right around the events of 70 A.D. 47:11 And the sacking of Jerusalem by Titus and his armies in Rome, 47:15 and they saw that, that event along with the persecution 47:19 of the early believers of the church, 47:22 of the early church, really constituted a large 47:25 or most part of the, the things that 47:28 we see in the Book of Revelation. Yes 47:30 And so it's a titled or labeled Preterism 47:34 because it's pre, it happened. 47:36 Already it's happened in the past 47:38 we don't have to worry about it. 47:40 And the other one then in opposition of that 47:43 was Futurism also came out about the same time. 47:46 First of all I mentioned that Preterism 47:48 was first champion by Luis De Alcazar. Yes. 47:52 Of course through the Church of Rome who was, 47:55 he was a Jesuit as well. 47:57 Who figured out this way of understanding prophecy, 48:01 he didn't really take route I mentioned that 48:03 you know probably you would find even today 48:06 less than one or two percent really, our Preterits.. Yes. 48:09 It really didn't take a lot of ... 48:12 it didn't really hit the road running 48:14 very quickly but Futurism did. Yes. 48:17 And Futurism at the same time was brought or the theory 48:21 it was the first champion by a man named Francisco Ribera 48:26 during also the Counter Reformation movement. 48:29 And it wasn't response in direct response to the reformers 48:33 and their historicist approach. 48:36 Now unlike Preterism, Futurism did take route. 48:41 I mean it did began to receive a following 48:44 and we find that as it did over a few centuries 48:50 it grew slowly but finally 48:52 when we get to the 19th century the 1800s. Yes. 48:55 The likes of John Darby and some others really brought 48:58 this back to the forefront and so when you hear certain, 49:06 what you say teachings of quote and quote 49:08 "scripture that come forward such 49:09 as the Rapture theory or 7 years which three and half years 49:14 of tribulation with seven years of, 49:16 of a tribulation period all these things are connected 49:19 in with the Futurism view of the prophecies 49:22 of Daniel and Revelation. 49:24 I think you brought a very good point 49:25 that these were in reaction to. 49:27 As we say Counter Reformation really a push back 49:29 against the movement the reform movement which was really 49:35 a reaffirmation of the original primitive Gospel. Yes. 49:39 You know it had, it had got lost and it got stolen, 49:41 it was strayed it was destroyed, 49:44 it was hidden use almost any term you want for centuries 49:47 and centuries and then it was rediscovered 49:50 by men and women who really sought God. 49:54 And as the reformation gain momentum 49:58 there was this push back against the reformation 50:01 against the historicist model and any number of other things 50:06 that the reformation began to unearth again. 50:09 And so these later to Preterism, 50:11 Futurism were part of that push back 50:13 that Counter Reformation that fighting against the... 50:17 rediscover the reemergence 50:19 of the primitive and pure Gospel. 50:20 So really and as you mention that 50:23 what we're saying and what you're saying 50:25 I think is that if you accept the Protestant Reformation 50:30 is being a movement led by God. 50:32 There really is only one approach to searching for truth. 50:37 First of all Sola scriptura, the Bible and the Bible only. 50:41 The second would be some of those choose them that 50:44 came out of their Protestant Reformation. 50:47 Just a name a few of them baptism by immersion, 50:49 they've been sprinkling for so many years 50:51 well baptismal to immerse that came to the forefront 50:54 of course Baptist help to champion that you find 50:57 a whole denomination that kind of came out of that. 51:00 And you have other things righteousness by faith. 51:02 Martin Luther and he was a significant 51:05 reformer in that respect of course we have the 51:09 Lutheran Church today that sees Martin Luther as its pioneer. 51:14 And so that's why these denominations 51:16 come from with to a great degree the kind of reformation 51:19 has begun to undo some of what they believed 51:23 during the reformation period, that reformers believe 51:26 in reformation period, were so important. 51:28 John, this is vital because the church came out 51:33 of the concept of the trend and said many, many things. 51:35 But one of the things they said that was, was 51:38 really damaging was that 51:40 tradition is equal to scripture. 51:43 Which says to me if you and I can, 51:44 can develop a practice and we do that long enough 51:48 then it's equal to, to the scripture. Yeah. 51:52 So if I'm doing something and it's been done 51:56 a hundred or two hundred years as well that's, that's, 51:58 that's enough that makes it equal to the Bible. 52:00 Then it also said the church 52:02 has the right to interpret the Bible. 52:04 When I say interpret to change it to, 52:07 to say what it means to even though it says 52:09 A we say it means B. Right. 52:12 And the church takes upon itself that, that role. 52:14 Well, once you begin to go down to that role 52:17 you're in, you're in a real trouble. Right. 52:19 So, the founding Fathers of the reformation 52:23 said from now on it's Sola scriptura, 52:26 no interpretation, no amalgamation, 52:31 no massaging it's the pure Gospel. 52:34 If the Bible says A let's go with A, 52:37 let's not say A means B or sometimes A sometimes B. 52:40 If it says A let's, let's say A and if it's B let's say B. 52:45 Solo scriptura and, and let's look 52:48 at the pattern from Genesis straight through 52:51 and let's find the historical element 52:53 and follow that and take that as a rule for our lives. 52:56 That's very good. You know, one other things 52:58 I didn't intent on going here 52:59 but let's turn to Matthew Chapter 23 53:01 there is something I like to kind of bring up 53:03 to kind of conclude our program. 53:05 The first part of this topic here today Jesus stood over, 53:11 overlooking Jerusalem and He was on 53:16 from what I remember on the Mount of Olives 53:20 and He was looking down over Jerusalem 53:23 and He says some words that seem... 53:27 probably were not understood by those who were with Him 53:30 but I think definitely recorded for our benefit. 53:34 It says in verse 37 of Matthew 23 53:36 Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets 53:39 and stones those who are sent to her, 53:42 how often I wanted to gather your children together, 53:46 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 53:48 but you were not willing. 53:50 See, your house is left to you desolate. 53:54 Now these words obviously are very sobering but the issue 54:01 I want to connect or the, the part I want to take 54:04 from this is that in throughout history 54:08 God has send prophets to his people. 54:10 Yes. He has sent messages, 54:12 to his people to help guide them. 54:14 And in many respects those prophets were persecuted 54:18 and in many cases they were killed for their message. 54:21 But that message still was sent by God 54:23 and it was His desire that he would gather 54:25 his people together to carefree them, 54:27 to protect them, to nurture them, 54:29 to keep them in the... the truce of God's word 54:35 that allowed them to understand only 54:36 who he was but get them safely to the end. 54:40 And as he sent these messengers, as he send these prophets 54:43 they repeatedly stoned them, they killed them. 54:45 And what we found when Rome got together to oppose 54:49 to the kind of reformation these truce 54:52 that were coming forward through God's word. 54:54 What we found again was persecution, 54:57 the same repeated thing happened again 54:59 that when God send messengers in to bring 55:02 about the reformation that the devil 55:04 went attacking through even the church. 55:08 The Church of Rome in this incidence 55:10 to persecute and in many cases kill. 55:13 I think history records upwards of forty, 55:15 fifty million murders who struck to Solo scriptura 55:19 and wouldn't bend to the traditions of the church. 55:22 Yeah, there has never been sadly anyone 55:24 who came with a pure unadulterated message from God 55:28 that has received universal acceptance and praise, 55:33 including Christ himself. Yeah. 55:35 Once you plunge the line straight 55:37 you gonna make enemies in this world 55:39 and sadly many of times in the Church. 55:42 And so one other things that the prophetic 55:44 landscape shows us is this, 55:46 this line that we can say when you, 55:51 when you stand up for the Lord you're gonna take 55:54 your lumps because Christ took his lumps 55:56 and the servant is not greater than the master. 55:58 So it's gonna happen but you can stand strong 56:00 because the same God that delivered the saints 56:03 and prophets of all even though some gave their lives, 56:06 as we said yesterday their record is sealed in heaven 56:09 will deliver us and keep us in his last days. Yeah, Yeah. 56:12 You know as I, as I think about the events 56:15 in what people went through their in the past 56:18 Revelation talks about it, it will happen again. 56:20 Yes, that there is a persecution 56:21 that is coming at the end of time. 56:23 You know, I don't think there is any safety in numbers per se. 56:26 You know, some one might be looking around 56:30 and think well if the most of the people 56:33 believe this then I'm gonna side with them. 56:36 You know, it happen in Christ Day 56:38 the majority crucified Christ. Yeah. 56:41 It happened at a time during the first Counter Reformation 56:45 during the inquisitions all those things 56:47 that the majority was persecuting the minority. 56:50 It will happen again the majority 56:52 will persecute the minority but we want to make sure 56:54 that what you're standing on is the word of God. Amen. 56:58 This is what's important and as we transition 57:00 to our next program we're gonna cover part II of this series 57:03 which takes a look, a deeper look in Historicism. 57:05 And why historicist's model is the model accepted 57:08 by the reformers and continues to be the model for today, 57:12 for understanding prophecy. 57:15 And so we wanna encourage 57:16 you to make sure that you come back. 57:17 We pray that today 57:18 you've been blessed by our program. 57:20 You learned some new things certainly we learned every time 57:23 we come before you and study the word 57:26 asking the Holy Spirit to bless us. 57:27 So, continue to study, continue to stay in God's word 57:30 and put your trust in Him because we know 57:32 when you do you can't go wrong. God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17