Participants: Jim Reinking
Series Code: LDS
Program Code: LDS000015
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00:33 The Time of the End and I'm going to be connecting
00:37 with that fascinating and challenging subject 00:40 I presented last Sunday night on the mark of the beast. 00:43 I'm not going to go through all of that material, 00:45 but it does directly connect. 00:48 Well, we discovered in our study 00:49 that the beast of Revelation 13 represented the papal system. 00:54 That brings the earth to a universal point of crisis 00:57 over the issue of the mark. 00:59 And we discovered the mark of Rome's authority 01:03 is the change that she made at the Sabbath 01:05 from Saturday to Sunday in the 4th century A.D. 01:09 You may remember the statement 01:10 I share with you from the Catholic Record 01:12 where it says, the church says, 01:14 "Sunday is our mark of authority. 01:17 The church is above the Bible, 01:19 and this transference of Sabbath observance 01:21 is proof of that fact." 01:23 And my friend it does 01:25 and I'm not going to preach that whole sermon again 01:28 but it does matter when it comes to spiritual 01:33 and religious practices and beliefs. 01:35 It does matter whether it comes from the book or it does not. 01:41 And my friend, it is a practice is matter of Sunday. 01:44 It is a practice that traditionally 01:47 has been passed down through the ages to our own time 01:51 and no question about it. 01:52 There are many sincere Christians who teach Sunday. 01:55 They never had a reason to question it, 01:58 but my friend it is contrary 02:00 to what the Bible clearly teaches. 02:03 Tonight, we will begin our study with Revelation 17. 02:07 That describes this apostate system as a harlot. 02:11 In contrast we will discover 02:12 that God's people in the last days 02:14 are pointed out in prophecy 02:16 as a pure virgin woman, a pure virgin woman. 02:20 And as central scene in Bible prophecy, 02:22 a woman represents the church. 02:25 On one hand as I have always stated, 02:27 "A pure woman represents a pure church, a true church. 02:33 An impure woman, 02:35 a harlot represents a church that is in apostasy." 02:40 Take a look at Revelation 17, the New Testament page 197. 02:46 Revelation 17 and we are going to begin with verses 1-3. 02:51 So Revelation 17, and it's interesting 02:54 as we study the Book of Revelation 02:56 to find that we have these contrast 02:59 and we will see that again, the harlot on one side of it 03:02 and the pure virgin woman on the other. 03:05 So here is what we find Revelation 17 03:07 and beginning with verse 1 where it says, 03:09 "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls 03:12 came and spoke with me, saying, Come here, I will show you 03:16 the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 03:20 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, 03:24 and those who dwell on the earth 03:25 were made drunk with the wine of her immorality. 03:29 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, 03:33 and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, 03:37 full of blasphemous names, 03:38 having seven hands and ten horns." 03:41 And once again we are reminded that the Book of Revelation 03:44 is a book of prophetic symbolisms 03:48 in which important and vital truths 03:50 as it relate to the end times 03:53 and specifically it relates to the ebb and flow 03:56 of this conflict between good and evil plays out. 04:01 And we find a harlot, 04:03 that the prostitute of Revelation 17 04:07 plays a major role in prophecy in the end times. 04:12 In fact in Hosea 4:12 04:14 we have this interesting biblical statement 04:16 where it says, 04:17 "For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, 04:22 and they have played the harlot, departing from their God." 04:26 Now this is a statement that is made about God's people 04:30 at a certain period of time in the Old Testament. 04:33 And they are described as being a harlot, 04:36 for they have departed from their God. 04:40 And so as we look at the harlot, Revelation 17 04:43 this represents a people, a church 04:46 that have departed because of apostasy 04:50 from loyalty to God 04:53 is what the Bible clearly, clearly indicates. 04:56 And we continue as we come down to verse 9, where it says, 04:59 "Here is the mind which has wisdom. 05:01 The seven heads or seven mountains 05:03 on which the woman sits." 05:05 We are given some keys to identifying the woman. 05:09 And geographically it's speaking about the woman 05:12 being located at a place where there are seven mountains. 05:17 And verse 18 gives us another key, 05:20 as we drop down there. 05:21 Where it says the woman whom you saw is what? 05:24 What is it? It's the great city. 05:28 And what about the city? 05:29 It says, "Which reigns over the kings of the earth." 05:33 So I put it together 05:34 a great city located at a place of seven mountains or hills 05:38 that we know historically has reigned 05:41 over the kings of the earth 05:42 or that is has dominated the civil system 05:47 and what are we talking about or who are we talking about? 05:50 We are talking about Rome. 05:53 You know, the sides are the mountains 05:55 that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. 05:57 Again it is the antichrist is what we find. 06:01 Now, I take you back to the latter part of verse 1. 06:04 We just kind of read over it very quickly 06:07 to set the stage for the study tonight. 06:09 But I want to point out very-- something very essential 06:12 about the harlot as described here. 06:14 Last part of Chapter 1, 06:17 I'm sorry, Chapter 17:1 where it says, 06:20 "I will show you the judgment of the great harlot 06:24 who sits on many waters." 06:27 She is going to be held accountable 06:30 in the end time is what the Bible indicates. 06:34 And it goes on to say, verse 2 06:36 "With whom the kings of the earth 06:37 committed acts of immorality." 06:41 Now again this is talking in literal, literalistic terms. 06:45 No, I mean really the language, in the original language 06:50 it's talking about sexual immorality 06:53 and it's not talking literally 06:55 between the woman and the kings of the earth. 06:58 It's talking spiritually. 07:00 She has prostituted herself spiritually. 07:03 And it is speaking of the unholy union 07:06 between church and state 07:09 which is one of the hallmarks of the apostate system, 07:13 the union of church and state. 07:15 And as you look at this 07:16 particularly through the Middle Ages, 07:20 my friend, it was often through the simple powers 07:23 that the apostate church exercise its power 07:28 over the masses of the people in population of the old world, 07:32 that union of church and state. 07:34 By the way we have here in America 07:36 a unique understanding of the relationship 07:39 between church and state, 07:40 which I will get to in a few moments. 07:42 But we drop on down to verses 4 and 5 where it says, 07:47 "The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, 07:50 and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, 07:53 having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations 07:57 of the unclean things of her immorality." 08:00 And again we are talking in coded terms, in symbolic terms. 08:05 She has this cup and verse 5 says, 08:08 "And on her forehead a name was written, 08:10 a mystery, Babylon the Great. 08:14 And so we have three figures in the Book of Revelation 08:18 that are talking about the same system. 08:19 Revelation 13 speaks up that there is beast. 08:22 Revelation 17 here speaks of it as the harlot 08:27 and it's also referred in prophecy 08:29 in the Book of Revelation as Babylon the Great. 08:33 Three symbols for the same apostate system. 08:37 But she has in her hands the cup of her immorality. 08:42 And usually it talks about the wine of immorality 08:46 and my friend it creates a spiritual stupor 08:49 on those who drink from the cup. 08:51 What it would possibly be in that cup? 08:54 Well, I believe that impart represents Satan's deceptions. 09:00 The apostasy away from the truth of God's word. 09:05 Substituting the traditions 09:08 and the declarations of the church councils 09:11 and the authority of the church 09:13 for the authority that resides alone in the scriptures. 09:17 Furthermore I believe it includes 09:20 a substitution for the true salvation 09:23 that comes to us by faith in Jesus Christ, 09:26 a system that is based on works. 09:30 And any system that's based on works. 09:33 And we see as we look at the system 09:35 that it has a counterfeit priestly ministry 09:39 as opposed to Jesus, Jesus high priestly ministry 09:44 in the heavenly sanctuary. 09:46 And then of course it has a false Sabbath. 09:51 It has, it has substituted Sunday 09:55 which comes to us with the marks of apostasy in it 09:58 for it was out of the apostasy of the church. 10:02 That the-- that Sunday 10:04 which comes straight out of paganism 10:06 was substituted for the worship of God 10:09 on the seventh-day Sabbath. 10:12 And so we have a counterfeit Sabbath. 10:16 And really this probably could go on, 10:18 but that would be some of the things. 10:20 And as we look at verse 5, as it talks about, 10:24 she is "Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots 10:29 and of the abominations of the earth. 10:32 And if we as we have already stated, 10:34 a woman represents churches. 10:37 A impure woman represents an impure church, 10:40 an apostate church. 10:43 When it talks about the mother of harlots, 10:46 what would the harlots be 10:48 but those churches that continue in a state of apostasy. 10:53 Now, I'm not going to give you a list 10:54 that's not my business to got through and give you list. 10:57 But there are those who participate in the apostasy. 11:01 And some and often unknowingly particularly as it relates 11:05 to this whole issue of the Sabbath and Sunday. 11:08 But she is called the mother of harlots. 11:10 In fact, the Church of Rome claims to be the mother church. 11:15 You've heard that term, haven't you, the mother church. 11:18 And you know there is a reason 11:20 why some 500 years ago the reformation took place 11:26 because there was recognition among sincere Christians. 11:29 As they study the Bible, 11:30 they begin to discover how far the church, 11:33 the established church had gone down the road of apostasy. 11:38 And they sought to reform the church, 11:40 but the church would not be reformed, right. 11:45 It would not be reformed. 11:47 But today, you know, the movement is back, 11:51 the ecumenical movement is back to the mother church. 11:55 And you see the less that the Bible plays 11:59 a foundational role in the spiritual life of the church. 12:03 And in the spiritual life of an individual, 12:06 the fewer reasons remain 12:09 for us to remain separated from Rome. 12:13 I mean, you know, just take that truth. 12:16 In fact, you could see here, 12:18 Pope Benedict XVI 12:20 as he met with the Bishop of Canterbury. 12:23 The Archbishop of Canterbury, 12:24 they you know, the spiritual leader 12:27 of the Church of England. 12:30 I mean, there is all these attempts of reaching out 12:33 to reestablish these connections. 12:36 I know, historically and again 12:39 as we look at the orthodox world 12:41 that represented here on the picture 12:42 again this reaching out, 12:44 this--this idea of coming back together. 12:48 My friend, we will look at a prophecy 12:51 and we will discover how God intents 12:54 to deal with the divisiveness 12:57 and confusion that has ripped the Christian world. 13:00 And it is not through the ecumenical movement 13:02 that is going to happen. 13:03 For the ecumenical movement 13:05 if you really take a look at is based on compromise, 13:07 compromise of biblical truths. 13:11 And my friend, we being reunited as Christians 13:15 will never be based upon compromise of truth. 13:20 It will be-- it will take place, 13:23 I will give you this much insight, 13:25 our coming together as God's people 13:28 no matter what our church backgrounds may be 13:30 will happen as a sweeping revival 13:33 takes place among God's people in the various churches. 13:37 And then we will come together in perfect union 13:42 and that's the only way and that revival 13:44 will lead to a revival of the centrality 13:48 of the authority of scripture among God's people. 13:52 That is a central part of it. 13:54 And you can go on, 13:55 here we have the head of the world council of churches 13:58 meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. 14:02 Ah, some years ago I was home visiting my family 14:06 up there in Auburn, Washington, that's in the Seattle area. 14:09 we were relaxing in the family room on Sunday, 14:12 Sunday morning late morning, early afternoon 14:16 and we were all going through the Seattle Times, 14:19 working through it page by page 14:21 and I eventually came to the community page 14:24 and in the community page 14:25 I saw that there was going to be an ecumenical service 14:28 at St. James Cathedral which is the main cathedral 14:31 for the catholic diocese in Seattle. 14:34 And I told my mother, I said I'm going to go, 14:36 I'm going to be there, I want to see this. 14:38 And she said, I'm going to go with you. 14:40 So we made our way to Seattle 14:43 and here is St. James Cathedral right there. 14:46 Those stained glass windows that looked to me 14:49 were made out of gold. 14:52 It look like gold and I think probably was gold. 14:57 And we were there early, 14:58 we found our place and it was clear. 15:00 The cathedral was just packed 15:02 and it was clear that there were many Christians 15:04 other than Roman Catholics that were present. 15:08 For you see, they were there to sign a document 15:11 between the Roman Catholic dioceses of Seattle 15:15 and Bishop Raymond Hunthausen was the Bishop 15:18 of the Catholic dioceses of that period of time 15:21 and Robert Cochrane who was the bishop 15:24 of the Episcopal Church, the Episcopal diocese. 15:28 They had a commission 15:31 that I had been studying for two years 15:33 how these two dioceses could come together in union 15:37 and they had made enough progress 15:39 they were ready to sign some documents 15:41 over this whole thing. 15:42 So, here we are was pack full 15:45 and that organ began to play behind us, it was beautiful. 15:49 And the choirs begin to sing. 15:53 It was almost heavenly 15:56 and then in gorgeous attire 15:59 in these beautiful vestments came these two bishops. 16:04 Robert Cochrane, the Episcopalian Bishop 16:06 and Raymond Hunthausen, 16:09 the Bishop of the Catholic dioceses there 16:12 lead by a young man in a white corset 16:15 and he had, he was swinging a burning sensor. 16:19 That sensor was about that big around 16:22 and there were three chains that went to the handle, 16:24 he was singing and swinging that thing around 360 degrees 16:28 as he came down in temple to that beautiful music. 16:31 But he not only did on this side, 16:33 he had been practicing this I know, 16:35 he not only did it on this side of his body 16:37 but with the same hand he did it on this side. 16:40 I mean that would take some practice, wouldn't it? 16:43 In fact, some who were sitting on the inside 16:45 are looking back seeing this man coming down 16:48 with this big swinging sensor, 16:50 some of them moved in a little bit. 16:53 You know, into the inside 16:55 but he didn't miss a beat. 16:59 And then they went through the formalities 17:01 of signing these documents publicly 17:04 and in so doing talking about healing the wound, 17:08 just fascinates me how that term 17:10 that comes out of Revelation 13 17:12 often comes up in these kinds of settings. 17:16 This is the interior of St. James Cathedral. 17:19 It is a-- as I said already a beautiful, beautiful cathedral 17:23 there in Seattle, Washington, 17:26 beautiful cathedral. 17:28 But in contrast to the harlot of Revelation 17 17:31 is this pure woman of Revelation 12. 17:34 That's the New Testament, page 195. 17:40 Revelation Chapter 12 and beginning with verse 1 17:46 where it says "And a great sign appeared in heaven: 17:49 a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet 17:53 and on her head a crown of twelve stars." 17:57 Remember last Saturday night we studied about the 144,000. 18:00 And I took note of the fact that in Bible prophecy 18:03 whenever you see that number 12 18:05 it is always associated with God's covenant people 18:07 with His true people. 18:09 In the Old Testament it was from the 12 patriarchs 18:12 that we have the 12 tribes 18:13 that constitute ancient Israel, 18:16 God's people under the Old Covenant. 18:19 And in the New Testament it is from the 12 apostles 18:23 that we have the establishment of the Christian church. 18:28 And so again the number 12 18:30 is associated with God's covenant people, 18:32 that's what been pictured here in Revelation 12:1. 18:36 In fact, in 2 Corinthians 11:2 18:39 Paul says, "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, 18:43 for I have betrothed you to one husband, 18:46 that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." 18:54 And so here we see God's people 18:57 are pictured prophetically in the end time. 19:01 And who have-- and who are we betrothed to 19:05 as the people of God? 19:07 To Jesus Christ. 19:10 It just keeps, you know, 19:11 as you study the Bible when you really think, 19:13 I've studied in light the plan of salvation. 19:17 My friend, it is always taking us back 19:20 to the relationship with Jesus 19:22 with God through Jesus, right. 19:25 It always does and that is one of the primary things 19:29 that sets them apart as the people of God. 19:33 They are in a committed relationship. 19:38 And I trust you are in a committed relationship 19:41 to Jesus Christ. 19:43 It's a growing relationship. 19:46 It may not be perfect 19:47 because we are not perfect, right. 19:49 You know, none of us 19:51 have attained however we are in the relationship 19:55 and the relationship is a saving one. 19:57 And it sets us apart as the people of God, doesn't it? 20:01 It sets us apart as the people of God. 20:04 It's something that is born within the heart 20:06 of an individual that response to the love and grace of Jesus 20:10 and we enter into that covenant relationship 20:14 that's all involved here, 20:16 as we talk about this woman here in Revelation 12. 20:20 But one of the things that we find in Revelation 12, 20:23 we find the church in a state of conflict. 20:28 And I want you to notice the context of Revelation 12, 20:31 it is the chapter just before Revelation 13. 20:35 And Revelation 13 is the chapter 20:37 that deals with the antichrist, the papal system. 20:43 So the setting is that the people of God 20:45 are going to find themselves in a state of conflict. 20:50 It points out in verses 7-9 20:52 that the source of this conflict began in heaven. 20:56 But then it points out that the conflict continues here 20:59 particularly in the past and in the end times 21:03 the conflict continues to play itself 21:06 out here up on this planet. 21:08 Oh, my friend, I wish I could assure you 21:10 that as we come to Jesus Christ 21:13 and as we deepen our experience in Jesus 21:16 that we, you know, we can just relax. 21:21 There's just gonna be all peace and all joy. 21:25 But my friend, when you and I come to Jesus Christ 21:28 we put ourselves in a position 21:32 that leads us into conflict with the evil one. 21:38 And remember we are the objects of this hatred because 21:41 we are the objects of His infinite love. 21:47 That's what it really comes down to 21:51 and so I want to tell you, 21:54 I know the devil is angry whenever the people of God 21:57 get together in these kind of studies 21:58 to sincerely seek the truth of scripture 22:02 in a way to understand more clearly 22:05 the dynamics of the relationship 22:07 that we are in--in relationship with Jesus Christ. 22:10 He hates it. 22:12 He doesn't want us to come to an understanding 22:15 of these things in God's word. 22:17 And so my friend he sets it up, 22:19 I see this often in meetings 22:20 and sometimes I don't see it but its going on, 22:23 conflict, people in conflict. 22:25 Some of you may find yourselves in conflict 22:28 as we proceeded in these meetings 22:31 and at some point you may find yourself in conflict 22:33 as we move towards the end of the meetings 22:36 and so you are making up your mind you know, 22:37 what does it mean to me, you know, what shall I do 22:40 with all of these things that I'm learning, 22:42 what's the implications of it? 22:45 But that's what Revelation 12 tells us, 22:47 the people of God will be in conflict 22:49 and that's what we see in verse 6, verse 6. 22:53 It says, "Then the woman fled" fled where? 22:58 It says, into the wilderness. 23:02 Take a look at that word fled. 23:06 What do you get from that word fled? 23:08 What's the dynamic that's going on there? 23:11 The woman is fleeing. 23:13 It gives us the idea the woman is running, 23:17 she is fleeing for her life. 23:20 Something is threatening her, 23:22 that leads her to flee into the wilderness. 23:26 Again this is prophetic language 23:27 but fleeing into the wilderness. 23:29 Notice it says, "where she had a place prepared by God." 23:35 And my friend, it's talking about 23:38 that period of oppression and persecution. 23:40 I will put it together in just a moment, 23:42 that period of oppression and persecution 23:44 I refer to briefly last Sunday night. 23:48 And as it was true in the past, 23:50 history will repeat itself in the end time. 23:53 But, just as assuredly is the past 23:55 that God had a place for His people 23:59 where He would shelter them during times of oppression. 24:03 Be assured that God will shelter His people. 24:06 He has a place prepared for us. 24:11 When we will be faced with persecution, 24:14 you know, we have it too easy in United States, don't we? 24:17 It cost us little, cost us little to be Christians. 24:23 But when we went back in Medieval Times 24:25 and if it meant, you know, 24:27 you are going to be true to Christ and to His word 24:30 or you gonna be burned at the stake which happened a lot. 24:35 Then this becomes a lot more serious, 24:37 how much do I really believe this? 24:41 You know, am I willing to give up my life for it. 24:45 Now, this is not something 24:46 that we should try to quickly answer, right. 24:48 I'm not sure that any of us know our hearts that well, 24:51 but we do know that we can rely on Jesus our savior, 24:56 who has prepared a place for us. 24:59 Anyway, so, "Then the woman fled into the wilderness 25:02 where she had a place prepared by God, 25:04 so that there she might be, notice the word nourished 25:09 for one thousand two hundred and sixty days." 25:12 Interesting God's people the church 25:15 under oppression in conflict, 25:18 nevertheless God has a place 25:20 where He will nourish His people. 25:23 He will nourish His people and it says for 1260 days, 25:27 it's a prophetic period of time 25:29 and we saw it for the first time last Sunday night 25:32 in regards to the mark of the beast, 1260 days. 25:36 We remember the principle, it's in Ezekiel 4:6 25:39 where it says, "I have appointed thee each day for a year." 25:44 And again one prophetic day represents a literal year. 25:47 And 1260 prophetic days therefore represent 1260 years. 25:55 That is a long period of time in which it says the church, 26:00 the people of God would be in hiding 26:03 to this place that God's prepared for her, 26:06 where she would be nourished for 1260 years. 26:10 This prophecy is repeated, 26:11 this time prophecy more than any other in the Bible, 26:14 it's repeated in the Old and in the New Testament, 1260 years. 26:20 And you will remember from last Sunday night 26:21 as we studied this Revelation 13, 26:23 the 1260 years represented the period of time 26:27 in which the apostate church, 26:30 the apostate system would reign supreme. 26:33 Reaching from 538 to 1798 26:36 when we will receive a deadly wound. 26:38 And my friend, there is a reason why the church, 26:42 the true people God had to go into hiding, 26:45 fleeing into the wilderness 26:47 during the supremacy of the apostate church. 26:51 For remember one of the identifying characteristics 26:53 are that is that, it would make war with the saints. 26:58 And that was not easy for me to recount this history, 27:01 none of us really you know, 27:04 who wants to talk about some of the ugly things 27:06 that were done the church did seek to purge 27:12 the old world culture in society of the hated heretics 27:18 and they thought they sought to do it in terms 27:21 that would put the fear of God in anybody 27:25 who thought that they would depart 27:27 from the authority of the church, 27:28 burn somebody at the stake 27:30 and let all the people gather around and watch them burn. 27:34 The love of Jesus burned more brightly in their hearts. 27:41 And let me tell you, it take a lot of love, wouldn't it. 27:44 But I want to tell you there are so many martyrs 27:47 that brought testimony to their faith in Christ, 27:50 who are willing to pay the ultimate price. 27:52 There is that statement in scripture, 27:54 "Jesus says my grace is sufficient for you." 27:57 And I believe there is a special grace that comes. 27:59 Some people represent martyrdom 28:02 as one of the gifts that God gives to an individual 28:05 that they are able to have the strength to be martyred. 28:09 We have it too easy in this country, 28:12 it cost us little. 28:15 And then I want to take you to verses 13 and 14. 28:17 For He repeats it what we just read 28:20 and whenever something is repeated it's because 28:22 it's vital, it's important. 28:24 Verse 13, "And when the dragon saw 28:26 that he was thrown down to the earth" 28:29 and you know the dragon is a devil himself, 28:31 "he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child." 28:37 That child is talking about Jesus, isn't it. 28:41 Verse 14, "But the two wings of a great eagle 28:44 were given to the woman, 28:45 so that she could fly into the wilderness," 28:48 there is the wilderness again, 28:50 "to her place where she was and again it says, 28:53 where she was nourished." 28:56 You see the parallelisms between verse 6 and verse 14, 29:00 it's repeating the same thing. 29:03 And again repetition is to give us emphasis 29:06 on the experience of God's people. 29:09 It says, "Where she was nourished for, 29:12 now notice the language a time and times 29:16 and half a time from the presence of the serpent" 29:19 that is from the evil one. 29:21 Now, the original language is more exact than the translation. 29:25 For individual language it means one time 29:28 or one year of prophetic time, two years and half a year 29:34 that's a total of three and half years of prophetic time. 29:38 And in a prophetic year there are 360 days 29:44 and if you multiply three and half years time to 360 29:48 you come out with the same prophetic period of time 29:50 as in verse 6 that is 1260 prophetic days or years. 29:54 It's another way of referring to the time prophecy of verse 6. 30:01 And so again she is fleeing into the wilderness, 30:05 to that place that was prepared for her by God. 30:12 I heard it said, it's been some years ago 30:15 and I think the research shows there is much more than we, 30:18 than we appreciate in the Book of Revelation. 30:21 But I heard it in a lecture 30:23 that there are some 600 direct or indirect references 30:28 to the Old Testament in the Book of Revelation. 30:33 And as I said scholarship has found it's even more 30:36 which tells me to understand 30:38 why there are many that have such a tough time 30:41 with the Book of Revelation 30:43 where many new testament believers take the position 30:46 that the Old Testament really is not that relevant 30:51 but think of it, 600 direct or indirect references 30:55 to the Old Testament in the Book of Revelation. 30:58 I'm going to give you an illustration 30:59 what's happening here because this idea three and half years, 31:02 the woman fleeing into the wilderness 31:04 where she is to be nourished by God, 31:06 comes straight out of the Old Testament 31:08 and it goes straight to the story of the Prophet Elijah. 31:13 And just as we have the supremacy 31:15 of the apostate church, so we find the Old Testament 31:18 that the people of God were in apostasy. 31:21 This is coming down to the time of King Ahab 31:23 and wicked Queen Jezebel. 31:26 And they were hunting down the prophets 31:28 and they were killing them 31:29 and they would have killed Elijah 31:31 except God preserved Him. 31:33 And after delivering His message 31:34 that there would be no rain because of their sin. 31:38 Elijah was lead out into the wilderness 31:42 to the place that God had prepared for him 31:46 and he was nourished. 31:48 Remember how the ravens is pictured here, 31:50 brought him food, there is a brook for water 31:53 and for the next three and half years, 31:55 though Ahab was hunting him down 31:58 among the various nations there and what we call the Middle East 32:02 and was unsuccessful in finding him 32:04 for three and half years God protected and nourished him. 32:09 That imagery s picked up 32:12 and is applied to God's people as we just noted. 32:18 Kind of interesting as you look at it 32:19 but there is more as we continue on in verse 15. 32:23 From verse 15 it says, 32:25 "And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth 32:28 after the woman, so that he might cause her 32:30 to be swept away with the flood." 32:31 A flood of oppression and persecution. 32:34 And let me ask you how determine is the evil one. 32:40 Well, he is determined 32:42 but how patient and enduring in his love and patience 32:46 is the one that we serve. 32:50 My friend, God will outlast him. 32:54 He may be determined but God is even more determined 32:58 and in patience. 33:01 He works out His will, doesn't He? 33:03 So again verse 15, 33:05 "He pours out this river of persecution and oppression 33:10 against the people of God. 33:13 And then notice verse 16, it says, 33:15 "But the earth, the earth helped the woman, 33:18 and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river 33:21 which the dragon poured out of his mouth." 33:25 And again the symbolism here 33:29 is fascinating as you look at it, 33:31 as you interpret it. 33:32 The earth helps the woman. 33:34 What could that be talking about? 33:35 Well, let's go back to Revelation 17:15 on the screen, 33:39 where it tells us prophetically what waters represent. 33:42 And if we can understand what waters represent, 33:44 we can understand what the earth, 33:46 the very opposite in meeting would represent. 33:49 He says, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, 33:52 where it's located at, 33:55 are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues." 34:01 My friend that is talking about the old world 34:05 which was the centre 34:06 and the basis of western civilization 34:08 for so many centuries. 34:11 In contrast what would the earth that helps the woman. 34:14 What would the earth represent? 34:15 That would be the very opposite, 34:17 and as such represents the new world, 34:22 which was you know, there were Indians here, 34:25 but it was not heavily populated, was it? 34:29 It was a wilderness, 34:31 the earth helped the woman and my friend this just-- 34:34 this just draws us into the history of it. 34:37 You know, what is it that was moving the pilgrims, 34:39 you know 1620 and all of that. 34:41 What was drawing many of the peoples to this country? 34:44 Well, I do know, you know, 34:46 I know historically it happens even to this day. 34:49 There was economic benefit that some saw in the new world, 34:52 but many came to the new world 34:55 because they wanted to be able to worship God 34:59 in accordance with their own conscience. 35:01 For they were denied that privilege in the old world, 35:05 but remember this union between church and state, 35:08 that dominated the affairs of the old world for so long. 35:12 And if you didn't belong-- 35:14 belong to the established church, 35:18 the established church, the state church, 35:21 you were not allowed to worship God 35:25 in accordance with what you thought. 35:28 You had to comply to the dictates 35:31 of the church and the state, that's a historical fact. 35:35 And my friend, out of the reformation 35:37 came this idea that we are to be able to worship God 35:42 in accordance with our own conscience, 35:45 free of the dictates of the state 35:48 and the dictates of the church. 35:52 We take this for granted because we have lived in this system. 35:56 But it is a novel idea historically 35:59 and it is novel as you look at it worldwide. 36:01 This is not the way that it is in much of the world. 36:06 You are not in certain parts of the world 36:09 allowed to worship God 36:11 in accordance to the dictates of your own conscience. 36:14 The reformation was based upon that idea 36:17 and you know God embedded here in the new world, didn't it? 36:21 As they came, just think of it. 36:23 As they cross they landed not in 747s, 36:27 they were in these small little boats. 36:30 It took them months, 36:32 they were uprooting themselves out of everything they knew, 36:36 civilization as they known it from family and friends, 36:40 they were giving up their jobs, often houses and lands 36:44 and what was motivating them, 36:45 oh, my friend there were condos waiting for them 36:48 and plush jobs waiting for them. 36:52 But they thought we are going to make a new start 36:54 and we are going to have a new order of things here 36:56 where we can worship God as we choose, 37:00 that's what motivated 37:01 many of our forefathers that come here, right? 37:05 It was, I mean it's a genius 37:07 of what came to be the United States 37:09 it was foundational, 37:11 Roger Williams encapsulated this idea of religious freedom, 37:16 the first in the Colony of Rhode Island 37:22 and this is the concept he had. 37:25 You know, many does like came to the new world said, 37:27 you know, I want to have the right to worship God 37:29 according to my conscience but those guys down there, 37:32 they are little weird, they are not to have that right 37:35 and so they did some of the persecuting themselves, 37:38 but he had this idea 37:39 that everyone ought to have that right. 37:41 And this verse says, 37:42 Roger Williams established in Rhode Island the principle 37:45 I quote now. 37:47 "That every man should have liberty to worship God 37:50 according to the light of his own conscience." 37:53 He was way ahead of this time. 37:56 And yet that principle got embedded 38:00 into our constitution. 38:04 And an important part of that process 38:08 was in studying up a new order of things here in the new world 38:11 was this idea that the church and the state 38:16 should remain separate 38:19 that the state should not be involved in establishing 38:23 or involved in the affairs of the church. 38:25 Did I say that right? 38:28 Okay, the state should not be, yeah. 38:31 By the way it's a two way street nor should the church 38:34 be using the powers of the state for its purpose. 38:39 So we have this division 38:40 between church and state in this country. 38:43 And my friend, it has served us well. 38:48 So the earth helped the woman. 38:50 And where the woman was in hiding for 1260 years 38:53 as she came to the new world, she could then come out openly 38:58 to worship God freely 39:00 and it was here in this place of freedom 39:04 that the people God became manifest. 39:07 Let me tell you the dragon, he still is in verse 17, 39:10 he still hasn't given up, 39:12 my friend, he not yet given up until God says, 39:14 it's done and it is done. 39:16 Verse 17, "So the dragon was enraged with the woman, 39:21 and went off to make war with the rest of her children, 39:23 who keep the commandments of God 39:25 and hold to the testimony of Jesus." 39:29 The King James which is pretty good translation 39:33 puts it in these words 39:34 and I'm using this translation for one key word. 39:38 It says, "And the dragon was wroth or angry 39:41 with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant," 39:44 you saw word remnant because that is truly the word here, 39:47 "the remnant of her seed, 39:48 which keep the commandments of God, 39:50 and have the testimony of Jesus." 39:54 The remnant, what is a remnant? 39:56 Have you ever been to a remnant sale, ladies? 40:00 You know, I don't know if some of you 40:01 do a little bit of sewing or stuff. 40:03 My, my wife is a seamstress you know, 40:07 she made her own wedding dress. 40:11 And so, you know, 40:12 when you are getting 40:14 the remnant of a bolt of cloth, 40:15 what are you getting; the first, middle, or last part? 40:18 The last. And so when it talks 40:20 about the "remnant of her seed" (speaking of the church) 40:23 what does that mean? 40:25 That's talking about the remnant of God's people 40:28 and that last remnant of time. 40:31 That is in the last days. Are you with me? 40:34 That's the picture we have been following, havent't 40:37 we? from verse 13 and 14. 40:40 You know, the woman is fled into the wilderness. 40:41 That's the 1260 years that's behind us actually, 40:45 then renewed prosecution, that earth helps the woman, 40:47 we fit that in historically, the new world, 40:52 the establishment of the United States 40:54 and the priciples that it stands on. 40:56 But then verse 17 tells us again 40:58 the dragon as the end is approaching. 41:03 And he knows this almost older. 41:06 My friend doesn't give up any discourage he is in ranged. 41:12 And he is determined to take 41:13 the people of God down; The Remnant. 41:16 -to take the remnant down. 41:18 My friend, we are in conflict, 41:22 conflict without and sometimes conflict within, 41:26 is what the Bible tells us. 41:28 And notice the two identifying characteristics 41:31 that we find here of God's people in the end time 41:34 in the last remnant of time. 41:37 It speaks of they will have the testimony of Jesus, 41:41 I may spend the whole evening 41:42 on that tomorrow night the testimony of Jesus. 41:44 But what's the other thing that is noted here 41:46 about the people of God. 41:48 What is that they are keeping? 41:50 They are keeping the commandments of God. 41:53 That's what the book of revelation tells us, 41:55 and my friend, its keep the commandments. 41:58 Again I have asked the question before 42:00 how many of the commandments 42:01 do you think they are keeping. 42:02 Do you think they are being selected 42:03 about this matter of the commandments 42:05 I like this one, like this one lord, 42:06 this one, this one, this one, that's all right. 42:08 But this one no, is that-- is that the character, 42:14 the character of God's people in the end time, no. 42:19 In the love for Jesus, 42:23 they are seeking by his grace to keep 42:25 all ten of the commandments. 42:27 Which tells me they are keeping the commandments 42:30 that they are a Sabbath keeping people. 42:32 Let me tell you this message is going to go the whole world, 42:35 it's a part of the gospel message. 42:37 Its gonna go to the whole world 42:40 and in the end all of the God's people 42:42 are going to take their stand for the truth 42:45 that we find in the Bible 42:46 and because they take their stand for the truth 42:49 they will become all Sabbath keeping Christians, yes. 42:54 Its going to happen, 42:56 that the reason why Sabbath keeping Christians 42:59 are among the fastest growing Christians in the world today. 43:05 There is a reason, my friend, 43:08 it has the ring of truth in it. 43:12 It's the ring of truth. 43:14 Now, I'm gonna take you to Daniel 43:16 to see Old Testament page 644 43:18 this time prophecy 1260 years is repeated here. 43:23 But it gives us a different orientation to the 1260 years. 43:28 As it relates to the great prophecies, 43:31 particularly of the book of Daniel and revelation. 43:35 So, Daniel 12:4 43:38 are you there, Daniel 12:4, 43:41 now you will see the reference to the 1260 years 43:44 in just a moment but it says, "But as for you, 43:46 Daniel, conceal these words 43:48 and seal up the book until the end of time; 43:51 many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase." 43:55 And so the prophecy see that 43:57 Daniel was given and that were contained in this book, 44:00 that is the book of Daniel. 44:02 Daniel was told to seal it up 44:04 it would be sealed until the end of time 44:07 which indicates that in the end of time 44:09 the book would be unsealed right. 44:11 At some point it would become relevant 44:13 at some point it would be unsealed. 44:16 And he says that time many in the end time 44:18 many will go back and forth 44:21 and knowledge will increase. 44:22 Oh, my friend, this isn't talking 44:23 about jet travel and rockets 44:25 and I have heard this-- this application now, 44:27 it's talking about that there would be people 44:30 that would be studying the word of God. 44:33 He would be going back and forth through the scriptures 44:35 and as they go back and forth 44:37 to the scriptures truth would increase, 44:40 knowledge would increase 44:42 and have you noticed for a weeks 44:44 we have been doing that, 44:45 we have been going back and forth 44:46 through the word of God 44:48 and with this going back and forth 44:50 through the word of God knowledge has increased. 44:55 It's always the way it does 44:56 when the spirit of God is at work. 44:59 Verse 5, "Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, 45:01 two others were standing, 45:02 one on this bank of the river 45:04 and the other on that bank of the river. 45:06 And one said to the man dressed in linen, 45:09 notice what's coming who was above 45:11 the waters of the river, here is the question 45:14 "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?" 45:18 until the end of what wonders? 45:21 Oh, the wonders contained in the prophecies 45:23 of the Book of Daniel. 45:25 How long it's dealing with the issue of time. 45:29 And notice the answer, we come to verse 7, 45:31 "I heard the man dressed in linen, 45:33 who was above the waters of the river, 45:35 as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, 45:38 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever 45:41 that it would be for a time, times, and half a time." 45:47 Where did we see that? 45:49 Revelation 12, it's a reference to the 1260 years. 45:54 How long will it be until the end of these wonders 45:59 that is until the end time, 46:01 my friend the answers found in the 1260 years 46:04 which ended in 1798 which means that since 1798 46:11 we have been in the end time? 46:14 Now we say, oh, that's a long time. 46:17 Yes, in our very limited human way of looking at time 46:21 and they seem like a long time. 46:23 But we have been in the last days 46:25 for quite a while and it would be in this period of time 46:31 that the Book of Daniel would be unsealed. 46:33 I'm gonna share this with you historically. 46:35 That's where I'm going, but I'm not done yet. 46:37 "It would be for a time, times, and half a time. 46:40 And as soon as they finish 46:42 shattering the power of the holy people" 46:45 that's talking about the people of God, 46:47 He is talking about the fact 46:48 that they would be under oppression for the 1260 years 46:51 and it will come to an end that period of oppression, 46:55 the new world would help the woman, 46:57 we put that all together 1776, 1798 47:00 it all fits prophetically and historically 47:05 it says, all these events will be completed 47:08 after this period of persecution 47:10 then we would see the signs of the end being fulfilled. 47:17 We would see these prophecies being fulfilled, got it? 47:22 It's exactly what it says. 47:23 Verse 8, "As for me, I heard 47:25 but could not understand, so I said, 47:26 "My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?" 47:29 He said, "Go your way, Daniel, 47:31 for these words are concealed 47:32 and sealed up until the end of time." 47:35 And my friend it happened just right on time 47:38 just as we saw indicated here. 47:40 If indeed these prophecies of Daniel would be unsealed 47:44 in the time of the end and that happened in 1798 47:47 we entered the end time. 47:48 Somewhere in the 19th century the following century 1798 47:54 you don't have much left of the 18th century. 47:58 So somewhere in the 19th century 48:00 and probably in the soil of the new world, 48:04 we would find this phenomena 48:06 in which the prophecies of Daniel would be unsealed 48:11 which takes me to the historical story 48:13 of William Miller in the early 19th century, 48:16 the early 1820s and 30s. 48:19 Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1782, 48:22 his grandfather was a Baptist preacher 48:25 so he was a baptism background. 48:28 And it's quite a story but I'm going to make it brief 48:30 to get to the main point, who came to a point in his life 48:34 that he determined if the Bible was really true, 48:36 he was going to find it out for himself. 48:38 You know, he was hearing 48:40 plenty of the confusing interpretations 48:42 by the various churches. 48:44 And so he determined he took a Cruden's Concordance, 48:47 he determined to study the Bible 48:48 and go verse by verse and he determined to 48:52 let the Bible interpret itself 48:55 and in do process he came to the Book of Daniel. 48:58 And was the first 49:01 I believe through the power of the Holy Spirit 49:03 to discover the fundamental truths of these prophecies 49:07 that we have been studying in part in the seminar. 49:11 And eventually began to preach it, the prophecies 49:15 the end point of the prophecies were they coming of Jesus. 49:18 That did appeal to him as he studied the prophecy, 49:20 he said Jesus was to come in their time and in that day. 49:27 And Daniel had a vision, a vision from God, 49:31 and he said, I was frightened and fell upon my face 49:36 but he said unto me, understand, O son of man, 49:41 your wisdom belongs to the end of time. 49:46 In the mid-19th century, a Baptist preacher, 49:49 William Miller, traveled the country 49:52 preaching that the second coming of Christ was close at hand. 49:56 Tens of thousands believed he was right. 49:59 The pivotal text that William Miller centered 50:03 his apocalyptic lectures on was Daniel 8:14, 50:07 "unto 2,300 days and then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 50:11 Cleansed. 50:12 And he thought the sanctuary was the earth 50:14 and it would be cleansed by the fires of the second coming. 50:17 Miller's followers determined 50:19 the cleansing would come on a single date, 50:22 October 22, 1844. 50:25 By the way let me give you a little footnote. 50:27 The Baptists have had a lot to do 50:29 with the what came to be known as the advent message. 50:32 For William Miller was preaching these prophecies 50:35 in all of the churches among Presbyterians, 50:38 Congregationalists, Baptists and you go on down the list. 50:42 It was a interdenominational movement 50:47 to begin with and those who-- 50:49 and who responded to his message came to be known as Advent- 50:53 Adventist because they kept talking about 50:55 the advent of Christ. 50:57 They were stirred, because you know, 51:00 prophecy was something 51:01 that wasn't being studied out in that period of time. 51:04 You know they didn't talk about the coming of Jesus 51:06 in the churches and still goes on today. 51:09 In some churches they don't really talk much about 51:11 the return of Jesus. 51:14 So it stirred people, Jesus did not come as expected. 51:19 We call this the great disappointment. 51:22 And when Jesus fail to come 51:23 Hiram Edson in the Historical book 51:26 the Midnight Cry said it probably best. 51:29 "Our fondest hopes and expectations were blasted, 51:33 and such a spirit of weeping came over us 51:35 as I never experienced before. 51:37 It seemed that the loss of all earthly friends 51:40 could have been no comparison. 51:42 We wept, and wept, till the day dawn." 51:44 It was truly a bitter experience. 51:48 Turn in Revelation 10, 51:51 the New Testament, page 194, Revelation 10. 51:56 So we too are going to and fro, right. 52:00 We are going to and fro while we penned it. 52:02 Revelation, Daniel, back to Revelation. 52:06 And Revelation 10, this really puts it all together. 52:09 Where it says, "And I saw another strong angel 52:12 coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; 52:15 and the rainbow was upon his head, 52:17 and his face was like the sun," this is prophetic language. 52:21 "And his feet like pillars of fire. 52:23 And he had in his hand a little book which was open." 52:27 I wonder what book that would be, 52:29 could that possibly be Daniel? 52:32 You will see. 52:33 "He placed his right foot on the sea 52:35 and his left on the land, 52:37 and he cried out with a loud voice, 52:38 as when a lion roars and when he had cried out, 52:41 the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices." 52:44 And was in reference to the message of that open book, 52:48 that they uttered. 52:49 Verse 4, "When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, 52:51 I was about to write; 52:53 and I heard a voice from heaven saying, 52:54 "Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder 52:57 have spoken and do not write them." 52:58 What was Daniel told to do? Seal up the book. 53:03 What was John told to do, 53:04 when he heard the words being uttered 53:07 in reference to the message of that open book, 53:10 seal it up, why? 53:12 It's for the end time, it was not for John's time either. 53:16 Seal it up. 53:18 Verse 5 "Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea 53:21 and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 53:23 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, 53:26 who created heaven and the things in it, 53:28 and the earth and the things in it, 53:29 and the sea and the things in it, 53:30 that there will be delay," 53:32 the word in the Greek is Kronos. 53:34 It means time, there will be time no longer. 53:37 It means we're in the time of the end. 53:39 If there is gonna be time no longer. 53:41 Verse 7, "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, 53:45 the end is right at hand, at the end of the sevenths. 53:50 "In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, 53:53 when he is about to sound, 53:54 then the mystery of God is finished" 53:57 it's the mystery of salvation. 54:00 The gospel message will be completed 54:04 just before the end, does he ends on us. 54:07 "As He preached to His servants the prophets, 54:10 that the voice which I heard from heaven, 54:11 I heard again speaking with me, and saying, 54:13 "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel 54:16 who stands on the sea and on the land, 54:19 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. 54:22 And he said to me, "Take it and eat it; 54:25 it will make your stomach bitter, 54:26 but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey. 54:29 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it". 54:33 I absorbed it, I synthesized it, 54:36 I made it a part of me, I digested it. 54:40 "I ate it and in my mouth it was sweet as honey 54:43 and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter." 54:48 In reference to the little book. 54:51 In reference to those advent believers 54:54 as they so joyously anticipate the return of Jesus 55:00 and their joy was turned into bitter disappointment 55:03 when he did not come in their day as they thought. 55:08 My friend, it's all there in the book, it is in prophecy. 55:13 God has a people. 55:15 We have seen tonight at the end of the 1260 years 55:19 that stretch from 538 till 1798. 55:23 From that point we have discovered tonight, 55:24 we entered into the end of times. 55:28 We are in that period of time in which the end will come. 55:32 We don't know the day or the hour. 55:34 We don't but we are in that time. 55:37 We discovered tonight 55:38 that wouldn't be in the time of the end. 55:40 That God's people would emerge out of hiding 55:45 and a new world would help the woman. 55:47 And concurrently as they emerge 55:50 the prophecies of Daniel would be unsealed. 55:55 And my friend that's the basis of the advent movement. 55:59 Its base is a prophetic movement. 56:03 That is based on these prophecies 56:05 and the prophecies themselves which are centered 56:09 in what Jesus did for us at the cross of Calvary. 56:13 I keep saying it. 56:15 You can't understand and appreciate prophecy 56:18 properly without appreciating the fact 56:21 that it was all made possible 56:23 because of what Jesus did at the cross of Calvary. 56:28 And that Calvary it declares to us 56:30 an end is going to take place, 56:33 an end of sin, an end of suffering 56:37 and it declares at the end Jesus will come 56:41 and He will take His people to Himself 56:44 and we will enter into glory. 56:47 What a wonderful future Jesus put for us at Calvary. 56:51 Don't you want to be there tonight? 56:54 Aren't you glad that God has given us these insights 56:57 into His word and into these prophecies 57:00 that we can understand these things. 57:01 I know this is a little deeper than some of the subjects. 57:05 But my friend we would expect on the word of God 57:07 something's lying on the surface, 57:08 other things that we dig into 57:10 and as we do we gain this deeper understandings 57:14 and comprehensions or the purpose of God 57:17 in the end time for His people. |
Revised 2014-12-17