Participants:
Series Code: MAT
Program Code: MAT000005S
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00:22 So we bow our heads for prayer.
00:25 Our Father, 00:26 we come before your awesome throne 00:28 in the powerful name of Jesus, 00:30 asking that you will be present with us 00:33 through the ministry of the Holy Spirit 00:35 in this study, 00:36 open our minds and hearts to understand and receive 00:39 what you have for us. 00:41 We thank You for the promise of Your presence. 00:44 And we claim that promise 00:45 in the precious name of Jesus, amen. 00:50 In our last two presentations, 00:51 we took a look at the historical fulfillment 00:55 of Matthew 24:4 through 14 00:59 and then the abomination of desolation 01:02 in Matthew Chapter 24:15 01:06 through 21. 01:09 We also notice that the sequence of events 01:13 that occurred that led up to the destruction 01:15 of Jerusalem. 01:17 And so as we begin, we want to study 01:20 the sequence of signs that took place leading up 01:24 to the destruction of Jerusalem. 01:27 So we're going to review the historical fulfillment, 01:30 and we're going to do it very quickly. 01:32 And then in our next study together, 01:34 we are going to take a look 01:35 at the abomination of desolation 01:40 as it applies to end time prophecy. 01:44 So let's go through the sequence of events 01:47 that led up to the destruction of Jerusalem. 01:50 First of all, we're told that false Christ would arise. 01:54 And they certainly did, and many would be deceived. 01:57 And that's exactly what took place. 01:59 Then we're told that there would be wars, rumors of wars, 02:03 nation would rise against nation 02:04 and kingdom against kingdom. 02:06 And there will be pestilences, famine, earthquakes 02:10 and troubles. 02:11 We noticed that that was fulfilled 02:13 between the death of Christ 02:14 and the destruction of Jerusalem. 02:16 Then we find that God's people would be blamed 02:20 for all of these calamities, in society and in nature. 02:23 And that's exactly what took place. 02:26 In fact, the trial of God's people is described 02:29 as tribulation. 02:31 And we are told that some would die 02:34 as a result of their faithfulness to the Lord. 02:36 This was fulfilled to the very letter. 02:39 We're also told 02:41 that at the time of this persecution, 02:42 this tribulation, 02:44 many individuals would be offended. 02:46 In other words, they would abandon the faith 02:48 because they did not want to be persecuted 02:51 and they did not want to die. 02:53 We noticed that during this time, 02:55 family members would rise against family members 02:58 and friends would rise against friends 03:01 and betray them. 03:02 We also noticed that God's people would be taken 03:05 before magistrates and kings and rulers 03:09 to give a witness 03:10 regarding their relationship with Jesus Christ. 03:13 We're also told that during this time, 03:16 God's people would not have to think 03:18 about what they were going to say 03:20 because the Holy Spirit would give them wisdom, 03:22 would give them the words to speak 03:24 when they went before kings and rulers. 03:27 And by the way, the fact that they were to go 03:29 before kings and rulers indicates that 03:32 probation was still open at that particular time. 03:35 We're also told that during this period, 03:38 false prophets arose, who preached, peace, peace, 03:41 this city is never going to fall. 03:43 It will stand forever. 03:45 We also noticed that 03:46 because of the transgression of the law, 03:48 the love of many grew cold at that time. 03:53 And we're told also that the persons 03:55 who persevered till the end, 03:58 they would be saved from the ruin of the city. 04:01 We also noticed 04:03 that the preaching of the gospel, 04:04 this is verse 14, 04:06 "The preaching of the gospel went to the entire world." 04:09 The apostle Paul tells us this 04:11 that the gospel was preached to every nation under heaven. 04:16 And then we notice the abomination of desolation 04:19 that divided the city of Jerusalem 04:21 into two groups. 04:22 The first group, the apostates that decided to stay 04:26 when they ignored the sign, 04:28 and secondly, 04:29 the faithful who fled the city when they saw the sign. 04:33 When the sign came, 04:35 the inhabitants of Jerusalem were divided into two groups. 04:40 And then we noticed 04:41 that God's people had to flee from the city 04:44 because there was a great tribulation 04:46 that took place. 04:47 And we notice that all of those who fled the city 04:50 were actually Sabbath keepers, 04:53 praying that that your flight will be in winter 04:57 or on the Sabbath day, we are told. 05:01 Now that is the list or the sequence of events 05:05 that took place leading up 05:07 to the destruction of Jerusalem. 05:09 But this is going to be fulfilled again, 05:13 in the future, on a much larger scale, 05:16 not only there in the Middle East 05:19 where literal Jerusalem is, 05:22 but it is going to be fulfilled on a global scale 05:26 with God's spiritual Israel. 05:29 In other words, 05:30 the first fulfillment was a partial fulfillment. 05:33 Let me read you this statement that we find 05:36 in the book 05:37 Thoughts from the Man of Blessing, 05:39 pages 120 and 121. 05:42 Ellen White, who wrote over 100 years ago, 05:45 well over 100 years ago, wrote this, 05:48 and we find the following words, 05:50 "The ruin of Jerusalem 05:52 was a symbol of the final ruin 05:56 that shall overwhelm the world. 05:58 The prophecies that received a partial fulfillment 06:02 in the overthrow of Jerusalem." 06:04 The prophecies would be Matthew 24, 06:07 Mark 13, Luke 21. 06:09 So she says the prophecies that received 06:10 a partial fulfillment in the overthrow of Jerusalem 06:14 have a more direct application to the last days. 06:18 "We are now standing on the threshold 06:21 of great and solemn events, a crisis is before us, 06:25 such as the world has never witnessed." 06:29 So what took place in the first fulfillment 06:33 was only a partial fulfillment. 06:35 There were some events 06:36 that were actually never fulfilled. 06:38 Like, for example, the sun, moon, and stars growing dark. 06:43 We'll find that at the end of Matthew Chapter 24, 06:46 the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. 06:49 And we find the tribes of the earth morning 06:53 as they see Jesus Christ coming on the cloud. 06:57 And then we have the detail that 06:58 the angels are sent to pick up the elect, 07:01 none of those things were fulfilled 07:03 in the destruction of Jerusalem. 07:05 So the prophecy of Matthew 24 has a partial fulfillment 07:10 with the events that led up 07:12 to the destruction of Jerusalem. 07:14 The greater fulfillment will be on a global scale 07:18 with spiritual Israel 07:20 that is all of God's faithful people 07:22 who have accepted Christ, 07:24 and it will involve his people 07:27 in every corner of planet Earth. 07:32 Now what I want us to do is 07:34 go through Matthew Chapter 24 now, 07:37 verses 4 through 14. 07:39 And notice the end time fulfillment 07:43 of what these verses describe. 07:45 I am going to quote extensively 07:48 from the writings of Ellen White, 07:51 as I mentioned, she wrote well over 100 years ago, 07:56 and she presented the events of Matthew 24 07:58 in precise chronological order, 08:01 and she greatly amplified 08:03 what Matthew 24:4-14 tells us. 08:08 So let's go through the chapter and notice the details. 08:12 And I'm going to read some quotations 08:14 from her writings, 08:16 Matthew 24:4 says, 08:20 "And Jesus answered and said to them, 08:23 'Take heed that no one deceives you, 08:26 for many will come in my name saying, I am the Christ, 08:31 or I am the Messiah, 08:33 and will deceive many." 08:36 Have we seen false Christ in recent years? 08:39 How could we ever forget Jim Jones, 08:43 who committed suicide 08:45 with 900 plus other people in Guyana? 08:49 How could we forget David Koresh in Waco, Texas, 08:54 also Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, 08:57 who actually was an individual 09:00 who had SSS on the front of his pulpit 09:03 meaning the number 666 09:06 and encouraged his followers to tattoo the number of 666 09:10 on their right hand or on their forehead. 09:13 So there have been false christs 09:15 and I'm only mentioning some of the false christs 09:18 or false messiahs that have arisen. 09:21 Now let's continue to verse 6, 09:23 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 09:27 See that you are not troubled for all these things 09:29 must come to pass. 09:31 But the end is not yet 09:33 for nation will rise against nation 09:36 and kingdom against kingdom. 09:38 And there will be famines, pestilences, 09:42 and earthquakes in various places." 09:45 You say, "Well, that's a pretty serious description, 09:49 wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, 09:53 kingdom against kingdom 09:55 and then you have pestilences 09:57 and earthquakes and famines. 10:00 It sure couldn't get any worse than that, right?" 10:03 Well, verse 8 says, 10:05 "All these things are the beginning of sorrows." 10:11 Wow. 10:12 Well, now let me read you an interesting statement 10:16 or a couple of statements from the Spirit of Prophecy, 10:20 where Ellen White describes 10:22 these disasters that will take place during 10:25 what she calls a little time of trouble. 10:29 In fact, we're going to find in verse 9 10:32 that verse 9 is dealing with a little time of trouble. 10:37 It says there in verse 9, 10:39 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, 10:43 and you will be hated by all nations 10:45 for My name's sake." 10:46 Let me read you these two statements. 10:50 This is Early Writings, page 33. 10:53 "I saw that God had children who do not keep the Sabbath." 10:58 Most of God's people are outside 11:00 the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 11:01 they're oblivious 11:03 to the importance of the Sabbath, 11:04 that the seventh day is the Sabbath. 11:06 So she says, 11:07 "I saw that God had children 11:09 who do not see the Sabbath. 11:10 They have not rejected the light upon it 11:14 and at the commencement of the time of trouble. 11:18 We were filled with the Holy Ghost, 11:20 as we went forth 11:21 and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully." 11:24 So she's saying that 11:25 at the commencement of the time of trouble, 11:28 God's faithful people 11:29 will filled with the Holy Spirit. 11:31 And they went out 11:32 and they proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. 11:34 What was the result? 11:35 She continues, 11:37 "This enraged the churches 11:38 and nominal Adventists, 11:40 as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. 11:45 At this time, God's chosen all saw clearly 11:47 that we have the truth," 11:49 that God's chosen those in other churches, 11:51 and they came out 11:53 and endured the persecution with us." 11:56 And then she describes, 11:58 "I saw the sword, 12:00 famine, and pestilence 12:02 and great confusion in the land." 12:04 Those are the very things 12:05 that are mentioned in Matthew 24:6,7, 12:09 "Sword," would be war, 12:11 "famine is mentioned there." 12:14 Pestilence is mentioned there. 12:15 And great confusion would be the word troubles 12:18 that is used in Mark 13:8, 12:21 she continues, 12:23 "The wicked thought that we had brought 12:24 the judgments upon them. 12:26 And they rose up 12:28 and took counsel to rid the earth of us 12:31 thinking that then the evil would be stayed." 12:34 So I want you to notice this here, 12:36 there's a little time of trouble. 12:38 God's people receive 12:40 the outpouring of the latter rain 12:42 of the Holy Spirit. 12:43 They go out to proclaim the Sabbath more fully. 12:46 In the world, there is sword, famine, pestilence, 12:49 and great confusion, 12:51 and then the wicked rise to try and destroy God's people 12:55 because they thought that God's people 12:57 were bringing the judgments upon them. 13:00 Now when Ellen White wrote this, 13:03 someone wrote to her and said, 13:04 "But, Sister White, you have said in other places 13:08 that when the time of trouble comes up, 13:11 probation is close. 13:12 So how is it that at that time 13:14 God's people are going to receive 13:15 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 13:17 to proclaim the Sabbath more fully 13:19 if every case has already been decided?" 13:22 And Ellen White wrote and explained 13:24 that this time of trouble 13:25 was not actually the great time of trouble 13:29 but it was the tribulation that is mentioned 13:31 in Matthew 24:9. 13:34 You see, Matthew 24:9 speaks about God's people 13:37 going through tribulation, some would be killed. 13:41 Matthew 24:21 speaks about a great tribulation 13:46 that takes place after the close of probation. 13:49 The tribulation in verse 9 is during probationary time. 13:53 Anyway, Ellen White wrote back to this person 13:56 and explains what she meant by the expression 13:59 "the time of trouble" as it relates to verse 9. 14:03 Her explanation is found in Early Writings, 14:05 page 85 and page 86. 14:08 "The commencement of that time of trouble, 14:11 here mentioned, does not refer to the time 14:14 when the plagues shall begin to be poured out," 14:17 which is after probation closes, 14:19 "but to a short period, 14:22 just before the plagues are poured out, 14:25 while Christ is in the sanctuary." 14:28 So notice Christ is still in the sanctuary, 14:30 probation has not closed. 14:32 "At that time, 14:34 while the work of salvation is closing, 14:37 trouble will be coming on the earth, 14:39 and the nations will be angry, 14:41 yet held in check 14:44 so as not to prevent the work of the third angel," 14:47 which is by the way, 14:48 denouncing the mark of the beast, 14:50 telling people don't receive the mark of the beast, 14:52 which is the observance of Sunday as the day of rest. 14:56 So at that time, 14:58 well, the work of salvation is closing, 14:59 trouble will be coming on the earth, 15:01 and the nations will be angry, 15:03 get held in check so as not to prevent 15:06 the work of the third angel. 15:07 "At that time, 15:09 the latter rain or refreshing from the presence of the Lord 15:12 will come to give power 15:15 to the loud voice of the third angel." 15:16 In other words, the proclamation 15:18 of the Sabbath more fully. 15:19 "And prepare the saints to stand 15:22 when the seven last plagues 15:24 shall be poured out." 15:28 So you'll notice here 15:29 that there's an agenda behind these disasters 15:34 behind wars and rumors of wars 15:37 and nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom 15:40 pestilences, famines, and earthquakes. 15:42 There's an agenda behind these things. 15:45 The agenda is ultimately to blame God's people 15:48 for what is taking place. 15:50 I want you to notice that connection, 15:52 verse 7, 15:53 "For nation will rise against nation 15:55 and kingdom against kingdom 15:56 and there will be famines, pestilences, 15:59 and earthquakes in various places, 16:01 all these are the beginning of sorrows, then 16:05 the word then we noticed in our first study together 16:07 means after this, 16:09 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation," 16:13 not the Great Tribulation, to tribulation, 16:15 "and kill you." 16:17 There will be some murders during this period, 16:19 not during the Great Tribulation, 16:21 "and you will be hated by all nations 16:24 for My name's sake." 16:27 Let me read you some interesting quotations 16:29 from the Spirit of Prophecy. 16:31 By the way, God has a causative will 16:34 and God has a permissive will. 16:36 God permits these disasters 16:39 that are mentioned in verses 6 and 7. 16:41 But these disasters are actually caused by Satan 16:45 and he has an agenda, 16:46 and it is to blame God's people for what is happening. 16:50 Now, notice in the book Last Day Events 16:53 page 24 Ellen White's comments 16:55 on how the world will experience 16:58 these social upheavals 17:00 as well as what we call natural disasters. 17:03 It says there, 17:04 "In the last scenes of this Earth's history, 17:07 war will rage." 17:09 That's one of the signs in Matthew 24. 17:12 "There will be pestilence," 17:13 that she mentioned in Matthew 24. 17:19 "There will be pestilence, plague, 17:22 and famine," 17:23 also mentioned in Matthew chapter 24. 17:26 "The waters of the deep 17:27 will overflow their boundaries." 17:30 That means that there's going to be huge floods. 17:32 "Property and life will be destroyed 17:34 by fire and flood." 17:37 All we have to do is 17:38 look at what happened recently in Australia 17:40 and also in Paradise in Northern California 17:43 that destroyed an entire city. 17:46 In another place, Ellen White wrote 17:48 in Great Controversy, page 589 17:51 the following words, 17:52 speaking about Satan, 17:53 It is his object to incite the nations 17:56 to war against one another, 17:59 for he can thus diverts the minds of the people 18:01 from the work of preparation 18:03 to stand in the day of God. 18:06 While appearing to the children of men 18:08 as a great physician 18:09 who can heal all their maladies, 18:12 he," that is Satan, "will bring disease 18:16 and disaster 18:17 until populous cities are reduced to ruin." 18:21 That hasn't happened yet. 18:22 Pestilences that reduce entire cities 18:25 to ruin and desolation. 18:28 So what we're seeing now 18:30 is the beginning of sorrows. 18:33 She continues, 18:35 "Even now Satan is at work in accidents, 18:38 calamities, by sea and by land 18:41 in the great conflagrations," 18:43 now she's going to add additional disasters, 18:45 "in fierce tornadoes and terrific hail storms 18:48 in tempests, floods, cyclones, 18:51 tidal waves, and earthquakes 18:54 in every place and in thousand forms. 18:56 Satan is exercising his power. 18:59 He sweeps away the ripening harvest 19:01 and famine and distress follow. 19:04 He imparts to the air a deadly Tate 19:06 and thousands perish by the pestilence." 19:10 And then comes this state 19:13 these visitations, 19:14 in other words, what she's just described, 19:17 "These visitations are to become 19:19 more and more frequent 19:22 and disastrous," 19:25 you know, we're in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, 19:30 we say this is terrible, and it is, 19:33 many people have died. 19:35 And, you know, family members suffer 19:37 because of the death 19:39 and the economy has suffered tremendously as a result. 19:43 But, folks, 19:44 this is only the beginning of the beginning of sorrows. 19:46 Things are going to get a lot worse 19:48 before they get better. 19:50 So Ellen White states, 19:51 "These disasters or visitations 19:54 will become more frequent and more disastrous." 19:59 So once again, 20:00 what is the objective of all of these disasters? 20:04 Verse 9, once again, 20:06 it says, "Then," 20:08 remember the word tote in Greek, 20:10 it refers to something that happens 20:12 after what you have immediately before, 20:16 then they will deliver you up to tribulation kill you, 20:19 and you will be hated by all nations 20:21 for My name's sake. 20:23 In other words, God's people are blamed 20:25 for what is taking place. 20:27 Now let me share with you 20:28 the end of the last statement 20:30 that I read from Great Controversy 589, 20:34 once again, I'll go back and read the last sentence 20:37 and then I'll read the very next sentence. 20:40 "These visitations 20:43 are to become more and more frequent 20:47 and disastrous." 20:50 And then, 20:52 that's the word then, just like in Matthew 24:9, 20:56 "And then, the great deceiver 21:00 will persuade men 21:02 that those who serve God 21:04 are causing these evils. 21:07 The class that has provoked this displeasure of heaven 21:11 will charge all their troubles upon those 21:14 whose obedience to God's commandments 21:16 is a perpetual reproof to transgressors." 21:21 In another statement, Last Day Events, 21:23 page 129, she wrote, 21:25 "Satan puts his interpretation upon events, 21:29 and they think," 21:31 that is the ones who are away from the Lord, 21:35 who don't follow the Lord. 21:37 "And they think, as he would have them, 21:40 that the calamities which filled the land 21:43 are a result of Sunday breaking, 21:46 thinking to appease the wrath of God, 21:49 those influential men make laws 21:52 enforcing Sunday observance." 21:55 How interesting. 21:57 Now the Gospel of Mark 21:59 and the Gospel of Luke 22:01 add details about the trials of God's people 22:04 who is going to hate God's people. 22:06 So let's go to Mark Chapter 13 22:09 and we'll read verses 12 and 13. 22:13 Mark 13:12,13. 22:15 It's in the same context 22:17 of Matthew Chapter 24. 22:20 "Now brother will betray brothers to death. 22:24 And father his child, 22:26 and children will rise up against parents, 22:29 and cause them to be put to death. 22:33 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. 22:37 But he who endures to the end shall be saved." 22:39 This is very serious. 22:41 You see, Matthew doesn't tell 22:42 who is going to hate and persecute God's people. 22:45 Mark does. 22:47 Mark says, 22:48 "Brother will betray brother to death, 22:50 father his child, 22:51 and children will rise against their parents 22:53 and cause them to be put to death." 22:56 Wow, amazing. 22:58 Also Luke 21:16 23:01 describes this period, 23:04 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, 23:07 relatives and friends, 23:09 and they will put some of you to death." 23:13 At this time, it doesn't appear 23:15 like this would be possible. 23:16 We say, 23:18 "Well, we live in a civilized society. 23:19 You know, this could never happen." 23:21 Never say never, 23:22 because prophecy is correct 23:25 and will be fulfilled. 23:28 So let's notice then 23:30 some other statements from the Spirit of Prophecy 23:34 about these disasters 23:36 and how they will cause 23:39 the people who claim to follow Jesus 23:42 but really don't 23:43 will lead them to persecute God's people. 23:47 Let's go to Volume 6 of the Testimonies, 23:50 page 408. 23:53 "The restraining Spirit of God 23:55 is even now being withdrawn from the world. 23:58 Hurricanes, storms, 24:01 tempests, fire, 24:03 and flood. 24:05 Disasters by sea and land 24:07 follow each other in quick succession." 24:10 So notice the disaster she's mentioning 24:13 hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire, 24:16 flood disasters by sea and land, 24:18 she says follow each other in quick succession. 24:20 And then she states this, 24:22 science seeks to explain all these. 24:26 So the scientists they tried to explain this. 24:29 "The signs thickening around us, 24:32 telling of the near approach of the Son of God 24:35 are attributed to," 24:37 listen carefully now, 24:39 "any other than the true cause." 24:42 So science tries to explain these things. 24:45 But the signs thickening around us 24:47 telling us the near approach of the Son of God 24:49 are attributed to any other than the true cause. 24:53 Man cannot discern the sentinel angels 24:56 restraining the four winds that they shall not blow 24:59 until the servants of God are sealed. 25:01 But when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, 25:04 there will be such a scene of strife 25:07 as no pen can picture. 25:11 There's a lot of talk these days 25:12 about climate change. 25:15 They say, well, the reason for climate change 25:17 is the use of fossil fuels and air conditioners, etcetera. 25:22 No, I'm not saying that 25:24 these things might not impact the weather systems. 25:27 However, the true cause of these disasters 25:31 of climate change 25:33 is not what people are saying it is. 25:37 You know, the two of the greatest climate changes 25:40 that the Bible mentions are first of all the flood. 25:44 Why did God send the flood? 25:47 Because the wickedness of man was great in the earth. 25:50 And every intent of the heart of man 25:52 was only evil continually. 25:54 It was the sinfulness of humanity 25:56 that led to the flood. 25:58 In the days of Elijah 25:59 didn't rain for three and a half years. 26:01 I would say that's a climate change. 26:03 What was the reason? 26:04 The reason is that God's own professed 26:07 people were in apostasy. 26:08 They needed to pray, 26:10 and they needed to turn from their wicked ways. 26:13 Let me read you a few other statements 26:15 where Ellen White describes this period 26:17 where God's people will be blamed 26:19 and will be betrayed 26:20 by their relatives and friends. 26:23 Last Day Events, page 150 and 151, 26:28 "Friends will prove treacherous and will betray us, 26:33 relatives, deceived by the enemy, 26:36 will think they do God service 26:39 in opposing us and putting forth 26:41 the utmost efforts to bring us into hard places 26:45 hoping we will deny our faith." 26:49 So the purpose of this persecution 26:52 is to get God's people to deny their faith. 26:56 In Prophets and Kings, page 588 26:59 we have this statement, 27:00 "Those who are true to God 27:03 will be menaced, denounced, proscribed, 27:07 they will be..." 27:08 And now she quotes Luke 21:16. 27:10 "They will be betrayed both by parents 27:14 and brethren and kinsfolks and friends, 27:18 even unto death." 27:20 But God's people will remain firm as a rock. 27:24 In the Great Controversy, page 612, 27:27 we find these words, 27:28 "Family connections, 27:30 church relations are powerless to stay them now. 27:35 Truth is more precious than all besides. 27:38 Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, 27:42 a large number 27:44 take their stand upon the Lord's side." 27:48 Now during this time, 27:50 when the Holy Spirit is poured out 27:52 in latter rain power 27:54 and the Holy Spirit is giving wisdom 27:56 and words to his people, 27:58 His faithful followers will have to stand 28:00 before the great men of the earth 28:02 before the rulers and kings and presidents 28:05 and legislators of the world 28:07 to give witness for their faith. 28:09 Notice Luke Chapter 21, 28:11 Luke 21:12, 13, 28:15 where this is spoken up. 28:17 "Before all these things, they will lay hands on you 28:20 and persecute you, 28:21 delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. 28:24 You will be brought before kings and rulers 28:27 for My name's sake. 28:32 But it will turn out for you 28:35 as the occasion for testimony." 28:38 In other words, 28:39 when God's people are taken before the rulers of the earth, 28:42 they will give witness to their faith. 28:45 Let me read you some statements 28:47 once again by Ellen White 28:48 about the end time fulfillment of these words. 28:52 Testimonies for the Church Volume 6, 28:54 page 128 and 129. 28:57 "We shall have to stand before magistrates 29:00 to answer for our allegiance to the law of God, 29:04 to make known the reasons of our faith." 29:08 And now notice, 29:09 "And the youth 29:11 should understand these things." 29:12 The youth to be champions in God's word 29:15 because someday, 29:16 you'll be taken before kings and rulers 29:18 and they're going to ask you 29:20 why you stand for the Sabbath, 29:22 why you believe what you do. 29:25 Another statement we find in the book 29:27 Fundamentals of Christian Education, 29:29 page 217, 29:31 it says like this, 29:33 "Many will have to stand in the legislative courts. 29:37 Some will have to stand before kings 29:40 and before the learned of the earth 29:43 to answer for their faith. 29:45 Those who have 29:47 only a superficial understanding of truth 29:51 will not be able clearly 29:54 to expound the scriptures 29:56 and give definite reasons for their faith." 29:58 How sad. 29:59 When God's people have to appear before rulers 30:02 so that we can give a witness and they can accept the truth 30:06 and be saved, not having a reason for our faith 30:10 because we had a superficial understanding of the truth. 30:15 In the book Last Day Events, page 209, 30:18 we find this statement, 30:19 "It does not seem possible to us now 30:22 that any should have to stand alone." 30:26 What? 30:28 We're going to have to stand where? 30:29 Alone. 30:31 "So it does not seem possible to us now 30:34 that any should have to stand alone. 30:36 But if God has ever spoken by me, 30:38 the time will come 30:40 when we shall be brought before councils, 30:42 and before thousands for His name's sake, 30:46 and each one will have to give the reason of his faith, 30:50 then will come the severest criticism 30:53 upon every position 30:55 that has been taken for the truth. 30:57 We need them to study the Word of God, 31:01 that we may know why we believe 31:03 the doctrines we advocate." 31:07 So God's people at the end will be taken 31:09 before the great individuals of the earth, 31:13 politicians, rulers, legislators, presidents 31:17 to give a witness for their faith. 31:20 Now who is going to empower God's people 31:22 during this time? 31:24 Well, let's read Luke 21:14, 15. 31:29 Luke 21:14, 15. 31:32 "Therefore, settle it in your hearts 31:34 not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer, 31:38 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom 31:42 which all your adversaries would not be able to contradict 31:46 or resist." 31:49 Mark 13:11 tells us, 31:53 who is going to give wisdom to his people, 31:56 it says in verse 11, 31:58 "But when they arrest you 31:59 and deliver you up, 32:01 do not worry beforehand or premeditate 32:04 what you will speak but whatever is given you 32:07 in that hour speak that, 32:09 for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit." 32:13 Do you remember the sequence that Ellen White presented? 32:16 She says there's going to be all these disasters, 32:19 the nations will be enraged, 32:21 then God is going to pour out His Holy Spirit. 32:24 God's people will preach the Sabbath more fully. 32:27 The nations will get even angry at God's people. 32:30 But God's people will stand before rulers and kings 32:34 to give a witness as to why they keep the Sabbath, 32:36 why they believe what they do. 32:39 Ellen White wrote in Manuscript Releases Volume 8, 32:42 page 187 the following words 32:45 about when God's people will have to stand 32:48 before the great persons of the earth. 32:50 "Those who received Christ as personal Savior 32:54 will stand the test of trial in these last days. 32:58 The Lord Jesus will give the disciples 33:00 a tongue and wisdom 33:02 that their adversaries can neither gainsay nor resist. 33:08 Those who could not by reasoning 33:10 overcome satanic delusions 33:13 will bear an affirmative testimony 33:16 that will baffle supposedly learned men." 33:19 In other words, humble people are going to give reasons 33:21 for their faith 33:23 that even learned men will be baffled at. 33:27 She continues, 33:28 "Words will come from the lips of the unlearned 33:32 with such convincing power and wisdom 33:35 that conversions will be made to the truth. 33:39 Thousands will be converted under their testimony." 33:42 Imagine the tremendous opportunity 33:45 that we have during that time of receiving the latter rain, 33:50 proclaiming the Sabbath more fully 33:52 before the Great persons of the earth. 33:55 And having thousands upon thousands hear the message 33:58 and accept the message so that they can be saved. 34:01 But sadly, during this period, 34:04 many of those who had embraced the faith 34:07 are going to apostatize. 34:09 That takes us to Matthew 24:10. 34:13 Matthew 24:10. 34:16 It says, "And then," notice after individuals 34:22 rise to deliver God's people up to death, 34:25 when we're appearing before kings and rulers, 34:28 and we're speaking through the power of the Holy Spirit, 34:30 "then many will be offended, 34:34 will betray one another and will hate one another." 34:39 So notice, many will be offended. 34:43 If you look up that word offended in Scripture, 34:46 you're going to find that it refers to people 34:48 who forsake the faith, 34:50 the faith that they once embraced. 34:53 In other words, they turn back, 34:55 they apostatize because of the persecution 34:59 that is mentioned in the previous verse 35:01 in verse 9, 35:02 Ellen White described this period 35:05 in the book Great Controversy, page 608. 35:09 And I read, 35:10 "As the storm approaches a large class." 35:14 Notice, it's a large class, not just one or two, 35:17 "a large class, 35:18 who have professed faith in the third angel's message," 35:22 they have to be Adventists 35:23 because only the evidence church professes faith 35:26 in the third angel's message. 35:28 So once again, 35:29 "As the storm approaches large classes, 35:31 who have professed faith in the third angel's message 35:34 but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, 35:38 abandon their position 35:40 and join the ranks of the opposition." 35:43 This is verse 10. 35:44 Many will be offended. 35:46 She continues, 35:47 "Men of talent and pleasing address, 35:52 who wants rejoiced in the truth, 35:55 employ their powers 35:56 to deceive and mislead souls." 35:58 They become false prophets in other words, 36:00 that's the next verse. 36:02 She continues, 36:03 "They become the bitterest enemies 36:05 of their former brethren. 36:07 When Sabbath keepers are brought 36:08 before the courts to answer for their faith, 36:11 these apostates 36:13 are the most efficient agents of Satan 36:15 to misrepresent and accuse them 36:17 and by false reports and insinuations 36:20 to stir up the rulers against them." 36:23 So these are the false prophets that are mentioned 36:26 in the next verse, 36:27 those who apostatize 36:29 will become false prophets and say, 36:30 "Don't pay any attention to what these people 36:33 what the Seventh-day Adventists are having to say." 36:35 And this leads us to verse 11. 36:38 It says, "Then," notice then, 36:42 that's like a word tote, 36:43 "Then many false prophets will rise up 36:47 and deceive many." 36:50 What is a false prophet? 36:53 But we're not talking about false prophets 36:55 of the Jeane Dixon type. 36:57 False prophets are those who prophesy peace, peace 37:00 when there is no peace. 37:02 When the religious world is saying 37:04 don't worry about those Seventh-day Adventist 37:06 who are preaching about the Sabbath, 37:07 Sunday is the day that you're supposed to keep. 37:10 And those who have apostatized from the faith 37:12 have joined that group, 37:14 then false prophets will arise 37:16 and say don't pay any attention to them. 37:18 Everything is okay. 37:19 Everything will work out. 37:21 "Peace, peace," when there is no peace. 37:24 You know, the Bible describes what a false prophet is. 37:27 In Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 37:30 we find these words, 37:32 "If there arises among you a prophet, 37:35 or a dreamer of dreams, 37:37 and he gives you a sign or wonder, 37:40 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass 37:43 out of which he spoke to you saying, 37:46 'Let us go after other gods that you have not known. 37:50 And let us serve them,'" 37:52 here comes the council, 37:53 "You shall not listen to the words of that Prophet, 37:56 or that dreamer of dreams, 37:58 for the Lord your God is testing you 38:00 to know whether you love the Lord your God 38:03 with all your heart and with all your soul." 38:05 You shall notice all the synonymous terms now. 38:09 "You shall walk after the Lord your God, 38:11 and fear Him, and keep His commandments 38:15 and obey His voice, 38:17 you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him." 38:22 So what is a false prophet? 38:24 A false prophet is one that might even do a sign 38:27 or wonder according to this, 38:28 but he leads God's people astray 38:31 from the truth that God has revealed. 38:34 He leads them astray from the will of God. 38:37 God has said that the Sabbath 38:39 is that they were supposed to keep. 38:41 The majority of the Christian world says 38:42 no, it's Sunday. 38:44 It's leading God's people astray from God's holy law. 38:48 Let's read a couple of statements, 38:49 two or three statements from the Spirit of Prophecy 38:51 on this particular point. 38:54 Ellen White wrote in Desire of Ages, page 631, 38:57 false prophets, she's talking about the first destruction, 39:00 the destruction of Jerusalem. 39:02 The first fulfillment of Matthew 24, 39:04 "False prophets did rise, 39:06 deceiving the people and leading great numbers 39:09 into the desert. 39:10 Magicians and sorcerers claiming miraculous power 39:14 drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes." 39:17 And then she writes, 39:19 "But this prophecy was spoken 39:21 also for the last days." 39:24 In another statement, she wrote the following, 39:29 "The false prophets will have to be met, 39:32 they will make an effort to deceive many, 39:35 by leading them to accept false theories. 39:37 Many scriptures will be misapplied 39:40 in such a way 39:41 that deceptive theories will apparently be based 39:44 upon the words that God has spoken. 39:46 In other words, they're misusing the Word of God. 39:48 They claim to be Christians, 39:50 precious truth will be appropriated 39:53 to substantiate and establish error, 39:56 the false prophets who claim to be taught of God, 39:59 so the false prophets, 40:00 they're not of a Jeane Dixon type or secular, 40:03 and predict what's going to happen 40:04 to the next Hollywood celebrity. 40:06 No, these false prophets who claim to be taught of God 40:11 will take beautiful scriptures 40:13 that have been given to adorn the truth 40:15 and will use them as a robe of righteousness 40:18 to cover false and dangerous theories. 40:22 "And many," she continues saying, 40:24 "will depart from the truth as a result." 40:28 Now what is the next sign here? 40:30 Oh, when persecution comes, 40:33 when false prophets arise, 40:36 to accuse God's faithful people, 40:39 something is going to happen, verse 12, 40:42 and because lawlessness will abound, 40:45 the love of many will grow cold. 40:50 Why does love grow cold? 40:52 Because of lawlessness 40:54 That word lawlessness is very interesting, 40:56 as I mentioned in a previous lecture. 40:59 It is the word anomias. 41:02 It is used in 1 John 3:4 in the King James Version. 41:06 It says sin is the transgression of the law. 41:09 That entire expression transgression of the law 41:11 is the same expression that that is translated here 41:16 in the New King James Version, lawlessness, 41:19 so because of lawlessness, 41:21 the love of many will grow cold. 41:23 Now obviously, the love of many cannot grow cold 41:27 unless it was hot before that. 41:29 Let me read you a few statements 41:31 from the writings of Ellen White once again. 41:33 "There will be a shaking of the sieve. 41:37 The chaff must in time be separated from the wheat. 41:43 Because inequity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. 41:49 It is the very time 41:50 when the genuine will be the strongest." 41:55 In another statement, Last Day Events page 27, 41:58 she wrote, 42:00 "I was shown that the Spirit of the Lord 42:01 is being withdrawn from the earth. 42:03 God's keeping power will soon be refused 42:06 to all who continue to disregard His commandments. 42:11 The reports of fraudulent transactions, 42:14 murders and crimes of every kind 42:16 are coming to us daily. 42:18 Iniquity is becoming so common a thing 42:21 that it no longer shocks the senses as it once did. 42:27 In the devotional book, lift him up 42:30 by Ellen White page 310. 42:32 She clearly states that those whose love grows cold, 42:37 once had a hot experience with the Lord Jesus, 42:40 but persecution and the false prophets, 42:43 lead them to lose their faith. 42:46 This is what she wrote in Lift Him Up, page 310, 42:49 "The Lord Jesus on the Mount of Olives, 42:52 plainly stated that because iniquity shall abound, 42:55 the love of many shall wax cold." 42:58 She's quoting this verse, 43:00 "He speaks of a class who have fallen 43:03 from a high state of spirituality. 43:07 Let such utterances as these come home with solemn, 43:10 searching power to our hearts. 43:12 Where is the fervor devotion to God 43:16 that corresponds to the greatness of truth 43:18 that we claim to believe? 43:20 The love of the world, the love of some darling sin, 43:25 has weaned the heart from the love of prayer, 43:28 and of meditation on sacred things. 43:31 A formal round of religious services 43:34 is kept up. 43:35 But where is the love of Jesus? 43:38 Spirituality is dying." 43:42 And then I want to read one more statement. 43:44 And this one we find in the book 43:46 Sons and Daughters of God, page 210, 43:49 also a devotional book. 43:51 She actually begins by quoting 43:54 this verse in Matthew 24:12. 43:58 "And because iniquity shall abound, 44:00 the love of many shall wax cold, 44:03 the very atmosphere is polluted with sin. 44:06 Soon God's people 44:08 will be tested by fiery trials," 44:09 known as God's people. 44:11 This verse applies to God's people, 44:13 not to the world in general that you know the world 44:15 people of the world are lawless because they have no love. 44:18 No, this is talking about God's people. 44:20 "The very atmosphere is polluted with sin. 44:23 Soon God's people will be tested 44:25 by fiery trials." 44:27 And listened carefully. 44:28 This is sad, 44:30 "And the great proportion 44:32 of those who now appear to be genuine and true, 44:35 will prove to be base metal 44:38 instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, 44:43 threats, and abuse. 44:45 So know instead of being strengthened 44:48 and confirmed by what, 44:50 by opposition threats and abuse, 44:52 they will cowardly take the side of the opposers. 44:56 This is exactly what we're looking 44:58 at in Matthew Chapter 24. 44:59 She continues, 45:01 "To stand in defense of the truth and righteousness. 45:04 When the majority forsake us..." 45:07 She's talking about Adventists, 45:08 "When the majority forsake us, 45:11 to fight the battles of the Lord 45:13 when champions are few, this will be our test. 45:18 At this time, we must gather warmth, 45:21 from the coldness of others, 45:24 courage from their cowardice 45:27 and loyalty from their treason." 45:31 Wow. 45:33 Then we are told in Matthew 24:13, 45:37 not everyone is going to apostatize, 45:39 not everybody's love is going to grow cold. 45:41 Not everyone is going to be deceived 45:43 by the false prophets. 45:44 Not everyone is going to be offended 45:46 because of the persecution. 45:47 There will be a group that will endure 45:50 or persevere until the end. 45:53 So we find in verse 13, 45:54 but he who endures to the end 45:57 or who he who perseveres to the end will be saved. 46:00 It's the wordhupomone in Greek, which means perseverance. 46:05 Luke 21:9. 46:09 Luke 21:9. 46:14 Actually it's verse 19, 46:17 "By your patience possess your souls." 46:22 Incidentally, Revelation Chapter 13 46:24 uses this same word 46:26 with regards to the Final Crisis 46:28 over the beast, his image and his mark. 46:31 We find in Revelation 14:12. 46:35 Revelation 14:12, 46:37 the conclusion of the third angels message, it says, 46:40 here is the patient's better translated perseverance, 46:43 the same word, hupomone. 46:45 Here is the perseverance of the saints. 46:49 Here are those 46:50 who keep the commandments of God 46:52 and the faith of Jesus. 46:55 Of course, the parable of the persistent widow, 46:59 in Luke Chapter 18 applies to this period 47:03 of history as well. 47:05 And then you go back to Matthew Chapter 24, 47:09 Matthew 24:14, 47:12 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached 47:16 in all the world as a witness to all the nations 47:19 and then the end will come." 47:23 Now this verse is very similar to two other verses 47:27 that we find in Scripture. 47:29 We have 47:30 a Revelation 14:6,7 47:36 and Matthew 28:19, 20 interestingly enough. 47:41 These three places in Scripture, 47:43 Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19, 20 47:48 and Revelation 14:6,7 47:51 have three common denominators. 47:53 First of all, preaching the gospel, 47:55 secondly, to all nations, 47:58 and three, then the end comes. 48:00 Notice Matthew 28:19, 20, 48:04 Matthew 28:19, 20. 48:08 "Jesus gives a great commission, 48:10 goal therefore 48:11 and makes disciples of all the nations, 48:13 baptizing them in the name of the Father 48:15 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 48:18 teaching them to observe all things 48:19 that I have commanded you. 48:21 And lo, I am with you always, 48:23 even to the end of the age or the end of the world." 48:25 So you have all three elements there 48:27 you have preaching to all the world 48:31 and then the end comes. 48:33 Revelation Chapter 14 contains also the same three elements. 48:38 So going to Revelation 14, and we'll read verses 6 and 7. 48:42 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 48:45 having the everlasting gospel." 48:46 See there you have the everlasting gospel 48:48 that being proclaimed, 48:50 to preach to those who dwell on the earth 48:52 to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people." 48:55 So you have the same three elements, 48:57 preaching the gospel to every nation, 49:00 kindred, tongue, and people. 49:02 And then if you read verse 14, 49:04 after the three angels messages are proclaimed, 49:06 Jesus is sitting on the cloud with a sickle in his hand, 49:10 and he's coming on the cloud, 49:11 which represents the closer probation 49:14 and the second coming of Christ. 49:16 However, Revelation 14, 6,7 49:19 presents the proclamation of the gospel 49:23 to the whole world 49:24 in a special context. 49:26 I want to read a statement that we find in the book 49:29 Great Controversy, page 356. 49:32 You see, the gospel that is preached 49:34 at the end time 49:36 is through the power of the Holy Spirit 49:37 because the latter rain has been poured out, 49:40 and is proclaimed in a loud cry, 49:42 calling God's faithful people 49:44 to come out of the apostolic churches 49:46 and join God's faithful people. 49:49 In other words, in Revelation 49:51 it is in the context of the final judgment 49:53 and end time events. 49:55 In Great Controversy, page 356, Ellen White wrote, 49:58 "The message of salvation has been preached in all ages. 50:02 But this message," 50:04 she's referring to the first angels message, 50:06 "is a part of the gospel, which could be proclaimed 50:10 only in the last days, 50:12 for only then would it be true 50:14 that the hour of judgment had come." 50:19 So, you know, could Paul preach 50:21 the hour of His judgment has come? 50:24 No, because the judgment was in the future. 50:27 Could Luther preach the hour of his judgment has come? 50:30 No, Luther predicted that the judgment would take 50:34 300 years after he lived. 50:37 So they could not preach the everlasting gospel 50:40 in the context of the judgment, the last judgment. 50:44 This is a message that will be proclaimed 50:46 at the end of time, 50:48 under the power of the Holy Spirit, 50:50 the loud cry, the final gospel call 50:53 will be given for all of those who are faithful to Lord 50:57 to come out and join God's Final remnant 51:00 that will go through the final time of trouble. 51:04 You'll notice Revelation 14, after verse 6, it says, 51:08 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 51:10 having the everlasting gospel 51:12 to preach to those who dwell on the earth, 51:14 to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people 51:16 saying with a loud voice," 51:17 this is the angels proclaiming the gospel, 51:19 but now in a special context, 51:21 "Saying with a loud voice, 51:24 'fear God, and give glory to Him, 51:27 for the hour of His judgment has come.'" 51:31 So in other words, this could not be proclaimed 51:33 by Paul and Peter and Luther, etcetera 51:35 because the hour of God's judgment 51:37 had not yet come at that time. 51:39 And then there's another detail, 51:41 "And worship Him who made heaven and earth, 51:45 the sea and springs of water," 51:46 in other words, worship the Creator. 51:51 In other words, the first angel's message, 51:53 the preaching of the everlasting gospel 51:54 to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people 51:56 with a loud voice, at the end of time, 51:58 through the power of the Holy Spirit 52:00 brings to view two ideas. 52:02 Number one, 52:04 we are going to be in the hour of the judgment, 52:06 the judgment of the living, if you wish, 52:09 and also it will be a call for God's people, 52:13 God's faithful people 52:15 to proclaim the Creator. 52:18 The creator, as it says, here, 52:20 worship Him who made heaven, earth, the sea, 52:24 and the springs of water. 52:27 Who is the creator? 52:29 God is the Creator. 52:31 Did God give us a sign that He is the Creator? 52:35 He most certainly did. 52:37 He gave us the Sabbath 52:38 as a sign to remember Him 52:41 as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. 52:44 Thus, the gospel in the end time is preached 52:47 in the context of the judgment, 52:50 and it is preached, 52:51 calling people to worship the Creator 52:54 and to keep His holy Sabbath, 52:57 the reminder that He is the Creator. 53:01 Notice Exodus Chapter 20, 53:02 the fourth commandment of God's holy law, 53:05 you can't extract the fourth commandment 53:08 from the Ten Commandments and say, 53:09 "Well, that one applies only to the Jews." 53:11 All of the Ten Commandments apply to God's people 53:14 at all times in history. 53:17 Exodus 20: 8-11 tells us 53:20 why God gave the Sabbath. 53:23 It actually leads us back to creation. 53:27 It says there in verse 8, 53:29 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 53:33 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 53:36 but the seventh day is the Sabbath 53:38 of the Lord your God." 53:40 No, that's not the Sabbath of the Jews, 53:42 it's the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 53:45 "In it, you shall do no work. 53:48 You, nor your son nor your daughter, 53:50 nor your male servant, nor your female servant, 53:52 nor your cattle, nor your stranger, 53:54 who is within your gates." 53:56 And now comes the reason why God said 53:58 that his people are supposed to keep the Sabbath. 54:01 Verse 11, connected with the first angel's message, 54:05 which is the end time proclamation of the gospel, 54:08 "For in six days, 54:11 the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, 54:14 and all that is in them, 54:16 and rest of the seventh day. 54:18 Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day 54:21 and hallowed it or sanctified it." 54:27 I want to end by reading a statement 54:29 that we find once again in the writings of Ellen White, 54:32 Desire of Ages, page 633, 54:37 "In the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction, 54:41 Christ said, 54:43 'Because iniquity shall abound, 54:44 the love of many shall wax cold, 54:47 however, he that shall endure unto the end, 54:51 the same shall be saved. 54:53 And this gospel of the kingdom 54:55 shall be preached in all the world 54:57 for a witness unto all nations, 54:59 and then shall the end come.'" 55:03 And she writes this, 55:05 "This prophecy will again be fulfilled." 55:09 She just quoted Matthew 24:14. 55:12 And she says, "This prophecy will again be fulfilled," 55:16 because we noticed that Matthew 24:14 was fulfilled 55:19 leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem, 55:22 the gospel went to the entire inhabited world, 55:25 the Roman world at that time, 55:26 the statement continues, 55:28 "The abounding inequity of that day 55:31 finds its counterpart in this generation. 55:35 So with the prediction in regard 55:38 to the preaching of the gospel. 55:41 Before the fall of Jerusalem, 55:43 Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, 55:46 declared that the gospel was preached 55:48 to every creature which is under heaven." 55:52 Colossians 1:23. 55:54 Now she speaks of our time. 55:56 "So now, before the coming of the Son of man, 55:59 the everlasting gospel 56:01 is to be preached to every nation, 56:04 and kindred, and tongue, and people." 56:08 So Matthew 24 has a dual fulfillment, 56:12 it has a partial fulfillment, 56:14 not all of the details were fulfilled 56:17 leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem 56:18 in the year 70. 56:20 It had a partial fulfillment 56:22 in the events that led up 56:24 to the destruction of Jerusalem, 56:26 but it has a broader global fulfillment 56:29 with God's spiritual Israel at the end of time. 56:33 All of the events 56:34 that are mentioned in Matthew 24:4-14 56:40 were fulfilled 56:41 leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. 56:43 And they will be fulfilled 56:45 once again on a broader, grander scale 56:49 at the very end of time. 56:52 So now we have taken a look 56:55 at the end time fulfillment of Matthew 24. 56:59 How did Ellen White know all of these things? 57:02 She wrote, actually, over 120 years ago, 57:07 what we just noticed today 57:08 and yet she presents 57:10 all of these events in the order 57:11 in which we find them in Matthew Chapter 24. 57:15 The answer is simple. 57:16 She was inspired by God's Spirit 57:19 to amplify and comment 57:23 on the prophecy of Matthew Chapter 24. 57:25 She adds... 57:27 I shouldn't say maybe she adds, 57:29 but she amplifies the details, 57:32 the basic details that we find in this chapter. 57:35 I would encourage everyone 57:38 to acquire a copy of the book, The Great Controversy. 57:41 It's the greatest commentary ever written 57:44 on the prophecy of Matthew Chapter 24. 57:47 Secrets unsealed as copies of this book, 57:50 The Great Controversy by Ellen White, 57:54 written over 120 years ago, 57:57 yet being fulfilled before our very eyes. 58:00 God bless you and keep you. 58:01 Next study will be the abomination of desolation 58:05 in its end time fulfillment. |
Revised 2021-06-03