Participants:
Series Code: MAT
Program Code: MAT000019S
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00:01 Music...
00:21 "Father, as we begin our study today, 00:23 we ask for Your presence 00:25 through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 00:27 Give us understanding... 00:29 give us open hearts... 00:31 and Lord, help us to prepare for the glorious event 00:35 of the coming of Jesus Christ in power and glory. 00:38 We thank you for the promise of your presence 00:41 and we claim that promise. 00:43 In Jesus' name, amen. " 00:45 In our last presentation, we studied Part 1 00:49 making a comparison between what happened 00:53 with the National Reform Movement 00:55 between 1864 and 1888 00:58 and what was occurring in the United States of America 01:03 in the decades of the 1980s... 1990s... and early 2000s. 01:08 We noticed that there were many similarities 01:11 and today we are going to cover Part 2. 01:14 Now, I want to make something very clear 01:17 and that is... 01:18 even though I mention proper names of individuals 01:21 who were involved in this Religious-Right Movement 01:25 in the 1980s... 1990s... and early 2000s... 01:28 it is no reflection on them personally. 01:31 In other words, I'm not judging their motives. 01:34 God is the only one 01:36 who can actually sit on the throne 01:38 and judge our motivations. 01:40 However, because they have gone on the record, 01:43 I am quoting them in these Presentations 01:47 particularly the last one which was Part One 01:50 and this one... we will continue Part Two. 01:53 Now, as we ended our last Presentation, 01:57 we were talking about how Protestantism and Catholicism 02:01 are coming closer and closer together 02:04 and we mentioned three factors that have led to this. 02:08 Number 1: The election of John F. Kennedy as President 02:12 of the United States. 02:13 There was a lot of fear in the minds of people 02:15 to have the first Roman Catholic President 02:18 knowing the principles 02:20 that the Roman Catholic Church is built on. 02:22 However, John F. Kennedy... in the speech that he gave to 02:26 the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, 02:29 he promised to abide by the Constitution 02:32 of the United States 02:33 and not by what the Pope told him 02:35 and he lived up to his promise. 02:38 We also noticed that Vatican 2 melted the ice that existed 02:43 between Protestants and Catholics. 02:45 And then also, we noticed that the prophetic views 02:49 of the Religious Right 02:51 basically tells them that the Antichrist 02:54 is an individual that is going to rise 02:57 in the Middle East. 02:59 He's going to sit in the rebuilt Jewish temple 03:01 and he's going to build a great big statue 03:04 and command everyone to worship the statue 03:06 and he's going to place a tattoo on people's foreheads 03:09 that is... of his servants or his followers. 03:12 And therefore, Protestants cannot see the dangers 03:16 of the beast which is really the Roman Catholic Papacy 03:19 and the beast that rises from the earth 03:22 which is a symbol of the United States... 03:24 because they are looking for the fulfillment of prophecy 03:27 in the Middle East 03:28 when it is being fulfilled in Rome and in the United States. 03:33 Now, today we are going to continue 03:36 with the section that deals with how Protestants and Catholics 03:41 are coming closer and closer together. 03:43 As we ended our last Presentation, 03:46 I was talking about the document: 03:49 Evangelicals and Catholics Together 03:51 where they said that we need to cooperate 03:55 on issues that we have in common... 03:57 set aside our doctrinal differences... 04:00 and not proselytize one another's members. 04:03 Now, another evidence of the closer and closer relationship 04:09 between Protestants and Catholics 04:11 is in a document that was signed in 1999. 04:15 It's known as: 04:17 The Joint Declaration on Righteousness by Faith. 04:21 It was signed by Lutherans and Roman Catholics 04:26 and basically, the document says that Roman Catholics 04:29 and Lutherans 04:30 agree on the doctrine of Righteousness by Faith. 04:35 Luther must be rolling in his grave... so to speak 04:39 because the doctrine of Righteousness by Faith 04:42 was one of the key issues 04:44 that led to the separation of Protestantism from Rome. 04:49 Regarding this document: 04:50 Joint Declaration on Justification by Faith, 04:54 Kenneth Kantzer, a Protestant wrote the following. 04:59 "Finally, we... " that is Catholics and Evangelicals... 05:03 "can work together on those political and social issues 05:08 where we are in such strong agreement. 05:12 Our united effort in these areas 05:15 will do much to influence the world to the good... 05:19 In spite of basic differences 05:22 we can use our common Judeo-Christian value system 05:27 to forge moral leadership 05:29 that will advance the cause of justice and peace 05:32 through a stable society in our nation 05:35 and around the world. " 05:37 Pat Robertson... one of the Signers of the document 05:41 added his testimony in the following words, 05:43 "I believe frankly 05:46 that the Evangelicals and the Catholics in America, 05:50 if they work together, 05:52 can see many pro-family initiatives in our society, 05:57 and we can be an effective counterbalance 06:00 to some of the radical, leftist initiatives. " 06:03 Chuck Colson, an Evangelical or Protestant, 06:08 made some amazing statements 06:10 in the introduction to Keith Fournier's book: 06:13 Evangelical Catholics. 06:15 I'm going to read those statements now 06:17 because it shows how Protestants and Catholics 06:21 are coming closer and closer together. 06:24 In one statement, Chuck Colson wrote, 06:27 "It's high time that all of us who are Christians 06:30 come together 06:32 regardless of the differences of our confessions 06:35 and our traditions 06:37 and make common cause to bring Christian values to bear 06:41 in our society. 06:43 When the barbarians are scaling the walls, 06:46 there is no time for petty quarreling in the camp. " 06:50 In another statement he wrote, 06:53 "But at root, 06:55 those who are called of God, 06:57 whether Catholic or Protestant, 06:59 are part of the same Body. 07:02 What they share is a belief in the basics: the virgin birth, 07:07 the deity of Christ, 07:09 His bodily resurrection, 07:11 His imminent return, 07:12 and the authority of His infallible Word. 07:16 They also share the same mission: 07:19 presenting Christ as Savior and Lord 07:22 to a needy world. " 07:23 I don't know where Chuck Colson was getting this information. 07:27 He says that Catholics and Protestants 07:29 belong to the same body. 07:32 They share the same basics 07:34 and they have the same mission. 07:37 Folks, that simply is not accurate. 07:42 The Roman Catholic Church 07:43 is the harlot of Revelation chapter 17. 07:47 How can we say that it is part of the same body 07:51 of faithful Christians to the Lord? 07:54 In another remark, Chuck Colson wrote, 07:57 "I pray that his book... " that is Fournier's book 08:01 "will be read by Catholics and Protestants alike, 08:05 that it will be a bridge 08:08 across many of the historic divisions in the church 08:12 that have weakened our stand in today's culture. " 08:16 So, there you have the bridge between Protestantism 08:20 and Catholicism. 08:21 Keith Fournier... throughout the book 08:25 expressed the same ecumenical sentiments. 08:28 And I'm going to read now several statements 08:31 that Keith Fournier made in his book. 08:33 The previous statements were written by Chuck Colson 08:36 an Evangelical in the introduction to the book 08:39 but now I am going to read Keith Fournier's comments. 08:42 On Page 12 he wrote, 08:44 "We Christians have differences... 08:46 important, critical differences. 08:50 But we have far more in common both in beliefs and in mission. 08:55 These believers have built on their commonalities 09:00 without denying their differences. " 09:02 On Page 65 he wrote, 09:05 "But as long as we see ourselves as disconnected, 09:09 even polarized, communities with some of us 09:12 adhering to 'the right faith' 09:15 while the rest of us are languishing in error, 09:18 we will never receive the incredibly rich benefits 09:22 of a worldwide revival. " 09:24 On Page 65 he also wrote, 09:27 "We must see that we were meant to be one church 09:32 united under one Head 09:34 for the purpose of carrying out a two-fold mission 09:38 proclaiming the gospel and maturing in Christ. " 09:42 Folks, the Roman Catholic gospel 09:46 is not the Protestant gospel. 09:49 They are two different gospels. 09:50 Finally, on page 153, 09:53 we find Fournier wrote the following words, 09:57 "As we prepare to move into the next millennium, 10:00 we will we do it together, 10:03 recognizing that what we have in common 10:06 far exceeds what separates us. 10:09 Or will we allow our internal divisions 10:13 to hold us back from fulfilling our heritage?" 10:17 So the Ecumenists referred to the theological differences 10:22 as petty quarreling. 10:23 My question is: Is the fourth commandment of God's holy law 10:28 which commands us to keep the seventh-day Sabbath 10:31 an important issue? 10:33 Is it petty quarreling to say, 10:36 "Well, is it Sunday or the Sabbath?" 10:38 Is it petty quarreling to say that the dead are dead 10:44 in contrast to Protestantism that says generally 10:49 that the dead are not dead... 10:52 that the soul flies off to heaven when a person dies? 10:55 Is it an insignificant difference to say 10:58 that the dead are dead until the resurrection 11:00 or that the dead... 11:02 actually their soul flies off to heaven when they die? 11:05 I don't see that as a small difference. 11:08 John Swanley who was a strong supporter 11:11 of the separation of church and state 11:15 and opposed the ecumenical overtures 11:18 between Protestants and Catholics wrote the following, 11:23 "Roman Catholic bishops are also at work politically 11:27 to end separation of church and state. 11:31 They are working in an informal alliance 11:35 with fundamentalist Protestants 11:37 not only on the abortion issue, 11:40 but to get government support of private church schools. 11:44 The major Protestant denominations 11:47 have been effectively silenced by ecumenism, 11:51 falsely based on fear 11:54 of offending the Catholic hierarchy. " 11:58 In other words, because they want to be... 12:01 they want to have political correctness... 12:03 that is... Protestants. 12:05 Two professors of Jerry Falwell's Liberty University 12:11 in Lynchburg, Virginia wrote the following, 12:14 "We are seeking a political alliance 12:17 between the Roman Catholic church 12:20 and conservative Protestants 12:23 that would have a profound impact 12:25 in the areas of abortion, family life, 12:28 school policy and public morality. " 12:32 Ralph Reed who spoke to the Catholic campaign for America 12:38 described the ecumenical spirit of the time. 12:41 This is what he said to the Catholic campaign for America. 12:46 "The truth is, you and I are uniting. 12:50 We are coming together 12:51 because whatever theological differences there are, 12:56 there is far more that unites us and brings us together 13:00 than divides us and separates us. 13:03 The good news is the chasm is being bridged 13:08 and that those walls are crumbling. " 13:11 The walls of separation between Protestants and Catholics 13:15 he's referring to. 13:16 He continues, "The truth my friends is this. 13:19 Catholicism never has been, is not today, 13:24 and never will be a threat to American democracy. " 13:29 Think again Folks, 13:30 Roman Catholic Church does not change. 13:35 It has the same principles today as it had 13:39 during the time it persecuted the saints of the Most High 13:42 but it has changed its attitude, 13:46 its external attitude... but in essence it's the same System. 13:50 We find Ralph Reed continuing, 13:53 "It was Catholicism and remains the most colorful 13:58 and the most vibrant thread 14:00 running through the tapestry of American democracy. " 14:04 And Ralph Reed is an Evangelical Protestant. 14:09 And then he continued, 14:10 "Cardinal Gibbons said this... " 14:12 Cardinal Gibbons was a very influential Cardinal 14:15 in the United States in years past. 14:18 Cardinal Gibbons said this: he said, 14:21 "No constitution is more in harmony with Catholic principles 14:26 than the American constitution 14:29 and no religion is more in accord with that constitution 14:35 than the Catholic religion. " 14:36 I have no idea where Ralph Reed is getting this information from 14:42 because history shows 14:44 that the Constitution of the United States 14:47 is the total opposite of the principles 14:50 upon which the Roman Catholic Church stands. 14:53 He continued, 14:54 "I want you to know 14:56 that as Evangelicals we stand shoulder to shoulder with you" 15:00 he's talking at this Convention... 15:01 "in ensuring that never again 15:04 will bigotry be directed against Catholics and their religion 15:08 be used to try and silence them 15:11 and drive them from the public square. " 15:13 And then he concluded, 15:16 "I think you know that we have recently launched 15:19 a division of the Christian Coalition 15:21 called the Catholic Alliance 15:23 which is designed to formalize and continue to build bridges 15:29 in our partnership with Roman Catholics. 15:32 The Catholic Alliance, like the Catholic Campaign, 15:35 will be a lay movement. " 15:38 I don't know where Ralph Reed is getting his information from... 15:43 those who forget the mistakes of history 15:47 are bound to repeat those same mistakes, Folks. 15:50 Ralph Reed also mentioned the following... 15:54 this is in the Amarillo Sunday News Globe. 15:58 "We can no longer afford to be divided... " 16:01 he says about Protestants and Catholics. 16:05 "It is a luxury that is no longer ours. 16:09 The left wants you and I to be divided. 16:12 Nothing frightens them more than Christians 16:17 shattering the barriers of denomination. " 16:21 Keith Fournier who as I mentioned before 16:25 was the former Executive Director 16:27 of Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice 16:30 said this, 16:32 "Yet there is a wall 16:34 which has been mistakenly erected in our beloved country. 16:39 Its impact on religious freedom 16:42 has perhaps had an even more devastating effect, 16:44 it is the so called wall 16:47 of separation of church and state. " 16:50 So, this is the next point that we are going to notice 16:52 that is similar to what happened from 1864 to 1888. 16:58 They actually wanted to tear down the wall 17:01 of separation between church and state. 17:04 Pat Robertson also attacked the idea 17:08 of separation of church and state in the Constitution. 17:11 This is what he wrote, 17:13 "Liberals and secular humanists 17:16 have kept us in submission 17:18 because they have talked about separation of church and state. 17:22 There is no such thing in the Constitution. 17:26 It's a lie of the left, 17:28 and we're not going to take it anymore. " 17:32 What about the First Amendment? 17:35 "Congress shall make no law 17:37 respecting an establishment of religion 17:39 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. " 17:43 True the Constitution doesn't say 17:45 separation of church and state in so many words 17:49 but the First Amendment makes it clear 17:51 that there is a separation of church and state 17:54 and Jefferson actually spoke 17:57 of the wall of separation between church and state. 18:00 Jerry Falwell who founded the Moral Majority 18:05 and passed away a few years ago, 18:06 had this to say about church and state. 18:09 "Separation of church and state has long been the battle cry 18:14 of civil libertarians 18:16 wishing to purge our glorious Christian heritage 18:20 from our nation's history. 18:22 Of course, the term... " 18:24 that is, separation of church and state 18:26 "never once appears in our Constitution 18:29 and is a modern fabrication of discrimination. " 18:34 D. James Kennedy who was pastor for many years 18:39 of Coral Ridge Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida 18:43 said this about the wall of separation 18:46 between church and state. 18:48 "If we are committed and involved 18:50 in taking back the nation for Christian values... 18:54 there is no doubt we can witness the dismantling 18:57 of not just the Berlin Wall 19:00 but the even more diabolical wall of separation 19:05 that has led to secularization, immorality, 19:08 and corruption in our country. " 19:10 So, he's referring to the wall of separation 19:12 between church and state as being diabolical. 19:16 What a contrast with what Thomas Jefferson had to say 19:20 to the Danbury Baptist Association. 19:22 Here are his words, 19:24 I contemplate with sovereign reverence 19:29 that act of the whole American people 19:32 which declared that their legislature 19:34 should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, 19:39 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, 19:43 thus building a wall of separation 19:47 between church and state. " 19:50 Jefferson was clear that there is a wall of separation 19:55 between church and state. 19:56 The First Amendment says so. 19:59 William Rehnquist who worked for 33 years... 20:03 was a judge on the Supreme Court of the United States 20:06 said the following about the wall of separation 20:09 between church and state. 20:11 "The wall of separation between church and state 20:14 is a metaphor based on bad history; 20:18 a metaphor which has proved useless 20:21 as a guide to judging; 20:23 it should be frankly and explicitly abandoned. " 20:27 This is an individual who for 19 years 20:31 served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 20:34 of the United States and he's saying that 20:36 the wall of separation is based on bad history 20:39 and it should frankly and explicitly be abandoned 20:43 as a guide to judging. 20:45 Ellen White had this to say about the idea 20:50 of joining church and state even in a slight way. 20:53 Great Controversy, page 297, 20:56 "The union of church with the state 20:59 be the degree never so slight, 21:03 while it may appear to bring the world nearer to the church, 21:07 does in reality but bring the church nearer to the world. " 21:12 W.A. Chriswell who for 47 years was the Senior Pastor 21:18 of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, 21:21 and served as President of the National Baptist Convention 21:25 from 1969 to 1970 had this to say 21:28 about the wall of separation between church and state. 21:31 "I believe that this notion 21:34 of the separation of church and state 21:36 was the figment of some infidel's imagination. " 21:40 Interesting. 21:43 The Baptists came from the Anabaptists 21:45 who were persecuted mercilessly 21:47 even by Martin Luther and John Calvin and others. 21:52 They were at the forefront 21:54 in the struggle for religious liberty. 21:56 Arizona State Senator John B. Conlan 22:01 during this period that we're talking about... 22:02 80s... 90s... and the early 2000s... 22:05 once stated, 22:06 "The separation of church and state is a false issue. 22:09 It is a slogan created by the secular humanists 22:13 that sounds legal but is in fact a sham. 22:18 It does not appear anywhere in the constitution, 22:21 and it is not a concept that our Founding Fathers believed. 22:26 Separation of church and state... 22:28 is simply a line of propaganda 22:31 created by modern humanists 22:35 to intimidate Christians 22:36 and make us believe that we are second-class citizens. " 22:40 These are powerful statements. 22:43 These are... 22:45 these are statements that are unbelievable. 22:48 You know, Protestants saying that the wall of separation 22:51 of church and state should not exist. 22:53 Keith Fournier who spoke at the Second Annual Road to Victory 22:58 Briefing Conference of the Christian Coalition 23:01 September 10 through 12, 1992... 23:04 this meeting took place in Washington D.C. 23:07 had this to say about the wall of separation. 23:11 "The wall of separation between church and state 23:13 that was erected by secular humanists 23:17 and other enemies of religious freedom 23:20 has to come down. 23:22 That wall is more of a threat to society 23:26 than the Berlin Wall ever was. 23:28 Those opposing our views are the new Fascists. " 23:32 David Nelson who was the Director 23:36 of Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition in Colorado 23:39 stated this about the wall of separation. 23:43 "Separation of church and state is... Number 1: 23:46 not a teaching of the founding fathers; 23:48 Number 2: not a historical teaching; 23:52 Number 3: not a teaching of law... 23:55 except in recent years... " 23:56 he puts in parenthesis... 23:58 "Number 4: not a Biblical teaching. 24:01 In summary, there should be absolutely no 'separation 24:06 of church and state' in America. " 24:09 Now, many people are surprised when I read these statements, 24:13 they say, "I never knew this... " 24:16 you know, even some of our camera operators here 24:18 in the studio 24:20 they said, "Wow! you know, 24:21 I never knew this aspect of history in the United States. " 24:25 But I'm reading from these individuals 24:27 who actually went on the record regarding these issues. 24:31 During this period also, there were some of those 24:34 who belonged to this Religious Right Movement 24:38 that wanted to establish a theocracy in the United States. 24:42 For example, Gary North who was a Dominionist 24:47 and a Christian Reconstructionist 24:49 wrote the following, 24:51 "We must use the doctrine of religious liberty 24:54 to gain independence for Christian schools 24:58 until we train up a generation of people 25:02 who know that there is no religious neutrality. 25:05 Then they will get busy 25:08 in constructing a Bible-based social, political 25:13 and religious order 25:14 which finally denies the religious liberty 25:17 of the enemies of God. " 25:19 So, in other words... train up a whole group of young people 25:23 in the schools... take over the schools... 25:24 train them that there's no separation 25:27 between church and state 25:28 and then deny freedom and liberty 25:31 to the enemies of God. 25:33 In other words, his idea was to raise up a whole generation 25:38 of kids in the Christian System... 25:41 get them to take over the government... 25:43 and then deny religious liberty to all who disagreed 25:48 with their perspective. 25:49 Journalist Cal Thomas once wrote, 25:53 "If we will not be constrained from within 25:56 by the power of God, 25:57 we must be constrained from without 26:00 by the power of the State acting as God's agent. " 26:05 In other words, if the Holy Spirit 26:06 doesn't... is not able to change the heart 26:10 and therefore, morality in society falls, 26:14 then, it's necessary for the government to propose laws 26:17 to order society morally as people would like to see... 26:25 as Protestants would like to see. 26:26 Pat Robertson had this to say 26:30 about the Religious Right Movement, 26:33 "There will never be world peace 26:36 until God's house and God's people 26:39 are given their rightful place of leadership 26:43 at the top of the world. 26:44 How can there be peace when drunkards, drug dealers, 26:50 communists, atheists, New Age worshippers of Satan, 26:55 secular humanists, 26:56 oppressive dictators, 26:58 greedy moneychangers, 27:00 revolutionary assassins, 27:02 adulterers and homosexuals are on top? 27:06 Under their leadership the world will never, 27:09 I repeat never, experience lasting peace. 27:13 Although I agree that it is unwise for the organized church 27:17 as an institution to get itself entwined with government 27:21 as an institution 27:22 there is absolutely no way 27:25 that government can operate successfully 27:28 unless led by godly men and women 27:32 operating under the laws of the God of Jacob. " 27:37 In other words, the God of Christianity 27:39 that is establishing a religion 27:41 which is forbidden by the First Amendment to the Constitution. 27:45 Robertson's eschatology fails to square with the Bible. 27:51 He's talking about taking over the moral leadership 27:54 of the world by taking over governments 27:57 and then, peace and prosperity will come to the world. 28:00 That does not fit with the Biblical scenario. 28:03 According to Matthew chapter 24, 28:05 the world is going to get worse and worse 28:08 and the only thing that will save this world 28:11 will be the second coming of Jesus in power and glory 28:15 and after the Millennium to establish 28:18 a new heavens and a new earth. 28:20 Those who envision changing the world through legislation 28:24 are attempting an impossibility. 28:27 Only a change within the heart can create a society 28:31 where there is lasting peace. 28:33 In other words, ministers are called to preach the gospel. 28:37 They are not called to get politically involved 28:40 in order to change society. 28:41 Societies change when ministers preach in church 28:46 and in meetings... 28:47 they present the gospel of Christ. 28:49 The Holy Spirit changes the heart 28:51 and then when the heart is changed, 28:53 the behavior changes as well. 28:56 Futurist Tim Lahaye... the individual who was behind the... 29:03 the incredibly popular Series: "Left Behind" 29:07 had this to say about the secret for a national revival. 29:12 "While it is true that God has already given America 29:17 three national revivals in the past, 29:19 we desperately need another one today. " 29:23 And then he says this, 29:26 "Personally, I am not sure we can have one" 29:30 that is... a revival... 29:31 "without legislative reform. " 29:34 Since when does legislative reform 29:38 bring about a revival in the church and in society? 29:41 Revival comes by the power of the Holy Spirit 29:44 through Bible study and prayer. 29:46 Since when does taking over the government bring revival? 29:50 Real change comes 29:52 not by legislation from without 29:55 but by a change within. 29:57 In other words, the gospel functions 30:00 on the principle of leaven... 30:01 let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. 30:03 Pause... 30:05 I do not know how to make bread. 30:08 My wife makes delicious bread. 30:12 Now, how do people make bread? 30:15 How do you make a loaf of bread? 30:18 Well, I'll tell you, it's very simple. 30:20 You take flour, water and the other ingredients... 30:25 you put them in the bread maker 30:28 and then you have a big ball of dough 30:31 and you form the... the loaf of bread 30:34 and then you sprinkle a little bit of leaven on top 30:39 so that the bread will grow. 30:41 You're laughing... you're saying that's not the way it happens. 30:44 You know, it does no good to sprinkle a little bit of leaven 30:48 on top of the loaf of dough. 30:50 What you need to do is: put the leaven in the dough 30:53 and then, the lump of dough grows. 30:57 The same is true with the change in society. 31:00 You implant the Holy Spirit 31:02 through the preaching of the Word in the human heart 31:05 and then, a person's Christian experience grows 31:09 and society changes. 31:12 In other words, society changes from within... not from without. 31:16 Jesus told His followers to be the salt of the earth. 31:21 Tim Lahaye suggested 31:24 that Christians could become the salt of the earth 31:27 by the following means: 31:29 By establishing a political action committee... 31:33 Encouraging and preaching on Christian activism... 31:37 By organizing a good government committee... 31:40 By circulating petitions and lobbying... 31:43 By conducting political forums... 31:46 and by introducing candidates at worship services. 31:51 Now, is this what Jesus meant 31:54 when He recommended to His disciples 31:57 that they be the salt of the earth? 31:59 I don't think so. 32:00 God's people are the salt of the earth 32:04 when in church they preach the gospel 32:08 and people are transformed and changed from within. 32:12 Richard Hogue... Pastor... 32:15 who was pastor of the Mount Bethel United Methodist church 32:18 wrote in his book: "Saints and Dirty Politics" 32:22 the following words, 32:23 "if our country survives... 32:25 and I realize that's a big IF... 32:29 it will be because there is an awakening 32:32 in the lives of committed Christians across our nation 32:35 who will finally begin to realize 32:39 that it is not only their opportunity 32:42 but also their absolute responsibility 32:45 to be intricately involved 32:49 in the political process of our country 32:51 and use that involvement 32:53 to turn this nation once again to the Lord. " 32:56 Once again, the idea: Turning the nation to the Lord 33:00 by becoming involved in the political system. 33:04 Ralph Reed shared his formula 33:07 on how to get the country back to God. 33:10 I quote, "What Christians have got to do 33:13 is take back this country, 33:15 one precinct at a time, 33:18 one neighborhood at a time, 33:20 one state at a time. 33:22 I honestly believe that in my lifetime 33:25 we will see a country once again 33:28 governed by Christians. " 33:31 Randall Terry... the Founder of the Anti-abortion Organization 33:37 Operation Rescue 33:40 gave a speech in Willoughby Hill, Ohio, 33:42 in July of 1993 where he said, 33:45 "Our goal must be simple: 33:47 We must have a Christian nation 33:50 built on God's law, on the Ten Commandments. 33:54 No apologies. " 33:56 A Christian nation... 33:57 would that not be the establishment of religion? 34:01 Because there are other religions besides Christianity. 34:04 We find Pat Robertson many years ago 34:07 stating the objectives of the Christian Right. 34:11 I quote: "we have together with the Protestants 34:14 and the Catholics enough votes to run the country 34:18 and when the people say, 'We've had enough,' 34:21 we are going to take over. " 34:23 That is... to run the country. 34:25 Robert Grant... the President of Christian Voice 34:30 which was a branch of the Moral Majority 34:32 explained the final objective of the Christian Right. 34:36 He said this, 34:38 "If Christians unite we can do anything. 34:42 We can pass any law or any amendment 34:46 and that's exactly what we intend to do. " 34:50 Now, in the environment today this might not seem possible 34:55 but it happened in the 1880s. 34:58 It happened in the decades of the 1980s... 1990s... 35:03 and the early 2000s. 35:05 The time will come when this view 35:09 will actually succeed 35:11 even though the first two times, it failed. 35:14 In a television interview, Grant boasted the following. 35:18 "We can do anything. 35:20 We can amend the Constitution. 35:22 We can elect a President. 35:24 We can change or make any law in the land 35:27 and it behooves us to do it. 35:30 If we have to live under the law, as well, 35:34 we should live under moral and Godly Law. " 35:38 All of these views contrast with what Ellen White wrote 35:44 in the Great Controversy, page 297, 35:46 over 130 years ago. 35:51 She foresaw that this was going to happen in America. 35:54 Actually, during her lifetime, 35:55 this was happening after the Civil War 35:59 from 1864 all the way to 1888 during reconstruction. 36:03 When the United States was in a National Emergency. 36:06 there was a strong push to make this a Christian nation 36:10 and also, to have a National Sunday Law. 36:13 It failed. 36:15 This movement in the 1980s... 1990s... and early 2000s... 36:19 it kind of has fizzled out 36:21 but it will come back again. 36:23 It will resurrect again 36:25 and it will cause severe problems for the United States. 36:30 In fact, it will lead to National Apostasy 36:33 and ultimately to National ruin. 36:34 Notice what Ellen White wrote, 36:36 "The regulation adopted by the early colonists, 36:40 of permitting only members of the church to vote 36:44 or to hold office in the civil government, 36:47 led to most pernicious results. " 36:51 So, in the Colonial period, 36:52 only members of the established church 36:55 could occupy position in the government. 36:57 She continues, 36:59 "This measure had been accepted as a means 37:02 of preserving the purity of the state... " 37:05 so, in other words, if you have only Christian rulers, 37:08 the state will be pure. 37:10 But the opposite happened. 37:12 She continues, 37:13 "But it resulted in the corruption of the church. 37:16 A profession of religion 37:19 being the condition of suffrage and office holding, 37:23 many, actuated solely by motives of worldly policy, 37:29 united with the church without a change of heart. " 37:32 So, they said, "I want to occupy political position 37:35 in the Colony, so, I'll become a Christian 37:38 and then, I can be elected. " 37:39 So, what happens? 37:41 The person was not a Christian at heart 37:43 so, he comes into the church 37:45 and the church becomes corrupted. 37:47 She continues, 37:49 "Thus, the churches came to consist 37:52 to a considerable extent of unconverted persons 37:56 and even in the ministry were those 37:59 who not only held errors of doctrine, 38:02 but who were ignorant of the renewing power 38:05 of the Holy Spirit. 38:07 Thus again was demonstrated the evil results, 38:09 so often witnessed in the history of the church 38:13 from the days of Constantine to the present, 38:15 of attempting to build up the church by the aid of the state, 38:20 of appealing to the secular power 38:24 in support of the gospel of Him who declared: 38:27 'My kingdom is not of this world. '" 38:30 And then she wrote this, 38:32 "The union of the church with the state 38:35 be the degree never so slight, 38:38 while it may appear to bring the world nearer to the church, 38:42 does in reality but bring the church nearer to the world. " 38:47 This movement in the 1980s... 1990s... and early 2000s... 38:53 actually also proposed 38:56 that Sunday should be the national day of worship. 38:59 For example, D. James Kennedy wrote, 39:02 "From the witness of the early church, 39:04 from the witness of our disarrayed lives, 39:08 from the witness of our society as it teeters on the brink 39:13 of moral collapse, 39:14 we see that the need to keep the Sabbath is truly urgent. " 39:18 And by the way, that is one of the arguments 39:20 in the midst of a pandemic 39:22 is... "You know, because everybody has been 39:25 shut in in their homes, 39:27 you know, the air is cleaner... 39:28 the water is cleaner... 39:30 so, we need a weekly Sunday rest 39:33 for the good of the environment... 39:35 for the good of the family... 39:36 for the good of the poor. " 39:37 We're going to hear more and more of this 39:39 as time goes by. 39:40 Even John Paul the second, 39:43 one of the most influential Popes 39:44 in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, 39:46 pleaded for Civil legislation 39:49 to observe Sunday as the day of rest. 39:51 This is what he wrote in Dies Domini... the document 39:56 the pastoral letter that he wrote 39:58 concerning the observance of the first day of the week. 40:02 He said, "In the particular circumstances of our time, 40:06 Christians will naturally strive 40:09 to see that civil legislation 40:13 respects their duty to keep the Sabbath day. " 40:17 And by the Sabbath Day he means: Sunday. 40:20 What is the controversy going to be at the end of time? 40:24 Is it going to be a controversy over the oil of the Middle East 40:30 like it was being said in the 60s and 70s? 40:33 No. 40:34 Is it going to be a war between Christians and Islam? 40:37 No. 40:39 Is it going to be a war between the right and the left? 40:41 No. 40:43 What are the issues in the end-time conflict? 40:46 They are not commercial political issues. 40:51 They are deeply religious issues. 40:54 Every passage of Scripture that speaks of the end time 40:58 tells us that the controversy is going to be over worship 41:04 and God's holy law. 41:07 Between what we find in human legislation 41:12 and the divine legislation 41:15 that we find in the Ten Commandments. 41:17 Let me give you several examples of passages 41:22 that deal with the end time that tell us 41:24 that the issue is going to involve the law of God. 41:28 Matthew chapter 7 is very interesting. 41:32 Here Jesus is speaking to a group of believers 41:37 and He said the following. 41:40 Matthew chapter 7 and verses 21 to 23. 41:43 "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' 41:48 shall enter the kingdom of heaven; 41:51 but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 41:55 Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord... '" 41:59 See, they claim to be Christians 42:00 because they say to Jesus, "Lord, Lord... " 42:02 "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? 42:07 cast out demons in Your name? 42:10 and done many wonders in Your name?" 42:13 We've performed miracles, we've given prophecies... 42:15 We've even cast out demons. 42:17 And now notice the response of Jesus. 42:20 "And then I will declare to them, 42:23 'I never knew you: 42:25 depart from me you who practice lawlessness. '" 42:29 That word "Lawlessness" 42:31 as we've noticed in a previous lecture, 42:33 actually is the same word 42:36 that is translated in 1st John chapter 3 and verse 4, 42:39 "transgression of the law" 42:41 so, in other words, it could be translated, 42:44 "Depart from me you who transgress the law. " 42:48 You see, if we're keeping the wrong day of worship, 42:50 we are breaking God's law. 42:51 We are actually breaking the most important commandment 42:56 of the Ten Commandments... 42:57 the one that identifies God as the Creator 43:00 of the heavens and the earth. 43:01 In Matthew chapter 24, we find once again 43:05 that in the end time, the Law of God 43:07 will be involved. 43:09 Matthew chapter 24 and let's notice 43:12 what we find in verse 12. 43:15 It says there in verse 12, 43:18 "And because lawlessness will abound, 43:21 the love of many will grow cold. " 43:25 Once again, that word "Lawlessness" 43:28 is the Greek word, Anomias 43:30 and it really should be translated 43:32 and because of the transgression of the law... 43:35 transgression of the law... 43:38 the love of many will grow cold. 43:40 In other words, society will be devoid of love, 43:44 because of the transgression of God's law 43:47 and the primary commandment that will be transgressed 43:50 will be the Sabbath commandment 43:52 that identifies God as the Creator 43:54 and the fact that we are creatures 43:56 and we owe Him our respect 43:58 and we owe Him our obedience. 44:00 Once again, 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 44:03 tells us that the law is involved 44:06 in the work of the final Antichrist in this world. 44:09 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 44:11 refers to the final Antichrist as the Man of Lawlessness. 44:17 Interesting... the Man of Lawlessness 44:20 once again, the Greek word: Anomias. 44:23 The... the man of the transgression of the law 44:27 because the Papacy tells us 44:29 that the day of worship is not the seventh-day Sabbath... 44:32 they say, "Our church has changed the day of worship 44:36 from Sabbath to Sunday. " 44:37 So, this Antichrist is called: the lawless one. 44:43 Notice verse 7, 44:44 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. " 44:48 It was at work in the days of Paul. 44:50 "Only he who now restrains will do so 44:53 until he is taken out of the way. " 44:55 And then verse 9 says, 44:58 "the coming of the lawless one 45:00 is according to the working of Satan with all power, 45:03 signs and lying wonders. " 45:06 So, once again, we find in the end time 45:10 that there will be a System that is characterized 45:13 by transgression of the law. 45:15 What about Daniel chapter 7? 45:18 Once again, the Antichrist is portrayed as a System 45:22 that is contrary to God's holy law. 45:26 Notice Daniel chapter 7 and verse 25. 45:29 We've studied this in one of our previous Presentations. 45:32 This is... the Little Horn is speaking about 45:35 the Roman Catholic Papacy 45:36 and the Papacy did many things 45:38 during the first period of its dominion. 45:42 We are told in Daniel chapter 7 verse 25 45:44 what this Little Horn would do. 45:46 "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High. " 45:49 The book of Revelation identifies those pompous words 45:53 as blasphemies 45:56 and the Bible defines blasphemy as, first of all, 45:59 when a mere man claims to have the power and authority of God 46:02 and Number 2: 46:04 when a mere man claims to have the power 46:07 and the authority to forgive sins. 46:09 The Papacy claims that the Pope is God's representative on earth 46:13 and the Papacy claims 46:15 that its priesthood has the power to forgive sins. 46:18 That is blasphemy. 46:19 So, it says, "He shall speak pompous words 46:22 against the Most High... 46:23 shall persecute the saints of the Most High... " 46:26 I'm sure that you've heard of the Inquisition... 46:29 how the Roman Catholic Papacy persecuted everyone 46:31 that was not in harmony with the teachings 46:34 and practices of the church 46:35 and it used the power of the State 46:37 to persecute those who did not agree 46:40 with its doctrines and practices. 46:42 But then, there's another characteristic. 46:46 "And shall intend to change times and laws. " 46:50 So, we're told that the Papacy would think during this period 46:54 of time... times... the dividing of time... 46:56 538 to 1798... 46:59 the Papacy would intend or think to change God's holy law. 47:04 And Folks, the Papacy has done that. 47:06 If you look at the catechisms of the Roman Catholic Church, 47:11 the Second Commandment isn't there... 47:13 it disappears. 47:15 because the Second Commandment says 47:17 that we're not supposed to make images 47:19 and we're not supposed to worship those images... 47:21 we're not supposed to bow before them. 47:22 So, why does the Roman Catholic Church 47:24 take that commandment out of the Catechism? 47:26 Because when you teach kids for First Communion 47:30 about the commandments 47:32 and they see that commandment... 47:34 they're going to say, "But wait a minute Mr. Priest, 47:37 we have all kinds of images in church... 47:39 and our faithful people in the church bow before those images, 47:43 how does that square with God's commandment?" 47:45 Now, because they get rid of the second commandment, 47:48 they have to divide the tenth commandment in two 47:51 in order to end up with ten. 47:53 So, they divide the tenth commandment to say, 47:56 "You shall not covet your neighbor's goods 47:58 and you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. " 48:01 But covetousness is one commandment, Folks, 48:04 so, once again, Daniel 7 tells us that the Little Horn 48:07 would think to change God's law. 48:09 The book of Revelation also shows 48:12 that the issue is worship. 48:14 Whether we worship the Creator 48:15 or whether we worship the beast. 48:17 In the first angel's message, 48:19 we have a call to worship the Creator. 48:22 By the way, Revelation 14 has three messages 48:25 of three angels 48:26 that are going to go to all of the world... 48:29 calling the world to worship the Creator. 48:31 And at the same time there's going to be a message 48:33 given by the beast. 48:35 He's going to want to impose his mark. 48:37 Notice what we find in Revelation chapter 14 48:40 verses 6 and 7, 48:41 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 48:44 having the everlasting gospel 48:46 to preach to those who dwell on the earth... 48:49 to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people, 48:51 saying with a loud voice, 48:53 'Fear God, and give glory to Him; 48:56 for the hour of His judgment has come... '" 48:58 and then notice, 49:00 "and worship Him who made heaven and earth, 49:03 the sea, and springs of waters. " 49:05 What sign did God create 49:07 to remind us that He is the Creator? 49:09 The Sabbath. 49:11 The seventh-day Sabbath... the day of rest. 49:13 God says in Ezekiel chapter 20 verse 12 and verse 20, 49:17 He says... the Sabbath is a sign between Me and you 49:21 so that you know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you... 49:24 so that you know that I am the Lord your God. " 49:27 The Sabbath is the great sign 49:29 between the Creator and His creature... creatures... 49:32 and in verse 7 we are told that a call is made 49:36 to every nation... kindred... tongue and people 49:38 to worship the Creator 49:39 of course, that means respecting the sign 49:42 or the remembrance of the Creator. 49:44 Ah, but there's another power. 49:46 The other power is called the beast. 49:48 And the beast wants worship too 49:50 and the beast is going to have a mark as well. 49:53 And his mark has to be an opposite day 49:56 than the day that is the sign between God and His people. 50:00 The third angel's message tells us that the final issue 50:03 is the issue of worship. 50:04 It says in verse 9, 50:06 "Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, 50:09 'If anyone worships the beast and his image... '" 50:12 see, that's in contrast to worshipping the Creator... 50:15 "worships the beast and his image, 50:17 and receives his mark on his forehead, or on his hand, 50:21 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 50:24 which is poured out full strength 50:26 into the cup of his indignation; 50:28 he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 50:31 in the presence of the holy angels, 50:32 and in the presence of the Lamb. " 50:34 This is a terrible denunciation of God. 50:36 God tells us this because He doesn't want people 50:40 to end up worshipping the beast and his image 50:42 and receiving the mark. 50:44 So, while Christians... Protestants... 50:46 are looking to the Middle East for the fulfillment of prophecy 50:49 they're expecting this personal Antichrist 50:52 sitting in a rebuilt Jewish temple... 50:54 building a great big statue of himself... 50:56 commanding everyone to worship 50:58 and tattooing people on the forehead 51:00 or on their right hand. 51:01 Meanwhile, the power that claims to have changed God's Law 51:05 is in Rome 51:06 and the United States of America... 51:08 Protestants are coming closer and closer to Rome. 51:10 They no longer fear Rome. 51:13 What a tragedy that prophecy is being fulfilled in the West 51:17 and everybody among Protestants is looking to the East. 51:21 Revelation chapter 12 and verse 17 51:25 tells us what the controversy is about... 51:27 the final controversy... 51:28 Revelation 12 gives us the history of the... the church 51:33 from the Old Testament times 51:35 to the birth of Jesus... 51:37 to the ascension of Christ... 51:38 to His enthronement in heaven... 51:40 the persecutions against God's church during the 1260 years... 51:45 the rise of the United States 51:47 and then we have a picture of the final remnant. 51:50 In verse 17 of Revelation 12, 51:53 it tells us what the dragon is going to be angry about. 51:56 Notice, it's God's law 51:58 and it's worship all the way through. 51:59 It says in verse 17, 52:01 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, 52:03 and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring" 52:07 better translation... "with the remnant of her seed" 52:10 and what is their characteristic? 52:12 "They keep the commandments of God, 52:14 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. " 52:17 Folks, everyone in the city of Jerusalem... the new city... 52:22 after the Millennium is going to be a commandment keeper. 52:27 Revelation chapter 22 and verse 14 and verse 15 52:31 tells us the following, 52:33 "Blessed are those who do His commandments, 52:36 that they may have the right to the tree of life, 52:39 and may enter through the gates into the city. " 52:41 So, those inside the city are commandment keepers. 52:45 What about outside? 52:47 "But outside are dogs and sorcerers... 52:50 sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, 52:53 and whoever loves and practices a lie. " 52:56 So, all of these texts show us that the final controversy 53:00 is over God's commandments and worship. 53:03 Now, I want to read a couple of statements by Ellen White 53:06 in closing, Great Controversy, page 590. 53:10 It doesn't seem possible that this could take place 53:13 but when it does, remember these Presentations 53:18 that you have seen here from our Studios in Fresno, California. 53:22 "It will be declared that men are offending God 53:27 by the violation of the Sunday sabbath, 53:30 that this sin has brought calamities that will not cease 53:34 until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced, 53:38 and that those who present the claims 53:41 of the fourth commandment, 53:42 thus destroying reverence for Sunday, 53:45 are troublers of the people, 53:48 preventing their restoration to divine favor 53:51 and temporal prosperity. " 53:53 And you say, "Well, that could never happen. " 53:56 It happened in the days of Elijah, Folks. 53:58 Who was blamed for the fact that there was no rain 54:02 for three and a half years? 54:03 "Oh, it was Elijah... " they said, 54:05 "if we can get rid of Elijah, 54:06 temporal prosperity will come back again... 54:08 we'll be blessed again. " 54:10 It will happen just like it occurred in the past. 54:13 In the last statement, Ellen White wrote 54:17 and she made a very interesting comparison. 54:20 This is found in Signs of the Times, 54:25 March 31, 1898. 54:27 "Those who ignore the Lord's Sabbath 54:31 to keep holy the first day of the week, 54:34 offer strange fire to God. " 54:37 She's alluding to the story of Nadab and Abihu, 54:41 the sons of Aaron, 54:43 who took common fire 54:45 and presented it as if it was holy in the sanctuary. 54:49 See... God had said, "Take the fire from the altar... 54:52 that fire that I rain from heaven... " 54:54 that's holy fire... 54:56 whenever you take incense into the sanctuary with fire, 54:59 you're going to take it from that altar 55:01 because that's holy fire. 55:02 Don't take any other kind of fire. 55:04 But Nadab and Abihu who were drunk... 55:06 they were intoxicated... 55:07 just like the religious world at the end of time 55:10 with the wine of Babylon, 55:12 they could not think straight, 55:14 they could not distinguish between right and wrong... 55:16 good and evil... 55:17 and therefore they took in common fire into the sanctuary. 55:21 How did God feel about that? 55:23 Did He say, "Oh, it's okay, fire is fire... who cares?" 55:27 No, God is particular when He says that something is holy. 55:30 When He says that the Sabbath is holy, 55:33 He means the seventh-day Sabbath is holy... 55:35 not Sunday. 55:36 We can't make anything holy. 55:38 Only God can make things holy. 55:40 She continues here, 55:42 "Those who ignore the Lord's Sabbath 55:44 to keep holy the first day of the week, 55:45 offer strange fire to God. 55:47 It is a strange sabbath, 55:49 that He has commanded them not. 55:52 Will He accept it at their hands? 55:55 Men have sought out many inventions. 55:58 They have taken a common day, 56:01 upon which God has placed no sanctity, 56:04 and have clothed it with sacred prerogatives. " 56:09 In other words, they've taken what is common 56:13 and they have made it holy. 56:14 She continues, 56:16 "They have declared it to be a holy day... " 56:19 that is Sunday... 56:20 "but this does not give it a vestige of sanctity. 56:24 They dishonor God by accepting human institutions 56:30 and presenting to the world as the Christian Sabbath 56:37 a day which has no 'Thus saith the Lord' 56:41 for its authority. 56:43 As did Nadab and Abihu, 56:45 they offer the common in place of the sacred. " 56:50 Pause... 56:51 If God accepts the observance of Sunday 56:54 in place of the Sabbath, 56:56 He's going to have to apologize to Nadab and Abihu 56:59 because they were consumed by the fire of the Lord 57:02 that came from His presence. 57:04 God is particular about His commands. 57:10 We can't say, "Well, you know, God says that it's the Sabbath 57:14 but everybody keeps Sunday, 57:15 so I'm going to keep Sunday to go along with everybody. " 57:17 You know, God's faithful people 57:19 have always been in the minority. 57:22 They've always been the few 57:24 because only the few are willing to walk in the ways of the Lord. 57:28 So, Folks, the end-time controversy is not about oil... 57:31 it's not primarily about economic issues, 57:34 it's not about political issues, 57:36 it is about whether you keep God's commandments 57:39 and worship the Creator 57:40 or whether you keep the commandments of man 57:42 and you worship the beast. 57:44 And the test that God gives 57:46 to show which authority we follow 57:48 is: Sabbath and Sunday. 57:52 If you keep the Sabbath, 57:54 you recognize that you accept God's authority. 57:56 If you keep Sunday, 57:58 you are accepting the authority of the beast. 58:00 I pray that God will lead us to make the right decision. |
Revised 2021-12-07