Participants: Pr. Louis Torres
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000719
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01:00 Good evening and welcome to "Digging Up the Future"
01:03 or actually digging up the past, 01:05 Bible Prophecy Exposed. 01:07 We've looked at the past with archeology, 01:09 we're looking to the future with Bible Prophecy 01:11 and tonight we're gonna be looking at a topic 01:13 that many people have on their minds. 01:15 In other words, 01:17 will you be left behind or will you be taken. 01:19 How many of you've heard about that? 01:21 And the way it's titled tonight 01:23 "Operation - Earth Liberation! Are You Ready?" 01:25 is intriguing as well. 01:27 But in talking about a subject like this 01:29 sometimes people get very anxious. 01:32 They want to know whether or not 01:33 they will be left behind or taken. 01:36 So tonight, we certainly need the Lord's presence with us 01:38 as we study this subject and let's just bow our heads 01:41 and pray together before we begin this evening. 01:43 Father in heaven, 01:44 tonight we're thankful that You came once 01:46 and You came as a child, You came as a baby, 01:48 You grew up, 01:50 You lived among us here on earth 01:53 and You've promised to come again. 01:55 We want to be ready when You come again. 01:57 And tonight we asked that You would come here 01:59 through the agency of the Holy Spirit. 02:01 Holy Spirit, we invite your presence here. 02:03 Be with us that we might have ears to hear and to listen 02:06 and to understand with our speaker 02:08 that he might have words to speak from You. 02:11 And we thank You and we come in Christ name, amen. 02:15 Well, let's stand together and sing our theme song 02:17 "Coming Again, Jesus is Coming Again." 02:28 Marvelous message we bring 02:32 Glorious carol we sing 02:36 Wonderful word of the King 02:39 Jesus is coming again 02:43 Coming again, coming again 02:50 Maybe morning, maybe noon 02:54 Maybe evening, but surely soon 02:57 Coming again, coming again 03:04 Oh what a wonderful day that will be 03:10 Jesus is coming again. 03:18 You can be seated. 03:19 Boy, you were singing like you mean it. 03:21 Are you happy that Jesus is coming again? 03:23 Yes. Looking forward to that. 03:26 And many people are happy but the question is 03:29 are you ready for Jesus to come? 03:31 And tonight, Marion Peppers will be singing for us 03:34 and accompanied by Anthea Hii, Jesus is coming, 03:37 "Are You Ready For Jesus To Come." 03:57 The theme of the Bible is Jesus 04:04 And how He died to save men 04:12 The plan of salvation assures us 04:20 He is coming back again 04:28 Are you ready for Jesus to come? 04:38 Are you faithful in all that you do? 04:46 Have you fought a good fight? 04:50 Have you stood for the right? 04:55 Have others seen Jesus in you? 05:03 Are you ready to stand in your place? 05:11 Are you ready to look in His face? 05:19 Can you look up and say, 05:25 "This is my Lord" 05:31 Are you ready for Jesus to come? 05:48 Don't cling to the world and its treasure 05:56 This earth will soon pass away 06:04 O give Him your love without measure 06:12 He's calling you today 06:21 Are you ready for Jesus to come? 06:31 Are you faithful in all that you do? 06:39 Have you fought a good fight? 06:43 Have you stood for the right? 06:48 Have others seen Jesus in you? 06:57 Are you ready to stand in your place? 07:05 Are you ready to look in His face? 07:13 Can you look up and say, 07:20 "This is my Lord" 07:27 Are you ready for Jesus to come? 07:38 Are you ready for Jesus to come? 08:00 And the people said? 08:02 Amen. Amen. 08:05 The last prayer in the Bible. 08:09 As you know that there is a last prayer in the Bible 08:12 and it's found in Revelation Chapter 22 08:17 and it is recorded in verse 20. 08:22 Notice what the last prayer of the Bible is. 08:24 Revelation Chapter 22:20. Notice the last part. 08:28 "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." 08:33 That's the last prayer. 08:35 What is it? "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." 08:42 That should be the prayer of our hearts. 08:46 When I was in Australia in Sydney, Australia 08:49 presenting a prophecy seminar 08:53 after I concluded that presentation 08:56 a group of people approached me 08:59 who had lot of questions about my presentation, 09:02 I happened to present the topic I'm presenting here tonight 09:05 and it's so happened that they were individuals 09:09 who had believed that the rapture 09:12 was supposed to have taken place. 09:15 There were posters that have been created 09:19 and notice what it says "God's Judgment Day" is what? 09:23 Is near. "Is near." 09:26 And it would happen when? 09:28 On "1 a.m. the 29th of October, 1992 Sydney time." 09:36 Jesus will what? "Will come again." 09:41 The people believed that the rapture would take place. 09:47 And the reason that it was believable is 09:49 because the religious leaders were proclaiming 09:52 that it would happen. 09:59 Many decided to give up their jobs. 10:02 They decided to give up their homes 10:05 and they decided to give up everything. 10:08 They were sure that it would happen 10:12 that the rapture would take place. 10:16 They were so certain 10:17 that when they went to give their belongings 10:22 and what they had to the churches 10:24 the churches requested 10:27 that they actually would sign contracts 10:32 so that in the event 10:33 that they decided to change surmise they could not. 10:38 Well, these individuals felt that 10:43 signing the contracts would give clear evidence 10:46 that they believed 10:47 they would never need their homes again. 10:52 And so they actually signed contracts. 10:54 Attorneys were enlisted and contracts were signed. 11:00 And people actually waited 11:01 in the streets of Sydney, Australia 11:04 and in Korea and other places 11:06 with their suitcases waiting to be rapture. 11:16 And so the newspaper 11:19 clipping the headlines 11:25 after the event was supposed to take place reads 11:28 "End of the world for jobless, homeless believers." 11:34 What does it say? End of the world for what? 11:39 Jobless. What else? 11:41 Homeless believers. 11:45 You see they banked on it. 11:49 They believed it would happen. 11:52 And it would have been a denial of faith 11:54 not to sign those contracts and give everything up 11:57 to demonstrate that it would happen. 12:03 But unfortunately it did not happen 12:05 and if you notice one side of the street 12:10 you had people protesting calling them what? 12:14 Liars and on the other side you had a placard that said 12:19 "Jesus is coming at 1 a.m. 29th of October, 1992." 12:23 And the newspaper said "No sudden" what 12:28 "vanishing in Gladesville." 12:30 In other words, to anticipate it, 12:31 it all of suddenly would disappear 12:34 but they did not disappear. 12:37 And so people who were skeptics and scoffers had their heyday. 12:43 They mocked these people 12:45 and unfortunately for those who believed 12:49 they became victims of terrible circumstances. 12:53 Can you imagine having to start life 12:58 all over again with nothing? 13:04 And can you imagine having to start life all over again 13:09 with that spot against you. 13:13 A fanatic. 13:14 Do you understand what I'm saying? 13:15 In other words people would call them what? 13:18 Fanatics. 13:22 There is no question according to the scriptures 13:26 that Jesus will come again. 13:29 Do you believe that? Yeah. 13:32 In fact, you'll find it in the Book of Revelation 13:34 that it is repeated over and over again. 13:37 Notice it says in Revelation 1:7 13:41 "Behold He cometh with clouds and every eye will see Him." 13:44 Revelation 3:11 "Behold I come quickly." 13:47 Revelation 15:16, Revelation 22:7, 12, 20. 13:53 You'll see all through the Book of Revelation 13:54 the reality that the Lord would come back. 13:57 And even if it doesn't use the same phrases 14:00 you'll discover that in the Bible 14:03 especially in the Book of Revelation 14:04 it is repeated over and over again in different ways, 14:08 the reality that Jesus will return. 14:11 Now, notice the verses in chapter 22. 14:16 Notice it says "Behold, I am coming" how? 14:19 "Quickly. 14:20 Blessed is he who keeps the words 14:22 of the prophecy of this book." 14:25 Verse 12, notice it says "And behold, I'm coming" how? 14:29 "Quickly 14:30 and My reward is with Me, to give to every man 14:32 according to as his shall work." 14:35 And of course verse 20, 14:36 "He who testifies to these things says, 14:39 'Surely I'" what? 14:41 "I am coming" how? "Quickly. 14:43 Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus!" 14:46 That's the last prayer recorded in the scriptures. 14:48 I want you to notice that there is constant, 14:50 constant reemphasis and that is I'm coming how? 14:54 Quickly. Quickly, quickly, quickly. 14:56 Now some of us may think how quick 14:59 is how quick is quickly, right? 15:01 And the reason for that is that 15:02 I think some of you have had grandparents 15:05 who believed that Jesus would come in their day. 15:07 Any of you have had grandparents like that? 15:10 Yes, grandparents who believed 15:12 that Jesus would come in their day. 15:13 They're dead we'd parents who have passed away 15:16 who believed that Jesus would come in their day. 15:18 My mother five years ago we laid her rest 15:21 she believed that Jesus would come. 15:23 And one of the songs 15:24 that she loved to sing was a song entitled 15:28 "Far beyond the sun" in Spanish. 15:30 How many of you heard that song? 15:32 "Mas Alla del Sol" is the actual title. 15:35 It's a beautiful song. 15:36 In fact, my brothers and I sang that 15:38 at the funeral of my mother. 15:40 Well, the belief in the coming of Christ, 15:43 He would come quickly, He would come quickly, 15:45 He would come quickly but He hasn't come. 15:47 Does that mean He won't come? 15:49 Let me explain this to you friends, 15:51 that the first time our prediction 15:55 that Christ would come 15:56 is not found in the Book of Revelation 15:58 neither is it found in the Book of Matthew. 16:01 In fact, what's interesting 16:03 about these predictions is that 16:05 prophets had predicted the coming of Christ 16:08 centuries before. 16:11 If you have your Bibles 16:13 just look very quickly at a little small book 16:16 which is next to the Book of Revelation, 16:18 the Book of Jude 16:20 and I want you to notice something here 16:22 concerning what I have just said. 16:23 The Book of Jude is a book written just, 16:28 it's a just actually one chapter 16:30 but it's written just before the Book of Revelation 16:32 and I want you to notice verse 14. 16:35 Verse 14 "And Enoch" who is this? 16:39 "Enoch, also the seventh from Adam, 16:42 prophesied of these, saying, 'Behold, the Lord cometh 16:45 with ten thousands of His saints.' 16:47 Now notice it says who predicted this? 16:49 Enoch. 16:50 Who was he? The seventh from Adam. 16:53 How long ago was that then? 16:56 Is that long ago, yes or no? 16:59 Almost of 5,000 years ago 17:01 it was predicted that the messiah would come, 17:03 the Christ would come with 10, 000s of His saints. 17:07 In other words, obviously the believe and the hope 17:10 that Christ would come has been believed 17:13 and preached and predicted for centuries 17:16 and centuries and centuries even millennia's. 17:18 What do you say? 17:19 Now the problem is that for us we would say, 17:22 we think quickly it's tomorrow. 17:25 And if we pass 60 years 17:27 we think well, it's been too long. 17:29 But please to remember that the Bible says 17:31 that one day to the Lord it says the 1,000 years 17:34 and the 1, 000 years as one day. 17:39 But this thing I will tell you, 17:43 that what He promises He will do. 17:46 He will come. 17:48 What did I say? He will come. 17:54 The Scripture tells us that but the problem is 17:59 that there is a lot of confusion today 18:00 about the coming of Christ. 18:02 Isn't that true, the different ideas? 18:04 If you happened to be a Christian 18:08 you may be in one or three camps. 18:10 You may be a Christian 18:12 who believes in the pre-tribulation. 18:15 Is that true? 18:16 Or you may happen to be a Christian who believes 18:19 in the tribulation or in the post tribulation. 18:22 In other words there are just 18:24 different positions that you can take. 18:26 And I had a Baptist preacher friend 18:30 who said "Yeah, you can be a good Baptist and not agree." 18:35 You can be a what? A good Baptist and not agree. 18:39 In other words, you can believe in this position, 18:41 you can believe in this position, 18:43 you can believe in that position 18:44 or you're still a good Baptist. 18:46 Well that's confusing, isn't it? 18:48 Yes or no? Yes. 18:50 How many Bibles do we have then? 18:52 Well, according to what we understand 18:54 is only how many Bibles? 18:56 One Bible. 18:57 In other words God did not write several Bibles, 18:59 God wrote one Bible. 19:00 We happen to have different translations 19:02 but in essence all the translations 19:04 has supposed to be basically the Bible 19:06 whether it's in Spanish or in English 19:08 or whatever language. 19:10 And yet even though we have one Bible 19:11 it seems to be confusion 19:13 as to the mind of Christ coming. 19:14 Remember, this that, Jesus Himself declared 19:18 that when He comes every eye will see Him. 19:20 How many? Every eye will see Him. 19:25 Now, how did He go? 19:29 According to the scriptures 19:31 when Jesus is talking to His disciples 19:34 the Bible says while He was yet talking to them 19:38 "while they beheld, he was" what? 19:41 "Taken" what? 19:42 "Up and a cloud received him out of their sight." 19:47 And of course, 19:49 "while they looked steadfastly toward heaven." 19:51 As they stood there gazing up, 19:53 wondering if they never seen Him again. 19:58 Remember, He had promised to them that I will come again. 20:03 And so they're standing up there, 20:04 they must have been heartbreaking experience. 20:06 What do you say? 20:08 They'd loved their Lord, spent time with Him. 20:11 They now understood that He was divine. 20:13 They now understood 20:14 that they had been with God all the time 20:16 and did not understand it. 20:18 And now the Lord takes His flight toward heaven. 20:22 It must have been quite, 20:24 quite experience to His disciples. 20:26 But "while they looked up steadfastly to heaven, 20:30 two men in white apparels stood there 20:35 and said to them. 20:37 Ye men of Galilee 20:39 why stand ye gazing up into" where? 20:43 "Into heaven." This what? 20:46 "This same Jesus, which is taken up 20:49 from you into heaven 20:50 shall so come in a different manner." 20:56 What does it say? Like. 20:58 "So shall He come in" what? "Like manner." 21:01 What does it mean to be a like manner? 21:05 Does it mean different or does it mean the same. 21:08 In other words, as you see Him go up 21:11 you will see Him come in the same fashion. 21:14 In other words if I tell you 21:16 that I'm going in a Taurus over to my house 21:19 and then I'm going to come back in the Taurus 21:21 does that mean I will, come back in Cadillac. 21:24 Yes or no? No. 21:27 I mean, I may come back in the Cadillac 21:28 but you don't expect me in the Cadillac. 21:30 Do you, you expect inspect me in a what? 21:32 In a Taurus, exactly. 21:34 And so Jesus was taken up in clouds 21:36 and He will come back with clouds. 21:37 What do you say? Is that clear? 21:40 "And so as they saw Him." As they what? 21:44 "As they saw Him" then the Bible says 21:47 "that every eye will see Him when He returns." 21:50 And a lot of things that will be taken place 21:52 when Jesus comes. 21:53 It says that when He returns the earth will shake and move. 21:58 The islands will disappears. That's in Revelation 6:13, 14. 22:04 It says then that the rich man and the captains 22:06 and all are crying because they see Him. 22:09 The Scripture says "that He will come 22:11 as a lightning shiner from the east unto the west." 22:14 Has anybody ever have to tell you 22:16 when lightning strikes especially if you see it. 22:19 How bright is the lightening? Pretty bright, isn't it? 22:23 Well, as lightening shineth then the Bible says 22:26 "that He will come with all His angles." 22:27 The glory of the angels and the glory of His Father. 22:30 My friends, there will be no mistaking 22:32 when Jesus Christ comes. 22:34 This Bible says also 22:35 that the dead in Christ shall rise first. 22:37 And it's not speaking about Spirit 22:39 just coming out of the out of the tomb, 22:41 it's speaking about real people who have died 22:43 will rise out of the graves and meet the Lord in the air. 22:46 What do you say? 22:47 And so it's not going to be a quite thing. 22:50 The Bible says "that the trumpets would sound. 22:54 And He will come with a voice 22:56 of the archangel and with the trump of God." 22:58 I wonder what that will sound like. 23:01 I don't know how many of you have ever, 23:03 ever heard somebody booming out something through an amplifier. 23:09 When I was in show business 23:11 especially when you play for 4,000-5,000 people 23:14 you have to have pretty strong amplifiers 23:16 and the lot of sound system. 23:17 Do you understand? 23:19 But when God comes no amplification is necessary 23:23 because He is able to make it sound 23:28 as the Bible says "like thunder." 23:30 How many of you have ever heard thunder? 23:36 So it will not be a quite thing, 23:38 it would not be as some happenstance that takes place. 23:43 It will be a literal, visible and imminent return. 23:49 Let's pray now as we study. 23:51 Our Father, bless us as we study Your holy word. 23:55 Give us understanding concerning this topic. 23:58 And we thank You for hearing us in Jesus name, amen. 24:07 Revelation 22 tells us 24:09 that Jesus when He comes He will come with His reward 24:13 and Matthew 13:37-42 says 24:18 that at the time of Christ coming 24:20 there will be a "Separation of the Wheat and" the what? 24:25 "And the Tares." Separation of the what? 24:28 "The Wheat and the Tares." 24:30 Now I want you to bear with me as we study this 24:33 because here's the problem that I face 24:36 when I study this with the audience. 24:39 Have you ever heard of something called 24:41 the power of suggestion? 24:44 How many of you have heard that? 24:45 Power of suggestion. 24:47 And what do I mean by the power of suggestion? 24:49 Well, sometimes what happens is you sit in the congregation 24:52 and the preachers say's "this is what the text says." 24:55 And when you go to the text 24:56 you say "sure it is that's what it says." 24:58 Okay, it said "you've been already preconditioned to think 25:03 that that's what the text says." 25:04 And so when you look at it 25:05 you'll accept what, "they said, it says." 25:08 That's the power of suggestion. 25:10 Now to demonstrate it I want you to experience it 25:13 with me for a moment here. 25:15 I want you to take your right hand. 25:16 Will you lift up your right hand? 25:18 Just lift up your right hand. 25:19 And I want you to do what I tell you to do. 25:22 Do what? Do what? 25:24 What I what? 25:25 What I tell you to do, all right. 25:27 With your right hand I want you to rub 25:29 your chin with me. 25:31 Rub your chin with me, your chin with me. 25:33 Your chin. 25:34 Now I know that what you've done. 25:36 Some of you started out here 25:37 and then all of a sudden you came down here. 25:39 Is that true? Yes or no? 25:41 Yes. 25:42 Okay, now why did you rub your cheek? 25:45 I wasn't speaking Spanish, was I? 25:48 I think cheek is cheek and chin is chin. 25:51 Is that correct? 25:53 And did I say chin or did I say cheek 25:55 which one did I say? 25:56 I said chin. 25:58 But you rubbed your cheek. Why because I was doing it. 26:02 I know that's Christine, she did that. 26:04 But she didn't think I caught her but I did. 26:06 I saw her starting 26:07 and suddenly she slipped over here. 26:09 It's a power of suggestion. 26:10 What is it? The power of suggestion. 26:13 Now, that's the very thing that happens in the Scriptures 26:16 and I think it's important for us to understand 26:19 that when Christ comes, He makes, 26:23 He makes it very clear, what would happen. 26:25 Now the trouble text that most people deal with 26:30 especially if you've read the book Left Behind. 26:32 How many of you have read the book Left Behind? 26:35 Okay, if you've read the book Left Behind 26:38 you're left with the impression that something takes place 26:41 when Christ does the rapture. 26:45 And that is that all of a sudden people 26:47 may be driving down the road and they just disappear. 26:50 People are in the airport and they disappear 26:52 and the airplane comes down for landing et cetera. 26:56 In other words, there's that sense 26:59 that people will disappear. 27:01 Now, it should, it should be mentioned here 27:04 with all due respects to the authors 27:06 of the book of Left Behind 27:08 that most people don't catch this. 27:10 It says it is a novel. It is a what? 27:13 A novel. A novel. 27:15 If it's a novel, is it true or false? 27:17 False. 27:18 Is it what? False. 27:20 But how many people believe it's false. 27:24 Most people believe it's what? It's true. 27:26 Even though the book itself says 27:29 it is a novel. 27:30 So if I'm writing a novel am I'm writing something true 27:33 or I'm writing something I'm making up? 27:35 I'm making it up. 27:37 And if I'm making it up, is it true or not? 27:39 No, it's not true. 27:40 And I think we need to understand that. 27:42 And so if we go want to know what is truth 27:45 then we should come to the Bible. 27:47 When I wrote my book Left Behind 27:49 and sincerely taken I remember 27:50 I was book signing there in Washington D.C. 27:54 And a lady came and she thought she saw the sign Left Behind 27:58 and she didn't read to the next portion 28:00 it says "or sincerely taken." 28:01 So she thought I was the author of the Left Behind book. 28:04 And so she wanted my signature 28:06 and she said do you have the book. 28:07 And I said no, madam, 28:09 you're looking for the wrong book. 28:10 I mean, you're looking for the book 28:12 but what I'm giving is not that book. 28:16 Well, she said 28:17 "well, why didn't write your book?" 28:18 And I said "because I wanted to write 28:21 something that gave the Biblical perspective 28:24 as to what actually takes place. 28:26 Because the other book is a novel 28:27 and lot of people are believing it's true 28:29 when it's only this is a novel." 28:32 Well, she says "well, I didn't realize that." 28:35 She said-- 28:36 Then I began to ask her questions. 28:38 I said "what about this text and this text." 28:39 She happened to be a Sunday school teacher. 28:41 So I said "what about this version, this version, 28:43 this version, this version?" 28:44 And then she went "oh, my God" she said. 28:48 "I better go and try to confiscate those books 28:50 that I've given to so many people." 28:53 Well, let's look at the Scriptures 28:56 and see what the Lord says. 28:57 First of all, in this parable we know 29:00 that there will be a separation. 29:01 Is that true? 29:02 Now, I want you to know something interesting here. 29:05 The Scripture says in this parable 29:09 that when the seed has sown that there comes up the tares." 29:16 The Lord soweth the tares, the enemy sows the bad tares. 29:21 Then when the disciples were asking for an explanation 29:25 Jesus explains the parable. 29:28 And we find that explanation 29:29 if you'll have your Bibles in Matthew 13:37 and on. 29:34 Notice what Jesus says 29:36 as an explanation for this parable. 29:39 "He that sows a good seed" verse 37 "is Son of man. 29:42 The field is the world" the what? 29:45 "The field is the world. 29:47 The good seed are the children of kingdom. 29:50 But the Tares are the children of the wicked one." 29:52 Now notice where as it says verse 39 29:54 "The enemy that sow them is the devil." 29:57 Now notice 29:58 "The harvest is the end of the world." 30:03 What is the harvest? "The end of the world. 30:05 And the reapers are the angels." 30:08 Then it says. 30:09 "As therefore, the Tares gathered 30:11 are gathered and burned in the fire 30:14 so shall it be in the end of this world. 30:16 The Son of Man shall send forth of his angels, 30:18 they shall gather out of his kingdom 30:21 all things that offend and then which do iniquity. 30:24 And shall cast them into furnace of fire 30:26 they shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 30:29 Then the righteous shall shine forth 30:31 as the sun in the kingdom." 30:32 Now here a question. 30:33 According to this parable what is gathered first, 30:36 the righteous or the wicked? 30:39 The wicked, the tares, exactly. 30:41 In other words it says "That the Tares are gathered 30:43 and tied in the bundle to be burned." 30:46 Then it says "That the harvest is gathered." 30:49 So the Tares are first gathered and then the wheat is gathered. 30:52 What do you say? Is that clear? 30:55 Yes or no? 30:56 Now let's continue the answers to study 30:59 because now we plunge into that passage of scripture 31:04 which confuses a lot of people 31:06 and that's in the Book of Matthew. 31:09 In the Book of Matthew 31:12 Jesus speaking to His disciples 31:14 by the way in this chapter there is a lot of warning 31:17 that is being given or being given, correct. 31:21 Jesus says there will be many false Christ. 31:23 He says they will be wars 31:25 and reminiscence of wars should be pestilence 31:26 and there will be earthquakes and that was places. 31:29 Do you remember that? 31:30 And then finally He comes to verse 37 31:35 and He says "As it was in the days of Noah." 31:37 But prior to verse 37 He says to the disciples 31:42 "No man knoweth day or the hour." 31:50 No man what? Knoweth the day or the hour. 31:54 Only the Father has retained that information. 32:00 But He says 32:02 "Even though you may not know the day or the hour 32:05 there are signs that you can look 32:08 to determine how close we are." 32:10 And that's what we're doing tonight. 32:13 Now notice then Chapter 24, 32:16 Jesus then compares the coming of Christ 32:21 to the day of Noah. 32:24 Now please remember this when Jesus uses this 32:28 He is using as the historical point of reference. 32:30 As a what? Historical point of reference. 32:33 He says "As the days of Noah, 32:35 so shall it be when the Son of Man comes." 32:37 In other words, here is a comparison. 32:39 What happened in Noah's day will happen when? 32:42 When the Son of Man comes. 32:44 So you can anticipate then 32:46 that what happened in Noah's day 32:47 will take place when the Son of Man comes. 32:50 Is that correct? 32:51 Is that my understanding of this passage yes or no? 32:54 All right. 32:55 So then it says just like we would say today 32:59 in the days of President Kennedy 33:00 when I'm talking about Kennedy 33:01 we're talking about the days of President Kennedy. 33:04 We may say in the days of Abraham Lincoln. 33:06 When I'm talking about Abraham Lincoln 33:07 but we're using Abraham Lincoln as a historical biblical point 33:11 to help you understand what time we're talking about. 33:13 And Jesus is doing the same thing 33:15 as it was in the days of Noah. 33:18 Now then He says what happens to the people 33:20 in the days of Noah? 33:21 "For in the days before the flood" they were what? 33:26 "Eating and drinking, marrying 33:28 and given in marriage until" what? 33:32 "Until the day that Noah entered the ark." 33:34 Now let me ask the question, who is that they, 33:37 is he speaking about the righteous or the wicked? 33:41 The wicked. 33:42 They are eating and drinking 33:45 and marrying and given in marriage, all right. 33:50 It is important for you all to understand this point also. 33:53 Jesus here is not saying "you better watch out 33:56 or you're gonna be taken to heaven." 34:02 Jesus here is saying "you better watch out 34:05 or the same thing that happened 34:06 to the people in Noah's day can happen to you." 34:13 So He is speaking to His disciples 34:15 as a warning that they do not experience the same laws 34:20 that the people experienced in the days of Noah. 34:23 And it doesn't tell us what Noah is doing 34:25 all it says is this 34:27 "As it was in the days of Noah." 34:29 Okay, then it says "that they were eating, 34:32 they were drinking, they were marrying, 34:34 they were given in marriage 34:35 until the day that Noah entered the ark." 34:37 Notice the next passage. "And knew not." 34:39 And what? 34:41 "And knew not and" what happened? 34:43 "And the flood came and" what? 34:46 Now notice it says "the flood came and" what? 34:49 What's that word there? "And took them all away." 34:53 "The flood came and took them all away. 34:55 So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." 34:57 So here is the question. 34:58 Who was taken in the Noah's day? 35:01 The righteous or the wicked? The wicked. 35:04 Let me ask you the next question. 35:06 Who will be taken when Jesus comes? 35:08 The righteous or the wicked? Righteous. 35:13 How many of you will say the righteous? 35:14 Can I see your hands? 35:15 How many of you will say the wicked? 35:16 Can I see your hands? 35:18 Well, listen please remember, "as it was in the days of Noah 35:22 so shall it be when the Son of Man comes." 35:25 Jesus is not saying 35:27 what happens to the righteous here. 35:28 Jesus is saying what happens to the wicked in Noah's day. 35:31 And He says then 35:32 "That as just it happened in the days of Noah 35:34 it will happen when He comes." 35:36 So who is He addressing? 35:38 Is He addressing the faith of the righteous 35:40 or is He addressing the faith of the wicked? 35:42 Which one? The faith of the wicked. 35:45 So who will be taken when Jesus comes then? 35:49 The wicked according to this passage you see. 35:51 But here is the problem. 35:52 Remember that trick I gave you? 35:55 All right, what's happening is that 35:57 you and I know in our minds we know 36:00 that when Jesus comes He comes to take us home. 36:03 Is that true yes or no? 36:04 And so what we do then and we take that knowledge 36:07 and we superimpose it into this verse. 36:14 Okay, do you understand what I'm saying? 36:16 But this verse has nothing to do 36:17 what happens to the righteous. 36:19 It doesn't even tell us that Noah had family. 36:21 It just says "that it was in the days of Noah 36:23 so shall it be when the Son of Man comes." 36:25 They were eating, they were drinking, 36:27 they were given in marriage and given in marriage 36:29 unto the flood came and took them all away 36:30 so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. 36:33 You see, what happened in Noah's day 36:35 will happen when I come. 36:36 Well, what happened in Noah's day 36:37 they were eating and drinking? 36:38 What will happen, when they come, 36:39 they'll be eating and drinking? 36:44 And what will take place? 36:46 Well, just as they were taken in Noah's day 36:49 they'll be taken in the day when Jesus comes. 36:54 Now that's a surprise to you, isn't it? 36:57 Kind of think throwing boomerang right. 36:59 Kind of a-- Wait a minute. 37:04 I thought the righteous would. 37:05 Yes, the righteous will be taken. 37:08 But it doesn't say in the Bible that the righteous are taken. 37:15 That maybe a surprise to you the actual word "taken" 37:18 is not used in the Scriptures, in reference to the righteous. 37:22 I'll show you the text later on so you can understand. 37:25 The important thing is to understand is 37:27 that Jesus is saying what happened in Noah's day 37:29 to the people who did not believe 37:31 that the flood was coming will happen when I come 37:34 or the people who will not believe that I'm coming. 37:40 And just as the people were taken in Noah's day 37:42 because they didn't believe 37:43 then they will be taken in my day 37:45 because they don't believe. 37:48 Does that make sense to you? 37:50 Yes or no? Yes. 37:52 Let me, let me continue 37:53 so you can see what we're saying. 37:56 This is where people get kind of turned around here. 38:00 It says "then shall two be in the field 38:02 the one shall be taken and the other left." 38:04 Okay, and what people who were rapture say is that 38:09 all right, here we have it. 38:10 Some are taken to heaven and some stayed behind 38:12 and they go through the trial and tribulation 38:14 and either one of be caught in the tribulations. 38:16 You better be ready to be taken 38:17 when the rapture comes, okay. 38:20 The problem is 38:21 that this follows what we just read 38:24 as it happened in the days of Noah 38:25 it will happen when the Lord comes. 38:27 So the people who won't believe won't be taken 38:29 just as there were people in Noah's day 38:30 who didn't believe and were taken also. 38:34 Okay, so if I were to ask you then 38:36 who is gonna be taken when the Lord comes 38:38 then you have to say what? 38:41 The righteous or the wicked? 38:42 The wicked. The wicked. 38:46 I see some of you are shaking your heads. 38:49 That's because you've been believing 38:51 something have been told to you so long 38:53 that it's hard for you to readjust your thinking. 38:57 But just look at the verses and you will see. 38:59 Let's go to another chapter. 39:02 In the Book of Luke 17, 39:04 Chapter 17 again Jesus is quoted here in Luke 17 39:08 but I want you to notice 39:10 that the word "taken" is changed. 39:12 Notice then in verse 26. 39:15 "As it was in the days of Noah 39:18 so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. 39:22 Verse 27 "That they eat, they drank, they married wives 39:25 they were given in marriage until the day 39:27 that Noah entered into the ark 39:28 and the flood came and destroyed them all." 39:31 And the flood came what? And destroyed them all. 39:34 So what is the word "took" in Matthew actually means then. 39:38 And the flood came and destroyed them all. 39:41 Now does it make sense? 39:43 Let's change the word from "take" 39:46 and the flood came and took them. 39:47 Now let's put the correct understanding 39:50 and the flood came and destroyed them all. 39:52 So let me ask you a question. 39:53 When Jesus comes, who will be destroyed 39:55 the righteous or the wicked? 39:57 The wicked of course. 39:58 When Noah went into the ark who was destroyed? 40:01 The wicked. 40:02 So who is gonna be destroyed when Jesus comes? 40:05 The wicked. 40:06 So who will be taken then when Jesus comes? 40:08 The wicked. 40:09 If you understand that the word "taken" means destroy. 40:17 Does that make sense now to you? 40:19 All right, the next passage then helps us to understand it. 40:23 Look, speaking about Lot, 40:25 now there's another historical point of reference. 40:29 And likewise also as it was in the days of Lot 40:32 they eat, they drank, they bought, 40:33 they sold, they planted, they build 40:35 but the same day that Lot went out of 40:36 Sodom and Gomorrah and fire and brimstone 40:40 was rained from heaven and destroyed them all." 40:42 You see again just as it happened 40:44 in the Lots day will happen when? 40:46 When I come. But what is it saying then? 40:49 It's saying basically that just as they were people 40:53 in the days of these two Biblical characters 40:58 Noah and Lot who did not believe 41:04 when the destruction came it came so swift 41:08 that they were not prepared. 41:11 And what the Scripture is saying is 41:13 that the same thing will happen in our day. 41:16 Think of how many people we have around us 41:19 who do not believe. 41:22 Is that true? 41:24 And just because they don't believe 41:26 does that mean that they won't happen? 41:29 No, it doesn't mean that. 41:31 People didn't believe in Noah's day. 41:32 It took 120-years. 41:34 Well if somebody told you today 41:36 the Lord is coming back tomorrow 41:37 and then next day that He's coming back tomorrow 41:39 and then He's coming back, is He coming back tomorrow. 41:41 You begin to think 41:42 well I guess you know He'll never come. 41:45 So imagine Noah preaching 120-years. 41:48 What do you think it will happen? 41:50 Maybe a lot of people gathered in bandwagon the first year 41:53 because they were afraid 41:54 that the flood would come the same year 41:55 and the flood didn't come that same year 41:57 so that they began to say "wow, you know 41:59 we like Noah but it's a little bit tipsy." 42:04 Right? 42:06 But think a while what people thought 42:08 after 120-years as the same preaching. 42:11 This guy has-- he is lost it. 42:15 But it was when then thought that he lost it 42:18 was when they discovered who was really lost. 42:23 Is it important for you and I to believe, yes or no? 42:26 Yes. 42:28 Is it important for you and I 42:29 to believe the Word of God, yes or no? 42:31 Yes. 42:32 If God says it will happen. 42:34 But listen let's continue because time is going fast. 42:37 Notice then that these are the point of references 42:41 but then Jesus begins again to use 42:45 that famous phrases verse 34. 42:49 "I tell you in that night 42:50 there shall be two men in one bed 42:52 that one shall be taken the other left. 42:54 Two women shall be grinding together 42:55 the one shall be taken the other left. 42:57 Two men shall be in the field 42:58 the one shall be taken the other left." 42:59 And so the repetition they are in the bed, 43:02 they're in the grinding or they're in the field. 43:04 Do you know what that is representing? 43:07 The three main preoccupations of mankind. 43:10 Man is either sleeping, 43:11 he's working or he is at leisure. 43:16 And what Jesus is telling us is that 43:18 irrespective of what you're doing 43:21 when He comes He comes. 43:23 Ready or not? Ready. 43:25 Here I come. 43:27 Okay, when He comes, He comes. 43:30 Whether you've been working or whether you've been sleeping 43:32 or whether you've been at leisure, 43:34 irrespective of what you're doing 43:36 when that time comes my friends, He will comes. 43:38 That why it says that here comes 43:39 the thief in the night. 43:41 And the rapture would say 43:42 you see He's coming as a secret. 43:43 It had nothing to do with secret 43:45 because in that passage it says 43:47 that the earth will melt with fervent heat. 43:50 Well, that's a thief in the night. 43:51 Brethren, we're all in great trouble right. 43:57 It simply means an element of surprise. 44:00 What does that it mean? An element of surprise. 44:03 If you follow through the Jesus comes 44:05 as a thief in the night 44:06 you and I know that Jesus is not a thief, correct. 44:09 Is that true yes or not? So why did he used that? 44:12 It's because it's helping us to understand 44:14 that there's element of what? 44:15 Of surprise. 44:17 Now while people are busy doing the usual things of life 44:21 notice it says eating and drinking 44:22 and marrying and given in marriage 44:24 anything wrong with those things? 44:26 Anything wrong with building? Anything wrong with planting? 44:30 Anything wrong with getting married? 44:32 Yes or no? No. 44:33 Anything wrong with eating? 44:34 Anything wrong with drinking 44:36 as long as you drink the right thing, right. 44:38 All right, so there's nothing wrong with those things 44:40 so why are they mentioned? 44:42 They are mentioned because 44:43 the Lord is speaking to believers. 44:45 He is speaking to whom? 44:46 To believers and He's telling them 44:49 be careful that the same thing doesn't happen to you 44:52 that happened to the people in Noah's day. 44:54 They were so preoccupied with the normal things of life 44:58 that they made no preparations 44:59 to there for their eternal salvation. 45:02 Is it possible, friends, that you and I 45:06 can be so busy doing good things 45:08 at the expense of our salvation. 45:10 Can that happen, yes or no? Yes. 45:15 Is that true, yes or no? Yes, it's true. 45:18 So the Lord then tells us that 45:20 this is what will take place when He comes. 45:23 Now the disciples finally asked the question where Lord. 45:26 Notice verse 37. Where what? 45:28 We know where they are and we know they're in the bed 45:30 or they're grinding or they're in the field. 45:32 So the question one has to pertain to 45:34 where they left or where they're taken 45:38 we know where they're left, 45:39 in bed, in the field or grinding. 45:41 So you have to ask the question where they're taken correct. 45:45 Do you see that, yes or no? 45:47 And notice the answer that Jesus gives. 45:49 Jesus gives the answer "Wheresoever the body 45:53 is thither the eagles be gathered together." 45:57 So what does that tell you? 45:59 If there're eagles gather around bodies 46:01 what did they tell you life or death? 46:03 Death. 46:04 Where were taken in Noah's day? 46:07 To death. 46:08 Where were they taken to the Lots day? 46:09 To death. 46:11 Where they'll be taken when Jesus comes? 46:13 To death. 46:14 That's what Jesus is trying to emphasize. 46:18 Be ready so that you are not a subject 46:23 to the destruction that's coming upon the world. 46:27 Be what? Be ready, be ready. 46:32 Well, listen some people say 46:36 well, eagles don't eat bodies. 46:41 Well, the Bible does say that eagles do eat bodies. 46:44 I want you to notice Job 39:27, 30. 46:48 "Doth the eagle mount up 46:50 thy command and make her nest on high?" 46:52 Notice verse 30 "Her young ones also 46:54 suck up blood and where the" what? 46:57 "The slain are there" what? "There she is." 47:01 There's a Biblical support for what Jesus said 47:04 where the eagle's there will be the bodies. 47:07 That's a scene of death. 47:09 Now please understand this that in Noah's day 47:12 there were never two groups that remain alive. 47:15 Is that true? 47:16 In Noah's day one group remained alive 47:17 and one group was taken to destruction. 47:20 In Lots day the same thing. 47:22 They weren't two groups that remained alive. 47:24 Is that true, yes or no? Yes. 47:27 One group remained alive and the other one died. 47:30 So when Jesus comes, will there be two groups alive? 47:33 Yes or no? No. 47:35 One group will survive 47:36 and the other group will be destroyed. 47:39 You see the idea that people will disappear 47:41 and people will stay here for a tribulation 47:44 is not supported by any model in the Bible. 47:55 Sad, isn't it? 47:56 That so many people have accepted a teaching. 48:01 And as God in so many people anxious about the rapture 48:07 to the extend that these people 48:08 that I've talked to you about in Australia 48:11 lost everything because they sincerely believed 48:15 that it would happen but they were sincerely taken. 48:20 They were what? Sincerely taken. 48:24 And there are many Christians today all over the world 48:26 who are reading those books and sincerely believe 48:30 and they will be sincerely taken. 48:34 Now, understanding this 48:36 how many of you want to be taken? 48:39 Can I see your hands? 48:41 How many would like to be left. 48:43 Can I see your hands? 48:44 Yes, now let me explain to you what it means to be left. 48:48 Let me explain to you. 48:49 Notice that in the Scriptures Chapter 7 of Genesis verse 23, 48:54 "Noah only" what? 48:55 "Remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark." 48:58 So who remained? Noah and his family, all right. 49:03 So the others were taken and who remained? 49:05 Noah and his family. 49:06 Can you see that, yes or no? 49:09 In the Book of Isaiah notice it says 24:6. 49:13 "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, 49:15 and they that dwell therein are desolate 49:17 therefore the inhabitants of the earth." 49:18 Are what? "Burned" and what happens? 49:21 "A few men" what? "Remain." 49:24 This is in perfect harmony with the New Testament 49:26 because in the New Testament 49:28 when speaking about the Lord returning 49:30 and taking His children home 49:32 notice it says "then we which are" what? 49:35 "alive" and what else? 49:37 And "remain shall be caught up to together 49:39 with them in the clouds." 49:40 In other words what the Scripture 49:42 is portraying is that there is a great deliverance. 49:45 A what? A great deliverance. 49:47 There is an army that's coming. 49:49 There's a what? Army that's coming. 49:51 Turn to Revelation Chapter 19 49:53 and then you will see what I'm talking about. 49:54 Revelation 19:11-21 actually. 49:59 It's says "that somebody is coming. 50:02 He is riding on a horse 50:03 and his name is the word of God." 50:06 Who is that? He is Christ. 50:08 He is coming on a horse. 50:09 And it says "that the armies of heaven follow with Him." 50:13 Why is it that the army is coming? 50:15 Because there's a great deliverance 50:17 is about to take place. 50:18 You see, 50:19 we have been prisoners of war. 50:23 We have been what? Prisoners of war. 50:26 And in order for the army that's going to deliver 50:31 in order for them to save us 50:32 who do they have to deal with first? 50:36 The enemy, you see. 50:38 Any time that you gonna rescue somebody who is captive 50:42 you always have to first deal with whom? 50:45 With the captures, you see. 50:47 And so who has held the earth hostage? 50:51 The devil, correct? 50:53 And Christ is coming to do what? 50:57 To do deliver the hostages. 50:58 And who are the hostages? 51:00 Us, but because we have been blood bought 51:06 because Christ has paid for us, He comes to take us home. 51:11 It's like the old pawn shop. 51:14 And I'm not I'm speaking P-A-W-N 51:16 okay the old pawn shop. 51:18 When you take something to the pawn shop 51:20 then they give you a ticket so that you can what? 51:23 Redeem. You see you can what? 51:25 Redeem what you've put in. 51:27 So you go in and you pay your money 51:29 and you get back what you have put in. 51:33 Jesus paid the price for you and unto me. 51:37 And He is coming back to claim that which is His own. 51:41 What do you say? 51:42 And in order to do that 51:44 He has to come with the army to fight. 51:47 Now notice what it says there in Chapter 19 51:51 notice the picture. 51:52 It says, "That He comes with the armies of heaven." 51:56 And then it says verse 14. 52:01 "The armies which were in heaven 52:03 followed Him upon white horses in fine linen." 52:07 You see that verse 14. 52:10 And so the armies are coming with Him. 52:13 And they come to make war. 52:15 Then the scripture says 52:17 "that the one who is sitting on the horse 52:18 is the King of Kings the Lord of Lord's" verse 16. 52:21 Then verse 17 says, notice that 17 says 52:24 "I saw an angel standing in the sun 52:26 and he cried with a loud voice saying to the" what? 52:29 "To the fowls of the air." 52:32 You notice that and what is it that they say? 52:36 It says "then crying with a loud voice, 52:37 saying to all the birds 52:39 that fly in the midst of heaven, 52:40 "Come and gather yourself together 52:42 for the supper of the great God 52:44 that you may eat the flesh of king's 52:46 the flesh of captain's and the flesh of mighty man.' 52:49 " So Jesus is coming to make war 52:52 and as He comes then He tells the birds 52:54 there is gonna be a supper of the great God. 52:56 In other words, you're gonna eat 52:57 the flesh of captains and kings et cetera. 53:00 Then the Scripture continues on verse 18. 53:04 It says "that they'll eat the flesh of horses 53:06 and those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, 53:09 free and slave, both small and great." 53:15 Well, you and I recognize then that when Jesus is coming back 53:20 according to Revelation Chapter 6 it says 53:22 "that the king's of the earth, 53:24 and the great men, and the rich men, 53:26 the commanders, the mighty men 53:28 and every slave man and every free man 53:31 hid themselves in the caves 53:33 and the rocks and the mountains." 53:34 Why were they doing that? 53:36 It says because they see Him coming. 53:38 "And said to the mountains and rocks 53:39 'Fall on us and hide us from'" whom? 53:42 "From the face of Him who sits on the throne 53:44 and from the wrath of the Lamb." 53:46 In other words, my friends, the scriptures reveals 53:48 then that the great of the wrath of God has come. 53:52 Well, what's taking place is that all the wicked 53:54 have gathered together against the Lord 53:57 and against His people and they are seemed to be 54:01 almost commandeering the people of God. 54:03 But then all of sudden 54:04 the Lord comes with His mighty army. 54:07 And the scripture says then 54:08 that when that takes place the Bible reveals "then 54:12 that the wicked are gathered together." 54:16 Notice verse 20 it says 54:17 "that the wicked are destroyed." 54:20 And in verse 21 the Scripture says then 54:23 "that the remnant." 54:24 Verse 21 "were slain with the sword of Him 54:28 that sat upon the horse 54:29 with sword proceeded out of His mouth 54:31 and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." 54:33 My friends, God wants you to sit 54:35 at the banqueting table 54:37 rather than for you to become food for birds. 54:44 But God wants you to be ready when? 54:47 Now, because when Christ comes 54:50 it will be too late. 54:56 Can you understand now 54:58 why this particular teaching is so dangerous? 55:04 It is preparing people to think 55:06 and I've heard people say "well, you know 55:08 I will have my fun and all that." 55:10 And "yeah I will be rapture 55:12 and I will go through some real hard times 55:14 but then the Lord comes and I still be saved." 55:23 Is that what the Lord wants? 55:25 My friends, if you love the Lord 55:28 you want to be with Him when He comes. 55:30 What do you say? 55:33 I think that the heart 55:34 who's thinking that they can parlay, 55:36 they could postpone the time of preparation 55:42 demonstrated by the very act 55:44 that their hearts are not right with the master, 55:46 what do you say? 55:48 Bible says that there are those 55:50 who say "my Lord delays His coming." 55:54 Oh friends, listen, 55:57 the Bible is clear that the Lord will come. 56:03 And He will come with all His mighty angels 56:06 and He comes to rescue you. 56:09 I can tell you, my friends, 56:12 my wise great aunt 56:15 and her family were interned 56:17 in the prison camp in the Philippines. 56:20 And they remembered Macarthur's words, 56:22 I will return. 56:24 Three years passed 56:25 and they thought it would happen. 56:27 But then finally and process one day 56:30 she heard the rowing of planes and she looked up 56:32 she saw paratroopers coming out. 56:34 And she said "it looked like angels 56:36 coming down to rescue us." 56:39 And it turn out in that day that they were delivered 56:43 there was an order that they were all to be killed. 56:46 My friends, Jesus wants to save you. 56:50 What do you say? 56:51 But the question is, are you ready? 56:56 Or the next question, do you want to be ready? 56:59 How many of you want to be ready for that coming? 57:02 Let us pray together. 57:03 Our Father, 57:05 we see very clearly that Jesus will come. 57:09 We want to be ready 57:11 help us to make our decision now 57:15 in Jesus name, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17