Participants: Pr. Louis Torres
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000722
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01:00 Welcome back to "Digging Up the Future,"
01:02 Bible Prophecy Exposed. 01:04 How many of you are thankful 01:05 that we have Bibles that we can study? 01:08 And that we can grow and learn together 01:10 as we look not only the past but the present and the future. 01:14 And today's subject is going to be 01:16 looking at the past and the future again, 01:18 Revelations 4, Apocalyptic Horses. 01:22 And I don't know about you, 01:23 but I am excited to learn what that's all about. 01:26 Let's ask the Lord's presence though as we study today. 01:30 Father in Heaven, we're thankful 01:32 that You are pictured as coming on a white horse 01:37 coming victorious but there is other horses 01:39 and as we look through scripture today 01:42 we ask that You would help us understand them 01:44 and we ask that You would be with our speaker Pastor Torres. 01:46 We're thankful for his ministry. 01:48 And we ask that the Holy Spirit 01:50 would especially be with him today 01:52 and we come in Christ name, amen. 01:55 Let's stand together and sing our theme song 01:57 "Jesus is coming again." 02:09 Marvelous message we bring 02:13 Glorious carol we sing 02:16 Wonderful word of the King 02:20 Jesus is coming again 02:24 Coming again, coming again 02:31 Maybe morning, maybe noon 02:34 Maybe evening, but surely soon 02:38 Coming again, coming again 02:45 Oh what a wonderful day it will be 02:51 Jesus is coming again 02:59 Amen. 03:00 Say hallelujah this morning. 03:02 You can be seated. 03:04 We're thankful that Jesus is coming again 03:08 and we're thankful there is a going to be a time 03:10 that Revelation describes 03:13 a time when there is a no more night. 03:16 And to remind us of that wonderful time 03:19 Marion Peppers will be singing 03:21 an Anthea Hii will accompany her this morning. 03:36 The timeless theme 03:39 Earth and Heaven will pass away 03:47 It's not a dream 03:50 God will make all things new that day 03:58 Gone is the curse 04:02 From which I stumbled and fell 04:08 Evil is banished 04:12 And all is well 04:20 No more night 04:25 No more pain 04:29 No more tears 04:34 Never crying again 04:39 Praises to the great, "I am" 04:47 We will live in the light 04:52 Of the risen Lamb 05:06 See all around 05:09 Now the nations bow down to sing 05:15 The only sounds are the praises 05:21 To Christ, our King 05:26 Slowly the names 05:30 From the book are read 05:36 I know the King 05:40 So there is no need to dread 05:47 No more night 05:52 No more pain 05:57 No more tears 06:01 Never crying again 06:06 Praises to the great, "I am" 06:14 And we will live in the lights 06:19 Of the risen Lamb 06:26 Look over there 06:29 There is a mansion prepared for me 06:35 Where I will live 06:38 With my Savior eternally 06:46 No more night 06:51 No more pain 06:55 No more tears 07:00 Never crying again 07:04 And we will sing praises 07:07 To the great, "I am" 07:13 And we will live in the lights 07:18 Of the risen Lamb 07:23 We will live in the lights 07:28 Of the risen Lamb 07:33 We will live in the lights 07:39 Of the risen 07:46 Lamb 08:00 Well, the song is like that just take you 08:01 all the way up to heaven, what do you say? 08:03 Amen. No more night. 08:09 We long for that day when Jesus will come. 08:13 Shall we pray? 08:14 Our Father, as we open up the word again, 08:16 You've promised that you'll give us understanding 08:18 as we seek Your guidance and help. 08:21 And so according to Your promise 08:23 we thank You for it because we can realize it 08:27 not because of any merits that we have 08:28 but because of Jesus, amen. 08:31 Amen. 08:32 We open the scriptures today 08:34 to that chapter of Revelation 8:1. 08:39 Revelation 8:1, we start out with 08:43 "And when he had opened the seventh seal, 08:47 there was silence in heaven 08:50 about the space of an half hour." 08:53 When he opened which seal? 08:55 The seventh seal. There was what? 08:57 Silence in heaven. Our friends, listen. 09:01 There is a lot of activity in heaven. 09:04 And for the Bible to say 09:05 that there is a silence in heaven 09:07 must indicate that something very important is happening, 09:11 what do you say? And so what is it? 09:14 And what is it that the scripture reveals to us 09:17 about the Four Apocalyptic Horses? 09:22 We must begin in chapter 4, 09:24 so if turn with me to chapter 4 09:26 we're gonna briefly discover a few things in chapter 4. 09:29 Chapter 4 is a chapter 09:31 that ushers us right into the throne of God. 09:35 John the beloved has been given a vision 09:38 and as he has given his vision 09:40 he is able to look right into the very throne of God. 09:44 And there he sees 24 elders 09:47 and he also see four a living creatures 09:50 and that's what the word beast is there-- 09:54 four living creatures. 09:55 And as John is looking at this 09:59 he is then brought to the realization 10:03 that in the midst of all of this there is a Lamb. 10:07 And verse 11 of chapter 4 it says "Thou are" what? 10:11 "Worthy to receive glory and honor and power, 10:15 for thou hast created all things, 10:16 for thy pleasure, are they and were created." 10:22 And let me give you a thought here. 10:27 Notice that it doesn't highlight 10:30 that the Lamb created miracles that the Lamb walked on water, 10:35 that the Lamb fed 5,000 or 12,000 people. 10:38 In other words, the attribute or the attributing factor here 10:45 that which brings glory to the Lamb 10:47 is nothing else then that He is the Creator. 10:53 Planet earth has lost sight of that 10:55 and most people believe that Jesus is a mere man. 10:59 But my friends, according to what we studied 11:01 when we've study the passion of Christ 11:03 we know then that we're not living 11:05 we're just or worshiping or following a mere man 11:09 we're worshiping and following a divine Christ. 11:12 What do you say? 11:13 One who is ever able to understand 11:17 and know what our needs are 11:18 and to sucker or to help us 11:21 and word "sucker" comes from the word socorro 11:24 in Spanish or Latin which means to help. 11:26 To what? To help in time of need. 11:29 Aren't you glad you have saviour 11:30 who is all powerful, all knowing 11:32 and who is able to help you in time of need, 11:34 what do you say? 11:35 Yes, thank the Lord for that. 11:37 And so then chapter 5 11:42 we then come into the next chapter. 11:46 And the next chapter begins to speak about 11:48 the "Opening of the 7 Seals." 11:52 As John is turned 11:55 and his attention directed to something else 11:59 there he finds that the one sitting on the throne 12:02 has a scroll, the Bible says there. 12:05 And that the scroll has seals on back of it. 12:08 You notice chapter 5 verse 1. 12:10 "And then the strong angel stands up and says 12:14 who is worthy to open the book, 12:18 and to loose the seals thereof?" 12:20 And John the Bible says turn to try to find out 12:23 who it is and he can't seem to find anybody 12:27 and the Bible says he begins to weep. 12:29 Why is John weeping? 12:30 Because obviously John had 12:32 come heart to heart with his savior 12:34 and he'd longed for the salvation of the world. 12:36 And he knew that somehow 12:38 this book had to do with man salvation 12:41 and so he begin to weep no one can open it. 12:44 There is something here that we need to know 12:46 and we cannot know. 12:48 And finally the angel says "don't we John, don't weep." 12:54 Verse 5 "why not." 12:56 Behold we found somebody who can open a book 12:59 "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, 13:01 the Root of David has reveal to open the book 13:04 and to loss the seven seals thereof." 13:06 And then the scripture says 13:07 that as John turn to see the lion what he see? 13:11 He sees a Lamb. Who is that Lamb? 13:13 Why either it is Jesus Christ. What do you say? 13:16 He it says that because of His sacrifice 13:20 He is worthy to open the seals 13:23 and to help us to understand what this is all about. 13:28 And so "Lo, I beheld in the midst of the throne 13:32 and other four beasts and in the midst of elders 13:35 stood a Lamb as it had been slain." 13:38 A Lamb who is still suffering 13:41 because of the condition of planet earth. 13:44 A Lamb that is actual word in then 13:46 the Greek continues to be slain. 13:49 Why does he continued to be slain? 13:51 Our friends, sometimes we think 13:53 that we have a difficult time in life. 13:57 Sometimes we cry out to God 14:00 "O, Lord, how long do I have to suffer this." 14:04 But friends, how long has God been suffering, 14:09 think of it. 14:13 You and I deal with our own problems. 14:16 God has to look down and see every sickbed, 14:21 every child who's suffering, every home that's divided, 14:26 every abuse, everything that has brought woe 14:31 and misery and pain and suffering 14:34 and agony to planet earth. 14:35 God has to look at it and see it all. 14:39 And so the Bible says if they see a Lamb, 14:42 you see is the Lamb that had been, what? 14:44 Slain. The Lamb is still suffering. 14:47 But will it there ever come an end to that suffering? 14:51 That's what this is all about 14:54 the time when the suffering will finally end. 14:56 And so we then turn to chapter 6 15:00 and we begin to talk about the opening of the seals. 15:03 John then-- 15:04 attention again it's directed to something else. 15:07 He's now focused on the opening of the seals 15:12 and the Bible says then that John sees 15:15 Four Apocalyptic Horses racing through space. 15:18 What could this mean? 15:20 Well, what are the four horses and what do they represent? 15:24 We don't have all our time today 15:26 but I just want you to write down 15:27 some verses of scripture if you want to, 15:29 Zechariah 1:9, Zechariah 6:3. 15:35 These two verses tell you that the four horses represent 15:38 those who are going to and from the earth. 15:40 In other words, it represents the message of salvation 15:44 going through forth throughout the earth-- 15:47 the messengers of God. 15:49 The Bible then says 15:50 that as John sees these horses 15:56 running across the space 15:59 it is a description that God reveals to us of Christianity 16:05 and helping us to understand 16:07 what happens to that message of-- 16:09 that begins when Jesus Christ comes in full-- 16:12 full gospel being preached to the world. 16:15 What happens to it through the Trans-course of history 16:18 all away up to our time. 16:20 In fact, this particular prophecy 16:22 helps us to understand 16:24 how the church was established and what happened to it 16:27 when it got involved with the military 16:29 and the political aspects of society. 16:32 But let's quickly go into the opening of the seals 16:35 because we have lot of ground to cover. 16:37 Chapter 6 and verse 1 16:39 "And I saw when the Lamb opened 16:41 one of the seals, and I heard, 16:42 as it were the noise of thunder, 16:44 one of the four beasts saying" doing what? 16:46 "Come and" what? "Come and see." 16:49 And in verse 2 then it says 16:52 that "When he looked he saw" what? 16:55 "A white horse and he that sat upon on him 16:58 had a bow and a crown was given unto him, 17:00 and he went for conquering and" what? 17:03 "To conquer." 17:04 Now if you remember in Revelation Chapter 19 17:07 it says "Jesus is coming and His riding on" what? 17:10 "On a white horse" exactly. So what does this represent? 17:14 It represents a Christian Church 17:15 and it's beginning as Jesus is famous as the Christian Church 17:19 and He begins to ride as it were to conquer. 17:22 Did the Christian Church conquer the world 17:24 in those days, what's the answer? 17:26 The answer is yes. 17:27 In fact, Paul says that by the time 17:29 he was still preaching he says that all the world 17:32 has heard about the gospel. 17:34 And even in the houses of Haran 17:36 and even the house of Caesar there were believers. 17:38 Can you imagine that? 17:40 God so blessed the Apostolic Movement 17:43 that the church went out to conquer 17:46 and what was beautiful about it is 17:48 that the gospel had power to change to human heart. 17:52 And so the criminal became a wonderful honest person, 17:56 the drunkard became sobered individual. 17:59 The child who was disobedient became an obedient child, 18:02 the dishonest became honest. 18:04 All the wonderful things that took place 18:06 God performing miracles in the human heart 18:09 and the human heart changing. 18:11 The Pagans became Christians and the Jews became converted. 18:17 There was a tremendous power that went out as the gospel 18:20 is being preached throughout the world. 18:21 And so it is shown here as a horse, white. 18:25 White represents what? Purity as a pure gospel. 18:29 A what? Pure. 18:31 A pure gospel, a pure message being given to the world 18:34 and because it was a pure message 18:36 it had power to conquer the heart. 18:38 Our friends, listen, 18:40 when Paul was preaching the gospel 18:41 he said "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ 18:43 because it is the power of God onto salvation." 18:46 The what? The power of God. 18:49 Thus the gospel had power, what's the answer? 18:51 Yes or no? Yes. 18:52 Absolutely. 18:54 So my friends, I'm surprised 18:55 you to didn't say "Amen" already. 18:57 Does the gospel have power? 18:58 Yes or no? Amen. 18:59 Absolutely. 19:00 So listen, I can tell you I've been to places 19:03 I preached the gospel of Christ 19:04 and I have seen all sorts of people being converted. 19:07 I have seen the drug addict, I've seen the murderer, 19:10 I've seen the thief, 19:11 I've seen all sorts of people been converted. 19:13 I remember one time in Romania I was preaching 19:16 4,500 people in the audience and a young man came to me, 19:21 a gypsy young man 19:22 and he brought with him a friend. 19:24 The friend looked like he was still drunk, 19:26 his hair was mad and his eyes looked bloodshot 19:30 and he could hardly stand. 19:32 And his clothing was obviously reeking with smell 19:35 looked like he was slept on the street. 19:37 And the young man brought him to me 19:38 and said "do for him what you did for me." 19:42 And I said, "What do you mean, what I'd did for you? 19:45 I didn't do anything for you." I said "God did it." 19:48 He said "well, however you explain it 19:50 do for him what you did for me." 19:53 And I said "well, what happen to you?" 19:54 He said "when I came to these meetings 19:56 before that I was alcoholic, 19:58 I was drunker, I was a fighter." 20:00 And then he pulled up, pulled down his sleeve 20:02 and there all sorts of scars on his arms, 20:04 knife scars from fighting up in the street all the time. 20:07 But he says "since I have come to these meetings 20:09 God has changed my life." 20:11 "I no longer drink" he said "I'm no longer fighting." 20:14 He said, "now, I'm home and my wife is happy." 20:17 Then he said, "do for him, what you've done for me?" 20:19 And so then I looked at the young man and I said, 20:21 "God has done it for him 20:22 and God can do it for you, too." 20:24 And I said, "how badly do you want it?" 20:26 He said, "with all my heart." 20:27 I said, "would you kneel down with me 20:29 then commit your heart to God?" 20:30 We knelt down. 20:31 That young man just lifted up his heart to God 20:34 and plead for deliverance. 20:35 Few weeks later, I had the two boys 20:38 and the two wives weeping with joy 20:41 because their husbands had been delivered 20:43 from alcohol and from the streets 20:44 and now they are good loving husbands. 20:46 What do you say, friends? 20:47 Does the gospel have power, yes or no? 20:49 Yeah. Absolutely so. 20:51 And so the gospel is going with power, 20:53 hearts are been converted, things are happening, 20:56 exciting things happening. 20:57 But listen, something happens. 21:00 A white horse is then 21:02 a pure faith changed his color. 21:05 "And when he had opened the second seal 21:07 I heard the second beast say, come and see. 21:09 And there went out another horse." 21:11 And what color was this horse? 21:12 Red. Another horse, red. 21:14 And then it says that this red horse, 21:16 does something, power is given unto whom? 21:19 "Unto him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, 21:22 and that they should kill one another, 21:23 and there was given unto him a great sword." 21:26 Now imagine what happens. 21:28 The pure horse becomes a persecuting horse. 21:33 What? 21:34 The pure horse becomes a what? 21:36 Persecuting horse. 21:37 Oh, I've known that maybe some of you are confused, 21:40 some of you are saying 21:41 well, that that represented persecution 21:42 was brought to the church. 21:44 No, my friends, it says that the power, 21:46 the sword was given to him. 21:48 To whom? To the one riding the horse. 21:51 Do you see that? 21:52 Yes or no? Yes. 21:54 The sword was given to him and it says, 21:56 "It was given to him that sat thereon 21:59 to take peace from the earth, 22:00 and that they should kill one another, 22:01 kill one another." 22:02 Well, what is this talking about? 22:04 As the church grew in power, the devil tried to stop it, 22:08 and the devil couldn't stop it. 22:10 The devil tried to destroy Christianity. 22:11 Persecution did come on the Christians no doubt. 22:15 And people did suffer for their faith no doubt. 22:17 But, my friends, every martyr only create a new believers, 22:22 their blood was like sea 22:23 that quite create a sprouting of many others 22:26 who believed in the name of Jesus Christ 22:28 and who had gladly go to the stake 22:31 for that precious name 22:33 but then something began to happen. 22:34 The church became popular. 22:37 And when the church became popular, 22:39 it began to pull in Pagans into the church. 22:41 They wanted to win the world 22:43 and they thought compromise was the best way to do it. 22:46 They forgot how it was the truth 22:49 that converts the heart. 22:50 It is what? Truth. 22:51 Jesus didn't say compromise, you shall not comprise 22:54 and the compromise shall make you free. 22:57 Does that what you said? What did you say? 23:00 "You shall know the truth and the truth shall" what? 23:03 My friends, listen, let me share this to you. 23:06 It is the truth that converts human hearts. 23:09 Don't ever allow you, yourself to believe 23:13 that it is something else. 23:15 If you could just do something else 23:16 the church isn't doing other things 23:18 to win people to Christ. 23:19 My friends, listen, what you win people with 23:21 is what you win them to. 23:26 What? 23:27 What you win people with is what you win them, too. 23:30 My friends, if you win them to the true, 23:32 what do you win them to? 23:33 The truth. The truth. 23:35 So the church changed to began to persecute its own believers. 23:41 And the Bible reveals then as the church became popular, 23:44 they began to self positions to the highest bidders 23:47 and things began to take place, 23:48 there was a compromise that took place, 23:51 paganism begin to creep into the church 23:53 but there were people in the church 23:54 whose hearts were just broken. 23:56 They couldn't believe that the church 23:59 beginning to compromise and accept things 24:02 that were antichrist and they became victims. 24:06 They became what? Victims of their own people. 24:10 That's why it says, they what? Began, they should kill what? 24:14 One another. 24:15 So that pure church became a persecuting church. 24:20 Became a what? Persecuting church. 24:22 How was that possible? 24:24 How is it possible 24:25 that the Christian can become a persecutor? 24:28 Is it possible? 24:30 My friends, is it possible that you could persecute 24:33 somebody else in the name of the Lord? 24:35 Is that possible? 24:37 Is it possible that you could become critical, 24:40 condemnatory about somebody else 24:42 because they don't meet up to your standards? 24:44 Is that possible? Yes or no? 24:45 Yes. 24:46 Yes and unfortunately it's done too often. 24:48 What do you say? 24:49 Now that doesn't mean 24:50 that God does not have standards 24:52 or that means that we as Christians 24:54 ought to seek to always redeem. 24:56 To always what? Redeem. 24:58 The truth is not given to kill people, 25:00 the truth is given to give life to people. 25:03 And so the Bible says then a Red Horse 25:06 the church then began to become a persecutor 25:10 and it persecuted others. 25:14 Well, then the Bible says 25:16 that something else would take place to the church. 25:19 Verse 5 and 6 "And when had opened the third seal, 25:21 I heard the third beast say, come and see. 25:25 And I beheld, and lo a" what? 25:28 "A black horse, and he that sat on him 25:30 had a pair of" what? 25:31 "Balances in his hand." 25:33 Now what do you suppose it says "balances in his hands?" 25:35 What do you think what balances we use for the old days? 25:40 It was use to buy and sell. 25:42 In other words when you went 25:44 I remember when I was a little boy 25:45 we used to be in Brooklyn, New York 25:47 they used to still use balances they call them a scale. 25:50 But I remember how we-- 25:52 my mother would go to Jewish they use to-- 25:56 the Jews had little carts, grocery carts 25:59 and all sorts of carts they can push, 26:01 there on Belmont street in Brooklyn, New York 26:03 and my mother would always go early 26:04 because she knew she go to-- 26:05 went early and she would always get a better price 26:07 than if you went late. 26:09 And they had balances and they put so much here 26:13 and then they had weights they put on the other side 26:15 to you know balance out how much she brought. 26:17 And my mother always watched those balances. 26:20 She wanted to make sure 26:21 that the right weights are put on this side, 26:22 do you understand? 26:23 And so it says that the black horse-- 26:26 now next verse it says then that this particular horse 26:31 it says "I heard the four beasts say, 26:33 a measure of wheat for a penny, 26:34 and three measures of barley for a penny, 26:36 and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." 26:39 Something is happening to the spiritual condition church. 26:42 Which way is the church going up or down? 26:44 It is going down. 26:46 From white it becomes red from red now becomes what? 26:49 Black as a change in the church 26:51 in the Bible reveals then that during this time 26:55 once the church to control the society 26:58 that it began to sell salvation. 27:02 Began to what? Sell salvation. 27:06 Now you've probably have heard of something like indulgence, 27:08 how many of you have heard of indulgences? 27:10 Okay, in this particular time it became-- 27:15 there came a terrible time for the church. 27:17 The church became popular and there is always is danger 27:21 when the church becomes popular. 27:23 Isn't that true? 27:25 I remember when the Cubans came on that flatizza 27:28 from Cuba where Castro 27:29 was sending out all the Cubans out of-- 27:31 pulled all the criminals. 27:32 Well, there were some of them were criminals 27:34 but the only crime they had committed 27:36 was that they believed in the Bible. 27:37 So to Castro they were criminals. 27:40 And so I remember meeting some of them 27:42 in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas 27:44 not too far away from here and talking to them. 27:48 And as I talked to them 27:51 I asked them about their situation, 27:53 how hard it was? 27:54 And they told me how difficult it was, 27:56 how tough it was to be there in prison 28:00 because their faith in the Lord. 28:05 And some of them only had a towel 28:08 wrapped on their waist that's all the clothing 28:10 they were permitted to take with them. 28:13 And as I said to those of you 28:15 who were here at the other night 28:17 they would open up their mouths 28:18 and see if they had any gold in their mouth 28:20 and there would just yank it out 28:21 right down the cold blood. 28:24 Yank it out and send them off. 28:26 So all people came with nothing. 28:30 But they were faithful, they were faithful 28:32 and when I meet them it was already setup 28:36 they had ask permission of the military there 28:38 if they could have a worship service 28:40 on Wednesday night, okay. 28:42 Here they were as pilgrims and strangers 28:44 couldn't speak English or anything 28:46 but they had somehow figured out 28:47 how to have a worship service once a night. 28:49 My friends, how many of you come out to prayer meetings? 28:52 Don't raise your hands. 28:54 It's a sad comminatory that most people now 28:57 only come to church when? 29:00 One day a week. 29:02 Oh, friends, there were people 29:05 who were refugees, people who had been deserted, 29:11 people who had nothing 29:12 and there they were setup to worship. 29:15 And when I got to the barrack 29:17 they had barrow the footlockers. 29:19 You know what I am talking about 29:20 the arm and footlockers, little rectangular boxes. 29:24 And they had set it up as a church with pews. 29:29 And I was just moved to tears to see 29:31 that kind of commitment. 29:33 What do you say? Amen. 29:36 But here is what I told them. 29:37 I said "my brother, here in the America 29:41 it'll be much tougher for you than in Cuba, 29:45 concern in your faith." 29:47 They didn't understand that. 29:49 I said you'll find that it's more difficult 29:51 to be a Christian in prosperity 29:54 than it is to be a Christian in adversity. 29:58 What did I say? 30:00 More difficult to be a Christian in, what? 30:02 In prosperity than in what? In adversity. 30:07 They didn't understand what I've said 30:11 but then they did. 30:14 The church became popular and they became more difficult 30:17 and doctors begin to sweep in. 30:19 In fact I hope that Pastor Don 30:22 will give you the outline of all the things 30:24 that came into Christianity through the Dark Ages. 30:27 Would you like to know that? 30:29 I have a whole list of all the teachings 30:31 and all the practices that came into Christianity 30:34 through Dark Ages and the dates 30:35 that they were introduced into Christianity. 30:37 How many of you would like copy of that? 30:39 All right Pastor Don, you have it, okay. 30:41 So the terrible time came and of course what happened is 30:45 that those who were sincere, 30:47 who wanted to still be true to God left the churches 30:51 and found no other choice but to hide in the wilderness. 30:55 And that's why in Revelation Chapter 12 30:56 it says, that the Lord prepared a place in the wilderness 31:00 for His for the woman and wing was given to her 31:04 that she may fly into the wilderness 31:05 for time and time and half a times. 31:07 In other words the Christians 31:08 who wanted to still follow the scriptures 31:11 had no other choice them to leave 31:12 because the church became pagan in nature 31:15 had Christianize but pagan in nature. 31:18 For example there are lot of practices 31:20 that people practice today 31:21 that they have no idea it comes from paganism. 31:24 Did you know that? A lot of practices. 31:27 You just think for example Sunday. 31:30 Sunday was not a Christian or Biblical position 31:33 it was a pagan position. 31:35 It was a day of the worship of the sun. 31:37 Easter, Easter was not a Christian 31:39 or Biblical practice. 31:41 It was a pagan practice. 31:42 So they-- when they worshipped the Goddess of Easter 31:44 and they used the burn in the egg 31:46 as emblems or symbols 31:48 of procreation and a multiplication. 31:50 In other words the rabbit can multiply up pretty fast. 31:53 And in those days the pagans would actually have open orgies 31:58 as celebration for this particular Goddess. 32:02 Well, also to practices have come in. 32:05 And you can understand how the ache of heart 32:08 that people had and so you find then a separation. 32:11 The church then is a church has turned what? Black. 32:15 And when the church turns black it is in darkness. 32:17 It is what? In darkness. 32:19 And by the way this time period 32:22 is considered to be the Dark Ages. 32:24 That what? 32:25 How many of you have heard 32:26 of the Dark Ages in history, okay. 32:27 So this is Dark Ages and its call the Dark Ages 32:30 because it seemed that people 32:32 have no ability to gain knowledge. 32:34 Well, it had knowledge. 32:36 They could have gotten the knowledge. 32:38 All they had to do was to read the scriptures. 32:39 But what did they do with the scriptures? 32:41 Well, they took the Bible 32:43 and only the wealthy could buy Bibles. 32:46 It was very expensive to buy a Bible. 32:48 And only the priests or the churches 32:50 could have the Bible 32:51 and then it came to boot too have a Bible. 32:54 So you could not read a Bible because it was a Holy Book 32:57 was still Holy for the common people 32:59 and therefore the people who left in darkness. 33:01 Left in what? In darkness. 33:04 And so the church then it goes into kind of dark period 33:09 through the Dark Ages. 33:10 Well, the fourth seal then its open. 33:15 And the Bible says "that the invitation is come and see. 33:19 And I looked and behold a" what? 33:22 "A pale horse and his name that sat on him was" what? 33:26 "Death, and hell followed with him." 33:28 My friends, it was a terrible time then 33:30 the church actually became spiritually dead. 33:34 In others words it began to rely 33:35 upon the civil authorities and the power 33:38 to actually control the conscience of the people. 33:40 And so the church rather than relying 33:43 upon the God of heaven to inspire people 33:47 to be holy it relied upon its dogmas 33:50 and the authorities to force people 33:52 to for conform into these particular dogmas. 33:56 The scripture says that notice it says 33:58 death and hell followed them. 33:59 So when you think of color pale, 34:02 when you see somebody who's pale face, 34:03 what does that tell you? 34:05 You see my mother use to say 34:07 ( speaking in foreign language ) 34:09 Well, that means he's pale. Which means what? 34:11 He is pretty close of being dead, all right. 34:14 And so when the church then becomes a pale color 34:17 which means what? 34:18 It is gone from white to red to darkness 34:23 and now to what spiritual death, okay. 34:25 My friends, remember that 34:27 when you shift away from the scriptures, 34:29 when you shift away from the Lord 34:31 you will finally spiritual speaking die, okay. 34:36 And so it continues then and it tells us 34:41 that "power was given unto them 34:43 over the fourth part of the earth, 34:45 to kill with the sword, and with hunger and with death, 34:48 and with the beasts of the earth." 34:49 In other words people who cast the lions 34:51 during the Dark Ages they all sorts of atrocities 34:54 that were committed. 34:55 And we can spend time on that 34:57 but it was important for you to understand 34:59 that it was a terrible time in earth's history. 35:02 People were basically just pressed 35:05 into certain mental pictures that they had of God. 35:11 They believed that God was a tyrant looking down 35:14 and ready to beat you up if you got out of the line. 35:17 If you go to Europe and you go to the great cathedrals 35:19 you see all sorts of weird creatures 35:23 that images of them allover beast or demons 35:28 or there're all sorts of different strange creatures 35:32 there on cathedral walls. 35:34 And it was there to inspire fear 35:37 and there were some pictures of hell 35:39 and people burning in hell and all that. 35:40 Well, no one wanted to go to hell. 35:43 I mean if you saw you're gonna go to hell 35:44 and burn forever, who wanted to do that. 35:46 So it was easier to obey than to what? 35:50 To disobey. 35:52 But the problem is this friends, 35:53 just like in communism. 35:54 I remember in communism they try to scare people. 35:57 They would pick somebody as a victim 35:59 and they put in the prison with the hope 36:01 that would then take care of the rest of the people. 36:04 But all it did was have people just go underground. 36:06 They did what they wanted to do secretly. 36:09 And so you cannot change a human heart my friends, 36:12 by forcing them into conformity. 36:14 What do you say? Amen. 36:16 You have to give people the opportunity 36:18 to believe and to accept the power of Christ to change. 36:21 Well, the white horse or the pale horse pardon me, 36:24 and that faith and so then from that then the Bible says 36:30 "When he'd opened the fifth seal, 36:32 I saw under the altars the souls of them 36:35 that were slain for the word of God, 36:37 and for the testimony which they held." 36:40 Now, I want you to notice something interesting here, 36:41 by the way some people think this is actual place 36:44 and they use this text to prove that 36:45 there are people down there underneath the earth 36:47 some place under the, in hell. 36:49 This is not talking about that at all. 36:52 This is saying that souls under the altar, 36:54 when it say souls under the altar where is an altar, 36:57 no one is speaking where do you find an altar? 36:59 In the church and what is it telling you, 37:01 that these people lost their lives, where? 37:04 In the church, all right. 37:06 And that it says that they were slain for what? 37:10 For the word of God and for their testimony. 37:13 In other words the only crime they committed was simply that 37:16 they believed in the Word of God and testimonies. 37:18 There were people called Waldensians 37:19 and I've been to the Waldensian valley 37:21 there in Italy and in Switzerland 37:23 and those people with actually were became merchants. 37:27 I've been through the college there 37:28 its still a building made out of rocks 37:31 and when you go there you realize 37:34 the sacrifice of these people 37:36 made to be able to maintain in their hearts to Word of God, 37:41 and so their kids were taught how to be merchants. 37:44 And then they were given the Bible. 37:46 They would handwrite the Bible. 37:48 And then they were given the pages for the Bibles 37:50 and these people went around as merchants 37:52 and when they found somebody 37:53 that they thought would be a believer, 37:55 they would give a page of that 37:56 of the Bible to those individuals. 37:59 Unfortunately, sometimes they give it to the wrong person, 38:01 they would turn them 38:03 and what is supposed to happen to them? 38:04 They were burnt up to stake. 38:08 You go over there to the Waldensians, 38:10 you'll see paintings of when the Roman's armies 38:15 would go and try to destroy these villages-- 38:20 whole villages of Waldensian people. 38:23 You see horrible pictures of soldiers 38:25 holding a baby upside down and then other soldier 38:28 with a sword to split the child in half. 38:31 You see, all sorts of things happening there. 38:34 It was a terrible time that this took place 38:37 and so many people died for their faith. 38:40 But it says then that they were under the altar, right. 38:44 "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 38:46 How long, O Lord, holy and true, 38:49 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood 38:51 on them that dwell on the earth?" 38:53 How long, O, what? How long, O Lord. 38:57 Now listen, this is a same wording 39:01 that you'll find in the Book of Genesis. 39:02 For example, does blood have a voice? 39:08 Does it? No. 39:10 It says "And they cried with a loud voice, 39:13 saying, how long, O Lord-- 39:15 dost thou not avenge our blood on them 39:17 that dwell on the earth." 39:18 Well, it says like they're crying 39:19 well, in Genesis, in the Book of Genesis 39:22 we're told that the people-- pardon me, 39:27 King himself who killed Abel 39:29 that God tells Cain that the blood of Abel 39:33 also is crying out. 39:34 But notice it says, "White robes are given unto Him 39:38 and it was said unto them, that they should" what? 39:41 "Rest." 39:42 So if they're resting you cannot be crying 39:46 all the time in resting, right? 39:48 So, obviously there were slain 39:50 and there were told that they should rest 39:52 and they should rest until when? 39:55 "For a little season until the fellow servants 39:57 also and their brethren should be killed as they were 40:00 and that time should be fulfilled." 40:02 Well, as I said in the Book of Genesis, 40:06 the same languages is had there as remember 40:09 as I mentioned about Cain and Abel God said to Cain 40:12 "And He said what that thou done? 40:14 The voice of thy brother's blood crieth 40:16 unto me from the ground." 40:18 In other words what this language is simply saying is 40:20 that people were innocently killed 40:23 and because they were innocently killed, 40:26 justice was demanded. 40:28 What was demanded? Justice is demanded. 40:32 Okay. 40:34 We have the same saying today. 40:37 For example the Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline 40:42 said the following. 40:43 "Victims whose voices were brutally silenced 40:46 by the evil of one man 40:47 will now have their voices heard again." 40:50 Simply he's referring to what? Justice will be had. 40:55 And so that's in reference to what God is referring to, 40:59 people were killed in the dark ages 41:01 and they were crying "how long, O Lord." 41:03 And the Lord said basically you rest 41:07 and, in fact in the Revelation Chapter 14 41:09 it says, blessed are the dead, they rest in the Lord. 41:13 They what? They rest in the Lord, okay. 41:17 And so the idea is you hold on tight, 41:23 I'll take care of it. 41:25 Vengeance is mine saith the Lord. 41:29 Well, as we continue then, the scripture reveals 41:32 that people were having being killed et cetera 41:39 finally were arrayed with white garments. 41:42 In other words you remember the reformers, 41:44 for example, Luther, Zwingli, Hus and Gerome. 41:47 In Switzerland, you can go to Switzerland 41:49 and by the university down there in Geneva 41:52 you'll find a wall called the Reformation Wall 41:55 and there in that Reformation Wall, 41:56 you will find statues of the reformers. 42:01 Hus and Gerome et cetera, 42:03 they're now considered honored men. 42:06 In those days they were considered 42:08 to be betrayers of the faith. 42:10 People worthy only of the worst type of death 42:15 but God saw them as righteous people. 42:18 He saw them as what? Righteous people. 42:21 These men were holy men. 42:22 God had called them and God had called them 42:25 to bring the light out of darkness. 42:28 Remember the Dark Ages finally, 42:30 a great light shown on the Dark Ages. 42:32 Different reformers began to come up 42:34 in England, in Switzerland, in Germany. 42:37 All over people began to sprout up 42:40 right from within the church. 42:41 Most of these people were monks, friars, priests, 42:45 who began to read the Bible for the first time 42:47 and discovered the wonderful truth of salvation 42:50 as it is found in Jesus Christ. 42:52 And so the Bible says 42:53 "then that they were given white robes" 42:55 and according to the scriptures, 42:57 white robes then represents what? 42:59 "Righteousness." 43:00 So these people were considered to be what? Righteous. 43:04 Not criminals, righteous people. 43:07 Well, we go into verse 12, 43:11 "I beheld and when he had opened the" what? 43:14 "Sixth seal and lo, there was a great earthquake 43:16 and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, 43:18 and the moon became as blood." 43:20 So the sixth earthquake actually, 43:22 I mean the sixth plague 43:23 actually opens with an earthquake. 43:27 Now notice then as we continue the next verse, 43:30 it says "the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, 43:33 even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, 43:36 when she is shaken of a mighty wind." 43:38 And so we now see then 43:41 that the earthquake opens the sixth seal, the what? 43:45 Earthquake opens the sixth seal. 43:47 So we come all the way through the Dark Ages, 43:50 we now come to the time of the reformation 43:53 and then as an evidence that we've been ushered 43:57 into what the Bible calls it time of the end, 44:00 there's an earthquake. 44:01 There's what? An earthquake. 44:03 And it has to be in Europe because all of these things 44:05 we're talking about so far are taking place where? 44:09 In Europe. 44:10 And so there must be an earthquake 44:11 in Europe at that time. 44:12 And did it take place? 44:14 Well, the scripture reveals then 44:16 that an earthquake did take place in Lisbon 44:20 and when it did hit in Lisbon, 44:23 it happened to hit on a religious day 44:26 and the history reveals that the earthquake hit 44:30 and it actually affected over 2,000 miles 44:34 and the loss it says from 60,000 to 90,000 people 44:38 died in six minutes. 44:41 It's the terrible earthquake that hit, 44:43 there're people who thought 44:45 that they could find refuge in the church, 44:46 you know, the idea is God is in the church 44:48 so your running to the church. 44:49 Well, the church is crumbled on them, 44:51 many people died. 44:53 There was some people who went after the dock, to the port, 44:56 thinking that they could find shelter on the port 44:58 and as they were there a great tsunami came 45:00 and swallow them away, 45:02 it was a terrible time that took place in Europe. 45:04 And then the Bible says, after the earthquake 45:07 there would be the darkening of the day 45:10 and then it says that the stars would fall. 45:14 So, the question is when did all these things take place? 45:17 Well, let me just give you the dates. 45:19 The first one the earthquake took place 45:21 November 1, 1755 in Europe 45:23 and there was a terrible earthquake 45:24 it actually cause the current of some rivers 45:27 to go backwards it affected all the way 45:29 around Europe and Africa, North Africa et cetera. 45:32 The second sign the darkening of the sun 45:35 and the dark day it happened in 1780. 45:38 You can go into the internet and check up 1780, May 19, 1780 45:45 and it will tell you about the dark day, 45:47 it will tell you the phenomena that's unexplainable, 45:49 it just all of a sudden it happened 45:52 the things kind of shutdown. 45:54 Then on November 13, 1833, 45:58 you'll find also that a spectacular thing took place. 46:02 There were shooting stars that they say, 46:04 they were about 200,000 per hour. 46:07 How much? 200,000 per hour. 46:11 And each event people thought it was the end of the world 46:14 and in each event people went into the church 46:16 to make peace with God. 46:18 Isn't it interesting how it is? 46:19 That people can be living a wow righteous life 46:23 and when some disaster takes place where they go to? 46:27 Remember this friends, and I heard this 46:29 and I believe it to be true because I was in a military, 46:32 they say there are no foxhole atheists. 46:36 And there're no what? No foxhole atheists. 46:40 And I will tell you when you are in a foxhole, 46:43 you got to believe in something? 46:44 You got to believe in what? Something. 46:47 When bullets are flying all over you 46:50 and you'll see bullets coming in your way, 46:55 you got to believe in something. 46:56 I remember when night time the machine guns went off 47:00 and the bombs gone off and all that. 47:02 I like-- we were in the constant home 47:04 not to go to sleep and the guys would say Torres, Torres. 47:09 How can you sleep with all that? 47:11 Now I said, leave me alone I rather be asleep 47:13 than alive than awake you know. 47:15 And what if a rocket hits us? Well, I don't want to know. 47:22 Your crazy Torres go back to sleep, 47:24 they would say. 47:26 I had made my peace with the Lord 47:27 and I have knelt down and after I'd knelt down 47:30 I have made my peace with the Lord 47:32 and the Lord could take care of me. 47:35 And if a rocket hits so big, what do you say? 47:38 And so, in each case people would fly 47:43 and run to the churches but unfortunately friends, 47:46 you cannot have a Fire Escape Religion. 47:48 You cannot have what? A Fire Escape Religion. 47:52 God would rather to have faithful people 47:54 who love Him, what do you say? 47:55 Amen. 47:56 Well, then it says, 47:58 "And the heavens departed as a scroll 48:03 when it is rolled together and every mountain and island 48:05 were moved out of their place." 48:09 And finally, the Bible reveals then, 48:13 in verse 15 that something wonderful happens, 48:16 so it said, "the Lord returns." 48:20 In other words, I want you to understand 48:21 this according to Revelation, 48:23 you and I are living between verse 13 and 14. 48:26 Between what? Verse 13 and 14. 48:31 In other words, "we are living in the end of time." 48:34 We are living what? "In the end of time." 48:38 Those signs have already taken place 48:40 and next sign that will take place 48:43 is the seventh seal that's open. 48:45 But listen when the Lord returns it says then, 48:48 "That the kings of the earth, and the great man, 48:50 and the rich men, and the chief captains, 48:52 and the mighty man, and every bondman, 48:53 and every freed man, hid themselves in the dens 48:55 and in the rocks of the mountains. 48:56 And they pray to the rocks and mountains, 48:59 they fall on us, and hide us from the face of him 49:02 that sitteth on the throne, 49:04 and from the wrath of the Lamb." 49:06 And verse 17 says, 49:08 "For the great day of his wrath is come, 49:10 and who shall be able to stand?" 49:12 Now that question who shall be able to stand 49:14 is answered in chapter 7. 49:18 In the Book of Revelation Chapter 7 49:19 which is the parenthesis between the sixth seal 49:22 and the seventh seal, you'll find the answer. 49:25 And the answer is, 49:27 "There they have washed their robes 49:29 in the blood of the Lamb." 49:31 Who will be able to stand? There they'd have what? 49:35 Washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. 49:39 And the question it says, who shall be able to stand? 49:43 The answer is they that have had their robes washed 49:48 in the blood of the Lamb. 49:52 And so the scripture reveals my friends, 49:54 that we are very close to the time 49:57 with the master shall appear. 49:58 So, you may ask the question then, 50:02 what is that mean then the silence in heaven? 50:05 Let me explain to you what's taking place. 50:07 According to Revelation Chapter 16, 50:10 it brings us all the way up to the future. 50:13 It brings us to the time when, 50:15 when the churches have basically fallen spiritually. 50:19 And then the Revelation Chapter 12 and 13 50:21 help us to understand that there're two churches 50:23 that that they come up. 50:25 Of course, the one that receives the wound 50:27 begins to be the super church. 50:29 The other one that woman dressed in white, 50:33 Revelation Chapter 12 is God's true church 50:35 but it's identified as keeping the commandments of God 50:38 and having what? 50:39 The faith of Jesus. 50:41 Then the scripture reveals 50:43 that finally as prophesy finally meets its fulfillment 50:49 that they are two distinct groups 50:50 they are those that love God one who obey and follow Him 50:53 and those that think they love God 50:55 but do not want to obey and follow Him. 50:59 Like Cain who offered to God what he wanted 51:04 but did not bring to God what God asked. 51:07 Is it possible friends, that some times 51:08 we want God to save us on our own ground? 51:12 Is that possible, yes or no? Yes. 51:15 Yes, oh, God, look I want to be saved 51:17 but I why wanted you-- 51:18 you know, won't be too hard on me. 51:19 And let me at least keep this. Let me at least do that. 51:22 My friends, listen those things that you want to keep 51:25 will only bring you harm and God knows that. 51:28 And so he tries to help us to understand 51:31 that it is now the time for us to be ready. 51:34 Now when that's-- that happens 51:36 this seventh sealed happens, 51:38 and opens up and there's silence in heaven 51:40 is because it is finished. 51:43 Then mystery of iniquity has finally come to an end. 51:46 The great controversy finally has coming to a climax. 51:50 The master has left heaven with all the Angelico's 51:53 and you read in Revelation Chapter 19. 51:57 The master promised that He would come again. 51:59 Do you remember that? 52:00 And now He is coming with all his Angelical 52:02 to rescue those who have loved Him and served Him. 52:06 And He had made the promise 52:07 but to many Christians they think oh, why this is so long 52:11 just like in the ones underneath the altar. 52:14 Oh, how long, O Lord? 52:16 And, friends, when you're suffering on this earth, 52:20 you can understand and emphasize with that. 52:22 You'll say "oh, God, how long we have to wait? 52:29 How long do I have to suffer? 52:32 How long do I have to be in this condition?" 52:37 And the Lord says, "wait, trust in Me. 52:42 But the time will come when I will come." 52:46 And when Jesus He sends from heaven 52:48 with all His Angelico's there is silence in heaven. 52:51 Why? 52:52 Because the greatest deliberation 52:55 of all of earth's history is about to take place. 52:58 Jesus is coming with all His mighty angels 53:01 to conquer and to conquer 53:02 and to be conqueror what do you say? 53:04 He is coming as king of king and Lord of Lord's. 53:06 He is coming with all His angels 53:08 and nothing on this earth will be able to hold Him back. 53:10 Well, Macarthur had promised that he would return. 53:14 I remember when my wife's family 53:16 both grandfather and great uncle were in China. 53:19 They were missionaries in China 53:20 the communism put them in concentration camps 53:23 for a while then they were released. 53:25 And Uncle Lionel then decides to go to the Philippines 53:28 and Grandpa Ham decides to go to India. 53:32 Well, Uncle Lionel didn't realize 53:33 when he went to the Philippines that war would breakout. 53:35 And then he and his son Ovendale 53:40 got caught in a prison camp 53:42 and that's why they spent three years. 53:45 Well, Aunt Pearl wrote the book about that experience 53:49 and the book is entitled "Angels Over," what? 53:52 Manila. 53:53 And her name of course is Hazel but we called her Aunt Pearl. 53:57 And Aunt Pearl tells us a story. 53:59 I remember sitting with her often times 54:01 and I always wanted to know things 54:03 that happened in the past especially with the family 54:06 and she disclosed, you know, the agony 54:09 that she was experiencing as she was hoping 54:12 that what the general had said would be true. 54:16 But you know you can wait one year 54:18 and you can do it one year then you have to wait two years 54:22 and that comes a little more difficult to endure. 54:24 Then you have to wait three years 54:26 and then it becomes even more difficult to endure. 54:29 And you begin to then understand the cry 54:31 how long, oh, Lord? 54:36 It was getting worse and worse and worse. 54:38 Her husband and son were becoming 54:40 more and more emaciated they were skinner 54:43 they didn't have much food to eat et cetera. 54:46 They were suffering hardships there. 54:47 She was suffering hardship because she had a sick mother 54:50 and all she could do is take care of her in the house 54:53 that the Japanese later allowed to stay in. 54:56 And finally one day she was outside 54:58 she heard the roaring of angels of engines in the sky. 55:02 And when she looked up she thought 55:03 it was Japanese zero, so the Japanese airplanes 55:06 but they were not, it was American air planes. 55:08 And they began to jump out of the sky and she said, 55:11 she saw those paratroopers come down they look like angels 55:14 so coming down to rescue her. 55:17 And so that's why she wrote the book 55:19 "Angels over" what? 55:20 "Manila." 55:22 And, my friends, she was so excited 55:26 that they had finally come and arrested them 55:29 and the question is this friends, 55:33 are you excited that Jesus is coming? 55:37 Are you longing for Jesus to come? 55:40 You know, I've heard some people say, 55:41 I love the Lord but I hope He doesn't come in my day. 55:46 Oh friends, how could you love the Lord 55:47 and hope that He doesn't come in your day. 55:52 My friends, if you love somebody, 55:54 you want them to come, what do you say? 55:55 Amen. Yes or no? 55:57 The more you love them, 55:58 more and more anxious you are for them to come. 56:00 No wonder John the beloved 56:02 in the last book of the Bible in the last chapter, 56:06 the last verse, the last prayer on the Bible, 56:10 "even so come" what? "Lord Jesus." 56:15 All friends, that should be the prayer of my heart 56:17 and the prayer of your heart, what do you say? 56:19 Even so what? Come Lord Jesus. 56:22 Maybe you got some business 56:24 that you think you have to take care of 56:25 before you commit yourself to the Lord. 56:27 Maybe you think you need to get a masters degree 56:29 before you commit yourself to the Lord 56:32 or may be there's something that you need to do, 56:33 I remember just recently holding a meeting, 56:35 a couple wanted to quit smoking 56:37 but they had just bought a carton of cigarettes 56:39 and they started that they wanted to finish a carton 56:40 before they quit smoking. 56:42 Oh, friends, listen, 56:44 what is that is holding you back 56:45 from giving yourself to the Lord? 56:47 Whatever it is, don't let it hold your back 56:50 what do you say? 56:51 It doesn't pay, it's not worth it. 56:53 Listen friends, if you really long to see the Lord, 56:56 then you should be willing to cast anything aside for Him. 56:59 What do you say? Amen. 57:00 I'm gonna every today would like to lift up your hands 57:02 to heaven and say, Lord, come and come quickly, 57:06 I want to see You. Shall we pray? 57:08 Our Father, You see in our hands, 57:11 oh, God, help us to long for that day 57:14 when You will appear we pray in Jesus name, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17