3ABN On the Road

When The Devil Takes A Vacation

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Pr. Louis Torres

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Series Code: OTR

Program Code: OTR000729


01:01 Welcome Back to "Digging up the Future".
01:02 We're glad that you've joined us for this Bible prophecy seminar.
01:06 We really have an exciting topic this evening.
01:09 We're going to talk about when the devil takes a vacation.
01:13 Now I know that you're going to be interested in the subject.
01:17 First of all, you know some people wonder
01:19 whether or not there really is a devil.
01:20 We're going to be looking at that.
01:22 and then the fact that he takes a vacation.
01:26 I don't know, but I want to hear all about it this evening.
01:29 But before we do that, let's just ask
01:30 the Lord's presence with us.
01:32 Father in Heaven, we're thankful this evening
01:35 that You never slumber or sleep,
01:37 You're constantly watching over us.
01:41 As we ponder the subject this evening
01:44 we're thankful for that fact, we ask that You
01:46 not only watch over, but You enter
01:49 into this place right here, right now.
01:52 You enter into our hearts and into our homes,
01:55 and You help us understand Your word.
01:58 We thank you and we come in Christ's name. Amen.
02:03 Well, we have a special number, almost a study in contrast,
02:07 talking about the devil's vacation, but before that,
02:10 let's get a picture, a vision, of the Holy City
02:13 as Chris and Anthea play for us.
02:18 [Piano starts playing]
02:29 [Trumpet joins in]
07:34 Amen and Amen!
07:38 I love that piece, and in another presentation
07:42 we're going to speak about that beautiful city
07:46 that God is designing.
07:51 A pastor visited a lady who was sick in the hospital,
07:57 who was one of his parishioners.
08:01 As he neared the bed, she was of course,
08:04 lying down into the bed,
08:07 and the pastor asked a question:
08:11 "Sister, are you sinking?"
08:17 The lady opened her eyes, and raised her brow,
08:23 and the pastor again said: "Sister, are you sinking?"
08:29 Well, the lady sat up on her bed
08:34 and looked at the pastor and said:
08:37 "Pastor, have you heard of anyone sinking"
08:41 "who is standing on a rock?"
08:48 That great exercise of faith
08:51 demonstrated by that lady,
08:55 is the kind of faith that we all ought to have,
08:57 what do you say?
09:02 Shall we pray together as we open God's word.
09:04 Our Father, as we study Your holy word,
09:10 we recognize that it is only through Your Spirit
09:12 that we can have understanding and this subject today,
09:15 is a subject that has been studied and compared
09:19 and debated on by many.
09:23 We pray tonight that Your Spirit will make it clear to us,
09:27 in Jesus' name, Amen.
09:32 The greatest promise that Jesus made to his believers
09:36 was found in John 14:1-3.
09:44 Jesus said to his disciples [text on screen]
10:22 For all Christians throughout the centuries,
10:27 the greatest hope that has lit up their future,
10:32 was the hope that some day Jesus would return.
10:37 The promise had been made and many have longed
10:41 for that promise. Many today are anxious
10:47 and desiring that Christ would return.
10:50 However, we recognize that in as much as this is
10:55 the grandest hope of all Christians
10:58 it is the very subject that the enemy would seek to
11:03 change, or to deceive with something other
11:09 than what Christ has promised.
11:10 In fact, Jesus Himself said to us: "If they say unto you,"
11:14 "Lo, He is here!" and "Lo, He is there!" do not go forth. "
11:19 "For as lightning shineth from the East even unto the West,"
11:22 "so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. "
11:25 Jesus warned that there would be counterfeits.
11:29 There would be an attempt to counterfeit
11:32 the coming of Christ, and so,
11:34 I believe tonight that one of the first things we ought
11:37 to do is clear up
11:39 that particular issue about the coming of Christ.
11:42 First of all,
11:44 the disciples, whom Jesus had promised
11:47 He would come back, met with Christ
11:50 just prior to Jesus going to Heaven.
11:55 That is found recorded in the book of Acts 1:9-11.
12:02 If you have your Bibles, you could turn there.
12:05 Notice it says that as Jesus was speaking to them,
12:11 all at once he began to rise before their very eyes
12:16 and it says in the scriptures [text on screen].
12:32 Notice then, that the scripture says
12:34 as they were talking with Him, all of a sudden
12:36 He begins to rise and He was taken up
12:39 in a cloud and receded out of their sight.
12:43 Then verse 10 tells us that [text on screen].
12:50 In other words, have you ever had one of those balloons,
12:55 or your child has had one of those balloons that float,
12:59 and all of a sudden they let go of it,
13:01 and which was does the balloon go?
13:03 Well, it begins to go up.
13:05 And have you ever watched that balloon go up and up and up
13:08 until finally, it goes out of sight.
13:11 And so, that was what was taking place.
13:14 The disciples then were standing there gazing up into heaven,
13:18 and so it says [text on screen].
13:27 Two angels, and what did they say to the disciples?
13:33 Just think of it.
13:35 They're spellbound, they had never seen
13:38 anything like that before.
13:41 I think friends, that if you were a disciples in that moment
13:47 that you would certainly be stunned
13:51 as for the first time in your life you would see somebody
13:56 defy gravity and ascend into heaven.
14:00 So Jesus rises, they're watching him go up,
14:04 the angels finally come and say: "Why are you standing,"
14:07 "looking up into heaven?"
14:08 Notice, they continue to say: [text on screen]
14:17 Notice it doesn't say "a Jesus", it says "this same Jesus".
14:36 The question then, did they see Him go into heaven?
14:39 What's the answer? Yes, of course they saw Him.
14:42 The scripture says "This same Jesus, which was taken up"
14:47 "from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner"
14:52 "as ye have seen Him go into heaven. " So did they see Him?
14:59 The answer is yes, they saw Him go into heaven
15:01 and the angels are saying to them,
15:04 the same way He went will be the same way He'll come back.
15:07 He was seen going up, and He shall be seen returning.
15:13 That's interesting, because there are others
15:17 who are saying that when Jesus comes He'll be invisible.
15:20 But listen, the scripture "as He was seen,"
15:25 "so He will be seen again when He returns the second time. "
15:29 In fact, there's another passage in scripture,
15:32 in the book of Revelation 1:7.
15:35 Notice it says [text on screen].
15:39 Now remember, Acts 1 says: "He was taken up in the clouds"
15:45 and Revelation 1:7 He comes back with what? With clouds!
15:51 As He went, so He returns in the same manner.
15:55 And notice it says: "And a few eyes will see Him. "
15:58 Is that what it says? No, it says [text on screen].
16:08 In other words, not only will
16:12 the righteous see Him, but also the wicked.
16:14 In fact, the next part of this text says: [text on screen]
16:28 So when He comes, the scripture says
16:30 that all the tribes will mourn.
16:32 It says that every eye will see Him.
16:34 Now here's a problem with that, I've heard people say
16:37 "How's it possible for every eye to see Jesus when He comes?"
16:42 Well, this is a possibility, let me share it with you.
16:51 The Earth is round, and you have
16:54 the North Pole and the South Pole.
16:57 I have been to Australia often, and in Australia you can see
17:02 what is called the "Southern Cross".
17:05 But people in the North Pole can not see the Southern Cross.
17:09 In America, for example, where you may live,
17:13 we can't see the Southern Cross, we see the North Star.
17:16 The Australians however, can't see the North Star,
17:20 or the Polar Star.
17:22 But, what's interesting is this, according to the scriptures,
17:25 Jesus comes from what direction?
17:28 From the east.
17:29 What constellation is out in the east?
17:32 Orion. The constellation of Orion is out in the east.
17:36 Now, what's interesting is this, every eye can see
17:40 from the North, and from the South.
17:43 In Australia, I can see Orion.
17:47 Up in Norway, I can see Orion.
17:51 Wherever I go, I can see Orion.
17:54 Now you may ask the question "How's it possible"
17:57 "to see a 6 foot man?" and I assume that Jesus is 6 feet.
18:01 I don't know how tall He was,
18:03 but let's assume He was 6 feet tall.
18:05 How is it possible for you to see a man up in the sky coming?
18:12 Well, let me explain it to you this way,
18:15 I thank the Russians for this because the Russians
18:19 put up in space something called a Sputnik.
18:24 How many of you have heard of the Sputnik?
18:28 The Sputnik was the first object that went up into space
18:35 and I remember as a young lad seeing
18:38 the Sputnik up in the sky.
18:41 Now we're talking about an object that's up in space,
18:47 several hundred miles up in space.
18:50 Now the question is this:
18:51 "How is it possible for a human being down here on Earth"
18:56 "to actually see Sputnik up there?"
18:58 Do you know how big Sputnik is?
19:02 You may be surprised to discover that the Sputnik
19:04 is no larger than a basketball.
19:09 No larger than what? Than a basketball.
19:13 Then how's it possible for me to see Sputnik up there in space?
19:19 Well, it is simple.
19:23 Because Sputnik was so bright
19:26 it was easily seen in space.
19:30 How many of you have seen what is called a shooting star?
19:33 Any of you have seen a shooting star?
19:35 Well if you've seen a shooting star,
19:37 do you know how big a shooting star is?
19:39 Most shooting stars are the size of a pea.
19:45 However, when it enters into our atmosphere what happens?
19:49 It light's up, and it light's up so bright that it looks
19:53 like a huge thing coming from space,
19:56 when in reality most objects
19:59 that come into our atmosphere
20:02 are small and because they light up so bright,
20:06 you can see them from distances.
20:09 So, if you can see Sputnik,
20:10 which is the size of a basketball, how difficult then
20:15 is it to see someone the size of a man?
20:19 And especially, since that man
20:24 is coming from heaven,
20:27 and He's coming with all the glory of His Father,
20:32 He is coming with the glory of the Angels,
20:36 and He is coming with His own - what? - with His own glory.
20:43 If it's easy to see Sputnik or just see a shooting star,
20:47 then how easy do you think it will be to see Jesus coming
20:50 in all His splendor and glory. What do you say?
20:53 Can you now understand how possible it is for every eye
20:57 to see Him.
20:58 But listen, if Jesus said it, we don't need Sputnik to prove it.
21:04 If the Lord said it, obviously He has a way to make sure
21:07 that everyone will see Him.
21:10 This is just an illustration to help you understand how
21:14 plausible is what the Lord said
21:17 concerning H is second coming.
21:22 When Jesus comes, He says that He brings His reward with Him.
21:26 Notice it says [text on screen].
21:37 Notice it says he comes with the glory of his Father.
21:41 I wonder how bright that will be?
21:46 I'm sure that He will outshine
21:50 the sun 1,000 times.
21:56 When Jesus comes something wonderful will take place.
22:02 5 years ago, my mother passed away.
22:07 We were saddened to have to lay her to rest,
22:10 right down in Clermont, Florida.
22:15 But we have the promises of the Lord,
22:17 and one of the things that will happen
22:20 when the Master returns, is that the dead
22:23 in Christ will rise.
22:25 Notice the promise [text on screen].
22:46 Did not the angel say "this same Jesus",
22:50 in other words, the one who you walked with,
22:54 the one who you talked with, the one who you slept by,
22:59 the one whom traveled with, the one who you ate with,
23:03 this same Jesus, and so it says [text on screen].
23:29 Wonderful promise, what do you say?
23:31 That the Master will return, that the Lord will come back.
23:35 He will come back to gather those
23:38 that have been left resting here on planet Earth
23:41 and He will call them to awake out of their graves.
23:44 The wonderful thing is this, that according to this scripture
23:47 that we just read, our rendezvous with the Lord
23:50 is not on Earth, but it says we will meet Him where?
23:54 In the what? In the Air.
23:56 No wonder Jesus said "If they say "He is here" do not go,"
24:01 "if it's in secret, do not believe it,"
24:03 "if it's in the desert, do not go forth".
24:05 Why? Because I will not meet you on the Earth,
24:10 I'll meet you where? In the Air.
24:13 No human being, or the devil himself,
24:16 will be allowed to counterfeit what the Master said
24:19 will take place when He comes a second time.
24:22 That gives us assurance then, that anyone who claims to be
24:27 the Christ walking on the Earth, can't be the Christ
24:31 because Jesus says we will meet Him where? In the Air.
24:38 It's wonderful to know how certain His promises are
24:43 and how sure we can be that we will not be deceived
24:47 if we believe in His word.
24:52 According to Matthew 5:31,32
24:57 the Master tells us that when He comes
25:00 He will separate the sheep from the goats.
25:02 In other words, at His coming there will be a separation
25:05 that will take place between the righteous and the unrighteous,
25:09 the faithful and the faithless.
25:17 This is the time when those
25:20 who have loved the Master
25:23 will have the joy of going with Him
25:25 and those who have not believed, will not go with the Master.
25:31 But what will take place? What will happen?
25:34 What is it the scripture says
25:35 will take place at the coming of Christ?
25:37 Well we already know that when He comes,
25:40 the dead in Christ will rise.
25:44 But it also tells us that the wicked will see Him
25:47 and the Bible says, according to Revelation 6:15 [text on screen]
26:05 Now why does it says that they are hiding?
26:07 Notice the rest of the passage, it says [text on screen]
26:25 So let me ask you the question then,
26:27 do the wicked see the Master coming? What's the answer?
26:30 Absolutely so! And what is it that they do?
26:34 They go and pray to the rocks. My friends, they were used to
26:38 praying to the rocks before in the form of idols and statues
26:41 and now they're still praying to the rocks, but unfortunately
26:45 the rocks and statues can't answer.
26:49 My friends, we ought to learn now to pray and talk
26:53 to the Lord Jesus Christ, what do you say?
26:55 Now is the time for you and I to get acquainted with Him.
26:59 Well, let's continue then. It says [text on screen].
27:10 We can see then that when Christ returns,
27:13 several things will take place.
27:15 In the book of Jeremiah 25:33
27:18 it also speak about that time,
27:20 and it says [text on screen].
27:30 When the Master comes, there'll only two groups on planet earth:
27:34 those who are faithful and those who are unfaithful.
27:37 And according to the scriptures the dead rise up
27:40 and the living rise up, but the wicked,
27:43 according to this, are destroyed.
27:45 [text on screen]
27:53 You may ask the question "why is it that it says"
27:58 "that they will not be buried and they will not be lamented?"
28:03 Well, you'll understand in just a few moments,
28:07 but let's notice here what the scripture says
28:11 concerning the coming of Christ and what will happen.
28:14 In this it says [text on screen].
28:30 In other words, according to the scriptures
28:35 when people are resurrected at the coming of Christ,
28:37 that is called the first resurrection.
28:40 It says that those who have taken part
28:43 in the first resurrection will not experience something,
28:46 that now is introduced the book of Revelation,
28:49 and that is the second death. Alright?
28:54 Most of us have thought that there is only one death,
28:57 but according to the scriptures there's the first
28:59 and there's the second death.
29:03 If you then, are not part of the group that rises
29:07 when Christ comes, then you will experience the second death.
29:13 But if you rise with Christ, will you experience that?
29:16 The scripture says what? No!
29:18 It says "but they shall reign with"
29:24 "Christ for 1000 years. "
29:29 That's Revelation 20:6.
29:31 You see, this may be new to you, but according to the scriptures
29:36 there are 2 resurrection and 2 deaths.
29:39 You may not have understood that before,
29:42 but I want you to notice what Jesus said when He was
29:44 speaking in His day, He said [text on screen]
30:02 Notice what it says as we continues with the verse
30:06 [text on screen]
30:23 So how many resurrections are there? 2!
30:25 There's the resurrection of life
30:28 and the resurrection of damnation.
30:30 How many deaths are there? 2!
30:32 There's the first death and there's the second death.
30:36 It is the second death that we want to avoid.
30:39 The first death happens to that good and the bad, is that true?
30:44 Yes or No?
30:45 The first death, all of us, unless the Lord returns,
30:48 will have to die. Correct?
30:51 But if we have faith in Christ we will rise again.
30:56 And if we rise with Christ the second death
30:59 will not have an effect on us. But if we do not believe,
31:04 then when that moment comes we will not rise
31:06 and if we do not rise then we will suffer
31:09 what is called the second death. But you may say: "How is that?"
31:12 Let's continues to study and you'll see
31:15 what the scripture says about this.
31:17 According to the scripture there's the first resurrection.
31:23 And there's the second resurrection.
31:27 So there's a first and there's a second, but notice then
31:30 that there's a space in between the first and the second,
31:34 just like there's a space in between the first death
31:37 and the second death. In other words, you and I may die,
31:42 my mother passed away, my little sister passed away
31:46 when I was a little boy. And I'm hoping by God's grace
31:49 that both will come to life when the Master comes.
31:54 But, according to the scriptures there will be people who
31:56 will not come to life when the Master comes.
31:59 Those people then will come to life after
32:02 this thing called the millennium.
32:03 Now you say: "where do we find that?"
32:05 Let's continue to study the scriptures and you'll see.
32:08 According to the Bible when Jesus comes
32:11 those things have happened, Satan himself will be stopped.
32:16 What will happen? Satan himself will be stopped.
32:19 According to Revelation 20, and if you have your Bibles
32:22 we can read it very quickly here, Revelation 20
32:26 notice what it says: "I saw an angel come down"
32:29 "from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit"
32:32 "and a great chain in his hand."
32:33 "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,"
32:37 "which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him for 1000 years. "
32:41 So what happens? The Lord comes and an angel grabs the angel
32:46 and binds him for how long? For 1000 years.
32:49 Then it says: "And cast him into the bottomless pit,"
32:52 "and shut him up, and set a seal upon him,"
32:54 "that he should deceive the nations no more,"
32:57 - now listen to the next words -
32:58 "till the thousand years should be fulfilled. "
33:03 So obviously, according to the scriptures,
33:06 the devil will be stopped
33:10 when Christ comes back,
33:12 and he will not be able to deceive anyone until when?
33:16 Until 1000 years should be fulfilled.
33:17 Then it says after that, after what? After 1000 years,
33:23 he must be loosed a little season.
33:25 Isn't that interesting?
33:27 So after 1000 years he'll be lose how long? A little season.
33:34 That's what it says about the devil.
33:36 Let's then consider what's happening.
33:39 According to the scriptures, the Bible says that Christ returns
33:43 with all his angels, He gathers his righteous,
33:45 and the dead in Christ rise,
33:47 the righteous living rise,
33:50 the wicked are destroyed, and the other wicked are not raised.
33:55 But also it says that the devil is taken
33:57 and cast into a bottomless pit.
33:59 What is the word "bottomless pit"? What does that mean?
34:03 The word bottomless pit is the word [text on screen].
34:07 And this is the same word that you find in Genesis.
34:11 In the book of Genesis it says that
34:14 "the earth was without form and void".
34:16 In other words, darkness was upon the face of the deep.
34:20 What happens to this Earth when Christ returns?
34:23 It's that it will be enveloped in darkness.
34:27 And that's why it says "into the bottomless pit".
34:30 So, that then begins what we call the millennium.
34:34 By the way, the word "millennium"
34:35 is not from the scriptures, it is a Latin word.
34:39 "Mille" means thousand "Annum" means years.
34:45 What you find in the scriptures is the words "1000 years",
34:48 you don't find the word "millennium".
34:51 But the millennium is a concept that most people understand
34:54 as 1000 years.
34:55 We now see then what transpires before the millennium
35:00 Let's review that very quickly and see what happens.
35:04 There are several events that take place
35:06 at the coming of Christ [text on screen].
35:31 That's the beginning of the millennium.
35:35 Now the question is this then:
35:37 What happens during the millennium? What takes place?
35:41 Let's see what the scripture says.
35:43 According to the scriptures, what happens
35:45 during the millennium is very articulated here in the Bible.
35:49 In the book of Jeremiah 4:23.
35:53 I want you to notice the wording here,
35:56 notice what it says [text on screen].
36:08 In other words, the sky will have no light.
36:11 As I mentioned before, there will be darkness on planet Earth
36:15 [text on screen]
36:53 So when does all this taken place?
36:55 At the presence of the Lord, with His fierce anger.
37:00 According to the scriptures then, when Christ comes back
37:03 He devastates the planet, and the planet is left in chaos,
37:08 in darkness, and that's where the devil is placed.
37:15 [text on screen]
37:23 Why does the prophet write this? Because according to what we
37:27 understand so far, when Christ comes back everything
37:31 is not finished because there is 1000 years that takes place,
37:35 and during this 1000 years several things happen;
37:37 the devil is bound to Earth, the Earth was left in a
37:40 devastated condition, chaotic condition,
37:43 but what about the devil?
37:47 According to the Bible this is where he takes his vacation.
37:53 It is a forced vacation.
37:56 One that he would not chose to take.
38:00 According to the scriptures, during this time it says:
38:03 "He shall deceive the nations no more,"
38:06 "until 1000 years are finished".
38:09 What is it that the devil loves to do the most?
38:13 He loves to deceive,
38:15 he loves to entrap,
38:18 he loves to enslave,
38:20 he loves to harass, to taunt, to bring pain and suffering,
38:27 and what he loves the most he will not be able to do
38:31 for how long? 1000 years.
38:38 Think of it friends. Think of that enemy
38:44 surrounded by all the dead,
38:46 the darkness and the chaos.
38:49 Everything that he worked to build
38:52 to his own glory, is all in ashes and rubble.
38:58 No longer able to tempt and harass,
39:02 has no access any longer to heaven,
39:07 as he did before.
39:09 And he is tied down here by chains of circumstances that God
39:14 has provided so that he can't do anything for 1000 years.
39:19 My friends, I can't think of any more great a punishment
39:24 then for that being to have to look at all that he has done
39:28 for 1000 years. Look at all the chaos, look at all that has
39:32 transpired, the ruin that he had brought to this earth.
39:36 God had created a gorgeous world, had He not?
39:40 And what has the devil done, he's brought it to ruin.
39:46 Now he can stay on this earth in that chaotic state, but listen,
39:54 Satan is chained according to the scriptures,
39:56 and is chained to this earth so he can no longer tempt.
40:00 But what about the righteous, what are they doing
40:02 during this time in heaven? [text on screen]
40:30 So you can see then that according to the scriptures,
40:35 God's people will reign with Christ for 1000 years in heaven.
40:39 Look, this is in perfect harmony with what He said:
40:42 "I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare"
40:45 "a place for you, I will come again, and receive thee"
40:48 "unto myself, so that where I am, you may be also. "
40:51 Here's the question, where is Jesus now?
40:55 He is in heaven.
40:57 He says: "Where I am, there ye may be also. "
41:01 So when Christ comes, He comes to take his children
41:03 to that place that He's preparing.
41:05 But I want you to notice something also, it says
41:07 that we will also be judging. 1 Corinthians 6 [text on screen]
41:32 Which angels do you think will be judged?
41:35 Not the good angels, but it would be the fallen angels.
41:39 The tables will be turned at last, what do you say?
41:43 Now we're victims of the enemy, but the time will come
41:46 when that will turn around, and we will the ones
41:50 to bring judgment upon the devil and his angels.
41:54 Notice that it says
41:56 "How much more, things have pertain to this life?"
41:59 In other words, it's saying that if you're going to be judging
42:02 angels, can't you take care of matters down here on earth?
42:05 And of course, the answer should be "Yes".
42:08 During this time then, there'll be a terrible time of searching.
42:16 This will be a time when the saints will be wondering why
42:19 this person, or that person did not make it,
42:23 or why a person did make it.
42:26 You know, some of us will be surprised to be there,
42:29 and some of us will be surprised to discover that the ones
42:32 we thought should be there, will not be there as well.
42:35 You may say: "Well, what about that preacher?"
42:37 "I thought he was a good man. "
42:39 Well, you may discover on the books it is written
42:41 all the things that he secretly was doing.
42:44 It's just like you understand there was a certain man
42:47 right here in Wichita, who all the time was attending a certain
42:50 church and while he was attending this certain church
42:54 he was the murderer who titled himself the "BTK".
43:01 All the time, going to church, he seemed to be a model citizen,
43:06 only to discover that he was the one taking poor innocent women
43:10 and murdering them. So, you may not understand
43:14 what's hidden behind, and you may wonder.
43:18 There in the kingdom you may ask the question: "Lord why?"
43:22 "Why didn't he make it? Why didn't she make it?"
43:25 I believe friends and husbands will be asking the question,
43:28 I believe wives will be asking the question, fathers, mothers,
43:31 children, will be saying: "Why? Why isn't he here?"
43:34 And God will have to reveal all, so that you will understand
43:38 that God was just.
43:39 Every person who could be saved, will be saved!
43:42 What do you say? There will not be one person
43:45 that could be saved that will not be saved.
43:48 But then there are people who,
43:49 for some reason, were not chosen,
43:51 and God will reveal what takes place.
43:54 During the millennium then, we find that: [text on screen]
44:04 What happens after the millennium? You remember
44:06 it says that "he shall be loosed a little season. "
44:09 The devil shall be loose how long? A little season.
44:12 So the millennium must come to an end,
44:15 what happens after the millennium?
44:18 And you remember it says that the dead
44:20 rise not again till after the millennium.
44:23 In other words, there's a group that does not rise again
44:26 until after the millennium and also, that the devil
44:28 is not loosed until after the millennium.
44:30 So apparently, from the scripture we find
44:33 that all who have died will all of a sudden be raised to life
44:39 after the millennium. That's why it says that the devil
44:42 can't deceive the nations until the 1000 years are completed.
44:46 In other words, at the end of 1000 years, the devil is loosed
44:50 all who have ever lived who are not saved will be raised to life
44:53 and that's why it says "blessed and holy is he"
44:56 "that takes part in the first resurrection,"
44:58 "on such, a second death has no part. " Now notice that
45:02 [text on screen].
45:20 My friends, all who ever lived, all the great generals of war,
45:25 all the warriors, all the wicked, all the evil,
45:29 all the proud, all the murderers will be raised
45:32 together after the millennium.
45:36 As I had mentioned in another presentation,
45:39 that the first death is not a punishment
45:42 because it happens to the good and the bad.
45:45 So where is the punishment? The punishment comes
45:48 after the millennium to all who have ever lived,
45:51 who have no accepted the love of Christ.
45:54 According to the scripture, it says the devil
45:57 is set loose, all the people resurrected
45:59 are gathered together by the devil to make the last attempt
46:04 to conquer God by force when he could not do it by deception.
46:08 Notice verse 5 of the same chapter,
46:10 it says [text on screen]
46:17 If they lived not again until the 1000 years were finished,
46:21 it means that they will live again after the 1000 years.
46:25 Can you see that? Yes or No?
46:28 So it says: "They don't live again"
46:31 "until the 1000 years are finished".
46:34 This is the first resurrection. In other words, referring to
46:36 those who were resurrected in Christ's name.
46:39 So we find the masses of wicked, people raised, the devil then
46:44 ushers them together to fight against God
46:47 and to finally conquer that city.
46:50 According to the scriptures, it also tells us
46:52 that the place where all the saints are, the Holy City,
46:56 comes down out of heaven, down to this earth,
46:58 with all the saints who have been taken there.
47:01 So here is a picture: that city comes back down to planet earth
47:05 and settles on planet earth. The devil then takes all of those,
47:09 all the generals, all the wicked, and the scripture says
47:12 they surround the city to make that last, final attempt
47:16 to save themselves. The Bible says in verse 9 [text on screen]
47:33 My friends, I believe that this is the time
47:36 where God's name is finally vindicated.
47:39 God has given opportunities for every soul
47:42 to respond to his wonderful love.
47:44 Listen, I'm a witness of that.
47:47 There was a time when I was in gangs,
47:49 and I was going a lot of wicked things.
47:51 But God, in His mercy, spoke to my heart, and I heard his voice
47:56 and decided to turn from my wicked ways and follow Him.
47:59 I can tell you numbers of people who I've preached to,
48:03 who have been doing all sorts of things,
48:06 yet they have heard the voice of God, and have said
48:09 "Yes, I'll follow Him," and have changed their ways
48:11 and followed the Master, but then there are others
48:14 who will never turn, no matter what God has done for them.
48:19 The many times that God delivered them,
48:21 and I know of people who have been in accidents and say
48:24 "Now I'm going to follow You", and as soon as the fear
48:26 passes by they go right back to what they were used to doing.
48:31 My friends, here at this moment I believe that as the wicked
48:36 surround the city, that God will reveal to each one
48:39 all the opportunities they had, all the times
48:42 they pushed back the voice that was pleading to their hearts:
48:46 "Oh my son, give me your heart."
48:49 At this time my friends, all will know that God
48:53 did everything to save them.
48:55 And the Bible says that every knee shall bend,
48:59 and this is the time when every knee bends in acknowledgement
49:03 that God was righteous, that God did everything possible
49:06 to save them, but my friends, a person who has not allowed Jesus
49:10 to change their hearts will not be happy in heaven.
49:15 And God, out of mercy, has to bring them to a final end.
49:19 The scripture says that the fire comes down and devours them.
49:35 Now you may think, that means they'll burn for ever.
49:38 No, it means the torment is finished,
49:40 it's done forever and ever.
49:42 In fact, the Bible says there shall be ashes
49:44 under your feet in Malachi 4:1,2.
49:49 According to the scriptures, the Bible says
49:52 that the whole Earth is enveloped in flames.
49:55 I want you to notice what it says: [text on screen]
50:05 In other words, the final conflagration of the earth,
50:07 the final fire where the devil himself is cast into
50:10 is the final end of all wickedness.
50:14 Praise the Lord my friends. I don't know how many of you long
50:18 for sin and wickedness to finish.
50:21 I think, for example, right now,
50:23 with all the things that are going on in the middle east;
50:25 innocent people losing their lives,
50:27 children, mothers, fathers. Many people are hurting,
50:31 our hospitals are full of people in pain and suffering.
50:36 And I believe that the last prayer in the Bible
50:38 should be our prayer.
50:41 Even so, come Lord Jesus. What do you say?
50:45 But finally the end of wickedness must come.
50:48 God must destroy wickedness so that finally,
50:51 righteousness can reign. In the book of Peter it tells us
50:54 [text on screen]
50:58 And by the way, that means an element of surprise,
51:01 you will not know when He's come, but when He comes
51:04 it's too late for you to do anything about it.
51:06 Either you're right, or your wrong.
51:08 [continues to read text on screen]
51:28 My friends, it may sound like a thief in the night,
51:31 but as [?] is telling you the element of surprise,
51:33 what do you say? Because if the world is burnt up,
51:36 then you know that you're either on one side or the other side.
51:40 It'll be too late to change your destiny then.
51:43 "But the day of the Lord will come"
51:45 "as a thief in the night" it says.
51:47 Notice as it continues in Chapter 3: [text on screen]
52:07 Finally God is vindicated, at last the Earth is at peace,
52:12 at last all wickedness has ended,
52:14 and the devil himself is destroyed.
52:17 He can no longer harass the world or the beings
52:21 who will have loved God.
52:23 Praise God that there's finally an end to it all.
52:26 And then according to Revelation 20 it says: [text on screen]
52:35 I wonder friends, I wonder where you would be in those days?
52:40 According to the scriptures, it says that God
52:43 makes a new heaven and a new earth.
52:46 Revelation 21 [text on screen]
52:58 Nevertheless, it says: [text on screen]
53:13 Don't you long for a world like that?
53:15 A time when there'll be righteousness on this earth?
53:20 A time when God will restore all things
53:22 back to its Edenic beauty. A time when, at last,
53:26 there won't be any more temptation,
53:28 no more suffering, no more pain, no more death.
53:33 The scripture thus tells us that that's going to happen.
53:36 The Bible does promise us, God does say that
53:39 the day will come when there will be
53:42 no more suffering on the earth.
53:44 There'll be no more tears, no more pain for the former things
53:48 have passed away.
53:49 Listen, I was in Romania preaching
53:53 at an evangelistic meeting,
53:55 and there were about 4500 people in the audience,
54:01 and one particular night a gentleman, well dressed,
54:04 came up to me with a translator,
54:07 asking if I could visit him in his home.
54:09 "Well," I said, "certainly. "
54:11 "I'll try to make time and visit you. "
54:13 He seemed like an important person in the community,
54:15 and so, I was delighted to meet with him.
54:18 Well, when he left the translator said to me:
54:21 "You know who that is?" and I said "No".
54:24 "He's the secretary of the Communist Party. "
54:27 "Oh!" I said. He said to me: "He's a ruthless man. "
54:31 "I personally, have suffered, as a Christian by his hand. "
54:37 "Well" I thought, "I wonder what he wants then?"
54:41 Finally, a Sunday morning I arrived at the house,
54:44 knocked on the door, the lady opens the door
54:46 and she says: "Come in!"
54:48 She didn't say "Please come in". She said "Come in!"
54:50 She was used to bossing people around,
54:53 and so, the translator and I sat down
54:56 and as we sat down she then said "What are you doing down there?"
55:01 Not knowing what she was getting at,
55:03 I said: "I don't know what you're asking,"
55:04 "tell me what you're asking. " She said:
55:07 "I want to know what you're doing down there. "
55:09 I said: "Madam, what is it that you want to know?"
55:12 Then she began to cry, and she began to say:
55:14 "I can't understand it. My husband... I can't tell you"
55:18 "how many times I've had to go out in the night"
55:20 "to find them drunk and have to drag them off of the street."
55:24 "I can't understand, he used to hate Christians. But", she said,
55:29 "he's been going to those meetings"
55:31 "and things are happening. He's not the same man. "
55:34 "What are you doing down there?"
55:36 "Ahh," I said "we're preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. "
55:40 Well, the man finally came in, saw his wife crying,
55:44 sat next to her and said: "Pastor,"
55:49 "something's happening to my life,"
55:52 "and I've decided to follow Jesus. "
55:55 "Is it possible for me to be baptized?" I was surprised.
56:00 I said: "Well, I'll help you. "
56:04 That man then, on the day of his baptism,
56:08 said: "Can I speak to my people?"
56:10 I said: "Certainly. " He stood there
56:13 as a former communist secretary and he said:
56:16 "You all know who I am," and you could hear "Da. Da. ",
56:19 which means "Yes", and he said: "I want to tell you this;"
56:23 "for 50 years I've been an atheist"
56:25 "and communist and an alcoholic,"
56:28 "and what atheism"
56:30 "and communism, could not do for me in 50 years,"
56:34 "the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me in 3 weeks. "
56:38 I tell you, that audience was electrified.
56:41 Our friends who are listening,
56:43 why not accept Jesus while you can still accept Him?
56:47 Why not make Him your friend and your Savior?
56:51 Will you turn to Him tonight, will you find in Him your peace,
56:56 your hope and your salvation?
56:58 Will you determine by God's grace, to say:
57:00 "I want to be among those who are living or who rise"
57:05 "to meet the Lord in the air. "
57:07 Shall we pray. Our Father, we thank You so much
57:10 for Your grace and mercy and we ask that You help us to be ready
57:14 for that wonderful day and be on the Lord's side.
57:17 In Jesus' name, Amen.


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Revised 2014-12-17