Participants: Pr. Louis Torres
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000731
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01:00 Welcome to "Digging up the Future,"
01:02 Bible prophecy exposed. 01:03 We are glad that you're with us this evening 01:05 and we have another exciting topic 01:08 and a troubling topic. 01:10 Tonight's topic is, 01:11 "When Christianity Follows the Beast." 01:15 I mean that doesn't sound to appealing to me. 01:17 I mean, I don't want to be following a beast. 01:20 But the Bible teaches that something like this will happen 01:23 and we're going to be going to the heart of 01:25 the Book of Revelation again. 01:26 But I believe that we need God's presence 01:28 before we open His word. 01:30 Let just bow our heads and pray together. 01:31 Father in heaven, tonight we are thankful, 01:34 that you are the Lamb of God 01:36 that was slain before the foundation of world 01:38 that You came, You live, You died, You rouse again. 01:42 And as we look to You as we follow You, 01:44 we don't have to follow beasts. 01:46 But tonight we'll learn something troubling 01:48 we ask that You would be with us 01:49 to bring us through the trouble to triumph. 01:52 We ask that Your spirit would be with us 01:55 and we come in Christ name, amen. 01:59 Well, its good to have you with us and you know, 02:02 it's also wonderful to be hearing special musical pieces. 02:06 And tonight, we're gonna be hearing Chris Albrecht. 02:09 And he is gonna be playing stand up, 02:11 "Stand Up for Jesus." 04:38 Stand up, "Stand Up for Jesus." 04:40 That was a wonderful piece. Thank you so much. 04:44 Little boy, had just become a brand new Christian 04:46 and he became so anxious 04:49 to share his new found faith with others. 04:52 And as he was walking down the street, 04:53 he came across and well dressed gentleman. 04:57 And he said to the man, mister, 05:00 do you know that Jesus died to save you. 05:04 Well, the man said, I'm a bishop. 05:08 The little boy not knowing what the bishop was said, 05:10 well that all right, mister, 05:12 Jesus have been saved, bishops also. 05:15 Oh friends, it's wonderful to know 05:17 that it doesn't matter who you are 05:18 or where you are in life, Jesus can save you. 05:22 Shall we pray together as we study gone through word? 05:24 Our Father, help us as we study 05:27 this important subject tonight. 05:29 Give us Your grace and understanding 05:32 in Jesus name, amen. 05:35 As we have been growing through the Bible, 05:37 concerning the prophecies and especially the beasts 05:41 the antichrist we come to night to the presentation of 05:45 when Christianity follows the beast. 05:48 In Revelation 13:1-3, you recall, 05:51 the John sees a beast coming up out of the sea 05:54 and it says then that this beast 05:56 which I show was like a leopard 05:59 and had his feet like the feet of a bear 06:01 and his mouth as a mouth of a lion 06:03 and the dragon gave him his power 06:06 and seat and great authority. 06:09 And so we are ushered into the leopard like beast. 06:15 And the Bible says, that this particular beast 06:17 would receive or seek worship. 06:19 Notice it says, 06:20 "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, 06:23 whose names are not written 06:25 in the book of life of the Lamb slain 06:27 from the foundation of the world." 06:29 So the antichrist power will be worshiped by those 06:32 whose names are not written in the book of life. 06:35 Obviously, then friends, you and I want to make sure, 06:38 that our names are written in the last book of life. 06:43 What do you say? 06:44 Most important that we do that. 06:48 In fact, the scripture says, 06:50 that we need to then understand 06:53 that this great struggle that will be ensued 06:58 is between the beast power where the Bible says, 07:03 then that the word would worship the beast 07:05 and of course Christ. 07:07 And we have told then that in Hebrews 12:2, 07:10 "that we ought to look to Jesus." 07:11 To whom? 07:12 To Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. 07:18 In other words, as the beginner of our faith 07:21 and as the one who will finish 07:24 that which He had started in us. 07:28 Who is this Jesus? 07:29 Well, according to the scriptures 07:31 which we studied already do you remember that 07:34 the Bible says that Christ is the creator? 07:38 According to Colossians 1:14 07:40 He is the one that made the heavens and the earth. 07:43 In fact, it says, all things were made by Him and for Him. 07:46 And so Christ than is the true 07:51 one that we should yield our legions 07:55 our love and our faithfulness to. 07:58 According to the Book of John Chapter 1 as well, 08:02 do you remember, in John Chapter 1, 08:04 that were told that, "In the beginning was the word, 08:08 and the word as with God, and the word was God." 08:12 And it says, the same was 08:13 in the beginning with God, verse 2. 08:15 And verse 3 says, "All things were made by him, 08:18 and without him there was nothing made that was made." 08:21 So according to verse 14, 08:23 we know that word was of course Christ. 08:26 Because it's says, the word became flesh 08:29 and dwelt among us, 08:30 we beheld the glory as of the only begotten. 08:32 And that's an interesting word 08:33 because in John 3:16, it's says, 08:36 "For God so loved the world, 08:38 that He gave His only begotten." 08:41 Obviously then, Christ is the one 08:44 who created all that you and I know the concerning this earth. 08:50 The scripture then says that as there is a power contending 08:56 Christ, seeking to you serve Christ 08:58 and that's what the word, 08:59 antichrist means, in the place of Christ. 09:03 Then you have to understand that the Bible is telling us 09:07 that you cannot serve two masters. 09:08 You have to serve one or the other. 09:10 In fact, what Paul says, concerning this, 09:13 in Roman 6:1 it says, "Know ye not, that 09:17 to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, 09:20 his servants ye are to whom ye obey 09:25 and whether of sin unto death, 09:29 or of obedience unto righteousness?" 09:33 The choice is yours, the choice is mine. 09:36 But whichever choice we exercise, 09:38 if we exercise on the side of Christ, we find life. 09:42 If we exercise on the side of the antichrist, 09:45 we find no hope because there is only one 09:49 who could save unless apologist save 09:51 and that is Christ. 09:54 So this scripture reveals then, in the Book of Thessalonians, 09:57 Paul warning concerning this power. 09:59 It says, "Let no man deceive you by any means 10:02 for that day shall not come," speaking about 10:04 the coming of Christ will not come, 10:07 "except there be falling away first, 10:10 and that man of sin be revealed, 10:12 the son of perdition." 10:14 Now there are lot of people who are trying to come up 10:17 with some ideas to the antichrist 10:20 who is some Jew that appears on planet earth et cetera. 10:24 But I want you to understand this 10:26 that according to Paul's writings 10:28 and writings of the scriptures the antichrist, the word anti 10:32 as I said before as one who takes his place 10:35 who is plant some. 10:37 Well, think about this the only another place in the scriptures 10:41 where we find the word son of perdition 10:44 is in the gospels. 10:47 And the only one called the son of perdition 10:51 in the gospels is Judas. 10:54 Now, think of this then. 10:56 There people who are thinking that the antichrist will be 10:58 something someone outside of Christendom. 11:03 But please remember if he was called the son of perdition 11:06 and the Bible says the son of perdition 11:08 then it means that the perpetrate 11:10 or the one who seeks to serve the place of Christ 11:13 must come from within Christianity 11:15 just as Judas the son of perdition 11:17 who is the friend of Christ betrayed Him. 11:21 So, we can understand then that this antichrist would be 11:25 from with in Christianity and the betrayed Christianity. 11:30 And that's interesting thought isn't it. 11:36 Notice that the Bible says in Daniel 7:25 11:39 that this power would seek to change the times and the laws. 11:45 It would seek to change the times and the laws 11:48 and of course in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 says 11:54 that is power "opposeth and exalteth himself 11:59 above all that is called God, or that" is what? 12:03 "That is worshipped, so that he as God 12:08 sitteth in the temple of God, 12:10 showing himself that he is God." 12:12 Here you see then that it must be a religious power 12:16 who seeks to displace Christ and in the place of Christ 12:21 takes the position of Christ. 12:22 So, it is from within and I've one time heard somebody say 12:26 that most, most words are lost because somebody from within 12:33 betrays their own side. 12:36 Well, the Bible then reveals 12:39 that when America rises up 12:46 and as we studied the particular chapter 12:50 rises up the Bible says then 12:52 that America would make an image to the beast. 12:56 Now, since it will make an image to the beast, 13:02 the question is how isn't image made? 13:05 The image usually is a reflection 13:08 of something that already is. 13:10 For example, when you go to the mirror 13:12 you see your image. 13:14 It is a likeness to that which is already there. 13:19 When they make some kind of stamp, 13:22 a stamp is usually some image 13:25 that is placed on the paper 13:27 that comes right from the stamp itself. 13:30 So, what's on the paper-- 13:31 the image on the paper is actually a copy of the-- 13:36 what is on the stamp or the seal. 13:39 So, when the Bible speaks about America rising up 13:43 and finally America making an image to the beast 13:47 then you have to understand that as the antichrist 13:51 has sought to change the laws of God 13:54 and as he has persecuted 13:56 the people of God to the centuries 13:57 then that leads us to understand that 14:00 if America has an image then of course it means 14:04 that it will accomplish or try to do the same things 14:06 as the beast did. 14:09 If you remember then in Thessalonians it says, 14:12 "Let no man deceive you by any means 14:14 for that day shall not come, except 14:15 there come a falling away first, 14:17 and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" 14:21 and the next verse says 14:23 "who opposeth and exalteth himself 14:25 above all that is called God, or that is worshipped 14:29 so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, 14:32 shewing himself that he is God." 14:34 I want you to remember historically speaking that 14:36 it was Cain who killed Abel, one from its own family. 14:40 Remember it was him right from his family 14:43 that betrayed the faith. 14:45 Please remember was Absolon right from the David family 14:49 who tried to take over the kingdom. 14:51 Historically speaking we see in the Bible 14:53 that it was from within that the enemy was successful 14:57 in seeking to usurp the position of God. 15:00 And so how then is it that a nation 15:06 makes an image to the beast? 15:07 What is the image to the beast and how it is to be formed? 15:11 Let's consider this then, 15:13 I want you to notice this particular quote. 15:16 It says " When the early church became corrupted 15:19 by departing from the simplicity of gospel, 15:22 and accepting heathen rites and customs, 15:27 she lost the Spirit and power of God 15:29 and in order to control the consciences of the people 15:33 she sought the support of the secular power." 15:36 So in order to control the consciences of the people 15:38 she sought the support of the secular powers. 15:42 "The result was the papacy, 15:45 a church that controlled the power of the State, 15:47 and employed it to further her own ends, 15:50 especially for the punishment of 'heresy.' 15:54 In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, 15:58 then the religious power must so control the civil power 16:04 that the authority of the State will also be employed 16:08 by the church to accomplish her own ends." 16:12 In other words, if what the Bible saying is true 16:16 America will make an image to the papacy 16:19 which means simply that it will resort to the same 16:24 means of controlling the conscience of people 16:28 as the papacy did during the dark ages. 16:30 Now, the question is will that take place? 16:34 Will it happen? 16:35 Well, I was in Germany about three years ago 16:38 and in a book store I notice a very interesting picture. 16:44 It had the cover of President Bush 16:48 was on the cover, front cover 16:50 and it was interesting that there was 16:53 a serpent like tongue that came out of the president. 16:56 Now, I should say this to you that we respect the president 17:01 and we believe that we ought to pray for our leaders. 17:04 But this is a book that I saw and the caption 17:07 that it had on that book was "it speaks like a dragon." 17:13 Now that's interesting. 17:15 It speaks like a what? 17:16 Like a dragon. 17:17 So, notice then that according to 17:24 what the Bible saying is that America 17:27 will finally began to speak like a dragon 17:30 and thus make an image to the beast. 17:38 There's no question that "The Bible predicts an erosion 17:42 of our freedoms when church and state untie." 17:47 I should say this to you also, 17:50 I think you recognize since 9/11 17:52 a lot of our freedom has already eroded. 17:56 And you may say well, this is 17:57 a political secular thing that's happening. 18:01 No my friends, the actual war that's going on right now, 18:04 though we're using bombs and artillery and rockets. 18:09 The reality is it's a religious war. 18:12 So what? It's religious war. 18:15 And sad to say it's been through the centuries 18:20 that religion has been the means 18:24 of creating tensions between people 18:27 and the result has been fatal to many innocent people. 18:32 They have been caught between the religious strives 18:36 and have suffered. 18:38 The Bible then predicts that 18:40 there is erosion of our freedoms 18:42 and is no question that it is going that direction. 18:46 Used to be I could go on an airplane 18:48 that didn't have to show anything other than just 18:50 may be my license, driving license. 18:53 Now, you have to show a passport 18:56 and then you have to take off your jacket 18:58 and you have to surrender every thing, 19:00 every thing that you have has to be analyzed et cetera. 19:05 And you go from one airport to another, 19:07 you go through that process. 19:08 Well, not only we are loosing our freedom there 19:11 but we're loosing our freedom in many places. 19:15 I want you to notice an article 19:18 written in the St. Louis Dispatch in 1991. 19:22 Notice it says "As the second century 19:24 of the bill of rights draws to a close, 19:27 the supreme court is redefining what religious liberty 19:33 will mean in the third century." 19:36 Isn't that interesting? 19:38 The Supreme Court is doing what? 19:39 Redefining. Redefining what? 19:42 What religious liberty will mean in the third century. 19:47 "Broadly, the court's new approach 19:51 helps conventional religions while hurting" what? 19:55 "Unconventional ones." 19:58 In other words, obviously 20:00 because of the religious strives has taking place 20:04 it seems as if though we're being coarse 20:08 and pushed into a situation 20:10 where everything is hell suspect. 20:12 And since everything is hell suspects 20:15 you then have to fit into some form 20:20 that is considered to be recognized and authorized 20:23 and if you don't fit into that form 20:25 then you are liable to be suspect 20:28 and the result is you can suffer. 20:30 Well, that's why it's saying 20:34 it will hurt the unconventional ones. 20:38 For what is conventional and what is unconventional? 20:41 Well, the sad thing about conventional or unconventional 20:45 is that's always subject to whoever is defining that. 20:50 And remember this religious persecution has always happen 20:56 and has been done by good people, 20:59 who are trying to force other people do 21:02 what they think is good. 21:05 So, persecution is done by good people, 21:09 who are trying to force other people become good. 21:11 The question is this, can you force people to become good? 21:15 The answer of course is no, but there's an attempt. 21:18 So, no wonder Jesus then warned 21:22 and said this to the religious leaders of His day, 21:24 "In vain do you worship Me, 21:26 teaching for doctrines" the what? 21:28 "The commandments of man." 21:30 Obviously then the issue here is that 21:33 there will be a controversy determining what is doctrine? 21:38 Correct doctrine and what is false doctrine. 21:41 But I want you to the remember this, 21:43 if you want to know what's truth 21:44 it is found in the Word of God. 21:46 Let me say this to you, before there was a Catholic church, 21:49 there is a Bible. 21:50 Before there was a Baptist church, there is a Bible. 21:53 Before there was a Presbyterian church 21:56 there was the Bible. 21:57 Before there was an Adventist church there was a Bible. 21:59 In other words, if we want to know what is truth 22:03 let us go to the Bible to determine 22:05 which faith is correct. 22:07 What do you say? 22:09 The Bible was before all these religions 22:11 and it's important for us to go to the scriptures. 22:15 In Luke 11:23 Jesus says, 22:18 "He that is not with me" is what? 22:21 "It's against me and he that gathereth is not with me 22:25 also scattereth." 22:29 This is amazing that the Bible predicts then 22:32 that there will be a deterioration 22:34 in the religious liberty 22:36 and that America will be foremost in doing this. 22:40 You know, 200 years ago, 22:41 if you had said something like this in public 22:45 they would have thought you were mad. 22:47 Two hundred years ago, basically 22:50 America was just starting. 22:54 It was just a few people would gather together 22:57 for the purpose of having religious liberty. 23:00 They left Europe, because they wanted to have 23:04 freedom from a pope and freedom from a king, 23:06 that's why the left. 23:08 They came here to America and it is hard to believe that 23:14 the ones who came to escape religious intolerance 23:19 that the Bible predicts will be the very ones, 23:21 who will bring it again. 23:23 Is it possible that a Christian can be placed in a position 23:28 where, while they're thinking they're doing good, 23:31 they're actually following the beast. 23:34 Is that possible? 23:35 And the answer of course is, yes. 23:38 It was not long ago, if you remember John Paul. 23:43 He became a very popular pope in the world, 23:46 many people loved him. 23:48 And at that time, we wish going through 23:52 what was called a cold war. 23:54 You remember the, the tensions that were, 23:56 there were between the Soviet Union and America. 24:00 I remember as a little boy very hard, 24:03 the famous dictator Khrushchev 24:07 had declared of course he took off his shoe 24:09 and he was angry and they determine that 24:12 they would bury America. 24:14 Well, that tension was high, until, until something happen. 24:20 How did communisms fall? 24:23 What contributed to its demise? 24:26 I want you to note something interesting. 24:31 The magazine Times reveals that 24:35 there was a holy alliance. 24:37 A holy what? Alliance. 24:40 Notice what it says, how Reagan, President Reagan 24:43 and the pope conspired, isn't that interesting turn. 24:47 What did I do? 24:48 Conspired to assist Poland's Solidarity Movement Alliance 24:55 to the demise of communism. 24:58 Now, it's interesting then that 25:01 when President Reagan was our president 25:05 and there was a desire to somehow 25:08 bring a demise to communism, 25:12 that it took America and the pope 25:16 to meet together join together and plan away 25:21 a bring and the demise of communism. 25:26 Just before this, I was in New York City 25:29 and I was preaching a prop-- a prophecy seminar. 25:33 One of my titles for the seminar was 25:35 when communism's doom predicted. 25:40 And I was about to preach that 25:42 and the pastor Yugoslavian pastor said to me, 25:45 please don't preach that. 25:46 And I said why not? 25:47 He said because there may be spies right in our midst, 25:50 and if you preach against communism, 25:52 why they may go back to our country 25:54 and inform that we are against the system over there, 25:57 and our own loved ones will suffer as a result. 26:00 Well, obviously as a pastor and the Christian 26:02 I didn't want people to suffer 26:03 because of what I was saying. 26:05 So, I decided, all right, I won't preach that sermon. 26:08 Well, about a month and a half later, 26:11 what do you suppose happen? 26:13 The wall in Berlin came down 26:15 and then that pastor called me up and he said, 26:18 I can kick myself a thousand times, 26:22 if I had let you preach that sermon, 26:24 today many people who were there would have believed, 26:28 the veracity of the Word of God. 26:32 My friends, that alliance 26:37 brought down to demise of communism. 26:39 It took of course America 26:41 and the Catholic Church to do it. 26:47 Then of course we're seeing something amazing 26:50 taking place, the Lutherans, the Presbyterians. 26:57 Many, many different denominations 27:01 are finally coming together and joining together. 27:05 Some people think that's a good thing, 27:08 and I believe friend said, 27:10 we ought to be at peace with one another. 27:14 But we ought not to sacrifice truth for peace. 27:18 And so, as we're getting closer to the end of times 27:21 there is an ecumenical spirit that is galvanizing 27:27 the different Christian religions into one 27:29 and the Bible predicted that there was to take place 27:32 and the Bible says then that the time will come 27:35 when Protestant America, 27:38 will make an image to the beast in enforcing laws, 27:42 that may appear to be for the good of society, 27:46 but in the final end, there will be laws 27:49 that will contradict the very law of God. 27:51 Please remember, Jesus says, if you love Me, do what? 27:56 Keep My commandments. 27:58 And remember He said "In vain to they worship Me 28:01 teaching for doctrines the commandments of man." 28:05 As we continue here, I want you to notice that 28:08 there are movements underfoot here in of America, 28:12 with the intention of bringing, 28:14 bringing religion into government. 28:19 I have been at many occasions invited to participate 28:24 in movements of this sort. 28:26 I have not participated. 28:28 I remember I was a pastor in Kansas City, Missouri, 28:31 several years ago and there was a religious group 28:34 that wanted to march in Washington DC. 28:37 They wanted to have a million people 28:39 march in Washington DC. 28:41 And I recall, they had sent me a letter 28:43 and said something like this, 28:45 "Let us lift up Christ and put down doctrine." 28:48 If you join us, we'll give you seat on the platform. 28:52 Well, please understand that I was, I was thankful that 28:56 they thought that much of me 28:58 that they would want to invite me. 29:00 But think of this, how can you lift up Jesus 29:03 and put down His doctrines? 29:06 That's an oxymoron 29:08 that cannot exist, is it conundrum. 29:11 In other words, it doesn't make any sense. 29:14 The only way that you and I can know 29:16 the real Jesus is by His teachings. 29:18 What do you say? 29:19 Without the teachings of Christ, 29:21 you can come up with any Jesus. 29:22 You can come up with any Christ. 29:24 And no wonder, people have followed Jim Jones 29:27 or David Koresh 29:28 or others thinking that these were the Christ. 29:31 But friends, it is the teachings of Christ, 29:34 that help us to know who the true Christ is. 29:36 What do you say? 29:37 And if you put down doctrine to lift up Jesus, 29:40 you can lift up any, any Jesus of your desires. 29:46 Well, as we continue on, 29:50 we see then that their movements on the foot, 29:54 Christians, now are bounding together. 29:57 The book there, concerning James Dobson, 30:00 in the book, Liberty in 1980, page 4, notice what it says. 30:05 "If Christians unite we can do" how much? 30:08 "Anything, we can pass any law or any amendment 30:12 and that's exactly what we intend to do." 30:15 And so, good well-meaning people are thinking that 30:20 the way to get people in order is through legislate. 30:23 But even Jesus himself never legislated. 30:27 He simply appealed. 30:29 He simply what? He appealed. 30:31 He says, if you love Me, 30:36 I'm thankful that our master appeals to us, what do you say? 30:42 Can you imagine what heaven would be like 30:45 if all of us were corralled and then forced to have 30:52 to do whatever God says us to do? 30:56 We would been slaves. 30:59 Born man and born woman, 31:01 we would be automatons or robots. 31:08 But God is love and God appeals to us. 31:12 I remember one time when I was in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 31:16 I was a pastor there and I was a watchdog 31:23 for the, for the church concerning any legislation 31:26 that may have an impact on religious freedom. 31:30 And as I was there, I had to do with several bills 31:34 that have been introduced and one particular bill 31:37 that was being introduced I've somehow missed 31:39 because most bills have all stack of pages like this, 31:43 and this particular bill is only one page. 31:45 And so I hadn't given it much attention 31:47 because I didn't think, it amounted to much. 31:50 But when I saw, they senate chambers filling up 31:52 with all sorts of people especially 31:54 I saw a lot of them with, turnabout call-- 31:57 collars, you know what I'm talking about. 31:58 Religious people, nuns et cetera, 32:00 ministers, Protestants and all that, 32:02 and that's senate chambers were filled with over 200 people. 32:05 I saw what in the world I missed. 32:07 I went to my little box and found the one sheet, 32:10 and what it supposed it was? 32:12 It was a bill to try to enforce a Sunday law. 32:17 And I found myself in a very difficult situation 32:20 because I do not believe that religions should be legislated. 32:25 I believe that Christ has power to change the human heart. 32:28 What do you say? 32:29 And is that Lord, cannot change our hearts, 32:32 then we are all men most miserable. 32:35 And so, I decided, I needed to speak against it, 32:38 but it was speaking against a whole tide of good people 32:42 who were trying to use the argument that 32:45 because young people were getting drunk on Sunday 32:48 that the best way to stop young people 32:51 killing themselves on Sunday, was to stop drinking, 32:54 selling alcohol on Sunday 32:55 and therefore shut everything down on Sunday. 32:57 Well, that sounded like a good argument. 33:00 However, when I had to speak about it, 33:02 I needed to make it clear with the audience 33:05 that I did not believe young people 33:06 should drink at all period. 33:08 Live alone by alcohol on Sunday, 33:11 but I said to the audience 33:12 I said, God does not legislated, 33:15 what we ought or ought not to do on Sunday. 33:19 This is a religious issue and I appeal to the committee 33:23 to reconsider what they're doing. 33:25 Well, they thought I was mad and I was crazy 33:27 and finally the chairman of the committee said, 33:30 reverend Torres, if everyone was like you, 33:32 where would we be. 33:34 And I said in heaven. 33:35 Well, that broke the audience up into laughter, 33:38 but the point I was making was this. 33:43 You cannot legislate religion but there were group there 33:47 with that intent to enforce a Sunday religious observance, 33:53 under the guys of secular laws. 33:56 My friends, 34:01 the economical movement has, has snuck in 34:06 and it sounds like there is a good intention, 34:09 but I remember for example in Atlanta Georgia, 34:15 the promise keepers is a movement to try to make men 34:20 become more responsible to their families. 34:23 And I believe that men should be 34:25 responsible to their families. 34:26 I believe that men should take care of their wives 34:28 and their children, nothing wrong with that. 34:31 However let me tell you what took place, I was not present, 34:34 but I had a personal friend who was present 34:36 and he said this. 34:38 He said that one of the speakers gone up 34:40 and said, I want how many denominations do we have here. 34:44 Well done, unfortunately among Christians today 34:48 in North America there are about 34:49 1,700 different denominations. 34:51 And so, obviously there are a lot of denominations 34:54 represented there. 34:55 Well, he said, at the count of three, 34:58 I want you to shout your particular denomination. 35:00 Are we ready? 35:02 One, two, three and everybody shouted whatever it was 35:05 Baptist, Southern Baptists, Pentecostal, Presbyterian 35:09 whatever it was. 35:11 And so then he asked the question, 35:13 what does that sound like? 35:14 Well, it sounds like confusion. 35:17 Then he said, all right now, at the count of three 35:20 I want you to call out Jesus, shout the name Jesus. 35:24 Now are you ready. 35:25 One, two, three, everybody shouted, Jesus. 35:27 Well, he said, now how does that sound? 35:30 All that sounds like unison. 35:33 Which one would you prefer? 35:35 Oh, friends, can you have unison in harmony 35:37 just because you call out a name? 35:39 Can you? 35:40 Listen, it is in the name of Christ 35:43 that all the Christ have been perpetrated. 35:46 It is religion that has been a committing such atrocities 35:49 throughout the centuries. 35:52 I remember I was on a plane, not too long ago in Switzerland 35:56 and as I was boarding the plane, 35:58 a man, a scientist was an atheist, 36:02 discovered I was a pastor and he said, 36:05 a religion has been responsible for 36:08 millions of innocent deaths. 36:10 And I said you're right. 36:13 He thought I was gonna deny that. 36:14 I said, that's true, that's true. 36:17 In fact Mohammed said this. 36:20 He has quoted the saying 36:23 "if it weren't for the Christians, 36:25 the whole world would be Christian." 36:31 Sad commentary but oftentimes true. 36:35 Oftentimes my friends, we live in such a way, 36:38 we claim to be Christians. 36:40 We profess Christianity, but we're dishonest at work. 36:45 We do things we ought not to do. 36:47 No wonder they're so many people 36:49 who turn away from the Bible, Christianity. 36:53 I did the same. 36:54 I turned away from Christianity because of Christianity. 36:58 I remember the boy next door to me 37:00 had the filthiest mouth in the block 37:01 and he was the altar boy. 37:04 I remember many things that took place with religion. 37:08 And it simply just turn me away from religion. 37:10 That's what contributed to my 37:12 finally become an atheistic thinking. 37:16 Isn't it sad that the very thing 37:18 that God has given to us, a faith that would make us one, 37:23 that faith has somehow been confused 37:26 and the different religions have been used for the purpose 37:31 of dividing rather than uniting us to Christ? 37:35 Well, as we continue my friends, 37:39 there's no question as we see, which way we're heading. 37:44 John Cardinal O'Connor, the Archbishop of New York, 37:49 concerning the book that we have just passed up 37:52 Evangelicals and Catholics toward 37:54 a Common Mission Together by Charles Colson, 37:58 notice it says. 37:59 "This book is a giant step toward understanding 38:02 not only our differences, but how common is our goal 38:05 and how much we share theologically." 38:07 Speaking, according to the scriptures, 38:11 the scripture one says that there would be 38:13 an amalgamation, a unity taking place 38:16 between the beast, the papacy of course 38:18 and Protestantism. 38:20 And we see before our very eyes that's taking place. 38:23 But the Bible says, "upon their forehead 38:26 was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, 38:29 The Mother of Harlots and Abomination the Earth. 38:32 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints 38:34 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus 38:37 and when I saw her, I wonder with great admiration." 38:42 As you recall history reveals that about 50 million people 38:46 suffered for the crime of heresy during the dark ages. 38:51 And so, the scripture says that Mystery Babylon 38:55 has been the one responsible for that, 38:58 and you can understand how it is 39:00 that the Bible warns us saying that 39:02 we're heading in the same direction. 39:05 In fact, the scripture says, 39:06 "And I heard another voice from heaven," from where? 39:09 "From heaven saying, come out of her, my people, 39:13 that ye be not partakers of her" what? 39:15 "Of her sins," and what else? 39:17 "And that you receive not of her plagues." 39:20 God tells us that, this amalgamation, 39:23 though it may appear to be good, 39:25 well actually in a final end be a move that you serves, 39:30 what God has offered to save man 39:32 and in the place of that, try to give man something 39:35 that, that eventually will bring destruction to him, 39:39 rather than the eternal life. 39:42 And so, no wonder Jesus said again 39:45 "Howbeit in vain to worship me, 39:47 teaching for commandments" the what? 39:50 "The doctrines of men." 39:51 Now why does it say, the doctors of men. 39:53 Well it says the doctrines of men, 39:55 because you recall it says that this powers 39:57 is thing to change the times in the laws. 39:59 Well, what law in the scriptures 40:01 has to do with times? 40:04 Well the only law that I know the Ten Commandments, 40:07 it has to do with time, says the Sabbath. 40:09 The seventh day of the week. 40:11 Now, I want you to notice, 40:14 who changed the seventh day of the week 40:17 to the first day of the week of worship? 40:19 Notice a catechism, 40:23 the congress catechism Catholic church page 50. 40:27 Notice what it says, the question 40:29 "which is a Sabbath day?" 40:31 The answer is, the Sabbath "Saturday is the Sabbath day." 40:36 Next question "Why do we observe Sunday 40:38 instead of Saturday?" 40:39 And the answer is, "We observe Sunday instead of Saturday 40:42 because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity 40:44 from Saturday to Sunday." 40:46 In other words, we're finding out then, 40:48 let the beast actually did indeed changed that law 40:52 which has time, which is the Sabbath. 40:54 So today most people are keeping 40:57 what day of the week as a day of worship? 41:00 Well, they're keeping Sunday. 41:02 Why do they keep Sunday? 41:03 It isn't because it's found in the scriptures. 41:06 It is because there was a change 41:08 and since that change took place in the past, 41:11 according to the scriptures the same change will be 41:14 enforced by Christianity in the last days. 41:17 Notice this statement, from-- "Catholicism 41:21 and Fundamentalism" by Karl Keating. 41:26 Notice it says, "Fundamentalists 41:28 meet for worship on Sunday, 41:30 yet there is no evidence in the Bible 41:32 that corporate worship was to be made on Sundays. 41:36 The Jewish Sabbath, or the day of rest was, 41:39 of course," what day? 41:42 "Saturday. 41:43 It was a Catholic Church that decided Sunday 41:45 should be the day of worship for Christians, 41:48 in honor of the resurrection." 41:51 Of course, we know then from history, 41:56 that God never intended to have His day change 42:00 because the Bible tells us than 42:02 that is a law that could not be changed. 42:04 Jesus says, "Till heaven and earth pass not one jot 42:08 not one twiddles shall no wise pass from the law." 42:11 And so if Jesus says that His law cannot be changed 42:14 till all be fulfilled then obviously we see then 42:17 that somebody else changed it. 42:19 A Cardinal James Gibbons, "You may read that 42:21 the Bible from Genesis to Revelation 42:23 and you will not find a single line 42:26 authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. 42:29 The Scriptures enforces 42:31 the religious observance" of what? 42:33 "Of Saturday." 42:35 Well, Dignity and Duties of the Preach, 42:40 "God Himself is obliged 42:43 to abide by the judgment of His priest, 42:45 and either not to pardon or not to or to pardon." 42:50 In other words, what we see here is that 42:53 that there's a substitution for the prorogues of God. 42:58 God gave the commandments 43:00 there's been a change to the commandments. 43:02 Now we see that people, 43:04 I think that they can get their forgiveness from a man 43:07 rather them forgiveness from God. 43:10 "According as they refuse to give up absolution, 43:13 the sentence of the priest precedes, and God" what? 43:16 "Subscribes to it." 43:18 My friends, we could see then that there there's obviously 43:22 a real intent to do what is Lucifer 43:26 want to dip to begin with. 43:28 If you remember in Isaiah Chapter 14 the devil said, 43:31 "I will ascend above the stars of heaven. 43:37 I will be like the Most High." 43:40 The controversy that began the in heaven 43:43 and was transferred down to the Garden of Eden 43:46 has been continuing all the way through history. 43:49 The main controversy it's over who you will serve. 43:55 The enemy has sought any means 43:58 to have this allegiance given to him 44:00 but at the same time God has never given up 44:03 His rifle position for us to render our worship to Him. 44:08 And so there's that controversy 44:11 and when Jesus Christ came 44:13 the devil when he saw that they could not deceive Christ 44:16 finally, said look you don't have to fight anymore 44:18 for the world's are given to you 44:20 and all you have to do is bow down and worship me. 44:22 Obviously then the final end of Lucifer is to 44:26 try to bring the allegiance of the world to himself 44:29 and the Bible says in the last days 44:31 he will convert himself as an angel of light. 44:34 In other words, he stops at no end 44:38 to receive what he wants. 44:40 If religion will serve his purposes 44:43 then he will use religion. 44:45 And unfortunately this is what 44:46 taking place in these last days. 44:48 God gave us His ten commandments. 44:51 And by the way, I've been to places where I ask people 44:54 if they know what the Ten Commandments are? 44:55 And most people don't know. 44:57 If I asked them to recite them 44:58 they don't know how to recite them. 45:00 They may remember one commandment, 45:02 "thou shalt not kill thou shalt not steal" 45:04 but when I asked them what about 45:05 what's the first commandment? What's the second commandment? 45:07 What's the third commandment? What's a fourth commandment? 45:10 Most people don't know. 45:11 And so I'm going to encourage you tonight 45:13 go home, look at Exodus Chapter 20 45:16 and find out for yourself what God says are His commandments. 45:19 What do you say? 45:21 I think its important to know God's will. 45:23 How can we know if we're defining 45:25 or going against God's will if we don't even know His will? 45:28 And so as Christians we ought to know 45:31 what the commandments are and what God says. 45:33 One of the wonderful things about the commandments is that 45:37 it says that God is the one who created heaven and earth 45:41 but in particular it is referring to Jesus Christ 45:45 because Jesus claims Himself to be the I am 45:48 and the actual commandments begins with 45:50 I am the Lord who delivered you from Egypt. 45:55 Then it says, thou shalt have no other God before me. 46:02 The third commandment of course says, 46:04 "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." 46:07 But there's only one commandment 46:09 that tells you who to worship. 46:11 If you were to separate the fourth commandment 46:13 from the other nine commandments 46:15 you would not know who to worship 46:17 because anyone can claim I am the Lord, your God, 46:21 anyone can say don't take my name in vain, 46:23 anyone can say they'll make 46:24 don't bow down to other statues, 46:26 anyone can say I'm your father and your mother? 46:29 Don't kill, don't steal, don't commit adultery, 46:32 don't bear false witness, don't covet, 46:35 anyone can say that with all those commandments 46:37 has not reveal who to worship. 46:39 Who you owe you are legions to. 46:41 Only the fourth amendment does and the fourth commandment 46:44 declares that he has the one who made heaven and earth. 46:49 Notice and in a Ezekiel 20 it says that 46:52 the reason he gave us in those commandments 46:54 especially the Sabbaths is to show that 46:56 it is a sign between them and what? 46:59 And me. 47:01 In other words, God has made a sign 47:04 that demonstrates our allegiance to Him 47:07 that they may know that I am the Lord that thus what? 47:11 Sanctify them. 47:15 I was studying not too long ago with an individual who said 47:19 how do you know which day is the Sabbath day? 47:21 You know centuries have come and gone 47:23 and things can have gone and forgotten-- 47:25 gone been forgotten. 47:27 Well, I asked them the question this Jesus forget? 47:30 They said, no. 47:31 Well, who created the earth? 47:33 Well, it was Jesus he said. 47:35 Then who came under serve to, to die for you and for me. 47:38 Well, he said it was Jesus. 47:39 How much time transpired between creation and, 47:42 and when Jesus came to redeem us? 47:44 Well, 4,000 years. 47:45 Then I asked them which day the Jesus keep? 47:47 Did he keep the day of the Jews 47:49 or did he keep the day that he gave in creation? 47:51 He said, He must have kept the day 47:53 that he gave in creation. 47:54 All right, so did He forget which day it was 47:58 for four thousand years? 47:59 What's the answer? 48:00 Of course, not. 48:01 Jesus not forget He came to keep the very day 48:04 that He rested upon and He wanted His children to learn 48:07 and to remember. 48:09 In fact, it the only commandment that's says 48:10 remember the seventh day to keep it holy. 48:14 And so Jesus then kept it. 48:16 Now let me ask you a question, has the any anytime 48:20 of information been lost between the-- 48:22 the crucifixion of Christ in our day? 48:25 In other words, is it difficult to ascertain from now 48:28 all the back to 2,000 years before 48:31 whether or not the Sabbath had been lost? 48:34 And of course, he said I don't know. 48:36 Well, think of it. 48:37 Which day have the Jews been keeping 48:39 since the time that Christ was here on the earth? 48:42 Well, he said Saturday of course. 48:44 Well, is the same day that they've been keeping 48:47 all through the centuries? 48:48 So Jesus gave the Sabbath day. 48:50 In fact when Jesus died and was buried 48:53 it says that the ladies in Luke 24:57 48:57 went and prepare spices and ointments 48:59 and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandments. 49:02 And then it said that the disciples 49:03 kept the Sabbath day. 49:05 Some people say whether the disciples 49:06 kept the first day of the week? 49:07 No, there's nothing in the scriptures 49:09 that said to the disciples kept the first day the week. 49:12 The Bible says that Paul according to his manner 49:15 was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. 49:17 They preached to the gentiles on the Sabbath. 49:19 So the Sabbath have been around for centuries. 49:23 Listen, even the dictionary tells us 49:26 which day is the Sabbath. 49:28 If you would to look at the calendar 49:30 used to be in the calendars had the Saturday 49:33 as the seventh day. 49:35 It's been changing. 49:36 But the wonderful thing is that the Book of Isaiah 49:39 helps us to understand that things that will not change. 49:43 Look at Isaiah Chapter 58 with me at this point 49:47 and I want you to notice what the Bible says there. 49:49 Isaiah Chapter 58, notice it says, 49:54 verse 13 and 14. 49:58 Notice it says, "If thou turn away thy foot 50:01 from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day 50:04 and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, 50:07 honourable and shalt honour him, 50:09 not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, 50:12 nor speaking thine own words 50:14 then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord." 50:17 Now Isaiah 66 tells us that that the light will continue 50:21 throughout eternity. 50:22 Notice what it says, Isaiah 66:22, 23, 50:26 "For as the new heaven" as the what? 50:29 "The new heavens and the new earth, 50:31 which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, 50:34 so shall your seed and your name remain." 50:36 John the Beloved in the Book of Revelations said 50:39 "I saw a new heaven and the new earth." 50:42 Obviously this is speaking about 50:45 after this earth comes to an end 50:47 and the Lord makes a new heaven and the new earth. 50:50 Notice in verse 23 it says, "It shall come to pass, 50:53 that from one new moon to another, 50:55 and from one Sabbath to another, 50:57 shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." 51:00 Who said it? Saith the Lord. 51:03 So will the Sabbath end? The obvious answer is, no. 51:07 So which said will be kept in heaven? 51:09 Well, same Sabbath that Jesus gave in creation. 51:12 Jesus rested in creation as an example for you and for me 51:17 and Jesus then wrote it on tables of stone 51:20 and the Ten Commandments. 51:21 Jesus came and lived the commandment 51:23 upon this earth. 51:24 He says, " I delight to do your will, O my God." 51:27 And finally when the disciples who followed Christ 51:32 were left behind that Jesus want to heaven 51:35 they keep the Sabbath. 51:37 And finally the scripture says that the Sabbath will be kept 51:39 throughout all eternity-- eternity pardon me. 51:46 As we are look at the dictionary 51:48 Webster's dictionary if you look up the word Saturday 51:51 it says, it is the seventh day of the week. 51:54 If you look at the way Sunday 51:56 it says it is the first day of the week. 52:02 The reason why this is so important my friends, 52:06 is because the scripture reveals 52:09 that the Sabbath is the seal of the living God. 52:13 The seal, of course has the name the title 52:17 and the dominion. 52:19 And the fourth commandment is the only one 52:23 that helps us to know who you should render 52:27 your allegiance to the Creator. 52:31 And who is that? 52:32 The Lord Jesus Christ. 52:36 So you can see my friends, from the scriptures 52:39 that God has declared that 52:41 the Sabbath will continue forever. 52:45 And what is this have to do with 52:46 Christianity following the beast? 52:48 Well, it's simple. 52:50 According to the scriptures then it will come a time 52:55 when the America will enforce a different commandment 53:00 than the Lord has commanded to show allegiance 53:06 to the power here on earth. 53:09 The time will come friends, when God has declared 53:13 that there will be economic pressure being brought to bear. 53:17 Today you and I know that America in order to 53:21 bring nations into said mission do what is calling embargo 53:27 an economic embargo 53:30 and the Bible reveals that the time will come then 53:33 when people will not be able to buy or sell 53:36 except they have the mark of the beast. 53:40 You may ask the question what is the mark of the beast? 53:43 We know now what the seal of God is. 53:46 What is the market of the beast? 53:47 You'll have to come back for the next presentation 53:49 that we make on this subject 53:51 when we talk about the mark of the beast. 53:54 My friends, you won't want to miss 53:55 that particular subject. 53:58 But let me remind you of this, Jesus gave all 54:05 so that you and I could have life. 54:10 Jesus gave His life that you and I may have power 54:18 to live that life that apart from Him 54:22 we could never live. 54:26 The Lord calls upon us according to the scriptures 54:30 to yield to Him, to follow Him. 54:34 Well, you can understand why 54:37 since He is the only one that can save my, friends. 54:40 If you put your confidence in anything else 54:43 or in anyone else you will not find salvation. 54:48 In fact, in the Book of Psalms it says "Curses is the man 54:52 who places his confidence in the arm of flesh." 54:57 We're living in serious days, we're living in times friends, 55:01 where it is essential for you to know the scriptures 55:05 where it's essential for you to understand 55:08 that there is a position that you need to take. 55:11 Jesus says "He that is not for me is against me." 55:19 There are many sincere people who do not understand this. 55:23 Sometimes people think that all we do is just 55:27 beat another people. 55:28 No, the Bible is not revealed to us for the sake of beating 55:33 but for the sake of saving, there's a difference. 55:42 I asked the question before when is a warning a good thing 55:47 before it happens or after it happens? 55:53 There was a lady who bought a cactus plant 55:57 and she took it home. 56:01 And one day as she was going by it 56:03 she heard a humming coming out of the cactus plant 56:07 and it seemed to be moving. 56:08 She got frightened. 56:10 She wondered what in the world this was. 56:12 So she ran and called 911. 56:15 Fortunately the person at the other end 56:17 knew exactly what was happening 56:19 and the person said, hurry up, get out of the house 56:22 and close the door. 56:24 All she dropped the phone ran outside and lock the door. 56:29 The rescue unit came. 56:31 They ran inside the house they grab the pot 56:34 and brought in outside in the backyard 56:36 and just as they did it exploded 56:39 in to hundreds of tarantulas. 56:44 There were spiders who had made their nest there 56:47 and they were ready and hungry to come out 56:49 and eat anything they could eat. 56:51 My friends, that lady was thankful for the warning. 56:54 What do you say? 56:56 How many of so you thankful that God reveals 56:59 what is coming up ahead? 57:01 Would you make your choice for Christ today. 57:04 Do you do that just now? 57:06 Let us pray. 57:07 Our Father, we thank you for the warning, 57:11 for the life that You gave us 57:13 and we pray our Father to give us a heart 57:15 willing to obey to follow You 57:17 wherever You move, we pray then Jesus name. 57:20 Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17