Participants: Geoff Youlden
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR001042
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01:01 At the beginning of the Second World War,
01:03 the tiny 350 square island of Guam 01:07 was controlled by the United States. 01:10 Then toward the beginning of the war, 01:12 Japan took it from the United States 01:15 and then toward the end of the war, eventually, 01:19 America got it back again. 01:24 And for a number of months 01:26 they were rounding up Japanese soldiers. 01:30 And in 1960 which was 15 years 01:33 after the end of the Second World War, 01:35 a Guamanian was out in the bush 01:36 and he thought he saw two Japanese soldiers. 01:43 He thought to himself this is impossible, 01:45 the war has been over for 15 years, 01:48 there wouldn't be Japanese soldiers 01:49 still on the tiny island of Guam. 01:53 But he was sufficiently convinced 01:55 that he had seen a Japanese soldier 01:58 so he reported to the authorities 02:02 and they believed him enough to send out a search party. 02:09 And they found after some days of searching 02:13 they found two Japanese soldiers, 02:16 they have been hiding down underneath in the earth, 02:20 when I was in Guam, 02:21 I went down and had a look at where they'd been hiding, 02:24 they'd been living like animals for the last 15 years. 02:30 And when they brought the men of course 02:33 they still had their old uniform on. 02:35 Now you can imagine what they looked like after 15 years 02:39 and their feet and their legs were ulcerated and so forth. 02:43 And they brought them in and they said, 02:44 guys, the war is over, we're friends now. 02:50 They didn't believe it because they had been told 02:53 that in war, you never believe the enemy. 02:56 They'll try to brainwash you, you see? 02:58 So they were very resistant 03:00 against the idea that the war was over. 03:04 So they found in more questioning 03:06 that one of the guys had a sister in Tokyo, 03:11 now of course nobody knew whether she was still alive 03:14 but they contacted the authorities in Tokyo 03:17 and they told them that families two Japanese soldiers 03:20 and one had a sister, 03:21 would they try to find her. 03:22 Well, eventually they turned her up. 03:25 And they got her on the telephone 03:26 and they said look, we have found your brother. 03:29 Now she was delighted because she had presumed 03:32 not hearing from him for 15 years 03:34 that he was dead in the war. 03:36 So she was over the moon 03:37 to think that he was still alive. 03:40 So they asked her to tell her brother 03:43 that the war was over and we were all friends now. 03:47 Well, she tried her best 03:49 but he wouldn't believe her either. 03:51 So finally what they did is they put them on an airplane 03:54 and they flew them back to Tokyo 03:56 and as the airplane was banking around, 04:00 of course they could look out of the window 04:02 and they saw Tokyo in 1945-- 1960 I should say, 04:08 they remembered it from about 1939 04:13 so you can imagine the changes 04:15 that have taken place in Tokyo over those years. 04:18 They couldn't believe what they were seeing 04:19 when they looked out of the window. 04:20 Well, the plane pulled up 04:22 and of course they were reunited with their family 04:25 because they'd been told that they were coming. 04:27 And there was a very, very happy reunion. 04:31 I've often thought about that story 04:32 because that is a true story. 04:34 I have pictures of the very guy himself. 04:37 You can look it up if you want to check the-- 04:40 you look up the story from Guam 04:42 and you'll get pictures of those fellows. 04:45 I have a picture of him 04:46 getting his first hiccup after 15 years. 04:51 And it's a true story as I said. 04:55 Now what amazes me is that here he was back in Tokyo, 05:00 the two of them back in Tokyo walking around the streets, 05:03 having met their family, 05:05 I can just imagine the regrets 05:07 that they must have had in their hearts 05:10 when they realized 05:11 I could have been living back here in luxury and in ease 05:15 and here they were hiding down under the earth, in the hole 05:18 just like an animal underneath the earth 05:21 for all of those years. 05:24 And I have thought that this is an illustration of human kind 05:28 because most people today in our world 05:32 and in our country in particular 05:35 do not know that Jesus has come 05:37 and peace has been declared between God and man. 05:42 The war is over. 05:46 And they certainly don't know that God has a message. 05:50 A special message in these last days 05:54 and that message is to go to every nation, 05:56 kindred, tongue and people. 05:59 And the purpose of that message is to get people ready 06:01 for the return of Jesus. 06:04 And I want you to open your Bibles 06:05 if you wouldn't mind to Revelation Chapter 14 06:08 and I want to read you that message 06:11 because it is very, very special, 06:14 in fact it is the heartbeat of Revelation. 06:18 This is what the Book of Revelation is all about. 06:21 The expansion 06:23 and the understanding of this message, 06:26 it's almost in the center of the book. 06:31 And everything else in Revelation 06:35 is supporting these three messages. 06:37 Let's have a look at them. 06:38 Revelation 14:6 says, 06:41 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 06:46 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those 06:49 who dwell on the earth, to every nation, 06:52 tribe, tongue, and people, 06:56 saying with a loud voice, 06:57 'Fear God, and give glory to Him, 07:00 for the hour of His judgment has come, 07:03 and worship Him who made heaven, and earth, 07:05 the sea, and the springs of water.' 07:08 And another angel followed saying 07:10 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 07:13 because she has made all nations drink of the wine 07:16 of the wrath of her fornication.' 07:19 Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, 07:23 'If anyone worships the beast and his image 07:26 and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 07:30 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 07:33 which is poured out full strength 07:35 into the cup of his indignation. 07:38 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 07:40 in the presence of the holy angels, 07:42 and in the presence of the Lamb. 07:44 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, 07:47 and they have no rest day or night, 07:49 who worship the beast and his image, 07:52 and whoever receives the mark of his name.'" 07:56 Then in verse 12 it says, 07:57 "Here is the patience of the saints, 07:59 here are those who keep the commandments of God, 08:02 and the faith of Jesus." 08:05 Now I often have people say to me, 08:07 "Well, whatever is that all about?" 08:12 One of the amazing things about the Book of Revelation is 08:15 that the Book of Revelation is Jesus' own book. 08:19 In fact if you go back to the very first chapter 08:22 and the first verse of Revelation, 08:24 it tells us here that revelation, it's of Jesus, 08:28 it's the revelation of Jesus Christ. 08:31 Let me just read it to you in Revelation 1:1. 08:35 It says here, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, 08:38 which God gave to him, 08:41 to show His servants things which must shortly take place." 08:46 Now if there's one book that Christians ought to love, 08:50 and one book that we all to be clear about, 08:53 it's the Book of Revelation, isn't that right? 08:56 I heard a lady say to me the other day, 08:59 "So much emphasis on Revelation, 09:02 what about Jesus?" 09:06 Well, I don't know how long it is 09:07 since she read the Book of Revelation, 09:09 but that's what Revelation is about, isn't it? 09:12 It's about Jesus, it's the revelation of Jesus. 09:15 And if there's one book in the Bible 09:17 that you and I are to be very, very familiar with, 09:21 it's this book. 09:24 Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are about the work of Jesus, 09:28 very important 09:30 but the Book of Revelation's His own book. 09:34 That's why we ought to be high on the Book of Revelation 09:37 if I can use colloquialism. 09:39 That's why we ought to be 09:40 studying the Book of Revelation. 09:42 That's why the Book of Revelation 09:43 ought to be our passion 09:46 because it is dealing with the gospel 09:50 in the setting of the last days. 09:53 And if you read the rest of the verse 1 there, it says, 09:57 not only would God show His servants things 09:59 which must shortly take place, and He sent and-- 10:03 what's the next word there? 10:06 In my version it says signified, 10:09 does it say that in yours? 10:12 Has anyone got a version that's different to that? 10:14 Signified? 10:17 What does the word signify mean? 10:19 If something is signified, 10:22 if you break that word up, 10:23 the first part of the word is what? 10:26 Sign. 10:28 It's given in signs and symbols, 10:31 the very first chapter, the very first chapter, 10:34 the very first verse tells us that the Book of Revelation 10:37 is written differently to other books in the Bible. 10:42 In fact it's written in code language 10:46 for a very special reason. 10:49 I've had people say to me, 10:51 "Why isn't the Book of Revelation 10:52 just written like the rest of the Bible?" 10:54 There is a very good reason 10:55 that God has written the Book of Revelation like He has. 10:59 Because it is code language to illustrate. 11:05 John the Revelator, you remember, 11:07 wrote the Book of Revelation when he was where? 11:11 On the island of Patmos, 11:12 he had been banished, you remember, 11:15 to Patmos because the Roman Empire used Patmos 11:19 as the Alcatraz of the ancient world. 11:23 It was the most secured prison in the Roman world. 11:26 Nobody escaped from Patmos 11:29 and you're gonna understand why, 11:30 it's out in the middle of the sea. 11:34 And John was considered to be very troublesome 11:38 in what he was saying. 11:40 So they banished him over to this little island. 11:43 But the trouble was that God gave him a vision 11:46 that he wanted to be spread around on the outside. 11:50 Now, you know, if you're in a strict high security prison 11:55 and you want something on the outside, 11:58 what's going to happen to it 11:59 if they ever does get on the outside, 12:01 what will happen before it gets on the outside? 12:06 It's going to be checked on, isn't it? Censored. 12:09 Isn't that right? Yes. 12:12 Now can you imagine 12:13 if the Roman soldiers picked up the Book of Revelation 12:16 as John had written it because remember 12:18 it's addressed to the seven churches of Asia, 12:22 they were outside Patmos. 12:26 So here John has written it down in prison 12:28 and he has to get the vision outside 12:32 so the Roman soldiers are going to read it. 12:36 They're gonna censor it. 12:39 Now can you imagine what would have happened 12:40 if the Roman soldiers had realized 12:43 that the Book of Revelation 12:44 foretold the doom of the Roman Empire, 12:47 what do you think would have happened 12:48 to the Book of Revelation? 12:50 It would have been destroyed, of course. 12:53 And not only would the Revelation have been destroyed 12:55 but John would have been killed, 12:57 because he would be guilty of treason. 13:02 So God kept it from the Roman soldiers 13:04 and when they read it, 13:06 they couldn't make head nor tail of it 13:08 and so they said, 13:09 oh, let's put the thing through, it doesn't, 13:12 nothing very serious and they let it out. 13:15 And God purposely wrote the Revelation like He did. 13:20 Secondly, the second reason that it's written like this is 13:22 because if the church of the middle ages had realized 13:28 that the Book of Revelation foretold its doom as it does, 13:33 instead of preserving the Book of Revelation, 13:36 what would they have done? 13:38 They would have destroyed it too. 13:40 And they couldn't understand it 13:41 anymore than the Roman soldiers could understand it 13:44 and so they preserved it and look after it 13:47 so that we can have it today. 13:50 And so there's a very good reason 13:51 that God has written this book in signs and symbols 13:56 or in code language. 13:58 And while the code language has been written, 14:01 God has given to us the key to unlocking that code. 14:06 And that code is in the rest of the Bible. 14:10 Sometimes it's even in the same book, 14:12 the Book of Revelation but more often than not 14:15 the code is found in other places of the Bible, 14:18 unless the person is serious about the study of the Bible, 14:21 they'll never be able to work it out. 14:23 And that's why the vast majority of people today 14:26 when it comes to the Book of Revelation 14:29 either never read it, 14:30 they're not interested in it 14:33 and it's a completely closed book to them. 14:37 The vast majority of people that come along 14:40 to meetings that I'm running, 14:43 I find have no idea 14:45 about the Book of Revelation whatsoever. 14:48 They've hardly ever read it. 14:52 And as it said by comparing scripture with scripture 14:55 and allowing the Bible to be its own interpreter, 14:59 then Revelation is not difficult to understand. 15:02 You see, when Jesus came the first time to this world, 15:06 God had His messenger 15:09 to prepare the world 15:11 for the coming of Jesus the first time. 15:16 In these last days when God has a message 15:19 which is going to the every nation, 15:23 kindred, tongue and people, 15:25 we notice that God has three messages. 15:27 Let's go back to Malachi Chapter 3. 15:30 Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. 15:32 Malachi Chapter... 15:36 let's just find it there, Malachi... 15:41 just before Matthew and we find Malachi 3:1. 15:48 Malachi 3:1. 15:53 Now it says this, 15:54 "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way... 16:02 what? Before me." 16:05 Here was a prediction made 16:07 over 400 years before Christ was born 16:11 that God was going to send My messenger, 16:14 you'll notice in your Bible 16:15 that the My will be in capital letters 16:17 and messenger in small letters. 16:21 The My is representing God, 16:25 He is the one that's speaking 16:26 but He is going to send His messenger in a small m 16:30 and he will prepare the way before Me. 16:36 So here was a prediction. 16:39 Who was that messenger 16:41 that God raised up to prepare the coming 16:44 of Jesus the first time? 16:48 Well, I'm sure you all know 16:49 but let me just give you the evidence. 16:50 Come over to the Book of Matthew, 16:55 Matthew 11:10. 16:59 Matthew 11:10. 17:05 Matthew 11:10 where it says, 17:08 "Assuredly, I say to you, 17:10 among those born of women 17:12 there have not risen one greater than 17:16 John the Baptist." 17:17 Now if you go back to verse 10, 17:21 it quotes from where we just read. 17:24 Have a look at verse 10. 17:25 "For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, 17:28 I send My messenger 17:33 and who will prepare your way before you." 17:36 That's an exact quote from where? 17:39 From Malachi, we've just read that in Malachi 17:42 and Jesus picks up that statement 17:45 and He applies it to John the Baptist. 17:48 So John the Baptist fulfilled Malachi 3:1. 17:57 That's why it says that the purpose of John 17:59 the Baptist was like a voice crying in the wilderness, 18:02 prepare ye the way of the Lord. 18:04 And John the Baptist was God's messenger 18:07 to prepare the world that then was 18:10 particularly Palestine or Israel 18:12 for the coming of Jesus, the first time. 18:16 Now in these last days when God has a message 18:19 which is going not just to one nation Palestine, 18:24 but this message is going to every nation, 18:28 kindred, tongue and people. 18:30 He has three. 18:31 So let's go back to Revelation Chapter 14 18:34 and I just want to have a look closely at this message 18:37 because this message is very, very important. 18:41 In fact I'm gonna say that the giving of this message 18:46 is the most important thing 18:47 that's going on in the world today. 18:51 The most important. 18:54 And Revelation 14:6 says, 18:57 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 19:01 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those 19:05 who dwell on the earth to every nation, 19:07 kindred, tongue, and people." 19:10 This is a worldwide message, 19:12 this is not something 19:13 which is just done in the backyard somewhere, 19:16 this is not something which is some little small movement, 19:19 this is a worldwide movement. 19:22 And it's the everlasting gospel, 19:24 the gospel that has always been true. 19:28 Only it's given in the setting of the last days. 19:32 It is the last message that goes to the world. 19:36 How do I know that? 19:37 Because if you go down to verse 13, 19:41 we'll notice that after the giving of these three messages, 19:44 John sees these three angels flying in mid-heaven, 19:49 then the very next thing that he sees, 19:51 in verse 13, he says, 19:53 "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, 'Write, 19:58 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 20:02 'Yes,' said the Spirit, 20:03 that they may rest from their labors, 20:04 and their works follow them.' 20:06 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, 20:09 and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, 20:12 having on His head a golden crown, 20:14 and in His hand a sharp sickle. 20:17 And another angel came out of the temple, 20:19 crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, 20:22 'Thrust in Your sickle and reap, 20:25 for the time has come for You to reap, 20:27 for the harvest of the earth is ripe.'" 20:31 In other words as John sees these three messages 20:37 being taken to every nation, 20:39 kindred, tongue and people, 20:41 the very next event he sees in point of chronology is 20:46 the coming of the Son of Man with a sickle in His hand, 20:49 ready to reap the harvest of the earth. 20:54 And the Book of Matthew in the 13th chapter tells us 20:58 that the harvest of the earth represents 21:02 the end of the world. 21:06 In other words these three messages 21:08 are the last message 21:11 that goes to the world before Jesus returns. 21:14 That's why I said a few moments ago 21:17 this is the most important thing 21:18 that's going on in the world today, 21:20 nothing can eclipse this message. 21:23 The getting of this message, it is the last, 21:27 because as soon as these three messages come, 21:29 John saw in point of chronology 21:32 the return of Jesus with a sickle in His hand 21:35 and by the way every Bible writer back at those time, 21:40 every Bible student back in the beginning 21:43 of the Christian era understood clearly the sickle 21:47 because even today 21:48 there are still many countries in the world 21:50 that cut their lawn with a sickle. 21:53 I can't afford a Victa lawnmower 21:56 but you'll find them down on their knees 21:58 cutting their grass with a sickle 22:00 because the sickle was the implement that was used 22:04 back in the ancient world to reap their harvests 22:08 and so when the Bible uses the same picture, 22:12 the same symbolism, it's very clear 22:15 that this is referring to the end of the world 22:18 when the reaping of the harvest takes place 22:21 and the division takes place 22:22 between the wheat and the tares, 22:24 the sheep and the goats 22:26 and Jesus is coming. 22:28 That's why I can be so certain 22:31 that these three messages are the last message 22:34 that goes to the world. 22:37 And as soon as these three messages do go to the world, 22:41 then Jesus returns. 22:43 Let's just go back to verse 6 again and notice it. 22:47 John writes, then I saw another angel. 22:50 By the way I think that if John was alive today 22:53 under the symbolism of three angels, 22:55 you imagine he is living 2,000 years ago, 22:57 how does he picture message going all around the world, 23:02 well, poor old John the best that he could think of 23:04 to be able to do that would be an angel 23:07 because he'd never heard of satellites, 23:10 he'd never heard of the internet, 23:15 he'd never heard of iPads, 23:19 maybe fortunately... 23:22 but, but he understood that an angel 23:29 would be able to fly through mid-heaven. 23:32 Maybe if John was writing today 23:34 he would call instead of three angels messages, 23:37 we might have three satellite messages 23:41 using our common terminology today 23:43 but that was the best that John could come up with, 23:45 because this angel represents a message 23:49 flying through mid-heaven, 23:51 given to every person that lives on the earth 23:55 and you'll notice it's the everlasting gospel, 23:58 this is not some new fangled idea, 24:00 it's the same gospel that was true 24:03 back in the beginning of time. 24:05 It was true in Noah's day, 24:07 it was true in Moses' day, 24:09 it was true in Abraham-- 24:11 in Isaiah's day, it was true in Jeremiah's day, 24:15 it was true in Jesus' day, 24:17 it was true in the Middle Ages 24:20 and it's still true today, 24:22 it is the everlasting gospel 24:24 because the gospel has never been changed. 24:28 The only difference is 24:29 that it's given in the setting of the last days, 24:32 that is the gospel is going to be given 24:36 with the emphasis that is relevant for the last days. 24:41 Hence as we begin to read these three messages, 24:44 we find the emphasis that need to be given 24:48 in preaching the everlasting gospel, 24:52 these three messages are the message, 24:56 that is the teaching that needs to be emphasized 25:01 as part of the everlasting gospel. 25:04 The messages that are given here in Revelation 14 25:07 are not apart from the gospel, 25:09 they are the gospel. 25:12 Let's notice the first one. 25:15 "The everlasting gospel to preach to those 25:17 who dwell on the earth to every nation, 25:19 kindred, tongue, and people, 25:20 saying with a loud voice, 25:22 'Fear God, and give glory to Him, 25:24 for the hour of His judgment has come,'" 25:27 The judgment message is part of the everlasting gospel. 25:30 Listen, if you were rotting in jail 25:35 and you knew you were innocent, 25:37 the judge had already told you that when the court sits, 25:42 you are going to be exonerated and shown to be not guilty, 25:49 would it be good news for you in jail to hear 25:53 that very soon you are going to appear in court, 25:57 would that be good news or bad news? 26:00 It would be the best news that you could hear, 26:02 isn't that right? 26:04 That's why all through the Bible, 26:06 the teaching of the judgment is such good news, 26:09 because we can carry into the judgment 26:11 our own acquittal. 26:13 We have already being told that if we confess our sins, 26:16 He is faithful and just to forgive our sins 26:18 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 26:20 That's why the judgment is such good news, 26:22 no matter what Bible write or talks about the judgment, 26:25 he'll always talk about it 26:27 as far as good news for God's people. 26:30 We have nothing to fear for the judgment 26:32 because I'm carrying into the judgment my own acquittal, 26:36 and so the first part of this message 26:39 is to emphasize to the world 26:40 the hour of God's judgment has come at last, 26:44 wrongs are going to be righted. 26:47 At last truth is going to prevail 26:51 and it's been on the scaffold 26:55 and error has been on the throne for so long 26:57 but at last wrong is going to be shown for being wrong 27:02 and right is going to be elevated 27:04 and finally put on the throne. 27:06 That's why the judgment is such good news. 27:09 and part of the message 27:10 that God has for these last days 27:12 is for you and for me 27:14 to be teaching people about the hour of God's judgment has come 27:17 and that's why the devil today is attacking the judgment. 27:22 And if you know anything about those 27:23 who want to attack the Adventist message, 27:25 they always attack it in this area. 27:28 And unfortunately many of us know so little about it, 27:33 we become easy victims to it because we've never studied it. 27:37 and so the first emphasis in this message 27:41 to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people 27:44 as the hour of the God's judgment is come, 27:46 and then it says, 27:48 and worship Him who made heaven and earth, 27:55 the sea and the springs of water, 27:57 which is an exact quote from the fourth commandment. 28:01 And today if you want to remain popular, 28:04 you will not teach a seven day creation 28:09 because if you teach and believe 28:12 the seven day creation, 28:14 you're almost looked upon as an ignoramus today, 28:17 isn't that right? 28:18 Surely I don't believe that nonsense. 28:21 Because evolution has made such inroads into our thinking 28:26 and our education system today, 28:28 all of those you who not only at high school 28:31 but into university know 28:33 that that's what's being pushed all the time 28:37 and it takes someone 28:38 who's their heart exaggerated in God's word 28:43 to stay firm on this matter 28:46 and part of the message in the last days 28:49 is to emphasize the fact that God is the creator. 28:54 You know, one of the things that 28:56 the reason the devil hates the Book of Revelation 28:59 is because Revelation exposes the devil's counterfeit. 29:03 In fact if you come over to the 16th chapter of Revelation, 29:06 we find that the devil has three messages 29:08 going to the whole world, did you know that? 29:10 Just as God has three messages going to every nation, 29:13 kindred, tongue and people, 29:14 did you know that the devil has three messages 29:16 going to every nation, kindred, tongue and people? 29:18 Let me read it to you, Revelation 16 29:21 and here, now this verse... 13, 29:24 just to get the context. 29:26 Chapter 16 verse 13 it says, 29:28 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs 29:33 coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 29:38 out of the mouth of the beast, 29:41 and out of the mouth of the false prophet." 29:44 There is the devil's trinity. 29:48 The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 29:51 God has three, the devil has three. 29:56 Then it says, verse 14, 29:58 "For they are the spirits of demons or devils, 30:05 performing what? 30:07 Miracles or signs." 30:08 You see, in order to give the devil's teaching credence, 30:14 what he is using is so called signs and miracles, 30:20 they are going to appear everywhere 30:23 to substantiate his false teachings. 30:27 And if there's one thing human beings are very adapt at 30:33 and very impressed by is so called miracles, 30:36 isn't that right? 30:38 Absolutely. 30:40 It's very hard, I have talked to so many people 30:43 who say to me, "Well, Geoff, what you teach from the Bible, 30:46 I cannot fault but..." 30:50 When they say but, you know, something is going to come, 30:54 but, in our church we have miracles 30:57 and I believe that God is with us with these miracles. 31:01 Nothing could be more dangerous than to take that position 31:05 because the devil can counterfeit 31:07 every miracle that God can perform. 31:11 For example, let me give you a biblical quote for that. 31:13 You remember that Moses went in before Pharaoh, 31:17 threw his staff down on the ground 31:19 and what did Pharaoh's magicians do? 31:23 Threw their staffs down on the ground 31:25 and they became snakes. 31:29 So we cannot tell the difference 31:31 between the right and the wrong on the basis of the miracle 31:35 because even a magician can deceive your eyes, 31:38 let alone the devil who's had 6,000 years of practice. 31:44 So if we're going to test the thing 31:47 by the so called miracle, we'll be deceived every time. 31:52 That's why we must go to something higher than that. 31:56 We've got to test them by 31:57 what they teach and what they believe. 32:02 And here the Book of Revelation tells us 32:04 that the deception is going to use signs 32:07 which go out to the kings of the earth 32:09 and to the whole world, every nation, 32:13 kindred, tongue and people, 32:14 to gather them to that battle of that 32:16 great day of God almighty. 32:20 "Behold, I'm coming as a thief. 32:22 Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, 32:25 lest he walks naked and they see his shame." 32:27 So this is talking here about the coming of Jesus 32:30 and the message of the devil is 32:31 pumping out by his three agencies, 32:34 is going to the whole world at the same time 32:37 that God's message is going out to the whole world. 32:40 We are in the midst of a battle, 32:43 a controversy, a war. 32:47 And we are actors in the great scene, 32:50 we are not just viewers, we are actors ourselves 32:55 and we're either standing up for God and His three messages 32:59 or we are standing for the devil and his deception. 33:04 Well, let's just go back to Revelation 14 33:06 because tonight I'm not talking about the counterfeit, 33:09 that's another section and another time and another place. 33:15 But here in Revelation Chapter 14 as we read on, 33:19 there's a second message and it says 33:21 "And another angel followed saying, 33:24 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 33:27 because she has made all nations drink 33:30 of the wrath of her fornication.'" 33:33 Now whatever that's about, it doesn't sound very good. 33:37 And the Bible says that Babylon has made the whole world drunk. 33:43 You know, I've had drunk people coming to my meetings 33:47 over the years particularly in the winter, 33:48 they want to come into the meeting 33:50 because it's warm and so forth 33:51 and I often come down right down to the front seat 33:55 and they sit there and of course by the time 33:57 they've been there for about an hour, 33:59 they somewhat soap it up a little 34:03 and when you get down and have to talk them, 34:05 oh, they never gonna touch it again, 34:07 they're sorry for what they've done 34:08 and then you go visit them the next day 34:11 to see how they're getting on, 34:15 they can't remember a single thing that happened. 34:20 Did I go to a meeting? 34:22 In other words alcohol confuses the brain. 34:27 And that's why the Bible is giving us a picture here 34:29 that Babylon has made the world drunk. 34:34 And unless we have the spirit of God in our hearts, 34:36 we'll never be able to lead men and women to accept the truth 34:42 and that sets system of religion, 34:44 Babylon represents that system of religion 34:46 that began back there in the beginning 34:48 in the ancient city of Babylon 34:50 and has continued down through the years 34:52 and is still at the basis of every false religion. 34:56 Then it talks in verse 9, 10 and 11 about the third message. 35:02 "Then a third angel followed them 35:04 saying with a loud voice, 35:05 'If anyone worships the beast and his image 35:08 and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand...'" 35:12 This, the fact that the Bible talks here 35:15 about worship indicates 35:17 that the mark of the beast has something to do with religion 35:20 because you don't worship... 35:24 Mr. Abbott, do we? 35:29 Then you weren't tempted to worship Miss Gillard, 35:32 I don't think so. 35:34 Because worship is not associated 35:36 with the political being, 35:38 worship is associated with religion and with God. 35:41 Get the idea? 35:42 And here it says that 35:47 if any man worships the beast and his image, 35:51 its religion, it's the false religion. 35:56 Remember this is part of the everlasting gospel. 35:58 I meet some church members who think 36:02 that the preaching of this is not that important. 36:05 Let me tell you something. 36:07 If you think that you are open for deception, 36:11 because this is the last message 36:12 that Jesus gives, remember? 36:14 This message is not from me or from some other person, 36:18 this is a message from Jesus 36:20 and He wants us to understand the issues 36:23 because unless we understand the issues, 36:25 we will be deceived. 36:28 There's nothing more certain. 36:30 And then God talks about those who get the mark of the beast 36:33 and then He contrasts it in verse 12 with those 36:36 who get and keep the commandments of God. 36:39 And whatever the mark of the beast is, 36:41 it's the very opposite to the commandments of God. 36:46 If I keep the commandments of God, 36:48 then I'll never get the mark of the beast. 36:51 On the other hand if I play fast 36:53 and loose with the commandments, 36:55 then I'm going to be amongst that group 36:57 who get the mark of the beast because in the last days, 37:01 there's only two groups of people, 37:04 before the last days there's three, 37:07 there's the hot, and the cold 37:10 and what other group is there? 37:12 The lukewarm. 37:14 As we get closer to the end, the lukewarm disappears, 37:20 and they go one way or the other. 37:23 They go into the hot camp or the cold camp 37:28 because in the last days there's only two groups. 37:32 The hot and the cold. The sheep and the goat. 37:35 The wheat and the tares. 37:39 And there's something which divides us all 37:41 into those two groups and it's this message 37:46 that God has given to the whole world, 37:50 that's why Peter calls a message God's present truth. 37:56 What do we mean by God's present truth? 38:00 Well, there are truths in the Bible that are always true. 38:03 For example, 38:05 that this book is God's inspired word 38:07 is always true, isn't it? 38:08 Doesn't matter what period in history. 38:11 That Jesus died a complete atoning death 38:14 on the cross is always true. 38:18 But there are some truths in the book 38:20 that are only true for a particular period. 38:23 For example, if I came preaching 38:26 the same message that Noah preached, 38:27 would that be true now? 38:29 The world is going to be destroyed by a flood, 38:31 would that be true now? 38:32 No. 38:33 But it was true when Noah preached it, wasn't it? 38:36 It was present truth then but it's not present truth now. 38:41 And the same is true if I came and preached the same message 38:43 that John the Baptist preached, 38:45 that's not present truth now. 38:47 It was when John preached it, but it's not present truth now 38:50 because Jesus has come the first time. 38:54 This message is God's present truth today 38:57 because this message has not been true in the past. 39:01 For example, 39:03 I was brought up in the Presbyterian Church. 39:09 I don't remember ever hearing 39:11 a single sermon from the Book of Revelation, 39:15 not a single one, ever. 39:18 And certainly I'd never heard 39:19 of these three angels' messages, 39:21 never. 39:23 It was a shock to me when I first began to study it, 39:27 I couldn't believe that it was in the Bible 39:29 and I'd never heard about it. 39:33 And I have looked through the writings of men 39:35 like Martin Luther 39:37 and John Knox and John Calvin. 39:43 And these-- and John Wesley, 39:46 wonderfully good men, outstanding individuals, 39:51 but I have never ever found an emphasis 39:54 on these three messages in their writings. 39:57 Does that mean that they weren't good men? 40:00 Does that mean that I didn't study their Bibles? 40:04 No, I don't think so and either of those reasons. 40:08 Why didn't Martin Luther for example 40:11 emphasize the three messages? 40:15 What do you think? Why didn't he? 40:17 Why didn't Knox and Calvin talk about? 40:20 In fact, John Calvin wrote a commentary 40:22 on every book of the Bible except the Book of Revelation, 40:24 he said I can't understand the Book of Revelation 40:26 so he never wrote a commentary on the Book of Revelation. 40:30 So those who followed John Calvin, 40:33 the Book of Revelation is closed. 40:35 I notice you've got a church just up the road here, 40:37 the reform church, they're Calvinists. 40:41 So why didn't they? Why didn't they? 40:49 We all admit it's not because they weren't good men, 40:52 wasn't because they didn't study their Bible. 40:54 Why didn't they preach the three messages? 40:58 Yes, because it wasn't yet due, that's why? 41:02 God didn't lay that burden upon their hearts 41:05 because that message wasn't yet due. 41:08 There are other essential messages 41:10 that had to be laid down first 41:12 before this message could be given. 41:15 That's why they never told it, 41:17 that's why you can read in their messages 41:20 and listen to their sermons 41:21 and you'll never find any reference to it. 41:24 But I believe if they were alive today, 41:26 they would be amongst the foremost preachers 41:28 of these messages. 41:31 Because now the time is due, 41:33 it wouldn't be true in Luther's day to say 41:35 that Jesus is coming soon. 41:38 But now it is. 41:41 And I know that this message is going to triumph, 41:43 how do I know that? 41:44 Just come over to Revelation Chapter 15, look at this. 41:47 Revelation Chapter 15... 41:51 and verse 2 and 3, look, Revelation 15 and it says, 41:57 "And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire 42:00 and those who had the victory over the beast, 42:04 over his image, and over his mark, 42:06 and over the number of his name, 42:08 standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God, 42:11 they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, 42:14 and the song of the Lamb." 42:16 The only people that are saved in the last days are those 42:19 who get the victory over the beast and over his image 42:22 and over the number of his name. 42:24 It's the only message that tells people 42:26 about those things is these three messages. 42:31 And that's the responsibility 42:32 that God has given to us as His people. 42:37 That's the special message that Seventh-day Adventist have 42:40 to give to the world. 42:42 That's why God has raised this message up, 42:46 to preach these three messages. 42:48 That's what makes us different to the Baptists 42:50 and the Pentecostals. 42:53 We have a different message 42:55 and you'll never find this message in those churches. 42:58 And I'm not saying that critically, 42:59 I'm just telling you the truth. 43:02 Only as we understand these three messages, 43:05 this is the message that Jesus has given to us, 43:08 to preach to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 43:13 It's more than what those churches teach. 43:20 That's why God is laying upon men and women today 43:24 a tremendous burden in God's church to share this truth. 43:29 And I want to tell you friends that the things are heating up, 43:35 I just want to share with you one or two things 43:37 to encourage you tonight 43:39 that we're not following cunningly devised fables. 43:42 I want to read you just a couple of headlines 43:44 that'd been in the papers recently. 43:48 Says here, the Catholic Church recognizes Protestant baptism. 43:53 It's one of the headings. 43:54 Another heading, 43:55 3.5 million Protestants take a step in reconciling with Rome 44:01 with many others to follow. 44:06 Now we ought to understand that this is a wake up call. 44:11 You know, if you were being living 44:12 back in the days of Noah, 44:13 and I've often thought about this, 44:15 and I'm sure you've thought about it too. 44:17 You imagine you're living in the time of Noah and suddenly, 44:20 you see all these animals walking along the road, 44:23 some by sevens and some by twos, 44:26 you see elephants and rhinoceroses, 44:30 and you see zebras and donkeys, 44:35 and all these animals all walking in a file going up 44:40 directed by nobody seemingly going up into the Ark. 44:45 If you'd been living there, what would you say? 44:46 What's going on? Wouldn't you say that? 44:50 I would have, I'm sure. 44:52 Whatever is going on? 44:54 This has never happened before. 44:55 Whatever is this? 45:00 I would like to say today 45:01 that we see the animals walking into the Ark 45:05 and we ought to be saying, what's going on? 45:08 This is a sign to us 45:10 like the animals were to the ancient diluvium world, 45:14 this is sign to us. 45:17 Yet many of us 45:20 find regular Bible study and prayer difficult. 45:23 We're never late for work but we find it very difficult 45:26 to get to Sabbath school on time. 45:32 And I want to tell you something, 45:33 that's a breed of young people. 45:38 It's one of the faults of young people. 45:41 Now you don't have many faults, but that's one of them, 45:44 to be late for Sabbath school. 45:46 Some folk find it very hard even to get to church on time. 45:51 And yet you'd never be late for work 45:55 because you may get the sack. 45:58 But we're so casual when it comes to God, 46:00 what is the matter with half an hour late 46:02 or an hour late, 46:03 what does it matter? 46:07 We're getting ready for the coming of Jesus, 46:09 don't lie to yourself. 46:13 The only person you are deceiving is yourself. 46:18 I was over in Zagreb running some meetings 46:20 couple of years ago, two-three years ago, 46:24 while I was there in mid winter in January, 46:30 they passed a law in Zagreb, a Sunday law, 46:37 that Sunday law was to close all the shops on Sunday. 46:42 Now any Adventist that hears such a law being passed, 46:47 the bells begin to ring, isn't that right? 46:50 Now there was a very good reason 46:51 why they said that they were closing the shops on Sunday 46:55 and it wasn't because they said 46:57 we want to bring the mark of the beast in. 47:01 That's not the reason they gave at all. 47:04 The reason they gave was that shopkeepers ought 47:07 to have one day a rest a week. 47:10 Doesn't that sound reasonable? 47:13 It does sound reasonable 47:15 and you find it very hard to argue against that. 47:19 But this is the way it's going to brought in, 47:20 it's not gonna be-- 47:22 suddenly we go to bed by night 47:23 and then we wake up in the morning 47:25 and the Sunday law is in. 47:27 It's not going to be like that. 47:29 It's gradually, gradually, gradually gets in. 47:32 You may have seen this headline. 47:34 Catholic Church and trade unions 47:37 form a holy alliance to enforce Sunday observance 47:40 in the battle for Sunday. 47:42 And as you read on it says, trade unions across Europe 47:45 held small protests calling for governments to force companies 47:49 and shops to shut on Sunday, 47:52 as Catholic preachers supported the campaign from the pulpit. 47:57 Religious groups and trade unions, 47:58 organized under the banner of the European Sunday Alliance, 48:02 then it gives you all the reference for 48:04 the www and so forth. 48:06 We believe they'll go on to say, 48:08 that all citizens of the European Union 48:11 are entitled to benefit from decent working hours that, 48:14 as a matter of principle, exclude working late evenings, 48:17 nights, public holidays and Sundays, 48:20 wrote the European Sunday Alliance. 48:22 Only essential services should operate on Sundays. 48:28 That's going on today. 48:31 And gradually, gradually, 48:32 the frog that's been boiled, 48:34 the water is getting hotter and hotter and hotter. 48:41 We have a new pope, a Jesuit pope. 48:47 The first time in history 48:51 that a Jesuit has become the pope. 48:56 And I tell you he's an impressive person 48:58 because he is selling himself 49:01 on the fact that he takes the bus. 49:04 He doesn't even drive in the pope mobile. 49:06 He catches the bus 49:08 because he wants to be like everybody else. 49:10 When they offered him a beautiful apartment in Rome, 49:13 no, he said I just want a very simple one. 49:19 People said what a marvelous man is this? 49:24 What a humble man he is. 49:26 Another picture I saw in the paper 49:28 was he went to a juvenile prison 49:31 and there he is washing the juvenile's prisoner's feet 49:37 and he is kissing their feet. 49:40 A humble man. 49:44 Now I want to read you something. 49:47 Listen to this. 49:51 "Throughout Christendom, 49:52 Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. 49:56 The first triumphs of the Reformation past, 49:58 Rome summoned new forces, 50:00 hoping to accomplish its destruction. 50:02 At this time, the order of the Jesuits was created, 50:05 the most cruel, unscrupulous, 50:07 and powerful of all the champions of popery. 50:11 Cut off from earthly ties and human interests, 50:14 dead to the claims of natural affection, 50:16 reason and conscience wholly silenced, 50:18 they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, 50:22 and no duty but to extend its power. 50:25 The gospel of Christ had enable its adherents 50:27 to meet danger and endure suffering, 50:30 undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, 50:33 to uphold the banner of truth in the face of the rack, 50:35 and the dungeon, and the stake. 50:37 There was no crime too great for them to commit, 50:39 no deception too base for them to assume." 50:43 Then it says over here, 50:44 "When appearing as members of their order, 50:47 they wore a garb of sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, 50:54 ministering to the sick and the poor, 50:56 professing to have renounced the world, 50:58 and bearing the sacred name of Jesus, 51:00 who went about doing good. 51:02 But under this blameless exterior 51:04 the most criminal and deadly purposes 51:06 were often concealed. 51:07 It was a fundamental principle of the order 51:09 that the end justifies the means." 51:12 You know where that comes from? 51:14 Great Controversy. 51:17 She wrote that over 100 years ago, 51:20 that's what the purpose of the Jesuits, 51:22 today this pope is doing the very thing 51:25 that she has outlined there in Great Controversy. 51:28 Today we are seeing the frog is being boiled, 51:32 bit by bit by bit. 51:35 And today in view of the fact 51:37 that we are living in the hours in which we live 51:42 God is calling upon us to be faithful 51:44 and to give our hearts in service for Him. 51:47 And as young people 51:49 God wants us to give our life in service for Him 51:52 and you have energy and drive 51:54 and everything else that's good to give to God's service 51:57 and if there's ever an hour in earth's history 51:59 when God needs you, it is today, 52:01 while we have an opportunity. |
Revised 2015-03-26