Participants: John Dinzey
Series Code: POF
Program Code: POF000018A
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00:25 Welcome to Pillars of Faith,
00:27 a word for today in today's busy and modern world. 00:31 My name is C.A. Murray and I do welcome you 00:33 to the Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 00:36 the 3ABN Worship Center 00:38 as we continue in a wonderful series 00:41 by Pastor John Dinzey 00:43 who is the general manager of 3ABN Latino channel. 00:47 As he has been taking us through 00:49 the Three Angels' Messages. 00:52 Three Angels' Messages something very, very crucial, 00:55 very, very important for these modern days. 00:58 His first sermon dealt with the first part 01:01 of the first angel's message 01:03 and then we had 01:04 the first angel's message part two. 01:07 Today's presentation will be the second angel's message. 01:11 And we have been so blessed to understand 01:16 and to study again 01:18 and knew these very important truths 01:20 for the later days. 01:22 As I said Pastor John is the general manager of 3ABN Latino, 01:27 a growing channel that speaks to the hearts and souls 01:32 of Spanish speaking people all over the world. 01:35 And it is a wonderful edition 01:39 to the 3ABN family of channels, 01:43 making up our international network. 01:46 So today we entertain, we discuss, 01:48 we study the second angel's message, 01:51 an important word from the Lord 01:54 for God's people in these last days. 01:56 And we ask from you for him your prayerful 02:00 and undivided attention as God speaks to him 02:02 and through him to us. 02:05 Gonna ask you to bow your head with me in a word of prayer, 02:08 then we will hear from John Dinzey, 02:11 general manager of 3ABN Latino, 02:13 shall we pray? 02:14 Gracious Father, 02:16 we praise you and thank you so very much 02:18 for your word 02:20 and for this particular latter day work. 02:24 These messages that come with exalted position 02:29 and heavenly urgency from the throne of God, 02:33 three angels who have very much 02:35 to say to your people, 02:37 and as we look at message number two, 02:40 may our hearts thrill, 02:42 may we understand again 02:44 and I knew your will for this world 02:47 prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ. 02:50 Let's your man servant anoint his lips, 02:53 may he speak with power and clarity 02:57 as he gives us your word and we thank you dear Father 03:01 in Jesus name amen, 03:04 and amen. 03:09 Amen. 03:10 Thank you Pastor C.A. Murray. 03:12 Pastor C.A. Murray 03:13 as you well know is the general manager 03:16 for our 3ABN Proclaim channel. 03:19 And we encourage you to watch 03:21 all of the 3ABN family of channels 03:24 including the 3ABN Proclaim channel 03:27 which is really Bible studies and sermons, 03:33 and it's a channel worthy of your attention as well. 03:37 We are on a journey 03:39 to go through the Three Angels' Messages 03:42 trying to compact everything we can 03:45 in five meetings together. 03:48 And it is a challenge to really bring everything together 03:53 in just five sermons. 03:56 By God's grace we will endeavor once again 03:59 through go to God's word and to study 04:03 message number two of the three angels. 04:05 As we mentioned in the past 04:07 these angels have a message for the world 04:09 in the end time, a vital message, 04:12 a message that tells us that Jesus Christ is coming soon. 04:16 It is in the context of the time 04:19 when the mark of the beast is called upon. 04:23 It brings us to that point in time in history, 04:26 a point in time yet future, 04:29 but we need to be prepared for that, 04:31 that we may do as it is best for our salvation. 04:35 So before we continue, 04:38 I like to go to the Lord in prayer one more time, 04:40 asking him, I know we prayed, 04:42 but I like to also go to the Lord in prayer 04:44 to set my thoughts towards heaven, 04:47 and I encourage you to join me in prayer once again. 04:49 I will kneel and I will ask for you to pray for me, 04:52 and for all that would join us around the world. 04:55 Let us pray together. 04:58 Our loving heavenly Father, 05:01 how wonderful and marvelous you are, 05:03 how great and unsearchable are your riches 05:08 and understandings. 05:10 Father we come to you to ask for your blessing 05:13 as we study together. 05:14 We pray Lord that you will bless us 05:17 with clarity of thought. 05:19 I place myself in your hands Lord, 05:21 that I may be used according to your good pleasure. 05:23 I ask for the outpouring of your Holy Spirit. 05:26 We pray that you will speak to your children 05:29 that which you desire for them to hear. 05:32 And in this moment Lord we give you honor and praise 05:34 for what you're about to do. 05:36 And we pray that your name will be glorified in all things 05:39 in Jesus' holy and blessed name, 05:42 amen, and amen. 05:45 Well, brothers and sisters, friends, 05:49 let's go back to the 14 chapter of the Book of Revelation. 05:55 To continue our journey, 05:57 I will begin first by reading the first angel's message 06:02 which is found in Revelation 14:6 and 7, 06:08 Revelation 14:6 and 7, 06:10 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, 06:15 having the everlasting gospel 06:18 to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, 06:21 and to every nation, 06:23 and kindred, and tongue, and people, 06:25 Saying with a loud voice, 06:27 Fear God, and give glory to him, 06:30 for the hour of his judgment is come, 06:32 and worship him that made heaven, 06:35 and earth, and the sea, 06:36 and the fountains of waters." 06:39 As we mentioned in the previous two sermons, 06:41 this is a message during the time of the end. 06:44 For it is only in the time of the end 06:46 can it be said the hour of his judgment has come. 06:49 It could not be preached in Noah's day 06:52 because the time of God's judgment had not come. 06:54 It could not be preached during the time of Paul. 06:57 He looked at the second coming of Jesus Christ in the future. 07:02 He said, that the second coming would not occur 07:05 except there come a falling away first 07:09 and a man of perdition is revealed, 07:12 so we're talking about a time of the end 07:14 that we are living in theses days. 07:17 And we're seeing things take place 07:20 that are leading us 07:21 to the development of the mark of the beast. 07:26 And I encourage you to look at the Bible, 07:29 read it carefully as God for understanding, 07:32 that you may be aware of the things 07:34 going on in the world, 07:36 so that you are aware 07:38 that the fulfillment of prophecy is taking place, 07:41 so that you can be prepared 07:44 to do your part in helping to spread the gospel, 07:47 the good news of salvation. 07:48 But it is not only the reaching of the gospel 07:52 that has to take place, 07:53 we also have to warn people of the judgments 07:56 that are coming, 07:57 because as we look at the second angel, 07:59 we will notice, and the third angel 08:01 we will notice that there is great danger at hand, 08:05 great danger coming 08:07 for the inhabitants of the earth. 08:10 So let us move now to Revelation 14:8, 08:15 "And there followed another angel, saying, 08:20 Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 08:24 because she made all nations 08:27 drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." 08:32 And so much as you see 08:33 the first angel has a message to every kindred, 08:36 and tongue, and people, 08:39 at the same time 08:40 there is an opposing work taking place through Satan 08:44 and the instruments he will use. 08:46 Remember Satan will use anyone 08:49 that is not a 100 percent committed to the Lord. 08:51 He can put thoughts 08:53 in the most noble of individuals, 08:55 in the most righteous of individuals. 08:57 I will bring you an example that is to me astounding. 09:01 We have the time when Jesus asked his disciples 09:04 whom do men say that I am. 09:06 And they said, oh, 09:08 well some say one of the prophets, 09:09 some say Elijah, etcetera, 09:11 and they answered this way. 09:14 And so Jesus didn't ask them, whom say ye that I am. 09:18 And Simon Peter said, 09:20 "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 09:24 And Jesus said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, 09:28 for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto you, 09:31 but my Father which is in heaven." 09:34 He was blessed by God. 09:35 God blessed him with the answer 09:37 and Jesus acknowledged and said, 09:39 Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, 09:41 for flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you, 09:44 but my Father in heaven. 09:46 Peter was influenced by the father in heaven. 09:49 Something takes place in the mind of Peter, 09:52 because it appears that Satan put a suggestion on his mind, 09:57 when Jesus soon after he said this, 09:59 said this to him, 10:00 "I must go to Jerusalem, 10:02 and I'm going to be killed 10:03 and be resurrected on the third day." 10:05 Immediately Peter reacted 10:07 and grabbed Jesus and said, Lord, 10:09 this is not going to happen unto you. 10:14 It's amazing how Jesus answers and says, 10:16 "Get thee behind me Satan, 10:18 for thou saviors the things of this world 10:20 and not the things of heaven." 10:23 Peter at that point in time was being used by the devil, 10:26 and Jesus said, get thee behind me Satan, 10:28 speaking directly to Satan, 10:31 but Peter was used by the devil. 10:34 So anyone can be used, 10:36 therefore we must be fully consecrated 10:38 to the Lord abiding in Jesus Christ, 10:41 and so we will see, 10:43 we can see in history that 10:44 the devil has used individuals in the past. 10:48 There are many examples in the Bible, 10:50 and we need to be surrendered to the Lord. 10:54 In this moment we are talking about Babylon, 10:56 Babylon is fallen. 10:58 And the question is 11:00 what is meant by the term Babylon? 11:04 The term Babylon comes from the Hebrew word, 11:07 Babel which means confusion. 11:10 This is very common, 11:11 most people know that Babylon means confusion. 11:15 And there is another definition that you can easily find 11:19 as you study in books 11:21 even go on the internet that in... 11:23 even in the Babylonian language it means the Gate of God, 11:28 Gate of the God, or Gate of the Gods, 11:31 which in Babylon as you know they worshipped false idols. 11:35 You can see this very clearly, 11:37 so when Daniel, Shadrach, 11:41 and Daniel, Meshach and... 11:44 I'm forgetting the names, 11:46 let me look them really quick here, 11:47 Daniel, Meshach, 11:49 and the other guy for some reason is escaping my name 11:52 so we'll go to Daniel 1 11:54 really quick and give you that other name. 11:57 And so we can see how Daniel and his friends, 12:03 their names were changed to the name of one of the god's 12:08 that the people had in Babylon. 12:10 So you can see here in Daniel 1, 12:13 let me find the reference, 12:15 here in Daniel 1:7, Unto whom, verse 6, 12:21 "Now among these were of the children of Judah, 12:25 Daniel, Hananiah, is the one I forgot, 12:28 Mishael, and Azariah, 12:31 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12:34 Hebrew names that meant something wonderful. 12:38 However their names were changed to Belteshazzar, 12:44 in reference to the god Bel, 12:46 the false god of course, 12:48 Hananiah was changed to Shadrach, 12:50 and Mishael to Meshach, 12:52 and Azariah to Abednego, 12:54 all Babylonian gods. 12:56 So when you think of Babylon, it's confusion. 12:59 They were worshiping many idols, 13:00 many false gods, 13:02 so Babylon means confusion. 13:04 Let's go to the Book of Genesis 13:07 to see a reference 13:08 when God brings this to us. 13:13 In Genesis 11, 13:16 I wanna read verse 1 and 2 first, 13:19 "And the whole earth was of one language, 13:22 and of one speech. 13:24 And it came to pass, 13:26 as they journeyed from the east, 13:28 that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, 13:31 and they dwelt there." 13:34 Genesis 11:9, tells us what happens later, 13:38 let me give you some background. 13:40 This was after the flood. 13:42 The flood had taken place, 13:44 and eventually 13:46 as the population continue to grow, 13:51 the people decided to journey to the east. 13:53 Now remember that God said that 13:55 he was gonna set his rainbow in the clouds as a token, 13:59 a symbol that he would not destroy 14:02 the earth with a flood again. 14:05 This was a promise made to Noah and his family. 14:08 I will not destroy the earth, 14:10 when you see that rainbow in the sky 14:11 remember my promise 14:13 that I will not destroy the earth with a flood. 14:15 But the people as they grew 14:17 they began to forget God and they journeyed to the east, 14:23 and as we read they spoke one language. 14:26 Now in Genesis 11:9 we have the following words. 14:31 "Therefore is the name of it called Babel, 14:34 because the Lord did there 14:35 confound the language of all the earth, 14:38 and from thence did the Lord 14:39 scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." 14:43 I just read you the verse 14:44 that came to the conclusion of what happen. 14:46 The Lord confused the language of the people, 14:50 gave them different languages that they could speak, 14:52 gave them the ability to do so. 14:54 They were building a tower, 14:56 it is well known the Tower of Babel, 14:58 and this is why where you get the word Babel, 15:01 Babylon, Babylonian or Babylon 15:05 from therefore Babylon means confusion. 15:08 So when we see Babylon, Babylon is fallen, 15:11 it's a message about a false system of worship, 15:15 and in fact when we're looking at this verse 15:18 Revelation 14:8, 15:21 it not only embraces one system of worship, 15:24 but embraces others that have joined 15:26 or have follow the traditions 15:28 and teachings of that system of worship 15:31 and we ask you to continue in the study, 15:36 this message and the other two that are coming 15:38 to get more information on that. 15:40 It is evident from scripture 15:41 that God's desire was to bring the gospel 15:44 to the world through the people of Israel. 15:47 His desire was to have to make of Israel 15:49 an example to the world of what a nation would be like 15:54 as they gave their hearts completely to the Lord, 15:57 followed his commandments 15:59 and following his commandments God would bless their homes. 16:03 They would have children, 16:05 they would plant and it would grow many crops. 16:08 They wouldn't have any diseases. 16:09 And they would be an example to the world 16:12 how a nation would live following God 16:16 and the blessings that they would receive. 16:19 However, we know that the people of Israel 16:21 departed from the Lord, 16:23 they started to worship idols and something happened to them. 16:27 And the Lord had told them that if they start worship, 16:31 stop obeying his commandments and start worshiping idols, 16:35 thee he would allow them to be take in captive, 16:37 he would allow them 16:39 to suffer diseases and etc, etc, etc. 16:43 You can see some of this described 16:44 in the Book of Deuteronomy. 16:46 And because Israel was unfaithful to God, 16:51 God allowed other nations to take them captive. 16:54 I show you Ezekiel 39, 16:56 we're gonna read verse 23 and 24 16:59 as an example, Ezekiel 39:23 and 24. 17:03 It says, "And the heathen shall know 17:06 that the house of Israel went into captivity 17:08 for their iniquity, 17:10 because they trespassed against me, 17:14 therefore I hid my face from them, 17:16 and gave them into the hand of their enemies, 17:19 so they fell all by the sword. 17:23 According to their uncleanness 17:25 and according to their transgressions 17:27 have I done unto them, 17:29 and hid my face from them." 17:32 Because of their evil practices, 17:34 because they separated themselves from the Lord, 17:36 stopped obeying his commandments, 17:38 started worshiping idols, 17:40 started doing what the other nations were doing. 17:42 The Lord allowed them to be taken captive 17:46 by other nations. 17:47 One of those nations was Babylon. 17:50 The fourth, I mean the first world kingdom, 17:53 remember there are four world kingdoms 17:56 that are prophesied in the Book of Daniel 17:59 that would take place upon the earth. 18:00 In fact in the Book of Jeremiah, 18:03 Babylon is called the hammer of the earth 18:06 because they controlled the majority of the world. 18:10 Four kingdoms in the world 18:13 that will take place from the time of Daniel, 18:15 and onward to the end of history. 18:18 Notice in Daniel 2:37-40, 18:21 Daniel 2:37-40. 18:24 "Thou, O king, art a king of kings, 18:28 for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, 18:31 and strength, and glory. 18:34 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, 18:37 the beasts of the field 18:38 and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, 18:41 and hath made thee ruler over them all. 18:44 Thou art this head of gold. 18:47 After thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, 18:50 and another third kingdom of brass, 18:53 which shall bear rule over all the earth. 18:55 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: 18:58 forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces 19:00 and subdueth all things, 19:02 and as iron that breaketh all these, 19:04 shall it break in pieces and bruise." 19:07 And so we see four world kingdoms, 19:09 Babylon being the first, and followed by Medo-Persia, 19:14 then Greece, then Rome 19:16 and its secular version, 19:19 eventually Rome would have a religious aspect to it, 19:24 so it will say religious 19:26 and political power secular power, 19:29 and that would be papal Rome very clearly shown in history. 19:34 So God gave the kingdom of Israel to Babylon 19:39 and notice how the Lord describes 19:43 this king Nebuchadnezzar. 19:46 I'm going to read 19:49 Jeremiah 27:5, 6 and 7. 19:56 God says, "I have made the earth, 19:58 the man and the beast that are upon the ground, 20:00 by my great power and by my outstretched arm, 20:03 and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. 20:07 And now have I given all these lands 20:09 into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, 20:12 and God says my servant, 20:14 and the beast of the field 20:16 have I given also on to him to serve him. 20:20 And all nations shall serve him, 20:22 and his son, and his son's son, 20:24 until the very time of his land come, 20:27 and then many nations and great kings 20:30 shall serve themselves of him." 20:32 So we see here that God, 20:34 and God's plan 20:37 the people of Israel were taken captive by him 20:39 and God calls Nebuchadnezzar, my servant. 20:42 God's intention was to bring the gospel to Babylon 20:48 and thereby all nations 20:51 would become aware of the Almighty God, 20:54 the King of kings, and Lord of lords. 20:56 Miracles took place in Babylon 20:58 to help the people of Babylon understand 21:00 that there is a God in heaven above any false God, 21:04 and that is why Daniel was there 21:07 as the second in the kingdom. 21:09 Notice what happened after a Daniel 3:28, 21:13 something takes place that 21:17 Nebuchadnezzar is shocked surprised by, 21:22 and as a matter of fact 21:23 because Nebuchadnezzar glorified himself, 21:29 God allowed him to become as animal on the field. 21:33 For seven years he was eating grass 21:35 and running around like an animal, 21:37 his nails grew 21:38 because he did not acknowledge the creator of the world. 21:44 But in Daniel 3:28 and 29, 21:47 we have the following words concerning Nebuchadnezzar. 21:50 "Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, 21:53 Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 21:57 who hath sent his angel, 22:00 and delivered his servants that trusted in him, 22:02 and have changed the king's word, 22:05 and yielded their bodies, 22:06 that they might not serve nor worship any god, 22:08 except their own God." 22:11 This is when the Shadrach, Meshach, 22:13 and Abednego were delivered in the fiery furnace. 22:16 Now notice verse 29, "Therefore I make a decree, 22:19 that every people, nation, and language, 22:22 which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, 22:26 Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, 22:28 and their houses shall be made a dunghill, 22:30 because there is no other God 22:32 that can deliver after this sort." 22:36 His exclamation, his declaration is one that is 22:40 mixed with good things and of course bad things, 22:43 because one, 22:45 he gave glory to God 22:47 and he wanted all nations to know him, 22:49 he made a decree that will be 22:50 spread throughout all the world, 22:52 the then known world saying that there is a God, 22:57 a creator God. 22:58 However, error takes place when he says, 23:01 that whoever does not acknowledge this God 23:05 will be cut in pieces 23:06 and their houses shall be made a dunghill, etc. 23:08 So his mind is still not 100 percent converted 23:13 but he is acknowledging that there is a God almighty. 23:21 As we continue we like to take you to see 23:23 what happened to Babylon. 23:24 Unfortunately Babylon was destroyed 23:27 because they departed from the principles 23:31 that God try to bring them to. 23:33 And in Jeremiah 50:1 and 2 we have the following words. 23:39 Jeremiah 50:1 and 2, 23:41 "The word that the Lord spake against Babylon 23:43 and against the land of the Chaldeans 23:45 by Jeremiah the prophet. 23:46 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, 23:49 and set up a standard, publish, 23:50 and conceal not: say, 23:52 Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, 23:56 Merodach is broken in pieces, 23:59 her idols are confounded, 24:00 her images are broken in pieces." 24:02 Mentioning some of the gods they served. 24:05 Remember Bel, Belteshazzar, Belteshazzar that was... 24:10 Daniel was named after that false god. 24:13 So because of their refusal to follow God 24:19 they had to be destroyed. 24:21 Jeremiah 50:26 tells us, 24:24 "Come against her from the utmost border, 24:27 open her storehouses, cast her up as heaps, 24:30 and destroy her utterly, let nothing of her be left." 24:35 It was a complete destruction. 24:38 However, before the destruction something takes place 24:42 that is similar to what 24:44 God is calling during the end times. 24:47 In the end times we're talking about a Babylon 24:50 that is a symbol of corruption and confusion 24:54 and the same thing that happened in the end 24:56 during the time of the literal Babylon 24:59 takes place in the symbolic Babylon, 25:01 God calls his children out of Babylon 25:04 before Babylon is destroyed. 25:06 Notice in Jeremiah 51:6, 25:10 "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, 25:13 and deliver every man his soul, 25:15 be not cut off in her iniquity, 25:18 for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance, 25:21 he will render unto her a recompence." 25:25 So we see here 25:26 that Babylon is about to be destroyed, 25:28 but a message is sent to the inhabitants of Babylon 25:32 to come out of Babylon. 25:33 Babylon became a great city over 200,000 inhabitants, 25:37 it is said that is was 25:39 one of the most popular cities of the ancient times, 25:41 was very rich, gold everywhere, 25:44 many gold bricks have been found 25:45 with Nebuchadnezzar's name, 25:47 however they had to fall. 25:52 Isaiah 21:9, 25:54 Isaiah 21:9, tells us, 25:56 "And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, 25:59 with a couple of horsemen. 26:00 And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen 26:04 and all the graven images of her gods 26:06 he hath broken unto the ground." 26:10 So Babylon, the ancient Babylon was fallen, 26:13 it was destroyed. 26:15 A similar reference is made 26:18 we have just read it Revelation 14:8, 26:21 "And there followed another angel, saying, 26:23 Babylon is fallen, is fallen, the great city, 26:25 because she made all nations drink of the wine 26:29 of the wrath of her fornication." 26:31 So we have here a similar thing takes place. 26:35 Babylon is fallen, is fallen. 26:37 What does this mean? 26:39 We're gonna continue our study 26:40 to understand what this means. 26:42 In Revelation 17, 26:44 we have an interesting thing takes place. 26:47 In Revelation 17, 26:49 Babylon is represented as a woman, 26:53 and we know that in the Bible 26:55 a woman is a symbol of a church. 26:58 A virtuous woman representing a pure church, 27:02 a vile woman an apostate church, 27:05 a church that has become corrupt. 27:07 Let's see how this is presented in the Bible. 27:12 Notice, Hosea 2:19, 27:16 Hosea 2:19, God says, 27:20 "And I will betroth thee unto me for ever, 27:24 talking about Israel Jerusalem, yea, 27:27 I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, 27:29 and in judgment, 27:30 and in loving-kindness, and in mercies, 27:33 " talking about the people of Israel 27:35 when they were following the Lord, 27:37 they are, God is said to be married to Jerusalem. 27:42 2 Corinthians 11:2, 27:44 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, 27:47 for I have espoused you to one husband, 27:50 that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ, 27:54 " concerning Jerusalem. 27:57 Now, when the people of Israel were unfaithful, 28:02 notice how God refers to Babylon. 28:06 Once pure, once a righteous nations, 28:11 once a nation that followed God, 28:14 God then calls her a harlot. 28:17 Why? 28:18 Because she stared to imitate what the other nations did, 28:21 and started to worship idols, 28:23 even sacrifice their children to idols 28:27 and all manner of wicked things. 28:29 Look at this as found in... 28:34 Let's go to Ezekiel 16:1 and 2, 28:37 Ezekiel 16:1 and 2, 28:38 Ezekiel 16 is a time 28:41 when God is talking about Israel 28:45 and how they had departed from him 28:47 and how God is going to deal with them. 28:51 Notice Ezekiel 16:1, 28:53 "Again the word of the Lord came unto me, 28:55 saying, Son of man, 28:57 cause Jerusalem to know her abominations." 29:04 "Cause Jerusalem to know her abominations." 29:07 Now the abominations are mentioned, 29:09 continuing on verse 3, 4, 5 etc. 29:13 And let us move now to verse 35, 29:15 Ezekiel 16:35, 29:18 notice what God calls Jerusalem, 29:21 the people of Israel. 29:22 "Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord: 29:26 Thus saith the Lord God, 29:27 because thy filthiness was poured out, 29:30 and thy nakedness discovered 29:32 through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, 29:35 and with the idols of thy abominations, 29:38 and by the blood of thy children, 29:40 which thou didst give unto them." 29:43 So we see here that Israel is called the harlot 29:49 when she departed from the Lord, 29:51 when she started imitating other nations 29:53 and worshiping idols and setting up idols, 29:56 and the Bible says that 29:58 they even set up idols under every green tree, 30:02 so widespread was this 30:05 that the Lord had to bring judgment upon Israel. 30:09 In 2 Kings 17:16, 30:13 2 Kings 17:16 and 17, 30:17 the Bible says concerning Israel, 30:19 "And they left all the commandments 30:21 of the Lord their God, 30:23 and made them molten images, even two calves, 30:27 and made a grove, 30:28 and worshipped all the host of heaven, 30:30 and served Baal", 30:32 a false God made out of man made material, 30:38 made out of stone, 30:39 or made of out of some metal. 30:41 "And they caused their sons, verse 17 says, 30:44 and their daughters to pass through the fire, 30:46 and used divination and enchantments, 30:49 and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, 30:53 to provoke him to anger." 30:55 So we ask the question, Israel a chaste virgin, 31:02 that God was married to, 31:04 that God wanted to use to bring the gospel to the world, 31:10 became a harlot and God calls her a harlot. 31:14 So be not surprised that in the end time 31:18 God uses similar language to refer to those people 31:25 that claim to be Christians, 31:28 but are following the world are teaching false doctrines, 31:33 God calls those denominations those churches, 31:37 those Christians that take the name of Christ 31:42 and say they're his followers. 31:44 God calls them also a harlot 31:47 when they depart from following the Lord. 31:50 Let's look at this 31:52 as we continue in the New Testament, 31:54 James 4:4, James 4:4, 31:58 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 32:01 know ye not that the friendship 32:04 of the world is enmity with God? 32:07 Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world 32:10 is the enemy of God." 32:12 You're adulterers, adulteresses, 32:15 if you have friendship with the world, 32:19 you're doing what the world does. 32:21 You're turning your back on God. 32:22 You're not obeying God's commandments, 32:24 you're an adulterer, you become a prostitute, 32:28 a harlot is another term that is used. 32:30 And so this is also mentioned in the New Testament 32:34 in Revelation 14, 32:35 the angel states that Babylon the great city is fallen. 32:39 When Babylon is further described in Revelation 17, 32:43 it is described as a corrupt woman, 32:46 therefore a corrupt church. 32:49 Notice Revelation 17:3, 32:52 "So he carried me away 32:54 in the spirit into the wilderness, 32:56 and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, 33:00 a scarlet colored beast full of names of blasphemy, 33:04 having seven heads and ten horns." 33:07 It is well known that in Bible prophecy, 33:10 that a beast represents a kingdom. 33:13 You can see Daniel 7:23, 33:16 for this symbol and identified or defined. 33:19 Daniel 17:23, 33:23 "Thus he said, the fourth beast 33:26 shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth, 33:28 which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, 33:31 and shall devour the whole earth, 33:33 and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces." 33:35 So a beast when used in Bible prophecy is a kingdom. 33:41 So here in Revelation 17, 33:44 the woman representing a corrupt church 33:48 because it has names of blasphemy 33:50 is sitting upon a beast. 33:53 This is a church controlling a beast which is a kingdom. 33:58 In other words, 34:00 the church is controlling the state, 34:02 the church is controlling the nation 34:05 and so because of this, 34:07 we have to ask ourselves, 34:09 as we look at the panorama in the world of churches, 34:15 which church, which churches 34:18 if we can say have this type of arrangement, 34:21 they are controlling a nation. 34:25 You can look all over the world 34:27 and see that there is only one that fits this category. 34:32 We're talking about the Roman Catholic Church, 34:37 the Vatican is a city, 34:39 a nation but and so the sovereign leader is the pope, 34:44 but he is also the leader of a church 34:47 called the Roman Catholic Church. 34:50 There are other identifying characteristics 34:53 that we will look on as we continue 34:55 in our study in this program 34:58 and in the next two that we still have to go through. 35:01 So remember that friendship with the world 35:05 you become the enemy of God. 35:07 When a church, 35:09 when churches unite to call upon this state 35:14 to do as they desire 35:16 and they seek to bring laws into that land 35:21 contrary to the principles of God, 35:24 we see that they are departing from God's principles 35:29 and they are becoming as this woman 35:33 that is controlling a beast. 35:36 Revelation 17:4 and 5, notice what happens, 35:40 "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, 35:46 and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, 35:49 having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations 35:52 and filthiness of her fornication, 35:55 And upon her forehead was a name written, 35:58 Mystery, Babylon The Great, 36:01 The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth." 36:07 So what do we see here Revelation 17, 36:10 talks about Babylon being a woman 36:13 but also controlling a nation. 36:17 We see very clearly that there is only one church, 36:23 one nation that is in this category 36:26 at this present time in history, 36:29 and that is the Roman Catholic Church. 36:32 There are other identifying characteristics 36:34 that make it very clear that this is so. 36:37 Here the Bible is telling us 36:39 that this corrupt church is vested 36:41 with kingly authority, 36:44 controlling a kingdom, or a nation. 36:46 It has a golden carpenter hand, 36:48 full of abominations 36:49 and filthiness of her fornication. 36:51 Notice that in verse 5, 36:53 she is called the mother of harlots, 36:55 and abomination of the earth. 36:58 In other words, there are daughters, 37:02 others that follow what she has taught. 37:05 In other words they keep, 37:07 they hold to some of the traditions 37:10 and some of the teachings of the mother church 37:14 is the mother of harlot, 37:16 so they hold to some of the beliefs 37:18 of the mother church 37:20 which we will discuss further on. 37:23 And so we had to ask ourselves, 37:28 are you in Babylon? 37:29 And if you're in Babylon, what should you do? 37:32 By her daughters of course must symbolize churches 37:35 that cling to her doctrines and traditions. 37:39 And follow the example of sacrificing the truth 37:42 and the approval of God 37:43 in order to form an unlawful alliance with the world. 37:47 The message of Revelation 14, 37:49 announcing the fall of Babylon, 37:51 must apply to religious bodies. 37:53 They were once pure and had become corrupt. 37:58 And so since this message follows 38:00 the warning of judgment, 38:02 it must be given in the last days. 38:05 However, when you look at Revelation 14:8, 38:10 and it says about Babylon is fallen, 38:13 Babylon is fallen, 38:14 it cannot refer to the Roman Catholic Church alone 38:17 for that church has been in a falling condition 38:21 for many centuries. 38:24 So it is the other churches 38:26 that are included in this Revelation 14:8 38:30 that we must understand that are in this category 38:34 of following her doctrines. 38:37 And so you have to ask yourselves, 38:39 how do I know? 38:41 You have to look at what your church teaches 38:44 and what the Roman Catholic Church teaches 38:46 to see if you have similar beliefs 38:48 and you have to compare that with the Bible, 38:50 and if they're not in the Bible, 38:53 you have to understand that it is a false doctrine. 38:57 So in Revelation 18, 38:59 the Bible tells us, 39:04 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 39:09 Come out of her, my people, 39:12 that ye be not partakers of her sins, 39:15 and that ye receive not of her plagues." 39:18 So what we see here 39:20 that God in the end time makes a call to Babylon, 39:26 to those that are his people 39:29 that are in those fallen churches, 39:32 and he says come out of them my people, 39:34 that ye be not partakers of her sins, 39:36 and that you receive not of her plagues. 39:40 Not yet can it be said that Babylon, 39:43 Babylon is fallen concerning other churches, 39:48 because they have not yet appealed to the government, 39:51 they have not completed, 39:53 what you would call the alliance 39:55 with the worldly governments 39:57 to call upon the worldly governments 39:59 to make a law that is contrary to God's Bible, 40:05 the doctrines of the holy scriptures. 40:07 It is yet future 40:08 but things are already in place, 40:11 things are being set up 40:13 and has been happening since the 1800s. 40:16 In the 1888 right around that period of time, 40:19 the churches were getting together to bring a law, 40:23 a Sunday law where people would be mandated 40:27 to keep Sunday as a day of rest 40:31 throughout the nation of the United States of America. 40:36 So remember that just before 40:38 the destruction of literal Babylon, 40:40 in Jeremiah 51:6, 40:43 remember that we read that God calls upon his children, 40:47 flee out of the midst of Babylon, 40:49 and deliver every man his soul, 40:51 be not cut off in her iniquity, 40:53 for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance, 40:55 he will render to her a recompense. 40:57 In like manner, in the end time God says, 41:00 come out of her my people, 41:02 come out of her my people 41:05 that you receive not of her plagues. 41:08 And so let's take a look at Revelation. 41:12 How do I know if I am in Babylon? 41:15 How do I know if I'm a part of Babylon, 41:18 part of that confusion? 41:20 We like to invite you to read Revelation 12 with us, 41:25 and you'll notice 41:27 an interesting development that takes place. 41:29 In Revelation 12, 41:31 it's like the history of God's Christian church is seen, 41:35 and some of the things that take place, 41:38 you will see there how God from the... 41:41 from the very beginning has had to protect his church 41:44 because there is Satan as a roaring lion 41:48 seeking who he may devour. 41:49 Not only does he devour but he also deceives, 41:53 he's a liar and the father of lies, 41:57 and uses people, 41:59 uses people in high position 42:01 to try to destroy God's children. 42:05 And so you can see that outline in Revelation 12. 42:09 First of all, you remember that 42:11 there is a symbol there in Revelation 12, 42:14 of a woman in cloth with the sun 42:16 and the moon under her feet, 42:19 a beautiful woman, a woman that is pure, 42:21 however it talks about that 42:25 the woman is expecting a child 42:27 and this child of course is Jesus. 42:30 There is a dual thing taking place here 42:33 using the woman as a church, pure church 42:38 and also Mary that was about to deliver Jesus Christ. 42:42 And what happens is it says 42:44 that a great red dragon wanted to devour the child 42:48 as soon as it was born. 42:49 You will remember that during the time of Christ, 42:52 when he was born, wise men came from the east 42:56 and said to Herod, 42:57 where is he that is born, the king of the Jews? 43:02 And after finding out information 43:04 where he would be born, 43:06 he told the wise men that came from the east, 43:08 go and find the young child, and bring me word again, 43:11 that I may also worship him. 43:13 However, the wise men were told by God to go another way, 43:17 and after this Herod decided to destroy all the children 43:21 from three and four years and under 43:24 to try to destroy that one 43:27 that would become king of the Jews, 43:29 being Jesus Christ. 43:30 So Satan works through nations 43:33 and leaders of nations 43:35 to try to accomplish his purpose of destruction. 43:38 However, when you go to Revelation 12:17, 43:42 the history continues to reveal that God tried to, 43:48 God protected his children, protected Jesus, 43:52 protected the woman 43:54 from being destroyed by the devil. 43:56 Notice in Revelation 12:14-17, 44:00 notice what takes place here. 44:02 "And to the woman, 44:04 that is the church were given two wings of a great eagle, 44:07 that she might fly into the wilderness, 44:09 into her place, 44:10 where she is nourished for a time, 44:13 and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent, 44:18 " which is the devil. 44:20 Notice what happens next, verse 15, 44:23 "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water 44:27 as a flood after the woman, 44:28 that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood." 44:33 This water of flood that tries to carry 44:37 the woman away are false teachings 44:39 that Satan try to bring among God's people, 44:43 among God's pure church. 44:45 He tried to have her carried away with false doctrines. 44:49 However, the Bible says that God was in charge 44:52 and it says in verse 16, 44:54 "And the earth helped the woman, 44:56 and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood 45:00 which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 45:03 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, 45:05 and went out to make war with the remnant of her seed, 45:08 which keep the commandments of God, 45:11 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 45:15 A very interesting scripture 45:18 we find here in Revelation 12:17, 45:21 we see that the devil is after 45:24 the pure servants of the Lord, 45:27 the pure church, and it is further... 45:30 they are further identified 45:32 as those that keep the commandments of God. 45:35 So how do I know if I'm in a church 45:39 that could be categorized as confusion or Babylon, 45:45 or one of the harlots? 45:47 How do I know? 45:48 Well, we see here in Revelation 12:17, 45:52 that the children of God, 45:54 the ones that follow the Lord are those 45:57 that keep the commandments of God. 46:01 Now, if your church teaches that 46:04 the commandments have been done away with, 46:06 that they are no longer binding, 46:09 we don't have to keep the commandments. 46:11 You can see that there is a problem 46:13 with the teachings of that church. 46:15 If your church teaches 46:16 that the commandments are done away with, 46:18 you don't have to keep the commandments, 46:20 you see that one of the clues 46:22 we have here is that that is not true 46:25 because Satan persecutes, 46:28 Satan goes after those that keep the commandments of God 46:33 and have the faith of Jesus, the pure faith of Jesus, 46:38 so this is one of the things that we can tell you, 46:42 that you need to look for 46:44 and be aware 46:47 that if your church has this type of teaching, 46:51 it is an error that the Bible says is not true. 46:56 Notice that in James 2, 47:00 in James 2, 47:04 we are told in James 2, 47:09 we are going to read a couple of verses here, 47:12 so that we may understand how we are to live our lives. 47:18 In James 2, 47:20 we're going to begin reading verse 11, 47:23 and so through verse 13. 47:26 James 2:11-13, 47:30 "For he that said, do not commit adultery, 47:32 said also, do not kill. 47:34 Now if thou commit no adultery, 47:36 yet if thou kill, 47:38 thou art become a transgressor of the law. 47:42 So speak ye, and so do, 47:44 as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." 47:48 This is the Book of James. 47:51 Verse 13, "For ye shall have judgment without mercy, 47:55 that showed no mercy, 47:57 and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." 48:00 So we see here that James is saying 48:02 that we should speak and do 48:03 as those that will be judged by the law of liberty, 48:06 he mentioned some of the commandments 48:08 he did not mention them all, 48:10 but we have to understand that 48:12 he is referring to the law of Lord, 48:15 the complete law of God. 48:17 He is making reference with some things 48:19 that were particular to the people he wrote to, 48:21 but he is referring to the whole law of God, 48:24 by which everyone will be judged. 48:27 So we can understand 48:29 that the law has not been done away with 48:31 because they are the standard of the judgment, 48:33 as we presented in the last message 48:36 when we were speaking of 48:37 the first angel's message, part two. 48:39 The law of God is still binding 48:41 and the inhabitants of the earth 48:45 are to keep God's law. 48:47 Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." 48:51 Now when you look at the commandments, 48:53 most Christian denominations have no problem 48:56 with nine of the commandments. 48:59 There is only one commandment, 49:01 one commandment that the people have issue with. 49:04 The majority of denominations look at the fourth commandment 49:08 and they say no, that one you should not keep. 49:11 Which is the fourth commandment? 49:14 In order to understand this, of course, 49:16 we have to look in Exodus 20, Exodus 20. 49:22 In an Exodus 20 we have the Ten Commandments. 49:26 In an Exodus 20, 49:27 we're going to read verses 8-11. 49:30 Notice, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 49:34 We'll stop right there. 49:35 We see here that 49:37 as you have heard in other programs on 3ABN, 49:41 it says, remember the Sabbath day, 49:43 as if God knew, well, God knew that his children, 49:47 his followers would forget the Sabbath commandment. 49:53 He says remember 49:54 the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 49:57 This is a commandment 49:58 that the devil will fight against. 50:00 He will fight against each and every one 50:03 of the Ten Commandments. 50:05 He wants you to kill, the devil wants you to kill. 50:07 The devil wants you to steal. 50:09 The devil wants you to commit adultery. 50:10 The devil also wants you to forget 50:14 the seventh day Sabbath, 50:15 and he has worked furiously throughout the ages 50:19 to keep people from following all of God's commandments 50:22 and we will say, tell you why in a moment. 50:25 Notice again, let's go to Exodus 20. 50:28 Let's go to read verse 8 and onward. 50:31 We already read verse 8, 50:33 verse 9, "Six days shalt thou labor, 50:36 and do all thy work, 50:37 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, 50:42 in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, 50:45 nor thy son, nor thy daughter, 50:47 thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, 50:50 nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger 50:51 that is within thy gates. 50:53 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, 50:57 the sea, and all that in them is, 50:59 and rested the seventh day, 51:01 wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, 51:04 and hallowed it." 51:06 Praise be to God. 51:09 And so we see here that 51:10 this is one of the commandments or the commandment 51:14 that for the most part has been forgotten 51:17 by the Christian world, 51:18 who he said that Satan pursues Revelation 12:17, 51:24 in other places he pursues, he persecutes, 51:27 he tried to destroy 51:28 all those that profess to be God's children in particular, 51:32 he seeks to destroy 51:34 those that keep the commandments of God 51:36 and have the faith of Jesus. 51:38 Now some people say, 51:39 well, this is only for the Jews, 51:41 this Sabbath. 51:42 The seventh day Sabbath commandment 51:44 and keeping that the holy, that is not a true statement. 51:48 The Bible makes clear that the Sabbath was blessed 51:52 even before the Jews even existed. 51:55 Let's go to Genesis 2, 51:57 Genesis 2, 51:59 we're gonna read verse 1, 2, and 3, 52:01 Genesis 2:1, 2, and 3, 52:03 'Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, 52:07 all the host of them. 52:08 And on the seventh day God ended his work 52:12 which he had made, 52:13 and he rested on the seventh day 52:16 from all his work which he had made. 52:17 And God blessed the seventh day, 52:20 and sanctified it, 52:22 because that in it he had rested from all his work 52:25 which God created and made." 52:29 So we see here that God blessed the Sabbath day 52:34 right after he was done with creating the world, 52:37 he blessed the Sabbath day. 52:39 So concerning the commandments, 52:41 we have to understand that 52:43 this is how you know if you're in Babylon or not. 52:46 This is one of the ways you know. 52:49 And the other, 52:50 you also know by the false doctrine 52:52 that Babylon teaches. 52:54 Notice a very interesting conversation 52:57 that takes place in Matthew 22, Matthew 22. 53:02 In Matthew 22, 53:07 Matthew 22 53:08 actually Jesus said the following words, 53:11 Jesus said unto him, 53:12 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 53:16 and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 53:19 This is the first and great commandment. 53:22 And the second is like unto it, 53:24 "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 53:27 We will stress once again and underline 53:30 that the first four commandments 53:33 talk about our relationship with God. 53:35 This is the first and great commandment, 53:37 love the Lord, 53:38 follow the first four commandments 53:41 of the Ten Commandments 53:42 and love your neighbor as yourself, 53:44 the last six commandments deal 53:47 with our relationship with our fellowman. 53:49 And these Ten Commandments, 53:53 the devil tries to fight against them, 53:56 he fights against them. 53:58 Why is it? 53:59 Is because these people want to follow the Lord. 54:03 They want to serve the Lord with all their heart 54:05 and they want to love their neighbor as themselves. 54:09 Satan does not want you to love your neighbor as yourselves. 54:12 Satan does not want you to love God with all of your heart, 54:15 therefore he seeks to try to deviate you from them 54:19 and has brought in all kinds of malicious lies 54:24 to deceive people with the idea, 54:26 that we don't, 54:27 do not have to keep the commandments. 54:31 Now, remember in Matthew 10, 54:36 in Matthew 10, 54:38 an individual comes up to Jesus and ask him... 54:45 comes up to Jesus and ask him, 54:48 how is it that I can inherit eternal life. 54:51 That's in Matthew 10:17, 54:53 how can I inherit eternal life? 54:54 Jesus said unto him Matthew 10:18 and 19, 54:59 thou knowest, sorry, 55:01 let's read out verse 18 first, and Jesus said unto him, 55:03 "Why callest thou me good? 55:05 There is none good but one, that is God. 55:08 Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, 55:10 do not kill, do not steal, 55:12 do not bear false witness, 55:13 defraud not, honor thy father and thy mother." 55:17 Jesus knew the individual had an issue 55:19 with his fellowman. 55:21 Now look at verse 20, 55:23 "And he answered and said unto him, 55:25 Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 55:27 Then Jesus said, beholding him loved him, 55:31 and said unto him, One thing thou lackest, 55:33 go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, 55:35 and give to the poor, 55:37 and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, 55:39 and come up, take up that cross, 55:41 and follow me. 55:43 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, 55:46 for he had great possessions." 55:47 So the young man comes to Jesus and say, 55:49 what can I do to inherit eternal life? 55:51 Jesus said, keep the commandments. 55:54 Now why did Jesus answer him that way? 55:57 I have to stress you do not earn salvation 56:01 by keeping the commandments, 56:03 but you cannot be saved if you do not keep them. 56:07 Remember that by grace we are saved through faith. 56:11 It is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8 and 9, 56:16 "Not of works, lest any man should boast." 56:18 And so, it is by grace that we are saved, 56:21 but you show your allegiance, you show your devotion, 56:26 you show that you love God with all of your heart, 56:28 and then you want to identify with his kingdom 56:31 and his universe, 56:32 his kingdom by loving God with all your heart, 56:37 and your neighbor as yourself. 56:39 This is how you know 56:44 that you want to be part of God's family. 56:46 God is calling people to come out of Babylon, 56:49 examine the doctrines of the church, 56:51 compare them with the Bible 56:53 and understand that God is calling people 56:55 out of confusion 56:56 and to follow him with all of his heart. 57:00 Remember, God's people are identified 57:02 as those that keep all the commandments of God 57:05 as you read in Revelation 12:17. 57:08 So I say to you, 57:09 follow the Lord with all your heart 57:11 and you will find salvation through Jesus Christ. 57:14 We will see you next time on Pillars of Faith. |
Revised 2016-10-24