Revelation Insights

The Mark Of The Beast

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Pr. Lyle Albrecht

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Series Code: RIN

Program Code: RIN000018


01:00 Good evening.
01:01 Welcome.
01:03 This evening, we're going to take one of
01:04 my favorite journeys.
01:07 It may even well be one of yours.
01:09 We're going to go to the city of Rome,
01:12 but more particularly, inside the Vatican.
01:15 So fasten your seatbelts, now, as we begin.
01:18 The Vatican is unique in the world.
01:20 It is 111 acres inside the city of Rome.
01:24 It's a city within a city, but really more than that,
01:27 it's a nation within a nation, a state within a state,
01:31 these 111 acres.
01:35 There are some here tonight for the very first time.
01:38 And for your sakes, and I may repeat this
01:41 at the beginning of the lecture, I must say again,
01:45 God has His children in all the churches and here we
01:48 never sit in judgment upon anyone's relationship
01:51 with Jesus whether they're Catholic or Protestant or
01:54 something other than that.
01:56 At the same time, we do look at teachings and practices
01:59 and the prophecies of the Bible and then compare
02:02 them with history.
02:03 We're required by God to do that especially in the last days.
02:08 So, I've been praying today that nothing said tonight
02:12 during the travel log or the lecture would be offensive.
02:14 It's certainly not intended to be that.
02:17 Now let's talk then about the Vatican.
02:20 From an aerial view, we're looking down into
02:22 St. Peter's Square.
02:23 And some of you folks will remember when several years ago
02:26 Pope John Paul II was shot in his open jeepney.
02:30 You remember that?
02:31 He was shot by an angry Arab.
02:33 Well, that happened right over in that area
02:36 down toward the bottom right hand side of the screen.
02:39 And from that point ever after, the popes, when they're outside
02:44 and out in parade, have been inside that little
02:47 bullet proof bubble.
02:49 Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is the largest cathedral
02:52 in all of the world.
02:54 The foundation of the church alone covers almost 6 acres.
02:58 The original church was built here in the middle part
03:02 of the 4th century.
03:04 But by the 16th century, it was decrepit,
03:06 it was not safe even to go inside.
03:08 And so it was torn down and this one was built in its place.
03:13 The corner stone for this cathedral was placed
03:15 about 1505, and about 120 years later they had the dedication.
03:22 120 years to build, but when you think of the size
03:25 and remember the crude tools with which they worked
03:29 you're caused to wonder how they could complete it
03:32 so quickly after all.
03:35 I'd like to point out to you the dome, particularly.
03:39 The dome that sits atop the cathedral was designed by
03:44 Michelangelo Buonarroti.
03:45 He wasn't here to build it but he designed the dome.
03:49 Now way up atop the dome, I want you to take your attention,
03:53 there is a cross and beneath that cross, there is a
03:57 big golden orb.
03:59 And history says, that golden orb symbolizes the sun.
04:04 And again we see the cross with the sun, proof; definite proof,
04:11 geological proof, archaeological proof, historical proof,
04:15 of the blending together of some elements of paganism
04:18 with Christianity, particularly during the Dark Ages.
04:23 Down in the very center of St. Peter's Square,
04:26 you see an Egyptian obelisk.
04:28 That came of Heliopolis which was the center of sun worship
04:31 on the north of the African continent.
04:36 Now I want to tell you a little bit about the raising of the
04:38 funds for this cathedral.
04:41 Even back then it was going to cost, by our comparison,
04:45 millions and millions and millions of dollars.
04:49 And the church was just coming out of the Dark Ages
04:52 and there were not a lot of wealthy folks.
04:54 And so some leaders talked together and decided
04:59 that they would begin to raise money by selling the
05:03 forgiveness of sin.
05:05 And those, of course, historically are known
05:07 as indulgences.
05:09 And the church then commissioned salesmen to go throughout
05:14 the western part of Europe, and through some of the Middle East
05:17 as well, selling the forgiveness of sin.
05:20 Forgiveness of sins past, forgiveness of sins present,
05:24 and if your contribution was large enough,
05:27 forgiveness of sins of the future.
05:30 There was a man by the name of Tetzel who went from here
05:34 over into Germany and began to sell these indulgences
05:39 in the diocese of a man who was a theology professor.
05:44 His name was Dr. Martin Luther.
05:48 And when Martin Luther heard what was going on, he confronted
05:52 Tetzel and he said, "Not in my area, over my dead body. "
05:56 And really, the raising of...
05:58 My point is this, ladies and gentlemen, again not to be
06:01 critical, but for your information sake.
06:03 The raising of money for this lovely, lovely cathedral
06:06 had a large part in lighting the fire that would soon become
06:11 the reformation blaze.
06:13 Luther and Calvin and Huss and a number of others
06:17 beside all of that.
06:19 Well, we want to go down for some close-up, you and I,
06:23 and so we're going to enter by the main street,
06:26 also known as the street of reconciliation.
06:30 And I'll tell you why it is so named.
06:33 In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte sent his general, Berthier, here
06:37 and they took the pope captive and took him back over to Paris
06:41 and held him there for a while, and then out to the
06:42 Palace of Fontainebleau, where we visited on another evening.
06:45 And Napoleon said there shall never be another pope.
06:48 And for three years, there was no pope in Rome.
06:51 He stripped the church of Rome of its earthly power,
06:55 its political power, its powers of state.
06:58 Not religious power, but the powers of state.
07:03 In 1928, a man by the name of Mussolini gave
07:07 back those powers.
07:09 And at that time this street, then, was renamed
07:13 the street of reconciliation.
07:15 We come up to the facade of the church and we're going to
07:19 notice several things.
07:20 Now at the very top of the screen, you can see that
07:22 golden ball a little closer up.
07:25 I'll tell you this about it.
07:26 You cannot get inside, but if you could,
07:29 if it was possible, we could put 18 of these chairs side by side,
07:34 we could seat 18 people side by side inside that golden ball.
07:39 That gives you just a little bit of a feeling for
07:41 how large it is.
07:42 It's up there 500 feet high.
07:46 It's massive.
07:48 There are five major doors of entry to this cathedral.
07:52 And four of those doors are open, pretty much, year round
07:56 and always, but one is opened only on special occasions
08:00 and we shall talk about that later.
08:02 Now there you can see the golden ball even better.
08:04 And right at the roof line of the facade, right across here,
08:09 you see Jesus Christ.
08:11 Right above the main door of entry, there is Jesus Christ
08:15 and He has His cross with Him.
08:17 And then we see the six disciples on His right hand side
08:21 and six on His left there, the twelve disciples.
08:25 And they are massive.
08:26 It doesn't look like it from here.
08:28 They're proportional, certainly, but when you stand beside them
08:32 you have to lean way back like this to see the heads of them.
08:36 They are massive.
08:37 And it causes you to wonder, how did they get them up there
08:40 long before these huge sky cranes and all of
08:43 that sort of thing.
08:44 It's quite remarkable.
08:46 Well, the uniform...
08:49 And by the way, these are the guards of the Vatican.
08:51 They are Swiss and have been practically since the beginning
08:54 of the Vatican.
08:56 The uniforms that they wear for dress parade is designed by
08:59 Michelangelo Buonarroti.
09:01 And there you see it.
09:02 The pope speaks to those that are gathered down in
09:06 St. Peter's Square on special occasions.
09:08 One such will be Easter, and that will be the next one.
09:11 And in St. Peter's Square where we're standing with a
09:14 telephoto lens to make this shot, there will be
09:17 200,000 to 450,000 people waiting and listening
09:22 over the loud speakers.
09:24 Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is the special door.
09:27 We said that there are five doors and four are
09:29 almost always open.
09:31 This one is called Porta Sancta, the "Holy Door,"
09:35 and it opened only once every 25 years.
09:38 And when it is opened, it's left open for one year.
09:42 And it's during this year, often called the Year of Jubilee
09:46 or the Holy Year, that the faithful Catholic Christians
09:50 make the pilgrimage here to walk through that door
09:54 because above the door it says that those who enter or exit
09:58 are granted plenary indulgence, total forgiveness for sin.
10:03 And the last time it was opened was the year 2000.
10:07 And I remember the closing of it on New Year's Eve 2001.
10:11 And it is scheduled to be opened again, unless something
10:14 very special happens, and that may happen.
10:17 It has on other occasions in the past.
10:20 But unless something very special and unique happens,
10:23 the next time that door shall be opened is on the
10:26 New Years Eve of 2025.
10:30 And so we'll just wait and see, I suppose.
10:32 Porta Sancta, the Holy Door.
10:34 Now we have stepped into the nave, ladies and gentlemen,
10:36 of the largest cathedral in all of the world
10:39 and I want to tell you two or three things about it.
10:41 Firstly, it is one of the most beautiful places
10:45 I have ever seen.
10:46 I've been in palaces all around the world,
10:49 I have seen beautiful, beautiful things,
10:51 but nothing, I think was more awe inspiring than the interior
10:58 of St. Peter's Basilica.
10:59 Much of the marble that makes beautiful this cathedral
11:03 once beautified the temples in the old part of Rome.
11:07 You remember about our 4th night together
11:09 we walked the streets of ancient Rome and talked about
11:12 some of the things in the old palaces down there?
11:14 Well, much of that marble was brought here to beautify
11:18 this beautiful sanctuary.
11:21 And then next, I want to tell you about its size.
11:28 A true cathedral is made, as we've said before,
11:30 of three sections.
11:31 The nave, that's what we're looking down.
11:33 That's where the people sit to worship.
11:35 And then at the high altar, there is a wing that
11:37 goes out like this and this, the transept, to symbolize
11:40 the arms of the cross.
11:42 And then behind that, an alcove called the apse to symbolize
11:45 the head of the cross.
11:47 And we shall see all three tonight.
11:51 But this nave is so big, it is so large that you could put
11:56 two football fields end to end and have 100 feet left over.
12:00 It is 700 feet long from the entry door to the transept.
12:08 The arms of the transept are 425 feet wide.
12:12 And from the floor to the interior of the dome
12:16 of the cupola, it is 450 feet high.
12:20 It was so easy for me to appreciate the awe,
12:24 the reverence, of my Catholic Christian friends
12:28 when I came here.
12:29 We're now looking at the high altar.
12:31 And above the high altar, there again you see the golden ball
12:34 and the cross.
12:35 And by the way, that high altar was designed by a sculptor
12:39 and an artist, name of Bernini.
12:41 Now we're standing right beside one of those serpentine pillars
12:45 looking up into the interior of the dome way up there
12:48 450 feet high.
12:49 And by the way, that interior was hand painted by men who
12:54 climbed way up on a rickety old scaffold.
12:57 I'm glad they didn't ask me to get up there.
12:59 It just wouldn't have worked.
13:01 But it is beautiful, you must admit that.
13:03 Now, we've walked inside the church at the point where the
13:08 dome sits on the walls and we're looking down on the
13:11 high altar and we're looking into the little alcove
13:13 called the apse, back behind.
13:15 And we're going to have some close-up, but first
13:17 I want you to notice at the very bottom of the screen
13:20 there is a darkened area.
13:22 That is a stairway down to the burial vault
13:24 right beneath the high altar.
13:28 And looking again right back into the alcove called the apse.
13:31 And there you see an alabaster window, there with the dove
13:34 to symbolize the Holy Spirit.
13:36 And we'll see more of that in close-up, but first
13:38 we walk down that staircase to the burial chamber beneath
13:42 and we notice over on the left, the back of a
13:46 marble carved figure.
13:48 That is the pope, a figure of the pope who was taken into
13:51 captivity by Napoleon Bonaparte.
13:53 And he's considered by the church to be a martyr because
13:56 he died in that captivity.
13:59 And so he's given the second most honored place of burial.
14:02 The pope's, for hundreds and hundreds of years back,
14:05 are buried in burial vaults beneath the floor in what we
14:09 would call the basement area with a couple of exceptions.
14:12 They say firstly, Peter is buried inside.
14:15 Well, I think that's doubtful.
14:18 We talked on another evening about how over at another
14:21 cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains,
14:24 they said Peter was buried there.
14:26 And even over at St. John Lateran,
14:29 there is some suggestion that he might have been buried there.
14:31 But we do, with good historical background, believe that
14:37 this pope is buried right through those ornate doors
14:41 and right beneath the high altar.
14:42 And there's a side view of that marble carving
14:47 of the pope of the captivity.
14:48 Now we look up into the interior of the dome
14:50 and we see that it is hand carved of hardwood and marble
14:53 and then covered over with gold leaf.
14:55 And we see the insignia of the pope who was reigning at the
14:59 time of the dedication.
15:01 And that happens to be Pius XII, Pontifex Maximus.
15:08 Now we're looking down the nave when worshippers are here.
15:11 They can easily, without adding for any overflow,
15:15 they can easily seat 25,000 people in the main nave.
15:20 It's just so massive.
15:22 Now we've moved behind the high altar into the little
15:25 alcove called the apse, and we have come here to see something
15:29 that I find interesting and you may as well.
15:32 The word "cathedral" is from the Latin word "cathedra"
15:36 which mean, "the throne, the seat of authority. "
15:39 The cathedral, then, was the depository of the throne
15:44 of the church or the seat of authority.
15:48 And back in here, we see some artwork, done again by that man
15:52 by the name of Bernini, a great huge chair,
15:55 the legs of which are held up by bishops with the high hats,
15:59 as you see them.
16:00 Each of the four legs held up by a bishop.
16:03 And when I saw this chair and studied the background of it all
16:09 and knew about cathedrals, then a verse from Revelation
16:12 chapter 13, which we're going to read after a bit
16:15 during our lecture, came into my mind.
16:17 And again without prejudice, I'll just remind
16:20 your minds of it.
16:21 It says about this power that every reformer believed to be
16:25 the fulfillment of the prophecy of Revelation 13,
16:28 "The dragon gave him his seat, throne, his power
16:34 and his great authority throughout the world. "
16:39 And for 1260 years, the church of Rome was, without question,
16:45 the greatest power in the western world and through
16:49 the Middle East as well.
16:50 And we've talked about those things also on other evenings.
16:55 Now we're going to come toward a conclusion for this evening.
16:58 And this is the statue, as you are looking from the high altar
17:01 back toward the door of entry, this is over on our left.
17:03 This is the statue of Peter and this is the one that folks have
17:08 come by to touch and to kiss because over the edge of
17:13 the mantle, and down at the bottom of the screen
17:15 you'll notice it, there is a foot that extends over the
17:20 edge of the mantle.
17:23 And the toes of that foot have been almost completely worn away
17:27 by the folks who've come to kiss it.
17:31 And when I got back from my first trip here, I was asked,
17:34 "Did you kiss the toe of Peter?"
17:36 And I said, "No. "
17:38 And it was not because of any superiority, certainly, but
17:41 to put it in a phrase, I guess, it was my American sense of
17:44 sanity that wouldn't allow me to line up behind 300 folks
17:48 and kiss the toe.
17:50 But I did touch it.
17:51 And I understand that since there's so many diseases now
17:55 that are so easily passed on that not all that many folks
17:59 are kissing it these days.
18:01 But even when they dress Peter up, they leave that toe
18:05 overhanging the mantle, as they've done here.
18:07 They put the triple crown upon him and the fisherman's ring
18:10 upon his finger, but the toe of that one foot
18:13 is left out there so the folks can come by and touch
18:17 or whatever else they might like.
18:19 Thank you for traveling with me.
18:23 And now, ladies and gentlemen, would you please open
18:24 your Bibles with me to Revelation chapter 13.
18:29 The last book in the Bible for those who live in the last days
18:31 just before Jesus returns.
18:34 And while we're opening to Revelation chapter 13,
18:38 I'll give you just a little bit of introduction.
18:44 As we've studied together, largely from the book
18:46 of Revelation, we have found so many wonderful things.
18:49 Chief among them, of course, is that Jesus Christ
18:53 is Lord and Savior.
18:54 And that salvation is only by trusting in what
18:57 He's done for us.
19:00 No other name under heaven whereby we may be saved
19:02 except the name of Jesus.
19:06 We've also learned that Jesus' coming is imminent.
19:09 That means the next great event to happen on planet earth
19:12 is not nuclear winter, but when Jesus comes.
19:15 This time, not a lamb to the slaughter, but King of kings
19:18 and Lord of lords.
19:19 He comes riding down the skies on a rescue mission.
19:21 We've learned that from Revelation.
19:23 Further, we have learned that those that are alive and ready
19:26 to meet Jesus are going to be because of their love
19:28 for keeping all of His commandments.
19:30 Three places in the Revelation; chapter 12 verse 17,
19:33 chapter 14 verse 12, chapter 22 verse 14,
19:37 describe the generation alive and ready to meet Jesus
19:41 as keeping all of the commandments.
19:43 "Here are they that keep the commandments and have the
19:45 testimony of Jesus. "
19:47 And we read that again and again and again.
19:49 I think most all who've come quite regularly
19:52 are now pretty well convinced that in the Bible,
19:54 both Old and New Testaments, the Lord's Day is Saturday.
19:57 But at the same time, I'm also convinced that
20:00 there are some still who wonder about its importance.
20:04 Maybe there are those who think that, as Shakespeare said,
20:08 "We're making much ado of nothing. "
20:10 Or the "tempest in the teapot," sort of a syndrome.
20:14 Our message tonight is designed by God
20:16 to set aside those questions.
20:19 And I think none will leave tonight without clearly
20:21 seeing the final issues.
20:23 Let me, then, again say as the cameras are rolling,
20:28 Lyle has never, never sat in judgment upon anyone's
20:33 relationship with Jesus.
20:34 Lyle believes that God has His children in all the churches
20:38 proportionally as many in the Catholic as in the Baptist
20:41 or the Adventist or Nazarene or any other.
20:46 At the same time, we here, must look at teachings
20:51 and at prophecy, and at the mirror reflection of prophecy
20:55 which is history.
20:57 And so having said that, let us then begin to read
21:02 from chapter 13 at the 15th verse.
21:07 Revelation chapter 13 beginning with the 15 verse.
21:11 John is in vision and this is what he sees.
21:16 A certain power, a certain authority;
21:19 "He had power to give life to the image of the beast that
21:23 this image of the beast should both speak and cause as many
21:25 as would not worship the image that they should be killed.
21:28 And he causes all, small and great, rich and poor,
21:31 free and bond, to receive a mark either in their right hand
21:34 or in their forehead, and that no man could buy or sell
21:39 unless he have the mark or the name of the beast
21:42 or the number of his name. "
21:43 And then the final verse of that chapter 13.
21:46 "Here is wisdom.
21:47 Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast,
21:51 for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666."
22:05 We need to remind ourselves again that this is symbolism.
22:08 We don't want to take this literally, this is symbolic.
22:13 And in the symbolism here, we read about a power
22:16 that in the end time, comes and brings with it force.
22:21 The Bible, by the way, is abundantly clear that it is
22:24 the devil who forces.
22:25 It is the devil that tries to push people into his mold.
22:29 Jesus never operated in that way, did he.
22:31 Christianity was never meant to operate in that way.
22:34 Jesus said, "Whomsoever will, let him come. "
22:39 "You choose," said the old prophet.
22:41 "Choose you this day. "
22:42 But this power comes, and it comes with great force.
22:46 And it says, if you don't go along with us
22:49 then there's going to be economic sanction,
22:51 you can't buy or sell.
22:52 And if that doesn't bring quickly the desired result,
22:55 then there is a death penalty.
22:57 It finds, then, everyone in trouble.
23:02 Now we're going to turn from here to the following chapter,
23:05 chapter 14 and we're gong to read just
23:09 a couple of verses, 9 and 10.
23:11 Revelation chapter 14 verses 9 and 10.
23:14 Here's the other side of the coin, if you'll allow me.
23:16 It says, "The third angel followed the other two
23:18 and he said with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast
23:21 or his image, or receives the mark either in the forehead
23:23 or the hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the
23:25 wrath of God poured out without mixture or dilution
23:28 into the cup of His indignation.
23:30 He'll be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence
23:32 of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. '
23:35 And the smoke of that torment ascends forever and ever.
23:38 They have no rest, day or night, those who have worshipped
23:41 the beast or his image, or whosoever has received
23:45 the mark of his name. "
23:46 So at this juncture, then, we're easily able to make a
23:51 summarization that goes like this.
23:53 The terminal generation is found in trouble,
23:56 everyone is in trouble.
23:58 Either on the one hand, you have refused the beast and its mark
24:03 and you're in trouble with men and with the authority
24:06 in the world, or on the other hand, you have accepted
24:09 the beast and its mark and now you're in trouble with God.
24:12 But everyone is in trouble.
24:14 Now I don't know about you folk, but a good while back
24:16 I decided I'd rather be in trouble with men than with God.
24:20 And I think that's only just common sense, isn't it.
24:23 Now, I can almost hear you asking, "Lyle, who and what
24:28 is this beast power?
24:30 Come on, get on with it.
24:31 What is it's mark, rather, more particularly?
24:34 What is the mark of the best then?"
24:36 But before we can understand and appreciate, I think fully,
24:39 the mark of the beast, we have to have a basic understanding.
24:44 For most, this will be just a review but there's some here
24:46 tonight for the very first time.
24:48 We have to look back at the first verses of chapter 13
24:52 to have some information about the beast power itself,
24:55 the power that inflicts this requirement upon
25:01 the terminal generation.
25:03 Chapter 13, the first verse.
25:05 John in vision says, "I stood upon the sands of the sea
25:08 and I saw a beast come up out of the sea.
25:11 And this beast had seven heads and ten horns,
25:13 and upon his horns there were crowns, and upon his heads
25:16 the name of blasphemy.
25:18 This beast that I saw was like a leopard,
25:20 but he had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion.
25:24 The dragon had given him his power and his seat or throne
25:28 and his great authority.
25:30 And then I saw one of the heads as if it were wounded unto death
25:33 but the deadly wound was healed.
25:35 And the whole world followed after the beast.
25:37 And they worshipped also the dragon that had given
25:38 power to the beast.
25:40 And they worshipped the beast, saying, 'Who is like unto him
25:43 and who is able to war against him?'
25:45 And there was given unto him, a mouth that spoke
25:47 great things and blasphemies.
25:49 And power was given unto him to continue this way
25:51 for forty and two months. "
25:54 And in the day for a year principle, ladies and gentlemen,
25:56 I remind you, that figures out to 1260 literal years.
26:00 And on many prior occasions, we have said that in 538
26:04 the church destroyed its last earthly enemy, the last holdout
26:08 against its teachings and reigned supreme until 1798 when
26:14 Napoleon took the pope captive.
26:17 1260 years; called time, times, and dividing of time
26:21 in both Daniel and Revelation.
26:22 Called the 3.5 years in Revelation.
26:25 And also referred to as the 42 months, as we find it here.
26:29 And it says about this power that it had a great mouth
26:32 that spoke blasphemies.
26:33 And I want to dovetail a thought here for you for just a moment.
26:38 You remember, our Lord Jesus was accused of being a blasphemer.
26:41 And Jesus asked the folks who wanted to take His life
26:44 with stones, "On what basis do you accuse Me of
26:47 being a blasphemer?"
26:48 And they said, "Because You, being only just a man,
26:52 claim to be... "
26:53 Whom, now?
26:55 "You being a man claim to be God. "
26:57 So, there is a New Testament definition of blasphemy;
27:00 a man claiming to be God.
27:02 I studied Roman Catholic theology at
27:04 Notre Dame University.
27:06 I audited a course there.
27:08 And I could read to you tonight, if time allowed,
27:10 page after page after page, document after document
27:13 after document, that says that the pope of Rome
27:16 takes the place of God on earth.
27:18 He is the vicar of the Son of God, he sits in the place
27:21 of God on earth.
27:22 And when he speaks ex cathedra, when he speaks with the
27:25 authority of the throne, that is God speaking on earth.
27:29 And it's in light of that, that the church of Rome says,
27:32 "We have the power and the authority to transfer the
27:35 solemnity of the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. "
27:38 And this is not new to those of you who have been
27:40 coming here quite regularly.
27:42 And so, it says about this power that he had a mouth
27:44 that spoke blasphemies and he continued for 1260 years.
27:49 And then he went out and made war against the saints.
27:53 We mentioned, about our second night together,
27:55 when we talked about the problems out in Iran and Iraq
27:58 and about their hatred toward many in the western world,
28:01 about the church wars and about the crusades against
28:06 Muhammad and his people by the church.
28:08 And we've talked also, when we visited the Waldensian Valley,
28:11 about how church leadership went after the people of God,
28:15 the Christian people who didn't want to go along with the
28:18 traditions of men and drove them way up into the mountaintop
28:21 and into the rocky fissures of the caves.
28:23 And so it all begins to plug in.
28:26 Now,
28:30 it is not Lyle's idea, nor has it been some Adventist notion
28:36 that the church of Rome is the beast power spoken of
28:40 in Revelation chapter 13.
28:43 This was the initial position of every single reformer
28:47 without any exception.
28:48 While Luther and Calvin were miles apart in their
28:51 understanding of the Lord's supper and the Lord's table,
28:54 when it came to who and what the beast power was
28:56 they were together as close as a hand inside a glove.
29:00 And I want to read you very quickly just one statement from
29:04 a man by the name of Dr. Grattan Guinness
29:06 whom most scholars believe to be the finest mind,
29:08 the best authority on the reformation era.
29:11 This is from his book, "Rome and the Reformation"
29:13 pages 153 and 154.
29:16 I'm quoting, "Martin Luther never felt free and strong
29:19 to war against papal apostasy until finally he recognized
29:22 the papacy was the anti-christ.
29:24 It was then that he burned the papal bull.
29:26 John Knox, a Presbyterian, preached his first sermon,
29:28 the one that launched him on the road to becoming a reformer,
29:31 on the prophecies concerning the papacy.
29:33 And all the reformers were unanimous in this matter. "
29:36 And that's true, they were.
29:38 Without exception, they were.
29:39 We must never fall to the mistaken notion,
29:41 ladies and gentlemen, that the reformation was a simple
29:44 quibble over semantics.
29:46 Now we've heard a lot of that idea coming out of churches
29:50 and denominations of late because there has been this
29:53 healing of the deadly wound and this reuniting that we're
29:56 going to talk more about in just a little bit.
29:58 "Well, the reformation was simply a question of semantics,
30:01 just a misunderstanding of words. "
30:03 It was not that, ladies and gentlemen.
30:06 The thing that brought on the reformation was the preaching
30:09 of the books of Daniel and Revelation exactly as you've
30:11 been hearing them here.
30:13 And if what I have been sharing with you sounds strange,
30:15 if what I've put out to you from the Bible and from
30:19 Bible prophecy sounds weird and it's the first time you've
30:22 ever heard anything like it, it's only further proof
30:24 that the teachings of the reformers are no longer heard
30:27 in the churches that claim to carry on the reformation.
30:30 To the large degree, the reformation is dead.
30:33 But it lives on here.
30:34 I take for my preaching, the notes of Luther and Calvin
30:37 and Knox and Huss, and the Wesley brothers as well.
30:40 Particularly in these areas of end time Bible prophecies.
30:44 Now, we want to transition.
30:47 And as we do this, I want to make abundantly clear
30:50 that the beast power mentioned here is not mentioned in such
30:55 terms to be naughty, denigrative, or disrespectful.
31:02 "A beast, oh that terribly, horribly... "
31:03 No, God never intended that idea nor that connotation.
31:09 He only uses "beast", and He does it in Daniel as well as in
31:12 the Revelation, to symbolize nations and powers;
31:17 political powers, religious powers,
31:20 or a combination thereof.
31:22 Now we continue to do the very same thing still today.
31:26 If, politically speaking, I mention the bear power,
31:30 what power is that?
31:31 Of whom am I speaking?
31:32 Russia, of course.
31:34 If I mention the lion, of whom am I speaking?
31:37 Of whom? Great Britain.
31:38 How about the rooster? Anybody remember?
31:41 France, of course. Give that lady a gold star.
31:44 The rooster of France.
31:45 Here in the United States, we've had two such symbols.
31:48 We've had the great American bald eagle.
31:50 And by the way, he's not really bald.
31:51 He just has white hair like some old people that I know.
31:57 And because he's indigenous to our country, we've also
32:00 used as out symbol the bison, or the buffalo.
32:02 So we continue to do the same thing today
32:04 and we mean no disrespect whatsoever, nor does God.
32:08 Now, we're going to search for this beast power this evening
32:13 in Bible prophecy, and we're going to use several clues.
32:17 Clue number 1, for you "A" students, is the
32:19 clue of location.
32:20 And I'm going to refer back now to Revelation 13
32:23 and the second verse.
32:25 Revelation 13 verse 2, as we use our first clue,
32:29 our clue of discovery of who and what this beast power is.
32:32 This is the clue of location.
32:34 Chapter 13 verse 2.
32:36 "The beast that I saw was like a leopard, but he had the feet
32:39 of a bear and the mouth of a lion.
32:41 And the dragon gave him his power and his throne seat
32:45 and his great authority. "
32:49 Now who is the dragon?
32:50 Now that's easy, you say. That's the devil.
32:53 And that's right. That's basically correct.
32:56 But the devil works through institutions, doesn't he now.
32:59 He works through organizations.
33:00 He still does that till this very day.
33:05 We have said on more than one one occasion that the
33:09 book of Revelation, chapters 12 through 18,
33:14 go together as a unit.
33:19 We studied from chapter 12 about the great red dragon and the
33:22 origin of sin and about the war that was in heaven.
33:25 And it says the dragon was kicked out.
33:27 And he went to work through organizations
33:30 and through systems.
33:31 It says in chapter 12, just the prior chapter to this 13th,
33:35 that he was there to destroy the child as soon as it was born.
33:41 Alright, who sent soldiers, who dispatched soldiers
33:44 over to Bethlehem to kill the babies?
33:46 Under who's command?
33:48 Herod, Herod the Great.
33:49 Whom did he represent, whom did he work for?
33:52 Ancient pagan Rome.
33:54 Who drove the nails in the hands and feet of Jesus?
33:56 Who put him on a cross?
33:58 Roman soldiers did that.
34:00 Now watch, ladies and gentlemen.
34:01 Obviously, the devil was largely working through the pagan
34:05 Roman power at the time that John has his vision of
34:10 Revelation chapters 12 through 18.
34:12 The pagan Roman power, the devil, the dragon power.
34:16 Now watch.
34:18 It says that this power that the devil was using
34:21 would give to this beast of Revelation 13, the first verses,
34:25 his seat and his authority.
34:29 In the 4th century, the empirical seat of the Caesars
34:33 was moved from the city of Rome out to Constantinople.
34:37 Today known as Istanbul, Turkey.
34:39 And before the emperor left, he called in the pastor
34:43 of the local church.
34:44 He said, "You're now in charge of the affairs
34:46 of the western world. "
34:48 And over the years, the pope of Rome became the
34:52 most powerful man.
34:53 There was first the holy Roman empire,
34:55 and then the papal Roman empire.
34:58 A progression.
34:59 It becomes quite obvious, when we use the clue of location,
35:03 that the pagan Roman power gives to this new power
35:07 his seat and his great authority throughout the world.
35:11 And by 1798, it would be the power that dictated to kings
35:16 and queens and everybody involved in the western world,
35:19 and throughout the Middle East as we have also said.
35:21 So the clue of location certainly seems to fit,
35:24 for, ladies and gentlemen, there has only been one power that
35:27 has continuously sat upon the seat of the dragon power
35:30 before it since the fall of the Roman empire in the 5th century.
35:34 And that is the power of the church of Rome.
35:38 Now, "Lyle, if this is a symbol, then what does it mean
35:45 to be marked in the mind?
35:47 For I read a book the other day, I saw the movie where they put a
35:51 laser chip, some kind of a computer chip, rather,
35:55 in the mind or maybe a laser beam tattoo in the hand. "
36:01 I'm not suggesting, ladies and gentlemen, that these kinds
36:04 of things may not happen.
36:06 It would not surprise me if the devil tried to bring about
36:10 some of these things to try to throw folks off the trail,
36:13 sort of a red herring as they use to say politically.
36:16 To kind of guide the dogs off in the wrong direction.
36:19 It wouldn't surprise me if the devil used some of these.
36:21 But this is not God's original intention.
36:24 For as we said at the outset, this is symbolic,
36:27 this is not literal.
36:29 Now the theologian has a tool case with which he works
36:33 assuredly as the carpenter or the plumber.
36:35 And one of the tools in the theologians tool case
36:38 is called Biblical hermeneutic.
36:40 That is a big name with a very simple meaning.
36:43 What it means is that we must be, as we study our Bibles,
36:46 consistent, particularly when we're looking at symbols.
36:51 Now it's quite obvious then that in Revelation chapter 13,
36:55 it is speaking symbolically.
36:57 A beast that was like a leopard, but he had the feet of a bear
36:59 and the mouth of a lion.
37:00 Was there ever an animal like that?
37:01 Of course not, that is a symbol.
37:04 Now we can't say, "Well alright, the beast, that's a symbol.
37:08 I agree with that, but the mark, that's literal.
37:11 That's a laser beam tattoo. "
37:12 No, the beast is a symbol, and of necessity, also the mark
37:16 must be a symbol.
37:18 The next question then is, if it is a symbol,
37:21 what does it mean to be marked in the mind?
37:23 I want you to leave a bookmark at Revelation chapter 13
37:26 and go back with me, if you will please,
37:28 to the Hebrews chapter 10.
37:31 Hebrews chapter 10.
37:34 And we're going to notice at verse 16.
37:37 We could find the very same verse, by the way,
37:39 the very same words in chapter 8 verse 10.
37:42 But we shall notice at chapter 10 and verse 16.
37:46 Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 16.
37:50 I'm going to give you a moment to be there because I want
37:52 you to see this, it's so very important.
37:54 I don't want anyone to go home and say, "I heard Lyle say. "
37:57 I want you to be able to go home and say,
37:58 "I saw in my own Bible. "
38:00 Alright.
38:01 Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 16.
38:04 "This is the covenant that I will... "
38:06 Oh by the way, I have folks say, "Well look,
38:10 we're under the new covenant and there's no law, no Sabbath.
38:12 We're under the new covenant. "
38:13 No, that's a ridiculous idea.
38:16 The word covenant is synonymous with contract,
38:19 as we've said on other occasions here.
38:21 And you cannot have any binding kind of a situation,
38:26 you can't have a binding contract without law.
38:29 That's the way to say it, isn't it.
38:31 You can't have a covenant without a law to enforce it
38:34 and to back it up.
38:35 And so, sometimes when folks say, "Well we're
38:36 under the new covenant. "
38:37 I'll ask them, "Well, could you open and read that to me?"
38:40 "Well, it's here or it's... Well... "
38:42 Well, we found it tonight. Here it is, alright.
38:45 Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 16.
38:47 "'This is the covenant that I will make with them
38:50 after those days,' saith the Lord.
38:51 'I will put My laws in their hearts and in their... '"
38:56 "... foreheads" say some translations.
38:58 "In their minds I will write them. "
39:00 God says, "I'll put My 10 commandments in your hearts
39:04 where you'll love them. "
39:05 Jesus said, "If you love Me," John 14:15,
39:08 "then keep My commandments. "
39:10 "I'll put them in your hearts and I will write them
39:13 also in your minds. "
39:17 So God's children also have something in their foreheads.
39:21 They're marked.
39:23 Now we're ready to take a step even further.
39:27 What is the purpose of a mark?
39:31 It shows identity, doesn't it.
39:33 It shows loyalty.
39:34 It shows to whom we look for authority.
39:38 Peggy's daddy, as I may have mentioned before,
39:41 was a logging contractor.
39:42 He logged only so he could afford to run
39:45 a cattle operation.
39:46 His great love was a rancher and wearing his Stetson hat.
39:50 But he had to, often, subsidize the ranch operation by logging.
39:56 And it reminds me a little bit, I may have mentioned it to you
39:58 on another evening, the man who back, I believe in Iowa,
40:01 won the lottery several million dollars.
40:03 And the television reporters went to him and asked him,
40:05 "What are you going to do with all that money?"
40:06 And the farmer said, "I guess I'll just keep farming
40:08 until it's all gone. "
40:14 Alright.
40:16 My point was that the farmers and the ranchers and all
40:19 who raise cattle bring them in to a pen,
40:23 generally in the spring of the year.
40:24 And with a red hot iron, they put a brand on their hip
40:28 to show identity.
40:29 For out here in the west, particularly, so many ranchers
40:32 got their start with a fast horse and a long rope.
40:35 And over in places of the world, they will put little
40:40 tattoos on the forehead.
40:41 You've seen them.
40:42 Yea, little markings on the skin to show identity.
40:45 I remember asking one group one time,
40:48 "Why do you," and we had become friends and I
40:50 could ask personal questions, "what does that mean?"
40:52 And they said, "It shows the family or the tribe
40:55 that we belong to.
40:56 If ever some are kidnapped or we get separated,
40:58 when once we're together again we'll know one another. "
41:01 And so the mark shows to whom we give our loyalties
41:05 and it identifies to whom we, in a spiritual way, belong.
41:10 Now, that brings me then to this sentence that I've used before.
41:15 Check everybody out, ladies and gentlemen.
41:18 It does matter what's in your forehead, it does matter
41:21 what you believe.
41:22 It can be a matter of life and death.
41:24 And so, you check every preacher out, including
41:27 of course, this one.
41:29 Check them out by the Bible.
41:31 And if it's not according to God's word, then forget it.
41:33 Let it run off your back like water off the duck's back.
41:36 If, on the other hand, it is taught in God's word,
41:39 you better do something about it.
41:41 We've got to do something about it if it's there.
41:44 Now, we're ready to take a further step.
41:51 Clue number one, as we search for this beast power,
41:54 was the clue of location.
41:55 He sits on the seat of the dragon power that was there
41:57 before him, which was the pagan Roman government.
42:00 And you follow it down historically and theologically,
42:02 it'd be none other than the church of Rome.
42:04 Clue number two is that this power brings about a
42:09 counterfeit of God's law.
42:11 A counterfeit that the majority in the world
42:14 believe and practice.
42:17 It's a counterfeit of God's law.
42:20 And clue number three, then, is that whatever this law is,
42:27 it controls buying and selling.
42:30 That no man could buy or sell unless he goes
42:34 along with the system.
42:36 Now, we could, at this point, ask some rhetorical questions.
42:41 That means, questions with answers so simple
42:45 we really don't even have to ask the question.
42:48 What could this be?
42:51 It comes out of the seat of the dragon power before it,
42:53 this mark of the beast.
42:56 It is a counterfeit of God's law and it controls
42:58 buying and selling, in the last days particularly.
43:02 Is it Mariolatry?
43:04 It doesn't fit. No it's doesn't fit.
43:06 Is it the doctrine of purgatory?
43:08 No, it doesn't fit.
43:10 Invocation of saints?
43:11 No, it doesn't fit.
43:12 There's only one such law and teaching that has come
43:16 out of Rome, out of the seat of the dragon power,
43:18 that fulfills all of the demands of Revelation 13.
43:21 And that is the idea and the law and the teaching
43:24 of Sunday observance and Sunday closing
43:28 and Sunday going to church.
43:30 I read you, on prior evenings, several quotations from the
43:34 church of Rome where they state very plainly and succinctly,
43:38 "Yes, we changed the day from Saturday to Sunday.
43:42 And we have the authority to do it, given by God to Peter,
43:46 the first of the popes. "
43:47 You remember, we've gone over those things
43:49 on several prior evenings.
43:52 Now we say, "Well look, you'd expect Sunday closing here
43:55 in the United States because we are a Christian nation.
43:58 And if we're going to close on any day of the week,
44:00 it's going to be on Sunday. "
44:01 We've said on many prior occasions as well
44:04 that the Bible isn't only just for Americans.
44:06 It's for everybody who lives all around the circle of the globe.
44:10 And so I have a suggestion tonight.
44:12 My suggestion is that we take a mental journey.
44:18 We're going to stop in two or three other places in the world
44:22 that are not Christian.
44:24 And so we get in our jet over here in Seattle
44:27 and we fly across the polar ice caps and we go east
44:32 and north, and we go to Istanbul, Turkey
44:35 for our first stop.
44:37 And out in Istanbul, we discover that almost 100% of the people
44:42 are followers of Islam.
44:45 Which day is the holy day in Islam?
44:47 Which day?
44:48 Friday.
44:50 But we can go to the shops and the boutiques
44:53 on Friday and with, perhaps, the exception of a couple of hours
44:56 mid afternoon, we'll find those shops open.
44:58 But, you go to the same shops on Sunday and you find often
45:03 and that the majority of them are closed.
45:06 And we say, how strange in this non-Christian environment.
45:10 And we re-board our jet and we fly next to India.
45:14 And out in Bombay, we stop to discover that the folks here
45:20 are, with very few exceptions, not Christian.
45:23 They're Hindu or something else, or a combination.
45:27 And we go shopping on Monday and we buy,
45:30 and on Wednesday we may buy.
45:32 And then we discover that on Sunday, most things
45:37 are locked up.
45:39 Now I know some of this is changing, the world is changing.
45:41 But for hundreds of years, it has been just the way
45:45 that I'm telling it to you tonight.
45:47 We re-board our jet and we fly on around the world
45:50 and our final stop is out in Tokyo in Japan.
45:54 And we go down to the Ginza.
45:56 And for years and years and years, during the war years,
45:59 and up until just very recently, everything on Sunday was
46:03 locked up out in Tokyo.
46:05 And we say, how strange because the folks out here are not
46:08 Christian, with a few exceptions.
46:10 They're Buddhist or Shintoist, or a combination thereof.
46:13 And by the way, even as recent as last week
46:16 the government offices out in Japan are locked up on Sunday.
46:23 How strange.
46:24 And so we see this law that came out of Rome,
46:26 out of the seat of the dragon power before it,
46:28 is controlling the buying and the selling of
46:30 the world right now.
46:32 And if we don't go along with the worship of Sunday,
46:35 before Jesus comes back there is going to be a requirement
46:40 that you can't buy or sell on any day of the week
46:43 unless you accept the authority of the power that is described.
46:48 It becomes abundantly clear then that the 4th commandment
46:52 of God is the one that separates the terminal generation.
46:56 It controls the buying and the selling.
46:58 There is no other command, no other law that has
47:01 anything at all to do with buying and selling
47:04 except the 4th commandment where God says,
47:08 "Don't do it on My Sabbath day. "
47:12 Now,
47:15 a clear quotation from the church of Rome.
47:18 I'm quoting, "Of course the Catholic claims that the change
47:21 from Sabbath to Sunday was her doing.
47:22 It couldn't have been otherwise, as none in those days would have
47:25 dreamed of doing anything in matters spiritual, ecclesiastic,
47:28 or religious without her.
47:29 And this act is a mark of ecclesiastical power and
47:33 authority in religious matters. "
47:34 And that is from Cardinal Gibbons of whom I think
47:38 we've quoted before.
47:40 Daniel chapter 7 verse 25, speaking again under different
47:44 symbolism of the same power said that it would change
47:48 time and law.
47:51 And there's only one of God's laws that has to do with time,
47:54 and that is command number 4 that says,
47:56 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. "
48:03 I'm hoping, ladies and gentlemen, that we're beginning
48:06 to see that this is not a nitpicking side issue,
48:10 this Saturday Sunday business.
48:12 It's not a tempest in an teapot or much ado over nothing.
48:15 But it boils down to the question of authorities
48:19 for the terminal generation.
48:21 To whom will we look for authority?
48:23 Will we look to the church or to the head of a church?
48:27 Or will we look to Jesus Christ, the originator of the church?
48:30 Who's word are we going to take for final authority?
48:33 That is the bottom line. That is the question.
48:36 Now, Martin Luther took a position initially
48:42 that he would go by the Bible and the Bible only.
48:46 He stood before the largest of church counsels,
48:48 to that time nearly.
48:49 And he said, "My conscience is captive to the word of God.
48:52 Unless you can convince me by scripture and clear reason,
48:55 on God's word alone I stand.
48:57 I can do no other, may He help me. "
48:59 And he nailed the theses to the door.
49:02 Shortly thereafter, he was challenged by the church.
49:05 They said, "You claim that you go by the Bible
49:07 and the Bible only.
49:08 Why then do you continue to go to church and encourage others
49:12 to go to church on Sunday?
49:14 If you go by the Bible only, why do you go to church on Sunday?"
49:17 And Martin Luther admitted his embarrassment.
49:19 And I'll read to you exactly what he said.
49:22 "They, the Catholics, alleged to have changed the Sabbath
49:26 into Sunday, the Lord's Day they call it,
49:28 contrary to the ten commandments.
49:30 Nor is there any example more boasted of than the
49:33 change of the Sabbath day.
49:34 Great, they say, is the power and the authority of the
49:36 church of Rome since it has dispensed with one of
49:39 God's ten commandments. "
49:41 Now the contrast here is that God derives His
49:44 authority from creation.
49:46 He said, "I made the place.
49:48 In 6 days, I created heaven and earth.
49:50 And then on the Sabbath day, or the Saturday,
49:52 I rested and I made those hours holy.
49:55 I set them aside for holy use, for families to come together
49:59 to My house and worship Me with one voice. "
50:03 The church, on the other hand, the Sunday rather, of the church
50:08 stands totally and completely and only upon the authority
50:11 of the church of Rome, and there alone.
50:14 Now, I want to talk to you about Sunday and the desire
50:20 for Sunday enforcement.
50:22 Sometimes folks will say, "Well Lyle, if I see this coming
50:25 together, if I see folks trying to force Sunday observance
50:28 and laws and that sort of thing being made,
50:30 why then I'll do something about it. "
50:33 I use to say at this juncture, I'm going to tell you what's
50:37 going to happen in the near future.
50:39 But now I say, this is a prophecy also
50:42 that has been fulfilled.
50:43 This is history.
50:45 Here are just a few examples.
50:47 "Evangelicals and Catholics Proclaim a Corporate Church"
50:52 And it goes on to talk about how Protestants...
50:55 And I going to put on my reading glasses.
50:56 Will you forgive me if I find my glasses here?
50:59 Because the print here is so very small.
51:01 I don't really need glasses unless I want
51:03 to read, folks, or see.
51:07 But I want to get this right for you.
51:09 And so I'm going to just put on these glasses so I can do that.
51:13 "The resulting document," and this is by the way,
51:16 'Evangelicals and Catholics Proclaim a Corporate Church,'"
51:19 "The resulting document is called,
51:21 'Evangelicals and Catholics Together,
51:23 The Christian Mission for the Third Millennium'"
51:26 And that means, when we transition from, you know,
51:29 1999 to the year 2000.
51:32 You've got that, now haven't you.
51:34 Alright.
51:35 The third century.
51:37 The third millennium, I'm sorry, I should have better said.
51:40 "Forty signatories of this document,
51:43 Evangelicals and Catholics Together,
51:45 have celebrated a union.
51:46 They are referred to now as 'the corporate church'
51:49 and they now accept the responsibility for ordering
51:53 the civility of society.
51:55 The principle figures behind the preparation of this publication
51:59 of Evangelicals and Catholics Together
52:01 are these among them; Richard John Neuhaus, Lutheran Clergyman
52:06 turned a Roman Catholic priest and advocate,
52:08 religion in the public square.
52:10 Furthermore, Charles Colson, political trick master
52:12 of the Watergate era who had found conversion while in
52:17 federal confinement.
52:18 And still another, Pat Robertson of the 700 club, along with
52:22 New York's archbishop, John Cardinal O'Conner.
52:26 Promoting that Catholics and Protestants get together,
52:29 recognizing the papacy as the overall head of the church.
52:34 Here's still another.
52:35 "Anglicans Eye a Partnership Headed by the Pope. "
52:37 And that has to do with some 60 plus million
52:40 Lutherans and Episcopalians.
52:43 Here's still a third.
52:44 Lutherans and Catholics getting together in agreement
52:47 upon the pope as the overall head of the church.
52:49 Here's one.
52:50 "Southern Baptist Convention"
52:52 I'm quoting now, "Southern Baptist Convention
52:55 speaking to the exhilarated secularization of Sunday,
52:58 particularly in the United States, Southern Baptists
53:01 have voted to keep Sunday as the day of rest and worship,
53:04 spiritual renewal and family life.
53:07 Moreover, we have decided to urge all governments
53:10 to take a primary responsibility in preserving the unique
53:16 character of Sunday observance as a day rest, worship,
53:20 and human welfare. "
53:21 What is says is, we're going to vote into office, folks who will
53:25 enforce Sunday observance.
53:27 Here's one that's very much like it.
53:29 It says, pretty much, the very same thing about
53:32 the Southern Baptist.
53:33 And now here's one from the Papacy.
53:35 And this is more recent, by the way.
53:37 "The pope has endorsed Sunday laws. "
53:39 And this is from a magazine published down in the south.
53:42 A religious publication from down in the south.
53:45 And then from Billy Graham's magazine, "Christianity Today. "
53:51 An editorial regarding this very subject that
53:54 we're sharing tonight.
53:55 And I want to read to you what the editor says.
53:59 "The only way Sunday observance will ever be accomplished is
54:01 by force of legislative fiat through the duly elected
54:04 officials of the people.
54:10 The proper use of the Lord's Day, or Sunday,
54:12 will never be known in another way. "
54:14 And again, what he's saying is, we must vote into office
54:18 senators, congressmen, judges who'll enforce
54:23 Sunday observance.
54:25 We begin to see, ladies and gentlemen, finally
54:28 that it is not a question of days.
54:30 It is a question of authorities.
54:32 And as we've said on prior occasions, in the garden
54:35 there were all kinds of trees and lots of fruit.
54:38 And Eve might well have said, "Well, so what.
54:40 What difference does it make?
54:42 And apple, an orange. So what.
54:44 Fruit is fruit, trees are trees. "
54:45 God says, "There is a difference.
54:46 The one that I've separated by its location is a
54:48 test of My authority.
54:50 Don't go to that one, don't eat from it. "
54:52 To me, one day may look like any other.
54:54 So what.
54:55 I can get as much rest on Wednesday as I can on Saturday.
54:58 God says, "There's a difference.
55:00 The day that I separated by its location,
55:02 the 7th day of the week, is a test of My authority. "
55:12 Someone says, "Well Lyle, you've mentioned being marked
55:15 in the mind where you believe, and all of the rest.
55:18 But what about the hand?
55:20 How does that fit in?"
55:23 How many folks I've had say to me,
55:25 "Well Lyle, I've never believed that Sunday was the day.
55:28 I mean, grandfather told us years and years ago
55:30 that the Lord's Day was Saturday, but... "
55:33 "But, I have to work on Saturday.
55:36 I have a job. I have kids in college.
55:38 I have a big mortgage that I have to keep.
55:41 I have... So I go along with it.
55:43 You've got to work along with society. "
55:44 I've heard that a thousand times.
55:48 "I'll lose my home. "
55:50 And I know that fear.
55:51 I recognize it when I made my own decision.
55:53 I'm going to tell you my story in a couple of evenings.
55:56 But that ought not to be our fear because, my dears,
55:59 that is not our problem.
56:01 Our job is to do exactly what God says.
56:04 He's waiting for us to put our feet on His soil
56:06 so He can give us His blessing.
56:09 The Red Sea did not part until the children put their toe
56:13 in the water and then the waves separated.
56:15 And God is waiting for us to do what He says so He can
56:19 open the windows of heaven and pour out the blessings
56:21 so we'll not have room enough to take it all in.
56:25 If God wants you to have the job you have,
56:27 all the powers of earth and hell can't take it from you.
56:29 And if He doesn't want you to have that job,
56:31 you ought not to want it because somewhere He has a far better
56:34 one waiting for you.
56:35 Why don't you do what God says?
56:37 Put Him to the test.
56:40 Folks, we can't think for a minute that we're going to
56:45 wait until these laws are enforced and the teeth are
56:48 put in them and then we're going to do what's right.
56:50 For spiritual strength is gained in the same way as is physical.
56:54 A man doesn't lay down on the bench and the first day press
56:57 300 pounds, but he begins with 25 and then 50 and works up.
57:02 You better start practicing the truth you understand right now
57:06 if you're going to practice it and follow it when
57:08 the final tests come.
57:10 Do it now.
57:13 We look finally, as we always much, at the cross of Jesus.
57:16 He hangs there with nails in His hands and thorns upon His head.
57:20 He didn't have to go there.
57:22 His holy love would not allow Him to do any less.
57:28 It's not Lyle, then, who calls.
57:31 But Jesus, the same Jesus who had the nails in His hands
57:35 and the thorns on His head.
57:36 It is that Jesus who says, "If you love Me,
57:40 please keep My commandments. "
57:42 Let's pray.
57:43 Thank You, Lord, for Your example.
57:48 Thank You for Your authority from creation.
57:50 You made the Sabbath day.
57:53 You kept is when You were here as our example.
57:55 We're going to keep it the earth made new.
57:56 Help us to practice Your truths now
58:02 so we'll be able to do it when the difficult days arrive.
58:05 In Jesus' name we ask our favors and return our thanks, amen.


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Revised 2014-12-17