Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: RJC
Program Code: RJC000015
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00:21 And good evening to each of you.
00:24 We're very glad to welcome you tonight 00:27 as we continue on in our study of the book of Revelation. 00:32 And we're looking at the 12th chapter of the book 00:37 of Revelation this evening. 00:39 We have just finished talking about the trumpets 00:45 and we have covered - in this particular series - 00:48 we've covered the seals. 00:50 We've taken a look now at the trumpets. 00:53 And so we hope that that has helped you put a section 00:56 of the book of Revelation together 00:58 and... as we continue. But tonight we go to Revelation 12: 01:03 the War in Heaven. 01:06 That's what we'll be looking at as we start. 01:09 And so you find that the book of Revelation 01:13 has different sections in it 01:16 and we cover those sections one at a time. 01:19 And we... as you study them 01:21 you'll see how that God opens things up 01:24 and you'll understand it more and more. 01:26 Our next series that we'll be doing 01:29 is entitled The Three Angels' Messages. 01:32 Three Angels' Messages. 01:34 And we're going to be looking at Revelation 13 through 16. 01:40 That's what we'll be looking at: 01:42 Revelation 13 through 16 in our next series 01:45 as we talk about The Three Angels' Messages... 01:49 very, very important messages that God has for the world. 01:55 And so we look forward to doing that series with you 02:00 and we hope that it will continue to help you grow 02:04 in the knowledge of the Lord. 02:06 Thank you very much for tuning in. 02:10 Those of you that are watching by television 02:13 or listening on the radio 02:15 or following on the Internet 02:19 we hope that as we are talking about these different events 02:23 that take place in Revelation that it's opening up the book 02:26 because God intends for you to understand it 02:30 because it is the Revelation - that means the revealing - 02:34 of God's Word. And He promises to bless you 02:37 if you read it and study it. 02:39 So we hope that it's helping you do that 02:41 as we've taken a look at the book of Revelation. 02:44 We're very pleased... always thankful 02:48 and enjoy having Pam and Jimmy Rhodes with us. 02:53 They're always a great, great blessing 02:55 and they just minister to my heart in a special way. 02:59 Pam's going to sing for us tonight a song entitled 03:03 Look For Me. 03:05 And I'm sure you'll be blessed as she sings that. 03:08 Chuck Allgaier is going to read to you 03:11 the 12th chapter of the book of Revelation, 03:15 and so follow along as he reads that to you 03:18 and then Pam will sing for us. 03:21 Good evening. 03:23 If you have your Bibles tonight, 03:25 let's turn to the book of Revelation chapter 12. 03:28 I'm going to read verses 1 through 17. 03:32 Revelation chapter 12 verses 1 through 17. 03:36 Let's read together: 06:37 May God add His blessing to His Word. 06:57 When you finally make your entrance 07:02 to that city 07:09 With jasper walls 07:12 and bright gold 07:15 avenues. 07:20 As you behold 07:25 all its beauty 07:27 and its splendor 07:33 remember there's just one request 07:39 I make of you. 07:45 Look for me 07:49 for I will be there too. 07:58 I realize when you arrive 08:05 there'll be so much to view. 08:10 After you've been there 08:14 ten thousand years, 08:17 a million... maybe two, 08:22 look for me 08:25 for I will be there too. 08:40 As you go down 08:43 your list of firsts 08:46 there's no question 08:52 we'll want to see our loved ones 08:56 waiting for you and me. 09:05 When you feel you've shared your story 09:11 with the last one 09:16 that wants to hear you tell just how 09:22 you made it through, 09:28 look for me... 09:33 I'd like to hear it too. 09:41 I realize 09:45 when you arrive 09:49 there'll be so much to view. 09:53 After you've been there 09:57 ten thousand years, 10:00 a million... maybe two, 10:05 look for me 10:09 for I will be there too. 10:18 When we've been there 10:24 ten thousand years 10:30 bright shining as 10:36 the sun, 10:42 we've no less days 10:48 to sing God's praise 10:54 than when 10:57 we've first 11:00 begun. 11:06 After you've been there 11:10 ten thousand years, 11:13 a million... maybe two, 11:18 look for me 11:22 for I will be there too. 11:31 I will be there 11:35 too. 12:02 Our heavenly Father, 12:07 As we consider that You are making provisions 12:13 for each one of us to be in Your kingdom... 12:18 that we'll have the privilege 12:21 of living throughout eternity, 12:25 we just want to give You, Lord, our thanks, 12:30 our love. Ask, Lord, that the Holy Spirit 12:34 will be with us tonight. 12:37 Give us the understanding that we need. 12:41 May we grasp the conflict that's taking place 12:46 and may we place ourselves squarely upon the side 12:52 of Jesus Christ 12:55 and reach out, Lord, and take hold of Your hand 12:58 and walk with You by faith 13:00 all the way into the kingdom of heaven. 13:03 This we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 13:13 Revelation the 12th chapter: War in Heaven. 13:17 We come to this 12th chapter... this begins kind of a new 13:23 sequence. We have looked at the 13:28 seven churches taking us from the early church 13:32 clear to the coming of Jesus Christ. 13:35 Then we picked up with the 4th chapter 13:39 and it started talking about the throne of God. 13:44 And then it picks up with the seven seals... 13:47 starting again with the early church. 13:50 And this whole series that we've looked at 13:53 has taken us clear up to the coming of Jesus Christ. 13:56 That's what it's talking about. 13:58 Now here with this chapter 14:01 we start a new series that will focus on the end-time events 14:07 and then will take us to the coming of Jesus Christ again. 14:11 So this is what we're beginning 14:12 with this chapter 12 of Revelation. 14:17 The 12th chapter of Revelation basically is divided 14:21 into three parts. 14:24 So as you read that chapter and study it, 14:26 you need to make notes and put it down 14:28 that it's divided into three parts. 14:31 The three parts are simply this: 14:33 verses 1 to 6 is one part. 14:36 And then verses 7 through 12 is another part. 14:41 And verses 13 through 17 is another part. 14:45 And we'll look at that tonight. 14:47 That's the way the 12th chapter is divided up, 14:50 and we'll take a look and see what it tells us about it. 14:54 But we hope that it will give you an overall view 14:57 because that's what he's trying to do 14:59 is give you an overall view of the conflict 15:02 that is taking place between Christ and Satan. 15:06 So let's start and take a look at verses 1 through 6. 16:12 So here he's describing the woman. 16:15 Now what we're having happen here, folks, 16:18 is he is just using the woman here to represent the church 16:24 and carrying God's people into this next section. 16:29 That's what's happened for in Bible prophecy 16:31 a woman represents a church. 16:44 This is His church. Goes on and says here: 16:53 The woman represents God's church. 16:57 And so he's talking about this woman 16:59 and he's talking about the conflict that's going to go on 17:03 between her and a great red dragon. 17:13 So here you have the church represented as a woman. 17:17 This woman is clothed with the sun. 17:22 The moon is under her feet. 17:25 On her head is a garland of twelve stars. 17:29 OK? And it says that this woman 17:33 there... she is blessed by God in a special way. 17:37 The moon under her feet 17:40 represents the Old Testament time that she's coming out of. 17:45 Being clothed with the sun represents the gospel 17:50 of Jesus Christ in all of its beauty 17:52 and basically dims... fades out... 17:57 the Old... or the moon... 17:59 because of the brightness of the sun. 18:01 And then it says she has a garland of twelve stars 18:05 on her head. That represents the 12 tribes that we're 18:09 talking about and also the 12 apostles. 18:13 And so you have that transfer the scripture is making 18:16 from the Old Testament period 18:18 into the New Testament period is what is happening here. 18:23 But she's not the only character here... 18:26 for all of a sudden he tells us 18:28 that there is a great red dragon. 18:33 This great red dragon is in conflict with the woman. 18:39 Doesn't like the woman... 18:42 basically wants to do away with her. 18:46 And so the scripture says: 19:03 Please notice that it refers to the devil as what? 19:09 As the what? 19:11 As the dragon. 19:13 Put that down... because from this point on 19:17 through the 20th chapter of Revelation 19:21 it will refer to the dragon over and over and over again. 19:26 So you need to be aware that the dragon is the devil... 19:29 Satan. And he... like I said... 19:34 isn't happy with the woman. 19:37 This dragon has seven heads 19:42 and ten horns on it. 19:45 Those ten horns you will find mentioned time and time again 19:51 in scripture. They're mentioned in Daniel the 7th chapter. 19:54 The beast there had ten horns. 19:56 You'll find this beast has ten horns. 19:58 You'll find that the one we're going to be studying 20:00 in Revelation 13 has ten horns. 20:02 The one in Revelation 17 has ten horns. 20:05 Those ten horns have meaning particularly in the last days. 20:11 And we're going to be looking at that in one of our studies 20:13 about these ten kings. Very important. 20:17 The seven heads on this dragon 20:20 represents the different nations down through time 20:24 that have been in opposition to God's people. 20:27 That's who they represent. 20:29 We'll talk more about those as we take a look at it. 20:32 But this is the dragon, and here in Daniel 7 it says: 20:39 These ten horns are the same... identical all the way through. 20:50 OK? 20:51 His tail did what? 20:53 "Drew a third of the stars of heaven. " 20:56 And in our study of the trumpets 21:00 it talks about that their... tail did what? 21:04 Had strings in it and so forth. 21:06 You see the tail here in scripture is used representing 21:10 power which he had. And it says with that he drew a third 21:13 of them to the earth. 21:26 She's pregnant. 21:28 About ready to give birth. 21:30 And the dragon is there ready to devour the Child 21:36 as soon as it is born. 21:47 So it tells us that she gave birth to a male Child. 21:52 And then it gives the characteristics of that Child. 21:55 It says, one, He was to rule all nations 21:59 with a rod of iron 22:01 and He was caught up to God and to His throne. 22:05 And we know very clearly from the Christmas story 22:09 exactly what that's about 22:10 because you remember the wise men who made their way 22:14 to Jerusalem. You remember they got there... 22:19 They inquired of the Christ Child 22:23 but couldn't find anything out. 22:26 They inquired all over the city. 22:28 In fact, it says it upset the whole city. 22:31 So much so that Herod called them in and asked them 22:34 who they were looking for. 22:36 And they said: "Well, we're looking for this Child 22:37 that's to be born a King. " 22:39 Well, of course that was very interesting to Herod 22:42 because he didn't want any competition. 22:44 And so he told them... He called in the scribes 22:48 and said: "Where's this Child to be born? " 22:50 And they said: "Oh, He's to be born down in Bethlehem. " 22:52 Always amazing to me... 22:55 Stop and think about it. Here these are the scribes. 22:57 These are the students of God's Word 23:00 and they knew exactly where He was to be born 23:02 but they didn't bother to go take a look. 23:04 You know, I've never quite been able to put that together. 23:08 But anyhow, those wise men followed that star 23:11 on down to Bethlehem and there they found the Child. 23:15 And they worshiped Him. 23:18 They gave Him their gold and their myrrh 23:20 and their frankincense and they worshiped the Child. 23:24 And then it says that this Child 23:28 was to be caught up to God and to His throne. 23:33 You remember Herod told them to come back and tell him 23:39 when they had found the Child. 23:40 And it says that an angel told those wise men 23:45 to go back home a different way. 23:47 And they went back home a different way. 23:49 And when Herod found out he had not been told 23:52 he had all the children two years of age and under - 23:56 male children - in Bethlehem killed. 24:00 But this child... and there's only been one Child that's ever 24:04 been born that was to rule all nations with a rod of iron 24:07 and was caught up to God and to His throne... 24:09 and that Child was Jesus Christ. 24:12 The only one that's ever been born to fulfill that prophecy. 24:15 But watch carefully: 24:28 So this woman who the dragon is persecuting 24:32 has fled into the wilderness. 24:34 And it says that she would be there for 1,260 days. 24:40 Now that's not something you haven't seen 24:43 because we have looked at that time sequence several times 24:47 in our study together. 24:49 We found out in Ezekiel 4:6 24:51 that a day represents what? 24:54 One year in Bible prophecy. 24:56 A day represents a year. 24:58 So we have here that she was going to flee 25:01 into the wilderness for a time, times, and a half a time... 25:05 which comes out as 1,260 years. 25:09 And so she was to be in the wilderness 25:12 for 1,260 years. 25:16 This woman... this is the time that she was to be 25:19 in the wilderness. This is what the 25:21 first six verses of Revelation 12 talks about, 25:25 folks, and all. OK... notice verse 7: 25:32 Now the scene is completely changed... 25:35 it's changed from that... Now all of a sudden 25:37 we're looking at a different scene. And it says: 25:46 There is a very real conflict going on here 25:50 between the Lord and His angels 25:53 and the devil and his angels. 26:03 They didn't prevail; they were cast out. 26:05 No place was found for them. 26:22 That tells you clearly that that third of the stars 26:26 that he took with him were what? Angels. 26:29 They were cast out with him to this earth. 26:33 Now that ought to tell you something. 26:36 The next time you're faced with something and you 26:40 don't understand why there seems to be the opposition there 26:45 you ought to understand that the devil and his angels 26:48 are very, very real. 26:50 You know, and they oppose anything that is of God. 26:54 They oppose that strongly. 27:07 This has happened... it's come. 27:19 The devil and his angels cast out of heaven. 27:22 The accuser of the brethren cast out. 27:26 And they said: "Now salvation has come. " 27:40 These people that now on earth - you and I - 27:46 it says the devil is there. He IS upset. 27:50 He has been cast out to the earth. 27:54 He knows that he's lost the battle. 27:57 OK? 28:17 Now up until the time 28:21 of the death of Christ, 28:26 the devil had access to other worlds. 28:31 He had access to the angels, 28:34 and you can read about it in the book of Job 28:37 where you find that the sons of God came before the Lord 28:41 and the devil came representing this earth. 28:44 OK. But with the death of Jesus Christ - 28:49 and that's what this is talking about - 28:52 then his access to other worlds and to the angels stopped. 28:58 Right there... ended. And when that took place 29:01 he had great, great wrath because he knew 29:05 without question of a doubt when Christ died on the cross 29:09 that the victory was won and that he had lost. 29:14 And he knew that was over. And let me tell you, 29:17 when he did that it said he came to this earth 29:20 with great wrath because he knows he has but a short time. 29:24 And basically what he's saying is "take no prisoners. " 29:29 In other words, he's after any individual he can get. 29:33 And if he can kill them, how much better he is... 29:36 happier he is because he wants to take no prisoners 29:40 because he's lost the battle. 29:42 And that's what this is talking about when it says that 29:46 he has great wrath because he knows 29:48 he has but a short time. 29:50 You see, the war in heaven that took place there 29:54 is not so physical as it is verbal. 30:00 And you'll find that over and over in the book of Revelation. 30:22 It's out of the mouth... it's by persuasion. 30:26 You know, if you can persuade somebody... 30:30 you've gained a great victory if you can persuade them 30:34 to do something. And that's where the battle is fought 30:38 is by the words - persuasion - to get them to go... drift away. 30:43 If the devil can do anything 30:46 to persuade you to follow him 30:50 not to follow the Lord, he's won the battle. 30:53 I don't care... I don't care if you go to church, friend, 30:57 and you go to church every day, 31:01 if the devil can persuade you not to commit your life 31:06 to the Lord Jesus Christ and not surrender to Him, 31:09 he's won the battle. 31:11 See, it's that that counts. 31:16 I have to be willing to listen to what the Lord says 31:21 and to follow it and to follow His counsel and His Word. 31:26 To be persuaded by this book... 31:29 that what it says is truth and that I'll walk in it 31:33 and follow it and obey it. That's what it takes 31:36 to enter the kingdom of heaven. 31:39 Christ speaking of the devil: 31:48 He was cast out... cast out to this earth. Fell here 31:52 and he is unhappy over that. 32:05 Now that's talking about God's people. 32:09 Basically that has to be your story. 32:16 That you overcame him... you overcame the dragon, 32:19 you overcame the devil. How? 32:22 "By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. 32:28 And they did not love their lives to the death. " 32:32 I have to be fully committed to Jesus Christ. 32:37 Fully committed. I can't permit anything 32:41 to come between me and Him. 32:44 Nothing! Says: "He that loveth father and mother more than Me 32:49 is not worthy of Me. " 32:51 "He who loves brother or husband or wife more than Me 32:55 is not worthy of Me. " 32:56 I have to commit my life totally and completely to Him 33:01 and I overcome 33:04 by the blood of the Lamb. 33:08 Have you ever considered 33:11 what the blood of Christ does for you? 33:18 Have you ever just stopped to consider what it does? 33:36 You see it's through the blood of Christ 33:38 that I have redemption. 33:41 I don't have redemption through my efforts. 33:46 I don't have redemption from anybody else. 33:50 And by the way, there's no one else 33:53 that offers you redemption - how should I put it? - 33:58 through them. I mean, Buddha doesn't offer it. 34:04 Confucius doesn't offer it. 34:05 Mohammad doesn't offer it. 34:07 They don't offer to you redemption 34:09 because they died for you. 34:12 They don't offer that. 34:15 Jesus Christ died for you. 34:19 And I have redemption... I am redeemed 34:21 by the blood of the Lamb. 34:24 That's how I'm redeemed. 34:26 And I need to ever be aware of that. 34:28 So one, it gives you redemption. 34:31 Two: 34:39 People say: "Oh, Brother Cox, 34:41 I've done too many bad things. " 34:45 Let me tell you, the blood of Jesus Christ 34:50 can cleanse anything. 34:53 Cleanse anything. 34:56 There's nothing that it can't cleanse. 35:00 I don't care how dark the sin may be, 35:04 it can be washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. 35:09 And you and I need to come to Him and let Him 35:14 wash us from our sins in His own blood. 35:17 Make us white; make us pure; make us clean 35:21 in the blood of Jesus Christ. 35:34 Now it doesn't say "from some sins. " 35:37 It says He cleanses us from "all sin. " 35:42 In other words, there's just not any sin that Christ can't 35:45 cleanse you. I'm thankful for that. 35:49 Thankful that I can be cleansed in His blood. 35:53 That He died... He paid the price 35:57 for my sins and He cleanses us. You see, 36:01 that's different than anybody else offers. 36:05 All of the others say "if you do this and this and this 36:09 you might make it into the kingdom. " 36:12 You know, if you go out here and... and 36:17 blow yourself up for Mohammad 36:23 well he'll give you a special place in his kingdom. 36:26 Christ doesn't say that. 36:28 Christ says: "Come to Me. I'll cleanse you... 36:33 I'll cleanse you of all sin. " 36:36 This is the blood of Christ offered for you and for me. 36:41 Look at this: 36:53 Now if you don't understand what that's saying 36:56 it's saying that God has entered into a covenant with you. 37:02 And the covenant God's entered into with you, He says: 37:06 "I'll be your God and you be My people. " 37:10 That's His covenant with you. 37:13 And He said: "If you enter into that covenant with Me, 37:16 through the blood of Jesus Christ I will make you 37:21 complete. " OK? "I will make you complete 37:24 in every good work to do His will. " 37:30 You see, change in the human heart 37:34 does not take place by your strength and your power. 37:40 Change in the human heart takes place by the work of the 37:44 Holy Spirit in our lives. 37:46 It has to work in us and change us and make us different. 37:50 That takes the work of the Holy Spirit. 37:52 You can't change your nature. 37:56 You can't change what you are. 37:59 Only the Holy Spirit can do that. 38:02 And so I have to come to Him and give myself to Him 38:08 and let Him do His work in my life. 38:24 That simply means 38:28 that I need every day 38:32 to take time... to take time 38:36 that I have come to Him and let Him do His work of cleansing 38:42 on my soul to keep my robe white. 38:48 To keep it clean, I must let Him do His work in my life. 38:53 This is what the blood of Jesus Christ will do for you 38:58 and do for me. And dear friend, 39:02 if you have never surrendered your life to Christ, 39:04 if you've never given your heart to Him, 39:06 then I would plead with you: turn your life over to Him. 39:10 Let Him take you and wash you and make you clean. 39:14 He loves you. Now don't misunderstand what I'm saying. 39:19 He does not love you based on your actions. 39:25 He loves you just exactly the way you are. 39:29 He does not say: "I'll wash you and then love you. " 39:32 The scripture doesn't say that. It says "He loves us 39:35 and then washes us. " 39:36 That's very, very important that He loves us 39:39 just exactly like we are. 39:41 So if you come to Him, He will take you and wash you 39:45 and make you clean. 39:48 No matter what you've done... no matter who you are... 39:51 you have that promise that God gives to you and to me. 40:07 I'm so thankful for that text 40:11 because I don't know how you feel 40:14 but sometimes, folks, I feel so unworthy. 40:18 So unworthy to come before the Lord. 40:23 I feel like I'd really rather go hide somewhere and all. 40:29 And I wouldn't even attempt it 40:31 to come before God and speak to Him and pray to Him 40:36 if it wasn't because it says by the blood of Jesus Christ 40:40 I have been brought near to God. 40:43 That I can come before Him because of what Jesus Christ 40:48 did for me and all. When I stop and consider 40:51 the majesty of God, 40:55 the greatness of God, 40:57 the Ruler of the Universe... 40:59 One who spoke and the world came into existence... 41:02 to even think of approaching His throne 41:07 I wouldn't dream of it if it wasn't for the blood 41:12 of Jesus Christ. That He has made the way 41:17 and has brought us near to God through His blood. 41:22 Those are wonderful promises that He gives to you and to me. 41:39 You see, the dragon was cast out of heaven 41:42 and now that he's cast out of heaven and he can't go back 41:46 and accuse them over and over, 41:49 that he's confined to this earth, 41:52 it says he "turned his wrath on the woman. " 41:56 That's the church. 41:59 So if you think that the devil isn't real, 42:03 you just ought to try preaching the gospel 42:08 and it will tell you real quick the devil is very very 42:12 very real. OK. 42:15 He persecuted the woman. 42:17 Tried to do away with her. 42:23 You read in history that the pagan Roman Empire 42:28 turned its wrath upon the church. 42:32 I mean, you've got to understand 42:37 up until this time Rome had ruled. 42:41 It had contained the Jewish nation. 42:44 It didn't let them go anywhere; it kept them contained, 42:48 confined. They couldn't do anything. 42:50 But now Jesus came and He died, 42:53 and all of a sudden salvation was not contained 42:57 within the Jewish nation but was free to every man, 43:01 woman and child no matter whether you were Jew or Greek. 43:05 It was open to the slave or to anyone who wanted to 43:09 accept it, and it spread like wildfire across the Roman Empire 43:13 and all of a sudden paganism became threatened. 43:18 And they decided the best thing they could do was 43:23 to wipe it out. 43:24 And so they set out to get rid of it. 43:28 The old devil turned his wrath upon the church. 43:34 Rome? Oh, Rome didn't care who you worshiped. 43:39 They didn't care who you worshiped at all. 43:42 They were polytheistic. 43:44 They had lots and lots of gods. 43:46 You could worship any god you wanted. 43:48 They didn't care if you worshiped Jesus Christ. 43:54 What they cared about is that in your worship 43:59 you worshiped Rome. 44:02 They had their own goddess. 44:05 And to make sure that your allegiance 44:09 was given to Rome, once a year 44:13 you were required to come in before the magistrate 44:18 to take a little incense and just simply drop that incense 44:24 in the fire before this pagan goddess 44:27 and say "Dia Roma" 44:32 as an act of worship to that god. 44:36 They gave you a certificate 44:38 and you could go worship anybody you pleased. 44:40 But the Christians would not do that. 44:44 You see, their allegiance was to the Lord Jesus Christ. 44:50 "And they did not love their lives unto the death. " 44:56 See. Willing to make the supreme sacrifice 45:00 that they might have the right to worship the Lord. 45:05 And so these Christians were gathered up 45:09 and they were taken in before arenas filled with people. 45:14 And the people stood there in those arenas 45:18 and they turned thumbs down on them. 45:23 And lions who hadn't eaten 45:30 probably in weeks were turned into those arenas 45:35 and there children and mothers and fathers 45:41 became food for lions. 45:45 They gave their lives for what they believed, 45:50 for where they stood. 45:51 And you can still go to Rome this day 45:54 and you can visit the catacombs. 45:57 And you can walk in those catacombs below the city of Rome 46:01 and you can see where they died there by the thousands. 46:05 I had stood in there. 46:07 You see those rooms on the side there? 46:09 There's rooms, folks, that size in there that are 46:12 totally full of skulls 46:15 of the people that died - lost their lives - 46:19 for the Lord Jesus Christ. 46:23 They paid the supreme sacrifice 46:26 because their commitment was to Jesus Christ 46:30 and they did not love their lives unto the death. 46:48 Now this period of time here 46:51 and the one in the 6th verse is both the same. 46:55 It's talking about the very same period of time. 46:58 And it says that she - the woman - 47:00 fled into the wilderness. 47:13 He cast out of his mouth a flood of persecution 47:18 hoping that the church would be carried away by it. 47:22 Well she fled into the wilderness. 47:24 Was there in the wilderness from 538 AD 47:28 to 1798 AD, and he cast out of his mouth 47:32 through pagan Rome and papal Rome 47:35 such a flood of persecution that he thought the woman 47:38 would be wiped out. 47:40 Wiped off the face of the earth. 47:43 Carried away by the flood. 47:49 Those people had to flee... 47:51 they had to move out into the mountains 47:55 in order to be able to worship 47:58 as they believed that they should. 48:01 In order to have the freedom to worship. 48:04 The Bible was taken away from them. 48:15 Says "the earth helped the woman. " 48:19 "Swallowed up the flood. " 48:22 Certain events began to take place. 48:25 Individuals began to stand up and say 48:30 "This is not right. " 48:33 Papal Rome... the abuse that she placed upon them... 48:39 They said: "No! This is not right. " 48:41 And they stood... people like Hus and Jerome, 48:44 Wycliffe... who gave their 48:50 lives. Burned at the stake 48:54 for the word of their testimony. 48:57 But they said: "This is what we'll do: 49:00 we will follow the Lord. " Out of that movement 49:03 that started across the country and across Europe 49:07 came other individuals like Martin Luther, 1517 AD. 49:15 Gave the people a chance 49:17 to read the Bible in their own language 49:20 and to understand what it says. Can you sense? 49:23 I mean, here are people, folks, for a thousand years 49:27 that have not had access to the Word of God. 49:30 Have not been able to read it. And all of a sudden, 49:34 here it's made available to them in their own language. 49:40 They grabbed it and they read it. 49:42 They poured over the scripture. 49:44 They became so efficient in the Word of God 49:48 that priests could not put them down in what they had to say. 49:53 They knew the Word of God better than they did. 49:57 Out of that rose other people like John Knox... 50:01 great reformer. Through John Knox 50:06 and John Calvin, you got your Bible. 50:12 You may not realize that, 50:14 but these are the men who gave much of what you have 50:18 in your Bible. 50:20 You see, they're the ones who translated it. 50:23 Put it into the language of the people. 50:27 That became eventually known as the Geneva Bible. 50:31 It was the Bible of the Reformers. 50:34 That's the Bible that they preached from - 50:36 the Word of God - and they held it out to the people 50:39 as something. Out from that Geneva Bible much of the 50:43 King James Version came. 50:45 That's how it came about. 50:48 They were great, great preachers of righteousness. 50:54 That's one way the earth helped the woman. 50:57 The other way the earth helped the woman 51:00 was the discovery of the United States. 51:04 You see, the pilgrims... 51:07 You know why they were coming over here? 51:09 Because they were trying to get away from persecution. 51:12 They wanted to go someplace where they could worship God 51:15 according to the dictates of their own conscience, 51:18 according to what the Word of God says. 51:19 They said: "We want a place where we can worship God. " 51:23 And so they came over to this country. 51:25 I wish today that Christians would do the same thing 51:31 that was done then. 51:33 Because as those pilgrims got on the boat 51:36 and ready to cross the ocean, 51:39 come here to the United States, 51:40 their pastor, John Robinson, met with them 51:44 as they were ready to leave and they took a commitment 51:48 from him. And they said: 52:05 Before they left that pastor said to them 52:08 "Before you go I want you to commit your life 52:10 that you'll follow the Word of God. 52:12 That whatever you learn that's truth that you'll follow it. " 52:16 Oh that people would do that today! Amen! 52:19 They would say: "Yes, I'll follow God's Word, 52:22 keep it. " This was the promise that they made. 52:26 And that's why the gospel spread in the United States. 52:44 Right down at the end... TODAY... 52:47 the last part, the remnant of God's people 52:51 represented here as a remnant... 52:59 Dear friend, God's looking for people who are willing 53:02 to keep His commandments. Jesus said: "If you love Me, " 53:05 what? 53:21 Marvelous promise. 53:24 You see, you and I can't do anything to add something 53:27 to salvation. We can't do that. 53:29 That's all done through the blood of Jesus Christ. 53:32 Your responsibility and my responsibility 53:35 is simply to obey. 53:37 That's what God calls us to do. 53:40 But it says here that they followed Him... 53:44 "Keep His commandments and have the testimony of Jesus. " 54:02 His testimony was there that he was a follower 54:05 of Jesus Christ and he stood solidly for Him. 54:25 And so tonight I say to you: 54:29 how is your testimony? 54:34 Is your testimony that you love the Lord Jesus Christ? 54:38 That you stand firm for Him? 54:41 That you're not going to be moved? 54:44 That you're going to follow Him, worship Him? 54:48 Others? Do other people see Jesus in you? 54:52 Oh, dear friends, our testimony should be sure for the Lord. 54:57 That we're going to stand with Him all the way 55:02 till He comes back. Be faithful. 55:06 As we take a look in the next series at a particular message - 55:12 Three Angels' Messages - 55:14 that's to be proclaimed to all the world, 55:17 that you and I are to have part in that message 55:22 in preparing for Jesus to come. 55:24 Be faithful; God bless you. Look forward to His coming. 55:34 Every day thousands risk their lives to protect and serve 55:38 their fellow man. 55:40 They have a deep commitment to excellency in teamwork 55:43 and when others run from danger, they run to it... 55:47 even if it means personal sacrifice. 55:50 Even if it means making the supreme sacrifice for another. 55:54 They're always on call, ready to serve no matter what. 55:59 Friends, you and I can learn a lot from firefighters. 56:02 In the United States, the majority of them are volunteers. 56:05 That's right... volunteers. 56:08 But even for those who are paid it's more than a job... 56:11 it's a calling. 56:13 Jesus said in John 15 verses 12 and 13: 56:17 "This is My commandment: 56:19 that you love one another as I have loved you. 56:22 Greater love has no one than this: 56:25 than to lay down one's life for his friends. " 56:28 Those who follow the words of Jesus are His friends. 56:31 But Romans 5:8 says that "God demonstrated His own love 56:35 towards us in that while we were still sinners 56:38 Christ died for us. " 56:40 What an amazing thought! 56:42 Christ laid down His life for us 56:44 even though we were not His friends. 56:47 A firefighter is willing to do the same. 56:50 He's constantly preparing for his next mission 56:53 because his own life and the life of others 56:56 depends on his training and qualifications. 56:59 My friends, that's what we're doing right now 57:03 with this series: we are preparing you 57:06 for what is to come. 57:07 Our goal is to make you skilled in the Word 57:10 so that by the power of God you can bring others to safety - 57:14 the safety that can be found only 57:16 in the arms of a loving Savior. 57:18 Won't you help us to train and prepare others 57:21 to fulfill this mission? 57:23 Please consider what you can for those who 57:26 still don't know about Jesus. 57:28 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:29 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 57:44 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 57:48 through television. Your gifts bring the blessed hope 57:50 of salvation to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17