Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: RJC
Program Code: RJC000016
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00:22 Good evening and welcome to The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:26 Glad to have each of you here tonight, 00:29 and we hope that as we continue now 00:33 with the third series that we've been doing 00:37 on the book of Revelation... 00:38 And this series tonight we're covering from Revelation 00:43 the 13th chapter through the 16th chapter. 00:46 Those are the chapters that we're covering. 00:48 So those of you that are joining us by television 00:51 or by radio or on the Internet 00:54 we're very, very happy to welcome you here 00:57 and hope that as we continue studying the book of Revelation 01:01 you're going to see as God puts things together 01:05 that are taking place and are going to take place 01:09 before Jesus comes. So we ask that this will bless you 01:12 in a special way. 01:14 if you are tuning in with us for the first time 01:18 or if you haven't seen but a program or two, 01:21 I probably should take a moment just to say a word 01:24 to you about what we have here 01:27 because what you see on the screen and behind me 01:33 is trying to depict where John received his visions. 01:38 Because if you go to Revelation the 4th chapter 01:41 this is where the Lord told John "Come up here. " 01:44 And He brought him into the throne room 01:47 and He showed him all the visions that take place 01:50 in the book of Revelation. 01:52 In that throne room are 24 elders. 01:56 There are angels, but there's four living creatures 02:00 that stand there at the throne of God, 02:04 and that's what we're depicting here with these creatures 02:08 that you see. It says one was like a lion. 02:11 One was like... had the face of a lion I should say. 02:15 One had the face of an ox. 02:17 Another had the face of a man, 02:20 and another had the face of an eagle. 02:22 Those four living creatures represent 02:27 the characteristics of Jesus Christ. 02:31 They have great, great meaning 02:33 and so if you don't know much about them 02:35 I hope you'll go back and refresh yourself 02:38 with the 4th chapter of the book of Revelation 02:41 as you find out what it has to say about it. 02:44 Tonight our subject is entitled: 02:52 And so we're looking at Revelation the 13th chapter 02:57 tonight. And I think you'll find that there's a lot in there. 03:01 There is! There's things in there that we'll have to 03:03 take a very close look at. 03:05 And we've entitled this series - this section of Revelation - 03:10 The Three Angels' Messages 03:12 because in Revelation 14 there are 3 distinct messages 03:18 that God is giving and that you and I need to understand. 03:22 So that's what we've entitled it, 03:24 and we hope that it will bless you. 03:26 In Revelation the 13th chapter are two beasts. 03:30 We're going to look at the first one tonight: 03:32 The Beast from the Sea. 03:34 But there also is another beast there 03:37 that is a two-horned beast that in our study tomorrow night 03:41 we're going to see represents the United States. 03:44 And so we begin to get a picture 03:47 of the part that the United States is going to play 03:50 in bringing all this to a close. 03:54 And so you want to be sure and tune in and be with us 03:58 as we take a look at the United States in Bible prophecy. 04:03 I think you'll find it will help you as you 04:06 understand the book of Revelation. 04:10 But tonight we're taking a look at the first beast: 04:15 Rose up out of the sea. 04:17 What the scripture has to say about this beast 04:20 is most important. 04:23 We're very happy tonight to have with us 04:27 His Voice male quartet. 04:30 And I'm going to introduce them to you. 04:33 I think you'll find that you're going to enjoy them 04:36 in a special way. 04:37 So we're very happy to have with us... we'll... 04:41 start here with Doug Leno. 04:46 Doug is the bass of the quartet, 04:49 and I'm sure that you'll hear his deep bass voice 04:54 as we go through. 04:55 And then we have uh... excuse me... 05:00 we have Todd... Todd Spainhower. 05:03 Todd is the first tenor in the quartet. 05:06 And then we have right beside him... 05:11 I'll get all the names right here, just takes me a moment... 05:14 Kevin Spainhower, and he is the second tenor. 05:19 And then on the end there we have Harold Dixon, 05:25 and Harold is the baritone. 05:28 And these three right here 05:32 are all nephews of Dona. 05:35 So don't hold that against them, if you won't, 05:38 and... and all. And I'm sure that you're going to be blessed 05:42 in a special way as they sing for you tonight. 05:45 They're going to sing a great song entitled 05:48 Good News, the Chariot's a'Comin. 05:50 But before they sing, 05:52 Chuck Allgaier's going to come out 05:55 and read to you our scripture for tonight 05:57 out of the book of Revelation. 05:59 So you want to open your Bibles and follow it. 06:02 When Chuck's through reading the quartet will sing for us. 06:09 Good evening. 06:10 If you have your Bibles with you, 06:12 please turn to the book of Revelation. 06:15 Revelation chapter 13. 06:17 I'm going to read Revelation chapter 13 06:20 verses 1 through 10 together. 06:24 If you have your Bibles, open your Bibles and we'll read 06:25 together. Let us read: 08:06 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 08:09 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 08:12 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin 08:14 and I don't want to leave me behind. 08:17 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 08:20 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 08:23 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin 08:25 and I don't want to leave me behind. 08:28 There's a long white robe in the heaven, I know... 08:30 There's a long white robe in the heaven, I know... 08:33 There's a long white robe in the heaven, I know... 08:36 and I don't want to leave me behind. 08:39 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 08:41 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 08:44 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin 08:47 and I don't want to leave me behind. 08:49 There's a golden crown in the heaven, I know... 08:52 There's a golden crown in the heaven, I know... 08:55 There's a golden crown in the heaven, I know... 08:58 and I don't want to leave me behind. 09:01 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 09:03 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 09:06 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin 09:09 and I don't want to leave me behind. 09:12 There's a starry crown in the heaven, I know... 09:14 There's a starry crown in the heaven, I know... 09:17 There's a starry crown in the heaven, I know... 09:20 and I don't want to leave me behind. 09:23 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 09:26 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 09:29 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin 09:31 and I don't want to leave me behind. 09:34 Well there's a golden harp in the heaven, I know... 09:37 There's a golden harp in the heaven, I know... 09:40 There's a golden harp in the heaven, I know... 09:42 and I don't want to leave me behind. 09:45 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 09:48 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin. 09:51 Good news... good news... chariot's a'comin 09:53 and I don't want to leave me behind. 09:56 Good news... good news... 10:01 chariot's a'comin. 10:04 Sweet news... sweet news... 10:09 chariot's a'comin. 10:12 Good news... good news... good news... 10:18 Good news! 10:25 And I don't want to 10:27 leave me... and I don't want to leave me 10:33 behind. 10:39 Amen! 10:56 Our heavenly Father, 11:00 we're thankful for the good news 11:03 and we certainly don't want to be left behind. 11:07 So we ask tonight as we open Your Word 11:10 that You'll give to us insight. 11:14 Enlighten our minds. 11:18 The prophecies that You have given: may we see them clearly. 11:23 And as we do, Lord, may our faith be increased. 11:27 May we be willing to walk in the light of Your Word 11:34 and that each of us may look forward anxiously to the day 11:40 in which You are returning. 11:43 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 11:55 This beast of Revelation the 13th chapter 12:01 is mentioned more in scripture 12:05 than any other beast. 12:09 Now scripture uses beasts to represent 12:15 nations or powers. 12:17 This is what God uses, and He talks about them. 12:21 And as you study Bible prophecy, 12:23 it refers to beasts as he. 12:29 It refers to the church as she. 12:34 You'll finds that's all... true 12:38 all the way through. And this beast 12:41 is extremely important 12:44 because God says more about this particular beast 12:50 than any other in scripture. 12:53 Therefore it's very important that you tonight 12:57 become crystal clear in your mind 13:01 as to who this beast is 13:03 because he plays a tremendous part 13:09 in the events that take place in the last days. 13:13 So you've got to be clear; you've got to understand it. 13:17 You can't be led astray from what God's Word says. 13:21 And so tonight as we take a look at this beast from the sea, 13:26 it's important that we find out 13:29 what the scripture has to tell us about it. 13:32 So let's take a look... see what it has to say here. 13:47 So this beast is coming up out of the sea. 13:53 Different... different than any beast that's been before it. 13:59 It's a non-descript beast. 14:02 It has seven heads; has ten horns on it. 14:05 It is symbolic of a power... 14:09 a power that is to be used in a special way in the last days 14:15 and therefore it's described as a non-descript beast. 14:19 Goes on and says: 14:37 So this beast is made up 14:41 of parts of other beasts 14:46 because he has the body of a leopard, 14:48 feet of a lion... of a bear, 14:52 mouth of a lion, 14:53 and particularly it's important that you notice 14:56 that the dragon gave to him his power, 15:00 his seat, and his authority. 15:14 Those... this particular beast that has risen out of the sea 15:18 who has received power from the dragon 15:22 it says that he receives a deadly wound. 15:26 But... that deadly wound evidently doesn't continue 15:31 because it says "the deadly wound was healed 15:33 and all the world marveled and followed the beast. " 15:46 Who gave authority to the beast? 15:48 The dragon. 15:59 So this particular power is not 16:05 just a political power. 16:08 Now beasts in scripture represent political powers. 16:12 That's what they represent. 16:13 But this beast is different. 16:16 It's different because it receives what? 16:19 It receives worship. 16:22 Therefore it is not just a political power... 16:26 it is also a religious power. 16:29 So you have a religious political power here 16:33 that is going to play a very, very definite part 16:36 in the events that happen in the last days. 16:39 So this beast is made up of four others. 16:44 It says that this beast has the body of a leopard, 16:48 the feet of a bear, the mouth of a lion, 16:51 and the dragon gave him his power, his seat, 16:53 and his authority. 16:55 Well, those of you who have followed me on other subjects 17:01 we find out that these four beasts are mentioned in Daniel 17:05 the 7th chapter. 17:07 And in the 7th chapter of Daniel you have a lion. 17:12 You have a bear. 17:14 You have a leopard, 17:16 and you have a dragon. That's what's pictured here: 17:19 those four beasts. And this particular beast 17:23 is made up of parts of those four. 17:27 And so it's defining exactly who this beast is. 17:32 But let us continue on: 17:44 A time set on this beast. 17:55 So this particular beast is contrary to God. 18:00 He blasphemes God. 18:03 Blasphemes His name... His tabernacle. 18:17 So not only does he blaspheme God but he is against those 18:22 who are followers of God. 18:25 Because it says here that he "made war with the saints. " 18:40 So it says all those whose names are what? 18:46 All those whose names are not written in the Book of Life 18:51 will worship him. So what you're getting 18:55 and you should see here is there are two sides. 19:00 There are those who follow the Lamb 19:03 and those who follow the beast. 19:07 That's clearly what it's saying here. 19:09 Two sides... those who follow the Lamb 19:16 and walk with Him and they are those who worship Him. 19:21 But these who follow the beast 19:25 will follow his leadings and will worship him. 19:29 OK? 19:34 And any time the scripture uses that phrase, 19:37 you put it down 19:39 that this is something that God wants you to know. 19:42 He would not say: "If anyone has an ear, let him hear... " 19:46 He's telling you: "THIS IS IMPORTANT! " 19:48 "This you need to know; you need to understand this. " 19:51 So these are vital things you need to know. 19:54 Now in those points I have just given you 19:57 God gives seven points of identification of this beast 20:02 so you don't have to be in doubt. 20:04 God is identifying this beast clearly 20:08 because He gives us these seven points. It says: 20:35 Those seven points God gives you 20:38 so you don't have to be in doubt. 20:40 And let me pause here and say this to you: 20:45 you must understand tonight we're talking about a power. 20:49 We're talking about a system. 20:52 We ARE NOT talking about people. 20:57 Do not take what is said here tonight 20:59 and apply it to individuals. 21:03 This is about a system... a system of false worship. 21:07 A system that goes contrary to God. 21:09 We're not talking about people, we're talking about a system. 21:13 That you need to be clear in your mind 21:16 as we go through... take a look at it. 21:19 OK, if you... 21:23 if you can take these seven points I just have listed here 21:28 and apply them to any other power 21:32 on the face of the earth 21:36 I'd like to know it. 21:39 I have studied this particular subject for 40 years. 21:44 I have never found it fits any other power but this one. 21:51 Now don't... don't make four of them fit it. 21:54 All seven must fit. 21:56 If all those seven fit, then you can be absolutely sure 22:02 that this is who it is talking about. 22:04 So we're going to go through tonight 22:06 and take a look at these seven points 22:09 and how they fit this particular power in particular. 22:15 Revelation 13 verse 2: 22:30 Now those beasts that we just read about... 22:34 the lion, the bear, the leopard... 22:36 they represented nations. 22:38 They represented Babylon which was the lion. 22:40 They represented Medo-Persia which was the bear. 22:43 And they represented Greece which was the leopard. 22:47 You can go back to Daniel 7... it makes that absolutely clear. 22:52 The dragon mentioned here represented pagan Rome. 22:58 Now what it's saying here is the dragon gave him - 23:02 this particular beast - his power and his throne, 23:06 his great authority. 23:10 The dragon that you find here is also mentioned in 23:13 Revelation the 12th chapter. 23:15 This was pagan Rome, and it says that pagan Rome 23:19 was going to give to this power 23:22 its power, its authority, its throne. 23:26 That was going to be handed to him. 23:28 History tells us that this is exactly what happened. 23:33 Exactly what took place. 23:37 This is from the Professor of History, University of Rome, 23:40 La Blanca: 23:57 This was the beginning of what history has recorded 24:03 as that of papal Rome. 24:06 Pagan Rome gave to papal Rome 24:11 its power, its seat, and its authority. 24:15 Very, very important: 24:17 the dragon which was papal Rome. 24:19 Now when you talk about the dragon, 24:21 we need to clarify something 24:23 because Revelation the 12th chapter verse 9 24:26 tells you that the dragon here also represents the devil. 24:31 Says: "The old serpent, the devil and Satan... " 24:35 So this dragon also represents the devil. 24:39 But the devil does not come out and do things openly. 24:44 He always uses a power or a system. 24:47 And the system the devil used here to accomplish this was 24:51 pagan Rome. 24:52 So pagan Rome gave to papal Rome 24:57 its power, its seat, and its authority. 25:00 History goes on and says this: 25:15 OK, let me read a little bit more 25:20 and then I'm going to tell you a little bit. 25:37 What happened is the emperor of Rome at this time 25:41 was an emperor by the name of Justinian. 25:44 At this time in history 25:48 you have one of the phenomenon's that have taken place in history 25:52 when you have great masses of people 25:54 all move at one time. 25:56 And if you go back in history and read it, 25:59 these were called the Goths. They were barbarians, 26:04 and they were moving down on the Roman Empire 26:08 and taking it piece by piece. 26:11 They were such tribes as the Anglo-Saxons, the Franks, 26:15 the Heruli, the Vandals, the Ostrogoths. 26:17 They were taking over the Roman Empire. 26:21 Justinian was fighting them. 26:24 He was trying to drive them back, to keep them out 26:28 of the Roman Empire. 26:30 In the city of Rome, Sylverius - 26:36 the bishop of Rome - was a godly man. 26:40 He refused to take part in the war. 26:45 If the Goths got close to the city of Rome, 26:49 he closed the gates and wouldn't let them in. 26:52 If Justinian's army got close to the city of Rome, 26:57 he closed the gates and wouldn't let them in. 26:59 He just kept them out. 27:02 And, of course, Justinian was not happy about this. 27:07 The Goths had backed Justinian's army clear up 27:13 to the walls of the city of Rome 27:15 and it looked like they were going to wipe them out. 27:19 And Belisarius, who was Justinian's general, 27:25 sent a note to Justinian and said "Do something 27:29 or we're going to be lost! " 27:32 Well it so happened that the emperor Justinian's wife 27:38 was a Christian. 27:40 She was not only a Christian 27:42 she was a friend of the bishop. 27:45 And so he pled with her and got her to go and talk 27:50 to the bishop - Sylverius - 27:52 and to plead with him to open the gates of the city of Rome... 27:56 which she did. And out of respect to her 28:01 he opened the gates of the city of Rome 28:04 and let Justinian's army in, 28:06 closed the gates, and kept the Goths out. 28:09 But Justinian and Belisarius had already agreed 28:14 if they got inside the city they would banish the bishop. 28:21 So when they got inside the city they banished the bishop. 28:25 And Justinian put his own person in the seat of the bishop... 28:31 who was Virgilius. 28:33 Justinian never had any idea 28:37 but what Virgilius would simply be a puppet 28:43 in his hands to use as he wanted. 28:46 But history says that the bishop of Rome 28:52 stepped to the seat of Caesar 28:55 and seized the scepter. 28:57 So we find that: 29:12 All right. So you need to remember particularly 29:16 this date of 538 AD. 29:20 It becomes very important as we take a look at this beast 29:25 that's rising up out of the sea. 29:27 It's saying basically he is going to rise 538 AD. 29:33 All right, let's go on. 29:43 So it says that this beast is going to blaspheme God. 29:47 What we need to do here is we need to define 29:50 from scripture what blasphemy is. 29:53 What is blasphemy when scripture says that he would 29:57 blaspheme? 30:08 That's blasphemy 30:11 when I as an individual claim to be God 30:15 or if I say that I have the power to forgive sin. 30:21 Watch: 30:44 They said: "We're not stoning you for this, 30:47 we're stoning you because you blasphemed God... 30:50 You said You were God. " 30:52 Of course, Christ had every right to say that He was God. 30:56 But they blasphemed Him... or were going to stone Him... 31:01 because He said He was God. 31:05 What do they say? 31:22 That's their own statement. 31:24 I could read you numbers of others. 31:28 One place it says all the names 31:31 which apply to Christ apply to the Pope. 31:38 So they definitely make that statement 31:41 that they are God. 31:45 What about forgiveness of sin? 31:55 Listen, they're saying: "Who is this that speaks 31:57 blasphemies? " 32:04 Christ had forgiven this woman her sin 32:10 and they said: "What's He doing? He doesn't have the power 32:13 to forgive sin. Only God can do this. " 32:25 Does the priest really say that he has the power 32:31 to forgive sins? 32:43 So he says he has the power to forgive sins. 32:46 Now folks, what I'm doing is I'm taking you through those points 32:49 of identification one by one 32:53 so that you understand clearly who this power is. 33:06 So it says that he was going to make war with the saints 33:10 to overcome them. And if you go back in history 33:14 this is not hard to find. 33:17 In fact, history has this to say about it: 33:39 Shed more innocent blood than any other institution 33:43 that's ever existed. 33:44 And all you have to do is go back and read about 33:49 the period known in history as the Dark Ages. 33:53 If you want to read some books, 33:56 well then read such books as Fox's Book of Martyrs 34:00 or Short Short Stories of the Reformation 34:05 or The History of Europe by Quabbin 34:10 or Here I Stand by Bainton. 34:14 And they will list for you case after case such as 34:18 the Massacre of St. Bartholomew 34:21 where they slew 60,000 Huguenots one Sunday morning. 34:27 History is full of what has taken place when it says 34:32 "She would make war with the saints. " 34:34 Indeed, she's done just that. 34:45 History bears that fact out without any question. 35:00 Now we're looking at these points one by one, and... 35:03 and God ties it down so that you don't have to have 35:07 any question about it. It says this particular beast 35:10 is going to have authority for 42 months. 35:15 So in Bible prophecy what does that mean? 35:19 Well, we found out that the papal power came to rule 35:23 or came into power in 538 AD. 35:28 OK. Let's see what happens from this. 35:32 It says he was going to be in authority for 42 months. 35:38 In Bible reckoning of time there are 30 days 35:42 in a Biblical month. 35:44 If you need to look that up, 35:47 you'll find that in Genesis the 8th chapter 35:50 clearly defined that there are 30 days in a Biblical month. 35:53 OK, so if we multiply 30 times 42 35:58 it gives us 1,260 days. 36:03 And in Bible prophecy we find that a day 36:08 represents one year. Ezekiel the 4th chapter 36:11 verse 6 tells us that. 36:13 So if I've got 42 months that's 1,260 days 36:18 and each day represents a year 36:21 giving me a total of 1,260 years 36:26 that she was going to be in authority. 36:30 And history bears this out completely 36:33 that that's exactly what happened because when you add 36:36 1,260 to 538 AD 36:42 it takes you to the date of 1798 AD. 36:50 Going to rule or be in authority 36:53 for 1,260 years. 36:57 That's exactly what took place because the scripture continues 37:02 and it tells us this: 37:18 538 AD to 1798 AD... it was that time 37:22 given them to be in authority. But come 1798 AD 37:26 something must take place... something had to happen. 37:30 This time in history Napoleon has come to rule. 37:36 Napoleon wants to rule Europe. 37:41 He said Europe was soon to become one nation 37:45 and he wanted to rule Europe. 37:47 And so he knew... Napoleon knew 37:52 full well that he could never accomplish this 37:56 as long as papal Rome had power. 38:01 And so this is what took place: 38:24 Just as scripture had said, 1,260 years. When that 38:29 1,260 years came to an end 38:33 the papal power came to an end. 38:36 Berthier marched into Rome, 38:38 took the Pope prisoner. 38:41 In fact, was taken back to France where he died in prison. 38:47 This was done 1798 AD 38:52 as the scripture said that it would. 38:55 So it received a deadly wound. 38:59 Now folks, when that happened 39:04 you need to understand that the papal power 39:07 was extremely strong. 39:10 They owned what was called papal states. 39:15 Those papal states were as big as some of the states in 39:19 the United States... so they had huge, huge amounts of land. 39:25 Their power extended all the way across the country... 39:28 it even extended into Britain. 39:30 Great, great power. 39:33 When Napoleon came in and took them prisoner, 39:36 he took away all that. 39:37 Abolished that government; set up a secular power. 39:43 OK? 39:57 So it says this deadly wound that he received was healed. 40:01 Now if all this was taken away from him 40:06 in order for it to be healed what had to happen? 40:11 Had to be given back. 40:13 That's simply what it's saying: had to be given back. 40:17 When that was taken away in 1798 AD, 40:19 this began in history what was called the Roman Question. 40:24 And this went on for over 100 years. 40:28 There were many, many efforts made to re-establish 40:32 the papal government, 40:34 but every time they tried 40:37 it was always depending on the Italian parliament 40:41 and they would not accept that. 40:44 That went back and forth, back and forth for over 100 years 40:49 until finally we come to the 1900's. 40:54 In the 1900's there's a man who has come to power 40:58 in Italy who is no longer controlled by the Italian 41:04 parliament. His name is Mussolini. 41:08 Mussolini decides that he's going to settle 41:12 the Roman Question. 41:14 And so negotiations were set up with the papal power. 41:17 That went back and forth for quite some time 41:21 until finally they worked out 41:23 what was called the Lateran Pact. 41:27 And this Lateran Pact was signed and put into place. 41:34 This is a picture of the signing of the Lateran Pact. 41:41 Interesting because certain things were given back to them 41:47 which I'll go over with you in just a moment. 41:50 Those things that were given back to them 41:53 re-established them. But the Pope here 41:58 who is seated there... the Pope made a statement 42:02 at the end that I found most interesting because 42:06 he ended that speech that he gave 42:08 by saying these words: 42:11 "Go and have babies. " 42:16 That was how he ended that speech: 42:19 "Go and have babies. " 42:23 Now watch: 42:25 It gave back to the papal power... the signing... 42:28 this is the signing of the Lateran Pact... 42:32 1929, OK? 42:57 This is what it gave back to them: 43:08 Now you need to understand that when Napoleon came in 43:12 and took it all away 43:14 all that was left was that they were a church. 43:19 That's what they were... they were a church 43:22 like the same as all churches. 43:25 But with the signing of the Lateran Pact 43:28 it made them more than a church. It made them a sovereign 43:33 government. It gave them the rights 43:37 of other governments. 43:40 It paid them... this is 1929... February 11, 1929. 43:44 It paid them 21 million dollars for the spoliation of 43:49 the papal states. Now folks, in 1929 43:55 21 million dollars was a lot of money. 44:00 Paid them that. 44:02 It gave them the right 44:05 to send and receive ambassadors 44:09 from every country in the world. 44:12 It gave them diplomatic immunity 44:15 and it united church and state. 44:20 That's what the signing of the Lateran Pact did for them. 44:24 The deadly wound which they had had there for over 100 years 44:29 was healed... what took place. 44:34 Made a definite difference in it. 44:39 Today you can see the effects of that. 44:43 If you wanted to go to one place in the world 44:48 where in a close confinement 44:51 you could find more ambassadors from all the countries 44:56 of the world, where would you go? 44:59 You'd go to the Vatican 45:01 because there in just a short... little confinement 45:05 you have all the ambassadors of the world. 45:11 They have the right to send ambassadors and receive them. 45:15 The United States has an ambassador today. 45:19 For years we didn't... today we do. 45:22 It gave them all the rights of a nation. In fact, 45:27 I've had people call me up on the phone and say: 45:30 "Brother Cox, when the Pope came over here 45:32 and visited the United States" - 45:35 as you remember they go through a lot of riga-ma-roll 45:40 when he comes and all - and these folks called me up 45:43 and said: "Brother Cox, they don't have the right to do this. 45:46 They're spending our tax dollars on this. 45:50 They... they don't have the right to do that. " 45:52 And I'm sorry but I have to tell them "yes they do. " 45:55 They have every right to do it because our Constitution 46:02 guarantees the head of state protection, 46:05 and he is the head of a state. 46:09 Therefore we have to give him protection just the same 46:12 as we do anything else. 46:14 Have you ever noticed that he spoke at the United Nations? 46:21 Let me ask you a question tonight: 46:23 What other religious leader 46:26 has spoken at the United Nations? 46:31 Huh? Oh yes... 46:34 Who? The Dalai Lama 46:37 because he is the head of a state. 46:42 As head of the state they have the right to speak 46:45 at the United Nations. 46:47 So this is giving them back all their authority. 47:04 So this beast received a deadly wound; it's healed. 47:07 Now it says that all the world followed the beast. 47:14 Well, let's see what's happening. 47:19 Since 1929, what has happened? 47:24 Says all the world is going to follow him. 47:27 All right. 47:31 In 1929... we don't know, I've tried to find it, 47:35 I've not been able to come up with it... 47:37 what the membership of the Catholic church was, 47:42 but it wasn't too big I'll assure you. 47:46 Today the membership of the Catholic church stands at 47:49 1.4 billion. 47:55 Now you have a little bit of an idea of why 47:58 he told them "Go have babies. " 48:03 Membership has risen unbelievably. 48:07 Ambassadors? In 1929 they didn't have any. 48:12 Today? 180. 48:17 Civil power? 1929 taken away from them. 48:23 Today? Sovereign. 48:27 1929? They didn't have any leadership. 48:32 All gone. Today it's one of the foremost 48:38 in the world. 48:41 "All the world wondered after the beast. " 48:57 As you read through the scripture, you'll find that John 49:00 speaks of him that way. So does Paul. 49:05 John in I and II John speaks of him 49:09 clearly as the antichrist. 49:11 Listen to Paul's words: 49:30 Now he's talking about this man of sin who reveals himself 49:34 that here exalts himself what? 49:39 "Above God or is called God or worshiped. " 49:50 Now folks, what you have to understand is that word 49:54 antichrist. 49:55 That word antichrist... to you and I when we see the word 49:59 anti we immediately think of against. 50:04 That it's against something. 50:05 But that's not the way it's used here in scripture. 50:08 It actually - that word antichrist - means 50:12 in place of... instead of. 50:15 That's what Paul is saying here. 50:17 Showing himself that he is God; sitting in the temple of God. 50:22 This is a power that is usurping if you please 50:27 the position of God. 50:29 Setting himself in the place of God. 50:33 Now John and Paul 50:37 both looked upon this power as the antichrist. 50:41 If... if this power 50:45 is - how should I put it? - 50:48 putting himself in the place of God, 50:52 does the scripture give us any idea of this? 50:56 I want you to follow this with me: 50:59 a description of the antichrist. 51:02 Now antichrist means in place of... 51:06 I have listed over here on one side 51:09 things about Christ. 51:11 I've listed on the other side things about the beast 51:15 or the antichrist. 51:17 Watch these: 51:19 We find that Jesus began His ministry 51:22 coming out of the water. He was baptized. 51:24 In Luke it's saying "coming out of the water" 51:26 and it says in Luke the third chapter He began His ministry. 51:29 We find that this beast in Revelation 13 comes of out what? 51:33 Comes out of the water. 51:35 It says that Christ was One with His Father. 51:41 We find that this beast is one with the dragon. 51:47 We find that Christ said clearly that His authority 51:51 came from His Father. 51:53 We find here that this beast says his authority 51:56 comes from the dragon. 51:58 OK? Find that Christ in Revelation the 19th chapter 52:03 when He comes back on this white horse He's wearing a? 52:07 Crown. The beast wears crowns. 52:12 We find that when this beast... It talks about Him 52:16 wielding a sword in Revelation 1:16. 52:21 I mean Christ wielding a sword. 52:22 It talks about the beast wielding a sword in Revelation. 52:27 We find in Revelation the fifth chapter verse 6 52:32 we find that this beast had seven... 52:36 Christ had horns... seven horns. 52:39 The beast has ten horns. OK? 52:42 We find that Christ's ministry lasted how long? 52:46 3-1/2 years. 52:48 This beast was given 42 months. 52:52 How long is 42 months? 52:54 3-1/2 years. 52:57 Both given the same period of time. 52:59 He received a deadly wound... Christ did. 53:03 So does the beast receive a deadly wound. 53:06 Christ came back from the dead; the deadly wound was healed. 53:10 You can see the comparison in scripture 53:13 when it talks about Christ and the antichrist. In place of... 53:18 that's what the scripture's telling us. 53:20 So it's very, very important tonight 53:22 that you know who this beast is 53:26 because it says here in Revelation 13 verse 10: 53:39 Very important that you and I are - how should I put it? - 53:45 settled in what we understand and what we believe. 53:50 If you have this beast clear in your thinking, 53:53 then as we continue on through the book of Revelation 53:57 it's going to come up over and over and over again. 54:02 And if you're clear, then all that will begin to fall together 54:07 for you and you'll understand it. 54:09 So let us pray. 54:11 Father in heaven, we thank you for Your Word. 54:14 Thank you that You're willing to help us to know 54:19 what the future holds, 54:21 to understand where we're going. 54:23 Bless each one that's here tonight 54:28 and those that are watching by television 54:30 or listening on the radio or watching through the Internet... 54:34 bless them, Lord. May they understand Your Word clearly. 54:39 May our hearts be given to You 54:42 and may we desire to follow Your Word, 54:46 to keep our hearts open, and to walk with You in all that we do. 54:51 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 54:56 Well, tomorrow evening our subject is entitled 55:01 The United States. 55:03 What does the Bible say about the United States? 55:07 And so we hope each of you'll be here. 55:09 Good night; God bless you. 55:18 All around us we see want and suffering. 55:22 In large cities, millions of human beings 55:25 do not receive as much care and consideration 55:27 as we give beasts of the field. 55:30 Families are herded together in miserable projects. 55:33 Children are born into these terrible places. 55:37 They see nothing of the beauty God has created 55:40 to delight their senses. 55:42 They are left to grow up molded and fashioned by 55:44 wretched and wicked examples all around them. 55:48 They hear the name of God only in profanity. 55:51 Impure words and fumes of liquor and tobacco 55:55 and immoral behavior of every kind 55:57 pervert their tender senses. 56:00 Wretched and pitiful cries for food and clothing are heard 56:04 by parents who know nothing about prayer or a loving Savior. 56:09 But these cries do not go unheard in heaven. 56:12 God sees... God hears. 56:16 Friends, our loving Father has entrusted us 56:19 with abundance to supply the necessities of all. 56:23 But sadly, we're not always faithful stewards. 56:27 Many who have taken on the name of Christ 56:29 spend His money for selfish pleasure, 56:32 extravagant homes and clothing. 56:34 They hardly give a suffering human a look of pity 56:38 or a word of sympathy. 56:40 We are to show the kindness of the Samaritan 56:43 in food, clothing, and shelter for the poor. 56:47 As Christians, our work is to reach the people who 56:50 are neglected and win them to Christ. 56:53 That's the goal of this ministry. 56:55 We want them to know that He is able to save to the uttermost 56:59 and restore them to His image. 57:02 But in order to do this, we need your help. 57:05 Please consider what you can do for those 57:08 who still don't know about Jesus. 57:10 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:12 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 57:27 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 57:30 through television. Your gifts bring the blessed hope 57:33 of salvation to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17