Participants: Pr. Taj Pacleb
Series Code: ROHB
Program Code: ROHB000009S
|
00:39 Our message tonight is entitled "Antichrist Greatest Deception."
00:44 I want to begin by sharing the same quotation 00:46 I shared last night from Winston Churchill. 00:50 He said something very, very powerful. 00:53 He said, "Some people, sometime in their lives, 00:56 stumble across truth. 00:59 Most jump up, brush themselves off, 01:04 and hurry about their business as if nothing had happened." 01:08 And so tonight let's pick up the truth, 01:11 lets' embrace it, lets' believe it, 01:13 let's follow it 01:15 because the truth will make us free 01:18 from the confusing counterfeits of the antichrist. 01:22 Who is the antichrist? 01:24 As the allegory suggests it's a wolf in sheep's clothing. 01:28 Well, lies in the garments of truth. 01:30 In fact, I want you notice the apostle Paul warned us 01:33 that deception would creep within the Christian church. 01:37 Notice, what it says in Acts 20:29, 30. 01:40 Please write it down. 01:41 Acts 20:29, 30 the Bible says 01:43 "For I know this, that after my departing 01:45 shall grievous wolves enter in" Where? 01:49 "Among you, not sparing the flock. 01:52 And also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking" 01:56 What kind of things? 01:58 "Perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." 02:01 Here the apostle Paul made it clear 02:02 that deception would creep within the church. 02:06 That within the Christian community 02:08 the people would rise up speaking perverse things. 02:11 They look like disciples 02:13 but really they're wolves in sheep's clothing. 02:15 They are just lies in the garments of truth. 02:18 You see, friends, we have to careful 02:20 of what is been creeping 02:22 within the Christian world today. 02:23 And friends, this is the very nature 02:26 of the antichrist. 02:27 I want you notice the definition of the word antichrist. 02:31 That anti most people think means against Christ. 02:36 But friends, the real and deeper definition of the word anti 02:39 is not so much someone that is opposed or against Christ 02:42 but the word anti means 02:44 instead of or in the place of Christ. 02:47 You see, antichrist is not so much 02:49 an open political opposer of Christ 02:53 but he is a subtle religious imposter of Christ. 02:59 Wolf in sheep's clothing 03:01 lies clothed with the garments of the truth. 03:04 This is his essential nature, 03:07 creeping within the church looking, like a disciple, 03:10 sounding like a disciple 03:12 but not a disciple in the least. 03:14 And friends, when you think about the antichrist 03:16 tell me who is the real antichrist 03:18 that wanted to put himself 03:20 instead of or in the place of Christ? 03:23 Who is the real antichrist? 03:25 We know that it's Satan himself, we studied that this morning. 03:27 In Isaiah Chapter 14, the Bible tells us 03:29 that Lucifer who became Satan 03:31 want to sit above the stars of God. 03:34 He wanted to sit at the mount of the congregation. 03:36 He wanted to be like God. 03:38 He wanted to put himself 03:40 instead of or in the place of Christ. 03:44 And so he is the real antichrist. 03:46 But friends, listen anyone that puts himself 03:49 ahead of God has the spirit of antichrist. 03:52 Anyone of us can have that spirit. 03:54 The spirit that wants to do their thing 03:55 ahead of what God says. 03:57 That is the spirit of antichrist that John wrote about 03:59 when he said that many antichrists 04:01 are coming to the world 04:02 people who put themselves 04:04 instead of or in the place of God 04:06 those who just chose to do their own thing 04:08 and live their lives however they want to live 04:10 that's the spirit of antichrist, friends. 04:12 But tonight, we're not gonna focus 04:13 on the spirit of antichrist 04:15 we want to study the system of antichrist. 04:18 The what? System. 04:19 You see, Satan is gonna work 04:21 through an organized system called the antichrist 04:24 in these last days to deceive 04:26 many of God's people into believing lies 04:30 that are covered in the garments of truth. 04:33 In fact, I want you to notice the antichrist kingdom, 04:36 the system of antichrist 04:37 is spoken of in four main places in prophecy, 04:40 tonight we're gonna look at two of the four 04:42 and on future now we're gonna look at the other two. 04:44 But notice one of the four places 04:46 that the antichrist power is described 04:48 in the Book of 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. 04:51 Would you please write it down? 04:53 "Let no man deceive you by any means, 04:55 for that day shall not come, 04:57 except there come" What? 04:59 "A falling away first." 05:01 That expression falling away 05:02 first in the Greek is the great apostasy. 05:04 In other words Paul is prophesying 05:06 that a great apostacy would creep 05:08 within the Christian church. 05:11 And then it says, 05:13 "And that man of sin be revealed, 05:16 the son of perdition." 05:17 That's the antichrist, friends. 05:19 He has called the what? 05:20 Man of sin and the son of perdition. 05:23 The man of sin that means 05:24 the lawless one another version says 05:27 and he is called the son of perdition. 05:29 And I want you to notice his characteristics. 05:30 He continues to say 05:32 "Who opposes and exalts himself 05:34 above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, 05:36 so that he" What? "As God." 05:39 Sits" where? 05:40 "In the temple of God, 05:42 showing himself that he is" against God, 05:44 is that what it says? 05:45 "Showing himself that he is God." 05:49 Once again friends, antichrist 05:50 is not an open political opposer of Christ 05:55 but a subtle religious imposter, 05:57 one that puts himself 05:59 instead of or in the place of Christ. 06:02 He sits in the temple of God 06:04 showing and claiming to be God on earth. 06:09 It's lie with the garments of truth. 06:12 It's a wolf in sheep's clothing. 06:14 This is the very nature of antichrist 06:16 and the reason why I am emphasizing 06:17 this is majority of the Christian world 06:20 because of the false doctrines of the left behind series 06:22 believe that antichrist is gonna be 06:25 an open political secular opposer of Christ. 06:28 Not true, friends. 06:29 Antichrist is a religious imposter 06:33 one that claims to be God on earth 06:36 that sits in the temple of God. 06:38 Are you with me, yes or no? 06:39 And when the Bible tells us 06:41 that he sits in the temple of God 06:42 is that referring to a literal rebuilt 06:45 temple in Jerusalem? 06:47 Not at all. 06:48 We learned before that the temple of God 06:50 according to New Testament theology 06:51 is none other than the Christian church. 06:52 1 Corinthians 3:16, the apostle wrote, 06:54 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, 06:57 and the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 06:59 According, to New Testament theology 07:01 the temple of God is not a literal beauty 07:03 but it's the New Testament church. 07:05 So in the Bible says that antichrist 07:06 was sit in the temple of God, it simply means 07:08 that he would creep within the Christian church 07:13 bringing his doctrines and his dogmas and deceptions 07:17 in claiming to be God on earth. 07:22 And the Bible says that he is called the man of sin 07:24 that means the lawless one. 07:26 And he is also called the son of perdition. 07:29 The son of what? Perdition. 07:31 Friends, you realize that there is only one 07:32 at the time in the New Testament 07:33 where it uses that expression son of perdition 07:36 and guess who it's referring to. 07:38 In John 17:12 Jesus called Judas the son of perdition. 07:44 In other words, Judas is a type of the antichrist. 07:49 Now when you look at the characteristic of Judas 07:51 tell me did Judas vitally oppose Christ from with out 07:57 or did he subtly betray Christ from within? 08:02 From within, friends. 08:04 That's the nature of antichrist. 08:05 Not a political opposer but a religious imposter. 08:09 Now when Judas betrayed Christ 08:11 did he betrayed Christ with the punch or with a kiss? 08:16 In the same way the antichrist kingdom 08:19 is one that is just like Judas. 08:21 Outwardly looking and sounding like a disciple 08:26 but in reality in the heart betraying Jesus Christ. 08:31 And friends, tonight we don't have to be deceived 08:35 because, the Bible makes it clear 08:37 in the Book of Daniel, 08:38 Daniel is going to unmask antichrist 08:40 and his greatest deception in these last days. 08:44 And friends, the greatest deception of antichrist 08:47 is what we read last night in Daniel 7:25 08:50 that he would "think to change" what? 08:54 "Times and laws." 08:55 His greatest deception is that 08:56 he would creep within the church 08:58 claiming to change God's times and God's laws. 09:02 And friends, remind me 09:03 what is the only law in the Ten Commandments 09:05 that has to do with time? 09:06 The fourth commandment, 09:08 the commandment that says, 09:09 remember the Seventh-day Sabbath to keep it holy. 09:13 In Exodus 20:8-11 09:15 the Bible says in the fourth commandment. 09:16 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 09:18 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work, 09:20 But" what? 09:22 "The seventh day is the Sabbath of" who? 09:24 "The Lord thy God." 09:26 It's not a Jewish day friends, it's the Lord 's day. 09:28 And it says thus seven days the Sabbath. 09:30 And so God's said specifically, remember the special day. 09:34 The only commandment in the ten that God 09:37 He starts with the word remember 09:39 and friends, we're gonna see tonight 09:40 that this was the time law 09:42 that the antichrist kingdom sought to change, 09:45 changing the Sabbath from Saturday, 09:47 the seventh day of the week to Sunday 09:50 the first day of the week. 09:51 And almost the entire Christian world 09:53 has fallen into this deception. 09:56 Oh, friends, we need to ask the question. 09:57 Did God change His law and His Sabbath? 10:00 Notice what the Bible says in Psalms 89:34 10:03 the Bible tells us "My covenant I will I not break, 10:07 nor alter" no what? 10:09 Alter. 10:11 What is another word for alter? Change. 10:13 "My covenant I will I not break, nor alter or change 10:16 the word that has gone out of My lips." 10:18 God says when He speaks something 10:20 He is not gonna alter it, 10:21 He is not gonna change it 10:23 because when God's said at the first time 10:25 He gets it right the first time. 10:26 Can you say, amen? 10:28 Now I want you to notice 10:29 what exactly did God speak. 10:31 Write it down, Exodus 20:1-3 the Bible says 10:35 "And God spoke all these words, 10:38 saying thou shalt have no other gods before Me." 10:42 So God speaks his law friends, 10:44 before He writes it with His finger. 10:46 He speaks it and God says what I have spoken 10:48 I am not gonna alter it or I am not gonna change it. 10:50 You see, the law of God is doesn't need to be changed 10:54 because it's perfect to begin with. 10:56 Can you say, amen? Amen. 10:57 And so we find that God did not change the law, 11:00 He did not change the Sabbath. 11:01 He wrote it with His own finger on tablets of stone 11:04 and when people say it's written on stone 11:06 what do they mean that? 11:08 They mean its permanent and it's unchanging 11:10 and so to the Sabbath it was never changed. 11:12 Some people think that Jesus came to change the Sabbath. 11:15 But we saw from Matthew 5:17 Jesus said 11:18 "Think not that I am come 11:19 to destroy the law, or the prophets. 11:20 I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." 11:22 That word fulfill means to establish, 11:24 to live it out, to give us an example 11:26 of how to keep the Sabbath in the right way. 11:30 And so now that we have done 11:31 that quick review, the question remains 11:33 if it's true that the Sabbath is on 11:35 the seventh day of the week Saturday 11:37 then why does majority of the Christian world 11:40 keeps Sunday the first day of the week. 11:42 How did this happen? 11:45 Now we see why last nights topic 11:47 is so important in prophecy. 11:49 Because prophecy reveals that Satan attempted to change 11:53 God's times and laws through the antichrist power 11:56 here in these last days. 11:58 And friends, remember, 12:00 as we take a look at the antichrist tonight 12:03 and the change of the Sabbath I want us to remember 12:05 that as much more than just choosing a day 12:07 that we want to worship on. 12:09 You see, we should worship God every single day of the week. 12:11 Can you say, amen? 12:13 But we can't keep everyday or any day of the week holy 12:16 because not every day is holy to begin with. 12:19 Only a holy God can make a holy day 12:22 and He said this seventh day 12:24 is the one that I sanctified and set apart. 12:27 So why we can't worship God everyday 12:29 we can't keep everyday holy. 12:31 The only day we can keep holy 12:32 is the one that is holy to begin with. 12:34 Are you with me, yes or no? 12:35 And so it's much more 12:37 than just choosing a day of worship 12:38 when you study it deeply 12:39 it's about choosing who your master is. 12:42 Because, remember the Sabbath is a sign between us and God. 12:48 A sign to remind us 12:49 that He is the one that created us. 12:51 That He is the one that sanctifies us. 12:53 That He is one that redeemed us. 12:55 It's a sign of His lordship over our lives. 13:00 It's a special sign of a special relationship 13:02 but friends remember 13:03 for every truth that God has Satan has a counterfeit. 13:09 You see, if the Sabbath is a sign 13:11 that God is the true God that true Creator 13:14 we also see the Satan wants to be God. 13:16 He wants to be worshipped 13:18 and because God's set aside 13:20 a specific day to remind us that He is God 13:22 Satan has set aside his own day 13:26 because he wants to be God. 13:27 So as much more 13:28 than just choosing a day of worship 13:30 it's about choosing who you're master is friends, 13:33 and that's why it's so important. 13:36 Now I want you to notice 13:37 in order to distinguish 13:39 between the truth and the counterfeit 13:41 we have to go 13:43 not by what popular theologians are saying, 13:45 not by what their popular 13:46 Christian churches of the day are saying 13:48 but we have to go straight to the source 13:50 we have to go to the Bible. 13:51 Can you say, amen? 13:52 And friends, in prophecy in the Book of Daniel Chapter 7, 13:55 God reviewed and exposed the antichrist kingdom 13:59 and his attempt to change God's times and laws. 14:02 Now friends, we study Daniel Chapter 7 before 14:04 I let you return there with me 14:06 beginning with verse 1, 14:07 "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon 14:10 Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed, 14:13 and, he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 14:16 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, 14:18 and, behold, the four winds of the heaven 14:20 strove upon the great sea. 14:22 And four great beasts came up from the sea, 14:25 diverse one from another." 14:27 We have seen this we have studied this before 14:29 and so I am just gonna review it very briefly tonight. 14:31 Daniel sees a windy seascape 14:34 and from the sea that is being blown by the wind 14:37 he sees four beast raised upon. 14:40 The first was a lion, 14:41 the second a bear, the third leopard, 14:43 then the fourth a terrible looking beast with ten horns. 14:46 And through this prophecy God was revealing 14:50 the history and the future of the super powers of prophecy. 14:54 You remember we studied the in Bible prophecy 14:56 a beast represents a what? A kingdom. 14:59 Do you remember that? 15:00 In fact we can read it in verse 17. 15:01 Notice verse 17, "These great beasts, 15:04 which are four, are four kings, 15:05 which shall arise out of the earth." 15:07 Then notice verse 23 15:08 "He said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom." 15:11 So these four beasts represent four kingdoms 15:13 and these kingdoms are parallel 15:16 with the Medo man of Daniel Chapter 2. 15:19 Do you remember that? 15:21 Four beasts, four Medo's four kingdoms. 15:24 The first was the kingdom of Babylon, 15:27 the lion with eagle's wings. 15:29 It reined from 605 to 539 BC. 15:32 That after that was the bear 15:34 raised upon one side with three ribs 15:35 in his mouth that represents what? 15:37 The Medo-Persian Empire that reign from 539 to 331 BC. 15:41 Then the third beast the leopard with the four wings 15:44 and the four heads represents the Grecian empire, 15:47 that reign from 331 to 168 BC and then the fourth beast, 15:51 the terrible beast with ten horns 15:52 represents the Roman Empire 15:55 that ruled the longest out the four 15:57 from 168 BC to 476 AD. 16:02 So Daniel sees these four beasts these four empires of prophecy. 16:07 And then from the fourth beast 16:09 which represents which kingdom again? 16:10 The Roman. 16:12 Which represents the Roman Empire 16:13 the pagan Roman Empire, 16:15 Daniel saw that this beast had ten horns. 16:19 How many horns? Ten. 16:21 And what do these horns represent. 16:24 We saw in verse 24 that the Bible says 16:27 that "The ten horns out of this kingdom" 16:30 Out of which kingdom? 16:31 "Out of Rome are ten" what" "Kings that shall arise." 16:36 So prophecy in history make it clear 16:39 that Rome was not conquered by a fifth super power 16:42 or world empire 16:43 but Rome was divided into ten different kingdoms 16:46 symbolized by ten horns. 16:49 History tell us that barbarians tribes came from the north 16:52 and begin to conquer different territories 16:54 of the vast Roman Empire 16:56 and these are the nations that make up modern day 16:58 Europe today. 17:00 The ten kingdoms or divisions Rome, 17:02 the Alamanni, who were the modern Germans. 17:04 The Burgundians were the Swiss. 17:06 The Franks were the French. 17:07 The Lombards were the Italians. 17:09 The Anglo Saxons were the English. 17:10 The Suevi who are the Portuguese 17:12 and then the Visigoths were the Spanish 17:14 and then you have on the bottom here the Heruli, 17:16 Vandals and Ostrogoths 17:18 nations that existed amongst the original ten 17:21 during the break up of Rome 17:23 but are no longer in existence today 17:25 and we are gonna find out why in just a moment. 17:28 And so we find that these ten horns 17:31 or the divisions of Rome divided Europe 17:34 is came into existence in the year 476 AD. 17:39 In what year? 476. 17:41 It was in that year that history tells us 17:44 that these ten horns rouse to power. 17:47 Now, after the ten horns are described in Daniels vision. 17:52 Daniel then sees amongst the horns the division of Rome. 17:57 He seized a little horn rising, a little kingdom. 18:03 And friends, this little kingdom 18:05 is the antichrist kingdom of prophecy. 18:08 I want us to notice its characteristics 18:11 and through these ten finger prints 18:14 that we are gonna look at tonight 18:15 we are gonna know without a shadow of a doubt 18:18 the unavoidable, unmistakable, 18:20 irrefutable identity of who this antichrist kingdom really is. 18:26 Are you ready? Yes. 18:28 Some of you are not ready. Yes. 18:30 Are you ready? Yes. 18:32 All right, let's go. 18:33 Daniel Chapter 8, excuse me Daniel 7:8. 18:36 You can look in your Bible it's also on the screen. 18:39 Daniel 7:8 describes this 18:41 little horn antichrist kingdom in these words. 18:43 "I considered the horns, 18:45 and, behold, there came up" Where? 18:47 "Among them another" What kind of horn? 18:51 "Little horn, 18:52 before whom there were three of the first horns 18:55 plucked up by the roots." 18:58 So here we find our first four characteristics 19:02 of this antichrist kingdom. 19:04 Number one, it comes up out of pagan Rome. 19:08 The fourth beast is the pagan Roman Empire. 19:11 This horn comes up out of that beast 19:13 which shows that the this kingdom 19:15 comes out a pagan Rome. 19:18 Are you with me, yes or no? 19:20 The second characteristic Daniel says 19:22 that it came up among them. 19:24 In other words, among the other ten horns. 19:27 So this gives us a geographical location 19:30 of where this kingdom would rise. 19:32 The ten horns represent divided Europe. 19:35 So this would be a little horn kingdom 19:38 that would rise up somewhere there in Western Europe. 19:41 It rises up among the other ten horns. 19:45 Are you with me, yes or no? Yes. 19:47 And the Bible says that it came up after them. 19:50 We found through history that the ten horns 19:53 what came into existence in 476 AD. 19:57 Therefore, this kingdom must rise to power 20:01 some time after that specific year. 20:04 Which shows us very clearly 20:05 the Antiochus Epiphanes cannot be the antichrist friends, 20:10 because he lived way before these horns were in existents. 20:14 This little horn king the antichrist 20:16 must come to power after the 476 AD 20:20 and as it rises to power the Bible says 20:22 three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. 20:26 In other words, this kingdom would destroy 20:29 three other kingdoms in order for it to arise to power. 20:34 So far so good? Yes. 20:36 All right, let's take a look at more characteristics now. 20:39 The verse-- the verse 8 says, 20:40 "And, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, 20:46 and a mouth speaking great things." 20:48 Another place it says, "The mouth speaking 20:50 blasphemy against God." 20:53 And so we find that this little horn kingdom 20:55 has a man at its head. 20:57 It has the eyes like the eyes of a man 20:59 and a mouth speaking great things. 21:01 Well, what does that mean? 21:02 Write it down. 21:03 In 1 Samuel 9:9. 21:06 "In the Bible a prophets was called a seer." 21:10 A prophet was called what? Seer. 21:12 Because they would see 21:14 with the eyes of God with heavenly vision. 21:17 But this kingdom does not see with the eyes of God, 21:20 it has the eyes like the eyes of man. 21:22 Why because this is a false prophet kingdom. 21:26 When they claims to speak for God 21:28 but in reality are speaking by their own human vision, 21:32 their own human understanding. 21:35 Remember, it was-- they were called the man of sin, 21:39 the son of perdition. 21:40 And so we find our next two characteristics, 21:42 write it down characteristic number five. 21:44 There would be a man at the head of this kingdom 21:47 that would lead by his own human vision, 21:51 his own human wisdom. 21:53 Eyes, like the eyes of a man. 21:55 And then he would have a mouth speaking great things, 21:57 a mouth speaking blasphemy against God. 22:02 Are you with me, yes or no? Yes. 22:03 Now let's take a look at some more characteristics, 22:06 verse 24 gives us some additional details. 22:09 The Bible says, "Another shall arise after them, 22:12 and he shall be diverse" or different "from the first, 22:17 and he shall subdue three kings." 22:20 So this little horn that Daniel saw 22:23 he said it was a different horn 22:25 compared to the rest of the ten horns. 22:27 It was diverse from the first. 22:29 And we are gonna see tonight 22:30 that this kingdom characteristic number seven 22:33 is different in the sense that its not just a political kingdom 22:37 but it's a religious kingdom. 22:39 It's not just a state but it's also a church. 22:43 You see, all the ten horns are states, 22:45 they are political powers 22:46 but this one is more than just a kingdom it is a church, 22:49 state union together. 22:52 That's how it's different. 22:54 Now, we take a look another characteristic in verse 25. 22:57 "And he shall speak great words against the most high, 23:01 and shall wear out the saints of the most high, 23:03 and think to change times and laws 23:06 and they shall be given into his hand 23:08 until a time and times" in the plural 23:11 "and dividing of time." 23:14 And there we find our last three characteristics. 23:17 Characteristic number eight, 23:18 it says that it would wear out the saints of the most high. 23:21 In other words, it's a kingdom on earth 23:23 that would persecute God's people. 23:26 It would be a persecuting power. 23:28 Characteristic Number nine, 23:30 it would think to change God's times and laws 23:32 claiming to have more authority than God's law 23:35 and God's word, 23:36 saying that we are gonna change the law of God. 23:39 And then finally characteristic 10. 23:41 God even tells us just how long 23:44 this kingdom would reign for. 23:46 It said "It would reign for a time, 23:48 times and the dividing of the half of time." 23:52 Now friends, how long is time times and half a time. 23:56 When you study carefully you will notice in the Bible 23:58 that time represents one year. 24:01 How long? One year. 24:03 And according to the Hebrew calendar 24:06 there are 360 days in one Hebrew year. 24:10 Times in the plural would be two years that 720 days. 24:14 Half a time will be half a year, that's 180 days. 24:17 If you add all the days up, 24:19 it equals to 1,260 prophetic days 24:25 is how long the kingdom would reign for. 24:27 Now, these are not literal days, they are prophetic days 24:31 because it's in our prophetic context. 24:33 And we learn the other night 24:34 that when we study Bible prophecy 24:36 one prophetic day equals what? 24:39 One literal year according to Ezekiel 4:6 24:44 as well as Numbers 14:34. 24:47 And many scholars of many denominations 24:48 agree that in Bible prophecy one prophetic day 24:52 represents one literal year. 24:53 In other words this would be a kingdom 24:56 that would reign for exactly 1,260 years. 25:01 Prophetic days but literal years. 25:03 And so we find ten identifying fingerprints 25:07 of this antichrist kingdom that changed the Sabbath 25:10 from Saturday to Sunday. 25:12 Let's review together. 25:13 They're on the screen if you missed it write it down 25:15 very quickly, friends. 25:16 Characteristic number one, 25:18 it comes up out of the fourth beast. 25:20 And the fourth beast is the which empire? 25:22 The pagan Roman Empire. 25:23 So this would be a kingdom 25:25 that would be a continuation of Rome. 25:27 Number two, its a little horn, 25:28 a small kingdom that rises up among the ten horns 25:32 the geographical location is somewhere in Western Europe. 25:36 It arises after the ten horns already in existence 25:39 and they came into existence in 476 AD. 25:42 So it must come to power sometime after that. 25:45 As it rises to power it would destroy 25:47 three other kingdoms. 25:48 Number five, it's led by the human wisdom and of man. 25:52 Number six, it will speak blasphemy against God. 25:55 Number seven, it would be different 25:56 because its not only political it's also religious. 26:00 Number eight, it would persecute God's people. 26:03 Number nine, it would claim to change 26:04 God's times and laws. 26:05 And number ten, it would reign for exactly 26:07 1,260 years. 26:10 Now tell me friends, where do we get these 26:12 characteristics from. 26:14 Did I just pull it out of the air somewhere 26:16 or did we get it straight from the Bible? 26:18 Friends, all we did was we let the Bible 26:22 interpret itself. 26:24 Can you say, amen? Amen. 26:25 And as we consider these ten fingerprints, 26:28 it is abundantly clear who this power is. 26:33 Now friends, if there is a kingdom that matches 26:35 five of the ten characteristics could it be the one? 26:38 Yes or no? Absolutely not. 26:41 In order to be the fulfillment of prophecy 26:43 it has to match how many of the biblical characteristics? 26:45 All ten of them, friends. 26:47 And as we consider these characteristics 26:49 there is only one kingdom on earth 26:52 that fits each and every one of them 26:54 to the T only one power 26:56 that fits the characteristics of the Bible. 26:58 And friends, do you want to know which power this is? 27:02 Some of you don't want to know. 27:04 Do you want to know? Yes. 27:06 Friends, before we reveal it tonight-- 27:10 don't worry, I won't make you wait till tomorrow. 27:15 First thing I want to say, is what you're about to hear 27:18 if you've never heard it before is gonna blow you away. 27:22 It's a shocking message. It's a starling message. 27:26 But I want us to remember 27:27 and keep in the forefront of our mind 27:29 that whenever God reveals truth to us 27:32 He does it because He loves us. 27:35 Amen. Amen. 27:36 You see, there perhaps, might be people here tonight 27:39 they're gonna learn that they have been 27:41 a part of this church, states system 27:45 that is known in the Bible as the antichrist. 27:48 God send this message not to condemn but to save us. 27:52 Because friends, let me tell you 27:54 God still has many of His people 27:56 in this system that love the Lord. 28:00 They're sincere, they're living up 28:02 the all the light they know and God looks upon them 28:05 and recognizes them as His children 28:08 and many of them are gonna be saved in the Kingdom of God. 28:10 Can you say, amen? Amen. 28:11 You see in exposing the identity of the antichrist 28:14 God is never against people, He loves all people. 28:18 God so loved the world 28:20 that He gave His only begotten Son. 28:23 And because He loves the people in this system 28:25 He exposes the system because this is a manmade system 28:29 that claims to be God on earth. 28:33 A manmade system, that mixes truth. 28:35 And ever together and offers us 28:38 a confusing counterfeit of the truth. 28:42 And so friends, as we share who this power is, 28:45 no one needs to be offended tonight. 28:48 We are not talking about people. 28:49 It's the system itself that God is exposing 28:52 because God loves the people that are in this system. 28:54 Friends, I have family members that are part of this system, 28:57 I love them and God loves them 28:59 and so no one needs feel attacked 29:01 or offended tonight because God loves everyone of us. 29:04 Can you say, amen? Amen. 29:05 Oh, friends, I don't have the words 29:07 to express this clearly but God has His people. 29:11 He recognizes them as His children 29:14 and so none need to feel offended 29:16 or feel like they've to leave. 29:17 No friends, it not people it's the system itself. 29:21 If that's clear, would you please say amen? 29:22 Amen. 29:24 And by the way what you're about to hear tonight is nothing new. 29:25 Almost every single church believe 29:29 what you're about to hear tonight. 29:31 But what happened through history 29:32 is that antichrist came into the temple of God 29:35 the New Testament church and gave a false method 29:38 of interpretations called futurism 29:40 that majority of Christian world believes 29:42 and has been deceived by. 29:44 And so now the question is this, 29:45 who is this little horn kingdom 29:48 that arose in Western Europe, 29:49 that it is not only political but also religious, 29:52 that destroyed all that opposed to her in history, 29:55 that replaced God's words with its own traditions, 29:58 who is this little horn power that sprung up 30:01 out of the fourth beast the pagan Roman Empire? 30:04 Who is this antichrist kingdom? 30:06 Oh, friends, I am not gonna give my opinion 30:08 I am gonna let history tell us 30:10 what happened when the fourth beast 30:12 the pagan Roman Empire fell apart. 30:15 Notice, what history says and we're gonna get 30:16 all these historical quotations 30:18 on a hand out on your way tonight. 30:21 Listen very carefully. 30:22 Out of the ruins of the Roman Empire 30:24 there gradually arose a new order of states." 30:27 What were these new order of states? 30:28 That's the ten horns, you remember? 30:30 The divided kingdoms of Rome. 30:31 "A new order of state who is central point 30:34 was the Papal See. 30:38 Therefore inevitably, resulted a position 30:41 not only new, but very" What? 30:44 "Very different from the former." 30:46 And the reason why the papacy was different 30:48 is because there was not just a political kingdom 30:51 it was also religious kingdom. 30:52 Friends, make no mistake about it. 30:54 The Roman church state system is the power 30:58 that prophecy is revealing tonight. 31:01 The papacy brothers and sisters, 31:02 is a continuation of Rome. 31:04 Right there at the very headquarters 31:06 the Vatican City there in the heart 31:08 of the former pagan Roman Empire. 31:11 Not only that but it's a small horn. 31:13 If you notice the papacy the Vatican City 31:15 is the smallest country in the world. 31:18 It's a little kingdom located right there 31:20 in Western Europe. 31:22 And friends, when you study history 31:24 you will discover that as the papacy 31:26 roused the power it uprooted three other kingdoms. 31:29 It's different because its not only 31:30 political it's religious. 31:32 It's led by the human wisdom of priest and popes 31:34 who speak blasphemy against God. 31:36 It was a persecuting power in history 31:38 and this kingdom reign for exactly 1,260 years. 31:44 Well, let's find out it in Matthews. 31:46 When did the papacy rise the power and for how long? 31:49 Friends, do you remember amongst the ten horns 31:51 that came up out of the Roman Empire, 31:53 three of them the Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths 31:56 no longer exist today. 31:58 Do you know why? 31:59 Because those where the kingdoms 32:01 that resisted and rejected papal authority. 32:04 And so in order for the papacy to reign 32:06 they had to totally uproot these three horns. 32:09 And this is exactly what history tells us took place. 32:12 The Heruli kingdom met their faith 32:15 with the Catholic Emperor Zeno in the year 493 AD. 32:19 And then another emperor by the name of Justinian 32:21 exterminated the Vandals in 534 AD 32:25 and then finally broke the power of Ostrogoths 32:27 in the year 538 AD. 32:30 Now friends, you will not find traces 32:32 of these three kingdoms in-- there Western Europe. 32:35 In fact, I was just there in Western Europe 32:37 just this past April and I actually 32:40 went on a tour to see the ancient ruins 32:43 of the Ostrogoths kingdom and the only thing 32:46 that remains from the Ostrogoths kingdom 32:49 is this building the mausoleum of king Theodoric, 32:51 the last king of the Ostrogoths. 32:53 Everything else of the kingdom and their people 32:55 are totally wiped out, totally uprooted completely. 32:59 And it happened in the year-- excuse me, 538 AD. 33:04 And it was in that year that history tells us 33:07 that Justinian made a decree 33:09 that established the Bishop of Rome 33:11 as the political and religious leader 33:14 of Western Rome. 33:16 And so we find history tells us 33:18 that the papacy came into being in the year 538 AD. 33:23 Then it would reign for exactly 1,260 years 33:27 culminating in the year 1798. 33:30 And friends, this period in history 33:32 is known as the dark ages. 33:35 And do you know why it was so dark? 33:37 Because, during this time period 33:38 the church made it illegal to read or own the Bible. 33:43 In fact, if you were found with portions of the Bible 33:46 you could be burnt alive by the hands of the church. 33:50 And friends, what happens when you take away 33:52 the light of the word you have as a result the Dark Ages. 33:57 This was the time of papal supremacy. 34:00 And friends, let me remind you 34:01 we're not talking about the people, amen. 34:03 We are not talking about those who have been 34:04 brought up in this system. 34:06 Many of them are God's people and they are sincere 34:07 and they are beautiful people, amen. 34:09 I met many of them, I have family members, 34:11 beautiful people it's not the people 34:13 it's the system that God is talking about tonight. 34:16 What happened in 1798, notice what history says. 34:20 The Encyclopedia Americana tells us very clearly 34:22 that "In 1798" that is he that is the French General 34:27 "Bethier made his entrance into Rome, 34:29 and abolished the papal government 34:31 and established a secular one." 34:33 It was in that year that the papacy 34:35 was stripped from its political power 34:37 in Western Europe and in fact, 34:39 I was in the Vatican museum just this past April 34:42 and in the Vatican museum they actually have a painting 34:45 of this event when Bethier came to dethrone Pope Pius the VI. 34:49 And under the painting in roman numerals 34:51 is the year 1798. 34:55 It came to power in 538, 34:57 you count 1,260 years later 1798. 35:00 The exact time the Bible said that this power would reign. 35:04 Friends, it's clear that the antichrist 35:07 of Bible prophecy not the people, 35:09 its the system the Roman church state system 35:13 here is a kingdom in Western Europe 35:15 that has set themselves up as God on earth. 35:20 Anti meaning putting themselves instead of 35:23 or in the place of Christ looking like a disciple of Jesus 35:27 but teaching things that are betraying 35:29 the words of Jesus. 35:31 In fact, if you don't believe me let me just read to you 35:33 from their very own writings 35:36 and you will see what they say concerning themselves. 35:38 Pope Leo XIII said "We hold upon this earth 35:42 the place of God Almighty." 35:46 In fact notice what else, the Catholic national said. 35:49 "The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, 35:52 but he is Jesus Christ Himself, 35:56 hidden under the veil of flesh." 35:58 This is an antichrist statement friend, 36:00 putting yourself instead of on the place of Christ. 36:03 Notice, another one Pope Pius V said, 36:06 "The Pope and God are the same, 36:09 so he has all power in Heaven and earth." 36:13 In fact notice another one. 36:15 I told you it's gonna be shocking, 36:16 its gonna blow you away but friends, 36:17 this is what they themselves say. 36:20 "The Pope is of so great dignity, 36:22 and so exalted that he is not a mere man, 36:26 but as it were God, and the vicar of God." 36:30 This is what they say concerning themselves 36:32 and no wonder why the protestant reformers 36:34 claim and looked upon the papacy 36:37 as the fulfillment of this prophecy. 36:39 I want you to notice what John Wycliffe said. 36:41 He was the Morning star of the Reformation. 36:43 John Wycliffe was the first one that translated the Bible 36:45 into the English language and he believed 36:47 that the pope was the antichrist here on earth 36:50 because they claim to put themselves 36:52 instead of on the place of Christ. 36:55 Even Martin Luther believed it. 36:57 Notice what the Lutherans believed 36:58 "O, how much pain it has caused me, 37:00 though I had the Scripture on my side 37:02 that I should dare to make a stand against the pope, 37:05 and hold him forth as antichrist. 37:07 'Twas so I fought with myself and with Satan, 37:10 till Christ, by his own infallible word, 37:12 fortified my heart against these doubts.'" 37:14 You see, friends, 37:15 all the protestant reformers of the past 37:17 they started all the churches we have today. 37:19 They believe that exactly what we are seeing here tonight 37:22 from the word of God. 37:23 But what happened? 37:24 Antichrist crept within the Christian church of today 37:27 and gave to the Christian world 37:29 a new method of Biblical interpretation called futurism 37:32 which is the foundation of the left behind series. 37:34 It was invented by a Jesuit priest 37:38 by the name of Francisco Ribera, 37:39 we talked about it before at the Council of Trent 37:42 he invented this method of interpreting the Bible 37:44 that steered attention away from the papacy 37:47 and put everything in the future 37:49 after the rapture. 37:50 That's exactly what the Christian world believes. 37:52 But it came from the antichrist himself. 37:55 If I notice another book by a Baptist professor 37:58 he wrote. 38:00 That "Many of the great Christians 38:01 of the Reformation and post-Reformation times 38:04 shared this view of prophetic truth 38:05 and identified anti-christ with the Roman Papacy. 38:08 Among adherents of this interpretation 38:10 were the Waldenses, The Hussites, 38:11 Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Melanchthon, 38:14 Tyndale, Latimare, and Ridley." 38:17 And so friends, what you're hearing 38:18 tonight it is nothing new. 38:20 This is always been the belief 38:21 of the protestant reformers of the past. 38:24 And friends, it was this kingdom the Roman church kingdom 38:27 and the Bible said we think to change what? 38:31 God's times and God's laws. 38:34 Well, now the next question is this. 38:36 Did the papacy claim to have changed 38:39 God's times and laws? 38:41 Now I want to read you a few more quotations 38:43 from their own writings. 38:45 Notice what it said concerning the man 38:46 at his head. 38:48 They say, "That the Pope has power to change times, 38:51 to abrogate laws, and to dispense with all things, 38:55 even the precepts of Christ. 38:57 The Pope has the authority and often exercised it, 39:00 to dispense with the" what? 39:02 "Command of Christ." 39:04 Almost quoting the exact words of prophecy 39:06 claiming to change God's times and laws. 39:09 In fact, notice another one it blows us away even more. 39:12 Notice what they say. 39:13 "To believe that our Lord God the Pope 39:16 has not the power to decree as he is decreed 39:19 is to be deemed heretical." 39:21 In other words, if we say the Pope 39:22 doesn't have the power to change times and laws 39:24 they call that state heretical. 39:27 In other words, its heresy that must be uprooted. 39:30 In fact, notice what else it is said. 39:32 In the Faith of our Fathers, famous catholic author 39:34 James Cardinal Gibbons. 39:36 "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, 39:38 and you will not find a single line 39:41 authorizing the sanctification of Sunday." 39:43 And friends, that's true. 39:44 "The scripture enforce the religious observance 39:46 of Saturday." 39:47 They acknowledge, that the Bible teaches 39:48 that the seventh day is the Sabbath. 39:50 Well, why do they believe that Sunday 39:52 is the day to be worshipped? 39:54 Now I want you to notice from the Convert's Catechism 39:56 of Catholic Doctrine and I have this book 39:58 right here in my hand if you want to see it you may. 40:00 But on page 50 of this book the question is asked. 40:03 "Which Day is the Sabbath day?" 40:05 Their answer, "Saturday is the Sabbath Day." 40:08 Question, "Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?" 40:12 Their answer, "Because the Catholic Church 40:14 transferred solemnity from Saturday to Sunday." 40:18 Claiming to change God's times and God's law. 40:21 The catholic encyclopedia says, 40:23 "The church after changing the day of rest 40:26 from the Jewish Sabbath or the Seventh-day of the week 40:29 made the third commandment." 40:30 The what number commandment? Third. 40:32 "Third commandment referred to Sunday 40:34 as the day to be kept as the Lord's day." 40:36 They say we're the ones that change 40:38 the Sabbath to Sunday. 40:39 But they say it's the third commandment. 40:41 But friends, in the Bible what commandment 40:42 is the Sabbath commandment? 40:44 And friends, what did they say 40:45 it's the third commandment because in the catechism 40:47 the church not only changes the Sabbath 40:49 but they totally deleted the second commandment 40:52 that has to do with bowing down and worshipping idols. 40:55 It totally gone from the catechism 40:58 that's the only way they could bring in 40:59 idols into the church. 41:01 And so, what they did was number one, 41:03 they did away with the second commandment. 41:05 That's why the fourth now became the third. 41:07 Not only that but they shortened the fourth commandment 41:09 from 94 words to eight words. 41:12 And then in order to still have Ten Commandments 41:14 they split the tenth commandment into two. 41:17 Commandment number nine in the catechism says, 41:20 "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife." 41:22 And commandment 10 "Thou shalt not covet 41:24 thy neighbors goods." 41:25 Claiming to change Gods times and God's laws. 41:30 Friends, its clear isn't it? 41:32 But let me remind once again 41:33 we are not talking about people, amen. 41:35 No one needs feel offended or attacked. 41:37 God loves all the people in this system. 41:40 God is exposing the system because He loves the people 41:43 that are in the system and He does not want us to be 41:45 let strayed by kingdom that claims to have 41:48 more power than Jesus himself. 41:52 I want to notice they even make even 41:53 bolder statements than this. 41:55 They challenge Protestants 41:57 who keep Sunday as the Sabbath. 41:59 Notice what Karl Keating had to say in the book. 42:01 Catholicism and Fundamentalism, he said, 42:04 "Fundamentalists meet for worship on Sunday, 42:07 yet there is no evidence in the Bible 42:08 that corporate worship was to be made on Sundays." 42:10 And that's true, there is no evidence not even one verse. 42:13 And then he says, "The Jewish Sabbath, 42:16 or day of rest, was of course" what? 42:19 Now he calls it the Jewish Sabbath 42:20 but we know that it's not a Jewish day 42:22 it is the Lord's Day. 42:24 Can you say, amen? Amen. 42:25 But he says the Jewish Sabbath 42:26 or the day of rest was of course Saturday, 42:28 it was the Catholic Church that decided Sunday 42:30 should be the day of worship for Christians, 42:32 in honor of the" What? 42:34 Resurrection. 42:35 So they say we are the ones that changed it to Sunday 42:37 because that's the day that Jesus 42:39 resurrected from the grave. 42:40 And friends, it's a nice thing 42:42 to want to honor the resurrection of Christ 42:44 but we don't honor the resurrection 42:46 by dishonoring the law, 42:48 we don't honor His resurrection by changing 42:50 some thing that God wrote with His own finger 42:52 on tablets of stone. 42:54 Friends, how do we honor the resurrection of Christ? 42:56 The Bible tells us in Romans Chapter 6, 42:59 that it's a honor the resurrection of Christ 43:00 is to baptized. 43:02 And as they were baptized were baptized into the death 43:05 burial and resurrection for Christ, of Christ. 43:08 Friends, I have problem honoring the resurrection 43:10 but we don't do it by trying to change God's law, 43:13 we do it like how the Bible tells us to do it. 43:15 Can you say, amen? Amen. 43:17 I want to notice another catechism, 43:18 Controversial Catechism. 43:20 On page 53, the question is asked, 43:22 "When Protestants do profane work upon Saturday, 43:25 or the seventh day of the week, 43:26 do they follow the Scripture as their only rule of faith?" 43:30 They are challenging Protestants because as Protestants 43:33 they believe that the Bible and the Bible 43:35 alone is the sola of faith. 43:37 That was Protestants claim. 43:39 Sola scriptura that's the Protestant crying. 43:41 Bible and the Babylon and so they are challenging 43:43 if you keep Sunday do you really follow the Bible alone. 43:46 Answer, "On the contrary 43:49 they have only the authority of" what? 43:52 "Tradition for this practice. 43:54 In profaning Saturday they violate one of 43:56 God's commandments, which on their principles, 43:58 has never been abrogated. 44:00 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.'" 44:03 And friends, that's true 44:05 the only authority for Sunday worship 44:06 is the tradition that comes from the church. 44:09 That the Bible identifies as antichrist 44:11 the one that has placed themselves 44:13 instead of or in the place of Christ. 44:18 Now friends, here's the next question. 44:20 What is this church? 44:21 What is this kingdom claim to have the power 44:24 to change God's times and laws? 44:26 Because friends, their authority is not the Bible. 44:28 Notice what they themselves say. 44:30 "The doctrines of the Catholic Church 44:32 are entirely independent of Holy Scripture." 44:36 In other words they will believe 44:38 that the Bible is the soul of authority. 44:40 Notice another one. 44:41 "The belief in the Bible as the sole source of faith" 44:45 they say "is unhistorical, illogical," 44:48 and "fatal to the virtue of faith, 44:50 and destructive of unity." 44:53 And so they say the Bible is not to be 44:55 to be trusted as the soul of faith. 44:58 And that's the reason why the church feels like 45:00 it can change things. 45:01 So what there is the authority 45:04 of the faith of their system. 45:06 Notice, what they say in Catholic Belief page 33. 45:09 "Like two sacred rivers flowing from paradise, 45:11 the Bible and" What? 45:14 "Divine Tradition contain the word of God. 45:18 Though these two divine streams 45:19 are of equal sacredness still, of the two 45:22 Tradition is to us more clear and safe." 45:28 Now friends, listen there is nothing wrong with traditions 45:30 as long as traditions don't violate 45:33 or go against the word of God. 45:35 If any tradition in this world 45:36 if any custom of the world goes against the word of God 45:39 we need to put God's word first. 45:41 Can you say, amen? Amen. 45:42 In fact, Jesus challenges those 45:45 who obey tradition above His law. 45:47 Jesus asked the question. 45:49 "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God 45:51 by your tradition? 45:52 Thus you've made the commandment of God 45:54 of none effect by your tradition." 45:57 Friends, in keeping Sunday as the Sabbath 45:58 we are essentially doing exactly what Jesus said 46:01 that it is not good. 46:03 We are making God's law of none effect 46:05 by holding to a tradition that comes from the church. 46:10 And then in verses 8 and 9 Jesus talks says-- 46:13 Jesus says, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, 46:17 and honor Me with their lips, 46:18 but their heart is far from Me. 46:21 And in vain they worship Me, 46:24 teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." 46:29 Friends, the Bible Jesus said that when we teach for 46:31 doctrines the commandments of men 46:32 instead of commandments of God. 46:34 Then in vain are we worshipping God. 46:36 Friends, I don't want to worship God in vain. 46:39 I want to worship God in spirit and in truth. 46:41 Can you say, amen? Amen. 46:43 With their lips they're saying yes, 46:44 I am disciple but in their hearts 46:45 their teaching and practicing things 46:47 that go directly against the word of God. 46:50 And so the question comes to us tonight 46:51 who is your master, friends? 46:53 Who you're gonna follow? 46:55 Who is your sole of authority? 46:57 Is it Jesus Christ or that the antichrist? 47:00 Is it the commandment of God or tradition of man? 47:03 Tonight friends, we need to choose 47:05 who we're going to follow. 47:07 Can you say, amen? 47:09 In fact I want you to notice a few more quotations. 47:11 Canon and Tradition, page 263. 47:13 They say that "The authority of the church 47:16 could therefore not be bound to the authority 47:18 of the Scriptures, because the Church 47:20 had changed the Sabbath to Sunday, 47:23 not by command of Christ, but by its own authority." 47:27 Friends, this is an antichrist way of thinking 47:29 putting themselves instead of or in the place of God. 47:33 This kingdom claim to do something 47:35 that not even God himself would do. 47:37 Bible says in Malachi 3:6 for I am the Lord, 47:41 and I always change. 47:43 Is what God says? Does God change? 47:45 He said, "I am the Lord, I change not." 47:48 Friends, God does not need changing 47:50 because He is perfect. 47:52 He does not need changing, His law doesn't changing 47:54 we need changing, friends. 47:57 God says, "I am the Lord, I change not." 48:01 We see that Adam and Eve kept the Sabbath 48:03 way back there in the Garden of Eden 48:05 before Jew ever existed, before sin came into existence. 48:07 We see, that the Sabbath 48:09 is the part of the Ten Commandments. 48:10 Jesus kept the Sabbath. 48:12 The disciples after the resurrection 48:13 kept the Sabbath. 48:14 God's end time people will keep it. 48:16 And we're gonna continue to keep the Sabbath 48:17 in heaven throughout the ceaseless age of eternity. 48:20 But here we find man tried to change it 48:22 and now it's about time to ask you 48:24 a very important question. 48:25 Tell me friends, 48:26 why the first day of the week specifically 48:28 and how did the church get the entire 48:30 Christian world to receive it? 48:32 Let me tell you where Sunday worship came from. 48:35 It came from the worship of the sun god. 48:37 You see, ancient pagan religions 48:39 worship the sun the s-u-n in the heavens. 48:42 The Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Romans, 48:44 they would bow down and worship it 48:46 as it rouse from the east every single day. 48:48 Sun worship is strictly a pagan practice. 48:52 Now I want you to notice this Bible Encyclopedia. 48:54 "Sabbath, is Hebrew word signifying rest. 48:58 But Sunday was a name given by the heathens 49:01 to the first day of the week, 49:02 because it was the day on which they worshipped" Who? 49:05 "The sun." 49:06 You see, thus pagans they worship, 49:09 when they worship the sun god was Sunday 49:12 that's the first day of the week. 49:13 This was the pagans Sabbath in other words, 49:15 when they worship the false god of the sun. 49:17 And so, we see that this pagan they worship 49:20 crept within the Christian church. 49:23 In fact, even the church acknowledges 49:24 that this is where Sunday worship came from, 49:27 from the worship of the sun. 49:28 The Catholic World in 1994, they said, 49:30 "The sun was a foremost god with heathendom. 49:33 The sun has worshippers at this hour in Persia and other lands. 49:36 There is, in truth, something royal, 49:37 kingly about the sun making it a fit emblem of Jesus, 49:40 the Sun of Justice. 49:42 Hence the Church in these countries 49:43 would seem to have said, 'Keep that old pagan name. 49:47 It shall remain consecrated and sanctified. 49:49 And thus the pagan Sunday dedicated to Balder, 49:52 a pagan God became the Christian Sunday 49:55 sacred to Jesus.'" 49:57 Oh, friends, how did this change occur? 50:01 It happened gradually. 50:04 How did it happen? 50:05 You see it happened not overnight friends, 50:09 but it happened gradually 50:10 over centuries of compromise and persecution. 50:15 Now let me explain to you the historical setting 50:17 that called for this change from Sabbath 50:20 the seventh day of the week to Sunday 50:22 the first day of the week the pagans day of worship. 50:24 You see, during the days of Constantine 50:26 the pagan Roman Empire that worshipped the sun, 50:29 on the first day of the week 50:31 pagan Rome the fourth beast was falling apart. 50:34 And there was a major problem 50:36 not only from without the armies that were invading Rome 50:39 but even within the Roman Empire itself 50:41 it was disintegrated and fragmented. 50:44 You see, during the days of Constantine 50:46 there were two major religions fighting for supremacy. 50:49 Now, the main religion of Rome was paganism 50:52 worshipping the sun on the first of the week. 50:54 And the pagans hated the Christians 50:57 that worshipped Jesus the sun on the seventh day 50:59 and so we find that the Christians 51:01 were being persecuted by the pagan Romans. 51:04 But the more the pagans persecuted the Christians 51:06 the more the Christians grew in number. 51:08 And so Constantine realized, 51:10 that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. 51:14 If you have a divided kingdom its not gonna last long 51:17 and so in order to save the Roman Empire 51:19 what he have to do? 51:21 He had to unite the two fractions of religion. 51:24 Hence he unite paganism and Christianity together 51:27 because divided we fall but united we stand was the mindset. 51:30 And so in order to merge paganism 51:33 and Christianity together 51:34 Constantine introduced a compromise 51:38 within the church. 51:39 And this is what the Bible prophesied 51:41 as the great apostasy, the falling away first. 51:44 What happened was this, 51:46 Constantine made Christianity 51:48 the state religion of the Roman Empire. 51:50 No longer was it gonna be pagan Rome 51:53 now it was gonna be papal Rome. 51:55 He said, now we are all gonna become Christians 51:57 we're no longer gonna worship the sun god. 52:00 Now we're gonna worship Jesus the Son of God. 52:04 And friends, the compromise was made 52:05 but here is the question how would he get the pagans 52:08 to convert to Christianity? 52:09 Because friends, it's hard to get somebody convert religions. 52:12 So how would he convince the pagans 52:13 to embrace Christianities? 52:15 He told the church that they have to compromise. 52:18 And the pagan converts brought pagan practices into the church. 52:23 And many of the church leaders 52:24 embraced these pagan practices 52:27 to avoid persecution from the pagans. 52:29 They said okay, you're gonna become Christians. 52:32 Okay, so to help be more comfortable in the transition 52:36 you can bring your pagan idols into the church. 52:39 And instead of calling it by the pagan sun god names 52:42 we will call it instead Peter and Paul 52:45 and the Virgin Mary and Jesus. 52:47 And instead of worshipping pagan gods 52:49 we're just pray to these Christian saints, 52:51 that's were these this came from. 52:54 And not only that but they also allowed the pagans 52:58 to bring their day of worship it within the church. 53:01 And at first, they started keeping both days, 53:03 Sabbath, as well as, Sunday. 53:06 Constantine introduced this compromise 53:09 to save the Roman Empire and the Christians accepted it. 53:12 Many of them did to avoid persecution. 53:15 And then to establish unity more fully in the year 321 AD. 53:20 What year? 53:21 Friends, write that year down 3-2-1, 53:23 321 AD Constantine passed the first Sunday law 53:28 to unite the Roman Empire. 53:32 He basically said now we have to worship 53:35 on the pagans day Sunday the first day of the week 53:37 but we're gonna do it in honor of the resurrection. 53:40 And friends, here we find paganism 53:42 walked right within the church wearing a Christian robe 53:46 antichrist sitting in the temple of God, 53:49 lies with garments to truth, 53:51 a wolf in sheep's clothing, friends. 53:54 And then finally in the year 336 AD. 53:57 What year? 53:58 336 AD the church completely outlaw the Sabbath completely 54:03 in the Council of Laodicea. 54:05 The church said Christian shall not Judaize 54:07 and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day. 54:11 But the Lord's day" they are referring to as Sunday. 54:13 "They shall especially honor 54:15 and as being Christian shall possible 54:17 to do not work on that day. 54:19 If, however, there're found Juadizing," 54:21 or keeping the Sabbath, 54:22 "they shall be shut out from Christ." 54:24 So at first they were keeping both Sabbath and Sunday 54:26 but finally in the Council of Laodicea 54:28 they said we can no longer rest on Sabbath 54:30 you must work on the Sabbath 54:32 and you cannot work on Sunday 54:34 forcing the conscience of individuals 54:36 and all those who fell in line 54:38 with the requirements of the church 54:39 had peace and safety. 54:41 But those who stood up for God, 54:42 those who wanted to remain faithful to Lord Jesus 54:45 were hunted down like animals and they were persecuted, 54:48 burnt alive at the state. 54:50 And history states that during the Dark Ages 54:52 not less than 100 million Christians died. 54:57 And their only crime was that they wanted to remain faithful 55:01 to Bible and faithful to Jesus and Jesus alone. 55:07 Friends, and after generations of cruel persecution 55:12 Sabbath gradually was forgotten 55:15 and Sunday became embraced by the church. 55:18 And then during the Protestant Reformation 55:19 of the 16th century the Protestant 55:21 broke away from the catholic church 55:23 and they protested against the many of the errors 55:25 the idolatry but they kept with them 55:28 the pagans they worshipped Sunday 55:31 the first day of the week. 55:32 And there you have it friends, 55:33 the Bible is laid aside for tradition, 55:37 a tradition of man antichrist, sitting in the temple of God. 55:41 Friends, if this makes sense, 55:43 if this is clear would you please say, amen? Amen. 55:46 Now there's a lot more we can say 55:47 but we're gonna save it for another night. 55:49 As we begin to close we see friends, 55:51 that Satan is a terrible deceiver. 55:54 He deceived one-third of the angels in heaven. 55:57 He deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden 56:00 and he has been deceiving men and women 56:02 and boys and girls through various ways 56:05 down throughout the centuries but Jesus said 56:08 "You shall know the truth 56:10 and the truth shall set you free." 56:14 It's a shocking truth, it's a startling truth. 56:17 But friends, listen it may sound strange 56:20 but truth always sounds strange. 56:24 In a world of universal deceit with so many lives 56:27 that are been spread and so many half truths being told 56:32 when you finally hear the naked truth it's shocking, 56:36 it's surprising. 56:37 But friends, this truth will free us 56:40 from the deceptions of the devil 56:42 and the counterfeits of the antichrist. 56:45 Are you thankful for it tonight? 56:49 But friends, listen, it is not the knowledge of truth 56:52 that will save, it's what we do with it. 56:57 Well, friends, what you're gonna do 56:59 with a truth that God has revealed to you? 57:03 God has not just wanting inform our minds, 57:06 He is wanting to transform our hearts, 57:09 He wants to lead us into an experience 57:12 with the truth not just an understanding of it. 57:15 Tonight, friends, we need to make a decision 57:19 and I believe that God brought you and I here 57:21 to lead us to a point to decide where we are going to stand. 57:25 And friends, let me ask you a question, 57:26 how are you gonna stand in the judgment, 57:29 when God asks you 57:31 why did you keep Sunday as the Sabbath? 57:35 What are you gonna say, friends? 57:37 What verse are you going to point to? 57:40 Let me tell you what I am gonna ask, 57:42 what I am gonna tell God. 57:44 If God asks me Taj, why did you keep the Sabbath? 57:47 Here's what I will say, Lord what do you mean? 57:50 You are the one that made the Sabbath, it's Your day. 57:53 Adam and Eve kept the Sabbath right here in the Genesis. 57:56 Lord, the Sabbath is the part of the Ten Commandments, 57:58 You wrote it within Your own fingers. 58:00 Lord, your Son Jesus kept the Sabbath, 58:03 the disciples after the resurrection kept it. 58:06 We're gonna keeping the Sabbath in heaven. 58:08 What do You mean why I kept the Sabbath? 58:09 You see, friends, I will have a lot of scripture 58:11 and lot of examples of why I kept the Sabbath. 58:15 But if God asked you my son, my daughter, 58:18 why did you keep Sunday? 58:21 What do you gonna say, friends? 58:23 There is no verse to point to. 58:25 No biblical example to give. 58:28 Lord, I kept this-- I kept Sunday 58:30 because that's what everyone else did. 58:33 But most people didn't get onboard the Ark. 58:36 You followed the crowd instead of My word? 58:40 But Lord, I kept Sunday because my pastor said it was okay. 58:43 So you believed your pastor above My word? 58:48 But Lord, if I kept the Sabbath my friends, 58:51 would have thought I was weird? 58:53 You cared more about what your friends thought 58:58 But Lord, if I kept the Sabbath I might have lost my job. 59:02 Oh yeah, but My Son lost his life for you. 59:08 Friends, it's decision time 59:12 what are you gonna do? 59:14 Well, God has revealed to you. |
Revised 2020-04-01