Participants:
Series Code: SCM
Program Code: SCM180009A
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00:41 Welcome to the 3ABN Spring Camp Meeting:
00:44 The Three Angels' Messages. 00:48 Thank you for joining us. We've been having a great time, 00:51 haven't we, in the Lord? Amen! 00:52 We have a wonderful group of folk here 00:55 from not only this country but countries around the world. 00:58 And we so appreciate you coming to 3ABN. 01:00 The weather so far has been beautiful. 01:02 A little hot... but it's better than cold, right? 01:04 And so... inside it's been very warm also, 01:08 but warm with the Holy Spirit. 01:10 And I feel so blessed to be a part of a ministry 01:13 that is giving present truth to a lost and dying world. 01:17 And tonight it's my privilege to introduce 01:19 our speaker Pastor Stephen Bohr. 01:22 Stephen and I have known each other for many many years. 01:25 In fact, I think in the 70's he actually pastored the 01:28 West Frankfort SDA church for a year or so. 01:31 I don't know why one year. I don't think we kicked him out 01:34 or anything. Maybe he got tired of us is what it was. 01:37 But he was here. And I've known Steve for a long time. 01:39 A wonderful man of God and bilingual... can speak, 01:43 preach in Spanish and English and just has such a gift 01:47 for communicating the gospel. 01:49 And if you really... I tell people: "If you really 01:51 want to learn something about prophecy and end-time events 01:54 he should be on your TV. You should be going to YouTube 01:58 to look up these sermons, because God has gifted him 02:01 in giving an undiluted three angels' messages. 02:04 one that would counteract the counterfeit 02:06 into all the world. And so we're so thankful tonight 02:09 we have... Pr. Stephen Bohr will be ministering to us. 02:13 But before he comes out we have Yvonne Lewis-Shelton 02:16 and we're privileged to have her here tonight 02:19 with Brother Tim Parton. 02:21 And Tim, thank you for what you're doing. 02:23 Yvonne, what will you be singing for us tonight? 02:25 It's a medley of I Love The Lord and 'Tis So Sweet 02:28 To Trust In Jesus. All right; thank you so much. 02:47 I love 02:50 the Lord. 02:56 He heard 02:59 my cry. 03:04 and pitied 03:07 every 03:12 groan. 03:17 Long as 03:20 I live 03:25 and troubles 03:29 rise 03:33 I'll hasten 03:36 to... 03:40 I'll hasten to 03:45 His throne. 03:54 Jesus, Jesus, 03:59 how I trust Him! 04:03 How I've proved 04:07 Him o'er and o'er. 04:15 Jesus, Jesus 04:19 how I trust Him! 04:23 How I've proved Him 04:28 o'er and o'er. 04:36 Jesus, Jesus 04:41 precious Jesus! 04:46 O for grace 04:51 to trust Him 04:54 more. 04:59 I'll hasten to 05:03 His throne... 05:08 Yes, I'll hasten to 05:12 His throne... 05:16 Oh, I'll hasten to 05:21 His throne! 05:31 Amen! 05:54 Good evening. Good evening! 05:58 Very nice to see all of you. 06:02 It's a big crowd for a Thursday night. 06:05 Praise the Lord! 06:08 Before we have a word of prayer 06:11 to ask the Lord to bless our study 06:13 I want to mention that 06:16 just a few years ago I did a series on the 3 angels' message 06:21 in our studio in Fresno. 06:25 It's twenty-five hours: a phrase by phrase study 06:30 of the three angels' message. 06:32 It comes with a syllabus where you have the written 06:37 presentations. And if you would like 06:41 to check it out go to the Secrets Unsealed booth. 06:45 We have a booth out here. 06:47 So... enough advertising. 06:51 Also, if you want to sign up for our mailing list, 06:54 there's a card that you can fill out. 06:57 And it's also at the booth, and you'll get on our mailing list. 07:01 You'll get our newsletters; you'll get our notices about 07:05 specials, catalogs, etc. 07:07 So I hope that you'll come by the Secrets Unsealed booth. 07:10 And if you have any questions just ask Aileen. 07:14 She is the marketing director for Secrets Unsealed. 07:18 Now let's bow our heads. 07:21 Father in heaven, we thank You for the privilege 07:23 of being here at 3ABN Camp Meeting. 07:26 What a joy it is to hear wonderful music! 07:29 To be able to speak with You in prayer! 07:32 And also to hear Your Word proclaimed! 07:36 We ask, Father, that as we open that Word 07:38 that Your Holy Spirit will be with us to open our hearts 07:41 and minds. Not only those who are in this place 07:45 but those who are watching this program 07:49 on 3ABN worldwide. 07:52 We thank you for the promise of Your presence 07:55 and we claim that promise. Yes! 07:56 In the precious name of Jesus, Amen. Amen! 08:02 3ABN has asked me to speak on the second angel's message. 08:08 So let's turn in our Bibles to Revelation chapter 14 08:11 and verse 8. Revelation 14:8. 08:16 And we're going to unpack this short verse. 08:22 It says: "And another angel followed 08:26 saying: 'Babylon is fallen, 08:30 is fallen: 08:32 that great city 08:34 because she has made all nations drink 08:38 of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. ' " 08:43 Now obviously 08:46 Babylon is not literal. 08:50 Babylon is a world-wide system. 08:53 Babylon is symbolic. It's not the literal city 08:57 over in the valley of Mesopotamia. 09:00 It represents a global system. 09:04 Now Babylon in the Bible - 09:08 more specifically in the book of Revelation - 09:12 has a broad meaning and it also has 09:16 a more narrow meaning. 09:21 Now first of all, let's take a look at the broad 09:24 meaning of Babylon because we cannot understand 09:27 the fall of Babylon unless we understand what Babylon is. 09:32 So go with me to Revelation 16:13. 09:36 We're going to notice that Babylon in the broadest sense 09:40 is composed of a three-fold union at the end of time. 09:45 I'm reading now from verse 13 and verse 14. 09:49 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs 09:52 coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 09:54 out of the mouth of the beast, 09:57 and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 09:59 For they are spirits of demons performing signs 10:03 which go out to the kings of the earth and the whole world 10:06 to gather them to battle of that great day 10:09 of God Almighty. " 10:12 So you have these three powers. 10:14 In the broadest sense Babylon is composed of three: 10:18 the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 10:24 Now you might be wondering: are those really the three parts 10:27 of Babylon? Well, when we go down to verse 19 10:30 in the same chapter we find that the great city has 3 parts 10:36 which we just read about. 10:38 It says in verse 19... 10:39 this is when Babylon actually falls: 10:42 "Now that great city was divided into three parts. 10:47 And the cities of the nations fell and great Babylon 10:52 was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine 10:56 of the fierceness of His wrath. " 10:59 So you notice that when Babylon falls 11:02 she's divided into three parts. 11:05 And those three parts we read about in the immediate context 11:09 are the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 11:15 Now in Revelation 16 it's not the first time that we encounter 11:19 this three-fold union. 11:21 Actually we have to go back to Revelation chapter 13 11:26 in order to understand this trilogy of powers 11:32 that compose Babylon. 11:34 In Revelation chapter 13 11:36 we have the dragon; we have the sea beast; 11:42 and then we have the beast that comes from the earth. 11:47 Those are the same three powers that we read about 11:50 as we began our study: 11:52 the dragon, the sea beast, and the land beast 11:56 all in Revelation chapter 13. 11:59 Now in Revelation 17 we encoun- ter this three-fold union again 12:03 but they don't have the same names. 12:07 In Revelation chapter 17 what we have 12:10 is the period when the beast's deadly wound is healed. 12:15 In other words, Revelation 17 is describing 12:17 the future career of the sea beast. 12:21 And in Revelation chapter 17 these three powers are described 12:27 as the kings of the earth, the harlot, 12:31 and the daughters of the harlot. 12:34 Now basically the dragon or the kings 12:39 represent the civil powers of the world. 12:43 The sea beast and the harlot 12:46 represents the Roman Catholic papacy. 12:50 And the land beast or the beast from the earth - 12:53 the daughters in Revelation 17- 12:56 represent the apostate Protestant churches. 13:01 Now somebody might wonder about the dragon representing 13:05 the kings of the earth. Well actually, the dragon 13:09 represents Satan working THROUGH the civil powers of the world. 13:14 Let me just give you 2 or 3 evidences of this. 13:18 In Revelation chapter 12 and verse 4 13:21 we're told about a dragon that wants to devour the child 13:24 when the child is born. That child is Jesus. 13:26 It says: "And the dragon stood before the woman 13:29 who was ready to give birth to devour her child 13:31 as soon as it was born. " 13:34 Of course, Satan did not stand next to the woman to devour 13:37 the child. Satan used the Roman Empire... 13:41 more specifically Herod. 13:45 Ellen White in Great Controversy page 438 13:48 wrote: "Thus while the dragon primarily represents Satan 13:53 it is in a secondary sense a symbol of pagan Rome. " 14:00 And then in Testimonies to Ministers page 39 14:03 she speaks about the end time... 14:06 what the dragon represents in the end time. 14:08 And I read this short statement: "Kings and rulers 14:14 and governors have placed upon themselves 14:18 the brand of antichrist 14:20 and are represented as the dragon 14:23 who goes to make war with the saints: 14:26 with those who keep the commandments of God 14:28 and who have the faith of Jesus. " 14:32 So you notice that she identi- fies the dragon as kings, 14:35 rulers, and governors. 14:37 So you have this three-fold union at the end of time: 14:40 the dragon, the beast, and the land beast or the false prophet. 14:45 And in Revelation 17 14:48 you have the kings, you have the harlot, and you have 14:51 the daughters of the harlot. 14:54 That is Babylon in the broadest sense of the word. 14:58 It is a three-fold union 15:01 composed of dragon, sea beast, land beast, 15:05 or in Revelation 17 kings, harlot, and daughters. 15:11 However, we need to look at Babylon in a more 15:16 restricted sense. You see, we've looked at Babylon 15:19 in the broadest sense, but we need to look at Babylon 15:22 also in a restricted sense. 15:24 You say: "What do you mean? " 15:27 What I mean is that even though Babylon is composed 15:31 of three powers one of those powers 15:35 predominates over the others. 15:37 One of those powers is the central figure. 15:41 One of those powers orchestrates everything 15:45 and the other two are simply puppets 15:49 of this central figure. 15:53 And you say: "Who is the central figure? " 15:56 The central figure in Revelation 13 is the beast. 16:02 In Revelation chapter 17 16:04 the central figure is the harlot 16:08 because the sea beast and the harlot represent 16:12 the same power. Now let's go to Revelation 13:1-10. 16:17 And we don't have a lot of time so I have to just summarize 16:21 the content of Revelation 13 verses 1-10 16:25 where it describes the sea beast. 16:27 I want you to notice here that the sea beast 16:31 operates centrally in Revelation 13:1-10. 16:37 I'll just give you a list. 16:39 In Revelation 13 verse 2 16:42 we're told that the dragon gives its seat, 16:45 its power, and its authority to the sea beast. 16:49 Then the sea beast rules for 42 months. 16:53 It speaks blasphemies against the Most High. 16:56 It persecutes the saints of the Most High. 16:59 It claims to have the power to change God's law. 17:03 It tramples on the heavenly tabernacle and those who dwell 17:07 in heaven. At the end of its first stage of its career 17:11 it receives a deadly wound 17:13 but after a while the deadly wound is healed 17:18 and the entire world will marvel after the sea beast. 17:23 So who is the central figure in Revelation 13:1-10? 17:27 It's the sea beast... not the dragon. 17:31 The dragon simply gives his throne, his power, 17:33 and his authority to the sea beast. 17:37 Now even the land beast 17:41 is centered on the sea beast. 17:45 And you say: "How's that? " 17:46 The reason why is because the land beast 17:50 everything it does it does to please the sea beast. 17:55 Let me just go through the list. 17:57 You can read this in Revelation 13:11-18. 18:02 We are told that the beast that rises from the earth 18:04 exercises all of the authority of the first beast. 18:09 It will force the whole world to worship the first beast. 18:14 What it does it does in the presence of the first beast. 18:19 And that expression "in the presence" means on behalf of 18:22 or it worked for the beast 18:25 or "it worked at the commissioning of the beast. " 18:28 So this beast from the earth: everything it does 18:32 is to please the sea beast... the first beast. 18:35 It exercises all the authority of the first beast. 18:38 It tells everybody to worship the first beast. 18:41 Everything it does it does in the presence of the first beast. 18:45 It makes an image of the first beast and an image to the 18:49 first beast and it imposes the mark of the first beast. 18:55 Somehow I think that this beast that rises from the earth 18:59 everything it does is to please the first beast 19:04 and restore power to the first beast. 19:07 So even the second beast of Revelation 13 19:10 is centered on the first beast. 19:13 Now what about Revelation chapter 17? 19:17 Who is the central figure in Revelation chapter 17? 19:21 Is it the kings of the earth? 19:24 No. 19:26 Is it the daughters of the harlot? 19:30 No. 19:31 Who is the central figure? 19:33 It is the harlot. 19:35 Let's read Revelation chapter 17 19:38 and verses 1-5 and then we'll offer a summary. 19:43 It says: "Then one of the seven angels 19:45 who had the seven bowls 19:47 came and talked with me saying to me: 19:51 'Come, I will show you the judgment 19:53 of the great harlot who sits on many waters 19:56 with whom the kings of the earth 19:59 committed fornication 20:00 and the inhabitants of the earth 20:03 were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. ' 20:06 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet 20:10 and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls 20:13 having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations 20:16 and the filthiness of her fornication. 20:18 And on her forehead a name was written: 20:21 'MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS 20:24 AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. ' 20:26 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints 20:29 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus 20:31 and when I saw her I marveled with great amazement. " 20:36 Who is at the center of this passage? The daughters? 20:40 No! She's called the mother so she must have daughters. 20:42 Are the kings central to these verses? 20:46 No! Let's summarize. 20:49 The harlot woman represents an apostate church. 20:53 She sits on the waters or rules over them. 20:56 She carries on an adulterous affair 21:00 with the political powers of the world. 21:02 She has the golden cup in her hand 21:04 full of the wine of her abominations. 21:07 She makes all nations drink of her wine. 21:10 When they drink of her wine they get angry. 21:14 She is arrayed in purple and scarlet. 21:17 She is decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. 21:22 She has daughters that do her bidding. 21:25 She is drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs 21:28 of Jesus. She is a political system 21:32 because in Revelation 17:18 it says: "The harlot 21:35 is also the city of Babylon. " 21:39 So you'll notice that in Revelation 13:1-10 21:42 at the center is the sea beast. 21:45 Then the land beast rises and does everything to please 21:49 the sea beast. And then the harlot of Revelation chapter 17, 21:54 this apostate church, orchestrates everything 21:58 after the deadly wound is healed. 22:01 So even though Babylon is composed of three powers - 22:04 the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet - 22:06 the kings of the earth and apostate Protestantism 22:10 and the papacy, really the papacy - the harlot 22:15 or the sea beast - orchestrates everything 22:19 and uses the other two for her purposes. 22:23 Now you notice in the second angel's message 22:26 that the expression "is fallen, is fallen" 22:31 is repeated twice. 22:33 What does that mean? 22:35 It means that Babylon is REALLY fallen! 22:39 You see, the Bible says in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses 22:43 every word is confirmed. 22:45 Pharaoh received the same basic dream twice 22:49 so that it would be certain... so they could be certain 22:53 that what he had seen in his dream would take place. 22:57 And when Jesus said: "Verily, verily I say unto you... " 23:01 He was speaking about something very very solemn 23:04 that He wanted to emphasize. 23:06 So when Revelation says Babylon "is fallen, is fallen" 23:10 it means that Babylon is REALLY fallen. 23:14 Now the question is: why did Babylon fall? 23:18 Well, let's go back to Revelation 14:8. 23:22 It says: "And another angel followed saying: 23:25 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen: 23:28 that great city... ' And now notice the next words: 23:31 'because she has made all nations 23:35 drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. ' " 23:40 Why did Babylon fall? 23:44 Because she gave all nations what? 23:48 Her wine. 23:50 Is this talking about literal wine? 23:52 No... because it's not a literal harlot; 23:55 it's not literal Babylon; she doesn't sit on literal waters. 23:58 The wine must be symbolic of something. 24:01 Now the question is: what does the wine represent? 24:07 The wine represents her false doctrines. 24:11 Now we need to link the second angel's message 24:14 with the first. 24:16 You see, the first angel's message has pure grape juice. 24:23 But because Babylon rejected the first angel's message 24:28 she gives the nations fermented wine. 24:32 In other words, unfermented grape juice in the Bible 24:36 represents pure doctrine. 24:38 Fermented grape juice or wine 24:41 represents false doctrine. 24:44 Because Babylon rejects the first angel's message 24:47 Babylon falls. The proclamation is made 24:51 that Babylon fell under the 2nd angel's message. 24:55 Now what is the message of the first angel? 24:57 You've studied that here so far. 25:00 The everlasting gospel. 25:02 I'll synthesize it. 25:04 Jesus was sacrificed once for all. 25:08 He does not need to die again and again. 25:11 He was sacrificed once for all. 25:13 He is our ONLY and SUFFICIENT High Priest. 25:16 No human priest necessary. 25:19 And we are saved by HIS righteousness alone... 25:22 not by our works. 25:25 THAT is the everlasting gospel. 25:27 But then also we find other things in the 25:29 first angel's message. 25:31 We're told to fear God. 25:33 And fear God is linked quite frequently 25:38 in the Old Testament with keeping His commandments. 25:42 "Fear God and keep His commandments 25:44 for this is the whole duty of man. " 25:47 Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and verse 13. 25:50 The first angel also tells us to give glory to God... 25:53 not glory to man. 25:54 It means to reveal the character of God. 25:57 We also notice that the first angel's message tells us 26:00 that we are NOW in the hour of the judgment. 26:03 The judgment takes place before the second coming of Jesus 26:06 in heaven... which means that nobody went to heaven or to hell 26:09 when they died. Because if they did 26:12 why would you have a judgment beginning at a certain point 26:14 of time? That means that the dead are dead 26:17 until the resurrection. 26:19 And then the first angel's message calls upon us 26:23 to worship the Creator. And the sign of the Creator 26:26 is His holy Sabbath. 26:28 Why did Babylon fall? 26:30 Because Babylon rejects every aspect of the first angel's 26:34 message. Babylon rejected the pure grape juice 26:38 and preferred to give intoxicating wine 26:42 to the nations. 26:45 If she had accepted the first angel's message, 26:48 she would never have fallen. 26:50 She fell because she rejected the first angel's message 26:53 and in its place she became a spiritual wine factory. 26:59 She then gave her fermented wine to the inhabitants of the world 27:03 and they became spiritual alcoholics. 27:10 Now we still haven't answered from the Bible 27:13 what the wine represents. 27:15 We've said that the wine represents false doctrine. 27:17 First angel's message gives God's present truth 27:21 in the end time. It presents the grape juice 27:25 of God so to speak. It presents true doctrine. 27:28 Babylon falls because Babylon rejected 27:31 the first angel's message; it rejected true doctrine. 27:34 But the question is: does the Bible tell us 27:39 what the wine is specifically? What false doctrines 27:43 we're talking about that Babylon upholds? 27:47 The fact is that the Bible does give us a list 27:52 of things that characterize the doctrines of Babylon. 27:56 Now when I was preparing to do this presentation 28:01 several years ago I decided to look up wine 28:05 in the concordance. 28:07 And almost every single reference to wine 28:10 deals with drinking literal wine that makes people drunk. 28:14 You know, there is the exception of Jesus saying 28:17 you don't put new wine in old wine skins. 28:20 But it doesn't actually define there what the wine is. 28:24 So I kind of struggled with this when I read 28:26 Revelation chapter 17: "She gives wine to the nations. " 28:29 What exactly is the wine? 28:32 And then I found something which really gave me the key. 28:36 And that is that in Revelation chapter 17 28:41 and Revelation chapter 18 28:44 it says that she gives wine to the nations 28:47 and then she's spoken of as having a cup in her hand 28:51 full of her abominations. 28:55 So what is the wine? 28:57 The wine are Babylon's abominations. 29:00 So I said: "Well, instead of looking up the word wine 29:04 let's look up the word abominations. " 29:07 And when I looked up the word abominations 29:10 which is what is in the cup 29:12 "the wine is her abominations" 29:14 I discovered many interesting things. 29:18 First of all: making idols and bowing to them 29:23 is an abomination in the sight of God. 29:27 You know the fourth commandment so I won't read it. 29:30 But I want to read Deuteronomy 7:25-26 29:34 where clearly carving images and bowing before them 29:38 is spoken of as an abomination. 29:42 It says there: "You shall burn the carved images 29:46 of their gods with fire. 29:48 You shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them 29:52 nor take it for yourselves 29:54 lest you be ensnared by it 29:56 for it is an abomination to the Lord your God 30:00 nor shall you bring an abomination" - 30:03 that's an idol - "into your house lest you be doomed 30:07 to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it 30:11 and utterly abhor it for it is an accursed thing. " 30:16 So making idols and bowing before the idols 30:19 is a portion of Babylon's wine. 30:23 Deuteronomy 27:14-15. 30:26 Once again, idols are spoken of as an abomination. 30:30 It says: "And all the Levites shall speak with a loud voice 30:35 and say to all the men of Israel: 30:37 'Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image... 30:41 an abomination to the Lord. 30:43 And the works of the hands of the craftsman 30:46 and sets it up in secret. And all the people shall answer 30:50 and say Amen. ' " 30:52 So the first aspect of the wine of Babylon 30:55 or the abominations that are in the cup of Babylon 30:58 is making idols and bowing before them. 31:03 The second thing that is defined as an abomination 31:07 is practicing occultic things. 31:12 Deuteronomy chapter 18:9-12 31:16 describes delving into the occult as an abomination. 31:20 And by the way, do you know what is at the very foundation 31:23 of the occult? The idea that the dead are not dead. 31:27 The immortality of the soul is at the root. 31:31 Now notice Deuteronomy 18:9-12. 31:34 God is telling Israel: "When you come into the land 31:37 which the Lord your God is giving you 31:39 you shall not learn to follow the abominations 31:42 of those nations. There shall not be found among you 31:46 anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire 31:49 or one who practices witchcraft 31:51 or a soothsayer or one who interprets omens 31:54 or a sorcerer or one who conjures spells 31:57 or a medium or a spiritist 32:00 or one who calls up the dead. 32:02 For all who do these things are an abomination 32:06 to the Lord, and because of these abominations 32:09 the Lord your God drives them out from before you. " 32:14 So Babylon must be characterized by the idea 32:18 that you can speak with the dead 32:21 and perhaps you can pray to the dead 32:24 and perhaps you can pray FOR the dead. 32:28 The practice of the occult. 32:30 Another thing that is defined as abomination... 32:34 Remember that the cup has the wine, 32:36 and the wine are the abominations... 32:39 is the idea that you don't have to pay attention to God's law. 32:44 Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 9- 32:47 a very well-known verse - 32:48 tells us: "One who turns away his ear 32:52 from hearing the law even his prayer is an abomination. " 32:57 So to get rid of God's law 32:59 or to demean God's law is an abomination. 33:03 The other side is also an abomination: 33:06 the idea that you can be saved by keeping the law. 33:11 Notice Luke chapter 16 and verse 15. 33:14 Luke chapter 16 and verse 15. 33:16 "And He said to them... " He's speaking to the Pharisees 33:20 who believed that their works could save them... 33:23 "You are those who justify yourselves before men 33:27 but God knows your hearts. 33:29 For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination 33:34 in the sight of God. " 33:36 So the idea that you can be saved by your works 33:38 or the idea that you can be saved in your sins 33:41 is an abomination in the sight of God. 33:44 Ellen White wrote these following interesting words 33:47 about the papacy. 33:50 "A prayerful study of the Bible 33:52 would show Protestants the real character of the papacy 33:57 and would cause them to abhor and shun it. 34:01 But many are so wise in their own conceit 34:05 that they feel no need of humbly seeking God 34:08 that they may be led into the truth. 34:11 Although priding themselves on their enlightenment 34:14 they are ignorant both of the scriptures and of the power 34:17 of God. They must have some means 34:20 of quieting their consciences 34:22 and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. 34:27 What they desire is a method of forgetting God 34:30 that shall pass as a method of remembering Him. 34:34 The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. 34:38 It is prepared for two classes of mankind 34:42 embracing nearly the whole world: 34:44 those who would be saved by their merits 34:48 and those who would be saved in their sins. 34:51 Here is the secret of its power. " 34:55 Quite a statement, isn't it? 34:57 Another thing that is an abomination 35:00 is spiritual adultery. 35:04 God told Israel about blending with other nations. 35:08 In Jeremiah chapter 13:26-27 35:13 God told Israel: "Because you have committed fornication 35:16 with the other nations, this is what I'm going to do to you. " 35:19 And I read: 35:20 "Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face 35:23 that your shame may appear. 35:26 I have seen your adulteries 35:28 and your lustful neighing, 35:30 the lewdness of your harlotry, 35:32 your abominations on the hills in the fields. 35:36 Woe to you, O Jerusalem! 35:38 Will you still not be made clean? " 35:41 So fornication... Let me ask you: does the harlot fornicate? 35:46 Does the harlot believe that you can pray to 35:49 the dead saints and pray for people who have passed away? 35:53 Yes... absolutely! 35:55 Does the Roman Catholic papacy craft idols 35:59 and have people bow before the idols? 36:02 Absolutely! 36:03 Another thing that is the wine... a part of the wine... 36:07 is shedding innocent blood. 36:10 Ezekiel chapter 22 and verse 2 36:13 says: "Moreover the Word of the Lord came to me saying: 36:16 'Now son of man, will you judge... 36:19 will you judge the bloody city? 36:22 Yes. Show her all her abominations. ' " 36:26 And in Proverbs chapter 17 and verse 15 36:29 we are told: "He who justifies the wicked 36:33 and he who condemns the just... " 36:35 like the papacy did during the period of its dominion, 36:38 during the 1,260 years... 36:40 "both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. " 36:46 In Proverbs chapter 6 and verses 16 through 19 36:50 we find these words: 36:51 "These six things the Lord hates, 36:54 yes... seven are an abomination to Him. 36:57 a proud look, a lying tongue, 37:00 hands that shed innocent blood. " 37:05 Does the harlot shed the blood of the saints and the martyrs 37:09 of Jesus? Yes! 37:11 Another thing which the Bible calls abomination 37:14 is homosexuality. Yes! Hmmm... interesting. 37:20 Leviticus 18:2 says: 37:23 "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. 37:26 It is an abomination. " 37:30 Has the papacy had serious problems with the issue of 37:33 homosexuality? Absolutely! 37:36 But the greatest abomination of all 37:39 in antiquity was sun worship. 37:43 The Roman Catholic church is obsessed with the sun. 37:47 I visited the Vatican Museum. 37:50 There are sunbursts everywhere! 37:54 One of the reasons why the papacy adopted Sunday, 37:57 they themselves say so, is that they wanted to reach 38:01 the pagans who observed Sunday, the day of the sun. 38:04 In the Old Testament we find that worshiping the sun 38:08 in the sight of God was the worst of all abominations. 38:11 Notice Ezekiel chapter 8 and verse 16 and 17. 38:16 Ezekiel 8:16-17. 38:20 This is something that is happening among God's 38:23 professed people. It says: "So he brought me into the inner 38:26 court of the Lord's house. And there at the door of the 38:29 temple of the Lord between the porch and the altar 38:32 were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple 38:36 of the Lord and their faces towards the east 38:38 and they were worshiping the sun toward the east. 38:42 And he said to me: 'Have you seen this, O son of man? 38:46 Is it a trivial thing to the house of Jacob... 38:49 Judah to commit these abominations 38:53 which they commit here? 38:55 For they have filled the land with violence 38:58 then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. 39:00 Indeed, they have put the branch to their nose. ' " 39:04 So notice: sun worship 39:07 is the greatest abomination in Ezekiel chapter 8. 39:11 And if you read the chapter you'll find that 39:13 God shows Ezekiel an abomination and He says: "You haven't 39:16 seen anything yet. I'm going to show you one 39:18 that's worse than that. " And the worship of the sun 39:21 is at the very top of the list. 39:25 Now you say: "Now wait a minute. The papacy doesn't 39:27 worship the sun. " True. 39:32 But in principle, worshiping the sun 39:36 and worshiping on the day of the sun 39:39 is the same principle. 39:41 You say: "How is that? " 39:42 Let me ask you: who created the sun? 39:45 God. Did He create it for worship? 39:48 No. So what happens if you make it an object of worship? 39:52 It's called idolatry. 39:54 Let me ask you: who created the first day of the week? 39:58 God created the first day of the week. 40:00 Did He create the first day of the week for worship? 40:03 No! So what happens if you make it a day of worship? 40:07 It's idolatry. 40:08 It doesn't matter if it's an object or if it's a day. 40:11 Whatever man makes for worship IS idolatry. 40:17 Allow me to read you a statement from Great Controversy page 389. 40:21 "When faithful teachers expound the Word of God 40:24 there arise men of learning, ministers professing to 40:29 understand the Scriptures who denounce sound doctrine 40:33 as heresy and thus turn away inquirers 40:38 after truth. Were it not that the world is hopelessly 40:42 intoxicated with the wine of Babylon 40:45 multitudes would be convicted and converted 40:48 by the plain, cutting truths of the Word of God. 40:51 However, religious faith appears so confused 40:56 and discordant that the people know not what to believe 41:01 as truth. The sin of the world's impenitence 41:04 lies at the door of the church. " 41:09 Are you catching the picture? Yes! 41:13 But when we go back to Ezekiel we discover that there was 41:15 a faithful remnant that did not practice the abominations 41:19 that were being performed. 41:21 Notice what we find in Ezekiel chapter 9 and verse 4. 41:26 "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of 41:29 Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads... " 41:32 Does that sound familiar? 41:34 In Revelation we have a mark that's placed on the forehead. 41:37 They must be the ones who sigh and cry because of the 41:39 abominations that are being committed by the harlot 41:42 and her cohorts. 41:44 So it says: "Go through the midst of the city, 41:45 through the midst of Jerusalem, 41:47 and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry 41:53 over all the abominations that are done within it. " 41:56 God will have a small remnant that sighs and cries 42:00 because of the abominations that are being committed by Babylon. 42:05 Now there's another interesting detail in the second angel's 42:08 message. And that is that when the nations drink the wine 42:12 they get angry. 42:15 Because it's called the "wine of the wrath of her fornication. " 42:20 Notice Jeremiah chapter 51 and verse 7. 42:24 Jeremiah chapter 51 and verse 7. 42:27 "Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand 42:33 that made all the earth drunk. 42:36 The nations drank her wine; 42:39 therefore, the nations are deranged. " 42:45 Now who is Babylon angry at? 42:49 Babylon will be angry at those who don't drink the wine. 42:54 I want to read you a statement from Testimonies to Ministers 42:57 pages 61 and 62. 43:00 "The fallen denominational churches are Babylon. 43:04 Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines... 43:08 the wine of error. 43:10 This wine of error is made up of false doctrines 43:14 such as the natural immortality of the soul, 43:19 the eternal torment of the wicked, 43:21 the denial of the pre-existence of Christ prior to His birth 43:25 in Bethlehem, and advocating and exalting 43:28 the first day of the week above God's holy and sanctified 43:32 day. " Amen! "These and kindred errors 43:35 are presented to the world by the various churches 43:39 and thus the scriptures are fulfilled that say 43:42 'For all nations have drunk of the wine 43:45 of the wrath of her fornication. ' " 43:47 It is a wrath which is created by false doctrines. 43:51 And when kings and presidents drink this wine of the wrath of 43:56 her fornication they are stirred with anger 43:59 against those who will not come into harmony 44:02 with the false and Satanic heresies 44:05 which exalt the false Sabbath and lead men to trample 44:08 underfoot God's memorial. " 44:11 Amen! That's right. That's why it's the wine of the wrath. 44:14 The world drinks the wine of false doctrines. 44:19 Now the harlot and her daughters, then, 44:22 have made the multitudes alcoholics 44:26 and they are so addicted and intoxicated 44:30 that it is virtually impossible for them to think rationally 44:34 and to grasp theological truth. 44:37 The harlot's spiritual alcohol controls them. 44:41 It is impossible to reason with a drunkard. That's right! 44:45 Drunkards are quite sure that they know everything 44:48 and will argue with you until they are blue in the face. 44:53 Some people say: "It doesn't matter what you believe. " 44:55 "Doctrine's not important. " 44:57 Let me read you a statement from Counsels to Writers and Editors 45:01 page 47. "Error is never harmless. 45:04 It never sanctifies but always brings confusion. " 45:08 That's the meaning of Babylon. 45:09 "brings confusion and dissention. 45:12 It is always dangerous. 45:14 The enemy has great power over minds 45:17 that are not thoroughly fortified by prayer 45:19 and established in Bible truth. " 45:22 Amen! So this is the second angel's message. 45:27 However, the second angel's message, 45:31 right before the plagues are poured out, 45:33 is going to be proclaimed again with greater power 45:38 globally. 45:40 Let's go to Revelation 18 verses 1 through 4. 45:44 Revelation 18:1-4. 45:47 See, this message is going to be proclaimed to the world again. 45:50 And the purpose is to tell them: "The plagues are about to fall! 45:54 You'd better get out of Babylon 45:56 because the plagues are for Babylon. 45:57 If you don't come out, 45:59 the plagues are going to fall on you. " 46:01 It says there: "After these things 46:03 I saw another angel coming down from heaven 46:07 having... " Now notice the terminology. 46:09 "having great authority 46:11 and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 46:15 And he cried mightily with a loud voice. " 46:19 I think somehow that the writer wants us to know 46:23 that this is a powerful message. 46:25 Notice: "cried mightily with a loud voice 46:30 saying: 'Babylon the great is fallen, 46:33 is fallen. ' " And now notice what is added. 46:37 Notice the condition that Babylon will be in 46:40 at the end of time. 46:41 "and has become the dwelling place of demons, 46:45 a prison for every foul spirit, 46:47 and a cage for every unclean and hated bird. 46:51 For all nations 46:54 have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 46:57 The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her 47:00 and the merchants of the earth have become rich 47:03 through the abundance of her luxury. " 47:07 Is this an intensification of the condition of Babylon 47:10 at the end time? You'd better believe it. 47:12 It's a message proclaimed with much more power! 47:16 Notice the terminology. 47:18 "Great authority. " 47:19 "The whole earth filled with his glory. " 47:21 "Cries out mightily with a loud voice 47:25 that Babylon has fallen. " 47:27 And this is immediately before the seven last plagues 47:30 are poured out. By the way, that means 47:32 that this message is going to be proclaimed to people 47:36 who will be alive when the plagues are falling. 47:39 Because if they were not going to be alive 47:42 God would not warn them about the condition of Babylon. 47:46 Now... the key verse is verse 4. 47:50 How many people would want to stay in Babylon 47:53 in the light of what I've read? 47:56 I don't think anybody would want to stay in Babylon. 47:58 And so in verse 4 God makes a call. 48:03 "And I heard another voice from heaven saying: 48:06 'Come out of her My people 48:09 lest you share in her sins 48:12 and lest you receive... " What? "her plagues. " 48:18 Who are the plagues for? 48:20 Babylon. 48:22 So whoever stays in Babylon will suffer what? 48:26 The plagues! So what do you have to do? 48:29 Get out! 48:31 Very simple. 48:34 Are there God's true people in all of these churches? 48:37 Yes! Oh... most of God's people 48:40 are in these apostate churches 48:42 that teach these things that I've mentioned and other things. 48:46 But God is calling them to study their Bibles 48:50 and to come out. 48:51 Now before we bring this to an end 48:54 I would like to read Proverbs chapter 31 48:58 and verses 4 and 5. 49:01 This is speaking about literal wine, but it also applies 49:04 spiritually. 49:06 You know, the harlot gives her wine to the kings of the earth. 49:10 What happens when the kings of the earth drink the wine? 49:14 Notice what the wise man - Solomon - had to say. 49:17 By the way, this is the voice of experience. 49:21 He stated: "It is not for kings - O Lemuel - 49:26 it is not for kings to drink wine 49:30 nor for princes intoxicating drink. " 49:34 This is a warning to the politi- cal leaders of the world. 49:37 Don't drink the harlot's wine. Isn't it? 49:43 Why? "lest they drink and... " What? 49:48 "and forget the law 49:50 and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. " 49:55 Isn't that a significant couple of verses 49:58 in the light of what we've been studying? 50:01 Now I want to end by referring to two Biblical stories. 50:04 The story of Nadab and Abihu. 50:07 Very interesting. 50:10 God had told Nadab and Abihu and the priests 50:13 to offer holy fire: 50:16 the fire that He rained down on the altar. 50:19 Other fires might look like it; 50:21 other fires might burn your finger like it; 50:24 other fires might have the same chemical composition; 50:27 but God said: "The fire on this altar 50:30 is holy fire. When you go into the sanctuary 50:32 offer only the holy fire. " 50:35 As you know, Nadab and Abihu offered common fire 50:41 as if it were holy. 50:43 Why did they do that? 50:45 Leviticus 10:8-11 tells us. 50:48 "Then the Lord spoke to Aaron saying: 50:51 do not drink wine or intoxicating drink 50:54 you nor your sons with you 50:56 when you go into the taber- nacle of meeting lest you die. 51:00 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. " 51:03 And now notice why they were not to drink wine. 51:06 "That you may distinguish between holy and unholy 51:10 and between unclean and clean. 51:14 And that you may teach the children of Israel 51:18 all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them 51:21 by the hand of Moses. " 51:23 Wow! So what condition were Nadab and Abihu in 51:28 when they went to serve in the sanctuary? 51:31 They were intoxicated. 51:33 Therefore they were not able to teach the statutes of God 51:37 to Israel and they were not able to distinguish between 51:40 the holy and the common. 51:43 They offered the common as if it was holy. 51:48 We have another story in the Bible that illustrates 51:51 the other side of the coin. 51:53 We're talking about Belshazzar 51:57 the night that Babylon fell. 51:59 Let's read Daniel chapter 5 and verses 1 through 4. 52:03 "Belshazzar the king made a great feast for 1,000 of his 52:06 lords and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 52:10 While he tasted the wine... " 52:12 Notice... "While he tasted the wine 52:15 Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver 52:18 vessels that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken 52:20 from the temple that had been in Jerusalem. " 52:24 Were those holy vessels? 52:26 Yes. Well... how is he going to treat them now? 52:28 He's going to treat them in a common way. 52:30 He's taking what is holy and treating it as if it's common. " 52:34 So it continues saying here: 52:36 "While he tasted the wine Belshazzar gave the command 52:39 to bring the gold and silver vessels that his father 52:41 Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple 52:43 that had been in Jerusalem 52:44 that the kings and his lords, his wives, his concubines 52:47 might drink from them. 52:49 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from 52:52 the temple of the house of God 52:54 that had been in Jerusalem 52:57 and the king and his lords, his wives, 53:00 and his concubines drank from them. " 53:02 And now notice what the next verse says: 53:05 "They drank wine... " And now they fall into idolatry... 53:08 "they praised the gods of gold and silver, 53:12 bronze, iron, wood, and stone. " 53:16 Drinking the wine leads to false worship 53:22 and idolatry. 53:24 That's what Revelation is telling us. 53:27 Now let's apply this to what's going to happen in the end time. 53:31 Has God clearly revealed what His holy day of worship is? 53:37 Yes! Is it ambiguous? 53:39 No! He sanctified the seventh day. 53:45 But what does the Christian world do? 53:48 The Christian world takes a holy day 53:51 and treats it as if it were common 53:55 and takes a common day 53:57 and treats it as if it was holy. 54:01 If God accepts this, 54:04 He's going to have to apologize to Nadab and Abihu 54:07 and to Belshazzar. 54:10 When God says that the Sabbath is holy 54:13 He means the Sabbath is holy. 54:15 Man cannot make another day holy. 54:19 God is serious. 54:22 Allow me to read you this closing statement 54:24 from the Spirit of Prophecy. 54:26 Speaking about Nadab and Abihu: 54:29 "But this day... " that is, Sunday... 54:31 "so universally exalted 54:34 is a spurious Sabbath... a common working day. 54:39 It is accepted in the place of the day that the Lord 54:43 has blessed and sanctified. 54:45 But... " Notice: "But 54:48 the sure result of this course 54:51 may be seen in the punishment that fell 54:53 upon Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. 54:56 As priests of God 54:59 these men had been commanded to offer always the fire 55:03 of God's own kindling 55:04 which was kept burning before God day and night. 55:09 This was ever to be strictly observed. " 55:13 And now notice this: 55:15 "But Nadab and Abihu drank wine too freely. 55:20 And because of this their minds were not keen 55:24 but confused, and they were unable to distinguish 55:28 between the sacred and the common. " 55:32 Are you seeing the importance of what we've discussed? 55:37 You see, the wine of Babylon makes the nations drunk. 55:42 You can't reasonably... You read all of the verses 55:45 in the Bible and they still say: "I don't get it. " 55:49 "I don't understand; it's not clear. " 55:52 Why? It's like trying to give a drunk 55:56 a Bible study. 55:58 How many of you have ever tried to give a drunk 56:00 a Bible study? I mean, it's a lost cause 56:04 because their mind, their brain, is under the influence! 56:08 And what applies physically also applies spiritually. 56:13 So the book of Revelation tells us 56:16 that in the end time 56:18 practically the entire world 56:21 along with the kings of the earth 56:23 are going to imbibe the wine of this harlot. 56:28 And as a result they will be enraged 56:31 at those who are not willing to drink the wine. 56:36 And this will lead to the final crisis: 56:39 not being able to buy and sell. 56:41 A death decree against God's people believe it or not. 56:44 Just like happened during the 1,260 years. 56:47 And then the world will see 56:50 who is who. Who truly serves God 56:54 even being willing to give up a life to be loyal to God 56:58 and who serves God so to speak 57:02 only for the loaves and the fishes 57:05 in the good times... in times of prosperity. 57:09 May the Lord help us to drink the pure grape juice 57:13 of the first angel's message 57:15 and not to drink the wine of Babylon 57:19 so that we can be among that group 57:21 that sigh and cry over the abominations 57:24 that are done in the earth. 57:26 Father in heaven, thank you for having been with us. 57:29 I ask that you will take what we've studied, 57:31 write it in our minds and hearts. 57:33 We pray in Jesus' name, Amen. |
Revised 2018-08-14