Participants:
Series Code: SCM
Program Code: SCM180019A
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00:41 Welcome to the 3ABN Spring Camp Meeting:
00:44 The Three Angels' Messages. 00:49 Hello and welcome to Spring Camp Meeting. 00:51 Have you all been blessed this Sabbath? 00:53 Amen! Have you enjoyed the food? 00:55 Yes! I'm talking the physical food, right? 00:57 That was good, and we're being fed spiritually as well. 01:00 We want to thank you for joining us via 3ABN Radio, 01:03 on the television. If you're driving in your car, 01:06 we hope you're not looking at your cellphone 01:07 and trying to drive at the same time. 01:09 We know we have lots of people that are contacting 3ABN 01:13 because they're watching via the Internet, 01:15 on their cellphones, their iPads. 01:17 It's neat to think about, isn't it? 01:19 For those of you that are here for the first time 01:21 that in the middle of these cornfields that the signal is 01:23 reaching around the world. It's a miracle of God, isn't it? 01:26 Amen! You know the thing is we're hearing tremendous 01:28 messages, aren't we? I mean just... they're 01:30 blessing my heart I know and I'm sure yours at home, too. 01:33 Well, you know, there's some- thing dangerous with just saying 01:35 "Wow, that was another great sermon! " 01:36 We need to be willing to go home and share that, 01:38 don't we? I'm reminded of Romans chapter 1 verse 16 01:43 where it says: "I am not... " What? "ashamed 01:46 of the gospel of Jesus Christ 01:49 for it is the power of God unto... " What? 01:52 "salvation. " So we need to share that, don't we, 01:54 with others. You know, not only is the Word doing something 01:57 in our own lives. We want to make sure we share it 01:59 with others. We want to be that light that God asks us to be 02:02 and be an influence for Him, that's for sure. 02:05 This afternoon we have Pastor Stephen Bohr. 02:07 Well familiar with him, aren't you? 02:09 3ABN is blessed to count him as a great friend 02:12 of the ministry. Secrets Unsealed has been in existence 02:15 for fifteen years. Hard to believe, isn't it? 02:18 God has blessed them with a 12,000 sq. ft. building. 02:21 He was telling me that they also have a HD 02:24 production van now that God has blessed them with 02:26 as well. So the ministry is continuing to grow. 02:29 And he appreciates each one of you for your support 02:31 of his ministry. And I know that God is using him 02:33 in a powerful way. So we're going to hear from him 02:35 in just a couple of minutes. 02:37 But before that we have our own Pastor John Lomacang. 02:39 He is the pastor of the Thompsonville SDA church 02:42 and we appreciate he and his wife Angie. 02:44 And he's going to be bringing the special music to us today, 02:47 he and Tim Parton. And it's entitled 02:49 What a Friend We Have in Jesus. 03:02 What a Friend we have 03:07 in Jesus, 03:11 All our sins and griefs 03:17 to bear! 03:20 What a privilege 03:26 to carry 03:31 everything 03:35 to God in prayer! 03:41 Have we trials 03:46 and temptations? 03:52 Is there trouble 03:56 anywhere? 04:01 You should never be 04:06 discouraged 04:10 when you take it... 04:12 take it to the Lord 04:16 in prayer. 04:20 For O, what peace 04:24 we often forfeit 04:29 and O, 04:33 what needless pain we bear, 04:39 all because we do not 04:45 carry 04:50 everything 04:54 to God in prayer! 05:02 Are we weak 05:07 and heavy laden? 05:12 Are we cumbered with 05:16 a load of care? 05:22 Precious Savior, 05:25 still our refuge... 05:32 Take it 05:36 to the Lord 05:39 in prayer... 05:45 Take 05:46 it to the Lord in 05:53 prayer. 06:14 Greetings. Greetings! 06:17 It's a real blessing to be here at 3ABN. 06:21 You know, the supporting ministries of the church 06:25 are a blessing to the church 06:27 mainly because they uphold the traditional 06:33 Biblical message of the SDA church. 06:36 And it's been a real privilege working with 3ABN 06:40 the 15 years that Secrets Unsealed has been in existence. 06:46 This is a ministry that is really worthwhile investing in. 06:50 I'm talking about 3ABN 06:54 basically taking the 3 angels' message to the entire world. 06:59 You know, used to be you would have to knock on doors. 07:02 We still have to knock on doors but now you can get into 07:06 people's houses without going through the door... 07:09 and that's a real blessing. 07:11 I invite you to bow your heads with me as we pray. 07:14 Our Father and our God, we thank you for the privilege 07:17 of being at this high-mountain experience. 07:21 Thank you for the privilege of knowing present truth. 07:28 We ask, Lord, that You will help us not only to know it 07:31 but to live it. 07:33 As we open Your Word we ask for the presence 07:36 of Your Holy Spirit. 07:38 Open our minds that we might understand; 07:40 our hearts that we might receive. 07:43 Empower us to proclaim it. 07:45 We thank you for hearing and answering our prayer 07:49 for we ask it in the precious name of Jesus, 07:52 Amen. Amen! 07:56 I've been asked 07:59 to do an awesome and impossible task, 08:05 and that is to bring all of the pieces 08:08 together into a significant whole. 08:15 The speakers up to this point 08:17 have taken portions of the three angels' messages. 08:20 And I am going to do my best 08:24 through the power of God 08:26 to bring all of those pieces together into a mosaic. 08:31 Try to put all of the pieces together 08:33 so that you can see the finished puzzle if you please. 08:38 Now let me tell you what we're going to do this afternoon. 08:42 And probably when I tell you this you're going to say 08:45 "That is an impossible task. " 08:48 But really I believe that we'll be able to finish 08:51 within the time constraints. 08:54 In order to understand the three angels' messages 08:58 we need to understand the context in which they are found. 09:03 In other words, what comes before and what comes after 09:07 the three angels' messages. 09:10 So what we are going to attempt to do 09:12 in our study this afternoon 09:14 is first of all review the prophetic chain 09:19 of Daniel 7. 09:22 Then we will move to Revelation 13:1-10 09:27 which is basically a repetition and expansion 09:32 of Daniel 7. 09:34 Then we will move to Revelation 13:11-18: 09:41 the beast that rises from the earth. 09:45 Then we will take a look at Revelation 14:1-5: 09:50 the 144,00 standing victorious upon Mount Zion. 09:55 Then we will take a look at the harvest scene. 09:59 After studying the three angels' messages we will look at the 10:02 harvest scene that Jay Gallimore so eloquently 10:07 spoke about. And then finally we will end 10:10 after the harvest scene 10:14 once again with the 144,000 10:18 standing victorious on Mount Zion. 10:21 So you say: "Yeah... right... 10:24 we're going to study all of that. " 10:27 Well, we're only going to briefly review 10:30 the literary structure of what I have mentioned. 10:35 So let's begin with Daniel chapter 7. 10:39 This will be review. I'm sure that most if not all of you 10:42 have studied Daniel 7. 10:45 This will just be a review. 10:47 Daniel 7: first we have a lion. 10:50 What kingdom does the lion represent? 10:53 Babylon. Babylon. 10:55 Ruled from 605 to 539 BC. 10:59 Next we have a bear. What does the bear represent? 11:02 Medo-Persia. Medo-Persia. 11:04 539 to 331 BC. 11:08 Then we have a leopard beast that represents? 11:11 Greece. Greece. 11:13 Greece ruled from 331 to 168 BC. 11:18 Then we have a dragon beast, 11:20 the fourth, called the non-descript beast. 11:24 And that beast represents? Rome. The Roman Empire. 11:29 But then after a while the fourth beast sprouts ten horns. 11:35 See, when the dragon beast first comes up 11:37 it does not have the ten horns. 11:40 For a while the dragon beast exists by itself. 11:43 Then a little later on in its history 11:46 it sprouts ten horns. 11:48 And of course, what do the ten horns represent? 11:51 They represent the divisions of the Roman Empire 11:55 which were complete in the year 476 AD. 12:01 And then a little horn rises among the ten. 12:04 It uproots three. 12:07 You see, the little horn cannot rise to absolute power 12:10 until it uproots the three rivals. 12:13 And the three rivals were uprooted after the year 12:17 476 AD. The Heruli in 493 AD, 12:22 the Vandals in 534 AD, 12:24 and the Ostrogoths in 538 AD. 12:27 When the little horn had uprooted the last three rivals 12:30 it could now rule for 12:34 1,260 years 12:38 from 538 AD to 1798 AD. 12:43 So we've moved in Daniel 7 12:45 from Babylon all the way to the year 1798 AD 12:51 without any parentheses, without any interruptions, 12:55 without any gaps. 12:57 One event after the other: 13:00 this is God's great prophetic chain. 13:04 Now Revelation chapter 13 verses 1 through 10 13:10 amplifies and repeats what we studied from Daniel 7. 13:16 Go in your Bibles with me to Revelation 13 13:19 and we'll notice a few things about verses 1 through 10. 13:25 Now I want to say that the beast of Revelation 13:1-10 13:30 is the same as the little horn of Daniel 7. 13:33 It represents the papacy. 13:35 You say: "How do we know that? " 13:38 For three reasons. 13:40 Number one: both are in the same location 13:44 of the prophetic chain. 13:46 You see, let's go to Revelation chapter 13 13:49 and verses 1 and 2. 13:52 It says there: "Then I stood on the sand of the sea 13:55 and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea 13:58 having seven heads and ten horns 14:01 and on his horns ten crowns 14:03 and on its head a blasphemous name. " 14:06 Now notice the connection with Daniel 7. 14:08 "Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard. 14:11 His feet were like the feet of a bear 14:14 and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. 14:17 The dragon... " which has ten horns according to the previous 14:20 chapter... "the dragon gave him his power, his throne, 14:24 and great authority. " 14:26 Do we have the same beast that we found in Daniel 7? 14:29 Is there a lion? Yes. Is there a bear? Yes. 14:34 Is there a leopard? Yes. Is there a dragon beast? Yes. 14:38 And the dragon beast has what? Ten horns. 14:40 And then the dragon beast with the ten horns 14:43 gives its power, its seat, and its authority 14:46 to the beast from the sea. 14:48 So in Daniel 7 you have lion, bear, leopard, dragon beast, 14:53 ten horns, little horn. 14:55 And in Revelation chapter 13 14:57 you have lion, bear, leopard, dragon beast, 15:00 ten horns, beast. 15:02 So in other words, the little horn and the beast 15:04 are in the same place of the prophetic sequence. 15:08 That's the first reason we know that the beast 15:10 is the same as the little horn. 15:12 The second reason is that the little horn and the beast 15:15 perform the same actions. 15:17 See the little horn speaks great words against the Most High; 15:20 the beast speaks blasphemies against the Most High. 15:23 In Daniel chapter 7 the beast... the little horn 15:27 persecutes the saints of the Most High. 15:29 In Revelation chapter 13 the beast persecutes the saints 15:33 of the Most High. 15:34 So the little horn and the beast perform the same actions. 15:38 And the third reason is that they govern for the same period. 15:43 In Daniel chapter 7 its time, times, and the dividing of time. 15:48 Three and a half prophetic years 15:49 that represent 1,260 days 15:52 but days are years. 15:54 In Revelation chapter 13 it's 42 months. 15:56 42 months times 30 days each month 15:59 1,260 days 16:02 which is equivalent to 1,260 years. 16:08 So basically the little horn 16:10 and the beast represent the Roman Catholic papacy. 16:16 But Revelation 13 expands on Daniel 7. 16:20 Revelation 13 gives us some details 16:23 that we do not find in Daniel 7. 16:25 Three of them, specifically. 16:27 Number one: the little horn at the end of its dominion 16:32 received a deadly wound with the sword. 16:37 That's the weapon of choice 16:40 that gave the papacy its deadly wound. 16:43 And the sword - if you read Romans chapter 13 and verse 4- 16:46 represents what the civil power has to punish 16:51 violations of civil law. 16:53 You see, the state has a sword and the church has a sword. 16:57 The sword of the church is the Word of God. 16:59 The sword of the state is what the state uses 17:02 to punish violations of civil law or of the civil code. 17:07 And so in Revelation chapter 13 17:09 we are told that the reason why the little horn 17:13 lost its power is because it received a deadly wound 17:16 with the sword. That's the first expansion 17:19 in Revelation 13. 17:21 The second expansion is that we are told 17:24 that the deadly wound would be healed. 17:29 Daniel 7 does not clearly have that. 17:31 It is implicit because the little horn 17:34 is going to be destroyed when Jesus comes. 17:36 But it's implicit... it's not explicit. 17:39 But in Revelation 13:3 it clearly says 17:43 that the beast would have its wound healed. 17:48 And then Revelation chapter 13- 17:51 and this is verses 11 to 18- 17:53 tells us how and by whom 17:57 the deadly wound would be healed. 18:00 Daniel 7 does not have that. Only in Revelation 13. 18:05 See, Revelation is an expansion of Daniel. 18:09 Now we need to go to Revelation 13 verses 11-18. 18:14 We're doing pretty well, aren't we? 18:16 See, I told you we were going to get through this. 18:19 Now so far so good? OK! 18:22 All right. Revelation 13:11-18. 18:25 This is describing another beast that rises from the earth 18:30 right around the same time that the first beast receives 18:33 its deadly wound. 18:35 What date would that be? 18:37 Somewhere around the year 1798 AD another beast rises. 18:43 See, it's a prophetic chain. 18:44 Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, the Roman Empire, 18:47 Roman Empire is divided, little horn uproots three. 18:50 Then you have the little horn ruling 1,260 years. 18:53 Then you have... When the beast receives a deadly wound 18:57 you have another beast rising at the same time 18:59 without any gaps, without any interruption. 19:02 And this beast clearly when we examine history 19:07 and prophecy represents the United States of America. 19:11 We don't have time to get into all of the details 19:14 but this beast has two horns like a lamb. 19:19 Those two horns represent the two founding principles 19:22 of the United States: Republicanism and Protestantism. 19:26 Has nothing to do with the Republican party. 19:29 Republicanism means a republic... 19:32 a style of government that is a republic. 19:35 And basically the idea is 19:37 Republicanism and Protestantism simply means 19:40 separation of church and state. 19:43 Civil and religious liberty. 19:46 Those are the secret to the power and prosperity 19:51 of the United States of America 19:53 according to the book Great Controversy. 19:56 But we are told in this prophecy in Revelation chapter 13 20:00 that this beast that rises from the earth 20:03 that at least at its beginning 20:06 upholds the principle of separation of church and state, 20:09 of civil and religious liberty, 20:12 of Republicanism and Protestantism, 20:14 will end up speaking like a dragon. 20:19 And here is the key point: 20:21 everything that this beast from the earth does 20:25 it does to please the beast that rose from the sea. 20:30 In other words, this beast is going to heal the wound 20:33 of the first beast. 20:35 It is going to return the sword of civil power 20:39 to the first beast. 20:40 And you say: "How do we know that? " 20:42 Several reasons in verses 11 to 18. 20:45 We can't read those verses because we don't have the time 20:48 but I'll just mention the verses and you can write them down. 20:53 We are told in verse 12 that this beast from the earth 20:57 exercises all of the authority of the first beast. 21:02 It commands everyone to worship the first beast. 21:07 Everything it does it does in the presence 21:11 of the first beast. 21:13 And by the way, that expression "in the presence" 21:15 is translated more properly - for example in the NIV - 21:19 "on behalf of the first beast. " 21:22 Or as another version has it: 21:24 "it worked for the first beast. " 21:26 And the Lexicon dictionaries tell us that it means 21:29 "at the commissioning of the first beast. " 21:33 We're also told that this beast from the earth 21:36 makes an image of the first beast. 21:40 But not only OF the first beast 21:42 it makes an image TO the first beast 21:45 which means "in honor of the first beast. " 21:48 And this beast enforces the mark of the first beast. 21:52 Somehow I think that this beast - its role - is to return 21:56 the power that the sea beast lost. 21:59 It is going to act on behalf of the first beast. 22:02 The United States of America is going to ally with the papacy. 22:06 It is going to return to it the sword of civil power 22:09 and then persecution will come like it existed during 22:13 the 1,260 years of papal oppression. 22:19 Now when Revelation 13 ends you're left with a question 22:25 because Revelation 13:11-18 22:27 tells us that, you know, all the world will be commanded to 22:32 worship the first beast. 22:34 Everyone will follow the first beast. 22:38 The mark of the beast... practically everybody 22:40 will receive the mark of the beast. So when chapter 13 ends 22:43 you're left with the question: 22:45 "Wasn't there anybody who resisted this power? " 22:51 This is where you go to chapter 14:1-5. 22:55 See, verses 1 through 5 should be the climax to chapter 13. 23:01 In some places in Revelation 23:03 the chapter division is in the wrong place. 23:06 Revelation 14:1-5 is the climax of chapter 13. 23:11 Chapter 13 speaks about not being able to buy or sell. 23:13 It speaks about a death decree against those who do not receive 23:17 the mark of the beast, and then chapter 13 23:20 tells us "but there was a group that was faithful to God. " 23:25 Let's read about that group in Revelation 14:1-5. 23:30 "Then I looked and behold, a Lamb 23:32 standing on Mount Zion 23:34 and with Him 144,000 23:38 having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 23:41 And I heard a voice from heaven like the voice of many waters 23:44 and like the voice of loud thunder. 23:47 And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 23:50 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, 23:53 before the four living creatures and the elders. 23:55 And no one could learn that song except the 144,000 23:59 who were redeemed from the earth. " 24:01 Now we're going to talk about their character. 24:04 "These are the ones who were not defiled with women. " 24:07 That is, with the harlot and her daughters. 24:10 Continues saying: "for they are virgins. 24:13 These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 24:16 These were redeemed from among men 24:19 being firstfruits... " That is not first in time 24:22 but first in quality... 24:24 "being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 24:27 And in their mouth was found no deceit 24:30 for they are without fault before the throne of God. " 24:35 And so you have this group that is VICTORIOUS 24:38 over the beast, over his image, and over his mark 24:41 standing victorious on Mount Zion. 24:47 But now we have a problem. 24:49 How could they be victorious on Mount Zion 24:52 if the three angels' messages have not yet been proclaimed? 24:56 You see, verse six begins with the three angels' messages. 25:00 So you say: "How can they be victorious 25:02 on Mount Zion? How is that they didn't care 25:06 whether they could buy or sell? 25:07 They didn't care whether they would die 25:09 to be faithful to God, and they end up on Mount Zion 25:12 if in chapter 14 the three angels' messages come next? 25:16 Are you with me or not? 25:18 The answer is that Revelation is not in chronological order. 25:23 It runs in cycles. 25:26 Several years ago at one of our Secrets Unsealed Summits 25:29 we did a Summit called The Wise Shall Understand 25:34 and I prepared a syllabus about how to study Revelation 25:39 structurally. You see, it's important to interpret 25:42 the symbols but we need to know how the book is organized. 25:46 The sequence of events. 25:48 Because in Revelation 14 verses 6-12 25:52 we have John going back to something that happened 25:57 before the 144,000 stand victorious on Mount Zion. 26:02 Are you with me? Yes! Now: 26:05 let's talk about the three angels' messages. 26:07 Really, the reason why the 144,000 are victorious 26:10 there on Mount Zion is because they accepted 26:13 the three angels' messages. 26:14 So now it's going to go back and it's going to talk about 26:17 the three angels' messages that this group accepted 26:20 and therefore they will eventually be victorious. 26:23 Now let's examine some of the elements 26:26 of the three angels' messages. 26:29 The first angel's message preaches the everlasting gospel 26:34 to the whole world. 26:35 What does that mean? 26:37 It means that Jesus was sacrificed once for all 26:41 for our sins and dies no more. 26:44 It means that He is our only and sufficient High Priest 26:48 and it means that we are saved by His righteousness alone... 26:53 not by ours. 26:55 The papacy teaches just the opposite. 26:58 The papacy teaches that Jesus is sacrificed in every mass. 27:02 That the priesthood intercedes for us 27:06 and that we are saved not by Christ's righteousness alone 27:10 but also by our good works. 27:14 The first angel also commands us to fear God. 27:18 What does it mean to fear God? 27:20 It's not talking about being afraid. 27:23 In the Old Testament we're told to fear our parents. 27:27 That doesn't mean that we're supposed to be afraid 27:29 of our parents. 27:31 Basically to fear means to have a deep respect 27:35 that is manifest in obedience to the commands of God. 27:39 That's what it means. 27:40 Children show their fear of their parents 27:43 by obedience. 27:45 You know, it's interesting... 27:47 When Abraham lied to Abimelech you remember that he said 27:51 that Sarah - well, it was a half-truth - 27:53 "You know, Sarah is my sister. " 27:55 But he didn't tell him that she was his wife. 27:58 And Abimelech was going to take her as a wife. 28:00 And God gave Abimelech a dream and said: 28:03 "Don't even think of it. " 28:05 And so Abimelech - this guy was not even a Jew - 28:07 he comes and he says to Abraham: "Why didn't you tell me this? " 28:11 And Abraham said: "Because there is no fear of God 28:15 in this place and I was afraid that I might get killed. " 28:19 So where there is no fear of God 28:22 there is danger of losing your life 28:24 which is the sixth commandment. 28:26 And then when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son 28:30 Isaac, after the angel held his hand 28:34 a voice said to Abraham: "Now I know you fear Me. " 28:39 Because Abraham was willing to obey God 28:42 even to the point of giving up his own son. 28:45 So the first angel tells us to fear God, 28:48 respect Him, and obey Him. 28:51 Also the first angel's message tells us 28:54 to give glory to God. We can't give glory to God. 28:57 We have no glory to give. 28:59 The glory that we receive from God 29:02 is the glory that we return to God. 29:05 Jesus said: "I am the Light of the world. " 29:07 He also said that we are the light of the world. 29:09 Now how can He be the Light of the world 29:11 and we be the light of the world? 29:13 It's very simple. He's the Sun and we are moons. 29:18 You see, you go out on a certain night 29:21 and you look into the sky and you see that beautiful 29:25 full silver moon. You say: "Oh my! How beautiful 29:29 the moon is tonight! " No. You need to say: 29:31 "How beautiful is the sun tonight! " 29:34 Because the light of the moon is the light of the sun. 29:38 And so we return to God His glory... 29:41 the glory that we received from Him in the first place. 29:44 And of course, the glory is His character. 29:48 The first angel also tells us that we are now in the hour 29:52 of God's judgment while the gospel is being preached... 29:55 which means that the judgment is before the second coming. 29:58 Because if the gospel is being preached 30:01 and the judgment is transpiring, 30:03 it means that the judgment is taking place 30:05 during probationary time. 30:09 The first angel's message also teaches us that 30:12 the dead are dead. 30:14 You say: "Well that's kind of a ridiculous statement. 30:17 Of course the dead are dead. " 30:18 There are people who don't believe the dead are dead. 30:20 They believe that their soul survives after death. 30:23 You say: "How do you have the state of the dead 30:25 in the first angel's message? " 30:26 It's very simple. If God began His judgment 30:29 in 1844- the judgment of those who claim to be His people - 30:33 then none of those people went to heaven or to hell 30:36 before 1844. 30:39 So the idea of judgment helps you understand 30:43 that people rest in the tomb until their names come up 30:46 in the judgment. And then the first angel's message 30:50 tells us to keep God's holy Sabbath. 30:57 Now let me give you some characteristics 31:00 of the three angels' messages. 31:02 Each message builds upon the previous one. 31:05 They are to be proclaimed in their order. 31:09 Revelation chapter 14 says an angel was seen in the midst 31:13 of heaven. Then it says another followed him 31:15 and then it says a third followed them. 31:17 So followed means that they must be proclaimed in order. 31:22 The messages are global. 31:24 They go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people 31:26 which means that if a global message is going to go out 31:29 God needs a global church to proclaim that message. 31:34 They are God's final appeal to the world before the close 31:37 of probation. And we know that because 31:40 as soon as the third angel finishes his message 31:43 is the harvest. 31:45 The grapes of the earth are ripe 31:47 and the harvest of the earth is ripe. 31:49 The three angels' messages ripen the world 31:53 on two sides. 31:55 Also we know that the three angels' messages 31:57 are accompanied by the power of the Latter Rain. 32:00 You say: "How do we know that? " 32:02 For the very simple reason 32:03 that immediately after the third angel's message 32:06 you have the grapes are ripe and the harvest is ripe. 32:11 What is it that ripened the harvest and the grapes? 32:14 The Latter Rain. Exactly. 32:17 It's acceptance or rejection of the three angels' messages 32:21 is a life and death matter. 32:24 The second message basically says: "Babylon is fallen 32:30 because it rejected the first angel's message. 32:33 Get out. " 32:36 And the third angel's message says: "If you don't get out, 32:40 you'll end up worshiping the beast 32:43 and his image and receiving the mark 32:45 and the wrath of God - the plagues - will fall upon you. " 32:49 Are you understanding the sequence? 32:53 Now, as soon as the third angel's message comes to an end 32:58 all cases in the world are decided 33:01 for life or for death. 33:04 You say: "How do we know that? " 33:05 Because the very next scene 33:08 is the scene of the harvest. 33:10 The harvest is fully ripe 33:14 and the grapes are fully ripe. 33:16 How many groups? 33:18 Two. The harvest have the seal of God 33:23 and the grapes have the mark of the beast. 33:27 The harvest worships God; 33:30 the grapes worship the beast. 33:34 You see, the three angels' messages 33:36 polarize the world into two groups. 33:39 Into the saved and the lost. 33:41 Those who have the seal of God 33:42 and those who have the mark of the beast. 33:44 Those who follow the Lamb and those who follow the beast. 33:46 Those who worship God and those who worship the beast. 33:51 Let's notice what it says in Revelation 14 about the harvest. 33:56 Revelation chapter 14 verses 14 through 17. 33:59 By the way, technically as Elder Gallimore pointed out, 34:03 this is referring to the con- clusion of the investigative 34:06 judgment in the heavenly sanctuary. 34:08 It also deals with the second coming 34:10 because that's the ultimate result. 34:13 Let's read Revelation 14:14-17. 34:15 This is the harvest of the earth. This is talking about 34:18 the righteous who receive the seal of God 34:20 as a result of accepting the three angels' messages. 34:23 It says there: "Then I looked and behold a white cloud 34:27 and on the cloud sat one like the Son of Man 34:30 having on His head a golden crown 34:32 and in His hand a sharp sickle. " 34:34 What is the sickle for? 34:36 To harvest. 34:37 So are all cases decided at this point? 34:41 Absolutely! 34:42 Notice verse 15. 34:44 "And another angel came out of the temple crying 34:46 with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud: 34:49 'Thrust in Your sickle and reap 34:52 for the time has come for You to reap 34:54 for the harvest of the earth is ripe. ' 34:58 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle 35:01 on the earth and the earth was reaped. " 35:05 So basically 35:07 the harvest of the earth and the grapes are both ripe 35:11 because people have either accepted or rejected 35:14 the three angels' messages. 35:16 On one side the harvest have the seal of God; 35:20 on the other side the grapes have the mark of the beast. 35:23 On one side God's people are spiritually in spiritual 35:28 Jerusalem. That's an important point. 35:31 See, Jerusalem is not that city over in the Middle East. 35:35 Jerusalem spiritually speaking 35:37 at this time is the church where God's faithful people abide. 35:43 And so the harvest is within the spiritual city 35:47 and the wicked are outside the spiritual city. 35:52 Now you say: "Why do you bring this to view? " 35:54 Well let's go to Revelation 14:19-20. 35:58 The harvest of the earth is inside the city. 36:02 The grapes are outside the city. 36:05 The righteous are safe inside the walls; 36:08 the wicked are there for destruction outside the walls. 36:12 Now notice Revelation 14:19-20. 36:15 "So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth 36:19 and gathered the vine of the earth... " 36:23 And now notice this detail: 36:25 "and threw it... " Into where? 36:28 "the great winepress. " Don't forget that expression. 36:30 Very important. "And threw it into the great winepress 36:34 of the... " What? "of the wrath of God. 36:37 And the winepress... " Now listen carefully: 36:40 the winepress is outside the city... 36:42 It says: "And the winepress was trampled outside the city. " 36:47 So someone is going to trample the winepress outside the city. 36:51 "And blood came out of the winepress. " 36:54 Who is out in the winepress? 36:57 What does the winepress represent? 36:58 The grapes are there, right? The wicked. 37:01 And so it says once again: 37:03 "And the winepress was trampled outside the city 37:07 and blood came out of the winepress 37:10 up to the horses' bridles for 1,600 furlongs. " 37:15 You say: "Now wait a minute. Who's riding the horses 37:18 that are trampling on the winepress? " 37:21 You have to go to Revelation 19. 37:24 Let's go to Revelation chapter 19. 37:28 Revelation chapter 19 37:30 and let's read there verses 19 and 20. 37:35 Revelation chapter 19 and verses 19 and 20. 37:40 It says... Actually, let's read verse 11 through verse 15 first 37:44 and then we'll go down to verses 19 and 20. 37:47 It says in verse 11: "Now I saw heaven opened 37:50 and behold a white horse. 37:52 And He who sat on him was called FAITHFUL and TRUE, 37:55 and in righteousness He judges and makes war. " 37:58 His final war against the wicked. 38:01 "His eyes were like a flame of fire 38:03 and on His head were many crowns. 38:05 He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 38:09 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood 38:11 and His name is called the Word of God. " 38:14 Who is this riding the white horse? Jesus! 38:16 Jesus! 38:18 Is He coming alone? 38:20 No! Verse 14: 38:22 "And the armies in heaven... " Who are those? 38:25 The angels. 38:26 "the armies in heaven clothed in fine linen 38:30 white and clean followed Him on white horses. " 38:34 Ah... so now we know who's riding the horses. 38:37 Who's riding the horses? 38:39 The heavenly armies... the angels. 38:41 And what is Jesus going to do? 38:42 What are the angels going to do? 38:44 Verse 15: "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp, two-edged sword 38:49 that with it He should strike the nations 38:51 and He Himself... " Does what? 38:54 "treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath 38:59 of Almighty God. " That's the reason why 39:01 His garments are red. Because He's trampling on the winepress. 39:06 Now the question is: what are the grapes doing 39:09 outside the Holy City? What did they come for there? 39:13 On vacation? No! 39:16 What did they come for? 39:17 They surrounded God's spiritual city 39:20 with the intention of what? 39:22 With the intention of destroying them. 39:25 And who comes to the rescue? 39:27 Jesus and the armies of heaven come to the rescue. 39:32 Now who are the enemies 39:34 that Jesus has to rescue His people from? 39:38 Well, you're going to see a reference here 39:41 to the third angel's message. Let's go to Revelation 19 now. 39:44 Revelation chapter 19 and verses 19 and 20. 39:48 Revelation chapter 19 39:50 and verses 19 and 20. 39:53 Here are the enemies that Jesus comes to destroy 39:57 to save His people. 39:58 It says there in verse 19: 40:00 "And I saw the beast... " Have we encountered that being? 40:05 That entity before? 40:07 Yes. And who else? 40:10 "the kings of the earth... " That's the dragon, folks, 40:14 only here they're called the kings 40:16 because they're the instruments in the hand 40:19 of the dragon that works from the background. 40:22 I read a statement in my study on the wine 40:27 if you remember. 40:28 "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth 40:32 and their armies gather together to make war 40:35 against Him who sat on the white horse 40:37 and against His army. " 40:39 Do you see what the two battalions are? 40:41 It's the Lord and His armies 40:44 and it is the beast and the kings of the earth. 40:47 But there's another entity. 40:48 Notice verse 20: 40:50 "Then the beast was captured and with him... " Who? 40:54 Oh, that's the third entity of Revelation chapter 13 40:58 and also the third angel's message! 41:01 So it says: "Then the beast was captured 41:03 and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence 41:06 by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast 41:10 and those who worshiped his image. " 41:12 Is that a reference to the third angel's message? 41:15 It most certainly is. 41:18 Now, we need to go to Revelation chapter 15 41:22 verses 2 through 4. 41:26 It says there, connected with the third angel's message: 41:32 "And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. 41:36 And those who have... " What? 41:39 "the victory over the beast and over his image 41:45 and over his mark 41:48 and over the number of his name 41:50 standing on the sea of glass having harps of God. " 41:53 Are those the same 144,000? 41:57 Is that a reference to the third angel's message? 42:00 So when Revelation 13 ends 42:03 and doesn't tell us whether there was a faithful group 42:06 or not... It simply speaks about not being able to buy or sell... 42:09 It speaks about those who will not worship the image 42:13 will be killed we are left with a question: 42:16 was there not any group that was faithful to God? 42:19 We read Revelation 14:1-5 where it says: "Yes, 42:22 there's a group that stands on Mount Zion: 42:24 the 144,000. " 42:26 Here it connects directly with the third angel's message 42:30 because it says here once again in verse 2: 42:32 "I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire 42:35 and those who have the victory over the beast, 42:38 over his image, over his mark, 42:40 and over the number of his name 42:42 standing on the sea of glass having harps of God. 42:46 They sing the song of Moses - the servant of God - 42:49 and the song of the Lamb... " The same as the 144,000... 42:53 "saying: 'Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God 42:58 Almighty. Just and true are your ways, 43:01 O King of saints. 43:02 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? 43:05 For You alone are holy, and all nations shall come 43:09 and worship before You 43:12 for Your judgments have been manifested. ' " 43:17 So are you seeing the connection of all these chapters? 43:22 Let's review. 43:24 My wife tells me that I repeat too much. 43:30 And I tell my wife: "How do you think that parrots 43:34 learn to talk? " 43:37 "By repeating! " See, when something is repeated 43:40 and repeated then it becomes part of us 43:42 and we're able to repeat it. 43:44 Now, let's review once again what we find in Rev. chapter 13. 43:50 Revelation chapter 13: the dragon with the ten horns 43:55 which represents the Roman Empire 43:58 gives its seat to the beast. 44:01 The beast rules for 1,260 years ending in 1798 AD. 44:06 Then another beast rises from the earth 44:08 for a period. It guarantees civil and religious liberty. 44:11 Then what does it do? 44:14 It does everything to restore power to the first beast 44:18 and it makes an image of the first beast 44:19 and enforces the mark of the first beast. 44:22 So when Revelation 13 ends you say: 44:25 "Now wasn't there anybody who was faithful? 44:27 Anybody who resisted the mark of the beast 44:29 and worshiping the image of the beast 44:31 and accepting the authority of the beast? 44:33 Was there no one who was faithful? " 44:36 The answer is in chapter 14 1 through 5: Yes! The 144,000. 44:40 But how did the 144,000 get there? 44:43 Well, they had to accept three angels' messages 44:46 and they had to proclaim them. 44:47 And when the three angels' messages were finished 44:50 the result was that all de- cisions on earth had been made. 44:53 The harvest is on one side with the seal 44:56 and the grapes are on the other side with the mark of the beast. 44:59 And then the wicked are in the winepress. 45:02 They're surrounding the city. 45:04 They're surrounding God's church 45:06 with the intention of destroying Christ's church. 45:09 But then the armies of heaven 45:11 with Jesus come to trample the winepress 45:15 outside the Holy City to deliver God's people 45:18 from certain death. 45:19 And then in chapter 15 45:21 once again you have the same hymn of chapter 14. 45:24 You have the 144,000 singing 45:28 this beautiful song of victory over the beast, 45:32 his image, his mark, and the number of his name. 45:35 Amen! 45:37 It's important to know the literary structure 45:40 because all of these chapters are linked. 45:44 Now how important are these messages? 45:47 I want to read two statements from the Spirit of Prophecy. 45:51 Early Writings page 258 and 259 45:56 Ellen White wrote how important these messages are. 46:03 I read: "I was shown three steps: 46:07 the first, second, and third angel's messages. 46:11 Said my accompanying angel: 'Woe to him 46:16 who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. ' 46:21 The true understanding of these messages 46:25 is of vital importance. 46:28 The destiny of souls 46:30 hangs upon the manner in which they are received. " 46:36 Do you know of any other church 46:39 who says: "The reason for our existence 46:42 is to proclaim the three angels' messages? " 46:45 No. There's only one church in the world 46:48 that takes that as its message and its mission: 46:52 the Seventh-day Adventist church. 46:54 It's a global message so God must have a global church. 46:57 Amen! Because one person 47:00 can't proclaim the message all over the world. 47:02 The reason why God established the SDA organization 47:06 was to make it possible to plant faithful people 47:09 of God in every nation on earth. 47:11 Amen! So that when crunch time comes 47:14 God will have a witness on every nation of the earth. 47:20 The second statement I want to read is 9 Testimonies p. 19. 47:26 "In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists 47:31 have been set in the world as watchmen. " 47:35 Let's stop there for a minute. 47:37 What is a watchman? 47:40 Is that defensive or an offensive task? 47:45 It's defensive, right? 47:48 What is a watchman? A watchman, you know, 47:51 is there at night making sure that no one breaks in to steal. 47:58 So God has called the Seventh-day Adventist church 48:00 to perform a defensive function: to defend the truth. 48:04 To defend the three angels' messages. 48:06 To not allow the enemy to come in to undermine 48:10 our special message for this time. 48:12 To undermine present truth... the truth for this time. 48:17 But there's another task that the Seventh-day Adventist church 48:20 has. "In a special sense SDA's have been set in the world 48:24 as watchmen and light bearers. " 48:29 That is offensive. Not in the sense of offend 48:33 but in the sense of offense. 48:36 God has established the Seventh-day Adventist church 48:39 to play defense and offense. 48:41 In other words, to defend the truth 48:44 but also to proclaim the truth. 48:48 "In a special sense SDA's have been set in the world 48:51 as watchmen and light bearers. 48:54 God has entrusted them with the last warning 48:58 for a perishing world. " 49:00 The SDA church is the last hope of the world. 49:03 And I know Jesus is ultimately the hope. 49:06 But in terms of proclaiming the message of present truth 49:09 and Jesus this church is the last hope 49:13 and Satan knows it. 49:15 That's why he's caused so much division in the SDA church. 49:19 Doctrinal division. 49:21 Divisions in other ways. 49:24 I mean, there's so much theological ferment 49:28 in the church now. It's amazing. 49:31 Because the devil knows that if he can divide the SDA church 49:35 and he can unite the enemies of the SDA church 49:37 he's gonna win. 49:39 We can't let that happen. 49:41 Amen! We have to make sure 49:44 that our church stays united upon the platform of truth. 49:47 Amen! Not upon the platform of culture 49:51 or convenience or political correctness. 49:56 NO! We're beyond that stage. 49:58 Amen! The Seventh-day Adventist church 50:00 is the last message that God has for the world. 50:04 She continues: 50:06 "On them... " That is, on Adventists... 50:09 "is shining wonderful light from the Word of God. 50:14 God has given them a work of the most solemn import. " 50:20 Import means importance. 50:22 "of the most solemn import: " What is that task? 50:26 "The proclamation of the first, second, and third angel's 50:31 messages. There is no other work 50:36 of so great importance. 50:38 They are to allow nothing else to absorb 50:43 their attention. " 50:45 Nothing else. 50:47 The three angels' messages to proclaim to the world: 50:51 that IS present truth. 50:53 That is the message that God has given to this church. 50:58 You know, things out in the world are showing that 51:01 things are winding down pretty quickly. 51:05 Freedom of speech is being lost right and left. 51:11 You know, you've heard about the president wanting to 51:15 get rid of the Johnson amendment. 51:17 It can only be done by Congress 51:18 because it's a law of Congress. 51:20 Establishing an office in the White House 51:23 where Evangelicals can come and provide him with counsel. 51:27 You know that he was elected by a vast Evangelical majority. 51:31 And let me say that it's not because Protestants love 51:35 the civil government. 51:37 You know, it kind of makes me think of the Jews 51:40 in Christ's day. They said: "We have no king but Caesar. " 51:44 They hated Caesar 51:46 but they were happy to use Caesar 51:49 to accomplish their purposes. That's right. 51:51 And that's what the churches in the United States want to do 51:54 today. They don't love the government. 51:56 They don't love the civil power. 51:59 They love the possibility of using the civil power 52:03 to get their agenda passed. 52:06 And we need to proclaim to them the principles upon which 52:09 this country - this wonderful country - was established. 52:13 I just want to share with you in closing 52:16 portions of an article that appeared in the Catholic Herald. 52:21 This was an article by Matthew Schmitz. 52:25 It was posted on Thursday, May 24, 2018. 52:31 The title of the article is: 52:32 How Europeans Are Fighting Back Against Sunday Trading. 52:39 And then there's a subtitle: 52:41 Changes to the law have made it harder than ever 52:43 for ordinary Catholics to honor Sunday's day of rest, 52:49 but there is hope. 52:52 I just want to read a couple of statements 52:57 from this particular article. 53:00 "Only those who recognize that the common good... " 53:05 That's a papal expression: common good... 53:10 "Only those who recognize that the common good 53:13 concerns a man's soul 53:16 can explain why we should legislate rest on Sunday 53:22 to honor the God who on that day rose. 53:27 This is why we call Sunday the Lord's Day. 53:31 Domenica, Domingo, Dimanche. " 53:35 Then he continues: 53:37 "We first hear the term in the book of Revelation 53:40 where John reports that it was on the Lord's Day 53:43 that he had his great vision. 53:46 Ever since it has been the day on which we glimpse paradise 53:51 and join freedom in communion with God. 53:54 As Benedict XVI put it, and he quotes: 53:59 'On the Sabbath there are no masters and no servants. 54:02 There is only the freedom of all the children of God. 54:05 For this reason the Sabbath is the heart 54:09 of all social legislation. ' " 54:12 And then he ends the article by saying: 54:15 "It is striking how many Catholics 54:17 have given up this thing of the Lord. " That is Sunday. 54:21 "Even those who can afford Sunday rest 54:24 do nothing to guarantee it for others. 54:27 As Benedict XVI saw Christian politics 54:32 begins with the Sabbath. 54:35 Our task is to secure it in law 54:39 not as a privilege for the powerful 54:42 but as a right enjoyed by all. " 54:46 That's just one article of many articles out there 54:51 on the issue of Sunday. 54:54 There is all kinds of chatter, folks, online. 54:58 Articles appearing everywhere 55:01 on the need to get rid of commercialism. 55:04 To get rid of the idea that, you know, you need to shop 55:08 seven days a week. The idea is you need one day 55:11 of the week to rest... and I agree. 55:13 But it's not the first day of the week... 55:15 it is the seventh day of the week, 55:18 God's holy Sabbath, as we heard this morning. 55:22 So I'd like to end by reading 55:26 the three angels' messages. 55:28 Revelation chapter 14 verse 6: "Then I saw another angel 55:32 flying in the midst of heaven 55:34 having the everlasting gospel 55:36 to preach to those who dwell on the earth: 55:38 to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. 55:41 Saying with a loud voice: 55:43 'Fear God and give glory to Him 55:46 for the hour of His judgment has come. 55:48 And worship Him who made heaven and earth, 55:50 the sea, and the springs of water. ' " 55:53 "And another angel followed saying: 'Babylon is fallen, 55:56 is fallen. That great city 55:59 BECAUSE she has made all nations drink of the wine 56:03 of the wrath of her fornication. ' " 56:06 "Then a third angel followed them 56:08 saying with a loud voice: 56:10 'If anyone worships the beast 56:13 and his image and receives his mark 56:15 on his forehead or on his hand 56:17 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God 56:22 which is poured out full strength 56:24 into the cup of His indignation. 56:26 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 56:29 in the presence of the holy angels 56:31 and in the presence of the Lamb. 56:33 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever 56:36 and they have no rest day or night 56:38 who worship the beast and his image 56:41 and whoever receives the mark of his name. ' " 56:44 But God will have a people in contrast 56:48 to those who worship the beast and his image. 56:50 And it's in verse 12: 56:52 "Here is the patience... " 56:54 Better translation is the perseverance. 56:56 "Here is the perseverance of the saints. 57:00 Here are those who keep the commandments of God 57:04 and the faith of Jesus. " 57:07 Amen! My prayer is that we individually 57:13 and corporately will choose to be those people. 57:18 How about it? Amen? 57:20 Amen! Amen... let us pray. 57:22 Father, thank you for having been with us. 57:24 Take what we studied and write it in our minds 57:27 and in our hearts. 57:29 We pray in Jesus' name, Amen. Amen! |
Revised 2018-09-27