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Series Code: TCM
Program Code: TCM200011S
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00:40 Welcome back. I'm glad you've joined us for this series
00:43 called Three Cosmic Messages. 00:45 We've been unfolding the prophetic messages 00:47 of the book of Revelation... 00:49 especially the messages of Revelation chapter 14 verses 6 to 12 00:54 that discuss God's last message for humanity. 00:58 In that first angel's message 01:01 we have a call to come to Christ. 01:03 A call to the everlasting gospel: 01:05 the gospel of His grace & power. 01:08 The gospel which provides for us forgiveness. 01:10 The gospel which provides for us pardon and mercy 01:13 and changes our lives. 01:15 The angel says: "Fear God... " That's obey God, 01:18 reverence God, respect God. 01:20 Obey Him in service. 01:23 Keep His commandments. 01:24 And then it says: "Give glory to Him" 01:26 in our lifestyles... in whatever we think and whatever we do. 01:30 We do that in light of the judgment hour. 01:33 The verse says in Revelation 14:7 01:36 "Saying with a loud voice: 'Fear God; 01:38 give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come. ' " 01:42 This is an urgent, end-time message for all humanity 01:47 to prepare for the coming of Jesus. 01:49 Then there is a call to worship the Creator. 01:52 In the great controversy between good and evil 01:55 the great issue is over worship. 01:58 The second angel's message calls us to flee 02:02 from what the Bible calls spiritual Babylon. 02:05 Babylon in the Bible is a term used to describe 02:09 in the book of Revelation spiritual apostasy, 02:13 error, falsehood, and deception. 02:15 As a result of the rejection of the first angel's message 02:19 the world has drunk of the wine cup of Babylon 02:22 and has entered into falsehoods and deception. 02:27 God calls us to truth. 02:29 The third angel's message is a warning against the beast 02:33 and the mark of the beast. 02:34 You may have wondered about that. 02:36 We're going to explore it in this session 02:38 and in the next one. Let's pray. 02:40 Father in heaven, thank you so much for Jesus! 02:43 Thank you for His grace and His mercy. 02:46 Thank you for these messages of warning that are messages 02:49 of encouragement. Give us hope and encouragement 02:52 as we study and open our eyes 02:54 so we can see marvelous things from Your Word. 02:56 In Christ's name, Amen. 02:59 My topic in this presentation is: 03:03 We divided this into two parts 03:06 because it's such a vitally important topic. 03:09 Some time ago I was reading the healthcare section 03:12 in the NBC news, and this title captured my attention: 03:17 FDA approves computer chip for humans. 03:21 I was then interested in the first sentence: 03:24 Medical milestone or privacy invasion? 03:29 What was that all about? 03:31 The question was: is this computer chip 03:35 that's planted in one's wrist to get medical information 03:40 is that really an invasion of privacy? 03:43 There are some people who believe in certain conspiracies 03:47 who believe that that chip planted beneath the skin 03:50 is going to detect information for the government 03:53 and that has to do with the mark of the beast. 04:04 That radiofrequency is picked up by a scanner. 04:16 It only can deal with a small amount of information today 04:19 but there are companies that are working on enlarging 04:23 that amount of information 04:25 so if you have that biochip implanted your medical info 04:30 and really everything about you 04:32 can be stored in an amazingly small amount of space 04:37 in a computer database. 04:39 Does this have something to do with the mark of the beast? 04:43 Does this have something to do eventually 04:46 with the rise of the antichrist and enforced worship? 04:50 It's fascinating when you take a look at all the different 04:53 ideas about the mark of the beast. 04:56 Some have the idea that this is information 05:00 stored beyond our medical records in a computer. 05:03 But there are other people who believe that this idea 05:05 of the mark of the beast has to do with black police helicopters 05:10 from the U.N. landing in America. 05:12 Some people believe it has to do with barcodes 05:16 on cans that are scanned at the grocery store. 05:19 Other people believe it has to do with strange numbers 05:24 on the dollar bill. You know one of the funniest ones 05:28 is for many years I was the speaker of It Is Written 05:32 television, and one day a lady wrote to me. 05:35 And she said: "Pastor Mark! 05:38 I'm sending you a new tie. " Now I'm always thankful 05:42 for a new tie. But then she said: "The reason I am 05:45 is I looked at the pattern on your old tie 05:47 and it had 666 on the pattern 05:50 and I didn't want you to be wearing the mark of the beast. " 05:53 Well let me assure you that the issue of the mark of the beast 05:57 is not a pattern on my tie, your tie, or a pattern on some 06:02 ladies' dress. It is much more beyond that. 06:07 It's more than mystic ideologies. 06:11 It's more than weird beasts. 06:13 What is the central issue in this whole subject 06:18 of the mark of the beast? 06:19 Because once you understand the foundation, 06:21 once you understand the basic essence of what it is, 06:25 everything else will fall in place. 06:32 Let's go back to the book of Revelation 06:35 and these three messages - three cosmic messages - 06:38 that lead us to a deeper commitment to Christ 06:42 and an understanding of divine truth 06:45 in earth's final conflict. 06:47 You'll recall that the first angel flies in mid heaven. 06:51 He does not float... he flies. 06:54 It's an urgent, swift message 06:56 carried to the ends of the earth. 07:09 The very essence of the first angel's message 07:14 is a call to worship the Creator. 07:18 And in that very expression where it says: "Worship the One 07:22 who made heaven, earth, the sea and the springs of waters" 07:25 that phrase is a quote from the fourth commandment: 07:30 "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. " 07:32 Why? "For in six days the Lord created heaven and earth 07:36 and the sea and all that in them is. " 07:37 So John quotes the fourth commandment - 07:40 the Sabbath commandment - that is an appeal to worship 07:43 the Creator. So this first angel's message, 07:46 this message of eternal destiny 07:50 about worshiping the Creator, has something to do with 07:53 the seventh-day Sabbath. 07:54 Now when you look, though, at verse 8 it says: 08:01 Babylon: false religion. 08:08 In the Bible wine represents doctrine. 08:12 Fermented wine represents false doctrine. 08:16 So Babylon - a fallen religious system - 08:20 passes around the wine cup of her false doctrine. 08:24 People are inebriated with that 08:27 and they fail to understand or comprehend 08:30 the first angel's message... 08:31 the message of the gospel of Christ, 08:34 the message of dependence on Christ, 08:36 the message of obedience to Christ, 08:38 the message of the second coming of Christ, 08:40 the message about worshiping the Creator 08:42 and the Bible Sabbath. A third angel flies and it says 08:47 in Revelation 14 verse 9: 08:51 Now you remember in verse 7 it said: "If anybody worships 08:54 the Creator... " 09:01 So here you have another class in contradistinction 09:07 to those that worship the beast. 09:09 Here you have another class who obediently worship the Creator. 09:14 How are they described? 09:27 So the message of the three angels 09:31 comes to a focal point... it comes to a climax 09:35 with a body of believers who do not worship the beast 09:40 but who worship the Creator. 09:42 And this body of believers who worship the Creator God 09:46 observe His commandments including the symbol of creation 09:51 which is the Sabbath commandment. 09:53 Notice the contrast: 10:07 So here we have outlined the basic issues 10:10 in the great controversy between good and evil. 10:12 The basic issues in this cosmic conflict, 10:15 this intergalactic struggle, this star-wars drama. 10:20 A rebel angel rebelled against God in heaven. 10:25 He challenged God's authority... disobeyed God's law. 10:29 He came to Eden; tempted Adam and Eve 10:32 by saying: "You don't have to obey. " 10:34 And down through the ages this rebel angel, 10:38 this being of dazzling brightness, 10:41 has deceived men and women into thinking obedience 10:45 was unnecessary. This is a cosmic struggle 10:49 over worship, and God will have an end-time people 10:53 who are loyal to Him in the face of the greatest opposition 10:57 and the fiercest persecution in the history of the world. 11:00 This is what the mark of the beast issue is all about. 11:03 It's about where is our allegiance. 11:06 It's about where is our loyalty. 11:08 The mark of the beast issue is about the authority 11:12 of Christ and worshiping the Creator. 11:15 And the sign of His creative authority is the commandment 11:19 that says: "Remember the Sabbath Day" 11:22 in spite of a decree that says according to Revelation 13 11:27 that "no man can buy or sell. " 11:28 In spite of persecution, in spite of oppression 11:32 God will have a group of people 11:34 that through His power will be obedient. 11:37 And the scripture says: "Here are they that keep the 11:39 commandments of God and... " What? 11:42 "they have the faith of Jesus. " 11:43 They worship the Creator and they do not worship the beast. 11:47 And really when you actually look at the book of Revelation 11:51 there are only one of two choices at end time. 11:54 There is no middle ground; there is no neutrality. 11:58 Revelation calls us to a choice. 12:00 Revelation calls us to a decision. 12:03 Revelation calls us to get off the fence of mediocrity 12:07 and neutrality. It is either "I worship the Creator" 12:10 or "I worship the beast. " God is doing everything He can 12:14 to lead men and women from the falsehood to truth. 12:19 From the worship of human idolatries 12:24 and human ideologies to His Word. 12:27 God is doing everything He can 12:29 sending His Holy Spirit to your heart. 12:32 Leading you to deeply sense the truths of His Word. 12:38 God is doing everything He can 12:40 to lead us back to the truths of Scripture. 12:43 He has sent His Holy Spirit. 12:46 He brings conviction to our hearts. 12:49 He reveals truth to our minds. 12:51 He illuminates the darkness with the light of His Word. 12:56 In fact, Psalm 119:105 says: 12:58 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet 13:01 and a light unto my path. " 13:02 The light of truth is shining upon you 13:05 as you've watched these presentations. It's no accident. 13:09 God in the divine drama of destiny has brought you 13:13 to this place to understand His Word, 13:15 to have a deeper appreciation for Christ, 13:18 to have a deeper appreciation for the cross, 13:21 to understand what it means to be saved by grace: 13:25 to be delivered from the grip of sin as well as the penalty 13:31 for a broken law. God's Word speaks to us. 13:35 His grace-filled Word - His Word of love 13:39 and gentleness - appeals to us 13:41 to make a decision to step out from the majority. 13:45 Because if we conform to the majority today 13:48 because it's easy to do that one day we will accept 13:52 the mark of the beast because we want to be able to buy 13:56 and we want to be able to sell 13:58 and we don't want the persecution and the oppression. 14:01 Now notice what the Bible says. 14:03 It says they "keep the commandments of God 14:05 and they have the faith of Jesus. " 14:08 What is the faith of Jesus? 14:18 It is not OUR faith that carries us through the crisis ahead. 14:22 It is Jesus' faith. It is not OUR strength 14:25 that carries us through the crisis ahead. 14:27 It is the faith of Jesus that takes us through 14:31 these dark periods ahead. 14:33 In this cosmic struggle between good and evil 14:37 it is Christ living in us, Christ sustaining us, 14:41 Christ strengthening us, Christ empowering us. 14:44 It is this trust in Jesus that takes us through 14:48 so that one day we stand on the sea of glass 14:51 and we don't say: "I am worthy because I made it through 14:55 the great crisis! " We sing: 15:05 We live in His honor; we live in His glory. 15:09 We live in His power 15:10 and we live FOR the One that created heaven and earth 15:14 and the sea and the fountains of waters. 15:24 So when we worship on Sabbath 15:27 in harmony with the Creator's power 15:30 it is an acknowledgement of the Creator. 15:32 We are actually worshiping Jesus Christ, who, according to 15:36 Ephesians 3:9 was the active agent in creation. 15:40 So the call to worship the Creator 15:43 is a call to worship Jesus. 15:45 And the call to remember the Sabbath is a call to remember 15:48 Jesus as the Creator in opposition to the beast power. 15:59 It's at the very heart of a titanic struggle. 16:02 It's at the very heart of the great controversy 16:04 between good and evil. 16:07 The Sabbath is an oasis in the desert of this world. 16:11 In a world that has largely ac- cepted evolutionary hypothesis. 16:17 In a world that believes that we evolved from lower 16:20 forms of live... from some primeval slime... 16:24 that we came together by accident. 16:27 in THIS WORLD the Sabbath becomes an oasis. 16:30 We rest in His love and His power and His care. 16:34 We come to the Creator who has formed us and shaped us. 16:38 We sense that we're not some speck of cosmic dust. 16:41 We sense that we are not alone in the universe. 16:45 We sense that we're not a random collection of atoms but 16:49 He created us; He fashioned us; He cares for us; He loves us! 16:53 THIS is the essence of the great controversy 16:56 between good and evil. 17:00 We are created by God! We are sons and daughters 17:04 of God. We are connected by a common creation 17:08 to one another, and by that creation 17:11 we are united to our heavenly Father. 17:14 We are twice Christ's: we are His by creation 17:17 and we are His by redemption. 17:19 He created us and He redeemed us. 17:27 Therefore Satan challenges it 17:29 because Satan knows if he can do away with the Sabbath 17:32 he can do away with the authority of Christ as Creator 17:36 and there is no basis for worship at all. 17:38 Because if we evolved and we are products of chance 17:41 why worship God at all? 17:44 So the Sabbath becomes that central figure 17:48 in this battle between good and evil, 17:51 between Christ and Satan. 17:52 It's the issue in the conflict over the mark of the beast. 17:57 These committed followers of Jesus... Remember? Here are they 18:01 that do what? "Keep the commandments of God. " 18:04 Here are they that have "the faith of Jesus. " 18:06 These committed followers of Jesus who not only have 18:09 faith IN Jesus but they have the faith what? OF Jesus. 18:15 Now what is the faith of Jesus? 18:17 When Jesus is hanging on the cross with a crown of thorns 18:20 upon His head with blood running down His face 18:23 with nails in His hands 18:26 and Peter has denied Him and Judas has betrayed Him 18:31 and His own people have turned their backs and forsaken Him 18:35 and the disciples have forsaken Him and fled 18:38 darkness enshrouds that cross. The thunder crashes, 18:42 the lightning flashes, and Jesus hangs there alone. 18:46 But He reaches out and says: "Father, 18:49 into Thy hands I commend My spirit. " 18:51 What is the faith of Jesus? 18:57 And in the days ahead when every earthly support 19:01 is cut off... in the days ahead 19:04 when there is oppression and persecution, 19:07 when we cannot buy or sell based on Rev. 13's prophecy, 19:12 in the days ahead we, too, trust. We hang on 19:16 in the darkness, we hang on in the persecution. 19:19 We hang on in imprisonment; we hang on in the face of death 19:23 because we believe that one day Jesus will come and deliver us. 19:28 What is the faith of Jesus? 19:30 It is the quality of Christ's faith living in us 19:33 in which we trust Him and do not betray Him in that time. 20:18 So what is the faith of Jesus? 20:21 It is that rest; it is that trust; 20:24 it is that confidence; it is that security in the Father. 20:28 Christ by faith trusted the Father. 20:33 He gives us that faith to take us through 20:37 the trying times ahead. 20:50 How will we be victors when ev- ery earthly support is cut off? 20:53 How will we survive? 20:55 Just as by faith Christ was victor 20:58 we hang on by faith. 21:01 When our eyes cannot see our hearts still can believe. 21:04 When all around us there is darkness 21:07 by faith we can pierce that darkness 21:10 and know that although we cannot see Him 21:13 He can see us! 21:14 And He's still there to strengthen, to guide, 21:17 and to encourage us. 21:32 ... that will get us through the final crisis. 21:36 And that, my friend, is incredibly good news! 21:48 ... because it says to us that God WILL have a group of people 21:53 who have the quality of faith - that gift by God to them - 21:58 that enables them to hang on in the crisis 22:00 and obediently they keep His commandments. 22:23 Christ is living within them 22:25 and they speak of His love and His goodness and His grace 22:28 and His mercy. 22:47 This prophecy tells us that Satan will do everything 22:52 possible to destroy and wipe out every vestige of goodness 22:58 on earth. But thank God he did not destroy Christ 23:03 on the cross, and on the cross Christ came forth victor. 23:08 Jesus hung on by faith, 23:11 and God's people in the name of Jesus, 23:14 because of Jesus, through Jesus, 23:17 by Jesus' grace; in Jesus' power 23:21 will, too, hang on by faith and be victorious & triumphant. 23:26 Now the devil has two major strategies: 23:29 deception and force. 23:31 In the Garden of Eden he came to Eve as a great deceiver. 23:36 Down through the centuries he's used deception and force. 23:40 The devil is a liar and the father of lies 23:44 and the devil is a murderer. In fact, in the book of John 23:48 the 8th chapter the 44th verse I read these words: 23:54 Jesus says: "You are of your father, the devil, 23:57 and the desires of your father you want to do. 23:59 He was a murderer from the beginning 24:02 and does not stand in the truth. 24:04 He is a liar and the father of lies. " 24:07 Now look, friend... this is the devil's strategy: 24:10 the devil will either try to deceive you 24:13 with his lies or, if he cannot deceive you, 24:18 he'll force, coerce, and pressure you 24:21 to yield to his commands. 24:23 He's done it down through the ages 24:25 and he will do it at end time... 24:28 only at end time it's going to intensify. 24:30 He's going to use human agents as he has down through the ages. 24:35 You remember in the book of Genesis 24:39 God told Cain and Abel each to offer an offering. 24:44 Abel obeyed God; Cain disobeyed. 24:48 And Cain viciously, angrily killed his brother. 24:53 Again, a human agent that Satan used. 24:57 He deceived him, and then this human agent used force 25:01 in the context of that deception. 25:03 Down through the ages this has always been true. 25:06 In fact, Jesus said in John 16 verse 2: 25:09 "the time is coming... " 25:10 Jesus predicted that there would be periods of time 25:14 of great persecution for the people of God. 25:21 Jesus said that to the disciples. 25:24 They experienced persecution. Most of those disciples 25:27 died a martyr's death. 25:30 Jesus predicted that that would happen. 25:33 Down through this period called the Dark Ages 25:35 church and state united. 25:38 And any time you have a union of church and state 25:41 there is the possibility - strong possibility - 25:45 of religious intolerance, bigo- try and oppression that follows. 25:50 A good example of that is what happened during the Dark Ages... 25:53 this 1,260-year period that we studied 25:57 when church and state united 25:59 and those that did not go along with the church powers 26:03 were persecuted. 26:04 Here there was a group called the Waldenses. 26:07 They were Bible-believing Christians. 26:10 They lived in northern Italy and southern France. 26:13 And as they fled back into those mountains 26:16 they were oppressed and persecuted for their loyalty 26:20 to God's Word. 26:26 Now what's a colporteur? 26:27 It's one who takes literature and gives it away or sells it. 26:30 "to spread the gospel news 26:32 that salvation is a gift of God's love. " 26:35 So these Waldenses - these Bible-believing Christians - 26:38 lived far back in the mountains of northern Italy 26:41 and southern France. 26:43 They shared the Word of God. 26:46 When they were hunted and tracked down 26:49 they were often persecuted. 27:00 And the soldiers actually set fire in front of the cave, 27:05 smoked them out, and 3,000 died. 27:08 I have actually climbed into this very cave 27:11 and we have sung there a great hymn: A Mighty Fortress 27:16 Is Our God: A Bulwark Never Failing. 27:18 And we recounted the story of these faithful men, women, 27:23 and children who indeed died for their faith. 27:26 They copied Scripture in those mountain retreats 27:30 and sent their young people with the Scripture hidden 27:33 in their long robes down into Europe 27:36 and a mighty revival took place. 28:02 What did Jesus say? 28:04 He said: "They will kill you and think... " John 16:2... 28:08 "that they are doing God a service. " 28:11 Down through the ages Satan has used 28:15 various entities and human beings 28:18 to persecute the people of God. 28:20 But the light of truth has shown brightly. 28:24 Sometimes flickered... almost dimmed... 28:26 but it shone brightly. And God has always had a people 28:29 that have been loyal and faithful to Him. 28:31 And He will have that people at end time. 28:42 It is the final link in this chain of oppression. 28:51 ... that unless men and women believe and accept the beast 28:57 power's teachings that they will not be able to buy or sell. 29:01 There'll be an economic boycott if they do not have the mark. 29:48 Did you notice the significance of that statement? 29:51 Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands 29:57 and customs. We do not walk from godliness to worldliness 30:01 in one swoop generally... it is step by step. 30:05 What is the devil tempting you with to lead you 30:10 step by step... slowly, imperceptibly... from Christ? 30:16 What is God leading you to surrender to Him 30:21 and say: "Lord, I don't want anything between my soul 30:24 and my Savior. " "Lord, if this displeases You, 30:26 it may seem so small but it may be the noose around my neck 30:30 that strangles out my spirituality. " 30:32 "Lord, I don't want to step by step yield to worldly customs 30:36 and demands. " 30:38 God will have a group of people 30:40 who respond to His message 30:43 of the last days of earth's history. 30:45 A message that we're living in the judgment hour. 30:47 A message to prepare for His coming. 30:50 A message of deep spirituality that transforms the life. 30:59 We need not fear what is coming 31:01 because we can be secure in Christ. 31:04 But the three angel's messages are messages of love. 31:08 These three cosmic messages come from the heart of God 31:13 who wants us saved in His king- dom to live with Him forever. 31:17 We can be one of that group in Revelation 14 verse 12 31:21 that we read about: 31:45 ... and not accept the author- ity, oppression, deception, 31:49 lies, of the beast power. 31:52 They will one day stand on the sea of glass 31:55 and sing in Revelation 15:3: 32:02 They will sense one day that it has been worth it all. 32:07 They've been through a period of darkness; 32:08 they've been through a period of oppression. 32:10 They've been through a period where nobody could buy or sell. 32:13 They faced a death decree. 32:15 But because of their trust in Jesus, 32:18 because of Jesus' faith living in their hearts, 32:21 because they've been charmed by His love 32:24 and His love has motivated their obedience 32:27 it will be written of them: "Here are they that keep 32:30 the commandments of God. " And one day they will sing: 32:36 In spite of persecution, 32:39 in spite of oppression, 32:40 in spite of economic boycott, 32:42 in spite of decrees 32:44 we, through Your grace, have stood! "Great and marvelous 32:49 are Your ways, O God, 32:51 because through Your grace and by Your power we are victors. " 32:55 Now you might ask the question 32:57 and we introduce it in this presentation 33:00 to develop it further in the next: 33:05 Let's go directly and take a look at it. 33:13 We have seen that the issue in the mark of the beast 33:15 is an issue over worship: 33:17 worshiping the Creator or worshiping the beast. 33:19 We've seen that that finds it's focal point 33:22 in a group of people who have the faith of Jesus 33:24 and keep the commandments of God. 33:26 But what is this beast power? 33:28 The Bible would not simply mention the beast without 33:31 identifying the beast. 33:33 So we go to Revelation 13 verses 1 and 2. 33:36 Revelation 14 in the third angel's message 33:39 describes the beast and its mark but it doesn't identify it. 33:44 Because that identification is found in the chapter before: 33:47 Revelation 13. 34:12 Now we pause there. 34:14 In the book of Daniel chapter 7 you have four beasts: 34:18 a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a dragon. 34:21 This is a composite beast 34:24 that follows those four great empires: 34:26 Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. 34:29 Now notice the Bible says 34:30 that: "On his head he has ten horns. " 34:35 Well these horns, of course, represent the divisions 34:37 of the Roman Empire. 34:39 But the next identifying phrase is the key: 34:48 So whoever the beast is that follows Babylon, 34:51 that follows Medo-Persia, 34:53 that follows Greece, that follows Rome, 34:55 that follows the break-up of the Roman Empire... 34:57 whoever he is he gets his authority from the dragon. 35:02 Now, who is that dragon 35:05 that would give him his authority? 35:07 Well, Revelation 12:9 tells you. 35:22 Now notice: the devil is the great dragon 35:25 because he destroys and he is the serpent because 35:28 he deceives. But notice: it identifies 35:31 who this great dragon is 35:34 that gives the authority to that beast power. 35:37 What does it call him? 35:39 He's called the devil and Satan. 35:41 But the devil always works through an earthly power. 35:46 The devil does not work in a vacuum. 35:49 He works through an earthly power. 35:59 Do we learn anything in Revelation chapter 12 36:04 about who the dragon really was working through? 36:09 We do! In Revelation chapter 12 36:12 the Bible says the dragon tried "to destroy the Man Child. " 36:15 Satan worked through pagan Rome to destroy Christ 36:19 when He was born. Herod passed a decree 36:21 that male children under 2 would be killed. 36:25 Satan stalked Jesus all of His life. 36:28 Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross. 36:31 Roman soldiers guarded His tomb. 36:34 So in Revelation chapter 12 the dragon 36:37 primarily represents Satan 36:40 but it represents Satan working through pagan Rome. 36:43 So whoever the beast power is of Revelation 13 36:48 the dragon, pagan Rome who Satan works through, 36:52 gives to that beast power the seat of its authority. 36:57 Who did pagan Rome give the seat of its authority to 37:01 when the pagan Roman Empire was falling apart? 37:04 Remember what it says in Revelation 13 verse 2: 37:15 When the Roman Empire was falling apart 37:17 Constantine recognized that he had to move his capitol. 37:21 And so he decided to move it 37:24 to what we now call Istanbul 37:27 but it was named after Constantine. In those years 37:31 in Turkey called Constantinople. 37:33 But there's a problem. 37:35 When you move your capitol 37:38 to leave a vacancy in Rome 37:41 would have been fatal to the Empire. 37:43 So who usurped? Who took over? 37:48 Who received the throne of Constantine, 37:52 the seat of the pagan Roman government? 38:07 Professor Labianca of the University of Rome 38:11 who spent a lifetime studying the history of Rome said this: 38:36 Absolutely amazing statement! 38:39 Historically you've got Babylon. 38:41 Then you've got Medo-Persia; then you've got Greece; 38:45 then Rome; then the break-up of the Roman Empire. 38:47 Constantine shifts his empire to Constantinople. 38:51 Vacancy... and upon that vacant throne 38:55 the popes arise. So the beast power then 38:58 is not an individual. It is a power that rises 39:02 out of Rome in the papal power. 39:04 Now Arthur P. Stanley, a famous lecturer on 39:08 the history of the eastern church wrote in 1884, p. 197 39:12 of his book: 39:20 There are numerous identifying characteristics 39:24 of the beast power there in Revelation 13. 39:29 We're going to introduce a couple of those today 39:31 and then further on that in our next presentation. 39:35 The first identifying mark is this: 39:46 It grows out of Rome, and the seat of its government 39:50 has been given by pagan Rome. 39:52 That clue - that first identifying mark - 39:55 is clearly outlined both in the Bible and in history. 40:00 But then we go on. Revelation 13 verse 3 and 5: 40:25 Remember the conflict between good and evil? 40:28 You remember Revelation 14:7 "worship the Creator? " 40:31 Revelation 14:9.. "Do not worship the beast. " 40:34 Revelation 14:12: "Here are they that keep the commandments 40:38 of God. " And worshiping the beast has to do 40:41 with the counter sign to worshiping the Creator: 40:45 the counter sign... the counterfeit Sabbath... 40:47 rather than the true seventh-day Sabbath. 40:50 So the issue is worship. 40:52 So what then is Revelation 13 describing? 40:56 It's describing a power that would rise out of Rome 40:59 and that would become a "Catholic" or a universal 41:04 system of worship. 41:05 Now let me assure you: we're not here to condemn 41:09 any system. I personally was brought up in a lovely 41:14 Roman Catholic home. 41:15 Worshiped on the altar with priests for many many years. 41:18 Never knew anything about these three cosmic messages. 41:23 But as I began to understand Bible prophecy, 41:26 began to understand the overwhelming truth 41:30 of Scripture, began to understand 41:33 the messages of these 3 angels 41:36 and God's appeal, His last-day appeal to worship the Creator 41:40 and not worship the beast, 41:41 I sensed the call of God to my heart. 41:44 You may be sensing the call of God to your heart. 41:47 We're living on the knife edge of eternity. 41:51 Living in what the Bible calls "the judgment hour. " 41:54 And Jesus is making an appeal to you to follow the Creator. 41:59 This system would be a worldwide system of worship. 42:03 But the Bible goes on: a third identifying characteristic. 42:11 We'll study the 42 months next time. 42:13 But I want to take a look at what this means: 42:15 "A mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. " 42:28 It becomes a power 42:31 that leads us back really when you think about this 42:35 back to the rebellion in heaven. 42:38 When Lucifer rebelled in heaven 42:40 what did Lucifer rebel over in heaven? 42:44 The authority of God. 42:45 What did Lucifer rebel over in heaven? 42:48 The commands of God. 42:50 A created being did not want to worship the Creator. 42:54 And so again you have that conflict over worship 42:57 exactly like will happen in the last days of earth's history. 43:08 But with Jesus there is no force. 43:13 With Jesus there is no coercion. 43:17 Let me make it plain to you. 43:19 The Bible describes three angels flying in mid heaven. 43:24 They are God's last-day message for humanity. 43:28 The first angel flies in mid heaven. 43:31 It says: "I saw another angel flying in mid heaven with 43:34 the everlasting gospel. " This angel who flies 43:38 leads us from all human folly, 43:42 from all human works, 43:45 leads us to come to Jesus. 43:48 To accept Him by grace; to allow Him to change our lives. 43:54 This first angel leads us 43:57 to reverence or respect God. 44:00 To obey Him. To desire to do whatever He wants us to do. 44:05 This first angel leads us to give glory to God 44:10 in our lives. This first angel leads us to sense we're living 44:14 in the judgment hour. This first angel 44:17 points us to the second coming of Christ. 44:20 The second coming of Christ is mentioned throughout Scripture. 44:24 In fact, the Bible talks about the second coming of Christ 44:27 at least 1,500 times. 44:29 In the Old Testament, for every prophecy on the first coming 44:34 of Christ there are eight on the second coming of Christ. 44:37 Throughout the New Testament every single author 44:39 talks about the second coming of Christ. 44:43 The book of Revelation comes to a climax 44:46 leading us to be ready for that day when Jesus comes. 44:50 The whole purpose of the first angel's message 44:53 is to get an end-time people ready for His appearing. 44:58 The first angel's message calls us back to true, genuine 45:03 worship of the Creator. 45:05 The second angel's message: "Babylon is fallen! Is fallen! " 45:09 leads us from the falsehoods of this world. 45:13 And this message we're talking about now 45:15 on the mark of the beast discusses the very heart 45:20 of the controversy between good and evil. 45:22 The beast uses force; the beast uses coercion. 45:27 The beast uses falsehoods; the beast uses lies. 45:32 Our God is a God of freedom. 45:35 He is a God that appeals to us through His Word. 45:39 He is a God that appeals to the highest consciousness 45:43 of the brain. He is a God that reveals truth. 45:46 And truth speaks to our hearts. 45:50 Truth transforms our lives. 45:53 Truth changes us and makes us over again. 45:56 Jesus said in John 14 "I am the Way, 46:00 the Truth, and the Life. " 46:01 Jesus is the way of salvation. 46:03 Jesus' truth illuminates the darkness. 46:07 And Jesus is the Life. He is the One who is an example 46:12 for us. The whole issue with the mark of the beast 46:14 is not to follow man, not to follow his traditions. 46:18 Not to follow his authority; not to follow his opinion. 46:22 It is to follow Jesus and be committed to Jesus and His Word. 46:31 God's people in the last days of earth's history 46:34 are motivated not because they cannot buy or sell. 46:38 They're not motivated by the material things of this world. 46:42 If the materialism of this world attracts you, 46:46 if the things of this world strangle out 46:50 your love for Christ today, 46:51 if the things of this world enamor you, 46:54 if the things of this world charm you, 46:57 if the things of this world have captured your love, 47:00 then it will be easy then to receive the mark of the beast. 47:05 If you feel pressured by friends to do something 47:09 that you know is not in harmony with God's will, 47:12 if you feel coerced by others, 47:15 if you cannot stand alone, 47:17 if the crowd and the cry of the crowd attracts you 47:22 and stimulates you and therefore you yield 47:25 your conscientious conviction for the crowd, 47:29 how will you stand in the days of the mark of the beast? 47:33 You see, the whole issue is an appeal... 47:36 an appeal to worship Christ supremely. 47:39 An appeal to worship Christ completely. 47:41 An appeal to worship Christ totally and absolutely. 47:55 "Thou wilt grant to me or give me the path of life. 47:59 Thou wilt lead me into pleasures forevermore" 48:02 the Psalmist says. 48:03 Jesus says in John 10:10 "I have come 48:07 and I have come that they might have life more abundantly. " 48:10 The beast offers us a barrage. 48:14 The powers of this world offer us simply tawdry 48:19 trinkets when Jesus wants to offer us Himself... 48:23 the pearl of great price. 48:25 Are you a truth seeker? 48:28 Some time ago the story is told 48:32 of a young man coming to Socrates. 48:36 And this young man said to Socrates: "Socrates, 48:39 you're a brilliant scholar. You're a deep philosopher. 48:43 Socrates, I want to know 48:46 your secret of finding truth. " 48:51 Socrates said: "Come with me. " 48:52 He took the young man. They walked through the streets 48:56 of Athens. They came there to the port. 49:01 As they came to the port they walked out into the water. 49:05 It was a beautiful day. 49:07 The sun was shining... puffy white clouds in the sky. 49:11 Deep blue sky. Socrates kept walking. 49:14 The young man said: "All I wanted to do was find truth. 49:16 What's going on here? " 49:17 They came out to the water about up to their chests. 49:20 Socrates said to the man: "Put your hands on your head. " 49:23 The man did. Socrates took his hands 49:25 and he put them on the man's head, pushed the man under 49:27 the water. The man came up: "ah-ha, ah-ha... " 49:29 Pushed him down again. He came and 49:31 he said: "All I wanted to do was find truth! " 49:33 And Socrates said: 49:34 "When you want to find truth as much as you wanted 49:39 that breath of fresh air come and talk to me 49:43 and I'll reveal to you the secret of finding truth. " 49:48 You know Jesus speaks to you 49:51 and He says: "Do you have a heart longing? " 49:55 "Has the television special so attracted your attention 49:59 you have little time to study God's Word? " 50:02 "Have the things of time for you 50:06 crowed out the things of eternity? " 50:10 Jesus is speaking to you. His people find their 50:15 greatest joy, their highest delight in worshiping Him. 50:20 When Christ appeals to you 50:22 would you like to say: "Jesus, open my eyes? " 50:25 "I long to know Your truth. " 50:27 "Open my eyes that I can see Your truth. " 50:31 "Open mine ears so I can hear Your Word. " 50:34 "Jesus, all I want is to worship the Creator of the universe. 50:39 To worship the One that lives for me, 50:43 that died for me, that intercedes for me, 50:46 that's coming again for me. " 50:49 Listen as Charles sings that wonderful song Open mine eyes 50:53 that I can see glimpses of truth... illumine me. 51:01 Open my eyes 51:04 that I may see 51:08 glimpses of truth 51:11 Thou hast for me. 51:15 Place in my hand 51:18 the wonderful key 51:21 that shall unclasp 51:24 and set me free. 51:29 Silently now 51:33 I wait for Thee. 51:36 Ready, my God, 51:40 Thy will to see. 51:44 Open my eyes, 51:47 illumine me 51:51 Spirit divine. 51:58 Open my ears 52:01 that I may hear 52:05 voices of truth 52:08 Thou sendest clear. 52:11 And while the wave notes 52:15 fall on my ear 52:18 everything false 52:21 will disappear. 52:27 Silently now 52:30 I wait for Thee. 52:33 Ready, my God, 52:36 Thy will to see. 52:40 Open my ears, 52:44 illumine me 52:48 Spirit divine. 52:55 Open my mouth 52:58 and let me bear 53:02 gladly the warm truth everywhere. 53:08 Open my heart 53:11 and let me prepare 53:14 love with Thy children 53:18 thus to share. 53:23 Silently now 53:27 I wait for Thee. 53:31 Ready, my God, 53:34 Thy will to see. 53:38 Open my heart, 53:42 illumine me 53:49 Spirit 53:54 divine. 54:05 Is that your desire 54:08 that Jesus will speak to you? 54:13 You say: "Pastor Mark, 54:16 I really want to know truth 54:19 but I'm not sure how to distinguish 54:22 between truth and error. 54:25 There is so much falsehood in the world. 54:29 How can I know truth? " 54:31 Jesus gives us really two characteristics 54:34 in knowing truth. First, 54:37 He says: "If any man will do His will 54:40 he shall know of the doctrine. " 54:43 Are you willing to do God's will? 54:47 Are you willing to do whatever Christ asks you to do? 54:53 Get on your knees... play fair with God. 54:57 Say: "God, I'm willing to do Your will. " 55:00 "I'm willing to do whatever You ask me to do. " 55:06 Secondly the Bible says 55:08 "Sanctify them... sanctify them through Thy Word. 55:13 Thy Word is truth. " 55:17 The second characteristic of doing God's will 55:21 is opening your heart to His Word. 55:26 Whatever His Word says 55:29 say: "Lord, that's what I want to do. " 55:34 "Whatever Your Word says Lord I want to follow You. " 55:38 How do we know truth? 55:40 A willing heart to do what He says 55:42 and an informed mind. 55:45 Now there are times that God is going to ask us to do 55:48 things that are... that seem to us impossible. 55:54 But remember: He is your Creator. 55:57 He is the all-powerful God. 56:01 He is the One that made you, 56:03 the One that fashioned you, the One that shaped you. 56:06 He is the One that has a plan for your life 56:08 and a destiny for your life. 56:10 He is the One that died for you. 56:13 He is the One that intercedes for you. 56:16 He's the One that's coming again for you. 56:18 When we make a decision to follow Christ 56:20 we do not make that decision in some vacuum. 56:24 He is there to strengthen us, to encourage us. 56:29 He is there to empower us. 56:32 Right now wherever you are 56:34 would you like to bow your head with me 56:36 as we pray? 56:39 Our Father in heaven, 56:41 thank you for the reality that You're there. 56:47 Thank you that You are our Creator. 56:49 We come to worship You... the One that made us. 56:52 The One that created us. 56:55 You are the all-powerful God, the infinite God. 57:00 You're the One that redeemed us, 57:03 that longs to save us by Your grace. 57:06 And You're the One who's coming again for us. 57:08 Give us Your strength to follow Your truth. 57:11 In Your name, Amen. 57:13 My friend, He loves you more than you know. 57:18 See you next time. |
Revised 2020-08-12