Participants: Charles Byrd (Host), Andrea Endries, Carl Preval, Levi Longoria
Series Code: THL
Program Code: THL000024
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00:01 Today we're going to be looking at
00:02 one of the most startling and thunderous 00:04 teachings of Jesus found in the entire Bible. 00:07 One that for more than 310 million people 00:10 will hit very close to home. 00:13 Stay with us as we consider the prophecies of Jesus, 00:16 regarding the United States of America. 01:13 "Red at night, sailors delight, 01:16 red in morning, sailors take warning." 01:20 Science has discovered that there may 01:22 just be something to this old English sailing proverb. 01:26 You see, when there is a red sky at night, 01:29 it tells us that the setting sun 01:31 is sending its light through an atmosphere 01:33 with a high concentration and dust particles. 01:36 This usually indicates high pressure 01:38 and stable air coming in from the west. 01:41 Simply said, "Good weather is on its way." 01:45 On the other hand, if the morning sky 01:48 is a deep fiery red, it may indicate 01:51 a high water content in the atmosphere. 01:54 So rain is on its way. 01:56 That's the modern scientific explanation. 01:59 But did you know the premise of this 02:01 old sailing proverb can actually be traced 02:04 all the way back to the teachings of Jesus Himself. 02:08 It's true. 02:09 In Mathew 16:1-3 Jesus said, 02:12 "When it is evening, ye say, 02:14 it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. 02:17 And in the morning, it will be foul weather to day, 02:21 for the sky is red and lowering. 02:24 O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, 02:29 but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" 02:33 Jesus was using the same illustration 02:36 to point out that certain signs will definitely announce 02:39 that we are nearing the end of time. 02:42 In fact, Jesus said, 02:44 "We can know when His coming is near." 02:47 How? By the signs. 02:52 That's right, Charles. 02:53 So let's go ahead and read what some of those signs 02:55 are that Jesus talks about. 02:58 In Mathew 24:4-8, it says, 03:00 "And Jesus answered and said to them, 03:04 'Take heed that no one deceives you. 03:06 For many will come in my name, saying, 03:08 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 03:11 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.' 03:15 See that you are not troubled, for all these things 03:18 must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 03:22 For nation will rise against nation, 03:24 and kingdom against kingdom. 03:25 And there will be famines, pestilences, 03:27 and earthquakes in various places. 03:30 All these are the beginning of sorrows." 03:34 So are we seeing 03:35 the fulfillments of these signs today? 03:38 The answer is absolutely and indisputably yes. 03:42 We don't have time today to go 03:43 over all the different signs Jesus spoke about, 03:46 but I at least want to take a look 03:48 at a couple of them just so you can get 03:50 an idea of how clearly these things 03:52 are being fulfilled in our time. 03:54 On the official, United States Geological Service website, 03:58 you can find a list of the earthquakes 04:00 which the USGS has selected 04:02 as being of general historical interests 04:05 dating back to the 9th century AD. 04:08 If you take the time to go through 04:10 and count all the earthquakes listed under each century, 04:13 you'll be amazed at what you find. 04:16 Listen to this. 04:17 In the 800s, there are two earthquakes 04:20 listed for the whole century. 04:22 In the 1100s, there is only one earthquake 04:24 listed for the whole century. 04:27 In the 1200s, there are two 04:28 and then also two in the 1500s. 04:31 But notice what happens when we get to the 1600s. 04:34 Instead of being one or two like the centuries previous, 04:38 the number of earthquakes 04:39 noted in the 1600s, skyrockets to 10. 04:43 That's a 500% jump in just one century. 04:48 Then the 1700s get even worse 04:52 with 14 notable earthquakes taking place. 04:55 But, my friends, we haven't seen anything yet. 04:58 In the 1800s, there is a mega lead to 61. 05:03 That's a nearly 3,000% jump from the 800s. 05:07 And if you are still not convince 05:08 that the signs Jesus foretold are coming to pass. 05:12 Well, how about the 1900s? 05:14 Amazingly in the 1900s, 05:16 the number of notable earthquakes jumps to 427. 05:22 That's more than a 21,000% increase. 05:27 I mean, what more do you need 05:28 in order to see that the signs Jesus foretold are here. 05:33 And listen, if that wasn't enough, 05:35 between the years 2000 and 2011, 05:38 there have already been 441 earthquakes listed. 05:42 That's more notable earthquakes 05:44 in the first 11 years of this century 05:46 than there were in the entire 20th century. 05:50 And since we're on the topic of natural disasters, 05:53 let's look at how the number of tornados 05:55 has increased in recent years. 05:57 In the early 1950s, there were somewhere between 06:00 200 and 300 tornados reported each year. 06:04 But by the time we come into the early 21st century 06:07 that number is up to between 1600 and 1800 per year. 06:13 Clearly, something is going on. 06:17 You better believe it, Andrea. 06:19 And we haven't even talked about of the wars, 06:21 rumors of wars, famine, pestilence, and false christs. 06:25 I mean, we could literally spend 06:27 a whole study just talking about 06:29 how the signs are being fulfilled. 06:31 Take wars, for example. 06:34 We've all heard that the 20th century 06:36 was one of the bloodiest centuries of all time, 06:38 but some people say, 06:40 "Of course, there were more conflict related, 06:42 that's because the world population 06:45 was more than double from the century before. 06:48 More people equals to more deaths." 06:51 But is that really the only reason 06:53 it was the bloodiest century? 06:56 Well, let's take a look at it based-- 06:58 not on the numbers, but based on the percentages. 07:02 Here are the percentages of the past five centuries 07:05 of conflict related deaths 07:07 as compared to the world population of the time. 07:11 In the 1500s, the percentage was 0.32. 07:15 In the 1600s, it was 1.05. 07:20 The 1700s were at 0.92. 07:24 The 1800s jumped up to 1.65, 07:28 and the 1900s were at, you're ready? 07:32 4.35%. 07:35 That's well over 2 1/2 times 07:38 the bloodiest century prior to it. 07:42 Now we don't have time to cover 07:44 all of the signs that Jesus talked about here, 07:47 but I assure you, if we did, 07:49 we'd find the same upward trend 07:51 in every one of them as we have in the few 07:53 that we've already looked at. 07:55 So the question, are we at the end of world? 08:00 Well, obviously, yes. 08:02 But Jesus said, 08:04 "It would get even worse than all these things. 08:07 All these are the beginning of sorrows." 08:10 He said in Mathew 24:8. 08:12 But look at what He said would happen next. 08:16 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, 08:21 and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake." 08:26 Really? Hated by all nations? 08:30 A worldwide death decree for God's end time people? 08:35 That's what Jesus prophesied. 08:37 In fact, Jesus actually tells us 08:39 where this persecution, 08:41 this worldwide death decree is going to originate. 08:44 Levi. 08:46 That's why, Carl. 08:47 And I know right now we all want to know 08:49 what Jesus said this persecution will originate. 08:53 Of course, He never mentions 08:55 the actual name of this place or nation, 08:58 but He does give us a list of identifying features 09:02 that will allow us to recognize this persecuting power. 09:05 Now stay with me here because in my own study 09:08 I discovered that, what Jesus taught 09:10 in Matthew 24 about the signs of His return 09:14 parallels what He revealed to John in Revelation 13 and 14 09:18 with remarkable clarity. 09:21 And first of all, both Matthew 24 and Revelation 13 09:26 speak about worldwide death decree 09:28 for God's faithful end time people. 09:31 Then in Matthew 24:11 were told that, 09:34 "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." 09:41 Revelation 13:14 tells us that, 09:43 this lamb like beast also described 09:46 as the false prophet in Revelation 16. 09:49 "Deceived all the people living on the earth 09:52 by means of the miracles 09:53 which it was allowed to perform." 09:56 The next verse in Matthew verse 12 09:59 says that lawlessness will abound. 10:03 And following the same order, 10:04 the next thing we come to in Revelation is this beast saying, 10:07 "To all of them that dwell on the earth, 10:10 that they should make an image to the beast." 10:13 Which is very much parallel to the lawlessness in Matthew. 10:17 And this image to the beast is set up 10:19 when laws were enforced that will 10:21 seek to compel people to worship 10:23 contrary to the Ten Commandments law of God. 10:27 And especially, the Fourth Commandment, the Sabbath. 10:31 For more information on this point, 10:33 see lesson 13 entitled "Who Moved the Mark." 10:38 Next, we read in Matthew 24:13, 10:41 "That he who endures to the end shall be saved." 10:46 In Revelation 13:10, 10:47 it speaks of the persecuted saints is having patience 10:51 because of what they need to endure. 10:54 Our final parallel is found in Matthew 24:14. 10:58 "And this gospel of the kingdom 11:01 will be preached in all the world 11:03 as a witness to all nations and then the end will come." 11:10 Did you get that? 11:11 After Jesus describes the persecution, 11:14 the deception, the lawlessness, 11:16 He says that, notice "That gospel will be 11:20 preached to all nations and then the end will come." 11:25 That is to say, Jesus will return. 11:29 And once again, Revelation follows a perfect parallel. 11:33 Just six verses into the very next chapter in Revelation. 11:37 We read this. 11:38 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, 11:42 having the everlasting" What? 11:46 "The everlasting gospel to preach 11:49 unto them that dwell on the earth." 11:52 And just like Matthew 24, 11:54 "To every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." 12:01 My friends, this is the gospel that Jesus said 12:04 will go out to the whole world just before His return. 12:08 If you want to know what He expects 12:10 the faithful last day church to be preaching, 12:13 then read this whole message found in Revelation 14:6-12. 12:19 It's known as the Three Angels' Message. 12:22 And by the way, just as in Matthew 14, 12:26 immediately after the preaching of this Three Angels' Message, 12:30 Jesus is to seen coming back to harvest the earth. 12:34 So are the things that Jesus taught in Matthew 24 12:38 and what we read in Revelation 13 and 14 12:41 descriptions of the same events? 12:44 Well, I would have to give a resounding yes. 12:48 Well, Levi, those are some amazing discoveries. 12:53 And with that context now, 12:54 we can actually begin to unpack 12:56 the beast powers of Revelation 13. 13:00 The first beast is found in Revelation 13:1-10, 13:04 and the second in Revelation 13:11-18. 13:08 Let's begin with the first one. 13:10 In Revelation 13:1-3 John writes 13:14 "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, 13:17 and saw a beast rise up out of the sea. 13:20 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, 13:23 and his feet were as the feet of a bear, 13:25 and his mouth as the mouth of a lion, 13:28 and the dragon gave him his power, 13:31 and his seat, and great authority." 13:34 This is a representation of the same persecuting power 13:37 described in the Book of Daniel as the little horn 13:40 which in two previous lessons 13:42 we identified as the Roman Catholic Church. 13:45 Now we don't have enough time 13:47 to fully cover this point today, 13:50 but let's just make a few comparisons 13:52 between the little horn power of Daniel 7 and 8, 13:54 and the first beast here in Revelation 13. 13:59 Daniel 7:25 says, 14:01 "He shall speak great words against the Most High." 14:05 In Revelation 13:6, "He opened his mouth 14:08 in blasphemy against God." 14:11 Daniel 7:21 says, "He made war with the saints, 14:15 and prevailed against them." 14:17 In Revelation 13:7, "It was given unto him 14:20 to make war with the saints." 14:23 Daniel 8:24 says, "And his power shall be mighty, 14:27 but not by his own power." 14:30 In Revelation 13:2, "The dragon gave him his power, 14:34 and his seat, and great authority." 14:37 Daniel 7:25 says, "The saints shall be 14:40 given into his hand for a time and times and half a time." 14:46 This is the 1260 year period that lasted from 538 to 1798. 14:53 And in Revelation 13:5, 14:55 the same time period is described 14:58 as forty and two months 15:00 that the beast was given power to continue. 15:03 In Daniel 7:1-8, "This Roman power 15:06 is preceded by Babylon, Medo-Persia, 15:08 and Greece symbolized by a lion, a bear, and a leopard. 15:14 In Revelation 13:2, the same kingdoms 15:17 are mentioned only in reverse orders. 15:20 A leopard, a bear, and lion 15:22 because unlike Daniel who was writing 15:24 from the time of Babylon looking forward to the time of Rome. 15:28 John was writing from the time of Rome 15:30 looking backward in history to the time of Babylon. 15:34 So the first beast in Revelation 13 15:37 must be the Roman Catholic Church. 15:40 The same power as the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8. 15:44 But what about that second beast? 15:48 Well, now that we know 15:49 who the first beast of Revelation 13 is. 15:52 It really shouldn't be all that 15:53 difficult to identify the second. 15:56 So let's go about this task kind of like a news reporter 15:58 asking the questions who, what, where, when, and how. 16:04 Let's begin with the what. 16:06 What is this beast? 16:08 Daniel 7:17 says, "These great beasts, 16:12 which are four, are four kings." 16:15 Verse 23 says, "The fourth beast 16:18 shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth." 16:21 So what does a beast represent in Bible prophecy? 16:24 A kingdom or a nation. 16:27 And among other things we're also told 16:29 in Revelation 13:11 that this beast 16:32 or nation has two horns like a lamb. 16:35 What does this represent? 16:38 Well, the other 28 times the word lamb is used 16:41 in the Book of Revelation, it refers to Christ. 16:44 So we would be safe to say that at the very least 16:47 this nation is represented as having 16:49 some Christ-like characteristics. 16:51 Thus, point number one is that this beast 16:54 represents a kingdom or nation 16:56 that possesses Christian characteristics or principles. 17:00 Pretty simple so far. 17:02 And now for the when. 17:04 When does this nation arise? 17:06 According to Revelation 13:10-11, 17:09 this beast arises right around the time 17:11 the first beast receives its deadly wound. 17:15 When was the deadly wound inflicted upon the papacy? 17:18 In 1798, when Pope Pius VI 17:21 was taken captive by the French General, 17:23 Alexander Berthier causing the Roman Catholic Church 17:26 to lose her authority. 17:29 So point number two, is that it would arise 17:31 sometime around the year 1798. 17:34 And how about the where? 17:37 Well, unlike the other beasts 17:38 in Daniel and Revelation which arise from the sea, 17:41 verse 11 tells us that this beast rises out of the earth. 17:46 According to Revelation 17:15, 17:49 the sea represents peoples, multitudes, nations, 17:52 and tongues, or a populated area. 17:55 Thus, the earth would represent the opposite, 17:58 a sparsely populated area. 18:01 So our third point is that these beasts 18:04 or nation rises in a sparsely populated area of earth. 18:09 And now for our last question. 18:11 How does this beast come to power? 18:14 Unlike other beast mentioned 18:15 it's not seeing conquering another nation 18:17 in order to gain its territory or supremacy, 18:20 but rather it's simply comes up out of the earth. 18:24 Thus, our fourth and final point 18:27 is that this nation does not conquer another world kingdom 18:30 in order to gain its position and power. 18:33 So my friends, which nation does this beast represent? 18:37 There can be no question that this beast 18:40 represents the United States of America. 18:43 No other nation fits as Carl will explain. 18:49 Well, Andrea, let's go through 18:51 and look at each of the points that you mentioned. 18:54 First of all, is America a nation 18:57 that was founded upon Christian principles? 19:01 Well, what did its founders have to say? 19:04 In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, 19:06 yes, the same Thomas Jefferson 19:08 who wrote the "Declaration of Independence." 19:11 John Adams, our second President said, 19:15 "The general principles upon 19:16 which the Fathers achieved independence 19:19 were the general principles of Christianity." 19:24 In 1775, John Hancock wrote. 19:27 "We recognize no sovereign but God, 19:31 and no King but Jesus." 19:35 Both these men were actual signers 19:38 of the declaration of independence. 19:40 And they believe that America 19:42 was indeed founded upon Christian principles. 19:46 How about point number two? 19:49 Did America rise as a nation around the year 1798? 19:53 Absolutely. 19:55 The declaration of independence was signed on July 4,, 1776. 20:00 The constitution was voted in 1787. 20:04 In 1791, they adopted the bill of rights. 20:08 And by 1798, the United States of America 20:12 was clearly recognized as the sovereign nation. 20:17 And point number three. 20:19 Did America arise from 20:20 a sparsely populated area of the earth? 20:24 Yes, unlike the other kingdoms of Daniel 20:27 and Revelation which are arose 20:29 from the populated continent of Europe, 20:32 America arose from a sparsely populated 20:35 and little known area of earth. 20:38 It clearly fits the description. 20:41 Finally, did America have to conquer 20:43 another world kingdom in order to gain its supremacy? 20:47 The answer is no. 20:50 Although the continent had native tribes, 20:53 it did not have an established world kingdom 20:56 which would need to be taken out of the way 20:58 in order for the new nation to grow. 21:01 So, who is this second beast? 21:05 My friends, clearly the second beast of Revelation 13 21:10 can be none other than the United States of America. 21:15 That's right, Carl. 21:17 And now that we understand 21:18 who the two beasts of Revelation 13 are, 21:20 the Roman Catholic Church and the United States of America. 21:25 Yeah, I want to take the study a step further. 21:28 In Revelation 13 says that "He" that is the United States 21:33 "Exercises all the power of the first beast before him, 21:37 and causes the earth and them which dwell therein 21:41 to worship the first beast. 21:43 That as many as would not worship 21:46 the image of the beast should be killed." 21:49 But exactly who is involved 21:51 in persecuting God's people here 21:52 and what's the reason for the persecution? 21:56 The shocking answer is found in Revelation 17. 22:00 Here, the same two persecuting powers 22:03 are represented not as beast, 22:05 but as the harlot woman and her daughters. 22:09 Revelation 17:3-6 says, 22:12 "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness. 22:16 And I saw a woman. 22:17 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, 22:21 and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. 22:25 And upon her forehead was a name written, mystery, 22:29 Babylon the great, the mother of harlots 22:32 and abominations of the earth. 22:35 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, 22:38 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." 22:42 Now a woman in prophecy is a symbol of a church, 22:45 so it makes sense that the papacy 22:48 or Roman Catholic Church will be symbolized this way. 22:51 And she is called the great harlot in verse 1, 22:54 and she has the name Babylon the great, 22:57 written on her forehead here in verse 5. 22:59 But she also has daughters or other churches 23:03 that follow in her example of harlotry. 23:06 What is this harlotry? 23:08 And how is that the other churches are following her in it 23:11 and becoming a part of spiritual Babylon? 23:15 The answer, believe it or not 23:17 is clearly seen in the color she is wearing. 23:22 Sound strange, but Levi is actually right about this. 23:26 Let's take a look at it. 23:28 Revelation 17:4 says, "She was arrayed in purple 23:32 and scarlet and decked with gold." 23:36 Now compare the colors of these false priests 23:38 with the colors God's true priest were to wear. 23:42 "And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, 23:46 of purple, and of scarlet." 23:49 So what was this harlot missing? 23:52 The blue. 23:54 And this missing blue color 23:56 is critical when you understand what it means. 24:00 Numbers 15:38-39 says, 24:03 "Put a blue thread in the tassels 24:06 that you may look upon it and remember 24:08 all the commandments of the Lord and do them." 24:12 The blue was there to remind them 24:14 of God's commandments to keep them and do them. 24:18 Disobedience to God's law constitutes spiritual adultery. 24:23 Just listen to how verse 39 continues. 24:27 "That you may not follow the harlotry 24:29 to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined." 24:33 It's clear. 24:35 This woman of Revelation 17 is missing the blue. 24:38 And what does she called? She is called a harlot. 24:42 Why? 24:43 Because she is not keeping God's commandments 24:46 and that is the issue upon what she becomes spiritual Babylon. 24:51 And upon which her daughters 24:52 become part of spiritual Babylon 24:55 and follow in her example of harlotry. 24:58 "Red in the morning, sailors take warning." 25:02 You know, Jesus taught that we are fools 25:04 when we are slow to believe what the prophets have told us. 25:08 Jesus said, "We are hypocrites." 25:10 When we claim to be Christians 25:11 and yet fail to discern the fulfilled signs of prophecy. 25:16 So pay attention to what we've learned today. 25:20 We've learned of a lamb like beast 25:22 that would begin in a Christ-like manner. 25:25 We learned that this nation 25:27 would eventually speak like a dragon or Satan, 25:30 trying to force everyone 25:32 to worship at the seat of the papacy. 25:34 And we learned that this beast power, 25:37 the United States will issue a worldwide death decree 25:41 for those who refused to worship in the Catholic manner. 25:44 In particular, on Sunday. 25:47 Right now it may seem impossible 25:49 for these predictions to come true, 25:52 but considering the Daniel and Revelation 25:54 have perfect track records I'm compelled to believe. 25:58 So listen carefully. 26:00 We learned today that God predicted 26:02 that a lamblike nation would come to power, 26:06 that was fulfilled in the United States of America. 26:09 We also learned that God foretold this nation 26:12 encouraged by the harlot daughters of the papacy 26:15 or apostate Protestantism would abandoned the law of God. 26:21 That prophecy has certainly have been fulfilled, 26:23 especially in regards to the Fourth Commandment, 26:26 the seventh day Sabbath. 26:29 Almost all the Protestant Churches today 26:32 are following the Roman Church 26:34 in breaking the Fourth of the Ten Commandments. 26:37 Apostate Protestantism is keeping 26:39 the first day of the week which the Catholic Church 26:42 claimed to solemnify in place of the true 26:46 seventh-day Sabbath of the Ten Commandments. 26:49 So my friend, is the sky red today? 26:53 We've already seen that the signs Jesus 26:55 talked about are all around, 26:57 so we can be certain that everything He spoke of us 27:00 taking place just before His return 27:03 will indeed come to pass. 27:05 And in fact, is coming to pass. 27:08 So the question we must now ask ourselves is. 27:11 Will we be faithful to God? 27:14 Will we answer the call of Jesus 27:17 to come out of this false system of worship? 27:20 Will we choose to love and obey Jesus? 28:08 Did you know the "Thunder in the Holy Land" 28:10 is a Bible study series that gives you the ability 28:13 to share the hope you have in Christ at a moments notice. 28:17 These interacted and clear Bible studies 28:20 on the teachings of Jesus 28:22 thrive on group discussion and individual thought. 28:25 Learn more at qlp.tv. |
Revised 2014-12-17