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Series Code: TIJ
Program Code: TIJ005111S
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00:25 Sydney is the oldest and biggest Australian city.
00:29 The Gadigal people of the Eora-nation was the traditional 00:33 owners of the land now called Sydney. 00:36 It was first settled by the British in 1788 as a colony of 00:41 exile convicts an is grown into one of the most multicultural 00:46 cities. Today it's home to over five million people 00:50 who speak over 250 languages. 00:53 There are 658 suburbs in Sydney and they cover over 2,500 square 01:00 kilometers making it larger in area than both London 01:05 and New York. The city is set on one of the worlds deepest 01:09 and most stunning harbors and is home to world-renowned 01:14 landmarks like the Sydney Harbor Bridge, it's nicknamed 01:18 the Coat Hanger because of its arched base design and is the 01:23 tallest steel arch bridge and the widest long-span bridge 01:27 in the world. It was finished in 1932 and took 272,000 liters 01:35 of paint to cover and that was just the first coat. 01:39 Then, there's the spectacular Sydney Opera House 01:43 with its unique series of gleaming white sail-shaped 01:48 shells as its roof structure. 01:49 It was completed in 1973 taking 14 years and 10,000 construction 01:57 workers to build with a final total cost of $102,000,000, 02:02 more than 14 time the originally intended price. 02:08 Millions of Sydney-siders use the iconic Sydney ferries 02:12 to travel to various locations around the harbor each year. 02:16 Ferry routes fan out in multiple directions as the 32 ferries 02:23 in the network transport their passengers around the harbor. 02:27 Sydney is home to the renowned Bondi Beach, 02:31 the core of Sydney's alluring beach-lifestyle and thriving 02:35 surf- culture. It's one of the most famous patches of sand 02:39 in Australia and beyond. 02:41 Sydney is also home to many world-famous celebrities, 02:47 politicians, and sports people and it's a city full of colorful 02:52 stories that cover virtually every aspect of its life 02:56 people, places, and events. Along with these moving and 03:02 fascinating stories come the urban myths legends and colorful 03:07 tales. From panthers living on the outskirts of the city 03:11 to bodies hidden in the Sydney Harbor Bridge, 03:14 they fascinate and amuse us. Just like the story of the man 03:19 who kept the people of Sydney safe from lion attacks. 03:22 Although humorous and a bit ridiculous the story reminds 03:27 us that we can face the future without fear, and that's 03:32 something we can deal with today. 03:52 An amusing little story or urban myth tells of a man who walked 03:59 the streets of Sydney always snapping his fingers 04:03 someone asked him why he was doing it and he replied 04:08 to keep the lions away. He was reminded that there hadn't been 04:13 any lions on the streets of Sydney for a long time. 04:16 And at that, he answered triumphantly, effective isn't it? 04:21 We smiled and the method used by this deluded person 04:26 dealing with his problem yet how many of us are using equally 04:31 foolish methods in dealing with our own problems and fears. 04:35 All the while killing ourselves that they're effective. 04:39 Consider for example our preoccupation with the future. 04:46 It would seem that ingrained in the human mind is a fear 04:51 of the unknown, an intense desire to know what lies ahead. 04:56 This is demonstrated by the countless millions in our world 05:00 today who read and follow astrological forecast columns. 05:05 found in our newspaper, magazines, and online. 05:09 This method of dealing with the problem of fear and 05:13 uncertainty concerning the future has made the psychics, 05:17 the astrologists, the clairvoyants and the Fortune 05:20 tellers, the high priests of our day. Recent research shows that... 05:34 to some extent but is this the answer to our need to discover 05:40 what lies ahead, or are we merely snapping our fingers 05:45 and deluding ourselves that we are effectively dealing with 05:49 these lions. 05:50 The psychics, astrologists, clairvoyants and fortune tellers 05:55 have failed to adequately provide reliable answers 05:59 regarding the future of our world 06:02 I believe there is a better way, a better way that is clearly 06:07 demonstrated in the experience of one of the greatest kings 06:11 this world has known. 06:14 Our story unfolds in the modern day land of Iraq unlike today 06:21 where the place is in great military-political turmoil 06:25 just over 2,600 years ago, it was firmly under the control 06:31 of a great warrior King and powerful leader who ruled an 06:34 empire known as ancient Babylon. His rule stretched through most 06:39 of the Middle East and at the time, this was the center of 06:43 the world. The king was Nebuchadnezzar and he 06:47 reigned from 605 BC to 652 BC for 57 years. 06:53 One night Nebuchadnezzar's sleep was disturbed by his 06:58 fears for the future Nebuchadnezzar was one of the 07:02 greatest rulers of the ancient world, his power was supreme 07:06 and unchallenged. His empire covered much of the then known 07:11 world and his capital Babylon had become the greatest center 07:15 of trade, architecture, art, and astronomy of the time. 07:20 He also built an enormous palace that included the famous 07:25 Hanging Gardens of Babylon which were considered one of the 07:28 Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 07:30 Yet, this night his sleep was troubled as he anxiously 07:36 contemplated his destiny. As he looked questioningly 07:40 into the future, he wondered for how long his future would last 07:45 and what the future held in store for him, his family, 07:49 his world empire. With his mind preoccupied with the 07:53 future, the king had a strange dream. 07:57 When he awoke the next morning he sensed that the dream had 08:01 great significance regarding the future. Yet, he was confused 08:05 because he couldn't remember the details of the dream. 08:09 As with many people today astrology and under Psychic 08:14 phenomena dominated the mind and decisions of 08:17 King Nebuchadnezzar, among his court advisors were the world's 08:22 leading magicians, enchanters, sorceress and astrologers. 08:27 The king snapped his fingers and these specialists 08:32 in the field of the occult was summoned to the royal court 08:35 to recall and interpret the dream. 08:38 It's all recorded in the Bible book of Daniel chapter two. 09:09 Now this fraternity of mystics claimed to have psychic powers 09:14 and to be in contact with the gods, they claimed to be able to 09:18 read the stars and foretell the future. 09:21 Now the king gave them a unique opportunity to reveal their 09:26 talents and demonstrate their psychic powers 09:30 it was up to them to either prove their claims 09:34 or expose their deceit. 09:36 Well, the hesitant gestures, time-wasting, and feeble excuses 09:42 of these so-called Wiseman soon indicated to the king 09:47 that they were frauds. They had to admit that they couldn't 09:51 tell the king his dream or its interpretation, 09:55 they had to confess that astrology didn't really work. 09:59 Well King Nebuchadnezzar wasn't used to being messed around 10:03 and furious of being deceived by their claims, 10:07 he commanded that all the Wiseman of Babylon be executed. 10:12 Now, numbered among the wise and learned elite of the empire 10:17 was a young Hebrew named Daniel who worshiped the one true God 10:22 of heaven. He had been captured by Nebuchadnezzar's army during 10:27 his first attack on Jerusalem in 605 B.C. and had been taken 10:32 prisoner to Babylon. 10:34 It was customary for Babylonian kings to select the finest young 10:39 scholars and the most talented captives and to educate them 10:43 to service advisors in the royal palace. 10:46 Now, although Daniel knew nothing of the events 10:50 surrounding the king's dream, the soldiers came for him as well 10:54 for he was considered a wise man. Finding himself under 11:00 sentence of death Daniel didn't despair, he knew that 11:05 the God of heaven whom he worshiped was well able to 11:08 reveal both the king's dream and it's meaning. 11:12 So Daniel asked for an audience with the king 11:16 and promised him that given time he would return with the 11:20 desired information. Permission was granted and Daniel and his 11:25 companions spent much of the night in prayer, 11:29 and God did not fail to hear and answer those prayers. 11:34 Listen to what the Bible tells us. 11:45 Daniel was back at the palace the next morning prepared 11:50 to tell the king all that he wanted to know. 11:53 Immediately Nebuchadnezzar inquired... 12:01 Without hesitation Daniel replied... 12:23 There was no hint of boasting in Daniel's voice as he revealed 12:27 what God had shown him. He started by pointing out 12:31 the failure of the astrologers and psychics. 12:34 He told the king that a knowledge of future events 12:38 is not to be found in astrology or in the mystic arts of occults 12:43 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. 12:48 This is the only source of dependable information 12:53 about the future, the God of heaven. 12:55 Daniel then proceeded to outline the entire dream. 13:01 Here it is. 13:22 So Daniel tells the king that his dream centered around 13:28 a huge statue, then he proceeds to provide all the details 13:32 about this statue. 13:48 Next, Daniel continues and describes exactly what happens 13:55 to the statue. 14:29 That's it, that's what the king dreamed. 14:32 Well the king could hardly contain his excitement 14:36 as he relived the scene of his dream that only a few hours 14:41 ago had flooded his mind. That's exactly what he dreamed. 14:46 It was a giant statue made of different metals, 14:50 it had a golden head and silver arms and brass thighs 14:54 and iron legs and clay feet mixed with iron. 14:58 And then a giant rock flew out of the sky and smashed it 15:04 to pieces and then the wind blew the pieces away 15:08 and the rock grew until it filled the whole earth. 15:11 Well, the king is amazed at the accurate description of his 15:16 dream. But now, he wants to know what it all means 15:21 he impatiently waits for the interpretation. 15:25 Daniel began... 15:37 So Daniel identified the head of gold as representing 15:43 Nebuchadnezzar's magnificent king of Babylon. 15:46 But the interpretation doesn't end there, for by this dream 15:52 God is not only answering Nebuchadnezzar's questions 15:56 about the future but yours and mine as well. 16:00 We will soon learn that this dream given by God speaks 16:06 in a very dramatic way to each of us. 16:09 God is here unveiling the future giving history in advance 16:15 by tracing the rise and fall of world powers 16:18 from Nebuchadnezzar's day to our time and beyond. 16:23 Yes, the dream reaches right down through history 16:28 and finds its climax in the days which we are living. 16:32 Daniel continued... 16:40 Courageously Daniel informed the king that his golden kingdom 16:45 is not to last forever but one day would be overthrown. 16:50 And so it turned out for the Meads and Persians represented 16:56 in the dream by the chest and arms of silver defeated the 17:00 Babylonians in 539 BC and dominated the world political 17:05 scene for two centuries. At its height, It encompassed 17:10 the areas of modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of 17:16 Afghanistan, and Pakistan. 17:18 The Persians were the first people to establish routes to 17:23 communication between three continents Africa, Asia, 17:28 and Europe. They built many new roads and developed 17:32 the world's first postal service but the Persian Empire wasn't 17:37 to last forever. Continuing on... 17:41 Daniel told of a third kingdom. 17:48 The Greeks under the brilliant leadership of Alexander the Great 17:53 defeated the Persians in the Battle of Arabella in 331 B.C. 17:58 Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military genius's 18:03 of all time. He managed to conquer on foot twenty million 18:08 subjects in over three million square kilometers in something 18:13 like just four years or by the time he was 32 years old. 18:18 He appeared completely unstoppable. 18:22 The ancient Jewish historian Josephus documented how... 18:34 However this third kingdom represented in the king's 18:39 dream by the belly and thighs of bronze was to end 18:43 and be followed by a fourth kingdom. For Daniel said... 19:03 The Greek Empire eventually fell into decline. 19:07 In 168 B.C., the Iron monarchy of Rome, a new and rising 19:13 world power defeated the Greeks in the Battle of Pigna 19:17 and grasped the scepter of world control. 19:21 The fourth kingdom represented in the dream by the legs of iron 19:26 was the most enduring and extensive of the four world 19:30 empires. It was the Romans who ruled the world when 19:35 Jesus Christ was born, and they were indeed an Iron Empire 19:39 more ferocious than any army, the world has ever seen. 19:44 And literally stomped all over Europe and the middle east 19:48 subjecting everything in their path. 19:51 But even Rome wouldn't last forever and it too would fall. 19:56 King Nebuchadnezzar listened spellbound as Daniel opened 20:04 up the last section of the dream, here the whole complexion 20:08 of the dream changed. Amazingly no Fifth World Empire emerged 20:15 from the ruins of the Roman Empire. 20:16 Rather, as Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar... 20:37 Daniel stressed the point of division even as iron and clay 20:44 cannot and will not bind or unite, so the Roman Empire would 20:50 disintegrate into 10 nations which would never be united 20:54 into a universal empire as Rome once was. 20:58 The mighty empire of Rome finally collapsed in A.D. 476 21:05 with the Germanic Leader Odoasa staged a revolt 21:09 and deposed the emperor Romulus Augustus. The empire was divided 21:14 among the barbarian tribes which developed into the 21:17 nations of modern Europe. Some strong as iron 21:21 some weak as clay, but hopelessly divided. 21:26 Numerous military leaders including Napoleon, 21:30 Kaiser Wilhelm, and Adolf Hitler have tried to unify these 21:36 nations into a single mighty empire again. 21:39 However, all these attempts have met with failure 21:44 for as the prophecy predicted long ago... 21:56 God said that nobody would re-unite Europe, the western 22:02 Roman Empire and that's exactly what's happened. 22:06 and continues to hold true to today. We see a divided and 22:12 unstable Europe. In 2016, the British people voted to leave 22:18 the European Union for the first time ever. 22:22 One of the 28 member nations of the European Union 22:26 voted to leave. The British decision is unsettled in EU 22:32 and raised uncertainty about its future 22:35 it's a reminder of how uncertain and divided Europe is. 22:40 Daniel then proceeded to the climax of the dream 22:45 to the most important part of the prophecy for those of us 22:49 living in the 2020s. Here's what he said... 23:08 God says that in the days of the kings represented by 23:17 the ten toes of the image, the nations of modern Europe today, 23:21 He will set up an eternal kingdom to end all earthly 23:25 kingdoms. This eternal kingdom was represented in the dream 23:30 by the rock that struck the image on its feet of iron 23:34 and clay thus destroying it. And so the next great drama 23:40 on the stage of human history is the second coming 23:43 of Jesus Christ... 23:54 That's what the Bible says. 23:57 Here is the true source of knowledge and hope concerning 24:01 the future. This world is in God's hands. 24:05 He is in control. He orders world events. 24:09 There is a plan and it will not fail. 24:13 For history proved that the dream is true and the 24:17 interpretation trustworthy. 24:19 Four world empires... 24:26 Everyone of them has already come and gone. 24:30 Then a divided Europe which is still with us today. 24:34 You and I are living under the last human government 24:39 described in the prophecy. We are living in the toenails 24:44 of the image. The next great event in this prophecy 24:47 is the setting up of God's kingdom. 24:50 Jesus Christ is soon to establish His eternal kingdom 24:55 a kingdom that has been made possible through Calvary. 25:00 Now is the time to pray with the thief who accepted Jesus 25:04 on the cross...Lord, remember me when you come into 25:09 your kingdom. Why not decide right now to apply by that 25:14 simple method for citizenship in Christ's everlasting kingdom. 25:20 Let's stop snapping our fingers and turn to the better way 25:25 to Him who is the way and the truth and the life. 25:30 If you would like to know more about Bible Prophecy 25:36 and what the future holds in store for you and your family 25:40 and how to become a citizen in God's kingdom 25:43 then I would like to recommend the free gift we have 25:47 for all our viewers today. 25:48 It's a booklet called A King, A Dream and You. 25:54 This booklet is our gift to you and is free 25:58 I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever. 26:03 This booklet will give you a fresh understanding of Bible 26:07 Prophecy and provide you with new insight into your future 26:12 one that is filled with hope. So, don't miss this wonderful 26:17 opportunity to receive the gift we have for you today. 26:21 Phone or text us at 0436.333.555 in Australia, or 020.422.2042 26:31 in New Zealand or visit our website at TIJ.tv 26:36 or simply scan the QR code on your screen and we'll send you 26:41 today's free offer is totally free of charge and with no obligation. 26:45 Write to us at GPO Box 274, Sydney New South Whales 26:50 2001 Australia or PO Box 76673 Manikau 2241 New Zealand. 26:59 Don't delay, call or text now. 27:02 I you've enjoyed today journey from the streets of Sydney 27:11 back through the centuries of history to ancient Babylon, 27:14 then be sure to join us again next week 27:17 when we will share another of Life's journey's together. 27:21 Until then, Let's ask God to guide and direct our future and 27:27 prepare us for citizenship in His kingdom. 27:31 Let's pray. 27:34 Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for the great 27:37 prophecies of the Bible, that reveal the future 27:40 and clearly tell us that Jesus is coming soon to establish 27:45 your eternal kingdom. And I thank you that because of Jesus 27:50 all who choose to accept you and follow you can be 27:54 citizen's in that kingdom as well. We all want to be ready 27:59 when Jesus comes. Please grant each of us a place in your 28:03 kingdom. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen! |
Revised 2023-05-11