Participants:
Series Code: UBP
Program Code: UBP000007S
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00:01 Have you ever wondered
00:02 what happens the moment after you die? 00:04 Have you ever been fearful of death? 00:06 And what does the Bible teach about the afterlife? 00:10 You might be surprised... it may not be what you think. 00:14 My name is Cami Oetman. 00:15 Stay with me for the answers to these questions 00:18 as Unlocking Bible Prophecies starts now. 00:22 The rise of an international pandemic 00:25 polarizing global politics. 00:28 Increasingly destructive natural disasters. 00:32 Bush fires in Australia 00:33 are warning of may be to come around the world. 00:36 What does it all mean? 00:38 What does the future hold? 00:40 Music... 00:41 Join international Speaker, Cami Oetman 00:45 on a journey for answers in Unlocking Bible Prophecies. 00:48 In her travels around the world, 00:51 she's come face to face with real-life struggles 00:53 but in the midst of that, she has found miracles of hope. 00:56 Music... 00:58 Join Cami Oetman for Unlocking Bible Prophecies 01:01 as she shares how Bible prophecy 01:03 is being fulfilled faster than ever before. 01:06 Music... 01:14 Can you believe it? 01:15 Tonight marks the half-way point 01:17 of Unlocking Bible Prophecies. 01:19 This continuing Series of Presentations 01:22 will help you better understand the Bible... 01:24 prophecies... and where this world is headed. 01:26 You can go to asr. org/bible to watch all previous Programs 01:33 and find some powerful resources for further study. 01:36 I hope that you were inspired by yesterday's Presentation: 01:41 The Counterfeit. 01:42 We saw that there is no Biblical evidence 01:45 that God's day of worship has changed 01:48 from the Seventh-day Sabbath to the first day Sunday. 01:51 History confirms that Sunday worship is a man-made tradition. 01:56 Constantine united pagan sun worship and Christianity 02:00 under the helm of Sunday worship. 02:02 Let's remember, that for every Bible truth 02:06 Satan has his counterfeit. 02:08 God's law is like His character... 02:11 it never changes. 02:12 Tonight we will discover... 02:14 prophecy reveals that what people believe about death 02:18 will be a major influence in last-day events. 02:21 Can we find hope that goes beyond the grave? 02:24 What really happens at death? 02:26 The question of what really happens at death 02:29 has a solid Biblical answer. 02:32 Let's pray now before we study the grave. 02:34 "Dear heavenly Father, 02:36 King of the Universe... King of our hearts... 02:38 Lord, empty me of self... fill me with Your Holy Spirit 02:42 and anoint my lips with only Your words. 02:44 We praise you for the truth that we find in Your Word 02:47 because we can count on You 02:49 and we so love you Lord, 02:51 in Jesus' precious name, amen. " 02:53 Have you ever been at the bedside of the dying 02:57 or felt the sting of losing a child in the prime of life? 03:00 If death's black veil has separated you 03:04 from the love of your life, 03:05 maybe you've wondered, "Is this all there is to life?" 03:08 We live... we die and then what? 03:11 Since the beginning of time, the cycles of life and death 03:15 have left holes in people's hearts. 03:17 Tonight we will find the Bible pulls back the veil 03:21 and solves death's mystery. 03:23 The Bible will expose the popular lies 03:26 regarding what happens when you die. 03:28 Ephesians 5:11 says, 03:31 "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, 03:35 but rather expose them. " 03:37 Jesus makes sure to provide us with solid evidence 03:41 in Scripture 03:43 so that we do not have to guess, wonder or worry. 03:46 We can know and be grounded in the truth. 03:49 Please try to set aside all preconceived ideas 03:53 on the subject of death 03:54 and allow God's Word to speak. 03:57 Let the Bible inform you. 03:59 Now, I recognize that even Christians and non-Christians 04:03 look at this subject of death differently. 04:06 Some religions believe in reincarnation... 04:08 some secular people believe that death is the end 04:12 with nothing beyond the grave. 04:13 If you would ask most Christians, 04:15 "What happens when you die?" 04:17 They would say... a person has a soul... 04:20 it goes to heaven or hell when they die. 04:23 Others might believe in purgatory... 04:25 an in-between stop... 04:27 Are the dead asleep waiting for the resurrection 04:30 when Jesus comes? 04:32 Or are they already in heaven? 04:34 And if they are in heaven, do souls have eyes? 04:38 Can they speak? 04:40 Do they have mouths or ears? 04:42 If a soul has eyes and a mouth and ears 04:46 and you could see it up in heaven, 04:47 why does it have to come back for the body? 04:51 Hmmm... 04:52 So there are all kinds of confusing questions. 04:55 People are really perplexed about the subject of death. 04:58 Is the soul immortal 05:00 or is there a resurrection? 05:02 You see, if the soul is immortal, 05:05 then it could go to either heaven or hell 05:07 immediately after death. 05:09 If the soul is immortal, 05:11 then the dead could actually talk to the living. 05:14 The whole issue of death has to do 05:16 with the question of immortality. 05:19 Do we have it now? 05:21 Will it be given to us at the second coming of Christ? 05:23 Hmmm... 05:25 Our theme will give us the answers. 05:27 If it's in the Bible, I believe it. 05:30 If it disagrees with the Bible, 05:32 then, it's not for me. 05:33 There once was a little boy walking in a graveyard. 05:37 One of the headstones caught his eye. 05:39 In inscription read: 05:41 Friend, stop as you go by, 05:43 as you are now... once was I, 05:45 as I am now... you soon shall be, 05:48 so prepare yourself to follow me. 05:51 Well, the little boy took out his crayon from his pocket 05:54 and scribbled on the headstone, 05:56 "To follow you, I'm not content... 05:58 until I know just where you went. " 06:01 All ages from all times want to know 06:04 where you go when you die. 06:06 The Bible gives us dependable answers 06:09 that reveals not only what happens after death 06:11 but also, how to face death with new hope and confidence. 06:16 The very first chapter of the book of Revelation 06:20 introduces us to a glorious person... the person of Jesus. 06:24 He is dressed in a glowing white robe. 06:27 His eyes are like flames of fire. 06:29 Jesus identifies Himself in Revelation 1:18, 06:33 "I am He who lives, and was dead, 06:37 and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. 06:41 And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. " 06:45 Jesus conquered death 06:48 so He holds the keys to the grave. 06:50 Any believer who dies and rests in Jesus 06:53 can look forward to the resurrection. 06:55 But somebody says, 06:57 "What does the Bible teach 06:59 about the idea of the immortal soul?" 07:01 Well, let's go back to Genesis to the creation week 07:05 to find a clue as to what happens when a person dies. 07:08 Maybe if we understand what happened at our creation, 07:12 we can understand something about what happens when we die. 07:15 The Bible says in Genesis 2 verse 7, 07:18 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, 07:22 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; 07:25 and man became a living soul. " 07:29 Notice these three key phrases here, 07:32 God formed man of the dust of the ground... 07:34 breathed into him the breath of life... 07:37 and man became a living soul. 07:40 Does the Bible say that God put an immortal soul in Adam? 07:45 No, it doesn't say that... 07:48 instead it reveals the formula for the human being. 07:53 Dust + Spirt 07:55 = A Living Soul. 07:57 Or another way to describe it, 07:59 Element of earth + Breath = A Living Being. 08:05 A living soul means a living person. 08:08 Adam became a living being or a living person. 08:12 You see, I don't have a soul... I am a soul... 08:17 a living creature... a person 08:19 and so are you. 08:20 We want to find out what a soul is 08:23 and if it is immortal and if it can ever die. 08:26 Ezekiel 18:4 tells us, 08:29 "Behold, all souls are Mine... 08:32 the soul who sins shall die. " 08:35 Hmmm... 08:37 the Bible says... a living soul dies. 08:40 So, a person dies... a life dies... 08:44 these three words are interchangeable. 08:46 Matthew 16:25 to 26, 08:49 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, 08:53 but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 08:56 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, 09:00 and loses his own soul? 09:02 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" 09:06 Mortal means: subject to death. 09:10 You can die. 09:12 Immortal means: imperishable... 09:15 you cannot die... 09:17 1st Timothy 1:17 says, 09:20 "Now to the King eternal, 09:22 immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, 09:27 be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. " 09:31 Only the King of the Universe is immortal. 09:36 We believers who live and die on earth 09:39 will receive immortality only when Christ comes. 09:43 1st Timothy 6:15, 16... 09:46 "He who is the blessed and only Potentate, 09:50 the King of kings and the Lord of lord, 09:53 who alone has immortality, 09:55 dwelling in unapproachable light... " 09:57 Again, the repeated truth is that God alone has immortality. 10:03 You see, pagan Greek Philosophy 10:07 taught that the soul is immortal. 10:09 It is a man-made teaching 10:11 that the soul could live separately from the body 10:14 and it... somehow is a life of its own. 10:16 The Bible teaches that human beings are an integrated unit... 10:21 Physical... Mental... and Spiritual. 10:23 These components are inseparable. 10:26 It takes all three parts to make a whole person. 10:30 Whereas Spiritualism and the New Age Philosophies 10:34 teach that the soul is immortal. 10:37 These man-made teachings 10:39 separates the soul from a person at death 10:42 as if they are two separate entities. 10:45 Spiritualism teaches that when you die, 10:49 there is this essence of you that floats up to heaven 10:52 and lives on 10:54 and that you can come back and communicate with the living. 10:58 Friends, do you see and understand 11:01 why this is such a deadly idea? 11:03 The devil can use these false ideas about death to deceive us 11:09 and he does. 11:10 Read what the Bible says in 1st Corinthians 15:51, 52, 11:15 "Behold, I tell you a mystery: 11:18 We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed... 11:21 in a moment, 11:22 in the twinkling of an eye, 11:24 at the last trumpet. 11:25 For the trumpet will sound, 11:26 and the dead will be raised incorruptible... " 11:29 meaning... indestructible 11:31 "and we shall be changed. " 11:33 When God created Adam, He placed His breath within Him 11:37 not an immortal soul. 11:39 Genesis 2:7, 11:41 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, 11:46 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; 11:50 and man became a living soul. 11:53 Think of it, 11:55 death is creation in reverse. 11:57 So, then, what happens when a person dies? 12:00 What is it that goes back to God? 12:03 Is it a mystery? 12:04 Let's have the Bible answer as always. 12:07 Ecclesiastes 12:7, 12:09 "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, 12:13 and the spirit will return to God who gave it. " 12:16 Okay, so the body goes to the dust 12:19 but the spirit that goes back to God 12:22 is not something that is conscious. 12:24 It is the breath or power of God that returns to God. 12:29 God has preserved the identity of that person in His mind. 12:34 The Old Testament Hebrew word for "Spirit" is "Ruach," 12:38 which means "Breath". 12:40 So, spirit and breath are the same thing. 12:43 The spirit and soul are different. 12:46 God forms man out of the dust of the ground... 12:49 that is his body. 12:51 God breathes into man His Ruach... 12:54 the Hebrew word for spirit or breath 12:57 and then, man becomes a living soul. 13:00 When a person dies, the body returns to dust. 13:04 The "spirit" or breath of life... 13:07 the power of life goes back to God. 13:10 Job 27:3 shows us breath and spirt are the same. 13:15 "All the while my breath is in me, 13:18 and the spirit of God is in my nostrils. " 13:21 So, the "spirit of God" is obviously breath 13:24 and not some spirit ghost coming out of your nose. 13:27 I will illustrate this concept with a light bulb. 13:31 Say I want to light up this room. 13:33 I will need this light bulb 13:35 but I need more than just a plain light bulb. 13:37 Let's make this bulb represent a person's body. 13:40 In order to have illumination or light, 13:44 I need to get power to this light bulb. 13:46 This bulb alone cannot give me light. 13:49 I need a power source. 13:52 So, the power... the spark of life 13:55 represents God's breath. 13:57 The power comes through the cord into the bulb 14:00 and that produces light. 14:02 Just like when God's breath entered Adam's body, 14:07 it produced life. 14:09 Then, what happens when you unplug the light? 14:12 The power is gone. 14:15 So, when we stop breathing and our heart stops beating, 14:19 we die 14:20 and our breath or our spark of life 14:23 returns to God. 14:24 As Job told us, breath does not equal soul. 14:29 Breath equals life. 14:31 Is there any consciousness in death? 14:34 Psalm 146 verse 4 says, 14:38 "His breath goeth forth, 14:40 he returneth to his earth; 14:42 in that very day his thoughts perish. " 14:46 Ecclesiastes 9:5 and 6, 14:49 "For the living know that they will die; 14:51 but the dead know nothing, 14:54 and they have no more reward, 14:57 for the memory of them is forgotten. 14:59 Also, their love, their hatred, 15:02 and their envy have now perished; 15:05 nevermore will they have a share 15:08 in anything done under the sun. " 15:10 What does it say? 15:12 "The dead know nothing... " why not? 15:15 Because at death their thoughts perish 15:18 and there is no longer any consciousness. 15:21 They no longer have feelings of love, hatred or envy. 15:25 Our dead loved ones are resting peacefully in their graves. 15:29 Now, this next fact might surprise you. 15:32 Did you know that the Bible teaches death is like a sleep... 15:36 a peaceful sleep that lasts until Jesus' second coming? 15:40 And did you know that the Bible refers to death as sleep 15:45 more than 50 times? 15:47 Psalm 13 verse 3 says, 15:50 "Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; 15:53 enlighten my eyes, 15:54 lest I sleep the sleep of death. " 15:57 Again we see that the Bible calls death... a rest. 16:01 Nowhere in Scripture is there an immortal soul. 16:04 No... 16:06 One day, as Jesus and His disciples 16:08 were traveling to visit the home of His friends... 16:10 Lazarus... Mary and Martha, 16:12 He received urgent news that Lazarus had become very sick 16:16 and died. 16:17 Jesus waited three days before arriving in their home. 16:21 What's interesting are the statements He makes 16:24 on the way there. 16:26 John 11: 11 through 14, 16:29 "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, 16:31 but I go that I may wake him up... " 16:33 His disciples were puzzled, 16:35 "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well. " 16:38 They assumed Jesus meant Lazarus was sick and was resting. 16:42 However, Jesus was speaking of his death... 16:46 not about getting rest while sleeping. 16:48 The disciples thought he would wake up in the morning 16:51 and feel better. 16:53 "Then Jesus said to them plainly, 16:55 'Lazarus is dead. '" 16:57 For Jesus... as for all Bible writers, 17:00 death is sleep. 17:02 Jesus then visited Lazarus' home and said to Martha, 17:05 now, notice the words here very carefully. 17:07 John 11:23, 17:09 "Your brother will rise again. " 17:12 Jesus didn't say to Martha, "Don't cry... 17:16 this is amazing news... 17:17 your brother's soul is now in heaven. " 17:20 No, Jesus said, 17:22 he would rise from his grave. 17:24 We are told next what Martha believed about death 17:28 in John 11:24, 25. 17:31 "Martha said to Him, 17:33 'I know that he will rise again 17:35 in the resurrection at the last day. ' 17:37 and Jesus said to her, 17:39 'I am the resurrection and the life. 17:42 He who believes in Me, 17:45 though he may die, he shall life. '" 17:47 Martha who received her religion directly from Jesus, 17:52 believed her brother would be resurrected 17:55 at Jesus' second coming. 17:56 As Christ approached the tomb, 17:59 He called, "Lazarus, come forth... " 18:02 and on Jesus' command, 18:04 Lazarus woke and came out of his grave alive. 18:09 Let's imagine this scenario with the popular belief 18:13 that once you die, you go straight to heaven. 18:15 At graveside, Jesus would have looked up to heaven calling, 18:19 "Lazarus, come on down. " 18:21 Now, I'll tell you something, 18:24 if I were Lazarus and I had been up in heaven 18:26 for three or four days 18:27 and Jesus commanded me to come down 18:30 my immediate response would be, "Oh, please Lord, no... 18:34 I love it up here so much... 18:37 I really don't want to come back to earth. " 18:39 Wouldn't you have said that too? 18:41 If what people believe is true, 18:44 Lazarus should have written a whole book in the Bible 18:48 about the glories he saw in heaven. 18:50 Or the paparazzi of that day 18:52 would have asked him a million questions 18:54 about what heaven is like. 18:56 But there's no record of anything 18:58 because there couldn't be. 19:00 Lazarus was asleep the whole time in the grave 19:06 exactly like Jesus said. 19:09 The Bible describes how there are no tears in heaven 19:13 and its joys are unimaginable. 19:15 People says, "I love to think of my mother up in heaven 19:19 looking down at me... " 19:20 but what if you had a husband that abused you 19:24 and your mother is up in heaven watching that abuse? 19:29 What if a mother is up in heaven 19:31 and her son is shooting up drugs in his veins 19:34 and ruining his life? 19:36 Do mothers in heaven bear all this pain 19:39 for their children's problems here on earth? 19:41 God is too merciful for that. 19:44 We are told in Job 14:21, 19:47 "His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; 19:52 they are brought low, and he does not perceive it. " 19:55 And in Psalm 115:17 it says, 19:59 "The dead do not praise the Lord, 20:02 nor any who go down into silence. " 20:05 The dead do not go straight to heaven, Friends, 20:09 because if they were in heaven, 20:11 they'd be praising the Lord for bringing them there. 20:13 The Bible mentions the word "soul" 1600 times 20:19 but never uses the term "immortal soul" 20:23 and it always describes death as a sleep. 20:27 Think of it this way, 20:29 people who have surgery frequently describe 20:33 going "under" when the anesthetic is administered. 20:36 They experience a dizziness. 20:39 Many hours can pass before the patient wakes up. 20:43 Sometimes, they wake up in a fog 20:46 or feeling the pain 20:47 and wonder, "What just happened?" 20:49 He next recognizes... he is in a recovery room. 20:53 As his mind clears, he realizes that time elapsed 20:57 between the dizziness and the pain 21:00 even though the pain seemed to come right after the dizziness. 21:06 The person was asleep and unaware while time passed. 21:10 This demonstrates what happens at death 21:13 as people will not realize they have died. 21:16 The next moment they are aware of 21:19 would be Jesus coming in the clouds. 21:21 Now, what about the thief on the cross? 21:24 Didn't Jesus say... he went to heaven? 21:27 Luke 23:42 and 43, 21:31 "Then he said to Jesus, 21:33 'Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom. ' 21:37 And Jesus said to him, 21:39 'Assuredly, I say to you, today 21:41 you will be with Me in Paradise. '" 21:44 Jesus did not promise the dying thief 21:47 he would be with Him in heaven that exact same day. 21:49 No... 21:51 Jesus Himself did not go that day into Paradise. 21:54 Remember, in death He slept in the tomb 21:57 and on resurrection morning, 21:59 Jesus clearly says in John 20:17, 22:03 "I am not yet ascended to My Father. " 22:06 So, how are we to understand what Jesus told the thief? 22:10 What Christ did say that day to the thief 22:13 on the day of crucifixion... 22:15 on the day of apparent defeat and darkness, 22:17 when all seemed lost was this, 22:19 "You will be with Me in Paradise. " 22:22 The promise was given. 22:24 The thief died with the assurance of eternal life 22:27 like any other child of God 22:29 to be raised on that great resurrection morning 22:32 at Christ's second coming. 22:33 Keep in mind, in the original manuscripts of the Scriptures, 22:37 the Greek language was without punctuation 22:40 and was put in centuries later. 22:42 There are two places in the Bible 22:44 that we will look at right now 22:45 where commas have been misplaced. 22:47 The first is the text we just read in Luke 23 verse 43, 22:52 by moving the comma by only one word, 22:56 the Bible completely harmonizes with itself. 22:59 The text says, "I say to you today, 23:03 you will be with Me in Paradise. " 23:05 The second we'll look at a missing comma 23:09 is in Acts 19:12. 23:10 The King James Version talks about sick handkerchiefs. 23:14 Hmmm... 23:15 "So that from his body 23:17 were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, 23:19 and the diseases departed from them... " 23:21 Okay, now let's put a comma in. 23:25 "So that from his body were brought unto the sick, 23:27 handkerchiefs or aprons, 23:29 and the diseases departed from them... " 23:31 The comma makes all the difference. 23:33 So, we can see super clearly that when you die, 23:37 you sleep and awake... the resurrection. 23:40 So, if we know this is the truth, 23:42 then, immortality before the second coming is a lie. 23:47 Only God has immortality. 23:50 Why would Satan want us to believe that we do not die? 23:54 It began with his first lie in the Garden of Eden 23:58 and the human race is still believing it. 24:02 Thousands of years later, 24:05 his evil angels can masquerade as our dead loved ones. 24:09 They can bring us so-called messages from beyond the grave, 24:13 they can mislead us into accepting Satan's lies. 24:16 Do not fall for the old serpent Satan's first lie. 24:21 Why does Satan want people to believe that the dead are alive 24:25 and can be contacted? 24:27 So, his fallen angels can pose as spirits of the dead 24:30 and deceive many people and lead them astray. 24:34 There is a channel that is regarded as sacred by many... 24:37 a channel through which Satan binds souls... 24:40 voices speak... apparitions appear... 24:43 and a bewitching power enters a human being. 24:47 This is Spiritualism. 24:49 It can begin so simply by toying with Ouija boards, 24:54 learning how to cast spells, 24:56 how to become a witch... 24:57 but later there seems no escape. 25:01 The position that is of no consequence... 25:04 what men believe 25:06 is one of Satan's most successful deceptions. 25:08 He knows that the truth received and the love of it 25:12 sanctifies the soul of the receiver. 25:15 Therefore, he is constantly seeking to substitute 25:18 false theories... fables... and a whole other gospel. 25:23 My colleague Sue and I 25:27 were on an early flight from Palm Springs to Denver. 25:29 It was a very small plane 25:31 and I sat down next to a very distinguished-looking 25:35 business man. 25:36 He introduced himself as Nick with a lovely English accent. 25:40 He shared that he was flying to one of his homes in Colorado 25:45 at a popular ski resort. 25:47 After some pleasantries were exchanged, 25:51 I simply commented, "God has blessed you. " 25:55 Oooh... he retorted, "No, the goddess has... " 26:00 and his whole body grimaced. 26:02 Next, a two-hour friendly but frank conversation ensued. 26:08 I knew right then and there 26:10 I needed to pray to my heavenly Father for the right words 26:14 and God always comes through. 26:16 Nick had devoted his life to goddess worship 26:20 at a very young age. 26:21 He told me point blank, 26:23 "Christians are the enemy which makes you my enemy. 26:27 We are on opposing sides, 26:29 for I am a soldier of a goddess. " 26:32 Well, I turned to him and I said, 26:35 "Well, I am a soldier for the one almighty God. " 26:40 There was a bit of a stalemate there for a moment... 26:44 I said, "Nick, you are not my enemy, 26:48 Satan is. 26:49 The Bible tells us who wins this war. " 26:52 Now, my friend Sue was only two rows ahead 26:56 and overheard bits and pieces of our conversation 26:59 because it's early in the morning 27:00 and the plane is quiet except for Nick and I 27:02 and she began to pray. 27:03 Nick continued to share, 27:06 "I have been training my whole life 27:08 to annihilate the Christians. 27:09 It is positioned to happen soon. 27:11 Years ago the goddess gave me step-by-step instructions 27:14 on building my software company for this... for this fight. 27:17 She has made me very wealthy and successful. 27:22 She will soon emerge and rise up from the earth. " 27:25 He continued, 27:27 "Since I gave myself over to her in my childhood, 27:30 I've had no choice but to follow her directions. " 27:33 Nick and I went on to discuss free will... 27:36 what happens at death... 27:38 the truth behind apparitions... 27:40 and Satan's deceptions 27:41 similar information you and I are discussing here tonight. 27:45 I shared my view of a loving, mighty, personal God 27:49 who protects and provides for me. 27:51 Whereas he described... 27:53 his thoughts were that God's a tormentor 27:56 and fiercely cruel. 27:57 He shared many pieces of his life with me 28:01 including how his dead family members appear 28:04 to speak with him 28:05 as well as three additional apparitions 28:07 that he called demons who torment him often. 28:10 I shared from the Bible how the dead know not anything, 28:14 how evil angels impersonate and harass. 28:18 I informed Nick, "Only God can rid you of these demons. 28:22 I implore you to fall on your knees 28:24 and ask God to prove Himself to you 28:27 because He will... 28:28 He is real and cares about you, Nick. 28:31 Just give God a try. " 28:33 Nick divulged, "I have been training my whole life 28:37 to annihilate the Christians. 28:39 It is positioned to happen soon. 28:42 The goddess will soon emerge and rise up from the earth. " 28:45 I responded, "Yes, I believe that Bible prophecy tells us 28:50 that some of those who stand for Bible truth 28:52 will be persecuted before Jesus returns 28:55 but at the second coming, believers will return to Eden, 28:59 eternal life in heaven... " 29:01 I turned towards him and asked him, 29:04 "So Nick, what is your endgame?" 29:08 He became quiet... 29:10 appeared stunned... 29:11 and finally said, 29:13 "I've honestly never thought about that... 29:17 nor has the goddess revealed an endgame to me... 29:20 I will have to ask her. " 29:24 Nick was increasingly intrigued with what he described 29:28 as a warm glow that he saw around me. 29:31 He said, "I don't understand... 29:33 you're exuding a light and strength from within you. " 29:35 I looked him in the eyes and I smiled. 29:39 I said, "Nick, that's Jesus and you can have Him too. " 29:44 Pause... 29:45 Friends, we are in the center of the great controversy battle 29:50 with little time left on this earth. 29:52 Even devil worshippers know time is short. 29:56 Pause... 29:59 Satan's fallen angels appear as messengers 30:01 from the spirit world. 30:03 In other words, 30:04 evil angels impersonate dead friends and relatives 30:07 in order to commune with those 30:09 that are willing and open to such things. 30:11 While professing to connect the living 30:14 into communication with the dead, 30:16 the Prince of Evil exercises his enchanting influence 30:20 over their minds. 30:21 Satan has the power to bring before men the appearance 30:25 of their departed friends. 30:26 The counterfeit is perfect... 30:29 the familiar look... 30:30 the words, the tone even... 30:32 are all reproduced with exact distinctness. 30:36 and there is a perfect example 30:38 of an evil spirit impersonating the exact likeness 30:42 of a prophet in Scripture. 30:44 1st Samuel 28 tells the story of the Witch of Endor. 30:48 She was a woman that King Saul consulted to summon the spirit 30:52 of the Prophet Samuel 30:55 in order to receive advice against the Philistines 30:58 in battle the next day. 31:00 Even though Saul knew that witchcraft was considered a sin 31:04 shown in 1st Samuel 15:23, 31:07 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft... " 31:10 Earlier in his reign, Saul decreed 31:14 that all mediums should be put to death. 31:16 So, there were a very few magicians and wizards 31:19 left in his kingdom at this point in time. 31:22 So, in the middle of the night, he disguised himself 31:26 and sought out a witch hiding in a cave. 31:29 She summoned "supposed" Prophet Samuel 31:33 but this was a demon impersonating the prophet. 31:36 Saul received terrible news 31:39 and died the following day in battle. 31:41 We can see that Satan uses any method to deceive 31:46 and witchcraft has been prominent since Bible times. 31:49 Many are comforted with the assurance 31:53 that their loves ones are enjoying the bliss of heaven 31:56 and without suspicion of danger, 31:58 they give ear to evil spirits and devils. 32:01 Let me show you this exact warning for our day 32:05 because we are living in the latter days. 32:08 1st Timothy 4:1, 2... 32:10 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times 32:13 some will depart from the faith, 32:16 giving heed to deceiving spirits 32:18 and doctrines of demons, 32:19 speaking lies in hypocrisy, 32:22 having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. " 32:25 Evil angels are pretended visitors 32:28 from the spirit world, 32:29 sometimes utter warnings and foretell future events 32:33 giving the appearance of reliability 32:35 and their false teachings are readily accepted. 32:38 They claim to be happy in heaven 32:40 and occupy an exalted position there, 32:43 then, as the confidence is gained, 32:45 they present doctrines that undermine the Scriptures. 32:49 If there is any spirit coming to you, 32:52 you need to compare it to Scripture... 32:55 what are they saying? 32:56 Does it match with Scripture? 32:58 This is how you will know... 32:59 this is why we need to know the Bible for ourselves, Friends. 33:03 The very foundation of Spiritualism 33:06 is at war with Scripture. 33:08 Ecclesiastes 9:5 alerts us, 33:11 "the dead know nothing... " 33:14 God has forbidden pretended communication 33:18 with departed spirits. 33:19 1st Corinthians 10:20 says, 33:22 "Rather that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice 33:25 they sacrifice to demons and not to God, 33:28 and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. " 33:32 That's clear... 33:34 Revelation 16:14, 33:36 "For they are spirits of demons, 33:38 performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth 33:41 and of the whole world, 33:43 to gather them to the battle of that great day 33:45 of God Almighty. " 33:47 Interacting with demons from the spirit world 33:50 was forbidden under penalty of death. 33:54 Leviticus 19:31, 33:56 "Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; 34:00 do not seek after them, 34:03 to be defiled by them: 34:06 I am the Lord your God. " 34:10 Chapter 20 verse 27, 34:13 "A man or a woman who is a medium, 34:16 or who has familiar spirits, 34:18 shall surely be put to death; 34:21 they shall stone them with stones... " 34:23 But today, Spiritualism has its foothold in scientific circles. 34:30 It's invaded churches 34:31 and has found favor in Legislative bodies. 34:34 This mammoth deception is a revival in a new disguise 34:40 of the witchcraft condemned of old. 34:42 Matthew 24:24 says, 34:45 "For false christs and false prophets will rise 34:47 and show great signs and wonders to deceive, 34:50 if possible, even the elect. " 34:53 Fallen Christendom is referred to as Babylon in Revelation. 34:58 What does God say is largely responsible for its fall? 35:03 Revelation 18:2, 35:06 "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, 35:10 and has become a dwelling place of demons, 35:14 a prison for every foul spirit, 35:17 and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!" 35:22 In other words, 35:24 Babylon is a state of confusion due to devils and spirits 35:29 penetrating the Christian churches. 35:31 Christendom is falling 35:34 because Satan has gained access to the churches 35:37 through his falsehood that the dead are alive. 35:41 In too many cases, messages from Satan's ambassadors 35:45 who pose as spirits of the dead 35:46 are welcomed as marvelous counsel to the churches 35:51 from the redeemed in glory. 35:53 As we just saw in the Bible, 35:55 the dead are sleeping in their graves. 35:57 They are not talking ghosts. 36:01 This lie gives Satan full power 36:04 to deceive and he makes every contact count. 36:09 No wonder the Apostle Paul so solemnly warned us 36:13 against such deception from seducing spirits 36:16 and doctrines of devils. 36:19 According to Revelation, 36:21 these same evil angels posing as spirits of the dead 36:24 approach the kings and leaders of the earth. 36:27 Why do they do that? 36:30 Revelation 18:23, 36:32 "by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. " 36:36 These angels... claiming to be... 36:39 let me just say... 36:40 these evil angels 36:42 claiming to be the spirits of the dead 36:44 will be the powers which will influence the rulers 36:47 of the nations of the world 36:49 and lead them into the final battle of Armageddon 36:52 which will end in a total destruction. 36:55 Revelation 16:14 says, 36:58 "gather them to the battle of that great day 37:00 of God almighty. " 37:01 Tragically, leaders of many nations today 37:04 consult with those who claim to receive messages from the dead 37:07 before deciding on an important issue. 37:10 No wonder this planet is in such turmoil. 37:12 The world's decision makers are giving access to Satan 37:16 to rule through them. 37:18 Isaiah 8:19 and 20, 37:20 "And when they say to you, 37:22 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards, 37:24 who whisper and mutter,' 37:26 should not a people seek their God? 37:28 Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 37:32 To the law and to the testimony! 37:35 if they do not speak according to this word, 37:38 it is because there is no light in them. " 37:40 Scripture plainly states 37:43 that we must refuse to listen to those 37:45 who claim to speak for the dead 37:47 and instead obtain our information 37:50 from God's Word only. 37:52 Messages which supposedly come from dead loved ones 37:55 are never from your dead loved ones 37:58 but rather... from Satan. 38:00 What a sobering thought. 38:02 Revelation says... those who obey God 38:06 will enter His kingdom. 38:08 Who will be among us that are shut out? 38:11 Revelation 22:15 says, 38:15 and this is a strong text but we need to... 38:17 we need to see what it says, 38:18 God's giving us a warning... a guidance here. 38:20 "outside the holy gates... " 38:24 so, these are the people on the outside of the New Jerusalem, 38:27 The new Holy City in the new earth, okay... 38:32 "Outside the Holy City gates, 38:34 are dogs and sorcerers... 38:36 which are mediums, witches, wizards... 38:39 and whoremongers... sexually immoral... 38:41 and murderers, and idolaters, 38:43 and whosoever loves to tell a lie. " 38:47 Those who consult the dead 38:49 will be shut out of heaven, Friends. 38:51 In Moses' day God commanded that such be stoned to death. 38:55 Leviticus 20:27, 38:57 "A man or a woman who is a medium, 38:59 or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death. " 39:02 Witchcraft which claims to contact the dead 39:06 is called in the Bible one of the works of the flesh 39:09 for which people will be shut out of God's kingdom. 39:13 Pause... 39:14 Jesus warns us 39:16 in Galatians 5:19 through 21, 39:19 "Now the works of the flesh are evident, 39:22 which are: adultery, 39:25 fornication, 39:26 uncleanness, 39:27 lewdness, 39:29 idolatry, 39:30 sorcery, 39:32 hatred, 39:33 contentions, 39:34 jealousies, 39:36 outbursts of wrath, 39:37 selfish ambitions, 39:38 dissensions, heresies, 39:40 envy, murders, 39:42 drunkenness, 39:43 revelries, and the like; 39:45 of which I tell you beforehand, 39:48 just as I told you in times past, 39:50 that those who practice such things 39:52 will not inherit the kingdom of God. " 39:55 Friends, I'm sharing this with you 39:57 because we want to know... 40:00 we want to know how we can be in heaven 40:04 and we don't want to practice things 40:05 when God makes it so plain 40:07 that we will be shut out of heaven if we practice them. 40:09 That's why we need to know these lists 40:11 and so, I... I say this to you with... with... 40:15 with my heart of... with a heart of love... 40:17 I want to share this with you so that you see... 40:19 God is a God that has standards 40:23 and we don't want to be in heaven 40:25 with those that are lying... et cetera... 40:27 murdering... all that... 40:28 so, that's why we have this list. 40:29 From all these verses we've studied tonight, 40:32 it is undeniable that we need to stay as far away as possible 40:36 from anything that in any way resembles witchcraft 40:39 no matter how innocently it is packaged. 40:42 There are not many movies or TV Shows or books anymore 40:45 that don't slip in nuances of life after death 40:49 depicting ghosts, witches, idol-saint worship... 40:53 any presumed contact with the dead 40:55 is always contact with Satanic forces. 40:57 Beware Friends. 40:59 Ephesians 5:11... 41:01 "And have no fellowship 41:02 with the unfruitful works of darkness, 41:04 but rather expose them. " 41:06 Pause... 41:08 When Rhonda was ten years old, 41:10 she became possessed by evil spirits. 41:12 Her parents took her to a witch doctor 41:15 and sold ten cows for her healing... but nothing worked. 41:19 At 16, she realized new spirits were entering her 41:24 and they were worse than the first. 41:26 She would both see and hear them 41:28 but others could only hear them. 41:31 When her first child was born, 41:33 the spirits asked her to become a witch. 41:36 But when she refused, 41:37 they caused her baby to become sick and die. 41:40 Distraught she finally consented to do what the spirits wanted, 41:45 if they would give her another child. 41:47 So, nine months later, a daughter was born. 41:50 Over the next years, she became a very powerful witch. 41:55 She had no control over her own life... 41:58 only doing what the spirits told her to do. 42:01 Through the powerful medicine she concocted, 42:05 many people were healed and miracles were performed. 42:07 She had the power to make guns and bullets useless. 42:11 She became a valuable member of her community 42:14 and very wealthy because of it. 42:16 One time, 27 armed men came to her house 42:21 and even though they tried to harm her with their weapons, 42:25 they became powerless before her. 42:28 She even had the power to shut the mouths of crocodiles. 42:32 When another set of spirits came into her, 42:35 they would take her to the bottom of a river 42:37 where she would communicate with them for days at a time 42:40 not even coming up to the surface to breath. 42:44 Although she was so powerful and could heal people... 42:48 stop bullets with her hands... 42:50 she was miserable. 42:52 One day Rhonda met two young people 42:55 who told her that they worship the one almighty God. 42:59 Intrigued by this, 43:00 Rhonda went to church with them the following week. 43:03 She continued to be miserable 43:05 and was often sick from the punishment of the spirits. 43:08 Just when she was about to give up, 43:10 she met a Seventh-day Adventist man 43:13 who told her about Jesus and gave her a Bible. 43:16 Listening to this man immediately brought peace 43:20 to her house and she began feeling better. 43:22 The spirits were not happy and warned her 43:25 that bad things would happen if she left them. 43:28 Rhonda decided to choose Jesus anyway 43:32 and the spirits kept their promise. 43:34 Her house burnt down and she lost everything to the flames. 43:39 The spirits tormented her day and night with such power 43:43 that she considered giving in and remaining a witch. 43:45 But during this time something happened 43:48 that would change her life forever. 43:50 Rhonda discovered an Adventist World Radio Broadcast 43:55 and as she listened daily, 43:57 her decision was made. 43:59 Her resolve was strengthened. 44:00 She would follow Jesus no matter what. 44:04 The spirits continued to fight against her 44:07 but she found out that when she played the AWR Radio Station, 44:11 the spirits would leave her alone. 44:14 Through much prayer... 44:16 the reading of Scripture and the radio, 44:19 the spirits are now gone 44:21 and today, she is a free daughter of God. 44:24 Pause... 44:26 Rhonda tells everyone that true freedom 44:29 comes only through Jesus. 44:31 I remember looking into her eyes 44:34 when we embraced in a hug and I saw Jesus there. 44:39 Now, she is spreading the word of God's truth 44:44 throughout all the villages that once knew her as a witch 44:48 but now know her as a follower in Jesus. 44:53 All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of God 44:57 will be deceived and overcome by Satan and his seducing spirits. 45:02 Revelation 3:10 warns... 45:04 just before us is the hour of trial 45:07 which shall come upon the whole world 45:09 to test those who dwell on the earth. 45:12 But Satan... really listen to this, Friends, 45:15 Satan can only win over those 45:18 that voluntarily yield to his temptations. 45:21 Those who are earnestly seeking the knowledge of Bible truth 45:26 like you are tonight, 45:28 striving to purify your soul through obedience... 45:31 you will find assured defense in God's Word. 45:35 From Genesis to Revelation, 45:37 angels are sent on a mission of mercy to the children of God. 45:41 Just like they are today, 45:44 God sent angels to Abraham with promises of blessing... 45:48 to the gates of Sodom to rescue righteous Lot 45:50 from its fiery doom. 45:52 Angels were sent to Elijah as was... 45:54 as he was about to perish from weariness and hunger 45:57 in the desert. 45:58 To Elisha with chariots and horses of fire 46:01 surrounding the little town 46:03 where he was shut in by his foes. 46:05 Angels were sent to Daniel 46:07 while seeking divine wisdom in the court of a heathen king, 46:10 or abandoned to become the lion's prey... 46:12 to Peter who was doomed to death in Herod's dungeon... 46:16 to the prisoners at Philippi... 46:18 to Paul and his companions on the night of tempest on the sea, 46:22 to open the mind of Cornelius to receive the gospel... 46:25 to dispatch Peter with a message of salvation 46:29 to the Gentile stranger... 46:30 thus, holy angels have in all ages 46:35 ministered to God's people. 46:37 Jesus would sooner send every angel out of heaven 46:42 to protect His people 46:44 than leave one soul that trusts in Him 46:47 to be overcome by Satan. 46:50 Have you made a decision to follow Jesus tonight? 46:53 There has never been a moment that you were forgotten. 46:57 Jesus will send out an army to fight for you. 47:01 No matter where you are or what you have done, 47:05 He will rescue you. 47:07 He delivers the captive... 47:09 He overcomes evil... 47:11 He defends the weak... 47:13 and He protects the feeble. 47:16 He strengthens and He sustains. 47:19 He guards and He guides. 47:22 You're not defenseless... 47:24 He is available to you always. 47:29 Just ask Him. 47:31 Let's pray together. 47:32 "Heavenly Father, 47:35 You are the light and our salvation. 47:39 Your ways are always the best. 47:42 Thank you for making it so plain in Scripture 47:46 that when we die, we simply sleep. 47:49 Lord, protect each one of us from all danger 47:53 especially counterfeit teachings. 47:56 Because of You, we never need to be afraid. 48:00 May each one of us completely put our trust in You. 48:04 In Jesus' precious powerful name, amen. " 48:08 God bless you. 48:10 Thank you for watching: Unlocking Bible Prophecies. 48:13 Meet me back here for tomorrow night's topic: 48:16 The Rescue. 48:18 There is no secret 48:20 as to how Jesus plans to save you. 48:23 Choose God's way. 48:24 Good night Friends. 48:26 Music... 48:28 As a special bonus for our 3ABN Viewers, 48:31 we want to share this story 48:32 featuring one of God's incredible miracles 48:35 before we end this Program. 48:36 Thank you for your prayers and support 48:39 of Adventist World Radio. 48:40 Every day, lives like these are being changed for eternity. 48:45 Music... 48:48 My first husband beat me... 48:51 my second husband was hunted by drug dealers. 48:56 What hope did I have left? 49:00 How many times have you been amazed at what God can do 49:04 with a broken heart? 49:05 We have a story today that you won't want to miss. 49:08 Hi, I'm Camy Oetman and we're in Mexico. 49:11 This is AWR 360. 49:15 Music: Lift up the Trumpet and loud let it ring 49:20 Jesus is coming again. 49:28 With its stunning historical past 49:32 and beautiful cities, 49:33 Mexican culture has deep proud roots. 49:37 But behind the smiles, many are suffering. 49:41 Maria lived a life of fear because of her husband. 49:45 "I'll beat you if I want to. " 49:48 She suffered beatings all the time 49:51 and to make matters worse, 49:53 her husband was a preacher. 49:56 Then I learned that he was having an affair 50:00 which led to him losing his job. 50:03 She left him and her heart became bitter. 50:07 She left the church vowing never to return. 50:11 Music... 50:13 A few years later, 50:15 she started to date another man 50:17 who treated her kindly and lovingly. 50:21 We married and had two precious children. 50:24 Sometime later, 50:28 her husband who was a police officer 50:30 found a huge shipment of drugs and promptly turned it in. 50:35 The drug dealers tracked him down to retrieve their product. 50:39 When the bribes failed, they threatened to kill him. 50:42 He refused because he knew how much pain and suffering 50:46 those drugs would cost the local community. 50:49 A week later, 50:52 my life came crashing down again. 50:55 As my husband opened his door, 51:00 many machine guns fired at our car. 51:02 Despite being hit, he dove back into the car 51:07 and covered his wife to protect her. 51:10 With his dying breath, 51:12 he asked me to take care of our precious children. 51:15 Crying over her dead husband. 51:23 After such a tragic event, 51:27 she sank into deep despair. 51:30 She lost her will to live 51:33 and to make matters worse, 51:35 she had also recently lost her mother. 51:38 She desperately wanted them both back. 51:42 Depression began to set in 51:44 and in her despair, she began to explore Spiritualism 51:50 trying to communicate with her mother and her husband 51:54 who had passed away. 51:55 But instead of feeling better, 51:57 things got even worse. 52:00 Each day, I considered killing myself. 52:05 One day, in her darkness, 52:07 her phone lit up with a message from her sister. 52:12 She had sent an AWR Evangelistic sermon on her phone. 52:16 She decided that with nothing else to do, 52:19 she would listen. 52:20 As she heard new things she became interested 52:23 and wanted to learn more. 52:25 She continued to the Bible sermon 52:27 which covered what happens when you die. 52:30 I became deeply convicted by this message. 52:35 She got on her knees to pray to God. 52:39 She prayed for hours seeking His guidance. 52:42 She prayed until God's peace came into her troubled heart. 52:46 As she got up, she realized that the next day was the Sabbath 52:52 and she knew she had to return to church. 52:55 Every time I thought about church, 53:02 the devil always reminded me that my husband, a pastor, 53:07 beat me... 53:09 and that thought always stopped me 53:11 but after my prayer, the devil's words had no power. 53:16 She faithfully attended every week with her children 53:21 and the messages gave her such peace that on many days 53:25 she would play the sermons nonstop... all day long 53:29 and then the Lord presented her with one last battle. 53:34 My heart became troubled as God impressed me 53:39 to forgive those I had hated for so long. 53:43 As she struggled, tears came to her eyes. 53:49 These are the people who destroyed her life... 53:52 who caused her so much pain... 53:55 but then, she gave it all to God. 53:58 She found the number of her ex-husband 54:01 and even reached out to the killers of her second husband. 54:05 Music... 54:09 I wrote to them saying, "I forgive you... " 54:13 and then I asked if they wanted to hear 54:16 Adventist World Radio's messages of hope. 54:19 Some of the killers expressed amazement and started listening 54:24 and her former husband has returned to church. 54:27 In my own strength, I had no power to overcome such grief. 54:33 It was thanks to God's love 54:35 and Adventist World Radio's messages of hope and truth 54:38 that I am whole again. 54:40 I praise God for keeping His eye on me. 54:43 Music... 54:45 2nd Peter says, 54:47 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, 54:49 as some men count slackness; 54:51 but is long-suffering towards us, 54:53 not willing that any should perish, 54:55 but that all should come to repentance. " 54:57 There are many that still need to hear the message of hope. 55:00 Your friends and family may be suffering 55:02 and only with God working through you 55:04 can they be saved. 55:06 Why not use AWR's cell-phone evangelism 55:08 as a tool to reach them. 55:10 Check us out online for training videos and materials. 55:14 Remember, we are all called to be missionaries. 55:17 Will you answer the call? 55:18 From Broadcast to Baptism, this is AWR 360. |
Revised 2022-01-03