Participants:
Series Code: UBP
Program Code: UBP000008S
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00:01 Music...
00:02 Would you like to know from your Bible 00:04 how Jesus is going to rescue us from this decaying planet? 00:08 Are you ready for the greatest rescue mission 00:11 in all of earth's history? 00:12 Let me tell you a secret... 00:14 the Lord does nothing in secret. 00:17 He is transparent with all of His plans for you. 00:21 Let's study... my name is Cami Oetman 00:24 and I'll be sharing the great news next 00:26 on: Unlocking Bible Prophecies. 00:28 The rise of an international pandemic... 00:31 polarizing global politics... 00:34 increasingly destructive natural disasters. 00:38 Bush fires in Australia 00:40 are warning about what may be to come around the world. 00:43 What does it all mean? 00:44 What does the future hold? 00:46 Music... 00:48 Join International Speaker, Cami Oetman 00:51 on a journey for answers in unlocking Bible prophecies. 00:55 In her travels around the world, 00:57 she's come face to face with real-life struggles 01:00 but in the midst of that, she's found miracles of hope. 01:03 Join Cami Oetman 01:05 for unlocking Bible prophecies 01:07 as she shares how Bible prophecy is being fulfilled 01:11 faster than ever before. 01:12 Music... 01:20 Isn't it amazing that we have been together 01:22 for eight sessions already? 01:24 Also, you can find all of our archived programs 01:27 at: awr. org/bible 01:30 as well us some bonus resources there. 01:33 Last night we studied the truth about death. 01:36 I love how the Bible is so clear. 01:39 Wasn't it reassuring and comforting 01:41 when Jesus tells us 50 times 01:44 that death is simply a momentary sleep 01:47 until he wakes us up on resurrection morning. 01:50 Did you know that all of heaven is orchestrating your rescue 01:54 right now? 01:56 That Jesus, the King of the Universe, 01:58 is preparing and personalizing your heavenly home 02:02 at this moment. 02:03 We are going to look at this truth tonight. 02:06 Stay with me 02:08 and you will be thrilled about God's plan for you. 02:11 Now, come with me to the continent of Africa 02:14 where I met Assad face to face in an undisclosed country. 02:19 He is one of our faithful radio broadcasters 02:23 and his story helps introduce our topic tonight... 02:26 The Rescue... 02:28 but first, pray with me, Friends. 02:31 "Dear Heavenly Father, 02:32 Lord, thank You so much 02:34 for bringing us together again tonight 02:36 to study the most awesome moment in all of history. 02:40 Lord, we can't wait for you to return 02:42 and we know it's soon... we've seen the signs... 02:44 we're hearing the... the warnings in the Bible 02:46 and everything is taking place and we want to be ready, Lord, 02:49 and so, we want to know the truth of Your coming... 02:52 Your second coming... so that we are prepared. 02:54 Lord, thank You for this rescue that we all await 02:57 and we just love and adore You, 02:59 in Jesus' precious powerful name amen. " 03:02 Late one afternoon, 03:05 Assad closed the door to his office 03:07 at the Adventist World Radio Station. 03:09 He'll be gone for several days. 03:11 Assad boarded the bus and nothing seemed unusual. 03:15 It was like any other day... 03:16 only today, he was traveling farther... 03:19 this time... back to his home country 03:21 for a short visit. 03:22 Despite religious persecution in his home country, 03:26 Assad longed for his people to know Jesus 03:29 and this spurred him on. 03:30 All of a sudden, Assad's thoughts were interrupted. 03:33 Three masked men stopped the van and their guns were drawn. 03:37 Assad cringed as they reached for him 03:40 and to his horror they yelled, 03:42 "This is the man we are looking for. " 03:44 They told him they knew of his work with the radio 03:47 and wanted his contacts. 03:49 Unsatisfied with the answers he gave, 03:51 they threw him into a large, empty shipping container. 03:54 Shut out from fresh air and sunshine, 03:57 he sat in darkness. 03:59 His socks, shoes and jacket were taken 04:02 and Assad suffered from the extreme conditions. 04:04 As the sun beat down in the day, 04:07 the metal container intensified the heat 04:09 while at night, a sharp chill set in. 04:13 Without food or water, Assad soon fell very sick. 04:17 As he sat in the dark, isolated container, 04:21 his mind went back to his childhood. 04:23 Scenes of his village being raided by night 04:25 flashed before him. 04:27 Those men had worn masks too. 04:30 Somehow he escaped them and he ran with all his might. 04:34 Alone in the darkness, he wondered for the first time, 04:37 "What would become of me?" 04:39 Assad's mind lingers on the memories. 04:42 There was an orphanage he was taken to 04:44 and the boys that had introduced him to Adventist World Radio. 04:47 They had huddled together listening 04:50 knowing that if caught, punishment would ensue. 04:53 Christianity was not allowed there. 04:55 But this only made them long all the more for truth. 04:59 Then, there was the day when the Orphanage Director 05:02 had called him into her office 05:04 and Assad was old enough now 05:06 that he must leave the orphanage. 05:08 His heart ached as he walked away, never to return. 05:12 Again, he wondered, "What will become of me?" 05:15 Now, he sat alone in a metal shipping container 05:18 pondering the same question he had as a lonely child 05:21 and dejected orphan. 05:24 Assad closed his eyes and thought about his work with AWR. 05:28 Since escaping his home country, Assad had been producing 05:31 Adventist Radio Programs in his native tongue 05:34 for his people back home. 05:36 Christianity was forbidden 05:38 but the radio could carry the message 05:40 that missionaries could not. 05:42 Assad wondered what would become of his radio program now. 05:46 Who would carry on the work if he didn't return? 05:49 The days and weeks passed. 05:51 Assad was suddenly released from the container 05:54 but the inhumane conditions remained. 05:57 Starved... beaten and even electrocuted, 06:00 he had endured more than any human should 06:03 and one day, without notice, his hands were unbound 06:07 and he was told he could return home. 06:09 He could hardly believe it. 06:11 He was free and praised the Lord as he boarded a bus again. 06:15 This time... headed home to his family 06:18 and his work at the radio station. 06:19 Despite the harrowing experience 06:22 Assad has been through, 06:24 he trusts the Lord to keep him safe 06:26 and knows that as long as God wants him to be producing 06:29 these Programs, nothing can stop him. 06:32 God is all about the rescue, Friends. 06:36 Not only does He have incredible plans 06:39 to rescue us from this planet 06:41 that were set into motion thousands of years ago, 06:44 but He daily rescues humans through miraculous moments 06:49 while we walk our individual paths through this life 06:51 just like Assad's experience. 06:54 Our Lord will deliver us from the clutches of death. 06:57 God's end-time plan is revealed in His Word 07:01 and that is what gives us confidence 07:03 to take the stand on the Scriptures. 07:05 If it is in the Bible, I believe it 07:08 and if it disagrees with the Bible, 07:10 it's not for me. 07:11 Did you know one out of every 11 New Testament verses 07:17 speak about the return of Jesus? 07:19 This event is mentioned 2500 times in all of Scripture. 07:25 Every prophecy from Genesis to Revelation 07:29 builds to the climax of earth's history 07:31 which is the second coming of Jesus 07:33 which is your personal rescue. 07:36 When you look at the book of Revelation, 07:38 there is one central theme and that is: Jesus. 07:42 It is not the dragon... 07:44 it is not the seven-headed beast... 07:46 no... Revelation 14:14 says, 07:49 "Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, 07:52 and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, 07:55 having on His head a golden crown, 07:57 and in his hand a sharp sickle. " 07:59 When the book of Revelation paints the picture 08:02 of Jesus' coming, 08:04 it portrays Him coming with a crown on His head 08:07 because he comes as the King of kings and Lord of lords. 08:11 You will see that the Bible does not describe 08:14 Jesus' second coming with Him sneaking into the world silently 08:18 or secretly. 08:19 Pause... 08:21 Could Christians be expecting Jesus' second coming 08:23 to be different than what the Bible clearly describes? 08:26 The people in Jerusalem were surprised... 08:29 confused and unprepared 08:32 for how Jesus came to the earth the first time 08:35 in a meek, quiet, unassuming manner 08:38 with only a few to welcome Him 08:39 as an infant born to a poor family. 08:42 Unfortunately, the people were applying the prophecies 08:46 of the Messiah's second coming to His first coming. 08:50 They expected the opposite. 08:52 They expected a conqueror to overthrow Rome 08:55 because they were being suppressed under its rule. 08:58 So, the Jews thought a king would come 09:01 and reestablish them as the governing power 09:03 and flip the hierarchy on Rome. 09:06 History has a way of repeating itself, Friends. 09:09 Many Christians today, 09:12 are expecting Jesus' second coming to be different 09:15 than what the Bible clearly describes. 09:18 Jesus gave us definite signs... 09:21 actual details of His Second Coming 09:24 so that we can distinguish him from any imposter. 09:27 He comes with a crown of gold on His head. 09:31 The Bible always portrays Christ's coming 09:33 in power and glory. 09:35 When you look at the book of Revelation, 09:37 it always portrays Him coming in heavenly majesty. 09:40 Let's look at Revelation 19:11, 09:42 "Now I saw heaven opened, 09:44 and behold, a white horse. 09:46 And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, 09:49 and in righteousness He judges and makes war. " 09:53 Verse 14, "And the armies in heaven, 09:56 clothed in fine linen, 09:57 white and clean, 09:59 followed Him on white horses. " 10:01 Why does the Bible picture Jesus 10:03 symbolically coming on a white horse? 10:05 A white horse is a symbol of purity, victory and triumph. 10:10 When Jesus comes with a crown of gold upon His head, 10:13 riding a white horse, 10:15 He is pictured as a victorious General 10:17 coming to defeat all the forces of evil. 10:20 Jesus returns victoriously... triumphantly 10:24 and gloriously. 10:25 Revelation 11:15, "The kingdoms of the world 10:28 have become the kingdoms of our Lord 10:30 and of His Christ, 10:32 and He shall reign forever and ever!" 10:35 When Jesus comes, the great controversy will end. 10:39 Sin and sinners will be no more. 10:41 Jesus' coming is not some mysterious event. 10:45 He comes to reign over the entire universe. 10:47 He comes to be worshipped and praised by the redeemed 10:51 forever and ever. 10:53 There are two very important questions that many ask 10:56 concerning the second coming. 10:58 Number one: How will Jesus come back the second time? 11:01 Number two: How can I know that I will be ready when He comes? 11:06 The Bible gives very clear answers to both questions. 11:10 God's end-time plan is revealed in His Word. 11:14 Jesus plainly describes one of the deceptions 11:17 before his return this way. 11:19 Luke 17:23, 11:21 "And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' 11:25 Do not go after them or follow them. " 11:28 In other words, if anyone says, 11:31 "Hey, Jesus is meeting secretly right now 11:33 with a select few in Tokyo or New York... " 11:36 or in some secret temple chamber 11:38 with a particular religious group, 11:40 or... "right now He's gathering a massive followers 11:42 in the desert... " 11:44 or anywhere on earth, 11:45 we can know... this is an imposter 11:47 and these claims are false. 11:50 Do not go running after them. 11:52 Luke 17:24, 11:54 "For as the lightning that flashes out of one part 11:57 under heaven, 11:59 shines to the other part under heaven, 12:00 so also the Son of Man will be in His day. " 12:03 Christ won't suddenly appear on a talk show in Hollywood 12:07 or as a miracle worker on the streets of Paris. 12:10 Our Jesus won't walk down some major streets in this world. 12:14 Our Jesus won't hold up His hands boasting, 12:17 "I'm the Messiah... " 12:18 He's coming like lightning 12:22 which lights and flashes up the whole sky. 12:26 Christ is coming down from above. 12:29 He won't rise up from below. 12:31 Remember the story I told you last night 12:33 how Nick warned that the goddess will soon be rising from below? 12:37 If you missed that story, 12:39 go back to the archive Presentation: The Grave. 12:42 You don't want to miss it. 12:43 Such an important discrepancy. 12:46 That's why Jesus gives us details 12:49 like He's coming in the clouds of glory, 12:51 so that we aren't looking for some goddess 12:53 coming up from the earth. 12:54 Is it really necessary to understand all this? 12:58 If I just love Jesus, is that enough? 13:01 Satan attempts to deceive people and many are deceived. 13:05 He's called: The Great Deceiver. 13:07 He counterfeits the truth to lead millions astray. 13:10 Let me share with you some very clear facts 13:14 about the second coming of our Lord Jesus. 13:16 Christ's coming will be a literal event. 13:19 Acts 1:11, 13:21 "This same Jesus, 13:23 who was taken up from you into heaven, 13:25 will so come in like manner 13:27 as you saw Him go into heaven. " 13:29 Jesus ascends... 13:31 the power of gravity cannot hold Him down. 13:34 As the disciples gaze up at Jesus in wonder, 13:37 He ascends higher and higher and higher. 13:40 They saw Him go... they will see Him return. 13:44 A real Christ ascended and a real Christ will descend. 13:49 This Jesus who healed the sick, 13:51 fed the 5,000 and raised the dead 13:53 ascended and will return again. 13:56 I love how the Bible says... 13:58 the coming of Jesus will be a visible event 14:01 because I can't wait to see Him. 14:04 Revelation 1:7 says, 14:06 "Behold, He is coming with clouds, 14:09 and every eye will see Him... " 14:11 don't you love that? Every eye... 14:14 this text re-emphasizes how Jesus will not come secretly 14:19 especially just to a chosen few, 14:21 "Behold, He is coming with clouds 14:24 and every eye will see Him. " 14:27 This event is literal and visible. 14:31 Christ's coming will also be an audible event. 14:35 1st Thessalonians 4:16, 14:37 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven 14:41 with a shout, 14:42 with the voice of the archangel, 14:44 and with the trumpet of God. 14:45 And the dead in Christ shall rise first. " 14:48 Can you imagine hearing the voice of God thundering 14:53 through the universe trumpeting His arrival? 14:56 That's no secret... 14:58 He's not coming quietly or secretly. 15:00 God's magnificent shout will awaken 15:04 all of those who have died in Christ. 15:06 His voice will pierce their graves 15:09 and they shall awaken to their conquering king 15:12 who has come to rescue them. 15:13 They will hear the voice of the archangel 15:16 with a trumpet signifying victory... 15:18 triumph over death 15:20 and the dead in Christ will rise first. 15:22 This is the incredible moment 15:25 each body will receive immortality 15:28 meaning... forever... we will live in perfection. 15:32 1st Thessalonians 4:17 promises, 15:35 "Then we who are alive and remain 15:37 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 15:40 to meet the Lord in the air... " 15:43 So, not only do the righteous dead rise from their graves, 15:47 but also, the righteous who are alive 15:49 when He comes will meet Jesus in the air 15:53 surrounded by 1,000s and 1,000s of glistening angels. 15:57 You don't want to miss this, Friends. 15:59 If we would only take time to think about such a moment, 16:03 then, any trial that we are experiencing on this earth 16:06 is worth going through 16:08 because not only will Jesus get you through this trial 16:11 but He promises you such an incredible reward. 16:14 Take it because He's freely giving it to you. 16:18 Pause... 16:19 Now, does Jesus come to live on this earth at this time? 16:22 No... 16:24 Scripture has us meeting Him in the air 16:27 so, let's not mess with Scripture. 16:29 We don't meet Him on the earth. 16:31 His feet do not touch the ground. 16:33 We meet Him in the air. 16:35 This point alone clears up any question about imposters 16:39 walking around on this earth. 16:41 In Matthew 24:26, 16:43 "Therefore if they say to you, 16:45 'Look, He is in the desert!' 16:47 do not go... " 16:49 Suppose your friend comes to you and tells you, 16:52 he's found Jesus 16:53 who's preaching warm, beautiful Bible truths with power 16:58 and even calls fire down from heaven... 17:00 heals the sick and blesses the children... 17:04 reads people's minds and stops wars... 17:06 what will you tell your friend? 17:09 Because now you know from Scripture yourself. 17:12 Immediately you should tell him that he is an imposter. 17:17 The Bible says, "Do not go... " 17:19 because when the real Christ comes, 17:21 He will perform a dazzling light show in the sky 17:25 with ten thousand times ten thousand angels 17:28 as shown in Matthew 24:27, 17:31 "For as the lightning comes from the east 17:33 and flashes to the west, 17:35 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. " 17:38 Christ's coming will be a glorious event. 17:42 Only Christ is a life giver. 17:45 Only He can resurrect the dead. 17:47 The real Christ will catch us up in the sky 17:51 to travel with Him 17:52 past the moon... 17:54 past the stars... 17:55 past the sun... 17:56 to the very throne room of God in the universe... 17:59 and there we will always be with Him... 18:01 hmmm... 18:03 Matthew 24:30, 18:04 "the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 18:07 and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn... " 18:10 Christ's coming is like lightning 18:12 that flashes from the east to the west. 18:14 He appears in the sky to all tribes of the earth 18:17 and Revelation 1:7 tells us this, 18:20 "every eye will see Him... " 18:22 You see, it is not only believers 18:25 who will see Him when He comes, 18:27 but also the masses who have rejected Him. 18:30 This is the prime opportunity for God's character 18:34 to be vindicated. 18:36 Every person will see and hear the exact truth from the Bible 18:41 being fulfilled before their very eyes. 18:43 When Jesus comes... there are only two classes of people... 18:48 the unsaved and the saved. 18:50 The lost and the redeemed. 18:53 There is no second chance when Christ comes again. 18:56 This is the climax of earth's history. 18:59 So, Jesus is making sure to come literally... 19:02 visibly... 19:04 audibly... 19:06 and Jesus comes gloriously. 19:08 So, there is no question what is happening. 19:10 The entire universe is witnessing this 19:14 decisive event in human history. 19:16 1st Corinthians 15:51 to 52, 19:20 "Behold, I tell you a mystery: 19:22 We shall not all sleep, 19:24 but we shall all be changed... in a moment, 19:26 in the twinkling of an eye, 19:28 at the last trumpet. 19:29 For the trumpet will sound, 19:31 and the dead will be raised incorruptible... " 19:34 meaning... indestructible... 19:35 "and we shall be changed. " 19:38 Can you imagine 19:39 seeing the earth illuminated with the glory of God? 19:43 The ground rumbles... 19:45 the buildings shake 19:46 and the lightning flashes 19:48 and the thunder crashes. 19:50 Ten thousand times ten thousand angels 19:54 speed with haste to graves 19:56 as righteous believers rise from the earth. 19:58 This tells us again that the dead are in their graves 20:03 not already in heaven. 20:05 Our bodies no longer have the curse of sin. 20:08 There are no more deaf ears... 20:10 there no more blind eyes. 20:12 no more arthritic limbs 20:13 and no more diseased bodies. 20:15 As believers, we are looking up to meet the eyes of Christ. 20:20 Can you imagine that very moment 20:23 when your eyes meet with His for the first time? 20:27 I hope I'll be able to see Him through my tears. 20:32 This is the most magnificent event in the heavens. 20:37 Instantly our mortal bodies which are subject to disease 20:41 and death receive immortality. 20:44 Instantly, we are transformed. 20:47 New life pulsates through our every cell. 20:51 We radiate with health and joy. 20:53 As Christ descends in glory, we sing His praises 20:57 as our bodies are changed from disease and degenerated 21:01 to flawless. 21:02 Revelation 15:3, 21:05 "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! 21:09 Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" 21:12 Finally, the King of kings 21:15 receives the praise He's always deserved 21:18 as every believer acknowledges Him as Savior. 21:22 What a beautiful scene! 21:24 Reuniting with families... 21:26 embracing our loved ones... 21:28 this is the greatest drama of the ages, 21:31 Isaiah 25:9 says, 21:34 "Behold, this is our God; 21:36 we have waited for Him, 21:38 and He will save us. 21:39 This is the Lord: we have waited for Him; 21:42 we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. " 21:45 You see, we have not accepted the false Christ... 21:48 the counterfeit messiah who pretended he was Jesus Christ. 21:52 We need to remember that the great controversy has two sides 21:55 to the battle 21:57 and the other side is also present during this event. 22:01 Can you imagine how Satan will see his every lie... 22:05 every counterfeit... 22:07 every deception crumble before him. 22:10 He will see God's children rising to Jesus. 22:15 Those same people he persecuted 22:18 are now forever known as the overcomers 22:22 throughout the universe. 22:24 Perhaps, even the evil angels will quiver 22:28 as they see those they tempted being made immortal. 22:32 They realize they've lost the war. 22:36 It's over... 22:37 it's done. 22:39 Pause... 22:40 2nd Corinthians 6:2, 22:42 "Behold, now is the accepted time; 22:45 behold, now is the day of salvation. " 22:48 Our eternal destiny is being settled by the choices we make 22:53 right now today, Friends, 22:54 I believe we are living on the very edge of eternity. 22:58 We are living in the days 23:00 just before the second coming of Christ. 23:02 Don't you want to make it a priority today 23:05 to be ready for this crowning event? 23:07 Let's look at seven Biblical facts that happen at His return. 23:12 First, there will be stupendous seismic upheavals. 23:16 Mountains and islands will disappear 23:18 and a great earthquake will shake this planet 23:21 as shown in Revelation 6:14. 23:23 "Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, 23:27 and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. " 23:30 Second, the righteous dead are raised. 23:34 Paul tells us in 1st Thessalonians 4:16, 23:37 "the dead in Christ shall rise first. " 23:40 All who sleep in their graves 23:42 will hear Christ's trumpet-like voice 23:44 and rise up to eternal life. 23:46 Next... Righteous living are changed. 23:50 Then... immortality is given 23:53 and then the wicked living are destroyed. 23:56 In Revelation 6:15, 23:58 "And the kings of the earth, the great men, 24:01 the rich men, the commanders, 24:03 the mighty men, every slave and every free man, 24:06 hid themselves in the caves 24:08 and in the rocks of the mountains. " 24:10 We can see... they have no change of heart 24:13 when they see the God of the universe descend. 24:16 They actually still reject Him by wanting to hide from Him. 24:20 In this very action, 24:22 we can see that God's judgment of every heart is correct. 24:26 The wicked still want to run away from Him. 24:30 Their actions in this verse also show 24:34 that when Jesus comes, there will be no second chance, 24:37 no second opportunity. 24:39 When Jesus comes, the wicked living are destroyed. 24:43 The details of this will be studied tomorrow night... 24:46 don't miss it. 24:48 Next: The righteous welcome Christ. 24:52 The Bible says when Christ comes, 24:54 we are caught up to meet Him in the air. 24:56 Over and over Scripture describes how this... 24:59 the saved sing praises to their long-awaited Jesus 25:02 as they embrace their rescue. 25:04 And then, finally, Righteous will go to heaven. 25:09 Hallelujah... 25:11 Now, let's look at a popular misconception. 25:13 The Bible mentions that Christ is coming as a thief. 25:18 Let's read a few texts about it. 25:20 2nd Peter 3:10, 25:22 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, 25:25 in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise. " 25:28 Matthew 24:43, 25:31 "But know this, 25:32 that if the master of the house had known 25:35 what hour the thief would come, 25:37 he would have watched and not allowed his house 25:39 to be broken into. " 25:41 Are these texts speaking about the manner of Jesus' coming 25:45 or the time of His coming? 25:47 When the Bible talks about a thief, 25:49 it is talking about the unexpected time He comes. 25:53 Now look... does a thief cup his hands around his mouth 25:56 and call out a warning like, "Here I come... 25:58 get ready... 26:00 I'm going to steal everything you've got. " 26:02 No... he comes when we least expect it... 26:06 quickly... rapidly... 26:07 between 1995 and 2001, 26:11 Stéphane Breitwieser, a French Waiter and Art Connoisseur 26:15 stole more than 200 items from museums, 26:18 galleries and castles across Europe. 26:20 Some authorities have estimated the total value of his thefts 26:24 at 1.4 billion US dollars. 26:28 Breitwieser claimed that his motive was purely artistic. 26:33 He didn't sell any of the items he stole 26:35 although many were destroyed by his mother 26:37 when she learned of his arrest. 26:39 Breitwieser obviously timed his thefts 26:42 so he would be unexpected. 26:44 The museums, galleries and castles 26:46 were not ready for him. 26:48 When Jesus comes as a thief in the night, 26:50 the world will not expect Him either. 26:53 Matthew 24:36, 26:55 "But of that day and hour no one knows, 26:58 not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. " 27:01 The Bible does not teach that He comes secretly as a thief... 27:06 not at all. 27:07 Notice, Matthew 24:44, 27:10 "Therefore you also be ready, 27:12 for the Son of Man is coming at an hour 27:14 you do not expect. " 27:16 In other words, you want to be prepared at all times 27:21 because you don't know when Jesus will return. 27:24 The second coming is a surprise to the unprepared 27:28 but those that have studied their Bibles like you 27:32 will be ready. 27:34 Pause... 27:35 Now, what about the expression: One taken and the other left 27:40 found in Luke 17:36? 27:42 There it says, "Two men will be in the field: 27:45 the one will be taken and the other left. " 27:48 Does this text say that the one that is left is left alive? 27:52 No... 27:54 that's what popular opinion says 27:57 much like the fictional books and movies 27:58 in the "Left Behind" Series. 28:00 But that is not what Scripture says. 28:02 Luke 17:26, 28:05 "As it was in the days of Noah, 28:07 so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man. " 28:10 At the second coming, there will be two classes of people 28:14 just like in Noah's day. 28:16 One class was saved alive in the Ark. 28:19 The other was swept away and died. 28:22 Jesus continues in verse 28, 28:25 "Likewise, as it was also in the days of Lot... " 28:29 Well, what happened in the days of Lot? 28:31 One class... taken out of the city and saved. 28:35 The other was burned up. 28:37 There will be two classes right before Jesus comes. 28:41 One saved: That will ascend to meet Christ 28:44 and one lost: They are dead and destroyed 28:47 at Christ's second coming. 28:49 Revelation is plain about this division of the world 28:52 at the second coming of Christ. 28:53 Those who love Christ... and those who fear His arrival. 28:58 Revelation 6:16, 17 describes those who rejected Him 29:03 and they said to the mountains and rocks, 29:05 "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him 29:08 who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 29:12 For the great day of His wrath has come, 29:14 and who is able to stand?" 29:16 How tragic! He comes to save them 29:20 but they run and hide themselves. 29:22 Their hearts are gripped with fear. 29:25 They have not crowned Him as the King of Glory 29:27 in their hearts today. 29:29 So, they don't want to crown Him 29:30 as the King of Glory in the universe. 29:32 They run... they are frightened. 29:34 They cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them. 29:37 So, when the Bible describes the second coming of Christ, 29:40 one of the greatest deceptions is 29:42 that some will be left on earth 29:44 and have a second chance during the tribulation. 29:47 No... 29:49 The devil has sold that lie to deceive people 29:52 to put off their salvation. 29:54 They think, "I can put off my salvation 29:58 and during the tribulation, I can get serious then. " 30:01 No... 30:03 Do not delay your decision. 30:05 Friends, according to the book of Revelation 30:08 and according to the teaching of Jesus, 30:10 there is no second opportunity. 30:12 The time to get serious about your salvation is now. 30:16 Just as in Noah's day when the angel sealed the ark's door shut 30:21 and the rain began to fall, 30:23 from that moment 30:25 no one could get inside the ark to safety. 30:28 No matter how loud they screamed 30:30 or how hard they knocked on the door, 30:32 it was over. 30:33 Pause... 30:36 There was no second chance to be rescued 30:38 just like when you see Jesus coming in the clouds, 30:43 He brings his reward with Him. 30:45 Everything has been decided. 30:48 You cannot look up and say, "Oh, now I see... 30:52 oh, now I believe in Him... " 30:53 because then... it will be too late. 30:57 Don't let another day go by 30:59 without making this most important decision of your life. 31:02 Choose Jesus 31:05 and when you do, 31:07 oh, the sweet reward that you cannot possibly imagine 31:13 but let's take a glimpse of what the reward of heaven 31:17 will be like. 31:19 Jesus says in John 14:2 and 3, 31:23 "I go to prepare a place for you. 31:26 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 31:30 I will come again and receive you to Myself; 31:34 that where I am, there you may be also. " 31:38 Can you believe that? 31:40 The King of the Universe wants you to be with Him 31:46 for all of eternity. 31:48 So, He is holding back the winds of strife right now 31:52 because He wants all of us to have the opportunity 31:56 to choose Him. 31:58 Choose to be ready at the second coming... choose heaven. 32:01 You see, Jesus wants just one more soul... 32:04 just one more. 32:06 This reminds me of the true rescue story of Desmond Doss... 32:10 a Seventh-day Adventist 32:12 who stood boldly for God and His convictions. 32:15 He was in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of World War 2 32:19 and saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. 32:25 As an Army Medic, 32:28 he single handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines. 32:33 He braved a barrage of gun fire while tending to the soldiers 32:38 and was even wounded by a grenade 32:41 but God preserved his life. 32:44 Desmond was loyal to God 32:46 and was a witness to the whole world 32:48 and God used him to rescue so many others. 32:52 All through the ages, God has had moral heroes 32:56 just like Desmond Doss. 32:58 I love Desmond's prayer, 33:01 let us each pray, "Please Lord, 33:04 give me just one more... just one more soul for heaven. " 33:08 Because heaven is the ultimate gift from God 33:12 and I would love... wherever that is 33:15 as long as I'm with Jesus... 33:17 but since God did give us a glimpse of heaven, 33:20 let's go there together now. 33:22 When we look at chapters like Revelation 21 and 22, 33:26 we could imagine 33:27 that after rising to meet the Lord in the air, 33:30 we soar past planets 33:33 and our eyes see heaven for the very first time 33:36 with its 12 gates made of gigantic pearls 33:39 and its 12 foundations each made of precious gems. 33:43 We see the streets of pure gold that we've dreamed about 33:47 and now, we see them with our own eyes 33:51 and we are enveloped with the light from the glory of God. 33:55 The verses tell us... there will be no sun or moon needed 33:58 as wherever God resides, 34:00 it glows with a brightness like fire. 34:03 Next, we run towards the river of life 34:06 which flows out of God's throne 34:08 because we see that infamous tree... 34:11 that tree that we will feast on 34:13 where we receive immortality. 34:16 The Tree of Life that bears 12 kinds of fruit 34:19 and what we initially cannot wrap our minds around, 34:23 is how huge the holy City is. 34:25 It is perfectly square... 34:27 each wall 375 miles 34:31 and everyone fits inside perfectly. 34:35 God has prepared every detail so beautifully 34:40 just like our new bodies are so beautiful 34:43 with our immortal perfect flesh 34:45 and bone bodies just like our Creator... 34:48 our Master... our King... Jesus 34:51 and as the days pass, 34:53 it becomes more and more apparent 34:56 that there really is no more pain... 34:58 no more fear and no more tears. 35:01 We are overwhelmed with all the joy that is in us... 35:07 that is around us... 35:08 that we share with all believers from all time. 35:12 Together side by side we praise our Creator... 35:16 our Savior. 35:18 Oh Friends, just thinking about it 35:20 hmmm... 35:22 Now, this is not make believe, 35:23 let's look at some Scripture together 35:26 so that you have all of these beautiful promises 35:29 and descriptions of heaven marked in your own Bible. 35:32 Let's look at Scripture... 35:34 there really are giant pearls... listen to this, 35:37 Revelation 21 verse 21, 35:40 "The twelve gates were twelve pearls: 35:43 each individual gate was of one pearl. 35:46 And the street of the city was pure gold, 35:49 like transparent glass. " 35:51 Did you know that pearls are the product of suffering? 35:55 A tiny irritant slips inside an oyster shell 35:59 and as the little creature suffers, 36:01 it transforms that irritant into a lustrous gem. 36:05 The gates are of pearl... 36:07 your entrance... my entrance... 36:10 God provided at infinite personal suffering 36:14 as in Christ, He reconciled all things to Himself. 36:18 Revelation 21 verses 19 and 20, 36:22 "The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned 36:26 with all kinds of precious stones: 36:28 the first foundation was jasper, 36:31 the second sapphire, 36:33 the third chalcedony, 36:35 the fourth emerald, 36:37 the fifth sardonyx, 36:38 the sixth sardius, 36:40 the seventh chrysolite, 36:41 and the eighth beryl, 36:43 the ninth topaz, 36:45 the tenth chrysoprase, 36:47 the eleventh jacinth, 36:48 and the twelfth amethyst. " 36:50 Wow! God has used only the very finest materials 36:55 in building the city. 36:57 If you were to layer each of these gems on top of one another 37:01 it makes the most beautiful rainbow. 37:04 Isn't our Creator so artistic? 37:06 A rainbow of promise is the foundation of the holy city. 37:11 Revelation 22:5, 37:14 "There shall be no night there: 37:15 They need no lamp nor light of the sun, 37:18 for the Lord God gives them light. 37:21 And they shall reign forever and ever. " 37:23 Revelation 22:1 and 2, 37:26 "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, 37:30 clear as crystal, 37:32 proceeding from the throne of God 37:35 and of the Lamb. 37:36 In the middle of its street, 37:40 and on either side of the river, 37:43 was the tree of life, 37:44 which bore twelve fruits, 37:47 each tree yielding its fruit every month. 37:50 The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. " 37:54 First, let's notice how the Tree of Life's roots 37:58 are on either side of the river. 38:00 How massive that tree must be! 38:03 The leaves and fruit perpetuate immortality 38:07 providing eternal youth for God's people. 38:10 Genesis 3:22 says, 38:12 "take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, 38:16 and live forever. " 38:17 God designed us to live forever with Him. 38:22 The Holy City is an architect's dream 38:26 described in Revelation 21:16, 38:29 "The city is laid out as a square; 38:31 its length is as great as its breath. 38:34 And he measured the city with the reed: 38:37 twelve thousand furlongs. 38:38 Its length, breadth, and height are equal. " 38:43 Ancient cities were measured by outside wall circumference. 38:47 A furlong is an eight of a mile 38:50 which means the city will have a circumference 38:53 of 1500 miles 38:56 and since it is square, 38:58 each wall will be 375 miles in length. 39:02 Now, it's a perfect square. 39:04 It is the same long as it is wide 39:07 but notice... the height is also equal. 39:10 So, it will be 375 miles up 39:14 and it will contain 140,625 square miles 39:20 which is more area here in the US... 39:23 if you think about it... 39:24 it would be more than Virginia, the District of Columbia, 39:27 Pennsylvania, 39:29 Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island 39:31 and Vermont combined 39:33 estimating at least 39 billion at least 39:38 could fit inside the city. 39:39 We currently have 7.8 billion living on this earth 39:44 so, that's almost five times more 39:46 can easily fit inside the city. 39:48 Wow! I cannot wait. 39:50 Now, in 1st Corinthians 15:53, 39:53 "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 39:56 and this mortal must put on immortality. " 39:59 Revelation 21:4, 40:02 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; 40:05 there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. 40:09 There shall be no more pain, 40:10 for the former things have passed away. " 40:13 Isaiah 40:31, 40:16 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; 40:20 they shall mount up with wings like eagles, 40:23 they shall run and not be weary, 40:25 they shall walk and not faint. " 40:27 Every faculty will be developed fully... 40:32 every capacity increased. 40:34 The acquirement of knowledge will never weary the mind 40:38 or exhaust the energies. 40:41 This text lets us know 40:44 that what we know about heaven is just a teaser. 40:47 As 1st Corinthians 2:9 reads, 40:50 "But as it is written: 40:51 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, 40:54 nor have entered into the heart of man 40:56 the things which God has prepared 40:58 for those who love Him. " 41:00 Pause... 41:02 Matthew 8:11, 41:03 "And I say to you 41:04 that many will come from east and west, 41:07 and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 41:10 in the kingdom of heaven. " 41:12 Pause... 41:13 Did you hear that? 41:15 We're going to sit down 41:16 with the great spiritual minds of the ages. 41:18 God's heroes of faith 41:21 from throughout the ages will be there. 41:24 The Bible Worthies we have only read about 41:28 and never yet met will be there. 41:30 Think about how it's going to be. 41:33 Perhaps one day you'll be working in your beautiful garden 41:36 and see a man walking down the street and say, 41:39 "Ah, that looks like Adam 41:40 and he makes his way over to you and says, 41:43 "Hi, I'm Adam, I've been admiring your strawberries... " 41:47 and you sit down together 41:48 and you begin to talk about life 41:50 and share the joys of Jesus together 41:53 and perhaps one day you meet Moses, 41:55 a Patriarch who received the Ten Commandments 41:58 written by the very hand of God. 41:59 Moses shares details about what it was like 42:03 to go through the Red Sea 42:04 with the Egyptians following behind 42:06 and the faith that it took to walk into the water. 42:09 He recalls what it was like to lead the Children of Israel 42:13 40 years in the wilderness. 42:15 Next... maybe you see Daniel play wrestling with a lion. 42:20 You run over and make friends 42:22 as he shares his lions' den experience with you. 42:25 When you ask Daniel, "Where you afraid?" 42:27 With tears of joy he responds, 42:30 "I trusted my God... " 42:32 but most of all, 42:35 heaven is a place to fellowship with Jesus... 42:38 our Christ who died for us... 42:41 the one who had nails driven through His hands for us... 42:45 the Man whose head received a crown of pressing thorns for us. 42:51 The very One... the only One who shed His blood for us. 42:55 Isaiah 66:23 says, 42:58 "from one Sabbath to another, 43:01 all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the Lord Jesus. 43:06 I personally cannot wait to hear you tell me, Friend, 43:10 about the day that you are walking out 43:13 of the heavenly temple 43:14 when Jesus stands before you and He smiles 43:18 the most beautiful smile that you've ever seen... 43:21 as He looks at you, He reaches out His hands 43:25 and He says, "I want to take a walk with you. " 43:27 You walk through fields of waving grain 43:31 and Jesus reaches out and breaks off some of that grain 43:35 and He says, "Taste it... " 43:37 and together you walk over a hill 43:39 and He says, "Look at these flowers... 43:42 aren't they magnificent? 43:43 There are no other flowers like them in the universe. 43:47 Look at the purples, the pinks the reds, the blues... 43:51 there's no field like it. 43:53 I made this bouquet especially for you 43:56 and I painted a whole hillside with it. " 43:59 And suddenly you hear a chorus of angels and Jesus says, 44:03 "They're singing your song. 44:05 You are so valuable to me that the most precious... 44:09 and I would have entered into the agony... the pain, 44:11 the suffering and the darkness of the cross, 44:14 it was only to save you. " 44:16 Music... 44:18 He puts His hand on your shoulder and says, 44:21 "I don't have anyone else like you in all the universe. 44:25 I made each of you special. 44:29 You are a rarity... you are My prize possession 44:34 because if I lost you, I could never replace you. " 44:40 Music... 44:46 Christ came to earth and poured out all of heaven for you. 44:50 God's rescue is far more amazing than you can ever realize. 44:55 God's plans for you are unimaginable. 44:59 Is there anything or anyone 45:02 that is keeping you from being ready for the coming of Christ? 45:06 Right now, Jesus is preparing for you 45:10 to be with Him in heaven. 45:12 He wants to spend eternity with you. 45:15 Is it your desire to be with Him forever? 45:18 Do you want to surrender your life to Him 45:21 and follow the wonderful plans He has for your life? 45:24 Music... 45:26 Friends, let's pray together. 45:29 "Heavenly Father, 45:31 music... 45:33 I ask You for one thing tonight... 45:35 the only thing I want... 45:37 to live in Your heavenly home for all of eternity 45:42 and to marvel at Your goodness. 45:44 Lord, You know the hearts 45:47 of those who are listening right now 45:49 and also long to be with You in heaven. 45:52 Help us to make decisions every day 45:56 that lead us to You. 45:58 In Jesus' precious powerful name, amen. " 46:03 God bless each and every one of you. 46:07 I look forward to sharing tomorrow night's topic 46:10 titled: The Desolation. 46:12 Please join us again for: Unlocking Bible Prophecies. 46:17 Choose God's way. 46:19 Good night Friends. 46:21 As a special bonus for our 3ABN Viewers, 46:26 we wanted to share stories of God's incredible miracles 46:29 before we end this Program. 46:30 Thank you for your prayers and support 46:32 of Adventist World Radio. 46:34 Every day, lives like these are being changed for eternity. 46:39 We're here at Victoria Falls 46:43 located on the water of Zambia and Zimbabwe. 46:46 These are the largest falls in the entire world. 46:49 Music... 46:58 This is the spot where Dr. Livingston 47:01 viewed the Falls for the very first time. 47:03 He wrote, "No one can imagine the beauty 47:06 of the view from anything witnessed in England. 47:09 Music... 47:10 Scene so lovely... 47:12 must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight. 47:15 Music... 47:17 To our eyes, it is a magnificent sight 47:19 but it is the work of God that captivates the angels' eyes. 47:23 Such work is being done by cell phone evangelism. 47:27 Let me tell you the story of Marius. 47:29 Marius is a man who was born a Seventh-day Adventist 47:33 here in South Africa 47:35 and he's been an Elder in his church... 47:38 taught Sabbath School 47:40 but he wanted to do something more... 47:42 more for winning souls to the kingdom. 47:44 So, when he heard of cell-phone evangelism, 47:47 he thought to himself, 47:48 "Hey, that's maybe something I should give a try. " 47:51 So, after a long talk with God, 47:53 on a freeway... 47:55 driving down... you know... late night... 47:57 he said, "Lord, I needed to be doing something more. " 47:59 And all that kept coming to his mind... 48:01 cell-phone evangelism. 48:02 So, he decided right then and there 48:04 he would start a group on his cell phone App 48:07 and he added his son, actually. 48:09 His son hadn't been in church for about a decade 48:12 and he really wanted his son to reconnect with the Lord. 48:15 So, he started sending the evangelistic series out 48:20 through the cell phone and his son started listening 48:23 and they began conversations 48:24 about the different topics that were being shared 48:27 and his son was becoming more and more interested again. 48:30 And it's such a great feeling 48:32 when family members reconnect with the Lord 48:35 and you can share that with them 48:37 and this is what was happening for Marius. 48:39 So, in just a few weeks actually, 48:41 his son is going to be baptized 48:43 and everyone is so excited 48:45 along with several other people that he has reached 48:48 through cell-phone evangelism. 48:50 And what's amazing is that in only just a few months, 48:54 his network has grown to over a 1,000 people 48:57 listening to the gospel on their cell phone. 49:00 So, thanks to Marius... 49:02 these people are coming back to the Lord... 49:05 back to Bible truth... 49:06 so, now Marius is winning souls for the kingdom of God 49:10 and it's so exciting. 49:11 At AWR, we love... love spreading the gospel, 49:15 it truly is from broadcast to baptism. 49:18 This is AWR 360. 49:23 Music... 49:25 Come with me to the continent of Africa 49:29 where one of our faithful radio producers 49:32 has sacrificed so much 49:33 to reach his fellow countrymen for Jesus. 49:35 Hi, I'm Cami and this is AWR 360. 49:40 Trumpet: Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring 49:44 Jesus is coming again. 49:51 Music... drums... 50:03 It was late one afternoon as I closed the door to my office 50:07 at the AWR Station. 50:09 I would be gone for several days. 50:11 Music... 50:21 As Assad boarded the bus, nothing seemed unusual. 50:26 It was like any other day. 50:28 Only today... he was traveling farther. 50:31 This time, returning home for a short visit. 50:34 Despite religious persecution in his country of birth, 50:38 Assad longed for his people to know Jesus 50:41 and this spurred him on. 50:43 All of a sudden, Assad's thoughts were interrupted. 50:48 Music... 51:05 I cringed as they reached for me too. 51:07 and then to my horror yelled, 51:09 "This is the man we are looking for. " 51:11 Music... 51:15 They said they knew of my work with the radio 51:18 and wanted my contacts. 51:20 Unsatisfied with the answers I gave, 51:23 they threw me into a large empty container. 51:26 Door creaking... 51:33 Shut out from fresh air and sunshine, 51:37 he sat in darkness. 51:39 His socks, shoes and jacket were taken 51:42 and Assad suffered from the extreme conditions. 51:45 As the sun beat down in the day, 51:48 the metal container intensified the heat... 51:51 while at night, a sharp chill set in. 51:55 music... 51:59 Without food or water, Assad soon fell very sick. 52:03 As I sat in the dark isolation of the container, 52:08 my mind went back to my childhood. 52:10 Music... 52:12 Scenes of my village being raided by night 52:15 flashed before me. 52:16 Music... 52:23 Those men had worn masks too. 52:25 Somehow I escaped them and I ran with all my might. 52:33 Music... 52:35 Alone in the darkness, I wondered for the first time. 52:39 "What would become of me?" 52:42 Pause... 52:44 Assad's mind lingers on the memories. 52:48 There was an orphanage he was taken to 52:51 and the boys there introduced him to Adventist World Radio. 52:55 They huddled together listening, knowing that if caught 52:59 punishment would ensue. 53:01 Christianity was not allowed here 53:05 but this only made them long all the more for the truth. 53:09 Radio... 53:12 Then, there was that day 53:13 when the orphanage director had called him into her office. 53:17 Assad was old enough now and he must leave the orphanage. 53:21 Music... 53:30 His heart ached as he walked away never to return. 53:33 Again, he wondered, "What will become of me?" 53:37 Music... 53:39 Now, he sat alone in a metal shipping container 53:42 pondering the same question he had as a lonely child 53:46 and dejected orphan. 53:48 Assad closed his eyes and thought about his work 53:51 with Adventist World Radio. 53:53 Since escaping his home country, 53:56 Assad had been producing Adventist Radio Programs 53:59 in his native tongue for his people back home. 54:01 Christianity was forbidden in his country 54:04 but the radio could carry the message 54:07 that missionaries could not. 54:09 Music... 54:18 I wondered what would become of my radio program now? 54:22 Who would carry on the work if I didn't return? 54:26 Music... 54:28 The days and weeks passed... 54:30 Assad was released from the container 54:32 but the inhumane conditions remained. 54:35 Starved, beaten and even electrocuted, 54:39 he had endured more than any human should. 54:42 One day, without notice, 54:46 my hands were unbound 54:48 and I was told... I could return home. 54:51 I could hardly believe it. 54:54 I was free... 54:55 I was praising the Lord as I boarded a bus again. 54:59 This time... headed home to my family 55:02 and my work at the radio station. 55:03 Music... 55:06 Despite the harrowing experience Assad has been through, 55:10 he faithfully continues his work with AWR 55:13 producing messages of hope and truth for his home country. 55:17 Assad trusts the Lord to keep Him safe 55:20 and knows that as long as God wants him to be producing 55:24 these programs, 55:25 nothing can stop him. 55:27 Music... 55:32 There are many others like Assad 55:33 who have suffered great persecution 55:35 to share their faith 55:37 and yet there are many more 55:39 who still need to hear about Jesus. 55:40 Please pray for these precious souls 55:43 and consider helping to further the work 55:45 of Adventist World Radio around the world 55:47 by donating today. 55:49 Together... from broadcast to baptism, 55:51 this is AWR 360. |
Revised 2022-01-19