Participants: Lonnie Melashenko
Series Code: VOPS
Program Code: VOPS000006
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00:32 He stood only five-feet-four inches tall,
00:36 and he always wore a carnation on his lapel. 00:39 He was the Mayor of New York City 00:41 during the great depression 00:43 and during the World War II days of course. 00:45 Well, the people in New York City 00:47 they adored him, they affectionately called him 00:51 "The Little Flower." 00:54 But His real name was Fiorello LaGuardia. 00:57 The people of New York City loved him 00:59 because of his compassion, and his caring for people. 01:02 In fact, he often rode with the firemen 01:04 as they raced to fires, 01:06 he went with the police as they raided the nightclubs 01:08 where booze and drugs were sold. 01:11 But he particularly loved kids 01:12 like this whole row of young people 01:14 that just came in here. 01:16 And he would even take whole orphanages 01:19 to Yankee Stadium to the baseball games. 01:22 Well, one-day Mayor LaGuardia showed up at night court 01:26 at one of the poorest wards of New York. 01:29 LaGuardia being mayor 01:31 had the right to do anything he wanted 01:33 so he dismissed the judge for that night and he took over. 01:37 Well, within minutes tattered little old lady 01:40 was brought in before him to answer charges 01:42 that she had stolen the 50 cent loaf of bread. 01:45 Remember this is back in the depression 01:47 a lot of money. 01:48 And this little old lady said your honor, 01:51 "I stole the bread 01:52 because my daughter's husband deserted her 01:55 and she's got two children. 01:57 She's sick and the children have no food. 02:00 What am I gonna do? 02:01 I have no money I took the bread 02:03 to feed two starving children." 02:07 Well, Mayor LaGuardia sighed and he said, 02:10 ma'am, I'm so sorry I have to punish you, 02:12 the law makes no exception 02:14 and the fine is $10 or 10 days in jail. 02:19 Well as he spoke though he reached into his pocket 02:23 pulled out $10 and he said 02:24 here ma'am is the $10 for the fine 02:27 and furthermore I'm gonna fine 02:30 everyone in this courtroom 50 cents for living in a town 02:33 where a person has to steal bread 02:35 so that her grandchildren can eat. 02:37 Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines 02:39 and give them to the defendant. 02:42 Well, the following day the newspapers reported 02:45 that a total of $47.50 02:47 was turned over to the grandmother 02:49 to help her with her problem. 02:51 Fifty cents of that amount 02:53 was given by the red-faced bakery owner 02:55 who had brought the charge against her in the first place. 02:59 But the mayor well, he was giving a standing ovation. 03:04 You know, how fortunate for this little old grandmother 03:07 to have such a kind, gracious, and wise judge. 03:12 Isn't that the kind of judge you would like to have, 03:15 as you stand before God in the great final judgment? 03:18 Amen. 03:19 You know what, the Bible says you can. 03:24 Because ladies and gentlemen, tonight I bring 03:26 to each and every one of you a court summons 03:29 you have been "legally invited" to the big trial, 03:34 the tribunal of the King of the Universe. 03:37 Six billion strong, the human race is approaching 03:41 God's great final court session. 03:44 Modern youth with their spiked hair, 03:48 pierced ears, bewildered and obsessed 03:50 with drugs and tattoos and sin and sex. 03:53 The youth are rollerblading to the judgment. 03:56 The aged from their senior citizens home 03:58 and rest havens 04:00 they are tottering toward the judgment. 04:02 The rich, well in their Rolls Royce's and Cadillac's 04:05 they are driving to the judgment, 04:07 saints and sinners alike. 04:09 Listen, everyone, hear what Paul says 04:12 about that great appointment in court 04:14 that the whole world must keep with God. 04:16 In Acts 17:31 he says "He has appointed a day 04:20 in which He will judge the world" 04:23 and no one will be excused. 04:25 No one can escape the summons. 04:27 In fact, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:10 04:30 "For we must all appear 04:32 before the judgment seat of Christ." 04:34 Whether we believe it or not, whether we like it or not, 04:38 what you profess to be Christians or not, 04:40 whether we're rich or poor, 04:42 black, white, we must all appear. 04:45 God has no favorites. Amen. 04:49 Hollywood actresses and lying presidents. 04:53 From Monica Lewinsky to Judas Iscariot, 04:56 the Bible says when we were summoned 04:59 we must all appear. 05:03 And my question is to night why? 05:07 What is God looking for in the Investigative Judgment? 05:11 May I respectfully submit three things 05:15 that the judgment is not? 05:18 Number one the judgment is not a "weeding ceremony" 05:23 for God to weed out disloyal followers. 05:27 He already knows the end from the beginning, right. 05:30 Secondly it is not for human beings 05:34 to know whether not they're not they saved 05:35 because He knows that already too. 05:38 And third it's not even necessarily 05:41 for the unfallen beings of the universe 05:44 because they've seen our lives throughout history 05:46 and they already know each life too. 05:50 Well, then perhaps someone ask 05:51 what is the purpose then at the judgment. 05:55 There are bigger issues much bigger issues, 05:58 the final destiny and security of the entire universe. 06:05 The focal point of the Great Controversy, 06:07 the whole question you see, 06:08 that Satan raised way back there 06:11 at the beginning before the universe was. 06:14 Well, "Does God deserve to be judge and to be God?" 06:21 Now it wasn't a question about God's power, 06:24 but it was question about God's character. 06:28 Is He the kind of person that deserves our allegiance? 06:33 You see, this may be new to you 06:35 but the primary concern of the judgment is God. 06:41 He's on trial. 06:43 Revelation 14:7 says, "The hour of His judgment is come." 06:50 His attributes are at stake. His record is at stake. 06:54 Not the performance of human beings." 06:57 We know what that is. 06:59 The question the judgment is, 07:01 "What has God done for His people? 07:04 Did God do everything He could 07:07 to rescue His people, to rescue Lonnie. 07:10 Can God be trusted to be God?" 07:13 You see, so often people are afraid of the judgment. 07:16 May be God's going to kind zap us out 07:18 if He finds one little sin unconfessed. 07:21 Friend, listen He's up there fighting for us. 07:25 We don't have anything to fear. 07:27 The judgment you see shows how God has acted 07:31 that He is on our side and that He can be trusted. 07:35 Oh, but now Satan stands there 07:37 and he's threatening, he's accusing, 07:39 he's condemning God and he's making claims 07:41 and counter-claims in the judgment back and forth 07:44 in the presence of the universe. 07:46 In fact, as you look at the scriptures, 07:48 you get the picture of God arguing in our behalf. 07:55 So what I'd like to suggest tonight 07:56 is that any notion of God up there 07:59 who's weeding out all the bad people folks, 08:03 that is foreign to scripture. 08:07 Let me illustrate what I'm trying to say 08:08 from the recent Columbia space shuttle tragedy. 08:12 The day after that happened 08:13 I well remember it was a Saturday morning. 08:15 On Sunday Reuters News Agency 08:19 from Johnson Space Center there in Texas reported, 08:22 that NASA had vowed on that Sunday 08:25 right after the space shuttle crashed 08:28 they vowed to leave absolutely no stone unturned 08:31 in an exhaustive investigation 08:33 into why the space shuttle Columbia suddenly broke up upon 08:37 reentry into Earth's atmosphere 08:39 killing all seven of the astronauts onboard 08:41 in that fiery, fire explosion. 08:44 Well, I see the investigative judgment 08:47 as a parallel to NASA. 08:51 You see it's not for our sake 08:53 over the astronauts onboard this suicide planet ours 08:57 or for the universe or the angels or other beings 09:00 but God has resolved 09:02 He's gonna leave nothing to chance in the judgment. 09:06 He's gonna look at every single bit 09:09 and piece of evidence 09:10 so that He can cinch the record, 09:12 He can put final end to sin, 09:14 and Nahum1:9 promises that sin will not arise 09:17 the second time as a result of that judgment. 09:20 Can you say, amen? Amen. 09:22 So the question tonight is then well 09:24 how does this judgment work? 09:27 Well, Paul gives an interesting answer in Romans 14:12. 09:31 He says "So then each of us shall give account 09:35 of himself to God" for the way we've lived. 09:40 And the verdict you see forever seals 09:43 eternal destiny and security. 09:47 And the decision will be irreversible. 09:49 There is no higher court of appeal. 09:51 But before the trial verdict passes sentence, 09:54 first there is got to a trial or an investigation. 09:59 You see, I have a little surprise for you tonight. 10:02 The real question up there in the judgment 10:04 isn't, "Was Lonnie Melashenko a sinner?" 10:09 You know, what, we would all perish, right. 10:15 But the real question the only question 10:17 on the witness stand is this, 10:20 "Did God give Lonnie adequate chances 10:25 to accept Jesus' solution?" 10:29 Let's turn to the Bible and notice the picture 10:31 of this tribunal record session in heaven. 10:34 In North America here I know you're watching 10:36 from Australia and South America 10:38 and Canada the place but in North America 10:40 from the Circuit Courts to the U.S. Supreme Court, 10:43 they all consists of three phases. 10:47 You first of all have what we call 10:48 the investigative hearing or the trial we call them. 10:53 Then after the trial has brought 10:55 all the evidence and all the witnesses 10:57 you finally have a verdict 10:59 when the jury or the judge comes in 11:01 and renders a decision, second phase. 11:05 Finally there is the execution. 11:08 You either unlock the cell let him go 11:10 or else it goes into the prison forever that the sentencing. 11:13 I want you to watch the incredible scene 11:15 of the trial phase as the prophet describe it 11:19 in Daniel 7:9, 10 Daniel says. 11:24 "I watched till thrones were put in place, 11:28 and the Ancient of Days was seated, 11:30 His garment was white as snow, 11:32 and the hair of His head was like pure wool. 11:34 His throne was like fiery flame, 11:37 its wheels a burning fire, 11:39 a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. 11:42 And a thousand thousands ministered to Him, 11:45 and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. 11:48 The court was seated, and the books were opened." 11:54 Here Daniel pictures God, the Father, 11:56 the Ancient of Days seated on His eternal throne 11:59 countless of angels seated in awesome silence out there. 12:03 God's trial begins. 12:07 Notice what Daniel saw next Daniel 7:13. 12:11 "I was watching in the night visions, 12:14 and behold, One like the Son of Man, 12:17 coming with the clouds of heaven! 12:18 He came to the Ancient of Days, 12:20 and they brought Him near before Him." 12:24 Who's that? 12:26 Jesus, here Jesus is pictured. 12:28 Standing in the trial before the Ancient of Days. 12:32 Kind of a carbon copy isn't it, of a courtroom trial on Earth. 12:36 There's the presiding Judge, the Ancient of Days. 12:38 There are all the witnesses, all of the holy angels 12:41 who have seen and recorded everything. 12:43 And standing before the throne is Jesus man's advocate 12:48 or lawyer as John wrote in 1 John 2:1 12:53 "We have an advocate with the Father, 12:55 Jesus Christ the righteous." 12:57 Amen. 12:58 You see, ladies and gentlemen, 12:59 we are not actually there in person, but Jesus is. 13:04 The Bible says here again in Daniel 7:10. 13:07 "The court was seated, and the books were opened." 13:12 Books, unimpeachable evidence, flawless records, 13:17 impeccably kept, of every deed, every action of God, 13:23 and for every person to as evidence in His trial. 13:29 Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:14 13:33 "For God will bring every work into judgment, 13:36 including every secret thing, whether good or evil." 13:40 And Malachi adds too in Malachi 3:16 13:44 "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, 13:47 and the Lord listened and heard them, 13:49 so a book of remembrance was written before Him 13:53 for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name." 13:57 Even King David knew about records in Psalm 56:8. 14:02 "Put my tears into Your bottle, are they not in Your book?" 14:09 So you see we are not actually there 14:11 at this Great White Throne judgment, God is. 14:15 And His evidence on our behalf is our lives. 14:21 And He's got it all written down in the books 14:23 as it says in Psalm 139:1, 3, 16 14:27 "O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. 14:30 You are familiar with all my ways. 14:32 All the days ordained for me were written in your book." 14:37 In other words we would say today in God's computers 14:40 or may be virtual videos got. 14:42 He know all about us. He's got the goods on us. 14:46 Everything's on record. 14:48 Remember not so much for His benefit 14:50 He already knows the whole kit and caboodle. 14:53 But the records are kept 14:54 for the benefit of the entire watching universe 14:56 because in a very real sense He is on trial in this judgment 15:01 and the books provide clear evidence 15:03 that God to Judge is fair. 15:06 He is loving and He is just in every single case. 15:13 And in this trial there be no cover-ups. 15:15 No Nixon Watergate missing tapes. 15:18 No Clinton memory lapses. 15:20 You see, people may be able to fool their friends 15:23 even their families, but no one can fool God. 15:26 Amen. 15:27 He reads the secrets of the heart. 15:32 Now unfortunately there's somebody else up there 15:35 at least represented a prosecution attorney. 15:39 We sometimes picture Him with a little pitchfork 15:42 maybe a tale that's not how He looks 15:43 but He's not only gonna show 15:46 in that record event sins of commission, 15:50 He's gonna dig up the ones of omission. 15:54 Things we never got a chance to do. 15:56 When we thought thoughts but we didn't get to do them 15:58 or we had a chance to do a good deed, 16:01 but we didn't do that. 16:02 Satan's point is he's gonna try to make sure 16:04 that everybody fails the judgment bar big time. 16:09 No human being on their own steam can pass that bar. 16:12 When judgment day comes, 16:14 you see we're gonna find ourselves folks, 16:16 in one of two positions. 16:19 Either our entire record of our past sins 16:22 and our failures will have been covered by the blood of Jesus 16:26 erased, forgiven, blotted out 16:28 or our record will stand to condemn us. 16:32 We're history because Isaiah 64:6 says 16:35 "But we are all like an unclean thing, 16:38 and all our righteousness are like" what? 16:40 Filthy rags. "Filthy rags." 16:42 What's more we are told very clearly 16:45 that when Jesus comes He said in Matthew 16:27 16:48 "He will reward each according to his" what? 16:51 "Works." 16:52 Oh, but someone protests, Lonnie, now just a minute. 16:57 "If we are saved by grace, how come, 17:02 why are we judged then by our works?" 17:06 That's a good question. 17:08 I like how Dr. Sakae Kubo puts it 17:11 that gonna quote from his book. 17:13 He says "Let us consider what it would mean 17:16 if the judgment were not based on works. 17:19 By what would God judge us, our skin, our race, 17:23 our social class, our education, our looks, 17:26 our talents, our strength, our membership in the church, 17:30 or our mere profession of Christ?" 17:34 He says "God can judge us only 17:37 by our works, good or bad." 17:43 I will say it, is this some sort of double talk 17:45 based on we talk about last night? 17:48 No. 17:50 Friends, listen carefully 17:52 good works are obviously not done 17:54 by the true Christian to ever earn merit 17:57 or some how bribe God. 17:59 But listen carefully. 18:01 Good works aren't a means of salvation, 18:05 but good works are an evidence of salvation, 18:10 the spontaneous result of a heart 18:12 full of love for God and man 18:14 and that's what God is looking for in the judgment. 18:16 Evidence you see that exonerates Him. 18:21 Not the works. 18:23 I mean, sinners can do good works, too. 18:25 Good ones. 18:26 But the question is "Was it in a love relationship with Jesus 18:30 that motivated this person to do those good works?" 18:33 Back summing up in the Book of Ecclesiastes, 18:36 Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14 18:41 he says "Let us hear the conclusion 18:43 of the whole matter. 18:44 Fear God and keep His commandments, 18:47 for this is the whole duty of man. 18:49 For God shall bring every work into judgment." 18:54 Now since my relationship to Christ 18:58 is going to be judged by my conduct. 19:03 What do you think there's got to be 19:04 some sort of clear standard or law 19:07 by which to measure that conduct. 19:11 If I get hauled into court 19:12 in State of California, where I live. 19:15 Those courts only have authority 19:17 to deal with crime as defined by the laws of the land. 19:20 I mean, I can't be found guilty 19:22 unless I've broken some sort of law 19:24 or a standard, a gauge, a measurement device. 19:29 I happen to have four brothers grew up in a home of five boys. 19:33 Five little holy terrors. 19:35 You know, we're all one year apart. 19:39 Imagine the picnic that my parents had 19:41 when I being the eldest was just four 19:44 and I had four brothers none of us were twins. 19:47 That's how close we were. 19:48 They had to carry four babies around. 19:51 I had to learn to walk very young in life. 19:55 But I remember we kids used to get 19:56 a kick out of getting measured as we grew up. 19:59 The folks had a little measuring tape 20:00 and they'd put a mark on the wall 20:02 to see who was tallest. 20:04 And we could see from month to month year to year 20:06 how much we'd outgrow those marks. 20:08 And we five kids well, we all grew our clothes like mad. 20:12 But I can still remember being measured on the wall 20:15 those marks with measuring tape. 20:16 Now God, too, says He has a standard 20:19 of measuring our moral lives. 20:23 In God's judgment there is a basis of judgment, a law, 20:26 and in fact James makes it very clear 20:30 which standard will be upheld. 20:32 James 2:12 "So speak and so do 20:36 as those who will be judged by the law of liberty." 20:40 You look around in the context 20:42 of that chapter there in the previous verses. 20:44 James is talking about the law of the Ten Commandments. 20:48 In fact even quotes two of them. 20:49 James 2:11 he says "For He that said, 20:52 'Do not commit adultery,' said also 'Do not kill.'" 20:56 So God's Ten Commandment law called the "Law of Liberty" 21:00 is the perfect standard by which the lives 21:03 of men and women will be judged. 21:06 That could terrify me 21:09 especially if I didn't have Jesus. 21:12 But that's would makes 21:13 all the difference in the judgment. 21:16 You see the judgment simply determines 21:17 on which side we stand. 21:20 Are we with Christ? Has He changed us? 21:23 Has He empowered us, so that we love to do 21:26 His will as expressed in the Ten Commandments? 21:28 Has He written His law on our hearts? 21:33 Tell you a little bit about my family background. 21:35 My grandparents from the Soviet Union 21:38 immigrated to Canada before the Bolshevik Revolution. 21:42 When they applied for citizenship 21:45 they were required to pledge allegiance 21:47 to their brand new country, 21:48 promising to be loyal citizens 21:50 and uphold the land, the laws of the land. 21:53 I would tell you that my grandparents 21:55 gladly switched allegiance. 21:59 No more Lenin, no more Stalin, 22:01 no more Atheism, no more Marxism, 22:03 no more socialism and communism they wanted freedom, 22:08 in North America brand new way of life. 22:12 Well it's the same thing with Christians. 22:15 We live on this ball of mud in a foreign land, 22:20 the spiritual kingdom of hell and the devil. 22:23 When we accept Jesus Christ and His kingdom, 22:26 God simply asks us to pledge allegiance to Him, 22:29 uphold the laws of His government. 22:32 And you know what He helps us 22:34 by His grace and by His power to do just that. 22:38 However, you know, and I know 22:41 that not all immigrants out there 22:44 remain faithful to their solemn vows 22:46 when they swear allegiance. 22:48 In fact, some Americans in high offices 22:51 in the Pentagon in the C.I.A. 22:55 they outwardly seem to be loyal citizens of the land, 22:57 but later unfortunately 22:59 so tragically even recent months 23:01 some of have been found to be subversive 23:03 and when this is proved, 23:05 the citizenship of that person is revoked and he's deported. 23:11 So in the judgment it's not enough 23:13 for Christians to just, 23:14 well, I profess that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. 23:17 No, the Bible says we must be born again. 23:21 We must allow Jesus' perfect life 23:23 of obedience and faithfulness 23:25 to be lived out in us to change us, make us new. 23:29 And that evidence is important in God's judgment. 23:35 Jesus said, in Matthew 7:21 23:38 "Not everyone who says to Me, 23:40 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 23:43 but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." 23:48 Hold on to your seats 23:50 because now the Voice of Prophecy speaks, 23:55 with a most astounding fact little known by Christians. 23:58 Are you ready for it? 24:00 The judgment in heaven 24:03 is already now in session, tonight. 24:09 We read it earlier tonight in Daniel Chapter 7, 24:12 where Daniel says 24:13 that he saw the Ancient of Days 24:15 coming on the clouds of heaven sitting in court. 24:19 Well, scripture reveals 24:20 that the investigative phase of God's judgment 24:24 the trial began in heaven hundreds of years ago. 24:29 So God's trial is already on, tonight. 24:34 In fact, that's why 24:35 in the closing chapters of the Book of Revelation, 24:38 when John outlines the very last warning final messages 24:42 to this world, this planet 24:43 and Christ final invitation in the Three Angel's Messages, 24:46 He says, in Revelation 14:6, 7 24:49 "Then I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, 24:52 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those 24:54 who dwell on the earth to every nation, and kindred, 24:57 tongue, and people saying with the loud voice, 24:59 'Fear God give glory to Him, 25:02 for the hour of His judgment has come, 25:07 worship Him who made heaven and earth, 25:09 the sea and springs of water.'" 25:10 I want you to notice 25:11 that this does not say here in this message 25:14 "that the judgment will come," 25:17 it says "the hour of his judgment has come." 25:20 And then right after these Three Angels' Messages 25:23 right smack in the middle of God's judgment hour, 25:26 verse 15 says then Jesus announces 25:29 "And another angel came out of the temple, 25:31 crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, 25:34 'Thrust in Your sickle and reap, 25:37 for the time has come for You to reap, 25:39 for the harvest of the earth is ripe.'" 25:42 Harvest is the end of the world, Jesus told us. 25:45 Harvest happens at the second coming. 25:48 But what did verse 7 say, 25:50 just occurs right before Jesus comes, 25:53 God's judgment hour. 25:57 We then help vindicate His character 26:01 and His claims that we're safe to save. 26:03 And then He comes and He takes with Him. 26:08 Well, perhaps someone says, 26:09 okay Lonnie, "if God's heavenly investigative court trial 26:13 is already in process tonight 26:15 when did the happen, when did the judgment begin?" 26:17 The Bible Prophecy indicates 26:20 that for more than a century-and-a-half 26:23 heaven's court has already evidently been in session. 26:26 In fact, any person in this room to night 26:29 has lived all of your entire life 26:31 in the prophetic time of God's great judgment day 26:34 what the Bible calls the Day of Atonement. 26:39 And when God finishes the judgment 26:41 that could be two minutes from right now 26:44 that is it the end. 26:47 The moment of truth He will thrusts in His sickle 26:50 and reap and Jesus comes for the harvest. 26:54 Well, you say Lonnie, 26:55 how can we establish the beginning date 26:58 of the heavenly judgment? 27:00 The key is found, 27:02 in a most remarkable prophecy in the Book of Daniel. 27:05 And those of you who are here two nights ago 27:07 studied it with us carefully from Daniel Chapter 7. 27:10 We look at five dates in prophecy, 27:13 when we look at technique of God, remember that. 27:17 Each had pin-point accuracy. 27:20 We look back there at 457 B.C. 27:23 starting date of that 490 year prophecy 27:27 when Artaxerxes built that were made the decree 27:29 go back to rebuild the temple. 27:31 Then we looked at 408 B.C. 27:33 Artaxerxes Longemanus and the temple was rebuilt 27:36 49 years later exactly on schedule. 27:38 We look down to the prophecy 27:40 that predicted the coming of Jesus 27:42 at His baptism in 27 A.D. 27:44 and we saw that right to the very month of time 27:46 accurate to a pinpoint. 27:49 And then particular we look down 27:51 at the countdown to Jesus on the cross 27:53 and we saw that it not only was to the year, 27:56 month, day, hour, minute 27:58 and very split second of time 31 A.D. 28:01 Jesus died on Calvary. 28:03 And then of course we saw there are few more years left 28:05 for the Jewish nation to get with it 28:07 and that finally ended 28:08 at the Stoning of Stephen in 34 A.D. 28:12 Five days, 28:14 by the way Voice of Prophecy's 28:15 Discover Bible Lessons out there 28:17 can share all of the details for everyone of you 28:19 it's free I hope you'll stop by at the table be sure-- 28:22 by the way even that tape is available, 28:23 video for just $5 I couldn't believe 28:26 when I found that out today. 28:28 A videotape in $5, who is that preacher on there? 28:32 But let me take you on a short little excursion here 28:34 about this next event. 28:36 Daniel just a chapter after in 8:14 says 28:41 in connection with those five prophecies 28:44 he was also told by the angel Gabriel listen Daniel 28:47 "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, 28:51 then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 28:54 Oh, now that is talking judgment 28:57 at one meant atonement putting God's universe right, 29:03 one final last time getting it all together now. 29:06 By the way this is the longest time prophecy in the Bible 29:09 and it's one of my favorites. 29:11 You remember that from two nights ago 29:13 in prophecy we noted that is very, very clear 29:17 that in computing apocalyptic prophetic time 29:21 one prophetic day is equal to one literal year. 29:25 Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34 says 29:28 "I've appointed thee each day for a year." 29:32 So this prophecy actually represents 2,300 years 29:38 till God says the sanctuary will be cleansed, 29:41 the last judgment begins. 29:44 Now we learned from Ezra 7 29:46 we had several passages there the other night 29:48 but that this 2,300 year prophetic period 29:51 began at the very same command of King Artaxerxes 29:55 to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. 29:56 When was that? 29:58 457 B.C. Historians tell us. 30:02 In the autumn of the year 457 B.C., 30:04 remember its autumn September, October, November. 30:08 The king issued the long-awaited decree 30:10 2,300 years from that date terminates 30:14 if you do the math in October 1844. 30:21 A child to the third grade can do the arithmetic. 30:24 But that's the year the Daniel says, 30:27 the court in heaven convenes 30:29 and God begins to judge the world. 30:32 Scripture calls it the Day of Atonement. 30:36 Which if you really want to get specific, 30:37 and look at the Jewish calendar for Yom Kippur in 1844 30:41 he would actually place interesting enough 30:44 God's judgment beginning on October 22 30:49 is that the autumn, 1844. 30:53 That's evidently the day it began. 30:56 In fact, Paul backs this up in Acts 17:31. 31:00 "God has appointed a day 31:03 in which He will begin to judge the world." 31:05 There it is. 31:07 And the point is, friend, 31:10 when God's judgment up there is done, Jesus comes. 31:16 I mean, it's just that simple. 31:19 Now you may ask 31:20 what does the heavenly Day of Atonement mean 31:23 at one ment? 31:24 Well, remember, look at this last night. 31:27 God gave ancient Israel a little miniature, 31:31 a model remember a copy an illustration of Calvary 31:36 and the last judgment thousands of years before it happened. 31:40 I'm sorry that most Christians ignore this 31:42 on Sunday mornings in their churches. 31:45 But here's how it worked. 31:46 The book of Hebrews in the New Testament says 31:48 God instructed the people to erect 31:51 a tent tabernacle on earth during their long exodus 31:55 from Egypt to the Promised Land. 31:57 Lot of technical stuff there in the Book of Leviticus, 32:00 Numbers, Deuteronomy 32:01 but was for an extremely important reason. 32:04 First of all, the Bible says God was lonely. 32:10 And so He said let them make Me a tabernacle 32:12 so I can dwell among them. 32:14 That's where He wanted to meet with His people. 32:17 But secondly that tabernacle that little tent structure 32:22 was where the people daily 32:23 brought their sacrifices to the sanctuary. 32:26 They confessed their sins remember 32:28 and then they took the life of that lamb 32:29 to show their faith in the future death of Jesus, 32:32 the Son of God. 32:34 I'm so glad that today if we sin, 32:36 we can just ask God to forgive our sins 32:37 because Jesus died in our place to pay the sin debt. 32:42 However, way back here before Calvary, 32:45 the people had no Calvary sacrifice to look back to, 32:48 so by faith they looked forward instead to the time 32:52 when the Lamb of God would die for them 32:54 and God accepted their faith. 32:56 So that priest symbolically transferred their sins 33:02 to the sanctuary by sprinkling 33:05 that sin-laden blood from the animal 33:07 before the veil of the most Holy place in the sanctuary. 33:11 And evidently all of those sins everyday, 33:13 every week, every month, every year 33:15 all during the year they just piled up all those sins. 33:19 But then one day each year, 33:21 God instructed the children of Israel 33:22 to conduct a most solemn and sacred service 33:26 kind of different than anything else 33:27 called the Day of Atonement, 33:32 which the people of Israel viewed as a day of judgment. 33:34 I mean ten days before the Day of Atonement, 33:36 the trumpets blew reveille 5:30 every morning 33:41 reminding the Israelites time to get ready 33:44 take inventory of your lives, 33:45 repent, confess your sins anybody 33:47 who failed to do so was banished from the camp. 33:51 Leviticus 16:30 says 33:54 "For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, 33:58 to cleanse you, that you may be clean 34:00 from all your sins before the Lord." 34:04 Now, here's the point, 34:07 again the New Testament Book of Hebrews 34:09 makes it plain that all that ritual 34:12 and that Old Testament earthly sanctuary 34:14 and its service was simply a little a copy, 34:17 an illustration of God's sanctuary up in heaven 34:22 where Christ is our Great High Priest 34:26 He is up there for forgiving our sins 34:28 in the last judgment today. 34:31 And He's gonna begin evidently 34:33 a final mopping up campaign to restore God's universe 34:38 back to its rightful state get it get rid of sin. 34:41 In fact, Paul says in this heavenly court room, 34:44 Hebrews 8:1, 2 "We have such an High Priest, 34:50 who is seated at the right hand of the throne 34:52 of the Majesty in the heavens, 34:53 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle 34:57 which the Lord erected, and not man." 35:00 No more earthly priests, no bloody sacrifices, 35:03 no more copies, no more miniatures. 35:06 Hebrews 9:11, 12, 35:08 "But Christ being come an high priest 35:11 by His own blood entered in once into the Holy Place, 35:15 having obtained eternal redemption for us 35:18 for Christ is not entered 35:19 into the holy places made with hands, 35:22 which are the figures of the true, 35:25 but into heaven itself, 35:26 now to appear in the presence of God for us." 35:31 Amen. 35:33 And in that final judgment going on up there tonight 35:35 Hebrews 7:25 35:38 says this is the best news of all. 35:40 "He is also able to save to the uttermost 35:44 those who come to God through Him, 35:47 since He always lives to make intercession for them." 35:50 Can you say, amen? Amen. 35:52 The good news about the judgment, 35:53 Jesus says in Matthew 10:32, 33 35:56 is "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, 36:00 him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 36:03 But whoever denies Me before men, 36:05 him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." 36:10 You see friend, listen, 36:12 you and I don't stand alone tonight in heaven's judgment. 36:16 When our name comes up, 36:17 listen, if we've confessed Jesus, 36:20 and we're daily in Christ, He's our attorney. 36:25 And He is an attorney who never loses a case. 36:29 When my name comes up, 36:31 instead of great big huge encyclopedia of all of my sins 36:34 that I hope no one ever knows about 36:36 my records can show instead 36:39 Lonnie is covered by His blood." 36:43 Forgiven at Calvary. Cleansed. 36:46 Jesus says Father, account this person 36:50 as though he's never sinned. 36:52 I credit his account, personally, 36:54 with my perfect sinless life. 36:58 So, there's nothing to fear about Judgment Day 37:01 for those who love and follow Jesus. 37:03 1 John 1:7 says, 37:05 "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son 37:07 cleanses us" from how much sin. 37:09 "All sin." 37:10 So the judgment is good news. 37:13 Once your case goes to judgment, 37:15 if we're Christ's and He's our attorney, 37:18 listen case closed, courts adjourned. 37:21 He wins every time. 37:24 If we ask Him today to be our attorney and we win too. 37:30 Now tonight we're living in Earth's last hours 37:33 according to that prophecy, the judgment is set, 37:36 the books are opened evidently back in 1844. 37:41 I can't argue with other five dates 37:43 to the math must be right for that day. 37:45 What is simply telling us that everyone 37:47 that's ever professed to be a Christian 37:49 is being judged right now at this time? 37:53 1 Peter 4:17 says, 37:55 "For the time has come for judgment 37:58 to begin at the house of God." 38:01 Amen. 38:03 In other words, I think that means the judgment 38:05 started with all of God's good people, 38:09 saved people, born-again people. 38:12 Well, who would you say was the very first godly person 38:15 on this planet to ever die? 38:19 Abel. Abel. 38:22 Remember, way back there in the beginning 38:25 killed by his own brother. 38:26 Can you picture in your mind's eye 38:29 Abel's day in court when 1844 started 38:33 as his case is reviewed, 38:35 God sees all of Abel's life. 38:38 There's the record, evidence in God's favor. 38:43 When Abel showed his life, his faith in a coming Redeemer, 38:48 the life of Christ was credited to Abel's account. 38:51 And Jesus says, "My blood, Father, 38:53 it paid Abel's debt." 38:55 And Can't you just hear the angels shout, amen! 38:58 Keep Abel's name in the Book of Life! 39:00 And God wins! 39:02 Christ promised us in Revelation 3:5 39:05 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, 39:08 and I will not blot out his name 39:10 from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name 39:12 before My Father and before His angels." 39:16 Well, they continue down the list Abel had brother 39:19 who's in the same sacred righteous family 39:21 the first good home on planet earth. 39:24 We know what detained him 39:25 they come down to Cain's name. 39:27 He killed Abel. 39:29 But he never recorded to the Bible ever repented. 39:33 And suddenly can you hear everything 39:35 a very quiet up there in heaven. 39:37 Nobody speaks up for Cain 39:40 and even Jesus kind of hangs His head. 39:42 Nothing is said as they quietly strike his name out 39:46 of the Book of Life. 39:49 Down through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Isaiah, 39:53 Daniel, Esther, Rahab all the heroes of faith, 39:57 all of God's spiritual people 39:59 they finally come to Judas name, that sad record. 40:05 Once a disciple, the follower, believer, 40:07 he can even do miracles the Bible says 40:09 but he ended up being a traitor, 40:11 ending up at last doing suicide. 40:14 And Jesus the Bible says loved Judas. 40:17 He even stooped to wash his feet 40:19 on the night of the Last Supper, 40:20 hoping somehow he can touch that proud heart. 40:23 He wanted to be able to stand by Judas 40:25 in the judgment as his advocate but remember Judas turned away. 40:30 And how sad for Jesus up there 40:33 as He stands there before the Father 40:35 can you see the tears trickling down His face 40:38 as He says, "Father, you know, 40:40 I tried my very best for Judas 40:42 I did everything I pleaded with Him 40:45 right up to the night before My death 40:47 there was nothing more I could do. 40:50 He rejected Me as His Savior. 40:53 The name of Judas is for ever stricken from the records. 40:58 Tell you it's a solemn time in which we live tonight. 41:01 Amen. 41:02 When judgment ends, 41:05 man's probation closes and the decree goes forth, 41:08 the final verdict of heaven's court of law. 41:12 The sentence phase of the judgment, 41:14 when the Judge declares and the Bible tells us 41:18 God will finally say court is over. 41:21 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still 41:24 but he who is holy, let him be holy still." 41:28 You know, the saddest words 41:29 in the human language will be the words 41:31 of those who put off salvation, 41:33 who have not accepted Christ as their Lord 41:36 and their attorney and their advocate. 41:38 They could have been saved. 41:40 Because I personally believe 41:42 God is up there doing so much for us, 41:45 that a person has to choose not to be saved. 41:49 Is that good news or what? 41:52 A tragically, that is precisely why Jeremiah 8:20 says 41:56 the majority on this planet will wail some day. 41:59 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, 42:03 we are not saved!" 42:06 Then the Bible says Jesus returns to Earth. 42:09 That's the execution phase of heaven's court. 42:14 "And behold, I am coming quickly, 42:18 and My reward is with Me, 42:20 to give to every one according to his work." 42:23 My friends, tonight Jesus longs 42:25 to be your advocate in the judgment. 42:27 He longs to have you accept His sacrifice on Calvary. 42:31 He longs to have you confess your sins to Him 42:34 so He can blot them out. 42:35 He longs to have your name written in the Book of Life. 42:38 Longs to cover you with His perfect robe of righteousness. 42:42 John tells us no one is gonna enter that Holy City 42:46 but only those who's names are written 42:48 in the Lamb's Book of Life. 42:50 Amen. 42:51 What about your name tonight? 42:54 Heaven has made its move. 42:58 How about you? 43:00 When I lived near Washington, D.C. as teenager 43:03 I met Jeannie in high school, we dated Frederick Maryland. 43:08 We went down to the National Bureau of Standards. 43:11 Most interesting place I think I've ever visited. 43:14 And in the National Bureau of Standards 43:16 you find the perfect pound in the perfect yardstick 43:19 and the perfect weighing instruments 43:21 but it was that weighing instrument 43:23 that always intrigued me the most. 43:25 To illustrate how delicate 43:27 and discriminating those scales were, 43:29 the guide would place a simple little piece of paper 43:32 of equal weight on either side of those scales. 43:36 And very delicate poise 43:39 was always maintained perfect balance. 43:43 Then the guide would remove one of the sheets of paper, 43:47 and he would simply sign his name on it, 43:50 place the paper back on the scales. 43:53 Just the ink in that signature tipped the balances 43:59 and weighed the scale down. 44:02 Ladies and gentlemen, that's exactly 44:04 what it's like of the judgment. 44:06 The name of Jesus thrown into the balances 44:10 will make all the difference. 44:12 Don't you want your name written there? 44:14 Do you want Jesus' name on your record? 44:17 Tonight, how do you stand in the judgment? 44:19 I want Jesus to stand there by me, don't you? 44:23 If you're not ready to face the judgment, 44:24 why not make plans today? 44:26 Your decision for against Christ will decide the outcome. 44:30 The verdict isn't Christ's to make. 44:32 It's yours. 44:33 All it takes is a surrendered heart 44:37 a heart that has been to Calvary. 44:39 Invite Jesus just now to come into your life. 44:42 The choice is up to you. 44:45 Listen as Joey sings. 44:50 The Savior is waiting 44:55 To enter your heart 45:00 Why don't you let Him come in 45:06 There's nothing in this world 45:10 To keep you apart 45:15 What is your answer to Him? 45:23 Time after time 45:27 He has waited before 45:32 And now He is waiting again 45:40 To see if you're willing 45:45 To open the door 45:51 Oh, how He wants to come in 46:00 Let us pray together shall we. 46:02 Father, the good news of the judgment 46:04 is Jesus Christ offers His graced to cover ever sin. 46:09 And His only fee as our attorney isn't money 46:12 but He simply asked friend give me your heart. 46:16 He wants us to say yes to Him, choose Him. 46:19 He wants our will on His side 46:21 so He can begin to make powerful changes 46:24 in our lives right here and now. 46:27 Lord, as our heads bowed in prayer 46:29 I know that they are individuals 46:30 who you would like to say Jesus, 46:32 I accept You as my Savior, my Attorney. 46:35 May be like to raise your hand and say God, 46:37 please remember me in the judgment, be my Attorney. 46:39 Would you do that right now with me? 46:42 Want you to take that response card now 46:44 the row captains are passing those down 46:46 please, take out that response card and write your commitment, 46:49 your choice of what you choose to do 46:53 in terms of Jesus in the judgment. 46:55 Number one, says I believe the Bible picture of Jesus 46:59 is the only reliable intercessor 47:01 in the heavenly judgment. 47:02 Put a check after number one. 47:05 Number two, you might want to choose to accept Jesus 47:07 as your personal Savior invite Him 47:09 to take full control of your life 47:11 this may be a first time 47:12 that you receive Jesus put a big cross, 47:15 Calvary's cross beside number two 47:17 if that's your decision tonight. 47:19 And number three, 47:20 I want to walk in all the light Jesus reveals to me 47:23 through His Holy Word. 47:24 Check that one just now as Joey sings. 47:30 If you'll take one step 47:33 Toward the Savior, my friend 47:39 You'll find His arms open wide 47:46 Receive Him 47:48 And all of your darkness will end 47:54 Within His love He'll abide 48:02 Time after time 48:05 He has waited before 48:10 And now He is waiting again 48:17 To see if you are willing to open the door 48:28 Oh, how He wants to come 48:32 Oh, how He wants to come 48:38 Why don't you let Him come in? 48:49 While you're marking your cards 48:51 perhaps there is someone who's not sure tonight you, 48:53 you need help you got questions, you got problems, 48:56 you say I've got hang up, I've got habits. 48:58 Would you like to be included in this closing prayer? 49:01 Lord we know that to confess Jesus 49:04 is more than a few words or a hand raised 49:06 but that's beginning, 49:08 so help us in our lives as we choose You 49:10 to walk in the light as You show us. 49:14 To be consistent Christians cleans 49:16 and empowered by the blood of Jesus Christ 49:18 we thank you for that in Jesus name. 49:21 Amen. Amen. 49:24 Your downlink locations 49:25 wherever you located please make sure 49:27 that the row captains receive your response cards, 49:29 we want to pray for any prayer requests you have. 49:32 Remember that tomorrow night our most interesting subject 49:37 is it by chance we're here 49:40 or by desire, invite your friends. 49:43 Thank you for coming tonight, ladies and gentlemen. 49:46 Remembers as we say it at the end of our broadcast 49:48 friend, God really does love you. 49:55 Amen. Goodnight. |
Revised 2014-12-17