1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,440 I want to welcome you to our fifth presentation of Three Angels, One Message. 2 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:14,560 Yep, that's it. Three Angels, One Message. We started last weekend, Friday night, 3 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:18,720 continued Sabbath morning, and then Saturday evening. We picked up, we have 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:27,520 been taking a concentrated look at Revelation 14 verses 6 and onward, known 5 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:37,560 as the Three Angels message. Last night, we continued that by looking at the 6 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:45,880 third angel, angel number three, and it was titled Angel Three, Revelation and 7 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:51,640 the Mark of the Beast. If you were not here for that, you can find the 8 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:59,520 presentation online because we did stream it on our Facebook page. We will 9 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:05,120 conclude this evening, or we will conclude our series this evening at 7 10 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:10,720 o'clock, where we will look at a presentation, a brief, more laid-back, 11 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:16,800 lighter-hearted message, just simply titled Don't Worry, Look to Jesus. Don't 12 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,560 Worry, Look to Jesus. I think that's a great way to end a collection of 13 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,920 passages that sometimes people get a little frazzled over. So we're going to 14 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,800 end on a high note. I encourage you to come out, close the Sabbath with us. We 15 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:35,760 will have a Q&A session. It doesn't have to be about these passages. If 16 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:40,160 there's something else that you've been wanting to ask, bring your questions. We 17 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,960 will take some time to go over it. I expect it will not be as long, 18 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:51,160 certainly, as last night or some of our other discussions. But for now, we will 19 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:58,120 get into this morning's topic, one message, God's final call. Before we do 20 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:03,080 that, let's have another word of prayer. Loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for 21 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:07,280 a beautiful Sabbath day. We thank you for your love, and we thank you for these 22 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,760 messages of warning. Warning of things to come or things that are currently 23 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:18,960 happening, but not just to scare us, to let us know so that when we are faced 24 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,400 with the decision, Lord, I know that you desire us to make a decision in your 25 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:31,400 favor. And so it is to that end that I pray in Jesus name, amen. And amen. We 26 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:42,000 read in the Bible the account of God delivering his people from the bondage 27 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:49,600 of slavery in the nation of Egypt. After plagues had been heaped upon Egypt, 28 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:55,680 miracles were worked on behalf of Israel. God finally led them to the base of 29 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:03,640 Mount Sinai. There God would declare to his people Israel his intention on being 30 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:10,920 their God and desiring them to be his people. He would speak his law to them, 31 00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:19,000 and they would pledge their fealty to him. After this, God invited Moses alone 32 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:24,200 to join him on the mount. If you'll remember, there were bounds placed around, 33 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,840 and we don't know, maybe there were ropes, maybe there were rock piles, maybe 34 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,400 there was just simply, look at that shadow, don't go there. Either way, the 35 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,400 Bible says there were bounds, and no one was supposed to step foot on the mount, 36 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:43,120 not even the animals, or they would die. So Moses alone was invited to join God 37 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:50,280 on the mountain. While there, Moses received from God the Ten Commandments 38 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:57,120 written into stone with the finger of God. He received instructions for the 39 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:04,120 tabernacle, instructions on how to govern the people, but for 40 days he got to 40 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:13,360 enjoy a personal communion with God. That's awesome. 40 days, Moses got to 41 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:20,880 hear God speak to him, and in turn, I'm sure, he spoke back. I can imagine Moses 42 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:28,040 and God having a dialogue, not just simply a monologue. Well, while he was 43 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:34,480 gone, the people grew restless. Most of us know the story. Impatient with Moses' 44 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:39,200 delay on the mountain, the people cried out to Aaron, Moses' brother, to make them 45 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:44,920 an idol after the ones that they had seen in Egypt, that they might worship a 46 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:50,840 God, lowercase g, that they could see. Moses has been gone for so long, his 47 00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:55,000 return is delayed, we don't know what's happened to him, maybe God has struck him 48 00:04:55,000 --> 00:05:03,440 down. Give us a God that we can see. Tragically, Aaron did as they asked, and 49 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:08,880 then they blasphemously declared it the God that had delivered them from Egypt, 50 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:16,480 and they worshiped it with gross profanity. It was debaucherous what these 51 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:22,640 people did so soon after being miraculously delivered from centuries 52 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:31,000 of slavery. God does tell Moses what is going on in the camp. Moses descends from 53 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,400 the mountain to find the people violating the covenant that they had 54 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:43,440 pledged themselves to just 40 days prior. That is not long, my friends. This could 55 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:49,100 be a conversation of how long does it take us to break our covenants. It took 56 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:55,840 that whole host of people 40 days. Do we even last that long sometimes? I wonder, 57 00:05:55,840 --> 00:06:03,120 I wonder. Well, Moses did confront them. He confronted Aaron. Moses brought a 58 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:10,120 swift end to the hedonism, and then he challenged the people. He challenged them 59 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:17,800 with this call. Standing before the gate of the camp, Moses said, who is on the 60 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:30,720 Lord's side? Come to me. Short, simple, direct. Y'all have done wrong. We're not 61 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:36,280 even going to debate it. Who's on the Lord's side? That's it, because after 62 00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:40,080 ever they could have talked about the style of music they were using. 63 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:45,280 Joshua thought it sounded like war. They could have talked about whether the 64 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:49,840 the style of dance was appropriate or whether there was too much movement of 65 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:54,480 the hips. They could have talked about the earrings, and at this point we 66 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:59,120 know they had to remove the jewelry. They could have talked about the clothing. 67 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,040 They could have talked about the arrangement of the tents. They could have 68 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:08,360 talked about a whole host of things. Moses didn't care, because when it came 69 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:16,400 right down to it, what was the challenge? Who is on the Lord's side? Well, stand by 70 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:25,280 me. Moses knew where he stood. Do you know where you stand today? Because that 71 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:32,420 challenge rings to us through history, like ancient Israel worship. Worship is 72 00:07:32,420 --> 00:07:37,720 at the heart of what we have to consider. They did not just violate their 73 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:44,720 covenant in word. They violated it in who they recognized as God and how they 74 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:51,440 worshiped that false God. Worship was at the heart of Israel's problem back then, 75 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:58,680 and it worship is at the heart of what we consider today. Like ancient Israel, the 76 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:04,640 more time passes without the return of Jesus, the more we are tempted to turn 77 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:12,680 our attentions elsewhere. We are tempted to say, like them, the return is delayed. 78 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:21,600 Give us a God that we can see. There are many different gods that we turn our 79 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:28,400 attentions to. We have already studied the importance of worship in our 80 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:34,960 passages of Scripture. In Revelation 14, we're going to review them very briefly, 81 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,800 and forgive me for the sake of my throat, I'm not going to read verbatim. We're 82 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:45,480 going to highlight things. Revelation 14, 6 starts with an angel flying in the 83 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:50,320 midst of heaven with the everlasting gospel. That gospel is the good news of 84 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:56,160 salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. End of sentence, period. Can't do 85 00:08:56,160 --> 00:09:02,240 anything more on top of it to perfect what's already perfected, and worship is 86 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:09,200 involved in it. We are to proclaim that to everyone on earth. The angel continues, 87 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:14,440 fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgment has come and 88 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:20,920 worship him. Worship is how you demonstrate your fear, your respect, your 89 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:27,760 awe of God and how you want to glorify him. You worship him, and you don't just 90 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:35,500 worship him as a wise man, you worship him as creator, creator, sovereign of the 91 00:09:35,500 --> 00:09:44,360 universe, and you do that in light of a cosmic judgment because it has come. Not 92 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:50,080 might, not maybe, but has. The second angel tells us this, that fallen, fallen is 93 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:54,160 Babylon the Great. She's made nations drink the wine of the wrath of the 94 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:58,600 passion of her sexual immorality. We've studied that Babylon represents an 95 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:06,200 apostate religious system, a religious system saturated with confusion. A little 96 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:10,520 bit of truth, a little bit of error, a little bit of, eh, doesn't really matter, 97 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:18,640 just go along with it. It's confusion. That's Babylon. Babylon has rejected the 98 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:24,320 message of the first angel, right, faithful worship, and so the second angel's 99 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:29,400 message announces that she has fallen from God's favor, and you don't want to 100 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:35,600 be caught up in that. Last night we looked at this, the third angel says that 101 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,900 if anyone, and there is again at the heart of this, worships the beast, do we 102 00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:45,480 get the point? Worship, worship. It comes up like that broken record if the kids 103 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:51,000 know what a record is anymore. If the broken record skips or if you had, do we 104 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,000 remember the the CD Walkmans? Did you ever try to put one in like on your 105 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,240 hip or in your pocket? If it didn't have the skip protect, you take that first 106 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:04,440 skip and you're like, oh I've heard that verse before. It's just like that. Worship 107 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:10,160 comes up over and over and over again. This angel warns against worshiping the 108 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:16,440 beast. Don't receive that mark on your forehead or on your hand because it will 109 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:25,200 not be a good day for you if you do, in a nutshell. We ended last night with this, 110 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:31,580 the crescendo of these passages. Here is the patience of the saints, those who 111 00:11:31,580 --> 00:11:38,680 keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Because what is God 112 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:45,240 saying? God is saying that he will have an end time people loyal to him in the 113 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:50,400 face of the greatest opposition and the fiercest persecution in the history of 114 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:57,360 the world. God will have those people. They will be there. He's looking for them 115 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:04,800 right now and the Bible says he will find them. Lovingly and loyally these 116 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:12,600 people live God-centered, grace-filled, obedient lives. These committed followers 117 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:18,320 of the Savior not only will have faith in Jesus, because remember saved by grace 118 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:23,200 through faith, faith in Jesus as your Savior, but they will also have the 119 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:31,560 faith of Jesus. Jesus' quality of end time faith will be theirs, but what does that 120 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:38,360 faith look like? Jesus hanging on the cross and shrouded in darkness. He bore 121 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:45,480 the guilt, he bore the shame, he bore the condemnation of the sins of the world. We 122 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:52,600 read in the Bible that a great darkness settled over that area of the world and 123 00:12:52,600 --> 00:13:00,640 he cried out, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He did not sense, he did not 124 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:06,840 see, he did not recognize the presence of his heavenly Father whom he had never 125 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:13,080 been separated from before. He couldn't see it, couldn't feel him, and so he cried 126 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:18,440 out in desperation, seemingly shut off from his Father's love. Jesus depended on 127 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:24,680 the relationship that he had shared with the Father throughout his life. To depend 128 00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:33,280 on his emotions would have been an absolute spiritual disaster. It would 129 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:38,400 have been. While Jesus was hanging in the darkness suspended between earth and 130 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:45,320 heaven, he had to recall all of those times when his Father spoke from on high 131 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:51,840 and said, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. He couldn't feel it, 132 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:59,440 but he remembered those words. He didn't have that great lofty high moment that 133 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:04,680 we think of as a as a mountaintop Christian experience. Jesus was certainly 134 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:13,160 not there, but even though he didn't feel it, he knew it. And that knowing despite 135 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:17,640 how he felt is what got him through because that meant that the Savior 136 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:26,360 trusted his Father. It meant that Jesus trusted God. Even when he could not 137 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:33,480 discern the future, he didn't he was as mortal as we are. He could not actually 138 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:40,040 see what was going to happen once his blood finally drained out of his body. He 139 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:45,720 trusted his Father. He believed when there was little evidence for belief. He 140 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:51,760 trusted when all around him the circumstances cried out for him to doubt. 141 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:56,560 And not only the circumstances, but he had a few people helping him along with 142 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:02,160 that. You ever had people help you along with your doubt rather than encourage you 143 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:07,960 in your faith? You ever gone through that? You ever had those moments where you're 144 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:13,600 just going through day-to-day life and it's it's a low day. It feels like you've 145 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:24,600 had 31 Mondays in a row. Nothing good. I feel alone. I feel down. I feel like I'm 146 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:30,640 messing up at every turn. My family don't really call me a lot. My friends have 147 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:36,560 moved. I don't hear God talk to me even if I pray or read my devotions. It just 148 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:42,840 seems a little empty. You ever had those feelings, those moments? You ever wondered 149 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:50,560 that? It is in those times when we need the faith of Jesus as much as the faith 150 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:58,840 in Jesus. The Desire of Ages writes something very beautiful. She says, 151 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:05,280 amid of the awful darkness, apparently forsaken of God, Christ had drained the 152 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:11,040 last dregs in the cup of human woe. In those dreadful hours he had relied upon 153 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:18,240 the evidence of his father's acceptance, heretofore given him. He was acquainted 154 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:24,040 with the character of his father. Are you becoming acquainted with the character 155 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:32,160 of your heavenly father? Jesus understood God's justice, God's mercy, God's great 156 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:39,120 love. Are you learning how to understand those three things? By faith, Jesus 157 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:47,120 rested in him whom it had ever been his joy to obey, as the same true of us today. 158 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:56,840 And as in submission he committed himself to God. The sense of the 159 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:06,640 loss of his father's favor was withdrawn. By faith, Christ was victor. 160 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:14,920 Christ was victorious in faith in the way that Adam failed. Eve gave over to 161 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:19,240 her senses. She looked at the fruit and saw that it was beautiful and desirable 162 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:24,840 to eat. And then Adam lost his senses or lost himself to his senses and thinking, 163 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:29,680 I'm gonna believe my wife, how can I be alone without her? Even if I have God, 164 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:37,840 I'm gonna follow after her. Those emotions, that fear caused the downfall 165 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:46,080 of mankind and it was to counter that, that Jesus was faithful. Because in 166 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:52,160 submission he committed himself to God the way that Adam and Eve should have. 167 00:17:52,160 --> 00:18:01,720 The way that you and I should today. And like Christ, we can be victorious. 168 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:09,680 The faith of Jesus is a faith so deep, it is a faith so trusting, so committed 169 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:16,000 that all of the demons in hell and all of the trials on earth cannot shake it. 170 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:23,520 It didn't get Jesus off of the cross and it cannot trip you up. It is a faith that 171 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:28,800 trusts when it cannot see, a faith that believes when it cannot understand, hopes 172 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:35,520 when it cannot comprehend, and it hangs on when there is little to hang on to. 173 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:43,280 That's the faith of Jesus. It is a gift itself that we receive by faith and it 174 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:48,400 will carry us through the crisis ahead. I'm so glad that you and I don't have to 175 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,880 dig down deep and find our own little shred of faith and then try to grow it 176 00:18:52,880 --> 00:19:00,280 and I can't keep mums alive on my front porch. And I used to be a landscaper. 177 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:08,600 I am so glad that Jesus starts the faith in him. He has it, he owns it, he's 178 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:14,800 perfected it, and then he gives it to you and me. He is the author of our faith. 179 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:20,320 He's started that chapter in our lives and praise God the Bible also says he's 180 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:27,440 the finisher of that same faith. Praise God that we have him to thank for this 181 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:32,840 fine gift. Because in this final crisis when the faithful followers of Christ 182 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:38,560 face an economic boycott, the Bible says we're going to be unable to buy or 183 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:45,440 sell, eventually threatened with persecution and death, the faith of Jesus 184 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:51,800 carries them through the trials and the tribulations of Earth's final hours. 185 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:59,920 The faith of Jesus is immeasurable and all-important my friends. The real 186 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:08,640 significance of Earth's final conflicts, including the mark of the beast, is a 187 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:15,760 larger, is in a larger context of a cosmic struggle between good and evil. 188 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:24,160 Older than you and I, we are simply taking part in it. The overarching theme 189 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:31,880 of Revelation is Jesus triumph over the principalities and the powers of 190 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:39,680 hell, beginning with his right to receive worship. And I believe our first 191 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:45,440 presentation we talked about the challenge put forth by a very confused 192 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:51,280 created being, Lucifer, who thought I'm going to ascend above the other stars 193 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:57,200 in the north. I'm going to sit in the heavenly thrones. I'm going to be like 194 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:04,800 the Most High. I know I was made, created, I know I cannot create, but guess what? I 195 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:12,360 will ascend to that high and lofty position and I will say, excuse me God, I 196 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:19,200 can do what you do. That's what started it because what follows suit is then 197 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:28,720 Lucifer demands worship. Worship. Revelation 4 11 makes this clear when it 198 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:35,240 speaks of the Lord, thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive honor and glory and 199 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:43,600 power, for thou hast created all things. That's why he's worthy of our worship 200 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:52,600 and Lucifer can never be. Now Satan can never be. This cannot apply to anyone 201 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:59,520 but the God of heaven and that's why only he deserves our adoration and our 202 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:07,480 praise. Throughout Revelation, worship and creation are indissolubly linked. 203 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:13,600 Revelation 14 7 calls us to worship the Lord of all creation. The concept of 204 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:20,160 Christ as creator is at the very heart of Sabbath worship. You're here today on 205 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:26,480 some level you understand this and it's good to re-emphasize it. Jesus 206 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:31,640 consistently underlines the significance of the day which he calls himself the 207 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:38,200 Lord. I am the Lord of the Sabbath, he says. We see the Sabbath then in the 208 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:44,200 context of a refuge in time that God has created through Jesus Christ to 209 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:52,320 constantly remind us of our origins and his undying care. The Sabbath is an oasis 210 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:58,400 in the desert of this world against the backdrop of an evolutionary hypothesis 211 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:04,280 that's taken the world by storm in the last two centuries. That basically says 212 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:09,760 you aren't really meant to be here but you can be thankful that the universe 213 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:17,800 burped one day and out eventually you came. It is that silly. I actually don't 214 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:25,720 have a problem in thinking a little bit like that towards that theory. I would 215 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:33,680 much rather consider us purposefully and wonderfully made, not an accident. The 216 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:41,600 thought that we are an accident leads to things like the practice of slavery. Why 217 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:47,040 not? If it's the survival of the fittest and you can conquer that man and that 218 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:55,200 woman, bind them up in chains. Evolution says have at it. If you accept 219 00:23:55,200 --> 00:24:00,960 evolution at its logical end, genocide makes sense. In other words, Hitler was 220 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:07,640 not wrong, nor was the Rwandan genocide, nor was the South African problems back 221 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:14,120 in apartheid states, nor were, fill in the blank, fill in the blank, the millions 222 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:22,620 and millions and millions of people would not have died perhaps if the 223 00:24:22,620 --> 00:24:29,880 idea that the survival of the fittest hadn't taken root. Theft would not 224 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:34,760 probably run quite so rampant because it's all about my survival. I don't care 225 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:44,640 if you have it. I need it. I need to live. I need to pass on my progenity. And then 226 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:51,000 suicide. I happen to really believe that this idea that we are an accident with 227 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:58,760 no purpose, floating through the cosmos, is a very depressing idea. If you live 228 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:06,040 for the now and what does it matter when you're gone? If things aren't going your way, 229 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:12,520 what reason do you have to not cut it short? Doesn't matter anyways according 230 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:21,160 to evolution. I believe it to be very insidious, but the Sabbath leads us back 231 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:27,440 to our roots of God's fingerprint in every one of our lives. His image 232 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:33,720 imprinted on the faces and the persons filling this room, watching us online and 233 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:39,360 walking this green earth. God's fingerprint is on each one of us and the 234 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:45,000 Sabbath reminds us of just how valuable we are because the Sabbath is an eternal 235 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:53,120 reminder of our identity. It reminds us of who we are as humans. It places worth 236 00:25:53,120 --> 00:26:02,640 on every human being for being a human being. Not for what you do or how much 237 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:10,320 you have or what you've done or what title comes before or after your name. 238 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:17,800 That's not what gives you worth. Being a human being gives you worth because God 239 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:25,580 said so. And the Sabbath tells us that. The Sabbath reinforces the idea that we 240 00:26:25,580 --> 00:26:30,760 are created and that our Creator is worthy of our allegiance and worship. 241 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:39,000 That's why the devil hates the Sabbath so much. That's why of the commandments 242 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:46,360 it's the only one that regularly comes under attack. Of the ten we discussed 243 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:53,120 last night, religious and non-religious people find ways of supporting if not 244 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:59,040 all most of the ten. The non-religious are okay with don't steal, don't murder, 245 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:05,320 honor your parents, things like that. The religious can tack on worship God, don't 246 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:13,280 profane his name and so on. The Sabbath has a special distaste if you will for 247 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:19,720 far too many people and I believe it's because the devil dislikes it that much 248 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:25,880 because the Sabbath tells us of our relationship to our Creator and he has 249 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:32,280 always looked to interrupt that. The Sabbath is the golden link that unites 250 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:40,200 us with Christ. The faith of Jesus connects us to our Creator, the one who 251 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:48,920 has also given us this faith. But, but, one of the strongest three-letter words 252 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:54,800 in our language, but faith and a connection to Christ do not guarantee 253 00:27:54,800 --> 00:28:03,000 smooth times all the time. Forget the prosperity gospel preachers. If you pay 254 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:08,920 your tithe, if you profess faith in Jesus, you will have the private jets like me 255 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:14,960 they say. You will have the mansions like me they say. You will have the $3,000 256 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:20,640 this is not a $3,000 suit. If you have a $3,000 suit like me they say. Our money 257 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:27,080 shoes and a Rolex watch like me they say. In fact there was a preacher the the 258 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:32,000 clip went viral. There was there was a preacher I believe in New York. It was in 259 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:37,920 New York? I think it was in New York. Live streaming and he was robbed at gunpoint 260 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:45,120 during his live stream. Lay down on the floor you can the guy you know the mass 261 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:50,240 robber is going around takes the jewelry's takes the watches takes the 262 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:57,920 valuable things. It was remind I keep thinking like $30,000 of worth of 263 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:06,920 product taken off the preacher. The preacher had 30k worth of jewelry and 264 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:15,640 watches and accessories not to mention who else was in the congregation. There 265 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:22,680 are those who would have you believe contrary to what Jesus says that it's 266 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:28,920 smooth sailing when you profess a faith in Jesus. When his apostles were coming 267 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:32,640 to him and then they said you know Lord we want to follow you he was a son of 268 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:38,200 man doesn't even have a bed to lay his head on. He was warning them if you 269 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:44,040 follow after me it may not be comfortable. Count your cost if you are a 270 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:50,480 builder and you're trying to wonder how much money I need to ask from the bank. I 271 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:56,320 need to invest in new buildings and property. You write it all out and then 272 00:29:56,320 --> 00:30:04,400 you say can I pay the bank back? Count your costs before you invest. The same is 273 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:10,920 true in a spiritual sense. The Bible makes it clear that we are not guaranteed 274 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:18,360 smooth times all the time. There is trouble ahead. The mark of the 275 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:24,600 beast prophecy in Revelation 13 tells us about the worst the absolute fever pitch 276 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:30,640 of Satan's war against God because ever since Jesus died on the cross Satan has 277 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:36,280 known that he's been defeated and there is nothing worse than a defeated foe on 278 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:44,640 his last desperate grasps at trying to wreck things up. He is determined to take 279 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:54,520 as many souls with him as possible. He's bending his energies this way. First the 280 00:30:54,520 --> 00:31:00,640 devil worked with deception through that snake in the garden. He's been very 281 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:06,960 successful at deceptions. The almost truths of many things that the devil has 282 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:15,600 woven around religion and spirituality and Christianity has swept millions into 283 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:24,040 false error. But eventually the Bible tells us it will be by force because 284 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:29,640 there will be holdouts who are not deceived and so if it's not won by the 285 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:37,120 carrot then maybe by the stick. That's the devil's approach. The mark of the 286 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:42,840 beast tells about a time when the devil will resort to force. He will use human 287 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:48,160 agents as he always has. I can't remember the last time I saw a scary looking 288 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:56,480 shiny angel in front of me threatening me to do X or Z. Right? How does it come? It 289 00:31:56,480 --> 00:32:03,240 comes through human agents that have gone along with the devil for millennia. 290 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:08,240 The devil will convince them to publish a decree stating that anyone who refuses 291 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:12,440 to worship the beast or receive the mark will suffer the consequences. This is 292 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:17,520 nothing new. Religious persecution has happened ever since the time of Cain and 293 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:24,840 Abel, the first murder recorded in the Bible. That was a religious persecution. 294 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:31,280 John 16 in verse 2, Jesus says that the time is coming when whoever kills you 295 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:38,400 will think that he offers God's service. That's how deluded people will become 296 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:43,680 when the Bible says thou shalt not murder. They read it and they say well 297 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:49,360 I'm not murdering because I'm doing God's will. It doesn't make sense to me 298 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:57,840 but that's how deceived they will become. This prophecy has been fulfilled many 299 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:03,760 times. In the 15th century for example there were valleys located high in the 300 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:10,440 Piedmont Alps of northern Italy or home to a people called the Waldensis. They 301 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:17,480 made the Bible their rule of faith and their practice. They copied it. They sent 302 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:22,800 out their young men to sell these precious scriptures spreading the good 303 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:27,320 news that salvation is a gift of God's love to anyone that they met. They 304 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:31,240 sewed them in between the layers of their clothing. The inner lining and the 305 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:36,520 outer lining between had the copies of the scriptures that if they found 306 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:40,760 someone that they could trust maybe that they could have a conversation with and 307 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:44,360 they said ah this is a person that the Holy Spirit has led me to they might 308 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:48,880 tear open a little seam and pull out a little fragment a little passage of the 309 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:55,760 Bible here this is for you they would say it's got good news you will love it 310 00:33:55,760 --> 00:34:03,440 and they did that because of this practice because they rejected the 311 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:08,640 doctrines and the dictatorship of the official state church of the time the 312 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:14,680 fires of persecution blazed against them over and over again in 1488 the 313 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:21,640 Waldensis in the Valley of Lois hid in a large cave to escape the soldiers it 314 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:26,400 seemed like a safe place usually holding up in a cave in the mountains in the 315 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:31,320 wilderness is a safe place to hide but the enemies found them they laid a 316 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:36,160 enormous pile of wood at the mouth of the cave they set it ablaze three 317 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:43,000 thousand people died of that day from the smoke from the fire yeah just 318 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:47,960 because they wanted to share fragments of the Bible which broke the law of that 319 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:55,680 time another wave of persecution came in the 17th century when the Duke of Savoy 320 00:34:55,680 --> 00:35:00,840 sent an army of 8,000 into their territory and they demanded that the 321 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:06,040 local populace quarter the troops in their homes I'm sending my troops your 322 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:11,000 way it would be really good if you put them up for food for bedding for a 323 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:19,320 little shelter from the weather he said but he did this not out of I guess a 324 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:24,760 kind of request but it was a strategy to give the soldiers easy access to the 325 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:33,200 victims because on the 24th of April 1655 at 4 a.m. a slaughter occurred 326 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:41,200 leading to the death of more than 4,000 faithful followers of Jesus Christ 327 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:51,600 deception and then the slaughter trust us we won't hurt you only to be hurt in 328 00:35:51,600 --> 00:36:00,640 the most egregious way lest you think yeah but this was all a long time ago 329 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:08,560 surely that does not still happen today we are in the 21st century we are in the 330 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:13,800 modern era we are an advanced civilization of people or we respect 331 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:20,360 differences of religion all over the globe well according to open doors USA 332 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:26,480 which keeps track of Christian persecution around the world we read 333 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:33,200 things like this 312 million Christians in the world experience high levels of 334 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:37,880 persecution and discrimination that is roughly one in seven Christians around 335 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:46,080 the world that's a lot that's a lot of people 5898 that's the number of 336 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:55,480 Christians killed for faith related reasons 5110 the number of churches and 337 00:36:55,480 --> 00:37:03,600 other Christian buildings that have been attacked recently in North America 338 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:08,920 pregnancy centers many of which are supported by a faith-based institution 339 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:14,960 have been firebombed have been have been attacked have been vandalized have been 340 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:18,280 threatened and the people that are threatening and are very open about it 341 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:24,720 I say yeah we're the ones that are doing it all that's on our shores 342 00:37:24,720 --> 00:37:31,280 4765 the number of Christians detained without trial arrested sentenced or 343 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:39,200 imprisoned that's a few 3829 the number of Christians abducted for faith related 344 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:47,800 reasons when do you think these statistics are from not this year we 345 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,600 don't have those yet I'm expecting them soon this is from the latest that we 346 00:37:52,600 --> 00:38:00,640 have though this is this was reported during the 2022 World Watch seminar for 347 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:10,280 the reporting period of October 2020 to September of 2021 in one year these 348 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:18,520 numbers occurred it is also important to note that these numbers only come from 349 00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:25,960 the top 50 countries with regards to Christian persecution there are more 350 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:32,440 this is just from the top 50 countries that violate religious liberty that's 351 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:38,240 why I say we don't have it yet because I'm assuming October 2021 to September 352 00:38:38,240 --> 00:38:47,120 2022 is being compiled right now so so perhaps we will have updated numbers the 353 00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:52,520 mark of the beast prophecy is about the final link in this ungodly chain like 354 00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:56,680 the persecutions of the past it's designed to force everyone to conform to 355 00:38:56,680 --> 00:39:01,200 a certain set of beliefs in an approved system of worship the prophecy does say 356 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:05,280 that persecution will start with economic sanctions no one can buy or 357 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:13,760 sell unless they have the mark when in in ever increasingly digitally based 358 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:19,160 currency which is what our world is Starbucks has already gotten rid of cash 359 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:25,400 I fully expect more companies will follow suit the interest in everything 360 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:32,640 being digital is certainly there it's easy to see then how finances can become 361 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:37,720 or are becoming easier to control or manipulate if you get on the wrong side 362 00:39:37,720 --> 00:39:43,880 of the IRS all it takes is someone somewhere to hit a button and all your 363 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:50,280 assets are locked up like that it happens very rapidly and also have you 364 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:54,400 ever noticed how long it takes to get something back into your account they 365 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:58,480 it's super quick if I go to the store and I buy something from Walmart five 366 00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:04,080 dollars that money is gone like four seconds after I sweat my car but do you 367 00:40:04,080 --> 00:40:09,440 ever return it and you want your five dollars back takes so much longer to 368 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:15,800 correct that if they want to turn it off it will happen like when they pull the 369 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:22,600 money out like that and the more and more and more that we only operate in 370 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:29,960 the digital world the easier this will become when this happens the great 371 00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:35,200 majority will capitulate and eventually anyone who refuses will be placed under 372 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:41,480 a death penalty we read this from testimonies volume 5 and page 81 the 373 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:45,920 time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul the mark of the 374 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:50,240 beast will be urged upon us those who have step-by-step yielded to worldly 375 00:40:50,240 --> 00:40:55,800 demands and conform to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield 376 00:40:55,800 --> 00:41:01,520 to the powers that be rather than subject themselves to derision insult 377 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:06,920 threatened imprisonment and death the devil is preparing even professed 378 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:14,280 Christians by small frequent compromises in their lives that that 379 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:20,820 death by a thousand cuts if you will the devil is preparing them to receive the 380 00:41:20,820 --> 00:41:27,200 mark of the beast when the final test comes upon us in the future those of us 381 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:32,600 that might be a stickler over I can't I can't even waver on this little thing 382 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:36,920 and someone will say but it's only a little thing why can't you just relax a 383 00:41:36,920 --> 00:41:44,000 little on it why are you so stubborn in conserving even the tiny things I will 384 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:48,840 say well because when you give up this one tiny thing they expect you to give 385 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:54,680 up the next tiny thing they expect you to give up the third and the fifth and 386 00:41:54,680 --> 00:42:01,080 the 15th and the moment you have and then you try to say no not now they will 387 00:42:01,080 --> 00:42:09,920 say you hypocrite you did for all the rest of it it happens I would I would 388 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:16,160 rather be able to stand and say I haven't ever given up those things and I 389 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:24,120 won't start today I would much rather say I have been very consistent in my 390 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:31,320 words and I'm simply going to follow through now like I have before as the 391 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:36,000 devil would love us to just give an inch because he's ready to take the mile 392 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:43,280 he's ready for it he's itching for it but God's love for us will not let us be 393 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:48,080 unprepared which is why he sent these three angels with these important 394 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:54,280 messages he sent them directly from heaven's throne flying in the midst of 395 00:42:54,280 --> 00:43:02,120 heaven high loud voice you're supposed to pay attention he wants to warn us 396 00:43:02,120 --> 00:43:09,120 regarding what is coming as you are listening to these presentations as 397 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:16,880 we've been discussing persecution and threatening loss with our finances and 398 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:24,840 liberty and so on you might be tempted to think that this is this is just an 399 00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:30,600 all-out attempt at frightening you into choosing God instead of something else 400 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:38,800 there are certainly sermons and speakers and times in the Christian history where 401 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:44,760 the fear of the punishment or the fear of something was the great motivating 402 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:52,120 factor sinners in the hands of an angry God is a rather detestable sermon built 403 00:43:52,120 --> 00:43:59,320 around of that idea be so afraid of violating God's love because he will 404 00:43:59,320 --> 00:44:06,240 just torment you with glee forever don't you do that the sermon says of course 405 00:44:06,240 --> 00:44:11,720 God doesn't take any delight in what happens when people sin don't think 406 00:44:11,720 --> 00:44:17,520 that of your Heavenly Father but this message is not about trying to get us 407 00:44:17,520 --> 00:44:23,520 to be afraid you do not have to be frightened into joining God's side and 408 00:44:23,520 --> 00:44:30,840 it may be hard to believe but this is a message of encouragement it is it's a 409 00:44:30,840 --> 00:44:37,000 message of encouragement these messages are intended to encourage us when the 410 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:42,320 persecution is at its maximum when it appears that the whole world is 411 00:44:42,320 --> 00:44:48,960 following the beast in a wondering admiration suddenly the scene changes 412 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:55,880 and the prophetic camera turns to focus on God's people Revelation 14 12 a call 413 00:44:55,880 --> 00:45:00,080 for the endurance of the Saints those who keep the commandments of God and the 414 00:45:00,080 --> 00:45:05,400 faith of Jesus what are God's people doing they are clinging to Jesus in the 415 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:09,760 face of an economic boycott and an international decree they're living 416 00:45:09,760 --> 00:45:17,000 lies of godly obedience they are God's honor convoy they reveal the power of 417 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:23,560 grace in a hostile world and they shine as lights in a world of darkness they 418 00:45:23,560 --> 00:45:32,080 stand firm when all around them everything is shaking Revelation shows 419 00:45:32,080 --> 00:45:38,100 two groups of people at the end one all the world marvels and wonders and 420 00:45:38,100 --> 00:45:43,720 follows after the beast our third angel tells us what happens to those folk and 421 00:45:43,720 --> 00:45:49,600 it's not where you want to be found to that God's faithful people follow the 422 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:56,640 lamb wherever he goes while the world is following the beast God's people follow 423 00:45:56,640 --> 00:46:08,280 the lamb I have I have seen a lamb they're so cute they're so kind a lamb 424 00:46:08,280 --> 00:46:12,960 is an animal that I wouldn't mind following after especially when it's the 425 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:21,920 Lamb of God a beast is ugly and gross and detest don't wonder after that 426 00:46:22,440 --> 00:46:30,120 Revelation third 15 verses 3 & 4 or actually just just verse 3 says that 427 00:46:30,120 --> 00:46:36,080 God's people cry out great and amazing are your deeds oh Lord God the Almighty 428 00:46:36,080 --> 00:46:43,840 just and true are your ways oh King of the nations love is the great motivating 429 00:46:43,840 --> 00:46:49,920 force of the kingdom of God this age-long drama this cosmic conflict will 430 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:57,520 one day come to a conclusion it will the universe will be secure forever when 431 00:46:57,520 --> 00:47:03,680 every person on planet earth has had the opportunity to respond to God's love and 432 00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:10,480 give their total allegiance to him that's what he's waiting for the people 433 00:47:10,480 --> 00:47:15,160 of Israel couldn't understand of Moses delay on the mountain God's people today 434 00:47:15,160 --> 00:47:20,600 sometimes can't understand Christ delay in returning his delay is so everyone 435 00:47:20,600 --> 00:47:27,720 has a chance to choose him that's why so we should be eagerly looking forward to 436 00:47:27,720 --> 00:47:34,560 his return not looking to another God and in the meantime we should be pledging 437 00:47:34,560 --> 00:47:41,560 our allegiance to him let us go back in our imagination more than six millennia 438 00:47:41,560 --> 00:47:50,520 ago to a conflict that began in heaven Lucifer an angel of magnificent glory 439 00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:57,680 created perfect waged a war against the government of God a government not filled 440 00:47:57,680 --> 00:48:04,360 with corrupted bureaucrats but based on love and led by a holy and loving and 441 00:48:04,360 --> 00:48:11,280 perfect God the basic issue in this cosmic conflict was loyalty and 442 00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:17,520 obedience to God Lucifer the created being desired to usurp the authority of 443 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:23,320 God and claimed before all of the heavenly beings that God's commands were 444 00:48:23,320 --> 00:48:30,840 arbitrary made up on a whim and that he Lucifer knew better and could do better 445 00:48:30,840 --> 00:48:38,560 and he wasn't like that unjust God that was Lucifer's claims Lucifer was so 446 00:48:38,560 --> 00:48:47,140 successful at this kind of deceitful rhetoric that one-third of the heavenly 447 00:48:47,140 --> 00:48:57,760 hosts believed him in glory and holiness seeing God himself a third of the 448 00:48:57,760 --> 00:49:06,000 heavenly angels believed the law they did believe that God's commands restricted 449 00:49:06,000 --> 00:49:11,720 their freedom in scripture there are multiple names for this fallen angel 450 00:49:11,720 --> 00:49:18,640 Lucifer he is called Satan the devil the deceiver which is a literal translation 451 00:49:18,640 --> 00:49:26,200 of Satan the dragon and the serpent of old that would be the serpent from Eden 452 00:49:26,200 --> 00:49:31,680 down through the ages Satan's strategy has been to lead God's people to disobey 453 00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:39,000 God's commands Satan did this with Adam and Eve and Eden with Israel throughout 454 00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:43,080 the Old Testament in the early centuries of the Christian Church he also 455 00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:49,400 influenced church leaders with a deception in order to compromise a 456 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:59,920 biblical principles that deception that a long chain of attacking God through 457 00:49:59,920 --> 00:50:07,000 his people culminates in the mark of the beast it will happen it is not 458 00:50:07,000 --> 00:50:16,160 happening right now but we can take God at his word it will take place 459 00:50:16,160 --> 00:50:20,640 sometimes we go well if we don't know exactly how then maybe it just won't 460 00:50:20,640 --> 00:50:27,080 that's fanciful I don't have to know all of the minutiae of how something will be 461 00:50:27,080 --> 00:50:34,040 because God has not been proven false yet and if he's been true and everything 462 00:50:34,040 --> 00:50:40,440 else before why now would I say he won't be true about this the mark of the beast 463 00:50:40,440 --> 00:50:46,160 will happen the book of Revelation predicts the final conflict the dragon 464 00:50:46,160 --> 00:50:49,840 was angry with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed 465 00:50:49,840 --> 00:50:55,820 who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Satan is 466 00:50:55,820 --> 00:51:01,360 angry with the woman God's church his people by enforcing the mark of the 467 00:51:01,360 --> 00:51:07,520 beast Satan will attempt to destroy them however God will have an end time people 468 00:51:07,520 --> 00:51:12,720 that are loyal to him in the face of the greatest opposition and the fiercest 469 00:51:12,720 --> 00:51:18,360 persecution in the history of the world which is why we heed his call if you 470 00:51:18,360 --> 00:51:25,800 love me keep my commandments God's people find their greatest joy and their 471 00:51:25,800 --> 00:51:33,000 highest delight in worshiping him this is encouraging news my friends we have 472 00:51:33,000 --> 00:51:39,160 studied three angels we have studied three messages but really it's one 473 00:51:39,160 --> 00:51:45,000 message what is that one message God in the first part of it says that I God 474 00:51:45,000 --> 00:51:51,040 have a faithful people who are saved by grace and will carry my gospel to the 475 00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:57,880 whole world next he says I God have a faithful people who are saved by grace 476 00:51:57,880 --> 00:52:04,960 and they worship me as creator I God have a faithful people who are saved by 477 00:52:04,960 --> 00:52:12,400 grace and are not caught in religious confusion I God have a faithful people 478 00:52:12,400 --> 00:52:19,700 who are saved by grace they do not worship the beast and its image but they 479 00:52:19,700 --> 00:52:29,240 remain faithful to me even under duress I God have a faithful people who are 480 00:52:29,240 --> 00:52:37,280 saved by grace and because of their love for me they keep my commandments and the 481 00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:47,880 faith of Jesus Christ that's our one message I God have a faithful people so 482 00:52:47,880 --> 00:52:55,160 what is the final call if that's the one message what is the final call well like 483 00:52:55,160 --> 00:53:03,360 the call given to Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai who is on the Lord's side 484 00:53:03,360 --> 00:53:10,840 that's the final call like the call given to Israel of old God hollers 485 00:53:10,840 --> 00:53:18,120 through the corridors of heaven to Israel today you and I and asks who is 486 00:53:18,120 --> 00:53:25,880 on my side my friends you and I have a decision to make we have two options two 487 00:53:25,880 --> 00:53:31,760 directions that we could go two paths that we could take which way will you 488 00:53:31,760 --> 00:53:40,560 go which decision will you make and which path will you walk down are you on 489 00:53:40,560 --> 00:53:49,200 the Lord's side will you stand with him will you stand with him no matter what 490 00:53:49,200 --> 00:53:57,520 comes because the Bible says that he is faithful and just and he will see you 491 00:53:57,520 --> 00:54:06,400 through to the end are you on God's side if you are I would encourage you to stand 492 00:54:06,400 --> 00:54:13,240 with me and and by doing so you indicate you are standing by him you are standing 493 00:54:13,240 --> 00:54:21,600 by him as he calls out are you on my side because he is on your side let us 494 00:54:21,600 --> 00:54:27,920 stand and have our have our closing prayer loving Heavenly Father we thank 495 00:54:27,920 --> 00:54:34,480 you for the encouraging words today we thank you that as we understand tough 496 00:54:34,480 --> 00:54:39,680 times are to come by faith we claim the promise that we don't have to face it 497 00:54:39,680 --> 00:54:45,720 alone you are with us all the way through to the end or we praise you for 498 00:54:45,720 --> 00:54:52,240 the faith of Jesus we praise you for his his infinite sacrifice on our behalf and 499 00:54:52,240 --> 00:54:57,200 we praise you for being a creator God who loves us or be with us today and may 500 00:54:57,200 --> 00:55:02,240 we always remain faithful to you this is our prayer for we pray in Jesus name 501 00:55:02,240 --> 00:55:05,040 amen