1 00:00:08,165 --> 00:00:08,965 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:11,725 --> 00:00:14,245 Speaker 2: You know, as the war and Iran rages on, some 3 00:00:14,405 --> 00:00:18,645 Speaker 2: experts are warning that World War three may be closer 4 00:00:18,765 --> 00:00:22,644 Speaker 2: than ever. Scientists have even moved the doomsday clock to 5 00:00:22,845 --> 00:00:26,525 Speaker 2: just eighty five seconds before midnight. By the way, that's 6 00:00:26,525 --> 00:00:38,644 Speaker 2: the closest it's ever been to this symbolic global catastrophe. So, 7 00:00:38,805 --> 00:00:43,885 Speaker 2: not surprisingly, fear and anxiety arising among young adults under 8 00:00:43,925 --> 00:00:48,005 Speaker 2: the age of thirty. Depression rates have doubled since twenty seventeen, 9 00:00:48,325 --> 00:00:53,324 Speaker 2: from thirteen percent to nearly twenty seven percent by twenty 10 00:00:53,604 --> 00:00:57,805 Speaker 2: twenty five, and the trend is still climbing. Anxiety is 11 00:00:57,845 --> 00:01:01,965 Speaker 2: at epidemic levels as well, and it's higher among women 12 00:01:02,285 --> 00:01:05,165 Speaker 2: than it is men. I think it's probably due to 13 00:01:05,245 --> 00:01:09,685 Speaker 2: a lot of things, but it's certainly encouraged by our phones, 14 00:01:09,845 --> 00:01:13,964 Speaker 2: because many people are glued to these devices, doom scrolling, 15 00:01:14,325 --> 00:01:20,764 Speaker 2: constantly looking down, absorbing one alarming headline after another. But listen, 16 00:01:20,885 --> 00:01:24,604 Speaker 2: Jesus told us to do something very different. He said, 17 00:01:24,645 --> 00:01:27,685 Speaker 2: when you see these things begin to happen, look up 18 00:01:27,925 --> 00:01:31,605 Speaker 2: for your redemption is drawing their look up. Here's the problem. 19 00:01:31,725 --> 00:01:34,565 Speaker 2: We're always looking down. You know, when people are at 20 00:01:34,565 --> 00:01:37,885 Speaker 2: a light in their car they're looking down. Why they're 21 00:01:37,965 --> 00:01:40,725 Speaker 2: checking their cell phone when they're waiting in a line 22 00:01:40,725 --> 00:01:43,485 Speaker 2: for their coffee. Are they talking to one another? No, 23 00:01:43,725 --> 00:01:46,764 Speaker 2: they're looking down at their cell phone. But Jesus says, 24 00:01:46,965 --> 00:01:51,285 Speaker 2: look up. In other words, don't panic, pray, and I 25 00:01:51,325 --> 00:01:51,605 Speaker 2: want to. 26 00:01:51,605 --> 00:01:52,485 Speaker 1: Talk to you about that. 27 00:01:53,765 --> 00:01:56,365 Speaker 2: You know, times like this, people often turn to the 28 00:01:56,405 --> 00:02:01,005 Speaker 2: Book of Revelation. By the way, it's Book of Revelation singular, 29 00:02:01,405 --> 00:02:05,005 Speaker 2: not Book of Revelations plural. People often say, in the 30 00:02:05,005 --> 00:02:09,525 Speaker 2: Book of Revelations, it's the Book of Revelation singular. Right, Okay, 31 00:02:09,805 --> 00:02:12,405 Speaker 2: So when we think of this book, we think of 32 00:02:12,525 --> 00:02:16,045 Speaker 2: terms like the Mark of the Beast or armageddon, and 33 00:02:16,165 --> 00:02:20,405 Speaker 2: certainly those topics are addressed in Revelation, but we should 34 00:02:20,525 --> 00:02:25,245 Speaker 2: understand what the actual word revelation means. The word revelation 35 00:02:25,445 --> 00:02:30,285 Speaker 2: means the unveiling. The Book of Revelation unveils the events 36 00:02:30,285 --> 00:02:32,925 Speaker 2: of the last days, which I believe we're moving toward. 37 00:02:33,365 --> 00:02:36,805 Speaker 2: The Book of Revelation gives us an unveiling of our 38 00:02:36,885 --> 00:02:39,725 Speaker 2: life in the future in heaven and when heaven and 39 00:02:39,765 --> 00:02:43,205 Speaker 2: Earth become one. But most of all, the Book of 40 00:02:43,285 --> 00:02:49,885 Speaker 2: Revelation unveils Jesus Christ because it's not God's desire to conceal, 41 00:02:50,405 --> 00:02:53,685 Speaker 2: but to reveal. Some people say, oh, no, no one 42 00:02:53,725 --> 00:02:58,205 Speaker 2: can understand the Book of Revelation or Bible prophecy in general. 43 00:02:58,245 --> 00:03:02,565 Speaker 2: Well a contrere, which is French for snails with garlic. No, 44 00:03:02,645 --> 00:03:06,325 Speaker 2: that tess cargo excuse me. But to the contrary, God 45 00:03:06,445 --> 00:03:10,645 Speaker 2: wants us to know about Bible prophecy, and I believe 46 00:03:10,645 --> 00:03:14,925 Speaker 2: we can understand these events of the end times. In 47 00:03:15,005 --> 00:03:18,125 Speaker 2: Matthew twenty four, also known as the Alive It Discourse, 48 00:03:18,645 --> 00:03:22,325 Speaker 2: Jesus talks about the end of the world as we 49 00:03:22,445 --> 00:03:25,125 Speaker 2: know it. To quote a familiar song, he says, there's 50 00:03:25,165 --> 00:03:27,605 Speaker 2: going to be wars, and rumors of wars, and nation 51 00:03:28,085 --> 00:03:31,285 Speaker 2: arise against nation. But then he says this, when you 52 00:03:31,405 --> 00:03:36,565 Speaker 2: see the abomination of desolation, Let the reader understand, isn't 53 00:03:36,605 --> 00:03:37,245 Speaker 2: it interesting? 54 00:03:37,845 --> 00:03:38,005 Speaker 1: Now? 55 00:03:38,045 --> 00:03:42,005 Speaker 2: The abomination of desolation is that event when the Antichrist 56 00:03:42,085 --> 00:03:46,045 Speaker 2: will rebuild the temple for the Jewish people, the Third Temple. 57 00:03:46,365 --> 00:03:48,965 Speaker 2: He'll erect an image of himself and command people to 58 00:03:49,005 --> 00:03:51,645 Speaker 2: worship it. But it's interesting that it says there In 59 00:03:51,645 --> 00:03:55,765 Speaker 2: Matthew twenty four, let the reader understand again, God wants 60 00:03:55,845 --> 00:03:59,685 Speaker 2: us to understand these things of the end times. The 61 00:03:59,725 --> 00:04:04,245 Speaker 2: apostle Paul, speaking about end Times events and specifically about 62 00:04:04,285 --> 00:04:07,245 Speaker 2: the rapture, which I'll tell talk about in a few moments, says, 63 00:04:07,525 --> 00:04:11,125 Speaker 2: I don't want you to be ignorant, brothers. See, the 64 00:04:11,165 --> 00:04:15,045 Speaker 2: more we understand these things biblically, the more calm and 65 00:04:15,205 --> 00:04:19,765 Speaker 2: confident we will be. There's actually a blessing promise to 66 00:04:19,805 --> 00:04:23,645 Speaker 2: the person who reads the Book of Revelation. Specifically, the 67 00:04:23,765 --> 00:04:27,805 Speaker 2: promise says that God will bless those that read here 68 00:04:28,045 --> 00:04:30,725 Speaker 2: and keep the words of this book. And I think 69 00:04:30,765 --> 00:04:33,765 Speaker 2: what is true of the Book of Revelation in particular 70 00:04:34,205 --> 00:04:38,085 Speaker 2: is also true of Bible prophecy in general. But coming 71 00:04:38,125 --> 00:04:41,405 Speaker 2: back to the idea of panicking and being afraid, I 72 00:04:41,405 --> 00:04:46,365 Speaker 2: had a conversation recently with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 73 00:04:46,885 --> 00:04:50,005 Speaker 2: and imagine the kind of information that comes across his 74 00:04:50,205 --> 00:04:53,844 Speaker 2: desk each and every day. So I ask him what 75 00:04:54,085 --> 00:04:57,645 Speaker 2: keeps you up at night? And his response, I have 76 00:04:57,725 --> 00:05:02,005 Speaker 2: to admit, surprise me and also impress me. Listen to this, 77 00:05:03,285 --> 00:05:07,445 Speaker 2: and I can't even imagine kind of information you're exposed to, 78 00:05:08,285 --> 00:05:12,085 Speaker 2: and the things that could cause great alarm, and the 79 00:05:12,125 --> 00:05:15,045 Speaker 2: things that could cause fear and I don't know if 80 00:05:15,085 --> 00:05:17,045 Speaker 2: you deal with things that keep you up at night, 81 00:05:17,125 --> 00:05:20,365 Speaker 2: but how do you process that? And maybe are there 82 00:05:20,445 --> 00:05:24,525 Speaker 2: passage of passages of scripture you turn to to help 83 00:05:24,725 --> 00:05:27,645 Speaker 2: put yourself in a place of trusting in God, or 84 00:05:28,005 --> 00:05:29,365 Speaker 2: how you cope with all of that. 85 00:05:29,485 --> 00:05:32,765 Speaker 3: I think fear is an enemy. It's a paralytic it 86 00:05:32,845 --> 00:05:36,404 Speaker 3: almost so. I think fear is the wrong terminology. Certainly 87 00:05:36,405 --> 00:05:39,005 Speaker 3: we're all worry we all have things to worry about. 88 00:05:39,325 --> 00:05:41,964 Speaker 3: Here's what I would say for Christianity in particular, of 89 00:05:42,045 --> 00:05:43,964 Speaker 3: all the faiths in the world. And I'm not prejudging 90 00:05:44,045 --> 00:05:46,525 Speaker 3: or criticizing anybody, but of all the faith in the world, 91 00:05:46,845 --> 00:05:48,765 Speaker 3: the ones who should never live in fear, or the 92 00:05:48,765 --> 00:05:52,765 Speaker 3: ones who should never live in worry that becomes paralyzing 93 00:05:53,005 --> 00:05:54,165 Speaker 3: are Christians because we know. 94 00:05:54,165 --> 00:05:54,765 Speaker 1: How it ends. 95 00:05:55,565 --> 00:05:57,685 Speaker 3: I always say this to people all the time, you know, 96 00:05:57,765 --> 00:05:59,125 Speaker 3: and it reminds me a little bit of like you 97 00:05:59,165 --> 00:06:01,085 Speaker 3: watch a scary movie. You've seen it ten times, you 98 00:06:01,125 --> 00:06:03,245 Speaker 3: know how it ends, you know the lead character survives, 99 00:06:03,285 --> 00:06:05,685 Speaker 3: but nonetheless you still get nervous every time you see 100 00:06:05,965 --> 00:06:07,565 Speaker 3: even though you know what the outcome of it's going 101 00:06:07,645 --> 00:06:10,085 Speaker 3: to be. And I think that's our story right the 102 00:06:10,125 --> 00:06:11,845 Speaker 3: story that we know that at the end of time 103 00:06:11,885 --> 00:06:13,404 Speaker 3: there'll be a new heaven and a new Earth, and 104 00:06:13,405 --> 00:06:16,045 Speaker 3: that Jesus will return. We also know that between between 105 00:06:16,045 --> 00:06:18,725 Speaker 3: now and then they'll come a period of great tribulation, 106 00:06:19,165 --> 00:06:21,245 Speaker 3: of great challenges. The world's never been free of them, 107 00:06:21,245 --> 00:06:24,845 Speaker 3: but this will be specifically extra and so we already 108 00:06:24,845 --> 00:06:26,725 Speaker 3: know that. And so for us to somehow, I think 109 00:06:26,765 --> 00:06:29,724 Speaker 3: what's for some somehow aspire to live in a world 110 00:06:29,765 --> 00:06:33,365 Speaker 3: free of problems and free of challenges and free of 111 00:06:33,445 --> 00:06:37,565 Speaker 3: worry is not realistic. It's also not biblical, it's not 112 00:06:37,605 --> 00:06:40,165 Speaker 3: true to our faith. And so but in the end, 113 00:06:40,245 --> 00:06:42,445 Speaker 3: I always sort of remind people of the Christian faith, like, 114 00:06:42,445 --> 00:06:43,965 Speaker 3: of all the people in the world that shouldn't be 115 00:06:44,045 --> 00:06:46,725 Speaker 3: that anxious about the future, it should be us, especially 116 00:06:46,725 --> 00:06:48,685 Speaker 3: when it comes to global events. Because we know how 117 00:06:48,685 --> 00:06:51,125 Speaker 3: the movie ends, we know how the story ends. We 118 00:06:51,165 --> 00:06:53,885 Speaker 3: don't know when it ends, can't we can't detell exactly 119 00:06:53,885 --> 00:06:57,245 Speaker 3: how that's going to play out, but we know generally 120 00:06:57,285 --> 00:06:59,565 Speaker 3: the thematic of it, and the thematic of it is victory. 121 00:07:00,365 --> 00:07:04,565 Speaker 2: At its core, revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ. 122 00:07:05,005 --> 00:07:07,485 Speaker 2: That's who we need to be looking to right now. 123 00:07:07,725 --> 00:07:09,445 Speaker 2: You know, when I tell you to look up, I 124 00:07:09,485 --> 00:07:12,485 Speaker 2: don't me go stand in a street corner and stare 125 00:07:12,525 --> 00:07:17,165 Speaker 2: at the sun. I mean get a heavenly perspective. Colotson's 126 00:07:17,165 --> 00:07:21,645 Speaker 2: three says, set your affection on things above, not on 127 00:07:21,805 --> 00:07:24,805 Speaker 2: things of the earth. So another way to translate that 128 00:07:24,845 --> 00:07:28,005 Speaker 2: would be think about heaven, or a simple a way 129 00:07:28,005 --> 00:07:32,445 Speaker 2: to translate it, think heaven. That's what revelation is about. 130 00:07:32,805 --> 00:07:34,205 Speaker 2: It gets us to think heaven. 131 00:07:34,285 --> 00:07:34,445 Speaker 1: Oh. 132 00:07:34,485 --> 00:07:37,245 Speaker 2: I know, some people say, oh, they're so heavenly minded, 133 00:07:37,285 --> 00:07:40,205 Speaker 2: they're no earthly good. I would suggest that there are 134 00:07:40,245 --> 00:07:43,685 Speaker 2: people that are so earthly minded they're no heavenly good. 135 00:07:43,885 --> 00:07:46,405 Speaker 2: I think those that think the most about the next 136 00:07:46,445 --> 00:07:49,965 Speaker 2: life will do the most in this life. The impact 137 00:07:50,005 --> 00:07:53,565 Speaker 2: of the afterlife affects us and the decisions we make 138 00:07:53,885 --> 00:07:56,605 Speaker 2: in this life. And as we read the Book of Revelation, 139 00:07:57,045 --> 00:08:01,445 Speaker 2: here's what we discover. God is in control. No event 140 00:08:01,605 --> 00:08:04,885 Speaker 2: catches him by surprise. That is true not only of 141 00:08:04,925 --> 00:08:08,005 Speaker 2: the world in general and of our future. It's also 142 00:08:08,085 --> 00:08:10,645 Speaker 2: true of your life. Because there might be things you're 143 00:08:10,685 --> 00:08:13,565 Speaker 2: going through right now that make no sense, and there's 144 00:08:13,605 --> 00:08:16,805 Speaker 2: a promise in the Bible just for you. Romans eight 145 00:08:16,885 --> 00:08:20,125 Speaker 2: twenty eight. I hope you've committed it to memory. If 146 00:08:20,165 --> 00:08:23,205 Speaker 2: you haven't, here's what it says, For we know that 147 00:08:23,285 --> 00:08:26,045 Speaker 2: all things work together for good to those who love 148 00:08:26,125 --> 00:08:28,845 Speaker 2: God another called according to his Purpose. 149 00:08:29,125 --> 00:08:32,245 Speaker 1: I love that verse. It starts off by saying, for 150 00:08:32,365 --> 00:08:32,685 Speaker 1: we know. 151 00:08:33,085 --> 00:08:36,805 Speaker 2: It doesn't say and we think or we hope if 152 00:08:36,885 --> 00:08:38,165 Speaker 2: God's in a good mood. 153 00:08:38,205 --> 00:08:39,285 Speaker 1: No, For we know. 154 00:08:39,485 --> 00:08:42,405 Speaker 2: We know this with certainty. We know that what all 155 00:08:42,525 --> 00:08:46,725 Speaker 2: things work together for good? Wait, some things. No, it 156 00:08:46,765 --> 00:08:50,405 Speaker 2: says all things all things work together for what for 157 00:08:50,565 --> 00:08:54,405 Speaker 2: good to those who love God another called according to 158 00:08:54,445 --> 00:08:58,085 Speaker 2: his purpose. So that promise is basically saying that whatever 159 00:08:58,205 --> 00:09:01,125 Speaker 2: comes your way in life is either done by God 160 00:09:01,445 --> 00:09:04,645 Speaker 2: or it's allowed by God, and he has a purpose. 161 00:09:04,885 --> 00:09:08,365 Speaker 2: A great illstration of this is the story of Joseph 162 00:09:08,485 --> 00:09:12,445 Speaker 2: in the Book of Genesis, sold by his brothers into slavery. 163 00:09:12,725 --> 00:09:17,405 Speaker 2: Poor Joseph just faced one setback after another. He's hired 164 00:09:17,405 --> 00:09:19,565 Speaker 2: by a guy that puts him in charge of his 165 00:09:19,725 --> 00:09:22,965 Speaker 2: estate because he was so responsible and hard working. And 166 00:09:23,005 --> 00:09:26,765 Speaker 2: then this guy's wife, who was named missus Robinson, tried 167 00:09:26,805 --> 00:09:29,605 Speaker 2: to seduce him. I'm kidding, that's an old cultural reference. 168 00:09:29,845 --> 00:09:33,485 Speaker 2: His wife the original cougar, missus Potiphar. The guy's name 169 00:09:33,525 --> 00:09:38,125 Speaker 2: was Potiphar, tries to seduce Joseph. He resists her advances, 170 00:09:38,285 --> 00:09:41,285 Speaker 2: and she falsely accuses him of rape and he ends 171 00:09:41,365 --> 00:09:45,245 Speaker 2: up in prison. I mean, it's horrible, but God intervened 172 00:09:45,325 --> 00:09:47,685 Speaker 2: caught him out of that prison cell, and in his 173 00:09:47,805 --> 00:09:52,405 Speaker 2: perfect time, he elevated him to interpret the dreams of 174 00:09:52,645 --> 00:09:56,485 Speaker 2: the Pharaoh, which resulted in him being in charge of 175 00:09:56,525 --> 00:10:01,205 Speaker 2: the food supply of Egypt, which resulted in him facing 176 00:10:01,325 --> 00:10:05,245 Speaker 2: his brothers who had betrayed him and sold him into slavery. 177 00:10:05,685 --> 00:10:09,685 Speaker 2: This could have been taken for where Joseph would have 178 00:10:09,725 --> 00:10:12,845 Speaker 2: had them all put to death, saying I have a 179 00:10:12,885 --> 00:10:16,885 Speaker 2: particular set of skills that I use with people like you. Now, 180 00:10:17,005 --> 00:10:21,925 Speaker 2: instead of getting vengeance, Joseph forgave them. And he said 181 00:10:21,925 --> 00:10:26,005 Speaker 2: this amazing statement that pairs perfectly with Romans eight twenty eight. 182 00:10:26,165 --> 00:10:30,165 Speaker 2: He said, you meant this for evil, but God meant 183 00:10:30,165 --> 00:10:33,765 Speaker 2: it for good to save many people alive, and he 184 00:10:33,845 --> 00:10:37,685 Speaker 2: forgave them. Amazing So Romans eight twenty eight, last time 185 00:10:37,725 --> 00:10:39,285 Speaker 2: I check, go ahead and check if you have a 186 00:10:39,285 --> 00:10:42,324 Speaker 2: Bible nearby, is still in the Bible, And if that 187 00:10:42,405 --> 00:10:44,965 Speaker 2: promise is still in the Bible, which it is, of course, 188 00:10:45,525 --> 00:10:49,605 Speaker 2: that means that that promise is valid for you. So 189 00:10:49,765 --> 00:10:54,165 Speaker 2: revelation shows us that God is in control, and God 190 00:10:54,245 --> 00:10:56,885 Speaker 2: is in control of the world, and God is in 191 00:10:56,925 --> 00:10:59,925 Speaker 2: control of your life. So instead of living in fear, 192 00:11:00,245 --> 00:11:04,085 Speaker 2: we should live in faith. Instead of panicking, we should 193 00:11:04,165 --> 00:11:08,565 Speaker 2: be praying in said of worrying, we should be worshiping, 194 00:11:08,925 --> 00:11:11,725 Speaker 2: and we should be looking up and trusting God and 195 00:11:11,765 --> 00:11:16,684 Speaker 2: remembering our hope is not in this world, it's in Christ. Now, 196 00:11:16,765 --> 00:11:22,125 Speaker 2: let me talk about Israel. Iran in Jerusalem. Speaking of 197 00:11:22,165 --> 00:11:25,605 Speaker 2: world events in the future, Let's talk about what's happening 198 00:11:25,725 --> 00:11:30,445 Speaker 2: right now and Iran in Israel. So, Iran as sponsored 199 00:11:30,565 --> 00:11:35,285 Speaker 2: terrorism for years, beginning with the American hostage crisis in 200 00:11:35,325 --> 00:11:39,965 Speaker 2: Tehran in nineteen seventy nine. Hundreds of Americans have been 201 00:11:40,045 --> 00:11:44,245 Speaker 2: killed by this Iranian regime through acts of terrorism, including 202 00:11:44,325 --> 00:11:49,844 Speaker 2: attacks on our soldiers through proxy organizations like Hamas, Hezbelah 203 00:11:50,325 --> 00:11:51,165 Speaker 2: and the Jutis. 204 00:11:51,765 --> 00:11:52,925 Speaker 1: In nineteen eighty. 205 00:11:52,685 --> 00:11:56,165 Speaker 2: Three, two hundred and forty US Marines were killed by 206 00:11:56,245 --> 00:12:00,725 Speaker 2: Hesbelah and Beirut. Many American troops have also died due 207 00:12:00,765 --> 00:12:04,725 Speaker 2: to Iranian backed militias in Iraq. Not to mention the 208 00:12:04,765 --> 00:12:09,405 Speaker 2: many who have been wounded, this Iranian regime has murdered 209 00:12:09,445 --> 00:12:13,405 Speaker 2: thousands of their own people as well, So this is 210 00:12:13,445 --> 00:12:16,604 Speaker 2: an evil regime. Add to this the fact that Iranian 211 00:12:16,725 --> 00:12:20,725 Speaker 2: leaders have repeatedly referred to America as the Great Satan 212 00:12:21,045 --> 00:12:24,845 Speaker 2: in Israel as the little Satan. They've also threatened to 213 00:12:24,885 --> 00:12:28,725 Speaker 2: wipe Israel off the map. One Iranian leader even said, 214 00:12:28,765 --> 00:12:31,245 Speaker 2: and I quote, is it possible for us to witness 215 00:12:31,285 --> 00:12:35,885 Speaker 2: a world without America and Zionism? This goal is attainable. 216 00:12:36,325 --> 00:12:40,805 Speaker 2: The regime occupying Jerusalem must be wiped off the map 217 00:12:40,965 --> 00:12:45,765 Speaker 2: end quote. Notice the references to Jerusalem. The Bible tells 218 00:12:45,845 --> 00:12:50,765 Speaker 2: us that the final conflicts of humanity will center on Jerusalem, 219 00:12:51,045 --> 00:12:56,325 Speaker 2: not Washington, DC, not Moscow, not Paris, not New York City. 220 00:12:56,525 --> 00:12:58,564 Speaker 1: Jerusalem. And by the way, that. 221 00:12:58,645 --> 00:13:03,125 Speaker 2: Was predicted thousands of years ago by the Jewish prophets. Listen, 222 00:13:03,245 --> 00:13:08,405 Speaker 2: Jerusalem has been and will always be the capital of Israel. 223 00:13:09,085 --> 00:13:12,925 Speaker 2: Isn't it amazing that this tiny little city causes such 224 00:13:13,045 --> 00:13:19,485 Speaker 2: global controversy? While this hostility towards Jerusalem, answer because it 225 00:13:19,565 --> 00:13:23,205 Speaker 2: plays a key role in the end times. The prophet 226 00:13:23,325 --> 00:13:28,205 Speaker 2: Zechariah wrote, I will make Jerusalem and intoxicating drink to 227 00:13:28,285 --> 00:13:31,805 Speaker 2: all the surrounding people, and a heavy stone for all 228 00:13:32,085 --> 00:13:37,485 Speaker 2: the nations. So when we hear people chanting, often students 229 00:13:37,525 --> 00:13:41,645 Speaker 2: from Ivy League universities, from the river to the sea, 230 00:13:42,165 --> 00:13:46,725 Speaker 2: Palestine will be free. Do they even understand what they're saying? 231 00:13:47,045 --> 00:13:49,325 Speaker 2: Do they know what the river is? Do they know 232 00:13:49,365 --> 00:13:52,245 Speaker 2: what the sea is? I doubt they really do. Let 233 00:13:52,245 --> 00:13:55,365 Speaker 2: me explain it. The river would be the Jordan River, 234 00:13:55,805 --> 00:13:58,485 Speaker 2: This sea would be the Mediterranean Sea. I'm going to 235 00:13:58,565 --> 00:14:00,845 Speaker 2: map out and look at it. And if you look 236 00:14:00,885 --> 00:14:04,165 Speaker 2: at the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River between the 237 00:14:04,245 --> 00:14:11,005 Speaker 2: two sits tiny little Israel about eighty five hundred square miles. Israel, 238 00:14:11,325 --> 00:14:14,645 Speaker 2: the whole nation is roughly the size of New Jersey. 239 00:14:15,245 --> 00:14:18,445 Speaker 2: So what this chen is implying is people don't want 240 00:14:18,485 --> 00:14:23,085 Speaker 2: to see Israel any longer. They're effectively saying, we don't 241 00:14:23,125 --> 00:14:26,645 Speaker 2: want Israel to exist, We don't want the Jewish people 242 00:14:26,965 --> 00:14:30,525 Speaker 2: to have a homeland. We want them gone, we want 243 00:14:30,565 --> 00:14:33,565 Speaker 2: them eliminated. Wait a second, where have we heard this 244 00:14:33,885 --> 00:14:38,565 Speaker 2: rhetoric before? Oh, now, I remember we heard it in 245 00:14:38,685 --> 00:14:42,725 Speaker 2: Nazi Germany. First, the Jewish people were blamed for all 246 00:14:42,845 --> 00:14:47,005 Speaker 2: the problems in Germany at that time. Then their businesses 247 00:14:47,245 --> 00:14:50,445 Speaker 2: were shut down. Then they were forced to wear armbands 248 00:14:50,485 --> 00:14:52,845 Speaker 2: with the Star of David on them, and then they 249 00:14:52,845 --> 00:14:55,805 Speaker 2: were placed in ghettos, and in short order they were 250 00:14:55,885 --> 00:14:59,485 Speaker 2: loaded into box cars and sent to concentration camps with 251 00:14:59,645 --> 00:15:05,125 Speaker 2: names like Alschwitz, Treblinka, and Revensbroke. Recently, I was in Washington, 252 00:15:05,205 --> 00:15:08,685 Speaker 2: d C. And I visited the Holocaust Museum, which you 253 00:15:08,685 --> 00:15:11,245 Speaker 2: should go visit if you can. And I walked through 254 00:15:11,245 --> 00:15:14,485 Speaker 2: one of the actual box cars from that time, and 255 00:15:14,525 --> 00:15:18,725 Speaker 2: I can tell you it's a sobering experience. When it 256 00:15:18,765 --> 00:15:25,365 Speaker 2: was all over six million, I repeat, six million Jewish men, 257 00:15:25,645 --> 00:15:27,285 Speaker 2: women and children. 258 00:15:27,205 --> 00:15:28,645 Speaker 1: Were brutally murdered. 259 00:15:29,165 --> 00:15:32,365 Speaker 2: There's a precursor to the Holocaust that's actually found in 260 00:15:32,405 --> 00:15:35,245 Speaker 2: the Bible, in the Book of Vester, which happened to 261 00:15:35,325 --> 00:15:39,005 Speaker 2: happen in Persia. Of course, Persia was the name of 262 00:15:39,045 --> 00:15:42,925 Speaker 2: Iran until they changed it in nineteen thirty five. So 263 00:15:43,045 --> 00:15:45,445 Speaker 2: the King of Persia one day threw a big party 264 00:15:45,525 --> 00:15:48,765 Speaker 2: for all of his lords, and they were all drunk 265 00:15:48,805 --> 00:15:51,925 Speaker 2: and feasting on all the food, and he wanted to 266 00:15:51,965 --> 00:15:55,845 Speaker 2: sort of show off his beautiful wife, Vashti. So the 267 00:15:55,965 --> 00:15:59,565 Speaker 2: king gave the command that Queen Vosti should come out 268 00:15:59,645 --> 00:16:03,965 Speaker 2: wearing her crown. Some commentators believe it's implied in the 269 00:16:04,005 --> 00:16:07,325 Speaker 2: text he wanted her to come out only wearing her crown, 270 00:16:07,445 --> 00:16:10,845 Speaker 2: in other words, no clothes. If that's the case or not, 271 00:16:10,925 --> 00:16:15,045 Speaker 2: I don't know, but sort of objectifying his wife, he said, 272 00:16:15,085 --> 00:16:17,765 Speaker 2: come out now and walk around, let me show you off. 273 00:16:17,805 --> 00:16:20,765 Speaker 2: And she refused, which in a way she plays an 274 00:16:20,805 --> 00:16:23,645 Speaker 2: important role in this story, if she planned to or not. 275 00:16:24,365 --> 00:16:28,525 Speaker 2: And because of her refusal to do what the king wanted, 276 00:16:28,805 --> 00:16:31,965 Speaker 2: he decided to replace her because some of his aides 277 00:16:32,005 --> 00:16:33,325 Speaker 2: came to him and said, man, if you let her 278 00:16:33,365 --> 00:16:35,405 Speaker 2: get away with this, none of our wives will ever 279 00:16:35,445 --> 00:16:37,565 Speaker 2: do what we tell him to do anymore. You got 280 00:16:37,565 --> 00:16:40,525 Speaker 2: a dump Vashti. So he said, okay, what do I do? 281 00:16:40,685 --> 00:16:43,365 Speaker 2: Have a beauty contest and choose a new queen. What 282 00:16:43,525 --> 00:16:46,165 Speaker 2: she did, and of all the people that entered that 283 00:16:46,245 --> 00:16:51,165 Speaker 2: beauty contest, there was a gorgeous young Jewish woman named Hadassa. 284 00:16:51,685 --> 00:16:56,005 Speaker 2: We know her better as esther. She won the beauty contest. 285 00:16:56,365 --> 00:16:59,405 Speaker 2: She became the Queen of Persia. She had been raised 286 00:16:59,405 --> 00:17:03,445 Speaker 2: by her cousin Mordecai. Despite the fact that she had 287 00:17:03,485 --> 00:17:06,044 Speaker 2: a deep faith in God and was proud of her 288 00:17:06,125 --> 00:17:09,324 Speaker 2: Jewish heritage, her cousin Mordechai told her to kind of 289 00:17:09,445 --> 00:17:12,325 Speaker 2: keep it on the down low. Don't mention to anyone 290 00:17:12,484 --> 00:17:13,165 Speaker 2: you're Jewish. 291 00:17:13,205 --> 00:17:14,685 Speaker 1: That would work in her favorite later. 292 00:17:15,244 --> 00:17:17,965 Speaker 2: So one day there's this wicked man named Haman that 293 00:17:18,445 --> 00:17:22,404 Speaker 2: had it out for Mordecai, the cousin of Esther, and 294 00:17:22,484 --> 00:17:25,404 Speaker 2: he wanted him killed. And then he expanded the idea 295 00:17:25,764 --> 00:17:30,084 Speaker 2: to exterminating all of Mordecai's people, the Jews, and what 296 00:17:30,205 --> 00:17:33,764 Speaker 2: was a precursor to what Hitler called the Final Solution. 297 00:17:34,524 --> 00:17:37,325 Speaker 2: Hamon got the king to sign a degree that all 298 00:17:37,484 --> 00:17:41,564 Speaker 2: the Jewish people would be put to death. Now is 299 00:17:41,844 --> 00:17:45,645 Speaker 2: the time for Esther to make her move. What she does, 300 00:17:45,885 --> 00:17:48,205 Speaker 2: her cousin Mordecai comes from and says, Esther, you. 301 00:17:48,244 --> 00:17:49,045 Speaker 1: Got to speak up. 302 00:17:49,925 --> 00:17:52,205 Speaker 2: God puts you where you are for such a time 303 00:17:52,244 --> 00:17:52,484 Speaker 2: as this. 304 00:17:52,604 --> 00:17:53,084 Speaker 1: Now listen. 305 00:17:53,284 --> 00:17:56,445 Speaker 2: If you don't say something, relief and deliverance will come 306 00:17:56,445 --> 00:18:00,084 Speaker 2: from another. But hey, this is your moment. You go, girl, 307 00:18:00,324 --> 00:18:03,484 Speaker 2: right And she did it. She was courageous. She could 308 00:18:03,484 --> 00:18:06,284 Speaker 2: have been executed for even a pro ching the king 309 00:18:06,405 --> 00:18:09,924 Speaker 2: without permission. She stood up boldly for her people, and 310 00:18:09,965 --> 00:18:14,205 Speaker 2: the result was Haman hung in the very gallows he 311 00:18:14,244 --> 00:18:18,004 Speaker 2: had erected for Mordecai, and the Jewish people were spared. 312 00:18:18,084 --> 00:18:22,085 Speaker 2: But interestingly, this all happened in Prussia. So now we're 313 00:18:22,125 --> 00:18:25,364 Speaker 2: talking about Persia again or Iran, and we're looking at 314 00:18:25,405 --> 00:18:28,965 Speaker 2: their desire to exterminate the Jews, and once again God 315 00:18:28,965 --> 00:18:32,445 Speaker 2: has stepped in and he's intervened. Now let me talk 316 00:18:32,445 --> 00:18:38,564 Speaker 2: about a controversial subject. It's called replacement theology. Now some 317 00:18:38,604 --> 00:18:42,084 Speaker 2: would argue that God has set the Jewish people aside 318 00:18:42,365 --> 00:18:45,764 Speaker 2: and that the promises once given to them now belong 319 00:18:45,925 --> 00:18:51,644 Speaker 2: only to the Church, hence the title replacement theology. But 320 00:18:51,804 --> 00:18:54,284 Speaker 2: I would beg to differ with that. The Bible says 321 00:18:54,604 --> 00:18:58,244 Speaker 2: God never abandons his covenant with Israel. In fact, the 322 00:18:58,284 --> 00:19:02,324 Speaker 2: apostle Paul asked this question in Romans eleven. Has God 323 00:19:02,484 --> 00:19:07,405 Speaker 2: rejected his people? And the answer is certainly. Paul also wrote, 324 00:19:07,445 --> 00:19:11,244 Speaker 2: the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. In other words, 325 00:19:11,524 --> 00:19:16,165 Speaker 2: God doesn't cancel his covenants and God doesn't break his promises. 326 00:19:16,324 --> 00:19:19,165 Speaker 2: When God makes the promises, you can take. 327 00:19:19,004 --> 00:19:19,645 Speaker 1: It to the bank. 328 00:19:19,725 --> 00:19:22,925 Speaker 2: So when you see that beautiful rainbow after a rain 329 00:19:23,365 --> 00:19:26,845 Speaker 2: that's a reminder that God keeps his promises. That's why 330 00:19:26,885 --> 00:19:32,244 Speaker 2: the rainbow exists. And God promised the Jewish people that 331 00:19:32,365 --> 00:19:35,684 Speaker 2: he would give them their own land. God said to 332 00:19:35,885 --> 00:19:39,205 Speaker 2: Abraham and the book of Genesis, go from your country 333 00:19:39,365 --> 00:19:41,725 Speaker 2: to the land I will show you, and I'll make 334 00:19:41,804 --> 00:19:45,125 Speaker 2: you into a great nation Genesis twelve. And later God 335 00:19:45,165 --> 00:19:48,364 Speaker 2: said to your descendants, I'll give this land from the 336 00:19:48,524 --> 00:19:52,085 Speaker 2: river of Egypt to the great river you we Ephrates. 337 00:19:52,165 --> 00:19:57,084 Speaker 2: That's Genesis fifteen eighteen. Now, interestingly, modern Israel occupies only 338 00:19:57,125 --> 00:20:01,244 Speaker 2: a small portion of that promised land today. But let 339 00:20:01,244 --> 00:20:04,085 Speaker 2: me talk a little bit about the modern state of Israel. 340 00:20:04,564 --> 00:20:08,524 Speaker 2: Because a May fourteenth, nineteen forty eight, a modern day 341 00:20:08,685 --> 00:20:12,845 Speaker 2: miracle took place against all odds, and in the shadow 342 00:20:12,885 --> 00:20:16,725 Speaker 2: of the Holocaust, the modern state of Israel was reborn. 343 00:20:16,885 --> 00:20:20,365 Speaker 2: Thousands of Jews is if on cue, returned to their 344 00:20:20,365 --> 00:20:24,924 Speaker 2: homeland again because it was being orchestrated by God himself. 345 00:20:25,205 --> 00:20:28,324 Speaker 2: He was sending things into place for what we often 346 00:20:28,405 --> 00:20:31,684 Speaker 2: call the last days. I'm proud to say that the 347 00:20:31,804 --> 00:20:35,965 Speaker 2: United States of America was the first nation to acknowledge 348 00:20:35,965 --> 00:20:39,725 Speaker 2: the legitimacy of the new State of Israel. That was 349 00:20:39,804 --> 00:20:43,844 Speaker 2: President Truman. I think another sign of the last days 350 00:20:44,044 --> 00:20:46,965 Speaker 2: is not just the return of the Jewish people to 351 00:20:47,044 --> 00:20:50,645 Speaker 2: the homeland that God gave to them, but the surge 352 00:20:50,804 --> 00:20:57,565 Speaker 2: of anti Semitism. Anti Semitism is jew hatred, hating them, 353 00:20:57,844 --> 00:21:02,524 Speaker 2: hating their nation, and blaming them for pretty much everything. 354 00:21:03,125 --> 00:21:03,324 Speaker 1: You know. 355 00:21:03,405 --> 00:21:06,084 Speaker 2: Some say, well, the Jews are colonizers, they took the 356 00:21:06,165 --> 00:21:09,084 Speaker 2: land from others. That's not true. The fact of the 357 00:21:09,084 --> 00:21:12,965 Speaker 2: matter is the Jewish people are indigenous to this land. 358 00:21:13,084 --> 00:21:15,685 Speaker 2: That is their land that they came from. And by 359 00:21:15,764 --> 00:21:19,004 Speaker 2: the way, the name Palestine was actually imposed by the 360 00:21:19,084 --> 00:21:22,885 Speaker 2: Romans in one thirty five AD after crushing a Jewish 361 00:21:22,965 --> 00:21:28,484 Speaker 2: revolt and naming the region Syria Palestinia to erase the 362 00:21:28,604 --> 00:21:33,644 Speaker 2: Jewish connection to the land. Yet despite centuries of this 363 00:21:33,764 --> 00:21:37,364 Speaker 2: persecution against Jews, trying to drive them from their homeland, 364 00:21:37,564 --> 00:21:42,845 Speaker 2: the Jewish communities never completely disappeared. They remain in Jerusalem, Tiberius, 365 00:21:43,044 --> 00:21:46,965 Speaker 2: and Hebron for centuries. So when Israel was born in 366 00:21:47,044 --> 00:21:51,284 Speaker 2: nineteen forty eight, Jews did not see it as colonizing it, 367 00:21:51,604 --> 00:21:57,084 Speaker 2: but returning to their homeland that God gave to them. 368 00:21:57,564 --> 00:22:00,205 Speaker 2: Some would say, Israel is an apartheid state. 369 00:22:00,324 --> 00:22:01,164 Speaker 1: Give me a break. 370 00:22:01,484 --> 00:22:05,125 Speaker 2: Apartheid is best known for taking place in South Africa, 371 00:22:05,564 --> 00:22:11,524 Speaker 2: where there was legal racial segregation and denial of citizenship rights. 372 00:22:11,604 --> 00:22:15,084 Speaker 2: That is not the case in Israel. There are many Jews, 373 00:22:15,125 --> 00:22:17,925 Speaker 2: obviously in the homeland of Israel, but there's many Arabs 374 00:22:17,925 --> 00:22:21,004 Speaker 2: as well. And by the way, Arab citizens make up 375 00:22:21,044 --> 00:22:26,004 Speaker 2: about twenty percent of the population. Arab citizens vote and elections. 376 00:22:26,324 --> 00:22:30,045 Speaker 2: They serve in parliament, the Knesset. They also serve as 377 00:22:30,165 --> 00:22:34,404 Speaker 2: judges on the Israeli Supreme Court, and they serve throughout society. 378 00:22:34,445 --> 00:22:38,924 Speaker 2: There's no apartheid and there's no colonizing. This is the 379 00:22:39,044 --> 00:22:41,805 Speaker 2: land that God gave to the Jewish people that they 380 00:22:41,844 --> 00:22:45,524 Speaker 2: have every right to occupy. Some would say, well, the 381 00:22:45,604 --> 00:22:48,324 Speaker 2: Jewish people are different from the land of Israel. 382 00:22:48,365 --> 00:22:49,004 Speaker 1: No, they aren't. 383 00:22:49,405 --> 00:22:53,564 Speaker 2: The land of Israel is their homeland that they have 384 00:22:54,084 --> 00:22:58,725 Speaker 2: returned to all according to Prophecy. Let me talk now 385 00:22:58,764 --> 00:23:05,764 Speaker 2: about another controversial topic. It's called the rapture. So what 386 00:23:05,804 --> 00:23:09,124 Speaker 2: is the rapture of the Church. The rapture is the 387 00:23:09,165 --> 00:23:13,044 Speaker 2: moment when Christ descends from heaven and believers are caught 388 00:23:13,125 --> 00:23:15,604 Speaker 2: up to meet him in the air, and at that 389 00:23:15,725 --> 00:23:18,725 Speaker 2: moment we'll receive our new resurrection bodies, and that will 390 00:23:18,725 --> 00:23:22,044 Speaker 2: also be the moment when we are reunited with loved 391 00:23:22,044 --> 00:23:25,844 Speaker 2: ones who've gone to heaven before us. The rapture is 392 00:23:25,885 --> 00:23:30,004 Speaker 2: the first phase of the return of Christ. The rapture 393 00:23:30,365 --> 00:23:34,965 Speaker 2: happens before Anti Christ is revealed and before the tribulation 394 00:23:35,205 --> 00:23:39,164 Speaker 2: period begins. Spectapticular step further and say, I don't believe 395 00:23:39,165 --> 00:23:43,484 Speaker 2: Anti Christ can be revealed until the rapture takes place. 396 00:23:43,965 --> 00:23:47,925 Speaker 2: The Bible says he who restrains will continue to do so, 397 00:23:48,284 --> 00:23:50,205 Speaker 2: and then he will be taken out of the way, 398 00:23:50,564 --> 00:23:53,404 Speaker 2: and then that wicked one will be revealed, whom the 399 00:23:53,445 --> 00:23:57,084 Speaker 2: Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming. The 400 00:23:57,205 --> 00:24:01,484 Speaker 2: restraining force in the world today is the Holy Spirit 401 00:24:01,844 --> 00:24:05,644 Speaker 2: working through the Church. It's Christians that speak up for 402 00:24:05,725 --> 00:24:09,244 Speaker 2: what is true. It's Christians that speak out against what 403 00:24:09,885 --> 00:24:15,044 Speaker 2: is wrong. We restrain the spread of evil in our culture. 404 00:24:15,125 --> 00:24:19,044 Speaker 2: But once we're removed, all hell will literally begin to 405 00:24:19,084 --> 00:24:22,404 Speaker 2: break loose and Anti Christ will be revealed, and that 406 00:24:22,484 --> 00:24:26,564 Speaker 2: will inaugurate the seven year tribulation period. So the Lord 407 00:24:27,084 --> 00:24:31,484 Speaker 2: comes for us before that happens. Why the Bible says, 408 00:24:31,524 --> 00:24:35,725 Speaker 2: God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain 409 00:24:35,804 --> 00:24:39,564 Speaker 2: salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The second half of 410 00:24:39,645 --> 00:24:43,924 Speaker 2: the tribulation period is God's judgment on the world. God's 411 00:24:43,965 --> 00:24:46,844 Speaker 2: not going to have us his people go through that 412 00:24:47,004 --> 00:24:50,364 Speaker 2: time of judgment. You say, but greg you're wrong, because 413 00:24:50,445 --> 00:24:53,685 Speaker 2: Jesus said in this world you shall have tribulation. 414 00:24:53,925 --> 00:24:54,524 Speaker 1: That's true. 415 00:24:54,925 --> 00:24:59,364 Speaker 2: We will experience personal tribulation, but we will not experience 416 00:24:59,484 --> 00:25:04,284 Speaker 2: the judgment of God coming on the world. As an example, 417 00:25:04,405 --> 00:25:07,324 Speaker 2: take the time of no in his Ark. God waited 418 00:25:07,445 --> 00:25:11,445 Speaker 2: until Noah was safely into the ark with his family 419 00:25:11,524 --> 00:25:15,925 Speaker 2: before the rain began. Take the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. 420 00:25:16,205 --> 00:25:20,164 Speaker 2: God waited until Lot in his family or safely out 421 00:25:20,284 --> 00:25:23,524 Speaker 2: of the city before the judgment came. And in the 422 00:25:23,645 --> 00:25:27,925 Speaker 2: same way, God will preserve his people and call them 423 00:25:28,004 --> 00:25:31,484 Speaker 2: up to Heaven before that time of judgment and the 424 00:25:31,524 --> 00:25:35,205 Speaker 2: great tribulation takes place. But some would say, hold on now, 425 00:25:35,445 --> 00:25:39,364 Speaker 2: the word rapture is not in the Bible. Okay, well, 426 00:25:39,445 --> 00:25:41,844 Speaker 2: it is actually depends what kind of Bible you have. 427 00:25:42,885 --> 00:25:45,124 Speaker 2: I mean, to the point, the word bible is not 428 00:25:45,284 --> 00:25:45,884 Speaker 2: in the Bible. 429 00:25:45,965 --> 00:25:46,564 Speaker 1: Did you know that? 430 00:25:47,365 --> 00:25:49,445 Speaker 2: Did you know that the word trinity is not in 431 00:25:49,484 --> 00:25:51,804 Speaker 2: the Bible. But the word rapture actually is in the 432 00:25:51,844 --> 00:25:55,405 Speaker 2: Bible if you have a Latin translation, because you see, 433 00:25:55,445 --> 00:25:59,084 Speaker 2: the rapture comes from the Latin word rapturists. So if 434 00:25:59,125 --> 00:26:02,725 Speaker 2: you have a Latin translation, you would see rapturists. But 435 00:26:02,844 --> 00:26:07,084 Speaker 2: it comes from the root word harp the Greek word 436 00:26:07,284 --> 00:26:10,405 Speaker 2: that translates to rapture. I don't care if you call 437 00:26:10,445 --> 00:26:15,404 Speaker 2: it the harpazzo, the rapture, the great escape. It's clearly 438 00:26:15,445 --> 00:26:17,685 Speaker 2: in the Bible. Others that say, all, No, a man 439 00:26:17,764 --> 00:26:22,524 Speaker 2: named John Nelson Darby invented the rapture in the eighteen hundreds. 440 00:26:22,564 --> 00:26:25,684 Speaker 2: That's simply not true. Now, granted, a guy known as 441 00:26:25,764 --> 00:26:30,925 Speaker 2: Jan Darby did popularize this doctrine in the nineteenth century, 442 00:26:30,965 --> 00:26:34,965 Speaker 2: and many of his ideas, which is often called dispensationalism, 443 00:26:35,205 --> 00:26:37,684 Speaker 2: which I happen to believe in, was put in the 444 00:26:37,725 --> 00:26:42,324 Speaker 2: notes of the Schofield Cross Reference Bible. But he didn't 445 00:26:42,365 --> 00:26:47,484 Speaker 2: invent it. He just popularized it, not unlike Tim Lahay 446 00:26:47,604 --> 00:26:51,244 Speaker 2: did in his Left Behind books in the nineties, or 447 00:26:52,125 --> 00:26:55,404 Speaker 2: how Lindsay did in the seventies with his book The 448 00:26:55,484 --> 00:26:59,244 Speaker 2: Late Great Planet Earth. But the idea and the teaching 449 00:26:59,284 --> 00:27:02,284 Speaker 2: of the rapture is in the Bible. It's taught by 450 00:27:02,324 --> 00:27:06,165 Speaker 2: the apostle Paul, the apostle Peter, the Apollo, so John, 451 00:27:06,524 --> 00:27:11,284 Speaker 2: It's mentioned by Jesus himself. Even early Church fathers going 452 00:27:11,365 --> 00:27:16,004 Speaker 2: back to the second century talked about the event where 453 00:27:16,044 --> 00:27:19,284 Speaker 2: the Lord would call believers to heaven. So this is 454 00:27:19,324 --> 00:27:24,684 Speaker 2: not a new doctrine invented by jan Darby. This doctrine, 455 00:27:24,725 --> 00:27:29,484 Speaker 2: this teaching is in the Bible. Jesus, speaking of the rapture, said, 456 00:27:29,925 --> 00:27:32,484 Speaker 2: I go to prepare a place for you. And if 457 00:27:32,524 --> 00:27:35,084 Speaker 2: I go and prepare a place for you, I will 458 00:27:35,125 --> 00:27:38,484 Speaker 2: come again and receive you to myself, that. 459 00:27:38,484 --> 00:27:40,044 Speaker 1: Where I am you may be. 460 00:27:40,165 --> 00:27:43,484 Speaker 2: Also, that sounds very much like what Paul describes them. 461 00:27:43,524 --> 00:27:48,284 Speaker 2: First Thessalonians for probably the best known verses in the 462 00:27:48,284 --> 00:27:51,484 Speaker 2: Bible connected to the harpazzo or. 463 00:27:51,365 --> 00:27:52,564 Speaker 1: What we call the rapture. 464 00:27:52,844 --> 00:27:55,965 Speaker 2: For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 465 00:27:56,004 --> 00:27:58,804 Speaker 2: with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet 466 00:27:58,804 --> 00:28:02,325 Speaker 2: of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, 467 00:28:02,764 --> 00:28:04,924 Speaker 2: and then we which are live and remaining shall be 468 00:28:05,084 --> 00:28:09,084 Speaker 2: caught up up. That's the word harpazzo caught up together 469 00:28:09,445 --> 00:28:12,044 Speaker 2: with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in 470 00:28:12,084 --> 00:28:14,925 Speaker 2: the air, and thus we will always be with the Lord. 471 00:28:14,965 --> 00:28:19,244 Speaker 2: Then Paul wraps it up with this, Therefore, comfort one 472 00:28:19,244 --> 00:28:24,525 Speaker 2: another with these words. So why is there a rapture? Well, 473 00:28:24,564 --> 00:28:28,244 Speaker 2: Paul wrote these words to the believers living in Thussalonaika. 474 00:28:28,685 --> 00:28:32,725 Speaker 2: They were facing severe persecution, and many believers had already 475 00:28:32,764 --> 00:28:36,044 Speaker 2: lost loved ones, and they're worried, and they're wondering, will 476 00:28:36,044 --> 00:28:39,404 Speaker 2: we ever see our loved ones again? Or did we 477 00:28:39,525 --> 00:28:43,765 Speaker 2: somehow miss the Lord's return. So Paul writes, we don't 478 00:28:43,765 --> 00:28:46,445 Speaker 2: want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters about those 479 00:28:46,445 --> 00:28:50,124 Speaker 2: who sleep in death. So listen to what Paul is saying. 480 00:28:50,205 --> 00:28:53,885 Speaker 2: He's not saying, hey, prophecy doesn't matter. He says the opposite. 481 00:28:54,165 --> 00:28:56,285 Speaker 2: I don't want you to be uninformed. I want you 482 00:28:56,325 --> 00:29:00,045 Speaker 2: to understand this. You see, Bible prophecy is meant to 483 00:29:00,084 --> 00:29:04,045 Speaker 2: give us hope and perspective. It's not given to scare us, 484 00:29:04,285 --> 00:29:06,765 Speaker 2: but to prepare us. And the fact of the matter 485 00:29:06,885 --> 00:29:11,084 Speaker 2: is this idea, this teaching of the rapture, gives us hope. 486 00:29:11,405 --> 00:29:15,765 Speaker 2: Because Paul ends his passage by saying, comfort one another 487 00:29:16,125 --> 00:29:17,085 Speaker 2: with these words. 488 00:29:17,245 --> 00:29:17,604 Speaker 1: Listen. 489 00:29:18,245 --> 00:29:20,445 Speaker 2: If you've lost a loved one, you know what I'm 490 00:29:20,445 --> 00:29:23,685 Speaker 2: talking about right now. If you have someone you deeply 491 00:29:23,725 --> 00:29:27,445 Speaker 2: cared about, maybe it was a husband, a wife, a 492 00:29:27,525 --> 00:29:32,765 Speaker 2: mother or father, or a child or a friend, suddenly 493 00:29:32,965 --> 00:29:37,644 Speaker 2: they're gone, it's very hard, and you weep and you 494 00:29:37,805 --> 00:29:40,525 Speaker 2: mourn over them. In fact, the depth of your sorrow 495 00:29:40,565 --> 00:29:43,565 Speaker 2: reflects the depth of your love, and the Bible even 496 00:29:43,645 --> 00:29:47,285 Speaker 2: encourages this process of morning when it tells us there's 497 00:29:47,325 --> 00:29:52,445 Speaker 2: a time to mourn. Remember when Stephen, that courageous young 498 00:29:52,485 --> 00:29:55,084 Speaker 2: man that spoke up for his faith, was put to 499 00:29:55,165 --> 00:29:59,084 Speaker 2: death by stoning. The Bible says that after he died, 500 00:29:59,165 --> 00:30:03,684 Speaker 2: godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. So 501 00:30:03,925 --> 00:30:07,005 Speaker 2: it's a good thing to mourn. When you lose someone 502 00:30:07,045 --> 00:30:10,205 Speaker 2: you love, you think about them a lot. You imagine 503 00:30:10,285 --> 00:30:14,405 Speaker 2: seeing them again. Maybe you were replaying your mind conversations 504 00:30:14,445 --> 00:30:18,084 Speaker 2: you had or conversations you wish you had. So imagine 505 00:30:18,084 --> 00:30:21,685 Speaker 2: this for a moment, going about your day, thinking maybe 506 00:30:21,725 --> 00:30:24,084 Speaker 2: about your loved one who has loved you for heaven, 507 00:30:24,525 --> 00:30:27,685 Speaker 2: and suddenly, in a moment fashion, then time itself can register, 508 00:30:28,365 --> 00:30:32,765 Speaker 2: you're with them again. You're reunited. Parents are reunited with children, 509 00:30:33,005 --> 00:30:37,285 Speaker 2: Husbands are reunited with wives, Brothers are reunited with sisters, 510 00:30:37,604 --> 00:30:41,844 Speaker 2: friends are reunited with friends, and your sorrow disappears and 511 00:30:42,005 --> 00:30:47,285 Speaker 2: instantly it's replaced with ecstatic joy. But even greater than that, 512 00:30:47,925 --> 00:30:52,245 Speaker 2: Jesus himself will be there. So that's why the Christian 513 00:30:52,285 --> 00:30:56,645 Speaker 2: grieves with hope, not without hope. That's why the rapture 514 00:30:56,725 --> 00:30:59,605 Speaker 2: is referred to as the blessed hope. 515 00:31:00,125 --> 00:31:02,364 Speaker 1: So when will the rapture happen? 516 00:31:02,485 --> 00:31:06,525 Speaker 2: Ah? This is where people get themselves into trust because 517 00:31:06,565 --> 00:31:10,525 Speaker 2: they engage in date setting. No one knows the day 518 00:31:10,725 --> 00:31:14,205 Speaker 2: or the hour. Periodically, someone will come along and say, oh, 519 00:31:14,245 --> 00:31:18,005 Speaker 2: there's this blood moon and that's a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, 520 00:31:18,285 --> 00:31:21,005 Speaker 2: and the rapture is going to happen tonight. Or another 521 00:31:21,045 --> 00:31:23,565 Speaker 2: person might say, oh, they found the ashes of the 522 00:31:23,604 --> 00:31:26,405 Speaker 2: red heifer, so now they can go back and rebuild 523 00:31:26,445 --> 00:31:30,005 Speaker 2: the temple and we can see the rapture happen. Okay, 524 00:31:30,045 --> 00:31:33,685 Speaker 2: but this is a misunderstanding a Bible prophecy for starters 525 00:31:33,725 --> 00:31:36,285 Speaker 2: blood moons and talk about that for a moment. The 526 00:31:36,325 --> 00:31:39,205 Speaker 2: Bible does talk about the moon becoming this blood. The 527 00:31:39,245 --> 00:31:41,965 Speaker 2: fact of the matter We've had many blood moons historically, 528 00:31:42,285 --> 00:31:46,245 Speaker 2: but the Bible is talking specifically about the tribulation period, 529 00:31:46,325 --> 00:31:49,444 Speaker 2: which is not yet begun. So to look at a 530 00:31:49,525 --> 00:31:53,485 Speaker 2: blood moon happening and thinking that Bill's Bible prophecy is 531 00:31:53,565 --> 00:31:56,565 Speaker 2: misguided at best. And then with the ashes of the 532 00:31:56,565 --> 00:31:59,725 Speaker 2: Red Heifer, look, we know the temple will be rebuilt 533 00:31:59,844 --> 00:32:03,285 Speaker 2: by the Antichrist, who has not been revealed yet. So 534 00:32:03,405 --> 00:32:05,205 Speaker 2: in light of that fact, and in light of the 535 00:32:05,205 --> 00:32:08,325 Speaker 2: fact that the temple has not been rebuilt yet, let's 536 00:32:08,365 --> 00:32:11,285 Speaker 2: not take these events and try to twist them to 537 00:32:11,325 --> 00:32:15,325 Speaker 2: say I know the day or the hour when Christ comes. 538 00:32:15,405 --> 00:32:20,405 Speaker 2: Because Jesus said of that day and hour no one knows. 539 00:32:20,645 --> 00:32:22,445 Speaker 2: And if you were to go back to the original 540 00:32:22,525 --> 00:32:24,805 Speaker 2: language and translate it, it would say of. 541 00:32:24,844 --> 00:32:27,245 Speaker 1: That day and hour no one knows. 542 00:32:27,285 --> 00:32:30,285 Speaker 2: And what it actually means is of that dan hour 543 00:32:30,565 --> 00:32:34,725 Speaker 2: no one knows. So let's stop with a speculation. It'll 544 00:32:34,765 --> 00:32:37,844 Speaker 2: happen according to God's schedule. So what we need to 545 00:32:37,844 --> 00:32:41,604 Speaker 2: focus on as Christians is being ready for the Lord's return. 546 00:32:41,805 --> 00:32:44,404 Speaker 2: And if you're not a Christian, you need to make 547 00:32:44,485 --> 00:32:46,565 Speaker 2: sure you're right with God. And I'm going to tell 548 00:32:46,565 --> 00:32:49,604 Speaker 2: you how to get right with God in a few moments. 549 00:32:49,685 --> 00:32:53,124 Speaker 2: So the rapture, it could happen in ten years, it 550 00:32:53,125 --> 00:32:55,765 Speaker 2: could happen in ten minutes, It could happen to day, 551 00:32:55,765 --> 00:32:59,485 Speaker 2: it could happen tomorrow. It'll happen when God wants it 552 00:32:59,525 --> 00:33:03,205 Speaker 2: to happen. But Paul says, when it does happen, it 553 00:33:03,245 --> 00:33:06,805 Speaker 2: will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 554 00:33:07,084 --> 00:33:09,965 Speaker 2: He says, we will not all sleep, will be changed 555 00:33:10,165 --> 00:33:13,684 Speaker 2: in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. And 556 00:33:13,725 --> 00:33:16,205 Speaker 2: by the way, that phrase twinkling of an eye comes 557 00:33:16,205 --> 00:33:19,685 Speaker 2: from the Greek word atamos. It means something that is 558 00:33:19,725 --> 00:33:24,925 Speaker 2: incredibly small. In other words, the rapture happens so quickly, 559 00:33:25,165 --> 00:33:27,285 Speaker 2: not even the blinking of an eye. It's a twinkling 560 00:33:27,325 --> 00:33:30,245 Speaker 2: of an eye. It happened so quickly you can hardly 561 00:33:30,285 --> 00:33:34,205 Speaker 2: measure it. So what happens first, the dead in Christ rise? First, 562 00:33:34,285 --> 00:33:37,725 Speaker 2: Let me explain that when a Christian dies, they go 563 00:33:37,765 --> 00:33:40,604 Speaker 2: to heaven. The Bible says, to be absent from the 564 00:33:40,645 --> 00:33:43,325 Speaker 2: body is to be present with the Lord. Now, when 565 00:33:43,325 --> 00:33:47,005 Speaker 2: the Bible uses the term sleep describing death for the believer, 566 00:33:47,365 --> 00:33:50,885 Speaker 2: it doesn't mean we go into some state of suspended animation, 567 00:33:51,604 --> 00:33:54,925 Speaker 2: or soul sleep, as some describe it. It's just a 568 00:33:55,005 --> 00:33:59,045 Speaker 2: metaphor to describe the fact that we're at rest. It's 569 00:33:59,084 --> 00:34:03,084 Speaker 2: interesting to note that this phrase sleep is only used 570 00:34:03,165 --> 00:34:04,084 Speaker 2: of the death. 571 00:34:03,885 --> 00:34:04,525 Speaker 1: Of a Christian. 572 00:34:04,604 --> 00:34:06,684 Speaker 2: Now, look, I don't know about you, but when I 573 00:34:06,725 --> 00:34:09,245 Speaker 2: was a kid, I hated to sleep. I hated to 574 00:34:09,325 --> 00:34:12,365 Speaker 2: take naps. Now that I'm a bit older, I actually 575 00:34:12,565 --> 00:34:15,485 Speaker 2: like taking naps. Are very refreshing. You should try it sometime. 576 00:34:16,165 --> 00:34:19,765 Speaker 2: But so, the Bible says we fall asleep, which means 577 00:34:19,805 --> 00:34:23,005 Speaker 2: we die. It's even said of Stephen, who actually died 578 00:34:23,085 --> 00:34:26,645 Speaker 2: of violent death, it says he fell asleep. So when 579 00:34:26,645 --> 00:34:30,605 Speaker 2: a Christian dies, we say they fall asleep, but their 580 00:34:31,005 --> 00:34:34,805 Speaker 2: spirit goes into the presence of God. But then there's 581 00:34:34,845 --> 00:34:37,924 Speaker 2: going to be a bodily resurrection. Their body is going 582 00:34:37,965 --> 00:34:42,045 Speaker 2: to rise from the grave. Job said in my flesh, 583 00:34:42,125 --> 00:34:45,805 Speaker 2: I will see God. Remember when Christ rose again from 584 00:34:45,805 --> 00:34:49,525 Speaker 2: the dead, he was in a physical body. He walked 585 00:34:49,565 --> 00:34:53,165 Speaker 2: among people, he ate food, he had a human voice, 586 00:34:53,245 --> 00:34:56,805 Speaker 2: but he appeared in rooms without using the door. He ascended, 587 00:34:56,845 --> 00:34:59,965 Speaker 2: which is another way of saying he flew. So you know, 588 00:35:00,005 --> 00:35:02,525 Speaker 2: will our bodies be like his? The Bible does allude 589 00:35:02,525 --> 00:35:05,165 Speaker 2: to the fact, and our bodies will be like His resurrection. 590 00:35:06,045 --> 00:35:10,125 Speaker 2: But we will have resurrection bodies. When will this happen? 591 00:35:10,325 --> 00:35:13,685 Speaker 2: At the rapture the dead in Christ arise. First, we 592 00:35:13,805 --> 00:35:16,405 Speaker 2: which are a liven remaining, shall be caught up together 593 00:35:16,525 --> 00:35:19,404 Speaker 2: with them in the clouds. And so shall we ever 594 00:35:19,565 --> 00:35:22,205 Speaker 2: be with the Lord. So the rapture, or caught up 595 00:35:22,205 --> 00:35:25,205 Speaker 2: to meet the Lord in heaven. Meanwhile, back on Earth, 596 00:35:25,645 --> 00:35:30,045 Speaker 2: the Antichrist has revealed the tribulation period, which lasts for 597 00:35:30,245 --> 00:35:34,245 Speaker 2: seven years, is unfolding. And at the end of the 598 00:35:34,285 --> 00:35:38,565 Speaker 2: tribulation period there is the Battle of Armageddon, and then 599 00:35:38,605 --> 00:35:41,845 Speaker 2: there is the Second Coming of Christ, where the Lord 600 00:35:41,925 --> 00:35:46,805 Speaker 2: returns to the Earth. So let's contrast now the Rapture 601 00:35:47,125 --> 00:35:49,245 Speaker 2: and the Second Coming. 602 00:35:49,365 --> 00:35:49,844 Speaker 1: So in the. 603 00:35:49,885 --> 00:35:54,365 Speaker 2: Rapture, Christ comes in the air. Christ comes for as Church, 604 00:35:54,925 --> 00:35:58,925 Speaker 2: and it happens before the Tribulation. In the Second Coming, 605 00:35:59,485 --> 00:36:03,285 Speaker 2: Christ comes to the earth. Christ comes with the Church, 606 00:36:03,605 --> 00:36:08,045 Speaker 2: and it happens after the Tribulation. In the Rapture, Jesus 607 00:36:08,085 --> 00:36:11,485 Speaker 2: comes like a thief in the night. At the second Coming, 608 00:36:11,885 --> 00:36:14,565 Speaker 2: every eye will see him, Jesus says, is the lightning 609 00:36:14,605 --> 00:36:17,245 Speaker 2: shines from the east of the west. So will the 610 00:36:17,285 --> 00:36:20,245 Speaker 2: coming of the Son of Man be You ever see lightning? 611 00:36:20,805 --> 00:36:23,485 Speaker 2: Kind of hard to miss, isn't it? No one will 612 00:36:23,485 --> 00:36:27,525 Speaker 2: miss this second coming. People often wonder about the events 613 00:36:28,165 --> 00:36:30,805 Speaker 2: of the end Times, like the order of the events. 614 00:36:30,885 --> 00:36:34,525 Speaker 2: I came across this little interview where someone asks Pastor 615 00:36:34,685 --> 00:36:39,805 Speaker 2: John MacArthur about the order of End Times events, and 616 00:36:40,325 --> 00:36:43,005 Speaker 2: I think John explains it perfectly. 617 00:36:44,165 --> 00:36:44,844 Speaker 1: Check this out. 618 00:36:45,605 --> 00:36:47,445 Speaker 4: It's going to be the rapture of the church. That's 619 00:36:47,485 --> 00:36:51,045 Speaker 4: an unsigned event. In other words, there's no sign preliminary 620 00:36:51,085 --> 00:36:54,085 Speaker 4: to that event. It's going to be suddenly, in a moment, 621 00:36:54,125 --> 00:36:56,885 Speaker 4: in the twinkling of an eye, snatching out the church. 622 00:36:57,205 --> 00:36:59,325 Speaker 4: Then there's going to be a period of seven years 623 00:36:59,325 --> 00:37:03,885 Speaker 4: of tribulation. Daniel refers to that period, and that period 624 00:37:03,965 --> 00:37:06,525 Speaker 4: is laid out in the Book of Rebelation repeatedly. Even 625 00:37:06,565 --> 00:37:09,965 Speaker 4: the numbers are laid out. The events are laid out 626 00:37:10,205 --> 00:37:13,005 Speaker 4: from Revelation six through nineteen. I went all through that, 627 00:37:13,565 --> 00:37:15,205 Speaker 4: and I said, that's going to be followed by the 628 00:37:15,245 --> 00:37:19,205 Speaker 4: return of Jesus Christ to establish his thousand your kingdom. 629 00:37:19,725 --> 00:37:22,005 Speaker 4: I think it uses the word one thousand in Revelation 630 00:37:22,125 --> 00:37:25,125 Speaker 4: twenty about six times, so it's not obscure, and at 631 00:37:25,165 --> 00:37:27,125 Speaker 4: the end of the thousand years, Satan has the rebellion. 632 00:37:27,165 --> 00:37:32,045 Speaker 4: Satan's rebellion is basically ended, and then the entire universes 633 00:37:32,085 --> 00:37:36,805 Speaker 4: we know it literally implodes in an atomic implosion, and 634 00:37:36,845 --> 00:37:38,565 Speaker 4: the Lord creates a new Heaven and the New Earth. 635 00:37:38,805 --> 00:37:42,725 Speaker 4: And I unpacked that one whole day, and at the 636 00:37:42,765 --> 00:37:44,805 Speaker 4: end of the day, the leaders came to me that 637 00:37:45,085 --> 00:37:48,645 Speaker 4: no schools, no training. There are no Bible schools in 638 00:37:48,685 --> 00:37:51,125 Speaker 4: the former Soviet Union. They have no training. And the 639 00:37:51,205 --> 00:37:54,045 Speaker 4: leaders came to me and said, we believe what you believe. 640 00:37:54,765 --> 00:37:58,885 Speaker 4: And I said, really, you would have to go to 641 00:37:58,925 --> 00:38:03,965 Speaker 4: school to get that wrong. It's crystal clear. You have 642 00:38:04,045 --> 00:38:07,765 Speaker 4: the Church on earth and Revelation one to three. All 643 00:38:07,765 --> 00:38:09,645 Speaker 4: of a sudden, the Church is in Heaven, and Revelation 644 00:38:09,725 --> 00:38:13,405 Speaker 4: four and five, which indicates the rapture tribulation breaks out, 645 00:38:13,445 --> 00:38:17,125 Speaker 4: and Revelation six runs to nineteen. In nineteen Christ comes 646 00:38:17,605 --> 00:38:21,045 Speaker 4: establishes his kingdom. The kingdom runs for a thousand years, 647 00:38:21,045 --> 00:38:22,245 Speaker 4: then the New Heaven and the New Earth at the 648 00:38:22,325 --> 00:38:25,045 Speaker 4: end of the Book of Revelation. That is the simplest 649 00:38:25,245 --> 00:38:27,285 Speaker 4: That is the simplest book in the New Testament. If 650 00:38:27,285 --> 00:38:31,485 Speaker 4: you're looking for a chronological outline. So you got somebody's 651 00:38:31,485 --> 00:38:34,005 Speaker 4: got to tell you it's not true, just like Genesis. 652 00:38:34,565 --> 00:38:37,245 Speaker 4: Say oh no, no no, and the evolution happened in Genesism. 653 00:38:37,525 --> 00:38:37,844 Speaker 1: Oh no. 654 00:38:38,045 --> 00:38:40,245 Speaker 4: It can't be that simple. It can't be chronological, like 655 00:38:40,285 --> 00:38:42,685 Speaker 4: the Book of Relation. And yet the Book of Revelation 656 00:38:42,805 --> 00:38:45,205 Speaker 4: starts by saying this, bless this is the one who 657 00:38:45,245 --> 00:38:46,845 Speaker 4: reads and understands this book. 658 00:38:47,165 --> 00:38:49,285 Speaker 1: I'm not that smart. I just took the book. 659 00:38:49,325 --> 00:38:52,485 Speaker 4: And here are these guys who never had any formal training. 660 00:38:52,525 --> 00:38:55,205 Speaker 1: All they had was a Bible and they could see that. 661 00:38:56,405 --> 00:38:59,965 Speaker 2: So bottom line, Jesus is coming. We need to be 662 00:39:00,045 --> 00:39:03,765 Speaker 2: watching and we need to be ready. I mentioned a 663 00:39:03,845 --> 00:39:06,365 Speaker 2: few moments ago that there might be someone watching this 664 00:39:06,485 --> 00:39:09,285 Speaker 2: that is not ready to meet the Lord. And listen, 665 00:39:09,525 --> 00:39:12,285 Speaker 2: you need to get right or you're going to get left. 666 00:39:12,485 --> 00:39:14,165 Speaker 2: When I say get right, I mean you need to 667 00:39:14,205 --> 00:39:17,325 Speaker 2: get right with God. So the way to be ready 668 00:39:17,485 --> 00:39:20,365 Speaker 2: for the Lord's return is to have Christ living in 669 00:39:20,365 --> 00:39:24,085 Speaker 2: your heart. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, the Son 670 00:39:24,125 --> 00:39:27,404 Speaker 2: of God was born in Maitre in Bethlehem. He lived 671 00:39:27,405 --> 00:39:30,805 Speaker 2: a perfect life. He died of perfect death for you. 672 00:39:31,245 --> 00:39:35,765 Speaker 2: Why because you I all of us were sinners. We've 673 00:39:35,765 --> 00:39:38,245 Speaker 2: all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 674 00:39:38,525 --> 00:39:42,165 Speaker 2: But the Bible says why we were yet sinners? Christ 675 00:39:42,205 --> 00:39:44,685 Speaker 2: died for us, and Jesus said, for God so loved 676 00:39:44,685 --> 00:39:47,885 Speaker 2: the world, he gave his only begotten son, and whosoever 677 00:39:48,005 --> 00:39:52,325 Speaker 2: believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life simplified. 678 00:39:52,685 --> 00:39:55,965 Speaker 2: Christ died for you. Why because he loves you and 679 00:39:56,005 --> 00:39:58,845 Speaker 2: he wants a relationship with you, and he wants you 680 00:39:59,205 --> 00:40:02,005 Speaker 2: to go to heaven one day. So you need to 681 00:40:02,005 --> 00:40:05,645 Speaker 2: be ready to meet the Lord? Are you ready to 682 00:40:05,685 --> 00:40:08,325 Speaker 2: meet the Lord? Heard about a guy that was walking 683 00:40:08,405 --> 00:40:12,925 Speaker 2: through the cemetery and he came across the tombstone and 684 00:40:12,965 --> 00:40:16,685 Speaker 2: on it were inscribe these words, pause now, stranger, as 685 00:40:16,725 --> 00:40:19,405 Speaker 2: you pass by, as you are now so want so 686 00:40:19,565 --> 00:40:22,405 Speaker 2: was I as I am now, so you shall be, 687 00:40:23,205 --> 00:40:27,765 Speaker 2: so prepare for death and follow me. The guy reading 688 00:40:27,805 --> 00:40:29,925 Speaker 2: this was over her to say to follow you as 689 00:40:29,965 --> 00:40:33,645 Speaker 2: not my intent until I know which way you went. Look, 690 00:40:34,485 --> 00:40:37,605 Speaker 2: everyone's going to die. Nobody gets out if you're alive. 691 00:40:38,485 --> 00:40:40,565 Speaker 2: So what this really means is where are you going 692 00:40:40,685 --> 00:40:44,725 Speaker 2: to spend the afterlife? You decide in this life or 693 00:40:44,765 --> 00:40:47,765 Speaker 2: you will spend the afterlife. If you put your faith 694 00:40:47,805 --> 00:40:50,565 Speaker 2: in Jesus Christ, you can know with certainty that when 695 00:40:50,565 --> 00:40:54,245 Speaker 2: you die, you will go to heaven. If you reject 696 00:40:54,325 --> 00:40:57,565 Speaker 2: God's offer of forgiveness, you will face judgment in the 697 00:40:57,605 --> 00:41:01,525 Speaker 2: afterlife in a very real place called Hell. And the 698 00:41:01,605 --> 00:41:04,005 Speaker 2: last thing God wants is for any person made in 699 00:41:04,125 --> 00:41:07,885 Speaker 2: his image to spend eternity separated from him in this 700 00:41:07,965 --> 00:41:10,405 Speaker 2: horrible place called Hell, which, by the way, was not 701 00:41:10,445 --> 00:41:13,685 Speaker 2: created for people. Jesus said, it was created for the 702 00:41:13,725 --> 00:41:16,445 Speaker 2: devil and his angels. So if you want to go 703 00:41:16,485 --> 00:41:18,844 Speaker 2: to heaven when you die, if you want to be 704 00:41:19,125 --> 00:41:22,365 Speaker 2: ready for the rapture, if you want to find the 705 00:41:22,485 --> 00:41:25,405 Speaker 2: meaning and purpose of life, why don't you pray a 706 00:41:25,445 --> 00:41:27,885 Speaker 2: prayer with me. I'm just going to pray a simple prayer, 707 00:41:28,685 --> 00:41:31,125 Speaker 2: and I'll ask you to pray it after me. You 708 00:41:31,165 --> 00:41:33,444 Speaker 2: can pray it out loud if you like. Just pray 709 00:41:33,485 --> 00:41:37,445 Speaker 2: these words, if you would, Lord Jesus. I know that 710 00:41:37,485 --> 00:41:40,925 Speaker 2: I'm a sinner, but I know that you're the savior 711 00:41:41,605 --> 00:41:44,565 Speaker 2: who died in the cross from my sin and rose 712 00:41:44,605 --> 00:41:48,085 Speaker 2: again from the dead. I repent of my sin, and 713 00:41:48,125 --> 00:41:51,165 Speaker 2: I turn from it now, and I choose to follow 714 00:41:51,205 --> 00:41:57,085 Speaker 2: you from this moment forward. In Jesus's name, I pray Amen. Hey, 715 00:41:57,125 --> 00:41:59,085 Speaker 2: did you just pray that prayer with me? If so, 716 00:41:59,805 --> 00:42:03,965 Speaker 2: I want to say congratulations and welcome to the family 717 00:42:04,005 --> 00:42:05,844 Speaker 2: of God. And I would like to say you at 718 00:42:05,885 --> 00:42:09,285 Speaker 2: no charge, a free Bible. It's kind of a special Bible. Actually, 719 00:42:09,565 --> 00:42:13,045 Speaker 2: it's called the New Believer's Bible. It's a new living translation, 720 00:42:13,165 --> 00:42:16,805 Speaker 2: which is very understandable, and there's hundreds of notes that 721 00:42:16,885 --> 00:42:19,645 Speaker 2: I wrote, and it's sort of designed for a person 722 00:42:19,685 --> 00:42:22,884 Speaker 2: who's never read the Bible before, almost as though we're 723 00:42:22,885 --> 00:42:25,165 Speaker 2: sitting down over a cup of coffee and we're just 724 00:42:25,205 --> 00:42:28,525 Speaker 2: talking about these things together. Let me send you a 725 00:42:28,645 --> 00:42:32,005 Speaker 2: copy of the New Believer's Bible at no charge. Let's 726 00:42:32,005 --> 00:42:36,805 Speaker 2: be looking up and be heavenly minded, because Jesus is 727 00:42:36,845 --> 00:42:38,165 Speaker 2: coming back again.