1 00:00:08,165 --> 00:00:09,085 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:11,045 --> 00:00:14,405 Speaker 2: When they say from the river to the sea, Palestine 3 00:00:14,445 --> 00:00:18,325 Speaker 2: will be free, they're really saying we don't want the Jews, 4 00:00:18,845 --> 00:00:21,565 Speaker 2: we don't want them in their land, and that is 5 00:00:21,685 --> 00:00:25,405 Speaker 2: certainly a view that is shared by the leaders of 6 00:00:25,485 --> 00:00:30,885 Speaker 2: Iran today. They've spoken repeatedly of the desire to wipe 7 00:00:31,165 --> 00:00:40,445 Speaker 2: Israel of the face of the map. Well, as you 8 00:00:40,485 --> 00:00:44,005 Speaker 2: may know, the United States military has successfully taking out 9 00:00:44,405 --> 00:00:49,205 Speaker 2: key nuclear facilities in Iran. It appears that Iran is 10 00:00:49,284 --> 00:00:52,365 Speaker 2: no longer on the verge of becoming a nuclear power. 11 00:00:52,365 --> 00:00:56,765 Speaker 2: But hey, let's not forget. Iran is long sponsored terrorist 12 00:00:57,045 --> 00:01:02,565 Speaker 2: organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houtis throughout the Middle East 13 00:01:02,645 --> 00:01:07,365 Speaker 2: for years, and through these proxy organizations, did you know, 14 00:01:08,005 --> 00:01:12,244 Speaker 2: almost two hundred and seventy two Americans have been killed, 15 00:01:12,605 --> 00:01:16,885 Speaker 2: and of course another thirteen hundred or more Israelis have 16 00:01:17,005 --> 00:01:19,845 Speaker 2: been killed as well. I don't know if you know this, 17 00:01:19,965 --> 00:01:23,725 Speaker 2: but a Ram's regime is deeply involved in Shiite end 18 00:01:23,765 --> 00:01:28,605 Speaker 2: times ideology. It's their own form of eschatology, which is 19 00:01:28,605 --> 00:01:31,405 Speaker 2: a study of end times events where they have their 20 00:01:31,565 --> 00:01:36,084 Speaker 2: last Day's Messiah that they call the Mahdi. They believe 21 00:01:36,165 --> 00:01:38,925 Speaker 2: the way they will prepare the way for their Madi 22 00:01:39,565 --> 00:01:43,285 Speaker 2: is creating chaos, and that's what they've been doing for 23 00:01:43,325 --> 00:01:47,605 Speaker 2: a long time, provoking Israel and the West. But the 24 00:01:47,725 --> 00:01:51,765 Speaker 2: question on everyone's mind is what does this mean? Is 25 00:01:51,805 --> 00:01:55,005 Speaker 2: this just another chapter in the ongoing Middle East conflict? 26 00:01:55,485 --> 00:01:58,885 Speaker 2: Or could it be something more? Could we be actually 27 00:01:59,045 --> 00:02:03,605 Speaker 2: witnessing the first parts of the prophetic conflict foretold by 28 00:02:03,605 --> 00:02:08,044 Speaker 2: the prophet Ezekiel and chapter thirty eight and thirty nine 29 00:02:08,285 --> 00:02:11,365 Speaker 2: of his book. And what role does a Ran play 30 00:02:11,525 --> 00:02:15,325 Speaker 2: and Bible prophecy? And where does Israel fit in the 31 00:02:15,445 --> 00:02:19,285 Speaker 2: God's end time plan? And hey, what about America? Are 32 00:02:19,285 --> 00:02:22,645 Speaker 2: we seeing the stage set for the return of Jesus Christ? 33 00:02:23,405 --> 00:02:25,965 Speaker 2: Let's talk about it. So I heard a sorry about 34 00:02:25,965 --> 00:02:29,925 Speaker 2: a traveling salesman who got back to his hotel very 35 00:02:30,045 --> 00:02:32,965 Speaker 2: late at night, and he's sitting on his bed taking 36 00:02:33,005 --> 00:02:35,845 Speaker 2: his shoes off. And he takes the first shoe off 37 00:02:35,885 --> 00:02:38,645 Speaker 2: and it drops with a loud thud, and he's thinking, oh, man, 38 00:02:38,645 --> 00:02:41,405 Speaker 2: there's someone in the room below me. I'm probably waking 39 00:02:41,445 --> 00:02:44,285 Speaker 2: this guy up. So he takes the other shoe very 40 00:02:44,365 --> 00:02:47,365 Speaker 2: quietly and sets it down. So he gets in bed. 41 00:02:47,405 --> 00:02:49,725 Speaker 2: In a half hour passes and there's a knock at 42 00:02:49,725 --> 00:02:52,285 Speaker 2: the door. He opens a door and there's standing before 43 00:02:52,325 --> 00:02:55,085 Speaker 2: him as a guy with bloodshot eyes who says, for 44 00:02:55,205 --> 00:02:58,165 Speaker 2: crying out loud, will you take the other shoe off 45 00:02:58,445 --> 00:03:01,765 Speaker 2: so I can go to sleep? I feel like right 46 00:03:01,805 --> 00:03:06,205 Speaker 2: now in our culture, people are waiting for their shoe 47 00:03:06,245 --> 00:03:09,525 Speaker 2: to drop. In other words, what's going to happen next? 48 00:03:09,525 --> 00:03:12,765 Speaker 2: And we wonder about those big prophetic events. So we 49 00:03:12,805 --> 00:03:18,285 Speaker 2: hear expressions like the Rapture, the tribulation period, the Antichrist, 50 00:03:18,405 --> 00:03:23,645 Speaker 2: the Mark of the Beast, the Battle of Armageddon, the 51 00:03:23,725 --> 00:03:26,085 Speaker 2: Second Coming, and much more. We wonder what does this 52 00:03:26,245 --> 00:03:28,725 Speaker 2: all mean? Well, I want to talk about some of 53 00:03:28,765 --> 00:03:33,045 Speaker 2: those things, but I'm going to focus specifically on Israel 54 00:03:33,685 --> 00:03:38,605 Speaker 2: because they are at the very epicenter of everything that 55 00:03:38,725 --> 00:03:42,085 Speaker 2: is going on in the world, and they are God's 56 00:03:42,205 --> 00:03:46,845 Speaker 2: prophetic time clock. It all starts on May fourteenth, nineteen 57 00:03:46,965 --> 00:03:51,845 Speaker 2: forty eight, Israel became a nation again. I'm happy to 58 00:03:51,885 --> 00:03:56,245 Speaker 2: say that the first nation to acknowledge that Israel was 59 00:03:56,285 --> 00:03:59,965 Speaker 2: now a nation was the United States of America under 60 00:04:00,005 --> 00:04:06,765 Speaker 2: President Truman. But this event had incredible prophetic significance. Why 61 00:04:07,165 --> 00:04:10,325 Speaker 2: because the Bible predicted that the Jewish people would be 62 00:04:10,485 --> 00:04:13,805 Speaker 2: scattered to the four corners of the earth. They would 63 00:04:13,885 --> 00:04:18,485 Speaker 2: then be regathered into their homeland, and the Bible says 64 00:04:18,485 --> 00:04:22,525 Speaker 2: specifically when this happened, this would be a sign of 65 00:04:22,565 --> 00:04:27,925 Speaker 2: the times, and effectively, the prophetic time clock would start ticking. 66 00:04:28,285 --> 00:04:32,685 Speaker 2: So this is unprecedented. There's no other nation in history 67 00:04:32,725 --> 00:04:38,365 Speaker 2: that has maintained its identity after centuries of exile, except Israel. 68 00:04:38,645 --> 00:04:42,485 Speaker 2: It's really impossible to understand the miracle of the rebirth 69 00:04:42,605 --> 00:04:46,165 Speaker 2: of the nation of Israel apart from the worst event 70 00:04:46,285 --> 00:04:50,045 Speaker 2: in their history, known as the Holocaust. So after Adolf 71 00:04:50,125 --> 00:04:53,085 Speaker 2: Hitler has sented to power and became the furor of Germany, 72 00:04:53,405 --> 00:04:56,365 Speaker 2: of course he was held bent on establishing what he 73 00:04:56,525 --> 00:05:01,405 Speaker 2: called the Third Reich, where he would extend this aryan 74 00:05:01,925 --> 00:05:06,284 Speaker 2: empire across the planet. But then it it became clear 75 00:05:06,325 --> 00:05:09,845 Speaker 2: that he had another agenda in mind that was classified 76 00:05:09,965 --> 00:05:14,765 Speaker 2: as the final Solution. The final solution was to eradicate 77 00:05:14,965 --> 00:05:19,325 Speaker 2: all of the Jewish people in Europe. Now, at first 78 00:05:19,405 --> 00:05:22,085 Speaker 2: they were trying to do it by simply shooting them, 79 00:05:22,445 --> 00:05:25,885 Speaker 2: but he wanted to find a more efficient way, and 80 00:05:25,925 --> 00:05:31,605 Speaker 2: they designed these concentration camps where these Jewish men, women 81 00:05:31,685 --> 00:05:37,005 Speaker 2: and children were systematically sent into these crematoriums to be 82 00:05:37,325 --> 00:05:41,925 Speaker 2: gassed and then burned, and then their ashes scattered, and 83 00:05:42,085 --> 00:05:47,485 Speaker 2: they actually killed six million Jewish people others as well. 84 00:05:47,525 --> 00:05:51,165 Speaker 2: In the aftermath of this, the Jews, as if on 85 00:05:51,285 --> 00:05:54,045 Speaker 2: Q and I believe they were on Q, began to 86 00:05:54,085 --> 00:05:57,565 Speaker 2: return to their homeland, realizing no one was going to 87 00:05:57,645 --> 00:06:00,205 Speaker 2: look out for them, no one was going to protect them, 88 00:06:00,485 --> 00:06:04,445 Speaker 2: they needed to defend themselves, and so the modern state 89 00:06:04,765 --> 00:06:09,405 Speaker 2: of Israel was born. Why is there this hatred against 90 00:06:09,485 --> 00:06:13,485 Speaker 2: the Jewish people, It's called anti Semitism. It really is 91 00:06:13,565 --> 00:06:17,765 Speaker 2: just jew hatred, hatred of the Jewish people. So the 92 00:06:17,845 --> 00:06:20,525 Speaker 2: song goes back to the garden of Eden, went out 93 00:06:20,605 --> 00:06:23,805 Speaker 2: him and of our first parents ate of the forbidden fruit. 94 00:06:24,205 --> 00:06:26,605 Speaker 2: God told them they can enjoy all that was in 95 00:06:26,645 --> 00:06:29,805 Speaker 2: the garden, but don't go to this tree of the 96 00:06:29,845 --> 00:06:33,165 Speaker 2: knowledge of good and evil. But that is exactly where 97 00:06:33,205 --> 00:06:35,965 Speaker 2: they went, and they ate of the forbidden fruit, and 98 00:06:36,165 --> 00:06:41,285 Speaker 2: sin entered into the human race. And then a curse 99 00:06:41,365 --> 00:06:45,044 Speaker 2: came upon Satan and a battle line was drawn. God 100 00:06:45,125 --> 00:06:48,245 Speaker 2: said to Satan, there is coming one who will crush 101 00:06:48,285 --> 00:06:52,285 Speaker 2: your head, but you will bruise his heel. Effectively, God 102 00:06:52,405 --> 00:06:56,645 Speaker 2: was announcing the Messiah was going to come. Okay, So 103 00:06:56,765 --> 00:06:58,685 Speaker 2: fast forward to the next book of the Bible, the 104 00:06:58,725 --> 00:07:01,765 Speaker 2: Book of Exodus. We see the Pharaoh giving a decree 105 00:07:02,045 --> 00:07:05,005 Speaker 2: that all of the Jewish baby boys should be put 106 00:07:05,085 --> 00:07:08,325 Speaker 2: to death. But of course the Jewish midwives disobeyed the 107 00:07:08,365 --> 00:07:11,165 Speaker 2: pharaohin and spared the little baby boys. And one of 108 00:07:11,205 --> 00:07:14,685 Speaker 2: those baby boys that was spared was Moses, who ultimately 109 00:07:15,085 --> 00:07:17,885 Speaker 2: led the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt in 110 00:07:18,165 --> 00:07:21,365 Speaker 2: toward the promised land. Joshua took him in. But here's 111 00:07:21,405 --> 00:07:25,525 Speaker 2: the point, this hatred against the Jews. Now you fast 112 00:07:25,525 --> 00:07:28,445 Speaker 2: forward and you go to the book of Esther. There 113 00:07:28,565 --> 00:07:31,765 Speaker 2: is a wicked man named Heeman who hatches a plot 114 00:07:32,245 --> 00:07:35,045 Speaker 2: to destroy the Jewish people. It was almost like he 115 00:07:35,125 --> 00:07:38,605 Speaker 2: was almost like a forerunner to Hitler, and he one 116 00:07:38,685 --> 00:07:41,685 Speaker 2: of them all executed. And it was because of the 117 00:07:41,685 --> 00:07:46,805 Speaker 2: courageous efforts of Queen Esther, who was married to the King, 118 00:07:46,885 --> 00:07:50,325 Speaker 2: who stepped in and spoke up for her fellow Jews 119 00:07:50,365 --> 00:07:54,165 Speaker 2: and managed to save them all. And then fast forward 120 00:07:54,205 --> 00:07:58,845 Speaker 2: into the New Testament, Jesus Christ is born, the Messiah arrives, 121 00:07:58,925 --> 00:08:01,365 Speaker 2: and what does Satan try to do? He tries to 122 00:08:01,445 --> 00:08:06,245 Speaker 2: stop Jesus to the crucifixion. So anti Semitism started a 123 00:08:06,325 --> 00:08:10,605 Speaker 2: long time ago, and we see it rearing its ugly 124 00:08:10,725 --> 00:08:13,845 Speaker 2: head again in modern culture. You would have thought, on 125 00:08:13,885 --> 00:08:17,205 Speaker 2: the heels of the Holocaust, we would never see anything 126 00:08:17,325 --> 00:08:20,805 Speaker 2: like that again. But look at our college campuses Ivy 127 00:08:20,925 --> 00:08:25,005 Speaker 2: League universities like Yale and Harvard and others where young 128 00:08:25,165 --> 00:08:29,525 Speaker 2: students are out speaking up in favor of terrorist groups 129 00:08:29,605 --> 00:08:34,205 Speaker 2: like Hamas. I mean, think about after October seventh, when Hamas, 130 00:08:34,245 --> 00:08:39,765 Speaker 2: a proxy terrorist organization funded and supported by Iran, attacked 131 00:08:40,045 --> 00:08:44,165 Speaker 2: Israel and they killed over twelve hundred Jewish men, women 132 00:08:44,205 --> 00:08:46,245 Speaker 2: and children. You would have thought there would have been 133 00:08:46,245 --> 00:08:50,245 Speaker 2: a global day of mourning. But instead there is this 134 00:08:50,485 --> 00:08:55,085 Speaker 2: uprising of anti Semitism and they're flying banners with slogans 135 00:08:55,245 --> 00:08:59,165 Speaker 2: like from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. 136 00:08:59,685 --> 00:09:02,005 Speaker 2: Do these people even know what that means? Do they 137 00:09:02,045 --> 00:09:03,925 Speaker 2: know what the river is? Do they know what the 138 00:09:03,925 --> 00:09:08,005 Speaker 2: sea is? The river is the sea is a Mediterranean. 139 00:09:08,205 --> 00:09:10,485 Speaker 2: If you look at a map and you look at 140 00:09:10,525 --> 00:09:13,725 Speaker 2: the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, you will see between 141 00:09:13,765 --> 00:09:16,885 Speaker 2: the two of them is a tiny little nation about 142 00:09:16,925 --> 00:09:20,925 Speaker 2: the size of New Jersey called Israel. When they say 143 00:09:21,165 --> 00:09:24,324 Speaker 2: from the river to the Sea, Palestine will be free, 144 00:09:24,725 --> 00:09:28,445 Speaker 2: they're really saying we don't want the Jews. We don't 145 00:09:28,485 --> 00:09:31,645 Speaker 2: want them in their land, and that is certainly a 146 00:09:31,765 --> 00:09:36,085 Speaker 2: view that is shared by the leaders of Iran today. 147 00:09:36,205 --> 00:09:41,205 Speaker 2: They've spoken repeatedly of the desire to wipe Israel of 148 00:09:41,325 --> 00:09:44,125 Speaker 2: the face of the map. So why should we as 149 00:09:44,285 --> 00:09:48,565 Speaker 2: Christians even care that much about this little speck of 150 00:09:48,645 --> 00:09:51,005 Speaker 2: land about the size of New Jersey in the Middle 151 00:09:51,045 --> 00:09:55,564 Speaker 2: East called the nation Israel. Some would even say that 152 00:09:55,685 --> 00:09:58,845 Speaker 2: God has broken his covenant with Israel and now it's 153 00:09:59,365 --> 00:10:03,845 Speaker 2: given over to the Church. This is called replacement theology. 154 00:10:04,205 --> 00:10:07,005 Speaker 2: I don't believe that God breaks promises that he makes. 155 00:10:07,485 --> 00:10:11,405 Speaker 2: I believe God chose the Jewish people and they are 156 00:10:11,485 --> 00:10:17,405 Speaker 2: still his chosen people. God made a beautiful statement to Abraham. 157 00:10:17,405 --> 00:10:20,005 Speaker 2: He said, I'll bless those bless you, I'll curse those 158 00:10:20,045 --> 00:10:23,845 Speaker 2: that curse you. We have been so blessed by the 159 00:10:23,925 --> 00:10:27,285 Speaker 2: Jewish people. Where did our Bible come from from the Jews? 160 00:10:27,845 --> 00:10:31,525 Speaker 2: Where did our Messiah come from from the Jews. I 161 00:10:31,565 --> 00:10:34,804 Speaker 2: had the opportunity to be in Israel when we presented 162 00:10:35,005 --> 00:10:39,605 Speaker 2: an armored ambulance to the State of Israel. And think 163 00:10:39,645 --> 00:10:43,205 Speaker 2: about that, an armored ambulance. Only in a place like 164 00:10:43,245 --> 00:10:46,365 Speaker 2: that where they need an ambulance that's built literally like 165 00:10:46,445 --> 00:10:51,245 Speaker 2: a tank, effectively a bullet proof hospital on wheels. Because 166 00:10:51,245 --> 00:10:56,685 Speaker 2: the terrorist organizations had specifically said that they should target 167 00:10:57,765 --> 00:11:00,965 Speaker 2: the first responder, so we presented this ambulance to them 168 00:11:01,205 --> 00:11:05,324 Speaker 2: in the name of Jesus Christ, and standing before representatives 169 00:11:05,605 --> 00:11:09,565 Speaker 2: of the government, I said, the reason I'm here is 170 00:11:09,605 --> 00:11:13,525 Speaker 2: because my life was changed by Jesus Christ. And I 171 00:11:13,565 --> 00:11:16,125 Speaker 2: began to read the Bible, which tells us all about 172 00:11:16,245 --> 00:11:18,725 Speaker 2: God and has planned for our life. But I said, 173 00:11:18,805 --> 00:11:22,365 Speaker 2: it also tells me the history of your people, the 174 00:11:22,485 --> 00:11:25,845 Speaker 2: Jewish people, and so I've come to love you. And 175 00:11:25,925 --> 00:11:28,845 Speaker 2: there's a blessing promise to those that would bless you. 176 00:11:29,365 --> 00:11:31,325 Speaker 2: So I think that's one reason we should do it. 177 00:11:31,325 --> 00:11:33,645 Speaker 2: In fact, I believe one of the reasons God has 178 00:11:33,685 --> 00:11:36,804 Speaker 2: blessed the United States of America is because we have 179 00:11:36,885 --> 00:11:40,605 Speaker 2: been a staunch ally and friend Israel ever since it 180 00:11:40,685 --> 00:11:44,885 Speaker 2: became a nation again on May fourteenth, nineteen forty eight. 181 00:11:45,045 --> 00:11:48,485 Speaker 2: That doesn't mean that everything the modern State of Israel 182 00:11:48,565 --> 00:11:52,165 Speaker 2: does is always the right decision. Anymore than it means 183 00:11:52,205 --> 00:11:56,405 Speaker 2: everything that America does, depending on who's leading us is 184 00:11:56,445 --> 00:11:59,325 Speaker 2: always making the right decision. But it means that we 185 00:11:59,365 --> 00:12:03,565 Speaker 2: support the Jewish people and we support Israel because it's 186 00:12:03,645 --> 00:12:08,525 Speaker 2: the Jewish homeland. See. Some would say, well, they're colonizers, 187 00:12:09,285 --> 00:12:12,125 Speaker 2: they've taken the land from the people that are indigenous 188 00:12:12,205 --> 00:12:16,405 Speaker 2: to the region. No, they're not colonizers. The Jewish people 189 00:12:16,925 --> 00:12:20,684 Speaker 2: are the people who are indigenous to the land. God 190 00:12:20,805 --> 00:12:25,485 Speaker 2: gave them that land, and God says in Romans chapter 191 00:12:25,525 --> 00:12:28,605 Speaker 2: eleven that he has not cast off as people. Fact 192 00:12:28,645 --> 00:12:30,324 Speaker 2: of the matter is, and I mean the Jews when 193 00:12:30,365 --> 00:12:33,125 Speaker 2: I see his people, I is a gentile. No, I'm 194 00:12:33,165 --> 00:12:36,204 Speaker 2: not Jewish. Wish I was, but I'm not. Ia is 195 00:12:36,285 --> 00:12:40,405 Speaker 2: a gentile. Have been grafted into the promises of God. 196 00:12:40,485 --> 00:12:46,365 Speaker 2: So I benefit from the promises made by God to Abraham, Isaac, 197 00:12:46,645 --> 00:12:49,205 Speaker 2: and Jacob. We need to let our Jewish friends know 198 00:12:49,325 --> 00:12:52,125 Speaker 2: that they have a friend in the evangelical Christian We 199 00:12:52,205 --> 00:12:54,885 Speaker 2: need to let them know that we're praying for them 200 00:12:55,325 --> 00:12:57,564 Speaker 2: and that we care about them. Yes, we want them 201 00:12:57,605 --> 00:13:01,045 Speaker 2: to come and know Jesus as a Messiah, but let's 202 00:13:01,045 --> 00:13:04,845 Speaker 2: just start by showing our love in a tangible way 203 00:13:05,245 --> 00:13:08,525 Speaker 2: and continue to pray that their eyes would be opened 204 00:13:08,605 --> 00:13:12,605 Speaker 2: spiritually and they would realize that the God of Israel 205 00:13:12,685 --> 00:13:16,485 Speaker 2: that gave them that land also sent them their Messiah, 206 00:13:16,605 --> 00:13:18,805 Speaker 2: and that they would come to put their faith and 207 00:13:18,885 --> 00:13:22,525 Speaker 2: trust in him. So that's sort of a flyover of 208 00:13:22,565 --> 00:13:27,045 Speaker 2: what's going on in Israel and why Israel exists. Let's 209 00:13:27,045 --> 00:13:30,564 Speaker 2: go a little bit deeper now. So God not only 210 00:13:30,605 --> 00:13:33,925 Speaker 2: predicted that the people of Israel would return to their homeland, 211 00:13:34,405 --> 00:13:37,925 Speaker 2: but then he said a large force from her north 212 00:13:38,325 --> 00:13:42,245 Speaker 2: would attack her. It's in Ezekiel thirty eight and thirty nine, 213 00:13:42,605 --> 00:13:45,804 Speaker 2: a large force known as Maygog, and one of the 214 00:13:45,925 --> 00:13:50,925 Speaker 2: allies of Maygog is a nation called Persia, and that 215 00:13:51,085 --> 00:13:54,565 Speaker 2: is the ancient name of Iran. By the way, Persia 216 00:13:54,725 --> 00:13:58,444 Speaker 2: changed her name to Iran in nineteen thirty five. So 217 00:13:58,525 --> 00:14:02,445 Speaker 2: that brings us to the present moment. What we're looking 218 00:14:02,485 --> 00:14:04,885 Speaker 2: at right now over in the Middle East, is that 219 00:14:05,165 --> 00:14:09,125 Speaker 2: a fulfillment of what the Bible predicted. I would classify 220 00:14:09,165 --> 00:14:14,365 Speaker 2: it as a foreshadowing, not necessarily a complete fulfillment. In 221 00:14:14,365 --> 00:14:18,165 Speaker 2: other words, it's a step in that direction. Let me 222 00:14:18,165 --> 00:14:21,245 Speaker 2: say a word about the Iranian people or the people 223 00:14:21,285 --> 00:14:25,685 Speaker 2: of Persia. These are wonderful people who had a very 224 00:14:25,725 --> 00:14:28,445 Speaker 2: prosperous country for many years, and we had a very 225 00:14:28,445 --> 00:14:31,845 Speaker 2: good relationship with them in the United States. But these 226 00:14:32,245 --> 00:14:38,365 Speaker 2: Islamic leaders came in imposed their Sharia law on the people, 227 00:14:38,765 --> 00:14:42,045 Speaker 2: and today many people of Iran, I would think the 228 00:14:42,165 --> 00:14:46,005 Speaker 2: vast majority of them would like it change. So we 229 00:14:46,085 --> 00:14:50,485 Speaker 2: hear of wonderful reports of Persian people, of Iranian people 230 00:14:50,805 --> 00:14:53,405 Speaker 2: coming to put their faith in Jesus Christ, and we 231 00:14:53,485 --> 00:14:57,725 Speaker 2: pray that continues. But coming back to what is happening 232 00:14:58,005 --> 00:15:02,965 Speaker 2: right now, so the leaders of Iran are enriching uranium 233 00:15:03,285 --> 00:15:08,325 Speaker 2: to make nuclear weapons to use against Israel and against America. 234 00:15:08,445 --> 00:15:13,205 Speaker 2: They call America the Great Satan, and they call Israel 235 00:15:13,565 --> 00:15:16,405 Speaker 2: the Little Satan. I spoke with Speaker of the House 236 00:15:16,485 --> 00:15:20,165 Speaker 2: Mike Johnson recently about this. Here's a little bit of 237 00:15:20,165 --> 00:15:24,525 Speaker 2: our conversation. I'm just asking, like, how do you deal 238 00:15:24,605 --> 00:15:27,245 Speaker 2: with a threat like i Ran and all that they do, 239 00:15:27,325 --> 00:15:30,685 Speaker 2: because aren't they really behind so much of the terrorism 240 00:15:30,685 --> 00:15:31,485 Speaker 2: in the world today. 241 00:15:31,605 --> 00:15:33,805 Speaker 1: Yes, if you were to cut the head off a snake, 242 00:15:33,845 --> 00:15:34,525 Speaker 1: it would be Iran. 243 00:15:34,805 --> 00:15:36,685 Speaker 2: That's pretty much what I was going to say. 244 00:15:36,725 --> 00:15:39,885 Speaker 1: I mean, they're the center of all of it. We 245 00:15:39,965 --> 00:15:42,765 Speaker 1: all know that. I think it is the inclination of 246 00:15:42,805 --> 00:15:44,765 Speaker 1: the president to do exactly what you just said. And 247 00:15:44,805 --> 00:15:48,725 Speaker 1: if you recall, right before the inauguration, I think after 248 00:15:48,725 --> 00:15:50,725 Speaker 1: the election, he said, if you don't release the rest 249 00:15:50,725 --> 00:15:52,565 Speaker 1: of those hostages, they will be hell to pay. That 250 00:15:52,645 --> 00:15:53,125 Speaker 1: was his words. 251 00:15:53,165 --> 00:15:53,605 Speaker 2: God's right. 252 00:15:54,005 --> 00:15:56,405 Speaker 1: You know where Israel is on this, I mean they 253 00:15:56,725 --> 00:15:58,685 Speaker 1: understand as you and I do, that Iran is their 254 00:15:58,685 --> 00:16:01,405 Speaker 1: constant threat. Yes, you have to take care. 255 00:16:01,325 --> 00:16:03,885 Speaker 2: Of it, probently fired missiles on Israel. 256 00:16:03,925 --> 00:16:07,525 Speaker 1: I mean, right there is a there is an ongoing 257 00:16:07,565 --> 00:16:09,565 Speaker 1: debate right now. I mean, this isn't the classified part 258 00:16:09,605 --> 00:16:12,205 Speaker 1: of everybody in public. There's an ongoing debate amongst allied 259 00:16:12,285 --> 00:16:14,405 Speaker 1: nations about how to do how to handle this. We 260 00:16:15,125 --> 00:16:19,605 Speaker 1: absolutely must ensure they don't have a nuclear program. You know, 261 00:16:19,885 --> 00:16:22,245 Speaker 1: I'm of the mind as you are that we desperate 262 00:16:22,245 --> 00:16:26,005 Speaker 1: times gone for desperate measures. And but there's some really 263 00:16:26,005 --> 00:16:28,445 Speaker 1: smart people trying to gain this out and determine what 264 00:16:28,485 --> 00:16:31,245 Speaker 1: that would mean and how that would might destabilize the region, 265 00:16:31,285 --> 00:16:32,965 Speaker 1: and would it get us into a war and all that. 266 00:16:33,565 --> 00:16:36,445 Speaker 1: You know, I'm privy to conversations with the heads of 267 00:16:36,445 --> 00:16:39,445 Speaker 1: state of these other, you know, the other Arab nations. 268 00:16:39,485 --> 00:16:42,125 Speaker 1: We talk viaving Net and Yahu and I have become 269 00:16:42,205 --> 00:16:44,845 Speaker 1: good friends. We talk all the time. So there's a 270 00:16:44,845 --> 00:16:47,045 Speaker 1: lot of dynamics to take into account. But I mean, 271 00:16:47,085 --> 00:16:49,685 Speaker 1: I'm praying that everybody who makes that ultimate decision, ultimately 272 00:16:49,725 --> 00:16:52,725 Speaker 1: it's President Trump's to make that he has crystal clear 273 00:16:52,765 --> 00:16:55,565 Speaker 1: wisdom and discernment about how to navigate through that. 274 00:16:56,125 --> 00:16:59,405 Speaker 2: In fact, Russia and Iran have been working closely together 275 00:16:59,725 --> 00:17:03,205 Speaker 2: as i Ran has supplied Russia with these Kama Kaze 276 00:17:03,205 --> 00:17:07,125 Speaker 2: type drones and ballistic missiles Russia is using in their 277 00:17:07,165 --> 00:17:11,885 Speaker 2: ongoing war in Ukraine. So when we see Russia stepping 278 00:17:11,925 --> 00:17:15,044 Speaker 2: into a conflict with Iran in Israel, we have to 279 00:17:15,125 --> 00:17:20,244 Speaker 2: pay attention. Could this lead to the Ezekiel thirty seven scenario? 280 00:17:20,564 --> 00:17:23,764 Speaker 2: Yes it could? Will it No one knows for sure, 281 00:17:24,324 --> 00:17:28,405 Speaker 2: but we certainly should pay attention and be aware of this. 282 00:17:28,604 --> 00:17:30,484 Speaker 2: And I know there are different views and what the 283 00:17:30,645 --> 00:17:33,405 Speaker 2: US should or should not do. And it's not really 284 00:17:33,445 --> 00:17:36,325 Speaker 2: my intention to a pint in that I'm looking at 285 00:17:36,365 --> 00:17:40,044 Speaker 2: this for prophetic significance. In other words, in light of 286 00:17:40,044 --> 00:17:43,324 Speaker 2: what the Bible says about the end times, to have 287 00:17:43,484 --> 00:17:47,885 Speaker 2: Russia step into this conflict is noteworthy because don't forget 288 00:17:48,004 --> 00:17:52,845 Speaker 2: the Ezekiel thirty seven scenario Persia or I ran marches 289 00:17:53,004 --> 00:17:56,364 Speaker 2: with Magog. And if Maygog is Russia, that's something to 290 00:17:56,365 --> 00:18:00,125 Speaker 2: pay attention to. We're seeing things play out today the 291 00:18:00,165 --> 00:18:04,965 Speaker 2: Bible predicted thousands of years ago. Consider this, I ran 292 00:18:05,004 --> 00:18:08,405 Speaker 2: in Russia. Weren't always allies, but now they are. In fact, 293 00:18:08,405 --> 00:18:12,484 Speaker 2: Ezekiel told us this would happen. So is this what 294 00:18:12,685 --> 00:18:16,924 Speaker 2: is happening right now a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I 295 00:18:16,925 --> 00:18:21,205 Speaker 2: would say it's a foreshadowing of things to come, and 296 00:18:21,244 --> 00:18:25,764 Speaker 2: it could turn into those things. Actually, this is certainly 297 00:18:25,844 --> 00:18:29,325 Speaker 2: a sign of the times. And Jesus said, when you've 298 00:18:29,365 --> 00:18:32,965 Speaker 2: seen these things begin to happen, look up, for your 299 00:18:33,044 --> 00:18:37,004 Speaker 2: redemption is drawing near. He did not say freak out, 300 00:18:37,365 --> 00:18:41,725 Speaker 2: He said, look up. Bible prophecy is not given to 301 00:18:42,044 --> 00:18:45,524 Speaker 2: scare us, but to prepare us. And when these things happen, 302 00:18:45,645 --> 00:18:49,445 Speaker 2: we should not be terrified, but we should be reassured 303 00:18:49,965 --> 00:18:54,084 Speaker 2: that God is keeping his promises. In John fourteen, Jesus said, 304 00:18:54,484 --> 00:18:57,365 Speaker 2: let not your heart beat trouble, neither let it be afraid. 305 00:18:57,804 --> 00:19:00,445 Speaker 2: And my father sells so many dwelling places. If it 306 00:19:00,484 --> 00:19:02,764 Speaker 2: were not so, I would have told you I go 307 00:19:02,885 --> 00:19:05,364 Speaker 2: to prepare a place for you, And if I go 308 00:19:05,685 --> 00:19:08,564 Speaker 2: to prepare a place for you, I will come again 309 00:19:08,685 --> 00:19:12,484 Speaker 2: to receive you onto myself that where I am, you 310 00:19:12,604 --> 00:19:15,244 Speaker 2: may be also. So how should we react to all 311 00:19:15,284 --> 00:19:18,764 Speaker 2: that's going on around us? Don't be terrified, don't be afraid, 312 00:19:19,205 --> 00:19:23,244 Speaker 2: be reassured. Christ is coming. Let me talk for a 313 00:19:23,284 --> 00:19:27,725 Speaker 2: few moments now about the order of prophetic events as 314 00:19:27,764 --> 00:19:30,365 Speaker 2: I see it. Okay, here's where people get really confused 315 00:19:30,365 --> 00:19:34,644 Speaker 2: about en times events. What happens when this is the 316 00:19:34,685 --> 00:19:38,284 Speaker 2: way I see it. For what it's worth, I believe 317 00:19:38,365 --> 00:19:42,205 Speaker 2: the next event on the prophetic calendar is the rapture 318 00:19:42,685 --> 00:19:46,524 Speaker 2: of the Church. Now people will say, well, the word 319 00:19:46,645 --> 00:19:50,404 Speaker 2: rapture isn't in the Bible. Actually it is, depending on 320 00:19:50,405 --> 00:19:53,524 Speaker 2: what translation you have. If you have a Latin translation, 321 00:19:54,125 --> 00:19:57,645 Speaker 2: you would see the word rapturous, which is taken from 322 00:19:57,685 --> 00:20:01,324 Speaker 2: the Greek word harppauso, which means to be taken by force, 323 00:20:01,764 --> 00:20:05,725 Speaker 2: and in fact, the word harpazso is found many times 324 00:20:05,885 --> 00:20:10,165 Speaker 2: in the Bible. Harppazzo is the word used in for Thessalonians, 325 00:20:10,165 --> 00:20:13,044 Speaker 2: for where Paul says, the Lord will descend from heaven 326 00:20:13,084 --> 00:20:15,764 Speaker 2: with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and 327 00:20:15,804 --> 00:20:18,244 Speaker 2: the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall 328 00:20:18,324 --> 00:20:21,124 Speaker 2: rise first, and we will be caught up. There's that 329 00:20:21,244 --> 00:20:25,885 Speaker 2: word harpazso caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 330 00:20:26,445 --> 00:20:29,644 Speaker 2: The rapture can happen at any point. It is my 331 00:20:29,804 --> 00:20:33,364 Speaker 2: firm conviction that the rapture will happen before the tribulation 332 00:20:33,564 --> 00:20:37,165 Speaker 2: period begins. That's why I think it's futile to try 333 00:20:37,205 --> 00:20:41,564 Speaker 2: to identify who anti Christ is. The Bible never tells 334 00:20:41,645 --> 00:20:44,725 Speaker 2: us to be looking for Antichrist, but it tells us 335 00:20:44,764 --> 00:20:48,844 Speaker 2: to be looking for Jesus Christ. But the Bible says, 336 00:20:48,885 --> 00:20:51,925 Speaker 2: he who now restraints will continue to do so until 337 00:20:51,965 --> 00:20:54,845 Speaker 2: he is taken out of the way. Then that wicked one, 338 00:20:54,885 --> 00:20:57,764 Speaker 2: whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming, 339 00:20:58,084 --> 00:21:01,284 Speaker 2: will be revealed. So the point is that wicked one 340 00:21:01,484 --> 00:21:06,524 Speaker 2: is Antichrist. He can't be revealed until the training force 341 00:21:06,725 --> 00:21:11,524 Speaker 2: in the world today is removed. The restraining force in 342 00:21:11,604 --> 00:21:14,685 Speaker 2: the world is the work of the Holy Spirit through 343 00:21:14,844 --> 00:21:17,284 Speaker 2: the Church. So I don't think you can even see 344 00:21:17,324 --> 00:21:20,885 Speaker 2: anti Christ until the Church is raptured. Now, let's talk 345 00:21:20,925 --> 00:21:25,445 Speaker 2: about Antichrist, he inaugurates the beginning of the tribulation period. 346 00:21:25,965 --> 00:21:29,244 Speaker 2: I also do not believe that Christians will go to 347 00:21:29,405 --> 00:21:33,524 Speaker 2: the tribulation period, because the Scripture says, if we'll keep 348 00:21:33,564 --> 00:21:36,124 Speaker 2: his word, he'll keep us from the day of wrath 349 00:21:36,484 --> 00:21:39,484 Speaker 2: that is coming upon the whole earth. And the Bible 350 00:21:39,524 --> 00:21:42,484 Speaker 2: also says God has not appointed us to wrath, but 351 00:21:42,564 --> 00:21:46,685 Speaker 2: to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The tribulation 352 00:21:46,885 --> 00:21:51,205 Speaker 2: period is God's judgment being poured on the world. There's 353 00:21:51,244 --> 00:21:54,445 Speaker 2: no instance in the Bible or when God judged. He 354 00:21:54,685 --> 00:21:58,484 Speaker 2: judged his people, before he judged Sanaim and Gomorah, he 355 00:21:58,645 --> 00:22:02,885 Speaker 2: removed his people from that area. Then the judgment came down. 356 00:22:03,205 --> 00:22:05,484 Speaker 2: When the judgment came in the flood, he got all 357 00:22:05,564 --> 00:22:08,524 Speaker 2: of the believers safely in the Ark, and as the 358 00:22:08,564 --> 00:22:12,324 Speaker 2: flood came down, Ark went up. So we will not 359 00:22:12,524 --> 00:22:16,965 Speaker 2: face that tribulation period, but it's going to start rather peacefully. 360 00:22:18,044 --> 00:22:23,324 Speaker 2: Some will even think Antichrist is Christ himself. The prefix 361 00:22:23,405 --> 00:22:27,284 Speaker 2: anti doesn't just mean against, and certainly this coming world 362 00:22:27,284 --> 00:22:30,604 Speaker 2: figure is against Christ, but it also means instead of 363 00:22:31,004 --> 00:22:34,445 Speaker 2: he will come instead of Christ, he will come with 364 00:22:34,484 --> 00:22:39,324 Speaker 2: global solutions. He will come with economic solutions. He'll be 365 00:22:39,365 --> 00:22:42,644 Speaker 2: the greatest peacemaker and has ever lived. But then it 366 00:22:42,685 --> 00:22:45,804 Speaker 2: will soon be revealed that he's not a peacemaker. He's 367 00:22:45,885 --> 00:22:49,205 Speaker 2: a troublemaker. He's going to help the Jews rebuild their 368 00:22:49,284 --> 00:22:53,124 Speaker 2: temple again. But then at the halfway mark of the tribulation, 369 00:22:53,685 --> 00:22:57,164 Speaker 2: the lasts for seven years, the Antichrist will perform what 370 00:22:57,365 --> 00:23:02,165 Speaker 2: Jesus described as the abomination of desolation. This is after 371 00:23:02,284 --> 00:23:05,524 Speaker 2: the temple of the Jews has rebuilt, an antichrist he 372 00:23:05,925 --> 00:23:09,764 Speaker 2: erects an image of himself, commands people to worship it. 373 00:23:09,844 --> 00:23:12,604 Speaker 2: So that marks a halfway point of the tribulation, and 374 00:23:12,645 --> 00:23:16,564 Speaker 2: then the judgment of God has poured out upon the earth. 375 00:23:16,564 --> 00:23:19,244 Speaker 2: There's some amazing things happening, though God's going to still 376 00:23:19,284 --> 00:23:22,164 Speaker 2: be at work. The Bible tells us that God is 377 00:23:22,205 --> 00:23:25,244 Speaker 2: going to raise up two witnesses. These two witnesses are 378 00:23:25,284 --> 00:23:28,564 Speaker 2: not identified, but we know that the power to stop 379 00:23:28,604 --> 00:23:31,965 Speaker 2: the rain from coming, and they have the power to 380 00:23:32,044 --> 00:23:36,084 Speaker 2: call fire down from heaven. Who does that remind you of, Well, 381 00:23:36,125 --> 00:23:39,284 Speaker 2: I think of Elijah. I think of Moses, who, by 382 00:23:39,324 --> 00:23:42,445 Speaker 2: the way, with the two people that stood with Jesus 383 00:23:42,524 --> 00:23:47,284 Speaker 2: at the transfiguration. So will Elijah and Moses be brought 384 00:23:47,324 --> 00:23:51,044 Speaker 2: back again for this special mission. We don't know, but 385 00:23:51,084 --> 00:23:54,524 Speaker 2: they're going to be killed by Antichrist, and they're lying 386 00:23:54,604 --> 00:23:57,524 Speaker 2: there in the streets of Jerusalem, and the Bible says 387 00:23:57,564 --> 00:24:00,804 Speaker 2: all the world will see them. You know, it wasn't 388 00:24:00,925 --> 00:24:04,405 Speaker 2: until fairly recently that this could even be true. We've 389 00:24:04,445 --> 00:24:07,524 Speaker 2: had satellite team for a long time, but you know, 390 00:24:07,685 --> 00:24:11,165 Speaker 2: around two thousand and eight, with the development of the smartphone, 391 00:24:11,885 --> 00:24:15,365 Speaker 2: now you can pretty much watch something as it is 392 00:24:15,365 --> 00:24:18,965 Speaker 2: happening in real time on that little computer that we 393 00:24:19,044 --> 00:24:22,684 Speaker 2: carry in our pocket, so all the world could watch us. 394 00:24:22,725 --> 00:24:25,645 Speaker 2: And then God's going to do something wonderful. He's going 395 00:24:25,685 --> 00:24:28,524 Speaker 2: to raise them from the dead and they're going to 396 00:24:28,564 --> 00:24:32,084 Speaker 2: ascend to heaven. So this would be a real miracle. Also, 397 00:24:32,804 --> 00:24:36,764 Speaker 2: we read that angels will fly to the heavens proclaiming 398 00:24:36,844 --> 00:24:41,165 Speaker 2: the Everlasting Gospel. Because sometimes people think the Holy Spirit 399 00:24:41,205 --> 00:24:44,284 Speaker 2: is going to be taken from the earth after the Rapture. No, 400 00:24:44,405 --> 00:24:47,484 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit will still be here working in people's 401 00:24:47,484 --> 00:24:50,404 Speaker 2: hearts and bringing people to Christ. And in fact, a 402 00:24:50,445 --> 00:24:55,804 Speaker 2: great spiritual awakening will happen during the Tribulation period as well. 403 00:24:56,125 --> 00:25:00,285 Speaker 2: But everything sort of builds to the final battles, the 404 00:25:00,405 --> 00:25:05,484 Speaker 2: Battle of Armageddon. That's based on the root word Harmageddon 405 00:25:05,685 --> 00:25:09,845 Speaker 2: or Meghetto, because that is the location of the final 406 00:25:10,004 --> 00:25:14,805 Speaker 2: battle there in Israel. So the Battle of Armageddon is raging, 407 00:25:15,205 --> 00:25:19,004 Speaker 2: and then the Second Coming takes place, where the heavens 408 00:25:19,044 --> 00:25:23,604 Speaker 2: open up and Christ appears with armies following him on 409 00:25:23,725 --> 00:25:27,804 Speaker 2: white horses. I believe that will be us, because I 410 00:25:27,844 --> 00:25:31,404 Speaker 2: believe we've been raptured, and then we will return to 411 00:25:31,445 --> 00:25:33,405 Speaker 2: the earth with the Lord. So if you've ever wanted 412 00:25:33,445 --> 00:25:35,644 Speaker 2: to go to Israel, this is going to be the 413 00:25:35,725 --> 00:25:39,484 Speaker 2: ultimate Holy Land tour conducted by Jesus. No, you won't 414 00:25:39,484 --> 00:25:41,604 Speaker 2: be in a two of us, but you'll see it 415 00:25:41,645 --> 00:25:45,125 Speaker 2: from a whole new perspective. And so let me draw 416 00:25:45,125 --> 00:25:48,244 Speaker 2: a distinction between the Rapture and the Second Coming. The 417 00:25:48,365 --> 00:25:52,964 Speaker 2: Rapture happens before the Tribulation. The Second Coming happens at 418 00:25:53,004 --> 00:25:56,484 Speaker 2: the end of the Tribulation, and the Rapture he comes 419 00:25:56,524 --> 00:25:59,924 Speaker 2: for as Church, and the Second Coming he returns with 420 00:26:00,125 --> 00:26:03,965 Speaker 2: this Church. And the Rapture it happens before judgment, and 421 00:26:04,004 --> 00:26:10,284 Speaker 2: the Second Coming returns with Judgment. And then he establishes 422 00:26:10,804 --> 00:26:14,885 Speaker 2: what we call the millennium. The word millennium means one thousand, 423 00:26:15,044 --> 00:26:18,125 Speaker 2: the one thousand year reign of Christ. And then we, 424 00:26:18,165 --> 00:26:21,044 Speaker 2: as Christians who have returned with Christ, will rule and 425 00:26:21,165 --> 00:26:24,924 Speaker 2: reign with him during the millennial reign. And then Heaven 426 00:26:25,084 --> 00:26:28,324 Speaker 2: comes to earth. At the end of Revelation, John says, 427 00:26:28,685 --> 00:26:32,605 Speaker 2: I beheld the New Jerusalem coming as a bride adorned 428 00:26:32,965 --> 00:26:36,364 Speaker 2: for her husband. Heaven and Earth become one. This is 429 00:26:36,405 --> 00:26:39,965 Speaker 2: the fulfillment of the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. 430 00:26:40,044 --> 00:26:42,645 Speaker 2: We call it the Lord's prayer, and we are taught 431 00:26:42,685 --> 00:26:46,405 Speaker 2: to say, Thy Kingdom Come. That will be done on 432 00:26:46,445 --> 00:26:49,685 Speaker 2: earth as it is in heaven. So that's the big 433 00:26:49,844 --> 00:26:54,405 Speaker 2: flyover of end times events, a lot of exciting things, 434 00:26:54,965 --> 00:26:58,524 Speaker 2: but the first event will be the rapture. So let 435 00:26:58,564 --> 00:27:00,844 Speaker 2: me ask you this question, how does this strike you? 436 00:27:00,885 --> 00:27:03,844 Speaker 2: In other words, how do you find yourself reacting to 437 00:27:04,004 --> 00:27:07,725 Speaker 2: this teaching Christ could come back at any moment. Do 438 00:27:07,804 --> 00:27:11,164 Speaker 2: you get excited about that? Remember when you were a 439 00:27:11,165 --> 00:27:13,884 Speaker 2: little kid, and maybe you were a bad boy or 440 00:27:13,925 --> 00:27:16,244 Speaker 2: girl and your mother said just wait till your father 441 00:27:16,324 --> 00:27:19,165 Speaker 2: gets home. It was very scary and you weren't looking 442 00:27:19,205 --> 00:27:22,285 Speaker 2: forward to Dad returning. But if you were a good 443 00:27:22,365 --> 00:27:25,124 Speaker 2: little boy or girl, and Daddy showed up, you were 444 00:27:25,165 --> 00:27:28,644 Speaker 2: excited to see him. I think if we're walking with 445 00:27:28,725 --> 00:27:32,325 Speaker 2: the Lord, we're excited about this because it could mean, oh, 446 00:27:32,405 --> 00:27:35,004 Speaker 2: I could meet the Lord in heaven. I could meet 447 00:27:35,044 --> 00:27:37,925 Speaker 2: the Lord in the air, you know. But if you're 448 00:27:37,925 --> 00:27:40,404 Speaker 2: not right with the Lord, it could cause a sense 449 00:27:40,604 --> 00:27:45,524 Speaker 2: of dread. I love the way that John writes, even so, 450 00:27:46,244 --> 00:27:49,924 Speaker 2: come Lord Jesus. That should be the attitude of every believer. 451 00:27:50,284 --> 00:27:54,324 Speaker 2: We should say, even so, Come Lord Jesus. But Jesus 452 00:27:54,445 --> 00:27:58,204 Speaker 2: also warned about the wicked servant who was not ready 453 00:27:58,244 --> 00:28:02,244 Speaker 2: for his master's return, and then the Master came and 454 00:28:02,284 --> 00:28:05,205 Speaker 2: he was not prepared. Are you ready? Listen to this. 455 00:28:05,685 --> 00:28:09,684 Speaker 2: Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. And the 456 00:28:09,725 --> 00:28:13,324 Speaker 2: way that you prepare for heaven is by having your ticket. 457 00:28:13,725 --> 00:28:16,445 Speaker 2: So when you travel, you don't just walk down to 458 00:28:16,484 --> 00:28:20,124 Speaker 2: the airport and board a plane without a ticket. You 459 00:28:20,205 --> 00:28:22,844 Speaker 2: have to buy your ticket. You have to have a 460 00:28:22,885 --> 00:28:26,204 Speaker 2: reserve seat, you have to go through security, you have 461 00:28:26,284 --> 00:28:30,244 Speaker 2: to eat really awful food in airports, because airport food 462 00:28:30,324 --> 00:28:34,564 Speaker 2: is an oxymoron, as is airline food. But I digress. 463 00:28:35,004 --> 00:28:37,484 Speaker 2: Then you take your seat that you've booked, and the 464 00:28:37,524 --> 00:28:39,325 Speaker 2: same way, if you want to go to heaven, you 465 00:28:39,365 --> 00:28:42,245 Speaker 2: have to have your ticket that has been purchased for 466 00:28:42,325 --> 00:28:47,444 Speaker 2: you by Jesus Christ at the cross redied for your sins. So, 467 00:28:47,525 --> 00:28:50,725 Speaker 2: if you've turned from your sin, have asked Christ to 468 00:28:50,765 --> 00:28:53,605 Speaker 2: come into your life, you're ready to go, and you're 469 00:28:53,685 --> 00:28:57,404 Speaker 2: prepared for heaven. The way to buy your ticket, the 470 00:28:57,445 --> 00:29:00,124 Speaker 2: way to be ready for heaven, the way to be 471 00:29:00,165 --> 00:29:03,604 Speaker 2: assured that you are a prepared person headed to a 472 00:29:03,685 --> 00:29:07,924 Speaker 2: prepared place is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. 473 00:29:08,125 --> 00:29:10,925 Speaker 2: Have you done that yet? If not, let me lead 474 00:29:10,965 --> 00:29:13,684 Speaker 2: you in a little prayer, a little prayer that you 475 00:29:13,725 --> 00:29:16,285 Speaker 2: could pray out loud if you like. Or you would 476 00:29:16,325 --> 00:29:19,685 Speaker 2: be asking Christ to come into your life. If you've 477 00:29:19,725 --> 00:29:23,285 Speaker 2: never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin, if 478 00:29:23,285 --> 00:29:25,325 Speaker 2: you don't have the assurance that you will go to 479 00:29:25,365 --> 00:29:29,604 Speaker 2: heaven when you die, pray this prayer after me. Ready, 480 00:29:30,405 --> 00:29:34,205 Speaker 2: Just pray this, Lord Jesus. I know that I am 481 00:29:34,245 --> 00:29:37,645 Speaker 2: a sinner, but I know that you are, this Savior 482 00:29:38,325 --> 00:29:41,485 Speaker 2: who died in the cross for my sin and rose 483 00:29:41,485 --> 00:29:45,445 Speaker 2: again from the dead. I surren now from my sin, 484 00:29:46,245 --> 00:29:49,685 Speaker 2: and I choose to follow you from this moment forward. 485 00:29:50,445 --> 00:29:54,085 Speaker 2: Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering this prayer. 486 00:29:54,604 --> 00:29:58,285 Speaker 2: In Jesus name, I pray Amen, did you just pray 487 00:29:58,325 --> 00:30:00,405 Speaker 2: that prayer with me? And so I want to say 488 00:30:00,405 --> 00:30:03,884 Speaker 2: congratulations and welcome to the Family of God. And I 489 00:30:03,925 --> 00:30:07,205 Speaker 2: also want to send you a New Believer's Bible. The 490 00:30:07,285 --> 00:30:10,765 Speaker 2: New Believer's Bible has sold over ten million copies around 491 00:30:10,805 --> 00:30:14,604 Speaker 2: the world. It's a very easy Bible to understand because 492 00:30:14,645 --> 00:30:18,485 Speaker 2: what it is is the New Living Translation, and it 493 00:30:18,565 --> 00:30:21,164 Speaker 2: has hundreds and hundreds of notes that I wrote that 494 00:30:21,205 --> 00:30:25,164 Speaker 2: will encourage you in this commitment or recommitment you've just 495 00:30:25,285 --> 00:30:27,885 Speaker 2: made to follow Christ. And by the way, I'll send 496 00:30:27,925 --> 00:30:31,005 Speaker 2: it to you at no charge in order your free 497 00:30:31,045 --> 00:30:35,285 Speaker 2: copy of the New Believer's Bible. So I'm going to 498 00:30:35,325 --> 00:30:38,844 Speaker 2: answer some questions now about end Time's events. One I 499 00:30:38,885 --> 00:30:43,604 Speaker 2: often hear is when is the Battle of Gog and 500 00:30:43,725 --> 00:30:47,605 Speaker 2: may Gog? When do they attack Israel? Is that before 501 00:30:48,285 --> 00:30:51,844 Speaker 2: or after the rapture? Ready for the answer, I don't know. 502 00:30:52,965 --> 00:30:55,565 Speaker 2: I think it may be close to that event, it 503 00:30:55,645 --> 00:31:00,805 Speaker 2: could be before, and it could be right after. The 504 00:31:00,885 --> 00:31:04,685 Speaker 2: reason I think that it's before the tribulation period begins 505 00:31:05,084 --> 00:31:08,805 Speaker 2: is because because they burn the armaments from the battle 506 00:31:09,045 --> 00:31:12,925 Speaker 2: for seven years, which would fit the seven year period 507 00:31:13,245 --> 00:31:17,084 Speaker 2: of the tribulation period. So to sum it up, you 508 00:31:17,125 --> 00:31:20,405 Speaker 2: see any development in the Middle East and potential for war, 509 00:31:20,685 --> 00:31:26,325 Speaker 2: especially if it involves Russia attacking Israel, Wow, pay attention 510 00:31:27,005 --> 00:31:30,925 Speaker 2: because that could be an indicator the rapture is coming soon. 511 00:31:31,285 --> 00:31:33,725 Speaker 2: Here's another question. I like this one. If this all 512 00:31:33,765 --> 00:31:38,684 Speaker 2: has to happen, should we pray for peace over in 513 00:31:38,725 --> 00:31:41,365 Speaker 2: the Middle East right now? I was speaking with some 514 00:31:41,565 --> 00:31:47,445 Speaker 2: Jewish gentlemen from Israel that were professors at the University 515 00:31:47,604 --> 00:31:50,765 Speaker 2: of Haifa at the Museum of the Bible not that 516 00:31:50,844 --> 00:31:53,924 Speaker 2: long ago, and I said, let me clear up a 517 00:31:54,045 --> 00:31:59,325 Speaker 2: misconception that Jewish people sometimes have about evangelical Christians when 518 00:31:59,365 --> 00:32:02,164 Speaker 2: it comes to the end times. I said, you know, 519 00:32:02,285 --> 00:32:06,525 Speaker 2: I think sometimes people may think that we Christians want 520 00:32:06,725 --> 00:32:09,405 Speaker 2: armageddon to come so we can all go to heaven. 521 00:32:09,445 --> 00:32:13,285 Speaker 2: They said, yeah, we've heard that before. That's really not true. 522 00:32:14,045 --> 00:32:17,605 Speaker 2: We don't want armageddon to come. We want to see 523 00:32:17,645 --> 00:32:19,844 Speaker 2: peace in the Middle East. In fact, the Bible even 524 00:32:19,885 --> 00:32:23,604 Speaker 2: says pray for the peace of Jerusalem. But it is 525 00:32:23,645 --> 00:32:27,245 Speaker 2: going to come eventually. It's not something we're looking forward to, 526 00:32:27,885 --> 00:32:31,205 Speaker 2: so we should pray for peace. I hope there's some 527 00:32:31,365 --> 00:32:35,365 Speaker 2: resolution to this conflict. I hope that this war stops 528 00:32:35,485 --> 00:32:40,084 Speaker 2: because innocent people are being killed. Innocence civilians are losing 529 00:32:40,125 --> 00:32:42,644 Speaker 2: their lives right now, and so we would like to 530 00:32:42,685 --> 00:32:47,525 Speaker 2: see that stop immediately. So absolutely, let's be praying for peace, 531 00:32:48,045 --> 00:32:52,084 Speaker 2: but let's also be aware that events can escalate into 532 00:32:52,165 --> 00:32:55,124 Speaker 2: this end time scenario. So this would be my last question. 533 00:32:55,125 --> 00:32:58,085 Speaker 2: I'll answer, are there things that need to happen before 534 00:32:58,245 --> 00:33:03,204 Speaker 2: the rapture takes place? Simple answer, No. For instance, there 535 00:33:03,205 --> 00:33:06,164 Speaker 2: are things that need to happen before the say and coming. 536 00:33:06,765 --> 00:33:10,005 Speaker 2: The entire tribulation period has to take place, and the 537 00:33:10,005 --> 00:33:13,725 Speaker 2: Antichrist has to be revealed. Clearly that has not happened yet, 538 00:33:13,765 --> 00:33:16,404 Speaker 2: but there is nothing that needs to happen for the 539 00:33:16,525 --> 00:33:20,365 Speaker 2: rapture to take place. Again, let me define the rapture, 540 00:33:20,525 --> 00:33:23,605 Speaker 2: coming from the Greek word harpozzo is where we're caught 541 00:33:23,645 --> 00:33:25,885 Speaker 2: up to meet the Lord in the air. This could 542 00:33:25,925 --> 00:33:30,005 Speaker 2: happen at any moment, so that's why the Bible tells 543 00:33:30,084 --> 00:33:33,845 Speaker 2: us repeatedly to watch and be ready. Christ will come 544 00:33:33,885 --> 00:33:36,645 Speaker 2: as a thief in the night. He said, you don't 545 00:33:36,685 --> 00:33:40,885 Speaker 2: know what hour your Lord will come. I think it's 546 00:33:41,005 --> 00:33:44,645 Speaker 2: futile to try to set dates, and no one will 547 00:33:44,645 --> 00:33:47,325 Speaker 2: ever crack the code and figure out the date of 548 00:33:47,405 --> 00:33:49,725 Speaker 2: the rapture of the Church. So we just need to 549 00:33:49,805 --> 00:33:54,165 Speaker 2: always be ready, always be prepared to meet the Lord. 550 00:33:54,245 --> 00:33:57,965 Speaker 2: Jesus said, two will be in a field, one will 551 00:33:57,965 --> 00:33:59,805 Speaker 2: be taken in the other left. Two will be in 552 00:33:59,844 --> 00:34:02,725 Speaker 2: a bed. One will be taken and the other left. 553 00:34:02,805 --> 00:34:09,565 Speaker 2: So it's a global event every time zone, instantaneously, millions 554 00:34:09,565 --> 00:34:12,605 Speaker 2: of Christians caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 555 00:34:13,445 --> 00:34:16,805 Speaker 2: One time years ago, when I was newly married, I 556 00:34:16,885 --> 00:34:20,365 Speaker 2: was laying in bed with my wife and she said, oh, Greg, 557 00:34:20,485 --> 00:34:22,845 Speaker 2: just imagine the rapture could come and we could just 558 00:34:22,965 --> 00:34:25,725 Speaker 2: wake up in heaven. Wouldn't that be amazing If the 559 00:34:25,765 --> 00:34:28,445 Speaker 2: Lord just came before we even woke up in the morning. 560 00:34:28,685 --> 00:34:30,965 Speaker 2: And I had this devious thought, wouldn't it be funny 561 00:34:31,005 --> 00:34:33,805 Speaker 2: to slip out of bed very quietly? And that's what 562 00:34:33,965 --> 00:34:35,205 Speaker 2: I did. I got out of the bed and that 563 00:34:35,325 --> 00:34:38,364 Speaker 2: was laying on the floor. Kathy's still talking. Just think 564 00:34:38,405 --> 00:34:40,605 Speaker 2: about it, Greg, we could just be caught up to 565 00:34:40,645 --> 00:34:43,565 Speaker 2: meet Jesus. And she reaches over and I'm not there, 566 00:34:43,605 --> 00:34:46,844 Speaker 2: she says, Greg, Greg, Greg, So it's a bad joke. 567 00:34:47,845 --> 00:34:51,125 Speaker 2: Don't try this at home. I'm a professional idiot. So 568 00:34:52,205 --> 00:34:54,725 Speaker 2: that was just a joke. But when it really does happen, 569 00:34:54,805 --> 00:34:56,605 Speaker 2: two will be lying in the bed, one will be 570 00:34:56,645 --> 00:34:59,885 Speaker 2: taking and the other left, says Jesus, it won't be 571 00:34:59,925 --> 00:35:03,405 Speaker 2: a joke. It's real. So be ready to meet the Lord. 572 00:35:03,605 --> 00:35:05,565 Speaker 2: Get right or get left to