Participants: Lonnie Melashenko
Series Code: VOPS
Program Code: VOPS000023
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00:31 Our subject for this presentation,
00:34 "The Mark of the Beast" is so crucial, 00:36 I'd like to open with prayer. 00:39 Lord, we're dealing with a very sensitive 00:41 and serious topic, 00:43 please open our minds, our hearts and our souls 00:48 to the messages of truths from Your Holy Word. 00:50 We pray in Jesus name, amen. 00:56 Our text is the most solemn warning 00:59 ever given to earth's inhabitants. 01:01 And it's recorded in the Book of Revelation 01:03 the 14: 9, 10, where we read, 01:08 "If any one worships the beast in his image, 01:11 and receives his mark on his forehead or in his hand, 01:15 he himself shall also drink of the wine 01:17 of the wrath of God which is poured out, 01:19 full strength, into the cup of His indignation. 01:22 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 01:25 in the presence of the holy angels 01:27 and in the presence of the Lamb." 01:31 As we pull back the curtain of prophecy 01:33 and sneak a peek into last-day end-time, 01:37 God's Word reveals that you and I are gonna find ourselves 01:40 in a chilling cosmic battle of epic proportions. 01:44 Making decisions of destiny every single day, 01:46 based on which side we're on in this battle. 01:50 Which is why, every person must carefully study this prophecy 01:53 to make certain he or she has nothing to do 01:56 with the mark of the beast. 01:58 Back in Revelation 13, 02:01 John is describing a movement 02:04 of apostasy of global proportions. 02:07 A huge behemoth beast power 02:10 tries to eliminate and crush and eradicate 02:12 and stamp out God's faithful last-day remnant. 02:17 Now the good news of Bible prophecy is, 02:19 Jesus Christ wins! He's victorious over evil. 02:24 In Revelation 14, we have a picture 02:26 of what God finally has to do at the end of time, 02:29 in order to bring closure to the cancer of sin. 02:34 What God does is He precipitates, 02:36 what our scientists would call a mitosis, 02:39 a final crisis, forcing human beings 02:43 to quit straddling the fence 02:44 and make clear their final decision. 02:47 And they split into two clearly identifiable groups. 02:51 Safe to save. Unsafe to save. 02:55 And it's so obvious, 02:57 it results in the release of God's terrible wrath 03:00 upon those who insist on being disobedient. 03:03 These unfaithful receive the mark of the beast, 03:07 which is the result really, of their own choice. 03:10 Of course, all of those who do not have this mark, 03:13 they're God's faithful. 03:15 They're His saints. 03:16 And folks we want to be among them, don't we? 03:19 They keep His commandments, 03:20 therefore they escape the wrath and they'll be saved 03:23 because they have another type of I.D. mark. 03:27 Revelation 7:1, 2 says they have a seal, 03:32 a protection on them. 03:34 It says the servants of God are sealed 03:36 with the seal of the living God. 03:41 Now folks, this isn't anything new in Scripture. 03:43 In fact, Jesus very clearly taught 03:46 that the very, very end of time, 03:48 earth's inhabitants would be divided into two groups: 03:52 the good, the bad. 03:54 The righteous, the wicked. 03:56 The sheep, the goats. 03:58 So we have two groups, those who are loyal to God, 04:02 they receive God's seal, they're saved. 04:05 And those who receive the mark of the beast 04:08 and cannot be saved, they're lost. 04:11 Now once the mitosis happens, Revelation tells us, 04:15 this beast power will bring about 04:18 intense pressure on anyone 04:20 who refuses to worship the beast or receive his mark. 04:24 Now, that's gonna be a crisis. 04:25 More serious, in fact, 04:27 than what the three Hebrews faced 04:29 way back there at Nebuchadnezzar's 04:31 fiery furnace back in Daniel chapter 3. 04:33 In fact, more pressure than Daniel felt 04:36 in the lion's den in Daniel chapter 6. 04:39 It will be the pressure of forced worship. 04:43 In fact, there'll be the threat of economic boycott 04:46 and even genocide. 04:49 Revelation 13:16, 17 says, 04:53 "He causes all, both small and great, 04:56 rich and poor, free and slave, 04:58 to receive a mark on their right hand 05:01 or on their foreheads, 05:03 and that no one may buy or sell 05:05 except one who has the mark 05:06 or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." 05:11 Then this beast or this power of human agency, 05:15 breaks all the rules of the Geneva Convention 05:17 because it issues a death decree to anyone 05:20 who refuses the mark of the beast. 05:22 Torture, perhaps even parading the prisoners 05:25 before the CNN cameras. 05:27 Notice Revelation 13:15, 05:30 "He was granted power to give breath 05:33 to the image of the beast, 05:34 that the image of the beast should both speak and cause 05:37 as many as would not worship 05:39 the image of the beast to be killed." 05:42 So you see friend, 05:43 the issue in the final analysis is most serious. 05:47 The most difficult decision God's people ever have to make. 05:51 A man-made church-state religio-political power says, 05:56 "If you don't worship the beast, 05:58 we will not buy anything from you 06:00 or sell anything to you, 06:02 and eventually we will kill you." 06:04 But God says, "If you worship the beast, 06:09 you will receive the wine of the wrath of God." 06:12 Now what is the wrath of God? 06:14 Revelation 15:1, 06:18 "Then I saw another sign in heaven, 06:20 great and marvelous: 06:22 seven angels having the seven last plagues, 06:25 for in them the wrath of God is complete." 06:29 So, the wrath of God then is the seven last plagues. 06:33 Now you talk about smart bombs. 06:35 By the way, three of these smart bombs 06:38 specifically target the beast and those who worship him. 06:43 Three of the plagues are reserved 06:44 especially for those who receive the mark of the beast. 06:48 Well, someone asks the question, 06:50 God, is that fair? 06:52 I mean, God, if I don't know 06:54 who the beast is or what his mark is, 06:56 are You fair to rain down plagues on me? 06:59 Well, friend, that is what is so wonderful about God. 07:04 God won't pour out one of the seven last plagues 07:07 on anyone without first warning them. 07:10 You know, like those coalition pilots 07:12 who are raining down all those tracts and pamphlets 07:15 on the Iraqi people. 07:17 God says, I'm giving every one of you 07:20 a chance to live, to surrender. 07:22 I'll liberate you. Choose life. 07:25 God gives us opportunity to avoid the plagues, 07:28 to avoid the mark of the beast. 07:30 No one need face this crisis unprepared. 07:34 But here's the turning point, the key crucial issue, 07:38 this is why it's so absolutely vital for us 07:41 to know who this beast power is, 07:43 and how we can avoid receiving its mark. 07:47 But I want you to please understand, 07:48 ladies and gentlemen, 07:50 no one has the mark of the beast yet. 07:55 It's not received until just before Jesus returns. 07:59 Can we get that real clear? 08:01 The mark of the beast is the very last, 08:04 final message to go to the world, 08:05 just before the coming of Jesus. 08:07 No one has it today. 08:10 Now let's turn to Revelation 13, 08:13 and read the prophecy about this beast power. 08:17 Now the apostle John describes a beast 08:20 that's very similar to the one we saw back in Daniel 7. 08:24 In fact, as we take a closer look, 08:26 we'll discover it's the same identical power. 08:29 Only it's just pictured a little differently. 08:31 Notice, Revelation 13, we begin at verse 1 08:35 "Then I stood on the sand of the sea. 08:37 And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, 08:40 having seven heads and ten horns, 08:42 and on his horns, ten crowns, 08:45 and on his heads, a blasphemous name. 08:48 Now the beast, which I saw was like a leopard, 08:50 his feet were like the feet of a bear, 08:52 and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. 08:55 The dragon gave him his power, his throne, 08:57 and great authority. 08:58 And I saw one of his heads, 09:00 as if it had been mortally wounded, 09:02 and his deadly wound was healed. 09:04 And all the world marveled, followed the beast. 09:11 So they worshiped the dragon 09:13 who gave authority to the beast, 09:14 and they worshiped the beast, saying, 09:16 'who is like the beast? 09:18 Who is able to make war with him?' 09:21 And he was given a mouth speaking 09:22 great things and blasphemies, 09:24 and he was given authority 09:25 to continue for forty-two months. 09:27 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy and against God, 09:30 to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, 09:33 and those who dwell in heaven. 09:35 It was granted to him to make war 09:37 with the saints and overcome them. 09:39 And authority was given him 09:40 over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 09:42 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, 09:44 whose names have not been written in the Book of Life, 09:47 from the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." 09:50 Whoa, for just a minute. 09:53 I think we need to catch our breath. 09:55 And let's examine this prophecy 09:57 in little bit more detail, more closely. 10:00 Friend, here God again is using symbols, 10:04 kind of like cartoons to outline 10:06 His warning to the world. 10:09 Now Daniel 7 taught us that a beast 10:12 represents a kingdom or ruling power. 10:15 Now here in Revelation, 10:17 we find pictured something truly spectacular, 10:20 we find a composite beast made up 10:22 of all four of Daniel's great beasts. 10:26 A quick review of Daniel's four beasts 10:28 will help us better understand this beast power 10:30 that we're now studying. 10:32 Do you remember what the lion represented? 10:34 That's right, Babylon. 10:36 And the bear? 10:37 That was Medo-Persia. 10:39 What about the leopard? Greece. 10:42 And the 10-horn beast? 10:45 That's right, that was the Roman Empire. 10:48 Now we've studied on previous nights 10:50 how the little horn power 10:52 followed these four great world empires. 10:55 And history narrows it down 10:56 so that only one possible power on earth 10:59 has all of the characteristics to fit this prophecy. 11:02 Scripture and secular history 11:04 make identification absolutely certain. 11:08 Now the prophecy predicted Pagan Rome 11:11 would give its power, its seat or its capital city, 11:15 and great authority to this new beast, 11:18 or this little horn power. 11:21 Did this happen? 11:23 Well, history tells us that it did. 11:25 You may recall that the Emperor Constantine, 11:28 you know he decided he wanted a brand new Beverly Hills home. 11:32 So he shifted the Roman Empire's 11:34 capital city of Rome to Byzantium 11:39 and he renamed it Constantinople, 11:41 in honor of himself. 11:42 We call it Istanbul or Turkey today. 11:46 I happen to be there last year. 11:48 But then Constantine donated his old capital, 11:51 the city of Rome, 11:52 plus a vast treasury and an army, 11:55 no less, to the bishop of Rome, 11:57 basically making the Pope a king. 12:01 Now you can check it out in your history books. 12:04 This all happened in A.D. 300. 12:07 Constantine gave the city of Rome 12:10 to the Pontiff of the Vatican. 12:12 You talk about the mother 12:14 of all changes in world history. 12:16 Suddenly the Bishop of Rome 12:18 became not only head of the church, 12:21 he was also a king on a throne. 12:24 Unique in history, a union of church and state 12:28 with the church ruling over the state. 12:33 Unfortunately, the evils and the vices that occurred 12:36 as the result of this marriage 12:38 are a most tragic blot in the history of Christianity. 12:43 But friend, let me say something else here, 12:46 as we look back at the history of the Medieval church, 12:50 let's remember this is our church 12:52 we're talking about, mine, yours. 12:56 Yes, there was persecution, there was abuse. 13:00 But you know to simply call it, 13:01 well, that's the Roman Catholic Church, 13:03 that's misleading, friend, because for 1,000 years 13:06 there weren't any other denominations. 13:08 So, whether you today are a Protestant or a Catholic, 13:11 listen folks, this was our heritage, our church. 13:15 Were there problems? 13:17 Did they make tragic mistakes? 13:19 Yes, just like we do today. 13:22 But God used this church despite its problems. 13:26 You know Catholic universities 13:28 fed the torch of learning 13:29 in law and medicine and theology. 13:32 Catholic monasteries maintained hospitals, 13:34 virtually the only hospitals that existed, 13:36 provided care also for the orphaned and the aged. 13:39 Catholic Latin provided a lingua franca, 13:44 a common language for diplomacy, commerce, 13:48 and the Catholic schools provided education 13:51 for diplomats and business clerks. 13:53 Why, the Cistercian monks in Britain 13:56 greatly improved the land's vital wool trade. 13:59 But most importantly, 14:01 Roman Catholic missionaries 14:03 Christianized large areas of Western Europe 14:06 and provided pastoral care. 14:08 So, folks, when one denomination 14:12 is unfortunately and sadly hit with a sex abuse scandal, 14:16 you know folks, we should all weep, not gloat. 14:21 When terrorists break into a church 14:22 and blow up believers with hand grenades and AK-47s, 14:26 folks, we need to all mourn together. 14:29 We who are believers, 14:31 we're looking at ourselves in the mirror here. 14:34 The little horn power of Daniel chapter 7 14:36 is none other than the Christian church 14:38 of the Middle Ages. 14:40 It was my church. 14:42 Our Christian Church committed these crimes. 14:46 And let me say again, 14:47 there are great numbers of sincere Catholic people 14:50 who worship God and they do not-- 14:52 they don't yet know 14:53 what we are learning from Bible prophecy. 14:56 But an honest love for our Lord demands 14:58 that we prayerfully and with humble repentance 15:00 open our Bibles and study all things. 15:03 So lest anyone think that we're building up 15:05 some sort of prejudice against Roman Catholic people, 15:08 friend, it's very important to keep in mind 15:11 that the prophecy here is talking about an organization, 15:14 a system of theology, and not about individuals. 15:20 Well, I was in Vatican City two years ago. 15:22 You know what lies right smack in the middle of Rome, 15:26 which was the original pagan city 15:27 that was the political seat of the old Roman Empire. 15:31 But now the Vatican is a religious power 15:35 and a political power, too. 15:37 In fact, it has its own postage, 15:38 has its own money, 15:39 even has its own National Guard, 15:41 I saw them there, the Vatican guards. 15:43 And every nation on this planet 15:45 sends ambassadors to the Vatican. 15:49 Now the bottom line is this. 15:51 Revelation 13 and 14 makes it clear, 15:54 this same religio-political power 15:58 is the same one as the rampaging, 16:00 truth-challenging little horn of Daniel 7. 16:05 So now let's proceed. 16:07 The prophet John says, 16:09 this beast power would have a distinguishing mark 16:14 and that in the very last days 16:16 it would try to force that mark upon anyone 16:19 and everyone in the whole wide world. 16:21 Notice Revelation 13:16, 17, 16:25 "He causes all, both small and great, 16:28 rich and poor, free and slave, 16:30 to receive a mark on their right hand, 16:33 or on their foreheads: 16:35 and that no one may buy or sell, 16:37 except one who has the mark, 16:38 or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." 16:43 Now according to God's Word, 16:45 this mark somehow becomes a symbol 16:48 of rebellion or disloyalty to the government of God. 16:52 Because remember, the Bible clearly described another group 16:55 who will not receive the mark of the beast. 16:58 Revelation 14:12, here they are, 17:01 "Here is the patience of the saints. 17:03 Here are those who keep the Commandments of God, 17:07 and the faith of Jesus." 17:10 So right there is the issue, crystal clear. 17:13 The Commandments of God, 17:15 one group keeps them, the other doesn't. 17:19 It has its own mark or badge or seal. 17:23 That is the issue. 17:25 God's seal or the mark of the beast. 17:29 Now we read that God also has a mark, or a seal. 17:34 It is placed in the foreheads of His followers. 17:39 Someone says, well, is that some sort of a tattoo? 17:42 No. 17:43 It's in the forehead. 17:46 It's something they evidently choose in their minds. 17:50 Something they remember. 17:52 It's a matter of conscious choice, moral behavior. 17:56 Notice Revelation 7: 2, 3, 17:59 "I saw another angel ascending from the east, 18:02 having the seal of the living God. 18:04 And he cried with a loud voice 18:06 to the four angels to whom it was granted 18:08 to harm the earth and the sea, saying, 18:10 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, 18:11 or the trees till we have sealed 18:14 the servants of our God in their foreheads.'" 18:17 Oh, friend, I want that seal 18:20 in my conscience and mind, don't you? 18:22 And nothing is more important than that. 18:25 Because the final conflict of world history 18:28 is over the seal of God and the mark of the beast, 18:32 between God's sign and a counterfeit sign. 18:36 So let's take a few moments 18:38 to discover God's seal, or mark, 18:40 because then it will be very easy to discover 18:42 the counterfeit mark that the beast power will enforce. 18:47 And of course we don't have to go very far 18:49 to search and find it out. 18:51 From Genesis to Revelation, God tells us repeatedly, 18:53 exactly what His sign or what His seal is. 18:56 Here's just a few examples, Ezekiel 20:12, 19:00 "Moreover I also gave them my Sabbaths, 19:03 to be a sign between them and Me..." 19:07 Again, we read also in Exodus 31:13, 19:12 "Speak also to the children of Israel, 19:14 saying, surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, 19:18 for it is a sign between Me and you 19:20 throughout your generations, 19:22 that you may know that I am the Lord 19:24 who sanctifies you." 19:26 God Himself announced the Sabbath is His sign, 19:30 the Sabbath is His mark of authority. 19:32 The Sabbath is the symbol, 19:34 He is creator, redeemer, King of Kings, 19:37 Lord of Lords and of heaven and earth. 19:39 And we get His seal in our foreheads you see, 19:43 by remembering the Sabbath day, 19:45 to keep it Holy. 19:46 Showing the world and the universe, 19:48 we have made a conscious choice. 19:50 We choose Jesus. 19:52 We're re-created, we're redeemed, 19:54 we're sanctified, we're holy, 19:55 we're set apart as God's own children. 20:00 We know that we don't get to heaven by our works. 20:02 No, we rest, that's what the Sabbaths all about, 20:05 we rest in Jesus by faith. 20:09 And when we live out the Sabbath in our lives, 20:11 hey, we've got God's "Good Housekeeping" 20:13 seal of approval, God tells us. 20:15 We're sealed forever 20:16 because Sabbath becomes an outward sign 20:20 of an inward transformation. 20:22 They're saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, 20:25 the Bible says. 20:28 But now let's discover whether or not 20:29 Satan has set up a counterfeit sign 20:33 of sovereignty, a mark of his authority. 20:36 Has to be something closely resembling the genuine-- 20:40 something closely resembling 20:42 God's mark of the seventh-day Sabbath. 20:46 Well, now what do historical official records 20:49 of the beast power say, in writing, 20:53 is the mark of its authority? 20:55 What is the beast's mark? 20:58 Well, the following quotations 21:00 are taken from the Catholic catechism, 21:03 and they do it in a question and answer form, 21:04 you want to look at the screen. 21:06 "Question: How prove you 21:09 that the church hath power 21:10 to command feast and holy days?" 21:13 "Answer: By the very act of changing 21:16 the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of: 21:20 and therefore they fondly contradict themselves 21:23 by keeping Sunday strictly and breaking most other feasts 21:26 commanded by the same church." 21:27 "Question: Have you any other way 21:30 of proving that the church 21:31 has power to institute festivals of precept?" 21:35 "Answer: Had she not had such power 21:38 she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, 21:41 the first day of the week, 21:43 for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, 21:45 a change for which there is no scriptural authority." 21:50 Do see it, friend? 21:52 The Catholic Church says 21:54 Sunday is the mark of their religious authority, 21:58 according to her own testimony. 22:00 In fact she readily admits and even boasts 22:03 that she changed the day of worship 22:05 from Saturday to Sunday. 22:07 What would you say, wait a minute, Lonnie, 22:09 does she call it the mark of her power? 22:14 I want you to notice these precise words 22:16 from Catholic Chancellor C.F. Thomas 22:18 in a letter to Cardinal Gibbons 22:19 where he says regarding their changing the Sabbath, 22:22 and I'm quoting, "that act is the 'mark 22:27 of her ecclesiastical power and authority.'" 22:31 Isn't that an amazing claim? 22:33 I think it's an incredibly prophetic choice of words. 22:37 This is our 'mark' of our power, 22:41 our 'mark' of authority. 22:42 In fact, the Catholic Church challenges Protestants. 22:45 Why do you desecrate God's Sabbath Saturday? 22:49 Why have you turned from the Bible Sabbath 22:52 to follow Sunday? 22:53 Sunday is a day that was entirely 22:55 instituted by custom, wholly traditioned, 22:59 and only by the command of the Catholic Church. 23:03 Isn't that amazing? 23:05 Now what's even more remarkable is this. 23:08 Daniel predicted that this beast power 23:12 would think to change times and laws. 23:15 It would purport to do just that, as a mark of her 23:18 ecclesiastical power and authority. 23:22 But now John, in the Book of Revelation, 23:24 predicts something else. 23:25 He adds something new, 23:26 something that's still in the future. 23:29 That Satan would try to force everyone, 23:32 through this beast power, 23:34 to receive the mark of the beast. 23:36 In other words, force people 23:39 by law to keep another day holy. 23:43 Notice Revelation 13:16, 23:46 "He causes all, both small and great, 23:48 rich and poor, free and slave, 23:50 to receive a mark on their right hand, 23:52 or on their foreheads: 23:54 and that no man may buy or sell, 23:56 except one that has the mark, 23:57 or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." 24:02 Now, friend, in order for this power 24:04 to fulfill all of this prophecy, 24:08 evidently it will at the end of time, 24:11 try to use the power of civil governments 24:14 to enforce its mark of authority on everyone. 24:17 I want to tell you something, folks, 24:19 that hasn't happened yet. 24:21 So that's why no one has the mark of the beast yet. 24:25 But, before I tell you how that's going to happen, 24:27 it's interesting to notice 24:29 how God even more explicitly 24:30 identifies this beast power as "666." 24:36 Notice Revelation 13:18, 24:38 "Here is wisdom. 24:41 Let him who has understanding 24:42 calculate the number of the beast, 24:45 for it is the number of a man: 24:47 His number is 666." 24:53 Now what does the "number of the beast '666'" mean? 24:56 Many people have asked that question. 24:59 And by the way, 25:00 they suggested many, many different, various meanings. 25:03 You know, in olden times they had a way of figuring up 25:06 the numerical value of a person's name 25:08 by adding up the numerical value 25:10 of the Latin letters, in Roman numerals. 25:13 Take my name for example, 25:15 in Roman numerals you look at Elorie Lonnie Melashenko. 25:20 Look at the columns there, 25:21 they add up to 1,152. 25:27 So you could call me, well, you're number 1,152. 25:31 Now folks, we got to be very, very careful here 25:33 because you could add up 25:34 several different people's numerical numbers, 25:36 even some presidents and come up with 666. 25:43 Now the Bible does not specifically say 25:45 that the number is the numerical added value 25:48 of the letters of a name, 25:49 because would we add it up in Greek then, 25:51 or Hebrew, or Latin, or English? 25:55 But I do want you to notice an amazing coincidence 25:59 and a statement from the Catholic Church 26:01 on this very subject. 26:02 By the way, Latin is the official language 26:04 of the Catholic Church. 26:06 The Pope, in Catholic theology, 26:09 of course, stands for the whole church. 26:12 Well, the pope's official title 26:14 in Latin is Vicarius Filii Dei, 26:19 meaning "Vicar of the Son of God." 26:22 I am God on earth 26:24 because I'm the representative of Jesus Christ, 26:27 that's what it means. 26:28 Now I want you to notice "Our Sunday Visitor", 26:30 their official journal, Apr. 18, 1915, 26:34 "Catholics hold that the Church, 26:36 which is a visible society, must have a visible head." 26:40 The Pope. 26:42 Now Our Sunday Visitor, Nov. 15, 1914, 26:45 it's a question and answer here. 26:47 "Question: Is it true that the words 26:50 of the Apocalypse in the 13th chapter, 26:52 18th verse refer to the Pope?" 26:55 "Answer: The words referred to are these: 26:59 'Here is wisdom. 27:00 He that hath understanding 27:02 let him count the number of the beast. 27:04 For it is the number of a man; 27:06 and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.' 27:11 The title of the Pope of Rome is VICARIUS FILII DEI. 27:15 This is inscribed on his mitre;" 27:17 now notice the rest of this passage, 27:19 "and if you take the letters of his title 27:21 which represent Latin numerals 27:23 and add them together, they come to 666." 27:31 Now you will notice that the numerical values 27:33 of the Latin letters are easy to calculate. 27:35 VICARIUS, you put the numbers in there 27:38 that comes up to 112, FILII-53, 27:44 and DEI would be 501, 27:50 making the total of course, 666. 27:56 Now friend, personally I don't believe 27:57 we should use this as conclusive evidence, 28:00 since the Bible gives us so many unmistakable 28:04 identifying characteristics other than that one. 28:07 But that's just another little, 28:08 tiny identifying prophetic mark of the beast power, 28:12 another piece of the puzzle for Revelation 13. 28:15 So after we've now looked 28:17 at all of the other crystal clear Bible evidence, 28:21 friend, what can we conclude from our study of God's Word? 28:25 Well, the prophecy says a time is coming soon, 28:29 when everyone, under threat of boycott and death, 28:32 will be required to keep the first day of the week, 28:36 in direct violation of the command of God. 28:40 You say, come on, Lon. 28:42 In America? Canada? 28:44 Australia? Or Europe? 28:46 We value our pluralism. 28:48 Freedom of religion for everyone. 28:50 No way would our country repudiate 28:52 the separation of church and state, 28:54 persecute minorities. 28:55 Oh? 28:57 I want you to put on your seat belts. 29:00 Do you recognize this person? 29:03 Just recently the Holy Father, John Paul II, 29:07 he sent out a directive entitled, 29:09 'Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini, 29:12 of the Holy Father, John Paul II, 29:15 to the Bishops, Clergy, and Faithful of the Church, 29:18 on keeping the Lord's Day Holy." 29:20 Now that was sent out to Catholic church leaders 29:23 admonishing them to press their governments 29:27 to enact civil laws making it mandatory 29:29 to keep the 'Lord's Day,' 29:30 Sunday, as the time of universal rest and worship. 29:36 He was saying in essence, Priests, 29:38 Cardinals, Bishops, listen up. 29:41 People out there aren't keeping Sunday like they should, 29:43 they're watching football games, 29:44 doing all sorts of-- 29:45 so we need to press for civil legislation 29:47 to make it a reality. 29:50 Now my friend, does that sound eerily familiar? 29:54 Does it sound prophetic? 29:56 Just as this prophecy says? 30:00 And folks, this idea is not new here 30:02 in United States of America. 30:04 You know, for decades 30:05 we've had groups over here in this country, 30:07 advocating what we call Sunday laws. 30:10 We've had Sunday laws, 30:11 Blue laws in America since the days of the pilgrims. 30:15 Now we don't choose to enforce 30:16 most of those Sunday laws or else 30:18 we'd have our shopping malls closed on Sunday. 30:20 We wouldn't go to the grocery store, 30:21 to the ice cream shop, 30:22 or buy gasoline or to the car market. 30:25 But back in 1961, 30:26 the United States Supreme Court ruled 30:29 Sunday laws are constitutional. 30:33 Some states already have them. 30:35 We call them "blue laws". 30:37 Only they're cloaked under language 30:39 that is secular rather than religious. 30:41 You know, we've Sunday laws 30:42 'cause we want to cut down smog 30:44 and driving on Sundays. 30:45 Or it'll reduce weekend traffic. 30:47 It'll help conserve energy. 30:50 Now prophecy says, 30:52 Lon, it may sound preposterous. 30:57 But watch, for the impossible to-- 30:59 for the-- improbable to become the probable, 31:03 because it's coming. 31:05 Someday, a national Sunday law will be passed, 31:08 forcing people to bow to the beast power 31:12 as part of an ongoing attempt 31:14 to change God's Commandment. 31:18 Now for me to predict anything else tonight 31:22 would be sheer speculation. 31:24 So right now I want to turn to the big question 31:26 that I'm sure as on your mind, 31:29 Lonnie, does anyone now have the mark of the beast? 31:34 No, friend, not one single person 31:38 has the mark of the beast, not yet. 31:40 In fact, God has true followers in every church, 31:44 including the Roman Catholic Church. 31:46 Most of His people are out there, He says. 31:50 You know, I used to honestly wonder 31:51 how in the world this Sabbath truth 31:54 would become a world-wide, 31:56 national issue known by everyone. 31:59 But you know something, 32:00 after our last election here in America 32:02 I don't wonder anymore. 32:04 Remember when Senator Joseph Lieberman 32:06 accepted the vice-presidential nomination for Al Gore 32:10 and the Democratic Party, 32:12 why the Sabbath question suddenly hit world headlines 32:15 because Lieberman was a Jew. 32:18 And the question that was being asked on the talk shows, 32:21 CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, 32:23 what would Lieberman do on the Sabbath? 32:25 The Sabbath was debated everywhere. 32:28 What would he do if it was a national emergency? 32:30 Would he go to the White House? 32:32 Friend, listen, when God's ready that Sabbath issue 32:35 will become a world issue in God's perfect timing. 32:39 But this Word says 32:41 that when Sunday keeping is enforced by civil law, 32:46 then prophecy says, 32:48 the final crisis is precipitated 32:50 and every person must make a choice. 32:52 Allegiance to God and His 10 Commandment Sabbath? 32:55 Or allegiance to keep the day substituted by the beast, 33:00 by man's own authority. 33:03 Then, friend, and only then, 33:04 will anyone receive the mark of the beast. 33:09 And the crucial test will come. 33:11 It will come, to every person. 33:14 Shall I obey God, or shall I obey man? 33:19 Friend, do you see the real issue? 33:22 This isn't just a matter of days. 33:25 Paul writes and says, it's a matter of masters. 33:30 You're either slaves of sin and death, 33:33 or of obedience leading to righteousness. 33:36 See, it's a matter of love, it's a matter of loyalty. 33:39 It's a matter of obedience and conscience. 33:43 And Jesus says to me, Lonnie, 33:46 Lonnie, if you love Me, keep My Commandments. 33:52 In other words, a most solemn moment 33:54 will soon face every inhabitant on Earth. 33:57 No one will be able to buy or sell, 34:00 who does not have the mark of the beast, 34:03 on penalty of death. 34:05 But God says, Ah, these are My people. 34:09 They have My seal of approval. 34:11 They still remember the Sabbath. 34:15 But over on the other side are those who receive the mark. 34:20 By the way they also receive the seven last plagues, 34:23 judgment, punishment. 34:25 Friend, do you see why this issue 34:27 is so absolutely vital and important? 34:30 Do you see why it is a life and death matter? 34:33 A moral issue? 34:34 And why it's so vital that we choose now to honor God? 34:39 Now the good news 34:40 is that if we choose to honor God today 34:43 and receive His seal today, we win. 34:46 God wins. 34:49 No, survival may not be easy when we can't buy or sell. 34:53 Oh, but God says He'll take care of us. 34:56 Listen to promises like these over in Isaiah 33:16. 35:01 Bread will be given him; his water will be sure 35:06 oh, and those seven last plagues? 35:08 Folks, they won't fall on God's people either. 35:11 Listen to Psalm 91:10. No evil shall befall you, 35:16 nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. 35:20 Friend, I'd so much rather be on God's side 35:23 when those seven last plagues begin to fall, 35:24 wouldn't you? 35:27 Before we close, the book of Revelation, 35:29 John was shown a beautiful, beautiful vision. 35:33 A vision of those who gained the victory over the beast, 35:37 Revelation 15:2. 35:40 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: 35:45 and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, 35:47 and over his image, and over his mark, 35:49 and over the number of his name, 35:50 stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 35:55 Here in the picture we're finally home, home at last. 36:01 But today, friend, right now, 36:04 God is pleading with His true followers 36:06 through this message, inviting us to step 36:09 out of the counterfeit religious systems 36:11 to follow Him completely. 36:13 In fact, the Book of Revelation Chapter 18 36:16 is God's last, final call to people in all churches, 36:20 of all faiths, including my own, 36:23 to come out of Babylon. 36:25 Verse 4, "Come out of her, my people, 36:27 lest you share in her sins, 36:28 and lest you receive of her plagues." 36:33 God's not calling us, by the way, to step out 36:35 and form another denomination. 36:38 Because God doesn't save us by denominations, 36:41 not even mine. 36:43 No, friend, He's calling us 36:44 to step out of our man-made organizations 36:46 and form a movement of all faiths 36:50 and become "God's called out ones." 36:54 In fact, did you know that Seventh-day Adventists 36:56 don't consider themselves just another denomination? 36:59 We believe that we're a prophetic movement 37:02 comprised of every nation, race, kindred, tongue, 37:05 and people coming out 37:07 and embracing the light of end-time truth. 37:12 And we have an invitation for you tonight, 37:13 would you like to answer that call too? 37:17 It will cost you something to choose to follow Jesus. 37:21 But, remember the burning fiery furnace 37:24 and the three Hebrews' there, 37:26 their courage in the face of certain death? 37:29 In Daniel 3, when Nebuchadnezzar 37:31 ordered Shadrach, Meshach, 37:32 and Abednego to be thrown into the burning fiery furnace, 37:36 "bow down, worship by man-made golden image, 37:40 receive my mark of authority. 37:41 Worship me, worship the beast, the power, or else... 37:46 But they didn't, 37:48 and because they had God's seal. 37:51 He could take care of them and He did. 37:52 Miraculously preserved them. 37:55 But their choice sealed their destiny. 37:59 And it saved them. 38:01 And that's the lesson for us today. 38:03 It's a promise. 38:06 Remember Daniel there facing the lions den 38:08 when God shut the lion's mouths? 38:11 Well, the law was saying, 38:13 "Daniel, you worship our way, or else-- 38:17 our authority, our mark." 38:20 But friend, because Daniel was faithful 38:22 and he obeyed God, he received God's seal 38:26 and God's miracle, too. 38:28 Without hesitating or rationalizing, 38:30 they took their stand for God. 38:33 And God came through. He took care of them. 38:36 And friend, the lesson for us today 38:37 is God will take care of you and me, too. 38:41 In that last final day, if we accept His seal, 38:45 if we follow His will, if we obey His Word. 38:50 Throughout this series of prophecy meetings, 38:53 God through His Holy Spirit has been speaking to hearts 38:56 all over this world night by night, 38:58 illuminating our minds and inviting us, 39:00 pleading with us. 39:02 He is making His last call to a dying world 39:06 to get ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 39:10 Won't you this moment, without hesitation, 39:14 step forward and say, Lord, 39:17 I want to take my stand for You. 39:20 I want to place myself on God's side, 39:23 regardless of the cost. 39:25 Whatever sacrifices I'm called to make, 39:27 I'm going to follow Jesus. 39:30 Today, just now, by faith, 39:33 Lord, I choose to embrace all of the truth 39:36 I've learned from these programs. 39:39 Friend, it will be worth it all. 39:42 Jesus is coming soon to take us home with Him 39:46 and all those who choose to follow Him, all of the way. 39:51 Won't you, like those three Hebrews, 39:54 take your stand for God 39:56 and His truth right now as Joey sings. 40:04 Jesus calls me - I must follow 40:11 Follow Him today 40:16 When His tender voice is pleading 40:21 How can I delay? 40:28 Follow 40:31 I will follow Thee, my Lord 40:37 Follow every passing day 40:45 My tomorrows are all known 40:52 To Thee 40:55 Thou will lead me 41:00 All the way 41:08 Let us pray together. 41:11 Lord, we're coming to the end, 41:13 soon, the end for these meetings 41:16 but also the end for this whole planet, our world. 41:21 So it's decision time, 41:23 God's earnestly calling individuals 41:25 willing to accept Jesus at His word. 41:28 Willing to pay a price for their faith. 41:30 Willing to suffer even die, if need be. 41:34 Thank You, Lord, for your promises to see us through 41:37 and guarantee eternity for us. 41:41 Lord, if is one person listening today 41:43 who's felt impressed to make his 41:44 or her decision for Jesus Christ. 41:48 Would You help them to do that? 41:50 Now, before it's too late. 41:54 While our heads are bowed and in attitude of prayer 41:57 I want to invite the row captains to pass 41:58 that little commitment card down the row. 42:01 Please take your pencil and the commitment card. 42:04 I want you to put a response for Jesus 42:07 on that card, just now. 42:09 Going to go over that quickly with you. 42:12 Number one, since I love Jesus, I desire to obey Him fully. 42:20 I hope everyone will check that. 42:24 Since I love Jesus, I desire to obey Him fully. 42:28 Put a check beside number one. 42:30 Number two, I choose to lovingly keep 42:33 Jesus' Holy Sabbath day as the "seal of God." 42:37 Number two, I choose to keep 42:40 Jesus' Holy Sabbath day as the "seal of living God." 42:44 Put a check beside number two. 42:45 Number three, some of you have been studying 42:48 from night to night, weekend to weekend, 42:51 perhaps you'd like to check number three, 42:52 I desire to be baptized soon 42:55 and to follow Jesus all the way. 42:57 Put a check beside number three. 42:58 If you'd like to be baptized soon 43:00 and follow Jesus all the way, we'll help you get ready, 43:02 we'll help you prepared. 43:04 There may be someone here 43:05 who might have just come for the very first time tonight 43:07 and this is brand new to you and you have some questions 43:10 and maybe you have a prayer request. 43:11 Number four, would you like to check that, 43:14 put your prayer request on the back of the card. 43:17 We gladly pray for you at 10 o' clock 43:19 in our staff meetings. 43:21 Just make your decision right now as Joey sings. 43:28 Follow 43:31 I will follow Thee, my Lord 43:38 Follow every passing day 43:45 My tomorrows are all known 43:51 To Thee 43:54 Thou wilt lead me 43:58 All the way 44:07 Amen, let's continue in prayer, 44:09 Lord, help us, help us make the right choice, 44:13 regardless of what others think, 44:16 and I specially want to pray for those 44:18 who are beginning to keep your Commandments. 44:21 Lord, that is such a great change 44:23 and it's such a great test of our faith 44:26 but Jesus saves, 44:28 thank You for your messages of love and truth 44:32 so that we can prepare for Your soon coming. 44:36 Father, may we never be afraid 44:37 to stand up for truth and follow Jesus. 44:42 We pray in His wonderful name, amen. 44:48 I want to remind you 44:49 that we have a discover less in that parallels 44:52 precisely what we presented tonight, 44:54 Mark of the Beast. 44:56 Be sure to stop by your local discover Bible school table, 45:00 ask for it or write to us here at the Voice of Prophecy, 45:02 the Mark of the Beast. 45:04 Be sure to pick that up tonight. 45:07 Remember our next subject, next week, 45:09 same time, same place 45:11 is Surviving the Coming Tribulation. 45:15 Thanks so much for joining us tonight. 45:17 May God bless you till we meet again. 45:19 Remember as we close our broadcast, 45:21 friend, God really does love you. |
Revised 2015-03-26