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this is our first class this morning will be given by our brother jonathan will be given by our brother jonathan bowen bowen of the brantford ontario ecclesia the theme of brother bone's classes this week is the lamb shall overcome them week is the lamb shall overcome them and today's class is entitled a chaste and today's class is entitled a chaste virgin unto christ virgin unto christ and i turn the class over to brother and i turn the class over to brother jonathan well good morning brother and sisters and young people the purpose of our and young people the purpose of our study this week together in the book of study this week together in the book of revelation is going to be to prepare revelation is going to be to prepare ourselves or to help to prepare ourselves or to help to prepare ourselves for the return of the lord ourselves for the return of the lord jesus christ to the earth jesus christ to the earth to see the finger of god at work in the to see the finger of god at work in the world around us as it is taking place world around us as it is taking place right now right now to understand the reality of the to understand the reality of the preparation for the kingdom that's preparation for the kingdom that's currently taking place at the hand of currently taking place at the hand of the angels the angels to see the world for what it really is to see the world for what it really is in the eyes perhaps of our how our in the eyes perhaps of our how our heavenly father would have us look at it heavenly father would have us look at it to clarify the struggle between the seed to clarify the struggle between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent of the woman and the seed of the serpent as it takes place in the world around us as it takes place in the world around us today today and as it is and as it is as it has existed throughout the ages as it has existed throughout the ages we want to consider the example of our we want to consider the example of our lord jesus christ who was motivated by lord jesus christ who was motivated by his vision his vision we read in hebrews chapter 12 and the we read in hebrews chapter 12 and the second verse that we are to look unto second verse that we are to look unto jesus the author and the finisher of our jesus the author and the finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising before him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right the shame and has sat down at the right hand of god hand of god the lord jesus christ is the supreme the lord jesus christ is the supreme example for us example for us we have to develop the same vision that we have to develop the same vision that he had to have the same motivation he had to have the same motivation to overcome the world around us to overcome the world around us and hebrews chapter 11 the chapter and hebrews chapter 11 the chapter preceding preceding the statement that was made by the the statement that was made by the apostle paul is full of people who are apostle paul is full of people who are motivated by faith they had a similar motivated by faith they had a similar vision vision and in hebrews chapter 11 and the first and in hebrews chapter 11 and the first two verses we have the faith definition two verses we have the faith definition faith is the substance of things hoped faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen for the evidence of things not seen for by it the elders obtained a good for by it the elders obtained a good report and of course we have that report and of course we have that interpretation for us that faith is the interpretation for us that faith is the confident anticipation confident anticipation the the firm conviction of things not seen as firm conviction of things not seen as yet but firmly believe that are to come yet but firmly believe that are to come our vision must be tangible and real in our vision must be tangible and real in front of our eyes front of our eyes we have to be motivated like abraham we have to be motivated like abraham his faith was accredited to him for his faith was accredited to him for righteousness righteousness and that faith and that faith became a testimony to them as it means became a testimony to them as it means they're a good report they're a good report then when we look at faith and we ask then when we look at faith and we ask well how can we get it well how can we get it the world around us would paint the the world around us would paint the picture that faith is one of those warm picture that faith is one of those warm ethereal feelings that sort of descends ethereal feelings that sort of descends upon you as you as you involve yourself upon you as you as you involve yourself in the christian lifestyle the bible in the christian lifestyle the bible would paint a slightly different picture would paint a slightly different picture romans chapter 10 verse 17 tells us that romans chapter 10 verse 17 tells us that faith comes from hearing and hearing by faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of god the word of god that's the only source of faith that that's the only source of faith that there really is it helps us build a there really is it helps us build a clear vision in our minds of the glory clear vision in our minds of the glory of the kingdom to come of the kingdom to come and we have an opportunity to explore and we have an opportunity to explore that vision this morning and throughout that vision this morning and throughout this coming week this coming week we looked yesterday at the verse in we looked yesterday at the verse in second corinthians chapter four second corinthians chapter four the idea that we have to renew the the idea that we have to renew the inward man inward man we read in verse 16 for which cause we we read in verse 16 for which cause we faint not faint not but though our outward man perish yet but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day for the inward man is renewed day by day for our light affliction which is it but for our light affliction which is it but for a moment his momentary and passing a moment his momentary and passing work is for us a far more exceeding work is for us a far more exceeding weight or an eternal weight of glory weight or an eternal weight of glory and we are not to look at the things and we are not to look at the things that are seen that are seen not to look at the here and now but pass not to look at the here and now but pass them to the things that are not seen but them to the things that are not seen but the things that are seen are temporal the things that are seen are temporal the things that are not seen are eternal the things that are not seen are eternal we have to lift our focus off the we have to lift our focus off the passing transient things of this life passing transient things of this life the fleeting present and look past it to the fleeting present and look past it to the kingdom to come the glory of what is the kingdom to come the glory of what is to take place upon this earth in the to take place upon this earth in the near future near future when we do that the temporal things when we do that the temporal things around us of our lives as they exist around us of our lives as they exist right now our homes their careers our right now our homes their careers our trials the tribulations the school all trials the tribulations the school all the things that face us day by day the things that face us day by day become less and less important become less and less important and so we want to try and do that this and so we want to try and do that this morning and look past those things morning and look past those things the book of revelation is given for this the book of revelation is given for this purpose we read in revelation chapter 1 purpose we read in revelation chapter 1 and the first three verses that it's the and the first three verses that it's the revelation of jesus christ which god revelation of jesus christ which god gave unto him to show unto his servants gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass things which must shortly come to pass and he sent and he signified that book and he sent and he signified that book by his angel to his servant john by his angel to his servant john now the word signify we're going to come now the word signify we're going to come back and look at later on means to back and look at later on means to express by sign or by symbol express by sign or by symbol and hidden within those signs and and hidden within those signs and symbols is a blessing we read in verse 3 symbols is a blessing we read in verse 3 blessed is he that readeth and they that blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of the prophecy of this hear the words of the prophecy of this book book and those things that are written and those things that are written therein and they keep them for the time therein and they keep them for the time is at hand is at hand it is the blessing of imputed it is the blessing of imputed righteousness righteousness a promise to those who develop a a promise to those who develop a confident anticipation of things hoped confident anticipation of things hoped for or as we call it faith for or as we call it faith and so we've been invited by the lord and so we've been invited by the lord jesus christ and by the book of jesus christ and by the book of revelation to as it puts in revelation 6 revelation to as it puts in revelation 6 verse 1 when the seals were opened by verse 1 when the seals were opened by the lamb the voice goes out to say come the lamb the voice goes out to say come and see and see and so we're going to try and take up and so we're going to try and take up that invitation to come and see the lord that invitation to come and see the lord jesus christ has personally invited us jesus christ has personally invited us to look into these things to look into these things and that's what we'd like to try and do and that's what we'd like to try and do is see the picture that john saw is see the picture that john saw without a vision without a vision we're in trouble we're in trouble we read in proverbs 29 in the 18th verse we read in proverbs 29 in the 18th verse where there is no vision the people where there is no vision the people perish perish or more correctly translated from the or more correctly translated from the original the people are made naked original the people are made naked without vision we become laodicean without vision we become laodicean lukewarm in our in our attitude without lukewarm in our in our attitude without a zeal for the truth a zeal for the truth we become caught up in the world around we become caught up in the world around us us and there's a strong correspondence and there's a strong correspondence between between having a faithful vision and being having a faithful vision and being covered in christ covered in christ spiritual clothing is tied very closely spiritual clothing is tied very closely with faith with faith when we look at the chapter we had read when we look at the chapter we had read the beginning of revelation chapter 19 the beginning of revelation chapter 19 and verses 7 to 8 we read let us be glad and verses 7 to 8 we read let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him for and rejoice and give honor to him for the marriage of the lamb has come the marriage of the lamb has come and we notice there it says that his and we notice there it says that his wife wife hath made herself ready she has done hath made herself ready she has done something something and to her is granted that she should be and to her is granted that she should be arrayed in fine line and clean and white arrayed in fine line and clean and white for the fine linen and we read is the for the fine linen and we read is the righteousness of the saints righteousness of the saints now now we want to use the vision provided to us we want to use the vision provided to us in the book of revelation to help us in the book of revelation to help us understand the destiny of the saints understand the destiny of the saints and as this bride here is depicted as and as this bride here is depicted as making herself ready one of the key making herself ready one of the key ingredients in that preparation process ingredients in that preparation process is the development of faith is the development of faith that confident anticipation of the that confident anticipation of the return of the lord jesus christ to return of the lord jesus christ to establish his kingdom upon this earth establish his kingdom upon this earth put all these cares behind us and look put all these cares behind us and look forward to that forward to that the wedding garments that are the wedding garments that are given we notice are granted given we notice are granted and there's an interesting two terms she and there's an interesting two terms she makes herself ready makes herself ready but these garments are granted it's not but these garments are granted it's not something that she has earned something that she has earned but rather that is granted to her but rather that is granted to her and that is faith and that is faith imputed to her for righteousness because imputed to her for righteousness because the garments of course we are told are the garments of course we are told are the righteousness of the saints the righteousness of the saints now when we come back to romans chapter now when we come back to romans chapter 4 and we consider what the apostle paul 4 and we consider what the apostle paul said about abraham said about abraham what saith the scripture he says in what saith the scripture he says in verse 20 or in verse three verse 20 or in verse three sorry verse yeah well it's verse three sorry verse yeah well it's verse three to begin with what's saying the to begin with what's saying the scripture abraham believed god scripture abraham believed god and it was counted to him and it was counted to him for righteousness now we want to stop for righteousness now we want to stop there before we continue the word there there before we continue the word there counted counted is that idea of something that is is that idea of something that is accredited or imputed as it comes up accredited or imputed as it comes up later on in the chapter later on in the chapter now for us to understand that perhaps we now for us to understand that perhaps we could think of if we were transferring could think of if we were transferring from one school to another perhaps from one school to another perhaps you're going to college or something you're going to college or something like that and you want to take a certain like that and you want to take a certain course and when you go to that school to course and when you go to that school to take this course you find out that you take this course you find out that you don't have all the necessary credits or don't have all the necessary credits or requirements to take the appropriate requirements to take the appropriate course course but you can turn around to the school but you can turn around to the school and say i might not have your course but and say i might not have your course but i have other similar courses so they i have other similar courses so they will take that even though it's not the will take that even though it's not the same thing and they will accredit us same thing and they will accredit us with having the necessary qualifications with having the necessary qualifications that is similar to this word imputed we that is similar to this word imputed we do not have the necessary qualification do not have the necessary qualification of righteousness it's not something that of righteousness it's not something that we can possess we can possess in its fullest sense by ourselves but in its fullest sense by ourselves but imputed to us is our belief it's imputed to us is our belief it's accredited to us for righteousness and accredited to us for righteousness and that's what we go on to read he was that's what we go on to read he was fully persuaded that what god had fully persuaded that what god had promised he was able to perform promised he was able to perform and therefore that and therefore that firm conviction firm conviction that belief was accredited or imputed to that belief was accredited or imputed to him for righteousness now it's not him for righteousness now it's not written for his sake alone that it was written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but that extends to us imputed to him but that extends to us it is also to us it is also to us to whom it shall be imputed if we to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up jesus our believe on him that raised up jesus our lord from the dead lord from the dead so we cannot earn our righteousness but so we cannot earn our righteousness but we can prepare we can prepare by developing faith in ourselves so that by developing faith in ourselves so that when the marriage supper of the land when the marriage supper of the land comes it is granted to us to be arrayed comes it is granted to us to be arrayed in white linen pure and white in white linen pure and white now now when we think of the the picture of the when we think of the the picture of the lord jesus christ paints to us lord jesus christ paints to us throughout the new testament of his throughout the new testament of his bride the ecclesia that is something we bride the ecclesia that is something we all aspire to be a part of when the all aspire to be a part of when the marriage supper comes we would like to marriage supper comes we would like to be a part of that bride that ecclesia be a part of that bride that ecclesia there is a process by which the lord there is a process by which the lord jesus christ has developed his bride in jesus christ has developed his bride in ephesians chapter 5 and at verse 25 we ephesians chapter 5 and at verse 25 we read that husbands love your wives even read that husbands love your wives even as christ loved the ecclesia and gave as christ loved the ecclesia and gave himself for it himself for it that he might present it to himself a that he might present it to himself a glorious ecclesia without spot glorious ecclesia without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but it or wrinkle or any such thing but it should be holy and without blemish should be holy and without blemish now the preparation of the bride now the preparation of the bride requires the daily flowing of the word requires the daily flowing of the word through the minds of each and every one through the minds of each and every one of us to participate in that cleansing of us to participate in that cleansing process process it's a cleansing process that puts away it's a cleansing process that puts away the filth of the flesh of the thinking the filth of the flesh of the thinking of the flesh and helps to build faith of the flesh and helps to build faith within us within us we want to put away those things we want to put away those things and desire the kingdom have that vision and desire the kingdom have that vision firmly firmly fixed in our minds preparing us for the fixed in our minds preparing us for the marriage supper of the lamb marriage supper of the lamb and it is the truth that does that for and it is the truth that does that for us we read in john chapter 17 and the us we read in john chapter 17 and the 17th verse that we are told that the 17th verse that we are told that the lord jesus christ asks of his father lord jesus christ asks of his father sanctify them through thy truth sanctify them through thy truth thy thy word is truth word is truth so it's through the spirit word that we so it's through the spirit word that we are sanctified or cleansed that this are sanctified or cleansed that this process of purification for the marriage process of purification for the marriage supper of the lamb takes place supper of the lamb takes place and it's important that we keep the and it's important that we keep the truth truth it is important because it is important because it's the power of the word that it's the power of the word that sanctifies us that develops faith within sanctifies us that develops faith within us that we may be granted to be arrayed us that we may be granted to be arrayed in righteous robes in righteous robes if we lose elements of the truth if we lose elements of the truth we lose the power of the truth to we lose the power of the truth to sanctify ourselves sanctify ourselves we no longer become saints set aside for we no longer become saints set aside for a purpose but we drift back into what a purpose but we drift back into what our brother thomas called miserable our brother thomas called miserable sinners without hope and without vision sinners without hope and without vision and so the apostle paul in second and so the apostle paul in second corinthians chapter 11 describes the corinthians chapter 11 describes the ecclesia he says i am jealous over you ecclesia he says i am jealous over you with godly jealousy for i have espoused with godly jealousy for i have espoused you to one husband that i may present you to one husband that i may present you a chaste virgin unto christ you a chaste virgin unto christ and that's the effect of the cleansing and that's the effect of the cleansing power of the word it purifies us by its power of the word it purifies us by its doctrines doctrines so that the ecclesia or bride remains so that the ecclesia or bride remains chaste remains pure awaiting the return chaste remains pure awaiting the return of the lord jesus christ of the lord jesus christ now if we lose that purity now if we lose that purity if we lose that sanctifying power if we lose that sanctifying power then we will no longer be a chaste then we will no longer be a chaste virgin will we and those robes of virgin will we and those robes of imputed righteousness if the vision is imputed righteousness if the vision is not there if the firm conviction is the not there if the firm conviction is the if the belief the faith of abraham is if the belief the faith of abraham is not in the midst of each and every one not in the midst of each and every one of us of us then we no longer belong to that bride then we no longer belong to that bride do we we no longer are granted have do we we no longer are granted have granted to us those robes of imputed granted to us those robes of imputed righteousness righteousness and so when we look to the and so when we look to the kingdom age as it's depicted to us in kingdom age as it's depicted to us in the snapshot visions through the book of the snapshot visions through the book of revelation we find there the lamb who revelation we find there the lamb who stands on the mount zion and with him stands on the mount zion and with him there are 144 000 having his father's there are 144 000 having his father's name written on their foreheads the name written on their foreheads the character of their god in their minds in character of their god in their minds in their hearts god manifestation their hearts god manifestation and we find that these are they which and we find that these are they which are not defiled the original word is are not defiled the original word is among women for they are virgins among women for they are virgins these are they which follow the lamb these are they which follow the lamb with us whoever he goeth with us whoever he goeth these were redeemed purchased from among these were redeemed purchased from among men being the first fruits unto god into men being the first fruits unto god into the lamb and in their mouth there is no the lamb and in their mouth there is no guile found and they are without fault guile found and they are without fault before the throne of god before the throne of god that vision of revelation describes that that vision of revelation describes that virgin who has been sanctified by the virgin who has been sanctified by the word and the effect of that is she is word and the effect of that is she is not defiled among the other women of the not defiled among the other women of the book of revelation book of revelation she has not compromised the character she has not compromised the character that has been imputed or sorry that has been imputed or sorry manifestly put onto her mind through the manifestly put onto her mind through the lord jesus christ lord jesus christ they have not defiled themselves amongst they have not defiled themselves amongst those described to us in the book of those described to us in the book of revelation revelation and so as we follow that the character and so as we follow that the character the theme of this book all the way the theme of this book all the way through through we find that it is the seed of the woman we find that it is the seed of the woman versus the seed of the serpent that is versus the seed of the serpent that is the plotline of the book of revelation the plotline of the book of revelation the enmity between thee and the woman the enmity between thee and the woman between thy seed and her seed the between thy seed and her seed the serpent that would be bruised in the serpent that would be bruised in the head head although it would inflict that temporary although it would inflict that temporary wound upon the the heel of the woman wound upon the the heel of the woman that's the plotline of the book of that's the plotline of the book of revelation and it's a living plotline revelation and it's a living plotline it's a plotline that is alive because it's a plotline that is alive because the book of revelation isn't a story the book of revelation isn't a story about things that just happened in the about things that just happened in the past it's not something merely past it's not something merely historical and factual that's historical and factual that's interesting and intellectually interesting and intellectually stimulating for us it is a living book stimulating for us it is a living book and that book affects every single one and that book affects every single one of us it's alive today its message is of us it's alive today its message is just as relevant today as it was to john just as relevant today as it was to john back in the first century back in the first century the apostle paul though the apostle paul though although he depicts the ecclesiast although he depicts the ecclesiast virgin unto christ was concerned for her virgin unto christ was concerned for her he says that he feared in verse 3 he says that he feared in verse 3 lest that by any means lest that by any means as the serpent beguiled eve through his as the serpent beguiled eve through his subtlety subtlety so your minds should be corrupted from so your minds should be corrupted from simplicity that is in christ simplicity that is in christ for if he that cometh preacheth another for if he that cometh preacheth another jesus whom we have not received or whom jesus whom we have not received or whom we have not preached or if you receive we have not preached or if you receive another spirit which he have not another spirit which he have not received or another gospel which you received or another gospel which you have not accepted have not accepted he's afraid that they would bear with he's afraid that they would bear with him they would go along with it him they would go along with it and so and so there was this fear there was this fear of corrupting doctrine that would defile of corrupting doctrine that would defile the bride the bride that would make them unfit to wear those that would make them unfit to wear those robes of imputed righteousness that robes of imputed righteousness that would stop the preparation process would stop the preparation process that's described for us in revelation that's described for us in revelation chapter 19 chapter 19 and in the most severe cases and in the most severe cases that the ecclesia would be robbed of its that the ecclesia would be robbed of its faith faith robbed of its vision and as proverbs robbed of its vision and as proverbs puts it to us therefore robbed of its puts it to us therefore robbed of its covering covering now the apostle paul now the apostle paul expected a specific system expected a specific system there was something coming that he knew there was something coming that he knew about and he tells us about about and he tells us about thessalonians that would be responsible thessalonians that would be responsible for such a tragedy for such a tragedy the antidote for this is given to us as the antidote for this is given to us as personal bible study personal bible study because if because if this this beguiling system came along and the beguiling system came along and the brethren sisters had their bibles open brethren sisters had their bibles open and were aware of the truth as it is in and were aware of the truth as it is in christ jesus the gospel the things christ jesus the gospel the things concerning the kingdom of god and the concerning the kingdom of god and the name of jesus christ then they would not name of jesus christ then they would not be able to be deceived because they be able to be deceived because they would be in light would be in light but as they moved slowly throughout the but as they moved slowly throughout the first century and into the second first century and into the second the light of the gospel began to fade the light of the gospel began to fade they began to become complacent they began to become complacent a clergy type atmosphere developed where a clergy type atmosphere developed where there was there was clergy and laity within the ecclesia clergy and laity within the ecclesia there was the ruling brethren and then there was the ruling brethren and then there was the general populace there was the general populace and in isaiah chapter 9 and verse 16 we and in isaiah chapter 9 and verse 16 we have a great warning to us have a great warning to us it's the leaders of the people that it's the leaders of the people that cause them to air said god of israel at cause them to air said god of israel at this point in time this point in time and they that are led of them and they that are led of them are destroyed are destroyed and so brothers and sisters there's a and so brothers and sisters there's a real danger it was there for israel it's real danger it was there for israel it's there in the first century and certainly there in the first century and certainly it's there for us today it's there for us today that if we become complacent and put the that if we become complacent and put the sole responsibility of the faith sole responsibility of the faith developing diet developing diet upon the leaders of the ecclesia upon the leaders of the ecclesia there's the possibility that there may there's the possibility that there may be corruption be corruption and that the flock will follow them and that the flock will follow them and the christodolphians as a body have and the christodolphians as a body have throughout their existence resisted this throughout their existence resisted this by having the bible readings by having by having the bible readings by having personal bible study in every household personal bible study in every household from a day-to-day basis as something from a day-to-day basis as something that works as an antiseptic to this that works as an antiseptic to this study to show thyself approved unto god study to show thyself approved unto god writes paul to timothy a workman that writes paul to timothy a workman that needeth not be ashamed well the problem needeth not be ashamed well the problem in the first century is that there was in the first century is that there was the laodicean attitude that's described the laodicean attitude that's described in the letters to the ecclesia that bred in the letters to the ecclesia that bred laziness and complacency laziness and complacency leaving the spiritual discernment leaving the spiritual discernment purely to the shepherds so that when purely to the shepherds so that when different doctrinal points of view came different doctrinal points of view came in they were not sufficiently contested in they were not sufficiently contested all of us are instructed in first peter all of us are instructed in first peter chapter five but specifically the the chapter five but specifically the the overseers of the flock as they were back overseers of the flock as they were back in the first century in the first century the job of the overseers the elders was the job of the overseers the elders was to feed the flock of god which is among to feed the flock of god which is among you by taking the oversight thereof not you by taking the oversight thereof not of constraint but willingly not for of constraint but willingly not for filthy lucr but of a ready mind neither filthy lucr but of a ready mind neither is being lords over god's heritage and is being lords over god's heritage and there is the idea of that clergy there is the idea of that clergy but has been examples or in samples to but has been examples or in samples to the flock and when the chief shepherd the flock and when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of shall appear ye shall receive a crown of right of glory that fadeth not away the right of glory that fadeth not away the eldership of the ecclesia eldership of the ecclesia the prime directive to them was to feed the prime directive to them was to feed the flock of god the flock of god and we need to remember that provide and we need to remember that provide meat for my household as the lord jesus meat for my household as the lord jesus christ tells us and that takes place by christ tells us and that takes place by the diet that is prepared in the sunday the diet that is prepared in the sunday school in the bible class in the school in the bible class in the lectures in the speaking brethren in lectures in the speaking brethren in what is put forward by the sisters to what is put forward by the sisters to the children in the sunday school but the children in the sunday school but all these things working together in the all these things working together in the home home feeding the flock that is the prime feeding the flock that is the prime directive because that is what directive because that is what sanctifies us from the world sanctifies us from the world now now it's the scripture that's able to make it's the scripture that's able to make us wise unto salvation and we never want us wise unto salvation and we never want to let our arranging boards become so to let our arranging boards become so crippled with trivial and temporal crippled with trivial and temporal concerns about the halls and the concerns about the halls and the trimmings and all that type of thing trimmings and all that type of thing that they become that they become lose their focus as to what we're really lose their focus as to what we're really supposed to be about we all have to keep supposed to be about we all have to keep this as the paramount prime directive of this as the paramount prime directive of our community our community as soon as we become more of a social as soon as we become more of a social ship and less of a fellowship around ship and less of a fellowship around god's word the sooner we lose those god's word the sooner we lose those roads of righteousness roads of righteousness in second peter chapter 2 in the first in second peter chapter 2 in the first three verses there the apostle tells three verses there the apostle tells them quite clearly that there there is a them quite clearly that there there is a warning given warning given there were he says false prophets among there were he says false prophets among the people of israel back in the old the people of israel back in the old testament testament and so he says why should you be any and so he says why should you be any different different even as there shall be false teachers even as there shall be false teachers among you among you who privily shall bring in damnable who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the lord that heresies even denying the lord that bought them and bring upon themselves bought them and bring upon themselves with destruction and many he says shall with destruction and many he says shall follow their pernicious ways by reason follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of evil spoken of their motivation is covetousness and their motivation is covetousness and through covetousness they shall with through covetousness they shall with feigned words make merchandise of you feigned words make merchandise of you now brother and sisters we must not be now brother and sisters we must not be naive to the realities that face us naive to the realities that face us just as the ecclesia in the first just as the ecclesia in the first century was told not to be naive as to century was told not to be naive as to the realities that faced them the realities that faced them there would be false teachers and there would be false teachers and shepherds among them shepherds among them why wouldn't there be amongst us that's why wouldn't there be amongst us that's what the apostle peter says what the apostle peter says and what we have to do is keep our minds and what we have to do is keep our minds and our hearts spiritually aware and and our hearts spiritually aware and perceptive perceptive in the first century they were to be in the first century they were to be successful successful many shall follow their pernicious ways many shall follow their pernicious ways and they would jeopardize the and they would jeopardize the preparation of the bride destroying the preparation of the bride destroying the vision becoming the conquerors or the vision becoming the conquerors or the vanquishers of the people that we read vanquishers of the people that we read about in the letters to the ecclesiastic about in the letters to the ecclesiastic or the the nicolaitans or the the nicolaitans ezekiel talks of israel in the same way ezekiel talks of israel in the same way thus saith the lord god unto the thus saith the lord god unto the shepherds woe to the shepherds of israel shepherds woe to the shepherds of israel that feed themselves that feed themselves should not the fl should not the fl should not the shepherds feed the flocks should not the shepherds feed the flocks and he admonishes them you eat the fats and he admonishes them you eat the fats you clothe you with the wool you kill you clothe you with the wool you kill them that are fed but you feed not the them that are fed but you feed not the flock the deceased have you not flock the deceased have you not strengthened neither have you healed strengthened neither have you healed that's what you are sick neither have that's what you are sick neither have you bound up that which was broken you bound up that which was broken neither have you brought to gain that neither have you brought to gain that which was driven away neither have you which was driven away neither have you sought that which was lost but with sought that which was lost but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them force and cruelty have ye ruled them and brothers and sisters that's a and brothers and sisters that's a warning to us warning to us to be aware that these things happened to be aware that these things happened in the past as examples in the past as examples let him that thinketh he standeth take let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall heed lest he fall the corruption of doctrine the corruption of doctrine can defile individual members of the can defile individual members of the ecclesia ecclesia in the most severe cases as we have in the most severe cases as we have mentioned it robs us of our faith mentioned it robs us of our faith and the problem in the first century was and the problem in the first century was the same problem back in the time of the same problem back in the time of ezekiel that the elders fed themselves ezekiel that the elders fed themselves and not the flock and not the flock it became a situation of clergy and it became a situation of clergy and laity whereby just like it began really laity whereby just like it began really around around the lord's table the last supper where the lord's table the last supper where there was a discussion as to who would there was a discussion as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven from the first century that developed from the first century that developed that developed into a clergy in a laity that developed into a clergy in a laity mentality because it's human nature that mentality because it's human nature that we want to be better than each other we want to be better than each other and so the apostle warns us in acts and so the apostle warns us in acts chapter 20 and at verse 28 i don't chapter 20 and at verse 28 i don't perhaps we could just lose the lights perhaps we could just lose the lights here in the front we're sort of here in the front we're sort of losing a bit of the overhead losing a bit of the overhead um um in the first century there was a real in the first century there was a real danger of spiritual wolves entering in danger of spiritual wolves entering in and devouring the the flock and devouring the the flock we read there in acts chapter 20 and at we read there in acts chapter 20 and at verse 28 take heed unto all the flock verse 28 take heed unto all the flock over which the holy spirit hath made you over which the holy spirit hath made you overseers to feed the ecclesia of god overseers to feed the ecclesia of god which he hath purchased with his own which he hath purchased with his own blood blood for i know this says the apostle for i know this says the apostle i know this not it might happen or it's i know this not it might happen or it's possible he says i know this that after possible he says i know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things speaking perverse things why to draw away disciples after them why to draw away disciples after them this is the first century ecclesia we this is the first century ecclesia we often apply these verses to the world often apply these verses to the world around us all these grievous wolves and around us all these grievous wolves and there's all these types of things but there's all these types of things but this is talking about within the this is talking about within the ecclesia as all these these verses are ecclesia as all these these verses are the violent wolves that would come in the violent wolves that would come in and devour the flock for their own and devour the flock for their own purposes purposes not to further the purpose of god in not to further the purpose of god in calling out the saints calling out the saints also they would arise from within also they would arise from within perverting the truth motivated by the perverting the truth motivated by the lust of pride the pride of life and it lust of pride the pride of life and it was once put to me that there's three was once put to me that there's three reasons for false doctrine the lust of reasons for false doctrine the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and that's exactly what we pride of life and that's exactly what we see here he warns that there will be see here he warns that there will be perverse doctrines that are based upon perverse doctrines that are based upon the idea of the pride of life the idea of the pride of life that was what was to face the ecclesia that was what was to face the ecclesia what we're trying to do is look at what we're trying to do is look at revelation paints for us this picture of revelation paints for us this picture of this bride this bride this lamb's wife that was to be a chaste this lamb's wife that was to be a chaste virgin and yet as we begin to follow virgin and yet as we begin to follow through and see what happened in the through and see what happened in the first century we begin to see that this first century we begin to see that this was to change and this was the altar was to change and this was the altar the lord jesus christ himself tells us the lord jesus christ himself tells us in matthew chapter 7 and the 15th verse in matthew chapter 7 and the 15th verse beware of false prophets which shall beware of false prophets which shall come unto you in sheep's clothing come unto you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves but inwardly they are ravening wolves now this describes to us those who had a now this describes to us those who had a religiously pious exterior they looked religiously pious exterior they looked the part the part on the outside they looked the part of on the outside they looked the part of the sheep of the shepherds but from the sheep of the shepherds but from within within out of the heart of men perceived evil out of the heart of men perceived evil thoughts thefts murders adulteries and thoughts thefts murders adulteries and that's the same thing that they were that's the same thing that they were faced with these things were to come faced with these things were to come from within and to file the ecclesia from within and to file the ecclesia and now brothers and sisters when we and now brothers and sisters when we think of ii peter chapter 2 think of ii peter chapter 2 we are given the description of this we are given the description of this type of apostasy that would develop type of apostasy that would develop he says when they speak he says when they speak it's great swelling words of vanity it's great swelling words of vanity they're done with great gusto great they're done with great gusto great charisma but they are empty charisma but they are empty they allure through the lust of the they allure through the lust of the flesh the doctrine the message is flesh the doctrine the message is pleasing pleasing it it tantallates our flesh it's something tantallates our flesh it's something that we could do it's not hard and maybe that we could do it's not hard and maybe perhaps requires change of us but we perhaps requires change of us but we could do this we could go along with could do this we could go along with this this and he says through much wantonness and he says through much wantonness those that were clean escaped those that were clean escaped from them who live in error from them who live in error while they promised liberty while they promised liberty they themselves are the servants of they themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same as he brought in bondage and of the same as he brought in bondage and that brother and sisters is the seed of that brother and sisters is the seed of the woman the woman versus the seed of the serpent what did versus the seed of the serpent what did the serpent promise eve the serpent promise eve he promised her liberty he promised her liberty he promised her freedom he promised her he promised her freedom he promised her knowledge he promised her life all those knowledge he promised her life all those things that's exactly what peter's things that's exactly what peter's talking about here talking about here they speak great swelling words of they speak great swelling words of vanity vanity and they appeal to the lusts of the and they appeal to the lusts of the flesh flesh but the message the doctrine that's put but the message the doctrine that's put forward forward is empty is empty they promise liberty they promise liberty and they become the servants of and they become the servants of corruption corruption that's exactly what the serpent promised that's exactly what the serpent promised eve eve and what she became was a servant of and what she became was a servant of corruption corruption and just like the apostle paul says he and just like the apostle paul says he feared lest just as the serpent beguiled feared lest just as the serpent beguiled eve eve so the first century ecclesia and so you so the first century ecclesia and so you and i and i would be corrupted by these doctrines would be corrupted by these doctrines and that's why we have a statement of and that's why we have a statement of faith faith that's why we have a clearly defined that's why we have a clearly defined catalog of what we believe catalog of what we believe it's to separate us from the world it's to separate us from the world that's the whole idea from it sanctify that's the whole idea from it sanctify them through thy truth come out from them through thy truth come out from among her and be separate touch not the among her and be separate touch not the unclean thing unclean thing it's to take the world and its doctrines it's to take the world and its doctrines and to put a division and as you go and to put a division and as you go through the old testament and you see through the old testament and you see what god tried to do with israel through what god tried to do with israel through the wilderness through the tabernacle the wilderness through the tabernacle through the law it was to separate to through the law it was to separate to put a difference between israel and the put a difference between israel and the world around them and the nations world around them and the nations and what the apostle peter was worried and what the apostle peter was worried about was that the message that would be about was that the message that would be portrayed by those that would arise in portrayed by those that would arise in the ecclesia would be one of those shall the ecclesia would be one of those shall not surely die and that's all around us we're going on up to the spirit in the sky that's where we're spirit in the sky that's where we're going when we die that's what they sing going when we die that's what they sing that's what they teach but it's all that's what they teach but it's all empty words of vanity empty words of vanity and so brother and sisters and so brother and sisters in the first century there were those in the first century there were those teachers that stole the vision of the teachers that stole the vision of the kingdom that was to come kingdom that was to come they stole the vision from the brethren they stole the vision from the brethren and sisters who stopped looking forward and sisters who stopped looking forward to the kingdom of god on earth and were to the kingdom of god on earth and were taught things that the kingdom of god is taught things that the kingdom of god is among you it's now don't look for a among you it's now don't look for a political kingdom in the future of political kingdom in the future of something something yet to come but concentrate on the here yet to come but concentrate on the here and now and so instead of looking at the and now and so instead of looking at the joy set before them joy set before them they became people who looked at the they became people who looked at the tribulation of the moment and that's a tribulation of the moment and that's a recipe for the disaster of the saints recipe for the disaster of the saints they began to believe they began to believe that the kingdom of god was something that the kingdom of god was something that was the here and now the blessings that was the here and now the blessings of this life was what was to be looked of this life was what was to be looked forward to now that is the message of forward to now that is the message of popular christianity isn't it that the popular christianity isn't it that the kingdom is among you kingdom is among you that we can have the holy spirit now and that we can have the holy spirit now and all the benefits and they think that the all the benefits and they think that the wealth that we accumulate in this life wealth that we accumulate in this life is is the blessing from god purely is is the blessing from god purely because we're christians and you have because we're christians and you have these christian businessmen associations these christian businessmen associations and whatever else that's the way the and whatever else that's the way the thinking of the world goes supposing thinking of the world goes supposing that gain is godliness that gain is godliness and brother and sisters we've got to and brother and sisters we've got to keep ourselves separate from that keep ourselves separate from that the apostle paul talks about the apostle paul talks about the development of this apostasy into a the development of this apostasy into a formal system formal system second thessalonians chapter 2 let no second thessalonians chapter 2 let no man deceive you by any means for that man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come day shall not come except there come a falling away first a falling away first and the man of sin be revealed the man and the man of sin be revealed the man of lawlessness he will be revealed says of lawlessness he will be revealed says the apostle paul the son of perdition or the apostle paul the son of perdition or lawlessness is it this who opposeth and lawlessness is it this who opposeth and exalts himself above all that is called exalts himself above all that is called god or that is worship so that he as god god or that is worship so that he as god sits in the temple of god showing sits in the temple of god showing himself that he is god himself that he is god this was what was to arise in the first this was what was to arise in the first century and to develop from there and century and to develop from there and would last all the way through to the would last all the way through to the lord jesus christ comes as thessalonians lord jesus christ comes as thessalonians continues whom the lord shall destroy continues whom the lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming with the brightness of his coming it was to be there from that point in it was to be there from that point in time right the way through to our point time right the way through to our point in time in time and that falling away that was to exalt and that falling away that was to exalt itself was to come because of a loss of itself was to come because of a loss of vision vision because the brethren and sisters became because the brethren and sisters became totally engrossed in this life totally engrossed in this life and so as we sort of summarize what and so as we sort of summarize what we've talked about we've talked about the main duty of the ecclesial the main duty of the ecclesial presbyters back in the first century as presbyters back in the first century as it should be today is to feed the it should be today is to feed the ecclesia with the word of god ecclesia with the word of god the apostle says it's not fit that we the apostle says it's not fit that we should leave the true service of the should leave the true service of the lord to wait on tables remember when lord to wait on tables remember when they chose at the deacons not that they chose at the deacons not that that's not a work that needs to be done that's not a work that needs to be done but the focus of the ecclesia has to be but the focus of the ecclesia has to be on the word on the word there was warnings that false leaders there was warnings that false leaders would arise who would abuse their office would arise who would abuse their office neglect their duty for the lust of power neglect their duty for the lust of power of a following and a filthy lucr of a following and a filthy lucr these false apostles would arise both these false apostles would arise both from within from within and from without of the ecclesia some and from without of the ecclesia some interested friends coming in perhaps you interested friends coming in perhaps you could call it that another's brothers could call it that another's brothers and sisters arising and they would bring and sisters arising and they would bring with them or develop that type of with them or develop that type of situation situation they would lead the ecclesia astray by they would lead the ecclesia astray by teaching these false doctrines and this teaching these false doctrines and this falling away would climax in the falling away would climax in the revealing of the son or the man of sin revealing of the son or the man of sin the son of perdition the son of perdition and that brother and sister stands as a and that brother and sister stands as a warning to us warning to us stands as a warning to us not to follow stands as a warning to us not to follow the same path that that first and second the same path that that first and second century ecclesia took century ecclesia took as corinthians tells us in chapter 10 as corinthians tells us in chapter 10 and verse 12 let him that thinketh he and verse 12 let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall and we standeth take heed lest he fall and we have to protect the inheritance that we have to protect the inheritance that we have been given and that begins in our have been given and that begins in our own homes and with our own families this verse stands as a testimony to our community community it stood as a testimony to israel it stood as a testimony to israel there's a testimony of the first century there's a testimony of the first century ecclesia ecclesia my people are destroyed for lack of my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge hosea 4 6 because thou has knowledge hosea 4 6 because thou has rejected rejected knowledge knowledge that is the knowledge of god the yadah that is the knowledge of god the yadah the knowing him by experience i will the knowing him by experience i will also reject thee also reject thee that thou shalt be no priest to me that thou shalt be no priest to me well then we do not belong to the well then we do not belong to the kingdom do we kingdom do we kings and priests is what we're looking kings and priests is what we're looking forward to but if we reject the forward to but if we reject the knowledge of god then we have no place knowledge of god then we have no place in it seeing thou hast forgotten the law in it seeing thou hast forgotten the law of god of god i will forget thy children i will forget thy children that's a severe warning to us as more that's a severe warning to us as more and more and more the bible readings become a thing that the bible readings become a thing that we just are too busy to do we just are too busy to do with all the events of this life and with all the events of this life and hustle and bustle here and there hustle and bustle here and there as you take a poll perhaps you find that as you take a poll perhaps you find that more and more people don't do them you more and more people don't do them you may have noticed yourselves and your may have noticed yourselves and your families but that's the way sometimes it families but that's the way sometimes it gets but we've got to say if we are gets but we've got to say if we are there then let's put a stop to that and there then let's put a stop to that and protect our inheritance that we pass on protect our inheritance that we pass on to our children to our children if we're becoming too busy in the if we're becoming too busy in the activities of the life of our lives to activities of the life of our lives to attend the bible class or the ecclesial attend the bible class or the ecclesial functions then we have to change our functions then we have to change our perspectives perspectives death of the bible readings will result death of the bible readings will result in death of the ecclesia in death of the ecclesia god will reject us god will reject us and our children and our children and who wants that for your children and who wants that for your children you look at the world out there and you you look at the world out there and you see what it has to offer if we don't see what it has to offer if we don't take the steps to instill the word of take the steps to instill the word of god in them and in our families then god god in them and in our families then god will reject them will reject them so brothers and sisters we really need so brothers and sisters we really need to consider this to consider this in the new testament it's full of in the new testament it's full of evidence of this type of thing taking evidence of this type of thing taking place and we don't look at this to sort place and we don't look at this to sort of depress everybody by by no means what of depress everybody by by no means what we want to do is draw the comparison we want to do is draw the comparison that there is a struggle going on there that there is a struggle going on there was in the first century and we're going was in the first century and we're going to watch it go through the book of to watch it go through the book of revelation but it's also going on in our revelation but it's also going on in our lives in arab legions in our personal lives in arab legions in our personal homes today homes today there's evidence of the apostasy as it there's evidence of the apostasy as it grew up in the ecclesia galatians grew up in the ecclesia galatians chapter 2 and verse 4 paul had already chapter 2 and verse 4 paul had already dealt with false brethren dealt with false brethren he says that there were false brethren he says that there were false brethren unawares brought in who came in unawares brought in who came in privately or privily secretly to spy out privately or privily secretly to spy out our liberty our liberty which we have in christ jesus that they which we have in christ jesus that they might bring us into bondage now isn't might bring us into bondage now isn't that an echo back to what paul says in that an echo back to what paul says in in in corinthians about being brought under corinthians about being brought under subjection of the serpent system to whom subjection of the serpent system to whom we gave we gave place by subjections as the apostle paul place by subjections as the apostle paul no no not for an hour not for an hour that the truth of the gospel might that the truth of the gospel might continue with you now think about that continue with you now think about that brother and sister this is how the brother and sister this is how the apostle paul dealt with it apostle paul dealt with it he didn't give place he didn't allow he didn't give place he didn't allow them one bible class not one hour class them one bible class not one hour class to get up there and give their fanciful to get up there and give their fanciful ideas of things that were great empty ideas of things that were great empty words of speculations and whatever else words of speculations and whatever else and there was a reason for that not and there was a reason for that not because he was a hard and austere man because he was a hard and austere man but because brothers and sisters he but because brothers and sisters he wanted the truth to continue with them wanted the truth to continue with them because he realized it's the truth that because he realized it's the truth that sanctifies and that prepares us for a sanctifies and that prepares us for a place in the kingdom place in the kingdom would we do the same brothers and would we do the same brothers and sisters sisters do we stand up to do we stand up to different ideas that challenge our different ideas that challenge our foundations or are we more like the fire foundations or are we more like the fire tyrannoclesia who suffer the woman tyrannoclesia who suffer the woman jezebel which calleth herself a jezebel which calleth herself a prophetess to teach and to seduce my prophetess to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed into idols eat things sacrificed into idols do we allow do we allow the the post-french revolution humanism to post-french revolution humanism to infect our clegis whereby everybody gets infect our clegis whereby everybody gets a turn no matter what people have to say a turn no matter what people have to say whether it's the word of god or not it's whether it's the word of god or not it's democracy so everybody should have a democracy so everybody should have a turn to get up there and say their own turn to get up there and say their own thing thing do we stand against these false ideas do we stand against these false ideas because that's what the class in the in because that's what the class in the in the letters to the ecclesia and to pass the letters to the ecclesia and to pass those who stand against they stood up those who stand against they stood up against these and the lord jesus christ against these and the lord jesus christ was was was was commending of them commending of them or would we allow just anything to take or would we allow just anything to take place we've got to look at the issue for place we've got to look at the issue for what it is what it is it's not just a case of entertaining one it's not just a case of entertaining one another with our words another with our words the truth is what will separate us and the truth is what will separate us and prepare us for the kingdom prepare us for the kingdom it what it's what builds in us faith and it what it's what builds in us faith and life life and the lord jesus christ we read in and the lord jesus christ we read in corinthians corinthians gave his life for the ecclesia gave his life for the ecclesia sanctifying it by the washing of the sanctifying it by the washing of the water of the word water of the word how much do we value that how much do we value that what are we willing to give to preserve what are we willing to give to preserve the the sanctity and the separateness the sanctity and the separateness the chastity of the ecclesia chastity of the ecclesia we read in in the letters of john of the we read in in the letters of john of the apostasy that had already developed he apostasy that had already developed he tells us that little children it is the tells us that little children it is the last time he saw the day that he was last time he saw the day that he was living in and as you have heard that living in and as you have heard that antichrist should come he says now he antichrist should come he says now he says there are many antichrists many who says there are many antichrists many who would put themselves in the place of the would put themselves in the place of the true gospel whereby we know he says that true gospel whereby we know he says that it is the last time it is the last time and he describes the character of this and he describes the character of this antichrist they went out from us antichrist they went out from us for if they would have been for if they for if they would have been for if they had been of us they would no doubt have had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us continued with us but they were not of us but they were not of us and so they went out that they might be and so they went out that they might be made manifest made manifest and so brother and sisters in the and so brother and sisters in the apostle john's time there was an apostle john's time there was an adequate witness they contended adequate witness they contended earnestly for the faith so much so that earnestly for the faith so much so that this group decided not for this we're this group decided not for this we're going to leave it separated the ecclesia going to leave it separated the ecclesia and that's what jude tells us in verse 3 and that's what jude tells us in verse 3 beloved i gave all diligence to write beloved i gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was unto you of the common salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith that was once contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints and so should we delivered to the saints and so should we brethren because tied into that faith brethren because tied into that faith is our eternal life is our eternal life the robes of imputed righteousness that the robes of imputed righteousness that are granted to the bride the lamb's wife are granted to the bride the lamb's wife to wear are tied into her faith which to wear are tied into her faith which comes from hearing and hearing from the comes from hearing and hearing from the word of god word of god he was trying to preserve the gospel of he was trying to preserve the gospel of salvation which had been delivered to salvation which had been delivered to them because he wanted the ecclesia to them because he wanted the ecclesia to be a part of the bride of christ be a part of the bride of christ he preserved the vision of faith he preserved the vision of faith and the joy that was set before them and the joy that was set before them and we have to do that ourselves and it and we have to do that ourselves and it begins by making ourselves fully aware begins by making ourselves fully aware of what our god has promised us of what our god has promised us in the letters to the ecclesiastes given in the letters to the ecclesiastes given there to us descriptions there to us descriptions of the time of the time or of the ecclesia at the time of the or of the ecclesia at the time of the first century when the lord jesus christ first century when the lord jesus christ looked out upon it and said looked out upon it and said in revelation 2 verse 2 in revelation 2 verse 2 thou hast tried them which say they are thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not and as fandom liars apostles and are not and as fandom liars in the ecclesia where they were those in the ecclesia where they were those who said that they were one cent they who said that they were one cent they were there with a mission to teach the were there with a mission to teach the word of god he says but you've tried word of god he says but you've tried them they followed the advice of the them they followed the advice of the apostle john to try the spirits whether apostle john to try the spirits whether they are of god because many false they are of god because many false prophets are gone out into the world prophets are gone out into the world they tried them they tried them that said they were apostles and found that said they were apostles and found that they were not that they were not we read in verse six of chapter two that we read in verse six of chapter two that thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitans thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitans the nicolaitans were those who were the the nicolaitans were those who were the vanquishers of the people they destroyed vanquishers of the people they destroyed the ecclesias faith the ecclesias faith and there were those in the ecclesia who and there were those in the ecclesia who hated that they did not want to see the hated that they did not want to see the ecclesia destroyed ecclesia destroyed there was a contention between the seat there was a contention between the seat of the woman and the seat of the serpent of the woman and the seat of the serpent and this stands as a sober warning to us and this stands as a sober warning to us not to take the truth for granted not to take the truth for granted there were those it says i know the there were those it says i know the blasphemy of those that say they are blasphemy of those that say they are jews and that is spiritual jews because jews and that is spiritual jews because we are all of israel spiritual israel we are all of israel spiritual israel they say they are christodolphians but they say they are christodolphians but they are not they are not but they are of the synagogue of the but they are of the synagogue of the adversary why adversary why because they destroy the vision of the because they destroy the vision of the people they destroy the hope that is set people they destroy the hope that is set before before and so brother and sisters we have to and so brother and sisters we have to arm ourselves in the world arm ourselves in the world arm ourselves in the ecclesia because we arm ourselves in the ecclesia because we live a hundred and fifty plus years live a hundred and fifty plus years after the days when the the truth was after the days when the the truth was first revived first revived and and the seed of the woman versus the seed of the seed of the woman versus the seed of the serpent is to last from the time of the serpent is to last from the time of genesis until the lord jesus christ genesis until the lord jesus christ returns the apostles appointed that returns the apostles appointed that that's a fight that takes place within that's a fight that takes place within and we have to guard ourselves and we have to guard ourselves constantly remind ourselves of the facts constantly remind ourselves of the facts of the the bible of the the bible this is the plot line of the book of this is the plot line of the book of revelation that we hope to take some revelation that we hope to take some time to look at time to look at we'd like to consider though just in the we'd like to consider though just in the last couple of minutes last couple of minutes what happened what happened to the ecclesia to the ecclesia in history we have recorded forest in history we have recorded forest letters letters letters that were sent by early bishops letters that were sent by early bishops of the church of the church and one of them was polycarp i used the and one of them was polycarp i used the word church because we'll see in the word church because we'll see in the second class that it began to apostasize second class that it began to apostasize it no longer was the ecclesia called out it no longer was the ecclesia called out in that sense but began to be in that sense but began to be infiltrated with all these different infiltrated with all these different doctrines doctrines one of these such men was um irenaeus he one of these such men was um irenaeus he was overseer or a bishop of the ecclesia was overseer or a bishop of the ecclesia in lyons france around a.d in lyons france around a.d 169 or thereabouts and you probably 169 or thereabouts and you probably won't be able to read this quote but won't be able to read this quote but i'll i'll read it for you i'll i'll read it for you the doctrine the doctrine of those who were presbyters before so of those who were presbyters before so what he's saying is look the teachings what he's saying is look the teachings of the bishops who have gone before of the bishops who have gone before those who walked with the apostles those who walked with the apostles because he's very close to the apostle because he's very close to the apostle john he says john he says these are not what's being delivered to these are not what's being delivered to you you four he says i saw when i was a boy in four he says i saw when i was a boy in lower asia with polycarp now polycarp lower asia with polycarp now polycarp who's depicted there obviously not who's depicted there obviously not nothing like him but that's church nothing like him but that's church history history polycarp was around at the time of the polycarp was around at the time of the apostle john apostle john and he knew the apostle john and he knew the apostle john and he goes on to say that look he says and he goes on to say that look he says i was there as a boy in lower asia i was there as a boy in lower asia and he says i heard him and i can and he says i heard him and i can describe the sermons which he preached describe the sermons which he preached to the multitude and how he related to to the multitude and how he related to us his conversations with john and the us his conversations with john and the rest of those who had been with the lord rest of those who had been with the lord how he mentioned their particular how he mentioned their particular expressions the things that he had heard expressions the things that he had heard of them from the lord and of his of them from the lord and of his miracles in his doctrine miracles in his doctrine as polycarp had received from the as polycarp had received from the eyewitnesses of the word of life he told eyewitnesses of the word of life he told us all things agreeable to the us all things agreeable to the scriptures so he says i've talked to scriptures so he says i've talked to somebody who was there with the apostles somebody who was there with the apostles not with the lord jesus christ but he not with the lord jesus christ but he knew the apostles personally and he goes knew the apostles personally and he goes on to say he says i retain remembrance on to say he says i retain remembrance of these things of these things and he says if that blessed and he says if that blessed apostolic presbyter apostolic presbyter had heard some of the doctrines that are had heard some of the doctrines that are now maintained he would have cried out now maintained he would have cried out and stopped his ears and in his usual and stopped his ears and in his usual manner would have said oh good god to manner would have said oh good god to what times has thou reserved me that i what times has thou reserved me that i should endure these things and he would should endure these things and he would immediately have fled from the praise immediately have fled from the praise which he had heard such doctrines which he had heard such doctrines and so brothers and sisters that's the and so brothers and sisters that's the state state not 150 years not 150 years but only but only 130 years 140 years after the apostles 130 years 140 years after the apostles have been around it's about 70 years have been around it's about 70 years since the apostle john in 1896 and since the apostle john in 1896 and that's the situation the ecclesia was in that's the situation the ecclesia was in then then another writer is cyprian of the bishop another writer is cyprian of the bishop of carthage now this is 248 a.d so it's of carthage now this is 248 a.d so it's 150 years after the apostles kind of 150 years after the apostles kind of similar to our age in in time span this similar to our age in in time span this was what was going on they were under was what was going on they were under persecutions of desius and some of the persecutions of desius and some of the other emperors and other emperors and he says if the cause of our misery or he says if the cause of our misery or our persecution be investigated the cure our persecution be investigated the cure of the womb may be found because long of the womb may be found because long peace peace has corrupted the discipline divinely has corrupted the discipline divinely revealed to us revealed to us and we brother and sisters have had long and we brother and sisters have had long peace in arab legions each had been bent peace in arab legions each had been bent on improving his patrimony he's talking on improving his patrimony he's talking about the bishops now that the elders in about the bishops now that the elders in the ecclesia go back to the verse we the ecclesia go back to the verse we read in ezekiel it's a similar type of read in ezekiel it's a similar type of thing thing and had forgotten what believers had and had forgotten what believers had done under the apostles and what they done under the apostles and what they ought always to do they were brooding ought always to do they were brooding over the amassing of our over arts and over the amassing of our over arts and the amassing of wealth or certainly we the amassing of wealth or certainly we could be guilty over brooding over the could be guilty over brooding over the amassing of wealth the pastors and amassing of wealth the pastors and deacons each forgot their duty works of deacons each forgot their duty works of mercy were neglected and the discipline mercy were neglected and the discipline was at its lowest ebb was at its lowest ebb luxury and effeminate effeminacy luxury and effeminate effeminacy prevailed prevailed and he goes on to say that there was and he goes on to say that there was arts and dress that were cultivated arts and dress that were cultivated fraud and deceit were practiced among fraud and deceit were practiced among brethren christians could unite brethren christians could unite themselves with in marriage with themselves with in marriage with unbelievers they could swear not only unbelievers they could swear not only without reverence but without truth without reverence but without truth without meaning what they had to say without meaning what they had to say with hearty aspara disparity they with hearty aspara disparity they despised the ecclesial superiors they despised the ecclesial superiors they railed against one another with railed against one another with outrageous acrimony they conducted outrageous acrimony they conducted quarrels and deter with determined quarrels and deter with determined malice this was what was going on 150 malice this was what was going on 150 years after the apostle john years after the apostle john and he goes on to say and he goes on to say that many bishops neglected the peculiar that many bishops neglected the peculiar duties of their stations and gave duties of their stations and gave themselves up to secular pursuits they themselves up to secular pursuits they became involved in the things of this became involved in the things of this life life they deserted the places of residence they deserted the places of residence and their flocks and traveled through and their flocks and traveled through distant provinces and quests of distant provinces and quests of pleasures and gains pleasures and gains and so brother and sisters he says have and so brother and sisters he says have we not deserved to suffer for such a we not deserved to suffer for such a conduct for even the divine word hath conduct for even the divine word hath foretold us that we might expect this foretold us that we might expect this now i don't think we're there i'm quite now i don't think we're there i'm quite sure we're not at that point but that's sure we're not at that point but that's the danger of where letting the truth the danger of where letting the truth slip leads us slip leads us and so brother and sisters as we and so brother and sisters as we consider these things as we see the consider these things as we see the ecclesia as it should have been ecclesia as it should have been and as it became and as we will continue and as it became and as we will continue to follow it through into the new to follow it through into the new testament as we will follow it through testament as we will follow it through into the book of revelation as we into the book of revelation as we consider the things that will take place consider the things that will take place let us keep in our minds that what we let us keep in our minds that what we are supposed to be are supposed to be is an ecclesia that is described as a is an ecclesia that is described as a chaste virgin unto christ chaste virgin unto christ that's what we want to do ecclesia that that's what we want to do ecclesia that has has remained separate and remain sanctified remained separate and remain sanctified and let us resolve to preserve the truth and let us resolve to preserve the truth in our own personal lives in our in our own personal lives in our families and in our colleges by families and in our colleges by protecting our bible readings and our protecting our bible readings and our bible studies and the faith that was bible studies and the faith that was once delivered to the saints once delivered to the saints christ gave his life for the ecclesia christ gave his life for the ecclesia so that it could be his bride let us so that it could be his bride let us give our lives to preserve the same give our lives to preserve the same thing may god grant us to be arrayed in thing may god grant us to be arrayed in white linen white linen the robes of imputed righteousness when the robes of imputed righteousness when his son returns to the earth

Transcript

our first speaker this morning is brother jonathan bowen of the brantford brother jonathan bowen of the brantford ontario ecclesia ontario ecclesia the theme for brother jonathan's class the theme for brother jonathan's class this week this week is the lamb shall overcome them is the lamb shall overcome them today's class is entitled the man child today's class is entitled the man child brother bowen good morning brother and sisters before we begin i just like to ask that we we begin i just like to ask that we could distribute the notes right about could distribute the notes right about now so that we can have something in our now so that we can have something in our hands so that we can follow along i've hands so that we can follow along i've asked the lights to be dimmed somewhat asked the lights to be dimmed somewhat so we can see a little bit better from so we can see a little bit better from the back of the room the back of the room before i begin i just like to make a before i begin i just like to make a comment that a lot of the information a comment that a lot of the information a lot of the graphics you are seeing come lot of the graphics you are seeing come from the bible magazine which has been from the bible magazine which has been an invaluable source for myself in an invaluable source for myself in preparation of these classes and i would preparation of these classes and i would suggest that if you find this subject suggest that if you find this subject matter interesting and want some matter interesting and want some supplemental reading and some follow-up supplemental reading and some follow-up for it that you could make use of that for it that you could make use of that magazine and our brother gary smith has magazine and our brother gary smith has put a display up at the back to to put a display up at the back to to assist in helping people get in touch assist in helping people get in touch with the bible magazine with the bible magazine now what we want to do before we begin now what we want to do before we begin is just lay down some ground rules for is just lay down some ground rules for the interpretation of the book of the interpretation of the book of revelation revelation chapter 1 and the revelation revelation chapter 1 and the first three verses tell us that it's the first three verses tell us that it's the revelation of jesus christ which god revelation of jesus christ which god gave unto him to show his servants gave unto him to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass things which must shortly come to pass and we read later that he sent and and we read later that he sent and signified it and there is a blessing to signified it and there is a blessing to those who read hear and keep the things those who read hear and keep the things of this book of this book so it's given to the servants of god to so it's given to the servants of god to show them therefore brothers and sisters show them therefore brothers and sisters it must be intelligible to us if it is it must be intelligible to us if it is given to show us things that are shortly given to show us things that are shortly because to come to pass and that's the because to come to pass and that's the other point these are things shortly to other point these are things shortly to come to pass they take come to pass they take immediate or they take place immediately immediate or they take place immediately following john's receiving the book of following john's receiving the book of revelation and continue until the return revelation and continue until the return of the lord jesus christ which would put of the lord jesus christ which would put these events future to the time of 1896. these events future to the time of 1896. they are sent and signified which means they are sent and signified which means that they are expressed by sign or by that they are expressed by sign or by symbol they are not literal many of the symbol they are not literal many of the things that are written within here but things that are written within here but there is a symbolic there is a symbolic picture that's painted for us to draw picture that's painted for us to draw from the resources of the scriptures from the resources of the scriptures throughout the old testament in the new throughout the old testament in the new testament to come up with the answers to testament to come up with the answers to these symbols they are to be read which these symbols they are to be read which means to know accurately they are to be means to know accurately they are to be heard or comprehended and they are to be heard or comprehended and they are to be kept or observed or there are things kept or observed or there are things written in this book that are vital for written in this book that are vital for our walk to the to the kingdom of god our walk to the to the kingdom of god the book of revelation as we have the book of revelation as we have mentioned has a plot line to it and is mentioned has a plot line to it and is very similar to a play whereby there is very similar to a play whereby there is a a story that is taking place it's the story that is taking place it's the story of the seed of the woman versus story of the seed of the woman versus the seed of the serpent throughout the seed of the serpent throughout history history in the scene that is set for us is in in the scene that is set for us is in each chapter there is perhaps a changing each chapter there is perhaps a changing of the scene the background is given as of the scene the background is given as to what is on the stage at that point in to what is on the stage at that point in time the different players the different time the different players the different characters that are involved there are characters that are involved there are antagonists there are protagonists there antagonists there are protagonists there are main characters and there are sub are main characters and there are sub characters and as we watch through walk characters and as we watch through walk through the book of revelation we want through the book of revelation we want to try and keep in mind that there is a to try and keep in mind that there is a continual theme going on and we are continual theme going on and we are following it along following it along all these things are carrying out the all these things are carrying out the plot line that we've put before you the plot line that we've put before you the seed of the woman versus the seed of the seed of the woman versus the seed of the serpent and the eventual destruction of serpent and the eventual destruction of that seed that seed this is the conflict the apostle paul this is the conflict the apostle paul referred to in ephesians chapter 6 verse referred to in ephesians chapter 6 verse 12 where he tells us that we don't 12 where he tells us that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood but wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness this world against spiritual wickedness in high places therefore he tells us to in high places therefore he tells us to take action to take unto us the whole take action to take unto us the whole armor of god that we read about in our armor of god that we read about in our readings yesterday that we may be able readings yesterday that we may be able to withstand in the evil day and having to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand done all to stand so this war in the political heavens is so this war in the political heavens is this wrestling match that takes place this wrestling match that takes place against the principalities and powers of against the principalities and powers of this current world this current world whether they were the paganistic rulers whether they were the paganistic rulers of john's time or the humanistic rulers of john's time or the humanistic rulers of air time it is just as much a real of air time it is just as much a real battle that's taking place it is real battle that's taking place it is real and it is deadly it involves the lives and it is deadly it involves the lives of us and our children and our colleges of us and our children and our colleges it is of supreme importance brother and it is of supreme importance brother and sisters that we be able to read through sisters that we be able to read through this book and identify the things that this book and identify the things that are written in it because in revelation are written in it because in revelation chapter 11 18 and verse 4 we are told chapter 11 18 and verse 4 we are told that there is this cry that comes forth that there is this cry that comes forth to come out of her my people that ye be to come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that you not partakers of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues and the her receive not of her plagues and the her there is the harlot woman of chapter 17 there is the harlot woman of chapter 17 and chapter 18. and chapter 18. if we do not identify who this woman is if we do not identify who this woman is how are we going to come out of her and how are we going to come out of her and if we don't come out of her then we may if we don't come out of her then we may unwittingly be partakers of her sins unwittingly be partakers of her sins and of her plagues which are ultimately and of her plagues which are ultimately death and destruction death and destruction so it is vital for us to know what we're so it is vital for us to know what we're dealing with in our day and age chapter dealing with in our day and age chapter 17 and chapter 18 are dealing 17 and chapter 18 are dealing predominantly with today with the world predominantly with today with the world we live in this verse is identified for we live in this verse is identified for us us certainly it had application through the certainly it had application through the ages but historically if you wanted to ages but historically if you wanted to fit it into the timeline it deals with fit it into the timeline it deals with today today and so brother and sisters we have ample and so brother and sisters we have ample warning within the book of revelation warning within the book of revelation our brother thomas tells us that the our brother thomas tells us that the reason that prophecy is given is so that reason that prophecy is given is so that no believer understanding this prophecy no believer understanding this prophecy referring to revelation could be seduced referring to revelation could be seduced into fellowship with the clerical into fellowship with the clerical institutions of the world because he institutions of the world because he would see them in all their native would see them in all their native deformity and sin and so brother and deformity and sin and so brother and sisters it stands there as an antiseptic sisters it stands there as an antiseptic for us because we would see the world for us because we would see the world for what it is we would see the churches for what it is we would see the churches around us we would identify the around us we would identify the doctrines that they hold and that doing doctrines that they hold and that doing so we would not be seduced into so we would not be seduced into fellowship with them at any level we fellowship with them at any level we would not belong to the ecumenical world would not belong to the ecumenical world that is going back to rome today that is going back to rome today well our goal is to follow the plot line well our goal is to follow the plot line of the book of revelation as it goes of the book of revelation as it goes through through we will follow the transformation of the we will follow the transformation of the different beasts as we travel through different beasts as we travel through the book of revelation we will see some the book of revelation we will see some of the judgments that are poured on them of the judgments that are poured on them in the seals the trumpets and finally in the seals the trumpets and finally the vials and in the future the funders the vials and in the future the funders and we're going to try to use the bible and we're going to try to use the bible as our guide now we're not going to do a as our guide now we're not going to do a comprehensive study of all the aspects comprehensive study of all the aspects of the book of revelation it would be of the book of revelation it would be impossible for us to do that rather impossible for us to do that rather we're going to try and follow the story we're going to try and follow the story of the beasts the story of the beast is of the beasts the story of the beast is basically the story of daniel where he basically the story of daniel where he has the fourth beast and we're going to has the fourth beast and we're going to see it go through the different phases see it go through the different phases and we're going to try and follow it and we're going to try and follow it along and keep our frame of reference along and keep our frame of reference back to uh this this chart here so we back to uh this this chart here so we can see where we're at in the point of can see where we're at in the point of of history and in the apocalypse as it's of history and in the apocalypse as it's revealed to us revealed to us this morning's class we want to begin by this morning's class we want to begin by the looking at revelation chapter 12. the looking at revelation chapter 12. in revelation chapter 12 there are two in revelation chapter 12 there are two symbols that are introduced to us symbols that are introduced to us there is the woman and the dragon we'd there is the woman and the dragon we'd like to really stop and consider the like to really stop and consider the dragon first dragon first we are dealing with the political we are dealing with the political heavens we read there appeared another heavens we read there appeared another wonder or symbol or sign wonder or symbol or sign in the heavens in the heavens so we're dealing with the political so we're dealing with the political scene of john's day scene of john's day and he looks into that political scene and he looks into that political scene and he sees a symbol there and the and he sees a symbol there and the symbol is of a great red dragon having symbol is of a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and crowns seven heads and ten horns and crowns upon the heads upon the heads now this is as we've mentioned a now this is as we've mentioned a continuation of the book of daniel in continuation of the book of daniel in daniel chapter 12 once daniel had daniel chapter 12 once daniel had received the prophecies of chapter seven received the prophecies of chapter seven the four beasts and their and their the four beasts and their and their continuation right up to the lord jesus continuation right up to the lord jesus christ is told as he tries to inquire christ is told as he tries to inquire more what will be the end of these more what will be the end of these things he is told that he's to go his things he is told that he's to go his way daniel because these words are way daniel because these words are sealed up sealed up until the time of the end until the time of the end and at that time as we continue to read and at that time as we continue to read in the chapter it says that the wise in the chapter it says that the wise shall understand shall understand well in revelation chapter 5 verse 5 we well in revelation chapter 5 verse 5 we read that behold the lion of the tribe read that behold the lion of the tribe of judah the root of david has prevailed of judah the root of david has prevailed to open the seals and he's talking about to open the seals and he's talking about the seals of the book of daniel as it the seals of the book of daniel as it was sealed up and it's the lord jesus was sealed up and it's the lord jesus christ who has that that christ who has that that was found worthy to open that book and was found worthy to open that book and so chapter four and five talk about that so chapter four and five talk about that scene where it is given to him and he scene where it is given to him and he opens the book and and it is taken from opens the book and and it is taken from him by the saints and they grab a hold him by the saints and they grab a hold of it and look into these things of it and look into these things and so we're continuing from daniel and so we're continuing from daniel in daniel chapter 7 there is the four in daniel chapter 7 there is the four beasts there's the medo or there's the beasts there's the medo or there's the babylonian lion as we looked at last babylonian lion as we looked at last night the medo-persian bear which was to night the medo-persian bear which was to come and destroy that lion the grecian come and destroy that lion the grecian leopard and finally there is this fourth leopard and finally there is this fourth roman beast and it's interesting that roman beast and it's interesting that this roman beast lasts from that time this roman beast lasts from that time where it comes into existence around the where it comes into existence around the time of the lord jesus christ until it time of the lord jesus christ until it is destroyed with the brightness of his is destroyed with the brightness of his coming at the kingdom age coming at the kingdom age and revelation is an amplification of and revelation is an amplification of this fourth beast this fourth beast it is basically a metamorphosis of the it is basically a metamorphosis of the fourth beast as it undergoes different fourth beast as it undergoes different phases and comes through to phases and comes through to being what we see it in the book when we come to chapter 12 then and we are considering this great wonder that are considering this great wonder that appears in heaven appears in heaven we have this beast that is very similar we have this beast that is very similar to daniel's fourth beast to daniel's fourth beast it has some similarities in that it has it has some similarities in that it has ten horns ten horns and these ten horns are symbolic of ten and these ten horns are symbolic of ten kings kings we read that from a later phase as we we read that from a later phase as we come into revelation chapter 17. but in come into revelation chapter 17. but in daniel chapter seven verse 24 the ten daniel chapter seven verse 24 the ten horns of daniel's fourth beast are horns of daniel's fourth beast are identified to him as being ten kings identified to him as being ten kings now there are some additional now there are some additional information that is added this beast is information that is added this beast is described in revelation as being red the described in revelation as being red the color of sin color of sin it also has seven heads it also has seven heads and it has seven crowns upon those heads and it has seven crowns upon those heads and we'd like to investigate those and we'd like to investigate those differences in a moment differences in a moment first of all we find that these seven first of all we find that these seven heads represent the different ruling heads represent the different ruling powers that have governed rome since its powers that have governed rome since its existence they're very similar to this existence they're very similar to this the four heads of the the leopard that the four heads of the the leopard that daniel saw as the third beast daniel saw as the third beast that that four-headed leopard the heads that that four-headed leopard the heads represented different kings well in the represented different kings well in the book of revelation those seven heads book of revelation those seven heads represent the seven systems of represent the seven systems of government that would rule rome it's government that would rule rome it's interesting to note that they have interesting to note that they have crowns upon them indicating that they crowns upon them indicating that they are sovereign are sovereign now when daniel's fourth or third beast now when daniel's fourth or third beast ruled there was four kings that came up ruled there was four kings that came up together and we read that from the together and we read that from the narrative of chapter eight when the narrative of chapter eight when the great horn the notable horn was broken great horn the notable horn was broken off that four horns came up and replaced off that four horns came up and replaced it and they were in existence together it and they were in existence together when we come to revelation we find that when we come to revelation we find that these seven headed the seven headed these seven headed the seven headed beasts with its different crowns is a beasts with its different crowns is a little bit different in that these heads little bit different in that these heads now are successive and we've identified now are successive and we've identified them for their in your notes and on the them for their in your notes and on the overhead is the seven overhead is the seven types of government that were to rule types of government that were to rule rome the crowns and the or the crowns rome the crowns and the or the crowns are on the separate heads but the horns are on the separate heads but the horns are located on the sixth head because are located on the sixth head because that is the head that john was looking that is the head that john was looking at when he was looking at the vision of at when he was looking at the vision of the book of revelation the book of revelation now as we look into these things and we now as we look into these things and we we concentrate on this this beast and we we concentrate on this this beast and we see this head we see that the the horns see this head we see that the the horns on this head are not cramped and that's on this head are not cramped and that's a a piece of information that's a a piece of information that's important for us to notice important for us to notice because they were not sovereign kings because they were not sovereign kings remember daniel chapter 7 and verse 24 remember daniel chapter 7 and verse 24 tells us that the ten horns are the ten tells us that the ten horns are the ten kings revelation chapter 17 tells us the kings revelation chapter 17 tells us the same things that the ten horns are ten same things that the ten horns are ten kingdoms that would arise but in the kingdoms that would arise but in the book of revelation in chapter 12 when we book of revelation in chapter 12 when we see them now this changes later on but see them now this changes later on but in chapter 12 they are not crowned the in chapter 12 they are not crowned the heads are crowned but the horns are not heads are crowned but the horns are not signifying that the horns are in signifying that the horns are in in a state that they are not sovereign in a state that they are not sovereign that will change as time goes on that will change as time goes on rather they are under the influence of rather they are under the influence of the sixth head the sixth head now now as we kind of have given you a little as we kind of have given you a little bit of background to this this dragon bit of background to this this dragon that has existed its identification for that has existed its identification for us is the same of that of daniel's us is the same of that of daniel's fourth beast it is the roman dragon that fourth beast it is the roman dragon that daniel saw but more information has been daniel saw but more information has been given to us given to us now the judgment upon this roman dragon now the judgment upon this roman dragon that's given to us in the book of that's given to us in the book of revelation is identified as the seals revelation is identified as the seals now the roman dragon was already in now the roman dragon was already in existence when john saw this vision and existence when john saw this vision and the seals were to begin being unleashed the seals were to begin being unleashed upon this dragon upon this dragon we're not going to look at all the seals we're not going to look at all the seals we would like to focus however on the we would like to focus however on the sixth seal we read in revelation chapter sixth seal we read in revelation chapter 6 and at verse 12 behold when he had 6 and at verse 12 behold when he had opened the sixth seal and lo there was a opened the sixth seal and lo there was a great earthquake and the sun became great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair the new moon black as sackcloth of hair the new moon became his blood and the stars of heaven became his blood and the stars of heaven fell onto the earth even as a fig tree fell onto the earth even as a fig tree casteth out her untimely figs casteth out her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind and when she is shaken of a mighty wind and the heavens departed as a scroll when it the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled away together and every is rolled away together and every mountain and ireland were moved out of mountain and ireland were moved out of their places now this is symbolic their places now this is symbolic languages we read about at the beginning languages we read about at the beginning these things were sent and signified these things were sent and signified now it's interesting to note that those now it's interesting to note that those symbols as they are laid out for us symbols as they are laid out for us there in the book are there in the book are easily easily interpreted as we go through them now interpreted as we go through them now the great earthquake that was to take the great earthquake that was to take place there are several great place there are several great earthquakes in the book of revelation earthquakes in the book of revelation and they symbolize or signify political and they symbolize or signify political upheavals in the world one of the upheavals in the world one of the probably most famous ones to us is the probably most famous ones to us is the french revolution where the entire world french revolution where the entire world as as society knew it changed the same as as society knew it changed the same thing was true in the sixth seal thing was true in the sixth seal the pagan roman system was going to the pagan roman system was going to change and what was to happen was that change and what was to happen was that the sun was to be eclipsed and if we go the sun was to be eclipsed and if we go back in our in our bibles to look at back in our in our bibles to look at these symbols being used elsewhere we these symbols being used elsewhere we can go back to genesis and see the can go back to genesis and see the dreams of joseph where the sun was dreams of joseph where the sun was symbolic of of jacob himself and the symbolic of of jacob himself and the moon was his wife and the stars were his moon was his wife and the stars were his sons so we see them as being the sons so we see them as being the rulership of israel in that sense rulership of israel in that sense and the sun in this case is darkened and the sun in this case is darkened signifying that the roman emperor would signifying that the roman emperor would lose his his position the pagan roman lose his his position the pagan roman empire is that is and he would be put empire is that is and he would be put out that was the greater light the stars out that was the greater light the stars would fall the administration of this would fall the administration of this pagan roman system would collapse pagan roman system would collapse and the moon the religious element would and the moon the religious element would become as blood now unfortunately we become as blood now unfortunately we don't have time to go through and don't have time to go through and identify each and every one of these identify each and every one of these signs and symbols by looking up the signs and symbols by looking up the verses that corroborate what we're verses that corroborate what we're trying to say trying to say what i would like to do though is lay it what i would like to do though is lay it out before you and you've got the notes out before you and you've got the notes in front of you you can go home and and in front of you you can go home and and corroborate this stuff yourself corroborate this stuff yourself establish it from the bible we would establish it from the bible we would like to paint the picture and bring you like to paint the picture and bring you through the story of the book of through the story of the book of revelation together with us so that we revelation together with us so that we can see the end result can see the end result what we find in chapter 12 is these same what we find in chapter 12 is these same symbols of chapter 6 appearing again symbols of chapter 6 appearing again there is this great symbol the woman in there is this great symbol the woman in heaven heaven now this woman is clothed with the sun now this woman is clothed with the sun her moon the moon is under her feet and her moon the moon is under her feet and upon her head is a crown of 12 stars upon her head is a crown of 12 stars and she is with child and pains to be and she is with child and pains to be delivered delivered now we looked at the symbolic woman in now we looked at the symbolic woman in class 1. the ecclesia was supposed to be class 1. the ecclesia was supposed to be a chaste virgin unto christ a chaste virgin unto christ but now we find that she's not depicted but now we find that she's not depicted as a chaste virgin anymore now she is a as a chaste virgin anymore now she is a woman who is impregnated with apostasy woman who is impregnated with apostasy she is no longer in that chaste state she is no longer in that chaste state but she is found now with child she has but she is found now with child she has committed fornication committed fornication and so brother and sisters this is the and so brother and sisters this is the symbol we are looking at symbol we are looking at certainly we can say what the woman is certainly we can say what the woman is not not the woman is not the woman is not israel israel because these things are written about because these things are written about things that were shortly to come to pass things that were shortly to come to pass from john's time from john's time they were written about things in the they were written about things in the future future israel had already been dissent israel had already been dissent dismembered as a nation and taken away dismembered as a nation and taken away in 1870. in 1870. so as we look at it the twelve stars so as we look at it the twelve stars that we saw previously in the sixth seal that we saw previously in the sixth seal now become the administration of the now become the administration of the empire that crowns the woman she becomes empire that crowns the woman she becomes involved in these things according to involved in these things according to the the symbols of scripture the the symbols of scripture she is pregnant as we have mentioned she she is pregnant as we have mentioned she now is not in a chaste state but in an now is not in a chaste state but in an apostate state apostate state and the son or the emperor the greatest and the son or the emperor the greatest light that rules the day light that rules the day was to basically was to basically clothe her there was to be power from clothe her there was to be power from the emperor that would surround this the emperor that would surround this woman woman and the moon the religious authority of and the moon the religious authority of the day would be under her feet the day would be under her feet signifying her having power over it signifying her having power over it now this is a symbol now this is a symbol of the ecclesia of the ecclesia as it had become as it had become laodicean laodicean had lost its vision of the kingdom of had lost its vision of the kingdom of god on earth and had looked now for god on earth and had looked now for not something in the future but the not something in the future but the doctrine of the kingdom of god is among doctrine of the kingdom of god is among you now so it's something that we want you now so it's something that we want to possess now in this lifetime and so to possess now in this lifetime and so they saw it fit in that early ecclesia they saw it fit in that early ecclesia of the second and third century as of the second and third century as things progressed things progressed they saw it fit then to ally themselves they saw it fit then to ally themselves with the nations of the world around with the nations of the world around them specifically the roman empire them specifically the roman empire now two other characteristics that we now two other characteristics that we would like to look at are the two would like to look at are the two characters that are in this the characters that are in this the protagonist and the antagonist in protagonist and the antagonist in revelation chapter 12 is this woman and revelation chapter 12 is this woman and the dragon and we are told the narrative the dragon and we are told the narrative of what is to happen of what is to happen as the woman is there ready to be as the woman is there ready to be delivered we read in verse 4 the dragon delivered we read in verse 4 the dragon stood before the woman which was ready stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born as soon as it was born so there we have that pagan roman system so there we have that pagan roman system ready to destroy ready to destroy the birth of the apostasy that was to the birth of the apostasy that was to take place take place it's there ready to destroy it it's there ready to destroy it now the narrative describes to us the now the narrative describes to us the intent of what's going to happen the intent of what's going to happen the political situation which would develop political situation which would develop and we can look at history and we can and we can look at history and we can see these things see these things as christianity became increasingly as christianity became increasingly more involved in politics because of the more involved in politics because of the doctrines that they taught that which doctrines that they taught that which moved away from the idea of the future moved away from the idea of the future kingdom of god upon the earth kingdom of god upon the earth it became a threat to the roman state it became a threat to the roman state because as it increased it had its own because as it increased it had its own lands lands it had its own public purse as it's it had its own public purse as it's described by edward gibbon a system of described by edward gibbon a system of taxation which was become known to us taxation which was become known to us perhaps as tithing there was no other perhaps as tithing there was no other system that was able to to generate that system that was able to to generate that kind of funds throughout the empire so kind of funds throughout the empire so they were financially independent from they were financially independent from the empire as a religious system the empire as a religious system they also had their own system of they also had their own system of government which had evolved from an government which had evolved from an ecclesial situation when they had ecclesial situation when they had serving brethren and had become more of serving brethren and had become more of a a clergy laity situation where you had a a clergy laity situation where you had that the rulers over the ecclesias the that the rulers over the ecclesias the bishops and and the the different people bishops and and the the different people who were there the presbyters and the who were there the presbyters and the general population which were kept general population which were kept somewhat in darkness and as that somewhat in darkness and as that situation built more and more and there situation built more and more and there was a separation from the early was a separation from the early ecclesias the way they operated the ecclesias the way they operated the apostolic faith as that separation apostolic faith as that separation happened more and more happened more and more the christian system became more of a the christian system became more of a threat to the emperor threat to the emperor because brother and sisters the emperor because brother and sisters the emperor was himself was himself part of the roman part of the roman pagan pantheon of gods he was considered pagan pantheon of gods he was considered to be one of the gods and the roman to be one of the gods and the roman citizens were required to offer citizens were required to offer sacrifice to him sacrifice to him and so the pagan church if you want to and so the pagan church if you want to call it that or the pagan system of call it that or the pagan system of religion and the christian system of religion and the christian system of religion became opposed to one another religion became opposed to one another because any idea that would challenge because any idea that would challenge paganism also challenged the authority paganism also challenged the authority of the emperor of the emperor and it was the emperor diocletian in and it was the emperor diocletian in around the period of 285 to 213 that around the period of 285 to 213 that tried to protect the interests of the tried to protect the interests of the roman pagan system of religion roman pagan system of religion and what he did was he issued decrees and what he did was he issued decrees whereby he allowed the governments or he whereby he allowed the governments or he instructed the governments that were instructed the governments that were underneath him the stars of revelation underneath him the stars of revelation chapter 12 to go forward and to chapter 12 to go forward and to confiscate the lands of these christians confiscate the lands of these christians to take away their monies in their to take away their monies in their public purse to take away their churches public purse to take away their churches and the buildings that they had built and the buildings that they had built with the great wealth that they had with the great wealth that they had amassed and basically to persecute and amassed and basically to persecute and to bring upon them the trouble that we to bring upon them the trouble that we read about in our first class um under read about in our first class um under the emperor desius so these types of the emperor desius so these types of things were going on in the first things were going on in the first century occlusion century occlusion now we got to remember that in this now we got to remember that in this there would have been a faithful remnant there would have been a faithful remnant there would have been christodolphians there would have been christodolphians mixed in with this this greater mass of mixed in with this this greater mass of of sort of pseudo-christadophians who of sort of pseudo-christadophians who still held to the faith still held to the faith they still taught the gospel as it was they still taught the gospel as it was delivered to the saints they believed delivered to the saints they believed these things and you can imagine the these things and you can imagine the life of the christian dolphin at that life of the christian dolphin at that point in time not only is he facing his point in time not only is he facing his brethren who might be apostate teaching brethren who might be apostate teaching that you know it's this world that now that you know it's this world that now we have to look to ideas on the the we have to look to ideas on the the godhead and ideas on the immortality of godhead and ideas on the immortality of the soul that we're beginning to surface the soul that we're beginning to surface but he's also enduring the persecution but he's also enduring the persecution of the empire as well of the empire as well so at this point in time the woman is so at this point in time the woman is depicted as being with child and she depicted as being with child and she does include within her the ecclesia as does include within her the ecclesia as well well now now when this decree was was sent forth by when this decree was was sent forth by diocletian his empire was quite largely diocletian his empire was quite largely extended right up into britain and down extended right up into britain and down into egypt north africa spain it was a into egypt north africa spain it was a huge empire and the christian population huge empire and the christian population had spread themselves throughout this had spread themselves throughout this entire empire and they had done so under entire empire and they had done so under the power of the first seal where the the power of the first seal where the conqueror went forth with the bow and conqueror went forth with the bow and the word of god was sent throughout the the word of god was sent throughout the whole empire whole empire and so we have ecclesias throughout this and so we have ecclesias throughout this whole region whole region now the persecutions that now the persecutions that diocletian was to bring upon diocletian was to bring upon the ecclesia were terrific they were the ecclesia were terrific they were horrific they were terrible and he horrific they were terrible and he enacted the role of the dragon to devour enacted the role of the dragon to devour the woman's child before it was born or the woman's child before it was born or as soon as it was to be born and we have as soon as it was to be born and we have the the stories of the the stories of the the circuses where our brethren and the the circuses where our brethren and sisters along with some of the apostasy sisters along with some of the apostasy that had developed but our brothers and that had developed but our brothers and sisters were taken and were slain they sisters were taken and were slain they were sought asunder they were persecuted were sought asunder they were persecuted they were fed to the lions in the in the they were fed to the lions in the in the circuses and in the persecutions that circuses and in the persecutions that took place at that point in time took place at that point in time and it was because of this type of thing and it was because of this type of thing that god almighty decreed in the book of that god almighty decreed in the book of revelation that that dragon that pagan revelation that that dragon that pagan system that had crushed the saints that system that had crushed the saints that had crucified the lord jesus christ had crucified the lord jesus christ that system was to be thrown out of the that system was to be thrown out of the political heavens and was to be replaced political heavens and was to be replaced so it's the seed of the woman versus the so it's the seed of the woman versus the seed of the serpent in the narrative of seed of the serpent in the narrative of the book of revelation the book of revelation there are some fighting with the sword there are some fighting with the sword of the spirit out of their mouth of the spirit out of their mouth teaching the gospel and there were teaching the gospel and there were others perhaps part of a second witness others perhaps part of a second witness almost who took up the sword against almost who took up the sword against this system this system well well when diocletian retired which was one of when diocletian retired which was one of the only emperors actually to do that the only emperors actually to do that most of them were either knocked off or most of them were either knocked off or died a natural death of some description died a natural death of some description or another or another he um divided the empire into four he um divided the empire into four constantius who was to be the father of constantius who was to be the father of constantine ruled over the area of gaul constantine ruled over the area of gaul and britain maxentius was over rome and and britain maxentius was over rome and carthage that's north africa carthage that's north africa and licinius was the emperor over and licinius was the emperor over panoyna which is basically the area of panoyna which is basically the area of the balkans in greece the balkans in greece and gallerius was the emperor over syria and gallerius was the emperor over syria palestine and he basically had the area palestine and he basically had the area of what was to become constantinople of what was to become constantinople now now in revelation chapter 12 we read that in revelation chapter 12 we read that this woman is to bring forth a man-child this woman is to bring forth a man-child and this man-child was to rule all and this man-child was to rule all nations with the rod of iron and was to nations with the rod of iron and was to be caught up to god and to his throne be caught up to god and to his throne well as we mentioned we heard those well as we mentioned we heard those things before in in isaiah when we things before in in isaiah when we looked at it last night looking at looked at it last night looking at babylon but it also appears in 2 babylon but it also appears in 2 thessalonians chapter 2 thessalonians chapter 2 and at verses 3 and 4 this man of sin and at verses 3 and 4 this man of sin that was to be revealed the end result that was to be revealed the end result of the apostasy that paul was warning of the apostasy that paul was warning about about was to oppose and exalt himself above was to oppose and exalt himself above all that is called god or that is all that is called god or that is worshipped so that he as god was to sit worshipped so that he as god was to sit in the temple of god in the temple of god showing himself that he is god showing himself that he is god and so we can see a cro and so we can see a cro correspondence between these two things correspondence between these two things the man of sin ascending to this great the man of sin ascending to this great power and the man child of revelation power and the man child of revelation chapter 12 being caught up to the chapter 12 being caught up to the political heavens to the throne of the political heavens to the throne of the god of his day god of his day and so the son of perdition of second and so the son of perdition of second thessalonians two equates with the man thessalonians two equates with the man child of revelation chapter 12. child of revelation chapter 12. now revelation chapter 12 is an now revelation chapter 12 is an interesting book there is an interesting interesting book there is an interesting chapter because you have there the the chapter because you have there the the symbols that are outlined for us you symbols that are outlined for us you have the dragon the pagan system you have the dragon the pagan system you have the woman who is apostasized she's have the woman who is apostasized she's found with child we think back to what found with child we think back to what the apostle paul says what was he the apostle paul says what was he worried about impregnating the woman worried about impregnating the woman what was it that he was afraid of he was what was it that he was afraid of he was afraid that as the serpent beguiled eve afraid that as the serpent beguiled eve so the ecclesia should be corrupted from so the ecclesia should be corrupted from the simplicity in christ well one of the the simplicity in christ well one of the names of the pagan roman dragon in names of the pagan roman dragon in chapter 12 is the serpent chapter 12 is the serpent so what we basically see is the so what we basically see is the impregnation of the ecclesia impregnation of the ecclesia with the pagan ideas of the religion of with the pagan ideas of the religion of the day which was the dragon the day which was the dragon and the result of which would be this and the result of which would be this man-child man-child now now constantius the emperor that was on the constantius the emperor that was on the eastern or the westernmost side of the eastern or the westernmost side of the the empire the empire was a pagan emperor was a pagan emperor he took a wife he took a wife helena who was basically from the area helena who was basically from the area of what is today yugoslavia of what is today yugoslavia and she was a christian and she was a christian so you have a pagan emperor marrying a so you have a pagan emperor marrying a christian woman and bringing forth a son christian woman and bringing forth a son that was to overthrow the empire he was that was to overthrow the empire he was an apostate christian he could not claim an apostate christian he could not claim to be christian but yet he could not to be christian but yet he could not really claim to be pagan he was kind of really claim to be pagan he was kind of a hybrid of the two which will become a hybrid of the two which will become apparent from later apparent from later this was the man of sin this was the man of sin the son of lawlessness that the son of lawlessness that thessalonians talked about and thessalonians talked about and constantine lives out in his life constantine lives out in his life the parable of revelation chapter 12. the parable of revelation chapter 12. now when constantine's father died now when constantine's father died constantine's actually gone to join him constantine's actually gone to join him as they were in britain and his father as they were in britain and his father died there he was a very popular man died there he was a very popular man and his troops proclaimed him to be and his troops proclaimed him to be emperor which was something they had no emperor which was something they had no right to do he had to be deemed emperor right to do he had to be deemed emperor by the emperor in rome by the emperor in rome but but he accepted the commission and basically he accepted the commission and basically wrote to the emperor in rome and told wrote to the emperor in rome and told them that well you know what the troops them that well you know what the troops have told me that i'm an emperor so have told me that i'm an emperor so guess what that's the job i've now taken guess what that's the job i've now taken on and this obviously didn't go down on and this obviously didn't go down very well with the administration over very well with the administration over in rome in rome so there was going to be a conflict that so there was going to be a conflict that would ensue between these four emperors would ensue between these four emperors and and constantine constantine having the gaulish legions with him having the gaulish legions with him those from france and britain those from france and britain needed an ally because he's on the needed an ally because he's on the westernmost part of the empire and he's westernmost part of the empire and he's got to cross the whole empire and he's got to cross the whole empire and he's got to come towards rome and if he's got to come towards rome and if he's going to take over it and that's the going to take over it and that's the picture that the scriptures paint for us picture that the scriptures paint for us and so and so what had happened was when diocletian what had happened was when diocletian had given the decree that the christians had given the decree that the christians were to be persecuted were to be persecuted constantius father had declined to carry constantius father had declined to carry it out it out constantine kept that position he did constantine kept that position he did not persecute the christians but rather not persecute the christians but rather he gave an edict when he became emperor he gave an edict when he became emperor that they were allowed to live in peace that they were allowed to live in peace and so you can imagine the laodicean and so you can imagine the laodicean christians christians seeing that now we have an ally in this seeing that now we have an ally in this roman emperor and there was a lot of roman emperor and there was a lot of talk in that early community about what talk in that early community about what were they going to do to basically were they going to do to basically see that this emperor survived because see that this emperor survived because his success meant an end to their his success meant an end to their persecution persecution and so they committed fornication in and so they committed fornication in that spiritual sense that they threw in that spiritual sense that they threw in their lot with this emperor they joined their lot with this emperor they joined forces with him and many christians long forces with him and many christians long past believing in the doctrine of past believing in the doctrine of consciences of jackson consciences of jackson joined the ranks of constantine and not joined the ranks of constantine and not only that but the christians throughout only that but the christians throughout the empire saw this one emperor who the empire saw this one emperor who would would recognize their religion and would would recognize their religion and they all rallied behind him now we can they all rallied behind him now we can imagine our brethren of the day standing imagine our brethren of the day standing up and lecturing their brother and up and lecturing their brother and sister saying we should have no part to sister saying we should have no part to do with this and there would have been a do with this and there would have been a great conflict within the ecclesia at great conflict within the ecclesia at that point in time that point in time now now constantine was not a stupid man by any constantine was not a stupid man by any means he recognized that if he tapped means he recognized that if he tapped into the network of christians into the network of christians that covered the entire empire he had that covered the entire empire he had his own covert spy network in every his own covert spy network in every corner of the empire and he maximized corner of the empire and he maximized the use of that so the bishops became the use of that so the bishops became his emissaries and would carry his emissaries and would carry information throughout the empire information throughout the empire now now to sol or consolidate the support of the to sol or consolidate the support of the christians constantine had a purported christians constantine had a purported vision vision before the battle of milvian bridge he before the battle of milvian bridge he is is reported to have seen in the sky the reported to have seen in the sky the sign of the labarum which is not exactly sign of the labarum which is not exactly the cross it was a precursor to it i the cross it was a precursor to it i just like to point out by the way this just like to point out by the way this is a this is a painting that was done of is a this is a painting that was done of constantine seeing this great symbol in constantine seeing this great symbol in the sky but if you notice up in the the sky but if you notice up in the corner there is a corner there is a red roman dragon that is the standard of red roman dragon that is the standard of the roman armies that's the way they the roman armies that's the way they depicted themselves we've probably seen depicted themselves we've probably seen it in eureka if we read any of eureka it in eureka if we read any of eureka there's a little thumbnail of it in there's a little thumbnail of it in there there but added to that constantine saw but added to that constantine saw or purports to have seen this vision of or purports to have seen this vision of the labarum the cross the labarum the cross and in this sign he basically was to go and in this sign he basically was to go forth and conquer is what he believed he forth and conquer is what he believed he heard the heavens to say to him now heard the heavens to say to him now incidentally he also had a vision incidentally he also had a vision earlier before he became allied with the earlier before he became allied with the christians where he saw apollo in the christians where he saw apollo in the skies and and had basically seen the sun skies and and had basically seen the sun speaking to him so uh you have to speaking to him so uh you have to question somewhat the validity of this question somewhat the validity of this vision that he did see vision that he did see however he adopted this symbol however he adopted this symbol and the px that now is carried by the and the px that now is carried by the vatican incidentally um was the symbol vatican incidentally um was the symbol that basically he saw in the heavens and that basically he saw in the heavens and his soldiers took the symbol to his soldiers took the symbol to themselves this helmet is a helmet from themselves this helmet is a helmet from the period of constantine which the period of constantine which basically has that symbol on the front basically has that symbol on the front of it sort of over the forehead portion of it sort of over the forehead portion of the of the helmet and so the apostate of the of the helmet and so the apostate church that flocked to swell his ranks church that flocked to swell his ranks went under the sign of the cross went under the sign of the cross and so the adversaries in the ecclesia and so the adversaries in the ecclesia formed an alliance with the emperor they formed an alliance with the emperor they were the synagogue of satan but now they were the synagogue of satan but now they had an alliance that they formed with had an alliance that they formed with constantine and until this point the constantine and until this point the cross had represented to them death but cross had represented to them death but now it became a good luck charm now it became a good luck charm they were crucified on it previously by they were crucified on it previously by the other emperors under diocletian they the other emperors under diocletian they were crucified on the uh well it was not were crucified on the uh well it was not really the cross it was the stake but i really the cross it was the stake but i mean that's what it had represented mean that's what it had represented death to them before death to them before but now it has taken and becomes a good but now it has taken and becomes a good luck charm something that they could luck charm something that they could pray to and hold on to and rally behind pray to and hold on to and rally behind an idol for them to worship an idol for them to worship it was never a symbol of the gospel to it was never a symbol of the gospel to the true christian believers to our the true christian believers to our brethren back at that point in time and brethren back at that point in time and brethren and sisters that's why we do brethren and sisters that's why we do not worship the cross today we do not not worship the cross today we do not have it in our halls we do not wear it have it in our halls we do not wear it around our necks we do not associate around our necks we do not associate ourselves with it we do not survey a ourselves with it we do not survey a wondrous cross in that sense it was a wondrous cross in that sense it was a sign of death and it's also a sign of sign of death and it's also a sign of the apostasy because it carries behind the apostasy because it carries behind it the symbology of the doctrine of the it the symbology of the doctrine of the trinity father son and holy ghost and it trinity father son and holy ghost and it is the sign that is carried right is the sign that is carried right throughout the book of revelation and throughout the book of revelation and comes up in revelation chapter 17. comes up in revelation chapter 17. now brother and sisters in thessalonians now brother and sisters in thessalonians we read that there was a system that we read that there was a system that withholdeth or with strains and it was withholdeth or with strains and it was going to restrain until the time that it going to restrain until the time that it was to be removed now in thessalonians was to be removed now in thessalonians that system is the pagan roman dragon that system is the pagan roman dragon that is there for us indicated that is there for us indicated it's the restraining power that held the it's the restraining power that held the apostasy at bay until that man of sin apostasy at bay until that man of sin was to be revealed was to be revealed now now in the book of revelation we read about in the book of revelation we read about the war that was to ensue revelation the war that was to ensue revelation chapter 12 and at verse 7 we find that chapter 12 and at verse 7 we find that there is there war in heaven michael and there is there war in heaven michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his angels and the the dragon fought and his angels and the great dragon was cast out that old great dragon was cast out that old serpent well michael is a hebrew word serpent well michael is a hebrew word which means who like el which means who like el who like the power of the mighty ones in who like the power of the mighty ones in that sense that sense now whereas constantine was an agent of now whereas constantine was an agent of god to bring about destruction of the god to bring about destruction of the roman empire roman empire he was also the man of sin in its first he was also the man of sin in its first manifestation manifestation who sat in the place of god who like god who sat in the place of god who like god in that sense and was the beginning of in that sense and was the beginning of the roman catholic apostasy and it's in the roman catholic apostasy and it's in its greatest sense now its greatest sense now he brought about the judgments of that he brought about the judgments of that sixth seal and there was to be a sixth seal and there was to be a conflict in the political heavens conflict in the political heavens between the dragon and his angels and between the dragon and his angels and michael who like l constantine and his michael who like l constantine and his angels of which a large portion was angels of which a large portion was formed by the apostate christian church formed by the apostate christian church of the day of the day and so this battle came to a head at a and so this battle came to a head at a place called milvian bridge between place called milvian bridge between constantine and maxentius constantine and maxentius and as the battle was fought maxentius and as the battle was fought maxentius forces lost as they as constantine's forces lost as they as constantine's forces came onto rome and they were forces came onto rome and they were pushed back across the milvian bridge pushed back across the milvian bridge and it's interesting to note that the and it's interesting to note that the throng of the crowd on the bridge as throng of the crowd on the bridge as they tried to get back over the river they tried to get back over the river and not be slain on the other side and not be slain on the other side forced the emperor and he fell over the forced the emperor and he fell over the bridge and the weight of his armor bridge and the weight of his armor drowned him in the river below and so drowned him in the river below and so felling falling from heaven that dragon felling falling from heaven that dragon was was done away with but not was was done away with but not completely because whereas constantine completely because whereas constantine had dealt with one of the emperors on had dealt with one of the emperors on the other side of the empire lucinius the other side of the empire lucinius had had had a war with galerius and had had had a war with galerius and disposed of him but there is still a disposed of him but there is still a roman dragon and there is still the roman dragon and there is still the manchild in those heavens and there was manchild in those heavens and there was to be a war between the two of them to be a war between the two of them there was an eight-year truce but the there was an eight-year truce but the scripture determined that that was not scripture determined that that was not to continue it was during this period to continue it was during this period that that constantine recognized the that that constantine recognized the help of the christians by issuing an help of the christians by issuing an edict that their edict that their religion was to be respected and religion was to be respected and protected throughout his empire protected throughout his empire the final battle between these two the final battle between these two forces took place in adrian opal and it forces took place in adrian opal and it was a battle of fifteen thousand was a battle of fifteen thousand infantry on the dragon side with fifteen infantry on the dragon side with fifteen thousand cavalry and three hundred fifty thousand cavalry and three hundred fifty gallons roman galleons against a measly gallons roman galleons against a measly 120 000 men that constantine had and 120 000 men that constantine had and only 120 little vessels little ships and only 120 little vessels little ships and of course he was outnumbered but that of course he was outnumbered but that was irrelevant because the word of god was irrelevant because the word of god had said that that dragon would be cast had said that that dragon would be cast out and so the dragon was cast out out and so the dragon was cast out because licinius lost because licinius lost now it is interesting to note brother now it is interesting to note brother and sisters and sisters we look at the apocalypse now and and we look at the apocalypse now and and sometimes we grapple with understanding sometimes we grapple with understanding it it constantine understood it constantine understood it he read revelation 12 he read revelation 12 and he saw himself in it and he saw himself in it this is a letter he wrote this is a letter he wrote to the bishop eusebius who was his close to the bishop eusebius who was his close guide guide the dragon having being deposed from the the dragon having being deposed from the governments of affairs by god's governments of affairs by god's providence providence but now that liberty is restored and the but now that liberty is restored and the dragon driven from the administration of dragon driven from the administration of public affairs affairs by the providence public affairs affairs by the providence of the supreme deity and our of the supreme deity and our instrumentality and our instrumentality instrumentality and our instrumentality we trust that all can see the we trust that all can see the efficacy of the divine power the effect efficacy of the divine power the effect of the divine power working in the of the divine power working in the political heavens to cast out the dragon political heavens to cast out the dragon they saw themselves as the fulfillment they saw themselves as the fulfillment of revelation chapter 12. not in a bad of revelation chapter 12. not in a bad sense they slightly misinterpreted but sense they slightly misinterpreted but they read it and saw that that dragon they read it and saw that that dragon was rome and so constantine on his coin was rome and so constantine on his coin his coin depicts the dragon as being his coin depicts the dragon as being victor or the the le baron the cross is victor or the the le baron the cross is being victorious over the dragon these being victorious over the dragon these people were aware of it people were aware of it now now after this brother and sisters we read after this brother and sisters we read that that a loud voice is heard in heaven now this a loud voice is heard in heaven now this is the political heavens again let's not is the political heavens again let's not forget this is not god in heaven but now forget this is not god in heaven but now is salvation and strength is salvation and strength the kingdom of our god the power of his the kingdom of our god the power of his christ for the accuser our brethren is christ for the accuser our brethren is cast down which occurs accuse them cast down which occurs accuse them before our god day and night but the before our god day and night but the interjection is made there that they interjection is made there that they overcame them by the blood of the lamb overcame them by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and by the word of their testimony ultimately it was the word of god that ultimately it was the word of god that cast out that dragon the preaching cast out that dragon the preaching effort of the first seal that would go effort of the first seal that would go through the empire and unseat it however through the empire and unseat it however they did see themselves as the they did see themselves as the fulfillment of this but it was the seed fulfillment of this but it was the seed of the woman versus the seed of the of the woman versus the seed of the serpent serpent now after constantine had won now after constantine had won this this great victory he moved the this this great victory he moved the capital of the empire from rome to the capital of the empire from rome to the area of constantinople that move is area of constantinople that move is becoming going to become very becoming going to become very significant in in a future class and significant in in a future class and probably tomorrow as we consider these probably tomorrow as we consider these things things but what was to happen now that that but what was to happen now that that withholding or with straining power is withholding or with straining power is taken away taken away now that the dragon has been thrown out now that the dragon has been thrown out of heaven there are other events left of heaven there are other events left yet to ensue in chapter 12 and they yet to ensue in chapter 12 and they equate to the the events of 2 equate to the the events of 2 thessalonians 2 thessalonians 2 because after that was removed then because after that was removed then shall the wicked be revealed whom the shall the wicked be revealed whom the lord shall consume with the brightness lord shall consume with the brightness of his coming even him who's working is of his coming even him who's working is after the working of satan with all after the working of satan with all power and signs and lying wonders with power and signs and lying wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness all deceivableness of unrighteousness and them that perish why and them that perish why why did they perish why did that first why did they perish why did that first century ecclesia century ecclesia perish as it developed into this perish as it developed into this apostasy well because brothers and apostasy well because brothers and sisters they loved not the truth they sisters they loved not the truth they received not the love of the truth and received not the love of the truth and we likewise will perish as an ecclesial we likewise will perish as an ecclesial body if we do not love the truth body if we do not love the truth that they might be saved that they might be saved and for this cause god sent them strong and for this cause god sent them strong delusion that they should believe a lie delusion that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned to believe that they all might be damned to believe not the truth but had pleasure in not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness so this was what what unrighteousness so this was what what was to be revealed after this point in was to be revealed after this point in time time and it's very interesting to note and it's very interesting to note that it's right after this point in time that it's right after this point in time constantine is now on his throne constantine is now on his throne there is no roman emperor anymore to there is no roman emperor anymore to stand in his way the dragon has been stand in his way the dragon has been cast out and the christians are cast out and the christians are enthroned with him there enthroned with him there and it's interesting to see that the and it's interesting to see that the biggest problem he's now got is these biggest problem he's now got is these christians christians because they don't all agree there are because they don't all agree there are different schools of thought there is a different schools of thought there is a controversy that's going in within the controversy that's going in within the apostate ecclesia as it's now ascended apostate ecclesia as it's now ascended up to heaven up to heaven and so we have the council of nicaea the and so we have the council of nicaea the great nicean creed was to come out of it great nicean creed was to come out of it that council was not called by the that council was not called by the church church that council was not sort of invented by that council was not sort of invented by the bishops it was called by constantine the bishops it was called by constantine in an effort to consolidate his power in an effort to consolidate his power and put an end to the squabbling amongst and put an end to the squabbling amongst the church so that he wouldn't have a the church so that he wouldn't have a threat to his power base threat to his power base and we see here depicted two bishops and we see here depicted two bishops constantine you might be able to make constantine you might be able to make him out there is depicted as over the him out there is depicted as over the the top um right hand side of this the top um right hand side of this there's your left-hand side of the there's your left-hand side of the screen and uh here he was presiding over screen and uh here he was presiding over this this conference and we have two this this conference and we have two bishops bishops and the bishops are um bishop nicholas and the bishops are um bishop nicholas and anybody who's heard of saint and anybody who's heard of saint nicholas santa claus that's him nicholas santa claus that's him back from the third century fourth back from the third century fourth century and arius century and arius and santa claus there is planting a and santa claus there is planting a right or left hook on aries as they right or left hook on aries as they debate out the doctrine of the trinity debate out the doctrine of the trinity santa claus was the champion of the santa claus was the champion of the trinity and here he is taking on aries trinity and here he is taking on aries as they debate this subject you can see as they debate this subject you can see that the church had come a long way from that the church had come a long way from discussing the scriptures with their discussing the scriptures with their bibles open and here in the political bibles open and here in the political arena we result in fisticuffs as we try arena we result in fisticuffs as we try to to come to an understanding of what not the come to an understanding of what not the bible had to say but what was going to bible had to say but what was going to be the most popular sellable doctrine be the most popular sellable doctrine well constantine listening to this well constantine listening to this debate debate being a pagan himself worshiping a being a pagan himself worshiping a pantheon of pagan gods was more pantheon of pagan gods was more impressed with the idea of a triune impressed with the idea of a triune godhead because it sat probably a lot godhead because it sat probably a lot better with him since that's his better with him since that's his background of multiple gods he liked background of multiple gods he liked that idea so he put the official roman that idea so he put the official roman seal on the doctrine of the trinity and seal on the doctrine of the trinity and so the doctrine of the trinity became by so the doctrine of the trinity became by law of the roman emperor law of the roman emperor the doctrine that was to be held in the the doctrine that was to be held in the churches churches and so out of that council came the and so out of that council came the nicean creed nicean creed i believe in one god it goes the father i believe in one god it goes the father almighty in one lord jesus christ the almighty in one lord jesus christ the son of god the only begotten of the of son of god the only begotten of the of the father begotten of the father and he the father begotten of the father and he goes on to say very god of very god goes on to say very god of very god begotten not made of one essence with begotten not made of one essence with the father the father and he also he talks about him coming and he also he talks about him coming down from heaven that he was incarnate down from heaven that he was incarnate of the holy spirit and the virgin mary of the holy spirit and the virgin mary and was made man and he goes on to say i and was made man and he goes on to say i believe in the holy spirit the lord the believe in the holy spirit the lord the giver of life who proceedeth from the giver of life who proceedeth from the father who with the father is to be father who with the father is to be worshipped and worshipped and with the son and the father together is with the son and the father together is to be worshipped and glorified to be worshipped and glorified and brothers and sisters the believers and brothers and sisters the believers throughout time since this point have throughout time since this point have fought have wareed against that system fought have wareed against that system against this doctrine since the time of against this doctrine since the time of constantine and since the man child was constantine and since the man child was revealed and that great delusion spoken revealed and that great delusion spoken of in second thessalonians had been of in second thessalonians had been revealed revealed now just quickly as we close off this now just quickly as we close off this examination of revelation chapter 12 the examination of revelation chapter 12 the end result is that you have the woman end result is that you have the woman now bereft of the apostasy she's given now bereft of the apostasy she's given birth to this child the laodicean state birth to this child the laodicean state has gone out from her because they were has gone out from her because they were not of her and they have married not of her and they have married themselves to the the the catholic cis themselves to the the the catholic cis or the dragon system the pagan system or the dragon system the pagan system now what happens is that she flees into now what happens is that she flees into the wilderness so our brothers and the wilderness so our brothers and sisters and not just our brothers and sisters and not just our brothers and sisters but the witnesses who held sisters but the witnesses who held similar doctrines if not completely the similar doctrines if not completely the same went into the wilderness to a place same went into the wilderness to a place prepared of god that they should feed prepared of god that they should feed her there a thousand her there a thousand two hundred and three score days very two hundred and three score days very similar to elijah running from jezebel similar to elijah running from jezebel and when the dragon was cast saw that he and when the dragon was cast saw that he was cast out to the earth he persecuted was cast out to the earth he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man the woman which brought forth the man child child and so that dragon now assumed by and so that dragon now assumed by constantine because he was the only constantine because he was the only roman emperor left persecutes the woman roman emperor left persecutes the woman the doctrine of the trinity becomes the the doctrine of the trinity becomes the rule by which the the empire was to be rule by which the the empire was to be governed and so all sects and groups governed and so all sects and groups that did not adhere to that doctrine that did not adhere to that doctrine were to be judged and so we see that the were to be judged and so we see that the woman was given two wings of an eagle woman was given two wings of an eagle well an eagle is the roman empire right well an eagle is the roman empire right we read about it in matthew 25 or we read about it in matthew 25 or sorry in luke 21 with the olivet sorry in luke 21 with the olivet prophecy in matthew 24 and she's taken prophecy in matthew 24 and she's taken into the wilderness because the serpent into the wilderness because the serpent is to cast out of his mouth that dragon is to cast out of his mouth that dragon remember the word serpent dragon remember the word serpent dragon interchangeable there and the woman is interchangeable there and the woman is to be he's trying to destroy the woman to be he's trying to destroy the woman by casting this flood of water out of by casting this flood of water out of his mouth his mouth while brother and sisters what happened while brother and sisters what happened was the woman was taken into the was the woman was taken into the wilderness wilderness she was taken to the corners of the she was taken to the corners of the empire and the groups of believers the empire and the groups of believers the donatists the politicians the waldenses donatists the politicians the waldenses and the albigensis through time have and the albigensis through time have existed in the outskirts of the roman existed in the outskirts of the roman empire where they could not be touched empire where they could not be touched by or certainly would have a much less by or certainly would have a much less of an effect as being touched by the the of an effect as being touched by the the roman roman armies roman roman armies but we read there that there was to be a but we read there that there was to be a flood cast out of the mouth of this flood cast out of the mouth of this dragon and that flood brother and dragon and that flood brother and sisters was to come and was to sisters was to come and was to try and destroy this woman and the try and destroy this woman and the remnant of her seed and those who kept remnant of her seed and those who kept the testimony of the word the testimony of the word but it was to be swallowed up by the but it was to be swallowed up by the earth and so it was that the people earth and so it was that the people dwelling around the donatus for instance dwelling around the donatus for instance the circumcisions of of north africa the circumcisions of of north africa resisted the attempts of the roman resisted the attempts of the roman emperor to wipe them out or wipe out the emperor to wipe them out or wipe out the donatists who lived among them there donatists who lived among them there were groups of people who basically were groups of people who basically stood in defiance against the roman stood in defiance against the roman emperor and against the doctrines that emperor and against the doctrines that were being put forward were being put forward very quickly i just want to end off on very quickly i just want to end off on one note one note bible students of the day bible students of the day reading the book of revelation reading the book of revelation completely understood it completely understood it the donatists of north africa read the donatists of north africa read revelation 1 verse 1. it's the revelation 1 verse 1. it's the revelation of jesus christ given to his revelation of jesus christ given to his servants to show them short things servants to show them short things shortly come to come to pass and in the shortly come to come to pass and in the fourth century this is what a donatus fourth century this is what a donatus writer had to say writer had to say behold suddenly the polluted flood of behold suddenly the polluted flood of the mackerel and persecutions burst the mackerel and persecutions burst forth from the tyrannical church of kin forth from the tyrannical church of kin constance constance two beasts sent to africa from thence to two beasts sent to africa from thence to which which macarius and paulus or marcius and macarius and paulus or marcius and paulus whoever he quite pronounced that paulus whoever he quite pronounced that a most horrible and cruel ecclesiastical a most horrible and cruel ecclesiastical war was proclaimed that the christian war was proclaimed that the christian people should be compelled by the naked people should be compelled by the naked swords of soldiers and by the standards swords of soldiers and by the standards of the serpent dragons and the blast of of the serpent dragons and the blast of the trumpets to unite with these the trumpets to unite with these traitors and he talks about these beasts traitors and he talks about these beasts coming forward these serpents as they coming forward these serpents as they were to try and swallow up god's people were to try and swallow up god's people and they recognized that and they recognized that they recognized what was going on they recognized what was going on because they had the book of revelation because they had the book of revelation we've got it too brother and sisters we we've got it too brother and sisters we have it in front of us we have it to have it in front of us we have it to take home with us and what we have to do take home with us and what we have to do is protect ourselves with it to identify is protect ourselves with it to identify the system and we hope to do that the system and we hope to do that through this coming week so that we can through this coming week so that we can not be seduced into fellowship with the not be seduced into fellowship with the clerical systems of today but that we clerical systems of today but that we can come out of her and be not partakers can come out of her and be not partakers of her sins

Transcript

our first speaker this morning is brother jonathan bowen of the brantford brother jonathan bowen of the brantford ontario collegiate ontario collegiate the theme for her brother jonathan's the theme for her brother jonathan's class this week is the lamb shall class this week is the lamb shall overcome them overcome them today's class is entitled it was given today's class is entitled it was given to him to him to make war with the saints brother to make war with the saints brother jonathan well good morning brother and sisters as we continue the class this morning the we continue the class this morning the progression that we've been looking at progression that we've been looking at in the book of revelation in the book of revelation i would like to just start off by i would like to just start off by stating that we are not trying to cover stating that we are not trying to cover every detail of the book of revelation every detail of the book of revelation if at times you become a little bit if at times you become a little bit confused as to some of the facts don't confused as to some of the facts don't worry about it because what we're trying worry about it because what we're trying to do is paint the overall picture we to do is paint the overall picture we want to not do a detailed exposition of want to not do a detailed exposition of each and every point wherein we go and each and every point wherein we go and improve from the old testament what the improve from the old testament what the signs and the symbols represent we signs and the symbols represent we couldn't do that with the time we have couldn't do that with the time we have rather what we're trying to do is a rather what we're trying to do is a comprehensive flowing overview of the comprehensive flowing overview of the book of revelation looking at the book of revelation looking at the transformation of the beasts as they go transformation of the beasts as they go through and are depicted to us we want through and are depicted to us we want to see the narrative of the book the to see the narrative of the book the picture that is given to us the picture that is given to us the storyline if you want to call it that storyline if you want to call it that we're going to leave it up to your we're going to leave it up to your personal bible study to come back with personal bible study to come back with the use of your bible in hand your the use of your bible in hand your concordance and perhaps books like help concordance and perhaps books like help us israel eureka exposition of daniel us israel eureka exposition of daniel apocalypse epitomized they're all apocalypse epitomized they're all available to us to come in and fill in available to us to come in and fill in these details but we hope to try and these details but we hope to try and build for you an overview a framework build for you an overview a framework when you leave here you can walk away when you leave here you can walk away and perhaps have a little bit of a and perhaps have a little bit of a better understanding of how these things better understanding of how these things come together as we've mentioned the book of revelation is simply the exposition or revelation is simply the exposition or the beast phase of it is the exposition the beast phase of it is the exposition of daniel's fourth beast of daniel's fourth beast and that beast is described to us as and that beast is described to us as having iron teeth it's that roman having iron teeth it's that roman element that we can see element that we can see and it equates with the iron legs of and it equates with the iron legs of daniel chapter two as we've mentioned daniel chapter two as we've mentioned yesterday we spent our time looking at yesterday we spent our time looking at the dragon that is described for us in the dragon that is described for us in chapter 12 the first phase of daniel's chapter 12 the first phase of daniel's fourth beast fourth beast the pagan roman empire the pagan roman empire we looked at some of the seals and saw we looked at some of the seals and saw how these were the judgments upon this how these were the judgments upon this system system they brought about its eventual fall and they brought about its eventual fall and and that fall is described to us in and that fall is described to us in revelation chapter 12 as war in heaven revelation chapter 12 as war in heaven between the woman and or the woman seed between the woman and or the woman seed the man child and this dragon it is the the man child and this dragon it is the earthquake of chapter six in the end earthquake of chapter six in the end these seals and this war in heaven had these seals and this war in heaven had the result of bringing about the casting the result of bringing about the casting out from the political heavens of the out from the political heavens of the pagan roman dragon from power and the pagan roman dragon from power and the establishment in its place of the establishment in its place of the manchild manchild now now where that brings us to in the narrative where that brings us to in the narrative of the book is the beast of the sea of of the book is the beast of the sea of revelation chapter 13. you might want to revelation chapter 13. you might want to open your bibles to revelation chapter open your bibles to revelation chapter 13 and have them there so that you can 13 and have them there so that you can compare some of these things and have a compare some of these things and have a look at them in the context look at them in the context the system that the man-child the system that the man-child represented represented is is depicted in this way it's another phase depicted in this way it's another phase of daniel's fourth beast and it is of daniel's fourth beast and it is represented by this beast of the sea represented by this beast of the sea that is given to us in revelation that is given to us in revelation chapter 13 in the first part of the chapter 13 in the first part of the chapter chapter and although initially this man-child and although initially this man-child was a an agent of god's judgment upon was a an agent of god's judgment upon the pagan roman system itself or it the pagan roman system itself or it became part of this be system itself it became part of this be system itself it became part of the kingdoms of men who became part of the kingdoms of men who stand in opposition to the kingdom of stand in opposition to the kingdom of god and we want to remember that the god and we want to remember that the plot line that we're talking about is plot line that we're talking about is the seed of the woman the seed of the woman in opposition to the seed of the serpent in opposition to the seed of the serpent throughout the book of revelation throughout the book of revelation now when we come to identify the or to now when we come to identify the or to to examine the beast of the sea in the to examine the beast of the sea in the first part of the chapter we read that first part of the chapter we read that as i stood upon the sand of the sea i as i stood upon the sand of the sea i saw a beast rise up out of the sea saw a beast rise up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten crowns and upon the upon his horns ten crowns and upon the heads the names of blasphemy heads the names of blasphemy and the beast which i saw was like unto and the beast which i saw was like unto a leopard and his feet were the feet of a leopard and his feet were the feet of a bear and his mouth was the mouth of a a bear and his mouth was the mouth of a lion and the dragon gave him his power lion and the dragon gave him his power and his seat and his great authority now and his seat and his great authority now we want to look at this because if we we want to look at this because if we remember when daniel in daniel chapter 7 remember when daniel in daniel chapter 7 saw the vision it was four beasts that saw the vision it was four beasts that arose out of the great sea arose out of the great sea and that great sea is the mediterranean and that great sea is the mediterranean sea so this beast is associated with the sea so this beast is associated with the area of the mediterranean just like area of the mediterranean just like daniel's beast was daniel's beast was we noticed that it has similar we noticed that it has similar characteristics to the beasts that are characteristics to the beasts that are mentioned in daniel it has this this mentioned in daniel it has this this lion's mouth it has the um the seat and lion's mouth it has the um the seat and the authority given to it by the dragon the authority given to it by the dragon it's got feet of a bear and it looks it's got feet of a bear and it looks like a leopard so it carries the like a leopard so it carries the characteristics and that really makes characteristics and that really makes sense when we look at the book of daniel sense when we look at the book of daniel because the the image of daniel chapter because the the image of daniel chapter 2 when it's finally destroyed is broken 2 when it's finally destroyed is broken in pieces together in pieces together so all these composite elements are seen so all these composite elements are seen because they represent the kingdoms of because they represent the kingdoms of men men now as we continue along in this story now as we continue along in this story as we look at what we have written here as we look at what we have written here for us we find that the seat of the for us we find that the seat of the beast is the christian roman empire beast is the christian roman empire or sorry i should say the sea beast is or sorry i should say the sea beast is the christian roman empire it's made up the christian roman empire it's made up of the sovereign states under the of the sovereign states under the influence of rome and we're going to see influence of rome and we're going to see how that develops how that develops remember that constantine removed his remember that constantine removed his capital to byzantium which he renamed to capital to byzantium which he renamed to be constantinople be constantinople and from there the christian roman and from there the christian roman empire was ruled empire was ruled but there are changes that we are going but there are changes that we are going to look at there are similar to look at there are similar characteristics but there are some characteristics but there are some distinct differences distinct differences some of the similarities include some of the similarities include the fact that there are 10 horns on both the fact that there are 10 horns on both of these beasts of these beasts there are crowns on both of these beasts there are crowns on both of these beasts although they're in different positions although they're in different positions and there are seven heads and there are seven heads so this is not a new entirely new so this is not a new entirely new creation in that sense but rather creation in that sense but rather it is a continuation a metamorphosis it is a continuation a metamorphosis of the previous pagan roman dragon of the previous pagan roman dragon now the ten horns as we've already now the ten horns as we've already looked at daniel chapter 7 and verse 24 looked at daniel chapter 7 and verse 24 tells us that in daniel's beast these tells us that in daniel's beast these ten horns represent the ten kingdoms ten horns represent the ten kingdoms that would arise we are told the same that would arise we are told the same thing in revelation chapter 17 where thing in revelation chapter 17 where those ten horns are also seen in those ten horns are also seen in existence existence the crowns of we as we have mentioned the crowns of we as we have mentioned signify sovereign power signify sovereign power and the seven heads were those seven and the seven heads were those seven systems of government now as we look at systems of government now as we look at those horns we want to consider the those horns we want to consider the difference difference in the dragon in the dragon phase those horns were located upon the phase those horns were located upon the seven heads seven heads signifying the seven sovereign forms of signifying the seven sovereign forms of political government that would rule political government that would rule over the body of the roman empire and over the body of the roman empire and they were in succession they were in succession however when we come to the sea beast we however when we come to the sea beast we find that those crowns are no longer on find that those crowns are no longer on the heads but they now reside on the the heads but they now reside on the horns and this is a key point because horns and this is a key point because what has happened there is a change in what has happened there is a change in sovereignty sovereignty no longer is the christian roman empire no longer is the christian roman empire completely ruled over from one place completely ruled over from one place but now there is different sovereign but now there is different sovereign nations that make up this this roman nations that make up this this roman body of this beast that we're looking at body of this beast that we're looking at and it represents the empire in the and it represents the empire in the phase when the 10 barbarian nations that phase when the 10 barbarian nations that we read about in daniel chapter 7 gain we read about in daniel chapter 7 gain their freedom from the roman system their freedom from the roman system during the um during the um the lifespan of this beast in chapter the lifespan of this beast in chapter eight of revelation are given to us the eight of revelation are given to us the trumpet judgments the seven trumpet trumpet judgments the seven trumpet judgments judgments these are these are during this beast phase and partly upon during this beast phase and partly upon it it and they are the and they are the invasion of the barbarians into europe invasion of the barbarians into europe and the establishment of these and the establishment of these independent barbarian states independent barbarian states they are however under the roman they are however under the roman influence both of the christian roman influence both of the christian roman emperor from byzantium or constantinople emperor from byzantium or constantinople and also from the and also from the the uh vatican as it was to become in the uh vatican as it was to become in rome itself rome itself now when constantine moved the capital now when constantine moved the capital of the empire to constantinople he left of the empire to constantinople he left the western half of the empire exposed the western half of the empire exposed to the different tribes of the to the different tribes of the barbarians that were surrounding it now barbarians that were surrounding it now we want to kind of step through a little we want to kind of step through a little bit of history because this is a phase bit of history because this is a phase when i went through sunday school that when i went through sunday school that we kind of jumped over a little bit and we kind of jumped over a little bit and it was one of those things that i found it was one of those things that i found that once we kind of walk through it and that once we kind of walk through it and see how europe as our brother stephen see how europe as our brother stephen was talking about the other night how was talking about the other night how europe was formed as we see it today it europe was formed as we see it today it helps us to make more sense of these ten helps us to make more sense of these ten horns the invasions of the barbarians there were several of them were not were several of them were not necessarily doing these in chronological necessarily doing these in chronological order but we're just kind of following order but we're just kind of following them through them through one of them was the invasion of the huns one of them was the invasion of the huns the barbarian hordes came in different the barbarian hordes came in different ways and different basically areas they ways and different basically areas they drew themselves or they came from and drew themselves or they came from and the huns were ferocious people who under the huns were ferocious people who under a man named a man named attila came and invaded the roman empire attila came and invaded the roman empire they came from the area of what we know they came from the area of what we know as scythia as scythia in the bible it's called magog in in the bible it's called magog in ezekiel chapter 38 josephus describes it ezekiel chapter 38 josephus describes it for us for us they planted themselves in the area of they planted themselves in the area of the danube river and gave the name of the danube river and gave the name of their their own people to this area it their their own people to this area it became known as hungary so this was the became known as hungary so this was the area of the huns area of the huns and under attila in 8451 they went down and under attila in 8451 they went down to the area of thrace which is next to to the area of thrace which is next to constantinople about 30 miles from it constantinople about 30 miles from it they moved from there into macedonia and they moved from there into macedonia and then up into the area of ponona and then up into the area of ponona and which is part of hungary today through which is part of hungary today through norikium which is basically um norikium which is basically um austria as we would know it they went austria as we would know it they went into belgium germany france and as far into belgium germany france and as far as the english channel so they were they as the english channel so they were they basically came in almost on a whirlwind basically came in almost on a whirlwind tour through europe and they are tour through europe and they are described to us as the third trumpet the described to us as the third trumpet the blazing star blazing star which really is another study in itself which really is another study in itself i'm going to make mention of these i'm going to make mention of these things but we're not going to look at things but we're not going to look at them in them in along with them came the goths along with them came the goths a larick was um the leader of the goths a larick was um the leader of the goths or one of the influential leaders and we or one of the influential leaders and we read there from gibbons decline and fall read there from gibbons decline and fall of the roman empire that he marched to of the roman empire that he marched to the gates of rome at the hour of the gates of rome at the hour of midnight the solarian gate was silently midnight the solarian gate was silently opened and the inhabitants were awakened opened and the inhabitants were awakened by the tremendous sound of the gothic by the tremendous sound of the gothic trumpet which i thought was very trumpet which i thought was very significant because the book of significant because the book of revelation identifies these these um revelation identifies these these um gothic hordes or the the gothic hordes or the the different barbarians that would invade different barbarians that would invade as the trumpets and this was the hail as the trumpets and this was the hail and fire judgment of the first trumpet and fire judgment of the first trumpet the goths and the the visigoths that is the goths and the the visigoths that is basically came from the area of uh basically came from the area of uh sweden they came across northern europe sweden they came across northern europe and entered and entered the actual area of the roman empire the actual area of the roman empire through scythia through scythia they crossed they crossed through to greece under the leadership through to greece under the leadership of alaric they went through illyria of alaric they went through illyria lombardy and eventually they laid siege lombardy and eventually they laid siege to italy itself to italy itself so we can see that what was a stable so we can see that what was a stable empire is now being slowly invaded and empire is now being slowly invaded and somewhat carved up by these peoples somewhat carved up by these peoples they settled in france until finally they settled in france until finally they were driven by the franks into they were driven by the franks into spain spain in uh about ad585 then we have the vandals which brother stephen made mention of last night and stephen made mention of last night and the name vandal as we understand it the name vandal as we understand it somebody who destroys them things comes somebody who destroys them things comes from this word because they were ones from this word because they were ones who were to sack roman and and bring who were to sack roman and and bring great destruction upon it great destruction upon it they also came from the area of sweden they also came from the area of sweden they entered gaul around the year 406 they entered gaul around the year 406 they came down into spain across into they came down into spain across into north africa where they fought basically north africa where they fought basically against the catholic forces of the day against the catholic forces of the day the catholic dragon and set up an the catholic dragon and set up an independent kingdom there independent kingdom there and it was under the man named genserik and it was under the man named genserik and it lasted until about 5 33 and it lasted until about 5 33 and from here they invaded rome and and from here they invaded rome and sacked italy and they went through the sacked italy and they went through the provinces of italy and basically they provinces of italy and basically they represent the second wind trumpet or the represent the second wind trumpet or the great mountain burning with fire that is great mountain burning with fire that is depicted to us under the trumpets depicted to us under the trumpets following them we have the a lands the following them we have the a lands the islands came from asia the area between islands came from asia the area between the black sea and the caspian they the black sea and the caspian they crossed right the way through europe crossed right the way through europe through germany and they joined the through germany and they joined the vandals and basically they ended up vandals and basically they ended up settling themselves in the area of settling themselves in the area of portugal we also have the burgundians the burgundians came from what we know today burgundians came from what we know today as northern germany they established as northern germany they established themselves in the south of france or themselves in the south of france or what we would call gulf or what was what we would call gulf or what was called gaul back then and they gave called gaul back then and they gave their the name of their tribe stock to their the name of their tribe stock to that area for a long point in time that area for a long point in time burgundy was one of the nation states of burgundy was one of the nation states of europe for a long time europe for a long time was the lombards who also came from the was the lombards who also came from the area of scandinavia they just came down area of scandinavia they just came down the danube river river and basically the danube river river and basically after the dissolution of the empire of after the dissolution of the empire of attila around 455 attila around 455 they took over part of panoyna and um or they took over part of panoyna and um or hungary as we know it they came as far hungary as we know it they came as far as barbarian 568 and eventually they as barbarian 568 and eventually they invaded italy and settled themselves invaded italy and settled themselves there there until they were plucked up by the by the until they were plucked up by the by the roots as described to us by daniel roots as described to us by daniel we have the franks who came also out of we have the franks who came also out of the german area the name franks means the german area the name franks means freeman which is going to make a freeman which is going to make a significant significant point in history later on as we look at point in history later on as we look at the french revolution they invaded gaul the french revolution they invaded gaul and settled themselves in the area of and settled themselves in the area of france which basically derives its name france which basically derives its name from the name franks they comprised part from the name franks they comprised part of the first trumpet as well of the first trumpet as well there were the barbarians who basically there were the barbarians who basically originated from part of the the dragon originated from part of the the dragon empire itself they were in the area of empire itself they were in the area of norikium and they basically gained their norikium and they basically gained their independence under a man named theodon independence under a man named theodon and carved out for themselves an and carved out for themselves an independent state independent state there was the sui or the suvia sometimes there was the sui or the suvia sometimes they are called who came from asia they they are called who came from asia they crossed northern europe and entered into crossed northern europe and entered into germany they went through gaul and germany they went through gaul and galatia and basically um or galassia is galatia and basically um or galassia is called and entered into spain where they called and entered into spain where they settled themselves so the suvai or sui settled themselves so the suvai or sui are basically the spanish-speaking are basically the spanish-speaking peoples peoples and then there was the jedi and then there was the jedi now the jeopardy or jeopardize they're now the jeopardy or jeopardize they're called came from sweden as well they called came from sweden as well they went across the north of europe as well went across the north of europe as well like others other um of these barbarian like others other um of these barbarian hordes until they reached the area of hordes until they reached the area of scythia scythia from this area they came through the from this area they came through the adriatic bay of the mediterranean and adriatic bay of the mediterranean and they moved through the area of darcia they moved through the area of darcia and they planted themselves in the and they planted themselves in the carpathian hills next to the black sea carpathian hills next to the black sea their kingdom continued as an their kingdom continued as an independent kingdom till about 566 when independent kingdom till about 566 when it was it was somewhat destroyed by the lombards now somewhat destroyed by the lombards now these are the ten these are the ten horn nations that have come into europe horn nations that have come into europe they are historically documented for us they are historically documented for us in books like gibbons decline and follow in books like gibbons decline and follow the roman empire and they carved it up the roman empire and they carved it up for themselves giving many of the for themselves giving many of the lands that they they took over their lands that they they took over their names like the franks for instance and names like the franks for instance and like the huns in hungary these like the huns in hungary these independent nations formed the body independent nations formed the body politic if you want to call it that the politic if you want to call it that the political body political body of the christian roman empire of the christian roman empire they were under the influence heavily of they were under the influence heavily of the papacy the papacy and they were initially governed by the and they were initially governed by the emperor in constantinople and in fact emperor in constantinople and in fact it's interesting because all these it's interesting because all these barbarian nations as they came in were barbarian nations as they came in were very interested in in being accepted by very interested in in being accepted by the roman empire and so quite often on the roman empire and so quite often on the back of the coins that they struck the back of the coins that they struck would be the head of the emperor of would be the head of the emperor of their day their day so they certainly were related to this so they certainly were related to this this christian roman this christian roman beast as we see it in the book of beast as we see it in the book of revelation revelation so that's kind of what this beast is so that's kind of what this beast is comprised of comprised of now now we find in the book of revelation that we find in the book of revelation that it's this beast that is to become the it's this beast that is to become the enemy of the saints much more perhaps enemy of the saints much more perhaps than the the the pagan roman dragon was than the the the pagan roman dragon was that preceded it that preceded it we find in verse 5 that it was given a we find in verse 5 that it was given a mouth speaking great things and mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and it had power blasphemies and it had power to continue 42 months to continue 42 months and we find that he opens his mouth in and we find that he opens his mouth in blasphemy against god to blaspheme his blasphemy against god to blaspheme his name his tabernacle and then the dwell name his tabernacle and then the dwell in heaven in heaven now he equates to now he equates to in daniel chapter 7 the little horn that in daniel chapter 7 the little horn that arises that we also see speaking great arises that we also see speaking great things against the most high things against the most high so this mad speaking blasphemy or great so this mad speaking blasphemy or great things things established itself in opposition to the established itself in opposition to the seed of the woman seed of the woman our brethren and sisters and those who our brethren and sisters and those who comprise the the second witness of the comprise the the second witness of the time really in the empire faced this time really in the empire faced this this colossal political movement this colossal political movement and were persecuted heavily by it the and were persecuted heavily by it the kingdoms of men versus the kingdom of kingdoms of men versus the kingdom of god or the people of god god or the people of god now it was during the time of this beast now it was during the time of this beast that the emperor um that the emperor um focus focus gave to boniface we'll read the slide gave to boniface we'll read the slide there this boniface iii there this boniface iii obtained from focus the prince of the obtained from focus the prince of the apostolic apostolic throne the blessed apostle peter throne the blessed apostle peter uh sorry let me read that again uh sorry let me read that again boniface obtained from focus he was the boniface obtained from focus he was the emperor emperor the prince the prince sorry focus the prince you have to sorry focus the prince you have to excuse me here we go excuse me here we go focus the prince that the apostolic focus the prince that the apostolic throne of the blessed apostle peter throne of the blessed apostle peter should be the head of all the churches should be the head of all the churches and that decree gave them legally and that decree gave them legally the right to basically lord themselves the right to basically lord themselves over all other religious groups over all other religious groups christian religious groups in the empire christian religious groups in the empire it was a very significant decree it was a very significant decree because as a result of it the catholic because as a result of it the catholic church had the power to suppress legally church had the power to suppress legally other religions other religions and so the papacy became head of all and so the papacy became head of all churches churches and it made use of this authority by and it made use of this authority by putting to death our brothers and putting to death our brothers and sisters because they refused to bow down sisters because they refused to bow down and to worship it they spoke with the and to worship it they spoke with the authority of god upon the earth they authority of god upon the earth they became christ's representative on earth became christ's representative on earth as far as the state was concerned as far as the state was concerned and consequently they made war with the and consequently they made war with the saints we read in revelation 13 verse 5 saints we read in revelation 13 verse 5 power was given unto him to continue 40 power was given unto him to continue 40 in two months and it was given unto him in two months and it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to to make war with the saints and to overcome them overcome them and power was given unto him over all and power was given unto him over all kindreds tongues and nations so over kindreds tongues and nations so over those ten horn nations this beast had those ten horn nations this beast had power and influence and again it equates power and influence and again it equates with that little horn the same horn that with that little horn the same horn that made war with the saints made war with the saints and so brothers and sisters it's in this and so brothers and sisters it's in this time period that there was open warfare time period that there was open warfare with the people of god and of the system with the people of god and of the system of europe and it was to last for a of europe and it was to last for a period of 1260 days period of 1260 days and it equates with that little horn and and it equates with that little horn and we make that statement because we're we make that statement because we're looking at phases of it and this is looking at phases of it and this is where this phase plugs into where this phase plugs into during during the lifetime of this beast our brethren the lifetime of this beast our brethren and sisters underwent horrific and sisters underwent horrific persecutions persecutions they're detailed for us in books like they're detailed for us in books like fox's book of martyrs and moore's fox's book of martyrs and moore's martyrology martyrology reading from hebrews 11 it describes the reading from hebrews 11 it describes the age of the patriarchs of the forefathers age of the patriarchs of the forefathers but it also describes this age others but it also describes this age others were tortured not accepting deliverance were tortured not accepting deliverance if they had accepted deliverance if they if they had accepted deliverance if they had have recanted they would have been had have recanted they would have been set free many of them but they did not set free many of them but they did not accept deliverance they held fast to accept deliverance they held fast to their faith that they might obtain a their faith that they might obtain a better resurrection and consequently better resurrection and consequently they were put to death for their beliefs they were put to death for their beliefs others had a trial of cruel mockings and others had a trial of cruel mockings and scourgings a moreover of bonds and scourgings a moreover of bonds and imprisonment this was the seed of the imprisonment this was the seed of the woman versus the seed of the serpent woman versus the seed of the serpent they were stoned they were sown asunder they were stoned they were sown asunder they were tempted they were slain with they were tempted they were slain with the sword they wandered about in the sword they wandered about in sheepskins and goat skins being sheepskins and goat skins being destitute afflicted tormented destitute afflicted tormented and brethren sisters these people gave and brethren sisters these people gave up their lives for the truth up their lives for the truth we've got to ask ourselves we've got to ask ourselves what would we be willing to give up for what would we be willing to give up for the truth the truth quite often our lives are so busy with quite often our lives are so busy with the things of this world the things of this world that we have a hard time finding time to that we have a hard time finding time to do the readings or to get out to the do the readings or to get out to the bible class bible class are we worthy of association with these are we worthy of association with these saints that went before the world was not worthy of them continues hebrews 11 38 they wandered in continues hebrews 11 38 they wandered in deserts and mountains in dens and caves deserts and mountains in dens and caves of the earth all these having obtained a of the earth all these having obtained a good report through faith good report through faith they received not the promises god they received not the promises god having provided some better thing for us having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made that they without us should not be made perfect and we've got to listen to those perfect and we've got to listen to those words of hebrews and think about our words of hebrews and think about our association with them association with them what have we given up for the truth what have we given up for the truth what have we given up to belong to that what have we given up to belong to that class of people entitled to the class of people entitled to the description of the saints description of the saints well brothers and sisters this system well brothers and sisters this system was to last for 1260 days was to last for 1260 days using the day for a year principle using the day for a year principle that's outlined to us both in numbers that's outlined to us both in numbers and in ezekiel we realized that it's a and in ezekiel we realized that it's a period of 1260 years period of 1260 years that begins in the area of or the time that begins in the area of or the time period of 606 with this decree that went period of 606 with this decree that went forward and lasts for that twelve forward and lasts for that twelve hundred and sixty years to basically the hundred and sixty years to basically the area of around 1866. area of around 1866. it was under the emperor or the french it was under the emperor or the french emperor emperor napoleon and also garibaldi that the napoleon and also garibaldi that the papacy lost its power to execute war papacy lost its power to execute war against the saints and we thank our god against the saints and we thank our god that we live in a time where we're that we live in a time where we're allowed to meet like this allowed to meet like this we're allowed to talk about these things we're allowed to talk about these things without fear of persecution and the without fear of persecution and the reason is because the time of her reason is because the time of her warfare over the saints by god's mercy warfare over the saints by god's mercy to us has expired to us has expired but let's not become complacent because but let's not become complacent because we live in a time where we do not have we live in a time where we do not have that kind of persecution that kind of persecution the battle that we face the persecution the battle that we face the persecution we face is perhaps a little bit more we face is perhaps a little bit more dangerous than what they faced dangerous than what they faced theirs was a battle of immediate life theirs was a battle of immediate life and death and death heirs is a much more subtle battle heirs is a much more subtle battle because we allow the world and all its because we allow the world and all its influences to kill us slowly influences to kill us slowly and so brother and sisters we do well to and so brother and sisters we do well to take heed to these people who went take heed to these people who went before us before us now now when the trumpets had finally exhausted when the trumpets had finally exhausted the eastern side of the roman empire the eastern side of the roman empire would collapse would collapse and of course we know about the fact and of course we know about the fact that that dragon area as it is described that that dragon area as it is described for us was transferred up to russia when for us was transferred up to russia when the last niece of the last or the niece the last niece of the last or the niece of the last tsar or caesar sorry of the of the last tsar or caesar sorry of the byzantine empire married ivan iii she byzantine empire married ivan iii she took with her the seal the crest and all took with her the seal the crest and all the royal paraphernalia of the byzantine the royal paraphernalia of the byzantine empire up with her to russia and so from empire up with her to russia and so from that point forward the kings of russia that point forward the kings of russia were not called kings were not called kings they were called they were called czars czars caesars the slavonic contraction of the caesars the slavonic contraction of the word and so when we come to the book of word and so when we come to the book of revelation in chapter 16 in the future revelation in chapter 16 in the future and we read about the dragon that hasn't and we read about the dragon that hasn't been destroyed but simply thrown out of been destroyed but simply thrown out of heaven it becomes to represent the heaven it becomes to represent the nation of russia nation of russia well as those trumpets expire and as well as those trumpets expire and as those barbarian nations became more those barbarian nations became more powerful the christian roman empire powerful the christian roman empire phased itself out in that sense it phased itself out in that sense it basically died a slow death until basically died a slow death until basically the goths and the different basically the goths and the different vandal nations overpowered it vandal nations overpowered it and then introduced onto the scene and then introduced onto the scene is the is the lamb-like lamb-like creature that speaks as a dragon creature that speaks as a dragon we read in revelation chapter 13 i we read in revelation chapter 13 i beheld another beast coming up out of beheld another beast coming up out of the earth the earth and he has two horns and he has two horns like a lamb like a lamb but when he speaks he speaks as a dragon but when he speaks he speaks as a dragon he exercises all the power of the first he exercises all the power of the first beast before him and causes the earth beast before him and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was the first beast whose deadly wound was healed healed and so brother and sisters this is the and so brother and sisters this is the next phase that we're following through next phase that we're following through now we're trying not to spend too much now we're trying not to spend too much time looking at these things was because time looking at these things was because we really want to look at europe as it we really want to look at europe as it is today and the developments in front is today and the developments in front of us but we want to give ourselves a of us but we want to give ourselves a frame of reference to how we get to frame of reference to how we get to today today well this beast that's described for us well this beast that's described for us has horns like a lamb has horns like a lamb which tells us that it has a christian which tells us that it has a christian veneer veneer it is a dragon in sheep's clothing in it is a dragon in sheep's clothing in that sense that sense it is it is false christianity false christianity that has become metamorphosized into one that has become metamorphosized into one of these beasts of these beasts the dragon speaking mouth tells us what the dragon speaking mouth tells us what it's really like on the inside it's really like on the inside it has that roman element to it it has that roman element to it but at the same time it has the but at the same time it has the christian veneer a holy sort of christian veneer a holy sort of countenance to it countenance to it and so out of those two elements you and so out of those two elements you have a holy roman empire that develops have a holy roman empire that develops now it was under now it was under charlemagne charlemagne who basically was called upon by the who basically was called upon by the pope to come to italy and drive out the pope to come to italy and drive out the lombards that were basically causing lombards that were basically causing some tribulation for his holiness some tribulation for his holiness now the lombards were named now the lombards were named at with the meaning of their name is at with the meaning of their name is long beards and it's actually quite long beards and it's actually quite comical to read what brother thomas has comical to read what brother thomas has to say about these long beards and how to say about these long beards and how that the catholic church hated them so that the catholic church hated them so much that it became tradition among the much that it became tradition among the catholics that they did not allow their catholics that they did not allow their followers to grow beards and so as you followers to grow beards and so as you look across the catholic church and you look across the catholic church and you wonder about where you know or you look wonder about where you know or you look at all their priests and and popes and at all their priests and and popes and whatever else you'll be very hard whatever else you'll be very hard pressed to find somebody with a beard pressed to find somebody with a beard that's why i have one i just sort of that's why i have one i just sort of like the idea anyway like the idea anyway the pope called upon charlemagne to the pope called upon charlemagne to rescue him rescue him so what charlemagne did was he came down so what charlemagne did was he came down into italy and he drove the lombards out into italy and he drove the lombards out and so charlemagne defeated them and and so charlemagne defeated them and became the patriarch or the protector of became the patriarch or the protector of italy italy now some 26 years later now some 26 years later when charlemagne came to the vatican when charlemagne came to the vatican for a ceremony on christmas day in the for a ceremony on christmas day in the year 800 year 800 he was basically there kneeling before he was basically there kneeling before the pope for the pope for to have the mass and partake of the to have the mass and partake of the death cookie and whatever else and pope death cookie and whatever else and pope leo the third picked up the roman crown leo the third picked up the roman crown the iron crown the iron crown and put it upon charlemagne's head and and put it upon charlemagne's head and crowned him pronounced him to be the crowned him pronounced him to be the emperor of the holy roman empire emperor of the holy roman empire now leo had absolutely no right to do now leo had absolutely no right to do this whatsoever this whatsoever it was from byzantium it was from byzantium from constantinople that the successors from constantinople that the successors were supposed to be named so he took were supposed to be named so he took upon himself this authority and we can upon himself this authority and we can see the the growing of the the the power see the the growing of the the the power and the authority of the papacy and so and the authority of the papacy and so the holy roman empire was born the holy roman empire was born the territory of this empire included the territory of this empire included basically much of france germany and basically much of france germany and italy italy it didn't surround the mediterranean sea it didn't surround the mediterranean sea like the the previous empire had the like the the previous empire had the christian roman empire and so christian roman empire and so consequently it is depicted as being the consequently it is depicted as being the beast that came from the earth because beast that came from the earth because it came from the germanic french sort of it came from the germanic french sort of area of of europe area of of europe now it is a metamorphosis again of now it is a metamorphosis again of daniel's fourth beast and it was to daniel's fourth beast and it was to continue the persecution of the saints continue the persecution of the saints and to live out that and to live out that seed of the woman versus seed of the seed of the woman versus seed of the serpent serpent narrative of the book narrative of the book it has that holy it has that holy roman empire roman empire characteristic about it characteristic about it now we read of this beast that it was to now we read of this beast that it was to make fire come down from heaven in the make fire come down from heaven in the sight or from heaven on the earth in the sight or from heaven on the earth in the sight of men sight of men now this fire that was to come down from now this fire that was to come down from heaven came out of its dragon like mouth heaven came out of its dragon like mouth in that sense in that sense it was in heaven now we don't want to it was in heaven now we don't want to get confused and think now that we're get confused and think now that we're talking about almighty god in heaven talking about almighty god in heaven we're talking about the political we're talking about the political heavens so the fire coming down is judgments as fire is depicted in the in the bible coming down from the in the bible coming down from the political heavens of the day political heavens of the day now these judgments came in the form of now these judgments came in the form of edicts from the mouth of this dragon and edicts from the mouth of this dragon and it mobilizes the armies under its it mobilizes the armies under its influence to carry out these decrees and influence to carry out these decrees and a perfect example of these decrees is a perfect example of these decrees is that of excommunication that of excommunication we read excommunication was the we read excommunication was the was a terrible weapon in the hands of was a terrible weapon in the hands of the sovereign pontiff everyone fled with the sovereign pontiff everyone fled with horror from him who had been struck by horror from him who had been struck by it it the lords broke off all commerce with the lords broke off all commerce with the king who had been excommunicated the king who had been excommunicated there hardly remained in his attendance there hardly remained in his attendance with any attendance with with him to with any attendance with with him to serve him and these threw all the serve him and these threw all the fragments of his table into the fire fragments of his table into the fire rather than eat them it was a terrible rather than eat them it was a terrible time in that sense when excommunication time in that sense when excommunication was was sent forth was was sent forth you were completely and absolutely you were completely and absolutely ostracized from the people around you ostracized from the people around you you were cut off you were cut off you could not deal in the society of the you could not deal in the society of the day day you could not buy or sell you could not buy or sell if you were a king your subjects were no if you were a king your subjects were no longer according to the papal decree longer according to the papal decree they didn't have to follow what you said they didn't have to follow what you said and so you were reduced to nothing and so you were reduced to nothing our brethren our brethren experience the fire of extra experience the fire of extra communication under this time because communication under this time because they refused to worship the beast they refused to worship the beast now now charlemagne began this empire and his charlemagne began this empire and his family really held on to it for about 70 family really held on to it for about 70 years it was then transferred over to years it was then transferred over to otto the first the german empire emperor otto the first the german empire emperor around the year 962 around the year 962 and eventually the otto family passed on and eventually the otto family passed on the empire to um the habsburg family the empire to um the habsburg family that ruled it until napoleon came along that ruled it until napoleon came along now it was during the time of this beast now it was during the time of this beast of the earth the holy roman empire that of the earth the holy roman empire that it was to develop it was to develop with it with it not separate to it but sort of not separate to it but sort of in in con in in con can't think of the word in well anyway can't think of the word in well anyway together with it there you go um during together with it there you go um during this this time the uh the image of the this this time the uh the image of the beast was to arise that we read of in beast was to arise that we read of in revelation chapter 13. revelation chapter 13. verse 14 verse 14 and this image of the beast is is set up and this image of the beast is is set up we read verse 14 this this beast we read verse 14 this this beast deceived them that dwell upon the earth deceived them that dwell upon the earth by the means of the miracles which he by the means of the miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the had power to do in the sight of the beast saying unto them that dwell upon beast saying unto them that dwell upon the earth that they should make an image the earth that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by the to the beast which had the wound by the sword and yet all of a sudden is found sword and yet all of a sudden is found to be alive again to be alive again and this beast had power to give life to and this beast had power to give life to the image of the beast the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both that the image of the beast should both speak speak and cause as many as would not worship and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast that they should the image of the beast that they should be killed be killed and so there is this this depiction of and so there is this this depiction of an image that's set up i wasn't quite an image that's set up i wasn't quite sure how to depict that on on the slide sure how to depict that on on the slide before you so i kind of just dug the before you so i kind of just dug the head of the last one and stuck it on a head of the last one and stuck it on a post because it's almost like an idol post because it's almost like an idol that is set up in the memory of the that is set up in the memory of the preceding beast the christian roman preceding beast the christian roman empire that's there before you empire that's there before you and so it's and so it's something that is resurrected to the something that is resurrected to the memory of memory of now in daniel chapter four or chapter now in daniel chapter four or chapter seven the fourth beast when we consider seven the fourth beast when we consider it again as we kind of look back there it again as we kind of look back there the finer details are given to it as to the finer details are given to it as to how it how it was to to move along and how it how it was to to move along and it's described as these ten horns but it's described as these ten horns but there is some narrative that takes place there is some narrative that takes place that we want to consider just for a few that we want to consider just for a few moments moments the fourth beast dreadful and terrible the fourth beast dreadful and terrible and strong and seedingly had ten horns and strong and seedingly had ten horns but but three of those horns were to be plucked three of those horns were to be plucked up we have seen what the ten horns up we have seen what the ten horns represent represent three of them will be to be supplanted three of them will be to be supplanted by this eighth little horn and these by this eighth little horn and these three were the lombards the huns and the three were the lombards the huns and the vandals all of whom had a piece of rome vandals all of whom had a piece of rome at some point in time at some point in time the vandals were an aryan nation by the vandals were an aryan nation by their religion they did not believe the their religion they did not believe the trinity to the same degree trinity to the same degree and so they were plucked out by the and so they were plucked out by the forces of the emperor justinian around forces of the emperor justinian around 554 a.d 554 a.d the lombards ruled italy during the time the lombards ruled italy during the time of charlemagne and of course he came of charlemagne and of course he came along and plucked them up and removed along and plucked them up and removed them from power around the year 800. them from power around the year 800. the huns who had established themselves the huns who had established themselves in hungary were also plucked up by in hungary were also plucked up by charlemagne's descendants charlemagne's descendants and so we have basically by their and so we have basically by their removal the advent of this little horn removal the advent of this little horn daniel 7 verse 8 says i considered the daniel 7 verse 8 says i considered the horns and behold there came up among horns and behold there came up among them another little horn before whom them another little horn before whom three of the first horns were plucked up three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots and behold in this horn by the roots and behold in this horn there were eyes in the mouth speaking there were eyes in the mouth speaking great things great things so once these three horns were plucked so once these three horns were plucked up which happened over a period of time up which happened over a period of time they were replaced by this little horn they were replaced by this little horn that daniel talks about that daniel talks about this little horn had eyes and a mouth this little horn had eyes and a mouth and it spoke great things against the and it spoke great things against the most high and it was to wear out the most high and it was to wear out the saints of the most high we read in saints of the most high we read in daniel chapter 7 and verse 25. daniel chapter 7 and verse 25. this little horn was the catholic power this little horn was the catholic power of the holy roman empire as is depicted of the holy roman empire as is depicted to us in revelation to us in revelation it was it was equivalent to the beast that came up out equivalent to the beast that came up out of the earth of the earth more specifically though there is the more specifically though there is the earthly kingdom of the papacy earthly kingdom of the papacy what we call the temporal power of the what we call the temporal power of the pope pope now it's interesting to note that the now it's interesting to note that the papal coronation crown has a triple t papal coronation crown has a triple t error on it three crowns error on it three crowns one in the words of daniel perhaps for one in the words of daniel perhaps for each of the horns that was plucked up each of the horns that was plucked up before it before it and it's interesting that when the pope and it's interesting that when the pope is crowned that is what is placed on his is crowned that is what is placed on his head a three crowned crown so that he head a three crowned crown so that he basically takes over basically takes over from those three horn nations from those three horn nations now pep in the short the king of france now pep in the short the king of france gave basically in about 758 predecessor gave basically in about 758 predecessor to charlemagne to charlemagne gave the uh the pope um gave the uh the pope um after the battling with the lombards who after the battling with the lombards who had taken control of italy he gave the had taken control of italy he gave the pope three territories the area of rome pope three territories the area of rome ravenna and a portion of lombardy and ravenna and a portion of lombardy and they became known as the papal states they became known as the papal states now they were wrestled from him and now they were wrestled from him and charlemagne restored them to him charlemagne restored them to him and from this point the image or the and from this point the image or the replica of the christian roman empire replica of the christian roman empire carrying much of the same carrying much of the same characteristics was established in rome characteristics was established in rome and from here the pope and from here the pope ruled as a king ruled as a king he was not just a spiritual ruler at he was not just a spiritual ruler at this point in time this point in time but he had become both a spiritual ruler but he had become both a spiritual ruler and a literal king over the papal states and a literal king over the papal states he ruled with a rod of iron in that he ruled with a rod of iron in that sense sense and not only that but his influence over and not only that but his influence over the other people the other people was very very strong was very very strong under pro pope gregory the under pro pope gregory the the seventh around the year 1073 the seventh around the year 1073 the papacy sovereign over its own the papacy sovereign over its own territories now reached the point in territories now reached the point in history where no longer was it looking history where no longer was it looking for the emperors for support and sort of for the emperors for support and sort of sometimes the popes were actually chosen sometimes the popes were actually chosen by the emperors by the emperors but now but now the papacy appointed internally its own the papacy appointed internally its own popes popes without reference to the emperor without reference to the emperor whatsoever whatsoever the emperor the emperor and the kings of the earth and the kings of the earth instead of requiring or influencing the instead of requiring or influencing the papacy in the decision who would become papacy in the decision who would become pope they now had to go to the papacy in pope they now had to go to the papacy in order to gain um order to gain um the allegiance of their people because the allegiance of their people because they required the pope to crown them in they required the pope to crown them in all an order basically to be authentic all an order basically to be authentic as rulers on their thrones as rulers on their thrones and this is really the point in which and this is really the point in which the image of this beast becomes powerful the image of this beast becomes powerful now the reason we've run through these now the reason we've run through these things and there's a lot of history that things and there's a lot of history that we could talk about there is tons and we could talk about there is tons and tons and tons of reams of it because tons and tons of reams of it because we've just basically taken a jump from we've just basically taken a jump from the year 300 almost right up to about the year 300 almost right up to about 1850 as far as the area which this this 1850 as far as the area which this this system covers and we're not going to system covers and we're not going to spend our time to go into it spend our time to go into it individually individually suffice it to say that it's under this suffice it to say that it's under this power that the greatest and the most power that the greatest and the most horrific persecutions of god's people horrific persecutions of god's people have taken place of our brethren and have taken place of our brethren and sisters and are detailed for us in books sisters and are detailed for us in books like the brethren in christ and in the like the brethren in christ and in the protesters by our brother alan ayer protesters by our brother alan ayer what we want to do is just see that what we want to do is just see that through this transition through this transition europe became a center of the christian europe became a center of the christian or i should say the catholic religion or i should say the catholic religion and its influence pervaded all levels of and its influence pervaded all levels of society society it was built upon the same structure as it was built upon the same structure as the roman empire the papacy was there is the roman empire the papacy was there is an image to the wounded beast we are an image to the wounded beast we are told was created told was created in other words in other words what we are looking at in the papal what we are looking at in the papal states and in the vatican as it exists states and in the vatican as it exists today even today even is basically a replica of the roman is basically a replica of the roman empire empire they are structured the same way they are structured the same way we read from the mcgraw-hill we read from the mcgraw-hill encyclopedia illustrated world history encyclopedia illustrated world history it was truly roman in its structure it was truly roman in its structure talking about the catholic church talking about the catholic church the hierarchy of pope the hierarchy of pope archdiocese diocese and parish was in archdiocese diocese and parish was in the tradition of diocletian's imperial the tradition of diocletian's imperial reorganization reorganization within the episcopal system the sea of within the episcopal system the sea of rome enjoyed a special authority the rome enjoyed a special authority the roman church was accepted as first roman church was accepted as first amongst equals amongst equals now what that basically is telling us to now what that basically is telling us to telling to us is that remember when we telling to us is that remember when we went back at the very beginning with the went back at the very beginning with the dragon we talked about the fact that it dragon we talked about the fact that it had seven heads and each of those seven had seven heads and each of those seven heads were systems of government heads were systems of government and we found that the sixth head was to and we found that the sixth head was to disappear disappear and that was the imperial head where the and that was the imperial head where the the caesar was supreme but it was to be the caesar was supreme but it was to be resurrected resurrected what we're looking at in the papacy what we're looking at in the papacy is the same structure is the same structure as was there back in the time of the as was there back in the time of the roman dragon roman dragon it is the same it is the same framework that has been resurrected it framework that has been resurrected it is an image is an image to the same beast that already existed to the same beast that already existed it's modeled after it's depicting the it's modeled after it's depicting the same thing same thing and history and this is not and history and this is not christodolphians writing this history christodolphians writing this history tells us well you look at the one you tells us well you look at the one you look at the other the same thing and look at the other the same thing and that's important for us to understand that's important for us to understand well we read further that as many as well we read further that as many as would not worship the image of the beast would not worship the image of the beast were to be killed and he caused all both were to be killed and he caused all both small and great rich and poor to receive small and great rich and poor to receive the mark of or to receive a mark in the mark of or to receive a mark in their right hand and in or in their their right hand and in or in their forehead that no man might buy or sell forehead that no man might buy or sell say that he had the mark or the name of say that he had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name and the beast or the number of his name and he goes on to tell us it's the number of he goes on to tell us it's the number of the man as the original would really the man as the original would really have it with a definite article there have it with a definite article there and his number is 666 and his number is 666 so this image so this image is related to the sign of the beast the is related to the sign of the beast the 666 in the forehead 666 in the forehead and we have to stop and ask well what and we have to stop and ask well what does that mean does that mean well he tells us what it means that well he tells us what it means that number number is the number of and the definite is the number of and the definite article is there in the book of article is there in the book of revelation in the original greek it's revelation in the original greek it's the number of the number of the man the man what is what is the man of the book of revelation well the man of the book of revelation well it's the man child of chapter 12 it's it's the man child of chapter 12 it's the man of sin of second thessalonians the man of sin of second thessalonians so what is being forced upon the people so what is being forced upon the people of of europe at this point in time amongst europe at this point in time amongst which their brethren list lived was which their brethren list lived was basically the doctrines of constantine basically the doctrines of constantine and the man of sin that would arise and the man of sin that would arise that was the mark of the beast that is that was the mark of the beast that is to go into their forehead a terrific to go into their forehead a terrific study sometime to go into that is very study sometime to go into that is very exciting is a comparison between the exciting is a comparison between the mark of the beast and the seal of god in mark of the beast and the seal of god in their foreheads it's not some visa card their foreheads it's not some visa card thing or a upc symbol that when you go thing or a upc symbol that when you go through the grocery store you put your through the grocery store you put your wrist there or your forehead on the wrist there or your forehead on the thing and scan it in it doesn't thing and scan it in it doesn't represent that we've got to look at it represent that we've got to look at it in in the real greater symbols of the in in the real greater symbols of the the apocalypse these two things you've the apocalypse these two things you've got the seed of the woman the seed of got the seed of the woman the seed of the serpent you've got the mark of the the serpent you've got the mark of the or the seal of god or the seal of god and the mark of the beast and the mark of the beast the seal of god is the character of god the seal of god is the character of god in your forehead in your forehead in your mind and in your hand in that in your mind and in your hand in that sense in your works in your heart sense in your works in your heart the image the image or the the mark of the beast or the the mark of the beast is the doctrine the character the is the doctrine the character the thinking thinking of that catholic system in your forehead of that catholic system in your forehead and in your hand in your works and in your hand in your works now it's interesting that it's the now it's interesting that it's the trinitarian cross trinitarian cross the the symbol of symbol of christianity as we know it and the christianity as we know it and the trinity is the chief doctrine of trinity is the chief doctrine of christianity the ecumenical doctrine christianity the ecumenical doctrine that forms the basis of the catholic that forms the basis of the catholic religion we read here from a book on new catholicism this is not this is catholicism this is not this is something that they're proud of by the something that they're proud of by the way this is written by a catholic way this is written by a catholic in the catholic church and the other in the catholic church and the other christian churches the sign of the cross christian churches the sign of the cross is an important part of personal and is an important part of personal and public prayer public prayer it is the first sign made on us at it is the first sign made on us at baptism which incidentally is made in baptism which incidentally is made in the forehead of the child the forehead of the child it is the last sign made on us as we it is the last sign made on us as we depart to the future life which depart to the future life which incidentally is also made on the incidentally is also made on the forehead it is a vital part of the forehead it is a vital part of the liturgical prayers and the sacraments liturgical prayers and the sacraments with the sign of the cross we begin and with the sign of the cross we begin and end our prayers we call it a blessing we end our prayers we call it a blessing we say bless ourselves which i found rather say bless ourselves which i found rather interesting but anyway bless ourselves interesting but anyway bless ourselves tracing with our hand the figure of the tracing with our hand the figure of the cross on our forehead on our breast and cross on our forehead on our breast and on our shoulders tracing this holy sign on our shoulders tracing this holy sign on our forehead our hearts and our on our forehead our hearts and our shoulders we remember that we are shoulders we remember that we are blessed in mind and heart and all our blessed in mind and heart and all our being or we could rephrase that to being or we could rephrase that to saying we are corrupted in mind and saying we are corrupted in mind and heart and all our being with the heart and all our being with the trinitarian catholic doctrine that trinitarian catholic doctrine that pervades the entire christian world pervades the entire christian world around us there are very few around us there are very few denominations that do not believe in the denominations that do not believe in the trinity and christodolphians and their trinity and christodolphians and their brethren throughout the ages have stood brethren throughout the ages have stood against this that's why many evangelical against this that's why many evangelical tv and radio stations will not allow us tv and radio stations will not allow us to participate they will not air our to participate they will not air our programs programs we have found that in california and we have found that in california and ontario ontario because we do not hold to the doctrine because we do not hold to the doctrine of the trinity of the trinity well these three points basically of the well these three points basically of the cross that are made on the forehead and cross that are made on the forehead and the right side and over the the heart in the right side and over the the heart in that sense that sense that trinitarian doctrine was what was that trinitarian doctrine was what was impressed on the people and if they impressed on the people and if they refused to go with the line of the refused to go with the line of the church during this time they were put to church during this time they were put to death death they could not operate at all within the they could not operate at all within the empire that they lived empire that they lived and so brothers and sisters we have and so brothers and sisters we have followed through followed through the story of the book of revelation in the story of the book of revelation in preparation really for what we're going preparation really for what we're going to talk about next to talk about next in the next couple of classes throughout in the next couple of classes throughout the week we have looked at the dragon the week we have looked at the dragon that first of all existed and basically that first of all existed and basically ended up being in constantinople or ended up being in constantinople or byzantine and eventually moved up to byzantine and eventually moved up to russia russia we have talked about the beast of the we have talked about the beast of the sea that christian roman empire that sea that christian roman empire that developed and basically incorporated developed and basically incorporated much of europe and north africa much of europe and north africa we've talked about the beast of the we've talked about the beast of the earth that holy roman empire that earth that holy roman empire that developed developed and basically gave life to that image of and basically gave life to that image of the beast signifying the vatican and and the beast signifying the vatican and and the area of the pope's temporal power the area of the pope's temporal power we have followed the metamorphosis of we have followed the metamorphosis of daniel's fourth beast throughout the daniel's fourth beast throughout the book of revelation book of revelation we have seen the arise of the political we have seen the arise of the political power of the apostasy from the first power of the apostasy from the first century ecclesia to present times recent century ecclesia to present times recent times times this system has stood in opposition to this system has stood in opposition to god's people it has murdered and god's people it has murdered and crucified and destroyed the saints crucified and destroyed the saints throughout the ages it is drunk with the throughout the ages it is drunk with the blood of the saints and of the martyrs blood of the saints and of the martyrs of jesus of jesus this overview has been necessary for us this overview has been necessary for us to see the current phase that we're to see the current phase that we're going to be looking at during the next going to be looking at during the next three classes three classes see the beast as it is today see the beast as it is today because i believe as brother stephen because i believe as brother stephen said that it is one of the most said that it is one of the most incredible signs to us as incredible signs to us as christodolphians that our god has given christodolphians that our god has given us to the nearness of the return of the us to the nearness of the return of the lord jesus christ this earth lord jesus christ this earth what we see going on in europe right now what we see going on in europe right now is incredible and we have to get a is incredible and we have to get a perspective of it because it will help perspective of it because it will help us us remove our affections from the fleeting remove our affections from the fleeting present present and not see this life as something and not see this life as something that's going to last that's going to last but see the finger of god but see the finger of god has indicated a course has indicated a course for the kingdoms of this world to bring for the kingdoms of this world to bring them into cataclysmic them into cataclysmic destruction destruction and that his saints will be rescued out and that his saints will be rescued out of it we pray our god that we would be of it we pray our god that we would be able to see these things able to see these things withdraw ourselves from the world and withdraw ourselves from the world and prepare for the return of the lord jesus prepare for the return of the lord jesus christ

Transcript

our first speaker this morning is our brother jonathan bowen of the is our brother jonathan bowen of the brantford ontario canada ecclesia brantford ontario canada ecclesia the theme for brother jonathan's classes the theme for brother jonathan's classes this week this week is the lamb is the lamb shall overcome them shall overcome them today's class is entitled today's class is entitled the wine of her fornication the wine of her fornication brother bowen well good morning brother and sisters as we consider this morning's class as we consider this morning's class it's going to be a very serious it's going to be a very serious discussion that we're going to engage in discussion that we're going to engage in we don't take lightly the responsibility we don't take lightly the responsibility for saying what we do this morning for saying what we do this morning we ask for your careful attention to we ask for your careful attention to examine the evidence that we're going to examine the evidence that we're going to lay before you for what is going to be lay before you for what is going to be said we read in first of john chapter 3 in the 12th verse that the 12th verse that there was cain who was of that wicked there was cain who was of that wicked one and he slew his brother one and he slew his brother and we are told wherefore slew he him and we are told wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous brothers righteous marvel not marvel not my brethren if the world hates you my brethren if the world hates you and the catholic church has stood in and the catholic church has stood in opposition to the brethren and sisters opposition to the brethren and sisters that are of the lord jesus christ that are of the lord jesus christ throughout the ages as it also does with throughout the ages as it also does with us us and we should not be surprised if the and we should not be surprised if the world hates god's doctrine and those who world hates god's doctrine and those who who hold it who hold it yesterday we examined the two phases of yesterday we examined the two phases of the beast of the earth and the image of the beast of the earth and the image of the beast which was to arise at the same the beast which was to arise at the same time time we highlighted the little horn which had we highlighted the little horn which had the eyes and the mouth and it was during the eyes and the mouth and it was during this time that the image of the beast this time that the image of the beast was to be set up this was the age of the was to be set up this was the age of the holy roman empire holy roman empire called in secular history the dark ages called in secular history the dark ages when the papacy ruled europe with an when the papacy ruled europe with an iron fist iron fist during this time persecution was severe during this time persecution was severe for those who refused to worship the for those who refused to worship the beast beast and it was at this time brother and and it was at this time brother and sisters that sisters that through the mercy of god the reformation through the mercy of god the reformation broke forth broke forth small lights of truth dotted the small lights of truth dotted the historical horizon during this time and historical horizon during this time and they led the way for the dawning of the they led the way for the dawning of the reformation and it is the reformation reformation and it is the reformation that has given us the bible you have in that has given us the bible you have in front of you today front of you today and it is out of this period that we can and it is out of this period that we can also glean some serious warnings for us also glean some serious warnings for us in the 14th century a reformer named in the 14th century a reformer named john wycliffe translated the bible into john wycliffe translated the bible into english english copies of his translation were hand copies of his translation were hand copied and distributed around 1382. copied and distributed around 1382. this was the first translation done this was the first translation done in over a thousand years in the native in over a thousand years in the native tongue of the people who were to receive tongue of the people who were to receive it it once people read they became enlightened once people read they became enlightened as to the real character of the papacy as to the real character of the papacy the lollards who were wycliffe's the lollards who were wycliffe's followers called the poor preachers were followers called the poor preachers were inspired by the book of revelation and inspired by the book of revelation and by the by the words we have read about the coming words we have read about the coming antichrist and first of john antichrist and first of john wycliffe was fully aware of the wycliffe was fully aware of the teachings of the bible teachings of the bible he makes the correspondence between the he makes the correspondence between the little horn of daniel's fourth beast and little horn of daniel's fourth beast and sees its role with the saints sees its role with the saints and he says in in one of his writings on and he says in in one of his writings on the truth of the holy scripture why is the truth of the holy scripture why is it necessary in unbelief to look for it necessary in unbelief to look for another antichrist in the seventh another antichrist in the seventh chapter of daniel antichrist is chapter of daniel antichrist is forcefully described as the horn rising forcefully described as the horn rising in the same time of the fourth kingdom in the same time of the fourth kingdom for it grew from among our powerful ones for it grew from among our powerful ones more horrible more cruel and more greedy more horrible more cruel and more greedy the horn had arisen from among ten horns the horn had arisen from among ten horns having eyes and a mouth speaking great having eyes and a mouth speaking great things against the lofty one and wearing things against the lofty one and wearing out the saints of the most high and out the saints of the most high and thinking that he is able to change times thinking that he is able to change times and laws and laws now wycliffe says that his followers at now wycliffe says that his followers at that time of them he says for so do our that time of them he says for so do our people see the lord pope as it is said people see the lord pope as it is said of that eighth blaspheming little horn of that eighth blaspheming little horn or that little head or that little head and so vehemently was wyclef and his and so vehemently was wyclef and his followers hated that 40 years after followers hated that 40 years after wyclef died the pope ordered his bones wyclef died the pope ordered his bones to be exhumed and burnt to be exhumed and burnt the intense persecution that was to the intense persecution that was to follow wycliffe and to try and stamp out follow wycliffe and to try and stamp out his teaching and eradicate those who who his teaching and eradicate those who who followed him was to spread throughout followed him was to spread throughout england england wyclef was later followed by a man named wyclef was later followed by a man named erasmus erasmus erasmus was a roman catholic priest erasmus was a roman catholic priest now he opened the gate to the now he opened the gate to the translation of the bible by using the translation of the bible by using the original greek manuscripts to translate original greek manuscripts to translate a copy of the new testament into english a copy of the new testament into english or certain english into latin or certain english into latin initially his work was only effective initially his work was only effective for the clergys they were the ones who for the clergys they were the ones who could read latin could read latin but it sparked the spirit of biblical but it sparked the spirit of biblical thought amongst some of these clergy and thought amongst some of these clergy and some of the priests of the church began some of the priests of the church began to question the foundation of the system to question the foundation of the system that they belonged to during this time that they belonged to during this time one such man was the reformer martin one such man was the reformer martin luther he was a priest who really looked luther he was a priest who really looked hard at the situation that faced them he hard at the situation that faced them he began to promote what he believed to be began to promote what he believed to be the true gospel message found within the the true gospel message found within the bible neglected for so long he was bible neglected for so long he was disgusted with the practices of the disgusted with the practices of the church such as the gathering of church such as the gathering of indulgences and when john tetzel came indulgences and when john tetzel came through with his his train of through with his his train of indulgences selling forgiveness of sins indulgences selling forgiveness of sins luther saw the hypocrisy in it tessa was luther saw the hypocrisy in it tessa was approached by a man who basically asked approached by a man who basically asked him if he could he could buy an him if he could he could buy an indulgence forgiveness of a sin that he indulgence forgiveness of a sin that he had yet to commit had yet to commit and so they negotiated out a price the and so they negotiated out a price the one offers 30 the other one says 20 and one offers 30 the other one says 20 and they saw it for 25 and he's sold that he they saw it for 25 and he's sold that he can have his sin forgiven for 25 dollars can have his sin forgiven for 25 dollars tessel goes his way and the man goes his tessel goes his way and the man goes his way way and then we find out that as tetzel and then we find out that as tetzel leaves that city with his box of leaves that city with his box of indulgences and all the money that he's indulgences and all the money that he's collected from the poor unsuspecting collected from the poor unsuspecting unsuspecting suspects that this man robs unsuspecting suspects that this man robs tetzel and takes from him the money that tetzel and takes from him the money that he had sold this indulgence to him plus he had sold this indulgence to him plus all the other money he had made all the other money he had made when brought before court of law he was when brought before court of law he was asked if he was the one who had indeed asked if he was the one who had indeed done this deed to which he replied yes i done this deed to which he replied yes i am but i have my indulgence i have am but i have my indulgence i have already been forgiven for the sin that i already been forgiven for the sin that i have committed have committed martin luther saw that as absolute martin luther saw that as absolute hypocrisy and incidentally the man was hypocrisy and incidentally the man was let go let go martin luther saw that as hypocrisy and martin luther saw that as hypocrisy and different things like it and began to different things like it and began to preach justification by faith a novel preach justification by faith a novel idea for the time that he lived in and idea for the time that he lived in and he nailed his 95 theses or points of he nailed his 95 theses or points of contention to the doors of the castle contention to the doors of the castle church in wittenberg church in wittenberg martin luther also wanted the common man martin luther also wanted the common man to be able to read the bible for himself to be able to read the bible for himself he translated it into german and set off he translated it into german and set off the reformation in the european arena the reformation in the european arena one of the first translations that was one of the first translations that was made again in the native tongue of the made again in the native tongue of the people of europe people of europe this is luther's own bible that is this is luther's own bible that is depicted here and it still exists today depicted here and it still exists today luther was also aware of the teachings luther was also aware of the teachings of the book of revelation and of of the book of revelation and of first john and of thessalonians he says first john and of thessalonians he says that we are to beware of false prophets that we are to beware of false prophets which come unto you in sheep's clothing which come unto you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves he but inwardly they are ravening wolves he continues on that it is now well a continues on that it is now well a thousand years that this passage has thousand years that this passage has been perverted by false christians he been perverted by false christians he purports purports so that we have no power to judge but to so that we have no power to judge but to accept what the pope and his councils accept what the pope and his councils determine without any judgment of our determine without any judgment of our own now this gospel here overthrows the own now this gospel here overthrows the very foundation of potpourri and all very foundation of potpourri and all councils for we are not bound to keep councils for we are not bound to keep what the pope commands and what men what the pope commands and what men decree decree therefore i say again firmly grasp what therefore i say again firmly grasp what the gospel teaches for the authority has the gospel teaches for the authority has never been given either to the pope or never been given either to the pope or councils or anyone else to sit and councils or anyone else to sit and determine what is faith for christ says determine what is faith for christ says beware of false prophets beware of false prophets either the gospel lies or the pope and either the gospel lies or the pope and his counsels do and that was written in his counsels do and that was written in 1522 it's taken for one of luther's 1522 it's taken for one of luther's notes from one of his sermons notes from one of his sermons he also identified the antichrist we he also identified the antichrist we read about in first john read about in first john he says this teaching forcefully shows he says this teaching forcefully shows that the pope is the very antichrist who that the pope is the very antichrist who has exalted himself above and opposed has exalted himself above and opposed himself against christ because he will himself against christ because he will not permiss permit christians to be not permiss permit christians to be saved without the power which saved without the power which nevertheless is nothing and is neither nevertheless is nothing and is neither ordained nor commanded by god the pope ordained nor commanded by god the pope urges and disseminates his papal urges and disseminates his papal falsehoods concerning masses purgatory falsehoods concerning masses purgatory and monastic life one's own works and and monastic life one's own works and the fictitious divine worship for this the fictitious divine worship for this is the very papacy upon each of which is the very papacy upon each of which the papacy is altogether founded and is the papacy is altogether founded and is standing standing and he condemns murders and tortures all and he condemns murders and tortures all christians who do not exalt and honor christians who do not exalt and honor those abominations of the pope above all those abominations of the pope above all things things these men had their bibles in hand and these men had their bibles in hand and were able to identify this system they were able to identify this system they make up part of the two witnesses that make up part of the two witnesses that we read of in the book of revelation we read of in the book of revelation they were not necessarily believers of they were not necessarily believers of the true gospel in its full the true gospel in its full extent but they saw certainly the way extent but they saw certainly the way the bible identifies the system the bible identifies the system william tyndale was inspired by martin william tyndale was inspired by martin luther he saw what was going on in luther he saw what was going on in germany he himself being a cleric and germany he himself being a cleric and picked up on these things he was picked up on these things he was introduced into by to luther's work and introduced into by to luther's work and wanted to replicate the effect in wanted to replicate the effect in england he undertook his life's mission england he undertook his life's mission as to translate the bible into common as to translate the bible into common english so that the plowman would be english so that the plowman would be able to read it for himself with the able to read it for himself with the advent of the first printing presses the advent of the first printing presses the bible was able to be mass produced bible was able to be mass produced instead of hand copied this was done in instead of hand copied this was done in germany to avoid persecution and when germany to avoid persecution and when the light of the scriptures revived the the light of the scriptures revived the reformation in england reformation in england intense persecutions came intense persecutions came upon the people upon the people tyndale also used the tool of prophecy tyndale also used the tool of prophecy to identify rome the bishop of rome he to identify rome the bishop of rome he says made a law of his own says made a law of his own a ruler to rule his church by and to put a ruler to rule his church by and to put christ out of the way christ out of the way all the bishops he says forswear unto all the bishops he says forswear unto the bishop of rome must swear unto the the bishop of rome must swear unto the bishop of rome all the curates and the bishop of rome all the curates and the bishops all accurate sorry unto the bishops all accurate sorry unto the bishops but all of them for swear christ bishops but all of them for swear christ and his doctrine and his doctrine he says now though the bishop of rome he says now though the bishop of rome and the sex give christ these names yet and the sex give christ these names yet in that they take from him the effect in that they take from him the effect and take the signification of these and take the signification of these names unto themselves and make him but a names unto themselves and make him but a hypocrite as they themselves be he hypocrite as they themselves be he identifies them as being the right identifies them as being the right antichrist that divine the deny both the antichrist that divine the deny both the father and the son he identifies this father and the son he identifies this harlot system out of the book of harlot system out of the book of revelation and he taught the followers revelation and he taught the followers that were to come to him to come out of that were to come to him to come out of her my people and be not partakers of her my people and be not partakers of her sins her sins and god used this man to provide to us and god used this man to provide to us the bible we have in front of it in the bible we have in front of it in front of us because his work was the front of us because his work was the nemesis or the basis for the king james nemesis or the basis for the king james version version tyndale was vigorously opposed by the tyndale was vigorously opposed by the mother church and by men such as sir mother church and by men such as sir thomas moore thomas moore he produced his bibles in germany as we he produced his bibles in germany as we have mentioned to avoid persecution have mentioned to avoid persecution when those bibles were found they were when those bibles were found they were burnt by the church the catholic church burnt by the church the catholic church he smuggled them back into england and he smuggled them back into england and this fanned the fames of the flames of this fanned the fames of the flames of the reformation the reformation when tyndale was eventually caught when tyndale was eventually caught he was imprisoned and later he was he was imprisoned and later he was burned at the stake that catholic church burned at the stake that catholic church indeed has earned the description of indeed has earned the description of being drunk with the blood of the saints being drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of jesus but it was this and the martyrs of jesus but it was this man that was responsible by the the man that was responsible by the the providence of almighty god to deliver us providence of almighty god to deliver us the word that we have in our in our the word that we have in our in our native tongue today native tongue today now there is evidence in your bible if now there is evidence in your bible if you have a king james version in the you have a king james version in the front of it in the preface there is front of it in the preface there is evidence of the understanding of the evidence of the understanding of the translators of the day translators of the day we read there in the preface that by we read there in the preface that by writing in defense of the truth this has writing in defense of the truth this has given such a blow to the man of sin that given such a blow to the man of sin that he will not be healed and they he will not be healed and they identified the roman catholic church as identified the roman catholic church as the man of sin and this was the grounds the man of sin and this was the grounds under which the english protestant under which the english protestant churches broke with the church of rome churches broke with the church of rome popular history paints it as being the popular history paints it as being the issue of divorce and remarriage with issue of divorce and remarriage with henry viii that was a symptom of the henry viii that was a symptom of the cause the real issue was the right of cause the real issue was the right of men to interpret and to read the bible men to interpret and to read the bible for themselves the authority of the for themselves the authority of the scriptures versus the authority of the scriptures versus the authority of the papacy and this is identified to us in papacy and this is identified to us in the beginning of the preface of the king the beginning of the preface of the king james version the bible states that we have a more sure word of prophecy where until we do sure word of prophecy where until we do well to take heed as unto a light well to take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place in second peter shining in a dark place in second peter chapter 1 and the 19th verse well those chapter 1 and the 19th verse well those of that time used this light that shone of that time used this light that shone in the dark ages a very dark place to in the dark ages a very dark place to identify what was going on around them identify what was going on around them bishop newton bishop newton who writes on the antichrist has this to who writes on the antichrist has this to say say when papal doctrine and the papal when papal doctrine and the papal authority prevailed over all it was authority prevailed over all it was natural to think and expect that the natural to think and expect that the true notion of antichrist would be true notion of antichrist would be stifled stifled and that the doctors of the church would and that the doctors of the church would endeavor to give another turn an endeavor to give another turn an interpretation to this passage the night interpretation to this passage the night of ignorance was so thick and dark that of ignorance was so thick and dark that there were hardly here or there a single there were hardly here or there a single star to be seen in the whole hemisphere star to be seen in the whole hemisphere but no sooner as there was any but no sooner as there was any glimmering or dawning of the reformation glimmering or dawning of the reformation then the true notion of antichrist which then the true notion of antichrist which had been so long suppressed broke out had been so long suppressed broke out again the wall densities and albigenses again the wall densities and albigenses written off by our brother alan air and written off by our brother alan air and the protesters and brethren in christ the protesters and brethren in christ propagated the same opinions in the same propagated the same opinions in the same century that the pope was antichrist was century that the pope was antichrist was indeed the general doctrine of the first indeed the general doctrine of the first reformers everywhere here in england it reformers everywhere here in england it was advanced by wycliffe now brothers was advanced by wycliffe now brothers and sisters we want to see that for what and sisters we want to see that for what it is when the bible was not available it is when the bible was not available when the word of god was not available when the word of god was not available the papacy was not identified as the the papacy was not identified as the antichrist because people did not have antichrist because people did not have the keys to do that but no sooner as the the keys to do that but no sooner as the word of god was available the people word of god was available the people began to read from its pages and they began to read from its pages and they identified the forbidding of marriage identified the forbidding of marriage they identified the commanding to they identified the commanding to abstain from meats they identified abstain from meats they identified calling no man father they saw the calling no man father they saw the papacy for what it was papacy for what it was and so the fight that was wrestled with and so the fight that was wrestled with their brother and sisters was not their brother and sisters was not against flesh and blood but against against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high against spiritual wickedness in high places wherefore we are told to take places wherefore we are told to take unto us the whole armor of god that we unto us the whole armor of god that we may be able to withstand in the evil day may be able to withstand in the evil day in having done all to stand as ephesians in having done all to stand as ephesians 6 verses 12 to 13 tells us 6 verses 12 to 13 tells us now our brethren lived among the now our brethren lived among the reformers of that day they were reformers of that day they were embroiled in a conflict against embroiled in a conflict against spiritual wickedness in high places that spiritual wickedness in high places that conflict brother and sisters has not conflict brother and sisters has not ended during the reformation the catholic church responded by introducing the church responded by introducing the counter-reformation which consisted of counter-reformation which consisted of two phases the first part was to destroy two phases the first part was to destroy what it called as the heretics what it called as the heretics this is backed up by the book of daniel this is backed up by the book of daniel chapter 7 verses 21 to 22 where it chapter 7 verses 21 to 22 where it identifies that this would take place i identifies that this would take place i beheld the same horn make war with the beheld the same horn make war with the saints and prevailed against them until saints and prevailed against them until the ancient of days came and judgment the ancient of days came and judgment was given to the saints at the most high was given to the saints at the most high this was to prevail until that point in this was to prevail until that point in time time and we have identified in our previous and we have identified in our previous class that that little horn existed class that that little horn existed during this time during this time revelation chapter 17 and verse 6 tells revelation chapter 17 and verse 6 tells us that us that the apostle john saw the woman drunken the apostle john saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints the true with the blood of the saints the true believers and with the blood of the believers and with the blood of the martyrs of jesus those who were martyrs of jesus those who were christians and protested against christians and protested against catholicism but perhaps did not hold the catholicism but perhaps did not hold the truth in its purity the two witnesses truth in its purity the two witnesses and when he saw her he wondered with and when he saw her he wondered with great admiration great admiration and so brother and sisters it is and so brother and sisters it is throughout this age that we have the throughout this age that we have the testimony of history the inquisition was testimony of history the inquisition was launched against the people who believed launched against the people who believed in god's word their crimes were very in god's word their crimes were very simple they learned the lord's prayer by simple they learned the lord's prayer by heart heart they perhaps owned a bible or read one they perhaps owned a bible or read one they recited passages of scripture they recited passages of scripture they taught the gospel they taught the gospel these people were brought before the these people were brought before the councils of the jesuit inquisitors to councils of the jesuit inquisitors to have their punishments meted out have their punishments meted out those punishments those punishments and that system which was to and that system which was to hunt them out is identified for us and hunt them out is identified for us and their own history dictates the way in their own history dictates the way in which they operated which they operated the jesuits were founded by ignatius the jesuits were founded by ignatius loyola they were the shocked troops of loyola they were the shocked troops of the church who were to carry out the the church who were to carry out the inquisition inquisition we read here from the jesuit oath we read here from the jesuit oath i do further promise and declare that i i do further promise and declare that i will when opportunity presents make and will when opportunity presents make and wage relentless war now notice this wage relentless war now notice this because we're going to come back to this because we're going to come back to this secretly or openly and against all secretly or openly and against all heretics protestants and liberals as i heretics protestants and liberals as i am directed to do if we lived in that am directed to do if we lived in that day and age it would include us day and age it would include us that i will extirpate and exterminate that i will extirpate and exterminate them from the face of the whole earth i them from the face of the whole earth i will spare neither sex age nor condition will spare neither sex age nor condition i will hang waste boil flay strangle i will hang waste boil flay strangle burn alive these infamous heretics rip burn alive these infamous heretics rip up the stomachs and the wombs of their up the stomachs and the wombs of their women and crush their infants heads women and crush their infants heads against the wall in order in order to against the wall in order in order to annihilate forever their excretable race annihilate forever their excretable race that when the same cannot be done openly that when the same cannot be done openly i will secretly using the poison cop the i will secretly using the poison cop the strangulation court the steel of the strangulation court the steel of the point yards the lead and bullets point yards the lead and bullets regardless of the honor rank dignity or regardless of the honor rank dignity or authority of the person or persons authority of the person or persons whatsoever may have their condition in whatsoever may have their condition in life either public or private as at any life either public or private as at any time may be directed so to do by any time may be directed so to do by any agent of the pope or superior of the agent of the pope or superior of the brother of the holy or brotherhood of brother of the holy or brotherhood of the holy faith or of the secret or the the holy faith or of the secret or the society of the jesuits society of the jesuits that is the current oath of the jesuits that is the current oath of the jesuits it has not changed that is taken from it has not changed that is taken from 1843 we're not talking about back in the 1843 we're not talking about back in the 1600s 1600s now brother ron abel during the 1970s now brother ron abel during the 1970s was on a radio or a television show with was on a radio or a television show with a catholic priest a catholic priest and one of the statements that was made and one of the statements that was made during that show by the catholic priest during that show by the catholic priest was that if he had the opportunity he was that if he had the opportunity he would do the same thing to the would do the same thing to the christodolphians today christodolphians today and so brothers and sisters this is the and so brothers and sisters this is the system against which we face system against which we face the jesuits were determined to eradicate the jesuits were determined to eradicate the word of god they wanted to remove the word of god they wanted to remove the identity that might be placed upon the identity that might be placed upon themselves by the prophecies contained themselves by the prophecies contained within god's words and so they burn the within god's words and so they burn the bibles both of the jews and of the bibles both of the jews and of the reformers to eradicate any of this this reformers to eradicate any of this this writing that might point the finger to writing that might point the finger to them them when this did not significantly work when this did not significantly work they burned the reformers themselves and they burned the reformers themselves and history is full of the accounts of those history is full of the accounts of those who love not their lives to the death as who love not their lives to the death as we examined yesterday the different we examined yesterday the different tortures and the different things that tortures and the different things that they were subjected to for simply they were subjected to for simply holding the truth as it is in christ holding the truth as it is in christ jesus jesus and so brothers and sisters we really and so brothers and sisters we really have to consider these things and put have to consider these things and put them in the light of what the book of them in the light of what the book of revelation says that this is the way it revelation says that this is the way it would be and that ultimately the lord would be and that ultimately the lord jesus christ will return and crush the jesus christ will return and crush the head of this serpent power head of this serpent power one of the most famous of these one of the most famous of these persecutions is that of the persecutions is that of the massacre of the huguenots of france on massacre of the huguenots of france on saint bartholomew's day rollins as we saint bartholomew's day rollins as we mentioned who wrote the ancient history mentioned who wrote the ancient history from which we looked at cyrus the from which we looked at cyrus the persian the other day was a huguenot in persian the other day was a huguenot in france france we read by our brother thomas writes we read by our brother thomas writes about this in helpers israel he says now about this in helpers israel he says now it is the saints who refuse to adore the it is the saints who refuse to adore the imperial roman image or the eyes and imperial roman image or the eyes and mouth of the little horn and who have mouth of the little horn and who have not the sign of the cross upon their not the sign of the cross upon their foreheads or in their right hands foreheads or in their right hands these are the parties who the image has these are the parties who the image has caused war to be made upon and who have caused war to be made upon and who have been prevailed against and killed with been prevailed against and killed with all attended enormities and promiscuous all attended enormities and promiscuous massacre the slaughter of the massacre the slaughter of the albagencies of the vados in the valley albagencies of the vados in the valley of the pibunti's mountains in the 13th of the pibunti's mountains in the 13th and 15th centuries of the huguenots on and 15th centuries of the huguenots on saint bartholomew's day at the saint bartholomew's day at the revocation of the edict of nance the revocation of the edict of nance the dragon age the drownings the instances dragon age the drownings the instances of cruelties inflicted upon the saints of cruelties inflicted upon the saints by the roaring lion of the eternal city by the roaring lion of the eternal city the spirit the book of revelation the the spirit the book of revelation the bible denounces it as drunk with the bible denounces it as drunk with the blood of the saints because it stirred blood of the saints because it stirred up the secular powers to murder and up the secular powers to murder and massacre the opponents of romanism and massacre the opponents of romanism and the advocates of human rights as it the advocates of human rights as it caused the saints to be killed and caused the saints to be killed and become so died in wickedness and steeped become so died in wickedness and steeped in crime that its iniquity hath at last in crime that its iniquity hath at last to reach unto heaven and the burning to reach unto heaven and the burning flame of war is consuming and destroying flame of war is consuming and destroying it until the end and he makes reference it until the end and he makes reference there of the french revolution there of the french revolution that massacre brethren sisters was not that massacre brethren sisters was not something that took place by a bunch of something that took place by a bunch of zealots slightly misguided zealots slightly misguided it was celebrated by the catholic church it was celebrated by the catholic church by the coin that you see before you by the coin that you see before you struck to commemorate it struck to commemorate it now now my brother thomas goes on to say the my brother thomas goes on to say the apocalypse was given to the end that the apocalypse was given to the end that the servants of the deity who are keeping servants of the deity who are keeping their garments might be able to discern their garments might be able to discern the signs of the times preceding the the signs of the times preceding the apocalypse of christ and the real nature apocalypse of christ and the real nature of things extent in their several of things extent in their several generations generations no believer as we mentioned earlier no believer as we mentioned earlier understanding this prophecy could be understanding this prophecy could be seduced into fellowship with the seduced into fellowship with the clerical institutions of this world clerical institutions of this world because he would see them in all their because he would see them in all their native deformity and sin native deformity and sin and so that is what the book is there and so that is what the book is there for us to do to open it to read its for us to do to open it to read its pages and see what is before us pages and see what is before us we should be able today to determine the we should be able today to determine the real nature of what exists in the world real nature of what exists in the world and not be fooled by it and not be fooled by it well well the reformation or sorry say the counter the reformation or sorry say the counter reformation the first part of the reformation the first part of the inquisition did not significantly work inquisition did not significantly work it was not effective enough to stamp out it was not effective enough to stamp out the teachings of the reformers the teachings of the reformers so a second approach was taken so a second approach was taken to undermine the teachings of the to undermine the teachings of the reformation especially especially the reformation especially especially the prophetic identification of the church prophetic identification of the church of rome of rome the jesuit oath continues i do further the jesuit oath continues i do further promise and declare that notwithstanding promise and declare that notwithstanding i am dispensed to assume any heretical i am dispensed to assume any heretical religion religion for the propagating of the mother for the propagating of the mother church's interests church's interests to keep secret and private all her to keep secret and private all her agents councils from time to time as agents councils from time to time as they may instruct me and not to default they may instruct me and not to default directly or indirectly by word or directly or indirectly by word or writing or circumstances whatever but to writing or circumstances whatever but to execute all that should be proposed execute all that should be proposed given in charged or discovered unto me given in charged or discovered unto me by you my ghostly father by you my ghostly father now this is historical documentation of now this is historical documentation of the intent of the jesuit movement to the intent of the jesuit movement to infiltrate the protestant religions for infiltrate the protestant religions for the purpose of spreading papal doctrine the purpose of spreading papal doctrine in the prelude to the jesuit oath we are in the prelude to the jesuit oath we are told exactly how that would take place told exactly how that would take place the jesuit to be was instructed my son the jesuit to be was instructed my son heretofore you have been taught to act heretofore you have been taught to act as a dissembler among the reformers to as a dissembler among the reformers to be a reformer among the huguenots to be be a reformer among the huguenots to be a huguenot among the calvinists a a huguenot among the calvinists a calvinist among the protestants calvinist among the protestants generally to be a protestant generally to be a protestant obtaining their confidence you have been obtaining their confidence you have been taught your duty as a spy taught your duty as a spy to gather all statistics facts and to gather all statistics facts and information in your power from every information in your power from every source to integrate yourself in with source to integrate yourself in with into the confidence of the family circle into the confidence of the family circle of protestants as well as the merchants of protestants as well as the merchants bankers lawyers among the schools and bankers lawyers among the schools and the universities in the parliaments and the universities in the parliaments and legislatures and in the judiciaries and legislatures and in the judiciaries and councils of state and to all things to councils of state and to all things to all be all sorry to be all things to all all be all sorry to be all things to all men for the pope's sake whose servants men for the pope's sake whose servants you are unto death you are unto death this is their this is their history this is their writings this is history this is their writings this is their oath this is not some fanciful their oath this is not some fanciful conspiracy theory that we have made up conspiracy theory that we have made up to present before you it's history to present before you it's history and so brother and sister is to carry and so brother and sister is to carry out that plan out that plan in the 1600s in the year 1580 in the 1600s in the year 1580 the jesuits began a series of writings the jesuits began a series of writings the the jesuit the the jesuit franciscan ribeira in 1537 to 1591 where franciscan ribeira in 1537 to 1591 where he lived he lived was the first one to revive an was the first one to revive an undeveloped form of futurism around 1580 undeveloped form of futurism around 1580 it says that futurism made virtually no it says that futurism made virtually no headway in the protestant community headway in the protestant community until about the 1820s through the church until about the 1820s through the church of england the scholar maitland was to of england the scholar maitland was to bring it in in the late 20s futurism bring it in in the late 20s futurism began to gain converts and to grow in began to gain converts and to grow in the british isles often motivated by the british isles often motivated by revived interest in god's plan for revived interest in god's plan for israel during which time it gained one israel during which time it gained one of the most influential converts john of the most influential converts john nelson darby and if anybody has the nelson darby and if anybody has the darby bible in front of you and the darby bible in front of you and the notes of the nelson bible then that is notes of the nelson bible then that is um where basically a lot of these things um where basically a lot of these things will be found in your in your margins will be found in your in your margins though darby and other brethren though darby and other brethren expositors are sorry through darby and expositors are sorry through darby and other brethren expositors futurism other brethren expositors futurism spread to america and throughout the spread to america and throughout the evangelical world the last 100 years evangelical world the last 100 years have seen for the first time the full have seen for the first time the full demand development of consistent demand development of consistent futurism this has led to the in turn to futurism this has led to the in turn to the formulation of dispensationalism the formulation of dispensationalism and a clearer understanding of the and a clearer understanding of the pre-tribulational rapture of the church pre-tribulational rapture of the church now this is written by a christian now this is written by a christian writer who is talking about the rapture writer who is talking about the rapture and where the idea of the rapture of and where the idea of the rapture of second these are first thessalonians 4 second these are first thessalonians 4 came from and he says it came its roots came from and he says it came its roots were in the jesuits writings who put were in the jesuits writings who put forward a futuristic interpretation of forward a futuristic interpretation of the book of revelation the book of revelation belief in the book of revelation could belief in the book of revelation could not be applied to the catholic church if not be applied to the catholic church if its interpretation was to be found in its interpretation was to be found in the future the future we continue to read that at the time of we continue to read that at the time of the reformation the early protestants the reformation the early protestants widely held and were convinced the pope widely held and were convinced the pope was the supreme individual embodiment was the supreme individual embodiment and personification of the spirit of and personification of the spirit of antichrist and the roman church the antichrist and the roman church the harlot system of revelation 17. this harlot system of revelation 17. this understanding was responsible for understanding was responsible for bringing bringing millions of believers bringing bringing millions of believers out of the roman catholic religious out of the roman catholic religious system it therefore became expedient for system it therefore became expedient for certain roman theologians to turn the certain roman theologians to turn the attention of the people attention of the people away from the papacy away from the papacy and this the endeavor to do by inventing and this the endeavor to do by inventing a counter interpretation a counter interpretation to to be held by the protestants or sorry than be held by the protestants or sorry than that held by protestants this new scheme that held by protestants this new scheme of prophetic interpretation became known of prophetic interpretation became known as futurism rather than viewing the as futurism rather than viewing the drama of the book of revelation drama of the book of revelation spiritually and historically what we spiritually and historically what we would term today the continuous would term today the continuous historical interpretation of the book of historical interpretation of the book of revelation they would consign it to a revelation they would consign it to a brief period of time at the end of the brief period of time at the end of the age it was the jesuit priest named age it was the jesuit priest named ribeira who in the days of the ribeira who in the days of the reformation first taught that all the reformation first taught that all the events of the book of revelation were to events of the book of revelation were to take place literally during a three and take place literally during a three and a half year reign of antichrist way down a half year reign of antichrist way down at the end of the age and he laid the at the end of the age and he laid the foundation foundation for the secret rapture idea for the secret rapture idea their goal is outlined to us of pointing their goal is outlined to us of pointing the finger away from the catholic the finger away from the catholic church in the interpretation of the book church in the interpretation of the book now now the jesuits did this by cunning the jesuits did this by cunning they conspired they conspired to get their book into the protestant to get their book into the protestant movement one of the men following movement one of the men following ribeira was lucanza he was also a jesuit ribeira was lucanza he was also a jesuit priest he built on ribeira's teachings priest he built on ribeira's teachings and spent much of his life writing his and spent much of his life writing his book that's the title page of one of his book that's the title page of one of his the books here this is the one by ribera the books here this is the one by ribera the coming of messiah in glory and the coming of messiah in glory and majesty was the book that lucanza wrote majesty was the book that lucanza wrote he wrote it under the assumed name of he wrote it under the assumed name of rabbi ben ezra supposedly a learned jew rabbi ben ezra supposedly a learned jew who accepted christ as his savior who accepted christ as his savior with jesuit cunning says this writer he with jesuit cunning says this writer he conspired to get his book a hearing in conspired to get his book a hearing in the protestant world they would not the protestant world they would not permit in their home something coming permit in their home something coming from a jesuit pen from a jesuit pen but the earnest work of a converted jew but the earnest work of a converted jew perhaps would be something that they perhaps would be something that they would devour and that's exactly what would devour and that's exactly what happened happened so these jesuits dressed themselves in so these jesuits dressed themselves in sheep's clothing according to their oaks sheep's clothing according to their oaks they acted as dissembler to go into the they acted as dissembler to go into the protestant movements and to spread their protestant movements and to spread their doctrines doctrines well that was the one view the futurist well that was the one view the futurist view that the book of revelation all view that the book of revelation all occurs way down at the end of time occurs way down at the end of time the other one is the praetorist view the other one is the praetorist view another jesuit from seville another jesuit from seville alcazar who the title page of his book alcazar who the title page of his book is depicted here is depicted here it says in 1614 alcazar made a new it says in 1614 alcazar made a new attempt to interpret the apocalypse attempt to interpret the apocalypse through the use of critical historical through the use of critical historical methods he concluded that the apocalypse methods he concluded that the apocalypse described the two-fold war of the church described the two-fold war of the church in the first century in the first century one with the jewish synagogue and the one with the jewish synagogue and the other with paganism which resulted in other with paganism which resulted in the victory over both adversaries now he the victory over both adversaries now he basically writes these things basically writes these things saying that the book of revelation is to saying that the book of revelation is to do with 80 70 and the events around that do with 80 70 and the events around that time before it was even written from a time before it was even written from a from a historical point of view from a historical point of view and so pointing the finger away from the and so pointing the finger away from the catholic church the jesuits in a period catholic church the jesuits in a period cartoon and this none of this is cartoon and this none of this is christodolphian writing there's nothing christodolphian writing there's nothing that i've made up it's just books that that i've made up it's just books that talk about the subject talk about the subject i've depicted for you i've depicted for you the jesuits of ribeira who basically are the jesuits of ribeira who basically are pointing to the future and saying no no pointing to the future and saying no no no no no no the interpretation of the book of the interpretation of the book of revelation is way down the round revelation is way down the round towards the end of time and on the other towards the end of time and on the other hand you have the jesuits of alcazar hand you have the jesuits of alcazar pointing to the back saying no no no no pointing to the back saying no no no no the book of revelation is already being the book of revelation is already being completed it is fulfilled back in the completed it is fulfilled back in the time of the jews time of the jews and standing to witness against them we and standing to witness against them we have the writers of the day have the writers of the day we have wycliffe tyndale luther calvin we have wycliffe tyndale luther calvin sir isaac newton gratton guinness elliot sir isaac newton gratton guinness elliot dr keith alexander hissam and we could dr keith alexander hissam and we could add to that brother thomas brother add to that brother thomas brother roberts brothers c.c walkers and our roberts brothers c.c walkers and our brethren sisters of the earlier brethren sisters of the earlier christian dolphin ecclesia they christian dolphin ecclesia they identified by the use of of revelation identified by the use of of revelation chapter 17 revelation chapter 12 2nd chapter 17 revelation chapter 12 2nd thessalonians 2 and daniel chapter 7 and thessalonians 2 and daniel chapter 7 and 8 where the papacy fit into the identity 8 where the papacy fit into the identity of the scriptures of the scriptures now if that seems a little bit too cloak now if that seems a little bit too cloak and dagger for you if that seems a and dagger for you if that seems a little bit too fanciful that this is little bit too fanciful that this is just a bunch of zealot christians just a bunch of zealot christians evangelicals who who sort of have gone a evangelicals who who sort of have gone a little bit too far in their little bit too far in their identification identification let's listen to what let's listen to what reverend cece martindale a jesuit priest reverend cece martindale a jesuit priest himself himself writing writing in the catholic true society publication in the catholic true society publication has to say he says today has to say he says today we think there is no danger of anybody we think there is no danger of anybody supposing that the visions of the supposing that the visions of the apocalypse are meant to represent a apocalypse are meant to represent a series of historical events succeeding series of historical events succeeding one another chronologically the one another chronologically the continuous historical point of view why continuous historical point of view why well he says the real renaissance of well he says the real renaissance of scientific study of the book took place scientific study of the book took place in spain in the 16th century in spain in the 16th century the jesuits themselves were largely the jesuits themselves were largely responsible for it especially alcazar responsible for it especially alcazar and mariana about the same time and mariana about the same time the jesuits will tell you the jesuits will tell you the reason you do not look out in the the reason you do not look out in the protestant world around you and see that protestant world around you and see that these things are interpreted the way these things are interpreted the way they used to be is because we came up they used to be is because we came up with better ideas back in the 16th with better ideas back in the 16th century century i realize you might not be able to read i realize you might not be able to read this slide but i just like to pick out a this slide but i just like to pick out a couple of things from it this is a book couple of things from it this is a book by a man named dennis priebe the final by a man named dennis priebe the final verdict he says so great to hold that verdict he says so great to hold that the conviction of the papacy was the the conviction of the papacy was the antichrist gain upon the minds of men antichrist gain upon the minds of men that rome at last saw she must bestow that rome at last saw she must bestow herself and try by putting forth other herself and try by putting forth other systems of interpretation to counter the systems of interpretation to counter the identification of the papacy with the identification of the papacy with the antichrist antichrist toward the close of the century of the toward the close of the century of the reformation two of the most learned reformation two of the most learned doctors set themselves to the task each doctors set themselves to the task each endeavoring by different means one free endeavoring by different means one free futurist one preacherist to accomplish futurist one preacherist to accomplish the same ends alcazar and ribeira the same ends alcazar and ribeira and he goes on to say that the futurist and he goes on to say that the futurist system uh which asserts that these system uh which asserts that these prophecies refer properly not to the prophecies refer properly not to the career of the papacy but to some future career of the papacy but to some future supernatural individual who's yet to supernatural individual who's yet to appear appear he says it is a matter of deep regret he says it is a matter of deep regret that those who advocate the futurist that those who advocate the futurist system at its present day protestants as system at its present day protestants as they are for the most part are really they are for the most part are really playing into the hands of rome and playing into the hands of rome and helping to screen the papacy from helping to screen the papacy from detection as the antichrist detection as the antichrist and so brother and sisters the and so brother and sisters the protestant world has become drunk with protestant world has become drunk with the wine of her fornication of the the wine of her fornication of the interpretation of the jesuits the interpretation of the jesuits the catholic church when it comes to catholic church when it comes to understanding the book of revelation understanding the book of revelation no longer do the bulk of them identify no longer do the bulk of them identify the church as the antagonist of the book the church as the antagonist of the book the enemy of the saints no longer are the enemy of the saints no longer are they able to discern who she is and so they able to discern who she is and so consequently we see them going back to consequently we see them going back to rome in droves we read or we see that in the or we see that in the protestant world protestant world and headed up and headed up figuratively by the church of england figuratively by the church of england which is one of the first to really which is one of the first to really break away break away we see that lull to sleep by the we see that lull to sleep by the intoxicating effects of the roman intoxicating effects of the roman catholic doctrine the church of england catholic doctrine the church of england supposedly protestant has been moving supposedly protestant has been moving away from the protestant interpretation away from the protestant interpretation of the book to a reunion with the papacy of the book to a reunion with the papacy just a couple of weeks ago there was a just a couple of weeks ago there was a conference held in toronto where the conference held in toronto where the bishops of both the catholic and the bishops of both the catholic and the church of england churches got together church of england churches got together to discuss steps for unity to discuss steps for unity here we see anglican priests falling here we see anglican priests falling down prostrate in conversion to join the down prostrate in conversion to join the church of rome church of rome we've seen queen elizabeth ii we've seen queen elizabeth ii the head of the anglican church the the head of the anglican church the supposed defender of the protestant supposed defender of the protestant faith faith cozying up to the catholics to cardinal cozying up to the catholics to cardinal hume at a service in in rome or not in hume at a service in in rome or not in rome sorry in england and it's rome sorry in england and it's interesting to note that they should interesting to note that they should both be dressed in both be dressed in red red billy graham billy graham one of the leading protestant one of the leading protestant heads of this country heads of this country we read from one of the southern baptist we read from one of the southern baptist christians david cloud of the christian christians david cloud of the christian news says graham more than any other news says graham more than any other single person is responsible for leading single person is responsible for leading the evangelical community into a more the evangelical community into a more cozy relationship with the church of cozy relationship with the church of rome he has failed to warn of the rome he has failed to warn of the terrible and unbiblical doctrines of terrible and unbiblical doctrines of rome rome graham sees no problem in having graham sees no problem in having spiritual fellowship with the roman spiritual fellowship with the roman catholic church and since his influence catholic church and since his influence is very great among the evangelicals is is very great among the evangelicals is any wonder that many have followed his any wonder that many have followed his lead lead now billy graham now billy graham in 1967 in 1967 received an honorary catholic degree received an honorary catholic degree making him an honorary catholic priest making him an honorary catholic priest and this is what he had to say in 1983 and this is what he had to say in 1983 when he visited vancouver british when he visited vancouver british columbia the pope he says is almost an columbia the pope he says is almost an evangelist i tell you that that was just evangelist i tell you that that was just about a straight and evangelical address about a straight and evangelical address as i'd ever heard it was tremendous as i'd ever heard it was tremendous what would tyndale and wycliffe and what would tyndale and wycliffe and luther have thought about a statement luther have thought about a statement like that like that he goes on to say in the fine print he goes on to say in the fine print there that finally the way of the there that finally the way of the salvation has not changed i know how the salvation has not changed i know how the ending of the book will be the gospel ending of the book will be the gospel that built this school the catholic that built this school the catholic school he received his doctrine at the school he received his doctrine at the gospel that brings me here tonight is gospel that brings me here tonight is the way of salvation the way of salvation going back to the church of rome going back to the church of rome and so another and so another christian concerned about these things christian concerned about these things writes in a book called selling out to writes in a book called selling out to the pope the doctrine is of no longer the pope the doctrine is of no longer prime importance to many evangelicals prime importance to many evangelicals emphasis has shifted in recent years to emphasis has shifted in recent years to a shared experience and we've probably a shared experience and we've probably all heard that haven't we as we try to all heard that haven't we as we try to preach the truth people don't want to preach the truth people don't want to know well i've got jesus in my heart know well i've got jesus in my heart what does it matter a shared experience what does it matter a shared experience has become a common ground for has become a common ground for fellowship rather than common doctrinal fellowship rather than common doctrinal convictions everybody that loved jesus convictions everybody that loved jesus should get together without regard of should get together without regard of doctrine doctrinal distinctions doctrine doctrinal distinctions evangelicalism as a whole has been evangelicalism as a whole has been stricken with a bad case of the warm stricken with a bad case of the warm fuzzies he says if the roman catholic fuzzies he says if the roman catholic loves jesus then i should embrace him as loves jesus then i should embrace him as my brother in christ this is the common my brother in christ this is the common view of many and brothers and sisters we view of many and brothers and sisters we never want to fall into the danger of never want to fall into the danger of those things those things and so and so we asked then do we see the protestant we asked then do we see the protestant world world protesting anymore protesting anymore the word protestant comes from the word the word protestant comes from the word to protest against to protest against protest against what against the protest against what against the catholic church the reformation where catholic church the reformation where they came from gave them this insight to they came from gave them this insight to do so do so so we look at the modern interpreters of so we look at the modern interpreters of revelation from the protestant world and revelation from the protestant world and we find one hal lindsey we find one hal lindsey he says no get me wrong he says i've got he says no get me wrong he says i've got a few theological differences with the a few theological differences with the pope but pope but john paul ii is in my opinion a truly john paul ii is in my opinion a truly devout person who claims a personal devout person who claims a personal relationship with jesus christ and that relationship with jesus christ and that is the basis on which we can cozy up to is the basis on which we can cozy up to the roman catholic church in this man's the roman catholic church in this man's opinion opinion what would those who have given their what would those who have given their lives during the reformation think about lives during the reformation think about this the souls from under the altar that this the souls from under the altar that cry out how long o lord holy and true cry out how long o lord holy and true this thou not judge and avenge us this thou not judge and avenge us one of the last of the two witnesses i one of the last of the two witnesses i guess you could say that that exists is guess you could say that that exists is the man um ian paisley the man um ian paisley he is the leader of the protestant he is the leader of the protestant religion in northern ireland he says the religion in northern ireland he says the light of god's world at the reformation light of god's world at the reformation dispelled the black midnight of popery dispelled the black midnight of popery millions of souls thus escaped from the millions of souls thus escaped from the dungeons of papal priestcraft in order dungeons of papal priestcraft in order to regain or sorry in order to regain to regain or sorry in order to regain her vice-like grip on europe rome has her vice-like grip on europe rome has launched the great counter reformation launched the great counter reformation the main object was to undermine the the main object was to undermine the belief of the reformed churches belief of the reformed churches in the bible which had in the bible which had sorry upon which they had been sorry upon which they had been successfully and gloriously founded successfully and gloriously founded in order to do this he says rome planted in order to do this he says rome planted her emissaries in the schools where the her emissaries in the schools where the leaders and teachers of these leaders and teachers of these denominations were trained and that denominations were trained and that brother and sisters is true i went to a brother and sisters is true i went to a mennonite church in british columbia mennonite church in british columbia and the company i worked for was a and the company i worked for was a newspaper and we were doing an newspaper and we were doing an advertising section on this church and i advertising section on this church and i volunteered to go because i really volunteered to go because i really wanted to go and see what was in the wanted to go and see what was in the library of this preacher so we went into library of this preacher so we went into his library and we looked across the his library and we looked across the shelves shelves and i said to him i said i don't see any and i said to him i said i don't see any mennonite books here they're all ivps mennonite books here they're all ivps undervan they're all sort of just your undervan they're all sort of just your standard christian baptist kind of works standard christian baptist kind of works and he said oh well he says i'm not a i and he said oh well he says i'm not a i was never a mennonite he says i just was never a mennonite he says i just went to college and these guys offered went to college and these guys offered me the job me the job and so that's the way in which the world and so that's the way in which the world today is turning it's just a religion today is turning it's just a religion that becomes a business that becomes a business so he goes on to say that these people so he goes on to say that these people try to have the bible viewed as myth and try to have the bible viewed as myth and fable which is true you ask many of your fable which is true you ask many of your christian associates and they will tell christian associates and they will tell you the book of genesis the the account you the book of genesis the the account of genesis and the the creation is not of genesis and the the creation is not literal literal it's mythology you can't take it it's mythology you can't take it literally that's why there's room for literally that's why there's room for evolution evolution he goes on to say that rome soon had the he goes on to say that rome soon had the streams which ran down to the grassroots streams which ran down to the grassroots of protestantism poisoned at their of protestantism poisoned at their source the jesuit top professors soon source the jesuit top professors soon became the acknowledged leaders of the became the acknowledged leaders of the reformed churches and he's making reformed churches and he's making specific mention there of billy graham specific mention there of billy graham he goes on to say then started the many he goes on to say then started the many pilgrimages back to rome until today the pilgrimages back to rome until today the leaders of the now apostate reform leaders of the now apostate reform churches are tripping over one another churches are tripping over one another to slobber upon the pope's slippers as to slobber upon the pope's slippers as he would put it he would put it and so brother and sisters we see there and so brother and sisters we see there is a grand movement across the is a grand movement across the reformation we have heard just very reformation we have heard just very recently in the news recently in the news of the lutheran church of the lutheran church making this great statement of having making this great statement of having reconciled itself to the catholic church reconciled itself to the catholic church oh sure there's a few little details to oh sure there's a few little details to work out but they are now reconciled one work out but they are now reconciled one to the other can you imagine what luther to the other can you imagine what luther would have done he'd be at the world would have done he'd be at the world conference of the lutherans hammering conference of the lutherans hammering his theses on their doors i mean his theses on their doors i mean brothers and sisters this is the reality brothers and sisters this is the reality of what is taking place of what is taking place but we have to ask the question but we have to ask the question are we are we as christodolphians as christodolphians immune from these things let's not sit immune from these things let's not sit back with an attitude of smugness and back with an attitude of smugness and think that we are think that we are because the bible tells us that there because the bible tells us that there shall be false christs and false shall be false christs and false prophets that shall show great signs and prophets that shall show great signs and wonders in as much if it were possible wonders in as much if it were possible they would deceive the very elect and they would deceive the very elect and that brother and sisters is us that brother and sisters is us so we have to do some self examination so we have to do some self examination in the light of the evidence that we've in the light of the evidence that we've set forth before you historical set forth before you historical documented evidence documented evidence and when we turn to some of our own and when we turn to some of our own works works we find the christadolphian magazine we find the christadolphian magazine and i'm making no comment here on the and i'm making no comment here on the quality of the christadolphian magazine quality of the christadolphian magazine just purely the fact that it used to just purely the fact that it used to have the words in opposition to dot the have the words in opposition to dot the dogmas of papal and protestant dogmas of papal and protestant christendom put upon the front of its christendom put upon the front of its pages that was the character of the pages that was the character of the early christodolphians early christodolphians that's the way they stood they were in that's the way they stood they were in opposition to these things and they had opposition to these things and they had no qualms about saying it their lectures no qualms about saying it their lectures from their billboards in the newspapers from their billboards in the newspapers all stated the same things all stated the same things and yet today and yet today we seem to have moved from an open we seem to have moved from an open opposition to perhaps a quiet opposition to perhaps a quiet disapproval of the catholic and disapproval of the catholic and protestant communities protestant communities our community has been guilty of our community has been guilty of politically correcting its witness politically correcting its witness let's take for example instance him 244 let's take for example instance him 244 zion's king shall reign victorious in zion's king shall reign victorious in the old hymn book it used to say in the the old hymn book it used to say in the the third verse the third verse or a second verse actually see all papal or a second verse actually see all papal idols falling worshipped once but now idols falling worshipped once but now aboard aboard now it reads see all worldly idols now it reads see all worldly idols falling and so we have edited out the falling and so we have edited out the identity of the catholic church identity of the catholic church from our hymnbook from our hymnbook it is a removal of our witness it is a removal of our witness brother thomas brother thomas was fully aware of the writings of these was fully aware of the writings of these jesuits in the preface to volume 3 of jesuits in the preface to volume 3 of eureka he says ribeira and alcazar were eureka he says ribeira and alcazar were spanish jesuits who sought to expand the spanish jesuits who sought to expand the apocalypse so as to deliver the papacy apocalypse so as to deliver the papacy from the identity of any identification from the identity of any identification with its symbols the true meaning of the with its symbols the true meaning of the apocalypse is accessible only to the apocalypse is accessible only to the brethren of christ who follow and are brethren of christ who follow and are sorry in the fellow servants of the sorry in the fellow servants of the apostle who keep the sayings of the book apostle who keep the sayings of the book all others will prove but vain and all others will prove but vain and fanciful theorists who the secrets of fanciful theorists who the secrets of the deity are never to be found with the deity are never to be found with now sadly today we're not quite so now sadly today we're not quite so enlightened enlightened during the 1960s and 70s these same during the 1960s and 70s these same ideas ideas were introduced into our own brotherhood were introduced into our own brotherhood during a wave of popular interpretation during a wave of popular interpretation and they carried the same effect of and they carried the same effect of pointing the finger away from the pointing the finger away from the catholic church catholic church we'd like you to consider the next slide we'd like you to consider the next slide from a purely objective point of view from a purely objective point of view based on the evidence that we've set based on the evidence that we've set before you before you we have a new series of writers who have we have a new series of writers who have put forth what they call new ideas on put forth what they call new ideas on the book of revelation the book of revelation the evidence would suggest that these the evidence would suggest that these are not really new ideas at all are not really new ideas at all we have attention pointed away from the we have attention pointed away from the catholic church catholic church we have praetorist ideas we have praetorist ideas which would tell us basically that which would tell us basically that the harlot of the book of revelation the harlot of the book of revelation must represent israel and that attention must represent israel and that attention can be can be coaxed away from rome to coaxed away from rome to jerusalem the end result is that a jerusalem the end result is that a statement is made that at least the pope statement is made that at least the pope honors christ honors christ could we say that brothers and sisters could we say that brothers and sisters to our brethren and sisters when they to our brethren and sisters when they are raised from the dead who lost their are raised from the dead who lost their lives who had their children's heads lives who had their children's heads crushed against the walls that the pope crushed against the walls that the pope honors christ honors christ we read of the futuristic ideas the we read of the futuristic ideas the possible connection is between israel possible connection is between israel and the harlot system of the last days and the harlot system of the last days not the vatican so the hope of israel not the vatican so the hope of israel now becomes a hope of seeing her now becomes a hope of seeing her destroyed as the book of revelation destroyed as the book of revelation would indicate to us an israeli beast would indicate to us an israeli beast the seed of the woman will inflict the the seed of the woman will inflict the death moon upon a jewish serpent death moon upon a jewish serpent and so brother and sisters will the and so brother and sisters will the jesuits conquer our community jesuits conquer our community have we unwittingly taken in some of have we unwittingly taken in some of their doctrines we have to do some their doctrines we have to do some self-examination on this self-examination on this the warning remains to us come out of the warning remains to us come out of her my people that she be not partakers her my people that she be not partakers of her sins that she received not of her of her sins that she received not of her plagues plagues for or she says therefore shall her for or she says therefore shall her plagues come in one day what are her plagues come in one day what are her plagues plagues death death mourning and famine and she shall be mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burned with fire utterly burned with fire it is necessary brethren and sisters it is necessary brethren and sisters that we identify who she is because this that we identify who she is because this chapter is talking about the time period chapter is talking about the time period in which we live in which we live and we are invited to come out of her we and we are invited to come out of her we can only do that by identifying who she can only do that by identifying who she truly is truly is we need to earnestly contend for the we need to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the faith that was once delivered to the saints saints we need to identify using the book of we need to identify using the book of revelation the system that faces us in revelation the system that faces us in the world today the world today and hopefully tomorrow we will continue and hopefully tomorrow we will continue to look at the arising of this system to look at the arising of this system the last phase of the metamorphosis of the last phase of the metamorphosis of daniel's fourth beast the phase that is daniel's fourth beast the phase that is arising today before our very eyes arising today before our very eyes and god willing we hope to see it as it and god willing we hope to see it as it arises from the abyss the abyss of of arises from the abyss the abyss of of history history ready to make war with the saints ready to make war with the saints may it be brethren sisters that we are may it be brethren sisters that we are accounted worthy to be amongst those who accounted worthy to be amongst those who shall go with the lord jesus christ to shall go with the lord jesus christ to follow him in white horses in heaven the follow him in white horses in heaven the political heavens that we might be political heavens that we might be entitled to that description of being entitled to that description of being those that are with with him who are those that are with with him who are called and faithful and chosen