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June 14, 2024 - Jim Bakker Show
57:58
Jim Bakker Sermon 11 The Throne Room
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Last Trumpet Preparation 00:05:36
We finished chapter 5 of the book of Revelation.
And if you weren't here, I hope you'll get our last lesson.
We visited the throne room with John as he was there.
I believe it was very necessary for John to visit the throne room to prepare him for what he was about to see and what he was going to have to write down.
John has heard the testimony of millions of angels.
He has seen the Lamb of God, the throne room of heaven.
He has seen the host of heaven, the angels.
He saw the elders there laying prostate on their faces before the King of kings and the Lord of Lords.
And I'll tell you what, they couldn't find anyone to open the book or the scroll, as it should have been, said.
But they found the only one, the Lamb of God.
So John is totally convinced.
You know, we're still flesh.
And we have to be convinced.
We have to hear the word.
We have to know some things sometimes for us to have the confidence.
John needed this experience so he could write it down.
So he's convinced that Christ is going to take over, that he's in control of the universe, that he's coming back and he's going to execute judgment.
He hesitates not now to write every word of this to the churches.
And I believe it's to you and me, the church of Jesus Christ today.
And so John is about to understand why he is to send this warning to the church.
This is an amazing book.
It's addressed to the church.
It's a scary book.
Wonder, you know, sometimes wonder why if the church is not going to go through any of these things, why John was told he had to write it down to give this message to the church.
The truth is the church has not been raptured at this point.
I'm totally convinced the rapture does not take place at Revelation chapter 4, verse 1.
You can believe it does.
That's your business.
I won't be mad at you.
I will love you.
And I hope you're right.
Wouldn't that be awesome?
That would be better than anything.
But I don't find it in the truth of the word of God.
I don't find it in the harmony of interpretation.
I don't see any words there that would let us know that Revelation 4:1, we don't see any clouds.
He's coming in the cloud.
We don't hear the final trumpet.
He's coming at the final trumpet.
We don't see the rainbow.
We don't see all the things that are there with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Remember what Paul writes.
And if you haven't marked this down, mark 1 Corinthians 15, 52.
1 Corinthians 15, 52.
You can turn to me in your Bible if you'd like.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump or trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound.
When will Christ return?
At the last trumpet.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Is that the coming with Christ with his saints?
No.
That is not the new Jerusalem.
That is not Christ returning to earth to rule and reign.
This is the rapture.
It's got to be the rapture.
The dead in Christ come up.
And then those who are alive meet him in the air.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
That's the rapture.
I'm looking for the final trumpet, and we're going to find it because it's in the book.
Get ready for the opening of the seven seals.
Get ready for the opening of the seven seals.
And it's going to be open.
The seven seals cover the balance of this book of Revelation.
The seven seals are from chapter 6 to chapter 22.
These are the future events John was to write down for the churches.
Now, this is very important.
John writes, the book of Revelation is written in veiled speech.
Do you hear me?
Veiled speech.
That seems unusual.
Why God Hides Meaning 00:15:47
Some believe that he had to smuggle these documents out and didn't want to write in open speech.
But the Bible tells us that the Lord doesn't want everyone to understand.
Now, isn't that crazy?
Did you know that?
Did you know that?
He doesn't want everyone to understand.
You think I won't give you scripture when I say something like that?
He wants insiders to understand.
This is why Jesus taught in parables.
Do you know the Pharisees?
They didn't understand what Jesus was saying.
They were always mad.
They were trying to trip him up.
Look at Matthew chapter 13, verse 10.
Go there.
Jesus taught in parables because he wanted those on his inside.
How many want to be an insider with God?
I want to be on the inside.
I want to know.
I want to be in the know.
God doesn't want any of us to perish.
But I'll tell you, he doesn't want to cast his pearls before swine.
That's why some will never understand.
I could tell you all about ice cream, and if you've never had an ice cream cone, I'd have to talk until I was blue in the face.
Because I'm telling you, if you never have an ice cream cone, you try to describe an ice cream cone.
It's cold, it's wet, it's sweet.
If you like ice cream, it's good.
But I'm telling you, unless you experience Christ, you don't understand why we Christians are so fanatical.
You don't understand why we love Jesus so much.
You don't understand salvation until you truly experience it.
Matthew 13:10.
Here we go.
And the disciples came unto him and said to him, Jesus, why do you speak to them in parables?
Are you there?
Jesus answered them, To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.
Now, always remember this in our study: the gospel is referred to as the mystery.
That's the great mystery.
It is not understandable to the sinner.
They can't comprehend it.
They think we're crazy.
They think they're out having fun, getting syphilis and AIDS and all those things, and having booze and getting drunk and having drug addictions and all these things.
They think we're crazy to go to church and love Jesus.
They don't understand.
Why do you speak to them in parables?
They said.
Jesus answered them, to you has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
Verse 12, for whosoever has, to him more shall be given.
Are you there?
Look at the word.
And he will have an abundance.
But whosoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
You faith folks, and I love faith, but I want to tell you, you folks that are in the prosperity churches, this is not money.
Jesus is not talking about money here.
We got money on the mind.
How come we got so much money on the mind when the love of money is the root of all evil?
Or all kinds of evil.
I don't care how you interpret that scripture.
It is the root of evil.
It is the theme song of the harlot of Revelation: Give me money, honey.
That's what she's all about.
The whoredom of Revelation.
Look at this.
For whosoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have an abundance.
But whosoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
What is Jesus talking about here?
He's not talking about money.
He's talking about the word of God.
He's talking about the word.
He's talking about preaching and teaching in parables.
And we've turned that verse into a money raising.
Boy, if you get, the more money you get, the more you're going to get.
Hallelujah.
Well, that may be true.
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, somebody said.
But this has nothing to do with money.
This is the word of God.
Amen.
Faith cometh by hearing.
Hearing by the word of God.
This is so important.
He says, therefore, I speak to them in parables.
So here's what he said.
For whosoever has to him shall be more given.
The more of the words you have in you, the more the word will be revealed to you.
Do you understand this?
When I was in prison, the more I spent those days of 16 hours reading the word, the more it was revealed to me.
The more I get, the more he gives me.
That's what he's talking about, not money.
Carnal Christians, what's going on?
All we want to talk about is money, He's saying the more of the words you put in your heart, the more understanding you're going to have.
The more it'll be revealed to you.
The more I study, the more excited I am.
I mean, how could I sit 16 hours and study the Bible day after day?
How can I sit there and just devour the word?
Because the more word I get, the more I want.
The more revelation he'll give you.
The world doesn't want the word.
The church, most of them, don't even want the word today.
The religious people.
They want humor.
They want to laugh.
They want to go have a comedian in the pulpit.
They don't want to hear the word.
We give them, if you read more than one verse, some people get so up.
Oh, my God, that preacher, all he does is give us Bible, Bible, Bible, Bible.
Well, that's the only foundation there is.
He says, Therefore, I speak to them in parables because while seeing, they do not see.
And while hearing, they do not hear.
Nor do they understand.
Verse 14, in their case, the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, you will keep on hearing, but will not understand.
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive.
For the heart of this people has become dull.
We have dull minds, dull hearts today towards God.
We don't want God.
We want entertainment.
We want fun.
We want, I mean, our churches have been turned into show business centers.
We have church where we entertain so much that I'll tell you, it's the who can put on the best show in town.
I'm going to show you that I have a philosophy or an idea at least about the little book, the little scroll that is in the hand of someone we're going to talk about later on as we study.
But I have a feeling that little book happens to be the Lamb's book of life, probably.
Everybody you hear preachers talk today, you'd swear they won the whole world.
Our ministry is going around the world.
We've done, you know, and I'm telling you, the Bible says, narrow is the way, and few there be that find it.
It's not a big book.
It's a little book.
And it's scary, folks.
It's scary.
Here's Isaiah the prophet prophesying of these last days.
They'll hear but not understand.
They will see but they won't perceive.
For the heart of this people has become dull.
Their ears, they scarcely hear.
And they have closed their eyes.
Sounds like some of our kids, doesn't it?
Otherwise, they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and return, and I would heal them.
If they understand, he will heal them.
He will restore us.
Jesus quoted Isaiah.
Verse 16, but blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.
For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desire to see what you see and did not see it and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.
This seed that we're talking about is the word of God.
Look on at verse 18.
Go on.
I'm giving you a lot of scripture and I want to get to the first horse at least here today.
Hear then the parable of the sower.
Are you there?
Anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.
Are you hearing me?
This means a lot of people go to revivals.
They go to Billy Graham Crusade.
They go to other meetings.
They go to churches.
They go down to an altar.
And the word, they hear it and they respond, but they don't understand it.
They don't even know what they've done.
And I'm telling you, until you make Jesus Christ Lord of your life, you're not born again.
You've got to understand what you're doing.
You haven't just joined some club that's going to give you all kinds of goodies and new houses and cars and lands and all this stuff.
That's not the deal, folks.
In fact, Jesus says, come and die, doesn't he?
We've learned that.
That's why a lot of people fall away because they come to Christ and trouble starts.
The testing starts.
Verse 19, when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.
This is the one on whom the seed was sown beside the road.
Verse 20, the one on whom the seed was sown on the rocky places.
This is the man who hears the word.
And you're reading King James, maybe it says Anon.
Is that right?
In your King James?
Oh, why do we get over it, King James?
Anon means immediately.
That's all.
Okay, let's talk English that we understand.
The one on whom seed was sown on the rocks, this means who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
Go on.
This is happy people going to crusades, going to meetings, finding the good news, going to heaven.
Everybody wants to go to heaven.
Then we Pentecostals, we've added all kinds of stuff.
You come to Jesus and you get rich now.
You get money.
You get houses, lands, and cars, and whoo-woo-whoopi.
So immediately they receive it with joy.
Yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary.
And when affliction or persecution arises, why?
Because of the word, immediately he falls away.
So some of you Baptists that don't believe in backsliding, you can just say these folks never got saved.
Okay, will that help you with your theology?
I mean, you know, they have just never, well, if, you know, like we talked on the air the other day, if I give you a house, but there's a contract to sign, I give you a $5 million house, everybody wanted it.
How many take a $5 million house?
I'll give it to you.
Would you take it?
Well, then what happens, though, if I find out, oh, but you got to sign a paper to get it.
It's got a lot of fine print on it.
And you got to make payments of $5,000 a month.
Now, how many want the house?
You decide you don't want the house.
You got to pay a price.
Well, I'll tell you, the book has fine print.
This is the contract.
Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments.
There's more to serving Christ than just praying a little simple prayer and saying, oh, I'm right with God now.
You're not right if you're living in sin.
You're not right if you live like the devil.
I'm sorry.
You haven't been born again.
You can't go around.
Why are so many people mean in the church?
Because they've never been born again.
The Bible says, you know, you pass from death into life because you love the brethren.
How can you say you're saved when you hate everybody?
There's millions in the church that have never been born again.
I believe this with all of my heart.
Many are in religion, I should say, not in the church, the body of Christ, because the church is the true believers.
I'm not talking about church buildings.
So here's the one.
The seed was sown in the rocky place.
They hear the word.
And on.
They immediately receive it with joy.
Yet they have no firm root.
And when the affliction or persecution arises because of the word, they are offended by the word.
They fall away.
Verse 22.
And I'm the one who, the seed was sown among the thorns.
This is the man who hears the word and the worry of the world, the cares of the world, and, oh my God, the deceitfulness of riches.
The deceitfulness of wealth chokes the word and it becomes unfruitful.
Why do the rich have such a hard time in the Bible?
Why does Jesus say it's almost impossible for the rich to go to heaven as for a camel to go through the eye of a needle?
Why did Jesus say, woe unto the rich?
What's this all about?
Because many, many times with wealth, literally comes cockiness.
Self-sufficient.
The laity say in church, it had wealth.
They had money.
They had everything.
We don't need God, they said.
And that's what happens.
That's why the Bible calls it the deceitfulness of riches.
I'm not against wealth.
God bless you.
But I'll tell you, before this revelation, sir, I'm going to give you all the wealth and health scriptures.
I'm going to share them with you.
And there's a lot of scripture, and there's some very good instruction to the wealthy.
If you got a lot of money, honey, you better be giving some of it away.
You better be blessing with it.
And I'm not talking to my ministry.
I don't care what you do with it.
As long as you're doing it, it's under the Lord.
You better be helping some poor folks.
You better be doing something with it because you better read Matthew 25.
Because the sheep and the goats are going to be separated by what we've done to the least of them.
That's the Bible.
I'm sorry.
I'm not going to apologize for the Bible.
I apologize for you thinking that I'm just picking on you.
I'm not.
I mean, when I really got the revelation of Matthew 25, the sheep and the goats are being separated by what we've done to the poor, what we've done to the needy.
I'm desperate to open a center here to help people, help people down and out, help people that are hurting, help people have every need they have.
We've got to take care of people.
There's people that come here to just get stranded, just come on a vacation and run out of money.
There's people that come here to seek their fortune and they're down and out.
We've got to take care of them.
That's the job of the church.
You say, well, let them take care of themselves.
You better read Matthew 25 again.
You just better read Matthew 25.
Understanding The Word 00:13:04
Verse 23.
And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and brings forth some a hundredfold, some 60, and some 30.
This is not money.
Today, all we hear is about the hundredfold blessing, the 50-fold or whatever fold you want to talk about.
But we're taught about all these blessings.
And most of the hundred-fold blessings are about the word of God.
What is going to happen here?
Verse 23, the one whom the seed was sown in good soil, this is the man who hears the word.
This is the word again.
And he understands it.
And God multiplies and it bears fruit in his life.
The word bears fruit.
The word bears fruit.
Some a hundredfold, some 60, and some 30.
Can you catch this what I'm trying to tell you tonight?
It's about the word.
It's the word, the word, the word.
The Bible's not all about money.
I mean, you listen to preachers today.
I'd swear they can twist every single verse in the Bible to make it sound like money.
You would swear Jesus said the love of money is the best thing that could ever happen to you.
I mean, my God, I've been in churches now when the preacher's preaching, if somebody likes something he said, they start bringing him money.
They throw it right on the pulpit, right on the altar.
What's going on?
Do you know they're actually teaching in a lot of these meetings now that don't give to the poor?
I'm serious.
They actually tell you, do not give to the poor.
Those old poor people, they're sinners.
Those are sinners out there because they're poor.
They're preaching this.
And they say, giving it to me, the rich preacher who already has his own jets or already has living in five and ten million dollar mansions and estates, already have everything you can give.
And then they're saying, come and bring it to us.
And they come in a service and put a quarter of a million dollars in his pockets and on the state just in one meeting.
And they're saying, don't give to the poor.
Only give to good ground, and that's me.
That's not scriptural, folks.
I'm sorry.
And they're going to stone me, I'm afraid, because I'm telling you, people don't like what I'm preaching.
You touch the money, honey, and they want to stone you.
Christ was crucified right after he turned the money changers' tables over in the temple.
And we may not be able to raise much money over this ministry in the future.
It's going to be up to God.
But I am not going to manipulate the people anymore.
I'm not going to manipulate them, telling them, if you give to our ministry, all your bills will be paid.
You give to our ministry and you're going to get rich.
I don't believe that.
I don't believe it.
What about those poor little maids in Los Angeles that are loving Jesus, the sweetest, dear old ladies who are taking care of families and loving them?
And those poor old things, they keep giving in to some of those preachers and they keep giving.
And I'm telling you, they're still cleaning toilets and hotels.
They're still living in squalor.
But I'll tell you, they love Jesus.
My grandmother gave and gave.
My grandmother was a little tailor that worked in the back room.
She didn't have wealth.
She didn't have riches.
But I'll tell you, she had peace with God.
She had contentment.
She was the greatest witness I've ever known.
I am so sick of us turning the gospel into a carnal gospel of the lust for money and the things of this world.
It's going to fall apart on us.
And people will jump out of windows and kill themselves in the churches if the stock market crashes, which it will one day.
Look at Luke 6:27.
But I said to you who hears, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who spitefully use you, to him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.
And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic or your underwear either.
Give them your undergarments.
Give to everyone who asks of you.
And from him who takes away from you from your goods, do not ask them back.
And just as you want men to do to you, you do also to them.
But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners do the same.
If you lend or give to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that for you?
For even sinners lend or give to sinners to receive as much back.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend hoping for nothing in return.
Or give to them, just give it away to them.
Don't put usury on it.
Don't charge them interest.
Don't even worry about getting it back.
Who is this talking?
Do we know?
This is Jesus.
How come you made Jesus a senile old man when he is the Son of God, the Word of God?
How come we have come against His Word?
How come we've allowed another gospel to be taught to us?
I apologize to you if you sat under my teaching and I taught you prosperity teaching.
I was wrong.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you'll be the sons of the most high, for he is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Therefore, be merciful, just as your father also is merciful.
Now look at here, verse 37, Luke 6:37.
Judge not, and you shall not be judged.
Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be put into your bosom.
For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
And that's our great fundraising scripture of all time.
Give and it shall be given unto you.
I believe in giving.
I believe that when you give and open into the storehouse, God says, I'll open a window of heaven and pour out your blessing.
But the whole Bible isn't talking about money.
What was Jesus teaching on right here?
Forgiveness, Laurie said.
He wasn't teaching about money.
We treat Jesus like he's senile.
It's like I'm teaching and along and I'm saying, you know, the angels of heaven are wonderful.
Hallelujah.
And you can go to McDonald's and get a hamburger for 59 cents.
Now, if I did that, you'd say, he's a little crazy, isn't he?
But why do we do it to Jesus?
He's teaching, and we take scriptures and twist it right in the middle of what the lesson he's giving and make it say something different.
Jesus was saying, judge not, and you won't be judged.
He was saying, condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.
Forgive, and you'll be forgiven.
And he is saying, then give and it will be given to you.
How you do this is what you're going to get back.
If you forgive people, you'll be forgiven.
If you judge, you're going to be judged.
If you condemn, you'll be condemned.
All Jesus was trying to teach us is what we do to others is going to come back.
He wasn't telling us, give money so you can get more money.
Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Read it all at one time.
You can do it.
You read newspapers.
You read novels.
You could sit down and read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and John.
And then you come back and you tell me what Jesus taught about money.
It scared me so bad, I began to weep in prison, and I repented to the Most High God for mishandling the word of God.
Jesus wants his people to understand his word.
That's how we got off on this little trip here.
Jesus spoke in parables.
And I'm telling you, people are mishandling the word today.
Jesus wants us to know what he had to say.
Daniel had this understanding.
Look at Daniel 10, 14.
Now I've come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days.
For this vision pertains to the days yet future.
That's Daniel 10, 14.
I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days.
For this vision pertains to the days yet future.
This is what we're going to be reading about.
We're going into Revelation.
I'm laying foundation so you understand the veiled teaching of the word of Revelation.
Look at Daniel 12, 10.
Many shall be purified and made white and tried.
But the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand.
You hear what he's saying?
Daniel is speaking from God.
None of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
Faith cometh by hearing.
Hearing by the word of God.
The more you hear the word, the more you'll understand the word.
The more you're in the word, the more you're going to know his voice.
The Bible says, my sheep know my voice.
If you study the words of Jesus, you will know his voice.
And I'm telling you, when you start to know his voice, you know that no way is Jesus going to be a part of anyone saying, above all, God wants you to be rich.
Above all, God wants you to prosper.
That's wrong.
It's wrong.
It's wrong.
It's not in the Bible.
It's in a King James Translation.
But you ought to study the word because anytime something is contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ, you better look it up and you better start studying.
Red light should flash, say, warning, warning, warning.
Study.
Study to show yourself approved.
Study to show yourself approved.
A workman that needeth not to be ashamed.
Rightly dividing that word of truth.
That means study the word.
Study the Greek or study the Hebrew.
Find out what the original translations, as good as we can find them.
What that says, these Bibles were translated from Greek and Hebrew.
These translators did this a few hundred years ago.
This is not, King James is not the Bible Jesus had.
It's not the Bible Paul had.
This is a new translation, really, in the light of history.
Are you hearing me at all?
Can I get through to you at all?
So, Daniel 12:10, many shall be purified and made white and tried, but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
Paul spoke, and not all understood.
Did you know that?
Go over to Acts 28.
Acts 28, let's go to verse 23.
Here's Paul.
Paul does the same thing Jesus did.
Paul quotes Isaiah again.
We're almost there.
When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers.
And he was explaining to them by solely testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus from both the law of Moses and from the prophets from morning until evening.
Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.
And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving.
Sounds like today.
And Paul had spoken one parting word.
The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah, the prophets, to your father, saying, And here is the same things that Jesus quoted: Go to this people and say, You will keep on hearing, but will not understand.
And you'll keep on seeing, but you will not perceive.
For the heart of the people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear.
They have their eyes closed.
Otherwise, they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts, and then return, and I would heal them.
So, even Paul is now quoting Isaiah, the prophet.
Verse 20: Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, they will also listen.
When he had spoken to these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
Revelation's Veiled Speech 00:06:14
People argue the word, just debating the word, even back then.
So, here's the point I wanted to make as we go into this big part of Revelation, starting with chapter 6.
We're going to deal with some awesome stuff.
Revelation is veiled speech.
Revelation is veiled speech.
The Lord does not want everyone to understand it.
Those who are indifferent towards him, he communicates his revelation with signs and symbols.
I don't believe we're going to go up to heaven and see Jesus as a lamb with horns.
I believe that was a symbol to show us that this was the Lamb of God.
The horns were seven horns of power and might.
These were visionary symbols and signs that God had revealed unto John.
They are actually events of the future described in symbolic language.
I believe the revelation is true.
I believe it's actual events.
The horses are a symbol of what is going forth.
It's not just a horse going out, believe me.
It is a symbol of judgment, a symbol, really, of great tribulation coming.
We must have faith to understand the word of God.
We must have faith to understand the book of Revelation.
You've got to love God.
You've got to know God.
You have to take the word of God by faith, believing it, believing every word of it.
Hebrews 11, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand.
Are you hearing me?
You're going to have to have faith to understand Revelation as we get into this.
You're going to have to have faith in the word of God, not in my word, in the word of God, that he's given us his word.
This is the word for the last days.
This is revelation for the last days.
By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, the word, the word, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
That's faith.
Faith cometh by hearing.
Hearing by the word of God.
So you must have faith to understand the book of Revelation.
We're about to begin this adventure of a lifetime, the opening of the seven seals.
The four horsemen are about to ride.
Turn to Revelation chapter 6.
Jesus has given us the explanation of the book of Revelation.
I believe literally the formula, the layout, the very prophetic outline, you might call it, of the book of Revelation is found in Matthew 24.
And that's why we're going to go back and forth from Matthew 24.
And so I want you to mark Matthew 24.
Now keep in mind, the seven seals cover the balance of this book of Revelation.
The prophetic outline in Matthew 24 harmonizes with the seven seals.
Number one, in the outline, we have false prophets and false Christs in verse 5 of Matthew 24.
Number two, we have wars in verse 6.
In verse 7, maybe the final world war, I don't know.
Number 3, famines, verse 7.
Number 4, pestilence, also found in verse 7.
5, the great tribulation in verse 21 and 22.
Number 6, the cosmic disturbance and earthquakes are found in verse 29.
And number 7, the signs of his coming and appearance in verse 30.
We open to Revelation chapter 6, verse 1.
And I saw when the Lamb, the Lamb, Jesus Christ is the Lamb.
He breaks the restraining seal himself.
Jesus is the opener of the seals.
I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals and I heard.
We've talked about I see last time.
Now I heard, I heard is 23 times in the book of Revelation.
He's hearing in stereo quadraphonic sound, whatever surround sound.
He's hearing and seeing that this is the trip of the life for this 90-year-old man.
I heard as if it were the noise of thunder.
Remember whose noise that is?
That's God, the noise of thunder.
And one of the four beasts, remember, these are the living beings.
Four Living Beings Command 00:02:25
If you haven't been with us, that word is translated, it's in the Greek as living beings, not beasts.
These are created beings of heaven.
God has created more things than just people.
God has created beings.
Angels are created beings.
He has people that serve there.
And we have these four living beings.
They're awesome.
They're involved in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
And these four living beings are in charge, it seems like, of the throne room.
They are there leading worship in the throne room.
And it says one of the four beasts, the living beings, saying, come.
Or I don't want to mix you up, but in the Greek, it could be go.
It means both words.
It could be come or go.
I personally think it means go.
It's just the way I interpret it because I believe that the beasts are saying go, not come.
They're saying go out.
And it's not important.
You can say come because he sends them out.
So it can be come or go.
But if you look that up in the Greek, that little word is come or go.
And the words and see there in the King James Bible are not in the original text of the Bible.
So it just means it should read like this.
So one of the four beasts saying, go, period, or come, period.
And see is not in the Bible.
King James added it.
Look it up.
Study it in the Greek.
It's not in the Bible.
So it's not important, really, but it makes a little difference.
Satan is saying, go, go.
And it's amazing that one little word can make a difference.
This is the time now, right now, this is the time that Jesus described as the beginning of sorrows.
I believe we are in this day right now.
I believe the first horse has begun to ride.
I believe it's been riding for a while.
Antichrist's Deception 00:15:29
And I'll show you why I believe that.
The terrible times ahead for the church.
God has showered his grace on believers.
And God's about to give grace continually to the believers.
And his wrath will be on the unbelievers.
We'll see two groups side by side as we study this revelation.
We'll see the church and we'll see the sinner.
We'll see God's wrath poured upon the sinners.
I don't believe God's wrath is poured out on God's people.
And we'll look at that as we go along.
So we will see the suffering of the church.
The Antichrist is going to be very cruel.
And he is going to be cruel to the church.
And we'll see God's judgment on her final enemies and the final triumphant of Jesus and his reign.
I believe Christians will literally die at the hands of Antichrist.
I believe it's in the Bible.
But we will not suffer the wrath of God.
Quickly, go to Matthew 24 so we can start our trip going back and forth.
You know Matthew 24 is the words of Christ about the last days.
Matthew 24, 1, Jesus went out and departed from the temple.
And his disciples came to him for to show him the building of the temple.
And Jesus said unto them, see you not all these things?
Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.
That took place at A.D. 70.
And this has happened as Christ said it would happen.
And he sat upon the Mount of Olives.
The disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?
And what shall be the sign of thy coming and the end of the world or termination?
Okay, keep your finger right there or Mark Matthew 24, leave it so we can get right back there.
Go over to 2 Thessalonians 2.
2 Thessalonians 2.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you listening?
And being gathered to him.
We ask you, brothers, what is that?
Is that the rapture?
I believe it's the rapture.
It's got to be the rapture.
You've got to recognize what the rapture is.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him.
That's the gathering in the air.
We used to sing, I'm going to a meeting, a meeting in the air.
And it's biblical.
The meeting's in the air.
It's what it says over and over and over again in the sky.
It's going to be fun.
You don't have to worry.
If you get high places, don't bother.
It won't bother you anymore.
Don't worry about it.
Don't get upset.
You'll be glorified.
I mean, you'll be in your glorified body.
So here's what he's saying.
Not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report, or letter supposed to have come from us.
Paul is saying, don't worry because people are circulating reports or false prophecies.
Have you heard about false prophecies?
Make sure it's backed up by the word, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
They're calling it the day of the Lord here.
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come.
What day?
The gathering together of the saints.
The coming of our Lord.
Our gathering unto him.
It won't happen until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.
The man doomed to destruction.
The Antichrist.
I mean, most preachers, they are teaching the Antichrist will not be revealed till after the rapture.
It's simply not biblically sound in my estimation.
He will oppose and he will exalt himself over everything that is called God or his worship.
So he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you these things, and now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
And then the lawless nun one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroyed by the splendor of his coming.
The coming of the lawless nun one will be in accordance with the work of Satan, displayed in all kinds of counterfeit, miracle signs and wonders.
The Antichrist is going to do miracles, signs, and wonders.
Don't get ready for the Antichrist.
Don't get so swept up in looking for miracles that you find the Antichrist.
You think anybody, I've known people that can tell you where you live.
I know people can look inside your body and tell you if you've got a disease in there.
And they are of the devil.
They are the most unbelievable satanic people I've ever met.
And I've had them in my pulpits.
You better stay with the word.
Revelation 16, 14 says they are the spirits of devils working miracles.
Are you hearing me?
God is not the only supernatural power.
Verse 10, and every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing, they perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.
For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.
This is now.
And so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth, but have delighted in wickedness.
Jesus warns in Matthew 7, 15.
Remember, you don't have to turn there unless you want.
This is important.
Matthew 7, 15, he says, watch out for false prophets.
Is that what he said?
He said, they come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruits, you will recognize them.
We are in this day.
And I'm talking about the horseman that's about to ride in this book.
I believe it's all about wolves in sheep's clothing.
Someone who looks like Jesus but is not Jesus.
Someone who comes to conquer without arrows, but with a bow.
Matthew 7, 22, many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name?
And in your name drove out demons and performed many miracles?
Then I will plainly tell them, I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers.
Are you hearing me?
These are people who preach Jesus.
These are people who preach healing in the name of Jesus.
Miracles, it says, in wonders and signs.
These are people who prophesy in Jesus' name.
These are people who cast out devils in Jesus' names.
And Jesus is telling them, I never had an intimate relationship with you.
I've never known you.
Depart from me, you workers of iniquity, or you evildoers.
This is where we live today, people.
Back to Matthew 24, 4.
And Jesus answered and said of them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.
And you shall hear wars and rumors of wars.
See that you be not troubled.
For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
And there shall be famines and pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places, meaning many places.
All these are the beginning of sorrow.
Back to Revelation 6, 2.
And I saw, and behold, a white horse.
And he that sat on him had a bow.
And a crown was given unto him.
And he went forth conquering, to subdue, and to conquer.
There's much debate who this white horse is.
Much debate.
Some say it's Jesus.
Matthew Henry, he believes it's Jesus.
We see so many, very believe that this is Christ.
I don't believe it's Christ.
It can't be.
This is not when he comes back.
He hasn't returned yet in the book of Revelation.
This is not Christ.
And he is the opener of the seal here.
He's not the one being sent out.
This is not where Christ returns at all.
So it must be a counterfeit Christ or a counterfeit salvation.
I've actually had people say this is the gospel.
This white horse is the gospel.
And so there's just different thoughts on this.
Let's look again at 2 Thessalonians 2.1.
Remember, Christ does not come back before Antichrist is revealed.
2.1 concerning the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report, or letter supposed to have come from us saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
We'll talk more about that next week.
What about what if all of these ideas about the white horse may be wrong?
We have no sure word on it.
Very little is said about him.
He's riding a white horse.
He's coming to conquer.
He has a bow.
It doesn't say anything about any arrows.
No weapons.
No bullets in the arrow.
And I saw and behold a white horse.
And he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him.
And he went forth conquering and to conquer.
Could this white horse represent spiritual warfare?
Could this white horse a bow with no arrow?
He's not equipped for material warfare.
He's out to conquer.
He has the antichrist spirit.
And what is that spirit?
It's the conquer with words.
The second horseman is war, material warfare.
All these horses, other horses, are about a warfare.
Could this white horse be the battle that we are in right now?
The battle of ideology, anti-Christian thinking, anti-Christian, our courts banning prayer, our courts banning Bible reading.
We're in the greatest warfare of our life.
I believe this white horse is absolutely the information age that we live in right now.
The age of evil words, the age of motion pictures, the age of television, the age of evil, the age where people are making fun of Jesus Christ.
I believe this with all of my heart: that this horse, this first horse without any arrows, it is a warfare.
It is a battle to conquer our minds and our spirits.
It's the spirit of lust and the filth of the last days.
I believe this white horse is what the Bible warrants, another gospel that is being preached to deceive people today.
This is a picture of today.
I believe this white horse is all the things that is in 2 Timothy 3.
All the evil things, this white horse, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
Look back in closing at Matthew 24:4, and we'll go into this in a little more detail next time.
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go there, go there, open your Bibles.
Matthew 24:4.
You've got to look at it one more time.
The Bible says the power of life and death in the what?
Why wouldn't this warfare before the big wars of physical wars break out?
Why wouldn't we see a warfare of the tongue, a warfare of words?
The tonight show, they make fun of preachers.
We had an heaven attorney general as a born-again man.
He is fodder for all their dirty jokes.
Good is spoken of of evil, and evil is good.
Here's what Jesus said: Matthew 24:4.
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.
I believe that we have read this verse wrong.
I believe this is how it should be read.
For many shall come in my name, saying about Jesus, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.
I believe if Jesus was saying that they're going to say they were the Christ, I believe he would have said it.
He has said that at other times.
He would have said, many shall come in my name, saying they are Christ and shall deceive many.
Jesus says in the last days, many will come in his name, just as they did in Matthew 7.
They cast out devils, they prophesied, and they came in Jesus' name saying that Jesus is Christ, saying Jesus is Lord.
But they are not honoring in him.
The false prophets of this day talk about Jesus Christ, but they are preaching a doctrine that is opposite of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
They are saying Jesus is Lord.
They are saying I am Christ.
In other words, if I was Jesus and I said to you, many shall come in my name, saying I am Jim Baker, and saying that, in other words, they will say that Jesus is Lord.
They will admit that Jesus is the Christ.
Can you get at what I'm saying?
But they will teach faults.
They are the ones who cast out devils.
They are the ones who prophesied.
And the false doctrine is not coming from the world.
Why would we be deceived by someone who comes and says, I'm Jesus Christ?
If I said, I'm Jesus Christ, you wouldn't accept me.
But if I said, I believe in Jesus Christ, and then I taught you false doctrine, you accept it.
I believe the white horse of the apocalypse is the false doctrine, the other gospel, the gospel of the love of money, the false gospel that's teaching people evil instead of good, teaching people to love the world and the things of the world, very opposite of Jesus Christ.
And Jesus warned and he said, many shall come in my name, in Jesus' name.
Great Deception Preached 00:00:45
They're saying, yes, he's Lord.
But they're teaching false things.
That's where in Matthew 7, he said that these false men would come.
They would come as wolves in sheep's clothing.
That's why today we have another gospel being preached.
This is the great deception.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, I pray, oh God, that people will understand this word that I'm trying to teach them today, God.
Lord God, that they can see the truth.
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