13 Revelation Predicts the United States in Prophecy

Transcription

1 Revelation of Hope 1 My topic tonight is Revelation Predicts the United States in Prophecy -- Revelation describes the rise of America. Bible prophecy does not describe the rise of every nation. Nations are mentioned in prophecy, not because of their size or the might of their army. They are foretold because of their relationship to God s overall plan. 2 When a nation or ancient kingdom plays a significant part in the fulfillment of God s purposes that empire is described by the Bible prophets. 3 To understand the reasons God foretold the rise of America in prophecy we need to go back to the year In Philadelphia at the Continental Congress, a debate was going to determine the future of America. The debate was over whether or not the United States should declare its independence from England. 5 The discussion was intense. The date July 2, The debate went on most of the night. 6 1

2 When the vote was taken it was deadlocked. Delaware had 3 votes. One of the Delaware delegates voted for independence. One of the Delaware delegates voted against independence. The third Delaware delegate was at home on his farm. It was raining and the roads were filled with mud. He couldn t get there. A message went out from that Continental Congress and it spread like wildfire throughout the eastern seaboard. The vote is deadlocked! This one delegate sensed, I have to get there. He mounted his horse and rode through the mud and rain. 7 He rode all that night arriving the next day to cast the deciding vote for independence. There was a little boy sent by his grandfather to look through the keyhole in the door to see if the delegates signed the document. As the story goes the grandfather was a bell-ringer. If they signed grandpa was going to ring for liberty. 8 As the delegate from Delaware arrived the little boy looked through the closed, locked door. He peered through the keyhole. And his grandpa kept saying, they re not going to sign it, they re not going to sign it. The little boy watched as the deciding vote was cast. He watched the historic vote for independence. And he then began to shout to his grandfather the bellringer, 9 2

3 Ring grandpa, ring grandpa, ring for liberty! The bell sounded for liberty that day. For the first time in history a nation was born on the principles of religious freedom. 10 The United States Constitution guarantees both civil and religious freedom to all of its citizens. According to the first amendment the free exercise of religion is every individual s God-given right. 11 Will these historic freedoms ever be challenged? Will church and state ever unite in the United States of America? Does the Bible mention the United States in prophecy? 12 Wouldn t it be strange indeed if the Bible did not mention the United States? 13 Wouldn t it be rather odd if a nation born on the principles of religious liberty the cradle of religious tolerance was not mentioned in prophecy? Wouldn t it be strange for God to raise up a nation committed to the ideal of democracy and not to mention that at all in Bible prophecy? 14 The book of Revelation describes those great empires that have an impact on Christian history. The Bible does not mention every nation in the world. The Bible is not primarily a history book. 15 Where nations dramatically affect God s people and ultimate plans the Scripture mentions them. 3

4 The Bible brought Babylon into view because Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, God s people. 16 The Bible brought Medo-Persia into view because Medo- Persia would overthrow Babylon and let God s people go free. 17 Greece united the empire with a common language for the gospel to be proclaimed. The entire New Testament was written in Greek. 18 Jesus was born in the days of Rome. He lived, ministered and died in a Roman society. 19 The church-state union, under the Roman Church in the early centuries, compromised truth, persecuted God s people and opposed the true gospel. The Bible brings nations into view not because they are a political power but if they have a significant part to play in the plan of God. In Revelation 13 a new power is described. 20 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. So this is another beast distinct from the first beast mentioned in verses According to the Bible, what does a beast represent in prophecy? 21 4

5 Daniel 7:23 Thus he said: The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth In Bible prophecy a beast represents a king or a kingdom. That power, that organization, can be political or it can be a religious-political power. The beasts represent nations. They represent empires. We ve studied the lion with eagles wings that represents Babylon. The bear represents Medo-Persia. The leopard represents Greece and the dragon-like beast represents Rome. When empires come up out of the water what does this mean? What do waters represent? Let s read it together. Revelation 17:15 Then he said to me, The waters which you saw... are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. So water represents what? Peoples. When a beast comes up out of the water, a kingdom comes up in a populated area of the world In Revelation 13:11, another beast comes up out of the earth. It does not come up out of the sea. Now there are three questions we need to ask about this new beast we are studying. Some important, significant questions. 26 5

6 1. Where this power arises 27 Revelation 13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth... If the sea represents a populated area, the opposite of the sea, the earth, would represent a sparsely populated area. That makes sense, right? 28 This new beast, or kingdom, comes up out of the earth, or a relatively unpopulated area compared to the nations of Europe. The beast arises in some area of the world that was previously unsettled by nations previously mentioned in prophecy. 29 It is a new nation. The nation of Medo-Perisa conquered Babylon. Greece conquered Medo-Perisa. Rome conquered Greece. This new beast doesn t get its power by conquering these nations When this power arises 31 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity. The second beast in Revelation 13:10 arises at the same time that the first beast is going into captivity. 32 6

7 We studied earlier that the first beast represents the papacy. The first beast in Revelation 13 would get its authority from the dragon, pagan Rome; the papacy did. The first beast would be a world-wide system of worship; the papacy is. 33 The first beast would claim that its priests had the authority to forgive sins; the papacy does. 34 It would reign for 1260 years. Historically, the papacy fits this picture exactly. Although the Bishop of Rome existed previously, his supreme reign began in AD 538. It was in that year that Justinian, the pagan Roman emperor, gave to the pope of Rome his civil and religious authority. Justinian defeated the last of the barbarian tribes that were warring against the papal power. The official date for the beginning of the papacy is A.D The papacy was to rule for 1260 years according to the prophecy of Revelation In 1798, 1260 years after A.D. 538 Berthier, the French general sent by Napoleon, took the Pope of Rome captive. Revelation 13:10 says that the first beast, the papacy, would go into captivity. He did, in The second beast in Revelation 13, would be rising in a previously unknown area of the world around the time that the first beast (the papacy) went into captivity, or around

8 Bible students for decades have seen the unique fulfillment of this prophecy in the United States. 3. How this power arises 37 Revelation 13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb... This beast rises around 1798 and one of his distinguishing characteristics is that he has two horns like a lamb. Now incidentally, a lion is an old beast, a bear is an old beast, a leopard and a dragon are old beasts. A lamb is a young beast. So this would be a new empire. It would be a new kingdom, a young nation. Here is a new nation that is rising up out of an unpopulated area around 1798, he has two horns like a lamb What is not on the horns? There are no crowns on the horns of the second beast. 40 The first beast had horns with crowns. Remember in Revelation 13:1 41 8

9 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, 42 having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns... The power in the old kingdoms came from the crown, or the kings. 43 Crowns indicate kingly authority. But the new young beast does not have any crowns on its horns. The absence of crowns indicates freedom. The second beasts power does not come from a king. It has two horns, a democratic/republican form of government. It has two horns, two external principles it derives its power from Horns are a symbol of power. They indicate that this beast derives its power from political and religious freedom. What are the two foundational principles of American law? They are religious and political freedom. 46 Here is a new power 1. Arising around

10 2. Arising in a relatively unpopulated area, not previously occupied by other biblical empires. It s being carved out by God to champion political freedom where people can speak based according on the dictates of their conscience and people can worship God according to their own conscience. 3. No crowns on its horns. The lack of crowns indicates a new power that indeed is free. Horns are a symbol of power; they indicate that this second beast derives its power from political and religious freedom. This beast is a lamb-like beast. It s a new empire. It arises around It springs up in an unpopulated area like a seed planted in the soil. It springs up quickly to prominence and power. Listen to how one historian describes the rise of America. Here G.A. Townsend, p.635 in his book, The New World Compared with the Old-- "... the mystery of her coming forth from vacancy... Like a silent seed we grew into an empire." It came up out of the earth like a silent seed. What an apt description. A writer in the 1800s, Uriah Smith, from Daniel and the Revelation, page 578 says, "Emerging... amid the silence of the earth, adding daily to its power and strength." Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the United States of America fits the characteristics of prophecy

11 It arose around It arose in sparsely populated area. It had a different form of government. 52 It was indeed a young nation like a lamb, not an old beast. 53 It would rise to a position of worldwide power and influence, very, very quickly. 54 What is the only nation that fits this description? 55 The only one is the United States of America. It rose on time, in the right place, in the right way. I praise God that the United States is described in Bible prophecy. I praise God that from the cradle of America religious freedom grew and matured world wide. God indeed knew what He was doing when he raised up a nation that would champion religious freedom. I thank God for many nations that are champions of freedom, nations around the world who champion these democratic ideals. Would to God that it would always be that way

12 The Statue of Liberty, in the New York Harbor, lifting its torch high, is a beacon of freedom in this nation. The poem inscribed on the base of the pedestal of the statue end s with these words: "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" That Liberty Bell rings for freedom. But ladies and gentlemen, the scene changes. And the scripture says, Revelation 13:11 Revelation 13:11-14 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. He speaks like a dragon. Ultimately, someday, religious freedom is removed. How does any nation speak? Any nation speaks through its laws. Could it be that a time in the future is coming that fundamental freedoms in America may be eroded. Could it be that even in America today it is necessary to be vigilant about our religious liberties? The time we miss them most is the time when we lose them. Could it be that it is possible to take those historic freedoms for granted?

13 Does the book of Revelation describe the events that will lead up to this erosion of religious liberty, this union of church and state? Does the book of Revelation describe a series of events that lead up to these final days when totalitarianism or oppression rules, where the rights of the minority will be trampled on? Does the Bible indicate how that might happen? 62 Notice Revelation 13:12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, 63 and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. So this second beast, the United States of America, exercises the authority of the first beast, the papacy, whose deadly wound was healed. There is an alliance. There will be a religious-political union. There is a church-state union. There is a political-religious alliance. And there is an erosion of religious liberty. The book of Revelation says that something unusual would happen. It says that the devil would do something to create this alliance. Revelation 13:13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. The he in this is referring to Satan. Great fire - some people are confused by the symbolism of fire. In the Old

14 Testament a pillar of fire led God s people by night. In the Old Testament, between the two cherubim, the two angels in the sanctuary, God s presence was manifested by fire. Fire is always a symbol of God s presence. But this is false fire. The devil calls fire down, performs signs and wonders. Here is a false fire, a false holy spirit movement. Here is a movement to unite all religions and get legislators to sign laws that pass religious decrees based on signs, wonders, false miracles and false tongues of fire. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, It says he deceives those that dwell on the earth. How might this deception be carried out by the devil? Our society is filled with social problems. Drugs and alcohol are destroying many of our youth. Sexual immorality is common place. The national debt is at an all time high. The economy is on shaky footing. National disasters are common place. Hurricanes, cyclones and earthquakes have ravaged our cities and taken their toll. What if these natural disasters got progressively worse? What if there were food shortages and riots in our streets? Do you see how it might be possible at a time of national crisis for Satan to initiate a false religious revival based on false miracles to unite people under his banner? Do you see how the scene may be set, ladies and gentlemen? You see how well intentioned people could pass religious legislation and what that might do? 14

15 telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. Our text describes an image of the beast. 70 What is the image to the beast? What is another word for image? 71 If I said to you that your son was the image of you what would that mean? It means he looks like you. An image is "a likeness of." 72 The Bible says that the second beast, America, will make an image to the first beast the papacy. In other words, there will be a political-religious union and church and state will unite. When that occurs, religious practices will be enforced. 73 The Bible gives us some indication of how this is all going to take place. It gives us further specifics on how all this is going to happen. Revelation 18 details these events. Here are the events that surround this union of church and state. Here is the scenario. Here is what gets well-meaning religious leaders involved in this. What does Satan do? He works false miracles. He works false wonders

16 He gives false signs and these false signs motivate religious leaders and they push laws of sovereign worship in America. Revelation 18:5 says, Her sins have reached to heaven. In other words, at the end time society becomes like Sodom and Gomorrah. It becomes like the days of Noah. And religious leaders will say, The only way we can save America from going down is if we put pressure on legislators and if they pass laws to bring us back to God. And the average American says, That s right! Look at our country; it s going down the drain. You see how subtle Satan is? Then miracles begin to be worked in churches which are not fully following God s word. These false miracles cause people to say, Look, that s the power of God! Why is Satan doing all this? To get a union of church and state Notice the second thing Revelation 18 says in verse 7, She has lived luxuriously. It s a time when the economy is booming. The economy booms but sin is prolific. It s a time of great luxury. The third thing in verse 8, She experiences natural disasters. Now this sets the tone. This sets the stage. Natural disasters will come, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornados and cyclones

17 God s judgments begin to fall in the land. Revelation 18:10. Are you beginning to grasp the scene? What is taking place before state and church unite? 80 Something dramatic happens, Rev. 18:17 says, Her riches come to nothing. So in the time of economic luxury, at a time when there is rising crime and violence, and a time of natural disasters, the economic bottom falls out. The stock market goes down and what happens? 81 The religious leaders begin to say, We need to get back to God. We need to come to great unity. Church and state must unite! A Spiritual decline, natural disasters, social chaos, and economic difficulties lead up to this Church and State union. According to the book of Revelation, Satan takes advantage of this situation by introducing a false spiritual revival under the auspices of the anti-christ. That s what the Bible says Satan does, Revelation 13:13,14 83 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 82 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast

18 There is a religious frenzy. People are rejoicing in the so-called miracles. A religious revival at a time of economic difficulty. People are driven back to so-called God at a time of social chaos and rising crime. 86 Then pressure is put on legislators, notice what happens at this time. Revelation 16:14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth 87 and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 88 Now don t misunderstand me. Does the Bible predict that there will be a mighty genuine revival of the spirit before Jesus comes? It does. The earth will be lightened with God s glory. The Holy Spirit will be poured out powerfully. The sick will be healed. But does it also indicate that Satan, knowing the true revival is going to come, stirs up the masses for a false revival. 89 He leads that false revival at a time of chaos to put pressure on political leaders to sign accords that ultimately legislate morality

19 Now the question is, how can you tell the difference between the true and false revival? Isn t that the issue? Notice what the Bible says, Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, It is not what they say; it s whether they are leading an obedient life. Love always leads to obedience. See anybody can say, Lord, Lord, but if they love Christ that love will do what He says. Jesus says, not everyone who says Lord, Lord but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 94 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, 95 cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? Notice that many will say, what was that first word? Many. And they did three things: They prophesied in His name. They cast out demons in His name. They do wonders and work miracles in His name. They must be of God then, this must be the true revival, right? Wrong, look at what the Bible says 96 19

20 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! 97 They were prophesying in His name and yet He never knew them? They were working miracles in His name and He never knew them? They were casting demons out in His name and He never knew them? Then what did He say, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! The evidence is not what they claim to do in His name. The evidence is whether the grace of God has led them to obedience and to follow Jesus Christ all the way in keeping His commandments and having the faith of Jesus. You see, ladies and gentlemen, Satan is going to work false miracles. The crowds are going to be stirred up Great charismatic leaders are going to arise. They are going to cry out that America is going down. They are going to cry for religious laws that will legislate morality. But the Bible gives us a principle that will help us know the difference between the true and the false revival. To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20 Notice carefully, the Bible does not say that there is no love there. There are many religious movements that have a lot of love

21 It doesn t say that there is no truth there. Many a religious movement has some truth. The devil wouldn t deceive anyone if it didn t have some truth. It doesn t say that there is no power because the devil has plenty of power. The Bible says, to the law the Ten Commandments, the testimony of scripture, if they are not teaching in harmony with God s law, it is because there is no light. And light is what you follow. On a dark night you need light. Don t be concerned if this movement claims to have power. Don t be concerned if this movement is the popular majority. 101 What you are looking for is light, the light of God s Word that shines in His law. The light of God s Word that shines in God s truth. Now let me ask you a question: If the devil wanted to unite people religiously in a final movement to legislate morality in America what vehicle might he use? What is something most Christians agree on? What vehicle did he use in the days of ancient Rome to unite paganism and Christianity at a time when the Roman Empire was falling apart? Might history repeat itself? In the ancient pagan Roman Empire the pagans had their differences from Christians but the venerable day of the sun united them

22 I wonder if the devil would do that again in our age? Let s look at the past and look at some incredible things about the future. In The Two Babylons, p.105, Dr. Alexander Hislop says 105 To conciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing its usual policy, took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated, 106 and to get Paganism and Christianity - now far sunk in idolatry - in this as in so many other things, to shake hands. Paganism and Christianity, in those early centuries shook hands, and they united around one thing, a common day of worship on Sunday. I wonder if it s possible that the wall of separation between church and state could crumble. I wonder if it s possible that the devil could stir up people at a time of social chaos and economic difficulties. I wonder if it s possible that there could be a push to remove the wall between church and state and Sunday could be a rallying point. You say, Impossible! Let s look at some Supreme Court decisions recently. Chief Justice William Rehnquist has said "The wall of separation between church and state is a metaphor based on bad history." A fascinating statement from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Here is another amazing one, from the

23 The St. Louis Dispatch, October 29, 1991 As the second century of the bill of rights draws to a close, the supreme court is redefining what religious liberty will mean in the third century. 110 Broadly, the court s new approach helps conventional religions while hurting unconventional ones. This new approach of the Supreme Court helps mainstream religions but if you are a little different there could be problems and difficulties. 111 Is it possible that our historic freedoms could be eroding? Is it possible that at a time of crisis, Sunday could be a rallying point? 112 Is that possible? Justice William O. Douglas was talking about old Sunday laws currently on the books, and he said this "It seems to be plain that by these laws, the states compel one, under the sanction of law, 113 to refrain from work or recreation on Sunday because of the majority's views on that day. Douglas was concerned about these Sunday laws and Douglas dissented from a vote. Other chief justices were not. They did not see a difficulty in favoring the voice of the majority. Douglass dissent was based on his convictions that you can t legislate for the majority against the minority

24 We have to respect in America the rights of the minority as well as the rights of the majority. Then Douglas continued The state law makes Sunday a symbol of respect or adherence." Ladies and gentlemen, the law of church and state is being eroded in some areas. 115 The Bible predicts that there will be a union of church and state even in America. And that religious leaders will lead out in this. You say, Impossible! Let me take you back to a mini-crisis you can identify with. 116 The month is May, the year is Can your memory take you back that far? A few of us can remember back that far. Let me refresh your memories. In May of 1976 there was a great gas shortage in America. Do you remember those long lines at the gas pump? Harold Lindsell was the editor of Christianity Today. Mr. Lindsell suggested a proposal for solving the gas problem. He said 117 "All businesses including gasoline stations and restaurants, should close every Sunday

25 by force of legislative fiat through the duly elected officials of the people." He said, Look, we have a big crisis in America. We can t buy enough gas. So if all Christians would put pressure on their legislators, we ll just use Sunday as a family day. We will save gas. We ll bring America back to God that way and we ll solve the gas crisis. Now that was a mini-crisis. Just think if a major crisis hit America. What does the Bible say ultimately will happen? Notice Revelation 13: telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 121 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak 122 and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Prophecy predicts our freedoms will be taken away and no one will be able to buy or sell. 123 Pat Robertson is a powerful religious leader and who at one time ran for President of the United States. In his book, The New World Order, he states

26 The next obligation that a citizen of God s world order owes is to himself. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy is a command for the personal benefit of each citizen Higher civilizations rise when people can rest and draw inspiration from God. Laws in America that mandated a day of rest (Sunday laws) 126 have been nullified as a violation of the separation of church and state, as an outright insult to God and his plan. Now I don t want you to miss that, Pat Robertson, a powerful Christian leader says, Laws that have mandated worship on Sunday have been nullified. 127 The Supreme Court has struck them down; they say you can t have them because that violates the separation of church and state. Notice what he says about that Only those policies that can be shown to have a clearly secular purpose are recognized. He said, Look, today America is secular but as Christians we need to get away from the secularization of America, 128 We need a common day of worship, a common day of rest. And America needs, by legislative fiat, to be a nation under God and get back to worship on Sunday. Now what is dangerous about this according to the Bible? Ladies and gentlemen, does the United States of America need a spiritual revival tonight? Indeed it does!

27 Is crime rampant it is! Is immorality commonplace in America tonight? It is! Does the Bible tell us how that revival will come to America? Should we be crying out for revival in America? We should, but we should not cry out for revival at the price of religious freedom! We should not cry out to the state to legislate morality to bring revival. Here is how God says revival will come, 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, 131 and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 132 Ladies and gentlemen tonight, revival in America will never come by political laws, it will never come by Christians putting pressure on their legislators. This will only lead to religious intolerance for those that do not worship in the prescribed way. God is calling for revival, but He says, If My people will humble themselves and pray and repent of their sins and seek My face, I will send a revival. And that revival will come The revival begins in your heart, in my heart, on our knees, with our faces to the floor, asking God to forgive us our sins, 27

28 repenting of our lust, adultery, selfishness, greed, materialism. Do you agree with me tonight? God s revival is not a revival legislated by law, but it is a revival of the heart! God s revival is to come deep from within us not from government legislated actions. And ladies and gentlemen, when that revival comes from the heart we do not need the state to pass a law to keep the first day of the week holy because when that revival comes from our hearts and we are saved by grace, Jesus says, If you love Me, keep My commandments. 135 There are two revivals, the false revival and the true. There is the false revival for the majority the false revival based on signs and wonders at a time of economic crisis and difficulty. This false revival gathers large numbers of Christians to put pressure on legislators to establish a Christian state that leads to totalitarianism. The second revival is a revival of the heart, a revival of the mind, a revival of the spirit. It is a revival of the grace of God that washes me from sin. It is a revival of the grace of God that gives me power, the grace of God that leads me to obedience. It is a revival of God s law, a return to God s law, and to all of God s law including the Bible Sabbath. This revival that moves this world, like the revival of the first century that shook the world. 28

29 In the first century a group of Roman soldiers heard the message of the gospel. The apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome and Paul s influence spread throughout the city. 136 The story is told of 40 Roman soldiers who made a commitment to follow Christ. The Roman legion brought these 40 soldiers up into northern Italy, and to make a mockery of them, stripped them and put them out on the ice for the entire night to freeze to death. These 40 Roman soldiers had accepted Christ and would not burn incense to the Caesars. They were taken on the ice barefoot. They began to freeze. They were stripped of all but the barest of their clothing. 137 The Roman legions camped on the shore watching these 40 Roman soldiers. They built bonfires. Occasionally the wind blew the warm flames across the ice. They could feel the heat wafting across their bodies. The legions cooked food, they partied, while the men on the ice were forced to freeze. These gallant soldiers began to sing, Forty wrestlers for Thee O Christ, Thine be the honor, Thine be the glory, Thine be the praise forever. The night went on. Their feet, toes and hands were frostbitten. One man could take it no longer, he began running towards the shore, I will offer incense to Caesar! A new song drifted across the cold ice that night, Thirty-nine wrestlers for Thee O Christ, Thine be the glory, Thine be the honor

30 The captain of the Roman armies, standing by the fire, took off his cloak and began walking across the ice, turned back and said, I too will become a Christian! And the chant went up again, Forty wrestlers for Thee O Christ, Thine be the glory, Thine be the honor, Thine be the praise. 139 God will have a group of people in the last days of earth s history. They too will have the courage to follow Christ at any cost. They too will stand for Him at a time of crisis. They too will obey Him. Revelation 14:12, where are they? Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 140 Christ is calling you to be one of His honor guards. He is appealing to you to stand with those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. He is appealing to you to determine to live for Him. 141 Will you do it? Will you stand with the faithful followers of Christ down through the ages? Will you stand with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Will you stand with Moses and Joseph and Daniel? Will you stand with Peter, James and John? Will you stand with Jesus? If you will, will you stand to our feet as we pray just now? 30