1 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,138 As the apostle says, 2 00:00:11,138 --> 00:00:14,832 "Because of one man's trespass, 3 00:00:14,832 --> 00:00:18,983 death reigned through that one man. 4 00:00:18,983 --> 00:00:21,156 Death was never the norm. 5 00:00:21,156 --> 00:00:24,231 It was never originally sewn into the fabric of man. 6 00:00:24,231 --> 00:00:32,320 Death shouts to us that something is horribly wrong. 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,317 Wars. 8 00:00:34,317 --> 00:00:37,429 Rumors of wars. 9 00:00:37,429 --> 00:00:39,505 Life-taking earthquakes, 10 00:00:39,505 --> 00:00:42,815 and tsunamis and Alzheimer's disease. 11 00:00:42,815 --> 00:00:46,354 They all stare in the face at us every day, 12 00:00:46,354 --> 00:00:48,288 and they just cry out, 13 00:00:48,288 --> 00:00:51,214 Sin and death! 14 00:00:51,214 --> 00:00:55,474 Sin and death! Sin and death! 15 00:00:55,474 --> 00:00:59,309 But I want you to notice something with me. 16 00:00:59,309 --> 00:01:02,587 Notice very carefully. 17 00:01:02,587 --> 00:01:07,788 If you're in Luke 21. 18 00:01:07,788 --> 00:01:10,716 Look with me. 19 00:01:10,716 --> 00:01:13,818 Verse 10 20 00:01:13,818 --> 00:01:16,747 "Nation will rise up against nation. 21 00:01:16,747 --> 00:01:18,418 Kingdom against kingdom. 22 00:01:18,418 --> 00:01:21,046 There will be great earthquakes in various places, 23 00:01:21,046 --> 00:01:23,738 famines and pestilences. 24 00:01:23,738 --> 00:01:27,193 There will be terrors 25 00:01:27,193 --> 00:01:30,959 and great signs from heaven. 26 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,027 Now, make sure you don't miss that last part. 27 00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:38,007 Great signs 28 00:01:38,007 --> 00:01:39,880 from heaven. 29 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,147 Jesus calls all these things signs. 30 00:01:44,147 --> 00:01:45,773 These terrors... 31 00:01:45,773 --> 00:01:47,206 the terror of death, 32 00:01:47,206 --> 00:01:49,500 the terror of destruction, 33 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:50,914 the terror of war, 34 00:01:50,914 --> 00:01:53,204 the terror of disease, 35 00:01:53,204 --> 00:01:56,319 and pestilence... 36 00:01:56,319 --> 00:02:00,453 He calls these things signs from heaven. 37 00:02:00,453 --> 00:02:02,303 A sign - what is a sign? 38 00:02:02,303 --> 00:02:03,431 It's a pointer. 39 00:02:03,431 --> 00:02:06,254 It's an indicator that is meant to aid our perception, 40 00:02:06,254 --> 00:02:09,641 or insight or knowledge to something. 41 00:02:09,641 --> 00:02:12,276 In other words, a tsumani is a sign 42 00:02:12,276 --> 00:02:14,350 that is meant to indicate or communicate 43 00:02:14,350 --> 00:02:15,902 some sort of reality. 44 00:02:15,902 --> 00:02:17,405 And don't miss this. 45 00:02:17,405 --> 00:02:21,925 This sign is from where? 46 00:02:21,925 --> 00:02:23,519 It's from heaven. 47 00:02:23,519 --> 00:02:25,274 Which means what? 48 00:02:25,274 --> 00:02:29,188 The sign comes from Who? 49 00:02:29,188 --> 00:02:32,678 The sign comes from God. 50 00:02:32,678 --> 00:02:34,938 "From heaven" means that God sends it. 51 00:02:34,938 --> 00:02:37,187 Am I saying God is responsible for Alzheimer's 52 00:02:37,187 --> 00:02:38,588 and earthquakes and tsunamis 53 00:02:38,588 --> 00:02:41,027 and civil war in Libya? 54 00:02:41,027 --> 00:02:44,767 Folks, it doesn't matter if that's what I'm saying or not, 55 00:02:44,767 --> 00:02:47,409 that's what the Bible says. 56 00:02:47,409 --> 00:02:49,251 The Bible clearly indicates. 57 00:02:49,251 --> 00:02:52,621 Brethren, Isaiah 45:5-7 58 00:02:52,621 --> 00:02:55,882 "I am the Lord, and there is no other. 59 00:02:55,882 --> 00:02:57,746 Besides Me there is no God. 60 00:02:57,746 --> 00:02:59,626 I equip you, 61 00:02:59,626 --> 00:03:01,641 though you do not know Me, 62 00:03:01,641 --> 00:03:04,194 that people may know from the rising of the sun 63 00:03:04,194 --> 00:03:06,733 and from the west that there is none besides Me. 64 00:03:06,733 --> 00:03:09,710 I am the Lord, and there is no other. 65 00:03:09,710 --> 00:03:13,006 I form light and create darkness. 66 00:03:13,006 --> 00:03:17,234 I make well-being and create calamity. 67 00:03:17,234 --> 00:03:22,661 I am the Lord, who does all these things." 68 00:03:22,661 --> 00:03:24,909 Deuteronomy 32:39 69 00:03:24,909 --> 00:03:27,372 "Now see that I, even I, am He 70 00:03:27,372 --> 00:03:29,407 and there is no God besides Me. 71 00:03:29,407 --> 00:03:33,545 I kill and I make alive. 72 00:03:33,545 --> 00:03:35,958 I wound and I heal. 73 00:03:35,958 --> 00:03:41,305 And there is none that can deliver out of My hand." 74 00:03:41,305 --> 00:03:49,363 Brethren, already, 75 00:03:49,363 --> 00:03:53,503 I just simply googled, 76 00:03:53,503 --> 00:03:59,378 "Is the tsunami from God?" 77 00:03:59,378 --> 00:04:02,344 There's already threads on the Internet. 78 00:04:02,344 --> 00:04:07,100 Listen to one I found. 79 00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:10,242 "Is God responsible for the earthquake 80 00:04:10,242 --> 00:04:11,839 and tsunami in Japan? 81 00:04:11,839 --> 00:04:13,287 If yes, how? 82 00:04:13,287 --> 00:04:14,762 If no, how? 83 00:04:14,762 --> 00:04:20,311 Someone has to take responsibility for such mass destruction." 84 00:04:20,311 --> 00:04:26,212 So there's the question. 85 00:04:26,212 --> 00:04:28,323 I recorded six responses. 86 00:04:28,323 --> 00:04:33,131 There were others there. 87 00:04:33,131 --> 00:04:34,058 Listen to this: 88 00:04:34,058 --> 00:04:36,794 Response #1 89 00:04:36,794 --> 00:04:43,872 "If yes, then He's a terrorist. 90 00:04:43,872 --> 00:04:47,089 If no, then it's a natural disaster." 91 00:04:47,089 --> 00:04:50,247 That was somebody's response. 92 00:04:50,247 --> 00:04:51,783 A second response: 93 00:04:51,783 --> 00:04:55,044 "No, the earth follows its own physical laws 94 00:04:55,044 --> 00:04:56,554 in accordance with the freedom 95 00:04:56,554 --> 00:04:59,229 that God has given to all His creatures. 96 00:04:59,229 --> 00:05:01,519 It is the movement of tectonic plates 97 00:05:01,519 --> 00:05:03,393 that causes earth tremors. 98 00:05:03,393 --> 00:05:06,091 Not the will of God." 99 00:05:06,091 --> 00:05:08,069 Response #3 100 00:05:08,069 --> 00:05:09,921 "Of course not! 101 00:05:09,921 --> 00:05:12,460 Why does someone have to take responsibility 102 00:05:12,460 --> 00:05:15,977 for naturally occurring phenomena?" 103 00:05:15,977 --> 00:05:17,299 Response #4 104 00:05:17,299 --> 00:05:24,939 "Whether God is responsible or not, that no one can say clearly." 105 00:05:24,939 --> 00:05:27,224 This is a good one. 106 00:05:27,224 --> 00:05:29,816 Response #5 107 00:05:29,816 --> 00:05:32,343 "People were thanking God 108 00:05:32,343 --> 00:05:35,974 for Representative Gabrielle Giffords 109 00:05:35,974 --> 00:05:42,737 on January 9, 2011 who survived the shooting. 110 00:05:42,737 --> 00:05:49,144 If you give someone kudos for the good things, 111 00:05:49,144 --> 00:05:51,523 then they must also take responsbility 112 00:05:51,523 --> 00:05:54,433 for the bad things." 113 00:05:54,433 --> 00:05:55,659 Now listen to this, 114 00:05:55,659 --> 00:05:57,486 Revelation 16:8 115 00:05:57,486 --> 00:06:00,016 "The fourth angel poured out his bowl 116 00:06:00,016 --> 00:06:03,612 on the sun and it was allowed 117 00:06:03,612 --> 00:06:07,272 to scorch people with fire." 118 00:06:07,272 --> 00:06:12,285 Brethren, I think this is a picture in this age. 119 00:06:12,285 --> 00:06:16,925 God sends His burning sun 120 00:06:16,925 --> 00:06:20,745 to cause drought. 121 00:06:20,745 --> 00:06:22,963 He controls nature 122 00:06:22,963 --> 00:06:25,894 to send lightning and create great fires, 123 00:06:25,894 --> 00:06:30,414 waves to take out great cities. 124 00:06:30,414 --> 00:06:33,360 Brethren, He's in control. 125 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:38,057 And His judgments come to us through nature. 126 00:06:38,057 --> 00:06:39,942 They say, oh, it's mother nature. 127 00:06:39,942 --> 00:06:42,165 It's tectonic plates. 128 00:06:42,165 --> 00:06:46,146 It's thermal air masses rising in the Gulf. 129 00:06:46,146 --> 00:06:48,671 Brethren, God controls. 130 00:06:48,671 --> 00:06:49,940 God designed. 131 00:06:49,940 --> 00:06:57,666 Have you ever listened to what God Almighty told Job? 132 00:06:57,666 --> 00:07:02,114 He takes credit for all of it, brethren. 133 00:07:02,114 --> 00:07:05,060 The snow, and the cold, and the heat, 134 00:07:05,060 --> 00:07:07,948 and the animals, and the lightning. 135 00:07:07,948 --> 00:07:09,832 He knows where it comes from. 136 00:07:09,832 --> 00:07:14,330 He's the Author of them all. 137 00:07:14,330 --> 00:07:15,061 Verse 9 138 00:07:15,061 --> 00:07:19,188 "They were scorched by the fierce heat. 139 00:07:19,188 --> 00:07:20,465 And they cursed..." 140 00:07:20,465 --> 00:07:24,204 Our ESV says the word is blasphemy. 141 00:07:24,204 --> 00:07:28,380 They blaspheme the name of God 142 00:07:28,380 --> 00:07:31,618 who had power over these plagues. 143 00:07:31,618 --> 00:07:35,551 "They did not repent and give Him glory." 144 00:07:35,551 --> 00:07:36,624 Verse 10 145 00:07:36,624 --> 00:07:38,440 "The fifth angel poured out his bowl 146 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,695 on the throne of the beast." 147 00:07:41,695 --> 00:07:50,544 Brethren, the throne of the beast... 148 00:07:50,544 --> 00:07:55,291 The beast in Daniel's prophetic utterances: 149 00:07:55,291 --> 00:08:01,011 kingdoms, 150 00:08:01,011 --> 00:08:04,081 governments, 151 00:08:04,081 --> 00:08:12,334 nations. 152 00:08:12,334 --> 00:08:15,304 There's wrath from this bowl 153 00:08:15,304 --> 00:08:17,521 "poured on the throne of the beast, 154 00:08:17,521 --> 00:08:20,980 and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. 155 00:08:20,980 --> 00:08:23,882 People gnawed their tongues in anguish. 156 00:08:23,882 --> 00:08:26,824 And again, they cursed, they blasphemed 157 00:08:26,824 --> 00:08:32,821 the God of Heaven for their pain and sores. 158 00:08:32,821 --> 00:08:39,224 They did not repent of their deeds." 159 00:08:39,224 --> 00:08:40,930 What are they blaspheming? 160 00:08:40,930 --> 00:08:44,410 What are they cursing? 161 00:08:44,410 --> 00:08:49,456 They blaspheme, they curse, the name of God. 162 00:08:49,456 --> 00:08:50,972 But just not any god... 163 00:08:50,972 --> 00:08:54,794 Did you catch what God it is? 164 00:08:54,794 --> 00:09:01,571 "Who had power over these plagues." 165 00:09:01,571 --> 00:09:03,807 He has power over them! 166 00:09:03,807 --> 00:09:06,518 That's who they blaspheme. 167 00:09:06,518 --> 00:09:14,075 Look, man is going to blaspheme God two ways 168 00:09:14,075 --> 00:09:16,515 in the midst of this. 169 00:09:16,515 --> 00:09:24,430 There are those who basically look and say, 170 00:09:24,430 --> 00:09:27,371 God would never do that. 171 00:09:27,371 --> 00:09:30,262 He's too impotent. He's too pathetic. 172 00:09:30,262 --> 00:09:34,726 He's too mild. 173 00:09:34,726 --> 00:09:37,737 They make Him into a God who does not hate sin 174 00:09:37,737 --> 00:09:41,309 like the Bible says He hates sin. 175 00:09:41,309 --> 00:09:46,226 They want to undermine His character. 176 00:09:46,226 --> 00:09:50,130 They want to make derogatory statements about Him; 177 00:09:50,130 --> 00:09:54,992 present Him as impotent. 178 00:09:54,992 --> 00:09:56,805 Soft. 179 00:09:56,805 --> 00:09:59,178 Santa Claus. 180 00:09:59,178 --> 00:10:01,513 Or they come along and they say, 181 00:10:01,513 --> 00:10:03,767 He's a terrorist. 182 00:10:03,767 --> 00:10:08,256 He's a monster. 183 00:10:08,256 --> 00:10:10,533 They want to say, if He's in control, 184 00:10:10,533 --> 00:10:12,921 they want to call Him every abomination 185 00:10:12,921 --> 00:10:14,245 they can think of. 186 00:10:14,245 --> 00:10:17,756 But oh, brethren, I've got a better answer for these people. 187 00:10:17,756 --> 00:10:19,375 A biblical answer. 188 00:10:19,375 --> 00:10:21,316 And it's this: 189 00:10:21,316 --> 00:10:24,884 Impotence? Please! 190 00:10:24,884 --> 00:10:27,460 This is the God who expressly says 191 00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:29,992 He has power over these plagues. 192 00:10:29,992 --> 00:10:32,729 Listen, at the beginning of this very book Revelation, 193 00:10:32,729 --> 00:10:34,277 it describes God this way: 194 00:10:34,277 --> 00:10:36,204 "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, 195 00:10:36,204 --> 00:10:38,849 says the Lord God, 'Who is, Who was, 196 00:10:38,849 --> 00:10:40,146 and Who is to come. 197 00:10:40,146 --> 00:10:42,501 The Almighty.'" 198 00:10:42,501 --> 00:10:43,823 Daniel 4:35 199 00:10:43,823 --> 00:10:46,453 Some of you very well know the words of Nebuchadnezzar. 200 00:10:46,453 --> 00:10:49,729 "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. 201 00:10:49,729 --> 00:10:53,679 He does according to His will among the hosts of heaven 202 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,017 and among the inhabitants of the earth. 203 00:10:56,017 --> 00:10:59,462 And none can stay His hand or say to Him, 204 00:10:59,462 --> 00:11:00,976 'What have You done?'" 205 00:11:00,976 --> 00:11:02,057 We sang the song, 206 00:11:02,057 --> 00:11:03,867 "God Moves in a Mysterious Way." 207 00:11:03,867 --> 00:11:07,712 Brethren, His will is unbending. 208 00:11:07,712 --> 00:11:10,823 He determines and it comes to pass. 209 00:11:10,823 --> 00:11:13,028 His ways are often mysterious to us, 210 00:11:13,028 --> 00:11:15,144 but His ways are for certain. 211 00:11:15,144 --> 00:11:17,547 He works according to the counsel of His will. 212 00:11:17,547 --> 00:11:20,520 And brethren, nobody stays His hand. 213 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:21,592 You better believe it. 214 00:11:21,592 --> 00:11:22,808 He's not playing around. 215 00:11:22,808 --> 00:11:23,895 When that tidal wave - 216 00:11:23,895 --> 00:11:27,084 have you seen the picture of the wave coming in? 217 00:11:27,084 --> 00:11:29,801 It was the second wave. 218 00:11:29,801 --> 00:11:32,806 Those waves came in for an hour. 219 00:11:32,806 --> 00:11:36,225 They've got footage of this wave 220 00:11:36,225 --> 00:11:39,725 going all the way down that beach coming in. 221 00:11:39,725 --> 00:11:42,566 The second tidal wave. 222 00:11:42,566 --> 00:11:46,191 Brethren, I'll tell you, 223 00:11:46,191 --> 00:11:49,782 when those disciples looked at Christ long ago, 224 00:11:49,782 --> 00:11:53,323 when He said, "Peace, be still." 225 00:11:53,323 --> 00:11:56,543 They said, "Who is this?" 226 00:11:56,543 --> 00:12:00,391 "Even the winds and the waves obey Him." 227 00:12:00,391 --> 00:12:01,862 Brethren, I'll tell you this, 228 00:12:01,862 --> 00:12:03,609 you may not have seen Him, 229 00:12:03,609 --> 00:12:05,794 but there was an unseen Christ 230 00:12:05,794 --> 00:12:07,990 riding at the head of that tidal wave. 231 00:12:07,990 --> 00:12:10,587 He had that thing reined. 232 00:12:10,587 --> 00:12:14,708 It was doing exactly His bidding. 233 00:12:14,708 --> 00:12:23,494 Oh, brethren... 234 00:12:23,494 --> 00:12:27,635 But here's what Luke says. 235 00:12:27,635 --> 00:12:34,444 These things are a sign. 236 00:12:34,444 --> 00:12:36,742 When I drive down the highway, 237 00:12:36,742 --> 00:12:38,614 I see a speed limit sign. 238 00:12:38,614 --> 00:12:40,932 It tells me something about how fast the law 239 00:12:40,932 --> 00:12:42,403 says that I can go. 240 00:12:42,403 --> 00:12:44,559 I see a sign that tells me 241 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,417 that Houston is 300 miles away. 242 00:12:47,417 --> 00:12:48,798 It's giving me information. 243 00:12:48,798 --> 00:12:50,256 Signs give us information. 244 00:12:50,256 --> 00:12:51,819 They're speaking to us. 245 00:12:51,819 --> 00:12:54,560 They're telling us something. 246 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:57,222 The billboard - it tells me that there's a McDonald's 247 00:12:57,222 --> 00:12:59,491 18 miles up at exit 387. 248 00:12:59,491 --> 00:13:00,896 I see that. 249 00:13:00,896 --> 00:13:03,201 It's telling me. It's feeding us information. 250 00:13:03,201 --> 00:13:06,227 Luke says these are signs. 251 00:13:06,227 --> 00:13:07,388 But a sign of what? 252 00:13:07,388 --> 00:13:08,903 What is he trying to tell us? 253 00:13:08,903 --> 00:13:10,105 Listen to this again, 254 00:13:10,105 --> 00:13:13,108 Revelation 16 255 00:13:13,108 --> 00:13:15,890 "The fourth angel poured out his bowl 256 00:13:15,890 --> 00:13:17,898 on the sun, 257 00:13:17,898 --> 00:13:22,328 and it was allowed to scorch people with fire." 258 00:13:22,328 --> 00:13:24,293 Signs. 259 00:13:24,293 --> 00:13:27,436 They were scorched. 260 00:13:27,436 --> 00:13:29,757 They cursed 261 00:13:29,757 --> 00:13:31,966 the God who had power over these plagues. 262 00:13:31,966 --> 00:13:34,018 Listen. 263 00:13:34,018 --> 00:13:37,896 Very carefully. 264 00:13:37,896 --> 00:13:40,679 "They did not repent, 265 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:46,856 or give glory to God." 266 00:13:46,856 --> 00:13:49,202 That's always the issue. 267 00:13:49,202 --> 00:13:51,598 Repentance is the issue. 268 00:13:51,598 --> 00:13:53,510 Every catastrophe, every calamity, 269 00:13:53,510 --> 00:13:56,696 every death and terror that comes along, 270 00:13:56,696 --> 00:14:00,679 God means it for a sign. 271 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:04,999 A sign means God is sending a message. 272 00:14:04,999 --> 00:14:07,254 God is in control of the plagues. 273 00:14:07,254 --> 00:14:09,744 God sends the signs from heaven. 274 00:14:09,744 --> 00:14:13,893 God is speaking. 275 00:14:13,893 --> 00:14:16,588 Brethren, it stares us in the face 276 00:14:16,588 --> 00:14:19,171 from the newspaper, the t.v., the computer. 277 00:14:19,171 --> 00:14:24,167 The giant wave is a sign to all the world. 278 00:14:24,167 --> 00:14:25,652 What's it a sign of? 279 00:14:25,652 --> 00:14:34,853 Brethren, they did not repent or give God glory. 280 00:14:34,853 --> 00:14:37,647 That's always the issue. 281 00:14:37,647 --> 00:14:40,686 Listen, let me tell you something. 282 00:14:40,686 --> 00:14:45,571 God is no monster. 283 00:14:45,571 --> 00:14:52,857 Brethren, even in His judgments, 284 00:14:52,857 --> 00:14:56,675 He's proclaiming mercy. 285 00:14:56,675 --> 00:15:00,086 It's a sign. 286 00:15:00,086 --> 00:15:02,771 This is a warning 287 00:15:02,771 --> 00:15:06,867 about what's going to happen to you. 288 00:15:06,867 --> 00:15:08,487 "But I call you, 289 00:15:08,487 --> 00:15:10,048 Repent. 290 00:15:10,048 --> 00:15:11,799 Turn. 291 00:15:11,799 --> 00:15:16,064 Come to Me." 292 00:15:16,064 --> 00:15:20,586 Brethren, God is speaking. 293 00:15:20,586 --> 00:15:26,276 When you're watching that, 294 00:15:26,276 --> 00:15:31,505 God doesn't expect the word "terrorist" to come into your mind. 295 00:15:31,505 --> 00:15:33,572 He expects you to look at that 296 00:15:33,572 --> 00:15:35,928 and to think and to reason. 297 00:15:35,928 --> 00:15:39,063 "'Come, let us reason together,' saith the Lord." 298 00:15:39,063 --> 00:15:41,451 He wants you to reason with Him. 299 00:15:41,451 --> 00:15:43,895 Your life is short. 300 00:15:43,895 --> 00:15:45,487 You're sinners. 301 00:15:45,487 --> 00:15:50,950 What you see here is what your sin deserves. 302 00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:53,920 But I, the God who reins in the tidal waves, 303 00:15:53,920 --> 00:16:02,085 I am also the God who sent My only begotten Son. 304 00:16:02,085 --> 00:16:04,603 God is saying, 305 00:16:04,603 --> 00:16:08,949 you're going to die someday. 306 00:16:08,949 --> 00:16:12,163 And it will be when you don't expect it. 307 00:16:12,163 --> 00:16:14,045 God wants you to look at these things 308 00:16:14,045 --> 00:16:16,133 and to ask yourself and come face to face 309 00:16:16,133 --> 00:16:18,952 with the reality: Am I ready? 310 00:16:18,952 --> 00:16:21,763 He's saying to you, get ready! 311 00:16:21,763 --> 00:16:23,444 Be ready! 312 00:16:23,444 --> 00:16:25,329 Stay ready. 313 00:16:25,329 --> 00:16:27,168 Turn away from sin. 314 00:16:27,168 --> 00:16:29,266 He's saying in those things: 315 00:16:29,266 --> 00:16:33,532 Fear Me. 316 00:16:33,532 --> 00:16:36,047 He doesn't expect you to look at it 317 00:16:36,047 --> 00:16:39,723 and deduce it's tectonic plates. 318 00:16:39,723 --> 00:16:44,616 He expects you to look at satellite images 319 00:16:44,616 --> 00:16:48,996 of cities - they were there a week ago, 320 00:16:48,996 --> 00:16:54,103 and they have been wiped off the face of the earth. 321 00:16:54,103 --> 00:16:57,632 Do you remember what He said about Sodom? 322 00:16:57,632 --> 00:17:00,880 This is an example. 323 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,991 That's what Peter tells us. 324 00:17:02,991 --> 00:17:09,958 Sodom is an example of what will happen to all the ungodly. 325 00:17:09,958 --> 00:17:12,609 Have you ever read that? 326 00:17:12,609 --> 00:17:15,960 2 Peter 327 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,994 Brethren, they're signs. 328 00:17:19,994 --> 00:17:21,528 Turn away from sin. 329 00:17:21,528 --> 00:17:22,727 Fear Me. 330 00:17:22,727 --> 00:17:25,412 Tsunamis ought to put the fear of God into us. 331 00:17:25,412 --> 00:17:28,148 God is saying to us, 332 00:17:28,148 --> 00:17:33,216 "Vengeance belongs to Me, 333 00:17:33,216 --> 00:17:37,102 and I will repay." 334 00:17:37,102 --> 00:17:41,464 He calls you to hear, to fear, 335 00:17:41,464 --> 00:17:42,897 to trust His Son. 336 00:17:42,897 --> 00:17:46,184 He calls you to abandon your unbelief, your idols. 337 00:17:46,184 --> 00:17:49,344 Stop being a fool! 338 00:17:49,344 --> 00:17:52,015 Realize. Wake up. 339 00:17:52,015 --> 00:17:54,526 This little sign of wrath 340 00:17:54,526 --> 00:17:57,798 is an indication of a great Day of Judgment 341 00:17:57,798 --> 00:17:59,580 that is coming. 342 00:17:59,580 --> 00:18:01,554 This smaller judgment just a reminder 343 00:18:01,554 --> 00:18:02,867 of a greater judgment. 344 00:18:02,867 --> 00:18:07,393 Stop believing that sin is better! 345 00:18:07,393 --> 00:18:08,713 That's what He's saying. 346 00:18:08,713 --> 00:18:11,181 When that wave comes in there and crashes in there, 347 00:18:11,181 --> 00:18:16,854 He's saying, young people, sex is not better! 348 00:18:16,854 --> 00:18:18,697 Because it's only for a season... 349 00:18:18,697 --> 00:18:21,460 And this is an indication that there is hell to pay. 350 00:18:21,460 --> 00:18:23,593 There is judgment at the end of this. 351 00:18:23,593 --> 00:18:24,901 Look at Sodom! 352 00:18:24,901 --> 00:18:28,324 Look at those villages along that coast. 353 00:18:28,324 --> 00:18:30,121 Look at them. 354 00:18:30,121 --> 00:18:32,912 Wake up. 355 00:18:32,912 --> 00:18:36,973 God says, 356 00:18:36,973 --> 00:18:40,574 Why will you die, O house of Israel? 357 00:18:40,574 --> 00:18:42,865 Why will you die? 358 00:18:42,865 --> 00:18:46,356 Can you imagine? 359 00:18:46,356 --> 00:18:50,611 "I have slain My own Son. 360 00:18:50,611 --> 00:18:52,262 I struck Him. 361 00:18:52,262 --> 00:18:54,006 I smote Him. 362 00:18:54,006 --> 00:19:01,249 I afflicted Him. 363 00:19:01,249 --> 00:19:02,925 Hear Me." 364 00:19:02,925 --> 00:19:05,750 These are signs 365 00:19:05,750 --> 00:19:10,006 that your life is not long. 366 00:19:10,006 --> 00:19:12,406 That you have sin on your shoulders 367 00:19:12,406 --> 00:19:14,225 and to your account, 368 00:19:14,225 --> 00:19:16,842 you do not want to have to pay. 369 00:19:16,842 --> 00:19:18,513 And why would you? 370 00:19:18,513 --> 00:19:20,608 Will you love your sin so much 371 00:19:20,608 --> 00:19:24,164 that you refuse My Son who has paid that sin 372 00:19:24,164 --> 00:19:27,407 in the sinner's place - will you refuse that? 373 00:19:27,407 --> 00:19:29,060 Will you go on? 374 00:19:29,060 --> 00:19:31,750 Do you think drink, and friends, and parties, 375 00:19:31,750 --> 00:19:35,123 and cars, and money - do you think that's better? 376 00:19:35,123 --> 00:19:38,908 So did a lot of those Japanese. 377 00:19:38,908 --> 00:19:45,521 Brethren, folks... 378 00:19:45,521 --> 00:19:47,682 In Amos 4:10, you don't need to turn there, 379 00:19:47,682 --> 00:19:49,574 but listen to this. 380 00:19:49,574 --> 00:19:51,661 God says this, 381 00:19:51,661 --> 00:19:55,353 "'I sent among you a pestilence 382 00:19:55,353 --> 00:19:57,902 after the manner of Egypt. 383 00:19:57,902 --> 00:20:01,059 I killed your young men with the sword 384 00:20:01,059 --> 00:20:03,085 and carried away your horses. 385 00:20:03,085 --> 00:20:04,849 And I made the stench of your camp 386 00:20:04,849 --> 00:20:07,978 to go up into your nostrils. 387 00:20:07,978 --> 00:20:09,658 Yet you did not return to Me,' 388 00:20:09,658 --> 00:20:11,071 declares the Lord." 389 00:20:11,071 --> 00:20:12,025 I'll tell you this, 390 00:20:12,025 --> 00:20:13,904 God is not ashamed. 391 00:20:13,904 --> 00:20:14,997 He is not to be mocked. 392 00:20:14,997 --> 00:20:16,798 He is not to be blasphemed. 393 00:20:16,798 --> 00:20:19,412 He doesn't hesitate to admit, 394 00:20:19,412 --> 00:20:21,911 He killed their young men with the sword. 395 00:20:21,911 --> 00:20:23,699 Not like some professing Christians 396 00:20:23,699 --> 00:20:25,563 who want to cower away from admitting 397 00:20:25,563 --> 00:20:27,365 that hurricanes and calamites 398 00:20:27,365 --> 00:20:29,971 and ruthless rulers and all that - 399 00:20:29,971 --> 00:20:32,531 that they're not according to the Lord's design. 400 00:20:32,531 --> 00:20:33,639 Brethren, they are. 401 00:20:33,639 --> 00:20:35,345 God is not ashamed to admit it. 402 00:20:35,345 --> 00:20:36,990 You shouldn't be. 403 00:20:36,990 --> 00:20:38,723 When this onlooking world - 404 00:20:38,723 --> 00:20:41,111 we should be bold, be of courage, brethren - 405 00:20:41,111 --> 00:20:42,064 you say to them: 406 00:20:42,064 --> 00:20:43,384 That's a judgment of God. 407 00:20:43,384 --> 00:20:46,670 And it's meant to show you people to turn 408 00:20:46,670 --> 00:20:48,510 and to run into His arms. 409 00:20:48,510 --> 00:20:51,859 I mean, He sends these. 410 00:20:51,859 --> 00:20:55,065 But the same God also stands with open arms 411 00:20:55,065 --> 00:20:57,100 ready to receive any that will repent. 412 00:20:57,100 --> 00:21:03,035 If they'll take that sign and heed that sign. 413 00:21:03,035 --> 00:21:05,245 He is saying, 414 00:21:05,245 --> 00:21:09,178 "Yes, indeed, I did it. 415 00:21:09,178 --> 00:21:10,227 Fear Me. 416 00:21:10,227 --> 00:21:12,147 Come to Me." 417 00:21:12,147 --> 00:21:15,512 But again, did you hear the last part there? 418 00:21:15,512 --> 00:21:17,733 "'I killed your young men with the sword 419 00:21:17,733 --> 00:21:19,333 and carried away your horses. 420 00:21:19,333 --> 00:21:20,697 Made the stench of your camp 421 00:21:20,697 --> 00:21:23,163 go up into your nostrils. 422 00:21:23,163 --> 00:21:30,616 Yet, you did not return to Me,' 423 00:21:30,616 --> 00:21:31,711 declares the Lord." 424 00:21:31,711 --> 00:21:33,335 Isn't that always the issue! 425 00:21:33,335 --> 00:21:40,135 God smites that men may see the sign 426 00:21:40,135 --> 00:21:43,823 and turn to Him. 427 00:21:43,823 --> 00:21:45,422 Isaiah says, 428 00:21:45,422 --> 00:21:50,299 "The people did not turn to Him who struck them, 429 00:21:50,299 --> 00:21:52,803 nor inquire of the Lord of Hosts." 430 00:21:52,803 --> 00:21:54,036 Daniel puts it this way, 431 00:21:54,036 --> 00:21:56,042 "As it is written in the law of Moses, 432 00:21:56,042 --> 00:21:59,844 all this calamity has come upon us, 433 00:21:59,844 --> 00:22:01,697 yet we have not entreated the favor 434 00:22:01,697 --> 00:22:03,307 of the Lord our God, 435 00:22:03,307 --> 00:22:08,194 turning from our iniquities and gaining insight." 436 00:22:08,194 --> 00:22:12,528 Isn't it amazing how often in God's Word, 437 00:22:12,528 --> 00:22:19,911 calamity is clearly set forth 438 00:22:19,911 --> 00:22:26,193 as God's sign to us to turn to Him? 439 00:22:26,193 --> 00:22:29,733 Turn to Him. 440 00:22:29,733 --> 00:22:35,195 Look, Jesus comes along and says, 441 00:22:35,195 --> 00:22:37,006 You guys want to talk about 442 00:22:37,006 --> 00:22:40,657 that tower in Siloam that fell? 443 00:22:40,657 --> 00:22:42,691 You know what happened? 444 00:22:42,691 --> 00:22:47,226 In Jesus' day, there was a tower. 445 00:22:47,226 --> 00:22:48,748 I don't know if it just got old 446 00:22:48,748 --> 00:22:50,316 or badly engineered or what. 447 00:22:50,316 --> 00:22:54,853 But the thing fell over. 448 00:22:54,853 --> 00:23:01,316 Crushed 18 people to death on the spot. 449 00:23:01,316 --> 00:23:02,497 If Jesus was here today, 450 00:23:02,497 --> 00:23:08,977 He would say to the city of San Antonio, 451 00:23:08,977 --> 00:23:14,104 You think those Japanese are worse sinners than you? 452 00:23:14,104 --> 00:23:17,505 No. 453 00:23:17,505 --> 00:23:23,506 But unless you repent, you will likewise perish. 454 00:23:23,506 --> 00:23:25,678 That's always the issue. 455 00:23:25,678 --> 00:23:31,243 Repentance is always the issue. 456 00:23:31,243 --> 00:23:35,259 You mean, men have to lose their lives 457 00:23:35,259 --> 00:23:37,241 to bring that sign? 458 00:23:37,241 --> 00:23:38,890 Brethren, this is the wrath of God 459 00:23:38,890 --> 00:23:43,598 against justly deserved sin. 460 00:23:43,598 --> 00:23:46,491 What about all the rest of the days out of the year 461 00:23:46,491 --> 00:23:53,486 when God didn't destroy those cities? 462 00:23:53,486 --> 00:23:58,543 They were just as deserving all those other days. 463 00:23:58,543 --> 00:24:02,502 But isn't that what it says in Romans 1? 464 00:24:02,502 --> 00:24:04,217 The wrath of God is revealed. 465 00:24:04,217 --> 00:24:05,530 Why? 466 00:24:05,530 --> 00:24:08,627 Because they did not honor Him 467 00:24:08,627 --> 00:24:12,302 or give Him thanks. 468 00:24:12,302 --> 00:24:15,687 They're quick to call Him a terrorist. 469 00:24:15,687 --> 00:24:17,168 What about all the others days 470 00:24:17,168 --> 00:24:21,228 when they should have been praising Him? 471 00:24:21,228 --> 00:24:24,357 Brethren, it's repentance. 472 00:24:24,357 --> 00:24:27,446 Repentance. 473 00:24:27,446 --> 00:24:33,353 You say, well, that was certainly hard luck on their part. 474 00:24:33,353 --> 00:24:34,761 Brethren, let me tell you, 475 00:24:34,761 --> 00:24:40,134 every one of us deserve this by nature. 476 00:24:40,134 --> 00:24:42,446 Guess what? 477 00:24:42,446 --> 00:24:46,106 The vast majority of those people that perished 478 00:24:46,106 --> 00:24:51,284 were alive when the tsunami hit Indonesia. 479 00:24:51,284 --> 00:24:56,984 God was saying, "Wake up! Wake up!" 480 00:24:56,984 --> 00:25:00,110 "Turn to Me." 481 00:25:00,110 --> 00:25:03,395 And do you know what will happen tomorrow? 482 00:25:03,395 --> 00:25:05,395 And the next day? 483 00:25:05,395 --> 00:25:09,377 Many who have seen this, 484 00:25:09,377 --> 00:25:12,916 they will be the next objects. 485 00:25:12,916 --> 00:25:17,919 You resist God's mercies long enough, 486 00:25:17,919 --> 00:25:19,742 and eventually, you are going to be 487 00:25:19,742 --> 00:25:25,204 the object of God's wrath. 488 00:25:25,204 --> 00:25:26,974 And you can't escape it. 489 00:25:26,974 --> 00:25:29,253 There is no escape. 490 00:25:29,253 --> 00:25:31,033 And men don't like to believe this. 491 00:25:31,033 --> 00:25:32,406 Men do not want to believe 492 00:25:32,406 --> 00:25:34,391 there is an Almighty sin-hating God 493 00:25:34,391 --> 00:25:36,336 who sent that calamity on Japan. 494 00:25:36,336 --> 00:25:38,529 Because if they believe there is such a God 495 00:25:38,529 --> 00:25:40,323 who would do such a thing, 496 00:25:40,323 --> 00:25:42,477 then they're suddenly confronted by the fact 497 00:25:42,477 --> 00:25:46,382 that they are in deep, deep trouble. 498 00:25:46,382 --> 00:25:48,890 And Scripture says, of course, that they are. 499 00:25:48,890 --> 00:25:50,431 And that's what God is saying. 500 00:25:50,431 --> 00:25:51,704 This is a sign. 501 00:25:51,704 --> 00:25:54,982 You are in trouble! 502 00:25:54,982 --> 00:25:57,164 But brethren, 503 00:25:57,164 --> 00:26:00,636 my message to these guys writing their threads out there 504 00:26:00,636 --> 00:26:02,953 is no, God is not impotent, 505 00:26:02,953 --> 00:26:04,442 like some of you say, 506 00:26:04,442 --> 00:26:07,668 and no, God is no monster. 507 00:26:07,668 --> 00:26:11,614 These are merciful warnings. 508 00:26:11,614 --> 00:26:18,163 Isn't it amazing that in this world right now, 509 00:26:18,163 --> 00:26:22,168 even in God's most severe judgments, 510 00:26:22,168 --> 00:26:25,547 He means mercy by it. 511 00:26:25,547 --> 00:26:27,900 That is phenomenal 512 00:26:27,900 --> 00:26:30,163 that God doesn't wipe out the whole planet 513 00:26:30,163 --> 00:26:31,826 in a moment. 514 00:26:31,826 --> 00:26:36,044 But that He gives us these flashes. 515 00:26:36,044 --> 00:26:38,066 Flashes. 516 00:26:38,066 --> 00:26:40,703 And you say, but if I do repent? 517 00:26:40,703 --> 00:26:41,866 Brethren, I'll tell you, 518 00:26:41,866 --> 00:26:45,279 there's a text in Isaiah, 519 00:26:45,279 --> 00:26:53,341 that says that He gives men for Israel. 520 00:26:53,341 --> 00:26:55,975 It's true. 521 00:26:55,975 --> 00:26:57,718 God will bring judgment on some 522 00:26:57,718 --> 00:27:00,735 and bring others to repentance through it. 523 00:27:00,735 --> 00:27:07,345 He will give some men for the sake of others. 524 00:27:07,345 --> 00:27:10,235 But brethren, I want to tell you that these messages 525 00:27:10,235 --> 00:27:12,629 are messages of mercy, 526 00:27:12,629 --> 00:27:21,161 if you will have eyes to see them. 527 00:27:21,161 --> 00:27:29,663 Look, brethren... 528 00:27:29,663 --> 00:27:34,040 We know. We know. 529 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:40,988 We prayed for Papa's wife - my mother-in-law, Ruby's mom. 530 00:27:40,988 --> 00:27:44,015 We prayed. We prayed. 531 00:27:44,015 --> 00:27:48,570 Papa fasted for years. 532 00:27:48,570 --> 00:27:53,243 But you family members, you grandchildren... 533 00:27:53,243 --> 00:27:56,293 her death on Friday is meant to be 534 00:27:56,293 --> 00:27:58,918 a wake-up call to you. 535 00:27:58,918 --> 00:28:04,967 The terror of death is meant to be a wake-up call. 536 00:28:04,967 --> 00:28:08,501 You don't have forever. 537 00:28:08,501 --> 00:28:13,122 And as fun as your sin might seem, 538 00:28:13,122 --> 00:28:14,849 it comes to an end. 539 00:28:14,849 --> 00:28:16,126 And it may come to an end 540 00:28:16,126 --> 00:28:18,762 much sooner than you think. 541 00:28:18,762 --> 00:28:22,353 A week ago, those people sat secure 542 00:28:22,353 --> 00:28:26,919 in their homes in Japan. 543 00:28:26,919 --> 00:28:28,699 They never thought they would be 544 00:28:28,699 --> 00:28:33,935 in eternity an hour later. 545 00:28:33,935 --> 00:28:36,590 Never. 546 00:28:36,590 --> 00:28:40,387 God's calling you to repent. 547 00:28:40,387 --> 00:28:42,720 If you're lost - without Christ, 548 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:45,813 you're just as bad. 549 00:28:45,813 --> 00:28:50,103 If right now, the earthquake had happened here - 550 00:28:50,103 --> 00:28:53,324 a building had fallen on you - 551 00:28:53,324 --> 00:28:59,574 and they were watching the news of that, 552 00:28:59,574 --> 00:29:02,625 it would have been just as just of God to do that. 553 00:29:02,625 --> 00:29:05,255 It would have been no different. 554 00:29:05,255 --> 00:29:08,565 It would have been severe justice both ways. 555 00:29:08,565 --> 00:29:14,189 But it's merciful warnings to those who are watching. 556 00:29:14,189 --> 00:29:16,628 And you know what, the truth is, 557 00:29:16,628 --> 00:29:20,858 on Friday, God didn't take all of us. 558 00:29:20,858 --> 00:29:22,972 What a mercy! 559 00:29:22,972 --> 00:29:28,264 What a mercy! 560 00:29:28,264 --> 00:29:31,379 The answer the world so desperately needs to hear 561 00:29:31,379 --> 00:29:36,264 is God is an Almighty, merciful message sender, 562 00:29:36,264 --> 00:29:45,031 even in judgments. 563 00:29:45,031 --> 00:29:47,978 To you that are lost, 564 00:29:47,978 --> 00:29:49,257 eternity hastens. 565 00:29:49,257 --> 00:29:50,508 The day of mercy is short. 566 00:29:50,508 --> 00:29:53,410 Listen, mercy isn't always going to be extended to you. 567 00:29:53,410 --> 00:29:55,329 The time is going to run out. 568 00:29:55,329 --> 00:29:56,928 You're going to come to the end. 569 00:29:56,928 --> 00:29:58,320 Why are you waiting? 570 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:01,853 The marriage feast is prepared. 571 00:30:01,853 --> 00:30:02,998 It's there. 572 00:30:02,998 --> 00:30:04,489 You're invited. 573 00:30:04,489 --> 00:30:09,135 The tsunami is like an invitation. 574 00:30:09,135 --> 00:30:11,590 It's a sign. 575 00:30:11,590 --> 00:30:15,815 It's like an invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 576 00:30:15,815 --> 00:30:17,904 "It's set. Come in. 577 00:30:17,904 --> 00:30:19,028 Turn to Me. 578 00:30:19,028 --> 00:30:20,338 Turn away from your sins. 579 00:30:20,338 --> 00:30:21,518 Come in. 580 00:30:21,518 --> 00:30:25,512 I offer you such glories and riches in My Son 581 00:30:25,512 --> 00:30:27,709 that will overwhelm you, stagger you, 582 00:30:27,709 --> 00:30:29,525 they're outside of this world 583 00:30:29,525 --> 00:30:31,891 in its riches and its joy. 584 00:30:31,891 --> 00:30:35,042 My Son - you'll have Him. 585 00:30:35,042 --> 00:30:38,640 You'll have all the joys, all the pleasures - 586 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:42,287 pleasures forevermore at His right hand." 587 00:30:42,287 --> 00:30:43,707 Wake up! 588 00:30:43,707 --> 00:30:44,879 Don't tarry! 589 00:30:44,879 --> 00:30:46,158 Tarrying is deadly. 590 00:30:46,158 --> 00:30:47,615 The wrath of God is coming. 591 00:30:47,615 --> 00:30:51,304 That gigantic wave on that t.v. moving across 592 00:30:51,304 --> 00:30:52,568 is meant for you to see, 593 00:30:52,568 --> 00:30:54,165 there is another wave coming. 594 00:30:54,165 --> 00:30:55,926 Ephesians 5 says it. 595 00:30:55,926 --> 00:30:57,818 The wrath of God is coming. 596 00:30:57,818 --> 00:31:00,302 There is a wave we can't escape. 597 00:31:00,302 --> 00:31:01,179 It's coming. 598 00:31:01,179 --> 00:31:02,660 There's a storm coming. 599 00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:04,053 These are just glimpses. 600 00:31:04,053 --> 00:31:06,458 Wake up! Step down off your high horse. 601 00:31:06,458 --> 00:31:10,887 Stop your rebellion at once. 602 00:31:10,887 --> 00:31:14,263 To the Christian, 603 00:31:14,263 --> 00:31:18,842 this is a wake up call to us too. 604 00:31:18,842 --> 00:31:21,117 Sands of time are sinking. 605 00:31:21,117 --> 00:31:23,305 As the song says that we sing, 606 00:31:23,305 --> 00:31:25,747 "death is coming, hell is moving," 607 00:31:25,747 --> 00:31:27,962 Brethren, the masses are perishing. 608 00:31:27,962 --> 00:31:29,539 You may have heard this story. 609 00:31:29,539 --> 00:31:33,452 If you have, it bears repeating. 610 00:31:33,452 --> 00:31:37,461 D.L. Moody 611 00:31:37,461 --> 00:31:43,685 He basically constructed this two-part approach 612 00:31:43,685 --> 00:31:45,460 to this crowd. 613 00:31:45,460 --> 00:31:46,834 He came to this crowd. 614 00:31:46,834 --> 00:31:48,605 He delivered the first half of it 615 00:31:48,605 --> 00:31:55,907 meaning to bring the second part a week later. 616 00:31:55,907 --> 00:32:03,258 That week, God's judgment fell. 617 00:32:03,258 --> 00:32:07,145 And the fire, the great fire of Chicago, 618 00:32:07,145 --> 00:32:09,263 swept through. 619 00:32:09,263 --> 00:32:13,277 That crowd never gathered again. 620 00:32:13,277 --> 00:32:18,091 Moody learned a lesson. 621 00:32:18,091 --> 00:32:21,326 Brethren, we need to preach Christ now. 622 00:32:21,326 --> 00:32:23,507 We need to wake up. 623 00:32:23,507 --> 00:32:28,015 Listen, 624 00:32:28,015 --> 00:32:32,474 When you hear of wars and tumults, 625 00:32:32,474 --> 00:32:38,411 one, do not be terrified. 626 00:32:38,411 --> 00:32:40,597 My brothers and sisters, 627 00:32:40,597 --> 00:32:42,319 though the economies of the world 628 00:32:42,319 --> 00:32:44,666 shake and collapse and fall, 629 00:32:44,666 --> 00:32:48,953 though in all likelihood, America is diminishing 630 00:32:48,953 --> 00:32:53,559 it's greatness, it's grandeur in this world, 631 00:32:53,559 --> 00:32:55,045 don't be terrified. 632 00:32:55,045 --> 00:32:57,715 You hear of wars? 633 00:32:57,715 --> 00:33:00,748 Even when America gets their bubble burst, 634 00:33:00,748 --> 00:33:03,163 and these things set on our front door, 635 00:33:03,163 --> 00:33:05,596 don't be terrified. 636 00:33:05,596 --> 00:33:10,178 That's Jesus' words to you. 637 00:33:10,178 --> 00:33:12,886 "For these things must first take place, 638 00:33:12,886 --> 00:33:14,944 but the end will not be at once." 639 00:33:14,944 --> 00:33:15,980 Then He said to them, 640 00:33:15,980 --> 00:33:17,371 "Nation will rise against nation; kingdom against kingdom; 641 00:33:17,371 --> 00:33:19,870 there will be great earthquakes in various places; 642 00:33:19,870 --> 00:33:22,803 famines, pestilences; there will be terrors, great signs from heaven; 643 00:33:22,803 --> 00:33:25,054 before this, they will all lay their hands on you 644 00:33:25,054 --> 00:33:27,565 and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues, prisons. 645 00:33:27,565 --> 00:33:29,420 You will be brought before kings and governors 646 00:33:29,420 --> 00:33:31,029 for My name's sake. 647 00:33:31,029 --> 00:33:33,584 This will be your opportunity to bear witness." 648 00:33:33,584 --> 00:33:41,068 Now, I realize, that may be more local 649 00:33:41,068 --> 00:33:42,517 to what He just said, 650 00:33:42,517 --> 00:33:43,945 "When they lay hands on you, 651 00:33:43,945 --> 00:33:45,552 deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, 652 00:33:45,552 --> 00:33:48,031 you'll be brought before kings and governors - 653 00:33:48,031 --> 00:33:50,387 this will be your opportunity to bear witness." 654 00:33:50,387 --> 00:33:52,086 But brethren, I take that as a more 655 00:33:52,086 --> 00:33:54,227 overreaching statement here. 656 00:33:54,227 --> 00:33:56,179 When the tsunami comes, 657 00:33:56,179 --> 00:33:57,492 when the earthquake comes, 658 00:33:57,492 --> 00:34:00,609 when wars and rumors of wars come, 659 00:34:00,609 --> 00:34:04,341 brethren, this is your opportunity to witness. 660 00:34:04,341 --> 00:34:05,548 This is it. 661 00:34:05,548 --> 00:34:08,689 Take it, brethren. Take it. 662 00:34:08,689 --> 00:34:10,487 Don't you dare shy away 663 00:34:10,487 --> 00:34:14,386 and try to pawn off God as something that He is not. 664 00:34:14,386 --> 00:34:17,702 God is the God of the plagues. 665 00:34:17,702 --> 00:34:20,355 God is the God of the earthquake. 666 00:34:20,355 --> 00:34:23,609 God is the God of the tsunami. 667 00:34:23,609 --> 00:34:27,822 And they are meant to wake people up. 668 00:34:27,822 --> 00:34:31,566 Brethren, beseech them to come at once. 669 00:34:31,566 --> 00:34:35,048 Beseech them, call to them. 670 00:34:35,048 --> 00:34:37,495 Just one last word. 671 00:34:37,495 --> 00:34:39,723 It comes to us from Habakkuk. 672 00:34:39,723 --> 00:34:40,828 He had it right. 673 00:34:40,828 --> 00:34:42,319 There were terrors in his days. 674 00:34:42,319 --> 00:34:43,656 Judgment in his days. 675 00:34:43,656 --> 00:34:46,950 Listen, when God brings the judgments, 676 00:34:46,950 --> 00:34:55,131 Christian, Christ says don't be terrified. 677 00:34:55,131 --> 00:34:57,018 Let me tell you this: 678 00:34:57,018 --> 00:34:59,108 when that wave was coming, 679 00:34:59,108 --> 00:35:02,782 God's eyes were on every one of His people. 680 00:35:02,782 --> 00:35:07,758 And let me tell you this, 681 00:35:07,758 --> 00:35:12,444 every tsunami and every earthquake 682 00:35:12,444 --> 00:35:16,749 has to bow down to Romans 8:28. 683 00:35:16,749 --> 00:35:18,833 Every one of them! 684 00:35:18,833 --> 00:35:22,559 It will work for your good. 685 00:35:22,559 --> 00:35:24,670 Don't fear. 686 00:35:24,670 --> 00:35:28,127 He's got the hairs on your head numbered. 687 00:35:28,127 --> 00:35:31,740 You are precious in His sight. 688 00:35:31,740 --> 00:35:34,859 Things were bad in Habakkuk's day. 689 00:35:34,859 --> 00:35:35,815 But he said this, 690 00:35:35,815 --> 00:35:38,926 "Though the fig tree should not blossom, 691 00:35:38,926 --> 00:35:40,354 nor fruit be on the vines, 692 00:35:40,354 --> 00:35:41,871 the produce of the olive fail, 693 00:35:41,871 --> 00:35:44,744 the fields yield no food, 694 00:35:44,744 --> 00:35:46,812 the flock be cut off from the fold, 695 00:35:46,812 --> 00:35:49,219 there be no herd in the stalls; 696 00:35:49,219 --> 00:35:50,943 yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. 697 00:35:50,943 --> 00:35:54,329 I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 698 00:35:54,329 --> 00:35:56,646 God the Lord is my strength. 699 00:35:56,646 --> 00:35:59,153 He makes my feet like the deer's. 700 00:35:59,153 --> 00:36:03,782 He makes me tread on my high places." 701 00:36:03,782 --> 00:36:08,520 Brethren, let me just remind you. 702 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:10,524 The God of the plagues - 703 00:36:10,524 --> 00:36:15,832 when those ten plagues came upon Egypt, 704 00:36:15,832 --> 00:36:19,500 they never touched Israel. 705 00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:22,097 Whatever God sends in this world, 706 00:36:22,097 --> 00:36:24,814 as terrifying as it may seem, 707 00:36:24,814 --> 00:36:30,600 Jesus says, don't you be terrified. 708 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:34,343 Brethren, what's the worst case scenario? 709 00:36:34,343 --> 00:36:36,555 You lose your life and go to be with the Lord 710 00:36:36,555 --> 00:36:39,161 forever and forever and forever. 711 00:36:39,161 --> 00:36:41,551 And He wipes away every tear. 712 00:36:41,551 --> 00:36:43,665 That doesn't sound too bad. 713 00:36:43,665 --> 00:36:45,904 I mean, if a tsunami does that to you, 714 00:36:45,904 --> 00:36:49,244 are you going to complain? 715 00:36:49,244 --> 00:36:50,848 No more pain, no more sorrow, 716 00:36:50,848 --> 00:36:52,924 no more death... 717 00:36:52,924 --> 00:36:56,113 no more sin. 718 00:36:56,113 --> 00:36:58,150 And you get to see Him face to face 719 00:36:58,150 --> 00:37:00,235 and be like He is? 720 00:37:00,235 --> 00:37:01,954 If that's what a tsunami brings me, 721 00:37:01,954 --> 00:37:08,643 bring them on, right? 722 00:37:08,643 --> 00:37:11,236 To the Christian, 723 00:37:11,236 --> 00:37:13,237 Haggai 2:5 724 00:37:13,237 --> 00:37:16,430 "'According to the covenant that I made with you 725 00:37:16,430 --> 00:37:18,259 when you came out of Egypt, 726 00:37:18,259 --> 00:37:20,229 My Spirit remains in your midst. 727 00:37:20,229 --> 00:37:22,137 Fear not. 728 00:37:22,137 --> 00:37:24,332 For thus says the Lord of Hosts, 729 00:37:24,332 --> 00:37:26,333 yet once more, in a little while, 730 00:37:26,333 --> 00:37:28,939 I will shake the heavens and the earth, 731 00:37:28,939 --> 00:37:31,103 and the sea and the dry land. 732 00:37:31,103 --> 00:37:33,198 And I will shake all nations, 733 00:37:33,198 --> 00:37:35,243 so that the treasures of all nations 734 00:37:35,243 --> 00:37:36,749 shall come in, 735 00:37:36,749 --> 00:37:38,986 and I will fill this house with glory,' 736 00:37:38,986 --> 00:37:40,514 says the Lord of Hosts." 737 00:37:40,514 --> 00:37:42,680 In all this shaking, brethren, 738 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:44,631 He's filling the house. 739 00:37:44,631 --> 00:37:46,244 He's bringing them in. 740 00:37:46,244 --> 00:37:50,014 The riches of the Gentiles, of the nations, 741 00:37:50,014 --> 00:37:53,500 He's harvesting through all of it, brethren. 742 00:37:53,500 --> 00:37:54,508 Through all of it. 743 00:37:54,508 --> 00:37:56,532 I'll tell you this, 744 00:37:56,532 --> 00:37:58,751 when that tsunami lands on our front door, 745 00:37:58,751 --> 00:38:01,463 that's not time for you to hightail 746 00:38:01,463 --> 00:38:03,336 and act like the rest of the world. 747 00:38:03,336 --> 00:38:05,898 That is your opportunity to bear witness. 748 00:38:05,898 --> 00:38:10,273 That is opportunity to show love, 749 00:38:10,273 --> 00:38:11,787 to help others. 750 00:38:11,787 --> 00:38:14,440 When the catastrophe comes, 751 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:15,742 when the calamity falls, 752 00:38:15,742 --> 00:38:17,252 for us to rise up and show, 753 00:38:17,252 --> 00:38:19,116 we're not like the rest of the world. 754 00:38:19,116 --> 00:38:20,319 To seek to love people 755 00:38:20,319 --> 00:38:23,176 and to share our food and share our money. 756 00:38:23,176 --> 00:38:28,747 And to have a message of hope in the midst of all of it. 757 00:38:28,747 --> 00:38:31,698 "Oh, Israel, fear not. 758 00:38:31,698 --> 00:38:33,498 For I have redeemed you. 759 00:38:33,498 --> 00:38:36,655 I have called you by name. 760 00:38:36,655 --> 00:38:39,723 You are Mine." 761 00:38:39,723 --> 00:38:42,307 Brethren, His eye is on you for good. 762 00:38:42,307 --> 00:38:45,210 He sends His signs, yes. 763 00:38:45,210 --> 00:38:48,522 But you remember, 764 00:38:48,522 --> 00:38:52,536 they are all in submission to Him. 765 00:38:52,536 --> 00:38:55,847 And He's given you this massive promise. 766 00:38:55,847 --> 00:38:59,917 It all works out for your good. 767 00:38:59,917 --> 00:39:04,676 You belong to Him, you're called by Him? 768 00:39:04,676 --> 00:39:14,361 Everything in creation is subservient to that. 769 00:39:14,361 --> 00:39:17,041 Amen.