1 00:00:03,850 --> 00:00:06,290 Welcome to from the pulpit and classic sermons. 2 00:00:06,830 --> 00:00:08,450 Each week we bring you a different message 3 00:00:08,450 --> 00:00:10,450 from some of history's greatest speakers in the 4 00:00:10,450 --> 00:00:13,030 Christian faith and powerful sermons for modern preachers 5 00:00:13,030 --> 00:00:13,290 too. 6 00:00:13,510 --> 00:00:15,329 This week we have Billy Graham with his 7 00:00:15,329 --> 00:00:17,570 message the second coming of Christ. 8 00:00:18,310 --> 00:00:20,350 Now tonight I want you to turn with 9 00:00:20,350 --> 00:00:23,350 me to the 24th chapter of Matthew's gospel. 10 00:00:23,770 --> 00:00:27,410 The 24th chapter of Matthew's gospel beginning at 11 00:00:27,410 --> 00:00:28,070 verse 1. 12 00:00:29,290 --> 00:00:30,390 How many have your Bibles? 13 00:00:30,510 --> 00:00:31,070 Lift them up. 14 00:00:32,690 --> 00:00:33,990 Thousands of Bibles. 15 00:00:35,330 --> 00:00:37,670 The 24th chapter of Matthew's gospel. 16 00:00:38,070 --> 00:00:38,810 These words. 17 00:00:39,710 --> 00:00:42,070 And Jesus went out and departed from the 18 00:00:42,070 --> 00:00:45,730 temple and his disciples came to him for 19 00:00:45,730 --> 00:00:47,750 to show him the buildings of the temple. 20 00:00:48,570 --> 00:00:51,250 And Jesus said unto them, see ye not 21 00:00:51,250 --> 00:00:52,270 all these things? 22 00:00:53,010 --> 00:00:55,490 Verily I say unto you, there shall not 23 00:00:55,490 --> 00:00:58,990 be left here one stone upon another that 24 00:00:58,990 --> 00:01:00,510 shall not be thrown down. 25 00:01:01,470 --> 00:01:03,050 And as he sat on the Mount of 26 00:01:03,050 --> 00:01:06,870 Olives, the disciples came unto him privately saying. 27 00:01:07,590 --> 00:01:09,470 Now notice Jesus is sitting down. 28 00:01:10,190 --> 00:01:13,370 His disciples are coming to him privately and 29 00:01:13,370 --> 00:01:14,690 asking him this question. 30 00:01:15,630 --> 00:01:17,610 When shall these things be? 31 00:01:18,430 --> 00:01:21,050 And what shall be the sign of thy 32 00:01:21,050 --> 00:01:24,590 coming and the end of the age? 33 00:01:25,590 --> 00:01:28,590 Now these disciples had been led to believe 34 00:01:28,590 --> 00:01:31,750 that the world was coming to an end. 35 00:01:32,830 --> 00:01:34,630 They had been led to believe by the 36 00:01:34,630 --> 00:01:37,350 teachings of Jesus and by the Old Testament 37 00:01:37,350 --> 00:01:39,950 prophets that there was going to be an 38 00:01:39,950 --> 00:01:43,230 end to the age and that Christ was 39 00:01:43,230 --> 00:01:45,450 coming back to set up his kingdom. 40 00:01:46,710 --> 00:01:48,590 And so they're asking him about it. 41 00:01:49,270 --> 00:01:50,210 Here's his answer. 42 00:01:50,370 --> 00:01:51,550 Just a part of his answer. 43 00:01:52,850 --> 00:01:57,090 And Jesus answered and said unto them, take 44 00:01:57,090 --> 00:01:59,750 heed that no man deceive you. 45 00:02:00,190 --> 00:02:02,070 For many shall come in my name saying 46 00:02:02,070 --> 00:02:04,050 I'm Christ and shall deceive many. 47 00:02:04,650 --> 00:02:07,030 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors 48 00:02:07,030 --> 00:02:07,870 of wars. 49 00:02:08,810 --> 00:02:10,030 See that ye be not troubled. 50 00:02:10,630 --> 00:02:12,690 For all these must come to pass but 51 00:02:12,690 --> 00:02:13,870 the end is not yet. 52 00:02:14,810 --> 00:02:17,430 For nations shall rise against nation and kingdom 53 00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:20,130 against kingdom and there shall be famines and 54 00:02:20,130 --> 00:02:22,750 pestilences and earthquakes and diverse places. 55 00:02:23,650 --> 00:02:26,010 All these are just the beginning of sorrow. 56 00:02:26,730 --> 00:02:28,330 Then shall they deliver you up to be 57 00:02:28,330 --> 00:02:29,730 afflicted and shall kill you. 58 00:02:30,090 --> 00:02:32,370 And ye shall be hated of all nations 59 00:02:32,370 --> 00:02:33,470 for my name's sake. 60 00:02:34,050 --> 00:02:36,130 And then shall many be offended and shall 61 00:02:36,130 --> 00:02:38,730 betray one another and shall hate one another. 62 00:02:39,010 --> 00:02:41,390 And many false prophets shall rise and deceive 63 00:02:41,390 --> 00:02:41,750 many. 64 00:02:42,230 --> 00:02:45,150 And because iniquity shall abound the love of 65 00:02:45,150 --> 00:02:46,410 many shall wax cold. 66 00:02:47,130 --> 00:02:49,870 But he that shall endure unto the end 67 00:02:49,870 --> 00:02:51,970 the same shall be saved. 68 00:02:52,390 --> 00:02:56,010 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be 69 00:02:56,010 --> 00:02:58,430 preached in all the world for a witness 70 00:02:58,430 --> 00:02:59,630 unto all nations. 71 00:03:00,150 --> 00:03:02,970 And then shall the end come. 72 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,380 Every Bible expositor and every commentary that I've 73 00:03:08,380 --> 00:03:13,020 ever read in expounding this passage says that 74 00:03:13,020 --> 00:03:18,020 Jesus taught, that Jesus believed and he led 75 00:03:18,020 --> 00:03:22,220 the disciples to believe that someday at a 76 00:03:22,220 --> 00:03:25,100 point in history there would be an end 77 00:03:25,100 --> 00:03:27,900 of an age, an end of an era 78 00:03:27,900 --> 00:03:31,380 in which he would return to earth again. 79 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,320 And this has been the hope of the 80 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,320 church down through the century. 81 00:03:39,100 --> 00:03:41,140 When you say the Apostles' Creed in your 82 00:03:41,140 --> 00:03:43,780 church on Sunday as many churches did say 83 00:03:43,780 --> 00:03:49,620 it, we repeat that he's coming to judge 84 00:03:49,620 --> 00:03:51,560 the quick and the dead. 85 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,020 Every time you take communion you're remembering the 86 00:03:57,020 --> 00:04:01,360 Lord's death till he comes. 87 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,500 That's what communion is all about in the 88 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:04,800 church. 89 00:04:05,380 --> 00:04:07,400 We remember the day he died and shed 90 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,120 his blood but we're also remembering the day 91 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:13,380 that he's to come again. 92 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,040 That's what he said. 93 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,019 And if the Bible teaches anything it teaches 94 00:04:19,019 --> 00:04:21,480 that Jesus Christ is coming back. 95 00:04:22,740 --> 00:04:24,540 Now all the way through the Old Testament 96 00:04:24,540 --> 00:04:26,080 I could stand here for at least two 97 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,360 or three hours and just quote nothing but 98 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,480 scripture or read scriptures referring to the coming 99 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:32,420 again of Christ. 100 00:04:32,820 --> 00:04:34,600 When he's going to come in mighty power 101 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,360 and he's going to set up his kingdom. 102 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:43,520 In the New Testament it's taught in every 103 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:43,820 book. 104 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,320 Matthew for example likens Christ to a bridegroom 105 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:48,660 coming to receive his bride. 106 00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:51,560 Mark as a householder going on a long 107 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,860 journey and committing certain tasks to his servants 108 00:04:53,860 --> 00:04:54,820 until he returned. 109 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,820 Luke he is a nobleman going into a 110 00:04:57,820 --> 00:05:00,620 far country to transact certain business and leaving 111 00:05:00,620 --> 00:05:03,000 his possessions with his servants in order that 112 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,820 they might trade with them until he comes. 113 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,060 John quotes Christ is saying I go to 114 00:05:09,060 --> 00:05:10,560 prepare a place for you and if I 115 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,140 go to prepare a place for you I 116 00:05:12,140 --> 00:05:12,820 will come again. 117 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,420 In Romans we see him coming putting all 118 00:05:16,420 --> 00:05:17,600 things beneath his feet. 119 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,340 In 1st Corinthians Paul tells of the Lord's 120 00:05:20,340 --> 00:05:22,240 coming to awaken and raise the dead. 121 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,140 In 2nd Corinthians he tells about our new 122 00:05:25,140 --> 00:05:27,960 house when we will have a new tabernacle, 123 00:05:28,060 --> 00:05:28,620 a new body. 124 00:05:29,660 --> 00:05:32,400 Philippians says that our conversation is in heaven 125 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,000 from whence we look for the coming of 126 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:35,520 the Savior. 127 00:05:36,340 --> 00:05:38,480 Colossians says when Christ who is our life 128 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,720 shall appear then shall we also appear with 129 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:42,440 him in glory. 130 00:05:43,220 --> 00:05:45,740 1st Thessalonians tells us to wait for the 131 00:05:45,740 --> 00:05:46,460 Son from heaven. 132 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,500 2nd Thessalonians gives us the glorious picture of 133 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:51,980 Christ coming for his saints. 134 00:05:52,660 --> 00:05:54,700 Titus talks about the blessed hope. 135 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,440 James tells his readers to be patient unto 136 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,600 the coming of the Lord and all the 137 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,300 way through the scriptures the whole book of 138 00:06:02,300 --> 00:06:02,780 Revelation. 139 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,920 One book after another it's almost given entirely 140 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,640 to the discussion of the events surrounding the 141 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:13,740 coming again of Jesus Christ. 142 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,560 Now we're living at a very pessimistic period 143 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:18,060 of history. 144 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:20,800 I've had the privilege of talking to many 145 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,180 of our world leaders and I find them 146 00:06:23,180 --> 00:06:26,480 in private are very pessimistic about the world 147 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,720 situation at this moment. 148 00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:33,680 The world situation in my opinion from what 149 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,660 I know in my travels is getting darker 150 00:06:35,660 --> 00:06:38,120 and blacker and worse. 151 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,000 Whether you look at home or whether you 152 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:41,680 look abroad. 153 00:06:43,980 --> 00:06:46,700 Now the hope of the church down through 154 00:06:46,700 --> 00:06:51,520 the centuries has always been that Christ's prayer 155 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:56,100 in which he prayed, thy kingdom come, thy 156 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:57,900 will be done on earth as it is 157 00:06:57,900 --> 00:07:00,820 in heaven is someday going to be answered. 158 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,680 And we believe that it is far nearer 159 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,960 being answered at this moment in spite of 160 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,120 the pessimism than at any time in history. 161 00:07:13,660 --> 00:07:17,240 Because we are much nearer that climactic and 162 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:21,620 glorious event when Jesus Christ is going to 163 00:07:21,620 --> 00:07:24,680 come back and set up his kingdom. 164 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,700 Now the great question comes that the disciples 165 00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:32,700 asked, when is he going to come? 166 00:07:33,660 --> 00:07:35,640 They were wanting a specific date. 167 00:07:36,740 --> 00:07:38,440 What is going to be the sign of 168 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:38,920 your coming? 169 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,780 And Jesus told them in no uncertain terms 170 00:07:41,780 --> 00:07:43,760 that there were no dates. 171 00:07:44,700 --> 00:07:47,260 That he did not know the day nor 172 00:07:47,260 --> 00:07:47,760 the hour. 173 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,940 And he made it quite clear when he 174 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:53,700 said, but of the day and the hour 175 00:07:53,700 --> 00:07:54,600 knoweth no man. 176 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,040 No, not the angels of heaven, but my 177 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,780 father only. 178 00:08:00,300 --> 00:08:02,120 But he said I'll give you some signs 179 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:02,920 to look for. 180 00:08:03,460 --> 00:08:05,260 And when you see all of these signs 181 00:08:05,260 --> 00:08:07,860 taking place at the same time, you can 182 00:08:07,860 --> 00:08:11,560 know that my redemption is drawing nigh. 183 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:15,700 One of those signs was given in the 184 00:08:15,700 --> 00:08:16,880 passage I just read. 185 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:18,860 Many shall come in my name in those 186 00:08:18,860 --> 00:08:21,820 last days saying I'm the Christ and shall 187 00:08:21,820 --> 00:08:22,520 deceive many. 188 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:24,780 Now we have that today. 189 00:08:24,940 --> 00:08:26,820 This indicates a resurgence of religion. 190 00:08:27,860 --> 00:08:31,000 Here we have the greatest divorce statistics and 191 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,039 crime statistics in history. 192 00:08:34,580 --> 00:08:36,580 Problems sweeping the country. 193 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:41,100 Almost anarchy in some places because of crime. 194 00:08:42,700 --> 00:08:44,600 And yet we have the greatest resurgence of 195 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:46,200 religious interest in American history. 196 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:47,680 What a paradox! 197 00:08:48,940 --> 00:08:49,900 What is happening? 198 00:08:51,180 --> 00:08:54,100 Our religious revival hasn't gone deep enough. 199 00:08:54,980 --> 00:08:58,620 And we have many people that profess Christ. 200 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,800 Outwardly they say they believe in Christ, but 201 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:02,940 they're not living for it. 202 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:08,110 Many shall come in my name and many 203 00:09:08,110 --> 00:09:09,450 people will be deceived. 204 00:09:13,410 --> 00:09:17,050 And then secondly, he said ye shall hear 205 00:09:17,050 --> 00:09:18,870 of wars and rumors of wars. 206 00:09:19,130 --> 00:09:20,910 Kingdoms rising against kingdoms. 207 00:09:21,270 --> 00:09:24,010 Now this carries with it the idea that 208 00:09:24,010 --> 00:09:27,770 allies joined together by treaty will fight other 209 00:09:27,770 --> 00:09:29,870 allies joined together by treaty. 210 00:09:30,050 --> 00:09:32,230 Kingdoms fighting against kingdoms. 211 00:09:33,230 --> 00:09:36,390 Now this prophecy was fulfilled in the First 212 00:09:36,390 --> 00:09:37,050 World War. 213 00:09:38,110 --> 00:09:40,250 It was even more than fulfilled in the 214 00:09:40,250 --> 00:09:42,650 Second World War because for the first time 215 00:09:42,650 --> 00:09:45,950 we had war on an international scale that 216 00:09:45,950 --> 00:09:47,270 engulfed the whole world. 217 00:09:47,590 --> 00:09:50,370 Now Jesus said as we move toward the 218 00:09:50,370 --> 00:09:52,990 end of history, wars will increase. 219 00:09:54,190 --> 00:09:57,110 That's the reason the United Nations with all 220 00:09:57,110 --> 00:10:00,910 of its good intentions will not bring permanent 221 00:10:00,910 --> 00:10:01,390 peace. 222 00:10:01,650 --> 00:10:02,950 I'm for the United Nations. 223 00:10:03,350 --> 00:10:04,890 I believe we should work for peace. 224 00:10:05,190 --> 00:10:06,870 The Bible tells us we should pray for 225 00:10:06,870 --> 00:10:07,110 peace. 226 00:10:07,210 --> 00:10:08,030 We should work for it. 227 00:10:08,150 --> 00:10:10,310 But the Bible says as long as the 228 00:10:10,310 --> 00:10:13,150 heart of man is sinful, as long as 229 00:10:13,150 --> 00:10:16,050 there's wickedness in hate and lust and greed 230 00:10:16,050 --> 00:10:17,910 in the human heart, there's going to be 231 00:10:17,910 --> 00:10:18,310 war. 232 00:10:19,730 --> 00:10:23,450 You are not going to eliminate war by 233 00:10:23,450 --> 00:10:27,810 scheme and planning as much as we would 234 00:10:27,810 --> 00:10:29,130 like to think it'll be eliminated. 235 00:10:29,830 --> 00:10:32,210 As long as man has hate and greed 236 00:10:32,210 --> 00:10:33,970 in his heart, there will be war in 237 00:10:33,970 --> 00:10:34,350 the world. 238 00:10:34,570 --> 00:10:36,270 And as long as there's one man in 239 00:10:36,270 --> 00:10:37,670 the world that has hate in his heart, 240 00:10:38,290 --> 00:10:42,630 there's the terrifying possibility that hydrogen bombs may 241 00:10:42,630 --> 00:10:43,010 fall. 242 00:10:44,090 --> 00:10:47,810 Now Jesus said when war becomes that intense 243 00:10:47,810 --> 00:10:52,550 and that worldwide scale, this is a sign 244 00:10:52,550 --> 00:10:56,290 that his coming is relatively near. 245 00:10:57,210 --> 00:11:00,190 And then another one, the third one, and 246 00:11:00,190 --> 00:11:02,810 then shall many be offended and shall betray 247 00:11:02,810 --> 00:11:05,270 one another and shall hate one another. 248 00:11:06,230 --> 00:11:12,460 And this indicates psychiatric problems. 249 00:11:15,210 --> 00:11:17,190 This indicates mental problems. 250 00:11:18,750 --> 00:11:20,330 This indicates instability. 251 00:11:22,270 --> 00:11:24,190 Psychiatry today is having a field day. 252 00:11:25,690 --> 00:11:28,270 Almost everyone to be fashionable today has to 253 00:11:28,270 --> 00:11:29,450 have his own psychiatry. 254 00:11:30,630 --> 00:11:32,670 And did you know, I did not know 255 00:11:32,670 --> 00:11:35,470 this until we had a dog. 256 00:11:36,390 --> 00:11:39,310 And our dog, this particular dog, he was 257 00:11:39,310 --> 00:11:40,950 a Great Dane, had a nervous breakdown. 258 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,000 Now I never knew dogs had a nervous 259 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:45,500 breakdown. 260 00:11:45,820 --> 00:11:47,760 Stuart Hamlin is an authority on dogs. 261 00:11:48,540 --> 00:11:51,780 And they suggested that we send that dog 262 00:11:51,780 --> 00:11:54,500 to New York where they had a dog 263 00:11:54,500 --> 00:11:55,220 psychiatrist. 264 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:57,980 Now that's a fact. 265 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,320 I didn't know that before. 266 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,620 Even the dogs are feeling the tenseness of 267 00:12:03,620 --> 00:12:04,820 the times in which we live. 268 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,320 We have millions of Americans today that are 269 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:13,100 mentally ill. 270 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,520 And Jesus said when this tension begins to 271 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,860 break you down and you betray one another, 272 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,340 many shall be offended. 273 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,320 He said this is also a sign that 274 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,740 my coming is drawing nigh. 275 00:12:30,660 --> 00:12:33,200 The fourth thing that he said, he said, 276 00:12:33,340 --> 00:12:34,920 is in the days of Noah so shall 277 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:36,260 it be also in the day of the 278 00:12:36,260 --> 00:12:37,480 coming of the Son of Man. 279 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,680 In this passage, Jesus said they were eating 280 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:45,140 and drinking and making merry and marrying and 281 00:12:45,140 --> 00:12:45,960 giving in marriage. 282 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:47,760 Now in other words, he said they were 283 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,180 exchanging wives. 284 00:12:49,980 --> 00:12:53,000 This indicates divorce on a massive scale. 285 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:55,380 There has never been a breakdown of a 286 00:12:55,380 --> 00:12:58,220 home such as we have today, nor has 287 00:12:58,220 --> 00:13:01,140 there been a greater emphasis on sex than 288 00:13:01,140 --> 00:13:01,860 we have today. 289 00:13:02,740 --> 00:13:05,220 And Jesus said when it is on a 290 00:13:05,220 --> 00:13:11,740 worldwide scale and it's intensifying and increasing, an 291 00:13:11,740 --> 00:13:17,700 unnatural obsession with sex, Jesus said that brings 292 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:20,520 pressure upon the home, the moral problem. 293 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,260 And it's not only in the United States, 294 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:23,900 it's in Europe. 295 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:26,020 It's all over the world. 296 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,580 Jesus said this would be an indication that 297 00:13:30,580 --> 00:13:33,200 the end is not far away. 298 00:13:35,260 --> 00:13:38,200 And then fifthly, Jesus said and this gospel 299 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,620 of the kingdom shall be preached in the 300 00:13:40,620 --> 00:13:43,700 world for a witness unto all nations and 301 00:13:43,700 --> 00:13:45,000 then shall the end come. 302 00:13:45,060 --> 00:13:45,940 Think of that for a moment. 303 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:51,240 Jesus said just before the end the gospel 304 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,780 will be preached for the first time in 305 00:13:53,780 --> 00:13:58,580 the whole world up until 1500 AD. 306 00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:03,420 Now that was only 400 years ago, 450 307 00:14:03,420 --> 00:14:04,280 years ago. 308 00:14:04,660 --> 00:14:07,480 The Bible had been printed in only 14 309 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,100 languages of the world. 310 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:14,560 Today, a portion of the Bible is in 311 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:18,280 over 1,300 languages and there's nowhere in 312 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,640 the world that you can't get the gospel 313 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:21,360 by radio. 314 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:26,100 Radio and modern communications have now made it 315 00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:28,100 possible to preach the gospel to the whole 316 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:28,380 world. 317 00:14:28,460 --> 00:14:32,340 Right tonight, I'm giving this message to more 318 00:14:32,340 --> 00:14:35,800 people than all the Apostles and all the 319 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,780 Christians of the first century put together. 320 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,100 Think of it, in one night, by television, 321 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,240 by radio, I am able to preach to 322 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,280 more people than all the Christians in the 323 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:48,440 first century put together. 324 00:14:49,420 --> 00:14:50,060 Fantastic! 325 00:14:50,660 --> 00:14:52,400 Jesus said there would come a time in 326 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,620 history and if you had said that 500 327 00:14:56,620 --> 00:14:58,200 years ago, they would have laughed. 328 00:15:00,570 --> 00:15:03,890 And yet it's happening today, for the first 329 00:15:03,890 --> 00:15:04,350 time. 330 00:15:05,950 --> 00:15:08,250 Now there's another sign that is given us 331 00:15:08,250 --> 00:15:10,930 in the New Testament because Paul talked a 332 00:15:10,930 --> 00:15:13,810 great deal and the other Apostles about the 333 00:15:13,810 --> 00:15:16,130 end and about the coming again of Christ. 334 00:15:17,330 --> 00:15:19,990 It says, now the Spirit speaketh expressly that 335 00:15:19,990 --> 00:15:22,710 in the latter times some shall depart from 336 00:15:22,710 --> 00:15:25,310 the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and 337 00:15:25,310 --> 00:15:26,890 doctrines of devils. 338 00:15:29,070 --> 00:15:30,670 In other words, there's going to be a 339 00:15:30,670 --> 00:15:33,730 falling away from the faith. 340 00:15:34,850 --> 00:15:43,210 Christians who had professed Christ falling away, either 341 00:15:43,210 --> 00:15:46,490 intellectually, theologically, or morally. 342 00:15:47,650 --> 00:15:52,270 And every day we hear stories of people 343 00:15:52,270 --> 00:15:55,830 who are falling by the wayside under the 344 00:15:55,830 --> 00:16:01,080 impact of satanic power. 345 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:03,840 Moral failures! 346 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,360 Falling away from the faith they once held. 347 00:16:10,990 --> 00:16:14,630 And even men who preach the gospel who 348 00:16:14,630 --> 00:16:15,450 deny the Bible. 349 00:16:16,970 --> 00:16:19,050 I read about a preacher the other day 350 00:16:19,050 --> 00:16:21,570 in England who said that the Bible is 351 00:16:21,570 --> 00:16:23,870 the greatest stumbling block to world brotherhood. 352 00:16:24,450 --> 00:16:26,170 Let's do away with the Bible, he said. 353 00:16:26,530 --> 00:16:27,970 It was in the New York Times this 354 00:16:27,970 --> 00:16:28,510 past week. 355 00:16:28,610 --> 00:16:30,310 I could hardly believe it when I read 356 00:16:30,310 --> 00:16:30,590 it. 357 00:16:31,530 --> 00:16:32,290 Falling away! 358 00:16:32,570 --> 00:16:37,050 Jesus said when that takes place it's a 359 00:16:37,050 --> 00:16:39,670 sign that the end is near. 360 00:16:42,470 --> 00:16:48,430 And then the scripture talks about a worldwide 361 00:16:48,430 --> 00:16:49,150 lawlessness. 362 00:16:49,450 --> 00:16:51,270 Listen to this, this know also that in 363 00:16:51,270 --> 00:16:53,790 the last days perilous times shall come for 364 00:16:53,790 --> 00:16:55,650 men shall be lovers of their own selves, 365 00:16:55,770 --> 00:17:00,190 covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, 366 00:17:00,330 --> 00:17:04,109 unholy, without natural affection, truth-breakers, false accusers, 367 00:17:04,510 --> 00:17:07,329 fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, 368 00:17:07,550 --> 00:17:09,890 heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than 369 00:17:09,890 --> 00:17:12,290 lovers of God, having a form of godliness 370 00:17:12,290 --> 00:17:15,109 but denying the power thereof from such turn 371 00:17:15,109 --> 00:17:15,369 away. 372 00:17:17,089 --> 00:17:19,450 He said in the last days all of 373 00:17:19,450 --> 00:17:21,970 that would be characteristic of that generation. 374 00:17:23,550 --> 00:17:26,030 And it sounds like you're reading a newspaper 375 00:17:26,030 --> 00:17:33,050 or a sociologist of the 20th century describing 376 00:17:33,050 --> 00:17:35,270 the problems we face today. 377 00:17:37,510 --> 00:17:39,430 And then the scripture says in 2nd Peter 378 00:17:39,430 --> 00:17:41,030 that in the last days there would be 379 00:17:41,030 --> 00:17:41,490 scoffers. 380 00:17:41,650 --> 00:17:43,470 There shall come in the last days scoffers 381 00:17:43,470 --> 00:17:45,590 saying where is the promise of his coming? 382 00:17:45,970 --> 00:17:47,950 For since the fathers fell asleep all things 383 00:17:47,950 --> 00:17:49,730 continue as they were from the beginning of 384 00:17:49,730 --> 00:17:50,210 creation. 385 00:17:51,550 --> 00:17:54,070 And we have those scoffers today coming along. 386 00:17:55,010 --> 00:17:56,810 They say why Christ is not coming. 387 00:17:56,930 --> 00:17:58,910 That's a fantastic thing to be telling the 388 00:17:58,910 --> 00:17:59,210 people. 389 00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:01,970 Why 2,000 years have passed, Christ hasn't 390 00:18:01,970 --> 00:18:02,250 come. 391 00:18:03,530 --> 00:18:05,910 That's what Peter said they'd be saying. 392 00:18:06,570 --> 00:18:09,770 He said as you approach the end and 393 00:18:09,770 --> 00:18:12,150 all the signs are evident that Christ's coming 394 00:18:12,150 --> 00:18:16,990 is near, there would be scoffers who would 395 00:18:16,990 --> 00:18:19,370 say why everything's continued since he left here. 396 00:18:20,850 --> 00:18:23,810 He hasn't come so we assume that he's 397 00:18:23,810 --> 00:18:24,330 not coming. 398 00:18:24,490 --> 00:18:25,770 We've misinterpreted the scriptures. 399 00:18:25,950 --> 00:18:27,150 We've misinterpreted the Bible. 400 00:18:28,610 --> 00:18:29,710 Now he's coming. 401 00:18:30,390 --> 00:18:32,290 The scripture says he's coming. 402 00:18:32,590 --> 00:18:34,750 Every time we take communion we say he's 403 00:18:34,750 --> 00:18:35,010 coming. 404 00:18:35,130 --> 00:18:37,510 Every time we repeat the Apostles Creed we 405 00:18:37,510 --> 00:18:38,310 say he's coming. 406 00:18:39,230 --> 00:18:39,970 He's coming! 407 00:18:40,330 --> 00:18:43,710 And the signs point to the fact that 408 00:18:43,710 --> 00:18:46,090 it may be near, though we do not 409 00:18:46,090 --> 00:18:47,890 know the day nor the hour. 410 00:18:48,690 --> 00:18:50,790 And the Bible says that when he comes 411 00:18:50,790 --> 00:18:55,590 we Christians will not be expecting him. 412 00:18:56,470 --> 00:18:58,850 Therefore be ye also ready for in such 413 00:18:58,850 --> 00:19:01,570 an hour as ye think not the Son 414 00:19:01,570 --> 00:19:02,370 of Man coming. 415 00:19:02,650 --> 00:19:03,730 Do you think he's coming tonight? 416 00:19:05,310 --> 00:19:06,770 All right he said in such an hour 417 00:19:06,770 --> 00:19:07,850 as you think not he's coming. 418 00:19:10,700 --> 00:19:12,740 And then the scripture says that in the 419 00:19:12,740 --> 00:19:15,380 latter days travel and knowledge would increase. 420 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:16,700 I could go on and on and on. 421 00:19:16,780 --> 00:19:19,740 I have listed about 32 things but I 422 00:19:19,740 --> 00:19:20,940 can only get to a few of them 423 00:19:20,940 --> 00:19:21,260 tonight. 424 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,820 But thou O Daniel shut up the words 425 00:19:24,820 --> 00:19:27,540 and see the book even in the time 426 00:19:27,540 --> 00:19:29,340 of the end many shall run to and 427 00:19:29,340 --> 00:19:31,640 fro and knowledge shall be increased. 428 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:34,440 As we approach the end the prophet Daniel 429 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,560 said hundreds of years before Christ that knowledge 430 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,280 would increase and travel would increase. 431 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:46,810 A hundred years ago my grandfather was living. 432 00:19:47,550 --> 00:19:48,350 He fought. 433 00:19:48,650 --> 00:19:50,530 Both of my grandfathers fought in the Civil 434 00:19:50,530 --> 00:19:50,930 War. 435 00:19:53,220 --> 00:19:55,020 If I had told my, if I could 436 00:19:55,020 --> 00:19:57,640 rise and tell my grandfather at that time, 437 00:19:58,380 --> 00:20:01,740 grandfather someday men will be flying through the 438 00:20:01,740 --> 00:20:04,280 air at 2,000 miles an hour they 439 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,540 would have put me in a mental institution. 440 00:20:08,830 --> 00:20:09,370 That's right. 441 00:20:10,590 --> 00:20:13,450 Because men in those days were still traveling 442 00:20:13,450 --> 00:20:17,790 almost with very little acceleration the same as 443 00:20:17,790 --> 00:20:19,250 they've traveled for hundreds of years. 444 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:24,520 Travel increasing. 445 00:20:24,820 --> 00:20:26,300 How did Daniel know about that? 446 00:20:26,380 --> 00:20:28,180 How did he know that someday there would 447 00:20:28,180 --> 00:20:30,260 be an acceleration of travel? 448 00:20:30,620 --> 00:20:33,300 Why if you had told me when I 449 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:34,780 was a boy that I could sit at 450 00:20:34,780 --> 00:20:36,680 home and look at a screen in my 451 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,320 home and that somewhere in the airways they'd 452 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,580 pull pictures out that talked I would have 453 00:20:41,580 --> 00:20:42,660 thought you were crazy. 454 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:45,720 Just the change in my lifetime. 455 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:51,680 I played golf today with Freeman Gosden who 456 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:52,740 played Amos and Andy. 457 00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:54,060 You remember? 458 00:20:54,900 --> 00:20:57,360 I remember when my father got us the 459 00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:01,760 first crystal set at home way back in 460 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,800 the early 1920s and I remember that we 461 00:21:05,340 --> 00:21:07,560 fixed it and then we got earphones and 462 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,640 listened to KDKA in Pittsburgh and there was 463 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:11,420 Amos and Andy. 464 00:21:13,770 --> 00:21:15,230 Why it was the greatest thing in the 465 00:21:15,230 --> 00:21:18,350 world to be able to listen all the 466 00:21:18,350 --> 00:21:20,290 way to Pittsburgh from North Carolina. 467 00:21:23,710 --> 00:21:25,650 When I tell my children that they they 468 00:21:25,650 --> 00:21:26,690 want me to drop dead. 469 00:21:28,870 --> 00:21:30,390 They think I'm ancient. 470 00:21:34,430 --> 00:21:36,490 Why my children have never known a day 471 00:21:36,490 --> 00:21:40,070 when they didn't have television and they can't 472 00:21:40,070 --> 00:21:42,910 imagine the ancient world where there was no 473 00:21:42,910 --> 00:21:43,270 TV. 474 00:21:50,460 --> 00:21:51,620 There are so many things. 475 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:55,640 I could spend all evening just talking about 476 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,060 Israel and the Jews. 477 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:00,740 God's timepiece. 478 00:22:01,660 --> 00:22:05,260 This wonderful magnificent people chosen of God. 479 00:22:07,060 --> 00:22:11,040 Their country destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar 480 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,700 and the Bible all the way through from 481 00:22:13,700 --> 00:22:16,040 one end to the other in scores of 482 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,840 scriptures predicted there would come a day when 483 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,020 they would be gathered from all over the 484 00:22:21,020 --> 00:22:23,500 world back to their own land and in 485 00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:27,780 1948 when President Truman recognized Israel as a 486 00:22:27,780 --> 00:22:30,620 state and the United Nations declared it as 487 00:22:30,620 --> 00:22:35,650 a state for the first time in 2 488 00:22:35,650 --> 00:22:39,330 ,500 years and the Bible had predicted that 489 00:22:39,330 --> 00:22:42,010 these people only 13 million in the whole 490 00:22:42,010 --> 00:22:44,830 world scattered in the whole world would be 491 00:22:44,830 --> 00:22:46,390 drawn back to their own land. 492 00:22:47,850 --> 00:22:51,750 How amazing, how wonderful and everything we study 493 00:22:51,750 --> 00:22:53,170 in the scriptures the same way. 494 00:22:55,210 --> 00:22:57,190 Then Jesus said they'll come a day toward 495 00:22:57,190 --> 00:22:57,670 the end. 496 00:22:58,170 --> 00:22:59,410 In Luke he said this. 497 00:23:00,270 --> 00:23:02,930 Upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, 498 00:23:03,030 --> 00:23:05,430 men's hearts failing them for fear and looking 499 00:23:05,430 --> 00:23:07,150 after those things coming on the earth. 500 00:23:08,030 --> 00:23:09,910 He said there will come a day when 501 00:23:09,910 --> 00:23:12,870 men's hearts are literally going to fail them 502 00:23:12,870 --> 00:23:13,710 because of fear. 503 00:23:14,030 --> 00:23:15,690 Now what could make a man that afraid? 504 00:23:17,230 --> 00:23:18,070 Hydrogen bomb? 505 00:23:20,610 --> 00:23:22,030 On a world scale? 506 00:23:22,830 --> 00:23:24,770 Or we could take 2 Peter the third 507 00:23:24,770 --> 00:23:27,090 chapter where it talks about the elements being 508 00:23:27,090 --> 00:23:28,990 melted with a fervent heat and everybody laughed 509 00:23:28,990 --> 00:23:31,350 at that passage until the first atomic bomb 510 00:23:31,350 --> 00:23:31,630 fell. 511 00:23:35,130 --> 00:23:36,830 And then the Bible says that as we 512 00:23:36,830 --> 00:23:40,150 approach the end there will be the development 513 00:23:40,150 --> 00:23:44,030 of the spirit of Antichrist and toward the 514 00:23:44,030 --> 00:23:48,530 end and at the end this satanic power 515 00:23:48,530 --> 00:23:51,010 will be centered in a person. 516 00:23:51,550 --> 00:23:53,670 Let no man deceive you by any means 517 00:23:53,670 --> 00:23:55,810 for that day shall not come except their 518 00:23:55,810 --> 00:23:58,090 coming or falling away first and that man 519 00:23:58,090 --> 00:24:00,970 of sin revealed the son of perdition. 520 00:24:01,370 --> 00:24:03,690 The Bible says there's coming a day when 521 00:24:03,690 --> 00:24:05,190 the Holy Spirit who is now in the 522 00:24:05,190 --> 00:24:08,550 world will be withdrawn and the forces of 523 00:24:08,550 --> 00:24:11,510 evil will take over the entire world and 524 00:24:11,510 --> 00:24:15,850 Antichrist will appear and there will be persecution 525 00:24:15,850 --> 00:24:18,250 and suffering such as the world has never 526 00:24:18,250 --> 00:24:18,650 known. 527 00:24:19,590 --> 00:24:22,810 But then the Bible says that will set 528 00:24:22,810 --> 00:24:25,890 the stage in a short time for Christ's 529 00:24:25,890 --> 00:24:26,110 coming. 530 00:24:26,390 --> 00:24:29,690 But before that day happens we believe that 531 00:24:29,690 --> 00:24:32,410 every person in Jesus Christ is going to 532 00:24:32,410 --> 00:24:33,830 be caught in the air to meet him. 533 00:24:35,430 --> 00:24:37,510 What a glorious day that's going to be. 534 00:24:38,430 --> 00:24:39,710 I'm looking for him anytime. 535 00:24:41,210 --> 00:24:43,590 You see he says that the dead in 536 00:24:43,590 --> 00:24:45,090 Christ are going to rise first. 537 00:24:46,490 --> 00:24:48,530 Then we which are alive and remain shall 538 00:24:48,530 --> 00:24:50,830 be caught up together in the clouds. 539 00:24:51,850 --> 00:24:53,490 What a glorious hope that is. 540 00:24:53,750 --> 00:24:55,450 This is the hope of the church and 541 00:24:55,450 --> 00:24:56,830 this is what we ought to be preaching. 542 00:24:57,770 --> 00:24:59,810 That God has a plan for the future. 543 00:25:00,170 --> 00:25:02,770 That history is not wandering around purposelessly. 544 00:25:03,250 --> 00:25:04,710 There's a plan, there's a program. 545 00:25:07,670 --> 00:25:09,930 And that plan and program is that Christ 546 00:25:09,930 --> 00:25:11,650 shall reign as king of kings and Lord 547 00:25:11,650 --> 00:25:12,030 of lords. 548 00:25:13,310 --> 00:25:15,170 And of his kingdom there shall be no 549 00:25:15,170 --> 00:25:15,390 end. 550 00:25:16,930 --> 00:25:18,810 And that you and I, if we are 551 00:25:18,810 --> 00:25:21,870 believers in Christ, if we've received him, we're 552 00:25:21,870 --> 00:25:23,370 going to be a part of that kingdom. 553 00:25:25,270 --> 00:25:27,190 Yes the world is going to know peace. 554 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:31,480 The dream that Martin Luther King talked about 555 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,960 in the March on Washington is going to 556 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,540 come true someday, but not by the efforts 557 00:25:37,540 --> 00:25:40,620 of man alone, but by the coming of 558 00:25:40,620 --> 00:25:41,040 Christ. 559 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,560 When Christ shall set up his kingdom, then 560 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:47,320 we will have world brotherhood. 561 00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:50,420 Then there will be no more war or 562 00:25:50,420 --> 00:25:50,760 suffering. 563 00:25:51,380 --> 00:25:52,960 What a world it's going to be. 564 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,600 And you and I in Christ are going 565 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:56,600 to be in that world. 566 00:25:59,050 --> 00:26:01,850 And the Christian is silent on the very 567 00:26:01,850 --> 00:26:03,910 point that he ought to be preaching on. 568 00:26:05,710 --> 00:26:08,530 And it's the fact that Jesus Christ is 569 00:26:08,530 --> 00:26:09,790 going to set up a kingdom. 570 00:26:10,890 --> 00:26:14,630 And that kingdom will be the time when 571 00:26:14,630 --> 00:26:16,030 there will be permanent peace. 572 00:26:17,410 --> 00:26:20,670 And Christ will be the king of kings 573 00:26:20,670 --> 00:26:21,510 and Lord of lords. 574 00:26:23,010 --> 00:26:25,510 Now for those people who reject Christ and 575 00:26:25,510 --> 00:26:26,970 turn away from Christ, it's going to be 576 00:26:26,970 --> 00:26:28,190 a terrible time of judgment. 577 00:26:29,370 --> 00:26:31,290 But to those that have received him, those 578 00:26:31,290 --> 00:26:33,330 that have been born again, those that have 579 00:26:33,330 --> 00:26:35,130 Christ in their hearts, it's going to be 580 00:26:35,130 --> 00:26:36,170 a glorious time. 581 00:26:36,450 --> 00:26:39,730 Now Christ, the Scriptures indicate that when you 582 00:26:39,730 --> 00:26:42,430 receive Christ you may have suffering for the 583 00:26:42,430 --> 00:26:43,710 rest of your time down here. 584 00:26:43,930 --> 00:26:45,630 Now let's say you have another five years 585 00:26:45,630 --> 00:26:46,930 to live, or ten years to live, or 586 00:26:46,930 --> 00:26:47,690 twenty years to live. 587 00:26:49,570 --> 00:26:51,670 Now the Bible says you may have suffering, 588 00:26:52,150 --> 00:26:55,950 there may be persecution, misunderstanding, troubles and difficulties, 589 00:26:56,310 --> 00:26:58,190 but his peace and his joy and his 590 00:26:58,190 --> 00:26:59,250 power will be yours. 591 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:07,700 But he says, I have not seen nor 592 00:27:07,700 --> 00:27:10,900 heard, neither has it entered into the heart 593 00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:16,620 what God has prepared for them that know 594 00:27:16,620 --> 00:27:16,880 him. 595 00:27:18,750 --> 00:27:19,950 Are you ready to meet him? 596 00:27:20,770 --> 00:27:22,910 The Scripture says there are three things. 597 00:27:24,110 --> 00:27:25,490 First we should watch. 598 00:27:26,070 --> 00:27:28,190 He said watch therefore for ye know not 599 00:27:28,190 --> 00:27:29,370 what hour your Lord cometh. 600 00:27:29,530 --> 00:27:30,910 Are you watching for his coming? 601 00:27:31,350 --> 00:27:34,270 Secondly, we are to purify ourselves. 602 00:27:34,590 --> 00:27:36,370 This means that we have to live clean 603 00:27:36,370 --> 00:27:36,870 lives. 604 00:27:38,290 --> 00:27:40,190 And if there's sin in your life, come 605 00:27:40,190 --> 00:27:42,630 to Christ tonight, let him cleanse it and 606 00:27:42,630 --> 00:27:45,250 wash it away and be purified by his 607 00:27:45,250 --> 00:27:45,610 blood. 608 00:27:46,590 --> 00:27:49,450 And thirdly, the Scripture says prepare, therefore be 609 00:27:49,450 --> 00:27:49,990 ye ready. 610 00:27:50,990 --> 00:27:51,730 Are you ready? 611 00:27:52,790 --> 00:27:54,330 Prepare to meet thy God. 612 00:27:54,490 --> 00:27:55,970 If you are not prepared to meet God, 613 00:27:56,070 --> 00:27:56,710 prepare tonight. 614 00:27:56,870 --> 00:27:58,030 You say, what do I have to do 615 00:27:58,030 --> 00:27:58,430 to prepare? 616 00:27:59,750 --> 00:28:02,070 First, repent of your sin. 617 00:28:04,770 --> 00:28:06,770 Secondly, by faith receive him. 618 00:28:07,090 --> 00:28:08,350 You say, how long does that take? 619 00:28:09,050 --> 00:28:11,570 You can do it that quick by making 620 00:28:11,570 --> 00:28:13,630 a decision in your heart right now to 621 00:28:13,630 --> 00:28:14,190 receive him. 622 00:28:15,150 --> 00:28:16,930 It means that you are willing to turn 623 00:28:16,930 --> 00:28:19,190 from your sins and receive him as your 624 00:28:19,190 --> 00:28:20,990 own Lord, Master and Savior. 625 00:28:21,710 --> 00:28:23,370 And you can do it right tonight, right 626 00:28:23,370 --> 00:28:24,410 here and be ready. 627 00:28:25,610 --> 00:28:27,150 And you say, Lord I want you to 628 00:28:27,150 --> 00:28:28,390 lead and direct in my life. 629 00:28:29,510 --> 00:28:31,190 I want you to have all of me. 630 00:28:32,110 --> 00:28:34,170 And if you say that, and if you 631 00:28:34,170 --> 00:28:36,010 make that commitment and you want to be 632 00:28:36,010 --> 00:28:38,050 prepared and you're not sure that you're ready, 633 00:28:38,730 --> 00:28:40,610 you're not certain that you know Christ for 634 00:28:40,610 --> 00:28:40,910 yourself. 635 00:28:41,030 --> 00:28:42,010 Now you may be a member of the 636 00:28:42,010 --> 00:28:45,830 church, but you're not sure that you know 637 00:28:45,830 --> 00:28:46,930 Christ for yourself. 638 00:28:47,090 --> 00:28:48,850 You haven't had a real encounter with him. 639 00:28:49,990 --> 00:28:51,670 I'm going to ask you to come and 640 00:28:51,670 --> 00:28:53,970 receive him tonight and say, Lord I'm stepping 641 00:28:53,970 --> 00:28:55,430 out on Jesus side. 642 00:28:56,110 --> 00:28:57,830 I want to be in his kingdom and 643 00:28:57,830 --> 00:29:01,730 I'm willing, if necessary, to suffer here in 644 00:29:01,730 --> 00:29:03,370 order to share the glory there. 645 00:29:04,950 --> 00:29:07,050 I'm willing to be his witness and his 646 00:29:07,050 --> 00:29:09,270 servant here in order to share the glory 647 00:29:09,270 --> 00:29:09,670 there. 648 00:29:10,650 --> 00:29:12,130 Now you have to come by faith. 649 00:29:13,350 --> 00:29:14,830 You can't reason all this out. 650 00:29:14,970 --> 00:29:18,070 Some of it sounds rather fantastic to the 651 00:29:18,070 --> 00:29:20,810 modern mind, but not so fantastic as it 652 00:29:20,810 --> 00:29:21,410 used to see. 653 00:29:22,110 --> 00:29:24,210 Because modern science has shown us that all 654 00:29:24,210 --> 00:29:25,650 of these things can take place now. 655 00:29:26,770 --> 00:29:28,390 I'm going to ask you to come by 656 00:29:28,390 --> 00:29:29,590 faith, a step of faith. 657 00:29:29,850 --> 00:29:31,210 You may be a professor, you may be 658 00:29:31,210 --> 00:29:31,650 a student. 659 00:29:32,630 --> 00:29:33,750 I don't know who you are, what you 660 00:29:33,750 --> 00:29:35,790 are, but I want you to get up 661 00:29:35,790 --> 00:29:37,090 out of your seat right now and come 662 00:29:37,090 --> 00:29:39,370 out on this field and say yes to 663 00:29:39,370 --> 00:29:39,650 Christ. 664 00:29:40,530 --> 00:29:42,650 If you're with friends or relatives, they'll wait. 665 00:29:43,150 --> 00:29:44,450 Now why do I ask you to come? 666 00:29:44,990 --> 00:29:47,190 Because Jesus Christ hung on the cross for 667 00:29:47,190 --> 00:29:48,170 your sins openly. 668 00:29:48,810 --> 00:29:50,450 He said, if you're not willing to confess 669 00:29:50,450 --> 00:29:53,010 me openly before men, I'll not confess you 670 00:29:53,010 --> 00:29:54,550 before my Father, which is in heaven. 671 00:29:55,430 --> 00:29:57,450 If you're with friends or relatives, they'll wait. 672 00:29:58,210 --> 00:29:59,670 Or you can bring your friend with you. 673 00:29:59,990 --> 00:30:03,050 And after you've come here, we're going to 674 00:30:03,050 --> 00:30:04,410 say a word to you, give you a 675 00:30:04,410 --> 00:30:08,540 verse of Scripture, and then you can go 676 00:30:08,540 --> 00:30:09,500 back and join your friend. 677 00:30:10,340 --> 00:30:12,720 But there's something about coming forward that settles 678 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:13,420 it in your life. 679 00:30:15,180 --> 00:30:18,540 It's saying I will to Christ to have 680 00:30:18,540 --> 00:30:21,080 all the sin forgiven and to know that 681 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:22,580 if you died you'd go to heaven or 682 00:30:22,580 --> 00:30:24,720 that you're ready to meet Christ should he 683 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:25,540 come back today. 684 00:30:26,140 --> 00:30:27,580 We're going to wait on you, hundreds of 685 00:30:27,580 --> 00:30:29,740 you right now, men, women, young people. 686 00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:31,360 Some of you have been here on other 687 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:31,760 nights. 688 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,260 You've made a decision in your heart, but 689 00:30:34,260 --> 00:30:35,800 you haven't said it openly yet. 690 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:37,000 You come. 691 00:30:37,660 --> 00:30:38,980 We're going to wait right now. 692 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:41,800 Just come and stand here quietly with bowed 693 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:45,280 head and say tonight, I want Christ to 694 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:46,920 be my Lord and my Savior and my 695 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:47,240 Master. 696 00:30:47,540 --> 00:30:48,400 We're going to wait. 697 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:51,960 You've been listening to From the Pulpit and 698 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:53,060 Classic Sermons Series. 699 00:30:53,540 --> 00:30:55,180 This week you heard Billy Graham with his 700 00:30:55,180 --> 00:30:57,100 message, The Second Coming of Christ. 701 00:30:57,380 --> 00:30:59,260 Tune in next week to hear Leonard Ravenhill's 702 00:30:59,260 --> 00:31:01,780 interview with David Means on From the Pulpit 703 00:31:01,780 --> 00:31:02,600 and Classic Sermons.