The Triumph of God’s Love - 240213

SPEAKER A Hello, I'm Rod Butler. Welcome to let God speak. The world is changing rapidly and in ways that many of us do not like. There is more and more control over our lives by governments. Conspiracy theories abound about the agendas of those in charge. Yet we have hope in Christ's love revealed during this most exciting time in history. Stay with us as we discuss final events and Christ's complete triumph in the great controversy. On our panel today is Cassie Sollano and Uriah St Juste. Welcome, Cassiee. Welcome, Uriah. Before we commence our programme, we're going to ask the Lord in prayer to guide us, so please bow with us, gracious father. We're going to discuss the final events in the great controversy that result in sin being forever removed from existence. We ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, for ourselves and also for our viewers as we discuss this important topic. And we ask in Jesus name, amen. Well, the Bible gives signs to let us know that Jesus is about to return. We have the signs listed in Matthew 24 about false christs with their signs and wonders, wars and rumours of wars and increase in natural disasters. We have the prophetic books of Daniel and revelation revealing the activities of the dragon, which is Satan, and his organisations, the sea beast and the earth beast. And we have hope as we see events unfold as predicted and know Jesus return is closer than ever. We are, however, told. We are, however, told, Cassiee, about another event which is going to happen before Jesus returns. What's that? SPEAKER B Well, we're told there is going to be the worst time of trouble ever in human history. We read about it in Daniel twelve one, two, which say, at that time Michael shall stand up the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was, since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. So it's clear here this time of trouble precedes the very end time. And this time of trouble, well, we hear about it in other parts of the Bible too. In Jeremiah 30 there's a description of what this time is like. It says, 35 says, for thus says the Lord, we have heard a voice of trembling, of fear and not of peace. Ask now and see whether a man is ever in labour with child. So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labour and all faces turned pale, alas. For that day is great, so that none is like it. And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. SPEAKER A It's pretty heavy when you think that. It says there and again, Daniel twelve one, it says, at times such as never was since there was a nation. Even to that same time. It's pretty hard to imagine with all the atrocities we see today, something worse than what's ever happened. Uriah, when does this happen? What's the timing of this? SPEAKER C Well, as we just read in Daniel chapter twelve, it happens when Michael, who is Jesus, stands up and he sits in judgement. And when his judgement is over, he stands. And there is biblically necessary for a judgement to take place before Jesus comes and gives his reward. Let's read revelation 22, verse eleven and twelve. In verse eleven it says, he who is unjust, let him be unjust still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him be righteous still. He who is holy, let him be holy still. So that is the end of that judgement that declares the righteous from the wicked. And then in verse twelve it says, and behold, I am coming. Jesus is speaking here, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give everyone according to his work. So after Jesus examines the lives of those that are being judged, he determines by their own choices, the nature of the character and the choices that they have made. And then when he's coming, he's coming to bring that reward. So the time of trouble occurs before jesus comes, but after it has been determined which side everyone is and what their reward will be, which is what we call probation. So between close of probation and the second coming of Jesus is the time of trouble. SPEAKER A Okay, now, Cassiee, going back again to Daniel twelve one and it talks about a book. What book are we referring to here? SPEAKER B Well, the book it's referring to is called the Book of Life. When we accept Christ and make the decision that we want to follow him, our names are written in the Book of life. If we wander away from Christ, then our names sensibly are removed from the Book of life. And revelation three five describes this. It says, he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. And I will not blot out his name from the Book of life, but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels. And this isn't something that just appears in revelation. Jesus also refers to this. I'd like to turn to Luke 1020, which says, nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. SPEAKER A So it's pretty important we have our name in that book. SPEAKER B It is now. SPEAKER A Uri, going back to the timing, before jesus returns, we have the seven last plagues. We have this time of trouble, which they seem to coincide. What must our preparation be to be able to go through this period unscathed? SPEAKER C I'm told that trials do not make character, but it tests. It reveals character. And if we turn to first John, chapter three, verse two, the Bible says, beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. We can only rely on Jesus, and it would be a great mistake for a person to rely on themselves to be able to endure the time of trouble. But our relationship with Jesus, the growth that we experience in our character, now prepares us for that time of trouble. And it will not determine our character, but it puts our character to the test, because before Jesus comes, we would have been as close to Jesus as we ever would have, and we would be able to withstand the time of trouble because of our grounding in our relationship with Jesus. SPEAKER A So it's all about us having our eyes focused on Christ all the way. SPEAKER C That is correct, Cassiee. SPEAKER A What assurance and hope do we get from the Bible that we will be sustained during this time? SPEAKER B Thankfully, we get plenty of assurance because when we think of a time of trouble surpassing anything in the world, obviously we need something that's firm to hold onto. So I like to think of when we think of this time, the example of God protecting the Israelites during the ten plagues on Egypt. Plus many of the psalms also promise us deliverance so we don't have to look into the future and see this time as something where God will not be there, because of course he will. So I'd like to read just one of these many promises. Psalm 27. And then verse five, it says, for in the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret place of his tabernacle. He shall hide me. He shall set me high upon a rock. Yeah. It's clear that God will take us from any trouble that we're in, including this time in places, somewhere safe. SPEAKER A So our hope are in the promises of God. SPEAKER B Absolutely. SPEAKER A That's where the faith comes in. Do we believe it or don't we believe it? That's what it says. Do we believe it? I just want to read a verse here, because the culmination of our hope in the promises are that Jesus will return. I'm going to read from Titus, chapter two and verse 13. And it says, looking for that blessed hope and that glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour, Jesus Christ. Now this talks about Jesus return being our blessed hope. Uriah, apart from the obvious that we'll be with Jesus, what other aspects of the second coming bring us hope? SPEAKER C I believe one of the most painful human experiences could be the loss of a loved one through death. And many people fear death because they think that it's the end. At many funerals, people cry and say, I will never see my loved one again. But this is the hope and the promise that God assures us in scripture. In one Thessalonians, chapter four, verse 16 and 17, there's a beautiful promise that's made here. It says, for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. Now, yes, Jesus is coming to meet us. That's great. But here is the beautiful promise. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. So those loved ones who have died and gone on before, who died in Christ, as well as those who are faithful until the end, when Jesus comes, they will be reunited to never part again. And that will be a beautiful day of restoration and of reunification. Also in John, John, chapter 14, verse one to three, there's another beautiful promise that is made. Jesus is speaking and he says, let not your heart be troubled. Many people are troubled today in this world. If you believe in God, believe also in me. He says, in my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive unto myself that where I am, there you may be also. So no matter what trouble what is facing us on this side of heaven, there is the assurance that Jesus will come again to take us to a better place that he is preparing for us forever. SPEAKER A Beautiful. What I like about John 14, one, three, two. There's that really personal touch where it says, if it were not so, I would have told you Jesus is speaking right to us, that he would have told us how personal. It's beautiful. So, Cassiee, those that are looking for the blessed hope have hope. We have hope. What about those that don't have their faith in Christ? What's their feelings? Where are they at? SPEAKER B Well, sadly, they have no hope because Jesus is the one that brings us this hope. He is what we have our faith in. So if you haven't chosen Christ, you haven't chosen to have this hope. And in fact, it's choosing against God and against Christ. And that only can lead to fear and guilt and condemnation, which, yeah, in any sort of time, you don't want to be having those feelings, but even more so if you don't have anything to look towards that you just think, oh, well, you know, I only have all the bad things I've done and all the things in the world. So eventually they will have eternal loss from not choosing Christ. And when we think about this end time specifically, if they're looking towards it, they're not looking towards it like we do with the hope of, oh, we'll see all our loved ones again. It's terrifying for them because they know this isn't what they have. And this sort of mindset is described in revelation six. I'd like to read verses 1616 and 15 which say, and the kings of this earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. SPEAKER A So they're terrified. SPEAKER B They are. They're just wanting anything to happen, you know, having the rocks fall on them. SPEAKER A Very sad. You're right. Just going back to the great controversy theme here. It started in heaven and it spills over onto the earth. And here we have all this happening on the earth. Is there a wider perspective to this controversy that we need to know about? SPEAKER C There is. The great controversy is not limited to earth. And you already said very well that it started in heaven and there was that division in heaven in terms of those angels that fell, but it sort. SPEAKER A Of got dealt with, didn't it? They were cast out. SPEAKER C Yes. And it has to culminate because the story at this point is not yet ended and there is an audience that's watching what is happening here. And Paul gives us a glimpse of this in one corinthians chapter four and verse nine, where he says, for I think that God has displayed us, the apostles last, as men condemned to death. For we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. And that word world. In the language of the New Testament, the Koine Greek is the word cosmos, where we get cosmology from. And cosmos could mean planet earth, but it could also means the. It could also mean the material, the whole material universe. And I rather suspect that this is what Paul is referring to here because he says we are made a spectacle. God has displayed us, so we are being observed. And he's saying a spectacle to the world, the universe at the highest level, then to angels who are in heaven, and then to men on earth. So there are lots of people who have a vested interest in the choices that we make for God here, because we are on display. Our lives are on display. Our character is on display, not just to fellow men on this world, all of the angels and all of the created universe. SPEAKER A It's powerful, isn't it? We don't think we, we think we're alone, but we're part of a wider audience. Cassiee, we spoke earlier about Christ comes back and the dead in Christ rise. First. They go to heaven while they're in heaven. What's happening on the earth here? SPEAKER B Well, it's only sensible to thank old. The redeemed have left that it must be the wicked who are still on earth at this stage, the wicked are dead, which is important to think about, because the next thing that happens is that Satan and his fallen angels are imprisoned on the earth for a thousand years, which we find in revelation with no one left to tempt. Because the redeemed are all gone and the wicked are dead, they have time to reflect on the results of their sin. And this is described, this entire process in revelation 21 three, which say, then I saw an angel coming down from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand, he laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who was the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up and set a seal on him so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things, he must be released for a little while. SPEAKER A So while that's happening, what's the condition like on earth? SPEAKER B Well, verse one refers to the bottomless pit. In Greek, this is the word abyssos. The Old Testament is in Hebrew, but the greek translation of the Old Testament, the septuagint, uses the same word in Genesis one. In verse two, it's used to describe the earth before of all creation. So it's obvious the earth during these 1000 years reverts back to a destroyed condition, analogous to how it was before creation. SPEAKER A Right. So it's a pretty bad state, basically, yes. So, Uriah, what are the redeemed doing during this thousand year period? SPEAKER C So we read in revelation, sorry, first, Thessalonians, chapter four, that the dead in Christ and those who are alive and remain willing be caught up with Jesus and they will be there for 1000 years. But they're not just there twiddling their thumbs for 1000 years. That's a long time. You know, evidence is extremely powerful in determining truth. Someone can say something to you, but you kind of might not be sure. But when you show them the evidence, it is compelling what the truth is. And if we turn to revelation, chapter 20 and verse four, the Bible tells us what will be happening. During those in my Bible, that heading, that section is headed the saints reign with Christ 1000 years. And verse four says, and I saw thrones and they sat on them and judgement was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received this mark on their foreheads or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. So during the thousand years years, the saints who are in heaven with Jesus will be reviewing the books, the evidence of those who had an opportunity to accept Jesus and they rejected him, and those who made their choices to stand by Jesus. So nothing will be hidden, everything will be examined, laid out there, and they will have opportunity for themselves to review the evidence and determine that God has done everything possible to save the lost, which is. SPEAKER A And the obvious follow up question is, why is it important for that process to take place? SPEAKER C Well, God wants to save. He's in the business of saving everyone. The gospel is going out. And remember, the great controversy is about vindicating the character of God. Satan has made an accusation against God and God has allowed the conflict, this universal conflict, to play out so that his character can be vindicated. And so the evidence must be laid bare so that every person who is not only saved, but those who are lost as well, there would be no opportunity to say that God was not fair and God was not just. And even for those who are saved, the redeemed, they will need to examine that evidence so that they could see God's justice and God's love, and so that they would never again choose the pathway of sin, but would always choose to love and follow God throughout eternity. SPEAKER A Which is very important that there's that total finality, there's no doubt anyone's mind, any created being at that stage is coming down correct. Cassieod eventually ends the thousand years. What happens then? SPEAKER B Well, things happen to the wicked and Satan. In revelation 20, I'd like to read verse seven and then I'll read 13. It says now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison. And then 13, the sea gave up the dead who were in it and death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them and they were judged, each one according to his works. So now we've come back to the earth again and the dead, which are only the wicked at this point is we've established a back to be with Satan. And perhaps this is why it's important for the 1000 years as well to take place before this. Because now all of the redeemed who will witness this know that, oh, these people are truly the wicked who have chosen to side with Satan. Because these people, now that Satan is released and they are with him, choose to follow, follow him again. SPEAKER A Yes, that's very powerful. Now I just want to read from revelation 21 and verse two. And it says, and I, john, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. So the new Jerusalem had been the home of the redeemed for a thousand years. And now it's come down to earth. What does Satan do with all these wicked people, Uriah with his new Jerusalem down on earth? SPEAKER C It's quite interesting. Even at that last point he still has, there's been no change. SPEAKER A He doesn't give up. SPEAKER C Evil still reigns in his heart. And in revelation, chapter 20, verse eight and nine, seven tells us that he is released for a season. And verse eight and nine tell us what he will be up to. So this is after the thousand years, it says, and will go out to deceive the nations. There's that word deceive, which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breath of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. So he is still up to his old tricks of deceiving. He's still trying to, you know, the people are still following him because they have followed him all their lives here on earth and they are up to evil. But God finally deals with them and they see their final end. SPEAKER A They do which, you know, the mind has. Excuse me, excuse me. A picture of how many people that will be. It could be 100 billion people. All the people that ever lived are going to be in one place at one time. Could be a huge number of people. And most of those, the majority, will be outside the city. What happens, Casey? SPEAKER B Well, just mentioning the number of people there are, I'd like to turn to romans 14 1112, because it says, for it is written as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. So we're about to find out what happens to them, but I'd like to just stop for a moment and think, yes, every knee and every tongue. So all of these people, every single one of them, will also stand before God, which is mentioned back in revelation 20. In verse twelve it says, and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the books. We've already talked about how the righteous have been judged and they have been redeemed. It's of course, the wicked to meet their judgement. And this is the time for when that will happen. SPEAKER A And the wicked bow the knee. The wicked acknowledge that they are guilty. SPEAKER B Yes, they do. SPEAKER A So we have, all beings have acknowledged that God is just so. Uriah the redeemed and the heavenly host have seen the records. The wicked are surrounding the city. We have the final act, the culmination of the great controversy. Just talk us through that and the implications. SPEAKER C I think there are three categories. There's God, there is the righteous, there's the wicked and the devil. And the character of every group will be fully revealed. Because remember the great controversy. Satan made this accusation of God against God's character. He's unjust, he's wicked, he's evil. And if you disobey him, he kills you. And God's character is vindicated through the process of the great controversy. But also Satan's evil nature is also fully revealed. And, you know, just think of when the wicked who are following him at that last battle, when they are defeated, that they are saying that, look, obviously this guy is a loser, and the only thing left for God to do is put an end to all of this. And in revelation chapter 20, verse 14 and 15, the Bible says, then death and hades are cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone found not written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire. That's the end of evil. And God is proven to be just and righteous. SPEAKER A And there's not a single created being anywhere in the cosmos that has any doubt that God is love, that God is just, he's merciful, he's righteous, and sin will never rise again. That's very powerful. That is the vindication of God's character. And it really highlights that this great controversy, which has taken, what, six, at that stage, 7000 years of a process, has finally come to an end. Well, the Bible promises that the great. Oh, thank you for that, by the way. The Bible promises that great controversy ends in God's victory and the triumph of God's love. Scripture calls us to trust God and work with him for the salvation of as many people as possible. We are to tell of his love dying on the cross, paying the price of our sins, and we are to share. He gives power to walk with him victoriously today and we will be then part of the redeemed on that resurrection morning. Praise God. Our highest hopes are in Christ. And if you have not already done so, accept Jesus as your Lord and saviour today. Well, we're glad you joined us on let God speak. Remember, all past programmes plus teachers notes are available on our website, three abnaustralia.org dot au dot. Email us on lgs three abnaustralia.org dot au dot. Join us again next time. We look forward to being with you again as we start a new series and God bless. SPEAKER B You have been listening to let God speak, a production of 3ABN Australia television. To catch up on past programmes, please visit 3abnaustralia.org.au. Call us in Australia on 02 4973 3456. Or email [email protected]. we'd love to hear from you.