Robert Jeffress - History's Most Important Event (Part 1)

April 23, 2026 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory provides practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through clear, Biblical teaching.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - History's Most Important Event (Part 1) | April 23, 2026
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: you know, i can hardly wait to show
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  • You alaska.
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  • I've been there before, and every time i witness those
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  • Massive glaciers and towering mountains, i'm reminded of how
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  • Incredibly creative our god is.
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  • Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With doctor robert jeffress.
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  • Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • For 2000 years, christians have wondered, "when
  • 00:01:19.169 --> 00:01:22.238
  • Is jesus coming back?"
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  • Well, no one knows the day or the hour, but we can be certain
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  • That jesus will indeed return, just as he promised.
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  • Last time, we discovered what will take place during a
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  • Seven-year period known as the great tribulation.
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  • And today we're going to look at the culmination of that season
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  • Of time when christ finally returns to earth.
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  • My message is titled "history's most important event" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: wars, natural disasters, global instability.
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  • Many people look at the headlines and wonder if we're
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  • Living in the end-times.
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  • In his brand new book, "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress provides clear, biblical answers to the
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  • 20 questions people ask most about the future.
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  • Request "ask dr. jeffress about the end times" when you
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  • Jeffress: in 1961, just a few days before president-elect john
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  • F. kennedy was inaugurated as president of our country, he
  • 00:02:41.084 --> 00:02:45.255
  • Invited evangelist billy graham to join him in key biscayne,
  • 00:02:45.255 --> 00:02:49.559
  • Florida for a few days of relaxation and golf.
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  • Now, the invitation to graham surprised people for
  • 00:02:52.996 --> 00:02:55.765
  • Two reasons.
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  • First of all, because of kennedy's well-known disinterest
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  • In spiritual matters, but also because of his equally
  • 00:03:00.670 --> 00:03:04.540
  • Well-known dislike of evangelist billy graham.
  • 00:03:04.540 --> 00:03:08.144
  • Nevertheless, they spent a couple of days together, and one
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  • Day after they finished playing golf, they were riding back to
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  • The hotel, and kennedy still had his driving privileges.
  • 00:03:14.484 --> 00:03:17.887
  • He was driving a white lincoln with graham in the front seat,
  • 00:03:17.887 --> 00:03:22.025
  • And suddenly president kennedy pulled the car over to the side
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  • Of the road.
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  • He stopped the engine, he looked at billy graham, and said,
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  • "billy, do you believe jesus christ is coming back to earth
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  • One day?"
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  • Graham said, "i certainly do, mr. president."
  • 00:03:38.408 --> 00:03:42.578
  • Then kennedy asked, "why do i hear so little about it today?"
  • 00:03:42.578 --> 00:03:49.052
  • The fact that jesus christ is coming back to earth is one of
  • 00:03:49.052 --> 00:03:53.189
  • The best kept secrets in the world.
  • 00:03:53.189 --> 00:03:55.992
  • And yet, as you look at scripture, the constant refrain
  • 00:03:55.992 --> 00:03:59.195
  • Of both the old and the new testament is christ is coming
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  • Back again to reclaim this broken world that has been lost.
  • 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:08.037
  • It is that event, what i call history's most important event,
  • 00:04:08.037 --> 00:04:12.508
  • That we have come to in our study of bible prophecy.
  • 00:04:12.508 --> 00:04:16.212
  • Today, we're going to do three things.
  • 00:04:16.212 --> 00:04:18.047
  • First of all, we're going to look at the events that precede
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  • The coming of christ.
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  • And then we're going to look in revelation 19 at that second
  • 00:04:22.885 --> 00:04:25.888
  • Coming of jesus and how it is far different from the rapture
  • 00:04:25.888 --> 00:04:29.992
  • That occurs seven years earlier.
  • 00:04:29.992 --> 00:04:31.894
  • And then finally, we're gonna answer the question, "so what?
  • 00:04:31.894 --> 00:04:35.131
  • What difference does it make if christ is coming back?"
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  • If you have your bibles, i want you to turn to revelation
  • 00:04:39.068 --> 00:04:41.771
  • Chapter 16, as we review the events preceding the second
  • 00:04:41.771 --> 00:04:46.743
  • Coming of christ.
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  • You remember in our study of bible prophecy, we saw that way
  • 00:04:48.344 --> 00:04:52.849
  • Back 4000 years ago in genesis chapter 12, god began his plan
  • 00:04:52.849 --> 00:05:00.490
  • To redeem mankind with a man named abraham.
  • 00:05:00.490 --> 00:05:03.659
  • Remember how god came to abraham in 2000 bc approximately and
  • 00:05:03.659 --> 00:05:09.065
  • Said, "abraham, you are gonna be the catalyst for my redemption
  • 00:05:09.065 --> 00:05:12.635
  • Of all mankind."
  • 00:05:12.635 --> 00:05:13.970
  • And god made a promise to abraham that through him and his
  • 00:05:13.970 --> 00:05:16.739
  • Descendants, all the nations of the world would be blessed.
  • 00:05:16.739 --> 00:05:21.110
  • And remember, in psalm 89, the psalmist said even if abraham's
  • 00:05:21.110 --> 00:05:24.881
  • Descendants and david's descendants were unfaithful, god
  • 00:05:24.881 --> 00:05:28.117
  • Was still going to be faithful to fulfill his promise.
  • 00:05:28.117 --> 00:05:31.654
  • It was an unconditional promise that god made to abraham.
  • 00:05:31.654 --> 00:05:35.958
  • Of course, the question is, well, when was that promise
  • 00:05:35.958 --> 00:05:39.962
  • Going to be fulfilled?
  • 00:05:39.962 --> 00:05:41.564
  • That was a question that was especially of interest to the
  • 00:05:41.564 --> 00:05:44.767
  • Israelites about 1500 years later, in the 6th century bc,
  • 00:05:44.767 --> 00:05:49.272
  • When they were exiled in babylon.
  • 00:05:49.272 --> 00:05:51.974
  • They thought, "god's finished with israel.
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  • Maybe god's not going to fulfill his promise."
  • 00:05:54.143 --> 00:05:56.712
  • Remember the prophet daniel, living in babylon in exile,
  • 00:05:56.712 --> 00:05:59.916
  • Said, "lord, what are you gonna do?
  • 00:05:59.916 --> 00:06:01.551
  • Are you going to fulfill your promise?"
  • 00:06:01.551 --> 00:06:03.986
  • And in daniel chapter 9, remember, god came to him, and
  • 00:06:03.986 --> 00:06:08.057
  • He said that there are going to be 490 years in which god will
  • 00:06:08.057 --> 00:06:14.063
  • Finally fulfill his promise to israel.
  • 00:06:14.063 --> 00:06:16.632
  • And we looked at god's stopwatch, and we saw how this
  • 00:06:16.632 --> 00:06:20.269
  • 490 years was divided into the first 483 years that have
  • 00:06:20.269 --> 00:06:25.208
  • Already elapsed.
  • 00:06:25.208 --> 00:06:26.542
  • And there are seven final years left on god's stopwatch in which
  • 00:06:26.542 --> 00:06:30.079
  • He is gonna fulfill that promise that he made to abraham of the
  • 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:33.583
  • Redemption of mankind and the restoration of the world.
  • 00:06:33.583 --> 00:06:37.520
  • So right now, we're living in that gap between the first
  • 00:06:37.520 --> 00:06:41.924
  • Coming of christ, after which god stopped his stopwatch, the
  • 00:06:41.924 --> 00:06:45.995
  • 483 years was over.
  • 00:06:45.995 --> 00:06:48.030
  • We're living in the gap between then and the events that will
  • 00:06:48.030 --> 00:06:51.868
  • Lead to the return of jesus christ.
  • 00:06:51.868 --> 00:06:54.470
  • And i want you to notice on your outline, there are three
  • 00:06:54.470 --> 00:06:57.206
  • Significant events that are taking place during this gap,
  • 00:06:57.206 --> 00:07:01.143
  • The interval between the first, and the second coming of christ.
  • 00:07:01.143 --> 00:07:05.047
  • First of all, is what we call the church age.
  • 00:07:05.047 --> 00:07:08.217
  • Remember that chart on bible prophecy at several pages later
  • 00:07:08.217 --> 00:07:11.554
  • In your notes?
  • 00:07:11.554 --> 00:07:12.922
  • We've looked at it almost every week.
  • 00:07:12.922 --> 00:07:14.524
  • Notice after the crucifixion and the resurrection of christ,
  • 00:07:14.524 --> 00:07:18.461
  • There is a pause called the church age.
  • 00:07:18.461 --> 00:07:21.163
  • It is a time when god has temporarily turned away from
  • 00:07:21.163 --> 00:07:25.401
  • Israel so that gentiles like you and i have an opportunity to
  • 00:07:25.401 --> 00:07:29.705
  • Be saved.
  • 00:07:29.705 --> 00:07:31.040
  • It's a time that was talked about in romans 11:25.
  • 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:34.143
  • Paul said, "i don't want you to be ignorant, brethren, about
  • 00:07:34.143 --> 00:07:37.213
  • This partial hardening that has come to israel until the
  • 00:07:37.213 --> 00:07:41.417
  • Fullness of the gentiles has come in."
  • 00:07:41.417 --> 00:07:44.453
  • The end of the church age will be that event we've talked
  • 00:07:44.453 --> 00:07:47.456
  • About--the rapture of the church--when god snatches away
  • 00:07:47.456 --> 00:07:50.593
  • The church, that is you and i to be with him in glory.
  • 00:07:50.593 --> 00:07:54.897
  • And once that occurs, that stopwatch starts for the final
  • 00:07:54.897 --> 00:07:58.734
  • Seven years of earth's history.
  • 00:07:58.734 --> 00:08:01.337
  • What's going to happen in those final seven years?
  • 00:08:01.337 --> 00:08:04.006
  • It's the period of time called the great tribulation.
  • 00:08:04.006 --> 00:08:07.577
  • Daniel 9:27 gives us the outline.
  • 00:08:07.577 --> 00:08:10.413
  • It is a week of years--seven years.
  • 00:08:10.413 --> 00:08:14.717
  • Antichrist will make a peace treaty with israel.
  • 00:08:14.717 --> 00:08:17.086
  • Halfway through, he will break the peace treaty and turn
  • 00:08:17.086 --> 00:08:19.388
  • Against israel, as well as christians who will be saved
  • 00:08:19.388 --> 00:08:22.391
  • During that time.
  • 00:08:22.391 --> 00:08:23.726
  • It is a time not only of antichrist reign of terror, but
  • 00:08:23.726 --> 00:08:27.863
  • It is a time of god's pouring out his judgment upon the world.
  • 00:08:27.863 --> 00:08:32.468
  • We've said that there are two purposes of this seven-year
  • 00:08:32.468 --> 00:08:35.738
  • Period of time called the great tribulation.
  • 00:08:35.738 --> 00:08:38.107
  • First of all, for god to pour out his wrath on unbelievers, as
  • 00:08:38.107 --> 00:08:42.078
  • He has promised to do.
  • 00:08:42.078 --> 00:08:43.646
  • But secondly, to give unbelieving israel and gentile
  • 00:08:43.646 --> 00:08:48.284
  • Unbelievers the chance to be saved.
  • 00:08:48.284 --> 00:08:52.054
  • And remember, the last several weeks, we said the first 3 1/2
  • 00:08:52.054 --> 00:08:55.191
  • Years of this tribulation time will be relatively peaceful.
  • 00:08:55.191 --> 00:08:59.128
  • But halfway through it, the antichrist turns against
  • 00:08:59.128 --> 00:09:03.165
  • Believers, both jewish and gentile.
  • 00:09:03.165 --> 00:09:06.135
  • This will also be the time when the bulk of god's judgments
  • 00:09:06.135 --> 00:09:09.605
  • Against the world will be poured out during this last
  • 00:09:09.605 --> 00:09:12.441
  • 3 1/ 2 years in the form of those seal judgments,
  • 00:09:12.441 --> 00:09:15.611
  • The trumpet judgments, and the bold judgments.
  • 00:09:15.611 --> 00:09:19.081
  • Now, what is going to be the reaction of the world to
  • 00:09:19.081 --> 00:09:22.785
  • These judgments?
  • 00:09:22.785 --> 00:09:24.987
  • Have you all heard the maxim before, "he who calls the shots,
  • 00:09:24.987 --> 00:09:29.925
  • Takes the shots?"
  • 00:09:29.925 --> 00:09:31.894
  • And the fact is, if you're in management, you understand
  • 00:09:31.894 --> 00:09:34.630
  • That truth.
  • 00:09:34.630 --> 00:09:35.998
  • If you're in charge and something goes wrong, people
  • 00:09:35.998 --> 00:09:38.734
  • Hold you accountable for it.
  • 00:09:38.734 --> 00:09:40.069
  • He who calls the shots takes the shots, but the same thing is
  • 00:09:40.069 --> 00:09:43.172
  • Gonna be true of antichrist.
  • 00:09:43.172 --> 00:09:44.740
  • He's the great world dictator.
  • 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:46.742
  • He has subjugated all the nations of the earth to follow
  • 00:09:46.742 --> 00:09:49.645
  • After him.
  • 00:09:49.645 --> 00:09:51.013
  • But imagine what these 3 1/2 years are going to be like when
  • 00:09:51.013 --> 00:09:54.383
  • There's going to be not only political turmoil and
  • 00:09:54.383 --> 00:09:57.720
  • Persecution of people, but all of these natural disasters.
  • 00:09:57.720 --> 00:10:01.390
  • The world forces are gonna start to blame antichrist for these
  • 00:10:01.390 --> 00:10:05.361
  • Devastating judgments against the world.
  • 00:10:05.361 --> 00:10:07.897
  • He's going to be seen as weakened in his power.
  • 00:10:07.897 --> 00:10:10.933
  • And so, the bible says the forces of the world, the kings
  • 00:10:10.933 --> 00:10:14.437
  • Of the earth are going to mount a challenge to antichrist power.
  • 00:10:14.437 --> 00:10:19.041
  • And that challenge is the thing that precipitates this war
  • 00:10:19.041 --> 00:10:23.679
  • Of armageddon.
  • 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.047
  • Many times we talk about the battle of armageddon, and there
  • 00:10:25.047 --> 00:10:28.284
  • Is a climactic battle that we will look at in just a moment.
  • 00:10:28.284 --> 00:10:31.687
  • But it is actually a war that characterizes the last 3 1/2
  • 00:10:31.687 --> 00:10:35.658
  • Years of the tribulation and goes up and down the length of
  • 00:10:35.658 --> 00:10:39.028
  • All of israel.
  • 00:10:39.028 --> 00:10:40.830
  • But here you got the world forces.
  • 00:10:40.830 --> 00:10:43.132
  • They are tired of the tyranny of the antichrist, and they are
  • 00:10:43.132 --> 00:10:46.435
  • Ready to try to topple him.
  • 00:10:46.435 --> 00:10:48.370
  • And that's where we've come to in revelation 16, the battle or
  • 00:10:48.370 --> 00:10:52.508
  • The war of armageddon.
  • 00:10:52.508 --> 00:10:54.243
  • Look at revelation 16, verses 13 and 14.
  • 00:10:54.243 --> 00:10:57.813
  • John says, "and i saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon," now
  • 00:10:57.813 --> 00:11:03.419
  • That's the satan, the power behind the antichrist.
  • 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:07.690
  • "i saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the
  • 00:11:07.690 --> 00:11:10.760
  • Mouth of the beast," that's the antichrist, "and out of the
  • 00:11:10.760 --> 00:11:13.796
  • Mouth of the false prophet," antichrist assistant, "i saw
  • 00:11:13.796 --> 00:11:17.399
  • Coming out of their mouths three unclean spirits."
  • 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:22.037
  • Did you realize that just like there is a holy trinity--
  • 00:11:22.037 --> 00:11:25.341
  • Father, son, and holy spirit-- there is a satanic trinity?
  • 00:11:25.341 --> 00:11:29.278
  • The dragon, that is satan; the beast, the antichrist; and the
  • 00:11:29.278 --> 00:11:33.482
  • False prophet.
  • 00:11:33.482 --> 00:11:34.817
  • John says, "i saw coming out of the mouths of the satanic
  • 00:11:34.817 --> 00:11:38.521
  • Trinity, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are the
  • 00:11:38.521 --> 00:11:43.325
  • Spirit of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings
  • 00:11:43.325 --> 00:11:47.663
  • Of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the
  • 00:11:47.663 --> 00:11:52.268
  • Great day of god, the almighty.
  • 00:11:52.268 --> 00:11:54.770
  • And so they gathered them together to the place in hebrew
  • 00:11:54.770 --> 00:11:58.941
  • Which is called har-magedon."
  • 00:11:58.941 --> 00:12:02.444
  • The satanic trinity--satan, the dragon; the beast, that is
  • 00:12:02.444 --> 00:12:08.150
  • Antichrist; the false prophet-- they are going to try to lure
  • 00:12:08.150 --> 00:12:12.054
  • All the kings of the earth to
  • 00:12:12.054 --> 00:12:14.123
  • This one spot in israel for the great battle.
  • 00:12:14.123 --> 00:12:17.426
  • Now you say, "why would the antichrist wanna gather together
  • 00:12:17.426 --> 00:12:21.697
  • All of his forces--or all of his enemies in one place?"
  • 00:12:21.697 --> 00:12:25.801
  • The answer is so he could destroy them.
  • 00:12:25.801 --> 00:12:27.703
  • That's the way you do battle.
  • 00:12:27.703 --> 00:12:29.271
  • If your enemies are all dispersed throughout the world,
  • 00:12:29.271 --> 00:12:33.943
  • You can't get at them.
  • 00:12:33.943 --> 00:12:35.311
  • You need to bring them all together in one place.
  • 00:12:35.311 --> 00:12:38.047
  • I remember years ago hearing doctor criswell tell the story
  • 00:12:38.047 --> 00:12:42.151
  • About being seated on an airplane next to the chief of
  • 00:12:42.151 --> 00:12:45.621
  • Staff of the pentagon one day.
  • 00:12:45.621 --> 00:12:47.890
  • And because doctor criswell was preaching on the battle of
  • 00:12:47.890 --> 00:12:50.459
  • Armageddon, he turned to the chief of staff of the pentagon
  • 00:12:50.459 --> 00:12:54.096
  • And said, "do you ever believe there will come a time when
  • 00:12:54.096 --> 00:12:57.967
  • There will be no need for foot soldiers, that everything will
  • 00:12:57.967 --> 00:13:01.036
  • Be done through nuclear warfare?
  • 00:13:01.036 --> 00:13:03.005
  • Will there ever be a time when foot soldiers are irrelevant?"
  • 00:13:03.005 --> 00:13:06.976
  • And the chief of staff, without hesitating, said,
  • 00:13:06.976 --> 00:13:09.511
  • "absolutely not.
  • 00:13:09.511 --> 00:13:11.513
  • There will always be a need for foot soldiers because soldiers
  • 00:13:11.513 --> 00:13:16.018
  • Are the way we push our enemy all together in one spot so that
  • 00:13:16.018 --> 00:13:20.723
  • We can destroy them, even with nuclear warfare."
  • 00:13:20.723 --> 00:13:23.926
  • That's exactly what you have going on here.
  • 00:13:23.926 --> 00:13:26.562
  • From the antichrist perspective, he is the one who is enticing
  • 00:13:26.562 --> 00:13:31.367
  • All of the world forces to come to this plane of megiddo so that
  • 00:13:31.367 --> 00:13:35.938
  • He can destroy them.
  • 00:13:35.938 --> 00:13:37.907
  • That is from his point of view, but from god's point of view, he
  • 00:13:37.907 --> 00:13:42.511
  • Is the one gathering together in one spot so that he might smite
  • 00:13:42.511 --> 00:13:46.782
  • The nations of the earth.
  • 00:13:46.782 --> 00:13:49.084
  • "well, wait a minute, robert.
  • 00:13:49.084 --> 00:13:50.452
  • The text says it is the evil spirits that lure the kings of
  • 00:13:50.452 --> 00:13:54.857
  • The earth there, and yet you're saying god leads them there.
  • 00:13:54.857 --> 00:13:59.061
  • Which is it?"
  • 00:13:59.061 --> 00:14:00.496
  • The answer is both.
  • 00:14:00.496 --> 00:14:01.830
  • See, many times, god even uses demons to accomplish
  • 00:14:01.830 --> 00:14:07.036
  • His purpose.
  • 00:14:07.036 --> 00:14:08.370
  • Do you remember the story in 1 kings, how god sent an evil
  • 00:14:08.370 --> 00:14:12.074
  • Spirit to cause evil king ahab to mount an attack against the
  • 00:14:12.074 --> 00:14:18.280
  • City of ramoth-gilead?
  • 00:14:18.280 --> 00:14:20.282
  • Now, who was it that lured ahab to do it?
  • 00:14:20.282 --> 00:14:22.584
  • Well, the direct cause was a demon, but the ultimate cause
  • 00:14:22.584 --> 00:14:26.422
  • Was god.
  • 00:14:26.422 --> 00:14:27.756
  • It reminds me of luther's comment: "even the devil is
  • 00:14:27.756 --> 00:14:29.658
  • God's devil."
  • 00:14:29.658 --> 00:14:31.026
  • There is no one or nothing that thwarts god's program.
  • 00:14:31.026 --> 00:14:34.229
  • And so, for god's--from god's point of view, he is luring the
  • 00:14:34.229 --> 00:14:37.466
  • Enemies of together--of the world together at this spot
  • 00:14:37.466 --> 00:14:39.735
  • Called har-magedon, or the plain of megiddo.
  • 00:14:39.735 --> 00:14:43.939
  • Now many of us have had the chance to be at that plane of
  • 00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:47.042
  • Megiddo before.
  • 00:14:47.042 --> 00:14:48.410
  • It is the site of some of the most famous battles in all the
  • 00:14:48.410 --> 00:14:51.013
  • Old testament--beirut and the canaanites, gideon and
  • 00:14:51.013 --> 00:14:54.583
  • The midianites.
  • 00:14:54.583 --> 00:14:55.951
  • When napoleon stood over that plane, like many of us have
  • 00:14:55.951 --> 00:14:59.221
  • Done before.
  • 00:14:59.221 --> 00:15:00.589
  • When napoleon looked out over that plane, he said, "this is
  • 00:15:00.589 --> 00:15:03.625
  • The most natural battlefield in all of the world."
  • 00:15:03.625 --> 00:15:08.197
  • And if you go there, you'll see why that is.
  • 00:15:08.197 --> 00:15:11.133
  • It's going to be the place for that climactic battle.
  • 00:15:11.133 --> 00:15:14.336
  • Look at revelation 16, verse 17.
  • 00:15:14.336 --> 00:15:16.905
  • While the world forces are gathering themselves together
  • 00:15:16.905 --> 00:15:20.509
  • At the plane of megiddo to mount war against
  • 00:15:20.509 --> 00:15:22.544
  • The antichrist, it is at that point that god releases his
  • 00:15:22.544 --> 00:15:26.782
  • Judgment--his final judgment against the earth.
  • 00:15:26.782 --> 00:15:29.485
  • Look at revelation 16, verse 17.
  • 00:15:29.485 --> 00:15:32.187
  • "and the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a
  • 00:15:32.187 --> 00:15:37.426
  • Loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying,
  • 00:15:37.426 --> 00:15:40.429
  • 'it is done.'"
  • 00:15:40.429 --> 00:15:43.432
  • This is the final bowl judgment, the final of god's judgments
  • 00:15:43.432 --> 00:15:47.803
  • Against the world.
  • 00:15:47.803 --> 00:15:49.405
  • And notice this judgment, this bowl is poured out, not on the
  • 00:15:49.405 --> 00:15:53.442
  • Earth, it is poured out in the air.
  • 00:15:53.442 --> 00:15:58.280
  • I believe that john is describing what we would call a
  • 00:15:58.280 --> 00:16:02.918
  • Nuclear explosion.
  • 00:16:02.918 --> 00:16:04.586
  • A nuclear exchange.
  • 00:16:04.586 --> 00:16:06.522
  • Something that happens in the air and has great
  • 00:16:06.522 --> 00:16:09.858
  • Destructive force.
  • 00:16:09.858 --> 00:16:12.094
  • I did some research this week about nuclear weapons--i hope i
  • 00:16:12.094 --> 00:16:16.465
  • Don't get in trouble with the nsa tracking my computer for
  • 00:16:16.465 --> 00:16:19.868
  • Doing it.
  • 00:16:19.868 --> 00:16:21.236
  • But i was doing some research about nuclear weapons and
  • 00:16:21.236 --> 00:16:25.207
  • Exactly how powerful they are.
  • 00:16:25.207 --> 00:16:27.843
  • Did you know that a rudimentary nuclear bomb, 1 kiloton,
  • 00:16:27.843 --> 00:16:33.749
  • Is 1000 tons of explosive.
  • 00:16:33.749 --> 00:16:36.418
  • That was a rudimentary nuclear bomb.
  • 00:16:36.418 --> 00:16:39.521
  • Did you know if that elementary, crude device of 1000 tons of
  • 00:16:39.521 --> 00:16:45.060
  • Explosive--if a terrorist on 9/11 had used that and detonated
  • 00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:50.199
  • It in the middle of midtown new york city, it would have killed
  • 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:55.938
  • Most of the residents of manhattan, of staten island,
  • 00:16:55.938 --> 00:16:58.941
  • And brooklyn?
  • 00:16:58.941 --> 00:17:00.275
  • It would have leveled the united nations, the new york stock
  • 00:17:00.275 --> 00:17:02.978
  • Exchange, and also all three or four major broadcast networks.
  • 00:17:02.978 --> 00:17:07.449
  • That is from one rudimentary bomb of 1000 tons of explosive--
  • 00:17:07.449 --> 00:17:13.589
  • A kiloton.
  • 00:17:13.589 --> 00:17:14.957
  • But today, nuclear weapons are much more sophisticated.
  • 00:17:14.957 --> 00:17:18.427
  • They are not 1 kiloton, they are 100 kilotons.
  • 00:17:18.427 --> 00:17:23.599
  • These nuclear weapons that you find on submarines, they are
  • 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:26.301
  • 100 kilotons.
  • 00:17:26.301 --> 00:17:27.870
  • That means 100,000 tons of arsenal that have tremendous
  • 00:17:27.870 --> 00:17:35.444
  • Destructive power.
  • 00:17:35.444 --> 00:17:36.812
  • If you take 1000 present-day nuclear devices and explode them
  • 00:17:36.812 --> 00:17:42.184
  • At the same time, do you realize you could destroy the entire
  • 00:17:42.184 --> 00:17:45.154
  • World with just 1000 of those nuclear weapons?
  • 00:17:45.154 --> 00:17:49.057
  • How many nuclear weapons do we have today of that potency?
  • 00:17:49.057 --> 00:17:53.061
  • Did you know the united states possesses enough nuclear weapons
  • 00:17:53.061 --> 00:17:56.765
  • To destroy the world 18 times?
  • 00:17:56.765 --> 00:18:00.936
  • And it is reported that russia has enough nuclear weapons to
  • 00:18:00.936 --> 00:18:04.940
  • Destroy the world 29 times.
  • 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:08.844
  • Now, can't you see how some tension, some altercation in the
  • 00:18:08.844 --> 00:18:15.250
  • Middle east, perhaps it's iran attacking israel and bringing in
  • 00:18:15.250 --> 00:18:20.088
  • World forces on both sides, how some skirmish like that could
  • 00:18:20.088 --> 00:18:24.426
  • Begin an exchange of nuclear weapons?
  • 00:18:24.426 --> 00:18:27.296
  • I think that is exactly what john is saying that he saw.
  • 00:18:27.296 --> 00:18:30.199
  • He saw this judgment poured out in the air.
  • 00:18:30.199 --> 00:18:33.101
  • And notice the result of it in verses 18-20 of revelation 16.
  • 00:18:33.101 --> 00:18:37.472
  • "and there there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals
  • 00:18:37.472 --> 00:18:40.876
  • Of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there
  • 00:18:40.876 --> 00:18:43.745
  • Had not been since man came upon the earth, so great an
  • 00:18:43.745 --> 00:18:47.516
  • Earthquake was it, and so mighty.
  • 00:18:47.516 --> 00:18:50.319
  • And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities
  • 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:53.722
  • Of the nations fell.
  • 00:18:53.722 --> 00:18:55.123
  • And babylon the great was remembered before god, to give
  • 00:18:55.123 --> 00:18:58.327
  • Her the cup of the wine of his fierce wrath.
  • 00:18:58.327 --> 00:19:01.830
  • And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found."
  • 00:19:01.830 --> 00:19:06.602
  • I think that is a nuclear exchange that he is
  • 00:19:06.602 --> 00:19:09.838
  • Describing here.
  • 00:19:09.838 --> 00:19:11.406
  • But regardless of the source of this judgment, this judgment
  • 00:19:11.406 --> 00:19:15.410
  • Against the entire world is just a prelude to the main event.
  • 00:19:15.410 --> 00:19:20.282
  • And that main event is the return of jesus christ.
  • 00:19:20.282 --> 00:19:24.019
  • Turn over to revelation chapter 19.
  • 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:26.255
  • As the world forces are battling at the plain of megiddo, as the
  • 00:19:26.255 --> 00:19:30.626
  • World is trying to recover from this nuclear judgment, suddenly
  • 00:19:30.626 --> 00:19:34.997
  • The heavens are going to open, the bible says.
  • 00:19:34.997 --> 00:19:37.332
  • And look at revelation 19:11-13.
  • 00:19:37.332 --> 00:19:40.102
  • "and i saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he
  • 00:19:40.102 --> 00:19:44.439
  • Who sat upon it is called faithful and true, and in
  • 00:19:44.439 --> 00:19:47.743
  • Righteousness he judges and wages war.
  • 00:19:47.743 --> 00:19:50.479
  • And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many
  • 00:19:50.479 --> 00:19:54.149
  • Diadems," crowns, "and he has a name written upon him which no
  • 00:19:54.149 --> 00:19:57.719
  • One knows except himself.
  • 00:19:57.719 --> 00:19:59.588
  • And he is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is
  • 00:19:59.588 --> 00:20:03.592
  • Called the word of god."
  • 00:20:03.592 --> 00:20:05.761
  • As the world forces are doing battle, suddenly they are
  • 00:20:05.761 --> 00:20:08.764
  • Startled when they see the clouds part, and they see the
  • 00:20:08.764 --> 00:20:12.167
  • Appearance of the lord jesus christ.
  • 00:20:12.167 --> 00:20:14.836
  • And when they see christ, they see he's not alone because, in
  • 00:20:14.836 --> 00:20:18.473
  • Addition to the appearance of christ, notice secondly, there
  • 00:20:18.473 --> 00:20:21.476
  • Is the appearance of the church of jesus christ.
  • 00:20:21.476 --> 00:20:24.313
  • Look at verse 14.
  • 00:20:24.313 --> 00:20:25.781
  • "and the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen,
  • 00:20:25.781 --> 00:20:30.419
  • White and clean, were following him on white horses."
  • 00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:35.390
  • Who is that army that is following christ from heaven
  • 00:20:35.390 --> 00:20:38.593
  • To earth?
  • 00:20:38.593 --> 00:20:39.961
  • It is you.
  • 00:20:39.961 --> 00:20:41.296
  • It is i. we are the armies that are following with christ.
  • 00:20:41.296 --> 00:20:44.700
  • She said, "now, pastor, how do you know that?"
  • 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:47.703
  • It's very clear from revelation 19.
  • 00:20:47.703 --> 00:20:49.571
  • Go back up to verse 8 for a moment.
  • 00:20:49.571 --> 00:20:51.773
  • John is describing what happens in heaven immediately before the
  • 00:20:51.773 --> 00:20:56.111
  • Second coming of christ.
  • 00:20:56.111 --> 00:20:57.446
  • You know what's happening in heaven right before the second
  • 00:20:57.446 --> 00:21:00.315
  • Coming of christ to earth?
  • 00:21:00.315 --> 00:21:01.750
  • You and i are getting dressed for it.
  • 00:21:01.750 --> 00:21:03.518
  • We're getting ready for the event.
  • 00:21:03.518 --> 00:21:05.420
  • The reason we're getting dressed for it is as soon as christ
  • 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:08.056
  • Comes to earth and he judges unbelievers and dispatches them
  • 00:21:08.056 --> 00:21:11.727
  • To hell, the first thing that happens in the millennial
  • 00:21:11.727 --> 00:21:14.596
  • Kingdom that we'll talk about next week is a great
  • 00:21:14.596 --> 00:21:17.399
  • Wedding feast.
  • 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.734
  • It's called the marriage supper of the lamb.
  • 00:21:18.734 --> 00:21:21.503
  • It is gonna be a celebration that you and i are going to join
  • 00:21:21.503 --> 00:21:24.606
  • In when we, the bride of christ, are joined together with
  • 00:21:24.606 --> 00:21:28.477
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:21:28.477 --> 00:21:29.811
  • And so in revelation 19, verse 8, it says we're gonna be in
  • 00:21:29.811 --> 00:21:32.914
  • Heaven, getting ready for this great supper
  • 00:21:32.914 --> 00:21:35.150
  • That is to take place.
  • 00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:36.618
  • Look at verse 8.
  • 00:21:36.618 --> 00:21:37.986
  • "it was given to her," that is the church, "to
  • 00:21:37.986 --> 00:21:40.288
  • Clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean, for the fine
  • 00:21:40.288 --> 00:21:45.026
  • Linen is the righteous acts of the saints."
  • 00:21:45.026 --> 00:21:49.965
  • Now i've been doing weddings for 35 years, and i've seen some
  • 00:21:49.965 --> 00:21:53.135
  • Very unusual get-ups that people have worn to weddings before.
  • 00:21:53.135 --> 00:21:57.305
  • You know, occasionally somebody will wear blue jeans and a
  • 00:21:57.305 --> 00:22:00.809
  • T-shirt, but that's not the usual dress.
  • 00:22:00.809 --> 00:22:03.912
  • Most people still dress in their finest for a wedding.
  • 00:22:03.912 --> 00:22:08.283
  • The bible says in heaven, before we, the bride of christ, return
  • 00:22:08.283 --> 00:22:12.921
  • With christ to reign over the world, we're gonna get dressed
  • 00:22:12.921 --> 00:22:16.391
  • For that occasion.
  • 00:22:16.391 --> 00:22:17.759
  • The bible says we're gonna dress in our finest clothes.
  • 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:21.930
  • Now, he's not talking about chanel dresses or brioni suits.
  • 00:22:21.930 --> 00:22:25.400
  • He's talking about what he says very clearly in verse 8. our
  • 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:29.004
  • Linen, our clothing are our righteous acts.
  • 00:22:29.004 --> 00:22:34.142
  • That's what we will be putting on for the wedding supper of
  • 00:22:34.142 --> 00:22:38.513
  • The lamb.
  • 00:22:38.513 --> 00:22:39.848
  • You're saying, "no, wait a minute, pastor.
  • 00:22:39.848 --> 00:22:41.183
  • Wait a minute.
  • 00:22:41.183 --> 00:22:42.551
  • Good works?
  • 00:22:42.551 --> 00:22:44.252
  • Haven't you taught us over and over again that good works
  • 00:22:44.252 --> 00:22:48.423
  • Are meaningless?"
  • 00:22:48.423 --> 00:22:50.125
  • No, no, not at all.
  • 00:22:50.125 --> 00:22:52.360
  • Good works are meaningless when it comes to earning
  • 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:55.630
  • Our salvation.
  • 00:22:55.630 --> 00:22:56.965
  • In fact, isaiah 64, verse 6 says the best garments we can
  • 00:22:56.965 --> 00:23:00.335
  • Manufacture for ourselves are like a filthy rag before god.
  • 00:23:00.335 --> 00:23:03.872
  • Isaiah 64, verse 6. yeah, good works are useless when it comes
  • 00:23:03.872 --> 00:23:09.411
  • To earning our salvation.
  • 00:23:09.411 --> 00:23:11.913
  • No, we have to have the garment that christ offers us free
  • 00:23:11.913 --> 00:23:15.584
  • Of charge.
  • 00:23:15.584 --> 00:23:16.952
  • His righteousness we put on when we trust in christ as
  • 00:23:16.952 --> 00:23:19.187
  • Our savior.
  • 00:23:19.187 --> 00:23:20.555
  • Jeffress: and what a glorious day that will be when we put on
  • 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:28.196
  • Our finest clothes to attend the wedding supper of the lamb.
  • 00:23:28.196 --> 00:23:32.901
  • Now, before we're out of time for today, i want to share an
  • 00:23:32.901 --> 00:23:36.171
  • Encouraging comment from wes, who recently wrote: "pastor
  • 00:23:36.171 --> 00:23:40.308
  • Jeffress, i woke up one morning five years ago to discover that
  • 00:23:40.308 --> 00:23:44.412
  • I was about to endure an unwanted and painful divorce.
  • 00:23:44.412 --> 00:23:48.884
  • On that very day, i stumbled across 'pathway to victory.'
  • 00:23:48.884 --> 00:23:52.754
  • What has happened in my life over the past five years
  • 00:23:52.754 --> 00:23:56.291
  • Has been nothing short of amazing.
  • 00:23:56.291 --> 00:23:58.560
  • God has restored my life and delivered on his promises.
  • 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:02.564
  • Today, i'm sharing what i have learned with others."
  • 00:24:02.564 --> 00:24:06.434
  • Well, if you support "pathway to victory," i hope you're
  • 00:24:06.434 --> 00:24:09.337
  • Encouraged to see how your partnership with us has a
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  • Multiplying impact.
  • 00:24:13.208 --> 00:24:15.110
  • Together, we're bringing the bright light of the gospel
  • 00:24:15.110 --> 00:24:18.513
  • Into darkness.
  • 00:24:18.513 --> 00:24:19.915
  • By god's grace, our ministry is transforming lives all across
  • 00:24:19.915 --> 00:24:23.752
  • America and around the world.
  • 00:24:23.752 --> 00:24:26.421
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:26.421 --> 00:24:27.822
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:27.822 --> 00:24:32.227
  • Announcer: with everything happening in our world today.
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  • It's natural to wonder, are we living in the end-times?
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  • In his brand-new book "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress answers the 20 questions people ask the
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  • Most about the future.
  • 00:24:47.042 --> 00:24:48.443
  • Jeffress: in my 40+ years as a pastor, i've answered countless
  • 00:24:48.443 --> 00:24:51.680
  • Questions about the end-times, and that's why i wrote this
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  • Book, to give you clear, biblical answers that will fill
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  • Your life with peace, joy, and excitement as we look forward to
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  • Our lord's return.
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  • Jeffress: the end-time events are going to be
  • 00:25:32.387 --> 00:25:33.722
  • Very frightening.
  • 00:25:33.722 --> 00:25:35.090
  • It's going to consist of economic turmoil.
  • 00:25:35.090 --> 00:25:37.092
  • There'll be wars, there'll be unprecedented persecution.
  • 00:25:37.092 --> 00:25:41.062
  • But fortunately christians don't have to fear that period
  • 00:25:41.062 --> 00:25:44.099
  • Of time.
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  • Announcer: your generous support of "pathway to victory" helps us
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  • 00:25:51.406 --> 00:25:55.210
  • Around the world.
  • 00:25:55.210 --> 00:25:56.544
  • Together we're piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:25:56.544 --> 00:25:59.414
  • God's word.
  • 00:25:59.414 --> 00:26:00.782
  • Jeffress: with so much violence and unrest around the globe,
  • 00:26:03.985 --> 00:26:06.988
  • Many are frightened by what the future holds for america and for
  • 00:26:06.988 --> 00:26:11.192
  • The world.
  • 00:26:11.192 --> 00:26:12.560
  • Well, let me assure you, god already knows what the
  • 00:26:12.560 --> 00:26:15.030
  • Future holds.
  • 00:26:15.030 --> 00:26:16.364
  • Nothing happens that is outside of his plan.
  • 00:26:16.364 --> 00:26:19.668
  • And in fact, he's already told us exactly what we can expect in
  • 00:26:19.668 --> 00:26:23.705
  • The coming days.
  • 00:26:23.705 --> 00:26:25.073
  • But the storm clouds are gathering, and biblical prophecy
  • 00:26:25.073 --> 00:26:28.977
  • Is unfolding right before our eyes.
  • 00:26:28.977 --> 00:26:31.579
  • We don't know the day or the hour, but it's clear that the
  • 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:34.582
  • Return of jesus christ is near.
  • 00:26:34.582 --> 00:26:38.053
  • And next time, we'll continue to discover what it will be like
  • 00:26:38.053 --> 00:26:41.423
  • When jesus christ finally returns to earth.
  • 00:26:41.423 --> 00:26:44.659
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:47.495
  • Series "perfect ending."
  • 00:26:47.495 --> 00:26:50.598
  • Jeffress: but let's be honest, as we look at the world today,
  • 00:26:50.665 --> 00:26:53.034
  • It doesn't look like jesus is winning, does it?
  • 00:26:53.034 --> 00:26:56.237
  • What we feel and what we see is very, very real, but it's also
  • 00:26:56.237 --> 00:27:01.042
  • Very, very temporary.
  • 00:27:01.042 --> 00:27:03.445
  • The bible says one day jesus is going to win.
  • 00:27:03.445 --> 00:27:07.949
  • One day, jesus is coming back again to reclaim and recreate
  • 00:27:07.949 --> 00:27:13.021
  • That which has been lost.
  • 00:27:13.021 --> 00:27:15.023
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two
  • 00:27:15.023 --> 00:27:18.326
  • Of the message, "history's most important event,"
  • 00:27:18.326 --> 00:27:21.362
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:21.362 --> 00:27:21.362