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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - America and Armageddon

April 24, 2025 | S25:E98

Greg Laurie - America and Armageddon
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #Faith #TrustGod #Revelation #Christianity #Religion #inActive #EndTimes #Armageddon #Harvest #SecondComing #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie #Revelation15-16

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - America and Armageddon | April 24, 2025
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: hi, i'm greg laurie, and i'm so glad you've
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  • Joined us because god's word is full of promises.
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  • It's alive, it's powerful, and it can change your life.
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  • So, let's get started.
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg: the story is told of the great composer,
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  • Johann sebastian bach.
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  • He was known to sleep a lot, and his kids had a surefire way of
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  • Waking their dad up.
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  • They would go to a piano and play a composition.
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  • I guess that's what you do when you're the son of a composer.
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  • They would play the composition all the way through.
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  • He would still be sleeping, and they would get to the end and
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  • Not play the last note.
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  • Every time, bach would get up out of his bed, walk over, sit
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  • Down at the keyboard and hit the final chord.
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  • It just drove him crazy.
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  • Here in revelation, in effect, god is playing the final chord.
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  • But something is missing from this prophetic puzzle.
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  • Let me restate it, someone is missing.
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  • Who?
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  • Well, the united states of america.
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  • You know one of the more interesting things about bible
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  • Prophecy is not who it mentions, but also who doesn't mention in
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  • The last days.
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  • At this moment in time, america is still the greatest superpower
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  • On the planet.
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  • That, of course, could change in time as you're aware with the
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  • Emergence of china and other shifts that are
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  • Happening globally.
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  • But right now, we are still the reigning superpower.
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  • But yet, as we look at the end-times events, you really
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  • Don't find america in them.
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  • You see israel clearly.
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  • You find iran there.
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  • You find libya there.
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  • You can make a pretty good case for finding russia
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  • And even china.
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  • But i can't find any passage that clearly identifies
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  • The united states of america.
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  • So, where are we?
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  • How could a nation of our stature and our size and our
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  • Significance not be mentioned in the prophetic scheme?
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  • Well, i'll talk about that in a few moments.
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  • But first, let's understand where we are here
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  • In revelation 15.
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  • We're in heaven.
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  • And we're viewing what is coming to the earth from
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  • A heavenly perspective.
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  • And we get a better handle on the why of judgment.
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  • Let's read revelation 15, starting in verse 1.
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  • John writes, "then i saw another sign in heaven, great and
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  • Marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues,
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  • For in them the wrath of god is complete.
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  • And i saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and
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  • Those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and
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  • Over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on
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  • The sea of glass, playing harps of god.
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  • They sing the song of moses, the servant of god, and the song of
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  • The lamb, 'great and marvelous are your works,
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  • Lord god almighty!
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  • Just and true are your ways, o king of the saints!
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  • Who shall not fear you, o lord, and glorify your name?
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  • For you alone are holy.
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  • And all nations shall come and worship before you, for your
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  • Judgments have been manifested.'"
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  • We'll stop there.
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  • So, who are these people singing this song?
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  • These are believers who have come through
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  • The tribulation period.
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  • They've been martyred for their faith, and they're before a sea
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  • Of glass mingled with fire.
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  • Now, that either symbolizes the fiery trials they went through
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  • On the planet or the fact that they were martyred.
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  • Or this may be referencing the fact with this water and fire
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  • Mingled together that judgment is about to come on the earth.
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  • Perhaps it's referring to both, reminding us that god takes it
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  • Personally when his followers are attacked.
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  • Now, as we come back to our account, we find that these
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  • Believers have prevailed over the antichrist, verse 2, how?
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  • By not taking his mark and holding on to the very end.
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  • Listen, it is my firm conviction that christians will not go
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  • Through the great tribulation period.
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  • I don't think we'll go through any of it.
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  • I think will be removed before the tribulation begins, why?
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  • The bible says god has not appointed us to wrath, but to
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  • Attain salvation to the lord jesus christ.
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  • Think about it.
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  • Well, god sent judgment during the days of noah.
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  • First he got noah and his family safe in the ark
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  • And the door was shut.
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  • And as the water came down, the ark went up, but noah and his
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  • Family were delivered from the judgment that came
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  • Upon the earth.
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  • Take this story of lot and his wife.
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  • God got lot and his family safely out of sodom
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  • Before the judgment fell.
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  • The tribulation period is god's judgment coming on the earth.
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  • God does not pour his judgment on his people, you see.
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  • And so, we will not be here for this tribulation period.
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  • Having said that, christians will go through tribulation and
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  • Not only will we have tribulation, we'll be persecuted
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  • Just like these folks were, maybe not to the extreme they
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  • Were persecuted, but we will face persecution.
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  • Look at revelation 16:1, "i heard a loud voice from the
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  • Temple, saying to the seven angels, 'go and pour out the
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  • Bowls of the wrath of god on earth.'"
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  • Listen, there's a temple in heaven.
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  • Heaven is a real place for real people.
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  • Cs lewis made this statement, and i love it.
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  • "all the things that ever deeply possessed your soul have been
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  • But hints of heaven, tantalizing glimpses, promises never quite
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  • Fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear."
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  • Lewis concludes, "if i find in myself a desire which no
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  • Experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable
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  • Explanation is that i was made for another world.
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  • Earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy, but to arouse
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  • It to suggest the real thing," end quote.
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  • He just nailed it with that.
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  • But now we come to revelation 16, verse 12, and we're looking
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  • At the final battles coming upon the planet, the battles of
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  • Armageddon.
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  • I'm going to tell you where that word "armageddon"
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  • Even came from.
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  • By the way, it's only mentioned one time in the bible.
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  • So, let's read revelation 16, verse 12, "then the sixth angel
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  • Poured out his bowl on the great river euphrates, and its water
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  • Was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east
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  • Might be prepared.
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  • I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of
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  • The dragon."
  • 00:07:14.835 --> 00:07:17.137
  • Now, we know the dragon is satan.
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  • "and out of the mouth of the beast," we know
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  • That's the antichrist.
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  • "and out of the mouth of the false prophet," that's the
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  • Religious leader guru type sidekick of the antichrist.
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  • Verse 14, "they're the spirits of demons, performing signs,
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  • Which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to
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  • Gather them to the battle of that great day of god almighty."
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  • Now, in the middle of all of this, jesus gives us
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  • A personal word.
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  • Verse 15, "'behold, i am coming as a thief.
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  • Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk
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  • Naked and they see his shame.'"
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  • And then verse 16, "and he gathered
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  • Them together in the place called in hebrew,
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  • Armageddon," armageddon.
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  • Now actually, armageddon is a place.
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  • It's from the root word "megiddo" and we get the word
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  • "harmageddon" from it.
  • 00:08:12.125 --> 00:08:14.094
  • It's a location, but we know this as a word that
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  • Speaks of finality.
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  • Whenever someone invokes armageddon, it means something
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  • Big and epic and destructive, signing a peace agreement with
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  • Japan and bringing world war ii to a close.
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  • General douglas macarthur standing on the deck of the uss
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  • Missouri in tokyo made this statement and i quote,
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  • "we've had our last chance.
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  • If we do not now devise some greater inequitable system,
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  • Armageddon will be at our door," end quote.
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  • President ronald reagan, the 40th president of the united
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  • States was astounded by the complexities of the middle east
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  • After he took office.
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  • And on may 15, 1981, president reagan scribbled in his diary
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  • These words, "sometimes i wonder if we're destined to witness
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  • Armageddon," end quote.
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  • I wonder what general macarthur and president reagan would think
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  • Of what's happening in the news today.
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  • Again, armageddon is talking about the location of the final
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  • Battles which will happen in the valley of megiddo.
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  • I've stood at the valley of megiddo.
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  • It's a massive plain, many biblical battles were fought in
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  • That place, such as gideon defeating the midianites, and
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  • Deborah and barak fighting their enemies.
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  • But why is megiddo the location of the final conflict?
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  • Well, maybe we get a clue from one of the greatest military
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  • Figures of all time.
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  • You've probably heard of him, his name was napoleon bonaparte.
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  • And standing at megiddo in 1799, he made this statement, and i
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  • Quote, "all the armies of the world could maneuver their
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  • Forces on this vast plain.
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  • There is no place in the world more suited for war than this.
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  • It is a natural battleground for the whole earth," end quote.
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  • So, there you have it.
  • 00:10:16.850 --> 00:10:18.318
  • Now, there is demonic power behind this conflict.
  • 00:10:18.318 --> 00:10:22.322
  • Verse 13 mentions unclean spirits like frogs coming out of
  • 00:10:22.322 --> 00:10:26.727
  • The mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast.
  • 00:10:26.727 --> 00:10:30.564
  • You know, i was in a pet store the other day, and they have a
  • 00:10:30.564 --> 00:10:34.267
  • Lot of lizards and snakes and some amphibians, some frogs.
  • 00:10:34.267 --> 00:10:39.239
  • They had a frog that was like this big, it was like this big.
  • 00:10:39.239 --> 00:10:42.709
  • And it's not an aggressive frog, but it is so creepy looking.
  • 00:10:42.709 --> 00:10:46.613
  • You know, so these are like spirits like frogs, these demon
  • 00:10:46.613 --> 00:10:50.250
  • Spirits motivating them to go and fight this massive battle.
  • 00:10:50.250 --> 00:10:57.057
  • You know, the devil is behind the war in our world today, and
  • 00:10:57.057 --> 00:11:02.496
  • Now the church is gonna be removed.
  • 00:11:02.496 --> 00:11:04.398
  • I mean, think about how bad things will be when there's not
  • 00:11:04.398 --> 00:11:08.001
  • The presence of christians speaking up for what is true.
  • 00:11:08.001 --> 00:11:12.706
  • This is how all hell is able to break loose so quickly.
  • 00:11:12.706 --> 00:11:16.677
  • Greg: hey everybody, greg laurie with some thoughts
  • 00:11:19.780 --> 00:11:22.482
  • About how people see us as christians.
  • 00:11:22.482 --> 00:11:25.285
  • Christians should be known for their love, for their patience,
  • 00:11:25.285 --> 00:11:31.458
  • For their kindness.
  • 00:11:31.458 --> 00:11:33.694
  • They should not be known as people who are mean or
  • 00:11:33.694 --> 00:11:37.164
  • Short-tempered or judgmental.
  • 00:11:37.164 --> 00:11:40.867
  • You know, it was said of the apostles in the book of acts the
  • 00:11:40.867 --> 00:11:44.204
  • Leaders could tell, and these are secular leaders,
  • 00:11:44.204 --> 00:11:47.741
  • That they had been with jesus, speaking of peter and john.
  • 00:11:47.741 --> 00:11:51.044
  • They could see they had been with jesus.
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  • I love that.
  • 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.414
  • Do you think someone can tell you've been with jesus?
  • 00:11:54.414 --> 00:11:57.918
  • You say, "what does that even mean?"
  • 00:11:57.918 --> 00:11:59.286
  • Well, you're with jesus when you open his word.
  • 00:11:59.286 --> 00:12:01.955
  • He says, "lo in the volume of the book i come."
  • 00:12:01.955 --> 00:12:04.257
  • You spend time with jesus when you pray.
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  • And so people can see it reflected.
  • 00:12:07.260 --> 00:12:09.296
  • Or another way to put it, when you leave church.
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  • I think after church when a christian family or a christian
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  • Goes into a restaurant the server should be able to tell
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  • The difference between the believer and the non-believer.
  • 00:12:20.540 --> 00:12:24.144
  • They could say, "oh, these are christians.
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  • Look at how polite they are, how patient they are, how friendly
  • 00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:29.382
  • They are, how generous they are with their tips.
  • 00:12:29.382 --> 00:12:32.319
  • These are christians.
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  • They must have come from church.
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  • Oh, these other people clearly are not."
  • 00:12:35.255 --> 00:12:37.390
  • People should be able to tell you've been with jesus by the
  • 00:12:37.390 --> 00:12:40.794
  • Way that you live, and that earned you the right to
  • 00:12:40.794 --> 00:12:44.564
  • Verbalize it and articulate your faith.
  • 00:12:44.564 --> 00:12:47.300
  • As i've said so many times, if you were arrested for being
  • 00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:51.004
  • A christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?
  • 00:12:51.004 --> 00:12:54.674
  • By evidence i don't mean by how big of a bible you have
  • 00:12:54.674 --> 00:12:57.811
  • Or how many bumper stickers you have in your car that talk
  • 00:12:57.811 --> 00:13:00.680
  • About your faith.
  • 00:13:00.680 --> 00:13:02.382
  • By the way, 2 is good, 3 is kind of pushing it, but if you have
  • 00:13:02.382 --> 00:13:05.352
  • Like 15 stickers on your car that's too much.
  • 00:13:05.352 --> 00:13:08.388
  • Just like tone it down a bit. okay?
  • 00:13:08.388 --> 00:13:10.690
  • People are not going to know you're a christian
  • 00:13:10.690 --> 00:13:12.659
  • By your bumper stickers.
  • 00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:14.561
  • They're going to know you're a christian by your love.
  • 00:13:14.561 --> 00:13:17.097
  • So let's make sure we have genuine evidence that shows
  • 00:13:17.097 --> 00:13:20.667
  • We're a christian before we even start talking about jesus.
  • 00:13:20.667 --> 00:13:25.338
  • Greg: look back historically at the atheistic communist
  • 00:13:29.176 --> 00:13:32.612
  • Governments and how many of their own people
  • 00:13:32.612 --> 00:13:36.550
  • They have killed.
  • 00:13:36.550 --> 00:13:37.984
  • Historians say at least 100 million people have been
  • 00:13:37.984 --> 00:13:41.988
  • Murdered by atheistic communist regimes.
  • 00:13:41.988 --> 00:13:46.326
  • Think about this.
  • 00:13:46.326 --> 00:13:47.727
  • If the atheistic joseph stalin believed that he would stand
  • 00:13:47.727 --> 00:13:52.232
  • Before a holy god, do you think he would have done what he did?
  • 00:13:52.232 --> 00:13:56.903
  • Do you think he would have been as cruel as he was?
  • 00:13:56.903 --> 00:14:00.006
  • As dostoevsky said, quote, "if god is not, everything is
  • 00:14:00.006 --> 00:14:05.579
  • Permitted," end quote.
  • 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:07.047
  • If there's no god, if there's no afterlife, if there's no final
  • 00:14:07.047 --> 00:14:09.883
  • Judgment, why would a person not do whatever they wanted to do?
  • 00:14:09.883 --> 00:14:14.421
  • Mao tse-tung did it in china.
  • 00:14:14.421 --> 00:14:16.456
  • Hitler did it with nazi germany.
  • 00:14:16.456 --> 00:14:18.458
  • Stalin did it with russia.
  • 00:14:18.458 --> 00:14:20.460
  • And now the antichrist will do it on the level like no one has
  • 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:23.930
  • Ever done it before.
  • 00:14:23.930 --> 00:14:26.399
  • So, now we have two superpowers facing off in the battle
  • 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:30.070
  • Of armageddon.
  • 00:14:30.070 --> 00:14:31.972
  • The forces of the antichrist, that's ten nations confederated
  • 00:14:31.972 --> 00:14:36.710
  • Under him, and another force identified as
  • 00:14:36.710 --> 00:14:39.946
  • The kings of the east.
  • 00:14:39.946 --> 00:14:41.748
  • This is big.
  • 00:14:41.748 --> 00:14:43.183
  • This is bigger than godzilla versus king kong.
  • 00:14:43.183 --> 00:14:47.020
  • This is the biggest battle of all time, and they come
  • 00:14:47.020 --> 00:14:50.223
  • To the euphrates river.
  • 00:14:50.223 --> 00:14:52.959
  • We were first introduced to this last days superpower called the
  • 00:14:52.959 --> 00:14:56.229
  • Kings of the east in revelation 9:16 which says, "the number of
  • 00:14:56.229 --> 00:15:01.001
  • The army of the horsemen was 200 million."
  • 00:15:01.001 --> 00:15:04.804
  • Question, what nation on earth could field an army of
  • 00:15:04.804 --> 00:15:09.342
  • 200 million?
  • 00:15:09.342 --> 00:15:10.810
  • There's only one answer and that's china.
  • 00:15:10.810 --> 00:15:13.446
  • I'm not saying that china is certainly the kings of the east,
  • 00:15:13.446 --> 00:15:17.450
  • But they're the only nation that could field an army of
  • 00:15:17.450 --> 00:15:20.587
  • 200 million people.
  • 00:15:20.587 --> 00:15:23.323
  • Understand when john wrote this on the island of patmos 2,000
  • 00:15:23.323 --> 00:15:29.329
  • Years ago, there were not 200 million people on the face of
  • 00:15:29.329 --> 00:15:34.100
  • The whole earth and that he's speaking specifically about an
  • 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:39.105
  • Army of 200 million.
  • 00:15:39.105 --> 00:15:42.776
  • The population of china is 1.98 billion, and the population of
  • 00:15:42.776 --> 00:15:48.315
  • America is around 318 million.
  • 00:15:48.315 --> 00:15:51.918
  • China announced in 1997, they could raise an army of 352
  • 00:15:51.918 --> 00:15:57.157
  • Million soldiers.
  • 00:15:57.157 --> 00:15:58.892
  • So, they get put 200 million on the battlefield and have 152
  • 00:15:58.892 --> 00:16:02.529
  • Soldiers left to defend china.
  • 00:16:02.529 --> 00:16:05.298
  • We don't know, we'll see.
  • 00:16:05.298 --> 00:16:07.400
  • Well, maybe we'll won't see.
  • 00:16:07.400 --> 00:16:09.002
  • I don't expect to be here.
  • 00:16:09.002 --> 00:16:11.071
  • If i'm seeing it, i'm seeing it from heaven along with you.
  • 00:16:11.071 --> 00:16:14.207
  • But that brings us to the question i raised
  • 00:16:14.207 --> 00:16:16.476
  • In the beginning.
  • 00:16:16.476 --> 00:16:17.877
  • Where is the undisputed superpower,
  • 00:16:17.877 --> 00:16:21.014
  • The united states of america?
  • 00:16:21.014 --> 00:16:23.216
  • How could a nation of our stature and size not even be
  • 00:16:23.216 --> 00:16:28.588
  • Mentioned in the prophetic scheme?
  • 00:16:28.588 --> 00:16:31.291
  • Okay, so let me offer a few ideas.
  • 00:16:31.291 --> 00:16:34.794
  • Number one, and i don't like this idea, but i have
  • 00:16:34.794 --> 00:16:37.964
  • To put it out there.
  • 00:16:37.964 --> 00:16:39.532
  • The united states may not be mentioned because our country is
  • 00:16:39.532 --> 00:16:43.236
  • Decimated by a nuclear attack.
  • 00:16:43.236 --> 00:16:46.139
  • Now, we know they're just arsenals of nuclear weapons.
  • 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:49.809
  • We know that there are rogue nations like iran and north
  • 00:16:49.809 --> 00:16:53.580
  • Korea who have threatened to use those nuclear weapons or
  • 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:57.050
  • Somewhere around 1700 to 27,000 nuclear weapons.
  • 00:16:57.050 --> 00:17:02.255
  • No one really knows with certainty and if they do,
  • 00:17:02.255 --> 00:17:04.591
  • They're not really telling us.
  • 00:17:04.591 --> 00:17:05.992
  • But clearly, there is enough firepower to blow our planet
  • 00:17:05.992 --> 00:17:09.729
  • Up multiple times.
  • 00:17:09.729 --> 00:17:11.364
  • Is it possible one of these weapons is launched against
  • 00:17:11.364 --> 00:17:13.800
  • The united states?
  • 00:17:13.800 --> 00:17:15.201
  • I hope not but if it was, that would explain our absence from
  • 00:17:15.201 --> 00:17:18.872
  • The last-day scenario.
  • 00:17:18.872 --> 00:17:21.241
  • Another possibility, this is far more likely, america's simply
  • 00:17:21.241 --> 00:17:25.278
  • Declines as a world power.
  • 00:17:25.278 --> 00:17:28.415
  • We know historically nations rise and fall.
  • 00:17:28.415 --> 00:17:31.951
  • Every nation has a beginning, middle, and end.
  • 00:17:31.951 --> 00:17:36.623
  • The might of ancient babylon only lasted 86 years.
  • 00:17:36.623 --> 00:17:40.326
  • The powerful persian empire did better.
  • 00:17:40.326 --> 00:17:42.929
  • They went on for 208 years.
  • 00:17:42.929 --> 00:17:45.965
  • The glory of greece was eclipsed after 268 years.
  • 00:17:45.965 --> 00:17:50.470
  • Mighty rome ruled for nine centuries.
  • 00:17:50.470 --> 00:17:53.239
  • And the united states, well, we're moving on in the years,
  • 00:17:53.239 --> 00:17:57.877
  • But we could be getting closer to the end than we may think.
  • 00:17:57.877 --> 00:18:02.082
  • Isaiah 40, verse 15 says, "all the nations of the world are
  • 00:18:02.082 --> 00:18:05.785
  • But a drop in the bucket."
  • 00:18:05.785 --> 00:18:08.354
  • So, we might just decline as a world power.
  • 00:18:08.354 --> 00:18:10.824
  • It's possible we could be one of the nations united
  • 00:18:10.824 --> 00:18:14.127
  • Behind the antichrist.
  • 00:18:14.127 --> 00:18:16.129
  • I certainly hope not, but i can't rule it out
  • 00:18:16.129 --> 00:18:17.931
  • As a possibility.
  • 00:18:17.931 --> 00:18:19.399
  • Here's a third option, and i have to say this is my
  • 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:21.668
  • Favorite choice.
  • 00:18:21.668 --> 00:18:23.803
  • America may not be mentioned in scripture because a great
  • 00:18:23.803 --> 00:18:26.940
  • Spiritual awakening happens, a revival spreads
  • 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:31.511
  • Across our country.
  • 00:18:31.511 --> 00:18:33.379
  • That's not to say a revival would eliminate us as a world
  • 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:36.516
  • Power, but if one were to sweep america, we would have a godly
  • 00:18:36.516 --> 00:18:40.286
  • Influence in our time left, right?
  • 00:18:40.286 --> 00:18:43.423
  • So, if we were raptured and millions of americans suddenly
  • 00:18:43.423 --> 00:18:47.293
  • Were caught up to heaven, certainly that would
  • 00:18:47.293 --> 00:18:49.496
  • Affect our country.
  • 00:18:49.496 --> 00:18:50.864
  • Think about it.
  • 00:18:50.864 --> 00:18:52.265
  • People in the military, people in the economy, people in
  • 00:18:52.265 --> 00:18:55.001
  • Commerce, just suddenly taken, suddenly removed, that would
  • 00:18:55.001 --> 00:19:00.006
  • Certainly cause a country to potentially collapse.
  • 00:19:00.006 --> 00:19:04.043
  • Listen, america has spiritual roots.
  • 00:19:04.043 --> 00:19:08.047
  • The only other nation in the world that we are like is the
  • 00:19:08.047 --> 00:19:12.418
  • Nation of israel that was established by god.
  • 00:19:12.418 --> 00:19:15.755
  • I believe god wanted america to exist.
  • 00:19:15.755 --> 00:19:19.859
  • Imagine a world without the united states of america.
  • 00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:23.897
  • Imagine what could have happened in world war ii when hitler,
  • 00:19:23.897 --> 00:19:27.500
  • With his military machine, was marching across europe, england
  • 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:32.539
  • In our sights, other nations that they'd already conquered
  • 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:36.009
  • Like norway, even france, and it would have continued on.
  • 00:19:36.009 --> 00:19:39.779
  • Who knows what would have happened to so many
  • 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:42.448
  • Jewish people.
  • 00:19:42.448 --> 00:19:43.850
  • We already know six million of them were murdered by
  • 00:19:43.850 --> 00:19:46.986
  • Adolf hitler and the nazis, but america stepped in.
  • 00:19:46.986 --> 00:19:50.890
  • Some would say we should have stepped in sooner.
  • 00:19:50.890 --> 00:19:53.993
  • But when the japanese attacked us at pearl harbor and we
  • 00:19:53.993 --> 00:19:57.463
  • Entered the war and declared war on the empire of japan, and then
  • 00:19:57.463 --> 00:20:00.967
  • Germany declared war on us, we went in with everything we had.
  • 00:20:00.967 --> 00:20:05.505
  • It changed the world.
  • 00:20:05.505 --> 00:20:08.174
  • What would the world have looked like if america had not stepped
  • 00:20:08.174 --> 00:20:10.810
  • In at that critical moment in time?
  • 00:20:10.810 --> 00:20:14.948
  • God raised this nation up.
  • 00:20:14.948 --> 00:20:17.217
  • Against all odds, this nation came into being in 1776.
  • 00:20:17.217 --> 00:20:22.055
  • Is there really any hope for america?
  • 00:20:22.055 --> 00:20:24.891
  • Will our streets ever be safe again?
  • 00:20:24.891 --> 00:20:27.827
  • Will we see good prevail over evil again?
  • 00:20:27.827 --> 00:20:32.131
  • Is it going to end up that way?
  • 00:20:32.131 --> 00:20:34.100
  • What is gonna happen?
  • 00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:35.635
  • It is my choice that america basically has two options before
  • 00:20:35.635 --> 00:20:40.206
  • Her, revival or judgment, revival or judgment.
  • 00:20:40.206 --> 00:20:45.345
  • So, we need to choose revival.
  • 00:20:45.345 --> 00:20:47.947
  • You say, "i don't even know what you mean when you say revival."
  • 00:20:47.947 --> 00:20:50.350
  • It means to choose god.
  • 00:20:50.350 --> 00:20:52.085
  • It means that we say, "lord, we need a spiritual awakening in
  • 00:20:52.085 --> 00:20:55.121
  • Our nation, and we need it now.
  • 00:20:55.121 --> 00:20:57.123
  • And let that revival begin with me."
  • 00:20:57.123 --> 00:21:00.126
  • Judgment is coming to the earth. we know that.
  • 00:21:00.126 --> 00:21:03.463
  • That's what we see in the book of revelation.
  • 00:21:03.463 --> 00:21:05.098
  • It's not a matter of if, it's only a question of when.
  • 00:21:05.098 --> 00:21:08.935
  • But my hope is before this judgment that we read about in
  • 00:21:08.935 --> 00:21:13.039
  • The final book of the bible comes, that we will have at
  • 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:16.009
  • Least one, maybe two, maybe three spiritual awakenings.
  • 00:21:16.009 --> 00:21:21.314
  • We've had four great revivals in american history.
  • 00:21:21.314 --> 00:21:25.652
  • The last was called the jesus movement, the jesus revolution.
  • 00:21:25.652 --> 00:21:31.224
  • It's been over 50 years since that awakening.
  • 00:21:31.224 --> 00:21:33.626
  • Don't you think it's time for another one?
  • 00:21:33.626 --> 00:21:36.229
  • Let's pray to that end.
  • 00:21:36.229 --> 00:21:39.165
  • Let me close with a verse we already read.
  • 00:21:39.165 --> 00:21:41.401
  • It contains the words of jesus to you and me right now.
  • 00:21:41.401 --> 00:21:46.005
  • In the middle of all that scripture is saying about
  • 00:21:46.005 --> 00:21:48.041
  • Armageddon, jesus says in revelation 16:15, "behold, i'm
  • 00:21:48.041 --> 00:21:52.679
  • Coming as a thief.
  • 00:21:52.679 --> 00:21:55.181
  • Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk
  • 00:21:55.181 --> 00:21:58.685
  • Naked and see his shame."
  • 00:21:58.685 --> 00:22:02.388
  • So, this is a word to us.
  • 00:22:02.388 --> 00:22:04.057
  • In the middle of all of this jesus is saying,
  • 00:22:04.057 --> 00:22:06.192
  • "listen to this.
  • 00:22:06.192 --> 00:22:08.127
  • I'm coming as a thief.
  • 00:22:08.127 --> 00:22:09.929
  • Blessed is he who watches."
  • 00:22:09.929 --> 00:22:12.098
  • What does it mean to watch? it means to be awake.
  • 00:22:12.098 --> 00:22:15.134
  • This is a reference to the rapture.
  • 00:22:15.134 --> 00:22:17.770
  • In the rapture, jesus comes as a thief in the night.
  • 00:22:17.770 --> 00:22:21.607
  • We don't know when the rapture is.
  • 00:22:21.607 --> 00:22:23.609
  • It can happen at any moment.
  • 00:22:23.609 --> 00:22:25.244
  • But then the second coming, we know in that is.
  • 00:22:25.244 --> 00:22:27.880
  • It happens at the end of the tribulation period after the
  • 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:31.250
  • Battles of armageddon, and i'll get to this in the future.
  • 00:22:31.250 --> 00:22:35.321
  • So, when he says, "i'm coming as a thief," it means "i'm coming
  • 00:22:35.321 --> 00:22:38.091
  • To you unexpectedly if you're not ready."
  • 00:22:38.091 --> 00:22:42.428
  • So, it really comes down to this, he'll come like a thief to
  • 00:22:42.428 --> 00:22:45.531
  • The unsuspecting.
  • 00:22:45.531 --> 00:22:47.300
  • He'll come like a friend to those who are watching
  • 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:49.535
  • And waiting.
  • 00:22:49.535 --> 00:22:51.204
  • Let's say that somehow we knew that jesus was coming back at
  • 00:22:51.204 --> 00:22:56.376
  • 3 o'clock in the morning tomorrow.
  • 00:22:56.376 --> 00:23:01.013
  • Now, i think all of us would have our sunday smiles and
  • 00:23:01.013 --> 00:23:05.385
  • "come quickly jesus" attitude around 2:45, don't you?
  • 00:23:05.385 --> 00:23:10.256
  • But we don't know when he is going to come.
  • 00:23:10.256 --> 00:23:12.859
  • He could come tonight. he could come tomorrow.
  • 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:15.461
  • He could come in a week, in a month, in a decade.
  • 00:23:15.461 --> 00:23:17.764
  • We don't know.
  • 00:23:17.764 --> 00:23:19.132
  • But we know this, we should live every day as though it were our
  • 00:23:19.132 --> 00:23:22.835
  • Last day because someday it will be, either the day christ comes
  • 00:23:22.835 --> 00:23:28.074
  • Or the day when our time is up.
  • 00:23:28.074 --> 00:23:30.777
  • So, we need to be awake.
  • 00:23:30.777 --> 00:23:35.748
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart, and you have seen
  • 00:23:39.886 --> 00:23:44.223
  • Your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:23:44.223 --> 00:23:46.292
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who came from heaven
  • 00:23:46.292 --> 00:23:50.463
  • To this earth.
  • 00:23:50.463 --> 00:23:52.098
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:23:52.098 --> 00:23:54.066
  • He died on a cross.
  • 00:23:54.066 --> 00:23:55.701
  • He rose again from the dead. why?
  • 00:23:55.701 --> 00:23:58.371
  • Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:23:58.371 --> 00:24:01.107
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:24:01.107 --> 00:24:03.276
  • I don't want to be a religious person, i don't think you want
  • 00:24:03.276 --> 00:24:05.778
  • To be one either.
  • 00:24:05.778 --> 00:24:07.113
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:24:07.113 --> 00:24:10.483
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
  • 00:24:10.483 --> 00:24:14.887
  • And he knocks.
  • 00:24:14.887 --> 00:24:16.255
  • And he says if you'll hear his voice and open the door,
  • 00:24:16.255 --> 00:24:18.791
  • He will come in.
  • 00:24:18.791 --> 00:24:20.159
  • Question, have you asked jesus christ to come and live
  • 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:23.095
  • Inside of you?
  • 00:24:23.095 --> 00:24:24.497
  • You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
  • 00:24:24.497 --> 00:24:26.532
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of
  • 00:24:26.532 --> 00:24:28.634
  • The night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:24:28.634 --> 00:24:31.637
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:24:31.637 --> 00:24:33.272
  • And in the same way, if christ has come to live inside of you,
  • 00:24:33.272 --> 00:24:36.042
  • You will know.
  • 00:24:36.042 --> 00:24:37.443
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:24:37.443 --> 00:24:40.713
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:24:40.713 --> 00:24:42.982
  • All you need to do is say, "jesus, i want this relationship
  • 00:24:42.982 --> 00:24:45.618
  • With you.
  • 00:24:45.618 --> 00:24:47.019
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.988
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:24:48.988 --> 00:24:51.224
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:24:51.224 --> 00:24:52.558
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:24:52.558 --> 00:24:55.394
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:24:55.394 --> 00:24:58.564
  • You could pray it out loud, or you can pray it in the quietness
  • 00:24:58.564 --> 00:25:01.667
  • Of your heart.
  • 00:25:01.667 --> 00:25:03.069
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ to be
  • 00:25:03.069 --> 00:25:06.038
  • Your savior and lord.
  • 00:25:06.038 --> 00:25:07.507
  • Pray this with me now.
  • 00:25:07.507 --> 00:25:08.908
  • "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner, but i know that you're
  • 00:25:08.908 --> 00:25:12.979
  • The savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again
  • 00:25:12.979 --> 00:25:17.416
  • From the dead.
  • 00:25:17.416 --> 00:25:18.885
  • Now come into my life.
  • 00:25:18.885 --> 00:25:21.420
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:25.525
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering
  • 00:25:25.525 --> 00:25:28.160
  • This prayer.
  • 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.695
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:25:29.695 --> 00:25:32.098
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:25:32.098 --> 00:25:34.734
  • If so, i want you to know in the authority of scripture that
  • 00:25:34.734 --> 00:25:37.737
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
  • 00:25:37.737 --> 00:25:41.173
  • And i would love to send to you,
  • 00:25:41.173 --> 00:25:42.675
  • At no charge, something called
  • 00:25:42.675 --> 00:25:44.777
  • The new believer's bible.
  • 00:25:44.777 --> 00:25:46.946
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new testament you'll find
  • 00:25:46.946 --> 00:25:49.916
  • Very understandable.
  • 00:25:49.916 --> 00:25:51.851
  • And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote that will
  • 00:25:51.851 --> 00:25:55.388
  • Encourage you in this commitment you've just made
  • 00:25:55.388 --> 00:25:57.890
  • To follow jesus.
  • 00:25:57.890 --> 00:25:59.225
  • Let me send that to you at no charge.
  • 00:25:59.225 --> 00:26:01.694
  • And let me be the first to say to you,
  • 00:26:01.694 --> 00:26:03.796
  • Congratulations and welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:26:03.796 --> 00:26:07.667
  • Male announcer: explore the life and legacy of one
  • 00:26:09.035 --> 00:26:11.437
  • Of the bible's most captivating
  • 00:26:11.437 --> 00:26:13.272
  • And relatable people, king david.
  • 00:26:13.272 --> 00:26:16.175
  • From shepherd to warrior king, david's journey is marked
  • 00:26:16.175 --> 00:26:19.612
  • By incredible triumphs, heartbreaking failures,
  • 00:26:19.612 --> 00:26:22.648
  • And a relentless pursuit of god's heart.
  • 00:26:22.648 --> 00:26:25.451
  • For a limited time, you can receive "house of david:
  • 00:26:25.451 --> 00:26:28.521
  • 30 days with the man after god's own heart"
  • 00:26:28.521 --> 00:26:31.257
  • With your gift of any amount to harvest ministries.
  • 00:26:31.257 --> 00:26:34.226
  • This brand new devotional is the official companion piece
  • 00:26:34.226 --> 00:26:37.763
  • To the new series on amazon prime,
  • 00:26:37.763 --> 00:26:40.099
  • Exploring timeless lessons from david's life.
  • 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:43.002
  • It reveals how his story can inspire
  • 00:26:43.002 --> 00:26:45.204
  • And guide your walk with god
  • 00:26:45.204 --> 00:26:47.673
  • David's story reminds us that god uses imperfect people
  • 00:26:47.673 --> 00:26:51.243
  • To do extraordinary things.
  • 00:26:51.243 --> 00:26:53.579
  • Support the work of harvest ministries
  • 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:55.781
  • And request your copy of "house of david" today.
  • 00:26:55.781 --> 00:26:59.051
  • Female announcer: jesus says that where two or three are
  • 00:27:00.886 --> 00:27:03.289
  • Gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them.
  • 00:27:03.289 --> 00:27:07.727
  • We are all different.
  • 00:27:07.727 --> 00:27:09.095
  • We have different interests, different personalities,
  • 00:27:09.095 --> 00:27:12.231
  • Different upbringings, and different ways we do life,
  • 00:27:12.231 --> 00:27:16.168
  • But here, we have a deep connection,
  • 00:27:16.168 --> 00:27:19.705
  • And you are welcome here.
  • 00:27:19.705 --> 00:27:23.809
  • This is harvest.
  • 00:27:23.809 --> 00:27:23.809