WEBVTT 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:11.759 You're listening to the road with Pastor Peter Steve Holt. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:18.320 If you don't know God's will on something, just do what you know is already happening in heaven and you'll find it. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:20.800 I think God likes those kind of people. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.239 Oh, he's getting ready for heaven. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.160 He's doing what we're doing up here. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:29.039 Oh, uh, I'm not gonna bless him. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:32.560 I'm gonna make it as hard as possible for him to find me. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:38.000 Now, I'll think about worship and fire. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:43.679 Today, Pastor Steve continues his series on the book of Revelation. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:49.600 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:54.079 For more information on The Road, visit the Road.org. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:59.359 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:21.120 On August 2015, Vester Flanagan gunned down a television crew doing a live broadcast, and within minutes he posted the chilling videos on Twitter and Facebook of the killing he wanted everyone to know. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:37.280 Only weeks prior to Flanagan's attack, nine African American believers in a prayer meeting were shot to death at Emmanuel African American Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:50.560 Within a few months, another young gunman walked into an Oregon community college in terrorized classrooms full of students and would ask people directly, Are you a Christian? 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:55.280 And those who professed their faith were immediately shot in the head. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:06.959 Last week, the first lady of the United States of America, Melania Trump, read the Lord's Prayer before a rally in Florida and was ridiculed by the press. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:13.840 Within two generations, our country has gone from honoring biblical values to despising them. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:21.039 David spoke of this in Psalm 2 of what would happen in the latter days. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:27.759 Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:45.840 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us. 00:02:46.479 --> 00:03:00.400 We've watched the slaughter of thousands of Christians in the Middle East from ISIS thugs, all caught on film and posted Facebook and Twitter and even major news networks. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:10.080 We are seeing, church, the birth pangs, the Braxton hicks, the birth pangs of the coming of the Lord. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:15.280 And as we near the coming of the Lord, here's our thesis in the book of Revelation. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:17.199 We're in the book of Revelation. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:45.199 And the thesis of the book of Revelation as I see it, besides being the splendor of the overcoming Jesus in all his glory in the latter days, is that even as persecution is rising, so will rise a tidal wave of the Holy Spirit with fresh anointing and power with a great awakening like the world has never seen before. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:48.960 It will be the first great awakening under Jonathan Edwards. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.080 It'll be the second great awakening under Charles Finney. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:58.719 It will be the Jesus movement in the 1960s and 1970s, all lumped together. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:17.040 Freaks, hippies, weirdos, those with every conceivable gender problem possible, getting saved and getting filled with the Holy Spirit and having their demons cast out. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.680 God's gonna move mightily. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:24.319 This is the most wonderful time to be alive. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.079 It's exciting. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:34.879 The reality is this, men and women, that God never leads his church in any darkness without giving them greater power to handle the darkness. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:47.600 Jesus never leads us to the edge of the precipice of the work of demonic powers against the church without then empowering his church with unprecedented grace and mercy and love. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:57.519 And so if Jesus builds his church, if Jesus builds his church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:02.480 And so one of the things that we have to remember at the road on a regular basis, who's building this church? 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:03.600 It's not me. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:07.279 It's not Ryan, it's not our shepherds and stewards. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:10.000 We're just under-shepherds of the chief shepherd. 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:12.480 He's the senior pastor of this church. 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.759 And if he builds this church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:23.839 Did you know that there's more human slaves today than any other time in human history? 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:29.279 Human trafficking of young children is in an epidemic like the world has never known. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:39.680 The pornography industry rakes in$97 billion each year around the world, with at least nine, with at least 13 billion coming from the United States alone. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:44.000 Islam is on the move in an unprecedented way. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:48.160 Joel Rosenberg calls it the apocalyptic Islam. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:57.759 He has written, quote, they want to establish their global Islamic kingdom where everybody must follow Islam or die. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:05.920 And when I read that, I'm not saying that in any way everybody in Islam is apocalyptic Islam. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:14.000 And our Muslim neighbors that we have in some of our neighborhoods, man, we should be reaching out with the greatest of love and mercy and befriending them in every way. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:28.639 Some of you in this room might be of Muslim faith, and we welcome you here because you have a deep respect for Jesus Christ as a prophet, and we believe Jesus Christ was the Messiah. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:32.000 And if you keep coming, so will you. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:34.560 Don't miss this, church. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:39.439 With greater prayer, there will be greater power. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:43.920 So let's turn our Bibles to Luke, excuse me, to Revelation chapter 11. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:46.879 And that's where we are as we go through the book of Revelation. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:52.079 If you're on the app, you can go to the app and the passage is there in the app. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:57.279 Revelation 11 is one of the most exciting chapters in the book of Revelation. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:06.959 And we're going to be talking about these two witnesses that come on the scene with signs and wonders that everybody's going to see. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:14.000 I mean, everybody's going to see this on CNN and NBC and ABC and CBS and the BBC and the Fox News. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:17.600 Everybody's going to see what we're going to read here because the whole world sees it. 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:18.560 It's right here. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.959 That's why, I mean, it's really exciting. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:30.879 Even 20 years ago, this couldn't be true until the whole telecommunications and satellites had evolved to where it is today, that this can actually happen, and we've seen it. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:41.920 You know, we've seen this happen before with uh the Gulf War, the Second Gulf War, uh, where we watched almost like we were spectators, watching the events occur. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:46.480 I can still remember being in California visiting some supporters of us. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:59.519 We were back from furlough from Japan and watching the whole war break forth under uh George Bush, the first uh George Bush president uh when we attacked in the first Gulf War. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:01.040 And it was all right there. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.040 We are in the three and a half years. 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:06.879 This is a three and a half years of peace during the Great Tribulation. 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:09.839 That's where we find ourselves in Revelation 11. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:12.639 Very interesting first two verses. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:27.839 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff, and someone said, Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:34.000 Now, he's not speaking here of the temple in heaven, he's speaking of a temple on earth. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:40.559 This is a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:53.600 Leave out the court which is outside the temple, do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:09:12.559 So we believe there's been some kind of a peace treaty with the Antichrist, who is risen in power, and we don't know if he's over the whole earth or not, but it appears to me that nations, it's we might call it the internationalization of Jerusalem, has occurred. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:23.679 And Christians and Jews and Muslims and other faiths are all in Jerusalem, kind of trampling the city. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:26.000 You'll understand that in just a moment. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:38.639 For it has been given to the nations, and they will tread underfoot the holy city for 42 months, or almost exactly three and a half years. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:41.440 So there's some kind of a peace treaty. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:52.720 There is a work of God using this peace treaty to give the Jews permission, as it were, to rebuild the temple. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.000 And I'll explain in a moment. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:58.720 I don't believe that even the dome of the rock will be destroyed. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:15.840 Jesus said, one of the key ways that we will see and understand that we are in the last days is through this abomination of desolation that Daniel spoke of being in the holy place. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.639 So he says this in Matthew 24, 15. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:29.039 Therefore, this is Jesus speaking, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:31.919 That's a rebuilt temple. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:40.240 And then parenthetically, Matthew parenthetically put in there, whoever reads, let him understand. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:45.759 Jesus is presupposing a temple being rebuilt in the latter days. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:11:08.720 Paul in 2 Thessalonians says this concerning the coming of the Lord, the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or all that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:10.080 Now that hasn't happened yet. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:11.120 That's coming up. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:15.600 When we get to Revelation 13 in a couple weeks, that whole chapter is on the beast. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:21.039 That whole chapter is what the Antichrist will look like, how he will rise to power. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.200 But he's not doing that yet. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:24.320 He's not in the temple yet. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:28.000 I believe this is a time of peace leading up to that. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:40.159 Interesting that Paul would say that in 2 Thessalonians when Paul would have been alive in 70 AD when Titus destroyed Jerusalem. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:42.320 Totally destroyed Jerusalem. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:52.159 He's not speaking of something related to Titus, he's speaking of something, and he wrote this after Titus had done what he did in Jerusalem. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:12:09.759 And when we were on our last tour that I led out to Israel some six years ago, we went to the temple institute in Jerusalem where the garments of the priest have already been made. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:17.039 They're prepared for the temple sacrifices and for the rebuilding of the temple. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:26.320 Over 90, now this is six years dated, I haven't looked it up, but over 90 of the hundred implements have already been made for the temple. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:35.120 The harps for the Levitical priesthood have already been made according to the Levitical and Pentateuch standards. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:55.039 So traditionally, we've heard, if any of you are have studied end times much, and eschatology, which is the study of end times, has been this idea that the dome of the rock would somehow need to be destroyed in the Temple Mount area, and that that's where the temple would be rebuilt. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:13:01.840 But the most recent archaeological excavations have shown that it's actually a hundred meters north. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:05.440 So a hundred meters north of where the dome of the rock is. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:09.440 And raise your hand if you know what I'm talking about when I when I speak of the Dome of the Rock. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:09.919 Okay. 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:11.600 Okay, so about half of you. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:23.759 So the Dome of the Rock is, if you look at a photograph of Jerusalem, usually from the eastern side, that's a popular area, you see that golden dome. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:28.799 That is the second most holy place to Islam. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:35.519 It is built on the Temple Mount where the Temple of Solomon once was. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:43.679 So the theory has been that that would somehow have to be destroyed in order for a new temple to be built. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:52.080 But I'm telling you, there's new archaeological excavations underneath the Temple Mount that seem to indicate that some hundred meters north. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.840 I mean, nobody knows this for sure. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.600 But it seems like 100 meters north is where the Temple Mount is. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:05.759 And so it could be that the dome of the rock would actually be in the outer court of the new temple that's rebuilt. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:17.679 So Muslims and Christians and Jews could be in this internationalization period all in that particular area during these 42 months. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:18.879 Verse 3. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:23.120 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:32.159 And they will prophesy for 1,260 days, three and a half years, clothed in sackcloth. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:40.399 So the picture here is these two guys come forth and they are anointed by God. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:46.799 This is simultaneous with 144,000 Jewish evangelists. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:49.519 So we already studied 144,000. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:53.679 You can go back and listen to that if you want to in a previous sermon. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:15:05.200 But during these last days, God anoints 144,000 Jews who will come to Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit, filled with anointing and power. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:09.840 These are not churchmen, these are evangelists. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:24.320 And I believe it's all over the world, not just in this area, but all over the world, they are evangelizing this the Messiah that they have discovered, and they are excitedly and joyfully preaching the gospel all over. 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:31.440 And I believe that's what that three and a half year period of peace is this great awakening and revival. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:36.799 So there's a revival in the church and awakening in the cities happening all over the world. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.039 So how is this, how, how could this be? 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.679 What is going on? 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:56.080 Let me say this there's more people alive right now on the earth than all past civilizations and generations combined. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:01.279 Can you imagine a great awakening in our time? 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:08.000 We will populate heaven like it's never been populated before. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.960 That's why I believe so much in this millennial generation. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:20.799 As I told you last week, God showed me in that dream, God's mighty millennials. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:36.080 That God has anointed you to be a generation, the abortion generation, nonetheless, who will come forth with signs and wonders and power and anointing like the world has never seen before. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.679 It's exciting. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:41.600 And all of us that have gone ahead of them, you're supposed to mentor them. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:44.639 So your job's not done yet. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.480 Revelation 7. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:52.720 If you have your Bible open, turn to Revelation 7, and this is what's happening, and this is where the power is flowing from. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:56.080 This is where the power is flowing from before the throne. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:17:29.440 Verse 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and prom palm branches were in their hands, and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne, and they worshiped God. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:41.279 Verse 14, and I said to them, My Lord, you know, and he said, These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:51.119 For this reason they are before the throne, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:18:01.119 So men and women, when before the throne during this time, and it's starting to gather momentum, even right now in our day. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:24.240 If we're seeing the inklings of that period coming upon us, those saints, those believers on that beach that we saw on the news who were beheaded by Isis are before the throne worshiping, crying out, and they're not crying out, oh Lord, just show your love on the earth. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:28.079 I think they're crying out, Lord, bring justice upon the earth. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.720 Scriptures say they're saying, Justice. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:36.559 Because men and women, there is a justice, God, in heaven. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:40.319 And wrongs will be made right. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.240 And it's coming. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:19:01.440 And so with groups like those at IHOP and those in 24-7 ministries of prayer and what's happening when we meet together at noon on Wednesday, and then what happens in the morning and the evening at every home for Christ with the act school. 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.799 They're just lying, you're just lining up with what's already happening in heaven. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.400 That's pretty good. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:14.319 If you don't know God's will on something, just do what you know is already happening in heaven and you'll find it. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:18.160 I mean, God likes those kind of people. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:21.519 Oh, he's getting ready for heaven. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:23.599 He's doing what we're doing up here. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:26.880 Okay, but I'm not gonna bless him. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:30.480 I'm gonna make it as hard as possible for him to find me. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.839 No, I don't think so. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:36.079 I think God loves worship and prayer. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:47.200 Wouldn't it be exciting if God's moving this church to a point where there's 24-7 prayer happening at the road and we're joining what's already happening in heaven? 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.559 That's good. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:20:01.279 So in the latter days, as in the book of Acts, as the as the prayer power rises in the church, the power of the Holy Spirit rises in the community. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.799 Do I understand this? 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.559 I absolutely do not. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:10.799 Why do we go and pray something that God puts on our heart to tell God what he already knows? 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.279 That's so weird. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:23.440 That he's interceding for us for something he already knows because he's sovereign, and then he tells us something that he already knows that we're supposed to pray back to him that he already knows. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:30.480 And yet he calls us to pray that way, and so power follows prayer warriors. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:48.720 So as the spirit of prayer rises at the road and at other churches in our city and through every hump for Christ and other groups across the nation and around the world, the power of the Holy Spirit is rising, and so right here in heaven we see that they're crying out to God. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:58.160 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:06.160 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:10.720 So if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.480 So this is not Mr. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.480 Rogers' Christianity. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.400 I mean, this is really different. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.799 This is like, I just want to be your neighbor. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:22.000 I don't think so. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:28.319 I mean, it says that fire comes out of their mouth, and if it says fire comes out of their mouth, I think fire comes out of their mouth. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:39.440 And it may not be the only place it's happening, it's just that it's focused in this case by John, God giving him that revelation through the vision that he sees of what's happening in Jerusalem. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:48.240 But I wonder if these 144,000 Jewish believers and others that are getting saved also have this kind of supernatural power. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:56.640 Verse 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying. 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.759 That means three and a half years, no rain. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:07.200 And they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague as often as they desire. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:09.039 So who are these ninjas? 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:12.880 I mean, who are these spirit-filled ninjas of the Lord? 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:17.519 There's three, there's actually three perspectives, three different theories. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:37.920 The first is some say Joshua, the son of Josedek and Zerebel, because the reference to the two lampstands before the Lord of the earth, which seems to reference Zechariah 4, and Zechariah sees a vision of two olive trees feeding the olive oil to a large lampstand. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:42.480 So that was in the time of Joshua and Zarebabel. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:45.920 But I don't think that's not what I think it is. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:49.039 The other is Elijah and Enoch. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:58.160 Many scholars believe this because these men never died a physical death, but actually were raptured or translated up without dying. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:01.359 Two men who did not die in Scripture. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:09.759 And that is because of Hebrews 9.27 that says, and as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.359 So they were raptured. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:15.599 The theory is they were raptured because God's not done with them yet. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:24.559 That they're actually in heaven right now, in their physical bodies, and they will be released again upon the earth for the latter days. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:31.200 The problem with that theory is that many in the Bible have died twice and been raised. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:38.880 So Elisha raised up a widow's son from the dead, Jesus raised the daughter of Jarius, Dorcas was raised up through Peter. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.279 And so there's people who have died twice, and so I don't believe it's them. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.359 Here's what I believe. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.440 And I could be wrong. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.319 I mean, who knows? 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.079 I mean, God's the only one really who knows. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:52.880 But I believe one is Elijah. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:24:00.319 Now turn in your Bibles, just keep your finger in Revelation, but turn your Bibles to the last book of the Old Testament, which is Malachi. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:09.200 So look at Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, and very interesting cryptic verse. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:11.200 Malachi chapter 4. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:24.160 And I'm gonna read, a lot of people read it from verse 5, but for the sake of what I'm gonna share, I'm gonna read it from verse 4, the verse before. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:29.759 So Malachi here is prophesying of the latter days. 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:37.200 And chapter 4 of Malachi's, and remember, after this was written, there's 400 years of silence. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:48.880 So this is actually the last chapter, and it wasn't a chapter then, but the last word of revelation to the nation of Israel for some 400 years. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.039 So they're like meditating on this. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.240 And look what it says. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.519 Look at verse 4. 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.839 Remember the law of Moses. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.119 You ought to underline that. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:06.079 Remember the law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel with the statutes and judgments. 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:08.799 Behold, I send you Elijah. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.720 Underline that. 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:25.359 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest they come and strike the earth with a curse. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:34.400 So I believe it's Elijah, because he says, for three and a half years he shuts up the heavens, and that's exactly what Elisha did. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:36.079 If you have any doubts about it, read James. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:48.400 So James says, Didn't Elijah, man just like us, say that it would not rain, and then for three and a half years, it actually says three years and six months in the Greek there, it did not rain. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:52.319 So he's calling out what Elisha did in the way of signs and wonders. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:57.200 And then we also have the passage that Elisha will come back, and that's why there was confusion about John the Baptist. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:02.640 Is John Elisha who is to come? 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.079 Even Jesus was confused. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:09.519 Is Jesus the Elisha who's to come? 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:17.279 Because even the rabbis at that time believed that in the latter days Elisha would appear again. 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:20.480 And if you also recall, Elisha never saw death. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:24.720 He was translated in a chariot that went to heaven. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:35.039 And then it says, power over waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with all kinds of plagues. 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.400 Who did that? 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:37.519 Moses. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:41.599 Moses is referenced in Malachi 4.4 here. 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:47.680 Moses and the miracles that he did are referenced also in Revelation. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:57.119 So I believe it's Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets standing together, prophesying to the nations. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:00.160 Not Charlton Heston, Moses. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:08.160 These were the two on the Mount of Transfiguration, talking to Jesus about his death and resurrection. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.240 It was Moses and Elisha. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:14.799 And also, do you realize we don't know what happened to Moses' body? 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.240 Pretty curious. 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.599 Jude 9. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:21.839 Another little cryptic passage which most of us don't understand, me included. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:29.839 Here's what it says Michael, the archangel's disputing with the devil about the body of Moses. 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.920 That is weird, man. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:35.759 So you got this body of Moses that they're like having a tug of war with. 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.160 I want it. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.039 No, I can get it. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.519 I want it. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:47.279 And it's almost like the archangel who is the who is the guardian angel over the nation of Israel is saying, no, God's not done with that body yet. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.440 We're going to get that body back. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.519 We got some more to do with that body. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.720 Luke 24, 4. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:58.799 It happened as they were greatly perplexed at the resurrection. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:04.160 That behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.759 Angels? 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.359 Maybe not. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:09.920 Conjecture here, but could be. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:12.240 It's Elijah and Moses. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.839 Verse 7. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:25.599 When they had finished their testimony, by the way, Revelation 11, 7 is the Antichrist's favorite verse in the Bible. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:30.640 The verse I'm about to read is the beast's favorite verse in the Bible. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.880 He has it memorized. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:41.759 When they had finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the obvious will make war with them and overcome them and kill them. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:43.359 He knows that. 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:01.680 This is the first time that the beast is mentioned in Revelation. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:06.079 And from this point on, we're going to have 36 references to the beast. 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:11.599 He really starts to take center stage in this last part of the book of Revelation. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:14.480 This is really encouraging. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:17.119 This is actually one of the most encouraging. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:20.400 Do you realize this is one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible? 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:28.480 I know you're looking at me like you've lost your Georgia brain. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.640 What are you talking about? 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.680 It is. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.799 Because here's what this says to us, church. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:37.680 God has numbered your days. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:47.920 For every Jesus follower, if you're a Jesus follower in this room, God has a course for you to run. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:57.359 And you're not going to be translated, you are not going to die one day too early or one day too late from God's design for you. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.640 Isn't that exciting? 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:04.480 So Paul said to the Ephesian elders at my latest, I must finish my course. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:08.240 Each one of you have a course to finish. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:12.960 I did a seminar yesterday on how to teach the Bible to transform lives. 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.759 Many of you were there. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:15.279 It was an awesome time. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:19.440 And when we were teaching that, we were going through God's word. 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:25.440 We were talking about how do you learn to teach God's word in an effective and powerful way that transforms lives? 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:36.000 It spoke to me of how important it is that we number our days and the impact that we have with whatever God's called you to do. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:42.720 Some of you are architects, and some of you are entrepreneurs of your own company. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:48.079 Some of you have coffee shops, some of you are mechanics, some of you are counselors, some of you are pastors and teachers. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:54.799 Each one of us in this room has a calling, and there is a course for you to run. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:59.039 Number your days is what the scriptures say. 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:05.359 You're indestructible until it's the right time. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:21.839 I'm not saying go and just eat candy and drink beer and live it up because I'm indestructible. 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:29.200 Because we we we marry that with obedience and holiness in our lives as we walk with the Lord. 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:32.160 But isn't that exciting that God's number of your days? 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:38.480 And so we can pray for healing, and sometimes people don't get healed, but it's always a win-win for the believer. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:40.880 It's always a win-win. 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:47.519 Because if it's your time to go, you get to be with Jesus before we do, and that's awesome. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:49.920 Get our mansions ready. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:58.400 But if you if you're called by God to stay here and get healed, then make it count. 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:06.160 Wonder how different it would be if we knew somehow in the spirit, you have 1,260 days. 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.519 How we'd live differently. 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:09.359 I know I live differently. 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:18.720 And so that's exciting to me that God calls us to number our days, Psalm 90, 12. 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:23.359 So teach us to number our days that we may gain what? 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:25.440 A heart of wisdom. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:26.960 Church. 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:30.319 Men and women, you have a course to run. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.960 Run it wholeheartedly. 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.960 Love God each day. 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:38.640 Wake up, say, Lord, today I want to love you with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and strength. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.920 And my neighbor is myself. 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:43.359 Guide me, lead me, show me how to do that. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:55.680 Man, you start praying like that, and you think that there's not going to be this work of angels and this work of the Spirit all around your life, and supernatural stuff's gonna begin to happen. 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.759 Verse 8. 00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:08.640 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which mystically is called Sodom in Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:13.119 Egypt was famous for idolatry and Sodom for immorality. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:20.720 So I believe in Jerusalem at that time there is tremendous idolatry, tremendous immorality. 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:23.839 And their bodies are laying in the streets. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:32.000 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.000 And so everybody can see it. 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:35.920 All the news networks are there. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:41.039 You can see, finally, oh, this guy's tortured us. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:44.319 They're finally dead, and everybody can see it. 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:50.240 And they will not allow their dead bodies to be put into the graves because they want everybody to see it. 00:33:50.480 --> 00:34:03.759 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:13.920 And so all of the satellites are watching this thing, and they're so happy, and there's there's new kinds of greeting cards. 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:18.880 You know, the dead, two guys, greeting cards. 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:23.760 Two guys dead, greeting cards. 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:28.480 You know, there's two guys in a truck or something, and there's two guys dead, greeting cards. 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:30.880 I don't know if they'll call them witnesses. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:39.440 They probably wouldn't call a witness if you're an unbeliever, but and so, and so they see this, everybody's happy, and then God's gonna crash the party. 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.679 Verse 11. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:51.840 Now, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God enters into them, and they stood on their feet. 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:54.159 That's pretty freaky, folks. 00:34:54.400 --> 00:35:00.239 And then they rise up, breath comes in, these guys, and it just freaks everybody out. 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:10.239 After the three and a half days, the life of the breath of life from God enters into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:12.800 Oh no, they're back. 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:16.639 Oh no, they're alive. 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:19.039 And everybody sees it. 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:21.840 And like I said, 20 years ago you couldn't even have done this, but now you can. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:24.000 Everybody can see this happening. 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:26.639 And everybody's freaking out. 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:30.480 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here. 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:32.880 So they hear the voice. 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:42.880 Remember what I've said again and again over the last few weeks that the purpose of the great tribulation period is not mainly judgment. 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:46.800 It's really an invitation to get saved. 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:51.760 It's opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to give your heart to Christ. 00:35:52.719 --> 00:36:03.760 It's the longing heart and the loving, merciful heart of Christ crying out, and he's showing them ways to get saved and to come to Christ. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:06.880 And now they're gonna see a resurrection. 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:11.280 But even that is not gonna be good enough. 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.239 Come up here. 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:15.679 So now they hear a voice, and he's not done yet. 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:22.800 They ascend to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:34.079 In the same hour, there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell, and the earthquake, 7,000 people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:40.800 That means some are fearful and do nothing, others are fearful and they get saved, and the second woe is passed. 00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:42.800 Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:44.800 So cameras are rolling. 00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:47.920 The beast kills the two witnesses. 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.760 He couldn't kill them before, they were indestructible. 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.400 He kills them. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:54.719 For three and a half days, they just they're out in the streets and everybody's celebrating. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:56.159 Everybody's happy. 00:36:56.400 --> 00:37:02.559 Cakes are being built with, like, you know, you can see the cake with the like the two little witnesses on top, you know? 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:04.800 And maybe they've got arrows through them or something. 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:05.280 I don't know. 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.239 I mean, who knows? 00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:14.639 And then all the warlocks and sorcerers and witches have their little dolls with little pins in them, ah, you know, whatever. 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:17.119 And then and then they rise up. 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:20.079 But that's not good enough. 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:29.519 Then they hear a voice from heaven, everybody hears it, and they ascend to heaven on a cloud. 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:40.400 Now, how many times have you heard people say to you, well, if I could just see a resurrection, or if I could just see a miracle, I'd believe. 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:50.239 And every time that's said, God hears it, and those that are around in the latter days are gonna see it. 00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:52.880 A resurrection and an ascension. 00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:57.119 So, men and women, we're living an exciting, exciting time. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:38:01.199 We're on the precipice of a great move of God around the world. 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:02.480 We're a part of it. 00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:07.840 We are a church that gets to be a part of this great move of God. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:09.440 Believe that this week. 00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:10.960 Believe that at work. 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:13.119 Take opportunity to share your faith. 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:15.360 Look for ways to show God's love. 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:18.960 Look for ways to reach out to those that nobody cares about. 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:21.760 Reach out to them with the love of Christ. 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:27.599 Because people are hungry, they're more hungry and they're more thirsty than they've ever been. 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:29.599 Don't believe the reports. 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:31.760 It's not true. 00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:53.760 Almost every person that I share my faith with in a winsome way, I try to be as winsome as I can under God's grace, are open to the love of God because most people's view of Christ has been relegated to a stereotype that they receive from the church, which is not biblically accurate. 00:38:54.639 --> 00:39:07.280 And so we are called by God to be a church that is wholeheartedly devoted to Christ, but that we also reflect God's life and his mercy to those around us. 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:13.519 You've been listening to The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:16.639 We hope you have been blessed by today's message. 00:39:16.800 --> 00:39:20.639