Turn to the book of the Revelation
chapter 13. The book of the Revelation chapter
13. Just about every time I even
think of the book of the Revelation, I think of what Henry Mahan said. It is indeed the book of the
Revelation of Jesus Christ. Most people seem to think that
the book of the revelation is about prophecy. And there is
prophecy here, no doubt. But the spirit of prophecy is
the testimony of Jesus. Any so-called prophecy that does
not have Christ as its central theme is not of God. Having said that, let's read
Revelation chapter 13, the first nine verses. John is writing
here, and he says, I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw
a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns,
and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of
blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was
like unto a leopard, And his feet were as the feet of a bear,
and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him
his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one
of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound
was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshiped the dragon,
which gave power unto the beast. And they worshiped the beast,
saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war
with him? There was given unto him a mouth,
speaking great things and blasphemies. And power was given unto him
to continue forty and two months." That is three and a half years.
Notice it was given to him. And it is an allotted time. Men
argue as to what it means, but I am here to tell you it means
exactly what it says. No need to go any further. No
need to symbolize or try to spiritualize it. It means what it says. But
then it says, and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,
to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell
in heaven. And it was given unto him to
make war with the saints and to overcome them. God's people
are not always going to be on top. But that's not the point. Any authority that's ever been
given, though it be from the dragon to the beast, it is yet
subject to the sovereign will and purpose of God Almighty.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and
to overcome them. And power was given him over
all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Now here's my text. And all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him, that is this beast. But then it defines these
all, whose names are not written in the book of life or the land
slain from the foundation of the world. Notice that is all
one phrase. Yes, sir. There are many who
would like to separate that by several commas. Oh, yeah. And
ad lib in what they want concerning this passage. But let us see
what it says. And all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of
life or the land slain from the foundation of the world. Amen. And then this last phrase. If
any man have an ear, let him hear. My subject is the Book
of Life. Is there an actual Book of Life? Do God's people have names? Do
people who are not God's people have names? Is life by Christ
real? Is Christ the Lamb that was slain? Was there a time when the foundation
of the world was laid? Yeah. All of that's just as real
as real can be. Therefore, I have no right to
tell you that the book of life is not a real book. Now, maybe
it's a scroll rather than we think of as a book, but nonetheless,
it's real because the land slain from the foundation of the world
is just as real. names either written in, which
it doesn't mention here, or names not written therein, are just
as real. In other words, is the Book of
Life an actual book? Yes. Yes. And what I want to do, first
of all, is give you ten observations concerning the Book of Life.
I'll give you a few other passages and read the surrounding context.
It'll be on tape if you want to go back and check them later.
But we find the Book of Life, that is this Book of Life, the
Book of Life of the Lamb slain for the foundation of the world.
And I picked this passage specifically because it gives us more detail
as to the book's being and what it's about than any other passage. But this book of life is mentioned
in Philippians chapter four and verse three. It's also mentioned
in Revelation chapter three and verse five. It's also mentioned
in Revelation chapter 17 and verse eight, in which the wording
is very similar to what our text is. It's also mentioned in Revelation
chapter 20, verses 11 through 15. And there it says, and the
books were opened. The very word itself indicates
this. They were this. then they are
open. Not in the books were open, but
they were opened. And it says, and another book
was open, which lets me know by indication that at least at
that present time or up until that time, that book is closed. It's sealed. The book of life is also mentioned,
Revelation chapter 21, verse 27, and Revelation chapter 22,
verse 19. There is possibly an allusion
to it by Daniel, in Daniel chapter 12, verse one, but I cannot be
certain about that. And I will not say that it is,
because it does not say it's the book of life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. But be that as it
may, all of these passages will give us what God says about the
Lamb's book of life, as men call it. So let me give you these
10 observations. From this passage, and you can
compare these observations to these other passages as well.
But here's number one. Not everyone's name is written
therein. Exactly. That's clear. It is the book of life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, but added in with
that is this also whose names are not written in the book of
life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Thus
this tells us anyone who reads that that's honest with themselves
must say this book of life was written when? From the foundation
of the world. The common lie taught by many
today is that as you come forward, as you make a decision for Jesus,
as you give your heart to the Lord, as you accept Him as your
personal Savior, then God writes your name down in the Lamb's
Book of Life, and that is not so. But one thing is clear here,
not everyone's name is written in the Book of Life. And if your
name's not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world, you will worship the beast. Again, I say, I realize there
are some who when they read this, they say, that can't mean what
it sounds like it means. It means exactly what it sounds
like it means. And you don't need me to interpret
that to you. I'm simply here to declare it, to enforce it
as true. This is God's word. This is what
we preach. So not everyone's name is written
therein. Here's the second observation. Those persons not written therein,
they shall worship the satanic beast. They will make a choice, but
they have no choice in the matter. They will choose to worship the
beast. They will wonder at him. They will worship him. but they
don't have a choice in it if their names are not written in
the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of
the world. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship
him and it's qualified whose names are not written in the
book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
You got a ear to hear, you best listen to this, the spirit of
God says. So again, those persons not written therein, their names
not written therein, they shall worship the satanic beast. Here's
the third observation. Since this book is of life, it's
a book of life, right? It's the book of life. Since
this book is the book of life, then those whose names are not
written therein, then they are of death. They are of death. We are all of death by nature.
But they are of death forever. And they shall manifest that
death. In what way? Yes, it will be manifest in the
beer joints and the brothels and all of the things, the immorality
of this world, but mainly it's manifest in this, they're gonna
worship the satanic beast. These are not people who deny
religion altogether. Necessarily, are they? They're
gonna worship. The problem is they're worshiping
one who blasphemes God. Since this book is the book of
life, then those whose names are not written therein, then
they are of death, period. No life for them, in spite of
physical life. They're alive on the earth, right?
Those that dwell on the earth, indicating some sense of life,
Joe. But it's not the life that this
book talks about, or has to do with, I should rather say. That's
the third observation. Here's the fourth observation.
The life of the book is not the book. The life of the book is
the life of the lamb slain. My life's not in a book. My life's
in a person. Your life, if you have spiritual
life, yea, even physical life for that matter, because in Him
we live and move and have our being. But especially in the
line of spiritual life, the life's not in the book. It's whose names
are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain. That's
almost like an oxymoron, is it not? Life by death, right? But it's by the death of the
Lamb slain. So that fourth observation, again,
the life of the book is not the book. The life of the book is
the lamb slain. Now that may sound simple enough,
it is simple enough, but yet how profound that is. Because
the God of all glory, the thrice holy God, as scripture presents
him, is one who says, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. So death must come because of
sin. Thank God for some, the lamb
was slain. And life is their portion based
on that. And that's even said to be a
fact, maybe if not in actual time yet, but that's been said
to be a fact, that is the lamb slain, even from the foundation
of the world. That brings me to my fifth observation. Christ being slain to assure
this life, Christ being slain to assure this life is no afterthought
or second chance. Exactly. Is it? That's right. It's the book of life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Adam was created
on the sixth day. The foundation of the world was
laid before that. That's exactly right. So before
Adam even fell, there's this book of life. wherein names are
written of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
Whatever the foundation of the world is and was, this book existed
then. Yea, the slain Lamb existed then
in the sovereign purpose of God Almighty. Before man even fell,
God already had a remedy for the fall. Now that's just a fact. So life
in Christ Jesus is no afterthought with God. It wasn't like, oops,
I'm gonna have to try something else now. There are people who
claim to be Christians who talk like that. And let me tell you
something, this life through the slain lamb is no second chance. It's not a second chance. I don't
need a second chance. Any chance I've ever had, I've
always fouled it up. And if you think of the word
chance in line of opportunity, even look here in the book of
the Revelation. One woman in one of the churches, and God
said, I gave her opportunity to repent. Gave her space. She
did not. And by nature, none of us do.
I don't need a second chance, I need a savior. A third chance a fourth chance
a fifth chance would do me no good This is and all that dwell
upon the earth shall worship him Whose names are not written
in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world I just love to say that over and over and over because
that's what it takes for me to remember that So again, I say
Christ being slain to assure life is no afterthought or second
chance Here's the sixth observation The names in the book have been
there as long as the lamb slain have been there. Yes, sir. Right?
That's right. And that's even stated here to
be from the foundation of the world. Amen. I say this metaphorically, God
has done emptied his pen. The names are already written
therein. That book, by implication, is
closed and will be opened one day according to Revelation chapter
20, as I've already pointed out. And the books were opened, out
of which many people will be judged. But, and another book
was opened. And I can see, Joe, there'll
come a time when God Almighty will unroll that book and lay
it out for eyes to see. Now whether eyes will actually
gaze upon that book, I have no idea. But right now, that book
is closed according to the testimony of scripture. Why is it closed? Because the
blood of the slain lamb has redeemed God's people even before the
foundation of the world. We were predestinated unto adoption
and being predestinated, we were chosen in Christ that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love. This presupposes
the fact that we want to have a problem, God's got to deal
with it. And he dealt with that even before the foundation of
the world. So again, I say the sixth one,
the names in the book have been there as long as the slain lamb
has been. Remember what I mentioned a couple Sundays ago? God is
called the eternal father. To be a father, you must have
a son. So if there is, and more appropriately,
since there is the eternal father, then that lets me know there
is an eternal son. Now that's just logic 101. But this son is the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth. And he was full of
grace and truth before we ever needed grace and truth. Remember, when Adam and Eve were
first created, God pronounced them not only good, but very
good. And then Adam fell. Then Adam fell. But Christ is
the Lamb slain before that. You see, God had already taken
care of our problem before our problem ever arose. Amen. Doesn't that boggle the mind?
He'd already purposed the answer to the problem before the problem
ever surfaced. That's right. Oh, how glorious
are his judgments and his ways past finding out. Amen. Here's the seventh observation.
Life, life, That is this life mentioned in the book, it's the
book of life, but it's the book of life of the Lamb slain. So
life is by the death action of the Lamb, not any action on the
part of those whose names are written therein. This book of
life is about some action, but it's about his action, his death
action, his substitutionary satisfaction of God's divine justice. That's
what this life is based upon. Having your name written in the
Lamb's book of life has nothing to do with you or any act of
yours, no matter how good or evil. It's based upon the lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. And for a true bona
fide sinner, that's good news. Because everything, even my best
efforts, I foul them up in some way or another. And as the prophet
Isaiah said, that even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight. That is the best that I could
present before God is unclean. unclean before God So again,
the seventh observation life is by the death action of the
lamb. It has to do with no action Of those whose names are written
therein Well, if you'll just come to jesus You ought to come
to jesus. Yes, sir That's right. That's
exactly right. You ought to come to jesus, but
coming to jesus ain't gonna give you life. No He has to give you
life before you ever come to him Joe's already adequately
mentioned that this morning. He has to give you life for it.
First, granted, he said, and ye will not come to me that ye
might have life. And you know what? That's true.
That's our problem. If we weren't able to come, we'd
already have life to start with. But the problem is, by nature,
we're born dead in trespasses and sins. And people like that
will not come to him that they might have life. Therefore, Joe,
he has to summon us. He has to call us to life spiritually,
just like he called Lazarus to life physically out of that tomb. So again, I say life is by the
death action of the Lamb, not by any action of those whose
names are written therein. Here's the eighth observation.
Life is guaranteed by the slain Lamb. That's right. Life is guaranteed by the slain
Lamb. Let me just move on. Number nine,
here's the ninth observation. Life must precede any act of
life. Yes, sir. Exactly. You know what
I'm saying? Yeah. Life must precede any act
of life. Whether that life is repentance,
whether that life is faith, whether that life is love, all of these
actions, faith is energized by love. Yes, sir. But life has
to come first. That's right. Any action apart
from life coming first is an act of death. It is that filthy
rags in God's sight that the prophet told us about. So again,
I say life must precede any act of life. Here's the 10th observation. This book, and you go back and
look at all the references to it, this book has names only.
No works. The only works, the only work
that is connected to this book is the lamb's lung. That's the
only work that's ever connected to this book of life, is the
lamb's work. So this book has names only,
no works. For again I say, life must precede
work. And whatever works flow from
this life, they'll be kindred to the life that produced it.
And that's a little bit convoluted, but you understand what I'm saying? This book has names only, no
works. The only work connected to this
life is the work of the Lamb. So this book has names only,
no works, for life must precede work, and whatever works flow
from this life, they're gonna be kindred to the kind of life
that produced it. In other words, at this day and
age, all kinds of people are telling you, here's what honors
God, do this, do that. And it's not even in God's book. They invent works to appease
their own consciences, not before God, but before their own corrupt
consciences. And we are prone to do this as
well. You know, well, you ought to
sing in the choir. Well, God doesn't even tell us
to have a choir. Now if you got one, okay, you
got one, but that's not, it's no favor before God. You need
to teach a Sunday school class. No, no, we invent works. We invent works. The works that
are connected to this life or will be like the life that produced
it. And here's the, what's the opposite of that life? Worshiping
the satanic beast. What's the opposite of that?
Worshiping the lamb that was slain. That's the difference,
the two poles. There's the two opposites. So
there's my, excuse me, 10 observations concerning the Book of Life.
There are many more, but I'm not gonna take the time to go
into those this morning. So let me summarize it by a couple
different statements, and we'll look at a couple different passages
of Scripture. Anyone, and I mean that anyone,
because right here it says, and all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him. That's the beast. whose names
are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. You got an ear, best listen to
this. Anyone who denies, contradicts, or ignores these things, they
insult the wisdom of God. It's just that simple. They insult
the wisdom of God. But it can't really mean that.
That puts God in charge of it all. And that's what we don't
like by nature, is God being in charge of it all. Even some
men's damnation. Even some men's damnation. Anyone
who denies, contradicts, or ignores these things, they insult the
wisdom of God. They insult the veracity of God's
Word. Now, Joe pointed out, you see,
when this book says something, take it for what it says. I don't
care what this preacher says, or that preacher says, or anybody
else says, take the book for what it says. Period. Don't look for its deeper meaning. Pray, God, bow me to what he
says. Anyone who denies, contradicts,
or ignores these things, they mock the very preeminence of
God's slain lamb. When John first begins to receive
these visions, these revelations, remember that he sees God on
the throne in what is it, chapter five, I believe it is, isn't
it? And there's this book there.
Now whether it's the book of life, I don't know, but this
book is sealed with seven seals. As a seal is opened, Okay, remember
this is a scroll, it's got seven of those wax seals on it, and
as a seal is opened, judgments begin to issue forth, right? But there's a lot of weeping
because who's worthy to take this book and loose the seals
and open that book up? There's none. There's none worthy
but one. The land of the tribe of Judah.
He's worthy. He's worthy to take that book
out of the hand of God. Open those seals and to reveal
whatever it is, it's in that book. But when John sees him,
he doesn't see him as the lion of the tribe of Judah, though
the lion of the tribe of Judah he is. Why does he see him? As a lamb, as it had been slain. This is what it's all about.
So again, I'll say anyone who denies, contradicts, or ignores
these things, they insult God's wisdom, they insult the veracity
of God's word, and they mock the preeminence of Jesus Christ
himself. And moreover, those who relegate
the beast's satanic influence to some future time only, they
ignore the direct revelation of Holy Scripture. A lot of people when they read
Revelation 13, well that's all future. I'm not going to argue
with that. I'm not going to argue with that.
But let me tell you, the satanic beast's influence has been at
work in this world for hundreds of years already. Turn to 2 Thessalonians, and I will make a point here
because I'm called to teach as well as to proclaim. Paul says,
at least for his time, when he wrote this, there's one coming.
There's a person coming. It's called a he. It's called
a him. It is not a conglomeration of
different men. It's not a series of popes. It's
one single individual. He calls him a him, singular. And I believe the book means
what it says. He said, now there's one coming, and he's coming after
the power of Satan. Right? And you read it, look
at 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, read it sometime, but look at
what he says in verse 7. The mystery of iniquity doth
already work. The influence of Satan and the
Antichrist, the influence of Satan and the beast has already
been at work for some odd 2,000 years now. Now that's one witness. Scripture
says you gotta have it established in the mouth of at least two,
right? All right, turn to 1 John. Listen to what John says about
it. 1 John chapter four. Listen to
what John said. Now, this is the same John that
was given this revelation of Jesus Christ. The one from which
our text was, Revelation 13, one through nine. And listen
to what John wrote. Beloved, believe not every spirit. Now, he's not talking about ethereal
beings here. He's talking about that force that motivates speakers.
That's what he's talking about. That inner life, which is a life
of death for some, I know it's oxymoron, but they have physical
life, but they got no spiritual life. Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby I
know ye the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth,
not just says it, confesses it. That's something you put your
money where your mouth is, isn't it? Hereby I know ye the spirit
of God. Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is covered in the flesh is of God. And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh
is not of God. And it is that simply cut and
dry. But look, and this is that of
Antichrist. The spirit doesn't hurt that.
And this is that spirit of Antichrist, where have you heard that it
should come? Yeah. And everybody still was, oh,
that's to come. That's all to come. That's all something to
come. No, what'd he say? And even now,
already is in the world. So I'm here to tell you that
according to the authority of God's own word, even in this
day and age, even from the time of the apostles themselves, people
whose names are not written in the book of life or the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world, they are worshiping
the beast. Know it or not, they're worshiping the beast right now. Not one day, oh one day, I think
this will be manifest in a way that's never been seen before.
But they're already worshiping the beast now. How do I know
that? Because they don't worship Christ.
Because they don't worship, because there are only two things. You
either worship Christ or you worship something else. That's where it all boils down
to. That's even manifested when you see that Paul talking in
the book of Romans chapter one, that when men, when they knew
God, those people that built that tower of Babel, they knew
God was up there. Did they not? One true God. And then we'll build them a tower
and get up there to God. But you know what Paul says about
people back then? He said they turned the glory
of the incorruptible God and made him like it to corruptible.
Beasts, men, creeping things, fowls of the air. And one of
these days, there will come one along who says, now all of that
worship that you issue forth, you direct that toward me. But
you know what? Men are already doing that now
in spirit. Ah, but those who believe God,
They rejoice in both God's sovereign mercy and His sovereign hardening.
That's right, He has mercy on whom will have mercy. And that
is all, don't you thank God for that. Don't you thank God for
that. But He also says, and whom He
will, He hardens. Isn't that what it says? That's
what it says. In other words, they rejoice
in life based wholly upon Christ the Lamb slain. In my hands,
no price I bring, simply to Christ I will cling. Those who believe
God, they love God for all of his glorious qualities, both
good and severe. Look at Romans 11, verse 22. Paul declares God is good. Oh
yes, but God is also severe. Behold, therefore, he says, the
goodness and severity of God. Amen. But that is not so-called
Christianity in our day, is it? No. They deny the severity of
God, and it's a holy severity. It's a just severity. Yes, sir.
Neil, he's right in doing what he does to men, whatever he does
to men. whether it's mercy and compassion
or whether it's hardening. He's right. He's right in giving
the beast power to go three and a half years. That's his business. That's his business. Writing
some names down in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world and others leaving out, that's his business.
And those who truly believe God, they honor him in both sides
of that coin. Both of them. There's a passage,
you're aware of it. Acts chapter 13, verse 48. And
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Now think about
that real good and strong for a moment. And as many as were
ordained to eternal life believed. Thus, this lets me know, ordination
to life must precede life itself. right? As many as were ordained
to eternal life believed. So let's know that ordination
to life precedes life, and life precedes believing. That's what
it says. It's right there, pinned by Luke,
being inspired by the Spirit of God to say, here's God's take
on the matter. It don't matter what my take
is on the matter. This is what God said. And as
many as. were ordained to eternal life, believed. Ordained to life
by sovereign decree. Yes, sir. Ordained to life by
written decree. Names are written down in this
book. Ordained to life by sovereign decree. Ordained to life by written
decree. Ordained to life by Christ's
death. Ordained to life by the Spirit's work of regeneration.
and ordained to life by gospel conversion. We cannot see the
book. John has seen that the book exists. He's seen the book opened in
a prophetic vision. Paul the apostle knew the book
existed. He talks about those whose names
were written in the book of life. He knows it's there, Joe. But
none of us other than John through this prophetic revelation, nobody's
ever seen it. Can't see the book. So how do
I know my name's there? How do I know my name's there?
Do you see and believe the son? Look at John chapter six and
listen to what our Lord said about this matter. John chapter
six. By what I can tell from the book
of God, that book of life, sometime or another, Mason was rolled
up and closed. And one day, according to John
in Revelation chapter 20, when that great white throne, when
this massive humanity stands and has to flee from there. There's
no place for them. And the books are opened and
another book was opened. That's when it's gonna be opened.
So I can't see that book. I have no idea if my name's in
that book by looking at it, testing it. Is this God's own handwriting,
Joe? Exactly. Did God write my name there?
Yeah. You understand? Even if I got to see it, I wouldn't
know whether it was really it or not. Exactly. Would you? Would
we really? Would we really? Just an old
roll rolled up with names on it. People, it's signed by God himself. Now, come on now. But this is the book of life
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Now listen to what
that Lamb said in John chapter six and verse 36. But he said
unto, but I said unto you that ye also have seen me, and you
don't believe not. So some people can actually see
Christ and still not believe him. These people had physically
seen him. They had just been fed by him.
He took, what was it, a few loaves and a few fishes and fed multitudes. And they were so full, they liked
that. And they followed him around that sea, remember? And this
is the next day. And he said, but I said unto
you that ye also see me and believe not. All that the Father giveth
me shall come to me. You see that? So in other words,
you gotta come. But you ain't gonna come unless
you're first given. Now that's what that says. All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out. Now, do you believe him? I don't
care. No, you haven't seen that book. I haven't seen that book.
I know it exists. I know it's got names in it.
But who are they? Well, here's what he said. You
come to me, then you know this, the Father gave you to me. And
I won't cast you out if you come to me. For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
So, by implication, the Father has a will to be carried out
by Jesus Christ. That will was established before
he came, because he came to do the will. And this is, so here
we go. And this is the Father's will.
So now we don't have to speculate. Right? We don't have to speculate. We might think there's a whole
lot more to it, but that don't matter. What does he say right here?
And this is the Father's will, which has sent me, that of all
which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise
it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that
sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son and believeth. Do you see that? Do you see him
in a way that you can't help but believe him? That's what
I'm saying. That's what Christ will say.
Do you see him in a way? Some people seen him and they
seen him in a spectacular way, Joe, but they still didn't believe
him. But have you seen him in a way that you can't help but
believe? This is the will of him that sent me that everyone
would see if the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life
and I will raise him up at the last day. And then what did they
do? They do just what men still do
today. They begin to murmur and complain
about this. The Jews then murmured at him
because he said I am the bread which came down from heaven And
they said it's not Joseph's son whose father and mother we know
this is the same people that tell would tell him later Where
is your father? Let me tell you some religious people get really
mean once you cut their water off Once God saws them down at
the knees there still will rebel against God Huh? How is it then
that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered
and said unto them, murmur not among yourselves. No man can
come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him,
and I will raise him up the last day. You know why? Because the
prophets have already said it. It's written in the prophets,
and they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that
hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me. upon the authority of God Almighty's
word. If you truly come to Christ,
seeing and believing, you can rest assured your name's in that
book. That's right. You can rest assured my name's
in that book. Why? Because God is carrying
out this book of life. He didn't write it and then depending
upon men to bring it to pass. No, God Almighty is bringing
every aspect of it to pass. And I thank him for that. Because
had he not made me see and believe, I would have never seen and believed.
I would have never. But you know what, when God opens
your eyes, Joe, you can't help but see. You might try to run
from it, but you can still see it. You might get confused by
it, but you'll still see it. You might not understand a whole
lot of it, but you still see it. And that's good enough in
it to see the son and believe on him what more could you ask
what a blessing that is We don't deserve that Do we to see the
son and believe on he said I will He's swearing on it. I will raise
him up at the last day father Teach us these things comfort
us by them through thy son, and I think in his name Amen That's good.