Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan?
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0:09 - 0:11As the apostle says,
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0:11 - 0:15"Because of one man's trespass,
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0:15 - 0:19death reigned through that one man.
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0:19 - 0:21Death was never the norm.
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0:21 - 0:24It was never originally sewn
into the fabric of man. -
0:24 - 0:32Death shouts to us that
something is horribly wrong. -
0:32 - 0:34Wars.
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0:34 - 0:37Rumors of wars.
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0:37 - 0:40Life-taking earthquakes,
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0:40 - 0:43and tsunamis and Alzheimer's disease.
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0:43 - 0:46They all stare in the
face at us every day, -
0:46 - 0:48and they just cry out,
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0:48 - 0:51Sin and death!
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0:51 - 0:55Sin and death! Sin and death!
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0:55 - 0:59But I want you to notice
something with me. -
0:59 - 1:03Notice very carefully.
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1:03 - 1:08If you're in Luke 21.
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1:08 - 1:11Look with me.
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1:11 - 1:14Verse 10
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1:14 - 1:17"Nation will rise up against nation.
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1:17 - 1:18Kingdom against kingdom.
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1:18 - 1:21There will be great earthquakes
in various places, -
1:21 - 1:24famines and pestilences.
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1:24 - 1:27There will be terrors
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1:27 - 1:31and great signs from heaven.
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1:31 - 1:34Now, make sure you don't
miss that last part. -
1:34 - 1:38Great signs
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1:38 - 1:40from heaven.
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1:40 - 1:44Jesus calls all these things signs.
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1:44 - 1:46These terrors...
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1:46 - 1:47the terror of death,
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1:47 - 1:50the terror of destruction,
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1:50 - 1:51the terror of war,
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1:51 - 1:53the terror of disease,
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1:53 - 1:56and pestilence...
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1:56 - 2:00He calls these things signs from heaven.
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2:00 - 2:02A sign - what is a sign?
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2:02 - 2:03It's a pointer.
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2:03 - 2:06It's an indicator that is
meant to aid our perception, -
2:06 - 2:10or insight or knowledge to something.
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2:10 - 2:12In other words, a tsumani is a sign
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2:12 - 2:14that is meant to indicate or communicate
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2:14 - 2:16some sort of reality.
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2:16 - 2:17And don't miss this.
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2:17 - 2:22This sign is from where?
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2:22 - 2:24It's from heaven.
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2:24 - 2:25Which means what?
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2:25 - 2:29The sign comes from Who?
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2:29 - 2:33The sign comes from God.
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2:33 - 2:35"From heaven" means that God sends it.
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2:35 - 2:37Am I saying God is
responsible for Alzheimer's -
2:37 - 2:39and earthquakes and tsunamis
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2:39 - 2:41and civil war in Libya?
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2:41 - 2:45Folks, it doesn't matter if that's
what I'm saying or not, -
2:45 - 2:47that's what the Bible says.
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2:47 - 2:49The Bible clearly indicates.
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2:49 - 2:53Brethren, Isaiah 45:5-7
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2:53 - 2:56"I am the Lord, and there is no other.
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2:56 - 2:58Besides Me there is no God.
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2:58 - 3:00I equip you,
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3:00 - 3:02though you do not know Me,
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3:02 - 3:04that people may know
from the rising of the sun -
3:04 - 3:07and from the west that
there is none besides Me. -
3:07 - 3:10I am the Lord, and there is no other.
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3:10 - 3:13I form light and create darkness.
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3:13 - 3:17I make well-being and create calamity.
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3:17 - 3:23I am the Lord, who does all these things."
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3:23 - 3:25Deuteronomy 32:39
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3:25 - 3:27"Now see that I, even I, am He
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3:27 - 3:29and there is no God besides Me.
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3:29 - 3:34I kill and I make alive.
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3:34 - 3:36I wound and I heal.
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3:36 - 3:41And there is none that can
deliver out of My hand." -
3:41 - 3:49Brethren, already,
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3:49 - 3:54I just simply googled,
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3:54 - 3:59"Is the tsunami from God?"
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3:59 - 4:02There's already threads on the Internet.
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4:02 - 4:07Listen to one I found.
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4:07 - 4:10"Is God responsible for the earthquake
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4:10 - 4:12and tsunami in Japan?
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4:12 - 4:13If yes, how?
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4:13 - 4:15If no, how?
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4:15 - 4:20Someone has to take responsibility
for such mass destruction." -
4:20 - 4:26So there's the question.
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4:26 - 4:28I recorded six responses.
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4:28 - 4:33There were others there.
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4:33 - 4:34Listen to this:
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4:34 - 4:37Response #1
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4:37 - 4:44"If yes, then He's a terrorist.
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4:44 - 4:47If no, then it's a natural disaster."
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4:47 - 4:50That was somebody's response.
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4:50 - 4:52A second response:
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4:52 - 4:55"No, the earth follows
its own physical laws -
4:55 - 4:57in accordance with the freedom
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4:57 - 4:59that God has given to all His creatures.
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4:59 - 5:02It is the movement of tectonic plates
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5:02 - 5:03that causes earth tremors.
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5:03 - 5:06Not the will of God."
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5:06 - 5:08Response #3
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5:08 - 5:10"Of course not!
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5:10 - 5:12Why does someone have
to take responsibility -
5:12 - 5:16for naturally occurring phenomena?"
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5:16 - 5:17Response #4
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5:17 - 5:25"Whether God is responsible or not,
that no one can say clearly." -
5:25 - 5:27This is a good one.
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5:27 - 5:30Response #5
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5:30 - 5:32"People were thanking God
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5:32 - 5:36for Representative Gabrielle Giffords
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5:36 - 5:43on January 9, 2011 who
survived the shooting. -
5:43 - 5:49If you give someone kudos
for the good things, -
5:49 - 5:52then they must also take responsbility
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5:52 - 5:54for the bad things."
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5:54 - 5:56Now listen to this,
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5:56 - 5:57Revelation 16:8
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5:57 - 6:00"The fourth angel poured out his bowl
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6:00 - 6:04on the sun and it was allowed
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6:04 - 6:07to scorch people with fire."
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6:07 - 6:12Brethren, I think this is
a picture in this age. -
6:12 - 6:17God sends His burning sun
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6:17 - 6:21to cause drought.
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6:21 - 6:23He controls nature
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6:23 - 6:26to send lightning and create great fires,
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6:26 - 6:30waves to take out great cities.
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6:30 - 6:33Brethren, He's in control.
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6:33 - 6:38And His judgments come
to us through nature. -
6:38 - 6:40They say, oh, it's mother nature.
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6:40 - 6:42It's tectonic plates.
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6:42 - 6:46It's thermal air masses
rising in the Gulf. -
6:46 - 6:49Brethren, God controls.
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6:49 - 6:50God designed.
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6:50 - 6:58Have you ever listened to
what God Almighty told Job? -
6:58 - 7:02He takes credit for all of it, brethren.
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7:02 - 7:05The snow, and the cold, and the heat,
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7:05 - 7:08and the animals, and the lightning.
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7:08 - 7:10He knows where it comes from.
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7:10 - 7:14He's the Author of them all.
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7:14 - 7:15Verse 9
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7:15 - 7:19"They were scorched by the fierce heat.
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7:19 - 7:20And they cursed..."
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7:20 - 7:24Our ESV says the word is blasphemy.
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7:24 - 7:28They blaspheme the name of God
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7:28 - 7:32who had power over these plagues.
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7:32 - 7:36"They did not repent and give Him glory."
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7:36 - 7:37Verse 10
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7:37 - 7:38"The fifth angel poured out his bowl
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7:38 - 7:42on the throne of the beast."
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7:42 - 7:51Brethren, the throne of the beast...
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7:51 - 7:55The beast in Daniel's
prophetic utterances: -
7:55 - 8:01kingdoms,
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8:01 - 8:04governments,
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8:04 - 8:12nations.
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8:12 - 8:15There's wrath from this bowl
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8:15 - 8:18"poured on the throne of the beast,
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8:18 - 8:21and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.
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8:21 - 8:24People gnawed their tongues in anguish.
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8:24 - 8:27And again, they cursed, they blasphemed
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8:27 - 8:33the God of Heaven for
their pain and sores. -
8:33 - 8:39They did not repent of their deeds."
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8:39 - 8:41What are they blaspheming?
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8:41 - 8:44What are they cursing?
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8:44 - 8:49They blaspheme, they curse,
the name of God. -
8:49 - 8:51But just not any god...
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8:51 - 8:55Did you catch what God it is?
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8:55 - 9:02"Who had power over these plagues."
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9:02 - 9:04He has power over them!
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9:04 - 9:07That's who they blaspheme.
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9:07 - 9:14Look, man is going to
blaspheme God two ways -
9:14 - 9:17in the midst of this.
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9:17 - 9:24There are those who
basically look and say, -
9:24 - 9:27God would never do that.
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9:27 - 9:30He's too impotent.
He's too pathetic. -
9:30 - 9:35He's too mild.
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9:35 - 9:38They make Him into a God
who does not hate sin -
9:38 - 9:41like the Bible says He hates sin.
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9:41 - 9:46They want to undermine His character.
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9:46 - 9:50They want to make derogatory
statements about Him; -
9:50 - 9:55present Him as impotent.
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9:55 - 9:57Soft.
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9:57 - 9:59Santa Claus.
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9:59 - 10:02Or they come along and they say,
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10:02 - 10:04He's a terrorist.
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10:04 - 10:08He's a monster.
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10:08 - 10:11They want to say, if He's in control,
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10:11 - 10:13they want to call Him every abomination
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10:13 - 10:14they can think of.
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10:14 - 10:18But oh, brethren, I've got a
better answer for these people. -
10:18 - 10:19A biblical answer.
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10:19 - 10:21And it's this:
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10:21 - 10:25Impotence? Please!
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10:25 - 10:27This is the God who expressly says
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10:27 - 10:30He has power over these plagues.
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10:30 - 10:33Listen, at the beginning of
this very book Revelation, -
10:33 - 10:34it describes God this way:
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10:34 - 10:36"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,
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10:36 - 10:39says the Lord God, 'Who is, Who was,
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10:39 - 10:40and Who is to come.
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10:40 - 10:43The Almighty.'"
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10:43 - 10:44Daniel 4:35
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10:44 - 10:46Some of you very well know
the words of Nebuchadnezzar. -
10:46 - 10:50"All the inhabitants of the
earth are accounted as nothing. -
10:50 - 10:54He does according to His
will among the hosts of heaven -
10:54 - 10:56and among the inhabitants of the earth.
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10:56 - 10:59And none can stay His hand or say to Him,
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10:59 - 11:01'What have You done?'"
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11:01 - 11:02We sang the song,
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11:02 - 11:04"God Moves in a Mysterious Way."
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11:04 - 11:08Brethren, His will is unbending.
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11:08 - 11:11He determines and it comes to pass.
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11:11 - 11:13His ways are often mysterious to us,
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11:13 - 11:15but His ways are for certain.
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11:15 - 11:18He works according
to the counsel of His will. -
11:18 - 11:21And brethren, nobody stays His hand.
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11:21 - 11:22You better believe it.
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11:22 - 11:23He's not playing around.
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11:23 - 11:24When that tidal wave -
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11:24 - 11:27have you seen the picture
of the wave coming in? -
11:27 - 11:30It was the second wave.
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11:30 - 11:33Those waves came in for an hour.
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11:33 - 11:36They've got footage of this wave
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11:36 - 11:40going all the way down
that beach coming in. -
11:40 - 11:43The second tidal wave.
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11:43 - 11:46Brethren, I'll tell you,
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11:46 - 11:50when those disciples
looked at Christ long ago, -
11:50 - 11:53when He said, "Peace, be still."
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11:53 - 11:57They said, "Who is this?"
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11:57 - 12:00"Even the winds and the waves obey Him."
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12:00 - 12:02Brethren, I'll tell you this,
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12:02 - 12:04you may not have seen Him,
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12:04 - 12:06but there was an unseen Christ
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12:06 - 12:08riding at the head of that tidal wave.
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12:08 - 12:11He had that thing reined.
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12:11 - 12:15It was doing exactly His bidding.
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12:15 - 12:23Oh, brethren...
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12:23 - 12:28But here's what Luke says.
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12:28 - 12:34These things are a sign.
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12:34 - 12:37When I drive down the highway,
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12:37 - 12:39I see a speed limit sign.
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12:39 - 12:41It tells me something
about how fast the law -
12:41 - 12:42says that I can go.
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12:42 - 12:45I see a sign that tells me
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12:45 - 12:47that Houston is 300 miles away.
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12:47 - 12:49It's giving me information.
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12:49 - 12:50Signs give us information.
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12:50 - 12:52They're speaking to us.
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12:52 - 12:55They're telling us something.
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12:55 - 12:57The billboard - it tells me
that there's a McDonald's -
12:57 - 12:5918 miles up at exit 387.
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12:59 - 13:01I see that.
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13:01 - 13:03It's telling me. It's
feeding us information. -
13:03 - 13:06Luke says these are signs.
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13:06 - 13:07But a sign of what?
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13:07 - 13:09What is he trying to tell us?
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13:09 - 13:10Listen to this again,
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13:10 - 13:13Revelation 16
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13:13 - 13:16"The fourth angel poured out his bowl
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13:16 - 13:18on the sun,
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13:18 - 13:22and it was allowed to
scorch people with fire." -
13:22 - 13:24Signs.
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13:24 - 13:27They were scorched.
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13:27 - 13:30They cursed
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13:30 - 13:32the God who had power over these plagues.
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13:32 - 13:34Listen.
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13:34 - 13:38Very carefully.
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13:38 - 13:41"They did not repent,
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13:41 - 13:47or give glory to God."
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13:47 - 13:49That's always the issue.
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13:49 - 13:52Repentance is the issue.
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13:52 - 13:54Every catastrophe, every calamity,
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13:54 - 13:57every death and terror that comes along,
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13:57 - 14:01God means it for a sign.
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14:01 - 14:05A sign means God is sending a message.
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14:05 - 14:07God is in control of the plagues.
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14:07 - 14:10God sends the signs from heaven.
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14:10 - 14:14God is speaking.
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14:14 - 14:17Brethren, it stares us in the face
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14:17 - 14:19from the newspaper,
the t.v., the computer. -
14:19 - 14:24The giant wave is a sign to all the world.
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14:24 - 14:26What's it a sign of?
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14:26 - 14:35Brethren, they did not
repent or give God glory. -
14:35 - 14:38That's always the issue.
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14:38 - 14:41Listen, let me tell you something.
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14:41 - 14:46God is no monster.
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14:46 - 14:53Brethren, even in His judgments,
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14:53 - 14:57He's proclaiming mercy.
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14:57 - 15:00It's a sign.
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15:00 - 15:03This is a warning
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15:03 - 15:07about what's going to happen to you.
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15:07 - 15:08"But I call you,
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15:08 - 15:10Repent.
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15:10 - 15:12Turn.
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15:12 - 15:16Come to Me."
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15:16 - 15:21Brethren, God is speaking.
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15:21 - 15:26When you're watching that,
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15:26 - 15:32God doesn't expect the word
"terrorist" to come into your mind. -
15:32 - 15:34He expects you to look at that
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15:34 - 15:36and to think and to reason.
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15:36 - 15:39"'Come, let us reason
together,' saith the Lord." -
15:39 - 15:41He wants you to reason with Him.
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15:41 - 15:44Your life is short.
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15:44 - 15:45You're sinners.
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15:45 - 15:51What you see here is
what your sin deserves. -
15:51 - 15:54But I, the God who
reins in the tidal waves, -
15:54 - 16:02I am also the God who
sent My only begotten Son. -
16:02 - 16:05God is saying,
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16:05 - 16:09you're going to die someday.
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16:09 - 16:12And it will be when you don't expect it.
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16:12 - 16:14God wants you to look at these things
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16:14 - 16:16and to ask yourself and
come face to face -
16:16 - 16:19with the reality: Am I ready?
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16:19 - 16:22He's saying to you, get ready!
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16:22 - 16:23Be ready!
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16:23 - 16:25Stay ready.
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16:25 - 16:27Turn away from sin.
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16:27 - 16:29He's saying in those things:
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16:29 - 16:34Fear Me.
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16:34 - 16:36He doesn't expect you to look at it
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16:36 - 16:40and deduce it's tectonic plates.
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16:40 - 16:45He expects you to look at satellite images
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16:45 - 16:49of cities - they were there a week ago,
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16:49 - 16:54and they have been wiped
off the face of the earth. -
16:54 - 16:58Do you remember what He said about Sodom?
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16:58 - 17:01This is an example.
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17:01 - 17:03That's what Peter tells us.
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17:03 - 17:10Sodom is an example of what
will happen to all the ungodly. -
17:10 - 17:13Have you ever read that?
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17:13 - 17:162 Peter
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17:16 - 17:20Brethren, they're signs.
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17:20 - 17:22Turn away from sin.
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17:22 - 17:23Fear Me.
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17:23 - 17:25Tsunamis ought to put
the fear of God into us. -
17:25 - 17:28God is saying to us,
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17:28 - 17:33"Vengeance belongs to Me,
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17:33 - 17:37and I will repay."
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17:37 - 17:41He calls you to hear, to fear,
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17:41 - 17:43to trust His Son.
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17:43 - 17:46He calls you to abandon
your unbelief, your idols. -
17:46 - 17:49Stop being a fool!
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17:49 - 17:52Realize. Wake up.
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17:52 - 17:55This little sign of wrath
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17:55 - 17:58is an indication of a
great Day of Judgment -
17:58 - 18:00that is coming.
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18:00 - 18:02This smaller judgment just a reminder
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18:02 - 18:03of a greater judgment.
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18:03 - 18:07Stop believing that sin is better!
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18:07 - 18:09That's what He's saying.
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18:09 - 18:11When that wave comes in
there and crashes in there, -
18:11 - 18:17He's saying, young people,
sex is not better! -
18:17 - 18:19Because it's only for a season...
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18:19 - 18:21And this is an indication
that there is hell to pay. -
18:21 - 18:24There is judgment at the end of this.
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18:24 - 18:25Look at Sodom!
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18:25 - 18:28Look at those villages along that coast.
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18:28 - 18:30Look at them.
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18:30 - 18:33Wake up.
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18:33 - 18:37God says,
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18:37 - 18:41Why will you die, O house of Israel?
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18:41 - 18:43Why will you die?
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18:43 - 18:46Can you imagine?
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18:46 - 18:51"I have slain My own Son.
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18:51 - 18:52I struck Him.
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18:52 - 18:54I smote Him.
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18:54 - 19:01I afflicted Him.
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19:01 - 19:03Hear Me."
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19:03 - 19:06These are signs
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19:06 - 19:10that your life is not long.
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19:10 - 19:12That you have sin on your shoulders
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19:12 - 19:14and to your account,
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19:14 - 19:17you do not want to have to pay.
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19:17 - 19:19And why would you?
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19:19 - 19:21Will you love your sin so much
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19:21 - 19:24that you refuse My Son
who has paid that sin -
19:24 - 19:27in the sinner's place -
will you refuse that? -
19:27 - 19:29Will you go on?
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19:29 - 19:32Do you think drink,
and friends, and parties, -
19:32 - 19:35and cars, and money -
do you think that's better? -
19:35 - 19:39So did a lot of those Japanese.
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19:39 - 19:46Brethren, folks...
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19:46 - 19:48In Amos 4:10, you don't
need to turn there, -
19:48 - 19:50but listen to this.
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19:50 - 19:52God says this,
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19:52 - 19:55"'I sent among you a pestilence
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19:55 - 19:58after the manner of Egypt.
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19:58 - 20:01I killed your young men with the sword
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20:01 - 20:03and carried away your horses.
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20:03 - 20:05And I made the stench of your camp
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20:05 - 20:08to go up into your nostrils.
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20:08 - 20:10Yet you did not return to Me,'
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20:10 - 20:11declares the Lord."
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20:11 - 20:12I'll tell you this,
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20:12 - 20:14God is not ashamed.
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20:14 - 20:15He is not to be mocked.
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20:15 - 20:17He is not to be blasphemed.
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20:17 - 20:19He doesn't hesitate to admit,
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20:19 - 20:22He killed their young men with the sword.
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20:22 - 20:24Not like some professing Christians
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20:24 - 20:26who want to cower
away from admitting -
20:26 - 20:27that hurricanes and calamites
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20:27 - 20:30and ruthless rulers and all that -
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20:30 - 20:33that they're not according
to the Lord's design. -
20:33 - 20:34Brethren, they are.
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20:34 - 20:35God is not ashamed to admit it.
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20:35 - 20:37You shouldn't be.
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20:37 - 20:39When this onlooking world -
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20:39 - 20:41we should be bold,
be of courage, brethren - -
20:41 - 20:42you say to them:
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20:42 - 20:43That's a judgment of God.
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20:43 - 20:47And it's meant to show you people to turn
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20:47 - 20:49and to run into His arms.
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20:49 - 20:52I mean, He sends these.
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20:52 - 20:55But the same God also
stands with open arms -
20:55 - 20:57ready to receive any that will repent.
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20:57 - 21:03If they'll take that sign
and heed that sign. -
21:03 - 21:05He is saying,
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21:05 - 21:09"Yes, indeed, I did it.
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21:09 - 21:10Fear Me.
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21:10 - 21:12Come to Me."
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21:12 - 21:16But again, did you hear
the last part there? -
21:16 - 21:18"'I killed your young
men with the sword -
21:18 - 21:19and carried away your horses.
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21:19 - 21:21Made the stench of your camp
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21:21 - 21:23go up into your nostrils.
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21:23 - 21:31Yet, you did not return to Me,'
-
21:31 - 21:32declares the Lord."
-
21:32 - 21:33Isn't that always the issue!
-
21:33 - 21:40God smites that men may see the sign
-
21:40 - 21:44and turn to Him.
-
21:44 - 21:45Isaiah says,
-
21:45 - 21:50"The people did not turn
to Him who struck them, -
21:50 - 21:53nor inquire of the Lord of Hosts."
-
21:53 - 21:54Daniel puts it this way,
-
21:54 - 21:56"As it is written in the law of Moses,
-
21:56 - 22:00all this calamity has come upon us,
-
22:00 - 22:02yet we have not entreated the favor
-
22:02 - 22:03of the Lord our God,
-
22:03 - 22:08turning from our iniquities
and gaining insight." -
22:08 - 22:13Isn't it amazing how often in God's Word,
-
22:13 - 22:20calamity is clearly set forth
-
22:20 - 22:26as God's sign to us to turn to Him?
-
22:26 - 22:30Turn to Him.
-
22:30 - 22:35Look, Jesus comes along and says,
-
22:35 - 22:37You guys want to talk about
-
22:37 - 22:41that tower in Siloam that fell?
-
22:41 - 22:43You know what happened?
-
22:43 - 22:47In Jesus' day, there was a tower.
-
22:47 - 22:49I don't know if it just got old
-
22:49 - 22:50or badly engineered or what.
-
22:50 - 22:55But the thing fell over.
-
22:55 - 23:01Crushed 18 people to death on the spot.
-
23:01 - 23:02If Jesus was here today,
-
23:02 - 23:09He would say to the city of San Antonio,
-
23:09 - 23:14You think those Japanese
are worse sinners than you? -
23:14 - 23:18No.
-
23:18 - 23:24But unless you repent,
you will likewise perish. -
23:24 - 23:26That's always the issue.
-
23:26 - 23:31Repentance is always the issue.
-
23:31 - 23:35You mean, men have to lose their lives
-
23:35 - 23:37to bring that sign?
-
23:37 - 23:39Brethren, this is the wrath of God
-
23:39 - 23:44against justly deserved sin.
-
23:44 - 23:46What about all the rest of
the days out of the year -
23:46 - 23:53when God didn't destroy those cities?
-
23:53 - 23:59They were just as deserving
all those other days. -
23:59 - 24:03But isn't that what it says in Romans 1?
-
24:03 - 24:04The wrath of God is revealed.
-
24:04 - 24:06Why?
-
24:06 - 24:09Because they did not honor Him
-
24:09 - 24:12or give Him thanks.
-
24:12 - 24:16They're quick to call Him a terrorist.
-
24:16 - 24:17What about all the others days
-
24:17 - 24:21when they should have been praising Him?
-
24:21 - 24:24Brethren, it's repentance.
-
24:24 - 24:27Repentance.
-
24:27 - 24:33You say, well, that was certainly
hard luck on their part. -
24:33 - 24:35Brethren, let me tell you,
-
24:35 - 24:40every one of us deserve this by nature.
-
24:40 - 24:42Guess what?
-
24:42 - 24:46The vast majority of those
people that perished -
24:46 - 24:51were alive when the tsunami hit Indonesia.
-
24:51 - 24:57God was saying, "Wake up! Wake up!"
-
24:57 - 25:00"Turn to Me."
-
25:00 - 25:03And do you know what will happen tomorrow?
-
25:03 - 25:05And the next day?
-
25:05 - 25:09Many who have seen this,
-
25:09 - 25:13they will be the next objects.
-
25:13 - 25:18You resist God's mercies long enough,
-
25:18 - 25:20and eventually, you are going to be
-
25:20 - 25:25the object of God's wrath.
-
25:25 - 25:27And you can't escape it.
-
25:27 - 25:29There is no escape.
-
25:29 - 25:31And men don't like to believe this.
-
25:31 - 25:32Men do not want to believe
-
25:32 - 25:34there is an Almighty sin-hating God
-
25:34 - 25:36who sent that calamity on Japan.
-
25:36 - 25:39Because if they believe
there is such a God -
25:39 - 25:40who would do such a thing,
-
25:40 - 25:42then they're suddenly
confronted by the fact -
25:42 - 25:46that they are in deep, deep trouble.
-
25:46 - 25:49And Scripture says,
of course, that they are. -
25:49 - 25:50And that's what God is saying.
-
25:50 - 25:52This is a sign.
-
25:52 - 25:55You are in trouble!
-
25:55 - 25:57But brethren,
-
25:57 - 26:01my message to these guys
writing their threads out there -
26:01 - 26:03is no, God is not impotent,
-
26:03 - 26:04like some of you say,
-
26:04 - 26:08and no, God is no monster.
-
26:08 - 26:12These are merciful warnings.
-
26:12 - 26:18Isn't it amazing that in
this world right now, -
26:18 - 26:22even in God's most severe judgments,
-
26:22 - 26:26He means mercy by it.
-
26:26 - 26:28That is phenomenal
-
26:28 - 26:30that God doesn't wipe out the whole planet
-
26:30 - 26:32in a moment.
-
26:32 - 26:36But that He gives us these flashes.
-
26:36 - 26:38Flashes.
-
26:38 - 26:41And you say, but if I do repent?
-
26:41 - 26:42Brethren, I'll tell you,
-
26:42 - 26:45there's a text in Isaiah,
-
26:45 - 26:53that says that He gives men for Israel.
-
26:53 - 26:56It's true.
-
26:56 - 26:58God will bring judgment on some
-
26:58 - 27:01and bring others to repentance through it.
-
27:01 - 27:07He will give some men
for the sake of others. -
27:07 - 27:10But brethren, I want to tell
you that these messages -
27:10 - 27:13are messages of mercy,
-
27:13 - 27:21if you will have eyes to see them.
-
27:21 - 27:30Look, brethren...
-
27:30 - 27:34We know. We know.
-
27:34 - 27:41We prayed for Papa's wife -
my mother-in-law, Ruby's mom. -
27:41 - 27:44We prayed. We prayed.
-
27:44 - 27:49Papa fasted for years.
-
27:49 - 27:53But you family members,
you grandchildren... -
27:53 - 27:56her death on Friday is meant to be
-
27:56 - 27:59a wake-up call to you.
-
27:59 - 28:05The terror of death is meant
to be a wake-up call. -
28:05 - 28:09You don't have forever.
-
28:09 - 28:13And as fun as your sin might seem,
-
28:13 - 28:15it comes to an end.
-
28:15 - 28:16And it may come to an end
-
28:16 - 28:19much sooner than you think.
-
28:19 - 28:22A week ago, those people sat secure
-
28:22 - 28:27in their homes in Japan.
-
28:27 - 28:29They never thought they would be
-
28:29 - 28:34in eternity an hour later.
-
28:34 - 28:37Never.
-
28:37 - 28:40God's calling you to repent.
-
28:40 - 28:43If you're lost - without Christ,
-
28:43 - 28:46you're just as bad.
-
28:46 - 28:50If right now, the earthquake
had happened here - -
28:50 - 28:53a building had fallen on you -
-
28:53 - 29:00and they were watching the news of that,
-
29:00 - 29:03it would have been just
as just of God to do that. -
29:03 - 29:05It would have been no different.
-
29:05 - 29:09It would have been
severe justice both ways. -
29:09 - 29:14But it's merciful warnings
to those who are watching. -
29:14 - 29:17And you know what, the truth is,
-
29:17 - 29:21on Friday, God didn't take all of us.
-
29:21 - 29:23What a mercy!
-
29:23 - 29:28What a mercy!
-
29:28 - 29:31The answer the world so
desperately needs to hear -
29:31 - 29:36is God is an Almighty,
merciful message sender, -
29:36 - 29:45even in judgments.
-
29:45 - 29:48To you that are lost,
-
29:48 - 29:49eternity hastens.
-
29:49 - 29:51The day of mercy is short.
-
29:51 - 29:53Listen, mercy isn't always
going to be extended to you. -
29:53 - 29:55The time is going to run out.
-
29:55 - 29:57You're going to come to the end.
-
29:57 - 29:58Why are you waiting?
-
29:58 - 30:02The marriage feast is prepared.
-
30:02 - 30:03It's there.
-
30:03 - 30:04You're invited.
-
30:04 - 30:09The tsunami is like an invitation.
-
30:09 - 30:12It's a sign.
-
30:12 - 30:16It's like an invitation to the
marriage supper of the Lamb. -
30:16 - 30:18"It's set. Come in.
-
30:18 - 30:19Turn to Me.
-
30:19 - 30:20Turn away from your sins.
-
30:20 - 30:22Come in.
-
30:22 - 30:26I offer you such glories
and riches in My Son -
30:26 - 30:28that will overwhelm you, stagger you,
-
30:28 - 30:30they're outside of this world
-
30:30 - 30:32in its riches and its joy.
-
30:32 - 30:35My Son - you'll have Him.
-
30:35 - 30:39You'll have all the joys,
all the pleasures - -
30:39 - 30:42pleasures forevermore at His right hand."
-
30:42 - 30:44Wake up!
-
30:44 - 30:45Don't tarry!
-
30:45 - 30:46Tarrying is deadly.
-
30:46 - 30:48The wrath of God is coming.
-
30:48 - 30:51That gigantic wave on
that t.v. moving across -
30:51 - 30:53is meant for you to see,
-
30:53 - 30:54there is another wave coming.
-
30:54 - 30:56Ephesians 5 says it.
-
30:56 - 30:58The wrath of God is coming.
-
30:58 - 31:00There is a wave we can't escape.
-
31:00 - 31:01It's coming.
-
31:01 - 31:03There's a storm coming.
-
31:03 - 31:04These are just glimpses.
-
31:04 - 31:06Wake up! Step down off your high horse.
-
31:06 - 31:11Stop your rebellion at once.
-
31:11 - 31:14To the Christian,
-
31:14 - 31:19this is a wake up call to us too.
-
31:19 - 31:21Sands of time are sinking.
-
31:21 - 31:23As the song says that we sing,
-
31:23 - 31:26"death is coming, hell is moving,"
-
31:26 - 31:28Brethren, the masses are perishing.
-
31:28 - 31:30You may have heard this story.
-
31:30 - 31:33If you have, it bears repeating.
-
31:33 - 31:37D.L. Moody
-
31:37 - 31:44He basically constructed
this two-part approach -
31:44 - 31:45to this crowd.
-
31:45 - 31:47He came to this crowd.
-
31:47 - 31:49He delivered the first half of it
-
31:49 - 31:56meaning to bring the
second part a week later. -
31:56 - 32:03That week, God's judgment fell.
-
32:03 - 32:07And the fire, the great fire of Chicago,
-
32:07 - 32:09swept through.
-
32:09 - 32:13That crowd never gathered again.
-
32:13 - 32:18Moody learned a lesson.
-
32:18 - 32:21Brethren, we need to preach Christ now.
-
32:21 - 32:24We need to wake up.
-
32:24 - 32:28Listen,
-
32:28 - 32:32When you hear of wars and tumults,
-
32:32 - 32:38one, do not be terrified.
-
32:38 - 32:41My brothers and sisters,
-
32:41 - 32:42though the economies of the world
-
32:42 - 32:45shake and collapse and fall,
-
32:45 - 32:49though in all likelihood,
America is diminishing -
32:49 - 32:54it's greatness, it's
grandeur in this world, -
32:54 - 32:55don't be terrified.
-
32:55 - 32:58You hear of wars?
-
32:58 - 33:01Even when America gets their bubble burst,
-
33:01 - 33:03and these things set on our front door,
-
33:03 - 33:06don't be terrified.
-
33:06 - 33:10That's Jesus' words to you.
-
33:10 - 33:13"For these things must first take place,
-
33:13 - 33:15but the end will not be at once."
-
33:15 - 33:16Then He said to them,
-
33:16 - 33:17"Nation will rise against nation;
kingdom against kingdom; -
33:17 - 33:20there will be great
earthquakes in various places; -
33:20 - 33:23famines, pestilences; there will be terrors,
great signs from heaven; -
33:23 - 33:25before this, they will all
lay their hands on you -
33:25 - 33:28and persecute you, delivering you
up to synagogues, prisons. -
33:28 - 33:29You will be brought before
kings and governors -
33:29 - 33:31for My name's sake.
-
33:31 - 33:34This will be your opportunity
to bear witness." -
33:34 - 33:41Now, I realize, that may be more local
-
33:41 - 33:43to what He just said,
-
33:43 - 33:44"When they lay hands on you,
-
33:44 - 33:46deliver you to the
synagogues and prisons, -
33:46 - 33:48you'll be brought before
kings and governors - -
33:48 - 33:50this will be your opportunity
to bear witness." -
33:50 - 33:52But brethren, I take that as a more
-
33:52 - 33:54overreaching statement here.
-
33:54 - 33:56When the tsunami comes,
-
33:56 - 33:57when the earthquake comes,
-
33:57 - 34:01when wars and rumors of wars come,
-
34:01 - 34:04brethren, this is your
opportunity to witness. -
34:04 - 34:06This is it.
-
34:06 - 34:09Take it, brethren. Take it.
-
34:09 - 34:10Don't you dare shy away
-
34:10 - 34:14and try to pawn off God
as something that He is not. -
34:14 - 34:18God is the God of the plagues.
-
34:18 - 34:20God is the God of the earthquake.
-
34:20 - 34:24God is the God of the tsunami.
-
34:24 - 34:28And they are meant to wake people up.
-
34:28 - 34:32Brethren, beseech them to come at once.
-
34:32 - 34:35Beseech them, call to them.
-
34:35 - 34:37Just one last word.
-
34:37 - 34:40It comes to us from Habakkuk.
-
34:40 - 34:41He had it right.
-
34:41 - 34:42There were terrors in his days.
-
34:42 - 34:44Judgment in his days.
-
34:44 - 34:47Listen, when God brings the judgments,
-
34:47 - 34:55Christian, Christ says don't be terrified.
-
34:55 - 34:57Let me tell you this:
-
34:57 - 34:59when that wave was coming,
-
34:59 - 35:03God's eyes were on
every one of His people. -
35:03 - 35:08And let me tell you this,
-
35:08 - 35:12every tsunami and every earthquake
-
35:12 - 35:17has to bow down to Romans 8:28.
-
35:17 - 35:19Every one of them!
-
35:19 - 35:23It will work for your good.
-
35:23 - 35:25Don't fear.
-
35:25 - 35:28He's got the hairs on your head numbered.
-
35:28 - 35:32You are precious in His sight.
-
35:32 - 35:35Things were bad in Habakkuk's day.
-
35:35 - 35:36But he said this,
-
35:36 - 35:39"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
-
35:39 - 35:40nor fruit be on the vines,
-
35:40 - 35:42the produce of the olive fail,
-
35:42 - 35:45the fields yield no food,
-
35:45 - 35:47the flock be cut off from the fold,
-
35:47 - 35:49there be no herd in the stalls;
-
35:49 - 35:51yet, I will rejoice in the Lord.
-
35:51 - 35:54I will take joy in the
God of my salvation. -
35:54 - 35:57God the Lord is my strength.
-
35:57 - 35:59He makes my feet like the deer's.
-
35:59 - 36:04He makes me tread on my high places."
-
36:04 - 36:09Brethren, let me just remind you.
-
36:09 - 36:11The God of the plagues -
-
36:11 - 36:16when those ten plagues came upon Egypt,
-
36:16 - 36:20they never touched Israel.
-
36:20 - 36:22Whatever God sends in this world,
-
36:22 - 36:25as terrifying as it may seem,
-
36:25 - 36:31Jesus says, don't you be terrified.
-
36:31 - 36:34Brethren, what's the worst case scenario?
-
36:34 - 36:37You lose your life and
go to be with the Lord -
36:37 - 36:39forever and forever and forever.
-
36:39 - 36:42And He wipes away every tear.
-
36:42 - 36:44That doesn't sound too bad.
-
36:44 - 36:46I mean, if a tsunami does that to you,
-
36:46 - 36:49are you going to complain?
-
36:49 - 36:51No more pain, no more sorrow,
-
36:51 - 36:53no more death...
-
36:53 - 36:56no more sin.
-
36:56 - 36:58And you get to see Him face to face
-
36:58 - 37:00and be like He is?
-
37:00 - 37:02If that's what a tsunami brings me,
-
37:02 - 37:09bring them on, right?
-
37:09 - 37:11To the Christian,
-
37:11 - 37:13Haggai 2:5
-
37:13 - 37:16"'According to the covenant
that I made with you -
37:16 - 37:18when you came out of Egypt,
-
37:18 - 37:20My Spirit remains in your midst.
-
37:20 - 37:22Fear not.
-
37:22 - 37:24For thus says the Lord of Hosts,
-
37:24 - 37:26yet once more, in a little while,
-
37:26 - 37:29I will shake the heavens and the earth,
-
37:29 - 37:31and the sea and the dry land.
-
37:31 - 37:33And I will shake all nations,
-
37:33 - 37:35so that the treasures of all nations
-
37:35 - 37:37shall come in,
-
37:37 - 37:39and I will fill this house with glory,'
-
37:39 - 37:41says the Lord of Hosts."
-
37:41 - 37:43In all this shaking, brethren,
-
37:43 - 37:45He's filling the house.
-
37:45 - 37:46He's bringing them in.
-
37:46 - 37:50The riches of the Gentiles,
of the nations, -
37:50 - 37:54He's harvesting through
all of it, brethren. -
37:54 - 37:55Through all of it.
-
37:55 - 37:57I'll tell you this,
-
37:57 - 37:59when that tsunami lands on our front door,
-
37:59 - 38:01that's not time for you to hightail
-
38:01 - 38:03and act like the rest of the world.
-
38:03 - 38:06That is your opportunity to bear witness.
-
38:06 - 38:10That is opportunity to show love,
-
38:10 - 38:12to help others.
-
38:12 - 38:14When the catastrophe comes,
-
38:14 - 38:16when the calamity falls,
-
38:16 - 38:17for us to rise up and show,
-
38:17 - 38:19we're not like the rest of the world.
-
38:19 - 38:20To seek to love people
-
38:20 - 38:23and to share our food and share our money.
-
38:23 - 38:29And to have a message of
hope in the midst of all of it. -
38:29 - 38:32"Oh, Israel, fear not.
-
38:32 - 38:33For I have redeemed you.
-
38:33 - 38:37I have called you by name.
-
38:37 - 38:40You are Mine."
-
38:40 - 38:42Brethren, His eye is on you for good.
-
38:42 - 38:45He sends His signs, yes.
-
38:45 - 38:49But you remember,
-
38:49 - 38:53they are all in submission to Him.
-
38:53 - 38:56And He's given you this massive promise.
-
38:56 - 39:00It all works out for your good.
-
39:00 - 39:05You belong to Him, you're called by Him?
-
39:05 - 39:14Everything in creation
is subservient to that. -
39:14 - 39:17Amen.
- Title:
- Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan?
- Description:
-
Isaiah 45:7 - I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Deuteronomy 32:39 - "'See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. "
Get MP3 or PDF of Transcript: http://illbehonest.com/Did-God-Cause-the-Tsunami-Earthquake-in-Japan
Revelation 16:7 And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
Daniel 4:35 - all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"
Romans 9:20 - But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
Revelation 1:8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
- Video Language:
- English
- Duration:
- 39:18
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? | ||
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? | ||
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? | ||
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? | ||
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? | ||
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? | ||
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? | ||
Carrie Spradlin edited English subtitles for Did God Cause the Tsunami & Earthquake in Japan? |