The Silent Battlefield Awaits the Final Move...

This transcript was generated with the assistance of AI and may contain errors.

We're living through very sad times. The events of this past week are very sad. And I think Matthew described it well. Everybody we talk to, wherever they are, in the church or outside the church, everybody is just dismayed.

Because now we have a man. Yes, he wasn't perfect, but none of us is perfect. But he was trying to glorify God. And there were people going down the streets, we've seen in some cases, rejoicing for his death, which is so sad. It's so sad. And brethren, I quite often think that world events, as they're shaping, it's like a chess game. And now and again, it is as if the player is thinking, and then there's another move. A move towards that final checkmate. You see, the battlefield of this thinking is always kind of gousing into thinking mode.

If you watch the chess game, it's kind of, you sit there, what are the people going to do? So there's this time, and then there's a move, and then there's another move. And world events are a huge gigantic chess game between inverted commas, because it's not a game. And the master chess player that has got a goal, an ultimate goal, for mankind, and is controlling the main events, and allowing other events, because mankind has got free moral agency.

But it will bring it all to one ultimate end result, which is the day of judgment, and our destiny to be of Christ, and to bring peace to this earth, into the millennium. You know, you all probably, not all, the younger people probably don't remember, but some of us are a little older. Remember in the late 1980s, 1989, there was a chess match between a grandmaster called Kasparov versus an IBM computer in 1989.

At that time, it was called Deep Thought. And Kasparov won easily. And so that was IBM's early chess computer. But then seven years later, IBM came out with a more powerful, as they were calling it, a supercomputer, called Deep Blue. And in 1996, Kasparov beat Deep Blue. And the question is, said, well, there's going to be a rematch, because through that, Deep Blue did win one game.

It was a match, but one game was won by Deep Blue. And so there was a rematch a year later in 1997 by Kasparov and Deep Blue. And Deep Blue won the championship, quote-unquote. And so after six games, what we would call today, artificial intelligence won. And beat the Grand Master chess player. We're now 28 years ahead. But the point is, this great chess—I hate to use the word game, because it's not a game—but this great chess tournament of this world and society and Satan. Whatever great intelligence of artificial intelligence or what may be will never beat the supreme intelligence of our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

And they have a master plan. And whatever critical events come along, and whatever human strategies come along to, quote-unquote, sidestep it or try to destroy it, will not succeed. And as was mentioned in announcements, we have seen the tragic death of Charlie Kirk. And we're all mourned because now we have a God-fearing man putting God first, trying to glorify God. And as we learned over for about two years or so, he was a Sabbath keeper. The interesting point is—and this is just a side point—I went to Chad G.P.T. and I said, did Charlie Kirk observe the seventh-day Sabbath? Do you know what Chad G.P.T. said to me? No. This was just yesterday.

No. But you and I know because many of you have seen interviews of him and of his wife clearly saying that we're keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. So that's just a side point. But Brethren, I think this is a turning point. And it's interesting that his own organization is called Turning Point. I think we could be approaching a situation similar to—and I'm not saying it is—but we could be approaching a situation similar to the situation in 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated.

And soon after that, World War I broke. And I'm not saying—and I'm not by any means forecasting any such thing—but I'm just saying the situation that is happening around us is that we were just finishing watching a couple of days earlier a young Ukrainian girl being assassinated on public transport as she walked into public transport.

And the interesting thing is that had happened quite a few weeks before, but media just hid it from us, had it not been from social media that those videos start coming out, that they have to admit it. And so we have some evil forces around us that we just cannot understand or comprehend. I mean, in just a few days before, we heard of a mass shooting at a Catholic school church where they were having mass, and two young children were killed, and twenty-one heard.

Have we crossed the Rubicon? Now, the first time I heard crossing the Rubicon was in South Africa when there were certain events in South Africa that were framed with crossed the Rubicon. But the first time crossing the Rubicon was in the year 49 before Christ when Roman General Julius Caesar led his army across the Rubicon River and went into Italy. And as such, he broke the law, and after that, a civil war started. And since then, crossing the Rubicon has become a metaphor for an action from which there is no turning back.

A lot of things are going to develop because of this, in the church and out of the church. I think we're going to have to wake up and do things differently. There's no questions about it. But looking at from God's point of view, have we reached the point where God is going to say, that is enough? Mankind's sons have reached the point that now it's approaching the time to send my son, as if as if figuratively Christ, the father saying, send his son Jesus Christ, to judge the world. I think we're very near, brethren. You just look at the situation. We've had Russia and Ukraine. That is huge, brethren. That is huge. And just, what, three weeks ago, maybe four, seven European leaders overnight changed their agendas and came to the White House. Brethren, that is unprecedented. Something big that you and I can't see because there's a huge chess game, and you just see a move here and a move there, but you and I cannot see what's going on behind the scenes. The situation in Israel is very sad. The situation in Gaza and all that, it's terrible.

And then we have what they call the BRICS. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the BRICS countries, which they're working on developing some new development banks, new international currency, alternative payment systems. They're developing a new parallel world order.

There was a YouTube post which only lasted for three minutes, which was a report that said that the German military refused an order from the Chancellor. Well, three minutes after that, their YouTube was canned. But it raises some questions. Number one, is it true or not? But I think that is happening. There may be you and I don't see it, but there is a growing disillusionment in Europe. The immigration situation in Europe is worse than here. There are things happening there that the media is not telling us.

What if there's a coup in Germany?

What would happen to the Western alliance in Europe?

From one day to the other, we could have a rise of the beast power. From one day to the other.

Are we paying attention to this gigantic chess game? It's not a game, but it's serious stuff.

You see, the silent battlefield is poised for the final move. Judgment and destiny are around the corner. Are we ready? Today, I want to look at some macro events very briefly, and then look at ourselves, how we're doing as far as this.

You see, you and I are just days away from the day of trumpets. We know the symbolism that is the day, that year, but also that final trumpet, where Christ's judgment begins upon the earth.

Then Christ is going to come, establish peace, but there will be an ongoing judgment until the final judgment of the great white throne at the end of that millennium. We know that.

But the big question is, you and I need to watch these events.

But I think more importantly is, you and I need to watch ourselves.

The world is sick, brethren.

You see, prophecy does give us some major milestones, and I'm not going to go through all of them yet. That's not my intent to cover that today and get it bogged down with a lot of technicalities. I'll just highlight a few.

But the problem that I'm concerned about is that sometimes we have made, or we may have made, I'm not saying we have made necessarily, maybe we have made, maybe we haven't. But we may have made some conclusions of certain events. This has got to happen.

Because of one or another scripture that could be interpreted that way, but maybe it could be interpreted another way. And if you and I put our trust in that event happening, and it's not exactly the way you and I projected it, or maybe we preached from the podium, or maybe, but it's not exactly that way when it comes to happen, because we're expecting it that way when the beast gets set up and the great tribulation comes, then you and I might not be ready because we are waiting for XYZ event that didn't happen exactly like I was expecting it.

And therefore, what happens is God has given us some major milestones, but sometimes we got to be careful that we don't put specific interpretations, and we need to make sure that we say, well, it could be this way, but might not be. We got to be careful because maybe we don't see those events developing, which we kind of say, this has to happen. And then we start saying, the Lord delays his coming. Turn with me to Matthew 24. Matthew 24, verse 48 through 51. Matthew 24, verse 48. Start in verse 48. It's talking about the servant. Matthew 24, verse 48. And it says that evil servant says in his heart, my master's delay is coming.

Now, you may say, oh well, it doesn't apply to us in the church, but sometimes, as in the church, have started beating our fellow servants. Oh, I never physically beat anybody, but how have we spoken and treated our brethren? Have we sometimes said things in a way that somebody else got offended and hurt? And so, we've got to be careful.

And then if those events don't happen exactly that way, it could catch us by surprise. Brethren, you and I live in very difficult times. In 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy chapter 3, starting in verse 1, it says we live in perilous times, difficult times, really dangerous times.

And people be lovers of themselves. Does that describe the society so aptly, so correctly? Indeed, the society. We are lovers of ourselves, lovers of money. Oh, the the market. Look at it. It's now 46,000. The Dow Jones. Wow! You know, look at my 401Ks doing.

Boasters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, etc. etc. Lovers of pleasure.

Rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Are we really using the power of God, God's early spirit, to help us to change, to repent? Or are we just coming to church and feel good because I'm coming to church? Of course, we got to come to church. Of course, it's important to have Christian fellowship.

But you and I need to use God's early spirit in our daily lives day by day.

It is encouraging because we see a lot of, I see a lot of faithful brethren right here in front of me. I'm very encouraged with that. But sometimes I hear certain things from whatever different ways. Then I say and ask myself, is that a tear or is it a tweet? And I say, how do I handle this? Because if I remove that tear, I might remove some wheat along with it.

And it's very difficult sometimes to handle certain things. We as leaders in the church need wisdom because sometimes situations are very complex, very complex. And when we look back at the situation in the world, what do you hear in the news today?

Oh, we are negotiating peace, aren't we? We are in negotiations of peace. You see in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, I was talking about starting in verse 1, we need to watch the time. The day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night.

Now, this is talking to Christians, not to the world.

And so, are you and I going to be caught as a thief in the night? Because when they say, peace and safety, take note, it does not state when there is peace and safety.

It does not say when there is peace and safety. What it says is when they say peace and safety. Then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pines upon a pregnant woman.

Brethren, this world is poised for a few key chess moves.

They are going to bring judgment and cross return.

The beast power is about to rise.

We know that there is Europe with ten leaders. It literally might be kings because it does say kings, but it could be leaders.

Okay, so somebody will say, no, no, it's definitely kings. That's okay, but let's look at the principle. But there will be one that will come out and the other ten will give the power to that one. Or some people say, oh, well, how do you know it's Europe? It's some other nation. Because then we know our prophetic map as we understand it. You've got to take Daniel 2. Look at those four Gentile empires, the Chaldean, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Roman. And then we put Daniel 7 together, and then you see that it's clearly that statue. And then you put that further down when the Roman Empire fell, then it was raised or resurrected with the Holy Roman Empire, continue with that, which was ruled by the Roman Church. And then you put that in together with Revelation 13, starting in verse 1, that it shows that that beast comes out of the sea. And there was a turbulent revolution, turmoil, and a leader comes up. An excellent orator, as you see in Revelation 13, 5 and 6. And he will sway the orgences, and he will defy God. And we see in verse 7 and 8 of Revelation 13 that he will persecute God's people. And that is, as we know, that period of the Great Tribulation. Very probably, but that makes sense. And then in parallel, we see, starting in verse 11 of Revelation 13, that another beast comes up, which is a religious organization that comes out of the world, which means it's already there, but it just comes up and it's leader. And that influences the masses.

And we understand this as Europe.

And so we have that power that will have an enormous military power, that no nation will be able to stand up against it. Well, is that the case of Europe today against China and Russia? No. So what are we going to have is we're going to encourage a strong Europe to develop militarily. Are we doing that? You see, because it will require the fall of democracy. And therefore, those big major movements, major milestones, is that we'll then be into a time of the Great Tribulation. And so the question is, is it nearer than you and I may think? I don't know. I don't know how near it is. No man knows a day or an hour. But I can tell you the Lord is not delaying His coming. It is near.

There's an interesting prophecy, which actually interesting enough is in Psalms, Psalm 83, starting in verse 2, Psalm 83 verse 2, Psalm 83 verse 2, which says, For, behold, your enemies are like a tumult, like an uproar, and those who hate you have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted together against your sheltered ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more. It is important for us to understand who Israel is. If we think Israel is only the Jewish people, then we don't fully understand this prophetic statement. And if you and I understand that Israel is not just the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, and some Levites, and of that is the nation that's today called Israel, which is only a small part of that tribe, because the other are scattered still around the world. But Israel includes the other tribes. And the leaders of the other tribes is who we today would call the English speaking nations. And so what it says is, let's cut them off from being a nation.

This is described here on this booklet in page 70. In page 70, we see a section that it talks about Psalm 83, prophecy of an end time anti-Israel confederation.

So you and I know that nations like the United States of America, according to this prophecy in Psalm 83, will cease to exist. It's interesting when you look at the nations that will be there, will be nations that are basically of an Arab type or southern Middle East configuration.

But it's interesting that it says in verse 8, Assyria has also joined with them. And yeah, you and I could say Assyria is Germany. Other people say, no, it includes Austria. It's Austria, whatever it is. It's that nationality group area somewhere around there. The question is, why would they join this power that would want to destroy Israel? Because they attack, well, the little Satan and the big Satan. You have heard that before. But why would they want to join it? Because the others, now I'm speculating, so my authority is zero. Okay, speculate. But it's possible that they will get in because they say, okay, you guys destroy them. But we, Assyria, and those key nations of Europe, we will take over their military power.

Then we'll have a beast power. Not only they've been strengthened militarily, but they will then control all the military power of the most strong nation in the world. And then they'll be in a position, again, as I said, I'm speculating, is a possibility. I'm not saying it will be this way, but it could be this way, that then they'll be in a position that no other nation like China or others will be able to stand up against them for a time period. And we know when we look at Daniel 12, verse 7, and verse 11, that is a period of 30 days. And when we look at Isaiah 5, and let's turn to Isaiah 5, because it's a pertinent scripture as well, Isaiah 5, verse 5. It says, the pride of Israel testifies to his face, therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity. Judah also stumbles with them. And so we have the Jewish people and Israelites as a group, as a confine, and Ephraimites as well, all together falling. And as we read in verse 7, they have dealt treasurously with the Lord. They have begotten pagan children. Wow! Now a new moon, that it means in a month, 30 days, shall devour them in their heritage. And that ties in with Daniel 12, about that period of 30 days. And that is also described here in this Middle East and Prophecy booklet on page 63. So, the point is, brethren, things can happen rather quickly.

We need to watch all events, sure. And we read a little early on today, Luke chapter 21. Luke chapter 21.

And when we read verse 36, Luke 21 verse 36, watch therefore and pray a ways. What is it that you and I need to watch? Yes. Yes. It's two things. You see, we got to watch world news so that we're not caught unawares, we're not blindsided, but we need to watch ourselves. Look at verse 34. Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing drunkenness, cares of this life, and the day will come upon you or on you unexpectedly.

And so the question I have, brethren, are we looking at ourselves?

Now, it's not a theme that is new to us, but here's a challenge.

Let's just take a step back. You know, there's no two of you, even if you're in the same family, that are exactly the same. Even in the same family, you may think slightly different or have slightly different approaches. You've had different life experiences. You have different motivations. Between different families, you had different upbringings. You've had some terrible, terrible life experiences that have hurt you deeply and have affected your personality style. It's a fact. It's a fact. And so you may have some of us, when we look at Isaiah 58 verse 1, cry aloud and spare not. We've got to preach super hard, hard, hard, hard.

And if we don't do that, if we don't do that, you are soft. You are lukewarm. You're allowed to see them.

But then just two chapters or three chapters later, we have Isaiah 61, which Christ read, and then he closed the book halfway through it, which says, I came to heal the brokenhearted. And so if you and I have a more mellow, kinder attitude, is that wrong? Well, the fact is that both are right. You see, we've got to preach the gospel, but it's how we do it.

We've got to prepare the people. It's all part of our mission. It's right here on our seal.

But it's how we do it. And where do we find this particularly sensitive is amongst brothers and sisters in the Church.

Because of our background, of our personality style, you and I may say something which is true, but the other person may feel offended because of how you did it. And yeah, you can say, well, you should not be easily offended, which is also true.

But are we sensitive to one another?

And quite often we say, oh well, we've got to read Matthew 18, 15. You've got a problem going talk to that person. And I'm guilty of this. I've done it. So I'm talking to myself.

Is that sometimes I've justified myself incorrectly, saying, well, this situation is not exactly Matthew 18, 15. Therefore, I have the right to do it differently. But brethren, Matthew 18, 15 is a principle. Yes, it's talking about a specific situation, but we've got to look at it as a principle. Whatever the situation, how do we handle it with other people? You see, we can say when we look at Christ, he says, well, Christ, what is done for us? He gave up his life for us.

Graciously. I mean, granted, we've got to repent, but graciously. There's no works.

True. But you and I need to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which means we've got to see how Christ acted, and we've got to act like Him, so we've got to become gracious like Christ is. Or was, at least, during his physical life. So during our physical life, we've got to act with the same graciousness of Christ. Oh, of course, Christ told the Pharisees a few strong words. Yes, He did. But Christ also told the woman that committed a great sin, sexual sin, go out and sin no more.

And so, are we gracious with our brethren?

You see, in 2 Corinthians 13, 5 says, examine ourselves.

Do you know what normally we read in that? Well, I'm not saying we read in that, but our actions reflect that we read differently, because our actions reflect that we read, judge others, examine others. We've got to examine ourselves.

We don't know other people's hearts. That's between God and them.

And so, brethren, it's high time. It's high time we learn to treat each other with love and care. And please don't justify that well in this instance. I don't have to do it with love and care.

Brethren, world events are coming to a point that the judgment is near. But turn with me to read 1 Peter 4, verse 16. 1 Peter 4, verse 16. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. That brings to my mind, believe it or not, the very event that happened this past week on Wednesday. Yet I was a man that was not ashamed to glorify God and say he was a Christian. Sure, I'm not saying he was perfect. Please, again. But he was not afraid. He was not ashamed to say, I believe in God. I believe in Christ. I believe the Scriptures. And the Scripture says, there's the seventh-day Sabbath, and I'm keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. And from Friday night till Saturday night, I'm turning off my cell phone. I heard his voice saying that.

He was not ashamed to say that.

And he suffered as a Christian. He was murdered.

But let him glorify God in this matter.

But look at the next verse. For the time has come for judgment to begin in the house of God.

Brethren, judgment is now in us in the Church of God.

Judgment is here already. You and I are being judged now.

And the judgment is whether you and I qualify to be with those that will be in the first resurrection. Maybe we're alive. Maybe we're dead. But are we being judged now? What is our reaction? As we look at these things, as we look at what's happening to the world, do we panic?

Do we become anxious?

Or do we trust God?

Because Paul was beaten. He was taken as dead, and he got up, and he went back on, trusting God.

The apostles, the jail opened, but they trusted God.

Are we at a point where things are going to change? I don't know, but I think we are. I think we are. Are we at a point of something like Archduke, France, for the land of Austria? Are we at a turning point?

The question, brethren, is what is required of us? And I can cite scriptures for you.

And for the sake of time, jot down Michael 6, verse 8, which says, What is required of you? To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before your God. To love mercy. That's to forgive. That's to be gracious with other people. Are we being gracious?

Brethren, this is our mission. Prepare the people. Are we being prepared? And are we preaching the gospel, being a light in the right way? There's another scripture, Isaiah, a big upon Isaiah 12, verse 6, which says, Return. That means repent. Observe mercy, justice, and weight on God.

Brethren, it's time for us, as it was mentioned last week, to do better. To repent and to use God's Holy Spirit to change. It's time for us to change because time is short. You and I need to examine ourselves and say, Am I walking worthy of the calling? There is a responsibility you and I have. We have to walk worthy of the calling. Look at Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4.

Brethren, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you are called. How? With all lowliness, that's humility, and gentleness. With long suffering, that means when you treat it wrong, you don't hit back and you just take it in a godly way, in the right way. But again, there's a time to speak, but you've got to do it with wisdom and treating others correctly, bearing with one another in love. Brethren, that is grace. That is being gracious to your brothers and sisters. And when we do that, we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We bring peace amongst ourselves.

Brethren, this is the meat.

This is the meat. It's not milk. This is meat. This is what you and I need to do. You and I are being judged now.

Oh, I know. Most of you are trying to do. You are faithful, and I appreciate that.

But we always need to re-examine ourselves before trumpets and see, hey, what else do I need to repent? What else do I need to change to be more and more like Christ? Because the goal is to become like Christ. You look also still in Ephesians 4, verse 13, till we all come to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of the Son of God, which is Christ, for us to understand our crises and become like Him so that we come to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That's our goal, brethren. That's our destiny. And you and I are being judged whether God can trust in you and I so that He can give you and I that power to rule with Him. Because if He can't trust you, and if He can't trust me, I'm not going to be there.

And so don't be tossed around with different ideas, as it says in verse 14, with every wind of doctrine, but speak the truth. Now, regrettably, the word speaking is not in Greek. Greek is one word that combines both, let's call it, meanings. You could translate that, the Greek word as truthing, or following truth. After all, following truth is the truth. This is the truth. This is it. This is following truth, and living and following the truth. So I'm not saying speaking the truth is incorrect, but it's more than that. And so, following the truth, following the way, how? In love. In love. That's what it says there. And therefore, we grow up. We grow up. We mature, become like Christ. We need to be growing up. And then we read in verse 16, from whom the whole body jointly knit together about what every joint supplies, according to the effect of working about which part does it share, causes growth to the body which is the church, edifying itself in love. And so, for us to be united, we have to apply how Christ was, and how was Christ? He was gracious. The grace of God, the grace of Christ, do we have grace towards one another? Are we treating one another in the right way? Because, unfortunately, because many of us in the church and even ministers in the church have not been treating others properly, many have left the faith. And that's sad. And so, the moral of the lesson is, brethren, we've got to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That's what we've got to work on, brethren. Time is short. Time is short. You and I know if when you read Revelation 3 verse 10 and 11, it says, because you persevered to keep my word till the end, I will protect you from that time of the trying of the world. Hold on.

That's basically what Revelation 3, 10, 11 says. I'm paraphrasing it. You see, we've got to hold on. In South Africa, we had a statement that says, fastbite, which means bite hard, hold on, tenacious, bulldog, tenacity, and stay holding on to it. But the promise is, because you've persevered to the end, there's going to be hard times. Brethren, there's going to be very hard times. But God promises you, and God does not lie. God does not lie. And he says, because you persevered, I will protect you.

That's on what you and I have to stand. And so, brethren, the world scene is a battlefield which is poised, awaiting the next move and then the final move, judgment, and Christ's return. And that will be God's checkmate on this world and Satan. He will bring peace. He will bring peace to this earth. The question is, are we spiritually ready?