Stop - Turn Aside — Erlo Stegen

The Everlasting Gospel and the Call to Worship God

It's now the last service of this conference, and we are so thankful for all the Lord has done for us in these days. Our text we find in Revelation, the last book in the Bible, chapter 14 from verse 6.

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth the sea and springs of water.

And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Then a third angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if anyone worships the beast in his image and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which was poured out full strength into the cup of his indignation.

He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night who worships the beast in his image and who ever receives the mark of his name.

Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. When I look here at this arrangement, you see the flames inside. Do you also see it? But I think with the other bush there, those flames were actually greater than the bush itself.

May those flames always burn in our hearts. Now let's return to our text. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, saying, Fear God and give glory to him.

For the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth the sea and springs of water. As it says, the angel was flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel. Not just a gospel that comes and goes.

It flares up and then it dies down again. This is the everlasting gospel. He endures in the gospel and is faithful. He will have everlasting life. But he who is unfaithful, he will be tormented forever.

And this gospel, it says, will be preached to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. And saying with a loud voice, Worship him who is the creator of heaven and earth. The angels have a great work. Even that angel was calling out something great.

Angels, Repentance, and the Spread of the Gospel

So often in the Bible we read that when God was about to do something great, he told his angels about it. He first tells them, for they, the Bible says, look out to see the wonders that he will do amongst the children of men, that you find in 1 Peter 1 verse 12, in Hebrews 1 verse 14, it says that the angels are God's messengers, that he sends to those that serve him and who will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

So we see how the angels are totally involved in God's kingdom here on earth. The Lord Jesus said that when there is someone that repents on earth, there is always joy in heaven. When just one sinner repents, there is rejoicing in heaven.

The angels rejoice. So when they see the gospel spreading, going to all the nations and tribes, there is rejoicing among the angels. Before the Lord Jesus was born, the angels were told about it and they came and prepared the way, proclaimed the message.

And when he was in great distress, sweating sweat drops of blood, the angel came to comfort him and strengthen him. If you read in the New Testament, you frequently find that God uses angels working through them.

If the Lord Jesus would have commissioned the angels saying, go to all the nations, preaching to the ends of the earth, I wonder what would have happened if they would have got that commission. I believe that the sun wouldn't have set on the first day without great things having happened.

They are not as lazy as we are. They are not as lukewarm as we are. God speaks to them, they jump into action immediately, sometimes coming down to earth, just like lightning. They are so excited and so involved in God's plan for this earth and for mankind, that they are longing to see the salvation of man.

Are they perhaps disappointed when they look at you, if they look at the congregation and they say, oh my, what a pity, and that they are disappointed when they see the results. So the angel was flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming this everlasting gospel, the gospel is everlasting, it is forever, everything else will stop.

Worshiping the Creator Instead of the World

Even you who go to Durban and to the city and you want the attractions of this world, you are just food for hell, you'll end up in everlasting torment. And he calls out, worship God, the creator of heaven and earth.

But just look at what man does, they worship, serve other things, worshipping silver and gold. Worshipping idols. I don't believe that my father can become a serpent, a snake, or that my mother can become a snake, I'd never accept it if people told me that I'm an offspring of a snake.

I don't believe my father will become an ancestral spirit that will come back to haunt me and to bring bad luck upon my family, if the children get sick or get hurt, then I say, oh, it's my father or my grandfather that has caused that.

I don't believe that my father can or will be the incarnation of God, I don't believe in a God, I don't believe in a god. I don't believe that my father will become an ancestral spirit that will come back to haunt me and to bring bad luck upon my family, if the children get sick or get hurt, then I say, oh, it's my father or my grandfather that has caused that.

I don't believe in going to a witch doctor or someone who will tell me my fortune or who will tell me that oh that bad luck has come upon me is because this this or other reason and one ends up slaughtering cattle and and goats until there's nothing left we'll die poor looking for a good fortune it'll never come but amazingly when we turned to the Lord within a day our fortunes turn we don't have time to elaborate and then the second angel came another angel followed and another angel followed saying Babylon has fallen has fallen that great city because she has made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Babylon as a Picture of Worldly Immorality

Babylon has fallen, Babylon has fallen. Do you know what Babylon is? Babylon stands for evil for iniquity for the world and what the world stands for even the way you dress those see-through dresses those tight that tight fitting clothes all that the world stands for that's what Babylon is or maybe those low-cut dresses that everyone can see the breasts sticking out.

It says Babylon has made the nation's drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Just look what it's like in the world today. Look at the fornication the immorality. Look at our youth now. Fornication doesn't only stand for immorality in that sense because it says that you fornicators you adulterers.

Don't you know that loving the world is enmity with God the great Babylon that makes the world and the nations drunk with her fornication. And then there's that prostitution where 12 13 14 year old girls are selling their bodies.

That spirit of immorality has been poured out across children born of children out of wedlock showing how Babylon's influence has spread all over. And then there's drugs. Young people who are still young but who have been intoxicated by these drugs to the point where they've damaged even their own bodies they can't even think normally anymore.

People intoxicated by this wine of Babylon and people who sell their bodies they spend one night with five different men. They work at night like an owl and and then during the day they sleep everything is upside down.

You have an eternal soul. But you sell it for 50 rand you're cheap. And then there's TV. You parents who bring TVs into your home. You bring it into your home and that spirit spirit of Babylon comes with it.

And that's what you injecting your children with that they will be influenced by it. Email I'm a sale but who's a go now. But that way you go now the internet cell phones that is that wine that is flowing and they people are intoxicated by it.

But it's wonderful that we read here Babylon is fallen is fallen. How wonderful that it's fallen. But if you are part of it there's smoke of the torment will rise. But you will be part of it. Like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Babylon who here belongs to Babylon. Who's part of Babylon here. Maybe even your own children don't you see it. You as parents one man said if you pray for your child realize that your child is lost. You can't pray for the child.

Parents, Children, and Spiritual Accountability

Salvation. If you know I'm not sure that the child is born again 40. Remember Johnny and John Bunyan's mother who said my son if you don't serve the Lord I will be a swift witness against you on Judgment Day I will throw the first stone.

And out of that boy came a John Bunyan where the mother said I'll be a swift witness against my child. But today children mothers and fathers defend their children excuse their children close an eye to them.

You're a bad breed. Maybe you don't need the righteous judge on the Day of Judgment. He just needs to call John Bunyan's mother. Just stand next to and it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And your old men shall dream dreams. And your young men shall see visions. If you don't know where your child stands just ask yourself has your son ever come to you with a vision from the Lord saying you know father mother this is what the Lord has shown me and spoken to me about to your children have dreams that come from heaven with our revealed heavenly mysteries.

If not then realize your child is from hell on its way to hell. It's a heathen. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Prophesying isn't just predicting future events saying I saw this and so that means this and that will happen.

No prophesying is much more than that. It's being in the congregation and being a benefit to the congregation being able to share things that are of benefit to other Christians. God reveals its secrets to the angels.

How much more should he be able to do that to your children boys and girls. And where are they. What are they doing with what are they busy spreading the gospel doing that what the angels shouted out right through.

The people are just concerned. And children are just concerned about education getting their metric going to university and they end up in the world. And it's a troubled people that live in cities in the cities where there's so much evil children are raped in toilets they not safe anyway that I think we must really appreciate it if we can live here.

And so Babylon is getting the nation's to drink of this wine intoxicating the people and not just the children even grown-ups with pornography and all sorts of evil. And then we claim to be Christians for truth.

You cannot be a Christian for truth when you're busy with these things. And maybe your children are you should start at home and just see what your children have in their handbags in their wardrobes in their cupboards in their drawers what is the you should be desperately worried and concerned as a parent if your child does not belong to those that prophesy those that can come to you and share heavenly mysteries.

Those who say father mother I would like to be able to share even with others what the Lord has done for me. If that's not the case they are dead. And you should be desperately worried. And God sees it and his angels as well.

And they say but God how can we work amongst such people when they are actually did. And such people don't even belong in the church. They are living like those in the world like the prostitutes. And that's where they belong.

See you know if I make it so are so everyone will get a lot of food to eat. How everyone's in the locket. No my assumption sake. Now we are going to put a white little knuckle in. A third angel followed them saying with a loud voice if anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on his forehead on his hand he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out full strength and into the cup of his indignation.

The Mark of the Beast and the Nature of Idolatry

Now when we read of the beast here it's not what is used in the Zulu term referring to the Zulu King that is something else. Now the beast the Antichrist that's something that will be coming and with his mark.

And we read of 666 and we hear a lot about it. But I don't want to speak about those things coming in the future. I want to speak about what we experience today. The beast is an animal or an animal like creature.

A person who's like an animal a monster and like the devil himself and a creature that just eats and eats and is is greedy more than what one should. And you overdo it and everything even with alcohol you you get drunk with and with everything else immorality adultery and stealing murder.

Abandoned by the people of Israel like the people of Israel around the golden cough dancing around it. It can even be sport which has become your idol. He receives the mark of the beast will not be forgiven in this world.

On the world what has been implanted on your mind. What are your thoughts. Those evil thoughts they speak. I speak about who you are. And Paul even said I wish I could see your face that I could see where you stand because he could read something in their faces.

So it's that mark that imprint that is made as doctor. I'll be shared with us yesterday. That beastlike nature that that one can see in a person. And if you look at a person you don't see the glory of God.

But you see this beastlike nature in him that evil of the work of demons not of the angels but of the demons. Yet some will come to you as an angel of light. But if you look carefully you will see it's actually a wolf in sheep's clothing.

And even children they don't respect or obey or honor their parents. There's no respect. Why. Because they the offspring of the devil. They toy toy they fight. They cannot bow. They've got a hard head on the forehead your thoughts that which you think about.

And then also on the hand the things you do. And you can see when a person has been there what he's done. You can see what happens while he's there how the beast is at work while that hand is at work.

And when it goes again you see how now it stopped. Maybe you say I can't wait to get out of school. Then I'm free to do what I want. Or maybe you say oh maybe one day I'll think about this. Maybe one day I'll get I'll turn to the Lord.

No it says now you must do that right now. You shouldn't even leave this place without having an experience like Moses at the burning bush. If you don't do it listen to what the word says. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.

They have no rest day or night. This is a serious matter. Parent. What would you feel if you sought your child in a heading for if they can't come look what God has told me. Just look what God has revealed to me.

Discerning God's Will Over Worldly Ambition

I like to go to the Christians and tell them this. They talk about everything else. Worldly things. Businesses come and work here. But they can't say come let us work for the Lord. You want to work for money.

Well I want to help my my my parents. They've got a difficult time. Looks nice doesn't. It comes like an angel of light. But I ask you is that the will of God. If it's the will of God it will put you a flame for God.

The fire of God will burn more in you. And you'll be a fiery witness of Jesus Christ. If not parents cry. Listen to the Lord Jesus. Don't cry for me. Cry for yourself and cry for your children. Now we have stop.

Turning Aside Through Repentance and Holiness

Turn aside. John and Isabel Kuhn left America to go to China as missionaries. When they spent some time in China they were visited by another missionary who was to conduct services there. And then John preached.

After he had preached this man called John aside and said can we just speak alone. I'm disappointed tonight. He said out John. I'm disappointed tonight. You've made great progress with the Chinese language.

Yeah. But when I heard you last speak I saw and felt the fire of God within you. But tonight all I saw was a polished language. You showed me how well you can speak Chinese. But I didn't see one soul being saved.

John have you lost something. Have you lost something. Where's that authority. Where's that fire that was there. After that he and his wife met together and they tested and searched themselves. They prayed and the Holy Spirit convicted them of sins.

And with tears they confessed their sins their critical thoughts. They cried because of it but oh I criticized. I had critical thoughts. I had wrong actions to you my wife and to others. So they did away with those things that were stopping the working of the Holy Spirit and God united them in holiness.

They say they never again forgot that visit from that servant of the Lord. She says it was the first time in my life that behind the back criticism criticism of another Christian was shown to me to be a terrible sin.

Terrible sin. I think I've heard mentioned that hundreds of times maybe thousands of times. And people still carry on criticizing and gossiping. You blind child damn child. And you can't hear must be demons in you to do missionary work amongst the Chinese.

And she says for the first time in my life I realized behind the back criticism of another Christian is a terrible sin. And she says it's the most deadly sin that paralyzes the spirit of God and quenches him when he is longing to pour out his blessing.

And he says it's the most deadly sin that paralyzes the spirit of God and quenches him when he is longing to pour out his blessing and it paralyzes and the spirit of the Lord who wants to work among people.

Sharpening Spiritual Readiness

Now in closing a young man went to an old woodcutter and asked for a job. The young man looked strong and healthy. The old man gave him an X and he got to the job. The first day he worked hard and by the end of the day there was a good pile of logs.

The old man was satisfied. The next day he went to work and worked just as hard as the first day. He worked so hard that every limb in his body ached. By the end of the day he had managed to produce a pile of logs but it was much smaller than the first day.

On the third day he used every ounce of strength he had. He worked until he had no more strength. By the end of the day he had just a small pile of wood. That evening he went to the woodcutter. He told him that he couldn't understand.

He's working just as hard as the first day but each day there was less wood. The woodcutter asked for the X. He drew his thumb across it and asked the young man when last did you sharpen this X? He replied that he hadn't done it once.

The old man gave him a lesson that day that he never forgot. I think the first day when we were here, some are blunt, they're not sharp. Have you been sharpened yesterday? Have you been sharpened today?

You can try to work hard but it doesn't work. Down there at the Tugela we're busy cutting thorn trees. My and those thorns you'll never forget. They just go right through a big tractor tire. I've got five just this part of my head.

And then it seems as if every thorn has got poison at the end and it doesn't heal easily. So one has got to be careful how to fell those thorn trees. And then I saw women, I saw men, hitting with their bush knives hitting with their axes and it would just do this, do this, do this maybe fifty times before a twig like this would be cut down.

I told the man with the X, come here, I could do this, I say you can ride on this thing, it's blunt. It's just jumping off the wood. The women come with your bush knives exactly the same. You've got to be sharp, not blunt, sharp in your hearing when it's preached, when God speaks to you, be sharp like a razor blade.

You won't get anywhere spiritually you'll become the laughing stock of the world. The thorn tree will look at you and say what a fool this man is. Members of CFT, what kind of Christians are you? It's nineteen years, what has happened in these nineteen years?

In your life, what could God do through you? Nineteen years, you're getting older, you're getting grey, soon you'll die. Have you fulfilled the commission of Christ? Gone to all the nations, preached the gospel, forgot about everything else where even young people say I'm not interested in money, I'm not interested in a job.

I want to be busy with that which the angels shouted out while flying through heaven. You can go to hell if you want to. But there you will be tormented day and night, forever.

Prayer for Fire, Cleansing, and Gospel Witness

Let us pray. Thank you Lord for an inspiring message. Thank you Lord that we could sit at thy feet as we prayed in the beginning to hear what thou hast to say. Thou hast challenged us. Are we sharp? Are we on fire for thee?

Thou didst ask us when last was that hatchet, that knife sharpened. When last have we cleansed our lives? Oh may it not be empty words which we have heard. But may we be ignited with the fire from heaven to go out and to preach the gospel that streams of living water may flow that our lives will be worth something for thee for our families for our congregations for our country for the whole world.

May thy blessing Lord Jesus rest upon us and be with us forever more. Amen.