Welcome to The Approaching Storm, a seven part series on last day events from a Seventh-day Adventist perspective. I'm Ken Norton, speaker director for the Voice of Prophecy and these presentations I will be sharing insights and research from my own personal journey to understand not just the sequence of how events are going to unfold right before Jesus returns, but how to truly be prepared for the time of trouble ahead. The events we will be looking at are founded in Scripture and expanded on in detail in the writings of Ellen White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. These presentations will be a little unusual and that I will be sharing many Bible texts and quotes. I pray that everything you hear will draw you closer to Jesus and that you will gain a clear and practical understanding of how to prepare for the coming crisis. Let's begin with prayer. God in heaven during these presentations I claim this promise where you said, fear not for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. For I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. God, we claim that promise now and for the future. Amen. In 1921, a newspaper ad inviting tourists and investors to Miami Beach read practically no danger from summer storms. And it was true the last major hurricane had been 11 years earlier in 1910 when you could count the people that lived in Miami Beach in the thousands, not tens of thousands, the newspaper ad and other marketing tactics worked. By 1925, there were over 30,000 people in Miami as the area exploded with growth. September 15th, 1926, the National Weather Bureau still in its infancy for predicting storms issued a major warning. There was something big brewing above the warm waters in the Caribbean. Nearby South Florida was put on full alert, but the warning fell on deaf ears. A few residents in businesses in downtown Miami reluctantly boarded up, but the town of Miami Beach with its high-end hotels and bustling beaches completely ignored those with scientifically prophetic insight. Three days later on September 18, around 2:00 AM the category four tempest unleashed its fury onto Miami Beach, Florida. One Florida historian wrote, Miami Beach was isolated in a sea of raving white water. Hotels that were left standing along Collins Avenue had lobbies filled with sand. 372 people dead, 43,000 left homeless. Why didn't they listen? The weather bureau's message was clear. The facts all pointed to a major storm about ready to blow upon their shores, yet the warnings were completely ignored. What had made them so complacent? The answer becomes tragically clear by adding one more piece to the story. Two months earlier, a smaller hurricane with some heavy rains and blustery wind had crossed over South Florida. One long time resident hopeful that the smaller storm would jolt newer South Floridians awake to the fact that storms in that region could be deadly rot. We have had a beautiful time with a hurricane apparently made to order for me blowing with just enough energy to put the fear of the Lord into the scoffers and very possibly make them see the light, but instead the weakness of the smaller storm blinded them, sinking them into a state of unprepared complacency, causing them to continue with business as usual, believing that when a real storm came it wouldn't be so bad. The time of trouble such as never was, is soon to open upon us and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality, but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal in that time of trial. Every soul must stand for himself before God. We are on the very verge of the time of trouble and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of are before us. These two quotes are accompanied by hundreds of similar warnings that come to us through the prophetic voice of a woman who saw and vision the terrors of the last days, whose pen did not stop to plead and warn those who would live. At the very end of time, Ellen White began to share these warnings in the mid 18 hundreds when many devoted Christians from different denominations were diligently studying the Scriptures, especially Daniel in Revelation trying to understand the events connected with the second coming of Jesus. Those earnest Bible students would eventually form the Seventh-day Adventist Church and would with one voice proclaimed to the world the prophetic message that Jesus was indeed coming again as clear as the weather bureau's warning, their studies revealed that Bible prophecy pointed unmistakably to the fact that there was a tempest on the horizon whose scale of fury the inhabitants of planet Earth had never experienced and by God's mercy would never have to experience again. That approaching storm is summed up in one pivotal verse At that time, Michael shall stand up the great prince who stands, watch over the sons of your people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that time and at that time your people shall be delivered. Everyone who was found written in the book when Jesus referenced this time of trouble as recorded in Matthew 24, he told his hearers they needed to study the events surrounding Daniel's prophecy and when they saw certain events unfolding, they would know that his coming was near even at the doors. Jesus wants us to be prepared for what is coming in the last days. He wants us to study these things so that we will not be surprised when the storm arrives. It is my prayer that this series will not just inform you about what is coming, but inspire you to study God's word and to deepen your relationship with God today in preparation for what is coming in the future. As you watch this series, I highly recommend that you take time to read or reread chapters 25 through 42 of the book, the Great Controversy. We will be studying several topics that you will find detailed in those chapters to set a backdrop for this entire series, let's begin in Matthew chapter 24. Many of us are familiar with this chapter where the disciples ask Jesus a question. Actually two questions about last day events. In response, Jesus gives us a detailed description of what would happen right before his second coming. Matthew chapter 24, verse three. Now, as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately saying, tell us when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age, and Jesus answered and said to them, take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will deceive many and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you'll be hated by all nations. For my name's sake and then many will be offended, will betray one another and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold, but he who endures to the end shall be saved and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come. When I read these verses, there are three words that come to mind, scope, frequency, and intensity. Have there always been false prophets, wars, pestilence, famines and earthquakes? Yes, but I believe there is clear factual evidence to show that the scope, frequency, and intensity of these signs have increased since the time Jesus spoke these words. Until now, people being offended, hating one another, false teachers with millions of subscribers, lawlessness, abounding major wars and unrest around the world and love growing cold and our lifetime. We are experiencing firsthand a dramatic increase in the scope, frequency, and intensity of these signs and they will continue to increase as we move into the final events of Earth's history. In fact, these signs will be most concentrated during the time period of last day events right before Jesus comes in this series, we will primarily be focusing on events that will take place within or surrounding the Little Time of Trouble. The Little Time of Trouble defines a time of intense distress and turmoil that will take place both in the church and in the world right before the close of probation. During this time, there will be a quick domino effect of events that will lead into the Great Time of Trouble. The Little Time of Trouble is made up of four major events that are clearly described in the Bible and expounded on by Ellen White. The first is the Sunday law in presentation three, we will study this topic in depth by examining the prophecies of Revelation chapters 13 and 14. Then in presentations four and five, we will enter a fascinating study of an event known as The Shaking. The shaking is described in Zephaniah chapter three 11 through 13 and Hebrews 1225 through 28. Jesus also described The Shaking in several of his parables. The shaking is followed by the Latter Rain based in Joel chapter two verses 23 through 24 and 28 through 32. The Latter Rain is quickly followed by the Loud Cry described in Revelation 18, one through four. As mentioned earlier, we will spend most of our time during this series unpacking the details surrounding these four Little Time of Trouble events. Even though we will be studying The Shaking in detail in coming presentations, it is important here at the beginning to understand a very startling and sad fact In the last days, there will be a large number of Seventh-day Adventists who will abandon the truth, leave the church and join those who persecute God's faithful people. Ellen White describes what happens at that time. She says, soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal to stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us to fight the battles of the Lord. When champions are few, this will be our test. At this time, we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice and loyalty from their treason. When the law of God is made void, the church will be sifted by fiery trials and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. How can this happen? What has caused our churches today to be filled with so many Unconsecrated members? Here is one answer. In the absence of persecution, there have drifted into our ranks, men who appear sound and their Christianity unquestionable, but who if persecution should arise, would go out from us? Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors adversity purges them out of the church, brothers and sisters. It is imperative that we deal justly with our own souls Now before the fiery trials come. In the next presentation, we will walk through the practical steps of how to become anchored in Jesus now so that when persecution and adversity comes, we will remain faithful to God and his truth and not be shaken out. After the Sunday law, The Shaking, the Latter Rain and the Loud Cry have all taken place. Then comes the close of probation. At that time, the entire world will be divided into two groups. Everyone will have made a decision for or against God whether they will worship God and obey him or worship the dragon and obey his commands. God announces in the courts of heaven that the time for making a decision for or against him is finished. That announcement is found in Revelation chapter 22, verse 11. He who is unjust let him be unjust still. He who is filthy let him be filthy still. He who is righteous. Let him be righteous still. He who is holy let him be holy. Still no one will be shifting loyalties after the close of probation. The righteous through the power of the Holy Spirit have made a choice to be loyal to God and to his truth and they are not moving. The wicked have consistently rejected the Holy Spirit and believed lies and they are not changing their minds. All destinies are fixed and the last movements will be rapid ones. Immediately after the close of probation, the Great Time of Trouble comes. It is then that the seven last plagues begin to fall and we will look in detail at these plagues in a future presentation, but here is a brief overview. First plague, grievous or foul and loathsome sores on the worshipers of the beast. Second plague, the seas turn to blood. Third plague rivers and springs of water turn to blood. Fourth plague sun scorches men with fire. Fifth plague, darkness and pain in the kingdom of the beast. Sixth plague, the Euphrates is dried up and increased open demonic activity. Seventh plague, great earthquake, hailstones and tectonic upheaval. Revelation 16 states that these plagues will cause the wicked to blaspheme God all the more as they refuse to change their minds and repent of their deeds. This period is not just a Great Time of Trouble for the unrepentant, but it's also a time of trouble for God's people as well. At that time, the wicked become enraged at the righteous, blaming them for the meltdown of the global economy and the destructive plagues that are falling. Earthly governments with their leaders under the complete control of Satan pass a death decree that at a certain time all the troublemakers must be killed and who are those troublemakers? Revelation chapter 14, verse 12 says, it's those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. After the death decree is issued, the people of God enter a period of such intense trial that it is compared with the terrible night when Jacob wrestled for his life with the angel of God. This period within the Great Time of Trouble, as known as the time of Jacob's trouble found depicted in Jeremiah chapter 35 through seven. We will be covering this time in detail later in the series, but for an overview here is how Ellen White describes what the righteous will go through. At that time, Jacob and Esau represent two classes, Jacob the righteous and Esau the wicked Jacob's distress when he learned that Esau was marching against him with 400 men represents the trouble of the righteous as the decree goes forth to put them to death just before the coming of the Lord, as the wicked gather about them, they will be filled with anguish. For like Jacob. They can see no escape for their lives. The angel placed himself before Jacob and he took of the angel and held him and wrestled with him all night, so also will the righteous in their time of trouble and anguish, wrestle in prayer with God. As Jacob wrestled with the angel, Jacob in his distress prayed all night for deliverance from the hand of Esau, the righteous in their mental anguish will cry to God day and night for deliverance from the hand of the wicked who surround them during this time, the righteous are not left alone. What was the promise of Jesus? At the end of the Great commission, he said, and Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the age. He said, always, always means always. The Holy Spirit who falls on God's people during the Latter Rain stays with them and in them all the way until Jesus comes again. Let's briefly review the sequence of events before the last and final greatest event. The signs of Christ soon coming continue to increase in scope, frequency, and intensity leading into the Little Time of Trouble. Then comes the Sunday law, The Shaking, the Latter Rain and the Loud Cry. The Loud Cry causes every person on planet earth to make a decision for or against God. Then comes the close of probation. After the close of probation comes the Great Time of Trouble, which includes the seven last plagues, the death decree and the time of Jacob's trouble, and then finally the last greatest most glorious event of all time, the second coming of Jesus as a little teaser for what is coming in a future presentation. Let's look at how Ellen White describes this long awaited for event. Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud about half the size of a man's hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Savior in which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of Man in solemn silence. They gaze upon it as it draws near the earth becoming lighter and more glorious. Until it is a great white cloud, it's base a glory like consuming fire. And above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror with anthems of celestial melody. The holy angels, a vast outnumbered throng attend him on his way. The firmament seems filled with radiant forms 10,000 times, 10,000 and thousands of thousands. No human pen can portray the scene. No mortal mind is adequate to conceive splendor as the living cloud comes still near every eye. Beholds the Prince of Life, no crown of thorns now mars that sacred, but a diadem of glory rests on his holy brow. His countenance outshines the dazzling brightness of the noonday sun and he half on his vest and on his thigh, a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What a glorious day that will be. My friend. Jesus wants you to be ready for his coming and you can be ready. There are signs all around us telling us that, that there is a storm approaching just like those South Florida residents in 1926. We are currently in the midst of a smaller storm that is blowing with just enough energy to put the fear of the Lord into the scoffers and very possibly make them see the light or will it? Will we heed the warnings or go on with business as usual, may God help each of us in our families be ready for the storm when it comes. May God help us prepare to meet Jesus, our coming Savior, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Pray with me as we close. God in heaven, we surrender ourselves to you. We want to be ready for your coming. Jesus, may you give us strength and courage to prepare now so that we are ready when you come in the clouds of glory. God, thank you. Thank you for saving us. We surrender ourselves now in Jesus' name. Amen.