Transcription
[Applause] Amen, thank you very, very much. We are living in extraordinary times. Can you say Amen? What's happening in the political arena, the reelection of Donald Trump, and other events we are witnessing around the world are all orchestrated by God. That's what we believe and know.
I believe one of the effects of this is an economic boom for the Church of Jesus Christ. God is going to begin to channel wealth and resources into our leadership churches and into other works that are making disciples. We are in the final throes of world history, in the run-up to the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ. We need to do as much as we can, as soon as we can. No one knows more about that than God Himself, so He is going to equip us to do more than we've ever done. How many will believe God with me for that? Amen.
I want you to turn to the book of Lamentations. I'm going to read one verse. This sermon may not be for everyone in the most extreme sense, although I think it will help every one of us, so listen. But it will also be a salvage operation for some. Your destiny needs to be salvaged.
It was a wealthy city of 10,000 to 20,000 residents. They estimate that at the time it was destroyed, it hosted beautiful public buildings, luxurious private houses, lavish furnishings, and artworks. It exuded the pinnacle of ancient beauty and success.
This occurred in an 18-hour period from August 24th to August 25th, 79 AD. In the early morning hours, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying alive thousands of residents and destroying a city. Many of you have seen pictures like this one of people who didn't even have time to get out of bed. They didn't discover Pompeii until the 18th century, and as they began to uncover it, they found the most amazing artifacts.
The ash, at 250 degrees of temperature, fell upon the city and destroyed it entirely. There's one report of a Roman guard who is still standing, covered with ash and frozen in place. The city ceased to exist, and it wasn't discovered, as I said, until the 18th century. It was once a bustling and prosperous city with commerce, economy, families, civil government, and prosperity, and then it ceased to exist. In an 18-hour period, it was turned into an ash heap.
Our text that we're going to read tonight is a kind of eulogy, but not your typical one. A death has occurred, and instead of highlighting the positive attributes, it's a testimony of failure, captivity, and a loss of