Happy Saturday once again and good afternoon. I hope we have had a good break, filled with food, and I hope you're fine. Thank you for joining us again for the afternoon program. We are glad that you could be with us. Now, before we begin, I would like us to pray. But before we pray, I have the rest of the choristers introduce themselves so that we are aware of the names of the people who are serving today. Happy Saturday once again. My name is Salivan. It's a pleasure to serve with you today. Happy Saturday. My name is Bradley Ching. Be blessed. Happy Saturday. I'm Kate Otiano. May you be blessed. My name is Ebi Okoko. Let us pray. Our dear and heavenly Father, we are very grateful for the blessing that you have given us today, enabled us to begin the day, go through the divine service, and gather once again in your fine chain. As we begin the afternoon program, we still ask your presence with us. We want to ask you to help us to enjoy the program and understand what is in store for us. May this trusting and believing in this name. We forgot our pianist. This is Opio. This is Florence Opio. Thank you. So we shall begin our service with Yimboza Christo, song number 35. Yimboza Christo, song number 35. And to song number 49. Yimboza Christo is... In the same breath, we now shift to Yimboza Christo. Yesu Ujekwetu, song number 13. Yimboza Christo, Yesu Ujekwetu. Happy Saturday and good afternoon to everyone who's joined us this afternoon. Thank you so much for taking time. I really wish and hope that you had a wonderful lunch. We most certainly did on the panel today. And we welcome you to this session, this afternoon discussion, about the final crisis. I'll say it again about the final crisis. There are so many things that are happening in the world today. There are so many things and perspectives that we all seek to understand. And today, in our discussion, we want to invite you to join us as we shall be seeking to understand from the Bible and the spirit of prophecy what it entails as we approach the nearness and the soon return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I want to invite my brother Kelvin to pray for us as we start this session. Let us pray. Mighty God, what in heaven. Thank you for the gift of the Sabbath. Lord, as we are about to delve into your word. Lord, may your permeating spirit come into us and may we discern your truths and may they bless us and bless those who are listening. For it is in Jesus' name, I ask. Amen. Thank you. Thank you so much, brother Kelvin. Now, as we start and before we start, I'd like us to introduce the people and the panelists in front of us today that we shall be listening to. To my right, which is your left. I'd like Sister Anne to introduce herself. I agree to you in the name of Jesus Christ. And I would like you to welcome you to today's as we study what is happening in the world today and how we are supposed to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Welcome. Thank you so much, Sister Anne. And to my left, which is your right, I'd like to invite brother Kelvin to introduce himself as well. Good afternoon, Saints. I'm Kelvin Aganta. And let's come and delve into the word and see what God has for us today. Praise God, brother Kelvin. And it is true. We are seeking to delve into the world this afternoon. Now, for our discussion today, we'll focus on three key things. There are three key areas we're going to discuss. And the first one is in our topic, Final Crisis. The first one will be signs to look for or to look out for in the world. Signs to look out for in the world. The second one will be signs to look out for in the church. Because if we look at the world, we need to see what signs are those that are telling us that Christ is coming. And also, signs to look out for in the church. What signs are there happening in the church telling us that Christ is coming. And then finally, once we see what's happening in the world, we see what's happening in the church, then we need to ask ourselves, how should I prepare for the coming of Christ both physically, spiritually, and mentally? How should I prepare to receive Christ both spiritually, physically, and mentally? And we'll go right into our study today. And this afternoon, we'll start with Sister Anne. Who will tell us? Sister Anne, what are the signs to look out for in the world for the soon coming of Christ? I know there are many, but just briefly tell us what you think that is in our discussion. Jesus Christ dealt with this subject deeply. And he did it in the book of Matthew 24. If you read the whole of it, our time is limited. We would read all of it. But we have several events, our occurrences in the Bible, which are a type for the end of the times. For example, we have the case of Noah, we have the case of Jesus Christ from the time that he was born until the time that he was put on the cross. So if I go to the case of Noah, we'll start, that is the beginning. If we talk about the history of the world, I believe we are supposed to go back to the beginning. And so, if you start from when mankind fell in sin? That is in Genesis 3. If you go to Genesis 4, at the start we see Cain killing his brother Abel. And from there the violence went on increasing. And also in the same chapter, we are told of someone called Lamek, who went on killing more than Cain did. And the same person introduced something called polygamy. So as we go on to chapter 6, we are introduced in verse 5, and that is something that is rare. My brother, can you read for me? Definitely. In fact, as I read this, as we all get to Genesis 6, as we go to verse 5, this is one of my favorite texts. There are many, but this is one of them. And I like how Moses paints the picture to us here. When he says, as God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually. So we see that is one sign of the end of the time because the crisis of Noah is the same as the end, the end time crisis. And so the evilness of man had increased a lot. And so God intended to finish the world the same way he is intending for the world to be over because of whatever is happening right now, so that mankind can be saved. There is also another, it is established also in verse 11. Go to verse 11. Verse 11 still of Genesis 6. Alright, to carry on it says, the earth was also corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence. The earth was filled with violence.  He hates killings. More so violence against our fellow human beings. And as we know in the world today, for example in Kenya, if you look from the year 2018, the killings have gone on increasing and increasing, the numbers have increased. And we have seen, I don't think brother Ted, in each and every news we must hear someone has killed a wife, a person has killed his family, or even someone has killed the husband. It's not only husband. I would say couples killing each other and we know that when we have rottenness in the family, it extends to the society. And even now, because of this corona case, we know that a lot of people, a lot of people have lost their properties because of theft. And also a lot of people have lost their lives because of theft. Even now, there are some parts in this city that we cannot, even during the day, you cannot go freely as you could four, five years ago. So this shows that it is the violence, it continues increasing as it did in the end time. And also, I would like to say this, during this end time, God, it is not everyone in the world who was evil. In verse, what does it say in Genesis 6 verse 8? Genesis 6 verse 8, and it says, this is also another, in fact we should pick it up from verse 7. Yeah, okay. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast and the creeping things and the fowls of the air, but for it repenteth me, this is God speaking, that I have made man, I have made them. Then we go to verse 8, the key text that He wants us to read now. It starts with the word, but. And the word but brings a contrast. Because verse 7 shows, it tells us the kind of people who were living then, who were evil. But it goes on to say to your question, but no one found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Let me backtrack. There's something you have read in verse 7. Because of the evils of humanity, God intended even to destroy the creatures, even the ants suffered because of the sin of mankind. The same way, even today, the environment is suffering because of the sins of mankind. For example, we have the Amazon forest, which started burning in 2019. And until now, it is still burning. It is because of our own actions. We have destroyed the climate. We have destroyed our own environment, our own earth that we were bestowed upon by God as stewards to take care of it. But because of our own evils, our own selfishness, that is why the earth is suffering. But there's something there. In every place where evil is prevalent, you'll always find something that it is called a remnant. Yes. Even in the last days, there will be something that we call a remnant church. So we see that God brought up someone called Noah because he found favor in the eyes of God. What does this tell us? It tells us that even if the whole world goes against God, even if the situation is so dire that we are so attracted to sin in order to survive, we must stand firm even if the world is against us. And God used Noah to prepare for the end-time crisis. And he used him. He anointed him to be the end of the time in the time of Noah. He was used as an end-of-time preacher. And we know that he preached for 120 days for the preparation. And only eight people were saved. And we can see that my brother will continue with that because before the rain started, we have a ceiling happening. My brother will talk about the ceiling. After the people entered in the ark, and it is very funny, even the animals were entering in the ark. But the people were still mocking the word of God. The same thing is happening nowadays. I don't know if you have seen this. The number of Avists is going up and up. Because I believe in the time of our parents, there were staunch Christians. But us, this generation, we have a lot of people who are questioning God. Despite God showing us that he is still God, he is still keeping man alive. And I wanted to say that if you go to chapter 7, there is a ceiling happening. We know that after all the animals and the eight people went into the ark, we saw that there was a silence for seven days. The same will happen before the four winds are released. There will be a ceiling for God people. But remember, immediately the door was closed. Immediately the door was closed, even before the ceiling. It was the end of probation for anyone who wanted to get saved. What does this tell us? Before the Sunday Law, for us who know the truth, the door of probation will be closed for us. So let us not wait for that time when it is announced for one day of worship. We think that that is the time to be serious. No, for us who know the truth, the door of probation will have been closed. Sister, and there are so many, so many points you've brought out there. One, you've spoken about a Sunday Law. Very interesting point about a Sunday Law. But I have to take us back on two things that I really like that you mentioned, about climate. You mentioned something about climate, and that came to my mind, because prior to the flood, there had been no rain, like the way it rains now. The way I stayed this morning, it rained heavily. The way it rained this morning, there had been no rain in the time of Noah. Which means when the flood came, there was a climate change. Correct? Because the rain had not, they had never been rained before, or prior to the flood. Yeah, that is Genesis 2.6. Because how the earth was watered it came from streams beneath. But then right before the destruction, what happened? There was a change in climate. So right now, what do we see? What was happening next month? For those who were aware of the signs of the times. There's a major conference happening next month. I'm not wrong, 21, if I'm not wrong. COP26, sorry, I'm taking you back. It's actually COP26, happening just next month. And what's the major discussion at that particular conference? The effect of climate change. Now, some of us may say, you know, climate hasn't changed, this thing, the world has been going on forever, and ever, and ever, it's been, we've been going through the same cycles of life all through and through. Yeah. Because Matthew 24 tells us, look, as it was in the days of... No. There are many things that we can look at there. Then Luke goes on to list several things. But one of them I would like to pick us out is, at the time of Noah, there was a climate change. So meaning, for us to see the second coming of Christ, what should we expect? An issue around... Climate. Now, some of us may say, but Ted, I think you're pushing it. Let's confirm this with Ecclesiastes chapter 1, verse 9. Let's quickly run to the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 1. We'll read from verse number 9. Are we all there? Now, let me read. Ecclesiastes chapter 1, verse number 9. I want us to read this slowly. It says, that thing that has been, it is that thing which shall be. Now, what does that mean? That thing which had been, let's read the story, that thing which has been, is that thing which shall be. Is that what happened in the past? Is what will happen in the future? Solomon goes on to say, and that which is done, is that which shall be done. That which happened in the past, is that which shall happen in the future? Solomon is saying, and there is no new thing and there is the son. So climate change is not a new thing just because we're seeing a conference happening now. I'm sure there was a conference happening back in Noah's time. I'm stretching but I'm saying, Noah must have wondered, wow, because no one moved by faith believing that India to prepare and act for the saving of his family. We told that in Hebrews. But he had never seen rain but he moved So that's the first thing we need to understand. That which has been is that which shall be. So if rain happened in the past in the destruction of the world, our title is the final crisis, we should expect a climatic issue in the second coming that is preceding, because now what's going to happen now is again we're going to see the destruction of the world happening very soon. So we should also see some element of climatic conditions that are changing. I'd like to challenge those who are listening. Think about COP26, try to understand what's happening. See what Pope Francis is going to do at COP26 and ask yourself, why is he very interested in COP26? And then see the parallel of what he's going to say, what he's been saying, and how he's been pushing that agenda with what he said about five years ago in the Laudato Si that he said about five years ago. See what he says the issue is to solve the current challenges that we're having in the world. Let me bring him here just to comment on a few things that we have discussed. I think that seeing what happened just before the flood and seeing what will happen in the coming future, he would rouse every 70-day Adventist who's waiting for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ in the air. And I'd just like to take you back to history, early Christian history. And we know that as we near this crisis, we ought to prepare. And as we prepare for this crisis, Satan's deceptions will be more subtle, his assault will be more determined. Remember, Satan is a constant worker. He's not. He has over 6,000 years of experience. Most of us have lived just quarter century, but he has over 6,000 years of experience. And if it were possible, he'd lead even the very elect astray, according to Mark 1322. And Matthew 24, verse 9, verse 21 and verse 22 shows rather what Satan through earthly kings and earthly powers can do to might certain extremities towards the remnant. Why?  And great. Yes. Yes. Now, one of the propositions she has is that we should create a day of rest to let the earth rest. Yes. Now, which day do you think this will be? Yes. Now, that day should rouse every 70-day Adventist because why? In history, as we'll see here, as I'll take you through, we'll see that Christians in age before have been persecuted for standing for something contrary to what the world stands for. Now, in the book Great Controversy, the second chapter, persecution in the early centuries, we see that Christians were actually being persecuted for their faith. In other words, as Sister White puts it, she says that they sealed their testimonies with their blood. In other words, they died for the faith and they were falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes. Now, it will not be a surprise to me if the remnant in general will be blamed for the calamities that are befalling the world today. And the famine, pestilence, and earthquakes, they became objects of popular hatred and suspicion. Now, informers stood ready for the sake of gain to betray the innocent. Now, these are some of the methods that Satan used. Death was the most preferred way to exterminate the Christians. But guess what happened? Sister White writes in that book that the blood of the Christians was seed. In other words, the more Christians died, the more Christians sprung up. Yes. Now, and as they sprung up, they were saying this word, the oftener we are mown down by you. These were the authorities of that time, the governments of that time. As we are mown down by you, the more we grow, the blood of Christians is seed. Thousands were slain, but thousands took their positions. So now, Satan studied this pattern and he wanted to successfully counteract it. What did he do? Now the sufferings the Christians endured brought the Christians closer to one another and closer to Christ. In other words, the more these Christians suffered for the cause of Christ, the more they were brought closer to one another and closer to Christ. So now Satan became more subtle and planted his banner in the church. How did he do that? Remember in the 4th century, Constantine walked into the church, Constantine's conversion in the 4th century. He walked into the church. Now, how significant was this? This is what it meant. Satan now, what he could not achieve by force, by killing, he now wanted to achieve it by artifice. Artifice is a high level deception. So he wanted to use artifice. And how did he use this artifice? In other words, the Christians saw Constantine walking in and they saw his worldly honor. And they said, now we can welcome people as long as they observe just certain truths while overlooking the essential truths in the world. And that's how idolaters were led to receive part of the Christian faith while they rejected the essential truths. And even some professed to accept Christ and his death, but they had no conviction of their own sin and they felt no need of repentance or change of heart. Now this is the condition of the church then. Now, Ted, could this be the condition of the church today? That's a good question that you asked. And I'll go back to the text that I just read about Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 8. That which hath been, is that which shall be. If that was the condition then, then we should, we can safely conclude that that, if we really believe what the Bible says, if we see what Solomon says, if that which hath been, that which shall be, that's one taken remember. By the testimony of two of three, then the truth shall be established. We've read in Luke 24, as it was in the days of, no, that text continues to say, as it was in the days of Lot, as well, so shall it be, the days of coming of the Son of Man. So which means what Christ, and those were Christ's words, what Christ was saying there, if you want to understand what shall happen before the final destruction of the world, what should you do? Look back. See what happened in the past, in the world today we are so focused on trying to understand what's going to happen in the future, what shall happen, what is going to happen, how, what am I going to, what's going to happen in the next five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten years. For you to know what will happen in that, in then, see what happened in the past. So we need to carefully study what happened in Noah's time. Sister White comments on this beautifully in the book, Patriarchs and Prophets, the chapter of the flood. This is one of my favorite quotations from the spirit of prophecy. She says, that is page 95, paragraph 3. She says, as speaking of the anti-deluvians, she says, as sin became general, it appeared less and less sinful. And they finally declared that the divine law was no longer in force, and that it was contrary to the character of God to punish transgression. And they denied that his judgments were to be visited upon the earth. Let me pause there for a bit. Sister White said that in the times of Noah, because sin became so general, sin became like commonplace. The anti-deluvians, it got into their mind that there's no way God is going to destroy this world. There is no remote chance that God is going to bring destruction. That's exactly what they thought. So then they went on to say, ah, how can God destroy? And the reason why they decided, because you see, God had allowed them to live for hundreds of years. He allowed them to live for so long, what then that meant is that they were like, ah, God cannot destroy us. I mean, look at how massive we are. Look at how intelligent we are. Look at how we have grown. Look at our wealth. They boasted. We had the privilege of my family, and I had the privilege in August, I digress just to give context to this. We had the privilege of traveling to the United States earlier this year, and we went to Kentucky. And in Kentucky, they built this massive ark. They've actually built the Noah's Ark to life-size. They went, they took the measurements from the Bible, and they built Noah's Ark. The actual thing is called the Ark Encounter.  They do a beautiful six to ten minute video about it. So we had the privilege of going to see it. And when you go there and you see how man now tries to depict how they were, you get to see how they had grown in wealth, how wicked they had been. And because Christ had not brought punishments. They thought there is no way Christ would bring punishment again. So then you're back to your question. If that's what happened then, that's how they thought then, our topic is the final crisis. What are we thinking now in our church today? And don't you have us sitting chilling, there's no way Christ is going to come. I mean, I'm okay. Life is good. I can eat. I can dress. Of course, with COVID, that brought some jolt into our lives. Because when COVID came, you realize, wow. That job which I rely on so much, we may never be there. That we were in our, at least in Kenya, in the context of Kenya and our fuel prices shut up. You realize, wow. That which was so easily accessible a few months ago is no longer easily accessible. So for us to know what's going to happen in the final crisis, let's go back and see what happened in Noah's time. And the same thing happens also in Lot's time. If you look at Lot. What was Lot doing? First of all, if you understand Lot, Lot was an interesting man. Uncharacter. Because if you look at Lot, Lot had a chance to, Noah gave Lot an opportunity to choose. Now, Lot is like most of us. Okay. Lot is like me. I would go for the best place. The greenest place. There is no way I'm going to go. Suffer. Suffer in the mountains. Or suffer in some dry place. You see that? Lot represents somebody who can be a typical temp where Lot went and chose the best, processed initially when he set up, he was facing away from Sodom. But eventually, after a few years, what happened? Lot went inside Sodom. And then eventually there was destruction, we all know what happened there. So if you were to read on the characters of what happened in the past, we shall get to see what shall happen in the future. First, understand what is the condition of the church. Is something you want to comment on the cabinet? Yes. Sister White, when she extrapolated on that particular excerpt of persecution in the first century and how that persecution was stopped, now she goes ahead and says that there has ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class studies the Savior's life and honestly seeks to correct their defects of characters and conform to the pattern, the other class shone the plain practical truths that expose their errors. Now and when she mentions this, she talks about Judas. Now Judas was accepted into the church but not withstanding his defects of character. What does that mean? It means that by hanging around Christ, by being around Christ, he will transform his defects of character. But what happened? Any indication? That was the expectation. That was the expectation. What was supposed to happen to Judas? Yes. But what happened? Any indication of rebuke of his defects? He was angry at the Passover rebuke and all who cherish evil under the profession of godliness, hate those that disturb their peace by condemning their cause of sin. And the beautiful part about this is, Sister White points out that as long as persecution continued, the church remained comparatively pure, said, is a church experiencing any form of persecution right now. In my view to some extent, to some extent, there is always some rebuke for those who embrace, if I should say, the cleaver of two, which is reflected in the messages of the first, second, and third angels' messages, those who profess to accept the reforms that we are called to do, whether it's health reform, dress reform, diet reform, education reform, even Sabbath reform. For those who embrace this, you're normally called straight faced, square, you know? You're awkward. You know, you're too with God. Sometimes I wonder that statement, what does it mean to be you're too tight with God? Who then are you supposed to be tighter? If it's not God or Christ, then who else is it supposed to be? And that form of, if I can say, persecution that is mild comes, and we see that happening in the church.  So we see that happening in the church because those who, as you tend to go near to Christ, you know, the more you draw closer to Christ, the farther away you move from certain friends, the farther away you move away from certain behaviors that you have, and the more you will be called certain names. Christ was called those names. So one, now this character, Judas, is a very interesting character because you see he got angry at any rebuke, and we all know how that ended. We know that Judas ended up giving up Christ as a lamb for slaughter. And so I tried to hear that these type of people, remember, they've come into the church with some motives, more probably temporal gains. But these guys, if they do not, they should come, yes, but if they do not work on their characters, these are the ones who are going to give us up to our bitterest enemies. That is what the spirit of prophecy says here. And now that we have this other class, what qualities should they possess? And Sister White goes ahead and says that the mysterious providence that permits the righteous to suffer persecution at the hand of the wicked has been a great perplexity to many who are weak in the faith. In other words, we are not to doubt the goodness of God, even when we undergo persecution in the hand of wicked men. It's a mysterious providence. But Sister White goes ahead and says that when you read John 1520, the highlight of that text is the servant is not greater than the master. Now Sister White extrapolates and says that Jesus suffered for us more than any of his followers can be made to suffer through the cruelty of the wicked. In other words, whatsoever persecution you will ever go through, even as we approach the crisis, it cannot go beyond. You're not greater than the master. It cannot go beyond. Because I had again and says that the righteous are placed in the furnace of affliction that they themselves may be purified. See, there's a crisis before us. We ought to prepare. There ought to be some preparation. And the spirit of prophecy says that all earthliness, anything pertaining to the things of earth has to be put aside. That the example may convince others of the reality of the faith and godliness. And also the consistent cause may condemn the ungodly and the unbelieving. Sister, maybe is there a comment you want to give? You don't want to make sure we just keep it a discussion between the two of us? There's something. If I borrow from your verse of Ecclesiastes. What there was, it shall be. In that time, you have mentioned the time of lot. And we know why Sodom and Gomorrah was banned.  And this was because of homosexuality. And now there's a way we have brought up as as if it is acceptable. 10, 5 years ago, it was not acceptable. But even now, even in the church, if you asked someone, I saw a clip of several pastors being asked, is homosexuality a sin? Some went away, but according to the book of Romans 1 verse 26, 27, it is what? It is a sin. And this is what made Sodom and Gomorrah to be. And it is also playing in this time of the ends. If I go back to the last day's events, we call it the ecclesiastical movement. When you go to the date of June 2015, the United States of America accepted gay marriage in their constitution. Was it this year or last year, correct me if I'm wrong?  We say that. We put it, yes, love is good. It is godly. But Saturn brings some deceiveness that is called homosexuality. And as we say, and now we have a saying going, love is love. Love is love. And is any type of love OK? These are the signs of the end time. As we go on, we have accepted the sins that were frowned upon in the past. We have accepted them as a norm in the society and also even in the church. Yeah, that is very true. Just before we go to our break, I'll bring you back in. Just to comment on what you said about homosexuality. If you look at every major nation that has collapsed in the world, the most predominant social condition at the time preceding its collapse was homosexuality. If you look at the Roman Empire, it was homosexuality. If you look at the Jews, it was homosexuality. If you look at Sodom, Gomorrah, Adem Azaboim, and Bela, there were five cities. It was homosexuality. If you look at the anti-Diluvians, it was homosexuality. Every major nation, prior to its collapse, homosexuality has been the dominant social condition of that time. Now, if this society is meant to collapse and it is going to collapse, the major social condition amongst others will be homosexuality as we close just before we go to our break. So just before we go to our break, and when we come back, we want to highlight like what preferred condition to the remnant of the Lord be in. And now that we have violated things in the world, what are some of the things to look for in the remnant amongst ourselves that will do what that will anchor us and that we can actually work on before we enter into the crisis? And as we've seen the history of the church, we also need to revive that spirit of persecution. We ought not to be as comfortable as Constantine and his folks introduced the greatest malady to the early church. We need to go back to those early times and at least introduce that spirit of revival and that spirit of persecution, which will comparatively keep the church pure, just prior to the crisis. Thank you. Thank you so much, Brother Kelvin. And we're going to go and take a short break. We're going to just have some two items of me that are going to be sung for us. Please stay with us. Don't leave. Don't go anywhere. Don't disappear. We're going to come back to see what the church should do. And before we see what the church should do, we shall go back to see what happened in the church then when Christ came. Because you see, the final crisis is, all of it is anchored on the second coming of Christ. And we shall see some examples of what used to happen then because our key text has been Ecclesiastes 1 verse 9. That which hath been, is that which shall be. Stay tuned. Very intriguing discussion. As I was listening, I could not stop asking myself really, how far from home are we now? This final crisis, we're just seeing that they're becoming hotter and hotter and very soon, things will reach the boiling point. Then we are told in song number 439 that the long dark night is almost gone. The morning soon will break. As we're seeing how far from home, let us contemplate on these words as we also linkage to our discussion this afternoon. How far from home for 439? How far from home I steps, the watch burns thick, the long dark night will break for this, when please war. I must again, I see that this land's resty-teen is now, which of dark, it shall meet, where we... 50, abide with me. Gentlemen, and thank you so much for listening to the wonderful singing by our team today. I think when they sang, it came to my mind and asked myself truly, how far are we, and also abide with my heart that we really need to abide with Christ. We'll just pick it up right where we left off about what is the condition of the church back then, for us to understand what will be the condition of the church just before the Second Coming of Christ. And Sister Anne is gracious enough to introduce to us this topic so that we can seek to understand what do we need to do differently so that we don't make the same mistakes that those of the past. Because the same Bible tells us in Corinthians that these things were written for our end samples upon whom the ends of the world are come. Thank you. We know that the First Church of Christ was started by himself with his disciples. And the life of Christ is also a type of the end times. We see that I would like to take it from when, when Christ was born until when he was baptized, he was baptized, he was silent. From when he was baptized, something happened when he was baptized. The Holy Spirit was poured upon him for him to start his mission, which was to take three and a half years. We know that this is just a short period of time. The same time we have for us to finish the work and we know that from the book of Matthew 24 verse 14, it is says that the message shall spread to the whole world then the end shall do what, the earth shall come. From there when Christ was anointed, the same way the remnant church is to receive the letter rain for it to finish the work before the close of the probation. It is the same way Christ received the Holy Spirit. We know the letter rain is the Holy Spirit. From there I can go to the book of John chapter two. After, we know that after Christ was baptized, temptations, he was tempted by Satan. And then from there we see him in the wedding of Kana of Galilee, where the wine got finished, but there are words that Jesus uttered. He said when his mother told him to do something, what did Jesus say? He said that my time has not yet, in verse four he says that Jesus said unto her woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet, that time had not come. But we see as we go on in his mission, when his crucification was near, that is in John 12, he says that the hour has done what? If you start from John 12 verse 23, it says that the hour has come and he starts preparing his church. The hour has come. And during that time you can see him going to secluded places with his disciples. And I'll pick it from the Passover feast. What happened in the Passover feast? We know that during the Passover all the, I can say the whole church was there, the 12 of them, they represent the church. But there is something that Christ did. He looked at them and he said, not all of you, I have done what? I have chosen. What does that mean? We know that according to Revelation 14 verse six, what does it say? Read for us. You'd actually know this off head. The one of the seventh day Adventist texts that I need to know. That is the present truth. 14 verse six, and it says, and I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come. Thank you. And worship him. The hour of his judgment has come. That means before the close of the probation, judgment must happen. Something we call investigative judgment. And during that time at the table, when Jesus was looking at his disciples, investigative judgment was happening. And that is why he said, one of them is not what is not ready. That time investigative judgment was happening. The same way, in the end of time that we are right now in the church, investigative judgment is doing what? It is happening. And then from there, there's something, when he looked, because there's spiritual situation of the disciples, there's spiritual situation of his first church that had lived with them. They were not spiritually mature. Why do I say who was cutting people's ears? He was a zealot. And his character of being a zealot was being seen when he slashed the ear of who? The ear, it was seen when he slashed the ear of God. Let me use this. It was, his character was seen. It has not yet been modified to the character of Jesus Christ.  It is since that their own selfishness, they had not died to self during that time. They were not yet prepared. And that is why they were not ready. When Christ was crucified, they could not stand on their own. Jesus was looking at them. He was looking at Peter, knowing that this guy is gonna do what? Betray me. Betray me. He was looking at Judas with eyes of mercy for him not to walk out of that table, because in military Judas rose up from the table. His clause of probation was there. And I can say that he was looking at them. That is why when Christ was crucified, they could not stand on their own. What did they do? They dispersed and ran away. And so the same thing is what it is, some of it has already happened because in 1844 there's something we call the shaking. As the disciples were shaken, the church was done what? Was shaken. But I won't talk about the shaking. My brother Kevin will talk about the shaking. Thank you so much sister. And again, there's so much that you said there that I'd like us to come, but time will not allow us to go into all the things that she has mentioned. But I'd like to talk about Peter and Judas just before the crucifixion of Christ. Now, if you look at Peter's life, Peter was sure he was not going to forsake who? Christ. He even said it himself. He said, Buddha, Buddha, my God, Jesus, me, me. I will do what? I will not forsake. I will be with thee until the end. Now Judah, sorry, Peter was no hypocrite. Peter was no hypocrite, but Peter did not know his true foundation. Peter didn't know his heart. Peter didn't know how unprepared he was. Now, if Peter, who wrote a Bible, who was a disciple, wrote a Bible book, that happened to him. What about you and I who are sitting here today? Are we really, really prepared to die for the cause of Christ? Are we really prepared if God allows, if Christ is merciful and He allows all of us to remain alive, to witness persecution, to witness the seven last plagues being poured out? Are we really prepared to face them? Because that is going to happen now. That is the final crisis.  Peter thought he was prepared, but he was the most unprepared. But see, the good thing is that after he's after, when Christ, when the cockroach crowed, and then Christ looked at Peter, and Peter looked back. Peter realized that he wasn't ready. Now, Peter realized he actually wasn't ready. And what he did do, he repented. His life transformed, then he changed. Now, look at Judas. Judas was a devil in God's church, in the Christ church. He was right there. In that church at the time, they were 12. Of the 12, there was one devil. Now, if you do ratios, central church has about 24,000, 5,000 members. How many devils can we have in Nairobi central estate? And I say that not to mean there any. But I'm just saying, in Christ's church, there was one devil. What do we expect? Membership of 4, 5, 6,000, 7,000 people. There could be lots of them. But we need to ask ourselves, if that was a condition, then we can safely conclude that that will be the same condition when? Now, so if Judas was a devil in Christ's church, you should expect some devils even right now. In this church of Christ right now, because seven day Adventism is the remnant church. So then we should expect some.  We have to sift the wheat from the tears, the goats from the sheep. Yes, brother Kelvin. Now, as my fellow panelists have highlighted that in this time of trial, we actually need to encourage and comfort one another because the temptations of Satan are greater now than ever before. Our faith has to be tried. Given every child who wants to go to secondary school, they have to sit for at least the Kenyan version of the bridging exam, which is KCPE. So that exam proves that this child has gone through that system. So every seventh day Adventist, so everyone who believes in the seventh day Sabbath and believes in the appearing of the Lord and Savior Christ Jesus has to be tested. And if we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next. Now, in the light of this trial, my sister has mentioned a shaking. Now, we want to see what are these conditions? What is the condition of the shaking? Now, remember, the remnant church, as it is right now, it's comparatively pure. It's not totally pure. In fact, in the book, Last Day Adventist, how it says that the church now is not the church triumphant. It is the church militant. So we're in a struggle, so we are fighting. We are fighting to be pure. And it is no small thing to be a Christian and to be owned and approved of God.  You see, sometimes we use this term so loosely. It's a shaking. It's a shaking. What is a shaking? Now, actually the question that you've asked is what I was going to read next. Oh, there it goes. The Holy Spirit is leading. Yes. So, when Sister White was shown these things, she also asked the same question. What is the shaking? And this is the answer. I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it will be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the true witness to the lauditions. Now, what is the true witness to the lauditions? That is the Word of God. So, that is the standard. And this will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. Now, we're starting to shake now. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it and this is what will cause the shaking among God's people. So, the straight testimony is a shaking. So, if the straight testimony is a shaking, what will Satan do? Hinder. He will hinder the straight testimony. The straight testimony. Or rather, he will hinder the people from having their confidence in the straight testimony. And by so doing, even in the church today, Satan has an ultimate weapon. There are certain spirits that tend to destroy the Adventist church. Remember, Africans as a whole, we tend not to trust God. We tend to take things into our own arms, but we ought to believe that God is actually guiding us home. And there's a tendency of spirits that tends to destroy the Adventist church. One of the spirits is the spirit of criticism. I'm sure, brother Ted, you've heard of brethren calling the church Babylon. And some criticize the church. Some look for what is wrong with the church instead of looking for what is right with the church. Just to give you a short story, at the time I was walking along Agwin's Coddeck Road and by chance I saw a beautiful car in a car yard. So I decided to go and inquire the price. By the price itself, I was not interested anymore because it was high. The car was just attractive and beautiful. So I told the guy I'm not interested maybe a later time. Now what happened to me that the rest of the week reminded me of something. Every other day of that week, I saw that same car whenever in the streets of Nairobi. Now, when you sit down to criticize the church, you will always see what is wrong. In other words, in life, what you're looking for is what you will see. So when you criticize the remnant church, you will not see what is good with the remnant. And God stays in inspiration, we're told that the church may seem to fall, but it does not fall. The Bible calls it, the church is the one object, Sister White says, of which God bestows his supreme regard. Because of the apple of his eye. The apple of his eye. And even goes on, she goes on to say, if anybody touches the apple of God's eye, what will he do? God will deal with us. So the church is very important. And when he has bestowed the supreme regard, it means it is a church which will relate the three angels' message to the world. That is why the church has its supreme regard. It's not because we have the numbers. You remember of Gideon's army? It's not because we have the numbers. It's not because we have intellect. It's just because these are the guys that have been given the supreme regard. Now, therefore, one of the things you ought to look for. You see, the Bible says in the book of Revelation, you see, when you are shaken out, where do you fall? You fall into Babylon. Now, Satan knows these things and it takes advantage. So in the remnant, there are some who are not satisfied with the spiritual condition of the church as it is. Then someone pops up and says, I've got new lights. 25, 20. Then they follow that guy. Then they follow that guy. There was a movement in Zambia. There are guys who, they stopped everything they were doing. They stopped going to school. They stopped working. Then they went to the mountains. That movement is no longer there. So you might be tempted to leave the remnant straight into Babylon. Now, when the Bible, when the Spirit of Prophecy says that the church is in a militant state, it means that maybe you can see some defects in the church. You can maybe see some members here. It's a white apologizer that says that we are sorry that we have defective members. We are sorry that we have defective members in the church. But this is the remnant. Do not be tempted to jump ship just because you've seen things that are not pleasing. And even in the book, last day event, it says that some come in naively thinking that they will be received with smiles and everything. We're not saying that our brothers are cold and stuff. But some take it a bit too far. But that is not the true condition of how things are. Just to comment before you continue, there's something you've said about how Sister White says, we apologize that there are defects in the church. She actually, again, goes on to comment on this in the book Education. If you read chapter nine, that's page 91, paragraph two. There's a subsection there where it says, a lesson in love. In this particular chapter, Sister White tries to give us the contrast between Christ's method of reaching out. And she gives two examples using Peter and Judas. Now, she comments about Peter saying, and they say we did not, because of their errors. And these are the disciples with the draw from them. It takes men as they are with all their faults and weaknesses and trains them for his service. If they will be disciplined and taught by him. So what she's saying is very true, that we have defects in the church, but see Christ accepts them, that he can discipline them for his service. If you see after the crucifixion, Peter and all the rest outside of Judas, they all changed. Before they were bickering, who'd be number one? They were justly. Even at the last supper in the upper room, they were justly. I want to be. Is it me? Is it me? Is it me? They were all justly, just stamping. I want to be. But right after that, they realized, wow, we missed the whole message. What Christ wanted was for us to go outside, testify, yes. So now that you mention that, there are some now who are pointing their spears inside, while they ought to point their spears outside. Now, there's one thing that I read in the year 2018. I just wrote it down casually. But a few years down the line, I went back to eat, and it had a different meaning altogether. And it's called the ultimate weapon. Satan called the fallen angels into a meeting. Said now, we have to cause popular indignation against these that rouse the people to the true remnants, because to the true testimony. Because he knows if people are aroused to the testimonies, he has less power to overcome them. So I try to, there's nothing that great deceiver fears that we should be acquainted with his devices. So he knows that if people are roused to read the testimonies, they will be able to withstand his sophistry. So he develops a plan and says, let us cause them to judge, condemn, criticize, and fight one another. The same way they did when Christ, just before his crucifixion, as it happened then, because that's what they were doing. Yeah. So let us cause them to criticize, to judge, condemn, and accuse one another. And he's saying by so doing, they will overlook their own spiritual condition. Now remember, to go through the crisis, it depends on your spiritual condition. So if you're blinded from working on your spiritual condition, you're likely to fall. And she says that by so doing, they will overlook their own spiritual condition and they will be banished out of heaven, because it is the same spirit that we had in heaven and we were banished. Those are the fallen angels speaking. And in the book life sketches, so it says that the numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left, by the way. The careless and indifferent who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it. And they were left behind in darkness and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Now, I wanted to mention that in Revelation where it says that, you know, the Bible says that you will be vomited. So when they are vomited, that's now the loud cry. The second angels were said, those that are now in Babylon will come in. Because it says that when people are shaken off, thousands will do what will come and they will join the remnant. I want to bring in Sister Anne. There's something I want to say. The way he has talked about criticism within the church and people overlooking their own weaknesses and seeing the weaknesses of the others. As I was, let's go to the book of John chapter 12. I want to dwell in the supper in Bethany. There's something that happened there. We know that Mary Magdalene, according to the eyes of society, she was the most, she did the most sinful thing.  But in the eyes of Christ, because she had gone to him time and time again because I can't remember the verse exactly. It says that seven demons were removed from whom? Mary Magdalene. That means she kept on falling and coming back. During the last supper, we see that in the house of Lazarus, when Mary anointed Christ for his burial, you think they're very expensive. Well, who was the first one to criticize? It was Judas. Judas, yes, it was Judas, yes. There's something there in verse six. What does it say? Read for me. Then he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and he had the bag and bear what was put therein. That was the situation of one of the disciple of Christ, a member of the church of Christ. Christ knew that Judas was a thief. Did he chase him away from the church? No, Christ said, let wheat and tears do what? Grow together. Grow together until the time of harvest. So it is the same way we are in church. Judas was overlooking his own sins and he saw himself as better as a disciple of Christ. Then who? Then Mary Magdalene, a forgiven sinner. And that is why he did not look at his own sin. And there is something that happened. When Jesus told him, live Mary alone. Whenever history has read, we read about who? Mary Magdalene, something happened there that is going to happen, which is highlighted in the Christian service. After Judas was admonished by Christ, he rose up to go and find a way to betray Christ. At the same time Mary was being established as a disciple of what of Christ. In the end of time, us who are in church will be going out as Judas went out, while those who are outside will be doing what? Will be coming in as Mary did as she was seated at Jesus' feet. She came in and she was seated at Jesus' feet. So wherever we are corrected, we are just being prepared for the end of time events. That's what I wanted to say. Thank you, thank you so much sister Anne. And as we are just about to start winding up and just give a one of our closing comments, I'll just say, just as I bring in brother Kelvin, let's remember that what we're discussing is the final crisis. We've seen what happened in the past. We've seen what's going to happen in the present. We've seen what was happening in the world. We've seen what's happening in the church. Criticism in the, that's what we're discussing right now. Criticism in the church. And now we're going to see what should we do to prepare for the second coming of Christ, mentally, physically and spiritually. Yes, brother Kelvin. Yeah, so in those times, and as in our day also, we've seen that when criticism rises about, some will be shaken out, thinking that there's another remnant and they will fall into Babylon. But we've seen from the spirit of prophecy that another company will come into the church and take up their spaces. I'm just reminded of a quote in testimonies, volume six. It says that there are some who will join the church now because of the character of some of the members present in the church today. And there needs to be a form of separation. And after this separation, and as we could see in the Old Testament, when these disciples were fighting for these positions, they were, they could not agree amongst themselves. Yet Christ had promised that a time of refreshing will come. The latter rain will come and there will be a condition for the latter rain. And one of the conditions for the latter rain, Christ told them to do what, to be of one spirit, to be of one accord, before the falling of the latter rain, they ought to be of one accord. Now, beloved, the Bible does not necessarily ask us to do those things which are easy. The Bible clearly tells us that we ought to be of one accord. And I'm reminded of the story of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was in his camp and he had a rumor, just a rumor of revolt in his camp. So Napoleon called for all his soldiers. And he told them to make a very large circle.  And after making several commands, these guys were standing shoulder to shoulder and they could no longer stretch out their arms. Then he quickly dismissed them and he told them one thing, when you guys draw closer to your commander, you automatically draw closer to one another. And that is how the remnant church will receive the latter rain. Even in Christ's day, he said the condition for getting the Holy Spirit is you guys doing what? Being of one accord. That is when the Holy Spirit shall fall upon you. Yeah, and just before you continue, we see that, you see, sometimes go to back these things up with scripture. So it didn't look like you're saying your own things. My own things, yeah. Yes, you see that in Acts chapter two from verse number one. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all in one accord and in one place. Amen. So one of the things also we ought to look out for, the best way to prepare for the crisis is character development. And Sister White says in great controversy 491 that let none regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them. And the Bible says in Mark 13, 35 and 36, watch ye therefore lest they find you sleeping. Thank you, Brad. Thank you so much, Brother Calvin, Sister Anne. I would like to talk about the preparation of the church as it was during the Church of the Disciples, just where you have read. If you read between Acts one and Acts two, there's a preparation that happened. Jesus told them to wait for the what? For the Holy Spirit. Not in the world out there, but within them. And we are told them they stayed together forgiving each other, reading above the word, praying. That means that we are supposed to task to start from where, from our own houses. We are supposed to have home altars. We are supposed to prepare our families first for this crisis, for the time of trouble. We are supposed to prepare our families first. And if you go, is it chapter two verse 30, what? Where I was quoting, I was quoting from chapter two verse 41 and 42. And then if you go to verse 45, they did something. And sold their possessions and goods and parted them all to all men as every man had need. It shows that these people were so cautious of the end of their times. And they did not want the world to perish without knowing what? Without knowing the truth. Remember if I remind you according to Matthew 24, 14, then the gospel shall spread to the whole world and then the end shall do what shall come. The disciples, this time they lived as if they knew in their mind, because the angel told them the way Jesus has gone, it is the way he will come back. They believed Christ will come back when they are still alive. And this is why they had that zeal to spread the message. And that is where they sold what? They are possession to facilitate the spread of what? Of the gospel. So as a church, I have seen as a family who are supposed to have what? Home altars. Plus they went to a secluded place. If you read the spirit of prophecy, it insists a lot on ruler, urban ruler what? Migration. We are, as the churches we are preparing, we are supposed to be going out of what? Of the cities. And I can assure you we should start as of now. I don't think if we have time, but I'll just quote. Remember if we go back to the kingdoms from Daniel two, Daniel seven, Daniel eight. If you go to the ears that these kingdoms ruled, I'll pick which ruled the shortest time of period. Which was it? It was Babylon which ruled from six or six BC to 538 BC. Those are 68 years. And if that was the previous five kingdoms and the shortest one ruled for 68 years. What about the last one? We read the last verse. That is Revelation 17 verse 10. What does it say? Quickly get there. Revelation 17 verse 10. And it says, and there are seven kings, five are fallen and one is. And the other one, the other is not yet come. When he cometh, he must continue a short space. Meaning a short time. A short time. The five kingdoms, that is Babylon. We have Medo-Pascha. We have Greece. We have the first royal, the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire too. We have the communist, a beast that was the fifth. And then the sixth, that is the United States of America. It will just rule for a short time. That means it will rule for less than 68 years, which Babylon I had done what had ruled. Already, we know that the USA came to power. That is the superpower came to power in 1990. That means it has already ruled for how many years? 31 years. And we are being told by the Bible it will rule for less than 68 years. Let me ask you, how soon is the coming of Jesus Christ? We are supposed to be the watchman as Ezekiel has said in Ezekiel that three. We are supposed to let the trumpet, what? We are supposed to sound the trumpet with all the zeal as it was done by the church of the apostles, thank you. Wow, we would continue with this all night. You see how, you see how it's so sweet to read the Bible? You see how as we are reading more and more is being and there's something so profound she has said, I didn't even personally know about that United States issue of about 68 years. That I have just learned today and I'll continue to go and read more about it. It is true, US fell, sorry, when the Soviet Union fell in 1990, that's when the US superpower came because now the communists, the Soviet Union all broke down and that's when now America rose at that particular point in time and it's very interesting.  Go find out who caused the fall of the Soviet Union. You'd be very surprised. I can give you a clue. It's the same person who is leading the climate change discussion next month. We'll close with these texts. Matthew chapter two, for us to understand what is going to happen in the present condition of the church now. For us to understand, we have to see what happened in the past. We'll close with these few texts. Matthew chapter two, we'll read from verse one. Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to do what? To worship. Now, question, who were the wise men? Were they Jews? Were the wise men Jews? Okay, my panellists are not sure. Were the wise men were not Jews? Were the wise men Jews? No, how did the wise men know that there was a star they were meant to follow? How do you think they knew there was a star they were meant to follow? If you read in that text, they actually studied from Numbers 24. They studied the prophets back because in Numbers, if you read Numbers 24 verse 70, it was prophesied that a star from Judea shall actually lead to the first coming of Christ. Now, we're reading about the first coming of Christ. We're trying to understand what will happen in the second coming of Christ. We're trying to see what was the condition of the church then. First to see what is the condition of the church when? Now. So saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship. Now, the wise men came to whom? Herod. Who was Herod? Wildly king. Let's carry on. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and I like how verse three ends. And all Jerusalem with him. Who is Jerusalem? Who is Jerusalem? The church. Who was Herod? Wildly king. The wildly king, let's go on verse four. And when he gathered all who? I would like us to, by the way, we don't have your bibles, but it goes on to say, and he gathered all, this is Herod, he gathered who? All the chief priests, the scribes of the people together. Who are the chief priests? You are basically seventh advantage. I can rephrase that text. And he gathered all who? The elders, Ammo, church pastor, the general conference, the children's ministry, and the scribes, all the teachers, the panelists, the cameraman here, and all you continue to do. And he demanded of them where Christ should be what? He'd be born. See what the church said, verse five. And they said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophets. The church knew where Christ was meant to be, but did they read the sign? Did they actually follow the style? So the church at the time, even though they were book smart, they had no heart to follow. Even though they were knowledgeable about, they read, I can imagine even right now, certainly the advent is saying, Sister White said, before the second coming of Christ, a Sunday law will be passed. I can imagine President Biden asking, the general conference, you guys were saying this, an advent is this, Christ is coming. What's this thing about the Sunday law? Yeah, one of our prophets had written that there'll be a Sunday law coming, but it is coming, so it has come. It is written there, that the prophets at the time and the church at the time, they had the knowledge, but they did not see the sign. Is it possible, the church of today, we have the knowledge, but we do not see the sign? So it goes on to say, then later on, if you read that text, if you continue to see, Herod then went back to the wise men and told them, hey, what are you going to do? Please, when you go find this person, come back and tell me. An angel then appeared and told them to go a separate route. The wise men never came back the same route. My point in all this is this, the church at the time had no clue. However, in that church, now ask the panellists, who from the Jewish nation knew that Christ was coming? You must know. Simeon? Simeon, yeah, Simeon, let Christ. And who was the lady? Prophet? Anna. Anna. They were aware that who was coming? Christ was coming. Now, how many are those? Those are two. If you look at numbers, two, two. Two from a population of the Jews knew that Christ was coming the first time. But the greater population had the knowledge but did not follow the signs. My challenge to you, reader, listener, sorry, and all of us who are here, we need to ask ourselves, do we know, do we just have the knowledge of the signs and are missing the experience with Jesus? My challenge to us today is as the final crisis is there and it is coming, signs are happening daily. Prophecy is being fulfilled daily. November will pass, it will then be history. My question to us, is are we aware of just the knowledge when are we missing the sign that Christ is actually coming? My request to all of you who are listening and to all of us who are here, we need to have three things, a close, intimate, and personal relationship with Christ. As Sister Anne has said, they would seclude themselves. They would study in their houses. Christ was often, if you read Desire of Ages, Christ largely, largely was found early in the morning, about 3 a.m. to 4 a.m., praying, studying, understanding, and in the evening, he would go up to the mountains, to the valleys, to the trees, to commune and fellowship with God. If Christ did that to prepare for the crisis that he was to go through, how many hours do we pray? How many minutes do we study? How are we so caught up in the world today that we miss the point of fellowship with Jesus? It is my prayer, as we close this session, let us seek to honestly prepare for that final crisis, the way Christ prepared for the final crisis in that time. Because if we don't, then we will be like Herod and the whole of Jerusalem, where we will not see the true sign that Christ is coming. Sister Anne, please pray for us. Our Lord and our Father, we come before the throne of mercy this evening. Lord, you have taught us about the final crisis and we know that the time, we do not have time at all. And I know, Lord, you look up from heaven at thy church and you see us sleeping and you are grieved. Lord, as you are seated here, we are not better. We are asking you, may you change us, may you prepare thy church, may the love of God to love you more be filled in us. Lord, may we not be like Judas, who did not listen to thy Christism that led him to walk out of from thy company. But Lord, let us be like Mary Magdalene to always sit at thy feet and to learn from thee. Lord, I pray for each and every person who is here. I pray for each and every person who is called by thy name. May you use us. Lord, for those who are in spiritual darkness and still in church or God, may you welcome them home. May this message touch each and every one so that we can prepare together as a church. Lord, in thy church today, there is no love. Lord, in thy church today, there is no unity. And as you are seated in the Passover table, you do it right now and look at us. But Lord, may you show us a sign as you did to Peter so that our faith in thee may be strengthened. Lord, I pray for myself, for the panelists, for everyone else. May you forgive us for the parts that we have had. For the people that you have purchased away from thy congregation, Lord, may you forgive us. For the chances that you have not taken to spread thy word because we do not read and that is why we do not know what to say to our fellow human beings. Lord, may you forgive us. And may our love for the worldly thing, for the worldly entertainment that has taken place in place of thy home altars may it go down. As they urge to read thy word as a family and as a church, may it go up. Lord, may you continue giving us an experience of Isaiah. May you continue showing us thy holiness so that we may aspire to be holy like you. Lord, there is a lot that we may ask. But the Holy Spirit who prays for us, who knows what we need, oh God, may you grant us according to thy wishes. For these I pray, believe me, and trust in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, amen.


Proudly we hail. Where the American stage begins, here is another program with a cast of outstanding players. Public service time has been made available by this station for your army and your air force to bring you this story. As proudly we hail, Patrick Henry, who loved his country, of a man who was wanting to live and die by that love. Yet his was no blind emotion, but a clear, disturbing thing. He knew why he loved America. To him, her name was an ideal. How that ideal was revealed to him, and with what agony he struggled to uphold it. That is his story. We all share freedom. Help share its defense. Join the army team. Yes, now as always, the United States Army is dedicated to the defense of freedom. Your freedom. You can do something about it. The time for decision, for action is now. The need for trained technicians in every field is urgent. And you can be trained in the most advanced techniques using the world's finest equipment. Visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station for full details. Remember, we all share freedom. Help share its defense. Join the army team. And now, your army and your air force presents the proudly we hail production, No Life So Dear.  Warm, casual glimpses of the places you knew, your family, your friends. You remember the sunny days spent on your father's farm in Hanover County, Virginia, back in the late 1740s. It wasn't a very large farm. There was a lot of open country where you could go trapping and hunting. There were caves to be explored, and the South Anna River flowed just a few yards from the house. Yes, you remember Hanover County. You remember your father in his nightly tirades at the dinner table. Believe me, if this taxation continues, I swear I'll burn my tobacco on the walls before I'll send it to England. Some more vegetables, Patrick? No, thank you, ma'am. Every day the news goes tighter and tighter. Every day our chances of earning a living wage becomes more difficult. I won't stand for it. You hear? I won't stand for it. Father, you mustn't raise your voice at the dinner table. Think of the children. That's just what I'm thinking of, and just why I'm raising my voice. Perhaps if we all raised our voices, the King of England would hear our protest and curb this taxation. Your father's words had no particular significance for you at that moment.  But in the years to come, his words would echo in your heart. Perhaps if we all raised our voices? Words to someday shape your destiny. Yes, you remember your father very well.  And you remember another smile, the smile of a girl with hair like molten gold and eyes the color of a blue Virginia sky.  She came to visit, and she stood shyly in the doorway. And you heard her say... I brought you some wild jasmine, Patrick. I found it in the woods below the dam. Oh, what's a fellow want with flowers at Sissy's stuff? Oh, thought you'd like to have some, Patrick. Oh, they're fine, Sally. Honest, I was just fooling. You're only saying that to be nice. Oh, no, I'm not. They're real pretty. Uh, how's school, Sally? Oh, fine. We miss you, all of us. How's Miss Weevil? Oh, you mean old Weevil? Old Weevil, wrinkly old and evil. You know, we said the same thing at the same time. Come on, link fingers. You ready? What goes up the chimney? Smoke. What color is it? Blue. Your wish and my wish always come true. What do you wish for? Oh, I can't tell. But it won't come true. I'll tell you mine if you'll tell me yours. Some day. Some day, Patrick. I'll tell you my wish. More words than you would remember and a wish you would hear some day, but not just then. You first had to learn to walk alone in a young and growing nation. And it was a long road which you walked. Long and difficult. And when you were still young, you met failure for the first time. Patrick? Patrick, come here a minute. Yes, Mother? Sit down here on the porch. I want to talk to you. Yes, Mother. Patrick, the summer's nearly over. Have you thought at all about September, about what you'd like to do? Well, when Father opens his store, I thought I could run errands for him after school. And on Saturdays, I could learn to be a clerk. But, Patrick, suppose you don't go back to school. Oh, I want to go to school. See, that's important. And this year I'll be in the seventh grade. We start ancient history this year, and Miss Weevil says that... Patrick, Miss Weevil came to see me yesterday while you were visiting your aunt. Miss Weevil? Came here to see you? You know, dear, this year there are 14 more children joining the school. It's going to be more than overcrowded. And Miss Weevil says he'll only be able to take care of the boys and girls who are showing real progress in their studies. He had a list of names. And my name wasn't on the list? Oh, never mind, Patrick. We'll study here at home. You and I together. Every day we'll read together. And your father can help you with your arithmetic. It'll be just the same as school. No. No, it won't. Patrick, oh, I am sorry. I'm so sorry. But don't worry. Everything will be all right. Just wait and see. Everything will be all right. Just wait and see. But waiting is hard when you're young. Waiting is loneliness and the bitter taste of disappointment and a lack of faith in yourself.  And you were growing and never knew of the coming glory which would be yours. Years past. You were chief clerk in your father's store as you turned 17. Then more years of learning at home and learning in your father's store. But storekeeping was not as interesting as talking with the villagers who would come in to pass the time of day. Bill, the local printer, and Jasper, the amiable cracker barrel philosopher. I tell you, Patrick, unless we stand up in our two back legs and fight, we're going to lose everything we've gained so far. Well, that kind of talk can lead you into a parcel of trouble, Jasper. Well, someone's got to speak their mind.  Father says there's a new tax. He has a friend up Boston where they've even put a tax on tea in Boston. Well, Patrick, they'll be putting a tax on the air we breathe for very long. Well, what can we do? How can we stand up against a country as big and strong as England? Besides, don't mean a might, son. Not a might. If a person or enough people make up their minds to do something, then if they stick to it, no matter what happens, if they stick to it, they'll win out in the end. Well, where does a person start? Where does it begin? We need a voice now. A good, strong voice to speak for us. For us, the common people. The little people. We need someone who isn't all dressed up in a white wig and satin breeches. Smart young lawyer who's one of us. That's what we need. A lawyer. That chance of running a lawyer here in Hanover County, Jester. Good morning, Father. Well, if it isn't the old storekeeper himself.  We've been talking about something you'll be interested in. In just a moment, Jester. Patrick, may I see you in the office? Of course, Father. Watch the store for me, will you, Bill? Oh, sure. Father, what is it? Has anything happened at home? No. No. Not at home. Patrick, I've just been to the bank trying to get a loan. They refused to give me any more money. Looks like we're going to have to close the store. Close the store, but I thought we would... Yes, yes, the store seems crowded with customers, but we're losing money. Talk won't pay our bills, Patrick. There's no hope. We'll close at the end of the week. I'll go back and work on the farm. And you, son, what are you going to do with your life? I don't know. I just don't know. And you weren't to know for several more years. Years that might have been bleak and terrible except for one person. Someone with hair like molten gold and eyes the color of a blue Virginia sky and a soft unspoken wish. I, Patrick, take thee, Sally. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. You settle down after your marriage on a small tract of land near the outskirts of the village to try your luck at farming, but something always seemed to go wrong. The first year it was bad seed. The next season you planted too early and there was a sudden frost. It was always something. In the evenings, you and Sally would walk in the fields and she would hold your hand tightly and smile at you and say... Patrick, Patrick, darling, you mustn't worry, though. Now stop worrying about the crop. Sally, don't you think I should give up and go to work for Mr. Brady? He offered to give me $25 a week to work in his filing office. He put me to a test and he said my figures were good. Sally, I... I just don't seem to be a very successful farmer. But this is a fine crop, Patrick. Your father said so yesterday. He said it should bring a good price. If the frost comes early, how will we get through the winter? We'll get along. Remember a year back when we saved 20 hapers of beans where I should have taken that money and put it in the bank, but I spent it on seed. We needed that seed. Blight killed four acres overnight. There's no blight now. Oh, Sally. Sally, there aren't many men who could be as lucky as I am. I love you, Patrick. If only I knew what sort of a future there was in store for me. For us. Look at me, Sally. You're not a failure. I won't have you saying things like that, Patrick Henry. You're not a failure. But you must be. Something will turn out. You must have faith. Faith? Faith in what? Surely not in myself. You've heard what everyone says, that no good Patrick Henry can't even make a decent living for his wife and child, and they're right, too. They're right. Oh, darling, listen to me. Don't you know that I love you and have all the confidence in the world in you? I know you have greatness in your heart. And someday, all the world will know your name. Patrick, you must believe. You must believe in our love. And in yourself, you must. Sally, listen. Isn't that the fire bell in the village? Certainly sounds like it. We'd better... Patrick! Patrick, look! There's smoke coming up from behind the barn. It's our house! It's our house, Patrick! You are listening to the proudly we hail production of No Life So Dear. We'll return to our story in just a moment. Those who enjoy freedom must help support it. And in these uncertain times, we must remain strong and alert to the dangers that surround us. If you are qualified, you can join Freedom's Team by becoming a member of your United States Army. There's an urgent need for technical specialists in every field. You'll receive the world's finest training and at the same time, build an interesting and rewarding career. Visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station for full information. You are listening to Proudly We Hail, and now we present the second act of No Life So Dear. Before dawn, the fire had burned out. The fire had burned out, and with it, the last vestige of hope within your heart.  But that evening, as you all sat around the big dining room table... Patrick, dear, you haven't touched a mouthful of food. Please, you must eat. I'm not hungry, mother. It's been a bad day. A bad day? That's a complete understatement. Patrick? It's been a bad week, a bad month, a year. My whole life has been a series of bad years, one after the other. You know it, Father. All of you know it. You'll find your way, Patrick. Yes, I'll find my way. But when? That's what I want to know. When? I heard in the village today that they need men in Philadelphia. They're going to open up a new shipyard. A storekeeper, a farmer, a shipbuilder. Well, why not? Jack of all trades, master of none. If you'd like to go to Philadelphia, Patrick? I don't know where I want to go. I don't know what I want to do. I just want to be left alone. I just want to be left alone. Patrick, Patrick! You walked away from the house and into the night. You walked down along the banks of the South Anna alone. You walked through the night along the banks of the river. A million and one thoughts whirled through your mind, mingled with the sound of the river and the sound of the night. A million and one thoughts, discouraging thoughts. And there were voices. Voices you knew, voices coming back across the year. If this taxation continues, I'll burn my tobacco on the walls. Your father. And Jasper. We need someone to speak for us, the common people, the little people. And Sally. Always the voice of Sally. There's greatness in you, Patrick. What are you going to do with your life, son? A smart young lawyer. That's what we need. I'll burn my tobacco on the walls. Taxation. Too much taxation. No one to speak with a little people. You must believe in yourself. A smart young lawyer. A lawyer? What are you going to do with your life, son? Someone to speak with us. The little people. Bad chance to find a lawyer and hand over county. A lawyer. Taxation. A smart young lawyer. Believe in yourself, Patrick. A lawyer. Yes, a lawyer. Something to tell you. You must have found your foothold in the future. At last, the ultimate shape of your destiny became clear and complete. Two years went by. Long years. Years of study, English, history, Roman law. Hours of burdensome study. Patrick, dear. Don't you think you should go to bed? It's way past midnight. A little while, dear. I just want to finish this brief. Hours of work. Hard work. But work you knew you must do to achieve your goals. You were 24 when you passed your examinations to practice law at the Bar of Virginia.  I knew you could do it. Oh, just think. My husband is a lawyer. Patrick Henry is a lawyer. Two more years went by. Over a thousand notations in your fee book. Moderate charges for country practice. Your name became known, respected by everyone. Two years of building a foundation. Two years of learning and listening. Listening to the sound of unrest. Feeling the bonds of oppression growing tighter. Hearing the tiny voice of freedom echoing across your new and growing nation. We shouldn't stand for it, Henry. We should fight. There'll be war. Mark my words. There will be war. How did the English dare to try to rule our lives in this manner? That was in 1764. And in 1765, you were elected a member of the House of Burgess where you introduced the Virginia Resolve against the tyranny of the Stamp Act. Let it be resolved, therefore, that the General Assembly of this colony have the only and sole exclusive right and power to lay taxes and impositions upon the inhabitants of this colony. And that every attempt to best such power in any person or persons whatsoever, other than the General Assembly aforesaid, has a manifest tendency to destroy British as well as American freedom. Freedom! Freedom! Caesar has his grotesque. Charles I, his crumbled. And George III may profit by their example. If this speech reasons, make the most of it. Historic words to ring down through the years, down through the pages of American history. It was only a moment from your speech before the House of Burgess until another great moment and another speech before the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. It was the fourth day of the Congress. Four long, weary days of arguments, of attack and counter-attack, and still no definite plan. The thunderclouds of war were gathering quickly. Some action had to be taken and taken quickly, or the new nation would be trampled under the heel of English sovereignty. Four days, then at last your opportunity arose. A committee of five important Virginia planters proposed an alliance with England. At that moment, you knew you must make the delegates the facts for the first time.  Mr. Patrick Henry has the floor. I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British Ministry for the past ten years to justify those hopes with which so many gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our last petition was so graciously received? Ask yourselves how this reception comports with those war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation, the last instruments to which a king resorts. We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature has placed in our power. Three millions of people armed in the Holy Cause of Liberty and in such a country as that which we possess are invincible by any force which our enemy can stand against us. This is the price of chains or slavery, not what cause others may take. But as for me, give me liberty or give me death. Magnificent, a magnificent speech, Mr. Henry. Thank you very much, sir. You speak with eloquence, Mr. Henry. You speak also with a conviction that you can only be born of a genuine love of America. A love which I'm sure is shared by all of us. And by the people of our 13 states. Mr. Henry. Excuse me a moment, gentlemen. Yes? Mr. Henry, you must come at once. The wire is desperately ill. Sally! I knew it was you. I felt you kneel at my bedside while I was dosing. Sally, why didn't you tell me? Mother says you've been ill for a month. Why didn't you tell me? I wanted to wait until your work was finished. My work is finished now, Sally. They say in the village... They say there'll be war. Yes, my darling. There will be war. There's no other solution. And will you go, too? No. No, no. I'm to stay home now. Just as you've always wanted. I'm going to begin practicing law again. Coming home for lunch every day. Getting under your feet again.  But you won't mind too terribly, will you? Hold my hand. Darling, I know you think your responsibility is here with me and your family. But you have a responsibility, too, with the family next door. And all the families who've come to know this great land is home. It must always be home to them. Always. Promise me that you'll go back and fight. Promise me, Patrick. You have my promise, Sally. But now you must get some rest. We can talk again in the morning. Patrick, do you remember a long, long time ago? Do you remember a wish we made when we were children? I think I would like you to know my wish now. I've known it for a long, long time, Sally. Because to know and share your love is all that any man could wish. My very dearest, dearest darling. And as you knelt there in the still darkness and the tears of sorrow were wet upon your face, deep within your heart you felt a new strength which you'd never known before. A strength which would lead you forward through the years of war to become the governor of Virginia itself. A strength born of the wish of a boy and a girl to live and love and find happiness together. In a free land. Not always new, but the call it sounds is as old as the history of our country. Today, as we stand strong and alert against communism, the United States Army is calling for qualified young men and women to join the freedom team and become Army technical specialists. You'll be trained in the latest techniques using the finest equipment and you'll be building a rewarding career for yourself. For full information, visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station. The time is now. Present a transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Service. This program featured a cast of outstanding players. This is Kenneth Banghart speaking and inviting you to tune in this same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail.


What's going on guys and welcome back to another video. So in this one, I want to show you a Shopify store that's currently for sale on Flipper.com for 400,000 US dollars. It is one years old and it turns over a profit every single month of $8,000. When you value a business, the ballpark numbers are usually 2x what the annual profit is. So when you put that into comparison, you could say that this business is overvalued by 100%. However, in this video, we're going to be jumping into the numbers, we're going to be jumping into the products, we're going to be jumping into the ads that they're running and I'm going to let you make your mind up. Do you think this business is worth 400,000 US dollars? So let's start by taking a look at the numbers. This is the primary expenses.  What's really interesting about this store is it is still current and still active and bringing in a very healthy income. So March of 2023, of course, last month, it made a profit of $25,000 with a turnover of $55,000. However, if we have a look at the month before, they had a revenue of 8,600 with a profit of negative $12,000.  How on earth did they go into 12k negative? Before we jump on to the Shopify store, I want to give you some background and some contextual information about who they are. So presenting Scont Living, an exceptional e-commerce venture in the flourishing home and garden sector, generating the impressive annual revenue of $300,000, coupled with a remarkable 40% profit margin. Scont Living's robust paid marketing strategy has culminated an average row S of 10x, which to be honest is pretty ridiculous. Even some of my best ad sets have a three to four. So for these guys to be getting a 10x, it must say a lot about the types of products that they're selling and to show you some more information on that. So this is the store as an overview. This data is pulled directly from Shopify. So the seller, the seller is unable to edit it. 1,500 customers from May 26th of last year to April 14th of this year. Total sales of $270,000 USD and $350 orders, only $350 orders. Now what you may have noticed is their average order value is $776. They are not selling cheap products. So let's jump on to their Shopify store and take a look at exactly what products they are selling. Now, unfortunately, what is annoying is I can't see what their best sellers are. However, I have been able to track down the ads, the Facebook ads that they're running. So we'll be able to see which products they're pushing. If we go back to the structure, we can see that the theme they're using is impact. So a really professional and modern looking theme and store in terms of the imagery, that sort of thing they used. Definitely looking at this, just the images that are scrolling across.  So this is my cursor that I'm moving side to side. And what you can see is actually a timer function on that. And when it hits zero, that's when the image changed. So just a pretty cool function and feature are there of the store. Looking at the images though, you probably agree just on the types of images they use. You wouldn't expect them to be selling cheap, plasticky products drop shipped from China. They are indeed selling quite expensive luxurious products just like this sofa and this chair that you're seeing here. So these guys are not, at least to my knowledge, drop shipping from China. They're not getting sofas and chairs and things like that shipped over. I'm from AliExpress. They will most likely be working with local and private independent companies that are selling these products. And they've probably contacted them, maybe even gone in store, certainly spoken to the managers, if not owners of those companies and said, hey, would you mind if we advertise your products on our store and any orders we'll get, we'll obviously ask you to ship it direct to then that customer. Before we go any further, then let's jump onto the ad library and see what kind of ads these guys are running. So all I've done is put their name in. And as we can see, it's the same name with the same logo. So we know it is indeed the same people. And the most popular product seems to be this Scandinavian style type chair. So what I'm going to do is head back into their best sellers and actually find this chair, which they're advertising. And it looks like it is indeed all on one listing. And in fact, here you can select the different color variations of your choice. For all intensive purposes, this is the product. This is their winning product, because they seem to be advertising this product more than any others, apart from, in fact, this coffee table. So we'll track that down in a second and see how much they're selling that for. But what we can see is they're selling this Phil Hemaner chair for five hundred and forty eight pounds, which is give or take about seven hundred dollars. So that kind of matches and marries up with what their average order value. So I would guess that this is the best selling product. So everything is very clean. Everything is very modern and professional, easy drop down. So the consumer can see all of the information that they need to know. They're not hiding their delivery times or they've got the dimensions clearly upfront and honest. So all of the potential questions that consumer might have about this product and it's easy to find the answers to them. They also have Clanner installed, which I think is super important for a store like this that selling these expensive products. Not everybody has five hundred and fifty pound to dump in one go on a chair in comparison to the amount of people that can say make three payments of one hundred and eighty pounds for a chair. Moving down the product page, then they have their shipping policy return policy, which is a 30 day money back guarantee. They have some more recommended items, which are of a similar style. They're selling this Astrid chair for eighteen hundred pounds. And as you can see, no looks reviews installed. It's obviously not that type of store at the bottom. They have lots of different contact information, including their physical address, which is based in London. They have a live chat option. They have a branded email address. And of course they have a telephone number. All these things, obviously, when you're selling these expensive products are imperative trying to get somebody to spend eighteen hundred pounds on one single chair without a single phone call. It's probably going to be quite difficult to do to their creatives, though. And what you see, what you get is just a single image ad. It is a dynamic ad. So there's many functions, many functions, versions. That's what I'm looking for. There's many versions of this ad all that kind of fit under the umbrella of Scandinavian style furnishings. So I'm guessing what they're doing is just running these single image ads, which are typically a lot cheaper to run versus video ads.  And they're probably getting customers at a slow pace, maybe three, four or five customers a week. However, when you're selling expensive products like this, you don't expect to be shifting, say, 50 of them on a daily basis, like you would a twenty or thirty pounds dog color or bike light, something along those lines. Let's head back to the best seller's answer if we can find that coffee table. So seven hundred and forty five pounds on a chair, one forty five and a light. As you can see, like in its individual terms, each product is a very, very nice product, five thousand pound bed there. And you never know who you're going to come across. They might see that and think they just have to have it in five thousand pounds. There's not a lot of money for them to dump on a bed. And I don't know what their profit margins in that, but let's say they're working on 50 percent. So the bed costs them two and a half grand for two and a half grand, which is what their margin is to spend to acquire a customer for that. You can reach people in the millions for that sort of money. So that's probably how they're able to make it work and get a 10 X return on their money. So I managed to track down the coffee table that they were advertising. Eight hundred and eighteen pounds, the same product page layout, recommended products, that sort of thing. Obviously a very, very expensive product for what it is. But again, going back to that kind of high ticket marketing strategy that you can afford to use. If they're working on a 50 percent margin, they can afford to spend four hundred pounds to acquire a customer. If you work on a basis of sort of like five pounds for a CPM, then if I've done my math correctly for about four hundred pounds, you can reach 80,000 people give or take. So to find one person in 80,000 that would be willing to buy this coffee table. They're obviously able to make that work. And so with that being said, the guys, I think I'm going to wrap it up. I think I've covered everything I wanted to just kind of summary of the store. Obviously, what these guys are doing is they're working with private independent companies that manufacture and probably keep stock and maybe even have a showroom for some of these products. And they probably developed a relationship with them and said, look, we're pointing together that this store, this is our brand, that this is what we're about. This is what some of the other products we're selling. We really think your pieces of furniture would fit really well. Can we put them on our store? Can we help you sell them? Can we advertise them? And then when they do, obviously, they go into that private independent company and buying it from there. And they may even be getting them to ship it direct to the consumer as well. And so with that being said, that is today's video. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Hopefully I've sparked some new ideas to help you in your dropship and journey. Any questions or anything else I can help you with, just post it down below. I read every single comment, so I will get back to you. Thanks again for watching, guys. I'll see you in the next video on Wednesday. Cheers.


My name is Dr. Hannah Leason and I'm honored to be a recipient of the 2021 Brain Foundation Award. One of the most common causes of drug-resistant epilepsy is cortical dysplasia, where the outer layers of the brain are malformed during development. I will be using stem cells from patients with cortical dysplasia to generate 3D brain models to greater understand the causes of cortical dysplasia, as well as to test approved therapeutics to find treatments for patients.