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The Gospel in the Days of Anti-Christ
Rolfe Barnard

Rolfe P. Barnard (1904 - 1969). American Southern Baptist evangelist and Calvinist preacher born in Guntersville, Alabama. Raised in a Christian home, he rebelled, embracing atheism at 15 while at the University of Texas, leading an atheists’ club mocking the Bible. Converted in 1928 after teaching in Borger, Texas, where a church pressured him to preach, he surrendered to ministry. From the 1930s to 1960s, he traveled across the U.S. and Canada, preaching sovereign grace and repentance, often sparking revivals or controversy. Barnard delivered thousands of sermons, many at Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky, emphasizing God’s holiness and human depravity. He authored no major books but recorded hundreds of messages, preserved by Chapel Library. Married with at least one daughter, he lived modestly, focusing on itinerant evangelism. His bold style, rejecting “easy-believism,” influenced figures like Bruce Gerencser and shaped 20th-century Reformed Baptist thought.
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Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a woman who passed away but was incredibly happy in heaven. He then goes on to talk about Jesus and all the titles and roles He holds, emphasizing that He is the Savior of sinners and a friend to the friendless. The preacher encourages the audience to bow down to Jesus and sings a chorus as a farewell. He also discusses the importance of taking the battle to the enemy and not just defending ourselves. The sermon concludes with a warning about the judgment we will face based on the light and opportunities we had in life. The preacher criticizes the popular perception of God as a milk cow and emphasizes the need to fear God and give Him glory. He mentions a seer who claims to have seen the antichrist.
Sermon Transcription
I have first to say a great big thank you for the delightful way you've treated me. You've seen that everything that could provide for my comfort was provided. I just got a little old Ford car and I've been riding around with an old mobile. That's going to be a comedown for me when I get home. And it's been delightful. I have some dear friends in Winston-Salem where I, the widow Barnard, lives. And that's one of the two centers of the Moravian people in this country. Another one up there in Pennsylvania somewhere. And I have some delightful fellowship with some of their pastors. I've been privileged to preach for them many times. I had a proposition some time ago. I was kind of getting mad the way the Baptist was kicking me around. And I offered to join them if they'd make me bishop to start with. I'm tired of being a little old peanut preacher. I was riding out on the fur end of the totem pole, you know. But they wouldn't do it. I don't know. What's the head man in the Presbyterians? I believe I'll join you if you'll start me at the top. I've been at the bottom all my life working up. Never have I ever been able to work up any. I'll just start at the top and work down a while the rest of my life. You've been gracious. Thank you. Thank this dear pastor for his kindness. Please do not seek to walk in light that I say I have. You can't walk in my light. You've got to walk in yours. Is that right? Be like the Bereans. If a man comes along like me and says you're all wrong, search the scriptures. See whether what he says is what the Bible says, not something he's thought up. Is that right? For my Lord said my word shall judge you, not what somebody else said. Isn't that right? I think you'll do that. A man cannot walk in light he does not have. He dare not walk in light. He dare not do less than walk in the light he has. Is that right? But the tragedy of it is that I'm responsible for the light that would direct me in God's will and way that I could have had if I hadn't been so lazy. And I think the scriptures teach that I'm going to have to be judged not only by the light that I had, but the light that I could have had if I had availed myself of the opportunities thrown in my path. That's rather solemn, isn't it? I try in my daily life to best think something good to say about you, Presbyterian, and said a good word about you since I was here. But all I know to do is that my judgment is you ain't as bad all the time as you are some of the time. So, God bless you. Thank you so very much. I surrendered the best I knew how. I thought the Commanding Chief was ordering me to go to China. And so early in my Christian experience, I volunteered to the Foreign Mission Board of our denomination and asked them to send me to China. That same year, 237 young people like myself were turned down because Southern Baptists were like Bible Presbyterians. They were making a joke out of what it means to be a child of God. They turned 237 of us down one year because they didn't have any money to send us. They had money for chewing gum and tobacco and 10,000 other things, but not money enough to mind the Lord. I never have gotten to preach in China. I've had the privilege of preaching in every state in this Union, all over old Mexico, many places in Canada, and some of the islands and other places. And I've never had the privilege in the last December of ministering in what's called the Philadelphia area. I was over at Lansdale in the Presbyterian Church last December for three nights. And those Reformed Presbyterians were mighty nice. They let me use the building. They didn't come around. They came everywhere. And I never did see any of the people that members there. They were Sunday morning Presbyterians. And then I preached over here in the tent, but we didn't have a single church make it their meeting. And I'm a great believer that the commission to evangelize is given to the church. I don't think you can get first base unless the churches in a given community are walking in the will of God, minding him. So we didn't do much. I've had the privilege of ministering to you. Thank you for listening to me. Please listen. Don't try to walk in the light I've given you. If I've had any, unless you can make it yours, you can't make it. And if you'll pardon me, we've been generations getting in the mess we're in, and chances are it'll take you at least a couple of days to get out. Be patient. If you have a willing heart, that's the battle's half won, isn't it? God bless you. I've never seen a more likely mission field than this section of the world. Of course, I believe that the church now is in a missionary situation. I could scarce believe that this young man who's here this morning, tonight, I may not get his name right, so I'll not tackle it. I thought I understood you to say you were supporting him or helping him or something. Is that right? I can scarce believe that he, where he's ministering, in Singapore or somewhere, would find that they're any more religious and lost over there than the people of Westchester and Philadelphia are religious but lost. And so this is a tremendous mission field. And God's will, God's way, and God's purpose, the only remedy he's got in any mission situation is the building of strong, not simply in numbers, but in spiritual power, local assemblies. That's God's way. And so I lay my burden down a few minutes, take up another tomorrow night, and will never forget you and hope when I meet you at the judgment find the week has been profitable, I hope in encouraging you that strong churches can be built. All we've got to do is what this book tells us. And now because I believe that Westchester, with its churches on every corner and one in between and all the outlying areas, is a mission field, because I believe this is a pagan town. The philosophy of people is pagan. The actions of people are heathen and pagan. Getting worse all the time. I have insisted from time to time in this pulpit this brief week that we must pass by all of our traditions and confessions and thus and that. Go back to the New Testament, the legacy of the sovereign God to his people to enable them to get the right directions as they prosecute the great commission that he left to us. I'm saying that we must come back to the Bible and see to it that no longer we encourage anybody to believe that he's a Christian unless he is giving his life to the proclamation of the gospel to the world around. I believe that with all of us. It would seem to me the biggest heartache a parent would have to have their children go through the motions as sincere as they may be and make profession of faith and never be committed and involved in the great mission of King Jesus. For they couldn't be saved unless they're totally involved in this mission. And I believe it would break my heart if I had ever had the gift to be a pastor. And I knew that deep down in my heart the majority of the people who sit under my ministry are utterly uninvolved in the redemptive program of Jesus Christ. They can't be Christians. Mr. Finney was dead right. Unless you live to save others you are not saved yourself. And thus tonight I wish to speak on this gospel for the day of Antichrist. And I hope by God's grace to challenge and encourage you that this is your task. This is your task. This is the task of God's people. Some years since some of the Bible teachers began to teach that there were several different gospels. The gospel of grace. The gospel of the kingdom. They insisted there's some difference in the gospel to the Jews and the gospel to the Gentiles. And then the everlasting gospel. I take issue with that. I do not believe a word of it. There's just one gospel. But the gospel has a different thrust. A different emphasis. It's the same truth but it has a different thrust and emphasis in given times. And because I believe that the only way our churches can keep on going is to quit defending ourselves and go to carry the battle to the enemy. Many years ago I ministered a great deal up in the state of New York. And I used a man from Collingwood, New Jersey. He happened to be a Methodist. His name was Burkett. He was my psalm leader in lots of meetings. In his earlier days he'd been a sparring partner with Jack Dempsey, the famous old heavyweight boxer. And he called my attention to Jack Dempsey who whipped everybody in sight until he got a little old. Never learned how to defend himself. He was too busy hitting the other fellow. The best defense would be a good offense. That's our challenge tonight. Nobody's interested in our doctrine, whether it's true or not. Nobody's interested in our confessions of faith, however they may be wonderful. Nobody's interested in whether we've got the right form of government or the wrong. The issue of this hour is Christ or Antichrist. That's the issue of this hour. Under the power of Jesus Christ or under the power of Antichrist. I believe that. I believe with all my heart. This doesn't make it so. But I believe it and I share it with you and do what you please with it. It seems good in your sight that the spirit of Antichrist explains all of the lawlessness in homes and churches and nations. I believe that Antichrist, though if he's here in person, he's not yet made himself known, is breathing fire upon us. And of course, my theology doesn't allow me, you forgive me, to believe that the Church is going to escape this awful hour. I believe you and I may be living when Antichrist makes himself manifest. He's already here. Bishop Cheen, the most evangelistic voice of Roman Catholicism, said that the biggest masterful achievement of Antichrist in your day and mine is to convince us he's not here. But he is. He is. You cannot explain this world. You cannot explain the lawlessness in our congregations, in our homes, in our government, in our world. But you're saying people are meaner than they used to be. No, human nature doesn't change. But there's a power abroad in this world now that as far as he's subjected to make him every human being in this world, worshipers of Satan. And thou is not far distant when thou just speak to classes of people on this earth, worshipers of God in Jesus Christ or worshipers of Satan in Antichrist. What kind of gospel message God's people call to take into the highways and hedges and the homes and the marketplace everywhere in such an hour as this. In the book of Revelation, chapter 14, I wish to begin reading at verse 6. In the 13th chapter of the book of Revelation, we have the revelation of Antichrist when he makes himself known and when he is said to have power over everybody, representing all kindreds and tongues and nations. In Revelation 13, verse 8 says that all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him except those whose names are written in the book of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And verse 16 says he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads. He'll mark them so that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. In such an atmosphere as that, remembering that there are no divisions in the chapters in the actual Bible, these divisions are for our convenience, it's interesting to read chapter 14, verse 1. I looked in this sort of an atmosphere when Antichrist has come out of his hiding place and it's been made safe for him to make himself manifest. God help us, I hope I'm wrong here. I believe what passes as Christianity today will be that which makes it safe for Antichrist to show up. I think what passes as Christianity, I think the vast majority of people who call themselves Christians today will welcome him with open arms. I hope I'm wrong. God knows these are desperate days. If another shout, I am coming in my Father's name. John 5, verse 43, my Lord speaking. You receive me not. What passes for Christianity in Westchester, Pennsylvania is the rejection of Jesus Christ. We will not have this man to reign over us. But the Lord said, if another shall come in his own name, he's referring to Antichrist, him you will receive. It's interesting then to look. I looked and lo, a lamb stood on the mount Zion and with him 144,000 having his Father's name written in their foreheads. I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters and the voice of great thunder. I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps and the song as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and the elders. No man could learn that song but the 144,000 which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled were women for their virgins. These are they which follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men being the first fruits unto God and to the lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile for they were without fault before the throne of God. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Well, that takes in just about everybody, don't it? He's got an everlasting gospel that's to be preached on the earth to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. And this is to take place when antichrist is in it. And what is his gospel? Here is the gospel, the everlasting gospel that must be preached by the Bible Presbyterian congregation around the world, beginning here. Sing with a loud voice, verse 7, Fear God and give glory to him. That's the gospel for that hour. That's the gospel for this hour. I said time after time here, but didn't I should have the first time? You ever hear the gospel? As gospel you'll be saved. The gospel for the day of antichrist, would this be good news to you? Fear God. Wouldn't be very good news in this generation, would it? And give him glory. With all the days of our lives, what has passed as the gospel has dethroned God and enthroned man. Until now, we've got a generation of professing Christians. They cannot wait for God's glory. All they're interested in is to use God to do something for them. Your popular books of a man like Norman Benson Peale and your popular evangelists and your popular churches have turned God into a milk cow. Got no use for him except to give us milk. And this is a generation that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And the gospel comes in such an atmosphere. It says, Fear God. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and rise up in wrath against you. Fear God and give him glory for the hour of his death has come and worship him. The gospel has three points. Fear God. Give him glory. Worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of water. I wonder, I don't know if Jean Dixon, the seer or whatever she is in Washington, says that in a vision she has seen the Antichrist. That he's already alive, that he's a little baby living in one of the Arabic nations. I don't know. I do know that we're warned in the scripture that Antichrist is to come. I know our Lord will warn us, for instance, in Matthew 24, verse 5, For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. Again in that chapter, For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. I know that the Apostle John in 1 John chapter 2 says, Little children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard, that Antichrist shall come. Even now there are many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time. I know that every day we live, we get one day in error, the public manifestation of the Antichrist who shall set himself up as God in the temple in Jerusalem. I know that he'll do many signs and wonders, insomuch that this generation of befuddled and bewildered people who've lost their way will look at him as a great Savior and Deliverer, and they'll crown him King of kings and Lord of lords. Everybody will, except God's people, those whom the Lord calls elect. John calls them by this description, those whose names are written in the Lamb Book of Life. My old mother used to go about the house unconsciously singing some old hymns as she cooked dinner, made the beds or something. I used to hear her sing, Lord, I care not for riches, neither silver nor gold. I'd make sure of heaven. I'd enter the fold. In the book of thy kingdom, on its pages so fair, tell me, Jesus, my Savior, is my name written there? I think that's a good question. I'd love to be found in the company of people whose names have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life, because they're the only people who are going to escape the worship of Satan in this awful hour. Look at the atmosphere. Verse 7 of chapter 13, there was given unto him power. That word in the Greek is exosia, authority over all kindreds and tongues and nations. Verse 8 again, everybody on earth is going to worship him except those whose names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation world. Verse 16, he's going to put his mark on everybody except, of course, God's people. And we'll know in a moment how much it will cost you not to take his mark. I'm coming to you tonight to say that we must preach a gospel that says three things to men. That my Lord Jesus Christ will not be satisfied with a worship, a homage, a service, a relationship that is smaller than that which men will give to Antichrist. I'm thus saying to you that the gospel, the everlasting gospel, the thrust of it, must demand that men and women come under the authority of Jesus Christ. That's all I preach for a week. You mean to tell me that Satan's man is going to claim folks, put his stamp on them, be their father, be their Christ, be the one they worship who have not been brought under his authority? Do you mean to tell me that God is going to own as his own a human being who has not been brought under the authority of Jesus Christ? I say no. That gospel that's filled with a sister full of people who with their lips call Jesus Savior and with their lives deny him as the absolute dictator of their lives, that gospel is not the gospel of the Son of God. And there never has been a time when there was but one gospel and it makes a grand announcement and it has a demand repentance and it has a call to badly bow, willingly bow, sweetly bow, everlastingly bow, day by day bow to the blessed rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel for the days you and I are living in must say a second thing, that it's silly to call yourself a Christian unless you love him and worship him where he is now, a man in glory at the right hand of God and the God of Spirit as the great head of his church. And that I said while I'm here, I tried to say beginning with where you are, as much as you're under Christ's sweet discipline, move until you're clear under the blanket. It's the only safe place. It's the only place of salvation. You can't be a Christian not under the headship, the Lordship, the authority, the rule of Christ in the church. The Roman Catholics suggest as right as they can be, there is no salvation outside of Christ's church. And only that's Christ's church. But when they say there is no salvation apart from being a member of the body of Christ, they're telling the God's truth. The scriptures describe our salvation different ways. One way describes it as Christ in the Spirit baptizing us into the body. Hear me? Do you worship Christ, the man in glory, with the print of the nail still in his hand at the right hand of God and the great head of the church? Are you glad he's exalted, a man in glory? Are you glad he speaks the final word in the church and you cannot possibly claim to be a Christian unless you hear him and mind him? Are we going to keep all lies of this generation because it's salvation and a little decision is something that doesn't bring a person to gladly bow before the throne and adore and worship him? You see, everybody whose name is not written in the Lamb's book of life is going to be brought to worship Satan and his man. Everybody who isn't already worshiping God in Christ on his throne. You tell me you're a Christian if you do not render to Jesus Christ that which men, at least equal to that which men, will render to Satan. No, no. And then we must say to men and women these days, say it with a sobbing hour voice, say it not in the public gathering place, simply, but say it where people are. Say it and say it. Say it with tears. Say it saturated in the oil of prayer. Say it in the atmosphere of agonizing intercession that to be a Christian means to have the mark of Jesus Christ. You've got to be a marked man. And what is the one mark? The New Testament says is the mark of being a follower of the Lamb. Well, let's turn to Titus chapter 2 at verse 14. Now, take the time. I want you to be sure to see. This is the mark that distinguishes the child of God by faith in Jesus Christ from the child of Satan of the child of wrath. Let me begin reading, will you, in verse 11. Chapter 2 of Titus. For the grace of God's salvation bringing hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, mark it, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people. What will make them peculiar? Just one thing. They are zealous of good works. They are hot on that pursuit of good works. That's the distinguishing mark. If you read your scripture carefully, that's the distinguishing mark. He loved us and gave himself for us, that he might redeem us by us back to himself, in order that he might purify unto himself what kind of a people. Not peculiar because of the way they dress or walk or talk or something like that, but the one thing that's so conspicuous by his absence today, zealous for good works. That marks a product of the grace of God. Zealous for good works. That'll make you peculiar. That'll make you peculiar in your own church. They'll say, he's a nut. Your nice little lost church member will say, he's radical. It'll make you stand out. I saw it as a chaplain in the army. All the boys were either Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic or something. But the Christians just stood out. Not like a bunch of Pharisees, I'm better than you. But they just stood out. They're the people whom my Lord is going to be proud to call my brethren. They're the people whose names will be found that are written in the book of life. They're the people who will not bow down and worship Satan. They're the people who will not willingly submit to his rule as this generation of people are. They're the people who will not receive his mark in their foreheads. Of course, it'll cost them something, let me close, by seeing the alternatives there too. Satan comes along and says, I'm going to put my stamp on you. I'll fix it so you can't buy a cell, can't get a job. Almost getting that way now. You want to advance in that, you've got to learn how to hold your liquor and chase the women and tell dirty jokes. I was in Ithaca, New York, years ago. Learned to my surprise that if you work for the Bell Telephone Company, you're not allowed to any kind of Christian witness while you're employed by them on that time. Brother, this ain't getting pretty hot now. You young people, if you want to get somewhere in this godless age, you're going to have to throw Jesus Christ out of the window, or you're going to have to learn that we come to the kingdom by way of much tribulation. All this sassafras that made me sick to my stomach over in the tent, treating young people like they were some sort of monkeys that you had to give a hot dog to entertain them. No, no. Let's look at the alternative, the gospel in verse 7. You've got the gospel. Fear God, worship Him, and give Him glory. Look at verse 9. There's another fellow doing some preaching. Brother, he's doing it right smart now from pulpits and radio and television and seminar professorship and everywhere. Here's some other gospel. The third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. There's always been a choice that a man has to make between the Caesar of that hour and the Lord Jesus Christ. It'll be a choice when the big Caesar Antichrist says, I'll mark you. I'll own you. I'll control you. Or I'll fix it so you'll starve to death you can't buy or sell. You know what it says? But the gospel of God says, If you worship that beast, and that's what passes for Christian today is doing for his image, let him put his mark on you. He sure got it on folks today. We'd sell our soul for a dollar bill. Forty-odd years ago, the American federal government sold us down the river and we've been selling us down the river ever since. We made gains and luxury in the dollar, our God. Now we're reaping forty years of leadership from the top when our politicians would sell their soul for a vote. And it's got down to home now. It's never been any other way. It's going to be tighter when Antichrist puts the screws on it. You bow down to me. I'll mark you. I'll identify you. I'll control you. You'll worship me. You'll not be able to buy or sell or do anything. Then along comes the gospel from heaven. If any man worshiped the Beast or received in his forehead his mark or in his hand, what will happen to him? The saint shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. So there you are. Fall down, worship the Beast. Let him mark you. Join the spirit of this lawless Antichristian day. You'll drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. Such people shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night. What kind of people have that awful torture? Well, the people who worship the Beast and his image and whosoever receives the mark of his name. That's the alternative. Worship the Beast, the judgment of God. Worship Antichrist, and join the martyrs of the tribulation period who witness a good confession with their blood. That's right. That's the gospel for this hour. You're going to die one way or the other. You're going to be under his authority or Satan's. Not going to be easy either way, brother. Never has been. Some years since I was in the state of Nebraska and closed a meeting. I'd been away from home a long time, but I telephoned my wife. We lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma at that time. I mean, no, we lived in Winston-Salem. We lived there 20 years. But I lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 14 years up until 20 years ago. And I phoned my wife in Winston-Salem and said, I'm going to be a day late. I'm homesick. I want to get home. But I'm going to go to Tulsa. I need a little lift in my spiritual experience. And so I wasted a day, a little out of my way, and I went to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I just wanted to look at and listen to a young woman for an hour or two. I knew she could comfort men, exhort men, rebuke men, encourage men. We need that so often. She's a missionary employed by a church. She goes from house to house and seeks to witness. She's a Jewish lady. She's been doing this sort of work 17 years now. She's the happiest person I've ever seen in my life. Just to be in her presence, just wonderful. I remember the night I was in meetings there in Tulsa, and it came a downpour of rain just about 15 minutes before time for the service, and it just rained and rained and rained. I bundled up in my raincoat and so forth and made my way in the car to the church house, and I thought, well, nobody will be here much tonight. But I got in. The house was packed and running over. The showers of blessing were falling. And as I was getting my wet raincoat and hat and so forth off, two women were standing there waiting for me. And when I disengaged myself from the outer clothing and turned, oh, they said, Brother Barnard, she's here tonight. She's here tonight. And one of them said, This is the night. This is the night. I don't know how they did it, but they'd been bringing to that meeting the wife of one of the wealthiest Jewish men in that city, a young married woman with two precious children. How on earth they ever were able to get acquainted with her. That's an exception today, you know. You hear of a Jew getting to Christ. Boy, that's an exception, isn't it? But they had. And they had been praying for her and witnessing to her and loving her. And when those meetings came along, they were able to get her for the first time in her life to sit under the proclamation of the gospel. And the reason that the women felt that tonight was the crisis was because the little Jewish woman had come to the service after having experienced in that day her father and mother came to see her and said, If you embrace, this was our language, the religion of Jesus, you'll no longer be our father, our child. That same day her husband, a devoted husband but a devout Jew, had told her, that's the only language they use, If you embrace the religion of Jesus, you'll no longer be my wife and you'll never see these children again. Now, in a Jewish home, the pastor will tell you that he can do that. And she came to hear me preach that night, knowing that if she surrendered to the claims of God in Jesus Christ, and he makes those claims on Jew and Gentile and everybody else, he makes those claims in every generation, in good times and bad, no more and no less, she knew what it cost her. It cost her a mother and father. It cost her a home. It cost her two children. It cost her her husband. And I stood up that night and preached, and after a while we stood as we're accustomed down our way to stand and sing a song. People began to come down the aisle for this, that and the other reason, and I looked at this woman and she pulled her glasses off, wiped the tears out of her eyes. Then she put her glasses back on, directly she pulled them back off and wiped her eyes. Then she put the glasses back on and one great sob, she came running down and put her arms around me and said, I surrender. When the service was over, we like to shake hands with people who claim to surrender to Christ and welcome them. And before the line started coming to shake hands, I put my hand on her shoulder and said to the congregation, look at this woman's nose, Isaiah 3.9, she's a child of Abraham in the flesh, and she'll be at the judgment, and she'll witness against you Gentiles. She's come to Christ Jesus tonight, saying goodbye to her husband, her two children, her home, her father and mother. And the only thing on God's earth keeping you folks from coming is that there's a rotten spot in your life that you're not willing for Jesus Christ to rule in. It's the only reason on earth that a single one of you people could be on your road to hell tonight that there's a rotten place in your life that you will not surrender to Jesus Christ. Two days later, they had a big Jewish funeral in that town. They brought an empty casket into the biggest synagogue in that big city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. And they preached the funeral of that girl, that woman. They took that empty casket out to their cemetery and put it six feet underground. And from that hour to this, that dear girl's never seen her children, or her husband, or her father and mother. She's the happiest person I've ever seen. She came to Jesus and found him. He's the lily of the valley. He's the bright and morning star. He's the fairest of ten thousand. He's the Lord of glory. He's the savior of sinners. He's a friend of the friendless. Hallelujah! For the privilege of vowing to him, whatever the cost. Will you stand to your feet? I think I'll sing a little chorus and this will be my goodbye to you. They're dealing with folks in the room and still here at the front. Thank you for listening to me. Let me sing an old-time spiritual kind of way. We'll sing down south. And may the Lord richly bless you. It goes something like this, if I can get the key. Say, sinner, will you meet me? Say, sinner, will you meet me? Say, sinner, will you meet me? On Canaan's happy shore. And the people answered, By the grace of God, I'll meet you. By the grace of God, I'll meet you. By the grace of God, I'll meet you. On Canaan's happy shore. I'll tell you what we're going to do when we get there. There we'll shout and give him glory. There we'll shout and give him glory. There we'll shout and give him glory. For glory is his name. Thank you so much. God bless you. Good night.
The Gospel in the Days of Anti-Christ
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Rolfe P. Barnard (1904 - 1969). American Southern Baptist evangelist and Calvinist preacher born in Guntersville, Alabama. Raised in a Christian home, he rebelled, embracing atheism at 15 while at the University of Texas, leading an atheists’ club mocking the Bible. Converted in 1928 after teaching in Borger, Texas, where a church pressured him to preach, he surrendered to ministry. From the 1930s to 1960s, he traveled across the U.S. and Canada, preaching sovereign grace and repentance, often sparking revivals or controversy. Barnard delivered thousands of sermons, many at Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky, emphasizing God’s holiness and human depravity. He authored no major books but recorded hundreds of messages, preserved by Chapel Library. Married with at least one daughter, he lived modestly, focusing on itinerant evangelism. His bold style, rejecting “easy-believism,” influenced figures like Bruce Gerencser and shaped 20th-century Reformed Baptist thought.