WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone. It's good to be back with you.

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 Missed you guys last week while we were in Seattle.

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 And it's such a joy to worship God together.

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 If you are here and you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand.

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 We'd love to give you a Bible that you can use.

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 We are in Revelation this morning for our sermon.

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 We've been in the book of Revelation, been going through it from the beginning to the end.

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 We're about halfway through.

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 And we're in chapter 12.

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 We just passed the kind of climactic midpoint of Revelation.

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 And now the rest of Revelation is going to explain in greater depth, with greater specificity,

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 what the first 11 chapters basically, Revelation, meant.

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 And so that's kind of where we are at the start of that, Revelation 12.

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 A lot of people consider this kind of the interpretive key to the entire book.

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 Because if you understand this passage rightly, you can understand a lot of other things in the book of Revelation.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Father, glorify your name and the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, this morning, through the reading and preaching of your Word.

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 Lord, remind us of your salvation and authority and glory and power.

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 Remind us of the great mercy and grace in which you have covered us, forgiven us by the blood of the Lamb.

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 Amen.

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 Assure us of our place in your kingdom, of the way you see us in Christ.

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 Fill our hearts this morning with faith, with hope, with love as we live out this world that is full of tribulation.

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 Strengthen us to be faithful to you, to be faithful even unto death.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Revelation 12, 1 through 17.

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 If you would please stand and then I will read Revelation 12, 1 through 17.

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 And a great sign appeared in heaven.

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 A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

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 She was pregnant and was crying out in earth pains and the agony of giving birth.

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 And another sign appeared in heaven.

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 Behold, a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on his head seven diadons.

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 His tail swept down a third the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth.

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 And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

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 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.

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 Her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

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 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

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 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.

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 And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated.

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 And there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

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 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.

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 He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

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 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

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 Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come.

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 For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

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 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.

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 For they loved not their lives, even unto death.

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 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them.

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 But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short.

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 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

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 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness,

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 to the place where she is to be nourished for a time and times and half a time.

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 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the flood.

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 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river and the dragon that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

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 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring,

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 on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

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 And he stood on the sand of the sea.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 May be seated this time.

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 I noticed that over the last week or so, a couple weeks, there was a long, entertaining debate recently on our church's Off Topic channel.

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 And about whether dragons are actually dinosaurs.

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 John Buckley, Nina's I think in labor, so you have to pray for her.

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 John Buckley cited an article that claimed that until the word dinosaur was coined by Richard Owen in 1842,

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 most cultures throughout the world refer to ancient dinosaur fossils as dragons or terrible lizards.

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 And apparently, as recently as 2007, some villagers in central China have been digging up dinosaur bones,

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 believing that it's dragon bones and using it in traditional medicine.

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 And Susan Wang chimed in, noting that the Chinese word for dragon is actually in the Chinese word for dinosaur,

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 which is literally terrible dragon or fearsome dragon.

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 That's what the word dinosaur is in Chinese.

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 A BBC article from a couple weeks ago showcased a remarkably complete fossil that looks just like a dragon,

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 an aquatic reptile that has been dubbed a dragon because of its long neck that matches the popular conceptions of dragons in various cultures.

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 Whether dragons are actually dinosaurs is a tickling possibility that, as Lauren Miller noted, ultimately doesn't matter.

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 But I do want to settle once and for all that dragons are real.

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 As Kendall Fowler wisely noted, if there are dragons in the Bible, that's good enough for me, y'all.

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 And here it is.

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 Verse 3.

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 Revelation 12 is the story of epic proportions, if there ever was one.

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 But aren't dragons the stuff of mints?

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 What is it doing here in the Bible?

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 Well, yes, they are the stuff of mints.

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 But that's why C.S. Lewis once described Christianity as, quote, myth become fact.

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 And he defines myth in his book, Miracles, as at its best a real, though unfocused gleam of divine truth falling upon human imagination.

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 The gospel of Jesus Christ is not only a propositional truth to arrest our reason,

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 but it's a story, a drama to capture our imagination.

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 It's not only something to assent to, but something to delight in.

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 The story of God's redemption of his people in and through his son, Jesus Christ, is the best story of all.

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 It's the original voice of which all good stories are just a faint echo.

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 It's the original fountain that's bubbling over, of which all other good stories in the world are,

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 but a small, narrow, little bit flowing from it.

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 Revelation 12 is complete with a great red dragon, a star-studded, pregnant woman,

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 who gives birth to the chosen one, the Messiah, the promised king.

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 And it teaches us that we are the heirs of that king, the offspring of that woman,

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 and that we must conquer the dragon by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

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 That's my main point this morning.

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 We're going to go through this passage and talk about the dragon and the woman and the king and the heirs,

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 and I'm going to spend more time on the first two points to build a case for the latter two points.

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 First, let's talk about the dragon.

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 Isaiah 27.1 prophesied, we read this in our cult worship,

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 of the Lord's day of redemption,

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 and that in that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword

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 will punish Leviathan, the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent,

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 and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

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 Revelation 12 is a fulfillment of this prophecy.

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 Prophecy.

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 We don't know what the creature's precise genus and species are,

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 but dragons are in the Bible sea monsters.

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 The sea is often a symbol of cosmic chaos throughout scripture,

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 and one of the things that ancient people feared more than anything else was the sea.

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 Why?

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 Because you can't measure its end, you can't plumb its depth,

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 you can't predict it, you can't control it,

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 and many people died in the seas.

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 And so at the end of chapter 12, this dragon is standing on the sand of the sea,

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 it's coming out of his abyss in the seas to come in and wreak havoc upon the earth.

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 And then later in chapter 13, the beast that the dragon uses to do his bidding

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 also rises up out of the sea.

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 So this sea is a symbol, a sign of that chaotic force in rebellion against God.

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 This is why at the end, after God's final judgment in Revelation 21.1,

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 when God brings about a new heaven and a new earth,

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 he says that the sea was no more.

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 So throughout Old Testament, dragons are associated with the sea,

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 and also dragons are often used as symbols that represent evil kingdoms

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 that war against God and his people.

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 Ezekiel 29.3 calls Pharaoh the great dragon.

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 And Psalm 74.13-14 dramatically describes how God split the Red Sea

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 and delivered Israel from Egypt and from the great dragon and Pharaoh in this way.

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 He says,

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 You divided the sea by your might.

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 You broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.

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 You crushed the heads of Leviathan.

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 You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

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 So in a similar vein, Revelation 12 uses the dragon as the symbol for the devil, for Satan,

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 because it is the most fearsome creature known to the human imagination.

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 And this is no ordinary dragon either.

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 It's not the run-of-the-mill dragon.

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 This is the great dragon,

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 suggested of its massive power and size.

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 Most of us, I think, would be frightened if just like a tiny bat flew in.

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 And it's hovering around our faces.

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 But imagine a terrifying creature who in verse 4 says,

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 With his tail sweeps down a third of the stars of heaven and casts them down to the earth.

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 This is a Godzilla-scale dragon.

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 But the great red dragon of Revelation 12 is even scarier because it's real.

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 We know that this dragon and the woman in verses 1 to 2 are signs.

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 They're called signs, which tips us off to the fact that they're symbols.

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 They're figurative and representative.

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 But the fact that they are figurative representations of spiritual realities does not mean that they are less real.

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 Actually, the Bible considers the things of the spirit, things that are unseen,

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 to be just as real, if not more, than physical realities that are all around us.

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 It is described as red, likely because of the color's association with blood.

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 Later in Revelation 17, the great prostitute that seduces and leads God's people into immorality,

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 the city of Babylon, a symbol of Babylon, is seen wearing scarlet.

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 And that color is explained there as because she's drunk with the blood of the saints,

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 the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

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 And unlike Jesus, the Lamb of God, who sheds his own blood to redeem the people of God,

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 his people for himself, this dragon terrorizes and sheds the blood of others for his gain.

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 Earlier in Revelation 6-4, the rider on the red horse also symbolized war.

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 Not surprisingly, red, because it's associated with blood, is also associated with war.

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 It's the color of the Greek god of war, Ares, and the Roman god of war, Mars.

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 And this dragon has seven heads and ten horns, and on its head, seven diamonds.

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 I'll talk more detail about what these seven heads and ten horns mean next week

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 when we are formally introduced to the beast.

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 The dragon's beast also has seven heads and ten horns.

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 But for now, it suffices to say that this is an allusion to the fourth beast in the visions of Daniel,

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 in Daniel chapter 7.

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 This beast represents worldly powers that are in rebellion against God,

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 that oppose God and persecute his people.

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 And in the Bible, it's associated with Egypt, Babylon, Rome.

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 I think, in our modern day, it would include states like North Korea, China, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and others,

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 where there is severe, widespread, state-sanctioned persecution of Christians

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 and systemic oppression of believers.

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 There are many others.

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 We are told explicitly in Revelation 79 and 1712, respectively,

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 that the seven heads represent seven mountains or hills,

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 and that the ten horns represent ten kings.

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 We'll learn that one of the nicknames for the city of Rome was City on Seven Hills.

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 So then Revelation 12 here is teaching us that the great dragon,

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 this ancient serpent with seven heads and ten horns,

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 has been behind these sinful world powers and empires all throughout human history.

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 It's the dragon that lies behind the beast.

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 It's the dragon that lies behind the false prophet.

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 It's the dragon that lies behind the great prostitute.

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 All three of them will be introduced to in the coming chapters.

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 They all do the dragon's bidding.

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 This dragon that we see here is our greatest enemy,

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 and he is the fiend behind all fiends.

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 And the description of the dragon in verse 3 suggests that this dragon is contending for the throne of Christ.

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 Jesus has been described, already in Revelation 5-6,

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 as the lamb with seven horns,

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 referring to the completeness and the perfection of his authority and power.

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 And this dragon tries to do him one better.

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 He's only a pretendent.

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 He has ten horns, it says.

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 Jesus is described later on in Revelation 19-12 as wearing many diadems on his head.

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 And here the dragon, too, is wearing seven diadems on his seven heads.

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 This dragon is the one that Scripture veerously calls the ruler of this world.

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 He is still under the ultimate authority and sovereignty of God,

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 but he has nonetheless been given,

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 quote,

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 the kingdoms of the world and their glory, as it says in the Gospels.

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 This is the one that 2 Corinthians 4-4 calls the God of this world,

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 who has blinded the minds of the unbelievers,

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 to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,

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 who is the image of God.

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 He is the one that, in Ephesians 2-2,

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 calls the prince of the power of the air,

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 the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

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 So, all that you see that is sinful and broken in the world,

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 of course, in part, it has to do with our own sinful flesh,

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 our own sinful nature.

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 But the demon, the devil, the dragon is also behind much of what is going on.

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 This dragon is an illegitimate claimant to the throne

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 that rightly belongs to Christ the King.

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 And that's why he is hell-bent on destroying the woman's male child,

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 which is Jesus.

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 In verse 5, he's the one who is to rule all the nations with the rod of iron.

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 And, of course, this dragon doesn't want anything to do with that.

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 So he makes war on the woman and makes war on the rest of her offspring,

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 in verse 7 here.

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 He says in verse 4 that his tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven

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 and cast them to the earth,

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 and the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth

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 so that when she bore her child, he might devour it.

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 Some people think that the dragon sweeping down the third of the stars of heaven

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 and casting them to earth with his tail

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 is referring to the same event as verses 8 and 9,

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 where the dragon and his angels are defeated by Michael and his angels

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 and then cast down from heaven down to earth.

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 I do not think that's the case,

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 because here it's the dragon himself who is doing the casting down to earth.

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 But later in verse 8 and 9, the dragon is cast down by others.

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 And I also don't think that, as some people think,

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 that this verse is referring to the primordial fall of Satan and his angels.

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 We know that there are fallen angels that have been rebelled,

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 and they're recorded as being incarcerated in Tartarus in 2 Peter 2.4

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 and inbound in eternal chains under gloomy darkness in Jude 6.

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 I don't think this is referring to that fall of angels,

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 because they're not thrown down to earth, but they're thrown down to Tartarus.

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 I think this is referring to a different event in history.

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 I think it's best to understand the sweeping down of the stars of heaven

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:33.859
 as an allusion to Daniel 8, 9-10, which uses that exact language.

00:19:34.439 --> 00:19:39.399
 Daniel 8, 9-10 is a prophecy about Antiochus Epiphanes, Antiochus IV,

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:43.280
 who persecutes and kills God's people in the 2nd century BC.

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:48.100
 And so Daniel uses the language of sweeping down the stars of heaven

00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:54.660
 to refer to this earthly ruler killing God's people, persecuting God's people.

00:19:55.280 --> 00:20:00.360
 So I think this refers, this woman represents the people of God.

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:02.600
 And I'm going to demonstrate that more shortly.

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:06.099
 On her head, crown of 12 stars.

00:20:06.199 --> 00:20:08.459
 So this fits the Revelation context really well,

00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:11.819
 because she has these 12 stars on her head.

00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:14.039
 And we saw earlier in Revelation 1,

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:18.159
 that the seven stars that Jesus holds in his right hand

00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:22.319
 represent the seven angels who are representatives of the seven churches.

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:26.599
 And so I think this Satan sweeping down the 3rd of the stars

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:30.319
 refers to how he is persecuting and killing God's people.

00:20:30.939 --> 00:20:36.059
 The 3rd is probably an approximate figure, a symbolic figure,

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:39.439
 but a sizable chunk of God's people.

00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:42.579
 And the people that are being persecuted here

00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:45.399
 are people who have their citizenship in heaven,

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.279
 and that's why they're a heavenly figure,

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.980
 and yet they are here on earth.

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:51.380
 That's why the stars are swept down.

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:56.660
 The dragon also tries to devour the woman's son as soon as he's born.

00:20:57.120 --> 00:21:00.180
 This probably includes Herod's murder of the innocents,

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.980
 we see in Matthew 2, 16 to 18,

00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:06.059
 when he orders all male babies, age two and under,

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.599
 in the Bethlehem region, killed,

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:11.059
 because he wants to make sure that Jesus doesn't survive,

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:13.200
 because he is the prophesied Messiah.

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:17.259
 This likely also includes the numerous times throughout the Gospels

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:21.180
 when people, animated in part by this dragon,

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:24.420
 tries to kill Jesus either by pushing him off the cliff

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:26.640
 or stoning him to death.

00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:28.500
 Happens many times throughout the Gospels.

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:33.339
 So this is the dragon trying to kill the male child,

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:36.140
 the prophesied prince as soon as he is born.

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:42.160
 But the dragon fails to destroy this chosen one, the Messiah.

00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:45.140
 The woman successfully gives birth to her,

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:50.480
 and then this child is subsequently caught up to God and to his throne.

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:54.420
 So Satan loses his bid for the throne.

00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:58.740
 Jesus still ascends to the heavens to occupy his right place

00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:01.800
 at the right hand of the Father to rule forever.

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:07.039
 And Satan's earthly defeat at the hand of Jesus

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:12.919
 then is enforced and executed in heaven by Michael and his angels

00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:16.259
 who defeat the dragon and his angels and cast them down to earth.

00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:18.099
 He says in verse 9,

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:20.279
 The great dragon was thrown down,

00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:23.000
 that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan,

00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:25.299
 the deceiver of the whole world.

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:28.599
 Now, but that doesn't mean that the dragon is done.

00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:30.480
 Now, it says in verse 13,

00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:33.079
 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth,

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:36.539
 he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

00:22:37.159 --> 00:22:39.799
 Having failed in his attempt to kill the prince,

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:43.759
 he now goes after the mother and the rest of her offspring.

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.539
 The word pursue here is the same Greek word

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:49.759
 that's often translated in the New Testament to mean persecute,

00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.480
 especially in the book of Acts.

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.859
 Persecuting God's people,

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:55.099
 and I think that's exactly what this is meaning here.

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:58.539
 The woman representing the people of God being persecuted.

00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:01.539
 But the woman is also protected by God.

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.659
 So it says in verse 17,

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:06.159
 Then the dragon became furious with the woman

00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:08.939
 and went off to make war on her rest of her offspring,

00:23:09.439 --> 00:23:11.000
 on those who keep the commandments of God

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:13.579
 and hold the testimony of Jesus.

00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:17.039
 I'll explain more shortly what it means

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.259
 if the woman is protected,

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:21.319
 but her offspring are not in some way.

00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:24.000
 But right now, I just want to focus on this reality

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.339
 of the dragon and the spiritual war.

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:32.720
 Right now, there is a great red dragon

00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:39.299
 who is pursuing us and champing at the bits to destroy us.

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:45.180
 Oh, how differently we would live

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:47.599
 if we actually believe that?

00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:53.839
 Ephesians 6, 12-13 exhorts us,

00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:56.039
 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:57.200
 but against the rulers,

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.700
 against the authorities,

00:23:58.919 --> 00:24:01.500
 against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:05.139
 against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:07.740
 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:10.380
 that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:13.280
 and having done all, to stand firm.

00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:18.100
 In one of his podcasts,

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.580
 I don't actually listen to his podcast,

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:21.320
 but I just came across it in an article,

00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:25.380
 Jocko Willink, former commander of the U.S. Navy SEALs,

00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:28.720
 was asked how when he was out in the field in war,

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:32.759
 he managed to wake up at 4.30 in the morning every day

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:35.880
 to exercise and work out and train for the battlefield.

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.339
 And his response was very simple.

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:41.400
 I know that somewhere out there,

00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:44.360
 another man is also preparing,

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.559
 and that man is the enemy.

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.700
 If you know that you have an enemy out there

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.839
 who's trying to kill you,

00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.360
 you bet that you're going to train hard.

00:24:56.359 --> 00:25:02.679
 But our enemy is so much more than a soldier with a gun.

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.839
 He is the great red dragon

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:09.819
 who's prowling like a roaring lion

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:11.139
 seeking someone to devour,

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.399
 1 Peter 5.80.

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.740
 He's out there, right now.

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:18.659
 Have you put on the whole armor of God?

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:23.899
 We're supposed to take up the sword of the Spirit,

00:25:23.899 --> 00:25:25.819
 which is the Word of God,

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.039
 by praying at all times in the Spirit

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.959
 with all prayer and supplications.

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.059
 But I think it's quite fitting.

00:25:32.179 --> 00:25:34.859
 I think our women's ministry had a social gathering yesterday,

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:38.119
 and they did a fun activity called sword drills,

00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:40.699
 where they, I think, are supposed to find something

00:25:40.699 --> 00:25:42.039
 in the Bible quickly.

00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:43.639
 I guess it's a sword drill

00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.879
 because this is the sword of the Spirit.

00:25:45.479 --> 00:25:46.500
 I like it, yeah.

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:49.819
 And do you have your sword at the ready?

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:55.220
 Does the Word of God reside in your mind and in your heart?

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:58.879
 Are you fitting yourself with God's armor through prayer?

00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:01.879
 Because that dragon is out there.

00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:06.740
 Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2.11,

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:08.500
 we must not be outwitted by Satan

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:10.380
 or be ignorant of his designs.

00:26:10.520 --> 00:26:12.840
 We can't just saunter out into the battlefield

00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:15.180
 and just hoping that we're going to be lucky.

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:20.620
 We need to be aware of the schemes of the enemy

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:22.320
 and how does our enemy work.

00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:26.900
 His names give us a clue as to how this dragon works.

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.000
 He's called the ancient serpent,

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.000
 according to Genesis 3,

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.160
 the deceiver of the whole world in verse 9.

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:38.420
 One of the main weapons of this great dragon is deception.

00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:40.800
 The title ancient serpent,

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.920
 referring to Genesis 3,

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.160
 where at the Garden of Eden,

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:46.380
 the serpent deceives Adam and Eve

00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.700
 to eat the forbidden fruit

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:49.360
 from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:51.740
 He impugns the character of God,

00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:53.500
 slanders God's character and says,

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:56.460
 God is withholding this good thing from you

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.039
 which will make you more like him

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.019
 and open your eyes.

00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:01.519
 He slanders God and accuses God

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:05.120
 and then he lies and sells poison.

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:08.500
 death that seems to rest to humanity

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.399
 and all creation.

00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:13.139
 That ancient serpent, that's his strategy.

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.339
 2 Corinthians 11 speaks to how Satan

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:17.459
 spreads a different gospel

00:27:17.459 --> 00:27:20.939
 and imparts to people a different spirit

00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:24.359
 just as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning.

00:27:26.219 --> 00:27:28.459
 He uses, as 2 Thessalonians 2 tells us,

00:27:28.459 --> 00:27:30.599
 false signs and wonders

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:32.959
 and all wicked deception.

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:35.880
 He is a liar

00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:38.039
 and a father of lies,

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.039
 as Jesus called him,

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.039
 John 8, 3, 4.

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:43.980
 The enemy will lie to you

00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.240
 about God's character

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:47.319
 and he will lie to you

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:48.559
 about God's word.

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:51.000
 He will lie to you

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.400
 saying that God is not good,

00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.779
 that he is not sovereign,

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.299
 that he is not loving.

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.740
 He will lie to you

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.700
 saying that God's word is not true,

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:04.779
 that it's in your best interest

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:06.559
 to live according to your own will,

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:09.279
 not according to the word of God.

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:14.019
 Beware of the great dragon's lies.

00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:17.279
 The dragon is also called the devil

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.779
 and Satan.

00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:21.860
 And he's described in verse 10

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:23.519
 as the accuser of our brothers

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.360
 who accuses them day and night

00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.299
 before our God.

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:28.819
 These titles, devil is a Greek word,

00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.039
 Satan is a Hebrew word.

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.779
 They both refer to this meaning

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:35.799
 of slanderer or accuser.

00:28:35.939 --> 00:28:37.539
 That's what the devil is.

00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.220
 That's what Satan is.

00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.240
 He accuses.

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.919
 Remember in the book of Job

00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:46.759
 how he slithers into the court of heaven

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:49.079
 and then accuses Job before God?

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:52.259
 He doesn't love you.

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.779
 He doesn't want to obey you.

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.899
 He's only doing that

00:28:54.899 --> 00:28:55.899
 because you've given him

00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.900
 all these good gifts.

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.420
 Take them away.

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.600
 Take his children away.

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.540
 Take his wealth away.

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.600
 Take his health away.

00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:02.960
 And he will defy you

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.440
 and blaspheme you to your face.

00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.060
 That's what Satan does.

00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:08.160
 He accuses the saints of God.

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.980
 You see that in the book of Job.

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:11.120
 He does it again in Zechariah 3

00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:13.920
 when he accuses before God's heavenly court

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:15.560
 that Joshua, the high priest,

00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:17.960
 not any just Israelite,

00:29:18.040 --> 00:29:19.019
 a high priest,

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:21.440
 the holiest person really

00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.200
 in that community

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:24.279
 and says he is unclean,

00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:27.100
 unfit to be a high priest.

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:30.259
 That's his MO,

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:32.100
 accusing the people of God.

00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.680
 Even though, as we'll see,

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.500
 he has been overthrown

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.340
 from the heavenly court,

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:40.580
 he's not stopped accusing us

00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:41.759
 to be in our midst.

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:45.640
 He accuses our brothers and sisters to us

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.860
 and he accuses us.

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.220
 Have you ever had

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:52.660
 just a sinister accusatory thought

00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:54.780
 about a Christian brother or sister

00:29:54.780 --> 00:29:55.540
 in the church

00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:57.700
 just starkly sneaking into your mind?

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:04.220
 That's how he sows dissension.

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.600
 And be wary also

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:11.140
 of condemning accusations

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:12.820
 that are leveled directly against you.

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:15.220
 The Holy Spirit does, yes,

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.700
 convict us of sin,

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.640
 but the Holy Spirit

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:19.339
 never condemns

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:20.440
 the people of God.

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.620
 If you have already

00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:25.660
 repented of your sins

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.600
 and you have put your faith

00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:27.339
 in Jesus Christ

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.539
 but you are still feeling

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:30.579
 this nagging accusations,

00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:32.019
 condemnation,

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:33.900
 and dejection from God,

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:35.240
 that is not

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.640
 the voice of the Lamb.

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.640
 That's the voice of the dragon.

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:43.920
 Beware of the dragon's schemes.

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.460
 Our battle is not

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.600
 against flesh and blood.

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.840
 Now that's the dragon.

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.640
 Let's look more closely

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.140
 at the woman.

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.680
 It says in verses 1 to 2,

00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.920
 And a great sign

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.660
 appeared in heaven,

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:56.200
 a woman clothed with the sun,

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.820
 with the moon under her feet,

00:30:58.039 --> 00:30:58.820
 and on her head

00:30:58.820 --> 00:31:00.160
 a crowd of 12 stars.

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.279
 She was pregnant

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.200
 and was crying out

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.940
 in birth pains

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.519
 at the agony

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.480
 of giving birth.

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.420
 Now at first glance,

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.860
 we might begin to think

00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:09.019
 that this woman is married,

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.380
 since she is,

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.039
 after all,

00:31:11.100 --> 00:31:12.019
 the woman who gave birth

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.519
 to Jesus, the Messiah.

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.960
 However, there are several

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.660
 decisive clues here

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.460
 that point us

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.400
 in a different direction.

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.440
 First,

00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.920
 we know that this is not

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.700
 a liberal woman,

00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:23.279
 but a figurative woman

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.079
 because she was called

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.700
 a sign in verse 1,

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.779
 a symbol.

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:27.720
 Second,

00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.220
 later on in verse 6,

00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.559
 this woman flees

00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.400
 into the wilderness

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:32.500
 where she has a place

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.400
 prepared by God,

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:35.099
 and we don't ever see

00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:35.900
 Mary do this

00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.500
 in the Gospels

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.400
 after giving birth

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.000
 to Jesus.

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.039
 Third,

00:31:39.139 --> 00:31:39.879
 in verse 17,

00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:41.020
 we are told that the dragon

00:31:41.020 --> 00:31:42.000
 became furious

00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.680
 with the woman

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.660
 and went off to make war

00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.040
 on the rest of her offspring.

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:47.140
 And who are the rest

00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.680
 of her offspring?

00:31:47.800 --> 00:31:48.980
 On those who keep

00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.360
 the commandments of God

00:31:50.360 --> 00:31:51.900
 and hold to the testimony

00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:52.500
 of Jesus.

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:55.060
 If the woman is Mary,

00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.000
 then the rest

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.720
 of her offspring

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.760
 would be Jesus'

00:31:58.020 --> 00:31:58.720
 half-brothers,

00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.440
 James,

00:31:59.700 --> 00:31:59.960
 Joseph,

00:32:00.520 --> 00:32:00.860
 Judas,

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.460
 and Simon,

00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:03.060
 and Jesus' sisters

00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:03.660
 who are mentioned

00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.700
 in Mark 6, 3.

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:07.200
 But nowhere in the Gospels

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.100
 do we see Satan

00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:09.500
 specifically targeting

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:11.120
 Jesus' biological siblings.

00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:12.980
 Rather,

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.460
 verse 17 identifies

00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.640
 the rest of her offspring

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:17.819
 as the people of God,

00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:18.799
 those who hold

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.460
 to the testimony

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.080
 of Jesus,

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.920
 the church,

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:21.880
 the gathering

00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.500
 of Christians.

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:23.740
 So this woman

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.819
 is not Mary,

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.220
 but she's a figure

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.100
 for the covenant

00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:28.400
 people of God,

00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:29.740
 of whose stream

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.759
 the New Testament church

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.600
 is also a part.

00:32:32.580 --> 00:32:34.200
 Mary is a special member

00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:35.960
 of the people of God.

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.980
 Remember,

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.799
 Angel Gabriel

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.480
 called her

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.519
 O favored one.

00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.579
 The Lord is with you.

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:42.019
 She is a special member

00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:44.160
 of the church of God.

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.420
 She's included

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.220
 in this woman,

00:32:47.360 --> 00:32:48.860
 but we cannot equate

00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:50.259
 Mary with this woman.

00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.180
 That the woman

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.960
 stands for the people

00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:53.700
 of God is confirmed

00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.340
 by the description

00:32:54.340 --> 00:32:55.039
 in verse 1.

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.779
 She is clothed

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.579
 with the sun,

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:57.980
 with the moon

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.819
 under her feet,

00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.579
 and on her head

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.940
 a crown of 12 stars.

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.079
 This recalls

00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:03.579
 Genesis 37

00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:04.720
 where Joseph

00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:06.140
 tells his father,

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:06.940
 Jacob,

00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:07.600
 the dream

00:33:07.600 --> 00:33:08.339
 that he just had.

00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:09.240
 And in the dream,

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:09.940
 the sun,

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:10.779
 the moon,

00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:12.079
 and the 11 stars

00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.380
 come and bow down

00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.100
 to Joseph.

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.880
 And Jacob

00:33:15.880 --> 00:33:17.000
 immediately interprets

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.579
 this as

00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:19.319
 sun representing him,

00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.400
 the moon representing

00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.079
 his wife,

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:21.920
 Joseph's mother,

00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.299
 Rachel,

00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:23.980
 and then 11 stars

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.900
 representing the rest

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.380
 of his sons,

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.120
 11 sons,

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.140
 coming back to bow down

00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:28.000
 to the 12 star,

00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:28.799
 which is Joseph.

00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.000
 Joseph.

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.259
 And so there's

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.379
 already this connection

00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.639
 that these images

00:33:33.639 --> 00:33:34.779
 represent the people

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.180
 of God

00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:36.259
 because Jacob,

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.960
 renamed later Israel,

00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:39.139
 is the one from whom

00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:39.940
 the 12 tribes

00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.639
 of Israel come.

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.639
 His 12 sons

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:42.659
 make up the 12 tribes.

00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:43.779
 So,

00:33:44.379 --> 00:33:45.079
 and this is why

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.779
 Jesus says,

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.799
 specifically in John 4,

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.139
 22,

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:47.539
 that salvation

00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.599
 is from the Jews.

00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:50.359
 This is the covenant

00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:51.119
 people of God

00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:53.099
 connected to the old covenant.

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.319
 Now,

00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:55.779
 the authors of scripture

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.619
 also frequently

00:33:56.619 --> 00:33:58.099
 describe God's people

00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:59.699
 figuratively as a woman,

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.759
 even as God's wife

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.740
 in several places.

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.719
 And citing the prophecy

00:34:04.719 --> 00:34:06.019
 of Isaiah 54,

00:34:06.219 --> 00:34:06.459
 1,

00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.939
 Paul writes in Galatians

00:34:07.939 --> 00:34:09.299
 4, 26 to 27,

00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:10.440
 but the Jerusalem

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.779
 above is free.

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.679
 He's talking about

00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:14.519
 heavenly Jerusalem,

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.819
 a heavenly people of God.

00:34:16.259 --> 00:34:17.059
 Jerusalem above is free

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:19.000
 and she is our mother,

00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.559
 he says.

00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.199
 For it is written,

00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:21.880
 rejoice,

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.880
 O bear the one

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.960
 who does not bear.

00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.900
 Break forth and cry aloud,

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.239
 you who are not in labor.

00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:28.179
 For the children

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.159
 of the desolate one

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:30.399
 will be more than those

00:34:30.399 --> 00:34:30.899
 of the one

00:34:30.899 --> 00:34:32.000
 who has a husband.

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.899
 The old covenant

00:34:33.899 --> 00:34:34.599
 people of God

00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:36.000
 were like a barren woman

00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.059
 who has failed

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.819
 to be fruitful

00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.899
 and bear children.

00:34:39.419 --> 00:34:39.679
 However,

00:34:39.779 --> 00:34:40.500
 this prophecy

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.639
 predicts a time

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.599
 when she will no longer

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.759
 be the desolate one,

00:34:43.979 --> 00:34:44.679
 but whether she will be

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.559
 a fruitful one

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.699
 and have many children

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.819
 and that prophecy

00:34:47.819 --> 00:34:48.579
 is fulfilled

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.919
 by the coming of Jesus

00:34:49.919 --> 00:34:51.439
 and all those

00:34:51.439 --> 00:34:52.819
 who follow him thereafter.

00:34:53.339 --> 00:34:53.539
 So,

00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:54.219
 this woman

00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:55.379
 that Paul calls

00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:56.180
 our mother,

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:56.860
 Jerusalem,

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.660
 represents the people

00:34:58.660 --> 00:34:59.000
 of God

00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.579
 and this woman

00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:01.019
 now also includes

00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:02.000
 the covenant,

00:35:02.160 --> 00:35:02.940
 the new covenant

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.619
 people of God,

00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.160
 the church,

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.500
 since the church

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.880
 is part of that same stream

00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.720
 of God's people

00:35:07.720 --> 00:35:08.840
 and this woman

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.980
 continues to live

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:11.920
 after Jesus' ascension

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.860
 to his heavenly throne.

00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.440
 This is why

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.940
 in 2 John 1,

00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:18.260
 John addresses

00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:19.440
 the church figuratively

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:21.720
 as the elect lady

00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.919
 and her children.

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.539
 This is a common

00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.279
 biblical image.

00:35:26.439 --> 00:35:27.399
 But this raises

00:35:27.399 --> 00:35:27.939
 a question.

00:35:28.919 --> 00:35:30.739
 If both the woman

00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:31.879
 and the rest

00:35:31.879 --> 00:35:32.599
 of her offspring

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:34.219
 refer to God's people,

00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:36.259
 how can it be

00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:36.839
 that the woman

00:35:36.839 --> 00:35:37.539
 is protected

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.159
 and nourished

00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:38.759
 in the wilderness

00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:39.899
 while the dragon

00:35:39.899 --> 00:35:40.619
 makes war

00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.239
 on the rest

00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:41.819
 of her offspring?

00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:44.659
 Notice how verse 6

00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:45.619
 says that the woman

00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:47.059
 flees to the wilderness

00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.500
 to a place

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.559
 prepared by God

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.519
 which she is to be nourished

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:52.980
 for 1,260 days.

00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:54.099
 This is talking

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:55.259
 about the same thing

00:35:55.259 --> 00:35:56.279
 as verse 14

00:35:56.279 --> 00:35:57.519
 where the woman

00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.059
 was given

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.860
 the two wings

00:35:58.860 --> 00:35:59.639
 of the great eagle

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.480
 so that she might fly

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:01.119
 from the serpent

00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.860
 into the wilderness

00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:03.059
 to the place

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:04.039
 where she is to be nourished

00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.840
 for a time

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.739
 and times

00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:07.239
 and half a time.

00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.119
 Now we're getting

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.380
 into heady territory again.

00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.659
 A lot of you guys

00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.059
 are with me

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.039
 for Revelation 11.

00:36:13.259 --> 00:36:14.219
 If you want more details

00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:14.860
 you can go listen

00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.440
 to that sermon.

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.900
 But this is a time,

00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:18.219
 times and half a time

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:19.059
 is a year,

00:36:19.459 --> 00:36:20.079
 two years

00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:20.939
 and half a year.

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.799
 So it's three and a half years

00:36:22.799 --> 00:36:25.099
 half of a seven year period

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:26.199
 which refers to

00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:26.759
 a complete

00:36:26.759 --> 00:36:28.079
 perfect period of time.

00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.500
 This is an allusion

00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:30.699
 to Daniel 12.7

00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:31.579
 which prophesied

00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:32.779
 that the end of the world

00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:33.759
 would be preceded

00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:34.579
 by a time

00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:35.399
 times

00:36:35.399 --> 00:36:36.879
 and half a time.

00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:39.219
 And that's the same time frame

00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:41.279
 as 1,260 days.

00:36:41.759 --> 00:36:43.000
 If you count 30 days

00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:43.659
 to a month

00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:45.039
 and that's how many days

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.500
 there are

00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:46.839
 in three and a half years

00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:48.160
 1,260.

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.720
 But while this woman

00:36:49.720 --> 00:36:50.480
 is immune

00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:52.220
 to the dragon's attack

00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:53.920
 verse 17 tells us

00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.420
 that the dragon

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.260
 became furious

00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.019
 with the woman

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.660
 and went off

00:36:56.660 --> 00:36:57.100
 to make war

00:36:57.100 --> 00:36:58.180
 on the rest of her offspring

00:36:58.180 --> 00:36:59.240
 and on those

00:36:59.240 --> 00:37:00.039
 who keep the comets

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:00.400
 of God

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.240
 and hold to the testimony

00:37:01.240 --> 00:37:01.760
 of Jesus.

00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:05.460
 Later in Revelation 13.5-7

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.240
 we're told that

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:07.780
 the dragon's beast

00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:09.680
 is given authority

00:37:09.680 --> 00:37:11.900
 for 42 months

00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:13.380
 to blaspheme

00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:14.180
 the name of God

00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:15.079
 and to persecute

00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:15.840
 God's people

00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:17.319
 and to conquer

00:37:17.319 --> 00:37:17.779
 the saints

00:37:17.779 --> 00:37:18.819
 to make war

00:37:18.819 --> 00:37:19.460
 on the saints

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.519
 and to conquer them.

00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:22.519
 So Satan is able

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.319
 to make war

00:37:23.319 --> 00:37:23.900
 on the saints

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.619
 and conquer them

00:37:24.619 --> 00:37:25.420
 and he does this

00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:26.380
 for the exact

00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:27.960
 same time period

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.319
 42 months

00:37:29.319 --> 00:37:30.960
 which is

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.619
 1,260 days

00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:33.299
 which is

00:37:33.299 --> 00:37:34.059
 a time

00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.840
 times and half

00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:35.779
 a time

00:37:35.779 --> 00:37:36.799
 three and a half years.

00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:39.500
 What's going on here

00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:41.279
 in chapters 12-13

00:37:41.279 --> 00:37:42.159
 parallel

00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:43.279
 what we saw

00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:44.139
 in chapter 11

00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:45.420
 verses 1-14

00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:47.039
 where the holy city

00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:48.099
 which represents

00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:48.879
 God's people

00:37:48.879 --> 00:37:49.639
 is trampled

00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:50.699
 for 42 months

00:37:50.699 --> 00:37:52.139
 but the two witnesses

00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:53.159
 which also represent

00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:53.639
 the church

00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:54.440
 are protected

00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:56.059
 and given authority

00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:56.779
 to prophesy

00:37:56.779 --> 00:37:58.879
 for 1,260 days.

00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:00.799
 So John is using

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:01.920
 these two different

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.819
 time expressions

00:38:02.819 --> 00:38:03.940
 42 months

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:05.539
 and 1,260 days

00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:06.440
 to refer to

00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:07.779
 the same time period

00:38:07.779 --> 00:38:09.000
 in order to express

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.940
 this tension

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:11.480
 between the two

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.780
 dueling realities

00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:14.619
 that on the one hand

00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.659
 church bears witness

00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:17.039
 but on the other hand

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:18.539
 the devil blasphemes.

00:38:18.780 --> 00:38:19.679
 On the one hand

00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:20.599
 God protects

00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.659
 the church spiritually

00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:23.000
 but on the other hand

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.099
 Satan persecutes

00:38:24.099 --> 00:38:24.619
 the church

00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:26.460
 and destroys

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.320
 the church physically.

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:29.039
 The church

00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:29.920
 bears witness

00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:30.519
 to Jesus

00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:32.239
 for 1,060 days

00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:33.519
 Satan blasphemes

00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.639
 for 42 months.

00:38:35.260 --> 00:38:35.800
 The church

00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:36.480
 is protected

00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.179
 in the wilderness

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:38.799
 for 1,060 days

00:38:38.799 --> 00:38:39.679
 but the beast

00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:40.339
 makes war

00:38:40.339 --> 00:38:40.919
 against the saints

00:38:40.919 --> 00:38:41.659
 and conquers them

00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:42.699
 for 42 months.

00:38:42.799 --> 00:38:43.239
 So they're just

00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:44.659
 same time period

00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:45.480
 but referring to

00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.980
 the two dueling realities

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.699
 in tension.

00:38:48.859 --> 00:38:50.019
 This is why

00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:50.699
 we as people

00:38:50.699 --> 00:38:51.739
 of God

00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:53.039
 are afflicted

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:54.000
 but not crushed

00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:55.179
 perplexed

00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:55.899
 but not driven

00:38:55.899 --> 00:38:56.460
 to despair

00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.359
 persecuted

00:38:57.359 --> 00:38:58.839
 but not forsaken

00:38:58.839 --> 00:39:02.039
 struck down

00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:02.839
 but not destroyed.

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:05.419
 We carry in

00:39:05.419 --> 00:39:06.639
 our physical bodies

00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:07.079
 the death

00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:07.679
 of Jesus

00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:08.960
 so that the

00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:09.920
 life of Jesus

00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:10.420
 the spiritual

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.039
 life of Jesus

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:11.759
 may be manifest

00:39:11.759 --> 00:39:12.379
 through us.

00:39:12.539 --> 00:39:13.440
 Our outer self

00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:15.019
 is wasting away

00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:17.019
 like the outer temple

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:18.059
 in chapter 11

00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:19.159
 that's trampled.

00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:20.059
 However,

00:39:20.139 --> 00:39:20.900
 the inner self

00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.739
 is protected

00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:22.319
 and measured

00:39:22.319 --> 00:39:22.719
 by God

00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:23.019
 and has been

00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:23.440
 renewed

00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:24.679
 day by day.

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.539
 So speaking of

00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:28.519
 the woman

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:29.619
 represents the

00:39:29.619 --> 00:39:30.099
 redeemed

00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:31.059
 people of God

00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:32.099
 we are

00:39:32.099 --> 00:39:33.139
 even now

00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:34.019
 Ephesians 2,6

00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.480
 tells us

00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:36.019
 reigning with Christ

00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:37.300
 spiritually

00:39:37.300 --> 00:39:38.000
 participating

00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:39.019
 in his reign

00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.559
 in the heavenly

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.139
 places

00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:41.800
 because we are

00:39:41.800 --> 00:39:42.539
 in Christ

00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:43.019
 and Christ

00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.400
 is at the

00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:43.759
 right hand

00:39:43.759 --> 00:39:44.219
 of the Father.

00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:45.759
 So then this

00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:46.380
 woman represents

00:39:46.380 --> 00:39:47.699
 this idealized

00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:48.500
 heavenly

00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:49.679
 spiritual reality

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:50.000
 of the

00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:50.280
 redeemed

00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:50.980
 people of God.

00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:52.099
 That's why

00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:52.980
 she's clothed

00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:53.460
 with the sun,

00:39:53.579 --> 00:39:53.840
 moon,

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:54.519
 and the crown

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:55.400
 with 12 stars.

00:39:57.800 --> 00:39:59.219
 But even

00:39:59.219 --> 00:39:59.679
 though the

00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:00.679
 physical reality

00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:01.179
 of the woman

00:40:01.179 --> 00:40:02.159
 the church

00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:02.619
 on earth

00:40:02.619 --> 00:40:03.319
 which is

00:40:03.319 --> 00:40:03.739
 represented

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.199
 by her

00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:04.619
 offspring

00:40:04.619 --> 00:40:05.399
 is persecuted

00:40:05.399 --> 00:40:06.599
 and vulnerable

00:40:06.599 --> 00:40:07.679
 this heavenly

00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.639
 spiritual reality

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.440
 is protected

00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:11.199
 and invulnerable.

00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:12.599
 This is an

00:40:12.599 --> 00:40:13.279
 amazing truth.

00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.739
 We're protected.

00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:17.539
 We're nourished

00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:18.019
 by God.

00:40:18.299 --> 00:40:19.419
 Despite all

00:40:19.419 --> 00:40:20.139
 the fury

00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:20.960
 of the dragon

00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:22.259
 we are protected

00:40:22.259 --> 00:40:22.719
 and nourished

00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:23.219
 by God

00:40:23.219 --> 00:40:23.899
 in the wilderness

00:40:23.899 --> 00:40:24.919
 in the same way

00:40:24.919 --> 00:40:25.639
 the Israelites

00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:26.259
 were protected

00:40:26.259 --> 00:40:26.719
 and nourished

00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:27.599
 in the wilderness

00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:28.799
 after God

00:40:28.799 --> 00:40:29.679
 crushed the

00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:30.119
 dragon

00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:30.599
 the great

00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:31.039
 dragon

00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:31.519
 Pharaoh

00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.139
 and delivered

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:32.599
 them through

00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:33.319
 the Leviathan

00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:35.019
 in the Red Sea

00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:35.639
 and then brought

00:40:35.639 --> 00:40:36.360
 them into the wilderness.

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:37.380
 That's what we're

00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:37.960
 seeing here.

00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:38.960
 The end time

00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:39.619
 exodus

00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:41.119
 happening again.

00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:44.199
 God nourishes

00:40:44.199 --> 00:40:45.000
 people with

00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:45.940
 manna in the wilderness

00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.619
 so likewise

00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:47.440
 will be nourished

00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:48.539
 spiritually by the

00:40:48.539 --> 00:40:49.279
 bread of God

00:40:49.279 --> 00:40:50.500
 which is Jesus Christ.

00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:53.079
 This also

00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:53.900
 follows the pattern

00:40:53.900 --> 00:40:54.500
 we see in the

00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.159
 life of Moses

00:40:55.159 --> 00:40:55.759
 and Elijah.

00:40:56.099 --> 00:40:56.739
 I mentioned to you

00:40:56.739 --> 00:40:57.679
 that the two

00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.379
 witnesses in

00:40:58.379 --> 00:40:59.059
 Revelation 11

00:40:59.059 --> 00:40:59.679
 are patterned

00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:00.799
 after prophet

00:41:00.799 --> 00:41:01.919
 Elijah and Moses

00:41:01.919 --> 00:41:03.839
 and Elijah and

00:41:03.839 --> 00:41:04.679
 Moses both had

00:41:04.679 --> 00:41:05.239
 periods in their

00:41:05.239 --> 00:41:05.819
 life where they

00:41:05.819 --> 00:41:07.019
 fled a king

00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:07.459
 that was trying

00:41:07.459 --> 00:41:08.019
 to kill them.

00:41:08.339 --> 00:41:08.979
 Moses was fleeing

00:41:08.979 --> 00:41:09.599
 from Pharaoh.

00:41:09.959 --> 00:41:10.639
 Elijah was fleeing

00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:11.739
 from Queen Jezebel

00:41:11.739 --> 00:41:13.279
 and they both flee

00:41:13.279 --> 00:41:13.979
 into the wilderness

00:41:13.979 --> 00:41:15.079
 and there they are

00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:15.739
 nourished and

00:41:15.739 --> 00:41:17.099
 protected by God.

00:41:18.779 --> 00:41:19.619
 That's what's

00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:20.039
 going to happen

00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:20.659
 to us.

00:41:22.619 --> 00:41:23.939
 It says in

00:41:23.939 --> 00:41:24.519
 verse 14

00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:25.119
 the woman was

00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:25.659
 given the two

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:26.339
 wings of the

00:41:26.340 --> 00:41:27.180
 great eagle

00:41:27.180 --> 00:41:27.579
 so that she

00:41:27.579 --> 00:41:28.180
 might fly

00:41:28.180 --> 00:41:28.640
 from the

00:41:28.640 --> 00:41:28.940
 serpent

00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:29.480
 into the

00:41:29.480 --> 00:41:29.900
 wilderness.

00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:31.160
 That's again

00:41:31.160 --> 00:41:32.320
 Exodus imagery.

00:41:32.460 --> 00:41:33.160
 Exodus 19

00:41:33.160 --> 00:41:33.579
 4

00:41:33.579 --> 00:41:34.240
 God says to

00:41:34.240 --> 00:41:34.760
 the Israelites

00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:36.059
 you yourselves

00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:36.620
 have seen

00:41:36.620 --> 00:41:37.500
 what I did

00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:37.800
 to the

00:41:37.800 --> 00:41:38.220
 Egyptians

00:41:38.220 --> 00:41:39.400
 and how I

00:41:39.400 --> 00:41:40.100
 bore you

00:41:40.100 --> 00:41:41.160
 on eagle's

00:41:41.160 --> 00:41:41.539
 wings

00:41:41.539 --> 00:41:42.260
 and brought

00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:42.880
 you to

00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:43.559
 myself.

00:41:44.120 --> 00:41:44.539
 It's a

00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:45.079
 beautiful

00:41:45.079 --> 00:41:45.500
 image.

00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:46.960
 A few

00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:47.640
 years ago

00:41:47.640 --> 00:41:48.480
 while we

00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:49.340
 were visiting

00:41:49.340 --> 00:41:50.059
 my parents

00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:50.880
 in Washington

00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:51.320
 State

00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:52.579
 we took a

00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:53.059
 family trip

00:41:53.059 --> 00:41:53.680
 to Kamano

00:41:53.680 --> 00:41:54.460
 Island State

00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:54.780
 Park.

00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.159
 Whenever we

00:41:56.159 --> 00:41:56.380
 go to

00:41:56.380 --> 00:41:57.019
 state parks

00:41:57.019 --> 00:41:57.400
 or national

00:41:57.400 --> 00:41:57.840
 parks we

00:41:57.840 --> 00:41:58.179
 like to

00:41:58.179 --> 00:41:58.760
 go birding

00:41:58.760 --> 00:41:59.199
 because we

00:41:59.199 --> 00:41:59.760
 like birds.

00:42:00.340 --> 00:42:00.920
 We like to

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:01.320
 watch birds.

00:42:01.960 --> 00:42:02.659
 On one of

00:42:02.659 --> 00:42:03.260
 those trips we

00:42:03.260 --> 00:42:04.139
 got to see a

00:42:04.139 --> 00:42:04.639
 bald eagle

00:42:04.639 --> 00:42:06.760
 and a bald

00:42:06.760 --> 00:42:07.380
 eagle that

00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:07.920
 was just

00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:09.240
 flying in

00:42:09.240 --> 00:42:09.579
 these

00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.480
 continuous

00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:11.380
 spirals

00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:12.220
 like circles

00:42:12.220 --> 00:42:13.179
 just higher

00:42:13.179 --> 00:42:14.119
 and higher

00:42:14.119 --> 00:42:14.760
 and higher.

00:42:15.480 --> 00:42:15.800
 That's what

00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:17.980
 people call

00:42:17.980 --> 00:42:19.559
 riding thermals.

00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:20.760
 Birds

00:42:20.760 --> 00:42:21.519
 riding the

00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:22.679
 updrafts of

00:42:22.679 --> 00:42:23.219
 warm air

00:42:23.219 --> 00:42:23.859
 by circling

00:42:23.859 --> 00:42:24.359
 around like

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:24.699
 this so

00:42:24.699 --> 00:42:25.119
 it can

00:42:25.119 --> 00:42:25.899
 hover to

00:42:25.899 --> 00:42:27.059
 very high

00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:27.599
 altitudes

00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:28.099
 without

00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:28.919
 expanding too

00:42:28.919 --> 00:42:29.259
 much of

00:42:29.259 --> 00:42:30.000
 its energy.

00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:30.480
 That's what

00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:31.079
 that eagle

00:42:31.079 --> 00:42:31.379
 was doing.

00:42:31.419 --> 00:42:31.559
 It's the

00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:31.879
 first time

00:42:31.879 --> 00:42:32.139
 I've ever

00:42:32.139 --> 00:42:32.579
 seen that.

00:42:33.219 --> 00:42:33.799
 This eagle

00:42:33.799 --> 00:42:34.319
 was doing

00:42:34.319 --> 00:42:35.219
 that and

00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:35.539
 we just

00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:36.379
 stared on

00:42:36.379 --> 00:42:37.699
 for minutes

00:42:37.699 --> 00:42:38.719
 and it

00:42:38.719 --> 00:42:39.159
 just went

00:42:39.159 --> 00:42:40.179
 higher and

00:42:40.179 --> 00:42:41.039
 higher and

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:41.719
 higher until

00:42:41.719 --> 00:42:42.219
 it was just

00:42:42.219 --> 00:42:43.259
 a speck in

00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.000
 the sky and

00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:44.299
 I couldn't

00:42:44.299 --> 00:42:44.919
 see anything

00:42:44.919 --> 00:42:45.319
 anymore.

00:42:46.440 --> 00:42:47.139
 I'd never

00:42:47.139 --> 00:42:47.659
 seen a bird

00:42:47.659 --> 00:42:48.199
 fly that high

00:42:48.199 --> 00:42:48.440
 before.

00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:51.380
 that eagle

00:42:51.380 --> 00:42:53.059
 is untouchable.

00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:54.760
 Like what are

00:42:54.760 --> 00:42:55.019
 you going to

00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:55.139
 do?

00:42:55.179 --> 00:42:55.400
 You're going to

00:42:55.400 --> 00:42:55.960
 try to shoot

00:42:55.960 --> 00:42:56.340
 that eagle?

00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:58.900
 Nothing can

00:42:58.900 --> 00:42:59.559
 touch that

00:42:59.559 --> 00:42:59.800
 eagle.

00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:02.159
 And that's

00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:02.900
 the reality

00:43:02.900 --> 00:43:03.920
 of the people

00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:04.440
 of God

00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:05.159
 given the

00:43:05.159 --> 00:43:06.059
 great wings

00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:06.559
 of the eagle

00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.480
 to fly away

00:43:07.480 --> 00:43:08.200
 to be protected

00:43:08.200 --> 00:43:09.240
 and nourished

00:43:09.240 --> 00:43:10.260
 in the wilderness.

00:43:10.539 --> 00:43:11.059
 Who's going

00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:11.519
 to touch

00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:11.960
 us?

00:43:15.159 --> 00:43:16.340
 This great

00:43:16.340 --> 00:43:17.539
 dragon can

00:43:17.539 --> 00:43:18.099
 do nothing

00:43:18.099 --> 00:43:19.179
 to harm us.

00:43:19.339 --> 00:43:20.420
 Look at how

00:43:20.420 --> 00:43:21.460
 lopsided this

00:43:21.460 --> 00:43:22.079
 picture is.

00:43:22.420 --> 00:43:22.920
 On the one

00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:23.339
 hand, you've

00:43:23.339 --> 00:43:24.079
 got a pregnant

00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:24.420
 woman.

00:43:25.500 --> 00:43:26.000
 Imagine a

00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:26.500
 pregnant woman.

00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:27.099
 How vulnerable

00:43:27.099 --> 00:43:27.500
 is she?

00:43:27.619 --> 00:43:28.039
 She can't

00:43:28.039 --> 00:43:28.259
 run.

00:43:29.139 --> 00:43:29.579
 She certainly

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:30.199
 can't fight.

00:43:30.920 --> 00:43:31.460
 And then you

00:43:31.460 --> 00:43:32.000
 got this

00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:32.759
 dragon on the

00:43:32.759 --> 00:43:33.179
 other hand.

00:43:33.259 --> 00:43:33.639
 She's just

00:43:33.639 --> 00:43:34.880
 waiting for

00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:35.559
 the baby to

00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:36.619
 be born and

00:43:36.619 --> 00:43:36.940
 he's just

00:43:36.940 --> 00:43:37.239
 going to

00:43:37.239 --> 00:43:37.900
 devour that

00:43:37.900 --> 00:43:38.259
 baby.

00:43:39.099 --> 00:43:40.079
 I imagine

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.639
 him like a

00:43:40.639 --> 00:43:41.519
 bull just

00:43:41.519 --> 00:43:42.099
 like piling

00:43:42.099 --> 00:43:43.199
 the ground

00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:43.559
 and just

00:43:43.559 --> 00:43:44.139
 getting ready

00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:44.559
 to charge

00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:44.960
 as soon as

00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:45.400
 the baby is

00:43:45.400 --> 00:43:45.639
 born.

00:43:46.319 --> 00:43:47.019
 And yet he

00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:47.619
 can do

00:43:47.619 --> 00:43:49.799
 nothing to

00:43:49.799 --> 00:43:51.980
 stop the

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.679
 destiny of

00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:53.500
 this king,

00:43:53.739 --> 00:43:54.299
 this child

00:43:54.299 --> 00:43:54.679
 king.

00:43:57.139 --> 00:43:57.980
 He can do

00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:58.539
 nothing to

00:43:58.539 --> 00:43:59.099
 harm this

00:43:59.099 --> 00:43:59.559
 woman who

00:43:59.559 --> 00:44:00.179
 is spiritually

00:44:00.179 --> 00:44:01.659
 invulnerable.

00:44:02.940 --> 00:44:03.259
 Why?

00:44:03.359 --> 00:44:04.039
 Because even

00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:04.980
 if the devil

00:44:04.980 --> 00:44:05.819
 can kill our

00:44:05.819 --> 00:44:06.440
 bodies, he

00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:06.920
 can never

00:44:06.920 --> 00:44:07.819
 kill our

00:44:07.819 --> 00:44:08.519
 souls or

00:44:08.519 --> 00:44:09.420
 threaten our

00:44:09.420 --> 00:44:10.159
 eternal life

00:44:10.159 --> 00:44:10.659
 because as

00:44:10.659 --> 00:44:11.319
 Colossians 3,

00:44:11.400 --> 00:44:11.739
 3 says,

00:44:11.819 --> 00:44:12.480
 our life is

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.440
 hidden with

00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:14.200
 Christ in

00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:14.700
 God.

00:44:16.619 --> 00:44:17.220
 The dragon

00:44:17.220 --> 00:44:18.000
 might steal

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:18.860
 or destroy

00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:19.519
 our possessions,

00:44:19.659 --> 00:44:20.159
 he might take

00:44:20.159 --> 00:44:20.820
 away everything

00:44:20.820 --> 00:44:21.599
 that we have,

00:44:21.920 --> 00:44:22.579
 but he cannot

00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:23.639
 touch our

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.840
 inheritance that

00:44:24.840 --> 00:44:25.800
 is imperishable

00:44:25.800 --> 00:44:26.940
 and undefiled

00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:27.840
 and unfading,

00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:28.780
 kept in

00:44:28.780 --> 00:44:29.679
 heaven for

00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:30.519
 us, 1 Peter

00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:31.059
 1, 4.

00:44:31.619 --> 00:44:32.619
 This gives

00:44:32.619 --> 00:44:33.119
 us great

00:44:33.119 --> 00:44:34.720
 confidence to

00:44:34.720 --> 00:44:35.460
 bear witness to

00:44:35.460 --> 00:44:36.720
 Jesus, even in

00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.220
 the midst of

00:44:37.220 --> 00:44:37.720
 persecution,

00:44:38.619 --> 00:44:39.139
 because we

00:44:39.139 --> 00:44:40.000
 honestly have

00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:40.700
 nothing to

00:44:40.699 --> 00:44:40.960
 us.

00:44:43.859 --> 00:44:44.819
 This picture

00:44:44.819 --> 00:44:45.579
 of the woman

00:44:45.579 --> 00:44:46.319
 also reveals

00:44:46.319 --> 00:44:47.199
 just how God

00:44:47.199 --> 00:44:48.299
 sees us and

00:44:48.299 --> 00:44:49.299
 cherishes us.

00:44:49.799 --> 00:44:50.239
 There's a

00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:51.179
 family resemblance

00:44:51.179 --> 00:44:51.719
 between this

00:44:51.719 --> 00:44:52.419
 woman and

00:44:52.419 --> 00:44:52.980
 Jesus.

00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:54.000
 In John's

00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:54.359
 vision of

00:44:54.359 --> 00:44:54.779
 Jesus in

00:44:54.779 --> 00:44:55.279
 chapter 1,

00:44:55.339 --> 00:44:55.899
 verse 16,

00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:56.899
 Jesus held

00:44:56.899 --> 00:44:57.960
 seven stars

00:44:57.960 --> 00:44:59.419
 and his face

00:44:59.419 --> 00:44:59.960
 was like the

00:44:59.960 --> 00:45:01.259
 sun shining

00:45:01.259 --> 00:45:01.899
 in full strength.

00:45:01.960 --> 00:45:02.379
 So there's a

00:45:02.379 --> 00:45:03.199
 family resemblance

00:45:03.199 --> 00:45:03.799
 with this woman

00:45:03.799 --> 00:45:04.599
 who is clothed

00:45:04.599 --> 00:45:05.339
 with the sun

00:45:05.339 --> 00:45:06.099
 and has a

00:45:06.099 --> 00:45:07.539
 crown of 12

00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:08.099
 stars on her

00:45:08.099 --> 00:45:08.359
 head.

00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:08.939
 Well, that's

00:45:08.939 --> 00:45:09.500
 because she is

00:45:09.500 --> 00:45:10.019
 related to

00:45:10.019 --> 00:45:10.239
 Jesus.

00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:12.500
 She is the

00:45:12.500 --> 00:45:13.879
 bride of the

00:45:13.879 --> 00:45:14.259
 Lamb who

00:45:14.259 --> 00:45:14.439
 will be

00:45:14.439 --> 00:45:14.919
 introduced to

00:45:14.919 --> 00:45:15.379
 us formally

00:45:15.379 --> 00:45:15.960
 in Revelation

00:45:15.960 --> 00:45:16.839
 21, the

00:45:16.839 --> 00:45:17.579
 wife of the

00:45:17.579 --> 00:45:18.619
 Lamb in all

00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:19.319
 her dazzling

00:45:19.319 --> 00:45:20.019
 splendor.

00:45:20.759 --> 00:45:21.199
 And isn't it

00:45:21.199 --> 00:45:21.839
 wonderful that

00:45:21.839 --> 00:45:22.579
 this is the

00:45:22.579 --> 00:45:23.460
 way Jesus

00:45:23.460 --> 00:45:24.480
 sees his

00:45:24.480 --> 00:45:25.679
 people, the

00:45:25.679 --> 00:45:26.099
 church?

00:45:27.199 --> 00:45:28.019
 Imagine a

00:45:28.019 --> 00:45:29.259
 woman clothed

00:45:29.259 --> 00:45:29.819
 with the

00:45:29.819 --> 00:45:30.199
 sun.

00:45:32.259 --> 00:45:33.759
 A bride in

00:45:33.759 --> 00:45:34.879
 her clean

00:45:34.879 --> 00:45:35.679
 white wedding

00:45:35.679 --> 00:45:36.259
 gown looks

00:45:36.259 --> 00:45:38.739
 beautiful, but

00:45:38.739 --> 00:45:39.079
 it's nothing

00:45:39.079 --> 00:45:39.799
 like the sun.

00:45:40.699 --> 00:45:41.879
 the

00:45:41.879 --> 00:45:42.899
 radiance, the

00:45:42.899 --> 00:45:43.859
 brilliance, the

00:45:43.859 --> 00:45:44.679
 glory of

00:45:44.679 --> 00:45:45.699
 sun, the

00:45:45.699 --> 00:45:46.960
 purity of

00:45:46.960 --> 00:45:47.759
 its shining

00:45:47.759 --> 00:45:48.579
 forth.

00:45:49.159 --> 00:45:49.919
 Wow, that's

00:45:49.919 --> 00:45:50.460
 what this

00:45:50.460 --> 00:45:51.179
 woman is

00:45:51.179 --> 00:45:51.439
 like.

00:45:51.699 --> 00:45:52.599
 She has a

00:45:52.599 --> 00:45:53.299
 crown of

00:45:53.299 --> 00:45:54.079
 12 stars.

00:45:54.179 --> 00:45:54.599
 I imagine

00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:55.039
 that these

00:45:55.039 --> 00:45:55.699
 stars are far

00:45:55.699 --> 00:45:56.599
 bigger and

00:45:56.599 --> 00:45:57.219
 brighter than

00:45:57.219 --> 00:45:58.099
 the most costly

00:45:58.099 --> 00:45:58.679
 and precious

00:45:58.679 --> 00:45:59.439
 diamonds known

00:45:59.439 --> 00:45:59.899
 to man.

00:46:00.879 --> 00:46:01.659
 This woman is

00:46:01.659 --> 00:46:03.379
 beautiful, pure,

00:46:03.819 --> 00:46:05.039
 she has unhindered

00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:06.019
 brilliance all

00:46:06.019 --> 00:46:06.440
 around.

00:46:08.840 --> 00:46:09.519
 Sometimes I

00:46:09.519 --> 00:46:10.440
 think we as

00:46:10.440 --> 00:46:11.039
 Christians think

00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:12.900
 of ourselves as

00:46:12.900 --> 00:46:13.699
 the church of

00:46:13.699 --> 00:46:14.119
 Christ, we

00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:14.500
 think of the

00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:14.980
 church as

00:46:14.980 --> 00:46:16.300
 this lowly,

00:46:16.940 --> 00:46:18.900
 shabby whore

00:46:18.900 --> 00:46:23.400
 with raggedy

00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:24.360
 soiled clothes.

00:46:26.860 --> 00:46:27.719
 And we ask

00:46:27.719 --> 00:46:29.960
 ourselves, why

00:46:29.960 --> 00:46:30.420
 would Jesus

00:46:30.420 --> 00:46:31.119
 ever want to be

00:46:31.119 --> 00:46:31.980
 our husband?

00:46:31.980 --> 00:46:33.420
 what would

00:46:33.420 --> 00:46:34.019
 Jesus want

00:46:34.019 --> 00:46:34.800
 anything to do

00:46:34.800 --> 00:46:35.559
 with me?

00:46:38.480 --> 00:46:39.960
 Well, that's

00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:41.760
 true, but

00:46:41.760 --> 00:46:42.460
 only partly

00:46:42.460 --> 00:46:42.860
 true.

00:46:44.099 --> 00:46:45.179
 That's what we

00:46:45.179 --> 00:46:45.940
 all once

00:46:45.940 --> 00:46:46.260
 were.

00:46:47.019 --> 00:46:48.019
 Because we

00:46:48.019 --> 00:46:49.000
 had sinned

00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:49.579
 against God,

00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:50.260
 because we

00:46:50.260 --> 00:46:51.119
 had rebelled

00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:52.119
 against Him,

00:46:52.599 --> 00:46:53.420
 because we

00:46:53.420 --> 00:46:54.000
 had gone

00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:54.980
 after idols

00:46:54.980 --> 00:46:56.039
 and worshipped,

00:46:56.199 --> 00:46:56.699
 instead of

00:46:56.699 --> 00:46:57.519
 worshipping God

00:46:57.519 --> 00:46:57.940
 our Creator,

00:46:58.059 --> 00:46:58.500
 we had worshipped

00:46:58.500 --> 00:46:59.300
 creatures, we

00:46:59.300 --> 00:47:00.000
 had worshipped

00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:01.000
 ourselves and

00:47:01.000 --> 00:47:01.539
 lived for

00:47:01.539 --> 00:47:02.699
 ourselves instead

00:47:02.699 --> 00:47:03.320
 of living for

00:47:03.320 --> 00:47:03.559
 God.

00:47:03.759 --> 00:47:04.460
 So we were

00:47:04.460 --> 00:47:06.699
 like prostitutes

00:47:06.699 --> 00:47:07.960
 or unfaithful

00:47:07.960 --> 00:47:10.659
 wife that

00:47:10.659 --> 00:47:10.980
 had gone

00:47:10.980 --> 00:47:11.840
 after strangers.

00:47:12.920 --> 00:47:13.239
 And yet,

00:47:13.400 --> 00:47:13.940
 Jesus, the

00:47:13.940 --> 00:47:14.380
 Son of God,

00:47:14.460 --> 00:47:14.880
 came to

00:47:14.880 --> 00:47:15.779
 redeem His

00:47:15.779 --> 00:47:16.920
 bride for

00:47:16.920 --> 00:47:17.480
 Himself.

00:47:17.980 --> 00:47:18.300
 And He

00:47:18.300 --> 00:47:18.800
 accomplished

00:47:18.800 --> 00:47:19.759
 that by the

00:47:19.759 --> 00:47:20.380
 blood of the

00:47:20.380 --> 00:47:20.800
 Lamb, by His

00:47:20.800 --> 00:47:21.920
 own blood, as

00:47:21.920 --> 00:47:22.340
 it says in

00:47:22.340 --> 00:47:22.960
 verse 11.

00:47:23.300 --> 00:47:23.920
 Because Christ

00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:24.699
 loved the

00:47:24.699 --> 00:47:25.759
 church, and

00:47:25.759 --> 00:47:26.320
 He gave

00:47:26.320 --> 00:47:27.159
 Himself for

00:47:27.159 --> 00:47:28.519
 her, for

00:47:28.519 --> 00:47:29.840
 His bride, as

00:47:29.840 --> 00:47:30.239
 it says in

00:47:30.239 --> 00:47:30.779
 Ephesians 5,

00:47:30.780 --> 00:47:31.620
 25 to 27,

00:47:31.740 --> 00:47:31.960
 that He

00:47:31.960 --> 00:47:33.000
 might sanctify

00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:33.840
 her, having

00:47:33.840 --> 00:47:34.700
 cleansed her

00:47:34.700 --> 00:47:35.180
 by the

00:47:35.180 --> 00:47:35.920
 washing of

00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:36.420
 water with

00:47:36.420 --> 00:47:37.200
 the Word, so

00:47:37.200 --> 00:47:37.500
 He might

00:47:37.500 --> 00:47:38.200
 present the

00:47:38.200 --> 00:47:39.220
 church to

00:47:39.220 --> 00:47:40.540
 Himself in

00:47:40.540 --> 00:47:42.140
 splendor, without

00:47:42.140 --> 00:47:43.440
 spot or wrinkle or

00:47:43.440 --> 00:47:44.500
 any such thing,

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:45.540
 that she might be

00:47:45.540 --> 00:47:46.740
 holy and without

00:47:46.740 --> 00:47:47.840
 blemish.

00:47:50.340 --> 00:47:51.540
 Don't ever

00:47:51.540 --> 00:47:53.040
 forget the

00:47:53.040 --> 00:47:55.600
 splendid glory of

00:47:55.600 --> 00:47:56.160
 the church of

00:47:56.160 --> 00:47:58.000
 Christ that has

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:59.620
 been justified and

00:47:59.619 --> 00:48:00.839
 sanctified by the

00:48:00.839 --> 00:48:01.619
 blood of Christ.

00:48:02.900 --> 00:48:03.759
 That's who we

00:48:03.759 --> 00:48:04.119
 are.

00:48:05.519 --> 00:48:06.619
 That is our

00:48:06.619 --> 00:48:07.139
 destiny.

00:48:09.679 --> 00:48:10.679
 That's how God

00:48:10.679 --> 00:48:12.019
 sees us in

00:48:12.019 --> 00:48:12.579
 Christ.

00:48:16.579 --> 00:48:17.460
 That brings me to

00:48:17.460 --> 00:48:18.079
 my third point,

00:48:18.179 --> 00:48:18.639
 the king.

00:48:19.299 --> 00:48:20.559
 The entire earthly

00:48:20.559 --> 00:48:21.799
 life of Jesus is

00:48:21.799 --> 00:48:22.679
 telescoped into this

00:48:22.679 --> 00:48:23.619
 single verse, verse

00:48:23.619 --> 00:48:24.000
 five.

00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:25.639
 She gave birth to a

00:48:25.639 --> 00:48:26.440
 male child, one

00:48:26.440 --> 00:48:27.260
 is to rule all the

00:48:27.260 --> 00:48:27.900
 nations with the

00:48:27.900 --> 00:48:29.039
 rod of iron, but

00:48:29.039 --> 00:48:29.659
 her child was

00:48:29.659 --> 00:48:30.519
 caught up to God

00:48:30.519 --> 00:48:32.239
 and to His throne, so

00:48:32.239 --> 00:48:32.760
 that the dragon

00:48:32.760 --> 00:48:33.639
 could not devour

00:48:33.639 --> 00:48:33.820
 Him.

00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:35.260
 The destiny of

00:48:35.260 --> 00:48:36.219
 this Christ child

00:48:36.219 --> 00:48:36.820
 was already

00:48:36.820 --> 00:48:38.179
 prophesied in Psalm

00:48:38.179 --> 00:48:39.599
 2, 7 to 9, which

00:48:39.599 --> 00:48:40.079
 said that the

00:48:40.079 --> 00:48:41.139
 Messiah, whom God

00:48:41.139 --> 00:48:42.760
 calls my son, will

00:48:42.760 --> 00:48:43.639
 rule over the

00:48:43.639 --> 00:48:44.780
 nations with a rod

00:48:44.780 --> 00:48:45.519
 of iron.

00:48:46.320 --> 00:48:46.539
 But

00:48:46.539 --> 00:48:47.699
 prophecy concerning

00:48:47.699 --> 00:48:48.780
 this chosen one

00:48:48.780 --> 00:48:49.579
 goes even further

00:48:49.579 --> 00:48:50.519
 back to the very

00:48:50.519 --> 00:48:51.480
 beginning, to

00:48:51.480 --> 00:48:52.559
 Genesis 3, right

00:48:52.559 --> 00:48:53.320
 after the fall of

00:48:53.320 --> 00:48:53.860
 humanity, after

00:48:53.860 --> 00:48:55.179
 they sinned, deceived

00:48:55.179 --> 00:48:56.019
 by the serpent, by

00:48:56.019 --> 00:48:57.000
 the dragon, and took

00:48:57.000 --> 00:48:58.039
 the fruit that they

00:48:58.039 --> 00:48:58.599
 weren't supposed to

00:48:58.599 --> 00:49:00.299
 take, this is God's

00:49:00.299 --> 00:49:00.940
 judgment that He

00:49:00.940 --> 00:49:02.219
 pronounces over the

00:49:02.219 --> 00:49:03.099
 serpent in Genesis

00:49:03.099 --> 00:49:03.880
 3, 15.

00:49:04.219 --> 00:49:05.539
 I will put enmity

00:49:05.539 --> 00:49:07.039
 between you and the

00:49:07.039 --> 00:49:07.980
 woman, and between

00:49:07.980 --> 00:49:08.860
 your offspring and

00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:09.679
 her offspring.

00:49:10.059 --> 00:49:11.299
 He shall bruise your

00:49:11.299 --> 00:49:12.719
 head, and you shall

00:49:12.719 --> 00:49:13.860
 bruise His heel.

00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:16.940
 This is what pastors

00:49:16.940 --> 00:49:18.059
 and theologians call

00:49:18.059 --> 00:49:19.460
 the proto-evangelion,

00:49:19.539 --> 00:49:22.000
 the first gospel, the

00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:23.519
 very first glimmer of

00:49:23.519 --> 00:49:24.739
 God's redemptive

00:49:24.739 --> 00:49:25.179
 plan.

00:49:28.539 --> 00:49:29.980
 We see the enmity

00:49:29.980 --> 00:49:31.039
 clearly between the

00:49:31.039 --> 00:49:32.559
 woman and the

00:49:32.559 --> 00:49:35.119
 dragon, and we

00:49:35.119 --> 00:49:37.800
 also see how Jesus

00:49:37.800 --> 00:49:38.920
 is going, He

00:49:38.920 --> 00:49:40.139
 inflicts a fatal

00:49:40.139 --> 00:49:41.440
 blow to the ancient

00:49:41.440 --> 00:49:42.380
 serpent, the dragon,

00:49:43.199 --> 00:49:43.820
 by bruising His

00:49:43.820 --> 00:49:45.280
 head, but He also

00:49:45.280 --> 00:49:46.519
 will suffer, because

00:49:46.519 --> 00:49:47.820
 His heel will be

00:49:47.820 --> 00:49:48.139
 bruised.

00:49:48.559 --> 00:49:49.599
 This is fulfilled in

00:49:49.599 --> 00:49:50.800
 Jesus' death on the

00:49:50.800 --> 00:49:52.019
 cross, yet as a

00:49:52.019 --> 00:49:53.200
 sacrificial Lamb of

00:49:53.200 --> 00:49:54.039
 God, He takes our

00:49:54.039 --> 00:49:55.420
 place, bears the

00:49:55.420 --> 00:49:56.480
 punishment and the

00:49:56.480 --> 00:49:57.640
 wrath that we

00:49:57.640 --> 00:49:58.680
 deserve on the

00:49:58.680 --> 00:49:58.980
 cross.

00:49:59.500 --> 00:50:00.440
 And it's because of

00:50:00.440 --> 00:50:01.600
 His sacrifice that by

00:50:01.600 --> 00:50:02.560
 the blood of the Lamb

00:50:02.560 --> 00:50:03.560
 that we are cleansed

00:50:03.560 --> 00:50:04.500
 and we are redeemed,

00:50:05.120 --> 00:50:06.220
 and after redeeming us

00:50:06.220 --> 00:50:07.120
 in that way, Jesus

00:50:07.120 --> 00:50:08.780
 resurrects on the

00:50:08.780 --> 00:50:09.920
 third day, He is

00:50:09.920 --> 00:50:10.840
 caught up to heaven

00:50:10.840 --> 00:50:12.180
 to reign with God at

00:50:12.180 --> 00:50:12.900
 the right hand of the

00:50:12.900 --> 00:50:13.960
 Father, and that's

00:50:13.960 --> 00:50:14.700
 what verse 5 is

00:50:14.700 --> 00:50:15.240
 referring to, He's

00:50:15.240 --> 00:50:16.220
 caught up to heaven,

00:50:16.680 --> 00:50:17.580
 to His throne.

00:50:17.579 --> 00:50:19.539
 And as a result of

00:50:19.539 --> 00:50:20.619
 these events on

00:50:20.619 --> 00:50:21.920
 earth, the

00:50:21.920 --> 00:50:22.860
 corresponding event

00:50:22.860 --> 00:50:25.219
 happens in heaven,

00:50:25.460 --> 00:50:27.340
 where Satan and

00:50:27.340 --> 00:50:28.539
 his angels are then

00:50:28.539 --> 00:50:30.659
 expelled, cast down

00:50:30.659 --> 00:50:31.980
 from heaven to earth,

00:50:32.480 --> 00:50:34.039
 as we saw earlier in

00:50:34.039 --> 00:50:35.940
 verses 7 to 9.

00:50:36.599 --> 00:50:37.739
 This is referring to

00:50:37.739 --> 00:50:38.960
 what Jesus has done.

00:50:39.259 --> 00:50:40.239
 That's why it says in

00:50:40.239 --> 00:50:40.960
 verse 10, which

00:50:40.960 --> 00:50:41.719
 interprets that,

00:50:42.039 --> 00:50:43.039
 now the salvation and

00:50:43.039 --> 00:50:43.799
 the power and the

00:50:43.799 --> 00:50:44.860
 kingdom of our God

00:50:44.860 --> 00:50:45.799
 and the authority of

00:50:45.800 --> 00:50:47.620
 His Christ have come.

00:50:48.580 --> 00:50:49.580
 For the accuser of

00:50:49.580 --> 00:50:50.360
 our brothers has been

00:50:50.360 --> 00:50:51.880
 thrown down, who

00:50:51.880 --> 00:50:53.580
 accuses them day and

00:50:53.580 --> 00:50:55.060
 night before our God.

00:50:55.380 --> 00:50:56.519
 Jesus, by His life,

00:50:56.640 --> 00:50:57.420
 death, resurrection,

00:50:57.600 --> 00:50:59.180
 ascension, inaugurates

00:50:59.180 --> 00:50:59.920
 the kingdom of God,

00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:00.900
 ushers in the kingdom

00:51:00.900 --> 00:51:03.120
 of God, and He pays

00:51:03.120 --> 00:51:04.539
 for our sin with the

00:51:04.539 --> 00:51:05.740
 blood of the Lamb, and

00:51:05.740 --> 00:51:07.140
 then His salvation comes

00:51:07.140 --> 00:51:08.039
 through Him so that the

00:51:08.039 --> 00:51:10.300
 accuser is thrown down.

00:51:11.500 --> 00:51:12.560
 This is an amazing

00:51:12.560 --> 00:51:12.980
 truth.

00:51:12.980 --> 00:51:15.559
 In Colossians 2, Paul

00:51:15.559 --> 00:51:17.460
 describes it as our

00:51:17.460 --> 00:51:20.059
 record of debt being

00:51:20.059 --> 00:51:22.019
 erased so that these

00:51:22.019 --> 00:51:23.619
 authorities in the

00:51:23.619 --> 00:51:24.900
 heavenly places, these

00:51:24.900 --> 00:51:26.579
 satanic powers and

00:51:26.579 --> 00:51:28.260
 angelic authorities have

00:51:28.260 --> 00:51:30.139
 no claim over us

00:51:30.139 --> 00:51:32.059
 anymore because our

00:51:32.059 --> 00:51:33.659
 sins have been nailed

00:51:33.659 --> 00:51:35.059
 to the cross and our

00:51:35.059 --> 00:51:37.320
 record of debt has been

00:51:37.320 --> 00:51:37.880
 erased.

00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:39.559
 It has been canceled.

00:51:40.719 --> 00:51:41.960
 This is why there is

00:51:41.960 --> 00:51:43.000
 now, therefore, no

00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:44.220
 condemnation for those

00:51:44.220 --> 00:51:45.460
 who are in Christ Jesus.

00:51:48.699 --> 00:51:50.139
 Jesus said by His

00:51:50.139 --> 00:51:51.840
 death, being lifted up

00:51:51.840 --> 00:51:52.840
 on the cross, John 12,

00:51:52.880 --> 00:51:54.179
 31, that the ruler of

00:51:54.179 --> 00:51:55.220
 this world will be cast

00:51:55.220 --> 00:51:56.880
 out, and that's precisely

00:51:56.880 --> 00:51:58.000
 what has happened, and

00:51:58.000 --> 00:52:00.019
 Satan has lost his place

00:52:00.019 --> 00:52:00.659
 in heaven.

00:52:01.679 --> 00:52:02.380
 Do you remember what I

00:52:02.380 --> 00:52:03.260
 talked earlier about how

00:52:03.260 --> 00:52:04.559
 he went to the court of

00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:05.720
 heaven to accuse Job

00:52:05.720 --> 00:52:06.699
 before God's face?

00:52:07.240 --> 00:52:08.420
 He went to the court of

00:52:08.420 --> 00:52:09.880
 heaven to accuse Joshua

00:52:09.880 --> 00:52:11.099
 the high priest before God's

00:52:11.099 --> 00:52:12.299
 face.

00:52:12.299 --> 00:52:12.839
 Well, he's not there

00:52:12.839 --> 00:52:13.299
 anymore.

00:52:14.440 --> 00:52:16.239
 He's lost access because

00:52:16.239 --> 00:52:18.519
 he has been cast down from

00:52:18.519 --> 00:52:20.839
 the court of heaven because

00:52:20.839 --> 00:52:22.679
 of his lies and because of

00:52:22.679 --> 00:52:24.139
 his deception, because of his

00:52:24.139 --> 00:52:26.839
 defeat at the hand of Jesus.

00:52:28.179 --> 00:52:30.440
 So imagine Satan being like a

00:52:30.440 --> 00:52:32.259
 lawyer that's been disbarred.

00:52:33.380 --> 00:52:35.039
 His legal license has been

00:52:35.039 --> 00:52:35.539
 revoked.

00:52:35.539 --> 00:52:39.539
 And he's been debarred, excluded,

00:52:39.759 --> 00:52:43.500
 expelled permanently from that

00:52:43.500 --> 00:52:43.880
 court.

00:52:45.739 --> 00:52:49.279
 He has no claim over God's

00:52:49.279 --> 00:52:49.759
 people.

00:52:49.880 --> 00:52:51.920
 So who shall bring any charge

00:52:51.920 --> 00:52:52.960
 against God's elect?

00:52:54.279 --> 00:52:56.320
 It is God who justifies.

00:52:57.199 --> 00:52:58.320
 Who is to condemn?

00:52:59.199 --> 00:53:01.340
 Christ Jesus is the one who died

00:53:01.340 --> 00:53:03.300
 more than that was raised, who is

00:53:03.300 --> 00:53:04.940
 at the right hand of God, who

00:53:04.940 --> 00:53:06.980
 indeed is interceding for us.

00:53:07.180 --> 00:53:09.000
 Instead of having this accuser

00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:10.440
 before God's face day and

00:53:10.440 --> 00:53:12.960
 night, now we have the faithful

00:53:12.960 --> 00:53:14.980
 intercessor Jesus Christ before

00:53:14.980 --> 00:53:16.539
 God day and night.

00:53:17.980 --> 00:53:19.980
 That's our glorious reality.

00:53:21.460 --> 00:53:22.880
 So church, I know there's some of

00:53:22.880 --> 00:53:24.220
 you here who struggle with

00:53:24.220 --> 00:53:25.580
 accusations from the enemy,

00:53:26.039 --> 00:53:28.039
 condemnation of the enemy.

00:53:28.039 --> 00:53:31.259
 Don't listen to him.

00:53:32.559 --> 00:53:34.539
 He's been disbarred.

00:53:35.279 --> 00:53:36.440
 He's been discredited.

00:53:37.739 --> 00:53:38.699
 He's a liar.

00:53:44.420 --> 00:53:46.599
 We, the rest of the woman's

00:53:46.599 --> 00:53:47.920
 offspring, are nothing less than

00:53:47.920 --> 00:53:49.599
 co-heirs with Christ the King

00:53:49.599 --> 00:53:51.380
 because Christ is the first

00:53:51.380 --> 00:53:51.860
 fruits.

00:53:52.820 --> 00:53:54.460
 And we are the rest of God's

00:53:54.460 --> 00:53:54.759
 harvest.

00:53:55.860 --> 00:53:57.000
 Our victory is assured.

00:53:57.119 --> 00:53:57.779
 Look at verse 12.

00:53:57.780 --> 00:53:59.380
 The devil has come down to you

00:53:59.380 --> 00:54:01.780
 in great wrath because he knows

00:54:01.780 --> 00:54:03.500
 that his time is short.

00:54:04.060 --> 00:54:06.380
 That's the reason why he makes

00:54:06.380 --> 00:54:07.900
 war against us with such

00:54:07.900 --> 00:54:08.560
 desperation.

00:54:08.980 --> 00:54:10.400
 The devil makes war against us

00:54:10.400 --> 00:54:12.340
 and conquers us physically, not

00:54:12.340 --> 00:54:13.960
 because he's so powerful and we're

00:54:13.960 --> 00:54:16.060
 so weak, not because he's so

00:54:16.060 --> 00:54:18.260
 assured of his own victory, but

00:54:18.260 --> 00:54:20.420
 because he knows he's losing.

00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:23.240
 Because he knows that his time is

00:54:23.240 --> 00:54:23.600
 short.

00:54:24.240 --> 00:54:27.280
 He's like, I think everybody's

00:54:27.280 --> 00:54:29.080
 still aware of this, knows this.

00:54:30.160 --> 00:54:31.400
 You guys know who Mike Tyson is?

00:54:31.700 --> 00:54:32.380
 Yeah, okay.

00:54:32.380 --> 00:54:34.640
 So, I mean, it's like the devil is like

00:54:34.640 --> 00:54:37.220
 Mike Tyson trying to bite off

00:54:37.220 --> 00:54:38.519
 Evander Holyfield's ear.

00:54:39.980 --> 00:54:42.599
 After he's been pummeled and

00:54:42.599 --> 00:54:44.980
 realizes there's no way he can win the

00:54:44.980 --> 00:54:48.519
 bout, and instead of being knocked out

00:54:48.519 --> 00:54:51.380
 with, you know, graciously, he decides

00:54:51.940 --> 00:54:53.320
 to bite the guy's ear off.

00:54:53.320 --> 00:54:55.840
 That's what this devil is like.

00:54:55.900 --> 00:54:57.440
 This is an act of desperation.

00:54:57.440 --> 00:54:59.860
 He knows that his time is short.

00:55:00.620 --> 00:55:02.480
 You may know this already, but because

00:55:02.480 --> 00:55:05.600
 a serpent, a snake is a cold-blooded

00:55:05.600 --> 00:55:07.120
 animal, he doesn't require that much

00:55:07.120 --> 00:55:08.100
 oxygen to function.

00:55:08.700 --> 00:55:11.140
 So, even after you, like, cut off its

00:55:11.140 --> 00:55:13.440
 head, the head actually can still move

00:55:13.440 --> 00:55:13.900
 and bite.

00:55:14.340 --> 00:55:14.900
 Do you guys know this?

00:55:15.420 --> 00:55:16.920
 And so, you can actually find YouTube

00:55:16.920 --> 00:55:19.380
 videos of a decapitated snake head, and

00:55:19.380 --> 00:55:20.240
 you'll take, like, a snake.

00:55:20.239 --> 00:55:21.000
 Don't look it up now.

00:55:21.079 --> 00:55:21.939
 I know you've got some of those on your

00:55:21.939 --> 00:55:22.079
 phone.

00:55:22.419 --> 00:55:26.159
 But you can take a stick to the mouth

00:55:26.159 --> 00:55:26.959
 and you don't keep biting.

00:55:27.079 --> 00:55:27.759
 Like, you don't do this.

00:55:28.139 --> 00:55:29.379
 Like, I think there was a man in Texas

00:55:29.379 --> 00:55:31.019
 some years ago who was bitten by a,

00:55:31.019 --> 00:55:33.879
 like, decapitated head of a snake.

00:55:34.319 --> 00:55:36.319
 And so, that's kind of like what this is

00:55:36.319 --> 00:55:37.119
 like.

00:55:37.719 --> 00:55:40.859
 Jesus has decisively defeated Satan on

00:55:40.859 --> 00:55:41.259
 the cross.

00:55:41.339 --> 00:55:41.899
 He's done.

00:55:43.039 --> 00:55:45.219
 He knows his time is short.

00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:48.959
 He's surely going to be vanquished, and

00:55:48.960 --> 00:55:50.780
 the time is going to come, as Romans 16,

00:55:50.840 --> 00:55:52.940
 20 presses, when the God of peace will

00:55:52.940 --> 00:55:55.179
 crush Satan underneath our feet.

00:55:55.380 --> 00:55:57.079
 We will one day crush that head

00:55:57.079 --> 00:55:57.599
 completely.

00:55:58.179 --> 00:56:00.139
 But right now, even though it's decapitated,

00:56:00.220 --> 00:56:01.139
 it's still doing this.

00:56:02.119 --> 00:56:03.220
 Because it's desperate.

00:56:04.539 --> 00:56:06.079
 It knows his time is short.

00:56:06.740 --> 00:56:09.539
 And that gives us hope for endurance.

00:56:11.260 --> 00:56:14.420
 When the enemy, in his fury, comes

00:56:14.420 --> 00:56:16.780
 against us and persecutes us, know that

00:56:16.780 --> 00:56:18.100
 his time is short.

00:56:19.600 --> 00:56:21.680
 Know that his defeat is assured.

00:56:22.120 --> 00:56:23.420
 That's why he's so desperate.

00:56:25.060 --> 00:56:27.100
 And that's why we, instead of fearing

00:56:27.100 --> 00:56:29.880
 death, we are faithful even unto death.

00:56:29.940 --> 00:56:34.780
 We love our lives not unto death.

00:56:34.860 --> 00:56:37.040
 We give our lives, we willingly, for

00:56:37.040 --> 00:56:37.320
 Christ.

00:56:37.380 --> 00:56:39.060
 Because that's how he triumphed.

00:56:39.060 --> 00:56:40.220
 That's how he conquered.

00:56:40.580 --> 00:56:42.260
 By dying on the cross in our place,

00:56:42.540 --> 00:56:44.240
 and raised and ascended to heaven.

00:56:44.239 --> 00:56:46.819
 And if we follow him, and follow that

00:56:46.819 --> 00:56:48.879
 power, and are faithful unto death, we too

00:56:48.879 --> 00:56:50.219
 will be raised with him forever.

00:56:51.259 --> 00:56:51.899
 Let's pray.

00:56:54.159 --> 00:56:56.219
 Father, thank you for the victory we have

00:56:56.219 --> 00:56:56.619
 in Jesus.

00:56:58.539 --> 00:57:01.759
 Thank you that he has all authority in

00:57:01.759 --> 00:57:03.000
 heaven and on earth.

00:57:04.719 --> 00:57:07.699
 Thank you that he is our great hero,

00:57:07.699 --> 00:57:11.480
 the chosen one, the king who has

00:57:11.480 --> 00:57:14.199
 vanquished our enemy.

00:57:15.159 --> 00:57:17.139
 The nemesis that was too much for us,

00:57:17.219 --> 00:57:18.099
 you conquered him.

00:57:19.460 --> 00:57:20.679
 By your blood.

00:57:21.460 --> 00:57:23.939
 And so now, help us, God, to endure

00:57:23.939 --> 00:57:28.159
 and to grab hold of the testimony of Jesus

00:57:28.159 --> 00:57:32.239
 so that we too might triumph by the word

00:57:32.239 --> 00:57:32.939
 of our testimony.

00:57:33.719 --> 00:57:34.460
 By your name, Lord.

00:57:34.460 --> 00:57:37.519
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:57:37.880 --> 00:57:38.139
 Amen.