WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.980
 If you aren't already there in your Bibles, if you go ahead and turn to Revelation chapter 12.

00:00:05.820 --> 00:00:07.700
 Revelation chapter 12.

00:00:10.339 --> 00:00:24.440
 In the iconic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, the main character, Dorothy, is told to follow the yellow brick road.

00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:26.080
 To go to the what city?

00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:27.920
 Emerald City.

00:00:28.420 --> 00:00:29.140
 Someone's seen it.

00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:29.580
 That's good.

00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:36.320
 And there, she meets with the great and powerful Wizard of Oz.

00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:41.079
 And she asks him for help to get back to Kansas, which is where she's from.

00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:44.920
 He's a very mysterious and intimidating wizard.

00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:48.219
 He's got this green head that floats in midair.

00:00:48.760 --> 00:00:50.760
 And his voice is loud and intimidating.

00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:55.060
 His very presence calls forth fire and smoke.

00:00:55.060 --> 00:01:04.439
 But after defeating the Wicked Witch of the West at his request, Dorothy and her friends return to the Wizard a second time.

00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:08.719
 And this time, he is not going to help her still.

00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:24.480
 Dorothy's little dog, Toto, wanders off to the side of the throne room of the Wizard and pulls back a curtain and reveals a little old man who is behind the Wizard.

00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:26.799
 He is the guy pulling all the Wizard of Oz.

00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:28.579
 He's the guy pulling all the levers and pushing the buttons.

00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:34.800
 He's the person who is behind all the intimidation and impressive display.

00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:37.819
 The real identity of the Wizard is unmasked.

00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:43.780
 The curtain is pulled back and we know where the source of all the intimidation and fire and smoke comes from.

00:01:43.780 --> 00:01:49.599
 We're right in the middle of the book of Revelation.

00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:53.099
 We're in chapter 12, literally the middle of the book.

00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.439
 It's 22 chapters long and we just got done with chapter 11.

00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:15.879
 And in the middle of the book, it's like we've been penetrating all the craziness that's going to happen at the close of the age.

00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:28.919
 And we are getting greater and greater insight the more we get into the very heart of this book as to what reality is really like.

00:02:28.979 --> 00:02:34.519
 And that's the strength of the apocalyptic literature that Revelation is written in.

00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:40.340
 All the symbols and the pictures, it kind of gives us a different picture of reality.

00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:46.620
 And the picture we're going to get right here in the very middle of the book.

00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:55.080
 After we've gone through these judgment cycles and we've seen these little interludes happen that tell us about who the church is in the middle of these judgment cycles.

00:02:55.420 --> 00:03:00.840
 Right now, at the end of the second judgment cycle and there's one more to come.

00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:05.219
 Right now, we get to the very heart of reality.

00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:07.460
 The curtain is pulled back.

00:03:07.460 --> 00:03:14.900
 And we see what is going on behind the scenes of human history.

00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:24.920
 So, what we're going to do this morning is we're going to look at this vision in chapter 12 that Nancy read for us just a moment ago.

00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:29.100
 And we're going to see it unfold in three scenes.

00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:33.939
 We're going to spend most of our time just trying to get a handle of what's going on in these three scenes.

00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:36.560
 And I'll walk us through each one.

00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:43.199
 At the end, I'm just going to try to, we're going to kind of wait for the main point of this vision until the very end.

00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:46.400
 And then when I state it, it'll be like, oh, yeah, of course, I see it now.

00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:56.920
 And after we kind of get that main point, like figured out, okay, this is what it's all about, I'm going to give us three reflections to kind of bring it home so we can walk it out in faith and obedience.

00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:58.159
 You guys good with that?

00:03:59.000 --> 00:03:59.680
 Okay, good.

00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:01.140
 Let's jump in.

00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:03.379
 Let's look at the first scene.

00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:07.840
 I'm going to call the first scene, The Conflict and the Triumph Part 1.

00:04:08.480 --> 00:04:11.060
 The Conflict and the Triumph Part 1.

00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:17.060
 So right at the beginning of this vision, verse 1 of chapter 12, two signs appear.

00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:18.300
 The first is a woman.

00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:20.480
 And what a woman she is.

00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:22.439
 She's clothed with the sun.

00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:24.379
 Her feet are on the moon.

00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:26.899
 And she's got a 12-star crown on her head.

00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:29.540
 Now, by now, we're veterans in Revelation.

00:04:29.779 --> 00:04:33.040
 And we know like, okay, she's not literally clothed with the sun.

00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:34.860
 She's not literally standing on the moon.

00:04:35.259 --> 00:04:36.740
 She doesn't literally have 12 stars on her head.

00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:37.759
 But these are symbols.

00:04:37.960 --> 00:04:39.540
 They're pointing at something.

00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:43.120
 And even the word of sign shows us that she's a sign.

00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.540
 She's pointing to a reality that's not herself.

00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:46.300
 Okay?

00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:49.620
 So this is meant to get our eyes on a reality.

00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:51.800
 So this is some woman.

00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.079
 And on top of this, she's pregnant.

00:04:53.220 --> 00:04:55.400
 And not just pregnant, but she is in labor.

00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:58.500
 She is in the turmoil of labor.

00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:01.939
 She's crying out with birth pains, verse 2.

00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.280
 Agony of giving birth.

00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:06.779
 But who is this woman?

00:05:07.579 --> 00:05:11.199
 I'm guessing you're already thinking, okay, it could be this person.

00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:11.879
 It could be this person.

00:05:12.299 --> 00:05:16.119
 Well, let's ask another question before we try to pinpoint somebody.

00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:20.279
 Are there other women that show up in the book of Revelation?

00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:23.059
 And if so, how do they show up?

00:05:24.099 --> 00:05:26.879
 That might give us a little clue to interpret who this woman is.

00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:29.139
 And yes, the answer to the question is yes.

00:05:29.239 --> 00:05:30.899
 Other women do show up in this book.

00:05:30.899 --> 00:05:34.459
 In chapter 17, we see one.

00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:36.779
 And in chapter 19, we see one.

00:05:37.239 --> 00:05:40.039
 In chapter 17, we meet the great prostitute.

00:05:40.479 --> 00:05:42.199
 She's called Babylon the Great.

00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:47.479
 And in chapter 19, we are introduced to a very different woman, the bride.

00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.439
 The bride of the Lamb.

00:05:50.599 --> 00:05:53.299
 These women represent big groups of people.

00:05:53.300 --> 00:06:00.740
 One is corrupted and opposed to God and to his people.

00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:03.319
 And the other is God's faithful saints.

00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.420
 His pure, holy people who belong to him by faith.

00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:09.080
 Okay?

00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:10.540
 So, all right.

00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:16.980
 If God's using, or if God, John, through John, is using these women as symbols of different groups of people,

00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:19.699
 then we got a little further down the path of understanding who this is.

00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:25.079
 But the whole sun, moon, and 12 stars thing, that kind of makes us, well, what's that all about?

00:06:26.159 --> 00:06:28.979
 Well, the whole pregnancy thing, well, what's that all about?

00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:36.060
 Back in Genesis 37, Joseph, one of the patriarchs of Israel,

00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.139
 he had a dream that the sun, the moon, and 11 stars were bowing down to his star.

00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:49.199
 It was a picture of his family, the covenant family of Israel, Jacob, Jacob's wife, the 12 sons of Jacob.

00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:55.019
 And that was the origin of the people of God in the Old Testament, the people of Israel.

00:06:55.459 --> 00:07:01.300
 And, so not just all that Old Testament kind of people imagery, but she's also pregnant.

00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:06.300
 And in verse 5, we see that she gives birth to a very special child,

00:07:06.520 --> 00:07:11.639
 who sounds very much like what Brian read about earlier at the start of our service in Psalm 2,

00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:16.160
 Jesus, the Messiah, the one who was born to rule with an iron rod.

00:07:17.900 --> 00:07:19.120
 Okay, so who is this woman?

00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:22.879
 Well, I think all these clues are pointing to this.

00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:30.620
 I think it makes most sense that this woman represents the faithful, covenant people of God throughout all of history.

00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:34.899
 Both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:39.079
 But in this first scene, her Old Testament roots are showing pretty clearly.

00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:44.360
 The whole sun, moon, and stars thing, as well as she's getting ready to give birth to the Messiah.

00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:48.439
 My wife is eight months pregnant.

00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:53.340
 And this past week, she shared with me, I'm starting to feel it.

00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:58.259
 I'm starting to feel the reality of the late stages of pregnancy.

00:07:58.520 --> 00:08:02.060
 The longing for it to be over, to have the baby.

00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:07.860
 The discomfort that accompanies that last stage of pregnancy.

00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:12.040
 And the expectation of, man, I just can't wait to see this kid.

00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:20.000
 In a similar way, the Old Testament people of God were also kind of in the agonies of labor.

00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:26.660
 They were longing to see the birth of the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel.

00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:32.580
 And one day, after a long and difficult pregnancy with great labor pains,

00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:40.039
 the faithful Old Testament people of God delivered their deliverer in the birth of the Messiah.

00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:42.639
 Mary was one of that faithful covenant people.

00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:48.679
 The faithful covenant people of God were the kind of surrounding context into which the Messiah was birthed.

00:08:49.319 --> 00:08:54.219
 So in that sense, we have this woman representing the people of God throughout the ages,

00:08:54.319 --> 00:08:57.759
 but particularly here in this first scene, the Old Testament people of God.

00:08:58.079 --> 00:08:59.779
 And she's gasping for breath.

00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.419
 And she's pushing through waves of labor.

00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:06.379
 And God's faithful community is ready to deliver the Messiah.

00:09:06.459 --> 00:09:07.019
 That's the picture.

00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:11.840
 But, enter the second sign.

00:09:12.439 --> 00:09:13.139
 Look at verse 3.

00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:18.460
 Woman in labor, dragon.

00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:24.139
 You got to love apocalyptic literature, right?

00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:26.779
 I mean, it's so graphic.

00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:27.860
 It just kind of startles you.

00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:28.500
 It shocks you.

00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:35.960
 It's this utterly weak, vulnerable woman screaming with labor pains.

00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:37.179
 And then there's this dragon.

00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:39.259
 Not just a wolf or a snake or a lion.

00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:40.000
 A dragon.

00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:44.860
 I mean, you can't picture anything more sinister, cruel, powerful.

00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:49.080
 And what's up with these seven heads and these ten horns and these seven crowns?

00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:53.259
 Well, the numbers, the seven and the ten, they symbolize completeness.

00:09:53.800 --> 00:09:58.639
 And the heads and crowns and horns, they all symbolize strength, authority, power.

00:09:59.180 --> 00:10:02.000
 So this dragon is not just a dragon, which would be scary enough.

00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:04.740
 But he's a dragon with complete power and authority.

00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:06.060
 Now, it's given to him.

00:10:06.180 --> 00:10:07.440
 It's not inherent in himself.

00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:10.360
 But he's a dragon, nonetheless, with complete power and authority.

00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:15.100
 I'm guessing you probably have figured out who this dragon is by now.

00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:18.740
 He's the real enemy behind the curtain.

00:10:20.280 --> 00:10:24.180
 The ultimate arch nemesis of God and God's people.

00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:26.020
 The bad guy of all bad guys.

00:10:26.940 --> 00:10:33.140
 Remember, the book of Revelation is written to a group of churches in Asia around A.D. 90.

00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:35.800
 About 50 years after Jesus rose from the dead.

00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:43.059
 And they're experiencing persecution and hostility and opposition from all sorts of different groups of people.

00:10:44.339 --> 00:10:48.439
 And John is wanting to get their eyes on saying,

00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:50.699
 Okay, yeah, you are facing that.

00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:54.419
 But the real enemy behind all that is the dragon.

00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:01.419
 And in case you're in any doubt who this dragon is,

00:11:02.859 --> 00:11:04.279
 he's named in verse 9.

00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:05.919
 The ancient serpent.

00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:07.039
 The devil.

00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:08.100
 Satan.

00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:11.519
 But what's this dragon doing?

00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:12.299
 Look at verse 4.

00:11:13.339 --> 00:11:14.399
 It's grotesque.

00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:20.779
 The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth

00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:24.299
 so that when she bore her child, he might devour it.

00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:27.799
 I mean, as soon as it gets in our imagination, we're like,

00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:28.159
 Ugh.

00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:29.399
 Ugh.

00:11:30.459 --> 00:11:35.759
 This poor woman about to deliver a baby and he's just there, ready to eat it up.

00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:38.259
 It's grotesque.

00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.359
 Instead of a doctor standing there, we've got a dragon.

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.139
 And that's just what happened, right?

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:47.120
 Remember the Christmas story?

00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:51.080
 Beyond the warmth and the sentimentality of birth of Jesus,

00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:55.299
 dozens of baby boys are slaughtered in Bethlehem by King Herod

00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:57.639
 because he's trying to take Jesus out.

00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:03.019
 As soon as he is born, he's born into the dragon's opposition and hostility.

00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:05.120
 Satan's trying to snatch him up.

00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:09.340
 He opposes and tempts Jesus in the wilderness when he grows up.

00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:12.480
 He fills Judas with the desire to betray Jesus.

00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:15.620
 This dragon is opposed to God.

00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:19.960
 He is opposed to God's people and he is especially opposed to God's purposes

00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:23.420
 to deliver his people through his Messiah, Jesus.

00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:26.860
 Okay, well, what happens?

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:30.860
 Well, this male child is born.

00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:34.800
 Verse 5, she gave birth to a male child,

00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:38.960
 one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.

00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:41.740
 It's the one that Brian read about at the beginning of the service.

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:47.320
 He's the great king who would deliver and shepherd God's people forever.

00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:48.060
 He's born.

00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:52.240
 But interestingly, we don't get any description of his life or his ministry

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.300
 or his death or his resurrection, anything.

00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.360
 We just get this little phrase,

00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:57.960
 he was caught up to God on his throne.

00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:02.420
 So his birth, his life, his ministry, his death, resurrection

00:13:02.420 --> 00:13:05.759
 is all squashed into he's caught up to God on the throne.

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:06.160
 Bam.

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:11.079
 Now, in one sense, Satan devoured the child

00:13:11.079 --> 00:13:16.100
 in that Satan was instrumental in getting Jesus crucified.

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.019
 But he did not devour the Messiah.

00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.620
 He did not eliminate the Messiah.

00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:25.339
 Jesus, up, thrown on it.

00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:28.159
 He is above the dragon now.

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:32.220
 So the idea here is that this child, Jesus, the Messiah,

00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:34.240
 was born to rule.

00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:39.399
 Isn't that what Gabriel told Mary back in Luke chapter 1?

00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:42.759
 The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.759
 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,

00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:47.700
 and of his kingdom there will be no end.

00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:52.340
 He was born to be king, to rule,

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:54.560
 to share the throne of his father.

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:59.219
 So do you see the conflict, and do you see the triumph?

00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:03.359
 Eh, not really, right?

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.379
 It's kind of a weird battle.

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:10.799
 Weak, pregnant, vulnerable woman in labor, nasty dragon.

00:14:11.959 --> 00:14:12.319
 Child.

00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:15.399
 Not much of a conflict and a triumph.

00:14:16.599 --> 00:14:19.559
 Billy, why'd you name the scene the conflict and the triumph?

00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:23.019
 Not much of an epic battle.

00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:25.599
 Well, there's a connection we need to make before we move on.

00:14:26.579 --> 00:14:29.699
 Let's think about the main characters of the story so far.

00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.079
 Woman.

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:34.699
 Woman's reptilian enemy.

00:14:35.859 --> 00:14:36.639
 Woman's child.

00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:39.339
 Maybe the word offspring will help.

00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:40.559
 Woman.

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:43.019
 Woman's reptilian enemy.

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:44.739
 Offspring.

00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:44.820
 Woman.

00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:50.659
 What John is trying to get our attention on

00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:53.139
 is the conflict

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:55.120
 that has been going

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.879
 since the beginning of time.

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.840
 Keep your place in Revelation 12,

00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.379
 but go back to Genesis 3,

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:01.659
 the very beginning of your Bible.

00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.659
 Flip back in your Bibles to Genesis 3.

00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.440
 It's all the way in the beginning.

00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.379
 It's pretty easy to find.

00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:12.159
 We need to make this connection

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.279
 if we're going to understand

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.199
 what just happened in this scene.

00:15:17.839 --> 00:15:19.039
 There was a day,

00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:21.899
 a very dark and sad day,

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.819
 that got lit up by a promise of hope.

00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.959
 Adam and Eve are human parents

00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:30.259
 whose sin we share

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:32.939
 have just rebelled against God

00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:34.439
 and His goodness.

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.220
 And Satan was the one

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.679
 who was embodied as a serpent

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:40.159
 and he tempted them,

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.399
 enticed the woman in particular

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.539
 into the rebellion

00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:45.679
 with crafty words.

00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:47.799
 And God, in verse 15,

00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:48.759
 14 and 15,

00:15:48.839 --> 00:15:51.579
 is speaking words to the serpent,

00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.659
 words of curse to the serpent,

00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:55.259
 but they were words of promise

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:57.159
 and life to Adam and Eve

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:57.919
 and to us.

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:02.679
 Listen to Genesis 3, 15.

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:05.059
 I will put enmity,

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.379
 this is God speaking to the serpent,

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.639
 I will put enmity

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.000
 between you and the woman

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:10.440
 in between your offspring

00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.720
 and her offspring,

00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:13.799
 and he shall bruise your head

00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:16.639
 and you shall bruise his heel.

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:21.799
 Did you notice that word enmity?

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:24.299
 It means conflict,

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.840
 hostility,

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.000
 opposition,

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.059
 fighting.

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:29.720
 God,

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:32.340
 at this very dark day,

00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:34.200
 the rebellion of Adam and Eve,

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:36.220
 God would begin a work

00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:37.940
 of resistance against Satan.

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.240
 He might have won the day

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:39.840
 and the garden,

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.300
 but God is saying,

00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.600
 you're not going to win the war.

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.960
 There's this work of resistance

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:46.660
 that God is going to bring about

00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:48.399
 through Eve's offspring.

00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:51.560
 There would be conflict

00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:52.320
 and opposition,

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.820
 and the offspring of Satan

00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:55.360
 and the offspring of the woman

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.240
 would be going at it.

00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:00.399
 And not an endless conflict,

00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.460
 did you notice?

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:03.800
 A conflict that would end

00:17:03.800 --> 00:17:06.799
 in costly yet decisive victory.

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:09.819
 The serpent would bruise the heel

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.819
 of the woman's offspring.

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.559
 It would cost the woman's offspring,

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:14.200
 but the woman's offspring

00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.559
 would crush the serpent's head.

00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:19.759
 And throughout the entire story

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.420
 of the Old Testament,

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:22.059
 God's people longed

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:24.000
 for that offspring to come,

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.579
 who would bring a decisive end

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.819
 to the work of Satan.

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:29.379
 Their hopes would rise

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:31.119
 at the birth of a Noah

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.419
 or an Abraham

00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:33.159
 or a Moses

00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:34.079
 or a Samson

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.779
 or a Samuel

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.500
 or a David.

00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:37.460
 But these heroes of the faith,

00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.700
 however good they were,

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.819
 at some point they would succumb

00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.639
 to the influence of the serpent

00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:43.599
 and prove themselves

00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:45.480
 not to be the offspring,

00:17:46.419 --> 00:17:48.960
 the one who would crush

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.740
 the serpent's head.

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.899
 And the conflict continued

00:17:50.899 --> 00:17:51.700
 for ages,

00:17:52.179 --> 00:17:53.379
 the woman opposing the serpent,

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.599
 the serpent opposing the woman,

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:59.000
 until the long-awaited offspring,

00:17:59.619 --> 00:17:59.980
 singular,

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.299
 was finally born,

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.959
 snatched up to God's throne,

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.339
 and established as king,

00:18:05.459 --> 00:18:07.099
 and the age-long conflict was won.

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:10.459
 The offspring of the woman triumphed.

00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:11.899
 So that's the conflict

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:12.719
 and the triumph

00:18:12.719 --> 00:18:16.199
 from an earthly perspective.

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.779
 Part one.

00:18:18.699 --> 00:18:21.059
 Now let's move to the second scene,

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:23.220
 the conflict and the triumph

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:25.419
 from a heavenly perspective.

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:26.359
 Part two.

00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.679
 All of a sudden,

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.299
 in verse seven,

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.500
 we get a shift of scene.

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.639
 War arose in heaven.

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.519
 Suddenly,

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.720
 we're no longer on earth.

00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:41.299
 We are no longer

00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:42.639
 looking at the events

00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.319
 of human history.

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:45.179
 However symbolic they were,

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.379
 they were earthbound events

00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:48.220
 of human history.

00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.179
 The offspring of the woman

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.580
 being born.

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.740
 Satan opposing

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.840
 the offspring of the woman.

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:54.960
 Jesus living,

00:18:55.360 --> 00:18:55.700
 dying,

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.840
 rising again,

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.940
 ascending to his father's throne.

00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.700
 All events within human history

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.460
 in time and space.

00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:01.080
 And now,

00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.299
 we're going to see

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.080
 how

00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:05.420
 the spiritual realm

00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:06.519
 was affected

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.680
 by that

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:09.299
 human history

00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:10.420
 earthbound event.

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.600
 In the Bible,

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.259
 heaven and earth

00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:15.279
 are not mutually exclusive spheres.

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.440
 From a biblical perspective,

00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.660
 they are interrelated.

00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:19.400
 What happens

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:21.100
 on earth

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:21.720
 affects heaven.

00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:22.600
 What happens in heaven

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.940
 affects earth.

00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:26.400
 And John is not just

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.440
 shifting the scenery

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.519
 just for fun.

00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.320
 This is not random.

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:29.540
 No,

00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:30.380
 he is giving us

00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:32.240
 a heavenly perspective

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.740
 on the conflict

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.540
 that was waged

00:19:34.540 --> 00:19:35.060
 and won

00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:36.280
 in the first scene

00:19:36.280 --> 00:19:37.480
 with the birth

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.240
 of the male child.

00:19:38.780 --> 00:19:38.900
 So,

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.700
 verses seven and eight,

00:19:39.780 --> 00:19:40.620
 we see how

00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.600
 the earthly events

00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:42.540
 of Jesus' birth,

00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.240
 life,

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:43.640
 death,

00:19:43.800 --> 00:19:44.160
 resurrection,

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:44.759
 ascension,

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.320
 monumentally affected

00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.679
 the heavenly sphere.

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.779
 Michael,

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.240
 the archangel,

00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.759
 and his angels,

00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.560
 they make war

00:19:53.560 --> 00:19:54.220
 with the dragon

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.340
 and his angels,

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.720
 but Satan is defeated

00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:58.100
 and there's no place

00:19:58.100 --> 00:19:58.779
 for him

00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.700
 in heaven.

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.200
 And then,

00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:02.000
 comes this

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.320
 decisive statement

00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:04.480
 of triumph

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.080
 for heaven

00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:06.039
 in verse nine.

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.820
 Notice the repetition

00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:10.019
 of what happens

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.640
 to the dragon

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.400
 in verse nine.

00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:13.220
 And the great dragon

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:14.380
 was thrown down.

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.860
 That ancient serpent

00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:16.560
 who is called

00:20:16.560 --> 00:20:17.600
 the devil and Satan,

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.500
 the deceiver

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.280
 of the whole world,

00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:20.920
 he was thrown down

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.860
 to the earth

00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:22.759
 and the angels

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:24.140
 were thrown down

00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:24.900
 with him.

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.019
 Thrown down.

00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:26.620
 That language

00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.860
 shows up again

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.580
 in verse 10,

00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.560
 in verse 12,

00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:30.380
 verse 13,

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.220
 again and again,

00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:32.800
 six times in this chapter.

00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:35.180
 Satan is thrown down.

00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.400
 He's out.

00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:38.900
 But maybe that makes

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.580
 you ask the question,

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.640
 wait a minute,

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:41.980
 I thought that

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.640
 happened earlier.

00:20:43.300 --> 00:20:45.160
 Didn't Satan get kicked out

00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:45.960
 like at the beginning

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.860
 in the garden?

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.040
 Well,

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.759
 if we read

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.019
 our Old Testament closely,

00:20:51.780 --> 00:20:52.519
 we can see that

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.000
 before the Messiah came,

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.860
 Satan was permitted

00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.920
 to be in God's presence.

00:20:57.040 --> 00:20:58.440
 He used this privilege

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:59.320
 unjustly

00:20:59.320 --> 00:21:01.000
 to accuse God's people.

00:21:01.820 --> 00:21:02.360
 Remember the story

00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:02.759
 of Job?

00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:05.519
 The whole thing

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.740
 started with poor Job

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.440
 when Satan

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.660
 is in the heavenly

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.800
 council of the angels

00:21:09.800 --> 00:21:11.040
 before God

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.639
 and he begins

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.639
 accusing Job.

00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.359
 He's like,

00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:14.319
 Job's only faithful

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.960
 because you're blessing him.

00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.319
 So,

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.480
 stop blessing him

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.700
 and he won't do it.

00:21:18.899 --> 00:21:19.779
 He won't be faithful to you.

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.420
 But now,

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.259
 he's thrown down.

00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.220
 Well,

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:26.579
 what was it

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.200
 that threw him down?

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:27.879
 Did Michael have

00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.839
 some ingenious

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:30.440
 angelic warfare tactics

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.680
 that kind of

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.819
 confounded the old dragon?

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:34.659
 Nope.

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.180
 Look at verse 10.

00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:40.620
 Now,

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:40.700
 now,

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.180
 now,

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.340
 now,

00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:43.240
 the salvation

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.940
 and the power

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:44.519
 and the kingdom

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.160
 of our God

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.779
 and the authority

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.500
 of his Christ

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.840
 have come.

00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:48.860
 Now,

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.460
 what is this now

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.200
 all about?

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.200
 What has just happened

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.080
 in the heavenly sphere?

00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:54.940
 Or,

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.140
 sorry,

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.039
 the earthly sphere.

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.660
 The male child

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.259
 who was born

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.019
 to rule the nations

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.900
 with a rod of iron

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.580
 was born

00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.480
 and ascended

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.600
 to his father's throne.

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.080
 The resurrected Lord Jesus

00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:05.259
 is on his throne

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.140
 now

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.240
 and therefore

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.420
 say it is booted out.

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.619
 In John 12,

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:13.059
 just days before

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.220
 Jesus' crucifixion,

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.980
 he said these words,

00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:17.220
 now

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:18.200
 is the judgment

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.960
 of this world.

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:19.759
 Now

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.599
 will the ruler

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.259
 of this world

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.059
 be cast out

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.539
 and I,

00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.539
 when I am lifted up

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:24.039
 from the earth

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.379
 referring to his crucifixion,

00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:27.500
 will draw all people

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.160
 to myself.

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.099
 Jesus knew

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:31.619
 that his sacrificial death

00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:32.819
 and his triumphant

00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.359
 resurrection

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.200
 would not only be

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.100
 the turning point

00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:36.240
 of human history

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:38.700
 but also of heavenly history.

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.279
 From that point on,

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.819
 Satan would be thrown down

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.980
 and cast out

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.980
 and his doom

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.000
 would be sealed.

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.000
 But,

00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:48.100
 why is that important?

00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:49.480
 What significance

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.220
 does that have?

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.420
 Look at verse 10.

00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:53.259
 Here,

00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:54.259
 God's saints

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.580
 are making this announcement

00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:57.059
 who are,

00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.960
 they're already in heaven

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.860
 and they're excited

00:22:58.860 --> 00:23:00.100
 that Satan is thrown down.

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:00.819
 This is why.

00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.460
 Did you notice that?

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.500
 The accuser

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.859
 of our brothers

00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:06.519
 has been thrown down

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:08.119
 who accuses them

00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.259
 day and night

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.140
 before our God.

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.700
 So,

00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:13.500
 because God the Son

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.960
 became a human,

00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.819
 lived righteously

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:18.160
 for 30 plus years,

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:20.200
 died a sacrificial death

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:20.700
 for sinners,

00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:21.940
 rose again triumphantly

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.420
 from death

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.019
 and sits now

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.960
 on his father's throne,

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.420
 there is now

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:27.819
 no prosecuting attorney

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.559
 gunning for a guilty verdict

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.400
 for God's people

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.599
 in God's courtroom anymore.

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:33.139
 He's out.

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.799
 He's banished.

00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.000
 He's gone.

00:23:37.679 --> 00:23:38.759
 And notice another thing

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.359
 in verse 11.

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.459
 They have conquered him

00:23:42.459 --> 00:23:43.859
 by the blood of the Lamb

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.059
 and by the word

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.339
 of their testimony.

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.539
 We know that Jesus

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.679
 won the conflict.

00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:51.879
 He's the conqueror,

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.699
 the one who triumphs

00:23:53.699 --> 00:23:54.339
 over the dragon.

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.339
 But in verse 11,

00:23:56.219 --> 00:23:56.980
 it says that

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:58.819
 we also conquer.

00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:01.839
 It says that God's people

00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:03.559
 conquered the accuser

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.279
 of the brothers.

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:04.879
 We,

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:06.000
 as Jesus' people,

00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:08.299
 share in his triumphant

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.980
 victory over the dragon.

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.960
 Because he conquered,

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.139
 we also conquer.

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.279
 Paul later states

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.139
 this crazy thing

00:24:16.139 --> 00:24:17.179
 in Romans 16, 20.

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:17.379
 Well,

00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.579
 he's speaking to Christians

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.419
 and he says,

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.759
 the God of peace

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.220
 will soon crush Satan

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.960
 underneath

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.779
 your feet,

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:28.299
 the church's feet,

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.339
 your feet,

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.779
 my feet.

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.980
 We get to share

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.160
 in the defeat

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.079
 of Satan

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.879
 and the victory

00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.839
 of Jesus.

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.579
 We,

00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.740
 the offspring of Eve,

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.779
 the singular,

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.359
 the promised male child

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.599
 to rule with a rod of iron,

00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.559
 he crushes the serpent's head

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.259
 through his triumphant

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.000
 death and resurrection.

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.839
 But the remaining offspring,

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:53.880
 plural,

00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:57.539
 of the people of faith,

00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:00.119
 we share in his serpent crushing.

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.759
 But how?

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.980
 By the blood of the Lamb

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.039
 and by the word

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:06.680
 of their testimony.

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.940
 We conquer

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:10.000
 because he conquered

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.619
 on the cross

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.359
 on our behalf.

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.220
 We conquer

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.400
 by the blood of the Lamb.

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.539
 We celebrate it this morning

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.460
 right here at this table.

00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.480
 But we also conquer

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.240
 as we,

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.660
 in our daily lives,

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.800
 we live out

00:25:21.800 --> 00:25:22.860
 that truth

00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:23.980
 in faith

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.500
 and obedience.

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.840
 It's the word

00:25:25.840 --> 00:25:26.500
 of our testimony.

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.080
 Not perfectly,

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:31.560
 but really,

00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:32.140
 truly.

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.580
 We start to grasp

00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:35.300
 that that's true

00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.279
 and we start

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.060
 to live out of it.

00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.519
 And every little bit

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:41.240
 of that spirit-inspired,

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.779
 spirit-given

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.920
 faith and obedience

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.480
 is tramping

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:47.340
 on the serpent's head.

00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:50.359
 In short,

00:25:50.459 --> 00:25:50.980
 we get to share

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.039
 the triumph of the Lamb

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.699
 by resting in

00:25:53.699 --> 00:25:55.419
 and faithfully living out

00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:56.819
 what he has already done

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.799
 on our behalf.

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:58.559
 So,

00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.000
 the birth,

00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:00.519
 the life,

00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:01.039
 the death,

00:26:01.179 --> 00:26:01.599
 resurrection,

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.939
 ascension of the woman's

00:26:02.939 --> 00:26:03.279
 offspring,

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:03.799
 Jesus,

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.459
 in the first scene

00:26:05.459 --> 00:26:05.939
 on earth,

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.679
 it brings about

00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:08.500
 a simultaneous

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:10.179
 and decisive defeat

00:26:10.179 --> 00:26:10.919
 of the dragon

00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:12.279
 in the heavenly sphere.

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.139
 And if we look

00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.839
 at the last verse

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.359
 of this scene,

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.019
 verse 12,

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.359
 the heavenly places

00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.159
 are rejoicing

00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:19.000
 because the dragon's gone.

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.259
 You can't bring accusation

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.500
 against God's people anymore.

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.619
 But with an ominous note,

00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:26.419
 we also see

00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:27.199
 that the conflict,

00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:28.979
 although it's decisively won,

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.579
 it's not over.

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.779
 Woe to the earth,

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:34.139
 verse 12 says,

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.359
 because the dragon

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.519
 has been thrown down there

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.679
 and he is not happy.

00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:40.319
 Which brings us

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.939
 to the third

00:26:40.939 --> 00:26:42.179
 and final scene

00:26:42.179 --> 00:26:43.339
 of this vision

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:45.519
 we'll call this scene

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.159
 God's care

00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:48.859
 and the dragon's rage.

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.419
 God's care

00:26:50.419 --> 00:26:52.099
 and the dragon's rage.

00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:55.039
 Oscar Coleman,

00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.399
 a theologian

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.299
 of the last century,

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:59.759
 once used this analogy

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:01.099
 to illustrate the truth

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:01.639
 that we find

00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:03.139
 in verses 12 and 13.

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.619
 When the Allies

00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:06.579
 invaded Europe

00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.439
 on D-Day,

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.599
 June 6, 1944,

00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:11.619
 everybody,

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.480
 except for a deluded Hitler,

00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:15.419
 knew that the war was over.

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.579
 The Allies had established

00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.279
 a beachhead

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.839
 in France

00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:22.639
 and there's mounting pressure

00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.579
 on the eastern front

00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.139
 in Russia.

00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.519
 The German forces

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.679
 were just stretched too thin.

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.639
 They couldn't win the war.

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.279
 It was over.

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:30.099
 But,

00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:31.720
 Hitler,

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.099
 though defeated,

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.399
 was not going

00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:35.099
 to go quietly.

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:36.559
 He raged.

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.660
 Thousands

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.759
 upon thousands

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.279
 more

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.039
 would die

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.160
 over the next year

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.019
 before the Allies

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.539
 finally reached Berlin

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.559
 and Germany

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.240
 capitulated.

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:46.960
 D-Day

00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.119
 ensured

00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:49.420
 Hitler's

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.139
 imminent defeat,

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.599
 but V-E Day,

00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.279
 Victory in Europe Day,

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.559
 was still

00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.680
 a ways away.

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:57.420
 And the conflict

00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.460
 in between them

00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:00.200
 would be fiercer

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:01.039
 and bloodier

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.680
 than previously

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.539
 because of Hitler's

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:06.180
 blind rage.

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.039
 When Jesus

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.720
 accomplished

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.560
 our D-Day

00:28:11.560 --> 00:28:13.460
 on the cross,

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:15.120
 in the resurrection,

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.460
 in his ascension

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.620
 to his father's throne,

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.560
 Satan was done.

00:28:20.580 --> 00:28:21.320
 War's over.

00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.600
 No way

00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.380
 Satan can win.

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.539
 And he knows it.

00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:27.240
 And he hates it.

00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:30.480
 He plans to go down

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.320
 raging,

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.900
 fighting tooth

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.900
 and nail,

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.500
 causing as much

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.420
 havoc as he possibly

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.620
 can because he knows

00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.640
 his time is short.

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.180
 You see that

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:40.200
 in verse 12?

00:28:40.580 --> 00:28:41.580
 In great wrath

00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:42.100
 he's coming

00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:42.980
 because he knows

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.620
 his time

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.680
 is short.

00:28:44.820 --> 00:28:45.480
 So what does he do?

00:28:46.320 --> 00:28:47.279
 Look at verse 13.

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.180
 He pursues

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:49.700
 the woman.

00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:52.259
 He can't defeat God.

00:28:52.340 --> 00:28:52.960
 He can't defeat

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.660
 God's Messiah.

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.820
 So who does he go after?

00:28:56.100 --> 00:28:56.740
 The ones

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.140
 whom God

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.759
 loves the most.

00:28:58.640 --> 00:28:59.100
 The ones

00:28:59.100 --> 00:28:59.560
 for whom

00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:00.120
 the Messiah

00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:01.740
 shed his own blood.

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.019
 But,

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.680
 look what happens

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.340
 in verse 14.

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:07.000
 Satan's going after

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.080
 the woman,

00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:08.680
 the church.

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.460
 But,

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.460
 the same thing

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.759
 happens in verse 14

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.620
 that verse 6

00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:15.320
 foreshadows

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.799
 that we kind of

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.200
 skipped over

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.539
 a little bit

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:16.960
 before.

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:17.799
 The woman,

00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.659
 which is God's

00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:18.899
 people,

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.240
 flees to the

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.539
 wilderness

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.859
 where she is

00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:22.419
 to be nourished

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:23.099
 for a specific

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:23.819
 amount of time.

00:29:24.179 --> 00:29:24.859
 In verse 6,

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.899
 it's 1,260 days.

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.039
 In verse 14,

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:28.980
 it's time,

00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.559
 times,

00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.299
 and half a time.

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.539
 But as we saw

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.299
 a few weeks ago

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.240
 in chapter 11,

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.439
 whether it's 42 months,

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.879
 it's used in chapter 11,

00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:39.619
 or 1,260 days,

00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.519
 or time,

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:40.859
 times,

00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:41.619
 and half a time,

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.839
 those are all

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.699
 different ways

00:29:43.699 --> 00:29:44.399
 of referring

00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:45.239
 to the same

00:29:45.239 --> 00:29:45.899
 amount of time,

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.559
 the same period

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.019
 of time,

00:29:48.959 --> 00:29:49.679
 three and a half years,

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.779
 which is half

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:53.059
 of seven.

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.479
 And what does seven

00:29:54.479 --> 00:29:55.299
 symbolize in the

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:55.899
 book of Revelation?

00:29:56.979 --> 00:29:57.500
 Completeness,

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:57.979
 fullness.

00:29:59.599 --> 00:29:59.799
 So,

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:00.339
 in other words,

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:01.719
 it's not a fullness

00:30:01.719 --> 00:30:02.659
 of a time period.

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.679
 It's cut short.

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.399
 In chapter 11,

00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.019
 the church is

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:09.539
 a faithful witness

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.719
 to Jesus

00:30:10.719 --> 00:30:11.479
 in the world

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.180
 that's the picture.

00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.339
 She's going to be

00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.160
 faithfully witnessing

00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:14.620
 to Jesus

00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.259
 and suffering

00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.880
 for Jesus

00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:17.079
 for a limited

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.720
 amount of time.

00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.660
 Not the full seven,

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:19.539
 three and a half.

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.500
 It's cut short

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.160
 for mercy.

00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:22.759
 And then she'll

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.339
 be called home.

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.360
 The church is going

00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:26.380
 to be in the wilderness,

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.519
 what it describes

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.200
 here in the wilderness,

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.180
 for a relatively

00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:30.299
 short amount of time.

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.180
 In other words,

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.000
 God's not just going

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.740
 to forget us here.

00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.880
 Our suffering

00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:36.900
 for bearing witness

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.500
 to Jesus

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.720
 will be relatively

00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.480
 and mercifully

00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.240
 short.

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.640
 But,

00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:41.920
 what's with this

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.900
 wilderness thing?

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:43.779
 Why are we talking

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.279
 about wilderness?

00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:46.380
 Well,

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.559
 notice the passive

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:49.180
 voice of the verbs

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.259
 in verse 14.

00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.559
 She was given

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.559
 the two wings

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.319
 of the great eagle

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.259
 so that she might

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.400
 be nourished

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.079
 in the wilderness.

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.359
 So,

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.740
 what should be

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.620
 popping in your mind

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:58.839
 is,

00:30:59.299 --> 00:30:59.440
 okay,

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.359
 who gave her the wings

00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:00.900
 and who's going

00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.620
 to be nourishing her?

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.519
 Verse 6

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.299
 makes it really clear.

00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:06.160
 She flees to a place

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.500
 where it is prepared

00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.279
 for her

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.220
 by God.

00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:10.880
 The dragon,

00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:12.080
 her powerful enemy,

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.019
 might be raging,

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.759
 but she has a place

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.700
 of security

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:17.120
 and nourishment,

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.519
 the wilderness.

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.019
 And God

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.840
 is there,

00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:22.980
 eager to be with her

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.900
 and to care for her.

00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.620
 So,

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.100
 that language

00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:26.160
 of eagle's wings

00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:27.500
 in wilderness

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:28.700
 was designed

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.700
 to prick

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:31.460
 John's listeners' ears

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.220
 with the memory

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.240
 of the Exodus

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.579
 back in the Old Testament.

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.460
 God's people

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.640
 were freshly delivered

00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:41.019
 from a dragon-ish enemy,

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:41.940
 the Pharaoh,

00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.259
 who pursued them

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.980
 into the wilderness.

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:46.279
 God brought his people

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:47.059
 into a place

00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:47.759
 of safety

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.420
 and focused fellowship

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.700
 with himself

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.980
 as if snatched up

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.880
 by a great eagle

00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:54.480
 and flown out

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.120
 of the reach

00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:55.740
 of harm.

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:56.120
 But,

00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:58.039
 that wily dragon,

00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.460
 he won't give up

00:31:59.460 --> 00:31:59.900
 very easily,

00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.220
 will he?

00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:03.180
 Look at verse

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:05.220
 15.

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:05.779
 The serpent

00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.779
 poured water

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.840
 like a river

00:32:07.840 --> 00:32:09.200
 out of his mouth

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:09.940
 after the woman

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:11.160
 to sweep her away

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.560
 after a flood.

00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:14.100
 He opens his mouth

00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:15.820
 and a flood

00:32:15.820 --> 00:32:16.700
 comes after her.

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.480
 The focus here

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.019
 is not so much

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.779
 on what the water

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.580
 symbolizes

00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.860
 as it is that

00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:22.360
 the dragon

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.600
 opens his mouth.

00:32:24.840 --> 00:32:25.840
 What verbs

00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.620
 have we already seen

00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:27.140
 in this chapter

00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:27.960
 that are associated

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.840
 with the dragon

00:32:28.840 --> 00:32:30.259
 opening his mouth?

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:32.140
 Look back up

00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:32.840
 at verse 9

00:32:32.840 --> 00:32:33.420
 and 10.

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.460
 The deceiver

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:37.020
 of the whole world

00:32:37.020 --> 00:32:37.840
 verse 9

00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:38.540
 and verse 10

00:32:38.540 --> 00:32:39.900
 the accuser

00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:41.060
 of our brothers.

00:32:41.540 --> 00:32:42.020
 What comes out

00:32:42.020 --> 00:32:42.700
 of Satan's mouth?

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.020
 Deception

00:32:44.020 --> 00:32:45.540
 and accusation

00:32:45.540 --> 00:32:46.320
 and slander.

00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:48.180
 Lies.

00:32:48.540 --> 00:32:49.800
 He is a master deceiver.

00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.780
 He is a relentless

00:32:50.780 --> 00:32:51.960
 accuser

00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:53.360
 and all that junk

00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:54.580
 comes out of his mouth

00:32:54.580 --> 00:32:56.000
 and that's what he's

00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.200
 throwing out of his mouth

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.140
 at the church

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:59.400
 to sweep her away

00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:00.100
 like a flood.

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:01.339
 And yet

00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:02.240
 look at verse 16.

00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.059
 The earth

00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:04.819
 comes to the help

00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.399
 of the woman.

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.399
 The earth

00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.559
 swallows the flood

00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:08.799
 of lies and slander.

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:10.219
 God yet again

00:33:10.219 --> 00:33:11.240
 comes to the rescue

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.259
 this time

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:13.139
 telling the earth

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:14.139
 itself to swallow

00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:15.079
 the dragon's flood.

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.480
 God's care

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.159
 for his people

00:33:19.159 --> 00:33:20.459
 in the wilderness

00:33:20.459 --> 00:33:21.859
 in the middle

00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:23.359
 of being raged at

00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.459
 by Satan.

00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.179
 Verse 17

00:33:27.179 --> 00:33:28.019
 shows us again

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.379
 the dragon's rage

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:30.060
 is dreadful.

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.960
 He's being frustrated

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:32.120
 by God at every turn

00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:33.300
 and he keeps on

00:33:33.300 --> 00:33:34.220
 making war

00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:34.940
 with the rest

00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.720
 of the woman's

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.200
 offspring.

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.680
 All those who have

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:40.500
 trusted in the Messiah

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.800
 all of those

00:33:41.800 --> 00:33:42.520
 who are part

00:33:42.520 --> 00:33:43.300
 of a faithful

00:33:43.300 --> 00:33:45.460
 community in Christ.

00:33:46.520 --> 00:33:47.340
 These are the folks

00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:48.600
 who keep God's commandments

00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:50.240
 as we see in verse 17

00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.560
 and they hold

00:33:51.560 --> 00:33:52.320
 to the testimony

00:33:52.320 --> 00:33:53.940
 of who Jesus is

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.880
 and what he has done

00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.280
 for them.

00:33:56.340 --> 00:33:56.780
 And this verse

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:58.480
 ends with the dragon

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.639
 standing on the sand

00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:00.139
 of the sea.

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.480
 It's rather ominous.

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:03.879
 And it's a signal

00:34:03.879 --> 00:34:04.639
 that the dragon's

00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:05.059
 not done.

00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:06.779
 In fact,

00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.980
 we learn in chapter 13

00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.840
 how exactly

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.519
 the dragon

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.739
 is going to

00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.940
 try to make war

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:13.380
 on the offspring

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.179
 of the woman.

00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:15.779
 He's going to use

00:34:15.779 --> 00:34:16.619
 the unholy

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.539
 anti-trinity.

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.759
 He,

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.659
 the dragon,

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.480
 the beast

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:20.980
 that comes out

00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.440
 of the sea

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.980
 and the beast

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.500
 from the land

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.440
 who is the false prophet.

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.840
 See that all

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:26.039
 in coming weeks

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.840
 in chapter 13.

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.840
 It's going to unpack

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:29.079
 what that flood

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.820
 of lies

00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:30.679
 and slander

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:32.000
 is going to look like

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.700
 and how it will

00:34:32.700 --> 00:34:33.300
 really,

00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:34.019
 truly

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:35.860
 affect the church

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:37.960
 but not ultimately.

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.780
 So as this third

00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:41.820
 scene closes,

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:42.840
 it's clear

00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:44.019
 that the dragon

00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.679
 rages

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.780
 against the church

00:34:45.780 --> 00:34:47.059
 but God's care

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:48.679
 will sustain her

00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:50.240
 during her short time

00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:51.300
 in the wilderness

00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:51.880
 of the world

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:53.179
 before she is called home.

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:56.099
 So what's this

00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.780
 whole thing about?

00:34:57.800 --> 00:34:58.200
 We've looked at

00:34:58.200 --> 00:34:58.940
 the three scenes,

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.139
 what's this all about?

00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:03.159
 Let's just summarize

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:03.800
 it this way.

00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:04.800
 I think as we pull

00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:05.440
 back the curtain

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.960
 on the whole story

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.780
 of redemption

00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:09.639
 that chapter 12

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.760
 is doing for us,

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.820
 we see this.

00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:14.159
 Through the triumph

00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:15.659
 of the promised offspring,

00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:17.760
 God shelters

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:19.220
 and gives victory

00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:20.700
 to his faithful people

00:35:20.700 --> 00:35:22.960
 over their raging enemy.

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:25.019
 through the promise

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:25.380
 of the,

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.200
 through the triumph

00:35:26.200 --> 00:35:27.360
 of the promised offspring,

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.059
 the Messiah,

00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:28.559
 Jesus,

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:30.139
 God shelters

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:31.720
 and gives victory

00:35:31.720 --> 00:35:33.440
 to his faithful people

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:36.380
 over their raging enemy.

00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:39.179
 Folks,

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.360
 D-Day

00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:42.019
 has come

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:44.079
 2,000 years ago.

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:46.460
 The war is over.

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.739
 It's won.

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.219
 Through great cost,

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:50.940
 the God,

00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.559
 the Son,

00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.940
 entered human history.

00:35:53.299 --> 00:35:53.840
 He crushed

00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:54.639
 the head of the serpent

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.819
 and he sits triumphantly

00:35:55.819 --> 00:35:56.860
 on his father's throne.

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.440
 And yet,

00:35:59.059 --> 00:35:59.739
 our time

00:35:59.739 --> 00:36:00.579
 on the battlefield

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:02.639
 is not done.

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.400
 Our enemy's wrath

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:07.119
 still has to be endured

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.019
 until the day

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:09.420
 that his doom comes.

00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:10.860
 And we shouldn't

00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:11.860
 be surprised by that.

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.760
 Bullets are whizzing

00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.460
 by our heads,

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.820
 bombs are exploding,

00:36:15.200 --> 00:36:16.000
 and the carnage

00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:16.780
 of deception

00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:18.240
 and accusation

00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:19.280
 and opposition

00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.720
 will only get worse.

00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:23.180
 But,

00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:24.599
 our God

00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:25.820
 has not just won.

00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:28.320
 He is with us.

00:36:29.700 --> 00:36:31.000
 He's on the battlefield.

00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:32.340
 He is sheltering

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:33.519
 and nourishing

00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:35.420
 and giving us victory

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.559
 as we fight

00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.240
 our adversary

00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:38.059
 by trusting

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.539
 in the blood

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.039
 of the Lamb

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:40.399
 and living out

00:36:40.399 --> 00:36:40.699
 the word

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:41.259
 of our testimony.

00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:44.639
 So,

00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:45.319
 let's make three

00:36:45.319 --> 00:36:46.339
 brief reflections

00:36:46.339 --> 00:36:47.219
 on this

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.959
 emboldening vision

00:36:48.959 --> 00:36:49.939
 that we see here

00:36:49.939 --> 00:36:51.500
 and to seek

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.839
 to respond well

00:36:52.839 --> 00:36:53.439
 with faith

00:36:53.439 --> 00:36:54.000
 and obedience.

00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:55.000
 First is this.

00:36:56.419 --> 00:36:57.339
 This vision

00:36:57.339 --> 00:36:58.399
 gives us,

00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.439
 God's people,

00:36:59.939 --> 00:37:01.319
 a cosmic perspective

00:37:01.319 --> 00:37:03.079
 on our current struggle.

00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:04.759
 It gives us

00:37:04.759 --> 00:37:05.979
 a cosmic perspective

00:37:05.979 --> 00:37:06.959
 on our current

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.960
 struggle.

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.280
 I'm guessing

00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.240
 that many of you

00:37:10.240 --> 00:37:11.119
 are feeling

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.340
 the difficulty

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:12.960
 of living

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:14.059
 in between D-Day

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.240
 and V-E-Day,

00:37:16.059 --> 00:37:17.699
 between Christ's

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:18.960
 triumph on the cross

00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:21.240
 and His final return.

00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.639
 Perhaps it's

00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:24.500
 just simply living

00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:25.059
 in a universe

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:26.760
 that is suffering

00:37:26.760 --> 00:37:27.599
 from the corruption

00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.300
 and decay

00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:28.880
 that started

00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:29.699
 on that first day

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:30.199
 in the garden.

00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:32.679
 The day that the serpent

00:37:32.679 --> 00:37:33.940
 deceived our ancestors

00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:35.119
 into rebelling

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.880
 against our good

00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.260
 creator

00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:36.980
 and our king.

00:37:37.780 --> 00:37:38.320
 Perhaps you're

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:38.740
 suffering

00:37:38.740 --> 00:37:40.300
 from physical

00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:40.800
 hardship,

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:42.920
 illness,

00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:44.440
 chronic pain,

00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:46.119
 a dysfunctional body.

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:48.619
 Perhaps you're

00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:49.240
 struggling with

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:49.860
 the clear

00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:51.159
 and tragic effects

00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:51.820
 of sin

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:53.980
 maybe in your life

00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:55.519
 or in the lives

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.420
 of those you care about.

00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:58.559
 You are grieved

00:37:58.559 --> 00:38:00.000
 with your own sin

00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:00.539
 and guilt

00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:02.299
 or with relationships

00:38:02.299 --> 00:38:03.659
 marred by selfishness

00:38:03.659 --> 00:38:04.199
 or bitterness.

00:38:05.799 --> 00:38:07.159
 You bear the scars

00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:07.940
 of being sinned

00:38:07.940 --> 00:38:08.900
 against by others

00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:11.039
 or you feel the shame

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:12.119
 of having inflicted

00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:12.719
 those scars

00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:14.179
 on others.

00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:16.500
 Perhaps you feel

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:17.579
 helpless and sad

00:38:17.579 --> 00:38:18.320
 as you watch

00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:19.960
 others succumb

00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:21.059
 to the deception

00:38:21.059 --> 00:38:21.980
 of the dragon.

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:24.760
 But behind

00:38:24.760 --> 00:38:25.440
 this curtain

00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:26.199
 that we get

00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:27.159
 a little peek

00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:28.559
 into in this chapter

00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:31.000
 we see a panoramic

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:32.740
 cosmic view

00:38:32.740 --> 00:38:33.440
 of history.

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.619
 It's a cosmic

00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:36.840
 war that began

00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:37.519
 when the universe

00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.260
 was fresh

00:38:38.260 --> 00:38:39.059
 and good

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.579
 and young

00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:40.199
 and has led

00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:41.460
 to incalculable

00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:42.320
 suffering

00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:43.039
 and loss

00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:43.659
 and evil.

00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.780
 There is an evil

00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:46.280
 force,

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:46.980
 an adversary

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.820
 who seeks

00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:48.699
 to set himself

00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:49.920
 up as God's rival

00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:51.039
 and to ruin

00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:51.659
 and corrupt

00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.179
 what God

00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:52.480
 has made

00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:52.980
 to be good.

00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:55.359
 It kind of

00:38:55.359 --> 00:38:55.739
 helps us,

00:38:55.819 --> 00:38:56.179
 doesn't it?

00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:57.519
 It helps us

00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:58.079
 see things

00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.500
 from a good

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:58.920
 perspective.

00:38:59.059 --> 00:38:59.779
 That cosmic

00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:00.339
 perspective

00:39:00.339 --> 00:39:01.759
 puts our

00:39:01.759 --> 00:39:02.619
 current struggles

00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:03.319
 in a helpful

00:39:03.319 --> 00:39:03.980
 light.

00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:05.779
 Every couple

00:39:05.779 --> 00:39:06.079
 of years

00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:06.819
 I find myself

00:39:06.819 --> 00:39:07.420
 rereading

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:09.420
 J.R.R. Tolkien's

00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:10.039
 Lord of the Rings

00:39:10.039 --> 00:39:10.440
 trilogy.

00:39:10.879 --> 00:39:11.480
 My wife always

00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:12.199
 kind of laughs at me

00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:12.420
 like,

00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:12.759
 are you reading

00:39:12.759 --> 00:39:13.219
 that again?

00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:15.460
 I love entering

00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:16.279
 into that world

00:39:16.279 --> 00:39:18.399
 because every time

00:39:18.399 --> 00:39:19.039
 I pick it up

00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:19.759
 and I read about

00:39:19.759 --> 00:39:20.379
 little,

00:39:20.779 --> 00:39:21.079
 helpless,

00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:22.039
 comfort-loving

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.599
 hobbits.

00:39:23.199 --> 00:39:23.739
 I feel like

00:39:23.739 --> 00:39:24.279
 one most of

00:39:24.279 --> 00:39:24.619
 the time.

00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:26.019
 Emphasis on

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.759
 little and small

00:39:26.759 --> 00:39:27.500
 and comfort-loving.

00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:30.319
 They're entering

00:39:30.319 --> 00:39:31.079
 this massive

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:31.840
 conflict that

00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:32.739
 feels way too

00:39:32.739 --> 00:39:33.400
 big for them.

00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:35.860
 And I'm reminded

00:39:35.860 --> 00:39:36.659
 that my little

00:39:36.659 --> 00:39:38.880
 life is a part

00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.739
 of something

00:39:39.739 --> 00:39:40.679
 really big

00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:42.460
 and far

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.039
 greater than

00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.400
 me.

00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:48.500
 and yet

00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:51.460
 there is

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:51.820
 something

00:39:51.820 --> 00:39:53.220
 far greater

00:39:53.220 --> 00:39:53.579
 than the

00:39:53.579 --> 00:39:54.160
 far greater

00:39:54.160 --> 00:39:56.039
 something

00:39:56.039 --> 00:39:56.660
 good

00:39:56.660 --> 00:39:59.039
 that is

00:39:59.039 --> 00:39:59.539
 for me

00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:01.160
 as I'm

00:40:01.160 --> 00:40:01.400
 walking

00:40:01.400 --> 00:40:01.760
 through the

00:40:01.760 --> 00:40:02.039
 journey.

00:40:04.139 --> 00:40:04.800
 When we

00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:05.280
 step back

00:40:05.280 --> 00:40:05.740
 and we see

00:40:05.740 --> 00:40:06.840
 this ancient

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.680
 conflict from

00:40:07.680 --> 00:40:08.240
 the perspective

00:40:08.240 --> 00:40:09.019
 of Revolution

00:40:09.019 --> 00:40:09.960
 12 it reminds

00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:10.840
 us that our

00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:11.500
 current struggles

00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:12.239
 are par for the

00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:12.619
 course.

00:40:13.340 --> 00:40:14.019
 Jesus promised

00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:14.860
 us no less.

00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.420
 It's part of the

00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.500
 package and if

00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:20.559
 we are trusting

00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.219
 in ourselves

00:40:21.219 --> 00:40:23.059
 it's not going

00:40:23.059 --> 00:40:23.539
 to be pretty.

00:40:24.420 --> 00:40:25.800
 But if we

00:40:25.800 --> 00:40:26.619
 commend our

00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:27.300
 bodies and

00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:27.900
 our souls

00:40:27.900 --> 00:40:28.800
 to the one

00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:29.400
 who has

00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:30.059
 and finally

00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.880
 will triumph

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.500
 over the

00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:31.820
 enemy

00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:33.920
 we have hope

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:35.360
 in the middle

00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:36.099
 of the current

00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:36.500
 struggle

00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:37.800
 and

00:40:37.800 --> 00:40:40.179
 1260

00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:40.579
 days

00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.800
 time

00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:42.280
 times

00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:42.559
 and half

00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:42.940
 a time

00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:44.219
 it's cut

00:40:44.219 --> 00:40:44.519
 short

00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:45.719
 it's not

00:40:45.719 --> 00:40:46.059
 forever

00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:46.780
 we're not

00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:47.360
 home yet.

00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:50.519
 Second thing

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:53.699
 our adversary

00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:54.500
 is both

00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.239
 decisively

00:40:55.239 --> 00:40:55.719
 defeated

00:40:55.719 --> 00:40:56.539
 and still

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.260
 very dangerous

00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:59.920
 our adversary

00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:00.440
 is both

00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:00.960
 decisively

00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:01.300
 defeated

00:41:01.300 --> 00:41:01.820
 and still

00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:02.519
 very dangerous

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:02.960
 D-Day

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:03.460
 has come

00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:04.239
 and we're

00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:04.539
 somewhere

00:41:04.539 --> 00:41:04.820
 in the

00:41:04.820 --> 00:41:05.159
 middle of

00:41:05.159 --> 00:41:05.639
 France

00:41:05.639 --> 00:41:06.619
 pressing

00:41:06.619 --> 00:41:06.980
 forward

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:07.659
 by faith

00:41:07.659 --> 00:41:08.259
 in the

00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:08.519
 Lamb

00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:08.799
 and by

00:41:08.799 --> 00:41:09.099
 the word

00:41:09.099 --> 00:41:09.339
 of our

00:41:09.339 --> 00:41:09.739
 testimony

00:41:09.739 --> 00:41:10.219
 bullets

00:41:10.219 --> 00:41:10.759
 are flying

00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:11.179
 the enemies

00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:12.059
 counterattacking

00:41:12.059 --> 00:41:12.659
 it's

00:41:12.659 --> 00:41:13.219
 dangerous

00:41:13.219 --> 00:41:16.599
 our current

00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:16.960
 struggle

00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:17.480
 as Ephesians

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.199
 6 puts it

00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:18.719
 is not

00:41:18.719 --> 00:41:19.099
 against

00:41:19.099 --> 00:41:19.559
 flesh and

00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:19.799
 blood

00:41:19.799 --> 00:41:20.819
 it is

00:41:20.819 --> 00:41:21.199
 against

00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:21.719
 the

00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:22.199
 fiendish

00:41:22.199 --> 00:41:22.879
 schemes

00:41:22.879 --> 00:41:23.319
 of our

00:41:23.319 --> 00:41:23.699
 ultimate

00:41:23.699 --> 00:41:24.259
 adversary

00:41:24.259 --> 00:41:24.639
 who is

00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:24.920
 behind

00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:25.139
 the

00:41:25.139 --> 00:41:25.339
 curtain

00:41:25.339 --> 00:41:25.659
 of all

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:25.960
 this

00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:27.219
 he's

00:41:27.219 --> 00:41:27.480
 been up

00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:27.759
 to this

00:41:27.759 --> 00:41:28.079
 since the

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:28.399
 beginning

00:41:28.399 --> 00:41:28.839
 and he's

00:41:28.839 --> 00:41:29.219
 still up

00:41:29.219 --> 00:41:29.539
 to it

00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:30.079
 and he's

00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:30.619
 dangerous

00:41:30.619 --> 00:41:32.420
 yet

00:41:32.420 --> 00:41:32.679
 don't

00:41:32.679 --> 00:41:33.059
 forget

00:41:33.059 --> 00:41:34.399
 he has

00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:34.840
 been thrown

00:41:34.840 --> 00:41:35.200
 down

00:41:35.200 --> 00:41:37.280
 his

00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:37.740
 accusing

00:41:37.740 --> 00:41:38.119
 voice

00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:38.559
 is no

00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:38.880
 longer

00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:39.139
 heard

00:41:39.139 --> 00:41:39.440
 before

00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:39.660
 your

00:41:39.660 --> 00:41:39.940
 God

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.200
 who is

00:41:40.200 --> 00:41:40.440
 also

00:41:40.440 --> 00:41:40.660
 your

00:41:40.660 --> 00:41:40.960
 savior

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.619
 and your

00:41:41.619 --> 00:41:41.940
 father

00:41:41.940 --> 00:41:43.800
 so if

00:41:43.800 --> 00:41:44.059
 you are

00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:44.340
 hearing

00:41:44.340 --> 00:41:44.559
 the

00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:44.980
 accusing

00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:45.440
 voice

00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:45.720
 of

00:41:45.720 --> 00:41:46.119
 Satan

00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:48.039
 reminding

00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:48.460
 you of

00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:48.800
 past

00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:49.380
 regrets

00:41:49.380 --> 00:41:50.599
 or of

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:50.900
 current

00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:51.500
 failures

00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:53.059
 or fears

00:41:53.059 --> 00:41:53.300
 of the

00:41:53.300 --> 00:41:53.639
 future

00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:55.500
 call

00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:55.940
 this

00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:56.619
 to mind

00:41:56.619 --> 00:41:57.420
 your

00:41:57.420 --> 00:41:58.000
 accuser

00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:58.360
 has been

00:41:58.360 --> 00:41:58.660
 thrown

00:41:58.660 --> 00:41:59.139
 down

00:41:59.139 --> 00:42:03.400
 decisively

00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:03.839
 defeated

00:42:03.839 --> 00:42:04.059
 the

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:04.759
 prosecuting

00:42:04.759 --> 00:42:05.199
 attorney

00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:05.879
 has been

00:42:05.879 --> 00:42:06.559
 disbarred

00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:06.920
 and thrown

00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:07.539
 out of

00:42:07.539 --> 00:42:07.839
 God's

00:42:07.839 --> 00:42:08.179
 courtroom

00:42:08.179 --> 00:42:09.719
 you have

00:42:09.719 --> 00:42:10.159
 forever

00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:10.859
 and finally

00:42:10.859 --> 00:42:11.139
 been

00:42:11.139 --> 00:42:11.500
 pronounced

00:42:11.500 --> 00:42:11.960
 not only

00:42:11.960 --> 00:42:12.659
 not guilty

00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:13.059
 but

00:42:13.059 --> 00:42:13.839
 righteous

00:42:13.839 --> 00:42:15.779
 God's

00:42:15.779 --> 00:42:16.079
 son

00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:16.679
 God's

00:42:16.679 --> 00:42:17.039
 daughter

00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:18.019
 because

00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:18.219
 of the

00:42:18.219 --> 00:42:18.379
 blood

00:42:18.379 --> 00:42:18.699
 of the

00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:18.960
 lamb

00:42:18.960 --> 00:42:19.339
 shed

00:42:19.339 --> 00:42:19.859
 for you

00:42:19.859 --> 00:42:21.239
 or maybe

00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:21.719
 the voice

00:42:21.719 --> 00:42:22.079
 of Satan

00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:22.480
 is not

00:42:22.480 --> 00:42:23.039
 accusing

00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:23.279
 you

00:42:23.279 --> 00:42:23.879
 he is

00:42:23.879 --> 00:42:24.339
 seeking

00:42:24.339 --> 00:42:24.819
 to deceive

00:42:24.819 --> 00:42:25.139
 you

00:42:25.139 --> 00:42:26.799
 he is

00:42:26.799 --> 00:42:27.279
 enticing

00:42:27.279 --> 00:42:27.639
 you

00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:28.460
 and you

00:42:28.460 --> 00:42:28.819
 know it

00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:30.360
 you've

00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:30.480
 been

00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:30.800
 listening

00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:31.240
 to his

00:42:31.240 --> 00:42:31.620
 lies

00:42:31.620 --> 00:42:32.780
 you've

00:42:32.780 --> 00:42:32.940
 been

00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:33.620
 attracted

00:42:33.620 --> 00:42:34.300
 by his

00:42:34.300 --> 00:42:34.740
 empty

00:42:34.740 --> 00:42:35.440
 promises

00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:36.420
 that

00:42:36.420 --> 00:42:36.720
 true

00:42:36.720 --> 00:42:37.100
 happiness

00:42:37.100 --> 00:42:37.860
 is not

00:42:37.860 --> 00:42:38.380
 found

00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:38.980
 in listening

00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:39.340
 to the

00:42:39.340 --> 00:42:39.600
 good

00:42:39.600 --> 00:42:39.920
 words

00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:40.400
 of God

00:42:40.400 --> 00:42:42.240
 but it's

00:42:42.240 --> 00:42:42.519
 on that

00:42:42.519 --> 00:42:42.980
 attractive

00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:43.440
 highway

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:44.360
 over there

00:42:44.360 --> 00:42:46.420
 your enemy

00:42:46.420 --> 00:42:46.980
 is still

00:42:46.980 --> 00:42:47.700
 after you

00:42:47.700 --> 00:42:50.780
 but the

00:42:50.780 --> 00:42:51.019
 lamb

00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:52.300
 has triumphed

00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:53.559
 remember

00:42:53.559 --> 00:42:54.080
 what Jesus

00:42:54.080 --> 00:42:54.660
 has accomplished

00:42:54.660 --> 00:42:55.400
 for you

00:42:55.400 --> 00:42:56.180
 how faithful

00:42:56.180 --> 00:42:56.660
 and true

00:42:56.660 --> 00:42:57.420
 he is

00:42:57.420 --> 00:42:58.280
 for you

00:42:58.280 --> 00:42:58.800
 and how

00:42:58.800 --> 00:42:59.160
 sweet

00:42:59.160 --> 00:42:59.580
 and good

00:42:59.580 --> 00:42:59.820
 his

00:42:59.820 --> 00:43:00.180
 words

00:43:00.180 --> 00:43:00.700
 of life

00:43:00.700 --> 00:43:01.040
 are

00:43:01.040 --> 00:43:01.960
 to you

00:43:01.960 --> 00:43:03.400
 so cling

00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:04.519
 to him

00:43:04.519 --> 00:43:05.420
 listen

00:43:05.420 --> 00:43:06.080
 to him

00:43:06.080 --> 00:43:06.519
 do not

00:43:06.519 --> 00:43:07.180
 follow the

00:43:07.180 --> 00:43:07.519
 voice

00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:08.260
 of the

00:43:08.260 --> 00:43:08.660
 dragon

00:43:08.660 --> 00:43:10.160
 listen

00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:10.560
 to the

00:43:10.560 --> 00:43:10.920
 voice

00:43:10.920 --> 00:43:11.700
 of your

00:43:11.700 --> 00:43:12.040
 savior

00:43:12.040 --> 00:43:13.340
 lastly

00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:14.200
 thirdly

00:43:14.200 --> 00:43:15.760
 God's

00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:16.200
 presence

00:43:16.200 --> 00:43:16.880
 and God's

00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:17.180
 word

00:43:17.180 --> 00:43:18.080
 are sufficient

00:43:18.080 --> 00:43:19.140
 for our

00:43:19.140 --> 00:43:19.640
 spiritual

00:43:19.640 --> 00:43:20.400
 well-being

00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:21.320
 in the

00:43:21.320 --> 00:43:21.640
 wilderness

00:43:21.640 --> 00:43:22.340
 of the

00:43:22.340 --> 00:43:22.600
 world

00:43:22.600 --> 00:43:23.100
 God's

00:43:23.100 --> 00:43:23.480
 presence

00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:24.100
 and God's

00:43:24.100 --> 00:43:24.440
 word

00:43:24.440 --> 00:43:25.480
 are sufficient

00:43:25.480 --> 00:43:26.360
 for our

00:43:26.360 --> 00:43:26.820
 spiritual

00:43:26.820 --> 00:43:27.360
 well-being

00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:27.800
 in the

00:43:27.800 --> 00:43:28.099
 wilderness

00:43:28.099 --> 00:43:28.639
 of the

00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:28.940
 world

00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:33.280
 all that

00:43:33.280 --> 00:43:33.639
 wilderness

00:43:33.639 --> 00:43:34.139
 language

00:43:34.139 --> 00:43:34.460
 in the

00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:34.659
 third

00:43:34.659 --> 00:43:34.980
 scene

00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:35.139
 do you

00:43:35.139 --> 00:43:35.300
 remember

00:43:35.300 --> 00:43:35.579
 that

00:43:35.579 --> 00:43:36.360
 remember

00:43:36.360 --> 00:43:36.659
 verse

00:43:36.659 --> 00:43:37.079
 six

00:43:37.079 --> 00:43:38.119
 God is

00:43:38.119 --> 00:43:38.880
 a place

00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:39.360
 prepared

00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:39.679
 for the

00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:39.880
 woman

00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:40.320
 to flee

00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:40.559
 to

00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:40.900
 and be

00:43:40.900 --> 00:43:41.300
 nourished

00:43:41.300 --> 00:43:41.579
 for the

00:43:41.579 --> 00:43:41.840
 time

00:43:41.840 --> 00:43:42.440
 she continues

00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:42.719
 in the

00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:42.980
 world

00:43:42.980 --> 00:43:43.599
 while the

00:43:43.599 --> 00:43:43.880
 dragon

00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:44.340
 pursues

00:43:44.340 --> 00:43:44.559
 her

00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:46.340
 what did

00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:46.840
 Israel

00:43:46.840 --> 00:43:47.380
 have

00:43:47.380 --> 00:43:47.719
 when they

00:43:47.719 --> 00:43:48.019
 were in

00:43:48.019 --> 00:43:48.139
 the

00:43:48.139 --> 00:43:48.440
 wilderness

00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:51.420
 they were

00:43:51.420 --> 00:43:51.820
 delivered

00:43:51.820 --> 00:43:52.240
 from their

00:43:52.240 --> 00:43:52.659
 pursuing

00:43:52.659 --> 00:43:53.159
 dragon

00:43:53.159 --> 00:43:54.199
 what did

00:43:54.199 --> 00:43:54.679
 they have

00:43:54.679 --> 00:43:55.980
 they had

00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:56.259
 God's

00:43:56.259 --> 00:43:56.559
 abiding

00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:57.099
 presence

00:43:57.099 --> 00:43:59.759
 the pillar

00:43:59.759 --> 00:44:00.359
 of fiery

00:44:00.359 --> 00:44:00.859
 cloud

00:44:00.859 --> 00:44:01.579
 went with

00:44:01.579 --> 00:44:01.839
 them

00:44:01.839 --> 00:44:02.480
 guided

00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:02.779
 them

00:44:02.779 --> 00:44:03.279
 protected

00:44:03.279 --> 00:44:03.579
 them

00:44:03.579 --> 00:44:04.159
 and later

00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:04.659
 on that

00:44:04.659 --> 00:44:05.039
 presence

00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:05.480
 dwelled

00:44:05.480 --> 00:44:05.759
 in the

00:44:05.759 --> 00:44:06.079
 ark of

00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:06.219
 the

00:44:06.219 --> 00:44:06.519
 covenant

00:44:06.519 --> 00:44:06.839
 in the

00:44:06.839 --> 00:44:07.440
 tabernacle

00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:08.420
 so God's

00:44:08.420 --> 00:44:08.759
 presence

00:44:08.759 --> 00:44:09.460
 upheld

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:10.480
 and sustained

00:44:10.480 --> 00:44:11.219
 and protected

00:44:11.219 --> 00:44:12.039
 and comforted

00:44:12.039 --> 00:44:12.519
 his people

00:44:12.519 --> 00:44:13.259
 on the

00:44:13.259 --> 00:44:13.739
 dangerous

00:44:13.739 --> 00:44:14.379
 and dusty

00:44:14.379 --> 00:44:14.779
 road

00:44:14.779 --> 00:44:15.079
 to the

00:44:15.079 --> 00:44:15.359
 promised

00:44:15.359 --> 00:44:15.679
 land

00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:17.299
 and his

00:44:17.299 --> 00:44:17.619
 presence

00:44:17.619 --> 00:44:17.960
 also

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:18.619
 nourished

00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:19.119
 them

00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:21.859
 every day

00:44:21.859 --> 00:44:23.119
 bread

00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:23.940
 from heaven

00:44:23.940 --> 00:44:26.519
 he fed

00:44:26.519 --> 00:44:26.659
 them

00:44:26.659 --> 00:44:27.059
 with bread

00:44:27.059 --> 00:44:27.500
 from heaven

00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:27.940
 and water

00:44:27.940 --> 00:44:28.659
 from rocks

00:44:28.659 --> 00:44:29.759
 he nourished

00:44:29.759 --> 00:44:30.480
 and cared

00:44:30.480 --> 00:44:30.819
 for them

00:44:30.819 --> 00:44:31.259
 like a

00:44:31.259 --> 00:44:31.559
 mother

00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:32.279
 in the

00:44:32.279 --> 00:44:32.980
 midst

00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:33.619
 of the

00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:34.019
 dangerous

00:44:34.019 --> 00:44:34.460
 wilderness

00:44:34.460 --> 00:44:35.940
 but not

00:44:35.940 --> 00:44:36.239
 only did

00:44:36.239 --> 00:44:36.639
 they have

00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.039
 his

00:44:37.039 --> 00:44:37.619
 presence

00:44:37.619 --> 00:44:38.019
 but they

00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:38.400
 had his

00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:38.880
 speaking

00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:39.480
 presence

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:40.420
 his word

00:44:40.420 --> 00:44:41.679
 to them

00:44:41.679 --> 00:44:44.940
 he spoke

00:44:44.940 --> 00:44:45.299
 to them

00:44:45.299 --> 00:44:45.500
 there

00:44:45.500 --> 00:44:45.960
 he gave

00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:46.179
 them

00:44:46.179 --> 00:44:47.039
 his good

00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:47.659
 words

00:44:47.659 --> 00:44:48.019
 in the

00:44:48.019 --> 00:44:48.319
 law

00:44:48.319 --> 00:44:49.059
 he instructed

00:44:49.059 --> 00:44:49.319
 them

00:44:49.319 --> 00:44:49.880
 and promised

00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:50.179
 them

00:44:50.179 --> 00:44:51.380
 and led

00:44:51.380 --> 00:44:51.699
 them

00:44:51.699 --> 00:44:52.980
 by his

00:44:52.980 --> 00:44:53.219
 word

00:44:53.219 --> 00:44:53.719
 it is

00:44:53.719 --> 00:44:54.419
 the same

00:44:54.419 --> 00:44:55.259
 what he

00:44:55.259 --> 00:44:55.639
 promises

00:44:55.639 --> 00:44:56.259
 for us

00:44:56.259 --> 00:44:57.639
 his presence

00:44:57.639 --> 00:44:58.539
 is with us

00:44:58.539 --> 00:44:59.059
 not in a

00:44:59.059 --> 00:44:59.279
 tent

00:44:59.279 --> 00:45:00.460
 but his

00:45:00.460 --> 00:45:01.500
 very spirit

00:45:01.500 --> 00:45:02.239
 abiding

00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:02.980
 within our

00:45:02.980 --> 00:45:03.359
 tent

00:45:03.359 --> 00:45:05.579
 wherever we

00:45:05.579 --> 00:45:06.059
 go he's

00:45:06.059 --> 00:45:06.799
 with us

00:45:06.799 --> 00:45:08.639
 he nourishes

00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.259
 our spirits

00:45:09.259 --> 00:45:09.659
 with his

00:45:09.659 --> 00:45:10.500
 true and

00:45:10.500 --> 00:45:10.899
 abiding

00:45:10.899 --> 00:45:11.539
 words

00:45:11.539 --> 00:45:12.279
 which we

00:45:12.279 --> 00:45:12.759
 amazingly

00:45:12.759 --> 00:45:13.179
 have in

00:45:13.179 --> 00:45:13.619
 our own

00:45:13.619 --> 00:45:14.039
 language

00:45:14.039 --> 00:45:14.739
 right here

00:45:14.739 --> 00:45:15.559
 to treasure

00:45:15.559 --> 00:45:16.039
 and to

00:45:16.039 --> 00:45:16.739
 cherish

00:45:16.739 --> 00:45:17.679
 and to

00:45:17.679 --> 00:45:18.059
 savor

00:45:18.059 --> 00:45:18.559
 and to

00:45:18.559 --> 00:45:19.319
 consume

00:45:19.320 --> 00:45:21.960
 nourishes

00:45:21.960 --> 00:45:22.519
 us

00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.780
 so yes

00:45:23.780 --> 00:45:24.100
 we are

00:45:24.100 --> 00:45:24.300
 in a

00:45:24.300 --> 00:45:24.620
 battlefield

00:45:24.620 --> 00:45:25.080
 but we're

00:45:25.080 --> 00:45:25.600
 not just

00:45:25.600 --> 00:45:25.840
 in the

00:45:25.840 --> 00:45:26.200
 battlefield

00:45:26.200 --> 00:45:27.059
 like David

00:45:27.059 --> 00:45:27.460
 said in

00:45:27.460 --> 00:45:28.100
 Psalm 23

00:45:28.100 --> 00:45:29.300
 you prepare

00:45:29.300 --> 00:45:29.820
 a table

00:45:29.820 --> 00:45:30.400
 before me

00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:30.760
 in the

00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:31.200
 presence

00:45:31.200 --> 00:45:31.900
 of my

00:45:31.900 --> 00:45:32.500
 enemies

00:45:32.500 --> 00:45:34.440
 you anoint

00:45:34.440 --> 00:45:34.900
 my head

00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:35.360
 with oil

00:45:35.360 --> 00:45:36.160
 my cup

00:45:36.160 --> 00:45:36.860
 overflows

00:45:36.860 --> 00:45:37.700
 our God

00:45:37.700 --> 00:45:38.220
 in the

00:45:38.220 --> 00:45:38.640
 middle of

00:45:38.640 --> 00:45:39.140
 the battlefield

00:45:39.140 --> 00:45:39.760
 pitches a

00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:40.300
 tent right

00:45:40.300 --> 00:45:40.660
 where we're

00:45:40.660 --> 00:45:40.920
 at

00:45:40.920 --> 00:45:41.440
 and he

00:45:41.440 --> 00:45:41.840
 sets his

00:45:41.840 --> 00:45:42.160
 table

00:45:42.160 --> 00:45:42.500
 with his

00:45:42.500 --> 00:45:43.000
 banquet

00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:43.420
 feast

00:45:43.420 --> 00:45:44.000
 of his

00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:44.460
 presence

00:45:44.460 --> 00:45:44.800
 and his

00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:45.080
 words

00:45:45.080 --> 00:45:45.620
 his very

00:45:45.620 --> 00:45:46.400
 person

00:45:46.400 --> 00:45:47.120
 relating

00:45:47.120 --> 00:45:47.519
 to and

00:45:47.519 --> 00:45:47.940
 abiding

00:45:47.940 --> 00:45:48.440
 with us

00:45:48.440 --> 00:45:48.760
 in the

00:45:48.760 --> 00:45:49.000
 middle

00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:49.440
 of the

00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:49.800
 battle

00:45:49.800 --> 00:45:52.280
 isn't that

00:45:52.280 --> 00:45:52.480
 what we

00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:52.780
 just did

00:45:52.780 --> 00:45:52.980
 a few

00:45:52.980 --> 00:45:53.200
 minutes

00:45:53.200 --> 00:45:53.460
 ago

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.519
 we

00:45:54.519 --> 00:45:54.940
 nourished

00:45:54.940 --> 00:45:55.360
 ourselves

00:45:55.360 --> 00:45:55.740
 with his

00:45:55.740 --> 00:45:56.019
 grace

00:45:56.019 --> 00:45:56.280
 at the

00:45:56.280 --> 00:45:56.599
 table

00:45:56.599 --> 00:45:58.659
 and he

00:45:58.659 --> 00:45:59.119
 meets us

00:45:59.119 --> 00:45:59.519
 right in

00:45:59.519 --> 00:45:59.800
 the middle

00:45:59.800 --> 00:46:00.179
 of our

00:46:00.179 --> 00:46:00.740
 real life

00:46:00.740 --> 00:46:01.119
 struggles

00:46:01.119 --> 00:46:01.480
 we're going

00:46:01.480 --> 00:46:01.840
 to walk

00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:02.179
 out this

00:46:02.179 --> 00:46:02.440
 door

00:46:02.440 --> 00:46:03.019
 in just

00:46:03.019 --> 00:46:03.300
 a little

00:46:03.300 --> 00:46:03.480
 bit

00:46:03.480 --> 00:46:03.920
 we walk

00:46:03.920 --> 00:46:04.119
 back

00:46:04.119 --> 00:46:04.420
 into the

00:46:04.420 --> 00:46:04.679
 wars

00:46:04.679 --> 00:46:05.360
 and remember

00:46:05.360 --> 00:46:05.980
 that his

00:46:05.980 --> 00:46:06.579
 presence

00:46:06.579 --> 00:46:07.119
 and his

00:46:07.119 --> 00:46:07.559
 words are

00:46:07.559 --> 00:46:08.159
 totally

00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:08.720
 sufficient

00:46:08.720 --> 00:46:09.760
 to sustain

00:46:09.760 --> 00:46:10.099
 you

00:46:10.099 --> 00:46:12.039
 and to

00:46:12.039 --> 00:46:12.440
 uphold

00:46:12.440 --> 00:46:12.760
 you

00:46:12.760 --> 00:46:13.480
 and to

00:46:13.480 --> 00:46:13.780
 shelter

00:46:13.780 --> 00:46:14.119
 you

00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:14.740
 in the

00:46:14.740 --> 00:46:15.019
 middle

00:46:15.019 --> 00:46:15.659
 of the

00:46:15.659 --> 00:46:15.960
 battle

00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:16.720
 in the

00:46:16.720 --> 00:46:17.000
 wilderness

00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:18.239
 if you're

00:46:18.239 --> 00:46:18.639
 feeling this

00:46:18.639 --> 00:46:19.199
 and particularly

00:46:19.199 --> 00:46:20.579
 you're feeling

00:46:20.579 --> 00:46:20.900
 in the

00:46:20.900 --> 00:46:21.219
 battle

00:46:21.219 --> 00:46:21.960
 go to

00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:22.639
 Ephesians

00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:23.059
 6

00:46:23.059 --> 00:46:24.239
 this afternoon

00:46:24.239 --> 00:46:25.300
 start in

00:46:25.300 --> 00:46:25.760
 verse 10

00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:26.179
 and just

00:46:26.179 --> 00:46:27.079
 start meditating

00:46:27.079 --> 00:46:28.659
 on the

00:46:28.659 --> 00:46:29.500
 spiritual conflict

00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:29.880
 you're in

00:46:29.880 --> 00:46:30.320
 and the

00:46:30.320 --> 00:46:30.800
 armor

00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:31.840
 that God

00:46:31.840 --> 00:46:32.300
 not only

00:46:32.300 --> 00:46:32.780
 gives to

00:46:32.780 --> 00:46:32.920
 you

00:46:32.920 --> 00:46:33.559
 but is

00:46:33.559 --> 00:46:34.460
 for you

00:46:34.460 --> 00:46:35.500
 as you

00:46:35.500 --> 00:46:35.940
 fight the

00:46:35.940 --> 00:46:36.239
 warfare

00:46:36.239 --> 00:46:37.239
 of faith

00:46:37.239 --> 00:46:38.280
 this week

00:46:38.280 --> 00:46:39.820
 and remember

00:46:39.820 --> 00:46:41.679
 Revelation 12

00:46:41.679 --> 00:46:42.199
 isn't just

00:46:42.199 --> 00:46:43.099
 about you

00:46:43.099 --> 00:46:44.440
 you're in

00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:44.719
 there

00:46:44.719 --> 00:46:45.679
 but it's

00:46:45.679 --> 00:46:46.059
 not just

00:46:46.059 --> 00:46:46.500
 about you

00:46:46.500 --> 00:46:47.739
 it's

00:46:47.739 --> 00:46:48.359
 about us

00:46:48.359 --> 00:46:49.779
 the church

00:46:49.779 --> 00:46:51.239
 we are

00:46:51.239 --> 00:46:51.759
 in this

00:46:51.759 --> 00:46:52.219
 together

00:46:52.219 --> 00:46:53.259
 sharing in

00:46:53.259 --> 00:46:53.639
 the victory

00:46:53.639 --> 00:46:54.139
 that Christ

00:46:54.139 --> 00:46:54.459
 has won

00:46:54.459 --> 00:46:54.819
 for us

00:46:54.819 --> 00:46:55.159
 in the

00:46:55.159 --> 00:46:55.459
 wilderness

00:46:55.459 --> 00:46:56.679
 you are

00:46:56.679 --> 00:46:57.399
 not alone

00:46:57.399 --> 00:46:59.339
 and I

00:46:59.339 --> 00:46:59.899
 encourage you

00:46:59.899 --> 00:47:01.399
 if you are

00:47:01.399 --> 00:47:01.839
 struggling

00:47:01.839 --> 00:47:02.519
 in the

00:47:02.519 --> 00:47:02.799
 battle

00:47:02.799 --> 00:47:03.139
 and you

00:47:03.139 --> 00:47:03.699
 are aware

00:47:03.699 --> 00:47:04.139
 of your

00:47:04.139 --> 00:47:04.439
 enemy

00:47:04.439 --> 00:47:05.399
 this morning

00:47:05.399 --> 00:47:06.759
 go to

00:47:06.759 --> 00:47:07.239
 somebody

00:47:07.239 --> 00:47:08.579
 service is

00:47:08.579 --> 00:47:08.859
 over

00:47:08.859 --> 00:47:10.219
 and ask

00:47:10.219 --> 00:47:10.739
 for help

00:47:10.739 --> 00:47:11.739
 ask for

00:47:11.739 --> 00:47:12.099
 prayer

00:47:12.099 --> 00:47:13.199
 share

00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:14.259
 we need

00:47:14.259 --> 00:47:14.599
 each

00:47:14.599 --> 00:47:14.939
 other

00:47:14.939 --> 00:47:17.719
 the

00:47:17.719 --> 00:47:17.980
 curtain

00:47:17.980 --> 00:47:18.379
 is pulled

00:47:18.379 --> 00:47:18.819
 back

00:47:18.819 --> 00:47:20.399
 conflict

00:47:20.399 --> 00:47:20.639
 is

00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:21.019
 revealed

00:47:21.019 --> 00:47:22.279
 the

00:47:22.279 --> 00:47:22.619
 victory

00:47:22.619 --> 00:47:22.980
 is

00:47:22.980 --> 00:47:23.699
 ours

00:47:23.699 --> 00:47:24.599
 in the

00:47:24.599 --> 00:47:24.799
 Lord

00:47:24.799 --> 00:47:25.139
 Jesus

00:47:25.139 --> 00:47:26.619
 even

00:47:26.619 --> 00:47:26.899
 if the

00:47:26.899 --> 00:47:27.079
 battle

00:47:27.079 --> 00:47:27.319
 isn't

00:47:27.319 --> 00:47:27.500
 over

00:47:27.500 --> 00:47:27.839
 yet

00:47:27.839 --> 00:47:29.079
 let's

00:47:29.079 --> 00:47:29.279
 share

00:47:29.279 --> 00:47:29.519
 in his

00:47:29.519 --> 00:47:29.819
 victory

00:47:29.819 --> 00:47:30.439
 by faith

00:47:30.439 --> 00:47:30.899
 together

00:47:30.899 --> 00:47:31.599
 church

00:47:31.599 --> 00:47:33.039
 let's

00:47:33.039 --> 00:47:33.279
 pray

00:47:33.279 --> 00:47:38.419
 oh

00:47:38.419 --> 00:47:38.659
 God

00:47:38.659 --> 00:47:39.019
 thank you

00:47:39.019 --> 00:47:39.259
 that you

00:47:39.259 --> 00:47:39.759
 are sufficient

00:47:39.759 --> 00:47:40.399
 for us

00:47:40.399 --> 00:47:41.359
 thank you

00:47:41.359 --> 00:47:41.619
 that our

00:47:41.619 --> 00:47:42.079
 accuser

00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:42.299
 is

00:47:42.299 --> 00:47:42.859
 silenced

00:47:42.860 --> 00:47:44.599
 thank you

00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:44.940
 that he

00:47:44.940 --> 00:47:45.420
 is thrown

00:47:45.420 --> 00:47:45.900
 down

00:47:45.900 --> 00:47:47.079
 through the

00:47:47.079 --> 00:47:47.400
 victory

00:47:47.400 --> 00:47:47.720
 of the

00:47:47.720 --> 00:47:47.960
 lamb

00:47:47.960 --> 00:47:49.300
 help us

00:47:49.300 --> 00:47:49.820
 to live

00:47:49.820 --> 00:47:50.440
 in that

00:47:50.440 --> 00:47:50.860
 victory

00:47:50.860 --> 00:47:51.500
 this week

00:47:51.500 --> 00:47:53.099
 guard us

00:47:53.099 --> 00:47:53.800
 from his

00:47:53.800 --> 00:47:54.360
 wily

00:47:54.360 --> 00:47:56.039
 ways

00:47:56.039 --> 00:47:59.099
 thank you

00:47:59.099 --> 00:47:59.460
 that we

00:47:59.460 --> 00:48:00.120
 can endure

00:48:00.120 --> 00:48:01.120
 his rage

00:48:01.120 --> 00:48:02.900
 because you

00:48:02.900 --> 00:48:03.240
 are with

00:48:03.240 --> 00:48:03.579
 us

00:48:03.579 --> 00:48:05.180
 in Jesus

00:48:05.180 --> 00:48:05.559
 name

00:48:05.559 --> 00:48:05.960
 amen

00:48:06.059 --> 00:48:06.880
 the

00:48:06.880 --> 00:48:20.920
 we

00:48:20.920 --> 00:48:24.920
 happy