WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:02.760 Well, good evening, everyone. 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:04.879 Glad that we can be here together. 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:06.940 It's great to be back. 00:00:07.060 --> 00:00:09.320 We were not able to be here last week. 00:00:09.859 --> 00:00:12.320 My wife and I were in Indianapolis. 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:17.120 She had a film screening in the Heartland Film Festival, 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:18.640 and we had a great time. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.539 We saw a lot of great films that were almost as good as her film. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:25.800 Really amazing experience to be around so many people 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:28.580 who are doing great work, but happy to be back here. 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:33.299 And for this day that we call All Saints Day. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:40.259 As we get started, I want to start this way. 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:47.079 Scientists are and have long been concerned with a question 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:49.459 of consciousness and perception. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:53.459 They've long been concerned with the question of whether or not 00:00:53.459 --> 00:00:57.159 we're able to perceive reality accurately. 00:00:57.159 --> 00:00:59.979 In other words, using our five senses, 00:01:00.199 --> 00:01:03.119 can we see things as they really are? 00:01:03.739 --> 00:01:07.159 And this is picking up steam in the scientific community, 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:09.920 particularly among cognitive scientists 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:11.899 and theoretical biologists. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:14.799 There's a man named Donald Hoffman, 00:01:15.179 --> 00:01:16.620 who's professor of cognitive science 00:01:16.620 --> 00:01:18.819 at the University of California, Irvine. 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:20.459 And here's what he says. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:24.699 The world presented to us by our perceptions 00:01:24.699 --> 00:01:27.239 is nothing like reality. 00:01:28.559 --> 00:01:31.899 What we see is a magnificent illusion 00:01:31.899 --> 00:01:35.519 that maximizes evolutionary fitness 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:38.819 by driving truth to extinction. 00:01:39.979 --> 00:01:43.099 That's an interesting thing to assert. 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:44.299 In other words, he's saying, 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:47.679 we don't necessarily see things as they are. 00:01:48.679 --> 00:01:52.819 We see things in ways that are most beneficial to us 00:01:52.819 --> 00:01:58.200 at the expense of truth and literal accuracy. 00:01:58.759 --> 00:02:00.719 So this question is very important. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:04.479 Do we live all of our lives only seeing what we want to see, 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:05.780 what we need to see, 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:07.560 what is most beneficial to see? 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:12.080 Or is it ever possible to actually cut through 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:13.860 that magnificent illusion 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:17.199 and to see things as they actually are? 00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:22.300 And scripture is also very concerned with that question. 00:02:23.300 --> 00:02:25.860 In particular, there's a genre in the Bible 00:02:25.860 --> 00:02:29.400 that is very concerned with this question 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:31.939 of perception versus reality, 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.120 and it's called apocalyptic literature. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:39.020 Now, I know that you began looking at this last week with Dan, 00:02:39.140 --> 00:02:41.539 and many people, when they hear the word apocalyptic, 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:45.980 think of great end times battles between good and evil 00:02:45.980 --> 00:02:48.840 and buildings crashing down and fire and brimstone 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:49.680 and all that stuff. 00:02:49.920 --> 00:02:55.240 Well, the word apocalyptic really just literally means unveiling. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:57.780 It means revealing. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:02.920 And the function of apocalyptic literature is to reveal, 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:05.159 it's to unveil reality. 00:03:05.899 --> 00:03:08.159 It cuts through the illusion. 00:03:09.459 --> 00:03:12.399 It cuts through our perceived reality 00:03:12.399 --> 00:03:17.479 and illuminates the spiritual reality underneath. 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:21.619 And so we're going to be looking at the book of Daniel 00:03:21.619 --> 00:03:23.259 as we've been doing for a number of weeks. 00:03:23.339 --> 00:03:24.799 It just so happens in our series, 00:03:25.279 --> 00:03:28.159 this week we just happened to come to Daniel chapter 8, 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:32.840 and this passage today is one great example of apocalyptic writing. 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:36.439 God gives the prophet Daniel a vision, 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.180 and then the vision does two things. 00:03:39.359 --> 00:03:42.060 It describes a number of historical events, 00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:45.479 and then it cuts through that layer, 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:49.060 and it shows us an underlying spiritual reality. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.379 And so we're going to look at this chapter together, 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.859 and even though it's about things that happened a long time ago, 00:03:55.860 --> 00:03:59.860 what I hope you'll see is that we can use the same approach today 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:02.560 to make sense of current reality. 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:05.340 Once you know the underlying story, 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:07.220 the underlying spiritual truth, 00:04:07.700 --> 00:04:10.860 you can overlay events in any historical period 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:15.000 and use it as a means of interpreting the times. 00:04:15.200 --> 00:04:16.660 And so this is what we're going to do. 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:17.860 So first we'll look at the events themselves 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:19.939 described in this vision, 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:23.639 and then we're going to look at the underlying spiritual reality 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:24.699 that is revealed. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:25.939 So let's pray as we get started. 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:29.379 Our Heavenly Father, 00:04:29.459 --> 00:04:33.459 we do thank you for this gathering of saints here, Lord. 00:04:33.539 --> 00:04:35.319 We know that all who belong to you, 00:04:35.419 --> 00:04:36.740 all who have put their faith in you, 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:37.839 are made saints, 00:04:37.919 --> 00:04:39.159 and we thank you for this gathering. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:41.800 We also thank you for all those who might be here 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:43.579 who are still seeking, 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:44.399 still searching, 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:46.379 still wondering if you're there, 00:04:46.719 --> 00:04:47.839 and who you are, 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:49.279 and what it means to know you, Lord. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:51.739 We thank you for all you have brought here tonight. 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:54.979 And we pray that by your wisdom and by your power, 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:56.619 you would speak to each one of us 00:04:56.619 --> 00:04:58.139 as we need to hear you. 00:04:58.719 --> 00:04:59.699 Meet us where we are, 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:00.639 as you promised to do, 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:01.479 because you love us. 00:05:02.039 --> 00:05:03.759 And we ask this in your Son's name. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:04.199 Amen. 00:05:05.899 --> 00:05:08.139 So as we look at Daniel chapter 8, 00:05:08.179 --> 00:05:09.379 I just want to say right off the bat, 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:12.359 this is a very bizarre, bizarre chapter. 00:05:12.619 --> 00:05:14.359 There's lots of crazy stuff happening here. 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:19.460 There's goats and rams and multiple horns coming out of heads 00:05:19.460 --> 00:05:22.960 and stars and planets getting pulled out of the sky. 00:05:23.280 --> 00:05:26.259 It's a crazy sort of trippy thing going on here. 00:05:26.520 --> 00:05:29.120 And so I want to give you a little context first, 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:30.939 in case you're unfamiliar with Daniel. 00:05:31.460 --> 00:05:34.500 Daniel takes place in the 6th century BC. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.400 That's when this story is happening. 00:05:37.840 --> 00:05:41.560 And Daniel is an Israelite who is living in Babylon. 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:43.680 He's lived in Babylon his entire adult life. 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:45.500 And that's because Babylon, 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:46.240 the Babylonians, 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:48.280 sacked Judah and Jerusalem, 00:05:48.740 --> 00:05:51.139 and they took the best and the brightest of Israel 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:52.639 into captivity. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:54.060 So this is where Daniel has been. 00:05:54.340 --> 00:05:56.900 He's been serving under a number of kings by this point. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:00.639 And he's gotten famous because of his God-given ability 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:03.360 to interpret dreams and visions. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:05.120 And what we realize here, 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:08.420 and what we began to see last week with chapter 7, 00:06:08.420 --> 00:06:12.000 is not only is Daniel able to interpret 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.500 other people's dreams and visions, 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:19.420 but at some point Daniel began to have dreams and visions of his own. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.560 And so God not only gives Daniel the vision, 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.879 but he also sends emissaries, messengers, 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:28.660 to explain the vision. 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:30.199 So that's what we're going to look at. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:32.939 Now I want to say that the historical events 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:34.340 that are described in this vision 00:06:34.340 --> 00:06:37.180 don't actually happen for another 200 years. 00:06:37.180 --> 00:06:39.800 So we're moving from the 6th century 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:43.319 up to the 4th, 3rd, even 2nd century 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:45.920 as we're looking at what is described here. 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:48.819 And yet there's a surprising amount of historical accuracy. 00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:53.120 So the first thing Daniel sees in this vision as it opens, 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:54.399 it says, you know, 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:55.439 Daniel ate one, 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.759 in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, 00:06:57.879 --> 00:06:59.740 a vision appeared to me, Daniel. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:02.500 And the first thing he sees in this vision is a ram. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:04.600 And the ram has two horns, 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:07.120 one slightly longer than the other. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:08.019 Interesting detail. 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:09.939 And this ram is very powerful. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:11.899 It's able to do anything it wants. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.279 It can go north or east or south or west. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:15.439 It can do anything it wants, 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:17.159 and nobody can challenge this ram. 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:18.760 Very powerful, right? 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:22.120 So this ram is sort of hanging out in the vision, 00:07:22.640 --> 00:07:23.880 and then Daniel looks, 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:25.220 and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:26.100 a goat appears. 00:07:27.880 --> 00:07:28.920 And so, you know, 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.100 right now things are starting to get strange. 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:32.740 So how do we begin to understand this? 00:07:32.820 --> 00:07:33.740 Well, it's interesting. 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:35.379 History tells us that, 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:39.720 and later in the interpretation, 00:07:40.260 --> 00:07:42.640 we find out that the ram actually represents 00:07:42.640 --> 00:07:43.840 the Medo-Persian Empire. 00:07:45.400 --> 00:07:46.879 And you say, well, why a ram? 00:07:47.780 --> 00:07:49.080 Well, it actually turns out that a ram 00:07:49.080 --> 00:07:51.640 is a good symbol for the Medo-Persian Empire 00:07:51.640 --> 00:07:55.140 because the Persians often had rams, 00:07:55.300 --> 00:07:57.120 ram's heads, on their armor. 00:07:58.060 --> 00:07:59.960 So this is what this symbol represents. 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:01.380 And then out of nowhere, 00:08:01.520 --> 00:08:02.900 this male goat appears. 00:08:03.020 --> 00:08:05.840 And the male goat just has one prominent horn 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:06.760 sticking out of his head, 00:08:06.820 --> 00:08:08.000 so it's like a unicorn goat. 00:08:08.260 --> 00:08:10.960 And the unicorn goat starts racing toward the ram, 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.240 and it's going so fast 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.040 that the feet aren't even touching the ground. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:16.580 It's just flying over the land, 00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:17.979 and it's coming at the ram, 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:21.339 and it, you know, takes the ram down. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:23.680 And it says that the ram is utterly powerless 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:24.959 against this goat. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:26.620 The goat totally crushes the ram. 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:30.259 So how do we make sense of that? 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:31.519 Well, a little later in the vision, 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:34.799 this is explained that the goat 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:36.600 actually represents Greece, 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:38.939 the Greek Empire. 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:41.920 And history tells us that Alexander the Great 00:08:41.920 --> 00:08:44.980 rose to power at a very young age. 00:08:45.520 --> 00:08:46.880 He unified Greece, right? 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:47.780 People said, 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:48.980 we're not going to follow this kid. 00:08:49.920 --> 00:08:51.900 So he rose up, took his army, 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:52.900 slaughtered them all. 00:08:53.220 --> 00:08:54.660 Said, anybody else have a problem with me? 00:08:54.760 --> 00:08:55.560 Okay, good. 00:08:55.880 --> 00:08:57.060 And then from that point on, 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:57.760 they were unified. 00:08:57.980 --> 00:09:00.040 And then, like most 20-year-olds, 00:09:00.260 --> 00:09:01.460 he said, you know, this isn't enough. 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:02.820 I want to conquer the whole world. 00:09:03.140 --> 00:09:05.400 And so he sets out to conquer the whole world. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:07.539 And in order to conquer the world, 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:09.480 he says, well, I have to take out 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:10.559 the Medo-Persian Empire. 00:09:11.079 --> 00:09:12.500 Because they're the big threat. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:14.240 So he gets his army, 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:16.139 and he goes after the Medo-Persian Empire. 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:19.240 And he crushes them. 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:21.319 Obliterates them. 00:09:22.459 --> 00:09:23.759 Now, what's interesting in the vision 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:25.480 is that it says that right after the goat 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:26.079 is victorious, 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:27.620 at the height of his strength, 00:09:27.819 --> 00:09:29.699 this prominent horn is broken. 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:32.439 What's going on there? 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:33.939 Well, we know from history 00:09:33.939 --> 00:09:35.100 that after Alexander, 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:37.299 conquered the Medo-Persian Empire, 00:09:37.699 --> 00:09:39.240 at the height of his strength, 00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:40.139 at age 33, 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:42.199 he contracts malaria, 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:44.579 and he dies prematurely. 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:48.360 So after he dies, 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:51.679 pretty quickly his sons are killed off 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:53.559 because nobody wants them 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:54.439 ascending to the throne. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:58.679 And then his four generals 00:09:58.679 --> 00:09:59.960 divide up his kingdom. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:02.139 And in the vision we see 00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:03.319 in verse 8 and verse 22, 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:06.600 after this prominent horn is broken, 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:09.460 four smaller horns rise up 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:11.200 in the place of the one horn. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.080 Four generals, 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:13.020 the kingdom is divided. 00:10:14.280 --> 00:10:15.080 By the way, 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:16.760 why is Greece represented 00:10:16.760 --> 00:10:18.460 by a goat? 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:20.480 Seems kind of random. 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:22.680 Well, history tells us 00:10:22.680 --> 00:10:24.160 that as Alexander and his army 00:10:24.160 --> 00:10:26.700 sailed toward the Medo-Persians 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:27.760 to attack them, 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.039 guess what was on the sail 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:32.159 of Alexander's ship? 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:33.319 It was a goat. 00:10:34.439 --> 00:10:36.240 So we have this story 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.200 of the Medo-Persian Empire 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:38.659 falling, 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.200 Alexander conquering them, 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:41.379 but then Alexander himself 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:41.779 falling, 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:42.500 and his generals 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:43.580 dividing up his kingdom. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:45.480 Then the vision skips over 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.000 about two centuries of history, 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:48.600 and the focus goes immediately 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.000 to one particular horn. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:51.700 And by the way, 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.019 you should know by now 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:54.179 that horns represent 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:55.639 rulers or kings. 00:10:56.979 --> 00:10:58.239 One particular horn 00:10:58.239 --> 00:10:58.959 comes into view. 00:10:59.079 --> 00:11:00.039 This is a new ruler. 00:11:01.359 --> 00:11:03.179 And this ruler grows 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:04.599 out of one of the four horns 00:11:04.599 --> 00:11:06.219 that replaced Alexander. 00:11:07.219 --> 00:11:08.779 But this ruler is worse. 00:11:10.239 --> 00:11:11.899 Scholars almost universally agree 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.679 that this horn represents 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.819 the 2nd century B.C. ruler, 00:11:16.459 --> 00:11:17.679 Antiochus Epiphanes. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:20.419 Now, Antiochus Epiphanes 00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:21.359 started out small, 00:11:21.439 --> 00:11:22.559 but he became very powerful. 00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:23.919 He got big fast. 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:25.359 And he gained a lot of power. 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:28.099 It says in the text 00:11:28.099 --> 00:11:29.199 that this ruler 00:11:29.199 --> 00:11:31.120 is one who understands riddles. 00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:32.099 And we know about 00:11:32.099 --> 00:11:33.099 Antiochus Epiphanes 00:11:33.099 --> 00:11:34.279 that he was a master 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:36.259 of political manipulation. 00:11:36.739 --> 00:11:39.379 He was a crafty type of king. 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:41.279 He was exceptionally brutal, 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:43.500 exceptionally wicked. 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.479 He had an agenda 00:11:45.479 --> 00:11:47.259 to eradicate all cultures 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:48.359 except for Greek culture. 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:48.699 You know, 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:50.599 the approach in the past 00:11:50.599 --> 00:11:52.519 had been bring the cultures in. 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:54.699 Our culture will become richer 00:11:54.699 --> 00:11:56.279 as these cultures 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:58.299 are integrated into our culture. 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.159 But he said, 00:11:59.279 --> 00:11:59.480 no, 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:01.000 make the world Greek. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:02.860 And so he began 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.399 the process of Hellenization. 00:12:04.819 --> 00:12:05.759 And as a part of this, 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.159 he put an end 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:08.860 to the Jewish temple worship. 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:10.899 Put an end to it. 00:12:11.699 --> 00:12:12.679 And when the Jews 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:13.379 tried to revolt, 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.319 tried to fight this, 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:15.740 he slaughtered them 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.539 by the thousands. 00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:18.579 He sold just as many 00:12:18.579 --> 00:12:19.860 into slavery. 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:21.460 So if you're a Jew 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:22.039 in this time 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:22.539 and you're looking 00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:23.360 and you're looking 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.019 at what's happening, 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:25.100 you had to be baffled. 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.940 How is all of this happening? 00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:27.500 Right? 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.039 You look back to the exile 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.500 and many of the Jews 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:32.300 who celebrated 00:12:32.300 --> 00:12:33.379 being freed from the exile 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:34.360 were probably thinking, 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:34.960 well, 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:35.940 that was great 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:36.820 compared to this. 00:12:37.300 --> 00:12:37.440 You know, 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.460 what's God doing? 00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.180 This is a confusing, 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:42.800 violent, 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.600 upsetting vision. 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:45.920 It actually says 00:12:45.920 --> 00:12:46.740 in verse 27 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:47.680 that the vision 00:12:47.680 --> 00:12:48.820 makes Daniel sick. 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:49.820 Right? 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.480 For several days. 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:55.500 And it says 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.280 that even when 00:12:56.280 --> 00:12:56.980 he got up 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:57.720 and started to be 00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:58.640 about the king's business, 00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.840 he continued to be 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:00.940 appalled by the vision. 00:13:01.260 --> 00:13:02.480 And he was confused. 00:13:02.760 --> 00:13:03.760 He didn't understand it. 00:13:05.520 --> 00:13:05.960 Okay, 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.140 so how do you preach that? 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:07.860 Okay? 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:08.720 I've been trying 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.420 to figure that out 00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:10.160 all week, right? 00:13:10.400 --> 00:13:11.100 So what does this 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:11.600 have to say? 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:12.980 And I think that this 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:15.180 actually is the place 00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:15.840 where it begins 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.320 to get relevant to us. 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.440 Because I think 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:19.540 as we look at the world 00:13:19.540 --> 00:13:20.360 around us, 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.340 I think that we all 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:23.460 see all kinds of things 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.200 that are upsetting. 00:13:25.040 --> 00:13:26.340 And we see all kinds of things 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.420 that are appalling. 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:28.660 You know, 00:13:28.760 --> 00:13:29.580 you look at the election 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.600 that's happening in two days, 00:13:30.640 --> 00:13:31.480 and I don't care what side 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.360 of the aisle you're on, 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.320 I think we're all 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:34.280 more or less appalled. 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:38.400 It's an appalling state 00:13:38.400 --> 00:13:39.660 for our country to be in, 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:39.879 right? 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:41.759 I think as we look 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.179 beyond that, 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.059 we realize that as appalling 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:43.519 as that is, 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:44.039 there are things 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:44.840 that are a lot worse, 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:45.899 right? 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.980 If you look around the world, 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.299 even in our own country, 00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.399 the ongoing racism 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:51.200 and violence 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.820 that divides our country, 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:53.659 right? 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:54.939 South Sudan, 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:56.980 the ongoing refugee crisis, 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:57.600 right? 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.720 The ongoing reality 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.659 of human trafficking 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.299 that's happening 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.480 all around the world 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.799 right under our noses. 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:03.500 All of these things 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.600 are appalling realities, 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.679 and I could list them 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.600 again and again and again. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.580 And I think one thing 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:08.120 we need to see 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.200 is that like Daniel, 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.299 we are right to be appalled 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.139 by these things. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.440 And if we begin 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:15.060 to get to the place 00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:15.820 where we're no longer 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:16.679 appalled by them, 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.360 that's a problem. 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.759 We should be appalled. 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:21.039 We can't allow ourselves 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:22.600 to ever get so numb 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.600 that we lose 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.919 our sense of horror. 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.840 But I think the danger 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.799 lies in thinking 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.500 that this is all there is, 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.860 that things will never 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.379 get better, 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:37.399 that there is no hope, 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.480 and so the beautiful 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.500 thing about this vision 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.440 is that it not only 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:43.080 narrates historical events, 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:43.820 but it also, 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.919 as I said before, 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.060 lifts the veil. 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.340 It unveils them. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:50.120 It points beneath them, 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.519 beneath the surface, 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:53.019 to a deeper story 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:54.440 that is unfolding. 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.100 So now I want to turn 00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:56.560 our attention 00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:58.620 past the story itself 00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.940 and below it 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:01.639 into the unfolding 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.580 spiritual reality 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:05.519 that is anchored 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.560 by three certainties. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.479 The underlying story 00:15:07.479 --> 00:15:07.879 is anchored 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:08.479 by these three 00:15:08.479 --> 00:15:09.079 certainties. 00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:12.779 God will be opposed. 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:16.000 God will be victorious 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.979 because God is in control. 00:15:20.119 --> 00:15:21.559 God will be opposed, 00:15:21.719 --> 00:15:23.039 but God will be victorious 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.000 because God 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.739 is in control. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.719 And so I want to look 00:15:26.719 --> 00:15:27.659 at what each of these 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:28.159 means. 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.419 By nature, 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:32.259 the Bible says that 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.259 all human beings 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:35.399 are from birth 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:37.279 born in opposition 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:37.939 to God. 00:15:38.099 --> 00:15:39.379 We are born opposing 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:41.120 God and the truth 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.039 of God, right? 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.919 So this vision 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.779 makes it very clear 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.419 that underneath 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:45.919 the political conflicts 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.199 and the military conquests 00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:48.299 and the elections 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:49.059 and all of that, 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.139 there is a deeper 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:52.839 cosmic conflict raging. 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.719 And it's not between 00:15:53.719 --> 00:15:55.379 Democrats and Republicans. 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.580 It's a deeper 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:57.740 cosmic conflict 00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.620 where evil 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:00.360 is opposing 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.299 and fighting 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:02.879 God and God's truth 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.039 and God's people 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.059 in every way possible 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:07.939 with all of its might. 00:16:08.539 --> 00:16:09.600 If you look at 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.720 Antiochus Epiphanes 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.779 as he's represented 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.600 in this vision, 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.419 he's larger than life, 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:14.860 right? 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:19.779 He's putting himself up 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.679 as a rival 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.500 to the prince 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:22.720 of the hosts, 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.059 right? 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.799 To God himself. 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:25.479 He's taking stars 00:16:25.479 --> 00:16:26.139 out of the sky 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.959 and flinging them 00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:27.740 to the ground, right? 00:16:27.979 --> 00:16:29.719 This is no mere mortal. 00:16:29.859 --> 00:16:31.059 This is no human being. 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.679 He's portrayed 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:34.439 as a kind of antichrist. 00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:35.659 He's a, 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.799 what we call a type. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.559 He's a type 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:39.559 that points to 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:42.199 this cosmic conflict 00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:45.819 and the personification 00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:46.579 of evil. 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.959 And look how he gains 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:51.859 and keeps his power 00:16:51.859 --> 00:16:53.179 in verses 11 and 12. 00:16:53.179 --> 00:16:54.579 It says that he puts 00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:55.679 an end to the worship 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.179 of God. 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.239 So the first thing he does 00:16:58.239 --> 00:16:59.459 to gain and to keep power 00:16:59.459 --> 00:17:00.120 is to put an end 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.059 to all worship of God. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.779 And the second thing he does, 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:03.759 and this is a very 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.399 interesting image, 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.019 is it says he throws 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:07.039 truth to the ground. 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.539 We didn't read that part. 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.159 It's a little earlier 00:17:10.159 --> 00:17:10.639 in the chapter. 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.899 He throws truth 00:17:11.899 --> 00:17:12.480 to the ground. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:14.799 So he wants 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.700 ultimate power, 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.519 which means he has 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.519 to get rid of anything 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.139 that might threaten 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.339 his autonomy, 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.439 namely God 00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:23.059 and God's truth. 00:17:23.179 --> 00:17:23.699 So if you're 00:17:23.699 --> 00:17:25.459 the most powerful king 00:17:25.459 --> 00:17:26.119 in the world, 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:29.139 if you're the most powerful king 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:29.459 in the world 00:17:29.459 --> 00:17:30.559 and nobody can challenge you 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.019 politically, 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:33.399 the only thing left 00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:34.419 that is above you 00:17:34.419 --> 00:17:35.059 is God 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.859 and God's truth. 00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:36.740 And so if you do away 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.199 with that, 00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.740 then you have 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.579 total power, 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.000 right? 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:41.279 Or so he thinks. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:44.599 We see the very 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.599 same thing today, 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.279 right? 00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.420 I think in our culture, 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.660 I think as human beings 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.240 by nature, 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.960 we throw truth 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.519 to the ground. 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.519 We throw truth 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.079 to the ground. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.619 We say, 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.019 you know, 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:56.480 everyone should be able 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.599 to believe 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.339 whatever they want 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.680 and then we go 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.279 beyond that 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:00.839 and we say, 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:02.099 not only does everybody 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.039 believe what they want, 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.139 but all of those beliefs 00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:05.359 are equally true. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.539 And if you challenge 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.059 that idea 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.160 or challenge the truth 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.160 of somebody's beliefs 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.740 or if you make the claim 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.820 that you believe 00:18:12.820 --> 00:18:13.440 in a truth 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.100 that is absolute, 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.160 a big T truth, 00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:16.200 then you are automatically 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.340 seen as closed-minded, 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:17.940 ignorant, 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:18.740 bigoted, 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:19.720 intolerant, 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:20.820 all of those labels 00:18:20.820 --> 00:18:21.580 that we fear. 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:24.060 So the first point 00:18:24.060 --> 00:18:24.460 is this, 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.580 the illusion 00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:26.860 that we prefer to see, 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.160 right? 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:29.080 The illusion, 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:29.920 our perception 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.700 of reality 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.440 is that there are 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.040 a lot of different 00:18:33.040 --> 00:18:35.240 approaches to God 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:35.880 and a lot of different 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:37.220 approaches to truth 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.960 and a lot of different 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:39.019 approaches to these things 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.880 and that they're all 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:40.700 equally true, 00:18:41.040 --> 00:18:42.020 all equally valid. 00:18:43.040 --> 00:18:43.280 Right? 00:18:43.340 --> 00:18:43.980 Now there's a kind 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.100 of pluralism that says 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:46.340 we should fight 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:46.860 for the rights 00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:47.420 of everybody 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.060 to believe 00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:49.080 whatever they want 00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:49.860 and I think that 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:50.700 Christians should be 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.920 leaders in that fight. 00:18:52.300 --> 00:18:52.920 We should fight 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.400 for a pluralistic society 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.500 where people have 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.160 religious freedom 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:56.580 and they're able 00:18:56.580 --> 00:18:56.960 to believe 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.660 whatever they want, 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.300 they are free 00:18:58.300 --> 00:18:58.760 to disagree. 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.500 But that is not 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.120 the same thing 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:01.680 as saying that 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.500 all of those beliefs 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.460 are equally true. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.220 And yet more and more 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.060 in our society, 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.420 I think that we're hearing 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:11.140 not only are we able 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:12.080 to believe what we want 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:13.140 but all of those beliefs 00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:14.039 are equally valid, 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.779 equally true. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.840 The only way 00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.740 that that would be possible 00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.000 is if there is no such thing 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.160 is capital T 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.960 truth. 00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:20.519 Right? 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:25.500 So we have this illusion 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.960 that everything 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.080 is equally true, 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.400 everybody believes 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.420 what they want 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.019 and it's all true, 00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:31.660 but if we begin 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.380 to lift the veil, 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.480 this vision shows us 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.080 loud and clear 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:35.580 that the underlying reality 00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:36.580 is that there is 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.559 only one God, 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:39.119 that there's one truth 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.319 and that human beings 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:40.859 by nature 00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:41.699 are opposed 00:19:41.699 --> 00:19:42.799 to those things. 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:44.019 Right? 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:45.000 So think about it 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.779 just for a second. 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.119 Right? 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:49.079 The reason that we prefer 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:49.799 to believe 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.740 that there are 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:51.699 multiple truths, 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:53.240 the reason that we want 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:53.859 to reject 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:55.099 the absolute truth 00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:55.519 of God 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.599 is not because 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.460 we've thought deeply 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:57.939 about it. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.539 I mean, 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.119 for most of us 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:00.740 it's just not. 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.639 We haven't reasoned it 00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:03.720 through, right, 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.779 and said that's the best 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.519 way to make sense 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:05.940 of things 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.859 because saying 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:07.799 there is no truth 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:09.420 is actually nonsense. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.440 In other words, 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.220 it doesn't hold up 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:11.720 to scrutiny 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.200 because the minute 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.819 you say there is 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.379 no such thing 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:15.619 as absolute truth, 00:20:16.399 --> 00:20:17.279 you're making 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:19.559 an absolute truth claim. 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.960 It undercuts itself, 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.319 right? 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.960 It's contradictory. 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.660 It doesn't hold up 00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.460 if we really think 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.779 about it. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.460 The reason that we 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.720 reject the idea 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.639 of absolute truth 00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:29.460 and fling it 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:29.980 to the ground 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.359 is the same reason 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.799 Antiochus Epiphanes did. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:35.180 It's about accountability. 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.759 We don't want 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.559 to be held accountable, 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:38.919 right? 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.919 We know that 00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:41.119 if we get rid of truth 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.399 we can live 00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.819 and do as we please 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:45.279 and that's why 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.879 we do it, 00:20:46.659 --> 00:20:46.879 right? 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.559 So when I was, 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.079 you know, 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.579 years ago 00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.419 before I was a believer 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:49.919 in college 00:20:49.919 --> 00:20:51.119 I loved to say 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:51.819 well, 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:52.940 there's no such thing 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:53.599 as absolute truth 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.299 that's so arrogant 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.980 and people believe 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.440 what they want 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.200 and I'm an agnostic 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.220 and you have no right 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.619 to tell me 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.299 what I can believe 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.559 and that was my rhetoric 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.180 and I said that 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.639 to everybody, 00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:01.119 right? 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.479 Is that because 00:21:02.479 --> 00:21:03.379 I had spent years 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:04.699 reading all the philosophers, 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:07.099 reading all the great thinkers 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.919 throughout history, 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.959 reasoning my way 00:21:09.959 --> 00:21:10.779 through their arguments 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.739 and arriving 00:21:11.739 --> 00:21:12.719 at this conclusion 00:21:12.719 --> 00:21:13.479 as a kind of 00:21:13.479 --> 00:21:14.859 a well-founded statement 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:16.579 of existence? 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.339 No, no, no. 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.719 It's because I wanted 00:21:18.719 --> 00:21:19.839 sex without consequences 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.299 and so I knew 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:25.119 that the only way 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:25.479 to do that 00:21:25.479 --> 00:21:26.259 was to fling truth 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.779 to the ground. 00:21:26.959 --> 00:21:27.679 You can't hold me 00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:28.000 accountable, 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.719 how dare you? 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.819 What makes your truth 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.299 any more true 00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:30.859 than my truth? 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.019 Right? 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.099 So all of history 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:35.480 shows human beings 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.039 doing this, 00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:37.180 fighting against God, 00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:38.220 fighting against 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.919 the truth of God 00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:39.639 because we would rather 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.519 be our own gods, 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:40.740 right? 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.779 Like Adam and Eve 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.259 at the fall, 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:42.919 we would prefer 00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:44.259 to decide right and wrong 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.519 to decide truth 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.299 for ourselves. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.359 So this is the first 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:47.940 thing we see. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.799 God will be opposed. 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:53.319 Now the second thing 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.919 is this, 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.619 that despite 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.559 that opposition, 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.720 nevertheless, 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.039 God will be 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.960 victorious. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:01.000 It says in verse 13, 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.100 for how long 00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:02.720 is the vision 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.740 concerning the regular 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.480 burnt offering, 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.740 the transgressions 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.660 that make desolate, 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.960 and the giving over 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:08.640 of the sanctuary 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.180 and host 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.019 to be trampled 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.579 underfoot? 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:12.519 And he said to me, 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.960 for 2300 evenings 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.539 and mornings, 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:15.920 then the sanctuary 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.980 shall be restored 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.640 to its rightful state. 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.700 Now don't get locked 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.019 in on the number 2300. 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.740 That can be misleading. 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:24.779 There are lots of ways, 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.940 both literal and poetic, 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:27.360 to interpret that number. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.640 Jesus himself says, 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.559 no one will know 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.700 the hour or the day 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:34.100 when all of this 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:34.900 will take place. 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.500 He says no one's 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:37.820 going to know, 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.059 not even the son of man 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.600 knows, 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.740 only the father knows, 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:40.920 right? 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.680 So that's Jesus' way 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:41.960 of saying, 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.920 this is not about 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.960 getting out your calculator 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.460 and trying to figure it out, 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.680 right? 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.860 People like Harold Camping 00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:47.960 who think that they have 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.980 decoded this 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.160 and they know exactly 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:50.940 when all this is going 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.200 to happen. 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:51.980 That's not the point. 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:54.319 The point is 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.860 that God has fixed 00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:56.500 a time 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.640 when he will bring 00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.380 deliverance, 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.360 restore the sanctuary, 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:03.259 and reinstitute worship. 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.539 That there will be 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.039 a time 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.900 and God has it. 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.799 It's not in our calendar 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.980 but it's in his calendar 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.059 and he knows exactly 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:11.099 when it's going to happen. 00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.180 It is a certainty. 00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:14.360 So even though 00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:14.860 in the vision 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.839 God's people suffer 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.120 under one tyrant ruler 00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:18.059 after another, 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.860 even though things 00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:20.079 seem to get worse 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.799 and worse 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.639 and worse, 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.440 this is saying 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.059 that eventually 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.960 God will overcome. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:27.180 God will be victorious. 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:29.460 Eventually the tyrants 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.419 will be thrown down. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.220 And see, 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.519 this is the second point 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.259 we need to see. 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:36.899 The illusion, 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.240 our perception, 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.539 is that we live 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:40.980 in a world 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.839 where things seem 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.799 to be getting worse. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.980 They're getting worse 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.759 and they're getting worse 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.500 and they're getting worse 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.200 and there seems 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.220 to be very little hope 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.359 of that ever changing. 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:51.139 But what this does 00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:52.240 is lift the veil 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:54.399 and it shows us 00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:55.939 that despite appearances 00:23:55.939 --> 00:23:57.379 God's plan 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.879 will ultimately lead 00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.679 to victory. 00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:00.719 It is unfolding 00:24:00.719 --> 00:24:03.599 exactly as he established it. 00:24:04.719 --> 00:24:04.859 Right? 00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:05.879 So the time will come 00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.399 when we see 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.279 in the book of Revelation 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.259 another work 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.419 of apocalyptic writing. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.039 The time will come 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.719 when the heavens 00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.359 and the earth 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.539 will be joined as one. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.379 Oh, don't think 00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.279 this is talking about 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.299 the temple in Jerusalem. 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:20.720 The reestablishing 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.259 of that temple. 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:21.940 No, no, no, no. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.240 This is talking about 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.139 the time when the heavens 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:25.139 and the earth are joined. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.379 When we are reminded 00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:29.039 that in Genesis chapters 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.720 one and two 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.720 God created 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:32.099 the entire world 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:33.539 as a sanctuary. 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:35.180 And that one day 00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:35.859 the new Jerusalem 00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.440 will come 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.000 and it will be 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.220 established here 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.319 and all of creation 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:39.819 will become 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:41.240 one great sanctuary 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.879 devoted 00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:42.879 and centered 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:44.220 on the worship of God. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.419 That one day 00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:46.119 that will happen. 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:47.000 And it says 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.799 very amazingly 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.759 in Revelation 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.659 that Jesus 00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:50.239 at that time 00:24:50.239 --> 00:24:50.759 will come 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.679 and he will wipe 00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:53.179 away every tear. 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.519 Which means 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:57.819 every single tear shed 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:59.459 will be accounted for. 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.219 There will be 00:25:00.219 --> 00:25:01.099 a reckoning. 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.139 Even though we don't 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:03.559 understand the suffering 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.799 and the tyrant rulers 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.579 and all of that now 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.279 even though it doesn't 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.839 make sense 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.599 and all we do 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:09.159 is cling to God 00:25:09.159 --> 00:25:09.979 and trust him. 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.459 But we don't 00:25:11.459 --> 00:25:12.219 understand the evil. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.939 We don't understand 00:25:12.939 --> 00:25:13.339 the suffering. 00:25:13.459 --> 00:25:14.019 We don't understand 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.039 why it all has to happen. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.379 That one day we will. 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.460 Because Jesus will account 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:21.079 for every tear 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:22.740 personally. 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:24.940 Right? 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.960 So no matter how bad 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.799 things might seem 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.399 our hope 00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:28.740 is certain. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.359 Which really 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:33.299 brings us to a question 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.619 right? 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:35.359 How can we be so sure? 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.039 How can we be so sure? 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:38.980 Right? 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.539 As we look at the 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:43.579 the kind of 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.460 juxtaposition 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.539 of these two 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.039 certainties. 00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.599 On the one hand 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.200 this is saying 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:49.839 God will be opposed 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.799 and on the other hand 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.299 it's saying 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:53.079 but God will be victorious. 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.339 How is that 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.000 possible? 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.779 And it's possible 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:57.139 because God is in 00:25:57.139 --> 00:25:57.899 control. 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.779 God is in control. 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.779 And this is the 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:03.159 refrain that you find 00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:04.159 in the book of Daniel 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:05.279 in the earlier chapters. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:05.899 Quote, 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.920 the most high 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.960 rules the kingdom 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.540 of men 00:26:08.540 --> 00:26:09.820 and gives it 00:26:09.820 --> 00:26:10.880 to whom he will. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.720 So if you look closely 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.720 you see this right here. 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.300 I don't know if you 00:26:14.300 --> 00:26:15.000 caught it in the reading 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.000 but in verse 24 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.660 it says about 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.759 Antiochus Epiphanes 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.759 his power shall be great 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:22.740 but not by his own power. 00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:24.800 Verse 25 00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:25.720 finally 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.980 he shall be broken 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:29.040 but by no 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:30.280 human hand. 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:31.600 It's making this point 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:33.000 that God is firmly 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.680 in control. 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.799 God is in control 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.920 of Antiochus Epiphanes 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.019 rising to power 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.240 and God is in control 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.799 of him being 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.700 thrown down 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.299 out of power. 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.700 That God is firmly 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.220 in control 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.080 that it's all part 00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.240 of his plan. 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:44.820 Right? 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.539 So this is our 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.539 third point. 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:50.320 The perceived reality 00:26:50.320 --> 00:26:51.160 is that 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:52.880 life is chaotic. 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.400 It's meaningless. 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.060 There is no God. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.380 Nobody's in control. 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.620 There is no plan. 00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.860 We're on our own. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.580 We're abandoned. 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.360 We're just 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:02.920 matter and 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.700 dust and energy 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:06.300 playing out 00:27:06.300 --> 00:27:06.860 randomly 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.460 according to 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:07.840 the laws 00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.480 of physics 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.100 and there is 00:27:09.100 --> 00:27:09.860 no ultimate 00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.680 plan for any 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.039 of this. 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.580 That's the 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.800 perceived reality. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.279 But this vision 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.120 lifts the veil 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.900 and shows us 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.800 that God was, 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:18.840 God is, 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:19.740 and God will 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.200 remain 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.080 completely 00:27:21.080 --> 00:27:21.980 in control. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.759 We're not going 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.360 to understand 00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.060 the hows 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.000 and the whys 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.160 until the end 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:27.800 of things. 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:29.680 But it says 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.360 that until then 00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.019 we trust that 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.019 God is in control. 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.900 So really on 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.319 Tuesday, 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.519 regardless of 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.639 who becomes 00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:37.119 our next 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.579 president, 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.059 right, 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.559 regardless of 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.220 how that plays 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.440 out, 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:40.819 on the one 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.259 hand as 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.019 Christians we 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.379 need to be 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:42.799 involved. 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.359 We need to be 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.339 engaged politically. 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.259 We need to be 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.859 thoughtfully voting 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.619 and participating 00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.519 and lending our 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.059 voice to the 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.799 shape as best 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.420 as we possibly 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:50.759 can. 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.359 And we're called 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.160 to fully 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.039 integrating our 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.400 faith. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.059 We need to be 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.019 doing that as 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.519 best as we 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.220 possibly can. 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:56.799 And we're called 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.900 to submit to 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.819 the rulers and 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.559 the authorities in 00:27:59.559 --> 00:27:59.980 our lives. 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.579 We're called to be 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.500 fully a part of 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:01.960 the system. 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.139 But this is 00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.579 saying that 00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:05.099 ultimately, 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.720 regardless of 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.179 who becomes 00:28:07.179 --> 00:28:07.500 our next 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:07.919 president, 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.659 God is firmly 00:28:09.659 --> 00:28:10.339 in control. 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.500 Regardless of 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.859 who becomes 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.159 our next 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:13.519 president, 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.679 that person 00:28:14.679 --> 00:28:15.159 is there 00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:15.579 because it 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.019 is a part 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.399 of God's 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:16.679 plan. 00:28:16.679 --> 00:28:18.179 And one 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.519 day that 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.220 person will 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.199 step out of 00:28:20.199 --> 00:28:21.019 power because 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.619 that is a part 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.000 of God's 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.299 plan. 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.259 But somehow 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.799 this will 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.679 fit into 00:28:24.679 --> 00:28:25.659 God moving 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.439 all things 00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:27.659 toward his 00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:29.019 victory despite 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.700 the opposition. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.400 And that's 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:31.859 the truth 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:32.279 that we need 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:32.639 to hold 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:33.099 on to. 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.259 So underneath 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.000 the illusion, 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.160 underneath the 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:36.680 perception, 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.319 I think the 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.819 more we look 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.359 underneath it, 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:39.839 the more we 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.779 begin to realize 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.519 that it's not 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:41.940 such a 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.480 magnificent 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.440 illusion. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.579 It's not so 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.819 beneficial to 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.599 see things in 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.119 this way. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.379 Underneath it, 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.099 we see an even 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.839 better story, 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.639 that God will 00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.220 be opposed, 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:51.819 but God will 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.440 be victorious 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.379 because God 00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:54.119 is in control. 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.859 And I want to, 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.779 as we're kind of 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.160 bringing this 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.640 together, I want 00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.720 to address one 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.200 potential sort of 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.900 objection or 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.620 question that this 00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.180 might raise. 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.140 And that is the 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:05.320 question of how. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:06.700 Right? 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.100 If God will 00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:09.980 always for certain 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:12.259 be opposed, and 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.019 yet at the same 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:14.360 time it is certain 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:15.620 that God will be 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.759 victorious, just on 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.360 a practical, 00:29:17.560 --> 00:29:18.400 logistical level, 00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.100 how does that 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:19.920 actually work? 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.500 Right? 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:21.960 If there are two 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.540 certainties, 00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:23.820 opposition and 00:29:23.820 --> 00:29:24.779 victory, how does 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.240 that happen? 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.019 Wouldn't that mean 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.819 that one was more 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.519 certain than the 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.700 other? 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.339 And the answer 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:29.859 is no, they're 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.420 both equally 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.859 certain. 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.480 Opposition and 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:32.879 victory. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.119 So if you're God, 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.359 how do you do 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:35.619 that? 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:36.920 And this is the 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.920 genius of the 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.720 Christian faith. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:39.740 Right? 00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.799 How do you, if 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.339 you've created 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.299 people and you 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.480 love people, and 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.519 yet they all, 00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.639 without exception, 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.720 turn their backs 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.839 on you, rebel 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:49.400 against you, oppose 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:51.019 you, try to kill 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.420 you so that they 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:54.099 can be gods and 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.639 live as they 00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.379 choose, right? 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:56.360 If all human 00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.100 beings do that, 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.440 then how do you 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.120 bring about a 00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.000 victory over that 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.760 opposition that on 00:30:01.760 --> 00:30:02.780 the one hand upholds 00:30:02.780 --> 00:30:03.500 your justice and 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.340 vindicates you as 00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:05.260 God, but on the 00:30:05.260 --> 00:30:07.500 other hand, because 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.100 of your love, doesn't 00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:10.680 annihilate everyone 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.460 that you've created? 00:30:11.560 --> 00:30:12.140 How do you do 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.360 that? 00:30:13.320 --> 00:30:14.600 The only way you do 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:15.560 it is if you bring 00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:16.960 the victory through 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.660 the opposition. 00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:19.640 That's the only way 00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.100 it works. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.960 And that's the 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.440 beauty of the 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.840 cross. 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.700 When Jesus Christ 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.680 died on the cross, 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.600 on the one hand, 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.440 what you see at the 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.440 cross is the 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.220 ultimate defeat. 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.960 The opposition has 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.140 won, right? 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.319 All those who 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:34.180 oppose God and the 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:35.220 truth of God, they 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.720 win. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.220 They finally get the 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:37.819 Son of God in their 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.660 grasp and they put 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.799 Him to death once and 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.400 for all, the greatest 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.200 defeat in history. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.559 And yet, 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:44.059 simultaneously, no one 00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:44.819 could have known 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:48.120 that God had made 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:49.180 that person, Jesus 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.400 Christ, to be a 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:51.900 representative of us 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.640 and our sins. 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.680 So the moment we 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:55.740 killed Him, we 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:57.560 actually paid the 00:30:57.560 --> 00:30:58.800 price of our sin, 00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.500 all of our sin, 00:30:59.560 --> 00:31:00.500 including that sin, 00:31:00.780 --> 00:31:01.380 in full. 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.220 Right? 00:31:02.280 --> 00:31:03.019 So the moment He 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:04.660 died, we were set 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.640 free, even though it 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:07.259 was our hand putting 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.840 Him to death. 00:31:09.080 --> 00:31:09.920 And I think that 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.360 that's one of the 00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.140 most beautiful things 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:11.880 I could possibly 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:12.300 imagine. 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.380 God bringing victory 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:14.540 out of defeat. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.140 So that shows us 00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.840 that we have every 00:31:16.840 --> 00:31:18.320 reason to remain 00:31:18.320 --> 00:31:19.000 hopeful. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:22.900 So the encouragement 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.599 I hope that you 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.460 leave with is this. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.859 Let us not live with 00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:27.559 and accept the 00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:29.799 illusion of our 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.980 perceived reality 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:32.140 that God and truth 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.980 are just ideas and 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.099 don't really mean 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:36.579 much, that things 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:37.099 are just getting 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.500 worse and hope is 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.920 failing, or that life 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.960 is random and that 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.700 we're on our own. 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:43.859 Let us not content 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:45.299 ourselves with that 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.579 perception of reality. 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.880 Let us go deeper, 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:49.400 let us trust what 00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.700 this vision shows us 00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.560 as the underlying 00:31:51.560 --> 00:31:52.200 story. 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.320 Let us trust what 00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:55.260 this vision promises 00:31:55.260 --> 00:31:56.320 and what the cross 00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:57.520 of Christ proves, 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:59.580 that God will be 00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.560 opposed, but God 00:32:00.560 --> 00:32:01.480 will be victorious 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:03.000 because God is 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.160 firmly in control. 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.620 Let's pray. 00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:09.380 Our Father, we do 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:11.180 trust You, and we 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:11.760 know that You know 00:32:11.760 --> 00:32:12.540 better than us what 00:32:12.540 --> 00:32:12.980 we need. 00:32:13.780 --> 00:32:14.440 And we know that 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.240 right now there are 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.120 things that each of us 00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:17.200 needs to hear from 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.759 Your Word. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.279 And so we pray that 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.039 by the power of Your 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.559 Spirit, You would 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.640 take those things that 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.440 are meant for each of 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.480 us and drive them 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:25.059 into our hearts, Lord, 00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:25.640 that they would be 00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:26.860 planted like seeds that 00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:28.620 begin to grow and give 00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.019 life. 00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:30.380 Lord, we pray as we are 00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:31.799 reminded this day of the 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:32.700 communion of saints. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.519 We pray for all of 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.840 those who have come to 00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:37.340 know You, to come to a 00:32:37.340 --> 00:32:38.299 deeper knowledge of You 00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.180 through Your Word. 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.039 We pray that all those 00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:41.600 who may not know You, 00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:42.960 that perhaps through 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.960 these words and these 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:45.380 promises, there would be 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:47.080 in them a hope kindled 00:32:47.080 --> 00:32:48.920 that can be answered 00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:50.100 through Your Son, 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:50.740 Jesus Christ. 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.520 Lord, we pray all of 00:32:51.520 --> 00:32:52.720 this in His name. 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.120 Amen.