WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church. Would you turn with me to Revelation chapter 12?

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 That's page 971 in the Pew Bible, if you want to follow along there, Revelation chapter 12.

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 So we've come to the middle of this great and bracing book of Revelation.

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 And here, at the midway point, I think it's good to remind ourselves that

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 Revelation was written to everyday churches a lot like our own.

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 Churches trying to live faithfully for the Lord Jesus, but beset by many challenges and trials.

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 You can go back and read chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation and learn more about the churches to whom John was writing.

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 Some of them faced persecution. Some of them faced false teaching and deception.

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 And others faced what we might call seduction.

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 The world around them had captivated their hearts and led them away from an earnest devotion to Jesus.

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 And I think it's easy in the middle of everyday life, as we kind of grind it out day by day,

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 it's easy to lose sight of the big story.

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 It's easy to miss the deeper realities at work.

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 And part of what Revelation is meant to do is to give us that fresh perspective,

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 to pull back the curtain on spiritual reality,

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 and to show us the deeper realities at work,

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 so that we can live in line with what's really real.

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 Revelation, in a sense, is meant to kind of break through the narratives that the world tells about who we are

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 and where we are,

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 and show us the deeper spiritual reality by which we can live really authentic and faithful lives to God.

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 And that's what John's going to be doing in the next few chapters, chapters 12, 13, and 14.

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 He's going to be really pulling back the curtain to help us see spiritual reality for what it is.

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 So, let's pick up this middle portion of the book of Revelation in chapter 12.

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 I'm going to read the whole chapter for us.

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 John writes this.

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 He says,

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 And another sign appeared in heaven.

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 She gave birth to a male child,

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 one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.

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 But her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

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 And the woman fled into the wilderness,

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 where she has a place prepared by God,

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 in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

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 Now, war arose in heaven,

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 Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.

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 And the dragon and his angels fought back.

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 But he was defeated,

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

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 And the great dragon was thrown down,

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 that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan,

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 the deceiver of the whole world.

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 He was thrown down to the earth,

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 and his angels were thrown down with him.

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 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

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 Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God

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 and the authority of his Christ have come.

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 For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down,

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 who accuses them day and night before our God.

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 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb

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 and by the word of their testimony,

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 for they loved not their lives, even unto death.

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

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 But woe to you, O earth and sea,

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 for the devil has come down to you in great wrath,

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 because he knows that his time is short.

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 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to earth,

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 he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

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 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle

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 so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness,

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 to the place where she is to be nourished for a time

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 and times and half a time.

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 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth

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 after the woman to sweep her away with a flood.

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 But the earth came to the help of the woman,

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 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river

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 that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

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 Then the dragon became furious with the woman

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 and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring

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 and on those who keep the commandments of God

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 and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

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 So we'll pause there because the rest of verse 17

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 actually introduces the next chapter,

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 which we'll get to next week.

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 Okay, so John, using deeply symbolic language,

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 is pulling back the curtain on reality

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 to help us see what's really real,

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 to help us know the story in which we live our lives.

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 And if we were to sum it up,

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 one way to do so would be like this.

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 Chapter 12 is telling us

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 that you are in a war,

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 that the victory has been secured,

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 but that the battle still rages on.

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 You are in a war,

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 the victory has been secured,

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 but the battle still rages on.

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 So the first paragraph, verses 1 through 6,

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 show us the first point.

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 You are in a war.

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 John introduces us here

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 to the three main figures of this passage,

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 a woman, a child, and a dragon.

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 Let's consider briefly kind of each one.

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 The woman is said to be clothed with the sun,

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 with the moon under her feet,

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 and on her head a crown of 12 stars.

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 Now, the 12 stars is an immediate hint

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 as to who this woman represents.

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 In the Old Testament, the number 12

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 almost always alludes to the 12 tribes of Israel.

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 In fact, this particular image of sun, moon, and stars

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 seems to be an allusion to the book of Genesis.

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 If you remember the story of Joseph

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 in the book of Genesis,

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 Joseph has a dream, right, in Genesis 37.

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 And one of his dreams is of the sun, the moon,

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 and 11 stars, him being the 12th,

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 bowing down to him.

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 And what do the sun, moon, and stars there represent

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 in Joseph's dream?

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 Well, they represent Joseph's father and mother and brothers.

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 In other words, they represent the people of Israel,

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 God's covenant family in the Old Testament era.

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 So this woman then represents God's people.

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 And we see that this woman is pregnant

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 and crying out in birth pains

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 and the agony of giving birth.

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 It's interesting that the word agony there

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 is almost always used not actually

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 in relation to giving birth,

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 but for the suffering of God's people

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 in persecution and trial.

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 So what's the picture then?

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 The picture is that this woman is an image

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 of God's Old Testament people

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 in trial and hardship,

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 waiting for a child to be born.

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 And so we come to the second character, the child.

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 And who is this child?

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 Verse 5 says,

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 She gave birth to a male child,

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 one who is to rule all the nations

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 with a rod of iron.

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 Now, this is a very clear reference

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 to the Messiah,

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 the one who would come from Israel

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 and rule all nations.

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 The rod of iron is an obvious literary allusion

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 to Psalm 2,

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 that great messianic psalm

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 about when God installs his king,

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 his son on his royal throne in Zion,

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 and all the nations become his inheritance,

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 and he rules them with a rod of iron.

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 And if you look ahead in Revelation

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 to chapter 19, verse 15,

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 we see there that there's no question for John

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 who this Messiah is.

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 Who is it that wields this rod of iron,

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 that is this shepherd's staff

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 of unbreakable strength?

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 Well, in Revelation 19, 15,

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 it's clearly the Lord Jesus

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 who will one day return in power

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 and before whom every knee will bow.

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 And so, with this vision of a woman

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 and her child,

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 John is bringing before our view

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 the great story of the Old Testament,

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 that from Eve, the mother of all living,

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 all the way to Mary, the mother of Jesus,

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 the people of God have survived

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 through many trials awaiting the coming of the king.

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 And at last, in the person of Jesus,

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 he came.

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 But there's a third figure here,

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 the dragon.

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 Now, looking ahead to verse 9,

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 we see exactly who this dragon represents.

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 John says it's that ancient serpent,

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 hearkening back to Genesis 3,

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 who is called the devil and Satan,

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 the deceiver of the whole world.

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 And the dragon here is depicted

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 as having seven heads and ten horns

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 and seven diadems,

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 that is, seven crowns.

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 And of course, it's, you know,

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 that sort of fearsome image.

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 It's a picture, on the one hand,

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 of ferocity, right?

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 A seven-headed beast would be

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 the fullness of terror.

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 And it's also a picture,

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 not just of ferocity,

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 but of power, right?

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 Horns are a classic image

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 of power and strength

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 in the Old Testament.

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 And here, this dragon has ten of them.

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 So it's ferocious,

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 it's powerful,

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 and it's also a picture of blasphemy.

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 Only God is truly worthy

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 to be crowned.

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 And yet, this dragon usurps a crown

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 for each of its heads.

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 And we're told that this dragon

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 stood before the woman,

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 actively seeking to devour the child.

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 I mean, consider, if you will,

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 the history of the Old Testament

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 people of God

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 from the murder of Abraham,

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 or excuse me,

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 from the murder of Abel,

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 right after they're banished

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 from the garden,

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 the murder of Abel,

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 to the machinations

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 of Pharaoh in Egypt,

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 to Saul's murderous pursuit

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 of David,

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 to Haman's edict

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 to murder the Jews

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 in the book of Ruth,

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 to the persecutions

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 perpetrated by Antiochus Epiphanes

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 that's foretold

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 in the book of Daniel,

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 even to the raging of Herod

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 as he seeks to massacre

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 the children of Bethlehem.

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 Who or what was at work?

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 It was that ancient serpent,

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 the deceiver of the whole world,

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 seeking to devour

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 the child of the woman.

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 We're told in verse 4

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 that his tail swept down

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 a third of the stars of heaven

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 and cast them to the earth.

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 Now, this could be referring

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 to fallen angels

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 who joined Satan

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 in his primordial rebellion

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 against God,

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 but it's just as likely

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 that this verse

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 is an allusion

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 to the book of Daniel,

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 chapter 8, verse 10.

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 In Daniel, chapter 8, verse 10,

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 the murder of God's people

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 by Antiochus Epiphanes

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 is likened to stars

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 being thrown down

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 and trampled.

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 Those stars that adorn

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 the head of the woman,

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 those stars that God loves

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 and cherishes,

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 it's Satan's desire

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 to persecute

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 and destroy them

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 if only he might devour

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 the child to come.

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 And why is the dragon

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 so bent on pursuing this woman

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 and devouring this child?

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 Because he knows

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 that this child

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 is the center of God's plan

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 to bring about his defeat

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 and to put an end

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 to all his forces of sin

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 and death and destruction

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 once and for all.

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 The promise goes all the way back

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 to the Garden of Eden.

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 Do you remember

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 the promise given

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 in Genesis 3, 15?

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 We read it earlier

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 in the service.

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 To the serpent, God says,

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 I'll put enmity

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 between you and the woman,

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 between your offspring

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 and her offspring.

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 He shall bruise your head

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 and you shall bruise his heel.

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 Yes, the serpent would strike

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 the heel of the offspring of Eve,

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 but the child would in turn

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 crush the serpent's head.

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 And from this first glimmer

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 of the gospel

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 before the very gates of Eden,

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 the rest of the Old Testament story

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 begins to grow.

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 Looking, waiting, hoping

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 through great trial and suffering

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 for the offspring,

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 for the child,

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 for the king to come.

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 Waiting, hoping,

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 until

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 when the fullness of time

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 had come.

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 God sent an angel

00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:25.580
 to a virgin named Mary

00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:27.340
 and through Mary

00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:28.659
 the promise made to Eve

00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:29.879
 was finally fulfilled.

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.620
 The long years of travail

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.460
 had come to their greatest hour

00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:36.120
 and the king was born.

00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:39.340
 And was this king

00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.860
 devoured by the dragon?

00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.360
 No, John says.

00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:45.799
 Her child was caught up to God

00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.639
 and to his throne.

00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:49.399
 It's a pretty short summary

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.459
 of the life of Jesus,

00:12:50.579 --> 00:12:50.939
 isn't it?

00:12:52.459 --> 00:12:53.779
 But it puts our focus

00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.899
 in the right place

00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:55.799
 for the reality

00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:57.500
 that John wants us to see.

00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:00.399
 Jesus was caught up to God.

00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.240
 The verb means

00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.819
 taken up forcefully.

00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:04.740
 Though Satan thought

00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.359
 he had won,

00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.459
 crucifying Jesus,

00:13:06.599 --> 00:13:07.319
 putting him to death,

00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:08.979
 the resurrection forcefully

00:13:08.979 --> 00:13:10.000
 broke through

00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.759
 Satan's supposed victory

00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:12.919
 as the Messiah

00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:14.259
 was caught up from death

00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:15.399
 and brought to God.

00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:17.439
 And brought to God

00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:18.399
 and his throne

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:20.240
 in the ascension of Jesus.

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.500
 He was enthroned

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:24.039
 taking his rightful place

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.740
 at the Father's right hand.

00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.740
 So what are we meant

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.419
 to take away then

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:31.539
 from this first paragraph?

00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:34.339
 Well, John's kind of

00:13:34.339 --> 00:13:35.419
 pulling back the curtain

00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.339
 and showing us

00:13:36.339 --> 00:13:38.899
 that the story we live in,

00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:40.779
 the world we live in,

00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:43.299
 is a world in the midst of war.

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.699
 It's not ultimately

00:13:45.699 --> 00:13:46.539
 a physical war

00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:47.579
 between nation states.

00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.620
 It's a spiritual war.

00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.159
 There's an enemy

00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.279
 of the people of God

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.860
 and of the kingdom of God.

00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.899
 And he'll do whatever he can

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.159
 to thwart and devour

00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.480
 the people of this king.

00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:59.800
 And friend,

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.980
 if you've placed your faith

00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.480
 in Jesus,

00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.800
 then you are

00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:05.240
 in this company of saints

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.980
 represented by this woman.

00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.519
 Paul says in Galatians 3

00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.320
 very clearly,

00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:11.860
 it's those who have faith

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:12.519
 in Jesus

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.980
 who are the sons of Abraham.

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.460
 Whether you're Jew

00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.259
 or Gentile,

00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:17.399
 if you believe in Jesus

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.240
 as the Messiah,

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.139
 then you too

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:21.080
 are part of God's covenant family.

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:22.840
 You too are her offspring,

00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:23.779
 as verse 17

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.139
 later in our passage says.

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:27.419
 And that means

00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:28.620
 you woke up this morning

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:31.139
 in the middle of a great war.

00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.480
 As you were making your coffee,

00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:36.100
 as you were listening to the news,

00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.039
 as you were flipping

00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.819
 through Instagram,

00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:39.840
 whatever you do in the morning,

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.340
 I don't know.

00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:44.100
 You woke up in the middle of a war.

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.139
 Imagine John's first readers,

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:49.679
 you know,

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.439
 picture perhaps

00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:51.720
 the church at Laodicea

00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:53.279
 at the end of chapter 3.

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:55.179
 One of those original recipients

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.199
 of this long letter

00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:57.039
 we call Revelation.

00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:57.799
 You know,

00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:58.519
 the typical Christian

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.379
 at Laodicea,

00:14:59.439 --> 00:15:01.000
 we're told,

00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:01.939
 would wake up

00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:02.919
 and, you know,

00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.079
 they'd be tempted to say,

00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:05.959
 I'm rich,

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:06.919
 I've prospered,

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.740
 I sort of need nothing.

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.699
 They could go about their day

00:15:12.699 --> 00:15:14.199
 and their greatest concern

00:15:14.199 --> 00:15:15.679
 was how they looked

00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.319
 to their friends

00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.000
 in the marketplace.

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:21.059
 How similar we are today

00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:23.360
 to the church of Laodicea.

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.919
 But John is saying,

00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.940
 open your eyes,

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:31.259
 shake off your complacency.

00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:33.740
 It may seem like

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:35.360
 all is well in your world.

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.139
 You may be tempted

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:37.980
 to just drift through your days,

00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:39.940
 chasing the world's prizes

00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:40.840
 and favors,

00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.899
 but don't you see

00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:43.200
 you're in a war?

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.799
 Shake off your lethargy.

00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:47.779
 Stop hunting

00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:49.299
 for the latest gadget

00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.879
 that will entertain you

00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.939
 out of your boredom.

00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:54.099
 Stop living

00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:54.899
 as if your life

00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.399
 is just a series

00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.179
 of promotions

00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.000
 until you can

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.099
 comfortably retire.

00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.659
 Those are stories

00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.299
 that the world

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.279
 wants to tell you,

00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:04.459
 but that's not

00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.259
 the real story.

00:16:08.339 --> 00:16:08.979
 You see,

00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:10.259
 one of the greatest tactics

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.539
 of our enemy

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:13.199
 is to convince us

00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:15.219
 that there really isn't

00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.160
 a spiritual battle

00:16:16.160 --> 00:16:16.779
 going on.

00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:18.840
 And then we can simply

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.879
 drift through life,

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.840
 neither hot nor cold,

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.320
 imagining that we're

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.580
 just sort of neutral.

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.920
 But there is no neutral ground,

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.300
 not in the spiritual war.

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:34.139
 Either our allegiance

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.920
 is given to the child king

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:38.060
 and he commands our steps,

00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:39.679
 or we remain

00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.399
 under the sway

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.039
 of the dragon.

00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:43.199
 Of course,

00:16:43.239 --> 00:16:43.679
 on the surface

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.759
 it doesn't look that way.

00:16:45.599 --> 00:16:46.039
 And yes,

00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:46.779
 it is true

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:48.119
 that in this life

00:16:48.119 --> 00:16:49.039
 every human heart

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.239
 and every human institution

00:16:50.239 --> 00:16:51.799
 will always be a mix

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.819
 of common grace

00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:54.139
 and of rejection

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.659
 of God,

00:16:54.739 --> 00:16:55.939
 both at the same time.

00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.179
 But at the deepest level,

00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:01.219
 where is your allegiance?

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:05.539
 There's a war going on

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:07.120
 for your very soul,

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.339
 and there's a war going on

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.120
 for the very heart

00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:10.880
 of every person

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:11.620
 you and I meet,

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.940
 and there's a very real enemy

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:15.039
 who seeks to devour.

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.620
 But you know,

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.680
 lest our vigilance

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:23.100
 and our alertness

00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:25.000
 give way to fear

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.160
 and panic,

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.339
 John's shows us

00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.419
 the second part

00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:30.199
 of this vision.

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:32.159
 In the second paragraph,

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.659
 verses 7 through 12,

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.859
 we see not just

00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:36.159
 that we're in a war,

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.079
 but that the victory

00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.379
 has been secured.

00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:41.879
 The victory has been secured.

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.279
 Verse 7 begins

00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.579
 by describing

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:46.000
 a war in heaven.

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:47.759
 And at first,

00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:48.500
 we might think

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.240
 that this speaks

00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.139
 of that original fall

00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:51.579
 of Satan

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:53.659
 and his primordial rebellion

00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.439
 against God,

00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:55.279
 but you know,

00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:56.579
 as we read more carefully,

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.259
 we realize

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.319
 that what's being described

00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:00.159
 here is not the fall

00:18:00.159 --> 00:18:00.539
 of Satan

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.539
 at the time of creation,

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.779
 but the defeat of Satan

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.480
 in the crucifixion,

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.139
 resurrection,

00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:07.700
 and ascension of Jesus.

00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:09.639
 Verses 10 and 11

00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.439
 make this clear.

00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.019
 And I heard a loud voice

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.679
 in heaven saying,

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:13.559
 Now the salvation

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:14.259
 and the power

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:14.779
 and the kingdom

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.519
 of our God

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.559
 and the authority

00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.439
 of his Christ

00:18:17.439 --> 00:18:18.159
 have come.

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.679
 For the accuser

00:18:19.679 --> 00:18:20.359
 of our brothers

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.619
 has been thrown down,

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.960
 who accuses them

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.500
 day and night

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.279
 before our God,

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.599
 and they have conquered him

00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.659
 by the blood of the Lamb

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:27.720
 and by the word

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.519
 of their testimony,

00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:30.279
 for they love not their lives,

00:18:30.300 --> 00:18:31.180
 even unto death.

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.120
 So we see that

00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:33.980
 this war in heaven

00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:35.779
 is something that ensues

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.740
 because Jesus has triumphed

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.740
 through his earthly ministry.

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.140
 He shed his blood

00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.860
 for sins.

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.980
 He's taken the place

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.600
 of authority

00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:43.620
 at God's right hand

00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:44.340
 in his resurrection

00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.080
 and ascension.

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.380
 And because of what

00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.320
 Jesus has done,

00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.880
 now Satan no longer

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:50.019
 has a rightful place

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.540
 in heaven

00:18:50.540 --> 00:18:52.160
 to stand and accuse

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.120
 the people of God.

00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.519
 So we're told

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.259
 that Michael,

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.639
 Michael who in the book

00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.099
 of Daniel

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.699
 is depicted

00:18:57.699 --> 00:18:59.219
 as sort of an angelic

00:18:59.219 --> 00:19:00.579
 protector of God's people.

00:19:00.719 --> 00:19:01.219
 So Michael

00:19:01.219 --> 00:19:02.239
 and the other angels

00:19:02.239 --> 00:19:03.799
 now ensuing

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:05.219
 on Jesus' triumph,

00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.799
 they drive Satan

00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.419
 out of heaven.

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:10.779
 We see this same idea

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.879
 actually in other places

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.699
 of the New Testament.

00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.899
 Consider John chapter 12

00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:16.159
 verses 31 through 32.

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.500
 Jesus is on the verge

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.839
 of going to the cross

00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:19.419
 and he says,

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.859
 now is the judgment

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.539
 of this world.

00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:23.139
 Now will the ruler

00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:23.819
 of this world

00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.039
 be cast out

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:27.019
 and I when I am lifted up

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.859
 will draw all people

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.539
 to myself.

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.819
 So there Jesus looks ahead

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.839
 to his own passion

00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.279
 to the cross

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.599
 and resurrection

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.460
 saying that Satan's

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.259
 going to be cast out

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.740
 because of what

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.519
 I'm about to do.

00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:38.039
 Or think about

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:39.180
 Colossians 2.15

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.000
 where Paul says,

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.700
 God disarmed

00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:43.039
 the rulers and authorities

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.740
 and he means

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:45.059
 the heavenly demonic

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.899
 rulers and authorities.

00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:46.980
 God disarmed

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.019
 the rulers and authorities

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.500
 and put them

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.399
 to open shame.

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:49.799
 How?

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:52.460
 By triumphing over them

00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:54.399
 in him,

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.480
 Colossians says,

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:57.299
 meaning in Christ crucified.

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.220
 Or we might also

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.659
 go on to Hebrews chapter 2

00:20:01.659 --> 00:20:02.919
 verses 14 through 15.

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.599
 Since therefore

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.500
 the children share

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.299
 in flesh and blood,

00:20:06.159 --> 00:20:07.639
 Jesus himself likewise

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.740
 partook of the same things.

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.899
 He became flesh and blood

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.220
 for us.

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.519
 Why?

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.539
 That through death

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.879
 he might destroy

00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.599
 the one who has

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.599
 the power of death,

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.879
 that is the devil,

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.519
 and deliver all those

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.700
 who through fear of death

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.680
 were subject

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.920
 to lifelong slavery.

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.380
 But now we might

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:24.940
 ask a question.

00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.559
 How?

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.279
 How does the death

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:27.779
 and resurrection

00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.740
 of Jesus

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.120
 defeat Satan

00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:31.200
 and cast him down

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.640
 from heaven?

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.500
 What's the connection?

00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.620
 How does that win

00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:35.180
 the ultimate victory?

00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:38.220
 Well, the answer

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.440
 to that is found

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.920
 in that word

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.240
 accuser.

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:43.559
 Verse 10,

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:44.480
 the accuser

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.159
 of our brothers

00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:46.200
 has been thrown down

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.659
 who accuses them

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.359
 day and night

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:49.339
 before our God.

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.599
 You see, friends,

00:20:51.639 --> 00:20:52.700
 before Christ came,

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.899
 Satan actually had a right

00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:55.460
 to stand in heaven

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.500
 before God's throne

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.179
 and accuse God's people

00:20:58.179 --> 00:20:59.139
 of their guilt and sin.

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.819
 And we actually see this

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.819
 depicted in Job

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.960
 chapters 1 and 2

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.099
 and we see it again

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:05.099
 in the book of Zechariah

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.700
 chapter 3.

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.059
 Satan stands in heaven

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.480
 and brings his charges

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.500
 against God's people.

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.359
 In fact,

00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:10.980
 that's what the name

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.299
 Satan literally means,

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.259
 the accuser.

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.899
 And the truth is,

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.299
 his accusations

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:21.500
 are just.

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.619
 After all,

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.839
 who among us

00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.899
 has not sinned

00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:27.659
 against God?

00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:30.200
 Who among us

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.079
 does not truly

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.079
 deserve death

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.619
 as the penalty

00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:35.220
 for their heart's rebellion

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.240
 against our Creator?

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.799
 The accuser

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.940
 makes his case.

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.500
 And friends,

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.339
 the tragedy is

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.419
 against all of us,

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.679
 that case is airtight.

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:47.220
 We stand condemned.

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.359
 Unless,

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:52.500
 unless,

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:55.299
 there could be one

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:57.779
 to stand in our place.

00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.759
 One who could represent us

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.679
 before the throne.

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.199
 One who could enter

00:22:03.199 --> 00:22:04.319
 the heavenly courtroom,

00:22:04.959 --> 00:22:06.179
 sit down in the dock

00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:07.419
 where we sit accused

00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.600
 and guilty and say,

00:22:08.820 --> 00:22:10.880
 I'll pay their penalty.

00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:13.060
 I will let the sentence

00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:13.960
 fall on me.

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.640
 And this is exactly

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:19.060
 what Christ has done.

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.300
 The same passage

00:22:21.300 --> 00:22:22.220
 from Colossians 2

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.120
 that speaks of Christ

00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:24.100
 defeating Satan

00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:24.660
 at the cross

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.940
 explains how he's done it.

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.820
 Paul writes in Colossians 2,

00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:28.779
 13 through 14,

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.740
 and you

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:31.500
 who were dead

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.940
 in your trespasses.

00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:35.220
 God made alive

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.359
 together with him,

00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:37.660
 having forgiven

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.940
 all of our trespasses.

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.359
 How?

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.039
 By canceling

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.079
 the record of debt

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.200
 that stood against us

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.599
 with its legal demands.

00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.899
 This he set aside,

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.639
 nailing it

00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:49.759
 to the cross.

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:53.940
 Every accusation

00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.500
 that Satan

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.079
 could make

00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.200
 against you and I,

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.720
 every sin,

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.440
 past,

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.220
 present,

00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.120
 and future,

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.980
 the record of debt

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:03.759
 with its legal demands,

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.580
 every single sentence

00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:06.900
 of guilt and condemnation

00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.160
 that you rightly deserve

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.920
 has been nailed

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.080
 to the cross,

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:11.940
 Paul says.

00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:15.080
 As the hammers

00:23:15.080 --> 00:23:16.299
 drove the nails

00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.059
 through the hands

00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:18.240
 and feet of Jesus,

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:19.920
 your sins

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.000
 were being pinned

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:22.819
 to the sinless one.

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.759
 The just sentence

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.200
 of death

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.039
 was being paid

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.859
 for each one.

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.319
 Why?

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.299
 So that you could

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.960
 stand before

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.940
 the throne of God

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:34.640
 completely innocent

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.619
 and free.

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.500
 And so that the voice

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.200
 of the accuser

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.460
 might have no right

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.220
 any longer

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.799
 to speak.

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.059
 This is why

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.660
 Paul can say

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.259
 in Romans 8,

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.720
 no one can bring

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.200
 a charge

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.200
 against God's elect.

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.720
 Not even angels

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.660
 or principalities

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.220
 or powers.

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.460
 Nothing can now

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.039
 separate us

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.240
 from the love of God

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.400
 in Christ Jesus

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.059
 our Lord.

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.259
 And so because

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.599
 of the love of Christ

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.940
 and his work

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.559
 on the cross

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.339
 for you and me,

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.500
 the devil's been

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.640
 thrown down,

00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.400
 cast from the

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.180
 heavenly courtroom

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.640
 with no place

00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:10.220
 to stand.

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.819
 But of course,

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:17.200
 the dragon still

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.559
 tries this tactic

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.039
 today,

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:19.480
 doesn't he?

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.720
 He will still

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.579
 come to you

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:24.299
 and show you

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:24.880
 your sins

00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.660
 and failings.

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.740
 And he will say,

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.980
 a real Christian

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.420
 wouldn't do

00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.360
 something like that.

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.620
 God could never

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.299
 accept you.

00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:34.500
 You're worthless.

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.339
 You're lost.

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.000
 Just give up.

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.539
 You've tried so hard

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.220
 to follow God.

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.519
 His rules are so impossible.

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.140
 What's the point

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.980
 of even trying?

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.380
 Accusation,

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.579
 accusation,

00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.720
 accusation.

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.920
 Are you able,

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.279
 Christian,

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.160
 to recognize

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:52.740
 the voice

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.579
 of the accuser?

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.180
 The voice

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.960
 of the Holy Spirit

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.680
 convicting you

00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.160
 of sin

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.039
 will bring you

00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.599
 to life

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.120
 and freedom

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.799
 at the cross.

00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:01.900
 The voice

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.519
 of the accuser

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.319
 will drive you

00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:03.799
 away,

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.400
 miring you

00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:05.819
 in guilt

00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.360
 and shame.

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:11.700
 Friends,

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.360
 he has been

00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.059
 cast down

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.039
 and that's

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.360
 what he'll

00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:15.079
 try to do,

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.519
 cast you down.

00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.519
 Get you

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:18.859
 to think

00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.180
 that your

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:19.559
 forgiveness

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.400
 is conditional.

00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.160
 Try to get you

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.480
 to think

00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:22.920
 that God's

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.440
 love for you

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.900
 is based

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.180
 on your

00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:24.799
 performance,

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.019
 that God's

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.900
 acceptance of you

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.359
 is based

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:27.680
 on your

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.099
 efforts

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:28.460
 and your

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.059
 achievements.

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.519
 But friends,

00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.000
 that's not

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.720
 the gospel.

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.660
 Christianity

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.599
 is not

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.559
 be a good

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:34.960
 person

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.579
 so that God

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:35.980
 will forgive

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.480
 and accept

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:36.639
 you.

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:36.940
 Satan

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.539
 would love

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.000
 you to think

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.420
 that that's

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:38.839
 the message

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.400
 of Christianity,

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.039
 but it's

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.519
 not.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.460
 The message

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.019
 of Christianity

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.720
 is this,

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.480
 you could

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.339
 never be good

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:45.720
 enough.

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.680
 you've

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.019
 sinned

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.380
 and fallen

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:47.920
 short of

00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.279
 the glory

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.799
 of God.

00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.299
 The wages

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.740
 of sin

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.480
 is death,

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.120
 but God

00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:52.700
 loves you

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.000
 and sent

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.480
 his son

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:53.920
 to die

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.180
 in your

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.519
 place

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:54.960
 for your

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.360
 sin

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:57.000
 so that

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.220
 you can

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:57.779
 be accepted

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.299
 because of

00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:58.860
 his work

00:25:58.860 --> 00:25:59.279
 and not

00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.920
 your own.

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.360
 The song

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:03.799
 we sang

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.200
 earlier

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.960
 I think

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.380
 says it

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:05.940
 pretty well.

00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:07.620
 Before

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.339
 the throne

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.900
 of God

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.339
 above

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:09.860
 I have

00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.519
 a strong

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.400
 and perfect

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:11.839
 plea,

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.299
 a great

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.000
 high priest

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.519
 whose name

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.200
 is love.

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.839
 Whoever lives

00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.400
 and pleads

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:17.920
 for me,

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.319
 my name

00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:19.860
 is graven

00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.740
 on his hands.

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:21.779
 My name

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.160
 is written

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.920
 on his heart.

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:23.799
 I know

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.160
 that while

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:24.579
 in heaven

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.380
 he stands,

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.400
 no tongue

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:26.839
 can bid

00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.299
 me thence

00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.720
 to part.

00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.240
 When Satan

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.839
 tempts me

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.600
 to despair

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.180
 and tells

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.620
 me of the

00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:32.299
 guilt within,

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.180
 upward

00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:33.779
 I look

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.600
 and see

00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.100
 him there

00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:35.440
 who made

00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.140
 an end

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:36.620
 to all

00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:37.160
 my sin.

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.160
 Because

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:39.000
 the sinless

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.860
 Savior died,

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.339
 my sinful

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:41.980
 soul is

00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.980
 counted free

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.319
 for God

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.440
 the just

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:47.019
 is satisfied

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.299
 to look

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.080
 on him

00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:49.799
 Jesus

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.820
 and pardon

00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.299
 me.

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.600
 You're in a war

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.140
 brothers and

00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:55.660
 sisters but

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.180
 the victory

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:56.960
 has ultimately

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.700
 been won.

00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.200
 Let not

00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.759
 the voice

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.559
 of the accuser

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.100
 bring you

00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:01.620
 to guilt

00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.360
 and despair.

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.320
 He has

00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:03.840
 been cast

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.340
 down.

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:05.920
 That's the

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.480
 second point

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:06.759
 of our

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.259
 passage.

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.120
 But now

00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.700
 lest we think

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.240
 that the battle

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.779
 is simply

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.360
 over

00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.839
 and that's

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.219
 all that

00:27:14.219 --> 00:27:14.519
 there is

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:14.959
 to say.

00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:15.979
 John

00:27:15.979 --> 00:27:16.339
 gives us

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:16.740
 one more

00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.139
 piece of

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.619
 the story.

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.479
 In the

00:27:18.479 --> 00:27:19.119
 third paragraph

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.939
 verses 13

00:27:19.939 --> 00:27:20.559
 through 17

00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.219
 we see

00:27:21.219 --> 00:27:21.679
 that even

00:27:21.679 --> 00:27:22.039
 though the

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.599
 decisive

00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.039
 victory

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.379
 has been

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.879
 won,

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.399
 the battle

00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.119
 still rages

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.459
 on.

00:27:26.879 --> 00:27:27.439
 This battle

00:27:27.439 --> 00:27:28.219
 still rages

00:27:28.219 --> 00:27:28.579
 on.

00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.139
 I think

00:27:29.139 --> 00:27:29.599
 the analogy

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:29.939
 of World

00:27:29.939 --> 00:27:30.219
 War II

00:27:30.219 --> 00:27:30.599
 has often

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.099
 been used

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:31.699
 to describe

00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:32.139
 the spiritual

00:27:32.139 --> 00:27:32.479
 reality

00:27:32.479 --> 00:27:32.740
 and I think

00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:32.919
 it's a

00:27:32.919 --> 00:27:33.419
 helpful one.

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:33.639
 You know

00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.479
 when the

00:27:34.479 --> 00:27:35.159
 allied forces

00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.740
 landed at

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.059
 Normandy

00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.399
 and gained

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:36.839
 a foothold

00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.099
 on the

00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:37.479
 continent

00:27:37.479 --> 00:27:38.419
 it was a

00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:38.939
 sign that

00:27:38.939 --> 00:27:39.399
 the tide

00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.000
 had turned

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.299
 and the

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.079
 Axis powers

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.619
 would eventually

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.099
 fall.

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:42.460
 But you

00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:42.599
 know

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:44.339
 from D-Day

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.139
 to victory

00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:45.639
 in Europe

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.019
 there were

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.859
 still 11

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:48.399
 long months

00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:48.919
 right?

00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.460
 Or at least

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:50.879
 that's what I

00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:51.460
 remember from

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.159
 history class.

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.679
 And you

00:27:54.679 --> 00:27:54.740
 know

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.159
 that's a bit

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:55.460
 of what we

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:55.919
 see here.

00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.339
 Satan

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.819
 is cast

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.379
 down from

00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:57.659
 heaven.

00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:58.240
 His

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.879
 accusations

00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.359
 are now

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.919
 finished

00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:00.839
 but on

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.359
 earth

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.199
 he still

00:28:02.199 --> 00:28:02.899
 fights to

00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:03.419
 devour

00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:03.939
 as many

00:28:03.939 --> 00:28:04.299
 as he

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:04.539
 can

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:04.899
 knowing

00:28:04.899 --> 00:28:05.299
 that his

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.759
 time is

00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.099
 short.

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.139
 John

00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:08.639
 sees the

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.179
 dragon's

00:28:09.179 --> 00:28:09.579
 attacks

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.439
 flowing like

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.019
 a river

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.720
 issuing from

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.360
 his mouth

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.120
 trying to

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.059
 sweep away

00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:14.519
 the people

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:14.900
 of God

00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.220
 in its

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.640
 flood.

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.380
 And indeed

00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:17.660
 when you

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.080
 read church

00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:18.559
 history you

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:18.880
 will see

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.180
 that there

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.480
 has been

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:19.960
 a flood

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.200
 of persecutions

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.080
 of false

00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:22.580
 teachings

00:28:22.580 --> 00:28:23.680
 of seasons

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.600
 of complacency

00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.279
 and compromise

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.680
 that have

00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.600
 nearly drowned

00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:27.240
 the church.

00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.160
 Given that

00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:30.680
 this flood

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.180
 issues from

00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.779
 the mouth

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.220
 of the

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.580
 dragon

00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:33.120
 this vision

00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:33.620
 might be

00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:34.080
 particularly

00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:34.940
 speaking of

00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.799
 the false

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.259
 teaching

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:36.960
 and deception

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.000
 that the

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.460
 devil has

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.019
 constantly

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.460
 tried to

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.000
 use against

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.539
 the church.

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.220
 It's as if

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.880
 his accusations

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.400
 have been

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:44.920
 foiled by

00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.240
 the work

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:45.740
 of Christ

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.360
 then he

00:28:46.360 --> 00:28:46.680
 will try

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.079
 to use

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.759
 his deceptions

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.220
 to keep

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.700
 as many

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.500
 people away

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:49.920
 from the

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.380
 finished work

00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:50.920
 of the gospel

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.579
 as possible.

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:53.900
 And so

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.440
 church history

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.019
 tells us

00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.720
 of a river

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:57.019
 of heresies

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.500
 and false

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.140
 teachings that

00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:58.539
 have run

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:58.920
 through the

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.240
 church.

00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:00.539
 Some denying

00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:00.980
 the full

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.519
 deity of

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:01.920
 Christ.

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.420
 Some denying

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:03.799
 the full

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.579
 humanity of

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:04.960
 Christ.

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:06.160
 Some denying

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.660
 the free

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.180
 grace of

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.559
 God.

00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:08.880
 Some denying

00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.580
 the sufficiency

00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.260
 and authority

00:29:10.260 --> 00:29:10.800
 of scripture

00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:11.860
 and on

00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.600
 and on

00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.200
 they go.

00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:16.060
 But Satan's

00:29:16.060 --> 00:29:16.440
 deceptions

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.620
 also try

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.000
 to reach

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.400
 to our

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:18.880
 hearts.

00:29:20.260 --> 00:29:20.580
 Remember

00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:20.980
 how he

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.380
 came to

00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:21.780
 Eve in

00:29:21.780 --> 00:29:22.220
 the garden

00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:24.080
 trying to

00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:24.340
 get her

00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:24.920
 to question

00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.380
 God's

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.940
 word and

00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.280
 God's

00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:26.780
 character.

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:28.100
 Did God

00:29:28.100 --> 00:29:28.920
 really say?

00:29:30.760 --> 00:29:31.480
 God knows

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.840
 that when you

00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:32.220
 eat this

00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.520
 you'll be

00:29:32.520 --> 00:29:32.980
 like him.

00:29:33.020 --> 00:29:33.260
 In other

00:29:33.260 --> 00:29:33.420
 words,

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.180
 God's trying

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.480
 to keep

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.120
 something good

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.540
 from you,

00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:35.880
 you know.

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.420
 You can't

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.060
 trust him.

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:40.319
 His tactics

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:40.720
 haven't

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.319
 changed.

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.000
 He sort

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.279
 of has

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.679
 the same

00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:44.299
 playbook and

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:44.559
 he just

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.119
 keeps playing

00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:45.539
 it over

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:45.940
 and over

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.299
 and over

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.579
 again.

00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.000
 Like a

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.279
 flood,

00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:47.700
 he's going

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.059
 to try

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.319
 to get

00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.639
 us to

00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:48.899
 doubt

00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:49.279
 God's

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:50.379
 word and

00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:50.599
 doubt

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:50.919
 God's

00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:51.419
 character.

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.099
 And yet

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.379
 as the

00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:55.659
 battle

00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:56.019
 rages

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.419
 on,

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:57.639
 God

00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.159
 promises

00:29:58.159 --> 00:29:58.940
 to preserve

00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.179
 his

00:29:59.179 --> 00:29:59.579
 church.

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.379
 John

00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:01.839
 sees the

00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:02.079
 woman

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.419
 given

00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.359
 the two

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.759
 wings

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.019
 of the

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.259
 great

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.519
 eagle

00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:04.839
 so that

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.119
 she might

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:06.000
 fly from

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.460
 the serpent

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:06.920
 into the

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.220
 wilderness.

00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:08.680
 What a

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.000
 beautiful

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.460
 image.

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.500
 It's taken

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.059
 actually from

00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.880
 Exodus 19.

00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.140
 Just like

00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:13.500
 the people

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:13.839
 of the Old

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.460
 Testament were

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:14.960
 said to be

00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.859
 brought out

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:16.220
 of Egypt

00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.079
 on eagle's

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.839
 wings into

00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.420
 the wilderness

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.119
 to be with

00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.579
 God.

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.039
 That great

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.460
 picture of

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.099
 their rescue

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:23.640
 from Pharaoh's

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.359
 death and

00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.000
 destruction to

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.660
 be with God

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.539
 in his presence

00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:26.819
 in the

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.140
 wilderness.

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:28.920
 So the

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.380
 New Testament

00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:29.900
 church will

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.500
 be carried

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.180
 by God

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.880
 and protected

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.960
 from Satan's

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.440
 attacks.

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:35.460
 The

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.980
 wilderness was

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.400
 often a

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:36.700
 place in

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:36.920
 the Old

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.420
 Testament where

00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.259
 God purified

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.080
 and protected

00:30:39.080 --> 00:30:39.660
 his people.

00:30:41.100 --> 00:30:41.440
 And we're

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:41.920
 told here that

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.340
 there in the

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.900
 wilderness the

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.600
 earth opens

00:30:43.600 --> 00:30:44.360
 its mouth and

00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:45.299
 swallows the

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.279
 destructive waters

00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:47.000
 of the dragon.

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.059
 Just like in

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:49.940
 Exodus 15 the

00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.640
 earth is said to

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.580
 swallow Pharaoh

00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:52.420
 and his chariots

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.400
 or like number

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.600
 16 the earth is

00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.460
 said to swallow

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.620
 Korah's rebellion

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.759
 as they rebelled

00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.380
 against God's

00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.140
 goodness and God's

00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.440
 word.

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.600
 So the

00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:02.259
 sovereign God will

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.920
 continue to

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.560
 protect his

00:31:03.560 --> 00:31:04.180
 people from

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.820
 all that

00:31:04.820 --> 00:31:05.440
 threatens to

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.220
 destroy them.

00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.480
 Though we live

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:09.940
 in the final

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.680
 stages of the

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.420
 great spiritual

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.060
 battle though we

00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:12.560
 have an enemy

00:31:12.560 --> 00:31:13.680
 bent on washing

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.720
 us away God

00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.740
 will not allow

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.460
 his people to

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.039
 be overcome.

00:31:19.340 --> 00:31:19.860
 And there in

00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:20.240
 the wilderness

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.920
 John says

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.240
 they'll be

00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.039
 nourished for

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.920
 a time times

00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.920
 and half a

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.400
 time.

00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.560
 As Pastor

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.120
 Matt mentioned

00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.779
 last week this

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.380
 number comes up

00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:28.960
 often in the

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.580
 book of Revelation

00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.140
 and it comes up

00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:31.039
 in different forms.

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.340
 Earlier in this

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:33.039
 passage it was

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.480
 given as

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:35.799
 1260 days.

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.720
 In chapter

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.480
 11 it was

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.159
 called 42

00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:38.779
 months.

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.659
 And here

00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:40.199
 again it's

00:31:40.199 --> 00:31:40.899
 called time

00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:41.539
 times and

00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.359
 half a time

00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.599
 which is

00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.759
 one time

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:46.119
 times two

00:31:46.119 --> 00:31:46.639
 and a half.

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.000
 It's all

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.379
 three and a

00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:47.720
 half.

00:31:48.159 --> 00:31:48.799
 42 months

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.179
 is three and

00:31:49.179 --> 00:31:49.679
 a half years.

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.159
 If a month

00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.119
 is 30 days

00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:52.679
 then 1260

00:31:52.679 --> 00:31:53.220
 days is three

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.539
 and a half

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:53.959
 years.

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.639
 Just different

00:31:55.639 --> 00:31:56.439
 ways of talking

00:31:56.439 --> 00:31:57.079
 about this same

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.819
 period of time.

00:31:58.699 --> 00:31:59.199
 But what's the

00:31:59.199 --> 00:31:59.919
 significance of

00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:00.379
 three and a

00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.080
 half years?

00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.380
 Well one clue

00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.020
 that John may

00:32:04.020 --> 00:32:04.640
 be using this

00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.080
 number in a

00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:05.920
 symbolic way is

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.480
 found right here

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:06.900
 in Revelation

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.360
 12.

00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:08.880
 We see in

00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.620
 verse 6 that

00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.940
 immediately after

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.880
 the ascension of

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.660
 Jesus when he's

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:13.620
 caught up to be

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:14.220
 with God in his

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.820
 throne it says

00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:15.560
 the woman fled

00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:15.920
 into the

00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:17.160
 wilderness where

00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:17.860
 she has a place

00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.860
 prepared by God

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:19.920
 in which she is

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.460
 to be nourished

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:22.940
 for 1260 days

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.520
 or a time

00:32:23.520 --> 00:32:24.180
 times and half

00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.600
 a time.

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.000
 In other words

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.160
 that period starts

00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:27.800
 at the ascension

00:32:27.800 --> 00:32:28.260
 of Jesus.

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.740
 So it seems

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.160
 to be that

00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:30.559
 John's saying

00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.059
 that the whole

00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:31.700
 period from

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.980
 Christ's ascension

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.440
 to his return

00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.579
 will be covered

00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.839
 by that time

00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:38.339
 times and half

00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:38.940
 a time.

00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.500
 And that makes

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.059
 sense when you

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.579
 look at where

00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.500
 this phrase comes

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.099
 from in the Old

00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:44.519
 Testament.

00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.160
 In the book of

00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:46.599
 Daniel time

00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:47.859
 times and half

00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:49.379
 a time was a

00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:50.059
 way of speaking

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:51.220
 about an intense

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.420
 time of persecution

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.799
 for God's people

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:55.799
 that will ultimately

00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:57.200
 and graciously be cut

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:59.299
 short by God's

00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.299
 rescue and judgment.

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.620
 Three and a half

00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:03.620
 after all is half

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.440
 of seven.

00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.420
 You can tell I did

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:07.220
 really well in math

00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:07.480
 right?

00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:09.840
 If seven represents

00:33:09.840 --> 00:33:11.000
 a full or complete

00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.059
 cycle of trial

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.640
 and persecution

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.220
 and suffering

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.140
 God's going to

00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.279
 cut it in half

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.720
 and rescue his

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.340
 people at just

00:33:17.340 --> 00:33:18.120
 the right time

00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:19.240
 when the times

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.960
 get hard and it

00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.460
 feels like it's

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.460
 turning into times

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.019
 of hardship

00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:23.559
 God says that's

00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.080
 when it will come

00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:24.640
 to an end

00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.720
 and I will rescue

00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.019
 you.

00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.420
 at just the

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:28.920
 right time.

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:31.180
 Now of course

00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:31.559
 there are other

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.340
 ways of understanding

00:33:32.340 --> 00:33:32.880
 this number.

00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.220
 Some Christians

00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:34.880
 believe that this

00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:35.759
 number could represent

00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.559
 the three and a half

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.340
 years of suffering

00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:38.539
 during the Jewish

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:41.180
 war of 66 to 70

00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:42.140
 AD when the temple

00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:42.680
 was eventually

00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:43.259
 destroyed.

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.039
 That was a time

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.860
 of great suffering.

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:46.319
 Some think that

00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:47.180
 this number represents

00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:47.940
 a three and a half

00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:49.039
 year period of intense

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:50.380
 persecution just

00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:51.600
 before Jesus returns.

00:33:52.580 --> 00:33:53.319
 And the reality is

00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:54.200
 I think John's vision

00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:55.180
 could speak to all

00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.100
 of these just like

00:33:56.100 --> 00:33:56.560
 Old Testament

00:33:56.560 --> 00:33:57.160
 prophecy.

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:58.360
 Revelation has

00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:59.560
 multiple horizons

00:33:59.560 --> 00:34:00.140
 of fulfillment.

00:34:01.820 --> 00:34:02.820
 But I think John's

00:34:02.820 --> 00:34:04.039
 pastoral point to his

00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:05.120
 churches is the same.

00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:07.440
 We live in a time

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.000
 of trial,

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.519
 of battle,

00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.039
 of hardship.

00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.099
 There will be days

00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.780
 when it seems like

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.380
 the fight is

00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.039
 overwhelming,

00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:14.059
 like a flood.

00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:15.440
 Yeah,

00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:16.019
 there will be days

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.639
 when it seems like

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.280
 the earth opens

00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:17.960
 its mouth and

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.659
 swallows the whole

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.360
 trial and brings

00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:19.840
 relief.

00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:21.680
 But not always.

00:34:24.120 --> 00:34:24.720
 But through it all

00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:25.559
 there's coming a day

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.760
 when this time will

00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.200
 end.

00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.700
 This period won't

00:34:28.700 --> 00:34:29.440
 last forever.

00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:31.420
 Just like it didn't

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.260
 last forever in the

00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:32.720
 Jewish war,

00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:33.559
 just like it won't

00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:34.260
 last forever,

00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.760
 right before Jesus

00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.840
 comes it won't last

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.340
 forever.

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.840
 Just when you think

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.500
 your strength is

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.039
 giving way,

00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:41.840
 just when you think

00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:42.640
 you can't hold out

00:34:42.640 --> 00:34:43.320
 any longer,

00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.700
 God's rescue will

00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:45.039
 come.

00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:46.860
 And we know that

00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:47.980
 will ultimately be

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.920
 true one day.

00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:50.760
 The king who was

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:51.780
 caught up to God

00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:52.760
 and to his throne,

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:54.100
 who cast Satan

00:34:54.100 --> 00:34:54.860
 down from heaven,

00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:56.100
 he will return

00:34:56.100 --> 00:34:57.360
 bodily in glory.

00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:58.800
 And the great

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.539
 dragon will be

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.519
 condemned forever.

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.720
 And he will be

00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.340
 removed from the

00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:03.200
 earth once and for

00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:03.460
 all.

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.640
 And the church

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.200
 will reign with

00:35:06.200 --> 00:35:07.180
 Christ for eternity

00:35:07.180 --> 00:35:08.000
 in a new heavens

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.660
 and a new earth.

00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.160
 Yes, friends,

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:11.880
 the battle still

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.500
 rages on.

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.019
 Yes, we need to

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.820
 take up the armor

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:16.240
 of God each day.

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.280
 And if you're

00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.039
 wondering, how do I

00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:18.400
 do that?

00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:19.039
 You can come to

00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.579
 Sunday school.

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.300
 Because we're

00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:20.620
 going through

00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:21.160
 Ephesians and

00:35:21.160 --> 00:35:21.360
 we're going to

00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:21.880
 talk about the

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:22.500
 armor of God.

00:35:23.660 --> 00:35:24.420
 Yes, we need to

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.180
 immerse ourselves

00:35:25.180 --> 00:35:26.120
 in God's word

00:35:26.120 --> 00:35:27.320
 and God's gospel

00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:28.320
 to ready ourselves

00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:28.920
 for the fight,

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.500
 to be ready

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.100
 against these

00:35:30.100 --> 00:35:30.600
 floods that

00:35:30.600 --> 00:35:31.300
 come our way.

00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.360
 Yes, we need

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.160
 to bear witness

00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:34.840
 even if it means

00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:35.539
 losing what we

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.280
 love, even our

00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:37.120
 own lives.

00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:38.940
 But friends,

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.440
 one day the

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.280
 battle will end.

00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.980
 The time is

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.680
 short, friends.

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.500
 So don't give

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:46.820
 up.

00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:48.960
 Stand firm

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.440
 against the

00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:49.780
 devil's

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.340
 accusations

00:35:50.340 --> 00:35:51.039
 and lies,

00:35:51.700 --> 00:35:52.100
 knowing that

00:35:52.100 --> 00:35:52.820
 he is ultimately

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.600
 a defeated

00:35:53.600 --> 00:35:54.160
 foe.

00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.720
 Stand firm

00:35:55.720 --> 00:35:56.140
 in your

00:35:56.140 --> 00:35:56.640
 King, the

00:35:56.640 --> 00:35:57.140
 Lord Jesus.

00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:58.580
 He will

00:35:58.580 --> 00:35:59.880
 win the

00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.240
 battle.

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:02.980
 Did we in

00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.519
 our own

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.840
 strength confide?

00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.860
 Our striving

00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:07.860
 would be

00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:09.160
 losing, Martin

00:36:09.160 --> 00:36:09.700
 Luther wrote

00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:10.420
 many years ago.

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.260
 We're not the

00:36:12.260 --> 00:36:13.120
 right man on

00:36:13.120 --> 00:36:13.900
 our side, the

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.780
 man of God's

00:36:14.780 --> 00:36:15.420
 own choosing.

00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:17.340
 Do you ask

00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:17.900
 who that may

00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:18.180
 be?

00:36:19.100 --> 00:36:19.980
 Christ Jesus

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:21.440
 it is he, the

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.260
 Lord of hosts

00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:23.580
 his name, from

00:36:23.580 --> 00:36:24.680
 age to age the

00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:26.180
 same, and he

00:36:26.180 --> 00:36:27.800
 must win the

00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:28.120
 battle.

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.780
 Let's pray.

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:37.100
 Father in

00:36:37.100 --> 00:36:37.340
 heaven,

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:43.519
 help us now

00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.820
 in these quiet

00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:45.280
 moments

00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:48.519
 to be reminded

00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:48.960
 again

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:53.480
 that if we are

00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:53.880
 in the midst

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.680
 of trial,

00:36:55.180 --> 00:36:55.640
 persecution,

00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:56.460
 suffering,

00:36:57.220 --> 00:36:59.519
 Lord, that you

00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:01.200
 promise to win

00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:01.880
 the victory one

00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.100
 day.

00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.480
 Lord, this life

00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.400
 may not be

00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:07.240
 full of ease

00:37:07.240 --> 00:37:07.740
 and comfort.

00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:08.300
 In fact, you

00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:08.960
 promise us

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.720
 that it won't

00:37:09.720 --> 00:37:11.500
 be, but we

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:11.860
 know there's

00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:12.480
 coming a great

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.000
 and glorious

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:15.099
 day when the

00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:15.660
 battle will be

00:37:15.660 --> 00:37:16.440
 won and you

00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:16.960
 will be all in

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.180
 all.

00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:18.300
 So encourage

00:37:18.300 --> 00:37:18.740
 our hearts

00:37:18.740 --> 00:37:19.619
 now to keep

00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:20.039
 up in the

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:20.300
 fight.

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.420
 Equip us

00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:22.900
 with what we

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:23.340
 need, help

00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:23.599
 us to

00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.240
 encourage one

00:37:24.240 --> 00:37:24.660
 another in

00:37:24.660 --> 00:37:25.180
 this race.

00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.539
 And Lord, if

00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.039
 we've grown

00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:29.280
 complacent, if

00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:29.740
 we've grown

00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.800
 stagnant, if

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:31.240
 we've grown

00:37:31.240 --> 00:37:33.940
 sleepy, Lord,

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.480
 by your Holy

00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.300
 Spirit, cause

00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:35.940
 us to wake

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:36.240
 up.

00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:38.679
 Renew our

00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:39.340
 vision, renew

00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:40.199
 our zeal for

00:37:40.199 --> 00:37:41.139
 you and for

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:41.619
 your kingdom.

00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.320
 Silence the

00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:44.780
 voice of the

00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:45.320
 accuser.

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:46.860
 Help us to

00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:47.360
 stand in the

00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:47.940
 truth of your

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.420
 word against

00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.139
 his deceptions.

00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.280
 And Lord, we

00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:52.900
 pray that through

00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.800
 our witness as a

00:37:53.800 --> 00:37:55.460
 church, many

00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:56.099
 would come to

00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:57.139
 know the

00:37:57.139 --> 00:37:57.639
 forgiving,

00:37:58.400 --> 00:37:59.019
 liberating

00:37:59.019 --> 00:38:01.360
 grace of the

00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:01.800
 Lord Jesus

00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:02.320
 Christ.

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 Pray this in

00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:04.059
 his name.

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 Amen.

00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:04.579
 Amen.