Well we do welcome
you to this auditorium -
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3ABN Worship Center.
And we're so happy that you
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could join us for
another in our series
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of Anchors of Truth.
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This, Danny, has been one
of the most popular series
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we have ever done here at 3ABN.
Oh it has. And everywhere I go
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people tell me so, too. Yeah.
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And we have brought to you
some of the best-known speakers
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in the entire
denomination to do these series
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in the last
couple of years. Um-hmm.
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And then we said we want
to find some young preachers
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that we believe that God
has been speaking through
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in a very special way.
That has really anointed their
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ministry and we
want to introduce them
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to our congregation.
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Now we almost were first in
introducing Kameron DeVasher
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but GYC beat us to it.
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And so even though
we had him coming...
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or were planning to
have him come, anyway...
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you have already been
introduced to him if you were at
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or watched the
television program
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for GYC from Houston, Texas.
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Yes. But you met Kameron
what? A couple years ago?
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Yeah, it's been at least a
couple years ago I was down
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at Avon Park. We had some folks
say they were from Avon Park
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here tonight. And I
had four services that day.
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Was supposed to have three.
I had early morning church,
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then I had regular
worship hour... 11 o'clock,
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and 3ABN had advertised that
I would be there at 3 o'clock
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in the afternoon. The church
had advertised to come at 5.
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So they said: "Well,
there's only one solution:
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you have to do
four services today. "
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So I did it. And
after the 5 o'clock service
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I was very tired... was leaving.
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But a young man and
his wife came up and said:
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"Can we talk for just a
little bit? I really want to
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talk to you. "
And I said: "OK. "
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So we went in the
office. He was assistant...
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or associate pastor there.
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And so I went in and
talked to he and his wife.
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And I was so impressed
of their love for Jesus
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and they began to talk to me
about how much they appreciated
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3ABN and the good that
it's doing around the world.
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And GYC - yeah - how
they were so supportive.
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And I saw a fire
in these young people.
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So pretty soon I was
talking to the daughter...
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and I said now...
or to Kameron's wife...
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and I said: "Now let's
see. You guys, were you raised
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in the church? " She
goes: "Well my father
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is Ted Wilson. "
And I said: "Oh, OK. "
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So we knew who Ted
Wilson was, of course.
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I've known him for many years
but didn't know that it was
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Ted Wilson's daughter.
Um-hmm. But wonderful people.
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And we saw their love
and their desire for Jesus.
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And they stick into what we
call the Pillars of our Faith.
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Amen. They're there. And
it's good to see young people
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that have the fire,
they have the love for Jesus
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and they know
exactly where we've come from
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and where we're headed.
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And you know, after
Kameron left Florida
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he went to Michigan,
where he is pastor at Muskegon
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and Fremont district. OK.
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And he was happy that they
had a mild winter this year.
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Yes, I'm sure he
was... coming from Avon Park.
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Right. Absolutely. That's
quite an adjustment to make.
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He's an experienced person.
He's taught in an academy
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and he'll tell you a
little bit more about that.
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But he has been a
teacher... a Bible teacher.
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He is a real Bible student.
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And tonight I believe
that as he enters this series
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which he's calling
The Greater Controversy
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I believe that you are
going to learn some things
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and at the same time be brought
much closer to our Lord and
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Savior Jesus Christ.
Yeah. So we're looking forward
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to these five presentations
by Kameron DeVasher.
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And before he does
that tonight though,
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I'm going to ask you if
you'd lead us in prayer.
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All right. And
right after our prayer
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we have Pastor C. A.
Murray, who's going to bless us
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with some music. And then
the next voice after him will be
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Pastor Kameron.
Amen. Let's pray.
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Heavenly Father, we
thank you for Your blessings
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and Your love. We thank
you for Your plan of salvation.
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We thank you for a network
like 3ABN that we literally can
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come here in this
little small community
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and though there may not
be a lot of folk here in this
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community, as we come together
You've given us a mouthpiece
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that we literally...
these signals, these programs
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tonight are going
literally around the world.
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Potentially millions
and hundreds of millions
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and even I'm told up to
two billion people could watch
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this program
tonight. Thank you, Father.
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It's nothing more than a
miracle... it IS a miracle!
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We thank you that
You're a God of such power
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and such might, and yet
You rule the mighty universe
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and You're small enough
to live within our hearts.
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Father, tonight we ask for the
anointing of Your Holy Spirit
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upon this program - on
the pastor, on the music -
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that everything that's said
and done will be to Your honor
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and Your glory.
We ask these things
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in the worthy name of Jesus
and for His sake, Amen. Amen.
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Pastor Murray's going to sing
for us: "I'll Tell The World. "
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And then after that
Pastor DeVasher is going
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to present the
message "Beyond Ptolemy. "
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I'll tell the world
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that I'm a Christian.
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I'm not ashamed
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His name to bear.
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I'll tell the world
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that I'm a Christian.
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I'll take Him with me
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everywhere.
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I'll tell the world
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how Jesus saved me
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and how He gave me
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a life brand new.
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And I know that if you trust Him
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that all He gave me
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He'll give to you.
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I'll tell the world
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that He's my Savior.
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No other one
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could love me so.
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My life, my all
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is His forever.
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And where He leads me
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I will go.
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I'll tell the world
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Jesus is coming.
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And it may be near
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or far, far away.
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But we've got to live
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as if that coming
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could be tomorrow
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or today.
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For when He comes
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and life is over
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for those who love Him
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there's more to be.
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Eyes have never seen the wonders
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that He's preparing
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for you and me.
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Go tell the world
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that you're a Christian.
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Don't be ashamed
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His name to bear.
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Just tell the world
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that you are a Christian.
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And take Him with you
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everywhere.
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I'll tell the world
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how Jesus saved me
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and how He gave me
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a life brand new.
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And I know that if you trust Him
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that all He gave to me
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He'll give to you.
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I'll tell the world
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that I'm a Christian.
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I'm not ashamed
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His name to bear.
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I'll tell the world
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that I'm a Christian.
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I'll take Him with me
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everywhere...
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I'll take Him with me
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anywhere.
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Amen.
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Good evening
everyone. Good evening.
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I want to thank 3ABN for
the invitation to be here
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and I'm so glad that
you all have joined us.
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And we're going to have -
I believe - a very good time
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tonight
studying the Word of God.
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I want to start by just
setting the stage a little bit.
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I want to stretch the framework
of your Christian thinking
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just a little bit, and
we're going to explore some deep
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things in God's Word tonight
that I believe the Holy Spirit
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is going to talk to us
and tell us some things
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that we need to hear
and is going to bless us
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in a special way as we
commit ourselves to the study of
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God's Word. But let me
set the stage like this:
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for a great many... in
fact, likely most Christians...
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the sole reason
that Jesus came and died
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was to save sinners. And
of course, that sounds good.
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Who would ever
contest that basic fact?
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Jesus came to die for sinners.
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Which of course He did.
But from that perspective
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the whole scope of salvation
history extends basically
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like this. You start
with the creation of the world
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and then the fall into sin.
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You move through Jesus' life,
death, ministry, resurrection.
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And then someday at a
point... we're not there yet
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but hopefully
soon... Jesus will return
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and fix
everything and that's it.
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That's the
history of redemption.
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That's the story; that's
the framework within our mind
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are those simple, basic points.
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And Seventh-day Adventists,
all of whom should be familiar
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with the Great Controversy
theme, will take that basic
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structure and kind of extend it.
00:11:47.93\00:11:49.44
That limited scope and expand it
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back before the
creation of the world and say:
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"You know our sin problem
actually started in heaven. "
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And then it will extend it
right on through past the end
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of the second coming and
say a thousand years beyond
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that is when the ultimate
end of our sin problem will come
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and THAT'S the
Great Controversy.
00:12:07.04\00:12:08.74
Well, all of
those things are true.
00:12:09.04\00:12:12.09
But if you notice, one
border starts at creation,
00:12:12.49\00:12:16.60
goes to the cross and
ends at the second coming.
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And the other simply
does the exact same thing
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except it expands the beginning
to some time up in heaven
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and the end to
1,000 years after it.
00:12:24.16\00:12:26.27
They're very, very similar
and they both speak very, very
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true things, but there's some-
thing that I feel is lacking
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in both of these perspectives.
00:12:35.66\00:12:37.38
Not that any of those
things are wrong, but there is
00:12:37.68\00:12:39.66
a major implied flaw that
I'd like to clarify with us
00:12:39.76\00:12:43.35
starting this
evening and over the course
00:12:43.49\00:12:45.28
of our series of meetings.
00:12:45.29\00:12:46.64
And that's that both of
these pictures of the plan
00:12:46.76\00:12:50.70
of redemption revolve completely
and totally around us.
00:12:50.80\00:12:56.55
Jesus came to save us from sin.
00:12:56.75\00:12:58.74
We are the focus of
His attention... period.
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You might confess to
me: "Well of course we are!
00:13:01.77\00:13:04.02
We're the sinners... we're
the only sinners in the universe
00:13:04.12\00:13:06.17
so that's where His focus - His
attention - is focused around.
00:13:06.38\00:13:09.77
But... that's true
but at the same time -
00:13:09.97\00:13:13.64
and here's our
thesis for the entire series
00:13:13.84\00:13:17.40
so you don't want to miss this -
00:13:17.61\00:13:18.99
there is more to
God's plan of redemption
00:13:19.19\00:13:22.94
than merely saving lost sinners.
00:13:23.14\00:13:27.52
OK. God has a bigger
plan, a broader scope,
00:13:27.82\00:13:31.68
a different perspective...
a greater - if you will -
00:13:31.88\00:13:36.61
controversy than
simply saving lost sinners.
00:13:36.81\00:13:39.14
Let me explain it this way.
00:13:39.24\00:13:40.27
Just after the time of
Christ, a man by the name of
00:13:41.54\00:13:45.92
Claudius Ptolemy formally
articulated an ancient Greek
00:13:46.12\00:13:51.62
idea of how the
universe was organized.
00:13:51.72\00:13:54.19
He described the earth as
THE CENTRAL OBJECT around which
00:13:54.39\00:13:58.11
every other object in the
visible universe revolved.
00:13:58.21\00:14:01.31
OK?
00:14:01.51\00:14:02.53
The sun, the moon, the
stars. Planets... anything
00:14:02.73\00:14:05.37
that was anything
revolved around well... us.
00:14:05.47\00:14:09.00
We were the center.
And believe it or not,
00:14:09.30\00:14:11.48
this idea was the commonly-held
model of how the universe worked
00:14:11.68\00:14:15.07
for nearly 2,000 years.
00:14:15.17\00:14:16.93
You think about that. The
earth is only 6,000 years old.
00:14:17.23\00:14:21.08
So 2,000... you know, that's
a third of earth's history
00:14:21.28\00:14:23.44
people had this
idea in their heads.
00:14:23.64\00:14:25.80
All of that ended,
however, in the early 1500's
00:14:27.11\00:14:30.23
when a man by the
name of Nicholas Copernicus
00:14:30.33\00:14:32.93
suggested that the
universe, just maybe, perhaps,
00:14:33.14\00:14:37.23
might not revolve around us.
00:14:37.47\00:14:40.52
Instead he claimed that the
earth was just 1 of many planets
00:14:41.92\00:14:44.83
that actually
revolved around the sun.
00:14:44.93\00:14:47.71
And this did not sit well
with many people, and especially
00:14:48.11\00:14:51.81
church leaders, who at the time
thought it was sacrilegious,
00:14:52.01\00:14:55.97
it was unspiritual,
00:14:56.27\00:14:59.35
to suggest that the earth wasn't
the center of God's universe.
00:14:59.55\00:15:04.07
In fact, the famous astronomer
and telescope inventor
00:15:05.43\00:15:07.91
Galileo Galilei spent the
last ten years of his life
00:15:08.11\00:15:11.61
under house arrest for
supporting such a supposedly
00:15:11.81\00:15:15.03
heretical view. Now of course
with our modern instruments
00:15:15.13\00:15:19.90
and all kinds of gadgets
we understand that the whole
00:15:20.10\00:15:23.82
discussion of whether or not
the earth is the center of the
00:15:23.92\00:15:26.08
universe is
absolutely ridiculous.
00:15:26.18\00:15:28.82
We know that not only does
our world revolve around the sun
00:15:30.20\00:15:32.72
but the sun and all the other
planets that revolve around it
00:15:32.92\00:15:35.58
are part of a larger orbital
structure called a galaxy.
00:15:35.78\00:15:38.72
And we look out in space
and we see there are countless
00:15:39.12\00:15:41.54
numbers of those. We
are absolutely a piece
00:15:41.64\00:15:44.77
of God's universe but we are not
the center of God's universe.
00:15:44.97\00:15:47.64
Now spiritually, however, most
Christians still hold to a view
00:15:50.26\00:15:55.05
of the universe - spiritually
now - a view of the universe
00:15:55.25\00:15:59.15
very much akin
to that of Ptolemy:
00:15:59.35\00:16:01.69
that everything in the
universe from God's perspective
00:16:02.80\00:16:06.04
is done about and for us.
00:16:06.14\00:16:10.88
Sure, we acknowledge the
existence of angels and demons
00:16:13.22\00:16:15.71
but, I mean, they exist
to either harm or help us.
00:16:15.91\00:16:19.76
Right? And you know
there might be other planets...
00:16:19.96\00:16:23.03
who's really to know?
But what's really important
00:16:23.23\00:16:25.34
is that we are here, we
sinned, and we have a Savior
00:16:25.54\00:16:28.54
Jesus Christ. And I
believe that is important. Amen?
00:16:28.74\00:16:30.74
But tonight I want to
take us beyond Ptolemy
00:16:31.14\00:16:34.02
spiritually speaking. I want us
to see the greater controversy.
00:16:34.22\00:16:37.83
So if you would, let's
bow our heads as we open
00:16:38.03\00:16:39.89
with a word of
prayer. Dear heavenly Father,
00:16:39.99\00:16:41.57
Lord I thank you so much for
loving us enough to create us,
00:16:42.88\00:16:47.37
loving us enough to
come and die for us. But
00:16:47.67\00:16:50.44
Lord tonight as we study
Your Word help us to expand
00:16:50.64\00:16:54.88
the horizons of our minds.
00:16:55.08\00:16:56.83
Help us to see that we
serve a greater God than we even
00:16:57.03\00:17:00.59
typically imagine. And
help us to fall in love
00:17:00.80\00:17:03.58
with that Jesus from
a whole new perspective.
00:17:03.68\00:17:05.27
We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:17:05.37\00:17:07.60
The message that I
propose to present to you
00:17:08.99\00:17:11.87
will take us to a Bible study.
I hope you're not offended by
00:17:12.07\00:17:15.23
that. I'm not
apologizing... I'm just saying
00:17:15.33\00:17:17.34
we're going to be
in our Bibles tonight.
00:17:17.44\00:17:18.98
I'm going to start
at I John chapter 3.
00:17:20.09\00:17:22.11
I John chapter 3
and go to verse 8.
00:17:22.31\00:17:25.52
We're going to start
with "In the beginning... "
00:17:25.72\00:17:28.33
but it may be another "in the
beginning" than you're typically
00:17:28.53\00:17:30.84
used to. Although the Bible
itself in the book of Genesis
00:17:30.95\00:17:34.30
opens with the words: "In
the beginning God created, "
00:17:34.51\00:17:36.98
that's the beginning of
us. But I want to take us to
00:17:37.38\00:17:40.03
a different beginning. I
John chapter 3 and verse 8.
00:17:40.13\00:17:44.06
Jesus here... I'm
sorry. The apostle John here
00:17:44.16\00:17:49.43
speaking of the devil
00:17:49.63\00:17:55.35
says in verse 8 these words:
00:17:55.55\00:17:57.01
"He who sins is of the devil
00:17:57.21\00:18:00.14
for the devil has sinned...
" What are the next 3 words?
00:18:00.44\00:18:04.14
"from the beginning. "
00:18:04.34\00:18:06.84
And notice this next
sentence very carefully:
00:18:07.98\00:18:10.29
"For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested:
00:18:10.49\00:18:15.17
that He might destroy
the works of the devil. "
00:18:15.48\00:18:20.76
You notice he says that
the devil has sinned from the
00:18:21.06\00:18:24.77
beginning. And in
our minds we think: "Oh,
00:18:24.87\00:18:26.23
well right there in creation. "
00:18:26.44\00:18:27.68
But there's an
earlier beginning.
00:18:27.98\00:18:30.16
You know, I have a hard time
relating to things that happened
00:18:30.36\00:18:32.45
before 1977. Right?
But apparently spiritually
00:18:32.55\00:18:37.19
speaking there was stuff before
the creation of the world.
00:18:37.29\00:18:40.20
There was a
beginning prior to that.
00:18:40.40\00:18:41.69
"From the beginning...
" it says, "the devil... "
00:18:41.89\00:18:45.45
The devil... from the beginning.
00:18:45.75\00:18:48.00
But it says here that God came
- Christ came - was manifested
00:18:49.21\00:18:54.46
to destroy the
works of the devil.
00:18:54.56\00:18:55.98
So He is here - He came here -
to finish something that started
00:18:56.18\00:18:59.71
before we were
even on the scene.
00:18:59.91\00:19:01.67
Hmmm. So what exactly
were these works of the devil
00:19:02.91\00:19:06.84
that Christ came to
destroy? Have you ever wondered
00:19:07.04\00:19:08.54
about that? What did Satan
who, of course, started off
00:19:08.64\00:19:13.14
in a different
position, Lucifer,
00:19:13.24\00:19:14.80
what did he actually do wrong?
00:19:15.00\00:19:17.45
Think about it.
Did he commit adultery?
00:19:17.75\00:19:19.95
Did he steal? Did he
kill? What did he do?
00:19:20.25\00:19:22.41
Let's explore this
a little bit deeper.
00:19:22.71\00:19:24.30
Go to the book of John now.
00:19:24.40\00:19:25.48
We went from I John
to the book of John -
00:19:25.68\00:19:27.45
the gospel of John -
John chapter 8 and verse 44.
00:19:27.55\00:19:32.65
Jesus here contending with the
spiritual leaders of that time.
00:19:33.75\00:19:39.38
He gave them some
language, gave them some words,
00:19:43.51\00:19:45.76
that I don't know that they were
particularly comfortable with.
00:19:45.86\00:19:48.43
Well we'll start in
verse 37 to get the context.
00:19:48.73\00:19:51.08
John chapter 8
starting with verse 37.
00:19:51.38\00:19:53.71
"I know that you are Abraham's
descendants, but you seek
00:19:53.91\00:19:57.95
to kill Me. " Right. So they're
talking about the Jews that say
00:19:58.05\00:20:01.23
"We are Abraham's descendants.
" And Jesus said: "Look, I know
00:20:01.34\00:20:03.59
genealogically you
are descendants BUT
00:20:03.69\00:20:05.65
you're seeking to kill Me. "
00:20:05.85\00:20:07.49
And the premise is:
Abraham wouldn't do that.
00:20:07.89\00:20:09.91
Goes on... verse 38:
00:20:10.21\00:20:12.21
"I speak what I have seen
with My Father, and you do
00:20:15.39\00:20:19.30
what you have seen
with your father. "
00:20:19.40\00:20:21.18
So note: He sets up
a juxtaposition there.
00:20:21.21\00:20:23.93
Your father and
then there's My Father.
00:20:24.13\00:20:26.59
And they're thinking
Abraham but Christ is thinking
00:20:26.79\00:20:29.20
of a greater controversy.
00:20:29.40\00:20:30.71
Verse 39:
00:20:31.02\00:20:32.61
"They answered and said to
Him: 'Abraham is our father. '
00:20:33.62\00:20:36.27
Jesus said to them: 'If
you were Abraham's children
00:20:37.55\00:20:39.77
you would do the
works of Abraham.
00:20:39.97\00:20:42.19
But now... " Verse
40... "you seek to kill Me:
00:20:42.49\00:20:46.19
a Man which has told you the
truth which I heard from God.
00:20:46.32\00:20:49.08
Abraham did not do this.
00:20:49.28\00:20:51.67
You do the deeds
of your father. '
00:20:51.87\00:20:53.92
Then they said to Him: 'We
were not born of fornication;
00:20:54.96\00:20:57.15
we have one Father: God. ' "
00:20:57.25\00:20:59.46
So they're saying: "We
are the children of Abraham
00:20:59.66\00:21:01.11
and he was the son of God.
We are the children of God. "
00:21:01.25\00:21:03.36
Verse 42: "Jesus said to them:
00:21:05.47\00:21:07.17
"If God were your
Father, you would love Me
00:21:07.37\00:21:10.47
for I proceeded
forth and came from God.
00:21:10.67\00:21:12.48
Nor have I come of
Myself but He sent me. "
00:21:12.78\00:21:14.83
Verse 43: "Why do you
not understand My speech?
00:21:15.03\00:21:18.17
Because you are not
able to listen to My word. "
00:21:18.37\00:21:20.45
And here's the key in verse 44:
00:21:20.66\00:21:22.03
"You are of your
father the... " Who?
00:21:22.33\00:21:25.36
"the devil. " That
is strong language!
00:21:25.57\00:21:28.76
"You are of your father
the devil, and the desires
00:21:29.16\00:21:33.83
of your father you want to do. "
00:21:33.93\00:21:36.14
So the same spirit
that was in him is in you.
00:21:37.28\00:21:39.95
"The desires of your
father you want to do.
00:21:40.15\00:21:42.35
He was a... "
and here's our key...
00:21:42.56\00:21:45.04
"a murderer
from the beginning. "
00:21:45.24\00:21:48.23
Here's from
that beginning again.
00:21:48.53\00:21:50.29
"He was a murderer from the
beginning and does not stand
00:21:50.49\00:21:54.57
in the truth because
there is no truth in him.
00:21:54.67\00:21:56.52
When he speaks a lie
00:21:56.62\00:21:57.90
he speaks from his own
resources for he is a liar
00:21:58.10\00:22:00.78
and the father of it. "
00:22:00.98\00:22:02.81
Apparently the devil
is the father of lies
00:22:03.01\00:22:06.72
and has been a
murderer from the beginning.
00:22:06.82\00:22:09.12
So if the work or the
sin that the devil committed
00:22:10.50\00:22:13.15
that got him cast from
heaven was telling lies
00:22:13.25\00:22:15.58
and committing murder
it's only reasonable to ask
00:22:15.78\00:22:19.70
"What lie did he tell? "
00:22:20.00\00:22:21.75
And beyond that:
"Who did he kill? "
00:22:22.15\00:22:25.41
If he was a
murderer from the beginning,
00:22:25.81\00:22:28.01
who was his
victim? Who did he kill?
00:22:28.31\00:22:30.74
We need to dig
into this a little bit.
00:22:32.25\00:22:34.18
Go to the book of
Ezekiel chapter 28.
00:22:34.38\00:22:36.05
Ezekiel chapter 28 gives
us a behind-the-scenes view
00:22:37.35\00:22:40.13
of this "from the beginning"
00:22:40.53\00:22:43.50
which of course is not the
beginning of the entire universe
00:22:43.70\00:22:46.28
nor the beginning of
our part of the universe
00:22:46.38\00:22:47.96
but the beginning of sin itself.
00:22:48.16\00:22:49.62
Ezekiel chapter 28
starting with verse 14.
00:22:49.82\00:22:52.96
Let's listen to
the words of scripture
00:22:53.16\00:22:54.52
describing this
devil before his fall.
00:22:56.29\00:22:59.67
Says: "You were the
anointed cherub who covers. "
00:23:00.79\00:23:03.04
And we're just going to break
this text down phrase by phrase.
00:23:03.24\00:23:05.39
"You were the
anointed cherub who covers.
00:23:05.59\00:23:07.81
I established you.
00:23:08.01\00:23:10.05
You were on the
holy mountain of God.
00:23:10.25\00:23:11.93
You walked back and forth
in the midst of fiery stones.
00:23:12.13\00:23:14.35
You were perfect in your ways
from the day you were created
00:23:14.55\00:23:17.66
till iniquity
was found in you. "
00:23:17.86\00:23:21.07
"You were
perfect in your ways. "
00:23:21.27\00:23:23.13
Now let's see, he's the
anointed cherub who covers.
00:23:23.24\00:23:26.61
That's an angel right
next to the throne of God.
00:23:28.28\00:23:31.43
In fact, in the heavenly
sanctuary of which the earthly
00:23:31.64\00:23:34.33
sanctuary is but a
model, apparently there were
00:23:34.43\00:23:37.06
orders of angels.
And he was established...
00:23:37.26\00:23:40.14
he was ordained
some scriptures say.
00:23:40.34\00:23:41.82
You think of Satan
being an ordained minister.
00:23:42.02\00:23:43.91
But he was.
00:23:44.11\00:23:45.92
"You were the
anointed cherub who covers. "
00:23:46.12\00:23:47.51
And you think... your mind
goes to the ark of the covenant
00:23:47.71\00:23:49.47
with its two golden angels
who cover the Shekinah glory,
00:23:49.68\00:23:52.71
the very throne of God.
00:23:52.84\00:23:54.07
Lucifer was one of those.
00:23:54.37\00:23:56.47
"You were the
anointed cherub who covers. "
00:23:56.77\00:23:58.63
He had a job right there
next to the very throne of God.
00:23:58.93\00:24:02.92
And it also says He was
"perfect in your ways... "
00:24:03.12\00:24:05.47
"You were
perfect in your ways. "
00:24:05.58\00:24:07.10
This means that he
was a sinless being.
00:24:07.20\00:24:09.33
Perfect is not thrown
around loosely in scripture.
00:24:09.53\00:24:11.62
But he was a sinless being.
00:24:12.02\00:24:14.02
Then it says: "from
the day you were created"
00:24:14.32\00:24:16.87
which indicates that
this was a created being.
00:24:17.07\00:24:19.27
So this was not an
inherently immortal being but
00:24:19.57\00:24:22.08
this was a
contingent being if you will
00:24:22.18\00:24:25.71
that God brought into being.
00:24:25.91\00:24:28.76
And it says: "till
iniquity was found in you. "
00:24:30.24\00:24:33.40
From this being - for this
being - iniquity or sin was not
00:24:34.65\00:24:39.18
something
discovered outside of himself
00:24:39.28\00:24:41.53
but was formed from within.
00:24:41.83\00:24:44.65
No other being came up
to him with a suggestion
00:24:45.05\00:24:47.82
or a temptation or a
new idea that he gave in to.
00:24:48.02\00:24:50.56
It happened from inside.
00:24:50.86\00:24:52.69
So let's continue to verse 16
00:24:52.99\00:24:54.89
'cause we're still asking the
question: what did he actually
00:24:54.99\00:24:56.82
do wrong? What were
the lies that he told?
00:24:56.92\00:24:58.18
Who did he actually
kill? Verse 16, Ezekiel 28:
00:24:58.28\00:25:01.18
"By the abundance of your...
" And based on what Christ
00:25:01.42\00:25:03.95
has said we would expect
"by the abundance of your
00:25:04.05\00:25:05.97
killing. " But what does it say?
00:25:06.07\00:25:08.77
"by the
abundance of your trading
00:25:08.97\00:25:11.32
you became filled with
violence within and you sinned.
00:25:11.62\00:25:17.59
Therefore... " so
because of that...
00:25:17.79\00:25:19.83
"Therefore I cast
you as a profane thing
00:25:20.03\00:25:22.55
out of the mountain of
God and I destroyed you,
00:25:22.75\00:25:24.58
O covering cherub, from the
midst of the fiery stones. "
00:25:24.68\00:25:28.72
And although some versions
don't include the word within
00:25:29.79\00:25:32.61
when it talks about he
was filled with violence
00:25:32.81\00:25:34.75
they all agree that he was
not cast out of heaven for his
00:25:34.95\00:25:37.27
violent acts.
00:25:37.37\00:25:38.59
But that that violence was
filling him up on the inside
00:25:40.06\00:25:43.50
and it manifested
itself not in killing someone
00:25:43.81\00:25:49.08
but in what the
Bible calls "trading. "
00:25:49.28\00:25:52.32
Or some versions
even call "merchandise. "
00:25:52.35\00:25:54.94
He was selling something.
00:25:55.14\00:25:57.28
Now how do you
harmonize these two things?
00:25:58.79\00:26:01.14
Jesus said he was a murderer
from the beginning and here
00:26:01.34\00:26:02.88
it says he was in
trouble - he got cast out -
00:26:02.98\00:26:04.87
for his trafficking, his
trading, his merchandise.
00:26:04.97\00:26:07.64
He was filled
with violence within.
00:26:07.87\00:26:10.86
Well thankfully,
scripture interprets itself.
00:26:12.33\00:26:14.43
And the same Jesus
that told about the devil
00:26:14.63\00:26:17.49
now talks about... in Matthew
chapter 5 verses 21 and 22
00:26:17.69\00:26:21.84
listen to Jesus talk
about the crime of murder.
00:26:22.04\00:26:24.36
This is what He says:
00:26:24.56\00:26:25.58
"You have heard that it
was said to those of old
00:26:27.07\00:26:29.16
'you shall not
murder. ' And whoever murders
00:26:29.36\00:26:31.12
will be in
danger of the judgment.
00:26:31.33\00:26:33.26
But I say to you... '
" So notice He's taking
00:26:33.46\00:26:36.86
the superficial
and making it deeper.
00:26:37.06\00:26:38.90
"But I say to you that whoever
is angry with his brother
00:26:39.20\00:26:42.54
without a cause shall be
in danger of the judgment. "
00:26:42.64\00:26:45.99
And whoever says to his brother
'Raca' shall be in danger
00:26:46.19\00:26:50.81
of the Council.
00:26:50.91\00:26:52.01
But whoever says 'You fool! '
00:26:52.21\00:26:53.79
shall be in
danger of hell fire. "
00:26:53.99\00:26:56.82
That word raca that He
slides in the middle there
00:26:57.95\00:27:00.21
it means something like
empty-headed or nonsensical
00:27:00.41\00:27:04.01
or ignorant... or as
Christ draws the parallel
00:27:04.21\00:27:06.65
the same as
calling someone a fool.
00:27:06.85\00:27:08.61
You don't know
what you're doing.
00:27:08.81\00:27:10.12
Says: "If you say
that and in your heart
00:27:10.32\00:27:12.91
there's a murderous intent
00:27:13.11\00:27:16.21
that's tantamount
to murder itself. "
00:27:16.81\00:27:18.43
And by the way, in this text -
we'll just jump in a little bit
00:27:20.09\00:27:23.54
deeper here because we're
going to be laying some threads
00:27:23.64\00:27:26.36
that aren't going to be resolved
tonight. But we're going to
00:27:26.46\00:27:27.96
pick them up and
weave them into a tapestry.
00:27:28.06\00:27:30.02
In this text notice that
it says "then whoever... "
00:27:31.19\00:27:34.87
It doesn't say whoever has
anger in his heart without cause
00:27:35.10\00:27:37.46
will be executed.
00:27:37.66\00:27:39.44
It says: "Whoever is angry
without cause shall be in danger
00:27:39.74\00:27:43.22
of the judgment. "
00:27:43.32\00:27:44.58
He'll be put before a Council.
00:27:44.78\00:27:47.15
And then you could be
in danger of hell fire.
00:27:49.03\00:27:51.66
It seems to imply
a deliberative panel
00:27:51.76\00:27:55.96
examining evidence
to determine sentencing.
00:27:56.16\00:27:59.90
In fact, we'll see this
unfold more clearly tonight.
00:28:00.20\00:28:03.97
Even more so in our
subsequent messages.
00:28:04.07\00:28:06.59
But back to the matter at hand.
00:28:06.79\00:28:08.25
This angel's violence
was not outward murder...
00:28:08.45\00:28:11.67
it was inward hatred.
00:28:11.87\00:28:14.03
The sin for which he
was cast out of heaven
00:28:14.23\00:28:17.06
was a murderous intent
that manifest itself not in
00:28:17.26\00:28:19.87
taking life but in
trading or selling something.
00:28:19.97\00:28:22.60
And just in case you
think I'm way out on a limb here
00:28:22.80\00:28:25.77
and taking liberties with
the text, skip down two verses
00:28:25.87\00:28:28.28
and look at
verse 18. Ezekiel 28:18
00:28:28.48\00:28:31.62
continues the scene:
00:28:31.82\00:28:33.45
"You defiled your sanctuary
00:28:33.66\00:28:35.97
by the multitude
of your iniquities. "
00:28:36.17\00:28:37.86
And of course
iniquity is a synonym for sin.
00:28:37.97\00:28:39.78
"By the multitude
of your iniquities.
00:28:39.98\00:28:41.59
By the iniquity
of your trading. "
00:28:41.79\00:28:44.97
Or you look it up in
the King James version:
00:28:45.17\00:28:46.66
"your traffic. "
This is merchandise again.
00:28:46.76\00:28:49.52
"By the iniquity of
your trading. Therefore
00:28:50.88\00:28:52.99
I brought fire from
your midst and devoured you.
00:28:53.20\00:28:55.87
And I turned you to
ashes upon the earth... "
00:28:55.98\00:28:57.70
And this will be key later on:
00:28:57.90\00:28:59.48
"in the sight of
all who saw you. "
00:28:59.68\00:29:03.19
Hmmm. If you look this text
up in the Seventh-day Adventist
00:29:04.47\00:29:08.38
Bible Commentary
you'll find two sentences
00:29:08.48\00:29:10.58
that refer to this.
And Mrs. White only refers
00:29:10.69\00:29:12.49
to this traffic one
time in all of her writings,
00:29:12.59\00:29:14.79
and it's found in the
fourth volume of the Seventh-day
00:29:14.99\00:29:16.94
Adventist Bible
Commentary on page 1163.
00:29:17.05\00:29:19.55
Two sentences.
"In this place... "
00:29:19.75\00:29:23.18
In scripture. "In this
place traffic is the emblem of
00:29:23.38\00:29:28.37
corrupt administration.
It denotes the bringing of
00:29:28.58\00:29:32.17
self-seeking into
spiritual offices. "
00:29:32.28\00:29:36.13
OK. So you have the
picture in your head.
00:29:36.33\00:29:38.57
There's the throne of God.
And of course only one being
00:29:38.77\00:29:41.13
in the universe sits on
the throne of God, right?
00:29:41.23\00:29:42.95
But there's those
two covering cherubs
00:29:43.15\00:29:45.55
of which Lucifer was one.
00:29:45.75\00:29:47.73
And apparently his
responsibility was to be
00:29:47.93\00:29:50.30
an ambassador for
Christ. To be a spokesman,
00:29:50.40\00:29:53.02
a representative so that the
glory would come and he would
00:29:53.12\00:29:55.83
deflect it and
give it to the Father.
00:29:55.94\00:29:58.04
He conducted the
praise of the heavenly beings.
00:29:58.24\00:30:00.69
But apparently into
that spiritual office
00:30:01.09\00:30:03.69
crept self-seeking.
00:30:03.89\00:30:06.01
And instead of killing he
started selling something.
00:30:07.02\00:30:10.90
Selling something...
00:30:11.93\00:30:13.33
Now again, that's
just a Bible commentary.
00:30:14.60\00:30:16.44
That's not the Bible itself.
But does the Bible support
00:30:16.54\00:30:18.72
this claim? Let's go to
the book of Isaiah chapter 14.
00:30:18.82\00:30:22.35
Isaiah chapter 14 we get
another glimpse into the fall.
00:30:22.85\00:30:27.08
It says here in chapter
14 starting with verse 12:
00:30:28.15\00:30:30.93
"How you are fallen from heaven
O Lucifer, son of the morning.
00:30:32.44\00:30:35.93
How you are cut down to
the ground, you who weaken the
00:30:36.13\00:30:38.60
nations. For... "
and notice this again:
00:30:38.71\00:30:41.73
you have been cut down to
the ground for this reason...
00:30:41.93\00:30:44.74
"for you have said...
" Where did he say it?
00:30:45.04\00:30:47.83
"in your heart... " "for
you have said in your heart
00:30:48.03\00:30:52.07
'I will ascend into heaven.
00:30:52.27\00:30:53.66
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God... '
00:30:53.69\00:30:56.85
Stars always being
a symbol for angels,
00:30:57.05\00:31:00.64
especially in prophecy there.
00:31:00.84\00:31:02.14
'I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God.
00:31:02.34\00:31:04.87
I will also sit on the
mount of the congregation
00:31:05.01\00:31:07.15
on the farthest
sides of the north.
00:31:07.25\00:31:08.57
I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds.
00:31:08.77\00:31:10.94
I will be like
the Most High. ' "
00:31:11.14\00:31:13.73
"I will be like the Most High. "
00:31:14.75\00:31:16.38
Bringing self-seeking
into his spiritual office.
00:31:16.58\00:31:20.13
Yet it says in verse 15 at
the conclusion of all that:
00:31:22.13\00:31:25.23
"Yet you shall be
brought down to shaol...
00:31:25.43\00:31:28.53
the lowest depths of the
pit. " Notice here again:
00:31:28.73\00:31:31.11
the reason Lucifer was cast
out of heaven was not because
00:31:31.24\00:31:33.75
of outward violence but
because of an inward struggle,
00:31:33.85\00:31:36.85
a desire for self-exaltation.
00:31:37.05\00:31:39.26
So we're going to start
to put the pieces together.
00:31:39.46\00:31:41.36
Coupled with the information
from the book of Ezekiel
00:31:41.76\00:31:44.07
the picture emerges
of a high-ranking angel
00:31:44.27\00:31:46.33
or a covering
cherub as scripture says
00:31:46.54\00:31:48.29
who though already in
a position of leadership
00:31:48.49\00:31:51.03
in God's government became
dissatisfied with that position
00:31:51.13\00:31:54.81
and desired to
become like the Most High.
00:31:55.01\00:31:57.89
He literally
wanted to be like God.
00:31:58.86\00:32:02.54
You know, it's fascinating
to me that there is a name
00:32:03.55\00:32:05.25
used in scripture that
means "who is like God, "
00:32:05.35\00:32:08.30
and that name is Michael.
00:32:08.60\00:32:11.26
In just a couple
moments Michael is about to play
00:32:12.41\00:32:14.89
a critical role in our story.
00:32:15.09\00:32:16.57
So taking into
account these inspired records
00:32:17.90\00:32:20.79
we can start to take
that picture and apply it
00:32:20.99\00:32:24.18
to what we see in John's
testimony found in the book
00:32:24.38\00:32:26.89
of Revelation. Go to
Revelation chapter 12
00:32:26.99\00:32:29.84
and start with verse 7.
00:32:30.04\00:32:32.06
Again, the third Biblical
description of this fall
00:32:32.47\00:32:37.00
of Lucifer. Revelation chapter
12 starting with verse 7:
00:32:37.20\00:32:40.69
"And war broke out in heaven.
00:32:40.89\00:32:43.30
Michael... " the
One who is like God...
00:32:43.50\00:32:46.31
His name literally means that...
00:32:46.41\00:32:47.85
"and His angels
fought with the dragon.
00:32:48.06\00:32:49.98
And the dragon and his
angels fought but they did not
00:32:50.28\00:32:52.81
prevail nor was a place found
for them in heaven any longer.
00:32:52.92\00:32:55.93
So the great dragon was
cast out - that serpent of old
00:32:56.13\00:32:59.26
called the devil and Satan
who deceives the whole world -
00:32:59.46\00:33:02.25
he was cast to the earth and his
angels were cast out with him. "
00:33:02.45\00:33:06.82
So based on the
previous Bible study we've done
00:33:08.04\00:33:10.91
we can see that this war
in heaven was not a war of
00:33:11.11\00:33:13.74
arms but a war of
words... a war of ideas.
00:33:13.84\00:33:17.47
He was selling something
counterfeit to God's government.
00:33:17.67\00:33:21.24
By the way, the
word... the Greek word for war
00:33:22.48\00:33:24.81
in this text is polemos
00:33:25.01\00:33:26.81
from which we
derive the English word...
00:33:26.84\00:33:29.31
from which the English
word is derived: polemic.
00:33:29.51\00:33:32.75
OK. Now polemic is
a type of argument.
00:33:32.95\00:33:35.73
Webster defines it this way:
00:33:35.93\00:33:37.52
an aggressive attack or
refutation of the opinions
00:33:37.72\00:33:41.62
or principles of another.
00:33:41.72\00:33:43.21
That's the war in heaven.
00:33:43.41\00:33:45.34
The other definition:
it's the art or practice
00:33:45.55\00:33:49.43
of disputation or controversy.
00:33:49.63\00:33:52.17
The art of
controversy and disputing.
00:33:52.37\00:33:55.39
An aggressive attack... a
war of words, a war of ideas.
00:33:55.59\00:34:01.16
Now, while to many
minds the great controversy
00:34:01.30\00:34:03.44
between Christ and
Satan is all about us
00:34:03.54\00:34:05.01
long before we
were even on the scene
00:34:05.22\00:34:07.61
there was already
raging a greater controversy.
00:34:07.81\00:34:10.29
Right in the very
center of the heavenly universe
00:34:10.50\00:34:12.83
one of the Lord's most trusted
and highly exalted creatures
00:34:13.03\00:34:16.62
out of jealousy for Christ
- the One who IS like God -
00:34:16.82\00:34:20.15
he waged a war of ideas
against the government of God.
00:34:20.45\00:34:23.84
And by the way
fascinatingly enough
00:34:25.06\00:34:26.41
we can clarify this
just a little step farther.
00:34:27.83\00:34:30.47
You remember when Jesus
dealt with the Jewish leaders
00:34:30.77\00:34:33.56
who were agitating Him by
telling them that they were
00:34:33.76\00:34:35.51
doing the works of
their father the devil?
00:34:35.61\00:34:37.18
Keep that in mind and now notice
00:34:38.36\00:34:40.01
in Mark chapter 15 and verse
10 as Jesus stood before His
00:34:40.21\00:34:44.50
accusers in that mockery
of a trial that He endured
00:34:44.70\00:34:47.82
just before His
execution even Pilate -
00:34:47.92\00:34:51.26
who claimed to find
no fault in Christ -
00:34:51.46\00:34:53.83
looked at the situation.
He was an objective observer.
00:34:54.23\00:34:57.11
He did not have "skin
in this game" if you will.
00:34:57.21\00:34:59.01
But he saw Christ
and he saw His accusers,
00:34:59.21\00:35:01.14
and look in Mark
chapter 15 and verse 10.
00:35:01.34\00:35:03.64
These are the words of Pilate.
00:35:03.74\00:35:05.56
It says that he
knew... scripture tells us
00:35:05.76\00:35:08.19
that Pilate knew that the
chief priest had handed Him over
00:35:08.39\00:35:12.14
because of... envy.
00:35:12.34\00:35:14.88
And Jesus looked
at that same scenario.
00:35:15.18\00:35:17.85
What He saw here on earth
- that same murderous envy
00:35:18.05\00:35:22.30
that Jesus saw in the Jewish
leaders at His mock trial -
00:35:22.40\00:35:24.99
He had seen long before
in the heart of Lucifer.
00:35:25.19\00:35:29.12
When he looked at
them it was like déjà vu.
00:35:29.42\00:35:32.65
He'd stood here before.
Now you think about this:
00:35:32.85\00:35:37.75
isn't God, you
know... all knowing?
00:35:39.03\00:35:42.69
Isn't He omniscient?
00:35:42.89\00:35:44.32
I mean, the Bible repeatedly
declares that God searches
00:35:44.62\00:35:47.43
our hearts and
minds. I Corinthians 4:5
00:35:47.53\00:35:50.59
says that the Lord
can and someday will
00:35:50.79\00:35:52.42
"bring to light the
hidden things of darkness
00:35:52.52\00:35:55.21
and reveal the
counsels of the heart. "
00:35:55.41\00:35:57.24
He can... He can read your
mind; He can search your heart.
00:35:57.44\00:35:59.64
How many times have we repeated
the well-known Bible truth
00:35:59.94\00:36:02.60
from I Samuel 16:7
that "the Lord does not see
00:36:02.63\00:36:06.34
as man sees, for man
looks at the outward appearance
00:36:06.54\00:36:09.87
but the Lord looks...
" Where? 'on the heart. "
00:36:10.07\00:36:11.98
So I mean if there was some
battle waging inside the heart
00:36:13.16\00:36:16.24
of Lucifer could
not God have seen that?
00:36:16.34\00:36:19.35
Of course. And even if
Lucifer was taxing every ounce
00:36:20.07\00:36:24.65
of that tremendous,
angelic intellect to wage a war
00:36:24.85\00:36:27.81
of ideas against
the government of God
00:36:28.01\00:36:29.69
in an effort to so twist
the minds of the heavenly peers
00:36:29.89\00:36:33.34
that they would commit treason
against their Creator and King,
00:36:33.54\00:36:36.67
wouldn't God just
see right through it?
00:36:36.88\00:36:39.52
I mean, there's no way
He was deceived, was there?
00:36:39.72\00:36:43.20
Of course not... of course not.
00:36:43.40\00:36:45.78
So we're left with this paradox.
00:36:47.19\00:36:49.55
If God knew what
Lucifer was up to,
00:36:50.92\00:36:53.59
if He could read the
secret thoughts and intents
00:36:53.89\00:36:56.48
of his heart, why
wouldn't He just destroy him
00:36:56.58\00:36:59.15
right then and there?
00:36:59.25\00:37:00.78
Why was Lucifer
merely cast out of heaven
00:37:02.41\00:37:04.92
instead of being
blotted out of existence?
00:37:05.12\00:37:07.52
Why was he cast and not blotted?
00:37:07.82\00:37:10.88
It's a pertinent question for
us because where was he sent?
00:37:12.47\00:37:15.41
To the earth.
00:37:15.61\00:37:17.69
I think you find the
answer in scripture as well.
00:37:19.36\00:37:21.11
Go back now to
the book of Isaiah.
00:37:21.31\00:37:22.72
The book of Isaiah chapter
14 again starting with verse 16.
00:37:25.25\00:37:31.08
We'll overlap but
extend it just a little bit.
00:37:31.28\00:37:33.13
Isaiah chapter 14
starting with verse 14.
00:37:33.33\00:37:36.08
Scripture reads:
00:37:36.28\00:37:38.27
"I will ascend... " This is
the middle of Lucifer's speech
00:37:42.10\00:37:45.71
to himself, that
inward monologue...
00:37:45.81\00:37:47.63
"I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds.
00:37:47.83\00:37:49.51
I will be like the Most High.
00:37:49.71\00:37:50.92
Yet you shall be brought down
to shaol, to the lowest depths
00:37:51.12\00:37:54.13
of the pit. " Now look
at verse 16 very carefully:
00:37:54.24\00:37:56.86
"Those who see
you will gaze at you
00:37:57.06\00:38:02.10
and consider you. "
00:38:03.62\00:38:05.54
What are some
synonyms for consider?
00:38:05.74\00:38:07.69
You consider
something? You think about it.
00:38:08.81\00:38:11.02
You mull it over; you ponder it.
00:38:11.22\00:38:13.16
You really wrestle with
an idea; you consider it.
00:38:13.56\00:38:17.26
Apparently those who
knew him were going to see him
00:38:17.46\00:38:19.62
and gaze at him
and consider him.
00:38:19.72\00:38:22.33
Interesting... very interesting.
00:38:22.63\00:38:25.65
"Those who see you will
gaze at you and consider you
00:38:25.95\00:38:28.33
saying: 'Is this the man
who made the earth tremble?
00:38:28.53\00:38:32.66
Who shook kingdoms? ' "
00:38:32.76\00:38:35.06
Let's go back now
to Ezekiel chapter 28
00:38:35.26\00:38:38.10
starting with verse 17.
00:38:38.30\00:38:40.58
Scripture reads: "Your
heart was lifted because of your
00:38:43.23\00:38:45.79
beauty. You corrupted your
wisdom for the sake of your
00:38:45.89\00:38:48.40
splendor. I cast you to the
ground. I laid you before kings"
00:38:48.50\00:38:52.86
and here it is again...
00:38:52.96\00:38:54.03
"that they might gaze at you. "
00:38:54.13\00:38:57.44
It tells us why he was cast out
instead of being blotted out.
00:38:57.45\00:39:01.15
"That the kings " - those who
knew him - "might gaze at him. "
00:39:02.70\00:39:05.46
Again, verse 18: "You
defiled your sanctuary
00:39:05.66\00:39:08.94
by the multitude
of your iniquities...
00:39:09.14\00:39:10.42
by the iniquity of your trading.
00:39:10.62\00:39:12.23
Therefore I brought fire
from your midst and devoured you
00:39:12.43\00:39:15.84
and I turned you to
ashes upon the earth... "
00:39:16.04\00:39:17.89
And here it is again:
00:39:18.09\00:39:19.18
"in the sight of
all who saw you. "
00:39:19.28\00:39:21.02
Verse 19:
00:39:21.22\00:39:22.65
"All who knew you among the
people are astonished at you.
00:39:22.85\00:39:26.34
You have become a horror
and shall be no more forever. "
00:39:26.48\00:39:30.70
Notice the
chronological sequencing.
00:39:31.00\00:39:33.79
"All who knew
you... " past tense.
00:39:33.99\00:39:35.85
"are
astonished... " present tense.
00:39:36.89\00:39:38.88
"You have become a
horror... " still present tense.
00:39:39.08\00:39:42.02
"and you shall be
no more forever. "
00:39:42.22\00:39:45.44
It's almost as if there
were some people who knew him.
00:39:46.90\00:39:48.90
And the reason that the Lord
didn't blot him out of existence
00:39:50.22\00:39:53.06
is so that those people
could watch him and gaze at him
00:39:53.26\00:39:57.26
and consider what in the
world this guy was doing.
00:39:57.46\00:40:01.61
What a powerful thought!
00:40:02.01\00:40:03.88
So God, though clearly
knowing the rebellious, lying,
00:40:04.08\00:40:07.05
even murderous intents of
Lucifer did not destroy him
00:40:07.15\00:40:09.75
immediately. Not because
it wouldn't have been right
00:40:09.85\00:40:12.52
but because it wouldn't
have been seen as right.
00:40:12.82\00:40:17.36
Do you see the difference?
00:40:17.56\00:40:18.91
Let me give you an illustration.
00:40:19.31\00:40:21.59
A man was at home one
evening all by himself.
00:40:22.83\00:40:26.48
Not many lights were
on; he headed in to bed.
00:40:26.68\00:40:29.58
And he's lying there in
bed and he hears a disturbance
00:40:30.87\00:40:35.50
in the house like
someone is knocking on the door.
00:40:35.70\00:40:37.91
But they're not knocking...
they're just trying to get in.
00:40:38.01\00:40:39.57
Then he hears a forceful entry
00:40:39.87\00:40:42.53
and his nerves
are on high alert.
00:40:42.73\00:40:44.98
And he hears the rustling
around and the clattering about.
00:40:47.26\00:40:49.49
He takes a step out of
bed and he quietly goes down
00:40:51.42\00:40:54.28
the hallway. Two people trying
to sneak through the house
00:40:54.38\00:40:58.19
at the same time: one the
intruder and one the victim.
00:40:58.29\00:41:02.08
The intruder has taken
whatever it was he came for...
00:41:03.50\00:41:05.64
let's say the
television set... in his hands.
00:41:05.84\00:41:07.49
Walks across the living room
00:41:07.79\00:41:09.91
at just the moment that the
man flips on the light switch.
00:41:10.11\00:41:12.60
And there's the man
looking at the burglar.
00:41:12.90\00:41:16.62
And this burglar - not wearing
a mask or anything like that -
00:41:16.82\00:41:19.39
sees this man's face - bright
light shining on both of them -
00:41:19.59\00:41:22.88
indelibly printed on their
minds. And both of their eyes
00:41:23.08\00:41:26.27
just bug out. Ooh...
00:41:26.47\00:41:28.41
Immediately the
man drops the TV.
00:41:28.71\00:41:30.97
Runs, and as fast as
he can get out the door
00:41:31.17\00:41:33.06
the other man is chasing
him and he gets the phone.
00:41:33.16\00:41:34.57
He's not going to
chase him down in the night.
00:41:34.67\00:41:35.84
Picks up the
phone; he calls 911.
00:41:36.04\00:41:37.48
He said: "I've been robbed...
in fact, I'm being robbed
00:41:37.58\00:41:39.42
right now! Come and get him;
he's right here on my street. "
00:41:39.52\00:41:42.48
He gave them the address
and the man goes back to bed
00:41:42.68\00:41:45.74
a little shaken but
he's able to get some sleep.
00:41:45.94\00:41:47.45
He hears the night...
the sirens off in the night
00:41:47.65\00:41:49.54
and he figures "Well, this
guy is probably getting his
00:41:49.74\00:41:51.45
right now. " The next
day the man goes to work.
00:41:51.55\00:41:55.08
And he goes into his job
and he sits down at his chair
00:41:57.85\00:42:02.58
where he works. And the
other man is having his day.
00:42:02.78\00:42:06.45
He did get caught by the police
and he's having his day as well.
00:42:06.55\00:42:09.69
And he's not going to
work... he's going to trial.
00:42:09.89\00:42:11.80
And he walks into the courtroom
00:42:13.49\00:42:15.81
just as the homeowner
walks into his place of business
00:42:16.11\00:42:20.52
to sit down as the judge.
00:42:20.62\00:42:22.33
And for the second time in
so many days their eyes lock.
00:42:23.69\00:42:27.35
Super awkward.
00:42:29.77\00:42:31.47
I can imagine being a judge.
00:42:33.66\00:42:36.93
I think it's nice to
judge people every now and then.
00:42:37.13\00:42:38.71
We shouldn't do it, but
I mean... but this guy...
00:42:38.81\00:42:40.58
he knew what he did, right?
00:42:41.71\00:42:44.09
And the criminal knew he had...
00:42:44.39\00:42:46.69
Of all the luck, right?
00:42:46.89\00:42:49.81
Of all the houses, of all of
the people. This is the judge!
00:42:50.04\00:42:52.68
And he walks in and their
eyes lock for the second time.
00:42:52.88\00:42:54.79
Bug out... both of them and...
00:42:54.99\00:42:57.38
But let me ask you a question.
00:42:59.06\00:43:00.47
In the scenario just laid
out if the judge came down
00:43:00.68\00:43:03.94
and of course there's all the
different people: the bailiff
00:43:04.34\00:43:07.15
and the different people
holding him, and then there's
00:43:07.26\00:43:08.66
perhaps there's a jury there.
I don't know how it all works,
00:43:08.76\00:43:10.87
and there's a defense attorney.
But there's a room full of
00:43:11.07\00:43:12.30
people going
through the process.
00:43:12.40\00:43:14.96
And the judge says:
"Guys, just everybody be quiet
00:43:17.01\00:43:20.16
for a minute. Let's just
cut to the chase on this one,
00:43:20.27\00:43:22.50
all right? I can
tell you right now
00:43:22.60\00:43:25.18
'Guilty! ' I am
ready to make a verdict."
00:43:25.38\00:43:28.38
Puts the gavel
down... declares him guilty.
00:43:28.58\00:43:30.63
He's like: "I know
what he's charged with.
00:43:30.93\00:43:33.03
I'm the one who called it in!
00:43:33.23\00:43:34.44
And I'm sitting here saying
'I know him; I recognize him.
00:43:35.61\00:43:38.76
Positive ID...
this man is guilty. ' "
00:43:38.96\00:43:40.68
Would the judge have been right
00:43:41.08\00:43:43.32
in his
assessment of the situation?
00:43:43.52\00:43:45.43
Absolutely!
00:43:45.83\00:43:47.10
But would he be doing right
by jumping ahead of the process?
00:43:47.40\00:43:52.22
No.
00:43:52.62\00:43:54.67
So let me ask you this question:
00:43:55.25\00:43:56.88
well let's put it this way...
00:43:59.90\00:44:01.31
there is value in the process.
00:44:01.61\00:44:04.46
There's a reason for due process
00:44:04.86\00:44:09.16
even if the judge
already knows the answer.
00:44:10.52\00:44:13.99
Why would it be wrong to
jump ahead of the process?
00:44:14.40\00:44:17.19
Because there are some people
who need to see some evidence.
00:44:19.86\00:44:22.53
They need to say: "Well
judge, I mean I know you
00:44:25.19\00:44:27.77
and I trust you.
I'm on your side.
00:44:27.87\00:44:29.89
I'm not doubting
your word. But...
00:44:29.92\00:44:31.39
you can't just arbitrarily
- at least appearingly
00:44:31.69\00:44:35.05
arbitrarily - pass sentence
on this man who we haven't seen
00:44:35.25\00:44:39.72
the evidence. We
haven't heard the arguments.
00:44:39.83\00:44:41.18
We haven't seen for ourselves
the truth of the matter. "
00:44:41.38\00:44:45.01
There's a reason that
God only cast the devil out
00:44:46.54\00:44:50.76
and didn't
destroy him on the spot.
00:44:50.96\00:44:52.73
You find this on pages 41 and 42
00:44:55.72\00:44:57.82
of the book Patriarchs and
Prophets. I love that book.
00:44:58.12\00:45:02.17
But I want you to see
that in the book of Ezekiel
00:45:02.47\00:45:04.45
and in the book of
Isaiah repeatedly we have seen
00:45:04.65\00:45:07.06
the reason being given for Satan
being cast out to the earth
00:45:07.26\00:45:10.68
is not because He
didn't... that God didn't know
00:45:10.99\00:45:13.36
the difference
between right and wrong.
00:45:13.57\00:45:14.58
It's because everybody
else didn't know the difference
00:45:15.86\00:45:17.53
between right and wrong yet.
00:45:17.73\00:45:19.21
And it says: "So that
they might gaze at you
00:45:19.41\00:45:21.54
and consider you in the
sight of all who knew you. "
00:45:21.74\00:45:24.50
"That they might see you. "
00:45:24.70\00:45:26.71
It's important...
Well let me just cut to it.
00:45:26.91\00:45:30.20
This is a
lengthy... a lengthy passage
00:45:31.39\00:45:35.37
but notice the visible language.
The scene understood...
00:45:35.57\00:45:40.09
clearly recognized. Here it is:
00:45:40.29\00:45:42.32
"God permitted Satan
to carry forward his work
00:45:42.82\00:45:45.87
until the spirit of disaffection
ripened into active revolt.
00:45:46.07\00:45:49.40
It was necessary for his
plans to be fully developed. "
00:45:50.50\00:45:54.44
Check that. It was necessary.
00:45:55.25\00:45:56.84
It was not a good option...
it was the only option.
00:45:57.15\00:46:00.13
It's a necessity.
00:46:00.43\00:46:01.98
It was a necessity. "It
was necessary for his plans
00:46:02.28\00:46:04.98
to be fully developed
that their true nature
00:46:05.18\00:46:07.78
and tendency
might be seen by all.
00:46:07.98\00:46:10.88
Lucifer, as the anointed
cherub, had been highly exalted.
00:46:12.38\00:46:15.49
He was greatly loved
by the heavenly beings
00:46:15.80\00:46:18.43
and his influence
over them was strong.
00:46:18.63\00:46:20.80
All his acts... "
she continues writing...
00:46:21.96\00:46:24.05
"All his acts were
so clothed with mystery
00:46:24.25\00:46:26.76
that it was difficult
to disclose to the angels
00:46:26.96\00:46:31.24
the true nature of his work. "
00:46:31.45\00:46:33.28
So does God know everything?
00:46:33.68\00:46:35.90
Of course! Absolutely.
00:46:36.20\00:46:37.87
But God cares more than
just being right... about more
00:46:38.18\00:46:41.62
than just being right. He
wants to be SEEN as right.
00:46:41.72\00:46:43.71
So they couldn't
see through the mystery.
00:46:44.92\00:46:47.20
Do you suppose that
the angels knew Lucifer?
00:46:48.44\00:46:50.44
Absolutely.
00:46:51.52\00:46:53.52
Do you suppose that
they trusted his word?
00:46:53.92\00:46:56.38
Absolutely.
00:46:56.68\00:46:58.68
In fact, he was a leader.
He was the anointed cherub
00:46:58.98\00:47:01.40
who covers. They're used to
going to him as the leader in
00:47:01.50\00:47:03.31
praise and worship to
God. And here's this man,
00:47:03.41\00:47:04.92
this angel, this host of
heaven, this trusted being,
00:47:05.02\00:47:08.21
the right-hand man
of God if you will,
00:47:08.24\00:47:10.34
who now is speaking against God.
00:47:10.94\00:47:13.89
And of course God
knows the difference.
00:47:14.19\00:47:16.72
But she continues:
00:47:17.02\00:47:18.85
"All of his acts were so
clothed with mystery that it was
00:47:20.04\00:47:21.98
difficult to disclose to
the angels the true nature
00:47:22.08\00:47:24.11
of his work.
Until fully developed
00:47:24.21\00:47:27.01
it could not be made to appear
the evil thing that it was. "
00:47:27.11\00:47:30.88
So Satan didn't become
evil as the process went on.
00:47:31.96\00:47:34.43
He was evil... but
you couldn't see it.
00:47:34.63\00:47:37.07
"His disaffection would
not be seen to be rebellion. "
00:47:38.07\00:47:42.05
If the Lord kicked him
out... or the Lord destroyed him
00:47:43.41\00:47:46.12
right then and there,
blotted him out of existence,
00:47:46.22\00:47:48.67
you know there could
be an idea that maybe
00:47:48.87\00:47:52.02
he was on to something.
00:47:52.22\00:47:55.04
Have you heard of someone
who died but their ideas,
00:47:55.34\00:47:57.81
their spirit lives on?
00:47:58.01\00:47:59.38
Watch this now:
00:47:59.68\00:48:01.10
"Even the loyal angels could
not fully discern his character
00:48:02.56\00:48:06.21
or see to what his
work was leading. "
00:48:06.41\00:48:09.23
Like we understand
it's a different direction
00:48:09.44\00:48:11.51
than God is, but we don't know
where the end of that direction.
00:48:11.62\00:48:14.18
Of course the Lord knows
the end from the beginning.
00:48:14.38\00:48:16.20
He's the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end.
00:48:16.40\00:48:18.06
But we don't have
that kind of insight.
00:48:19.30\00:48:21.59
They couldn't see to
what his work was leading.
00:48:22.09\00:48:25.15
"It was therefore" - because
of that limitation in vision -
00:48:25.35\00:48:28.49
"It was therefore
necessary to demonstrate... "
00:48:28.69\00:48:31.65
Keep that in your mind:
"necessary to demonstrate
00:48:31.85\00:48:34.19
before the inhabitants of
heaven and of all the worlds
00:48:34.39\00:48:37.04
that God's
government is just... "
00:48:37.18\00:48:39.22
He didn't have to become just;
00:48:39.62\00:48:41.33
He needed everybody
to see that it is just.
00:48:41.53\00:48:43.28
"His law perfect.
00:48:44.53\00:48:46.03
Satan made it appear that... "
00:48:46.23\00:48:48.19
"made it appear that he
himself was seeking to promote
00:48:49.77\00:48:52.97
the good of the universe.
00:48:53.17\00:48:54.27
The true character of the
usurper and his real object
00:48:54.47\00:48:57.59
must be understood by all. "
00:48:57.79\00:48:59.75
Must of necessity
be understood by all.
00:48:59.95\00:49:02.10
"He must have time to manifest
himself by his wicked works. "
00:49:02.31\00:49:06.60
By his wicked...
Remember John chapter 8?
00:49:06.90\00:49:10.00
"The works of the devil... "
00:49:10.30\00:49:12.93
Jesus came here to
contest that from there.
00:49:13.13\00:49:17.46
She continues...
second paragraph:
00:49:17.97\00:49:20.15
"The discord which his own
course had caused in heaven
00:49:20.39\00:49:22.84
Satan charged upon
the government of God. "
00:49:23.05\00:49:25.18
Think of how ridiculous that
must be. From God's perspective
00:49:25.38\00:49:27.84
He's like: "You know, we
didn't have any trouble before
00:49:28.14\00:49:30.96
and when you started talking
these ideas all of a sudden
00:49:31.16\00:49:32.95
we have trouble. " But
somehow Satan - the master
00:49:33.05\00:49:35.77
polemic, the master politician
- was able to say: "Hey, hey!
00:49:35.97\00:49:38.31
That's not me... that's Him.
00:49:38.41\00:49:39.44
If it wasn't for His law,
if it wasn't for His way of
00:49:39.74\00:49:43.36
governing things, we wouldn't
even be having this problem.
00:49:43.56\00:49:45.48
Wouldn't it be great to have
a government that didn't even
00:49:45.68\00:49:47.43
have to have
these questions come up?
00:49:47.53\00:49:48.85
I'm sorry to have to be
the sad bearer of bad news
00:49:48.96\00:49:50.85
but... " So he
shifted the blame back to God.
00:49:51.05\00:49:55.42
And of course
God could have said:
00:49:55.82\00:49:58.09
"No it's not. " Satan
could have said: "Yes it is. "
00:49:58.30\00:50:00.67
"No it's not. " What
does that accomplish?
00:50:00.87\00:50:04.45
His own works
had to condemn him.
00:50:05.69\00:50:08.44
"All evil he declared to
be the result of the divine
00:50:09.86\00:50:11.88
administration. He claimed that
it was his own object to improve
00:50:12.08\00:50:15.50
upon the statutes of Jehovah. "
00:50:15.70\00:50:17.33
"I can make the laws better. "
00:50:17.53\00:50:19.79
"Therefore God permitted
him to demonstrate the nature
00:50:20.09\00:50:24.01
of his claims to show the
working out of his proposed
00:50:24.11\00:50:27.59
changes in the divine law.
His own work must condemn him.
00:50:27.79\00:50:30.98
Satan had claimed from the first
that he was not in rebellion. "
00:50:31.18\00:50:34.47
He's like: "No, no,
no. This isn't a rebellion.
00:50:34.77\00:50:36.95
This is just a
positive reformation.
00:50:37.15\00:50:38.97
This is the new and
improved government of God.
00:50:39.17\00:50:41.38
I'm just trying to help Him
out and I don't understand why
00:50:41.78\00:50:44.59
He's being so closed
minded and cold hearted.
00:50:44.69\00:50:46.79
It's not me. "
00:50:48.07\00:50:50.66
Hmmm.
00:50:52.96\00:50:54.97
"The whole universe must
see the deceiver unmasked. "
00:50:56.66\00:51:02.53
So here we bring to
our final paragraph:
00:51:02.83\00:51:04.82
"Even when he was
cast out of heaven
00:51:05.12\00:51:07.36
infinite wisdom
did not destroy Satan.
00:51:07.56\00:51:10.66
Since only the service of
love can be acceptable to God
00:51:12.09\00:51:15.01
the allegiance of His creatures
must rest upon a conviction
00:51:15.21\00:51:17.87
of His justice
and benevolence. "
00:51:18.07\00:51:20.67
You know there are Christians
in the world who serve God
00:51:21.07\00:51:23.51
because He's the
most powerful being.
00:51:23.66\00:51:25.26
The sovereignty of
God is the highest order.
00:51:25.40\00:51:27.52
But you know that God
wants you to serve Him
00:51:27.82\00:51:29.90
for a bigger reason than
just He's sovereign and He
00:51:30.10\00:51:31.84
runs the place? He
actually wants service of love.
00:51:31.94\00:51:36.14
Think about that.
00:51:38.78\00:51:40.50
"Since only the service of
love can be acceptable to God
00:51:42.02\00:51:44.62
the allegiance of His creatures
must rest upon a conviction
00:51:44.73\00:51:46.66
of His justice and benevolence.
00:51:46.76\00:51:48.00
The inhabitants of
heaven and of the worlds
00:51:48.21\00:51:50.33
being unprepared to comprehend
the nature or consequences of
00:51:50.53\00:51:54.17
sin... " By the way, the
wages of sin is what? Death.
00:51:54.28\00:51:57.63
Up unto this point, how
many people had ever died?
00:51:57.83\00:52:00.20
None. They'd never seen death.
00:52:00.60\00:52:03.24
Just like saying: "The
wages of sin is gobbledygork. "
00:52:03.44\00:52:07.66
People like:
"Hmmm, yes... Hmmm. "
00:52:07.97\00:52:10.30
"I don't... Is that good? Bad?
I really don't know what that is
00:52:10.50\00:52:13.15
but it sounds different. "
00:52:13.35\00:52:14.94
But they didn't
understand the nature of it.
00:52:15.25\00:52:16.94
They didn't
understand the consequences.
00:52:17.14\00:52:18.57
Those were hollow words
in a place with no death.
00:52:18.77\00:52:21.02
They needed to understand
the consequences of sin.
00:52:21.32\00:52:24.15
"They could not have
seen... " Notice this:
00:52:24.45\00:52:27.25
"They could not then
have seen the justice of God
00:52:27.45\00:52:29.65
in the destruction of Satan.
00:52:29.85\00:52:30.95
Had he been immediately
blotted out of existence
00:52:32.34\00:52:34.70
some would have served God
from fear rather than from love.
00:52:34.90\00:52:38.06
The influence... " Here
it is... "of the deceiver
00:52:39.35\00:52:41.62
would not have been fully
destroyed nor would the spirit
00:52:41.83\00:52:44.53
of rebellion have
been utterly eradicated.
00:52:44.63\00:52:46.71
For the good... " and
this is a radical thought
00:52:48.42\00:52:51.07
but here it is. I'm going
to close down on this idea...
00:52:51.27\00:52:54.00
"For the good of the entire
universe through ceaseless ages
00:52:54.20\00:52:58.73
He must more fully
develop his principles
00:52:59.03\00:53:02.37
that his charges
against the divine government
00:53:02.57\00:53:04.66
might be seen in their
true light by all created beings
00:53:04.87\00:53:07.61
and that the justice and mercy
of God and the immutability
00:53:07.81\00:53:10.58
of His law might be forever
placed beyond all question. "
00:53:10.68\00:53:13.15
Did you catch what
she's saying there?
00:53:13.45\00:53:15.02
It was in the best interest
of the universe that Satan
00:53:15.22\00:53:19.21
stay alive. Have you
ever thought about that?
00:53:19.41\00:53:23.38
It's good for us
that Satan is still going.
00:53:23.58\00:53:27.60
Whoo... that is
a bizarre message,
00:53:27.90\00:53:31.74
but my friends, that's the
key of the greater controversy.
00:53:32.04\00:53:35.03
There's a reason God
didn't just blot him out.
00:53:35.23\00:53:37.47
There's a reason that at that
initial rebellion He didn't just
00:53:37.88\00:53:41.39
end his life. There's a reason
when he was cast to the earth
00:53:41.59\00:53:43.42
he wasn't just laid
before and then executed.
00:53:43.45\00:53:45.42
He gave him time to
develop his principles.
00:53:45.72\00:53:50.28
Hmmm. So we conclude
right back where we started
00:53:51.54\00:53:54.66
in John chapter 8 and verse 44.
00:53:54.87\00:53:57.43
John chapter 8 and verse 44.
00:53:57.73\00:53:59.98
Jesus again, speaking to
those people in whose eyes
00:54:00.28\00:54:05.27
He sees the same conflict:
00:54:05.47\00:54:07.29
"He who sins is of the devil.
00:54:16.18\00:54:20.74
Sorry... I John
chapter 3 and verse 8:
00:54:23.18\00:54:25.09
"He who sins is of the
devil for the devil has sinned
00:54:25.39\00:54:30.21
from the beginning. "
00:54:30.41\00:54:32.30
And notice this key sentence:
00:54:32.60\00:54:34.17
"For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested
00:54:34.37\00:54:37.71
that He might destroy
the works of the devil. "
00:54:37.91\00:54:41.83
As we started off, I feel
that far too many Christians
00:54:43.53\00:54:46.76
have a view of the
universe spiritually speaking:
00:54:46.96\00:54:50.46
"Well the reason Christ
came here was just to get me
00:54:50.66\00:54:52.88
out of this
mess... to help me out. "
00:54:53.08\00:54:54.75
No, my friends...
there's something bigger.
00:54:54.85\00:54:57.03
As great as you
are... and I know to you
00:54:57.13\00:54:58.65
you're the only you
that you've got, right?
00:54:58.85\00:55:00.95
And you is big to you...
00:55:01.09\00:55:02.92
But there is something greater
than just saving sinners.
00:55:05.96\00:55:08.69
Than just the people on
this planet being brought back
00:55:08.99\00:55:11.59
to a different place.
Apparently there's an entire
00:55:11.79\00:55:13.51
cosmic
controversy, a broader scope,
00:55:13.61\00:55:15.57
a greater controversy
00:55:15.78\00:55:18.28
that Christ's
life, death on the cross,
00:55:18.48\00:55:20.09
as we're going to see in
the nights to come, answers.
00:55:20.29\00:55:24.18
Because the reason was
that He laid him out there
00:55:24.48\00:55:27.00
was so people could look and
see the contrast between Christ
00:55:27.20\00:55:29.23
and Satan and to understand
and see the deceiver unmasked.
00:55:29.43\00:55:32.74
Jesus came to have
that controversy solved.
00:55:33.14\00:55:37.84
And my friends,
that's a wonderful thing.
00:55:38.14\00:55:39.90
Because I don't
want to go back to heaven
00:55:40.10\00:55:41.72
just go through it all again.
00:55:41.92\00:55:43.79
I want a God... I
love the God that we have.
00:55:44.19\00:55:47.18
I don't want a
God, I've got a God
00:55:47.38\00:55:48.81
who doesn't just take
things in His own hands,
00:55:50.47\00:55:52.99
execute judgment...
as right as it may be.
00:55:53.19\00:55:55.54
He actually created
beings who He decided to care
00:55:55.74\00:55:59.47
what they think. Have
you ever thought about that?
00:55:59.67\00:56:02.44
God cares what you think.
00:56:02.64\00:56:06.41
Your opinion matters.
00:56:06.51\00:56:08.50
That He's not going to
leave any stone unturned
00:56:08.80\00:56:11.79
and He's going to play the
whole thing out to the end.
00:56:12.19\00:56:15.33
Because in the scope of eternity
00:56:15.73\00:56:17.94
He is right and He
wants to be seen as right.
00:56:18.25\00:56:21.10
And someday,
every knee will bow,
00:56:21.30\00:56:24.61
every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
00:56:24.81\00:56:28.59
to the glory of God the Father.
00:56:28.89\00:56:30.33
That's the greater controversy.
00:56:30.63\00:56:32.22
Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
00:56:32.52\00:56:33.71
Dear heavenly Father,
00:56:34.01\00:56:35.32
Lord I thank you so much
00:56:36.37\00:56:37.93
for creating us
in the first place.
00:56:38.23\00:56:40.85
But Lord, when we sinned and
fell short of the glory of God
00:56:42.21\00:56:45.23
You didn't leave us
here. You didn't abandon us.
00:56:45.43\00:56:47.15
You sent Your Son to save us.
00:56:48.78\00:56:50.01
And beyond even just saving
us, however, Lord, we understand
00:56:50.21\00:56:53.32
there's a greater controversy,
that there's a broader scope,
00:56:53.52\00:56:56.46
and that there are
other beings on other worlds,
00:56:58.46\00:57:00.36
there are heavenly angels
who are watching all that's
00:57:00.46\00:57:03.15
going on and You have
a great responsibility.
00:57:03.25\00:57:05.90
And Your goal is to not
just save some sinners but to
00:57:06.10\00:57:09.49
set right the
entire created universe...
00:57:09.59\00:57:11.90
not temporarily but forever.
00:57:12.10\00:57:13.92
And Lord, You've chosen...
For some reason I will probably
00:57:15.05\00:57:18.24
never understand, Lord, You have
chosen to care what we think.
00:57:18.44\00:57:21.63
Lord help us to not take
that responsibility in vain.
00:57:22.95\00:57:26.58
Help us to not treat it
with contempt or to pass it off
00:57:26.78\00:57:29.83
blithely by.
00:57:30.03\00:57:31.42