Good morning and happy Sabbath!
00:00:21.89\00:00:24.30
Happy Sabbath.
00:00:24.50\00:00:25.87
We welcome you to the
Thompsonville SDA Church
00:00:26.07\00:00:30.00
which is housed in
the 3ABN Worship Center
00:00:30.20\00:00:33.93
on the campus of Three
Angels Broadcasting Network
00:00:34.23\00:00:37.61
in Thompsonville/West
Frankfort, Illinois.
00:00:37.81\00:00:42.51
And you have to give us a little
slack on this schizophrenia
00:00:42.91\00:00:47.50
because the church
is here in Thompsonville
00:00:47.60\00:00:50.27
but just about 150
paces to the southwest
00:00:50.47\00:00:53.87
is the Production Center
which is in West Frankfort.
00:00:54.07\00:00:57.17
So you have to allow us a
bit of schizophrenia because
00:00:57.37\00:01:00.11
depending on where you
are in a given point of time
00:01:00.31\00:01:02.24
you may be in one of two towns.
00:01:02.44\00:01:04.27
But we welcome you to this
fourth of five presentations
00:01:04.47\00:01:09.89
that really
have been a blessing.
00:01:10.09\00:01:11.83
And it occurs to me... and
I don't know if it is because
00:01:12.03\00:01:14.83
of our own sinful nature
00:01:14.93\00:01:16.94
or the poverty of
the English language
00:01:17.14\00:01:21.70
but many times when you're
trying to give God the glory
00:01:22.00\00:01:27.94
due Him it tends to come
out sounding like praise to men
00:01:28.14\00:01:34.07
when it is not intended to be.
00:01:34.21\00:01:35.82
As it has seemed good to
us and to the Holy Spirit
00:01:36.22\00:01:39.31
to ask our speaker to
come God has been pleased
00:01:39.51\00:01:42.24
to give us
powerful, timely messages
00:01:42.44\00:01:46.71
through him. Now of course,
any time anything of note or
00:01:46.91\00:01:52.03
of importance
happens in a worship service
00:01:52.23\00:01:54.04
the preacher... the
person, the human being...
00:01:54.24\00:01:57.53
is not to receive the glory.
00:01:57.73\00:01:59.25
We know that
that comes from God.
00:01:59.45\00:02:01.80
If blessings are to be
shared, they come from God.
00:02:02.00\00:02:04.16
If lives are to be
changed, they come from God.
00:02:04.26\00:02:06.89
If destinies are
to be rearranged,
00:02:07.09\00:02:09.08
it comes from God.
00:02:09.28\00:02:10.46
Yet God uses human
beings - frail human beings -
00:02:10.66\00:02:14.45
to preach His Word. And if
you were here on last night
00:02:14.65\00:02:17.36
then you know that the Spirit
of God can move in a marked
00:02:17.46\00:02:20.58
and mighty way in
a worship service.
00:02:20.68\00:02:22.34
And so for the past several
nights - the past three nights -
00:02:22.64\00:02:26.62
we have been blessed
to hear the Word of God
00:02:26.82\00:02:28.56
as preached by
Pastor Kameron DeVasher.
00:02:28.77\00:02:30.83
He pastors, and I want to
get this right, the Muskegon
00:02:31.03\00:02:33.21
and Fremont churches
in the Michigan Conference
00:02:33.41\00:02:37.74
in the state of Michigan.
He is the husband of one wife,
00:02:37.84\00:02:40.25
Emilie; the
father of one son, Henry;
00:02:40.45\00:02:42.54
and a preacher of righteousness.
00:02:42.85\00:02:45.10
And we have been
truly, truly blessed by him.
00:02:45.30\00:02:48.08
And God has fed
our souls. And I expect
00:02:48.22\00:02:50.90
nothing less than
that to happen today.
00:02:50.93\00:02:52.74
Now you might be saying:
"Well you're putting pressure
00:02:52.94\00:02:54.92
on the preacher. " Well I am not
00:02:55.13\00:02:57.35
because Kameron understands
and knows that it's not about
00:02:57.56\00:03:00.28
him, it's all about Jesus.
00:03:00.48\00:03:01.94
And so as we have heard this
word The Greater Controversy
00:03:02.24\00:03:06.37
we have been so
very, very blessed by God.
00:03:06.47\00:03:08.78
And so I welcome you
again to our worship service:
00:03:08.98\00:03:11.77
our audience here and those
around the world who are part
00:03:11.97\00:03:15.20
of this blessing. The
sermon today is entitled
00:03:15.30\00:03:19.17
Every Knee Shall Bow. And
to that we can all say "Amen"
00:03:19.27\00:03:23.07
and "Praise the Lord. "
00:03:23.27\00:03:24.50
And so we will hear the
Word of God as preached by
00:03:24.70\00:03:27.85
our pastor, our friend
Kameron DeVasher this day.
00:03:28.05\00:03:30.27
His wife is here.
They have a... I think
00:03:30.37\00:03:33.90
Henry is 10 months old
and so she has been with him
00:03:34.11\00:03:37.02
in the room during the
week. But she did come today
00:03:37.23\00:03:39.31
and Kameron's sister is here.
Don't know quite where they are
00:03:39.41\00:03:42.63
seated, but we do welcome
you to our fellowship this day.
00:03:42.73\00:03:47.81
And we were just talking
with his wife back stage.
00:03:47.94\00:03:50.29
It's good that he can
travel with her together.
00:03:50.39\00:03:52.30
Our music will come from
our pastor, John Lomacang.
00:03:52.60\00:03:55.79
But before we hear from
him and then our speaker
00:03:56.09\00:03:58.64
let's bow our heads
in a word of prayer.
00:03:58.84\00:04:00.55
Gracious, holy,
and heavenly Father,
00:04:02.40\00:04:04.26
again we thank you
for this opportunity
00:04:04.46\00:04:07.19
to sit before You on
this holy Sabbath Day.
00:04:07.39\00:04:10.26
We thank you for the church
00:04:10.56\00:04:12.74
and for the
ability to come to church
00:04:12.94\00:04:15.85
and for the promise that
when we come to this house
00:04:16.15\00:04:19.08
You will be here to meet us.
00:04:19.28\00:04:21.50
Indeed, You will
be the honored guest.
00:04:21.70\00:04:23.73
And so we praise
you and thank you
00:04:23.93\00:04:25.83
for Your presence here today.
00:04:26.03\00:04:27.49
We ask, Lord, only that
You would give us Your Spirit.
00:04:27.70\00:04:31.65
That You would teach us those
things that You would have us
00:04:31.95\00:04:35.67
to know. And then
by that same Spirit
00:04:35.77\00:04:39.38
enable us to
put them in practice
00:04:39.58\00:04:43.15
so that our lives, our
walk with Christ, may be sweeter
00:04:43.35\00:04:47.09
and closer. We
ask a special blessing
00:04:47.29\00:04:51.18
upon the preacher of the
day and an equal blessing
00:04:51.38\00:04:55.93
upon those of us who
will hear what he has to say.
00:04:56.03\00:04:59.21
May the Spirit of God speak
to us, not only in this house
00:04:59.41\00:05:03.55
but around the world... those
who look; those who listen.
00:05:03.76\00:05:08.20
Lord, may they be blessed.
00:05:08.40\00:05:11.44
We love You; we praise You;
00:05:11.64\00:05:14.11
and we thank you for
every good and perfect gift.
00:05:14.31\00:05:18.04
In Jesus' name, Amen and Amen.
00:05:18.24\00:05:22.24
Our music is coming as I
said from Pastor John Lomacang.
00:05:24.06\00:05:26.62
He will be singing
"I Give You Jesus. "
00:05:26.82\00:05:28.69
And then after
he shall have sung
00:05:28.89\00:05:31.61
the next voice will be
Pastor Kameron DeVasher
00:05:31.82\00:05:34.73
who will preach
"Every Knee Shall Bow. "
00:05:34.93\00:05:38.17
If the ship of your life
00:06:04.34\00:06:07.83
is tossing on the sea of strife,
00:06:08.13\00:06:12.09
you need someone.
00:06:12.39\00:06:17.07
If you feel so all alone
00:06:19.50\00:06:23.33
and your house is not a home,
00:06:23.53\00:06:27.49
you need someone.
00:06:27.69\00:06:33.20
If you feel life isn't fair
00:06:35.24\00:06:39.39
and there's no
one left to share all
00:06:39.69\00:06:43.84
those lonely days and nights
00:06:43.94\00:06:47.41
when things just
don't turn out right
00:06:47.71\00:06:51.29
and you want someone to share
00:06:51.49\00:06:55.57
and someone to just be there,
00:06:55.77\00:06:59.95
you need someone.
00:07:00.25\00:07:05.63
So I give you Jesus,
00:07:07.93\00:07:12.88
He's the peace
00:07:13.18\00:07:14.85
that passes all understanding.
00:07:15.05\00:07:20.99
I give you Jesus,
00:07:22.73\00:07:27.83
He's the perfect love
00:07:28.14\00:07:30.19
that casteth out all fear.
00:07:30.39\00:07:36.38
I give you Jesus,
00:07:38.47\00:07:42.80
He's the water that you'll drink
00:07:43.10\00:07:46.44
and never thirst again.
00:07:46.64\00:07:52.59
I give you Jesus,
00:07:52.99\00:07:58.08
my friend,
00:07:58.28\00:08:01.15
I give you Jesus.
00:08:01.65\00:08:07.62
If the pressures all around
00:08:10.79\00:08:14.08
keep your spirits to the ground,
00:08:14.38\00:08:18.06
you need someone.
00:08:18.16\00:08:22.95
And if your body is in pain
00:08:24.77\00:08:28.73
and your health
you can't regain,
00:08:28.93\00:08:32.84
you need someone.
00:08:32.94\00:08:38.52
If the times that you have tried
00:08:39.74\00:08:43.10
with all the
strength you have inside
00:08:43.30\00:08:46.72
and it seems
that you have failed,
00:08:46.92\00:08:50.80
remember on the
cross He's nailed
00:08:51.00\00:08:54.34
all that bitterness and grief
00:08:54.44\00:08:58.39
to give you
peace and sweet relief,
00:08:58.59\00:09:02.42
He is the someone that you need.
00:09:02.62\00:09:08.13
So I give you Jesus,
00:09:08.43\00:09:14.16
He's the peace that passes all
00:09:14.26\00:09:18.10
understanding.
00:09:18.24\00:09:23.35
Yes, I give you Jesus,
00:09:23.65\00:09:28.70
He's that perfect love
00:09:29.00\00:09:30.81
that casteth out all
00:09:31.02\00:09:35.46
fear.
00:09:35.86\00:09:39.24
I give you Jesus,
00:09:39.54\00:09:43.57
He's the water that you'll drink
00:09:43.87\00:09:47.34
and never thirst again.
00:09:47.44\00:09:53.28
I give you Jesus,
00:09:53.69\00:09:58.39
my friend,
00:09:58.69\00:10:00.42
yes, I give you Jesus.
00:10:00.72\00:10:04.37
He's everyone and
everything you need.
00:10:04.68\00:10:09.19
I give you Jesus,
00:10:09.39\00:10:14.05
my friend,
00:10:14.35\00:10:17.00
yes, I give you
00:10:17.40\00:10:21.51
Jesus.
00:10:21.91\00:10:27.84
Amen!
00:10:37.13\00:10:38.86
Happy Sabbath, everyone!
00:10:41.56\00:10:43.46
Happy Sabbath.
00:10:43.66\00:10:44.74
That was a
blessing in song. Amen?
00:10:44.84\00:10:46.55
Amen. And it's a
high Sabbath because
00:10:46.75\00:10:49.33
it is Sabbath... and
every Sabbath is a high Sabbath.
00:10:49.54\00:10:51.78
What a wonderful
thing the Lord has given us:
00:10:51.98\00:10:54.06
a day of rest where we can
come together and fellowship
00:10:54.26\00:10:56.71
not only with each other
but come into the very presence
00:10:56.91\00:10:59.14
of God in His
house on His Sabbath Day.
00:10:59.34\00:11:02.10
What a
blessing! What a blessing.
00:11:02.40\00:11:04.29
As was mentioned,
this is our fourth message
00:11:04.59\00:11:07.42
in a series of five entitled
The Greater Controversy.
00:11:07.62\00:11:10.95
Let me briefly review with
you and catch you up to speed
00:11:11.25\00:11:13.61
with where we have come so far.
00:11:13.81\00:11:15.08
In our first message
entitled Beyond Ptolemy
00:11:15.48\00:11:18.70
we opened our series by
establishing the basic premise
00:11:19.00\00:11:23.00
that there is more at stake
in God's plan of redemption
00:11:23.30\00:11:27.91
than merely the
saving of lost sinners.
00:11:28.11\00:11:30.59
In fact, there's an
onlooking unfallen universe
00:11:30.89\00:11:34.36
who have experienced the
rebellion of Lucifer first hand
00:11:34.76\00:11:37.97
and have been witnessing the
development of his principles
00:11:38.18\00:11:41.96
and intents of his
heart right here on the earth
00:11:42.17\00:11:45.27
ever since. In
our second message
00:11:45.47\00:11:48.94
entitled The
Last Link of Sympathy
00:11:49.14\00:11:51.95
we examined the
universal ramifications
00:11:52.15\00:11:55.38
of Christ's death on the cross.
00:11:55.58\00:11:57.39
It was here that the violence
that had been within Lucifer
00:11:57.69\00:12:00.84
was finally and fully unleashed
on the sinless Son of God.
00:12:01.04\00:12:05.00
And when the onlooking,
unfallen heavenly universe
00:12:05.40\00:12:08.88
witnessed that act, that event,
they for the very first time
00:12:09.08\00:12:14.02
in unmistakable tones
saw the very character
00:12:14.22\00:12:18.25
that Christ had seen
from the very beginning
00:12:18.45\00:12:20.43
finally manifest and revealed.
00:12:20.63\00:12:23.47
They saw that
indeed Satan was a murderer
00:12:23.67\00:12:26.42
from the beginning.
00:12:26.62\00:12:28.71
Mrs. White describes that saying
"It was then that the last
00:12:29.01\00:12:33.02
link of sympathy between
Satan and the heavenly world
00:12:33.22\00:12:37.07
was broken. " It
is not as though God
00:12:37.27\00:12:40.36
forced him out of
heaven any further, but they...
00:12:40.56\00:12:42.96
the heavenly beings
themselves forced him out of
00:12:43.16\00:12:47.17
their sympathies. They
were no longer listening
00:12:47.37\00:12:49.74
to his arguments. The last
link of sympathy was broken.
00:12:49.88\00:12:52.69
And then last
evening's message entitled
00:12:52.99\00:12:54.86
The Great Object of Life
we discovered that the reason
00:12:55.06\00:12:58.13
Satan's existence even after
Christ's death on the cross
00:12:58.33\00:13:01.58
must still be continued
was that man as well as angels
00:13:01.61\00:13:07.48
must see the contrast
between the Prince of light
00:13:07.78\00:13:10.52
and the prince of darkness.
00:13:10.62\00:13:11.75
He must choose
whom he will serve.
00:13:11.95\00:13:14.47
And this morning in a message
entitled Every Knee Shall Bow
00:13:14.77\00:13:18.98
we will see how God
intends to finally bring
00:13:19.18\00:13:22.33
this greater
controversy to a close.
00:13:22.53\00:13:25.53
But before we begin any
study of the Word of God
00:13:25.83\00:13:28.37
we must begin
with a word of prayer.
00:13:28.57\00:13:30.62
Please you bow
your heads with me.
00:13:30.82\00:13:31.97
Most gracious heavenly Father,
Lord we thank you for this
00:13:33.29\00:13:36.10
Sabbath Day and we thank you
for the rest that it provides.
00:13:36.20\00:13:39.44
And now Lord as we
turn to a study of Your Word
00:13:40.04\00:13:43.70
which Your Spirit has inspired
00:13:43.90\00:13:45.52
we ask for that same Spirit
to be manifest in this room,
00:13:45.72\00:13:49.76
in this place, this
very time, right here today.
00:13:49.96\00:13:52.48
Lord, teach us Your way.
00:13:53.61\00:13:56.05
Soften our hearts to
accept it and sharpen our minds
00:13:56.35\00:13:58.90
to see it so that we
may be redeemed in the end
00:13:59.10\00:14:02.77
and reconciled to the
rest of the heavenly universe
00:14:02.97\00:14:05.49
through the power
of the blood of Jesus.
00:14:05.59\00:14:07.01
We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:14:07.22\00:14:09.58
Please turn with me in your
Bibles to Revelation chapter 12.
00:14:09.98\00:14:13.04
Revelation chapter 12.
We've been there several times
00:14:13.64\00:14:16.34
throughout this series and
I'm sure we'll be there again.
00:14:16.44\00:14:18.85
But for right now,
Revelation chapter 12.
00:14:19.05\00:14:20.70
And as you find that
chapter let me give you a very
00:14:20.90\00:14:23.74
technical illustration.
00:14:23.94\00:14:25.97
Have any of you ever
played with a Slinky?
00:14:26.27\00:14:29.43
You know when I use the word
Slinky a picture comes to your
00:14:29.73\00:14:32.64
mind. You know the
little wire coil metal toy?
00:14:32.74\00:14:35.08
And what is by far the
most exciting thing you can do
00:14:36.37\00:14:40.02
with a Slinky?
What's the one cool thing
00:14:40.12\00:14:42.64
that a Slinky does
besides just being stretchy?
00:14:42.74\00:14:44.43
What do you do with it? Put
it down stairs! That's right.
00:14:44.53\00:14:46.90
You stand at the top
of this long staircase
00:14:47.20\00:14:50.01
and you just kind of
set it right on the edge
00:14:50.21\00:14:52.74
and then you
give it a little push.
00:14:53.04\00:14:54.94
Flick. And the momentum
that falls onto that second step
00:14:55.14\00:14:58.82
it just keeps it going to the
third step and the fourth step.
00:14:59.02\00:15:00.69
And it will walk
itself step by step
00:15:00.83\00:15:02.64
right down to the very bottom.
00:15:02.84\00:15:04.17
You don't have to stop
and like push it each time,
00:15:04.47\00:15:06.32
push it each time.
Once the process is begun
00:15:06.52\00:15:08.54
it just goes all the way through
00:15:08.74\00:15:10.46
till it's
finished at the bottom.
00:15:10.66\00:15:11.93
Everyone has that picture
in their mind right now...
00:15:12.13\00:15:14.18
a Slinky down the stairs.
00:15:14.38\00:15:15.93
Now that's going to
be important because
00:15:16.23\00:15:17.64
looking over the progression
of the events that we've studied
00:15:17.74\00:15:20.50
thus far it's obvious that
Satan was not cast out of heaven
00:15:20.53\00:15:24.52
and immediately locked
in the grave for eternity.
00:15:24.72\00:15:28.81
His fall from heaven - if
you will - like "lightning"
00:15:29.01\00:15:33.26
was not from the very heights
of glory to the depths of
00:15:33.46\00:15:37.15
the grave in one fell swoop.
00:15:37.35\00:15:39.53
There were steps along the way.
00:15:39.83\00:15:43.64
In fact, there are
four distinct stages,
00:15:44.04\00:15:47.93
phases, or steps to the
casting out of the devil.
00:15:48.14\00:15:51.52
God did not as soon
as the rebellion began
00:15:51.82\00:15:54.24
wipe him out of
existence. In fact,
00:15:54.44\00:15:56.46
He let the process go on and
in fact continues the process
00:15:56.66\00:15:59.68
even now. And the
illustration being like a Slinky
00:15:59.78\00:16:03.31
down the stairs... step by step
till Satan's ultimate demise.
00:16:03.41\00:16:08.85
Here in Revelation
chapter 12 starting with verse 7
00:16:09.35\00:16:12.55
we can see three
of those four steps
00:16:12.68\00:16:15.10
clearly articulated,
chronologically sequenced
00:16:15.11\00:16:19.44
starting with verse 7
Revelation chapter 12.
00:16:19.64\00:16:21.88
"And war broke out in heaven.
00:16:23.20\00:16:25.66
Michael and His
angels fought with the dragon
00:16:26.06\00:16:29.61
and the dragon
and his angels fought
00:16:29.71\00:16:31.30
but they did not prevail
nor was a place found for them
00:16:31.50\00:16:35.01
in heaven any longer.
00:16:35.21\00:16:36.60
So the great
dragon was cast out. "
00:16:36.90\00:16:40.04
And in our illustration think of
Christ flicking the top of that
00:16:40.24\00:16:44.22
Slinky... not all the
way down to the bottom but
00:16:44.42\00:16:46.44
just getting the
process in motion.
00:16:46.55\00:16:48.55
"So the great
dragon was cast out:
00:16:50.12\00:16:52.82
that serpent of old
called the devil and Satan
00:16:53.02\00:16:56.60
who deceives the whole world.
00:16:56.80\00:16:58.82
He was cast to the earth
00:16:59.02\00:17:01.33
and his angels were
cast out with him. "
00:17:01.53\00:17:03.94
That is the first step in
the sequence of casting out
00:17:04.14\00:17:07.93
the devil. But
now we go to verse 10.
00:17:08.03\00:17:10.43
We find the second step:
00:17:10.63\00:17:12.84
"Then I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven:
00:17:13.04\00:17:15.39
'Now salvation and strength
and the kingdom of our God
00:17:15.59\00:17:19.21
and the power of
His Christ have come
00:17:19.41\00:17:21.09
for the accuser of our brethren
who accused them before our God
00:17:21.29\00:17:25.47
day and night
has been cast down. "
00:17:25.67\00:17:28.39
Now if you were to
just quickly scan those two
00:17:28.59\00:17:30.80
you would they're referring
to the exact same thing.
00:17:30.90\00:17:33.20
But as we have seen in our study
there's a good 4,000 year gap
00:17:33.40\00:17:37.14
between verses 7
through 9 and verse 10.
00:17:37.24\00:17:39.43
The first one was
Satan's original casting out
00:17:39.73\00:17:43.02
by God the Father out
of the courts of heaven.
00:17:43.22\00:17:45.60
But the second
casting out in verse 10
00:17:46.57\00:17:49.03
was the casting out
of the sympathies...
00:17:50.41\00:17:53.95
from the sympathies
of the heavenly beings
00:17:55.61\00:17:57.84
when they saw
Christ crucified on earth.
00:17:58.14\00:18:00.00
Now there is where salvation
comes; now the power of the
00:18:00.20\00:18:03.41
Christ is revealed
00:18:03.51\00:18:04.98
and for a second time
Lucifer is cast from heaven.
00:18:05.28\00:18:09.89
Then we go to verse
11... we see step 3.
00:18:11.14\00:18:13.93
"And... " So in
addition to that,
00:18:15.79\00:18:18.55
in the light of
that... "And they overcame him
00:18:18.75\00:18:21.31
by the blood of the Lamb and
by the word of their testimony.
00:18:21.51\00:18:26.60
And they did not love
their lives to the death. "
00:18:26.80\00:18:30.42
This is where we find stage 3.
00:18:30.72\00:18:32.47
This is the great
object of our lives.
00:18:32.57\00:18:34.80
Right now the heavenly
universe has witnessed Satan's
00:18:35.00\00:18:37.86
rebellion in heaven.
They've witnessed Christ's death
00:18:38.06\00:18:40.35
on the cross. And in their
minds it is absolutely fine
00:18:40.45\00:18:43.96
if Satan is eliminated,
destroyed, forever ended.
00:18:44.06\00:18:47.54
But God's plan of redemption,
praise the Lord, is not
00:18:47.94\00:18:50.94
just a plan of destruction.
It's a plan of salvation.
00:18:51.04\00:18:53.76
And it would not be complete
if all that was accomplished
00:18:53.96\00:18:57.21
was the ending of Satan.
00:18:57.41\00:18:58.45
He has a greater controversy
in mind. He wants to actually
00:18:58.48\00:19:01.03
take some of those
sympathetic fallen beings
00:19:01.13\00:19:03.94
and redeem them...
reconcile them with heaven
00:19:04.04\00:19:06.61
and bring them back
to the courts of glory.
00:19:06.81\00:19:09.29
And apparently,
according to this text
00:19:09.59\00:19:12.05
they overcome him by
the blood of the Lamb
00:19:12.65\00:19:16.20
and the word of their testimony.
00:19:16.40\00:19:17.86
That's step 3: when
God's people on earth
00:19:18.06\00:19:21.18
will do what God's
people in heaven have done
00:19:21.38\00:19:23.88
and cast Satan out of their
hearts and their sympathies
00:19:24.08\00:19:27.70
and choose them this
day whom they will serve.
00:19:27.90\00:19:30.55
That's step 3.
00:19:30.85\00:19:32.34
But this morning we're going to
deal with that fourth and final
00:19:32.64\00:19:37.07
step. So go with me
to the book of Luke.
00:19:37.27\00:19:41.51
Go with me to the
book of Luke chapter 10.
00:19:41.81\00:19:44.64
The book of Luke chapter 10
gives a very interesting story.
00:19:46.17\00:19:49.37
Jesus here in the
midst of His earthy ministry
00:19:50.98\00:19:54.17
sends out 70
00:19:54.27\00:19:58.02
to do a certain
work. Look at verse 1.
00:19:59.42\00:20:01.70
Luke chapter 10 and verse 1.
00:20:02.00\00:20:04.22
"After these things the
Lord appointed 70 others also
00:20:04.52\00:20:09.33
and sent them two by
two before His face. "
00:20:09.54\00:20:12.45
OK. So they are
precursors to His ministry.
00:20:12.65\00:20:15.56
They're sent out ahead of time.
00:20:15.70\00:20:17.37
"Sent them two by two
before His face into every city
00:20:17.87\00:20:21.44
and place where He
Himself was about to go. "
00:20:21.64\00:20:23.68
So they were going ahead
of time to do the pre-work
00:20:23.88\00:20:26.89
before Christ's evangelistic
crusade, if you will.
00:20:26.99\00:20:28.95
Right? They're to soften the
ground and they're supposed to
00:20:29.15\00:20:31.18
lay the groundwork
for the coming King.
00:20:31.38\00:20:33.40
They're sent out. And
the rest of Luke chapter 10
00:20:33.60\00:20:36.12
talks about His
specific instructions to them.
00:20:36.22\00:20:39.82
And sure enough. They
go back... they go out.
00:20:39.92\00:20:42.19
And we pick up
their return in verse 17.
00:20:42.39\00:20:44.94
"Then the 70 returned
with... " What's the word?
00:20:47.41\00:20:50.21
"joy... " Their
mission has been successful.
00:20:50.41\00:20:52.48
They're on fire for
Jesus. They're elated.
00:20:52.58\00:20:54.45
They're thrilled.
They return with joy.
00:20:54.65\00:20:56.81
"saying 'Lord... ' "
And it's almost like it's
00:20:58.02\00:21:03.12
a surprise to them.
"Lord, even the demons
00:21:03.22\00:21:06.67
are subject to us... " How?
00:21:06.87\00:21:09.59
"in Your name. "
00:21:09.79\00:21:11.08
They're like:
"Can you believe it? "
00:21:11.38\00:21:13.50
"Even the demons listen
to us. They have to obey us
00:21:14.87\00:21:17.45
because we're coming
in the name of Jesus. "
00:21:17.55\00:21:19.37
And they're so
thrilled. They're ecstatic;
00:21:20.46\00:21:22.19
they're excited. And look
at Jesus' response to this.
00:21:22.39\00:21:25.20
"And He said to
them: 'I saw Satan
00:21:27.40\00:21:31.42
fall like
lightning from heaven. ' "
00:21:31.72\00:21:35.96
Now that's kind of
an odd thing to say.
00:21:37.31\00:21:39.37
Like: "Lord, even the
demons are subject to us
00:21:39.47\00:21:41.96
in Your name. " And He just...
it's as though He doesn't...
00:21:42.06\00:21:44.26
He's in a different
place, right? He's...
00:21:44.56\00:21:47.34
"I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven. "
00:21:47.54\00:21:53.00
And He says that in the
context of demons being subject
00:21:54.42\00:21:57.28
to them in His name.
00:21:57.49\00:21:58.88
Now I'm going to
ask a weird question,
00:22:00.21\00:22:02.91
and I think asking weird
questions gets you at least
00:22:03.01\00:22:05.25
some interesting
answers if not good answers. But
00:22:05.45\00:22:07.50
how did Jesus know stuff?
00:22:10.00\00:22:13.78
Right? For instance,
when He said: "I saw Satan
00:22:15.32\00:22:18.49
fall like lightning... " it's
like "I remember back before
00:22:18.69\00:22:20.94
I was born... "
00:22:21.14\00:22:23.23
"In the courts of heaven...
It's still there because... "
00:22:23.53\00:22:27.68
No, no, no. Jesus doesn't
have that recollection from back
00:22:27.88\00:22:31.84
there. He's fully
human. He's laid aside
00:22:31.95\00:22:34.64
His divinity, right?
00:22:34.84\00:22:36.12
So how does He know?
00:22:36.32\00:22:38.28
And He says He saw it.
00:22:38.48\00:22:40.38
How did He see it?
00:22:40.58\00:22:41.86
Well let's take a look at
this. Go to the book of John
00:22:44.26\00:22:46.26
chapter 5.
00:22:46.67\00:22:49.00
John chapter 5. How does
Jesus do or know anything?
00:22:49.99\00:22:52.94
For instance, how did
Jesus do His miracles?
00:22:53.04\00:22:54.34
Through God's help,
right? Through God the Father
00:22:55.63\00:22:58.34
empowering Him. In fact,
look at Jesus' own testimony
00:22:58.54\00:23:00.61
about how this works.
The working relationship
00:23:00.71\00:23:02.56
between the Father and
the Son. John chapter 5
00:23:02.76\00:23:05.10
starting with verse 18.
00:23:06.25\00:23:07.60
What must have been a typical
day in the life of Jesus.
00:23:09.67\00:23:11.84
"Therefore the Jews
sought all the more to kill Him
00:23:12.04\00:23:14.15
because He not only
broke the Sabbath but also said
00:23:16.35\00:23:19.45
that God was His Father,
making Himself equal to God. "
00:23:19.65\00:23:22.45
And by the way, just a little
parenthetical insertion here.
00:23:22.65\00:23:24.95
Whenever young people
or something talk about how
00:23:25.15\00:23:27.63
"I don't go to church
because people look down on me
00:23:27.83\00:23:29.94
Or they look at the way
I dress or they look... "
00:23:30.14\00:23:32.39
OK. That even
might be legitimate.
00:23:32.59\00:23:35.27
But they tried to kill Jesus
00:23:35.47\00:23:37.36
and He still kept
coming to church. Amen? Amen!
00:23:37.46\00:23:39.81
It's like "I'm not
coming to church for the people.
00:23:39.94\00:23:41.67
I'm coming to church for
the person of Jesus Christ. "
00:23:41.87\00:23:44.59
Does that make
sense? Close parentheses.
00:23:44.69\00:23:46.86
So Jesus deals with this.
Verse 18: "Therefore the Jews
00:23:47.26\00:23:51.34
thought all the more to kill Him
because He not only broke the
00:23:51.44\00:23:54.11
Sabbath but also said
that God was His Father. "
00:23:54.22\00:23:56.93
And in their minds,
what does this mean?
00:23:57.13\00:23:58.85
That made Him equal with God.
00:23:59.93\00:24:01.60
Now of course they claimed
to be the children of Abraham
00:24:02.89\00:24:05.17
and thus - in some
fashion - the children of God.
00:24:05.27\00:24:09.26
But they recognized
that He was making a claim
00:24:09.56\00:24:12.71
far greater than just a
generic- sense child of God.
00:24:12.91\00:24:16.44
He said: "I am THE
SON OF GOD" and they said:
00:24:16.64\00:24:18.83
"THAT is blasphemy! "
00:24:19.03\00:24:20.84
But notice what
Jesus replies then.
00:24:21.24\00:24:23.45
Verse 19: "Then Jesus
answered and said to them:
00:24:23.65\00:24:25.53
'Most assuredly I say to you
00:24:25.73\00:24:27.83
the Son can do... " How
much? "nothing of Himself
00:24:27.94\00:24:31.95
but what He sees the Father do
00:24:32.25\00:24:35.54
for whatever He does the
Son also does in like manner. "
00:24:35.85\00:24:40.90
So Christ says: "I don't
do anything of My own accord.
00:24:42.24\00:24:44.14
This is just Me
living in a reliance state
00:24:44.34\00:24:47.32
on the Father. And
whatever He shows me,
00:24:47.42\00:24:49.44
whatever I see from
Him, that's what I do. "
00:24:49.65\00:24:51.22
Does that make sense?
All right, go on to verse 19.
00:24:51.42\00:24:53.69
I'm sorry... verse 20:
00:24:53.89\00:24:57.29
"For the Father
loves the Son and shows Him
00:24:58.75\00:25:02.35
all things that He Himself does.
00:25:02.55\00:25:04.96
And He will show Him
greater works than these
00:25:05.27\00:25:07.51
that you may marvel. "
00:25:07.71\00:25:09.36
So Christ says: "No, no, no.
Of course I... I do these things
00:25:09.66\00:25:12.75
but it's not in My
power. I'm empowered by God
00:25:12.95\00:25:15.60
and the only way I know
things and know what to do
00:25:15.70\00:25:17.64
or know what... is
because He shows it to Me.
00:25:17.84\00:25:20.19
I of Myself can do nothing. "
00:25:21.76\00:25:23.23
So let's take that back to
Luke chapter 10 when He says:
00:25:23.53\00:25:26.33
"I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven. "
00:25:26.47\00:25:29.40
He's not just paneling
through His own memories.
00:25:29.61\00:25:32.42
He's being shown something.
00:25:32.72\00:25:34.92
Does that make sense?
00:25:35.12\00:25:36.48
Commenting on this statement
"I saw Satan fall like lightning
00:25:36.69\00:25:39.97
from heaven" we find this
exposition in Desire of Ages
00:25:40.08\00:25:43.77
page 490 where
Mrs. White explains:
00:25:43.97\00:25:45.91
"The scenes of the
past and the future
00:25:46.31\00:25:50.82
were presented to
the mind of Christ. "
00:25:51.02\00:25:53.81
OK? Were presented
to the mind of Jesus.
00:25:54.11\00:25:56.74
And notice: "the scenes
of the past and the future. "
00:25:57.14\00:26:02.11
Talking about the fall of Satan.
00:26:02.14\00:26:04.76
And wouldn't you know
it? She outlines four steps.
00:26:06.29\00:26:10.51
Step #1... the
statement continues:
00:26:10.81\00:26:13.93
"He beheld Lucifer... "
Again, this is in His mind's eye
00:26:14.13\00:26:17.20
that is being
shown from the Father.
00:26:17.30\00:26:18.54
"He beheld Lucifer
as he was first cast out
00:26:18.74\00:26:22.20
from the heavenly places. "
00:26:22.40\00:26:24.74
Step #1.
00:26:24.94\00:26:26.31
Goes on. #2: "He looked forward
00:26:26.61\00:26:29.44
to the scenes of His own agony
00:26:29.84\00:26:33.22
when before all the worlds
the character of the deceiver
00:26:33.42\00:26:37.46
should be unveiled.
00:26:37.49\00:26:39.08
He heard the cry,
'It is finished! '
00:26:40.25\00:26:42.64
announcing that the redemption
of the lost race was forever
00:26:42.74\00:26:45.91
made certain, that
heaven was made eternally secure
00:26:46.02\00:26:48.80
against the accusations,
the deceptions, the pretensions,
00:26:48.90\00:26:51.47
that Satan would instigate. "
00:26:51.57\00:26:53.45
That's step 2 which
happened at the cross...
00:26:53.65\00:26:56.58
which for Jesus at this
moment in time is still future.
00:26:56.78\00:26:59.06
So He looked forward to that.
00:26:59.36\00:27:00.68
But there's more than just that.
00:27:00.88\00:27:03.39
Now, interestingly enough,
00:27:04.95\00:27:06.88
pay careful attention...
Step 1: he's cast out of heaven.
00:27:07.08\00:27:09.31
Step 2: he's cast out of the
sympathies of heavenly beings
00:27:09.51\00:27:12.17
at the cross. And
now He's shown even more.
00:27:12.27\00:27:14.60
And she goes even past step
3 all the way down to step 4
00:27:15.00\00:27:19.17
that we're going to
be focusing on today.
00:27:19.27\00:27:20.45
The next word:
"Beyond the cross of Calvary,
00:27:20.65\00:27:23.89
with its agony and shame,
00:27:24.09\00:27:25.91
Jesus looked forward
to the great final day
00:27:26.11\00:27:29.37
when the prince of the
power of the air will meet his
00:27:29.67\00:27:33.23
destruction in the earth so
long marred by his rebellion.
00:27:33.33\00:27:36.34
Jesus beheld the work
of evil forever ended,
00:27:36.64\00:27:40.13
and the peace of God filling
heaven and earth. " Amen!
00:27:40.33\00:27:42.81
So He looked beyond the cross
00:27:43.01\00:27:44.89
all the way down to the very end
00:27:45.09\00:27:47.90
and saw that it was all
going to work out OK. Amen!
00:27:48.11\00:27:51.36
So there's step 1,
step 2, and step 4.
00:27:52.29\00:27:55.62
And then we have an
interestingly-veiled reference
00:27:55.82\00:27:58.29
to step 3 that we
focused on last night.
00:27:58.49\00:28:00.32
"Henceforth... " So
from the cross forward.
00:28:00.62\00:28:03.79
"Henceforth Christ's followers
were to look upon Satan
00:28:03.99\00:28:07.10
as a conquered foe.
00:28:07.20\00:28:09.16
Upon the cross, Jesus was
to gain the victory for them; "
00:28:09.46\00:28:13.15
And notice this now:
00:28:13.28\00:28:14.63
"that victory He desired
them to accept as their own. "
00:28:14.83\00:28:19.28
Amen.
00:28:19.48\00:28:20.50
OK? Step 1: cast
physically out of heaven.
00:28:20.70\00:28:23.32
Step 2: cast out of the
sympathies of heavenly beings
00:28:23.52\00:28:25.57
at the cross.
Step 3: those who were
00:28:25.67\00:28:28.62
at one time loyal to Satan
can have a change of heart,
00:28:28.66\00:28:31.54
change of character, and
be brought back into the image
00:28:31.74\00:28:33.53
of God. And step 4: final
elimination of sin and Satan
00:28:33.63\00:28:37.49
altogether. Right there...
00:28:37.59\00:28:40.17
But here's what I
want to focus on today.
00:28:40.58\00:28:42.56
Now that we
understand step 1, 2, 3, and 4
00:28:42.66\00:28:45.14
in their sequence.
Between steps 3 and 4,
00:28:45.34\00:28:50.65
between the victory of the
repentant through the power
00:28:50.85\00:28:53.79
of Christ to overcome,
to develop that Christ-like
00:28:53.89\00:28:57.04
character, and the
ultimate destruction of Satan
00:28:57.24\00:28:59.19
there's a very,
very long gap of time...
00:28:59.39\00:29:03.62
at least a thousand years
00:29:05.05\00:29:07.38
between the
overcoming of the saints
00:29:07.68\00:29:10.55
and the destruction of Satan.
00:29:10.75\00:29:13.85
Now that's not exactly news to
most everyone here I'm guessing.
00:29:16.40\00:29:22.27
Many are likely aware
that after the second coming
00:29:22.58\00:29:25.42
because of course stage 3
culminates with the time of
00:29:25.62\00:29:27.92
trouble. And those who are
righteous will be righteous
00:29:28.12\00:29:30.72
still and those who
are wicked wicked still.
00:29:30.82\00:29:31.90
And Christ comes, the close of
probation, seven last plagues,
00:29:32.10\00:29:34.22
Christ shows up.
00:29:34.42\00:29:36.18
Takes the righteous home
with Him. The wicked are dead.
00:29:36.39\00:29:38.63
But there's going to be this
thousand year period of time
00:29:44.98\00:29:47.77
after that event when the
righteous will be in heaven,
00:29:47.97\00:29:52.50
the wicked will
be in their graves,
00:29:52.80\00:29:55.16
and Satan still isn't dead.
00:29:55.46\00:30:00.21
I mean, I've grown up
with this framework in my mind
00:30:02.60\00:30:05.51
but honestly, it has
always bugged me a little bit
00:30:07.97\00:30:10.61
and led me to ask what I
consider to be some pretty
00:30:12.01\00:30:15.01
important questions.
00:30:15.11\00:30:16.53
But chief among
them, simply this:
00:30:16.74\00:30:18.92
"Why not just kill
Satan right there and then
00:30:19.13\00:30:21.56
at the second coming? "
00:30:21.76\00:30:23.12
I mean, let's
think this one through.
00:30:24.69\00:30:26.53
Once the close of
probation has occurred;
00:30:26.74\00:30:29.75
once the seven
last plagues have fallen
00:30:29.95\00:30:32.30
and Christ breaks
through the eastern sky;
00:30:32.51\00:30:34.81
why not just have Satan
die right then and there
00:30:35.11\00:30:37.84
and join the rest of
the wicked and be dead?
00:30:37.94\00:30:40.61
I mean, every other unrepentant
sinner is dead at this point.
00:30:41.86\00:30:44.69
So why not just let
Satan and his angels join them
00:30:44.89\00:30:46.90
and call it a day? Be done!
00:30:47.01\00:30:48.41
Wrap the great controversy.
And often times we think...
00:30:48.61\00:30:51.26
We look at the
second coming and we think
00:30:51.39\00:30:53.47
that that's the end
of the great controversy.
00:30:53.67\00:30:55.31
But it's
nowhere near ended then.
00:30:55.42\00:30:57.14
Why at this point, even
when all the decisions are made,
00:30:58.35\00:31:03.09
is Satan's existence continued?
00:31:03.49\00:31:06.92
What possible
good? What possible merit
00:31:08.88\00:31:11.88
is there in prolonging
the life of the author of sin
00:31:12.28\00:31:15.94
after everyone
has made their choice?
00:31:15.97\00:31:18.31
And why will those
wicked? Let's get even deeper.
00:31:19.76\00:31:22.69
Let's probe the character of
God. What does this say about
00:31:22.79\00:31:24.77
our God? And why will those
wicked who are at this point
00:31:24.88\00:31:29.71
dead - asleep as we understand
the state of the dead to be
00:31:29.91\00:31:33.36
truth, right? - Why
are they allowed to -
00:31:33.46\00:31:36.99
or let's just be honest
- why are they required to
00:31:37.19\00:31:39.24
awaken from that slumber?
Live again only to die again?
00:31:40.86\00:31:45.64
These are some challenges
that scripture puts out there.
00:31:47.45\00:31:51.72
Is God just being cruel?
00:31:53.10\00:31:54.87
Or is there a reason why
this millennium experience
00:31:55.28\00:31:59.19
is good or is at least
necessary in God's plan?
00:31:59.39\00:32:03.31
What is the necessity,
the spiritual significance of
00:32:03.61\00:32:06.88
the millennium? Because I
know in my mind I've always
00:32:07.08\00:32:08.70
kind of... Yes, Jesus will
come again and then the thousand
00:32:08.80\00:32:11.03
years will come and you
know there'll be a judgment,
00:32:11.13\00:32:13.15
a review of the judgment,
and then they'll raise the dead
00:32:13.36\00:32:15.57
and then they'll
execute them and then...
00:32:15.77\00:32:17.19
It's just kind of like
a string of bluup, pop...
00:32:17.39\00:32:20.86
and then Satan's wiped out.
00:32:20.99\00:32:22.35
And I guess it makes sense
because it's far off in the
00:32:23.82\00:32:25.72
future and it doesn't...
But this strikes at the very
00:32:25.82\00:32:28.13
heart of who is God.
00:32:28.33\00:32:29.51
Why is this process
going forward in this manner?
00:32:29.71\00:32:33.39
We're going to study
the spiritual significance
00:32:33.59\00:32:36.44
of the millennium now
as we look at stage 4.
00:32:36.64\00:32:39.90
The most of our time
we're going to be spending now
00:32:40.10\00:32:42.62
in the book of
Revelation chapter 20.
00:32:42.82\00:32:44.91
Revelation chapter 20.
00:32:45.11\00:32:47.03
We're going to do a Bible study.
00:32:49.83\00:32:51.67
And again, that's not an apology
just a statement of fact.
00:32:51.97\00:32:54.44
Get ready.
00:32:54.74\00:32:56.21
Starting with verse
1... Revelation chapter 20.
00:32:56.51\00:33:00.81
Scripture reads... and
this, of course, is after
00:33:03.43\00:33:07.94
Revelation 19 where there's a
description of the second coming
00:33:08.07\00:33:10.45
and the destruction of
the wicked and the laying bare
00:33:10.55\00:33:12.06
of the earth. Then it
says in chapter 20 verse 1:
00:33:12.16\00:33:14.90
"Then I saw an angel
coming down from heaven
00:33:15.10\00:33:17.46
having the key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain
00:33:17.67\00:33:21.02
in his hand. " Verse 2:
"He laid hold of the dragon,
00:33:21.22\00:33:25.70
that serpent of old
who is the devil and Satan,
00:33:25.90\00:33:28.88
and... " And we
wish it would say:
00:33:29.18\00:33:32.06
"and killed him on the spot. "
00:33:32.36\00:33:34.21
But it doesn't.
00:33:34.41\00:33:36.28
"and bound him
for a thousand years.
00:33:36.31\00:33:39.45
And he cast him into the bottom-
less pit and shut him up... " -
00:33:41.08\00:33:43.48
which I do like that part -
00:33:43.68\00:33:44.87
"and set a seal on him
00:33:46.74\00:33:49.13
so that he should
deceive the nations no more... "
00:33:49.33\00:33:51.97
And it'd be great if it
stopped right there, but look at
00:33:52.17\00:33:54.22
what it says: "till the
thousand years were finished. "
00:33:54.32\00:33:56.71
The implication is: "We're going
to let him go and then he's
00:33:57.02\00:33:59.90
going to deceive more people. "
00:34:00.00\00:34:01.29
What sense does this make?
00:34:02.65\00:34:04.64
"But after these things
he... " and notice the language
00:34:06.71\00:34:09.04
"MUST be released
for a little while. "
00:34:09.24\00:34:12.97
Not he just will be released
or should be... HE MUST.
00:34:13.27\00:34:16.67
In God's plan,
this is a necessity.
00:34:16.97\00:34:19.17
But why?
00:34:20.72\00:34:22.37
Well first of all, let's
notice what we've just read.
00:34:22.57\00:34:24.47
The description of who
is chained down is identical
00:34:24.67\00:34:27.87
to that as Revelation chapter
12 where we saw our first
00:34:28.07\00:34:30.54
three steps. The serpent of
old called the devil and Satan.
00:34:30.74\00:34:34.68
So this is obviously building
on that same Revelation 12.
00:34:34.88\00:34:38.23
It's that same character.
00:34:38.36\00:34:39.44
Now this is an
expanded look at step 4.
00:34:39.54\00:34:42.95
Revelation 12
gives us 1, 2, and 3.
00:34:43.15\00:34:45.64
And here in Revelation
20 we get a magnifying lens.
00:34:45.94\00:34:48.63
We get to zoom in on
the necessity of step 4.
00:34:48.83\00:34:51.65
This is the same serpent
of old: the devil and Satan.
00:34:51.95\00:34:54.70
And the chain of circumstance,
of course, with which he is
00:34:55.10\00:34:58.04
bound is just the simple
fact that there is no one left
00:34:58.24\00:35:00.43
alive to tempt. He's all alone.
00:35:00.63\00:35:03.07
In fact, you can look this up
in the writings of Mrs. White.
00:35:03.37\00:35:06.09
She talks about how he is
stuck here and he can't even go
00:35:06.19\00:35:08.90
and - she uses the word -
"annoy" the other planets. Amen!
00:35:09.10\00:35:12.55
Can't pester them.
Can't bug them, hassle them.
00:35:12.82\00:35:14.70
He's just stuck here.
00:35:14.80\00:35:15.92
Which has to be a nice
relief for them up there...
00:35:16.12\00:35:18.42
'cause you remember they
stopped listening at the cross.
00:35:18.62\00:35:21.27
But that didn't
mean he stopped talking.
00:35:21.47\00:35:22.96
But here, the whole
thing... It literally means
00:35:23.16\00:35:26.20
they shut him
up. Praise God! Amen.
00:35:26.40\00:35:29.51
But they didn't kill
him; they just left him there
00:35:29.81\00:35:33.61
chained by circumstances.
00:35:33.81\00:35:35.80
The redeemed from the earth
both rejoice in their salvation
00:35:37.07\00:35:39.79
'cause right
there they're taken up.
00:35:39.89\00:35:41.17
They have met the dead
who have risen in the Lord
00:35:41.27\00:35:43.57
in the air and they will
be with them forevermore.
00:35:43.77\00:35:45.78
And of course that's
going to be a day of rejoicing!
00:35:45.98\00:35:47.70
But at the same time
00:35:50.33\00:35:53.28
what are they going to do
for the next thousand years?
00:35:53.48\00:35:55.47
And is that all
going to be rejoicing?
00:35:55.67\00:35:57.96
They have to review the justice
of God dealing with Satan
00:36:00.27\00:36:03.13
and those who
chose to follow him.
00:36:03.33\00:36:05.51
The great controversy is not
done at the second coming. Amen.
00:36:05.81\00:36:10.22
I believe we get a
picture of this in Psalm 149.
00:36:11.47\00:36:14.59
Psalm 149 I
believe helps illustrate
00:36:15.97\00:36:20.85
this dual joy and at
the same time responsibility
00:36:21.25\00:36:26.23
for judgment that the
saints will experience
00:36:26.33\00:36:29.43
during the
millennium. Psalm 149.
00:36:29.63\00:36:31.59
It's only nine verses long,
but follow the sequence here
00:36:31.79\00:36:34.72
and see if this doesn't sound
like the event we have just
00:36:34.82\00:36:36.54
described where the redeemed
go to join the Lord in the air
00:36:36.74\00:36:39.37
and have that great fellowship.
But the controversy's not ended.
00:36:39.57\00:36:42.41
They must look at this
unfolding drama yet some more.
00:36:42.61\00:36:47.97
Psalm 149 starting with verse 1.
00:36:48.27\00:36:49.88
"Praise the Lord.
Sing to the Lord a new song
00:36:50.08\00:36:53.54
and His praise in the
assembly of His saints.
00:36:53.74\00:36:56.01
Let Israel
rejoice in their Maker.
00:36:56.21\00:36:58.66
Let the children of
Zion be joyful in their King.
00:36:58.86\00:37:01.38
Let them praise His
name with the dance.
00:37:01.68\00:37:04.01
Let them sing praises to
Him with the timbrel and harp.
00:37:04.21\00:37:06.51
For the Lord takes
pleasure in His people.
00:37:06.71\00:37:09.05
He will beautify the
humble with salvation.
00:37:09.25\00:37:12.28
Let the saints
be joyful in glory.
00:37:12.48\00:37:15.05
Let them sing
aloud on their beds.
00:37:15.35\00:37:17.76
Let their high praises of
God be in their mouth... "
00:37:17.96\00:37:19.91
And that sounds great.
But look at what it says next:
00:37:20.11\00:37:22.15
"and a two-edged
sword in their hands... "
00:37:22.35\00:37:25.71
Why? Verse 7:
00:37:26.01\00:37:28.04
"to execute
vengeance on the nations
00:37:28.24\00:37:31.56
and punishment on the people.
00:37:31.76\00:37:34.01
To bind their kings with chains
00:37:34.21\00:37:37.93
and their nobles
with fetters of iron
00:37:38.13\00:37:41.33
to execute on them
the written judgment. "
00:37:41.54\00:37:45.83
Notice it's not
even their judgment.
00:37:46.13\00:37:47.88
They're just reviewing the
judgment that's already been
00:37:47.98\00:37:49.72
written.
00:37:49.82\00:37:51.10
"This honor have all the
saints. Praise the Lord. "
00:37:51.40\00:37:56.68
But do you see the dichotomy
of joy and solemn responsibility
00:37:58.10\00:38:02.12
that these saints will
experience during and after
00:38:02.32\00:38:04.98
the second coming?
00:38:05.18\00:38:06.37
The controversy's
not ended then. In fact,
00:38:06.57\00:38:08.84
they have a responsibility
during the millennium.
00:38:08.95\00:38:10.89
Go to I Corinthians chapter 4.
00:38:10.99\00:38:12.42
Verses 1-5. Paul
repeatedly comes back to this...
00:38:13.89\00:38:16.61
especially in the
letter to the Corinthians.
00:38:16.82\00:38:18.46
Chapter 4, verses 1 through 5.
00:38:21.36\00:38:23.82
And follow his logic. I
Corinthians 4 starting with
00:38:24.02\00:38:26.28
verse 1: "Let a
man so consider us
00:38:26.38\00:38:31.92
as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries
00:38:32.12\00:38:34.55
of God. " And remember we
saw last night that Paul is
00:38:34.65\00:38:37.37
keenly aware that he is
a spectacle - both to men
00:38:37.57\00:38:40.31
and to angels. And he
says: "Let them consider us;
00:38:40.41\00:38:43.19
I know I'm being watched.
" "Moreover... " verse 2...
00:38:43.39\00:38:46.95
"it is required in stewards
that one be found faithful.
00:38:47.15\00:38:51.11
But with me it is a very small
thing if I should be judged
00:38:52.23\00:38:55.38
by you or by a human court.
00:38:55.48\00:38:57.40
In fact, I don't
even judge myself!
00:38:57.70\00:38:59.77
For I know... " And
this is Paul's humility...
00:39:00.07\00:39:03.61
"for I know of
nothing against myself.
00:39:03.91\00:39:06.50
Yet I am not
justified by this. "
00:39:06.80\00:39:09.31
He's like: "I search my
heart and I think I'm doing well
00:39:09.51\00:39:11.48
with God and I don't care if
I go before a human tribunal. "
00:39:11.58\00:39:14.12
"But he who
judges me is the Lord. "
00:39:14.32\00:39:17.11
He says there's a
greater judgment than the court
00:39:17.31\00:39:19.74
of public opinion, OK?
00:39:19.84\00:39:21.43
"But therefore... " verse 5...
00:39:21.64\00:39:23.34
So the application in the
Christian's life that he's
00:39:23.54\00:39:25.60
writing from Corinth
he says here in verse 5:
00:39:25.70\00:39:27.86
"Therefore judge nothing... "
00:39:28.06\00:39:31.58
Now we've often heard:
"Judge not lest ye be judged. "
00:39:31.79\00:39:33.70
And we think: "Oh, we're
not supposed to judge at all. "
00:39:33.90\00:39:36.00
But that's not what
Paul is saying here.
00:39:36.30\00:39:38.60
Watch what he says:
"Therefore judge nothing
00:39:38.80\00:39:41.20
before... " What? "the time; "
00:39:41.23\00:39:43.67
"until... " What's
that event? "the Lord comes
00:39:43.87\00:39:47.09
who will both bring to light
the hidden things of darkness
00:39:47.29\00:39:51.41
and reveal the
counsels of the heart.
00:39:51.61\00:39:53.85
Then each one's
praise will come from God. "
00:39:54.15\00:39:56.67
You see what he's saying
there? From a human perspective
00:39:56.77\00:40:00.33
we can't judge because
we don't see as God sees.
00:40:00.53\00:40:02.60
He sees the truth. He
sees the motives; the intents;
00:40:02.90\00:40:05.49
the secret
thoughts of the heart.
00:40:05.70\00:40:07.09
So until that day comes,
you can't sit in judgment
00:40:07.39\00:40:11.21
on other people because
you don't see the whole story.
00:40:11.31\00:40:13.75
I praise God that there
will be people in the kingdom
00:40:14.15\00:40:17.22
who I'm like... "Seriously?
Hey, but great! " Amen!
00:40:17.32\00:40:20.99
But that's what we're going
to get to see as that millennium
00:40:21.13\00:40:23.94
unfolds is what God
has been seeing all along.
00:40:24.04\00:40:26.71
He's going to show us
the intents and thoughts
00:40:26.81\00:40:28.22
of the heart. And Paul
says "Then you can judge.
00:40:28.25\00:40:31.73
But until then, stand back...
reserve judgment. " Amen.
00:40:31.93\00:40:35.28
Go two chapters
over... chapter 6.
00:40:35.51\00:40:36.89
He comes back to this
again: verses 1 through 3.
00:40:37.09\00:40:38.87
"Dare any of you, having
a matter against another,
00:40:41.46\00:40:44.82
go to law before the unrighteous
and not before the saints? "
00:40:45.03\00:40:48.81
He's like: "If you guys are
quarreling between each other
00:40:49.01\00:40:50.99
and you go to a secular court,
why is that a good thing? "
00:40:51.19\00:40:54.74
Verse 2: "Do you not know...
" And again, we saw last night
00:40:55.14\00:40:58.97
Paul uses that
phrase. "Don't you get it? "
00:40:59.18\00:41:00.56
"Don't you see?
This is common sense
00:41:00.76\00:41:02.74
in the Christian faith.
You should understand this. "
00:41:02.94\00:41:04.73
"Do you not know that
the saints will... " Do what?
00:41:04.93\00:41:07.75
"Will judge the world. And if
the world will be judged by you
00:41:07.95\00:41:12.55
are you unworthy to
judge the smallest matters? "
00:41:12.76\00:41:15.65
He's like: "You should...
You guys... you should start
00:41:15.85\00:41:18.45
to develop a judicious
mind now because the Lord is
00:41:18.55\00:41:21.41
going to be using
you to judge the world. "
00:41:21.61\00:41:23.81
In fact he goes on:
"Not only the world... "
00:41:24.11\00:41:26.14
Verse 3: "Do you not know
that we shall judge angels? "
00:41:26.34\00:41:31.46
How much more things
that pertain to this life? "
00:41:31.86\00:41:35.61
We will judge angels; we're
going to be judging the world
00:41:35.82\00:41:39.14
and reviewing that
written counsel of God
00:41:39.54\00:41:43.21
that searches the
intents of the heart.
00:41:43.41\00:41:45.38
That's what's going
on during the millennium.
00:41:45.58\00:41:48.25
So don't have this
idea that when Jesus comes
00:41:48.45\00:41:50.51
everything's done and it's
all better. No, no, no, no, no.
00:41:50.61\00:41:52.24
There's still a solemn,
serious work to be done;
00:41:52.44\00:41:54.71
Christ wants
something else to occur.
00:41:55.01\00:41:57.24
Now let's go back to
Revelation 20 and verse 7.
00:41:57.44\00:42:00.47
20 and verse 7.
00:42:00.78\00:42:03.00
No, no, no... let's
just... We're not even done yet.
00:42:07.62\00:42:09.14
Let's go to still verse 4.
00:42:09.24\00:42:10.94
This description of what
we've just studied in scripture.
00:42:11.24\00:42:14.07
Verse 4, Revelation 20.
00:42:14.27\00:42:15.57
"And I saw thrones,
and they that sat on them
00:42:15.77\00:42:19.14
and judgment was
committed to them. "
00:42:19.34\00:42:21.72
Then I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded
00:42:22.02\00:42:25.02
for their witness to
Jesus and for the Word of God
00:42:25.12\00:42:27.11
who had not worshiped
the beast or his image
00:42:27.31\00:42:29.39
and had not received his mark
on their foreheads or on their
00:42:29.59\00:42:31.92
hands. And they lived
and reigned with Christ
00:42:32.02\00:42:34.73
for a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead
00:42:34.83\00:42:38.50
did not live again until the
thousand years were finished. "
00:42:38.70\00:42:42.75
OK, so this thousand-year period
of time where the saints are
00:42:44.27\00:42:47.44
judging the world, he says:
"This is the 1st resurrection. "
00:42:47.54\00:42:51.07
"Blessed and holy is he who has
part in the first resurrection.
00:42:52.65\00:42:56.31
Over such the
second death has no power.
00:42:56.51\00:42:59.83
But they shall be
priests of God and of Christ
00:43:00.04\00:43:02.46
and shall reign with
Him a thousand years. "
00:43:02.67\00:43:05.76
That's what's
happening during the millennium
00:43:06.16\00:43:09.23
on heaven's end of the spectrum.
00:43:09.26\00:43:12.12
But now let's
continue to verse 7:
00:43:13.26\00:43:14.86
"Now, when the
thousand years have expired
00:43:15.96\00:43:19.97
Satan will be
released from his prison
00:43:20.17\00:43:23.15
and will go out to
deceive the nations which are
00:43:23.45\00:43:27.82
in the four
corners of the earth. "
00:43:27.93\00:43:29.17
And notice the
implication: now they're alive.
00:43:29.37\00:43:31.50
The rest of the dead have now
come to life, and he's going out
00:43:31.70\00:43:33.96
"to deceive Gog and
Magog; to gather them... "
00:43:34.06\00:43:38.69
For what purpose? "for
battle, whose number... " -
00:43:38.79\00:43:42.84
and this is one of the
saddest verses of scripture -
00:43:42.97\00:43:45.14
"whose number is as
the sands of the sea. "
00:43:45.34\00:43:49.37
So what do they do? Verse 9:
00:43:50.95\00:43:53.12
"They went up on the breadth
of the earth and surrounded
00:43:53.33\00:43:56.15
the camp of the saints
and the beloved city. "
00:43:56.35\00:43:58.65
Do you get the
picture? The city's there.
00:43:58.85\00:44:01.82
The camp of the saints
is right there on earth.
00:44:02.02\00:44:03.60
And they marshal
this grand army together,
00:44:03.80\00:44:06.80
and they come after and
surround the city of God.
00:44:07.10\00:44:11.34
And we see the
end of that battle.
00:44:11.55\00:44:15.39
"And fire came down
from God out of heaven
00:44:15.42\00:44:19.16
and devoured them. "
00:44:19.36\00:44:21.05
Of course we know
it's an unsuccessful surge.
00:44:21.35\00:44:25.04
"The devil who deceived them
was cast into the lake of fire
00:44:25.24\00:44:28.32
and brimstone where the
beast and the false prophet are.
00:44:28.52\00:44:30.62
And they will tormented day
and night forever and ever. "
00:44:30.82\00:44:33.87
And as we understand the
Biblical concept of forever
00:44:34.07\00:44:36.49
it means until it is
all accomplished, OK.
00:44:36.69\00:44:39.73
Tilll that baleful
work has been completed.
00:44:39.86\00:44:42.19
It will not be extinguished
until the work is done.
00:44:42.40\00:44:44.90
Now...
00:44:46.54\00:44:48.38
we're going to
come back to those
00:44:51.04\00:44:52.21
couple verses, but I want to
00:44:52.24\00:44:53.51
read to you now. And all
the extra-Biblical references
00:44:53.52\00:44:57.27
that follow are
found in the last chapter
00:44:57.37\00:44:59.30
of The Great Controversy, OK?
00:44:59.40\00:45:01.28
Let me implore you. I
beseech you; I beg of you:
00:45:01.48\00:45:04.31
the days are getting longer.
You've got plenty of Sabbath
00:45:04.61\00:45:07.14
afternoon. Go
read that last chapter
00:45:07.34\00:45:10.08
of The Great Controversy.
00:45:10.18\00:45:11.52
"Now... " commenting on this
experience of gathering the army
00:45:13.10\00:45:17.11
together... "Now Satan prepares
for a last mighty struggle
00:45:17.21\00:45:21.32
for the supremacy.
While deprived of his power
00:45:21.52\00:45:25.61
and cut off from
his work of deception
00:45:25.71\00:45:27.32
the prince of evil was
miserable and dejected.
00:45:27.52\00:45:30.17
But as the wicked dead are
raised and he sees the vast
00:45:30.37\00:45:33.57
multitude on his
side, his hopes revive
00:45:33.77\00:45:38.06
and he determines not to
yield the great controversy. "
00:45:38.36\00:45:42.61
So that
stubbornness in his heart...
00:45:42.81\00:45:44.55
He sees an audience
listening to him. He's like
00:45:44.75\00:45:47.57
maybe, just maybe,
I've got one last shot.
00:45:47.77\00:45:51.81
"His hopes revive... He will
marshal all the armies of the
00:45:52.02\00:45:55.83
lost under his banner
and through them endeavor
00:45:55.93\00:45:58.34
to execute his plan. "
00:45:58.54\00:45:59.97
Little parenthetical insert:
00:46:00.27\00:46:02.58
Notice that God wants
to answer Satan's charges
00:46:02.78\00:46:04.83
and fight the
devil through His church?
00:46:05.03\00:46:06.88
Satan wants the same thing too.
00:46:07.18\00:46:10.14
He's going to use his
followers to battle Christ.
00:46:10.34\00:46:13.76
To execute his plan.
00:46:14.06\00:46:16.61
"The wicked are Satan's
captives. In rejecting Christ
00:46:16.81\00:46:20.02
they have accepted the
rule of the rebel leader.
00:46:20.23\00:46:22.53
They are ready to receive
his suggestions and to do
00:46:22.73\00:46:25.93
his bidding. "
She then continues:
00:46:26.03\00:46:28.85
"At last the order to advance
is given and the countless host
00:46:29.15\00:46:32.58
moves on - an army
such as was never summoned
00:46:32.68\00:46:35.16
by earthly conquerors, such
as the combined forces of all
00:46:35.26\00:46:38.26
ages since war began on
earth could never equal.
00:46:38.36\00:46:40.96
Satan, the mightiest of
warriors, leads the van,
00:46:41.16\00:46:43.95
and his angels unite their
forces for this final struggle.
00:46:44.05\00:46:46.86
Kings and warriors are in his
train, and the multitudes follow
00:46:47.26\00:46:50.37
in vast companies, each
under its appointed leader.
00:46:50.47\00:46:53.43
With military precision,
the serried ranks advance
00:46:53.46\00:46:56.73
over the earth's
broken and uneven surface
00:46:56.83\00:46:58.56
to the City of God.
By command of Jesus,
00:46:58.66\00:47:00.96
the gates of the New Jerusalem
are closed, and the armies
00:47:01.16\00:47:03.61
of Satan surround the city
and make ready for the onset. "
00:47:03.71\00:47:07.28
In the midst of this
description of this massive army
00:47:10.77\00:47:14.15
surging against the City of God
00:47:14.35\00:47:16.36
something right there at
the very end might have just
00:47:16.56\00:47:19.09
slid right past.
00:47:19.19\00:47:20.57
Notice what this
says: "By command of Jesus,
00:47:25.36\00:47:28.42
the gates of the New
Jerusalem are closed. "
00:47:28.62\00:47:31.56
What does that imply about the
gates during that whole amassing
00:47:33.23\00:47:37.87
of the armies on
earth? They've been open.
00:47:38.07\00:47:41.57
Christ has brought
the New Jerusalem down.
00:47:44.19\00:47:46.22
He doesn't put up a fence or
a barrier to keep anyone out.
00:47:46.43\00:47:50.16
In fact, the
gates are wide open.
00:47:50.46\00:47:52.23
Now this is
sanctified imagination.
00:47:53.99\00:47:56.05
You will not find this
in scripture; you will not
00:47:56.25\00:47:57.33
find this in the
Spirit of Prophecy.
00:47:57.43\00:47:58.63
So if it's
wrong, that's my fault.
00:47:58.73\00:48:00.48
But a friend of mine
has put this idea in my mind
00:48:00.88\00:48:04.01
and I like it... so I'm
going to share it with you.
00:48:04.11\00:48:05.46
You can almost picture God...
00:48:05.66\00:48:07.70
Of course, everyone at the close
of probation has made their
00:48:07.90\00:48:10.55
choice. Their character is
set. No one's going to return.
00:48:10.66\00:48:13.11
But it's not because
God's keeping them out!
00:48:13.41\00:48:16.10
It's because they won't come in!
00:48:16.30\00:48:17.96
He's almost sitting like
Noah on the edge of the ark
00:48:18.16\00:48:21.48
as the storm
clouds are approaching.
00:48:21.68\00:48:23.08
You know, and He
says: "If anyone's out there
00:48:23.28\00:48:26.80
and still wants to come in,
00:48:27.00\00:48:28.85
please know that it
would make my joy complete
00:48:29.15\00:48:35.08
for you to
accept My invitation. "
00:48:35.28\00:48:37.38
The doors are wide open;
access is full and free...
00:48:39.04\00:48:42.30
yet no one wants to come in.
00:48:42.50\00:48:46.24
This is a huge,
significant point in my mind.
00:48:47.97\00:48:50.66
Earlier in the chapter if
you were to read it full...
00:48:52.58\00:48:54.40
through she said...
She describes the character
00:48:54.50\00:48:56.35
of those who have been
resurrected, these wicked dead
00:48:56.39\00:48:58.35
now alive: "As the
wicked went into their graves
00:48:58.45\00:49:01.81
so they come forth with
the same enmity to Christ
00:49:02.02\00:49:04.15
and the same
spirit of rebellion. "
00:49:04.25\00:49:05.61
And notice
carefully: "A second probation
00:49:05.71\00:49:08.49
were it given them... "
And I'm not saying that it was,
00:49:08.69\00:49:10.98
but were it even given them...
00:49:11.18\00:49:12.45
"would be occupied as
was the first: in evading
00:49:12.65\00:49:15.37
the requirements of
God and inciting rebellion
00:49:15.47\00:49:17.93
against Him. " Even if
God were to let them in now,
00:49:18.14\00:49:21.41
they wouldn't want to go.
00:49:21.61\00:49:23.52
Hmmm. And again, the
onlooking universe it watching.
00:49:26.91\00:49:32.22
We go to Revelation
chapter 20 verse 12.
00:49:34.10\00:49:36.88
"And I saw the
dead, small and great,
00:49:41.33\00:49:44.22
standing before God
and books were opened.
00:49:44.43\00:49:46.09
And another book was opened
which was the Book of Life
00:49:46.40\00:49:48.46
and the dead were judged
according to their works,
00:49:48.66\00:49:50.61
by the things which
were written in the books.
00:49:50.64\00:49:52.61
The sea gave up
the dead who were in it
00:49:52.81\00:49:54.34
and death and Hades delivered
up the dead who were in them,
00:49:54.48\00:49:56.78
and they were judged each
one according to his works.
00:49:56.98\00:50:00.07
Then death and Hades were
cast into the lake of fire.
00:50:00.37\00:50:03.12
This is the second death.
00:50:03.32\00:50:04.75
And anyone not found
written in the Book of Life
00:50:04.95\00:50:07.02
was cast into
the lake of fire. "
00:50:07.12\00:50:08.68
So notice what
we've just read there.
00:50:08.88\00:50:10.51
This judgment should actually
be inserted chronologically
00:50:10.71\00:50:13.56
in the midst of verse
9. Go back to verse 9.
00:50:13.76\00:50:16.41
Says here: "They went up
on the breadth of the earth
00:50:16.71\00:50:19.32
and surrounded the camp of
the saints and the beloved city"
00:50:19.52\00:50:21.55
and then it jumps to
"and fire came down. "
00:50:21.75\00:50:23.62
Well that's just
jumping to the end of the story.
00:50:23.72\00:50:25.07
What happens between
those two sentences is
00:50:25.28\00:50:26.82
described at the
end of Revelation 20:
00:50:27.02\00:50:28.76
what's called The
Great White Throne Judgment.
00:50:28.96\00:50:31.84
Before the Lord
executes judgment
00:50:32.04\00:50:34.28
He sets up a tribunal. And
this is crucially important:
00:50:34.48\00:50:38.31
so that even the
wicked can see why
00:50:38.51\00:50:41.76
the justice must come.
00:50:42.23\00:50:45.73
Think about what
we're saying here.
00:50:46.04\00:50:47.52
"As soon as the books
of record are opened... "
00:50:50.79\00:50:52.59
Mrs. White continues...
00:50:52.79\00:50:54.04
"the eye of Jesus... "
He's already been lifted up
00:50:54.24\00:50:56.51
above the crowd now.
So you get this picture
00:50:56.61\00:50:58.41
as you read through that
last chapter that the surge
00:50:58.51\00:51:00.63
is coming; the armies are
advancing. They're surrounding
00:51:00.83\00:51:02.61
the City of God and
there's about to have a battle
00:51:02.71\00:51:04.55
break forth, but Jesus
rises above the whole thing
00:51:04.65\00:51:07.37
and all is silenced.
00:51:07.57\00:51:09.70
The picture that we have is like
Jesus when He walked into the
00:51:09.90\00:51:13.73
temple to cleanse it.
00:51:13.83\00:51:16.91
He had a whip, of
course, in His hand.
00:51:17.11\00:51:18.15
But He didn't have to whip
anyone. His look just arrested
00:51:18.25\00:51:21.18
their attention.
Everything halts.
00:51:21.28\00:51:23.70
It's as if the
silence is painful.
00:51:23.90\00:51:25.94
And everyone in the
universe is focused on Christ.
00:51:26.14\00:51:29.32
Watch this now:
00:51:29.52\00:51:31.11
"As soon as the books of record
are opened and the eye of Jesus
00:51:31.31\00:51:33.52
looks upon the wicked,
they are conscious of every sin
00:51:33.62\00:51:36.43
which they've ever committed.
00:51:36.53\00:51:37.68
Above the throne is
revealed the cross... "
00:51:37.88\00:51:40.68
So basically He's going
to play a panoramic view
00:51:40.89\00:51:45.02
and He puts the cross
as the center, the fulcrum,
00:51:45.22\00:51:47.44
of the plan of salvation.
00:51:47.65\00:51:48.90
By the way, the great
controversy's not against the
00:51:49.10\00:51:51.44
cross. It highlights the cross.
It makes the cross central.
00:51:51.55\00:51:54.64
Says here: "Above the
throne is revealed the cross;
00:51:54.94\00:51:57.65
and like a panoramic view appear
the scenes of Adam's temptation
00:51:57.85\00:52:01.54
and fall, and the successive
steps in the great plan
00:52:01.64\00:52:06.01
of redemption. "
00:52:06.21\00:52:07.89
So the series we've just
gone through, Christ will take
00:52:08.09\00:52:10.94
the entire universe
through and show definitively
00:52:11.14\00:52:13.93
from beginning to end what the
consequences of every person's
00:52:14.13\00:52:17.60
choices were.
00:52:17.63\00:52:18.72
"It is now evident to all
that the wages of sin is not
00:52:19.12\00:52:23.88
noble independence and
eternal life, but slavery, ruin,
00:52:23.98\00:52:27.13
and death. The wicked
see what they have forfeited
00:52:27.33\00:52:32.21
by their life of rebellion.
00:52:32.41\00:52:33.70
The far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory
00:52:34.00\00:52:36.65
was despised when offered them
00:52:36.75\00:52:38.49
but how
desirable it now appears. "
00:52:38.69\00:52:41.18
'All this' cries the
lost soul 'I might have had
00:52:42.52\00:52:45.54
but I chose to put
these things far from me.
00:52:45.74\00:52:48.66
Oh, strange infatuation!
00:52:49.57\00:52:53.48
I have exchanged
peace, happiness, and honor
00:52:54.32\00:52:56.69
for wretchedness,
infamy, and despair. ' "
00:52:56.90\00:52:58.96
I have this
underlined in my notes:
00:52:59.16\00:53:02.14
"All see that their
exclusion from heaven is just.
00:53:02.34\00:53:07.53
By their lives
they have declared
00:53:07.84\00:53:11.67
'We will not have this Man
Jesus to reign over us. ' "
00:53:11.87\00:53:14.77
See what they're saying?
00:53:14.97\00:53:16.73
Even with all the enticements,
enhancements of heaven,
00:53:16.93\00:53:20.12
all the beauty and glory,
they look at that and say:
00:53:20.32\00:53:23.08
"As much as I would like
all the benefits of heaven,
00:53:23.28\00:53:25.42
I would rather not exist than
have to live under His rule. "
00:53:25.72\00:53:30.95
They want to get in, but
in the life they lived here
00:53:32.89\00:53:36.63
they didn't develop a
character that would fit in.
00:53:36.73\00:53:39.51
Do you see the difference?
00:53:39.82\00:53:41.87
God doesn't want to
just get people into heaven.
00:53:42.17\00:53:44.66
He wants to fit them for heaven.
00:53:44.76\00:53:46.83
This is the greater controversy.
00:53:48.15\00:53:49.87
"As if entranced, the wicked
have looked upon the coronation
00:53:50.17\00:53:54.37
of the Son of God. They
see in His hands the tablets
00:53:54.47\00:53:56.21
of the divine law, the statutes
which they have despised
00:53:56.32\00:53:58.44
and transgressed. They witness
the outburst of wonder, rapture,
00:53:58.64\00:54:01.60
and adoration from the saved;
00:54:01.71\00:54:02.94
and as... " Now notice this...
"and as the wave of melody
00:54:03.14\00:54:07.79
sweeps over the
multitude without the city... "
00:54:07.99\00:54:10.35
So the praise starts
within the city but it overflows
00:54:10.55\00:54:12.84
even to the wicked.
00:54:12.94\00:54:15.13
"all with one voice
exclaim, 'Great and marvelous
00:54:15.33\00:54:18.97
are Thy works, Lord
God Almighty: just and true
00:54:19.07\00:54:21.32
are Thy ways,
Thou King of saints'
00:54:21.52\00:54:23.35
and falling prostrate, they
worship the Prince of life. "
00:54:23.55\00:54:28.45
Hmmm. At this point
00:54:30.29\00:54:32.81
almost the entire
universe has acknowledged
00:54:33.01\00:54:35.40
the supremacy of Christ
and the government of God.
00:54:35.50\00:54:37.42
The unfallen
worlds and sinless angels
00:54:37.62\00:54:39.92
have chosen
whom they will serve.
00:54:40.12\00:54:41.59
Those fallen ones who
through the grace of Christ
00:54:41.79\00:54:44.12
have been restored into
the image of God have chosen
00:54:44.32\00:54:46.45
whom they will
serve. Now even the wicked
00:54:46.65\00:54:49.69
though not choosing to serve God
00:54:49.89\00:54:51.93
by the sheer
weight of evidence -
00:54:52.13\00:54:54.42
not out of love, not out of
repentance, but by the sheer
00:54:54.52\00:54:57.31
evidence amounted by
their own life and character -
00:54:57.34\00:54:59.74
are forced to acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
00:54:59.94\00:55:03.57
Now there's only one being left.
00:55:03.97\00:55:06.30
Final two statements.
00:55:09.55\00:55:11.99
"The aim of the great rebel
has ever been to justify himself
00:55:13.39\00:55:16.65
and to prove the
divine government responsible
00:55:16.75\00:55:18.69
for the rebellion. To this
end he has bent all the power
00:55:18.79\00:55:23.00
of his giant intellect.
But the time has now come
00:55:23.20\00:55:26.80
when the rebellion is
to be finally defeated
00:55:26.90\00:55:28.74
and the history and
character of Satan disclosed.
00:55:28.94\00:55:31.20
In his last great
effort to dethrone Christ,
00:55:31.40\00:55:34.08
destroy His people, and
take possession of the great
00:55:34.28\00:55:36.11
City of God, the archdeceiver
has been fully unmasked.
00:55:36.21\00:55:40.17
Those who have united with
him... " Even the wicked...
00:55:40.37\00:55:43.98
"see the total
failure of his cause.
00:55:44.18\00:55:47.02
Christ's followers and the loyal
angels behold the full extent
00:55:47.22\00:55:50.05
of his machinations
against the government of God.
00:55:50.15\00:55:54.61
He is the object of
universal abhorrence. "
00:55:54.81\00:55:57.76
Everyone in the
universe is off of his side
00:55:57.96\00:56:00.36
and he's the only one left.
00:56:00.56\00:56:03.62
But the promise is not
that "most knees shall bow. "
00:56:03.92\00:56:07.45
"Every knee shall bow. "
00:56:07.85\00:56:10.17
"Satan sees that his voluntary
rebellion has unfitted him
00:56:10.47\00:56:14.62
for heaven. He has trained
his powers to war against God;
00:56:14.82\00:56:19.31
the purity, peace, and harmony
of heaven would be to him
00:56:19.51\00:56:22.24
supreme torture. "
00:56:22.44\00:56:24.60
For him to go to heaven would be
the equivalent of going to hell.
00:56:24.80\00:56:28.82
"His accusations against
the mercy and justice of God
00:56:30.17\00:56:33.25
are now silenced. The reproach
which he has endeavored to cast
00:56:33.45\00:56:36.07
upon Jehovah rests
wholly upon himself.
00:56:36.17\00:56:38.07
And now Satan bows down
and confesses the justice
00:56:38.28\00:56:41.59
of his sentence. " Amen.
00:56:41.69\00:56:43.64
"Every question of truth
and error in the longstanding
00:56:43.74\00:56:45.87
controversy has
now been made plain.
00:56:45.97\00:56:47.61
The results of rebellion,
the fruits of setting aside
00:56:47.82\00:56:49.90
the divine statutes, have been
laid open to the view of all
00:56:50.00\00:56:52.24
created intelligences. The
working out of Satan's rule
00:56:52.34\00:56:55.13
in contrast with the government
of God has been presented
00:56:55.24\00:56:57.34
to the whole universe. Satan's
own works have condemned him.
00:56:57.45\00:57:00.95
God's wisdom, His
justice, and His goodness
00:57:01.15\00:57:04.12
stand fully vindicated. " Amen!
00:57:04.32\00:57:07.20
The reason Satan was not
destroyed at the second coming
00:57:07.44\00:57:09.68
is because there was a promise
in Philippians chapter 2.
00:57:09.88\00:57:12.03
"That at the name of
Jesus EVERY knee shall bow
00:57:12.23\00:57:15.92
and EVERY tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
00:57:16.12\00:57:19.41
to the glory of
God the Father. "
00:57:19.61\00:57:22.73
We serve a God of due process
00:57:22.93\00:57:25.52
who doesn't want to
leave a stone unturned
00:57:25.72\00:57:27.28
but wants every question
answered and every created
00:57:27.38\00:57:29.99
intelligence to
choose whom they will serve.
00:57:30.10\00:57:33.55