Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Hello friends, and
welcome to Anchors Of Truth.
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This is the second
part of a five part series
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by Pastor Taj Pacleb.
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And his five part series
is entitled, Almost Home.
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Which we know that's heaven.
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And of course, all of us
are looking forward to heaven.
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We welcome our
audience here that's local,
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but also those of you that
are joining us around the world.
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You know, it's
amazing how technology works.
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It's amazing how we can be
in little bitty Thompsonville,
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and by God's grace all
this technology goes out by
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satellite,
internet, radio waves.
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So how ever you're getting
this, praise the Lord for that.
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It's a blessing
to be a part of 3ABN.
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Now Pastor Taj Pacleb, he
was the conference evangelist
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for California for 11 years.
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That's pretty awesome.
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But just recently,
actually this year, he told us
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he and his wife,
Wati, who is here with us,
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they felt the call of God
to start their own ministry
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called, I want to
make sure I get this right,
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Revelation of Hope Ministries.
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They just started it this year,
and it's a faith-based ministry.
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So that's really neat how
God has called them and they've
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stepped out in
faith doing this ministry.
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And I know God is going to
bless them in a powerful way.
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Amen, they're an incredible
couple, a godly couple.
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Just when you talk to
them and when you meet them,
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they care about
people, they love other people,
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they love the Word of God
and spreading the gospel message
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around the world.
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So we are so blessed to
have them with us here tonight.
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I know my own heart was blessed
by the message Pastor Taj
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brought last night.
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I was taking notes,
looking up those Bible verses
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about the face behind the veil,
and how God wants to bring us
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back into that unity
and oneness with the Father.
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Tonight's message is
entitled, The Champion of Love.
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But before we hear the
message from Pastor Taj,
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we're going to be blessed
by a special music number
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by Jacqueline Jewel.
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She's a precious woman
who travels with them a lot
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with their ministry.
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She is a musicianary.
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Is that such a word?
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You know, I don't
know. But I like it.
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- Musicianary. Amen. -
A musicianary for Jesus.
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Her song tonight
is, Amazing Grace.
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But before she plays,
let's go to the Lord in prayer.
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Father, we come before
You in the name of Jesus.
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And we thank You that
truly we are almost home.
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And Father, we just ask
right now for the anointing
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of Your Holy Spirit
to give us ears to hear
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what Your servant has to share.
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And we thank You in
the precious and the
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holy name of Jesus, amen.
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Jacqueline will
play, Amazing Grace,
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and then the next voice
you will hear is that of our
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pastor and friend, Taj Pacleb.
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Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound
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that saved a wretch like me.
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I once was lost,
but now I am found;
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was blind, but now I see.
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'Twas grace that
taught my heart to fear,
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and grace my fears relieved.
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How precious did
that grace appear
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the hour I first believed.
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Through many
dangers, toils and snares
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I have already come.
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'Tis grace that
brought me safe thus far,
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and grace will lead me home.
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The Lord has
promised good to me,
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His word my hope secures.
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He will my shield and portion be
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as long as life endures.
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When we've been
there ten thousand years,
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bright shining as the sun,
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we've no less days
to sing God's praise
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than when we've first begun,
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than when we've first begun.
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Amen, amen.
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Aloha. Good evening, everyone.
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I want to welcome you
to our second night here at
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the Anchors Of Truth broadcast.
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We're so glad that you're here.
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Our theme for this weekend
is entitled, Almost Home.
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And truly, as we consider
the condition of the world
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that we live in, in comparison
to the prophecies that God
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has revealed to us, all
the prophecies are pointing
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to the reality that
we're almost home. Amen?
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And we've been studying
the Bible night after night
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discussing topics
that will better prepare us
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for the return of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Our message this
evening is entitled,
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Champion of Love.
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So I hope you
brought your Bibles,
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I hope you have
your notebooks ready,
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I hope you have
a writing utensil,
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as we feast upon the
bread of life tonight.
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I invite you to bow your
heads as we pray together.
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Father in heaven, we thank
You so much for Your goodness
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and Your grace.
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The amazing grace that
saves us, not only from the
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penalty of sin, but
also the power of sin,
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and soon the
very presence of sin,
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as You take us to
our heavenly home.
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Lord, as we have gathered
here tonight here in this
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sacred studio, as well as
the countless others online and
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at home, we pray that
Your Holy Spirit would
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be with us in a very
special intimate way.
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That You would speak to
our hearts and our minds,
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and that You would
instruct us and inspire us
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as to what You're calling
us to do in these last days
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in preparation
for the Promised Land.
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This is our prayer.
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And we ask this in
Jesus' name. Amen, amen.
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Our message is
entitled, Champion of Love.
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I invite you to take your
Bible and open with me to the
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book of Revelation.
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We're going to begin
tonight in the 17th chapter
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as we have a very simple,
at the same time, profound
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study from God's prophetic Word.
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Ladies and gentlemen, as
many of you already know,
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we are all in
the midst of a war;
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a great controversy
between good and evil.
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A cosmic conflict,
a supernatural battle,
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where the forces
of good and evil are
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fighting against one another.
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And we are in the midst of this.
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This war has been raging
on now for over 6000 years.
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It began in heaven,
then moved to the earth.
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And it's still being
fought to the present day.
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And in the 17th chapter
of the book of Revelation,
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it describes Satan's
final charge, his last push,
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in the conflict of the ages.
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Now time is not going to
permit us to go through all the
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intricacies of this prophecy.
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But I just want us to highlight
and introduce the contenders
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in this conflict.
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Notice what the Bible
says in Revelation chapter 17
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beginning with verse 12.
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The Bible says...
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Here we find in this
very awesome prophecy,
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it's pointing to a time when
the nations and the kingdoms
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of the world are
going to unite together.
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Not in a one world government
or some type of new world order,
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for the Bible is clear
that the feet with the ten toes
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part of iron and clay will not
cleave or adhere one to another.
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There's not going to be
so much a one world order
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or a one world government.
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However, there is going
to be a unity amongst the
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nations of the world.
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And the nature of their unity
is that they're going to have
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one mind, one intent,
one resolve, one goal,
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one ideology.
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Rather than a one
world government, it will be
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an ecumenical universal unity
that's based upon shared goals
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and ideology.
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It's a time when theological
differences are going to be
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put aside for the
common good of all.
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And at that time, the prophecy
tells us that the papacy,
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the beast, will be
looked upon as the leader
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that can bring all
the world together.
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It's going to be a
time, friends, that will
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try men's souls
to the uttermost.
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And that time is here.
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Prophecy is fast fulfilling
right before our very eyes.
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Now unity does sound
good in a world that is
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fragmented and divided.
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But I want us to
notice the next verse
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and what's going to happen
as a result of this unity.
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The Bible says in
verse 14, it says...
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And that's none
other than Jesus Christ.
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This unity sounds good.
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But the inevitable result of
this unity is that it's going to
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lead in the world
making war against God,
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against the teachings
of God, the truth of God,
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and ultimately
the people of God.
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This prophecy,
friends, is Satan's last attempt
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to victory in this
long standing conflict;
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the great controversy
between good and evil.
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But I want you to notice
who is the victor in this war.
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The rest of verse 14 tells us,
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"These shall make
war with the Lamb..."
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I'm so thankful, friends,
that in this controversy
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between good and evil,
as the beast and all the
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kingdoms of the world unite
together to make war against
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the Lamb, the Lamb is
going to come out on top.
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Jesus is the
victor in the controversy
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between good and evil.
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Now this Lamb may
look meek and lowly,
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but this Lamb has the
power to slay the beast
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and to slay the dragon.
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Can you say amen?
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The Bible tells us
that those who are with Him
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are called and
chosen and faithful.
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I like to call this,
victory by association.
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In other words,
because those who are with Him
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associate with the
Lamb, because He wins,
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they win as well.
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You see, those who are
with Him don't have the power
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in and of
themselves to win the war.
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The Lamb is the one that
wins. The Bible is clear.
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But since they are
with Him, because He wins,
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they win as well.
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We call that,
victory by association.
00:13:09.18\00:13:11.75
It's just like those
who have sports teams.
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They associate
themselves with a specific team.
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Or they're individuals who
like boxing, and they associate
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themselves with
a specific fighter.
00:13:22.50\00:13:24.87
Now my wife and I were in
the Philippines earlier year.
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We had some meetings there.
00:13:27.34\00:13:28.67
And we couldn't help but notice
that all over the Philippines,
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there was a poster of
the Filipino superstar.
00:13:31.61\00:13:34.68
Many of you know
who I'm talking about.
00:13:34.71\00:13:36.61
Manny Pacquiao.
00:13:36.64\00:13:37.98
He is the fighter
of the Philippines.
00:13:38.01\00:13:39.95
And it's interesting
that whenever Manny enters
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into the ring, those
who are Filipino especially,
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and those who like him,
they feel like they're the ones
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getting into the ring as well.
00:13:49.22\00:13:50.63
When Manny throws the
punch, those who are with him
00:13:50.99\00:13:54.20
feel like
they've thrown the punch.
00:13:54.23\00:13:55.76
When Manny receives
a blow, they fell like
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they are the ones
that received a blow.
00:13:57.67\00:13:59.03
If Manny loses,
they feel like they lose.
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But if he wins, all of
the Philippines rejoice.
00:14:01.27\00:14:05.04
That's what we call,
victory by association.
00:14:05.27\00:14:08.81
They feel like they
won, even though they did not
00:14:09.11\00:14:12.08
step foot in the ring.
00:14:12.11\00:14:13.48
They did not throw one blow.
00:14:13.92\00:14:16.25
But they feel like they
won because they associate
00:14:16.58\00:14:19.12
with that specific fighter.
00:14:19.22\00:14:20.89
Same thing with sports teams.
00:14:20.92\00:14:22.39
Victory by association.
00:14:22.42\00:14:24.09
And that's what we're
reading here in Revelation 17.
00:14:24.13\00:14:26.96
The Lamb wins.
00:14:27.00\00:14:28.46
And if we're with
Him, we win as well.
00:14:28.50\00:14:30.77
Can you say amen? How
many want to be with Him?
00:14:30.87\00:14:33.10
But friends, I want you to
notice that victory is not only
00:14:33.50\00:14:37.87
going to be gained by
corporate association...
00:14:37.91\00:14:41.14
Because the Bible says
that they that are with Him
00:14:45.55\00:14:47.78
are called,
chosen, and faithful.
00:14:47.98\00:14:52.25
Victory by corporate association
00:14:52.75\00:14:55.72
as well as
individual assimilation.
00:14:55.92\00:14:58.79
And the reason why, friends,
is because the great controversy
00:14:59.23\00:15:01.83
is not only a universal war,
it's also an individual fight.
00:15:02.03\00:15:06.87
Over and over again in the
Bible, God likened salvation
00:15:07.10\00:15:10.31
to that of a fight.
00:15:10.34\00:15:11.67
It's called, the
good fight of faith.
00:15:11.71\00:15:14.28
Make no mistake about it,
friends, faith is the only thing
00:15:14.31\00:15:17.35
that is worth fighting for.
00:15:17.38\00:15:19.15
And tonight we're going
to find out how we fight
00:15:19.58\00:15:22.28
the good fight of faith.
00:15:22.32\00:15:23.65
It's not with
physical brute force,
00:15:23.69\00:15:25.82
but it's by another
force that's far more powerful
00:15:26.49\00:15:29.29
than anything that's
physical in this world.
00:15:29.79\00:15:32.43
Today we're going to
learn that this boxing match
00:15:32.53\00:15:35.33
called, the great controversy,
only has three rounds.
00:15:35.36\00:15:39.53
We are now in the
third and final round
00:15:39.70\00:15:42.70
of the great
controversy boxing match.
00:15:42.74\00:15:45.37
And in this last
round, prophecy tells us that
00:15:45.41\00:15:48.04
Satan is preparing a knock-out
punch for the people of God,
00:15:48.08\00:15:51.98
a fatal blow.
00:15:52.01\00:15:53.48
But God will have a people
who will endure that last blow
00:15:54.22\00:15:58.59
in the final round.
00:15:58.62\00:15:59.95
A people who will remain
standing until the very end.
00:15:59.99\00:16:03.06
And we have a nice
fancy theological word that
00:16:03.09\00:16:05.36
describes those
who endure to the end.
00:16:05.39\00:16:07.90
We call them, the remnant.
00:16:08.23\00:16:10.43
That's the word the Bible uses.
00:16:10.70\00:16:12.60
Those are the
last ones standing.
00:16:12.80\00:16:14.87
And friends, I want to be a part
of that remnant group of people.
00:16:15.14\00:16:18.47
And I know you do as well.
00:16:18.51\00:16:20.21
And so today we want to
find out what will it take
00:16:20.61\00:16:24.78
for us to remain
standing in the final round
00:16:25.01\00:16:27.42
of the great controversy.
00:16:27.45\00:16:28.78
And in order to find
out what it's going to take
00:16:28.82\00:16:30.95
in the final round, we
have to first study the history
00:16:30.99\00:16:35.16
of the first two rounds.
00:16:35.26\00:16:36.99
And as we understand the
issues in the first two rounds,
00:16:37.16\00:16:39.89
we will know how we
can stand firm in the third
00:16:39.93\00:16:43.37
and final round.
00:16:43.40\00:16:44.90
And so let's go now
to round number one.
00:16:44.93\00:16:48.00
It begins in heaven.
00:16:48.04\00:16:49.97
Described in
Revelation chapter 12,
00:16:50.07\00:16:52.91
notice what the
Bible says in verse 7.
00:16:52.94\00:16:55.41
Revelation chapter 12,
round number one begins
00:16:55.44\00:16:58.41
in heaven itself.
00:16:58.45\00:16:59.88
The Bible says...
00:16:59.91\00:17:01.25
Here we see in round number
one, Lucifer the glorious angel
00:17:25.71\00:17:29.81
came out swinging.
00:17:29.84\00:17:31.18
He started jabbing the
Lord with his evil insinuations
00:17:31.21\00:17:34.32
and false accusations.
00:17:34.35\00:17:35.72
And the question we then
ask is, why did Lucifer call out
00:17:35.75\00:17:39.69
the Lord in heaven?
00:17:39.72\00:17:41.29
What was his issue?
00:17:41.49\00:17:42.86
Why did he want to fight
against his kingly Creator?
00:17:42.89\00:17:46.19
Well we read in
other places that Lucifer,
00:17:46.63\00:17:49.26
the covering cherub, became
dissatisfied with his high
00:17:49.30\00:17:52.87
and privileged position.
00:17:52.90\00:17:54.24
While in heaven, he
began to covet God's power,
00:17:54.37\00:17:57.87
but not God's character of love.
00:17:57.97\00:18:00.01
He began to resist the
love of God in his heart.
00:18:00.14\00:18:02.74
This, my friends,
created a vacuum that was then
00:18:02.94\00:18:06.05
filled with his own self love.
00:18:06.08\00:18:09.18
Make no mistake about it,
friends, the origin of sin
00:18:09.35\00:18:12.52
is selfishness that comes
as the result of rejecting
00:18:12.85\00:18:16.73
the love of God.
00:18:16.76\00:18:18.09
And the Bible says that
pride goes before a fall.
00:18:18.13\00:18:20.46
So as Lucifer begins to
exalt himself and love himself
00:18:20.56\00:18:24.37
more than God, the Lord
delivered a blow to Satan,
00:18:24.40\00:18:28.04
to Lucifer, that sent
him reeling from heaven
00:18:28.14\00:18:31.44
all the way down to earth.
00:18:31.47\00:18:33.21
And I often get the
question when we do evangelistic
00:18:33.81\00:18:35.88
meetings, why did God not
destroy Lucifer when he first
00:18:35.91\00:18:41.08
began the rebellion in heaven?
00:18:41.12\00:18:43.05
Tell me, friends,
was God strong enough
00:18:43.42\00:18:45.99
to deliver a TKO, a
complete total knock-out,
00:18:46.42\00:18:49.96
to Satan in round number one?
00:18:49.99\00:18:51.89
Was God strong enough to do it?
00:18:51.93\00:18:53.53
Of course.
00:18:53.56\00:18:54.96
The reason why He did not do
it is because the other angels
00:18:55.16\00:18:58.73
in heaven, not understanding and
discerning the nature of sin,
00:18:58.77\00:19:04.67
would not have been able
to comprehend the justice
00:19:04.87\00:19:07.98
and the fairness in
the punishment for sin.
00:19:08.01\00:19:11.11
And why is that?
00:19:11.58\00:19:12.91
Because Satan hid
his lies under a pretense
00:19:12.95\00:19:16.58
of academic freedom.
00:19:16.62\00:19:17.95
You see, Lucifer did
not openly challenge God.
00:19:18.02\00:19:21.56
He simply questioned
the authority of God.
00:19:21.76\00:19:24.93
And the Lord could have given
him a TKO, a total knock-out,
00:19:25.13\00:19:28.83
in round number one, but
that death blow would have been
00:19:28.86\00:19:31.97
looked upon by the other
angels as a very harsh penalty.
00:19:32.00\00:19:35.37
And so ever after that,
they would have begun to serve
00:19:36.10\00:19:39.71
God out of fear and
no longer out of love.
00:19:39.74\00:19:42.91
And so God, with
wisdom, infinite wisdom,
00:19:43.14\00:19:47.62
chose a different course.
00:19:47.65\00:19:49.25
God, instead of knocking
out Satan, He knocks down Satan
00:19:49.28\00:19:53.49
from heaven to earth.
00:19:53.52\00:19:55.26
God must give sin time to
mature that all might see its
00:19:55.29\00:19:59.79
true horrific nature.
00:19:59.83\00:20:01.46
And so Satan is
cast down to the earth
00:20:01.63\00:20:03.80
on probationary time.
00:20:03.83\00:20:05.47
And now round number two begins
00:20:05.50\00:20:07.97
in the arena of planet earth;
00:20:08.00\00:20:10.31
in the ring
called, the Garden of Eden.
00:20:10.34\00:20:13.68
And you know the story.
00:20:13.78\00:20:15.21
God did all He could to
warn and protect His children
00:20:15.51\00:20:19.45
from the tempter.
00:20:19.48\00:20:20.82
But the record tells us
that Eve, our first mother,
00:20:20.98\00:20:23.62
ventured on forbidden ground.
00:20:23.82\00:20:25.49
She began to dialogue
with someone she should have
00:20:25.69\00:20:27.86
never have spoken
to in the first place.
00:20:27.89\00:20:30.43
And as she listened to
the lies of the serpent,
00:20:30.53\00:20:32.89
he planted seeds
of doubt in her mind.
00:20:32.99\00:20:35.60
And as she listened, Eve,
just like the other angels,
00:20:35.80\00:20:39.37
began to question and doubt
God's word and God's authority.
00:20:39.57\00:20:43.34
She partook of
the fruit, she ate.
00:20:43.37\00:20:45.41
And now the tempted
becomes a temptress.
00:20:45.44\00:20:48.21
She gives to her
husband Adam, and he eats.
00:20:48.24\00:20:50.91
And as a result of sinning
and joining Satan in rebellion
00:20:50.95\00:20:54.55
against God, now the wind of
the Holy Spirit is knocked out
00:20:54.58\00:20:59.29
of the human race.
00:20:59.59\00:21:01.02
Satan knocked down
humanity in the Garden of Eden
00:21:02.02\00:21:05.29
in round number two.
00:21:05.33\00:21:06.66
And now the dominion
of the world was forfeited
00:21:06.70\00:21:09.30
into the hands of the enemy.
00:21:09.33\00:21:10.73
And ever after that,
Satan would claim planet earth
00:21:10.93\00:21:13.90
as his
territory, as his kingdom.
00:21:13.94\00:21:16.44
He would claim to be
the ruler over the world.
00:21:16.47\00:21:18.81
Humanity was
knocked down, but not out.
00:21:19.24\00:21:22.61
We were down for the count,
but thank God that as soon
00:21:23.04\00:21:26.11
as there was sin,
there was a Savior.
00:21:26.15\00:21:28.68
Thank God that there
was someone in our corner
00:21:28.82\00:21:30.89
that was there to rescue us.
00:21:31.02\00:21:33.02
The Lord Himself came in the
Garden in the cool of the day
00:21:33.05\00:21:36.56
to resuscitate humanity from
the devastating and fatal blow.
00:21:36.59\00:21:40.56
Jesus would come to
breathe new life into us
00:21:40.60\00:21:43.73
by announcing the
coming of the Champion of love.
00:21:43.77\00:21:47.60
And this was the
first gospel prophecy,
00:21:48.14\00:21:52.04
the first promise,
that God gave to humanity.
00:21:52.37\00:21:55.68
He was speaking to
Satan, but He said it in the
00:21:55.78\00:21:58.61
presence of His children.
00:21:58.65\00:21:59.98
And this gospel promise
in the book of Genesis 3:15
00:22:00.02\00:22:03.39
was a threat to Satan, but
it was a promise to you and me.
00:22:03.42\00:22:07.12
Notice what the Bible says.
00:22:07.32\00:22:08.76
Genesis 3:15 says...
00:22:08.99\00:22:10.96
Here we find the
first gospel promise.
00:22:25.07\00:22:27.11
God says to Satan,
"I'm going to put enmity
00:22:27.44\00:22:29.64
in the hearts of My children."
00:22:29.68\00:22:31.58
And that word, "enmity," simply
means, the ability to hate evil.
00:22:31.75\00:22:35.62
So this enmity that God
placed in every human heart
00:22:35.82\00:22:38.59
would continue to grow
and climax in the battle
00:22:38.62\00:22:41.79
between the
Seed and the serpent.
00:22:41.82\00:22:44.76
The Seed is none other
than our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:22:45.06\00:22:48.26
You can find that
in Galatians 3:16.
00:22:48.30\00:22:50.77
The Seed is Christ coming
through the loins of humanity.
00:22:51.00\00:22:53.94
You see, friends, this prophecy
in Genesis is telling us
00:22:53.97\00:22:56.81
that the Seed would
bruise the serpents head,
00:22:56.84\00:22:59.77
but at the same time,
the serpent would bruise
00:22:59.81\00:23:02.98
the Seed's heel.
00:23:03.01\00:23:04.55
This prophecy is a shadow
pointing us to the showdown
00:23:05.41\00:23:09.38
that took place at
Mount Calvary at the cross.
00:23:09.45\00:23:14.02
You see, Satan, in
the Garden of Eden,
00:23:14.16\00:23:16.36
delivered a deadly
blow to the human race.
00:23:16.39\00:23:18.93
And so Jesus would
then come in another garden,
00:23:18.96\00:23:21.70
in the garden of Gethsemane,
to deliver a deadly blow
00:23:21.73\00:23:24.73
to the head of Satan.
00:23:24.77\00:23:26.50
And simultaneously, Satan
would bruise the heel of Jesus.
00:23:27.24\00:23:31.24
As I mentioned, this prophecy
was a promise to God's children,
00:23:31.54\00:23:34.81
but it was a threat to Satan.
00:23:35.04\00:23:36.44
The Lord was
essentially saying to the devil,
00:23:36.54\00:23:38.51
"I'm going to come and
I'm going to knock you out.
00:23:38.55\00:23:40.98
Go ahead, bite My heel.
00:23:41.08\00:23:42.72
I'm going to crush your head."
00:23:42.75\00:23:44.52
Though this threat was
given, Satan was still defiant.
00:23:45.29\00:23:49.72
He still claimed this
world as his territory,
00:23:49.76\00:23:52.93
holding us in captivity,
00:23:52.96\00:23:55.30
claiming to be the
victor in the battle.
00:23:55.33\00:23:57.97
So what happens next?
00:23:58.00\00:23:59.33
Round number two
begins as the Champion of love
00:23:59.37\00:24:04.44
steps into the ring to
put Satan in his place.
00:24:04.57\00:24:09.61
The Champion of love would
come to destroy the contender
00:24:09.74\00:24:13.05
and to redeem the
condemned; you and me.
00:24:13.31\00:24:15.92
And friends, I'll never
forget when I was in high school
00:24:16.35\00:24:19.52
the enmity that I
felt towards bullies.
00:24:19.72\00:24:23.43
These are cowards who use
their size and their strength
00:24:23.96\00:24:27.23
to pick on weaker kids.
00:24:27.26\00:24:28.86
And something interesting,
I noticed that whenever
00:24:29.16\00:24:31.67
the smaller kids
could not defend themselves
00:24:31.70\00:24:33.87
against the bully, they would
resort to threatening the bully.
00:24:33.90\00:24:37.61
And one threat that
generally worked was,
00:24:37.81\00:24:40.58
a child or a kid
would say to the bully,
00:24:40.61\00:24:44.31
"You better leave me
alone, or else I'm going to
00:24:44.35\00:24:46.28
call my older brother."
00:24:46.31\00:24:47.65
Now I always envied those kids.
00:24:48.38\00:24:50.79
And the reason why is because
I didn't have an older brother.
00:24:50.82\00:24:54.26
I was the only child.
00:24:54.79\00:24:56.19
And so I could never say that.
00:24:56.52\00:24:57.86
I was on my own
to defend myself.
00:24:57.89\00:24:59.86
And I never really
understood that until when I was
00:25:00.16\00:25:02.80
19 years old and my only
sibling, my baby brother,
00:25:02.83\00:25:07.60
was born into the world.
00:25:07.64\00:25:09.07
Same mom, same dad.
00:25:09.50\00:25:11.57
Notice, same ears.
00:25:11.91\00:25:13.27
It was an overwhelming surprise.
00:25:13.58\00:25:15.44
We're 19 years
apart. It's just he and I.
00:25:15.68\00:25:17.28
His name is Micah.
00:25:17.31\00:25:18.68
Now I'll never forget, I
now became the older brother.
00:25:18.88\00:25:21.35
Most of my life I was
the only child, but now I'm
00:25:21.38\00:25:23.49
an older brother and I
wanted to do all I could
00:25:23.52\00:25:25.62
to give my little
brother the best advantages,
00:25:25.65\00:25:28.46
to teach him all I know
and protect him from all the
00:25:28.49\00:25:31.13
things that I wasn't protected
from when I was younger.
00:25:31.16\00:25:34.63
And I'll never forget picking
my little brother, Micah, up
00:25:35.06\00:25:38.00
from kindergarten
after school one day.
00:25:38.03\00:25:40.57
And I asked him, he got
into the vehicle, I asked him,
00:25:40.90\00:25:43.20
"How was school today, man?"
00:25:43.24\00:25:44.57
You know what he told me?
00:25:44.77\00:25:46.11
He told me something
that stirred my heart.
00:25:46.34\00:25:48.98
He said, "Some of my classmates
are making trouble to me."
00:25:49.24\00:25:53.25
Let me tell you, friends,
when I heard those words,
00:25:53.78\00:25:56.69
feelings and emotions
began to stir in my heart
00:25:57.05\00:25:59.65
that I had never
experienced before.
00:25:59.69\00:26:01.89
I was so upset, I was ready
to go to that kindergarten class
00:26:02.42\00:26:06.59
and straighten up
those 5 and 6 year olds
00:26:06.63\00:26:08.56
and let them know that they
better not mess with this boy.
00:26:08.60\00:26:12.37
You see, friends,
there's a natural instinct
00:26:12.60\00:26:14.87
in an older brother to
protect the younger brother.
00:26:14.90\00:26:17.94
Isn't that right?
00:26:17.97\00:26:19.31
And in the same way, friends,
in the great controversy
00:26:19.37\00:26:22.04
between good and evil, as
Satan is bullying us around,
00:26:22.08\00:26:25.48
now our elder
brother, Jesus Christ, steps
00:26:25.81\00:26:29.18
into the ring in
round number two.
00:26:29.22\00:26:31.62
He came to deal
with that bully, Satan.
00:26:31.79\00:26:34.16
He leaves is home
town of New Jerusalem
00:26:34.22\00:26:37.13
and He enters into
the arena of planet earth.
00:26:37.16\00:26:39.53
Jesus would lay
aside His robe of divinity
00:26:39.56\00:26:42.36
and put on the boxing
gloves of our humanity.
00:26:42.40\00:26:45.80
He came to deal with the
accuser and the adversary.
00:26:45.83\00:26:48.80
You see, friends, we
are no match for Satan.
00:26:48.84\00:26:51.01
But thank God, Satan
is no match for Jesus.
00:26:51.04\00:26:54.18
The devil is
mighty, but God is Almighty.
00:26:54.78\00:26:57.65
And so if that bully,
Satan, comes bothering you,
00:26:57.95\00:27:00.55
you've just got to tell
him, "You better leave me alone
00:27:00.58\00:27:02.75
or else I'm going to call my
older Brother, Jesus Christ."
00:27:02.78\00:27:05.09
Amen?
00:27:05.12\00:27:06.45
And so Jesus steps into
the ring in round number two;
00:27:06.69\00:27:10.63
resuscitating the human
race by the gospel promise.
00:27:10.93\00:27:14.76
And then He Himself
would crush the serpent's head.
00:27:14.90\00:27:20.14
We read about this in
Revelation chapter 12.
00:27:20.17\00:27:23.91
Now notice the next verse.
00:27:23.94\00:27:25.47
Verse 9, Satan is
cast down from heaven.
00:27:25.51\00:27:28.48
Now verse 10, he's
cast down in the earth.
00:27:28.58\00:27:31.28
Notice what it says.
00:27:31.31\00:27:32.65
Jesus is our older Brother.
00:27:46.33\00:27:47.86
So here we find
something interesting.
00:27:57.71\00:27:59.37
Satan is cast down from
heaven in round number one;
00:27:59.94\00:28:03.24
verse 9.
00:28:03.55\00:28:04.88
But then it says he's cast down
the second time in verse 10.
00:28:04.91\00:28:08.35
Now what event is
verse 10 pointing us to?
00:28:08.38\00:28:11.99
In order to find the
answer to that, we just have to
00:28:12.45\00:28:15.32
ask the question, when
did strength, salvation,
00:28:15.36\00:28:19.06
and power actually come?
00:28:19.09\00:28:20.63
When the Bible says,
"Now is come strength,"
00:28:21.23\00:28:23.23
when was, "now"?
00:28:23.26\00:28:24.60
Well friends, we
don't have to guess,
00:28:24.63\00:28:25.97
because the Bible tells us.
00:28:26.00\00:28:27.34
Notice what is says in
the book of Romans 5:6.
00:28:27.37\00:28:31.07
So before that,
we had no strength.
00:28:39.98\00:28:42.58
Jesus dies, and
now is come strength.
00:28:42.95\00:28:45.29
This verse in Revelation
12:10 is pointing to the cross
00:28:45.32\00:28:48.59
when Jesus would die.
00:28:48.72\00:28:50.06
In fact, notice another one.
00:28:50.23\00:28:51.56
In John 12:31-33,
Jesus said, it says here...
00:28:51.59\00:28:57.93
And so, when was Satan
cast down the second time?
00:29:12.81\00:29:15.82
It's when Jesus was
lifted up on the cross.
00:29:16.22\00:29:19.62
As Christ goes
up, Satan goes down.
00:29:19.65\00:29:23.36
"Now is come strength,
and power, and salvation."
00:29:23.39\00:29:27.20
But friends, let's
pause here for a moment.
00:29:27.33\00:29:29.56
What exactly took
place at the cross?
00:29:29.86\00:29:33.03
There was a conflict.
00:29:33.47\00:29:34.80
There were the two most
powerful forces in the universe
00:29:35.54\00:29:39.77
clashing at the cross.
00:29:40.08\00:29:42.44
When you look at the cross,
friends, you see the power
00:29:42.68\00:29:45.48
of sin, which brings death,
fighting and going up against
00:29:45.51\00:29:50.25
the power of
love that brings life.
00:29:50.29\00:29:53.25
At the cross, you
see the ugliness of sin;
00:29:53.29\00:29:56.02
sacrificing others
for the sake of self.
00:29:56.69\00:29:59.96
But at the same time,
at the cross you also see
00:30:00.03\00:30:02.46
the beauty of love sacrificing
self for the sake of others.
00:30:02.50\00:30:06.87
At the cross you see
humanity at their worst,
00:30:06.97\00:30:10.57
crucifying their Creator.
00:30:10.67\00:30:13.14
But at the same time you
see divinity at its best,
00:30:13.58\00:30:17.11
the love of God
embracing a world that could
00:30:17.45\00:30:21.18
care less about them.
00:30:21.22\00:30:23.22
And so at the cross, as
we see these two forces,
00:30:23.42\00:30:25.95
the power of sin
and the power of love,
00:30:25.99\00:30:28.19
colliding against one another in
a cataclysmic climactic clash,
00:30:28.22\00:30:32.49
one will be eternally defeated.
00:30:32.53\00:30:34.76
The other will
remain as an eternal victor.
00:30:35.23\00:30:38.13
Who will win in round number two
as these forces clash together?
00:30:38.33\00:30:42.50
Is love stronger than death?
00:30:42.54\00:30:44.14
Is life stronger than death?
00:30:44.17\00:30:46.07
Is Christ stronger than Satan?
00:30:46.37\00:30:48.08
Who will be the last
one standing when the
00:30:48.11\00:30:49.84
round is over?
00:30:49.88\00:30:51.21
Who will remain when the dust
settles and the smoke clears?
00:30:51.25\00:30:53.98
Oh friends, the
gospel record makes it clear
00:30:54.02\00:30:56.25
that Jesus wins, love wins.
00:30:56.28\00:30:58.99
He is the victor
in round number two.
00:30:59.02\00:31:01.72
Just like the song says,
00:31:01.76\00:31:03.16
"Higher than the highest,
greater than the greatest.
00:31:03.19\00:31:05.83
His height exceeds the heavens,
His weight outweighs the world.
00:31:05.86\00:31:09.20
His reach reaches
everyone, His age is evermore.
00:31:09.23\00:31:12.63
He is the all-time, undisputed,
undefeated, unrelenting,
00:31:12.67\00:31:17.21
unfailing Champion of love."
00:31:17.24\00:31:19.94
And He won a mighty victory.
00:31:20.08\00:31:21.68
Love was stronger than death.
00:31:22.48\00:31:25.38
Love was stronger than sin.
00:31:25.75\00:31:28.35
And friends, in this
battle between good and evil,
00:31:28.95\00:31:31.42
love wins because Jesus wins.
00:31:31.85\00:31:35.42
He won the victory on
the cross for you and me.
00:31:35.76\00:31:39.29
But the question is, has Christ
won the victory over Satan
00:31:39.86\00:31:43.90
in your heart?
00:31:44.00\00:31:45.43
Has your heart,
friend, been conquered
00:31:45.63\00:31:49.37
by the Champion of love?
00:31:49.57\00:31:52.24
In round number two, the
serpent bruised the Seed's heel,
00:31:53.27\00:31:58.91
but at the same
time, the Seed was crushing
00:31:59.55\00:32:02.45
the head of the serpent.
00:32:02.75\00:32:04.49
And friends, something amazing
happened on Mount Calvary.
00:32:04.52\00:32:07.42
At the very moment that
Jesus died, there was an outward
00:32:07.59\00:32:10.86
natural sign pointing to this
inward supernatural victory.
00:32:10.89\00:32:15.20
The Bible tells us that
Jesus died on Mount Calvary.
00:32:15.23\00:32:19.13
And if you look up the
word, "calvary," in the Greek,
00:32:19.57\00:32:21.60
it literally means, cranium.
00:32:21.64\00:32:24.07
That has to do with your head.
00:32:24.11\00:32:25.54
Jesus died in the
garden of Golgotha.
00:32:26.81\00:32:30.61
Which interpreted simply
means, the place of the skull.
00:32:30.85\00:32:34.02
You see, my friends, Mount
Calvary was like the citadel
00:32:34.05\00:32:37.29
of Satan's kingdom.
00:32:37.32\00:32:38.65
This was the place that
Satan thought he would conquer
00:32:38.69\00:32:41.49
and destroy Love forever.
00:32:41.52\00:32:43.99
But on that skull-shaped
hill, Love laid down His life,
00:32:45.06\00:32:51.60
and then was
lifted up on the cross.
00:32:51.80\00:32:54.70
His body was crushed with
the load of guilt and shame.
00:32:54.74\00:32:58.77
But just like a rose
trampled upon the ground,
00:32:58.81\00:33:01.64
whose fragrance fills the
air, was the love of Jesus
00:33:01.68\00:33:05.18
permeating and penetrating
the filth of the atmosphere.
00:33:05.21\00:33:09.12
And then Jesus looked
into the faces of His murderers
00:33:09.75\00:33:14.16
and He prayed a prayer that
embraces you and me tonight.
00:33:14.69\00:33:18.36
He said, "Father, forgive them.
00:33:18.66\00:33:21.53
Forgive them.
00:33:22.26\00:33:23.60
They know not what they do."
00:33:23.90\00:33:25.67
Jesus did not stop
loving us even when we were
00:33:26.27\00:33:30.07
nailing Him to the cross.
00:33:30.11\00:33:32.11
Then He
declared, "It is finished."
00:33:32.27\00:33:34.74
He dropped His head in
the hollow of his shoulder,
00:33:35.28\00:33:37.41
He exhaled His breath
of life in an atmosphere of
00:33:37.45\00:33:40.18
pain and death.
00:33:40.22\00:33:41.55
And at that very
moment that Jesus died,
00:33:41.58\00:33:43.65
a great earthquake
rent the rocks of Golgotha.
00:33:43.69\00:33:47.26
The place of the skull
was broken by the cross.
00:33:47.29\00:33:50.09
Satan's cranium,
Satan's calvary, was crushed
00:33:50.13\00:33:53.90
by the power of the
infinite love of God.
00:33:53.93\00:33:56.43
Christ had come and
cracked the devil in his head.
00:33:56.46\00:34:00.34
Oh my friends, I'm
here to tell you tonight
00:34:00.37\00:34:02.10
that love wins,
because Jesus wins.
00:34:02.14\00:34:05.07
And because He wins, we win too.
00:34:05.94\00:34:09.14
Victory by association.
00:34:09.84\00:34:12.45
And so what does it mean?
00:34:13.18\00:34:14.52
In Revelation 12:10 when
the Bible says that Satan is
00:34:14.98\00:34:17.49
cast down, it's referring
to what happened at the cross.
00:34:17.52\00:34:20.76
But friends,
what does this mean?
00:34:21.76\00:34:23.12
You see, in round
number one, Satan was cast down
00:34:23.96\00:34:27.80
from heaven, the kingdom of
God, the place where God dwells.
00:34:27.83\00:34:32.27
But after that,
he still had access
00:34:32.43\00:34:34.74
to the heavens, in the plural.
00:34:34.77\00:34:36.64
That's the realms of illuminable
space, the unfallen worlds.
00:34:36.67\00:34:39.71
And that's why the
Bible calls Satan, the prince
00:34:39.74\00:34:41.74
of the power of the air.
00:34:41.78\00:34:44.45
So round number one,
he's cast out of heaven.
00:34:45.18\00:34:47.25
But round number two,
at the cross he is now
00:34:47.28\00:34:49.92
cast out of the heavens.
00:34:49.95\00:34:51.65
No longer could
he taunt the angels.
00:34:51.69\00:34:54.86
No longer could he
bother unfallen worlds.
00:34:55.19\00:34:57.66
Now his work is
restricted to planet earth.
00:34:57.86\00:35:00.33
I want you to notice the book,
Desire of Ages, describes it
00:35:00.66\00:35:03.70
in these words.
00:35:03.73\00:35:05.07
Desire of Ages,
page 761, says...
00:35:05.10\00:35:07.54
And so the Bible
says that he is cast down.
00:35:37.97\00:35:41.30
Confined to this world.
00:35:41.34\00:35:43.51
No longer able to
bother the unfallen worlds.
00:35:43.54\00:35:47.08
And that's why if you
notice the next verse,
00:35:47.11\00:35:49.71
jumping down to verse 12,
it says in Revelation 12:12,
00:35:49.74\00:35:53.01
"Therefore rejoice, ye..."
00:35:53.05\00:35:55.28
After the cross, the
devil knows that the war
00:36:09.86\00:36:12.77
has already been won.
00:36:12.80\00:36:14.14
He knows that his
days are numbered.
00:36:14.40\00:36:16.17
He knows that he has
but a very short time.
00:36:16.20\00:36:19.37
And so as he's cast
down the second time
00:36:19.54\00:36:22.38
in round number two at the
cross, notice what he does next.
00:36:22.41\00:36:27.58
Jumping down to verse 17.
00:36:27.78\00:36:30.09
Now Satan turns his
attention against the beloved
00:36:30.69\00:36:34.66
bride of Christ.
00:36:34.69\00:36:36.52
Revelation 12:17,
"And the dragon was wroth
00:36:36.56\00:36:39.39
with the woman..."
00:36:39.43\00:36:40.76
You see, the devil can
no longer touch Christ.
00:36:50.24\00:36:52.47
Jesus knocked
him down in heaven,
00:36:52.84\00:36:55.28
and he knocked him
down on earth at the cross.
00:36:55.31\00:36:57.81
Jesus goes back to heaven,
00:36:57.85\00:36:59.18
so Satan can't
touch Christ anymore.
00:36:59.21\00:37:01.38
So in order to hurt
Christ, he turns his attacks
00:37:01.42\00:37:04.55
against the
beloved bride of Christ.
00:37:04.99\00:37:07.89
Now why would he do this?
00:37:08.49\00:37:09.92
If the war has
already been won at the cross,
00:37:10.46\00:37:13.80
then why is Satan still defiant?
00:37:13.83\00:37:16.67
Why does he still want to fight?
00:37:16.87\00:37:19.40
Especially against the bride.
00:37:19.73\00:37:21.34
Here's the reason, friends.
00:37:21.87\00:37:23.30
If you are in a
twelve round boxing match,
00:37:24.07\00:37:27.31
and you lose eleven
of the first rounds,
00:37:27.71\00:37:31.71
you go to your corner, what is
your trainer going to tell you
00:37:32.05\00:37:36.69
in preparation
for the twelfth round?
00:37:36.92\00:37:39.12
The trainer is going to tell
you, "The only hope you have
00:37:40.02\00:37:43.26
is a knock-out.
00:37:43.49\00:37:44.96
It's not going to help
if you win the twelfth round
00:37:45.43\00:37:48.10
if you've already
lost eleven rounds.
00:37:48.30\00:37:50.33
The only chance
you've got to win this fight
00:37:50.43\00:37:54.84
is a TKO, total knock-out."
00:37:55.04\00:37:59.01
Well friends, we're not in
a twelve round boxing match.
00:37:59.47\00:38:03.14
We're in a three
round boxing match.
00:38:03.58\00:38:05.68
Satan lost the first two rounds.
00:38:05.91\00:38:08.82
We are in the
third and final round.
00:38:08.85\00:38:11.39
And the devil knows, he thinks
to himself that the only way
00:38:11.42\00:38:15.32
he can actually win
the great controversy
00:38:15.36\00:38:17.69
is to knock out
the people of God.
00:38:17.73\00:38:21.96
And that's why it says in
the book, Great Controversy,
00:38:22.53\00:38:24.90
page 618, notice what it says.
00:38:25.43\00:38:28.34
Talking about Satan.
00:38:29.07\00:38:30.41
See, the devil
thinks, he actually believes
00:38:51.39\00:38:54.20
that he can still win
the great controversy.
00:38:54.23\00:38:56.40
He lost the first two
rounds, but if he can knock out
00:38:57.00\00:38:59.37
the little
company, the people of God,
00:38:59.40\00:39:01.37
in round number three, he
thinks he can actually win.
00:39:01.40\00:39:04.51
And for this cause, my friends,
Satan is preparing a knock-out
00:39:04.54\00:39:08.38
punch for God's
people in these last says.
00:39:08.41\00:39:11.31
And what we want to find
out, what exactly is this final
00:39:11.35\00:39:14.78
and fatal blow?
00:39:14.82\00:39:16.32
Well, the context
answers that question.
00:39:16.85\00:39:20.16
For when you read
00:39:20.26\00:39:22.46
about how the dragon
is warring with the woman,
00:39:22.49\00:39:25.16
the war described in verse
17 is actually expounded upon
00:39:25.83\00:39:30.50
when you follow the
context in the next chapter,
00:39:30.53\00:39:34.14
chapter 13.
00:39:34.24\00:39:35.57
Because in the
13th of Revelation,
00:39:35.80\00:39:37.71
it describes what Satan is
going to do in the last days,
00:39:38.04\00:39:41.04
as it discusses the union
of two beasts coming together
00:39:41.21\00:39:45.01
and how this unholy union
will result in the enforcing
00:39:45.71\00:39:49.72
of the mark of the beast in the
form of a national Sunday law.
00:39:49.75\00:39:55.29
And that those who
refuse to go along with
00:39:55.76\00:39:57.73
the mark of the beast,
this national Sunday law,
00:39:57.76\00:40:00.03
they're going to be stripped
from every earthly comfort.
00:40:00.40\00:40:04.20
The Bible says that they
will not be able to buy or sell.
00:40:04.47\00:40:07.37
Religious intolerance
will spring up, flowing into a
00:40:07.64\00:40:11.34
rushing river of persecution.
00:40:11.37\00:40:13.38
Eventually a death
decree will be passed,
00:40:13.41\00:40:15.94
threatening the lives
of God's faithful people.
00:40:15.98\00:40:19.58
We don't have time
to study Revelation 13,
00:40:20.12\00:40:22.28
but I want to challenge you,
friends, take a look into that.
00:40:22.32\00:40:24.72
If you don't understand
it, read it and study it,
00:40:24.75\00:40:27.42
and you will see
that this prophecy
00:40:27.46\00:40:29.39
is being fulfilled
right before our very eyes.
00:40:29.42\00:40:32.63
This is Satan's final
blow to the remnant church,
00:40:32.66\00:40:35.86
to God's bride, in
round number three.
00:40:35.90\00:40:38.80
And in response to
this union, in chapter 14,
00:40:39.70\00:40:45.87
following the context,
we see a loud cry message
00:40:45.91\00:40:49.84
heard in the next
chapter in response, crying out
00:40:49.88\00:40:52.98
against this unholy union.
00:40:53.01\00:40:54.65
It's the three angels' messages,
of which the third angel
00:40:54.68\00:40:58.45
warns against the
worshiping of the beast
00:40:58.49\00:41:01.26
and receiving the
mark of the beast.
00:41:01.29\00:41:02.76
That's Revelation 14:9-11,
00:41:02.79\00:41:06.76
which shows us very simply
that this is the final test;
00:41:07.40\00:41:11.40
the final knock-out punch.
00:41:11.77\00:41:13.74
Time will not permit us
to explain the intricacies
00:41:14.07\00:41:16.54
of this issue in detail.
00:41:16.57\00:41:18.01
And so allow me, friends,
to read you just a brief
00:41:18.57\00:41:20.94
summary of it.
00:41:20.98\00:41:22.31
In the book, Great Controversy,
and on page 605, it says this...
00:41:22.34\00:41:27.35
Friends, we've been
told very clearly that a
00:41:58.81\00:42:01.58
national Sunday
law will be passed.
00:42:01.62\00:42:03.59
The religious right will propose
that this is the solution
00:42:04.25\00:42:07.29
to the many
problems of our world.
00:42:07.32\00:42:09.19
That the reason why we are
suffering all these calamities,
00:42:10.06\00:42:13.19
natural
disasters, and terrorism,
00:42:13.40\00:42:15.36
and economic instability,
and international unrest,
00:42:15.40\00:42:18.50
the world needs to be healed,
00:42:18.53\00:42:21.04
global warming,
and all these things,
00:42:21.34\00:42:23.17
all the problems, and people
are going to be saying that
00:42:23.20\00:42:26.24
the solution to
these problems is that
00:42:26.27\00:42:28.74
we need to get back to God.
00:42:28.78\00:42:30.11
And so let us pass
a national Sunday law
00:42:30.15\00:42:32.85
to heal the world.
00:42:33.35\00:42:34.78
But a national Sunday law
is not going to heal the world
00:42:35.28\00:42:37.39
and make it a better place.
00:42:37.42\00:42:38.79
A national Sunday law
will heal the deadly wound.
00:42:38.89\00:42:42.16
And friends, things are just
going to get worse and worse.
00:42:42.19\00:42:44.89
Natural disasters
will continue to increase
00:42:44.93\00:42:47.43
in intensity and frequency.
00:42:47.46\00:42:48.96
Terrorism, economic instability;
it's just going to get
00:42:49.00\00:42:51.77
worse and worse and worse.
00:42:51.80\00:42:53.13
And so the people
are going to look around
00:42:53.17\00:42:54.60
and they're going to
realize, "Our plan did not work.
00:42:54.64\00:42:57.87
I wonder why?
00:42:57.91\00:42:59.24
We passed this
national Sunday law, and yet
00:42:59.87\00:43:01.91
the world is still terrible.
00:43:01.94\00:43:03.65
What's the problem?"
00:43:04.25\00:43:05.58
And they're going to look
around and they're going to see
00:43:05.61\00:43:07.28
that there's a small
minority, a little flock,
00:43:07.32\00:43:11.72
that have not
chosen to go along with it.
00:43:12.22\00:43:15.06
A small minority who
wants to remain faithful
00:43:15.56\00:43:18.69
to Jesus Christ
and the Word of God,
00:43:18.73\00:43:21.26
that will not violate their
conscience in going against
00:43:21.30\00:43:25.00
the national Sunday law.
00:43:25.03\00:43:26.47
And the people will say, "That's
the reason it's not working."
00:43:27.50\00:43:31.77
And God's people will be
looked upon as terrorists,
00:43:32.17\00:43:35.94
as extremists.
00:43:36.34\00:43:37.71
Like Elijah was
looked upon by Jezebel;
00:43:38.28\00:43:40.72
troublers of the people.
00:43:40.75\00:43:42.38
And that's why is says in
the book, Great Controversy,
00:43:42.62\00:43:44.59
page 615, notice what it says...
00:43:44.62\00:43:48.06
And friends, that sounds scary.
00:44:27.06\00:44:29.16
But Jesus said,
"Fear not, little flock.
00:44:29.80\00:44:33.00
It is your
Father's good pleasure
00:44:33.20\00:44:34.87
to give you the kingdom."
00:44:35.17\00:44:36.50
God's people will be
looked upon as troublers.
00:44:36.77\00:44:39.17
Just as the religious leaders
united with political powers
00:44:39.61\00:44:43.31
to crucify Jesus, the same
will happen to God's people.
00:44:43.35\00:44:47.18
You see, back in Christ's
day the religious right said,
00:44:47.38\00:44:50.29
"It's better that one die
than the whole nation perish."
00:44:50.32\00:44:54.22
And so what they did to
Jesus in round number two
00:44:54.52\00:44:57.13
is going to be
repeated in round number three.
00:44:57.16\00:44:59.69
History is going to
be repeated, friends.
00:44:59.73\00:45:01.60
The stage is set
for this final crisis.
00:45:01.63\00:45:04.10
Yes, it sounds scary.
00:45:04.13\00:45:06.07
But thank the Lord we
have nothing to be afraid of.
00:45:06.10\00:45:09.07
Because the Bible says,
"Perfect love casts out fear."
00:45:09.10\00:45:14.28
This is not a message
of fear and doom and gloom.
00:45:14.81\00:45:17.81
It's a message of love, friends.
00:45:17.98\00:45:19.61
All we need to do is learn
to love the blessed Christ.
00:45:19.78\00:45:22.85
And we love Him
because He first loved us.
00:45:23.15\00:45:26.52
And as His love is
poured into us, fear dispels.
00:45:26.62\00:45:31.26
We don't have to worry about
the mark of the beast issue
00:45:33.73\00:45:36.16
as long as we
have the seal of God.
00:45:36.87\00:45:39.67
You see, my friends,
it is the seal of God
00:45:39.83\00:45:42.30
that is placed in the
forehead, that's the head gear,
00:45:42.34\00:45:45.74
that enables us to
endure and stand the final
00:45:46.04\00:45:49.88
mark of the beast blow.
00:45:49.91\00:45:51.51
So don't so much worry
about the mark of the beast,
00:45:52.05\00:45:55.02
just pray and seek for
the seal of the living God.
00:45:55.82\00:45:59.69
Amen?
00:45:59.72\00:46:01.06
As long as we have that
head gear, we've been told that
00:46:01.09\00:46:04.29
none but those who
have fortified their minds
00:46:04.63\00:46:07.30
with the truths of the
Bible will stand through the
00:46:07.33\00:46:09.86
last great conflict.
00:46:09.90\00:46:11.37
And tomorrow night we're going
to talk about the seal of God.
00:46:11.73\00:46:14.17
But I want us to
notice, what does it take
00:46:14.60\00:46:18.07
to receive the seal of God?
00:46:18.71\00:46:20.28
What do we need in order
to stand during the final blow
00:46:20.91\00:46:25.35
in the last round?
00:46:25.61\00:46:26.95
The book, Great Controversy,
page 621, says this...
00:46:27.15\00:46:30.89
"The period of
probation is granted to all
00:46:47.47\00:46:50.27
to prepare for that time."
00:46:50.31\00:46:51.87
But God will have a
few, He will have a people
00:47:24.14\00:47:29.34
that prize salvation
more than anything else,
00:47:30.55\00:47:33.18
that love Jesus more than
they love their own lives.
00:47:33.92\00:47:38.62
We need that faith, friends.
00:47:39.22\00:47:40.76
What we need is a
faith that can endure
00:47:41.32\00:47:42.92
weariness, hunger, and delay.
00:47:42.96\00:47:44.39
And friends, there's
only one faith that can
00:47:44.43\00:47:45.79
endure those things.
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.16
It is the faith of Jesus.
00:47:47.20\00:47:49.83
You see, friends, in order
to wrestle with Satan and win,
00:47:50.73\00:47:55.14
we first have to
wrestle with God and lose.
00:47:55.67\00:48:00.14
Just like Jacob.
00:48:00.44\00:48:01.91
In order to face his time of
trouble, in order to face Esau
00:48:02.21\00:48:06.51
and win, he first had to face
himself with the Lord and lose.
00:48:06.55\00:48:12.22
You see, friends,
victory over the antichrist
00:48:12.92\00:48:16.52
is found in
surrender to Jesus Christ.
00:48:16.93\00:48:21.30
Victory is found in surrender.
00:48:21.60\00:48:25.13
Will God have a people
that will surrender all?
00:48:27.24\00:48:30.54
Will God have a people
that will remain standing
00:48:31.21\00:48:33.51
at the end of the final round?
00:48:33.54\00:48:35.08
It's interesting,
friends, that immediately after
00:48:35.11\00:48:37.28
the mark of the beast
issue is brought before the
00:48:37.31\00:48:39.88
attention of the
world, in Revelation 14:9-11,
00:48:39.91\00:48:42.95
the very next verse
describes a group of people
00:48:42.98\00:48:46.86
who have a faith that
has endured the final blow
00:48:46.89\00:48:50.79
in round number three.
00:48:51.19\00:48:52.73
And notice how
they're described.
00:48:52.93\00:48:54.33
Revelation 14:12.
00:48:54.53\00:48:57.53
They have not gone along
with the mark of the beast.
00:49:05.47\00:49:07.48
They keep the
commandments of God, why?
00:49:07.51\00:49:09.24
Because they have, what else?
00:49:09.28\00:49:11.05
The faith, not only in
Jesus, but the faith of Jesus.
00:49:11.08\00:49:16.65
Here is a group of
people, they not only have faith
00:49:16.99\00:49:19.55
and they not only have
works, but they have a faith
00:49:19.59\00:49:22.09
that works
because they love Jesus.
00:49:22.12\00:49:24.39
It's an enduring durable faith.
00:49:24.43\00:49:26.83
Of course they
have faith in Jesus.
00:49:27.96\00:49:29.93
But more than that,
they have the faith of Jesus.
00:49:30.47\00:49:32.87
The same faith Jesus
had is theirs as well.
00:49:32.90\00:49:37.07
Here is the remnant
that remains standing
00:49:37.61\00:49:40.51
until the bell rings.
00:49:40.54\00:49:42.08
They refuse the
mark of the beast.
00:49:42.11\00:49:43.75
They love God enough to
keep all of His commandments.
00:49:43.78\00:49:46.48
And what makes them
strong to stand is their faith
00:49:46.51\00:49:49.52
in Jesus, and the fact that
they have the faith of Jesus.
00:49:49.55\00:49:52.45
And let me tell you, friends,
the Bible is clear that faith
00:49:52.49\00:49:55.96
is the victory that
overcomes the world.
00:49:56.16\00:49:59.76
Faith is the
victory, 1 John 5:4.
00:50:00.56\00:50:05.00
And so if they
have faith in Jesus,
00:50:05.43\00:50:08.50
then they will also
have victory in Jesus.
00:50:09.00\00:50:12.34
Victory by association.
00:50:12.44\00:50:15.04
But if they have the
faith of Jesus, then that means
00:50:15.48\00:50:19.41
they will also have
the victory of Jesus.
00:50:19.45\00:50:23.18
Victory by
individual assimilation.
00:50:23.45\00:50:27.29
And friends, what was the
faith and the victory of Jesus
00:50:28.39\00:50:33.33
in round number two?
00:50:33.86\00:50:35.40
Let's go back there for a
moment as we get ready to close.
00:50:35.50\00:50:38.50
The victory that Jesus
won was a victory of love.
00:50:39.50\00:50:43.30
A love that never failed.
00:50:43.87\00:50:45.84
In the garden of Gethsemane,
00:50:46.11\00:50:47.94
Jesus was taking
a beating for us.
00:50:48.44\00:50:51.81
He was getting
hit from all sides.
00:50:51.91\00:50:54.02
And in that garden, He
clung to the cold ground.
00:50:54.18\00:50:57.05
Great drops of blood
began to flow from His brow.
00:50:57.09\00:50:59.82
And in that very moment,
Jesus did not feel like dying.
00:50:59.85\00:51:04.56
He did not feel like
fulfilling His mission.
00:51:04.89\00:51:07.96
He felt like giving up.
00:51:08.00\00:51:09.76
The devil was
there tempting Christ,
00:51:09.80\00:51:12.83
"Don't waste Your
love on the human race.
00:51:12.87\00:51:15.60
Stop loving them.
00:51:16.57\00:51:18.11
They don't want You.
00:51:18.14\00:51:19.47
Go back to heaven."
00:51:19.51\00:51:20.84
And Jesus, His humanity,
00:51:20.88\00:51:22.21
felt like He
could not drink the cup.
00:51:22.24\00:51:23.75
He prayed,
"Father, if it's possible,
00:51:23.78\00:51:25.78
let this cup pass from Me."
00:51:25.81\00:51:27.88
He felt like tapping out.
00:51:28.25\00:51:29.58
He felt like
throwing in the towel.
00:51:29.62\00:51:31.35
He was down for the count.
00:51:31.39\00:51:33.02
And as He looked in His
corner, He looked for someone
00:51:33.05\00:51:35.76
that would be
willing to pray for Him.
00:51:35.79\00:51:37.99
But when Jesus
needed us the most,
00:51:38.46\00:51:41.36
the corner was sleeping on Him.
00:51:43.06\00:51:44.67
Jesus longed to know
that there was someone
00:51:45.57\00:51:47.37
that cared about His sacrifice.
00:51:47.40\00:51:49.50
He longed to hear a
word of encouragement.
00:51:49.54\00:51:51.54
Longed for someone to
wipe the blood off His brow.
00:51:51.57\00:51:54.51
But we were not there for Him.
00:51:54.54\00:51:56.48
He was in the ring by Himself.
00:51:56.51\00:51:59.45
Knocked down, but
surely not knocked out.
00:51:59.48\00:52:02.88
For He got back up, friends.
00:52:03.28\00:52:04.92
He got back up and took
our beating to the very end.
00:52:05.25\00:52:10.06
He kept fighting
the fight of faith.
00:52:10.09\00:52:12.29
He said,
"Nevertheless, not as I will.
00:52:12.33\00:52:14.96
Thy will be done."
00:52:15.00\00:52:16.33
And despite His feelings,
He moved forward by faith.
00:52:16.36\00:52:20.00
This is the faith of Jesus that
won a mighty victory of love.
00:52:20.04\00:52:23.87
He got back up only to
face the false accusations and
00:52:24.57\00:52:28.34
beatings of the Sanhedrin.
00:52:28.38\00:52:29.71
He got back up to be
crowned, not as King of glory,
00:52:29.81\00:52:33.11
but criminal of death.
00:52:33.15\00:52:34.48
He got back up, and
instead of hearing the cheers,
00:52:34.52\00:52:37.59
He heard the taunts
of the frenzied crowd
00:52:37.62\00:52:39.92
who said,
"Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
00:52:39.95\00:52:42.16
We don't want this Man."
00:52:42.19\00:52:43.53
He got back up to carry the
heavy cross up on Mount Calvary.
00:52:43.56\00:52:47.53
He got back up to raise
His hands, not in triumph,
00:52:47.56\00:52:50.63
but to receive the nails.
00:52:50.67\00:52:53.27
He got back up to be raise,
not on the shoulders of people,
00:52:53.74\00:52:57.11
but to be raised on a
cruel torturous Roman cross.
00:52:57.14\00:52:59.87
And despite the tauntings
from the spectating crowd,
00:52:59.97\00:53:02.64
He looked into the
face of His murderers
00:53:02.68\00:53:04.81
and He prayed,
"Father, forgive them.
00:53:04.85\00:53:07.22
They don't know
what they're doing, Lord.
00:53:07.78\00:53:09.48
Forgive them."
00:53:09.52\00:53:10.85
You see, Jesus
would not stop loving us.
00:53:10.89\00:53:13.12
He loved us to the very end.
00:53:13.15\00:53:15.12
And as Satan was
bruising Christ's heel,
00:53:15.59\00:53:17.83
Christ was crushing
Satan's head by His sacrifice.
00:53:17.86\00:53:21.23
Jesus was proving
that love is possible
00:53:21.26\00:53:24.13
despite the circumstances.
00:53:24.17\00:53:25.70
That love bears all
things, believes all things,
00:53:25.73\00:53:28.40
hopes all things,
endures all things.
00:53:28.60\00:53:31.54
For love never fails.
00:53:31.57\00:53:34.91
He is the Champion of love.
00:53:35.78\00:53:37.75
And though the cross
was like a physical defeat,
00:53:38.91\00:53:42.02
it was a spiritual victory.
00:53:42.55\00:53:43.99
And because He won, we won.
00:53:44.65\00:53:47.76
Victory by corporate association
00:53:48.42\00:53:50.83
will then turn to victory
by individual assimilation.
00:53:51.46\00:53:55.76
For notice what the
Bible says in Romans 16:20.
00:53:55.96\00:53:59.23
It says, "And the God of
peace shall bruise Satan..."
00:53:59.27\00:54:02.27
Under who's feet?
00:54:02.30\00:54:03.84
That verse is an echo of
the victory that Christ won
00:54:11.95\00:54:15.55
over Satan in round number
two as Christ was crushing
00:54:15.58\00:54:19.65
the head of the serpent.
00:54:19.69\00:54:21.02
But here, this passage says that
Jesus would do that same thing
00:54:21.06\00:54:25.33
under the feet of His people.
00:54:25.43\00:54:27.16
The victory that
is won by association
00:54:28.16\00:54:32.57
will also be
won by assimilation.
00:54:32.93\00:54:34.94
As persecution
arises in the last days,
00:54:36.30\00:54:39.14
and as every earthly thing
is stripped from God's people,
00:54:39.47\00:54:42.81
they will have a love
that's stronger than death.
00:54:43.85\00:54:47.22
A love that remains
faithful unto death,
00:54:47.65\00:54:49.85
and a love for people.
00:54:49.88\00:54:51.22
God's people will be
able to look into the face of
00:54:51.25\00:54:53.25
their persecutors and
look at them just like
00:54:53.29\00:54:55.92
Jesus looks at them.
00:54:55.96\00:54:57.29
"Lord, forgive them.
00:54:57.93\00:54:59.26
They don't know
what they're doing."
00:54:59.56\00:55:00.90
Christ in us, who won the
victory at the cross for us,
00:55:01.50\00:55:07.80
will deliver the final knock-out
blow to Satan through us
00:55:08.00\00:55:13.21
in round number three.
00:55:14.24\00:55:15.68
As the character of Christ
is reproduced in His end time
00:55:16.61\00:55:20.82
saints, Satan's accusations
will be proven false.
00:55:20.85\00:55:25.49
The universe will see
that love is possible.
00:55:25.69\00:55:27.89
And now Satan can
be forever destroyed.
00:55:27.92\00:55:31.29
TKO, total
knock-out, for eternity.
00:55:31.33\00:55:35.80
And after that
final knock-out punch,
00:55:37.03\00:55:39.77
because we have
received the seal of love
00:55:40.90\00:55:44.27
in our foreheads, now we
can wear the crown of life.
00:55:44.61\00:55:49.54
And then we will
reign forever with Jesus,
00:55:50.68\00:55:53.52
our undisputed, undefeated,
unrelenting, unfailing,
00:55:53.82\00:55:58.59
Champion of love.
00:55:58.69\00:56:00.92
And they that are with Him are
called, chosen, and faithful.
00:56:01.82\00:56:09.03
How many of you
want to be with Him?
00:56:10.30\00:56:11.80
How many of you
want Jesus to be in you?
00:56:13.23\00:56:16.94
You want to be
called, chosen, and faithful.
00:56:17.81\00:56:21.84
My friends, in this
great controversy between
00:56:21.88\00:56:23.61
good and evil, if the
devil knocks you down,
00:56:23.65\00:56:26.75
just make sure he
doesn't knock you out.
00:56:27.58\00:56:29.45
Get back up, my friends.
00:56:29.98\00:56:31.52
You may have fallen
today into drugs or alcohol,
00:56:31.62\00:56:34.62
or sexual perversity,
or lying, or cursing.
00:56:34.96\00:56:37.29
You may have failed God today.
00:56:37.33\00:56:39.59
But it does not matter
how many times you fall,
00:56:39.89\00:56:42.33
but how many
times you get back up.
00:56:42.36\00:56:45.20
And friends, victory is
assured as long as we continue
00:56:45.90\00:56:49.20
to get back up.
00:56:49.30\00:56:50.64
The Bible says, "Rejoice
not against me, O mine enemy.
00:56:50.67\00:56:53.34
When I fall, I shall arise.
00:56:53.38\00:56:55.84
And when I sit in darkness, the
Lord shall be a light unto me."
00:56:56.24\00:57:02.35
That's grace. Amazing grace.
00:57:02.85\00:57:06.55
As our heads are
bowed and eyes are closed,
00:57:06.92\00:57:09.12
would you listen to
the words of this song
00:57:09.42\00:57:11.36
and commit your life
to the Champion of love
00:57:12.36\00:57:15.86
and His amazing grace?
00:57:16.20\00:57:17.83
Listen carefully.
00:57:17.93\00:57:19.27
My faithful Father,
00:57:20.40\00:57:26.37
enduring Friend;
00:57:27.38\00:57:31.81
Your tender mercy is
like a river with no end.
00:57:31.85\00:57:41.42
It overwhelms me,
00:57:41.46\00:57:46.26
covers my sin;
00:57:48.56\00:57:52.37
each time I come
into Your presence...
00:57:52.47\00:57:59.04
Your grace still amazes me,
00:58:07.15\00:58:14.09
Your love is still a mystery.
00:58:14.12\00:58:20.73
And each day I fall on my knees,
00:58:20.76\00:58:29.50
'cause Your
grace still amazes me.
00:58:29.54\00:58:36.24
Your grace still amazes me.
00:58:36.34\00:58:46.32
Allow me to
share this last story,
00:58:55.40\00:58:57.57
as we get ready
to close in prayer.
00:58:58.53\00:59:00.37
A story about a young
lady by the name of Denise.
00:59:01.30\00:59:04.04
She's 27 years
old, newly married.
00:59:05.24\00:59:09.08
Her whole life was ahead of her.
00:59:09.64\00:59:11.35
Just a few weeks ago
from today, she went to work
00:59:11.95\00:59:16.02
like she had always done before.
00:59:16.79\00:59:18.32
She worked at the
Inland Regional Center there in
00:59:18.99\00:59:21.36
San Bernardino, California.
00:59:21.39\00:59:24.09
And as she went to work
that day, it was a day that
00:59:24.79\00:59:27.86
seemed to be like any other day.
00:59:27.90\00:59:29.66
And at first, the
day was very uneventful.
00:59:30.37\00:59:33.03
She had a co-worker by
the name of Shannon Johnson.
00:59:33.74\00:59:36.34
Her friend and co-worker.
00:59:36.67\00:59:38.01
They were sitting
together in the conference room
00:59:38.47\00:59:40.14
and they were joking
with each other about how the
00:59:40.18\00:59:42.48
clock on the wall
must have been broken,
00:59:42.51\00:59:44.71
because time was
moving so slowly.
00:59:44.75\00:59:46.61
It seemed like the
clock was barely moving,
00:59:47.12\00:59:49.22
and it seemed like
it went on for eternity.
00:59:49.25\00:59:51.29
But a few minutes later,
all of that would change.
00:59:51.32\00:59:54.59
Chaos broke loose as two
terrorists walked into that room
00:59:55.02\00:59:59.93
and unloaded over 60
rounds of bullets toward
01:00:00.03\01:00:03.33
everyone in that room.
01:00:03.37\01:00:04.97
And as the bullets
whizzed through the air like
01:00:05.43\01:00:07.40
messengers of death,
both Shannon and Denise
01:00:07.44\01:00:11.61
hit the floor and
took refuge under a table.
01:00:11.64\01:00:14.74
And as the rounds were unloaded,
Denise thought that for sure
01:00:14.94\01:00:18.25
she was going to die.
01:00:18.28\01:00:19.61
But then, all of a
sudden, her co-worker, Shannon,
01:00:19.65\01:00:21.65
grabbed her and held
her close using his own body
01:00:21.75\01:00:25.49
as a shield to
protect her from the bullets.
01:00:25.52\01:00:29.09
And as Denise was screaming
and shouting and fearful,
01:00:29.12\01:00:32.53
Shannon just said the
words, "I got you. I got you.
01:00:32.56\01:00:36.50
I got you."
01:00:37.50\01:00:38.83
Those were Shannon's last words.
01:00:39.90\01:00:42.64
He laid down his life
so that Denise could live.
01:00:43.84\01:00:48.21
That happened just a few
weeks ago in San Bernardino.
01:00:49.18\01:00:51.88
But friends, I'm here to
tell you, that is exactly
01:00:52.85\01:00:54.68
what God is like.
01:00:54.72\01:00:56.12
Satan is a demonic
terrorist seeking to
01:00:56.79\01:00:58.89
steal, and kill, and destroy.
01:00:58.92\01:01:00.39
But Jesus came to give us life.
01:01:00.42\01:01:02.32
And the way in which He
gave life was laying down
01:01:02.36\01:01:05.03
His life for us.
01:01:05.06\01:01:07.73
He took all our blows
just like a rock wall,
01:01:08.16\01:01:12.47
taking the beatings of the
waves so that the ships in the
01:01:12.50\01:01:15.54
harbor are safe.
01:01:15.57\01:01:17.31
It was Christ.
01:01:17.97\01:01:19.31
And when He was on the cross,
it was if Jesus was saying
01:01:19.64\01:01:23.95
to the human race, "I got you.
01:01:23.98\01:01:26.51
I got you.
01:01:27.42\01:01:28.75
Yes, you face a
brutal enemy, but I got you.
01:01:28.98\01:01:32.05
Yes, you live in a
scary world, but don't worry.
01:01:32.22\01:01:34.62
I got you.
01:01:34.66\01:01:35.99
Yes, the future
seems dark and uncertain,
01:01:36.02\01:01:37.86
but I got you."
01:01:37.89\01:01:39.23
Love laid down His
life so we could live.
01:01:39.26\01:01:42.16
So you could live.
01:01:42.70\01:01:44.03
Jesus died for you.
01:01:44.77\01:01:46.17
Will you live for Him?
01:01:47.94\01:01:49.27
If so, why don't we
surrender our hearts tonight
01:01:50.37\01:01:53.61
to the Champion of love.
01:01:53.64\01:01:55.18
Let us pray.
01:01:55.28\01:01:56.61
Oh Lord, You're so good.
01:01:57.31\01:02:00.98
Our hearts are
overwhelmed with gratitude.
01:02:02.18\01:02:05.69
Thank You, God, for
not giving up on us.
01:02:06.32\01:02:10.16
Thank You, God, for not
leaving us down for the count.
01:02:10.46\01:02:14.93
Thank You, Lord,
that You stepped in
01:02:15.33\01:02:17.57
and You took our beating for us.
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You took our beating so that
we might have Your blessing.
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You took our curse so
that we could be blessed.
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You were smitten
that we might be saved.
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You were cut off so
that we might be reconciled.
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Lord, tonight we
pray that You will please
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just take our hearts.
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We pray that You'll sit
upon the throne of our lives
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as the Champion of love.
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That the victory You've
won at the cross for us,
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that You'll also win
that same victory in us
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and through us
in these last days.
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This is our prayer.
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We thank You for Your love.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
01:03:05.01\01:03:08.05
Amen. Amen.
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