Welcome to "Battles of Faith." 00:00:15.14\00:00:16.81 We're your host, Ivor and Atonte Myers, 00:00:16.82\00:00:19.90 and we're with Power of the Lamb Ministries. 00:00:19.91\00:00:23.26 You know when you are lost, you need a map. 00:00:23.27\00:00:26.05 I know that, we've been lost many times 00:00:26.06\00:00:29.80 driving and praise God, we didn't have a map, 00:00:29.81\00:00:32.91 but we had a GPS. 00:00:32.92\00:00:34.41 And that helped us to find, where we needed to go. 00:00:34.42\00:00:37.88 And, God, has been so good, 00:00:37.89\00:00:40.00 that He has given us a map, 00:00:40.01\00:00:41.99 a blueprint to lead us home, to show us how we can 00:00:42.00\00:00:47.39 have salvation and live in heaven eternally with Him. 00:00:47.40\00:00:50.68 That's right, Atonte, this program 00:00:50.69\00:00:52.16 that we're gonna be doing this, 00:00:52.17\00:00:54.74 this 13 part series is actually showing, 00:00:54.75\00:00:57.59 God's Plan of Salvation, in such a clear way 00:00:57.60\00:01:01.59 that none need be confused as to how to be saved. 00:01:01.60\00:01:05.63 We're gonna be covering the entire Plan of Salvation, 00:01:05.64\00:01:11.29 from the Fall of Lucifer, 00:01:11.30\00:01:12.74 all the way down to the end of time. 00:01:12.75\00:01:14.38 And so if you've ever wondered 00:01:14.39\00:01:17.55 how you could get a clear picture of the, word of God, 00:01:17.56\00:01:21.21 this is the right series you've tuned into. 00:01:21.22\00:01:24.00 And we're excited about what, God, is gonna be teaching us 00:01:24.01\00:01:29.41 through His word. 00:01:29.42\00:01:30.58 And so we invite you to get your Bibles 00:01:30.59\00:01:33.00 and we want to start of 00:01:33.01\00:01:34.52 with the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 4. 00:01:34.53\00:01:36.42 We're gonna be discussing in this particular program, 00:01:36.43\00:01:40.04 the Fall of Lucifer from Heaven. 00:01:40.05\00:01:42.79 How the controversy began 00:01:42.80\00:01:46.58 and what that first war was all over? 00:01:46.59\00:01:50.38 And you know, I'm so excited that we're starting 00:01:50.39\00:01:52.94 there at the beginning of the rebellion, 00:01:52.95\00:01:56.35 or where, Lucifer, first fell, 00:01:56.36\00:01:57.96 because so many people have questions about that. 00:01:57.97\00:01:59.84 They don't understand 00:01:59.85\00:02:01.23 how this could happen, I mean in such a-- 00:02:01.24\00:02:03.42 In a perfect place, that's right. 00:02:03.43\00:02:04.77 And so there is always many questions about that. 00:02:04.78\00:02:07.85 People who aren't sure about the Bible or don't know 00:02:07.86\00:02:10.86 if they believe their God, in God, or not, 00:02:10.87\00:02:13.08 they're always asking that question. 00:02:13.09\00:02:15.14 How could this happen, in such a perfect place? 00:02:15.15\00:02:17.67 I think it's also important, you know Atonte that, 00:02:17.68\00:02:21.41 if we're not certain about how the war began? 00:02:21.42\00:02:24.68 What it was over? 00:02:24.69\00:02:26.09 As Christians, we run the risk of not knowing 00:02:26.10\00:02:32.96 what we're fighting for in this day and age. 00:02:32.97\00:02:36.03 So I think it's critical that we-- 00:02:36.04\00:02:38.98 that we understand the issues that were involved 00:02:38.99\00:02:41.97 in that first conflict, so that we can better 00:02:41.98\00:02:44.04 understand the conflict that we face on earth in our time. 00:02:44.05\00:02:49.31 That's right, because if we don't understand, 00:02:49.32\00:02:51.06 then we can become very complacent. 00:02:51.07\00:02:52.84 That's right, but, when you understand and you have, 00:02:52.85\00:02:56.31 just you understand your purpose, 00:02:56.32\00:02:58.04 then you can be really engaged and it's exciting. 00:02:58.05\00:03:01.59 Yeah, and we're excited just reading this Bible study. 00:03:01.60\00:03:03.89 Alright so, let's go 00:03:03.90\00:03:05.92 to the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 4. 00:03:05.93\00:03:08.51 And Atonte, would you read for me verse 1 and verse 9? 00:03:08.52\00:03:13.96 Okay, Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 1 reads, 00:03:13.97\00:03:17.38 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left 00:03:17.39\00:03:22.28 us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem 00:03:22.29\00:03:25.63 to come short of it." 00:03:25.64\00:03:26.76 Okay, and I'm going to stop right there, 00:03:26.77\00:03:29.22 a little bit of background, what's going on here is, 00:03:29.23\00:03:31.87 Paul, is writing and he is, 00:03:31.88\00:03:34.32 he is admonishing the Christians 00:03:34.33\00:03:36.12 of his day to fear, to-- 00:03:36.13\00:03:41.11 Seem strange, yeah, yeah! 00:03:41.12\00:03:42.71 Fear, he wants-- he wants you to fear. 00:03:42.72\00:03:44.46 Right, what does he wants them to fear. 00:03:44.47\00:03:45.77 Well, well the story of-- the story that comes to mind, 00:03:45.78\00:03:50.05 the story that, Paul, is actually relating back to. 00:03:50.06\00:03:52.66 He is making a comparison 00:03:52.67\00:03:53.80 between the children of Israel and their journey 00:03:53.81\00:03:56.54 into the Promised Land and our journey 00:03:56.55\00:03:59.50 into the Kingdom of Heaven. 00:03:59.51\00:04:01.40 He says, "Let us fear, lest a promise being left 00:04:01.41\00:04:03.84 to us of entering into his rest 00:04:03.85\00:04:06.12 any of us should seem to come short of it." 00:04:06.13\00:04:10.85 The children of Israel had been led out 00:04:10.86\00:04:12.68 of Egyptian captivity and they were journeying 00:04:12.69\00:04:15.83 to this Promised Land, the Land of Canaan. 00:04:15.84\00:04:18.97 And we know that many of them did not make it, 00:04:18.98\00:04:22.15 because they either murmured were complaining, 00:04:22.16\00:04:26.16 or just rebelled in the sight of God. 00:04:26.17\00:04:29.36 And so many of them did not make it 00:04:29.37\00:04:30.86 into the Promised Land and, Paul, is basically telling us 00:04:30.87\00:04:33.25 here that we too are on a journey and we must be careful, 00:04:33.26\00:04:38.46 lest we are on that journey, 00:04:38.47\00:04:41.61 begin to murmur as they murmured. 00:04:41.62\00:04:43.73 But that's just little bit of background. 00:04:43.74\00:04:45.40 We really want to get into verse 9 00:04:45.41\00:04:47.71 because verse 9, reads this, 00:04:47.72\00:04:49.97 it says "There remaineth therefore 00:04:49.98\00:04:52.59 a rest to the people of God." Now again-- 00:04:52.60\00:04:56.97 Some of the promise, there is a promise 00:04:56.98\00:04:58.58 and this rest once again is speaking about that promise 00:04:58.59\00:05:03.10 that to come in the future. 00:05:03.11\00:05:04.79 It's talking about the heavenly Canaan, 00:05:04.80\00:05:07.46 the Kingdom of Heaven. 00:05:07.47\00:05:08.85 We're all on the journey from this world 00:05:08.86\00:05:11.41 into the Kingdom of Heaven. 00:05:11.42\00:05:13.69 And we don't want to murmur, 00:05:13.70\00:05:15.76 or complain, or make the same mistakes 00:05:15.77\00:05:18.10 that the Israelites made, that kept them 00:05:18.11\00:05:21.36 out of the earthly promised land. 00:05:21.37\00:05:23.07 But there is something interesting about this verse, 00:05:23.08\00:05:24.87 that's going to give us an understanding 00:05:24.88\00:05:27.19 of the great conflict in heaven and how it started, 00:05:27.20\00:05:30.63 because the word here, rest, in verse 9 00:05:30.64\00:05:33.51 is the Greek word, "Sabbatismos, Sabbatismos." 00:05:33.52\00:05:39.56 If you consider this, the word "Sabbatismos" 00:05:39.57\00:05:42.17 it actually means rest. 00:05:42.18\00:05:44.78 And because we know that, God, 00:05:44.79\00:05:46.99 here is speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven, 00:05:47.00\00:05:49.57 we understand that heaven is God's rest 00:05:49.58\00:05:53.55 or we might call it His, 00:05:53.56\00:05:56.70 the Greek word His Sabbatismos. 00:05:56.71\00:06:00.15 Heaven is a land of rest. 00:06:00.16\00:06:03.97 It's a land of peace, where we get to rest 00:06:03.98\00:06:07.20 from the trials of this world, then the hardships. 00:06:07.21\00:06:10.94 And so, well, we need to understand a little bit 00:06:10.95\00:06:13.57 about how heaven is, is considered 00:06:13.58\00:06:16.89 to be a land of rest. 00:06:16.90\00:06:18.77 Wanna go to the Book of Leviticus, 00:06:18.78\00:06:20.55 Chapter 26 because just as we're looking 00:06:20.56\00:06:24.74 forward to the land of rest, the Bible described, 00:06:24.75\00:06:28.41 Canaan, in the Old Testament as a land of rest. 00:06:28.42\00:06:33.28 In Leviticus 26, we're gonna discover 00:06:33.29\00:06:35.68 what it means, when it says 00:06:35.69\00:06:37.56 the land is at rest. 00:06:37.57\00:06:38.65 Leviticus 26 verse 33. 00:06:38.66\00:06:40.97 Okay, get me right, you read that Atonte. 00:06:40.98\00:06:43.29 "And I will scatter you among the heathen, 00:06:43.30\00:06:45.88 and I will draw out a sword after you, 00:06:45.89\00:06:48.08 and your land shall be desolate, 00:06:48.09\00:06:49.87 and your cities waste." 00:06:49.88\00:06:51.98 And it took, follow it to verse 35. 00:06:51.99\00:06:54.75 "Then shall the land enjoy her Sabbath, 00:06:54.76\00:06:57.34 as long as it lieth desolate, 00:06:57.35\00:06:59.68 and ye be in your enemies' land, 00:06:59.69\00:07:01.74 even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her Sabbath. 00:07:01.75\00:07:05.89 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest, 00:07:05.90\00:07:08.75 because it did not rest in your Sabbath, 00:07:08.76\00:07:11.26 when ye dwelt upon it." 00:07:11.27\00:07:13.11 Okay, so, the land was set to be at rest 00:07:13.12\00:07:17.33 when the people where obedient to God. 00:07:17.34\00:07:19.66 When there was disobedience in the land 00:07:19.67\00:07:21.94 there was no rest, 00:07:21.95\00:07:23.57 There was no rest, we might say 00:07:23.58\00:07:25.04 there was unrest in that land. 00:07:25.05\00:07:27.25 And so this is one of the definitions of what it means 00:07:27.26\00:07:29.62 for a land to be at rest. 00:07:29.63\00:07:31.88 We know that heaven was a land of rest, 00:07:31.89\00:07:35.25 because all the angels way back 00:07:35.26\00:07:38.53 in a distant past were, in harmony with God. 00:07:38.54\00:07:41.23 They were all submitted to the, will of God. 00:07:41.24\00:07:44.15 There's another verse we wanna look at 00:07:44.16\00:07:45.39 its found in the Book of Judges, Chapter 3 and verse 30. 00:07:45.40\00:07:50.44 Judges 3, verse 30. 00:07:50.45\00:07:52.46 "So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel 00:07:52.47\00:07:57.11 and the land had rest for score years." 00:07:57.12\00:08:00.21 Okay, so once again we see here, 00:08:00.22\00:08:02.92 this concept of land having rest 00:08:02.93\00:08:05.70 and in this particular context, 00:08:05.71\00:08:07.74 because there was no war in the land, 00:08:07.75\00:08:10.31 it is said that the land was at rest. 00:08:10.32\00:08:13.04 So basically, we're simply seeing here 00:08:13.05\00:08:15.70 that for land to be at rest, it means that land had. 00:08:15.71\00:08:19.60 There was no war, there were conflicts going on. 00:08:19.61\00:08:22.14 And all the inhabitants of that land 00:08:22.15\00:08:24.33 were submitted to the, will of God. 00:08:24.34\00:08:26.94 So as we take this concept, this understanding 00:08:26.95\00:08:29.51 of what it means for land to have a rest. 00:08:29.52\00:08:32.10 And see that in the New Testament 00:08:32.11\00:08:34.21 heaven is actually called God's Sabbatismos. 00:08:34.22\00:08:38.91 We see that heaven is a place of rest, 00:08:38.92\00:08:41.86 a place where there is no war. 00:08:41.87\00:08:45.46 Where everyone -- And where there is perfect obedience. 00:08:45.47\00:08:47.24 Perfect obedience to will of God. 00:08:47.25\00:08:49.37 So let's take this concept now. 00:08:49.38\00:08:50.77 We're gonna go all the way back 00:08:50.78\00:08:52.66 to the beginning of time, as we can understand it. 00:08:52.67\00:08:56.26 Right, a heaven was God's Sabbatismos, 00:08:56.27\00:09:00.82 His place of rest. 00:09:00.83\00:09:03.55 All the angels were in perfect harmony 00:09:03.56\00:09:06.61 to the, will of God. 00:09:06.62\00:09:08.07 There was no war, there was no strife. 00:09:08.08\00:09:10.20 We can understand heaven being God's Sabbatismos, 00:09:10.21\00:09:13.23 because this was the law if you will, 00:09:13.24\00:09:17.39 that ruled the land. 00:09:17.40\00:09:20.11 But, we know, that according to the, word of God, 00:09:20.12\00:09:22.95 there was a change, because Book of Revelation, 00:09:22.96\00:09:25.11 Chapter 12, verse 7 says, "And there was war in heaven. 00:09:25.12\00:09:30.04 Michael and His angels fought against the dragon 00:09:30.05\00:09:32.51 and the dragon fought and his angels. 00:09:32.52\00:09:34.51 So watch this, here we have this environment 00:09:34.52\00:09:37.32 of perfect rest, perfect peace, perfect harmony. 00:09:37.33\00:09:41.26 But then, and its called God's what? 00:09:41.27\00:09:43.52 His Sabbatismos, His place of rest, 00:09:43.53\00:09:46.64 His land of rest. 00:09:46.65\00:09:48.18 But then we now have introduced this war, 00:09:48.19\00:09:52.58 this conflict introduced by none other 00:09:52.59\00:09:56.70 then an angel named Satan. 00:09:56.71\00:09:59.66 Or Lucifer, Or Lucifer, at that time, 00:09:59.67\00:10:02.00 so what did, Lucifer break, 00:10:02.01\00:10:06.57 when he began this rebellion in heaven. 00:10:06.58\00:10:09.99 He broke God's Sabbatismos. 00:10:10.00\00:10:14.01 The rest, The rest, The peace. 00:10:14.02\00:10:16.15 He brought unrest and we might say civil unrest 00:10:16.16\00:10:20.92 to the Kingdom of Heaven. 00:10:20.93\00:10:22.66 So what we need to discover now is, how is it all, 00:10:22.67\00:10:26.31 what is it that, that Lucifer did, 00:10:26.32\00:10:28.95 to bring about this state of unrest. 00:10:28.96\00:10:31.80 So let's go to the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 28, 00:10:31.81\00:10:34.52 because Ezekiel 28 is going to give us some 00:10:34.53\00:10:37.74 further insight into this conflict, how it began? 00:10:37.75\00:10:41.67 So Ezekiel Chapter 28, let's begin with verse 13 00:10:41.68\00:10:45.79 and we will read to verse 14. 00:10:45.80\00:10:48.14 "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God, 00:10:48.15\00:10:50.68 every precious stone was thy covering, 00:10:50.69\00:10:53.49 the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, 00:10:53.50\00:10:56.17 the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, 00:10:56.18\00:11:00.01 the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold. 00:11:00.02\00:11:02.85 The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes 00:11:02.86\00:11:06.10 was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 00:11:06.11\00:11:09.98 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth 00:11:09.99\00:11:12.77 and I have set thee so. 00:11:12.78\00:11:14.54 Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God, 00:11:14.55\00:11:17.20 thou hast walked up and down 00:11:17.21\00:11:18.71 in the midst of the stones of fire." 00:11:18.72\00:11:21.00 I'll read one more verse to 15, 00:11:21.01\00:11:23.39 "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day 00:11:23.40\00:11:25.72 that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." 00:11:25.73\00:11:29.58 Okay, so, here the Bible is telling us about this angel 00:11:29.59\00:11:33.84 that was created, this covering cherub 00:11:33.85\00:11:36.39 and the word cherub simply means 00:11:36.40\00:11:38.06 an angel that was created. 00:11:38.07\00:11:40.06 And is important to understand that this angel 00:11:40.07\00:11:43.30 was not created imperfectly, but rather perfectly. 00:11:43.31\00:11:48.38 The angel is said to be a covering cherub 00:11:48.39\00:11:52.87 and this is where our study really takes a turn, 00:11:52.88\00:11:56.07 because in order to understand what, Lucifer, 00:11:56.08\00:11:58.82 actually did in heaven. 00:11:58.83\00:12:00.59 What was his role in heaven? 00:12:00.60\00:12:02.71 We need to understand this term covering cherub? 00:12:02.72\00:12:06.02 Because what was he covering. 00:12:06.03\00:12:07.32 Right, what was he covering? 00:12:07.33\00:12:08.90 Well, to understand this term, 00:12:08.91\00:12:10.75 we've to go back to an Old Testament 00:12:10.76\00:12:15.10 map if you will that, God, had instructed, Moses, 00:12:15.11\00:12:18.68 and the children of Israel to build, 00:12:18.69\00:12:20.51 it's called the sanctuary. 00:12:20.52\00:12:23.12 We've a nick name for it, we call it God's GPS, 00:12:23.13\00:12:27.37 because that sanctuary basically contained 00:12:27.38\00:12:30.55 the entire Plan of Salvation 00:12:30.56\00:12:32.58 and the entire story of Salvation. 00:12:32.59\00:12:35.11 It was like a little story book, 00:12:35.12\00:12:36.43 like a little object lesson that, God, 00:12:36.44\00:12:39.97 had instructed, Moses, to build. 00:12:39.98\00:12:41.96 And as you look at the articles of the sanctuary 00:12:41.97\00:12:46.61 and how it was build and how it was structured, 00:12:46.62\00:12:48.43 you begin to see, lessons that actually 00:12:48.44\00:12:51.74 reveal the Plan of Salvation, even down to how, 00:12:51.75\00:12:55.41 Lucifer, fell and what caused him to stumble. 00:12:55.42\00:12:59.00 Okay so, we're gonna take a look 00:12:59.01\00:13:01.04 at one of the rooms in particular that 00:13:01.05\00:13:02.99 God, have instructed, Moses, to build in this sanctuary. 00:13:03.00\00:13:06.67 Now before you read Exodus 25, Atonte, 00:13:06.68\00:13:09.43 just wanna stress that this, 00:13:09.44\00:13:12.48 this most holy place was like a miniature model 00:13:12.49\00:13:15.94 of the throne room of God. 00:13:15.95\00:13:17.86 So as we read we're gonna, I want you pay attention 00:13:17.87\00:13:20.37 to what you are reading, what you are hearing, 00:13:20.38\00:13:21.35 because you're gonna catch a allusions of God's throne 00:13:21.36\00:13:25.48 and He is the foundation of His throne. 00:13:25.49\00:13:27.47 So let's go ahead and look at Exodus 25, verse 17 to 21. 00:13:27.48\00:13:32.94 It says "And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold, 00:13:32.95\00:13:37.50 two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, 00:13:37.51\00:13:41.39 and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 00:13:41.40\00:13:44.05 Okay pause right there, I know I'm sorry but, 00:13:44.06\00:13:46.99 consider this mercy seat, this mercy seat basically 00:13:47.00\00:13:50.24 represented the throne of God. 00:13:50.25\00:13:52.53 And that's why we, you know, talk about 00:13:52.54\00:13:54.62 coming boldly to the throne of grace 00:13:54.63\00:13:57.31 that we may obtain mercy in the time of need. 00:13:57.32\00:13:59.97 So this mercy seat again was a symbol of God's throne. 00:13:59.98\00:14:04.30 Okay let's read on. 00:14:04.31\00:14:06.06 "And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, 00:14:06.07\00:14:08.86 of beaten work shalt thou make them, 00:14:08.87\00:14:11.67 in the two ends of the mercy seat. 00:14:11.68\00:14:14.39 And make one cherub on the one end, 00:14:14.40\00:14:17.22 and the other cherub on the other end 00:14:17.23\00:14:19.57 even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims 00:14:19.58\00:14:23.12 on the two ends thereof. 00:14:23.13\00:14:25.29 And the cherubims shall stretch forth 00:14:25.30\00:14:27.42 their wings on high, covering the mercy seat 00:14:27.43\00:14:30.20 with their wings, and their faces 00:14:30.21\00:14:32.45 shall look one to another, toward the mercy seat 00:14:32.46\00:14:36.03 shall the faces of the cherubims be. 00:14:36.04\00:14:38.77 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark 00:14:38.78\00:14:42.53 and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony 00:14:42.54\00:14:45.30 that I shall give thee." 00:14:45.31\00:14:46.92 Okay, so very profound thought here. 00:14:46.93\00:14:49.67 We've the mercy seat which is symbolic of God's throne. 00:14:49.68\00:14:53.46 But that mercy seat is resting upon something, 00:14:53.47\00:14:56.65 it's called the Ark of the Covenant. 00:14:56.66\00:14:59.72 What was inside that Ark? 00:14:59.73\00:15:01.57 It was the Ten Commandment law, the law of God, 00:15:01.58\00:15:06.10 and so get the picture here. 00:15:06.11\00:15:08.53 The mercy seat which represents God's throne 00:15:08.54\00:15:12.29 or His government is founded upon God's law. 00:15:12.30\00:15:17.29 God's kingdom in heaven rests upon His law. 00:15:17.30\00:15:21.76 That's very important to understand, 00:15:21.77\00:15:23.31 because when we get to this issue of, Lucifer, 00:15:23.32\00:15:26.74 being a covering cherub. 00:15:26.75\00:15:28.62 We begin to see that, that picture of the, 00:15:28.63\00:15:31.27 you see a picture of two angels. 00:15:31.28\00:15:33.73 Facing each other, on either side of the mercy seat, 00:15:33.74\00:15:35.86 or the throne of God, they're covering 00:15:35.87\00:15:39.33 the mercy seat and the Ark of the Covenant. 00:15:39.34\00:15:42.60 That were covered, it actually means 00:15:42.61\00:15:45.89 to defend or protect. 00:15:45.90\00:15:49.28 Now get this, Lucifer, was one of the angels that stood 00:15:49.29\00:15:52.82 in the very presence of God. 00:15:52.83\00:15:56.00 His job in heaven was to protect 00:15:56.01\00:15:59.39 or defend the law of God 00:15:59.40\00:16:02.97 which is the foundation of His throne. 00:16:02.98\00:16:06.61 As long as all heaven was subjected to that law 00:16:06.62\00:16:10.80 and that law we might sum it up in one word, 00:16:10.81\00:16:13.86 the law of self-sacrificing love. 00:16:13.87\00:16:18.13 As long as heaven was subjected to that law, 00:16:18.14\00:16:20.56 all heaven was at rest, all heaven was in peace. 00:16:20.57\00:16:25.80 Heaven was God's Sabbatismos. 00:16:25.81\00:16:28.81 But you remember that in the Book of Ezekiel, 00:16:28.82\00:16:31.59 we read that, Lucifer, was found, was created perfect 00:16:31.60\00:16:35.74 until something was found in him. 00:16:35.75\00:16:38.58 What was found in him? 00:16:38.59\00:16:39.75 Until sin was found in him, that's right, 00:16:39.76\00:16:42.03 the Bible says iniquity was found in him. 00:16:42.04\00:16:44.84 So what we want to discover now is 00:16:44.85\00:16:46.49 what in the world is iniquity or sin. 00:16:46.50\00:16:49.13 What is the biblical definition of sin? 00:16:49.14\00:16:53.06 First John, Chapter 3, verse 4, the Bible says, 00:16:53.07\00:16:57.85 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, 00:16:57.86\00:17:03.64 for sin is the transgression of the law." 00:17:03.65\00:17:08.47 And this is the law that was in the Ark of the Covenant, 00:17:08.48\00:17:11.68 and this is what, Lucifer, was supposed to be guarding. 00:17:11.69\00:17:14.77 Protecting and guarding. 00:17:14.78\00:17:16.20 In other words, Lucifer, turned 00:17:16.21\00:17:19.55 against the very law that was, 00:17:19.56\00:17:22.56 that he was commissioned to protect, to defend, 00:17:22.57\00:17:26.30 to stand in defense of. 00:17:26.31\00:17:28.27 And not in defense of as though there were people, 00:17:28.28\00:17:30.24 you know, angels attacking this law, 00:17:30.25\00:17:32.00 but simply to show the reverence of that law. 00:17:32.01\00:17:34.63 Right, Lucifer turned against that law. 00:17:34.64\00:17:36.40 The Bible says, iniquity was found in him. 00:17:36.41\00:17:39.31 And this is what broke the rest of heaven. 00:17:39.32\00:17:44.29 This is what broke the peace of heaven. 00:17:44.30\00:17:45.97 So sum this all up, the very first conflict 00:17:45.98\00:17:52.43 to take place, took place in heaven 00:17:52.44\00:17:55.63 and it took place over the law of God. 00:17:55.64\00:17:59.93 Lucifer rebelled against God's law, 00:17:59.94\00:18:03.20 which is the foundation of his throne. 00:18:03.21\00:18:06.86 Thus the Bible says, there was war in heaven. 00:18:06.87\00:18:10.20 Michael and his angels fought the dragon 00:18:10.21\00:18:13.67 and his angels fought. 00:18:13.68\00:18:14.86 So now we come to the question, but wait a minute. 00:18:14.87\00:18:18.07 How did, Lucifer, convinced other angels 00:18:18.08\00:18:22.30 to go along with this rebellion? 00:18:22.31\00:18:25.62 Because it was such a foreign thing, 00:18:25.63\00:18:27.48 I mean they had just known this holy perfect loving God, 00:18:27.49\00:18:33.48 and how can someone convince 00:18:33.49\00:18:36.10 these angels that have lived with God, thats right. 00:18:36.11\00:18:39.01 From the, you know from their creation 00:18:39.02\00:18:41.73 and to see His loving character, 00:18:41.74\00:18:43.84 how could he convince them. 00:18:43.85\00:18:44.88 That's right, you know, I often asked 00:18:44.89\00:18:48.00 people the question, do you think, Lucifer, 00:18:48.01\00:18:50.07 said to the angels, hey, angels I think 00:18:50.08\00:18:52.29 I want to stage a rebellion, I like to be evil. 00:18:52.30\00:18:55.06 Who wants to come with me? 00:18:55.07\00:18:56.91 They wouldn't fall for that. 00:18:56.92\00:18:57.89 I don't think the angels would have fallen for that. 00:18:57.90\00:18:59.29 Lucifer, had to have promoted a lie so deceptive 00:18:59.30\00:19:06.20 that it deceived even intelligent holy angels 00:19:06.21\00:19:12.18 and that's what happened, angels that were once 00:19:12.19\00:19:15.06 subject to God, now turn to follow Lucifer. 00:19:15.07\00:19:17.80 So let's see how did this happen? 00:19:17.81\00:19:19.66 I want to go over to the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 14. 00:19:19.67\00:19:23.80 Isaiah, Chapter 14, and let's take a look 00:19:23.81\00:19:27.46 at verses 12 to 14 and I'll read that. 00:19:27.47\00:19:30.63 And we invite you to get your Bible out 00:19:30.64\00:19:33.24 and turn with us because -- amen. 00:19:33.25\00:19:35.58 I mean it's so good to see 00:19:35.59\00:19:36.99 the word of God for ourselves, amen. 00:19:37.00\00:19:39.15 Bible says in verse 12, "How art thou fallen from heaven, 00:19:39.16\00:19:41.80 O Lucifer, son of the morning! 00:19:41.81\00:19:44.30 How art thou cut down to the ground, 00:19:44.31\00:19:46.14 which didst weaken the nations! 00:19:46.15\00:19:48.18 For thou hast said in thine heart, 00:19:48.19\00:19:49.70 I will ascend into heaven I will exalt my throne above 00:19:49.71\00:19:52.80 the stars of God I will sit also upon the mount 00:19:52.81\00:19:56.00 of the congregation, in the sides of the north. 00:19:56.01\00:19:59.81 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 00:19:59.82\00:20:02.05 I will be like the most High." 00:20:02.06\00:20:05.66 That's the key phrase I want to focus it on. 00:20:05.67\00:20:07.87 I'll be like the Most High. 00:20:07.88\00:20:11.02 What is the Most High like, Atonte? 00:20:11.03\00:20:12.59 He is loving, He is kind, He is long suffering. 00:20:12.60\00:20:19.17 He is patient, He is patient, He is righteous. 00:20:19.18\00:20:21.27 Yes, Lucifer, what he told the angels what he tried 00:20:21.28\00:20:27.75 to convince the angels was, is profound. 00:20:27.76\00:20:31.68 Lucifer was saying, I can be like, God, that is loving, 00:20:31.69\00:20:35.38 kind, righteous, holy like God, without, God, 00:20:35.39\00:20:43.53 giving us instruction on how to do it. 00:20:43.54\00:20:47.11 In other words, I don't need a law telling me 00:20:47.12\00:20:50.86 how to be holy and righteous. 00:20:50.87\00:20:52.93 I can be like, God, without God's instruction. 00:20:52.94\00:20:57.34 I can be righteous without, God, telling me what to do. 00:20:57.35\00:21:01.18 We hear talk like that even today. 00:21:01.19\00:21:04.75 Thats right, I can be a good person, 00:21:04.76\00:21:06.92 I don't have to go to church, or study the Bible, 00:21:06.93\00:21:10.14 or pray to God to be a good person. 00:21:10.15\00:21:12.06 I can just be a good person. 00:21:12.07\00:21:13.69 Right, it's we'd call it the argument 00:21:13.70\00:21:16.51 of self-sanctification or self-righteousness. 00:21:16.52\00:21:22.08 Lucifer, convinced the angels by simply saying look, 00:21:22.09\00:21:25.19 God, doesn't have a market on righteousness. 00:21:25.20\00:21:27.14 We're already holy, we're already good. 00:21:27.15\00:21:31.36 We don't need a law telling us how to be righteous 00:21:31.37\00:21:34.91 and if we're truly free, why we need a law. 00:21:34.92\00:21:38.58 And, Atonte, I just find it absolutely amazing that 00:21:38.59\00:21:41.23 these are the very same arguments 00:21:41.24\00:21:43.98 we hear today on this earth. 00:21:43.99\00:21:46.93 We don't need, God, in order to be good. 00:21:46.94\00:21:48.72 I pay my taxes, I take care of my children, 00:21:48.73\00:21:51.08 I am a good person. 00:21:51.09\00:21:52.06 I don't need God and I don't need, God, giving me a law 00:21:52.07\00:21:55.44 to tell me how to be righteous, 00:21:55.45\00:21:57.02 its self-righteousness. 00:21:57.03\00:21:59.24 And this is the argument that deceived one-third of angels. 00:21:59.25\00:22:04.43 It was the concept that, that they could be righteous 00:22:04.44\00:22:08.41 without, God, and without His law 00:22:08.42\00:22:11.33 as a guideline to righteousness. 00:22:11.34\00:22:15.29 The way I look at it, Atonte, is a kind of like 00:22:15.30\00:22:19.10 Democrats and Republicans. 00:22:19.11\00:22:21.13 You know Democrats and Republicans, 00:22:21.14\00:22:22.64 they love to demonize each other. 00:22:22.65\00:22:24.64 The Democrats, they are the ones 00:22:24.65\00:22:26.04 that are destroying the nation. 00:22:26.05\00:22:27.28 Right, no, the Republicans, they are ones 00:22:27.29\00:22:28.91 that are destroying the nations, right. 00:22:28.92\00:22:30.46 The nation and each side 00:22:30.47\00:22:31.63 thinks that they're doing what's right. 00:22:31.64\00:22:33.56 The best thing for the country, 00:22:33.57\00:22:35.91 Lucifer, was the master politician 00:22:35.92\00:22:38.07 and basically he argued, 00:22:38.08\00:22:39.48 look God's government needs reform. 00:22:39.49\00:22:43.40 We're not truly free under His government. 00:22:43.41\00:22:45.91 In fact his argument was, 00:22:45.92\00:22:48.24 we've too much big government. 00:22:48.25\00:22:50.52 We don't need government telling us 00:22:50.53\00:22:51.96 what to do and how to do it. 00:22:51.97\00:22:54.29 We need government out of our lives 00:22:54.30\00:22:56.66 and they were angels that actually fell 00:22:56.67\00:22:59.04 for this argument and said yeah, we can be righteous 00:22:59.05\00:23:01.88 and we should be able to rule ourselves and this is how 00:23:01.89\00:23:07.11 the rebellion began in heaven. 00:23:07.12\00:23:09.79 And it is crucial for us to understand that, 00:23:09.80\00:23:11.74 because we see the very same things going on earth today. 00:23:11.75\00:23:15.91 Men saying, I don't need a law 00:23:15.92\00:23:17.32 to tell me how to be good. 00:23:17.33\00:23:18.48 I don't need, God, to tell me how to be righteous. 00:23:18.49\00:23:20.51 I don't need, God, dictating every area of my life. 00:23:20.52\00:23:25.18 But that's just contrary to God's perfect plan. 00:23:25.19\00:23:30.34 And may be because of sin and because we have fallen short. 00:23:30.35\00:23:34.29 We do need Him to come in 00:23:34.30\00:23:36.75 and shine light in every area of our life if you will, 00:23:36.76\00:23:41.43 because you know, our hearts are deceitfully wicked 00:23:41.44\00:23:44.77 and we can think of something is good, 00:23:44.78\00:23:46.61 but without the Holy Spirit, without God's direction, 00:23:46.62\00:23:49.69 we don't really know good from evil. 00:23:49.70\00:23:52.12 From evil, that right, so we need Him. 00:23:52.13\00:23:53.16 We need to depend on Him. We need to depend on Him. 00:23:53.17\00:23:55.28 It's interesting, Atonte, that when, 00:23:55.29\00:23:57.58 when God creates planet earth 00:23:57.59\00:23:59.96 and this is after this whole rebellion. 00:23:59.97\00:24:01.74 We'll get into more of this in our next study, 00:24:01.75\00:24:06.02 Our next program. Program, that's right. 00:24:06.03\00:24:07.52 But when, God, creates earth, the Bible says 00:24:07.53\00:24:11.48 at the end of every day, He saw that it was good. 00:24:11.49\00:24:15.10 Good, there was no rebellion on earth. 00:24:15.11\00:24:17.90 There was, Adam and Eve, 00:24:17.91\00:24:20.03 after He created them were in perfect 00:24:20.04\00:24:21.78 submission to His will. 00:24:21.79\00:24:23.86 And its interesting that after, God, 00:24:23.87\00:24:25.48 created all of earth and the, Garden of Eden, 00:24:25.49\00:24:27.27 and, Adam and Eve, 00:24:27.28\00:24:28.53 and finished that work of creation, 00:24:28.54\00:24:32.49 the Bible says that, God, rested or Sabbath which, 00:24:32.50\00:24:37.53 which is I find very significant. 00:24:37.54\00:24:39.54 It's almost as though in-resting on earth, 00:24:39.55\00:24:42.06 He was saying, listen this earth has become 00:24:42.07\00:24:45.93 somewhat like heaven. 00:24:45.94\00:24:48.99 Very much like heaven except the location. 00:24:49.00\00:24:51.34 This earth has been sanctified, it is My rest. 00:24:51.35\00:24:58.20 All earth is in harmony to Me, it is with Me, 00:24:58.21\00:25:01.83 it is subjected to My laws. 00:25:01.84\00:25:03.36 It is, there is no war going on. 00:25:03.37\00:25:06.60 That Sabbath rest I think was very significant, 00:25:06.61\00:25:09.77 because, God, was taking almost as it were 00:25:09.78\00:25:13.39 the entire principle of heaven which is rest in, God, 00:25:13.40\00:25:18.72 trust Him, submit yourself to Him 00:25:18.73\00:25:21.23 and in resting on that seventh-day, 00:25:21.24\00:25:23.49 He was saying to earth listen as long as 00:25:23.50\00:25:25.99 you submit yourself to Me, you will be at rest, 00:25:26.00\00:25:29.56 you'll have peace. 00:25:29.57\00:25:31.18 It's interesting the Book Ezekiel 00:25:31.19\00:25:32.77 Chapter 20, verse 12. 00:25:32.78\00:25:35.51 We're told that one of the reasons 00:25:35.52\00:25:37.93 that mankind was given the Sabbath and to-- 00:25:37.94\00:25:41.05 and was instructed to keep it was to keep them 00:25:41.06\00:25:43.93 from that very deception that, Lucifer, 00:25:43.94\00:25:46.79 pulled off in heaven. 00:25:46.80\00:25:48.08 Ezekiel 20, verse 12 says this, it says 00:25:48.09\00:25:53.00 "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, 00:25:53.01\00:25:55.37 to be a sign between me and them, 00:25:55.38\00:25:57.29 that they might know that I am the Lord 00:25:57.30\00:26:01.39 that sanctify them." 00:26:01.40\00:26:02.74 You can't sanctify yourself, 00:26:02.75\00:26:04.95 I'm the one that sanctifies you. 00:26:04.96\00:26:06.98 You can't work your way to heaven, 00:26:06.99\00:26:09.30 you've to rest your way to heaven. 00:26:09.31\00:26:12.10 And I find it interesting, Atonte, even if you look 00:26:12.11\00:26:14.20 at the Ten Commandments. 00:26:14.21\00:26:16.08 Those commandments all begin with thou shall not. 00:26:16.09\00:26:19.61 Like God is saying rest or cease from lying, 00:26:19.62\00:26:23.68 cease from killing, cease from committing adulteries, 00:26:23.69\00:26:27.24 cease from coveting. 00:26:27.25\00:26:30.45 It's like all the commandments deal with rest. 00:26:30.46\00:26:32.61 Right, even the commandment dealing with 00:26:32.62\00:26:34.01 honor your mother and father, it's saying rest in 00:26:34.02\00:26:37.05 what your parents say, don't resist them, rest, amen. 00:26:37.06\00:26:40.04 And then the fourth commandment begins with what. 00:26:40.05\00:26:41.97 Remember the Sabbath day, rest. 00:26:41.98\00:26:44.60 The commandments are all about 00:26:44.61\00:26:46.82 resting not what, working. 00:26:46.83\00:26:49.49 So God says, we rest our way to heaven, 00:26:49.50\00:26:51.89 not work our way. 00:26:51.90\00:26:52.87 We can't sanctify ourselves by doing our own thing. 00:26:52.88\00:26:55.57 We've got to be submitted to the, will of God, 00:26:55.58\00:26:58.93 and to the, law of God. 00:26:58.94\00:27:00.29 This is what caused angels in heaven to fall 00:27:00.30\00:27:03.59 and now that we understand oh the war on earth is that, 00:27:03.60\00:27:07.85 Lucifer, is trying to convince mankind 00:27:07.86\00:27:10.32 of the very same thing. 00:27:10.33\00:27:11.85 We don't need to keep God's commandments 00:27:11.86\00:27:13.86 in order find the rest. 00:27:13.87\00:27:15.48 Jesus says, come on to me, and I will what? 00:27:15.49\00:27:18.85 Give you rest, I'll give you rest from your lying ways, 00:27:18.86\00:27:21.56 rest from your, you know thieveries, 00:27:21.57\00:27:23.85 rest from your covetousness. 00:27:23.86\00:27:25.25 He wants to give us that rest 00:27:25.26\00:27:27.35 that ushers in the Sabbatismos. 00:27:27.36\00:27:30.45 And will ultimately usher us in to God's place of rest. 00:27:30.46\00:27:34.64 By the way if we're unwilling to rest here, 00:27:34.65\00:27:38.11 we'll not rest there. 00:27:38.12\00:27:41.55 God cannot allow us into that kingdom, 00:27:41.56\00:27:43.53 because we'll refuse to rest there. 00:27:43.54\00:27:45.54 Because the angels had lived 00:27:45.55\00:27:48.21 their entire life if you will, resting. 00:27:48.22\00:27:51.74 And as soon as they started working 00:27:51.75\00:27:54.04 thinking they could do it on there own. 00:27:54.05\00:27:55.56 That's when all havoc break out. 00:27:55.57\00:27:58.03 That's right Wow! 00:27:58.04\00:27:59.78 Well, I'm excited just for our future 00:27:59.79\00:28:03.09 studies and programs. 00:28:03.10\00:28:04.46 You don't want to miss the rest of God's GPS, 00:28:04.47\00:28:08.38 God's Plan of Salvation. 00:28:08.39\00:28:09.62 Until next time God bless. 00:28:09.63\00:28:11.35