Good evening friends
and welcome to another
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edition of the
Eleventh Hour Evidence
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coming to you live
from Battle Creek, Michigan.
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Are you folks
being blessed? Amen.
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Now, we're Seventh-day
Adventist, which means
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that nobody excels our amens.
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You know, we're
not big clappers,
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but we know how to say amen.
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Let's try that one
more time. Amen, amen,
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Praise the Lord. Isn't God good?
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I'm so excited
about the messages
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that we've been
hearing night-by-night.
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And now we're in the
second part of that series
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that David
Asscherick has been sharing.
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He is standing by for us
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and he'll be out
in just a moment,
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but before that we're
turning to our friends
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Buddy Houghtaling, Dan
Grentz and Romon Weber.
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Hey, I just thought of
it at the last second there.
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How about that? Glad
you guys are here with us;
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I know you have something
special, what's on, on,
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can you say on
tap? Is that alright?
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That's dangerous isn't it?
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What do you have for us tonight?
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The song will be called
Mercy Road, Pastor Jason.
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Thank you, take it away.
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In the coolness of the evening,
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on a lovely garden
path, you would walk in sweet
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communion with the
Lord, amen and amen.
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Till one day and suddenly stop,
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and a gate without a home
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and you knew it
will last forever,
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it after all the Mercy Road.
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Mercy Road, the
way of sorrow road,
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But you chose that way to go
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So that they could have tomorrow
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You placed your
feet on Mercy Road
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On the way you
healed a blind man
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chased away birds faraway,
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but in the joy of
recreation was a place
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You couldn't stand.
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You're never
weary from your mission
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As so stay to leave you strong.
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To the Cross on the
horizon at the end of Mercy Road
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Mercy Road, the
way of sorrow road,
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But you chose that way to go
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So that we could have tomorrow
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You kept your feet on Mercy Road
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Mercy Road, the
way of sorrow road,
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But you chose that way to go
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So that we could have tomorrow
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You kept your
feet on Mercy Road.
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So that we could have tomorrow
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You kept your
feet on Mercy Road.
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Thank you guys, isn't
that just wonderful to know
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that Jesus Christ kept
his feet on Mercy Road for us.
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Isn't that just
wonderful? I don't know,
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if anyone has ever had a chance.
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How many of you here
in the studio were in a,
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as we would say in the
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Urbandale
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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That's what we know it as.
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How many of you have
met my wife Stephanie?
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I want to show you something
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I got for her a couple
of years back, a little bit
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more then seven years ago.
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Take a look at this beauty
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right here that is a
Movado, the museum watch.
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It's a very nice
watch. Can you see it?
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There you can see it.
It's an amazing, amazing watch.
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And nothing but
the best would do.
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I was getting ready to
ask my wife to marry me
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and so doing the
good Adventist thing
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I got her a watch.
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And this Movado cost me
a fair penny truth be told.
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It didn't cost me anything.
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I have got a really nice
mom and a really nice dad.
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And I wasn't making
much money at the time.
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So, my mom helped me buy
my wife's engagement watch.
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And she didn't
have very much money
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at the time to reciprocate.
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And so it was a few
months later, we were laying out
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on the patio at her
parent's place and she,
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she, I felt
something being put on my arm
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and I looked up and
there was this lovely watch.
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The band's broken I've
worn it out. It's a Citizen,
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it's not nearly as
pricey as the Movado,
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but it was the best that
she could afford at the time
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and I put it on and I
enjoyed it for quite something
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after that and
another day came when we were,
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we were driving in the car about
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two or three years later.
And I was talking to my wife
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and I said you know we
need to simplify our lives.
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We need to simplify our lives.
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We, we don't
want anyone to think
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that we're putting on a show.
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Let's, let's get rid of
the watches. Let's sell them,
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I'm gonna open that
watch back up for you.
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My wife burst into tears.
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She said, you
just don't understand.
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I said, honey come on
you know, let's be frugal,
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let's just use the
money for the Lord.
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She said, you don't understand,
you don't understand.
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So, I said, well
explain it to me.
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My wife said to
me, she said, honey
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when I married you.
I hardly had any money,
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in fact when we got
engaged I didn't have any money.
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And so what I did is I
took all my graduation money
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that was given to
me. And I poured it out
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into this Citizen
watch that you're wearing.
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And that wasn't enough
to get the watch I wanted.
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So, I went down to the
blood bank and I sold my plasma.
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So, that I can
purchase for you the watch
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that I thought
belonged on your arm.
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And I realized
that what I was wearing
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was the blood of my
wife around my hand.
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And I realized
something about the love
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that she had for me.
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Friends, she gave me a
piece that represents time,
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but Jesus Christ did
something even greater
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than my wife did for me.
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The greatest thing
anyone has ever done for me
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is exceeded by what
Jesus Christ did for me.
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When he poured out his blood
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to give us another time
piece, we call it eternal life.
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What's it worth to you
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Pastor Asscherick
asked that question.
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Amen, wasn't that a great story.
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Amen. I'll bet you felt
like a real heal, didn't you?
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I can just imagine,
let's sell the watches.
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And, and I know,
Jason well enough to know
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he's very persuasive, so
I can see him just you know,
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come on sweetie
what's the problem you know,
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let's sell it. And
all of a sudden you know,
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open mouth, insert both feet.
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Well, praise the Lord,
he keeps us humble, amen.
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Amen. Amen, well
it's a pleasure to be back
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here with you. Did you
have a nice weekend? Yeah.
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Wonderful, I had a
nice weekend as well.
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It was a
whirlwind weekend where I,
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I flew down to Florida
and spent the day in Florida
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and when the sunset
on Saturday evening,
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yesterday evening I got
on a plane and flew back.
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And it's, it's a
privilege to be here with you,
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but I will say that the
weather is considerably.
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nicer there. I don't
know if you knew that or not,
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the rumors are true.
It is much nicer there,
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but it's very warm
inside of here, amen.
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Amen. As I look out and
see all of your smiling faces
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and certainly for
our television audiences.
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I look out it's,
it's wonderful to have you
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all with us. And
wonderful to be here
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in warm Michigan. Amen.
00:09:03.90\00:09:06.18
Amen. Well, we're
actually concluding a two part
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series today. Our
message is entitled the Cross,
00:09:08.47\00:09:11.93
The Fulcrum of The Ages part II.
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And we had part I the
last time we were together
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and so we will
commence with the second part
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of this series. And
before we get into the
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message proper, what
are we going to do first.
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That's right we have some
housework to do, don't we.
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So, let us first
pray and invite the
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the Lord's
presence to be with us.
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Father in heaven, as
we come before you now,
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we're moved by the
story that Pastor Jason
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has told us. Father,
what commitment that would
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have taken for Stephanie
to go out and to actually
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give her own blood
to afford this watch.
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And Lord this is a
microcosm a picture of what
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Jesus has done for
us. Shedding his blood
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that we might
have a beautiful gift.
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Father, please be with
us now as we open the word,
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as we study. We pray
that our heart would be knit
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together with your
heart. And that your spirit
00:10:00.08\00:10:02.39
and your angels will
come and dwell in this room
00:10:02.62\00:10:04.72
and be our teacher.
Father, I pray that I would
00:10:04.96\00:10:08.02
not be a
distraction but an extension
00:10:08.23\00:10:10.31
of what you're trying to do.
00:10:10.55\00:10:12.21
Not just here in Battle Creek,
00:10:12.43\00:10:13.95
but the world over
through 3ABN and these programs.
00:10:14.19\00:10:17.37
Be with us now Father as
we continue to investigate
00:10:17.60\00:10:20.08
this Eleventh Hour Evidence
for we ask it in Jesus name.
00:10:20.32\00:10:24.11
And everyone
can say, amen. Amen.
00:10:24.32\00:10:27.52
Well, let's do a
little bit of review.
00:10:27.75\00:10:29.66
Our message again,
as we've already said
00:10:29.86\00:10:31.80
is the second of
a two part series.
00:10:32.01\00:10:33.98
And the last time we
were together we read
00:10:34.19\00:10:35.90
Revelation chapter 12
through in its entirety.
00:10:36.11\00:10:38.22
How many of you were
with us the last time
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we were together
raise your hand, good.
00:10:39.86\00:10:41.14
Okay, now how
many of you were not.
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Just so I can have an idea here.
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You were not with us, okay.
00:10:44.45\00:10:45.42
So, we have quite a
bit of review to do.
00:10:45.43\00:10:46.40
We're going to rush
through this as quickly
00:10:46.48\00:10:47.77
as is possible. We
read Revelation 12 through
00:10:47.97\00:10:50.21
in its entirety
and we subdivided
00:10:50.42\00:10:52.00
Revelation Chapter
12 into five elements,
00:10:52.22\00:10:54.61
five elements. In some
ways, I wish it wasn't already
00:10:54.82\00:10:56.64
up on the screen here for you,
00:10:56.89\00:10:57.92
so that I could test you
on it. Maybe I should make
00:10:58.12\00:11:00.10
you close your
eyes, but I won't do that
00:11:00.34\00:11:01.66
the interest of
time. We subdivided
00:11:01.85\00:11:03.50
Revelation chapter
12 into five elements.
00:11:03.72\00:11:05.84
The first was the
woman, that's what John saw
00:11:06.07\00:11:07.91
there a women clothe
with the Sun, the moon
00:11:08.11\00:11:09.88
under her feet and
upon her head a garland
00:11:10.07\00:11:11.47
of twelve stars. Then
he saw the wicked dragon
00:11:11.67\00:11:14.09
after that we
heard about the war.
00:11:14.37\00:11:16.23
We're going to talk more
about the war this evening.
00:11:16.45\00:11:18.00
The fourth element was
the weapon and we're going to
00:11:18.21\00:11:20.15
spend all of our
evening tonight on points four,
00:11:20.35\00:11:22.79
oh pardon me, three and
four, the war and the weapon.
00:11:23.03\00:11:25.27
And the last element
that we're introduced to there
00:11:25.48\00:11:27.41
is number five, the winners.
That is to say those who
00:11:27.62\00:11:30.35
overcame the dragon
by the blood of the lamb
00:11:30.57\00:11:33.19
and by the word
of their testimony.
00:11:33.40\00:11:35.17
And we said that of all
the chapters in the Bible,
00:11:35.40\00:11:37.71
there is no other single
chapter that distills down
00:11:37.93\00:11:41.35
this great cosmic conflict.
00:11:41.57\00:11:43.26
This great cosmic controversy
between good and evil,
00:11:43.50\00:11:46.86
light and darkness more
than Revelation chapter 12,
00:11:47.04\00:11:49.75
that is the single
best chapter that shows us
00:11:49.96\00:11:53.02
the great back drop of war
and conflict that is taking
00:11:53.22\00:11:56.22
place between the
kingdom of darkness and
00:11:56.42\00:11:57.77
the kingdom of light, are
you with me so far, yes or no?
00:11:58.05\00:12:00.57
Amen. Alright, let's
continue then with our review.
00:12:00.81\00:12:02.54
We talked about also
this, this Eden-to-Eden concept.
00:12:02.76\00:12:06.72
This Eden-to-Eden paradigm
and remember that we began
00:12:07.01\00:12:09.76
in Genesis. And we noted
that in the fist two chapters
00:12:09.97\00:12:12.04
of the Bible we find
a perfect God in perfect
00:12:12.26\00:12:14.44
communion with a, what everyone?
00:12:14.67\00:12:16.15
A perfect people
that's exactly right.
00:12:16.37\00:12:18.16
And then we move down to
the last book of the Bible.
00:12:18.38\00:12:20.47
The Book of Revelation,
written by John there.
00:12:20.68\00:12:22.42
He was stranded out 24
miles into the Aegean sea.
00:12:22.64\00:12:25.60
And he was on an
island called Patmos.
00:12:25.84\00:12:27.39
He had been exiled there
because Christian tradition
00:12:27.63\00:12:29.72
tells us that he
Roman emperor Diocletian had
00:12:29.93\00:12:32.95
tried to kill him. And
the method that he used to put
00:12:33.16\00:12:35.90
his life to an end
was he put him into a pot,
00:12:36.11\00:12:37.56
a cauldron of boiling
oil. After he had been in there
00:12:37.79\00:12:41.05
for sufficient time to, to
elicit the desired response,
00:12:41.26\00:12:44.07
namely his death. They
went over, they lifted up
00:12:44.29\00:12:46.62
the lid of the
cauldron of boiling oil
00:12:46.84\00:12:48.24
and he was alive. And
the Roman emperor Diocletian
00:12:48.46\00:12:51.87
was afraid of this.
Afraid of this man and said, man
00:12:52.09\00:12:54.63
this is a kind of
person that we can't kill.
00:12:54.84\00:12:56.68
And so at that
point he was exiled
00:12:56.90\00:12:58.26
to the island of Patmos.
00:12:58.46\00:12:59.72
And that is where the
Revelation was given to him.
00:12:59.94\00:13:02.00
And that's where he
wrote that incredible book
00:13:02.22\00:13:03.98
that we have. Now,
when we come to the last two
00:13:04.18\00:13:05.93
chapters of
Revelation, what we find is,
00:13:06.14\00:13:07.74
the same thing that
we find in the first two
00:13:08.00\00:13:09.81
chapters of Genesis.
Namely, a perfect God
00:13:10.01\00:13:12.02
in perfect communion
with a perfect people.
00:13:12.25\00:13:14.48
And this is easily illustrated,
00:13:14.69\00:13:15.66
if you just take your
Bible and think in your minds
00:13:15.79\00:13:18.01
that on this cover we have Eden.
00:13:18.23\00:13:20.34
On this cover we
have Eden restored.
00:13:20.57\00:13:23.74
So, what we have
here are these two Edens,
00:13:23.97\00:13:26.34
back-to-back. This end
and this end and everything
00:13:26.57\00:13:29.70
in between is telling
the story of how we lost
00:13:29.92\00:13:32.66
it here and how
we regain it here,
00:13:32.87\00:13:35.10
this Eden-to-Eden perspective.
00:13:35.31\00:13:36.84
When we said the
last time we were together
00:13:37.06\00:13:38.09
that the Bible suggests
an Eden-to-Eden perspective.
00:13:38.31\00:13:42.24
Now, the reason that
we say the Bible suggests
00:13:42.46\00:13:44.98
that is to make it crystal
clear that this is not some
00:13:45.23\00:13:47.73
arbitrary or capricious
category or categorization
00:13:47.92\00:13:51.48
that is being
thrust upon the Bible.
00:13:51.68\00:13:52.94
This is
something that is intrinsic
00:13:53.16\00:13:54.52
with the Bible itself.
It's not a co-incident that
00:13:54.77\00:13:57.27
the first two chapters
of Genesis and the last two
00:13:57.48\00:13:59.74
chapters of
Revelation have this great theme
00:13:59.95\00:14:02.25
as they're under girding.
You remember then we put
00:14:02.47\00:14:05.22
Genesis over here
and Revelation over there
00:14:05.42\00:14:07.25
and I ask you that if
we step just one chapter
00:14:07.47\00:14:09.26
this way, what
chapter would we be in.
00:14:09.47\00:14:11.02
We said, that
would be Genesis III.
00:14:11.25\00:14:12.66
And then if we were
here in Revelation 21 and 22.
00:14:12.88\00:14:14.86
And we step just one
chapter this way we would be
00:14:15.18\00:14:17.21
in Revelation 20. And
then we ask this significant
00:14:17.42\00:14:19.48
question. Is there
are any parallel between
00:14:19.69\00:14:21.87
Genesis III and Revelation
20? And the answer is yes.
00:14:22.08\00:14:24.88
In Genesis III, we
find the first conflict
00:14:25.09\00:14:27.79
or the first battle
that Jesus Christ fights
00:14:28.05\00:14:30.16
with the
serpent on planet earth.
00:14:30.36\00:14:32.49
We find the first battle there.
00:14:32.70\00:14:34.93
We find the, what
word did I say, everyone?
00:14:35.14\00:14:36.74
First. First battle, now
remarkably when we come down
00:14:36.95\00:14:38.96
to Revelation.
Revelation chapter 20,
00:14:39.18\00:14:41.60
what do we find
there. Last battle.
00:14:41.81\00:14:44.35
The last battle
that Jesus Christ fights
00:14:44.55\00:14:45.52
with the serpent on this
planet and so what we have
00:14:45.69\00:14:47.60
here it's absolutely remarkable.
00:14:47.81\00:14:48.93
We have a large
paradigm or a large construct,
00:14:49.16\00:14:52.48
a frame work with which
we can begin to understand
00:14:52.81\00:14:55.06
the great themes of the Bible.
00:14:55.27\00:14:56.40
Namely that on
this end, a perfect God
00:14:56.62\00:14:58.73
and perfect
communion with a perfect people
00:14:58.95\00:15:00.32
move one direction this
way, the first battle between
00:15:00.52\00:15:02.65
Christ and the
serpent. So, to in Revelation
00:15:02.84\00:15:04.71
a perfect God
and perfect communion
00:15:04.98\00:15:06.31
with a perfect people.
And we step just one chapter
00:15:06.55\00:15:08.40
this way and yet again
we have the last battle.
00:15:08.62\00:15:10.48
And so this gives us a
sweep, a large panorama
00:15:10.82\00:15:13.84
and overview of the
great themes and the
00:15:14.24\00:15:16.42
great picture in scripture. Now,
00:15:16.59\00:15:18.09
if this makes sense,
do you say amen? Amen.
00:15:18.12\00:15:20.14
Alright, so far so
good. The Bible also implies a
00:15:20.31\00:15:23.24
first battle and a
last battle perspective.
00:15:23.27\00:15:26.71
And then what we did
is we traced that battle
00:15:26.87\00:15:28.79
through the pages of
scripture. And we noted
00:15:28.97\00:15:31.65
there were six
phases. How many phases
00:15:31.74\00:15:33.73
everyone? Six phases.
Six phases, let's note
00:15:33.76\00:15:35.85
them very carefully.
The victory was declared in
00:15:35.97\00:15:39.14
Eden. That is the
eventual victory of Christ over
00:15:39.17\00:15:41.75
Satan and his kingdom.
It was declared in Eden.
00:15:42.01\00:15:45.13
Genesis chapter 3
verse 15. Number two, it was
00:15:45.38\00:15:48.02
begun in the
earthly ministry of Jesus.
00:15:48.12\00:15:51.50
Number three; it was
achieved on the Cross.
00:15:51.99\00:15:54.38
The victory was
achieved on the Cross.
00:15:54.41\00:15:55.90
We're going to hone in
that, hone in on that more
00:15:55.93\00:15:57.74
tonight. Number four,
it was proclaimed by the;
00:15:57.82\00:16:00.89
what is that word everyone. The
00:16:00.94\00:16:02.45
resurrection, the
victory is continued in the,
00:16:02.76\00:16:05.96
church and it will be
concluded after the one
00:16:06.90\00:16:09.56
thousand years,
what we just eluded to in
00:16:09.69\00:16:11.38
Revelation chapter
20. Now, that more or less
00:16:11.45\00:16:13.87
brings us right up to
speed. We have this, this
00:16:13.90\00:16:17.45
overview that sort of
sets the tone for what we're
00:16:17.75\00:16:19.71
going to discuss
tonight. Now, of those five
00:16:19.79\00:16:22.78
elements that we
talked about in Revelation
00:16:22.95\00:16:24.35
chapter 12. Remember
the women and the wily
00:16:24.51\00:16:26.75
dragon, the war, the
weapon and the winner.
00:16:26.78\00:16:28.43
So, what we're going to
do tonight is hone in on
00:16:28.48\00:16:30.93
the weapon and on the
war. The weapon and the
00:16:30.98\00:16:34.02
war. So, let's go to
Revelation chapter 12.
00:16:34.08\00:16:35.83
As we now leave our
review and begin on new
00:16:35.90\00:16:39.17
territory. Revelation,
what chapter are we going
00:16:39.36\00:16:41.64
to everyone? Twelve.
Revelation chapter 12.
00:16:41.80\00:16:44.53
Now, let us note
beginning in verse seven.
00:16:45.16\00:16:47.29
Revelation chapter 12
and verse 7. The Bible
00:16:47.42\00:16:50.76
says, and war broke
out, where everyone?
00:16:51.07\00:16:54.82
In heaven, Michael
and his angels fought with
00:16:55.56\00:16:57.14
the dragon, and the
dragon and his angels
00:16:57.26\00:16:59.38
fought. Now, there is
no mystery here as to the
00:16:59.66\00:17:01.37
identity of the
dragon. Notice verse 9, so the
00:17:01.64\00:17:03.69
great dragon was cast
out, that serpent of old
00:17:03.78\00:17:05.99
called the devil and
Satan, who deceives the
00:17:06.07\00:17:07.32
whole world, he was
cast to the earth and his
00:17:07.35\00:17:08.81
angels are cast out
with him. So, notice the war
00:17:08.99\00:17:11.34
begins in heaven.
Where does the war begin
00:17:11.61\00:17:13.80
everyone? In heaven.
In heaven, now do you
00:17:13.99\00:17:15.44
remember where the
war finishes or where it
00:17:15.56\00:17:17.50
reaches its
conclusion in climax? On earth,
00:17:17.61\00:17:20.35
that's right. Notice
verse 17. And the dragon was
00:17:20.42\00:17:22.55
enraged with the
woman and he went to make
00:17:22.66\00:17:24.64
war. There is the
word, that's only the second
00:17:24.89\00:17:26.54
time it occurs in
Revelation. Just those
00:17:26.65\00:17:28.03
two times in Revelation
chapter 12. The dragon
00:17:28.16\00:17:30.57
was wroth with the
woman and went to make war
00:17:30.68\00:17:32.23
with the rest of her
offspring, who keep the
00:17:32.26\00:17:34.41
commandments of God
and cling or have the
00:17:34.68\00:17:37.38
testimony of Jesus
Christ. And so the far begins in
00:17:37.64\00:17:41.14
heaven and finishes
on planet earth. Are you
00:17:41.26\00:17:43.87
with me on that, yes
or no? Yes. Very powerful.
00:17:43.90\00:17:46.32
Now, let's try to
understand a little more
00:17:46.93\00:17:49.16
clearly, what's taking
place in verses 7 through
00:17:49.19\00:17:51.37
12. And let's walk
through them as carefully
00:17:51.55\00:17:53.55
as we can. Notice verse
7 with me again. And war
00:17:53.65\00:17:56.76
broke out in heaven.
When did this transpire?
00:17:56.88\00:17:59.29
We're going to try and
unpack that this evening.
00:17:59.32\00:18:00.88
Michael and his
angels fought with the dragon
00:18:01.43\00:18:03.02
and the dragon and his
angels fought, but they
00:18:03.48\00:18:05.75
did not prevail, nor was
a place found for them in
00:18:05.87\00:18:09.03
heaven and notice the
last two words there, any
00:18:09.25\00:18:12.04
longer. Now, when it
says that their place was not
00:18:12.49\00:18:15.54
found in heaven
any longer, what do you
00:18:15.69\00:18:17.75
automatically know?
What do they, what does the
00:18:17.88\00:18:19.65
addition of those two
words tell you? That they
00:18:19.77\00:18:22.76
formally had been
there, are you comfortable with
00:18:22.87\00:18:24.88
that, yes or no? They
formally had been there,
00:18:24.91\00:18:27.46
but now that they have
been cast out or threshed
00:18:27.65\00:18:30.21
out, their place was
found in heaven no longer
00:18:30.29\00:18:33.13
or not any longer. So
far so good. Yes or no?
00:18:33.41\00:18:35.68
Yes. And notice
beginning in verse 9. So, the
00:18:36.01\00:18:37.88
great dragon, and
notice this phrase occurs three
00:18:38.03\00:18:40.08
times. This cast
phrase, so the great dragon was
00:18:40.35\00:18:43.41
cast out, that serpent
of old called the Devil and
00:18:43.68\00:18:45.93
Satan who deceives,
how much of the world
00:18:46.16\00:18:47.57
everyone? The whole
world. He was cast to the
00:18:47.67\00:18:50.56
earth and his angels
were cast out with him.
00:18:50.70\00:18:52.50
Now, what is the
obvious emphasis there in verse
00:18:53.25\00:18:55.40
9. What is John trying
to get across to us? What's
00:18:55.61\00:18:58.62
the thrust of verse 9?
That he was cast, that's
00:18:58.74\00:19:01.92
exactly right. He
was cast, he was cast, he
00:19:01.95\00:19:04.40
was cast three times in
that one verse. Now, this
00:19:04.45\00:19:07.35
raises the question.
When did that take place?
00:19:07.38\00:19:10.82
When did that
transpire? Notice verse ten.
00:19:11.30\00:19:13.75
We're walking through
this now in chronological
00:19:13.86\00:19:15.44
sequence. Then I
heard a loud voice saying in
00:19:15.55\00:19:18.56
heaven now, what
is that word everyone?
00:19:18.76\00:19:21.74
Now. Now, and I want
you to take that word 'now'
00:19:22.40\00:19:23.85
and put it on a shelf
in your mind, because we're
00:19:23.97\00:19:26.01
going to comeback to
that word. What words on
00:19:26.06\00:19:27.87
the shelf in your
mind? Now. Now. Now, notice
00:19:27.90\00:19:30.21
what verse ten
says. Now, salvation and
00:19:30.24\00:19:32.80
strength and the
kingdom of our God and the
00:19:33.10\00:19:35.28
power of his Christ
have come. For the accuser of
00:19:35.45\00:19:38.21
our brethren who
accused them before our God
00:19:38.24\00:19:40.22
day and night has been
what everyone? Cast out,
00:19:40.49\00:19:43.85
there it is a fourth
time. Again John emphasizes
00:19:43.95\00:19:47.89
that he is cast out.
Now, verse ten tells us that
00:19:47.96\00:19:50.68
four things happened
now. Four things transpired
00:19:50.98\00:19:54.79
and I wish we had time
to go into all of them,
00:19:54.83\00:19:56.14
but let's just note
them quickly and carefully.
00:19:56.23\00:19:57.74
The four things that
were initiated, that were
00:19:58.33\00:20:00.45
brought into existence
at this time whenever now
00:20:00.73\00:20:03.50
is, are the following.
Salvation and strength
00:20:03.74\00:20:07.75
and the Kingdom of our
God and the power of his
00:20:08.29\00:20:11.01
Christ. Do you see
those four, yes or no?
00:20:11.17\00:20:12.75
Salvation, strength, the
power of our God, and the
00:20:13.28\00:20:15.38
Kingdom of his
Christ. Now, when did that
00:20:15.51\00:20:17.01
happen? When did this
take place, you got it
00:20:17.18\00:20:19.69
right. Now, but the
question is when is NOW.
00:20:19.86\00:20:22.94
Alright, let's
continue. Notice now verse 11.
00:20:23.98\00:20:26.25
And they overcame him
by the blood of the lamb
00:20:26.75\00:20:30.41
and by the word of
their testimony, and they did
00:20:30.55\00:20:32.12
not love their lives
to the death. Now, quick
00:20:32.25\00:20:34.28
question, where was
the blood of the lamb
00:20:34.40\00:20:36.96
spilled? Where did that
transpire? On the Cross.
00:20:37.43\00:20:40.66
Now you remember
the last time we were
00:20:41.34\00:20:42.59
together, we asked the
question and we went to
00:20:42.62\00:20:44.12
the Gospel of John
and we tried to determine
00:20:44.23\00:20:46.02
according to Jesus,
according to the Gospel
00:20:46.26\00:20:47.74
writer John. When was
it that Satan was cast out?
00:20:47.85\00:20:51.66
Do you remember?
Let's go to John chapter 12.
00:20:51.70\00:20:54.59
Go with me to John
chapter 12. Now, take if
00:20:55.39\00:20:56.83
you have one of these
fancy red ribbons, take
00:20:56.89\00:20:58.99
that ribbon and put it
right here in Revelation
00:20:59.16\00:21:01.40
chapter 12 'cause
we're going to comeback to it
00:21:01.57\00:21:03.18
in just a moment, but
first let's go to John and
00:21:03.48\00:21:05.85
the 12th chapter.
John chapter 12, now it is
00:21:05.96\00:21:08.73
significant to know
that the same John that wrote
00:21:08.87\00:21:10.91
the Gospel of John is
the same John that wrote the
00:21:10.94\00:21:13.33
Book of Revelation
and you find significant
00:21:13.56\00:21:15.47
similarities in
language between the two, if you
00:21:15.60\00:21:17.82
know the Gospel of
John and the, the Apocalypse
00:21:18.01\00:21:21.06
or the Book of Revelation,
significant similarities
00:21:21.09\00:21:22.94
not just in language,
but in thematic context that
00:21:23.10\00:21:25.68
is to say the themes
are the same. So, we're in
00:21:25.71\00:21:27.84
John chapter and
we're reading in verse 31.
00:21:28.05\00:21:30.54
What verse are we
reading everyone? Thirty one,
00:21:30.57\00:21:32.56
now what's the first
word of verse 31. Now.
00:21:32.74\00:21:35.64
It's the word 'now'
isn't it? Now, when is 'now'
00:21:35.67\00:21:38.09
let's notice what
Jesus is saying. Now is the
00:21:38.20\00:21:41.10
judgment of this
world and he says it again.
00:21:41.23\00:21:43.17
Now, the ruler of this
world will be what's the
00:21:43.71\00:21:46.53
next two words? Cast
out. Now that's exactly,
00:21:46.58\00:21:50.89
that's about the
identical figuration, the same
00:21:51.07\00:21:54.15
phraseology and
grammatical configuration
00:21:54.42\00:21:56.44
as we just read in
Revelation chapter 12
00:21:56.52\00:21:57.92
and verse 10. Now, he is
cast out, isn't that what
00:21:58.05\00:22:01.08
said, what it said
there in Revelation chapter
00:22:01.11\00:22:02.64
12, yes or no? Amen. And
Jesus just said that too.
00:22:02.76\00:22:05.54
Now, this raises the
question, when is now?
00:22:06.45\00:22:09.13
In what context is the
prince of this world cast
00:22:09.36\00:22:12.12
out. In what context
is this world judged. And
00:22:12.23\00:22:15.58
verse 32 makes it
crystal clear. You know,
00:22:15.75\00:22:17.91
verse 32 probably
many of you by heart.
00:22:18.02\00:22:19.83
It says, and I, if I'm
lifted up from the earth,
00:22:20.16\00:22:23.44
I will draw all
peoples to myself. Now, quick
00:22:23.67\00:22:27.46
question for you, when
was it that Jesus Christ
00:22:27.56\00:22:29.68
was lifted up from
the earth, you tell me.
00:22:29.71\00:22:31.68
On the Cross, now
let's put these two verses
00:22:32.47\00:22:34.74
together because
they are in the immediate
00:22:34.78\00:22:36.46
context of one
another. Jesus says in verse 31.
00:22:36.61\00:22:39.16
Now, is the prince of
this world judged. Now, the
00:22:39.76\00:22:42.45
ruler of this world is
cast out and then he says in
00:22:42.57\00:22:44.52
verse 32, if I'm lifted
up all people will be drawn
00:22:44.71\00:22:47.42
to me. In other words
on the Cross. So, in the
00:22:47.50\00:22:50.37
immediate context of
the Cross Jesus affirms that
00:22:50.56\00:22:54.61
Satan was cast out,
that he was what everyone?
00:22:54.77\00:22:58.51
Cast out. Cast out, now
let's continue to unpack
00:22:59.34\00:23:00.82
this. Go with me to
John chapter 14. John chapter
00:23:01.01\00:23:04.55
14, we're putting
together piece-by-piece.
00:23:04.79\00:23:07.66
A very powerful and
significant Bible truth
00:23:08.49\00:23:11.53
that will broaden our
picture of the significance
00:23:11.82\00:23:14.67
of the Cross of Jesus
Christ. John chapter 14
00:23:14.70\00:23:17.55
and I'm reading in
verse 11. John chapter 14 and
00:23:17.66\00:23:21.04
I'm reading in verse
11. And pardon me, verse.
00:23:21.10\00:23:24.34
John chapter 14, we'll
pick it up in verse 11.
00:23:27.04\00:23:28.70
Jesus says, believe
me that I'm in the Father
00:23:29.37\00:23:31.52
and the Father in me
or else believe me for the
00:23:31.60\00:23:34.13
sake of the works.
The sake of the what
00:23:34.37\00:23:36.42
everyone? The works
themselves. Now, what
00:23:36.64\00:23:39.06
works, to what works
is he referring? Notice
00:23:39.33\00:23:41.68
verse 30. Verse 30
Jesus says, I will no longer,
00:23:41.97\00:23:45.18
same chapter. I will no
longer talk with you much
00:23:45.41\00:23:47.51
for the ruler of this
world is coming. Who is
00:23:48.06\00:23:49.86
the ruler of this
world, everyone? Satan.
00:23:49.92\00:23:52.40
Satan, that's exactly
right. The ruler of this
00:23:52.43\00:23:53.98
world is coming and
he has nothing in me.
00:23:54.07\00:23:55.94
So, Jesus now has used
this phrase two times to
00:23:57.56\00:24:00.06
refer to Satan. The
ruler of this world is judged,
00:24:00.15\00:24:02.44
the ruler of this
world comes and has nothing
00:24:02.73\00:24:04.22
in me. Now, what does
Jesus mean when he says
00:24:04.25\00:24:06.12
the ruler of this
world has nothing in me?
00:24:06.29\00:24:07.62
What do you think he
is saying? Any ideas.
00:24:07.81\00:24:11.67
He is sinless. He is
sinless, that's exactly
00:24:12.20\00:24:13.96
right. What he's
affirming here is that Satan
00:24:14.19\00:24:16.54
comes to condemn.
Satan comes to accuse,
00:24:16.75\00:24:19.43
Satan comes to cast
down and to condemn and
00:24:19.75\00:24:22.92
Jesus says, he has
no answering code in me.
00:24:23.19\00:24:25.72
He finds nothing in
me. Did Jesus ever commit
00:24:26.11\00:24:28.91
a sin, yes or no? No.
Now, is Satan fair in his
00:24:28.94\00:24:32.04
condemnation of you
without the blood of
00:24:32.23\00:24:33.82
Jesus covering you, yes
or no? Sure he is, but he
00:24:33.92\00:24:36.27
had nothing in
Jesus. Nothing to condemn in
00:24:36.47\00:24:39.22
Jesus and in that context
Jesus says, the prince of
00:24:39.50\00:24:41.98
this world comes, but
he has nothing. He can say
00:24:42.01\00:24:44.59
nothing. Now, Jesus
uses this phrase one more
00:24:44.87\00:24:47.06
time and this was in
John chapter 16. Notice with
00:24:47.23\00:24:49.23
me verse 11. John
chapter 16 and verse 11.
00:24:49.33\00:24:52.93
Jesus is speaking
about the coming of the Holy
00:24:53.28\00:24:55.01
Spirit, the coming of
the comforter and he says in
00:24:55.21\00:24:56.87
verse 11 of judgment
because the ruler of this
00:24:56.97\00:25:00.78
world is judged.
The, who of this world is
00:25:01.00\00:25:03.78
judged everyone? Ruler.
Now, it's remarkable that
00:25:03.89\00:25:06.09
Jesus uses that
phraseology. Why would
00:25:06.36\00:25:08.98
Jesus refer to Satan as
the ruler of this world,
00:25:09.14\00:25:11.68
the ruler of this
world and the prince of this
00:25:11.78\00:25:13.24
world? Chiefly for this
reason. Remember the last
00:25:13.33\00:25:16.12
time we were
together, we talked about that
00:25:16.25\00:25:17.64
experience there
in the Garden of Eden.
00:25:17.87\00:25:19.49
Where God had given
everything into the hands
00:25:19.76\00:25:21.81
of Adam and Eve and
they were to stand on his
00:25:21.84\00:25:24.06
word and to trust him,
but in and hearing to the
00:25:24.29\00:25:27.46
words of Satan over
and above the words of God,
00:25:27.62\00:25:30.10
they effectively
changed loyalties or switched
00:25:33.30\00:25:34.27
allegiance. Are you
with me on that, yes or no?
00:25:34.28\00:25:36.46
They effectively
stepped from the side of God
00:25:36.95\00:25:39.75
over to the side of
Satan and because Adam was
00:25:40.16\00:25:43.39
our genetic father
and our representative
00:25:43.46\00:25:45.35
ambassador, when Adam
gained, went over to the
00:25:45.42\00:25:48.77
side of Satan and
gave him his allegiance and
00:25:48.96\00:25:50.63
him his loyalty;
Satan became effectively the
00:25:50.83\00:25:53.81
ruler of this age. It
was Adam whom God had said
00:25:53.96\00:25:57.54
to him, you have, you
shall have dominion and
00:25:57.90\00:26:00.47
you can subdue the
world etcetera, etcetera.
00:26:00.93\00:26:03.01
And so when he now
gives his allegiance and
00:26:03.31\00:26:05.09
his loyalty to Satan he
has effectively handled,
00:26:05.20\00:26:08.09
handed the baton of
this world, the rulership of
00:26:08.60\00:26:11.19
this world over to
Satan and Jesus affirms that
00:26:11.23\00:26:14.66
three times. The ruler of
this world, the ruler this
00:26:14.77\00:26:16.94
world, and the prince
of this world. Now, write
00:26:17.01\00:26:18.81
this verse of
scripture down because it's
00:26:18.90\00:26:20.09
incredible, we don't
have time to go there.
00:26:20.21\00:26:21.63
Second Corinthians
chapter 4 and verse 4.
00:26:22.17\00:26:24.29
In Second Corinthians
chapter 4 and verse 4,
00:26:25.69\00:26:27.43
the Apostle Paul says
something that is utterly
00:26:27.63\00:26:29.55
remarkable, in
referring to Satan he actually
00:26:29.63\00:26:32.51
calls him. Listen to
this carefully, the God of
00:26:32.69\00:26:35.80
this world. How many
of you were aware of that?
00:26:35.99\00:26:38.83
That Satan is actually
referred to as the God of
00:26:39.48\00:26:42.31
this world in the Bible.
You can read it in Second
00:26:42.46\00:26:44.28
Corinthians chapter
4 and verse 4. Now, now
00:26:44.42\00:26:46.07
what does that mean?
What does it mean when
00:26:46.37\00:26:48.78
Jesus affirms that he
is the prince of this world
00:26:48.98\00:26:50.99
and Paul says, he is
the God of this world,
00:26:51.02\00:26:53.15
to what are these men
referring? Well, in order
00:26:53.41\00:26:57.09
to understand that let's
go back now to Revelation
00:26:57.17\00:26:59.03
chapter 12. And let's see
if we can put all of these
00:26:59.21\00:27:01.29
puzzle pieces
together in to a cohesive hold.
00:27:01.37\00:27:03.65
Revelation chapter
12, Revelation chapter 12.
00:27:04.34\00:27:09.48
Jesus says that
Lucifer, that is Satan was cast
00:27:09.69\00:27:13.12
out at the Cross. At
the where everyone? Cross.
00:27:13.30\00:27:16.84
At the Cross. Now, let
us note that again in verse
00:27:16.98\00:27:19.04
9. Revelation 12:9, so
the great dragon was cast
00:27:19.22\00:27:22.30
out, that serpent of
old called the Devil and
00:27:22.52\00:27:24.75
Satan, who deceives the
whole world. He was cast
00:27:25.00\00:27:26.74
to the earth, and his
angels were cast out with
00:27:26.89\00:27:28.78
him. Now, if we were to
ask Jesus, Jesus when did
00:27:28.85\00:27:30.65
this happen. He would
say exactly when I told
00:27:30.76\00:27:33.22
you it happened at
the Cross? At the what
00:27:33.25\00:27:36.53
everyone? Cross. At the
Cross. Now, notice this,
00:27:36.75\00:27:39.42
in verse 10, it says
then I heard a loud voice
00:27:39.93\00:27:42.11
saying in heaven, 'now,'
that's the very same word
00:27:42.23\00:27:45.41
that Jesus used. Now,
salvation and strength
00:27:45.44\00:27:48.97
and the Kingdom of our
God and the power of his
00:27:49.12\00:27:51.98
what? Christ, what's
the word Christ means.
00:27:52.29\00:27:54.66
It means anointed. The
messiah, he is saying at
00:27:54.82\00:27:58.18
this time, the strength,
the salvation, the power
00:27:58.37\00:28:01.53
of his Christ and
his Kingdom have come,
00:28:01.65\00:28:03.61
when did the power
of his Christ come.
00:28:04.02\00:28:05.79
When was the power of
the Christ most perfectly
00:28:06.11\00:28:09.29
epitomized and
manifested, when was it? On the
00:28:09.76\00:28:12.83
Cross. Now, watch this,
let's plug this into our
00:28:12.99\00:28:16.40
equation and you're
going to see something utterly
00:28:16.69\00:28:18.16
remarkable. The
contention that we're making
00:28:18.29\00:28:20.37
here is that at the
Cross Satan was utterly cast
00:28:20.40\00:28:24.26
out from heaven,
utterly cast out from the
00:28:24.35\00:28:26.77
Celestial Kingdom.
Now, I know what you might
00:28:26.93\00:28:28.42
be thinking. You're
saying, no, no, no Pastor
00:28:28.49\00:28:29.81
Asscherick you got that
wrong. He was cast out in
00:28:29.89\00:28:31.81
the beginning.
Sometime back thousands of years
00:28:31.92\00:28:34.44
before the Cross around
the creation time, that's
00:28:34.60\00:28:36.71
when he was cast out.
And the answer is, you're
00:28:36.74\00:28:38.79
right, but only
partly. You're only partially
00:28:38.87\00:28:42.52
correct, if you say
that's when he was cast out.
00:28:42.82\00:28:44.64
What I'm going to
show you now, is that
00:28:44.70\00:28:45.88
according to Revelation
he had been cast out in a
00:28:45.96\00:28:48.31
sense before that, but
his fullest casting out
00:28:48.65\00:28:51.65
actually took place
at the Cross. And let us
00:28:52.18\00:28:56.29
continue, this gets
so powerful. Notice verse
00:28:56.55\00:28:58.39
ten, now salvation and
strengthen the Kingdom of
00:28:58.57\00:29:00.52
our God have and the
power of his Christ have
00:29:00.65\00:29:02.31
come for the accuser of
our brethren, who accused
00:29:02.42\00:29:04.81
them before our God
day and night has been cast
00:29:04.89\00:29:06.97
out. Let me ask you a
quick question, according
00:29:07.06\00:29:08.87
to verse ten, did
Satan have access; some kind
00:29:08.96\00:29:12.35
of access in verse
10 to God, yes or no?
00:29:12.42\00:29:15.20
Yes. Sure he did,
because it says that he was
00:29:15.57\00:29:17.56
accusing them before
our God day and night.
00:29:17.80\00:29:19.75
And John is rejoicing
here. He says, Praise the
00:29:20.58\00:29:23.02
Lord in essence because
now he has been cast out.
00:29:23.19\00:29:25.90
The one who formally
was accusing day and night
00:29:26.11\00:29:28.10
no longer has
access. Now notice verse 11,
00:29:28.39\00:29:31.54
it gets so, so much
better and they overcame him
00:29:31.59\00:29:33.89
by the blood of the lamb
and by the world of their
00:29:33.99\00:29:35.22
testimony and they did
not love their lives to the
00:29:35.43\00:29:37.60
death. Notice verse
12 therefore. Now, you've
00:29:37.85\00:29:42.32
probably heard me say
this before, but let me
00:29:42.43\00:29:43.84
repeat it. When you see
the word therefore in the
00:29:43.97\00:29:46.11
Bible, you ask yourself
what is therefore, amen.
00:29:46.16\00:29:49.89
Amen. The word therefore
is used as a concluding
00:29:50.70\00:29:53.40
remark. What kind of
a remark? A concluding
00:29:53.87\00:29:56.31
remark, in other words
you've point number one,
00:29:56.47\00:29:57.84
point number two,
point number three. And then
00:29:58.13\00:29:59.96
as you come to
your conclusion, you say
00:30:00.11\00:30:01.76
therefore, are you
with me, yes or no?
00:30:01.94\00:30:04.33
Yes. On the basis of
my foregoing preemies
00:30:04.58\00:30:07.19
therefore this is my
conclusion and notice
00:30:07.46\00:30:10.32
carefully John's
conclusion, we've not read
00:30:10.78\00:30:12.95
this verse yet, but
note it with me and note it
00:30:13.14\00:30:14.79
very carefully. Therefore
rejoice all, what's the
00:30:14.82\00:30:19.01
next word. Heaven.
Heavens and you who dwell
00:30:19.13\00:30:21.76
in them. According
to that verse, who is to
00:30:21.94\00:30:25.07
rejoice? The heavens
and those who dwell in
00:30:25.23\00:30:28.18
them. Now, notice what
it goes on to say, woe to
00:30:28.38\00:30:31.37
the inhibitors of the?
Earth. Earth and the sea,
00:30:31.40\00:30:34.69
for the devil has come
down to you having great
00:30:34.76\00:30:37.17
wrath because he knows
that he has a short time,
00:30:37.46\00:30:39.80
isn't verse 12 an
interesting verse.
00:30:40.13\00:30:42.07
Verse 12, sends out
paradoxical commands.
00:30:43.75\00:30:47.04
The first command
is, if you live in heaven
00:30:48.01\00:30:49.87
rejoice. The second
command is, if you live
00:30:50.16\00:30:52.70
on earth wow! Watch
out, be aware, caution,
00:30:52.83\00:30:56.76
why? Why the paradox?
Why the duality of, of,
00:30:57.26\00:31:00.99
of encouragements
here. One to rejoice and one
00:31:01.27\00:31:03.72
to, to watch out and
be careful and woe! Why?
00:31:03.86\00:31:06.50
Chiefly for this
reason friends. At the Cross,
00:31:07.18\00:31:09.83
Satan was fully cast
out from heaven. He lost all
00:31:10.56\00:31:15.14
access to heaven and
the only place that he
00:31:15.34\00:31:18.37
continues to have
access to the minds of free
00:31:18.65\00:31:21.23
sentient volitional
beings is right here on planet
00:31:21.28\00:31:25.41
earth. Notice verse 13,
now when the dragon saw.
00:31:26.15\00:31:32.00
When the dragon, what everyone?
00:31:32.72\00:31:33.92
Saw. When the dragon
saw, the word there is
00:31:34.45\00:31:37.13
perceived. When the
dragon perceived that he
00:31:37.36\00:31:41.42
had been cast to the
earth. Notice there it is
00:31:41.45\00:31:44.41
again cast to the,
what everyone? To the earth,
00:31:44.44\00:31:47.76
he persecuted the
woman who gave birth to the
00:31:48.21\00:31:49.65
male child. Notice it
at the end of verse 12,
00:31:49.76\00:31:51.72
it says, that now he
knows he has a great long
00:31:51.88\00:31:54.94
amount of time. A
short time and then in verse
00:31:55.01\00:31:58.06
13, it says, he saw
that he was cast out.
00:31:58.34\00:32:00.63
What was it that
sealed permanently and
00:32:01.92\00:32:05.31
inexorably and
irrevocably the faith
00:32:05.53\00:32:08.04
of Satan. What was it
that sealed the faith of
00:32:08.20\00:32:10.00
Satan? It was the
Cross. Now, let's continue to,
00:32:10.08\00:32:12.62
to unpack this. Well,
let's go to the screen.
00:32:12.81\00:32:14.61
Satan still had
limited access to heavenly
00:32:15.09\00:32:18.05
realms, and he used
this access to accuse God and
00:32:18.27\00:32:22.44
his people. Let me note
this very carefully with
00:32:22.51\00:32:24.52
you. After the sin of
Adam and Eve. After his
00:32:24.55\00:32:28.10
initial rebellion in
heaven up to the time
00:32:28.41\00:32:31.12
of the Cross Satan
still had limited access to
00:32:31.24\00:32:35.14
celestial realms. He
had what kind of access did
00:32:35.37\00:32:37.52
I say? Limited access,
that's John's whole point
00:32:37.72\00:32:41.06
there in
Revelation chapter 12, verses
00:32:41.09\00:32:42.57
7 to 13, that's
why he says, woe to the
00:32:42.68\00:32:45.25
inhibitors of the
earth because now all of his
00:32:45.49\00:32:47.18
resources, all of his
energies are concentrated
00:32:47.35\00:32:49.76
in the here and now,
but the heavens can rejoice
00:32:49.86\00:32:51.72
because he cannot
harass them any longer.
00:32:51.78\00:32:53.76
Now, let's continue
this, Satan still had limited
00:32:55.09\00:32:57.75
access, why? What
happened at the Cross.
00:32:57.99\00:32:59.89
Friends the Cross
exposes the true nature
00:33:00.49\00:33:02.94
of Satan's character
and plans. At the Cross,
00:33:02.97\00:33:07.00
we saw what the devil
is really like, but more
00:33:07.27\00:33:10.68
than this what the
Cross shows us is what God is
00:33:10.71\00:33:14.03
really like. Now, do
we have some Bible proof
00:33:14.29\00:33:18.47
that Satan still had
access to, to heavenly
00:33:18.74\00:33:21.72
realms, to some sort
of celestial realm before
00:33:21.99\00:33:24.87
the Cross yet after
his fall? Do we have some
00:33:24.98\00:33:27.43
Bible evidence of
that, yes or no? Job.
00:33:27.56\00:33:29.57
That's exactly right.
The Book of Job, let's go to
00:33:29.80\00:33:31.40
Job chapter 1. Now
Job, is that in the Old
00:33:31.53\00:33:34.99
Testament or the New
Testament. Old. That's in
00:33:35.08\00:33:37.25
the older testament.
That's right, go with me
00:33:37.38\00:33:38.96
to Job chapter 1. Job
chapter 1 just before the
00:33:39.03\00:33:42.80
Book of Psalms. Job
chapter 1 and I'm going
00:33:42.91\00:33:45.76
to begin reading in
verse 6. Job chapter 1 and I'm
00:33:45.79\00:33:48.90
reading in verse 6.
Now, there was a day when
00:33:48.99\00:33:51.25
the sons of God came
to present themselves
00:33:51.28\00:33:54.02
before the LORD, and
Satan also came among
00:33:54.10\00:33:57.28
them. Now, you can
be confident that the,
00:33:57.38\00:33:59.08
that this is not
Lucifer the unfallen angel,
00:33:59.31\00:34:01.87
because it refers
to him as Satan. Satan,
00:34:02.22\00:34:04.45
so Job says, there was
a day when the sons of God
00:34:05.29\00:34:07.23
we don't know who the
sons of God are, but some
00:34:07.36\00:34:08.78
sort of heavenly
beings. Heavenly counsel
00:34:08.84\00:34:11.18
members come to
present themselves before the
00:34:11.21\00:34:14.34
God of the universe and
Satan comes lollygagging
00:34:14.44\00:34:17.62
into the assembly.
Notice verse 7, and the Lord
00:34:17.80\00:34:22.00
said to Satan from
where do you come, if,
00:34:22.40\00:34:24.88
if I might give a little
paraphrase here; a little
00:34:24.91\00:34:26.93
interpretive paraphrase.
What God is saying is,
00:34:27.13\00:34:29.41
what are you doing
here? Are you with me?
00:34:29.72\00:34:32.78
Where are you coming
from? The rest of verse 7.
00:34:33.31\00:34:35.70
So, Satan answered the
Lord and said, well you
00:34:36.12\00:34:38.09
know, from going to and
fro on the earth and from
00:34:38.12\00:34:40.74
walking back and forth
on it. Why does Satan say
00:34:40.86\00:34:42.98
that? What he's
essentially saying here?
00:34:43.35\00:34:46.10
You know, God I, I have
just been walking to and
00:34:46.32\00:34:49.07
fro you know; back
and forth on my planet,
00:34:49.22\00:34:52.59
planet earth. Now,
friends the fact that verse 7,
00:34:53.13\00:34:56.74
where God says, where
are you coming from and
00:34:57.23\00:34:59.82
the fact that he says
I'm coming from earth proves
00:34:59.96\00:35:02.89
that this thing
didn't take place on earth,
00:35:03.01\00:35:04.58
amen. Amen. See, I
wouldn't ask you, if we
00:35:06.08\00:35:08.55
had an assemblage
right here in the Urbandale
00:35:08.77\00:35:10.57
Church and we were in
the Urbandale Church and
00:35:10.73\00:35:13.34
I said, where did you
come from? It wouldn't
00:35:13.40\00:35:15.12
make any sense if you
were already always in
00:35:15.22\00:35:17.16
Urbandale Church. You
follow that, he said what
00:35:17.36\00:35:19.44
do you mean where did
I come from. This is what
00:35:19.47\00:35:20.63
I'm at, this is where
we're at. The very fact
00:35:20.66\00:35:23.82
that God says, why
are you here and where did
00:35:23.95\00:35:25.94
you come from is
Prima facie evidence friends
00:35:26.06\00:35:28.86
that they were not
on planet earth. Are you
00:35:28.89\00:35:31.46
with me, yes or no?
Yes. Now, where did this take
00:35:31.56\00:35:33.59
place, the answer is,
are you ready here is the
00:35:33.81\00:35:35.21
Bible answer drum roll,
we have no idea. Alright,
00:35:35.24\00:35:40.54
we just don't know, we
have no idea where this
00:35:40.57\00:35:42.99
took place, but we do
know where it didn't take
00:35:43.08\00:35:45.22
place and that's
right here on planet earth.
00:35:45.31\00:35:46.53
It took place
somewhere out there in celestial
00:35:46.83\00:35:49.88
heavenly realms, the
sons of God are there in this
00:35:50.31\00:35:52.70
assembly. They're
presenting their case
00:35:52.86\00:35:54.54
before God, they're
there as representatives of the
00:35:54.82\00:35:57.01
unfalling universe,
Satan comes walking in, God
00:35:57.17\00:35:59.68
interrogates him,
what are you doing here?
00:35:59.94\00:36:01.19
Well, you know, just
walking to and fro back
00:36:01.22\00:36:02.87
on my planet, that's
the obvious implication
00:36:03.14\00:36:05.32
of what Satan is
saying. Now, you know that
00:36:05.40\00:36:07.62
that's what Satan is
saying here and you know,
00:36:07.80\00:36:09.31
that's the implication
of what he is saying because
00:36:09.51\00:36:10.87
notice God's response
in verse 8. God's response
00:36:11.13\00:36:13.80
in verse 8 proves that
that's exactly what Satan
00:36:13.93\00:36:16.25
was saying, then the
Lord said to Satan, have you
00:36:16.58\00:36:19.69
considered my
servant, who everyone? Job.
00:36:19.94\00:36:22.00
Job, that there was
none like him on the earth,
00:36:22.82\00:36:25.15
a blameless and a
bright man who fears God and
00:36:25.35\00:36:27.88
shuns evil. What's God
saying here in essence?
00:36:28.17\00:36:30.51
You claim the planet
as your own, but have you
00:36:31.39\00:36:33.67
considered my servant
Job, he doesn't follow
00:36:33.91\00:36:36.32
your ways, sure many
of them do, but he is not
00:36:36.43\00:36:38.93
under your rulership
and under your banner.
00:36:39.06\00:36:40.92
He does not take you
as his representative.
00:36:41.41\00:36:43.91
Are you with me, yes
or no? God here is taking
00:36:44.28\00:36:46.64
issue with Satan's claim
to have universal control
00:36:46.79\00:36:49.98
over this planet.
Notice verse 9, so Satan
00:36:50.15\00:36:53.25
answered the Lord and
said, does Job fear God
00:36:53.38\00:36:55.63
for nothing. Why
does he fear you God?
00:36:55.71\00:36:58.75
Why does he, why does
he give you reference,
00:36:58.87\00:37:01.03
respect and, and
reverence and, and he is
00:37:01.66\00:37:03.77
deferential toward
you. Verse 10, have you not
00:37:03.88\00:37:06.87
made a hedge
around him and around his
00:37:07.10\00:37:08.88
household and around
all he has in every side,
00:37:09.02\00:37:11.09
you have blessed the
work of his hands and his
00:37:11.18\00:37:12.40
possessions have
increased, but now he
00:37:12.58\00:37:14.51
says stretch out your
hands and touch all that
00:37:14.68\00:37:17.02
he has and he will
surely curse you to your face.
00:37:17.05\00:37:19.39
Friends, what is
Satan saying? What is he
00:37:19.80\00:37:23.43
saying? What, what is
the the thrust of what Satan
00:37:23.47\00:37:25.47
is saying about Job's
obedience? That it's a
00:37:25.50\00:37:29.68
farce. That's what he
saying. He is saying it's
00:37:29.90\00:37:32.65
farce. The only reason
that he obeys is you give
00:37:32.74\00:37:35.10
him the goodies. If
you take away the goodies,
00:37:35.13\00:37:37.72
he will turn on you and
he will curse you to your
00:37:37.94\00:37:39.67
face. He is
accusing. He is what everyone?
00:37:39.82\00:37:43.02
He is accusing God,
amen. Amen. And he is
00:37:43.63\00:37:47.10
accusing Job. His
acquisition of God is,
00:37:47.22\00:37:50.82
the only way you can
get friends is by giving
00:37:51.00\00:37:52.87
them the goods. And his
acquisition of Job is the
00:37:53.01\00:37:56.35
only reason he is
loyal to you, the only reason
00:37:56.47\00:37:58.08
he stays faithful to
you is because you give him
00:37:58.29\00:38:00.27
all of the nice goodies
and amenities of his life.
00:38:00.46\00:38:02.49
It's an acquisition
party. Are you with me?
00:38:03.11\00:38:06.11
And then next, that's
the context of the Book
00:38:06.43\00:38:07.60
Job and you know
the context of Job,
00:38:07.86\00:38:09.47
everything is
stripped away from him, family,
00:38:09.86\00:38:11.60
material goods, health,
everything is taken away
00:38:11.77\00:38:14.05
and I love that
phrase there in Job or in Job
00:38:14.39\00:38:16.76
where he says, though
he slay me, yet will I
00:38:16.90\00:38:20.61
trust him. Amen.
Amen. Amen. At one point his
00:38:20.94\00:38:23.77
wife comes to him and
says curse God and die,
00:38:23.91\00:38:25.95
though he slay me,
yet will I trust him.
00:38:26.76\00:38:30.53
Job proved that
Satan's acquisitions were
00:38:31.54\00:38:34.08
groundless and
false, amen. Amen.
00:38:34.36\00:38:36.80
But don't miss the
larger point. The larger point
00:38:36.83\00:38:39.53
here is that Satan had
access both to God and to
00:38:39.66\00:38:44.57
earth. So, he could
accuse God and he could
00:38:45.19\00:38:47.25
accuse his followers
somewhere in the heavenly
00:38:47.47\00:38:50.46
realms. Are you
with me, yes or no? Amen.
00:38:50.55\00:38:52.51
But what John is saying
in Revelation chapter 12
00:38:52.54\00:38:54.52
is, is that limited
access was cut off, when?
00:38:54.65\00:39:00.00
At the Cross. Now,
why might that be? Why
00:39:01.21\00:39:04.31
might it be that at the
Cross no longer Satan was
00:39:04.49\00:39:08.09
allowed access to
these other celestial realms?
00:39:08.27\00:39:12.54
Friends the reason is
just this. The only place
00:39:13.09\00:39:16.61
that is yet undecided
about Satan and his plans
00:39:16.74\00:39:21.25
and his ploys is planet
earth. Are you with me on
00:39:21.43\00:39:24.26
that? The only planet
that has not yet made up
00:39:24.58\00:39:27.43
its mind is this planet.
Friends, at the Cross all of
00:39:27.57\00:39:33.67
the unfallen worlds, all
of the angels, all of the
00:39:33.81\00:39:36.93
unfallen universe,
universes and galaxies
00:39:37.19\00:39:39.78
and whatever is out
there. All of them saw
00:39:39.81\00:39:43.27
that Satan was a
murderer. Satan was a
00:39:43.66\00:39:44.89
what word did I say?
Murderer. Murderer, now
00:39:44.92\00:39:48.68
you say well big deal,
we know that. Well, let's,
00:39:48.71\00:39:51.88
let's back up here just
a moment. Satan had raised
00:39:51.91\00:39:56.07
acquisitions and
insinuations against the
00:39:56.21\00:39:58.32
government and
character of God, true or false?
00:39:58.43\00:40:00.22
True. True, that's
exactly right. You can read
00:40:00.54\00:40:02.13
it in Isaiah 14 and
Ezekiel 28 and other
00:40:02.16\00:40:04.38
places. He basically
said in essence I could
00:40:04.57\00:40:06.37
run the
government, I could run the
00:40:06.57\00:40:07.83
government of this
universe better than God
00:40:07.95\00:40:10.11
can and he began to
raise insinuations and doubts
00:40:10.39\00:40:12.64
about God's
government, about his nature and
00:40:12.74\00:40:14.13
about his character.
Now, do you think his
00:40:14.25\00:40:17.19
arguments were
persuasive, yes or no? Yes.
00:40:17.38\00:40:19.86
Absolutely, how
do we know they were
00:40:20.66\00:40:22.08
persuasive? Because
a full one third of the
00:40:22.39\00:40:26.05
unfallen angels. That
is to say, angels that had
00:40:26.41\00:40:29.76
the full capacity of
their mental strength.
00:40:29.95\00:40:32.54
They believed his,
his insinuations, they
00:40:33.26\00:40:36.64
believed his
persuasive innuendos and
00:40:36.74\00:40:39.53
insinuations and they
followed him. Are you with
00:40:39.80\00:40:43.42
me on that? Amen.
Now, now these must have
00:40:43.45\00:40:45.43
been some very
persuasive arguments because
00:40:45.48\00:40:47.45
civil war basically
took place right there.
00:40:48.58\00:40:50.83
Now, do you think
that there would have been
00:40:52.16\00:40:53.13
questions in the
minds of the two thirds that
00:40:53.22\00:40:55.25
remained, yes or no?
Of course, think about
00:40:55.54\00:40:58.85
that friends, a full one
third of the loyal angels
00:40:59.01\00:41:01.24
have left, they've
abandoned God for this
00:41:01.49\00:41:04.06
character Lucifer now
Satan and, and they're
00:41:04.22\00:41:06.83
gonna be scratching
their heads and thinking well
00:41:06.93\00:41:08.51
it, it doesn't seem
like what Satan is saying is
00:41:09.31\00:41:11.19
right but maybe he
is on to something.
00:41:11.22\00:41:12.87
And friends when Jesus
Christ came incarnate and
00:41:14.47\00:41:17.29
he was put into the
womb of Mary and he walked
00:41:17.36\00:41:20.47
the path with; of tears
and he came as a man and
00:41:20.50\00:41:24.09
he grew and he went
eventually to the Cross
00:41:24.21\00:41:26.56
through that whole
period of 30+ years the angels
00:41:26.72\00:41:29.19
in heaven were
basically looking down and
00:41:29.26\00:41:31.02
holding their breathe.
They were terrified, what
00:41:31.17\00:41:35.81
will happen, God
becomes a man. And friends,
00:41:36.04\00:41:40.07
when, when Satan took
Jesus and laid him out on
00:41:40.22\00:41:43.55
that Cross and through
those soldiers, put him
00:41:43.66\00:41:47.49
on that Cross and
raised him up, all of the loyal
00:41:47.72\00:41:50.57
angels saw that
what God have been saying
00:41:50.84\00:41:53.07
about Lucifer all along,
Satan all along was true,
00:41:53.25\00:41:57.18
mainly that he was a
murderer. And when the
00:41:57.63\00:41:59.59
unfallen universes saw
that. When they saw him
00:41:59.77\00:42:02.45
put him on the Cross
and actually kill God,
00:42:02.64\00:42:04.75
they said we, we're
not interested. We want to
00:42:04.87\00:42:06.85
have nothing to do with
this. Are you with me on
00:42:07.18\00:42:10.33
this? Amen. So friends
the minds of the unfallen
00:42:10.50\00:42:13.49
universes was made up
at the Cross. Jesus says
00:42:13.65\00:42:18.25
in John chapter 8, verse
44. He is speaking to the
00:42:18.28\00:42:20.01
Scribes and the Pharisees
and he says, you are of
00:42:20.22\00:42:21.94
your father, the devil
and then he says, he was
00:42:22.10\00:42:24.15
a murderer from the
beginning. Now, that's a
00:42:24.21\00:42:27.40
remarkable thing for
Jesus to say. He was a
00:42:27.53\00:42:29.26
murderer from the
beginning. Did God know
00:42:29.40\00:42:31.64
that yes or no? Yes.
But here is the point,
00:42:31.74\00:42:34.23
the other angels
didn't. It wasn't until the
00:42:34.69\00:42:38.99
Cross that they could
see with clear vision what
00:42:39.19\00:42:43.05
Satan's all about?
What his plans are and the
00:42:43.24\00:42:45.80
direction that it
will take the universe?
00:42:45.89\00:42:47.53
Now, think about
this for just a moment.
00:42:47.73\00:42:48.87
Imagine with me that
one of President Bush's
00:42:50.68\00:42:52.48
senior level advisers;
one of his senior level
00:42:52.68\00:42:54.87
cabinet members
begins to raise doubts and
00:42:55.28\00:42:57.34
insinuations about the
president. And, and he is
00:42:57.46\00:43:00.82
charging or she is
charging major scandal.
00:43:00.97\00:43:03.44
Major scandal
throughout the entire presidency
00:43:04.01\00:43:06.16
and you know she; she
is ready to document it
00:43:06.58\00:43:08.37
and here and here and
she is about ready to go
00:43:08.47\00:43:10.11
on television and
announce the whole thing
00:43:10.28\00:43:11.89
scandal throughout the
whole administration and
00:43:12.31\00:43:14.74
the day before or two
days before, she is to
00:43:14.85\00:43:17.27
leak all of this
information, she turns
00:43:17.79\00:43:19.89
up dead. Just out of
nowhere, surprise. She,
00:43:19.98\00:43:24.00
she died in a tragic
car accident. Now, what if
00:43:24.25\00:43:27.01
that happened,
of course this is a
00:43:27.18\00:43:28.15
fictitious situation,
but just imagine with me.
00:43:28.20\00:43:30.23
What is everybody
going to assume if that
00:43:30.60\00:43:33.24
happened? What do you
think, what do you think
00:43:33.40\00:43:36.14
people would think?
She was on to something,
00:43:36.26\00:43:38.88
you following me.
She was on to something.
00:43:40.13\00:43:41.88
And so they couldn't
afford to have it come
00:43:42.25\00:43:43.55
out and you got rid
of her. Now, think about
00:43:43.66\00:43:45.29
this in terms of the
celestial, this cosmic
00:43:45.40\00:43:47.76
conflict. Satan begins
to raise doubts about God's
00:43:48.06\00:43:50.48
character, about his
graciousness, about his
00:43:50.65\00:43:52.52
nature. He begins to
say, well you know, I could
00:43:52.67\00:43:54.24
really run things better.
God's not the benevolent,
00:43:54.43\00:43:56.12
nice guy that he seems
or the, the magnanimous
00:43:56.23\00:43:58.72
nice guy that he
seems to be. He is really
00:43:58.78\00:44:00.09
malevolent
malefactor. He is a bad guy.
00:44:00.65\00:44:02.82
Obviously this was
persuasive and if God in
00:44:04.04\00:44:06.37
a moment had just
said, that's it you're out.
00:44:06.40\00:44:08.35
And he had killed Satan
and he had killed all of
00:44:09.38\00:44:12.39
his followers. What
do you think the other
00:44:12.50\00:44:14.89
angels may have
thought? He was onto
00:44:15.00\00:44:19.12
something. And
friends it probably would have
00:44:19.26\00:44:21.00
only confirmed their
very fears namely that God
00:44:21.11\00:44:23.67
was a great big bad
guy. Are you understanding
00:44:23.76\00:44:26.33
now, yes or no? So,
what did God do? God
00:44:26.37\00:44:29.94
gave Satan this planet
and he said, alright go
00:44:30.16\00:44:32.68
down there, try to
tempt Adam and Eve. And after
00:44:32.78\00:44:34.73
they fell he said; okay
the, the planet is yours,
00:44:34.76\00:44:36.74
that's why Jesus says
the ruler of this world,
00:44:36.95\00:44:38.46
the ruler of this world,
the prince of this world.
00:44:38.66\00:44:39.92
And Paul says, the
God of this world because
00:44:40.20\00:44:42.30
this little planet is
a theater for the entire
00:44:42.44\00:44:45.55
universe to see how
God's plans contrast with
00:44:45.72\00:44:49.16
Satan's plans. How
God's governmental system
00:44:49.67\00:44:51.95
contrasts with
Satan's governmental system.
00:44:52.28\00:44:54.53
And at the Cross all
of the unfallen universes
00:44:54.75\00:44:57.53
says, no, no, no. We see
where this thing is going.
00:44:57.66\00:45:00.12
We see what Satan
is all about. We're not
00:45:00.50\00:45:02.45
interested, but you and
I as individuals are still
00:45:02.66\00:45:07.59
making up our
mind. Now, let's go very
00:45:07.67\00:45:10.33
quickly to First
Corinthians chapter 4.
00:45:10.53\00:45:11.94
First Corinthians
chapter 4, that's in the New
00:45:12.20\00:45:14.67
Testament. First
Corinthians, what chapter
00:45:14.70\00:45:16.16
everyone? Four.
Four, very quickly verse 9.
00:45:16.34\00:45:19.46
Who wrote First
Corinthians by the way?
00:45:19.60\00:45:20.89
Paul. The Apostle Paul
and in First Corinthians
00:45:21.24\00:45:22.76
chapter 4 and I'm
reading in verse 9. The Apostle
00:45:22.81\00:45:24.82
Paul says this. For I
think that God has displayed
00:45:24.85\00:45:27.82
us, the apostles
lashed as men condemn to death
00:45:28.01\00:45:31.61
for we have been made
a spectacle to the world
00:45:32.09\00:45:35.02
both to angels and to
men. Now, notice he says
00:45:35.33\00:45:39.39
there we've been made
a spectacle. We've been
00:45:39.46\00:45:41.69
made a what?
Spectacle. Spectacle, now I'm
00:45:41.86\00:45:43.48
reading from the New
King James version. And if
00:45:43.62\00:45:44.97
I look in my marginal
reference there of that
00:45:45.08\00:45:46.69
word spectacle. There
is a little one by it.
00:45:46.81\00:45:48.69
And if I go over hoop to
the center call and I look
00:45:48.97\00:45:51.17
up that word spectacle.
Do you what word appears
00:45:51.20\00:45:52.95
there. Theater.
Theater, that's exactly right.
00:45:53.07\00:45:55.81
It's the word for
theater. It's the Greek word for
00:45:56.06\00:45:58.52
theater. Now, let's
try to understand what
00:45:58.65\00:46:00.01
Paul is saying here.
Paul is saying that we
00:46:00.17\00:46:02.32
the apostles that is to
say the church of God we
00:46:02.35\00:46:05.19
are the theater for
both angels and men. In other
00:46:05.32\00:46:09.60
words, what do you do
at a theater? You say, I,
00:46:09.87\00:46:13.16
I don't know, I have
never been to the theater.
00:46:14.44\00:46:15.76
Well, you're good
Christian folk that don't
00:46:15.88\00:46:16.95
go to the theater, but
what do other people do
00:46:17.05\00:46:20.02
at theaters. They
watch. And Paul here is saying
00:46:20.05\00:46:24.33
this whole great cosmic
conflict. This whole great
00:46:24.68\00:46:27.52
cosmic plan, this
great battle between good and
00:46:27.75\00:46:30.58
evil, light and
darkness, righteousness and
00:46:30.67\00:46:32.42
unrighteousness is
being played out and we're a
00:46:32.49\00:46:35.25
theater, we're a spectacle
and all of the angels are
00:46:35.54\00:46:38.56
watching. Amen. Are
you understanding now?
00:46:38.70\00:46:41.25
Yes. And friends, the,
the, the moment of most
00:46:41.81\00:46:44.23
intense interest was
when they saw Satan ding,
00:46:44.42\00:46:47.29
ding put Jesus on the
Cross and when they saw
00:46:48.21\00:46:50.58
that, not interested.
Their minds were made up
00:46:50.75\00:46:55.29
and that's why John
says there in Revelation
00:46:55.55\00:46:56.70
chapter 12. He
says, verse 4, or verse,
00:46:56.88\00:46:59.02
Revelation 12:12 he
says therefore rejoice you
00:46:59.30\00:47:01.35
heavens and those that
dwell in them, but woe to
00:47:01.53\00:47:03.54
the inhibitors of
the earth and of the sea
00:47:03.69\00:47:04.77
because the Devil
is coming down. And he
00:47:04.97\00:47:06.16
knows, he's got just a
short time. Why rejoice
00:47:06.19\00:47:08.29
to the heavens
because God took away Satan's
00:47:08.43\00:47:11.44
access to those
celestial kingdoms. Their mind
00:47:11.63\00:47:14.74
was made up, what's
the point. Why should Satan
00:47:14.93\00:47:17.38
be allowed to have
access anymore. Their mind is
00:47:17.54\00:47:19.37
totally made up and so
Satan, that's why it says
00:47:19.54\00:47:21.56
in verse 13. He saw that
he was here, I don't know
00:47:21.71\00:47:24.01
what happens. I don't
know how spiritual beings
00:47:24.19\00:47:25.95
travel, but maybe it's
like star trek where they're
00:47:26.08\00:47:27.58
beamed up you know,
beam me up, but maybe
00:47:27.62\00:47:30.57
Satan tried to do that,
he said. And he couldn't,
00:47:30.66\00:47:35.86
he saw, he perceived
that he was stuck to this
00:47:36.45\00:47:40.63
planet. And when he
realizes that he's stuck to
00:47:40.90\00:47:43.64
this planet and he
sees what has taken place on
00:47:43.77\00:47:45.95
the Cross and that
Jesus has come out of the tomb
00:47:45.98\00:47:47.80
triumphantly on
resurrection morning.
00:47:48.07\00:47:50.04
Now, he knows his
tomb, or pardon me,
00:47:50.37\00:47:54.38
his destiny and
his faith is sealed.
00:47:54.74\00:47:57.78
Amen. And what does
he do, repent. No, now he
00:47:58.55\00:48:02.67
pours all of his energies
and all of his resources
00:48:02.89\00:48:05.56
into one central
locality, namely a neighborhood
00:48:06.07\00:48:10.96
near you and I,
planet earth, coming to a
00:48:11.28\00:48:14.82
neighborhood near you
friends. Satan pouring
00:48:15.07\00:48:17.77
out all of his hellish
resources right here on
00:48:17.91\00:48:20.99
this planet. Why? Because
at the Cross, he lost his
00:48:21.20\00:48:25.66
access. So it's
kind of making sense now,
00:48:25.87\00:48:28.55
yes or no? Yes. Now,
notice it becomes even
00:48:28.72\00:48:31.30
more powerful, go wit
me to several verses I
00:48:31.83\00:48:35.52
want to go to. Let's
go to, let's go to First
00:48:35.57\00:48:37.48
Corinthians chapter 1.
Since we're right there
00:48:37.53\00:48:40.30
in First Corinthians,
let's stay there and go
00:48:40.33\00:48:41.98
to First Corinthians
chapter 1. This planet is
00:48:42.01\00:48:45.24
the only planet yet
undecided, have you ever
00:48:45.36\00:48:48.99
heard of the term
sympathy for the Devil?
00:48:49.16\00:48:50.55
You ever heard of that?
Yes. We're the only ones
00:48:50.58\00:48:52.69
that manifest sympathy
for the Devil. Have you
00:48:52.73\00:48:54.19
ever heard somebody
say, well you know let me
00:48:54.27\00:48:55.41
just play Devil's
advocate. You understand
00:48:55.50\00:48:58.07
it. We're the only
planet that's not made up
00:48:58.10\00:48:59.88
our minds yet friends.
The only ones and here is
00:48:59.97\00:49:02.88
the thing about planet
earth. Planet earth will
00:49:02.94\00:49:04.64
not make up it's mind
corporately. All of planet
00:49:04.76\00:49:08.39
earth is not going
to decide one way or the
00:49:08.49\00:49:10.05
other. Planet earth
will be saved as individuals.
00:49:10.27\00:49:13.35
As individuals we will
decide whether or not we
00:49:14.30\00:49:17.10
want to follow Christ
or the Kingdom of darkness.
00:49:17.28\00:49:20.16
Remember Colossians
chapter 2 and verse 15.
00:49:20.30\00:49:21.87
And the hostile
princes and rulers He shook off
00:49:22.41\00:49:24.26
from Himself, and
boldly displayed them as his
00:49:24.30\00:49:26.81
conquests, when by the
Cross He triumphed over
00:49:27.01\00:49:29.48
them. Remember that
verse, that's the verse
00:49:29.66\00:49:31.60
where, where Jesus
basically took Satan by
00:49:31.98\00:49:33.75
the scruff of the
neck and walked him through
00:49:33.85\00:49:35.74
the streets of the
universe and said, this is
00:49:35.82\00:49:37.94
the one. He triumphed
over him, where did he
00:49:37.97\00:49:40.72
triumph over the man?
At the Cross, at the where
00:49:40.75\00:49:43.61
everyone? At the
Cross. At the Cross. Brothers
00:49:43.72\00:49:46.77
and sisters, this
is absolutely powerful,
00:49:46.80\00:49:49.06
there is this
great cosmic conflict.
00:49:49.32\00:49:51.31
This great controversy
going on, every one of
00:49:51.49\00:49:53.79
the angels has made
up their minds friends.
00:49:53.82\00:49:55.63
The unfallen angels
have made up their minds
00:49:56.01\00:49:57.98
for God, and the
fallen angels have solidified
00:49:58.01\00:50:00.05
their decision for
Satan and the only people yet
00:50:00.11\00:50:01.97
decide are people
like you and I, who must
00:50:02.22\00:50:04.47
decide Christ's way
Satan's way. We will not
00:50:04.61\00:50:07.46
make this decision as
a planet or as a nation.
00:50:07.49\00:50:10.12
This decision is not
even made as a family.
00:50:10.51\00:50:12.31
This decision is
made as an individual.
00:50:12.65\00:50:14.75
Amen. Are you
understanding, yes or no?
00:50:15.69\00:50:17.49
Yes. Right here on
planet earth we see this
00:50:17.75\00:50:19.67
contrast, this
playing out of the Kingdom of
00:50:19.98\00:50:22.00
Christ, verses the
Kingdom of Satan. Now,
00:50:22.29\00:50:25.87
I told you to go to
First Corinthians chapter 4,
00:50:26.52\00:50:27.75
but let me sort of
paint the picture here.
00:50:27.99\00:50:29.18
In Matthew chapter 13,
Jesus tells the parable
00:50:30.67\00:50:32.60
of the sower. The
parable of the, what everyone?
00:50:32.75\00:50:34.34
Sower, keep your
fingers there in First
00:50:34.96\00:50:36.08
Corinthians chapter 1.
We'll come right back to
00:50:36.23\00:50:38.20
it. And go with me
quickly to Matthew chapter
00:50:38.29\00:50:40.21
13. In Matthew chapter
13, we're going to get a
00:50:40.38\00:50:43.71
a lesson in speed
reading. Are you ready?
00:50:43.74\00:50:46.77
Matthew chapter 13,
Jesus tells a parable and
00:50:47.70\00:50:49.42
I'm in verse 24. What
verse am I in everyone?
00:50:49.45\00:50:51.59
Twenty four. Verse
24, Another parable put he
00:50:51.98\00:50:54.26
forth unto them,
saying the Kingdom of heaven
00:50:54.42\00:50:55.71
is like a man, who
sowed good seed in his field.
00:50:55.74\00:50:57.39
What kind of seed?
Good. Good seed, but while
00:50:57.55\00:50:59.33
man slept, he came
and sow tares among the
00:50:59.36\00:51:00.87
wheat and went his
way, but when the grain has
00:51:01.07\00:51:02.24
sprout and produced a
crop. Then the tares also
00:51:02.42\00:51:04.24
appeared and the
servants of the owner came and
00:51:04.27\00:51:05.59
said to him, 'Sir, did
you not sow good seed in
00:51:05.62\00:51:07.11
your field? How then
does it have tares? He said
00:51:07.22\00:51:09.45
to them an enemy has
done this. The servant
00:51:09.60\00:51:11.35
said to him, watch this
carefully. Do you want us
00:51:11.54\00:51:13.42
to go then and gather
them up? You want us to
00:51:13.45\00:51:16.48
gather up the bad stuff.
What does he say in verse
00:51:16.76\00:51:19.14
29, but he said,
what's the word, no, why? Lest
00:51:19.46\00:51:23.70
while you gather up the
tares you also root up the
00:51:23.73\00:51:25.89
wheat with them, let
both grow together until
00:51:25.97\00:51:27.96
the when everyone,
harvest and in the time
00:51:27.99\00:51:30.36
of the harvest, I
will say the reapers first
00:51:30.39\00:51:31.74
gathered together the
tares and bind them in
00:51:32.12\00:51:33.25
bundles to burn
them, but gather the wheat
00:51:33.38\00:51:34.82
into my barn. Now,
any gardeners here, I'm a
00:51:34.96\00:51:39.45
gardener. Well, my
wife and I have a beautiful
00:51:39.65\00:51:41.77
garden in the back of
our house, 13 feet by 24 feet
00:51:41.80\00:51:44.10
and two years ago,
would you believe out of that
00:51:44.23\00:51:45.43
little garden plot,
we got 280 pounds of
00:51:45.56\00:51:47.63
tomatoes, amen.
Amen. We said, Lord Jesus,
00:51:47.73\00:51:50.12
bless the garden and
boom did he ever bless
00:51:50.29\00:51:51.92
it, tomatoes everywhere.
Tomatoes, tomatoes here
00:51:51.95\00:51:54.97
is the point. For
somebody who is not a gardener,
00:51:55.00\00:51:57.11
who is not schooled in
these things. When, when
00:51:57.31\00:51:59.61
you go out and you look
at, at those fresh little
00:51:59.76\00:52:03.79
budding burgeoning
plants, it's tough to tell
00:52:04.16\00:52:06.94
for somebody who does
not have a green thumb,
00:52:07.16\00:52:08.71
the difference
between a weed and the plant.
00:52:08.81\00:52:11.47
So you send out an
inexperienced person and
00:52:12.42\00:52:13.91
they're gonna say.
Umm! And they might pull up
00:52:14.12\00:52:17.11
the one you want to
keep. Why? Because friends,
00:52:17.15\00:52:21.02
listen carefully it's
tough to tell in the beginning
00:52:21.17\00:52:23.73
what's the bad and
what's the good, but when they
00:52:24.10\00:52:26.29
come to maturation,
when they come to harvest,
00:52:26.48\00:52:28.24
is it tough to tell
the difference between a
00:52:28.52\00:52:29.79
fissile and a tomato
plant where they're fully
00:52:29.95\00:52:31.53
grown, yes or no? No.
Now, think about that,
00:52:31.80\00:52:33.68
when Satan began his
rebellion. It was tough
00:52:33.90\00:52:37.03
to tell, but now that
his rebellion has come to
00:52:37.07\00:52:40.13
total fruition and
Jesus was put on the Cross,
00:52:40.31\00:52:43.39
it's crystal clear now
friends what that is all
00:52:43.90\00:52:46.44
about, are you with
me, yes or no? Amen.
00:52:46.47\00:52:48.41
That's Jesus whole
point. And he says, in the time
00:52:48.50\00:52:50.33
of the harvest, it will
be very clear both the wheat
00:52:50.38\00:52:53.08
and the tares must fully
mature before they can be
00:52:53.36\00:52:55.67
perfectly distinguished
from one another, amen.
00:52:55.89\00:52:59.86
Amen. So, then I'm in
First Corinthians chapter
00:53:00.42\00:53:02.24
1. And I'm reading
in verse 18. Paul says,
00:53:02.36\00:53:07.35
for the message of the
Cross is foolishness to
00:53:07.49\00:53:09.77
those who are perishing,
but to us who are being
00:53:09.83\00:53:11.40
saved it is the power
of God. For it is written,
00:53:11.56\00:53:14.25
I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise, I will bring
00:53:14.44\00:53:16.18
to nothing the
understanding of the
00:53:16.21\00:53:17.40
prudent, where is
the wise? God calls out
00:53:17.55\00:53:19.25
almost rhetorically.
Where is the scribe,
00:53:19.28\00:53:21.41
where is the disputer
of this age, has not God
00:53:21.68\00:53:23.91
made foolish the
wisdom of this world, for
00:53:23.96\00:53:26.03
sensing the wisdom of
God, the world through
00:53:26.22\00:53:27.63
wisdom did not
know God, it pleased God
00:53:27.81\00:53:29.93
through the
foolishness of preaching to save
00:53:29.96\00:53:31.92
those who believe. For
the Jews request to sign
00:53:31.97\00:53:34.57
and Greeks seek
after wisdom, but we preach
00:53:34.68\00:53:37.17
Christ crucified,
Christ what everyone? Notice
00:53:37.34\00:53:40.04
what it says in verse
23. To the Jews, a stumbling
00:53:40.09\00:53:42.20
block and to the Greeks
foolishness, but to those
00:53:42.30\00:53:44.93
who are called both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the
00:53:45.03\00:53:47.32
power of God and the
wisdom of God, because
00:53:47.44\00:53:50.20
the foolishness of God
is wiser than men and the
00:53:50.28\00:53:52.60
weakness of God is
stronger than men, amen.
00:53:52.79\00:53:55.61
Amen. Now, notice
chapter 2, in verse 2. He says,
00:53:56.20\00:53:59.31
for I determine not to
know anything among you
00:53:59.44\00:54:00.84
except Jesus
Christ and Him crucified.
00:54:00.93\00:54:03.24
Notice Paul says, when
we go out and we preach
00:54:03.82\00:54:05.87
the Cross. When we
go out and we preach the
00:54:05.90\00:54:08.44
Cross, we find that
there are three potential
00:54:08.64\00:54:11.37
responses. How many
potential responses?
00:54:11.59\00:54:13.60
Three, he says, when
we preach the Cross the,
00:54:14.13\00:54:16.64
the, the Greek step
over and it's foolishness to
00:54:17.15\00:54:19.22
them. They're not
interested. What do the
00:54:19.27\00:54:20.97
Jews do? They
stumble over the Cross. And
00:54:21.15\00:54:24.69
friends your option
tonight is to stop and
00:54:24.89\00:54:27.25
shoulder it. Amen.
There only three options
00:54:27.57\00:54:30.37
friends, Paul says,
when we preach the Cross,
00:54:30.54\00:54:32.22
this is the only
planet that is not yet decided
00:54:32.52\00:54:35.22
right here. The rest of
the universe has decided,
00:54:35.59\00:54:38.65
this planet has not yet
decided and friends when
00:54:38.93\00:54:41.15
Paul said that he
preached the Cross.
00:54:41.20\00:54:42.63
The smart people, the
Jews, the Athenians, or
00:54:42.86\00:54:44.73
pardon me, the Greeks,
they would step over the
00:54:44.88\00:54:47.16
Cross, not interested,
it was foolishness to them
00:54:47.33\00:54:49.55
and the Jews looked
at and they said, no, no,
00:54:49.66\00:54:51.21
no. We do not believe in
the messianic identity of
00:54:51.24\00:54:53.51
Jesus. And it's
not something that they
00:54:53.75\00:54:55.05
stepped over
intellectually, it's
00:54:55.27\00:54:56.77
something that they
stumbled over, are you
00:54:56.98\00:54:58.87
with me, yes or no?
Amen. Now, you only have
00:54:58.92\00:55:00.88
three options. You
can step over it like the
00:55:01.05\00:55:03.32
Greeks, you can
stumble over that like the Jews
00:55:03.40\00:55:05.47
or you can stop
and lift it like Simon.
00:55:05.73\00:55:08.74
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Friends, the universe has
00:55:09.53\00:55:14.18
made up their mind.
The question tonight is,
00:55:14.28\00:55:16.02
will you make up your
mind. Friend, I put this
00:55:17.58\00:55:20.30
question to you.
Tonight what will you do with
00:55:20.53\00:55:23.99
the Cross. The Cross is
the fulcrum of the ages.
00:55:24.06\00:55:29.09
The Cross is the great
fulcrum that will decide
00:55:31.06\00:55:32.84
not only the destiny
of the universe, but your
00:55:32.94\00:55:34.64
destiny. Are you
understanding, yes or no?
00:55:34.82\00:55:37.30
Yes. Now, as we close
I'm wondering if there is,
00:55:37.68\00:55:39.74
if there is a young
man in here or a young
00:55:40.01\00:55:41.10
woman or somebody in
this room who wants to
00:55:41.30\00:55:43.03
stand to their feet
right now, not everybody,
00:55:43.18\00:55:44.76
but somebody who
wants to say tonight I'm
00:55:45.32\00:55:46.69
making my decision for
Christ. Tonight I'm gonna
00:55:46.79\00:55:49.85
follow him all the
way. Why doesn't that person
00:55:50.01\00:55:52.31
stand right now, who
is that person? Is there
00:55:52.41\00:55:55.23
somebody in this room
who will stand right now
00:55:55.40\00:55:56.71
and say for me it's
all the way. I'm making my
00:55:56.74\00:55:58.60
decision tonight.
Some young man, some young
00:55:58.80\00:56:02.04
woman who wants to
stand to their feet and
00:56:02.17\00:56:04.50
say this is my
decision. Friend, how about you?
00:56:04.53\00:56:09.39
You're sitting there
tonight in our television
00:56:10.55\00:56:12.29
audience. What would
prevent you from standing
00:56:12.42\00:56:15.03
and joining those of
us here in the Urbandale
00:56:15.19\00:56:16.69
Seventh-day Adventist
Church? Friend, what will
00:56:16.91\00:56:18.50
you do with the Cross
of Jesus? Will you step
00:56:18.64\00:56:21.23
over? Will you stumble
over it or will you stop
00:56:21.46\00:56:24.42
tonight, stop and
shoulder it. You can lift
00:56:24.45\00:56:28.00
the Cross, Jesus said
pick up your Cross and
00:56:28.11\00:56:30.28
come after me. Friend,
lift your Cross for Jesus.
00:56:30.31\00:56:33.59