[uplifting music]
00:00:00.46\00:00:04.30
[uplifting music]
00:00:11.31\00:00:14.58
>>Eric Flickinger:
Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
00:00:15.58\00:00:16.88
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:00:16.91\00:00:19.31
We're glad that
you could join us
00:00:19.35\00:00:20.92
for a brand new study,
where for the next 13 episodes,
00:00:20.95\00:00:25.65
we are going to be
diving into one of the most
00:00:25.69\00:00:28.42
significant and important
subjects in all of Christianity.
00:00:28.46\00:00:33.09
We are looking at
"the great controversy."
00:00:33.13\00:00:35.63
What is it, why is it important,
and why is it important to you
00:00:35.66\00:00:39.07
and to me living today?
00:00:39.10\00:00:41.10
We're going to be finding out
in the very, very near future.
00:00:41.14\00:00:44.07
We're glad that you are
with us, but before we begin,
00:00:44.11\00:00:46.68
let's start with prayer.
00:00:46.71\00:00:48.74
Father, we wanna thank
You for being with us today.
00:00:48.78\00:00:51.51
And as we delve into
this very significant subject,
00:00:51.55\00:00:54.38
we ask that You would
guide our study of Your Word.
00:00:54.42\00:00:57.89
And through it,
may we understand
00:00:57.92\00:01:00.49
better who You are
and what Your plan is
00:01:00.52\00:01:03.86
for us and for the
rest of Your children
00:01:03.89\00:01:06.46
as we look
forward to that great day
00:01:06.49\00:01:08.20
when Jesus returns.
00:01:08.23\00:01:09.63
We thank You in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:01:09.66\00:01:13.70
And we are
grateful during the course
00:01:13.74\00:01:15.70
of this entire series
of studies to have with us
00:01:15.74\00:01:18.94
Pastor Mark Finley.
00:01:18.97\00:01:20.64
He is an international
author, speaker, evangelist,
00:01:20.68\00:01:24.31
and former speaker-director
of this ministry,
00:01:24.35\00:01:26.72
It Is Written.
00:01:26.75\00:01:28.05
Pastor Mark, welcome.
00:01:28.08\00:01:29.68
We're glad that you're here.
00:01:29.72\00:01:31.85
>>Mark Finley:
Thank you, Pastor Eric.
00:01:31.89\00:01:33.56
You know, it's so exciting to
participate with It Is Written.
00:01:33.59\00:01:36.29
I spent 14 of the most
precious years of my life
00:01:36.32\00:01:39.93
at It Is Written.
00:01:39.96\00:01:41.53
We look back at
very fond memories
00:01:41.56\00:01:44.50
of our time there, and we're
just excited to be with you.
00:01:44.53\00:01:48.17
Any time we can work
together with It Is Written,
00:01:48.20\00:01:50.31
that's what we wanna do.
00:01:50.34\00:01:52.41
>>Eric: Well, thank
you again, Pastor Mark,
00:01:52.44\00:01:53.91
it's always a
blessing to have you here
00:01:53.94\00:01:55.54
on our programs.
00:01:55.58\00:01:57.01
We're looking at
the great controversy,
00:01:57.05\00:01:59.15
a very significant subject,
an intensely and immensely
00:01:59.18\00:02:02.98
significant
subject. Why is that?
00:02:03.02\00:02:05.99
What is the great controversy,
and why are we going to be
00:02:06.02\00:02:09.22
spending 13 episodes looking
at this very important subject?
00:02:09.26\00:02:14.20
>>Mark: Well,
the great controversy
00:02:14.20\00:02:15.50
is the theme that really
ties the entire Bible together.
00:02:15.53\00:02:19.67
When you think of
this great controversy
00:02:19.70\00:02:21.44
or conflict
between good and evil,
00:02:21.47\00:02:24.31
we think first about
God creating angelic beings
00:02:24.34\00:02:29.51
with the freedom of choice.
00:02:29.54\00:02:31.61
And then one of those
rebel-- one of those angels
00:02:31.65\00:02:34.38
rebelling against God.
00:02:34.42\00:02:36.25
And so this great
controversy starts in heaven.
00:02:36.28\00:02:39.25
It is then transferred to earth
as Adam and Eve disobey God,
00:02:39.29\00:02:44.29
and down through the
Old Testament history
00:02:44.33\00:02:46.56
we see this conflict
between good and evil,
00:02:46.59\00:02:49.03
between the forces of
right and the forces of wrong.
00:02:49.06\00:02:52.73
Jesus comes, and the controversy
intensifies, particularly
00:02:52.77\00:02:57.21
at the cross, where
Satan does everything he can
00:02:57.24\00:02:59.94
to destroy Jesus, but Jesus,
our sin-bearer, bears the guilt
00:03:00.04\00:03:03.91
and shame of the
sins of the world
00:03:03.95\00:03:06.82
and then is marvelously
resurrected after His death
00:03:06.85\00:03:09.88
on the cross
and serves in heaven
00:03:09.92\00:03:12.35
as our great High
Priest, giving us strength
00:03:12.39\00:03:14.79
in the great controversy
between good and evil.
00:03:14.82\00:03:17.23
We look down
through the Middle Ages,
00:03:17.26\00:03:18.59
where truth was compromised
and on to end time, where God
00:03:18.63\00:03:23.16
will restore that truth in
the ultimate coming of Jesus
00:03:23.20\00:03:26.43
and the restoration of a
new heavens and a new earth.
00:03:26.47\00:03:29.44
So the great controversy goes
from the rebellion in heaven,
00:03:29.47\00:03:33.34
Eden lost, down through
the centuries to Eden regained
00:03:33.38\00:03:38.38
with the new
heavens and a new earth.
00:03:38.41\00:03:39.71
So, it is that overarching
theme of all of Scripture.
00:03:39.75\00:03:44.15
>>Eric: So this
overarching theme
00:03:44.19\00:03:45.75
of all of Scripture that
we're going to be delving into,
00:03:45.79\00:03:49.09
this is something
that you've been studying
00:03:49.12\00:03:52.06
for a long time, and we
see the world that we're in
00:03:52.09\00:03:56.53
right now and the
challenges that we're facing.
00:03:56.56\00:04:00.44
How long ago did God
impress you that this subject
00:04:00.47\00:04:05.27
was something worth diving into?
00:04:05.31\00:04:07.18
How did we end up
with it in our hands today,
00:04:07.21\00:04:10.78
and why do you think
it really is important
00:04:10.81\00:04:13.72
for people living
today all around the world
00:04:13.75\00:04:16.79
to grasp this important subject?
00:04:16.82\00:04:19.22
>>Mark: Well, when I was--
went into ministry, I began
00:04:19.25\00:04:22.22
to sense the importance of
this great controversy theme.
00:04:22.26\00:04:25.56
It's unique in all
Christianity, really.
00:04:25.59\00:04:28.93
It ties the Bible together.
00:04:28.96\00:04:31.80
And I've been in
ministry 57 years,
00:04:31.83\00:04:34.94
and so have been preaching
on the great controversy theme.
00:04:34.97\00:04:37.61
But here's the unique
thing; this in 2024 and 2025,
00:04:37.64\00:04:43.95
Seventh-day Adventists
have a massive project
00:04:43.98\00:04:47.35
of distributing the
book "The Great Controversy"
00:04:47.38\00:04:50.99
by Ellen White.
00:04:51.02\00:04:52.59
There'll be millions
and millions distributed.
00:04:52.62\00:04:55.92
There will be hard
copies in the full edition;
00:04:55.96\00:04:59.73
there will be online editions.
00:04:59.76\00:05:02.43
I was asked to prepare
the "Sabbath School" lessons
00:05:02.46\00:05:07.37
based on the book
"Great Controversy"
00:05:07.40\00:05:09.60
but anchored in Scripture.
00:05:09.64\00:05:11.44
So every lesson is
biblical, every lesson has
00:05:11.47\00:05:15.68
its foundation in Scripture.
00:05:15.71\00:05:17.68
But something
unique that we've done
00:05:17.71\00:05:19.75
with this quarter's lessons
is we have listed the chapters
00:05:19.78\00:05:26.69
from "Great Controversy"
that that biblical lesson
00:05:26.72\00:05:31.46
is based on.
00:05:31.49\00:05:32.79
So, it is a very unique series.
00:05:32.83\00:05:36.06
I have to smile a little bit.
00:05:36.10\00:05:38.03
You know, I've
written-- now, this is my fifth
00:05:38.07\00:05:39.97
"Sabbath School" quarterly.
00:05:40.00\00:05:41.87
And the general conference
president, Elder Wilson,
00:05:41.90\00:05:45.67
called me, and he said,
"Mark, I've got an assignment,
00:05:45.71\00:05:49.61
but it's kind of
an interesting one."
00:05:49.64\00:05:52.65
I said, "Yes, Elder, tell me."
00:05:52.68\00:05:54.05
He said, "Well, the timeline
is quite short"--'cause usually
00:05:54.08\00:05:59.05
we have two years,
two and a half years
00:05:59.09\00:06:00.59
to write the
lessons. And he said, "Mark,
00:06:00.62\00:06:02.86
"we got about three
months, but we need a series
00:06:02.89\00:06:05.06
on 'The Great Controversy.'
Can you write it for us?"
00:06:05.09\00:06:07.93
Well, you know, it
takes about 15 hours a lesson,
00:06:07.96\00:06:10.67
about 200 hours to write it,
00:06:10.70\00:06:12.43
and I didn't have that
time just sitting around,
00:06:12.47\00:06:15.14
but when my dear
friend Elder Wilson asks me
00:06:15.17\00:06:17.81
something like that--
and I put everything else
00:06:17.84\00:06:20.98
aside, basically,
and wrote the series
00:06:21.01\00:06:24.18
on "The Great Controversy"
in about three months of time.
00:06:24.21\00:06:27.28
And so I'm just so
thankful for that privilege
00:06:27.32\00:06:29.85
because it is such a
vital, vital scene, particularly
00:06:29.88\00:06:33.99
for those of us that are living
in the last days at end time
00:06:34.02\00:06:36.96
because prophecies
are being fulfilled
00:06:36.99\00:06:39.19
all around us
that we find outlined
00:06:39.23\00:06:41.40
in "The Great Controversy."
00:06:41.43\00:06:43.26
>>Eric: So, very significant
subject for us today,
00:06:43.30\00:06:46.27
we are living in those days.
00:06:46.30\00:06:49.84
Wanna drop into the first lesson
in this quarter's study guide,
00:06:49.87\00:06:53.54
it's called "The
War Behind All Wars."
00:06:53.58\00:06:56.31
Why did you choose
that title to launch us into
00:06:56.34\00:07:00.42
this 13-study journey
on "The Great Controversy"?
00:07:00.45\00:07:06.86
>>Mark: Sure, "The
War Behind All Wars"--
00:07:06.89\00:07:09.16
When you think about it,
what really is behind every war?
00:07:09.19\00:07:13.96
From the battle
that took place in heaven
00:07:14.00\00:07:17.53
to all of the Old Testament
struggles between Israel
00:07:17.57\00:07:20.77
and the
Amalekites and the Jebusites
00:07:20.80\00:07:25.37
and so forth, what's
behind all those wars?
00:07:25.41\00:07:28.31
What's behind every war
today? It's selfishness.
00:07:28.34\00:07:32.85
When you look at
the origin of war,
00:07:32.88\00:07:35.92
they usually come
because of selfishness,
00:07:35.95\00:07:39.52
the pride of nations, the
desire of would-be world rulers
00:07:39.55\00:07:45.29
to rule, to control.
00:07:45.33\00:07:48.06
And so the war behind all
wars is that war that began
00:07:48.10\00:07:52.37
in heaven when Lucifer rebelled
against the government of God,
00:07:52.40\00:07:56.71
and he did so filled with pride,
00:07:56.74\00:07:59.61
filled with arrogance, filled
with this desire to dominate.
00:07:59.64\00:08:04.41
So the basic
philosophy of war is domination.
00:08:04.45\00:08:07.92
"The War Behind All
Wars," the great controversy
00:08:07.95\00:08:10.52
between good and
evil is Satan's attempt
00:08:10.55\00:08:12.79
to dominate and to
take the rightful Ruler
00:08:12.82\00:08:16.62
of the throne, Jesus
Christ, off the throne.
00:08:16.66\00:08:20.03
>>Eric: So, Satan's
desire is to dominate;
00:08:20.06\00:08:22.06
evil's desire is to
dominate, has been since, well,
00:08:22.10\00:08:25.20
the beginning of
rebellion and that selfishness.
00:08:25.23\00:08:28.77
You know, one of
the big questions
00:08:28.80\00:08:31.07
that a lot of people have today
is if God is supposedly so good
00:08:31.11\00:08:36.11
and so powerful and so wonderful
00:08:36.14\00:08:38.68
and so loving, if He's so
good, why is this world so bad?
00:08:38.71\00:08:44.32
And how are we gonna
be answering that question
00:08:44.35\00:08:47.42
as we go through
this quarter's lesson?
00:08:47.46\00:08:49.96
>>Mark: Well, Pastor
Eric, you know, you and I
00:08:49.99\00:08:51.96
do a lot of evangelism,
and that's one of the questions
00:08:51.99\00:08:54.63
we get very often in evangelism.
00:08:54.66\00:08:57.43
If God is so good,
why is the world so bad?
00:08:57.47\00:08:59.63
Why does a loving God allow
so much suffering in our world?
00:08:59.67\00:09:04.51
When God created angelic
beings and God created cherubim
00:09:04.54\00:09:10.58
and seraphim and
all of His creation,
00:09:10.61\00:09:13.25
He gave to them
freedom of choice.
00:09:13.28\00:09:15.95
Now, let's suppose that
God did not give His beings
00:09:15.98\00:09:19.25
freedom of choice.
00:09:19.29\00:09:20.92
If you take away
freedom of choice,
00:09:20.96\00:09:23.22
you take away the
opportunity to love.
00:09:23.26\00:09:26.90
And if you cannot love,
you cannot have fulfillment
00:09:26.93\00:09:29.63
or true happiness.
00:09:29.66\00:09:31.57
When you give the
freedom of choice,
00:09:31.60\00:09:33.23
you run the risk of
beings making the wrong choice.
00:09:33.27\00:09:37.97
But God respects
the freedom of choice
00:09:38.01\00:09:41.11
because that's what it makes--
00:09:41.14\00:09:42.91
that's what makes a human
being: the ability to choose.
00:09:42.94\00:09:46.48
That is what
allowed heavenly beings
00:09:46.51\00:09:49.62
to be higher than
simply mere robots
00:09:49.65\00:09:52.05
or automatons, mere puppets.
00:09:52.09\00:09:55.02
They had the capacity to choose.
00:09:55.06\00:09:57.66
So, the reason there's so
much suffering in the world
00:09:57.69\00:10:00.66
is that in the power of
choice comes the ability to make
00:10:00.70\00:10:03.73
the wrong choice.
00:10:03.77\00:10:05.30
And when Adam and Eve
sinned in the garden of Eden,
00:10:05.33\00:10:08.24
they opened a door that
God wanted forever shut,
00:10:08.27\00:10:11.04
the door of sickness,
suffering, heartache, and evil.
00:10:11.07\00:10:13.84
When Lucifer rebelled
in heaven, he opened a door
00:10:13.88\00:10:16.44
that God wanted forever
shut, and that door was the door
00:10:16.48\00:10:21.35
of suffering and death.
00:10:21.38\00:10:23.12
God is the author of
life; He's the author
00:10:23.15\00:10:26.59
of all the good
things that happen to us.
00:10:26.62\00:10:29.82
Satan is the author of death.
00:10:29.86\00:10:32.03
You know, it says
in John 10, verse 10,
00:10:32.06\00:10:33.83
"The thief [comes not but
for] to steal..., to kill...,
00:10:33.86\00:10:36.33
and...destroy," but
Jesus said, "I have come that
00:10:36.36\00:10:38.13
"they [might] have
life, ...they [might] have it
00:10:38.17\00:10:39.80
more abundantly."
00:10:39.83\00:10:41.00
So the power of choice is
one that God has given to us,
00:10:41.04\00:10:45.31
and He invites us
to reach out to Him,
00:10:45.34\00:10:47.88
to make those choices
in harmony with His will
00:10:47.91\00:10:50.85
that will lead us to
be the happiest beings.
00:10:50.88\00:10:53.65
Here's a little
something that I have found
00:10:53.68\00:10:55.72
very helpful for people.
00:10:55.75\00:10:57.55
You do not judge God
by the events that are
00:10:57.59\00:11:01.26
taking place in our
world. You judge the events
00:11:01.29\00:11:04.86
that are taking place in our
world by the character of God.
00:11:04.89\00:11:08.56
Since I know God
is the God of love,
00:11:08.60\00:11:11.23
therefore I
interpret all the events
00:11:11.27\00:11:13.94
that are taking place in
our world through the lens
00:11:13.97\00:11:17.21
of the fact that God is love
and that Satan is destructive,
00:11:17.24\00:11:22.14
wants to destroy.
00:11:22.18\00:11:23.58
So when I see events
of sickness, suffering,
00:11:23.61\00:11:25.98
heartache, and death, I
know that that's not God.
00:11:26.01\00:11:28.25
First John 4:8
says, "For God is love."
00:11:28.28\00:11:30.42
I know those are
Satan's attempt to destroy
00:11:30.45\00:11:33.82
because we're in a
planet in rebellion.
00:11:33.86\00:11:35.89
>>Eric: I think
you hit on something
00:11:35.92\00:11:37.36
very, very significant,
very important there.
00:11:37.39\00:11:39.76
And it's important
that not only we grasp that,
00:11:39.79\00:11:42.46
but that we have the
ability to share that concept
00:11:42.50\00:11:44.90
with others, that God is--
He's not the author of evil,
00:11:44.93\00:11:47.77
He's not the author of
all the sin and the death
00:11:47.80\00:11:49.90
and destruction, the
disease that's out there,
00:11:49.94\00:11:52.41
but sometimes we
get that proverbial
00:11:52.44\00:11:53.94
cart before the horse.
00:11:53.98\00:11:55.64
Now, Pastor Mark, if somebody
wants to dig more deeply
00:11:55.68\00:11:58.38
into this subject, this
immensely important subject,
00:11:58.41\00:12:02.48
there is a companion
book to this quarter's
00:12:02.52\00:12:05.62
Adult Sabbath
School Bible Study Guide.
00:12:05.65\00:12:08.16
And that book is called
"The War Between Good and Evil."
00:12:08.19\00:12:11.56
You wrote that companion book.
What is in that companion book,
00:12:11.59\00:12:15.56
and why would
somebody wanna pick that up
00:12:15.60\00:12:18.37
in addition to the study guide?
00:12:18.40\00:12:20.70
>>Mark: Well, the Bible
study lessons have an outline
00:12:20.74\00:12:23.74
of each of these 13
chapters that take us from
00:12:23.77\00:12:27.61
the fall of Lucifer in
heaven to the destruction
00:12:27.64\00:12:29.51
of Jerusalem, right down through
the New Testament period,
00:12:29.54\00:12:33.28
the Middle Ages,
and the end of time.
00:12:33.31\00:12:35.35
The companion book rounds out
00:12:35.38\00:12:38.12
a lot of that
historical material.
00:12:38.15\00:12:40.36
It goes much more deeply
into the biblical material.
00:12:40.39\00:12:43.63
And what I've
tried to do, particularly
00:12:43.66\00:12:45.93
in the companion
book as we get into
00:12:45.96\00:12:48.16
the last chapters,
weave into Adventist history.
00:12:48.20\00:12:51.73
So there's wonderful
lessons from Adventist history
00:12:51.77\00:12:55.37
throughout the companion
book, and then there are
00:12:55.40\00:12:59.27
entire sections
on end-time events.
00:12:59.31\00:13:03.38
So if you wanna be
prepared for the coming of Jesus
00:13:03.41\00:13:05.88
and know more
clearly the end-time events,
00:13:05.91\00:13:08.02
companion book's for you.
00:13:08.05\00:13:09.35
>>Eric: So, where can
you find that companion book?
00:13:09.38\00:13:11.12
It is very easy; if
you go to itiswritten.shop,
00:13:11.15\00:13:15.46
again, that's itiswritten.shop,
00:13:15.49\00:13:18.06
you can find
that companion book.
00:13:18.09\00:13:19.86
The author is
Pastor Mark Finley,
00:13:19.89\00:13:21.90
and the title is "The
War Between Good and Evil."
00:13:21.93\00:13:26.17
You want to pick
that up to give yourself
00:13:26.20\00:13:28.87
even more depth of understanding
on this critical subject.
00:13:28.90\00:13:33.27
And speaking of
this critical subject,
00:13:33.31\00:13:34.68
we are going to come
back in just a moment
00:13:34.71\00:13:36.51
as we continue taking a
look at the great controversy
00:13:36.54\00:13:40.38
here on "Sabbath School,"
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:13:40.42\00:13:43.59
We're gonna be right back.
00:13:43.62\00:13:45.29
[uplifting music]
00:13:45.32\00:13:48.32
>>Announcer: If you'd like
to deepen your understanding
00:13:49.32\00:13:51.29
of the powerful themes
brought out in this program,
00:13:51.33\00:13:53.80
we invite you to explore the
book "The Great Controversy."
00:13:53.83\00:13:57.10
For more information, simply
text the code "GC24" to 71392.
00:13:57.13\00:14:02.60
This book delves into
critical end-time themes,
00:14:02.64\00:14:05.11
offering profound
insights into historical events,
00:14:05.14\00:14:08.01
Bible prophecy, and
spiritual preparation
00:14:08.04\00:14:10.51
essential for
today's unique challenges.
00:14:10.55\00:14:13.52
Discover how "The
Great Controversy"
00:14:13.55\00:14:15.08
can illuminate your path
in these uncertain times.
00:14:15.12\00:14:18.62
>>John
Bradshaw: It's everywhere:
00:14:19.35\00:14:21.12
adorning
churches, adorning people.
00:14:21.16\00:14:24.16
There's a season every
year commemorating the cross,
00:14:24.19\00:14:28.03
but beyond eggs and
rabbits, there's a power,
00:14:28.06\00:14:31.40
the power of a sacrifice,
the power of the love of God.
00:14:31.43\00:14:35.64
Be sure you see "At the Cross"
and learn about the single event
00:14:35.67\00:14:40.44
that changed the
course of history, the event
00:14:40.48\00:14:43.35
that can change
your life forever.
00:14:43.38\00:14:46.61
Predicted by prophets and
foretold by Jesus Himself,
00:14:46.65\00:14:50.22
what happened at the
cross was a demonstration
00:14:50.25\00:14:52.92
of God's love like no other.
00:14:52.95\00:14:55.42
Humanity's fall into
sin in the garden of Eden
00:14:55.46\00:14:58.33
brought upon Adam and
Eve and their descendants
00:14:58.36\00:15:01.06
inescapable consequences,
but into that turmoil
00:15:01.10\00:15:04.50
stepped Jesus,
promising the planet
00:15:04.53\00:15:06.94
a way of escape.
00:15:06.97\00:15:08.97
Don't miss "At the Cross,"
00:15:09.00\00:15:11.64
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:15:11.67\00:15:15.14
[uplifting music]
00:15:19.51\00:15:22.52
>>Eric: Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:15:24.12\00:15:25.69
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:15:25.72\00:15:27.42
We are taking a look
at the great controversy,
00:15:27.46\00:15:30.49
an incredible theme that
goes throughout Scripture,
00:15:30.53\00:15:34.13
and we are just
getting into it right now.
00:15:34.20\00:15:37.23
Pastor Mark, I
wanna ask you a question.
00:15:37.27\00:15:39.00
In Monday's
lesson, you introduced
00:15:39.03\00:15:42.37
"The War In Heaven"
by quoting a passage
00:15:42.40\00:15:44.67
in Revelation,
chapter 12; it's verses 7-9.
00:15:44.71\00:15:47.98
I'd like to read
that and then give you
00:15:48.01\00:15:49.84
an opportunity to respond
to it and share why you thought
00:15:49.88\00:15:52.55
this passage was important.
00:15:52.58\00:15:54.52
In Revelation 12,
verses 7-9, it says,
00:15:54.55\00:15:56.89
"And war broke out in heaven:
00:15:56.92\00:15:58.69
"Michael and his
angels fought with the dragon;
00:15:58.72\00:16:01.06
"and the dragon
and his angels fought,
00:16:01.09\00:16:03.29
"but they did not prevail,
nor was a place found for them
00:16:03.32\00:16:06.59
"in heaven any longer.
00:16:06.63\00:16:07.86
"So the great
dragon was cast out,
00:16:07.86\00:16:09.66
"that serpent of old,
called the Devil and Satan,
00:16:09.70\00:16:12.57
"who deceives the whole
world; he was cast to the earth,
00:16:12.60\00:16:15.67
and his angels
were cast out with him."
00:16:15.70\00:16:19.21
So, that sounds
important, but why is it
00:16:19.24\00:16:23.28
really, really important?
00:16:23.31\00:16:24.78
>>Mark: I think, Eric,
this is one of the few places
00:16:24.81\00:16:27.62
in the Bible
that clearly explain
00:16:27.65\00:16:30.75
why this world
is in such a mess.
00:16:30.79\00:16:34.29
It's one of the only places
in the Bible that explains
00:16:34.32\00:16:37.99
what happened, in
specific detail, in heaven.
00:16:38.03\00:16:42.36
When you look
at the text itself,
00:16:42.40\00:16:44.20
"War broke out in heaven,"
that's a strange place for war.
00:16:44.23\00:16:47.54
You'd never think that
there'd be war in heaven.
00:16:47.57\00:16:50.07
But this war in heaven
is the war behind all wars,
00:16:50.11\00:16:56.24
as we title our lesson.
00:16:56.28\00:16:58.35
"Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon,"
00:16:58.38\00:17:00.85
the dragon and his angels.
00:17:00.88\00:17:02.18
So you have two
sides; you have this battle.
00:17:02.22\00:17:04.55
Sometimes people
ask me the question,
00:17:04.59\00:17:06.12
"Was this a physical
battle or a mental one?"
00:17:06.15\00:17:09.56
Well, we might not
have every single detail,
00:17:09.59\00:17:12.36
but there certainly have to be
certain physical aspects of it
00:17:12.39\00:17:15.83
because it says,
"They did not prevail,
00:17:15.86\00:17:18.77
nor was a place found for
them [anymore] in heaven."
00:17:18.80\00:17:21.47
So they were cast out of heaven.
00:17:21.50\00:17:23.94
So there has to be
not only a mental battle
00:17:23.97\00:17:26.21
but some kind
of physical battle.
00:17:26.24\00:17:27.98
Every angel had
to make a decision.
00:17:28.01\00:17:31.25
And in the final battle
between Christ and Satan
00:17:31.28\00:17:34.42
at the end, every human being is
gonna have to make a decision.
00:17:34.45\00:17:38.59
So there could be no neutrality,
no walking the fence.
00:17:38.62\00:17:44.36
Every angel had
to make a decision.
00:17:44.39\00:17:46.53
Then verse 9 is
an interesting verse:
00:17:46.56\00:17:48.56
"So the great
dragon was cast out,
00:17:48.60\00:17:51.00
"that serpent of old,
called the Devil and Satan,
00:17:51.03\00:17:53.47
"who deceives the whole
world; he was cast to the earth,
00:17:53.50\00:17:56.64
and his angels...with him."
00:17:56.67\00:17:57.97
So the devil is called
in this text the dragon
00:17:58.01\00:18:00.34
and the serpent.
00:18:00.38\00:18:01.68
He's the dragon
because he destroys,
00:18:01.71\00:18:04.31
the serpent because he deceives.
00:18:04.35\00:18:06.72
He deceives those who
he ultimately destroys,
00:18:06.75\00:18:10.09
and destroys those
whom he has deceived.
00:18:10.12\00:18:13.02
So here we have
the origin of evil.
00:18:13.05\00:18:17.46
Here we have the
beginning of this battle,
00:18:17.49\00:18:20.96
the first shots, if you please,
00:18:21.00\00:18:23.26
in the battle
between good and evil.
00:18:23.30\00:18:25.67
Lucifer, a perfect
being created by God,
00:18:25.70\00:18:29.54
an angel of dazzling
brightness, rebels against God.
00:18:29.57\00:18:35.78
He wants to sit
upon God's throne;
00:18:35.81\00:18:38.35
he wants to
usurp God's authority.
00:18:38.38\00:18:42.12
God works with him
and labors with him
00:18:42.15\00:18:44.49
and appeals to him,
but Satan drifts further
00:18:44.52\00:18:49.82
and further and
further away from God.
00:18:49.86\00:18:52.76
What this initial
battle tells us is
00:18:52.79\00:18:57.07
if the devil could
deceive a third of the angels
00:18:57.10\00:18:59.73
in heaven--and
that's what the Bible says
00:18:59.77\00:19:01.27
in Revelation 12:4; it says,
"His tail drew a third part
00:19:01.30\00:19:04.37
of the stars of heaven."
00:19:04.41\00:19:05.51
If the devil could deceive
a third part of the stars
00:19:05.54\00:19:08.18
of heaven, a
third of the angels,
00:19:08.21\00:19:11.31
we better reinforce our
minds with the Word of God.
00:19:11.35\00:19:14.88
Be day by day
seeking God in prayer
00:19:14.92\00:19:18.49
because the devil
is a deceptive foe,
00:19:18.52\00:19:22.46
and he'll breathe
like a dragon at end time.
00:19:22.49\00:19:25.06
We can be thankful that
through Jesus, by Jesus,
00:19:25.09\00:19:28.33
because of
Jesus, we are protected,
00:19:28.36\00:19:31.80
and we can be secure
in the hands of Christ.
00:19:31.83\00:19:36.30
>>Eric: You know,
Pastor Mark, you mentioned
00:19:36.34\00:19:37.94
that the opening
salvos of this great war
00:19:37.97\00:19:41.18
were fired in
heaven, but that war
00:19:41.21\00:19:44.18
has most certainly,
most definitely come
00:19:44.21\00:19:46.92
down here to earth.
00:19:46.95\00:19:48.32
And I wanna kind of go
over to the book of Genesis
00:19:48.35\00:19:50.49
and look at
some of the beginning
00:19:50.52\00:19:52.45
of this war here on earth
00:19:52.49\00:19:55.46
in Genesis,
chapter 2, verses 15-17.
00:19:55.49\00:20:00.50
It says, "Then the Lord
God took the man and put him
00:20:00.53\00:20:03.70
"in the garden of
Eden to tend and keep it.
00:20:03.73\00:20:06.30
"And the Lord God
commanded the man,
00:20:06.33\00:20:08.07
"saying, 'Of every
tree of the garden you may
00:20:08.10\00:20:10.04
"'freely eat; but of
the tree of the knowledge
00:20:10.07\00:20:12.54
"'of good and
evil you shall not eat,
00:20:12.57\00:20:14.91
"'for in the day
that you eat of it
00:20:14.94\00:20:17.15
you shall surely die.'"
00:20:17.18\00:20:19.95
What is the key principle that's
exhibited in these verses,
00:20:19.98\00:20:24.69
and why is it still
important for us today?
00:20:24.72\00:20:27.59
>>Mark: The key principle
here, Eric, is that God gave
00:20:27.62\00:20:30.59
Adam and Eve the
freedom of choice.
00:20:30.63\00:20:32.56
Just like God gave the
angels freedom of choice,
00:20:32.59\00:20:35.83
God gave Adam and Eve
the freedom of choice.
00:20:35.86\00:20:38.10
He clearly
explained that here's the tree
00:20:38.13\00:20:40.87
of knowledge of good and evil.
00:20:40.90\00:20:42.17
"You can eat of every
other tree in the garden."
00:20:42.20\00:20:44.84
So it was not that they could
not eat of every other tree
00:20:44.87\00:20:48.61
and only could eat of
this tree, not at all.
00:20:48.64\00:20:51.21
God is a God of abundance,
He gave them everything,
00:20:51.25\00:20:53.75
they could eat of
every tree, but this one tree
00:20:53.78\00:20:56.52
they could not partake
of. That would demonstrate
00:20:56.55\00:20:59.62
their faithfulness to
God, their loyalty to God,
00:20:59.65\00:21:02.52
their acceptance of God's Word.
00:21:02.56\00:21:05.16
And so He gave
them freedom of choice.
00:21:05.19\00:21:07.60
Now, let's suppose God
did not place that tree there,
00:21:07.60\00:21:10.33
let's suppose
God didn't give them
00:21:10.37\00:21:11.83
the freedom of choice.
00:21:11.87\00:21:13.10
What would that have meant?
00:21:13.13\00:21:14.67
The whole
universe could've said,
00:21:14.70\00:21:16.00
"Wait a minute,
You're unfair. You're unfair.
00:21:16.04\00:21:19.74
You gave us as
angels freedom of choice"--
00:21:19.77\00:21:22.71
and wait a minute,
too-- would God be satisfied
00:21:22.74\00:21:26.05
with beings that were
forced, coerced to serve Him
00:21:26.08\00:21:29.72
and had no
choice? Certainly not.
00:21:29.75\00:21:32.22
The key principle here is
that God gave Adam and Eve
00:21:32.25\00:21:35.39
freedom of choice, and He
gives us freedom of choice.
00:21:35.42\00:21:37.83
He'll not
coerce, He'll not force,
00:21:37.86\00:21:40.26
He'll not pressure, He
gives us freedom of choice,
00:21:40.30\00:21:42.86
but He allures us to Him.
00:21:42.90\00:21:45.13
He does everything He
can to bring us to Himself.
00:21:45.17\00:21:48.17
>>Eric: So part
of God's character
00:21:48.20\00:21:50.01
of love is that
giving us freedom of choice.
00:21:50.04\00:21:53.74
He gave it to
the angels in heaven;
00:21:53.78\00:21:56.41
He gave it to Adam and Eve.
00:21:56.44\00:21:57.75
Unfortunately, we
look back at history--
00:21:57.78\00:21:59.35
we find that not all
of the angels in heaven
00:21:59.38\00:22:01.45
exercised that
freedom of choice wisely.
00:22:01.48\00:22:04.45
Adam and Eve didn't
exercise that choice wisely.
00:22:04.49\00:22:07.89
If we're honest with ourselves,
we haven't always exercised
00:22:07.92\00:22:10.89
that freedom of
choice very wisely,
00:22:10.93\00:22:13.06
but Jesus did
exercise it wisely.
00:22:13.09\00:22:16.77
Why is--what is the
significance of Jesus here
00:22:16.80\00:22:20.77
in the great controversy?
00:22:20.80\00:22:21.87
How is He the
solution to this big problem
00:22:21.90\00:22:24.17
that we find ourselves in?
00:22:24.21\00:22:25.71
>>Mark: You know, right
there in the garden of Eden,
00:22:25.74\00:22:27.84
Genesis 3, verse
15, God gave the promise
00:22:27.88\00:22:32.21
that the Messiah would come.
00:22:32.25\00:22:33.98
You remember that
God told Adam and Eve,
00:22:34.02\00:22:38.22
"In the day you eat
of this, you'll die."
00:22:38.25\00:22:40.82
Now, the Hebrew
language is interesting: "Dying
00:22:40.86\00:22:43.76
you will die."
00:22:43.79\00:22:45.13
"Dying you will die."
00:22:45.16\00:22:46.73
So the death began that very day
00:22:46.76\00:22:50.33
that Adam and Eve
partook of that fruit.
00:22:50.37\00:22:52.60
As Paul says, the
wages of sin are death.
00:22:52.63\00:22:57.04
So God gave a promise in Genesis
that the Messiah would come.
00:22:57.07\00:23:03.14
It says there in Genesis
3:15 that Satan would "bruise
00:23:03.18\00:23:07.95
His heel," but Jesus would
bruise the head of the serpent,
00:23:07.98\00:23:14.89
a deadly blow.
00:23:14.92\00:23:16.56
Christ came and dwelt, or
"tabernacled," in human flesh.
00:23:16.59\00:23:21.63
He lived the life
we should have lived.
00:23:21.66\00:23:24.47
He faced Satan's temptations
head on and died the death
00:23:24.50\00:23:30.21
that we should've died.
00:23:30.24\00:23:32.01
So, on the cross of Calvary
Christ bore the condemnation,
00:23:32.04\00:23:35.74
the guilt, the shame of our sin.
00:23:35.78\00:23:38.88
And so, the significant thing
00:23:38.91\00:23:41.45
is here is that in
the great controversy,
00:23:41.48\00:23:44.19
Jesus took upon
Himself the penalty of sin.
00:23:44.22\00:23:49.12
And as He took that
penalty upon Himself,
00:23:49.16\00:23:51.49
He died in our place.
00:23:51.53\00:23:53.73
In His life He gave us an
example of the Father's love.
00:23:53.76\00:23:57.33
In His death, He bore
the guilt and shame of sin
00:23:57.37\00:24:01.34
and revealed the
depths to which love would go
00:24:01.37\00:24:04.77
to redeem us.
00:24:04.81\00:24:06.11
>>Eric: Pastor Mark,
with that thought in mind,
00:24:06.14\00:24:07.84
I wanna read a passage
from 2 Corinthians here.
00:24:07.88\00:24:10.81
It's in 2
Corinthians 5, verse 21,
00:24:10.85\00:24:13.31
and give you an
opportunity to expound upon it.
00:24:13.35\00:24:16.18
It says, "For He
made Him who knew no sin
00:24:16.22\00:24:20.76
"to be sin for us,
that we might become
00:24:20.79\00:24:24.06
the
righteousness of God in Him."
00:24:24.09\00:24:27.23
That's huge; that's immense.
00:24:27.23\00:24:30.63
>>Mark: Christ never
sinned, but He took upon Himself
00:24:30.67\00:24:34.97
the guilt and shame
and condemnation of sin.
00:24:35.00\00:24:38.31
Christ on the
cross did not simply die
00:24:38.34\00:24:40.94
the horrible,
agonizing physical death,
00:24:40.98\00:24:44.45
as painful and as
torturous as that was,
00:24:44.48\00:24:47.75
but Christ died
the second death.
00:24:47.78\00:24:51.79
What is the second death?
00:24:51.82\00:24:53.92
When do you die
the second death?
00:24:53.96\00:24:56.49
You don't die the second death
after you die, necessarily;
00:24:56.52\00:24:58.99
that's not the
suffering of the second death
00:24:59.03\00:25:00.60
because the Bible
says, "The living know that
00:25:00.63\00:25:02.10
they [shall] die; but the
dead [don't] know [anything]."
00:25:02.13\00:25:04.03
Jesus died the second
death as He hung on the cross
00:25:04.07\00:25:08.50
with the hiding
of the Father's face,
00:25:08.54\00:25:10.74
bearing the sin and condemnation
of the world, not seeing
00:25:10.77\00:25:14.88
through the portals of
the tomb, and apparently
00:25:14.91\00:25:18.21
going into the tomb,
bearing the sins of the world
00:25:18.25\00:25:21.62
and the guilt and
shame of those sins
00:25:21.65\00:25:23.28
and the condemnation of those
00:25:23.32\00:25:24.55
with the ability
never to come out.
00:25:24.59\00:25:26.62
Now, praise
God, He did come out.
00:25:26.65\00:25:28.56
Praise God, He was
resurrected from the dead.
00:25:28.59\00:25:31.19
But on those
moments on the cross,
00:25:31.23\00:25:33.46
He could not see
that. He hung on by faith.
00:25:33.50\00:25:37.83
So, in 2
Corinthians 5:21 when it says,
00:25:37.87\00:25:40.17
"He who knew no
sin became sin for us,"
00:25:40.20\00:25:42.80
He took the
guilt and shame of sin,
00:25:42.84\00:25:45.64
died the agony that
lost sinners will die
00:25:45.67\00:25:49.34
as He bore the
sins of the world.
00:25:49.38\00:25:51.58
He died the second death for
us so that we didn't have to die
00:25:51.61\00:25:56.08
the second death.
00:25:56.12\00:25:57.35
He died the second death for us
so that we could live eternally
00:25:57.39\00:26:01.96
with Him forever.
00:26:01.99\00:26:03.29
>>Eric: And Pastor Mark, I
wanna share one more passage
00:26:03.32\00:26:05.59
of scripture with you as
we're drawing here to a close.
00:26:05.63\00:26:08.83
This is over in
John 17, verses 24-26.
00:26:08.86\00:26:13.50
Jesus says, "Father,
I desire that they also
00:26:13.54\00:26:16.24
"whom You gave me may
be with me where I am,
00:26:16.27\00:26:19.77
"that they may behold my
glory which You have given me;
00:26:19.81\00:26:22.98
"for You loved me before
the foundation of the world.
00:26:23.01\00:26:26.01
"O righteous Father!
00:26:26.05\00:26:27.35
"The world has not known
You, but I have known You;
00:26:27.38\00:26:30.62
"and these have
known that You sent me.
00:26:30.65\00:26:33.72
"And I have
declared to them Your name,
00:26:33.76\00:26:35.66
"and will declare it, that
the love with which You loved me
00:26:35.69\00:26:39.66
may be in them, and I in them."
00:26:39.69\00:26:42.13
How does that give
us a clearer picture
00:26:42.16\00:26:43.60
of who the
Father is, Pastor Mark?
00:26:43.63\00:26:46.00
>>Mark: What a passage.
00:26:46.03\00:26:47.70
This is Jesus'
great intercessory prayer
00:26:47.74\00:26:50.47
in John 17.
00:26:50.51\00:26:52.17
And in His heart--
you know, Christ dies,
00:26:52.21\00:26:54.91
He's resurrected from the dead,
00:26:54.94\00:26:56.78
and as He ascends to
heaven before the Father,
00:26:56.81\00:26:58.95
He says, "Father, I will
that those who You have given me
00:26:58.98\00:27:03.45
be with me where I am."
00:27:03.49\00:27:05.25
The desire of Christ is for
us to be with Him in heaven.
00:27:05.29\00:27:08.99
The desire of Jesus is that
every single one of us be saved.
00:27:09.02\00:27:13.03
The desire of Jesus is
not one of us to be lost.
00:27:13.06\00:27:16.06
He has done, is doing, and
will do everything possible
00:27:16.10\00:27:20.74
to save us. That is the essence
of His intercessory prayer.
00:27:20.77\00:27:25.34
>>Eric: And a beautiful prayer
it is, and a wonderful way
00:27:25.37\00:27:27.78
for us to get started
on this 13-episode odyssey
00:27:27.81\00:27:31.91
through the great controversy.
00:27:31.95\00:27:33.95
Pastor Mark, thank you
for being with us this time,
00:27:33.98\00:27:37.19
and we're looking
forward to you joining us
00:27:37.22\00:27:39.49
next time as well.
00:27:39.52\00:27:41.52
And we wanna thank
you for joining us.
00:27:41.56\00:27:43.63
This is just the very
beginning of a wonderful journey
00:27:43.66\00:27:47.83
through a significant subject.
00:27:47.86\00:27:50.03
In fact, some might say one
of the most significant subjects
00:27:50.07\00:27:53.84
in Christendom,
and we've just begun.
00:27:53.87\00:27:56.77
We are looking at
the great controversy
00:27:56.81\00:27:58.64
past, present, and
future and how it applies to you
00:27:58.67\00:28:03.35
and to me today.
00:28:03.38\00:28:05.05
So we're looking forward
to having you join us again
00:28:05.08\00:28:07.25
next time when we come together
once again on "Sabbath School,"
00:28:07.28\00:28:10.85
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:28:10.89\00:28:12.79
[uplifting music]
00:28:12.82\00:28:15.32
[uplifting music]
00:28:24.97\00:28:26.94
[Captioning provided by Aberdeen
Captioning www.abercap.com]
00:28:26.97\00:28:41.98