Tonight, we're going to begin 00:00:33.84\00:00:35.00 I'm looking at this underlying biblical template. 00:00:35.03\00:00:38.35 We just began to put 00:00:38.38\00:00:40.15 the essential parts of it together last night. 00:00:40.18\00:00:43.63 And again if you're with us, you will remember that 00:00:43.66\00:00:45.89 we were in the Book of Genesis in those early chapters 00:00:45.92\00:00:49.33 and we discovered that God created a perfect world. 00:00:49.36\00:00:53.85 It was a paradise as it says in Genesis 1:31, 00:00:53.88\00:00:58.97 "As God looked at His creation He declared it is very good." 00:00:59.00\00:01:03.79 And my friend, it was perfect. 00:01:03.82\00:01:06.69 This was the original plan, this was the original intention. 00:01:06.72\00:01:11.70 God intended for us to inhabit paradise. 00:01:11.73\00:01:15.93 He intended for us to experience only that which was good. 00:01:15.96\00:01:21.56 That is clear from our own life's experience, isn't it? 00:01:21.59\00:01:24.55 I mean, pick up a newspaper, look at what's happening on TV, 00:01:24.58\00:01:28.41 the news, and we discover there is a lot that has gone wrong. 00:01:28.44\00:01:33.82 Clearly, there's been a departure 00:01:33.85\00:01:35.64 from God's original plan. 00:01:35.67\00:01:37.18 But remember how vital-- vitally important this really is 00:01:37.21\00:01:41.45 that God's intension was that we would only know what is good. 00:01:41.48\00:01:46.72 That's the kind of God that we served. 00:01:46.75\00:01:48.86 And you remember there in the Garden of Eden 00:01:48.89\00:01:51.37 as we turn to Genesis 2:16, 17 00:01:51.40\00:01:54.46 last night, God put this tree. 00:01:54.49\00:01:56.90 And the tree represented a choice, 00:01:56.93\00:02:00.00 a choice between God's way and the alternative way 00:02:00.03\00:02:02.42 and we're gonna be talking a little bit more about 00:02:02.45\00:02:04.13 the alternative way tonight and just how that came to be. 00:02:04.16\00:02:08.18 But there was a decision to made, to be made 00:02:08.21\00:02:10.64 and it's not unlike, the decision you 00:02:10.67\00:02:12.38 and I have to make today. 00:02:12.41\00:02:14.31 We have a choice today 00:02:14.34\00:02:15.81 between God's way's or the alternative way. 00:02:15.84\00:02:19.74 They're really only two ways, you know that, don't you? 00:02:19.77\00:02:23.00 Just two ways. 00:02:23.03\00:02:24.73 And so that fruit is not again 00:02:24.76\00:02:28.28 so much the fruit is what it represented, 00:02:28.31\00:02:31.29 what it symbolized. 00:02:31.32\00:02:33.77 And we know the faithful decision was taken 00:02:33.80\00:02:35.92 there in Genesis Chapter 3, 00:02:35.95\00:02:37.44 it's recorded for us. 00:02:37.47\00:02:39.38 And so the human race came in 00:02:39.41\00:02:41.73 possession of the knowledge of evil, 00:02:41.76\00:02:45.18 something that God never 00:02:45.21\00:02:47.02 intended for us to ever experience. 00:02:47.05\00:02:49.79 There are so many things that we today-- 00:02:49.82\00:02:51.96 we see, we here, we experience, 00:02:51.99\00:02:53.98 we feel that God never 00:02:54.01\00:02:56.77 intended for us to go through. 00:02:56.80\00:02:58.47 Do you know that? 00:02:58.50\00:02:59.99 God never intended for us to go to the grief 00:03:00.02\00:03:03.85 and the sorrow that sometimes is our part 00:03:03.88\00:03:07.12 as we are living upon this planet 00:03:07.15\00:03:09.43 that was not His purpose. 00:03:09.46\00:03:10.87 It all comes out of that faithful decision 00:03:10.90\00:03:13.94 and we are living with the results of it, 00:03:13.97\00:03:17.01 that knowledge of the evil. 00:03:17.04\00:03:20.61 But that's where the planet salvation came in 00:03:20.64\00:03:23.01 as we studied last night again 00:03:23.04\00:03:24.73 as we laid down this essential elements. 00:03:24.76\00:03:26.64 God had a plan because God just could not let us go. 00:03:26.67\00:03:29.74 God could have walked away He could've-- 00:03:29.77\00:03:31.25 He said, I'm gonna, you could have said 00:03:31.28\00:03:32.42 I'm gonna start over but God just could not let us go 00:03:32.45\00:03:35.00 because you see He loves us. 00:03:35.03\00:03:37.52 And so God put in effect a plan it 00:03:37.55\00:03:40.10 was a masterful plan. 00:03:40.13\00:03:42.27 Jesus, was gonna step in as the divine substitute. 00:03:42.30\00:03:45.37 He was gonna take the consequences 00:03:45.40\00:03:46.94 of all of the sin and all of the guilt, 00:03:46.97\00:03:50.08 and all in the world. 00:03:50.11\00:03:51.53 He took it upon Himself, He died in our place 00:03:51.56\00:03:54.47 and so that by faith in Him, 00:03:54.50\00:03:56.75 we can now embrace the life that is His, life eternal. 00:03:56.78\00:04:02.66 And with it through Calvary 00:04:02.69\00:04:04.49 we have this wonderful 00:04:04.52\00:04:07.39 glorious future that is promise. 00:04:07.42\00:04:09.39 Remember we're in Revelation 21 where it says, 00:04:09.42\00:04:11.44 "God, God made a new heaven and a new earth." 00:04:11.47\00:04:14.99 And in Revelation 20:4 it declares, 00:04:15.02\00:04:17.48 "There will be no more tears, there will be no more sorrow, 00:04:17.51\00:04:20.25 there will be no more crying. 00:04:20.28\00:04:22.12 There will be no more pain 00:04:22.15\00:04:23.53 or death for the former things have passed away." 00:04:23.56\00:04:26.41 There is going to come a time, 00:04:26.44\00:04:28.78 when it's all going to be behind us. 00:04:28.81\00:04:32.13 And isn't that going to be wonderful? Yeah. 00:04:32.16\00:04:34.34 And that's where prophecy comes in. 00:04:34.37\00:04:35.74 Let me tell you-- yes, there is some 00:04:35.77\00:04:37.08 frightening things are gonna happen in the end time. 00:04:37.11\00:04:39.33 But the good news, it's going to come to an end, 00:04:39.36\00:04:41.50 this mass up where we're in, all of the suffering. 00:04:41.53\00:04:44.19 And it's gonna be a new beginning, 00:04:44.22\00:04:46.75 a wonderful beginning for God's people. 00:04:46.78\00:04:49.51 Tonight, we trace an intergalactic conflict 00:04:49.54\00:04:52.72 that began in the outer reaches of the universe. 00:04:52.75\00:04:56.66 During the course of our study this evening, 00:04:56.69\00:04:58.39 we will discover that the earth 00:04:58.42\00:04:59.66 is the object of a massive invasion 00:04:59.69\00:05:03.31 in which countless numbers 00:05:03.34\00:05:04.82 of various inhabitants will be left helpless victims. 00:05:04.85\00:05:08.39 You know, really fact sometimes is stranger than fiction. 00:05:08.42\00:05:12.38 And Jesus referred to this invasion 00:05:12.41\00:05:14.55 He actually did in Parable 4. 00:05:14.58\00:05:17.01 Turn with me to Matthew Chapter 13, 00:05:17.04\00:05:20.01 the New Testament page 11, page 11. 00:05:20.04\00:05:25.68 Matthew 13, 00:05:25.71\00:05:26.82 and let's take a look at this parable 00:05:26.85\00:05:28.25 where Jesus talks about what happened? 00:05:28.28\00:05:31.53 Matthew 13, 00:05:31.56\00:05:33.61 and just find your way on down there to verse 20 00:05:33.64\00:05:36.99 or up there to verse 24. 00:05:37.02\00:05:39.34 Matthew13:24. 00:05:39.37\00:05:41.46 "Jesus presented another parable to them, 00:05:41.49\00:05:43.58 saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man 00:05:43.61\00:05:47.32 who sowed good seed in his field. 00:05:47.35\00:05:51.13 But while his men were sleeping, 00:05:51.16\00:05:53.41 his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, 00:05:53.44\00:05:56.59 and went away. 00:05:56.62\00:05:58.29 But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, 00:05:58.32\00:06:01.28 then the tares became evident also.'" 00:06:01.31\00:06:05.41 The word tares, what's the word we would actually use? 00:06:05.44\00:06:08.16 Weeds. Weeds. 00:06:08.19\00:06:09.84 So you got the picture good seed was planted. 00:06:09.87\00:06:13.98 But in the middle of the night 00:06:14.01\00:06:16.14 and this is always the kind of stuff 00:06:16.17\00:06:18.28 that happens at night in darkness. 00:06:18.31\00:06:21.01 Here comes the enemy 00:06:21.04\00:06:22.51 and he begins to sow all of these weeds 00:06:22.54\00:06:26.51 among the wheat that have been, 00:06:26.54\00:06:28.36 that have been planted. 00:06:28.39\00:06:30.11 And then we find verse 26, "But when the wheat sprouted 00:06:30.14\00:06:33.33 and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 00:06:33.36\00:06:36.24 The slaves of the landowner came 00:06:36.27\00:06:37.99 and said to him, 'Sir, 00:06:38.02\00:06:39.05 did you not sow good seed in your field? 00:06:39.08\00:06:41.39 How then does it have tares?' 00:06:41.42\00:06:43.59 And he said to them, 'an enemy has done this. 00:06:43.62\00:06:48.81 An enemy has done this.' 00:06:48.84\00:06:50.63 Indeed an enemy has done this." 00:06:50.66\00:06:52.62 And in fact as we drop down to verse 27 00:06:52.65\00:06:56.17 or verse 37 I'm sorry, we discovered 00:06:56.20\00:06:58.83 that Jesus gives a more precise interpretation 00:06:58.86\00:07:02.80 of this parable to his disciples. 00:07:02.83\00:07:05.36 And take a note what he says, 00:07:05.39\00:07:06.83 he says here beginning with verse 37 00:07:06.86\00:07:08.61 and he said, "The one who sows 00:07:08.64\00:07:10.41 the good seed is the Son of Man." 00:07:10.44\00:07:13.18 Who is they're talking about? 00:07:13.21\00:07:15.04 Who is they're talking about? Jesus. 00:07:15.07\00:07:16.71 It's talking about Jesus. 00:07:16.74\00:07:18.63 When it's fixing to the Son of Man, 00:07:18.66\00:07:19.90 it's emphasizing His identity with us in His humanity 00:07:19.93\00:07:25.14 and He didn't take humanity upon himself. 00:07:25.17\00:07:28.83 The divine son of God, verse 38. 00:07:28.86\00:07:31.26 "And the field," it says, "is the world." 00:07:31.29\00:07:33.65 The field represents the world, 00:07:33.68\00:07:35.55 "And as for the good seed, 00:07:35.58\00:07:36.89 these are the sons of the kingdom and the tares." 00:07:36.92\00:07:39.89 The weeds. "Are the sons of the evil one. 00:07:39.92\00:07:43.98 And the enemy who sowed them," is who? 00:07:44.01\00:07:46.75 Who is the enemy? 00:07:46.78\00:07:47.94 Devil. Is the devil. 00:07:47.97\00:07:50.36 Oh, my friend, you see as we studied last night 00:07:50.39\00:07:53.03 and as we continue on in our sequence, 00:07:53.06\00:07:55.51 we discovered that God created a perfect world 00:07:55.54\00:07:58.16 in the very beginning. 00:07:58.19\00:08:01.01 And Satan came into this planet 00:08:01.04\00:08:02.99 and he sowed the seeds of sin and destruction. 00:08:03.02\00:08:06.97 The good that God created was corrupted 00:08:07.00\00:08:10.18 and adulterated with evil. 00:08:10.21\00:08:13.67 And friend, that is exactly what is taking place. 00:08:13.70\00:08:15.77 That's what's described here in this parable. 00:08:15.80\00:08:18.40 And it brings up a very important question 00:08:18.43\00:08:20.22 as we're talking about this knowledge of the evil 00:08:20.25\00:08:22.77 that comes out of the Garden of Eden 00:08:22.80\00:08:24.82 that is spread all through this planet that has, 00:08:24.85\00:08:28.07 you know, you can look at it historically 00:08:28.10\00:08:31.28 how this was played out in human history. 00:08:31.31\00:08:34.78 But we all have our own personal history 00:08:34.81\00:08:37.95 as it comes through this matter of the knowledge of evil. 00:08:37.98\00:08:41.27 So who is Satan? 00:08:41.30\00:08:42.58 Where did he come from is the question. 00:08:42.61\00:08:45.81 And notice as we turn to Revelation Chapter 12, 00:08:45.84\00:08:49.14 the Bible gives us a clear answer Revelation 12, 00:08:49.17\00:08:51.59 the New Testament page 195, 195 Revelation 12 00:08:51.62\00:08:58.44 then we're gonna be looking at verses 7 through 9. 00:08:58.47\00:09:02.41 We're gonna make a fascinating discovery 00:09:02.44\00:09:04.83 as we come to this passage. 00:09:04.86\00:09:08.16 Because in Revelation 12:7, we find these words, 00:09:08.19\00:09:11.89 it says, "And there was war," where? 00:09:11.92\00:09:16.29 There was war in heaven. 00:09:16.32\00:09:18.41 I mean, that just is absolutely astounding, 00:09:18.44\00:09:21.11 when you begin astounding, 00:09:21.14\00:09:22.48 when you begin to think about it. 00:09:22.51\00:09:24.13 War in heaven? 00:09:24.16\00:09:25.74 I mean, that, it was to be the last place 00:09:25.77\00:09:28.18 that we would expect here to be war 00:09:28.21\00:09:29.89 and conflict, wouldn't we? 00:09:29.92\00:09:32.12 Then nevertheless that's what the Bible says, 00:09:32.15\00:09:33.65 and my friend, this is where 00:09:33.68\00:09:35.05 it all began in heaven of all places. 00:09:35.08\00:09:38.88 It says, "There was war in heaven, 00:09:38.91\00:09:40.30 Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon." 00:09:40.33\00:09:44.07 Now there is one of those prophetic symbolisms 00:09:44.10\00:09:46.01 of the Book of Revelation. 00:09:46.04\00:09:47.59 And it says, "The dragon and his angels waged war." 00:09:47.62\00:09:51.21 And it becomes very clear abundantly clear 00:09:51.24\00:09:53.71 that this conflict in heaven broke out 00:09:53.74\00:09:56.92 among the angelic host of heaven. 00:09:56.95\00:10:00.16 Sides were being taken, 00:10:00.19\00:10:01.90 Michael and his angels the dragon 00:10:01.93\00:10:03.82 and his angels verse 8, 00:10:03.85\00:10:05.56 and it says, "The dragon and his angels, 00:10:05.59\00:10:07.18 they were not strong enough 00:10:07.21\00:10:08.59 and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 00:10:08.62\00:10:11.72 And the great dragon was thrown down, 00:10:11.75\00:10:14.04 the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, 00:10:14.07\00:10:16.90 who deceives the whole world, 00:10:16.93\00:10:18.24 he was thrown down to the earth, 00:10:18.27\00:10:19.88 and his angels were thrown down with him." 00:10:19.91\00:10:22.71 And so who is the great dragon 00:10:22.74\00:10:24.74 of Revelation 12 of verse 9 tells us, 00:10:24.77\00:10:28.62 "it represents Satan." 00:10:28.65\00:10:30.80 It represents the evil one. 00:10:30.83\00:10:33.78 And my friend, we've got-- 00:10:33.81\00:10:35.02 I mean, its just three verses but we do get the-- 00:10:35.05\00:10:37.93 essence on what to place in heaven. 00:10:37.96\00:10:40.51 There was rebellion, there was conflict 00:10:40.54\00:10:42.90 between the angel sides again we're taking being taken 00:10:42.93\00:10:45.43 and we're taking place. 00:10:45.46\00:10:47.16 I don't know the nature of this conflict 00:10:47.19\00:10:49.45 and nature of this war of warfare, 00:10:49.48\00:10:51.67 I don't the weaponry that was going on. 00:10:51.70\00:10:54.50 And, you know, that's beyond 00:10:54.53\00:10:56.09 what's revealed in the word of God, 00:10:56.12\00:10:57.18 but they're nevertheless was war. 00:10:57.21\00:10:59.64 And Satan and his angels were defeated, 00:10:59.67\00:11:05.01 they were forced out 00:11:05.04\00:11:06.89 because you see, there is no place for evil in heaven. 00:11:06.92\00:11:13.44 And where did they end up? 00:11:13.47\00:11:15.91 They were cast down to the earth. 00:11:15.94\00:11:19.11 And, you know, initially they were confined 00:11:19.14\00:11:22.75 to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:11:22.78\00:11:24.85 They did not come down to this earth, 00:11:24.88\00:11:26.90 with free rain over this planet. 00:11:26.93\00:11:28.90 No, that is not the way that had played out. 00:11:28.93\00:11:31.20 There was only one contact point initially it was at the tree, 00:11:31.23\00:11:35.68 until Adam and Eve ate up that fruit 00:11:35.71\00:11:40.17 and that open the door to the whole mess 00:11:40.20\00:11:43.76 that we're living with today. 00:11:43.79\00:11:46.53 That's exactly-- it just spread over this planet, hasn't it? 00:11:46.56\00:11:50.04 And let me tell you, 00:11:50.07\00:11:51.91 let me tell you through the power 00:11:51.94\00:11:53.96 and grace and the love of Jesus, my friend, 00:11:53.99\00:11:57.20 he too is gonna be defeated here in the end. 00:11:57.23\00:12:00.27 In the end, there is gonna be no place for the devil 00:12:00.30\00:12:03.23 and his evil angels, right. 00:12:03.26\00:12:05.80 And God is going to make a final end of it. 00:12:05.83\00:12:09.25 It is guaranteed by the death 00:12:09.28\00:12:10.91 of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary 00:12:10.94\00:12:13.20 as I said last night when He cried it is finished. 00:12:13.23\00:12:16.47 That reverberates down through 00:12:16.50\00:12:19.14 the ages of time down to the end of it all. 00:12:19.17\00:12:23.60 And, my friend, it is-- it's given, it's not and maybe-- 00:12:23.63\00:12:27.81 it's gonna happen and it's wonderful. 00:12:27.84\00:12:31.61 I mean, God, I mean what kind of a God would it be 00:12:31.64\00:12:34.55 that would just leave us in the cesspool of the mess 00:12:34.58\00:12:38.80 that we find on this planet. 00:12:38.83\00:12:40.79 My friend, He is a God of love. 00:12:40.82\00:12:42.62 And He is, has taken action 00:12:42.65\00:12:44.84 and He's going to take even more direct action 00:12:44.87\00:12:47.64 and we know from the prophecies to end it 00:12:47.67\00:12:50.02 and again assuring that glorious, 00:12:50.05\00:12:52.55 that wonderful future that is planned 00:12:52.58\00:12:54.32 for those have loved Him. 00:12:54.35\00:12:55.96 That's a future for all of us, isn't it? 00:12:55.99\00:12:57.98 But let's take a little bit closer look 00:12:58.01\00:12:59.68 at this matter of this conflict. 00:12:59.71\00:13:01.90 2 Peter Chapter 2, 00:13:01.93\00:13:03.29 the New Testament page 183 speaks of it. 00:13:03.32\00:13:07.99 2 Peter 2:4. 00:13:08.02\00:13:12.47 You see we need to understand 00:13:12.50\00:13:14.42 something of the nature of the conflict 00:13:14.45\00:13:16.97 we find ourselves in. 00:13:17.00\00:13:18.39 Yes, we know that Jesus has died for us. 00:13:18.42\00:13:20.99 We know the price of our redemption has been paid. 00:13:21.02\00:13:25.05 We know that He has planned this wonderful future for us. 00:13:25.08\00:13:28.25 But we really do need to comprehend 00:13:28.28\00:13:30.37 a little bit more clearly from the biblical sense 00:13:30.40\00:13:33.33 about how this all came to be 00:13:33.36\00:13:35.09 and again the nature of the conflict 00:13:35.12\00:13:37.41 that we find ourselves in. 00:13:37.44\00:13:38.51 2 Peter Chapter 2 and looking at the first part of verse 4 00:13:38.54\00:13:41.83 where it says, "For if God 00:13:41.86\00:13:43.69 did not spare angels when they sinned." 00:13:43.72\00:13:49.27 So here is that question? 00:13:49.30\00:13:51.61 Where did sin begin? 00:13:51.64\00:13:54.69 In heaven. 00:13:54.72\00:13:55.75 In heaven, we've already been there, where we? 00:13:55.78\00:13:58.16 In Revelation 12:7, 00:13:58.19\00:14:00.10 but it may say clear that this rebellion is-- 00:14:00.13\00:14:03.20 was a rebellion of sin. 00:14:03.23\00:14:05.80 And sin of the very hard of it is rebellion. 00:14:05.83\00:14:08.81 It's rebellion against God's ways. 00:14:08.84\00:14:11.19 A rebellion against God's will. 00:14:11.22\00:14:13.93 And, my friend, that's exactly that happened, isn't it, 00:14:13.96\00:14:16.53 at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil 00:14:16.56\00:14:18.47 when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit. 00:14:18.50\00:14:21.98 Maybe they weren't thinking this through very clearly 00:14:22.01\00:14:24.89 but nevertheless it represented rebellion against God. 00:14:24.92\00:14:30.28 It was an affect saying we are going to do it our way, 00:14:30.31\00:14:34.40 we're going to eat up the fruit regardless of what God has said. 00:14:34.43\00:14:38.91 And this is what, 00:14:38.94\00:14:40.48 you know, this is why I call the spiritual teenage syndrome. 00:14:40.51\00:14:44.99 You know, there's a spiritual teenage syndrome. 00:14:45.02\00:14:47.96 And, you know, you could be pity in 60 00:14:47.99\00:14:50.31 and be a spiritual teenage 00:14:50.34\00:14:52.76 in the spiritual teenage syndrome that is, 00:14:52.79\00:14:55.26 you know, that rebellious period of time in our lives 00:14:55.29\00:14:58.44 where we're determined to do it our own way. 00:14:58.47\00:15:00.88 And, my friend, somewhere along the way 00:15:00.91\00:15:02.47 we need to discover our own way 00:15:02.50\00:15:04.31 really in the end is not the way of life, 00:15:04.34\00:15:06.60 it's the way of death, it takes us down. 00:15:06.63\00:15:10.41 The God's ways are the ways of life. 00:15:10.44\00:15:14.11 So as we're talking about this 00:15:14.14\00:15:16.40 the angels rebelling and sinning, 00:15:16.43\00:15:19.86 do we have any idea 00:15:19.89\00:15:21.33 how many of the angels were involved in the rebellion? 00:15:21.36\00:15:25.00 And, you know, the Bible gives us 00:15:25.03\00:15:26.73 some clear indication of that. 00:15:26.76\00:15:28.52 I take you on the screen to Revelation 5 00:15:28.55\00:15:32.47 and we're gonna look at verse 11. 00:15:32.50\00:15:34.41 Where it says, John, John's invasion where he said, 00:15:34.44\00:15:37.20 "And I beheld and I heard the voice 00:15:37.23\00:15:39.83 of many angels about the throne 00:15:39.86\00:15:42.11 and the number of them 00:15:42.14\00:15:43.56 was ten thousand times ten thousand, 00:15:43.59\00:15:46.30 and thousands of thousands." 00:15:46.33\00:15:48.78 Now I want to point out at the very beginning of this-- 00:15:48.81\00:15:51.58 as we look at this verse 00:15:51.61\00:15:53.02 that these represent the angels that remain faithful to God. 00:15:53.05\00:15:57.84 This is after Satan and his angels 00:15:57.87\00:16:00.63 were cast down to this earth, right. 00:16:00.66\00:16:04.20 So he describes them as ten thousand times ten thousand, 00:16:04.23\00:16:07.97 and thousand of thousands. 00:16:08.00\00:16:09.58 So let's do little bit of math here. 00:16:09.61\00:16:12.09 I mean, what is ten thousand times ten thousand anyway? 00:16:12.12\00:16:14.69 I don't know if this is the old math or the new math 00:16:14.72\00:16:17.48 but this is the way at least I was taught how to do it. 00:16:17.51\00:16:20.43 And let's do the old fashion way, 10,000 time 10,000. 00:16:20.46\00:16:23.47 What kind of number does that leave us with? 00:16:23.50\00:16:25.37 One million. 00:16:25.40\00:16:27.04 Wow, little bit more than that. 00:16:27.07\00:16:28.96 One hundred million. Ten thousand times. 00:16:28.99\00:16:32.08 And 1,000 by 1,000 that's where you get the 1,000,000. 00:16:32.11\00:16:38.07 So this is what John saw on vision. 00:16:38.10\00:16:40.83 He saw millions, he saw hundreds of millions 00:16:40.86\00:16:44.74 of angels around the throne of God. 00:16:44.77\00:16:48.26 I mean, this is a pretty large population, would you think. 00:16:48.29\00:16:52.21 And again then we need to add another text 00:16:52.24\00:16:54.84 as we look at this question how many? 00:16:54.87\00:16:57.19 In Revelation 12:3, 4. 00:16:57.22\00:16:59.60 Remember we were looking at verses 7-9. 00:16:59.63\00:17:01.93 This is in the context of this matter of war in heaven. 00:17:01.96\00:17:06.05 And it is in the typical prophetic language 00:17:06.08\00:17:08.23 of the Book of Revelation as you will note. 00:17:08.26\00:17:10.09 It says, "And another sign appeared in heaven 00:17:10.12\00:17:12.47 and behold, a great red dragon," who is the dragon again? 00:17:12.50\00:17:17.07 It's Satan we know that. 00:17:17.10\00:17:18.88 "Having seven heads and ten horns," 00:17:18.91\00:17:20.85 that has his significance to, 00:17:20.88\00:17:22.85 but is not so important to what we were doing tonight. 00:17:22.88\00:17:25.63 "And on his heads were seven diadems." 00:17:25.66\00:17:28.45 Now notice, "And his tail swept away," how many? 00:17:28.48\00:17:34.65 "A third of the stars of heaven and he threw them to the earth." 00:17:34.68\00:17:39.89 What do we read in Revelation 12:7-9? 00:17:39.92\00:17:42.88 There was war in heaven 00:17:42.91\00:17:43.97 and they were cast down to the earth, 00:17:44.00\00:17:47.03 you see the parallel there. 00:17:47.06\00:17:48.68 And in the prophetic language here 00:17:48.71\00:17:50.95 is describing a third of those beings of light. 00:17:50.98\00:17:56.23 The term here that describes the stars of heaven, 00:17:56.26\00:17:58.83 these beings of light where cast down to the earth. 00:17:58.86\00:18:03.17 So somewhere between the tens if not the hundreds of millions, 00:18:03.20\00:18:07.97 the evil angels are here on this planet. 00:18:08.00\00:18:12.58 And they know all of the buttons to push. 00:18:12.61\00:18:14.82 Have you noticed that? 00:18:14.85\00:18:16.40 You know, from the day that we enter in our life 00:18:16.43\00:18:18.81 until the day that we leave it. 00:18:18.84\00:18:20.57 My friend, we'll be in tract by the evil one. 00:18:20.60\00:18:24.42 And he has an advantage 00:18:24.45\00:18:25.95 because we have been deeply affected 00:18:25.98\00:18:27.93 by this knowledge of the evil, right. 00:18:27.96\00:18:31.05 We all have been. 00:18:31.08\00:18:33.21 All of us, none of us are excluded. 00:18:33.24\00:18:36.50 The past is not excluded, I'm not excluded, 00:18:36.53\00:18:39.32 all excluded, all of us have our own experience 00:18:39.35\00:18:43.47 with this matter of sin, all of us dealing with this. 00:18:43.50\00:18:46.43 And to the extent that we have, 00:18:46.46\00:18:48.40 you know, we've been affected by evil 00:18:48.43\00:18:51.40 to that accept the evil one has an advantage 00:18:51.43\00:18:55.24 that I do remind you what the Bible says. 00:18:55.27\00:18:58.01 Greater, greater is he who is in you 00:18:58.04\00:19:02.59 than he who is in the world. 00:19:02.62\00:19:05.97 So when we talk about the evil one 00:19:06.00\00:19:07.91 and the power of these evil angels, 00:19:07.94\00:19:10.35 my friend, we must never forget 00:19:10.38\00:19:12.63 that there was one He declared over 00:19:12.66\00:19:15.42 at the open tomb that all power 00:19:15.45\00:19:18.10 has been given to me in heaven and earth. 00:19:18.13\00:19:20.65 That is our Lord that is our Savior. 00:19:20.68\00:19:23.53 All power has been given to Him. 00:19:23.56\00:19:27.33 So about a third us 00:19:27.36\00:19:29.84 is a third of the angels were involved in this, 00:19:29.87\00:19:33.68 in this rebellion against God. 00:19:33.71\00:19:35.23 Let me tell you, 00:19:35.26\00:19:36.29 let's talk a little bit about these angels as we-- 00:19:36.32\00:19:38.57 as we have some indication from the word of God. 00:19:38.60\00:19:42.02 They are truly extraordinary, 00:19:42.05\00:19:44.47 they are truly powerful beings, these angels. 00:19:44.50\00:19:48.99 In fact as we take a look at Psalm 8:4, 5 00:19:49.02\00:19:53.64 the question is asked, 00:19:53.67\00:19:54.80 "What is man that Thou dost take thought of him? 00:19:54.83\00:19:58.24 And the son of man that Thou dost care for him? 00:19:58.27\00:20:00.89 Yet Thou hast made him," 00:20:00.92\00:20:02.78 let's talk about the human race. 00:20:02.81\00:20:04.04 This is talking about you and me. 00:20:04.07\00:20:05.81 "Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels." 00:20:05.84\00:20:11.51 In other words the Bible teaches 00:20:11.54\00:20:12.93 that as the class of beings we are, 00:20:12.96\00:20:16.63 you know, we're just a little bit lower 00:20:16.66\00:20:18.84 than the angels. 00:20:18.87\00:20:20.45 They are a higher class of beings, 00:20:20.48\00:20:23.26 God created them to inhabit heaven 00:20:23.29\00:20:27.33 and to carry out His will. 00:20:27.36\00:20:29.57 In fact the word angels in the Greek Angelo's, 00:20:29.60\00:20:32.59 literally means messengers. 00:20:32.62\00:20:35.03 And they are messengers of hope 00:20:35.06\00:20:37.53 and of love from God that is the good angels. 00:20:37.56\00:20:43.65 But the angels of darkness have become messengers of what? 00:20:43.68\00:20:48.64 Of despair of darkness and of evil. 00:20:48.67\00:20:52.42 That's there message just been corrupted by evil. 00:20:52.45\00:20:55.32 It's astounding to consider that the angels 00:20:55.35\00:20:57.46 of that a third of them, 00:20:57.49\00:20:59.01 that they were give themselves over 00:20:59.04\00:21:01.23 to what we were call the dark side. 00:21:01.26\00:21:04.09 And that's exactly what they did. 00:21:04.12\00:21:07.15 And, my friend, some of us 00:21:07.18\00:21:08.71 because of evil have in our lives 00:21:08.74\00:21:10.77 given ourselves over to the dark side, right. 00:21:10.80\00:21:14.79 But let me tell you there is, 00:21:14.82\00:21:16.81 there is a-- there is light, 00:21:16.84\00:21:19.33 there is glorious light 00:21:19.36\00:21:20.72 for those that loved the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:20.75\00:21:22.92 But let's talk a little bit more about these angels 00:21:22.95\00:21:24.68 the little bit more, Matthew 28, 00:21:24.71\00:21:26.13 the New Testament page 26, page 26. 00:21:26.16\00:21:29.67 Matthew 28 and we're gonna be looking at verses 2 through 4. 00:21:29.70\00:21:33.86 We're coming to the resurrection of our Lord 00:21:33.89\00:21:36.58 as its recorded here. 00:21:36.61\00:21:39.55 And notice where we find because we find in angel 00:21:39.58\00:21:42.05 plays a role in the resurrection of Jesus. 00:21:42.08\00:21:45.43 Again it's Matthew 28 and beginning with verse 2 00:21:45.46\00:21:48.26 where it says, "Behold a severe earthquake had occurred, 00:21:48.29\00:21:51.69 for an angel of the Lord" ascended 00:21:51.72\00:21:54.15 "descended from heaven and came 00:21:54.18\00:21:56.71 and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 00:21:56.74\00:21:59.82 And his appearance" notice the description here, 00:21:59.85\00:22:02.35 "it was like lightning 00:22:02.38\00:22:04.21 and his clothing as white as snow." 00:22:04.24\00:22:07.31 And then verse 4 says, 00:22:07.34\00:22:08.37 "The guards shook for fear of him 00:22:08.40\00:22:11.12 and became like dead men." 00:22:11.15\00:22:15.33 Those guards, the guards, 00:22:15.36\00:22:18.14 what guards were stationed there at the tomb of Jesus? 00:22:18.17\00:22:21.56 What guards? Roman. 00:22:21.59\00:22:23.03 They were Roman guards, weren't they? 00:22:23.06\00:22:25.13 Roman guards were there. 00:22:25.16\00:22:26.66 It was a Roman governor that declared him worthy of death. 00:22:26.69\00:22:31.39 Who tried to wash his hands of it but 00:22:31.42\00:22:33.40 and it was Roman soldiers that crucified Him. 00:22:33.43\00:22:36.94 And it was a Roman seal that was put over the tomb of Jesus. 00:22:36.97\00:22:40.11 It was Roman guards that were stationed there. 00:22:40.14\00:22:44.55 And then this angel of light comes, it is, I mean, 00:22:44.58\00:22:48.54 it's an overpowering experience. 00:22:48.57\00:22:53.02 These soldiers begin to shake and fear is what it says here. 00:22:53.05\00:22:56.80 They fall to the ground. It's like they became dead. 00:22:56.83\00:23:00.68 It was just such an overwhelming experience. 00:23:00.71\00:23:04.56 And we know something about those Roman guards 00:23:04.59\00:23:08.04 that were stationed there at the tomb of Jesus. 00:23:08.07\00:23:10.05 We know this historically. 00:23:10.08\00:23:11.93 And I remind you before we get to this specifics of that, 00:23:11.96\00:23:15.66 the nature of warfare as they fought it back there 00:23:15.69\00:23:18.07 and I mean this was just like butchery. 00:23:18.10\00:23:20.65 I mean, we're talking about swords and spears 00:23:20.68\00:23:23.08 and, you know, this was bloody stuff 00:23:23.11\00:23:26.18 that was going on. 00:23:26.21\00:23:28.28 And yet, you know, 00:23:28.31\00:23:29.92 unguardedly this were veterans. 00:23:29.95\00:23:33.08 Many of them that were veterans, 00:23:33.11\00:23:34.59 if you know anything about the history of it in a Palestine 00:23:34.62\00:23:38.01 and of the restiveness of the Jews 00:23:38.04\00:23:40.37 and the series of rebellion that happened overtime 00:23:40.40\00:23:43.51 this was no insignificant legion that was assigned to Jerusalem. 00:23:43.54\00:23:48.68 These were larger veterans 00:23:48.71\00:23:50.11 and by the way it was Roman practice when you, 00:23:50.14\00:23:52.94 when you signed up for the military 00:23:52.97\00:23:54.89 and it wasn't for three or four years 00:23:54.92\00:23:57.23 it was for 20 to 25 years. 00:23:57.26\00:24:00.64 Do you know that? 00:24:00.67\00:24:03.27 And the Roman legion we know 00:24:03.30\00:24:04.77 that was assigned to Jerusalem 00:24:04.80\00:24:06.11 was the tenth Roman legion, the Fretensis legion. 00:24:06.14\00:24:09.65 The Fretensis, which means fear inflicting. 00:24:09.68\00:24:13.78 A legion had somewhere between 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers, 00:24:13.81\00:24:17.24 they were stationed there at Jerusalem 00:24:17.27\00:24:18.68 and it was a part of this legion 00:24:18.71\00:24:21.79 that was posted there at the tomb of Jesus. 00:24:21.82\00:24:26.40 And again just think of the kind of warfare 00:24:26.43\00:24:29.04 that was going on and yet 00:24:29.07\00:24:30.31 at the approach of one of these angels 00:24:30.34\00:24:32.31 they fall to the ground trembling 00:24:32.34\00:24:34.15 and became like they were dead, 00:24:34.18\00:24:36.86 says something about 00:24:36.89\00:24:37.92 the overpowering experience of it all. 00:24:37.95\00:24:41.86 In fact as they've been excavating-- 00:24:41.89\00:24:43.47 and of course they've been excavating 00:24:43.50\00:24:45.07 for years of Jerusalem. 00:24:45.10\00:24:46.84 Street level in Jesus day 00:24:46.87\00:24:49.26 is about 70 feet underground from where is today. 00:24:49.29\00:24:53.94 But they've been digging around and years ago 00:24:53.97\00:24:56.05 they discovered the pavement stones 00:24:56.08\00:24:58.71 that lay outside of Pilate, governor Pilate's palace. 00:24:58.74\00:25:04.33 Actually he ruled from Cesaria 00:25:04.36\00:25:07.99 which was on the Mediterranean 00:25:08.02\00:25:09.68 but he also had his palace there in Jerusalem. 00:25:09.71\00:25:13.17 And so the pavement stones 00:25:13.20\00:25:15.39 and you could see here very clearly 00:25:15.42\00:25:18.36 where some of the soldiers 00:25:18.39\00:25:19.45 has scratched out some of their games, 00:25:19.48\00:25:21.56 occupy themselves while the proceedings 00:25:21.59\00:25:23.63 were taking place in the governors palace. 00:25:23.66\00:25:26.74 And one of the things you find scratched out there 00:25:26.77\00:25:29.00 in fact I have a little arrow where we put up there. 00:25:29.03\00:25:32.29 Some, one of the soldiers scratched out 00:25:32.32\00:25:34.39 the insignia of the Fretensis legion the tenth legion 00:25:34.42\00:25:37.95 and that is that of the scorpion. 00:25:37.98\00:25:42.33 Okay, that's where we find 00:25:42.36\00:25:44.07 just an overpowering experience. 00:25:44.10\00:25:46.70 I'll share one other illustration 00:25:46.73\00:25:48.39 of the tremendous power 00:25:48.42\00:25:50.01 that God has invested into the angels. 00:25:50.04\00:25:52.87 I'm taking you back to the Old Testament 00:25:52.90\00:25:54.55 I'm taking you back to the time of the Assyrian, 00:25:54.58\00:25:57.27 the Assyrian empire. 00:25:57.30\00:26:00.33 And as we look at it in the Book of Isaiah 00:26:00.36\00:26:03.09 we find the Assyrians they are dominating 00:26:03.12\00:26:05.76 the Middle East as we know it. 00:26:05.79\00:26:07.36 There was a scorch earth policy. 00:26:07.39\00:26:11.30 They uprooted whole civilization, 00:26:11.33\00:26:13.67 the whole ten northern tribes 00:26:13.70\00:26:15.99 were taken an exile 00:26:16.02\00:26:18.03 and we lost track of them historically. 00:26:18.06\00:26:20.60 But they made their way eventually to Jerusalem, 00:26:20.63\00:26:23.14 Sennacherib was king at the end of this army. 00:26:23.17\00:26:25.73 It was a vast army of 185,000 Assyrians. 00:26:25.76\00:26:30.73 Hezekiah is king in Jerusalem. 00:26:30.76\00:26:34.40 And I can tell you this, 00:26:34.43\00:26:36.37 you know, they didn't have that kind of force 00:26:36.40\00:26:40.11 in Jerusalem to counter this. 00:26:40.14\00:26:43.02 Hezekiah you look at the record, he goes to the temple, 00:26:43.05\00:26:45.66 he lays this whole matter out be for God. 00:26:45.69\00:26:48.25 He asked for God's intervention. 00:26:48.28\00:26:51.14 And let me tell you God is a God of prayer. 00:26:51.17\00:26:54.66 God is a God that answers prayer. 00:26:54.69\00:26:57.94 And this prayer was answered 00:26:57.97\00:26:59.82 we find as we look at Isaiah 37:36, 00:26:59.85\00:27:03.32 notice what happened in answer to his prayer. 00:27:03.35\00:27:05.87 It says, "Then the angel of the Lord went out, 00:27:05.90\00:27:08.01 in the camp of the Assyrians, 00:27:08.04\00:27:12.22 and when men arose early in the morning, 00:27:12.25\00:27:14.81 behold, all of these were dead." 00:27:14.84\00:27:17.34 The work of one angel, one night, 185,000. 00:27:17.37\00:27:25.16 In fact, as you look at the secular 00:27:25.19\00:27:27.45 background of this the historical record, 00:27:27.48\00:27:30.23 it kind of in obscure way 00:27:30.26\00:27:32.18 describes Sennacherib for some reason returning 00:27:32.21\00:27:35.09 to his capital in disgrace 00:27:35.12\00:27:37.95 and then he ended up being assassinated. 00:27:37.98\00:27:41.03 It was all kind of-- you know it was aftermath 00:27:41.06\00:27:43.32 of his defeat there in Jerusalem. 00:27:43.35\00:27:46.23 But again the power of these angels 00:27:46.26\00:27:49.34 and remember a-third of them 00:27:49.37\00:27:51.22 have devoted themselves for our destruction. 00:27:51.25\00:27:54.74 We're gonna get into the reason 00:27:54.77\00:27:56.73 of why there is such hatred 00:27:56.76\00:27:58.66 by the evil angels for the human race. 00:27:58.69\00:28:01.19 Well, I'll tell you right now do you want to know why? 00:28:01.22\00:28:04.81 Besides it's just the fact that they become so mean. 00:28:04.84\00:28:08.38 My friend, it's because we are the supreme objects of His love. 00:28:08.41\00:28:13.60 He was defeated in heaven, 00:28:13.63\00:28:15.41 he know longer can create troubles up there in heaven. 00:28:15.44\00:28:18.32 But, my friend, he is so determined 00:28:18.35\00:28:20.31 he and his angels in the rebellion against God. 00:28:20.34\00:28:23.77 They are so determined that they're not gonna give up, 00:28:23.80\00:28:26.14 they're not gonna rave that white flag at any point. 00:28:26.17\00:28:29.57 You can study this out historically, 00:28:29.60\00:28:31.02 so you read this all in Revelation Chapter 20. 00:28:31.05\00:28:32.69 They don't give up until God forces them to give up. 00:28:32.72\00:28:38.01 And, my friend, 00:28:38.04\00:28:40.17 you know, it just think of this those of us 00:28:40.20\00:28:42.87 who are parents and our relationship to our children. 00:28:42.90\00:28:46.26 And the sense of, you know, our desire to protect them. 00:28:46.29\00:28:48.96 And if somebody would touch one of our children 00:28:48.99\00:28:51.33 how sometimes how defensive we would be, right. 00:28:51.36\00:28:54.80 Well, my friend Satan knows that he can bring pain, 00:28:54.83\00:28:58.89 he can bring pain 00:28:58.92\00:29:00.52 and grieve to the heart of God 00:29:00.55\00:29:03.01 by bringing all of the suffering 00:29:03.04\00:29:05.00 and all of this misery into the human race. 00:29:05.03\00:29:09.75 That's why he is doing it. 00:29:09.78\00:29:13.01 That's exactly why he's doing it, doesn't it. 00:29:13.04\00:29:15.45 There is no other reason why he would be doing this. 00:29:15.48\00:29:18.28 And so, no wonder it says in 1 Peter 5:8, 00:29:18.31\00:29:21.88 "Be sober, be vigilant, 00:29:21.91\00:29:23.58 because your adversary the devil, 00:29:23.61\00:29:25.55 as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour." 00:29:25.58\00:29:30.72 My friend, he is our adversary. 00:29:30.75\00:29:34.51 And he is determined to take every one of us down. 00:29:34.54\00:29:39.12 And again, my friend, 00:29:39.15\00:29:40.18 just always keep in mind that texts in 1 John, 00:29:40.21\00:29:43.46 "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world." 00:29:43.49\00:29:49.63 But I think we need to be little careful 00:29:49.66\00:29:51.44 how much we dwell upon the power of the evil one 00:29:51.47\00:29:55.51 and this determination. 00:29:55.54\00:29:56.57 We need to be aware of that, don't we? 00:29:56.60\00:29:58.73 But, my friend, we need to be focused 00:29:58.76\00:30:00.84 in on the God that loves us 00:30:00.87\00:30:03.75 and the God that is stepped in such a powerful 00:30:03.78\00:30:06.91 and dramatic way for our salvation. 00:30:06.94\00:30:10.98 And, my friend, He is going to be with us. 00:30:11.01\00:30:13.57 Jesus said it, "I am with you always." 00:30:13.60\00:30:17.12 Always is the word "even till the end." 00:30:17.15\00:30:20.86 So we need to keep our confidence in Jesus Christ 00:30:23.73\00:30:26.35 as we talk about this. 00:30:26.38\00:30:27.76 And I said, it can, 00:30:27.79\00:30:29.29 it is all been determined at the cross of Calvary. 00:30:29.32\00:30:32.24 It is not a question of whether it is just simply a question 00:30:32.27\00:30:35.84 of when this whole message going to come to an end. 00:30:35.87\00:30:40.95 It's been guaranteed, hasn't it? 00:30:40.98\00:30:43.45 But, you know, so we have a third of the angels 00:30:43.48\00:30:47.10 who have been cast down to this earth. 00:30:47.13\00:30:49.83 They'll be cast down to this earth 00:30:49.86\00:30:51.45 and they have been infected the human race 00:30:51.48\00:30:53.16 with their same evil rebellious spirit. 00:30:53.19\00:30:56.09 Oh, my friend, this makes the fantasy of star wars 00:30:56.12\00:30:58.84 fade into insignificance 00:30:58.87\00:31:00.67 before this very real intergalactic conflict. 00:31:00.70\00:31:05.16 And I don't believe 00:31:05.19\00:31:06.30 that's a stretch of the imagination 00:31:06.33\00:31:08.71 we use those terms, intergalactic 00:31:08.74\00:31:11.33 because they really do come 00:31:11.36\00:31:12.43 from a different dimension, don't they? 00:31:12.46\00:31:14.97 They do. 00:31:15.00\00:31:16.25 But do we have any further insights 00:31:16.28\00:31:18.63 into the identity of the evil one. 00:31:18.66\00:31:21.13 Some people ask did God created devil? 00:31:21.16\00:31:24.17 Some people have this idea God created 00:31:24.20\00:31:25.70 devil to test us. 00:31:25.73\00:31:28.34 But, my friend, I'm here to tell you 00:31:28.37\00:31:29.74 God is never in the business of creating evil. 00:31:29.77\00:31:33.27 He's not and take a look at Ezekiel 28, 00:31:33.30\00:31:35.24 the Old Testament page 609, 609 Ezekiel 28 00:31:35.27\00:31:41.09 and we're gonna be looking at verses 11 through 14. 00:31:41.12\00:31:45.75 Ezekiel, there are some 00:31:45.78\00:31:47.42 fascinating prophetic passages, apocalyptic passages 00:31:47.45\00:31:51.37 I'll explain that term at some point. 00:31:51.40\00:31:54.40 Next Friday night actually what we mean by apocalyptic. 00:31:54.43\00:31:59.32 But we have some apocalyptic passages 00:31:59.35\00:32:01.68 here in the Book of Ezekiel. 00:32:01.71\00:32:03.99 And Ezekiel 28 and we're looking at verse 11. 00:32:04.02\00:32:08.60 Verse 11 where it says, 00:32:08.63\00:32:10.20 "Again the word of the Lord came to me saying, 00:32:10.23\00:32:13.29 'Son of man, 00:32:13.32\00:32:14.45 take up a lamentation of the king of Tyre, 00:32:14.48\00:32:16.84 and say to him."' 00:32:16.87\00:32:18.87 Now he is not speaking and it will become clear 00:32:18.90\00:32:21.16 as we look at the context. 00:32:21.19\00:32:22.30 He is not here literally speaking 00:32:22.33\00:32:25.21 in regards to the king of Tyre. 00:32:25.24\00:32:28.39 The king of Tyre is representative 00:32:28.42\00:32:32.21 is represents the evil one, 00:32:32.24\00:32:34.76 again that will become apparent as we move forward. 00:32:34.79\00:32:37.54 "Saying to the king of Tyre thus says the Lord God, 00:32:37.57\00:32:40.32 'You had the seal of perfection."' 00:32:40.35\00:32:43.78 Remember that the seal of perfection. 00:32:43.81\00:32:46.34 "Follow wisdom, perfected beauty," 00:32:46.37\00:32:49.82 verse 13, "you were in Eden," 00:32:49.85\00:32:52.89 it becomes clear that he's not talking in literal terms, 00:32:52.92\00:32:55.54 king of Tyre were never been in Eden. 00:32:55.57\00:32:57.44 Eden was on the earth that at this point, 00:32:57.47\00:32:59.97 "You were in Eden, the garden of God. 00:33:00.00\00:33:02.44 Every precious stone," notice this, this description, 00:33:02.47\00:33:05.41 "every precious stone was your covering, 00:33:05.44\00:33:07.75 the ruby, the topaz, the diamond, 00:33:07.78\00:33:10.18 the beryl, the onyx, the jasper, 00:33:10.21\00:33:12.74 the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald, and the gold, 00:33:12.77\00:33:16.74 the workmanship of your settings 00:33:16.77\00:33:19.02 and sockets, was in you. 00:33:19.05\00:33:21.37 On the day that you were created" 00:33:21.40\00:33:23.56 It was created of being "they were prepared." 00:33:23.59\00:33:26.77 I can hardly imagine 00:33:26.80\00:33:28.20 what this creature look like bejeweled as he was. 00:33:28.23\00:33:34.75 Probably the closest thing 00:33:34.78\00:33:35.89 in some of our memories would be Liberace. 00:33:35.92\00:33:39.53 Do you remember Liberace? 00:33:39.56\00:33:42.06 Remember those, you know, those stunning jackets 00:33:42.09\00:33:48.00 that he wore those diamond 00:33:48.03\00:33:49.83 encrusted sparkly jackets something like that. 00:33:49.86\00:33:54.01 That's how he was created. 00:33:54.04\00:33:56.52 And then verse 14, 00:33:56.55\00:33:57.74 now it gets very specific in his identity 00:33:57.77\00:34:00.89 who God's talking about. 00:34:00.92\00:34:02.58 "You were the anointed cherub 00:34:02.61\00:34:05.33 who covers and I placed you there. 00:34:05.36\00:34:08.44 You were on the holy mountain of God," 00:34:08.47\00:34:11.11 you followed this through he's talking about heaven. 00:34:11.14\00:34:13.61 "You walked in the midst of the stones of fire." 00:34:13.64\00:34:17.02 And again as you trace this out biblically 00:34:17.05\00:34:18.67 you'll discover this is speaking about 00:34:18.70\00:34:20.03 God's immediate presence. 00:34:20.06\00:34:22.90 So He was a created being, 00:34:22.93\00:34:25.69 He was perfect in all of his ways, 00:34:25.72\00:34:28.16 we know that. 00:34:28.19\00:34:29.22 And the seal of perfection, He was full of wisdom. 00:34:29.25\00:34:32.16 He was perfect in beauty. He was a beautiful angel. 00:34:32.19\00:34:38.11 And we know as we study from the Bible 00:34:38.14\00:34:39.49 there are two classes of angels 00:34:39.52\00:34:41.08 that are revealed there are Cherubims 00:34:41.11\00:34:43.04 and there are Seraphims. 00:34:43.07\00:34:46.06 By the word way the Hebrew word 00:34:46.09\00:34:47.96 that for Seraphim literally translates out 00:34:47.99\00:34:51.85 to be those who burned. 00:34:51.88\00:34:54.98 To me that's kind of a fascinating 00:34:55.01\00:34:56.89 description of seraphims, those who burn. 00:34:56.92\00:35:00.52 And, you know, in some day we're gonna see 00:35:00.55\00:35:01.69 those seraphims, aren't we? 00:35:01.72\00:35:03.46 We're gonna see those cherubims 00:35:03.49\00:35:04.78 but Satan originally was one of those covering cherubims. 00:35:04.81\00:35:10.19 He was one of those angels of God in heaven. 00:35:10.22\00:35:12.84 And in fact we would add to this, 00:35:12.87\00:35:14.38 this verse right here Psalm 9:1 00:35:14.41\00:35:17.52 where it says, "The Lord reigneth," 00:35:17.55\00:35:19.21 and of course when we think of God reigning 00:35:19.24\00:35:20.75 we think about He is, "sitting on this throne, right. 00:35:20.78\00:35:25.22 The Lord reigneth, let the people tremble, 00:35:25.25\00:35:27.85 He sitteth on his throne, 00:35:27.88\00:35:29.77 he sitteth between the cherubims, 00:35:29.80\00:35:33.51 let the earth be moved." 00:35:33.54\00:35:36.09 So we see clearly in scripture that on either side 00:35:37.07\00:35:40.94 of the throne of God are cherubims too. 00:35:40.97\00:35:45.52 They're called covering cherubims 00:35:45.55\00:35:47.35 and one of them was Satan-- 00:35:47.38\00:35:50.84 before he became Satan of course. 00:35:50.87\00:35:53.72 Before he became Satan. 00:35:53.75\00:35:55.15 So how could it be? 00:35:55.64\00:35:56.84 How could it be the one of these angels, 00:35:56.87\00:35:58.61 how could sin began, and--and it been 00:35:58.64\00:36:02.08 that was so perfect and so full of wisdom. 00:36:02.11\00:36:05.54 Well, again as we look at Ezekiel 28 00:36:05.57\00:36:07.69 and beginning with verse 15. 00:36:07.72\00:36:09.77 It goes onto to say, "You were blameless in your ways 00:36:09.80\00:36:12.49 from the day you were created, 00:36:12.52\00:36:14.44 until unrighteousness was found," where? In you. 00:36:14.47\00:36:18.72 It developed in his heart, in his thinking, his mind. 00:36:18.75\00:36:21.77 And then it says, "Your heart was lifted up 00:36:21.80\00:36:24.22 because of," what? 00:36:24.25\00:36:26.08 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty." 00:36:26.11\00:36:28.54 And he was a beautiful angel, 00:36:28.57\00:36:30.50 the word we would describe this as? 00:36:30.53\00:36:32.96 Pride. 00:36:32.99\00:36:35.08 right, remember the-- remember the saying 00:36:35.11\00:36:37.49 pride cometh before a fall. 00:36:37.52\00:36:41.16 And that's exactly the sequence 00:36:41.19\00:36:42.90 I'll begin with Satan himself this angel. 00:36:42.93\00:36:45.93 So we got some idea, I mean, he began to, you know, 00:36:47.39\00:36:50.99 he began to looked himself this beautiful creature 00:36:51.02\00:36:53.50 that he was. 00:36:53.53\00:36:55.24 And it's hard begin to be lifted up within him. 00:36:55.27\00:36:58.50 Pride began to take what? With in his heart, right. 00:36:58.53\00:37:03.10 And it goes on to say, "You corrupted your wisdom 00:37:03.13\00:37:08.86 by reason of your splendor." 00:37:08.89\00:37:11.86 You see, my friend, what, God created 00:37:12.83\00:37:14.58 the intelligent races of the universe. 00:37:14.61\00:37:17.97 He created us to reflect His nature. 00:37:18.00\00:37:22.55 And, my friend, the nature of God is to give, 00:37:22.58\00:37:26.15 to serve, and to sustain. 00:37:26.18\00:37:29.59 The nature of sin is the nature of selfishness. 00:37:29.62\00:37:34.27 It is the eye syndrome 00:37:34.30\00:37:36.79 that begins to take place in a person's life. 00:37:36.82\00:37:39.19 It is focusing in on myself and my interest. 00:37:39.22\00:37:44.59 It is contrary to the way 00:37:44.62\00:37:46.20 that God designed us in the very beginning. 00:37:46.23\00:37:49.07 And that's a part of what is so, 00:37:49.10\00:37:51.99 you know, it is not only corrupting 00:37:52.02\00:37:54.47 but it wears away at the designed like forces 00:37:54.50\00:37:57.48 because this is so contrary 00:37:57.51\00:37:59.42 to what God in the beginning, right. 00:37:59.45\00:38:02.20 It's weary. 00:38:02.23\00:38:03.45 I mean, we live with this and we just take it for grant 00:38:03.48\00:38:05.41 because this is way it's always been for us 00:38:05.44\00:38:07.57 but this is not the way again as we know that God designed. 00:38:07.60\00:38:10.62 And take a look at Isaiah 14, the Old Testament page 497. 00:38:10.65\00:38:15.92 497 Isaiah 14 and beginning with verse 12, 00:38:15.95\00:38:19.96 Adds some further insights into this whole matter. 00:38:19.99\00:38:22.75 Okay. 00:38:24.45\00:38:25.48 Fourteenth Chapter Isaiah, 00:38:26.18\00:38:27.86 yeah, is the writer here. 00:38:29.74\00:38:33.42 And I say we're gonna begin with verse 12. 00:38:33.45\00:38:36.30 Notice this says, "How you have fallen from heaven, 00:38:36.33\00:38:40.64 O star of the morning, son of the dawn. 00:38:40.67\00:38:43.60 You have been cut down to the earth, 00:38:43.63\00:38:45.41 You who have weakened the nations." 00:38:45.44\00:38:48.19 And if somebody has another translation 00:38:48.22\00:38:50.43 as in the King James translation you will discover 00:38:50.46\00:38:53.17 where is the new American standard 00:38:53.20\00:38:54.64 just translates out the name. 00:38:54.67\00:38:56.77 You will discover where it says, 00:38:56.80\00:38:58.10 how you will fallen from heaven, 00:38:58.13\00:38:59.23 you will find the name Lucifer. 00:38:59.26\00:39:03.45 And Lucifer means, son of the morning, son of the dawn. 00:39:03.48\00:39:07.55 So they just translated it. 00:39:07.58\00:39:09.30 And I think probably most of us 00:39:09.33\00:39:11.62 have the sense that this is a name 00:39:11.65\00:39:14.27 that is associated with the devil, right. 00:39:14.30\00:39:16.76 Lucifer, the prince of darkness, okay. 00:39:16.79\00:39:21.81 How you are fallen and again we connect this 00:39:21.84\00:39:23.74 with the several versus 00:39:23.77\00:39:24.82 we've already looked at in the New Testament. 00:39:24.85\00:39:26.39 How you are fallen. 00:39:26.42\00:39:27.67 Verse 13 and again we're giving the insights 00:39:27.70\00:39:29.89 of how sin begin to corrupt these angel. 00:39:29.92\00:39:33.00 It says but you said in your heart, 00:39:33.03\00:39:35.33 "I with the sin to heaven, I will raise will throne 00:39:35.36\00:39:39.40 above the stars of God." 00:39:39.43\00:39:40.55 This is treason. 00:39:40.58\00:39:41.77 "And I will sit on the mount of the assembly 00:39:41.80\00:39:44.07 and the recesses of the north. 00:39:44.10\00:39:46.11 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 00:39:46.14\00:39:49.28 I will make myself like the Most High." 00:39:49.31\00:39:53.38 My friend he had a fatal disease 00:39:53.41\00:39:55.45 and behold begin with him and it's spread from him. 00:39:55.48\00:39:59.32 To the inhabitants of this planet and I'm-- 00:39:59.35\00:40:01.23 as well as the third of the angels. 00:40:01.26\00:40:03.15 We might well describe it as I-ness. 00:40:03.18\00:40:07.15 In fact right in the middle of that word sin 00:40:08.13\00:40:10.76 that three letter word is the word I. 00:40:10.79\00:40:14.11 And, my friend, that became the focal point for Lucifer 00:40:16.03\00:40:19.17 it corrupted him, it took him down, 00:40:19.20\00:40:22.05 it let to rebellion as it began to internalize. 00:40:22.08\00:40:26.78 And he is begin to look to himself. 00:40:26.81\00:40:28.69 And, my friend, remember we have been affected 00:40:28.72\00:40:31.72 with the same evil, I. 00:40:31.75\00:40:36.31 My friend it's not about I, it's not about me. 00:40:36.34\00:40:40.15 It's about Him. 00:40:40.18\00:40:42.26 And, my friend, when we discover 00:40:42.29\00:40:44.59 that there is a much better way and it is a return to the way 00:40:44.62\00:40:48.64 that God designed us in the very beginning. 00:40:48.67\00:40:51.47 That it was--he is not looking just out for my interest, 00:40:51.50\00:40:55.47 it's really giving ourselves as God has done. 00:40:55.50\00:40:58.38 That's why I said in few moments ago, 00:40:58.41\00:40:59.75 "it is giving ourselves in loving service to others." 00:40:59.78\00:41:04.61 Let me tell you, if you really want to know 00:41:04.64\00:41:07.23 find joy, and fulfillment in your life. 00:41:07.26\00:41:11.48 It is not looking out for just our own interest, 00:41:11.51\00:41:15.03 it is getting involved in the needs of others. 00:41:15.06\00:41:18.90 And carrying about what is happened, 00:41:18.93\00:41:21.66 what's happened in people's life 00:41:21.69\00:41:23.42 and getting involved with them. 00:41:23.45\00:41:26.07 It's really all about that. 00:41:26.10\00:41:28.11 And again it's just a reflection 00:41:28.14\00:41:29.99 of the character of God who has given everything. 00:41:30.02\00:41:33.77 In service to us, has given everything 00:41:33.80\00:41:36.77 for our salvation, hasn't He? 00:41:36.80\00:41:39.48 He's given everything. 00:41:39.51\00:41:41.94 And thus I've always said in the end, 00:41:41.97\00:41:43.18 nobody is gonna ever say of God that you held back. 00:41:43.21\00:41:45.87 You could have done more. 00:41:45.90\00:41:47.84 Because He's done everything that He knows to do 00:41:47.87\00:41:50.92 and He knows it all by the way, doesn't He. 00:41:50.95\00:41:52.85 So nothing has been left out. 00:41:54.19\00:41:56.06 So now the question comes up. 00:41:56.09\00:41:58.44 You know, we got the picture, 00:41:58.47\00:42:00.07 you know, we don't have a great deal of detail 00:42:00.10\00:42:03.50 but we have just in us. 00:42:03.53\00:42:05.44 So we can understand who was involved? 00:42:05.47\00:42:08.18 The dynamics of what to place in heaven, 00:42:08.21\00:42:10.24 how it's spread to this earth from that fatal decision 00:42:10.27\00:42:13.51 at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:42:13.54\00:42:15.49 We have just enough to understand that. 00:42:15.52\00:42:17.81 But now the question follows 00:42:17.84\00:42:19.24 why didn't God immediately deal with this. 00:42:19.27\00:42:21.76 Certainly in his foreknowledge 00:42:21.79\00:42:22.86 he knew exactly what was going to follow. 00:42:22.89\00:42:24.57 Once Satan begin to rebel, when this became open. 00:42:24.60\00:42:27.71 You know, really as you think about this 00:42:29.57\00:42:31.54 as you put this text together, 00:42:31.57\00:42:32.82 you know, his heart was lifted up because of his beauty 00:42:32.85\00:42:37.54 and it began to have all of these ambitions. 00:42:37.57\00:42:40.17 I'm gonna do this and I'm going--whatever, you know. 00:42:40.20\00:42:43.95 Just, you know, there He was. 00:42:44.72\00:42:46.46 Just think of the privilege he had 00:42:46.49\00:42:48.49 of being one of those angels there at the throne of God. 00:42:48.52\00:42:52.64 So close to the power of the universe, 00:42:52.67\00:42:55.21 the sovereign of the universe. 00:42:55.24\00:42:57.33 Somewhere in this process 00:42:57.36\00:43:00.33 he begin to fantasize his sitting upon that throne 00:43:00.36\00:43:04.69 and he's exercising those prerogatives 00:43:04.72\00:43:07.33 and those powers that were God alone. 00:43:07.36\00:43:09.99 And we say how irrational. 00:43:11.31\00:43:13.93 It is absolutely irrational, isn't it? 00:43:13.96\00:43:16.45 That's the irrationality of sin. 00:43:17.34\00:43:20.06 And all of us have seen this in some level, 00:43:20.09\00:43:22.54 we've seen the irrationality 00:43:22.57\00:43:23.91 what sin has done in lives of others. 00:43:23.94\00:43:25.55 Some of us can bare testimony to the irrational things 00:43:25.58\00:43:29.08 that we have done or said because of sin. 00:43:29.11\00:43:32.04 It's absolutely irrational. 00:43:33.02\00:43:36.11 And remember he said he corrupted his wisdom 00:43:36.14\00:43:38.59 in this process. 00:43:39.62\00:43:41.20 And, my friend, we have gone through 00:43:41.23\00:43:43.19 much of that same corruption. 00:43:43.22\00:43:45.49 But anyway there's some interesting parallels to this, 00:43:45.52\00:43:47.54 so he begin and fantasize as sitting on that throne. 00:43:47.57\00:43:50.40 And at some point that was clear he began to act upon it. 00:43:50.43\00:43:54.42 So why didn't God give with it. 00:43:54.45\00:43:56.01 He knew what was gonna follow, 00:43:56.04\00:43:57.32 He knew all of the suffering and pain. 00:43:57.35\00:43:59.07 He could have saved us a lot of trouble if He was said 00:43:59.10\00:44:01.80 and He could have done in just a word. 00:44:01.83\00:44:03.16 You're gone. 00:44:04.26\00:44:05.29 Enough of that. 00:44:06.40\00:44:07.44 Is there any problem with that? 00:44:08.73\00:44:09.91 There is a problem with that. 00:44:11.51\00:44:13.11 It goes to the very nature of God and who He is. 00:44:13.14\00:44:15.52 God is a God of love that when He created 00:44:16.51\00:44:18.63 the intelligent beings of the universe. 00:44:18.66\00:44:20.62 He created us with the power of choice. 00:44:20.65\00:44:24.57 Didn't He? 00:44:24.60\00:44:25.88 That's what the tree of the knowledge 00:44:25.91\00:44:27.05 good of an evil-- had represented. 00:44:27.08\00:44:28.62 It represented a choice. 00:44:28.65\00:44:30.14 And the fact that God put the tree of the knowledge 00:44:30.17\00:44:32.16 of good and evil there tells us that God acknowledged 00:44:32.19\00:44:36.86 and accepted the fact that He had given the human race, 00:44:36.89\00:44:40.56 the power of choice 00:44:40.59\00:44:41.67 of course He warned us in the person of Adam and Eve. 00:44:41.70\00:44:45.42 What was going to happen if they made the wrong choice. 00:44:45.45\00:44:49.19 You know, so much like us his parents with our kids, 00:44:49.22\00:44:51.22 you know, he tried to share, 00:44:51.25\00:44:52.82 you know, the consequences of certain actions 00:44:52.85\00:44:55.56 but anyway and we do that out of love. 00:44:55.59\00:44:57.69 If he had snapped Lucifer 00:44:57.72\00:45:01.48 and those angels out of existence. 00:45:01.51\00:45:04.57 He would have affectively removed the power of choice. 00:45:04.60\00:45:10.05 Because what it means in the end, there is no choice. 00:45:10.08\00:45:13.91 It's either God's way or the highway. 00:45:13.94\00:45:18.02 Here you're there, gonna do it my way or you're out of here. 00:45:18.05\00:45:20.58 And just think of again if God had done this, 00:45:20.61\00:45:23.55 you know, if they're dare to think this even, 00:45:23.58\00:45:26.15 think of what the intelligent beings of the universe must 00:45:26.18\00:45:30.03 would be thinking, you know, oh, 00:45:30.06\00:45:32.00 you know, there's a lesson in this. 00:45:32.03\00:45:33.21 He seem so kind, he seem so learning. 00:45:33.24\00:45:35.63 But you know there is another side here the God 00:45:35.66\00:45:37.93 that we didn't we had never seen before. 00:45:37.96\00:45:40.76 So that's what happened when you cross God 00:45:40.79\00:45:43.60 and instead of serving God out of love 00:45:43.63\00:45:46.07 they will begin to serve him out of fear. 00:45:46.10\00:45:49.10 Now see Satan makes those kinds of representations of God 00:45:50.50\00:45:53.70 some people have this misconception of God. 00:45:53.73\00:45:56.59 You better watch your step. 00:45:56.62\00:45:58.01 Are you're gonna get it. 00:45:59.48\00:46:00.90 My friend that is not the God that is revealed in this book, 00:46:01.81\00:46:04.90 this is not the God that is revealed 00:46:04.93\00:46:06.94 at the cross of Calvary. 00:46:06.97\00:46:08.69 This is not the God of love, you know, God loves us. 00:46:09.76\00:46:13.68 Yes, there are consequences to our choices, 00:46:13.71\00:46:16.48 of course there's consequences. 00:46:16.51\00:46:19.38 But remember time has gone on because God wants to say 00:46:19.41\00:46:24.25 as many as He possibly can. 00:46:24.28\00:46:26.93 He's given us time, so we can make that decision. 00:46:29.22\00:46:32.81 And there are certain lessons 00:46:32.84\00:46:34.47 that are being played out upon this planet. 00:46:34.50\00:46:36.86 And again those of us who have raised children, 00:46:36.89\00:46:39.52 how many of you raised children? 00:46:39.55\00:46:40.58 Are you have children? 00:46:40.61\00:46:41.64 A lot of us have had children 00:46:41.67\00:46:43.18 are in the process of raising them. 00:46:43.21\00:46:45.67 All of us know this, you know, 00:46:45.70\00:46:47.65 I wish I just wish do you know 00:46:47.68\00:46:50.33 that things were just very rational, 00:46:50.36\00:46:51.98 you know, at my home that I can jus sit-down 00:46:52.01\00:46:53.85 when David and Kevin and telling him, 00:46:53.88\00:46:55.24 you know, these are the rules that's what we have to do. 00:46:55.27\00:46:58.43 And, you know, that they were just, 00:46:58.46\00:47:00.50 you know, I wasn't I'd been always do 00:47:00.53\00:47:02.99 what parents told me to do. 00:47:03.02\00:47:04.51 Did you? Did you come on be honest? 00:47:04.54\00:47:07.39 Did you do everything, no? 00:47:07.42\00:47:08.93 So we've had children that have carried on, 00:47:09.86\00:47:13.01 you know, they've done sometimes their own thing. 00:47:13.04\00:47:16.55 And so, you know, I discover sometimes, 00:47:16.58\00:47:19.99 sometimes its better not to say anything 00:47:21.46\00:47:24.19 and just let it play out. 00:47:24.22\00:47:27.13 Sometimes we have to learn the hard way, right. 00:47:28.68\00:47:33.39 And sometimes those are the very best lessons. 00:47:33.42\00:47:36.68 The ones that we have to learn in the hard way. 00:47:36.71\00:47:39.78 And especially in their teenage years 00:47:39.81\00:47:42.71 but my sons were somewhat this way, 00:47:42.74\00:47:44.51 you know, they wanted to be on their own, 00:47:44.54\00:47:45.89 they wanted to be independent. 00:47:45.92\00:47:47.58 And so particularly with Kevin, my youngest who is 24, 00:47:47.61\00:47:50.53 and he is a sweetheart I just love Kevin. 00:47:50.56\00:47:53.53 And he's a people person, people love Kevin. 00:47:53.56\00:47:57.74 But I do know this by Kevin, 00:47:57.77\00:48:00.05 if there's something I need to talk to him about 00:48:00.08\00:48:02.41 I never tell him what I think he ought to do. 00:48:02.44\00:48:05.01 Immediately he begins I can just see he begins or just, 00:48:06.28\00:48:10.15 you know, he doesn't want to be told what he should do. 00:48:10.18\00:48:15.02 Okay, and so I'll tell you exactly how I relate to Kevin, 00:48:15.05\00:48:19.79 I'll say something like this 00:48:19.82\00:48:20.92 so I feel I need to talk to them about something. 00:48:20.95\00:48:22.77 I'll say to Kevin, 00:48:22.80\00:48:24.50 Kevin I know you're not 10 or 12 years of age any longer. 00:48:24.53\00:48:28.05 But I want to share something with you and I have this idea 00:48:28.08\00:48:31.04 and you can think it over and I'll share it with him. 00:48:31.07\00:48:33.59 And I said, you know, I'll just think it over. 00:48:33.62\00:48:36.04 And I found that as a parent I still can have some residual 00:48:36.07\00:48:40.71 and it truly is residual at that age of 24. 00:48:40.74\00:48:44.07 I can still have some residual influence. 00:48:44.10\00:48:47.87 But there have been a lot of instances 00:48:48.50\00:48:51.47 where my sons had to learn lessons the hard way. 00:48:51.50\00:48:56.70 And I just had to let it play out. 00:48:56.73\00:48:58.34 I've had to learn certain lessons the hard way, 00:48:58.37\00:49:00.27 haven't you? 00:49:00.30\00:49:01.33 Of course. 00:49:01.84\00:49:03.12 And that's exactly what's happened on this planet. 00:49:03.15\00:49:05.54 God is loving in this all play out. 00:49:05.57\00:49:08.31 So that it could be seen to be the evil thing that it was 00:49:08.34\00:49:11.39 because initially this was not understood, 00:49:11.42\00:49:13.57 it was not comprehended. 00:49:13.60\00:49:15.51 It was something that had never been experienced. 00:49:15.54\00:49:18.16 And so God is allowed to play it out, 00:49:18.19\00:49:20.08 so that when He does act 00:49:20.11\00:49:22.06 and He will act to bring it to an end. 00:49:22.09\00:49:25.74 My friend, everyone will be in perfect agreement. 00:49:25.77\00:49:29.36 And that's why it says in 1 Corinthians 4:9, 00:49:29.39\00:49:32.18 "We have become a spectacle to the world, 00:49:32.21\00:49:34.76 both to angels and to men." 00:49:34.79\00:49:38.43 There are those lessons 00:49:38.46\00:49:39.49 that are being played out here upon this planet. 00:49:39.52\00:49:41.86 Then let's talk about the nature of this conflict. 00:49:42.75\00:49:45.56 In John 8:44 Jesus said, 00:49:45.59\00:49:47.35 "You are of your father the devil, 00:49:47.38\00:49:49.38 and you want to do the desires of your father. 00:49:49.41\00:49:52.09 He was a murder from the beginning, 00:49:52.12\00:49:54.06 and he does not stand in the truth, 00:49:54.09\00:49:56.74 because there is no truth in him." 00:49:57.47\00:50:00.67 He is so corrupted himself, there's no truth in him. 00:50:00.70\00:50:03.70 "Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, 00:50:03.73\00:50:07.45 for he is a liar, and the father of lies." 00:50:07.48\00:50:11.17 He is a liar. 00:50:13.04\00:50:14.07 And so this is what's going on he's all of the lies 00:50:16.01\00:50:19.50 and misrepresentations he's been making about God. 00:50:19.53\00:50:23.60 That's what it releases all about all this lies 00:50:25.49\00:50:27.71 and misrepresentations of our God. 00:50:27.74\00:50:30.12 All of this havoc, 00:50:30.15\00:50:31.58 all of the tragedy that has followed 00:50:31.61\00:50:35.16 because of what sin has done to this planet. 00:50:35.19\00:50:37.76 All the grief and sorrow 00:50:37.79\00:50:39.48 that has taken place upon this planet. 00:50:39.51\00:50:41.51 And then the devil puts all the blame upon God. 00:50:42.87\00:50:47.06 You know, I hear even Christians sometimes 00:50:47.09\00:50:50.76 confuse about this some horrible thing happens 00:50:50.79\00:50:53.03 and some body trying to comfort somebody saying, 00:50:53.06\00:50:54.61 well, we'll understand why God did or allowed. 00:50:54.64\00:50:58.28 Such in such. 00:50:59.39\00:51:01.01 My friend, God is not the author 00:51:01.04\00:51:04.63 of the sin problem first of all 00:51:04.66\00:51:07.33 and He's not the author of suffering. 00:51:07.36\00:51:10.44 He is not the author of the problems 00:51:10.88\00:51:12.93 that we are faced, 00:51:12.96\00:51:13.99 He is the solution. 00:51:14.02\00:51:15.90 But the devil has turned this around. 00:51:18.87\00:51:21.67 He is the fact has put all the blame upon God 00:51:21.70\00:51:24.41 and I'll tell you it is hard to even begin to comprehend 00:51:24.44\00:51:27.76 the suffering that has gone on upon this planet. 00:51:27.79\00:51:30.17 The sufferings that is happening with the beings 00:51:30.20\00:51:32.29 that are inhabiting in this planet. 00:51:32.32\00:51:33.60 The suffering that is happening right now 00:51:33.63\00:51:35.74 this moment throughout this planet. 00:51:35.77\00:51:39.14 The heartache and to grieve. 00:51:39.17\00:51:42.83 That was on the internet, 00:51:42.86\00:51:44.21 I was looking for a picture and I found this one. 00:51:44.24\00:51:46.03 This is the one that really grabbed to hold of me. 00:51:46.06\00:51:48.83 This is from the Korean War. 00:51:48.86\00:51:50.60 And you can see the soldier there confronting his friend. 00:51:50.63\00:51:54.67 That just touch my heart, he is cradled in his friends arms 00:51:54.70\00:51:58.24 because of his best friend has just been killed in battle. 00:51:58.27\00:52:02.74 And he has just overcome with grieve. 00:52:02.77\00:52:05.43 I mean, how do you picture the horrible things 00:52:05.46\00:52:09.51 that evil has done to this planet. 00:52:09.54\00:52:11.99 I'll tell you God is not just interested, 00:52:12.02\00:52:14.72 God is not distracted somewhere out there. 00:52:14.75\00:52:16.89 His focus is what's happening upon this planet. 00:52:16.92\00:52:20.37 He is deeply concerned about what's happening 00:52:20.40\00:52:22.59 in your life and my life. 00:52:22.62\00:52:24.64 And that's why He is acted 00:52:24.67\00:52:26.07 and that's why He's going to act in the end. 00:52:26.10\00:52:27.69 To end it, its all how to delve. 00:52:27.72\00:52:31.73 I mean, it just came out just years ago 00:52:32.52\00:52:34.86 Mother Teresa above people, 00:52:34.89\00:52:36.93 her diary was published remember in book form. 00:52:36.96\00:52:41.23 Any long behold it was discovered them, 00:52:41.26\00:52:42.98 I know say "that for the last 50 years 00:52:43.01\00:52:45.79 of her life she have lost faith in God 00:52:45.82\00:52:48.24 because of all of the suffering 00:52:48.27\00:52:49.86 that she had been immersed in for the years 00:52:49.89\00:52:52.67 that she had been spend in her ministry." 00:52:52.70\00:52:54.34 She had come to the place 00:52:54.37\00:52:55.40 where she could not even pray to God. 00:52:55.43\00:52:57.72 I mean, isn't that just kind of shocking 00:52:59.51\00:53:03.24 and think of Mother Teresa. 00:53:03.27\00:53:04.96 I said "again not you and I cannot take the measure 00:53:06.15\00:53:09.10 of all the horrible things that are going on this planet." 00:53:09.13\00:53:11.21 And Job 2:7 it says, "Then Satan went out 00:53:11.24\00:53:14.00 from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils 00:53:14.03\00:53:17.10 from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." 00:53:17.13\00:53:19.93 This text tells us it is Satan 00:53:19.96\00:53:22.64 that is responsible for all the suffering 00:53:22.67\00:53:24.86 and paying the death that is taking place upon this planet. 00:53:24.89\00:53:28.27 He's responsible and in the end 00:53:28.30\00:53:31.04 he is going to beheld accountable. 00:53:31.07\00:53:33.25 And it's the God of love 00:53:33.28\00:53:34.48 that's going to hold him accountable. 00:53:34.51\00:53:37.20 But again think about it, 00:53:37.23\00:53:38.33 I mean, down in Southern California 00:53:38.36\00:53:40.89 they just been going through this, 00:53:40.92\00:53:42.36 I mean, they have it every year. 00:53:42.39\00:53:43.79 You know this consuming fires and then we have-- 00:53:44.89\00:53:47.64 where we have here with tornadoes and floods. 00:53:47.67\00:53:50.48 Man, we're going through this 00:53:50.51\00:53:51.58 up in street of Washington in the Seattle area. 00:53:51.61\00:53:55.02 That again the horrible things 00:53:55.05\00:53:56.93 that are happening upon this planet 00:53:56.96\00:53:58.74 and some reporters somewhere 00:53:58.77\00:54:01.60 is going to report this as an act of God. 00:54:01.63\00:54:06.07 You've heard it, haven't you? 00:54:06.10\00:54:07.99 And I don't know how you react when you hear that 00:54:08.02\00:54:10.49 I just heard it just the last month or two some reporter 00:54:10.52\00:54:13.49 talking about it was act of God 00:54:13.52\00:54:14.78 it was just strange unaccountable act. 00:54:14.81\00:54:17.82 And I always say to myself, I'm offended by the term. 00:54:17.85\00:54:21.27 I always say to myself is this the way a God of act, 00:54:21.30\00:54:23.98 a God of love acts? 00:54:24.01\00:54:26.21 My friend, the God of love does not act that way. 00:54:26.24\00:54:28.22 It's not an act of God but, you know, 00:54:29.69\00:54:32.58 and again I say and then Satan puts all the blame upon God. 00:54:32.61\00:54:37.68 Have you ever been blamed for something 00:54:37.71\00:54:39.25 that you never did? 00:54:39.28\00:54:40.93 I've been through that, 00:54:40.96\00:54:42.08 you know, I was just mischievous kid. 00:54:42.11\00:54:44.30 And let me share the story with you, 00:54:44.33\00:54:46.00 I know exactly what this is like. 00:54:46.03\00:54:48.60 And so I've never been to Washington. 00:54:48.63\00:54:50.88 I was in my early youth and we had a great youth group 00:54:50.91\00:54:55.31 in our church. 00:54:55.34\00:54:57.13 And we have some great leaders and they planned an outing, 00:54:57.16\00:55:01.85 a campout for all of us youth. 00:55:01.88\00:55:04.05 You know, 12 to 15 of us. 00:55:04.08\00:55:06.55 And the plan was to go out to Mount Vernon. 00:55:06.58\00:55:08.76 Do you know the Mount Vernon area in Washington 00:55:08.79\00:55:12.04 and accorders they saw in Samoan Islands to the west, 00:55:12.07\00:55:15.67 it's a beautiful part of the state of Washington. 00:55:15.70\00:55:18.29 It's up in that area. 00:55:18.32\00:55:19.54 Except you go to Mount Vernon and you turn east. 00:55:19.57\00:55:22.67 And you come to; it was big lake 00:55:22.70\00:55:24.54 we were going to in some low lying mountains. 00:55:24.57\00:55:28.36 And we're gonna be the again the whole weekend there together 00:55:28.39\00:55:31.16 the girls we know this first of off that we stocked. 00:55:31.19\00:55:35.58 So we can unload the girls 00:55:35.61\00:55:37.57 in the picturesque comfortable cabins 00:55:37.60\00:55:41.17 that were situated down there by the water. 00:55:41.20\00:55:43.96 And you would have thought the way they have packed there. 00:55:43.99\00:55:45.83 And they we're gonna be there for couple of weeks, 00:55:45.86\00:55:47.89 you know, but we go all other stuff out, 00:55:47.92\00:55:49.94 we got them settled. 00:55:49.97\00:55:51.07 And then they took us across the highway down this trail 00:55:51.10\00:55:55.38 right through the nettles I remember those nettles 00:55:55.41\00:55:58.49 to a broken down barn and leaking roof and all. 00:55:58.52\00:56:02.37 And they said this is where you guys 00:56:02.40\00:56:04.02 are gonna be spending the weekend. 00:56:04.05\00:56:06.32 And, you know, science wonders 00:56:06.35\00:56:08.30 why is it that woman out live us men. 00:56:08.33\00:56:12.71 I really don't take it out to be that great of a mystery 00:56:13.58\00:56:16.78 when you think about it 00:56:16.81\00:56:17.94 but we thought it was a great adventure. 00:56:17.97\00:56:20.55 But we had our responsibilities during the camp out 00:56:20.58\00:56:23.87 and mine was on Saturday morning 00:56:23.90\00:56:25.50 to be there to help prepare for breakfast. 00:56:25.53\00:56:27.79 And I was there doing my job 00:56:27.82\00:56:29.71 and at the appointed time everybody came together, 00:56:29.74\00:56:32.01 we had the blessing 00:56:32.04\00:56:33.70 and somebody took that first bit of cereal 00:56:33.73\00:56:36.57 and discovered that somebody had put salt 00:56:36.60\00:56:39.93 in all of the sugar bowls. 00:56:39.96\00:56:42.62 And they wanted to know 00:56:42.65\00:56:44.14 and the inquisition begin to follow, they wanted to know 00:56:44.17\00:56:46.55 who can possibly done such dastardly did. 00:56:46.58\00:56:49.32 And when they discovered that Jim Rein 00:56:49.35\00:56:51.40 was on the breakfast crew they stopped. 00:56:51.43\00:56:54.02 Seriously, they stopped asking all question 00:56:54.05\00:56:56.26 because they thought they caught their culprit. 00:56:56.29\00:56:59.53 The problem was I was innocent. 00:57:00.45\00:57:02.08 And the bigger problem was I can convince anybody 00:57:03.45\00:57:06.00 I didn't do it. 00:57:06.03\00:57:08.48 I remember traveling home that following day 00:57:08.51\00:57:11.20 in Mrs. Gardner's car, 00:57:11.23\00:57:13.70 you know, I shouldn't tell you her name, should I. 00:57:13.73\00:57:16.25 I already said it, oh, my. 00:57:16.28\00:57:20.43 Traveling in her car an attorney to me 00:57:20.46\00:57:22.70 is only Mrs. Gardener could do 00:57:22.73\00:57:24.52 and saying Jimmy why did you do that? 00:57:24.55\00:57:27.26 That was so awful. 00:57:27.29\00:57:29.85 She made me feel worse than a dog. 00:57:29.88\00:57:33.61 But I was innocent that's why I believe in judgment 00:57:33.64\00:57:38.29 because somebody they'll hang for it. 00:57:38.32\00:57:40.43 Somebody did it and they let me hang for it. 00:57:42.14\00:57:45.80 And I want to tell you there's a day of judgment 00:57:45.83\00:57:47.55 in which every secret is going to come out in the open. 00:57:47.58\00:57:51.74 And I'm gonna be vindicated. 00:57:51.77\00:57:53.51 Really I've gotten over this, I think I've gotten over this. 00:57:55.00\00:57:57.71 I think I am. 00:57:58.86\00:58:00.66 But vindication is a wonderful thing 00:58:00.69\00:58:02.87 when you've been falsely accused. 00:58:02.90\00:58:04.20 And, you know, God's character in the end 00:58:04.23\00:58:06.30 is going to be vindicated in all of this. 00:58:06.33\00:58:09.93 We are going to see in every way 00:58:09.96\00:58:11.93 His ways have been the ways of love, mercy, and compassion. 00:58:11.96\00:58:18.15 Is that wonderful about God? 00:58:18.18\00:58:20.12 That we have that kind of God to serve just think 00:58:20.15\00:58:22.38 what life would be without God. 00:58:22.41\00:58:25.43 We wouldn't be here. 00:58:25.46\00:58:27.08 We wouldn't have anything to say. 00:58:27.11\00:58:28.88 We would just simply go on. 00:58:28.91\00:58:30.80 Live, eat, and be marry because tomorrow that's it. 00:58:30.83\00:58:36.55 That's it. 00:58:36.58\00:58:38.17 Oh, there's a number of things I share with you 00:58:38.20\00:58:39.90 but let me come down to the last text 00:58:39.93\00:58:41.67 in Revelation 12:12 where it says, 00:58:41.70\00:58:43.43 "Therefore, rejoice O heavens, and you who dwell in them! 00:58:43.46\00:58:46.34 Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! 00:58:46.37\00:58:48.89 For the devil has come down to you, having great 00:58:48.92\00:58:52.34 because he knows he has a short time!" 00:58:52.37\00:58:55.74 My friend, his days are numbered. 00:58:55.77\00:58:58.50