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Series Code: SUSS
Program Code: SUSS000004A
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00:15 Greetings once again, my friends,
00:17 here in the beautiful Islands of Hawaii on Oahu, 00:20 specifically, we are glad to be with you 00:22 with Secrets Unsealed. 00:24 And we're looking at a series of messages 00:26 entitled "Silencing Satan." 00:29 We're looking at how God responds 00:31 to the wickedness that began in the heart of Lucifer 00:34 and where we are now in that process. 00:37 Now in our first messages, 00:38 we looked at the origin of evil was in the heart of Lucifer, 00:41 in the very heart of heaven itself, 00:46 and there was a war in heaven, 00:47 he was casted to earth and we've seen how. 00:49 The reason why Christ had to cast him out 00:53 instead of blotting him out 00:54 so that other people could see what was in his heart. 00:56 And Christ came to be the evidence 00:58 of the truth about God 01:00 in response to the lies of Satan, and in Calvary 01:03 the righteousness of God was revealed. 01:06 And we're told that the last link of sympathy 01:08 between Satan and the heavenly world was broken 01:11 when they saw the sacrifice 01:13 and selfless love of Jesus Christ. 01:17 Furthermore, we went on to show 01:19 that the fall of Satan was not just a one-time event, 01:22 but it had multiple stages, 01:24 four, in fact, distinct phases. 01:27 First, we had the initial casting out, 01:29 in Revelation 12:7-9, 01:32 then we have the casting out 01:35 from the sympathies of heavenly beings 01:37 which Christ accomplished at the cross 01:39 and as we described in Revelation 12:10, 01:43 and then we saw the response of the redeemed 01:46 those who God intended to save 01:48 because His plan is more than just destruction, 01:50 it's the salvation of mankind, 01:53 says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, 01:56 and by the word of their testimony." 01:57 And they did not love their lives 01:59 even unto death. 02:01 So we've seen God move in these three steps, 02:04 and there's still that great final day 02:07 when Satan will be destroyed 02:09 and that's going to be the focus of our study. 02:12 At this time, 02:13 we'll be looking at the day the devil dies. 02:17 But as we always do and must do, 02:19 let's begin with a word of prayer. 02:22 Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much, 02:25 that You give us not only this life 02:26 but the hope 02:28 and assurance of eternal life in Jesus Christ. 02:32 And now, Lord, as we prepare to go 02:34 and be with Jesus, 02:35 we would ask that You would make us 02:37 like Jesus. 02:38 We would have not only a transaction, 02:41 but a transformation. 02:43 And by knowledge of Your Word today, 02:46 help us, 02:48 for we pray it all in Jesus' name. 02:50 Amen. 02:53 Now, I want you to take your Bibles out, 02:56 since I know that you have them with you, 02:58 take them out 02:59 and let's go to a rather obscure 03:03 book of the Bible, 03:04 Nahum 1:9. 03:10 In the Book of Nahum, 03:12 we find what I believe is God's biggest promise. 03:17 And I know that sounds like a lie. 03:18 You remember John Chapter 14, where Jesus said, 03:20 "Let not your heart be troubled, 03:22 you believe in God, believe also in Me." 03:24 And He promised to come again and take us to live with Him, 03:26 that's a big promise. 03:28 John 3:16 03:29 is perhaps the most well-known passage in all of the Bible, 03:33 that God so loved the world that 03:35 whoever believes in Him can have eternal life, 03:39 that's a big promise. 03:42 But in Nahum 1:9, 03:44 I believe there's a promise 03:45 that's even of greater consequence 03:48 than those promises. 03:49 Now I know it seems a little silly 03:51 to rank the promises of God, but in this small little book, 03:54 we find one of God's biggest promises. 03:57 Nahum 1:9, 04:00 a question is asked rhetorically, 04:02 "What do you conspire against the Lord? 04:06 He will make an utter end of it. 04:11 Affliction will not rise up 04:16 a second time." 04:19 God makes the promise that 04:20 when this great controversy is over, 04:23 there will never be a sequel. 04:25 Amen. 04:27 That once Satan is destroyed and once sin is ended, 04:29 it will never rise again. 04:32 Now, that is a fantastic promise. 04:35 But let's ask this question. 04:37 How can God make such a promise? 04:40 Now again you could say, "Well, He is God, 04:42 He can make whatever promises He wanted." 04:43 Of course, that's true, but let's think it through. 04:48 There was a time when Satan was just Lucifer, 04:51 the covering cherub in heaven and there was no sin, 04:54 and he sinned. 04:56 And there was a time 04:57 when Adam and Eve were brought forth 04:59 from the hand of the creator in perfection, 05:01 and they sinned. 05:03 So how can God 05:05 given the experience of both angels and men 05:09 make such a bold prediction 05:13 that affliction will never rise again? 05:18 Well, I suppose there's only so many options He could. 05:21 First of all, change how we operate 05:24 so that we can't make choices anymore, 05:26 so there's no risk of sin anymore. 05:29 Well, friends, if He could change us 05:30 into mindless automatons, 05:33 then the question, 05:34 why didn't He do that years before, 05:36 why have we gone through all of this disease, 05:37 and destruction, and famine, and plague, and death? 05:40 Why didn't He do that before? 05:42 And furthermore, 05:43 if we were all mindless robots 05:45 just obeying without rational part 05:48 or choice of volition of our own, 05:50 then would that even really be love? 05:53 Of course not. 05:55 You can program the computer to say, 05:56 "I love you," ten times a day, 05:57 but does that really mean it really loves you? 05:59 No. 06:00 That's not how that works. 06:02 So God must keep intact our freedom of choice, 06:08 yet He somehow guarantees that no one will ever choose 06:11 to rebel again. 06:15 We're going to start looking at this more closely 06:17 in this message and in the message to come. 06:20 Well, we're going to look at the day the devil dies. 06:22 The destruction of Satan 06:24 as we start to inform ourselves 06:25 about this particular truth. 06:30 First of all, we need to do a study 06:31 of the second coming of Jesus 06:33 and the events immediately 06:35 preceding and following Christ's return. 06:38 For that, let's do a Bible study 06:40 if you don't mind. 06:41 2 Peter 3. 06:43 We're going to go to the New Testament, 06:44 that little Book of 2 Peter 3, 06:48 and we're gonna see the experience of the wicked 06:51 when Christ returns. 06:53 It is not a pretty picture that scripture paints. 06:55 2 Peter 3, 06:58 starting with verse 3, 07:01 it says here, 07:04 "Knowing this first that in the last day, 07:06 scoffers will come, 07:08 that scoffers will come in the last days, 07:09 walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 07:12 "Where is the promise of His coming? 07:14 For since the fathers fell asleep, 07:16 all things continue as they were 07:18 from the beginning of creation.'" 07:20 But then he adds, "For this 07:22 they willfully forget..." 07:23 Now I'm not at the age 07:24 where I want to forget anything, 07:26 and praise the Lord, I'm not forgetting too much, 07:27 but I don't know of anybody who chooses to forget. 07:31 But apparently, there are those 07:33 who know something they don't want to know, 07:35 so they willfully forget, and what is it? 07:37 "They willfully forget 07:39 that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, 07:41 and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 07:44 by which the world that then existed perished, 07:47 being flooded with water. 07:48 But the heavens and the earth 07:50 which are now preserved by the same word 07:52 are reserved for fire 07:53 until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." 07:58 So notice that these wicked scoffers 08:00 who taunt the coming of Christ do so 08:02 because they know that when He comes, 08:04 they are done. 08:05 It is their destruction. 08:07 The wicked, whenever it comes 08:09 to the return of Jesus, 08:10 don't look forward to it as their great hope. 08:13 They want to willfully forget it. 08:16 Revelation Chapter 6, let's look at another example. 08:20 Revelation Chapter 6, 08:23 we'll begin with verse 14. 08:25 Revelation Chapter 6, 08:29 notice the description of the experience of the wicked 08:31 at the return of Jesus recorded here 08:33 in Revelation 6:14, 08:36 "Then the sky receded 08:37 as a scroll when it is rolled up, 08:39 and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 08:41 And the kings of the earth, 08:43 the great men, the rich men, 08:45 the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, 08:49 hid themselves in the caves 08:51 and in the rocks of the mountains, 08:52 and said to the mountains and rocks, 08:54 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him 08:58 who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 09:02 For the great day of His wrath has come, 09:04 and who is able to stand?'" 09:06 So what is response to the wicked 09:08 when the revelation of Jesus Christ 09:10 is on the eastern sky? 09:11 They run not to Him, 09:12 but from Him to the rocks and the mountains 09:15 crying out fall on us and hide us 09:17 from the face of Him who sits on the throne, 09:19 and from the wrath of the Lamb. 09:21 Do they look forward with the great joy 09:23 to the coming of Jesus? 09:24 No. 09:25 They want to forget it, they want to push it away. 09:27 They are afraid of it. 09:29 In fact, in some of the most graphic language in the Bible, 09:31 Revelation Chapter 19 09:37 describes this experience of the wicked 09:42 at the return of Jesus. 09:44 Revelation 19:11, 09:47 "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. 09:50 And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, 09:52 and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 09:55 His eyes were like a flame of fire, 09:57 and on His head were many crowns. 09:59 He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 10:02 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, 10:04 and His name is called The Word of God." 10:06 Friends, there's only one person in the Bible 10:08 who's ever called the Word of God, 10:09 and who is that? 10:11 Jesus Christ, right? 10:12 Verse 14, "And the armies in heaven, 10:15 clothed in fine linen white and clean, 10:17 followed Him on white horses. 10:19 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, 10:21 that with it He should strike the nations. 10:23 And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. 10:25 He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness 10:28 and wrath of Almighty God. 10:29 And He has on His robe and His thigh a name written, 10:32 King of Kings and Lord of Lords." 10:37 Now this is a description of the return of Jesus 10:42 and the destruction of the wicked. 10:44 In fact, watch how... 10:45 If you were to read through the rest of the verses, 10:47 the destruction is total. 10:51 In fact, by the end of the chapter, 10:53 it says in verse 21, 10:54 "And the rest were killed with the sword 10:56 which proceeded from the mouth of Him 10:58 who sat on the horse. 11:00 And all the birds were filled with their flesh." 11:05 The wicked here are not only fleeing from Jesus, 11:10 but they are destroyed 11:12 with the brightness of His coming, 11:13 with the sword that proceeds from His mouth. 11:19 And it's sad 11:22 as the destruction of the wicked 11:24 that we've just seen described is... 11:29 You could at least say... 11:33 Well, at least when Jesus returns, 11:36 the whole matter is finished. 11:40 Or is it? 11:43 Because if we stay in the Book of Revelation, 11:45 just go to the very next verse, 11:47 Revelation 20:1, it says, 11:52 "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, 11:55 having the key to the bottomless pit 11:57 and a great chain in his hand." 12:00 Verse 2, 12:01 "He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, 12:04 who is the Devil and Satan, 12:07 and bound him for a thousand years." 12:11 Now wait a minute, 12:12 all the wicked were destroyed at the coming of Jesus. 12:15 We've seen this in passage after passage after passage. 12:18 Well, I should say almost all the wicked, 12:19 there's at least one 12:21 and presumably his angel host with him, 12:23 who survives the second coming. 12:27 And that is Satan himself. 12:31 And when the angel comes down 12:34 with that great chain, 12:35 he doesn't lay hold to choke him, 12:36 or to whip him, or to beat him, 12:38 it's just to bind him for a thousand years. 12:42 Verse 3, 12:43 "And he cast him into the bottomless pit, 12:44 and shut him up, and set a seal on him, 12:47 so that he should deceive the nations 12:48 no more till the thousand years were finished. 12:52 But after these things, 12:54 he must be released for a little while." 12:58 What in the world is going on? 13:00 You mean to tell me that 13:02 Satan lives through the second coming? 13:06 That the antichrist power that all the wicked, 13:08 the mighty men, the great, all of them are destroyed, 13:11 but Satan, 13:12 the instigator of all wickedness remains. 13:17 Why is Satan, and again 13:20 I assume along with his evil angels, 13:21 the only wicked to survive the second coming. 13:25 I mean, think about it. 13:27 As we walked through the series, 13:28 if unfallen angels and redeemed humanity 13:33 have finally rejected Satan, 13:37 why give him anymore time to live? 13:42 Is he inherently immortal? Can he not be killed? 13:49 Of course not. 13:51 There must be an answer. 13:52 Satan's continued existence beyond the second coming 13:56 only makes sense 13:58 when we understand God's process 14:01 for judging the world. 14:04 Let's go back now to the Old Testament, 14:06 the Book of Ecclesiastes. 14:10 In the Book of Ecclesiastes, 14:13 we read about the judgment of God. 14:19 Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, 14:23 the wisest man ever to live in verses 13 and 14, 14:27 the very conclusion of his reflections here, 14:32 says these words, 14:34 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: 14:39 Fear God 14:40 and keep His commandments, 14:42 for this is man's all." 14:45 By the way, that's a fantastic summary 14:47 of our Christian duty. 14:48 Everything God requires of us is very simply, 14:51 fear or love God, and keep His commandments. 14:55 This is man's all. 14:56 Then he answered in verse 14, 14:58 "For God will bring every work into," what? 15:02 "Judgment, including every secret thing, 15:05 whether good or evil." 15:09 So as far back as the Old Testament times, 15:12 there was this understanding 15:14 that there is a judgment to come 15:15 where God will assess 15:19 the choices, the actions, the motives, 15:21 the character of His creatures. 15:25 In the New Testament, in the Book of Acts, 15:28 we see the same thing refer to, 15:30 Acts Chapter 30, 15:33 I mean, Acts 17:30, 15:36 be a long time looking for Acts Chapter 30. 15:38 Acts Chapter 17, 15:41 as the Apostle Paul was speaking to the Athenians 15:44 there at the Areopagus, 15:47 reasoning with them these thinkers, 15:48 these philosophers, 15:50 he explains to them why his message is so timely? 15:56 Acts 17:30, 15:57 "Truly, these times of ignorance 16:00 God overlooked, 16:01 but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 16:05 because He has appointed a day 16:08 on which He will judge the world 16:10 in righteousness 16:12 by the Man who He has ordained. 16:14 He has given assurance of this to all 16:15 by raising Him from the dead." 16:18 Now think about this. 16:20 The Book of Acts is written 16:21 after Jesus died on the cross 16:23 and after He rested in the tomb, 16:25 and after He arose, 16:26 and after He ascended into heaven, 16:29 and yet the Apostle Paul is still looking 16:31 to this great day of judgment as something in the future, 16:35 is he not? 16:36 Ecclesiastes talk about it in the future, 16:38 but it even goes beyond the first coming of Jesus. 16:40 The Apostle Paul says, "He will judge." 16:43 In fact he says, "There is a day as though 16:45 God has a calendar event for this work of judgment." 16:48 There is a day when He will judge the world 16:50 in righteousness by the men 16:53 whom He has ordained. 16:55 Let's go back to the Old Testament, 16:56 Book of Daniel, 16:58 see if we can nail this down a little bit more clearly, 17:00 as Daniel was prophesying 17:05 about the end time events 17:08 of this world. 17:09 Daniel Chapter 7 we are going to now, 17:16 and we'll start with verse 9. 17:18 Daniel Chapter 7, of course, if you recall, 17:21 the Book of Daniel describes the history of the world 17:24 starting the time of Babylon, 17:26 in Chapter 2, it's Babylon, 17:27 Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome as the parts of that image. 17:31 In Daniel Chapter 7, it's the lion, 17:33 the bear, the leopard, and this terrible beast, 17:35 but there's the same sequence, 17:37 Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, 17:38 then divided Rome and the papal, 17:40 little horn of Rome 17:42 and right after it describes that 17:43 little horn power. 17:46 It says in verse 9, 17:47 "I watched till thrones were put in place, 17:50 and the Ancient of days Was seated, 17:53 His garment was white as snow, 17:55 and the hair of His head was like pure wool. 17:57 His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire. 18:01 A stream issued and came forth from before Him. 18:04 A thousand thousands ministered to Him, 18:06 ten thousand times, 18:07 ten thousands stood before Him. 18:09 The court was seated, and the books were opened." 18:12 Clearly, this is a reference to this great judgment 18:15 that it had been so long predicted. 18:19 Now if you skip down to verse 13, 18:22 you would think, oh, this is at the coming of Jesus, 18:24 this is when this happens, 18:26 but notice what the Bible tells us. 18:28 Daniel continues there in Daniel 7:13, 18:31 "I was watching in the night visions, 18:33 and behold, 18:34 one like the Son of Man, 18:35 coming with the clouds of heaven!" 18:37 And at first blush, you're like, ah-ah, 18:38 there it is, Jesus returns to the earth. 18:41 But no! 18:42 "Coming with the clouds of heaven, 18:44 and they brought Him near before Him." 18:48 Now what did Paul said that God would judge the world 18:50 through the Man He has ordained, 18:52 which is Jesus Christ. 18:54 Well, like we saw here in Daniel 18:55 that judgment seems set up 18:57 where the court is seated and the books are open, 18:59 and now the Son of Man 19:01 is being brought into that judgment hall, 19:04 'cause we read here, 19:06 "Behold, one coming like the Son of Man, 19:07 coming with the clouds of heaven!" 19:08 But where is He coming to? 19:11 And they brought Him near before Him. 19:14 This is not a reference to Jesus coming back. 19:16 Here it's Him 19:17 moving into the work of judgment in heaven. 19:23 Then verse 14 says, 19:25 "Then to Him was given dominion, 19:27 and glory, and a kingdom, 19:29 that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. 19:31 His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 19:33 which shall not pass away, and His kingdom 19:36 the one which shall not be destroyed." 19:38 So before Christ receives His kingdom, 19:40 before He returns to this earth, 19:42 He goes into the presence of the Father 19:44 to do that work of judgment. 19:45 My point is simply this. 19:47 The Bible has long anticipated a final judgment 19:51 even after the cross of Christ, 19:55 but notice it does occur before the return of Jesus. 19:59 Okay? 20:01 So the judgment of this world happens after Calvary 20:04 but before the second coming. 20:07 Revelation Chapter 22, 20:08 I think most simply describes it this way. 20:11 Revelation Chapter 22, the very last book, 20:14 the very last chapter of the Bible 20:16 speaks about this issue, 20:18 starting with verse 11. 20:20 And I want you to notice the sequence very clearly, 20:23 the judgment precedes the return of Jesus. 20:27 Revelation 22:11, 20:30 the declaration is heard. 20:32 "He who is unjust, 20:34 let him be unjust still, he who is filthy, 20:37 let him be filthy still, 20:40 he who is righteous, 20:41 let him be righteous still, he who is holy, 20:44 let him be holy still." 20:45 Notice, there is the distinction 20:47 between the righteous, and the wicked, the holy, 20:49 and the filthy that is made. 20:52 Then in verse 12, 20:53 we read, "And behold, I am coming," when? 20:56 "Quickly." 20:58 So clearly, the distinction 21:00 between the righteous and the wicked 21:02 is made prior to Christ's return. 21:04 Is that clear? 21:06 "And behold, I am coming quickly, 21:08 and My reward is with Me, 21:10 to give to every one according to his work." 21:14 So Christ is already determined through that judgment 21:17 that God has ordained be done through Him, 21:19 who is righteous and who is wicked. 21:22 Let's put it this way. 21:23 Christ determines 21:25 who is saved and who is lost 21:26 during the judgment that takes place 21:28 before He returns, yes? 21:31 Now, 21:33 in this what we call pre-advents 21:36 or prior to the coming of Jesus, 21:38 this pre-advent judgment, 21:40 the verdict of every case is rendered 21:44 by Jesus Christ Himself. 21:48 He doesn't bring you and me, 21:49 He doesn't bring us into the deliberations 21:52 of who should be saved and lost. 21:54 Praise the Lord. 21:55 You don't determine whether I'm in or out. 21:57 That's on Jesus Christ and Him alone. 21:59 Amen? 22:01 Praise the Lord. 22:03 And when Jesus returns, of course, 22:05 we know from those familiar passages 22:06 like 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, let's go there. 22:09 What is the experience of the righteous 22:11 when Jesus returns? 22:13 Unlike the wicked who run from Christ, 22:16 the righteous have a whole different experience. 22:20 Starting with the verse 15, 22:23 "For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord 22:24 that we who are alive and remain 22:26 until the coming of the Lord will be by no means 22:28 precede those who are asleep. 22:30 And He describes the second coming this way, 22:32 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven 22:35 with a shout, 22:36 with the voice of an archangel, 22:38 and with the trumpet of God. 22:39 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 22:42 Then we who are alive and remain 22:43 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 22:46 to meet the Lord in the air. 22:47 And thus, we shall always be with the Lord." 22:50 Therefore, comfort one another with these words. 22:54 So when the righteous experiences 22:55 second coming of Jesus, they don't run from it, 22:57 they, in fact, gravitate to it. 22:59 They are lifted up from this earth 23:01 to join the resurrected saints in the air with Jesus Christ 23:04 to ever be with Him forever more. 23:09 Of course, at the same time, 23:12 while the righteous are being gathered into, 23:14 if you want to say Christ's barn, 23:17 the wicked are bundled together for the burn. 23:22 We saw that in Mathew Chapter 13. 23:23 Go back there again. 23:25 Let's make sure we see this parable once again, 23:27 Mathew Chapter 13. 23:30 Notice what Jesus says in verse 30, 23:33 "Let both grow together until," what event? 23:36 "The harvest," which is a reference 23:37 to the second coming of Jesus. 23:41 "Until the harvest, and at the time of harvest 23:43 I will say to the reapers, 23:44 first, gather together the tares, 23:46 and bind them in bundles to burn them..." 23:49 Now it's here, by the way, 23:51 that I think we should make an interesting point. 23:53 It just doesn't say burn them. 23:54 It says, "Bind them to be burned," 23:58 right? 23:59 Do you see that distinction? 24:01 "Bind them to be burned, 24:06 but gather the wheat into my barn." 24:08 The wheat go directly into the barn 24:10 with Jesus Christ, 24:11 but the wicked are bundled to be burned. 24:16 Now that's interesting. 24:20 And again, we come back to... 24:23 If the righteous resurrect 24:26 and ascend with Jesus at His coming, 24:28 and the wicked run away and are destroyed, 24:30 and gathered together in the grave 24:33 for their ultimate destruction. 24:37 Then we come back to our question, 24:39 why allow Satan to keep living for, 24:42 according to Revelation 20, another thousand years? 24:50 In fact, let's go back to that Revelation 20, 24:52 which is going to be 24:54 a key passage in this message. 24:57 Notice what it says again about him 24:59 for that thousand years, it doesn't just say, 25:00 for a thousand years and then he'll be destroyed. 25:05 In fact, it says something entirely different. 25:07 It says so that he should deceive the nations," 25:09 we're in verse 3, 25:11 "should deceive the nations no more 25:13 till the thousand years were finished. 25:15 But after these things he must be released 25:18 for a little while." 25:22 Apparently, and as we keep reading, 25:25 we can find this out. 25:30 The wicked will live again. 25:35 Now why is it so clear 25:37 that Satan can deceive the nations no more 25:39 when he's bound to the earth for the thousand years? 25:42 Because all of the righteous are with Christ in heaven, 25:45 they're not even there, 25:46 and all the wicked have been gathered 25:47 in to the grave 25:50 peremptory to their destruction. 25:53 So all human life is gone 25:57 either in death or ascension. 26:00 So for thousand years, he has no one to tempt, 26:02 but apparently at the end of the thousand years, 26:05 he will be released 26:07 from that chain of circumstances. 26:09 And notice as we keep reading here in 20:4, 26:12 "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, 26:19 and judgment was committed to them." 26:24 Now wait a minute. 26:26 Is this a judgment that takes place 26:28 after Jesus returns? 26:31 Yes. 26:33 Yes, it is. 26:35 Let's keep reading. 26:38 "Then I saw the souls of those 26:39 who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus, 26:41 and for the Word of God, 26:42 who had not worshipped the beast or his image, 26:44 and had not received his mark 26:46 on their forehead or in their hands, 26:48 and they lived and reigned with Christ 26:49 for a thousand years." 26:51 So during the thousand years, 26:52 those redeemed are going to be entrusted 26:55 with His work of judgment, 26:56 and will come back to that what in the world! 26:59 But look at verse 5, "But the rest of the dead, 27:02 that is the wicked, 27:03 did not live again 27:05 until the thousand years were finished." 27:09 Clearly, the wicked 27:10 who are dead will live again at the end 27:13 of the thousand years. 27:16 He describes, 27:18 this is the first resurrection speaking of those redeemed 27:21 who are seated with Christ 27:24 calls that the first resurrection. 27:25 Verse 6, "Blessed and holy is he 27:27 who has part in the first resurrection, 27:30 over such the second death has no power, 27:34 but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, 27:36 and shall reign with him a thousand years." 27:38 Are you telling me that God is going 27:40 to resurrect the wicked 27:42 at the end of the thousand years 27:44 just to kill them again? 27:49 Well! 27:51 Yeah. 27:54 This whole time we've been seeing 27:56 how tender, 27:57 and merciful, and compassionate, 27:59 and longsuffering, 28:00 and gracious the Lord is 28:02 to allow this whole process to go on. 28:05 Why at the end does it end like this? 28:11 How does this millennium in anyway 28:13 demonstrate God's character of love and justice. 28:18 Let's keep studying. 28:23 You know this idea of... 28:25 Look back in Revelation 20:4, remember it says, 28:27 "And I saw thrones and they sat on then." 28:30 Who are the "they" that Christ pulls up a seat, 28:32 a throne in heaven for 28:34 at the beginning of the thousand years 28:36 or after Christ's return? 28:39 It says, "And judgment was committed to them." 28:42 Who are "they" in them? 28:44 Well, it said, verse, the next sentence, 28:46 "Then I saw the souls of those 28:47 who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus 28:49 and for the Word of God, 28:50 who had not worshipped the beast or his image, 28:53 and had not receive his mark 28:54 on their forehead or on their hands, 28:56 and they lived and reigned with Christ 28:59 for a thousand years." 29:01 So clearly, this is a group of the redeemed, is it not? 29:04 These are people who have been brought 29:05 out of that tribulation 29:07 who will remain faithful to God, 29:09 and the saved, the elect, this redeemed group 29:13 are now entrusted by Christ 29:16 with the work of judgment. 29:20 Now wait a minute. 29:21 Didn't we say that 29:23 the verdict of every case was rendered by Christ alone 29:25 before He comes? 29:26 Yes. 29:29 Then what is this judgment all about? 29:32 Well, first of all, it'll be helpful to know 29:34 that this is not the only place in the Bible 29:35 that speaks of this judgment. 29:37 Let's go back and see what the Paul Apostle says. 29:39 Go to 1 Corinthians 4. 29:43 1 Corinthians Chapter 4, 29:52 speaking to the brothers and sisters 29:53 there in Corinth 29:55 and taking about this work of judgment, 29:58 we find 1 Corinthians Chapter 4, 30:02 where he says this almost odd statement. 30:06 He says, "Therefore judge," how much? 30:09 "Nothing." 30:11 And if only he'd stopped there with us, that's right, 30:13 we should not judge anything. 30:15 That's not what he's saying, he says, 30:16 "Judge nothing before the time..." 30:21 Whoa! Wait a minute. 30:23 Notice he's not talking to Jesus Christ, 30:26 he's talking to the brothers and sisters in Corinth, 30:28 the Church of God on the earth, 30:30 he's saying "Judge nothing before the time." 30:35 And what time is that? 30:36 He says it, 30:38 "until," what event? 30:40 "The Lord comes." 30:43 So apparently, there will be a judgment 30:45 that happens, 30:46 at that time, 30:48 when the Lord comes 30:49 that the redeemed from the earth 30:51 will participate in. 30:55 "Therefore judge nothing before the time, 30:57 until the Lord comes, 31:00 who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness 31:03 and reveal the counsels of the heart. 31:06 Then each one's praise will come from God." 31:10 Now, why does the Bible tell us 31:13 that we should not judge one another? 31:17 It's because we don't have all the information, 31:21 plus we've got some simple hearts and tendencies 31:23 that would be bad in judgment. 31:24 It's a good idea for us not to judge one another. 31:26 I can't tell you whether you're going to heaven or hell. 31:29 I can hope and pray, 31:31 and urge, and plead, and appeal, 31:33 but that's between you and the Lord, 31:35 and there's things on the inside of you 31:36 that I will never have access to, 31:37 I can't read your mind, I don't know your heart, 31:39 I don't know your true character 31:40 and motives. 31:41 The God of all heaven and earth, 31:44 the Creator of every intelligent being, 31:46 He not only sees to you, He sees through you, 31:48 does He not? 31:50 The Bible tells that the man looks 31:51 at the outward appearance, but God looks on the where? 31:54 The heart. 31:55 So He is our judge because He knows the truth. 32:04 But apparently, there will be a time, 32:07 and that time is when the Lord comes, 32:10 when He will reveal 32:12 and bring to light the hidden things of darkness 32:15 and the counsels of the heart. 32:18 Interesting. 32:20 Let's go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 6, 32:22 staying right in the same book, 32:23 the Apostle Paul returns to this concept of the redeems' 32:28 participation in Christ work of judgment after He returns. 32:33 1 Corinthians Chapter 6. 32:36 Apparently, they were doing 32:38 some very not so Christian Christ like things in Corinth 32:42 and he was a little ashamed of them and aghast, 32:43 and he gave them his counsel. 32:45 He says in verse1, in 1 Corinthian Chapter 6, 32:48 "Dare any of you, 32:49 having a matter against another, 32:51 go to law before the unrighteous, 32:53 and not before the saints?" 32:55 Apparently, they are taking each other to court 32:57 and suing each other, 32:58 and having the local magistrates 33:00 in secular courts deal out 33:02 punishment, or justice, 33:03 or reward for things 33:05 that were happening inside the church family. 33:07 Can you imagine such a thing? 33:10 Paul says, "What are you doing?" 33:11 In fact, in verse 2, he says, 33:13 "Do you not know." 33:15 There's that phrase again, I love of the Apostle Paul, 33:16 "Do you not know," 33:19 this should be common sense for the Christian, 33:20 he says, "Do you not know 33:23 that the saints will judge," 33:25 what? 33:27 "The world?" 33:33 Wasn't the Apostle Paul aware of the coming judgment 33:35 where the saints would be participants? 33:37 Yes. 33:39 He says, "Do you not know 33:40 that the saints will judge the world? 33:42 And he makes the application, 33:43 "If the world will be judged by you, 33:45 are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" 33:49 By the way, do you notice him saying, 33:50 "You should judge things, just not people." 33:54 My fear a little aside, 33:57 is it in our zeal to not be judgmental? 34:00 We have lost the ability to be judicious. 34:05 God expects us to think through things 34:08 to know right from wrong, 34:09 to inspect the fruit of something 34:11 and see if it is worthy, 34:14 to have discernment and judicial 34:15 to practice righteous judgment 34:17 because there's a responsibility coming 34:21 in the life to come. 34:22 He comes back to this in verse 3, 34:24 "Do you not know 34:26 that we shall judge angels? 34:31 How much more, 34:32 things that pertain to this life?" 34:36 Clearly, Paul understood 34:39 that there would be a judgment to come 34:42 in the future life. 34:48 Let's go to the great Book of Psalms. 34:50 The 149th Psalm, 34:53 right there to the very end of the book. 35:00 We're going to read the whole Psalm, 35:01 all nine verses of it. 35:06 But it is my belief that this passage 35:13 is speaking 35:16 from the perspective of the redeemed 35:21 during the time of this judgment 35:25 that we've been talking about, the post-advent judgment, 35:27 the one after Jesus returns. 35:31 Psalm 149, we'll begin with verse 1, 35:34 and you will notice a stark contrast, 35:36 two competing ideas that live together. 35:40 Psalm 149:1, "Praise the Lord! 35:44 Sing to the Lord a new song, 35:46 and His praise in the assembly of saints. 35:49 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker, 35:51 let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 35:54 Then men let them praise His name with the dance, 35:58 let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. 36:01 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people, 36:03 He will beautify the humble with salvation." 36:07 So it's clearly talking about the praises of those 36:09 who are redeemed and saved. 36:12 It continues in verse 5. 36:14 "Let the saints be joyful in glory, 36:17 let them sing aloud on their beds." 36:19 Verse 6, 36:20 "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, 36:23 and... 36:26 a two-edged sword in their hand." 36:31 Now up until verse 6, everything is about the joy, 36:33 and the singing, and the praising, 36:35 and everything is wonderful, then all of a sudden, 36:36 they are apparently dancing around 36:38 with swords in their hand. 36:40 Why? 36:44 Well, it tells us, 36:47 "To execute vengeance on the nations, 36:51 and punishments on the peoples. 36:59 To bind their kings with chains, 37:04 and their nobles with fetters of iron. 37:08 To execute on them the written judgment, 37:12 this honor have all His saints. 37:16 Praise the Lord." 37:22 Please note, 37:25 the work that they are to do is not to write the judgment. 37:29 The judgment is already been written, right? 37:33 But their work is to execute on them, 37:36 the written judgment. 37:37 The verdict is already been rendered. 37:39 What now needs to take place 37:43 is the deliberation over the sentence. 37:47 You know, even in earthly courts, 37:49 judgment takes place in multiple phases, right? 37:54 When someone goes into the court 37:56 for the first time 37:57 having been accused of a crime, there's a trial, 37:59 there's an investigation of the facts 38:01 to find out the truth and at the end of it, 38:03 a verdict is rendered. 38:06 You have an investigative judgment, 38:08 and you have a verdict being rendered 38:10 declaring guilt or innocence. 38:13 Yes? 38:15 Friends, in the spiritual realm, 38:17 this is true as well. 38:18 Christ is our judge 38:19 and He is currently undergoing this work 38:23 of what we call the investigative judgment, 38:25 the pre-advent judgment 38:27 determining the verdict of every case 38:31 brought before Him, 38:32 who is saved and who is lost, 38:34 the unjust or the just, 38:37 the holy or the filthy. 38:41 But then, 38:45 according to Revelation Chapter 20, 38:47 "He brings the redeemed into His counsels, 38:50 pulls up a seat of judgment, a throne to share with Him, 38:55 and the saints will judge the world." 38:58 And so again I ask you, 39:00 if the verdict is already been rendered for every case, 39:04 unless we do a little deductive thinking here. 39:08 If... 39:14 the verdict of every case is already been rendered, 39:19 and the determination is made as to who is saved and lost, 39:21 and the evidence is clear 39:24 because the righteous are the ones 39:26 who have already been taken to heaven, 39:28 and the wicked are the ones 39:30 who have already been bound in the grave. 39:34 The question they are wrestling 39:36 is not who is saved and who is lost? 39:39 Jesus Christ made that determination, 39:42 rendered the verdict, 39:43 and gave the reward at His coming, right? 39:46 Either eternal life 39:47 or gathered in the grave. 39:50 So if that's the case, 39:53 the only thing left to do 39:55 is render a sentence for each case. 40:00 You'll find this passage in the Great Controversy, 40:02 page 661. 40:09 At this time, 40:10 speaking of a direct commentary on Revelation Chapter 20 40:14 in that thousand year millennium time phrase, 40:17 timeframe that follows the coming of Jesus. 40:21 Again, Great Controversy, page 661, 40:24 "At this time, 40:25 the righteous reign as kings and priests unto God. 40:31 John in the Revelation says, 'I saw thrones, 40:34 and they sat upon them, 40:35 and judgment was given unto them.' 40:38 'They shall be priests of God and of Christ, 40:40 and shall reign with Him a thousand years." 40:43 It is at this time that, as foretold by Paul, 40:47 'The saints shall judge the world.'" 40:50 Notice, she's taking all the same scripture 40:51 we just looked at and piling together 40:53 doing a Bible study. 40:56 Then she adds the clarifying explanation. 41:01 "In union with Christ, 41:03 they just the wicked, 41:08 comparing their acts with the statute book, 41:12 the Bible, 41:14 and deciding every case 41:16 according to the deeds done in the body." 41:20 Now notice it does not say, 41:21 they're judging the people to determine 41:23 who is righteous and who is wicked. 41:26 They're judging the wicked because they are righteous. 41:29 That determination has already been made. 41:32 So what there is left to do? 41:37 She adds, "Then the portion 41:39 which the wicked must suffer is meted out, 41:42 according to their works, 41:45 and it is recorded against their names 41:47 in the book of death." 41:53 You know, 41:55 when we talk about the destruction 41:56 of the wicked 41:57 and we sometimes refer to it as the fire of hell 41:59 or whatever you want to call it, 42:01 the lake of fire, it's fine. 42:02 But we're talking about the same thing, 42:03 the destruction of the wicked. 42:09 There is one notion that many, many Christians 42:12 adhere to that praise the Lord is not found in the Bible, 42:15 and that is that the wicked suffer interminable, 42:19 unending, unrelenting torture 42:22 for eternity without end. 42:26 They referred to as the eternal burning hell, 42:28 right? 42:29 That they can suffer, but can never die, 42:32 that God keeps them alive just to hurt them. 42:36 That if they sin for 7 years or 70 years, 42:38 it doesn't matter, they all get that same eternity 42:43 condemnation. 42:46 And again, I praise the Lord 42:48 that concept is not found in the Word of God. 42:50 Amen? 42:52 But does that mean 42:54 that everybody is going to live forever? 42:55 No. 42:59 And sometimes, 43:01 even devoted Bible teachers 43:05 in an effort to disabuse our minds 43:08 of that incorrect notion 43:11 will infer another incorrect idea 43:14 and that is that the wicked 43:16 will be immediately destroyed without any hesitation. 43:19 Shoo, they're gone. 43:24 But that's not what the Bible teaches either. 43:30 It seems like we have to choose, 43:31 either they will suffer for eternity 43:33 forever, and ever, and ever 43:35 or they will be instantaneously evaporated 43:39 with no suffering whatsoever, 43:43 when the truth is somewhere in between. 43:47 Now, one of the two things you would think 43:48 that those are completely opposite views, 43:50 but interestingly enough, 43:51 they have several things in common. 43:53 Number one, 43:54 neither it's found in scripture. 43:58 Number two, 44:00 is that they have this one other common problem 44:04 is that they are both one size fits all. 44:11 That here it doesn't matter 44:12 how heinous of a crime you have done, 44:13 how wicked of a life you've lead, 44:17 you get the exact same punishment as someone, 44:20 you know, 44:22 who's rejected Christ but wasn't out there 44:24 murdering people, and raping, and pillaging, 44:27 and all these other horrendous things. 44:32 I mean, think about it this way. 44:34 If they would say a 28-year old kid, 44:36 who is rebellious in his heart 44:37 and he was just mean to everybody, 44:38 and he just had a bad attitude, 44:40 and he just rejected every prompting of the Holy Spirit, 44:42 and he was just 44:44 tragically killed in a car accident. 44:49 Does he deserve the same punishment 44:51 though he is equally lost as a... 44:54 I don't know, Hitler? 44:58 Or let's even raise the ante even more, 45:00 as Satan himself? 45:04 Of course not. 45:06 You don't have to be even righteous to think that, 45:08 even the most secular-minded magistrate 45:10 in this world would say, 45:12 "Wait a minute, that's not fair, 45:13 there's got to be some sort of differentiated culpability, 45:15 there's got to be some designation, 45:16 there has to be a hierarchy of sentencing. 45:19 We can't just give one size fits all 45:21 for the shoplifter and the murderer, 45:25 there has to be degrees, 45:26 and it has to be individually apportioned. 45:32 So while, in the end, 45:34 their final destruction is just as permanent, 45:37 the destroying is differentiated. 45:43 And the same thing on this side. 45:46 If the destruction of the wicked is instantaneous 45:48 with no suffering whatsoever, 45:49 so you gonna tell me that Satan has sinned 45:51 for 6,000 years 45:52 and doesn't have to suffer at all? 45:57 That's not biblical or fair. 46:02 The only fair system is to have 46:06 an individualized process, 46:08 where every account is individually, 46:11 distinctively judged 46:15 apart from all others. 46:20 And for some reason, in God's wisdom, 46:22 for this phase of the judgment, 46:24 He brings the redeemed to the table, 46:27 and says work with me now. 46:28 He doesn't turn over the keys and says, 46:30 "I'll be back in the thousand years, 46:31 whatever you guys come up with, I'm good with." 46:32 No, no, no. 46:34 It says, "In union with Christ, 46:36 they judge the wicked." 46:43 I believe He does this to demonstrate His wisdom, 46:47 and His justice, and His love. 46:54 The redeemed are unique in all of heaven's 46:57 inhabitants at this point 47:00 because they are the only ones 47:02 who have ever been sinners themselves. 47:06 Gabriel has watched from the courts of heaven, 47:09 he has seen the result of rebellion 47:13 in his own experience there with Lucifer 47:15 and third of the angels who fell in. 47:18 He witnessed the death of Christ on the cross, 47:20 but he doesn't know 47:22 what it's like to have been in that pits 47:25 and been redeemed out. 47:28 And dare I say it, "Even Christ, 47:33 though He was tempted in all points as we are," 47:36 what does the scripture say? 47:37 "Yet was without sin." 47:40 Now He became sin for us and He took upon Him our sin, 47:44 praise God, 47:46 but He never sinned. 47:51 The redeemed are the only citizens 47:53 of God's kingdom 47:55 who have ever rebelled and come back home. 47:59 Now why is that important? 48:05 Now, let me tell you something. 48:06 As I mentioned before, 48:08 I have no intention of being lost. 48:10 Amen. 48:11 I want to be part of the redeemed 48:13 on that side of it, right? 48:15 But if, 48:16 by some fault of my own, 48:19 I spurn the Lord's redemption 48:22 and find myself awaking in the wrong resurrection, 48:29 and I have to face the judgment bar of God 48:31 to receive sentencing. 48:36 I don't want Gabriel in the deliberations 48:42 'cause he's never been where I've been. 48:47 Friends, there's only two people 48:48 I want at that judgment bar 48:50 if my name were to come up, 48:53 and that is my Savior Jesus Christ 48:57 and my own mother. 49:03 Why do I want mom there? 49:06 I want the most sympathetic sentence 49:11 ever imagined in the heart of man. 49:20 I imagined it will go something like this 49:22 and again I could be wrong but, 49:26 that Christ will come to the redeemed and say, 49:27 "Look, I'm going to open up the books of heaven, 49:29 the counsels of the heart, 49:31 show you what was really going on 49:32 inside of each person who's not here." 49:35 And I want you to think about, 49:37 what would be a fair discipline, 49:40 what would be a fair punishment, 49:42 I should say? 49:43 Discipline's got in a bad rap. 49:45 God always disciplines 49:46 with the idea of redemption in mind, 49:48 but this isn't redemptive, this is punitive. 49:54 We have all these different cases, 49:56 take a look. 49:57 First of all, I want you to understand 49:59 why they are not there? 50:00 And second of all, I want you to tell me, 50:02 what would be just, 50:03 what would be fair in their destruction? 50:08 And I imagined after deliberations go on, 50:10 for each name Jesus Christ has a sealed envelope. 50:15 And when the sentence is rendered for each case, 50:18 He says, "Right now open the envelope. 50:21 I want you to see what I chose to give them 50:24 as a punishment." 50:27 And lo and behold, for each single case, 50:31 what He came up with 50:32 is just as sympathetic as what we came up with. 50:37 It'll be demonstrated 50:38 that nothing more could have been done 50:42 to be fairer or more righteous 50:45 in God's own process of judgment 50:47 that He set up as outlined in His book. 50:51 Removing all doubt, 50:53 as to His fairness and justice, 50:54 Christ invites the redeemed, 50:56 the only inhabitants of heaven 50:58 who can fully sympathize with the wicked 51:01 into His deliberations about the destruction of the lost. 51:05 Thus, when we go back to Revelation 12:20, 51:11 we see these words, verse 7, 51:13 "Now when the thousand years have expired, 51:15 Satan will be released from his prison 51:17 and will go out to deceive the nations 51:19 which are in the four corners of the earth, 51:20 Gog and Magog, 51:22 to gather them together for battle, 51:23 whose number is as the sand of the sea." 51:27 Some of the most discouraging lines 51:28 in all the scripture, 51:30 whose number is as the sand of the sea. 51:32 "Then they went up on the breadth of the earth 51:34 and surrounded the camp of the saints 51:35 and the beloved city. 51:37 And fire came down from God out of heaven 51:39 and devoured them." 51:40 "The devil who deceived them 51:41 was cast into lake of fire and brimstone, 51:43 where the beast and the false prophet are, 51:44 and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." 51:47 We can talk about that, 51:48 but their torment is until the end, 51:50 not without end. 51:54 But notice they arise from their grave 51:56 and Satan leads them into battle 51:57 to take on the city of God, 52:00 and it would appear that immediately 52:01 fire comes down and kills them. 52:05 But here's something it's interesting 52:07 about the resurrection of the wicked in that time 52:09 in the universe's history. 52:10 This is the only time 52:12 ever when all of God's created intelligences, 52:17 both righteous and wicked will be gathered together 52:19 at the same time, in the same place. 52:21 It's the only time it ever happens. 52:24 And the righteous would have an opportunity 52:26 to see the wisdom of God's judgments. 52:30 The angels would have an opportunity. 52:33 The only group of people 52:35 who has not seen the wisdom of God 52:38 is the wicked themselves. 52:40 And thus we read in verse 11, 52:42 "Then I saw the great white throne, 52:44 and him who sat on it, 52:45 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, 52:47 and there was found no place for them. 52:49 And I saw the dead, small and great, 52:51 standing before God, and books were opened. 52:53 And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. 52:55 And the dead were judged according to their works," 52:57 over and over, you see that refrain, 52:59 according to their works, 53:00 it's an individualized personal judgment. 53:03 "By the things which were written in the books. 53:05 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, 53:07 and Death and Hades delivered up the dead 53:09 who were in them. 53:10 And they were judged, 53:12 each one according to his works. 53:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. 53:17 This is the second death." 53:19 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life 53:21 was cast into the lake of fire. 53:26 The wicked are the only ones who have yet to see 53:27 the contrast between Christ and Satan. 53:30 God saw the rebellion in Satan's heart from day one 53:32 and cast him out of heaven. 53:34 The angel saw the truth about the character of God 53:36 and the character of Satan at Calvary, 53:38 and they rejected Satan. 53:40 By God's grace, we the redeemed, 53:42 see in Calvary the same contrast, 53:44 and we have cast or casting, 53:47 you know, any sympathy for Satan 53:48 that might remain out of our hearts, 53:50 but even the wicked need an opportunity 53:52 to see the truth for themselves. 53:56 This isn't another chance at salvation, 53:57 this is simply time to understand 54:00 why they are lost. 54:03 The wicked see 54:05 that they would not be satisfied 54:07 living in God's pure kingdom. 54:08 You noticed by the way, what's the first thing they do 54:10 when they resurrect? 54:11 They charge the city. 54:13 Friends, do you think that the wicked would like to live 54:14 for eternity in a city of gold? 54:17 Sure. 54:19 They want the kingdom, 54:21 but they don't want the King. 54:29 Friends, it's a simple deduction, 54:30 but heaven comes with Jesus. 54:37 And they don't love Jesus. 54:41 In the Great Controversy, 54:43 we read these words from page 670, 54:45 "For thousands of years, 54:47 this chief of conspiracy has palmed off 54:48 falsehood for truth. 54:50 But the time has now come 54:52 when the rebellion is to be finally defeated 54:53 and the history and character of Satan disclosed. 54:56 In his last great effort to dethrone Christ, 54:59 destroy His people, 55:00 and take possession of the City of God, 55:02 the archdeceiver has been fully unmasked. 55:06 Those who have united with him, 55:08 see the total failure of his cause. 55:11 Christ's followers and the loyal angels 55:13 behold the full extent of his machinations 55:15 against the government of God. 55:17 He is the object of universal abhorrence. 55:20 Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion 55:22 has unfitted him for heaven. 55:25 He has trained his powers to war against God 55:28 the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven 55:31 would be to him supreme torture. 55:35 His accusations against the mercy 55:37 and justice of God are now silenced. 55:42 The reproach which he has endeavored 55:44 to cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. 55:47 And now Satan bows down 55:49 and confesses the justice of his sentence." 55:55 You know the Bible talks about that 55:56 when every knee and every tongue, 55:59 every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, 56:02 it doesn't say every righteous' knee, 56:03 it says every knee, 56:04 that includes the wicked as well. 56:07 And not out of love, and not out of contrition, 56:09 and not out of genuine repentance 56:10 but by the sheer inescapable weight of evidence, 56:16 they will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. 56:22 And in that moment they will say, 56:25 you know what? "I'd rather not be 56:29 than have to live and be with you." 56:39 They confess the justice of their sins, 56:41 they are like, "Yeah, 56:43 that's about right." 56:46 Continue on, we read, Great Controversy 670, 56:49 "Every question of truth and error 56:50 in the long-standing controversy 56:52 has now been made plain. 56:53 The results of rebellion, 56:55 the fruits of setting aside 56:56 the divine statutes, have been laid open 56:58 to view of all created intelligences. 57:01 The working out of Satan's rule in contrast 57:03 with the government of God has been presented 57:04 to the whole universe. 57:06 Satan's own works have condemned him. 57:08 God's wisdom, His justice, 57:10 and goodness stand fully vindicated. 57:12 It is seen that all His dealings 57:14 in the great controversy 57:15 have been conducted with respect 57:16 to the eternal good of His people 57:18 and the good of all the worlds that He has created. 57:20 The history of sin will stand to all eternity as a witness 57:23 that with the existence of God's law 57:24 is bound up the happiness of all beings He has created. 57:28 With all the facts 57:30 of the great controversy in view, 57:31 the whole universe, both loyal and rebellious, 57:33 with one accord declare: 'Just and true are Thy ways, 57:37 Thou King of saints.'" 57:41 Friends, God's going to take every one to heaven 57:45 who would be happy there. 57:48 That's the burden of this life, to learn to love Jesus. 57:51 So we're gonna live with Him for eternity. 57:54 Let's bow our heads. 57:55 Heavenly Father, 57:56 thank You for Your plan of salvation 57:59 and thank You for Jesus, for we pray it in Jesus' name. 58:04 Amen. |
Revised 2019-05-23