10-18-2020 – Revelation 13 (Part 2)
Automated Transcript
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. We are in revelation. Chapter 13, did a bit of reviewing. I forgot the remote. Can, you can bring the remote. We did a little bit of reviewing on Wednesday night, kind of went over the, a little summary of the book,
but then also went through the questions of chapters 11 and 12, leading us up to chapter 13. Now back over in chapter 12 is the first time that we really are sorry in chapter 11. It’s the first time we really see the beast come up. We read that the beast from the bottomless pit comes up and kills two individuals. Who does he kill?
Alright. The two witnesses. Now the witnesses are pictured as to what at the beginning of the chapter. Well, they’re pictures to profits, but they’re pictured is two olive trees and two lampstands. Okay. So there’s, there’s two olive trees. There’s two lampstands. And these are the two witnesses of God. These are drawing forward the imagery from Zechariah chapter four,
and this idea of the revelation of God God’s anointed and the eternal light, that is the word of God going forth. And so here you have these two witnesses and they’re declaring the word of God. They’re shining. Volite They’re declaring the word of God. And they have the power of, to, to destroy their enemies by the word of, or by fire that comes out of their mouth.
You’ve got an imagery. They’re not of any prophet who literally in physical terms at any point in history, breathe fire. That’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about their ability to defeat Satan through God’s word and God’s testimony. So they have power to do that. They have power to withhold the rain. There’s a picture of Elijah. They have power to turn the water to blood and to bring forth plagues upon the lamb.
There’s a picture of Moses. And all of this is imagery to say, here’s the church and the church just like Moses. And just like Elijah, Moses representing the early prophets and the early leaders in Israel and Alijah representing the latter profits. The later prophets in Israel and in the later history of Israel, the church is the light of God, but the beast comes up and the beast Kills the two witnesses.
Everybody does. What pitches a fit? No. What do all the people who dwell on the earth do they rejoice now, as we’ve stated before, and we’re going to remain, continue to state it. Every time we come across it, those who dwell in the earth is not a reference to every person walking on the top of the planet. It’s not,
that’s not what the, the reference is. Every time that phrase is used all the way through the book of revelation, it is exclusively speaking concerning those who are ungodly and unrighteous, whose dwelling place, whose home is here. But the, all the new Testament tells us that as Christians, those who are righteous, their dwelling place, isn’t here, their citizenship isn’t here.
Very Turnell abode. Isn’t here. And the things that matter, most of them aren’t here. Jesus said in Matthew chapter six, lay up your treasure. Where in heaven for where your heart is or for where your treasure is there. Your heart will be also, well, if your heart isn’t here and your treasure isn’t here, then your home isn’t here.
So revelation a contrast. Those who dwell on the earth is always a reference to the unrighteous. And the reaction of the unrighteous to the two witnesses being killed is they throw a party. It’s Mardi Gras. It’s it’s rejoicing in the streets. It’s sin, sin gifts to one another. Because those people who, and here’s the phrase, tormented us with the word of God are now dead.
And they don’t, they don’t bury them. They let them lay in the street. They leave them in the street to be an example that this is what happens to those who speak the word of God and oppose the beast except three and a half days later, what happens? God says get up and they are given life. God gives them life. Again.
He resurrects them. That looks like the church is dead. It looks like the church has defeated, but no, it’s not. And then God tells them you come up here. Okay? The message. The picture, the imagery is the, the, the beast. And he’s going to look like he wins, but he doesn’t win because he only has power for 42 months,
for three and a half years for 1000, 260 days for time, times and half the time he has power is limited, and God has power that isn’t okay. So then chapter 12, we see the woman. And again, now we see the dragon. The dragon is trying to devour the child. And when he fails, goes up into heaven to try and succeed again,
but is met by who? Michael and the angels. Okay. You’ve got the dragon trying to overcome the Christ, but he can’t do it because he can’t even get to him. So he fails when the child gives birth or sorry. When the woman gives birth to the child, he fails in heaven. Then he, and all the angels that are all of his servants are cast out of heaven.
And by the way, this is not. And as I think I’ve said this before, this is not a picture of what happened before Genesis chapter one. Okay. Some people try and do that and say, Oh, this, this is what happened when Satan was cast. No, this is about the beast. This is about the time of Rome.
This is God’s saying, because of your actions, your presence, isn’t accepted here. And because of your intent, you go and you go to the earth and you’re not coming before me. And so he goes, and he immediately begins persecuting those dwell on the earth. He’s persecuting. Even the unrighteous he’s tormenting, even them. But then we see the transition and he begins to try and attempt to get to the woman.
Again, puts forth a, a water from his mouth and tries to use a flood of water to overcome her. But what happens to the water earth opens up and swallows the water. There’s an occasion in the old Testament. When the Israelites are wandering through the wilderness where they’re thirsty, and God tells Moses to smite a rock and out of that rock comes enough water to give water to all the people of Israel,
which as moderate estimates are between one and 3 million people and all of their cattle and all of their livestock and everything in the area. Water comes out of this rock sufficient to do all of that. And here’s the dragon. And he’s going to try and use water to defeat the woman. But there’s another occasion in Israel’s history where Moses is opposed by Korah Dathan and Abiram.
And in numbers, chapter 16, they rise up and they say, you’ve taken too much on yourself. You don’t have the authority to do this. We have the authority to be priest because we’re leaving lights. You Moses and Aaron have taken too much authority on yourself. All the congregation is Holy. And so Moses tells them, well, we’ll find out who God says are his priests tomorrow morning,
you show up at the tabernacle with your staffs and with your sensors and you be prepared to offer incense to God. And we’ll let him decide as it happens. Some of them showed up and some of them didn’t, but the ones who showed up what happened to them? Well, the ones that showed up fire came down from heaven, but the houses of Korah Dathan and Abiram,
all of their households were swallowed up by the earth. God says, you’re not my witnesses and you’re not my profits. And you’re not my priests. So you’ve got the dragon trying to act like God and God going. No, you’re not me. And he protects the woman. The woman goes into the wilderness for 42 months. And then the dragon,
when he can’t reach the child and can’t reach the woman instead persecutes the individual Christians. Okay. So the picture of the woman is the church as a whole. He can’t defeat the church as a whole, but he can get to the, her individual children as it is stated. Okay. That brings us to chapter 13. I’m going to skip forward through here just a little bit.
We’ve talked about a lot of them. This There’s the alright. Chapter 13 is connected to Daniel chapter seven. Okay. When you see the BESE that are in the book of revelation, begin to rise up so far, we’ve heard a description of a beast and we’ve heard a description of a dragon, but in chapter 13, we kind of have this all fleshed out for us.
Okay. Because there’s more than one beast, but they’re all using the derived authority and power of the dragon. Now, who did we say? The dragon was the devil or Satan. Okay. Chapter 12 made it very clear. The dragon whose name is Satan or the serpent? The devil. Okay. So it made it very clear who that is.
And all the authority that Rome has is derived from him, the persecuting authority. Okay. So chapter 13, verse one, then I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and 10 horns. Okay. So the heads and the horns of the bees coming up out of the sea, he looks like the dragon.
Remember the description of the dragon was yet we over in chapter 17. We haven’t gotten there yet, but we’d noticed it earlier as he has seven heads and 10 horns, he’s got shared attributes of the dragon. He is Rome. Okay. The three B’s as we look at them, the dragon, the CVS and the lambaste, they’re not different BESE.
Okay. They’re different views of the same persecutor and it’s Rome. Okay. So you’re getting Rome from different perspectives back over in chapter 11, or I think, yeah. Chapter 11, we read about the spiritual names of the great city. And we talked about the fact that the spiritual names of the great city, Saddam and Babylon wait, sorry, Sodom and Egypt and the city where Christ was slain.
So you’ve got Jerusalem, all talked about three different facets, three different aspects of Rome in its persecuting nature. Okay. It was its persecuting power in its economy. It was its authority to bring captive and to bring about religious worship. That was idolatrous. And that was against God. All three of these facets were there, but they’re all talking about the great city.
They’re all talking about Rome. Okay. The three B’s are also all talking about Rome, again, looking at it from the same facets. So I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and 10 horns and on his horns, 10 crowns and on his heads, a blasphemous name.
Now the beast, which I saw was like a leopard. His feet were like the feet of a bear, his mouth, like the mouth of a lion. The dragon notice this gave him his power, his throne and great authority. Okay. First thing to know about the CBC is he comes up and he looks like the dragon in his head, seven heads,
10 or 10 horns and crowns on his horns. But his authority, his throne and his power are derived from where the dragon now did the dragon have a exhaustive and infinite and matched power authority and rain? No. So you have a derived authority from a limited authority. You have derived power from limited power. You have a derived thrown from a limited authority or rain or,
or Rome. Oh, throne. Okay. The beast is no more powerful than the dragon because the dragon can’t give to him what the dragon doesn’t have the beast isn’t God, because the dragon isn’t God. All right, but we need to go over to Daniel chapter seven. We need to read a couple of things over in Daniel, chapter seven, because it sets the,
it sets the perspective for what’s going on here. Daniel chapter seven, beginning of verse one in the first year of bell Shazard King of Babylon. Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream telling the main facts. Daniel spoke, saying I saw in my vision by night and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.
Now, where did the beast come out of the sea? Okay. In revelation. And in Daniel, the sea is pictured as the nations. It is always tumultuous. It is always in unrest and out of that unrest and out of that to Malden out of those nations comes, this authority comes these nations and these Kings. Okay. So he sees the vision and the stirring up of the great sea.
The four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. Okay. So in this vision, all the beasts rise up out of the seat. Well, you’re going to see in this, you’re going to see all of the BS, culminating having a part in Rome. Watch what happens. The first was like a lion and had Eagles wings.
I watched till its wings were plucked off and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet, like a man and a man’s heart was given to it. Okay. So you starts off looking like a lion, but he looks like a lion with wings. Then the wings are plucked off. And then he’s given the heart of a man and he stands up like a man.
He looks like a man. Okay. Now suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it arise devour much flesh. After this, I looked and there was another, like a leopard which had on its back for wings of a bird.
The beast also had four heads and dominion was given to it. Okay. As you’re going through Daniel seven, you’re seeing the same be there. You’re seeing the bees are the same thing as Daniel, chapter two, with the different nations in the statute, you’ve got the head of gold, which was what nation, Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar, by the way,
what, what King in all of history went and well like an animal and then came back and started acting like a man again, man. But can I hazard it’s you’ve got the picture of Babylon. Okay. So here’s Babylon as the lion who followed Babylon Medes and the Persians. So the shoulders and arms of silver in Daniel two are the bear in Daniel seven,
but then w who followed the Mito Persian empire? Greece did. And the belly and FYS of brass in Daniel too, are the leopard in Daniel chapter seven. Okay. So hold onto this for a minute. Then we read after this, I looked and there was another, I’m sorry, that’s verse six, verse seven. After this, I saw in the night visions and behold,
a fourth beast dreadful and terrible strong. It had huge iron teeth. It was devouring breaking in pieces and trembling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the bees that were before it. And it had 10 horns. And I was considering the horns and there was another horn, a little one coming up among them before whom three of the first ones were plucked out by,
by the roots. And they’re in this horn where the eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking, pompous words I watched till Thrones were put in place. And the ancient of days was seated. His garment was white as snow and hit the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels, a burning fire,
a stream, a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him a thousand thousands ministered to him, 10,000 times, 10,000 stood before him. The court was seated and the books were opened. Here comes one beast and another beast and another beast. And finally an indescribable beast. And this 11th horn rises up out of the B’s head and begins speaking pompous words.
And immediately you cut scenes Mean to the ancient of days To the throne of God, to the one who’s sitting on the throne And Judgments coming. Now, this isn’t talking about the day of judgment. This isn’t talking about the final day when everything’s all done and the books are open, then no, Daniel chapter two sets the foundation for Daniel chapter seven in Daniel chapter two,
four kingdoms rise up four kingdoms exist. And in the days of these Kings, shall God raise up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, but what would that kingdom do to the other four kingdom? The great mountain arises is a mountain cut out without hands. And it does what breaks in pieces. The statue grinds it to dust. It destroys those other kingdoms God through his kingdom judges,
those kingdoms and their judgment is destruction. So when the books are open in chapter seven, we’re not seeing the final day of judgment. We’re seeing the ancient of days preparing to judge the four B’s. Okay. Now let’s go through the four beats real quick. The four beasts were Elian, a bear, all leopard at an indescribable beast, go back to revelation,
chapter 13 and revelation chapter 13. Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and 10 horns and on his horns, 10 crowns and on his head, a blasphemous name. Now the bees, which I saw was like, now watch it in reverse a leopard. His feet were like a bear and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.
Okay. So here’s Rome and Rome is pictured as the culmination of attributes of Babylon and Greece or Babylon and the Mito Persian empire and Greece all culminating in this beast. Okay. He’s got these shared attributes. He’s got this lineage to him and John’s connecting him to Daniel seven. Okay. So here’s what the beast does. He rises up out of the sea.
He gets power from the dragon verse three. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded. Now, when we read the words as if it had been, remember that over in rev revelation, chapter five, when you see the lamb, you first see the lamb and he’s the lion of the tribe of David. And he’s described as a,
the root of Jesse. He’s the one, who’s the Christ, but he’s pictured as a lamb. And here’s the words as though it had been slain now, as John trying to say that he looked like he was slain, but he never actually was. Okay. Here’s a picture of the Christ. And he had the been slain, the use of the term as though he was,
or as if it had been isn’t to give you the picture, given, give you the idea that it’s not actually true, that he wasn’t actually slaying was Christ put on the cross. Yes, he was. Was he actually slain? Yes. He was the use of the phrase as if it had been, is to tell you this is a vision.
Okay. And in a vision, you see things where it looks like one thing, but the rest of the perception is something else. Not to say that he was that the slaying didn’t actually happen. Now, if you go over to chapter 17, you remember what’s there in chapter 17, we’ve got the beast that was and is, and is about to come up.
The beast that was persecuting was slain and the persecution stopped, but it’s coming back. There’s a resurrection picture there. Okay. Just like you’ve got a picture of resurrection with the lamb. You have a picture of resurrection with the beast. He was slain, but he’s coming back. Okay. So that’s what you’re seeing here. So I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded and in his deadly wound or sorry.
And his deadly wound was healed. Okay. So he’s mortally wounded, which means he’s what Dead. But then his mortal wound is healed. Well, if you go from dead to healed, you did what you resurrected. Okay. And his deadly wound was healed and all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast.
And they worshiped the beast saying who is like the beast who is able to make war with him. Then you remember the question over in Daniel, chapter six, sorry, revelation chapter six, over in revelation, chapter six, when that sixth seal was open and all the great and all the rich and all the powerful one in the mountains to fall on them.
And the question was asked, who’s able to stand in the day of the wrath of a one on the throne and other lamp. Well, here’s the question in an opposite form, from those who dwell on the earth, saying who can make war with the beast, who can make war with the dragon who can possibly defeat them. And that was the perspective of Rome.
Rome was going to last forever. Rome was untouchable. Nobody could stand up to Rome. Well, until Rome fell from within. And that’s exactly what happened. So they see the bees getting the authority from the dragon. They see the resurrection of the beast and they worship the beast and the dragon. And they think the beast is untouchable, but then notice.
And he was given a mouth speaking, great things and blasphemies, and was given authority to continue for how long, 42 months, a limited period of time. Okay. So the beast is blaspheming. The beast is powerful. The beast is, is, has a, has a, has a, an army that’s untouchable and undefeatable it’s Rome. Okay.
Just another picture of Rome. Then he opened his mouth and blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name, his and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints, by the way, the phrase, those who dwell in heaven and the saints is talking about the same group of people. Remember those who dwell on the earth,
unrighteous. Those who dwell in heaven, righteous. It doesn’t mean they’re already dead and they’re already in heaven. It means their dwelling place. Their home is in heaven. And they’re also called the saints. Okay. So he says, or he has granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And a 40 was given him over every tribe,
tongue and nation, all who dwell on the earth will worship him. So there’s your contrast. Those who dwell in heaven, the saints they’re being overcome. What does that mean? When you’re talking about a persecuting power in an army, and one who makes war with the saints being overcome means they’re being Lud, dead. They’re being killed. His power is to overcome them.
They’re dying. If you remember, verse 11 of chapter 12, and they, this is speaking of the saints, overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and number three, and they did not love their lives unto death. So it looks like the beast is winning. He’s killing the church, he’s killing the saints.
It looks like they’re being overcome by him. They’re dying, but they are overcoming when they won’t give up the testimony of Christ when they stand in those coliseums and are killed by animals. But they’ll stand there and they won’t announce the name of Christ they’re winning, but it doesn’t look like it. The church is going to be victorious, but it doesn’t look like it.
Okay? So all who dwell on the earth will worship him. Whose names have not been written in the book of life of a lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Now that phrase only comes up in the book of revelation. When you’re supposed to go, wait, wait, wait, pay attention,
pay, pay attention. Listen to this. It came up every time. When the churches, when he was finished, writing the churches, let, who has an ear hear what the spirit says under the churches. This phrase is an attention getter and notice the next he who leads into captivity shall go into captivity. He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.
Here is the patience and the word there is endurance. The ability to stand up under a heavy load here is the ability to stand up under a heavy load and the faith of the saints in your mind, go back to the old Testament and go back to Babylon. Babylon’s rising in power, and God has a prophet named Habakkuk. And Habakkuk is told.
You’re going to tell my people that they’re going to be destroyed and they’re going to be judged. And Judah is going to be decimated, and I’m going to use Babylon to do it. And Habakkuk can’t understand how is it, God that you can use a nation more wicked than us to punish us. And then Habakkuk says, I know I’m wrong. I know you’re right.
I’m paraphrasing. And I’m going to stand here until you correct me. And I’ll wait. And God does God sets forth that he will use Babylon to bring about his judgment on Judah. And then we’ll bring his judgment on Babylon. That’s this verse, those who take into captivity will be taken into captivity. The one who’s, the persecutor will be judged.
Those who kill with a sword will be killed with the sword. This is the patience, the endurance. This is the answer to the question of the saints who were under the alter in chapter five, crying out how long, Oh Lord, how long will you allow this to continue? Sorry. Chapter six. And they’re told rest for awhile. There dressed in white robes.
They’re given their rest and the lamb is going to deal with this nation. And so here’s the patience of the saints. Those who persecute, you will have their judgment. Come on them in like manner. Okay. But we’re not done with the beast. Verse 11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth and he had two horns,
like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. This beast comes up from the earth and this beast looks like lamb. Have you ever seen the little lamb? Have you ever considered that lamb to be incredibly threatening? I mean, I, I there’s, there’s some angry creatures out there that just are ornery, but I mean, you don’t stand off and look at a lamb walking around in the field,
go, I’m going to have the same reaction to that as a lion. No you don’t. But Satan and his adversity or his, his servants don’t always look like dragons. They don’t always look like beasts. They don’t always look like they’re as powerful and dangerous and threatening as they are. And so you have a picture of lamb, but when he opens his mouth,
what comes out the voice of a dragon? How strange would that be? You see a lamb opens in his mouth and you expect to hear, ahh, and instead you hear a roar. Here’s another analogy we’re told that Satan’s angels will appear as servants of God. And the reference is to false teachers, that those who are wolves will appear as lambs and the references to false teachers.
This view of the beast, this view of Rome is it’s religious faults, teaching it’s religious authority. Okay. We’re seeing here the idolatry and the false hood of Rome pictured in this beast. So he has two horns, like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth. And those who dwell in it to worship the first beast who was deadly,
whose deadly wound was healed. So here comes this next beast and his influence, his authority is to cause those who dwell on the earth to worship the first beast, the CBS, the one whose head was mortally wounded and now healed. Okay. So he’s trying to get his, his, his whole thing is getting people to worship the beast. Okay?
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs, which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and live. So here’s his authority. He, he does sign. He does wonders. Are these the same kinds of signs and wonders that God does?
No they’re deceptive signs and wonders. Here’s a picture of the Egyptian sorcerers and, and magicians trying to emulate the plagues. Remember in the first few plagues, every time Moses and Aaron did something, the magicians came followed after them and tried and did the same thing. Oh, it looks like they’ve got the same power, right? It looks like they can do everything Moses and Aaron can do.
And it looks like their gods are as powerful as Jehovah until they get to a plague where the magician say, Pharaoh, this fierce to be the hand of God, we can’t do this. It’s deceptive power to cause people to worship the beast, okay. To worship Rome. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs, which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast,
telling those who dwell in the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak. And cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. All right? So here’s the persecuting power.
If you don’t worship the beast, what happens to you? You’re killed. If the signs and the wonders, don’t deceive you to worship the beast, then they’ll threaten you to worship the beast. And if the threat doesn’t work, they’ll just kill you. And that’s exactly what Rome did to the Christians. The thing about Rome was Rome didn’t care. If you had a different religion,
Rome didn’t care. If you worshiped anything, anything you wanted was good. So long as you would also worship Rome. But the moment you wouldn’t worship Rome, you weren’t tolerated anymore. Do you see Rome was a very tolerant society. As long as you were willing to do what Rome said, we’ve got a few people in our country like that. We’re very tolerant unless you disagree with us and won’t agree with us.
And then we’ll threaten you. Rome would kill them. Notice what we read. Verse 16 through verse 18, he caused all, both small and great rich and poor freegan slave to receive a Mark on their right hand or on their forehead. We’re not looking for any time in history where people started making marks on themselves. And this isn’t a prophecy of anytime in the future where people are going to receive a chip in their body or a Mark on themselves.
Do you remember chapter seven? Who already has a Mark on them? There’s a Mark on their foreheads. And they’re the people of God. We’re not also looking for a time in the future where angels from heaven come down and Mark, all the people who have gone. This is the devil saying your mind. And God’s already said, I know who belongs to me.
Okay? So he causes them to worship the image of the beast and to be killed. He causes them to receive a Mark on the right hand or on their forehead. And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the Mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. If he can’t convince you by deception by signs.
And if he can’t threaten you, here’s what he can do. He can make it to where you starved to death because you go to the marketplace and Oh, you, you, you don’t have a sign B stone. You can’t buy anything. Oh, you’re a Christian. No, you can’t buy anything from me. You can’t go and buy food.
You can’t go and get anything else because the economic authority that the beast wields to stop you, to persecute you, to keep you from the daily necessities of life. Unless, You know, if you’ll just put that Mark on your forehead and if you’ll just bow down to Rome, you can go buy anything you need. And no one may buy or sell except one who has the Mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name here is wisdom.
Let him who has understanding, calculate the number of the beast for it is the number of a man it’s in the Greek. There’s not a definite article there. It’s not the number of the man. It’s not the number of a specific man. It is the number of humanity. It is the number of mankind. It is Six. His and his number is six,
six, six. It’s humanity personified. Okay. It’s humanity multiplied. Here’s humanity. Can they do anything to touch God if God’s number is seven and perfection, can they ever attain to it? Will you ever have a six that’s equal to a seven? No. How about if you multiply the sixes, will they ever become equal to a multiplied seven?
No, they have limited power. Their number is failure because it always falls short of God. That’s chapter 13. Thank you for your attention.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. Welcome to the Collierville church Christ Sunday morning worship service. It’s good to see each and every one of you here this morning, and to our visitors, you are special guests and we are so honored that you chose to worship God with us this morning,
to those of you that are still dialing in or viewing us live stream. We continue to pray for you and pray that this pandemic will end soon so that we may all once again, assembled together to worship God our announcements this morning. If you did not pick up the Lord’s supper on the way in now, it’d be a good time to do that.
It’s on the tables in the back of the church. Here are sick. Please continue to remember John Springer, Dorothy Wilson and Janet Jones. As they continue to work through their difficulties and problems, continue to pray for them on a very sad note. If you have not heard yet, Danny O’Neil Tommy’s brother passed away early this morning and naturally have not been any arrangements made yet.
But as soon as we know those arrangements, we’ll get those arrangements to each and every one. But please keep the O’Neal family and your thoughts and prayers Robin woods. This is Jessica Dale’s mother is recovering from pneumonia and has to have a kidney stone removed surgically. And then when she improves, she also has to have a triple bypass heart surgery, please,
please, please pray for Robin. And the entire family Robin’s health is not the greatest right now, but she does have to go through these surgeries in order to improve. So please keep them that entire family in your thoughts and prayers, and immediately following service this morning, Michael and Jessica and the family are going to travel to Phoenix to see her and be with her for a few days.
So please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they traveled to Phoenix and then travel back to be with us again, please continue to remember Janney and the entire family and the loss of her sister, Mary drove to Darrow today starts the fifth annual spiritual sword lectureship at the get well church of Christ. It goes through the 22nd. If you are interested in any of those,
the flyer is on the board out there and it tells you the times and the different topics and the different speakers. We have a card from Lewis and Martha Rushmore. It reads dear brethren, your ongoing encouragement, and participation with us in our service to the Lord. Jesus Christ is much appreciated. Thanks again. And may God bless you, Louis. This card will be posted on bulletin board out there.
I also have a card here from Johnny Sanderson says to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for all the cards, texts, and calls and the loss of my sister in law. Thank you for the extra prayers for my brother. Please continue to pray for him in Christian Love Jenny. And also I have a letter from Charlie and Mary to Palma.
It is a little bit lengthy, but I’m going to read the majority of this to you because they’ve been doing such great work down in Australia with the Lord’s church down there, and it reads Mary and I send greetings and love to you, your families and all the beloved brothers and sisters in Christ at Collierville. We hope all is well with each. You we’d like to give you an update on our plans in regards to our work for our beloved Redeemer.
Although I hate to say it, I no longer had the strength and stamina to prepare for and teach three classes each week here at church street, I haven’t formed a brothers of that fact in a men’s meeting in July. So I am proposing a two step phase down schedule first effective. The first week of September, I will reduce the number of classes I teach to two per week,
and then starting the 1st of January, 2021. He plans on reducing to one class per week. And he said at that point, my plan is also to begin writing and to put into a more permanent form, several series of lessons that he has taught through the years. And he’s going to make those available to everyone on the internet. It’s a, he says my intention is to just make it available in internet.
Sorry. So although I will be slowing down our prayers at Mary and I will be able to continue effectively serving our beloved Lord, albeit in a less public role, there is enough money in the evangelism fund to cover my support through 2021. With that in mind, I humbly request that you discontinue making any contributions to the evangelism fund overseen by the Portland elders.
Have you, as you have done so graciously and faithfully through the years,<inaudible> I am making the same requests of all of our faithful and beloved contributors from the bottom of our hearts. Mary and I thank you so much for your invaluable prayers, encouragement, financial support through all these years, you are near and dear to our heart hearts now and forever.
Our hope and prayer is that we have labored together. Our awesome heavenly father and his beloved son had been glorified through our combined efforts. We love, appreciate and pray for all of you. Please continue praying for all of us over here with brotherly love Charlie. This letter will be up on the bulletin board out there. I read the majority of it,
but it will be on the bulletin board out there. If everybody wants to read the entire letter, our a worship service this morning, our song leader would be Erin coats. Art. Our opening prayer will also be by brother. Aaron Lord’s Supper will be Joel caisson sermon will be Michael Dale and our closing prayer will be Jay Schaffer. Thank you. Open your songbooks to number two.
The songs should also be on the slides, Michael, this TV’s not on. Can you turn it? Number two? We praise thee. Oh God sing all five verses. We Praise the all gone for the song.<inaudible> we praise thee O God for they spirit<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> the glory revive us and all glory and praise to the lamb was slain.
Who has<inaudible> the glory? Hallelujah man. Huh? I’m the glory<inaudible> Oh, glory and praise to the God of all grace who has<inaudible> hallelujah. The glory hallelujah and hallelujah. The glory<inaudible> with<inaudible> glory. Hallah man, hallelujah, glory<inaudible> Song. Before our opening prayer will be number 477, 477. There is a place of quiet rest sing.
All three verses. There is a place of<inaudible> near to the heart of<inaudible> near to the Oh geez.<inaudible> from<inaudible> the<inaudible>. There is a play, a sweet near to the heart of a place where we say we are me<inaudible> Oh, jeez, us<inaudible> sand from<inaudible>. The near to the heart of there is a play for really he’s near to the heart of a place where all is your boy.
Amp is near to the<inaudible> from<inaudible><inaudible> the knee to the Now we’ll have our opening prayer. Let us pray. Our gracious father in heaven. We humbly bow before you grateful for all of your many blessings for your love, care and concern for all the things that you do for us on a daily basis, the things we recognize and the things that we don’t even recognize,
we’re grateful for the sun and the rain for the beauty of the earth and its majesty and glory, which glorifies you. And we’re grateful for the power, which upholds all that exists. That is your word. We’re mindful at this time of those who are dealing with lost loved ones, those who are in pain and sorrow and who need our comfort and your comfort.
And we pray that they might seek that comfort from you and from us and accept that comfort as it is given. We know that hard times come and in those hard times, we pray for all those who are going through them to be faithful, to be strong and to rely on you and hope in your word. We pray that at this time, as we go through this period of worship,
that we worshiped you in a way that is acceptable in your sight, that is in accordance with your commandments and that all that we do might be that which glorifies you. We thank you most, especially for your son who came and died on the cross for our sins, who paid the price for our redemption. And we pray that all that we do might also honor him all this.
We pray in Jesus name, amen song. Before the Lord supper will be number 344 low in the grave. He lay 344. Now we will sing this where we will sing the all three verses and then the chorus only at the end of the third verse.<inaudible> Gee, she sees a smile.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> a smile.<inaudible><inaudible> gee,
she sees a smile. So<inaudible> gee, she sees a smile.<inaudible> he<inaudible>? So from the grave he Rawls with MIT, try on for his, Oh, was he a Rose up Victor from the dog? And he lives for<inaudible> This morning. We will be reading from the book of Luke and chapter 23 words that should encourage us as we have our minds,
think about our lower savers death upon the cross and what he’s done for each and every one of us who began with the 33rd verse and when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary there, they crucified him and the male factors, one on the right and the other on the left then said, Jesus father, forgive them for, they know not what they do.
And they parted his Raymond and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with derided him saying he saved others, let him save himself. If he be Christ, the chosen of God and the soldiers also mocked him coming to him and offering him vinegar and saying, if that will be the King of the Jews, say thy self and a subs superscription also was written over him and letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew.
This is the King of the Jews. And one of the malefactors, which were hanged railed on him saying if thou be Christ saved myself and us, but the other answering rebuked him saying the South does not the fear of God saying thou art in the same condemnation. And we indeed justly for, we received the reward of our deeds, but this man had done nothing amiss.
Let us pray. Oh God, our father in heaven, we are truly grateful for your love and the demonstration of it through the sending of your son to mankind, that we might have that opportunity to be saved in the end that we might have our loving savior be there for us. We’re thankful father for his love and, and we’re mindful of his hanging there on the cross of Calvary and the abuse and afflictions that he received during that period of time.
We pray father that as we protect of this bread, we might remember his body and partake in a manner pleasing and Jesus, we pray amen. And he said unto Jesus, Lord. Remember me when thou commission to thy kingdom and Jesus said unto him, I’m buried. I say, unto thee, do they today? Shout thou be with me in paradise.
And it was about the sixth hour. And there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour and it, and the sun was darken. And the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, father into thy hands. I commend my spirit and having said this, he gave up the ghost.
That is violent Father. Our hearts are grieved thinking about our savior dying upon the cross of Calvary and shedding his blood. But we’re so thankful father for the love that was demonstrated there, that we, as your children have that hope of at home and having with the father, we’re grateful for the blood that was shed. And we remember that blood as we protected this fruit of the vine and Jesus,
we pray. Amen. Now we’ll have a privilege to think about how well we am much. We’ve been blessed and pause for a moment to think about how we’ve used those blessings to praise God and give him that glory honor and glory that we shouldn’t be doing and trying to spread the borders of the kingdom and not only see for the benevolent needs that are there.
We know we have those each and every day and how that we’re reaching out to those that we might know and try to assist and help them from time to time. Let us pray, father God and heaven. We are so thankful for all the blessings that you’ve so bountifully given to us. We pray father that we have examined our sales and have determined in our hearts to give a portion of that back to the,
and that we might, as a congregation of your people, be able to see that the word is preached in this area and that we might support those that are preaching abroad. We’re grateful for the privilege that we to give. And we pray that we use those funds wisely as where your children and we are trying to make sure that others that are outside the body have opportunity to obey the gospel and that we might be able to reach out to those that are in need and try to help them along life’s way,
bless our giving and pray that we do it in a way pleasing Christ. We pray. Amen. You would like to Mark the invitation song in the song book. It is going to be number 948, 948 will be the song of invitation. If you would let us all stand, we will sing number. Actually. I’m not going to tell you the number of this next one,
because this is not in the book. So I don’t know what number it is, but we’re going to sing. I love liking them. Lord. I love the King dome<inaudible> house.<inaudible><inaudible> walls. Be careful the<inaudible><inaudible> or<inaudible> to<inaudible> me on my<inaudible> friend.<inaudible> shall grey.<inaudible> let us be seated. Good morning, everybody.
Just a quick update. They are no longer going to try to do the kidney surgery on my mother-in-law before they do the heart surgery, the surgeon believes that it’s imperative, that he gets to the heart surgery. So they have put a cloth bag on her to bypass her kidneys. So that way she’s able to go into the heart surgery on Tuesday. So it’s progressing a lot faster than we thought it was going to thus,
the reason why we’re leaving as soon as worship is over today, my sermon this morning is exude love to show faith. Let’s look at five Leman verses four through seven. There’s no chapters just verses five Leman verses four through seven. I think my God making mention of the always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou has toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints,
that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing, which is in you in Christ Jesus for we have great joy in constellation. And I love because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by the brother bowels here, his heart or mind as Christians, we should have such a faith that our love can be shown loud enough for all to hear.
So have you ever been personally in a situation where someone you did not know you were working with, or you met them at a job or something like that and want you to think of that time and how that person’s actions shaped who they were before you would even say anything to them like, Hey, or how’s it going? A person’s actions can, and most times do speak louder than words.
If a person has a closed off body language, they’re constantly frowning or does poor work, then generally we’re not going to want to be around that person or get to know them better. If a person has open body language smiles, all the time, works hard and shows that they really have an honest need to want to help others in need. We’re going to be drawn to that person and want to get to know them better as Christians.
We are to be like the second person. If we are at school, work out and about, or even here in worship with our brethren, we should, excuse me. People should be able to see and understand that we are Christians without us having to say anything so much more. Should we exude Christian Love when we’re around our brothers and sisters in Christ,
our brother, and should never wonder if we are really a Christian or if we actually love them, they should know that we love them. They should know it without any thought in their mind. And not just because we say it, but because we show it in the passage that I just read here. Finally, man, verses four through seven, Paul is praising finally men for just that.
As Christians, we should have such a faith that our love can be shown loud enough for everyone to hear in order to do this, we must first have the faith and love for the Lord. We must have love for our brethren and we must communicate our faith through our love. Paul begins this section of his letter to fight Lehman with an amazing show of faith to the Lord and love for his brother.
Finally, Lehman verse four. I think my God making mention of the always in my prayers, what greater way to show a brother in Christ. You love them then by praying daily for them and what greater way to show your faith in the Lord. Then by praying to him and knowing that when you lift up your voice, he hears you like Paul with this,
with his faith shown here, we must have a faith and love for the Lord. But what is faith? We all have our speculations. The definition of faith, according to the world@dictionary.com is believe in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion. Faith in the Greek is the word of PSTs. And it means just a trust in the Strong’s dictionary is where I got that from.
So having faith is to have a belief in and trust in the Lord. The Hebrew writer defines faith perfectly turn with me to Hebrews chapter 11 and verse one, Hebrews 11 one. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, but how do we gain faith in the Lord? Faith comes from hearing turn with me to Romans chapter 10 and verse 17,
Romans chapter 10 and verse 17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God, we hear through the preaching of the word, just a few up and verse 14, how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Our faith and hope are to be in God alone. First, Peter chapter one verses 18 through 21. Turn with me to first Peter chapter one verses 18 through 21. For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who barely was fore ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God. It is impossible for us to please the Lord without faith.
Turn with me back to Hebrews chapter 11. And we’ll read through verses six through verse six of chapter 11, Hebrews 11 verses one through six. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen for by it. The elders obtained a good report through faith. We understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear by faith.
Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. And by it, he being dead yet speaketh by faith. Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation. He had this testimony that he pleased God through his faith.
He pleased God, but without faith, it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them. That diligently seek him with faith in the Lord. We know all things are possible. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 17, verse 20 Matthew chapter 17 and verse 20. And Jesus said unto them because of your unbelief for verily,
I say unto you. If he had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove. And nothing shall be impossible unto you. Faith is more than just saying you have it. You can’t just walk around and say, I have faith. A true faith is reliant upon your work.
Turn with me to James chapter two verses 14 through 17 James chapter two verses 14 through 17. What does it profit? My brethren though, a man say he had faith and have not works. Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food. And one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled.
Not withstanding you give them not those things, which are needful to the body. Am I reading the correct words? Yes I am. And one of you saying to them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled. Not withstanding you give them not those things, which are needful to the body. What does it profit even? So faith, if it has not works is dead being alone.
So to show a true faith in the Lord, we must work. Let’s continue reading verses verse eight, starting in verse 18, there in James chapter two through the end of the chapter, yea, a man may say, thou has faith. And I have works. Show me that I faith without thy works. And I will show the, my faith by my works.
That I’ll believe is that there is one God thou do as well. The devils also believe and tremble, but without no, Oh, vain man, that faith without works is dead, was not Abraham. Our father justified by works. When he offered Isaac, his son upon the altar. See us now how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect.
And the scripture was fulfilled, which Seth Abraham believed God. And it was imputed unto him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God to be called the friend of God, because you believed him and had such faith in him that you would do the works he wanted you to. Do you see then how that by works, a man is justified and not by faith.
Only not by faith. Only. Likewise also was Ray was not. Ray had the harlot justified by works. When she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way for as the body, without the spirit is dead. So faith without works is dead. Also our faith will be shown through our works. Turn back with me to Philemon and verse six Philemon verse six,
that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing, which is in you in Christ Jesus. When our faith is shown, others are going to hear about it right up there in verse five, Paul writes to finally men hearing of thy love and faith, which thou has towards the Lord toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints.
Paul, didn’t hear about fire Lehman’s faith through him, boasting about his faith. Paul heard a fine Lehman space because finally men showed such a great, such great faith through the loving actions that he took towards his brother and that they told Paul about his faith. When others here we are fulfilling Christ’s command Matthew 28, 19 and 20 Matthew, 28, 19 and 20 go ye therefore and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy ghost. So we are to go and we are to teach and we are to baptize. All works that we do for the father through our faith, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.
Amen. Sorry. When we keep God’s commands, he knows that we love him. Turn with me to first John chapter two verses three through five first John chapter two verses three through five And hereby. We do know that we know him. If we keep his commandments, he that Seth, I know him and keepeth, not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him,
but whoso keepeth his word in him. Verily is the love of God. Perfected hereby know we that we are in him. Is it enough to just have faith and faith in and love the Lord? No hearing of thy love and faith, which thou has toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints. Paul says to Philemon in first five. So like by Lehman,
we must have love for our brethren. What does Paul mean by a love toward all saints in this passage? Love in the English language is such a fickle general term love. According to dictionary.com is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person or a feeling of warm, personal attachment of deep affection. As for a parent, a child or a friend in the Greek.
The word for love and find Lehman. Verse five is a<inaudible>, which according to Strong’s dictionary is benevolence or Goodwill. A GABA is a self sacrificing love seeking Goodwill for others, especially other Christians. This is not an affectionate love, or a warm, fuzzy feeling that you get inside butterflies in your stomach. This is the love that seeks another’s highest.
Good. A love of the soul. Look, turn with me to John chapter 15 in verse 13. So a good example, John 15 in verse 13, The gospel of John greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. A self-sacrificing love is what we are to have for our brothers. We are commanded to love our brethren.
As I said earlier, if we love God, we will keep his commandments. Turn back. Let’s reiterate this our mind. First John chapter two verses three through five first John chapter two verses three through five and hereby. We do know that we know him. If we keep his commandments, he that Seth, I know him and keep it not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him,
but whoso keepeth his word in him. Verily is the love of God. Perfected hereby know we that we are in him. So let us consider what Christ has to says on this top. It has to say on this topic, John gospel of John chapter 15 in verse 14, John 15 and verse 14, Jesus himself says, ye are my friends.
If you do whatsoever, I command you. God commands us to love our brother in first, John chapter three and verse 23, turn with me first, John chapter three and verse 23. And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment. And again, in chapter four in verse 21,
first John chapter four and verse 21. And this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother. Also Christ commands us to love our brother in John chapter 15 and verse 12, the gospel of John chapter 15 and verse 12. This is my commandment that she loved one another. As I have loved you. How did Jesus love us?
He came to this earth in human form. He suffered at the hands of men and died on the cross for us. Why else do we love? We love to lift others up. Fire Lehman, verse seven, find Lehman and verse seven for we have great joy in constellation and thy love because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by the brother. We love to lift others up.
We love because God is love. First John chapter four verses seven through eight first John chapter four verses seven and eight beloved. Let us love one another for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and know with God he that loveth not knoweth. Not God for God is love. We love because God first loved us. First, John chapter four and verse 19,
just right down the way there. First John chapter four in verse 19, we love him because he first loved us. And we love because we want to abide in God, right back up in verse 16 of first John chapter four, and we have known and believed the love that God hath to us, God is love. And he, that dwelleth in love,
dwelleth in God and God and him. Paul wrote an entire section on the importance of a God and his letter to the core in his letter to the Corinthian brethren. Because without it, we are nothing. Let’s go ahead and read first Corinthians chapter 13. I know it’s a lengthy reading, but it’s such a beautiful reading every time. First Corinthians chapter 13,
though, I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love. I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Any of you know, what a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal sounds like it’s annoying. If you don’t have love, basically you’re annoying. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge.
And though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not love. I am nothing. And though I be still all my goods to feed the poor. And though I give my body to be burned and have not love it. Profit with me, nothing charity or love suffereth long and is kind love. Envieth not love vaunted, not itself and is not puffed up.
Does not behave itself. Unseemly, seeketh, not her own is not easily provoked thinketh, no evil, rejoice, not in iniquity, but rejoices with the truth. Beareth all things. Believe all things. Hopeth all things endures. All things love, never fail. If, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease.
Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away for we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that, which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I speak as a child. I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man,
I put away childish things for now. We see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as also, I am known and now abideth, faith, hope, love these three, but the greatest of these is love. So whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.
Jesus giving things to God and the father by him, Colossians three 17, since God is love. And we do all in his name, then we must communicate our faith through our love. Paul writes of Phi rites of Phi Lehman that through his love, his faith was communicated. Turned back with me to find Lehman again and verse six, find Lehman in verse six,
that the communication of by faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing, which is in you in Christ. Jesus. If we’re in Christ, Jesus, everything we put forth is through love, but we are to love indeed. That is in action. First, John chapter three and verse 18 first John chapter three and verse 18. My little children,
let us not love in word neither in tongue, but indeed. And in truth, everybody heard you can say, I love you a million times, but when somebody finally shows you that they love you. It speaks a million times louder than however many times. They told you. They love you. God took action on his love for us by giving us his son,
John chapter three in verse 16, as most of the world knows this verse though, it is misapplied quite often, John chapter three, verse 16 for God. So loved the world that he gave. His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And again in Romans chapter five and verse eight, Romans chapter five and verse eight.
But God commendeth his love toward us. And that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Christ took action on his love for all mankind, Galatians chapter two and verse 20 Galatians two 20 Paul writes to the Galatians. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life, which I now live in the flesh.
I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Christ put his love into action by giving himself for us. Jesus told Peter to take action on his love. Not once, not twice, but three times in the same conversation. John chapter 21 verses 15 through 17 John chapter 21 verses 15 through 17. So when they had died,
Jesus said to Simon, Peter Simon, son of Jonas love without me more than these, he said unto him, yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto him, then do something about it, right? Feed my lambs. He said to him again, the second time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me. He said unto him, yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee.
He said unto him again, do something, feed my sheep. He said unto him the third time Simon son of Jonas lovest Dow me. Peter was grieved because he said unto him. The third time, love is now me. And he said unto him more thou knowest, all things thou knowest that I love. Jesus said unto him a final time feed my sheep.
Jesus calls all of us to act through our love for him. John chapter 14 in verse 15, just a couple of chapters back John chapter 14 and verse 15. Jesus says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Let us read what Paul wrote to the Galatians on this subject, Galatians chapter five, verses five and six, five,
five, and six for we through the spirit. Wait for the hope of righteousness by faith for in Jesus Christ, neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but faith, which worketh by love as Christians, we should have such a faith that our love can be shown loud enough for everyone to hear it. Be that person that others look at at work or at school or at worship or wherever it may be,
be that person that others can see your faith in Christ through the love that you show and everything that you do remember to do this. We must have faith in the Lord. We must have love for our brothers and we must communicate our faith through our love. I’d like to leave you this morning with a poem that I know a lot of people are familiar with,
but as new to me as called, I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day by Edgar, a guest. I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way the eye is a better pupil, more willing than the ear. Find counsel is confusing, but example is always clear.
And the best of all the preachers are the men who love their creeds for to see a good put into action is what everybody needs. I can soon learn how to do it. If you will, let me see it done. See it done. I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run. And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,
but I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do for, I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give, but there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind when a weaker brother, stumbles and a strong man stands behind just to see if he can help him.
Then the wish grows strong in me to become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be, and all travelers can witness that best of guides today is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way one good man teaches many men believe what they behold. One deed of kindness noted as worth 40, that are told one who stands with men of learns to hold.
His honor, dear for right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear though. Enables speaker charms me with his eloquence. I say, I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. If you have yet to obey the command of my God, of our God, why Terria Sao arise and be baptized and wash away. Thy sins calling upon the name of the Lord acts 2216.
The waters of baptism are ready for anybody that is ready to show that they love God by obeying his command. Or if you are in need of prayers from the saints, know that we love you and that we care and that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, availeth much James, five 16, whatever your need may be. Please come forward.
As we stand and sing.<inaudible> the high raise all to go to the same.<inaudible> he is the true one. He is Josh. Juan.<inaudible> him. Hey<inaudible> I asked, ah, well come to the, I am resolved to follow the, save your<inaudible><inaudible> Hey to him. Hey son.<inaudible> I asked, ah, well come to the,
I am breeze all too. And the key thing the<inaudible> friends may oppose me falls maybe said me<inaudible><inaudible> Hey to him. Hey<inaudible> ah, well come to the Want to thank Michael for that lesson and that encouragement for all of us to live out our love for God, both towards him and towards one another closing song. Before our closing prayer will be number 749,
the battle belongs to the Lord 749. After we sing the song will be led in our closing prayer. We do want to thank each and every one of you for being here, especially our visitors. And we hope you will get to be back with us again. Soon, we do have Bible class Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. And again, next Sunday morning at nine 30 and worship at 10 30,
number 749, the battle belongs to the Lord and then we’ll be closed in our closing or we’ll have our closing prayer in heaven. The armor will learn to the land that will be long to the little weapons I’ve fashioned. Again,<inaudible> bad OB long to the little book and we seeing<inaudible> power and strength to the Lord. We sing<inaudible> to the Lord.
When the power of dog news comes in like a battle belongs to the Lord. He’s raised up<inaudible> battle belongs to the Lord and we sing Laurie on power and strength to the<inaudible> power and SRE to the<inaudible> rage. My friend, yo read, damn Sean is me. Battle belongs to the Lord and we sing<inaudible> power and strength to the low.
So Heavenly father. We’re so very grateful for this privilege that we’ve had to assemble peacefully and worship you. We pray that our worship has been in spirit and truth and a sweet savor unto thee. As we prepare to depart, we’re mindful of those of our number that are suffering illnesses, illnesses, please, if you will place your healing hands upon them and return them to their much wanted Hill.
We’re also mindful of the Neal family and the passing of Danny Tommy’s brother. We pray that you will comfort them, be with the Sanderson family as they mourn the loss of Jenny’s sister in law. And also we ask father that you be with the Dale family as they traveled back to Jessica’s mother’s bedside that you will bless them with a safe trip and her with a speedy recovery go with each of us.
Now, as we prepared to depart, bless each of us, according to our several needs and bring us all back at the next appointed hour. It’s in jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible>.
10-14-2020 – Revelation 13 (Class)
JOHN – Revelation 13
Dragon, Sea Beast, Land Beast & 666
- What are the shared attributes of the Dragon and the Sea beast? Revelation 13:1
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - What 3 animals was the sea beast like? Revelation 13:2
________________________________________________________________ - What changed about one of the sea beast’s heads that caused the world to marvel?
As a result, what creature was worshipped? Revelation 13:3 -4
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - The names of those who worship the beast are NOT written where?
Revelation 13:8 __________________________________________________ - Revelation 13:10 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Describe the appearance of the land beast. Revelation 13:11
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - 3:12 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- How does the land beast deceive those who dwell on the earth?
What does the land beast cause those who dwell on the earth to make? Revelation 13:13-14 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - What does the land beast cause all to receive? Revelation 13:16-17
The person without a mark cannot _________________________. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - What is the number of the land beast? Revelation 13:18 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Automated Transcript
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Testing one, two. All right. That’s better. Let’s see if we can do this. I didn’t even drop it. Oop. Well spoke too soon. All right. We are in revelation chapters, 12 and 13. This evening. Let’s begin with a word of prayer. Our gracious father in heaven.
We bow before your throne grateful for all of the many blessings that you’ve granted to us grateful for the life that we have and the opportunity that we have to serve you. We pray that as we serve you, that we do so in a way, in a manner that is pleasing to you, we pray that you care for us as we go throughout this day.
And throughout this week, we pray that you be with all those who are involved with voting throughout the country, especially those who are working the polls, and those who are going out to vote. We pray that you will protect them and that they will remain healthy throughout that entire experience. We pray for our country and we pray for its leaders that no matter who is in charge,
that they might do those things, which are in accordance with your will. We might always be able to move forward in this country and peace being able to worship you in freedom, but no matter what comes may we always be mindful. And may we always be devoted to the reality that we will worship you no matter what comes and no matter who is in charge and no matter what they say,
Lord, we pray that you will be with us as we go through this period of study, may the things that written here in the book of Revelation, be those which help us to understand your will and help us to understand how we can endure and how Christians can endure through the toughest of times, knowing that you are always on our side, we pray that you will be with us as we go through this night.
Forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory and are willing to repent of those things. This we pray in Jesus name. Amen.<inaudible> Definitely, definitely. I want to mention this just in case anybody gets contacted while we’re in here, the number four, connecting through a phone call, which is how a lot of folks have been connecting the number changed.
We could only set up that, that recurring meeting with that same number for six months. Well guess what? We’ve been in coronavirus for six months now. And so the number changed, but in the meantime, they also changed the way it works some. So now there’s a number and a passcode. It is on the website, it’s on the front page.
We’ll also make sure it’s written down and everybody’s got access to it. But if anybody contacts you get with Eddie or Paula, they both have the number already and the passcode. So they just put in the number, hit pound and then put in the passcode when it tells them to. And they can Connect revelation, chapter 12, we got through some of this.
I was thinking we got through most of this, but I think I got that. I may have slept since then, misremembered how much we got through, but we didn’t get through the questions that I know for certain. Did we do the questions from chapter 11? We did, or we didn’t know we did. Okay. Then can someone hand me a P a sheet of paper that has the questions from chapter 11?
Because I don’t have the sheet with me and we’ll do 11 and well, as we get started tonight, while they’re looking for that, I’m going to actually start as way back here in a chapter 17 that we haven’t gotten to. Thank you. Well, I don’t see that It’s on the it’s on the main stand. So 12 is on the mainstay and Eleven’s back there somewhere.
We’re now getting to the part of revelation as we get into chapter 13, the, the beast that we’ve talked about, we’ve talked about it being Rome. We’ve talked about it being a persecuting power in chapter 12, we, we first start to see the beast, the beast attempts to devour the, the child of the woman. Okay? So, so all of these things are going on,
but we’re just about to get into this whole beast discussion, full fledged, but going back to our discussion about the date of the book, Daniel in Daniel, chapter seven, and this is incredibly important. Daniel sets up this entire discussion. Daniel talks about four bees Daniels, four beasts are a lion, a bear, a leopard, and an indescribable beast.
And Daniel says that those four bees are four nations. They are the same four nations that were the head of gold, the shoulder and chest of silver, the belly and thighs of brass and the legs and feet of iron mixed with clay. And we know from history, what four nations, those are that’s Babylon followed by the Mito Persian empire, followed by the Grecian empire,
followed by Rome and Daniel reveals to Nebuchadnezzar by the power of God that Inebric and editor’s dream. God is telling Nebuchadnezzar, you’re the head of gold. And coming after you will be a nation that is not greater than you, but will overcome you. And following them as another nation, that’s not greater than them, but will overcome them and following them another nation that is not greater than them,
but we’ll overcome them. And ultimately God lays out the path of history that will happen over the next 700 years leading to the time of Christ there in Daniel, chapter two and as well in Daniel chapter seven. But in Daniel seven, it’s not ahead of goal. It’s not an image with four different nations. It is four BS. Okay? So when we get to revelation and we start reading about BESE,
we don’t need to go crazy. We don’t need to just start throwing ideas out. We don’t need to just come up with our own conclusion as to what it means. Daniel already told us what it means. Revelation is the finishing of so much of what the prophet said in the old Testament, whether it’s a ZQ or Isaiah or Daniel, all of them or Zechariah,
all of them spoke about things that would happen and be involved in the coming kingdom of God. So here’s the reason why all this is going on. God, doesn’t come down in through the power of the Holy spirit and just start saying to his children and to his profits and to his church in the first century. Let me tell you what’s going to happen in China in the next 400 years,
he doesn’t come down to his people and say, let me tell you what’s going to happen on the other side of the planet, because it doesn’t matter to you, but I just like telling the future. That’s not it. And it wasn’t in Daniel’s day, the whole point of Daniel’s prophecies and Daniel’s visions. And the revelation that was given to Nebuchadnezzar is God’s saying,
they’re all going to think they’re in charge. Just like never can ask her thought he was, they all are gonna think that they rule the world just like Nebuchadnezzar thought he did you think Alexander, the great thought he was going to conquer the world. He, his ambition was to do exactly that, But what happened to Alexander? The great here’s what I know happened.
He died, you know, go through the genealogies and you remember that and he died. That’s the point of the BESE. Okay. In all of this, that’s the point of the beast nation rises up. Nation lasts for a little while. They think they’re all that. They’re not because God is still on the throne. So revelation is written when the persecuting beast,
the same beast that Daniel describes, but you’re going to see in chapter 13, the culmination of all four beasts brought forward in Rome. The persecuting beast was in the time of Nero. The persecution of the church was significant. And then Nero did the same thing. Every other King did. He died and the beast looked like he was all powerful. And he looked like he was going to decimate the church.
And he looked like he was going to win over the church and he died. But now the beast is in an, is not state. He’s not persecuting right now. When Nero died, Rome went into civil war and three emperors came and went in quick fashion inside of two years. And then it looked like, I mean, if you were a Christian at that time,
you would have been looking at Rome going. They got what they deserved. Rome messed with God’s people, God killed Nero, boom, Rome deteriorates. But then Vespasian comes to the throne and Vespasian puts Rome back together. Vespasian stops the civil Vespasian gets the country back on track. And Vespasian is around for a little while. And it’s in Vespasian rain that John’s writing because he’s warning the Christians,
Rome or revelation chapter two, verse 10, he tells the church, he says, you’re going to go to prison. You’re going to be in prison for 10 days. And some of you are going to die. The 10 days is not a literal 10 days. The 10 days is a period of time in which they will suffer. All of this is God’s saying,
it’s going to look like you lose. It’s going to look like the beast wins. It’s going to look like when I prophesied in Daniel chapter two, verse 44, that I was going to set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed. It’s going to look like I was wrong and that the kingdom would be destroyed and the beast would win. And the beast and that fourth nation wouldn’t be decimated and brought to pieces by my kingdom.
But instead my kingdom would be, death would be decimated by the beast. And God is saying, I told you all the way back in Daniel, that wasn’t was what was going to happen, but you’re going to suffer in this persecution in the meantime. Okay. So chapter 12, my slides went away. Did I hit that button or the day?
Oh, well technology is what technology is. I’m in chapter let’s, let’s do chapter 11 because chapters 10, 11, and 12, we’re going to do the questions. Chapters 10, 11, and 12 are a message to God’s people about the 42 months, the 1,260 days, the time times and half the time. And all three of those things mean the same thing.
Chapter 10 has the same message. Chapter 11 has the same message. Chapter 12 has the same message. And they’re all there to provide comfort before chapter 13, because chapter 13 is when God says and here’s what’s coming. Okay? So these are here to say the suffering is limited. It’s not a seven it’s, half of a seven it’s three and a half.
It’s 42 months. It’s 1,260 days. It’s not a completeness. It’s not what God can do. It’s what man can do. Okay. And when Jesus said, do not fear what man can do, because man can’t do what he can’t kill the soul. Instead he says, fear, the one who can destroy both body and soul man has what?
Half the power he can kill your body. And they would, but they couldn’t touch their soul. God says, I’ve got you. Okay. So chapter 11, question one. What was John given and what was he told to do? Alright. And he’s giving a measure, given a measuring read and he’s told to do what, okay. He is told to measure the temple and the altar and those who worship there.
Okay. And the word for temple, there is the word for the inner sanctuary. The Greek had two different words for temple. One meant the entire complex, and one meant the inner sanctuary. And this is the inner sanctuary, not the entire temple complex. Okay. So you don’t have to put all of that, but just wanted to fill that in.
He was given a read and was told to measure the temple and those who worship there in what was John told to leave out, all right. The court, outside the temple, and God says, you measure the inside. You measure my dwelling place. And those who worship in my dwelling place, which are the priests who was allowed to go into the temple to worship common Jew.
How about a Gentile? No, just the priests. But first Peter chapter two says Christians are what priests. He said, every single one of you are priests of God, which means all of us get to go where into the inner temple, into the sanctuary Hebrews chapter four. I believe there’s so many of these passages that are right here in book of revelation.
They’re just not in prose. Their envisions Hebrews chapter four says we have power. It talks about Jesus Christ coming and, and being tempted like as we are yet without sin. And then it says in verse 16, and we have boldness to come before him to find grace to help in time of need. And the picture is a picture of the tabernacle.
He says, you don’t have to stand outside. Wishing you could come in the God’s presence. You have not only access, but boldness to go in. Okay. So he was told to leave out those in the outer court, chapter 11, verse three, how many witnesses were there and what were they told to do? Okay. There were two witnesses.
What were they told to do? All right. They were told to prophesied. So you get a picture of, these are prophets. There’s two of them. This comes straight from Zechariah. What two things do the witnesses have power to do? And what are these things pictured of pictures of in the old Testament, they have power to do what okay.
And strike the earth with flags. Okay. So they have power to stop it from raining. And that’s a picture of what, what prophet Elijah. And they have power to turn water to blood and bring plagues, which is a picture of what prophet Moses. Okay. So this is a picture of Elijah and Moses representative of the Christians God’s people. Okay.
But what we’re seeing here is a time 42 months, 1000, 260 days, time, times and half the time, three and a half years, which is the same amount of time that Alijah didn’t allow it to rain. And yet during that entire time was Alijah provided for yes. He went out into the wilderness and he went there by the broke,
where God told them to. And what, who, who brought him food? The Ravens did God miraculously caused Ravens to bring Elijah food. And then when the Brook dried up, because after, if you have no rain, eventually the water stops. He took him somewhere else and provided him for him. Okay. God. And his provision during three and a half years where there’s no provision,
but God knows who belongs to him. And he cares for and provides for those who belong to him. So it’s a picture of that time in Elijah’s life and these Christians okay. Who killed the witnesses? All right. This is the first time we have the beast described as coming up. The beast comes up out of the bottomless pit and kills the two witnesses in what city were they killed and give it’s two spiritual names.
What city did we say? This was the great city. And we described the fact that that’s Rome all throughout the book and what are its two spiritual names, Sodom and Egypt. And in a real sense, you could actually give a third, but the name isn’t given and the third is we described there, the three aspects of those names and why those are there.
Okay. What happened to the two witnesses after three and a half days? Alright, they’re resurrected. God breathes life back into them. Where did they go? And how did they get there? Alright. God tells these two witnesses. After he resurrects them. He says, come up here. John saw vision. And as John gets into the vision in chapter two and chapter three,
the letters go out to the seven churches that the message for each church has given. And then chapter four, John sees an open door and a voice from heaven says, go through the door. Well, now these witnesses are here and they’ve been slain for the testimony of Christ for the prophecy and for the speaking of God’s word. And the beast looked like he won and the people looked like they loved it.
And the everything was good as far as they were concerned. And then God raises his two witnesses from the dead and says, you come up here cause you’re not going to have to suffer through what’s coming. Okay. So then notice what we have next. What is declared at the beginning of the seventh trumpet? Okay. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdoms of our Lord.
Okay. So, or, or a paraphrase of that is the reign of Christ over the world. How long will Christ reign forever and ever. So don’t miss chapter 11 and its connection to Daniel. Chapter two, the declaration is here’s the witnesses. Here are the people of God. Here are the ones, by the way, at the end of the three and a half years with no rain,
what was a Hab looking for Alijah? So he could do, what did the light, or what did they have want to do to Elijah? Because it hadn’t rained for three and a half years. He wanted to kill him. But did he know? But these witnesses, they die, but God says, but my son, he rains. The witnesses are a picture of Christ.
There. A picture of his church, Christ was in the tomb. How many days? Three days, Right? Picture of Christ. It’s a picture of Jesus saying to his church. They hated me. They’re going to hate you too. They’ll put me to death and they’ll kill you too, but you win in the end. Okay. And if we don’t get through anything,
but the questions of chapter 11, chapter 12, that’ll be all right. We kind of need to just a breather, bring it all in and, and get ready for chapter 13. Anyway, how long are, wait, we just ask that how long Christ reign forever and ever under Christ reign, who would be rewarded? Okay. Under Christ reign,
we have the reward going to the servants, the prophets and the saints. Now remember chapter two and chapter three, Jesus said the overcomers get to come over. Those who are faithful unto death will be given what a crown of life. So here you have a picture of two witnesses being slain by the bees, but they’re not going to stay dead because the beast doesn’t have power over the second death.
He doesn’t have power to kill your soul. He only has power to kill your body. So they’re slain by the beast, but they’re rewarded by Christ. Okay? Everything Christ promised everything. God prophesied will come to pass. And that’s the message of chapter 11. What was seen when the temple of God in heaven was opened. Alright, so, so hold on here.
What is the arc of the covenant? What did it symbolize? The presence of God and God’s provision. Remember what was initially when the arc was built, when the tabernacle was made, what was put inside the Ark Aaron’s rod that budded when which was a symbol of not only God leading them, but God defeating Pharaoh, because remember it was the rod that kept going out,
right? It was the rod that got thrown down and turned into a serpent. It was the rod over and over and over was the rod that went over the red sea part of the, the waters. Okay. Aaron’s rod that budded, which confirmed the priesthood, the commandments of God, God said, you do this and I’ll be your God. God’s assurance through his law that he would never depart from them so long as they kept the covenant.
And number three, the pot of manna, where God took them through the wilderness and their clothes never wore out. Their shoes never wore out. They never went hungry. Now they grumbled and complained a whole lot, but they were always provided for. And the art in its existence was the symbol of the law, the priesthood, the forgiveness and mercy of God,
because the mercy seat was on top of the Ark. And God’s provision in saying you, as long as you’re faithful, have nothing to worry about. So here we are at the end of chapter 11, and what’s opened up the temple of God. And you look inside, John sees inside and Oh, by the way, when Babylon invaded Jerusalem, they didn’t find the arc there.
Babylon took all the articles that were in the temple, but not the table of showbread and not the arc, not the mercy seat. Now that’s a big discussion to this day, what happened to them? But the reality is we have the list of the things that Babylon took out. It’s in the scriptures and it’s not on the list. And that’s never been seen again to anyone’s knowledge that I know of.
But here you are in the temple of God and in the spiritual picture of the temple of God, which the temple of God is represented as the church. There’s the arc. God’s still here. Okay. Chapter 12, the woman and the baby, the devil, a three time loser, chapter 12 verse one describes the woman clothed with the sun moon on her feet,
crown on her head, the stars above the crown. Okay. And there’s 12 stars, 12 stars above the crown. And the 12 stars represent 12, always in book, revelation represents re the religion of God. The people have gone and off authorized religion. Okay. So we got here, we have here a picture of the corporate church. And in other words,
the church as a whole, the universal body of Christ, okay. You have the woman, by the way, it’s not the only time in revelation that the church has pictured as the bot, as, as a woman, because it’s also in revelation that she’s pictured as the bride of Christ. Okay. So we’re not, we’re not just bringing that idea out of nowhere,
multiple times. You’ve got this idea, but verse two, I’m sorry, what does the number 12 mean? I answered it and didn’t even remember the question was there. Alright. Represents 12 tribes of Israel represents 12. Apostles represents authorized religion. Okay. Authorized religion. And therefore the people of God, because those are the people who will participate in authorized religion.
Okay. What is the woman’s condition she’s pregnant? What was this child going to do? According to verse five? Alright. Rule all nations with a rod of iron. The picture is of Christ. Okay. The picture is here and this is, this is not a literal event. There’s there, there was not a beast waiting at the birth of Christ to devour the no it’s figurative,
but the church in its need for redemption and all people who are part of the body of Christ and all people who have been faithful all the way back through history had need of what a savior. They weren’t good enough on their own. They couldn’t bring about their redemption on their own. They were waiting all the way back from Genesis chapter three, for the seed of woman that would bring the death blow against who Satan.
Now watch this because this is, this is good. The seed of woman, who’s going to bring the death, blow on Satan. And here, the picture is Satan waiting for the child to be warned, to devour the child because you can’t hurt me. If you’re still a baby and you’re not on your throne, you can’t bring about the death.
Blow. If I get you before you get a chance. Okay. But watch what happens. All right. So the great red dragon stood, ready to do what? Devour the child. Why did the dragon fail in his mission? Alright, child’s taken up into heaven. You devil you, you, you, you missed your chance. Okay? Again,
we’re not talking about literal history here. We’re talking about a vision. God’s making a point. The devil missed he’s a loser loser time. Number one, four. We’re out of this chapter. He’s a three time loser. Okay. Who else escaped the reach of the dragon? The woman. Now, if the woman represents the church, that means the beast is going to try and devour Christ and fail,
going to try and devour the woman and fail. Okay. But did Christ still die on the cross? Yup. Might the church still suffer too? Yes, but they don’t lose. Okay. So according to these verses, what two time references are equivalent to each other? That’s verse 16 and verse 14. And what do they they’re supposed to be?
Why there? What do they mean? Or what do they symbolize? What two, what are the two time references? 1,260 days. And the other is time times and half the time. Right. And if you, if you think about time, times and half the time, this way, think of year, multiple years and half of a year.
Okay. Three and a half years. Okay. It’s just another way of saying it. Three and a half years on a 360 day calendar is 1,260 days. It’s also 42 months. That’s what we saw in the previous chapter. Okay. They’re all just half of seven. They’re half of perfection. They’re derived authority. It’s derived power. He doesn’t have the power of God.
That’s the message all the way along. God doesn’t need to protect the woman to the level of protecting them against God, because that’s the beast. Isn’t God, that’s the declaration all the way through this beast. Isn’t got dragon. Isn’t God Satan. Isn’t God. And he doesn’t have the power of God. Okay. But we’re also continuing to, to bring forward that three and a half years of Elijah.
Okay. So what do they mean? What do they symbolize? They symbolize half of seven. They symbolize derived power. Okay. God’s going to allow Satan to do what Satan does for a period of time. And then Satan’s judgment is going to come. Okay. That’s the message all the way through the beast that Satan gives power to in chapter 13,
he’s going to let him go for a period of time. By the way, chapter 13, you’re gonna see 42 months again. Okay. We’re not done with that symbol. So just keep it, keep it fresh in your mind, three and a half years, 42 months, 1000, 260 days, time, times, and half a time. It’s going to keep coming up because every time it comes up,
it’s God saying, this is temporary. This is for a time. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be like going through three and a half years of no rain, but don’t worry. I’ve got you. Okay. I told you we weren’t going to get past the questions. Okay. To what location does the devil chase? The baby heaven.
Okay. So the baby’s taken up into heaven. The male child is taken up into heaven. And so the next moment you look or the scene changes and there’s the dragon and he’s in heaven, but there’s a war. Who does he encounter instead of the child? Michael and angels. Okay. What is the result of the battle? Alright. The devil loses.
Now, if you can’t beat the servants, how are you going to beat the master? If you can’t beat Michael and his angels, how are you going to be Christ? If you’re a loser to the servants, you’re not going to beat the master. Okay. There’s your picture there? What are the other names for the dragon serpent? That’s Genesis three,
the devil, the deceiver and Satan. The accuser. He’s the deceiver. He’s the accuser. He’s Satan. He’s the one who was told way back in Genesis, chapter three. He’s the loser. He’s the one who gets the death blow. Okay. So in what three ways did the servants of God, the saints overcome the dragon verse 11, blood of the lamb word of their testimony.
And they did not. This is, this is critical. They did not love their lives to death. John wrote in first, John chapter do love, not the world. Neither the things that are in the world for all that is in the world. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and pride of life are of the world.
And those things he says are vanishing away. They’re not eternal. Don’t love your life so much that you’ll sacrifice your eternity for your life. And to the Christians. God says Michael and the angels can beat the devil, but so can you, and here’s how you’ll do it. First of all, you’ll be covered in the blood of the lamb. The accuser has nothing to accuse you of if you’re pure and Holy covered in the blood of life,
but not only do you have the blood of the lamb, but you have the testimony of God. So if your speech is the word of God, then he can’t accuse your speech. If you’re covered in the blood of the lamb, he can’t accuse your actions. But if he tries to take your life, just understand this. As long as you don’t love your life more than you love eternity and God and Christ,
you win. Even if he takes your life, he can’t take your reward. Okay. So then question nine. What was the Dragon’s reaction to being cast down to earth? Say that again. All right. Well, initially in verse 13, we read now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
And so that’s exactly what you just said. Yes. Per skew, the woman, I was thinking of another verse. Sorry. Alright. I persecuted the woman. How was the woman saved? I should have just read the second half of the question. Sometimes I talk too much. Okay. God delivers her. Now. Remember, the woman is the church universally that the church corporately,
Satan can’t touch her. God delivers her. She wins. Kingdom’s not destroyed. She goes through hard times. She’s persecuted, but she doesn’t lose. But now we’ve got a little additional thing. How, how was the woman saved through the two wings of the Eagle? Like what old Testament? Prophet. I’m sorry. I’m questioning why I asked that question.
Oh, okay. Sorry. Let me, let me read the rest of verse. But the woman was given two wings of a great Eagle that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time times and half of the time. The second part of the verses, Elijah. Okay. Just reinforcing. We’ve been in Elijah this whole time.
Okay. Just pictures of Elijah over and over and over again. Okay. So she saved like the, the prophet Elijah, when the dragons flood of water. Cause he, so he spews out a flood of water against the, The seed of the woman. Okay. Let’s let me read verse 15 through verse 17. This will make more sense than I’ll get my brain untangled.
So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth, like a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman. And he went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
So real quick, who’s the rest of her offspring, the church. Okay. Now you’re getting a picture of the church individually. The dragon can’t touch the church as a whole. He can’t beat the kingdom. He can’t defeat the kingdom, but he can go attack individual Christians. Okay. And he does, but he attempts to spew out this water when the Dragon’s flood of water fails.
Who does he begin to? Persecute individual Christians or the church. Okay. Comments, questions. I mean, we’ve just covered a bunch of questions. Got any more? Alright. Thank you for your attention. We’ll get into chapter 13 on Sunday.<inaudible> Good evening. Welcome to the Collierville Wednesday night Bible study. And now it’s time for our devotional.
It’s good to see each and every one of you out here tonight. And for those of you that are still unable to come out, we continue to pray for you and pray for your return to worship God with us as soon as possible.<inaudible> For our announcements. This evening are sick. Please remember Joan Springer and Janet Jones there. Janet, just doing physical rehab at home and Joan still battling her problems that she’s as please keep both of them.
And your thoughts and prayers. Dorothy Wilson is still dealing with her extremely high blood pressure. So please keep Dorothy and your thoughts and prayers. Sylvia’s a second nerve block to try to fix her back will be on the 23rd of October. So please pray for Sylvia and play. Pray for good results from this second nerve block, hopefully that will take care of her issues with her back.
James Luna is scheduled to see a specialist tomorrow to find out what’s causing the numbness in his hands. Danny O’Neil Tommy’s brother, Paula got a message from Diane, and it’s kinda hard to interpret how this is, but the message tells us that his heart is really weak and that the plan is tomorrow to turn off the ventilator is the way it reads. So I don’t really know how to interpret that,
but that does not sound good at all for Danny. So please keep Danny and Tommy and the entire O’Neill family and your thoughts and prayers, Robin woods, who is Michael Dale’s mother-in-law has tested positive for COVID-19. And she also has a large kidney stone, but they’re not going to do the surgery to try to take care of and remove this large kidney stone.
Cause that’s the only way they’re going to be able to get it out as do surgery until she gets through the COVID-19. And she has some possible risk factors due to other health issues. So please keep Robin woods and the entire family and your thoughts and prayers, other non Smiths, the Memphis school of preaching fifth annual world evangelism seminar is this Friday and Saturday.
There’s a flyer out there on the bulletin boards. We want him for more information on that. Gary Collie will be speaking on Friday evening on the nationwide gospel call. That’s at nine o’clock every night, but this Friday night, Gary Collie would be speaking. And his topic is the disciples. Second baptism. And then the Sanderson’s are out of town for the funeral of a Jenny sister-in-law Mary Jo to Darrow.
So please continue to remember them. And also please, like I said on Sunday, continue to pray for Vincent because Vincent is taking this loss very, very hard. It’s all the announcements I have. Our song leaders evening is Aaron coats. Art devotional is Michael Dale and the closing prayer will be Terry Whitley. Thank you. Number 453. I know I’ve changed.
I’ve gained a lot of weight and some facial hair and more hair on the top. And I have two hands at work right now. Anyway, 453 love lifted me. I want to sinking deepens and far from the peaceful shore. They’re really deeply stained within sinking to rise no more, but the master of the sea heard my despairing cry from the waters left in me.
Now say fam, ah, love lifted me. Love lifted me when nothing else could help love lifted me. Love me. Love lifted me when a thing was good, huh?<inaudible> me. Oh my heart to him. I can ever to him a clean<inaudible> love so mighty and so true. Merits my saws. Best songs. They fall loving service to<inaudible> love lifted me.
Love lifted me when nothing else. Good. Huh? Love lifted me. Love lifted me up. Lifting me when nothing good. Huh?<inaudible> so’s in danger. Look up. Ah, Jesus, completely say, Hey, he will lift you by his law out of the angry ways. He’s a master of the sea<inaudible> he wants to be<inaudible> love lifted me.
Love lifted me when nothing else. Good. Ha love lifted me up. Lifted me. Love lifted me when nothing else. Good. Huh?<inaudible> me. Song of invitation. This evening will be number 943. Do you know my Jesus number nine, four, three. Take your Bibles. If you will. And open them to Psalm one 19,
there are so many things that we could read about here in this Psalm, the longest chapter in all scripture. But I want to focus just on a few verses, beginning in verse 57 and notice them in their context. But then also the principles contained there in David Rheins you are my portion. Oh Lord. I have said that I would keep your words.
Jesus said, man, shall not live by bread alone. But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and David said, I know what I need. I know what my portion is. I know what sustains me. I know what I need. And it is your word. And I have determined. I will keep your word. But then he says in verse 58,
I in treated your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me, according to your word. So David says, I have made a commitment. I will keep your word. And I am going to entrust my to you because I’ve decided in my heart that you will abide by your word. And I trust you with my whole heart, which is why he and treated him with his whole heart.
And Jesus said, the greatest commandment in the law is thou shall love the Lord, thy God, with all via art. David says, I’m not, I’m not going to seclude some portion of my life. Some portion of my heart, some portion of my being over here and say, God, I’m going to give everything else to you. But not that no,
no, you can’t touch that. No, I won’t let you. I won’t let go of that. No, David says I’m going to entreat you with my whole heart. But then he says, verse 59. I thought about my ways and turned my feet to your testimonies. Having decided that God’s word would be his portion. Be his sustenance, be everything he needed and having realized that he needed God’s mercy.
And therefore in treated God with his whole heart, that God would be merciful. According to what God had already promised to you would do. He then examined his life and said loops, my feet are pointed the wrong direction. And he turned them according to the word of God. Now watch this. When a person is outside the body of Christ, they first have to come to realize that God’s word is the only thing that will deliver them from the state of sin.
The only thing Jesus said, except he believe that I am, he, you shall die in your sins. Romans chapter 10 says, how shall they believe? Except for here. Faith, cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So when a person first hears the word of God and comes to realize that it is the power of God unto salvation,
they then need to treat it that way. Having heard the word, they must then realize that their life, their entire life has to become devoted as in their whole heart to the one who gave that word. So having heard the word, they have to believe it. And they have to believe that what God said in that word he’ll actually do, which means they can have a surety that if God said,
I’ll give you salvation. If you meet these terms, he’ll do it. But also that God said, if you don’t you’ll receive my judgment. So having heard the word, they have to believe it, but believing is never been enough. It wasn’t enough for David. And it’s not enough today because that faith has to then examine a person’s life and having heard the word and having believed the word and having sought God with their whole heart,
they must then change their life and put their feet, turn towards God’s path and begin walking in righteousness. Now under the new covenant, we know that we have to repent the change of mind. That brings about a change of action, the turning of the feet. But we also have to confess. We have to be immersed in water for the remission of sins and we have to die to self and live to him.
If you have native the invitation, you can do that tonight. If you’re a member of the body of Christ, the same pattern that David followed is still applicable to you. If you have God’s word in your heart and you want God’s mercy in your life and you know, God will give you what he promised you. But only if you turn your feet back towards him,
then by all means tonight, turn your feet back toward the path of God. If you have need of the invitation, why not come now? As we stand in, as we say<inaudible><inaudible> new.<inaudible> have you heard<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> here’s each time you cry, ah,<inaudible> tears from your<inaudible>.<inaudible> Let us pray. Our heavenly father.
We thank you for another beautiful day. Lord, we thank you for the privilege to come into your house, Lord and study your word. Lord, we lift our sick up to you Lord, and the ones that have lost loved ones. Lord just comfort them and a way Lord, that only you can, as we depart tonight, Lord, just be with us,
keep us safe and bring us back at the next point at time, these things we’re asking your precious and Holy name. Amen.
The Sea Beast and the Dragon make War Against the Church
The Sea Beast rises from the sea to receive power to make war upon the church.
[/fusion_tagline_box][fusion_imageframe image_id=”964″ style_type=”none” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”none” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” alt=”The Sea Beast and the Dragon make war on the church” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]https://collierville.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/20180222204341/Ottheinrich_Folio296r_Rev13-crop-resample-600×331.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text]A Look Back
John has spoken of the Dragon. He tells us the Dragon was cast from Heaven to Earth and then made war against the children of the woman. The children are Christians, for they are those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The Sea Beast
John stands at the edge of the sea (I think this is the sea on earth, for the action occurs on there and not in heaven). He looks out on the water and from the sea arises a magnificent beast. The sea beast has the attributes of a leopard (body), a bear (feet), and a lion (mouth). He has seven heads and ten horns, like the Dragon (12:3), but with three additional crowns.
The dragon gives the sea beast authority, power, and a throne. See in this Rome and the Caesars. His strength is used to persecute the children of the woman — the Church. The people of the earth witness the mortal wound of one of the beast’s heads, but also the healing. They will marvel and follow the Beast. The world adores magnificence and power. They worship whatever seems to provide strength. So they worship the Dragon and the Beast.
“Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
Notice the Sea Beast was given authority for 42 months (3 1/2 years — the time the woman was safeguarded.) He was given a mouth to speak against God, His name, His tabernacle, and His followers. He was granted to make war with the saints and kill them. His power was multi-national, and all who dwelt on the earth worshipped him.
We read here of the “Book of Life of the Lamb” — a record of the faithful. We also read of the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Remember from earlier in the vision, Christ is the Lamb who was slain but stands victorious and worthy.
Next Week: The Land Beast proclaims the Godhood of the Sea Beast. 666.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]10-11-2020 Revelation 12 – Article – The Dragon, The Woman, and A Victorious Child
The Dragon loses.
A fierce dragon seeks the life of the child, but Heaven’s deliverance intercedes.
A LOOK BACK: Chapter 11 concluded the second Woe, part of the sixth trumpet. Now the third woe approaches. Before it arrives, we receive visions that reassure the faithful of God’s protection and deliverance from persecution.
The Child and the Dragon
A vision of a woman clothed with the Sun and the moon under her feet. She is pregnant, travailing in birthing pains, and wearing a crown with twelve stars.
The dragon appears in heaven (where the woman is) and is magnificent in size and red. He has seven heads each with a crown and ten horns. The tail of the dragon will knock one-third of the stars of heaven to earth as he approaches the woman to devour her child the moment it is born (this might be a representation of Jesus as a child).
The woman gives birth to a boy, one who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. God will deliver the child out of the reach of the dragon. The woman will flee into the wilderness to a place prepared by God. God will care for her for 1,260 days.
A War Breaks out in Heaven
Michael and the angels fight against the Dragon and his angels. They will lose their place and be cast down into the earth. The text is clear: the dragon is Satan, the Devil, the serpent. He is the deceiver of the whole world.
John hears a voice from heaven. Salvation is declared, and so has the Kingdom and power of Christ. The accuser of Christians has been cast down. The victory was by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the Christians who did not love their lives to the death (i.e., martyrs).
There is rejoicing in the heavens, but woe to the earth at the presence of Satan. He has been cast down, and his wrath is great for he knows his time is short.
When the dragon is cast down, he persecutes the woman, but the woman flies to the wilderness once again on the wings of an eagle. She receives nourishment for a time and times and half a time (3 and 1/2 years).
The woman is attacked one last time by the dragon, but the earth swallows up the attack. In a fury at this, the dragon begins to make war against the rest of her children — those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (the Christians).
Next Week: The Sea Beast and the Land Beast rise to power.
10-11-2020 Revelation 11-12 (Class) & A Spiritual Checkup (Sermon)
Automated Transcript
The thing I love about technology is it always works. Oh, we are in revelation, chapter 11 and 12 today, revelation chapter 11 and chapter 12, we just have a little bit to finish in chapter 11,
and then we will proceed into chapter 12. Let’s begin with a word of prayer, our gracious father in heaven. We come before you grateful for the blessings. You showered upon us on a daily basis, grateful for all that you do for us in good times, and in hard times, grateful for your love and your care, your concern, your loving kindness.
That is granted to us that though we do not deserve it. You have bestowed upon humanity, and we are so grateful for it. We’re grateful most, especially for your son who came and died on the cross for our sins. The lamb that was slain, and yet is standing before the throne. The one who conquers the one who is victorious, the one who will sit on his throne and who rains Lord,
we are grateful for all the many things that you’ve granted to us inside of the word of God. And inside this book we refer to as the Bible, and we’re especially grateful for the book of revelation and the hope and the encouragement that it grants to us. And the reminder that no matter what comes, no matter the struggles in this country or any country that’s come before,
there is one who’s on the throne and there is one kingdom that is eternal and none other is, and that is Christians. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. We pray for all the nations throughout the world, and especially the nation in which we live, that they might make, right choices, that they might do, things that are in accordance with your will.
They might accomplish those things that Lao for Your gospel to be spread to a greater degree throughout the world. All this we pray in jesus’ name. Amen.<inaudible> Revelation, chapter 10. We began a pause, an interlude as the sixth trumpet had sounded. We talked about the fact that there’s the, the seven seals and inside of the seventh seal are seven trumpets.
And the first six trumpets will be, will sound in chapters eight and nine. But then as the sixth trumpet concludes, and that second woe, remember there’s, there’s two woes or there’s, there’s three woes in the last three trumpets, one woe in each trumpet. And as that second trumpet sounds, and it concludes, then there’s another pause, a pause to remind the Christians that they are going to make it through this,
that God is on their side. That Christ is on the throne and he is going to rule and he will avenge the persecution that is coming upon them. As we talked about the fact that at the time of the writing, the persecution, isn’t immediate, it’s about to come back up. The beast is about to come back up. And so God is telling them what is remember chapter one verse 19,
John was supposed to write what is and what has come before and what is about to come. Okay? So God is connecting what he’s told them in the old Testament to what is currently the state of things and what is about to happen in all these things he says must shortly come to pass. I believe I, I can honestly say I grew up with a,
with a mindset that revelation was about the end of time. And it’s just not the more you study it. The more you pay attention to it, the more you just insist on taking John at his own statements, that the things which come the, the things that are going, that are written in this book must shortly come to pass. These are things which shall come quickly.
He says, these are things which are near are at hand. You know, when Jesus and the apostles went around, preaching and teaching that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. They didn’t mean 3000 years from now. They didn’t mean 2000 years from now. They didn’t mean a hundred years from now. They were preaching it because it was at hand.
And John says, these things are at hand. They must shortly come to pass. Now that doesn’t mean that every word in every detail in every thing is that, but the message of the book is about things that must shortly come to pass. Now we mentioned in chapter 11 on Wednesday night, that there were a couple of things we’ve wanted to spend a little bit of time on this morning for clarification and clarity sake.
And one of those is the city that is mentioned in verse eight in this interlude, we first have the first kind of interlude is in chapter 10 where the mighty angel is standing. He’s got one foot on the sea and one foot on the land. He’s he has authority over both. That’s the idea there. And he has in his hand, a little book and John is told to take the little book and to eat the book.
And it’s sweet as honey when he tastes it in his mouth, but in his belly, it’s bitter. And the message is this the same message of Ezekiel chapter two in chapter three, where the same type of vision is seen, you’re going to prophesize and your prophecy originates with God. But your message is not a good message. Your message is a message of judgment.
It’s bitter. Okay. So then chapter 11 opens and we see two witnesses there. These two witnesses come from, at least the imagery comes from Zechariah chapter four, and the two witnesses are two olive trees and two lampstands. Now in chapter four of Zechariah, Zechariah makes it clear that each lampstand has seven lamps. Okay? So there’s seven lamps and two lamps,
seven lamps on each lampstand in two lampstands into olive trees. Zachariah also gives us the clarity and the vision in that the olive trees have as it were their, their branches hanging into the, the lamp bowls are the bowls of the lampstands. And they’re continually putting oil, the ideas eternal light, as long as the trees produce, as long as the tree stand,
the lampstands remain burning. And the picture there is the revelation of God and the anointed ones who were in Zechariah’s day<inaudible> and Joshua, the high priest and the ruling individual, okay. That imagery is brought over here to demonstrate to the people of God you, the church that’s the remember Jesus has already promised them chapter two, chapter three, chapter one,
you are a kingdom of priests. You are Kings who will rule. He’s already told and identified who the Kings and the priests are. That are the anointed ones in this day in time. And they’re Christians, the church. So he’s telling the church, you, as the anointed ones, you will be those who speak. You will be those who prophesied.
You will be those who torment those on the earth with the word of God. And you will be those who will be killed for your testimony. We’re going to see that over in chapter 12, but the message is you might appear to die. It might look like the church’s gone. It might look like the beast is one. It might look like by the way,
this is the first time we really read of the beast coming up and persecuting the church. Okay. He may look like you’re dead. You’re, you’re, you’re lying in the streets and they’re having a throwing a party and they’re sending gifts to one another and they’re letting your bodies lay there in the street. And it looks like the church is going to get decimated until God tells the church to rise or again,
to be resurrected after three and a half days. After a period of time, God says, no, no, no, no, no, you didn’t defeat my church. I’m still in charge because your persecution is only a partial, a half of a seven. It is incomplete. It is derived authority. It is not God’s authority. Okay? Then verse seven,
when they finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city. There are a number of references using that phrase, the great city in the book of revelation. And I firmly believe they have referenced to the same city every time.
And it’s not Jerusalem. Now this passage would make you think, Oh, we’re talking about Jerusalem. Here’s why the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt. And this is the phrase that causes most people to think, okay, we’re talking about Jerusalem where also our Lord was crucified. Okay. Oh, that sounds like Jerusalem. Right? The idea there is the one that the city that caused the Lord to be crucified.
Okay. When it comes down to it in the time of Christ, when the high priests and the elders and the chief priests and the Pharisees and the scribes all wanted to kill Christ, did they have the authority to know who did they have to convince to kill Christ? Did they take him to Herod? No. Who are alone in the land of Israel,
had the authority in Jesus’s day to put anyone to death. Pilot who’s derived authority came from Rome, turn to acts chapter two and acts chapter two. You find the right verse here. I wrote it down in acts chapter two, beginning in verse 22 men of Israel. Hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, Amana tested by God, to you by miracles,
wonders and signs, which God did through him in your midst. As you yourselves also know him, notice this being delivered by the determined purpose. And for knowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death whom God raised up having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it for David says,
I foresaw the Lord always before my face four. He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. Therefore, my heart rejoiced and my tongue was made gland. Moreover, my flesh will also rest in hope for you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will you allow your Holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of joy in your presence. Now also go over to Psalm chapter two. This Psalm is a messianic Psalm about the crucifixion and about the resurrection in Psalm chapter two, it begins with these words, why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing. The Kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying,
let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall hold them in derision. He shall speak to them in his wrath and distress them in his deep displeasure. Yet I have set my King on my Holy Hill of Zion in revelation, the great city. We saw it over in chapter 17.
We’re going to see another place as the great city refers to a city sitting on seven Hills. Well, that’s not Jerusalem. That’s Rome. So the picture here is in the description of the crucified. Christ is a picture of Rome. You’re seeing Rome from three different aspects, okay? Pay attention to this because it will make more sense as we go later on and examine Rome again,
as it’s seen in the BESE, we’re looking at Rome, not in its physical sense, but in its spiritual sense, when you get the picture of Saddam, what was Saddam known for it’s sin? It’s sin specifically in the sexual matters that it had violated God’s word, but also in its way that it treated people, both of those things. It’s,
it’s lack of hospitality. It’s willingness to abuse people and it’s sexual immorality. All three of those are the things throughout scripture that are accused against Saddam and Rome is pictured as the seductress Rome is pictured as the one who’s guilty of the sexual and morality. Rome is pictured as the one who has committed all these great sins. So you see Rome in the spiritual aspect of her sin,
her worldly or seductive power, but then you have Egypt. The second name that is given to Rome, Saddam, the worldly, seductive power Egypt. What is Egypt known for throughout scripture? Many gods, but in relationship to Israel, say what? Power control captivity. Okay. So in Egypt you have the civil persecution power. Egypt had control as the slave owner of Israel,
as the captor of Israel, they had power to bring about persecution and they did. Okay. So you’ve got the civil persecuting power, which you’re also going to see in the beast. There’s three BS. All three of them described Rome. They look at Rome from three different perspectives, and it’s the same perspectives that Egypt, Saddam, and the one or the city where our Lord was crucified,
looked at it. What is Jerusalem? Now here’s where I want us to pay attention. The city where our Lord was crucified is Jerusalem, but the great city isn’t, but the great city isn’t Saddam and the great city isn’t Egypt, either Jerusalem is here referenced as a, as an spiritual example of Rome. And in the fact that Christ was crucified on the cross in Jerusalem,
what does Jerusalem stand for? Think about it for a moment. They saw his miracles, they heard his prophecies. They witness his testimony. They heard God speak from heaven and declare him to be his son. They heard John declare him to be God’s son and they killed him anyway. And they claimed to do it in the name of their religion because they took him to pilot and said,
when pilot asked, what is he guilty of? He has Blass themed. Our God Jerusalem here is not the great city. Jerusalem is a picture of perverted religion, which also describes Rome. So Jerusalem gives you perverted religion, which is also one of the beasts. You’re going to see one of the beasts rise up and his whole power is to pervert religion.
You’re going to see another beast rise up. And he’s the seducer it’s the, the, the, seductress the, the prostitute scene in chapter 17. She’s the one who rides the great beast and seduces all the world. And you’re gonna see another beast rise up. And he is the civil economic persecuting power. So you’ve got three BS that describe three aspects of Rome.
You’ve got three cities here that all described for three aspects of Rome. Okay? The great city is Rome. And so here in this passage, the great city is where one last thing I should mention if we take that, the great city is Rome. There’s one interesting fact about Jerusalem. The Romans never persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem. The Jews persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem,
all the living long day, but even in the book of acts, who is it that saves Paul from the hand of the Jews. The Romans remember Paul’s about to be killed by the Jews. And the Roman Centurion comes in and he extracts him out of their hands. And then he keeps him out of their hands. And then he takes him to Rome.
Rome was not a persecuting power against the Christians in Jerusalem. So the great cities, not Jerusalem. Alright, so I’m just wanting to make, kind of make all those points there. And then let’s, let’s move on. Verse 14, we come to the end of the second woe reread verse 14. The second wall was passed behold. The third woe is coming quickly.
Then the seventh angel sounded, all right, so we’ve, we’ve ended the sixth angel we’ve ended the interlude. Now we’re into the seventh angel seven angel sounded and there were loud voices in heaven saying the kingdom of this world has become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever now where we’ve got to be careful not to get off track.
Is this when you read about those in heaven, declaring with a loud voice, that God is now reigning, do not immediately make the assumption that God hasn’t been raining all this time, Huh? Who is the King of all the earth going all the way back to Israel in Egypt. And even before that, Moses has sent to Pharaoh to tell him your gods,
aren’t the gods of heaven and earth. Who did God say to tell Pharaoh that he was the, I am, that I am. And Pharaoh asked Moses, who is this Jehovah that I should listen to him. And the whole period through the plagues was to declare I’m the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Is there any point at which God stopped being the King of all the earth?
Is there any point at which God’s power was overcome by Satan’s power and God stopped ruling and the kingdoms of men in Daniel’s day when it looked like Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians were going to wipe the face of the planet over or wipe over the face of the planet. And here they are, and Nebuchadnezzar is here and now all his grander in all his glory and all the things that he’s accomplished.
And God says, you’re going to learn that Jehovah rules and the kingdoms of men and gives power to whosoever. He will. So when you read that the kingdoms of heaven have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever don’t immediately assume that means, well, the kingdom begins in the seventh trumpet because that’s what the pre-millennial is do.
Well, wait a minute. We’ve got to Wade through all these things and all this tribulation all this time, and then Christ will establish his kingdom. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. The latest date you can possibly give for Christ sitting on the throne as King. It’s the day of Pentecost.
That’s the latest possible date? The earliest date, I think you could say with any assurance would be the date of his resurrection because Jesus says in Matthew chapter 28, verse 18 through 20, I have been given what all authority in heaven and earth kind of sounds like he’s on the throne already. Doesn’t it? Okay. So the latest that you can give is Pentecost for Christ reigning over his kingdom.
This declaration, isn’t the beginning of his kingdom. This is the acting and the action whereby he uses his authority to bring about justice on the kingdoms of the earth. All right, watch this. And the 24 elders who sat before God and on their Thrones, fell on him on their faces and worshiped God saying, we give you thanks. Oh Lord God almighty the one who is and who was,
and who is to come because you have taken your great power and rained. The nations were angry and your wrath has come the time of the dead that they should be judged. And that you should reward your servants, the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth. This declaration is not,
Oh, well, the kingdom has finally arrived. This declaration is the one who’s on the throne has finally brought about the judgment that he said was coming. He has used the power. He has to bring about judgment because remember when those saints in revelation, chapter five, we’re praying and crying out to God. How long, Oh Lord, how long,
how long until you bring justice upon those who persecute us and Christ says, you rest a little while, but you rest in assurance. And I’m paraphrasing here. You rest in assurance that I will bring judgment. And the seven seals were open, kind of looking forward to what was coming and telling what had been going on. And then the seventh seal was open and you had the seven trumpets and they were the warning shots.
They were the plagues. They were the listen, you better repent or final judgment against Rome is going to come. And they didn’t repent. And because they didn’t repent in the end of the sixth trumpet, God now says, and all those in heaven, declare it’s time judgment’s coming. He’s going to take his power and he’s going to rain and he’s going to judge and he’s going to reward those who are his saints.
Okay? It’s not a picture of the judgment day, not a picture of the final judgment. It’s a picture of the judgment in the context. We’re talking about all through here. This is almost in a sense, the 10th plague where God says you didn’t listen, you didn’t listen. And now you’re going to pay the ultimate price because you didn’t listen.
Okay? So verse 19, then the temple of God was opened in heaven. And the arch of his covenant was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings noises, thunderings and earthquakes and great hail. Just the picture of the culmination of all the plagues coming together. Again, this destruction coming against the nation, but one more time. So the seventh trumpet sounded,
but one more time, God’s going to tell his people, you’re going to go through the ringer. You’re going to get hurt during this. It’s not going to be easy, but I want to tell you about the dragon. I want to tell you about the beast. I want to tell you about Satan. And I want to tell you he’s a three time loser.
Okay? Chapter 12 is the devil is a three time loser. Okay? That’s the whole point of chapter 12, chapter 12 beginning verse one. Now a great sign appeared in heaven. Seventh trumpet sounded, praise goes up that God is going to rain. That God is going to bring judgment. And now there’s a sign that appears in heaven. A woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet and on her head, a Garland of 12 stars. Now what did we say? The number 12 stood for<inaudible> Authorized religion and the people of God. Okay. So she’s a Dorn as the people of God. She is the church. Okay. We’ll see that. As we go through here, then being with child,
she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. Okay. So we see the woman. She’s got the she’s clothed with the sun. The moon’s under her feet on her head is a Garland of 12 stars and she’s pregnant and she’s about to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven, behold, a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns and seven diadems on his head.
What are diadems crowns? Okay. He looks like he’s in charge. He’s got seven heads. He’s got 10 horns and all over his heads are crowns. He looks like he’s in charge. By the way, this is where we get the picture of, of the devil as, as red. Okay? Nowhere else in scripture stuff here that I know of at least,
but notice he’s not without power, not without real power. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. All right. Here’s a dragon that his tail is so great. And so sweeping it reaches up to heaven and knocks the stars down. Okay. In the, in the vision God’s showing you he’s got power,
but notice what we read by the way, could he take all the stores stars down? No, a third. What, what have we always said? A third is partial. He’s got limited power. Okay. He’d through his tail, drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman was ready to give birth,
to devour her child. As soon as it was born. You know, if I didn’t know how to interpret things in their context, I think there was a planned Parenthood. So here we are, she’s bound to give birth and the child or the dragon is sitting there waiting. As soon as she gives birth, he’s going to devour the child. He’s going to conquer the child.
Now in most Bibles, you will see the word child capitalized because it’s not going to be hard to figure out who the child is. Okay. And watch this prepared to devour the child. As soon as it was born, she bore a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Now what child was ever born, whose inheritance was to rule all nations only one.
And it wasn’t Alexander the great, and it wasn’t anybody who was ruling in Rome. It was Christ. He said, well, wait a minute, Aaron, the church did not give birth to Christ. I beg to differ. Had there not been a need for the redemptive work of Christ. What do you have ever left heaven and taken on flesh all the way back in Genesis,
chapter three, our sin. It ma it’s clear in chapter three of Genesis, our sin and our need for redemption would cause the Christ to be born and woman would give birth to the Messiah. It’s a picture of the church in its redeemed state that could only be achieved through the birth of Christ and through not just his birth, but his reigning. Remember the context that we just had in chapter 11 was he’s reigning.
And now we’re seeing a picture of the devil, tried to stop him from ever raining, but what happens? So the devil’s there. He’s prepared, waiting for her to give birth. He’s going to devour the child as soon as it’s born. But wait, what happens? She bore a male child who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up to God.
And to his throne, the moment she gives birth, the child straight to heaven, and the devil misses his chance. First time loser. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God that they should feed her there 1,260 days. Now we’re not gonna spend a whole lot of time talking about time, times and half a time and 1,260 days and 42 months,
because we talked about all that on Wednesday. They all mean this. The church is going. It is a state of time in which the church will be ultimately victorious, but will endure difficulty in the process. It is taken from Elijah’s three and a half years of drought, three and a half years of no rain where God delivered those who were his.
He provided for those who were his, but it wasn’t easy. And it wasn’t pleasant. Okay. So the first time loser, he tries to devour the baby. When the baby’s born, he doesn’t succeed. The child goes up to heaven and he’s on his throne. Reigning verse seven in the war and war broke out in heaven. Now you get this first scene is here’s a woman.
She’s got the moon under her feet. She’s clothed with the sun. She’s got stars on her head. And the moment she gives birth, the baby goes, the child male child goes up to heaven. And then the next moment, where are you at verse seven? You’re immediately in what place? Heaven. The devil tried to chase him down. Okay.
That’s what you get you get. He failed on the first attempt. So he followed him into heaven to go finish the job. Okay. Verse seven in war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought. So the dragon goes to heaven to try and still devour the child to try and stills,
keep him from reigning on his throne. But instead of being able to confront the child, he’s confronted with messengers, God’s messengers, he’s confronted with angels. He never gets near the child. He never gets near the Christ. He can’t touch the Christ. He can’t even get past Michael, by the way. Very interesting that the name Michael, if I’ve got it written down here and can find it,
let’s see. Say that again. He, who is like the Lord, you’ve got this picture in Michael of he who is like unto God or he who is like unto the Lord. The devil doesn’t get near Christ, but the one who’s like God goes and stands and fights and notice what happens. So they did not prevail nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.
So the great dragon was cast out that serpent of old called the devil and Satan, Oh wait, here we go. So the dragon is pictured as who? Satan, the devil, the deceiver. And so the great dragon, the old sir, the serpent of old called the devil and Satan who deceives the whole world. He was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him.
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven now, salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down. And some people say, well, this, this is what happened before the earth was ever formed. And before Satan was,
was on the earth and Tim did eat, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is what happens in the seventh trumpet. He’s the serpent of old, but this isn’t talking about his origin. This is talking about God saying, Satan, you stood here, accusing my people of wrong. You stood here accusing my people of guilt,
which is why you’ve been using your servants to kill them at now. You won’t stand before me, you know, all through the old Testament, we’ve read about times in book of job. And other times where Satan appears before the Lord, God says no more, no more. You’re outta here. Second time loser. Then those what happens. They overcame him by the blood.
Then I heard a loud voice saying verse 10 in heaven now, salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down. And they who’s the, they, the accused ones, the ones who are being accused, okay. Notice.
And they overcame him. Who’s the him, Satan, the dragon, the devil, the accusers, or the accused overcome the accuser. And how did they do it? Three ways, three ways that Christians destroy the power of Satan notice right here. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives unto death.
When a Christian clothed in the blood of the lamb covered in the blood of Christ, washed in the blood of the lamb, who declares the testimony of God. And won’t give it up, holds fast to the truth and won’t turn aside and then gives his life as a martyr because he will not turn aside. He will not bow his need of the beast.
He will not give in to Satan. He will not turn his back on Christ. He might be dead on this earth, but he wins. He overcomes the accuser, verse 12, therefore rejoice. So heavens and you who dwell in them woe to the inhabitants of the earth and to the sea for the devil has come down to you. Ah, this isn’t the end of time.
This isn’t the final judgment. Cause now the devil’s down on the earth, wrecking havoc on who Vietnam Evidence of the earth. Now we’ve said all along and having served the earth are Who centers. Why would the devil be wrecking havoc on sinners? Because that’s what sin does. He doesn’t care about them. He wants them to go to hell, just like he does.
He doesn’t care about them. And so wherever he is, he brings misery and anguish and pain and persecution. And it doesn’t matter who he does it to. He’ll always do it for the devil has come down to you having great wrath because he knows that he has a short time. I’m going to read through verse 13 and verse 17, and then we’ll close.
Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child, but the woman was given two wings of a great Eagle that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth,
like a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. By the way, that’s a picture of the red sea and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army in the red sea and Exodus chapter 15 and Moses, his song is they’re kind of brought into this so that the devil tries to act like a God destroy the woman with the power of the,
of water, but instead what happens, but the earth helped the woman And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. He tries to act like God, he doesn’t have that power. God always is in control and God will protect his people. That’s the assurance we’re given all through this. And the dragon was enraged with a woman and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Okay. So the message through chapter 12 and we’ll catch up on the questions on Wednesday. The message of chapter 12 is to the church. Again, you’re going to go through persecution at, you might die, but the moment you do, you win the moment you die, you win and I’ll always provide for you because the child is on the throne.
The Christ is on the throne and Satan’s a three time loser. Okay. That’s chapter 12<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. Welcome to the Collierville Sunday morning services here at Collierville church Christ. It’s good to see each and every one of you. I see a few more of our regular members with us this morning. It’s great to see everyone of you.
And for those of you that are still able, unable to come out because of the COVID-19 and various things going on, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and we pray for each and every one of you every day and cannot wait for the day that you can return and worship our Lord with us here in his building on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday evenings announcements today,
if there are any visitors with us, we are glad that you took the opportunity to come and worship with us. We asked that you’d fill out a visitor’s card. If you did not pick up your Lord’s supper on the way in now, it’d be a good time to do that. Our sick, please keep Aaron in your thoughts and prayers. He is getting a little better.
He still has some pain here and there. They’re changing some medications, but he’s working through that slowly but surely and getting a little better each day, Joan Springer is still having her difficulties. So please keep Joan and your thoughts and prayers. Janet Jones is back at home now, and she’s going through a home therapy, physical therapy at home. So please keep Janet in your thoughts and prayers as she works through that,
because any of us have been through physical therapy, know what that’s like, that pain that they put you through to make you get better. Sometimes you make, you makes you wonder if it’s really worth it, but in the long run, it is Dorothy Wilson is still dealing with very high blood pressure issues. Please keep Dorothy and your thoughts and prayers. Sylvia’s a nerve block that she was going to have this past Friday has been rescheduled.
That’s now going to be on the 23rd of October. So continue to pray for Sylvia, Danny O’Neil that’s Tommy’s brother is still in st. Francis. He is slowly getting a little better and they are working on getting him off the ventilator. And Tommy said with all goes well, they should have him off the ventilator by the end of today, but it’s a slow process.
Getting him off that ventilators continued to pray for Danny and the entire O’Neill family. James Luna is having a lot of numbness in his hands and he will see a specialist on Thursday to see if they can determine what’s going on with him. So please pray for James Victoria Melton. Who’s a previous member here is hospitalized, and I am not going to be able to pronounce what this is that she has,
but it’s something to do with the fact that she’s pregnant and her baby is 32 weeks old and she may have to stay hospitalized until the baby is at least 37 weeks before they can go ahead and take an early delivery on that baby. So please keep Victoria Melton and your thoughts and prayers. Jenny Sanderson, sister-in-law Mary Joe Todaro has passed away. So please keep that entire family and your thoughts and prayers.
And we have a special request for Vincent to Darrow who’s Jenny’s brother. They were married for Vincent and Mary Jo were married for 49 years. And Vincent relied on her. Like you would not believe, you know, Mary Joel was his everything to her, to him. So please, please pray special prayers for Vincent. In this time of his loss,
he’s going to need all the help he can get to get through this other announcements. The 45th annual spiritual sword lectureship at get well, church of Christ is scheduled for October 18th through the 22nd. We have a flyer on the board out here, the Memphis school of preaching fifth, fifth annual world evangelism seminar is this Friday and Saturday, the 16th and 17th,
Gary Kali will be speaking and his sermon will be the second. The disciples second baptism that’s Friday at 9:00 PM on a nationwide gospel calling meeting and the flyer list in each one of the speakers and what the topic is, is on the table out there in the foyer. So please pick one of them up on your way out today for the man reminder that tomorrow night at 7:00 PM,
we’ll have our monthly business meeting. And if there’s anyone here that has anything that needs to be addressed, please put it on a sheet. I’ll draw on a bulletin board. So men can discuss that. And also reminder too, that early voting for the general election starts here. This coming Wednesday, the 16th and runs through Thursday, October 29th. So that’ll be here at church early voting our service.
This morning song leader will be Michael Dale opening prayer be Terry Sanderson. Lord’s supper will be Joel caisson. Sermon will be Erin coats are, and our closing prayer will be Tommy Lassiter. Thank you.<inaudible> Our opening song. This morning will be number 227 on Zions glorious summit On XY yarns glorious man. It’s de<inaudible> by blood. They him, their King and strains.
D I heard that song and Stroh too. I heard the song<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> shout victory.<inaudible> great.<inaudible> for the gray wow. Lasting<inaudible> rise and<inaudible> to<inaudible><inaudible> to<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> like me<inaudible> Oh my God. Oh, the<inaudible> God<inaudible> Oh, Oh, Oh, a song before our opening prayer will be number 800.
What a friend we have in Jesus. What a friend we have in GE is all our sins and griefs to back. Yeah.<inaudible> a very thing to God and pray. Yeah. Oh, a peace. We often fall this pain mean we<inaudible>. Oh, because we do<inaudible> eh, very thing to God and pray. Yeah. Ah, we try also<inaudible> is TRIBE<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to the Lord and<inaudible><inaudible> we find a friends<inaudible> Oh,
Oh, so<inaudible> jeez.<inaudible> three. We<inaudible> to say goodbye to the Lord and pray. Yeah. We weak and heavy. Hey, calm bird with<inaudible><inaudible> refuge to get to the Lord. And<inaudible> do friends despise for<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and his arms take. Yeah. And<inaudible> well find us all Right. A father who art in heaven.
We thank thee for this first day of the week and the opportunity to, we have to come together as your children to study your word. We pray that you would be with those that are sick and unable to be with us. We pray that you would comfort them and restore them for their health. If that’s the reason that they’re not here, we pray that they will soon be well enough to come back and be with us.
We pray that you would be with the teacher of the hour, that he may have a lesson prepared for us too, that we may understand. And it will help us to become strong with Christians. And that weak may spread the word in this community. We thank you for the opportunity that we have to be here and, and be with the, with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We pray that the things that we do here today will be accepted linear side, where you pray that you would be with the leaders of our country. At this time, we pray that the election will go in a way that will be placed into the on and that later we’ll look at you aware to help them and make decisions. And to make this a better country.
We pray that you would go with us now through the, for the exercises this day and forgive us when we do wrong in Christ’s name, we pray amen. Song to prepare our minds for the Lord. Supper will be number 364. Come share. We gather here in jesus’ name, his love is burning and a heart it’s like living flame for through the loving son.
No father makes us Swan. Come take up, bruh. Come drink. No cup. Come share the Lord. No one is a stranger. Hey,<inaudible> finding<inaudible>. He joins us. You. He breaks up bruh. The Lord who pours the cup is risen from a dad. No one. We love the<inaudible>.<inaudible> come take up bruh.
Come drink a cup. Come shit.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> angels. See, well, see the glory of our Lord Dan Kami King. Now we anticipate, Hey, no fees for which we wait, come take up bread, come drink a cup, come shit.<inaudible> This morning in order to help prepare our minds for the Lord. Supper will be reading from Isaiah chapter 53,
who has believed I report into him, whom is the arm of the Lord revealed where he shall grow up before him as a tender plant. And it root out of dry ground. He has no form to come then this. And when we shall see him, there’s no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected a man, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised and we esteemed him. Not surely. He had born our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we did not esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. And with his stripes,
we are healed. We are like sheep that have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord has laid on him, the iniquity of us all, but a spray. Dear God, our father in heaven. We come before you, as our minds, go back to the cross of Calvary and your son there. And the cruel death that he suffered,
bearing our sins there on the cross of Calvary. We’re mindful of that sacrifice that was made for each and every one of us for all of mankind father. As we look to this Memorial this morning, we pray that our hearts and minds will be centered upon him upon what his love for us and his willingness to give his life that we might have life eternal fathers.
We partake of this bread, which is representative of his body. We pray that we might examine ourselves and do so in a manner that would be worthy in Jesus name. Amen.<inaudible> We will now continue that reading. He was oppressed and he was afflicted. Yet. He opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to slaughter and his sheep before her shearers is dumb.
So he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment and who shall declare his generation. He was cut out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, was he stricken and he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich, he was in his death because he had done no violence. Neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He has put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days and the precious pleasure of the Lord shall prosper. In his hand. He should see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justly justify many where he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore what I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spore with the strong, because he has poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors and he bear the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. That is probably Father in heaven. As we continue to remember our savior and the love that he demonstrated for us,
remind of that precious blood, that flowed on Calvary, that we might have our sins forgiven. We are so grateful father for being able to be your children. And for this time and moment that we can remember our Lord and savior. And we pray father that we examine ourselves and do our best to serve and glorify you with our lives. We pray that this fruit of the vine,
which is representative of that blood, that we might partake in a way that will be acceptable and memory of him and Jesus. We pray. Amen. We prepare our minds to think about how blessed we are as a people and how much material wealth that we really do have. And we think about the scriptures as they teach us that of those that have much,
much shall be required. And it should be a blessing for each and every one of us, as we’ve thought about what we would give today, that we should remember the blessings that’s already been given to us, and that we’re willing to share those blessings to not only further the cause of the kingdom, the spreading of the gospel, but also to be benevolent to those that are in need and try to help those that need help.
They’re less fortunate than we are. And I know myself a lot of times, I fail to keep that in mind. And we always think about mainly I guess the church, which we should and the spreading of the gospel, but there are so many souls out there that really do need our help. And sometimes we might overlook them. So let’s think about that.
As we think about our contribution, let’s bow father in heaven, we are grateful for every blessing that we receive each and every day of our lives. Many of which we take for granted, we pray father that you forgive us for doing that and help us to appreciate every blessing that comes from the, we pray father, that we’ve purposed in our hearts today.
And given it great thought on what we would give back at this time that we would continue to contemplate all the blessings that we have and what we could do. If we put our minds to it, we pray father that our offering will be acceptable. And that we might not only further the kingdom, the work of the kingdom preaching and teaching your word,
but that we might also reach out to those that are in need. And those that are struggling with various things in life, we might help them in some way that they know that we truly do care about them and would help them with things that they need. And we have might have that opportunity to share the gospel with them, that they too might want to be a child of yours and be a part of this body in jesus’ name.
We pray amen song before the lesson will be number 290 shine. Jesus shine. If you can please stand for this song. Lord, the light of your love is shining in a man. It’s the dark nurse shining. Jeez, a snide of China upon us said a spree by the truth. You now bring us shame on me, shame on me.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me.
Try me consume all my darkness.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> with grace and mercy.<inaudible><inaudible> You may be seated if you’d like to Mark number nine, 15, trust and obey for the invitation song. You can, if not, it’ll be up on the projector. Good morning. A number of us in recent days and months have had more doctor’s visits than we planned on.
And when you go in the first time, it’s generally for an evaluation to figure out what’s wrong. But every so often we go to a doctor for just a checkup, just a, what we call a physical, maybe annually, maybe more often than that. Maybe for some of us who were stubborn much often than that, We just, we go to just find out the state of things.
What are we doing? How’s everything working? Is it working? Is it working the way it’s supposed to be working? Can they maybe working better? Just a checkup. And sometimes you and me in our lives need to do a spiritual checkup. We need to examine ourselves. We’re called upon by Paul and the Holy spirit through Paul to examine ourselves on a regular basis.
As a matter of fact, we’re told that on the first day of every week, when we come together, part of what we do in the Lord’s supper is examine ourselves. We are to examine ourselves to see whether or not we are in the faith, but Jesus, in John chapter 12 would call upon those who were present to do a little self examination.
So we’re going to notice in our lesson this morning, the ending of John chapter 12. So I encourage you to open your Bibles will take the majority of our text or we’ll take our texts from that passage. Spend the majority of our time in that scripture, John chapter 12, beginning in verse 42, when you only have one usable arm, you drop a lot of things and I’m trying not to drop anything.
So John chapter 12 beginning in verse 42, nevertheless, among the rulers, many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him less. They should be put out of the synagogue. Now John is giving us the reason behind it. This, this, this isn’t, you know, ruler after ruler comes up and says, you know what I believe on you and does,
and says it publicly. I believe on you, but you know these Pharisees over here, man, they are a pain. And if I say anything publicly about this, they’re going to kick me out and say, no, this isn’t a public proclamation. This is the Holy spirit who knows the hearts and minds of men revealing to us behind the curtain what’s going on.
There are these rulers in Israel and it’s coming up on the final week of a life of Christ. It’s coming up on the final week, in the final time where Christ will be on the earth. And there are rulers in Israel who won’t confess him because of the fairs because they know what will happen, but it’s not just the Pharisees. And the text that follows in verse 44 through the end of the chapter is not about the Pharisees.
It’s not about what people do because of the people around them, having an influence on them. It’s not about what people do because there are people holding them back from doing it. It’s about what’s inside the end of verse or the end of verse 42 says less. They should be put out of the synagogue, verse 43 for, they loved the praise of men.
More than the praise of God. The Holy spirit examines these individuals, any, it goes ahead and tells you they had external forces that were working against them. They had people who were leveraging them and keeping them from doing what was right, because they had influence over them. But internally their main problem, the primary issue, and the reason why anyone had leverage over them was because they loved the praise of men.
More than the praise of God. They wanted to be in the synagogue because they were rulers. They wanted to be where the people were because they had influence. They wanted to be recognized. Then they wanted to be promoted. And they wanted to be those who were called, whose names were called before others. And because they loved the praise of men,
more than the praise of one who wasn’t going to necessarily give them influence who wasn’t going to necessarily give them position or prominence, but who would say on that day of judgment when they stood before him? Well done, thou good and faithful servant because they love the praise of men. More than the praise of God. They would not confess Christ. And so what follows is Jesus declaration that we need to examine ourselves.
He begins first in verse 44. Then Jesus cried out and said, he who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me the very first thing that Jesus cries out is about faith. The premise of this very situation is there are those who will not confess him. They know who he is, they know what he’s done. They know where he came from.
They know who he is and they will not confess his name because of the influence of those around them and because of their own selfish interests. And he says, look at your faith. He who believes in me believes not only in me, but in him who sent me, if you did nine, me, you deny him. When we examine ourselves spiritually,
we begin with our faith. What does our faith look like? What is our belief? And what is the state of our belief in second Corinthians chapter five in second Corinthians chapter five, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, a congregation that so often struggled with the difficulties of the world around it and the influence of the world around it. But he says in verse five,
now he who has prepared for us this very thing who also has given us the spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord for, we notice this statement, walk by faith and not by sight.<inaudible> We walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident.
Yes. Well-pleased rather to the absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Paul says, we’ve examined ourselves. We’ve looked at ourselves and we know we’re not walking by sight. We’re not walking by the things that we know to be true in this life. In other words, we’re not walking by the influence of man. We’re not walking by the wisdom of man.
We’re not walking in a certain way because of those who try to influence us one way or another, we are walking. According to revelation, we are walking. According to God’s word, we walk by faith, not a leap in the dark, not guesswork, not a hope in a, in a circumstance where maybe sometime this might be true. No,
we’re walking by the declared word of God and not our own wisdom. Their wisdom said, if we confess Christ will be put out of the synagogue and God’s wisdom says, so what, what are you willing to give up to be obedient to me? So we begin with our faith, but also notice in Romans chapter 10 and Romans chapter 10 and beginning in verse eight,
as Paul writes to the church at Rome, he says, he says, but what does it say? The word is near you. Now notice the context. The passage is talking about the word of God and its action in their lives. He says, well, what does it say? The word is near you in your mouth and in your heart.
That is the word of faith, which we preach. That if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart, that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved for, with a heart. One believes on the righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. You know, that passage is important and it’s integral to our understanding of the position and the order of faith in view of baptism.
But so often we go to that passage and we’re only trying to get to the point that faith and confession come before baptism. And we ignore much of what that passage says about righteousness, salvation, and the word of God. It says that the word of God belongs in our heart in our mind. And that the word of God being in our mind ought to cause it to come out of our mouth.
They would not let the word of God come out of their mouth because there was a problem with their heart. There was a problem with their mind. So when we do a spiritual examination, a spiritual checkup, it begins first with our faith is our faith causing us to speak or our influences around us causing us to be silent. But then he goes on in John chapter 12 and he says,
he who believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him, who sent me the second thing that we’re going to examine in our spiritual checkup is our eyesight. I will freely admit I’ve been blessed with good eyesight, but because of that, I’ve been negligent to go to the eye doctor.
I haven’t been to an eye doctor since I was seven years old, but I can still see. So, you know, but Jesus says your site is important. Your site is integral integral to your spiritual condition. And here’s why verse 46. I have come as a light into the world that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. He says,
can you see me? Can you see me? Do you have enough light in your life to see who I am? Because if you can see me, you can see him who sent me earlier on in this passage, back in John chapter 12, beginning in verse 31, be actually a little bit, get in verse 30, Jesus answered and said,
this voice did not come because of me. But for your sake now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cashed out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all peoples unto me under myself, this, he said, signifying, by what death, he should die. The people answered him.
We have heard that the law, excuse me, from the law that the Christ remains forever. And how can you say the son of man must be lifted up? Who is the son of man? Then Jesus said to them a little while longer, the light is with you while you walk or excuse me while you have the light less. Let me try one more time.
See if I can read the words on the page fairly. I do need to go to the eye doctor a little while longer. The light is with you walk while you have the light less darkness overtake you. He who walks in darkness does not know where he is going while you have the light, because believe in the light that you may become sons of light.
These things, Jesus spoke and departed and was hidden from them. Jesus is in their presence. Jesus declares that he would be lifted up. Jesus declares his crucifixion, Jesus declares. What would happen as a result of his crucifixion? And they say, Oh, we’ve read the old Testament. The Messiah who comes and sits on the throne reigns forever. How can you say the son of man will be lifted up?
They understood what he meant. They understood what he said. When he said the son of man would be lifted up. They knew he was talking about dying. And they said, we’ve read the old Testament. That can’t possibly be true if you’re the Messiah. But then Jesus said beginning in verse 37. But although he had done so many signs before them,
they did not believe in him that the word of Isaiah, the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke Lord, who has believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord been revealed. Therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again, he has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts less. They should see with their eyes less. They should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them.
These things I say is said, when he saw his glory and spoke of him, you see Isaiah said, Oh, you’ve got highs, but you won’t use them to see you’ll stay blinded. You’ve got ears, but you won’t hear, you have a heart that could understand, but you won’t let it because had fit did because if it did, I’d heal you,
but that would require you to open your eyes. That would require you to believe with your heart. Had they wouldn’t. So we examine our faith and we examine our eyes. Whether or not they let any light in. But then we also examine our hearing. Jesus said, if anyone hears my words and does not believe I do not judge him now that might be easy to stop right there and say,
see, alright, no judgment. It’s okay. Believe what you want to, nobody’s going to judge you. That’s not what Jesus said. He says, I do not judge him for, I did not come to the world to judge the world, but to save the world, Jesus said, I’m not here to judge you. I’m not here to be the judge who brings about your judgment,
who brings about your, the justice that you ought to get? Because you’re a sinner for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life. Jesus said, I’m not here to judge the world. I’m here to save the world. But he said, he who rejects me and does not receive my words has that.
Which judges him. The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. Jesus said, I didn’t come to this earth. I didn’t give up heaven. I didn’t take on flesh. I didn’t come to this earth to judge you, but the word that I’ve spoken remains forever. The word that I’ve spoken, whether you’re willing to hear it and obey it or where you’re willing to hear it and dismiss it will judge you on the final day,
we examine our ears. Are they open to the word of God? Or do they hear the word of God and dismiss what they don’t want to hear and accept only what sounds good because that’s what these people were doing. If Jesus said something they agreed with, they were fine. But the moment he started declaring himself to be the son of God. The moment he started declaring himself to be the Messiah,
the Mullen, he started declaring himself to be someone who had authority over them. They refuse to hear our faith, our eyes, our ears, but he’s not done our speech. We go through this spiritual checkup, we’ve got to examine our speech. We’ve got to examine what we say in verse 49. Jesus sets a standard. He says for, I have spoken or I have not spoken on my own authority.
He says, I’m going to judge you in the final day, but it won’t be me. It’ll be the words that I’ve spoken. But just in case you begin to argue with the words that I’ve spoken, you need to understand something. I haven’t spoken of my own authority. I didn’t come to this earth with my own authority to declare my own message,
to declare my own judgment. That in the final day you will be judged my mind words. He said, I have not spoken of myself or of my own authority, but the father who gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. Jesus said, my doctrine doesn’t belong to me. My word isn’t mine. The word that will judge you,
didn’t originate with me. It originated with the father. And in doing this and making this statement, Jesus sets a standard. What should we speak? Should we speak our own doctrine? Should we speak our own ideas? Should we speak our own opinions? Should we speak our own judgments? Or should we declare the word of God? Should we speak?
Not of our own authority, but of his, we examine our speech and Deuteronomy chapter 18 in view of both the hearing and the speaking. Moses sets an interesting standard in Deuteronomy chapter 18, beginning in verse 18, as he is declaring about the prophet that would come. He says in verse 18, I will raise up for them. A prophet like you,
God’s speaking through. Moses says, I will raise up a prophet like you Moses in their presence. He says, I will raise up for them. A prophet like you from among their brethren. And I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them. All that I command him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear my words,
which he speaks in my name, I will require it of him. God says, I’m going to judge. I’m going to raise up a prophet like you Moses. And they’re going to hear him. But some of them won’t accept what he says. And when they don’t, I’m going to judge because his words won’t be as old, but they will have come from me.
And so our speech as the church of Christ, as the body of Christ, as the bud bought bride of Christ, our speech, our doctrine, our proclamation Ought to always originate with him. We do not preach opinion. We do not preach that, which is coming from our own mouths or coming from some creed or coming from some Pope who claims to have the authority of Christ.
And doesn’t, it’s not coming from some head. It’s not coming from some regional doctrine comes from God. And if it doesn’t come from God, it has no business in this house. And I know, and I know that his commandment is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak just as the father has told me. So I speak fifth and final aspect of this checkup is how’s your life walk into the doctor’s office.
Maybe I should start that a little differently. The doctor walks into his office and there you are. And he begins to do the checkup. He checks your brain. Soso checks your eyes, not very responsive. Checks your hearing, not getting much checks your checks, your speech, not much. There then bothers to check whether or not you’re alive. Sometimes we judge ourselves by ourselves.
Paul uses that phrase to mean Christians sitting in a congregation, judging themselves against some other Christian in the congregation. Well, I’m better than so and so I’m doing, I do more than, and then Susie who sits down on the fourth row, I’ve been here for 41. Doesn’t matter. The question is, are you alive or dead? Jesus says that the commandments of God give life.
James says it a little differently. James says, show me your faith without your works. And I’ll show you my faith by my works. And that faith without works is dead. How’s your life? Does it look like someone who has faith in God who sees the Lord? And the one who sent him, who hears the word of God and responds to it?
Who accepts what he hears and obeys it, who not only hears, but speaks the word of God to those around him because he is faith. Isn’t dead, but alive. And those commandments that originate with the father that he obeys, that he acts out in his life are in his life producing everlasting life. Jesus came to give life. John chapter one,
John chapter one, as we begin this book that John gives this record of jesus’ life. He begins it with in the beginning was the word. And the word was with God. And the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. And without him was nothing made that was made in him was life.
And the life was the light of men. See, we’re already right back to where we started faith and light and hearing the word of God. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all through him might believe he was not that light,
but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through him and the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own did not receive him. But as many as received him, there’s your hearing.
But as many as received to him, received him to them. He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of men, but of God. Their life begins again. Their life begins with God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us.
And we beheld his glory. The glory is of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. John bore, witness of him and cried out saying this was he of whom. I said, he who comes after me is preferred before me for, he was before me and of his fullness. We have all received. And grace for grace for the law was given through Moses,
but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father, he has declared him. John says that Jesus said John chapter 14, when Phillip said, Lord, show us the father. He said, Philip, have you been with me so long? And you do have not seen me when you’ve seen me.
You’ve seen the father. I encourage all of us to spend a little time this week with John chapter 12, verses 42 through 50 or 48 and ask ourselves what is our spiritual condition? And when we get the results of the checkup, where are we lacking? And what do we need to work on? You’re here this morning and you’re outside the body of Christ.
You do enter into Christ by being born. Again, you do enter into Christ as, as BJ made. So clear last week, you do enter into Christ by being born of water and of the spirit. Having believed that Jesus Christ is the son of God, willing to repent of your sins, willing to confess his name, willing to bow to his authority as he bowed to the authority of God.
But are you willing to do that? If you’re outside the body of Christ, you can put Christ on in baptism today. If you have need of the invitation, if you have need of responding to the invitation for any reason, good or bad, why not come together now as we stand in, as we sing, Hey, while we do is good,
he abides with us and with all trust and<inaudible> to be happy and jeez us, but to trust and<inaudible>, but we never can.<inaudible> for the<inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible> to be happy and jeez us, but to trust. And<inaudible> walk by, Hey, this, and Hey, what he says we will do where he sends we.
Well, never fear only trust. Oh, Hey.<inaudible> to be happy and jeez, us, but to trust. And<inaudible> The closing song will be number 736 to Christ. Be true to It’s been long. Oh man, be true. He needs<inaudible> and<inaudible> to<inaudible> to Christ the truth to cries me. Oh man, be true. He needs<inaudible> to stand against the powers of sin.<inaudible> to<inaudible> the Lord be true.
Would you bow with me? Our God and father in heaven. We’re indeed thankful for this beautiful first day of the week that you’ve allowed us to gather as your children and worship Dee and same price to your name, father. We are thankful for the work that Aaron and Michael do here. And father we’re thankful for their most loving and giving families that they brought with them,
by the way, thank you for the word that we’ve heard today. And we pray father that we can use that to be that shining light to those around us. And those that may be lost. Bring them to you while we pray that you’ll be with us and keep us safe and forgive us of our seniors. They say in jesus’ name, we pray.