1 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,959 Hopefully by now you're very aware that it is St Patrick's Day 2 00:00:15,959 --> 00:00:16,480 on Tuesday. 3 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,000 The life of Patrick the missionary to Ireland is not one 4 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:22,240 that is insignificant. 5 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:28,990 It's one that has completely shaped this island since 444 A.D. 6 00:00:29,870 --> 00:00:34,790 and so, on this Sunday closest to the day when we remember that 7 00:00:34,790 --> 00:00:39,830 missionary endeavor, let me lead us in prayer with a prayer of 8 00:00:39,830 --> 00:00:42,910 Patrick that brings us before the Lord. 9 00:00:43,310 --> 00:00:44,190 Let us pray. 10 00:00:45,390 --> 00:00:51,550 I bind myself today to the power of God to guide me, to the 11 00:00:51,550 --> 00:00:57,720 might of God to uphold me, to the wisdom of God to teach me, the 12 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:03,080 eye of God to watch over me, the ear of God to hear me, the word 13 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:09,280 of God to speak to me, the way of God to lie before me, the host 14 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,080 of God to defend me. 15 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:13,760 Amen. 16 00:01:20,650 --> 00:01:25,130 Last week in the first six verses of chapter 12, we saw two 17 00:01:25,130 --> 00:01:28,570 great signs appearing in heaven. 18 00:01:29,050 --> 00:01:34,890 In verse one, a woman, and in verse three, a red dragon. 19 00:01:36,330 --> 00:01:40,010 Now these signs appearing are like any sign that we see. 20 00:01:40,490 --> 00:01:45,450 They point us to something of deeper meaning and understanding. 21 00:01:46,970 --> 00:01:49,370 It was this week that a Liverpool supporter walked up to 22 00:01:49,370 --> 00:01:52,570 me and said, you were spot on on Sunday night. 23 00:01:53,530 --> 00:01:54,890 I says, was I? 24 00:01:55,850 --> 00:02:01,410 And he said, yes, you were the Red Dragon, the Red Devil, Manchester 25 00:02:01,410 --> 00:02:01,770 United. 26 00:02:04,810 --> 00:02:07,210 How could I deny such truth? 27 00:02:08,650 --> 00:02:10,890 Well, if you're a Manchester United supporter, I'm sure you'll 28 00:02:10,890 --> 00:02:13,670 have some other questions for the Liverpool supporters. 29 00:02:14,550 --> 00:02:19,110 But you had these two signs presented to you as John saw them, 30 00:02:19,910 --> 00:02:23,350 pointing us to something deeper, pointing us to something 31 00:02:23,350 --> 00:02:24,870 that must be understood. 32 00:02:25,510 --> 00:02:29,110 And what these first six verses have done for us is to really 33 00:02:29,110 --> 00:02:30,230 set us on a path. 34 00:02:31,350 --> 00:02:34,590 They set the scene for what we now come to in verse seven, but that 35 00:02:34,590 --> 00:02:36,790 will continue for the next chapters. 36 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,720 And so now in verses 7 to 17, we see it being built upon where 37 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,840 more detail is given about the Red Dragon and the conflict there 38 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,640 is between the dragon and the woman. 39 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,760 And in verse nine, we're told who the dragon is, as John tells 40 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,640 us, and the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent 41 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,280 who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole 42 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:01,680 world. 43 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,470 He was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown 44 00:03:06,470 --> 00:03:07,270 down with him. 45 00:03:08,550 --> 00:03:12,150 So the dragon is confirmed to us as the Devil. 46 00:03:12,630 --> 00:03:15,510 He is the one who is waging war in heaven. 47 00:03:15,510 --> 00:03:19,510 And particularly in these days, we see the realities of war 48 00:03:19,510 --> 00:03:21,430 played out on our television screens. 49 00:03:21,910 --> 00:03:25,030 We see the missiles and drones hitting their targets. 50 00:03:25,270 --> 00:03:29,910 We see the destruction of buildings and we see the human casualties. 51 00:03:32,110 --> 00:03:36,870 Pictures like this should horrify us because war should never 52 00:03:36,870 --> 00:03:37,790 be celebrated. 53 00:03:40,270 --> 00:03:44,910 And yet we have a sense of it in the here and now, and yet how 54 00:03:44,910 --> 00:03:49,310 much more is that war in heaven, in the heavenly realms, that 55 00:03:49,390 --> 00:03:50,510 spiritual war? 56 00:03:51,950 --> 00:03:54,750 You see, the sad reality is, as we look at pictures like this 57 00:03:55,150 --> 00:03:59,620 on our television screens, we don't very often see because of how 58 00:03:59,620 --> 00:04:04,060 the media wants to protect us, but the weight of human casualties 59 00:04:04,460 --> 00:04:10,420 in scenes like this, we on this side of the world are seeing 60 00:04:10,420 --> 00:04:13,380 the impact of that war that's going on in the Middle East. 61 00:04:13,380 --> 00:04:14,620 And we've prayed about that. 62 00:04:14,620 --> 00:04:19,020 We have seen fuel prices rise, and maybe soon we will begin to see 63 00:04:19,020 --> 00:04:21,820 our food and other services increase in price. 64 00:04:23,350 --> 00:04:28,190 Because a conflict, a war, will inevitably impact quite a lot 65 00:04:28,190 --> 00:04:28,790 of the world. 66 00:04:29,670 --> 00:04:33,350 But when we turn to Revelation, we're not seeing a war 67 00:04:33,350 --> 00:04:34,390 image like this. 68 00:04:35,590 --> 00:04:38,669 It's a different kind of war that John's trying to communicate 69 00:04:38,669 --> 00:04:41,670 to us, because this is a war in the heavenly realms. 70 00:04:42,070 --> 00:04:43,830 Therefore, it is a spiritual war. 71 00:04:43,990 --> 00:04:48,360 And that spiritual war is not contained only to heaven, but as 72 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,800 we see in this passage, that spiritual warfare comes to the earth. 73 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,720 And we don't have just two characters as if we're pitting one 74 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:57,520 against the other. 75 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,560 Yes, for sure, it is good versus evil. 76 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,480 But we're introduced to more people in John's vision tonight, 77 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,520 and he's now shown as he reveals to us who those others involved 78 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:09,760 are. 79 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,760 And it begins in verse seven, where we started, where he confirms 80 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,080 now, war arose in heaven. 81 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,640 And here we're introduced to Mark, Michael and his angels fighting 82 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:23,640 against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 83 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:30,440 The language here is one that we must understand is deep conflict. 84 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:37,040 This is not passivity, as if the devil's going to roll over because 85 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:38,440 he knows who he's fighting. 86 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:43,980 If the devil has a breath in his body, and that's another theological 87 00:05:43,980 --> 00:05:47,780 debate, whatever breath he has, he will fight to the bitter 88 00:05:47,780 --> 00:05:48,060 end. 89 00:05:49,580 --> 00:05:52,500 That's why these words here, the dragon and his angels fought 90 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:52,700 back. 91 00:05:52,700 --> 00:05:56,540 This is to tell us this is no mediocre conflict that simply passes. 92 00:05:57,420 --> 00:05:59,820 This is deep battle. 93 00:06:00,940 --> 00:06:03,740 This is warfare that has never been seen before. 94 00:06:04,780 --> 00:06:07,100 And the conflict, it rages. 95 00:06:09,190 --> 00:06:12,750 And so in this verse, as introduced, we're given an image 96 00:06:12,750 --> 00:06:14,070 of who is fighting the devil. 97 00:06:14,790 --> 00:06:18,310 And the theme of this vision, starting here in verse seven, is 98 00:06:18,310 --> 00:06:20,910 actually one that should give us hope, because it's one of the 99 00:06:20,910 --> 00:06:25,030 defeats suffered by the devil because of the death, the resurrection 100 00:06:25,270 --> 00:06:26,790 and the ascension of Christ. 101 00:06:27,590 --> 00:06:31,030 Now, Michael's presented to us here, he's mentioned here, and we've 102 00:06:31,030 --> 00:06:33,630 already met him before in Scripture, because In Daniel, chapter 103 00:06:33,630 --> 00:06:39,010 10 and verse 13, Daniel describes Michael in this way, the 104 00:06:39,010 --> 00:06:41,930 prince of the kingdom of persia withstood me 21 days. 105 00:06:42,250 --> 00:06:45,690 And then Daniel says, but Michael, one of the chief princes, 106 00:06:45,930 --> 00:06:49,850 came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia. 107 00:06:50,330 --> 00:06:51,290 So what's going on? 108 00:06:51,770 --> 00:06:54,490 This verse is part of a wider context, as you'll appreciate. 109 00:06:54,730 --> 00:06:58,810 Daniel had prayed for God to forgive his people and restore them 110 00:06:58,810 --> 00:06:59,770 to Jerusalem. 111 00:07:00,330 --> 00:07:04,650 And an angel was dispatched to tell Daniel that his prayer had been 112 00:07:04,650 --> 00:07:08,640 heard, but its passage was blocked by an evil angel. 113 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,880 And it was only when Michael, described here as one of the chief 114 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:19,440 princes, came to help that Daniel's angel then could get through. 115 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,960 So Michael is indeed a mighty warrior. 116 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:28,320 And on that occasion, it seems that Daniel's persistence in prayer 117 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,440 provided the spiritual resources for Michael's victory. 118 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,560 And the book of Daniel ends with a promise that during the trials 119 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:40,240 of the church age in Daniel, chapter 12 and verse 1, that indeed 120 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:41,800 we will see Michael again. 121 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:47,400 Because Daniel 12, verse 1, says of the time of the end, at that 122 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,240 time shall arise Michael, the great prince, who has charge of your 123 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:51,560 people. 124 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,560 And there shall be a time of trouble such as never has been seen 125 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,200 since there was a nation till that time. 126 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,560 But at that time your people shall be delivered everyone whose 127 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,240 name shall be found written in the book. 128 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,200 Now, hopefully, already as we've gone through 11 chapters of 129 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:14,359 Revelation, we see the parallels with Daniel, and here again 130 00:08:14,359 --> 00:08:15,000 we see them. 131 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,880 Daniel tells us that there's going to be tribulation. 132 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:23,400 Daniel makes mention of Michael, the great prince will arise. 133 00:08:25,010 --> 00:08:26,050 But who are the victors? 134 00:08:26,690 --> 00:08:29,530 Well, Christ ultimately is the victor, but it is his people whose 135 00:08:29,530 --> 00:08:30,530 names are written in. 136 00:08:30,770 --> 00:08:33,930 Daniel calls it the book, but what we know it as, the Lamb's Book 137 00:08:33,930 --> 00:08:34,370 of life. 138 00:08:35,490 --> 00:08:37,090 And so Revelation 12. 139 00:08:37,090 --> 00:08:41,690 Now, jumping back to that and verses seven, it describes this long 140 00:08:41,690 --> 00:08:44,290 foretold holy war that Daniel mentions. 141 00:08:44,770 --> 00:08:47,930 And to understand this passage, we must realize that this 142 00:08:47,930 --> 00:08:51,250 battle took place during the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, 143 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,320 culminating with his ascension into heaven. 144 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:55,680 Now, why do we say that? 145 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,440 Because of what verse 13 says in chapter 12. 146 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,000 Because it tells us that after the dragon had been thrown down to 147 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,799 the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the 148 00:09:07,799 --> 00:09:08,400 male child. 149 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,720 Now, if we understand this, that the male child is Jesus Christ, 150 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,520 and the woman who gave birth to him, as we discovered last week, 151 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,040 is not literal Mary. 152 00:09:17,810 --> 00:09:18,610 Then who is she? 153 00:09:19,330 --> 00:09:22,890 Well, it seems obvious that the answer for each generation, regardless 154 00:09:22,890 --> 00:09:28,330 of geopolitical opinions, this woman is the representation of the 155 00:09:28,330 --> 00:09:31,170 people of God won by the blood of Christ. 156 00:09:31,970 --> 00:09:35,770 This means that the dragon was cast down just before the church 157 00:09:35,770 --> 00:09:40,610 age Jesus, victory on the cross, crowned with his ascension 158 00:09:40,610 --> 00:09:45,830 to heaven's throne, defeated Satan and his army, after which verses 159 00:09:45,830 --> 00:09:47,070 8 and 9 tell us. 160 00:09:47,550 --> 00:09:52,630 But he was defeated and there was no longer any place for them 161 00:09:52,630 --> 00:09:53,230 in heaven. 162 00:09:53,550 --> 00:09:57,470 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent 163 00:09:57,710 --> 00:10:00,950 who is called the devil, and Satan, the deceiver of the whole 164 00:10:00,950 --> 00:10:04,990 world, he was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown 165 00:10:04,990 --> 00:10:05,790 down with him. 166 00:10:06,750 --> 00:10:09,270 Now, the first thing we have to say about this, or the first question 167 00:10:09,270 --> 00:10:10,750 is, isn't this great news? 168 00:10:11,490 --> 00:10:12,130 Isn't this great? 169 00:10:12,210 --> 00:10:14,290 Look at the start of how verse 8 begins. 170 00:10:14,530 --> 00:10:16,050 Satan is defeated. 171 00:10:16,690 --> 00:10:21,290 He has no authority anymore, no authority to condemn in the heavenly 172 00:10:21,290 --> 00:10:24,690 realms, nor authority to condemn the people of God. 173 00:10:25,090 --> 00:10:29,250 As Paul tells us in Romans 8:1, there is therefore now no condemnation 174 00:10:29,410 --> 00:10:30,770 for those who are in Christ. 175 00:10:30,930 --> 00:10:31,570 Jesus. 176 00:10:32,450 --> 00:10:36,770 Christ's covering of his people by his blood means they do 177 00:10:36,770 --> 00:10:41,560 not face the accuser, the sin Satan, without the confidence that 178 00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:42,680 Christ is enough. 179 00:10:43,560 --> 00:10:48,560 So in his defeat, Satan is enraged and goes after the people 180 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:49,240 of God. 181 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,840 Now, previously, Satan could legitimately accuse believers in 182 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,800 God's presence because of their sin. 183 00:10:56,280 --> 00:11:00,040 But now that sins are cleansed and forgiven through the cross, he 184 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,040 has no grounds for accusation. 185 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:07,040 He has no standing, nor does he have a place in the presence of 186 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:07,480 God. 187 00:11:10,650 --> 00:11:15,010 So this great enemy of the people of God is identified as that 188 00:11:15,010 --> 00:11:16,170 ancient serpent. 189 00:11:17,770 --> 00:11:21,450 So now we know he's the one here in Revelation who spoke to Eve 190 00:11:21,450 --> 00:11:23,210 in the garden and tempted her to sin. 191 00:11:23,770 --> 00:11:27,250 He's also called the devil, the one who slanders and accuses 192 00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:28,010 the people of God. 193 00:11:28,010 --> 00:11:33,050 And Satan, the great adversary and accuser of God and his saints. 194 00:11:33,940 --> 00:11:37,580 He is the one who deceives the entire world, that is, those who 195 00:11:37,580 --> 00:11:39,620 refuse to believe in Christ Jesus. 196 00:11:40,260 --> 00:11:44,740 Nevertheless, both the dragon and his angels are thrown to earth. 197 00:11:45,060 --> 00:11:47,620 They're removed from heaven forever. 198 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:48,500 Why? 199 00:11:48,660 --> 00:11:51,540 Because of Christ's death and resurrection. 200 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:56,180 He can no longer be the accuser of God's people because we 201 00:11:56,180 --> 00:11:59,700 have a Redeemer and mediator who stands for us. 202 00:12:00,420 --> 00:12:04,540 And so verse 10 comes with great celebration, loud and clear, 203 00:12:04,540 --> 00:12:08,580 as John tells us of a loud voice in heaven booming this truth. 204 00:12:09,140 --> 00:12:13,140 We're told, that complete victory is the Lord's and his rule 205 00:12:13,140 --> 00:12:15,460 and reign is established forever. 206 00:12:16,580 --> 00:12:21,140 But it's in verse 11, as we've already mentioned, where the real 207 00:12:21,220 --> 00:12:23,140 significance of the war can be seen. 208 00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:29,590 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the 209 00:12:29,590 --> 00:12:33,710 word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives, even 210 00:12:33,790 --> 00:12:34,990 unto death. 211 00:12:36,030 --> 00:12:37,630 How is Satan defeated? 212 00:12:38,830 --> 00:12:43,910 Defeated by the blood of the Lamb, the Lamb's blood that sets 213 00:12:43,910 --> 00:12:44,510 us free. 214 00:12:45,230 --> 00:12:49,070 That by faith we trust in Christ, just as we saw this morning 215 00:12:49,390 --> 00:12:52,910 with those in Egypt who put the blood on the doorposts and on 216 00:12:52,910 --> 00:12:53,950 the lintel of the door. 217 00:12:55,050 --> 00:12:57,530 By faith they believed. 218 00:12:57,530 --> 00:13:01,130 And still the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins 219 00:13:01,130 --> 00:13:03,770 as we believe by faith in him. 220 00:13:04,810 --> 00:13:08,890 And so the profound point of this verse is more than Satan being 221 00:13:08,890 --> 00:13:12,490 thrown out of heaven and literally locked out of the eternal 222 00:13:12,490 --> 00:13:13,290 realms there. 223 00:13:13,930 --> 00:13:18,730 The point is that he has no warrant nor basis to accuse believers 224 00:13:18,810 --> 00:13:20,490 now that Christ has come. 225 00:13:21,550 --> 00:13:25,750 And God pays no heed to Satan's accusations, since sin's 226 00:13:25,750 --> 00:13:28,110 penalty has been paid by the blood of the Lamb. 227 00:13:28,190 --> 00:13:32,270 And so this should be a joyful celebration for us as God's people, 228 00:13:32,510 --> 00:13:34,430 for all who trust in the Savior. 229 00:13:34,750 --> 00:13:39,750 And we're told there in verse 12 to rejoice, for we are on the 230 00:13:39,750 --> 00:13:40,990 side of victory. 231 00:13:42,270 --> 00:13:47,480 But like a scorpion with a sting in its tail, the casting out 232 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,320 of Satan and his angels wreaks havoc on the earth. 233 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,640 Satan isn't simply done away with. 234 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:00,760 And verse 12 confirms that, even as we're called to be joyful 235 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:05,640 in his defeat, it also warns us and gives a woe unto the earth 236 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:12,200 that Satan knows his time is short, so he will do whatever he 237 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,440 can to frustrate the children of God. 238 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:14,800 He. 239 00:14:15,350 --> 00:14:17,030 And so verse 13 tells us. 240 00:14:17,110 --> 00:14:20,870 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, 241 00:14:21,030 --> 00:14:25,270 he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 242 00:14:26,710 --> 00:14:30,230 The target of Satan's attack are the people of God. 243 00:14:31,190 --> 00:14:33,190 He's going after them with vengeance. 244 00:14:33,750 --> 00:14:37,830 He'll not rest until he has done away with all Israel. 245 00:14:38,470 --> 00:14:43,960 And so the image of the woman is now presented in verse 14 as being 246 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,920 able to escape having been given two wings. 247 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,680 The passage says of the great eagle. 248 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,680 This enables the people of God to fly away to the wilderness. 249 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,080 And if you recall last week, we know that the wilderness is a 250 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:01,680 place of refuge and it's a place of sustenance or restoration, 251 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,960 because this is where God meets the needs of his people. 252 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:09,880 And so this image of rescue on the wings of the eagle is not new 253 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:10,400 to us. 254 00:15:11,050 --> 00:15:15,170 Again, we go back to the Old Testament and we see this rich imagery 255 00:15:15,170 --> 00:15:19,330 coming from the Old Testament and now making more sense in the 256 00:15:19,330 --> 00:15:23,770 New, because God has already demonstrated this image of salvation 257 00:15:24,090 --> 00:15:29,050 in Exodus 19, verse 4, where he says, you yourselves have seen 258 00:15:29,050 --> 00:15:33,370 what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagle's wings 259 00:15:33,690 --> 00:15:35,530 and brought you to myself. 260 00:15:36,580 --> 00:15:40,500 The Lord declares that he rescued Israel from Egypt by bearing 261 00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:45,380 them on the wings of an eagle, promising, promising to catch them 262 00:15:45,380 --> 00:15:49,100 in those wings, that they would not fall to bear them on his 263 00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:52,700 pinions, or that outer part of the bird's wing, including the flight 264 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:53,300 feathers. 265 00:15:53,780 --> 00:15:57,780 God would do everything in his power to rescue his people, and that's 266 00:15:57,780 --> 00:16:00,980 what he did in Egypt, and that's what he will do for those 267 00:16:01,140 --> 00:16:02,740 whom the dragon goes after. 268 00:16:04,460 --> 00:16:08,660 So the Lord rescues his people and he brings them into the wilderness, 269 00:16:08,660 --> 00:16:13,260 just as he did with Israel in the Exodus and Elijah in his need 270 00:16:13,260 --> 00:16:15,420 to escape from Ahab and Jezebel. 271 00:16:15,900 --> 00:16:19,820 And as we've seen before, we're given a period of time when 272 00:16:19,820 --> 00:16:21,580 the people of God will be nourished. 273 00:16:21,580 --> 00:16:23,900 So we're told that they will go into the wilderness. 274 00:16:24,060 --> 00:16:27,740 And all we're told is for a time and times and half a time. 275 00:16:28,630 --> 00:16:31,670 Now, this period of time, like the others, is to demonstrate that 276 00:16:31,670 --> 00:16:36,470 God had set a time limit on this action rather than a specific 277 00:16:36,550 --> 00:16:38,230 number of days, weeks, months, or years. 278 00:16:38,230 --> 00:16:41,430 For how can we calculate a time and times and time and a half? 279 00:16:41,990 --> 00:16:45,270 It is to assure God's people that in the midst of tribulation, 280 00:16:46,470 --> 00:16:50,310 he will nourish them and keep them until the period is over, for 281 00:16:50,310 --> 00:16:52,310 he knows how long it is going to last. 282 00:16:53,110 --> 00:16:54,820 And this is what we see in verse 15. 283 00:16:55,850 --> 00:17:00,370 The image is given to us of water coming out of the serpent's 284 00:17:00,370 --> 00:17:01,850 mouth or the dragon's mouth. 285 00:17:02,330 --> 00:17:05,730 The purpose of this is to try and sweep away the woman so that 286 00:17:05,730 --> 00:17:09,690 she cannot escape, but in fact will be devoured by the dragon. 287 00:17:10,410 --> 00:17:14,410 And this is where the spiritual and the physical now combine. 288 00:17:15,050 --> 00:17:19,770 Although the war is spiritual and the attacks of the devil will 289 00:17:19,770 --> 00:17:22,770 come against the people of God, the devil will use physical 290 00:17:22,770 --> 00:17:27,610 means of war, famine, disease and persecution in the midst of the 291 00:17:27,610 --> 00:17:31,690 tribulation to harm God's people and stop them from worshipping 292 00:17:31,690 --> 00:17:34,450 him as their Lord and Savior. 293 00:17:35,330 --> 00:17:39,010 You see, there's something we need to know tonight about Satan. 294 00:17:40,049 --> 00:17:43,970 The devil is cunning and the devil is crafty. 295 00:17:44,930 --> 00:17:50,500 He will do whatever he can to draw God's people away and lead them 296 00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:56,220 into temptation of sin to ruin their testimony and to make them 297 00:17:56,220 --> 00:18:00,300 doubt God just as he did with Eve in the very beginning. 298 00:18:00,940 --> 00:18:05,140 Now, it's not a simple response to sin to say then that 299 00:18:05,140 --> 00:18:06,620 the devil made me do it. 300 00:18:06,620 --> 00:18:07,900 That's not how it works. 301 00:18:08,940 --> 00:18:11,900 You can't blame the devil for you falling into sin. 302 00:18:12,380 --> 00:18:15,100 It is the devil who will tempt us into sin. 303 00:18:16,770 --> 00:18:20,210 See, we know right from wrong, or we should know right from wrong, 304 00:18:20,450 --> 00:18:24,050 and the consequences of our sin are our own. 305 00:18:24,930 --> 00:18:27,050 But the devil will do whatever it takes. 306 00:18:27,050 --> 00:18:30,290 And when we think we have success over an aspect of sin. 307 00:18:30,450 --> 00:18:34,050 Well, he will present the very same sin to us in a different way 308 00:18:34,210 --> 00:18:39,010 so that we will be pulled away from God again and pulled down into 309 00:18:39,010 --> 00:18:42,210 the sin that we're so desperate to avoid and escape. 310 00:18:44,220 --> 00:18:45,100 This is what he does. 311 00:18:45,580 --> 00:18:47,580 As we read it here in verse 17. 312 00:18:48,380 --> 00:18:52,340 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make 313 00:18:52,340 --> 00:18:54,100 war on the rest of her offspring. 314 00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:56,620 Remember, she's gone into the wilderness, so he's now going to 315 00:18:56,620 --> 00:19:01,100 turn on her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of 316 00:19:01,100 --> 00:19:04,700 God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. 317 00:19:05,500 --> 00:19:08,900 And he stood on the sand, the sea. 318 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:13,460 I'll just say here that standing on the sand of the sea is 319 00:19:13,540 --> 00:19:16,780 setting us up for what's going to come next week, what's going to 320 00:19:16,780 --> 00:19:18,020 come out of the sea. 321 00:19:18,420 --> 00:19:21,300 And so we leave that for now and pick that up next week. 322 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:23,220 But look at who he's making war on. 323 00:19:23,860 --> 00:19:28,220 On those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the 324 00:19:28,220 --> 00:19:32,420 testimony of Jesus, the people of God. 325 00:19:33,550 --> 00:19:36,670 And so the reason why the devil remains furious with the woman 326 00:19:36,830 --> 00:19:40,430 is that in verse 16, we're told that the earth came to her aid 327 00:19:40,430 --> 00:19:44,750 and actually combated the tribulation that the dragon spewed 328 00:19:44,750 --> 00:19:47,790 quite literally out of its mouth to try and sweep her away. 329 00:19:48,110 --> 00:19:51,030 The passage says that the earth opened up to let this water 330 00:19:51,030 --> 00:19:51,710 drain away. 331 00:19:51,950 --> 00:19:55,310 And so using this image of the earth opening up tells us that God 332 00:19:55,310 --> 00:19:59,950 provides a means of escape for his people, just as he did when Israel 333 00:19:59,950 --> 00:20:03,670 was rescued from Egypt and, and the waters of the Red Sea were 334 00:20:03,830 --> 00:20:05,510 parted for them to walk through. 335 00:20:06,790 --> 00:20:11,950 So we must know that even when the devil comes to try and attack 336 00:20:11,950 --> 00:20:15,830 and pull us away, we will not be destroyed by the serpent. 337 00:20:15,830 --> 00:20:19,830 Because here we're told that God provides a way for our salvation. 338 00:20:21,350 --> 00:20:25,630 The people of God may be rocked by false teaching or moral 339 00:20:25,630 --> 00:20:30,720 compromise, but they will finally and ultimately stand straight 340 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:35,280 and steadfast because of the victory of Christ. 341 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:44,440 The devil cannot and will not win, no matter how crafty or cunning 342 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:44,960 he is. 343 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:49,600 He will try his best, but he will not succeed. 344 00:20:53,370 --> 00:20:55,850 And so now we see the emotion of the devil. 345 00:20:56,810 --> 00:21:01,450 The devil is enraged because God is protecting the woman. 346 00:21:02,490 --> 00:21:06,090 But his work is not done, as verse 17 tells us. 347 00:21:06,090 --> 00:21:09,210 He takes off to make war against the offspring of the woman, 348 00:21:09,290 --> 00:21:12,810 those who faithfully keep those commandments of God and uphold 349 00:21:12,810 --> 00:21:14,330 the testimony of Jesus. 350 00:21:15,530 --> 00:21:19,130 The conflict that began at the very beginning of history between 351 00:21:19,130 --> 00:21:22,600 the offspring of the woman and the serpent and the does not end 352 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:23,240 quickly. 353 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,320 The dragon does not cease attacking the people of God. 354 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,720 The battle is unrelenting until the final day. 355 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:37,960 You see, the dragon will have his strategies and he will contemplate 356 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:39,720 his victory over God's people. 357 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,880 He stands on that seashore and looks to the sea. 358 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:48,120 That sea, as we know for the Hebrew people, was a place of chaos 359 00:21:48,660 --> 00:21:49,460 and of evil. 360 00:21:50,420 --> 00:21:53,940 And as we'll see without giving too much away from that very 361 00:21:53,940 --> 00:21:59,780 sea, that place of chaos and evil he calls his allies, he calls 362 00:21:59,780 --> 00:22:03,660 a monster from the midst of the sea to attack the offspring of 363 00:22:03,660 --> 00:22:04,180 the woman. 364 00:22:05,060 --> 00:22:10,100 You see, this tribulation of the devil is relentless, but it does 365 00:22:10,420 --> 00:22:11,860 come to an end. 366 00:22:14,430 --> 00:22:19,150 So what is life like for Christians in this era of history? 367 00:22:20,510 --> 00:22:25,550 According to John, we face the fury of the devil, but too often 368 00:22:25,550 --> 00:22:29,350 we ignore him and rarely contemplate his full scale attack 369 00:22:29,350 --> 00:22:30,110 against us. 370 00:22:32,190 --> 00:22:37,510 I think sometimes the world of Hollywood has belittled our understanding 371 00:22:37,510 --> 00:22:38,190 of the devil. 372 00:22:38,910 --> 00:22:43,640 I've used this many times before where it's often caricatured 373 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,440 that hell is a place of fun, where it's in one endless party with 374 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:53,560 all your old mates and heaven is this place that is just like church 375 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:55,400 according to Hollywood. 376 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:01,120 Or you see the devil on one side and an angel on the other dressed 377 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:06,250 in white and the devil looking red and with that poker teal and 378 00:23:06,250 --> 00:23:07,970 the person listening to the voices. 379 00:23:07,970 --> 00:23:10,450 And more times than not, who do they side with? 380 00:23:11,090 --> 00:23:13,810 They side with the devil because it's given to us. 381 00:23:14,210 --> 00:23:16,210 Apparently the devil is more fun. 382 00:23:18,050 --> 00:23:22,130 So we've been desensitized to the realities of spiritual warfare 383 00:23:22,130 --> 00:23:23,570 that are raging. 384 00:23:24,850 --> 00:23:30,050 The devil is real, the devil is crafty, the devil is cunning. 385 00:23:31,180 --> 00:23:37,980 And the devil is at work this very night, even in this building. 386 00:23:38,620 --> 00:23:42,900 While preaching a sermon one Sunday morning, I felt the attacks 387 00:23:42,900 --> 00:23:43,820 of the devil. 388 00:23:45,260 --> 00:23:49,460 And anyone who stands in a pulpit will face attacks as well 389 00:23:49,460 --> 00:23:52,860 as any other believer who continues to be drawn close to the 390 00:23:52,860 --> 00:23:53,100 Lord. 391 00:23:53,100 --> 00:23:54,700 For the devil doesn't want us. 392 00:23:54,940 --> 00:23:56,380 When will the devil not work? 393 00:23:57,510 --> 00:24:01,430 Well, the devil won't work when we simply think we're okay and 394 00:24:01,430 --> 00:24:02,710 don't need Jesus. 395 00:24:02,710 --> 00:24:06,190 He doesn't have to do anything, but he will work against 396 00:24:06,190 --> 00:24:06,710 the church. 397 00:24:06,710 --> 00:24:09,310 He will work against God's people, He will work against the 398 00:24:09,310 --> 00:24:12,190 faithful because he wants to pull us away. 399 00:24:12,190 --> 00:24:16,070 But fortunately we have someone who is on our side. 400 00:24:16,070 --> 00:24:19,110 And I love the hymn that Martin Luther wrote at the time of 401 00:24:19,110 --> 00:24:19,710 the Reformation. 402 00:24:19,710 --> 00:24:23,790 It is a great hymn where he describes this person to us as a 403 00:24:23,790 --> 00:24:25,190 man of God's own choosing. 404 00:24:26,610 --> 00:24:30,530 In the verse, Martin Luther writes, did we in our own strength 405 00:24:30,530 --> 00:24:35,530 confide our striving would be losing Were not the right man on 406 00:24:35,530 --> 00:24:37,890 our side, the man of God's own choosing? 407 00:24:38,370 --> 00:24:40,450 Dost ask who that may be? 408 00:24:41,250 --> 00:24:42,370 Christ Jesus. 409 00:24:42,690 --> 00:24:45,410 It is He, Lord Sabaoth. 410 00:24:45,410 --> 00:24:46,130 His name. 411 00:24:46,530 --> 00:24:52,590 From age to age the same, and he must win the battle. 412 00:24:53,710 --> 00:24:54,790 Lord Sabaoth. 413 00:24:54,790 --> 00:24:58,430 There is simply the word for Lord of hosts. 414 00:24:59,470 --> 00:25:01,710 But doesn't Luther get it spot on? 415 00:25:03,230 --> 00:25:04,030 Who do we need? 416 00:25:04,030 --> 00:25:05,710 The man of God's own choosing. 417 00:25:06,270 --> 00:25:08,070 Ask who it is and we will tell you. 418 00:25:08,070 --> 00:25:12,750 It is Christ Jesus, the Lord Almighty, the Lord of hosts, and 419 00:25:12,750 --> 00:25:14,270 he must win the battle. 420 00:25:14,670 --> 00:25:18,590 Luther continues to ask, can we endure the devil's rage? 421 00:25:19,890 --> 00:25:23,730 We can, because one little word shall fail him. 422 00:25:25,170 --> 00:25:28,450 Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is a powerful 423 00:25:28,450 --> 00:25:31,530 hymn that I actually enjoy singing quite a bit because of what 424 00:25:31,530 --> 00:25:35,290 it tells us about the defeat of the evil one, all because of the 425 00:25:35,290 --> 00:25:37,570 blood of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. 426 00:25:39,170 --> 00:25:46,510 This evening I would say to you, O weary or angry desperate soul, 427 00:25:47,470 --> 00:25:51,710 tonight, know that the devil cannot accuse you when you're in 428 00:25:51,710 --> 00:25:52,030 Christ. 429 00:25:52,670 --> 00:25:57,990 He will try, but he will not succeed because we have the man of 430 00:25:57,990 --> 00:26:02,750 God's own choosing on our side, and he has won the battle. 431 00:26:03,390 --> 00:26:07,070 He that is the devil is a defeated foe because of Jesus. 432 00:26:07,070 --> 00:26:11,630 But he will pursue you with that sting in his tail to persecute 433 00:26:11,630 --> 00:26:11,950 you. 434 00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:16,230 But do not fear, because Jesus assures us. 435 00:26:16,230 --> 00:26:21,750 Now, for the second week in a row, with this passage in John 16:33, 436 00:26:21,750 --> 00:26:25,350 Jesus says, I have said these things to you that in me you may 437 00:26:25,350 --> 00:26:25,950 have peace. 438 00:26:26,430 --> 00:26:28,110 In the world, you will have tribulation. 439 00:26:28,670 --> 00:26:32,590 But take heart, I have overcome the world. 440 00:26:34,430 --> 00:26:35,950 So what do we do tonight with this? 441 00:26:36,430 --> 00:26:39,150 How do we make this passage real to us? 442 00:26:39,310 --> 00:26:42,550 That's talking about a battle in the heavenly realms, where Satan 443 00:26:42,550 --> 00:26:46,810 is cast down, where the people of God, where indeed all Israel, 444 00:26:47,290 --> 00:26:52,370 will be persecuted in tribulation because of the attacks 445 00:26:52,370 --> 00:26:53,850 of the fallen devil. 446 00:26:54,170 --> 00:26:58,570 Because he knows he is a defeated foe with short time on his 447 00:26:58,570 --> 00:26:59,130 hands. 448 00:27:00,010 --> 00:27:03,650 Well, if you're in Christ, take heart, because these words of 449 00:27:03,650 --> 00:27:08,250 Jesus assure us that indeed he has overcome the world. 450 00:27:08,890 --> 00:27:10,490 He is the one who will keep us. 451 00:27:10,490 --> 00:27:12,090 He is the one who will protect us. 452 00:27:12,090 --> 00:27:14,920 He is the one who will take us into periods of wilderness to. 453 00:27:15,070 --> 00:27:17,110 To give us refuge and to nourish us. 454 00:27:17,110 --> 00:27:19,070 So trust in him. 455 00:27:20,430 --> 00:27:25,630 Do take heart, O weary and angry and desperate burdened soul, 456 00:27:26,910 --> 00:27:28,910 because he is the victor. 457 00:27:31,470 --> 00:27:35,510 But maybe you're sitting here tonight and you're feeling the weight 458 00:27:35,510 --> 00:27:39,150 of the world and you don't know where to turn because you've 459 00:27:39,230 --> 00:27:40,590 never turned to Jesus. 460 00:27:42,810 --> 00:27:44,490 Well, the weight of this world is Heavy. 461 00:27:45,610 --> 00:27:49,370 And we will see the rage of the Evil One against this world. 462 00:27:49,370 --> 00:27:51,930 Because sin has far reaching consequences. 463 00:27:53,130 --> 00:27:57,130 And so the invitation tonight for your weary, angry and desperate 464 00:27:57,130 --> 00:27:59,610 soul is to come to Jesus for salvation. 465 00:28:00,490 --> 00:28:03,450 To know that there's more than simply the day ahead. 466 00:28:04,090 --> 00:28:08,480 To know that there is a battle that will be wonderful, that Christ 467 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:09,560 will be the victor. 468 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:13,600 And that as in the challenge of verse 11 and verse 12, we will 469 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:17,960 be people of great joy because of that victory over the Evil One. 470 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:21,160 His time is limited too. 471 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:24,920 But actually all of our time is limited. 472 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,960 For a day will come when Christ will return. 473 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,080 And those who have trusted him, those who know he has overtaken 474 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:36,010 the world and so can, can take heart because of what Christ has 475 00:28:36,010 --> 00:28:38,690 accomplished on the cross, will go to be with him in heaven. 476 00:28:39,810 --> 00:28:42,690 But if you're sitting here tonight fighting the tribulation 477 00:28:42,690 --> 00:28:47,010 of this world on your own, well come to Jesus because you don't 478 00:28:47,010 --> 00:28:50,530 have to bear that burden, you don't have to have that weight. 479 00:28:51,410 --> 00:28:54,690 As he's overcome the world for me, so he can overcome the world 480 00:28:54,690 --> 00:28:55,330 for you. 481 00:28:56,130 --> 00:28:57,330 And by his blood. 482 00:28:57,330 --> 00:29:03,500 Just as His Blood cleanses me from my sin, so his blood will cleanse 483 00:29:03,500 --> 00:29:06,700 you if you will but come to Him. 484 00:29:09,020 --> 00:29:14,660 Please don't set your standard by another Christian, because I will 485 00:29:14,660 --> 00:29:17,420 speak for myself and on behalf of other believers that we don't 486 00:29:17,420 --> 00:29:18,460 get it right all the time. 487 00:29:19,260 --> 00:29:21,980 That's why there's wonderful joy in the forgiveness of sins. 488 00:29:23,020 --> 00:29:24,460 Let Jesus be your standard. 489 00:29:24,460 --> 00:29:27,340 Let Jesus be the mark by which you gauge salvation. 490 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:32,040 For the devil will only want to use you by distracting you and 491 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:32,840 don't let Him. 492 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:37,080 If you are thinking of the things of Christ tonight, set Christ 493 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:41,480 as your standard and look to him and him alone. 494 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:44,520 Because that's what I strive to do every day. 495 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,000 And I know that other believers in this building do the 496 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:47,320 same. 497 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:54,920 So once again we discover that the same responses to demanded from 498 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:56,200 each of us this night. 499 00:29:57,080 --> 00:30:02,880 As we face the devil, as we face the sting in his tail, as we 500 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,960 face the tribulation that he will bring about on this earth. 501 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:13,240 And it is to take heart and to come to Jesus because He has won 502 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:18,680 and he will forgive us of all our sins if we will only but trust 503 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:19,160 in Him. 504 00:30:20,610 --> 00:30:25,170 We will go to that wilderness and we will know times of refuge 505 00:30:25,730 --> 00:30:30,530 and refreshment not provided by ourself, but by God alone as his 506 00:30:30,530 --> 00:30:30,850 people. 507 00:30:32,130 --> 00:30:33,570 So will you take heart? 508 00:30:34,290 --> 00:30:39,330 Will you trust in the Saviour tonight, knowing that he has overcome 509 00:30:39,330 --> 00:30:39,810 the world? 510 00:30:40,770 --> 00:30:46,250 Therefore, fear not, simply rest Him. 511 00:30:47,610 --> 00:30:48,490 Let us pray. 512 00:30:50,010 --> 00:30:53,250 Our Father God, we thank you that even in passages like this that 513 00:30:53,250 --> 00:30:57,330 speak of warfare, there is glorious hope in the midst of the 514 00:30:57,330 --> 00:30:57,770 battle. 515 00:30:58,330 --> 00:31:04,370 For what we see is a risen Savior who has won where the devil 516 00:31:04,370 --> 00:31:09,930 is cast down, never able to accuse your people again because 517 00:31:10,010 --> 00:31:11,350 of the blood of Jesus. 518 00:31:12,140 --> 00:31:14,380 And so we say thank you for that blood this night. 519 00:31:14,380 --> 00:31:17,020 Thank you for its saving power. 520 00:31:17,820 --> 00:31:21,660 Thank you that it is the only way by which we can come to you for 521 00:31:21,660 --> 00:31:22,220 salvation. 522 00:31:22,220 --> 00:31:24,460 Because Christ has paid it all on the cross. 523 00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:29,980 So Father, help us to respond where our hearts and souls are weary 524 00:31:29,980 --> 00:31:32,060 and angry and desperate and tired. 525 00:31:33,260 --> 00:31:37,230 Father, help us to look to Christ and not to the world where 526 00:31:37,230 --> 00:31:40,230 we need to know refuge and nourishment. 527 00:31:40,470 --> 00:31:44,190 May we take heart because Jesus has overcome the world and 528 00:31:44,190 --> 00:31:48,430 so we can trust in him to keep us until the day when he will take 529 00:31:48,430 --> 00:31:48,870 us home. 530 00:31:49,990 --> 00:31:52,870 Father, may we all respond to Jesus this night. 531 00:31:53,590 --> 00:31:59,270 May we all by faith trust in him and know him as our Lord and 532 00:31:59,350 --> 00:32:04,600 our Savior as we continue to look ever to you, the God who will 533 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:05,200 lead us home. 534 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,720 And we ask it in Jesus name, Amen.