Anchors of Truth

Every Knee Shall Bow

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Kameron DeVasher

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Series Code: AOT

Program Code: AOT000069


00:21 Good morning and happy Sabbath!
00:24 Happy Sabbath.
00:26 We welcome you to the Thompsonville SDA Church
00:30 which is housed in the 3ABN Worship Center
00:34 on the campus of Three Angels Broadcasting Network
00:37 in Thompsonville/West Frankfort, Illinois.
00:42 And you have to give us a little slack on this schizophrenia
00:47 because the church is here in Thompsonville
00:50 but just about 150 paces to the southwest
00:54 is the Production Center which is in West Frankfort.
00:57 So you have to allow us a bit of schizophrenia because
01:00 depending on where you are in a given point of time
01:02 you may be in one of two towns.
01:04 But we welcome you to this fourth of five presentations
01:10 that really have been a blessing.
01:12 And it occurs to me... and I don't know if it is because
01:14 of our own sinful nature
01:17 or the poverty of the English language
01:22 but many times when you're trying to give God the glory
01:28 due Him it tends to come out sounding like praise to men
01:34 when it is not intended to be.
01:36 As it has seemed good to us and to the Holy Spirit
01:39 to ask our speaker to come God has been pleased
01:42 to give us powerful, timely messages
01:46 through him. Now of course, any time anything of note or
01:52 of importance happens in a worship service
01:54 the preacher... the person, the human being...
01:57 is not to receive the glory.
01:59 We know that that comes from God.
02:02 If blessings are to be shared, they come from God.
02:04 If lives are to be changed, they come from God.
02:07 If destinies are to be rearranged,
02:09 it comes from God.
02:10 Yet God uses human beings - frail human beings -
02:14 to preach His Word. And if you were here on last night
02:17 then you know that the Spirit of God can move in a marked
02:20 and mighty way in a worship service.
02:22 And so for the past several nights - the past three nights -
02:26 we have been blessed to hear the Word of God
02:28 as preached by Pastor Kameron DeVasher.
02:31 He pastors, and I want to get this right, the Muskegon
02:33 and Fremont churches in the Michigan Conference
02:37 in the state of Michigan. He is the husband of one wife,
02:40 Emilie; the father of one son, Henry;
02:42 and a preacher of righteousness.
02:45 And we have been truly, truly blessed by him.
02:48 And God has fed our souls. And I expect
02:50 nothing less than that to happen today.
02:52 Now you might be saying: "Well you're putting pressure
02:55 on the preacher. " Well I am not
02:57 because Kameron understands and knows that it's not about
03:00 him, it's all about Jesus.
03:02 And so as we have heard this word The Greater Controversy
03:06 we have been so very, very blessed by God.
03:08 And so I welcome you again to our worship service:
03:11 our audience here and those around the world who are part
03:15 of this blessing. The sermon today is entitled
03:19 Every Knee Shall Bow. And to that we can all say "Amen"
03:23 and "Praise the Lord. "
03:24 And so we will hear the Word of God as preached by
03:28 our pastor, our friend Kameron DeVasher this day.
03:30 His wife is here. They have a... I think
03:34 Henry is 10 months old and so she has been with him
03:37 in the room during the week. But she did come today
03:39 and Kameron's sister is here. Don't know quite where they are
03:42 seated, but we do welcome you to our fellowship this day.
03:47 And we were just talking with his wife back stage.
03:50 It's good that he can travel with her together.
03:52 Our music will come from our pastor, John Lomacang.
03:56 But before we hear from him and then our speaker
03:58 let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
04:02 Gracious, holy, and heavenly Father,
04:04 again we thank you for this opportunity
04:07 to sit before You on this holy Sabbath Day.
04:10 We thank you for the church
04:12 and for the ability to come to church
04:16 and for the promise that when we come to this house
04:19 You will be here to meet us.
04:21 Indeed, You will be the honored guest.
04:23 And so we praise you and thank you
04:26 for Your presence here today.
04:27 We ask, Lord, only that You would give us Your Spirit.
04:31 That You would teach us those things that You would have us
04:35 to know. And then by that same Spirit
04:39 enable us to put them in practice
04:43 so that our lives, our walk with Christ, may be sweeter
04:47 and closer. We ask a special blessing
04:51 upon the preacher of the day and an equal blessing
04:56 upon those of us who will hear what he has to say.
04:59 May the Spirit of God speak to us, not only in this house
05:03 but around the world... those who look; those who listen.
05:08 Lord, may they be blessed.
05:11 We love You; we praise You;
05:14 and we thank you for every good and perfect gift.
05:18 In Jesus' name, Amen and Amen.
05:24 Our music is coming as I said from Pastor John Lomacang.
05:26 He will be singing "I Give You Jesus. "
05:28 And then after he shall have sung
05:31 the next voice will be Pastor Kameron DeVasher
05:34 who will preach "Every Knee Shall Bow. "
06:04 If the ship of your life
06:08 is tossing on the sea of strife,
06:12 you need someone.
06:19 If you feel so all alone
06:23 and your house is not a home,
06:27 you need someone.
06:35 If you feel life isn't fair
06:39 and there's no one left to share all
06:43 those lonely days and nights
06:47 when things just don't turn out right
06:51 and you want someone to share
06:55 and someone to just be there,
07:00 you need someone.
07:07 So I give you Jesus,
07:13 He's the peace
07:15 that passes all understanding.
07:22 I give you Jesus,
07:28 He's the perfect love
07:30 that casteth out all fear.
07:38 I give you Jesus,
07:43 He's the water that you'll drink
07:46 and never thirst again.
07:52 I give you Jesus,
07:58 my friend,
08:01 I give you Jesus.
08:10 If the pressures all around
08:14 keep your spirits to the ground,
08:18 you need someone.
08:24 And if your body is in pain
08:28 and your health you can't regain,
08:32 you need someone.
08:39 If the times that you have tried
08:43 with all the strength you have inside
08:46 and it seems that you have failed,
08:51 remember on the cross He's nailed
08:54 all that bitterness and grief
08:58 to give you peace and sweet relief,
09:02 He is the someone that you need.
09:08 So I give you Jesus,
09:14 He's the peace that passes all
09:18 understanding.
09:23 Yes, I give you Jesus,
09:29 He's that perfect love
09:31 that casteth out all
09:35 fear.
09:39 I give you Jesus,
09:43 He's the water that you'll drink
09:47 and never thirst again.
09:53 I give you Jesus,
09:58 my friend,
10:00 yes, I give you Jesus.
10:04 He's everyone and everything you need.
10:09 I give you Jesus,
10:14 my friend,
10:17 yes, I give you
10:21 Jesus.
10:37 Amen!
10:41 Happy Sabbath, everyone!
10:43 Happy Sabbath.
10:44 That was a blessing in song. Amen?
10:46 Amen. And it's a high Sabbath because
10:49 it is Sabbath... and every Sabbath is a high Sabbath.
10:51 What a wonderful thing the Lord has given us:
10:54 a day of rest where we can come together and fellowship
10:56 not only with each other but come into the very presence
10:59 of God in His house on His Sabbath Day.
11:02 What a blessing! What a blessing.
11:04 As was mentioned, this is our fourth message
11:07 in a series of five entitled The Greater Controversy.
11:11 Let me briefly review with you and catch you up to speed
11:13 with where we have come so far.
11:15 In our first message entitled Beyond Ptolemy
11:19 we opened our series by establishing the basic premise
11:23 that there is more at stake in God's plan of redemption
11:28 than merely the saving of lost sinners.
11:30 In fact, there's an onlooking unfallen universe
11:34 who have experienced the rebellion of Lucifer first hand
11:38 and have been witnessing the development of his principles
11:42 and intents of his heart right here on the earth
11:45 ever since. In our second message
11:49 entitled The Last Link of Sympathy
11:52 we examined the universal ramifications
11:55 of Christ's death on the cross.
11:57 It was here that the violence that had been within Lucifer
12:01 was finally and fully unleashed on the sinless Son of God.
12:05 And when the onlooking, unfallen heavenly universe
12:09 witnessed that act, that event, they for the very first time
12:14 in unmistakable tones saw the very character
12:18 that Christ had seen from the very beginning
12:20 finally manifest and revealed.
12:23 They saw that indeed Satan was a murderer
12:26 from the beginning.
12:29 Mrs. White describes that saying "It was then that the last
12:33 link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world
12:37 was broken. " It is not as though God
12:40 forced him out of heaven any further, but they...
12:43 the heavenly beings themselves forced him out of
12:47 their sympathies. They were no longer listening
12:49 to his arguments. The last link of sympathy was broken.
12:52 And then last evening's message entitled
12:55 The Great Object of Life we discovered that the reason
12:58 Satan's existence even after Christ's death on the cross
13:01 must still be continued was that man as well as angels
13:07 must see the contrast between the Prince of light
13:10 and the prince of darkness.
13:11 He must choose whom he will serve.
13:14 And this morning in a message entitled Every Knee Shall Bow
13:19 we will see how God intends to finally bring
13:22 this greater controversy to a close.
13:25 But before we begin any study of the Word of God
13:28 we must begin with a word of prayer.
13:30 Please you bow your heads with me.
13:33 Most gracious heavenly Father, Lord we thank you for this
13:36 Sabbath Day and we thank you for the rest that it provides.
13:40 And now Lord as we turn to a study of Your Word
13:43 which Your Spirit has inspired
13:45 we ask for that same Spirit to be manifest in this room,
13:49 in this place, this very time, right here today.
13:53 Lord, teach us Your way.
13:56 Soften our hearts to accept it and sharpen our minds
13:59 to see it so that we may be redeemed in the end
14:02 and reconciled to the rest of the heavenly universe
14:05 through the power of the blood of Jesus.
14:07 We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
14:09 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Revelation chapter 12.
14:13 Revelation chapter 12. We've been there several times
14:16 throughout this series and I'm sure we'll be there again.
14:19 But for right now, Revelation chapter 12.
14:20 And as you find that chapter let me give you a very
14:23 technical illustration.
14:26 Have any of you ever played with a Slinky?
14:29 You know when I use the word Slinky a picture comes to your
14:32 mind. You know the little wire coil metal toy?
14:36 And what is by far the most exciting thing you can do
14:40 with a Slinky? What's the one cool thing
14:42 that a Slinky does besides just being stretchy?
14:44 What do you do with it? Put it down stairs! That's right.
14:47 You stand at the top of this long staircase
14:50 and you just kind of set it right on the edge
14:53 and then you give it a little push.
14:55 Flick. And the momentum that falls onto that second step
14:59 it just keeps it going to the third step and the fourth step.
15:00 And it will walk itself step by step
15:02 right down to the very bottom.
15:04 You don't have to stop and like push it each time,
15:06 push it each time. Once the process is begun
15:08 it just goes all the way through
15:10 till it's finished at the bottom.
15:12 Everyone has that picture in their mind right now...
15:14 a Slinky down the stairs.
15:16 Now that's going to be important because
15:17 looking over the progression of the events that we've studied
15:20 thus far it's obvious that Satan was not cast out of heaven
15:24 and immediately locked in the grave for eternity.
15:29 His fall from heaven - if you will - like "lightning"
15:33 was not from the very heights of glory to the depths of
15:37 the grave in one fell swoop.
15:39 There were steps along the way.
15:44 In fact, there are four distinct stages,
15:48 phases, or steps to the casting out of the devil.
15:51 God did not as soon as the rebellion began
15:54 wipe him out of existence. In fact,
15:56 He let the process go on and in fact continues the process
15:59 even now. And the illustration being like a Slinky
16:03 down the stairs... step by step till Satan's ultimate demise.
16:09 Here in Revelation chapter 12 starting with verse 7
16:12 we can see three of those four steps
16:15 clearly articulated, chronologically sequenced
16:19 starting with verse 7 Revelation chapter 12.
16:23 "And war broke out in heaven.
16:26 Michael and His angels fought with the dragon
16:29 and the dragon and his angels fought
16:31 but they did not prevail nor was a place found for them
16:35 in heaven any longer.
16:36 So the great dragon was cast out. "
16:40 And in our illustration think of Christ flicking the top of that
16:44 Slinky... not all the way down to the bottom but
16:46 just getting the process in motion.
16:50 "So the great dragon was cast out:
16:53 that serpent of old called the devil and Satan
16:56 who deceives the whole world.
16:59 He was cast to the earth
17:01 and his angels were cast out with him. "
17:04 That is the first step in the sequence of casting out
17:08 the devil. But now we go to verse 10.
17:10 We find the second step:
17:13 "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven:
17:15 'Now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God
17:19 and the power of His Christ have come
17:21 for the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God
17:25 day and night has been cast down. "
17:28 Now if you were to just quickly scan those two
17:30 you would they're referring to the exact same thing.
17:33 But as we have seen in our study there's a good 4,000 year gap
17:37 between verses 7 through 9 and verse 10.
17:39 The first one was Satan's original casting out
17:43 by God the Father out of the courts of heaven.
17:46 But the second casting out in verse 10
17:50 was the casting out of the sympathies...
17:55 from the sympathies of the heavenly beings
17:58 when they saw Christ crucified on earth.
18:00 Now there is where salvation comes; now the power of the
18:03 Christ is revealed
18:05 and for a second time Lucifer is cast from heaven.
18:11 Then we go to verse 11... we see step 3.
18:15 "And... " So in addition to that,
18:18 in the light of that... "And they overcame him
18:21 by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.
18:26 And they did not love their lives to the death. "
18:30 This is where we find stage 3.
18:32 This is the great object of our lives.
18:35 Right now the heavenly universe has witnessed Satan's
18:38 rebellion in heaven. They've witnessed Christ's death
18:40 on the cross. And in their minds it is absolutely fine
18:44 if Satan is eliminated, destroyed, forever ended.
18:47 But God's plan of redemption, praise the Lord, is not
18:51 just a plan of destruction. It's a plan of salvation.
18:53 And it would not be complete if all that was accomplished
18:57 was the ending of Satan.
18:58 He has a greater controversy in mind. He wants to actually
19:01 take some of those sympathetic fallen beings
19:04 and redeem them... reconcile them with heaven
19:06 and bring them back to the courts of glory.
19:09 And apparently, according to this text
19:12 they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb
19:16 and the word of their testimony.
19:18 That's step 3: when God's people on earth
19:21 will do what God's people in heaven have done
19:24 and cast Satan out of their hearts and their sympathies
19:27 and choose them this day whom they will serve.
19:30 That's step 3.
19:32 But this morning we're going to deal with that fourth and final
19:37 step. So go with me to the book of Luke.
19:41 Go with me to the book of Luke chapter 10.
19:46 The book of Luke chapter 10 gives a very interesting story.
19:50 Jesus here in the midst of His earthy ministry
19:54 sends out 70
19:59 to do a certain work. Look at verse 1.
20:02 Luke chapter 10 and verse 1.
20:04 "After these things the Lord appointed 70 others also
20:09 and sent them two by two before His face. "
20:12 OK. So they are precursors to His ministry.
20:15 They're sent out ahead of time.
20:17 "Sent them two by two before His face into every city
20:21 and place where He Himself was about to go. "
20:23 So they were going ahead of time to do the pre-work
20:26 before Christ's evangelistic crusade, if you will.
20:29 Right? They're to soften the ground and they're supposed to
20:31 lay the groundwork for the coming King.
20:33 They're sent out. And the rest of Luke chapter 10
20:36 talks about His specific instructions to them.
20:39 And sure enough. They go back... they go out.
20:42 And we pick up their return in verse 17.
20:47 "Then the 70 returned with... " What's the word?
20:50 "joy... " Their mission has been successful.
20:52 They're on fire for Jesus. They're elated.
20:54 They're thrilled. They return with joy.
20:58 "saying 'Lord... ' " And it's almost like it's
21:03 a surprise to them. "Lord, even the demons
21:06 are subject to us... " How?
21:09 "in Your name. "
21:11 They're like: "Can you believe it? "
21:14 "Even the demons listen to us. They have to obey us
21:17 because we're coming in the name of Jesus. "
21:20 And they're so thrilled. They're ecstatic;
21:22 they're excited. And look at Jesus' response to this.
21:27 "And He said to them: 'I saw Satan
21:31 fall like lightning from heaven. ' "
21:37 Now that's kind of an odd thing to say.
21:39 Like: "Lord, even the demons are subject to us
21:42 in Your name. " And He just... it's as though He doesn't...
21:44 He's in a different place, right? He's...
21:47 "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "
21:54 And He says that in the context of demons being subject
21:57 to them in His name.
22:00 Now I'm going to ask a weird question,
22:03 and I think asking weird questions gets you at least
22:05 some interesting answers if not good answers. But
22:10 how did Jesus know stuff?
22:15 Right? For instance, when He said: "I saw Satan
22:18 fall like lightning... " it's like "I remember back before
22:21 I was born... "
22:23 "In the courts of heaven... It's still there because... "
22:27 No, no, no. Jesus doesn't have that recollection from back
22:31 there. He's fully human. He's laid aside
22:34 His divinity, right?
22:36 So how does He know?
22:38 And He says He saw it.
22:40 How did He see it?
22:44 Well let's take a look at this. Go to the book of John
22:46 chapter 5.
22:49 John chapter 5. How does Jesus do or know anything?
22:53 For instance, how did Jesus do His miracles?
22:55 Through God's help, right? Through God the Father
22:58 empowering Him. In fact, look at Jesus' own testimony
23:00 about how this works. The working relationship
23:02 between the Father and the Son. John chapter 5
23:06 starting with verse 18.
23:09 What must have been a typical day in the life of Jesus.
23:12 "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him
23:16 because He not only broke the Sabbath but also said
23:19 that God was His Father, making Himself equal to God. "
23:22 And by the way, just a little parenthetical insertion here.
23:25 Whenever young people or something talk about how
23:27 "I don't go to church because people look down on me
23:30 Or they look at the way I dress or they look... "
23:32 OK. That even might be legitimate.
23:35 But they tried to kill Jesus
23:37 and He still kept coming to church. Amen? Amen!
23:39 It's like "I'm not coming to church for the people.
23:41 I'm coming to church for the person of Jesus Christ. "
23:44 Does that make sense? Close parentheses.
23:47 So Jesus deals with this. Verse 18: "Therefore the Jews
23:51 thought all the more to kill Him because He not only broke the
23:54 Sabbath but also said that God was His Father. "
23:57 And in their minds, what does this mean?
23:59 That made Him equal with God.
24:02 Now of course they claimed to be the children of Abraham
24:05 and thus - in some fashion - the children of God.
24:09 But they recognized that He was making a claim
24:12 far greater than just a generic- sense child of God.
24:16 He said: "I am THE SON OF GOD" and they said:
24:19 "THAT is blasphemy! "
24:21 But notice what Jesus replies then.
24:23 Verse 19: "Then Jesus answered and said to them:
24:25 'Most assuredly I say to you
24:27 the Son can do... " How much? "nothing of Himself
24:32 but what He sees the Father do
24:35 for whatever He does the Son also does in like manner. "
24:42 So Christ says: "I don't do anything of My own accord.
24:44 This is just Me living in a reliance state
24:47 on the Father. And whatever He shows me,
24:49 whatever I see from Him, that's what I do. "
24:51 Does that make sense? All right, go on to verse 19.
24:53 I'm sorry... verse 20:
24:58 "For the Father loves the Son and shows Him
25:02 all things that He Himself does.
25:05 And He will show Him greater works than these
25:07 that you may marvel. "
25:09 So Christ says: "No, no, no. Of course I... I do these things
25:12 but it's not in My power. I'm empowered by God
25:15 and the only way I know things and know what to do
25:17 or know what... is because He shows it to Me.
25:21 I of Myself can do nothing. "
25:23 So let's take that back to Luke chapter 10 when He says:
25:26 "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "
25:29 He's not just paneling through His own memories.
25:32 He's being shown something.
25:35 Does that make sense?
25:36 Commenting on this statement "I saw Satan fall like lightning
25:40 from heaven" we find this exposition in Desire of Ages
25:43 page 490 where Mrs. White explains:
25:46 "The scenes of the past and the future
25:51 were presented to the mind of Christ. "
25:54 OK? Were presented to the mind of Jesus.
25:57 And notice: "the scenes of the past and the future. "
26:02 Talking about the fall of Satan.
26:06 And wouldn't you know it? She outlines four steps.
26:10 Step #1... the statement continues:
26:14 "He beheld Lucifer... " Again, this is in His mind's eye
26:17 that is being shown from the Father.
26:18 "He beheld Lucifer as he was first cast out
26:22 from the heavenly places. "
26:24 Step #1.
26:26 Goes on. #2: "He looked forward
26:29 to the scenes of His own agony
26:33 when before all the worlds the character of the deceiver
26:37 should be unveiled.
26:40 He heard the cry, 'It is finished! '
26:42 announcing that the redemption of the lost race was forever
26:46 made certain, that heaven was made eternally secure
26:48 against the accusations, the deceptions, the pretensions,
26:51 that Satan would instigate. "
26:53 That's step 2 which happened at the cross...
26:56 which for Jesus at this moment in time is still future.
26:59 So He looked forward to that.
27:00 But there's more than just that.
27:04 Now, interestingly enough,
27:07 pay careful attention... Step 1: he's cast out of heaven.
27:09 Step 2: he's cast out of the sympathies of heavenly beings
27:12 at the cross. And now He's shown even more.
27:15 And she goes even past step 3 all the way down to step 4
27:19 that we're going to be focusing on today.
27:20 The next word: "Beyond the cross of Calvary,
27:24 with its agony and shame,
27:26 Jesus looked forward to the great final day
27:29 when the prince of the power of the air will meet his
27:33 destruction in the earth so long marred by his rebellion.
27:36 Jesus beheld the work of evil forever ended,
27:40 and the peace of God filling heaven and earth. " Amen!
27:43 So He looked beyond the cross
27:45 all the way down to the very end
27:48 and saw that it was all going to work out OK. Amen!
27:52 So there's step 1, step 2, and step 4.
27:55 And then we have an interestingly-veiled reference
27:58 to step 3 that we focused on last night.
28:00 "Henceforth... " So from the cross forward.
28:03 "Henceforth Christ's followers were to look upon Satan
28:07 as a conquered foe.
28:09 Upon the cross, Jesus was to gain the victory for them; "
28:13 And notice this now:
28:14 "that victory He desired them to accept as their own. "
28:19 Amen.
28:20 OK? Step 1: cast physically out of heaven.
28:23 Step 2: cast out of the sympathies of heavenly beings
28:25 at the cross. Step 3: those who were
28:28 at one time loyal to Satan can have a change of heart,
28:31 change of character, and be brought back into the image
28:33 of God. And step 4: final elimination of sin and Satan
28:37 altogether. Right there...
28:40 But here's what I want to focus on today.
28:42 Now that we understand step 1, 2, 3, and 4
28:45 in their sequence. Between steps 3 and 4,
28:50 between the victory of the repentant through the power
28:53 of Christ to overcome, to develop that Christ-like
28:57 character, and the ultimate destruction of Satan
28:59 there's a very, very long gap of time...
29:05 at least a thousand years
29:07 between the overcoming of the saints
29:10 and the destruction of Satan.
29:16 Now that's not exactly news to most everyone here I'm guessing.
29:22 Many are likely aware that after the second coming
29:25 because of course stage 3 culminates with the time of
29:28 trouble. And those who are righteous will be righteous
29:30 still and those who are wicked wicked still.
29:32 And Christ comes, the close of probation, seven last plagues,
29:34 Christ shows up.
29:36 Takes the righteous home with Him. The wicked are dead.
29:44 But there's going to be this thousand year period of time
29:47 after that event when the righteous will be in heaven,
29:52 the wicked will be in their graves,
29:55 and Satan still isn't dead.
30:02 I mean, I've grown up with this framework in my mind
30:07 but honestly, it has always bugged me a little bit
30:12 and led me to ask what I consider to be some pretty
30:15 important questions.
30:16 But chief among them, simply this:
30:19 "Why not just kill Satan right there and then
30:21 at the second coming? "
30:24 I mean, let's think this one through.
30:26 Once the close of probation has occurred;
30:29 once the seven last plagues have fallen
30:32 and Christ breaks through the eastern sky;
30:35 why not just have Satan die right then and there
30:37 and join the rest of the wicked and be dead?
30:41 I mean, every other unrepentant sinner is dead at this point.
30:44 So why not just let Satan and his angels join them
30:47 and call it a day? Be done!
30:48 Wrap the great controversy. And often times we think...
30:51 We look at the second coming and we think
30:53 that that's the end of the great controversy.
30:55 But it's nowhere near ended then.
30:58 Why at this point, even when all the decisions are made,
31:03 is Satan's existence continued?
31:08 What possible good? What possible merit
31:12 is there in prolonging the life of the author of sin
31:15 after everyone has made their choice?
31:19 And why will those wicked? Let's get even deeper.
31:22 Let's probe the character of God. What does this say about
31:24 our God? And why will those wicked who are at this point
31:29 dead - asleep as we understand the state of the dead to be
31:33 truth, right? - Why are they allowed to -
31:37 or let's just be honest - why are they required to
31:40 awaken from that slumber? Live again only to die again?
31:47 These are some challenges that scripture puts out there.
31:53 Is God just being cruel?
31:55 Or is there a reason why this millennium experience
31:59 is good or is at least necessary in God's plan?
32:03 What is the necessity, the spiritual significance of
32:07 the millennium? Because I know in my mind I've always
32:08 kind of... Yes, Jesus will come again and then the thousand
32:11 years will come and you know there'll be a judgment,
32:13 a review of the judgment, and then they'll raise the dead
32:15 and then they'll execute them and then...
32:17 It's just kind of like a string of bluup, pop...
32:20 and then Satan's wiped out.
32:23 And I guess it makes sense because it's far off in the
32:25 future and it doesn't... But this strikes at the very
32:28 heart of who is God.
32:29 Why is this process going forward in this manner?
32:33 We're going to study the spiritual significance
32:36 of the millennium now as we look at stage 4.
32:40 The most of our time we're going to be spending now
32:42 in the book of Revelation chapter 20.
32:45 Revelation chapter 20.
32:49 We're going to do a Bible study.
32:51 And again, that's not an apology just a statement of fact.
32:54 Get ready.
32:56 Starting with verse 1... Revelation chapter 20.
33:03 Scripture reads... and this, of course, is after
33:08 Revelation 19 where there's a description of the second coming
33:10 and the destruction of the wicked and the laying bare
33:12 of the earth. Then it says in chapter 20 verse 1:
33:15 "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven
33:17 having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain
33:21 in his hand. " Verse 2: "He laid hold of the dragon,
33:25 that serpent of old who is the devil and Satan,
33:29 and... " And we wish it would say:
33:32 "and killed him on the spot. "
33:34 But it doesn't.
33:36 "and bound him for a thousand years.
33:41 And he cast him into the bottom- less pit and shut him up... " -
33:43 which I do like that part -
33:46 "and set a seal on him
33:49 so that he should deceive the nations no more... "
33:52 And it'd be great if it stopped right there, but look at
33:54 what it says: "till the thousand years were finished. "
33:57 The implication is: "We're going to let him go and then he's
34:00 going to deceive more people. "
34:02 What sense does this make?
34:06 "But after these things he... " and notice the language
34:09 "MUST be released for a little while. "
34:13 Not he just will be released or should be... HE MUST.
34:16 In God's plan, this is a necessity.
34:20 But why?
34:22 Well first of all, let's notice what we've just read.
34:24 The description of who is chained down is identical
34:28 to that as Revelation chapter 12 where we saw our first
34:30 three steps. The serpent of old called the devil and Satan.
34:34 So this is obviously building on that same Revelation 12.
34:38 It's that same character.
34:39 Now this is an expanded look at step 4.
34:43 Revelation 12 gives us 1, 2, and 3.
34:45 And here in Revelation 20 we get a magnifying lens.
34:48 We get to zoom in on the necessity of step 4.
34:51 This is the same serpent of old: the devil and Satan.
34:55 And the chain of circumstance, of course, with which he is
34:58 bound is just the simple fact that there is no one left
35:00 alive to tempt. He's all alone.
35:03 In fact, you can look this up in the writings of Mrs. White.
35:06 She talks about how he is stuck here and he can't even go
35:09 and - she uses the word - "annoy" the other planets. Amen!
35:12 Can't pester them. Can't bug them, hassle them.
35:14 He's just stuck here.
35:16 Which has to be a nice relief for them up there...
35:18 'cause you remember they stopped listening at the cross.
35:21 But that didn't mean he stopped talking.
35:23 But here, the whole thing... It literally means
35:26 they shut him up. Praise God! Amen.
35:29 But they didn't kill him; they just left him there
35:33 chained by circumstances.
35:37 The redeemed from the earth both rejoice in their salvation
35:39 'cause right there they're taken up.
35:41 They have met the dead who have risen in the Lord
35:43 in the air and they will be with them forevermore.
35:45 And of course that's going to be a day of rejoicing!
35:50 But at the same time
35:53 what are they going to do for the next thousand years?
35:55 And is that all going to be rejoicing?
36:00 They have to review the justice of God dealing with Satan
36:03 and those who chose to follow him.
36:05 The great controversy is not done at the second coming. Amen.
36:11 I believe we get a picture of this in Psalm 149.
36:15 Psalm 149 I believe helps illustrate
36:21 this dual joy and at the same time responsibility
36:26 for judgment that the saints will experience
36:29 during the millennium. Psalm 149.
36:31 It's only nine verses long, but follow the sequence here
36:34 and see if this doesn't sound like the event we have just
36:36 described where the redeemed go to join the Lord in the air
36:39 and have that great fellowship. But the controversy's not ended.
36:42 They must look at this unfolding drama yet some more.
36:48 Psalm 149 starting with verse 1.
36:50 "Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song
36:53 and His praise in the assembly of His saints.
36:56 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker.
36:58 Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
37:01 Let them praise His name with the dance.
37:04 Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
37:06 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people.
37:09 He will beautify the humble with salvation.
37:12 Let the saints be joyful in glory.
37:15 Let them sing aloud on their beds.
37:17 Let their high praises of God be in their mouth... "
37:20 And that sounds great. But look at what it says next:
37:22 "and a two-edged sword in their hands... "
37:26 Why? Verse 7:
37:28 "to execute vengeance on the nations
37:31 and punishment on the people.
37:34 To bind their kings with chains
37:38 and their nobles with fetters of iron
37:41 to execute on them the written judgment. "
37:46 Notice it's not even their judgment.
37:47 They're just reviewing the judgment that's already been
37:49 written.
37:51 "This honor have all the saints. Praise the Lord. "
37:58 But do you see the dichotomy of joy and solemn responsibility
38:02 that these saints will experience during and after
38:05 the second coming?
38:06 The controversy's not ended then. In fact,
38:08 they have a responsibility during the millennium.
38:10 Go to I Corinthians chapter 4.
38:13 Verses 1-5. Paul repeatedly comes back to this...
38:16 especially in the letter to the Corinthians.
38:21 Chapter 4, verses 1 through 5.
38:24 And follow his logic. I Corinthians 4 starting with
38:26 verse 1: "Let a man so consider us
38:32 as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries
38:34 of God. " And remember we saw last night that Paul is
38:37 keenly aware that he is a spectacle - both to men
38:40 and to angels. And he says: "Let them consider us;
38:43 I know I'm being watched. " "Moreover... " verse 2...
38:47 "it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
38:52 But with me it is a very small thing if I should be judged
38:55 by you or by a human court.
38:57 In fact, I don't even judge myself!
39:00 For I know... " And this is Paul's humility...
39:03 "for I know of nothing against myself.
39:06 Yet I am not justified by this. "
39:09 He's like: "I search my heart and I think I'm doing well
39:11 with God and I don't care if I go before a human tribunal. "
39:14 "But he who judges me is the Lord. "
39:17 He says there's a greater judgment than the court
39:19 of public opinion, OK?
39:21 "But therefore... " verse 5...
39:23 So the application in the Christian's life that he's
39:25 writing from Corinth he says here in verse 5:
39:28 "Therefore judge nothing... "
39:31 Now we've often heard: "Judge not lest ye be judged. "
39:33 And we think: "Oh, we're not supposed to judge at all. "
39:36 But that's not what Paul is saying here.
39:38 Watch what he says: "Therefore judge nothing
39:41 before... " What? "the time; "
39:43 "until... " What's that event? "the Lord comes
39:47 who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness
39:51 and reveal the counsels of the heart.
39:54 Then each one's praise will come from God. "
39:56 You see what he's saying there? From a human perspective
40:00 we can't judge because we don't see as God sees.
40:02 He sees the truth. He sees the motives; the intents;
40:05 the secret thoughts of the heart.
40:07 So until that day comes, you can't sit in judgment
40:11 on other people because you don't see the whole story.
40:14 I praise God that there will be people in the kingdom
40:17 who I'm like... "Seriously? Hey, but great! " Amen!
40:21 But that's what we're going to get to see as that millennium
40:24 unfolds is what God has been seeing all along.
40:26 He's going to show us the intents and thoughts
40:28 of the heart. And Paul says "Then you can judge.
40:31 But until then, stand back... reserve judgment. " Amen.
40:35 Go two chapters over... chapter 6.
40:37 He comes back to this again: verses 1 through 3.
40:41 "Dare any of you, having a matter against another,
40:45 go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? "
40:49 He's like: "If you guys are quarreling between each other
40:51 and you go to a secular court, why is that a good thing? "
40:55 Verse 2: "Do you not know... " And again, we saw last night
40:59 Paul uses that phrase. "Don't you get it? "
41:00 "Don't you see? This is common sense
41:02 in the Christian faith. You should understand this. "
41:04 "Do you not know that the saints will... " Do what?
41:07 "Will judge the world. And if the world will be judged by you
41:12 are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? "
41:15 He's like: "You should... You guys... you should start
41:18 to develop a judicious mind now because the Lord is
41:21 going to be using you to judge the world. "
41:24 In fact he goes on: "Not only the world... "
41:26 Verse 3: "Do you not know that we shall judge angels? "
41:31 How much more things that pertain to this life? "
41:35 We will judge angels; we're going to be judging the world
41:39 and reviewing that written counsel of God
41:43 that searches the intents of the heart.
41:45 That's what's going on during the millennium.
41:48 So don't have this idea that when Jesus comes
41:50 everything's done and it's all better. No, no, no, no, no.
41:52 There's still a solemn, serious work to be done;
41:55 Christ wants something else to occur.
41:57 Now let's go back to Revelation 20 and verse 7.
42:00 20 and verse 7.
42:07 No, no, no... let's just... We're not even done yet.
42:09 Let's go to still verse 4.
42:11 This description of what we've just studied in scripture.
42:14 Verse 4, Revelation 20.
42:15 "And I saw thrones, and they that sat on them
42:19 and judgment was committed to them. "
42:22 Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
42:25 for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God
42:27 who had not worshiped the beast or his image
42:29 and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their
42:32 hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ
42:34 for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead
42:38 did not live again until the thousand years were finished. "
42:44 OK, so this thousand-year period of time where the saints are
42:47 judging the world, he says: "This is the 1st resurrection. "
42:52 "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.
42:56 Over such the second death has no power.
43:00 But they shall be priests of God and of Christ
43:02 and shall reign with Him a thousand years. "
43:06 That's what's happening during the millennium
43:09 on heaven's end of the spectrum.
43:13 But now let's continue to verse 7:
43:15 "Now, when the thousand years have expired
43:20 Satan will be released from his prison
43:23 and will go out to deceive the nations which are
43:27 in the four corners of the earth. "
43:29 And notice the implication: now they're alive.
43:31 The rest of the dead have now come to life, and he's going out
43:34 "to deceive Gog and Magog; to gather them... "
43:38 For what purpose? "for battle, whose number... " -
43:42 and this is one of the saddest verses of scripture -
43:45 "whose number is as the sands of the sea. "
43:50 So what do they do? Verse 9:
43:53 "They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded
43:56 the camp of the saints and the beloved city. "
43:58 Do you get the picture? The city's there.
44:02 The camp of the saints is right there on earth.
44:03 And they marshal this grand army together,
44:07 and they come after and surround the city of God.
44:11 And we see the end of that battle.
44:15 "And fire came down from God out of heaven
44:19 and devoured them. "
44:21 Of course we know it's an unsuccessful surge.
44:25 "The devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire
44:28 and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are.
44:30 And they will tormented day and night forever and ever. "
44:34 And as we understand the Biblical concept of forever
44:36 it means until it is all accomplished, OK.
44:39 Tilll that baleful work has been completed.
44:42 It will not be extinguished until the work is done.
44:46 Now...
44:51 we're going to come back to those
44:52 couple verses, but I want to
44:53 read to you now. And all the extra-Biblical references
44:57 that follow are found in the last chapter
44:59 of The Great Controversy, OK?
45:01 Let me implore you. I beseech you; I beg of you:
45:04 the days are getting longer. You've got plenty of Sabbath
45:07 afternoon. Go read that last chapter
45:10 of The Great Controversy.
45:13 "Now... " commenting on this experience of gathering the army
45:17 together... "Now Satan prepares for a last mighty struggle
45:21 for the supremacy. While deprived of his power
45:25 and cut off from his work of deception
45:27 the prince of evil was miserable and dejected.
45:30 But as the wicked dead are raised and he sees the vast
45:33 multitude on his side, his hopes revive
45:38 and he determines not to yield the great controversy. "
45:42 So that stubbornness in his heart...
45:44 He sees an audience listening to him. He's like
45:47 maybe, just maybe, I've got one last shot.
45:52 "His hopes revive... He will marshal all the armies of the
45:55 lost under his banner and through them endeavor
45:58 to execute his plan. "
46:00 Little parenthetical insert:
46:02 Notice that God wants to answer Satan's charges
46:05 and fight the devil through His church?
46:07 Satan wants the same thing too.
46:10 He's going to use his followers to battle Christ.
46:14 To execute his plan.
46:16 "The wicked are Satan's captives. In rejecting Christ
46:20 they have accepted the rule of the rebel leader.
46:22 They are ready to receive his suggestions and to do
46:26 his bidding. " She then continues:
46:29 "At last the order to advance is given and the countless host
46:32 moves on - an army such as was never summoned
46:35 by earthly conquerors, such as the combined forces of all
46:38 ages since war began on earth could never equal.
46:41 Satan, the mightiest of warriors, leads the van,
46:44 and his angels unite their forces for this final struggle.
46:47 Kings and warriors are in his train, and the multitudes follow
46:50 in vast companies, each under its appointed leader.
46:53 With military precision, the serried ranks advance
46:56 over the earth's broken and uneven surface
46:58 to the City of God. By command of Jesus,
47:01 the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies
47:03 of Satan surround the city and make ready for the onset. "
47:10 In the midst of this description of this massive army
47:14 surging against the City of God
47:16 something right there at the very end might have just
47:19 slid right past.
47:25 Notice what this says: "By command of Jesus,
47:28 the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed. "
47:33 What does that imply about the gates during that whole amassing
47:38 of the armies on earth? They've been open.
47:44 Christ has brought the New Jerusalem down.
47:46 He doesn't put up a fence or a barrier to keep anyone out.
47:50 In fact, the gates are wide open.
47:53 Now this is sanctified imagination.
47:56 You will not find this in scripture; you will not
47:57 find this in the Spirit of Prophecy.
47:58 So if it's wrong, that's my fault.
48:00 But a friend of mine has put this idea in my mind
48:04 and I like it... so I'm going to share it with you.
48:05 You can almost picture God...
48:07 Of course, everyone at the close of probation has made their
48:10 choice. Their character is set. No one's going to return.
48:13 But it's not because God's keeping them out!
48:16 It's because they won't come in!
48:18 He's almost sitting like Noah on the edge of the ark
48:21 as the storm clouds are approaching.
48:23 You know, and He says: "If anyone's out there
48:27 and still wants to come in,
48:29 please know that it would make my joy complete
48:35 for you to accept My invitation. "
48:39 The doors are wide open; access is full and free...
48:42 yet no one wants to come in.
48:47 This is a huge, significant point in my mind.
48:52 Earlier in the chapter if you were to read it full...
48:54 through she said... She describes the character
48:56 of those who have been resurrected, these wicked dead
48:58 now alive: "As the wicked went into their graves
49:02 so they come forth with the same enmity to Christ
49:04 and the same spirit of rebellion. "
49:05 And notice carefully: "A second probation
49:08 were it given them... " And I'm not saying that it was,
49:11 but were it even given them...
49:12 "would be occupied as was the first: in evading
49:15 the requirements of God and inciting rebellion
49:18 against Him. " Even if God were to let them in now,
49:21 they wouldn't want to go.
49:26 Hmmm. And again, the onlooking universe it watching.
49:34 We go to Revelation chapter 20 verse 12.
49:41 "And I saw the dead, small and great,
49:44 standing before God and books were opened.
49:46 And another book was opened which was the Book of Life
49:48 and the dead were judged according to their works,
49:50 by the things which were written in the books.
49:52 The sea gave up the dead who were in it
49:54 and death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them,
49:56 and they were judged each one according to his works.
50:00 Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
50:03 This is the second death.
50:04 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life
50:07 was cast into the lake of fire. "
50:08 So notice what we've just read there.
50:10 This judgment should actually be inserted chronologically
50:13 in the midst of verse 9. Go back to verse 9.
50:16 Says here: "They went up on the breadth of the earth
50:19 and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city"
50:21 and then it jumps to "and fire came down. "
50:23 Well that's just jumping to the end of the story.
50:25 What happens between those two sentences is
50:27 described at the end of Revelation 20:
50:28 what's called The Great White Throne Judgment.
50:32 Before the Lord executes judgment
50:34 He sets up a tribunal. And this is crucially important:
50:38 so that even the wicked can see why
50:42 the justice must come.
50:46 Think about what we're saying here.
50:50 "As soon as the books of record are opened... "
50:52 Mrs. White continues...
50:54 "the eye of Jesus... " He's already been lifted up
50:56 above the crowd now. So you get this picture
50:58 as you read through that last chapter that the surge
51:00 is coming; the armies are advancing. They're surrounding
51:02 the City of God and there's about to have a battle
51:04 break forth, but Jesus rises above the whole thing
51:07 and all is silenced.
51:09 The picture that we have is like Jesus when He walked into the
51:13 temple to cleanse it.
51:17 He had a whip, of course, in His hand.
51:18 But He didn't have to whip anyone. His look just arrested
51:21 their attention. Everything halts.
51:23 It's as if the silence is painful.
51:26 And everyone in the universe is focused on Christ.
51:29 Watch this now:
51:31 "As soon as the books of record are opened and the eye of Jesus
51:33 looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin
51:36 which they've ever committed.
51:37 Above the throne is revealed the cross... "
51:40 So basically He's going to play a panoramic view
51:45 and He puts the cross as the center, the fulcrum,
51:47 of the plan of salvation.
51:49 By the way, the great controversy's not against the
51:51 cross. It highlights the cross. It makes the cross central.
51:54 Says here: "Above the throne is revealed the cross;
51:57 and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam's temptation
52:01 and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan
52:06 of redemption. "
52:08 So the series we've just gone through, Christ will take
52:11 the entire universe through and show definitively
52:14 from beginning to end what the consequences of every person's
52:17 choices were.
52:19 "It is now evident to all that the wages of sin is not
52:23 noble independence and eternal life, but slavery, ruin,
52:27 and death. The wicked see what they have forfeited
52:32 by their life of rebellion.
52:34 The far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory
52:36 was despised when offered them
52:38 but how desirable it now appears. "
52:42 'All this' cries the lost soul 'I might have had
52:45 but I chose to put these things far from me.
52:49 Oh, strange infatuation!
52:54 I have exchanged peace, happiness, and honor
52:56 for wretchedness, infamy, and despair. ' "
52:59 I have this underlined in my notes:
53:02 "All see that their exclusion from heaven is just.
53:07 By their lives they have declared
53:11 'We will not have this Man Jesus to reign over us. ' "
53:14 See what they're saying?
53:16 Even with all the enticements, enhancements of heaven,
53:20 all the beauty and glory, they look at that and say:
53:23 "As much as I would like all the benefits of heaven,
53:25 I would rather not exist than have to live under His rule. "
53:32 They want to get in, but in the life they lived here
53:36 they didn't develop a character that would fit in.
53:39 Do you see the difference?
53:42 God doesn't want to just get people into heaven.
53:44 He wants to fit them for heaven.
53:48 This is the greater controversy.
53:50 "As if entranced, the wicked have looked upon the coronation
53:54 of the Son of God. They see in His hands the tablets
53:56 of the divine law, the statutes which they have despised
53:58 and transgressed. They witness the outburst of wonder, rapture,
54:01 and adoration from the saved;
54:03 and as... " Now notice this... "and as the wave of melody
54:07 sweeps over the multitude without the city... "
54:10 So the praise starts within the city but it overflows
54:12 even to the wicked.
54:15 "all with one voice exclaim, 'Great and marvelous
54:19 are Thy works, Lord God Almighty: just and true
54:21 are Thy ways, Thou King of saints'
54:23 and falling prostrate, they worship the Prince of life. "
54:30 Hmmm. At this point
54:33 almost the entire universe has acknowledged
54:35 the supremacy of Christ and the government of God.
54:37 The unfallen worlds and sinless angels
54:40 have chosen whom they will serve.
54:41 Those fallen ones who through the grace of Christ
54:44 have been restored into the image of God have chosen
54:46 whom they will serve. Now even the wicked
54:49 though not choosing to serve God
54:52 by the sheer weight of evidence -
54:54 not out of love, not out of repentance, but by the sheer
54:57 evidence amounted by their own life and character -
54:59 are forced to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.
55:03 Now there's only one being left.
55:09 Final two statements.
55:13 "The aim of the great rebel has ever been to justify himself
55:16 and to prove the divine government responsible
55:18 for the rebellion. To this end he has bent all the power
55:23 of his giant intellect. But the time has now come
55:26 when the rebellion is to be finally defeated
55:28 and the history and character of Satan disclosed.
55:31 In his last great effort to dethrone Christ,
55:34 destroy His people, and take possession of the great
55:36 City of God, the archdeceiver has been fully unmasked.
55:40 Those who have united with him... " Even the wicked...
55:44 "see the total failure of his cause.
55:47 Christ's followers and the loyal angels behold the full extent
55:50 of his machinations against the government of God.
55:54 He is the object of universal abhorrence. "
55:57 Everyone in the universe is off of his side
56:00 and he's the only one left.
56:03 But the promise is not that "most knees shall bow. "
56:07 "Every knee shall bow. "
56:10 "Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him
56:14 for heaven. He has trained his powers to war against God;
56:19 the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven would be to him
56:22 supreme torture. "
56:24 For him to go to heaven would be the equivalent of going to hell.
56:30 "His accusations against the mercy and justice of God
56:33 are now silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast
56:36 upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself.
56:38 And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice
56:41 of his sentence. " Amen.
56:43 "Every question of truth and error in the longstanding
56:45 controversy has now been made plain.
56:47 The results of rebellion, the fruits of setting aside
56:50 the divine statutes, have been laid open to the view of all
56:52 created intelligences. The working out of Satan's rule
56:55 in contrast with the government of God has been presented
56:57 to the whole universe. Satan's own works have condemned him.
57:01 God's wisdom, His justice, and His goodness
57:04 stand fully vindicated. " Amen!
57:07 The reason Satan was not destroyed at the second coming
57:09 is because there was a promise in Philippians chapter 2.
57:12 "That at the name of Jesus EVERY knee shall bow
57:16 and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
57:19 to the glory of God the Father. "
57:22 We serve a God of due process
57:25 who doesn't want to leave a stone unturned
57:27 but wants every question answered and every created
57:30 intelligence to choose whom they will serve.


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Revised 2014-12-17