The Great War - Revelation 12:6-11

[0:00] Open our Bibles to Revelation 12. Yeah. Lord willing, we'll finish Revelation 12 tonight, but it's possible we may not.! We'll bail out early if we need to.

[0:16] See what the Lord does. All right, so Revelation 12 is where we were last time and this time last week. We finish through verse 5.

[0:30] We saw where there was these wonders in heaven. The woman with the crown on her head and clothed like the sun and she gave birth to this child. And there was a dragon and the dragon, which is Satan, swept its tail and pulled one third of the stars, one third of the angels with him in rebellion.

[0:48] And then verse 5 said, She brought forth a man-child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. And so he rules from a heavenly throne.

[1:00] He rules over earth. Yes, he will have an earthly throne, but it is heaven, the throne of heaven that gives him his authority, that he derives that from. That is something that the dragon, that Satan can never replicate, no matter what he does.

[1:13] You know, he says, I will be like the Most High. I will ascend into the hill of the Lord. He wants to sit on that throne, but he can't. Because for God to vacate that throne would be for all of everything to be nothing.

[1:30] And so God can't vacate that throne and he won't. As the man-child is caught up to the throne, our potso, we said, caught up, carried away, snatched away.

[1:41] Well, in a sense, we are embodied in that because we're the body of Christ. And so just as he's snatched away to heaven, we are snatched away so the dragon can't get us. And Satan will not drag us down either because we have already, in a sense, we are seated in the heavenlies, the scripture tells us.

[1:57] It's a done deal. We are, in a sense, just as we're waiting for Jesus to take up his earthly rule, well, we're waiting for us to take up our heavenly thrones.

[2:08] But they're there and they're already established for us. And so then we pick up here now in verse 6, and we're going to see that there is a war, a great war, the great war.

[2:22] And it's not of men, it's with angels going to war. And it is triggered, I think, by a very specific event, and we'll see what that is. We know that Ephesians tells us we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness, the wickedness of this world.

[2:40] But they are also poised to fight and prepared to battle on God's behalf, not for victory, but from victory, right? At a specific time and season, this great war will take place.

[2:53] So in verse 6, then, kind of finishes up almost where we were last week, our thought from last week, that as the man-child is caught up to the throne, the woman then fled into the wilderness.

[3:08] So she's left, he leaves, Israel, the woman, is still here, and she flees into the wilderness where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there. 203 score days.

[3:20] 1,260 days is three and a half years. That she should be there three and a half years. It's interesting, it says that they should feed her. Who's they? I don't know. But that they should feed her.

[3:32] She will be cared for. Israel will be cared for. Will that be the peoples and nations that are funneling food to Israel at that time? I don't know. Will it be miraculous that the angels of God are, once again, bringing manna, in a sense, from heaven to Israel?

[3:47] I don't know. But God has prepared for his people a place for them to go, a protection for them, and provision for them. God will lead Israel into the wilderness.

[4:00] Think into the wilderness. Couldn't have been into, like, the, you know, land of plenty. Into the wilderness. Israel's back in the wilderness. Yes. Hosea 2,14.

[4:13] Through the prophet Hosea, the Lord says, Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her, and I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope, and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

[4:33] Think of that in context of where we are. God's going to bring her into the wilderness, and what's she going to do? So we're going to go through this section of Scripture, and there's a lot happening. We're going to kind of see heaven's view of Earth's timeline, Earth's history.

[4:49] To God, it's an event. You know, it's not some long, drawn-out thing. For us, we experience it one day at a time. God sees it outside of time. He's not constrained by time. So he sees it event-based, not linear and time-based, as we experience it.

[5:04] And so, at this time, it seems like, in Hosea, not only is Israel returning to the Lord, yes, it was speaking of what was happening at that time, but there's also the prophecy of the future.

[5:16] It seems like their heart is also, at this time, being turned to the Lord. And that they should feed her there 1,203 score days.

[5:27] As she flees, there is a time to stand, and there's a time to flee. Ephesians 6.11 tells us how we should stand. We're to put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

[5:39] Why didn't Israel just say, we're going to stand in God's truth, truth, and in his might? Well, it's also a time to flee. 1 Corinthians 6.18 says to flee, flee fornication, for every sin that a man does is without the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.

[5:54] Flee, flee sin. We don't stand against sin, I'm going to stand against sin. No, flee. Flee it. Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts and desires thereof. There's a time to stand. We stand against the enemy. We're not moved by him when he comes and says, hey, don't you stand here because I know who you are, because I know what you've done.

[6:11] Don't stand here because I'm going to shoot these fiery darts in your mind and it's going to move you from your place that you thought you were so solid with the Lord. But we flee our sin. We don't stand there and say, you know what, I'm going to overcome this this time.

[6:23] No, we're not. We're not going to overcome. The cross is what's overcome. But every trial gives opportunity for God to do what? It gives opportunity for him to display a place, a protection, and a provision that he's prepared for his people.

[6:38] Every trial we experience, there is prepared for us a place, a protection, and a provision. So says 1 Corinthians 10, 13. There's no temptation taking you, but such as is common to man.

[6:53] But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted or tested or trialed above what you are able. Why? Because he's got a place, a protection, and a provision for you in the midst of that trial. But will with the trial, with the temptation, the testing, also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it.

[7:10] Interesting. There you have both concepts. Escape, flee, and standing there, bearing it. And only God knows what that is. As we're in those trials, we don't run from them, but we recognize God's going to give us the strength to bear it.

[7:23] He's going to open that door that says, hey, here's the place that I prepared for you to protect you, provide for you, and a place for you during this trial. 1 Corinthians 2.9 But it is written, I has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him.

[7:44] God's prepared. This place, this protection, this provision. That's not just in the good times. I has not seen nor ear heard neither into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for you and me because he loves us in the time of trial.

[7:56] What has he prepared for us out of his love in a time of trial? Well, God, I know you prepared good things for me from before the foundation of the earth, but this trial is not one of them. God's like, no, this is a wonderful trial.

[8:07] It gives me opportunity to show you that I provided for you. I have a place. But why did Israel flee? Why did they just decide we're going to flee now? Well, as we get further down in this chapter, in verse 14 of Revelation 12 here, we're going to read again about Israel fleeing.

[8:24] And to the woman, we're given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness. into her place where she's nourished for a time and a times and half a time, three and a half years, and from the face of the serpent.

[8:40] We'll see what all that is. So Revelation, chapter 12, verses 7 through 13, there's a war that's going to happen here. A great war.

[8:50] And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and they prevailed not. Neither was their place found anymore in heaven.

[9:02] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceived the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

[9:14] Jump down to verse 14, what we just read. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

[9:27] And the serpent cast out of his mouth a great flood that she might be carried away. And in verse 17, And the dragon was wrothed with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which kept the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

[9:42] We're going to go through all of this, but just to give the flavor here, there's a war that's happening in heaven. What caused that war? What is the result of that war? Why now? What's going on? Well, I think if we look, we're going to jump to some other scriptures, but in Daniel chapter 9, I think we have an idea here in verse 27.

[9:59] It says, And he, speaking of the Antichrist, shall confirm the covenant with many for one week, weeks of days, weeks of years, so seven years. And in the midst of the week, three and a half years, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, until the consummation when Christ returns.

[10:25] And that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Jesus will come and wrap up this whole thing. But three and a half years in, something happens where he causes the oblation and sacrifice to cease.

[10:36] So Satan, who, through the Antichrist, makes a covenant with the Jews, and we'll look at that scripture in a little bit, where he, through peace, brings them into this false covenant and says, hey, here's your temple, here's your sacrifice.

[10:49] Well, three and a half years in, something happens. And it's this that I think triggers this war in heaven. I think either the abomination of desolation is the result of this war or is the trigger of this war.

[11:00] And I think it's the trigger. I think three and a half years in, Satan, with his man, goes in and declares himself to be God. And I think God says, that's enough. And this triggers this whole thing.

[11:12] But the result of that is Israel's salvation. Turn to Matthew 24. We're going to spend a little bit of time in Matthew 24. Jesus speaks specifically about this moment in history, in future history.

[11:27] It's history for us because we won't be here for it. Matthew 24. In verse 1, Jesus went out and departed from the temple and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

[11:44] Man, look at this. Herod's been working on this thing for years. And Jesus said unto them, see you not all these things? Do you see all this? Truly I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.

[11:59] literally fulfilled as every single stone was levered out of place and thrown down as the temple sat on fire and the gold melted in between the joints of the stones and they flipped every one of those massive stones off.

[12:13] And they're big. I got to sit on one. There shall not be left here one stone. There shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, it was Jesus' place, he'd go out and he'd sit on the Mount of Olives.

[12:25] So he's coming out from the temple. They're going down through the Kidron Valley. They come up to the Mount of Olives and his disciples the whole time are thinking, now one stone. What is he talking about? This must be like the end of the world.

[12:37] And they come to him privately and said, tell us, tell us, when shall these things be? What shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world? They ask three questions.

[12:49] When shall these things be? What shall be the sign of your coming? And what shall be the end of the world? And we're going to only look at the second one because that's what we're looking at tonight.

[13:01] The sign. The sign. What is the sign of his coming? But as you read Matthew 24, these are the three questions that are being asked. And if I turn there, I can tell you real quick which verse is the answer which.

[13:13] So Matthew 24. Question number one is answered between verses four and 14.

[13:30] Question number two, what we're going to look at is verses 15 through 28. And then verse 29 starts question three. So question one, verses four through 14.

[13:41] Question two, 15 to 28. And question three starts in verse 29. So jump down to verse 15 with me if you would. The disciple said, what shall be the sign of your coming?

[13:57] And Jesus said, when you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, we just read that in Daniel 9, 27. Stand in the holy place, whoso reads, let him understand.

[14:10] So Jesus expects those that read to have understanding. This is not meant to be a mystery. It's not meant to be a mystery to you and me. And it's not meant to be a mystery to those who are going to read that at this time.

[14:20] We're going to pick this up and read it and understand. Who would be reading at this time, I wonder? As Israel's being whisked off into the wilderness to protect them. As they've realized as Satan stands in the holy place, the Antichrist says, I am the Messiah, I'm God.

[14:35] And Israel goes, oh shoot, we got it wrong. And the veil, I believe at this time the veil is lifted and they know that Messiah's faults, there's now a true Messiah. And we're going to see that as we go through this section, Matthew 24, that bears out.

[14:49] And they flee into the wilderness and they will pick this up and will read for the first time, many of them, go, oh, that's what's happening right now. Whoa.

[15:00] This generation that sees this sign shall not pass away until all things be fulfilled. and they will read that and go, he's coming. So this is a sign.

[15:12] The sign of his coming, it's an actual event. It's not allegorical or hypothetical. It's physically seen when you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation.

[15:23] It's foretold, forewarned, and foreknown. Spoken of by Daniel the prophet and yes, you should understand it and you should know it. It takes place in a temple.

[15:33] He'll stand in the holy place. There has to be a temple. And it's executed by a specific man. When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place.

[15:45] Daniel 9, 27 said, and he shall. A very specific person. Paul writes about this in 2 Thessalonians. Ladies, you probably remember this verse.

[15:59] Let no man deceive you by any means in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 3. For that day shall not come, the day of the Lord. This is what we're reading about. This end times. Except there come the departing first.

[16:11] And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he, as God, sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.

[16:28] He will do this. So, the Maccabean revolt, if you've heard about the Maccabeans. So, after, and I'm just spitballing here off memory, after Alexander the Great dies in a drunken stupor because he can't find any other places to conquer, his generals split up under four different generals his empire.

[16:48] And there's the Seleucian, I think it is, empire, but Antiochus Epiphanes was of that order. And he ruled the area that was Judea, Jerusalem. He wanted to bring in Hellenistic culture, which is the Greek culture.

[17:01] The Jews were always very resistant to Hellenistic culture. You see that in the New Testament where you have the Hellenist Jews and you have those that are of that mindset that were kind of looked at by the Orthodox Jews as like, oh, we don't really like them.

[17:14] And you get that skirmish. That's where you see in Acts where it says that the widows that weren't receiving their distribution of food were the Hellenistic ones.

[17:27] And so he wanted to bring this in. He wanted to get rid of the Jewish religion. He came down very hard on them. And he went in and desecrated the altar and the holy place. And then, after him, as the Roman empires were coming in, Claudius, I think it was, if I could be mistaken, said he was going to set up an idol of himself in the temple of Jupiter, but it was of himself.

[17:53] That was in AD 40, I believe it was. He begins to send that sucker down and dies in AD 41. And it never happens. It was the closest we came to the abomination of desolation between Antiochus Epiphanes desolating the altar, but I think he sacrificed a pig upon it.

[18:11] And then, as you have, Claudius sending down this idol to set up in the temple. But it wasn't time yet. But at this time, yes, he shall raise up an idol and he himself will sit there showing himself that he is God.

[18:27] But, Jesus is saying here, hey, those that read this, I'm expecting you to understand this. It's not meant to be a mystery. Verse 16, Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.

[18:39] So this is a time of great alarm and great action at this time. Verse 17, Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. Don't go back into your house.

[18:50] Don't go and pack. Don't grab anything. You know, we talk about like if we had a fire, what do you do? It's like, all right, we grab our Bibles. We grab each other, our Bibles, and the cat, and we get out.

[19:00] And only if it's safe to grab the cat. It's like, man, the rest of it, whatever. But, oh my word, there's so much time and you don't want to start over.

[19:17] It's a time of great action, of great alarm, and life will be preserved at this time only by drastically forsaking everything else for the sake of life. It indicates a great threat and there's not a lot of time to act.

[19:31] You don't even have time to go and pack. You just go. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes and woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days.

[19:43] Pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. Jesus is speaking to his disciples. He's speaking to a Jewish audience and he's using Jewish terms here, very Jewish terms.

[19:55] Back on the, those that are on the housetop, let them not come down. That is a Jewish thing in that culture. We don't go up on our housetop. I was on my housetop yesterday. When the rain has ceased, cleaning out the gutters, but it wasn't very fun.

[20:07] It wasn't a place to hang out. Pray that it be not on the Sabbath. It's in very Jewish terms. He's speaking to the Jews, a Jewish audience. It's a great threat.

[20:17] There's not a lot of time to act. You imagine in our modern day that on your phone or whatever comes up a notification that the beast, and I guarantee you he's going to be called that.

[20:28] I guarantee you. Because if you look throughout history, Satan loves to use terms from scripture. You know he's that, B-E-A-S-T is going to have some acronym or whatever to go with it that's going to be that.

[20:38] But he's going to, you know it's going to come up on your news feed. Oh my word, he just went in and declared himself God. Finally, putting down those stubborn Jews. Oh, he declared himself to be deity. Well, he does seem to kind of be divine, you know.

[20:51] But if you're Jewish and you see that, God's word here says, don't stop, just stop what you're doing. Stop, drop, and run. We won't be here. Praise God. We won't be here.

[21:02] But we can pray now for those who experience this. We can be praying now for the people, God, Lord, those that have children, Lord. I don't think he's saying, tough luck for you with kids. I think he's saying, man, it's going to be hard for you.

[21:14] Resist the temptation to run back home and grab the gray coat and grab the diaper bag and just take your kids and go. It's going to be difficult, but run. Verse 21, Matthew 24, for then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time nor ever shall be because the beast has set up God's people through a lie.

[21:37] He set them up through this lie of peace. That's where we look back in Daniel chapter 8, beginning in verse 23. It says, and in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up.

[21:52] This is speaking of the Antichrist. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power. He's going to be motivated by someone else, by the serpent. And he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practice and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

[22:07] He shall destroy Israel. And through his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand. He shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many.

[22:20] He shall also stand up against the prince of princes but he shall be broken without hand. He's going to poof. Again, the way God looks at things is just, it's just an event that happens.

[22:31] Within this is a big time frame. You have seven years of different events happening but God looks at this and says, yeah, he's going to stand up and I'm going to put him down. It's going to be really quick. But it's going to be a time of great persecution.

[22:43] He will set up God's people through a lie of peace. Verse 22, and except those days would be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. So who's he talking about here?

[22:55] In what context? He's talking about Israel, right? He's talking about when Israel is being attacked and the abomination of desolation is set up when all these things are happening. So he's saying, except those days, the days he's speaking of in Revelation, were shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.

[23:13] Elect means picked out and chosen out. Was this the church? Well, not in context. No, it's not the church. It can't be the church in context. The elect is clearly not the church here.

[23:24] Then if any man shall say unto you, lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not. Then is in context with the time of these events. So as we look at the time of these events, the abomination of desolation has been set up, the man of lawlessness goes in, Israel is told to flee and get out of there as quick as they can.

[23:44] They flee to the wilderness. And then, in context with this, the elect, those chosen out, picked out, God's people, then if any man shall say unto you, why would any man say that to them?

[23:55] And why would they be susceptible to that? Here is Christ. Or there, believe it not. Because I think they're looking for him at this point. I think they realize at this point they're looking for Jesus.

[24:09] They realize who their Messiah is. But then is in context with the time of these events. this is for the you. Then, if any man shall say unto you, this is for the you who are at that time.

[24:24] This is for the you who are at those days. Right? If we're raptured tomorrow and YouTube still exists and randomly someone clicks on our channel, which would be really strange, well, this you is for you.

[24:39] Don't be deceived. Don't be deceived. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and they shall show great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect.

[24:52] So what's just happened at the midpoint of the tribulation, the abomination of desolation is set up. Israel flees into the wilderness and then they are told there shall arise false Christs. Israel, while you're in the wilderness being preserved, man, the enemy is going to throw all kinds of things at you.

[25:05] And there's going to be many false Christs and prophets that are going to show great signs and wonders to deceive you, to remove you from that place of protection. Behold, I have told you before.

[25:17] Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert. Jesus is in the desert. Go not forth. Behold, he is in the secret chambers. Believe it not. Do not be moved from the place of safety that God has prepared for you.

[25:30] That's what he's saying here. Israel, I believe, will at this time be looking for Jesus. I believe it's the abomination of desolation that opens their eyes. Jesus, in Luke 13, 34, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets and stones them that are sent unto you.

[25:48] How often would I have gathered you, would have gathered your children together. As a hen does gather her brood under her wings, you would not. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

[25:59] And truly, I say unto you, you shall not see me until the time come when you shall say, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. You shall not see me. Why would they be tempted to go and look for him?

[26:12] Or in verse 25, it says, if they shall stand to you, behold, he is in the desert. Who's the he? Jesus. So Israel's looking for he. They're looking for Jesus at this time.

[26:24] And they will say, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. That's not happening on the day that Jesus comes back and Israel's like, oh, oops, blessed is he who comes. No, their hearts have been prepared.

[26:35] They're being protected by God for three and a half years and they're looking for him. Second Corinthians 3, 14, but their minds were blinded. For until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in Christ.

[26:50] But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now it seemed like from the entirety of scripture, this time, Israel's veil is taken away and they are looking now for Jesus and Jesus is warning them, don't be deceived in looking for me when someone comes and says, Jesus is over here.

[27:12] Okay, let's go see Jesus. They're going to be baby Christians. They're going to be coming out of a system of unbelief in the Old Covenant and thinking they can buy works and whatever, thinking that the Antichrist is Messiah and they're going to be brought up to speed really quickly as they read the word here.

[27:32] For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even into the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. In the strange verse, for wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

[27:42] I think ultimately what they're saying here is it's obvious and identifiable. Jesus is like, when I come, you're not going to miss it. As the lightning comes out of the east and shines into the west, you're not going to miss it.

[27:53] And whatever this phrase was that seemed to be maybe a common phrase at the time, wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered. It's obvious, it's identifiable that something has happened, that Jesus has come.

[28:04] Turn back to Revelation 12. Jesus had spoken ahead of time about this event we're reading about in Revelation. This abomination of desolation, this moment three and a half years in to this, what we would call the seven-year tribulation, that's what happened.

[28:23] Jesus said, this is going to happen, this is your response, that's Israel. From what Jesus said and from what we read, it seems like Israel has a heart that is responding now to the true Messiah.

[28:38] That was just verse six. The woman fled into the wilderness and there was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought against his angels. I have an actual picture of that, that this was taken on the day.

[28:51] There was a war in heaven. We're going to see again down in verse 14 that she's going to fly into the wilderness and verse six tells us she's going to fly into the wilderness.

[29:03] I think we're getting kind of this snapshot of this event through verse seven and then we're kind of going to get the details afterwards. There was a war in heaven.

[29:15] Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. This is also prophesied in Daniel. Daniel chapter 12 verse one says, and at that time shall Michael stand up the great prince which stands for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time and that's about what they're going to enter into as we read here what the serpent's going to try and do.

[29:38] The dragon is a time of trouble like Israel's never experienced as they are hunted and sought out by the dragon. And at that time thy people shall be delivered and everyone that shall be found written in the book.

[29:54] Everyone that says blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. So Michael here gets to whoop on Satan. Remember in Jude just a little plug for the lady study which is going to be starting in Jude probably about seven to ten weeks before you get to Jude nine verse nine.

[30:13] But yet Michael the archangel when contending with the devil he disputed about and disputed about the body of Moses he did not bring against him a railing accusation who said the Lord rebuke you. Michael's like no it's not time for us to go at it Lucifer but now he's let loose.

[30:29] Ephesians 6.12 says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness excuse me in high places.

[30:42] We wrestle not against flesh and blood it's a spiritual battle and we are not alone. There are others that are fighting with us and for us that we don't see and God has his timing where ultimately Satan will be put down.

[30:57] Here God begins to turn the tide first in heaven and then on earth. So does the abomination of desolation trigger the war or is it a result of the war? I personally think it's a trigger.

[31:08] I think at this point Satan goes in through the Antichrist and says I'm God and God says you want to bat? And boot Satan out of heaven. And prevailed not.

[31:24] And so they fought against the angels the devil and his angels fought against Michael and his angels and they prevailed not. Neither was their place found anymore in heaven. Does Satan ever prevail? Does he ever really prevail?

[31:36] Ultimately he never prevails and he never will. He never has and he never will. What appears to be prevailing is in reality not outside the boundaries of God's plan. See that all through scripture.

[31:49] What Satan has been accustomed to he's now off limits to. Job chapter 1 we read this very interesting account of Satan's you know day.

[32:04] Now there was a day when the sons of God the angels came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them. But nobody wanted to stand next to him. And the Lord said unto Satan where you come from?

[32:17] What you been doing bro? And Satan answered the Lord and said well I'm going to and fro on the earth nothing not doing anything and from walking up and down in it I'm just taking a walk.

[32:29] What Satan has been accustomed to he is now off limits. He's been kicked out of heaven. He'll be cast down there's not anymore found a place for him. There's no longer place found for him in heaven.

[32:41] Verse 9 and the great dragon was cast out the old serpent called the devil and Satan which deceives the whole world. He was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.

[32:52] Devil the word devil means defamer or slanderer says the devil the defamer the slanderer and Satan he was cast out. Satan scripture tells us in John chapter 8 Jesus says speaking of the Pharisees he says you're of your father the devil and the desirers of your father you will do he was a murderer from the beginning and he abode not in the truth essentially saying to the Pharisees you don't abide in the truth and you're murderers because there's no truth in him when he speaks a lie he speaks of his own for he's a liar the father of lies very profound statement a liar lies that's what they do liar lies can't expect truth to come from a liar here now we see the one who made the mess would now be forced to dwell among it does this mean Satan's confined to earth's dimension I don't know but I think as we see as we go through this it does seem to be he's only now operating within the confines of this world it seems like

[33:56] God has confined him now here Satan who despises man who despises this hybrid material spiritual being made a little lower than the angels for now he despises that here now God sends him to live among the material the one who made the mess is now going to dwell among it Satan who would despise material man would now be confined to his dimension there are four falls of Satan in scripture kind of a messy slide but he falls from that which is glorified to the profane and that's in Ezekiel 28 verses 14 and 16 where it says you are fallen a Lucifer son of the morning the rest are in Revelation he falls from heaven to earth as we just read in Revelation 20 he will fall from earth to bondage where he would be bound for a thousand years and then from bondage he will be released briefly back to earth and then bound in the lake of fire he will fall

[34:56] I mean into the lake of fire four falls of Satan each one gets worse glorified to profane the heavens to the earth earth to bondage and bondage to eternal separation and there's another one possibly you see number two there from heaven to earth Luke 10 18 Jesus says this when the 70 have returned they returned with joy because they said the devils are subject unto us and then Jesus said unto them I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven when how is he talking about at the time when Satan drew a third of the angels is he talking about now is he talking about when they went out and he saw oh man what the work you did was like I saw Satan fall from heaven or perhaps I think what he might be saying to them when he says hey don't don't rejoice because the devils are subject unto you guys I saw Satan fall from heaven like I saw the big cheese be thrown out of heaven so don't rejoice over these little devils being subject unto you but what your names are written in the lamb's book of life don't rejoice over your power and victor of the enemy rejoice in who you are in me and

[36:06] I heard a loud voice saying in heaven now has come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night so this is not an angel speaking this is a loud voice who is one of the brethren is it Jesus I don't know but the accuser of the brethren has been cast down which accused them day and night accuse means to charge with an offense I accuse you I'm charging you with an offense to excuse means to pardon to free from the imputation of fault or blame so somebody accuses says I charge you with an offense someone who excuses pardons you're excused you're pardoned you're freed from the imputation of fault or blame 2nd Corinthians 5 19 tells us that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not accusing!

[37:07] What does that mean?

[37:18] I can't tell someone thy sins are forgiven based on my own authority but it tells me here that Jesus has already not imputed their sin to them and I can tell them you are reconciled to God because of the cross God won't accuse you he'll excuse you but if you don't receive that if you reject that then you have no excuse do you if you don't allow God to excuse you what excuse do you have there will be no excuse back to Job we saw where Satan presented himself before the Lord and Satan came also among them and what did he do when he was there he accused then Satan answered the Lord and said does Job fear God for nothing when God says have you considered my servant Job yeah but let me accuse him let me charge him with an offense it's because you're protecting his life and you've blessed him that's what it is through accusation and deception Satan seeks to prevent salvation strength and the kingdom salvation

[38:23] Luke 8 12 is when the seed is sown on the wayside and the birds come and take it and it says that that is the devil who comes and takes away the word out their hearts lest they should be saved he seeks to prevent salvation he seeks to prevent strength in first Peter 5 8 be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour then verse 9 says whom resist steadfast in the faith he seeks to sap our strength by walking about roaring and devouring and whom the God of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them he blinds their minds the kingdom he doesn't want them to enter into that kingdom he does that through deception he's a liar through accusation and it says here that he accuses them before our

[39:26] God day Satan will be cast out of heaven and he will no longer be accusing the brethren before God day and night I don't know what that experience would be like for a tribulation saint believer at that time to no longer have Satan they're accusing day and night but currently he is accusing day and night he is in unceasing denunciation of us but Jesus is also there with unceasing deliverance we know that Satan is accusing the brethren day and night day and night before our God but you know who sits next to our God Hebrews 1 3 says that Jesus being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins he said guys

[40:36] I got this he sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high so revelation tells us that the accuser is before God day and night accusing tells us Jesus ever lives to make intercession and the place he's doing that from is the right hand of the father so Satan stand there and go have you seen and Jesus yeah I blood my blood excuses that too Satan goes back again and goes yeah I got a good one this time did you know what those people covered you up with Charlotte do and Jesus is like dad I got that one too another thing that I thought was interesting this just kind of hit me because it says he accuses day and night that means awake or asleep!

[41:25] 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 tells us the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds casting down imaginations every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ that we battle in the mind the weapons that we have that are spiritual that Jesus equips us with are to guard our minds to bring those thoughts into captivity say yeah what about when I'm asleep Satan's accusing me I'm not awake to deal with it and Hebrews 4.12 says for the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit of joints and marrows and is a discerner the thoughts and intents of the heart you know we can put God's word in here and in here and it can be there as our protector as our defense as a thing that divides between that random thought that weird dream

[42:35] God's word will speak to that God's word is our defense yes Satan accuses us night and day whether awake or asleep but he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber asleep and we can lie down asleep in peace for you alone Lord make us dwell in safety because he who ever lives to make intercession for us he doesn't take the night off he sits up all night on that throne while we sleep and they overcame him by the blood of the lamb!

[43:14] overcomes accusations it's the blood that overcomes the accuser how through payment and substitution the blood overcomes accusations through payment and substitution in whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace the blood overcomes all accusations blood covers my sin the blood is my excuse and people say oh you're just trying to escape yes and I have an excuse you're just making excuses for yourself yes I am I have an amazing excuse is the blood of Jesus the word of testimony overcomes deception the blood overcomes accusations the word of testimony overcomes deception how through the experience of faith so before testimony is faith plus experience so the word of our testimony it overcomes deception because we've lived and experienced the truth

[44:33] I've lived the truth you're not going to deceive me now Satan I've experienced the truth I believed it and he answered and said whether he be sinner or no I know not one thing I know that whereas I was blind now I see this is the man that was born blind who Jesus heals and then he doesn't see or know who he is he heals him and walks away and all of the religious leaders are in uproar and he couldn't have healed you he's a sinner he's eagles my testimony but whereas I was blind now I see and lastly they loved not their life they did not fear death loving not their life and not fearing death overcame Satan's violence they weren't afraid they weren't afraid of what it was cost them they weren't afraid of what they might lose why because they loved something greater they didn't love their own lives because they loved another life so much greater greater love has no man than this and a greater love a greater love well

[45:53] I'm not Satan you're not scaring me 1st John 4 18 there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear because fear has torment either fears is not made perfect in love there's a greater love that casts out fear there's a greater love than my own life there's a greater truth than the lies of the enemy there's something greater than any accusation he can bring and it's the fact that Jesus laid down his life he became the excuse he became the pardon for me so that there's no longer any accusations that can stick and I think we'll just end there for tonight and pick up next time we have an amazing privilege not just to know the Lord but to know his word to as we read in Matthew 24 where Jesus said I want you to understand this

[46:55] I want you to know this we have to apply it to our lives and we have to make that part of our testimony faith plus experience it doesn't do any good just to read it and know it and not act upon it doesn't do any good when we're not allowing God's love and his truth and his blood to have an effect in our lives I think part of that is just as we looked at there's going to be people that they're going to go through the things we're reading that we're going I'm not going to be here for that there's people that we're people that we can pray for now in our lives for that and there are people now going through things going through deceptions going through accusations going through violence in our own lives in our own country and around the world and they need prayer because the weapons of our warfare are not carnal you know Satan is going to be cast down when God tells Michael get him that could happen at any time!

[47:49] when Satan was disputing with Michael for the body of Moses Michael could have been like stop stop stop stop and it would have been over right but he's like no no it's not time the Lord rebuke you it's not time for us either to go out and wage war right the weapons of our warfare aren't carnal it's not to engage in a way that engages on the enemy's terms we don't use violence we don't try to convince with flattering words or special words or whatever we don't try and be all mystical and Jesus is over in the chamber have you come to our church he's in this little box you know or out in the desert I need to go spend some time alone out in the woods I just need to open my Bible and he'll be there and read it and apply it let's pray Lord as we are amazed Lord at your word once again and the truth of it Lord and Lord how prepared you are for what's coming and how prepared we are by you for what's coming

[48:53] Lord no we won't be here for this season in history we just read about Lord but the truth and principles and reality of who you are don't change Lord across the ages and Lord as we read tonight to you it's like just one being seen in a play in a theater production here comes the dragon and here comes the woman and then gonna wrap it all up throw the dragon to earth and just end this thing bad guy loses!

[49:23] Good guy wins and we all go home happy but Lord that doesn't keep you aloof or far away you are a God in heaven who sits on a throne at the right hand of the father the right hand of majesty Satan a real living being called Lucifer called Satan the devil the defamer the accuser is actually there night and day he comes back to accuse and Lord you are ever there making intercession but that doesn't make you aloof and far away and yet you come in the very midst of this where to you it's a thousand years is a day and a thousand years Lord it's nothing to you and yet you would come and you would come into our little pinprick of time into this minute and this moment you would be with us in it Lord you would be with us when we're awake you sit with us when we're asleep you are there to watch over us and to keep us and no weapon that's formed against us will prosper and greater is he that's in us and he that's in the world

[50:25] Lord we do pray we pray now Lord for our future people Lord your future people who will turn to you Lord the veil will be lifted and Israel will turn and they will believe and Lord at that time there'll be others who will believe the tribulation saints and many who will turn to you we pray for them Lord we pray Lord for those that will be with child Lord that you would protect them Lord that you would gently lead those that are young that you give them an escape Lord out into the wilderness Lord and Lord we pray for a great harvest and revival we pray that when we come back with you on those white horses Lord that there will be millions Lord in Israel saying blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Lord how exciting that will be when we with you go down to Petra down to Bozra to grab your people to be not